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4.29.00
Neoflux is hawking t-shirts. Nice design. I just wish I
could get it in black.
The Justice Department announced their plan to split up Microsoft into two companies. One would make the operating systems and the other would develop Office and Internet Explorer. How Office got thrown into this, I don't know. I thought the big problem was Microsoft dominating the Internet with its web browser. That didn't happen and still the government wants to punish the most successful American company in the last 50 years.
Here's an interesting quote from the News.com story:
Within the industry, however, many say the proposed penalties had already become obsolete in the hyperspeed of Internet business and proved that the government had neither the understanding or resources to regulate the industry effectively.
It's one reason the government shouldn't have went after MS in the first place. It's also a reason why you should support GW.
"Government to Judge: Break Up Microsoft": [via latte]
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-1777348.html
Bill @ EWF is more pessimistic about the state of our government that I am, but after this weeks events (Elian and Microsoft) I'm sympathetic. Read his site and see how another freedom-loving person is trying to deal with this oppression.
End the War on Freedom:
http://wws.editthispage.com/
Well, at least we're not as depressed as Dead @ 32. His thoughts on "Take Your Daughters to Work Day":
Okay... I guess I would need a daughter to begin to care about this sort of thing. Or a son. Or a child. Or a marriage. Or a love interest. Are you getting the picture yet?!??
Dead @ 32:
http://www.deadat32.com/
4.28.00
This past week has drained me emotionally. The assault last Saturday showed that the Clinton
administraion is capable of anything to achieve their goals. Clinton want's improved relations
with Cuba as part of his legacy and so a little boy was expendable. I agree with Rich Lowry
that Elian's cause is a
political loser, but criticism
and outrage must be displayed. What
happened Saturday was wrong and unacceptable in a free society. Whether I'm in the majority
or the minority with my stance, I don't care. I will stand up for what's right, regardless to
public opinion.
4.27.00
TAM has been named
Conservative Site of the Day.
4.26.00
Microsoft software has been (justly) derided for its many security flaws, but Linux isn't
perfect either. I want that password!
"Red Hat Open to Backdoor Password":
http://www.msnbc.com/news/399125.asp
David Horowitz is publishing "The War Room." A political strategy guide for Republicans on how to beat Democrats.
The War Room:
http://www.dhorowitz.com
Mikhail Gorbachev is still upset the U.S. defeated the Soviet Union in the Cold War.
"Gorbachev fears too-powerful US":
http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/2000/04/26/timfgnusa01005.html
4.25.00
That pitiful excuse for a columnist,
Dan Savage, will be charged with
voter fraud in Iowa.
"Voter to Face Fraud Charges":
http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788993/11098790.html
I'm glad the rumor that Nine Inch Nails would open for Iron Maiden this summer isn't true. Why would NIN waste their time opening for a washed-up 80's metal band?
Miss Truth:
http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/redirect/leaf=misstruth/fid=199103
On the heals of oppressing a family in Miami, the Justice Department wants to break up Microsoft. The plan would break MS into 2 or 3 companies. The odd portion of the plan is that the company that would develop Windows would still be able to offer web browsing. I thought bundling the web browser with the operating system was key reason Judge Jackson hammered MS. I thought it was an illegal tying arrangement. The plan wouldn't remedy that so-called abuse.
This attack on MS is similar to the attack on the Lazaro Gonzalez family. Both were protecting their rights. Antitrust law's vague definitions and arbitrary conclusions deny MS the freedom to compete without fear of heavy-handed government intervention. The Justice Department's Rule of Reno turned, what could have been a peaceful handover, into the violent scene we all saw Saturday.
"U.S., States Favor Plan To Split Up Microsoft":
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2076-2000Apr23.html
Mike at WOIFM? is getting married this weekend. May God richly bless the lucky couple.
4.24.00
Independent Counsel Robert Ray issued a grand jury supoena regarding missing White House e-mails.
"Grand Jury Over White House E-Mail": [via Drudge]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000424/aponline153108_000.htm
I didn't know Metajohn wrote a book. I didn't know he could write more than a few sentences at one sitting.
