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June 26, 2008
You feeling a bit freer?
District of Columbia v. Heller, No. 07-290 is upheld and the US Supreme court holds that the second amendment protects the right to own a handgun in self-defense in your own home. Congratulations to all the free citizens of these United States and especially the residents of the District of Columbia who may now protect their lives with handguns. May thousands of petty thieves, car jackers, muggers, and house robbers sleep more poorly tonight.
This is a real conservative success story. They spent decades changing popular and legal opinion on the meaning of the second amendment, putting in place judges who could respect the new legal consensus, and electing presidents who would do so. They should be proud of their victory. The next few months may bring them little else of comfort.
Justices Rule for Individual Gun Rights
Posted by OneEyedMan at 4:29 PM | Comments (0)
Vacation
I went to San Francisco and Sequoya national forest with my brother and mother for a bit of summer R&R. I enjoyed the food, but I guess I had read too much hype about the SanFran food scene because I didn't find it as good as I expected, even for the fancy stuff like One Market and Jardiniere . Service at the Empress of China was rushed and cold, but the food was tasty and the view of the sunset breathtaking.
We had freakish weather during our trip, with clear skies and hot weather. For example, check this out:
I took that picture from a top Sather Tower on UC Berkeley's campus which we ascended on our tour of the campus and the Berkley neighborhood. In the distance you can see the golden gate bridge and downtown San Francisco. We also had amazing pizza at The Cheese Board. And had a fun time visiting a great game store (Games of Berkeley where I picked up a copy of Acquire and Ticket to Ride 1910) and comic book shop (Comic Relief). The botanical gardens there are nice, I recommend a visit, even if they are a short cab ride from the Bart Station.
We also biked across the Golden Gate bridge (to Tiberon and then took a ferry to San Fran), visited fisherman's wharf (touristy but I had a good fish sandwich) , toured the Jewish museum (boring and very little Jewish about it), walked through China town, had lunch in the Ferry Building Marketplace, and marveled at the numerous and aggressive homeless population (never seen anything like it in the USA). We stayed at the Palace Hotel with a nice glassed in pool. All and all I found it a livable modern city with a lot to like.
A 5 hour (the first four hours is mostly ugly but untrafficked and the last hour is a beautiful mountain drive) to Sequoya park where we stayed in the John Muir Lodge, cooked out meals in cookouts at the picnic sites, and went on a few hikes to tour those amazing, ancient, and epic trees. Really an astonishing place of beauty and wasn't busy at all. We mostly had trails and eating spots to ourselves once we left the park's commercial center. There is something special about campfire food, and the steak, BBQ chicken, grilled onions, and baked potatoes hit the spot.
Unfortunately we had to cut our trip short by a day when my mother fell on a trail and broke her wrist. After two months in a cast she's going to be fine, but it gave us a scare and she's canceled her other summer plans.
All and all a good trip and I'll send out pictures soon.
Posted by OneEyedMan at 8:38 AM | Comments (0)
June 18, 2008
To drill or not to drill
The party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona, used a speech in Houston on Tuesday to say he now favors offshore drilling, an announcement that infuriated environmentalists who had long viewed him as an ally. Florida’s Republican governor, Charlie Crist, immediately joined Mr. McCain, saying that he, too, now wants an end to the ban.
Bush Calls for End to Ban on Offshore Oil Drilling
This is stupid, naive thinking by these (unnamed) environmentalist groups. Just because you were against drilling when oil cost $20 a barrel and technology was dirtier doesn't mean that you should still be against it when the technology is cleaner and oil is $130 a barrel. Unless you view hydrocarbon usage as a religious sin then you should acknowledge that there is a cost and a benefit of allowing drilling. Reasonable people can then debate if the net benefits are positive, but surely it isn't beyond the pale to discuss the matter.
Let's make this as uncorrupted as possible. Open bidding for drilling rights (payment per barrel extracted), and a 1 billion dollar bond (interest paying in TIPS say) against environmental damage as assessed by an annual independent environmental audit.
Posted by OneEyedMan at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)
June 16, 2008
Looking for a great sci-fi book?
