tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post8175897244600243699..comments2024-03-27T23:12:08.917-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Not Perfect?David Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-21633882066855132912008-11-07T09:59:00.000-08:002008-11-07T09:59:00.000-08:00I am oddly reminded of some twenty years ago when ...I am oddly reminded of some twenty years ago when I was talking via e-mail with someone who asked me if I were "the" Robert Howard. I blinked and e-mailed him back that I was the only Robert Howard I knew, outside of a band director from high school.<BR/><BR/>He then asked if I was <I>the</I> Robert Howard who wrote the Conan the Barbarian books (Robert E. Howard). The poor fan was disappointed to learn that the early fantasy stories he was reading online were in fact the amateur scribblings of someone with the same name, rather than undiscovered works from a famous author.<BR/><BR/>Ah well, maybe when I'm published I'll attract some impulse buyers who think they're getting a "rediscovered work" of a Howard I'm not related to. ^^;;<BR/><BR/>Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-73628820645217481112008-11-07T08:14:00.000-08:002008-11-07T08:14:00.000-08:00Just quickly - to get it out of my system - big fa...Just quickly - to get it out of my system - big fan of your work, David. And Stefan Jones is here too! Brilliant! (Don't tell me that is the *real* William Shatner as well....)<BR/><BR/>Ahem - anyway, to try and rescue this before you all write me off as a complete raving fool (too late):<BR/><BR/>My heartfelt congratulations to you and your country, and my very best wishes and excitement for the future. Obama's victory has sent ripples of hope across the entire world. It has re-affirmed my belief in America as an example to us all of what can be, what we can achieve together, as a species, if only we can hold a candle up to banish the darkness of ignorance and hatred. <BR/><BR/>I stayed up through the night to watch the results coming in (funny I've never done that for one of our own elections here in the UK); I'm sure this is going to be one of those days that we all remember for the rest of our lives. <BR/><BR/>The speeches were great - McCain was gracious and honourable, and I saw a glimpse of the man that had impressed everybody in the past - but seemed absent during the campaign. I hope he will indeed stick around to help the new administration in moving things forward. I often find myself having a knee-jerk anti-Republican reaction - and I fully understand that this is unreasonable. If more of them spoke and acted like McCain did with his concession, or Colin Powell has (both before and after the result), my respect for that party would increase enormously.<BR/><BR/>But as for Barack Obama - what can I say? It feels so good to be inspired by a leader; I've never felt like this before - and he's not even MY leader! (Although, of course, it is not entirely inconsequential to the rest of us who the President of the most powerful nation on Earth is). Maybe it's the deficit of brainy people being in power of late that has done this - but I saw a comment recently that has left a mark with me: America has an adult in charge again.<BR/><BR/>I wish him all the very best of luck - he has a lot of people's dreams resting on his shoulders now, with a country, scratch that, with a world in some difficult straits. And that's one of the things I love about him so much - he truly seems to get that idea; that while clearly his focus must be on America, it is the whole world that all of us must think in terms of now. "Our destinies, shared". Absolutely.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure he won't succeed in all his policies, and that there will be more difficult times ahead - and I agree with tacitus2 that it is simply the civic duty of all to keep an eye on what happens. As it really should be for the people of any nation on Earth with their own governments.<BR/><BR/>But for the simple gift of hope that Obama has given the world, that things CAN be made better, I thank him completely.<BR/><BR/>Finally - I agree with David about the irrelevance of his race: the BBC election coverage kept dwelling on it, to the point where I was growling "you know, there really is a whole lot more to this man than the colour of his skin.".<BR/><BR/>But for all that - there is still something powerfully affecting about seeing the Obamas, the new First Family, stepping out onto that stage in Grant Park. It was at that moment that it sank in for me - this really is more than just a victory for the Democrats and America. It's a victory for hope and the ideals that make America great. Wonderful, inspiring stuff.<BR/><BR/>Dunno if you saw this, from an unidentified person in St Louis - but it's one of those quotes that (even as a filthy middle class white-skinned englischer) left my heart pounding and the words blurring before my eyes:<BR/><BR/>"Rosa sat, so Martin could march, so Barack could run, so our children could fly". <BR/><BR/>Amen, and may it be true for all our children. <BR/><BR/>All the very best, and here's to the human race,<BR/><BR/>Tim<BR/><BR/>PS The BBC did post a great little short summarising the day, check it out:<BR/><BR/>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/<BR/>us_elections_2008/7710093.stm<BR/><BR/>.... it includes THAT shot, of the Obamas walking out to greet the crowd. I think it will stay with me forever.Tim Whittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06299427795199875058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-37203038746301057282008-11-07T04:50:00.000-08:002008-11-07T04:50:00.000-08:00Except of course it would be the legal definition ...Except of course it would be the <I>legal</I> definition of marriage. Seeing that there <I>is</I> a separation of Church and States, and I'd be stating this is "saving" marriage by shifting the legal aspect to something the government can't meddle in...<BR/><BR/>But yeah. I could see the anti-gay marriage crowd turning in that direction. Which is why I would like advice like this so I could see the upcoming landmines and how best to navigate around them.<BR/><BR/>(The ironic thing is, some fifteen years ago I was a homophobe (in that I feared homosexuals, not in the hate-sense), and am quite straight. I've just gotten quite annoyed at prejudice, especially when people refuse to try and grow beyond it. Am I prejudiced? Yes. Do I struggle to overcome it? Yes. Should others? Yes. ^^)<BR/><BR/>Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-66567911650419923522008-11-06T23:24:00.000-08:002008-11-06T23:24:00.000-08:00My issue with Rob's "Civil Unions to replace marri...My issue with Rob's "Civil Unions to replace marriage universally" is that it would feed into the "Gays are destroying marriage" meme. <BR/>Changing a name for something, even on a symbolic basis like this, changes the mental map for that something. Too many folks that would support gay marriage per se would listen to pundits describing the "end of marriage."<BR/>Our nation is not ready for this particular jiu jitsu move - it would sink into culture war hell and taint anyone that agreed to try it.matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17757867868731829206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-50231402235510249402008-11-06T20:19:00.000-08:002008-11-06T20:19:00.000-08:00Whatever. I *think* David was simulating shock and...Whatever. I *think* David was simulating shock and awe at a minor gaffe.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, post-election, there's something rather apt about this bizarre tale (from Arizona, yet!):<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2008/11/06/1225561019144.html" REL="nofollow" TITLE="McVeighs are rising!">Jogger runs 1km with rabid fox on arm</A>Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-71514014101376100062008-11-06T17:16:00.000-08:002008-11-06T17:16:00.000-08:00re "A man touched down on the moon".It grated upon...re "A man touched down on the moon".<BR/><BR/>It grated upon me because it's not a correct description of the landing. Others have pointed me at the transcript where it's easy to see that he was beginning three sentences in a row with "a" followed by a singular concrete noun, so it's *probably* just artistic license not noticed because of my hyper-sensitivity to the matter.<BR/><BR/>Still, and just for its own sake, it's important to watch Obama's handling of matters regarding science.<BR/><BR/>-- TWZAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-15392007372057599622008-11-06T15:59:00.000-08:002008-11-06T15:59:00.000-08:00I haven't heard the speech, or seen the transcript...I haven't heard the speech, or seen the transcript but, in deference to Buzz Aldrin and glass barriers, it should have been 'two people'Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-59827236398098212532008-11-06T15:38:00.000-08:002008-11-06T15:38:00.000-08:00The worst was "a man touched down on the moon" whi...<I>The worst was "a man touched down on the moon" which might mean he is ignorant of the history of the space program (bad news in general, but reparable if he picks good advisers who understand the importance of science), or it may simply have been a moment of distraction while writing the speech.</I><BR/><BR/>Could you unpack that? I.E. Explain what you mean, because I don't see any error. What should he have said instead?<BR/><BR/>Captain Button posting anonymous because blogger doesn't like my livejournal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58898355545007169962008-11-06T14:48:00.000-08:002008-11-06T14:48:00.000-08:00Here's the actual thing to do. Demand odds! Demand...<I>Here's the actual thing to do. Demand odds! Demand that they put actual money on the table, every time they do this. Offer them GOOD odds! Two to one... three to one... five to one... and make it a matter of balls n' manhood.<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>The only balls some of these folk have come out of a blunderbus. Just as importantly, see if you can agree on win/lose criteria... (from prior observations, and comments about them never admitting wrong, that will be an achievement in itself)<BR/><BR/>... meanwhile, the centre doesn't hold: <A HREF="http://www.theage.com.au/world/insiders-spill-beans-on-sarah-palin-20081107-5jk0.html" REL="nofollow" TITLE="Thank goodness for blacks, catholics and jews!">Insiders spill beans on Sarah Palin</A><BR/><BR/>sypermle: learning how to spell the French president's name while getting your hair done.Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-13573164583648492312008-11-06T14:16:00.000-08:002008-11-06T14:16:00.000-08:00william,Rahm's the guy with steel boots. He's Chie...william,<BR/><BR/>Rahm's the guy with steel boots. He's Chief of Staff -- that's the best place for an LBJ. Axelrod is in too (Senior Advisor), and he's ice to Rahm's fire.<BR/><BR/>Obama likes Lincoln, and his cabinet, a lot. Quite a presidential scholar, that one. Rahm's appointment means that he won't be Illinois next senator.<BR/><BR/>But the big thing that choosing such a armtwister as Rahm says?<BR/><BR/>Big Things Ahead. Unpopular Things.<BR/><BR/>and with such a pro-wall street congress, that means something good!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-6358123818006588602008-11-06T13:43:00.000-08:002008-11-06T13:43:00.000-08:00On another note, it looks like Rahm Emmanuel (did ...<I>On another note, it looks like Rahm Emmanuel (did I spell that right?) is in. It says quite a bit about how far we've come how quickly that the phrase "a black guy, a Catholic and a Jew go to the White House..." still sounds like the setup for a joke. <BR/></I><BR/><BR/>The appointment of Rom worries me. He is basically the leg-breaker for the left that Karl Rove is -- and he was a thorn in Howard Dean's side for the 50 state strategy. Rom seems to have the ear of the DNC, despite failure after failure with the Democratic party. Dean and Obama have resurrected the grass roots of Liberalism.<BR/><BR/>You could look at this three ways;<BR/>1) Cynically. Rom is a hatchet man. It would also make Obama part of the old DNC and not part of the Progressives.<BR/>2) That Obama is really smart. Put the power brokers for both sides on your team -- pretty much a Lincoln move.<BR/>3) Even smarter; Obama needs a hatchet man to go after the NeoCons, while he concentrates on doing good things. He is consolidating Democratic power, but he is also consolidating Republican power by giving the carrots and sticks.<BR/><BR/>But I'm really hoping for a 4th alternative. Using his hero status wisely, and walking into the senate and congress a few times and telling them "shame on you, we are better than this." Using the media to do surprise visits in other nations. And when the inevitable attacks come from the opposition, to quickly respond like he did in the election and put the straight up facts in front of the American people.<BR/><BR/>>> Because ultimately, to be successful, Obama's team is going to have to educate the American people. We've been too long fed American exceptionalism, Globalism, and Supply-side economics. He needs to make repudiating the politics AND economics of the past a top priority.<BR/><BR/>Among of course, 100 other top priorities. But this looks like a sharp crew that is up to the challenge.Fake_William_Shatnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027049743048836086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-37832790945785331252008-11-06T13:31:00.000-08:002008-11-06T13:31:00.000-08:00If you watch this video;http://www.iousathemovie.c...If you watch this video;<BR/>http://www.iousathemovie.com/<BR/><BR/>Then it is pretty clear that Reagan ran the economy off the cliff. How many welfare queens can be paid off with the S&L bailout or our deficit? How many times could we fly to the moon, pay for health care, and send everyone in the country to college?<BR/><BR/>The Iraq war will end up costing about $4.5 Trillion. You have to count all the off balance sheet items like the medical care for a paraplegic vet. We could have made everyone in that country a really, really big bribe -- more money than they could make in their lifetime, to just give us the country and walk to Sudan.<BR/><BR/>Please don't bother telling us doom and gloom stories about the Dems. The world is ready for the American Dream, because Bush showed them the nightmare. You guys pretty much walked with him lock step until you started paying to much at the gas pump... I almost chiseled that prediction in stone in 2001.Fake_William_Shatnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027049743048836086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-60041827886171152412008-11-06T13:25:00.000-08:002008-11-06T13:25:00.000-08:00I hope everyone (right, left, middle, or other) wi...<I>I hope everyone (right, left, middle, or other) will hold President Obama to the same standard as they held Bush.</I><BR/><BR/>I'll be holding him and myself to a higher standard.<BR/><BR/>The idea that going after corruption and treason is "payback" for the Democrats is nonsense. Democrats have a history of burying the hatchet before the ax murder is put away. <BR/><BR/>We've been coasting for 30 years on our infrastructure -- higher taxes may be a reality. The idea that you can save money for a few months by not getting an oil change, does not save you money in the long run.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I don't see much chance that Obama is going to be doing things that hurt small business. But we are definitely going to see some sort of stimulus package. The Republicans will have spent far more on the wars that have NO positive benefit towards our infrastructure or jobs.<BR/><BR/>The economy may still yet tank. But that isn't nearly as bad a thing that if we forgot to look out for the little guy or threw away our Constitution. I'd rather feed my kids porridge than have another war for oil.<BR/><BR/>>> Kudos Brin on finding this article from Mark Anderson. I totally agree with his assessment of Obama. While he is making his world tour, I hope he just puts some decent people in the justice department with the mandate of "get rid of the bad eggs" and lets them do their job.<BR/><BR/>They definitely are setting up to take over the helm of the country BEFORE January. I could find it very likely, that they would whisper; "the future president would really appreciate it if you could find time to do X, Y and Z." Obama will be getting orders followed -- with GLEE, by the day-job clerks in Washington almost immediately. Nothing but a direct order from Bush will carry weight beyond his political cronies.<BR/><BR/>I haven't felt this positive in 8 damn years -- maybe longer because of the stain that Newt Gingrich left during his reign.<BR/><BR/>And I never voted for Clinton though I wish I had -- I voted for Ross Perot because I was worried that the greatest threat to our nation was lobbyists.... and it was.<BR/><BR/>And I wasn't too happy about pappy Bush, nor Reagan.<BR/><BR/>I was OK with Clinton but was too young to know that he was right about a lot more if people were looking at good management of the country long-term. Though this did nothing to move his own party.<BR/><BR/>>> Well, OK, I think this is about the first time I've EVER felt excited about a President. I'd still like to see Kucinich and Paul Tsongas in the cabinet (rest in peace).<BR/><BR/>I feel we can get through any challenge America is presented with, as long as the American people can believe in each other, their principles, and look to the future. Devotion to dogma, or ONE WAY of solving problems and letting the issues get framed needs to be put away with the kiddy toys. If a Conservative wants to try a program, we do it on a small scale, and have a liberal one run against it -- there should be a willingness to test solutions, rather than to adhere to un-proven beliefs as if they were gospel.<BR/><BR/>I'll get down off my soap box. The Dow is down almost 500 points. There is a lot of work to be done, but now I'm not so worried about WW III or an attack. About the only thing I'm worried about right now is a hit on Obama. Whether the Karl Rove and Media gang up, or someone with a gun -- because we know that only the good die young. I also worry just a little, that the Dems will just play good cop, bad cop, but will be following the same crooks as the Republicans.<BR/><BR/>But we shall see, and I definitely won't be quiet if I see the Dems keep the BushCo powers and play politics with war.Fake_William_Shatnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027049743048836086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-88014026731588353522008-11-06T13:02:00.000-08:002008-11-06T13:02:00.000-08:00No point in saving the endless variety of paranoid...No point in saving the endless variety of paranoid fantasies. They should not be answered directly, but with a meta-reply...<BR/><BR/>...that the right has sunk so low that all they have is assertions, anecdotes and just-so stories... none of them - absolutely none of them - ever proved.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, the other side has all the boring old statistics, facts and reality. The movement of Barry Goldwater has lobotomized itself into a tribe so desperate for reasons to justify hatred, that they make up awful things just in order to hope desperately that they might be so...<BR/><BR/>...while quietly dropping all the old fantasies, as soon as they become untenable.<BR/><BR/>Here's the actual thing to do. <I>Demand odds!</I> Demand that they put actual money on the table, every time they do this. Offer them GOOD odds! Two to one... three to one... five to one... and make it a matter of balls n' manhood.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-8538993624115348732008-11-06T12:17:00.000-08:002008-11-06T12:17:00.000-08:00So, a couple more fears about Obama that I heard t...So, a couple more fears about Obama that I heard this morning at work.<BR/><BR/>That he wants to enact martial law to prevent riots on Inauguration Day.<BR/><BR/>He wants to change the US flag, the national anthem because they represent war.<BR/><BR/>Are you saving these, David?Kelsey Gowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13285652800584374081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-2543643446469395072008-11-06T12:03:00.000-08:002008-11-06T12:03:00.000-08:00That the fringes, and the not so fringe, will try ...<I>That the fringes, and the not so fringe, will try to 'get even' for the past 8 years</I><BR/><BR/>Do you honestly feel the guilty parties will change their behavior at all, without a dose of concrete punishment? (I mean concrete as opposed to abstract, but the other interpretation is entertaining as well).<BR/><BR/><I>If he starts to shred the economy worse than it is now, with tax plans that kill small and start up businesses...</I><BR/><BR/>You have seen his actual economic plans, yes? Contrary to the incessant whining of the right, he's not actually planning on squelching small businesses.<BR/><BR/><I>I hope everyone (right, left, middle, or other) will hold President Obama to the same standard as they held Bush.</I><BR/><BR/>Which is to say, none at all.Cliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04198405937534052637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-49123225578459851392008-11-06T10:19:00.000-08:002008-11-06T10:19:00.000-08:00Wireless broadband over TV airwaves approved in US...Wireless broadband over TV airwaves approved in US<BR/><BR/>Obama's ascendency to government coincides with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approving the use of massive tracts of analogue television spectrum to be used for wireless broadband once TV is switched to digital in the US.<BR/><BR/>====<BR/><BR/>Dell may be one of Microsoft’s largest customers, but the hardware heavyweight has decided that Windows simply isn’t good enough for today’s fast-paced and ‘instant on’ world.<BR/><BR/>This doesn’t mean that Dell is ditching Windows as its OS of choice – however, the company has cooked up its own Linux system-on-a-chip module that co-exists with Windows while at the same time shouldering the monolithic OS to one side.<BR/><BR/>The aim is to give laptops the same fast functionality as a BlackBerry when it comes to tasks such as email, which is how the project got its development codename of ‘BlackTop’ – a portmanteau of BlackBerry and laptop. At Dell’s business notebook launch in New Dehli, the company previewed the technology (which now goes by the marketing-friendly name of Latitude ON) which is being baked into its new Latitude business notebooks.<BR/>http://apcmag.com/inside_dells_blacktop_laptop_linux_os.htm<BR/><BR/>====<BR/><BR/><BR/>Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who campaigned for US President Elect Barack Obama, may be in line for the tech chief spot on Obama's team.<BR/><BR/>President(elect) Barack Obama has created the position of Chief Technology Officer in his newly formed US government, but has not yet announced who will take the spot up.<BR/>However, it's telling that the position was created just before Obama made his first official visit to Google's headquarters while on the campaign trail.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-12260414454140138722008-11-06T10:18:00.000-08:002008-11-06T10:18:00.000-08:00"a black guy, a Catholic and a Jew go to the White..."a black guy, a Catholic and a Jew go to the White House..." har!David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-19597472538664889172008-11-06T10:16:00.000-08:002008-11-06T10:16:00.000-08:00It is the setup for a joke. But the joke is on the...It is the setup for a joke. But the joke is on the Republican Party, which expected prejudice and fear to help it keep power. ^^<BR/><BR/>I still plan on working to even the playing field for homosexuals and heterosexuals in eliminating the word "marriage" from the legal documents out there. While there are some legitimate arguments out there concerning the Constitutionality of anti-gay marriage laws, the problem lies with the fact the anti-gay marriage crowd is working hard to put this language <I>into State Constitutions</I>.<BR/><BR/>Thus, by doing a blanket rename (sort of like Political Correctness but with a vengeance) of the legal aspects of marriage into "Civil Union" so that everyone is covered under it, the existing anti-marriage amendments and laws will be stricken null and void without a single court case. It will stop numerous lawsuits protesting the anti-gay marriage amendments and laws because it will no longer matter.<BR/><BR/>What's more, it will turn the issue into a truly religious matter, which is not (Constitutionally) allowed to be legislated due to the separation of Church and State.<BR/><BR/>Finally, it will force people to confront their own inner prejudices. Marriage is safe. But if these people want to stop the legal union between two men or two women, then they have to admit it is because they are working to eliminate the civil rights and liberties of a minority of the American public, rather than to "preserve the sanctity of marriage."<BR/><BR/>I still would appreciate advice and suggestions on how to word such a bill so to have the best chance to not only get through the U.S. Congress... but also eliminate the legal battles that are erupting because of this. This is the new front of the Culture War. And I aim to stop it. Sooner, not later.<BR/><BR/>Robert A. Howard, <A HREF="http://www.tangents.us" REL="nofollow">Tangents Reviews</A>Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-57723069029150091342008-11-06T08:14:00.000-08:002008-11-06T08:14:00.000-08:00Michael Crichton was a great storyteller, and made...Michael Crichton was a great storyteller, and made a great contribution to popular culture. <BR/><BR/>As for his politics and his views on science, I didn't agree with him on everything, or the "there are things man was not meant to know" vibe that surfaced in some of his work, but on the other hand, he gave voice to some of the anxieties that inevitably come with scientific progress, which is a valid and valuable contribution to the conversation. <BR/><BR/>So, I raise my glass (or, to be more literal, my mug of mint green tea) to Mr. Crichton and say "godspeed Michael."<BR/><BR/><BR/>On another note, it looks like Rahm Emmanuel (did I spell that right?) is in. It says quite a bit about how far we've come how quickly that the phrase "a black guy, a Catholic and a Jew go to the White House..." still sounds like the setup for a joke. <BR/><BR/>And, in a CNN interview with Joan Baez the interview asked her if she thought Obama would change America and she replied "I think he already has."Matt DeBlasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-75019001647705676252008-11-06T06:35:00.000-08:002008-11-06T06:35:00.000-08:00Completely off topic: Michael Crichton just died....Completely off topic: Michael Crichton just died.<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/crichton-dead-66<BR/><BR/>A shame; while I had my disagreements with some of his positions (*cough* State of Fear *cough*), he could be a very stimulating writer and speaker at times; while his books were typically classed as thrillers*, I considered him a sciffy author in the tradition of Jules Verne. I would have loved to have seen a dialogue between him and Brin on a number of topics- alas, being in the stratosphere of best-sellerdom put him above Dr. Brin's paygrade.<BR/><BR/>So, let's raise a glass to the master of dinosaurs and virii from outer space; malevolent nanotechnology and scheming Japanese businessmen; strange alien spheres and killer robots in cowboy costumes; not to mention the rest of the musings of the moment that he captured during his career. He may have been a complete hack- but he was great at it. And there's nothing wrong with that.<BR/><BR/>*Neal Stephenson defined a thriller as being a sciffy novel that includes an appearance by the President of the United States. Which makes the timing of Crichton's death strangely appropriate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-80066009231121787542008-11-05T23:14:00.000-08:002008-11-05T23:14:00.000-08:00As I look at the US now, I remember a May morning ...As I look at the US now, I remember a May morning here in the UK, just over a decade ago, when we all agreed that "Things can only get better." I hope -- for all our sakes -- that your smooth-talking product of the Chicago machine is no worse than our "straight kinda guy" turned out to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-19987151987134982032008-11-05T19:49:00.000-08:002008-11-05T19:49:00.000-08:00Thanks guys, I'll check out the links.The last ide...Thanks guys, I'll check out the links.<BR/><BR/>The last ideology I fell for was libertarian. I'm now happily post-ideological. <BR/><BR/>Their platform is basically: "No government has ever done any good in any way in any situation. Our logical reasoning and anecdotal evidence is proof of this." Somehow I don't see that going mainstream. <BR/><BR/>Barr...I didn't have to read any farther than his wikipedia entry to think "WTF?"<BR/><BR/>"Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton."<BR/><BR/>"Barr was originally a strong supporter of the War on Drugs"<BR/><BR/>"He authored and sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act"<BR/><BR/>"He voted for the first Patriot Act"<BR/><BR/>"In Congress, he also proposed that the Pentagon ban the practice of Wicca in the military."<BR/><BR/>Of course he says he regrets most of this now. <BR/><BR/>I voted for a few local libertarians because there's presently no other way to vote for small government, fiscal responsibility, and non-interventionist foreign policy. <BR/><BR/>Anyway I'm glad I'm done with all that nonsense, but boy did I believe it for a while.Arichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03762111080648578046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-71727731129428894352008-11-05T19:24:00.000-08:002008-11-05T19:24:00.000-08:00Argh. Lileks. I read his "Bleat" for YEARS.What bo...Argh. Lileks. I read his "Bleat" for YEARS.<BR/><BR/>What bothers me is that his self-described ranting is just so doctrinaire. He just lost me a few years back. One stereotyped snark too many.<BR/><BR/>Which is disappointing because he is a BRILLIANT satirist. I order his books by the dozen as gifts. "The Gallery of Regrettable Food" is pants-peeing funny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-70554430544037708402008-11-05T19:09:00.000-08:002008-11-05T19:09:00.000-08:00AricStart with a look around www.instapundit.com i...Aric<BR/><BR/>Start with a look around www.instapundit.com it links to a wide variety of sites, some better than others. <BR/><BR/>My only daily read is www.lileks.com lileks only blogs on politics about 10% of the time, but he does it well. <BR/><BR/>Tacitus2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com