I can only speak for myself:
Had in-laws in town Wednesday thru Sunday.
Was attending the NCAA regional here in Dallas (how does Arkansas lose to Bucknell???).
Tried to stay dry over the weekend with the torrential rains/flooding.
Getting home from the basketball games last night was quite an adventure. We made it, but I hadn't seen street flooding like that since I left Houston.
Were you spring-breaking in Corpus? Aren't you a bit old for that?
Monday, March 20, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
I know my Econ posts are dead...
but I've finally finished VDH's Carnage and Culture. It's time for a book report.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Re: The Dennis The Peasant Blogging System...
Ok, I've learned a couple of things from Michael's post directing us to Dennis the Peasant's comments on blogging:
First, my favorite topic (Economics) is apparently the kiss o' death unless one's name is Williams, Sowell or Stossel.
Second, we need to find a couple of demographics/subjects to "hate." This will be difficult for me. Had been considering expanding upon that Conservatives are Happy, Liberals are Angry theme that was widely discussed a few weeks ago. I think it largely true, with exceptions like David Horowitz. I don't do well expressing things in the harsh heat of hate.
I suppose I need to rethink this. Obviously, we'll never have the time to devote to that serious anlysis Dennis describes in part one. I forget what our original subhead was but it was essentially an admission that there'd never be an original thought posted here.
(Btw, Dennis, I post right now from an office overlooking the Barton Creek Greenbelt, in Austin, Texas...not and 8'x6' cubicle, but I get your point. My blogging and blog reading certainly slows down after 6:00 and on weekends.)
First, my favorite topic (Economics) is apparently the kiss o' death unless one's name is Williams, Sowell or Stossel.
Second, we need to find a couple of demographics/subjects to "hate." This will be difficult for me. Had been considering expanding upon that Conservatives are Happy, Liberals are Angry theme that was widely discussed a few weeks ago. I think it largely true, with exceptions like David Horowitz. I don't do well expressing things in the harsh heat of hate.
I suppose I need to rethink this. Obviously, we'll never have the time to devote to that serious anlysis Dennis describes in part one. I forget what our original subhead was but it was essentially an admission that there'd never be an original thought posted here.
(Btw, Dennis, I post right now from an office overlooking the Barton Creek Greenbelt, in Austin, Texas...not and 8'x6' cubicle, but I get your point. My blogging and blog reading certainly slows down after 6:00 and on weekends.)
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Capitalism and Euro-softness
British historian and author Paul Johnson's on Europe’s softness and difficulties of its economy (cheering me up after this morning’s Capitalism post, not that I'm happy about Europe but happy about our system):
The omens for continental Europe, however, are sinister. The entire plan for perpetual improvement upon which the EU depends is based on continuous economic expansion. There is no provision for stagnation. As we see in Japan, once stagnation sets in, it can last many years. Americans should count their blessings, above all the supreme blessing of having an economy that is run by businessmen not bureaucrats, or that —— under wise governance —— runs itself.
The omens for continental Europe, however, are sinister. The entire plan for perpetual improvement upon which the EU depends is based on continuous economic expansion. There is no provision for stagnation. As we see in Japan, once stagnation sets in, it can last many years. Americans should count their blessings, above all the supreme blessing of having an economy that is run by businessmen not bureaucrats, or that —— under wise governance —— runs itself.
Glitches in the Capitalist System
I do hate it when the invisible hand doesn’t work quickly or possibly at all. By now we’ve all heard that Google has (1) fought the US Justice Dept. in connection with information about pornography and access by kiddos and (2) acceded to the Chinese government’s demand that certain types of information be screened from Chinese customers.
From Linda Chavez today (courtesy JWR) on the Google story at home and in China:
And when it comes to profits, there is no bigger potential market than China —— which explains why Google is willing to play censor in the Middle Kingdom. Google wants users, period. And if gaining access to an enormous potential market means engaging in a little censorship, the company is more than willing to do it. What makes Google's behavior so hard to swallow is its sanctimony when the subject of censorship in the United States comes up.
If the company had been honest in fighting the Justice Department subpoena, it would have admitted that it doesn't want to turn over data because it has no interest in keeping kids away from hard-core sites. Google will happily provide porn to American kids and deny civil liberties to Chinese adults, all in the name of profit.
I love the innovative Google, but the company’s activities have bugged me a bit of late. For whatever reason, the China aspect of this bugs me more than the porn aspect. It probably shouldn’t; I suppose I rely on parents to protect their kids, perhaps too much.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I’d love to see in five years that Google somehow put one over on the PRC and secretly gave Chinese customers some kind of secret decoder ring allowing access to Tiananmen Square information but fear that is too much to hope for. How can the market help in this situation? I’m not sure. Will US customers rise up against the industry leader? This one won’t. Will investors divest? This one won’t; at least not yet.
Is this a situation similar to that faced by the energy and manufacturing industries for the last forty years regarding air and water pollution? What first appeared a bad choice for such industries’ bottom lines, i.e., increased costs associated with less pollution, turned out to be costs that their customers (and therefore investors) really were, if grudgingly, prepared to bear.
Not that Google’s choice here really is about increasing costs, it is about decreasing the size of its customer base. I have no idea how to counter that to its investors’ satisfaction. I just hope it doesn’t take the market forty years to correct.
From Linda Chavez today (courtesy JWR) on the Google story at home and in China:
And when it comes to profits, there is no bigger potential market than China —— which explains why Google is willing to play censor in the Middle Kingdom. Google wants users, period. And if gaining access to an enormous potential market means engaging in a little censorship, the company is more than willing to do it. What makes Google's behavior so hard to swallow is its sanctimony when the subject of censorship in the United States comes up.
If the company had been honest in fighting the Justice Department subpoena, it would have admitted that it doesn't want to turn over data because it has no interest in keeping kids away from hard-core sites. Google will happily provide porn to American kids and deny civil liberties to Chinese adults, all in the name of profit.
I love the innovative Google, but the company’s activities have bugged me a bit of late. For whatever reason, the China aspect of this bugs me more than the porn aspect. It probably shouldn’t; I suppose I rely on parents to protect their kids, perhaps too much.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I’d love to see in five years that Google somehow put one over on the PRC and secretly gave Chinese customers some kind of secret decoder ring allowing access to Tiananmen Square information but fear that is too much to hope for. How can the market help in this situation? I’m not sure. Will US customers rise up against the industry leader? This one won’t. Will investors divest? This one won’t; at least not yet.
Is this a situation similar to that faced by the energy and manufacturing industries for the last forty years regarding air and water pollution? What first appeared a bad choice for such industries’ bottom lines, i.e., increased costs associated with less pollution, turned out to be costs that their customers (and therefore investors) really were, if grudgingly, prepared to bear.
Not that Google’s choice here really is about increasing costs, it is about decreasing the size of its customer base. I have no idea how to counter that to its investors’ satisfaction. I just hope it doesn’t take the market forty years to correct.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Re: March Madness
Yes, you should have Conn winning.
And I don't understand how you haven't won before, because in the time that I have been "helping" you with your picks, I have won several pools.
That begs the question....am I giving you the same picks I make on my pool(s)?????
And I don't understand how you haven't won before, because in the time that I have been "helping" you with your picks, I have won several pools.
That begs the question....am I giving you the same picks I make on my pool(s)?????
March Madness
I know nothing about college basketball except that UT is sometimes pretty good and something called "Gonzaga" is often very good. I've always enlisted LJ to help me fill out the brackets so I can participate in the office pool. I don't recall ever winning any money, but have had several " gutsy picks in round two" comments. Anyhow, I've got Conn and Duke in the final with Conn (is that right LJ?) winning.
