August 27, 2005
Why I am Back, part 1
:After a four-year hiatus, I am back. Why? Well, over the next few weeks I will give a few different reasons for the reincarnation of the Tim Fry Report. But at its basic level, I have more time. Despite getting married, moving across the country to the DC area, and starting a new job – I simply have more time than I did during college. With more time comes the ability to fill it with my favorite hobby. So the Tim Fry Report returns. Enjoy and, as always, please give me feedback.
(Filed under: Commentary, Why I am Back)
Review: Google Talk
:In a word – slick. Google’s latest offering (they also released a second version of their Google Desktop Search, which I have not been able to spend enough time with) again suggests the company knows what people want. Tired of pop-ups and cluttered IM interfaces? Tired of sound effects constantly? Google Talk is the answer. It even offers a basic version of VoiP phone calls with pretty good sound quality. While the program is tied to its Gmail email service, it utilizes open formats that will allow you to use other clients other than Google Talk to chat with your friends. If only AOL’s popular AIM service would do the same.
Google Talk requires a Gmail account. If you would like to be invited to the service, email Tim at timfry@timfryreport.com.
(Filed under: Commentary, Reviews, Science / Technology, Google, Software)
Redistricting
:In California, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger is promoting a ballot initiative that would have a nonpartisan panel redistrict California’s Congressional districts. In Ohio, Democratic-leaning groups have over 500,000 signatures to add a similar initiative to their ballot this fall. In both cases, political parties that have lost many seats in their state are looking to change rules to change their fortunes. In both cases, this should be encouraged. Twelve of eighteen Representatives from Ohio are Republican. All Congressional elections in the state in 2004 were decided by at least by a thirty percent margin. Yet, statewide, President Bush won by only three percent. Nationwide, most Congressional districts are uncompetitive. In order to have stronger leaders in Washington and a more honest national policy debate, it is essential that Congressional districts are competitive. Both initiatives, even as self serving as they are for state parties, should be encouraged and supported.
(Filed under: Commentary, Politics)
Morning After Pill
:On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration announced that instead of making a decision on making the so-called ‘morning after pill’ available over-the-counter by their September 1st deadline, they would be asking for a 60-day period of public comment. The ‘morning after pill’, which is available by prescription, can be used to interrupt the process of fertilization of a women within 24 hours after a sexual encounter. The FDA was wise to give an opportunity for public comment of such a political drug. But in the end, this drug should be available over the counter.
The FDA has ruled it is safe for anyone over the age of seventeen and that it performs as expected, which is about all the FDA should do in its investigation. Political opponents of the drug charge that it is another form of abortion and that it promotes risky behavior. Both arguments are ridiculous. Preventing pregnancies to begin with is much different morally than ‘ending’ any form of life. Meanwhile, ‘our children’ are already participating in many forms of risky behavior. One more product on the market, to help protect women from having their lives radically altered, will not encourage more sexual openness among teenagers. The only fear with this drug is that women rely on this product and not on condoms that can also protect sexually transmitted diseases. But that should not stop this pill from going to market and also an increase in education about the risks of unprotected sex.
(Filed under: Bush Administration, Commentary, FDA, Politics)
Sports
:The NCAA partially reversed track this week on the issue of eliminating Native American mascots during the post-season campaigns. The NCAA decided to allow Florida State to continue to use the Seminole moniker because the Florida Seminole tribe said they supported the college’s use. All other schools including the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, and the University of Utah Utes will still have to cover their name in any post-season competition.
(Filed under: Sports, NCAA)
Pat Robertson on Venezuela
:Tuesday on “The 700 Club,” Pat Robertson said that the U.S. should “take [Venezuelan President Chavez] out.'’ He went on that “killing Chavez would be cheaper than going to war with Venezuela to remove him.” The Venezuelan government is responding to the television host’s words as if they came from the American government. With the President’s close ties to evangelical Christians this has made it a difficult line for the Bush administration.
(Filed under: The Americas, Venezuela, Politics)
Iran and North Korea Nuke Update
:Reports from the IAEA Board are that traces of bomb-grade uranium found two years ago in Iran came from contaminated Pakistani equipment and are not evidence of a Iranian nuclear weapons program. This seems to indicate that Iran is further from building its own nukes than previously thought. Meanwhile, in North Korea, negotiators will be returning to the six-member talks on August 29th. So far, North Korea has not been willing to give up its nuclear program.
(Filed under: Middle East, Iran, Asia, North Korea, Global Issues, Nuclear Proliferation)
CIA Report
:A long-awaited C.I.A. inspector general’s report on the agency’s performance before the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks includes detailed criticism of more than a dozen former and current agency officials. Its most damaging attacks are leveled at George J. Tenet, the former director. Mr. Tenet is censured in the report for failing to develop and carry out a strategic plan to take on Al Qaeda in the years before 2001, even after he wrote in a 1998 memo to intelligence agencies that “we are at war” with the group.
(Filed under: 9/11 Investigations, CIA Report)
Environment
:The Bush Administration announced on Tuesday a plan to force automakers to raise fuel efficiency in all automobiles by 2011 and SUVs by 2008. This comes in response to high gas prices and a few weeks after new energy and transportation bills. Environmental advocates panned the approach as it does not effect the largest SUVs (like Hummer’s H2) or passenger cars, which are already required to maintain an average of 27.5 miles per gallon. It is alleged that it would also create new loopholes that would weaken the requirements and not help reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Meanwhile, nine Northeastern states and three Western states are moving to reduce pollution emissions by 10% by 2020. These state initiatives are in response to global warming concerns and beginning to replace what would have usually been a Federal responsibility.
(Filed under: Bush Administration, Environmental Impact, Politics)
Connecticut Sues over Education Policy
:On Monday, Connecticut became the first state to sue the Federal Government over the President’s No Child Left Behind Program. Connecticut alleges that the Federal Government has not provided the financial support that they promised when Congress passed the bill. Connecticut is balking at the price of testing students every year instead of the biannual tests that they had before the bill was passed. Connecticut joins a number of local school systems and unions in suing the Federal Government over the highlight of Bush’s domestic policy.
(Filed under: Bush Administration, No Child Left Behind, Politics, US Courts)
/ Older Reports