3 topics from sci-blogs

[acroyear]

Dispatches from the Culture Wars: The Non-Apology Apology Strikes Again:

One of the most absurd aspects of our culture these days is the non-apology apology. Here's a perfect example of one. A member of the Florida state Republican committee sent out an email to 8 people that said this:

From: Carol Carter Friday, January 30, 9:30 AM Subject: FW: Amazing!

I'm confused

How can 2,000,000 blacks get into Washington, DC in 1 day in sub zero temps when 200,000 couldn't get out of New Orleans in 85 degree temps with four days notice?

Carol Carter

Crude. Stupid. Racist. Yep, she's 3 for 3. Someone it was mailed to was rightly offended by it and sent it along to someone who apparently had some authority, which led to this classic non-apology:

From: Carol Carter January 30, 5:54 PM Subject: Earlier e-mail

I have been asked to send this apology for my earlier e-mail. I am sorry that it was received in a negative manner. I do hope that we are going to be allowed to keep our sense of humor.

As you can now see, it went to very few people. I did add Todd Marks in this apology, as he is in the mix now. I am also sorry to learn that some of these persons are not real team players. There really was no reason for this to go beyond those that I e-mailed (8 people). This was not an e-mail blast as I do not have that capability.

Carol

There is nothing even remotely resembling an apology here. Sure, she says "I am sorry" but the only thing she's sorry for is that it was received badly, not that it deserved to be so received. Everything after that is excuses, not remorse.

Mike the Mad Biologist : State Aid Is as 'Shovel Ready' as It Gets...:

...so why did the Blue Dog Democrats and conservative Republicans cut it? According to the latest about the Recovery and Reinvestment Act (funny how everyone's forgetting about the reinvestment part), the Blue Dogs and 'moderate' Republicans cut in half the proposed funds to supplement state budgets. This defeats the whole purpose of a stimulus.

Hardly a day goes by in any state where there aren't newspaper stories about state and local budget cuts. For the most part, these aren't scaling back future projects, but cuts in ongoing, existing projects, such as education. Yet the Blue Dogs fail to recognize that increasing spending at the federal level, if offset by cuts at the state and local levels, doesn't do anything. It's very simple: spending is stimulus.

What's all the more ridiculous is that giving the states money to rescind budget cuts is about as 'shovel ready' as can be: you're simply restoring funding to existing levels. There's no waiting to hire people, or waiting for projects to begin (e.g., construction). All that needs to happen is to not lay people off, not freeze salaries, and not cancel ongoing contracts with private businesses.

In Boston, for instance, all municipal employees will have a pay freeze (that'll help stimulate the economy), and the school budget is still $32 million in the hole*, which means that local businesses, such as repairmen, won't get contracts.

[...]

And it's not just Nevada or Boston that are having to lay off teachers.

Viriginia is another of those states that have plenty of projects already started but won't be finished thanks to budget cuts.  I drive past 3 of them on 28 every morning, and then there's the whole Dulles Rail project that's been effectively derailed.

Respectful Insolence: When the economy tanks, psychics prosper:

I should have seen this one coming.

After all, the economy's been in the crapper for several months now. Things are bad and getting worse, with the bottom not yet in sight. So who could prosper in this environment, except for repo men and liquor stores?

Psychics, of course:

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The housing crisis will deepen, the country could fall into a depression and laid-off workers may need to start their own business.

New York psychic Roxanne Usleman says the bad economy had been good for her business.

[...]

On the other hand, given how badly these guys' decisions have turned out and how the Wall Street class, through their shortsightedness and greed have managed to plunge the world into the worst recession since World War II, the wag in me can't resist wondering if their following the advice of a psychic could be any worse. I do, however, have to acknowledge one person quoted in the story as an early frontrunner for the award of Understatement of the Year:

Financial adviser Ryan Mack says adding the cost of a psychic reading into an already stretched budget is not a good investment.

"Regardless of what the stars say, regardless of what the map says in terms of -- if Pluto is lined up with Mars," says Mack. "You have the ability within yourself to save, to plan and to be diligent."

Yep. Of course, I can't resist asking: If Usleman is such a good psychic, why didn't she see the economic disaster we find ourselves in coming?

Comments

[thatwasjen]

Regarding apologies, I was pretty impressed that Alex Rodriguez actually did apologize in his drug confession interview. It doesn't make up for using substances, or for denying it initially, or for confessing in an ESPN interview, but for that much at least he did take a refreshing approach.

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

Course, it was only after everything was coming down on him anyways and years of being the top paid player in baseball. We also have to take his word that he only took it in the years which he said.

[thatwasjen]

All true, and I'm still disappointed in him. But he said I'm Sorry in a way that few people have dared for the past 20 years.