Headed down to San Diego today for a meeting. On the flight out of Seattle we flew west of the Cascades and just west of Mt. Rainier. This is the closest I've been to the mountain (and seen it) since a backpacking trip years ago. Our altitude was just a little higher than the ~14500 foot summit. Beautiful with the winter snow in the surrounding foothills. From there it doesn’t take more than a few minutes (I'm still on the same song on my iPod) to see Mt. Adams come into view. This is another of the chain of volcanoes that make up the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. Adams looks like a miniature Rainier although it’s summit is still over 12000 feet.
This is my second opportunity to use my new iPod Photo and Bose Acoustic Noise canceling headphones on an airline flight. These headphones really do what they claim. The noise from the engines is attenuated by at least 50-75%, allowing one to hear music (or a DVD, etc) without turning up the volume so loud it hurts. Of course, as expected the bass is lost a bit since it’s still in the same frequency range as the plane noise. Turning the EQ to bass booster on the iPod helps here. Plus just now the pilot throttled back the engines as we reach cruising altitude (37000 feet). I’m happy, I have the whold row to myself (that doesn’t happen often), but I better get back to the work I need to do.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Can't make up my mind
OK, contrary to what I wrote here back in December, I guess I will maintain separate blogs for different "essays" (I use that term loosely). If the subject is about computers, it'll go in Mostly Mac, if it's strictly science-related, it'll go in Science or Fiction, and if it's just about me, it'll go in the Attic. The Garage is left for those "weighty" discussions.
Geez, how pretentious can I get? Lucky I'm the only one seeing these!
Geez, how pretentious can I get? Lucky I'm the only one seeing these!
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Election day in Iraq
I'm sitting here Sunday morning, laid up with the leg injury suffered earlier in the week playing soccer, watching the news coverage of the Iraq election. By most news accounts (CNN example), more people went to the polls, at least in Baghdad, than expected. TV news ("Democracy in Action") showed many people risking their safety, almost defiantly, going to the polls. There have been more than a dozen attacks by insurgents with roadside and suicide bombs killing at least 25 and wounded over 70. While turnout may have been high in the regions of Iraq with a high percentage of Shiites, news accounts are also confirming that the turnout in the Sunni Triangle has been low. But the more the Iraqi people stand up to the Saddam loyalists, and the foreign and Al Qaeda terrorists, the less power they will have over the general population. I just hope the people can make it through the near term attacks.
So, once this interim government is in place, they will have a year to write a new constitution for Iraq, which will then be followed by another election to elect leaders based on the rules of that constitution. By then, if not sooner, the when and how US forces will be withdrawn will have to be answered. I don't want to be pessimistic on this day, but a Doonesbury comic from yesterday expresses the prevailing view that it could take 5-15 years! By then, I'm sure the cost of our involvement will be approaching the trillions of dollars and who knows how many more lives.
So, once this interim government is in place, they will have a year to write a new constitution for Iraq, which will then be followed by another election to elect leaders based on the rules of that constitution. By then, if not sooner, the when and how US forces will be withdrawn will have to be answered. I don't want to be pessimistic on this day, but a Doonesbury comic from yesterday expresses the prevailing view that it could take 5-15 years! By then, I'm sure the cost of our involvement will be approaching the trillions of dollars and who knows how many more lives.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
The (other) election
We're now a few hours away from the 'first free' national election in Iraq in over 50 years. Roadside bombings and attacks on Iraqi police, politicians, candidates, and poll workers are continuing, right up to the elections. Insurgents have threatened to kill Iraqis going to the polls. Similar attacks on US troops also continue. As of this morning, since hostilities started almost 2 years ago, our troops have suffered over 1400 deaths. Estimates of deaths of Iraqi soldiers and civilians, and of the various groups that make up the insurgency, are ranging closer to 200,000.
Will enough Iraqis go to the polls for the election to be considered legitimate in spite of the threats? If this happens will the various groups now fighting back realize that it's folly to continue and cease the relentless attacks? I truly hope so. We as a country have made a collosal mistake by the invasion and war. First it was in the name of protecting ourselves and other countries from WMD. Then it was because Saddam Hussein and Iraq harbored Al Qaeda (sure, they're there now but there has been no credible evidence that they were then). Now it's in the name of ending terrorism and bringing freedom and democracy to the world. The ~$200 billion spent to date is only a down payment. Our only exit strategy is to try to put all the pieces back together and give back some semblance of a country to the Iraqis. The election is a necessary part of this strategy.
However it all plays out, our country's involvement is and will remain for years a tremendous challenge, one I don't feel we can afford yet one we cannot now abandon.
Will enough Iraqis go to the polls for the election to be considered legitimate in spite of the threats? If this happens will the various groups now fighting back realize that it's folly to continue and cease the relentless attacks? I truly hope so. We as a country have made a collosal mistake by the invasion and war. First it was in the name of protecting ourselves and other countries from WMD. Then it was because Saddam Hussein and Iraq harbored Al Qaeda (sure, they're there now but there has been no credible evidence that they were then). Now it's in the name of ending terrorism and bringing freedom and democracy to the world. The ~$200 billion spent to date is only a down payment. Our only exit strategy is to try to put all the pieces back together and give back some semblance of a country to the Iraqis. The election is a necessary part of this strategy.
