Just got back from Cato University in San Diego. First, thanks to my sis, The Commander, and Carol for rides to/from airports. And to the Cato donors who paid for most of the costs allowing me to go. The seminar was pretty impressive, with a lineup featuring some pretty fairly heavy hitters. I won't criticize here some of the weaker speakers, but in any case they were the exceptions, and my problems with them were more about presentation than content. I definitely recommend the whole experience to people interested in the principles, achievements, and possibilities of a free society.
On a related topic, Arthur Silber takes on how the Martha Stewart case relates to the (should happen) impeachment of George Bush. And just to emphasize how much I hate John Kerry, I recently realized that I still am considering voting for Bush, but would still support his impeachment at any time from now through his second term. The way things look now I'm much more likely to vote for Kerry than for Bush, and for someone else over either, but you never know.
And here's an exciting little development.

I don't know how often I'll have internet access over the coming week, so don't expect any posts. Maybe from a co-blogger, though.

Woh! (via The Agitator)

Paul Krugman (with whom I often disagree) just about hits the nail on the head. So, of course, he's called out for bigotry. Don Luskin's often right, but he has a blind spot or something regarding Paul Krugman and foreign policy. Question: Did the original Manchurian Candidate show that the filmmakers thought all Chinese people were communists?

Please read

Is Spider-Man a Marxist or a Misesiant? Decide for yourself. I'd say he shows a little something of each, but falls a little closer to the latter. And if you don't know who Mises is, get reading.

People often mention the Duch tulip bulb-mania from the 17th century as an example of market bubbles and the irrationality of markets. Looks like they're wrong to do so, there's a very good reason for what happened.

Arthur Silber examines the possibility of the return of the draft. grr
A list of deceits in Fahrenheit 911. It seems well-researched, but take it with a grain of salt, as I know at least one fact it presents ain't true: Hussein didn't plot to assassinate Bush I. That myth's been debunked.

Paul Craig Roberts once again on Martha Stewart.
Wanniski and Prather on Tenet and WMDs. I'm sure you can find a few examples from this list that fit him and the administration.
Sobran on Jefferson.  I can't believe someone characterized his Kentucky Resolutions as "dangerously close" to arguing for secession. What do people think the Declaration of Independence was all about? I guess maybe it's viewed as a self-serving political device rather than a statement of principle. Whatever.

What Bush ain't.
Are you kidding me? Un be lievable.
For the greatest innovation in time-wasting applications, Don't Let Go!

The US economy has been pretty strange the last few years. Read on.
The source of England's advantage in initial industrialization? Hint: it wasn't the state.
Guess what book they're making into a movie? (This is probably already well-known, but it's news to me).
Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!

I have been very very delinquent in posting. Bad Penny. Bad.

As your resident film commentator, I take a moment to commemorate the retirement of Jack Velenti, the head of the Motion Picture Association of America and share with you a few gems:

"I say to you that the VCR is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston strangler is to the woman home alone."


"If you can't protect that which you own, then you don't own anything."


"So long as people refuse to be cabinned and confined in their home day after day, night after night, so long as you provide customers with an epic viewing experience they cannot duplicate in their homes, so long as each new generation of filmmakers enlarges and beautifies the art of visual story telling, then so long will we travel that sweet road that leads to success."

Well, the Shaq trade is official. People who criticize the Lakers for making it aren't thinking clearly. Criticize them for allowing the Shaq-Kobe situation get to the point it did that necessitated it, but at this point trading O'Neal was the best choice they had. Keeping Shaq would've meant losing Kobe. I'd rather have Shaq than Kobe, but I'd rather have Kobe and what they got for Shaq than just Shaq. Maybe they could have found a better deal, I don't know about that. But all things considered, it's not a bad trade.
This may be the strangest law I've ever heard of. Wtf?
A related lesson in statistics. And an unrelated one.
Go Bill. It's a message a lot of people need to heed, not just blacks.
Can't beat the Faf!

As much as I loathe Bush, I really haven't made up my mind as to whom I will vote for come November. I'd say there is roughly a 1% chance I'll vote for Bush, a 10% chance I'll vote for Kerry, and a 50% chance I'll vote for someone else (yes, I can add, figure it out). It would take a lot for Bush to win my vote. This would be a good start, though by no means sufficient.

I kind of enjoyed this caper story. Not that I endorse that ind of thing....
What is a leader?
Jibjab!
And, cryptically, yeah Billy!

I know a lot of people are piling on Bush for this, but really, I was just complaining the other day about how the low price of shrimp is bankrupting the country.
I liked this little primer on libertarian beginnings.
Wanniski rips apart monetarianism. I'm not sure if I fully agree with his views on monetary policy, but it would certainly be a big improvement over the Greenspan standard we have now.
I haven't seen Fahrenheit 911. People sometimes try to convince me to, but I really don't think I need to spend money to see and hear mostly things I either already know or am unsure of whether they are true or are more examples of Moorian misleading innuendo. Or are irrelevant. The Filthy Critic saw it, and seems to come to a similar conclusion.

I can see what they're saying. (I know how bad that pun was, and that I've been remiss in my blogging recently. Seeing as my readership might just be one, me, I think it's okay).

Not that any of the info is much of a surprise, but it is surprising to see an administrator be so candid about tuition stuff.

In the spirit of yesterday (Independence Day, in case you missed it):
Why a Canadian loves America.
Bad news short-term but maybe good news long-term for China.
What Saddam needs. Just to be clear, I don't like Hussein at all, but his trial should be honest, not a show trial. Truth is crucial for liberty, even in regards to tyrants.

Thomas Sowell is wicked smaht.
Why are some countries rich and some poor? Is it natural resources? Genetic differences? Luck? I guess those are all possible to a degree, but there are a few other variables which correlate extremely well with a country's success.

What's more fun than a barrel full of monkeys? A Trunk Monkey, of course.
I liked, but didn't love, Spider-Man. Spider-Man 2 kicks ass.