Where do we go from here?
Taking the West Forward

High Country News takes a look at the large issues facing the west.

The beginning of a presidential term presents Westerners with an opportunity to identify the problems that most threaten the future of our region, and to begin talking about how we might take them on. In this edition of High Country News, we focus on 10 issues in desperate need of action. These are challenges that we believe are nonpartisan, and that will remain significant far beyond the next four years. They can — and should — unite the West.

Chanukkah

In this, the Jewish Year 5765, Chanukkah begins at sunset December 7, and continues until nightfall December 15. That is, the first candle is lit tonight and the last candle on the night of December 14.

According to Judaism 101:

Chanukkah, the Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the festival of lights, is an eight day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.

Chanukkah is probably one of the best known Jewish holidays, not because of any great religious significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas. Many non-Jews (and even many assimilated Jews!) think of this holiday as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as elaborate gift-giving and decoration. It is bitterly ironic that this holiday, which has its roots in a revolution against assimilation and the suppression of Jewish religion, has become the most assimilated, secular holiday on our calendar.

Judaism 101 provides historical background, Chanukkah traditions, music and a recipe for latkes.

It’s the birthday

… of Eli Wallach. Tuco is 89. “Hey Blondie, do you know what you are? You’re a stinking son of a….” [Theme starts.]

… of Ellen Burstyn. Alice is 72. Ms. Burstyn has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress five times, winning for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore in 1975. She was also nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Last Picture Show.

… of Johnny Bench. The Hall of Fame catcher is 57.

… of Larry Bird. The Basketball Hall of Famer is 48.

Indecent exposure

FunctionalAmbivalent explains the group behind 98-99 percent of the complaints to the FCC.

While the PTC is ostensibly non-partisan, Bozell is decidedly not. He was head of fundraising for Pat Buchanan’s 1992 Presidential campaign and President of the National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC), which funneled millions of dollars to Republican candidates and nothing to Democrats.

Among his allies in his campaign to dictate what other people should not be able to watch on TV is a celebrity advisory board that reads like a nightmarish dinner theater cast: Tim Conway, Pat Boone, Dean Jones and Billy Ray Cyrus, along with moral exemplar/recovering gambling addict William Bennett and former pro football player Jim “Is He Still Alive?” Otto.

Read Tom’s report, but see the background at MediaWeek.com as well.

Inventing a Crisis

Paul Krugman explains the Social Security “crisis.”

The grain of truth in claims of a Social Security crisis is that this tax increase wasn’t quite big enough. Projections in a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office (which are probably more realistic than the very cautious projections of the Social Security Administration) say that the trust fund will run out in 2052. The system won’t become “bankrupt” at that point; even after the trust fund is gone, Social Security revenues will cover 81 percent of the promised benefits. Still, there is a long-run financing problem.

But it’s a problem of modest size. The report finds that extending the life of the trust fund into the 22nd century, with no change in benefits, would require additional revenues equal to only 0.54 percent of G.D.P. That’s less than 3 percent of federal spending – less than we’re currently spending in Iraq.

Day of infamy

From The Writer’s Almanac

In 1941 on this day, the Japanese attacked the American navel base at Pearl Harbor. Early in the morning 183 Japanese fighter planes took off from aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean. They used broadcasts from Honolulu radio stations to help them navigate. The planes arrived off the coast of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, shortly before 8:00 in the morning. Radar at Pearl Harbor had picked up the fleet, but the Americans assumed the planes were B-17 bombers coming from California. Bombs began to drop over the docks at Pearl Harbor along “battleship row.” Approximately an hour later 168 more planes appeared dropping more bombs. Eight ships were sunk or severely damaged and 347 U.S. military airplanes were destroyed. The battleship Arizona exploded, killing nearly all of the crew on board, accounting for 1,177 of the total of 2,300 American deaths at Pearl Harbor. The ship burned for days after the attack due to the fuel on board.

Up until that point President Roosevelt had refused to join in the Second World War going on overseas. After the attack the president announced in a short radio broadcast to the country that lasted less than 10 minutes, that December 7th was a date that would “live in infamy.” Congress declared war on Japan the following morning.

