http://www.poliblogger.com A rough draft of my thoughts... Fri, 16 May 2008 23:27:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Some noteworthy numbers I have encountered in my news perusing today. Almost 5,000,000--the staggering number of homeless as a result of the Chinese earthquake. Via the BBC: 'Five million' homeless in quake 22,069--the confirmed dead from that quake (see link above). 78,000--the tragic current death toll from Burma. Via ... http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13668 From Chris Spinuzzi (associate professor of rhetoric at The University of Texas at Austin):Sometimes when I talk about plagiarism to my students, I tell them: If professors catch you plagiarizing, we don't just think it's a character issue. We take it as an indicator that perhaps you're just not college ... http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13667 While I am hardly surprised that a talk show host has anemic grasp on history, it is rather remarkable that he would be willing to go on national television (well, cable) and not at least consult Wikipedia or something. Kudos to Chris Matthew for calling him on his BS, and I ... http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13666 While the exact meaning of the content of the files on the computer seized by the Colombian government remains debated, Interpol has confirmed that the Colombian government did not tamper with the files, as Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez had charged (via the BBC: Farc rebel link files 'genuine'):International police agency ... http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13665 One of the key issues in this race to me is how the next president views executive power and the relationship of separation of powers and checks and balances in our constitutional order. David Nafther, blogging at CQ Politic's Beyond the Dome, notes a recent speech in which John McCain addresses ... http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13664 I know I am treading on Steve Bainbridge's turf in posting a Red State Update, but this is utterly classic (warning, soME NSFW language): h/t: e-mail from a colleague. And here's the latest on WV: http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13663 I have always been skeptical of the notion that Al Gore would emerge from his trophy room to broker a deal between Obama and Clinton over the nomination. However, he does still have the power to influence the outcome, as Bloomberg rightly notes: Edwards's Endorsement of Obama Starts ... http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13662 Zimbabwe introduces half-a-billion dollar note - Yahoo! News "Introducing the new 500,000,000 bearer cheque for your convenience," read a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe full-page advert in the state daily, The Herald, displaying specimens of the new note. Because who wants to take a wheelbarrow full of money downtown to buy ... http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13661 Via the BBC: China quake toll 'to top 50,000'More than 50,000 people may have died in the earthquake that devastated parts of China on Monday, state media say. The warning came after the government confirmed the death toll had risen to 19,500, as rescue efforts continue to search for thousands ... http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13659 Of course, it was in a late primary as a protest candidate in Nebraska: McCain 87%, Paul 13%. http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13657