Winter Arctic Ice Coverage Tied for Historic Low

The blog's title sums up a piece that appeared, ironically, in today's Miami Herald. Among the disastrous impacts of the melting ice is a reduction of the environment where polar bears live. These creatures require solid ice for their survival. Most scientists attribute the diminished ice to the effects of global warming, which have been particularly pronounced at the poles.

Polar bears remain some of the world's most popular animals in captivity. Every zoo I've visited in the United States (ok, it's less than ten) included a polar bear. I don't recall seeing one at the Rome Zoo, a sorry Italian institution unworthy of the animals in its care. (It did have the distinction of placing the exhibit of deer next to that of the wolves -- a characteristically Roman touch.)

I wouldn't want the polar bear population limited to those in captivity. For everyone's sake, polar bears need to be in the wild and live freely.

Hoop Royalty Aims for Anaheim

The Kings, an NBA team that currently calls Sacramento its home, intends to move to Anaheim. The KTLA.com story provides some details. The report does mention that there's some bickering going on between certain Sacramento interests and the Kings' owners, the Maloof brothers. However, the current wisdom is that the Maloofs' version of basketball royalty will be heading to Orange County.

One suspects the bros, shown in the photograph, have a bigger prize than Anaheim in their sights. (After all, they would have to share the LA market with the high-profile Lakers and somewhat sinister Clipper ownership.) One of the Maloofs' corporate entity is based in Nevada. Perhaps some Las Vegas investors have the money and persuasive skills to encourage the Maloofs to move the Kings or whatever their Anaheim alias will be. Then those same investors will have to convince the NBA that pro ball deserves a place on the Strip.

Then the team can truly be called the High Rollers.

First Orbiter Image of the Planet Mercury

Our solar system, a locus of fascination throughout human history, begrudgingly reveals its mysteries. Today's NASA release of the first image taken of Mercury's surface by an orbiting spacecraft is a splendid milestone for our understanding of the fiery planet. (The initial NASA announcement of the spacecraft's successful orbiting of Mercury is a useful, brief background piece.)

NASA will be releasing more photos in the coming days. I'm looking forward to seeing them, even if they're more images of cratered surfaces.

When one thinks about the subject, it is astonishing that a transmission can be accurately delivered through light years of space, accurately recomposed on Earth, and instantly shared with the world via the Internet. The ancients, who had powerful intellectual capabilities, could not have imagined such a trio of accomplishments. However, they would have appreciated the exploration of the planets. Just about any civilization that could look into the sky has used planetary orbits and relationships as a basis for their deepest thoughts. What's amazing is their ability to have very accurately measured planetary appearances and movements without the aid of instruments, such as telescopes. It did take brains, and thinkers from antiquity had that in abundance.

In a way, the NASA scientists have kept faith with what the ancients so deeply desired. Both groups used the sky's phenomena to unlock profound ways of thinking, delivered through astronomically based intellectual tools such as geometry. You can leverage the sky as well. Best thing about the sky is that it remains free, and free of charge.

The image shows the Messenger Moi spacecraft which is currently orbiting Mercury.

Gates and Hillary

Like Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, Hillary Clinton's every move becomes a media story. Sometimes, Mrs. C. courts the news; sometimes, she tries to avoid the press. Neither stance has worked out for the former First Lady, as her recent announcement of her intention to leave the State Department exemplified.

Her bid to say adieu has lead to speculation about Hillary's "real" plans. The possibility was floated that she will run for president in 2016, when she will be 68 years old. It's ironic that Mrs. Clinton, the antithesis of conservative Republicans, would be nearly as old as Ronald Reagan was when he successfully ran for the presidency against Jimmy Carter.

We'll see. In the meantime, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has already announced his plans to leave his position. Gates shares with Hillary the attention of Congress and the respect of the DC media. In essence, they formed President Obama's A-team.

Most intriguing about Gates and Hillary (both shown in the photo) is that they represented powerful political factions with which The One had to compromise. Gates, a George H.W. Bush protege and high-level holdover from the George W. Bush administration, was useful to keep the right-wing away from the defense establishment and from Obama. Hillary kept the left-wing away from foreign policy. They will be tough acts to follow.

Getting Loose with Loose Tea

I wasn't a tea drinker until this year. Yes, every now and then I had an occasional cup of nothing special. Most often, the concoction came in powdered form wrapped in a teabag and plopped in hot water. There were two significant exceptions: the harsh, brown-colored teas served in cheap Chinese restaurants I like and a mint tea that complete Sephardic Jewish meals my wife and I are fortunate enough to be invited to.

Recently, my diet changed and tea became a desirable addition to it. That meant dropping the training wheels of teabags and striding into the nuances of leaf teas.

I didn't know a thing about leaf teas. A friend recommended a very reputable importer that accepts orders from retail clients and has a useful website. I explored the site and found three teas I wanted to sample. The site's useful product information dovetailed with information I independently researched on each item of interest.

I'm just starting to explore the trio of teas I purchased. I now pay attention to the boiling point of water, the thermal and chemical relationships between hot water and porcelain, and steeping time. As for flavor profiles, well, those will take time to understand. But I'm having fun getting loose with my loose teas now, and enjoying some of life's simplest, yet most delightful pleasures.

