Taxes / Elections The Triumph of Hope Over Self-Interest
Why don't people vote their own self-interest? Every few years the Republicans propose a tax cut, and every few years the Democrats pull out their income distribution charts to show that much of the benefits of the Republican plan go to the richest 1 percent of Americans or thereabouts. And yet every few years a Republican plan wends its way through the legislative process and, with some trims and amendments, passes.
· Voting Wisely? [NY Times]
Political Donations
Only on Crikey's site ...
· Newspaper and electronic coverage [Crikey]
Sunday, February 09, 2003
Internet The time is right for dissidents, a guy site and Czech Beer
Cognitive Dissident
John Perry Barlow, the man who popularized the term 'cyberspace', discusses the Total Information Awareness project, online activism, file sharing, and the prospect of a digital counterculture.
· Beerless Cyberspace [Mother Jones]
Recalling how hard it was for people to understand what the Web was when he crafted it in 1989, Berners-Lee said he's having difficulty again explaining his new idea of the Semantic Web, for the same reason:
· There's this mental leap involved [Washington Post]
An online destination for real men links to highlightsfrom its subscription-based service to sports events, swimsuit-model videos, and other testosterone-heavy content.
For years the Internet audience was mainly technically savvy, higher-income men. They helped RealNetworks get its subscription service off the ground. But as the men's lifestyle market has developed and blossomed, if you don't think so, just check out your favorite magazine store or see Maxim. So, unless you live in one of those the cities peppered with brotherly, go grab a beer, guys, because RealNetworks wants to be the place where guys hang out online. (grin)
It was suggested in the pub last night that if the Rev. Nile is concerned that flowing, traditional clothing worn by other cultures could be used to conceal weapons, he should avoid Scottish functions and consider becoming a country member at Byron Bay.
· Taking off pieces of clothing in the name of Peace: Highly Approved by Real Men [AAP via SMH]
Cognitive Dissident
John Perry Barlow, the man who popularized the term 'cyberspace', discusses the Total Information Awareness project, online activism, file sharing, and the prospect of a digital counterculture.
· Beerless Cyberspace [Mother Jones]
Recalling how hard it was for people to understand what the Web was when he crafted it in 1989, Berners-Lee said he's having difficulty again explaining his new idea of the Semantic Web, for the same reason:
· There's this mental leap involved [Washington Post]
An online destination for real men links to highlightsfrom its subscription-based service to sports events, swimsuit-model videos, and other testosterone-heavy content.
For years the Internet audience was mainly technically savvy, higher-income men. They helped RealNetworks get its subscription service off the ground. But as the men's lifestyle market has developed and blossomed, if you don't think so, just check out your favorite magazine store or see Maxim. So, unless you live in one of those the cities peppered with brotherly, go grab a beer, guys, because RealNetworks wants to be the place where guys hang out online. (grin)
It was suggested in the pub last night that if the Rev. Nile is concerned that flowing, traditional clothing worn by other cultures could be used to conceal weapons, he should avoid Scottish functions and consider becoming a country member at Byron Bay.
· Taking off pieces of clothing in the name of Peace: Highly Approved by Real Men [AAP via SMH]
The Guardian and Eurekalert focus on a subject near and dear to my heart, the value of human life.
I am compel nowadays to accept that many things change in politics and society. But one thing you can always count on, whoever is in power, is hypocricy. Human race is the master of early positioning - using the security issue to drown out their opponents and to reinforce their value of human life message. Hitler said: ‘it is my unshakable will that Czechoslovakia shall be wiped off the map.’
Neville Chamberlain said:‘ How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches [in Hyde Park, a borough of London] and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing.’
I reflected this morning on this strange democratic reality which verges on satire ... Can we really compare Iraq of 2003 to Germany of 1938? As I get older my reading on the Seventh Day of the week seems to get more absurd and bluer, but somehow also more colourful and thanks to bloggers like Tim Dunlop even jazzier.
Media Seven lives were lost in a sudden and shocking disasters around the world
Seven people die in the train accident at Waterfall in Australia. Seven schoolchildren are swept to their deaths on a skiing trip in Canada. Seven Africans are washed up dead on a beach in Spain. Seven astronauts are lost when the space shuttle breaks up over America. Only one story captures world attention. Why?
