Samizdata.netA blog for people with a critically rational individualist perspective. We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future.Why the 2008 election is driving me crazy- July 6, 2008 In 2004 anti-leftists were determined to prevent the Democrats capturing the Presidency. "No Child Left Behind" and all the rest of the Bush's absurd wild spending (opposed by John McCain and a some other Republicans) were forgotten about. Even Saddam turning out not to have stockpiles of WMDs (although, yes, he had plans to get them) was downplayed by people trying to prevent a President Kerry, and lots of evidence of serious mismanagement of the...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/why_the_2008_el.html Latest attack on John McCain: The worst 'Economist' article of all time- July 5, 2008 I make a point of looking at the Economist each week, in order to see what this part of the establishment are thinking. I can not normally stand to read it for than a couple of minutes (as it makes me feel unclean), but that is enough time to find some utter absurdity with which amuse people. However, this week I think I have come upon the worst Economist article of all time: The title,...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/latest_attack_o.html Segways - somehow not quite as intimidating as a bloody great horse- July 5, 2008 As a current resident of Beijing, my social life is already being affected by the slew of new rules and bylaws raining down upon the citizens of this city to best ensure that the upcoming Olympic Games is "safe" and - more importantly - free of episodes that might embarrass the notoriously thin-skinned government of China. Consequently, less easily controlled events in celebration of the Olympics such as street parties, spontaneous parades and other assorted...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/segways_somehow.html Blue Origin is hiring- July 5, 2008 If you want to be a part of the most secretive of the New Space launch companies, here is your opportunity!...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/blue_origin_is.html Use of words- July 4, 2008 I ran across this item in a Janes newsletter today: US warns Iran on threat to close oil strait. Senior US military officials have responded to Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz in the event of a strike against its alleged nuclear facilities. Any attempt by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to an attack on its nuclear facilities would be an "act of war", Commander of the US Fifth...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/use_of_words.html Is gun control about to be rolled back in Britain- July 4, 2008 At my education blog late last night, I found myself putting, in connection with this (which is a story about how two French science students were brutally murdered in London yesterday), this: Its somewhat off topic for this blog, but I say: allow non-crims be be armed! It may yet happen. London, full of disarmed non-crims and armed crims, is rapidly becoming like New York used to be but is now so conspicuously not, a...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/is_gun_control.html Tyson Gay no: Homosexual no: Gay- July 4, 2008 That is not a sensational boxing headline being concocted; it is the name of an American athlete, being yanked around by some rather pompously programmed software. This morning one of David Thompson's bits of Friday ephemera is a link to this, which is a link to this, which says this: The American Family Association has a policy at its new outlet, OneNewsNow, never to use the word "gay" but to replace it with "homosexual." And...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/tyson_gay_no_ho.html Equality before the law is a non-negotiable principle- July 4, 2008 Another senior UK figure - one of the most senior judges in the land - has argued that some aspects of Sharia law should be permissable when it comes to settling certain disputes between Muslim couples. This re-ignites the controversy sparked by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who argued for the same. Once more, the bedrock principle of a liberal order, that men and women should be treated equally before the law, is potentially at odds...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/equality_before.html Politics as usual- July 4, 2008 I have been perhaps less fascinated by the current political season than some, but despite my loathing for one media darling and disregard for the other, I have watched the rather normal campaign season unfold. It is all so predictable. The Democrats are running a Chicago politician, and that means someone who knows 'machine' politics inside out. Whatever Obama does, Obama does for political reasons. "Change" is just a nice meaningless word with which to...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/politics_as_usu.html Handling the problem of a big book collection- July 4, 2008 As a voracious reader and hoarder of books, I have a bit of a problem. I live in a small flat in Pimlico. My wife is also an avid reader. I work from home for some of my day before heading to the office and have to keep a fair amount of literature connected to my job at home. The place is getting full. There is some advice here on how to handle it. I...http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/07/handling_the_pr.html |