I just finished the absolutely mind blowing book Distraction by Bruce Sterling.
Even though at times it was a bit preachy and imperfectly written, the story line boiled over with incredible ideas. I don't think I've seen a science fiction book that full of new ideas since I read
Pashazade or Metaplanetary a couple of years ago.
I devoured this book. If you enjoy sci-fi, I think you'll like this one. Who wouldn't like this if it were well executed (and it is)
It's the year 2044, and America has gone to hell. A disenfranchised U.S. Air Force base has turned to highway robbery in order to pay the bills. Vast chunks of the population live nomadic lives fueled by cheap transportation and even cheaper computer power. Warfare has shifted from the battlefield to the global networks, and China holds the information edge over all comers. Global warming is raising sea level, which in turn is drowning coastal cities. And the U.S. government has become nearly meaningless. This is the world that Oscar Valparaiso would have been born into, if he'd actually been born instead of being grown in vitro by black market baby dealers. Oscar's bizarre genetic history (even he's not sure how much of him is actually human) hasn't prevented him from running one of the most successful senatorial races in history, getting his man elected by a whopping majority. But Oscar has put himself out of a job, since he'd only be a liability to his boss in Washington due to his problematic background. Instead, Oscar finds himself shuffled off to the Collaboratory, a Big Science pork barrel project that's run half by corruption and half by scientific breakthroughs. At first it seems to be a lose-lose proposition for Oscar, but soon he has his "krewe" whipped into shape and ready to take control of events. Now if only he can straighten out his love life and solve a worldwide crisis that no one else knows exists.
--Craig E. Engler
Posted by OneEyedMan at 3:06 PM | Comments (1)
June 11, 2008
Differences in ideology
Have you seen this joke ad?
When they made this they accumulated a joke list of reasons to vote Republican. I'm amazed that the concept of voting Republican was so alien to its makers that genuine policy preferences seemed like hilarious jokes to them.
You like buying most of your stuff in one big store
You don't think that the government should be in the business of restricting access to drugs, legal, illegal or untested (which here is the same thing as illegal).
You don't think that there is any compelling evidence that classroom size affects educational outcomes and therefore small class sizes are a waste of money.
You might think that the cost of ecological preservation isn't worth the human cost.
You actually like a conservative majority on the supreme court
You think that government validation of homosexual relationships is identical to de-sanctioning a preference for heterosexual ones.
You think that the only way to deserve health insurance is to buy it.
You believe others getting rich doesn't mean anyone else has to be poorer.
That the constitution (or at least its current interpretation) might provide more protection for criminals than is just.
That you think that America is the greatest nation.
That it finishing the war in Iraq is important, and that the Republicans are the only party wanting to finish it with victory,
That you recognize that nuclear Iran is a huge security threat, and war may be necessary to solve it.
I'm just amazed how much contempt their is by Democrats of Republicans. This is just one more example of the Jesusland and DumbXXXkistan crap I had to hear after the 2004 election.
I'm not saying that contempt doesn't flow the other way. I'm just not connected with nearly as many of them or their media.
Posted by OneEyedMan at 10:35 AM | Comments (1)
June 10, 2008
Bagels in space
Fairmount Bagel, that place in Montreal where we got bagels on my bachelor weekend, baked the first bagels to travel into space.
Montreal bagels are out of this world
Historic Shuttle Mission Sends First Bagels into Space
Posted by OneEyedMan at 3:37 PM | Comments (0)
Part of the slaughter in your honor
At least half of all chicks (the male ones) half to be killed as part of commercial chicken farming of all sorts. It is important to bear witness to the deaths so that we may feast. The revulsion and sadness we feel doesn't make it wrong, but should certainly make us more appreciative.
Hat tip to Jamie Oliver Kills Baby Chicks on TV
Posted by OneEyedMan at 11:23 AM | Comments (0)
June 9, 2008
Price of IPhone up $40
Perhaps you noticed that the new I-phone was released today and it costs $200 less to buy but $120 more a year for mandatory 3G network access. Since you are locked into a 2 year contract, this will cost you a minimum of $240 extra over the life of the contract, and longer if you use it longer than 2 years. And yet here comes another sycophantic round of hyperventilating apple fans to talk about how amazing this is. Of course, high speed networks, more memory, and the ability to run user written applications are all nice.
