"The monsters that surround you are real, but your hate and fear and worry and spite are your own creation. "
Thanks to Radman for posting his challenge to underclassmen - and the rest of us. Thank you for challenging us to take a serious look at the selfishness through which we view our world.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Friday, December 16, 2005
Frichtl
Congrats to Ben Frichtl, who has garnered at least one admiring reader. This fan was so impressed by a piece Frichtl did for his CWA internship she (?? the gender would be right if the username were Latin) actually made up off the top of her head an entire interview with him. Although the dialog isn't always the most flattering (for Frichtl, that is; she manages to do pretty well for herself), it is interesting how much she is able to pick up on.
Impacting our world? Well, getting imaginary conversations posted is at least a start, and Dr. B says no press is bad press as long as they spell your name correctly :-)
Impacting our world? Well, getting imaginary conversations posted is at least a start, and Dr. B says no press is bad press as long as they spell your name correctly :-)
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Depression
I have a piece of music I downloaded a long time ago that I listen to when I feel particularly depressed or worried. It is a high school band trying -- and I am sure they were trying really hard -- to play some of the themes from The Empire Strikes Back. They come close to pulling it off in a few places, but on the whole the entire thing is one of the most awful musical catastrophes to have ever been released upon the public.
It always makes me feel better for two reasons - one, I have never done anything like that and STILL posted it on the internet. It makes me smile in wonder at what could have posessed them to actually put it on their website.
But the second thing I like about it is what a reminder it is of how faithfulness in little things takes care of big things. It isn't that the kids didn't want to sound good on the day of the performance, and it isn't that the conductor didn't conduct his heart out, but the reason the band was so bad was that the kids did other things besides work on their technique, their sound quality, their sight reading, their sense of pitch and blend. So when you put it together, the euphonium is a few shades too sharp, the french horns don't come in together, the flute unison isn't, the crash cymbal really does, and one of the trumpets has no volume control. I don't need to play the whole orchestra, I just have to learn my notes, get a sense of tone, and adjust my pitch to fit what is going on around me.
For example, as an application to my life right now, if I quit blogging and start studying for my exam tomorrow, they might even say to me, "Hey, you're not half bad. Tell you what, why don't we let you keep attending law school?" Then I would smile and think of that poor band and how one of those kids might even be one of my classmates, getting better grades than me because he was busy doing writing and logic assignments intead of practicing music... it's all a matter of perspective, I suppose.
It always makes me feel better for two reasons - one, I have never done anything like that and STILL posted it on the internet. It makes me smile in wonder at what could have posessed them to actually put it on their website.
But the second thing I like about it is what a reminder it is of how faithfulness in little things takes care of big things. It isn't that the kids didn't want to sound good on the day of the performance, and it isn't that the conductor didn't conduct his heart out, but the reason the band was so bad was that the kids did other things besides work on their technique, their sound quality, their sight reading, their sense of pitch and blend. So when you put it together, the euphonium is a few shades too sharp, the french horns don't come in together, the flute unison isn't, the crash cymbal really does, and one of the trumpets has no volume control. I don't need to play the whole orchestra, I just have to learn my notes, get a sense of tone, and adjust my pitch to fit what is going on around me.
For example, as an application to my life right now, if I quit blogging and start studying for my exam tomorrow, they might even say to me, "Hey, you're not half bad. Tell you what, why don't we let you keep attending law school?" Then I would smile and think of that poor band and how one of those kids might even be one of my classmates, getting better grades than me because he was busy doing writing and logic assignments intead of practicing music... it's all a matter of perspective, I suppose.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Sauce of the Week
Today's sauce is a bit unusual. It is designed primarily as a beverage, and one that you won't find most traditional Baptists sipping. Today, I proudly present the marinade capabilities of a great lager,
Killian's Irish Red.
Partly because I like things that are traditional and partly because I am lazy, I am a fan of pot roasts. (Another reason is that it is a beef I can afford.) Pot roast is a meal you can cook in a crock pot while you are out of the house all day. However, simple sodden beef, onions, potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables, are really a pretty bland combination, and garlic, rosemary, chives, and company can only go so far to make it interesting. Using beer instead of water for slow cooking the mix, however, results in a very full flavor permeating the meat and giving character to the herbage. I have tried this with a number of beers, including Sam Adams and Guinness, but by far my favorite for cooking is Killian's Irish Red Lager.
*For anyone with qualms about supporting alcohol companies, note that Killians is bottled by Coors, which founded and supports the Heritage Foundation, so by buying Red, you are supporting the conservative American way of life.
Monday, December 12, 2005
A grab bag of thoughts on Mormons
Have to wonder how the Mormon day-walkers chose the one week I don't have any time to argue with them to make a home visit...
Oh, and how is it that there is a Mormon missionary that looks just like Samantha Clark? You can imagine my confusion as I tried to figure out, upon looking through my front door, what kind of emergency could possibly force her to my doorstep, or how she tracked down my place without managing to, say, get my phone number instead, or what she was doing this far away from anywhere she would normally be found.
A friend and I at law school were considering whether, should gay marriage end up winning in the federal court system, the Salt Lake City prophet would discern that it was then the appropriate time for polygamy to be restored. It was by revelation of the sitting prophet (at the same time the US made Utah's entry into the Union conditioned on a ban on polygamy) that the time for polygamy was not then. Should the factors that existed at the time of the original revelation be weakened, one has to wonder if they will go for it. In some future post, I may explore the constitutional argument to be made on whether if gender doesn't matter, number should.
Oh, and how is it that there is a Mormon missionary that looks just like Samantha Clark? You can imagine my confusion as I tried to figure out, upon looking through my front door, what kind of emergency could possibly force her to my doorstep, or how she tracked down my place without managing to, say, get my phone number instead, or what she was doing this far away from anywhere she would normally be found.
A friend and I at law school were considering whether, should gay marriage end up winning in the federal court system, the Salt Lake City prophet would discern that it was then the appropriate time for polygamy to be restored. It was by revelation of the sitting prophet (at the same time the US made Utah's entry into the Union conditioned on a ban on polygamy) that the time for polygamy was not then. Should the factors that existed at the time of the original revelation be weakened, one has to wonder if they will go for it. In some future post, I may explore the constitutional argument to be made on whether if gender doesn't matter, number should.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Final Exams
Is it a bad sign if one of the points on my course outline ends with "Pray this doesn't come up in the exam"?
Friday, December 02, 2005
Another's work (again)
Mr. Krull calls it straight on conservative paternalism toward the relationships between adults that are younger than themselves. (If you have an internet filter that looks for words within URLs, click here and look for the post "Sex, Sex, Sex" instead.)
On the topic in general, you may also find of interest James Spurgeon's Tales of the Temple, much of which will sound oddly familiar to the navy-and-white crowd.
On the topic in general, you may also find of interest James Spurgeon's Tales of the Temple, much of which will sound oddly familiar to the navy-and-white crowd.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
One of the better quizzes out there
Although I normally don't post this sort of thing, this personality quiz seemed to do a good job of having a balance of analyses and topics, as well as having an easy-to-answer format, and questions that don't (always) give away the answer.
Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com
And for your laughter and enjoyment, on HP quizzes, I do normally come up as Hermione Granger. Occasionally, I show up as Bill Weasley, although that one is probably related to the fact that I am about to marry a Veela and sometimes bear, in personality, a resemblance to a werewolf when I wake up... ;-)
 | You scored as Batman, the Dark Knight. As the Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman is a vigilante who deals out his own brand of justice to the criminals and corrupt of the city. He follows his own code and is often misunderstood. He has few friends or allies, but finds comfort in his cause. |
Batman, the Dark Knight | 79% | ||
Indiana Jones | 67% | ||
William Wallace | 63% | ||
James Bond, Agent 007 | 63% | ||
Neo, the "One" | 61% | ||
Lara Croft | 58% | ||
The Amazing Spider-Man | 54% | ||
Maximus | 42% | ||
The Terminator | 42% | ||
Captain Jack Sparrow | 38% | ||
El Zorro | 25% |
created with QuizFarm.com
And for your laughter and enjoyment, on HP quizzes, I do normally come up as Hermione Granger. Occasionally, I show up as Bill Weasley, although that one is probably related to the fact that I am about to marry a Veela and sometimes bear, in personality, a resemblance to a werewolf when I wake up... ;-)
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Growing Pains of Evolution
In this article, BBC reports that animal behavior changes do not appear to be coordinated very well with the environmental changes they appear to be aimed at and with other species. For example, certain catepillars seem to be emerging earlier in the year, and some birds haven't responded, some have begun laying eggs earlier in the year - but by too much.
