Oliver Stone wants to do a biopic about 9/11. About 9/11? Are you kidding me? Stone has never met a conspiracy theory he didn't endorse or a fact that he couldn't twist.
What's his angle? Roger Simon thinks it is the foreign box office. I happen to agree with Mickey Kaus - Hollywood is so out of touch with mainstream US tastes that it thinks that a director best known for making movies that rely heavily on conspiracy mongering should take on the monumental task of recounting a harrowing tale from 9/11. Oh, I'm sure the production values and acting will be very good, but what will be the guts of the story?
Should we start a poll to see whether he mentions Islamic terrorists, My Pet Goat, the 4,000 Zionists who didn't go to work that day, that the planes were really not planes, the buildings were imploded and not exploded, and that it was one big Bushitler Conspiracy?
Saturday, July 09, 2005
A Blog For All News Update
If some of you haven't noticed by now, I've made a few updates to the look and feel of this blog in the last week or so. Trackbacks and comments are now powered by Haloscan. I've now organized my links in the sidebar a little differently, and put them into menus rather than lists.
A secret handshake goes out to Dave Ray who runs Bulletproof Dandy, for giving me the inspiration to use the menus - the template he devised was extremely useful (and some of the links he had have been added to the news section).
Most importantly for you image hounds, I've assembled a menu specifically for the waterfall pictures. Have at them.
Also, just to let people know, I intend to sell these photos both matted and unmatted. Let me know if you're interested. I haven't set a price on them yet, but I will accept reasonable offers.
A secret handshake goes out to Dave Ray who runs Bulletproof Dandy, for giving me the inspiration to use the menus - the template he devised was extremely useful (and some of the links he had have been added to the news section).
Most importantly for you image hounds, I've assembled a menu specifically for the waterfall pictures. Have at them.
Also, just to let people know, I intend to sell these photos both matted and unmatted. Let me know if you're interested. I haven't set a price on them yet, but I will accept reasonable offers.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Photo of the Day
A late winter photo of the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. We were still a good two weeks early before the cherry trees blossomed, but with this kind of a backdrop, a good photo is tough to come upon.
Rehnquist Retiring - Film at 11
That didn't take long. First O'Connor. Now Rehnquist.
Smart money would call on Stevens in the next week or two, but lets see what this does to the political apple cart. Overturn it.
Yeah, that's the appropriate term.
UPDATE:
Not so fast. Rehnquist hasn't retired. Go figure. The old guy still has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Smart money would call on Stevens in the next week or two, but lets see what this does to the political apple cart. Overturn it.
Yeah, that's the appropriate term.
UPDATE:
Not so fast. Rehnquist hasn't retired. Go figure. The old guy still has a few tricks up his sleeve.
More Thoughts On Transportation Security
Yesterday, I gave the requisite slam to Congress for failing to address the crumbling infrastructure for the Hudson and East River tunnels that carry NJ Transit, LIRR, Amtrak, and MTA trains. Hundreds of thousands of people take those trains on a daily basis and there is no real good way to prevent terrorists from striking.
In fact, it's impossible. Even the experts have to acknowledge that fact. If we want to be able to get to work on time and in a timely manner, the possibility that a terrorist might sneak a bomb onto a subway or train remains a possibility.
What the article doesn't address is two-fold. One is the fact that conductors and engineers on board the trains have a tremendous responsibility thrust on them. They are the official eyes and ears for anything suspicious. They walk the rails, subways, and trains daily and know them better than anyone else (or they should know). They should easily spot things that seem off and alert the proper authorities. Yet, some don't take the time to go through crowded train cars to check tickets after each stop. Oh, I know it's a pain for them, and the passengers, but that simple step could uncover something amiss (not to mention make sure that the proper fares are collected). Sure, the officials say that they've trained their workers to do more, and that there are more police on trains, but give things a week or so to calm down, and we're back to business as usual and the threats remain while the security is not really improved. Installing cameras might catch a glimpse of a terrorist in action, but it cannot apprehend a person. A camera cannot stop a terrorist before they strike. Cops patrolling do help, but the costs become prohibitive to increase staffing to keep up with the needs. And eventually, everyone slowly loses focus and the cops go back to their regular schedules and things settle back into the usual patterns.
Until the next time.
The second problem is the one I addressed yesterday (and further discussions at LGF's open thread. The article says that NJ Transit is looking at ways to improve security at various places, but those enhancements need money.
Look at the NJ, NY, or even the federal budget. Do you see appropriations for the tunnels?
Nope.
Because they're not there. They are a big ticket item that should easily stand out. Not only because of the cost, but because any politician worth their salt would tout the 'pork' brought home in the form of a hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to rehabilitate and improve the Hudson and East River tunnels.
