brucemaples dot com

Legislature,

Louisville,

Progressive,

Special Session

Friday

19Jun

Iran Pictures ... and some Green Avatars

Quick note --

Amazing pics of Iran protests, both in Iran and around the world:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/19/744656/-Tehran-Street-PhotosOn-the-Brink

If you want to reset your Twitter or Facebook avatar to support the Iranian protesters, go here:
http://creativebits.org/twitter/green_support_icons_twitter_iranelection_campaign

Friday, June 19, 2009 at 11:09PM |

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Policy and Politics | tagged

Facebook,

Iran,

Twitter

Monday

15Jun

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised -- But It Will Be Twittered

Sorry to all for not getting the longer C-J article up. (It's coming, I promise, and I think it will be worth the wait.) I had planned on working on it this weekend, but my schedule got completely blown away by two things: yardwork (much soreness) and following the events in Iran via Twitter (much amazement, fascination, and concern).

Some of you may remember the CNN coverage of the first Gulf war and how we all tuned in, both amazed and shocked at watching the opening of a war in real time. That's something of how I felt over the weekend: while the traditional media were almost completely blocked and only able to tell what the Iranian government allowed, I was reading tweets like these in real time:

Monday, June 15, 2009 at 08:55PM |

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Policy and Politics,

Technology | tagged

Iran,

Twitter

Friday

12Jun

C-J Cuts Jobs, Gannett Execs Get Bonuses

(I've only got a few minutes before leaving for work, but I thought this needed to get up this morning. I'll expand on it later tonight.)

Even while our local paper is hollowed out to a shell of its former self, and Gannett slashes jobs and freezes salaries across the country, Gannett execs are making the big bucks -- including a one-million dollar salary for the CEO.

Friday, June 12, 2009 at 07:23AM | Comments Off | |

Life in General | tagged

C-J,

Courier-Journal,

Gannett,

Journalism

Tuesday

09Jun

Wayne's Bill == YES; Farmer's Bill == AYKM?!?

(Hat tip to Page One, that had the story and the PDF)

Two tax-reform bills were presented in Frankfort last week. The bill by Jim Wayne improves some of the inequity in our current tax system, AND improves the revenue picture. It gets a big YES from me, and should get a Yes from anyone who cares about both fiscal responsibility and an equitable tax system.

The bill by Bill Farmer, OTOH, deserves only this response: Are You Kidding Me?!?

Make the jump to see why ...

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 10:21PM | Comments Off | |

Policy and Politics | tagged

Budget,

Kentucky,

Taxes

Monday

08Jun

What Are You Reading?

I realize it's a cheap ploy for comments, but ...

What are you reading?

Drop your answer in the comments, and I'll put up a summary in a day or two.

Monday, June 8, 2009 at 10:40PM | Comments Off | |

Life in General | tagged

Books

Sunday

07Jun

Why Can't Local Leaders Get This?

It's a pretty simple proposition, really:

Build the East End bridge first;
Redo the traffic study to see if it makes sense to do 8664 in order to give yourself political cover;
Then do 8664;
Achieve this:

Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 11:09PM | Comments Off | |

Policy and Politics | tagged

8664

Sunday

07Jun

War Profiteers May Finally Get Theirs

For years and years, many of us have been screaming about war profiteers. From no-bid contracts, to outsourcing run amok, to shoddy work that endangers our troops, to graft so egregious it makes Boss Tweed look like a beginner -- for anyone paying attention, the overriding question has been "What does it take to get someone to go after these crooks?"

Finally, it looks like the wheels of justice are starting to turn.

Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 10:00PM |

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Policy and Politics | tagged

KBR,

War Profiteering

Wednesday

03Jun

Tiananmen Square -- 20 Years Later -- Some Thoughts and Links

As I write this, it is already June 4 in China. All over China, people are remembering where they were on that fateful day 20 years ago when the fledgling democracy movement, a grassroots movement of peace and celebration, was brutally crushed in Tiannemen Square. Here are some stories, links, videos -- and a few thoughts:

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 10:38PM | Comments Off | |

Policy and Politics | tagged

China,

Democracy,

Human Rights

Wednesday

03Jun

George McGovern -- Here -- Sunday!