Although changes deal with behavior, not genetics per se, it does make one wonder about the grand processes that are held as the sacred cows of science and education. So apparently evolution is all fine and well to explain how the universe came to exist, but is inadequate when it comes to common observable changes?
Although changes deal with behavior, not genetics per se, it does make one wonder about the grand processes that are held as the sacred cows of science and education. So apparently evolution is all fine and well to explain how the universe came to exist, but is inadequate when it comes to common observable changes?
If only she had read "Never Been Kissed"...
Girl Dies in Peanut Butter Kiss
-or-
How reactionary horse-and-buggyist homeschool conservativism could have saved the life of a Canadian teen.
-or-
How reactionary horse-and-buggyist homeschool conservativism could have saved the life of a Canadian teen.
Friday, November 25, 2005
PHC Prof Published
Dr. David Aikman, PHC's new history prof, was recently published in UPI, having written a quick outline of his views on US-China relations. The article is available here.
Cool (well, warm) clothing review
Being busy with after-Thanksgiving and preparations for final exams, I leave you with just a reference to an interesting article about how the clothing worn by 1920s European Himalayas climbers appears to have been better designed, lighter, and more versatile than modern "high-tech" climbing outfits.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Alcohol Consumption
It seems the Russians' reputation for drinking is not as well deserved as is popularly believed. The World Health Organization has recently released alcohol consumption statistics for Europe, and Russia is ranked 22nd, behind most western European countries in average liters of pure alcohol per person. Among others, Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and Finland came in wetter than Russia.
A real surprise on the list was the fact that Luxembourg drinks the most, per capita, in Europe - 14.61 liters of pure alcohol per capita. In terms of American-strength beer, this works out to more than two and a quarter bottles of beer per man, woman, and child every day throughout the entire year.
A real surprise on the list was the fact that Luxembourg drinks the most, per capita, in Europe - 14.61 liters of pure alcohol per capita. In terms of American-strength beer, this works out to more than two and a quarter bottles of beer per man, woman, and child every day throughout the entire year.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Wedding story
There was great rejoicing this weekend as TF and CJ tied the knot. I thought I would share one incident from the event that, if nothing else, has increased the merriment of those who heard.
I arrived in town early, and, among other things, still needed to get a wedding card. I found a drugstore, purchased a card, went to the church, and (while sitting in my van) began writing a note. Suddenly, I realized I couldn't remember whether the word I was in the middle of was spelled "indelible" or "indellible." I couldn't write them both down and see which looked better, so I walked over to the church, intending perhaps to see if there was a dictionary in the church office. As I walked around the building, however, I noticed a public library across the street. Wearing my suit and carrying the card, I went into the library, found the reference section, pulled out the trusty OED, and found "in-del'-i-ble." With this assurance, I finished the card and went in to the wedding.
I arrived in town early, and, among other things, still needed to get a wedding card. I found a drugstore, purchased a card, went to the church, and (while sitting in my van) began writing a note. Suddenly, I realized I couldn't remember whether the word I was in the middle of was spelled "indelible" or "indellible." I couldn't write them both down and see which looked better, so I walked over to the church, intending perhaps to see if there was a dictionary in the church office. As I walked around the building, however, I noticed a public library across the street. Wearing my suit and carrying the card, I went into the library, found the reference section, pulled out the trusty OED, and found "in-del'-i-ble." With this assurance, I finished the card and went in to the wedding.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Republican Party: Here's a Band-Aid for your fiscal cancer
The good news: public attention and ridicule over the now-infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" has finally motivated the Republican leadership to cut the funding for the two Alaska bridges.
The bad news: that was $454 million out of more than $24 billion in such special projects, and the money isn't saved, just shuffled to Alaska's discretionary fund. And even the $24 billion is less than 1% of the budgeted government expenditures. This budget carves out 20% of the country's GDP and adds to a public debt that is already at 65% of GDP, crowding out businesses and inhibiting investment.
And so the runaway spending continues. "Small government" party indeed.
The bad news: that was $454 million out of more than $24 billion in such special projects, and the money isn't saved, just shuffled to Alaska's discretionary fund. And even the $24 billion is less than 1% of the budgeted government expenditures. This budget carves out 20% of the country's GDP and adds to a public debt that is already at 65% of GDP, crowding out businesses and inhibiting investment.
And so the runaway spending continues. "Small government" party indeed.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Nigerian Scammers
Most of us, particularly MouseCrap afficiandos, are familiar with the Nigerian Scam, where a person contacts the mark by letter or email, claims to be a petty official with the Nigerian government and needs help getting millions in ill-gotten gains out of the country, then milks victims for money for bribes, transfer costs, etc. and finally drains whatever accounts the victim has given him access to.
According to the FBI, however, some victims, upon losing most of their liquid possessions, have actually gone to Nigeria to try to sort things out. And that is where things get dicey, because under Nigerian law, as in most countries, it is illegal to attempt to steal or illegally transfer money, from the government or otherwise. They start asking questions, some prosecutor finds out why they are there, they go have a chat with a judge, and often even get to notify their families that they won't be back very soon. So remember, kids, losing all your posessions in the US is still a lot better than serving five-to-ten in a Nigerian big house.
And there is your random law of the day.
According to the FBI, however, some victims, upon losing most of their liquid possessions, have actually gone to Nigeria to try to sort things out. And that is where things get dicey, because under Nigerian law, as in most countries, it is illegal to attempt to steal or illegally transfer money, from the government or otherwise. They start asking questions, some prosecutor finds out why they are there, they go have a chat with a judge, and often even get to notify their families that they won't be back very soon. So remember, kids, losing all your posessions in the US is still a lot better than serving five-to-ten in a Nigerian big house.
And there is your random law of the day.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
PSA to phishers
I have recently begun receiving a steady stream of notices from "eBay," "PayPal" (with whom I don't even have an account), and so on notifying me that my accounts have been compromised and demanding that I click their link or have my account cut off.
Some of these notices are done better than others, although they have certain elements in common, such as hyperlinks not lining up with the given address and an attempt at the sort of small print you might expect to find on an official email. Some of the emails leave a bit to be desired, however. To that end, I offer a few suggestions based on things that tipped me off:
- Exclamation points are not generally accepted in business communications. "Security Center Advisory!" isn't convincing.
- Putting an "ID" number on the communication is commendable... unless the ID is only three digits long. A company the size of eBay is going to run out of numbers if it follows that convention.
- Using proper English syntax is helpful. "Make sure you never provide your password to fraudulent persons" doesn't work. Persons aren't fraudulent, just their actions. Unless they aren't persons. But I don't know many hamsters who know html, so I think that rules that out.
- You aren't "try[ing] to verify [my] identity." You are resolving suspected unauthorized logins. You don't care whether I am who I say I am, you are worried about the guy who tried to get into my account. It would have been pointless to email me if you were trying to verify my identity; by sending the email, you indicate that you already believe me to be the proper account holder.
- Ditto spelling. Writing "you leave us no choise but to temporaly suspend your account" should be reworked before sending it out to the world (not to mention that temporary and temporal are only confused by weak minds).
- Companies need customers. Successful companies (such as the ones you are masquerading as) don't threaten them. "If you choose to ignore our request, you leave us no choise but to temporaly suspend your account" is more aggressive than any company would write. Additionally, the amount of independent action suggested to the customer ("If you choose...") is usually only seen in letters from collection agencies.
So in conclusion, here's to incompetence doing its part to keep my online information secure.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Zorro
I saw Legend of Zorro, or Revenge of Zorro or Banderas Rides Again or Zorro Unmasked or whatever it was called, this weekend. To say nothing of the money, it was a waste of two perfectly good hours, though not quite bad enough to joins the club of sequels-that-should-never-have-been-made.
Spoilers follow, but given that I hope to dissuade you from seeing it, I in no way apologize.
As always, Banderas and Zeta-Jones demonstrated that they are good at acting, good looking, and fun to watch. They also had a few good lines (e.g., when Zorro's son, who doesn't know he is Zorro, springs him from his jail cell, then watches with amazement as his dad unexpectedly displays martial skills in getting out of the building, Zorro replies with, "Prison changes a man.") But these things can only go so far to make up for an awful story.
First, I will dispense with some easy targets. The movie started off badly, with the bogey of Anachronistic Weapons. While this anachronism is funny in Spaghetti Westerns such as The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, having the rapier-and-sharp-edged-hat hero face a Henry (lever action) Rifle in 1850 in the first five minutes of the flick gave the movie a definite acid-on-the-tongue taste. Additionally (as pointed out by Ceil), in 1850, the Pinkerton Detective Agency was still local to Chicago, and was still working largely in the railroad larceny niche market, not involved in federal covert ops.