AT&T: New Low Price Will Move iPhones to Mass Market
The Cost of the $199 iPhone: $10 More Per Month for Data
Posted by OneEyedMan at 5:29 PM | Comments (0)
June 8, 2008
I find a lot of Obama's rhetoric scary too
I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people… I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal… This was the moment — this was the time — when we came together to remake this great nation…Text of Obama's speech, June 4, 2008
Nixon, that villainous president, did America a huge favor. He made us skeptical enough of executive power that we weakened the presidency for almost 30 years. We are all a lot freer for it.
Obama, with his charisma, his most old and terrible policy ideas for problems in the environment, economy, foreign policy, and trade, and a likely filibuster-proof control over the house and senate, will have the power to make wrenching changes in American life. That will be wonderful when I support his policies. It will be terrible and likely long lasting when I do not.
Does he believe that the selection of Obama really marks the first time that we cared for the sick in the US? The first time we made good jobs? The first time we healed the planet? He couldn't possibly, and he audience couldn't have either. It is hard to see the good in people getting comfortable with the lie that the election of Obama will be year zero of a new history. Much damage can be done before we realize he is just another good man with an agenda, high career aspirations, and a love of power.
Perhaps the real hope is in Democratic resistance to this attitude.
Presented with a walking stick, Obama's response, of all things, was "if members of Congress don't pass my health care bill, I'm ready, I'll whup 'em."You could almost hear the collective "oh really?" coming out of Jack Murtha's, Robert Byrd's and John Dingells' mouths.
I'll Whup 'Em
Hat tip from:
Obama, Political Viagra
Posted by OneEyedMan at 7:34 AM | Comments (0)
June 7, 2008
That could work II
Tax C02 Emitters; Pay Citizens is a proposal to tax CO2 producing fuels when they enter the USA and then refund the entire revenue of the tax to the American people in monthly refund checks.
As a fairness argument, this is solid, as everyone seems equally entitled to basic clean air rights via the public land and sea holdings of the US Government. Ideally we could have some public assessment of carbon sinks to encourage their spread, and we'd have to figure out how to get that into the system as well. Although, the strength of the argument here is the simplicity and the resistance to special interest spending, and it is hard to see expanding the program to carbon sinks and keeping that purity. Maybe what you could do is tie long lasting sinks like sinking trees in the ocean and burying CO2 in oil fields as refunds against the tax paid upon entry.
All and all an attractive policy that in general would address any problem with CO2 over emission and minimize economic distortion. I see this as a serious transfer from the high income Americans to the low income ones. If CO2 has genuine, harmful externalities then this seems fair, if the rich pollute more they should be compensating the people who suffer involuntarily from that pollution. If it isn't then we've just added a progressive and mildly distortionary tax on consumption. Maybe we can live with that. I think it is important to not integrate this with the income tax system. Americans must think of this as repayment for suffering the pollution of others, not a tax refund. Already, 40 percent of Americans pay no income, I'm sure a many percentage pay less than the $1200 a year this is expected to generate. The last thing America needs is over half of people thinking of the federal government as "free".
PS
About 10% of Americans don't have bank accounts, and this might have the added benefit of getting those people into the conventional banking system as a way to get their transfers.
Posted by OneEyedMan at 8:25 AM | Comments (0)
June 5, 2008
Bah, why let the facts bother you
It is worth remembering that the impoverished mob that trailed behind the knights of the first crusades started their journey by killing Jews in the thousands in the Upper Rhine area. These days, when Muslims of radical tendency pronounce their formulaic imprecations against "Jews and Crusaders", they would do well to remember that both Jewry and Islam were victims of the crusades.The day of judgment
Posted by OneEyedMan at 8:47 AM | Comments (0)
A new Copenhagen Consensus for 2008
The Copenhagen Consensus, that unlovable group of hard headed economists who try to figure out how to most effectively spend the rich world's aid dollars, is at it again with a new list for 2008.
