Do you see what they've done to this man? He is as innovative, accomplished and powerful a guitarist as rock music has chewed up and spat out. It's truly the Devil's music.

It's about time a city took a stand like this.

The Republicans as we know them are doomed! Doomed, I tell you!

As a follow-up to the last JE, this interesting article from the Economist.

I guess I'm with the conventional wisdom this time...

I look at it like a bear market - it's a chance to clean house, establish a better defensive position, and look for opportunities.

I'm looking for a new set of computer speakers with the following minimum feature set:

• 5.1 surround
• Wireless rear speakers
• digital optical input
• Doesn't look silly.

I'm leaning toward the Logitech Z-5450, if for no other reason that I've had a generally good experience with their products. If anyone knows what the full product space is, I'd be interested.

Point of Inquiry. Fearless and rational secularism. Their list of interviewees is off the A list - Sam Harris, Dan Dennett, Ann Druyan, Joe Nickell, and on and on. Their host DJ Grothe often plays devil's advocate and asks the tough questions.

Also, this podcast wastes no time on banter or weak humor. Although I must admit a certain affection for this at times, podcasts like Skepticality could shave off 20 minutes with little or no loss of content.

I always thought New Zealand was happy little democracy, but this article states otherwise.

R.I.P. Boz. Although he was arguably the least talented musician to ever play live in King Crimson, this is only because the other guys were so stellar. He was either very brave or delusional to step into that role, but he did allright considering. Later he went on to the mainstream and the big bucks with Bad Company.

He is the first former Crim to cash in his chips.

The latest Macarthur Genius Grants have been announced.

I found this podcast interview with Ryan Sager depressing, but it rings true. The G.O.P. camp is pretty much a clusterfuck right now. The only good news is that the left is also bent on self destruction.

Liberal chicks are also hot (and not just fictional ones like Jan), but damn! Adorable or not, I think she's probably on the wrong side on this one.

Arbitrarily chosen cool web page.

Also been reading this blog lately. A different take on current events and other things as well.

Latest book for me: Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Highly recommended for the most part. It's how human history and the great gulf between haves and have nots has come about. This is not that dissimilar to Robert Wright's Non-Zero in its take on human history, although with much more depth on the key innovations of the last 11,000 years, and the key role of infectious disease. Also, I did not really appreciate the degree to which the indigenous population of the Americas had been largely wiped out by disease after the first European explorers arrived.

I'm digging a new CD by guys who are all still alive: Eight Armed Monkey by KTU. Side Two by Adrian Belew is quite good, and I've also been listening to Zappa's Burnt Weenie Sandwich.

At least be an articulate demagogue. Not like this.

OK, are you folks ready to vote Libertarian, finally?

Was I wrong? Maybe. Perhaps my terrible debacle in last March's NCAA brackets was a sign - I have cracked my crystal ball, if not completely shattered it.

Then again - Nashville?

More here.