:: walterindenver ::

:: Saturday, September 21, 2002 ::

ILTE of the Day

If I'd keep up with this feature a little more regularly then I wouldn't have to explain. It's Idiotic Letter to the Editor.

Anyway, today's winner is Gregg Wolfe of Arvada, Colorado, for his entry in the Rocky Mountain News, excerpted:

I have never yet heard or read about a plan to limit, plan for or control growth that accomplished its original intent without undesirable consequences. Limiting newcomers based upon income, education, skin color, religion, language, or such would not be acceptable or legal. So what can be done that is workable and fair to everyone?
One plan that I have not heard discussed as yet is a lottery. As individuals and families depart the area their "space" could be placed into a lottery.
People wishing to move into Colorado could place their names on a waiting list and hope that their number is drawn. Waiting lists at charter schools and such are common and millions of people buy lottery tickets knowing that the odds are against them, so the precedents and technology are there.

That's hilarious, but I think Gregg really means it! Gregg, if you read this, drop me a note and tell me this is satire. I'm worried about you.

:: Walter 12:42 PM [+] ::
...

AIDS Activists Win, Patients Lose

For as long as AIDS activists have been protesting 'greedy drug corporations' for profiteering, free-marketeers have been quietly warning, 'You might not want to do that.'

Now the Jerusalem Post reports new anti-HIV drug development is off by 5% to 30%, likely closer to 30%. Why?

One of the rare industry executives who would actually discuss the topic, but did not wish to be identified, agreed that although he didn't like to admit it, "we have lost the battle with the activists, and now the market is less profitable.
The result is that we are spending less R&D time on anti-retrovirals. Why bother to innovate these products when any advance will not be profitable?" he said.

Do naysayers think it mere coincidence that the country most friendly to business is also the leading country for drug research and development? Are people supposed to be happy that they've got cheap, but less effective medicines? Well, I suppose no one will ever know what new drugs will never be discovered now.

When some corporation finds a cure for AIDS I'd hope they make a huge profit, and its executives and researchers make Bill Gates-like money. That goes double for cancer.

Link via Andrew Sullivan.

:: Walter 6:37 AM [+] ::
...

YEEEE HAAAWWW
Matthew Edgar has got hisself a troll. A real lively one, too, layin' the F-bombs all over his site. In true troll fashion, he offers nothing in the way of constructive debate, just cussin' this and that and tryin' to dis Matthew as well as his limited vocabulary will allow. Matthew responds with a little more than his troll deserves.
I guess matthewedgar.net has now hit the bigtime.Them trolls don't bother with little blogs like this one.
Then again, maybe I'll reconsider trying to add a comments feature here.

UPDATE: Seems the troll comments have been deleted. ((sigh))

:: Walter 8:02 PM [+] ::
...

More Blogging

Regular readers of this site (Hi, Mom!) will remember this post, the response to a
reader asking about libertarianism. He requested anonymity then, but he has since outed himself. On his own blog. No shrinking violet, this Lucas, but he's got no permanent links to anything. It's as if he doesn't want anyone to find him. Well, the secret blog is no longer secret.

UPDATE: Oh, now he's got links. Including Talkleft. one of the more worthwhile leftist websites.

:: Walter 6:17 PM [+] ::
...

The Latest News From the World of Sport

Oh yeah, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Or a tooth.

Then it's a sport.

:: Walter 6:33 PM [+] ::
...

A Higher Calling

Matthew Edgar is back to blogging, much to the distress of faceless bureaucrats everywhere, and to the delight of everyone else.

:: Walter 7:43 AM [+] ::
...

Aurora Authorities

Someone sent me an e-mail in response to the post immediately below. His opinion is that the city of Aurora prosecuted the victim as a preemptive strike against likely future lawsuits. I suspected the same, of course. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt by calling them idiots, instead of sick evil bastards.

Which is what they would be if my correspondent is correct.

:: Walter 7:58 PM [+] ::
...