That's "Campana-stan" or ''Land of Campana." It reflects the Weltanschauung of Michael E. Campana, President-for-Life of the Republic of Campanastan. Welcome to Campanastan - no passports or visas required!
AWRA The water resources blog of the American Water Resources Association.
Blue Marble Earth An articulate Earth scientist with an MS in Geography from Oregon State University, Courtney van Stolk explores the 'whys' of this fantastic planet.
California Water Blog A biologist, economist, engineer and geologist walk onto a bar…From the Center for Watershed Sciences at UC-Davis.
Campanastan That's 'Campana-stan', or 'Place of Campana', formerly 'Aquablog'. Michael Campana's personal blog, promulgating his Weltanschauung.
Chance of Rain Journalist Emily Green's take on water and related issues.
Great Lakes Law Noah Hall's blog about - what else - all things wet and legal in the Great Lakes region!
International Water Law Project Gabriel Eckstein, Professor of Law at Texas A&M University School of Law, comments on international and transboundary water law and policy.
John Fleck Former science writer @ Albuquerque Journal and current director of the Water Resources Program at U of NM. Topics: Colorado River basin, Western USA water, more!
Legal Planet: Environmental Law and Policy From the UC-Berkeley and UCLA law schools, it highlights the latest legal and policy initiatives and examines their implications.
Maven's Notebook A water, science, and environmental policy blog by Chris Austin, aka 'Maven'. Focus is on California.
On The Public Record A 'low level civil servant who reads a lot of government reports writes about California water and related topics.
Texas Agriculture Law Blog Don't let the name fool you - there are lots of water issues in agriculture and Tiffany Dowell of Texas A&M University does a fabulous job with this important Internet resource. Give it a read - I do every day!
The Way of Water Dr. Jennifer Veilleux records her fieldwork, research, and thoughts about water resources development and management, indigenous rights, ethics, and a host of other issues.
Thirsty in Suburbia Gayle Leonard documents things from the world of water that make us smile: particularly funny, amusing and weird items on bottled water, water towers, water marketing, recycling, the art-water nexus and working.
This Day in Water History Michael J. 'Mike' McGuire, engineer extraordinaire, NAE member, and author of 'The Chlorine Revolution', blogs about historical happenings in the fields of drinking water and wastewater keyed to calendar dates.
WaSH Resources New publications, web sites and multi-media on water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH).
Waste, Water, Whatever Elizabeth Royte's ('Bottlemania', 'Garbage Land') notes on waste, water, whatever.
Water Matters News from the Columbia University Water Center.
Watershed Moments: Thoughts from the Hydrosphere From Sarah Boon - rediscovering her writing and editing roots after 13 years, primarily as an environmental scientist. Her writing centres around creative non-fiction, specifically memoir and nature writing. The landscapes of western Canada are her main inspiration.
WaterWired All things freshwater: news, comment, publications and analysis from hydrogeologist Michael E. Campana, Professor at Oregon State University and Technical Director of the AWRA.
Here is the 60 Minutes piecedescribing the alleged fabrications/exaggerations of events in Mortenson's books and allegations of financial mismanagement. Here are Mortenson's responses (#1 and #2) to questions raised by the show.
You can also find responses and statements from Mortenson on the CAI's WWW site.
Troubling accusations; it does look like Mortenson stretched the truth when it came to anecdotes. And the CAI doesn't benefit directly from his book sales and speaking fees, although it appears that his travel expenses are paid by the CAI.
In New West, Dennis Higman wote this compelling piece in defense of Mortenson, "The Greg Mortenson We Knew". Interesting that Higman used the past tense of the verb in the title. Be sure to read the comments on the article; today's quote is from one of the commenters.
"I support the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's on global health, NOT Bill and Melinda Gates. I support Pennies for Peace, not Greg Mortenson." -- Max
As many of us suspected, the release of President Obama's birth certificate has not quieted the critics. If anything, it has fueled the controversy. One wag noted that it may give rise to a 'Certer' movement.
Let's call it like it is: the 'birthers' are, for the most part, racist morons who have little else to do in their empty lives, and are still upset that we have a nigger in the White House, especially one whose name is Barack Hussein Obama.