Copenhagen Consensus 2008
Back in 2004 the top four (in order) were AIDS control, distributing micro nutrients, liberalize trade, and control malaria. This quadrennial list's top four are micro nutrients, trade, more micro nutrients, and immunization for childhood diseases. The new list ranked 30 projects to the 17 of the first consensus, so it isn't clear if these projects were smaller in scope. AIDS fell to 19th and malaria 12th. Global climate retains its title as worst (least effective) project.
I don't care for an aspect of the Copenhagen Consensus's website. They have a section where you can "[m]ake your own ranking of the best solutions here". But that's not the point of the list. That's the opposite. You shouldn't let an uninformed opinion drive how we pursue these goals. The point of the project is that we should carefully weigh the costs and benefits of our aid projects. Unless you are prepared to be similarly informed, we shouldn't care what you think.
You can say that as a citizen and tax payer I'm entitled to my priorities. Fine, but that's not what we are talking about. If you want to save the Gorilla's and you got together a group of ecologists, zoologists, and forest rangers and you asked them to rank the effectiveness of various projects, would you casually ignore their rankings in the interest of taste?
Cost benefit analysis is not black magic. You can disagree about discount rates. You can argue over estimates of direct costs and benefits and have all sorts of partial and general equilibrium models to see how the economy and humanity responds. But ultimately, to choose a project with lower net benefits when the world is full of problems and resources are scarce is a recipe for waste, suffering, and death.
Thanks to Reason Magazine for the tip:
The Top Ten Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems
The full list is below the fold.
SOLUTION CHALLENGE
1 Micronutrient supplements for children (vitamin A and zinc) Malnutrition
2 The Doha development agenda Trade
3 Micronutrient fortification (iron and salt iodization) Malnutrition
4 Expanded immunization coverage for children Diseases
5 Biofortification Malnutrition
6 Deworming and other nutrition programs at school Malnutrition & Education
7 Lowering the price of schooling Education
8 Increase and improve girls’ schooling Women
9 Community‐based nutrition promotion Malnutrition
10 Provide support for women’s reproductive role Women
11 Heart attack acute management Diseases
12 Malaria prevention and treatment Diseases
13 Tuberculosis case finding and treatment Diseases
14 R&D in low‐carbon energy technologies Global Warming
1 Bio‐sand filters for household water treatment Water
16 Rural water supply Water
17 Conditional cash transfers Education
18 Peace‐keeping in post‐conflict situations Conflicts
19 HIV combination prevention Diseases
20 Total sanitation campaign Water
21 Improving surgical capacity at district hospital level Diseases
22 Microfinance Women
23 Improved stove intervention Air Pollution
24 Large, multipurpose dam in Africa Water
25 Inspection and maintenance of diesel vehicles Air Pollution
26 Low sulfur diesel for urban road vehicles Air Pollution
27 Diesel vehicle particulate control technology Air Pollution
28 Tobacco tax Diseases
29 R&D and mitigation Global Warming
30 Mitigation only Global Warming
Posted by OneEyedMan at 7:32 AM | Comments (0)
June 2, 2008
The power of language
Imagine if Franklin D. Roosevelt had taken to calling Adolf Hitler the "leader of the National Socialist Aryan patriots" or dubbed Japanese soldiers fighting in World War II as the "defenders of Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere."
To describe the Nazis and the Imperial Japanese Army in terms that incorporated their own propaganda would have been self-defeating. Unfortunately, that is what many American policymakers have been doing by calling terrorists "jihadists" or "jihadis."
What Do You Call a Terror(Jihad)ist?
This wouldn't be an expensive change to make and therefore is perhaps a change worth trying. However, very little of the Muslim world speaks English, and so I wonder through what mechanism calling them jihadis hurts us. Since terrorist is just someone who uses terror as a technique, the war of terror has come under its own fire for being a ridiculous label for our current international conflict. That is why I prefer calling it Islamo-fascism and the war on Islamo-fascism, but that never seemed to catch on.
Posted by OneEyedMan at 7:08 AM | Comments (2)