tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594222011-04-21T17:35:54.493-07:00John CarrollThoughts on politics, economics and technologyJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comBlogger1591100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-26594337676438182812009-05-01T00:36:00.000-07:002009-05-01T00:50:21.800-07:00This swine flu craziness demonstrates in capital letters why excessive TV watching makes you bat-shit crazy. I've thought that for quite awhile. If you watch local Los Angeles TV news, you'd think the city was overrun by gangs, murders, exploding houses, car chases, and strange people taking photos near elementary schools. Yes, those things happen. Los Angeles is also a city with more than 15Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1113074750259698742005-04-09T12:14:00.000-07:002005-04-09T12:25:50.260-07:00Why so many posts on Taiwan?Good question, if I do say so myself. I guess I see Taiwan as the biggest potential cause for conflict in Asia in this century, and would like to find a way to avoid it. This century, heck, this MILLENIUM, will likely be Asia's, and I'm very interested in events going on over there. There's a huge shift of power going on from West to East, and we need to think very Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1113074035120746172005-04-09T11:54:00.000-07:002005-04-09T12:13:55.123-07:00Japan and China100,000 chinese students marched in protest of Japan's bid for a permanent security council seat. This was triggered by the Japanese government's recent approval of a textbook that Chinese people think whitewashes past Japanese atrocities.Germany faced such demands to come clean with themselves about their history, and Germany has largely succeeded in doing so. Often, it seemed Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1112769924808397212005-04-05T23:32:00.000-07:002005-04-05T23:45:24.810-07:00This will piss the Swiss offApparently, a Microsoft ad placed Switzerland somewhere in the area of Moscow. The Swiss are rather prickly about Americans confusing where Switzerland is located. I can attest to the fact that many Americans are unclear on it. I lived in Switzerland for 2 years, and I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times someone asked if I spoke Swedish.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1111868994423203112005-03-26T12:15:00.000-08:002005-03-26T12:29:54.426-08:00Big Taiwanese ProtestsApparently, 1 million Taiwanese marched through Taipei to protest the new Chinese law mandating force should Taiwan refuse to be rejoined with the mainland. There's about 22 million people in Taiwan, so for America to have a comparably-sized demonstration, about 15 million people would have to descend on Washington.I'm never going to understand why one group of people Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1111830748268592752005-03-26T01:47:00.000-08:002005-03-26T01:52:45.350-08:00Dr. Rice ain't stupidFrom this articleRice, in an interview with Washington Post editors and reporters, said she was guided less by a fear that Islamic extremists would replace authoritarian governments than by a "strong certainty that the Middle East was not going to stay stable anyway." Extremism, she said, is rooted in the "absence of other channels for political activity," and so "when you Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1111830208879417442005-03-26T01:36:00.000-08:002005-03-26T01:45:01.780-08:00On the other handThe Taiwanese clearly enjoy running their own affairs. I don't think I'd be too keen on giving up political control to Mexico or Europe. One could have argued that it would have been better for India to avoid risk of harsh crackdowns and death by choosing not to confront British control of India. On the other hand, they did it in a smart way, choosing largely NOT to engage in Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1111816694823529892005-03-25T21:55:00.000-08:002005-03-25T21:58:14.823-08:00I want a chocolate JesusFrom the article...Ward said Russell Stover considered making other traditional images out of chocolate but eventually opted not to."A molded Jesus, for example, would not be a good call and a cross with Jesus on it wouldn't be a good idea either," Ward said.I just want to know when they're going to make the chocolate hangman's noose, the chocolate electric chair and the Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1111737456582807552005-03-24T23:53:00.000-08:002005-03-24T23:57:36.586-08:00I want one of theseImplant me with a chip in the brain, so I can acquire big mechanical arms and call myself Dr. Octopus.Seriously, I think that within 10-20 years, this will seem rather pedestrian, because plenty of non-quadraplegics will be getting implants. And they won't just pass outbound signals, but inbound signals as well.Matrix, here we come.P.S. That has to be my geekiest post in all Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1111361929016705052005-03-20T15:31:00.000-08:002005-03-25T00:04:44.493-08:00The democratic domino effectThese aren't the best of times for the world's dictators. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are all making strong moves towards democracy, Lebanese protesters are forcing Syrian forces out of their country, and the Palestinians even managed a sane election...and that's just in the middle east. The Ukranian and Georgian people both resisted fraudulent elections, and thatJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1111302025689251022005-03-19T22:48:00.000-08:002005-03-20T15:26:51.266-08:00Foreign Policy BlindnessNot that this should come as a surprise to anyone, but the Bush administration is a complete waste of space when it comes to foreign policy. Who decided it was a good idea to lie to our allies in order to get them to do what we want them to do? Why did we think we wouldn't get caught?North Korea is a BAD REGIME. It's not like you have to make things up to convince Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1110958916703320752005-03-15T23:31:00.000-08:002005-03-19T23:08:45.870-08:00The Taiwan ProblemChina has just passed a law which mandates force should the Taiwanese decide to declare independence. Now, I don't know why the Chinese are so prickly about "territorial integrity." It probably has something to do with China being the longest running empire in the world. All those Chinese don't have so many linguistic links for nothing. But, they are prickly. Getting workedJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1110342818372219192005-03-08T20:31:00.000-08:002005-03-08T20:36:08.663-08:00And the moral of this story is...If you want to get in the press for your cause, and you are female, go topless. Major news organizations have plastered this woman's face across their main page, and I've seen it at least 5 times today. Yes, that was a terribly important observation. For those activists unlucky enough to be born male, I have no answer to your plight. Try going bottomless.