Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Happy Halloween
Jumpin' the Shark
With all of these new courtroom dramas ("Shark" and "Justice" to name two) on television, I thought about this question:
What is justice? And who is deserving of it? How can that fine line between revenge and retribution (similar to discipline and brutality) be measured?
Any thoughts? Any other tv-related conversation starters?
What is justice? And who is deserving of it? How can that fine line between revenge and retribution (similar to discipline and brutality) be measured?
Any thoughts? Any other tv-related conversation starters?
Monday, October 30, 2006
Herfs Up
A herf is a social gathering where individuals get together to share in their love of cigars. Is anybody interested in this activity? If so, you can plan and invite people here.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
What's wrong with NCSU Football?
This is just an open-ended question. I am just wondering...
What makes them so inconsistent? What's with all the penalties?
If they didn't shoot themselves in the foot so much, they could be a great team!
What's the deal?
What makes them so inconsistent? What's with all the penalties?
If they didn't shoot themselves in the foot so much, they could be a great team!
What's the deal?
Friday, October 27, 2006
What are your Carbon Emissions?
Tired of feeling guilty for using too much energy? Take this quiz to see if you really deserve all that hippie ire pointed in your direction.
My emissions are 21,867 lbs (about half the American average), so all you hippies out there can lay off now.
My emissions are 21,867 lbs (about half the American average), so all you hippies out there can lay off now.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Underwear is Obsolete
In the beginning, underwear was used for two reasons: 1) to keep the wearer warm in the winter and 2) to keep “outer garments” form being soiled. But times have changed. Thanks to advances in heating and washing technology, humans now spend most of their lives in climate controlled environs and wash their clothes after only one wearing. So unless you are prone to “accidents”, there is no point to wearing underwear in the modern world.
Over time, tradition will give way to progress. I predict that boxers and panties will go the way of the codpieces and corsets within the next 100 years. Unless, of course, Michael Jordan is still alive. If he keeps selling 'em, I'll keep wearing 'em!
Over time, tradition will give way to progress. I predict that boxers and panties will go the way of the codpieces and corsets within the next 100 years. Unless, of course, Michael Jordan is still alive. If he keeps selling 'em, I'll keep wearing 'em!
Monday, October 23, 2006
The Freshman
Are the Dems going to put their money on this two-year old horse?
Perhaps, not such a bad choice. But not enough experience? Likely, not...
Perhaps, not such a bad choice. But not enough experience? Likely, not...
Sunday, October 22, 2006
What makes insurance so expensive?
Besides each state's Department of Insurance and frivolous add-ons, check out this article and it should be quite obvious.
Friday, October 20, 2006
News
Money for War
A new Opinion piece by WSJ argues that there is not enough money going to the war effort.
Is there a "right" number to spend on a war?
Is a percentage comparison even appropriate?
Shouldn't a real dollar comparison be used. And alongside that, a timeline trend to compare each conlfict?
BTW-if anybody wants to do that, I would like to see it and I will post it if you do...
Is there a "right" number to spend on a war?
Is a percentage comparison even appropriate?
Shouldn't a real dollar comparison be used. And alongside that, a timeline trend to compare each conlfict?
BTW-if anybody wants to do that, I would like to see it and I will post it if you do...
Thursday, October 19, 2006
13% of American Voters are libertarians
A new study by the Cato Institute concludes that roughly 13 percent of U.S. voters are libertarian or strongly libertarian-leaning in their beliefs.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
We didn't start the fire...
If you weren't keeping up with the news, here's some new news on Apex...
Lotto
North Carolina's Education Lottery has stepped in to solve all of the problems of funding public education in North Carolina. Apparently some people disagree.
Besides, what's 900 million dollars between us friends here in Wake County.
You don't hate children...Do you?
N&O has a little guide on "growth" issues.
Does anybody want to take this on? Is there any way to stop this steamroller?
Besides, what's 900 million dollars between us friends here in Wake County.
You don't hate children...Do you?
N&O has a little guide on "growth" issues.
Does anybody want to take this on? Is there any way to stop this steamroller?
Monday, October 16, 2006
Art
In a recent CSI episode, one of the main characters (Grisham for those that know) said that life imitates art. Do you think that is true? Why wouldn't is be the other way around? Why wouldn't art imitate life?
I know it is a bit of a 'chicken or the egg' question, but I think it is worth a thought or two. Any takers?
I know it is a bit of a 'chicken or the egg' question, but I think it is worth a thought or two. Any takers?
