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March 31, 2004
Yeah, pretty much what he said.
Eccentricity: Security -- Probably Part One of Many
Posted by Andrew at 11:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 29, 2004
Death Penalty
Random Jottings: March 2004 Archives
I've been thinking about this for a while:
The biggest problem I have with the Death penalty is its utter finality. While this may seem like a good thing, the fact is that so often we get the wrong guy...
I think the best solution might be to have a minimum body count for Death. Say we set it at 10 or more. As far as I can tell, we seem to be a lot more certain about mass murderers than we are about 1 time only people. So, we could still hang Saddam, (no question about his guilt! The fairer the trial, the swifter the execution.), put run-of-the-mill murderers behind bars for life, but if it turns out we got the wrong guy, we still have a live person to apologize to...
Posted by Andrew at 08:39 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
I love big Brother
Students for An Orwellian Society
"Because 2004 is 20 years too late"
Posted by Andrew at 12:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
backstabbing, insubordinate...
In case you missed it in the comments section, A reader-- John Foelster by name-- gives us a list of "backstabbing, insubordinate Presidential subordinates":
MacArthur towards Truman Stanton towards Johnson John C. Calhoun towards Jackson Burr towards Jefferson Jefferson towards Washington (That's what I said.)
What this list leaves out (and it is a good list) is a rather interesting case.
In the year 1798, France and America went to war. It wasn't a declared war, indeed, it comes down to us with the name "quasi-war". John Adams was President. Hamilton the leader of the party...
Alexander Hamilton had different opinions than President Adams. Hamilton thought that a more formal War with France should be less vigorously avoided. So Mr. Hamilton did the only thing he could think of: He raised an army for the purpose of invading France. (or possibly just French N. American territories.) The short story is that The affair was settled, and Then-President Jefferson ended up buying lots of territory from France...
Say what you will of Clarke, at least he isn't raising an anti-Al Quida army. Come to think of it, such an army might be a good thing...
Posted by Andrew at 12:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I wonder
Let's say that 1 October 2004, American Soldiers in Afghanistan catch bin Laden. Would the average American believe that we got him on that date? Or would we call it an "October Surprise" and believe that Bush had been holding onto bin Laden this whole time? I tend to think the latter, but if anyone wants to come up with good reasons why the former might hold, drop a line...
Posted by Andrew at 12:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
If I ever get to Europe, I know where I'm heading...
Posted by Andrew at 11:35 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 28, 2004
Condensed
Posted by Andrew at 04:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Somewhat good news...
International News Article | Reuters.com
Chirac takes a hit at the polls, but not owing to his stance against America:
The left beat the ruling conservatives in almost all of France's 26 regions on Sunday, raising doubts about the government's commitment to push through ambitious economic reforms such as cost-cutting in the public health system.
Posted by Andrew at 03:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Say what?
The Seattle Times: Nation & World: Nader draws donations from Bush's supporters
Posted by Andrew at 03:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kash on Homeownership
Well, the Angry bear is, er, Angry. The subject is-- as usual-- Bush's Tax cut...
He has a nice graph which my most recent poli-sci prof. would have used as a textbook example of his dictum: You can only claim causal effect if the temporal order is correct...
Posted by Andrew at 03:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Clarke again
It would seem that Clarke has nothing to fear. Or at least talks tough...
Have I mentioned how disgusted I am that the Administration seems willing to declassify documents in order to cover its own ass? It suggests 2 things:
1) the documents never should have been classified in the first place
--or--
2) the Administration is willing to endanger national security to make Clarke look bad.
While I do not believe number 2 is correct, number 1 is not so good either...
Posted by Andrew at 02:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 26, 2004
Update!
Kevin Drum finds the quote I mentioned
If this is true...
Posted by Andrew at 04:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Clarke
One of the shitty parts about working at a bookstore is that while one is constantly surrounded by books, one is also told over and over again not to read them while on the clock. Over the last 3 days I have consciously ignored this fact and took a look at Richard Clarke's new book...