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1108096472264089392005-02-10T20:32:00.000-08:002005-02-10T20:34:32.266-08:00Oh, Great!According to this article, GM is recalling 2004 and 2005 versions of the Hummer H2 because of faulty brakes. Makes me happy to think that that polluting escapee from a monster truck rally riding close on my tail MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO STOP!Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1107758725942933442005-02-06T22:33:00.000-08:002005-02-07T08:36:03.520-08:00Good news from Iraq
Apparently, the successful elections, not to mention the heroism of an Iraqi Policeman who pulled a suicide bomber away from a polling station at the cost of his own life, seems to have shifted public opinion against the insurgency
What's really interesting is the reaction of Iraqis whose relatives were recently arrested by Iraqi policemen. From the article:
"Even though Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1107709820345673542005-02-06T09:04:00.000-08:002005-02-06T09:10:20.346-08:00Populist Preamble
I never liked John Edwards. I thought he was a democratic version of Pat Buchanan, aiming to shut American borders in a misguided attempt to help American workers. That's why I take a dim view of his declaration that he wants to end poverty. Though early, people who want to run for president in four years start to do "public things" which involve broad statements, and in Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1107706994664286342005-02-06T08:15:00.000-08:002005-02-06T08:23:14.666-08:00Evangelical Environmentalists?
Apparently, evangelicals are coming to the realization that being a good christian doesn't mean one must trash the environment. Of course, they are having to contend with the lunatic fringe convinced that the end of the world is imminent, so there is no need to worry about the health of the environment.
Still, it's interesting that the success of the christian Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1107310320478757182005-02-01T18:08:00.000-08:002005-03-19T23:21:12.166-08:00This is funnyA group that claimed to have kidnapped an American soldier in Iraq posted a picture on an Islamist web site, and apparently, it's an action figureDo what we want, or we take a magnifying glass to Special Ops Cody's kneecaps. Melted plastic makes me dizzy.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1107288905120605312005-02-01T11:54:00.000-08:002005-02-01T12:15:05.120-08:00France's struggling wine industry
France is spending $91 million to assist struggling French winemakers. According to the article, Chilean, Australian and American wines are giving French wines more competition, and domestic consumption of French wine (which accounts for 70% of total domestic production) will go down to around 15 gallons / year per person, from 17 gallons in 2003 (obviously, Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1107280595662787812005-02-01T09:52:00.000-08:002005-02-01T09:56:35.663-08:00No big surprise here
It looks like abstinence-only sex education for teens, upon which the federal government is spending 130 million a year, make no difference whatsoever
Parents tell kids not to see R-rated films, or hang out late around malls, or drink alcohol. What effect has that had? Why anybody thought just telling teenagers not to do something would work (even as their hormones are Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1107214033293960052005-01-31T15:18:00.000-08:002005-01-31T15:32:03.013-08:00Giving with one hand, and taking with the other
Americans have been generous in their response to the Tsunami in Asia, giving hundreds of billions to assist people affected by the disaster. How odd, therefore, to turn around and slap tarrifs on millions of dollars worth of seafood imports from Thailand and India.
As the article from Reason magazine notes, these tariffs weren't big news in Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1107137827317231602005-01-30T18:09:00.000-08:002005-01-30T18:23:40.240-08:00Dodged a bullet...
...both literally and figuratively, as it appears the turnout for the Iraqi elections was better than expected. Of course, it looks like that Sunnis didn't really participate in the elections, partly out of fear, but also because they are a group accustomed to power out of proportion to their numbers. Sunnis stand to lose the most from democracy, as they account for only 20%Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1106988129461763222005-01-29T01:38:00.000-08:002005-01-29T00:42:09.463-08:00Oooops
The tin ear for foreign diplomacy continues unabated, with Dick Cheney attending a ceremony to remember the victims of the holocaust dressed like Elmer Fudd.
Be vewwwwy vewwwwy qwuiet...Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1106886237284284462005-01-27T20:14:00.000-08:002005-01-27T20:23:57.286-08:00Whither the methane?
Scientists don't know where where all the methane on Saturn's moon Titan comes from. I think they are missing the most obvious source: invisible cows.
Okay, I have absolutely, positively nothing usefell to talk about today. Right now, I'm listening to the Vines "Winning Days." It's funny how certain bands kind of sneak up on your interest. When I first heard Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1106794353972424012005-01-26T18:39:00.000-08:002005-01-27T00:00:18.760-08:00This is so wrong
I don't smoke. I don't for a number of reasons, among them the freedom to hike moderate-sized hills without feeling like I'm on the moon.
The fact that I don't smoke, however, doesn't mean I condone companies who choose to fire employees who smoke AT ALL, whether at work or at home.
The company's founder said that "I don’t want to pay for the results of smoking." What about Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1106769085704390972005-01-26T11:39:00.000-08:002005-01-26T11:53:45.933-08:00Catholic Weirdness
Apparently, the South African Catholic Church is slamming the promotion of condoms as a means to prevent the transmission of AIDS.
