A380

The A380 has arrived.

KAL 007 Shootdown

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?

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...

Homosexuals

What Am I Reading?

Søren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling.

Leaving Iraq?

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

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

Assume The Position

Check out Slate's handy Iraq Position Locator.

Talk Like A Pirate

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

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

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...

Has Just Begun

Is Your Kung Fu Strong Enough?

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?

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

What Am I Reading?

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.