OK, what should we use, then?

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I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of days. It is CW among our little subsection of Western society (I refer, of course, to obsessed policy wonks) that anecdotal evidence and polls are useless for forecasting an election, especially when their findings support the other side. Seems fair enough. After all, anecdotal evidence is … Read more

So that’s what a social life looks like.

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Otherwise known as Why Moe Isn’t Blogging: I’ve got opinions on stuff, I just don’t think that I’m particularly coherent right now. I think I shall listen again to my new Johnny Cash CD (The Essential Johnny Cash*) and call it a night. Moe *Purchased as a result of the advice given in this discussion. … Read more

Three Point Turn

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The Commissar provides some much-needed historical perspective in response to Andrew Sullivan’s annoyance at the 9-11 Commission hearings: What is there to say? We have a frigging war on and the major networks all run this? I have nothing to add. Except to say: we have a war on. We used to win them before … Read more

Somber Anniversary

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When I watched the statue of Saddam Hussein being pulled down last year in Firdos Square, Iraqis and Americans together laughing and enjoying the spectacle of the tyrant’s humiliation, I wasn’t aware what a brief and precious moment that would be.

I’m still optimistic about Iraq settling down once the holidays pass and the Marines demonstrate that they’re not going anywhere (the alternative is too bleak to contemplate), but this account of where we stand, one year after the fall of Hussein, is not how I’d have predicted the story would be told at this point.

Some selected observations from L.A. Times writer John Daniszewski :

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Bunny Abuse

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Having been raised as a Fundamentalist Christian, the more secular aspects of Easter were always a bit distateful to me,* but it’s time to stop this madness and stand up for the Rights of Bunnies ! First it was the inexplicable beating of a bunny in a church performance in Pennsylvania: A church trying to … Read more

Telegoverning

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Hat tip to Constant Reader Wilfred for this item. /potentially some sarcasm ahead/ In this age of telecommuting, teleconferencing, and other instantaneous communication it may not represent the same level of disengagment it would have a generation ago, but President Bush seems to be shooting for another placement in the Guiness Book of World Records* … Read more

OK, one more post.

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If you want to guess about the name of this website – folks who know already, no cheating – or just want to talk about geekstuff, have at it.

There’s a reason for the nonsubstantive posts tonight…

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… I’m blipping tired and want my bed. Thursday nights are always my most active evening, and I would dream of sleep, if only it wasn’t quite so redundant. So, talk amongst yourselves. (Snapping fingers) Although I dimly remember von saying nice things about my Uzbekistan coverage. Sorry, dude, but The Argus kicks my butt; … Read more

We’re on LiveJournal!

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Somebody set it up off of our XML feed. My thanks to whoever did it, but why didn’t you say something? Moe UPDATE: I ask only because I don’t have the foggiest about how to massage that information out of LJ.

Memorial EDG Sports Thread.

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Recent Poster EDG is a buddy of mine – in fact, he’s one of the hundred or so people who would get the joke behind the title of this blog* – and when I mentioned my plans to just fire off a couple of posts and turn in early tonight he mentioned that I should … Read more

The Apprentice

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Yeah, I’m an addict. And it’s down to Kwame and Bill.

So, before the announcements are made, here’s my choice. Kwame is the only one who I can see running a multi-million dollar company. But the sentimental favorite is Bill Rancic — despite the fact that his quote is “I’m a trained killer – in business.”

Why Bill? Loyola University Chicago, baby: his alma mater is where I went to law school. We protect our own. (And how dare them mean Trump people suggest that LUC don’t give no good edumacation.*)

von

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Sistani speaks?

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Perhaps — and maybe it’s good. Zayed reports that Sistani is calling for calm, even as he criticizes the occupation: The Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani issued a fatwa late Wednesday to “resolve the latest developments in Iraq in a peaceful manner” in order to prevent anarchy and bloodshed. “We condemn the behaviour of occupation forces … Read more

Crazy?

