ab ovo usque ad mala

Someday...

2009-04-06T14:38:00.001-04:00

I'll make this a real blog. :)

New Reading Material

2009-01-15T01:59:00.002-05:00

The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt

I readily admit that I know very little about the history of ancient Egypt and am thus looking forward to this work.

Joseph Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy

I've been told that this work has the best description of capitalism out there in the world. I can't wait to sink my teeth into just for that reason alone.

What I've Recently Read

2009-01-15T01:38:00.006-05:00

Henry Hazlitt, Economics In One Lesson

Not much new there for someone with some understanding of Bastiat, etc., but I do think it is a good means for introducing the subject of free market economics, libertarianism, etc. to those unfamiliar with the arguments for such.

Eric Rauchway, The Great Depression & The New Deal

A nice introduction to the basic chronology of the subject as well as the substance of the various programs of the Hoover and FDR administrations regarding the financial problems of the Great Depression. While I disagree with what I see as its generally positive view of the New Deal, I think it does provide a good jumping off point for an understanding of that era and the government efforts the time.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-15T01:36:00.001-05:00

Ok, so that is two weeks late!

I've been busy!

What Am I Reading?

2008-11-21T05:02:00.004-05:00

Norval Morris & David Rothman, eds., The Oxford History of the Prison: The Practice of Punishment in Western Society

David Hume, Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary

Music

2008-11-14T18:28:00.004-05:00

I am quite keen on Invisible Conga People. Check 'em out.

South Sister

2008-10-15T06:58:00.002-04:00

Some pictures from the South Sister climb in 2007.

Yosemite

2008-10-03T13:39:00.002-04:00

Had a wonderful time in Yosemite and the Sierras. Will post some pics sooner or later.

Medieval Form Letter

2008-09-05T01:21:00.003-04:00

Some things never change.

To that magnificent lord [blank], I, [blank]. Since it is known familiarly to all how little I have whence to feed and clothe myself, I have therefore petitioned your piety, and your good will has decreed to me that I should hand myself over or commend myself to your guardianship, which I have thereupon done; that is to say in this way, that you should aid and succor me as well with food as with clothing, according as I shall be able to serve you and deserve it.
And so long as I shall live I ought to provide service and honor to you, suitably to my free condition; and I shall not during the time of my life have the ability to withdraw your or guardianship; but must remain during the days of my life under your power or defense. Wherefore it is proper that if either us shall wish to withdraw himself from these agreements, he shall pay [blank] shillings to the other party, and this agreement shall remain unbroken.
-- tr. E.P. Cheyney, "Frankish Commendation," Translations and Reprints of Original Sources of European History, vol 4, no. 3, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1897, p. 3-4.

This Week In History

2008-08-29T01:45:00.002-04:00

This week is the anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert (August 26th, 1071), a defeat which was the beginning of the end of the Byzantine empire. More here.

Today's Quote

2008-08-26T00:50:00.002-04:00

"...the jump from the realm of necessity into the realm of freedom will be the inglorious death of the very possibility of human excellence." -- Leo Strauss

As I'm not inclined to think that necessity (in one form or another) will ever be erased from the human condition I do not think that such a "realm of freedom" will ever come to pass.

Today's Word

2008-08-20T17:40:00.001-04:00

Desiderium

Odysseus

2008-07-15T00:15:00.001-04:00

Of the Iliad that is.

Did he have the oppurtunity to see a solar eclipse? Check it out.

Treblinka

2008-05-09T14:41:00.002-04:00

I didn't know that Treblinka closed basically as a result of a prisoner revolt. Unfortunately apparently none of the prisoners survived the incident. Still, their courage should be celebrated.

Messerschmitt Me 264

2008-05-09T11:58:00.002-04:00

What a fascinating plane. I've thought for some time that it (along with a lot of other evidenced) demonstrated the Nazi regime's desire to have it out with the U.S. and that this desire preceded the outbreak of WWII. Which is not to say that war was inevitable, but it is to say that the Nazi regime presented a threat to the U.S. from the former's inception.

