Politics
The Bush administration believed that the Iraqi war would be beneficial in the long run because the Iraqi people would accept an imposed government led by Ahmed Chalabi. The administration now believes that an Iranian war would be beneficial in the long run because the Iranian people would accept an
Life
I noticed a strange smell in my bedroom this afternoon. I couldn't find the source of it. I opened the windows, but it wouldn't go away. So I turned everything off, went out for a while, then took another look around when I got home. I
Sports
During the last 12 months: * The College World Series was won by Texas, with Florida placing second. * The NCAA Division I-A Bowl Championship Series was won by Texas, with Southern Cal placing second. * March Madness was won by Florida, with UCLA placing second. Austin. Gainesville. Los Angeles. And no
Life
When my neighbors' cat wants in at night, he sits at the edge of their back porch, cries a couple of times, and gets let in. It would appear my neighbors weren't home last night. And that edge of their porch? It's about nine feet
History
President Bush carried every state of the old Confederacy in 2004, most by substantial margins. White people in those states have generally supported the President's Iraq policies by greater margins than people in the rest of the country. Which is odd, because most white Southerners are familiar with
History
A minor buzzword on the right wing of the blogosphere has been "Jacksonian", used to describe populists who support the occupation of Iraq. But anyone who is familiar with Andrew Jackson will know how bitterly he resented the British occupation of his native South Carolina during the Revolutionary
Portland
Wall facing SE 12th Avenue, just south of Taylor Street. (My advice? Take the lower door...)
History
[Christians] refused to take any active part in the civil administration or the military defense of the empire. […] This indolent, or even criminal disregard to the public welfare, exposed them to the contempt and reproaches of the Pagans, who very frequently asked, what must be the fate of the empire,
History
How often is it the interest of four or five ministers to combine together to deceive their sovereign! Secluded from mankind by his exalted dignity, the truth is concealed from his knowledge; he can see only with their eyes, he hears nothing but their misrepresentations. He confers the most important
Politics
I have heard some consternation about the news that the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde are supporting Republican Ron Saxton for governor. Is their support of a Republican really a surprise, though? Don't forget: Native Americans do have a consistent 500-year record of opposition to illegal immigration.
Intellect
From an article in the once-august Times of London: Professor Lynn, who caused controversy last year by claiming that men were more intelligent than women by about five IQ points on average, said that populations in the colder, more challenging environments of Northern Europe had developed larger brains than
LIS
At the post office today, I mailed off my ballot for the 2006 American Library Association elections. Among my votes was one against the proposed increase in member dues. While at the post office, I picked up my mail, which included a packet from the ALA. And what did that