Politics

Keep 'em in the dark and feed 'em....

July 20, 2007

Launce Rake tried to get an estimate from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) what they now estimate the water grab is going to cost. He points out that however many billions of tax dollars are going down this hole, er pipeline, it is certainly more than the 20-year-old $2 billion figure that is oft tossed about.

The SNWA plan seems to mirror the decades-old plan for the downwinders. The plan then suggested that if the government didn't collect data it couldn't ever be sued to release data under sunshine laws. Apparently SNWA would like us to believe the same of the water grab plans. A staff person for SNWA told Rake that they hope to have a number soon that they can share with the public.

Understanding that the number is a moving target that changes with time is easy. It is harder to understand why SNWA doesn't have a figure. Unlike the downwinder situation SNWA is dependent upon state and local funding for their project. The nominal blank-check of the defense industry is tucked away and not out on the table as it was for nuclear testing during the cold war. So the situation is either that SNWA's mis-management of this project is so great that they don't have a number or that they don't want to share it for fear it will awaken citizens of Nevada to what is going on here.

Getting Bush Out

January 17, 2007

The last few days make it clear that the United States has a president bent on his way. It does not matter how many better plans are laid out, how many brilliant people offer suggestions the power of the presidency has gone to his head. Dave Winer has a suggestion about how to get the president to go. There is really just one major problem with the idea.

Chancellor's resignation leaves gaps in Nevada higher education

January 14, 2007

James Rogers, Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, resigned on Sunday. The resignation leaves the system of higher education looking for leadership at a time when leadership is critical for the system. The system's institutions and the system itself are in need of strong leadership. Rogers, never one to shy from controversy, has a reputation of saying what he believes needs to be said. The owner of several television stations was known to send firey memos to the media at the same time he sent them to the regents. One such memo recently asked why we continue to have college football at schools when nobody shows up.

Rogers memo says 'i quit'

Long story short it is a bad day for education in Nevada. Now we're left with quarreling regents and a Governor looking for water under the road.

Three tab night

November 7, 2006

Tonight is a three tab night. Three tabs kept open in Firefox keep me up to date on the election returns. The three are:

So far so good. Things don't look good in Nevada's govenor's race but hopefully the early voting shows a different result than the final result.

Political groups should be cautious on MySpace

May 11, 2006

Earlier I spent some time writing about some cautions for libraries making the leap to MySpace. It bears repeating, however, as political groups thinking of using MySpace to organize need to be aware of ominous terms. No longer is it necessary for the GOP to break in to the Watergate to get political documents. Instead all they need are the overly broad permissions granted in the MySpace terms of service. Those terms give MySpace the right to publish anything posted using the service. So a note to a friend about this weekend's surprise announcement or political rally are fair game for the lead story on Fox News tonight, or simply as a gift to the GOP.

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