Sunday, July 17, 2005
'The Geopolitics of Two Cities': Fun article on the differences between Boston and New York. ... No mention of the Babe and inferiority complexes, two of the most tired cliches in the city-comparison genre. ... FYI: I'm in New York as I write, debriefing Manhattan WMD Spy. He reports the civilian population is confused but growing in confidence, as the Yanks approach first place, believing it's still yet possible they can restore the old world order.
Update - 6.18.05 -- On a dangerous field mission last nite, we learned the civilian population is aware of Johnny Damon's A.) hitting streak and B.) contract status. "He could be here next year," said one loose-lipped Y fan, unaware of who was sitting next to him.
Update - 6.18.05 -- On a dangerous field mission last nite, we learned the civilian population is aware of Johnny Damon's A.) hitting streak and B.) contract status. "He could be here next year," said one loose-lipped Y fan, unaware of who was sitting next to him.
Friday, July 15, 2005
'More powerful than any meter maid': To answer Carpundit's question, I think he's referring to the city's new AutoFind License Plate Recognition System -- 'more powerful than any meter maid, able to scan 1,000 license plates in a single hour.' ...
P.S. -- And I still don't own a car and still like the idea a lot.
P.S. -- And I still don't own a car and still like the idea a lot.
'British ban fox hunting, the French ban hijabs': An interesting take on the differences between Britain and France in their fight against terrorism and tamping down Islamo fanaticism at home. ... Here's the Le Figaro version (via Instapundit). ... I recall being criticized a while ago for actually praising France for wanting to keep aspects of its 'economic model.' Daniel Pipe's article shows, indirectly, that France has it half right in stubbornly wanting to preserve its distinctness. ... I see I'm going through one of my periodic Francophile bouts. I probably should get up to Montreal or Quebec City soon to get it out of my system.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
'Alternative views of sexuality,' Part II: Teddo rips into Rick Santorum, as well he should. But he veers off the specific issue of priests sexually abusing children and into a defense of the state's universities, community services and programs for 'at-risk and vulnerable children.' Huh? Is the issue really about the culture wars? ...
Hub Blog admits to one of many prejudices: I just assumed Santorum was a Christian evangelical of the protestant type. Turns out he's a devout Catholic. But that makes sense too. I.e. He's the same type of Ray Flynn-like umbrella holder who was in complete denial about the sex-abuse scandal as it unfolded. Santorum is obviously still in pathetic denial about its scope and nature.
'Watching America': The CSM looks at 'Watching America,' a new web site that translates foreign articles for Americans to get a better understanding about what the world is saying about us. Not bad. ...
But I happened to gravitate over to the French section (being a closet Francophile) and found a Le Figaro article that seemed to be translated accurately. But certainly not the headlines. You don't have to speak French to understand the difference between the English version ("'Bush Fell Into' bin Laden's Trap") and the French version ("La guerre, oui! Mais laquelle?"). The English subhead reads: "Due to a failure to understand the goals and thinking of Islamic extremists, al-Qaeda's strategy to exploit the inherent vulnerabilities of Western democracies have largely worked." There's no subheadline in the French edition. The English headlines, in fact, misrepresent the entire point of the Le Figaro piece, which is about Europe's awakening to the totalitarian threat of al-Qaeda in the aftermath of the London bombings, though the piece does have a buried criticism of Bush falling into an Iraq trap. An excerpt:
"Like the red and brown totalitarians of yesteryear, this group (of Islamic extremists), formed in 1954 in reaction to Nasser’s secular revolution, is motivated by a dream of universal domination. Its propaganda relies on a deep resentment, and its fight, which strives for the triumph of a new civilization, will not end with the settling of the Middle Eastern crisis. Its targets are both Western democracies and Arab dictatorships accused of having betrayed Islam. In its most visible form, al-Qaeda relies on very religious believers. But in its methods, it reproduces with little originality the strategic and totalitarian doctrines inspired by the West; it owes less to Mohammed than to Clausewitz, Marx, Lenin, Hitler and even Mao."
Hub Blog admits to one of many prejudices: I just assumed Santorum was a Christian evangelical of the protestant type. Turns out he's a devout Catholic. But that makes sense too. I.e. He's the same type of Ray Flynn-like umbrella holder who was in complete denial about the sex-abuse scandal as it unfolded. Santorum is obviously still in pathetic denial about its scope and nature.
'Watching America': The CSM looks at 'Watching America,' a new web site that translates foreign articles for Americans to get a better understanding about what the world is saying about us. Not bad. ...
But I happened to gravitate over to the French section (being a closet Francophile) and found a Le Figaro article that seemed to be translated accurately. But certainly not the headlines. You don't have to speak French to understand the difference between the English version ("'Bush Fell Into' bin Laden's Trap") and the French version ("La guerre, oui! Mais laquelle?"). The English subhead reads: "Due to a failure to understand the goals and thinking of Islamic extremists, al-Qaeda's strategy to exploit the inherent vulnerabilities of Western democracies have largely worked." There's no subheadline in the French edition. The English headlines, in fact, misrepresent the entire point of the Le Figaro piece, which is about Europe's awakening to the totalitarian threat of al-Qaeda in the aftermath of the London bombings, though the piece does have a buried criticism of Bush falling into an Iraq trap. An excerpt:
"Like the red and brown totalitarians of yesteryear, this group (of Islamic extremists), formed in 1954 in reaction to Nasser’s secular revolution, is motivated by a dream of universal domination. Its propaganda relies on a deep resentment, and its fight, which strives for the triumph of a new civilization, will not end with the settling of the Middle Eastern crisis. Its targets are both Western democracies and Arab dictatorships accused of having betrayed Islam. In its most visible form, al-Qaeda relies on very religious believers. But in its methods, it reproduces with little originality the strategic and totalitarian doctrines inspired by the West; it owes less to Mohammed than to Clausewitz, Marx, Lenin, Hitler and even Mao."
