Revenge of the Irate Moderates

Nice little opinion piece in the NY Times today, starting off:

The defeat of Senator Joseph Lieberman at the hands of a little-known Connecticut businessman is bound to send a message to politicians of both parties that voters are angry and frustrated over the war in Iraq. The primary upset was not, however, a rebellion against the bipartisanship and centrism that Mr. Lieberman said he represented in the Senate. Instead, Connecticut Democrats were reacting to the way those concepts have been perverted by the Bush White House.

Good point. I suspect that what has sunk Lieberman (and I do suspect that he's sunk, his run as an independent notwithstanding) wasn't the fact that he voted for the war in Iraq, nor even so much the fact that he still defends it as necessary. It's the fact that he insists upon playing nice with people who are so clearly not interested in reciprocating. If the Bushies were even slightly bipartisan in reality, his approach would be diplomatic, but as things stand, it comes across as supine...

Revenge of the Irate Moderates

Nice little opinion piece in the NY Times today, starting off:

The defeat of Senator Joseph Lieberman at the hands of a little-known Connecticut businessman is bound to send a message to politicians of both parties that voters are angry and frustrated over the war in Iraq. The primary upset was not, however, a rebellion against the bipartisanship and centrism that Mr. Lieberman said he represented in the Senate. Instead, Connecticut Democrats were reacting to the way those concepts have been perverted by the Bush White House.

Good point. I suspect that what has sunk Lieberman (and I do suspect that he's sunk, his run as an independent notwithstanding) wasn't the fact that he voted for the war in Iraq, nor even so much the fact that he still defends it as necessary. It's the fact that he insists upon playing nice with people who are so clearly not interested in reciprocating. If the Bushies were even slightly bipartisan in reality, his approach would be diplomatic, but as things stand, it comes across as supine...

Unintended subject lines

This was almost certainly advertising some sort of Pills Sold Cheap (I deleted it reflexively before the contents even became visible). But I am amused by the Subject line, which came out as:

"***SPAM*** It is absolutely good for you!"

and which gave me an immediate gut-level expectation of an email touting the health virtues of processed lunch meat...

Unintended subject lines

This was almost certainly advertising some sort of Pills Sold Cheap (I deleted it reflexively before the contents even became visible). But I am amused by the Subject line, which came out as:

"***SPAM*** It is absolutely good for you!"

and which gave me an immediate gut-level expectation of an email touting the health virtues of processed lunch meat...

The Joys of Air Travel

Okay, yes -- I understand that a measure of caution is necessary in an age of loons who think terrorism actually accomplishes something. But I swear -- in ten years, everyone is going to be required to fly naked. (And preferably all sedated, which takes any potential fun out of it...)

The Joys of Air Travel

Okay, yes -- I understand that a measure of caution is necessary in an age of loons who think terrorism actually accomplishes something. But I swear -- in ten years, everyone is going to be required to fly naked. (And preferably all sedated, which takes any potential fun out of it...)

The Internet vs. Real Life

Thanks to nazrynn for this brilliant video of observations about the Net...

The Internet vs. Real Life

Thanks to nazrynn for this brilliant video of observations about the Net...