The Chinese character for tea (as a beverage, not the tea plant) is shown at the top of the post.

Exploring Militant GOP Tactics In Wisconsin/New York Times "Cronon Affair"

William Cronon (right), a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, has become something of a cause celebre in American media and political circles. An Op-Ed piece he recently wrote for The New York Times discussed the recent political events in Wisconsin involving its governor, legislature, public service unions, and collective bargaining. Cronon explored the efforts of political conservatives both within the Badger State and outside Wisconsin to cut the unions down to size and, ultimately, eliminate them. An entry in Cronon's blog goes into considerable, thoughtful detail about the conservative movement, its influential institutions, powerful backers, and formidable discipline. He includes links to websites of various right-wing organizations, and demonstrates a seriousness of purpose that gives his opinion a desirable sense of gravitas.

The appearance of Cronon's Op-Ed piece, combined with his web links to information about the conservative movement, led to a curious development. The deputy executive director of the Wisconsin GOP requested, under the state's strict open records laws, e-mail from Cronon's state e-mail account. As UW-Madison is a state school, Cronon's e-mail account is subject to an open records request. The university has taken the matter under consideration, with one eye toward academic freedom.

At first glance, it would seem the GOP tried to swat a fly with a baseball bat. However, this line of reasoning would assume Cronon is the target of the Republican effort. He's too small a fry for this highly visible style of action. Something else is in play here.

Since the 2010 mid-term elections, the Republican Party and its conservative networks have schemed to aggressively advance their political agenda in Congress and in state legislatures. The nation, in effect, has become a laboratory for political tactics. Various states are made to order for this sort of experimentation. The union-busting activity began in New Jersey; its success emboldened the GOP to go on an anti-union offensive in the Midwest.

Scott Walker, the newly-elected Wisconsin governor, serves a useful purpose for the Right. He is not running for national office (unlike Indiana's Republican governor). His state can be sacrificed in the 2012 presidential election for the "greater party good." He has majority votes in both houses of the legislature to make his proposals politically unstoppable.

Walker's legislative actions and the protest movement against them offered tremendous opportunities to test the conservative movement's most extreme forms of legal and possibly illegal actions. In a small state, tactics could be refined that would contribute toward a larger, strategic prize. In that sense, Wisconsin 2011 resembles the Spain of 1936, with Walker playing the role of Francisco Franco. It is in this context that the GOP's move against Professor Cronon and The New York Times makes best sense.

The right-wing's play in the Cronon affair is to intimidate those who would cooperate with The New York Times. This e-mail fishing expedition, like a Mafia warning, is designed to deliver a message. All forms of harassment are considered fair game in this exercise. And what can be done in Wisconsin can be done, with some modifications to local conditions, in other states. The Times took it seriously enough to have a Sulzberger write an article about the most recent wrinkle in the Cronon situation.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's article about the GOP e-mail request, any e-mail with "references to any of the following terms" need to be released:

"Republican, Scott Walker, recall, collective bargaining, AFSCME, WEAC, rally, union, Alberta Darling, Randy Hopper, Dan Kapanke, Rob Cowles, Scott Fitzgerald, Sheila Harsdorg, Luther Olsen, Glenn Grothman, Mary Lazich, Jeff Fitzgerald, Marty Beil, or Mary Bell."

Most of the names, the Journal-Sentinel article continues, are Republican senators. Marty Beil is the head of the Wisconsin State Employees Union and Mary Bell is the head of the Wisconsin Education Association Council.

Will the right-wing find any dirt that will appear on its propaganda vehicles? Maybe. That's not as important as chilling relatively open communication, freedom of thought, and implying pro-union linkage between individuals or institutions. Does that atmosphere feel familiar? If you're thinking the bad old days of the Bush-Cheney secret police state, with all the ugly implications of blackmail and extortion connected to it, you're on the right track.

I doubt the GOP cares about Cronon; the Grand Old Party cares a great deal about the Times and its national reach. When one eliminates sources, gathering and reporting news becomes far more challenging. It also becomes far easier to present "fair and balanced" reporting which reflects right-wing ideological assertions, as opposing voices become muted or distorted.

Resisting intimidation is not an easy matter. No amount of politically liberal bravado will change that psychological reality. However, to successfully resist first means understanding one's adversary. Professor Cronon attempted to provide pathways to that useful goal. He deserves our gratitude for his actions, and for his opposition to Mafia-style, right-wing strongarm tactics.

NY Times Discovers Gambling in GE Casino

The New York Times, in its Friday editions, made a splash about General Electric's skill at avoiding tax liability. Prominently displayed in the piece was a photograph showing President Obama applauding GE boss Jeff Immelt. Apparently, readers were supposed to be appalled by the multinational firm's corrupt practices.

The article, written by David Kociniewski, left out as much as it included. Here are a few items to ponder:

1. The piece strongly implies Congressman Charles Rangel accepted a GE payoff. In case readers didn't get the first reference to the alleged dirty deed (about halfway through the article), inquiring minds get another, detailed reminder as the article wrapped up.