Said Cardinal Wilfred Napier in a phone interview, "Can you show me one example where condoms have stopped the spread of AIDS?," Damn, I KNEW they shouln't have removed those 6" x 6" by 6" inch virus detection factories attached to the ends of Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1106281526292509982005-01-20T20:09:00.000-08:002005-01-20T20:25:26.293-08:00Bush's Inauguration
Bush wants to spread freedom around the world. Hey, that's a laudable goal, but there's only so much you can do by force of arms.
Taiwan, South Korea and Chile were all military dictatorships (in Chile's case, partly with the support of the Reagan administration). What typified them, however, was an emphasis on open markets, and enabling their own people to start Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1103584168356351792004-12-20T15:03:00.000-08:002004-12-20T15:11:30.966-08:00Unimportant things
Bush praising Rumsfeld:
"I know Secretary Rumsfeld’s heart ... He’s a good, decent man. He’s a caring fellow,"
Excuse me if I'm a bit blunt, but I don't give a fuck if Rumsfeld charges headfirst into burning buildings to save a box full of kittens. What I care about is how he has managed things at the Department of Defense, and in particular, in Iraq. And it's fairly clearJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1102405808535229342004-12-06T23:49:00.000-08:002004-12-06T23:50:08.536-08:00The big bad narco state
Afghanistan is preparing for the inauguration of its first elected leader in a very long time (I can't say ever, as I don't know if they've ever elected a leader). Karzai is certainly the first leader elected in at least 30 years, which is no small feat, and a momentuous event in the history of Afghanistan.
Just goes to show, doing something might be a hell of a lot Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1086659011519450772004-06-07T18:35:00.000-07:002004-06-07T18:43:31.520-07:00I just don't understand this
A Bush spokesperson on stem cell research:
"The president remains committed to exploring the promise of stem cell research but at the same time continues to believe strongly that we should not cross a fundamental moral line by funding or encouraging the destruction of human embryos," Lisaius said.
"The president does not believe that life should be created for the Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1086657839979991332004-06-07T18:14:00.000-07:002004-06-07T18:28:22.393-07:00Ireland and pulling up the ladder behind you
Ireland will be voting on a referendum this Thursday which will tighten citizenship rules. Previously, anyone born in Ireland had the automatic right to Irish citizenship, which is NOT unusually permissive. The Irish, though, are feeling a bit weird now that net emigration has turned to net immigration. Fianna Fail (the current ruling party) has Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1086092111666557332004-06-01T05:09:00.000-07:002004-06-01T05:15:11.666-07:00Useless Information #2
Chinese censors want the right to approve Britney Spears outfits on her tour of China. As they said, Relevant departments will carry out strict reviews of Britney Spears' performance clothing. In other words, a bunch of Chinese bureaucrats will sit around "approving" the clothes she will wear on her tour.
I rank this one up there with those seven cops who were in a Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1086091783951041002004-06-01T05:04:00.000-07:002004-06-01T05:09:43.950-07:00Useless Information #1
The oldest woman in the world recently died. She was 114.
I find that amazing. I find the changes that have happened in my brief life to be amazing. Modern video games make the Atari 2600 equivalents seem like cave paintings. My first computer had a "whopping" 10 MBs hard drive space (and ran a C/PM operating system). We used to drive a Ford Pinto.
That's peanuts Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1086028217476055932004-05-31T11:14:00.000-07:002004-05-31T11:30:17.476-07:00Good News in India
When I first heard that the BJP (which stands for Bharatya Janata Party, or something like that) was beaten by the Congress party in the most recent Indian elections, I thought: oh shit (as nobel prize winners like to say), there go the reforms. India's economy has been humming along in recent years (and NOT just because of outsourcing, though that's certainly a nice featherJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1086027247017351332004-05-31T10:46:00.000-07:002004-06-07T18:45:04.310-07:00The Islamic Reformation
Saudi Arabia is trying to deal with Islamic extremists who want to force westerners out of Saudi Arabia, as well as charge exhorbitant fees to western powers for the right to consume Arab oil (not a terribly bright thing to do, as high prices tend to motivate people to find alternatives). Pakistan is facing a struggle between Sunnis and Shias that is almost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1085331289463880422004-05-23T09:40:00.000-07:002004-05-23T09:54:49.463-07:00One state solution for Israel and the Palestinians?
The operating assumption among most is that the best way forward in the intractable conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is a partition along the 1967 borders. The Oslo peace accords hewed close to this theory, and the recent "road map" to peace attempted much the same.