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
'It's an SUV, but by its looks ...': I can't quite believe it. But Armchair Gen. Savin Hill has gone out and ...
"I just bought this. No kidding. Top reasons for buying it:
"a.) 250 horses, at 0-60 in 8 seconds - at over 4,000 pounds.
"b.) It's an SUV, but by its looks, no one will think I'm on my way to pick up the kids, or on my way to buy a refrigerator the size of Denmark.
"c.) The fact that it's a Subaru and an SUV will greatly depress Granola-munching types.
"d.) Soon, I'll need something that can tow. And room to haul lots of stuff and tools.
"e.) By the same people who designed the Zero and the Kate dive bomber in WWII for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
"f.) Let's face it, Darth Vader is far more interesting than Anakin Skywalker."
I'm too shocked. I'll leave it to Carpundit to render a verdict.
'Juicing the Game': The Herald's Howard Bryant got a great NYT review for his new book 'Juicing the Game,' about the baseball steroid scandal. ... Howard is also the author of 'Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston.'
"I just bought this. No kidding. Top reasons for buying it:
"a.) 250 horses, at 0-60 in 8 seconds - at over 4,000 pounds.
"b.) It's an SUV, but by its looks, no one will think I'm on my way to pick up the kids, or on my way to buy a refrigerator the size of Denmark.
"c.) The fact that it's a Subaru and an SUV will greatly depress Granola-munching types.
"d.) Soon, I'll need something that can tow. And room to haul lots of stuff and tools.
"e.) By the same people who designed the Zero and the Kate dive bomber in WWII for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
"f.) Let's face it, Darth Vader is far more interesting than Anakin Skywalker."
I'm too shocked. I'll leave it to Carpundit to render a verdict.
'Juicing the Game': The Herald's Howard Bryant got a great NYT review for his new book 'Juicing the Game,' about the baseball steroid scandal. ... Howard is also the author of 'Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston.'
'Alternative views of sexuality': One really doesn't have to fake a moderate stance when criticizing most everything muttered by right-wing nut U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. The guy is truly gross. ... Hey, Boston: It was that well-known Irish-Catholic sexual freedom that led to the priest sexual-abuse cases of the '50s, '60s and '70s! ... Sexual freedom in Boston? In the '50s and '60s? Boston? Maybe the '70s. ...
Putting on my pop anthropologic hat, Hub Blog shall try to determine the exact date when sexual freedom arrived in Catholic Boston, at least among non-priest Boston Catholics. Any suggestions and contributions would be appreciated. This may take more than one post. Now I know it wasn't by 1977, the year Billy Joel released 'Only the Good Die Young,' with his astute observation that Catholic girls were starting much too late. Notice the mocking tone of the lyrics, as if Catholic girls were still sexually repressed. Therefore, we can be reasonably sure sexual freedom had NOT arrived in Boston, at least full force, by 1977, judging partly by the defensive reaction of Boston Catholics to Joel's song. But that doesn't exclude 1978 and 1979. ... Of course we can also reasonably bookend the argument by noting that Madonna came out with her 'Like a Virgin' song, an unintended pop counterblast against Bill Joel's 'Only the Good Die Young,' in 1985. Through Madonna, Catholics were all but saying: Hey, we're not starting late anymore!
Update -- We may be getting closer. A very astute reader just emailed to note that popular local band Human Sexual Response (of 'Jackio O' fame) played from "approximately" 1977 through 1982. From a pop standpoint, this is very significant, for two reasons: A.) The word 'sexual' was openly used in the name of a Boston band B.) There's a frigging horse on the album cover. Why a horse? I don't want to know. ...
'The revolt of September 11th was about 'F--k you!': And one really doesn't have to fake a moderate stance when criticizing most everything muttered by left-wing nut Oliver Stone. The guy is also gross. ... I know Stone's remarks are now nearly four years old. But Santorum's original remarks were also years old before he reaffirmed them yesterday. Give Oliver equal reaffirmation opportunity, and I'm sure he won't disappoint.
Putting on my pop anthropologic hat, Hub Blog shall try to determine the exact date when sexual freedom arrived in Catholic Boston, at least among non-priest Boston Catholics. Any suggestions and contributions would be appreciated. This may take more than one post. Now I know it wasn't by 1977, the year Billy Joel released 'Only the Good Die Young,' with his astute observation that Catholic girls were starting much too late. Notice the mocking tone of the lyrics, as if Catholic girls were still sexually repressed. Therefore, we can be reasonably sure sexual freedom had NOT arrived in Boston, at least full force, by 1977, judging partly by the defensive reaction of Boston Catholics to Joel's song. But that doesn't exclude 1978 and 1979. ... Of course we can also reasonably bookend the argument by noting that Madonna came out with her 'Like a Virgin' song, an unintended pop counterblast against Bill Joel's 'Only the Good Die Young,' in 1985. Through Madonna, Catholics were all but saying: Hey, we're not starting late anymore!
Update -- We may be getting closer. A very astute reader just emailed to note that popular local band Human Sexual Response (of 'Jackio O' fame) played from "approximately" 1977 through 1982. From a pop standpoint, this is very significant, for two reasons: A.) The word 'sexual' was openly used in the name of a Boston band B.) There's a frigging horse on the album cover. Why a horse? I don't want to know. ...