I'm only about 200 pages into it (I have to actually work, unfortunately.) But I do have some off hand comments:
Clinton seems to have written the rules about how to fight Terror. It wasn't on anyone's list of problems when he took office. A large section of Clarke's book deals with how Clinton-era policy evolved. It wasn't simply a matter of Clinton being convinced: there was one memorable scene where Clarke asks for a whole bunch of departments to be given anti-terror budgets (this was back in the day before Homeland security put all those budgets into one pot). He is told that even if he got the funding past congress, the agencies themselves would not necessarily care enough about Terror to spend the money there. So he had to convince the directors of all these groups (HUD, FAA, etc) that the problem was real. And then he had to get them to figure out ways to co-operate...
Everyone reading this book is commenting on how bad Clarke makes Bush look against terror. I haven't really gotten to that part yet. But it seems so far that the main obstacle to fighting terror was the Pentagon. Clarke describes a few cases where they wanted a job done, and the CIA was unable to do it. So they would go to the Pentagon who told the White House that they wouldn't do it. Then (and this is maddening) the Pentagon told the Special forces guys that Clinton said they couldn't do it. If this is actually true, A whole hell of a lot of Military heads need to roll. Without quoting the book (which I can't do as it isn't in front of me), I can't properly convey how outrageous this conduct is. But it sure as hell looks like (from reading Clarke) the Pentagon stopped us from getting top Al-Q leaders more than once. And then sold out the Commander in Chief...
When Bush took over it looks like there were two main camps: those obsessive about Al-Q and those who obsessed about Iraq. The Al-Q guys seem to have been Clinton hold-overers. Iraq guys seem to have won. The Iraq guys seem to pin most of bin Laden's stuff on Saddam...
Posted by Andrew at 02:57 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
March 25, 2004
Bragging...
Call me a braggart. I just wanted to announce to the world that as of today, I have been dating the same wonderful woman for an entire year. You can't have her, she's mine...
Posted by Andrew at 01:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 23, 2004
Things that make you go Hmm...
The difference between a Martyr and a dead leader is often just a matter of the Charisma of those left behind. Israel would have been well off to take out the entirety of Hamas' leadership within a few days, rather than just this one guy now and a few others down the line. They'll pay for that bad decision, I fear...
Posted by Andrew at 01:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Those Bastards
Politics: Shiite Ayatollah Is Warning U.N. Against Endorsing Charter Sponsored by U.S.
I'm sorry:
One top official told reporters on the weekend that the interim constitution would matter less in the 18 months before there was an elected government than the competence and honesty of the individuals appointed to head the ministries.
Did US officials really just say that the people in charge were more important than the document?
If we weren't fighting for WMD, weren't we fighting for the Rule of Law in Iraq? Because if I've learned one thing about governance, it is the idea that the rule of personality is incompatible with the rule of law. Thanks, Bush, for making a mockery of Iraqi Democracy.
Posted by Andrew at 12:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 22, 2004
Bitchen!
Posted by Andrew at 07:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Justified outrage...
The odd thing is that since Homer is one of 5 characters we see often on the show, we would tend to think that he should be eating about 20% -1/5- of all the food...
Posted by Andrew at 06:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 20, 2004
posting will be light...
My girlfriend's best friend is getting married offleaving me 200 miles from home. The good news is that the Best Western in Eureka CA has free high-speed internet in all the rooms. Getting online was as easy as plugging the laptop into the wall
So I sit here in the hotel room waiting for the festivities; listening to C-Span. Bush had the first go with a rally. I don't remember the exact line, but there was a throwaway about how he made a good choice with Cheney. Looks like Cheney is staying
Then Dean got a chance, at the launch of some organization. Good lord! Is that the best the man has to offer? I mean, yes, thank you Dean for sticking to the campaign trail and not disparaging Kerry. But the man is just not an inspiring speaker. He tends to use distain Rhetoric in favor of plans. Whee! The biggest problem : I think he thinks his rhetoric does, indeed, soar
Bush is using the right rhetoric for his audience. Kerry From everything I've heard others say, it is perhaps a good idea that I haven't heard him speak. Could Democrats loose this one on the Rhetoric deficit?
