The neurons are the electrical wiring of the body. All thoughts, commands to muscles, and sensory inputs happen through this system. The spinal cord is a lot like the main wiring harness to your car that carries information about speed, gas level, temperature, etc. That wiring can also send commands, turn on the headlights, honk the horn, turn on the windshield wiper motors.
Neurons receive input at one end from a branch structure, called Dendrites. They receive the signal and can pass it along through their axon to a dendrite at the tail end of their axon. Axons, similar to a wire, can run quite a distance, up to about three feet. The electrical signal runs along them and can be transmitted, much like a game of telephone from neuron to neuron. While neurons can take input from many other neurons from their dendrites, they only transmit through one axon.
At the end of the axon is a bulb, or ball. That synaptic knob and the Dendrite do not actually connect, the distance between them is called the synaptic gap. The electrical impulse is actually conducted by chemical neurotransmitters. These transmitters get released by the axon when the pulse hits them. The pulse opens up the bulbs and the transmitters go to the receptors on the next neuron. These transmitters can either excite or inhibit the receptors of the next neuron in the chain.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Action Potential
Neurons get an electrical imbalance, with a relative positive charge outside and negative charge inside. This comes about as the membrane surrounding the neuron lets out three Sodium ions(Na+) and brings in two Potassium ions(K+); this is called the Sodium Pump. The net effect is to have a relatively positive charge outside the cell. As the electrical charge builds outside the cell, the voltage difference will rapidly increase. Eventually this imbalance triggers channels in the membrane to open that will release the Potassium that is built up inside and the process starts anew.
This imbalance, called action potential, happens at just one small spot on the neuron. when the change occurs, there will be an electrical imbalance to the area just next to it. In this way, electrons essentially pulse down the neuron. These pulses travel much faster if the diameter is larger. Squid have the largest diameter, and so the fastest pulses. The problem with larger diameters however is that the signal fades out faster, so they can't travel long distances. They are also easier to see and as a result a lot of experiments have been done on our multi-legged friends. The other thing that increases speed is myelin sheaths. These sheaths have breaks in them, that have the poetic name of the 'nodes of ranvier'. Myelin essentially prevents the positive imbalance everywhere but the gaps, this forces the electrons to shoot from node to node, speeding the transfer.
This imbalance, called action potential, happens at just one small spot on the neuron. when the change occurs, there will be an electrical imbalance to the area just next to it. In this way, electrons essentially pulse down the neuron. These pulses travel much faster if the diameter is larger. Squid have the largest diameter, and so the fastest pulses. The problem with larger diameters however is that the signal fades out faster, so they can't travel long distances. They are also easier to see and as a result a lot of experiments have been done on our multi-legged friends. The other thing that increases speed is myelin sheaths. These sheaths have breaks in them, that have the poetic name of the 'nodes of ranvier'. Myelin essentially prevents the positive imbalance everywhere but the gaps, this forces the electrons to shoot from node to node, speeding the transfer.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Neurons
Consciousness is wrapped up in the brain. At its core the brain is based upon the way neurons work together. The brain is essentially electrical. It functions through Sodium and Potassium ions which are either allowed in or expelled. These are transmitted through channels, called axons. If I understand it properly, neurons function rather like capacitors, where they get a certain charged based on the flow of Sodium and potassium ions. Once they hit a certain charge they are likely to fire, this charge grows until they absolutely fire. They receive charge from other neurons on one side, and send charge to other neurons when they fire.
In this way a group of neurons fires up or dampens the neurons around it. Where the neurons ‘talk’ to each other are called the synapses. The spaces between them are called synaptic gaps. They can be either exciting neurons next to them to chatter, or shushing them to quiet down. Some interesting side notes here, epilepsy is essentially when the neurons fire wildly, creating almost an electrical storm in the brain. Multiple Sclerosis on the other hand is a degradation of the sheath that insulates the axon. Very much like a wire that has no plastic insulation left, it is likely to short or not transmit its charge, causing difficulty in speech and muscle control.
The way neurons fire, or don’t fire is wound up in how we remember things as well as how we think. It seems that these processes are not completely understood. In general the brain seems to have different departments that manage certain functions. But the brain is rather remarkable in being able to retrain other areas to take over these functions when injured. We will look closer at the ingress and egress of potassium and sodium tomorrow.
In this way a group of neurons fires up or dampens the neurons around it. Where the neurons ‘talk’ to each other are called the synapses. The spaces between them are called synaptic gaps. They can be either exciting neurons next to them to chatter, or shushing them to quiet down. Some interesting side notes here, epilepsy is essentially when the neurons fire wildly, creating almost an electrical storm in the brain. Multiple Sclerosis on the other hand is a degradation of the sheath that insulates the axon. Very much like a wire that has no plastic insulation left, it is likely to short or not transmit its charge, causing difficulty in speech and muscle control.
The way neurons fire, or don’t fire is wound up in how we remember things as well as how we think. It seems that these processes are not completely understood. In general the brain seems to have different departments that manage certain functions. But the brain is rather remarkable in being able to retrain other areas to take over these functions when injured. We will look closer at the ingress and egress of potassium and sodium tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Consciousness
I suppose in starting off, I really ought to try and define consciousness. The easiest way comes from my dictionary:
1 : the quality or state of being aware especially of something within
2: the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought : mind
3: the totality of conscious states of an individual
4: the normal state of conscious life
5: the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes
This gives a reasonable starting point, particularly the second definition. Sensation, emotion, volition and thought. Can animals be considered conscious; perhaps they can’t be considered to think. Emotion would tend to leave out computers as we know them know, but artificial intelligence is in it’s infancy, perhaps this will emerge as models progress. John Locke defined it as “the perception of what passes in a man’s own mind.” This captures the self-awareness and thoughtfulness that likely excludes animals.
The self-aware portion goes away while asleep, leaving us temporarily unconscious. Being conscious of our thoughts and surroundings is considered to be so vital, that if our brain is deemed to permanently have lost that ability, it is ok to extinguish someone’s life. This elusive consciousness is the most valuable piece of life. This must be why we have made it a divine spark from the gods. It is completely unique and separates Human’s from the rest of animals.
1 : the quality or state of being aware especially of something within
2: the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought : mind
3: the totality of conscious states of an individual
4: the normal state of conscious life
5: the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes
This gives a reasonable starting point, particularly the second definition. Sensation, emotion, volition and thought. Can animals be considered conscious; perhaps they can’t be considered to think. Emotion would tend to leave out computers as we know them know, but artificial intelligence is in it’s infancy, perhaps this will emerge as models progress. John Locke defined it as “the perception of what passes in a man’s own mind.” This captures the self-awareness and thoughtfulness that likely excludes animals.
The self-aware portion goes away while asleep, leaving us temporarily unconscious. Being conscious of our thoughts and surroundings is considered to be so vital, that if our brain is deemed to permanently have lost that ability, it is ok to extinguish someone’s life. This elusive consciousness is the most valuable piece of life. This must be why we have made it a divine spark from the gods. It is completely unique and separates Human’s from the rest of animals.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Turing Test
One of the interesting questions about consciousness is whether it belongs exclusively to the living. In other words, can people come up with a computer sophisticated enough that it can be considered conscious? Probably the most famous test for this was by the British code breaker in World War II, Alan Turning. The Turing Test would have one person in conversation with another person and a computer. If the computer can answer questions put to it in such a way that people can’t tell it is a computer, it can be considered to be a thinking machine. While it has critics, the Turing test is considered to be a benchmark for artificial intelligence, one that no machine has yet to be able to achieve.
Sort of an interesting analog is the use CAPTCHA, where you are required to input a distorted word or string of letters in order to prevent machines from spamming websites or blogs. Humans are very good at pattern recognition, so these distorted images are typically clear to people. If someone were to develop a pattern recognition software capable of defeating this method of identifying people, it would in a sense be thwarting todays test.
Computers already extend what people can do dramatically; the question is whether people will be able to build essentially minds that are more powerful than their own. The other question this brings up is if they do, will the computers really need people anymore? This has been grist for any number of science fiction plots, the most obvious being HAL in 2001, A Space Odyssey. This brings up some odd moral questions too, would it be ethical to turn off a computer that was ‘aware?’ It also brings up the issue of whether people are simply complex machines, or if there is something more required; either on a quantum level, or if there is some sort of divine spark that makes human’s unique. Just scratching the surface, I lean towards thinking there is something not determined by natural physics laws, but something likely not religious in nature.
Sort of an interesting analog is the use CAPTCHA, where you are required to input a distorted word or string of letters in order to prevent machines from spamming websites or blogs. Humans are very good at pattern recognition, so these distorted images are typically clear to people. If someone were to develop a pattern recognition software capable of defeating this method of identifying people, it would in a sense be thwarting todays test.
Computers already extend what people can do dramatically; the question is whether people will be able to build essentially minds that are more powerful than their own. The other question this brings up is if they do, will the computers really need people anymore? This has been grist for any number of science fiction plots, the most obvious being HAL in 2001, A Space Odyssey. This brings up some odd moral questions too, would it be ethical to turn off a computer that was ‘aware?’ It also brings up the issue of whether people are simply complex machines, or if there is something more required; either on a quantum level, or if there is some sort of divine spark that makes human’s unique. Just scratching the surface, I lean towards thinking there is something not determined by natural physics laws, but something likely not religious in nature.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thinking about Thought
I ran across a blog that was discussing atheism, determinism and consciousness. While the conversation did not progress very well, it did spark a powerful curiosity about the topic. I come to realize that although I think every day, I know very little about the process. I am conscious, but have spent very little time considering what, exactly, that means. As an atheist among Christians I seemed to primarily be an annoyance, but for myself, the process of writing about thinking led to so many interesting questions, that I thought I would continue it here where folks would have to seek out being annoyed.
What is thinking? What are the physical mechanics? How are thinking and past experiences entwined? What is consciousness? Is it a deterministic (pre-determined) process based on the exact makeup of our brains, or is there a random element? Do thought mechanics allow for free will? How exactly do we sense things for the outside world? Is it possible that there is more to sense and we just aren’t equipped to do it? How does the mind focus on something? How well do we multi-task? If we create a machine that emulates the mind well enough, can we call it conscious? Why music and art; what do we get from these? What are emotions and what use do they have? Can we chemically or electrically alter our emotions?
It seems to me that these questions are what makes humans truly unique, I don’t seem to have thought much about them. I’m planning to push out a thought and read some every week day; weekends are for important things like family and football.
What is thinking? What are the physical mechanics? How are thinking and past experiences entwined? What is consciousness? Is it a deterministic (pre-determined) process based on the exact makeup of our brains, or is there a random element? Do thought mechanics allow for free will? How exactly do we sense things for the outside world? Is it possible that there is more to sense and we just aren’t equipped to do it? How does the mind focus on something? How well do we multi-task? If we create a machine that emulates the mind well enough, can we call it conscious? Why music and art; what do we get from these? What are emotions and what use do they have? Can we chemically or electrically alter our emotions?
It seems to me that these questions are what makes humans truly unique, I don’t seem to have thought much about them. I’m planning to push out a thought and read some every week day; weekends are for important things like family and football.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Party of Fiscal Restraint?
Everyone is focused on the strippers (and who can blame them), but it seems to me that the Republicans get into a serious branding issue when they try to be the party of fiscal restraint, but then blow this kind of money on private jets and five star hotels.
Insurance Companies & Children
Insurance companies have folded within 24 hours of announcing their intent to try and deny coverage to children based on the fine print within the Health Care Law. You have to wonder how they expected that interpretation to play out in the national media.
Last night the teaser for the 11 o'clock newscast was that a six year old girl was denied health insurance. What a wonderful thing to have that be suddenly newsworthy.
Last night the teaser for the 11 o'clock newscast was that a six year old girl was denied health insurance. What a wonderful thing to have that be suddenly newsworthy.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Throw Joe Lieberman under the Bus
Harry Reid met with Senator Joe Lieberman yesterday. Joe Lieberman, while ostensibly a democrat came out in support of John McCain. That in itself does not seem to be worthy of ridding the Senate caucus of him. But Lieberman did not let it go at a simple endorsement; he gave a keynote speech at the Republican convention. If as if that were not enough; he then took to the road with McCain, I can't count the number of times I have seen a camera shot of a McCain Campaign speech with a grinning Lieberman in the background; his feckless head bobbing up and down in agreement with McCain.
People are entitled to their political opinions, but if yours run counter to the party you belong to and you actively work against the parties interest; it seems to me that the least you can do is strip the apostate of his chair positions. If Lieberman wants to continue to caucus with the Democrats that's all well and fine, but allowing him to keep his chair after working against the Democratic party is too much; and corrosive of party discipline. Harry Reid needs to throw Joe under the Bus.
People are entitled to their political opinions, but if yours run counter to the party you belong to and you actively work against the parties interest; it seems to me that the least you can do is strip the apostate of his chair positions. If Lieberman wants to continue to caucus with the Democrats that's all well and fine, but allowing him to keep his chair after working against the Democratic party is too much; and corrosive of party discipline. Harry Reid needs to throw Joe under the Bus.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Long Knives out for Palin
The national press was unquestionably hard on Sarah Palin and Republicans were outraged. With the election of Barack Obama however, we are now treated to the spectacle of Republican operatives fighting it out over Palin; and they make the national media look like a bunch of panty-waists.
Within the McCain campaign frictions began to emerge near the campaigns end with anonymous complaints that Palin was 'going rogue'. Back then going rogue largely meant that she spoke to the media more and was mildly critical of the McCain robocalls. Within the McCain campaign, there had to be a sense that she was a strategic error; in that while she excited the base she vitiated the line of attack that Obama was inexperienced. While she had more executive experience, she was clearly wanting in foreign affairs chops. Palin was excellent at the set speeches and rallies, but was wanting in the ability to respond thoughtfully to interview questions.
In the wake of Obama's victory on Teusday; the long knives have really come out. It will be interesting to see who will come to her defense. The steady drip of anonymous leakings have said that the Palins were like 'Wasilla Hillbilly's looting Nieman Marcus from coast to coast'. This cuts away her, "I'm just a soccer mom" persona.
The other leakings slash at her intellect; suggesting that she could not distinguish Africa as a continent and is unable to figure out what countries inhabit North America. This strikes me as more than just the typical finger pointing; she is being hobbled from running in 2012. There is a real fear among the moderates that she could end up as the standard bearer in the next election and would get hammered yet again; they are sparing no feelings in taking her down now.
In 1934 Hitler purged his own Brown shirts by having them killed. We have grown more civilized, but the virtual hobbling of Palin shows that ruthlessness endures. For all their talk about the viciousness of the elite media; Republicans are clearly masters of the game. They are furiously finishing what Tina Fey began.
Within the McCain campaign frictions began to emerge near the campaigns end with anonymous complaints that Palin was 'going rogue'. Back then going rogue largely meant that she spoke to the media more and was mildly critical of the McCain robocalls. Within the McCain campaign, there had to be a sense that she was a strategic error; in that while she excited the base she vitiated the line of attack that Obama was inexperienced. While she had more executive experience, she was clearly wanting in foreign affairs chops. Palin was excellent at the set speeches and rallies, but was wanting in the ability to respond thoughtfully to interview questions.
In the wake of Obama's victory on Teusday; the long knives have really come out. It will be interesting to see who will come to her defense. The steady drip of anonymous leakings have said that the Palins were like 'Wasilla Hillbilly's looting Nieman Marcus from coast to coast'. This cuts away her, "I'm just a soccer mom" persona.
