tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40338752011-04-21T15:23:41.274-04:00A Libertarian's Thoughts on WhateverA Journal of Random ThoughtsMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.comBlogger951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1060800281687534182003-08-13T14:44:00.000-04:002003-08-13T14:49:27.450-04:00I'm moving to a new site, http://www.implieddissent.blogspot.com. See you there.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1060709677119871582003-08-12T13:34:00.000-04:002003-08-12T13:34:37.026-04:00Here's a good piece on current thoughts on American Empire.
And here's another taking a more historical view of the issue.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1060655469403136702003-08-11T22:31:00.000-04:002003-08-11T22:31:09.326-04:00I kind of want to see Gigli now. It's looking historically bad.
Say it with me: Impeach Bush. And Cheney too.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1060202476062991672003-08-06T16:41:00.000-04:002003-08-06T16:44:53.800-04:00Boo!
Allow me to elaborate: You can only ask the men and women of our armed forces to put their lives at risk to protect our lives. Any other reason is just bullshit.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1060191437588267722003-08-06T13:37:00.000-04:002003-08-06T13:37:17.580-04:00The Washington Post has a good piece on Howard Dean. Interesting stuff. I'm still holding out hope that a better choice will emerge, but I may old my nose and vote for Dean, you know, for America.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1060104066704951942003-08-05T13:21:00.000-04:002003-08-05T13:21:06.670-04:00I watched the Red Sox play the Orioles in Camden Yards this weekend. The Sox were blown out, but Nomah hit a homah, so that was nice. More to my point, it's a great park. It's clean, has good food, has enough room, has a few nice subtle touches, and looks great. And that's why I no longer want them to build a new stadium for the Red Sox. I've supported the pro-new Fenway people for a while Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1059673860006207942003-07-31T13:51:00.000-04:002003-07-31T13:50:59.966-04:00I think the scariest part of this list of Bushmen lies is the last one. I used to say that Al Gore was the only candiate the Democrats could have run in 2000 who was worse than Bush. I guess the truth is that Bush is the only person the Republicans could have run who was worse than Algore.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1059067977591567192003-07-24T13:32:00.000-04:002003-07-24T13:32:57.476-04:00Man, this is such a great deal, I hope Bush takes it.
I don't think it necessarily says a lot about your credibility when Bill Clinton defends your actions.
I've said it before, I'll say it again, I love Ron Paul.
One of the issues where I'm not sure where I stand is gun control. Part of me is suspicious of people with guns. Guns are dangerous, so why shouldn't we regulate them, at least as Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1058550584224368782003-07-18T13:49:00.000-04:002003-07-18T13:49:44.210-04:00Support our troops, Donald. Resign.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1058487860850083512003-07-17T20:24:00.000-04:002003-07-17T20:36:58.826-04:00There was a recent study purporting to show how much the disparity between rich and poor grew in the 90's. Thomas Sowell does a nice job of showing most of the basic errors that taint the study.
Free Martha!
I don't think I could do any better than Horberger in explaining why the right of habeus corpus is vital to our freedoms. When that's taken away, they can take away everything else too, andMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1058293521465633792003-07-15T14:25:00.000-04:002003-07-15T14:25:21.400-04:00This gives new meaning to the idea of having an af. That's messed up.
Free speech? We don't need no stinking free speech.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1058036729680927362003-07-12T15:05:00.000-04:002003-07-12T15:12:39.463-04:00This is the best invention ever.
This is the worst invention ever.
Hulk smash! Hulk friend. Hulk great lover?
A pirate walks into a bar, and he's got a steering wheel on his crotch. The bartender looks at him and asks what the deal with the steering wheel is. The pirate goes,"rrrr, it's driving me nuts."Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1057927475885780572003-07-11T08:44:00.000-04:002003-07-11T08:45:25.493-04:00Quote of the day:
I think the burden is on those people who think he didn't have weapons of mass destruction to tell the world where they are.
Thanks, Ari.
