Daily Archives: February 27, 2010

Weekend Open Thread

Well I have to say that last snowstorm was a bit of a dud, but I’m not complaining. It’s nice not to be stuck inside for a couple of days. I have to add, I’m really, really ready for spring to arrive.

This story just makes me sad:

Last week, the South Dakota House of Representatives passed a resolution to “urge” public schools to teach astrology. By a 36-30 vote, the legislators passed House Concurrent Resolution 1009, “Calling for balanced teaching of global warming in the public schools of South Dakota.” After repeating long-debunked denier myths and calling carbon dioxide “the gas of life,” the resolution concludes that public schools should teach that “global warming is a scientific theory rather than a proven fact”

The full text of the resolution is at the link. It has sense been amended to remove most of the kooky.

All our thoughts go out to the people affected by the Chilean earthquake. Not only do people in Chile have to worry about earthquake damage and aftershocks, but people on the pacific coasts have to worry about tsunamis. An 8-foot tsunami is expected to hit Hawai’i this afternoon. Luckily they have some warning. Here is a map, put out by NOAA showing the energy generated by the earthquake (and the risk of tsunami).

Weekend Foodie Post — 50 Things Every Foodie Should Try

This was talked about on A Chef’s Table this morning, talking to the author Pim Techamuanvivit who has a new book called Foodie Handbook: The Almost Definitive Guide To Gastronomy.

I’ve included a screen capture of the 50 things here. But here are the top 10:

1. Go native
2. Eat a whole roasted turbot on the Basque coast of Spain
3. Eat a fugu
4. Give up trying to like something you hate
5. Try a durian
6. Dine at a Parisian three-star restaurant
7. Eat a perfect peach
8. Try a stinky cheese
9. Find your signature dish
10.Try khao chae, in Bangkok, at the height of summer

Of this list, the ones I can check off are: 1,3,7,8,12,15,16,17,19,21,22,26,31,33,38,39,40,42,43,46,50. 9 is a strange one since I keep changing my signature dish and 27 is a non-starter since I’m allergic.

Cool list! Which ones have you done? Any thoughts on foodie experiences that should be here? There’s no bacon anywhere on here, you know….

DE GOP Abuse of Legislative Perks

That is the topic of a fine piece of reporting by Ginger Gibson in this morning’s News Journal, providing some detail how how the GOP spent their budgets to support themselves when they were in control of the House.  This report has the feel of a tip of the iceberg — as in there is likely more there to look at. But it is very good to see how the people who want to lay claim to making a better use of tax money (largely via hyping their own bete noirs, insensible math and trying to paint everyone else as being profligate) are especially profligate on their own behalf.  Using Delaware tax money.

Among the items Democrats say were partisan and should not have been funded with tax dollars were the salary of a political consultant who many longtime staffers say never came to work, thousands of dollars in improper tuition payments to a former Republican legislator, questionable payouts to political advisers for unused vacation and sick time, and money for a Web site that delivered Republican perspectives.

A no-show legislative job, giving themselves more benefits than prescribed and trying to build a partisan messaging website that was supposed to be a stand-in for a vehicle that actually told the people of Delaware about the business being conducted on their behalf. Perhaps that is what they mean by open government.

Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf notes that:

Attorneys for House Democrats are researching measures in other states, Schwartzkopf said. He hopes the two caucuses will come to an agreement to approve legislation that would impose rules on Delaware lawmakers and their staffs.

The sooner the better, really. And even better would be if they post their proposed new rules up as soon as they are ready to discuss with both caucuses — so we can all get an idea of what is on the table and perhaps have a chance to weigh in.

ps. This:

Wozniak, who now serves as policy director for the right-leaning Caesar Rodney Institute think tank, received $4,525.50. Brittingham received $6,251.90.

(Emphasis mine) is a WIN for everyone who called out the CRI’s “non-partisan” BS.