The story line and themes of the movie were the real losers, though. The first hour of the movie was spent watching Zeta-Jones get fed up with Banderas' Zorro fixation, arguing about his letting his hero-stuff get in the way of his family priorities, that she worried about him not coming home some day, etc. She then divorces him (maybe I didn't pay close enough attention, but they didn't seem to work out the who-gets-the-house details, and while I haven't researched it, I would put better than even odds on divorce being really hard to get in pre-US Catholic/Spanish California) and starts going out with another guy. The amount and intensity of "making out," while perhaps not unusual in a movie, was a little hard to stomach given the triangulation involved. One can only hope that she washed her mouth out with soap and water between guys.
For Banderas' character, being Don Alejandro was simply the means by which he could carry out his pursuit of equity and defense of the weak as Zorro. It was who he was. His wife Elena knew that going into the marriage. When she demanded that he give that up, then, she was breaching her marriage covenant to honor who he was. The movie has him being right in the end and everyone in the family reaching some sort of copacetic peace, but there is no reason to spend two hours getting there.
Her major complaint seems to be that his son doesn't know who he is, that is, that the mask is between himself and his son. Decisions on when to tell children certain things are important and always open for legitimate discussion and debate between spouses or other responsible adults. A particular child may not have the necessary background, maturity, and skills to properly assimilate, use, and be responsible for the information. The most recent Harry Potter book illustrates this well, with Dumbledore, justifiedly initially, holding off on talking to Potter about his role in the war against Voldemort. Mistakes in timing should be corrected and forgiveness sought, but they are inevitable and should be charitably treated by all parties involved.
We find out at the end of the movie that Elena was also under some duress because she was being blackmailed with the exposure of Alejandro as Zorro; this source of duress she had refused to reveal to Zorro. As an excuse, this is pathetic at best. First, one would think that if Zorro could deal with an international secret society (on this point, the similarities to Nick Cage's National Treasure assisted in the boredom factor, although I suppose there are only so many available story lines out there...) or the hacienda system's upper crust (in the previous movie), he could have taken care of a handful of Pinkertons. But second and more importantly, Elena hiding her decision to "protect" him and the circumstances behind her decision reveal a fundamental lack of trust Elena had in Alejandro and his ability to make intelligent decisions in consultation with her. Watching this kind of soap-opera distrust for two hours is worse than boring, it is painful.
It is my earnest hope that they do not come out with Zorro III - the caped crusader in New York, as was foreshadowed in a conversation between the hero and his lady (why is it that sequels taking place in New York seem to always take a set of characters to new lows?).
Spoilers follow, but given that I hope to dissuade you from seeing it, I in no way apologize.
As always, Banderas and Zeta-Jones demonstrated that they are good at acting, good looking, and fun to watch. They also had a few good lines (e.g., when Zorro's son, who doesn't know he is Zorro, springs him from his jail cell, then watches with amazement as his dad unexpectedly displays martial skills in getting out of the building, Zorro replies with, "Prison changes a man.") But these things can only go so far to make up for an awful story.
First, I will dispense with some easy targets. The movie started off badly, with the bogey of Anachronistic Weapons. While this anachronism is funny in Spaghetti Westerns such as The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, having the rapier-and-sharp-edged-hat hero face a Henry (lever action) Rifle in 1850 in the first five minutes of the flick gave the movie a definite acid-on-the-tongue taste. Additionally (as pointed out by Ceil), in 1850, the Pinkerton Detective Agency was still local to Chicago, and was still working largely in the railroad larceny niche market, not involved in federal covert ops.
The story line and themes of the movie were the real losers, though. The first hour of the movie was spent watching Zeta-Jones get fed up with Banderas' Zorro fixation, arguing about his letting his hero-stuff get in the way of his family priorities, that she worried about him not coming home some day, etc. She then divorces him (maybe I didn't pay close enough attention, but they didn't seem to work out the who-gets-the-house details, and while I haven't researched it, I would put better than even odds on divorce being really hard to get in pre-US Catholic/Spanish California) and starts going out with another guy. The amount and intensity of "making out," while perhaps not unusual in a movie, was a little hard to stomach given the triangulation involved. One can only hope that she washed her mouth out with soap and water between guys.
For Banderas' character, being Don Alejandro was simply the means by which he could carry out his pursuit of equity and defense of the weak as Zorro. It was who he was. His wife Elena knew that going into the marriage. When she demanded that he give that up, then, she was breaching her marriage covenant to honor who he was. The movie has him being right in the end and everyone in the family reaching some sort of copacetic peace, but there is no reason to spend two hours getting there.
Her major complaint seems to be that his son doesn't know who he is, that is, that the mask is between himself and his son. Decisions on when to tell children certain things are important and always open for legitimate discussion and debate between spouses or other responsible adults. A particular child may not have the necessary background, maturity, and skills to properly assimilate, use, and be responsible for the information. The most recent Harry Potter book illustrates this well, with Dumbledore, justifiedly initially, holding off on talking to Potter about his role in the war against Voldemort. Mistakes in timing should be corrected and forgiveness sought, but they are inevitable and should be charitably treated by all parties involved.
We find out at the end of the movie that Elena was also under some duress because she was being blackmailed with the exposure of Alejandro as Zorro; this source of duress she had refused to reveal to Zorro. As an excuse, this is pathetic at best. First, one would think that if Zorro could deal with an international secret society (on this point, the similarities to Nick Cage's National Treasure assisted in the boredom factor, although I suppose there are only so many available story lines out there...) or the hacienda system's upper crust (in the previous movie), he could have taken care of a handful of Pinkertons. But second and more importantly, Elena hiding her decision to "protect" him and the circumstances behind her decision reveal a fundamental lack of trust Elena had in Alejandro and his ability to make intelligent decisions in consultation with her. Watching this kind of soap-opera distrust for two hours is worse than boring, it is painful.
It is my earnest hope that they do not come out with Zorro III - the caped crusader in New York, as was foreshadowed in a conversation between the hero and his lady (why is it that sequels taking place in New York seem to always take a set of characters to new lows?).
Friday, November 04, 2005
Random Over-Detailed State Law
In Louisiana, Rev. Stat. § 40:1379.3(N)(3) provides that state judges are permitted to carry concealed handguns in their own courtrooms (although it doesn't say anything about the hallway between judge's chambers and the courtroom, but who is going to stop a judge and frisk him in the back rooms of a courthouse???).
This raises a new twist to the age-old question "What do judges wear beneath their robes?"
(It also raises an interesting interaction problem with § 40.1379(I)(2), which says that any armed CCW permit holder to notify any police officer "who approaches the permittee in an official manner or with an identified official purpose" that he is carrying. Assuming that in La. the bailiffs are sheriff's deputies, if the bailiff approaches to inform the judge that a witness is ready, does the judge have to tell the bailiff that he is packing? Every time?)
This raises a new twist to the age-old question "What do judges wear beneath their robes?"
(It also raises an interesting interaction problem with § 40.1379(I)(2), which says that any armed CCW permit holder to notify any police officer "who approaches the permittee in an official manner or with an identified official purpose" that he is carrying. Assuming that in La. the bailiffs are sheriff's deputies, if the bailiff approaches to inform the judge that a witness is ready, does the judge have to tell the bailiff that he is packing? Every time?)
Word of Wisdom
Do not cook bacon in an open pan if you are not wearing a shirt. Even if you consider yourself tough. There are other ways of proving that.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Randomnost
Beat up the cat if you need someone else on the mat,
I put a rock in the coffee in your coffee mug.
Which one of us is the one that we can't trust?
You say I think it's you but I don't agree with that.
--They Might Be Giants, "I've Got a Match"
I put a rock in the coffee in your coffee mug.
Which one of us is the one that we can't trust?
You say I think it's you but I don't agree with that.
--They Might Be Giants, "I've Got a Match"
Sauce of the Week
(Note - not every week gets a sauce. The title simply assures that no sauce gets cheated by being on top of the pack less than a week.)
The sauce this time is a hot sauce called
The sauce this time is a hot sauce called
Melinda's Original Habanero Hot Pepper Sauce
I have long been a fan of the habanero with its dry, fiery taste as opposed to "wetter" peppers like jalapenos (which, by contrast, could almost be called "greasy"). At roughly twice the heat rating of a chile, a little of this pepper goes a long way.
In this sauce, however, the habanero has a sparse presence. Using carrots to dilute the pepper's strength, this sauce is not an organic powder keg. While the flavor of the habanero is noticeable, this sauce keeps its power in check, and requires application in salsa-like quantities - far more than a good hot sauce should.