· Some Sevens are more equal than others [Guardian (UK)]
· Better Balance Needed [Eurekalert]
I am compel nowadays to accept that many things change in politics and society. But one thing you can always count on, whoever is in power, is hypocricy. Human race is the master of early positioning - using the security issue to drown out their opponents and to reinforce their value of human life message. Hitler said: ‘it is my unshakable will that Czechoslovakia shall be wiped off the map.’
Neville Chamberlain said:‘ How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches [in Hyde Park, a borough of London] and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing.’
I reflected this morning on this strange democratic reality which verges on satire ... Can we really compare Iraq of 2003 to Germany of 1938? As I get older my reading on the Seventh Day of the week seems to get more absurd and bluer, but somehow also more colourful and thanks to bloggers like Tim Dunlop even jazzier.
Media Seven lives were lost in a sudden and shocking disasters around the world
Seven people die in the train accident at Waterfall in Australia. Seven schoolchildren are swept to their deaths on a skiing trip in Canada. Seven Africans are washed up dead on a beach in Spain. Seven astronauts are lost when the space shuttle breaks up over America. Only one story captures world attention. Why?
· Some Sevens are more equal than others [Guardian (UK)]
· Better Balance Needed [Eurekalert]
Saturday, February 08, 2003
Life Reasons for Being Nice and Having Sex
W.D. Hamilton wanted at the end to be eaten by Amazonian beetles: They will live on my flesh; and in the shape of their children and mine, I will escape death. I will buzz in the dusk like a huge bumble bee.
· Bumble Bee [LBR]
Blogger’s Tale: Why I Live In SOUTH FLORIDA
The Miami Herald reports today that the chief of police of my town, Coral Gables, accidentally shot his gun in the bathroom of the police department Wednesday. Last year he accidentally shot his gun in a fitness club. Sooner or later, he is bound to hit a criminal.
W.D. Hamilton wanted at the end to be eaten by Amazonian beetles: They will live on my flesh; and in the shape of their children and mine, I will escape death. I will buzz in the dusk like a huge bumble bee.
· Bumble Bee [LBR]
Blogger’s Tale: Why I Live In SOUTH FLORIDA
The Miami Herald reports today that the chief of police of my town, Coral Gables, accidentally shot his gun in the bathroom of the police department Wednesday. Last year he accidentally shot his gun in a fitness club. Sooner or later, he is bound to hit a criminal.
Internet Worms, Worms, Worms
First there were viruses, and then came the worms. Now, intrusion of networks and servers seems to be childís play in a game of cyber-terrorism that has wreaked havoc. The attack by the Slammer worm only heightened the security senses of the ill-prepared and set a stake in the ground against the anticipation of next-generation hacktivism. The sobering reality set in after the apparent economic devastation shut down the commerce capabilities of airlines, banks and trading exchanges, not to mention tens of thousands of users unable to access e-mail.
· Digital society is stumbling upon a rude awakening [Americas Network]
First there were viruses, and then came the worms. Now, intrusion of networks and servers seems to be childís play in a game of cyber-terrorism that has wreaked havoc. The attack by the Slammer worm only heightened the security senses of the ill-prepared and set a stake in the ground against the anticipation of next-generation hacktivism. The sobering reality set in after the apparent economic devastation shut down the commerce capabilities of airlines, banks and trading exchanges, not to mention tens of thousands of users unable to access e-mail.
· Digital society is stumbling upon a rude awakening [Americas Network]
Immigration New Zealand
New Zealand is an immigrant nation. Maori and Moriori arrived by sea many hundreds of years ago. Europeans arrived by sea centuries later. Nineteen percent of New Zealanders were born overseas. That's one in five, one of the highest rates in the OECD, where the average is just eight percent.
· Arrivals [Scoop]
New Zealand is an immigrant nation. Maori and Moriori arrived by sea many hundreds of years ago. Europeans arrived by sea centuries later. Nineteen percent of New Zealanders were born overseas. That's one in five, one of the highest rates in the OECD, where the average is just eight percent.
· Arrivals [Scoop]
Media What Liberal Media?
Social scientists talk about useful myths, stories we all know aren't necessarily true, but that we choose to believe anyway because they seem to offer confirmation of what we already know (which raises the question, If we already know it, why the story?). Think of the wholly fictitious but illustrative story about little George Washington and his inability to lie about that cherry tree. For conservatives, and even many journalists, the "liberal media" is just that--a myth, to be sure, but a useful one.
