Where’s the Outrage?

I’ve been reading The View From The Center Of The Universe by Joel Primack and Nancy Ellen Abrams.

One things this book discusses is the composition of the universe.

Only a fraction of existence is solid and visible.

The chart above offers some detail.

The dark matter and dark energy that comprises most of existence does not react with light and is impossible to see.

Yet these dark materials alter the shape and the size of the universe.

These facts were not fully understood as recently as 15 years ago.

They are understood better today, though still imperfectly.

Here is a good article on this subject from The New York Times science section.

This is something we should keep in mind when dealing with others.

Much is unseen, and it may be late in the day when we understand the forces motivating people to act as they do.

You have your own view as to the extent all things are connected.

I think all things are, in some way, connected.

As much as we think we might know what exists and what’s going on, we don’t know so much.

One of many good reasons to be slow to judge the actions of others, is the fact that much of existence is made up of the unseen.

Tags: Books, Science by Texas Liberal
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Weird Al Yankovic doing what ever he does.

Tags: Domestic Issues by ecthompson
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Great show.  Senate Intelligence Committee report.  McCain, Clinton and Obama give speeches on the same night.  One was a bomb.  The other a head scratcher and the other was truly uplifting.  I chat with Bill Scher and we discuss the news of the week.

 

 The Errington Thompson Show 6-7-08 [56:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Podcasts by ecthompson
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The jobs picture in a word - sucks.

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From EPI:

The nation’s job market showed clear signs of recessionary conditions as the jobless rate leapt up a half percent in May, from 5.0% to 5.5%, according to today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This monthly increase was the largest since the mid-1980s, pushing unemployment to its highest rate since late 2004.

Payrolls contracted for the fifth month in a row, down 49,000 with most of the net job losses occurring in the construction industry, factories, offices, and retailers. Since total payrolls (public and private sector) peaked last December, they are down by 324,000 jobs. Since the government sector tends to be less cyclically affected by downturns, looking at just private-sector job loss can provide a more accurate gauge of the lagging economy’s impact on job growth; private-sector employment has fallen over the past six months by 411,000.

Although single month jumps in unemployment data should be judged cautiously, various factors suggest the spike in unemployment is not likely to be a statistical aberration and instead accurately reflects the weakening job market. First, it is consistent with the steady loss of jobs in the more accurate payroll survey. Second, as noted by the commissioner of the BLS, “The over-the-month jump in unemployment reflected additional workers who had lost their jobs as well as an upsurge in new and returning jobseekers.” (more…)

Tags: Economy by ecthompson
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It took awhile (2 months) but Hillary Clinton finally endorsed Barack Obama. A couple of interesting points (they may mean nothing or everything) - Edwards and Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama up close and personal. They were part of his rally. Hillary Clinton did not. I don’t know if she didn’t want to or Barack Obama didn’t offer. All I know is that it was different than before.

Hillary Clinton made her speech on Tuesday in New York. Her state. She chose to endorse Barack Obama in Washington DC.

Finally, there were some boo’s as she endorsed Obama. Why? There have been some irrational people on both sides of this race. Lynn Samuels from Sirius Left has been an excellent example of this irrational behavior. She had been over the top in her criticism of Obama. I don’t think that he could put his tie on without her saying that he was doing it in a smug manner. He can’t walk across the street without playing the race card.

Anyway, here is a portion of Hillary’s speech.

Tags: Election 2008 by ecthompson
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