Arrrgh
In City Journal!: "All this massively begs the question: Why . . ." Good article, though. Explains the fraud that is campaign finance reform and the dangers of the calls to renew the Fairness Doctrine.
So much to blog about, so little time
Gotta do a "quick-hit" type post, because I don't have time to go into lots of detail on all the subject I want to mention. Have many, many errands to run today, have a call-back interview as well (keeping fingers crossed). Well, here goes...
1) One of the things you learn quite quickly when you attend the University of Arkansas is that you NEVER say anything positive about any Texas school, especially ut austin. So that is one reason why I didn't mention the lady longhorns winning the indoor T&F national championship.
Another reason is that I have no interest at all for any women's sports. And to put the Razorbacks national championship in perspective, out of the last 22 indoor T&F national championships, the UA as won 19 of them. Simply awesome.
2) Read British Envoy on US in Iraq: Thirteen Words Say It All this today on Klos and loved it. My favorite part:
"The most striking thing about this list is ... how generic the areas of failures are for the Bush administration. This is modus operandi for this bunch. Switch out the proper names of the people and entities involved, and you've got yourself Katrina. Tweak it a bit for the bureaucratic stage and you've got Medicare D. And these are the people who want us to trust them to reform Social Security. Ha! Not on your life. Or rather, not on mine."
3) Regarding the word test, I understand why my fellow SSJ'ers would be surprised that I got any of the Bible ones, but I've seen tests like this before and they always have Bible-type questions. The ones that threw me were the South African ones. I think I know the one you are having trouble with - here is a clue, you have to know something about cricket.
4) Heard this morning that Issac Hayes is leaving "South Park". I would think that I'm not in the demographic that Trey and Matt are targeting, but I love SP. "Chef" will be missed. And if you have the chance, try to find video of SP doing their rendition of "The Aristocrats" - it's on the net if you look. If you are into the SP thing, it is well worth the effort.
5) And finally, C and I have been on a diet since the beginning of January. My goal was to lose 30 lbs. Well...as of this morning, I've lost 31!!!! Now the real hard part starts - keeping it off.
1) One of the things you learn quite quickly when you attend the University of Arkansas is that you NEVER say anything positive about any Texas school, especially ut austin. So that is one reason why I didn't mention the lady longhorns winning the indoor T&F national championship.
Another reason is that I have no interest at all for any women's sports. And to put the Razorbacks national championship in perspective, out of the last 22 indoor T&F national championships, the UA as won 19 of them. Simply awesome.
2) Read British Envoy on US in Iraq: Thirteen Words Say It All this today on Klos and loved it. My favorite part:
"The most striking thing about this list is ... how generic the areas of failures are for the Bush administration. This is modus operandi for this bunch. Switch out the proper names of the people and entities involved, and you've got yourself Katrina. Tweak it a bit for the bureaucratic stage and you've got Medicare D. And these are the people who want us to trust them to reform Social Security. Ha! Not on your life. Or rather, not on mine."
3) Regarding the word test, I understand why my fellow SSJ'ers would be surprised that I got any of the Bible ones, but I've seen tests like this before and they always have Bible-type questions. The ones that threw me were the South African ones. I think I know the one you are having trouble with - here is a clue, you have to know something about cricket.
4) Heard this morning that Issac Hayes is leaving "South Park". I would think that I'm not in the demographic that Trey and Matt are targeting, but I love SP. "Chef" will be missed. And if you have the chance, try to find video of SP doing their rendition of "The Aristocrats" - it's on the net if you look. If you are into the SP thing, it is well worth the effort.
5) And finally, C and I have been on a diet since the beginning of January. My goal was to lose 30 lbs. Well...as of this morning, I've lost 31!!!! Now the real hard part starts - keeping it off.
Monday, March 13, 2006
New Remote! (and Man on Fire)
The crisis has been averted. New remote only $15.00...now just have to figure out the new button configuration.
Denzel Washington's Man on Fire [original book by AJ Quinell; also authored The Perfect Kill] on tonight. I've only seen it about a million times, including the old Scott Glenn version. While I'm not crazy about the MTV/NYPD Blue cinematography, I LOVE the chemistry between Mr. Washington and Dakota Fanning.
Denzel Washington's Man on Fire [original book by AJ Quinell; also authored The Perfect Kill] on tonight. I've only seen it about a million times, including the old Scott Glenn version. While I'm not crazy about the MTV/NYPD Blue cinematography, I LOVE the chemistry between Mr. Washington and Dakota Fanning.
Number ONE on Google...
for "pro DP World." OK, that's enough. I just started looking at our referrals (because I didn't realize until two days ago it could be done) so it's neat that we have some in the top few from search engines. I expect that most blogs have the same experience.
Aside: I'm using my recently acquired Blogger spell-checker and it wants to fix "blog." And "blogger."
Aside: I'm using my recently acquired Blogger spell-checker and it wants to fix "blog." And "blogger."
Number one and two on Google...
for "second hand smoking documentaries." I suppose we'll always get a lot of "secondhand smoking [something]."
Re: Track & Field
While Arkansas certainly deserves to be congratulated and I know that LJ is proud in spite of the ho-hummedness of it all, he did fail to mention that the Lady Longhorns took first as well. (And, the men did finish a respectable 4th.)
All results can be viewed here.
Congratulations Razorbacks.
All results can be viewed here.
Congratulations Razorbacks.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Ho Hum....Arkansas wins ANOTHER track national championship
This is for you scooter. Tonight, Arkansas won the NCAA 2006 Indoor Track and Field National Championship. That's NC #42 in track and field and/or cross country since 1984.
Congrats to the Hogs!!!! WOOOOOOOOO PIG SOOOOOOOIE!!!!
Congrats to the Hogs!!!! WOOOOOOOOO PIG SOOOOOOOIE!!!!
Friday, March 10, 2006
Sunnis and Shiites
Brief history of the conflict between the two from Gene Edward Veith at Worldmag.com reads in part:
The division and the unforgiven grudges go all the way back to 632 a.d. when Muhammad died. Who would succeed him as the leader of what was becoming both a religious and a political empire? One group claimed that the prophet had chosen his cousin and son-in-law Ali. These "Shiites"——a shortened form of the words for "the party of Ali"——believed that future successors should be physical descendants from the prophet's family.
The other faction believed Muhammad had said that future rulers should be chosen by consensus of the other leaders. They chose the prophet's father-in-law, Abu Bakr, to be the "caliph." His followers became the "Sunnis," from a word for followers of the "tradition."
Then followed a civil war; read the article to find out who won.
The division and the unforgiven grudges go all the way back to 632 a.d. when Muhammad died. Who would succeed him as the leader of what was becoming both a religious and a political empire? One group claimed that the prophet had chosen his cousin and son-in-law Ali. These "Shiites"——a shortened form of the words for "the party of Ali"——believed that future successors should be physical descendants from the prophet's family.
The other faction believed Muhammad had said that future rulers should be chosen by consensus of the other leaders. They chose the prophet's father-in-law, Abu Bakr, to be the "caliph." His followers became the "Sunnis," from a word for followers of the "tradition."
Then followed a civil war; read the article to find out who won.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Re: Clever and silly
Yes . I started to write that what you listed wasn't smart enough, but I was wrong.
Re: Clever and Silly
Monty Python, of course.
Others:
Cheers
Buffalo Bill
Airplane
Caddyshack
That early HBO comedy series...the book publisher who watched too much TV as a kid
Others:
Cheers
Buffalo Bill
Airplane
Caddyshack
That early HBO comedy series...the book publisher who watched too much TV as a kid
My new favorite movie
Why doesn't the MSM broadcast these type of movies? Believe me, I love "Shawshank Redemption", but how many times a week does it need to be TV? To help with loading time, it is divided into 3 parts:
Part 1 (23 minutes)
Part 2 (24 minutes)
Part 3 (33 minutes)
Pop some popcorn...pour yourself a beverage... put on your conspiracy hat...and enjoy.