In fact, it's impossible. Even the experts have to acknowledge that fact. If we want to be able to get to work on time and in a timely manner, the possibility that a terrorist might sneak a bomb onto a subway or train remains a possibility.
What the article doesn't address is two-fold. One is the fact that conductors and engineers on board the trains have a tremendous responsibility thrust on them. They are the official eyes and ears for anything suspicious. They walk the rails, subways, and trains daily and know them better than anyone else (or they should know). They should easily spot things that seem off and alert the proper authorities. Yet, some don't take the time to go through crowded train cars to check tickets after each stop. Oh, I know it's a pain for them, and the passengers, but that simple step could uncover something amiss (not to mention make sure that the proper fares are collected). Sure, the officials say that they've trained their workers to do more, and that there are more police on trains, but give things a week or so to calm down, and we're back to business as usual and the threats remain while the security is not really improved. Installing cameras might catch a glimpse of a terrorist in action, but it cannot apprehend a person. A camera cannot stop a terrorist before they strike. Cops patrolling do help, but the costs become prohibitive to increase staffing to keep up with the needs. And eventually, everyone slowly loses focus and the cops go back to their regular schedules and things settle back into the usual patterns.
Until the next time.
The second problem is the one I addressed yesterday (and further discussions at LGF's open thread. The article says that NJ Transit is looking at ways to improve security at various places, but those enhancements need money.
Look at the NJ, NY, or even the federal budget. Do you see appropriations for the tunnels?
Nope.
Because they're not there. They are a big ticket item that should easily stand out. Not only because of the cost, but because any politician worth their salt would tout the 'pork' brought home in the form of a hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to rehabilitate and improve the Hudson and East River tunnels.
Going for the Brass Ring
Folks in these parts know that Iowahawk is one of the best satirists out there. Ace may have outdone even Iowahawk with this one.
Impressive. Most Impressive.
UPDATE:
Also impressive is The Club Gitmo everyday line of clothes.
Impressive. Most Impressive.
UPDATE:
Also impressive is The Club Gitmo everyday line of clothes.
Go After The Terror Centers
Amir Taheri is right. Go after the terrorist producers and the chances for future terrorist attacks will lessen. He's not just talking about the regimes that sponsor and condone terrorism on their behalf (Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and many others), but the madrassas where terrorism is condoned in the form of jihad.
Not the peaceful inner struggle kind of jihad mind you, but the Twin Towers destroying, Pentagon attacking, thousands of innocents killed, wounded, and maimed kind of jihad.
Not the peaceful inner struggle kind of jihad mind you, but the Twin Towers destroying, Pentagon attacking, thousands of innocents killed, wounded, and maimed kind of jihad.
The London attack was not the work only of the few individuals who carried it out. It was the bitter fruit of a faith that has been hijacked by a minority of extremists while the majority of its adepts watch with a mixture of awe and ill-concealed pride. The real fight against this enemy of humanity will start only when the so-called "silent majority" in Islam speaks out against these murderers and those who brainwash, train, finance and deploy them.
London Islamic Terrorist Attacks Murder 50+
So far, at least 50+ people have been confirmed murdered by the Islamic terrorists who detonated four bombs yesterday throughout London's transportation system. Three were detonated in their subway system and a fourth was detonated on a double decker bus. It seems that there may be a ton of forensic evidence to be gathered from the double decker bus because there are apparently reports that someone on the upper deck was seen fidgeting with a backpack after hearing that the bus would be detoured due to police actions (that turned out to be other bombs detonating). It may be that the bomber was himself killed, though not in a suicide bombing per se.
There appear to be parallels to the Madrid bombings, including the use of timers to set off explosions throughout the system. As we know, Madrid was targeted by al Qaeda. Police say this attack has all the hallmarks of an al Qaeda attack.
Drudge has been reporting (since confirmed by two networks) that two unexploded bombs were found.
Yesterday's reporting that one of the individual's suspected of being involved was a GitMo detainee released has not been confirmed.
There appear to be parallels to the Madrid bombings, including the use of timers to set off explosions throughout the system. As we know, Madrid was targeted by al Qaeda. Police say this attack has all the hallmarks of an al Qaeda attack.
Drudge has been reporting (since confirmed by two networks) that two unexploded bombs were found.
Yesterday's reporting that one of the individual's suspected of being involved was a GitMo detainee released has not been confirmed.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Terrorists Strike In London - Mass Casualties
This posting will remain at the top of the page throughout the day - appended as needed
This is a major terrorist incident. Many people have been killed and injured, although the numbers remain unclear. There were at least seven explosions, six of which were in the London Tubes. One blew apart a double-decker bus. Some unconfirmed reports that this is the work of al Qaeda and that one of the bombs was detonated by a suicide bomber.