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I’ve only a moment, but I have to ask: Has Glenn Reynolds gone insane? “Everybody seems down on Kerrey’s posturing today . . .,” he writes. Well, if your definition of “everyone” is “some, but not all, Republican bloggers and certain people who e-mailed Glen,” perhaps this works. Otherwise, more grist for my theory: All … Read more

The View from Baghdad

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Hat tip to reader sidereal for this link to a blog you may not know, where up-close and personal accounts (and photos) of what’s happening in Iraq are being posted by a self-proclaimed “Republican” working for an international NGO.

Among the recent posts:

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So . . . .

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Judgments on Rice? I thought she did fairly well. She was bruised by Bob Kerrey’s questioning, and she gave up a potential bombshell — that the title of the August 6, 2001 President’s Daily Brief was “Bin Laden determined to attack the United States.” I understand, now, why the Administration is trying to keep the … Read more

Thin

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Rice’s testimony is going to be today’s focus. We shouldn’t ignore Iraq or Afghanistan, however: — Warlord Rashid Dostum’s forces have overrun the capital of an Afghan province. — Ukrainian troops withdrew Wednesday from the Iraqi city of al Kut, and have requested U.S. support. — We’re making progress in Fallujah, but the fighting is … Read more

Rational Thought

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Been slammed at work too much to do much of anything, but in the 10 pages of the Reppert book I’m reading I found a quote which sheds light on quite a bit of the way we engage in political discussions” If you were to meet a person, call him Steve, who could argue with … Read more

You might be a wingnut if…

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Oberon of NGD’s post about Dennis Campbell has led him to create a definition of a Wing-Nut: If your political views about the opposition lead you to an obviously illogical conclusion – such as the Democrats would find Adolf Hitler to be the ideal candidate – and you accept the obviously illogical conclusion instead of … Read more

So, that’s what he meant.

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Kikuchiyo’s site would be worth blogrolling for the translations alone. Here’s a sample from his take on a David Brooks article on suburbs (which was, truth be told, just the tiniest bit pretentious): BROOKS: These criticisms don’t get suburbia right. They don’t get America right. The criticisms tend to come enshrouded in predictions of decline … Read more

Staying on religion for a moment.

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Hey, it’s a holy week for Jews, Christians and I think at least one Muslim sect. Anyway, I’d like to thank PETA for its usual amazing ability to find the exact thing that will resonate most deeply with its target audience – then do the exact opposite. So you want to target Christians, try to … Read more

Evangelicals. (Wiggling fingers) Oooooh.

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Sorry about the title, Good Readers, but I seem to be always encountering people online who react to That Word in much the same way that a vampire would react to a garlic crucifix, or possibly me towards the Special Limited Edition of Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers, provided that such a mythical thing existed (WHICH IT DOESN’T).

Umm.

Right. Moving along, Andrew Sullivan linked today to an interesting Boston Globe article by Alan Jacobs about evangelicals, fundamentalists and why Bush is one but not the other: Apocalyptic president?

AS THE PRESIDENTIAL election draws closer, some people are asking, in ominous tones, a question: What impact does President Bush’s evangelical Christianity have on his administration’s policies? As an evangelical, an interpreter of literary and cultural texts, and a long-time observer of the evangelical world, I have both a personal and a professional interest in this question. And I’m here to offer an answer: Probably not much.