Partition, however, isn't the only way forward. Gadhafi is of Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1085307723521707472004-05-23T03:18:00.000-07:002004-05-23T03:22:03.520-07:00Let's go one better
California wants to ban teenagers from using tanning booths. I think that's cowardly. Teenagers clearly are a danger to themselves and others. To protect them (and others) from bad choices, I think we should encase them in large blocks of styrofoam until they are 18. In so doing, we'll ensure they only watch the RIGHT TV shows, eat GOOD food, DON'T have premarital sex, Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1085307321943977232004-05-23T03:09:00.000-07:002004-05-23T03:33:36.930-07:00Blah Blah Blah, more politics
Gas prices are high. Kerry says it's all Bush's fault, and its horrible, HORRIBLE that Americans have to pay so much for gasoline in these trying times. This ignores the fact that, adjusted for inflation, American gas prices are LOW by historical averages. That doesn't mean that Americans might not feel like they are spending more, partly because low gas prices Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1084802201850557852004-05-17T06:53:00.000-07:002004-05-17T06:56:41.850-07:00Sweet Nothings
John Kerry is again declaring a need to revisit old trade agreements. As the Bush administration is likely to point out (as does the article), Kerry's voting record is very pro-trade. I'm hoping that this is just an example of politicians pandering to voters.
This is why I'd make a bad politician (or rather, would never get elected). If my constituents were convinced that Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1084357639365685572004-05-12T03:23:00.000-07:002004-05-12T03:27:19.366-07:00Good News
The earth is more resilient to climate change than people thought. As this article shows, a warmer world is a wetter world, leading to more plant growth which can serve to soak up excess greenhouse gasses. Of course, that assumes that there is enough plant life around to actually grow, but in western nations, forests have been GROWING in size (contrary to popular belief). It's in Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1084189599494641142004-05-10T04:46:00.000-07:002004-05-10T04:46:39.496-07:00Some facts about guns
The assault weapons ban is about to expire, and congress will be voting on its renewal. The referenced articles makes an interesting point (in soundbite form, but useful nonetheless):
"We are working very hard in Iraq to get AK-47s off the street, to get Uzis off the streets. The president says we're fighting the war on terror by doing that," said Rep. Chris van Hollen, Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1084189556232883882004-05-10T04:45:00.000-07:002004-05-10T04:45:56.233-07:00Some facts about SUVs
I'm no fan of the ever-so-popular SUV. Here's some of the reasons
1. SUVs and "light" trucks (including these extend-a-cab things that pass for pickup trucks) are not bound by the same fuel economy and pollution standards as regular cars, and aren't likely to in the near future so long as Republican conventional wisdom militates against boosting air quality standards andJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1084107276944123632004-05-09T05:54:00.000-07:002004-05-09T05:58:32.500-07:00More interesting articles on Iraq
This article discusses conditions at Abu Ghraib prison, and how it was severely understaffed. This article discusses growing dissension at the upper levels of the US Military, and in particular, growing anger at mistakes made by Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz. Taken together, I think there is a strong case to be made the Donald Rumsfeld needs to go. It Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1084106867242470442004-05-09T05:47:00.000-07:002004-05-09T05:53:10.590-07:00Interesting Viewpoint
This article by Peter Galbraith (from the New York Review of Books, of all places) provides an interesting perspective on Iraq, and apparently was read by a number of high-level people in the US military. Essentially, it says we should use the same model applied in Afghanistan, where we rely on local militias to manage most security and concentrate on the cleanup Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083926580333056002004-05-07T03:43:00.000-07:002004-05-07T03:46:13.873-07:00Politics
This is a transcript of John Kerry discussing economics. Don't bother reading it. It's about as "deep" as a bowl of oatmeal. Why do politicians have to talk in vague platitudes? It's almost like they aim to make EVERYTHING THEY SAY usable as a soundbite. Of course, Kerry's soundbites would have enough words in them to choke a debate contestant.
Ack. Sometimes it's better not to Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083925984040117862004-05-07T03:33:00.000-07:002004-05-07T03:36:17.700-07:00Long term ramifications
Prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib prison will have long term ramifications, not just with Arab regimes who already disliked us, but with Europeans, who will be even less likely to go along with American visions of the future (not that Bush would have had any luck with that even before). A number of foreign policy objectives, chief among them our attempt to bring democracy toJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083878736691810582004-05-06T14:25:00.000-07:002004-05-06T14:28:50.030-07:00A point from BBC News
BBC News just showed a snippet of a torture video filmed by Saddam Hussein's prison guards. It involved something like 20-30 guards beating a prisoner as he ran around the grounds trying to escape them. Torture, beatings, mysterious deaths and even sexual humiliation are common occurrences in prisons THROUGHOUT the middle east. Yet, you never hear ANYONE in the Arab Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083852838958479692004-05-06T07:13:00.000-07:002004-05-06T07:17:12.090-07:00Bush SHOULD have apologized
I agree completely with the point made in this Slate article. Bush passed up a HUGE opportunity to reduce the damage from the ill-treatment of Iraqi prisoners. Unfortunately, Bush NEVER apologizes for ANYTHING.
Clinton apologized to China when the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was accidentally bombed. That was an ACCIDENT. The abuse of Iraqi prisoners was a Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083852130616789892004-05-06T07:02:00.000-07:002004-05-06T07:08:45.170-07:00Michael Moore
There's a lot of irony in a guy who spends a lot of time railing against the evils of big business complaining that one of those big businesses (Disney) won't distribute in an election year his highly controversial film linking Bin Laden and George Bush. Hey, I think he has EVERY right to make movies about anything he damn well pleases, but that doesn't mean companies are Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083851633377483442004-05-06T06:53:00.000-07:002004-05-06T06:57:34.076-07:00Why I'm no fan of unions
The Greek hotel workers union is threatening to strike during the Olympic games if their demands aren't met. Not only will their extortion cause problems for visitors, but it will affect every other company in Greece who has a vested interest in the success of the Olympic games.