2. The Times does not mention that Kociniewski had previously gone after Rangel's finances in episodes entirely unrelated to General Electric.

3. The article does not mention other governmental officials whom GE might have "influenced," except a New York colleague of Rangel's. It's very, very hard to believe GE's reach was limited to one African-American congressman.

4. Inexplicably, GE Capital's acceptance of TARP money was not noted. This episode was among the highlights of the bailout scandal, although it passed like a ship on a foggy night. If you're curious, here's a link on this rather quiet, but very disturbing story.

5. The mainstream media and financial analysts treated GE with deference during the era in which GE owned NBC. Let's just say times have changed.

6. GE Capital remains something of a financial black box. Many analysts, without really wanting to say so publicly, have never trusted GE Capital's financial reporting. GE just kept getting AAA ratings until 2008. The reporting about GE was either inept or designed to deceive.

7. Why was the Times piece released now, and on a max news day such as Friday? This was an article that could have been written months, even years ago. What was the real point of the article? That GE's practices exemplified the legal leveraging of a system to its benefit (a marvelous definition of corruption, by the way)? Does that justify the Times implying Obama sold his soul to Immelt and that GE bribed Rangel?

8. Not so long ago, GE's managers were considered among the world's best at what they did. That aura has diminished in conjunction with GE's tarnished reputation. What changed so quickly? It's not as if a cadre of world-class suits suddenly became incompetent overnight.

9. Maybe the article is the Times' warning shot across Obama's bows, now that The One's re-election campaign has begun in earnest. Nothing nurses a grudge quite as deeply as a major media outlet scorned -- or betrayed. Keep in mind "All the News That's Fit to Print" was an ardent Obama supporter during the 2008 presidential primaries and general election campaign.

The Times article peeks into how a corporate, legal, and lobbying apparatus protects, leverages, and expands big-time firms' financial advantages, while obscuring its true intent behind some bullshit about duties to shareholders. However, the newspaper's motives appear more connected to settling scores with politicians, rather than exploring and illuminating the structure and basis of American corruption. We need something better than that. The discontent and impatience the public feels about the condition of the nation is palpable. One gets the ominous sense that the legitimacy of the American ruling classes is in play. And where that energy might go, no one knows -- least of all The New York Times.

Documentary Filmmaker Richard Leacock -- RIP

Richard Leacock, a powerful force in the community of documentary filmmakers, died recently in Paris. He was 89 years old when he passed away.

According to Martin Scorsese, Leacock was a remarkable innovator who influenced generations of documentarians. As with many restlessly inventive people, Leacock never really stopped looking for new ways to master challenges. One of his many admirers, Bob Doyle, put together a fascinating web site filled with Leacock's work, ideas, and statements.

The Doyle lead came from the LA Times' obit, which is linked here and is worth reading.

Steve Jobs Ordered to Appear at Deposition

Apple's arrogant Steve Jobs, who has kept his firm's shareholders and nosy media inquisitors at arm's length for years, finally met his match today. A U.S. district court judge ordered the wizard industrialist to appear for a two hour deposition involving a class action lawsuit against Apple. The story appeared in the Mercury News' SiliconValley.com column and in the LA Times.

Curiously, the brains behind the development of Apple's OS X operating system, Apple's software chief Bertrand Serlet (shown in the photograph), is leaving the firm after more than two decades at Jobs' side. Once again, SiliconValley.com reported the story. One wonders how Serlet's departure will impact the thinking of the many hedge funds that have relentlessly driven up the price of Apple's common stock.

Americans Drinking More Craft Beer

According to a story in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, sales of American-made craft beer increased 11% last year. That's a strong move forward for microbrews, as overall beer consumption declined.

Ironically, only three craft breweries call Wisconsin its home state. One of them is the New Glarus Brewing Company, whose innards are shown here.

Instead of Wisconsin, the microbrew movement took root in western states, sprouted later in the Northeast, and glided over the heartland. Even New Jersey, where I live, has craft beer. One of the better local ones in my area is Cricket Hill. It's brewed in a nondescript building without any street signage indicating "beer here." The brand was begun by a couple of guys who believed the King of Beer had lost the divine right to rule. Their business slowly, steadily grew, principally through word of mouth, assiduous salesmanship, and tasty beer.

I learned about it through a friend, Phil Dorsey, who DJ'd at the brewery on selected Friday evenings. I'm not certain if he was paid in six-packs. However, as with many craft beer fans, Phil would have happily accepted Cricket Hill as payment for providing his musical touch.

By the way, Phil is part of the duo that provides music on TheBoCX.com, which is linked on this site. Craft breweries looking to increase their business could do worse than advertise with the Internet radio station. However, ads can't be paid for with beer; in this case, money talks.

Alain Ducasse in Miami

Alain Ducasse, a leading French chef and culinary entrepreneur, recently visited Miami. The story, which reported on the local dinner in his honor, appeared in today's Miami Herald.

The article includes an interview with Ducasse in which he discusses the current state of French food and some of his own current culinary directions. His interesting comments remind one that Gallic kitchens still carry the Western world's culinary torch. While there are other, active movements in Spain, Britain, and the United States, France still sets the standard for dining excellence. Ducasse says as much in his Miami Herald interview.