· Myths [The Nation]
Social scientists talk about useful myths, stories we all know aren't necessarily true, but that we choose to believe anyway because they seem to offer confirmation of what we already know (which raises the question, If we already know it, why the story?). Think of the wholly fictitious but illustrative story about little George Washington and his inability to lie about that cherry tree. For conservatives, and even many journalists, the "liberal media" is just that--a myth, to be sure, but a useful one.
· Myths [The Nation]
Law & Order Ex-judge accused of fixing case
The affidavit, filed June 5 by the FBI to obtain a search warrant for Bodenheimer's house, alleged frequent improper conversations during fall 2000 and in June 2002 by Bodenheimer with Demma, White, Al Copeland's brother, Gil, and Grand Isle seafood wholesaler Dean Blanchard. In addition to suggesting that Bodenheimer sought a seafood contract with Al Copeland's restaurants, the document alleged that Bodenheimer was manipulating the custody case in Copeland's favor as thanks for Copeland using connections at WWL television and radio to suppress negative publicity about the electrocution of a teenager at Bodenheimer's marina.
· Marina [Nolalive]
The affidavit, filed June 5 by the FBI to obtain a search warrant for Bodenheimer's house, alleged frequent improper conversations during fall 2000 and in June 2002 by Bodenheimer with Demma, White, Al Copeland's brother, Gil, and Grand Isle seafood wholesaler Dean Blanchard. In addition to suggesting that Bodenheimer sought a seafood contract with Al Copeland's restaurants, the document alleged that Bodenheimer was manipulating the custody case in Copeland's favor as thanks for Copeland using connections at WWL television and radio to suppress negative publicity about the electrocution of a teenager at Bodenheimer's marina.
· Marina [Nolalive]
Public Service Unprecedented Move by Rebels: Shaken and stirred
Forget the high-speed cars and Bond girls, our spies would settle for shorter hours and a bit more pay.
· Taking Generously [SMH]
Forget the high-speed cars and Bond girls, our spies would settle for shorter hours and a bit more pay.
· Taking Generously [SMH]
Friday, February 07, 2003
Literature AL Kennedy's top 10 controversial books
Taking offence at books is a centuries old tradition. This may concern a question of personal taste, political expediency, or a desire to guard the malleable from dreadful things that they might take to. Plato wanted Homer kept from immature readers, Caligula was keen to suppress The Odyssey in case the Greek style freedoms it suggested caught on. What follows is a list of books which trouble, which are awkward, and many of which have offended at some point - although, Lord knows, not one of them leaped into an unwilling reader's hand and forced them to study every line.
· old tradition [Guardian (UK)]
Taking offence at books is a centuries old tradition. This may concern a question of personal taste, political expediency, or a desire to guard the malleable from dreadful things that they might take to. Plato wanted Homer kept from immature readers, Caligula was keen to suppress The Odyssey in case the Greek style freedoms it suggested caught on. What follows is a list of books which trouble, which are awkward, and many of which have offended at some point - although, Lord knows, not one of them leaped into an unwilling reader's hand and forced them to study every line.
· old tradition [Guardian (UK)]
Tactics Makers of Money
Why can't the anti-war movement borrow a tactic from the anti-abortion whackos? Identify individuals who are making money off of death and misery and publicly shame them. So far, Cheney is only one who receives this kind of attention, but the attacks are brushed off as partisan politics. There must be 100’s of guys (thousands really) who are "pillars of their community" whose wealth is built off selling arms for profit. A campaign like that would be very effective at demonstrating the connection between war advocacy and profit, which I believe is a huge untold story about the upcoming war.
There is an old marketing adage that you don’t make money by selling razors, you make it by selling razor blades. An unused bomb is a lost business opportunity for the company that makes them. People – god fearing Americans – run many of these companies. I think their neighbors would be very interested to know how they support their lavish lifestyles. If it can work for the anti-abortion movement, it should work for an issues as basic(and legitimate)as war and peace.