Firewall

2008-05-07T10:21:00.003-04:00

Throughout the primaries this year various persons have talked about this or that state being a "firewall," and in most (all?) instances that turned out not the be the case. I don't know if anyone claimed that North Carolina would be a "firewall," but that is what it turned out to be.

Israel

2008-05-07T09:31:00.002-04:00

Happy B-Day Israel!

While (and not only in hindsight) it may not have been the best idea for Israel to have be refounded in the Levant, it was I think important for a Jewish state to be formed following WWII. Whatever the wisdom regarding the former decision, I hope that both Israelis and Palestinians can find a way forward which is both prosperous and peaceful.

Memes

2008-05-06T15:41:00.002-04:00

I guess the following would fall in the realm of memes. Namely that television shows inform the viewpoints of those who haven't even watched them.

Twenty Pounds

2008-05-05T14:59:00.002-04:00

I had my check-up today. I've lost twenty pounds since last year about this time.

Blogging

2008-05-05T11:32:00.002-04:00

To my loyal readers (yeah, all three of you):

In the coming months I hope to be a more active blogger. I've been busy and that has kept me away from my blog, however, I'll try to allocate more time to this blog as it is generally a pretty good outlet for the detritus and random matrial flouting around in my mind.

That is all.

Incan Medicine

2008-05-03T23:52:00.002-04:00

Incan doctors were apparently quite skilled when it came to addressing head trauma.

Bathroom

2008-05-03T23:24:00.004-04:00

Here are some pictures of the progress up to this point. Thus far I've partially replumbed it, put down new tile, put up the walls that you see and put in a new toilet and pedestal sink. There is a lot to do still (like tiles for the ceiling - I took down the popcorn as it was in poor shape) but the end is in sight. Then I start work on completely remodeling the kitchen.

Boston Marathon - 2009

2008-03-20T23:57:00.002-04:00

I completed a half marathon recently and that has spurred me to reach even greater heights! Namely qualifying for the 2009 Boston Marathon. Wish me luck.

New Books

2008-02-22T23:28:00.004-05:00

Robert Fagles, trans., Virgil, The Aeneid (2006) (a new translation of one of my favorite texts) (2006)

Robert Hughes, The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding (1986)

Sena Jeter Naslund, Ahab's Wife or, The Star-Gazer (1999)

Stalin's Smallpox

2008-02-10T22:07:00.000-05:00

At the age of six Stalin contracted smallpox. Is it ethically appropriate to wish that he had died from the disease? After all at the time he was still a mere innocent.

Recent Acquisitions

2008-01-28T22:58:00.000-05:00

Orlando Figes, Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History Of Russia

Ted Tunnell, Crucible of Reconstruction: War, Radicalism and Race in Louisiana, 1862-1877

The Wexford Carol

2007-12-21T15:36:00.000-05:00

Linky.

Checking In

2007-12-21T15:31:00.001-05:00

Just checking in for those who are interested. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

New Acquisitions

2007-11-02T18:06:00.000-04:00

John McCardell, The Idea of a Southern Nation - Southern Nationalists and Southern Nationalism, 1830-1860 (1979)

Eric Foner, Free Soil, Free labor, Free Men: The Ideology of the Republican Party Before The Civil War (1995)

The South's Main Interest

2007-11-02T02:59:00.000-04:00

"The upper South, like the lower, went to war to defend the freedom of white men to own slaves and take them into the territories as they saw fit, lest these white men be enslaved by Black Republicans who threatened to deprive them of those liberties." -- McPherson, Battle Cry Of Freedom, pg. 284

Colbert '08!

2007-10-22T13:46:00.000-04:00

I have my candidate!

A380

2007-10-15T21:36:00.000-04:00

The A380 has arrived.