Ducasse has led an interesting life, including a near-death experience a number of years ago. He's a global businessman who happens to care about what happens in his kitchens and in his dining rooms. Not everyone can afford a table for two at any of his twenty establishments. However, Ducasse's restaurants have earned 19 Michelin stars -- an incredible accomplishment. Sometimes, the experience of excellence is an expensive proposition.

French food doesn't always have to be at Ducasse's level to be satisfying. My wife and I recently dined at a New York neighborhood French place that offered some Norman specialties alongside bistro standards. We enjoyed simple, well prepared dishes that didn't try too hard or overreach. My favorite dish was the dessert: a trou normand. That's green apple sorbet and Calvados. It's more traditionally used as a palate refresher. Some versions of trou normand skip the sorbet and go straight to the Norman firewater.

Trou normand is not often on menus in America, so of course I had to try it. I loved every satisfying spoonful.

Leonardo Sciascia

I'm interested in learning more about Leonardo Sciascia.

He was a Sicilian writer who wrote mystery novels, nonfiction pieces with a political slant, and some poetry. He gained an international reputation for his prose. He also was a working politician in Palermo, the Italian Parliament, and the European Parliament.

If you have read his works, know about his life, or are interested in learning about him, feel free to contact me.

Programmer Gets Eight Years for Stealing Goldman Sachs' Proprietary Code

Sergey Aleynikov, who had pleaded guilty to stealing proprietary trading code involving Goldman Sachs' high frequency trading algorithms, received a 97-month jail sentence from a federal court judge yesterday. The sentencing itself, which received very little mainstream media play, was noted in the financial blog Zero Hedge. The trial itself, in which the presiding judge showed a profound interest in protecting Goldman's secret sauce, was covered; The New York Times' overview of the case is a good starting point to understand the issues involved in the proceedings.

The episode concludes a trial in which federal attorneys showed a prosecutorial zeal they have lacked when it comes to indicting major players in the 2008 financial disaster. One can reasonably suspect Wall Street, its political allies, lobbyist fixers, and legal condottiere have conspired to keep the likes of Countrywide's Angelo Mozilo from sharing a jail cell with Mr. Aleynikov. The 2010 Oscar winning documentary Inside Job, which my wife and I watched last night, serves as a primer about the financial scandals that nearly brought down the American house. The movie points out that the most significant perps of the disaster are not only free, but have enormously enriched themselves as a consequence of the policies that led to the financial collapse.

That is a disaster for which all of us now pay, thanks to the various bailouts, job losses, raised tax levels (unless you're in the Bush tax cut 1% club), and home valuation declines inflicted on those not in on the fix. Aleynikov's actions, in which he attempted to get an edge on Goldman's high-frequency trading inside game, is a symptom of a much more widespread disease. Don't expect the feds -- Democrat or Republican -- to administer an antidote to this corruption.

The photograph shows Mr. Aleynikov outside federal court in New York.

NPR Charm Offensive

You can' t say NPR, threatened with loss of federal funding, isn't trying. The organization has launched a media charm offensive through friendly organs such as the Washington Post. Today's WP includes an article about NPR's music arm. It turns out the music programming is quite popular. The article cites how recording firms, publicists, and listeners like NPR Music. The photo shows NPR Music's application for Apple handheld devices.

The buzz and popularity are fine. However, NPR Music's success begs the question of the need for NPR to be funded by taxpayer money. NPR -- and its audience -- is far better off free and clear of Congress. The network has shown it can achieve funding goals without federal subsidy. Why not start now?

Obama to Visit His Ancestral Irish Home

According to Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Barack Obama will visit the American president's ancestral home during an official trip to Ireland this May. The Taoiseach, who embodies an office that combines the role of prime minister and head of government, met his Yankee counterpart at a White House dinner last night. The Irish Times, a Dublin newspaper, carried the story.

I had heard rumors during the 2008 American presidential campaign that candidate Obama had a bit of the Irish in him. I attributed the claim to bar room hyperbole and didn't give it much thought. Some months after Obama became president, he waded into an episode involving racism, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and a Cambridge, Massachusetts police officer. Perhaps inspired by his distant Irish ethnicity, the Prez invited the two antagonists to discuss their differences over a beer. Now Barack Hussein Obama has scheduled a return to the "ould sod." He'll experience an Irish spring, the island's undeniable charm, and the sometimes sharp wit of its people. The Gaelic nation also has something in common with its Irish brother: neither can stand the British. Now that's one bar room conversation I'd like to hear.

Just for fun, I've included an Irish tune about the 44th American president.

Florida's Political Tremors

Submerged in the bleak news from around the world was a very noteworthy domestic political event. A recall election was held earlier this week in South Florida which produced a massive "no" vote against the Miami-Dade mayor and the Miami-Dade county commissioner. They're gone, the result of the largest successful recall vote since California governor Gray Davis got the electoral guillotine in 1993.

