'Logic'

The U.S. Doesn't Torture in Secret Prisons

But We Want to Be Able To, Just in Case

Naval Sonar and Dolphins

I'm not up to more than a link salad these days:

Navy denies Tasmania whale deaths

One thing I noted in Why sonar may harm whales and dolphins is this quote:

"Can marine life hear it [the sonar]? Yes. Does it have a major effect? We don't know."

This uncertainty alarms wildlife groups. They're now threatening legal action to protect sea-life from the sonar.

It's the 'we don't know' that has my attention. I'm taking a lot of environmental law or related topics just this second, and there's this idea, the precautionary principle, that gets a lot of airtime -- deservedly so. It goes like something like this:

Uncertainty is normal, and people have to make decisions anyway, even if they're not 100 percent sure what the best course of action is. That's no excuse for refusing to make a decision. Nor is it an excuse for being a putz -- if you don't know what the results of your action will be, BE CAREFUL.

Call for study on impact of sonar

Disorientation Seen in Mass Australia Whale Deaths

NAVY SUED OVER HARM TO WHALES FROM MID-FREQUENCY SONAR

Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

On Leak and Leakers

Cheney Told Aide of C.I.A. Officer, Notes Show

On leaks:

The Story In Pictures (also available in PDF)

*chortle*

The Onion: Study Reveals Pittsburgh Unprepared For Full-Scale Zombie Attack

*bahahahahahahahahahaa*

Fractal Food (and other cool links)

Wow. That's really cool.

Fractal Food

Non-scientists, just scroll down past the diagrams and stuff and get to the pictures, they'll tell you quite effectively what 'fractal' means: a thingy of a certain shape, made up of the same thingies of that same certain shape, only smaller ones, who are themselves made up of the same thingies of that certain shape, only even *smaller*, and so on, and so on, smaller and smaller, yet still the same shape, until your eyes cross.

(edited to add)

Ooo! Ancient Indus Valley - thanks to Fusion Reaction for finding this. Oooo!

The Third Follows as a Matter of Course

In order to be happy, a woman needs only a good digestion, a satisfactory complexion, and a lover. The first requirement being met, the second is not difficult to obtain, and the third follows as a matter of course. (link)

I am *definitely* writing a story with that as the title someday.

And, sometime, when I have time, I may sit down and explain how it is that this instruction boils down to love thyself. For it is from self-love, contentment, and satisfaction that inevitably follows a good digestion, and thus, a satisfactory complexion.

And the third follows as a matter of course.

In the midst of death, life.

In the midst of law school, self-aggrandizement.

Writers of the Future v. XXI. Yours truly's story starts on p. 155.

You are permitted to read the other tales - and even to enjoy them more than mine if the mood strikes you. That's OK.

Cronies, cronies, everywhere, not a competent one in the bunch

Inexpert Selection NY Times editorial.

The list of Bush appointees who seem to be rising on political connections rather than expertise continues to grow. A recent example is President Bush's choice to head a key office at the State Department that coordinates the delivery of life-sustaining emergency aid to refugees of foreign wars, persecution and natural disasters. The nominee is Ellen Sauerbrey, the former Maryland state legislator and twice-defeated Republican candidate for governor who was state chairman of Mr. Bush's 2000 campaign.

[...]

Ms. Sauerbrey has no experience responding to major crises calling for international relief....This is a post for an established expert in the field.

And so many are.

PlameGate gearing up for a showstopper?

Meet the dramatis personae of our not at all little drama.

And, here's the plot thus far.

Fame. Fortune. Really Fast Cars.

It looks like I may be appearing in an 'podcast' interview in another couple of days, to talk about the Writers of the Future anthology and constest.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

Time to weigh in on the Flu

I haven't posted anything because I figure anyone reading me is reading Medley, anyway, and I'm only cribbing from her.

However.

Pandemic Influenza: Risk Communication: The Teachable Moment by Peter M. Sandman and Jody Lanard.

Georgie seems to think that military personnel would be well put to use in a pandemic. What are they going to do, shoot at viruses? I remain oddly unconvinced by anything this administration says. I wonder why. Oh, yes, that's right: September 11th, Iraq, Osama, Katrina, FEMA, gutting the Endangered Species Act, 'clean air' that isn't, tax cuts for the wealthy as opposed to the poor, rampant cronyism and incompetence, torture in my name, extraordinary rendition, and the current saber rattling with Iran and the always-exciting North Korea.

The Flu Wiki

World Health Organization

Pandemic Flu Awareness Week

I tell you what I want, if I have to hunker down. I want a LifeStraw, because you know what? I can afford to spend $15 on a 50 pounds of rice, and I can trap squirrels if I darn well have to, the cats would love that, but I don't have the money to be stocking and rotating water.

What disturbs me, deeply, is that I live in a city with a high population of 'annual transients' -- college students. Who may or may not have money, but certainly won't have their heads screwed on straight if something happens. Not to mention live in cramped environs.

Ask Not Where the Buck Stops

When it comes to the US as a torturing nation. It stops at the President.

Another WTF Moment: Call A Scientist for Scientific Testimony, Would Ya?

Not a science fiction author.

Now bear in mind, I have great respect for both SF authors and scientists, given that I'm both myself but COME ON, PEOPLE, if you want an *expert witness* get a damn expert witness.

Michael Crichton's latest novel, State of Fear, is an action-packed thriller in which the hero is a scientist who discovers that climate change is all a fraud. The novel has sold well, but it was still something of a shock yesterday to find its author as an expert witness testifying on global warming in front of the United States Senate.

Crichton had been summoned to give evidence by Senator James Inhofe, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, who recently called global warming "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people".

Oh, come on. I'm writing a letter to Senator Inhofe.

Novel take on global warming .

Discussion of Crichton's appearance before the Senate subcommittee.

Critique of Crichton's 'science' in State of Fear.

Happy Birthday to US

Happy Birthday to me and my Twin.

(Wanna gimme a gift? Amazon gift certificates, or money (via Paypal), are always acceptable.

This concludes the grabby portion of our birthday.)

Eye-Opening

A Concise History of Republican Mismanagement