KAL 007 Shootdown

2007-10-06T00:16:00.000-04:00

Although I was quite young, I remember the moral outrage associated with this incident. Here is Ronald Reagan's response to the shoot down. While I am not agreement with everything that Reagan did during his presidency, his eloquence and presence as a speaker makes one wish someone like him were in office.

Addendum: The video contains more than Reagan's response. It also includes a press conference by George Schultz (then Sec. of State) and some news coverage.

Should The Non-Propertied Have The Vote?

2007-10-05T20:04:00.000-04:00

As I was re-reading a portion of the Putney Debates recently I began to think of the way the issue of the nature of the electoral franchise is debate amongst libertarians. Namely that some libertarians argue that only those with a certain level of property should have the vote. I'm in favor of a very broad franchise which does not take wealth into consideration.

Anyway, the debates touch on this matter in much the same way that the modern debate on this issue does and that makes them well worth reading IMHO.

Our Precious...

2007-10-02T22:50:00.000-04:00

Homosexuals

What Am I Reading?

2007-10-01T00:54:00.000-04:00

Søren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling.

Leaving Iraq?

2007-09-30T18:34:00.000-04:00

My prediction is that we will likely not be out of Iraq prior to 2020. Thirteen more years of a major U.S. presence in Iraq in other words.

Domesday

2007-09-24T23:33:00.000-04:00

This is quite neat - the complete, searchable text of the Domesday Book.

Assume The Position

2007-09-24T23:15:00.001-04:00

Check out Slate's handy Iraq Position Locator.

Talk Like A Pirate

2007-09-21T19:19:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed this editorial a friend passed along to me about software piracy. The article was inspired by The International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Trip

2007-09-20T16:43:00.000-04:00

I should be posting some pics here of our trip to the West Coast in coming days. In mean time I will just say that we had a wonderful time with great company. I still feel like I am on an airplane though.

Todai

2007-09-20T15:13:00.000-04:00

If you get a chance get check out Todai sometime. Good sushi and not particularly expensive either. Thanks to our friend for taking us there in PDX!

Our Labor Day...

2007-09-02T03:28:00.000-04:00

Has Just Begun

Is Your Kung Fu Strong Enough?

2007-08-31T08:28:00.000-04:00

BEIJING — China's Shaolin Temple, the cradle of Chinese kung fu, is demanding an apology from an Internet user who said its monks had once been beaten in unarmed combat by a Japanese ninja, Chinese media reported on Friday.

Was the aforementioned internet user Urkobold?

Gay Marraige In Medieval Europe?

2007-08-29T14:18:00.000-04:00

Civil unions between male couples existed around 600 years ago in medieval Europe, a historian now says.

What Am I Reading?

2007-08-24T00:11:00.000-04:00

Paul Theroux's Riding The Iron Rooster. I've read it many times before. One of the best travel narratives I have ever come across.

Kouchner In Iraq

2007-08-21T15:46:00.000-04:00

PARIS: After years of shunning involvement in a war it said was wrong, France now believes it may hold the key to peace in Iraq, proposing itself as an "honest broker" between the Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish factions.

I wonder how this will play in the world of bloggery.

Katrina

2007-08-21T07:02:00.000-04:00

The following is fairly sobering:

Independent Levee Investigation Team Final Report

The general conclusions of the report can be found here. They fault the hurricane (of course), the performance of the levees (everything from design to operation) and finally how the government functioned at all levels.

At the dinner table and such the eventual fate of New Orleans was something that would from time to time come up for discussion. There was always the inevitable comment that "If a big one comes, New Orleans is history." Of course right now that doesn't seem to be the case as NOLA has returned to roughly 2/3rds of its pre-Katrina size.

The Politics...

2007-08-20T08:32:00.000-04:00

Of Dancing

I've always thought that the Re-Flex were better than one hit wonder status. However, it appears that they broke up before they could produce any more music. Unfortunate.

Chomsky v. Foucualt

2007-08-18T07:59:00.000-04:00

This debate demonstrates just how divergent Chomsky's and Foucault's notions regarding an appropriate human society were. Personally I throw in with Foucault. While his "histories" of the asylum, the prison, etc. may not have been the most accurate historical accounts ever written, they've provided a fertile manure from which has grown a better understanding of what were at one time considered unproblematic Enlightenment institutions.

Why Four Gospels?

2007-08-14T15:49:00.000-04:00

The Gospels could not possibly be either more or less in number than they are. Since there are four zones of the world in which we live, and four principal winds, while the Church is spread over all the earth, and the pillar and foundation of the Church is the gospel, and the Spirit of life, it fittingly has four pillars, everywhere breathing out incorruption and revivifying men. - Irenaeus, Against Heresies

Rock n' Roll...

2007-08-12T19:25:00.000-04:00

And Cola Wars, I Can't Take It Anymore!

South Sister

2007-08-10T18:30:00.000-04:00

Some more stunning shots of South Sister. The mountain is surrounded by several lakes located in areas with great views of the mountain. Now that comment might seem strange, but note that peaks like Mt. Adams (in Washington state) are hard to see until you are quite close. Indeed, Adams has a notorious "false peak" which can be quite depressing to crest. Anyway, enjoy.

The Early 80s

2007-08-10T18:15:00.000-04:00

Is anybody out there?

Testing Ice Screws

2007-08-09T10:32:00.000-04:00

Cool video comparing ice screws and ice threads.

Climbing

2007-08-09T10:03:00.000-04:00

In the coming weeks I'll be climbing the mountain in the foreground, South Sister. As far as peaks that I've climbed are concerned, it is a very easy mountain to climb, but as it has been a while since I've done any climbing it will be a nice reintroduction to rock, ice and sweat. Finally, this won't be my first ascent of this peak. I climbed it back in ~1994.

Hellenistic Colony In Kuwait

2007-08-07T10:14:00.000-04:00

ATHENS -- Greek archaeologists plan to excavate an ancient colony founded by Alexanderthe Great in the Gulf of Kuwait in the fourth century BC, officials said Wednesday.

Alexander and the various "Greek" rulers who suceeded him founded numerous Hellenistic cities in the areas that they ruled over in Asia. Generally speaking these cities were sealed off from the local population and one had to become like the Greeks in order to become a citizen of, etc. such cities. In most places the local population did not do so. These Hellenistic cities built some fantastic architectural structures, Pergamum being perhaps the most famous. As a rule this period of Hellenistic history seems to have been treated like a bastard child by many historians, but that attitude has changed over the past several decades as the achievements (and faults) of the various post-Alexander Greek kingdoms have come under greater scholarly scrutiny.

Bourne

2007-08-06T16:12:00.000-04:00

Here's a nice collection of scenes from the first two films in the Bourne franchise. My favorite? When he quickly kicks the crap out of the embassy personnel in the Bourne Identity.

Edit: And here is the aforementioned scene.

Prepare To Be Boarded!

2007-08-06T07:46:00.000-04:00

Two American news photographers say French President Nicolas Sarkozy shouted at them and jumped onto their boat during his holiday in the US.

Sarkozy is, of course, human like the rest of us. Here's hoping that the remainder of his vacation is relaxing, etc.

X-Games

2007-08-05T22:29:00.000-04:00

Ouch!

That he walked away is amazing.

The Surge

2007-08-04T02:31:00.000-04:00

So how effective has the surge been? Well here are some figures from the BBC to help answer that query.

The Bourne Ultimatum

2007-08-04T00:34:00.000-04:00

Just saw it...

I enjoyed Bourne's rescue Stiles' character. There was real tension there.

I thought that Bourne stealing the files, etc. was a bit too much. So were many of the crash scenes.

I also found that this movie discussed more plainly some of the concerns we have with our intelligence services post-9/11.

Perhaps I shall write more on these matters tomorrow.

Five Points

2007-08-03T11:43:00.000-04:00

This is a link to a nice collection of material on the archaeological happenings at the former "Five Points" in Manhatten. Five Points was a notorious slum in 19th century New York prior to the creation of the unified boroughs in the 1890s.

Newton's...

2007-08-03T08:30:00.000-04:00

Religious Views

I have seen elsewhere claims that Newton delighted in the written accounts of the torture and burning Catholic nuns.

Permanent...

2007-07-31T10:33:00.000-04:00

Vacation

More From The Fantastic 70s

2007-07-28T14:59:00.000-04:00

Baby take my hand ... we'll be able to fly...

That 70s Music

2007-07-27T22:18:00.000-04:00

So wont you smile for the camera...

Saturday night I was downtown...

Listen to the tide slowly turning...

The Ultimate...

2007-07-27T22:10:00.000-04:00

In Fashionable Warfare

EUTube

2007-07-14T08:19:00.000-04:00

The EU has its very own YouTube page. There is some useful stuff there as well as some rather amusing material. Indeed, the opening video is both surreal and hilarious.

Anyway, happy birthday EU!

When Urkobold Was Made Flesh

2007-07-14T08:01:00.000-04:00

I wonder if the various fleshy incarnations of Urkobold include the great satirist Timon?

A Proposed Amendment To The U.S. Constitution

2007-07-13T23:12:00.000-04:00

Perhaps we should create an amendment which allows us to ostracize dangerous politicians. Initially I'd propose that two thirds of the state legislatures would have to agree before one would be ostracized. I'm not quite sure at this point what sort of nomination process I could get behind. Perhaps a sort of "reverse" form of "election" that resembles our primaries might do.

How To Preserve Power

2007-07-13T23:05:00.000-04:00

It is fitting also that the magistrates on entering office should offer magnificent sacrifices or erect some public edifice, and then the people who participate in the entertainments, and see the city decorated with votive offerings and buildings, will not desire an alteration in the government, and the notables will have memorials of their munificence. - Aristotle, Politics, Book 6, Part VII, trans. Benjamin Jowett

Here Aristotle was referring to the efforts of oligarchs to remain in power.

Goodhart's Law

2007-07-12T22:59:00.000-04:00

What does Goodhart's Law say about monetarism? It does lead to me lack confidence in it.

Brothers

2007-07-10T13:52:00.001-04:00

This is my favorite scene from "Band of Brothers." That is the "servile scum" portion.

How To...

2007-07-08T20:14:00.000-04:00

Destroy An F-14

Of Philosophy & Frogs

2007-07-08T09:17:00.000-04:00

Blessed is the man having
perfected intelligence.
One can learn this in many ways.
For this man of proven good sense
will go back home again
for the good of his citizens,
for the good of his own
relatives and friends,
on account of being intelligent.
So it is refined not by Socrates
to sit and chatter
casting aside the pursuits of the Muses
and neglecting what's most important
in the art of tragedy.
But to spend time idly
in pompous words
and frivolous word-scraping
is the act of a man going crazy.

-- Aristophanes, The Frogs, ed. Matthew Dillon

Keep in mind that this isn't the first time that Aristophanes has mentioned Socrates; he presents him in The Clouds as representative of the pompous nature of Fifth Century Athenian "academia."

This Blog Is Rated...

2007-07-07T16:30:00.000-04:00

It seems that I am a rather tame fellow.

Go here to get your blog rated.

Animal Of The Day

2007-07-05T00:12:00.000-04:00

Strix aluco

Some images and movies of this owl species can be found here.

Today's Word

2007-07-01T09:23:00.000-04:00

Periphrasis

1-800-MAGIC

2007-07-01T07:45:00.000-04:00

The folks who brought you Red v. Blue have created a new machinima series based on Shadowrun. The first episode can be found here. It has some of the same humor as the original series, but it is a bit early in the series to say anymore.