The most startling aspect of the Florida recall was that 88% of the voters turned thumbs down on the targeted pair of elected officials. According to a Miami Herald story, the percentages were 4:1 across just about every significant demographic group that voted. Even convicted criminals, such as the late US senator from Alaska, Frank Murkowski, got a higher percentage of votes in his post-conviction re-election effort than the Florida pair did combined.

The Miami-Dade decision, with its overtones of impatience and mob psychology, suggests that the stability of the American electoral system is increasingly in play. An edgy population, disinclined to listen to alternate points of view, demands immediate action. This perspective is magnified by our ardent, largely blind embrace of speed as the greatest possible good. The resulting scenario diminishes reflection as a useful, highly desirable quality. What does this say about the rational basis of government which America's founders found essential?

The institutions currently shaken by recall elections, whether it is a right-wing putsch in California or a left-wing lotta in Wisconsin, were not designed for this style of political action. Social volatility can swiftly take on a life of its own, beyond the management of professional "risk managers," and become "black swan" events.

Careful what you wish for.

Japanese Disaster Impacts Asian Food Supplies

A story attracting attention in Asia is the impact of the Japanese seismic and nuclear disasters on the region's food supply.

I first noted the story tonight on BBC Asia, which provides the BBC programming available in my area of North America during the evening here. The news segment interviewed Hong Kong residents who were stocking up on a favored Japanese baby formula. They were concerned that future supplies of the formula would be tainted with radiation emitted from the damaged Fukushima nuclear reactors.

I couldn't find a link to this very interesting story on the BBC's website. I went to Hong Kong Yahoo, where I found a link from the English-language South China Morning Post. While far from ideal, the story does discuss the current Hong Kong rush to purchase the preferred Japanese formula. (A seemingly better story from the same newspaper was trimmed to two paragraphs, along with a subscription invitation.)

The heart of the story is both fascinating and ominous. Hong Kong, mainland Chinese and other Asian consumers became committed purchasers of Japanese and American baby formula after the 2008 melamine scandal in China. If you don't recall this story, the episode involved large scale tainting of milk powder manufactured in the People's Republic of China. Around 300,000 children became ill; officials attributed six deaths to the fatal powder. The incident was a profound black eye to the PRC leadership and aroused multinational firms' mistrust of Chinese health standards. It also led to a profound suspicion among Chinese toward its homegrown baby formula products. Hence, strong demand quickly emerged for suitable baby formula from, ironically, the two countries Chinese nationalists least love: Japan and the United States.

The South China Morning Post story asserts that Hong Kong imports a considerable amount of food from Japan, apart from baby formula. Other regions of Asia, according to the BBC segment I watched this evening, are also key Japanese food export markets. A Thai health official noted her department was doing "before" and "after" samples of various Japanese foods, with the intention of blocking any item exhibiting unusual radiation levels.

The potential embargo on certain Japanese food items comes at a time of global price inflation and greater demands from an emerging regional (especially Chinese) middle class for better quality food. That demand is especially strong for foods high in protein. The Japanese export a lot of seafood and marine products, such as seaweed. Complicating matters is that shattered areas of northern Japan produced some of the food products to satisfy both domestic desires and foreign demand. Those products may develop a shadow of corrosive doubt over their quality, thanks to concerns over radioactivity.

The food story doesn't provide the screaming headlines a fire at a nuclear facility generates. However, a compromised food supply has a quiet impact. Its cumulative potency is similar to a series of undersea tremors that build up to produce a sudden, lethal tsunami.

The image shows a container of Japanese manufactured Meiji Hohoemi milk powder.

Google To Test Mobile-Payment System in NY and SF

According to a story posted on bloomberg.com, Google is getting ready to test a mobile-payment system.

It's way overdue for any American firm to do this in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. Asians and Europeans I speak with are astonished that the United States lacks even a rudimentary mobile-payment system. Consumers in the rest of the developed world use their cell phones to pay for many things, from soft drinks to mass transportation. The delay in the States has often been blamed on the major telephone companies, which just hadn't quite figured out how to make a zillion dollars on the deal and screw their competitors at the same time.

Whether Google is the most desirable firm to launch this commercial activity is debatable. Its dominance in search is troubling enough for those who do not believe that bigger is necessarily better. The combination of a dominant mobile-payment system and a near-monopoly on online search represents a financial bonanza. Once entrenched, Google would be as formidable as Standard Oil was in the 19th Century.

At least Google is forcing the issue. It's about time someone did.

Japan Earthquake Affected Earth's Axis

The LA Times, which has provided some insightful reporting into Japan's recent natural and nuclear disasters, posted a fascinating story about the impact of Friday's seismic activity on the Earth's axis.

Incredibly, according to scientists interviewed by the Times, the earthquake shifted the planet's axis. It also made the Earth rotate faster. That provides a profound hint at the strength of the seismic phenomenon. The concepts involved, however, are difficult to imagine. It is more challenging, and awesome to contemplate, that the events actually happened in the past few days.

An added note: The New York Times included a story in its March 14th online editions on this topic. The article offers significant detail, and in some cases, clearer information regarding the change in the planet's axis.

