Monday, September 20, 2004
Reason Interviews the creator of HBO's The Wire
Interesting interview that offers some insight into the war on drugs and into the world that help lead to this great television show.
Simon: Ed Burns and I spoke at one of those groups. There came this point where a guy said, "Well, what is the solution? Give me the paragraph; give me the lede. What’s the solution, if not drug prohibition?"
I very painstakingly said: "Look. For 35 years, you’ve systematically deindustrialized these cities. You’ve rendered them inhospitable to the working class, economically. You have marginalized a certain percentage of your population, most of them minority, and placed them in a situation where the only viable economic engine in their hypersegregated neighborhoods is the drug trade. Then you’ve alienated them further by fighting this draconian war in their neighborhoods, and not being able to distinguish between friend or foe and between that which is truly dangerous or that which is just illegal. And you want to sit across the table from me and say ‘What’s the solution?’ and get it in a paragraph? The solution is to undo the last 35 years, brick by brick. How long is that going to take? I don’t know, but until you start it’s only going to get worse."
And the guy looked at me and went, "But what’s the solution?" He said it again. Ed Burns restrained me.
Interesting interview that offers some insight into the war on drugs and into the world that help lead to this great television show.
Simon: Ed Burns and I spoke at one of those groups. There came this point where a guy said, "Well, what is the solution? Give me the paragraph; give me the lede. What’s the solution, if not drug prohibition?"
I very painstakingly said: "Look. For 35 years, you’ve systematically deindustrialized these cities. You’ve rendered them inhospitable to the working class, economically. You have marginalized a certain percentage of your population, most of them minority, and placed them in a situation where the only viable economic engine in their hypersegregated neighborhoods is the drug trade. Then you’ve alienated them further by fighting this draconian war in their neighborhoods, and not being able to distinguish between friend or foe and between that which is truly dangerous or that which is just illegal. And you want to sit across the table from me and say ‘What’s the solution?’ and get it in a paragraph? The solution is to undo the last 35 years, brick by brick. How long is that going to take? I don’t know, but until you start it’s only going to get worse."
And the guy looked at me and went, "But what’s the solution?" He said it again. Ed Burns restrained me.
Reason Mag Interviews the creator of HBO's The Wire
Interesting interview with the creator of one of the best shows on television and some insight into the war on drugs.
Simon: Ed Burns and I spoke at one of those groups. There came this point where a guy said, "Well, what is the solution? Give me the paragraph; give me the lede. What’s the solution, if not drug prohibition?"
I very painstakingly said: "Look. For 35 years, you’ve systematically deindustrialized these cities. You’ve rendered them inhospitable to the working class, economically. You have marginalized a certain percentage of your population, most of them minority, and placed them in a situation where the only viable economic engine in their hypersegregated neighborhoods is the drug trade. Then you’ve alienated them further by fighting this draconian war in their neighborhoods, and not being able to distinguish between friend or foe and between that which is truly dangerous or that which is just illegal. And you want to sit across the table from me and say ‘What’s the solution?’ and get it in a paragraph? The solution is to undo the last 35 years, brick by brick. How long is that going to take? I don’t know, but until you start it’s only going to get worse."
And the guy looked at me and went, "But what’s the solution?" He said it again. Ed Burns restrained me.
Interesting interview with the creator of one of the best shows on television and some insight into the war on drugs.
Simon: Ed Burns and I spoke at one of those groups. There came this point where a guy said, "Well, what is the solution? Give me the paragraph; give me the lede. What’s the solution, if not drug prohibition?"
I very painstakingly said: "Look. For 35 years, you’ve systematically deindustrialized these cities. You’ve rendered them inhospitable to the working class, economically. You have marginalized a certain percentage of your population, most of them minority, and placed them in a situation where the only viable economic engine in their hypersegregated neighborhoods is the drug trade. Then you’ve alienated them further by fighting this draconian war in their neighborhoods, and not being able to distinguish between friend or foe and between that which is truly dangerous or that which is just illegal. And you want to sit across the table from me and say ‘What’s the solution?’ and get it in a paragraph? The solution is to undo the last 35 years, brick by brick. How long is that going to take? I don’t know, but until you start it’s only going to get worse."
And the guy looked at me and went, "But what’s the solution?" He said it again. Ed Burns restrained me.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
USS Clueless - Kerry speaks
Interesting quotes from a Kerry-Russert interview. This election is shaping up to be one of two bad chioces.
Interesting quotes from a Kerry-Russert interview. This election is shaping up to be one of two bad chioces.
Monday, February 16, 2004
Heated Debate At Home
The creator of the site Volconvo.com sent me an e-mail saying that he has been noting people online that "can hold an argument", and is now inviting many of them to join his site. The site is a forum for all things political, religious, or otherwise.
Naturally, I've seen some brilliant arguments there, as well as some sick bastards or downright fools, but overall, a good idea. Join up, and fire away! You can find my statements under the moniker NittLion78.