Part 1 (23 minutes)
Part 2 (24 minutes)
Part 3 (33 minutes)
Pop some popcorn...pour yourself a beverage... put on your conspiracy hat...and enjoy.
Athens, Texas Rep calls for Contract w/ US Redux
From today's Townhall.com:
Led by Representatives Mike Pence (R-IN) and Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) [including Athens], the unabashed band of conservatives proposed a return to fiscal sanity by introducing an austere federal budget proposal modeled after the budget proposal contained in the 1995 Contract with America. The RSC calls their proposal the Contract with America: Renewed.
Led by Representatives Mike Pence (R-IN) and Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) [including Athens], the unabashed band of conservatives proposed a return to fiscal sanity by introducing an austere federal budget proposal modeled after the budget proposal contained in the 1995 Contract with America. The RSC calls their proposal the Contract with America: Renewed.
Re: Begging the question
As I'm sure you suspected, a pet peeve of mine, too, especially when used by those who should know better.
I confess; I'm a language snob.
I confess; I'm a language snob.
Begging the question
This drives me nuts. I read and hear people who ought to know better misuse this phrase all the time. Here's an example I read today from Doug Wilson, the chairman of Townhall.com and co-author of a book he's promoting in this post:
". . . thus begging an important question: Is highway funding still the federal government's business?"
No, no, NO. To "beg the question" is to make an argument that assumes the proposition to be proved and is a type of circular argument. See here (3b) and more expansively here (scroll down to "Modern usage" to see a description of my complaint).
I first noticed the corruption of this phrase about five years ago and it has exploded in the last couple of years. Fie!
". . . thus begging an important question: Is highway funding still the federal government's business?"
No, no, NO. To "beg the question" is to make an argument that assumes the proposition to be proved and is a type of circular argument. See here (3b) and more expansively here (scroll down to "Modern usage" to see a description of my complaint).
I first noticed the corruption of this phrase about five years ago and it has exploded in the last couple of years. Fie!
Johnny Damon t-shirt seen @ Bosox Camp
From Russ Smith at the NY Press, quoting the March 5 Globe:
"Looks like Jesus, acts like Judas, throws like Mary."
"Looks like Jesus, acts like Judas, throws like Mary."
Capitalism and Hattie McDaniel
Time for my weekly paean to Ms. Noonan. In her column today she points out that it was Selznick's capitalism that really pushed the frontier:
"It would be nice to see them start to understand that rediscovering the work of, say, C.S. Lewis, and making a Narnia film, is not 'giving in' to the audience but serving it. It isn't bad to look for and present good material that is known to have a following. It's a smart thing to do. It's why David O. Selznick bought 'Gone With the Wind': People were reading it. It was his decision to make it into a movie from which he would profit that gave Hattie McDaniel her great role. Taboos are broken by markets, not poses."
Update: Occurs to me that Branch Rickey (sp?) did the same thing.
"It would be nice to see them start to understand that rediscovering the work of, say, C.S. Lewis, and making a Narnia film, is not 'giving in' to the audience but serving it. It isn't bad to look for and present good material that is known to have a following. It's a smart thing to do. It's why David O. Selznick bought 'Gone With the Wind': People were reading it. It was his decision to make it into a movie from which he would profit that gave Hattie McDaniel her great role. Taboos are broken by markets, not poses."
Update: Occurs to me that Branch Rickey (sp?) did the same thing.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Coulter says Hard out Here for a Pimp a step forward
More Coulter on the Oscars:
"I believe this marks the first time in Oscars history that an award recipient shouted, 'Thank you, Jesus!' upon receiving his award. Admittedly, this was the only part of the speech that didn't have to be bleeped and it was for a song titled, 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp,' but it's still a step forward."
"I believe this marks the first time in Oscars history that an award recipient shouted, 'Thank you, Jesus!' upon receiving his award. Admittedly, this was the only part of the speech that didn't have to be bleeped and it was for a song titled, 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp,' but it's still a step forward."
RE: Republican primary
Wow. You're in Delay's district? I thought he was Sugar Land...that's some powerful gerrymandering. Was it always so?
Re: LJ and Oscars and 40 OZ.
Funny you should ask. Before the telecast, I had never heard any of the 3 songs (even though I saw "Crash", I didn't remember the song). So after hearing them Sunday night, I thought that "Pimp" was the best of the 3 (not that that says a lot for the 3 songs). I wish they hadn't changed the words though - it was my understanding that they had the OK to say "ho" and "b*tches", but decided not to when they perfomred it. I could have done with out all the dancing and stuff though.
And speaking of NWA, they STILL kick a**! And don't forget Houston's own Ghetto Boys!! They were even more hardcore than NWA.
Do you know who Nina Gordan is? She was the lead singer of a group called "Veruca Salt". They had a couple of hits. She is solo now and has an AWESOME cover of the NWA song "Straight Outta Compton". Check it out here (warning, the lyrics are explicit and are not bleeped).
Finally - 40 oz is correct (though I've never had one).
And speaking of NWA, they STILL kick a**! And don't forget Houston's own Ghetto Boys!! They were even more hardcore than NWA.
Do you know who Nina Gordan is? She was the lead singer of a group called "Veruca Salt". They had a couple of hits. She is solo now and has an AWESOME cover of the NWA song "Straight Outta Compton". Check it out here (warning, the lyrics are explicit and are not bleeped).
Finally - 40 oz is correct (though I've never had one).
LJ and Oscars and 40 OZ.
As the whitest guy (LJ, not me) I know to have liked NWA (enter at own risk), I was wondering what LJ thought of "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp?"
Go Molly, Go!
I think Ms. Ivins needs a hug. If she really thinks these are the three issues:
1) Iraq is making terrorism worse; it's a breeding ground. We need to extricate ourselves as soon as possible. We are not helping the Iraqis by staying.
2) Full public financing of campaigns so as to drive the moneylenders from the halls of Washington.
3) Single-payer health insurance.
that will garner the most votes for "progressives" in 2008, by all means dems, jump on board.
1) Iraq is making terrorism worse; it's a breeding ground. We need to extricate ourselves as soon as possible. We are not helping the Iraqis by staying.
2) Full public financing of campaigns so as to drive the moneylenders from the halls of Washington.
3) Single-payer health insurance.
that will garner the most votes for "progressives" in 2008, by all means dems, jump on board.
Re: 9/11 conspiracies & not adding up
The ultimate why I guess would be so that ultimately we get into Iraq and make all those bucks for DDE's military industrial complex. But wow, what planning. Destroy World Trade Center to get to Al Qaida...to get to Afghanistan...to get to Iraq.
Re: Steyn demographics
I think they did grow soft under our protection. Not having to field a military for 50 years has allowed them to develop their fat economic policies and give new meaning to the term "welfare state." As the cultures grew more and more self-obsessed, the less productive they became.
Being less productive (35 hour work weeks, WEEKS of vacation, early retirements, artificially high wages) has led, somewhat counterintuitively, to the decline of the populations.
Being less productive (35 hour work weeks, WEEKS of vacation, early retirements, artificially high wages) has led, somewhat counterintuitively, to the decline of the populations.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Re: What doesn't add up?
1) Where is the wreckage from the Pentagon crash?
2) Why haven't we seen any footage of the Pentagon crash, even in the first few days when the MSM kept replaying the WTC footage over and over and over?
3) Where are the "black boxes"? Rescue workers say that 3 of the 4 were recovered - the FBI says none survived.