Stories Overshadowed By Events in Japan

Obviously, the ongoing disaster in Japan has gripped the world's attention. However, it's worth noting some other events occurred today. Here are five of them:

1. Arab League calls for no-fly zone over Libya -- "social network" revolution needs help, as Mr. Gaddafi is turning out to be a very determined, ruthless adversary.

2. Democratic state senators return to Wisconsin capital -- public service unions between Obama and a hard place. Fox News keeps asking the question liberal media dodges: where is the Obama Administration on the Wisconsin protest?

3. Literary agent Owen Laster passed away -- an "old school" literary agent, who represented an amalgam of belles lettres figures and plainly commercial, big-money writers.

4. Maryland House torpedoes same-sex marriage bill -- passage was supposed to be a slam dunk in this politically liberal state. Bill had made it through state senate, and governor was ready to sign the legislation.

5. Miami recall election -- no one talking about this one. They should be. It involves the Miami-Dade mayor and the Miami-Dade county commissioner. Wisconsin watchers should take notes.

The Japanese Earthquake and Black Swan Events

The earthquake and tsunami that battered Japan's northern Honshu island remind us about the shock and subsequent impact of black swan events. Japan's disciplined preparation for seismic activity, while mitigating a greater disaster, was still no match for the uncontrollable power of nature. Further, the ominous closure of two coastal nuclear power plants suggest the potential for an environmental catastrophe far more enduring than the tsunami's awesome, ghastly impact.

The cult of data does not like, and cannot manage, black swan events. It was curious to read how one scientist characterized something as a "low probability, high consequence" event. The consequence, in his example, was highly a highly negative one. Black swan events have a way of changing the course of history, and are entirely outside the control of the reigning power structures. In the case of the Japanese earthquake, the episode may derail the nation's economic growth. If that becomes true, the world's second leading purchaser of US Treasury issues may have to scale back its buying. That means there will be greater pressure on the American economy, and fewer ways to gain relief from it.

Do you think the Japanese earthquake represents a black swan event? Comments are welcome. In the meantime, I extend my sympathies to the Japanese people in this desperate hour.

Bank of America's "Home-Loss" Issue

The Financial Times noted today that Bank of America (BOA) and the SEC have issues over "home loss" provisions. Now, we're not talking about the thousands of homes BOA has tried to railroad into hasty, occasionally illegal, foreclosure. The federally bailed-out bank has been cited for its very generous housing subsidies for its senior management. In essence, "home loss" in this context means that BOA execs, when they move from one locale to another for the bank, don't lose money on their house sale or most activities related to the transaction.

Looking under the deal's hood reveals interesting details. In the case cited in the FT story, one BOA exec received $2.6 million "to cover relocation costs, including a mortgage subsidy, closing fees, and tax liabilities, according to the bank's 2009 proxy. In the event (the executive's) old home, which was bought by an independent relocation company, was resold for a loss, BofA, according to the proxy, will bear those costs." Nice work if you can get it, don't you think?

Unstated in the story was whether the mortgage came from Countrywide, which merged with BOA during the 2008 financial fever.

What's even more outrageous than the subsidies' scale is BOA's rationale defending them. Apparently BOA compared the housing payoff to giving employees a computer or a smart phone. Such items are not included in proxies for shareholder approval, so why should a multi-million dollar housing package? Doesn't everyone get a laptop, phone, and six-bedroom colonial?

At no point did BOA spokespeople acknowledge that taxpayer money was involved. One never, ever got a sense that senior bank management felt responsible for transforming a solvent enterprise into an insolvent institution. Foreclosures, in which BOA remains immersed, were something that happened to other people, and to other people's money. BOA execs were different: they ensured their peace of mind with a mortgage subsidy.

Yes, it's nice to have a roof over one's head. It's even better to have equity shareholders, the federal government, or someone else, pay for that roof. Much better.

Right-Wing Goes Wrong in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin State Senate voted this evening to eviscerate the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions. The vote, conducted while Democratic state senators remained in Illinois, was absurdly conducted. The Republican state senators, in possible violation of Wisconsin law, held a conference committee to bring the anti-union bill to a "full" senate vote. After that, a sham vote was held, worthy of a banana republic.

The Wisconsin governor, Scott Walker, is now a right-wing hero. He should not be. Whatever the merits of the right-wing case against unions, there is no strong case for Walker's authoritarian actions. However, right-wing politicians have shown a taste for such methods. They are either convinced of the justice of their actions and beliefs, they are committed to an ideological agenda that permits no compromise, or they are corrupt. It is possible Walker fits all three categories.

The Wisconsin vote is a moment of shame for conservatives, although many right-wingers are feeling a profound sense of victory. They may even believe their movement is on "the right side of history." Yet there is something deeply misguided with a political juggernaut that hides its goals from the electorate, that conducts Communist Party-style votes, that is bought and paid for by secretive, wealthy patrons, and that relies on propaganda vehicles to communicate a cocktail of opinion, fact, misstatements, and lies.

The Democratic Party should not feel so proud of itself, either. Its leader, the president of the United States, was notably silent on the Wisconsin standoff. Leading US senators were virtually invisible. It is a point of embarrassment when an arrogant film maker such as Michael Moore could show up at a rally and articulate a point of view, while Democratic Party leaders were plainly MIA.