Solaris Essential Reference:
[via Metajohn]
http://www2.newriders.com/cfm/prod_book.cfm?RecordID=61
Red Scare at Neoflux hates this country. Let me quote him directly: "I hate this country." He then goes on to dish out some nasty spew that the Lazaro Gonzalez family only took care of Elian because they knew they could get "Pepsi endorsements out of this little kid." Red Scare also says Cuba isn't bad it's just "misunderstood." (I remember hearing this bit of black humor: "Hitler wasn't bad, he was just misunderstood." I wonder if Red Scare would agree.)
Red Scare's a very angry person. I think his love-affair with the Communist Cuban state is just a reaction to the current institutions around him.
I'm really upset that he is so cynical that he thinks the Lazaro Gonzalez family cared for Elian only for potential cash. No good deed can be taken seriously anymore. Everyone must look for the "ulterior" motives and the conflicts of interest. This may be fine when examining government leaders, but it breeds distrust when used on the general public.
There has been no evidence that the Lazaro Gonzalez family wanted to profit off Elian. If there is, then let me know. The simplest and most obvious answer for their actions is a sincere love for the child. The attacks on that family must stop. They've been through enough. They've sacrificed much for Elian. Give them credit.
4.22.00
Janet Reno did have Elian forcibly removed this morning. My thoughts are at ElianWatch.
ElianWatch:
https://www.angelfire.com/wi/shackbar/elianwatch.html
I don't want to toot my own horn because of what happened this morning, but I was interviewed on CNBC's "Upfront Tonight" last night talking about ElianWatch. Another weblog made the news.
This blurb from National Review on what transpired this morning:
Clearly, the "best interest of the child" is little more than a slogan for the Justice Department and INS. The images of this weekend ought to be remembered as voters go to the voting booths this November. What exactly has the Clinton-Gore administration done for America?
"Simply Un-American":
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment042200a.html
4.21.00
It looks like Janet Reno will attempt to remove Elian Gonzalez from his Miami home.
ElianWatch:
https://www.angelfire.com/wi/shackbar/elianwatch.html
Mikey Kaus thinks Clinton really does want a pardon.
"Pardon Our Reporting":
http://www.kausfiles.com/archive/index.04.14.00.html
4.19.00
The Dow Jones will start an index to track the price of bandwidth. This is sign of the maturing of the "New Economy."
"As more carriers put access to their networks into the marketplaces run by RateXchange, Arbinet or others, investors will be able to speculate on the future prices of bandwidth, just as investors in the pork belly or oil futures do today."
It would be much cooler to speculate in bandwidth than pork bellies. Does anybody really know what they are anyway?
"Dow Jones to Launch Bandwidth Index": [via 3445 Spinney]
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-1677726.html
Jonah Goldberg on The Simpsons:
The Simpsons is unique among sitcoms. First, it is a cartoon, which allows it to do and say things unimaginable for other shows. Second, of all the successful programs to make serious political points, it is the only one that is reliably funny when it does. All in the Family, M*A*S*H, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show were excellent shows in their prime, but it’s fair to say that when they were funny they weren’t political and that when they were political they weren’t very funny—and they were, invariably and predictably, liberal.
"Homer Never Nods":
http://www.nationalreview.com/01may00/goldberg050100.html
NIN was great. They played songs from The Fragile back to Pretty Hate Machine. If you wanted to mosh, the pit was seething. I just wished the show was longer.
Private money is the future. Richard Rahn says that the Internet, the microchip, encryption, and new financial instruments will make private currencies a reality.
"The Demise of Government Monopoly of Money":
http://www.intellectualcapital.com/issues/issue181/item1798.asp
The Singing Senators may be the next big act to use MP3.
"They Put the Party in GOP":
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,35525,00.html
4.18.00
I will be seeing Mr. Trent Reznor in concert tonight. I'll give you the lowdown after I finish
recuperating.
NIN website:
http://www.nin.com
Wendell at W4 thinks TAM is a very pretentious name. Well, let me clear up some confusion. "The American Mind" doesn't refer to my brain. I don't think I embody the total sum of knowledge contained inside the skulls of every man, woman, and child in this fine country. It comes from a quote from Thomas Jefferson. In a letter to Henry Lee, Jefferson said of the Declaration of Independence:
Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.