Ken Livingstone, a man not noted for his grasp of reality, had a moment of clarity when he noted that this was an attack not on presidents and the powerful, but an attempt at mass murder.
UPDATE:
My dad noted that he saw heightened security at Hoboken, which is a terminus of NJ Transit trains. I didn't notice that when I went through the same station earlier in the morning. There was no apparent increase in security on PATH either, although there were cops stationed outside the station where I exited. I would expect a show of force throughout the day and probably through the week as a result of the terrorist attack.
UPDATE II:
Added the Union Jack.
UPDATE III:
Heightened security precautions taken in NJ - affecting PATH and NJ Transit. Heightened security measures taken in NY.
At least 33 people are confirmed murdered in the terrorist attacks.
Was London Suicide Bomber a Gitmo Releasee?
According to unconfirmed sources at present, one of the suicide bombers who was involved in today's terrorist attacks across London may have been a former detainee in GitMo who was released by the US. As the original source of this information, the Northeast Intelligence Network states:
REPORT: One UK Homicide Bomber Was Recent GITMO ReleaseHmmm. There aren't that many people who were detained in GitMo in the first place. We know who was detained and where they were released, and under what circumstances their releases took place. This should be pretty easy to track down as either rumor or confirmation.
7 July 2005; 12:54 ET: Preliminary reports from a source inside the Pentagon indicate that one of the operatives involved in this morning's bombings in London was recently released from the prison at Guantanamo. DEVELOPING
Frightening Complacency
Nearly four years after the 9/11 attacks and people still don't get it. The terrorists will continue to try to kill innocent civilians doing the ordinary tasks of everyday life. Taking the subway. Riding a bus. Going to work. At work. At play. Coming home.
And yet, there seems to be little worry about our neglected transportation infrastructure that would be susceptible to mass casualty attacks not unlike what we've seen with the Madrid bombing last year or the London attacks this year. The Journal of Homeland Security highlights potential hazards and mitigations.
New York City has more than 230 miles of subway tunnels. There are miles more of tunnels for PATH trains and Amtrak, Metro North, LIRR, and NJ Transit lines. Some have adequate safety equipment installed. Many don't. In particular, the Amtrak owned Hudson and East River tunnels operate at peak capacity and are more than 100 years old. Hundreds of trains tranverse those tunnels daily and they are not built up to modern code, nor do they have proper sprinkler or ventilation systems in case of an emergency. These issues were first highlighted in the weeks following 9/11 (NJ Senator Toricelli spoke of this on the Senate floor on 10/10/2001), and again after 3/11, but it doesn't seem to have generated any concrete action. In fact, Congress had bills in both houses with bipartisan support and yet none of the bills were passed and signed into law (Search of 108th Congress; Search of 109th Congress - click on each bill).
Will it take a mass casualty incident in one of these tunnels to reconsider the expenditure of millions to make the daily commute of hundreds of thousands of people safer?
UPDATE:
Fixed factual issue above relating to number of miles of tunnels. According to the MTA website, "Approximately 660 in passenger service. Counting track used for “non-revenue” purposes (e.g., in subway yards), the number is more than 840 miles." However, there is more than one way to count the mileage. One method is route miles for the subway system, which totals 230. Track miles includes the fact that many routes have two, three, or even four tracks laid down for the same route (New Yorkers know that three and four track routes have express service to bypass certain local stations). Thus, the mileage is considerably higher.
And yet, there seems to be little worry about our neglected transportation infrastructure that would be susceptible to mass casualty attacks not unlike what we've seen with the Madrid bombing last year or the London attacks this year. The Journal of Homeland Security highlights potential hazards and mitigations.
New York City has more than 230 miles of subway tunnels. There are miles more of tunnels for PATH trains and Amtrak, Metro North, LIRR, and NJ Transit lines. Some have adequate safety equipment installed. Many don't. In particular, the Amtrak owned Hudson and East River tunnels operate at peak capacity and are more than 100 years old. Hundreds of trains tranverse those tunnels daily and they are not built up to modern code, nor do they have proper sprinkler or ventilation systems in case of an emergency. These issues were first highlighted in the weeks following 9/11 (NJ Senator Toricelli spoke of this on the Senate floor on 10/10/2001), and again after 3/11, but it doesn't seem to have generated any concrete action. In fact, Congress had bills in both houses with bipartisan support and yet none of the bills were passed and signed into law (Search of 108th Congress; Search of 109th Congress - click on each bill).
Will it take a mass casualty incident in one of these tunnels to reconsider the expenditure of millions to make the daily commute of hundreds of thousands of people safer?