The article notes that hotel workers are "low paid," as they take home a monthly salary Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083760658976951492004-05-05T05:37:00.000-07:002004-05-05T05:42:37.390-07:00Bush's international stature
Bush struck back the other day at Kerry campaign claims that certain world leaders hope Kerry wins in the next election. Just to set the record straight, as someone who has spent 4 years in Europe, I can say categorically that I've never met ANYBODY in Europe has anything but a rabid dislike for George Bush. So, on the question of whether world leaders root for Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083759819650654172004-05-05T05:23:00.000-07:002004-05-05T05:32:18.403-07:00Morality through the legal system
I've read a number of articles regarding the Bush administration's tendency to let political ideology trump hard science. From drug policy to issues relating to stem cell research, science takes a back seat to the political - and religious - dictates of the current administration. Now, the "morning after pill" (a mechanism for preventing pregnancy after Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083580819238138872004-05-03T03:40:00.000-07:002004-05-03T03:45:04.623-07:00The British torture photos might be fakes
As this article discusses. I can see motivations among those who want to undermine the Iraq coalition for making such fakes. It's like attack ads that prove later to be false. Most never see the retraction, and one can be DAMN sure Al-Jazeera won't shout from the rooftops that the British photos were fakes.
I just wish the American photos were fakes,Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1083257693194576542004-04-29T09:54:00.000-07:002004-04-29T09:57:58.843-07:00Interesting Points
This article talks about mistakes America has made in Iraq (among other things). It's interesting and worth reading.
Britain has been more successful at keeping a lid on things in Basra. It does appear that their softer approach has resulted in less violence. You see a lot of pictures of British troops on Sky News (understandably, as its targeted at a British audience), Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1082915007283418982004-04-25T10:43:00.000-07:002004-04-25T10:46:29.123-07:00What I'm doing
To all three people who read my blog, I'm currently squatting in Limerick editing a low budget film with which I was associated last summer. That might explain why I've been posting less often than is my norm.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1082914870632281862004-04-25T10:41:00.000-07:002004-04-25T10:44:12.496-07:00Najaf
I'm just some guy who programs for a living and writes occasionally for technology news sites, so what the hell do I know? BUT...I think it might be a better idea to keep Najaf surrounded indefinitely. Finish the job in Fallujah, fine. But stay out of Najaf.
Al-Sadr's militia are stockpiling weapons in mosques, shrines and schools, all things that Americans, for obvious reasons, Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1082914072325582392004-04-25T10:27:00.000-07:002004-04-25T10:32:30.216-07:00Cutting off your nose to spite your face
I doubt the failed suicide boat attack was organized by Iraqis. It isn't, however, impossible. Plenty of Iraqis seem to be making common cause with foreign insurgents in their attempts to drive out the American occupiers. What the attack attempted to do was cut off exports of oil, the money for which would come back and help rebuild the country after Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1082651825536598342004-04-22T09:37:00.000-07:002004-04-22T09:40:04.403-07:00Doesn't surprise me in the least
From a recent MSNBC Article:
New figures for the Iraqi casualty toll from this month’s fighting emerged Thursday, with the health minister saying 576 Iraqi insurgents and civilians had died in fighting since April 1 — sharply lower than earlier estimates.
I also read that during a recent ambush, the loudspeaker at a local mosque started claiming that Americans Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1082079107752280792004-04-15T18:31:00.000-07:002004-04-15T18:34:40.153-07:00Breaking News: Mr. Bill on Shroud of Turin
I guess the lines are supposed to be helpful, but it looks kind of funny.
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1082062573598396562004-04-15T13:56:00.000-07:002004-04-15T13:59:05.246-07:00George Bush’s blind spot
Why is it so damn hard to understand that you aren't going to satisfy the Palestinians by giving them the functional equivalent of a South African Bantustan? Check out the map contained in this page to see what Ariel Sharon’s “courageous” pullback means in terms of the total number of settlements. Sharon will dismantle FOUR settlement in the West Bank out of HUNDREDS.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1082059062379950312004-04-15T12:57:00.000-07:002004-04-15T13:00:34.590-07:00Random Musings
Near the end of May, I will have been in Europe for four years. That's a long time. During that period, I've gotten to know one or two Europeans, and have come to the conclusion that they know astoundingly little about the American way of life. Since their entire exposure comes to them through our media (most of which is entertainment), they end up with a very skewed idea of Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1081772437239645972004-04-12T05:20:00.000-07:002004-04-12T05:24:32.310-07:00Warlords...
...they always have the best interests of their fellow citizens at heart, which is why they are called WARLORDS.
WARLORD Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is making common cause with the deposed Taliban, calling for Afghanis to rise up against foreign occupiers in some kind of perverse competition with Iraq. Yes, I'm sure lots of Afghanis look back on the rule of the Taliban with longing.
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1081520990593158232004-04-09T07:29:00.000-07:002004-04-09T07:32:36.436-07:00The price of oil
As this article notes, the reason the price of oil has gone up is NOT because America is topping up its strategic reserves, but because China's fast growing economy is now the second-biggest importer of oil. Of course, that implies that oil-using products are in high demand, such as cars, as American car companies are noting (happily) on their balance sheets.
