:: walterindenver ::

:: Monday, December 30, 2002 ::

Don't Try This at Home

When Andrew Olmsted lists his 10 worst blogs of the year he really means his. I won't even bother to list my worst, a 150 way tie for last.

:: Walter 4:36 PM [+] ::
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Atrios and Anti-Semitism

Atrios has an odd post about the links between the John Birch Society and Republicans.

I personally think that the Republican party has purged itself of its anti-semitic demons much more successfully than it has its racist demons, though I'm amazed that people seem oblivious to some history on this issue. The John Birch society was strongly rooted in anti-semitism, and much of their core worldview revolved around the existence of a Vast Jewish Conspiracy - later somewhat repackaged in the religious right's "new world order" conspiracy theorizing of the late 80s/90s. The JBS was instrumental in helping get Reagan elected Governor of California, though he did later distance himself from them. From that time, words and phrases like "Hollywood elite" and "New York Liberals" and others were all code words for "Jews."

I call this odd for a several reasons. Tying the JBS to the Republicans is not unlike linking the KKK to the Democrats - historically correct but irrelevant to the modern political scene. It's a battle that was won long ago. Also odd; the differentiation between 'anti-semitism' and 'racism,' as if there's two different sorts of bigotry. I wonder which of the two Atrios thinks is worse?

:: Walter 10:00 AM [+] ::
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Membership, anyone?

Bag and Baggage reports that Sandra Day O'Connor is on the short list of potential members for Augusta National. This is a good time to point out what a tight spot the golf club is in when it comes to appeasing the folks who want them to admit a female member. Augusta National is one of the most exclusive clubs of any kind in the U.S. Current members are generally qualified in each of the following categories:

1. Rich. Plan on spending well into six figures for your membership.

2. Distinguished in their professions. Captains of industry are the norm. If you believe in glass ceilings in then you can see how this would be an obstacle.

3. Avid and competent golfers. On the golf course avid players, ones who play once a week or more, are represented by men at a rate of about 10 to 1 over women. It's not because of any real barriers that women encounter in the game, it's just that men tend to have more of an interest than women.

Taking those three factors into consideration the list of women likely to be invited becomes just a handful of names. Sandra Day O'Connor, LPGA great Nancy Lopez, and Darla Moore are some of the names that come up. Ms. Moore doesn't even play much golf. So what happens if the women most eligible for membership aren't interested in joining? After all, why pay all that money just to join a club where you may feel less than welcome? What will Augusta National do if the no eligible women want to join?

:: Walter 8:32 PM [+] ::
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Safety First

The Chinese governnment is very concerned with public safety. Free exchange of information is not a concern. Why do you ask?

:: Walter 7:54 PM [+] ::
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Hooray!

Via TalkLeft a very worthwhile website, roadblock.org, run by an organization working against the unconstitutional roadblocks so popular with U.S. law enforcement these days. From the website:

We oppose the use of roadblocks, period. The only justification for stopping citizens under a roadblock scenario is to warn them of an unseen peril that could cause injury or death to an unsuspecting motorist. So-called "sobriety check points," or seat belt checks, or the myriad of other excuses the government concocts to harass and intimidate its citizens through the use of roadblocks are, in our opinion unconstitutional and in direct contradiction to any honest definition of freedom.

Hear, hear! They keep a list of roadblock locations and have other useful info. Here's the fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in case any of you don't remember it. (I know you all have it memorized, but bear with me)

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

How any judge failed to see how random searches at roadblocks violate this amendment is beyond me.

:: Walter 9:24 PM [+] ::
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A New Columnist?

David Kopel, in today's Rocky Mountain News, fields nominations for new opinion columnists for the two major local dailies:

For proposed new columnists, the readers sent in plenty of great ideas. Locally, there were suggestions for former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, and for Ari Armstrong, the publisher of the Web magazine Colorado Freedom Report. Armstrong, with whom I've occasionally co-written articles, would add a libertarian voice to the Post, and he works very hard to add original research to his opinion pieces.