'The revolt of September 11th was about 'F--k you!': And one really doesn't have to fake a moderate stance when criticizing most everything muttered by left-wing nut Oliver Stone. The guy is also gross. ... I know Stone's remarks are now nearly four years old. But Santorum's original remarks were also years old before he reaffirmed them yesterday. Give Oliver equal reaffirmation opportunity, and I'm sure he won't disappoint.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
'This post may add fuel to their fire': Hub Blog is speechless. The chain blog actually spoke from the gut and got something right. ... I, I, I ... I'm flabbergasted. ...
'With the mere sweep of his cape': Children of liberal parents should not be read this story at bedtime. ...
"What happened next, Daddy?"
"Then the Count allied with the Progressives against the ... Time to go to bed!"
"Oh, Daddy! Finish the story!"
"What happened next, Daddy?"
"Then the Count allied with the Progressives against the ... Time to go to bed!"
"Oh, Daddy! Finish the story!"
Monday, July 11, 2005
'Does everything have to be upscale?': I was thinking the same thing. ...
'One of the dirtiest little secrets ...': Reader No. 1 reveals even more about supersized suburban kitchens:
"This is one of the dirtiest little secrets of the Upper Middle Class today, an even dirtier secret than investing in high-end kitchens: instead of hiring a servant to do the cooking for you, the money is spent on restaurant dining and health club memberships. It's a win-win for Clarke Showrooms and Ming Tsai and Gold's Gym. What an economic value chain!"
Hub Blog's response -- Not hiring servants? I knew it! ... I hope readers appreciate the great risks Reader No. 1 is taking in spilling these secrets. ... Thank goodness his children are beyond the age of "interviewing" for exclusive day-care slots. Retaliation can be brutal and swift.
'One of the dirtiest little secrets ...': Reader No. 1 reveals even more about supersized suburban kitchens:
"This is one of the dirtiest little secrets of the Upper Middle Class today, an even dirtier secret than investing in high-end kitchens: instead of hiring a servant to do the cooking for you, the money is spent on restaurant dining and health club memberships. It's a win-win for Clarke Showrooms and Ming Tsai and Gold's Gym. What an economic value chain!"
Hub Blog's response -- Not hiring servants? I knew it! ... I hope readers appreciate the great risks Reader No. 1 is taking in spilling these secrets. ... Thank goodness his children are beyond the age of "interviewing" for exclusive day-care slots. Retaliation can be brutal and swift.
'The blithe disregard ...': Eliot Cohen, military historian and Iraq war supporter, knocks around all the right people as his soldier son heads off to the conflict. ... Read the last two paragraphs. No one is spared.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
'Predominance of the 'quad dog' labrador': Reacting to the 'upper-crust Anglophiles' post below, Reader No. 1 has a fascinating canine research proposal for aspiring sociologists and/or NYT reporters:
"1. I agree with your diagnosis on the labrador's popularity (function of perceived class status). Remembering my college days and the predominance of the 'quad dog' labrador, I propose somebody should do an historical study on the canine population of top American universities and track it against the AKC numbers. The NY Times could surely get many stories out of it.
"2. This previously unknown to me blog has some interesting observations on the Great Room - 'spaces in which people could be alone together.'
"3. As the owner of an aircraft-carrier sized kitchen island and a built-in stainless steel refrigerator, I can say that (a) the panelling option has been around for awhile and (b) why anyone would choose that look is somewhat baffling to me. Matching the refrigerator to all the rest of the cabinetry tends to eliminate visual contrast, and makes the kitchen look more monolithic. Plus it's easier to get confused trying to find a popsicle or a cold beer.
"My sneaking suspicion is that many of these kitchens are never used, which is why it's OK for them to make them look like Edwardian drawing rooms by panelling over all of the appliances. The NYT could surely get a story out of this too..."
Hub Blog's response -- Good points. It should be added Reader No. 1, whose wife is an accomplished cook and caterer, needs a big kitchen and kitchen island. But for 98 percent of the others, I suspect it's all show ... And don't get me going on an Under the Tuscan Sun rant.
Update -- Definitely check out Grant McCracken's blog mentioned above by Reader No. 1. McCracken's anthropologic analysis of 'Great Rooms' is quite fascinating, though I think he brushed up against another truth when he noted Americans seem to be 'reinstalling the great hall of the medieval home.' Replace the word 'home' with 'castle' and recall the discussion about Labs, and I think you have another layer of class motives. The description 'Great Room' itself speaks obnoxious volumes. ... FYI: Glad Grant notes the term 'Great Room' seems to have come into vogue about 10 years ago. Just about the time when I first started hearing it. I thought it would go away. It hasn't. Time to start mocking.
"1. I agree with your diagnosis on the labrador's popularity (function of perceived class status). Remembering my college days and the predominance of the 'quad dog' labrador, I propose somebody should do an historical study on the canine population of top American universities and track it against the AKC numbers. The NY Times could surely get many stories out of it.
"2. This previously unknown to me blog has some interesting observations on the Great Room - 'spaces in which people could be alone together.'
"3. As the owner of an aircraft-carrier sized kitchen island and a built-in stainless steel refrigerator, I can say that (a) the panelling option has been around for awhile and (b) why anyone would choose that look is somewhat baffling to me. Matching the refrigerator to all the rest of the cabinetry tends to eliminate visual contrast, and makes the kitchen look more monolithic. Plus it's easier to get confused trying to find a popsicle or a cold beer.