The sauce merits review, however, for its breadth of flavor. The combination of habanero heat with the sweet-tartness of lime (and to a lesser extent, onion) leaves a broad swath of pleasure on the taste buds, with flavor continuing to grow and morph after the food has left the mouth. I was also pleasantly surprised by the back seat that the vinegar took. Vinegar in hot sauces is normally an irritation at best, and a serious liability when it overpowers the sauce (e.g., Texas Pete's, a sauce which casts an undeserved slur on the good name of Texas). Here, however, it adds background bitterness, giving depth without interfering with the primary flavor of the sauce.
Commentary on the uses of hot sauces seems out of place, as their culinary place seems well established. I will mention only that Melinda's is good on quesadillas.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Problem of the Commons, Global Scale
In economics, there is a postulate that what everyone owns no one cares for, because (in a rough form of the argument) I get more enjoyment out of appropriating it entirely to my temporary use than having a share that is of uncertain future use because I know that others think the same way I do. The world's high seas fisheries are a current illustration of this point.
The law of the sea is one of the best developed bodies of international law, in large part because it has been around long enough that practices and norms have had a chance to develop. Additionally, seafaring states are generally also coastal states, and vice versa, so that all states have a stake in a stable system that balances free navagability with the security, commercial, and environmental interests in protecting coastlines. This has led to the current UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regime, which allows countries territorial rights and responsibilities up to 12 nautical miles out to sea (so long as they respect flagged vessels rights of transit for non-military and non-exploitative purposes), and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) up to 200 nm out to sea (this mostly deals with fishing, oil, and mining).
Beyond the 200 nm limit, however, are the open seas, and ships are only bound by their own flag. In theory this would work fine, as each country would enforce its own laws and treaty obligations on its own ships, and because all coastal parties to UNCLOS have strong incentives to make sure that its terms are respected, complaints about abuses are generally dealt with quickly and effectively.
For a handful of countries, however, particularly landlocked countries, countries with minimal economic interests (e.g., St. Vincent), or countries with unusual maritime circumstances (such as Panama, which has few locally-owned ships, but controls the canal), a ready means of making money and creating influence is to allow ships to register under its flag, with minimal restrictions on what it can do. For example, several American-operated non-profit organizations with ships register them in Panama instead of the United States so they are not subject to OSHA regulations.
When it comes to fishing, however, the UNCLOS gives deference to regional fisheries authorities such as the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). UNCLOS also recognizes that some conservation duties are best carried out by the nearest country and gives limited environmental jurisdiction beyond the 200 nm EEZ limit where there are fish populations whose habitat straddles that line (Canada was particularly active in getting this concession, since the continental shelf around them is both extensive and rich in commercial fish and was being overfished outside the EEZ, particularly by Spanish flag ships).
Because no one owns high seas fish, there is no incentive for any fishing vessel or any country to unilaterally limit its catch. Some multilateral law exists in the form of regional fisheries authorities, which seem to work reasonably well so long as their member states enforce their restrictions. Getting the flag countries to enforce their obligations can be difficult in the case of flag-of-convenience countries with limited contact with their ships and limited ocean-going enforcement power. (Canada at one point was so fed up with Spanish fishing vessels' depridations that they began capturing and boarding them on the high seas.) Of particular interest in this area is the EU, which, as economic authority for Europe, undertakes fishing negotiations for its members. As the EU grows in power, it will hopefully also grow in influence over flag ships such that it is able to enforce its agreements without having to defer to the local politics of member states. This may end up being an important test of the EU's ability to function as economic head of Europe and influence the rest of the world's willingness to trust its agreements.
The law of the sea is one of the best developed bodies of international law, in large part because it has been around long enough that practices and norms have had a chance to develop. Additionally, seafaring states are generally also coastal states, and vice versa, so that all states have a stake in a stable system that balances free navagability with the security, commercial, and environmental interests in protecting coastlines. This has led to the current UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regime, which allows countries territorial rights and responsibilities up to 12 nautical miles out to sea (so long as they respect flagged vessels rights of transit for non-military and non-exploitative purposes), and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) up to 200 nm out to sea (this mostly deals with fishing, oil, and mining).
Beyond the 200 nm limit, however, are the open seas, and ships are only bound by their own flag. In theory this would work fine, as each country would enforce its own laws and treaty obligations on its own ships, and because all coastal parties to UNCLOS have strong incentives to make sure that its terms are respected, complaints about abuses are generally dealt with quickly and effectively.
For a handful of countries, however, particularly landlocked countries, countries with minimal economic interests (e.g., St. Vincent), or countries with unusual maritime circumstances (such as Panama, which has few locally-owned ships, but controls the canal), a ready means of making money and creating influence is to allow ships to register under its flag, with minimal restrictions on what it can do. For example, several American-operated non-profit organizations with ships register them in Panama instead of the United States so they are not subject to OSHA regulations.
When it comes to fishing, however, the UNCLOS gives deference to regional fisheries authorities such as the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). UNCLOS also recognizes that some conservation duties are best carried out by the nearest country and gives limited environmental jurisdiction beyond the 200 nm EEZ limit where there are fish populations whose habitat straddles that line (Canada was particularly active in getting this concession, since the continental shelf around them is both extensive and rich in commercial fish and was being overfished outside the EEZ, particularly by Spanish flag ships).
Because no one owns high seas fish, there is no incentive for any fishing vessel or any country to unilaterally limit its catch. Some multilateral law exists in the form of regional fisheries authorities, which seem to work reasonably well so long as their member states enforce their restrictions. Getting the flag countries to enforce their obligations can be difficult in the case of flag-of-convenience countries with limited contact with their ships and limited ocean-going enforcement power. (Canada at one point was so fed up with Spanish fishing vessels' depridations that they began capturing and boarding them on the high seas.) Of particular interest in this area is the EU, which, as economic authority for Europe, undertakes fishing negotiations for its members. As the EU grows in power, it will hopefully also grow in influence over flag ships such that it is able to enforce its agreements without having to defer to the local politics of member states. This may end up being an important test of the EU's ability to function as economic head of Europe and influence the rest of the world's willingness to trust its agreements.
Monday, October 31, 2005
From a comment on Em's blog
Rather than come up with something else for today, I figured some commentary I have already given elsewhere on Virginia's favorite racket could be of interest. Note that the example given is not a case of business libel, since the truth is a defense to that tort :-) Also note that I am rather pleased at having recently passed my own inspection without any ill marks.
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Note on Virginia inspections:
1) Never let your inspector do your repairs. If you don't know him or his reputation, let him know that before the inspection. For many mechanics, the inspection process is their means of creating work. Don't give them the pleasure.
2) If you see someone whose car is in as bad a shape as yours, ask them where they had it inspected. You would be surprised how much room the law actually gives an inspector who isn't just out to find things to fix.
3) There is no "redo" on an inspection - once it is marked as needing repair, you have to get it to pass. However, if the item is not really broken, just find a new inspector for the re-inspection and tell him that you fixed it yourself. And warn your friends about the old inspector. There is an Exxon station on Van Dorn in Alexandria that did this to me ;-)
4) (For girls and men who look like office types) Unfortunately, it is a fair assumption that you will get better treatment by having a guy friend in grubbies (it is more effective if he looks like he is at home with grease under his fingernails) do all the talking and watch him as he does the inspection (feigning both interest in and understanding of the process if necessary).
5) *NEW ADVICE (not available on Em's post :-)* If you are going in for an emissions inspection, make sure your engine is hot - this can cut some emissions figures by up to two-thirds. Driving on a freeway for ten or twenty miles should get the engine warm enough. Also helpful are going to the inspector when there isn't a long line and not getting the safety inspection done first.
6) Bonus humorous note: ever wonder why the Blogspot spell check doesn't recognize the word "blog"?
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Note on Virginia inspections:
1) Never let your inspector do your repairs. If you don't know him or his reputation, let him know that before the inspection. For many mechanics, the inspection process is their means of creating work. Don't give them the pleasure.
2) If you see someone whose car is in as bad a shape as yours, ask them where they had it inspected. You would be surprised how much room the law actually gives an inspector who isn't just out to find things to fix.
3) There is no "redo" on an inspection - once it is marked as needing repair, you have to get it to pass. However, if the item is not really broken, just find a new inspector for the re-inspection and tell him that you fixed it yourself. And warn your friends about the old inspector. There is an Exxon station on Van Dorn in Alexandria that did this to me ;-)
4) (For girls and men who look like office types) Unfortunately, it is a fair assumption that you will get better treatment by having a guy friend in grubbies (it is more effective if he looks like he is at home with grease under his fingernails) do all the talking and watch him as he does the inspection (feigning both interest in and understanding of the process if necessary).