Get over it, folks. And note that your new 'head birther' is a guy who was born on Mars: Donald Trump, who's running for President.
Maybe Trump will eventually discuss substantive issues, like how he does his hair.
"Now, Allah permitting, this will quiet the conspiracy theorists so we can all move on to more important matters." -- President Obama (thanks to John Fleck; a joke, by the way)
"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell." --Confucius
“Sir, you’re taking an excessive amount of time here. You should move on.”
It was about 4:50 AM on Easter morning, just past the nearly-empty TSA main terminal checkpoint at DC’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) when the authoritative voice spoke those words. I spun around to see a trim, tall African-American TSA officer. His name badge bore the name “Williams”. I wasn’t sure what I had done wrong since I was not holding anyone up, just gathering my belongings: putting my laptop back into its case, donning my Pendleton hat, and tying my shoes.
I can’t remember exactly what I said (“Are you serious?”) to Mr. Williams, but thoughts of violating some obscure TSA mandate about loitering after clearing security resonated throughout my brain. Then I scrutinized his face, saw a smile emerge, and realized he was just kidding. I asked him just to make sure, and his smile grew.
Thus began a remarkable 25-minute ‘visit’ with TSA Supervisor Michael Williams.
We all know the jokes about TSA and what it stands for: ‘Thousands Standing Around’, ‘Thousands Screwing Around’, ‘Terminated Sales Associates’, ‘Taking Scissors Away’, and all the other disparaging terms. Those terms did not fit Michael Williams.
He confessed that he came over to me because he liked my hat. I explained it was a Pendleton, from Oregon, 100% wool, and great for traveling because it was crushable. At my suggestion he tried it on. It looked great on his clean-shaven head.
From that small talk we moved on, although I am unsure what triggered the transition. He explained that there were far fewer than he expected for a Sunday morning. There must have been all of five people being screened.
We talked about a lot of things: resentment (see today’s quote, which he enjoyed); 9/11 and my sister; sorrow; his two sons; his late mother; my confiscated bottle of Armenian cognac at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport; public perception of TSA; and more.
What struck me was his work philosophy: if he treated people with respect, it will be returned. I heard the voice of man who cares not only about those who work with him but also those in his charge during screening.
I told him that IAD has had a 'special place' for me since that fateful9/11 day when my sister boarded AA flight 77. I mentioned that I was toying with the idea of retracing on 9/11/11 -- the tenth anniversary of Ann's murder.-- what proved to be my sister's final flight. He seemed concerned and wondered whether that would be a good idea. I explained that I thought it might bring a greater measure of closure. He nodded.
Our conversation soon ended. I stood for a minute to reflect on what had just happened; it was like talking to a friend.
Some of my more cynical readers may think I was 'gamed' or 'interrogated' by Williams (like I was 16 years by a US Customs inspector after driving back from Mexico). Not true. I saw his reactions, and besides I had passed through security and if not for dawdling, I would have been out of there long before he arrived.
When I told Mary Frances of this event, she smiled and noted that it occurred on Easter. She told me that the event was a gift - that I had given Williams a gift. I'm unsure I did that. but I believe I received a gift from Williams. The thing is, I'm not quite sure what the gift is, but I suspect it will eventually reveal itself.
Perhaps that will occur on my next visit to IAD.
“Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” – Carrie Fisher (and others).
Welcome to the special Earth Day edition of Campanastan. It is quite special, unless you think that T. Boone Pickens calling for action on global warming is not quite special! And agreeing with Ted Turner no less!
Never thought I would be celebrating Boone Pickens on Earth Day!
I can see those ads now: "T. Boone Pickens, saving the planet." Probably make a buck or two while he's at it.
You go, Boone!
"But when oil reaches $400 a barrel, we'll get action. All candidates say if they are elected they will stop our dependence on foreign oil -- but after their election do nothing." -- T. Boone Pickens, National Press Club, 19 April 2011
What's sad is that our so-called leaders are much more interested in fear and loathing than upholding openness and freedom. Private Bradley Manning -- accused of leaking the State Department cables but not charged -- has been held in solitary confinement for nine months. That's not justice. That's fascism.
