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DON’T

TRUST

SNAKES

“I know where I'm headed.”
ROGER THORNHILL


Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Does David Axelrod have some economic expertise I'm not aware of?

In the end, Mr. Geithner largely prevailed in opposing tougher conditions on financial institutions that were sought by presidential aides, including David Axelrod, a senior adviser to the president, according to administration and Congressional officials. - New York Times, February 10, 2009
Why is David Axelrod involved at all in these decisions? It's not comforting.


posted at 2:34 PM

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

This is idiotic

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is expected to impose a cap of $500,000 for top executives at companies that receive large amounts of bailout money, according to people familiar with the plan. - New York Times, February 3, 2009
This is idiotic. I wasn't aware the TARP was intended to be some sort of virtue exercise. Let the U.S. come in and buy shares if it wants, and then attend to executive compensation concerns like any other shareholder, by voting at the appropriate times.

It's not clear where the people will come from who will take big pay cuts to do these jobs, which are not jobs that anyone off the street could remotely perform. The President, smart as he is, knows this and ought to do a better job of moderating the Committee-of-Public-Safety wing of his party. He should also be smart enough to know that you can't force people to be responsible. You don't see parents saying "son, I'm going to force you to be responsible." What has suddenly happened to the power of words?

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posted at 8:39 PM

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Blogging slowdown

I could write a long analysis about why the blog seems to be losing steam, but that might be too much. Reasons include:
  • I started and developed the blog when I had more free time . . .

  • . . . and different/fewer social outlets.

  • I have a larger workplace these days with more outlets and interactions

  • The election is over.

  • If I want to broadcast some random photos, I'll tend to use Facebook.

  • Facebook status messages have become my major medium for random online cleverness, which is simultaneously sort of cool and sort of sad.


posted at 4:45 PM

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Snow






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posted at 10:42 PM

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Caroline Kennedy

Sorry, but what has Caroline Kennedy done to deserve appointment to the Senate? It would be so refreshing to see Paterson resist.


posted at 12:01 AM

Friday, December 05, 2008

A most charitable characterization

But does chatting to passengers have the same detrimental effect on driving? An earlier study found that it does not. That research, led by Frank Drews of the University of Utah, analysed the performance of young drivers using a vehicle simulator. Dr Drews found that when using a hands-free phone, a volunteer “drove” significantly worse than he did when just talking to someone playing the role of a passenger. Passengers, the researchers believed, might even help road safety by commenting on surrounding traffic. - The Economist, December 4, 2008 (emphasis mine)

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posted at 10:32 AM

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Emoluments Clause

[LINK]

Unless the Constitution was particularly subtle in defining "Senator" and "Representative", it seems like a suitably-timed resignation would do the trick.


posted at 7:04 PM