What Wisconsin union members, and their national brethren, discovered was that Obama had never been in their camp. That stance should have been plain from the Obama-Duncan education "reforms," which essentially was a frontal assault on teachers' unions. The Democratic el foldo was only ennobled by the Wisconsin state senators' desperate effort to foil the Walker fronted, nationally conspired, right-wing scheme.

The people who protested were the best actors in the political drama to date. They protested peacefully, much to the chagrin of conservative agitators and their supporters who live in the shadows of publicity and the halls of power. They had a sense of democratic possibility, and a willingness to speak up for what they believed were their rights. Now they are on a moral and political island, without leadership but with a cause.

Senatorial recalls are just the beginning of increased domestic political turmoil. The right-wing's cultural revolution will only lead to increased disregard for what's left of respect for the law and legitimate political behavior. The economic catastrophe of 2008 continues to fester, afflicting the households most impacted by actions such as the union dismantling efforts.

However, both conservatives and reluctant Democrats should be very wary of the genie that the Wisconsin sham vote has released. History, and historical movements, have a way of being unpleasantly unpredictable.

US Census Shows More Than Half of California's Children Are Hispanic

The recent federal census has revealed some fascinating data about California and its 37-million-strong population. One compelling fact from the census, according to a story in today's Washington Post, is that more than half of the Golden State's children are Hispanic.

In the coming years, it is likely that Hispanics will be California's largest segment of the state's population. That trend will only be magnified as today's children become tomorrow's adults. As William Frey, a demographer affiliated with the liberal Brookings Institution, noted, "Hispanics are the future of California."

The United States is entirely unaccustomed to the notion of having a Quebec-style state within the political union. California politicians may view partnerships with Mexico and Central American countries essential to pursue. In a decentralized American nation, Sacramento may enter into trade and travel agreements with its neighbors. If this sounds far-fetched, the current Arizona state government essentially went solo -- outside the federal legal umbrella -- during its recent anti-immigration legal waltz. While many right-wingers are in love with state's rights, one wonders what their stance would be when a Hispanic-led California legislature and governor become cozy with their linguistic and cultural neighbors. Their children will find out, won't they?

The two photos show Barack Obama and George W. Bush with Hispanic children.

What's The Ugliest Intersection in Your Community?

The LA Times ran a brief piece inspired by a Twitter tweet (welcome to the second decade of the 21st Century). The tweet, placed by writer/editor Kurt Andersen, was inspired by a Los Angeles intersection he happened to be passing through. While Andersen's body of work is not to my taste, the question he posed (in more ways than one) got my attention. Most people can quickly formulate an opinion about ugly crossroads. Framing the proposition in terms of local perspective gives Anderson's question some juice and context. The opportunity to share this pointless information is just plain fun, admittedly at the expense of an unfortunate intersection.

You're welcome to comment and include a photo or other image of an offensive intersection. My contribution is the Tonnelle Circle in Jersey City. The accompanying photo only hints at how hideous this abomination is. However, you'll want to catch this while you can, as a massive public works project is eliminating some of the more egregiously ugly and dangerous aspects of this intersection.

MERS' Role in Nation's Foreclosure Scandal

The latest salvo in the scandal that won't go away appears courtesy of Wall Street scourge Gretchen Morgenson and her New York Times colleague Michael Powell (presumably no relation to the former FCC chairman).

A piece in today's Times discusses MERS, an acronym for Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems. The firm's principal significance is that, according to the Times article, its "private mortgage registry has all but replaced the nation's public land ownership records." Most major real estate loan servicers and providers used MERS for record keeping, on the theory that "efficient" electronic, privately-managed "data" would prove superior to the old-fashioned paper documentation county bureaucracies provided.

How did that proposition shake out? Click on the Times story here for the details. I'll give you a hint: how many vice presidents does it take to operate MERS? If you guessed "thousands," you're on the right track.

Hats off to Morgenson and Powell for attempting to shed light on this issue. It's essential reading in any attempt to understand the American housing catastrophe, and the exponential growth of corruption in our society.

Che Guevara's Motorcycle Buddy -- RIP

Alberto Granado, who traveled through South America on a motorcycle with Che Guevara, has passed away. The UK newspaper Daily Mail posted an interesting obit on Granado, an Argentinian who permanently moved to Cuba in the early 1960s.

The Guevara-Granado buddy story gained popular currency in the non-Communist world as the 20th Century ended and the 21st Century began. Their picaresque tale was the subject of a best selling book and a film, The Motorcycle Diaries, both of which enjoyed some critical and popular success. Ironically, Che's revolutionary struggle, so threatening to United States interests and Latin American governments in the 1960s, had become the stuff of story telling by the time the book was published and the movie made and distributed.

The photograph shows, from left to right, Guevara and Granado.

Obama, Jeb Bush, and a Miami High School Visit

President Obama visited Miami Central High School today, and cited its "improvement" as an example of desirable institutional progress. The Miami Herald has some details about the visit, including Jeb Bush's role in it. The Washington Post version of events, however, offers much more political juice.