Happy arguing!
The creator of the site Volconvo.com sent me an e-mail saying that he has been noting people online that "can hold an argument", and is now inviting many of them to join his site. The site is a forum for all things political, religious, or otherwise.
Naturally, I've seen some brilliant arguments there, as well as some sick bastards or downright fools, but overall, a good idea. Join up, and fire away! You can find my statements under the moniker NittLion78.
Happy arguing!
Sunday, February 15, 2004
Stomping Out the Denver Boot
Photo courtesy BBC
You see it in Chicago everyday: someone doesn't move their car for a while, and a big ugly yellow contraption gets strapped to the front left wheel, rendering it undrivable (unless you're Homer Simpson in the NYC episode). It's how the city extorts your payments from you.
A British man has declared that no longer will he stand for it. That's right: that dashing hero you see above is none other than Angle-Grinder Man. The BBC reports:
The man, known only as Angle-grinder Man (AGM), patrols the streets offering motorists help removing clamps.
On Friday he arrived in Birmingham, saying speed cameras and the M6 toll road are also on his hit list.
He claims he has already cut off 40 clamps in Kent and London and has supporters across the world.
"I'm just trying to spread the message that it is just extortion," the 40-year-old said.
Now I know he looks sort of like Pink Floyd's David Gilmour in a nightmarish rendition of the Greatest American Hero's costume, but his message is sound.
"I have felt for a long time that motorists are being persecuted. Not just by wheel clampers but also speed cameras, congestion charging in London and the toll road on the M6.
"They are all ways politicians who have failed us look to the public to raise revenue to pay for their own failures."
And he's not stopping with just that. His aspirations run deeper than merely being an anti-government hero!
AGM plans to run in London's Mayoral election this June and decided to make a four-day visit to the West Midlands to reach more of the population.
He will make a guest appearance at a concert at JBs in Dudley on Saturday and also hopes to help a few disgruntled motorists during his stay.
I award Angle-Grinder Man the first ever Chi-Burgh Connection Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Area of Libertizing the Motorways. The people of the cities of Chicago and Pittsburgh applaud you, as do the highways between them. Keep on grindin'!
Photo courtesy BBC
You see it in Chicago everyday: someone doesn't move their car for a while, and a big ugly yellow contraption gets strapped to the front left wheel, rendering it undrivable (unless you're Homer Simpson in the NYC episode). It's how the city extorts your payments from you.
A British man has declared that no longer will he stand for it. That's right: that dashing hero you see above is none other than Angle-Grinder Man. The BBC reports:
The man, known only as Angle-grinder Man (AGM), patrols the streets offering motorists help removing clamps.
On Friday he arrived in Birmingham, saying speed cameras and the M6 toll road are also on his hit list.
He claims he has already cut off 40 clamps in Kent and London and has supporters across the world.
"I'm just trying to spread the message that it is just extortion," the 40-year-old said.
Now I know he looks sort of like Pink Floyd's David Gilmour in a nightmarish rendition of the Greatest American Hero's costume, but his message is sound.
"I have felt for a long time that motorists are being persecuted. Not just by wheel clampers but also speed cameras, congestion charging in London and the toll road on the M6.
"They are all ways politicians who have failed us look to the public to raise revenue to pay for their own failures."
And he's not stopping with just that. His aspirations run deeper than merely being an anti-government hero!
AGM plans to run in London's Mayoral election this June and decided to make a four-day visit to the West Midlands to reach more of the population.
He will make a guest appearance at a concert at JBs in Dudley on Saturday and also hopes to help a few disgruntled motorists during his stay.
I award Angle-Grinder Man the first ever Chi-Burgh Connection Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Area of Libertizing the Motorways. The people of the cities of Chicago and Pittsburgh applaud you, as do the highways between them. Keep on grindin'!
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Political Compass
An interesting political test to try out. I scored:
Economic Left/Right: 3.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.36
That is, 3.5 towards conservative economics, and 6.36 (very deep) on the libertarian side of political stylings. Note that the picture above features a cavalcade of fools that I don't fall anywhere near. I can be found safely in the bottom-right with those few sensible ones of the world.
An interesting political test to try out. I scored:
Economic Left/Right: 3.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.36
That is, 3.5 towards conservative economics, and 6.36 (very deep) on the libertarian side of political stylings. Note that the picture above features a cavalcade of fools that I don't fall anywhere near. I can be found safely in the bottom-right with those few sensible ones of the world.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Cooked Black Books
This USAToday article starts off making a great statement:
After a dubious conclusion that Iraq was hiding weapons of mass destruction just before the war in Iraq, critics say there should be more financial accountability for the government's spying.
In other words, spy away, but we're watching how much you jokers are spending on it.
The secret spending, known only to those in government with the highest security clearances, is called the ''Black Budget.'' Each year, it is debated in the White House, the Pentagon, CIA headquarters and intelligence committees of Congress, but it is not made public.