I can't guarantee the accuracy of the quote. I found it on the Net years ago. But it does provide the philosophical tone to TAM. If that's "pretentious" then I'm guilty.
Encarta World English Dictionary is free. It's not as good as Merriam-Webster.
Reason's Michael Lynch is covered the hoopla in D.C. One observation from Lynch:
A group of four women paraded topless, brazenly displaying such slogans as "All the IMF got was my shirt," "Free Mumia," and "Strip Clothes, Not Mines." Their strutting down I street garnered considerable attention--the one wearing the "Strip Clothes" slogan had enormous breasts.
I wonder how cold it was there.
Or how about Tony Watkins, a senior finance major at George Washington University, yelling out his window, "There’s no such thing as Animal Rights, you fucking retards."
"The Battle After Seattle":
http://www.reason.com/bi/lynch4-16.html
Pres. Clinton has declared Internet access a "civil rights" issue. That's bogus! The civil rights movements of the past 40 years were to reaffirm the basic humanity of all people. These movements didn't entitle people to anything, yet Clinton thinks taxpayers should fork over more cash to get people online.
"Clinton Moves to Subtract Divide":
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,35705,00.html?tw=wn20000417
4.17.00
If you dig TAM, read some of my
epinions.
I cover the 60 Minutes interview with Elian's father at ElianWatch.
4.15.00
Salon (with a stock price below $3) got comments from some pundits on Friday's tanking
markets. Most said Judge Jackson's ruling against Microsoft got the ball rolling. An interesting
comment came from venture capitalist Tim Draper. He wonders if economic growth will be hurt
because the U.S. public education system is so bad companies can't get good workers. Draper's
solution? "[P]ut school vouchers in place to allow the population to become educated so they can
participate in the economy -- or we need to allow for more HB-1 visas, loosening immigration to
let in more professionals from other countries."
"Reactions to Stock Carnage":[via latte]
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/04/14/stocks/print.html
Virginia Postrel has discovered a pro-death coalition taking shape. Some bio-ethicists don't want to see an extention in human lifespan.
"Do You Deserve to Live?":
http://www.reason.com/opeds/forbes/041700.html
4.14.00
W4 has TAM listed but no link. It's
in a state of limbo. What have I done to offend Wendell?
My heart is crushed until I have an answer.
Why are people linking to Elian Blog when I'm running the real deal. I know it isn't Elian blogging, but it's a real blog on Elian.
Dan Gillmor is horrified that Microsoft would hire "intolerance, ultra-right maven Ralph Reed" to lobby for the company. I'm just tired of the hyperbolic rhetoric describing conservatives. While Reed is an "ultra-right maven" I don't see Al Sharpton described as a "race-baiting, lier" or Ralph Nader described as a "commerce-hating, ultra-left maven." Conservatives seem to get the tag "intolerant" more often than liberals or radicals. Oh, and what's "intolerance" does Ralph Reed promote? It's probably that he opposes gay marriage. Fine, he has a reasonable position to defend. He's not like Sharpton who incites riots or Nader who hasn't seen a corporation he doesn't want to destroy.
"Tuition-free Computer School is Set for Launch":
http://www7.mercurycenter.com/premium/business/docs/gillmor14.htm
WOIFM? presents:
Ben & Jerry's new Unilever Flavors:
http://perpetualbeta.com/weblog.html
The UK should forget about linking with Europe and join NAFTA.
"North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement?":
http://www.frontpagemag.com/backpage/2000/default.htm
4.13.00
Rush Limbaugh doing Monday Night Football would just rock. If you've listened to his radio show
for any extended length of time, you'd know he's a die-hard football fan. Discounting his
politics, Rush is still a funny guy. Putting him in the booth would definitely draw viewers.
"Limbaugh: 'It's not brain surgery'":
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/comment/martzke.htm
This is a few days late, but Independent counsel Robert Ray might indict Bill Clinton after he leaves office. AlGore has already been asked if he would pardon Clinton if elected. AlGore answered by lying. He said, "President Clinton is way ahead of you on this. He said publicly some time ago that he would neither request nor accept a pardon, so that's the answer to that question." The lie is Clinton never publicly stated he didn't want a pardon. While much of the public wants Clinton's law breaking swept under the rug, his misdeeds may become a major election issue.