4) Why was the FBI inspecting the WTC complex with bomb sniffing dogs on 9/10?
5) Why were the tapes of the interviews with air traffic controllers destroyed?
To name just a few
2) Why haven't we seen any footage of the Pentagon crash, even in the first few days when the MSM kept replaying the WTC footage over and over and over?
3) Where are the "black boxes"? Rescue workers say that 3 of the 4 were recovered - the FBI says none survived.
4) Why was the FBI inspecting the WTC complex with bomb sniffing dogs on 9/10?
5) Why were the tapes of the interviews with air traffic controllers destroyed?
To name just a few
Re: 9/11 conspiracies
Reading for fun. There are all kinds of sites that talk about what happened and how it happened (in their view) - but none of them talk about WHY. Even if they talk about the military or some rogue section of the CIA or whatever, they never give any reasons why. That is what I'm looking for. Because I can (somewhat) buy into the theory that we haven't been told everything, that some things don't add up, that some things have been covered up, but I'd be much more inclined to believe the wacko theories if any of them answered the simple question of.......why?
Republican primary
I proudly voted against Delay, David Dewhurst, and Orlando Sanchez today. Thank you. Don't ask me whom I voted for. I voted against.
Re: Steyn demographics
They didn't go soft under our protection, did they? Doesn't the phenomenon Steyn is talking about start much later? Or am I missing your point?
Re: NR in Houston
I don't see how I can justify it. I expect you're on your own.
Update: Of course you'll stay here. Didn't mean to imply otherwise.
Update: Of course you'll stay here. Didn't mean to imply otherwise.
Re: 9/11 conspiracies
I echo Scooter's inquiry: are you reading for fun or are you buying this stuff? I read you as the former. If not, lay out the "evidence" and let's have at it.
Re: Noonan
I've never heard her speak live but would love to some time. I'll see if I can find a website that calendars (is that a verb?) her engagements.
Re: 9/11 Conspiracy Theories
So Barbara Olsen spotted in Europe...that's the real reason Ted stepped down as Solicitor General.
RE: Hey, some of us have lives, you know & Sheila
I have no life so I have no excuse.
As to the 9/11 conspiracies, do you mean that you're enjoying reading the contorted logic for the fun of it? Or, are you seriously pondering why they can't come up with the why? Wow, if the administration/Halliburton was responsible, they sure moved quickly following the inauguration...or, had they been planning it for years?
(Glad you aren't so far gone that you'd be blinded by Sheila's raw intellect.)
As to the 9/11 conspiracies, do you mean that you're enjoying reading the contorted logic for the fun of it? Or, are you seriously pondering why they can't come up with the why? Wow, if the administration/Halliburton was responsible, they sure moved quickly following the inauguration...or, had they been planning it for years?
(Glad you aren't so far gone that you'd be blinded by Sheila's raw intellect.)
Re: Sheila Jackson Lee
There are ONLY 2 reasons why I would ever move back to Houston 1) to move into Tom DeLays' district so I could vote against him or 2) to move into SJLs' district so I could vote against her. I honestly can't say who I think is worse - one is a crook and the other is an idiot.
Sadly - they can never lose in their districts (well, maybe DeLay these days), so I guess it wouldn't matter, so I might as well stay in Dallas.
Sadly - they can never lose in their districts (well, maybe DeLay these days), so I guess it wouldn't matter, so I might as well stay in Dallas.
More Steyn Demographics
From his website:
There is a third option. Unlike the Europeans, many of whom will flee their continent as Eutopia evolves into Eurabia, the Japanese are not facing ethnic strife and civil war. They could simply start breeding again. But will they? What’’s easier for the governing class? Weaning a pampered population off the good life and re-teaching them the lost biological impulse or giving the Sony Corporation a license to become the Cloney Corporation?
This is just getting depressing. While enjoying the benefits of living under American military protection, these nations have turned into soft, me-first economies/societies. The next 25 years are going to be interesting indeed.
There is a third option. Unlike the Europeans, many of whom will flee their continent as Eutopia evolves into Eurabia, the Japanese are not facing ethnic strife and civil war. They could simply start breeding again. But will they? What’’s easier for the governing class? Weaning a pampered population off the good life and re-teaching them the lost biological impulse or giving the Sony Corporation a license to become the Cloney Corporation?
This is just getting depressing. While enjoying the benefits of living under American military protection, these nations have turned into soft, me-first economies/societies. The next 25 years are going to be interesting indeed.
Sheila Jackson Lee
Michael's favorite Congresswoman on Fox this morning, actually sounding somewhat sensible on ports issue though her call for a six month to two year moratorium on foreign deals seemed excessive.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Hey, some of us have lives, you know.
I have been chastised for not blogging in what, a couple of days? Geesh, give me a break.
Anyway....I've been perusing the net the past few days, reading up on 9/11 conspiracy theories. There are so many sites and articles talking about all the inconsistencies with pictures, images, debris, etc. I even found some talking about the helicopter flying around the Trade Centers before the planes hit (guiding them in according to the theories) and after (detonating charges that ACTUALLY brough the Towers down). Stories about how Barbara Olsen (supposedly on the flight that hit the Pentagon) is reportedly alive in Europe. And I could go on and on and on.
But what I can't find is anyone explaining why - why either persons and/or agencies of our gov't were behind it.
Anyone?
Anyway....I've been perusing the net the past few days, reading up on 9/11 conspiracy theories. There are so many sites and articles talking about all the inconsistencies with pictures, images, debris, etc. I even found some talking about the helicopter flying around the Trade Centers before the planes hit (guiding them in according to the theories) and after (detonating charges that ACTUALLY brough the Towers down). Stories about how Barbara Olsen (supposedly on the flight that hit the Pentagon) is reportedly alive in Europe. And I could go on and on and on.
But what I can't find is anyone explaining why - why either persons and/or agencies of our gov't were behind it.
Anyone?
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Clever and silly
I just saw about the last half of "40-year Old Virgin" and thought it both. I guess Monty Python, dare I say it, is the holy grail of clever and silly. I've always been interested in the "funny." Greg Weingarten at the
Washington Post does it for a living.
Washington Post does it for a living.
Hope I'm not just echoing Lowry...
But, I think this Indian/Pakistan thing is big. On the order of Nixon opening China Big.
Lowry's column is here. I have the advantage over Rich in that I'm listening to the Pakistan news conference now.
Lowry's column is here. I have the advantage over Rich in that I'm listening to the Pakistan news conference now.
Re: Hagiography
At least get through the parts on the Patco Strike, Iceland and the"tear down this wall" saga, if you can. The last wasn't her, as you indicated, but her insight is great. I think hers might have been Challenger...but I'm not certain, it's late.
I'm looking at 3 acres 13 miles east of Austin tomorrow but still think I can swing the Houston fete. Should I go ahead and order the tix? Are we a couple?
I'm looking at 3 acres 13 miles east of Austin tomorrow but still think I can swing the Houston fete. Should I go ahead and order the tix? Are we a couple?
Crash
That is the only one I've seen...and I liked it a lot. Probably the best I saw last year except for the under-appreciated "The Upside of Anger."
Friday, March 03, 2006
Re: Oscars (2)
LJ, many con writers agree with your take on Crash. (Having not seen a movie not rated G in the last four years, I'm in no position to comment.) The same writers are predicting hideously low ratings.
You haven't lost the tape, have you?
I read this story and remembered something I'd forgotten about. Just checking. I'm sure everything is cool. [LJ: Email me immediately re same.]
