Author: Simon

From Watts Up With That?: The wind power industry is predicting massive layoffs and stalled or abandoned projects after a deal to renew a tax credit failed Thursday in Washington. Unlike so many I do like seeing wind turbines on the landscape. I see them as giant mobile sculptures. But they were not sold to…

Neo-Neocon is discussing the state of man/woman relationships in America. Quite a few commenters blame the communists and particularly the Frankfort School although other chief culprits in that vein are mentioned. And they do have a point. Up to a point. What they are missing is this: what is the ground in which these ideas…

We have a lot of libertarian friends around here and for that I’m very grateful. But that gets me into arguments all the time about the proper role of the American Military in the world. I was reading Gerard Vanderleun and he used a phrase that I think will clarify my position. Prison rules Or…

They don’t make music like this anymore. I just love Grace doing rock with a cool jazz sensibility. And the drumming? Exquisite.

The latest Ulsterman discusses money laundering by the Obama machine. If you are new to the issue keep reading. It starts to get clear near the end of the piece. My money is on the drug cartels, among others.

We hear so much these days about the problems with American education. Take this comment about the relative states of South Korean and American education. The South Koreans are educating more scientists and engineers per capita. It has been obvious since the launching of Sputnik that science and technology are the keys to national wealth.…

Jeff Id at The Air Vent is discussing his politics and how it can contaminate his objectivity. And he waxes philosophical about the human need for challenge and how it shapes his political views. The post is not very long but it is very deep. Jeff looks at how the desire by some for greater…

I promised Joshua of Post Libertarian almost a month ago that I would post this. As you can tell I’m rather far behind. You have no idea the complications you can run into in a circuit with less than 20 parts. Magnetic components will do that to you. In any case here are Joshua’s views:…

I believe I have posted this song before. I’m doing it again because I really like the visuals in this version. And my thanks to Sarah for my promotion to music editor at CV. Heh.

In response to Eric’s post about winning elections commenter Richard had this to say (among other things): I am an conservative, not a Republican. If the Republicans advance the cause, I am with them. If not, I am not. America can probably survive another 4 years of a socialist government. To which I responded: Richard,…

I wrote a short piece on Sustainability for ECN Magazine. Here is a reply I gave to someone who sent me an e-mail on the subject: Nothing is sustainable in the long run. I believe that is why there is so much of it in the universe.

It looks like the Iranians are having no more luck fighting the culture wars than American Conservatives are having fighting theirs. When American businesswoman Ruth Handler first launched Barbie back in 1959, she probably didn’t expect the dolls to become as controversial as they are popular. In an apparent effort to shut out Western culture,…

Commenter Filbert left this link in a comment. From it I gleaned this interesting tit (British English) bit. This is in reference to the so called anti-piracy bill and how Hollywood feels about being dropped like a hot potatoe (Dan Quail spelling). Several moguls, in response, ”sent back word saying ‘Fuck You’ basically,” one insider…

“There ought to be a law” – the rallying cry of statists everywhere.

Eric has written a wonderful post on liberty. I’d like to quote the heart of the piece and then add a few words of my own. …if there is one lesson I have learned from freedom, it’s that there are risks and downsides, and you have to take the good and the bad. Economies do…

The Other McCain at The American Spectator is worried about the future of the Republican Party. Why? Ron Paul. There are many mysteries to the phenomenon that is Ron Paul. How is it, for example, that a 76-year-old with a reedy voice – his appearance and manner not remotely “presidential” by the usual standards of…

It is not as large as it once was. And we have Congress to blame. When Congress passed the first copyright law in 1790, the copyright term lasted for 14 years, with the option to renew for another 14 years if the copyright holder was still living. Before 1978, the copyright term was still 28…

Watch Importance of the First Congress on PBS. See more from Ken Burns.

Commenter Frank gave me a heads up on this delightful piece. You can listen to Raphael Orozco doing the piece at YouTube – Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Update: The Rachmaninoff piece on YouTube was mislabeled. I have corrected that. Frank in the comments has the correct link to Rachmaninoff playing the piece.

“Conservative” = favors big government but is against abortion. “Liberal” = favors big government but is for abortion. “Libertarian” = common criminal (probably a communist and a homosexual too) who just wants government to leave him and everyone else alone