07.02.2007 Growing out of my vain webspace

When I set up this blog I did so for the same two reasons as everyone else that does: I had the ability and as a simple outlet for the things in which I am interested.

Those interests have taken shape over time.  As I see it they have turned out to be the technology industry, my politics of independence and my French-Canadian background.

To seem less scattered-brained, I'm trying to bring some focus by giving these each their own forum, starting with my background.  To do this, I have launched Chez Yankois, my personal attempt to reach out from the periphary of the  Franco-American community where I had grown up and connect with it more completely.

Please check in and follow along from time to time.

04.02.2007 MA: Big Dig's shoddiness is a national security threat

“National Security” is the fog within which any government excess, mistake or corruption may find safe harbor. This applies to all levels and parties in government, not just the neo-conservative machinations of Bush, Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al.

Case in point: if the people’s great and progressive Commonwealth of Massachusetts will use it to hamper the due process for a family seeking some amount of reconciliation from the state’s negligence – on the basis that it would make turnpike employees miss their naptimes to separate the information that wants to be free from that which will sink our ships – then there is no governmental transparency; there is only what supports the politicians in power and what threatens national security.

03.22.2007 Japanese Foreign Minister: Blondes can't be diplomats

Apparently, if I ever had any ambitions to get into international diplomacy, I should quit before I embaress myself -- or dye my hair and wear contacts.

Go to this Reuters story to see what I'm talking about.

03.22.2007 Fly like an eagle -- or maybe a millenium falcon.

It's no Cinnabon stamp, but the United States Postal Service is trying to do something special for this very memorable year: the 30th anniversary of the release of the original Star Wars movie (in which HAN SHOT FIRST).

They could pick a worse mascot than R2D2. While mischievous, he did make sure that the message got through, despite imperial troops, bondage, sand and a flamboyant droid partner.

03.20.2007 This should come as no surprise...

... it looks like even the accusations against North Korea weren't for real.  In fact, they only began redeveloping nuclear weapons, eventually successfully testing a low-yield one last year if you recall, after the Bush Administration declared the Agreed Framework null and void because of their deliberate overestimation of the North's interest in such weapons.

Twice fooled: shame on me.