The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux) - Page 105

scaeagles · 07-12-2006, 05:39 AM

I've read about it.

Politicians will use a dirty kleenex if it will assist their political aspirations.

From what I know of the big dig, it is an engineering marvel, but there were many shenanigans and substandard materials and palm greasing and all sorts of shadowy things goings on.

I suspect that there will be some sort of fall guy. When was the Turnpike guy hired? Did he oversee the project?

Gemini Cricket · 07-12-2006, 06:04 AM

Apparently he was appointed Chairman in 2002. But I'm not sure if he was part of the Mass Transit Authority in any other capacity before that. The project took 14 years to complete.
More on Matt Amorello

From the photos I have seen, I'm wondering why something weighing several tons would be set in place with adhesives and shoddy tacks. From the pictures, it doesn't seem to serve a purpose but to hide a few pipes. (But I'm no engineer.)

This whole project was milked and juiced by greed it seems. It took so long that things like substandard concrete and crappy ceilings just got slid in while no one was looking... It's a marvel and a mess at the same time.

Name · 07-12-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

but there were many shenanigans ...

I'm going to head home to get my broom.

scaeagles · 07-29-2006, 01:39 PM

Interesting report published recently about global warming and hurricane intensity.

link

The study focuses not on flawed methodology of linking warming to hurricane srength, but says the data is flawed. Better equipment which more accurately can measure wind strength near the eye is being used. Older equipment was not as advanced or accurate and underestimated wind strength. So the hypothesis is that hurricanes are not increasing in strength, only that equipment is better hat is being used to take measurements.

This reminds me of when the "ozone hole" was discovered. The first time he ozone above the arctic was measured, there was a huge hole. Panic erupted. Problem was that there was no historical data to show if there was previously an ozone hole or not. Growth or shrinkage was immediately reported as good or bad news without any knowledge as to the cyclical growth or shrinkage, if any, before it was even discovered.

scaeagles · 07-31-2006, 09:55 AM

Gov. Romney of Mass. apologized for using the term "tar baby" when talking about the Big Dig.

I know squat about Romney except that he has Presidential aspirations. Is "tar baby" really that big of a deal to say? Seems like people are way too sensitive, but I admit to not knowing the whole history of the term. Why does saying something like that automatically make you insensitive or a racist?

wendybeth · 07-31-2006, 09:59 AM

Why not wander down to the local gang hangout in your town and yell it out? I'm sure no one would mind.

Alex · 07-31-2006, 10:01 AM

What are your thoughs on porch monkey?

Tar baby is one of those sticky wickets. It has a large geographic variation in usage. In many parts of the country it is used primarily to refer to a sticky problem you can't get away from once you're involved. In other parts of the country it is used primarily as a racially derogatory term. Personally, it has enough taint that even though I grew up in one of the former areas I'd probably never actually use the phrase unless talking about a literal tar baby (as seen in Song of the South, for example).

What is particularly bizarre about Romney's usage is that Tony Snow got into trouble for it just a couple months ago during one of his first press conferences as Press Secretary.

scaeagles · 07-31-2006, 10:01 AM

Context is everything.

Gemini Cricket · 07-31-2006, 10:02 AM

Romney should have steered clear of the term, period. Whether or not it's offensive is up in the air. But who doesn't know that it could potentially piss people off to use it? There are tons of other ways to describe the Big Dig failures...

scaeagles · 07-31-2006, 10:04 AM

I just get fed up with it all, really. If I say "he has a chink in his armor", will all the Chinese people be offended? I don't know...I just way too much is made of stuff like this when the context is not racial.

07-12-2006, 05:39 AM	#1041
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I've read about it. Politicians will use a dirty kleenex if it will assist their political aspirations. From what I know of the big dig, it is an engineering marvel, but there were many shenanigans and substandard materials and palm greasing and all sorts of shadowy things goings on. I suspect that there will be some sort of fall guy. When was the Turnpike guy hired? Did he oversee the project?
	Submit to Quotes

07-12-2006, 06:04 AM	#1042
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Apparently he was appointed Chairman in 2002. But I'm not sure if he was part of the Mass Transit Authority in any other capacity before that. The project took 14 years to complete. More on Matt Amorello From the photos I have seen, I'm wondering why something weighing several tons would be set in place with adhesives and shoddy tacks. From the pictures, it doesn't seem to serve a purpose but to hide a few pipes. (But I'm no engineer.) This whole project was milked and juiced by greed it seems. It took so long that things like substandard concrete and crappy ceilings just got slid in while no one was looking... It's a marvel and a mess at the same time.
	Submit to Quotes

07-29-2006, 01:39 PM	#1044
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Interesting report published recently about global warming and hurricane intensity. link The study focuses not on flawed methodology of linking warming to hurricane srength, but says the data is flawed. Better equipment which more accurately can measure wind strength near the eye is being used. Older equipment was not as advanced or accurate and underestimated wind strength. So the hypothesis is that hurricanes are not increasing in strength, only that equipment is better hat is being used to take measurements. This reminds me of when the "ozone hole" was discovered. The first time he ozone above the arctic was measured, there was a huge hole. Panic erupted. Problem was that there was no historical data to show if there was previously an ozone hole or not. Growth or shrinkage was immediately reported as good or bad news without any knowledge as to the cyclical growth or shrinkage, if any, before it was even discovered.
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 09:55 AM	#1045
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Gov. Romney of Mass. apologized for using the term "tar baby" when talking about the Big Dig. I know squat about Romney except that he has Presidential aspirations. Is "tar baby" really that big of a deal to say? Seems like people are way too sensitive, but I admit to not knowing the whole history of the term. Why does saying something like that automatically make you insensitive or a racist?
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 09:59 AM	#1046
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Why not wander down to the local gang hangout in your town and yell it out? I'm sure no one would mind. __________________
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 10:01 AM	#1047
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	What are your thoughs on porch monkey? Tar baby is one of those sticky wickets. It has a large geographic variation in usage. In many parts of the country it is used primarily to refer to a sticky problem you can't get away from once you're involved. In other parts of the country it is used primarily as a racially derogatory term. Personally, it has enough taint that even though I grew up in one of the former areas I'd probably never actually use the phrase unless talking about a literal tar baby (as seen in Song of the South, for example). What is particularly bizarre about Romney's usage is that Tony Snow got into trouble for it just a couple months ago during one of his first press conferences as Press Secretary.
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 10:01 AM	#1048
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Context is everything.
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 10:02 AM	#1049
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Romney should have steered clear of the term, period. Whether or not it's offensive is up in the air. But who doesn't know that it could potentially piss people off to use it? There are tons of other ways to describe the Big Dig failures...
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 10:04 AM	#1050
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I just get fed up with it all, really. If I say "he has a chink in his armor", will all the Chinese people be offended? I don't know...I just way too much is made of stuff like this when the context is not racial.
	Submit to Quotes