Mildly-interesting Economics Open Thread

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The U.S. dollar hit an all-time low against the Euro today. This is mildly interesting, because the dollar should be strengthening as the Federal deficit increases: Higher deficits generally lead to increased foreign borrowing/investment,* which in turn leads to an increase in demand for dollars and hence a higher price for the same. Why that … Read more

Mad Cows and Canadians

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Well, now I’m back too. And annoyed. Item the first: CRAWFORD, Tex., Dec. 28 — President Bush’s stewardship of the nation’s food supply was attacked Sunday by Democratic presidential candidates who charged that the case of mad cow disease in a Washington state Holstein could have been discovered earlier if the administration had not coddled … Read more

Oh, My.

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Priorities and Frivolities points out this:

“I am disappointed but hardly surprised by the latest reports that the Bush Administration has withheld information regarding Senator Carper’s bill,” Dean stated. “What we need is openness in government, not secrecy. But this Administration doesn’t even want us to know who the Vice President met with when he was concocting their drill and burn energy plan.”

(Bold mine)

…in response to Pejman’s pointing out of this:

Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean has demanded release of secret deliberations of Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force. But as Vermont governor, Dean had an energy task force that met in secret and angered state lawmakers.

Dean’s group held one public hearing and after-the-fact volunteered the names of industry executives and liberal advocates it consulted in private, but the Vermont governor refused to open the task force’s closed-door deliberations.

In 1999, Dean offered the same argument the Bush administration uses today for keeping deliberations of a policy task force secret.

“The governor needs to receive advice from time to time in closed session. As every person in government knows, sometimes you get more open discussion when it’s not public,” Dean was quoted as saying. (Again, bold mine)

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Guest Blogging…

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Dan Drezner is guest blogging for Andrew Sullivan. I’ll repeat my advice (that he clearly put his name on each post he writes, because otherwise people will just assume that he’s Andrew Sullivan*) and my wishes of good luck here; I look forward to seeing the results on both your site and Andy’s. Moe *Happened … Read more

Blogiquette Question…

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…is that even a word? At any rate, I’ve noticed that Calpundit more or less owns our referrer logs today, thanks to the link he threw our way in this post. By the way, Kevin, sorry to hear that you aren’t feeling well; hope you feel better. So. What’s the proper response to somebody enabling … Read more

Well, we’re 1/3rd back…

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…well, I am, at least: back home, that is. Not as dramatic a return as it could have been – what with my remote blogging from my parents’ house and all – but so it goes. All in all, as Christmas trips to visit presumptive in-laws whose patriarch doesn’t quite believe even after seven years … Read more

Excuse me, Glenn?

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Just so you don’t think that I worship the fellow, I’m going to have to say that the second paragraph of this particular post is out of line. The post (which started to be about improving Israeli/Indian relations, then segued into an odd – and to my mind, unsupported – allegation* that the Intifada is a ‘proxy war’ between the EU and the USA) ends with this:

I’ve thought for quite a while that “proxy war” was the appropriate characterization, and indeed I’ve used that term here before. Europeans should worry, though, about what will happen if Israel — or America — decides to return the favor. Providing financial aid to terrorists who target European civilians would be uncivilized — but, then, the Europeans are supposed to be the civilized ones, no?

Glenn Reynolds, I’m sure that you’ve used the phrase ‘proxy war’ before, although I can’t remember offhand the last time you’ve used it. However, those last two sentences are offensive. Europeans should not have to worry about us ‘returning the favor’, both because it’s not going to fragging happen and because the entire idea is not what this country is all about**. And I don’t buy this tit-for-tat bit, either – and I find that I don’t really like the tone of that last line, either. Too close to deniably advocating in the classic Henry II fashion.

Retract, please.

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Iranian Earthquake Post.

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It’s a hell of a way to start up after Christmas, but by now you’ve probably read about this. As of today, there are fears that the death toll could reach 40,000.

OK, three points to address here, one after the other. First, due to existing diplomatic complications, groups like Direct Relief may end up being the primary instruments of American aid. You can donate to them here. Any other groups that you guys hear of, feel free to add in comments and I’ll update where I can. It hardly needs to be said that I was saddened by the destruction and loss of life, and that I offer my hopes and prayers that the initial estimate of the loss of life turns out to be exaggerated.