Posted by Andrew at 10:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 19, 2004
You can find anything on the Internet!
How to tie a bloody tie, double windsor like
See, I rememebered how to tie a windsor. But not a double widsor. Yeah Internet!
Posted by Andrew at 03:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 18, 2004
Good batteries make god smile
Om Malik on Broadband: nanoPower for the phone
Wasn't Heinlein's Friday based around the idea of really, really good batteries?
Better batteries would probably sink the price of Oil to historic lows, and that's the first thing that pops into my head when I think of the benefits...
Posted by Andrew at 02:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hmm...
Ultimately, it isn't the fact that Kerry is being outspent by nearly 7.9 million dollars (a figure which doesn't even capture the fact that Kerry is apparently not even spending half a million) that will kill him...
The real danger is from the fact that Bush has already run 8,071 ads; and Kerry only 415. This means that Bush is putting out 20 times the message that Kerry is. That could be devastating...
Posted by Andrew at 01:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I wonder...
US gives special ally status to Pakistan : HindustanTimes.com
Is this the reason we seem to be closing in on one of Bin Laden's top men?
Posted by Andrew at 12:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Shoeless:
Once Bitten, Twice Shy - The etiquette of approaching celebrities.
Dear Pru, What do you think about people who invite you over for a social gathering, only to get you to their doorstep and politely direct you to take off your shoeswithout explanationbut presumably so you won't soil their carpet or scratch their floors? Is this acceptable behavior? I personally find it offensive and ridiculous. Either buy carpet that will stand up to foot traffic, or don't invite people over. This has happened to me several times (different hosts). I am uncomfortable barefooted on cold hard-wood floors, and I don't particularly care for my unattractive feet being exposed without warning. Believe me, I am not unsympathetic to their plight, as I myself have light-colored carpet. (I just get regular carpet cleanings and spot-clean if I do get a stain.) Is it too much to ask to keep your shoes on when socializing, or should I suck it up and resign myself to carrying a pair of tube socks in my car for situations like this?Cold Feet in Houston
Dear Cold,
Prudie can think of two occasions when "remove your shoes" is a proper "request": If the party is in Japan or the hosts are offering pedicures. Asking guests to check their shoes at the door is not the most hospitable or gracious way to entertain. However, if the rest of the party components seem worthwhile (the other guests, ambience), give the crazy-clean hosts the benefit of the doubt and doff your shoes. Carrying tube sox is actually a good idea, assuming you wish to socialize with such fussy people. Pragmatically, your decision is between tube sox and declining the invitation.Prudie, optionally
See, we keep our Apartment shoe-free. I have no idea how to politly explain this to guests. Aparently I am rude to even try...
Posted by Andrew at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Well well! This looks interesting...
Wired News: Aussies Pull Broadband out of Air
I wonder how long it will take to get here and how cheap it will be when it does?
Posted by Andrew at 10:32 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 17, 2004
Oh gods! Not now
Taiwan Election to Hinge on Approach to China
Taiwan is China. But, erm, it is independant also...
Posted by Andrew at 08:23 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Well, this is prommising...
Government: Iraq Council, Shifting Its Stance, Invites the U.N. to Aid Transfer
Isn't that what Spain wants, in order to stay in Iraq?
Posted by Andrew at 07:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 15, 2004
If, by "months", he means 24-36...
AMD's Jerry Sanders says 64-bit switch to take 'months, not years'
Posted by Andrew at 09:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I, something
Last Sunday(7 March): my parents gifted me with an order of the boxed set of I, Claudius.