Hume On Miracles

2007-06-29T00:26:00.000-04:00

The plain consequence is (and it is a general maxim worthy of our attention), 'That no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavours to establish; and even in that case there is a mutual destruction of arguments, and the superior only gives us an assurance suitable to that degree of force, which remains, after deducting the inferior.' When anyone tells me, that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable, that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which he relates, should really have happened. I weigh the one miracle against the other; and according to the superiority, which I discover, I pronounce my decision, and always reject the greater miracle If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous, than the event which he relates; then, and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion. - Sir David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)

In other words, which is more miraculous, that someone might be speaking a falsity or the miracle itself?

How The Matrix Revolutions...

2007-06-25T08:04:00.000-04:00

Should Have Ended?*

Though the final installment of the series left much to be desired, I didn't think it was terrible. Still, it could have been improved.

*Fixed the link.

Heidegger

2007-06-25T00:43:00.000-04:00

One can no longer deny Heidegger's relationship with National Socialism as a short-natured gaff. It seems to bug people because Heidegger was quite clearly a brilliant man whose thoughts were in some way a culmination of a pattern inquiry, etc. stretching back to Kant. Indeed, in many ways Heidegger remains an influential presence despite his association with the Nazis.

Anyway, recently I ran across a statement by another influential 20th century philosopher (Leo Strauss) that I found useful in describing Heidegger's thinking. Namely - to paraphrase - that Heidegger was more interested in being than human beings.

Animal Of The Day

2007-06-24T23:49:00.001-04:00

Talking Cat

First They Came For The Qibla

2007-06-24T08:37:00.001-04:00

John Safron talks about God and Guns.

Don't Call It A Comeback

2007-06-24T07:48:00.000-04:00

With 303 preliminary orders also revealed this week [on top of 425 orders at the Paris Airshow], "Airbus has more than doubled the record for previous air shows set in 2005," said Leahy, chief operating officer for customers. Airbus won a total of 280 orders and purchase commitments at the last show in Paris, two years ago.

So much for the demise of Airbus. I wonder if Airbus will now still go forward with the cuts proposed earlier this year.

Seafood & Your Eternal Soul

2007-06-23T13:03:00.001-04:00

This is something a cheap shot at fundamentalist Christians, but it is a funny one nonetheless.

Back in the 1990s when the Oregon Citizens Alliance was pushing a number of anti-gay constitutional amendments* the measures that they undertook to pass were often met with literature which not only quoted Leviticus' prohibitions against homosexuality, but also its statements on shellfish, cutting facial hair, etc. Indeed, in the voter information booklets** which are published prior to an Oregon election, groups "officially" arguing "in favor" of the OCA's amendments would quote the language on shellfish, etc. as well, much to the consternation of the OCA I am sure.

* I am sure that the OCA would likely characterize them otherwise.

** I tried to find a 1992 or 1994 voter guide online but to no avail. The measures were 9 (1992) and 13 (1994) respectively. If I recall correctly, the OCA also sponsored a measure in 1996 but it failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Army's Top Gear For 2006

2007-06-23T12:41:00.000-04:00

The top ten list can be found here.

Note how anti-IED related items top the list. It tells you something about the nature of the conflict in Iraq.

El Chupacabra

2007-06-15T03:11:00.000-04:00

This may be actual footage of an el chupacabra. It looks quite convincing.

Oh, and don't forget the Chupacabra Macarena.

House Update

2007-06-14T22:36:00.001-04:00

We finally have the crown moulding up in the office and we're doing the finishing touches on the trim.

As for the bathroom, the wallpaper is finally stripped (and the walls covered with primer), the toilet has been removed and the old linoleum (three layers thick) has been removed. Oh and bathroom was partly replumbed as well. Now we just have to wallpaper and put in the floor tile. Should be a cinch. ;)

"Post-Traumatic Iraq Syndrome"

2007-06-14T11:01:00.001-04:00

Defeat in war damages societies quite out of proportion to what a rational calculation of cost would predict. The United States absorbed the loss in Vietnam quite easily on paper, for example, but the societal effects of defeat linger to this day. The Afghanistan debacle was an underrated contributor to Soviet malaise in the 1980s and a factor in perestroika, glasnost and eventually the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Defeats can have unintended, seemingly inexplicable consequences.

