Where’s the Outrage?

I have only heard Stevie Wonder live twice. But man oh, man. When Stevie Wonder was at the top of his game, no one could touch him. He had a string of four albums which may be the best four albums that anyone has ever put together. I know that I’m using a lot of hyperbole but…Talking Book, Innervisions, Forfillingness First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life simply speak for themselves. Yes, he put out some sap. But he more than made up for that with outstanding tunes that leaped off the record. In his tribute to Bob Marley the song is actually done in Marley’s reggae fashion. It was brilliant. His tribute to Duke Ellington is one of the classic rhythm-and-blues tunes of all time. Again, Stevie uses horns in a similar fashion to the Great Duke Ellington. He mirrors Ellington’s writing style yet makes it pure Stevie. Enjoy!

Tags: Fun, Music by ecthompson
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The Supreme Court recently heard a case about Navy testing of sonar that may well harm and kill whales and dolphins.

At the moment, these tests off the coast of California are banned by federal court order.

Environmental groups say these sonar blasts sound as loud as a jet engine to whales and dolphins. The Navy says the tests are needed for national security. 

Beyond these issues, the core of the matter seems to be whether the a judge can order the Navy to stop the tests because no environmental impact study has been done by the Navy. The case has implications beyond this specific concern.

Why can’t the Navy just do the study?

I think what we should do is extensively test just how the sonar bombardments sound to whales, and then recreate that noise for Naval test subjects. Maybe some in Navy could volunteer unlike the whales who have no choice in the matter. ( Though I bet that not many would volunteer to have their ears blasted out.)The test subjects could then report just how it sounded and we could make a judgement from that point. 

This National Geographic story discusses possible harm done to Killer Whales because of Navy sonar tests.

And this National Geographic story says whales can be given the bends by such tests.

Here is some good information about many different types of whales.

Here is some history of the Supreme Court. 

Tags: Environment, Supreme court by Texas Liberal
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David Bowie. Let’s Dance.

Tags: Music by ecthompson
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I thought it odd that a black man would stand up in a McCain rally and this guy was in the front row. Was he just lucky? I doubt it. This SOB is a radio talk host on the conservative WTMJ 620 in Milwaukee. An honorable man would have stood up and stated that he is a talk show host who supports McCain and personally gains from spouting this crap. Did he say that? No! He pretended to be just an average citizen who is begging McCain to take it to Obama. This guy, James T Harris, was trying to boost his popularity among conservatives in order to raise his ratings. What a tool!

(Thanks to Mike Mallory for doing the background on this weasel.)

Tags: Election 2008, Ethics, Race by ecthompson
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