Re: Oscars
Way back when Scooter and LJ and I were hanging out together we had Oscar parties and ballots. I can't remember if we put money on it but I doubt it. Anyway, the winner was invariably a girl who had seen few if any of the nominated movies. I think she read a lot of the pop culture magazines and was a fiend for old and offbeat movies. I guess that combination informed her take on the nominations. Happy birthday Cindy.
Re: Noonan
I was unable to get very far into her hagiography of Reagan but intend to try again. But it was not because of her writing, which is sublime. She publishes a column every Thursday (usually) at OpinionJournal and it's the first thing I read in the morning (followed immediately by Coulter). (Talk about a contrast.)
Scooter: I heard an interview the other day with the speechwriter who penned "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." I know Peter Robinson is responsible for "axis of evil." Are there any memorable phrases or speeches Peggy is known for? I would love to see her speak and I know she does speaking engagements. I think I would have heard if you had, but have you ever? Let's find a close one and go. Slightly off topic, how much have you saved towards the NR Houston bash?
Scooter: I heard an interview the other day with the speechwriter who penned "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." I know Peter Robinson is responsible for "axis of evil." Are there any memorable phrases or speeches Peggy is known for? I would love to see her speak and I know she does speaking engagements. I think I would have heard if you had, but have you ever? Let's find a close one and go. Slightly off topic, how much have you saved towards the NR Houston bash?
It's Oscar time!
I admit, I love watching the Academy Awards. Always have. And I'll be watching this Sunday night. Who looks good, who looks bad. Who makes a fool of themsevles making an acceptance speech. Who gets cut off, who doesn't. Who tries to make a political statement. How many "dub-ya" jokes there are. I'm a sucker for all of it.
I haven't seen "Brokeback Mountain", so I can't comment on whether it should win Best Picture or not. Nor have I seen "Good Night, and Good Luck". The other 3 nominated films ("Capote", "Crash" and "Munich") I have seen and I thought "Crash" was the best of the 3.
Will America, especially middle-America, tune in? I say yes, of course. No way we could say to Oscar...."I wish I knew how to quit you".
I haven't seen "Brokeback Mountain", so I can't comment on whether it should win Best Picture or not. Nor have I seen "Good Night, and Good Luck". The other 3 nominated films ("Capote", "Crash" and "Munich") I have seen and I thought "Crash" was the best of the 3.
Will America, especially middle-America, tune in? I say yes, of course. No way we could say to Oscar...."I wish I knew how to quit you".
Hispanic Vote, today and tomorrow
From today's World Magazine online:
Mr. Carrillo [member of the Texas Railroad Commission] notes, though, that "inertia" can get in the way: "My parents and grandparents were Democrats, and that's how we as a people have always voted," even though the Democrats now stand for social principles most Hispanics oppose. How to break through? "The GOP needs to look for, hire, train, and retain more highly qualified Latino candidates."
One such candidate is Mr. [Alex] Castano [in March 7 GOP primary, ultimately pitted if successful against Jason Earle, son of Ronnie Earle], whose mother came to the United States as a poor Argentine who spoke broken English. Since he understands "what it's like to be considered a second-class citizen," what he sees as Democrats' treatment of Hispanics particularly frustrates him: "They take us for granted." He says the Democratic message is, "You poor, dumb Hispanics. Here's a handout, so give us your loyalty and your vote in exchange." He says that Hispanics don't see themselves as "victims" and don't respond well to being classified that way.
If Reagan could capture 47% of the Hispanic vote in '84, we've done very poorly since following up. Full disclosure: Although I don't live in Alex Castano's district, he is a friend and a member of my church.
Mr. Carrillo [member of the Texas Railroad Commission] notes, though, that "inertia" can get in the way: "My parents and grandparents were Democrats, and that's how we as a people have always voted," even though the Democrats now stand for social principles most Hispanics oppose. How to break through? "The GOP needs to look for, hire, train, and retain more highly qualified Latino candidates."
One such candidate is Mr. [Alex] Castano [in March 7 GOP primary, ultimately pitted if successful against Jason Earle, son of Ronnie Earle], whose mother came to the United States as a poor Argentine who spoke broken English. Since he understands "what it's like to be considered a second-class citizen," what he sees as Democrats' treatment of Hispanics particularly frustrates him: "They take us for granted." He says the Democratic message is, "You poor, dumb Hispanics. Here's a handout, so give us your loyalty and your vote in exchange." He says that Hispanics don't see themselves as "victims" and don't respond well to being classified that way.
If Reagan could capture 47% of the Hispanic vote in '84, we've done very poorly since following up. Full disclosure: Although I don't live in Alex Castano's district, he is a friend and a member of my church.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Current Subhead
Whatever one thinks of her politics (I usually embrace but have had a few qualms of late), there is no more lyrical a columnist than Ms. Noonan. Ms. Liebau agreed, not with the lyrical part, but the substance.
Re: She Sells Sanctuary
OK. I see at Amazon that it's The Cult. I can't get the audio to play. Can you post it here or send it to me so that I know what you're talking about? This "Homage" you speak of: was I ever there?
Update: LJ sent it to me and I listened. Don't recall ever hearing it before. Maybe because it doesn't sound like the kind of thing I would have danced to. This is more my kind of thing.
Update: LJ sent it to me and I listened. Don't recall ever hearing it before. Maybe because it doesn't sound like the kind of thing I would have danced to. This is more my kind of thing.
More unintended consequences
Here's a couple of ideas I could have gotten behind as a CLL. (LJ, you might find these attractive.) First, set a decent minimum wage, one where people can actual live above the poverty line: a "living wage" if you will. Second, make it illegal for employers to arbitrarily fire employees. Sounds like a reasonable way to protect workers, right? Well, actually no. South Africa has enacted these two proposals and its unemployment rate has shot to 26% officially and is probably higher. The very people the "do-gooders"* in South Africa sought to help have in fact been put out of work. Sowell explains how and why.
*Mona Charon's book is full of examples of this phenomenon.
*Mona Charon's book is full of examples of this phenomenon.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Simpsons and 1st Amendment
From the AP:
"The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms."
Wasn't my thought, but the Simpsons should have an episode on the 1st Amendment, then everybody would know what it says. My guess is right of redress is least known.
"The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms."
Wasn't my thought, but the Simpsons should have an episode on the 1st Amendment, then everybody would know what it says. My guess is right of redress is least known.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Online Novelist James Aach posts at SSJ
In response to my post about the assault on capitalism (poorly titled) and the need to go forward with nuclear plants, James Aach let me know about his online novel Rad Decision. It can be read here at no cost.
I haven't had time to read it but reviews can be read here.
Thanks, James. As I suspect is true of most bloggers, I wish I had the sticktuitiveness to get a novel completed.
I haven't had time to read it but reviews can be read here.
Thanks, James. As I suspect is true of most bloggers, I wish I had the sticktuitiveness to get a novel completed.
British Historian Paul Johnson on the Assault on Capitalism
From my new hero on today's JWR:
"One of their [enviromentalists] biggest successes has been to halt the building of nuclear power plants in the U.S., Britain and other countries. This has seriously increased the destructive impact of the oil shortages brought on by China's and India's industrialization. At the same time environmentalists, claiming that global warming is the result of industrial activity, seek to force compulsory limits on greenhouse gas emissions, which will hugely reduce industry's efficiency and profitability. This frontal attack on the production and profitability of the capitalist system is, in its own way, as dangerous as Marxism was."
What the heck are we waiting for? Why aren't we building? This is just nuts.
"One of their [enviromentalists] biggest successes has been to halt the building of nuclear power plants in the U.S., Britain and other countries. This has seriously increased the destructive impact of the oil shortages brought on by China's and India's industrialization. At the same time environmentalists, claiming that global warming is the result of industrial activity, seek to force compulsory limits on greenhouse gas emissions, which will hugely reduce industry's efficiency and profitability. This frontal attack on the production and profitability of the capitalist system is, in its own way, as dangerous as Marxism was."
