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blog: Leon Panetta

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:38:11 GMT

Today the New York Times is reporting that President-elect Obama has selected Leon Panetta as his nominee for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. This reminded me that I had taken a course in college from Mr. Panetta on public policy. It was a fascinating class, the highlight of which was Mr. Panetta telling stories from when he managed the federal budget and served as White House Chief of Staff. I recall one class where he had to step out of the classroom briefly to be interviewed by CNN, which had parked a massive satellite truck on the street outside.

I dug through some old boxes and found my final paper from that class. The title was American Intelligence Community: (not an oxymoron) Combating terror. In the paper I describe in detail the organization of the US intelligence community as well as the role the then position of DCI entailed. If you are using that paper for reference Mr. Panetta, I do wish to make a correction which is that you now report to the Director of National Intelligence and not the President. Sorry about the demotion.

I go on in the paper to list changes in CIA policy since 9/11 and to raise concerns about those changes, such as an apparent repeal of the Presidential directive prohibiting assassination. Of course the interesting question is, what did Leon Panetta think about my paper?

Much like this post, it seems I tend to ramble a bit and could use better organization. B+.

Here he seems to be agreeing with my stance that having a President with a “hands off” approach to targeted assassination is disturbing. Though, his hand writing is cryptic and difficult to read, so he could just as easily be disagreeing with my position.

His only other mark on my paper is to underline my concluding sentence about order versus freedom. Certainly the kind of question he will be weighing if he gets the job.

After spending a few months listening to the man discuss public policy, the political process, and managing governments, I was left with the impression he was honorable and decent, with a studied and diligent approach to problem solving. Exactly the kind of person I would want for the job he has been nominated for.

tags: politics

blog: Despots and child birth

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:00:50 GMT

Last week’s episode 57 of The Bugle was particularly funny. The highlight must be Andy describing, in often times graphic detail, his reluctant and unexpected midwifing of his new son on the floor of his bathroom. Many memorable lines, not the least of which is:

So nature and gravity combined, and I caught my child falling out of my wife.

Enjoy this three and a half minute excerpt, though the entire first part of the episode is more of the same hilarity.

Listen to the file.

Finally, a shorter excerpt from the same episode that I wish I’d heard before Christmas, in which Andy lists some globally conscious gift ideas. Note that shockingly takeoutatyrant.com is still available for registration.

Listen to the file.

tags: humor

blog: Step away from the Robot

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:30:00 GMT

To commemorate Denote shipping, I made this short video featuring my two favorite Christmas presents: Little Itch’s logo on a sweatshirt and “My First Skynet Buddy”. The voice capture makes it all the more creepy.

Step away from the Robot.

tags: robot, skynet, littleitch

flickr: Coit

Sudonym-noemail@noemail.feedsalon.com — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:13:42 GMT

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flickr: Bar Barchart

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flickr: Crazy Thinker

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flickr: In honor of Peeps shipping.

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flickr: Supermarket checkout insurance

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flickr: End of day from 20,000 feet.

Sudonym-noemail@noemail.feedsalon.com — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:37:46 GMT

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flickr: Sunset

Sudonym-noemail@noemail.feedsalon.com — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:12:23 GMT

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