New Presidential Directive

I am very disturbed to hear about a recent directive signed by President Bush in which he declares that, in the case of an emergency or crisis in which large numbers of Americans are in danger, the executive branch of the government will coordinate the running of the continuity government. Now, clearly, it seems wise to have plans to ensure that the United States government will continue to exist if Washington, D.C. is attacked. Apparently, President Reagan's administration first created a continuity-of-government plan, but, in Reagan's plan, the agency in charge of ensuring continuity was FEMA. Until this new directive, the agency in charge was the Department of Homeland Security. Why has this plan been changed? I try not to think about conspiracies, but this directive makes me wonder.

Here is the directive: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html

Carnaval!

This weekend is the San Francisco Carnaval! I wish I had a samba whistle....

http://www.carnavalsf.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=45

Leatherman!

So, during these past few days, I have been putting together my earthquake survival kit, and have found myself becoming more and more interested in survival tools like the Leatherman. Knives have always seemed cool to me, but now that I am buying one to use in an emergency, rather than just to have, their coolness has increased!

Norman Tuck

When I was about twelve years old, a friend and I went to a local art museum in North Carolina. That museum happened to be hosting an exhibition by an artist named "Norman Tuck," who creates art machine-type sculptures. I was completely amazed and blown away: I especially enjoyed his towering, hand-made clocks, with all of the mechanisms visible. I had always wanted to see more of his work, but never had a chance. Now, I am in San Francisco, working at the Exploratorium, a museum of science, art, and human perception, and, lo and behold, I discover that not only did the Exploratorium show some of Norman Tuck's artworks about ten years ago, but Norman Tuck also lives right here in the Bay Area! I definitely will have to meet him. He's made such a huge impact on me.