:: walterindenver ::

:: Saturday, December 28, 2002 ::

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 [+] ::
...

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 [+] ::
...

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 [+] ::
...

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 [+] ::
...