Gongol.com Archives: December 2005
Brian Gongol



Humor and Good News (2005.12.25)
Bears Win NFC North

News (2005.12.25)
Palestinian Gunmen Demand Money and Jobs
Economic causes are hidden behind most major problems. Expect plenty of troubles from the Middle East until you start finding goods labeled "Made in Palestine."

Humor and Good News (2005.12.25)
BBC's Best Captions of the Year

Agriculture (2005.12.25)
New Harvester Design Could Save Huge Costs to Wheat Farmers
Instead of a $250,000 combine, they can use much cheaper equipment

Weather and Disasters (2005.12.25)
One Year After Asian Tsunami, US Hasn't Done Much to Mitigate Risk
What a government press release says ("we've written a plan") isn't as important as what it doesn't say (it took a full year to write it; now we have to figure out what to do with it). Like the nonsense over a last-minute renewal of the Patriot Act, it's a sign that the government doesn't feel much need to act swiftly in the face of significant risks.

Weather and Disasters (2005.12.25)
Holiday Season Reminds News Media About Government Spending
MSNBC report recalls the $236 million FEMA contract to house Katrina evacuees on board three Carnival cruise ships. As previously noted here, it would probably be more efficient to just give the evacuees cash to buy homes somewhere else