Archive for July, 2005

No More Mr. Nice Guy


Posted by Bruno on July 27th, 2005

I think we might be en route to a permanent shift in the political climate here in Western Washington. Folks are getting nasty — and I like it!
The Port of Seattle (which controls SeaTac airport) is playing cat and mouse with King County Exec (and Sound Transit cheerleader) Ron Sims. The [...]

Never Get Tired


Posted by Bruno on July 25th, 2005

Readers know I never get tired of pointing out how a lack of national health care is crippling American industry. So of course I’m loving this story. Seems that Toyota wanted to open up a plant in North America, and, despite the fact that Alabama offered TWICE the incentives that Canada did, big [...]

Scarcity


Posted by Bruno on July 22nd, 2005

Jeff Jarvis makes the great point that scarcity is what drives the revenue for “old media.” Advertising dollars require that the means of distribution are in the hands of a few, something that the internet essentially destroys.
Digital recording has democratized the music industry in the same way. Anyone can record a kick-ass sounding [...]

A-ha!


Posted by Bruno on July 21st, 2005

I finally figured out this John Roberts nomination, with some help from Think Progress:
In terms of judicial philosophy, John Roberts is not Justice O’Connor’s replacement. He is quite clearly a preemptive replacement of Chief Justice Rehnquist.
This is important to recognize substantively, but also strategically. … To improve our chances of appointing a more moderate nominee [...]

Few things get me more p***ed off than when elected officials start trying to limit the content of art works in a futile and misguided attempt to “protect” the public. What’s worse is when Democrats do it.
Here’s news of a Democratic effort to restrict sales of the latest installment of Grand Theft Auto.
Tipper Gore [...]

The Unwashed Masses


Posted by Bruno on July 20th, 2005

There are things we know we know. Those are the known knows. And then there’s the Supreme Court:
“Individual justices are not well known. In one poll, only 9 percent were able to identify William Rehnquist as Chief Justice after he had been on the court for 17 years. More people were able to [...]

Brainstorming


Posted by Bruno on July 20th, 2005

Does it bother anyone else that the government agency that’s set to swallow $11 Billion in taxpayer funds over the next century is so out of ideas that they’re holding a “Brainstorming” session with citizens to discuss the future of the Monorail?
Just asking…

One hundred years ago, Teddy Roosevelt used the special powers of the legislative branch to tackle corruption and graft.
Now, the his heirs in the GOP shamefully use the same powers to obliterate progress and reason.
House Energy Committee Chairman Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) has continued the GOP’s offensive on global warming. From the Peacock [...]

Cue Die Walkure


Posted by Matski on July 19th, 2005

Perhaps it’s only fitting that on the day the original American spinmeister of war (”never let the truth get in the way of an aggressive PR campaign”), General William Westmoreland, died, comes news that the US Navy is deploying riverine battalions in Iraq.
These boats (er, Swifties?) will be tasked with stopping the sampans of insurgents [...]


Now Playing: Episode 349

 
 Standard Podcast [36:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Troops needed in Afghanistan end up in Iraq, Obama punts on the FISA bill, and finally: the Supremes rule on the 2nd amendment.

Links Mentioned: The hunt for Bin Laden … the new Army Iraq report … the FISA bill … the Prof references Chinua Achebe and The Lives of Others … the Genarlow Wilson aftermath.

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