I've been asked to blog this (as if more than 3 people read my blog), so I will. There's a lot about Dean I don't like, but we could do worse, reelecting Bush for instance. Anyway:
Dear ____, In light of late-breaking events, I thought it Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1057685147183744102003-07-08T13:25:00.000-04:002003-07-08T13:27:56.936-04:00Gotta love W. First he breaks all kinds of laws and principles to invade Iraq, and now he wants to invade Liberia too. At least he pretended Iraq was a matter of defending our vital interests. Falsely, of course, but there is no reason with Liberia to put our boys at risk. None.
Add to that the record expansion of the Federal Register, and it's clear for whom to vote in 2004.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1057338297498936372003-07-04T13:04:00.000-04:002003-07-04T13:04:57.400-04:00Happy Independence Day! The fight continues.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1057253300966277452003-07-03T13:28:00.000-04:002003-07-03T19:06:21.966-04:00ugh.
See, E, I wasn't copping out or giving a non-answer or whatever phrase it was you used. Michael Kinsley is, like, smart or something.
My hero!
I have no response to this.
Go to google, type weapons of mass destruction, and hit I'm feeling lucky.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1057081560692613222003-07-01T13:46:00.000-04:002003-07-01T13:46:30.730-04:00Maureen Dowd is a disgusting racist. As Eugene Volokh points out, why is Clarence Thomas attacked with so much hatred for his views on affirmative action, but white judges who are against it are generally simply disagreed with? Being black or white or whatever shouldn't impact whether or not you think these programs are constitutional, and that's what Thomas' job is, to determine their Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-1057081517507174302003-07-01T13:45:00.000-04:002003-07-01T13:45:36.613-04:00Maureen Dowd is a disgusting racist. As Eugene Volokh points out, why is Clarence Thomas attacked with so much hatred for his views on affirmative action, but white judges who are against it are generally simply disagreed with? Being black or white or whatever shouldn't impact whether or not you think these programs are constitutional, and that's what Thomas' job is, to determine their Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-960225982003-06-25T13:24:00.000-04:002003-06-25T13:24:45.403-04:00WMDs? Or WMD programs? The difference matters.
Here's a relatively in-depth look at globalization and sweatshops. Good stuff.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-960022312003-06-24T23:06:00.000-04:002003-06-24T23:06:07.503-04:00Michael Kinsley writes a great piece on affirmative action. He doesn't even take a position on what the correct policy should be, and I'm sure we disagree on that, but reading this will wash out the junk from your arguments.
I can't decide if I like Howard Dean or not (I definitely don't like him in a "I think he's great" way, but maybe in a "he's not bad" way), but don't dismiss him. I think Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-958922782003-06-21T10:15:00.000-04:002003-06-22T01:25:48.000-04:00mmm, yellow cake.
I think it may be time to go medieval on the government's ass. It also may be time to join the ACLU, right now the issues they're wrong on aren't nearly as important as the ones they're right on.
I don't agree with Wesley Clark on some things, but on foreign policy in general, and Iraq in particular, he seems pretty good.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-958786842003-06-20T20:00:00.000-04:002003-06-20T20:00:41.463-04:00A like-minded blogger on prescription drugs.
Need a date?
This is pretty unbelievable.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-958497122003-06-19T23:28:00.000-04:002003-06-19T23:28:32.966-04:00Tyler Dur-who?Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-957971922003-06-18T13:14:00.000-04:002003-06-18T13:19:53.000-04:00Whom are you loyal to?
Could Conan the Barbarian become...governor?Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-957376552003-06-16T22:11:00.000-04:002003-06-16T22:11:41.000-04:00This is a bit much.
Don't go here for whore presents, you'll be disappointed.
You should go to power genitalia.
Ok, now for serious stuff. Michael Kinsley on our freedom. Thomas Friedman on Israel. Good stuff.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-956844852003-06-15T10:00:00.000-04:002003-06-15T10:00:27.790-04:00A couple of quick links on insider trading and out-of-control prosecutors.
All I can say to this is finally.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-956363982003-06-13T13:47:00.000-04:002003-06-13T13:47:44.133-04:00If this is all true, damn.
More evidence of lies the administration tells us.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-955136902003-06-10T13:20:00.000-04:002003-06-10T13:49:24.000-04:00Impeach Bush. Like, now.
This is damn good.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-954880162003-06-09T21:06:00.000-04:002003-06-09T21:06:38.033-04:00Yeah globalization!