UPDATE:
Fixed factual issue above relating to number of miles of tunnels. According to the MTA website, "Approximately 660 in passenger service. Counting track used for “non-revenue” purposes (e.g., in subway yards), the number is more than 840 miles." However, there is more than one way to count the mileage. One method is route miles for the subway system, which totals 230. Track miles includes the fact that many routes have two, three, or even four tracks laid down for the same route (New Yorkers know that three and four track routes have express service to bypass certain local stations). Thus, the mileage is considerably higher.
Saddam's Defense Team Reshuffled
That's right, I'm citing to an al Jazeera story, but then again if they've got the story, you should know it. It's not like the US media is going to go out of its way to give you this kind of information.
It appears that the Saddam Hussein defense team in the case against him for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity is being reshuffled.
UPDATE:
Captain Ed has more.
It appears that the Saddam Hussein defense team in the case against him for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity is being reshuffled.
The head of Saddam Hussein's defense committee has turned over full control of the legal team to a group led by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.Ramsey Clark is a former US Attorney General whose anti-Americanism reaches new lows on a daily basis. Among his acolytes is his prodigy Lynne Stewart, who is serving prison time for conspiring with another terorrist by passing information from the terrorist to those outside prison in violation of agreements with the government.
Lawyer Ziad Khasawneh, the Jordanian chief of the defense committee, said Wednesday that he contacted Saddam's wife, Sajida Khairallah, and informed her about his decision to quit the legal team.
Khasawneh also said that the committee might be dissolved.
Saddam's legal team was formed in Amman in June 2004. It includes 2,500 volunteers and more than 22 lead lawyers, who come from several countries, including the United States, France, Jordan and Libya .
The team, which includes former French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's daughter, Aisha, has been unable to meet with Saddam face-to-face.
UPDATE:
Captain Ed has more.
The Battle For Ground Zero, Part X
Will Collier of Vodkapundit comes across something that I've been meaning to write for the past few weeks. He does so far more succinctly than I could have. He writes about the Forest City Ratner real estate development group, which operates nationwide. They are deeply involved in many big-name real estate projects around the country, and have more than a few high profile projects in the city.
Here in NYC, they have built Metrotech Center in Brooklyn, are planning to build the Nets Arena near Atlantic Center, which is another one of their projects, and have built the New York Times headquarters building. The Brooklyn arena would be built atop railyards, just as the Jets stadium project would have. The Brooklyn plan would require eminent domain proceedings to proceed against property owners adjacent to the yards, significantly enlarging the size and scope of the project. An alternative developer, Extell, has come forth offering to build a smaller version of the project, with towers of up to 20 stories (Ratner was looking to build several 60 story towers), and would be confined to the area over the rail yards. Ratner is a very connected group - as all major real estate developers have to be in order to get many of their projects approved and built.
It is no surprise that Ratner has benefitted from eminent domain proceedings - that is the kind of thing that developers hope to gain. They happen to have an inside track, plus support from the Times. Sometimes politics and real estate is personal - and nothing is more personal than making sure your opponents can't get their projects done, which I suspect is going on with Ground Zero.
UPDATE:
The museum plans will likely be revised to provide more space to the memorial.
UPDATE II:
Design by Committee looks at the revised Freedom Tower and thinks it is better than earlier incarnations.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower.
[ed: links removed - see original link to access background] Forest City is a publicly-traded development and real estate conglomerate run by the Ratner family of Cleveland, Ohio. Led by the Ratners, Forest City is a player in major developments on both coasts (and many places in between), including some of the hottest hot spots in eminent domain seizures.
The biggest, or at least the most publicized, involves a huge tract of Brooklyn in New York City. The Ratners are proposing to turn it into a condo-shopping-basketball-arena complex; Bruce Ratner of Forest Park is the owner of the New Jersey Nets. The Ratners are lobbying the city and state of New York to exercise eminent domain powers to seize properties in Brooklyn for this project.
(Incidentally, Bruce Ratner's brother Michael runs the far-left humanrightsnow.org website, and is president of the George Soros-funded "Center for Constitutional Rights," and is one of the major legal players trying to free the terrorist prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Quite a family there.)
In addition to the Uptown Project in Oakland, Forest City is a prime contractor in a gigantic shopping mall project in San Francisco which involves eminent domain seizures of private property. The company is also partnered with the New York Times to build the Times' new headquarters in Manhattan--on a site that was seized especially for the Times by New York City. Small surprise then that the Times is (thus far) second only to Nancy Pelosi in cheerleading for the Kelo decision.
