Homeland Security - dimensionally challenged (Feb. 26, 2003, updated Sept. 28,2004)
On Feb. 26, 2003, there was a full-page ad in the New York Times featuring our Homeland Security Czar, Tom Ridge. Not resting on the laurels of his color-code warning system, he is also giving us a government web site for further information, at www.ready.gov.
What's a good citizen to do but to bookmark the site, and to read it carefully for further information, especially the part about the highly-publicized and often-ridiculed home protection through the use of duct tape and plastic sheeting. For example, under FAQ (*) , excerpted for our reading pleasure:
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Is there a particular type (brand) of duct tape that citizens should buy?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends using duct tape with a minimum thickness of 10 millimeters (0.01 in).
What is the most effective type of plastic sheeting?
FEMA recommends using plastic sheeting with a thickness of 10 millimeters (0.01 in.). For reference, commercially available sheeting is typically sold at 0.7, 1, 1.2, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6 and 10 millimeters. But, keep in mind that any type of plastic sheeting, even heavy trash bags, can be better than nothing.
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(*) This page was unfortunately no longer accessible when I checked it again on March 17, 2003, so I'm glad to have seen and preserved it for posterity when it was first published.
The U.S. never been too strong on the metric system, so most people won't understand that 10 millimeters is about 0.4 inches, which is falrly thick for duct tape or plastic sheeting. Of course, the good folks at our government meant mils, or thousandths of an inch, but what difference does a factor of 40 make when you're trying to help people.
Updated Sept. 28, 2004: Well, our government may work slowly, but eventually is gets some things almost right. When I checked the Homeland Security site recently, the FAQ page had been restored and the same excerpts now read:
Is there a particular type (brand) of duct tape that citizens should buy?
DHS recommends using duct tape with a minimum thickness of 10 mil (0.01 in).
DHS does not recommend particular brands.
What is the most effective type of plastic sheeting?
DHS recommends using plastic sheeting with a thickness of 4 to 6 mil (0.004 in. - 0.006 in.) or greater.
For reference, commercially available sheeting is typically sold at 0.7, 1, 1.2, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6 and 10 mil.
Mil: A mil is a measurement equal to 1/1000 of an inch. It does not refer to a millimeter, which is 1/1000 meter or .4 inch.
The reference to the mil as 1/1000 of an inch is in the Glossary, reached by clicking on "mil" in the FAQ text. But, oops, ".4 inch" is a pretty thick millimeter (the right answer is 0.04 inch).
And to deal with Homeland Security, what's more American than to get products into the marketplace. Here's one example, athttp://www.saferamerica.com/products.asp. Just the name makes one feel more secure, doesn't it? DOESN'T IT?
Updated 9/28/04
"The Truth Is What We Say It Is" (started Sept. 15, 2004)
For a long time I've believed that the mantra of the Bush administration should be the title of this note. They feed misrepresentations and lies to the gullible public and sell them as truth. There are too many to list but a few stand out:
"We're winning the war on terror" - by providing a training ground in Iraq for terrorists? By letting Osama (who?) get away and losing interest in him? By losing interest in Afghanistan and letting the Taliban grow in strength? By refusing to provide information at German trials of known terrorists? By abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib and jails in Afghanistan? By holding prisoners indefinitely without representation in Guantanamo? By detaining Arab-Americans without representation and under harsh conditions shortly after 9/11? By a color-code alert system worthy of Gilbert and Sullivan?
The Iraq War is justified - the ever-shifting reasons seem to have settled on Saddam Hussein being a "bad man". There were of course the original WoMD's that turned into "Weapons-of Mass-Destruction-related-program-activities" in the Bush state of the union address, then basically disappeared entirely. There was the war that was to be self-financed by Iraqi oil, that instead has cost us $200 billion (and counting). There was to be the welcoming Iraqi public showering us with flowers and praise, now hunkering down while insurgents control more and more of the country. And of course there's the non-existent tie between Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attacks - Dick Cheney is still presenting this as truth, while the administration mumbles that there is no connection while often speaking of the two in the same sentence. Bottom line: a large fraction of the gullible public still believes that there is a connection.