Today (Ides Mari): It arrives.
Next Wednesday (24 March): I start Spring Break.
Guess when posting will be light?
Posted by Andrew at 06:13 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
They did what now? And called it news?
Posted by Andrew at 05:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 14, 2004
Mariage and metaphysics.
the american street: On marriage....
What marriage does--in a legal sense, is make sure that both parties (and their families) have recourse if the deal would somehow fall through (divorce, death, extra-marital offspring). there's nothing in that little slip 'o cardboard that the government gives you that tells you what marriage requires, outside of being of a certain legal age to enter into the contractual agreement. No "love" or "children" or "don't go sniffin' around the henhouse now and again if you know what's good for you..."Hand that man a cigar...
Posted by Andrew at 07:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Misc
Why have I been posting so much in the lasts several days? Two reasons.
1) I just started using an RSS reader RSS Bandit. So I'm able to do a much better job managing my information. This is also why I have been commenting on several blogs more often...
2) 10-12 page paper. Topic: Pagan influence of Early Christian Holidays. Dull, dull, dull. But it keeps me in front of my computer...
Posted by Andrew at 05:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
John Kerry, Extreme leftist
Political Compass - US Primaries
Aparently I am just barely into the libertarian Left catagory...
Posted by Andrew at 01:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
No good.
Early results show Socialists poised to oust Popular Party
No good at all...
Posted by Andrew at 01:13 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Occupied with Iraq
Just for the record, it seems fairly obvious to me that the Iraqis were thrilled to have Saddam dead. And just as terrified at the idea of being occupied...
Which is as it should be. Do we really want to try and instill democracy among a people who really, really, want an overlord? And do we want to be a people who are comfortable with an indefinite occupation?
Posted by Andrew at 12:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 13, 2004
CNN.com - Man suspended for anti-Bush
CNN.com - Man suspended for anti-Bush message - Mar 12, 2004
The worker's sign was both childish and stupid.
Seperatly, I am amazed at Bush's thin skin...
Posted by Andrew at 09:20 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Harry Potter, activist
Durring an Encarta search, I came across an Article on Harry Potter. In it was the following passage:
Similarly, while several referenced characters represent other races and ethnicities (Lee Jordan, for example, is black), the main protagonists of the novel, the characters in whom readers are most invested, are white.Considering the anxiety that contemporary audiences and critics have regarding the fair and equal representation of peoples in literatureand particularly in literature for children and young adultsthese observations are both legitimate and unavoidable. But, too, readers must consider the transcendent possibilities of fantasy novels. If one of the benefits of fantasy is to remove the reader from an oppressive social reality, and thereby to offer a lens through which he or she might critique and resolve social injustices, critics cannot expect fantasy to perform the same instructional modeling as contemporary realism. This is not an excuse or a justification, and it is not because fantasy does not mirror and model life as does all literature (and all art). It is because, as a genre, fantasy behaves according to its own history, tradition, and purpose. Though it is appropriate to expect contemporary fantasy to fairly and accurately represent social diversity, a more appropriate concern for fantasy may be how well it models the readers' ability to see themselves within their social system and how convincingly it argues for their deserved equality. That Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone does, indeed, reflect and address social diversity, and that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone inspires both young and old readers to see their worlds in new and different ways (ways that may result in social activism and change), offers a strong argument for our acknowledgment of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as fantastic literature worthy of a place in the canon.
Of course, the fact that England is a nation predominated by white people might have something to do with the lack of Racial diversity as well, eh?
I really can't even describe how annoyed I am by this whole passage...
Posted by Andrew at 03:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 12, 2004
I'm sure it doesn't mean _that_
CNN.com - Same-sex marriage gets real at Portland campus - Mar 12, 2004
Oregon law states marriage is "a civil contract entered into by males at least 17 years of age and females at least 17 years of age." It does not define marriage as between one woman and one man exclusively.