U.S. Navy cable at time of attack — THIS IS NOT DRILL.

And see NewMexiKen’s slideshow of the Arizona Memorial [1.2MB Windows Media file].

We gotta get outta this place

NewMexiKen had an MRI this morning to see if all of my spinal disks are herniated or just most of them. (Indeed, one of the reasons for my break in blogging last month was to see if less time at the computer would make the lower back and, more recently, leg pain go away. Stopping for more than a week didn’t help. Jacuzzis do though.)

Anyway, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) takes place while you are inserted in a narrow tube. I have enough claustrophobia that this otherwise straightforward procedure freaks me out. I had to been taken out of one a couple of years ago, but decided I would tough it out today. And I did, really without too much anxiety.

Claustrophobia is generally defined as a fear of enclosed places. Actually though it’s a fear of not having an escape route. For anyone who experiences it, the overriding characteristic of claustrophobia is the feeling that you need to be able to get out quickly — and, of course, you can’t.

Phobias are interesting in the way that those who don’t have them fail to grasp what it’s like for those who do. In an effort to be helpful one of the attendants asked if I would like a cloth over my eyes. Well, no, thank you for asking though. Covering my eyes could only make it worse.

Getting down to business

Functional Ambivalent has a couple of notable pieces today — I’m About 70% Sure This is Dead Right: Project Blue Christmas is Dead Wrong and Once in a While, I’m Glad to Be Old. The first of these has some need-to-be-said comments about Wal-Mart. The second — well, just been there, done that (both sides of the table).

In addition, I am attempting to flatter Tom so he will restore me to a higher place on his blogroll. Once one achieves glory at “Every Day,” it’s so discouraging to be classified among the “When I’ve Got a Moment.” (Regardless of however deserved my demotion may have been.) In fact, if I don’t get moved up soon I may take another hiatus.

And I thought National Treasure was just a film

From WTOP Radio:

WASHINGTON — The National Archives goes to great lengths to protect national treasures, such as the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, but a WTOP investigation has found that hundreds of items are not secure.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of irreplaceable artifacts are missing – either stolen or lost.

Handwritten letters written by Ulysses S. Grant, a photo of President Ronald Reagan with Margaret Thatcher and a portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt are just some of the historic artifacts that have disappeared.

Dozens of presidential pardons also have disappeared. Archives records obtained by WTOP show the presidential pardons are just a fraction of what one career National Archive employee was able to steal and sell for more than $200,000.

One of the documents found its way on to eBay. The employee involved pleaded guilty and much of what he stole was recovered.

The Office of the Inspector General for the National Archives and Records Administration says a missing painting of FDR could be in a landfill somewhere. It may have been inadvertently thrown away.

The report by the inspector general also says one missing artifact is believed to have been purchased by an unnamed city’s mayor and put on display in city hall.

Eighteen years with the National Archives and NewMexiKen doesn’t even have a Skilcraft ballpoint pen to show for it.

Thanks to Jess for the link.

Statue of Freedom

Capitol

The bronze Statue of Freedom by Thomas Crawford is the crowning feature of the dome of the United States Capitol. The statue is a classical female figure of Freedom wearing flowing draperies. Her right hand rests upon the hilt of a sheathed sword; her left holds a laurel wreath of victory and the shield of the United States with thirteen stripes. Her helmet is encircled by stars and features a crest composed of an eagle’s head, feathers, and talons, a reference to the costume of Native Americans. A brooch inscribed “U.S.” secures her fringed robes. She stands on a cast-iron globe encircled with the national motto, E Pluribus Unum. The lower part of the base is decorated with fasces and wreaths. Ten bronze points tipped with platinum are attached to her headdress, shoulders, and shield for protection from lightning. The bronze statue stands 19 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 15,000 pounds. Her crest rises 288 feet above the east front plaza.

Source: Architect of the Capitol

[NewMexiKen photo, September 8, 2001]

Take Five

Dave Brubeck is 84 today.

