Thought for the Day

It is important to have an idealist’s heart. But in the end, act with a pragmatist’s head.

Vonnegut on Blind Faith in the Free Market

Some of the loudest, most proudly ignorant guessing in the world is going on in Washington today. Our leaders are sick of all the solid information that has been dumped on humanity by research and scholarship and investigative reporting.

They think that the whole country is sick of it, and they want standards, and it isn’t the gold standard. They want to put us back on the snake-oil standard...

Industries should be allowed to do whatever they want to do: Bribe, wreck the environment just a little, fix prices, screw dumb customers, put a stop to competition and raid the Treasury in case they go broke.

That’s correct.

That’s free enterprise.

And that’s correct.

The poor have done something very wrong or they wouldn’t be poor, so their children should pay the consequences.

That’s correct.

The United States of America cannot be expected to look after its people.

That’s correct.

The free market will do that.

That’s correct.

The free market is an automatic system of justice.

That’s correct.

And so on.

"Your Guess is as Good as Mine," Kurt Vonnegut, In These Times, 12/12/05

Faulkner on freedom and equal rights

As certain people seek to deny civil rights and impose second-class citizenship on other people in our country, we should remember William Faulkner's words:

"We cannot choose freedom established on a hierarchy of degrees of freedom, on a caste system of equality like military rank. We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it; our freedom must be buttressed by a homogeny equally and unchallengeably free, no matter what color they are, so that all the other inimical forces everywhere--systems political or religious or racial or national--will not just respect us because we practice freedom, they will fear us because we do."

"On Fear: The South in Labor," William Faulkner, Harper's Magazine, June 1956.

Invent Music

Dave Merrill, a friend, musical collaborator, and one of the smartest and nicest guys you'll ever meet, is pushing the envelope at MIT, using technology to create new sounds and methods of making music.

Check it out.

Political Futures Markets

Slate has gathered up all of the major political futures markets on this page.

The Iowa Electronic Markets can be found here.

(Somebody keep Jim Cramer away from the trading.)

For comparison purposes, the Survey USA polls can be viewed here.

DISCLAIMER: These links are being included just for fun. This is in no way intended to induce anyone to trade on these markets. What you do with your money is your own business.

The Supreme Court

Justices Breyer and Scalia converse on their views of the Constitution.

A good PBS site on the history of the Supreme Court.

A look back at 2006

Ware & Robyn, Austin, Texas, January 2006


Robyn waits for Ware's at his new office, January 2006


Waiting for our flight to Asia, July 2006

 

A look back at 2006

Attending a close friend's wedding in Singapore, July 2006


Making new friends, Bintan, Indonesia, July 2006


Enjoying the view at our resort, Bintan, Indonesia, July 2006


Sharing a relaxing lunch on the South China Sea, Bintan, Indonesia, July 2006

 

A look back at 2006

The Great Buddha of Kotokuin, Kamakura, Japan, July 2006


A scenic hike brought us to this ancient temple, Kamakura, Japan, July 2006


It's a wonder we caught our train given their limited English signage (typical Americans!), Tokyo, July 2006


Ware puts “The Dude” in Dude Ranch on his 30th, Trophy Club, Texas, November 2006

 

A look back at 2006

Happy trails on Ware's 30th, November 2006


Thanksgiving weekend in Times Square, New York, November 2006


Santa's Little Helper, Chicago, December 2006


Trying to stay out of the gutter on New Year's Eve, Austin, December 2006