Read a certain way, this would seem to only permit homosexual marriage...
Posted by Andrew at 09:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 11, 2004
Um... Interesting...
CNN.com - S. Korea votes to impeach Roh - Mar 11, 2004
Didn't this guy get elected on an anti-american platform?
Posted by Andrew at 07:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Nolo Condendere
Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant!
"May barbarians invade your personal
space!"
You are highly confrontational and possibly in a
bad mood. You would have sworn in this quiz,
if I had made it an option.
Which Weird Latin Phrase Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Fun with Latin!
(though I would have put invado in the passive...)
Posted by Andrew at 05:52 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
That sounds like Rock and/or Roll
Daily News Online - News and Commentary
Part of the problem with the Virginity movement is that it presupposes Virginity as a worthy and important thing. Perhaps I'll feel different about this when I have kids, but I disagree pretty vehemently. Sex is normal, and healthy; human. Encouraging mental and physical health around it should be our number one goal...
What abstinence programs instead promote is a regime which (given that they tell budding adults to deny one of the very things which makes them human) is explicitly unhealthy. Treating sex as though it were inherently sinful is inhumane.
And the fact that they don't even work:
The study found that STD rates for whites who pledged to stay virgins was 2.8% compared with 3.5% among other teenagers. Among African-Americans, the rates were 18.1% and 20.3%. Among Hispanics, they were 6.7% and 8.6%.
No, I don't consider those results to be significant. Average Abstinent program person is only 1.27% less likely to contract an STD than the average non. In the sample size of 12,000 that translates into 153 extra STD...
Given that
Really fun was this comment:
Under US law, abstinence programmes risk losing federal funding if they stray into the realm of sex education. Church-based abstinence programmes are openly hostile to condoms and preach that they do not guard against disease.
That sound you hear is me smacking my head against the wall. If condoms are 70% effective (and I think they are closer to 90%...) then teaching students that they are not effective is just a lie. And that lie is putting students at risk. At the very least, the curriculum must be revamped. Perhaps we can scrap it altogether...Posted by Andrew at 09:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 10, 2004
I'll belive it when I see it...
CNN.com - Saudi's king approves rights panel - Mar 10, 2004
On an unrelated note, MLK Jr.'s speach just popped up on I-tunes...
Posted by Andrew at 09:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 09, 2004
Well, this is promising...
FOXNews.com - Top Stories - Raw Data: Iraqi Constitution
I suspect that the ability of Iraq to remain a free nation depends upon their willingness to adhere to Article 12.
All Iraqis are equal in their rights without regard to gender, sect, opinion, belief, nationality, religion, or origin, and they are equal before the law. Discrimination against an Iraqi citizen on the basis of his gender, nationality, religion, or origin is prohibited. Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the security of his person. No one may be deprived of his life or liberty, except in accordance with legal procedures. All are equal before the courts.I am sure that the gods smile upon this endeavor...
(thanks Dean)Posted by Andrew at 09:24 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 08, 2004
How do you say "oops"
CNN.com - UCLA apologizes for apparent sale of body parts - Mar 8, 2004
To a thing like that?Posted by Andrew at 07:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 07, 2004
In case you were worried...
CNN.com - Humorists: Bush, Kerry good for jokes - Mar 7, 2004
Posted by Andrew at 10:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 05, 2004
Aniversaries.
This day in history:
Stalin Died.
The British shot a handful of proto-American in what would be known as the "Boston Massacre"
I was born.Posted by Andrew at 10:03 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 04, 2004
4 more years?
Calpundit: Just Around the Corner
I just watched the ads. I dunno, George. This message might have been fine were you not the incumbent; if these problems hadn't started the day you took office. But you've had 4 years, man. 4. Why should I believe you can fix in 4 more years what you couldn't fix in the first term?
Posted by Andrew at 10:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 01, 2004
They don't work
For Exercise in New York Futility, Push Button
Posted by Andrew at 06:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack