Foodie Self-Sufficiency
Here’s a provocative post from Felix Salmon on why local self-sufficiency is preferable to free trade in the context of agricultural production.
Author: Will
Oscar Goodman for President
The ridiculous spat over Obama’s gambling remarks gives me an excuse to discuss Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who is quite possibly the most entertaining civic official in America:
Spat of the Day
Obama: “When times are tough, you tighten your belts…You don’t blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you’re trying to save for college.” Harry Reid: ” . . . the President needs to...
Culinary Mash-ups
DC’s newest foodie innovation: serving Mexican and Vietnamese fast food out of the same restaurant. My ideal mash-up would involve some combination of brew pubs and hookah bars.
What an ordeal!
From The Boston Globe: Medieval trial ordeals were surprisingly effective. (Hat tip: First Thoughts)
The GOP and Corporatism
Those easily sickened should avoid reading this Slate article, which recounts KBR’s infuriating attempt to shuffle an employee who was allegedly gang-raped into private arbitration instead of allowing her a day in court. The...
Stranger in the Rye
Speaking of Holden Caulfield, io9’s excellent “Blogging the Hugos” series has picked out a few interesting parallels between Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land and The Catcher in the Rye.
Is Islam incompatible with democracy?
No, according to Larry Diamond, whose paper on Arab democracy is worth reading in full. Here’s an excerpt worth considering for the “Islam is a fundamentally retrograde, anti-modern religion” crowd:
The Genealogy of Reality Television
Those looking to confirm their view that everything is, in fact, going to pot should read this history of reality television.
“The Jihadist Next Door”
The chilling biography of an American high schooler turned Somali insurgent.
Some “completely insane” ideas for campaign finance reform
Old legislators’ homes? Election by lot? Repealing the 17th amendment? Is there an “all of the above” option?
In Defense of Holden Caulfield
A lot will be written about J.D. Salinger’s death, much of it on the subject of The Catcher in the Rye. Most of it will be more perceptive or better written than this blog...
Quote of the Day
“What the heck is Yahoo? Is it one of those computer things? Is that like Twittering?” – The inimitable Gregg Popovich, demonstrating his technological savvy right before tip-off.
The Wu Tang/Beatles Mash-Up You’ve Been Waiting For
To quote Raekwon’s twitter feed, it’s “a ill mxtpe.”
Don’t disenfranchise foreign NBA fans
In lieu of discussing more serious matters (Citizens United, health care, “Jersey Shore”), I’d like to direct your attention to the pressing issue of NBA All Star voting. After Tracy McGrady’s hobbled corpse nearly...
