the Liberal Lion
In memory of Ted Kennedy’s passing, here’s a few photos from my quick visit to DC last year. I managed to pop in and say hello to the intern at Ted Kennedy’s Senate office in the Russell building.
Manual Competence
Matthew Crawford appeared on the Colbert Report (24-6-09) last week. His book, "Shop Class as Soulcraft" explores the difference between manual labor (mechanics, plumbers) and knowledge work (office jobs), and the growing disdain for the trades industry in today's world. Matthew himself runs a motorcycle workshop and has a PhD in political philosophy.
What struck me in the interview was this line from Crawford - "We impoverish ourselves intellectually when we devalue manual competence".
I think sparkies are smarter than my fellow white-collar workers think.
Interview here however I don't think it's viewable outside the US.
UPDATE: I've embedded the clip below:
100 days in.
Here are some random achievements of Obama's first 100 days, with a focus on spending and the wars.
- 22 Jan - Executive Order issued ordering closure of Guantanamo Bay
- 4 Feb - Obama signs into law S-CHIP reauthorization act. $32.8 billion to extend coverage to an additional 4 million children.
- 17 Feb - Obama signs into law the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009". Provides $787 billion to stimulate the US economy.
Obama also commits an additional 17 000 troops to the ailing War in Afghanistan. - 24 Feb - Obama addresses a joint session of Congress
- 26 Feb - Obama announces a 3.6 trillion budget, entitled 'A New Era of Responsibility'.
- 27 Feb - Obama announces US will end its combat mission in Iraq by August 31, 2010.
- 9 March - Reverses Bush stem cell order.
- 24 March - OMB issues a memo saying that the Global War on Terror has ended - Overseas Contingency Operations begins.
- 26 March - Obama outlines new strategy for Afghanistan and Iraq. Afghanistan president, Hamid Karzai issues a statement of support.
- 30 March - Obama lays down terms of auto-bailout. White House asks GM CEO to resign.
- 2 April - Obama & world leaders attend the G-20 summit. Leaders pledge 1.1 trillion in financing the IMF.
- 15 April - Major economy speech given at Georgetown University. "..by no means are we out of the woods..."
- 18 April - Handshake with Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela signals new approach to foreign relations.
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