It gets partisan from here, so you can ignore the rest if you like.

UPDATE: BuzzMachine’s got more links (via Instapundit).

ANOTHER UPDATE: Matt Stinson’s got an interesting suggestion involving UNESCO and the First Lady. Check it out. Pejman links to a site with several other relief groups. Check him out.

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New and Improved Holiday Horror Open Thread — Now, with Extra Cursing!

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Not too long ago, the irrepressible Moe Lane said in these (virtual) pages, “So, if you show up at this site after experiencing a holiday horror story (waving hand grandly) feel free to tell it here.”

It was a good idea. It was a great idea. It was the kind of idea that might lead to peace in the Middle East, goodwill towards men, and the Indianapolis Colts beating the Denver Broncos.

There was one problem, however. We got no comments. None. No one wanted to share their holiday horror stories with us. (And the Broncos beat the Colts, gosh-darnit.)

It took me all night and a fifth of Beefeater gin, but I think I’ve finally figured out why. Moe, gentle soul that he is, admonished our readership “to limit the profanity.” Sorry, that simply will not do. One cannot tell a holiday horror story and “limit the profanity.” Many holiday horror stories consist of nothing but profanity.

So, I’m unilaterally relaxing the posting rules for this thread only.* Consider this your gratuitous profanity holiday open thread. Since I’m an anal-retentive lawyer jerk, however, I’ll ask that you obey the following rules:

(1) Do not limit yourself to past events. Is your mother trying to convert your Jewish boyfriend to Catholicism at this very moment? Post on it. Did your Aunt just refer to your goyish girlfriend as “that shiksa”? We want to know. Has Uncle Bob appeared at another Christmas morning breakfast in his boxer shorts with the fly is wide open? Every detail, friends.

(2) Do not use real names or characteristics that will easily identify your subject. Why? Google. You don’t want your remarks to come back and haunt you (or us) as a result of some ill-advised, post-holiday egoGoogling. Now is also not the time to discover that extra-randy poster “DrEXXXtasy” is your father or that super-bitch “Lorax84” is great aunt Thelma. So a little self-restraint is needed. Remember: we cannot (and will not) monitor the comments section in real-time.

(3) Use of the “curse” words “biotch,” “effing,” and “shite” is forbidden. Really, people: curse like adults.

(4) No ad hom against other posters. We’re all in this together, folks. (This rule does not apply to ad homs against unrepresented friends, family members, and loved ones, of course.)

And away we go . . . . .

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And a Happy New Year

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As Moe suspected, I’ve been too busy with Hanukkah celebration/Christmas preparation to post. I have limited computer access, especially if I don’t want to reveal my secret identity to my extended family. Also, I’ve paid almost no attention to politics for the past few days so I don’t have all that much to write about. … Read more

It’s Christmas Eve Day…

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…which sounds kind of weird, but there you go. I’ll be running around a lot tomorrow and I’m about to go to sleep, so I’ll take the time now to wish everyone a happy holiday of the appropriate type, religious or secular; I’ll post in from time to time, but you know how it is. … Read more

I think that Katherine might have linked to this…

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… so I will. It’s from the Blogging of the President: 21st Century Participatory Democracy: A Perspective. In deference to her, I merely link to it without comment, analysis or uncontrollable fits of laughter. But do go out and vote next year, and every year. Vote for all the boring stuff, including municipal elections that … Read more

Mean? Yes. Accurate? Hmmm: could be…

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Where Mike of Cold Fury got these transcripts, we’ll never know… but don’t let the rough language and unfair accusations made against our good, dear friends Germany, France and Khofi Annan distract you from the point. Said point will no doubt be transmogrified* in a fit of heavy-handed sarcasm by somebody, but, hey, it’s almost … Read more

Dean and Religion (boring title, no?)

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Thanks (big thanks) to two Matts (Stinson and Yglesias) I was finally able to read this TNR article about Dean and religion. You should, too. It seems to be the CW that Dean’s religious impulses are, shall we say, somewhat less overt than, well, just about everybody else running for President these days. Now, here’s … Read more

Put up or shut up.