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I told you that you were next…

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Via Sullivan Seems that John Ashcroft’s Justice Department has run out of terrorists to round up and has both the pro-choice and gay rights movements right where they want them (or are moving toward it), so now it’s time to broaden their reach and start waging the war John’s really interested in: the one against … Read more

Smile to their faces; Prepare behind their backs

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There’s a member of my family who has, shall we say, an “impressive” collection of firearms (all legal Mr. FBI…no need to go visit him again…er, um…), and in fact among the men in my family, I’d guess the average number of firearms owned is about 4, maybe 5. I own one rifle, but it’s at my parents’ place…NYC not offering much in the way of free, legal target practice. Baptised in the “be prepared” propaganda of the Cold War, nearly everyone in my family has contingency plans, stockpiles of canned goods, extra batteries for the flashlight, etc., and would truly be prepared if catastrophe struck…or, as they might admit if pressed, their darkest fear/fantasy came true and their was need to overthrow an invading force or our own corrupted/threatening government. Again, Mr. FBI, there is no need to revisit…it’s a mindset, not an actual plot…

I mention this in response to the seeming surprise in the tone of the New York Times reporter’s account of the Khadamiya bazaar uprising in Baghdad yesterday:

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Originally a Nader post, but now it’s a Rice one…

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…as I decided to be merciful to everyone, especially my readers. Instead, topic for speculation: Networks to Air Rice Testimony Live Thursday: LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The three major U.S. broadcast networks said on Tuesday they will broadcast live National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice (news – web sites)’s testimony before the commission investigating the Sept. … Read more

If you want to laugh at this, how can I stop you?

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It’s funny, after all: Pictures of candidate in women’s clothes surface (Registration required) AUSTIN – His family made a fortune on men’s work clothing. But it’s Sam Walls’ apparent fondness for women’s apparel that is dividing the Johnson County Republican Party. Short version: this guy’s running for state office in TX and some photos of … Read more

Checklist.

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1). I am, in point of fact, awake. I retain a full sensorium (I don’t usually dream smells or tastes) and I can read printed text (something that I almost never do in dreams, if ever). There are none of the freighted psychological images associated with dreams or nightmares currently present, and the rules of … Read more

Motto Contest!

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Jim Henley dropped a classic bit in comments which I decided to use to test out our catchphrase feature… and it worked! Huzzah! Time for a contest for the real motto for the site. Nothing that would violate the Posting Rules and try to keep it below twenty words; funny good. We’ll give it a … Read more

You’re Fired!…But before you go, would you mind humiliating yourself for us?

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It’s like one of those Japanese game shows where the more humiliation you can stomach, the more parting gifts you can leave with.

Workers asked to train foreign replacements

U.S. workers getting pink slips are told they can get another paycheck or beefed-up severance if they’re willing to teach workers from India, China and other countries how to do their jobs. The foreign workers typically arrive for a few weeks or months of training. When they leave, they take U.S. jobs with them. The U.S. employees who trained them are then laid off.

I know, I know, it’s just business, it’s not personal…but let’s examine what’s really being asked here. You, (yes, imagine it’s you) receive a pink slip. The company is offshoring your job to India or China. You don’t have another gig lined up and you’re not really qualified for one of those 308,000 new service industry jobs, you do have a mortgage and family to feed, and you will hope to get a good reference from the company offshoring your job…I mean, it’s not like they’re firing you because you’re incompetent…you’re just too expensive. And every last hour on the clock you can get, so to speak, you’re gonna need. The company has you over a barrel. What do you do? Say “F&*k you!, I’m outta here?” Feels good sure, but then there goes your severence and there goes any chance of unemployment benefits, not to mention it’s hardly gonna secure you a good reference letter.

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Time and other essential things (Part V): The Revenge

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Let’s take a tour ’round the far-right blogosphere: (UPDATE 2: A selective tour, as Tacitus reminds me in comments.) John O’Sullivan once again reminds us that he’s not merely an idiot, but an amoral idiot. O’Sullivan suggests that we should’ve executed prominent Ba’athists without trial and shot looters on sight in the opening days of … Read more

Time and other essential things (Part IV)

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The latest: Supporters of maverick Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr controlled government, religious and security buildings in the holy city of Najaf early Tuesday evening, according to a coalition source in southern Iraq. This report, if accurate, is not good news. Najaf is the home of al Sistani, perhaps the most prominent Shia leader in Iraq. … Read more