· Portfolio [Dack]
Why can't the anti-war movement borrow a tactic from the anti-abortion whackos? Identify individuals who are making money off of death and misery and publicly shame them. So far, Cheney is only one who receives this kind of attention, but the attacks are brushed off as partisan politics. There must be 100’s of guys (thousands really) who are "pillars of their community" whose wealth is built off selling arms for profit. A campaign like that would be very effective at demonstrating the connection between war advocacy and profit, which I believe is a huge untold story about the upcoming war.
There is an old marketing adage that you don’t make money by selling razors, you make it by selling razor blades. An unused bomb is a lost business opportunity for the company that makes them. People – god fearing Americans – run many of these companies. I think their neighbors would be very interested to know how they support their lavish lifestyles. If it can work for the anti-abortion movement, it should work for an issues as basic(and legitimate)as war and peace.
· Portfolio [Dack]
WWII Honor where honour is Due: Ordinary Heros
A small Komsomol organization Young Guards consisted of only a hundred people. Young Guards were based in the small mining town of Krasnodon. Tortures could not break young people’s courage. Fascists threw 70 bodies in the mine on January 15, 16, and 31, 1943. The mine was 50 meters deep. The leaders of the Young Guards association (Koshevoy, Shevtsov, Ostapenko, Ogurtsov, Subbotin) were brutally tortured and shot on February 9th, 1943 in the forest near the settlement of Rovenki. Only eleven young guards managed to save their lives and run away from the fascist police. Everyone else from the Young Guards group were shot by fascists. Some of them died on the front later.
· Alexander Fadeyev’s Novel based on History [Pravda]
In the Name of Peace: Above the Mines
· Baring Witness
· Next will be Grace’s Group at Byron Bay [Common Dreams]
A small Komsomol organization Young Guards consisted of only a hundred people. Young Guards were based in the small mining town of Krasnodon. Tortures could not break young people’s courage. Fascists threw 70 bodies in the mine on January 15, 16, and 31, 1943. The mine was 50 meters deep. The leaders of the Young Guards association (Koshevoy, Shevtsov, Ostapenko, Ogurtsov, Subbotin) were brutally tortured and shot on February 9th, 1943 in the forest near the settlement of Rovenki. Only eleven young guards managed to save their lives and run away from the fascist police. Everyone else from the Young Guards group were shot by fascists. Some of them died on the front later.
· Alexander Fadeyev’s Novel based on History [Pravda]
In the Name of Peace: Above the Mines
· Baring Witness
· Next will be Grace’s Group at Byron Bay [Common Dreams]
Families Models of the Family in Modern Society: Ideals and Realities
Catherine Hakim is no shrinking violet. Hakim's preference theory aims to explain and predict the choices women make in their work and family lives. She argues that women are not a homogeneous group but rather are choosing three different work/family lifestyles.
· Families [SMH]
Catherine Hakim is no shrinking violet. Hakim's preference theory aims to explain and predict the choices women make in their work and family lives. She argues that women are not a homogeneous group but rather are choosing three different work/family lifestyles.
· Families [SMH]
Thursday, February 06, 2003
Public Service Post: Premier Policeman Should Choose: The Job Or the Book
Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher believes Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose should not profit from his just-completed book deal while on the public payroll: Because he is still chief of police. Because it's unethical to profit from your work as a public servant while you are serving the public. Because Montgomery's Ethics Commission recently barred police officials from accepting even token lecture fees for talking about the sniper case. Because 10 people died. The chief reason the Ethics Commission should stop Moose is that it is unseemly for a public official to profit from his position while in office.
Rich acknowledges that the Post has already gotten an $85,000 for its book on the case-but 'Telling stories is our job in the news business -- and we do it for profit.' If Moose wants some of that coin, more power to him -- but only after he takes off the uniform.
· Thoughts: Money, Money, Money [Washingston Post]
Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher believes Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose should not profit from his just-completed book deal while on the public payroll: Because he is still chief of police. Because it's unethical to profit from your work as a public servant while you are serving the public. Because Montgomery's Ethics Commission recently barred police officials from accepting even token lecture fees for talking about the sniper case. Because 10 people died. The chief reason the Ethics Commission should stop Moose is that it is unseemly for a public official to profit from his position while in office.
Rich acknowledges that the Post has already gotten an $85,000 for its book on the case-but 'Telling stories is our job in the news business -- and we do it for profit.' If Moose wants some of that coin, more power to him -- but only after he takes off the uniform.
· Thoughts: Money, Money, Money [Washingston Post]
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