And it was on this date in 1896 that Ira Gershwin was born. The Writer’s Almanac says:

[B]orn Israel Gershvin on the East Side of New York City. He’s considered one of the great lyricists of the twentieth century, best known for writing the lyrics to songs like “I’ve Got Rhythm” (1930) and “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” (1937). But he always felt overshadowed by the talent of his younger brother, the composer George Gershwin. The two brothers worked together on many songs, and Ira once heard a radio announcer say, “Here is a new song by George Gershwin and his lovely wife Ira.”

Ira Gershwin won the Pulitzer Prize for his lyrics for Of Thee I Sing (1932). Among Ira Gershwin lyrics — A Foggy Day, Fascinating Rhythm, Funny Face, I Got Rhythm, The Man I Love, Oh, Lady Be Good, Summertime.

The Official George & Ira Gershwin Web site is nicely done and includes a jukebox.

I intend to live forever – so far, so good

Steven Wright is 49 today. A few words of Wrightian wisdom:

All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.

If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you.

How do you tell when you’re out of invisible ink?

Boycott shampoo! Demand the REAL poo!

Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.

A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I’m afraid of widths.

A friend of mine once sent me a post card with a picture of the entire planet Earth taken from space. On the back it said, “Wish you were here.”

Ivan’s fault

The Irish Trojan’s Blog reminds us that this isn’t the first time Mother Nature has messed with the Pac 10.

Six years ago, a University of California school from the Pac-10 was one win away from a trip to college football’s national-championship game, but was tripped up at the last possible moment by a non-conference game that had been rescheduled from September due to a hurricane. The threat of Hurricane Georges postponed the UCLA-Miami game from Sept. 26 to Dec. 5, and the then-#2-ranked Bruins missed out on a trip to the Fiesta Bowl because they lost 49-45 on the last day of the regular season.

This year, another September hurricane helped keep another highly ranked University of California school from the Pac-10 out of a big-time bowl game. Mighty Ivan delayed the non-conference showdown between Cal and Southern Miss from Sept. 16 to Dec. 4, and although the #4-ranked Berkeley Bears didn’t wind up losing on the last day of the season, like the Bruins did in 1998, they did “struggle” — if a 26-16 win (which should have been 33-16) on the road against a bowl-bound team can really be described as “struggling” — and it cost them a Rose Bowl berth, as poll voters rebelled and gave the BCS edge to Texas.

Dynasty

NewMexiKen’s neighborhood high school, La Cueva, defeated Clovis 40-0 yesterday to win the New Mexico Class 5A Football Championship.

For the second year in a row.

Undefeated (13-0) both years.

By the way, NewMexiKen has not seen the film Friday Night Lights, but the book by H. G. Bissinger, first published in 1990, is simply outstanding.

Choosing Florida over Notre Dame

The SportsProf has an exceptionally thoughtful take on Urban Meyer’s choice, despite this self-described “harsh … throwaway line” —

So, Notre Dame is struggling to find a football team that the school can once again be proud of, while the average SEC school is struggling to find a school that the football team can be proud of.

Crime scene

From Yahoo! News:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The lawyer for Robert Kennedy’s assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, has gone to court to stop the demolition of the hotel where the late senator was shot dead, saying that there is evidence in its walls that can prove his client innocent.

Attorney Lawrence Teeter claims the 60-year-old Sirhan was set up as a dupe in the 1968 assassination, despite shooting at Kennedy in front of witnesses.

Sirhan is serving a life sentence for the crime.

Teeter filed suit this week in Los Angeles Superior Court to stop the city’s school board from demolishing the Ambassador Hotel to build a school on the site.

Link via BoingBoing

Sirhan.jpg

Sirhan’s 22 pistol. Photo taken by NewMexiKen.

George Armstrong Custer …

Custer was born on this date in 1839.

The PBS series The West has a fair essay on his life, career and legacy.

Custer’s blunders cost him his life but gained him everlasting fame. His defeat at the Little Bighorn made the life of what would have been an obscure 19th century military figure into the subject of countless songs, books and paintings.

NewMexiKen is partial to this photographic legacy.