Not made public, but of course, the public is the one paying for it. And just how much are we American citizens paying?
Watchdog groups' estimates for the 2004 CIA budget alone are around $40 billion, up from $26.7 billion eight years ago. The 1997 figure became public after a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit forced CIA Director George Tenet to release it. Another suit is pending for the 2002 budget.
Steven Aftergood, who brought the Freedom of Information lawsuits on behalf of the Federation of American Scientists, says he is not seeking line-by-line spending for specific projects, just a total figure. He notes that billions of dollars are being spent with accountability only to those government officials involved in spending it.
''Disclosure of the total will not endanger national security,'' Aftergood says.
I receive Mr. Aftergood's e-mail newsletter, and believe me - this guy knows his stuff. This is one of those guys like a James Bovard (whose book Lost Rights: The Destruction of American Liberty finally made me a libertarian on the books) that has the patience to go through acres of Freedom of Information Act-declassified data and report the interesting parts. I've featured his website here on Connection before and believe me, there's some great stuff on his site.
Anyway, the moral of this all is that if Los Federales can inefficiently spend the rest of our money, I can't imagine that the "Black Budget" is "in the black", either. I hope some headway is made on declassifying this information, but as usual I'm skeptical that anyone in the cesspool of Washington really cares.
This USAToday article starts off making a great statement:
After a dubious conclusion that Iraq was hiding weapons of mass destruction just before the war in Iraq, critics say there should be more financial accountability for the government's spying.
In other words, spy away, but we're watching how much you jokers are spending on it.
The secret spending, known only to those in government with the highest security clearances, is called the ''Black Budget.'' Each year, it is debated in the White House, the Pentagon, CIA headquarters and intelligence committees of Congress, but it is not made public.
Not made public, but of course, the public is the one paying for it. And just how much are we American citizens paying?
Watchdog groups' estimates for the 2004 CIA budget alone are around $40 billion, up from $26.7 billion eight years ago. The 1997 figure became public after a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit forced CIA Director George Tenet to release it. Another suit is pending for the 2002 budget.
Steven Aftergood, who brought the Freedom of Information lawsuits on behalf of the Federation of American Scientists, says he is not seeking line-by-line spending for specific projects, just a total figure. He notes that billions of dollars are being spent with accountability only to those government officials involved in spending it.
''Disclosure of the total will not endanger national security,'' Aftergood says.
I receive Mr. Aftergood's e-mail newsletter, and believe me - this guy knows his stuff. This is one of those guys like a James Bovard (whose book Lost Rights: The Destruction of American Liberty finally made me a libertarian on the books) that has the patience to go through acres of Freedom of Information Act-declassified data and report the interesting parts. I've featured his website here on Connection before and believe me, there's some great stuff on his site.
Anyway, the moral of this all is that if Los Federales can inefficiently spend the rest of our money, I can't imagine that the "Black Budget" is "in the black", either. I hope some headway is made on declassifying this information, but as usual I'm skeptical that anyone in the cesspool of Washington really cares.
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Credit Has Truly Gone To The Dogs
This unlikely story is further evidence of why Americans aren't responsible creditees or, in this case, creditors.
The dog, named Clifford, lives with his owner in Livermore, Calif., in the San Francisco Bay Area. Clifford's owner, Steve Borba, said he was tired of getting spam e-mails, so he signed up for an e-mail account using the name Clifford J. Dog. Eventually, a pre-approved credit card application arrived addressed to Clifford J. Dog, and Borba sent it in as a joke.
"It asked for his mother's name. I put 'Pugsy Malone.' When it asked for a Social Security number, I put nine zeroes, and I even put that this was for a dog and not to send a credit card," Borba said.
The credit card company issued Clifford a card despite the obvious warning on the application, Borba said. After the card arrived, Borba alerted the company of the error and the card was deactivated.
I can't believe that there wasn't even any validation in their software to not permit all zeroes being entered into their invoicing system. Holy negligence, Batman!
This unlikely story is further evidence of why Americans aren't responsible creditees or, in this case, creditors.
The dog, named Clifford, lives with his owner in Livermore, Calif., in the San Francisco Bay Area. Clifford's owner, Steve Borba, said he was tired of getting spam e-mails, so he signed up for an e-mail account using the name Clifford J. Dog. Eventually, a pre-approved credit card application arrived addressed to Clifford J. Dog, and Borba sent it in as a joke.
"It asked for his mother's name. I put 'Pugsy Malone.' When it asked for a Social Security number, I put nine zeroes, and I even put that this was for a dog and not to send a credit card," Borba said.
The credit card company issued Clifford a card despite the obvious warning on the application, Borba said. After the card arrived, Borba alerted the company of the error and the card was deactivated.
I can't believe that there wasn't even any validation in their software to not permit all zeroes being entered into their invoicing system. Holy negligence, Batman!