What the heck are we waiting for? Why aren't we building? This is just nuts.
Reminiscing
So I'm taking a walk yesterday afternoon around my neighborhood, listening to my iPod as I do. And during the walk, one of the greatest rock-n-roll songs of all time comes up..."She Sells Sanctuary". And as the first cords of the song come through my earphones, I begin to drift back...back....back...
a Saturday night
11:30pm
lower bar area
"Homage"
When I hear the beginning of the song, I head to the upstairs dance floor.
Ah, those were the days....
a Saturday night
11:30pm
lower bar area
"Homage"
When I hear the beginning of the song, I head to the upstairs dance floor.
Ah, those were the days....
Monday, February 27, 2006
Eight Below
I know, I know but I love dogs. Mediocre acting, mediocre script, questionable directing (awfully sunny for one of Antarctica's worst winters) and overly anthropomorphized dogs. Still, couldn't get the tears to stop in last 15 minutes.
As I think about the movie for those with little ones, it might be a decent way to introduce the idea of (to use the big, scary word) DEATH to the kids. I won't ruin the ending but the overall theme of the movie is uplifting while still dealing with the uncomfortable.
As I think about the movie for those with little ones, it might be a decent way to introduce the idea of (to use the big, scary word) DEATH to the kids. I won't ruin the ending but the overall theme of the movie is uplifting while still dealing with the uncomfortable.
Re: Golden Age of Longhorn Sports Continues
OK, I have to toot the horn of my beloved Razorbacks. Yesterday they won the 2006 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championship. The conference title is the 78th in Arkansas’ history including its 13th SEC indoor championship in 15 tries since entering the SEC in 1992. The Hogs have also won 40 of 44 SEC championships combined in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field in that span.
And to show that this isn't just a SEC thing, here are some stats that might be of interest:
* 26-consecutive conference titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track combined from 1987-1995.
* 67 conference championships in the last 72 events Arkansas has entered since 1981-82.
* 12-consecutive NCAA indoor track championships (1984-1995), the longest string of national titles by any school in any sport in collegiate history.
* 31-consecutive league cross country championships (1974-2004).
And finally:
John McDonnell, the UA Head Track coach, has won more national championships (41) than any coach in any sport in the history of college athletics. The next highest is 26 by Pat Henry, former LSU and current track coach at Texas A&M.
In Arkansas, if they DON'T win an SEC and/or NC in track, it's big news. If they could just translate this success to football....
And to show that this isn't just a SEC thing, here are some stats that might be of interest:
* 26-consecutive conference titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track combined from 1987-1995.
* 67 conference championships in the last 72 events Arkansas has entered since 1981-82.
* 12-consecutive NCAA indoor track championships (1984-1995), the longest string of national titles by any school in any sport in collegiate history.
* 31-consecutive league cross country championships (1974-2004).
And finally:
John McDonnell, the UA Head Track coach, has won more national championships (41) than any coach in any sport in the history of college athletics. The next highest is 26 by Pat Henry, former LSU and current track coach at Texas A&M.
In Arkansas, if they DON'T win an SEC and/or NC in track, it's big news. If they could just translate this success to football....
Golden Age of Longhorn Sports Continues
From today's Daily Texan:
"The fifth-ranked Texas swimming and diving team dominated the field at the Big 12 Championship this weekend in Columbia, Mo., taking their unprecedented 27th consecutive conference title."
"The fifth-ranked Texas swimming and diving team dominated the field at the Big 12 Championship this weekend in Columbia, Mo., taking their unprecedented 27th consecutive conference title."
Prayers for the Assassin
Picked up my copy yesterday and am having fun with it, but have to say that book cover above is the worst cover ever. It is not just a paper cover wrapped around the book, it is the book. Are they trying to market to graphic novel readers?
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Katrina vs. FEMA vs. Wal-Mart
Dr. Edwin Feulner, president of The Heritage Foundation, has written a column on the efficiency of one of my favorite corporate demons: Wal-Mart. The context is a short comparison of the company and FEMA (and, impliedly, state and local government emergency management teams). If you read Dr. Feulner’s article, there is a part that is a bit confusing...it was the Chicago city council that refused Wal-Mart which is why it opened its new store in Evergreen Park.
His first main point:
"One key reason for Wal-Mart's success, Jackson said, is ‘associates who are dedicated to their communities.’ That local connection helped it deliver goods when government failed. As Investor's Business Daily reported in September, ‘While local and federal groups suffered communications problems and bickered over who was in charge, Wal-Mart sprang into action.’"
Of course the local connection helps; that should surprise no one. First-hand local knowledge and personal incentive will always be great tools for first responders.
His second main point:
"And while Chertoff admits Katrina caught the government flat-footed, Wal-Mart is always ready. In his book ‘The World is Flat,’ New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote, ‘The minute Wal-Mart's meteorologists tell headquarters a hurricane is bearing down on Florida, its supply chain automatically adjusts to a hurricane mix in the Florida stores [Scooter’s emphasis].’ That means plenty of non-perishable food and critical items such as generators appear in stores even before disaster strikes."
I know that I shouldn’t have underestimated the folks in Bentonville and the efficacy of capitalism, but that astounds me. Is this done out of altruism? Certainly the local folks would be trying to help, but as to "management," Wal-Mart critics would say no. Assuming the critics correct, so what? Get the job done.
"Headquarters" making the call means that the corporate equivalent of former FEMA Director Brown made the supply chain adjustment. Why the better results from an equally centralized entity? Why does Wal-Mart have more effective plans in place? Motive is the difference. The market rewards its owners for its company’s management’s planning and the implementation thereof. The owners, in turn, reward management. How hard is that?
This isn't a post against FEMA or a call to privatize it. Of course we need it. This is just a pat on the back to one of the planet's greatest corporate monsters.
Btw, Wal-Mart has meteorologists?
His first main point:
"One key reason for Wal-Mart's success, Jackson said, is ‘associates who are dedicated to their communities.’ That local connection helped it deliver goods when government failed. As Investor's Business Daily reported in September, ‘While local and federal groups suffered communications problems and bickered over who was in charge, Wal-Mart sprang into action.’"
Of course the local connection helps; that should surprise no one. First-hand local knowledge and personal incentive will always be great tools for first responders.
His second main point:
"And while Chertoff admits Katrina caught the government flat-footed, Wal-Mart is always ready. In his book ‘The World is Flat,’ New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote, ‘The minute Wal-Mart's meteorologists tell headquarters a hurricane is bearing down on Florida, its supply chain automatically adjusts to a hurricane mix in the Florida stores [Scooter’s emphasis].’ That means plenty of non-perishable food and critical items such as generators appear in stores even before disaster strikes."
I know that I shouldn’t have underestimated the folks in Bentonville and the efficacy of capitalism, but that astounds me. Is this done out of altruism? Certainly the local folks would be trying to help, but as to "management," Wal-Mart critics would say no. Assuming the critics correct, so what? Get the job done.
"Headquarters" making the call means that the corporate equivalent of former FEMA Director Brown made the supply chain adjustment. Why the better results from an equally centralized entity? Why does Wal-Mart have more effective plans in place? Motive is the difference. The market rewards its owners for its company’s management’s planning and the implementation thereof. The owners, in turn, reward management. How hard is that?
This isn't a post against FEMA or a call to privatize it. Of course we need it. This is just a pat on the back to one of the planet's greatest corporate monsters.
Btw, Wal-Mart has meteorologists?