5) *NEW ADVICE (not available on Em's post :-)* If you are going in for an emissions inspection, make sure your engine is hot - this can cut some emissions figures by up to two-thirds. Driving on a freeway for ten or twenty miles should get the engine warm enough. Also helpful are going to the inspector when there isn't a long line and not getting the safety inspection done first.
6) Bonus humorous note: ever wonder why the Blogspot spell check doesn't recognize the word "blog"?
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Biblical Lobbyists II
Rocks are just part of our heritage. Where would Israel be today if Ehud hadn't gone to the quarries* before finishing off Eglon and the Moabites?
--National Big Heavy Stones Association
*We are aware that the King James is the only major translation that uses this term in Judges 3. Note, however, that this is also the only major translation to have been made before the influence of the modern anti-rocks movement.
--National Big Heavy Stones Association
*We are aware that the King James is the only major translation that uses this term in Judges 3. Note, however, that this is also the only major translation to have been made before the influence of the modern anti-rocks movement.
Fairfax Judge a Stickler About the Law, Say Prosecutors
Judge Ian O'Flaherty of the Fairfax General District Court has taken a seemingly moot-courtish approach to one of the most emotionally involved areas of law, dismissing DWI cases on the grounds that the statute is unconstitutional.
The Fifth Amendment's guarantee that a witness will not be compelled to testify against himself creates the famous "presumption of innocence," and makes unconstitutional any law that requires a criminal defendant to disprove an assumption. In the words of Judge O'Flaherty, "The Fifth Amendment means that the defendant can sit there, not say or do anything, and at the end of the case say, 'Can I go home now?' "
Virginia's DWI law (Va. Code §18.2-269), however, uses breath-based blood alcohol level tests to create a "rebuttable presumption" that the person is intoxicated if their blood alcohol is above .08. In other words, the statute doesn't convict them for having that much alcohol in their blood, but shifts the burden to them to disprove that they were driving while intoxicated. The law requires that the state prove that the person was driving, but lets the prosecutor simply assume that the person was intoxicated and wait for the person to present evidence that they were not.
A simple workaround would seem to be for the legislature to eliminate §18.2-269 and change §18.2-266 (the part of the DWI statute that sets out the crime) to require negligence in letting one's blood alcohol get above .08 (strict liability instead of negligence would also work, but I tend to get skittish about using that one because a person can commit the crime without even knowing that they have, and this cannot provide a deterrent; see, e.g., Staples v. United States). By changing the offense from being intoxicated to driving with a blood alcohol level above .08 should take care of the constitutional problems.
As a side note, §18.2-266 already provides that one can be convicted of DWI for either being intoxicated and having a blood alcohol above .08. I imagine that prosecutors shy away from the latter one because they have to show that that was the level at the time of driving, not several hours later when they get around to testing the suspect at the station. This would seem to be simply a problem caused by a shortage of the equipment and training needed to verify the blood alcohol levels.
The Fifth Amendment's guarantee that a witness will not be compelled to testify against himself creates the famous "presumption of innocence," and makes unconstitutional any law that requires a criminal defendant to disprove an assumption. In the words of Judge O'Flaherty, "The Fifth Amendment means that the defendant can sit there, not say or do anything, and at the end of the case say, 'Can I go home now?' "
Virginia's DWI law (Va. Code §18.2-269), however, uses breath-based blood alcohol level tests to create a "rebuttable presumption" that the person is intoxicated if their blood alcohol is above .08. In other words, the statute doesn't convict them for having that much alcohol in their blood, but shifts the burden to them to disprove that they were driving while intoxicated. The law requires that the state prove that the person was driving, but lets the prosecutor simply assume that the person was intoxicated and wait for the person to present evidence that they were not.
A simple workaround would seem to be for the legislature to eliminate §18.2-269 and change §18.2-266 (the part of the DWI statute that sets out the crime) to require negligence in letting one's blood alcohol get above .08 (strict liability instead of negligence would also work, but I tend to get skittish about using that one because a person can commit the crime without even knowing that they have, and this cannot provide a deterrent; see, e.g., Staples v. United States). By changing the offense from being intoxicated to driving with a blood alcohol level above .08 should take care of the constitutional problems.
As a side note, §18.2-266 already provides that one can be convicted of DWI for either being intoxicated and having a blood alcohol above .08. I imagine that prosecutors shy away from the latter one because they have to show that that was the level at the time of driving, not several hours later when they get around to testing the suspect at the station. This would seem to be simply a problem caused by a shortage of the equipment and training needed to verify the blood alcohol levels.
Monday, October 24, 2005
On Gold
I say therefore that not gold, as the common opinion cries out, but good soldiers are the sinew of war; for gold is not sufficient to find good soldiers, but good soldiers are quite sufficient to find gold.
--Niccolo Machiavelli, Discourses on Livy, Book II, Chapter 10, ¶ 2.
--Niccolo Machiavelli, Discourses on Livy, Book II, Chapter 10, ¶ 2.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Campus art majors brighten people's days
I really don't know how this idea came up, but it sheer out-of-the-ordinariness sure made my commute a little more fun. Great job, art department.
==EDIT==
Yes, it is a giant tube of red paint.
Biblical Lobbyists
"Rocks don't smite people, people smite people."
--National Big Heavy Stones Association
--National Big Heavy Stones Association
Fun with Crosswalks
Ever wanted to have a good laugh while walking about in a city? Here's a fun one that worked for me -
Terrain: You will need a crosswalk with traffic lights and pedestrian signals (countdown timer is best, but 10-second warning flasher is ok) on a moderately busy city street, preferably not more than four lanes across.
Setup: You are walking down the sidewalk (preferably on the left side of the road) toward the crosswalk with the light green in your direction and plenty of time to spare on the countdown timer. There is crosstraffic waiting at the red light (ideally, the first vehicle in line is a bus or other heavy truck).
Action: As you continue toward the crosswalk, wait until you see the driver of the lead crosstraffic vehicle look at you. While he is watching you, look up at the pedestrian signal and suddenly dash forward as though trying to race the countdown. As you near the intersection, stop short in disgust, perhaps shaking your head that you didn't make it. Watch with amusement as the driver puts his vehicle in gear and eases forward. Bonus points if he covers more than half of the crosswalk width with the front of his machine before discovering the false start. Proceed to cross the street and go on your way.
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As a marginally related matter, have you ever wondered about whether our racist pedestrian controls led to the depopulation of the Indians? After all, look at which direction traffic is going when the "white man cross now" sign flashes, and which direction the traffic is going when the red man "How!" sign is lit...
Terrain: You will need a crosswalk with traffic lights and pedestrian signals (countdown timer is best, but 10-second warning flasher is ok) on a moderately busy city street, preferably not more than four lanes across.
Setup: You are walking down the sidewalk (preferably on the left side of the road) toward the crosswalk with the light green in your direction and plenty of time to spare on the countdown timer. There is crosstraffic waiting at the red light (ideally, the first vehicle in line is a bus or other heavy truck).
Action: As you continue toward the crosswalk, wait until you see the driver of the lead crosstraffic vehicle look at you. While he is watching you, look up at the pedestrian signal and suddenly dash forward as though trying to race the countdown. As you near the intersection, stop short in disgust, perhaps shaking your head that you didn't make it. Watch with amusement as the driver puts his vehicle in gear and eases forward. Bonus points if he covers more than half of the crosswalk width with the front of his machine before discovering the false start. Proceed to cross the street and go on your way.
((((((((((((((((((((((()
As a marginally related matter, have you ever wondered about whether our racist pedestrian controls led to the depopulation of the Indians? After all, look at which direction traffic is going when the "white man cross now" sign flashes, and which direction the traffic is going when the red man "How!" sign is lit...
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Pass on the Comfort
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
--II Cor. 1
--II Cor. 1
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Sauce of the Week
I would like to introduce you to my new favorite barbeque sauce:
Safeway Select Honey Mustard Barbecue Sauce. This sauce is a very nice combination of traditional barbeque tastes, a low-key sweetness (hmm... the honey perhaps?), and a secondary bite to the flavor.
This sauce goes well with hot dogs, wursts, and related sausages. It goes a long way to cover otherwise boring or low-quality meats. Also recommended for pork ribs. I have not yet tried it with chicken, but imagine it would work well, particularly if baked with onions and served with rice or corn.
Safeway Select Honey Mustard Barbecue Sauce. This sauce is a very nice combination of traditional barbeque tastes, a low-key sweetness (hmm... the honey perhaps?), and a secondary bite to the flavor.
This sauce goes well with hot dogs, wursts, and related sausages. It goes a long way to cover otherwise boring or low-quality meats. Also recommended for pork ribs. I have not yet tried it with chicken, but imagine it would work well, particularly if baked with onions and served with rice or corn.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Zeph. 3:15-19
The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom
the reproach of it was a burden.
Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
Zephaniah spent the first half of the chapter explaining how the Children of the Lord did not listen, and how the Lord had sent greater and greater reproofs, difficulties, and judgments into their lives in an attempt to get their attention (1-7). It doesn't seem to have been for lack of trying, because God makes it clear that He is the one who finally restores them, as a poor and afflicted people, to righteousness (8-13). It seems that it was only when they gave up trying to live up to being the Children of Promise that they were able to simply BE the Children of Promise; that is to say, the Lord showed them how little and powerless they were next to those around them that they might no longer focus on proving to their neighbors that God was there, but instead, learned to let His praise be sufficient.
It is significant that Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of Josiah, that is, during one the greatest revivals pre-Babylon Israel knew. Zephaniah was warning not an apostate people, but the people who had remembered who God is. Yet they still transgressed against the Lord. They restored the Temple worship, but had they restored worship from their own hearts?
This was a people who had a vision for turning their country into a beacon of God's Righteousness and Power. And what does He tell them? That He will take it away from them and crush them. Why? So that when He removes their enemies, He might be their king.
It should then come as no great surprise when the greatest plans I form for influencing the world for my Savior are torn down before my own eyes. Perhaps I went to a Christian school with the mission of preparing Christian men and women who will lead our nation and shape our culture with timeless biblical values. Perhaps I entered fired with enthusiasm and visions of myself actually doing that. Perhaps by the time I graduated, I had accomplished little more than run some Xeroxes for a Congressman who is going nowhere within the Washington power circle. And perhaps a few years after graduation I have succeeded only in getting a paper-routing job for an agency I once described in a DRW project as not only a complete waste of taxpayer money, but an unconstitutional usurpation of power.
Zephaniah indicates that this is the Lord's way. My problem is not with what I am doing. It is that He must first break me of my conceptions of myself as King Josiah leading His people back to righteousness. He must be King in Zion, I must be content that He glorify Himself as such. Then it will not matter whether I am Zephaniah, preaching destruction in the middle of the great revival, or Jeremiah, watching over the destruction of Jerusalem and being arrested for preaching sedition, or Ezra restoring the covenant, or Nagge (Who? No idea. Luke 3:25).
Then I will sing for joy, being glad with all my heart that Christ is glorified, not His servants. The King will be in the midst of us. I will not be struck with debilitating fear that somehow I will mess up rebuilding His kingdom, for I am not rebuilding it. I am only loving and glorifying him, and whether that lands me with the three boys in the fiery furnace or with the generation entering the Promised Land with Joshua, I have only the encouragement "Let not thine hands be slack!" I work not FOR Him, but IN Him. He alone is mighty. He alone rejoices, and covers me with His joy. He rests in His own love - for indeed, "It is Finished" in Him. That rest is mine only because I am in Him. It is rest from my own strife. Rest from my own glory. Rest from my own desires to be great for God. I am not a trumpet announcing His Kingdom. I am a conduit of His rest, of His love. I am that Kingdom, living and showing that Kingdom in my life.
We need not fear for His Kingdom. He is the King and will care for it. He will drive out the enemy in due time. The affliction will end, the shame will end, instead there will be praise and fame. Why? Because it is no longer my glory that will come of it. Because I know better than to think that I have rendered assistance to my Lord. Because I am a broken vessel and trustworthy not to hold in the water of His mercies with which he will water the nations.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom
the reproach of it was a burden.
Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
Zephaniah spent the first half of the chapter explaining how the Children of the Lord did not listen, and how the Lord had sent greater and greater reproofs, difficulties, and judgments into their lives in an attempt to get their attention (1-7). It doesn't seem to have been for lack of trying, because God makes it clear that He is the one who finally restores them, as a poor and afflicted people, to righteousness (8-13). It seems that it was only when they gave up trying to live up to being the Children of Promise that they were able to simply BE the Children of Promise; that is to say, the Lord showed them how little and powerless they were next to those around them that they might no longer focus on proving to their neighbors that God was there, but instead, learned to let His praise be sufficient.
It is significant that Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of Josiah, that is, during one the greatest revivals pre-Babylon Israel knew. Zephaniah was warning not an apostate people, but the people who had remembered who God is. Yet they still transgressed against the Lord. They restored the Temple worship, but had they restored worship from their own hearts?
This was a people who had a vision for turning their country into a beacon of God's Righteousness and Power. And what does He tell them? That He will take it away from them and crush them. Why? So that when He removes their enemies, He might be their king.
It should then come as no great surprise when the greatest plans I form for influencing the world for my Savior are torn down before my own eyes. Perhaps I went to a Christian school with the mission of preparing Christian men and women who will lead our nation and shape our culture with timeless biblical values. Perhaps I entered fired with enthusiasm and visions of myself actually doing that. Perhaps by the time I graduated, I had accomplished little more than run some Xeroxes for a Congressman who is going nowhere within the Washington power circle. And perhaps a few years after graduation I have succeeded only in getting a paper-routing job for an agency I once described in a DRW project as not only a complete waste of taxpayer money, but an unconstitutional usurpation of power.
Zephaniah indicates that this is the Lord's way. My problem is not with what I am doing. It is that He must first break me of my conceptions of myself as King Josiah leading His people back to righteousness. He must be King in Zion, I must be content that He glorify Himself as such. Then it will not matter whether I am Zephaniah, preaching destruction in the middle of the great revival, or Jeremiah, watching over the destruction of Jerusalem and being arrested for preaching sedition, or Ezra restoring the covenant, or Nagge (Who? No idea. Luke 3:25).
Then I will sing for joy, being glad with all my heart that Christ is glorified, not His servants. The King will be in the midst of us. I will not be struck with debilitating fear that somehow I will mess up rebuilding His kingdom, for I am not rebuilding it. I am only loving and glorifying him, and whether that lands me with the three boys in the fiery furnace or with the generation entering the Promised Land with Joshua, I have only the encouragement "Let not thine hands be slack!" I work not FOR Him, but IN Him. He alone is mighty. He alone rejoices, and covers me with His joy. He rests in His own love - for indeed, "It is Finished" in Him. That rest is mine only because I am in Him. It is rest from my own strife. Rest from my own glory. Rest from my own desires to be great for God. I am not a trumpet announcing His Kingdom. I am a conduit of His rest, of His love. I am that Kingdom, living and showing that Kingdom in my life.
We need not fear for His Kingdom. He is the King and will care for it. He will drive out the enemy in due time. The affliction will end, the shame will end, instead there will be praise and fame. Why? Because it is no longer my glory that will come of it. Because I know better than to think that I have rendered assistance to my Lord. Because I am a broken vessel and trustworthy not to hold in the water of His mercies with which he will water the nations.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Sake Presentation
I have long admired the ingenuity of oriental civilizations, particularly regarding the many things they manage to make out of rice. So, it naturally followed that once I began sampling alcohols, Japanese rice wine would soon join my repertoir.
Having experimented with some inexpensive Gekkeikan Sake from the local grocer, I have the following to report:
1. Temperature: Best when taken warm (my guess is roughly 110 F). This brings out a lot of the grain flavor and gives it an overall smooth taste. I don't know how the Japanese do it, but I found that using the bottle as a double boiler in a pot of water until condensation began to form on the inside of the bottle was a good means of warming the Sake, but this requires that some of the bottle be emptied first (and be sure the stopper/lid is removed).
Taken cold, it was ok but not good. At room temperature it was little better than drinking nail polish remover.
2. Ware: Atmosphere seems to be very important for this drink. Wine goblets are inappropriate, as are most western looking glasses. China or other "small white cups" (I used a white tea cup with an oriental blue willow pattern) are good for setting a refined mood that is different from normal drinking settings.
3. Content: Just as a side note, the alcohol content of most Sakes is about a fifth higher than most wines. If you are consciencious about how much you imbibe and are used to other low-proof drinks, the difference is noticable.
Having experimented with some inexpensive Gekkeikan Sake from the local grocer, I have the following to report:
1. Temperature: Best when taken warm (my guess is roughly 110 F). This brings out a lot of the grain flavor and gives it an overall smooth taste. I don't know how the Japanese do it, but I found that using the bottle as a double boiler in a pot of water until condensation began to form on the inside of the bottle was a good means of warming the Sake, but this requires that some of the bottle be emptied first (and be sure the stopper/lid is removed).
Taken cold, it was ok but not good. At room temperature it was little better than drinking nail polish remover.
2. Ware: Atmosphere seems to be very important for this drink. Wine goblets are inappropriate, as are most western looking glasses. China or other "small white cups" (I used a white tea cup with an oriental blue willow pattern) are good for setting a refined mood that is different from normal drinking settings.