"My sneaking suspicion is that many of these kitchens are never used, which is why it's OK for them to make them look like Edwardian drawing rooms by panelling over all of the appliances. The NYT could surely get a story out of this too..."
Hub Blog's response -- Good points. It should be added Reader No. 1, whose wife is an accomplished cook and caterer, needs a big kitchen and kitchen island. But for 98 percent of the others, I suspect it's all show ... And don't get me going on an Under the Tuscan Sun rant.
Update -- Definitely check out Grant McCracken's blog mentioned above by Reader No. 1. McCracken's anthropologic analysis of 'Great Rooms' is quite fascinating, though I think he brushed up against another truth when he noted Americans seem to be 'reinstalling the great hall of the medieval home.' Replace the word 'home' with 'castle' and recall the discussion about Labs, and I think you have another layer of class motives. The description 'Great Room' itself speaks obnoxious volumes. ... FYI: Glad Grant notes the term 'Great Room' seems to have come into vogue about 10 years ago. Just about the time when I first started hearing it. I thought it would go away. It hasn't. Time to start mocking.
'Disney War': I'll be paying close attention to future John Ellis book recommendations -- for 'Disney Wars' is indeed one of the best business books I've read in a long, long time. No need for a plot summary. Just author James Stewart's epilogue observation on Michael Eisner:
"A familiar tragic character in Shakespeare -- Lear, Henry IV, Macbeth, Richard II, Richard III -- is the monarch whose power is such that he bends the truth itself to suit his will. Perhaps that accounts in some part for what is clearly Eisner's most glaring defect, the one quality more than any other that has caused him to leave behind a trail of deeply embittered former colleagues: his dishonesty."
"A familiar tragic character in Shakespeare -- Lear, Henry IV, Macbeth, Richard II, Richard III -- is the monarch whose power is such that he bends the truth itself to suit his will. Perhaps that accounts in some part for what is clearly Eisner's most glaring defect, the one quality more than any other that has caused him to leave behind a trail of deeply embittered former colleagues: his dishonesty."
'Popular mainly among upper-crust Anglophiles': Brendan thinks the popularity of Labrador retrievers may have something to do with the supersizing of the American home. Probably and partially true. But I also think the popularity of Labs has something to do with why Labs were originally "popular mainly among upper-crust Anglophiles who liked the idea of owning a dignified hunting dog." ... Somehow, we're all preppies now. Or preppy wannabes. Or preppy hybrids. Don't ask me how or why. But it's just so. ... If the correlation between the size of McMansions and dogs was absolute, we'd see Mastiffs, St. Bernards and Great Danes higher on the pooch list. But I suspect they're not gentlemanly farmer enough, so ...
... And don't get me going on supersized kitchen islands (now available in multiple multi-level aircraft-carrier styles) and in-built stainless steel refrigerators ('An Impressive Design Statement, Without Standing out') and Great Rooms. ... Where the hell did "Great Rooms" come from? ... FYI: My spies in suburbia tell me that stainless steel refrigerators are most definitely out these days. In-built wood/fake-wood paneled refrigerators are in. ...
... And don't get me going on supersized kitchen islands (now available in multiple multi-level aircraft-carrier styles) and in-built stainless steel refrigerators ('An Impressive Design Statement, Without Standing out') and Great Rooms. ... Where the hell did "Great Rooms" come from? ... FYI: My spies in suburbia tell me that stainless steel refrigerators are most definitely out these days. In-built wood/fake-wood paneled refrigerators are in. ...
Friday, July 08, 2005
'We interrupt this former blog to ...': Mark Jurkowitz has launched Media Log 2 over at the Phoenix, replacing Dan Kennedy's Media Log 1. ... Or is it 'Media Blog' as Mark refers to it in his debut post? Anyway, welcome to the blogosphere, Mark. ...
Update -- Hub Blog has decided not to go to Blogger Decon 4 like I did in the terrible spring of 2003, when Hub Blog and the Phoenix last clashed over blog turf and terminology.
'Fuck Yeah!': Sorry for the vulgar language. But this is one funny site. ... 'I already said Beefeaters, Ken. Keep up, man.' ... Via Andrew.
Update -- Hub Blog has decided not to go to Blogger Decon 4 like I did in the terrible spring of 2003, when Hub Blog and the Phoenix last clashed over blog turf and terminology.
'Fuck Yeah!': Sorry for the vulgar language. But this is one funny site. ... 'I already said Beefeaters, Ken. Keep up, man.' ... Via Andrew.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
The perils of faking a moderate stance, Part II: Reader No. 1 sends in this link with the following comment: "I'm not familiar with James Lewis, but he addresses a big topic worth considerable reflection on an already big day."
... OK. It's a very chilling look at Iran and the Muslim bomb. But I'd add the following: Those who think they're thinking clearly on a day like today might try not reaching back to Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton for blame while at the same time ignoring the twelve years of Ronald Reagan and George Bush I in between, all followed afterward by five years of George Bush II -- while criticizing the contemporary European action on Iran. ... Not exactly "clear" thinking. ... Why does it always come back to Bill Clinton? Never mind. Already know.
... OK. It's a very chilling look at Iran and the Muslim bomb. But I'd add the following: Those who think they're thinking clearly on a day like today might try not reaching back to Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton for blame while at the same time ignoring the twelve years of Ronald Reagan and George Bush I in between, all followed afterward by five years of George Bush II -- while criticizing the contemporary European action on Iran. ... Not exactly "clear" thinking. ... Why does it always come back to Bill Clinton? Never mind. Already know.
