Farhad Manjoo, now at Slate, reports on Microsoft's "strange Mojave experiment": In mid-July, representatives of Microsoft traveled to San Francisco in search of people who hated Windows Vista. The company recruited 140 Mac and PC users who thought Microsoft's latest operating system was slow, that it crashed constantly, that it was incompatible with various devices, and that … [Read more...] about The Mojave experiment: is Windows Vista as bad as we think it is?
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/05/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news The WaPo opines against the appalling state of DC's child services department. The Feds are pursuing a case against a unrecognized Indian tribe which falsely told immigrants that by purchasing tribal membership, they would become American citizens. The 5th Circuit is preparing to hear whether Texas' moment-of-silence law … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/05/08
“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
John Maynard Keynes, the influential British economist whose ideas are known as Keynesian Economics, sums up how I feel about the overused American political term "flip-flop": When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir? Well sir, I change my mind as well. But I don't count. I'm a regular guy dealing with an ever-changing situation at work were I have … [Read more...] about “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
George Orwell on the Futility of Empire
I would like to take a moment to suggest you pick up a copy of a very old book, A Collection of Essays by George Orwell. Much of the work comes from his early years, including reflections on his childhood in England and his time serving the country in India. One of the more soul crushing but essential essays from the latter period is, "Shooting an Elephant." In it, Orwell … [Read more...] about George Orwell on the Futility of Empire
Obama & The Summer Of Our Discontent
For Barack Obama supporters, this is the summer of our discontent. While John McCain flails, Obama does a victory lap around Europe and comes home to a tanking economy and two unpopular wars, but his lead in most polls is miniscule, he is behind in one and has lost ground in a few key states. What's going on? After cogitating hard on this seeming paradox while spending much … [Read more...] about Obama & The Summer Of Our Discontent
In the Category of ‘Very Cool’
The Obama camp uses a relatively new (well: new to me, at least) social-networking technology called "Scribd," to share policy proposals. H/t Justin Gardner. Barack Obama's New Energy Plan For America - Upload a Document to Scribd Read this document on Scribd: Barack Obama's New Energy Plan For America … [Read more...] about In the Category of ‘Very Cool’
An Introduction to East Tennessee’s Great Music
OK, folks. I'm getting tired of politics for now. I'm thinking of laying low on politics until the DNC - checking in on the local paper to see if anything earth-shattering is happening. For now, I'm going to introduce all of you folks to what I think is the greatest music on the face of the earth. And the home of that music, which some call "roots" music and others call … [Read more...] about An Introduction to East Tennessee’s Great Music
Kevin Rudd & “Australian Ideas”: Lesson For Obama-McCain …
All nations face challenges that, at times, defy easy solutions. What to do? Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, soon after his victory, invited in April this year 1,000 “brightest” among his countrymen for an “ideas summit” to look at the challenges and develop key goals for Australia. In May a comprehensive report was released. Cynics may view it as a routine popular … [Read more...] about Kevin Rudd & “Australian Ideas”: Lesson For Obama-McCain …
Dear Pentagon, Is This What You Call ‘Security’
The success of the 'Surge' and the drop in American casualties in Iraq is much in the news of late. But how significant is this to the life of the ordinary Iraqi? According to Fateh Abdulsalam of Iraq's Azzaman newspaper, Iraq has problems that go far beyond the capacity of force to resolve: "Today there are ongoing military operations in most of Iraq's provinces, and … [Read more...] about Dear Pentagon, Is This What You Call ‘Security’
Too-Easy Answer to the Anthrax Scare
The suicide of a suspect in the post-9/11 anthrax attacks in 2001 seems to have tied up that trauma into a neat package that can be filed away under national scare stories, case solved. But the subject is too important for such a quick and tidy solution. As shocking as the attacks on the Twin Towers and Pentagon were, it was numbing weeks of public anxiety over deadly … [Read more...] about Too-Easy Answer to the Anthrax Scare
Ahmadinejad’s Message To Europe And The U.S.
Rainer Hachfeld, Neues Deutschland, Germany … [Read more...] about Ahmadinejad’s Message To Europe And The U.S.
How to Pick a V.P Using “Theory #4”
In his Monday New York Times column, Bill Kristol gives the McCain campaign some advice on “How to Pick a V.P.” Kristol discusses four “competing theories” in the McCain camp on this weighty issue. They are: 1. We’re going to defeat Obama straight up. 2. We need to accentuate Obama’s key vulnerability — inexperience. 3. Don’t fight the public desire for change; … [Read more...] about How to Pick a V.P Using “Theory #4”
Novak Retires, Prognosis Grim
Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement in light of what his web site calls the 'grim' prognosis for his recovery from a brain tumor. Novak has been a political figure in Washington for more than 40 years and his departure does mark the end of an era. Obviously not everyone agrees with what him all of the time and I myself have often been at odds with his … [Read more...] about Novak Retires, Prognosis Grim
Prison Labor
The 8th circuit just held that the practice of shackling pregnant women to their bedpost while they are in labor does not violate the constitution, because the state has an interest in protecting against them attempting to escape. The case is here, my commentary is here. … [Read more...] about Prison Labor
Letting The Air Out Of The Tire-Pressure Flap
The McCain Truth Squad was quick to strike back when Barack Obama supposedly suggested that one way for Americans to save on that $4-plus gas was to maintain proper tire pressure. So sure were the grouchy grandpa's handlers that they'd hit political paydirt that they arranged for Republican operatives to hand out tire-pressure gauges as being symbolic of Obama's energy … [Read more...] about Letting The Air Out Of The Tire-Pressure Flap
Obama Retakes 3 Point Lead In Gallup Daily Tracking Poll
The see-saw continues: Democratic Party presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama has retaken a slim three percentage point lead over the GOP's expected Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain in the latest Gallup Daily Tracking Poll: Registered voters show a slight preference for Barack Obama (46%) over John McCain (43%) if the presidential election were held … [Read more...] about Obama Retakes 3 Point Lead In Gallup Daily Tracking Poll
Dad And My Deficits (Reposted)
EDITOR's NOTE: This is being reposted and moved up. The wrong cartoon was mistakenly posted. TMV regrets the error. Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Dad And My Deficits (Reposted)
Obama Should be “Dr. No” on the Strategic Reserve
No sooner do I write a column defending Barack Obama from an unjust and, frankly, nonsensical attack, than I see him getting ready to slit his own parachute lines on energy again. Obama: Tap nation's oil reserve to help gas prices LANSING, Mich. - In a reversal, Barack Obama proposed Monday that the government sell 70 million barrels of oil from its strategic petroleum … [Read more...] about Obama Should be “Dr. No” on the Strategic Reserve
This Good Earth: August Edition
While it's a tad early for this neck of the woods, the first tomato in my small garden finally reached full redness and ripeness today. (All of its brothers and sisters are still quite green.) With that, today marked the date of an annual ritual, as I brought it inside, washed it and, after admiring it for a bit, sliced it up to eat with just a dash of salt. If you've never … [Read more...] about This Good Earth: August Edition
Subsuming the Black
The blog overlord, Joe Gandelman, links over to a Rasmussen poll which says that more "voters" found Barack Obama's "dollar bill" comment to be racist than they did John McCain's Britney Spears/Paris Hilton ad. The article is a bit unclear if they asked if voters thought the ad and comment were "racist" or "played the race card", which I think is generally meaningful, but not … [Read more...] about Subsuming the Black