The other leakings slash at her intellect; suggesting that she could not distinguish Africa as a continent and is unable to figure out what countries inhabit North America. This strikes me as more than just the typical finger pointing; she is being hobbled from running in 2012. There is a real fear among the moderates that she could end up as the standard bearer in the next election and would get hammered yet again; they are sparing no feelings in taking her down now.
In 1934 Hitler purged his own Brown shirts by having them killed. We have grown more civilized, but the virtual hobbling of Palin shows that ruthlessness endures. For all their talk about the viciousness of the elite media; Republicans are clearly masters of the game. They are furiously finishing what Tina Fey began.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Signs
Political signs are an interesting social interaction. When you post a sign in your yard you make a statement that I am for this and I don't care who knows it. There are always some folks that will disagree with your sign; so it is already a little 'in your face'. In our neighborhood we put up a sign for Kerry four years ago and shortly thereafter a neighbor put up a Bush sign. When the election came and it was a nail biter; we left our sign up. Kerry lost, but I couldn't quite bare to take my sign down; defeat just stung too much. Then I noticed that my neighbor left his sign up too; I have to say, it annoyed me. I left my sign up for several weeks as I struggled with accepting that the country still wanted more of Bush. To steal a phrase, I clung to my sign in bitterness.
As I was walking my dog around the block I noticed another Bush sign on a street several blocks from us that was still up, but there was a note taped on it. The note said "I am a Republican and I'm embarrassed that you leave up your sign. We won the election there is no need to rub it in the faces of our neighbors who voted for another party. I am raising two children and trying to teach them to be good sports; this sign makes it harder to tell them that Republicans are good sports." The note wasn't signed. I walked off and the next day saw that the sign was gone. When I went home that afternoon I finally found myself pulling the Kerry sign up and putting it in the garage. The day after that our neighbor finally pulled down his Bush sign.
Last night I watched as Obama's electoral votes crashed through 270 and he was the President Elect. It was a joyful moment and my family whooped and cheered. I went outside and took down my Obama/Biden sign. My wife was annoyed, but four years ago I remember thinking that if I ever am on the winning side my sign would come down straight away. Some times you can learn more from people that disagree with you than you can from your friends. I don't know that anyone will notice; but that anonymous Republican left me thinking about the proper use of signs; I hope this election finds him or her well.
As I was walking my dog around the block I noticed another Bush sign on a street several blocks from us that was still up, but there was a note taped on it. The note said "I am a Republican and I'm embarrassed that you leave up your sign. We won the election there is no need to rub it in the faces of our neighbors who voted for another party. I am raising two children and trying to teach them to be good sports; this sign makes it harder to tell them that Republicans are good sports." The note wasn't signed. I walked off and the next day saw that the sign was gone. When I went home that afternoon I finally found myself pulling the Kerry sign up and putting it in the garage. The day after that our neighbor finally pulled down his Bush sign.
Last night I watched as Obama's electoral votes crashed through 270 and he was the President Elect. It was a joyful moment and my family whooped and cheered. I went outside and took down my Obama/Biden sign. My wife was annoyed, but four years ago I remember thinking that if I ever am on the winning side my sign would come down straight away. Some times you can learn more from people that disagree with you than you can from your friends. I don't know that anyone will notice; but that anonymous Republican left me thinking about the proper use of signs; I hope this election finds him or her well.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Subprime Mortgage Mess
The Fed very likely ignited the housing bubble by keeping interest rates abnormally low from about the middle of 2002 through 2005. In general terms the interest rate should only be very low when output of the economy is too low. From 2002, in part due to the dot com bust and in part due to 9/11 the Fed kept rates unusually low, around 1%.
Twenty percent of mortgages are now from the bottom of the credit barrel, which allows lower income folks get homes. The problem is most of those loans went out at 95% of the value in the property. If property values always go up that's fine, but property values don't do that. About half the loans were made by companies that are almost completely unregulated. Half the loans required no documentation on income.