(Via my good friend Carol Besse, the Best Bookseller in the US of A:)

Carmichael's and the Filson Historical Society invite you to a talk and book signing with Senator George McGovern this Sunday, June 7th at 5 PM. The event will be held at the First Church of Christ Scientist at 1305 South Third Street, just across the street from the Filson.

Senator McGovern will read from and discuss his latest book, Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President, 1861-1865, part of the illustrious "American Presidents" series published by Times Books. In his multifaceted analysis of our sixteenth president, McGovern offers insight into what sets Lincoln apart from so many of America's most accomplished chief executives. He shows how Lincoln sometimes went astray, particularly in his restrictions on civil liberties, but also how he adjusted his sights and transformed the Civil War from a political dispute into a moral crusade. McGovern's account reminds us why we hold Lincoln in such esteem, and why he remains the standard by which his successors are measured. Lincoln's story has been told many times, but never by a man who himself sought the presidency and understood the awesome responsibilities that come with it.

Carmichael's will be selling copies of Senator McGovern's new book and the Senator will be available for signing after his talk. This event is free and open to the public, however reservations can be made in advance by calling the Filson at 635-5083.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 09:02PM | Comments Off | |

Policy and Politics | tagged

Books,

Carmichael's,

Lincoln

Wednesday

03Jun

Toxic Faith and the Tiller Murder

The murder of George Tiller in his church this past Sunday has sparked horror and grief across the political and religious spectrum, as persons on both sides of the abortion debate have condemned the killing as senseless and wrong. Once past the universal condemnation, though, pro-choice advocates have been quick to cast the attack on the well-known abortion doctor as the logical outcome of the rhetoric of some pro-life groups and right-wing bloviators, while pro-life spokespersons have been just as quick to distance themselves from such rhetoric.

A secondary discussion has emerged in some quarters, and the heat and passions generated by this discussion have become, in some cases, bigger and hotter than the original story. Here's the question:

Can Tiller's murder be blamed on Christianity or on Christians? In other words, does adherence to the Christian religion make someone more likely to carry out an act such as this?

When I saw that question posted, my first thought was "not any Jesus faith that I'm familiar with." But my second thought was: "Toxic Faith."

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 03:14AM |

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Faith and Church,

Policy and Politics

Tuesday

02Jun

New Site User Guide (Really!)

I know it sounds silly, but I've built a one-page user guide to the site, that is linked at the top of the Site Tools section on the right.

Why? Mainly because I was afraid that some newcomers were missing things like the category filters, the Share This link, and the poems and such.

So, take a moment and scan it. You may find something you didn't know about.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 03:21PM | Comments Off | |

Meta | tagged

Site

Monday

01Jun

KY Budget Shortfall -- Some Research

After reading a story over at Page One about the upcoming special session and the $1 billion shortfall, I decided to do some research. Make the jump to see what I found (with charts, real numbers, and a few not-yet-real numbers) --

Monday, June 1, 2009 at 11:49PM | Comments Off | |

Policy and Politics | tagged

Budget,

Kentucky,

Research

Thursday

28May

4 to 6 Weeks -- in Dog Years

This morning's C-J reports that JCPS still hasn't finished its investigation into Max Gilpin's death -- six months after law enforcement finished in November. According to Max's parents, every time they ask to see the final report, they're told it will be ready in another "four to six weeks."

Apparently JCPS is using dog years, as their weeks continue to turn into months. If they hold out until August, it will be a full year.

Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 07:41AM | Comments Off | |

Life in General | tagged

JCPS,

Louisville

Tuesday

26May

The Beginning of the Orange Satan

For those who may care --

Today (May 26, 2009) is the seven-year anniversary of the founding of Daily Kos. The opening post is succinct (pretty damned short, actually), yet still lays out the basics pretty well:

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 07:37PM | Comments Off | |