June 2008
52 posts
Have Your Cake and Eat It Too or Bush v. Gore II →
It’s an odd nation we live in where there is a right to own a handgun “for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home,” yet have no fundamental right to education - a predicate to democratic action. Then again, maybe we need the right to own guns precisely because we do not have a right to education. See Heller and Rodriguez.
In a less heralded 5-4 decision...
DOJ's Gonzo →
Someone ought to take a survey amongst practicing lawyers to see where DOJ’s reputation stands now as compared to pre-AG. I’d be intrigued to know the results. Or hear some minority opinions from the department.
the notwist - boneless
Google Hates Love, America, and God →
And I heard their well-stocked cafeterias serve bunnies and puppies.
“Estrangement shows itself precisely in the elimination of distance between...”
– Theodor Adorno
In Fertile India? →
1. What’s bizarre is the double-mindedness with which this article speaks. On one hand, it seems to lavish praise upon the first Green Revolution, as if it made India a totally self-sufficient food producer. In reality, what it did was simply shift India’s dependence on external sources from food aid suppliers to industrial fertilizers and pesticides, the costs of which are likely...
deepalc:
As a strong supporter of affirmative action, I am often asked to debate it. But whether the forum is a television show or a college campus, I always try to decline … Those of us who believe in systematic efforts to attain racial justice should reform the terms of the public discourse … As every debater of any skill grasps, the ability to define the question effectively determines the...
Turkey v. Croatia
smalter:
I feel sorry for people whose idea of sport is centered around, say, the NBA Playoffs. There was more drama in 5 minutes of Turkey v. Croatia than the entire NBA finals.
There has been more drama in Euro 2008 than in the last 5 NBA seasons combined.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is tripped by Arne Friedrich, who slyly treads on the...”
– Joga Bonito? I think so.
Michelle on The View
deepalc:
I think there’s a difference between being evasive and being disingenuous. All politicians are evasive, but the bad ones are also disingenuous. On The View when Michelle Obama said, regarding her first time being proud of America comment, that she was referring to the political process, not America, she was being evasive for sure, in that she wasn’t answering the real question, but I...
A Kitchen Nightmare? →
Gordon is excellent television, with or without the swearing.
WatchI remember when smalter told me the Walkmen “sux’d” and then became obsessed “Little House of Savages,” from Bows and Arrows. For sure, his opinion of the band hasn’t changed - nor has his love for that song. My memory of driving around a wintery Ithaca in smalter’s car, the song blaring, is far better than both.
91 and done? →
A few days ago, I cut my finger while slicing some garlic. I was subsequently out of commission for two days. But ever the fighter, I predicted I would be able to sit and take notes for hours on end in my bar review class - and I did.
Tiger wins this round, but watch out world.
All Things South Asian
1. This movie looks idiotic. That it is offensive is a secondary fault. Or more to the point, it is offensive precisely because it is so idiotic (among other reasons). “Paramount says the film does not make reference to any particular religion.” Paramount has obviously not seen the movie. And neither will I. Or I will and blather on about the parts I found to be offensive.
2. Recipe...
The Future of Legal Research →
“I have this joke with my wife, Tatiana. We say that when I go to heaven to see...”
–
Obama-ji? →
Peter Rost: Bringing You The Truth Since 2004
Four years ago, Peter Rost made Big Pharma very mad. Big Pharma no likey be mad. For those of you having trouble finding a job, take solace…or credence.
My personal favorite quote:
“My critics are idiots. Only an idiot would want to lose a base pay of $250,000-plus per year in order to maybe ‘win’ a lawsuit that will almost always only pay dimes on the dollar versus real...
segway as organizing principle? →
Tracks my own conversion over the last few weeks. →
bike as organizing principle?
(via death & mayhem)
bicycle nomads
“For the radical few, the bicycle is an important part of the solution. The bicycle, that technological throwback from the nineteenth century, is for them a literal and metaphorical organizing principle for a new vision of the world, one that stands not simply against the most obvious form of petro-consumption, the automobile, but that heralds and...
Ecopocalypse
I watched this channel the other day. Why? I’m not quite sure. I wish I hadn’t.
Along with the (very valid) list of complaints in the linked to article, Planet Green seems to ascribe to the “I-can-still-do-everything-I-want-to-and-normally-do-so-long-as-it’s-‘green’” phenomenon instead of what needs to happen, namely, less of everything.
Evidence 101
Impeachment
“Mr. Woods, Mr. Woods! Right here! Are you COMPLETELY OUT OF YOUR MIND?”
– Rocco Mediate, after Tiger finished up his U.S. Open Round yesterday.
2 tags
Ride a Bike! →
While I’ve seen some recent improvement in DC’s bike friendliness, I wouldn’t call the latter half of this statement an accomplishment: “Bike lanes in Washington now stretch to 33 miles — 11 times longer than in 2001 — and more than half of the city’s subway stops now have bike racks.”
WatchNot the most exciting interview, but it isn’t everyday you get to see Frances Moore Lappé and the Wall Street Journal together.
It's just not Happening
Knives out again?
M. Night Shyamalan, once intriguing as a filmmaker, has lost his way. Since the absurd endings of “Signs” and “The Village,” (which wasted a fine performance by Adrian Brody), the initially warm critical reception of Shymalan’s work has cooled into sharp steel blades of scorn. Count me in. While I can’t deny him a certain mastery of...
Things to look forward to at the Beijing Olympics:...
With records falling all over the place, the 110 meter hurdles is setting up to be one of the premiere events at Beijing 2008. However, this does not sound to me like a confident runner:
“It’s such a good time; I wasn’t expecting that. Wow!” Robles, who wore glasses and a cross around his neck, told reporters after his record race. “I do not know if I can beat Liu Xiang in Beijing now. But we...
“The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in...”
– See this, this, and this.
EURO 2008 Fix →
“The ball is round. The game lasts ninety minutes. Everything else is theory.” - Sepp Herberger
“In addition to the health and environmental benefits, traversing city streets on...”
– Pedal Pusher
the "establishment pseudo-hipster"
In reading Matt Taibbi’s most recent book, The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, & Religion at the Twilight of the American Empire, I could not help but be reminded of Sasha Baron Cohen. Perhaps the two are kindred comic spirits of socio-political satire?
Everything I enjoy about Matt Taibbi’s work in a long-ish quote:
“The weird thing was...
messing with the zohan
I certainly will not mess with the zohan. That way don’t waste $10. I think I’ll spend it on this instead.