The London bombings: Adam has put up a site tracking Bostonians' reactions to the London bombings. ...
Update - 2:35 p.m. -- Cool. They just put up big British and American flags, hanging side by side, in the newsroom of the Herald.
The perils of faking a moderate stance: Geoff Arnold quotes from someone who has done a lot of thinking about people not thinking: "Staking out a coherent, principled position is a lot of hard work. So is trying to understand and respond to the principles and arguments of your opponents. So why bother with all that?"
Update - 2:35 p.m. -- Cool. They just put up big British and American flags, hanging side by side, in the newsroom of the Herald.
The perils of faking a moderate stance: Geoff Arnold quotes from someone who has done a lot of thinking about people not thinking: "Staking out a coherent, principled position is a lot of hard work. So is trying to understand and respond to the principles and arguments of your opponents. So why bother with all that?"
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
'Daddy, make the bad men go away!': Armchair Gen. Savin Hill is also mystified by George Will's neglect in giving our brave Minutemen their due credit:
"I'm outraged that George Will refers to the Battle of Brooklyn as 'the first great battle of the war' - outraged! Bunker Hill was key to the entire war in that the bloody slaughter inflicted on the British troops forever altered the fighting spirit of General Howe. He essentially, from that battle on, never really believed Americans could be defeated -- only co-opted by some kind of defeat. After Bunker Hill, he basically returned to England crying 'Daddy, make the bad men go away!'
P.S. -- If I recall, Will also wasn't sufficiently ecstatic about the Sox win last year. ...
"I'm outraged that George Will refers to the Battle of Brooklyn as 'the first great battle of the war' - outraged! Bunker Hill was key to the entire war in that the bloody slaughter inflicted on the British troops forever altered the fighting spirit of General Howe. He essentially, from that battle on, never really believed Americans could be defeated -- only co-opted by some kind of defeat. After Bunker Hill, he basically returned to England crying 'Daddy, make the bad men go away!'
P.S. -- If I recall, Will also wasn't sufficiently ecstatic about the Sox win last year. ...
'All other reforms will have limited impact': If the solution to Africa's problems was a simple matter of foreign aid, Africa's problems would have been solved years and tens of billions of dollars ago. Fighting corruption in Africa is far more important than boosting direct foreign aid. ... Alas, the battle against African corruption is an abstract, dirty, thankless task that doesn't appeal much to the feel-good sentiments expressed at rock concerts. ... Quick story: Hub Blog once chatted over lunch with an ex-government minister in Cameroon. He bemoaned the end of the Cold War. "Why?" I asked. The minister, who lived quite comfortably in semi-retirement, made it clear that the governing class loved the good old days of funding competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union. ...
P.S. -- Try out Alec Russell's 'Big Men, Little People' and/or Robert Klitgaard's 'Tropical Gangsters' if you're interested in learning more about the real Africa, not the fairy-tale Africa. Things have improved since both books were published. But not by much. ... Pay special attention to the comments by the ex-Peace Corps member on Amazon's 'Tropical Gangsters' page.
Update -- Reader No. 1 sends in links to two columns about Africa, one by Harvard's Niall Ferguson and the other by James Glassman. Ferguson asks a good question: "Will Live 8 put pressure on Robert Mugabe to step down?" ... I actually like some of Geldof's ideas. Not the doubling of aid. Gong! Done that. But I like the cancelling of debt (with debt being the legacy of past failed policies) and establishing more free-trade deals (with free trade pushing African countries toward Western/Asian economic models). ... BTW: I'm an optimist about Africa's future -- as long as it's not subjected to the same old '60s government aid policies.
P.S. -- Try out Alec Russell's 'Big Men, Little People' and/or Robert Klitgaard's 'Tropical Gangsters' if you're interested in learning more about the real Africa, not the fairy-tale Africa. Things have improved since both books were published. But not by much. ... Pay special attention to the comments by the ex-Peace Corps member on Amazon's 'Tropical Gangsters' page.
Update -- Reader No. 1 sends in links to two columns about Africa, one by Harvard's Niall Ferguson and the other by James Glassman. Ferguson asks a good question: "Will Live 8 put pressure on Robert Mugabe to step down?" ... I actually like some of Geldof's ideas. Not the doubling of aid. Gong! Done that. But I like the cancelling of debt (with debt being the legacy of past failed policies) and establishing more free-trade deals (with free trade pushing African countries toward Western/Asian economic models). ... BTW: I'm an optimist about Africa's future -- as long as it's not subjected to the same old '60s government aid policies.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
'I've seen enough of Mitt ...': Godfrey Sperling has seen Mitt at two Washington functions and concluded he'd be a formbidable presidential candidate. Whatever Mitt's doing out of state, it seems to be working. ... Hub Blog can dimly remember a gadfly critic of Jimmy Carter traveling the country and warning voters in 1976 that the one-term governor was overrated. Carter went on to win. The gadfly went on to be vindicated. ...
'Became one of Boston's elite': One of these days I really ought to try reading one of William Dean Howells 40 or so novels. But I'd do so only out of a sense of duty.
'Became one of Boston's elite': One of these days I really ought to try reading one of William Dean Howells 40 or so novels. But I'd do so only out of a sense of duty.
Monday, July 04, 2005
'Anyone travelling through the area ...': Boo hoo. This is the second year in a row I won't be attending the Great Sudbury Fourth of July Parade. ... Stay back. Don't go close. The crowds will be overwhelming, the Sudbury Police warn. ...
