Posts Made By: James Brown

Where are you and Ray getting this material? It is pretty darned funny! My Googling came up empty.

J

No I'm not trolling. The human activity that "caused" this disaster is the overbuilding of our coastal regions.

Coastal overbuilding is a huge environmental problem. Unlike global warming, there can be no debate whether human activity is causing the phenomenon. Anecdotally I can point out that my parents retired to a nice bass filled lake in central Florida some time ago and the various hurricanes have treated them to high wind and a lot of welcome rain. Nothing more.

Tip of the hat to the Religion Forum where this article was posted:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9234051/

How about the Japanese solution? I have not read much about it yet. Sounds expensive.

Finally, it would be contrary to my core principles to prohibit persons from building in coastal areas. However, I think that the risk of death and destruction attendant with this decision of theirs must be acknowledged. Also, I would strongly support the use of my tax dollars to acquire and preserve as federal or state sanctuaries and buffer zones as much coastal land as is possible.

- Jim -

This time...

You may have missed it given the Katrina news but the California General Assembly just passed a bill on to the Governator approving same sex marriages.

I don't know what the details of the bill are. However, I do know that legislative action is the appropriate avenue for societal change such as this. As opposed to judicial fiat for example.

If the citizens of California don't like this bill, they can elect new legislators. (Assuming it is not vetoed. Arnold is playing it close to his vest.) As much as I am opposed to abortion, I must admit that it would probably be a legal non-issue today in many states if the Supreme Court had not short circuited the proper societal evolution through legislation process.

- Jim -

Paul Simon?

Bush has taken a lot of flack for this statement. However, after a week of reflection I think I agree with Bush. At least I understand him.

From an engineering perspective, everyone knew that the levees were insufficient. This was quite well documented.

However, from a human perspective, from a "a hope springs eternal" and "the levees survived the last x number of storms" perspective I think that Bush is correct. The people down in NOLA who stayed and the politicians in charge at every level did not expect the levees to break. They held the last couple of times didn't they?

Obviously this was foolish in the extreme... in retrospect. People paid the ultimate price for this foolishness. But it is human nature. I guess I am just a right wing simpleton for empathizing with the guy.

Speaking of human nature... Did you all notice that real estate prices are plummeting in San Francisco as people pack up and leave that delightful city in droves, since everyone knows that the "big one" is going to strike without warning someday soon?

Of course not.

I am sure that the residents of San Francisco in their hearts do not really expect "the big one" even though it is a geological certainty. Such is human nature.

I imagine that real estate values in that most pricey of markets really would tumble if we all could see with a crystal ball the inevitable burning buildings or the future dead and mangled citizens.

- Jim -

Just because I disagree doesn't mean that this photo is not funny.

(used with permission)

J

I did not take this photo, but it is so amazing, I thought you all would appreciate seeing it.

An office-mate's dad found this massive bull elk in trouble on his land in Southern Colorado. He called the department of wildlife.

Two game wardens came and spoke soothingly while they unwound this goliath. The elk stood by calmly throughout. Then he left. Not at a run, but with a stately walk. He must have known (on the verge of both mating and hunting seasons) that he was toast without help.

Jim

Ray Medhurst said:

Katrina may be, no pun intended, his Waterloo.

What do you mean by this exactly Ray? We all know that in 3.5 years W. packs his bags and heads to Crawford to build his library. Do you think he'll put a copy of "My Pet Goat" in a prominent place?

Do you think that shortcomings in the Federal Response will derail the unprecedented bi-partisan cooperation we have all been enjoying? (Ahem...)

Do you think that Bush committed high crimes and misdemeanors which will ultimately result in his early exit from office? (Err...)

Or do you think that failures in the federal response will cause Bush's enormously high approval numbers to plummet since he has never previously done anything in office which could upset a segment of the population? ( :S )

Seriously, I do not see how this will affect Bush all that much. Tarnish his "legacy" I suppose, but that is not a Waterloo. Please explain. Thanks, J

Who was Cortez?

- Jim -

He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.

And his subjects
gathered 'round him
Like the leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry gods to see.

And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood
straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on.

Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones.

They carried them
to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up
with their bare hands
What we still can't do today.

And I know she's living there
And she loves me to this day
I still can't remember when
Or how I lost my way.

He came dancing across the water
Cortez, Cortez
What a killer.





Neil Young

Ray Medhurst said:

A grand jury does not indict unless it has sufficient evidence in front of it to warrant such an indictment. No evidence, no indictment, simple as that.

It's really not that simple Ray, since only the prosecution gets to select and present evidence to the Grand Jury.

Alexander, will you explain this in more detail to Ray? He wouldn't listen to me of course.

- Jim -