Usually the bank takes a keen interest in a borrowers ability to pay, but now they sell off these loans, often to off balance sheet entities of banks in Europe. The risk of mortgage default was sold off to these investors bundled with good loans based on ratings by firms paid for by the very companies selling the securities. Very often the mortgage initiator would call up the ratings firms asking how many more low quality loans they could squeeze into a bundle.
Some would have you believe that greedy people on both sides deserve what they got, but if you can't see opportunities to prevent these issues in the future and that this represents an efficient market at work, you have some very clouded glasses. For an amazing in depth loook check out The Economist.
Twenty percent of mortgages are now from the bottom of the credit barrel, which allows lower income folks get homes. The problem is most of those loans went out at 95% of the value in the property. If property values always go up that's fine, but property values don't do that. About half the loans were made by companies that are almost completely unregulated. Half the loans required no documentation on income.
Usually the bank takes a keen interest in a borrowers ability to pay, but now they sell off these loans, often to off balance sheet entities of banks in Europe. The risk of mortgage default was sold off to these investors bundled with good loans based on ratings by firms paid for by the very companies selling the securities. Very often the mortgage initiator would call up the ratings firms asking how many more low quality loans they could squeeze into a bundle.
Some would have you believe that greedy people on both sides deserve what they got, but if you can't see opportunities to prevent these issues in the future and that this represents an efficient market at work, you have some very clouded glasses. For an amazing in depth loook check out The Economist.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Scent of a doggy
Our dog is extremely well behaved. She just has this nasty habit of waking up. While awake and we are out the neighbors say she likes to bark. Well they don't say it so much as write it ... anonymously. We have begun to hear the ominous beat of the war drums in the distance; I believe they are marshaling their forces.
This is an extremely unusual position for us, our last dog only barked when Republicans proposed legalizing Gay marriage, or Democrats won the White House and the like. It is a difficult thing to control your dog while you are away. We purchased a citronella collar that squirts her when she barks. It does seem to have slowed her down some; but she always has a lemony fresh smell about her now. Still the neighbors seem to be stowing their pitchforks and torches for the time being; perhaps it will work.
This is an extremely unusual position for us, our last dog only barked when Republicans proposed legalizing Gay marriage, or Democrats won the White House and the like. It is a difficult thing to control your dog while you are away. We purchased a citronella collar that squirts her when she barks. It does seem to have slowed her down some; but she always has a lemony fresh smell about her now. Still the neighbors seem to be stowing their pitchforks and torches for the time being; perhaps it will work.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Good Grief
In our drive to find any solution in the morass that has become Iraq, we are now arming the Sunni militants. Since they have fallen out with Al Qaeda, we are arming them for the fight. The trouble is that this cuts at the heart of a stable Iraqi government. Arming militias responsible to no controls makes no sense when the Iraqis are not able to control their own country. We are so desperate to make 'progress' we will make this Faustian compact. It will surely come back to haunt us. The full story is here.
Fred Thompson
Fred Thompson is fast becoming the latest fad in a Republican search for anybody else. The parallels to last years adoption by the Democrats of general Wesley Clark comes to mind. But the more you look the less there is, this is a candidate headed no where. George Will, the undisputed best of the Republican pundits, has a great piece on him. At the very least he seems to have no common sense, doing an ad for a credit shark, written up by the LA Times (subscription required).
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Rudy's Russkies
History is a passion for me, so it bothers me when folks throw around egregiously wrong facts and nobody says boo about it. Here is a link to Rush Limbaugh where he comments on a Rudy Giuliani interview with Larry King:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021507/content/01125107.guest.html
Guiliani is discussing American intel failures during wartime:
"The Battle of the Bulge was the biggest intelligence failure in American military history, much bigger than any in Vietnam or now. We didn't know that the Soviets were moving three, four, 500,000 troops. We missed it."