Boo Neo-fascists!Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-953780112003-06-06T13:23:00.000-04:002003-06-06T13:54:29.000-04:00It's the twenty-fifth anniversary of Proposition 13. It's hard to exaggerate the importance of it, though the fourth paragraph does just a little bit (though not as much as you probably think).
State morals.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-952814442003-06-04T09:03:00.000-04:002003-06-04T09:03:48.043-04:00Say it ain't so, Sammy, say it ain't so.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-949693682003-05-27T22:44:00.000-04:002003-05-27T22:44:19.713-04:00If you haven't yet, rent Brazil. It's a pretty fucking great movie.
I figured I'd put up the proposed EU constitution. I haven't read it all, not even close, as it is 148 pages. Seems a bit excessive to me. Our Constitution is more like 10 pages or so.
The right of return and property rights.
This is an excellent apology to our servicemen for what they have been put through by our stupid Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-948959802003-05-26T09:40:00.000-04:002003-05-26T09:42:15.000-04:00It's pretty incredible that right now the administration is trying to blame the CIA for not finding unconventional weapons in Iraq. Whom do they think they're kidding? The CIA publicly stated a few times that they didn't view Iraq as a threat, and there were reports of analysts feeling that they were being pressured to report what Rumsfeld and co. wanted to hear. And while this is happening, Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-948824832003-05-25T23:55:00.000-04:002003-05-25T23:56:42.000-04:00In case you feel that Cliff's Notes are just too long.
I think this is encouraging. It looks like a good step on the way to real progress. I'm not counting chickens before they're hatched, but there have to be many small moves before a good resolution is attained.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-948342652003-05-24T14:17:00.000-04:002003-05-24T14:18:14.000-04:00wohMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-947698532003-05-23T00:00:00.000-04:002003-05-23T00:00:02.196-04:00The whole thing is good, but pay extra attention to the fifth paragraph. Mind-blowing, really.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-945514452003-05-18T18:30:00.000-04:002003-05-18T18:30:37.230-04:00Pretty tired, but this weekend was pretty good. Surprisingly, graduations beat funerals.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-941727252003-05-11T20:33:00.000-04:002003-05-11T20:33:40.910-04:00I think I'd sum up the last few days as: cramped, good, good, annoying, very good and very bad, good, stressful, good, exhausting, good, tense, maddening, cool, tired, good, good, good, exasperating, cramped. A lot of my family is enjoyable to be around, but a lot of it wears on me a lot, especially over a 4-5 day period.
Anyway, here's a decent piece on Bush's tax plan.
And here's a very good Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-937701522003-05-04T20:38:00.000-04:002003-05-04T21:03:29.000-04:00Michael Moore has taken a lot of abuse for his views and methods. Some of the abuse is justified, but some is not. One of the points he made in Bowling for Columbine was that the way the US runs foreign policy has a spillover effect onto how we act. This may seem a bit far-fetched to some. But consider this. McVeigh specifically fingers the bombings of foreign nations as a big reason why he Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-937076512003-05-03T11:34:00.000-04:002003-05-03T11:34:40.650-04:00Here's a good primer on the philosophies of liberty and state.
So has the chaos that has followed the fall of the Iraqi government demonstrated the necessity of an encompassing state? Hardly.
Has the success of the military operation in Iraq shown that the use of force (i.e., state action) is the way to solve our domestic problems? I think not.
This is a disturbing (but not terribly surprising)Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-936810912003-05-02T20:51:00.000-04:002003-05-02T20:55:38.000-04:00There are a lot of parallels between what is happening now and what happened in Lebanon 20 years ago. Hopefully the neocons running things have studied up on this.
More evidence of administration lies.
Davy Crockett rules.
Sniff. Poor John. It's so sad.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-936310872003-05-01T22:51:00.000-04:002003-05-04T19:59:27.000-04:00We're pulling out of Saudi Arabia! Just another 35 countries or so to go. Although I shouldn't call the state 'we'. It is not part of we, at least not the way it is currently run.
Don't be economically stupid. Let Waltah help you (not McCarty, Williams). Oh, and go C's! Bring on the Nets.
