Glofish: the civil rights struggle of the 21st century

Fafblog! the whole worlds only source for Fafblog brings us up to date on glofish. He begins:

It has been a while since we have had a glofish update and for that I apologize. But who else is updating you on the struggle to Free Glofish? Not quote-unquote libertarian Eugene Volokh. Not Calpundit who is Californian and has ignored the glofish controversy engulfing his state. In the blogoverse only Fafblog is promisin to bring you fast-coming updates on this enfolding crisis of civil liberties. Fast-coming updates every couple months.

Be silly. Read more.

NewMexiKen saw this somewhere else but only decided you needed the glofish update after seeing reference to it again at Brad DeLong’s Semi-Daily Journal.

The complex, irrepressible American spirit

Gordon S. Wood has written a perceptive review of Freedom Just Around the Corner: A New American History, 1585-1828 by Walter A. McDougall. Wood begins:

This unusual book by Walter A. McDougall is the first of what will be a three-volume history of America. If this volume, which covers the period 1585 to 1828, is any indication of the promised whole, the trilogy may have a major impact on how we Americans understand ourselves.

Wood’s review discusses McDougall’s thesis: “We Americans, he claims, are a nation of people on the make.” McDougall does this without celebration or condemnation according to Wood, but rather as simply the truth.

Wood praises McDougall’s style and research:

Despite his emphasis on greed, trickery and hustling, however, McDougall aims to write a comprehensive history of early America, and he succeeds to a remarkable extent. All the major events are covered and many minor events as well. In fact, he seems to have missed nothing of importance; he even takes the time to describe the ways wool was woven, leather was tanned, tobacco was produced and cotton was processed. Because he wants to ensure that his ”new history” will give to every region and state the attention it deserves, he has included four- or five-page descriptions of states admitted to the union after the original 13, each set apart in a highlighted portion of text. But naturally much of his narrative focuses on individuals, and he demonstrates an unusual ability to sum them up in a few well-chosen sentences. His beautifully produced vignettes include not only the major figures like Hamilton and Jefferson, but also lesser ones like Hugh Henry Brackenridge, Eli Whitney and ”a true American hustler,” Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Together with the prose, which is fast-paced and full of shrewd judgments, what is most impressive about McDougall’s narrative is the range of sources he has used. …

The title is from Bob Dylan’s Jokerman, of course.

Who’ll do the wisecrack?

CNN.com reports that Jerry Orbach may be leaving Law & Order.

Sources say “Law & Order” veteran Jerry Orbach will depart Dick Wolf’s long-running crime drama at the end of the season after 12 years on the beat as wise-cracking Detective Lennie Briscoe.

However, Orbach may still remain in business with Wolf with a role on the upcoming fourth installment of the franchise: “Law & Order: Trial by Jury.”

As for the flagship series, there is no word yet about a replacement for Orbach, but one scenario involves his character’s partner, Detective Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin), being promoted.

Thanks to Jill for the link.

Santa Fe may require seat belts for pets

From CNN.com.

SANTA FE, New Mexico (Reuters) — Buckle up Fido!

The city of Santa Fe may soon require pet owners to restrain their dogs, cats and ferrets in special pet seats or with seat belts while traveling in a moving vehicle.

The ordinance, endorsed by the city’s public safety committee, would also require that “animals in open beds of trucks and cars be tethered or restrained enough so the animal can’t fly out the window,” said Kate Rindy, executive director of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, who helped develop the proposed law.

Read more.

Link via The Coyote’s Bark…..

Revenge of the Repressed

Interesting thoughts on 9/11 from Billmon at Whiskey Bar.

NewMexiKen has been troubled that the nation has responded to that day in a purely reactive manner — orange alerts, taking our shoes off to get through airport security, police cruisers and light artillery guarding the Pentagon from Route 110. Perhaps it is just me, but I fear we are no more prepared for the general or specific act of terrorism in this country than we were 31 months ago. Maybe the 9/11 Commission will provide us with some lessons learned.

Where are the cherries?

NewMexiKen reads that the cherry blossoms around Washington’s Tidal Basin are about to explode. Truly it is spectacular, though the “peak” bloom seems an altogether too brief moment in time each year.

I have long thought that the cherry blossoms are the perfect metaphor for so much of what happens in the nation’s capital. There is a tremendous amount of prediction and talk and hype, often beginning weeks in advance of the actual event. When the blossoms do arrive so do the crowds, driving, cycling or walking around and around, oohing and ahhing.

Much hype, much show, much motion, much talk.

And not one damn cherry.

The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost was born on this date in 1874.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Soccer: a thinking man’s game

From The Seattle Times: Sideline Chatter:

As added proof that soccer headers kill brain cells, The Mirror of London offered up a string of oratorical boot brilliance through the ages, including:

• Gary Lineker (Leicester): “There’s no in between — you’re either good or bad. We were in between.”

• Mark Viduka (Leeds): “I would not be bothered if we lost every game, as long as we won the league.”

• Ronnie Whelan (Liverpool): “He’s put on weight and I’ve lost it, and vice versa.”

• Stuart Pearce (Nottingham Forest): “I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel.”

• Alan Shearer (Newcastle): “I’ve never wanted to leave. I’m here for the rest of my life, and hopefully after that as well.”

• Les Ferdinand (Leicester): “I was surprised, but I always say nothing surprises me in football.”

Birthday boys and girls

Leonard Nimoy, to be known forever as Mr. Spock, is 73 today.

Alan Arkin is 70. Arkin was twice nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role — for The Russians are Coming, the Russians Are Coming and The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.

James Caan is 65. Caan was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather.

Diana Ross is 60. According to news reports Miss Ross celebrated early by persuading an appeals board to reduce her estimated $168,000 annual property tax bill by $30,000. According to Newsday:

Ross contested the town’s $13.4 million appraisal of her 5-acre Belle Haven estate, which includes a 12,562-square-foot mansion with 11 bedrooms, six bathrooms, five fireplaces, a hot tub, pool, tennis court and two apartments.

The person who used to look like Jennifer Grey is 44 today.

Joseph Campbell…

was born on this date in 1904. Professor Campbell is best known for his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces, which discusses the myth of the hero’s journey found in many cultures, and for his PBS series with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth.

Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces has been sited as a source of inspiration by many filmmakers, novelists and comic book creators, most notably Star Wars director/writer George Lucas.

Edith Wheeler…

was born in New York City on this date in 1900. On her father’s side Edith was descended from John Wheeler and Agnes Yeoman who emigrated from England in 1634 on the ship Mary & John and settled in Massachusetts. Edith’s mother’s father, Andrew Jackson Hutchinson, served with the Union Army during the War of the Rebellion.

Edith Wheeler had four children and sixteen grandchildren of whom NewMexiKen is one.

NewMexiKen won’t be moving to Moraga or Lafayette anytime soon

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Tim and Trish Davis sold their five-bedroom home in Vacaville in four days. Even with a $150,000 profit from that sale earlier this month, however, they’re fighting to land a house in Moraga or Lafayette, towns closer to their jobs and with strong school systems for their two teenagers.

A week ago, the Davises offered $775,000 for a three-bedroom home listed for $725,000. There were 13 offers, eight above $800,000.

“We knew the base price (in Moraga) would be high,” said Tim Davis, a 45- year-old account manager for Coca-Cola in Oakland. “But what we didn’t realize was that the bidding war was going to be so brutal.”

Read more.