Shorties Vs. Predator

Lessons Learned in Ireland: Unfortunately the folks who really learned anything from the British troubles with the IRA were the Iraqi resistance!

The Economy is Great: No it isn’t, in fact some people will die. Job losses will continue through 2009, and all the problems caused by people not having enough money will likewise continue. Oh, and it turns out that the “official statistics” — which my readers know undercount both inflation and unemployment — also undercount poverty. So sure, the economy isn’t that bad, as long as you look at it with government approved rose-colored glasses.

We don’t need no steenking NDA: Diary of a Government Whore. Oh, he means “software designer”.

I Wonder If They Keep Kosher: Some people think Mr. Bush needs a third term as President. From their FAQ: “Presidential term limits are not in the Bible. And they were not in our Constitution until added by an activist congress in 1951.” The very idea of a “President” isn’t in the Bible either.

Speaking of the President: Just this morning, Mr. Bush reiterated some of his comments on oil and energy prices. One of the things he specifically said was that prices will drop when supply increases, and that is why we need more drilling. The problem is that the drilling he discusses — if it does come to pass — will not increase supply until 5 to 10 years from now. We can’t control supply in the short term. And frankly, as long as “developing nations” such as China and India continue to increase their demand for petroleum products, we can’t control supply in the long term either. What we can control is demand. And that is just what any consumer that has a choice is doing. That’s why auto sales are at their worst level in 15 years “as [auto manufacturers] try to meet call for small cars.” Meanwhile, even as consumers are saying “give us efficient cars!”, those same car makers are saying “fuel-efficiency targets, timing are too tough”! Funny, the Asians and Europeans are able to deliver.

It feels like something is wrong here: This commemorative silver dollar — it is not intended for circulation — has a picture of Louis Braille on it. “On the back of the coin, the Braille code for the word Braille — or ‘Brl’ — is inscribed, above a depiction of a school-age boy reading a Braille book with a cane resting on his arm.” If we are going to the trouble of putting Braille characters on the coin, don’t you suppose it would be more useful to have the denomination of the coin? That way people who actually use Braille could read… oh never mind.

They get you going and not going: Upgrade: Travel Better points out that Spirit Airlines‘ fare schedule is completely misleading. Not only do they charge extra for an aisle seat or a window seat, they even charge extra for a middle seat! If you refuse to pay for a seat, do they cram you in the overhead compartment? Do you get a complementary beverage? Meanwhile, airports have figured out that when you are stuck waiting for a flight, you have little choice but to wander around the airport, hopefully eating, drinking, and buying stuff. And since you weren’t allowed to bring your own water bottle behind the security checkpoint, they’ve got you cornered.

Since we’re on the topic of “security”: Don’t do anything remotely suspicious — such as drawing pictures or buying pool chemicals — in Denver. Oh, and the “Justice” Department is considering letting the FBI investigate people as potential terrorists not because of anything suspicious they may have done, but because they may fit a “terrorist profile”: “The new policy… would let agents open preliminary terror investigations after mining public records and intelligence to build a profile of traits that, taken together, could be deemed suspicious.” Just tell me one thing — would this “profile” have located William Krar, or Tim McVeigh, or Ted Kaczyncki? Or is the real purpose to create an excuse to spy on people who are Brown or don’t agree with the Majority party?

Gosatsu Hon: Or, 5 Books.

And finally: It turns out the Long Tail is a nice theory, but nothing more.

Have a great Independence Day, and remember what the Founding Fathers (and Mothers) were really fighting for: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for themselves and their posterity.