It's Bush v. Bush. I think the guv wins this one.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-935650632003-04-30T21:01:00.000-04:002003-04-30T21:19:07.000-04:00I need some My Fanny toilet paper. Gotta remember to keep my pocket knife out of children.
We should keep US sovereignty out of the reach of the UN.
Lew on government corruption, which is a redundancy.
An amusing column on the warhawks' bait and switch.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-934406342003-04-28T22:59:00.000-04:002003-04-28T22:59:35.200-04:00Interesting analysis of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.
I now feel like I need to view and read A Clockwork Orange.
This article has made me rethink how I view externalities. Now I'm not sure what to think.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-933210212003-04-26T21:39:00.000-04:002003-04-26T21:39:43.060-04:00I had quite a bit of trouble reading this.
On Patriotism and criticism.
The US has been in a similar situation to what we're currently in with Iraq.
More hypocrisy from the administration.
An interesting piece from Murray Rothbard on conspircy theories. Not sure what to make of most of it, but it raises some good questions.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-932785582003-04-25T23:57:00.000-04:002003-04-26T00:08:10.000-04:00So I saw Divine Intervention tonight. Not quite sure what to make of it at this point. It was definitely weird. A lot of disconnected scenes. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I knew what was going a little more often.
Here's an interesting piece on gun control by Paul Craig Roberts. Also, it gives me another chance to plug Democracy by Decree, by Ross Sandler, aka, the nicest Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-932182072003-04-24T23:25:00.000-04:002003-04-24T23:25:28.450-04:00This is an incredible article on American and British war crimes.
And this is an incredible piece on the US economy by Gary North:
WILL ATLAS (THE CONSUMER) SHRUG?
Pity the American consumer. He is holding up the entire American economy -- indeed, the world's economy -- on his sagging, debt-burdened shoulders. If he ever shrugs, we're all doomed. If he ever looks in his Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-930910052003-04-23T00:07:00.000-04:002003-04-23T00:12:45.000-04:00The Iraq conflict is looking more and more pyrrhic all the time. I'm glad Saddam is gone, but there were much better ways to deal with the situation.
There have been numerous requests for a better explanation of the Laffer Curve. Ok, one request. Ok, it wasn't really a request, just a statement of not understanding it. Anyway, hopefully the following will help. Imagine that the income tax Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-927543072003-04-16T22:57:00.000-04:002003-04-16T23:08:09.000-04:00Walter Williams on the need for truthfulness in debates.
I look at a good number of nutty websites, but this one blows them all away.
Who doesn't love David Hasselhoff?
This is a pretty cool ad.
It turns out that the income tax is unconstitutional. I've advocated its repeal for a while now, so I'm happy to hear it in that sense. On the other hand, it disappoints me that the government has Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-924838802003-04-12T10:02:00.000-04:002003-04-12T10:02:51.670-04:00A few quick links:
An Iraqi Constitution.
On goverrnment-run anarchy.
An old friend of the US government has been unseated.
Does this sound familiar?Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-923963152003-04-10T21:10:00.000-04:002003-04-10T21:50:31.000-04:00Well, it's been a tough week personally, but I'm ready to get back in the saddle I think.
Apparently the Baseball Hall of Fame president is a fascist. Whether or not you agree with Robbins and Sarandon should have no impact on a completely non-political event. Besides, he played Andy Dufresne. That should allow him to do a lot of stupid things before we shun him completely (not that I think Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-919526882003-04-03T21:17:00.000-05:002003-04-03T21:44:15.000-05:00After the disasterous first game, the Red Sox are off to a good start. I think this could be the year. Of course, now I hate Rob Neyer. Doesn't he know that you're only allowed to mention thoughts like this in passing? Don't tempt fate.
Here is part three of Sowell on affirmative action. He's like wicked smaht.
Here's an interesting piece on the administration's thoughts. I guess they're Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-918859142003-04-02T22:06:00.000-05:002003-04-02T22:42:41.000-05:00Not quite sure what happened with Peter Arnett. I think he gave an interview to an Iraqi station and said some un-pc things, like the truth I guess, then was fired for it. I might have this wrong, in fact it's very likely. A good objective summary of what happened would be nice.
