It’s been a while since I did a tech update, but nothing like doing OS installs on a Friday night. My nearly 5 year old laptop, a Dell Inspiron 1501, is on its last legs. The only thing I use it for is BOINC, so I figured that installing Ubuntu would give it a bit… Continue reading Installing Ubuntu on a Dell Inspiron 1501
Month: December 2011
First Amendment Nuttiness
The First Amendment to the Constitution is probably the most misunderstood amendment, likely because it is the one that most people know about. Few things are funnier than hearing it misused by people who say things like “You can’t ban me from this website, I have First Amendment rights!” It’s one thing for internet trolls… Continue reading First Amendment Nuttiness
Spare a dollar (coin)?
The U.S. is going to continue to fail at introducing a dollar coin until it removes the dollar bill at the same time. This isn’t terribly hard to understand. It also isn’t hard to understand the benefits: coins last much longer, are more convenient for things like vending machines, parking meters, buses, and other low-denomination… Continue reading Spare a dollar (coin)?
Subverting Success
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell famously said that the number one priority of Republicans is to make Obama a one-term president. As a necessary conclusion from this assertion, Republicans are trying to deny any kind of success to Obama. Even if that means deliberately subverting a program that aims to expand health care coverage to… Continue reading Subverting Success
Patronizing, 2011-style
Duncan Black (AKA Atrios) at Eschaton often has a special segment called “What Digby Said”. Not having a whole lot more to add after this miserable Sunday, I’ll mainly leave comment on the Obama administration’s Lucy-like pulling the football away on the issue of emergency contraception to Digby. For the life of me, I don’t… Continue reading Patronizing, 2011-style
Changing the cost of college
Recently, the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management put forward a plan to charge more in tuition for undergraduates than the rest of the U. The plan, which would charge an extra $2,000 a year in order to recruit and retain more faculty members, would change the egalitarian tuition policy that the U has… Continue reading Changing the cost of college
Remembrances of Quists past
Allen Quist is running for Congress again. Since he has little chance of getting the GOP endorsement, let alone beating Tim Walz, this news is about as important as yet another Ole Savior run for something. However, I have a special place in my heart for Quist, as he is one of my oldest memories… Continue reading Remembrances of Quists past
I’m voting for Noor
There’s a primary next Tuesday in my senate district, SD59. It’s the first round in the special election to replace former senator Larry Pogemiller, who resigned earlier this year after a long stint in the senate. Given the political leaning of the district, it’s almost a guarantee that the winner of the DFL primary is… Continue reading I’m voting for Noor