The story's intrigue involves Obama and the Bush clan. Why would 44 play ball with the GOP's resident family dynasty? Why would the Bushes cooperate with the Big O, when the Hawaiian-born president harshly criticized President 43?

To some extent, la famille Bush and Obama have managed a truce beyond the political practicalities of rhetorical stances. Obama's defense secretary, Robert Gates, comes from the Bush camp. It's not a coincidence that Obama has been relatively safe from right-wing criticism of defense matters. (Let's see what happens once Gates retires.) The Obama administration, which intended to shut down the Guantanamo prison, has kept it open. Desperately needed inquiries into the so-called "war on terror" have been largely avoided. The Bush administration's handling of the American financial crisis never seemed like an issue Obama wanted fully aired. The disturbing usurpation of civil liberties through the aggressive use and manipulation of national intelligence assets, to the shame of the American conservative movement, remains largely unaddressed.

While Obama could be characterized as understandably wary and cautious about the Bushes, it does not explain why Jeb Bush would interject himself into an issue essential to Obama's re-election bid. However, Obama might have one eye on the GOP presidential primaries. To win the party primaries, GOP candidates typically veer hard toward the political right. That tilt, along with the fanaticism of the Tea Party faction, means Obama has an opportunity to convince centrists and moderates that he, again, is The One. The Bush clan represents the GOP establishment that has a perspective that Obama has already demonstrated he can live with, while not necessarily liking it. As represented by 41 and brightest son Jeb, the Bushes offer a world view in which religiously inspired foreign policy and combative domestic agendas don't mix with practical issues of governing, economic strength, and diplomatic-military jiu-jitsu.

Jeb Bush, through his olive branch to Obama, has set the groundwork for continued cooperation. Its vision extends to the 2012 election, and beyond.

The photo, from Life, shows former president George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush, and to Mrs. Bush's left, Jeb Bush.

Proposed Texas Immigration Law and "The Help"

According to a Yahoo News story, proposed legislation in Texas would wield the hammer on those who hire illegal immigrants. The bill, proposed by a Tea Party member, has one rather prominent loophole. Hiring illegals to do the household or landscaping dirty work would be exempt from the state law's provisions.

A Republican state representative articulated the rationale for the proposed exemption. According to the Yahoo News article, "without the exemption, 'a large segment of the Texas population' would wind up in prison."

"'When it comes to household workers or yard workers it is extremely common for Texans to hire people who are likely undocumented workers...It is so common it is overlooked.'"

A spokesperson for the bill's sponsor said "the exemption was an attempt to avoid 'stifling the economic engine' in Texas."

How an undocumented worker would verify their Texan status as an economic peon remained unexplained. However, it's illuminating to see that Tea Party representatives plan to codify the legitimacy of the American underground economy, its massive tax evasion, and its heartless exploitation of the financially defenseless.

The photo shows a crew jacket from The Border, a 1982 movie starring Jack Nicholson in which illegal immigration plays a prominent part.

Cultural Revolution Stamps Shatter Auction Record

The Financial Times noted today that a set of four very rare stamps from China's Cultural Revolution period sold at a Hong Kong auction for a price well beyond the asking price. The stamps are shown here, and were sold via Interasia Auctions.

While the FT article wanders into a discussion of other collectibles, such as A-list vintage wine, the heart of the story is about the Chinese historical event that will not go quietly into the night. The Cultural Revolution was a ghastly nightmare for China. The period remains something of an object lesson in mass hysteria, an unreasoned belief in cult figures, and a blind allegiance to ideology.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I once knew someone who had a marvelous stamp collection focused on the Cultural Revolution. The stamps reflected an eerie world in which zealotry supplanted argument, families turned against their own relatives, and xenophobic fervor reached dangerous levels. No one wants to see that time resurrected, except putting it under one's thumb for a highly valuable scrapbook collection.

TheBoCX.com Finds Anchorage at Inner Harbor

You'll notice a link on the left side of Inner Harbor to TheBoCX.com. It's an Internet radio station specializing in funk and neo-funk, downtempo, chill, jazz, r&b, and other genres. TheBoCX is now available here, as well as on the jazz selections on ITunes.

Welcome to Inner Harbor, my friends!

Feds Cease Roundup of Nevada's Wild Mustangs

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), arguably the Federal government's strongest arm in the Western states, abruptly stopped its roundup of wild mustangs in Nevada. The story, which appeared in today's online editions of the LA Times, noted that the BLM denied the halt involved the impact of funding cuts, congressional agida, or public sentiment toward the animals.

The mustangs, reminders of the West's romance, glorious landscapes, and free spirit, have a most important, politically connected benefactor in Madele

ine Pickens. Better known as Mrs. T. Boone Pickens, she has embraced the mustangs' cause and owns a 1.2 million acre ranch adjacent to the area where the horses live. This is one case where private philanthropy trumps civil servants.

In addition to mustangs, wild burros also call Western states home. They lack a patron or patroness with Pickens' DC clout and media connections. It's a blank space that needs a name.

PS. I can't resist comparing the photo of wild mustangs with the Lascaux cave painting of wild animals next to it. Both images have a primeval sense that move me. How about you?