3. Content: Just as a side note, the alcohol content of most Sakes is about a fifth higher than most wines. If you are consciencious about how much you imbibe and are used to other low-proof drinks, the difference is noticable.
Congrats to Dr. and Mrs. S!
And welcome to autonomous life, little Nicolòs. May you live up to the wisdom and craft of your namesake and keep peace with your siblings. Blessings on all.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
"International Norms" Watch
Israel's Supreme Court has utilized international norms in deciding that Israeli soldiers cannot send Palestinian bystanders into the homes of suspected militants to negotiate the militants' surrender.
As there has already been a nearly-universally-disregarded temporary ban (also put in place by the judiciary) on the practice since 2002, it seems unlikely that the military will abide by the decision.
Given the unique nature of the Palestinian arrangement, the general practices of countries such as Belgium, Canada, and Japan (to say nothing of "dissenters" such as DR Congo, Cambodia, Serbia, etc.) would seem a poor means of evaluating the needs and experience of the Israeli army.
That said, since the Israeli judiciary seems to lack the muscle to enforce decisions such as this, it may prove a useful backdoor way of creating international good-will by paying lip service to the international view of the situation while still reaping the benefits of the practices they have found expedient.
As there has already been a nearly-universally-disregarded temporary ban (also put in place by the judiciary) on the practice since 2002, it seems unlikely that the military will abide by the decision.
Given the unique nature of the Palestinian arrangement, the general practices of countries such as Belgium, Canada, and Japan (to say nothing of "dissenters" such as DR Congo, Cambodia, Serbia, etc.) would seem a poor means of evaluating the needs and experience of the Israeli army.
That said, since the Israeli judiciary seems to lack the muscle to enforce decisions such as this, it may prove a useful backdoor way of creating international good-will by paying lip service to the international view of the situation while still reaping the benefits of the practices they have found expedient.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Red Light Cameras, Money, and Safety
No great suprise, but red light cameras seem to cause crashes. T-bones are down and rear-ending is up, but overall, crashes at cameraed intersections in DC rose about 67% faster than at intersections without cameras.
From an economics standpoint, this should make sense, and it seems a reasonable guess that the crash increase comes from the drivers who would otherwise have been the safest drivers.
For a driver who is already willing to risk the costs, burdens, and pains of a collision for some other gain by saving time (costs x risk < anticipated benefit), racing a light makes economic sense, and the driver will do so. There will be a slight decrease in that number when you add the cost of the ticket (costs x risk + $75 < anticipated benefit), but only if the driver knows about the cameras. The presence of tickets in the equation will tend to shift red-light racing to people who are paid large hourly fees (increasing the anticipated benefit) and to people from out of town (decreasing knowledge of risks).
For a normal rational driver, the costs of getting a ticket will be weighed against the other factors such that there is a slight premium on the side of caution, but one which may be outweighed by other factors (e.g., if there is a bus behind him whose brakes have failed, the $75 fine is a small price to pay to avoid being hit). For him, the equation for racing a light becomes something like [Costs (of being hit running the light) x risk (of being hit running)] - [costs (of being hit NOT running the light) x risk (of being hit while stopping)] + $75 < anticipated benefit.
For someone who is normally a low risk-taker in such situations (the "safe" driver or someone whose "dad will kill me if I get a ticket"), someone who has abnormally high costs involved in being rammed in the side (e.g., Pinto drivers ), or someone who does not anticipate the risks of rear-end collisions, the same equation will lead them to decide to stop with greater frequency. However, those with abnormally high costs will not have much added incentive to safety because they already are so strongly inclined to avoid those costs that the $75 ticket will not, by percent, add much to the costs side of the equation and will so not generally lead to many more situations in which they will stop for the light. For a driver with few anticipated benefits or the greatest shame in being ticketed, however, the nearly-certain prospect of the ticket will have the most effect, meaning that the people most consciencious about keeping (and not being caught breaking) traffic laws which are emphasized by enforcement are the ones who suffer the most under red-light cameras because they are now exposed to an inordinate number of collisions, particularly of the rear-ending type.
Of course, if, as the article hints, the District is more interested in revenue from the cameras than in safety, it would make sense that they would not care which drivers are the ones who pay the costs of their enforcement regime.
From an economics standpoint, this should make sense, and it seems a reasonable guess that the crash increase comes from the drivers who would otherwise have been the safest drivers.
For a driver who is already willing to risk the costs, burdens, and pains of a collision for some other gain by saving time (costs x risk < anticipated benefit), racing a light makes economic sense, and the driver will do so. There will be a slight decrease in that number when you add the cost of the ticket (costs x risk + $75 < anticipated benefit), but only if the driver knows about the cameras. The presence of tickets in the equation will tend to shift red-light racing to people who are paid large hourly fees (increasing the anticipated benefit) and to people from out of town (decreasing knowledge of risks).
For a normal rational driver, the costs of getting a ticket will be weighed against the other factors such that there is a slight premium on the side of caution, but one which may be outweighed by other factors (e.g., if there is a bus behind him whose brakes have failed, the $75 fine is a small price to pay to avoid being hit). For him, the equation for racing a light becomes something like [Costs (of being hit running the light) x risk (of being hit running)] - [costs (of being hit NOT running the light) x risk (of being hit while stopping)] + $75 < anticipated benefit.
For someone who is normally a low risk-taker in such situations (the "safe" driver or someone whose "dad will kill me if I get a ticket"), someone who has abnormally high costs involved in being rammed in the side (e.g., Pinto drivers ), or someone who does not anticipate the risks of rear-end collisions, the same equation will lead them to decide to stop with greater frequency. However, those with abnormally high costs will not have much added incentive to safety because they already are so strongly inclined to avoid those costs that the $75 ticket will not, by percent, add much to the costs side of the equation and will so not generally lead to many more situations in which they will stop for the light. For a driver with few anticipated benefits or the greatest shame in being ticketed, however, the nearly-certain prospect of the ticket will have the most effect, meaning that the people most consciencious about keeping (and not being caught breaking) traffic laws which are emphasized by enforcement are the ones who suffer the most under red-light cameras because they are now exposed to an inordinate number of collisions, particularly of the rear-ending type.
Of course, if, as the article hints, the District is more interested in revenue from the cameras than in safety, it would make sense that they would not care which drivers are the ones who pay the costs of their enforcement regime.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
A Mad, Mad Commute
Anecdote of the day from my yesterday:
As I was exiting the P________ C___ Metro station, there was a woman in a bright yellow muumuu (in subsequent events she mentioned that she is 48 years old) attempting to use the exit stile and having immense difficulty doing so. As I passed by, I noticed that two Metro employees were attempting to instruct her on how to use the stile. She appeared agitated and began yelling at the Metro attendants. I didn't think much of it and left the station.
Waiting for my bus, I found a place to stand above ground near the escalator to the surface. Some two or three minutes later, I heard the same woman, apparently having finally extricated herself from the fare machinery, shouting at people in the tunnel and as she came up the escalator (particularly a group of smokers in their customary place near the escalator).
She transited the bus waiting area, glowering at people as she walked through their midst, and finally settling herself down on a bench. Soon along came a servicewoman, of the same race, in office attire, who sat down on the same bench and proceded to field a cell phone call.
Somehow, this touched off the already disturbed woman, who began yelling, even louder than before, that she didn't need someone talking on the phone, invading her personal sphere and giving her a headache, and that the woman must hang up. Meanwhile, a man in a white t-shirt and very dirty jeans, who had been going up to people in the bus stop begging spare change and indicating that he was the husband of the woman under discussion, moved over to intervene on behalf of the woman on the cell phone. While he was able to provide a physical barrier, the woman continued to shout around him that she was tired of how people would annoy her without good cause, and how she couldn't understand why the cell-phone using woman was being so obnoxious as to continue using the phone when she had provided her plenty of opportunity to stop. She concluded with, "Don't ignore me. It's illegal to ignore me."
Well, the servicewoman had had enough of that, and seeking to remove the cause for contention, got up and moved to a more remote part of the bus stop. Having to explain to the person on the other end of the phone what was going on, however, she found herself unable to suppress a smile and a few laughs at the absurdity of the situation. The angry woman, who had been watching over her shoulder with narrowed eyes, became suddenly livid again, and shouted that the younger woman shouldn't consider herself somehow special just because she was in the service; after all, her own son was in the Marines (I think there may have been some logic to that statement, however, it escapes me at the moment). Then drawing attention to the fact that she had been on this planet longer than the younger girl, and questioning the girl's ancestry, the perturbed woman announced that (paraphrasing for grammatical reasons) it was only by her good graces that the woman was permitted to exist, and that she ought to show appreciation for what a special honor it was to be in her presence. She closed by announcing that she owned this place and the younger woman better do what she wanted.