Tax Cuts are working - at every opportunity to filter economic data and see any momentary positive trend, we get to hear that tax cuts are working. On the other hand, when things look more bleak, then we need more tax cuts.
The American Economy - is strong and growing. Productivity is up but wages are barely holding level; so just who's profiting? Lots of jobs have been lost, with very few months where job creation just kept up with population growth (150k jobs/month required). Then there's the massive growing deficit, for later generations to pay down; meanwhile we throw away needed money on interest charges on that debt.
"Healthy Forests" - ostensibly a prescription to remove accumulated brush that sustains forest fires; in truth a license for logging companies to cut down healthy trees. Now just what company would really sign up for only clearing brush?
"Clear Skies" - designed to ease polluters avoid the Clean Air Act. If your plant exceeds pollution standards, then you can sell credits to those that don't. Sort of gives us a minimum required dose of pollution, doesn't it? Oh, and don't bother putting in expensive pollution control with your new equipment, as the Clean Air Act requires, and keep burning that dirty coal.
"Uniter, not a divider" - this lie is left over from the 2000 presidential campaign. Never has any president been more divisive and partisan; it's "my way or the highway" on every big or little thing. Democrats that voted for his programs got no return (e.g., Jean Carnahan saw Bush campaign hard for her opponent).
Working with our allies - the Bush campaign lie was that we need to show some humbleness and avoid arrogance in America's dealings with other countries. ("If we're an arrogant nation, they'll resent us; if we're a humble nation but strong, they'll welcome us."). Soon the adminstration refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, voided the ABM treaty with Russia, and went its own way in the pre-emptive Iraq war while alienating our strongest allies.
"Coalition of the Willing" - the fiction of world support in the Iraq war. Bush is fond of citing Great Britain, Poland and Australia as partners while forgetting many others in the coalition: the great powers of Micronesia and Palau, Spain pulling out when it finally listened to its people, and Turkey declining to sign on, among others. The absurdity becomes even clearer when one looks at who is bearing the financial cost and the cost in lives.
There'll be lots more examples as I see or think of them.
Updated 9/18/04
The new, improved, lemon-freshened White House Email, or "White House Web Mail" (July 23, 2003)
The White House has recently made it "easier" for us to send Email to the President. Rather than writing a note that has to be read for content, you must declare whether your position is in favor of the president or not. Note: Today, 10/5/03, I noticed that there is now a third option, writing a general comment. See the options below:
I want to
to President George W. Bush
Then you must choose of the pre-selected topics. On the next page, you are required to supply personal information, including your full name, street address and Email address. Perhaps for amusement value, you are also given a list of Prefixes to your name, and must choose one (see below - "blank" is an option):
A swift perusal shows this Prefix list to be heavily weighted toward military titles, as well as several religious designations. Spanish speakers are provided "Sr." and "Sra.", but there are apparently no French or German Prefixes.
Even with the tilt toward the military, would Private First Class Joe Grunt write a differing opinion to the President, his C-in-C, about how "he heard the Iraq war was over, he's served his tour of duty, so could he please go home now"? Or would Rear Admiral Lance Longboat write a differing opinion in which he insists that his carriers can be put to better use than for a "Top Gun" stage show?
In the private sector, given the excesses of questionable constitutionality to which John Ashcroft's office has subjected those with "suspected ties to terrorists", how comfortable is John Q. Public going to feel sending a differing opinion to the President? Or, more to the point, Muhammed Q. Public??? While the FBI might not come knocking at their door, could all that personal information somehow wind up in the IRS must-audit file?
Of course, this does make it easy for the staff to send tailored form-responses to the sender, according to the chosen topic and whether or not the opinion was in support of the president. It makes it even easier to compile statistics of Email received for or against a presidential position, even though the sample will be wildly biased in favor.
Actually, the old presidential Email address still exist. After a bit of a fuss in the media, it was restored to a more prominent position; sending an Email to this address will generate the usual automatic response.
The cynic in me says that, although annoying, none of this really matters very much in an administration that's not known for soliciting or listening to differing opinions, or to anyone outside of their own chosen circle and viewpoint.