Here in NYC, they have built Metrotech Center in Brooklyn, are planning to build the Nets Arena near Atlantic Center, which is another one of their projects, and have built the New York Times headquarters building. The Brooklyn arena would be built atop railyards, just as the Jets stadium project would have. The Brooklyn plan would require eminent domain proceedings to proceed against property owners adjacent to the yards, significantly enlarging the size and scope of the project. An alternative developer, Extell, has come forth offering to build a smaller version of the project, with towers of up to 20 stories (Ratner was looking to build several 60 story towers), and would be confined to the area over the rail yards. Ratner is a very connected group - as all major real estate developers have to be in order to get many of their projects approved and built.
It is no surprise that Ratner has benefitted from eminent domain proceedings - that is the kind of thing that developers hope to gain. They happen to have an inside track, plus support from the Times. Sometimes politics and real estate is personal - and nothing is more personal than making sure your opponents can't get their projects done, which I suspect is going on with Ground Zero.
UPDATE:
The museum plans will likely be revised to provide more space to the memorial.
A controversial museum slated for Ground Zero would be scaled down in size and would include stronger ties to the attacks on the World Trade Center under a new plan for the site.I don't think the scaling back of the museum would be sufficient to placate Burlingame, Take Back The Memorial, or most Americans who would be offended by anyone seeking to blame the victims for the attacks, which is precisely what those involved in the Drawing Center and IFC have stated in the past.
"In the wake of recent criticisms and concerns regarding the International Freedom Center . . . we have taken a step back to examine how best to meet the high standards that all who are involved at Ground Zero remain committed to meet," wrote the center's chairman, Tom Bernstein, and vice-chair, Paula Berry.
The letter to Lower Manhattan Development Corp. President Stefan Pryor called for scaling back the size of the museum building so that there would be more space between the building and the memorial, up from 25 feet to 45 feet.
The fate of The Drawing Center, a SoHo gallery slated to move to Ground Zero, is unclear under the new proposal. The center has come under fire for anti-American exhibits.
Officials familiar with the proposal could not say how much smaller the museum building would be after the changes. It is now proposed to be 250,000 square feet.
UPDATE II:
Design by Committee looks at the revised Freedom Tower and thinks it is better than earlier incarnations.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Welcome to the Party Pal!
Ace is reporting on protests in Egypt against Hosni Mubarak. I wont call him President because what election has he actually won that was free, fair, and against a living opponent?
So, he's now facing the beginnings of protests against his regime.
The Chinese cursed us with the proverb that we live in interesting times. Things just got a whole lot more interesting for Mubarak.
So, he's now facing the beginnings of protests against his regime.
The Chinese cursed us with the proverb that we live in interesting times. Things just got a whole lot more interesting for Mubarak.
Al Franken IS A Big Idiot
Al Franken finally screwed with the wrong guy. Actually, he screwed with the wrong gal. Mrs. Lawhawk. Mrs. Lawhawk was minding her own business walking down the street when Mr. Franken not only stepped in front of her, but did so with extreme prejudice. Seems that Al was having transportation issues; namely putting one foot in front of the other without making sure that someone else wasn't occupying the same space. That other foot belonged to Mrs. Lawhawk.
Now, Al muttered a half assed apology before finally hailing a cab.
The Mrs. is okay. She not only got a laugh out of it but gets to say she rubbed 'shoulders' with someone 'in'famous.
I know differently. She had a close encounter of the Frankenstein.
Now, Al muttered a half assed apology before finally hailing a cab.
The Mrs. is okay. She not only got a laugh out of it but gets to say she rubbed 'shoulders' with someone 'in'famous.
I know differently. She had a close encounter of the Frankenstein.
What Was He Thinking?!
I like Sen. Schumer. I have met him on numerous occasions in both personal and professional settings. He's a nice guy in person. That said, what the heck was he thinking saying something like this:
You can think these things in private, but say 'em out loud and you could be in for a reckoning. We know that the GOP is going to do their best to put forth a nominee who they will find acceptable and will battle with the DNC to get the candidate confirmed. We know that filibustering, cloture, and rules changes are all part of the debate. Sen. Schumer's words will be seen as fighting words for GOPers - who know that Schumer is a powerful voice on the Judiciary committee. So it can't be good for the DNC to see Schumer's words in the press since it could make their job even more difficult.
Also, since there's also the possiblity that he knows that the GOP is going to get their candidate confirmed and that he's only putting on a show of trying to do battle. It's a battle his party can't win, but he's doing the best to put on a brave face.
Either way, his comments make for interesting fodder going forward. What they don't do is actually add anything substantive to the debate.