More good stuff from Charley Reese.
I have two good pieces on Donald Rumsfeld. The first is a substantive look at Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-918196622003-04-01T23:27:00.000-05:002003-04-01T23:27:08.246-05:00War and central planning.
Some health-care stuff.
This is pretty depressing stuff.
Here's Jack on tax cuts.
Sowell on quotas and honesty.
This was amusing for about one minute.
I liked this. Good Gorillaz (sp?) references.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-917539202003-03-31T23:13:00.000-05:002003-07-08T13:33:05.653-04:00A good list of distopian films that have a libertarian interpretation.
Is there such a thing as 'good vs. evil'? I'm not so sure now, at least not the way it is commonly understood. Well, I can say that this the Best Job on Earth, so that's good.
A good blog.
If you're wondering why the Iraqis aren't embracing US forces, read this quick history of US-British relations with Iraq.
More good stuffMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-916657482003-03-30T16:23:00.000-05:002003-04-01T23:28:47.000-05:00I'm going to write my own long(er) post in a few days. Really. For now, more links:
Here's an interesting take on a commonly accepted use of coercion.
The US is being a huge hypocrite with regards to the Geneva Convention. Of course, when someone points this out, they are denounced for practicing moral equivalence. Iraq may be much worse than the US, but that doesn't mean we are exempt from Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-915229272003-03-27T22:52:00.000-05:002003-03-27T22:57:58.000-05:00The similarities between what is happening now and the run-up to World War I are eerie.
If you want to know more about Elvis of academia, here you go.
I'm still not sure of what the best way to protest this 'war' is with our troops in the thick of the fight, but I don't doubt that doing so is patriotic, or at least it can be. Some people are anti-American, and some are just doing it to feel Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-914530252003-03-26T22:00:00.000-05:002003-03-26T22:26:49.000-05:00I think we need to invade Latin America next. It's the only logical thing to do.
A good breakdown of what has become of conservatism. Where have you gone, George Washington?
As Charley Reese points out, you really can't beat terrorism, at least not like you do a more traditional enemy like Nazi Germany. Most actions we take to get rid of the terrorists only help them by pissing more people offMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-913264042003-03-24T23:58:00.000-05:002003-03-25T00:00:39.000-05:00A couple quick links while working on a school project:
Maureen takes a few, legitimate, shots at Richard Perle, aka The Prince of Darkness, aka Master of the Universe (in his head anyway).
A resignation letter from a former member of the US Foreign Service. Is member the right term to use?Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-911616292003-03-21T22:43:00.000-05:002003-03-21T22:46:17.000-05:00This is either the coolest or lamest man alive. My money is on lamest.
If you ever get down on yourself and feel like your life is going horribly wrong, watch this. You'll either feel much better or much worse. (It's kind of long, so be prepared). There are other cool movies on the site, so looking around is recomended.
Nothing the government does can help out poor people as much as cutting Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-911002832003-03-20T22:22:00.000-05:002003-03-20T22:39:19.000-05:00There was an anti-war protest tonight in Boston at Government Center. I was going to go, but I decided I couldn't. I am still extremely opposed to the 'war', but I don't think going to a protest is the way to show it at this point. When our troops are actively engaged in combat, I am very careful about what actions I take to oppose the fighting. I don't blame them for what is happening, and Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-908364462003-03-16T23:33:00.000-05:002003-03-16T23:33:50.576-05:00Please readMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-907763032003-03-15T16:12:00.000-05:002003-03-15T16:17:37.000-05:00Here's an interesting take on whom we should vote for for president.
There's a lawsuit seeking an injunction against Bush and Rumsfeld to stop the war. I doubt it will work, but it is absolutely correct. It is unconstitutional to wage war without a congressional declaration of war, which the resolution Congress passed last fall was not.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-907432922003-03-14T21:40:00.000-05:002003-03-15T16:09:17.000-05:00Not sure what exactly to make of this, but it was written by Taki, so it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Just want to point out that when someone says that Jews have excessive influence over our Middle East policies, that doesn't necesarily make them Jew-haters. Some are to be sure, but some are just trying to help us keep a balanced view of things, and some have other motives.