In the meantime, a gentleman wearing digital camo and packing roughly 250 lbs., all muscle, had wandered over, setting himself almost in between the women, who were about 30 feet apart by now, and effectively foreclosing the possibility of a physical confrontation. The mad woman kept up her loud abuse in the same vein as before, but the crowd had by this point begun to laugh aloud at her efforts.
The bus (a private club bus, not municipal) showed up, and most of us got on. As we settled ourselves in, the driver, normally quite a jovial fellow anyway, sensed the levity of his passengers, and was about to begin questioning us when the yellow-muumuued woman approached the bus. The driver asked to see her club card, and she said "I don't want to ride, I just want to have some parting words with that witch you have on board." The entire bus was filled with uproarious laughter, and the driver, realizing that he was now in on the joke, and beginning to grasp what a good joke it was, had to close the door while he tried to compose himself. Needless to say, discussion of the events didn't stop until we reached our respective stops.
Moral of the story: get rid of your TV and ride public transit, it's much more entertaining.
As I was exiting the P________ C___ Metro station, there was a woman in a bright yellow muumuu (in subsequent events she mentioned that she is 48 years old) attempting to use the exit stile and having immense difficulty doing so. As I passed by, I noticed that two Metro employees were attempting to instruct her on how to use the stile. She appeared agitated and began yelling at the Metro attendants. I didn't think much of it and left the station.
Waiting for my bus, I found a place to stand above ground near the escalator to the surface. Some two or three minutes later, I heard the same woman, apparently having finally extricated herself from the fare machinery, shouting at people in the tunnel and as she came up the escalator (particularly a group of smokers in their customary place near the escalator).
She transited the bus waiting area, glowering at people as she walked through their midst, and finally settling herself down on a bench. Soon along came a servicewoman, of the same race, in office attire, who sat down on the same bench and proceded to field a cell phone call.
Somehow, this touched off the already disturbed woman, who began yelling, even louder than before, that she didn't need someone talking on the phone, invading her personal sphere and giving her a headache, and that the woman must hang up. Meanwhile, a man in a white t-shirt and very dirty jeans, who had been going up to people in the bus stop begging spare change and indicating that he was the husband of the woman under discussion, moved over to intervene on behalf of the woman on the cell phone. While he was able to provide a physical barrier, the woman continued to shout around him that she was tired of how people would annoy her without good cause, and how she couldn't understand why the cell-phone using woman was being so obnoxious as to continue using the phone when she had provided her plenty of opportunity to stop. She concluded with, "Don't ignore me. It's illegal to ignore me."
Well, the servicewoman had had enough of that, and seeking to remove the cause for contention, got up and moved to a more remote part of the bus stop. Having to explain to the person on the other end of the phone what was going on, however, she found herself unable to suppress a smile and a few laughs at the absurdity of the situation. The angry woman, who had been watching over her shoulder with narrowed eyes, became suddenly livid again, and shouted that the younger woman shouldn't consider herself somehow special just because she was in the service; after all, her own son was in the Marines (I think there may have been some logic to that statement, however, it escapes me at the moment). Then drawing attention to the fact that she had been on this planet longer than the younger girl, and questioning the girl's ancestry, the perturbed woman announced that (paraphrasing for grammatical reasons) it was only by her good graces that the woman was permitted to exist, and that she ought to show appreciation for what a special honor it was to be in her presence. She closed by announcing that she owned this place and the younger woman better do what she wanted.
In the meantime, a gentleman wearing digital camo and packing roughly 250 lbs., all muscle, had wandered over, setting himself almost in between the women, who were about 30 feet apart by now, and effectively foreclosing the possibility of a physical confrontation. The mad woman kept up her loud abuse in the same vein as before, but the crowd had by this point begun to laugh aloud at her efforts.
The bus (a private club bus, not municipal) showed up, and most of us got on. As we settled ourselves in, the driver, normally quite a jovial fellow anyway, sensed the levity of his passengers, and was about to begin questioning us when the yellow-muumuued woman approached the bus. The driver asked to see her club card, and she said "I don't want to ride, I just want to have some parting words with that witch you have on board." The entire bus was filled with uproarious laughter, and the driver, realizing that he was now in on the joke, and beginning to grasp what a good joke it was, had to close the door while he tried to compose himself. Needless to say, discussion of the events didn't stop until we reached our respective stops.
Moral of the story: get rid of your TV and ride public transit, it's much more entertaining.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
When in doubt, it's the Democrats' fault
Glad to see that Michael Brown has finally gotten his chance to explain what happened in Louisiana (but not neighboring states that were equally hard hit), albeit to a congressional panel. Tom Davis, chair of the panel, being the political animal that he is, should be able to smell the blood in the water, and will hopefully be able to put Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin under tough questioning based on Brown's accusations.
(On an unrelated note, what is a "gantlet" of reporters?)
(On an unrelated note, what is a "gantlet" of reporters?)
Monday, September 26, 2005
Words
Ever found yourself needing a word to describe something succinctly but realizing that English hadn't borrowed it yet? This gentleman has compiled a list of more-or-less likely candidates for such inclusion. In my opinion,
"Aviador" (from Central American Spanish - a government employee who only works on payday) is probably a useful term we ought to steal;
"Koshatnik" (from Russian - a dealer in stolen cats) doesn't seem very culturally relevant for us;
"Backpfeifengesicht" (from German - a face that cries out for a fist to be planted in it) has a beautiful meaning, but I can't imagine many American English speakers making a recognizable imitation of the word.
"Aviador" (from Central American Spanish - a government employee who only works on payday) is probably a useful term we ought to steal;
"Koshatnik" (from Russian - a dealer in stolen cats) doesn't seem very culturally relevant for us;
"Backpfeifengesicht" (from German - a face that cries out for a fist to be planted in it) has a beautiful meaning, but I can't imagine many American English speakers making a recognizable imitation of the word.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Prof Anecdote
At the end of class yesterday, one of my profs (we'll call him "Grampa Jack") related how when he first started teaching (years and years ago at Stanford), his wife was still attending the law school. Realizing how much of his meager professorial income was going toward her tuition, he asked the University to let her attend for free under the employee benefits plan.
The school informed him that the tuition benefit only applied to children, not spouses. Thereupon, he said, "Well, then, I suppose I'll just have to adopt her."
To this, they replied, "Do that and we'll have you arrested and fired for incest."
The school informed him that the tuition benefit only applied to children, not spouses. Thereupon, he said, "Well, then, I suppose I'll just have to adopt her."
To this, they replied, "Do that and we'll have you arrested and fired for incest."
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Jonah 2:8
Thought of the moment while I wait for some water to boil:
Those mercies that I ought to have and live in, which would be my strength and sustenance, are lost because I do not keep my thoughts pure and true. The NIV translates "vanities" as idols, but the sense need not be so restrictive - insofar as I put my trust and hope in any being (including myself), idea, or thing other than God, and insofar as I take actions other than in accordance with His commands, I remove the very mercies by which I am intended to live.
Those that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercies.
--Jonah 2:8 (KJV)
Those mercies that I ought to have and live in, which would be my strength and sustenance, are lost because I do not keep my thoughts pure and true. The NIV translates "vanities" as idols, but the sense need not be so restrictive - insofar as I put my trust and hope in any being (including myself), idea, or thing other than God, and insofar as I take actions other than in accordance with His commands, I remove the very mercies by which I am intended to live.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
The Black Angus
Those of you who have seen the ancient Beast that I drive: what do you think of this bumper sticker I saw today?
The other one I liked (though the valuation is a bit much for the Angus) was
This vehicle has been in
15 Accidents
And won them all.
The other one I liked (though the valuation is a bit much for the Angus) was
Why risk a $20,000 car
braking for a 28¢ cat?
Monday, September 19, 2005
Local Government
For those who limit to the federal government their concerns about the size and power of the State apparatus, Clint Bolick's Leviathan (available to read online) may prove an interesting read. Borrowing from Hobbes' postulate that government can only absorb to itself power, Bolick tracks the growth of local governments in the United States, their omnipresence in daily life, and their general lack of accountability for the powers they exercise. If you need a good horror story and Edgar Allen Poe isn't scary enough for you anymore, try Bolick.
Maccabees
Just finished a (very short) biography of Judas Maccabeus by E.H. Fortier. A rather amazing guy, though quite in the tradition of good Jewish military leaders. He seems to have had a firm grasp on espionage, and used Seleucid politics as handily as the sword. Methinks further study of this fascinating episode is in order.
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