Friday, February 24, 2006
Re: DB
Krauthammer still not sold either but offers his Meiers solution while outlining what is still the scariest part of all this:
"The greater and more immediate danger is that as soon as the Dubai company takes over operations, it will necessarily become privy to information about security provisions at crucial U.S. ports. That would mean a transfer of information about our security operations —— and perhaps even worse, about the holes in our security operations —— to a company in an Arab state in which there might be employees who, for reasons of corruption or ideology, would pass this invaluable knowledge on to al-Qaeda types."
"The greater and more immediate danger is that as soon as the Dubai company takes over operations, it will necessarily become privy to information about security provisions at crucial U.S. ports. That would mean a transfer of information about our security operations —— and perhaps even worse, about the holes in our security operations —— to a company in an Arab state in which there might be employees who, for reasons of corruption or ideology, would pass this invaluable knowledge on to al-Qaeda types."
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Re: DB
I repeat myself. I think we've all leapt when we should have looked.
Q: Does anyone believe that Bush isn't interested in our nation's security? Borders, you cry. I don't know. I do know that homeland and our military looked at and approve this deal.
Q: Does anyone believe that Bush isn't interested in our nation's security? Borders, you cry. I don't know. I do know that homeland and our military looked at and approve this deal.
DB and Logic and Feelings
Just have to say that I'm violating almost all of my most personal beliefs on this issue.
I'm a firm believer that I should not rely on my NOTORIOUSLY bad feelings and that all my decisions should be made on logic. I'm relying entirely on my feelings on this issue. How can we possibly be considering this?
This especially flies in the face of my thoughts on Economics and the influence of Capitalism in influencing other gov'ts see the light...see China and India.
I'm a firm believer that I should not rely on my NOTORIOUSLY bad feelings and that all my decisions should be made on logic. I'm relying entirely on my feelings on this issue. How can we possibly be considering this?
This especially flies in the face of my thoughts on Economics and the influence of Capitalism in influencing other gov'ts see the light...see China and India.
Re: DB
Appears everyone jumped the gun, for different reasons. The Dims because they saw it as a way to get some homeland defense cred and Rethugs because, on it's face, its seemed suicidal. Looks like everyone is wrong and BUSHMcCHIMPHITTLER was right.
Re: Law of unintended consequences
This is a great example of the Law. Liberal lawmakers, who dislike Wal-Mart, decide it needs to spend more on health care for it's employees. Nice lib sentiment but exactly the wrong result.
Mona Charon's recent book is full of this stuff. Good intentions, or worse, politically expedient motives, can and do lead to disastrous results.
Mona Charon's recent book is full of this stuff. Good intentions, or worse, politically expedient motives, can and do lead to disastrous results.
Best Pro DP World Argument I've read, but...
I'm still agin' it.
It's a thorough and fairly long article...about 20 paragraphs, but anyone who can work in references to Kipling and Maugham deserves to be cited.
From James Glassman at Tech Central Station and the American Enterprise Institute:
"Using Schumeresque logic, the U.S. should ban flights into the U.S. by airlines from Arab countries, and we should certainly bar any cargo from being loaded in Arab ports and bound for the U.S. ("If you are worried about a bomb in a box going off in New York, you need to worry about who loads the container overseas rather than the terminal operator who unloads it in the U.S.," says someone who actually knows something about port security, Theodore Price of Optimization Alternatives, a Texas company that provides terminal-operating software.) In fact, one would suppose that Dubai, with billions at stake, would be more careful -- not less -- about assisting in anti-terror activities at U.S. ports if it is actually operating them."
It's a thorough and fairly long article...about 20 paragraphs, but anyone who can work in references to Kipling and Maugham deserves to be cited.
From James Glassman at Tech Central Station and the American Enterprise Institute:
"Using Schumeresque logic, the U.S. should ban flights into the U.S. by airlines from Arab countries, and we should certainly bar any cargo from being loaded in Arab ports and bound for the U.S. ("If you are worried about a bomb in a box going off in New York, you need to worry about who loads the container overseas rather than the terminal operator who unloads it in the U.S.," says someone who actually knows something about port security, Theodore Price of Optimization Alternatives, a Texas company that provides terminal-operating software.) In fact, one would suppose that Dubai, with billions at stake, would be more careful -- not less -- about assisting in anti-terror activities at U.S. ports if it is actually operating them."
Re: I like my "brighter."
George Will from today's Jewish World Review on the happiness of conservatives:
"Begin with a paradox: Conservatives are happier than liberals because they are more pessimistic. Conservatives think the Book of Job got it right ("Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward"), as did Adam Smith ("There is a great deal of ruin in a nation"). Conservatives understand that society in its complexity resembles a giant Calder mobile —— touch it here and things jiggle there, and there, and way over there. Hence conservatives acknowledge the Law of Unintended Consequences, which is: The unintended consequences of bold government undertakings are apt to be larger than, and contrary to, the intended ones."
"Begin with a paradox: Conservatives are happier than liberals because they are more pessimistic. Conservatives think the Book of Job got it right ("Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward"), as did Adam Smith ("There is a great deal of ruin in a nation"). Conservatives understand that society in its complexity resembles a giant Calder mobile —— touch it here and things jiggle there, and there, and way over there. Hence conservatives acknowledge the Law of Unintended Consequences, which is: The unintended consequences of bold government undertakings are apt to be larger than, and contrary to, the intended ones."
Professor Alan Dershowitz
If you didn't catch him on Hugh Hewitt yesterday, be sure to read the transcript on Radio Blogger today. I'm not sure the tone of the discussion comes through in the transcript but it was really nice to hear how civil the discussion was.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Re: Issue 4
I don't read blogs (well, not until recently), so my comment is based upon what I hear on the radio. Rush, Laura Ingram, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, etc. almost always use the term "liberal", not Democrat. Conversely, most of the hosts on Air America use the term "conservative" instead of Republican. The reason(s), well, I have two:
1) From the time I became politically aware (18,19?) until several years ago, it was always Democrat/Republican and not liberal/conservative because there was no need to label - everyone knew which was which. But, when the hate from both sides began (Rush?), the labels were/are used as a term of spite, of hatred, of disdain.
2) The other, more conspiritorial reason, is to make a greater distinction between the 2 parties (the gap between liberal - conservative is a much wider one than that between Democrat - Republican). Honestly, is there really such a big difference in the garbage we send to DC? The rhetoric certainly sounds different, but the results we get aren't. I don't pay attention to what they say, I try to pay attention to what they do, or don't do and how they vote. Hillary, the darling (for reasons so totally unknown to me) of the Democrats, talks one way, but seems to vote an entirely different way.
I think that there are small factions in each party that fit the extremes - but the vast majority of the public and the vast majority of the elected fools we send to DC are much closer to each other than they want us to think.
Conservative, liberal, conservative Democrat, liberal Repulican, Democrat, Republican - they are all the same.
1) From the time I became politically aware (18,19?) until several years ago, it was always Democrat/Republican and not liberal/conservative because there was no need to label - everyone knew which was which. But, when the hate from both sides began (Rush?), the labels were/are used as a term of spite, of hatred, of disdain.
2) The other, more conspiritorial reason, is to make a greater distinction between the 2 parties (the gap between liberal - conservative is a much wider one than that between Democrat - Republican). Honestly, is there really such a big difference in the garbage we send to DC? The rhetoric certainly sounds different, but the results we get aren't. I don't pay attention to what they say, I try to pay attention to what they do, or don't do and how they vote. Hillary, the darling (for reasons so totally unknown to me) of the Democrats, talks one way, but seems to vote an entirely different way.
I think that there are small factions in each party that fit the extremes - but the vast majority of the public and the vast majority of the elected fools we send to DC are much closer to each other than they want us to think.