Words Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-906888882003-03-13T23:09:00.000-05:002003-03-13T23:20:36.000-05:00Much like Tommy Heinsohn loves Waltah, I love Harry Browne. (Except not in the gay way like I suspect Tommy does. Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
Here I go again, claiming someone 'everyone knows' is an anti-semite isn't. But I really don't think he is one. The only thing I know of that he has said that can be construed as anti-semitic is really not.
Well, Ralph Nader is a big Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-906247572003-03-12T21:40:00.000-05:002003-03-12T23:38:28.000-05:00Not going to say a lot, just a few links to post:
Matt Taibbi on the Prez's press conference
Taki on Famous Last Words
Not a pretty sight/site
I am so proud to be a Brandeis graduate
Two candidates have emerged as contenders for my support
More evidence the administration isn't being forthright about its intentions (as if we needed more proof)
Regime change a good thing? Hell yeah.
Finally, Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-903602812003-03-08T12:08:00.000-05:002003-03-08T12:17:47.000-05:00I haven't written much about it, but what is going on with regards to our civil liberties is pretty frightening. I guess the Bushies said to themselves 'hmm, the muslim world hates us for our freedoms, so let's rid of the them. No freedom, no problem.' I am of course exaggerating, we're still a lot more free than a lot of countries are, but it's still pretty bad. I don't want to be less bad Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-902090102003-03-05T20:36:00.000-05:002003-03-08T11:53:59.000-05:00Today is an important day, the fifieth anniversary of Joseph Stalin's death. Of all the evil men to gain power in the twentieth century, he was probably the worst. May we never see his likes again. Some notable quotes that sum his philosophy of life (if we can call it that) up well: 'A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.' 'Death is the solution to all problems...No Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-901511832003-03-04T21:57:00.000-05:002003-03-04T22:57:02.000-05:00Still have faith in the administration? Read this and this.
Need to waste time? Play this. Or this.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-900848432003-03-03T21:14:00.000-05:002003-03-03T21:18:06.000-05:00I've been saying for awhile that recycling isn't really helping the environment in most cases. The apparent benefits are easily seen, but the costs are not so easily seen. Reusing papers and such can be a good thing, but driving a pollution machine around to collect them only substitutes one kind of environment effect for another one, for example. And even the Swedes now agree.
I had a long Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-898834172003-02-28T00:00:00.000-05:002003-02-28T17:27:50.000-05:00I've read some of anti-state.com recently. Some of it is pretty amateurish, but some is pretty good.
Apparently there's a conspiracy to keep you poor and stupid. I don't actually believe that, just because it gives those responsible too much credit.
Here's an interesting piece on empire.
So Vin Baker is being suspended by the Celtics to deal with his alcoholism. Very interesting. I had kind Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-895645512003-02-22T15:38:00.000-05:002003-02-22T18:04:49.000-05:00After seeing the animation at the top of this link, I don't know how environmentalists can be anti-SUV. Apparently, nature loves them.
If you ever need to write something shitty, then you need one of these.
Some good Seinfeld quotes from The Outing episode.
I don't have much to say about this, except that I found it through a completely unrelated site. I don't go looking for this stuff. ReallyMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-894735032003-02-20T22:29:00.000-05:002003-02-27T23:46:26.000-05:00sweet
he he
Dave Barry
not goodMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-894024782003-02-19T20:48:00.000-05:002003-02-19T20:49:41.000-05:00I'm getting tired of people saying that the anti-war protesters are anti-American. It really is a bunch of bullshit, but it's also irrelevant. Let's stipulate that a large portion on the protesters are anti-American; does that make attacking a country which has never threatened us right? Let's stipulate that a large portion are communists; is it ok to murder thousands, if not millions, of Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-890717592003-02-13T23:06:00.000-05:002003-02-13T23:09:49.000-05:00So I've been getting kind of upset at Colin Powell recently. I had previously pegged him as the voice of reason within the administration, the man who would keep us from plunging ourselves into a stupid war, the man in the best position to restrain the more belligerent elements, like Donald Rumsfeld and Richard Perle. So when he came out as a hawk I was naturally very disappointed. When he Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-886859682003-02-06T22:52:00.000-05:002003-02-06T22:55:20.000-05:00So now Taki is under investigation by Scotland Yard and may be arrested for writing this column. I mean, what the fuck is going on in the world? We're supposed to be impressed that England supports our administration? For more on the story, here you go. Boycott the UK! (I'm only half serious, I don't believe in that kind of boycott. But do boycott interleague major league baseball games. Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-884522002003-02-02T22:41:00.000-05:002003-02-02T22:41:29.390-05:00So I've read a few people who are trying to denigrate the Miller Lite catfight ads. They say that they portray women as just sex objects, and men as idiots. These people need to get over it. Does every ad have to show women purely as brainiacs and nuns? I mean, loosen up. I see no contradiction whatsoever in admiring some women for their brains, and some women for their beauty, and a few forMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-882403782003-01-29T20:42:00.000-05:002003-02-01T18:33:54.000-05:00Alright, Bucs. Take that Raiders!