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Treason?
Is treason the right policy? The appropriate use of power? Or the right enemy of the state and society?
Here's the story
Here's the story
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The hype on Organic
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Incentives Matter: North Korea edition
This week, the North Koreans tested their first Nuke. Is anyone surprised?
Look at their incentives! Is there any reason we should have expected them to abandon their nuclear program?
We can’t do much to punish them for it--we have already imposed sanctions and the Iraq War restricts most avenues of military response (scarce military and attention resources).
And we haven’t offered them anything in exchange for continuing their nuclear weapons program--the Bush administration has refused to even talk directly with the North Koreans let alone put any carrots on the table.
A better question is why WOULDN’T they build a nuke? An even better question is how long can US foreign policy continue like this?
Look at their incentives! Is there any reason we should have expected them to abandon their nuclear program?
We can’t do much to punish them for it--we have already imposed sanctions and the Iraq War restricts most avenues of military response (scarce military and attention resources).
And we haven’t offered them anything in exchange for continuing their nuclear weapons program--the Bush administration has refused to even talk directly with the North Koreans let alone put any carrots on the table.
A better question is why WOULDN’T they build a nuke? An even better question is how long can US foreign policy continue like this?
Yes on 44
Monday, October 09, 2006
Cocaine
When Eric Clapton did it, it was no bit deal. Why now?
And Bloomberg, still has to be a prick about it...
And Bloomberg, still has to be a prick about it...
Libertarian Movies
I watched "All the Kings Men" tonight and it was pretty lack luster, but I thought it embodied libertarian fears of big government egalitarianism. Maybe there really is a shift in hollywood toward making movies with a more libertarian theme.
Does anyone else percieve this trend? If so, what do you think is motivating it?
Does anyone else percieve this trend? If so, what do you think is motivating it?
Friday, October 06, 2006
Brad Pitt: Smarter than he looks
In the October issue of Esquire, the Pitt makes a lot of sense: "I'll agree that drugs are harmful, but we spend $40 billion a year on the drug war and $8 billion a year
incarcerating people, 25 percent of whom are in there for drugs. If someone wants to do drugs, as long as it doesn't affect anyone else in a violent manner, as long as he or she isn't corrupting minors or driving under the influence or endangering others, shouldn't a person have that right? I know the drug war is a can't-miss political issue that no one wants to touch. It's the big pink elephant no one wants to talk about. Think of all the other things we could do with the money." Pitt went on to recommend the book Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do, by the late libertarian writer Peter McWilliams.
incarcerating people, 25 percent of whom are in there for drugs. If someone wants to do drugs, as long as it doesn't affect anyone else in a violent manner, as long as he or she isn't corrupting minors or driving under the influence or endangering others, shouldn't a person have that right? I know the drug war is a can't-miss political issue that no one wants to touch. It's the big pink elephant no one wants to talk about. Think of all the other things we could do with the money." Pitt went on to recommend the book Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do, by the late libertarian writer Peter McWilliams.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Politicians...Gotta Love 'em
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Sport Nationalism
Wide World of Sports
Team USA isn't doing so well in a wide variety of sports. Should we care? If so, why?
We seem to handle the Olympics well. What's the difference in these other arenas?
Team USA isn't doing so well in a wide variety of sports. Should we care? If so, why?
We seem to handle the Olympics well. What's the difference in these other arenas?
Monday, October 02, 2006
Violence
When is violent action legitimate?
This could be in protest, or escaping injustice and imprisonment, or even a "just" war.
Is violence ever an appropriate response? What legitimizes it?
This could be in protest, or escaping injustice and imprisonment, or even a "just" war.
Is violence ever an appropriate response? What legitimizes it?
Sunday, October 01, 2006
A Brief Defense of Capitalism
I was reading The Devil in the White City when I stumled across this gem that I think sums up what I love about the capitalist system.
"[In the late 19th century], a thousand trains a day entered or left Chicago. Many of these trains brought single young women who had never even seen a city but now hoped to make one of the biggest and toughest their home. Jane Adams, the Urban reformer who founded Chicago's Hull House, wrote 'Never before in civilization have such numbers of young girls been suddenly released from the protection of the home and permitted to walk unattended upon the city streets and to work under alien roofs'"Some folks may think that sounds scary, but I think it sounds inspiring. The outcomes of the market process were not always pleasant, and many women faced injustice and mistreatment, but what other system of social organization guaranteed individuals this kind of of freedom?