Or so says Prof. Fettweis of the Naval War College (he's apparently something of a "military strategy wonk" there). I've noted on a number of occassions that whetever else this war brings it will surely be one of the dominant themes of American politics for a generation. Which I think is rather unfortunate, since it is likely that its dominance will be more about fingerpointing than any actual discussion of the war itself. Which is why we need to take Prof. Fettweis' advice seriously (though I doubt that we will):

Either way, the Iraq syndrome is coming. We need to be prepared for the divisiveness, vitriol, self-doubt and recrimination that will be its symptoms. They will be the defining legacy of the Bush administration and neoconservatism's parting gift to America.

Do We Still Have Live MIAs In Viet Nam?

2007-06-14T08:34:00.000-04:00

I ran across this article the other day looking for some information on the Khmer Rouge and thought I would share it. Note that the author - Sydney Schanberg - won a Pulitzer Prize for his work on U.S. involvement in Cambodia. The movie The Killing Fields is in the main about his life in Cambodia and that of his assistant Dith Pran.

Over the years, an abundance of evidence had come to light that the North Vietnamese, while returning 591 U.S. prisoners of war after the treaty signing, had held back many others as future bargaining chips for the $4 billion or more in war reparations that the Nixon administration had pledged. Hanoi didn't trust Washington to fulfill its promise without pressure. Similarly, Washington didn't trust Hanoi to return all the prisoners and carry out all the treaty provisions. The mistrust on both sides was merited. Hanoi held back prisoners and the U.S. provided no reconstruction funds.

BTW, in the article John Kerry doesn't come out smelling too sweet. I have to say that I'm surprised that I heard nothing of this in the 2004 campaign. That it apparently wasn't bigger news during the 2004 election might be an indication that the claims made in the article are crap. Still, Schanberg seems like a fairly credible author.

Clearstream & Chirac

2007-06-13T11:31:00.000-04:00

PARIS, June 13, 2007 (AFP) - The Paris prosecutors' office on Wednesday denied a newspaper report that former president Jacques Chirac has been summoned for questioning next week in connection with the so-called Clearstream political dirty tricks scandal.

Here is a timeline of the Clearstream affair.

A lot of folks have wondered when and/or if Chirac will be questioned about various political scandals which surfaced during his administration. Note that a sitting French President is immune from criminal investigations, charges, etc.

Air...

2007-06-11T21:24:00.000-04:00

The best "air instrument" scene in all of TV history.

Will You....

2007-06-11T19:34:00.001-04:00

Hold This?

(Not worksafe.)

Animal Of The Day

2007-06-11T19:19:00.001-04:00

Paradisaea minor or the Lesser Bird-of-Paradise.

Hitler

2007-06-11T18:42:00.000-04:00

At the end of the war Hitler lost server access because he was banned. It was his ultimate humilation.

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BTW, the movie that they took this from, Downfall, is quite good.

Loving

2007-06-11T18:14:00.000-04:00

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Loving v. Virginia.

Prior to Loving interracial marriage remained illegal in the core Southern states. In the rest of the U.S. such laws had been taken off the books or made moot by state court decisions. Barring a Supreme Court's decision it is difficult to imagine what could quickly rid the rest of the states of such laws.

Henry Rollins

2007-06-11T00:11:00.000-04:00

See Rollins' writing a thoughtful letter to Michael Chertoff here.

Oradour-sur-Glane

2007-06-10T05:22:00.000-04:00

Souviens Toi.

La mémoire est belle et terrible.

Some images of Oradour-sur-Glane from the opening scene of The World At War.