I'm not overly Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1081520045512520962004-04-09T07:14:00.000-07:002004-04-09T07:24:40.263-07:00On the other hand...
From Adnan Pachachi, a member of the US-appointed governing council:
“These operations were a mass punishment for the people of Fallujah," Pachachi told Al-Arabiya TV. "It was not right to punish all the people of Fallujah and we consider these operations by the Americans unacceptable and illegal."
Great. On the other hand, if Saddam Hussein was ruling the country and theJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1081429281995751442004-04-08T06:01:00.000-07:002004-04-08T06:04:07.153-07:00Iraq and America's Election
As I've noted before, I think, and still think, that the Iraq war was the right thing to do. A gamble, admittedly, but justified within the context of Sept. 11th. America was the body largely responsible for maintaining the cage within which Saddam Hussein, a man who had invaded two countries and threatened a third, was contained. It was OUR troops in Saudi Arabia.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1081208312160796272004-04-05T16:38:00.000-07:002004-04-05T16:41:14.233-07:00The rule of law, and Islamic clerics
America needs to arrest Muqtada al-Sadr. Iraq is facing a new reality. After 30 years of living under the absolute rule of single man, Iraqis are now trying to figure out what makes sense from a political standpoint. Shiites are trying to navigate a line between secular rule and religious rule. Sistani, for all his flaws, seems to understand that there Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1081079889521134682004-04-04T04:58:00.000-07:002004-04-04T05:06:45.280-07:00And they say anti-missile defense is crazy
As it turns out, even Brazil seems intent on getting in on the new, cool, trend among developing (or hopelessly undeveloped) nations, which is to build nuclear weapons. Iran and North Korea are already in that league, and India and Pakistan are already declared nuclear powers.
If they can get anti-missile technology to work, then do it.
Back to Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1080815512733481642004-04-01T02:31:00.000-08:002004-04-01T02:34:30.420-08:00Health Care Costs and Outsourcing
This article isn't exactly pro-outsourcing, but it isn't exactly against it, either. It recognizes the cost advantages to outsourcing and how that helps outsourcing, even if he laments the loss of American jobs.
An interesting point made, however, is the claim that Canadian labor costs less because health care costs are lower, and picked up by the government.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1080815059562069232004-04-01T02:24:00.000-08:002004-04-01T02:30:34.123-08:00The murder of contractors in Iraq
If something like this had happened under a Saddam Hussein-style regime, the perpetrators would have been rounded up and publicly executed, their relatives tortured, and the entire city subject to random killing, if not destined for mass graves.
They can only DO something so grisly because Americans don't think that way, and they know that won't be the penalty.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1080726503947892642004-03-31T01:48:00.000-08:002004-03-31T01:53:29.076-08:00America's Petroleum-based drug addiction
This is an old-ish article, but the "high" price of gasoline is turning into a campaign issue. What the article points out, in passing, is that in today's dollars (that is, dollars adjusted for inflation), we were paying $2.90 for a gallon of gasoline in March, 1981. In other words, our gasoline prices are NOT high by historical standards.
That isn't Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1080638588374679242004-03-30T01:23:00.000-08:002004-03-30T01:27:42.280-08:00Taiwan's Quest for Democracy
President Chen Shui-Ban of Taiwan, who is currently facing a recount (which he is likely to win), is making some rather strident statements relating to Taiwan's future independence from China.
I support the notion that Taiwan should remain de facto independent from China. China is not a democracy, while Taiwan is. Hong Kong had only just been granted democracy Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1080312688546120542004-03-26T06:51:00.000-08:002004-03-26T06:54:00.810-08:00Made it to Dublin
Have an apartment, something I managed in record time. I've been hanging out with some Irish friends of mine, and generally having a lot of fun.
Even so, I'm a bit annoyed with Ireland right now. I got an apartment in the middle of Dublin. When I say "middle," I mean, the epicenter. You couldn't get much more central Dublin than I am currently. The "millenium needle," a Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1079344713387609392004-03-15T01:58:00.000-08:002004-03-15T02:11:36.246-08:00Al-Qaeda got what it wanted
They managed to topple the Spanish government through a carefully-timed terrorist attack, and now the newly elected Prime Minister plans to pull all 1300 Spanish troops out of Iraq. With that kind of success, I expect that Al-Qaeda will try MORE such shocks to the political system (America has an election in November).
Al-Qaeda has learned that it can pretty much Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1079136507819592312004-03-12T16:08:00.000-08:002004-03-12T16:10:46.326-08:00This is amazing
Millions of people are marching in solidarity against terrorism in Spain. If the ETA did this, they just made a MAJOR miscalculation.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1079094818080126882004-03-12T04:33:00.000-08:002004-03-12T04:35:55.750-08:00This might explain our planned mission to Mars
Well, not China's plan to send up female astronauts (who, consequently, are stronger constitutionally than men, and apparently can better handle the rigors of space). Rather, national pride is getting stirred up, and we want to be the BEST in outer space.