Ari Armstrong's Colorado Freedom Report is one of the original links on the left side of this web page. I couldn't imagine a better choice for the job. I think I'll write to the papers and second David's motion.

:: Walter 5:29 PM [+] ::
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James Capozzola

Writes at his blog, The Rittenhouse Review:

It’s odd, I think, that one doesn’t need permission from any governmental authority to reproduce.

A joke, perhaps. Or not. One doesn't need government permission to publish a blog, either. Neither of those facts bother me nor strike me as odd.

:: Walter 6:06 PM [+] ::
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Progress

This is bizarre and cool.

Surgeons in Italy have succeeded in treating a patient with liver cancer using radiation after removing the organ from the body and then re-implanting it.

I wonder how much that costs? Will a standard insurance policy cover it?

:: Walter 8:41 AM [+] ::
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Did I Mention?

I went to a holiday party last weekend, lots of friends there. There was a fellow who I had met maybe once previously, and after a brief conversation with him, I deduced that he is Fusilierpundit. The one and only. When confronted he admitted it.
That's correct, gentle readers. I know the true identity of the Anonymous One. And his real name is.... Peter Parker. No, no, no, that's not true. I won't reveal his name. Not until I come up with a really clever blackmail scheme and milk it for all it's worth.

:: Walter 8:48 PM [+] ::
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Sad

The news is a week old, but I just learned that Stereolab's Mary Hansen has died in a bike accident in London.

:: Walter 9:08 AM [+] ::
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The 50 Most Loathsome People in America

29. BILL O'REILLY
Misdeeds: At least Rush Limbaugh was funny every now and then.

Dead on. But Jim Rome # 15? Ain't no way there's fourteen worse than him.

:: Walter 10:19 PM [+] ::
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More Fed Justice Problems

This seems to be something of an injustice:

According to GOA, Bean, 63, attempted to enter Mexico for dinner March 14, 1998, after sponsoring a gun show in Laredo. He was arrested by Mexican border authorities when they spotted approximately 200 rounds of ammunition lying on his car seat; possession of ammunition is a felony south of the border. ....
Though he was convicted in Mexico for an act that is legal in the U.S., because he spent time in jail on a felony conviction he effectively lost his right to own firearms – a loss that also puts him out of the gun-show business.

The most disturbing part of the story is how Ashcroft and U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olsen sought to overturn the restoration of rights granted by lower courts. This is one more case where this administration actively works against individual rights, even in cases unrelated to the 'War on Terror.'

:: Walter 10:10 AM [+] ::
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David Carr

writing at Samizdata.

If you support drug prohibition than you have no argument with the gun-grabbers, the health fascists or the enviro-mentalists and I can do nothing but dissolve in fury when I hear so many Conservatives complain of 'political correctness gone mad' in response to smoking-bans or the confiscation of toy guns. These idiocies are nothing to do with 'political correctness'; they are the logical consequences of the widespread acceptance of the prohibitionist principle which provides both the moral validation and missionary righteousness of the nanny state.
What they do to cocaine today, they will do to hamburgers tomorrow.

I couldn't say it better myself, which is why I've lifted this paragraph over here to this blog. Readers interested in this subject should go over and read the whole article and the ensuing debate in the comments section.

:: Walter 9:23 AM [+] ::
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"The reality is, Bigfoot just died."

I love a good hoax. This one was one of the best.

:: Walter 3:08 PM [+] ::
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Phyllis from Mulga

This is for Tom and Andy. I think she's maybe even more PO'ed than you guys are.

:: Walter 3:39 PM [+] ::
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Writer's Block

I haven't posted much this week, but it's still more than Vodkafella. I wonder if his hits drop precipitously as do mine when posting is light. I think married life is agreeing with him.

:: Walter 8:41 AM [+] ::
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No Accounting for Taste

Someone else liked Kafka! No, the movie, don't you remember? I knew there was a reason I added Jesse to the blogroll.

:: Walter 5:46 PM [+] ::
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Colorado's TABOR

Paul Marks comments on the TABOR amendment at Samizdata. I added a little more information in the comments. It's all explained there if you care to go read the article.

:: Walter 7:00 PM [+] ::
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