However it all plays out, our country's involvement is and will remain for years a tremendous challenge, one I don't feel we can afford yet one we cannot now abandon.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Spreading freedom
Today in Iraq, the U.S. military experienced the most deaths in one day since the war started. Thirty one were killed in a helicopter crash and another six were killed in battles with insurgents or from roadside bombs [CNN article]. The President says this was a tragic day but it "is the long-term objective that is vital, and that is to spread freedom." In another press conference, the President didn't even mention the helicopter crash--he just focused on the upcoming election in Iraq [NY Times].
I know we can't turn back from our responsibilities in Iraq. It's just so hard not to be angry at this administration for getting us into this morass for such spurious reasons. No WMD. Plenty of IED (improvised explosive devices). We are no longer just protecting America from terrorism, but we're now hell bent on spreading (forcing?) democracy on everyone, everywhere. In the meantime, our national debt is increasing drastically and there will be a price to pay, soon.
As the federal debt increases, the dollar will drop. As the dollar drops, interest rates will rise. As interest rates rise, the economy will begin to stagnate, particularly when inflation hits. And we all become poorer. Yet, we are passing permanent tax cuts that benefit the rich and corporate coffers while doing little for everyone else.
But as the Great Communicator says, this is good.
I know we can't turn back from our responsibilities in Iraq. It's just so hard not to be angry at this administration for getting us into this morass for such spurious reasons. No WMD. Plenty of IED (improvised explosive devices). We are no longer just protecting America from terrorism, but we're now hell bent on spreading (forcing?) democracy on everyone, everywhere. In the meantime, our national debt is increasing drastically and there will be a price to pay, soon.
As the federal debt increases, the dollar will drop. As the dollar drops, interest rates will rise. As interest rates rise, the economy will begin to stagnate, particularly when inflation hits. And we all become poorer. Yet, we are passing permanent tax cuts that benefit the rich and corporate coffers while doing little for everyone else.
But as the Great Communicator says, this is good.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
The holidays and disaster in south Asia
The time I took off over the holidays was much needed and even though I was home most of the time, I tried to stay away from email. Our daughter was home...this first year of her away at school has been a bit of a tough adjustment. It was the typical Christmas and New Year's holiday. Some stress before, getting the right gifts, trying not to go overboard, end up going overboard anyway. Spent time with all sides of the family and generally had an enjoyable time.
But it all pales in significance to the disastrous tsunami in Indonesia, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and other countries. The scope of the loss of life (~150,000) and destruction is overwhelming and hard to actually fathom. The bits of video and photos shown on TV and the web are horrifying. A 40 foot wave moving close to 400 miles/hour!
As the true scope of this disaster has unfolded, I'm left with bits and pieces of memories that stand out. The hourly increases in the estimated death toll. The outpouring of aid in the form of money, supplies, and help from all over the world, from governments and individuals. The partisan politics and bickering about the initial US government estimated outlay. Wondering why the President's brother Jeb Bush was going to survey the damage (experience in natural disasters through this past year's hurricanes in Florida or early politicking for the Presidency in 2008?). The role of the internet and on-line transactions in just how much and how fast monetary donations have been raised in this country alone. Our President remaining silent for two days before publicly acknowledging the disaster. A photo of what looked like piles of lumber from destroyed homes only to see that the piles contained hundreds of bodies on a beach in Sri Lanka. Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell being almost dumbfounded when he observed destroyed villages from a helicopter.
The US and other western countries have really stepped up here to help. Hopefully, Muslims will see that the US is not the Satan, that we just don't invade other countries. But do we really have to point that out as Sec. Powell felt compelled to do?
But it all pales in significance to the disastrous tsunami in Indonesia, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and other countries. The scope of the loss of life (~150,000) and destruction is overwhelming and hard to actually fathom. The bits of video and photos shown on TV and the web are horrifying. A 40 foot wave moving close to 400 miles/hour!
As the true scope of this disaster has unfolded, I'm left with bits and pieces of memories that stand out. The hourly increases in the estimated death toll. The outpouring of aid in the form of money, supplies, and help from all over the world, from governments and individuals. The partisan politics and bickering about the initial US government estimated outlay. Wondering why the President's brother Jeb Bush was going to survey the damage (experience in natural disasters through this past year's hurricanes in Florida or early politicking for the Presidency in 2008?). The role of the internet and on-line transactions in just how much and how fast monetary donations have been raised in this country alone. Our President remaining silent for two days before publicly acknowledging the disaster. A photo of what looked like piles of lumber from destroyed homes only to see that the piles contained hundreds of bodies on a beach in Sri Lanka. Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell being almost dumbfounded when he observed destroyed villages from a helicopter.
The US and other western countries have really stepped up here to help. Hopefully, Muslims will see that the US is not the Satan, that we just don't invade other countries. But do we really have to point that out as Sec. Powell felt compelled to do?
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