Granted, I want America to be in outer space, too (and I don't mean ripping up North America,Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1079093848986252342004-03-12T04:17:00.000-08:002004-03-12T04:19:46.873-08:00Yowza (I read strange news)
You probably missed this, but South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun was recently impeached. That, by itself, isn't so shocking, but the brawling on the legislative floor was:
Pro Roh parliamentarians managed to delay the vote by camping out around the speaker's podium AND NOT LETTING HIM REACH IT. And I thought a filibuster was a strange concept. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1079020488280673512004-03-11T07:54:00.000-08:002004-03-11T07:57:05.590-08:00Why manufacturing will disappear
Robotics is what's REALLY killing manufacturing. Even China is affected by it, though their low costs can delay the inevitable somewhat (though not stop it). However, I view human-assisted manufacturing in the same league as lumberjacks.
Of course, what do you do with people once manufacturing jobs go away? Good question. It isn't inconceivable that, Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1079016480506250102004-03-11T06:48:00.000-08:002004-03-11T06:50:17.076-08:00There IS evil in the world
The bombing in Madrid, Spain, likely the work of Basque terrorists, is pretty appalling. I don't know what to say about it, really. It's so random, and Spain isn't exactly a poor country, either. Is humanity eternally to be saddled with idiots so obsessed with their own concerns that they will kill people they don't even know just to make a point?Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1079016152790078112004-03-11T06:42:00.000-08:002004-03-11T06:46:12.950-08:00Why China acts to fix the price of the Yuan
China might allow more flexibility of the Yuan in future, but at present, they seem dedicated to keeping the Yuan within a fairly stable price range vis a vis the dollar.
To many, that is unfair, an example of a "beggar they neighbor" policy wherein Chinese imports are kept at an artificially low level in order to encourage exports.
To some degree,Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078855809464206362004-03-09T10:10:00.000-08:002004-03-09T10:12:24.700-08:00Event More Conversations with Eric Raymond, Part 8
My apologies if this is very boring to non-IT types. I probably should put all this somewhere else.
If this conversation continues, I might move it to a link off my home page.
------------------------------------------------
Okay, last set of responses for today. If I wait much
longer, I have no ride home.
> Give it time. The serious Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078855670575340102004-03-09T10:07:00.000-08:002004-03-09T10:11:05.123-08:00Even More Conversations with Eric Raymond, Part 9
> Again, you're posing the wrong criterion. Recipes
> are less
> complicated, but *reconstructing them from the
> finished food* is often
> much more difficult than decompiling binaries. The
> problem is that
> the chemicals in food mix and combine in much more
> complicated ways
> than the bits in object code -- the information from
> the "Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078844916693204742004-03-09T07:08:00.000-08:002004-03-09T07:11:40.420-08:00More Conversations with Eric Raymond, Part 4
We picked up our discussion after I copied him on some responses to Richard Stallman's comments.
---------------------------------------------------------
> Bruce thinks he's in Richard's camp, so the argument
> you think you have appers to be with me.
Eric, you sweet-talker you.
> There are reasons to doubt this; see my analysis in
> "The Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078844766853048672004-03-09T07:06:00.000-08:002004-03-09T07:08:22.013-08:00More Conversations with Eric Raymond, Part 5
> I'm in agreement with you here. I would oppose any
> law that
> restricted the freedom of programmers and users to
> make whatever kind
> of contract they can negotiate, whether open-source
> or closed.
But, you might support laws which favor open source
over proprietary software in government procurement.
I disagree with that, too.
> Really? Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078844700418281382004-03-09T07:05:00.000-08:002004-03-09T07:07:15.590-08:00More Conversations with Eric Raymond, Part 6
> Have you read "The Magic Cauldron"? I'm
> not 'cavalier' about destroying the proprietary
> model, it's something I've thought about a
> great deal and to which I've applied most of
> the toolkit of neoclassical and Austrian
> economics.
Yes, I have, though I will admit that it has been
awhile. I'll read it again, and who knows...maybe
you'llJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078844633737508312004-03-09T07:03:00.000-08:002004-03-09T07:06:08.920-08:00More Conversation with Eric Raymond, Part 7
> Yes, I do support such laws. I support them
> because I believe that if we're to have governments
> at all, the process of government, *including
> the software it uses*, ought at least to be
> transparent to citizen scrutiny.
I don't think that's necessary, particularly when the
penalty for such a rule is confining yourself to
entities far less Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078833026164068302004-03-09T03:50:00.000-08:002004-03-09T03:56:37.280-08:00Arnie, you sweet-talker, you...
An Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired moment of Zen:
I love it when the people go to the polls and flex their muscles and let their voices be heard!
In all truth, I LIKE Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California. Not only is he very business-oriented, but he also seems free of all the moral central planning which is pushed by the christian fundamentalist wingJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078829920612568852004-03-09T02:58:00.000-08:002004-03-09T03:02:32.250-08:00Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan face outsourcing
As detailed in this article.