Senate Judiciary Committee member Chuck Schumer got busy plotting away on the cellphone aboard a Washington, DC-New York Amtrak -- plotting Democrat strategy for the upcoming Supreme Court battle.Let's assume arguendo that every word he said was true. He's accurate about the various nominees have voted through the years and that if the Democrats hold out for a 'moderate,' that the nominee will likely swing liberal over time (or right away as Souter's decisions have gone). Yet, his tone and actual comments can easily be spun as yet another example of Democratic party obstructionism and/or pandering to interest groups rather than the needs of the nation.
Schumer promised a fight over whoever the President’s nominee was: “It's not about an individual judge… It's about how it affects the overall makeup of the court.”
The chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was overheard on a long cellphone conversation with an unknown political ally, and the DRUDGE REPORT was there!
Schumer proudly declared: “We are contemplating how we are going to go to war over this.”
Schumer went on to say how hard it was to predict how a Supreme Court justice would turn out: “Even William Rehnquist is more moderate than they expected. The only ones that resulted how they predicted were [Antonin] Scalia and [Ruth Bader] Ginsburg. So most of the time they've gotten their picks wrong, and that's what we want to do to them again.”
You can think these things in private, but say 'em out loud and you could be in for a reckoning. We know that the GOP is going to do their best to put forth a nominee who they will find acceptable and will battle with the DNC to get the candidate confirmed. We know that filibustering, cloture, and rules changes are all part of the debate. Sen. Schumer's words will be seen as fighting words for GOPers - who know that Schumer is a powerful voice on the Judiciary committee. So it can't be good for the DNC to see Schumer's words in the press since it could make their job even more difficult.
Also, since there's also the possiblity that he knows that the GOP is going to get their candidate confirmed and that he's only putting on a show of trying to do battle. It's a battle his party can't win, but he's doing the best to put on a brave face.
Either way, his comments make for interesting fodder going forward. What they don't do is actually add anything substantive to the debate.
The Battle For Ground Zero, Part IX
The Drawing Center, which is one of two controversial groups that got the right to participate at the WTC cultural center to be built adjacent to the memorial was on a list of organizations that will benefit from Mayor Bloomberg's largesse. Mayor Bloomberg gives away millions in donations every year, which is a good thing. His choice of organizations that he donates to; not so good.
Meanwhile, Debra Burlingame is suggesting that the mall retail space that would be built underground to replace the space lost on 9/11 would further push the memorial to the fringes. She cites reports that the mall would actually force thousands to be turned away from the memorial.
It's interesting that she's decided to go after the retail space at this point considering that the issues surrounding the Drawing Center and IFC are not resolved to anyones' satisfaction. Both groups will continue to be a part of the process despite the Governor's statements.
The battle for retail space only highlights the difficulties of trying to cram all kinds of uses into a confined area and once again suggests that the master plan is flawed to account for all of the siting needs.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy.
The Drawing Center in SoHo, which made headlines last month when [Gov.] Pataki vowed not to allow it to show work at Ground Zero "that denigrates America," was one of 406 social-service and arts groups to receive Bloomberg grants this year via the Carnegie Corporation.Apparently there are some people who are tone deaf when it comes to controversy. Bloomberg is one such individual.
The mayor has funded the grants, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, each year since 2001 from his pocket.
Although listed as anonymous gifts, City Hall sources have conceded that Bloomberg is the actual benefactor.
The Drawing Center, one of the cultural institutions slated to open at Ground Zero, wasn't on the previous year's list.
Officials insisted Bloomberg doesn't select the individual groups that wind up with the Carnegie grants.
Meanwhile, Debra Burlingame is suggesting that the mall retail space that would be built underground to replace the space lost on 9/11 would further push the memorial to the fringes. She cites reports that the mall would actually force thousands to be turned away from the memorial.
"What is galling is that while they are planning a 600,000-square-foot underground mall, their own studies are acknowledging that they will have to turn away 10,000 people a day at the memorial," Burlingame said.
"This is a bait-and-switch operation."
Lower Manhattan officials reacted quickly to Burlingame's charges, pointing out the retail space was designed after a long planning process to replace the World Trade Center shopping plaza — one of the nation's busiest and an important part of economic activity downtown before Sept. 11.
"The Port Authority is extremely respectful of the memorial and what it means to those who lost loved ones on 9/11. For that reason, there will be no retail located in the memorial district," read a statement from the PA, which controls the site.
The shops would be located in and beneath the proposed office towers and in the transportation hub — not on the memorial site.
Burlingame has been a leading voice in opposing the "International Freedom Center" at Ground Zero. She said family members would not oppose retail at the trade center if the museum is replaced with an exhibit dedicated only to 9/11.