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General Hugh Shelton was asked whether he would back General Wesley Clark for president, and he responded as follows: I will tell you the reason he came out of Europe early had to do with integrity and character issues, things that are very near and dear to my heart. I’m not going to say whether … Read more

Oh, NOW I remember…

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Folks, I’m aware that most of you probably think that they’re schmucks, too – but trust me on this one, you don’t want to be standing next to a PETA activist when he or she hands out this to some kid. Unless you happen to enjoy the sight of an enraged soccer mom beating a … Read more

Huh.

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I was pretty sure I had cobloggers: guess that they’re in the middle of prepping for Christmas, or something. (pause) Slow day today, huh? There was that earthquake in California, but other than that it was a pretty quiet Monday. I like quiet days, tell you the truth: they seem rarer than they used to … Read more

Gee, thanks.

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Because of Amygdala*, I now have to deal with the internal vision of the Head Heeb and his Monopoly fanfic. Well, if we’re going to play, Gary, then all I have to say in response is: Stratego Slashfic. “She was the bomb. No, I meant it.” UPDATE: Moe Lane can’t spell, and one of his … Read more

Holiday Horror Story Thread

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It’s been a quiet day here – which would make sense, given that it’s the Sunday before Christmas and the middle of Hanukkah. Thankfully my Christmas shopping is essentially done and my travels don’t start for a couple of days – but somehow I get the feeling that I’m fairly unique in that regard. So, … Read more

Biscuit?

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I see that John Cole has commented on Kevin Drum’s noticing of a particular line in a Robert Novak article. Kind of cool, huh? – and pretty symbolic of our mutual hobby in general, yes?

Anyway, the sentence:

A footnote: Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, once thought to be in line for the top job at either State or Defense in the second term, is reported to have lost favor at the White House.

has caused Kevin to speculate about why Wolfowitz would be on the outs, his commenters to chime in – and John to snort derisively over how the rumor that Wolfowitz is being passed over for this job is being spun. Tell you truthful, I’m pretty much with John – for a different reason.

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What The Net Is Good For…

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…Yes, besides porn. Anyhoo, via the getting-attacked-from-both-sides-at-once Marxists over at SIAW, we are given a link to the Museum of Hoaxes, which is an “almost daily weblog about hoaxes, pranks, and practical jokes”. The ones I’ve seen so far have been pretty good, especially the Man Will Never Fly Society, a group of largely ex-military … Read more

The Latest Crack for Gamers?

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Slate’s got an article up asking a burning question: why is there no video game version of the election process? (Via Hellblazer)

All of which leads to a question: The U.S. presidential campaign may be the first true election of the digital age, but it’s still missing one key ingredient. Where is the video-game version of Campaign 2004? Political simulations are practically ubiquitous in the gaming world, but you’re more likely to find a game that will let you stage a Spartacus-style slave revolt than one that will let you win the Iowa caucuses.

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From the “No, Really?” Department…

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… comes this amusing headline: Dean Seeks Halt to Attack Politics.

Now, note that I do not comment one way or the other about how deserved/undeserved these attacks would be; I merely note that as news goes it’s… well, not really news at all, is it? We already knew that Dean was being the subject of political attacks by fellow Democratic nominees: the fact that he objects to this sort of thing is only slightly more surprising than the revelation that most men quite loathe being kicked in the testicles. If he had said, “Bring it on, kiddies: I eat this stuff up! Without ketchup! It makes me grow chest hair and sweat pure sex-appeal!” – well, that would have been news.

Yes, yes, it’s a slow election news weekend. I grok. Still…

Moe

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A Question.

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Does anyone have an opinion about when an update to a post should become its own post? Frex, I wanted to note (via Matt Stinson, who deserves whatever little extra traffic I can throw his way) that Chait’s anti-Dean blog (mentioned here) has spawned an anti-Chait blog in its turn. This is a two day … Read more

(Pointing) Cow.*

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I know that I said that I was going for coffee, but this article from Dave Barry stopped me cold. I shall merely quote the passage that my long-suffering girlfriend quoted when she sent this to me:

“WISCONSIN –Weary National Guard troops continued to battle a rampaging herd of bacteria-enhanced Australian kangaroo cows that have been bounding around this heartland state, soaring over fences with moos of derision and punching their way into grain silos. ‘The worst thing,’ said one Guardsman, ‘is when they get airborne, and suddenly you’re facing a hailstorm of incoming meadow muffins. Although I have to say they don’t smell as bad as the local cows.’ ”

Also in the article… SUVs with machine guns! Somebody’s actually making them! It’ll be just like Car Wars! No, wait, that’s bad.

