The Mongrel Dogs Who Teach

Author: mongreldogs

  • Yay, “Liberal” Media!

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    Headline at ABC News: “Democrats are Dropping Like Flies” Reality: Not seeking reelection for US House US Senate Governor Democrats 10 2 3 Republicans 14 6 4 So the retiring Republicans outnumber the retiring Democrats in every chamber— and in what we are told is destined to be a “Republican year” — yet it’s the…

  • What Michael Steel Won’t Let Me Post

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    OK, that’s melodramatic.  All that’s occurred so far is that their mediocre site has choked several times since I’ve tried to post a comment in response to a blog post there.  The post blames President Obama for the jobs lost in the past 11 months and worries what it would mean if he does a…

  • Me-tooing a clever description

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    One of the unsung heros of the health care debate is the Congressional Budget Office, an agency that few really understand and fewer appreciate.  Ezra Klein has a tidbit on them, including a description so pithy I can’t help but steal it: If the role of the Federal Reserve is to take away the punchbowl…

  • Week 51 in the Program

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    Well, I’m closing in on one year in the HMR program and, looking back, I feel pretty satisfied.  I hit my nominal target (weight loss of 150 lbs) a couple of weeks back and have managed to keep going a bit, so it wasn’t a fluke.  My blood pressure today was 110 over 80, which…

  • Security v. Security Theater

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    Not surprisingly, Bruce Schneier has an excellent piece talking about the psychological dimensions of terrorism and what a strong, stable industrial democracy can do in the face of amorphous threats… without sacrificing its principles, its freedoms, or its citizens. If you live in an advanced country, you should probably read this — before the next…

  • Week 48 in the Program

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    Well, it’s been a long time since I’ve written an update, for absolutely no good reason. Things continue to go really well and I’m very happy with my progress. I weigh at 225.6 lbs. now, which is not only 147.4 lbs below my start weight — it’s lower than I’ve been since, most likely, high…

  • Some PSAs on the Health Care Debate

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    “We’re #37“ And, who’s looking out for the Insurance Companies? Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

  • Health Care Debate Quote of the Day

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    Ezra Klein writes what is fast becoming my favorite go-to blog regarding the health care debate (and politics at large), and he had a truly fantastic quote about the recent Michael Steele discovery of Medicare: “Still, what we’re seeing here is the GOP swearing that they will protect, defend and preserve a single-payer health-care system.…

  • Knowing is Half the Battle

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    I was cruising TechDirt and saw a neat post on “Is The Federal Government The Most Interesting Tech Startup For 2009?”  The idea is that the recent data.gov initiative has led to an outpouring of with-it and effective apps allowing anyone to get a handle on the vast trove of information compiled by the federal…

  • Week 34 in the Program

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    Weight this week | Change since last week | Total change 259.8 | ? | -113.2 OK, I should have posted this nearly a week ago.  But it’s been a whirlwind and I just couldn’t get to it.  Surprisingly still on track, despite my trip to California.  I had thought I’d gain some, since my…