So I wound up 4-7 against the spread in the playoffs, pretty poor, but 8-3 picking winners, not bad. I think that the favorite wins about 70 or 80% of the time normally, and I was at 72.7%, around average. So basically, don't ever take my advice on football bets, at least until I prove myself better than this, but I could be a lot worse. Tuesday Morning Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-880199502003-01-25T16:59:00.000-05:002003-01-25T17:01:02.000-05:00Time for my Superbowl pick. Oakland is favored by 4, I believe. I really dislike Oakland. A lot. I have no strong feelings either way about Tampa Bay. So I'm definitely rooting for Tampa Bay to win. Unfortunately, the Raiders have a better team. Certainly the Bucs defense is the best, but the Raider D is often overlooked despite being pretty good. Oakland has an excellent offense, while Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-878782232003-01-22T22:32:00.000-05:002003-01-25T16:46:09.000-05:00Ok, so I'm 3-7 in the playoffs against the spread, which sucks. I am 7-3 just picking winners, which is respectable; not good, but not bad either. I'm certainly not as bad as the reported Israeli plan to assassinate people on American Soil. I mean, what the fuck?
[I've been informed this link now has swastikas on the banner ad. I thought about taking down this post, but I think that would Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-876828512003-01-19T11:12:00.000-05:002003-01-19T11:14:20.000-05:00The conference championships are today. Last week was a disaster for me, going 1-3 against the spread, making me 3-5 overall. Bleh. Here are my worthless picks for today's games:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at Philadelphia, Eagles favored by 4. Tampa Bay looked great last week, and their defense is always great. I'm still unsure about Brad Johnson, and their runnng game is poor. Philly also Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-873375192003-01-12T23:57:00.000-05:002003-01-13T16:49:11.000-05:00Here are more thoughts on Iraq. I would write about North Korea, but I don't know nearly as much, and I think our general idea of how to deal with them is less asinine. But I'm open to other people's ideas on the subject, or just about any subject really.
Even if Iraq is planning to acquire a nuclear weapon to use against the United States, we are not justified in attacking the country and Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-872407432003-01-10T18:44:00.000-05:002003-01-19T11:15:09.000-05:00Last week's playoff games were great. Well, Saturday wasn't terribly interesting, but Sunday was terrific. I would have preferred it if the Browns had won, but watching the Steelers comeback was a lot of fun. Then to see the Giants choke away that huge lead was marvellous. Good times, good times. I wound up 2-2 against the spread, which is ok I guess, but hopefully I'll improve this week.
Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-870809612003-01-07T17:52:00.000-05:002003-01-07T18:03:43.000-05:00When talking about Iraq, the administration's stated reason for wanting regime change often changes. One day we are told it's because Saddam has or is close to having weapons of mass destruction. The next it's that he gassed his own people, and practiced genocide. Then it's that he tried to kill Bush I. Next we are told of his history of aggression. Also, he violates UN resolutions Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-869679832003-01-05T13:20:00.000-05:002003-01-05T13:29:49.000-05:00So my lost blog was something about reading different people's work. I believe it was Emerson who said that every man is superior to me in some way, so I can learn something from everybody I meet (I'm paraphrasing a bit). One writer that I recommend is Taki Theodoracopulos. Taki seems to split his columns in half; some are about the amusing happenings of his life, while the other half are Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-869514882003-01-05T01:23:00.000-05:002003-01-05T01:23:22.973-05:00I just finished writing a blog, and of course blogspot loses it! I guess I'll rewrite it tomorrow. Damn.Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-869082652003-01-03T23:59:00.000-05:002003-01-10T18:48:01.000-05:00NFL playoffs start tomorrow, and here are my picks for the week:
The Jets are favored at home over the Colts by 6 points. I like the Colts and I hope they win. Manning is a great QB, Harrison is an extraordinary WR, and Dungy has improved the defense significantly. However, both Peyton and Dungy have histories of poor performances in the playoffs. The Jets, on the other hand, played great Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-868150572003-01-02T00:22:00.000-05:002003-01-02T00:22:50.130-05:00I'm happy to see Bill Parcells is coming back to the NFL. He's one of the greatest coaches the league has known. More talent in the mix is definitely a good thing. Plus, the potential for interesting, controversial, stupid stories coming out of Dallas only increases. Putting Parcells' need for control alongside Jerry Jones' ego is just asking for trouble. Maybe Jerry has learned a few thingsMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-866365792002-12-28T17:06:00.000-05:002002-12-28T17:08:55.000-05:00So I have heard the people's laments (aka BLowe's whining), and will respond with a new entry. Sorry it took so long. Been home for Christmas, spending time with my little nephew, relaxing. It takes a lot of hard work to do nothing, and I need a break from time to time. Anyway, I was talking to one of my sisters, then all of a sudden half my family (and it's a pretty big family) was piling onMaestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-864274552002-12-23T02:56:00.000-05:002003-01-04T12:19:01.000-05:00So this is a tripartite blog. The Patriots are really pissing me off. They were so awful tonight against the Jets. It was hard to watch. And yet, they could have won the game. They messed up three plays, one by Givens, one by Brady, one by Brown. If they hadn't blown those plays they would have been in pretty good shape. So I'm not sure what to think of them overall. They absolutely need Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-863340842002-12-20T16:05:00.000-05:002002-12-20T16:08:36.000-05:00So here are my thoughts on US foreign policy. Stop!
Ok, maybe I should explain in more detail. The US has military bases and personnel all over the world. Most of these are in countries that can absolutely defend themselves, such as Japan. Some of these countries don't really mind very much, as it makes defending these countries necessary for us. We also have bases in countries that let us Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-862873972002-12-19T16:32:00.000-05:002002-12-23T02:32:58.000-05:00Ok, so I am getting really tired of this whole Trent Lott situation. Trent, please step down as majority leader. Whether or not you are a racist, you are just hanging onto your position for power at this point. You're hurting your party, and you will hurt the country. You could have pretty easily avoided all this, but you didn't, and now you must step down.
There are many interpretations as Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-862761552002-12-19T11:53:00.000-05:002002-12-23T02:33:18.000-05:00To see a poor argument for welcoming Clemens back to the Sox, see Alex's blog. To summarize it for you: The Red Sox have had some eccentric pitchers in the past that we liked. Clemens is an asshole. Let's welcome him back. Plus, Duquette was an asshole, and he didn't like Clemens, so that's even more reason to get Clemens to return.
First off, being eccentric has just about nothing to do Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-862272582002-12-18T12:40:00.000-05:002002-12-23T02:33:34.000-05:00So there's talk of Roger Clemens returning to Boston to end his career with the Red Sox. This sounds like a great idea. And by great I mean awful. Clemens, or as I like to call him, Satan, is, as far as I'm concerned, not welcome back. People ask what he did to cause so much hatred. Read this site, Is Roger Clemens really the Antichrist?, and hopefully you'll understand. To sum it up Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033875.post-862009162002-12-17T22:48:00.000-05:002002-12-18T16:08:38.000-05:00So this is my first blog. Probably not going to write anything too profound today. A few sites to recommend: Antiwar.com, polyconomics.com, lewrockwell.com, oddtodd.com. I don't vouch for everything on these sites, but they're usually interesting, sometimes out there, often excellent. Oddtodd is for fun, don't take it too literally, and make sure to explore some of the links on the left. Maestrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733516423927980584noreply@blogger.com0