'Clobbering Republicans': Mickey brings up a political subject that I've dwelt on before: Why don't Democrats let Republicans appoint their anti-Roe types to the Surpeme Court and watch the ensuing political realignment unfold? ...
Update -- From Reader No. 1:
"You and Mickey raise a good point about why Liberal Democrats don't just let the Republicans nominate themselves off the cliff. Three suggestions:
"1- The national Liberal Democratic leadership is not, and has never been, especially democratic. Its political consciousness was formed in significant part during the 1960s by protest marches and sit-ins. The party has been dominated for decades by lawyers. ...
"2- A somewhat psychological analysis: the party has lost so many national political elections during its leaders' lifetimes that national liberal Democrats associate popular elections with political losses. If national Democratic leaders really thought they could get abortion legalized through state elections - and lead to a national 'realignment' - they'd call for those elections. But they don't really believe deep down they will win those elections.
"3- Through the years, sexual freedoms are a core issue around which the otherwise fractious national Dems find some common cause. Look at the phenomenal solidarity behind President Clinton during his impeachment travails, not least from womens' rights groups. Note that the explosion of sexual freedom also coincided with the formation of this generation's political awareness.
"Roe v. Wade permits national Dems to maintain their commitment to sexual freedoms without much unpleasant and diversionary debate that might lead to a realignment, but also further weaken the party."
Hub Blog's reaction -- He kind of lost me in in the sexual freedoms part. ... Still think Roe's overturning would A.) send voters to Dems B.) push some Repubs toward pro-abortion and C.) thus alienating anti-abortion types who now have such a huge say in the GOP ... At the very least it'd be fun to see who's right.
Update II -- In case I was thinking too much of the bluecheese burgers I'm going to eat this evening, Reader No. 1 spells out in more detail his sexual freedoms thoughts:
"Which part of the sexual freedoms discussion lost you? I am still waiting for a modern history of the Democratic party that directly addresses how the preoccupation with sexual issues has dominated the party over the past 40 years. Oddly, it remains a great unmentionable.
"Because the majority of Americans are, as William F Buckley put it on FIRING LINE 20+ years ago 'philosophically conservative and operationally liberal,' it's a huge advantage to the Republicans to have the present state of affairs on Roe v. Wade. So I agree with you that it would be fun to find out. But I am not holding my breath that the Dems will be so Machiavellian as to call the Repubs' bluff on this one so that we may find out -- for all the reasons cited in my earlier Email, but most particularly because deep down, the national Democratic leadership does not trust American voters. Until they do, they won't win national elections."
Hub Blog's response -- Now I get it and I guess we're in agreement. Republicans do have an advantage as long as Roe festers. FYI: Dems might not have to call Republicans' bluff. Bush might do it for them. ...
Update -- From Reader No. 1:
"You and Mickey raise a good point about why Liberal Democrats don't just let the Republicans nominate themselves off the cliff. Three suggestions:
"1- The national Liberal Democratic leadership is not, and has never been, especially democratic. Its political consciousness was formed in significant part during the 1960s by protest marches and sit-ins. The party has been dominated for decades by lawyers. ...
"2- A somewhat psychological analysis: the party has lost so many national political elections during its leaders' lifetimes that national liberal Democrats associate popular elections with political losses. If national Democratic leaders really thought they could get abortion legalized through state elections - and lead to a national 'realignment' - they'd call for those elections. But they don't really believe deep down they will win those elections.
"3- Through the years, sexual freedoms are a core issue around which the otherwise fractious national Dems find some common cause. Look at the phenomenal solidarity behind President Clinton during his impeachment travails, not least from womens' rights groups. Note that the explosion of sexual freedom also coincided with the formation of this generation's political awareness.
"Roe v. Wade permits national Dems to maintain their commitment to sexual freedoms without much unpleasant and diversionary debate that might lead to a realignment, but also further weaken the party."
Hub Blog's reaction -- He kind of lost me in in the sexual freedoms part. ... Still think Roe's overturning would A.) send voters to Dems B.) push some Repubs toward pro-abortion and C.) thus alienating anti-abortion types who now have such a huge say in the GOP ... At the very least it'd be fun to see who's right.
Update II -- In case I was thinking too much of the bluecheese burgers I'm going to eat this evening, Reader No. 1 spells out in more detail his sexual freedoms thoughts:
"Which part of the sexual freedoms discussion lost you? I am still waiting for a modern history of the Democratic party that directly addresses how the preoccupation with sexual issues has dominated the party over the past 40 years. Oddly, it remains a great unmentionable.
"Because the majority of Americans are, as William F Buckley put it on FIRING LINE 20+ years ago 'philosophically conservative and operationally liberal,' it's a huge advantage to the Republicans to have the present state of affairs on Roe v. Wade. So I agree with you that it would be fun to find out. But I am not holding my breath that the Dems will be so Machiavellian as to call the Repubs' bluff on this one so that we may find out -- for all the reasons cited in my earlier Email, but most particularly because deep down, the national Democratic leadership does not trust American voters. Until they do, they won't win national elections."
Hub Blog's response -- Now I get it and I guess we're in agreement. Republicans do have an advantage as long as Roe festers. FYI: Dems might not have to call Republicans' bluff. Bush might do it for them. ...