Going to the White House Web Site to send an Email message requires working one's way through several pages of links. For our viewing pleasure, here's a direct path to the experience of White House Web Mail
Updated 10/5/03
"In your Dreams" - A Press Conference by President Bush (Feb. 28, 2003)
President Bush doesn't hold press conferences, preferring to let Press Secretary Ari Fleischer handle the press, hence the title of this piece. Fleischer appears to be a re-invention of Ron Ziegler, President Nixon's obfuscating press secretary. Others might say that he plays Charlie McCarthy to Bush's Edgar Bergen (well-known old-time dummy and ventriloquist). So, if there are no press conferences, then we have to imagine one (*)
Press Secretary Fleischer: Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States. After a brief address, there will be time for questions.
President Bush: Saddam, Saddam, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Taxes of Evil, Tax Cut, Tax Cut. God Bless America.
Press Secretary Fleischer: First question, please.
Reporter No. 1: Mr. President, there has been a great deal of concern in America and the world that we are rushing off toward a war when other means can contain Iraq. As you know, that includes massive protests and demonstrations here and throughout Europe.
President Bush: Saddam, Saddam, Weapons of Mass Destruction. God Bless America.
Reporter No. 2: Mr. President, there has been also been a lot of criticism that we are acting too unilaterally, ignoring valid concerns by old allies and friends. Here I'm referring not only to the war on Iraq, but the Kyoto Protocol, the World Court, the Land Mine Treaty, the ABM Treaty with Russia, and more.
President Bush: Saddam, Saddam, Weapons of Mass Destruction. God Bless America.
Reporter No. 3: Mr. President, what can you tell us about the civilians in Iraq - the inevitable "collateral damage" in a war, and the plans to help them rebuild? What about the hatred that a war will surely arouse in Muslim countries, especially allies like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan?
President Bush: Saddam, Saddam, Weapons of Mass Destruction. God Bless America.
Reporter No. 4: Mr. President, there has been some concern that we don't have a good track record in the Middle East, that recovery in Afghanistan is going poorly, and that we've done nothing significant to improve the Israeli-Palestinian situation.
President Bush: Saddam, Saddam, Weapons of Mass Destruction. God Bless America.
Reporter No. 5: Mr. President, some have estimated that the war on Iraq will cost us $100-200 billion, which hasn't even been accounted for in a budget that will be some $300 billion in deficit.
President Bush: Saddam, Saddam, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Tax Cut, Tax Cut. God Bless America.
Reporter No. 6: Mr. President, the economy just doesn't seem to be improving at all. Millions are unemployed, companies are laying off yet more people, and the stock market refuses to climb. What can you tell the American people?
President Bush: Tax Cut, Tax Cut. God Bless America.
Reporter No. 7: Mr. President, the scandals at Enron and other companies shook the American people's faith in the corporate system. Many lost not only their jobs but their retirement savings. The head of the SEC, the prime overseer, needed to resign. Then there are domestic corporations who avoid taxes by setting up in Bermuda while the American people are being asked to show their patriotism. What is being done to restore confidence in our corporate system?
President Bush: Tax Cut, Tax Cut. God Bless America.
Press Secretary Fleisher: One more question, please.
Reporter No. 8: Mr. President, despite all that we know about the environment and the long-term effects of global warming, carbon dioxide, air, water and ground pollution, this administration is loosening the regulations that are protecting our public today and our children tomorrow. Could you comment?
President Bush: God Bless America.
Press Secretary Fleischer: Thank you, Mr. President.
(*) Wouldn't you know it - one week later (March 6) President Bush holds a press conference. I like mine better.
Updated 3/19/03
President Bush: What's wrong with these pictures?
Note added: The pictures below seemed to good to be true and, to my distress, apparently are not what they seem. According to a NYTimes article describing the juxtaposition of John Kerry and Jane Fonda at a Vietnam peace rally as a fake, the upside-down book that Bush is holding is the result of creative Photoshop work. The field glasses are apparently very sensitive for night-viewing, and so need a dark filter for daytime use.
What remains is that Bush's various gaffes and personal limitiations made these pictures credible in the first place.
Our Education President: Who's reading to whom here?
... and they laughed at Mike Dukakis ....
or
The Commander-in-Chief looks at the future, and it looks black
Updated 6/14/04