It's interesting that she's decided to go after the retail space at this point considering that the issues surrounding the Drawing Center and IFC are not resolved to anyones' satisfaction. Both groups will continue to be a part of the process despite the Governor's statements.
The battle for retail space only highlights the difficulties of trying to cram all kinds of uses into a confined area and once again suggests that the master plan is flawed to account for all of the siting needs.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy.
Small Consolation
While New York City's 2012 Olympic planning group licks its wounds having lost the chance to host the games, London, England beat the favorite Paris, France to host the games.
Good for London! After Jacques Chirac acted like an ass over the last few days complaining about British cuisine among a few other diplomats, it's nice to see London rewarded for putting on an excellent proposal for the games.
One can only imagine what kind of games New York would have put on. New York City would have spent billions to redevelop vast areas of the city, including hundreds of acres of waterfront properties that would have been turned into the Olympic Village and housing after the games were over. It is possible the housing will still be built, some of the venues may still be built in order to go after the 2016 games, but it is likely that the current Olympic bid leadership will not be around to see it through.
UPDATE:
John Podhoretz has some interesting insights into the failed NYC bid and its repercussions on the NYC Mayoral race. The loss helps Bloomberg since it takes away talking points from his opponents despite the fact that the bid was Bloomberg's idea to begin with.
Good for London! After Jacques Chirac acted like an ass over the last few days complaining about British cuisine among a few other diplomats, it's nice to see London rewarded for putting on an excellent proposal for the games.
One can only imagine what kind of games New York would have put on. New York City would have spent billions to redevelop vast areas of the city, including hundreds of acres of waterfront properties that would have been turned into the Olympic Village and housing after the games were over. It is possible the housing will still be built, some of the venues may still be built in order to go after the 2016 games, but it is likely that the current Olympic bid leadership will not be around to see it through.
UPDATE:
John Podhoretz has some interesting insights into the failed NYC bid and its repercussions on the NYC Mayoral race. The loss helps Bloomberg since it takes away talking points from his opponents despite the fact that the bid was Bloomberg's idea to begin with.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Blogs of Note
Sisu (Sissy Willis) offers a suggestion of what to do about the Checkpoint Charlie memorial that was disassembled and how to solve the dilemna at Ground Zero - move the Checkpoint memorial to replace the abortive IFC/Drawing Center idea.
Interesting.
Discarded Lies is on the case of human rights and Africa once again. Evariste, Zorkmidden and the gang are certainly ahead of the curve on dealing with the situations in Africa - after all it isn't all about Dafur's genocide, or the potential genocide in Zimbabwe, or even the AIDS situation. It's the complete and utter lack of freedom for people and economic opportunities that freedom and democracy can give people. DL does its part - but you should too - by going to visit.
Roger L. Simon revels in the fact that major newspapers were ranked and the NYT fell short in some highfalutin poll. Go figure. Big deal. If I want my news served up piping hot, I'll check with Instapundit, LGF, or Powerline first. Not only will they get the news faster, but their analysis is as good or better than anything in the Times (or any other paper out there).
*** I'm one of the many legions of bloggers participating in the Pajamas Media project, so note that these are among those leading that effort.
Interesting.
Discarded Lies is on the case of human rights and Africa once again. Evariste, Zorkmidden and the gang are certainly ahead of the curve on dealing with the situations in Africa - after all it isn't all about Dafur's genocide, or the potential genocide in Zimbabwe, or even the AIDS situation. It's the complete and utter lack of freedom for people and economic opportunities that freedom and democracy can give people. DL does its part - but you should too - by going to visit.
Roger L. Simon revels in the fact that major newspapers were ranked and the NYT fell short in some highfalutin poll. Go figure. Big deal. If I want my news served up piping hot, I'll check with Instapundit, LGF, or Powerline first. Not only will they get the news faster, but their analysis is as good or better than anything in the Times (or any other paper out there).
*** I'm one of the many legions of bloggers participating in the Pajamas Media project, so note that these are among those leading that effort.
A Stadium Grows In Brooklyn
The preliminary design completed by the developer Bruce Ratner and the architect Frank Gehry, proposes 17 buildings along Atlantic Avenue east of downtown Brooklyn. The buildings would add 6,000 residential units housing roughly 15,000 people and transform the Brooklyn skyline, according to an article appearing in Tuesday's editions of The New York Times. The $3.5 billion project would also create 1.9 million square feet of office space.A portion of the site would be built on a platform spanning LIRR rail yards. Another portion would need to be acquired via eminent domain. Some local residents are unhappy about this development, but community leaders, politicians, and developers are largely behind the project.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will begin examining the plans Wednesday as part of a proposal by Ratner to buy and develop the Atlantic Avenue rail yards. No other group has yet announced plans to make a bid to meet Wednesday's deadline.