They, however, are less likely to say "keep our jobs away from all those damn foreigners," simply because the people in all three locations identify closely with the interests of people in China. Likewise, they benefit from being on the front lines of a MASSIVE, and RAPIDLY GROWING market. You simply won't hear Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-107874679798109432004-03-08T03:53:00.000-08:002004-03-08T03:57:06.983-08:00A worrying trend
I REALLY dislike Hugo Chavez, the democratically elected president of Venezuela who seems to be showing signs that he would rather lead according to the model of Cuba's Fidel Castro. Half a million people marched through the streets of Caracas to protest the National Election Council's decision to force the opposition to prove that over 1 million of the signatures they gatheredJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078737720506404002004-03-08T01:22:00.000-08:002004-03-08T03:58:54.513-08:00The "buckets of money" theory
America seems to have a lot on its plate, at least militarily, in this election year. Some have been saying that America would have been more pro-active in Haiti (or even North Korea) if we weren't already deeply engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. Truth be told, I think dealing with Afghanistan and Iraq takes priority over dealing with Haiti and North Korea (the Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078736505943667512004-03-08T01:01:00.000-08:002004-03-08T01:03:59.920-08:00Bush's election ads
I haven't seen many of the new advertisements for the Bush campaign (I am in Switzerland), but have read that some are complaining that they are using footage from the September 11th attacks. Apparently, some think the use of the footage a crass attempt to sway public opinion using the emotions stirred up by September 11th footage.
I don't agree. I think that it is JUST Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078475532204836912004-03-05T00:32:00.000-08:002004-03-31T01:10:06.606-08:00Conversation with Eric Raymond, Part 1
What follows is my side of an email exchange I recently had with Eric Raymond. When I write fast, I often leave words out, and that is certainly the case with this email exchange. Therefore, where necessary, I've added the missing words, marking them with [square brackets].
I will post the full text of Eric Raymond's side of the discussion, provided heJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078475322202276422004-03-05T00:28:00.000-08:002004-03-05T00:30:52.763-08:00Conversation with Eric Raymond, Part 2
> Then your writing failed to convey your thinking.
...or, you lumped me into the "typical anti-open
source category," which isn't uncommon. My article
was round two of a debate I was having with ZDNet
readers over Richard Stallmans ZDNet article. I do
note that you didn't contest the notion that Richard
Stallman really IS part of the "Free (as in cost)
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078475234205140002004-03-05T00:27:00.000-08:002004-03-05T00:56:54.340-08:00Conversation with Eric Raymond, Part 3
> No, I read your article very carefully. You
> attributed a normative belief that all software
> should be free to "open source" developers.
> If you had attributed that belief to "free software"
> developers, you would have been correct. As it is,
> you're wrong -- as RMS is likely
> to point out in terms less polite than mine.
My argument has long Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078331571731888452004-03-03T08:32:00.000-08:002004-03-03T08:35:00.590-08:00An interesting take on outsourcing
I found this link on the sidebar from Eric Raymond's blog. As "The Angry Economist" states, America's strength is its willingness to lose jobs. That is the case NOW, and was the case for the ENTIRE history of the United States. I remember reading in David Landes' The Wealth and Poverty of Nations about textile manufacturers who faced a backlash from workers Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078320528348243432004-03-03T05:28:00.000-08:002004-03-03T05:30:57.123-08:00The Kerry-McCain ticket
This article/blog proposed the idea. That would be such a remarkable combo, and would be a marked departure from the partisanship that has characterized the current administration (a REPUBLICAN on a Democratic ticket).
Of course, it would never happen...or would it?Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078305683727551492004-03-03T01:21:00.000-08:002004-03-03T01:23:32.436-08:00One can only hope
This article asks whether smaller cars are the next big thing in the American automobile market. Unfortunately, the article thinks it's unlikely given the installed base of HUGE cars.
That's unfortunate. Perhaps I've just grown accustomed to Europe's smaller cars, but it seems that cars have grown even larger since I left 4 1/2 years ago. I can see why the average Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078216496437612062004-03-02T00:34:00.000-08:002004-03-02T05:03:19.263-08:00Space Exploration
I've been following pretty closely press reports of the data coming back from the twin Mars landers. It looks like we'll prove fairly definitively that there is water on Mars (well, more than just the stuff found in the ice caps), and if there is water, then there is a high likelihood of life. In fact, we may already have evidence of microbial life on Mars. One of the Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078147746929211362004-03-01T05:29:00.000-08:002004-03-01T05:31:13.700-08:00Venezuela's crack-smoking president
Hugo Chavez, populist president of Venezuela and a leader who considers Fidel Castro to be one of his personal heros, paid a visite to Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, a leader whose theft of the last election and forced redistribution of land has lead to Zimbabwe's expulsion from the British Commonwealth and turned the breadbasket of Africa into a nation desperatelyJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1078146807292626952004-03-01T05:13:00.000-08:002004-03-01T05:42:19.263-08:00Haiti
Suffice to say, I'm not unhappy to see the backside of Mr. Aristide. His people are WORSE off than when he came to power (or rather, came BACK to power after being elected, deposed in a coup, then put back into power by force of American arms). He spun the last election to ensure he was re-elected (don't know why wannabe dictators bother with the appearance of democracy), and seemed Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3359422.post-1077713239075412522004-02-25T04:47:00.000-08:002004-02-25T04:49:20.763-08:00More on Martha Stewart
I've vacillated over the months over whether Martha Stewart should be held accountable for lying about receiving "insider" information regarding ImClone stock. A few weeks ago, I argued that if she went to jail, it would be due to her decision not just to fess up and pay the fine, forcing government to take her to court to penalize her. This article, however, makes an Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11060795911514538832noreply@blogger.com