"Pardon question dogs Gore":
http://shns.scripps.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=GOREPARDON-04-12-00&cat=WW
4.12.00
Jerry Pournelle published an interesting e-mail discussion on macro- and micro- evolution.
The Evolution Debates: [via Where's My Latte?]
http://www.jerrypournelle.com/alt.mail/evolution.html
I think WOIFM? endorsed Harry Browne for Prez. I'll stick with G.W.
Publisher's Lunch is a publishing weblog. Thanks to Robot Wisdom.
4.10.00
The U.S. government is considering nationalizing Microsoft's web browser. It would be quite the
violation of property rights. If this happens it means that if you invent a product that others
like (except for your competitors), then the government can swoop in and take it. Bill Gates
should start chanting that liberal bromide, "No Justice, No Peace!"
"Will MS Lose Browser Rights?":
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,35557,00.html?tw=wn20000410
Bob Morrison, Executive VP of Taurus International accuses Andrew Cuomo of trying to bribe his company into accepting the deal Smith & Wesson entered in with the government.
"Strangely enough, I got a call from HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo in which he furthered this conspiracy by offering to bribe us. If we would come with S&W, he would absolutely make us favored with lush government contracts to buy more firearms from us."
"Gun Maker Stands up to Clinton":
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_metcalf_news/20000409_xngme_gun_maker_.shtml
Pulitzer Prizes were announced today. My fave is Paul Gigot winning for commentary.
"Denver Papers Win Pulitzers For Columbine Reporting":
http://www.foxnews.com/national/041000/pulitzers.sml
Here's LookSmart's lame description of TAM:
Weblog focuses on politics and culture, and features articles to highlight the author's observations. Visit the sources.
No pizazz. No spice. No snap. I guess they like who I link to. Ask to be linked. Maybe LookSmart will appreciate you more?
Being the rare conservative who opposes the death penalty, it's nice to see a conservative the caliber of George Will coming on board. Although he's still philosophically in favor of state-sanctioned killing, he's appalled by its implementation.
"Innocent On Death Row":
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/opinion/columns/willgeorge/A20906-2000Apr5.html
Celera Genomics, a private, for-profit company, beat the government-funded Human Genome Project in sequencing the human genome. Wired News covers how they did it.
"How the Genome War Was Won":
http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,35506,00.html
Charlie Reese doesn't know why Microsoft is considered a monopoly. I don't know either.
"An Absurd Ruling about Microsoft":
http://orlandosentinel.com/automagic/columnists/2000-04-09/OPEDreese09040900.html
4.09.00
20% of U.S. GDP (Gross Domestic Product or the total value of all goods and services produced
in the U.S.) is going to the government in taxes. That's the most at any time since 1944. At the
same time middle income families are paying a smaller percentage in federal taxes. Can we add
this to Clinton's "legacy?"
Supporters (like myself) of a flat tax have to fight an uphill battle where a minority pays a majority of the taxes.
"U.S. Tax Take at Post WWII High"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000408/aponline113519_000.htm
4.08.00
I'm sure other weblogs have found this story, but I discovered it yesterday. Steve Outing
wonders if media sites should publish weblogs. Sure! Go ahead. If they're good, I'll read them.
If they stink, then I'll forget them.
"Weblogs: From Underground to Mainstream":
http://www.mediainfo.com/ephome/news/newshtm/stop/st030800.htm
Anger is rising over giant corporations. The usually sane Jon Katz doesn't think individuals can co-exist with these companies. Is Katz being constantly pressured to conform, to buy Gap khakis, to drink Starbuck's coffee? The fact that Katz can rant about the evils of "corporatism" shows individuals can co-exist with big companies. Katz isn't alone. The Battle of Seattle and the upcoming protests in Washington, D.C. prove you can resist. Unfortunately, these protesters don't want to leave the corporations alone. These are the people in favor of antitrust attacks on successful companies, bans on genetically-improved crops, and trade restrictions. They're not in favor of real individualism. They're afraid of someone actually liking what big corporations offer. They're afraid of individual choices they don't approve.
"Foes of 'New Economy' Gaining Voice":
http://www.latimes.com/business/cutting/20000403/t000031134.html
4.07.00
The next Star Trek series will be set before the original series.