The proposal calls for the city and state to contribute $100 million each in subsidies for site improvements.
``Hopefully this will be a model for other large-scale developments to be done again in the boroughs as they were in the '50s and '60s,'' Ratner told The New York Times. ``It is in some sense like Columbus Circle, where residential meets the office district and the cultural district, and it can handle this kind of density.''
Gehry has named the tallest proposed building, ``Miss Brooklyn.'' Rising sixty stories or 620 feet from the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, it would be Brooklyn's tallest building.
The project would be built in stages, beginning with the area closest to the proposed arena, but could be completed as early as 2011.
If anyone is wondering whether Kelo has anything to do with this project, the answer is yes. New York has long entertained a Kelo style development standard so those homes that need to be acquired from private owners and shifted to the Ratner development group, Kelo is all too real. Many states will entertain public-private development deals to promote development in underutilized areas. New York is no exception.
Photo of the Day
Another waterfall from Mt. Rainier National Park. Taken June 2005. If you can identify the name of these falls, please let me know via the comments.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Happy Fourth of July
Tigerhawk provides some profound words and thoughts on this 4th of July, and I'll provide two pictures. The first is self explanatory.
The second photo needs just a little more description.
It was taken from Liberty State Park near the historic train station in Jersey City. The wooden structures in the foreground were the remnants of devices used to permit people and cargo to safely transit from awaiting ferries. These devices are largely unchanged from when Ellis Island, in the background, was operating at its peak. Countless thousands of people stepped foot on mainland USA and took in a view not far removed from this one. It is this view that makes the US special.
As an aside, 24 years ago, an intrepid group of Israeli commandoes successfully liberated over 100 hostages from an airfield in Africa. The raid on Entebbe came on the 4th of July, and once again showed that the best and only way to deal with terrorists is to kill them. Negotiate with terrorists? Not back then. Back then, Israel did what had to be done to rescue innocent civilians from Palestinian terrorists whose intentions were to kill the passengers. As Michael Freund wrote in 2003:
Happy 4th of July and remember that freedom isn't free. It takes work, determination, and the blood, sweat, and tears of patriots to keep us free from tyranny. As we've seen over the past few years, democracy is something that should be experienced not only by the privileged few here in the US, but everyone around the world.
The second photo needs just a little more description.
It was taken from Liberty State Park near the historic train station in Jersey City. The wooden structures in the foreground were the remnants of devices used to permit people and cargo to safely transit from awaiting ferries. These devices are largely unchanged from when Ellis Island, in the background, was operating at its peak. Countless thousands of people stepped foot on mainland USA and took in a view not far removed from this one. It is this view that makes the US special.
As an aside, 24 years ago, an intrepid group of Israeli commandoes successfully liberated over 100 hostages from an airfield in Africa. The raid on Entebbe came on the 4th of July, and once again showed that the best and only way to deal with terrorists is to kill them. Negotiate with terrorists? Not back then. Back then, Israel did what had to be done to rescue innocent civilians from Palestinian terrorists whose intentions were to kill the passengers. As Michael Freund wrote in 2003:
Unlike today, however, the Israel of back then was not in the habit of yielding to terrorist blackmail. No international summits were convened at Aqaba, no road maps were drawn up and no negotiations with the terrorists were countenanced.
Instead Israel reacted as it should have - by launching a stunning military raid on July 4, 1976, freeing virtually all the captives and bringing the affair to a sudden and dramatic end.
The heroic rescue symbolized the State of Israel's unique role as the sovereign protector of Jews everywhere, and inspired a generation to believe that the Jewish people were intent on defending themselves, regardless of the consequences.
ENTEBBE WAS also a powerful symbol for the entire free world. It showed that with a little courage and determination, the scourge of international terror could be fought and even defeated.
Looking back, it is hard to believe how much has changed since then. In less than three decades Israel has gone from being a country that frees hostages to one that releases terrorists. Those who murder and maim Jewish children are no longer hunted down by the government of Israel. Instead they are hailed as "negotiating partners" and offered parts of the Land of Israel to place under their control.
Happy 4th of July and remember that freedom isn't free. It takes work, determination, and the blood, sweat, and tears of patriots to keep us free from tyranny. As we've seen over the past few years, democracy is something that should be experienced not only by the privileged few here in the US, but everyone around the world.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Photo of the Day
The Teapot Dome Gas Station, built in 1922 in Zillah, Washington, is one of those oddities that one finds on the back roads around the country. It was built as a jab against the Teapot Dome Gas Scandal.
And who says that energy policy has progressed any since the 1920s? I'd say we haven't progressed one iota.
The gas station is currently shuttered.
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