At San Francisco State University, where growing vegetables is a veritable science unto itself, the compost just keeps getting deeper. It's okay to deface an American flag, and stuffing a crucifix upside-down in a jar of urine is "artistic". But - "insult Allah"? You're roadkill. That's an "action of incivility" that creates a "hostile environment". Oooh. Can't have that, now can we?
Their latest contribution toward the betterment of the human condition: pantyhose for men. Usually, guys will do something like place a pair over the head before sticking up a bank, but that's not the idea here. You gentlemen are expected to purchase pantyhose and wear them on your legs, just like ladies do. Next up: pitching a fit over a broken fingernail. Woosification trifecta is now in play.
Unsurprisingly, Metro - the "regional government" in the PDX area - has decided to take on the hot potato that nobody else wants to touch. This particular potato involves building and owning a brand-spankin' new, 600-room Convention Center Hotel. The Portland Development Commission backed away from the idea, no private entity will bite, and even the Portland City Council rejected the idea of city ownership. The latter isn't entirely surprising, as they've taken a lot of heat for throwing away millions of dollars on Civic Stadium PGE Park, water bureau computer billing systems that didn't work, buying covers for reservoirs to keep us safe from terrorism, and of course - the PHART.
As the Bush administration continues to ignore the issues related to our porous southern border, some are finding opportunities. Increasingly, armed criminals - both Mexican and American - are targeting illegals shortly after they cross the border. Deaths, robbery, and kidnappings for ransom are becoming, in the words of one official, an almost daily occurrence. And while some gleefully inquire as to whether or not there's a bag limit, the fact remains that the tragedies occurring at our southern border are a direct result of the Bush administration's thumb-twiddling. Most people recognize that action needs to be taken - and should have been taken long ago. This failure is perhaps the greatest failure of the Bush administration, and much blood is on his hands. His failure will haunt us for years to come.
While Sir Richard Branson may lean left in his politics, there can be no doubt that the man understands Capitalism, and how to motivate people.
Case in point, courtest of Yahoo News/AP:
Sir Richard Branson on Friday announced a $25 million prize for the scientist who comes up with a way to extract greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, comparing it to the 17th-century quest to revolutionize navigation by determining longitude.
"Man created the problem, therefore man should solve the problem," Branson said. "Could it be possible to find someone on Earth who could devise a way of removing the lethal amount of CO2 from the Earth's atmosphere?"
Unlike the vast majority of the people screaming about man-made global warming, Branson is actually putting his money where his mouth is (honorable mention to actor Ed Begley Jr for being another that does).
