Happy 4th of July, you “sick, diseased, cancer, blight on the earth,” America! **** update: More here.
July 2006
July 4, 2006
Nothing says “Celebrate Independence Day” quite like a good old-fashioned protest / hunger strike
July 4, 2006
“After Hamdan”
From the WSJ, an few important points to remember in the wake of Hamdan: A single liberal retirement from the Court would thus put Hamdan‘s reasoning in jeopardy […] […] As a practical political matter, Hamdan tosses the debate over military commissions back to Congress. Our liberal friends keep assuring us that this is the key to restoring the “rule of law.” But there’s a reason the Founders gave Presidents
July 3, 2006
my first brief conversation with my own patriotism (which, I admit, has been acting a bit defensively of late)
me: “I know you generally dig the apple pie on the 4th, but how about this year we go with red white and blue-frosted cupcakes, instead? As a change of pace?” my patriotism: my patriotism: “HOW DARE YOU QUESTION MY ME!”
July 3, 2006
“N. Korea threatens U.S. with ‘nuclear war‘“
From CNN: North Korea would respond to a pre-emptive U.S. military attack with an “annihilating strike and a nuclear war,” the state-run media said Monday, heightening anti-U.S. rhetoric amid close scrutiny of its missile program. The Korean Central News Agency, citing an unidentified Rodong Sinmun newspaper “analyst,” accused the United States of increasing military pressure on the isolated communist state and basing new spy planes on the Korean Peninsula. The
July 3, 2006
Antecedents
On my way out for a walk with the tyke, but before I go, I figured I’d point you to this latest in a string of defensive NYT pieces attempting to justify the leaking of classified info they knew to be legal, subject to appropriate oversight, and, importantly, effective — information that, once divulged, the vast majority of Americans (the Dems are split evenly; perhaps Townhouse needs to expand its
July 2, 2006
Odds, Ends
1. The New Editor wants to know, “Who’s Your Favorite ‘Chickenhawk’”? I went with Ben Franklin, largely for the combination pot-bellied stove and bi-focals thing—though I was very close to going with John Jay, who anticipated Chuck Schumer, calling him “an insufferable prick” (Federalist #64). Plus, legend has it he could drink like an Irish soccer hooligan. 2. Dig yourself some free speech? Then consider signing this letter supporting Oriana
July 2, 2006
not that you’d be at all interested in this, but here are the movies I plan to watch this holiday weekend in lieu of serious political blogging (from the protein wisdom space filler series)
On the shelf and waiting for me to spin them (in no particular order): 1) Syriana 2) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 3) The Culpepper Cattle Company 4) American Me 5) Naked 6) The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada 7) Cache (Hidden) 8) Freeze Frame 9) Stay 10) Songwriter If you’ve seen any of these and wish to post capsule reviews, have at it. If you haven’t seen them, go ahead
July 2, 2006
The “If bagels grew on trees, my dear” poem
for my wife If bagels grew on trees, my dear, I’d pluck you a nice fresh poppy and onion and smear it with cream- cheese and chives. But since bagels have never grown on trees, can I maybe trouble you to fix me a delicious Spanish omelet — easy on the potatoes? —Sunday, July 2, 9:33 AM
July 2, 2006
red pills found behind the sofa cushions, existential logistics edition
Picked up a bottle of Herradura Seleccion Suprema and 2 limes, which I’ve cut into sixteen wedges and placed in an earthen bowl next to some kosher salt and a frosted apéritif glass. I figure if I use my time wisely, I can cram 100 Years of Solitude into three, maybe four hours. From there—a straight shot to the meaning of life. Wish me luck. Because truth be told, better
July 1, 2006
It’s for the public good, redux
There’s little doubt that the editors of the Times Travel section agonized over this—trust me, their souls are aching (particularly around the groin area) from the epic battle fought with their consciences—but in the end, the precise location and details about the security of the weekend homes of VP Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld needed to be divulged. For freedom. OR ELSE THE TERRORISTS WILL HAVE WON! Jesus. You think