'Shades of power,' my take: John has a good take on Boston magazine trying to shift the blame to the rest of us for its own Most Powerful People in Boston foibles. ... Any power list that has only one black on it is pretty bad. Any power list that doesn't include anyone from MIT is an absolute joke. ... FYI: Laura Raposa or Gayle Fee would be on my list no matter what. There's plenty of other room to squeeze in old Chuck. He could replace, oh, Tufts' Nancy Leaming, that incredible power broker who, ah, like, got hipchecked off the stage right after the list came out. ...
P.S. -- The dearth of blacks and high-tech people in general on the list could have been easily rectified by the two-fer inclusion of James I. Cash Jr. Haven't heard of him? Oh, he's just a director of some obscure companies called "Microsoft" and "General Electric," while serving as trustee for local institutions like "Massachusetts General Hospital," and "Newton-Wellesley Hospital," and "Babson College" and "Partners Healthcare," and some place called the "Boston Museum of Science." ...
P.S. -- The dearth of blacks and high-tech people in general on the list could have been easily rectified by the two-fer inclusion of James I. Cash Jr. Haven't heard of him? Oh, he's just a director of some obscure companies called "Microsoft" and "General Electric," while serving as trustee for local institutions like "Massachusetts General Hospital," and "Newton-Wellesley Hospital," and "Babson College" and "Partners Healthcare," and some place called the "Boston Museum of Science." ...
Sunday, July 03, 2005
'Begins to grind against his lap': Hey, the Palace is now hosting a weekly 'teen dance.' ... Can't you just picture some clueless parent saying, 'Ah, how cute - a teen dance' while her 15-year-old son chomps on a stogie as 14-year-old Miffy gives him a slinky lap dance. ...
'He was aghast': George Will also gets a kick out of George Washington's reaction to our brave Minutemen besieging Boston 229 years ago. ... Our 'New Boston' motto: 'We're still obnoxious!'
P.S. -- What's up with Will describing the Battle of Brooklyn as 'the first great battle of the war'? Was Bunker Hill some sort of skirmish? Damn New Yorkers are trying to steal our thunder again. Well, we have Trumbull and they have Crayola Crayon. I rest my case. ...
P.S. -- What's up with Will describing the Battle of Brooklyn as 'the first great battle of the war'? Was Bunker Hill some sort of skirmish? Damn New Yorkers are trying to steal our thunder again. Well, we have Trumbull and they have Crayola Crayon. I rest my case. ...
Saturday, July 02, 2005
'Generation Kill': Just finished 'Generation Kill' and liked it even more than 'In the Company of Soldiers.' It's the second book I've now read on the Iraq war -- and the second book in which you can only shake your head at the complete lack of planning for the post-war occupation. Like 'Band of Brothers,' some of the most heartbreaking scenes occur during the occupation phase. ... Armchair General Savin Hill recently gave a big thumbs-up review for 'Generation Kill.' Couldn't agree more:
"In addition to reportage of the tragic and horrible, it's also unintentionally mind-bendingly funny. Imagine being stuck in the back seat of your family's worst road trip. Mom and Dad fight the whole trip, your brothers won't stop harassing you, there's never a good place to go to the bathroom -- and everyone in every town you drive through is shooting at you with AKs and RPGs."
"In addition to reportage of the tragic and horrible, it's also unintentionally mind-bendingly funny. Imagine being stuck in the back seat of your family's worst road trip. Mom and Dad fight the whole trip, your brothers won't stop harassing you, there's never a good place to go to the bathroom -- and everyone in every town you drive through is shooting at you with AKs and RPGs."
Thursday, June 30, 2005
‘They really are taking over the city’: The chain blog has only recently discovered that Starbucks is a chain. … Next big trend discovery: Krispy Kreme is a chain too. ...
'I established, I think, a small legacy': Pedro did more than establish a 'small legacy' while in Boston. He helped win us a championship and gave us seven intense years of pure pitching delight. ... I'd submit this article captures just about everything -- mostly good but some bad -- that one needs to know about Pedro. I miss the guy. So do the Sox. But only time and his shoulder will tell if it was the best long-term move to let him go. If he's pitching in 2007 like he is today, the verdict will be irrefutable. ...
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
'Once again struck gold'?: A lot of big smiles in Waltham last night after the Celts drafted Gerald Green on the 18th pick, followed by another high-fives pick of Providence's Ryan Gomes in the second round. Seeing I don't know the players, I can't judge the quality of the selections. But Danny Ainge, who I used to bash with utmost glee, is happy. So I'm happy. But I still think this team needs a big guy. I know that sounds like a typical remark of an armchair GM. Still the Celts don't bang the boards like they should. ... Reader No. 1 recently observed that the Celts need a dirty, elbow-throwing veteran brute like Paul Silas. Maybe that's Danny's next move. ... More reactions over at Bruce's site. ...
P.S. -- Whether or not Green and Gomes turn out OK, isn't it nice to follow a team in which draft night is fun, compared with 'huh?' reactions in years past?
P.S. P.S. -- By my count, five of 30 players drafted in the first round were non-Americans. The NBA is truly international -- and getting more so. Two from France?
P.S. -- Whether or not Green and Gomes turn out OK, isn't it nice to follow a team in which draft night is fun, compared with 'huh?' reactions in years past?
P.S. P.S. -- By my count, five of 30 players drafted in the first round were non-Americans. The NBA is truly international -- and getting more so. Two from France?
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
For 5 measly bucks? Part II: Jeff defends charging only 5 bucks. ... He adds his writing for a job is like other professionals tryng to make a buck. Er, Jeff, you probably don't want to go too far down the jobs-comparison path.