"Fifth 'Trek' May Boldly Go Where We've All Been Before":[via
Where's My Latte?]
http://www.space.com/spaceimagined/tv/fifth_trek_000405.html
The Fall 1999 issue of Cato Journal was devoted to Austrian Economics. That's the school of F.A. Hayek and Ludwig von Mises.
Cato Journal Fall 1999:
http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj19n2/cj19n2.html
4.06.00
Daniel Mitchell's piece for the Heritage Foundation on the Microsoft case is sooo good. I would
quote all of it, but then you wouldn't need to see it youself. Let me quote just this portion:
Microsoft's real mistake is its failure to play the Washington game. Unlike other companies, including many of the sore-loser companies that wanted Microsoft dragged into court, the software giant did not have a big Washington office filled with lobbyists.
It did not have a political action committee to buy off politicians. Instead, the company focused on serving consumers and creating wealth for their shareholders.
This created an opening for Microsoft's opponents. They twisted arms and distributed campaign checks in hopes of changing the rules of the game.
They succeeded, getting the Justice Department and 19 publicity-hungry state attorneys general to file suit against the company. In some sense, the actual facts of the case did not matter.
"Microsoft Ruling an Inept Stab at Industrial Policy":
http://www.heritage.org/views/2000/ed040500b.html
Amazon.com interviewed the conservative husband/wife team of David Frum and Danielle Crittenden. These Canadians have written recent books looking at American society. Frum wrote a history of the 1970s and Crittenden wrote about the "success" of the women's liberation movement.
"A Marriage of Ideas":
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/29064/103-9409068-6775066
4.05.00
Angus actually likes
Microsoft.
Microsoft isn't evil, hell, I like their software. Windows 2000 hasn't crashed once, not once. Netscape had the world in the palm of their hands and they threw it away at the first sign of trouble, cowards! Microsoft has done nothing wrong, and I wish them the best of luck in their coming legal battle.
It's obvious Angus must be in Bill Gates' pocket. No serious computer geek could possibly like Microsoft. ;-)
Another black eye on the War on Drugs.
"The Drug War Gravy Train":
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2000/03/31/magazines/print.html
I got done with work around midnight on Monday. I stopped at a Wal-Mart to get a new mouse. I also picked up The Phantom Menace and was up until 4am. While not as good as the first three movies, Lucus still made a great film.
More reason to not take celebrities seriously: Bill Clinton being interviewed by Leonardo DiCaprio. Do you think they were joking about seeing Kate Winslet naked?
"ABC's Eco-Leo ":
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56340-2000Mar31.html
Ramesh Ponnuru reviews Arianna Huffington's How To Overthrow the Government.
"Oh, Arianna!":
http://www.nationalreview.com/17apr00/ponnuru041700.html
4.03.00
WOIFM? is now free of the constraint of AOL. perpetualbeta.com is in the house!
WOIFM?:
http://perpetualbeta.com/weblog.html
Smith & Wesson's capitulation to government lawsuits is "pure tyranny" according to Charles Bloomer.
"Another Casualty of Tyranny":
http://www.enterstageright.com/0400sw.htm
Just because the Supreme Court said student university fees for controversial groups was ok, Scott Tibbs says it still isn't right.
"Theft is not Free Speech":
http://www.enterstageright.com/0400fees.htm
4.01.00
Although religion played a powerful role in social causes in the past, liberals disdain it.
Jonathan Zimmerman wonders why.
"The Liberal Debt to Religion": [via Neoflux]
http://www.nydailynews.com/2000-03-31/News_and_Views/Opinion/a-61806.asp
If you're lost in the woods after making a midnight run to the local convience store, and you need a fire, use the Fritos corn chips you bought.
"Hot stuff: Fritos light up the night": [via
Montana News Daily]
http://database.newswest.com/cgi-bin/T3CGI.exe/bdc/bdcNews.taf?function=detail&Local_uid1=23131
I'm tired of my mouse. I want that cool Microsoft one that's a real wimp (it's ball-less).
Sean Hackbarth
Writer/Bookseller
Allenton, WI
https://www.angelfire.com/wi/shackbar
shackbar@free-market.net
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