"Our leaders are losing sight of their job (to serve citizens and uphold the Constitution) in favor of self-service, greed, ego, and brutality-- andwe are letting them get away with it." -- David Zetland
The title of this blog is not intended to be a factual statement.
After Sen. Kyl stated that abortions are what 90% of whatPlanned Parenthood does, it turns out that he was off by only 87 percentage points. At that point his office issued a statement saying that what he said was 'not intended ro be a factual statement.' Duhhhh.....
Stephen Colbert let Kyl have it, along with President Obama, and the medical savvy of the Fox and Friends folks.
Here is the world's most sophisticated country (albeit with a 1950s-era air traffic control system) and it could not prevent its controllers from sleeping on the job!
The PFL used to have this problem in Campanastan. It was difficult to solve; even 'visits' to our 'mountain resort' did not prevent the problem.
Finally, after tolerating this aberrant and dangerous behavior, the PFL enlisted Campanastan's best minds to devise a solution. They did, and it has worked like a charm.
Our top engineers rigged a system whereby if a call from a pilot to the controllers is unanswered within 45 seconds, a klaxon sounds and does not go off until the call is answered. What if the controller is in the bathroom? No problem; there are radios in all bathrooms with the same klaxon.
Is the klaxon loud enough? In a year-long test on 'vacationers' at our 'mountain resort', the klaxon never failed to rouse even the deepest sleeper within 30 seconds.
The system cannot be short-circuited. Any attempt to fool with the system triggers an even louder klaxon and an alarm at the State Secret Police office, which all airports have.
We are proud of our technology, and will gladly help our dear friend and ally, the USA.
"In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king." -- Unknown
Marty Ennis, Campanastan's Minister of Humor, just returned from a long vacation in Campanastan's 'mountain resort' and sent these pictures of some of the meal items she ate while on vacation.
How about some crocodiles?
Maybe some barbecued snakes?
Anyone for assorted toads and turtles?
I know - pig faces!
Dried reptiles...Ummmm!
Frogs!
Powdered horse milk. Pony up, now!
Oh - I forgot - meat-flavored bottled water!
Today's special...
I think I'll pass on that Big Mac in Beijing!
"Man who walk through airport turnstile sideways going to Bangkok." -- Chinese proverb
"Man who run behind car get exhausted." -- Chinese proverb
You no doubt think I've lost the ability to count, but it's true - the 1960s - the protests, the 'riots', heavy-handed municipal officials, the music, etc. - really began on 9 April 1961.
On April 9, 1961 several hundred musicians and their friends gathered in New York's Washington Square Park to sing folk songs and hang out, just like they did most Sundays. But on this day, the New York Police Department came to kick them out.
The events of that day became known as the Beatnik Riot, and Saturday marks its 50th anniversary.
Here is Dan Brasin's 1961 film Sunday, which recalls the event.
Here is the conclusion of the story:
The event itself got plenty of newspaper coverage, with one headline proclaiming "3,000 Beatniks Riot in Village."But the hysteria faded quickly.
Today, Izzy Young lives in Sweden. He says the Beatnik Riot is pretty much forgotten, except for Drasin's film, Sunday, and Young's collection of photographs and newspapers clippings.
But Drasin disagrees. He says the events of April 9, 1961 did have a lasting significance.
"It was a chaotic day, without a whole lot of rhyme and reason," he says. "But it was certainly representative of the era to come, when the people confronted established authority and started holding them accountable. It would've been unthinkable in the 1950s. But this was the beginning of the 1960s."
The folkies did ultimately get their permit to play in Washington Square Park. David Bennett Cohen — who went on to play keyboard for the band Country Joe and the Fish — says if the police wanted to discourage musicians from gathering in the park on Sundays, the plan backfired.
After all, it's hard to visit Washington Square Park today and not run into a musician — they don't actually need permits anymore.
"Except for that one little glitch with the cops, there was never really any interruption," Cohen recalls. "If I remember correctly, it came back even stronger."
I'd almost forgotten the Beatnik Riot; I was 12 years old at the time.
But then again, I have forgotten a lot of things about the '60s.
"The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it. " -- Abbie Hoffman
"Beatniks and politics, nothing is new. " -- Strawberry Alarm Clock,Incense and Peppermints (1967)
Psychedelic? These guys look more like refugees from Surf City!