The battle of the Bulge was between the Germans, Americans and Western Allies; no Soviet troops to miss there and even if there were, the Soviets were our allies. The Germans had at best 200,000 men, not 500,000.
And then we get this snarky little tidbit from Rush:
"We missed it," and King says: The Battle of the Bulge? What was the Battle of the Bulge? That was, uh, uh... Wha? What was that? "
Making fun of King while missing completely the 500,000 Soviets that weren't there (and I thought I knew intelligence failures).
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021507/content/01125107.guest.html
Guiliani is discussing American intel failures during wartime:
"The Battle of the Bulge was the biggest intelligence failure in American military history, much bigger than any in Vietnam or now. We didn't know that the Soviets were moving three, four, 500,000 troops. We missed it."
The battle of the Bulge was between the Germans, Americans and Western Allies; no Soviet troops to miss there and even if there were, the Soviets were our allies. The Germans had at best 200,000 men, not 500,000.
And then we get this snarky little tidbit from Rush:
"We missed it," and King says: The Battle of the Bulge? What was the Battle of the Bulge? That was, uh, uh... Wha? What was that? "
Making fun of King while missing completely the 500,000 Soviets that weren't there (and I thought I knew intelligence failures).
Sunday, February 04, 2007
His cup runneth over
My son is just starting up baseball for the season. For the first time ever he needed an athletic cup to keep those family jewels safe. First thing he starts doing after getting it on is banging on it like Ricky Ricardo playing Babaloo.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Noonan on Obama
Peggy Noonan has opined on Obama's bid for the presidency saying he hasn't the experience to run the country. That he is unburdened by hard work or accomplishment, which is to say that working in State government is somehow a bucolic lark (strange rhetoric indeed from a Reaganite). Implicit is that his accomplishments in the State legislature somehow don't count on the national stage. Where she really misses the boat methinks is when she says he does not have an issue.
Anyone who heard his speech at the Democratic convention knows his issue, the divisiveness of todays politics. He brings an even handedness that has even seized the imaginations of some conservatives like David Brooks. The polarization of the body politic is his issue and it is the ideologues wrapped in their bare knuckle infighting that are blind to it.
Noonan claims he stands for nothing, but notes he gets a 100% rating from liberal groups, an interesting trick. In fact he stood against the Iraq war at a time when few in either party were willing to. In her heart I believe what Noonan fears most is that Obama is the mirror image of Ronald Reagan who will advance liberal ideas with charisma and charm. The reality is that Obama is worse than she fears, because he is both more capable and thoughtful than Reagan.
Anyone who heard his speech at the Democratic convention knows his issue, the divisiveness of todays politics. He brings an even handedness that has even seized the imaginations of some conservatives like David Brooks. The polarization of the body politic is his issue and it is the ideologues wrapped in their bare knuckle infighting that are blind to it.
Noonan claims he stands for nothing, but notes he gets a 100% rating from liberal groups, an interesting trick. In fact he stood against the Iraq war at a time when few in either party were willing to. In her heart I believe what Noonan fears most is that Obama is the mirror image of Ronald Reagan who will advance liberal ideas with charisma and charm. The reality is that Obama is worse than she fears, because he is both more capable and thoughtful than Reagan.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Don't make me shoot you a whole bunch of times in the head Bob
My wife is substitute teacher. She was talking to this other teacher about kindergartners the other day. He had been passing the boys room when he heard some Kindergartners making a ruckus. He popped his head in and this little boy who was raising cain in there looks at him and says, "Is your name Bob"?
He says no, and explains to them that they really need to quiet down, conduct their business and go out on the playground. This boy looks at him again and says, "OK Bob!" After another little chat he lets them go. It's a running joke in our house now to ask somebody who is telling you something you don't want to hear, "Is your name Bob"?
He says no, and explains to them that they really need to quiet down, conduct their business and go out on the playground. This boy looks at him again and says, "OK Bob!" After another little chat he lets them go. It's a running joke in our house now to ask somebody who is telling you something you don't want to hear, "Is your name Bob"?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)