Anyway, read the whole thing, as He Who Almost No-One Is Neutral About would say.

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Novelty Value Saturday Blogs

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OK, in deference to the author (who apparently liked being a Flappy Bird in the Ecosystem), you can check out Letters of Marque via the Volokh entry that references it. The linked-to post is funny even to non-lawyers; the site likewise, especially the USB Menorah. I’d blogroll, but she’d probably hunt me down and throw … Read more

Do it for Wendell and Cass!

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Non-genius Matt Singer says it better than I can: The American Family Association, an organization I would never let anywhere near my family, has a poll up asking for opinions on gay marriage. They say they’ll submit the results to Congress. It’s an online poll on their own website, so the results are unlikely to … Read more

Peace on earth, good will to gay penguins

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Hanukkah began tonight, it’s less than a week till Christmas, and President Bush sent out his traditional Kwanzaa press release this morning. So in the spirit of the season, rather than tear into this National Review article on gay marriage–as others have done very effectively–I will instead post the heartwarming story of two penguins who … Read more

Continuing on my negotiable affection for blogroll links…

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Pratchett reference. Anyway, via Pejmanesque we see a just-happened report that our old friend and supervillian wannabe Gadhafi is giving up his WMD program, thanks to the efforts of Cowboy Bush and Poodle Blair: WASHINGTON – Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, after secret negotiations with the United States and Britain, agreed to halt his nation’s drive … Read more

Dept of Really, What Harm is There in Trying?

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From the blog Just One Minute we see this USA Today article about Hussein’s capture, which notes in passing that Tim Russert happened to have a dream about said capture the night before it happened (something shrugged off as a coincidence).

The author, who alas does not put his or her name on the site, asks a question:

OK, we all know enough not to take this seriously. But my question is, does Osama bin Laden know enough not to take this seriously?

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At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers

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From CNN, a taste of things to come:

A Chinese court has ordered an online video game company to return hard-won virtual property, including a make-believe stockpile of bio-chemical weapons, to a player whose game account was looted by a hacker.

We’ve (probably) all heard of various virtual castles, equipment, and whatnot that have been auctioned for real dollars on E-bay. This, however, is the first time that I’ve heard of a Court awarding recompense for stolen virtual property. The line between the real and the virtual is getting cloudier. So is the line between the real and the imaginary.

Blogs are part of it. I’m convinced that I know Tacitus, Andrew Sullivan, David Neiwert, Kevin Drum, The Commissar, Charles Johnson, Glenn Reynolds, Paul Cella, Josh Marshall, the folks at Talk Left, the conspirators at Volokh, Misha and his imperial lackies, Jeanne D’Arc, Mr. DuToit, Lt. Smash, Kos, Matt Yglesias, Fafnir (and cohorts The Medium Lobster and Giblets), Ubaid, et al. I have opinions about them. I think that some of them are sharp, witty, and incisive. And I think that some are stupid, dull, and dangerous — and wonder how a few can sleep at night. (You may be surprised who I put into which category.)

At base, though, I’m reacting to a virtual persona that’s being put forth. People are different — more accommodating and friendlier, usually — in person. Words can’t convey the whole. They convey only a part, and only a chosen part at that, and only that chosen part poorly.

But we already know all that, right? Postmodernism, the confluence among technology, life, and the law — it’s all soooo Kool & the Gang (I hear you saying).

A Chinese Court case awarding virtual WMDs to an online gamer, however, is something new. What, I just don’t know. But, in the quiet of my office right now — with the door closed — I remember the conclusion of Salman Rushdie’s short story, “At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers.” All manner of real and imaginary persons, creatures, and things are bidding on the very Ruby Slippers of yore in a Byzantian double-blind auction. Huge sums of money are being exchanged, but no one is sure if the slippers are real, or if they’ll perform as advertised.

Everyone, however, knows the slippers’ promise: They’ll take you home.

von

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