$52M to Ashcroft from Justice Department

$52M to Ashcroft from Justice Department

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From TruthOut, news that the Department of Justice awarded former Attorney General John Ashcroft a $52 million contract, “among the biggest payouts reported for a federal monitor,” to help the US Attorney’s Office in New Jersey monitor leading manufacturers of knee and hip replacements. $52M to help one state in one precise industry. Interesting. I wonder how much monitors have been getting to check out toy manufacture. I wonder what the total budget of the New Jersey US Attorney’s office…

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Political Compass

Political Compass

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Here is a more detailed and nuanced political quiz from Political Compass (thanks to Jamie). It puts me about where I would expect. I still haven’t seen the quiz I’d like to see, though… these are still too abstract, with not enough substantial choices for answers. Where’s the ranking of answers? Agree/disagree isn’t enough. I’m thinking about designing my own when I have more time.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

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I hope you have a terrific Thanksgiving, and that you can think of a thousand things for which to be grateful. [youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6iLB4q-NDI[/youtube] Annie Lennox – A Thousand Beautiful Things Every day I write the list Of reasons why I still believe they do exist (a thousand beautiful things) And even though it’s hard to see The glass is full and not half empty (a thousand beautiful things) So… light me up like the sun To cool down with…

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Political Quizzes

Political Quizzes

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I’m finding that the political quizzes are too simplistic. There are not enough questions, and the ones they have are poorly worded or don’t provide enough choices for an answer. I’m not really convinced that any I’ve seen or taken really represents my own views, although it’s ok for a broad-strokes picture. Unfortunately, the simplified differences on viewpoint are part of what undermines the political debate in the public sphere. Maybe I should write one. It would be based on…

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Earth over the Moon

Earth over the Moon

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Earthrise and Earthset over the Moon – wow. These high definition pictures were released November 12, 2007 by the Japanese space agency JAXA. The images were taken by the SELENE probe as it orbited the Moon at a distance of about 62 miles (100 km). These are the world’s first HD images of the Earth – from about 235,000 miles (380,000 km) away in space. [youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEAMQALvDC4[/youtube] (Thanks to Sharon Puett) (Ok, I really don’t like that song anymore….

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