'So what should the president say tonight?': John Kerry makes some good points about what the president should say tonight about Iraq. But coming from Kerry, you have to wonder where the clarity was last fall and where it will be tomorrow. ...
Still peeved about the WMD argument, Carpundit says of the president and Iraq: "I don't trust anything he says on the subject today. Do you?" ... Though I'm also one who fell for the WMD argument hook, line and sinker, I'll give the guy a chance. The stakes are too high in Iraq to fail. But if he brings up the bogus fly-trap/flypaper argument, I'll know he's pandering and he's lost me. ...
Still peeved about the WMD argument, Carpundit says of the president and Iraq: "I don't trust anything he says on the subject today. Do you?" ... Though I'm also one who fell for the WMD argument hook, line and sinker, I'll give the guy a chance. The stakes are too high in Iraq to fail. But if he brings up the bogus fly-trap/flypaper argument, I'll know he's pandering and he's lost me. ...
'Unfazed': An outbreak of hate was confronted yesterday by an outpouring of love, grief and gratitude -- and the decent guys won. Stories here and here. ... RIP, Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Piper.
Update -- Here's a good LA Times story on events yesterday in Marblehead.
Update -- Here's a good LA Times story on events yesterday in Marblehead.
Monday, June 27, 2005
'The mayor's office, pressed and courted by developers': Guess which city they're talking about. ... No cheating. Now click. ... Some things never change.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
The Unholy Alliance, Part II: Quick, yes or no: If Fan Pier was owned by some working-class dope with a God-awful postwar vinyl-sided pillbox house on the waterfront, do you think his home would have been condemned by now? Quick answer: Yes or no. ... Not that Council President Flaherty is right to ask for eminent domain against the billionaire Pritzker family, openly and pathetically citing the Supreme Court decision. But I think you get the picture of how eminent domain really works. ...
FYI -- Howie has more on the issue (sub. req.). ...
FYI -- Howie has more on the issue (sub. req.). ...
For 5 measly bucks?: An interesting and slightly depressing story about bloggers who accept a little cash and freebie tickets etc. from corporations in exchange for mentioning products in blog posts. Local examples of bloggers who have failed to mention and/or "usually" mention an ad connection include Jeff Cutler and Sooz and Linnea Dates. ... Jeff is quoted in the Globe story as saying in his defense: "People should be trained to take what they read with a grain of salt." Gee, thanks, Jeff. How about bloggers being trained to be upfront with said readers? Huh, Jeff? ...
... Not to get on a high horse on this one. There isn't a journalist reading this right now who hasn't had, at one point, to write a puff piece about an advertiser or pull a punch about an advertiser -- or else they've heard of a colleague having to perform such a deed. It doesn't happen often. In fact instances of media outlets knowingly sticking their fingers in the eyes of advertisers far, far outnumber the puffy pulled punches, as helpless pull-their-hair-out ad directors know only too well. But it happens now and then. (Fortunately, it's never happened to me at the Herald. But in past jobs, well, ...) So think of that before criticizing bloggers too much. Still, the "they-did-it-too" argument sucks. Suggestion for bloggers: Don't go down the product-mention road. If you do, be upfront. And, for heaven's sake, try to get more than 5 measly bucks for risking your credibility.
Update -- John and Adam have good posts on the issue. ... Re John's comments: Eight figures for a blog? I wouldn't hesitate. I've always loved eminent domain. ... Get off that property, you obstructionist New London scumballs!
Update II -- Sooz says she did have a disclaimer pointing out she was paid (via UH). I still don't like product mentions in posts. It's not exactly from-the-gut writing. But she did have a disclaimer. I also certainly don't begrudge her making a buck. ... Update to Update: I should have said 'disclosure' and not 'disclaimer.' Sooz links to the icon that she said she had up. OK. But why not mention within the post itself that she got paid to pitch something? The answer is self-evident. Not to harp on the issue. It's her blog -- and her credibility.
... Not to get on a high horse on this one. There isn't a journalist reading this right now who hasn't had, at one point, to write a puff piece about an advertiser or pull a punch about an advertiser -- or else they've heard of a colleague having to perform such a deed. It doesn't happen often. In fact instances of media outlets knowingly sticking their fingers in the eyes of advertisers far, far outnumber the puffy pulled punches, as helpless pull-their-hair-out ad directors know only too well. But it happens now and then. (Fortunately, it's never happened to me at the Herald. But in past jobs, well, ...) So think of that before criticizing bloggers too much. Still, the "they-did-it-too" argument sucks. Suggestion for bloggers: Don't go down the product-mention road. If you do, be upfront. And, for heaven's sake, try to get more than 5 measly bucks for risking your credibility.
Update -- John and Adam have good posts on the issue. ... Re John's comments: Eight figures for a blog? I wouldn't hesitate. I've always loved eminent domain. ... Get off that property, you obstructionist New London scumballs!
Update II -- Sooz says she did have a disclaimer pointing out she was paid (via UH). I still don't like product mentions in posts. It's not exactly from-the-gut writing. But she did have a disclaimer. I also certainly don't begrudge her making a buck. ... Update to Update: I should have said 'disclosure' and not 'disclaimer.' Sooz links to the icon that she said she had up. OK. But why not mention within the post itself that she got paid to pitch something? The answer is self-evident. Not to harp on the issue. It's her blog -- and her credibility.
'Until someone gets greased': Margery Eagan (sub. req.) has more on the Unholy Alliance, while Jeff talks to a New London family at the center of the controversial Supreme Court decision on eminent domain. ...