Conservative, liberal, conservative Democrat, liberal Repulican, Democrat, Republican - they are all the same.
Issue 4
This one is pretty interesting. I know this has been covered by better men than me but I'm too lazy to find to look for it. Two not-original ideas. Does "Liberal" feels dirty because it is? See here.
OK, that's not a real response (and it doesn't have a number two) but I'm done for the night.
OK, that's not a real response (and it doesn't have a number two) but I'm done for the night.
Re: Needed laugh and Bush II economic policies
I appreciate and have lived to an extent LJ's situation and know it isn't fun. Having said that, I hope this will be taken in the strictly analytical meaning in which it is intended.
A business's goal (providing maximum return for its owners) is usually in line with the goals of its employees and its customers. I mention employees and customers because they are the two constituencies most closely associated with the company's owners. Often, perhaps most of the time, their interests overlap. Clearly, if customers and employees are not happy with the company, there will be some negative repercussions to the owners' profits.
Occasionally, and increasingly often in a time when technology is advancing more quickly than ever before and a time of globalization (sorry, that's not going to change), those interests diverge.
Suppose a company has a contract terminable at will (as this contract was, notwithstanding the promises at annual reviews, however unfair and morally wrong those broken promises may have been) to obtain anything at $X. The company can later obtain the same resource necessary to provide its product to its customers at $X-$1.00 and therefore, ultimately, provide an increased return to its owners, does that company not have an obligation to to terminate that contract...all other things being equal? (I recognize that employee-owners would argue that all other things in this situation are NOT equal...that situation requires those employee-owners to handle the situation by carefully monitoring the situation and voting in the management that agrees with them. I also acknowledge that in the situation being discussed here...a virtual impossibility with such a huge business entity...but that is the risk run when working for an entity over which one has no control.)
LJ's most revealing comment: "All they have done is gotten rid of American employees (with American salaries, American benefits and American retirement plans) and hired people in other countries (and given them a much lower salary, very few benefits and I can only imagine what type of retirement program they get)."
Well, yes...that is precisely what they have done. And folks are lining up for those jobs in India (in my example) and elsewhere (at least for these white collar jobs) precisely because they are much better jobs than those available from their local employers. American worker suffers and Indian worker profits. American investor/owner and American customer also profits and therefore have more capital to invest or spend. The unemployed suffers, at least temporarily, while s/he determines where her/his value/intellect/skills are better utilized.
Reluctantly resorting to over-used blue collar example: Do we really want to protect the jobs of the the horse drawn carriage manufacturer at the expense of the convenience of the automobile? No, the person who upholsters the carriage seat needs to learn how to work the assembly line in Detroit putting the upholstery on the car. Thank heaven the white collar skills are much more adaptable.
Is the American aspect of this thing really what is so important? Isn't that what we heard in the 70s and 80s so often in connection with the auto industry? How many foreign car manufacturers now employ Americans, in the USA...Toyota...San Antonio? Now, in the energy industry, I can make a national security argument for no foreign outsourcing but that is an issue to be addressed by legislation or shareholder revolt.
Do hope this is taken in the spirit intended.
A business's goal (providing maximum return for its owners) is usually in line with the goals of its employees and its customers. I mention employees and customers because they are the two constituencies most closely associated with the company's owners. Often, perhaps most of the time, their interests overlap. Clearly, if customers and employees are not happy with the company, there will be some negative repercussions to the owners' profits.
Occasionally, and increasingly often in a time when technology is advancing more quickly than ever before and a time of globalization (sorry, that's not going to change), those interests diverge.
Suppose a company has a contract terminable at will (as this contract was, notwithstanding the promises at annual reviews, however unfair and morally wrong those broken promises may have been) to obtain anything at $X. The company can later obtain the same resource necessary to provide its product to its customers at $X-$1.00 and therefore, ultimately, provide an increased return to its owners, does that company not have an obligation to to terminate that contract...all other things being equal? (I recognize that employee-owners would argue that all other things in this situation are NOT equal...that situation requires those employee-owners to handle the situation by carefully monitoring the situation and voting in the management that agrees with them. I also acknowledge that in the situation being discussed here...a virtual impossibility with such a huge business entity...but that is the risk run when working for an entity over which one has no control.)
LJ's most revealing comment: "All they have done is gotten rid of American employees (with American salaries, American benefits and American retirement plans) and hired people in other countries (and given them a much lower salary, very few benefits and I can only imagine what type of retirement program they get)."
Well, yes...that is precisely what they have done. And folks are lining up for those jobs in India (in my example) and elsewhere (at least for these white collar jobs) precisely because they are much better jobs than those available from their local employers. American worker suffers and Indian worker profits. American investor/owner and American customer also profits and therefore have more capital to invest or spend. The unemployed suffers, at least temporarily, while s/he determines where her/his value/intellect/skills are better utilized.
Reluctantly resorting to over-used blue collar example: Do we really want to protect the jobs of the the horse drawn carriage manufacturer at the expense of the convenience of the automobile? No, the person who upholsters the carriage seat needs to learn how to work the assembly line in Detroit putting the upholstery on the car. Thank heaven the white collar skills are much more adaptable.
Is the American aspect of this thing really what is so important? Isn't that what we heard in the 70s and 80s so often in connection with the auto industry? How many foreign car manufacturers now employ Americans, in the USA...Toyota...San Antonio? Now, in the energy industry, I can make a national security argument for no foreign outsourcing but that is an issue to be addressed by legislation or shareholder revolt.
Do hope this is taken in the spirit intended.
Issue 2
I don't know all of them or actually very many. The ones I listed are the most outrageous and therefore most fun to read. Although Kos himself can be out there, it's his commenters, as well as those at DU, that provide the really wild stuff. By the way, I learned about these sites from conservative blogs. Conservative bloggers read these sites to see what the other side is up to. That being said, I think there is a tendency for conblogs to focus on the nuttier stuff and paint all liberals and/or Democrats with a wide brush. Just as Pat Robertson (often and wrongly cited by the MSM as the standard-bearer for the religious right) does not speak for me as a Christian, I know that DU and Kos do not speak for most Democrats. I'm troubled when conblogs point to some of the crazy stuff and say "Look what those nutty libs/Dems think about so and so."
I also read lib sites to check myself: Have I really switched sides or not? Without fail I find myself scratching my head, wondering "What I was thinking all those years?"
This is for another time, but two short observations. Liberals for the most part (in my experience) are not haters of America, as I read on so many consites. Even Rush, who should know better, spouts this crap. Second, libbloggers are much more profane and less civilized that conbloggers. One more. Before my conversion, my idea of a conservative was that of a dumb, mean, rich white guy just trying to make himself richer on the backs of the rest of us. I've been astounded by the depth of thought, the self-examination, the real curiosity about ideas, ethics, morals, etc. that cons have considered and do consider. I never experienced that on the left; it was just unexamined dogma posing as a political philosophy.
I also read lib sites to check myself: Have I really switched sides or not? Without fail I find myself scratching my head, wondering "What I was thinking all those years?"
This is for another time, but two short observations. Liberals for the most part (in my experience) are not haters of America, as I read on so many consites. Even Rush, who should know better, spouts this crap. Second, libbloggers are much more profane and less civilized that conbloggers. One more. Before my conversion, my idea of a conservative was that of a dumb, mean, rich white guy just trying to make himself richer on the backs of the rest of us. I've been astounded by the depth of thought, the self-examination, the real curiosity about ideas, ethics, morals, etc. that cons have considered and do consider. I never experienced that on the left; it was just unexamined dogma posing as a political philosophy.
Re: Bush II Economic Policies
Ok, the sarcasm part...I understand and that's fair and fun. Glad I understood. I think Bush the Younger is the better term, btw.
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