The Huffington Post has a collection of the eleven best Beck video parodies.
''I went to the movie this weekend with a gun. And surprise, surprise, I didn't kill anybody!'' -- Glenn Beck
''This president I think has exposed himself over and over again as a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture....I'm not saying he doesn't like white people, I'm saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.'' -- Glenn Beck, on President Obama, sparking an advertiser exodus from his FOX News show, July 28, 2009
On Monday night co-owner Bernie Karl gave us a tour of the geothermal power plant, pet goats, and finally, the infamous Ice Museum. Bernie is very happy to point out thatForbes once voted the Ice Museum the world's worst business idea.
At the Museum's ice bar, Bernie got carried away and demonstrated his apple martini ('appletini') prowess, even performing an in situ mix with one of our group members. The young woman was there with some of her co-workers (actually she was their boss), one of whom divulged that the woman had once won a bikini contest by removing her top. The PFL made a comment about 'topless Tuesdays'.
Upon hearing that, Bernie dared her to put her head back on the bar and get an appletini mixed in her mouth. The woman consented, and the appletinis started flowing. Alas, her top remained on, which was good, because Bernie's wife called. After some back-and-forth, she hung up on him. More appletinis!
The President-for-Life was quite appalled at this shameless behavior and almost left! Instead, he settled for another appletini and his picture with Sarah Palin's ice statue. I am pointing to something on the staue.
You could almost see Campanastan from the Ice Museum!
Now I must go speak with the Moldova hockey team, which is wandering around the airport.
"A bikini top in the hand is worth two in the bush. Wait a minute, that didn't come out right!" -- Bernie Karl
In Campanstan's part of the world there is a surfeit of bozo rulers. The President-for-Life is surrounded by these guys. But at least they make me look good.
Take Nazarbayev in Kazakhstan - please! Or Karimov in Uzbekistan! Both these ex-Soviet clowns became 'democrats' overnight.
Fortunately we are rid of Niyazov (aka Turkmenbashi) in Turkmenistan.
But the PFL's favorite bozo is my good buddy, Hamid Karzai, the feckless, venal autocrat who looks like the Good Humor ice cream man of my youth. But if all he did was peddle ice cream we'd all be better off!
So what brings my wrath down upon Karzai? I was watching Fareed Zakaria this morning and learned that the recent killings of 20 people in Afghanistan over the burning of a copy of the Quran by idiot preacher Terry Jones and friends in Florida (who prove that 'bozoism' is not restricted to the rest of the world) was fomented by Karzai.
The Quran burning, over two weeks old, was largely unreported by the media. Karzai picked up on it recently to inflame anti-Americanism. He succeeded, and has apparently expressed remorse, but wants Jones arrested.
Don't get me wrong - I fully support Jones' right to burn a Quran, Bible, or whatever. Under the Frist Amendment, that is his right, however stupid and disrespectful the act is. It's also Karzai's right to say Jones should be arrested (he would be in Afghanistan). But I certainly do not support the right of Muslims (likely mostly Taliban in the case at hand) to kill people in response to Quran-burning.
Zakaria made an excellent point of all this: it would be great to hear moderate Islamic leaders condemn the murderers, but it will likely be a cold day in hell before that happens.
As I said, we have a surfeit of bozos.
"Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups." -- John Kenneth Galbraith
Mary Frances sent this to me. I suspect it's been around for some time. Interesting sentiment.
If you are looking for an April Fools' Day post, gohere.
The Green Thing
In the line at the store a woman wanted plastic bags but the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized to her and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”
That’s right, they didn’t have the green thing in her day.
Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soft drink bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
But they didn’t have the green thing back her day.
In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.
But she’s right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day.
Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up electricity. Wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that old lady is right, they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.
Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a pizza dish, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
But they didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she’s right, they didn’t have the green thing back then.
They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
But they didn’t have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus, insteadof turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
Isn't it a crying shame that we didn’t have “The Green Thing” back then?
Of course, back in my day we burned leaves n the street, didn't pay much attention to stewardship of the land, water and air, and did a host of other things that were hardly 'green'.
Happy April Fools' Day! ¡Feliz el día de tontos de abril!
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