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6.21.2002 2:48 PM I will be away this weekend. My cousin is getting married in Iowa. Probably no posts until Sunday night. Have a good weekend. Sean Hackbarth | 2:42 PM Arafat will now accept Bill Clinton's peace proposal of a few years back. It's now a little late to be trying to turn back the clock when Arafat was the one who rejected the proposal in the first place. Should Israel take the bait? No. When Arafat first rejected the proposal he now accepts there weren't the endless attacks on Israeli citizens. Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and terrorists with Arafat's Fatah movement must be destroyed or they'll continue their massacres. Arafat has still not denouced these groups in a forceful way. Sure, every time there's a bombing, he comes out and says he condones terrorism, but he hasn't called Hamas, etc. enemies of the Palestinian people. By doing that along with a real crack down (with U.S. and Israeli help if necessary), then the peace process could be restarted. This Arafat statement sounds like that from a desparate man. Israel's military response must be working. "Arafat to Ha'aretz: I Accept Clinton's Plan; Peace is Possible" [via Best of the Web] Sean Hackbarth | 1:55 PM Could pro-cloners like Ronald Bailey and Virginia Postrel calm down with their calls for unrestricted embryonic stem cell (ESC) research and see where the science of adult stem cells is? If adult stem cells can do many of the things ESC can, then most, if not all, pro-lifers would drop their resistance. Then scientists could get on with finding cures to diseases they thought were only possible with ESC. "US Adult Stem Cell Findings Re-Ignite Debate Over Embryos" Sean Hackbarth | 2:45 AM Bob Greene's Once Upon a Town charmed me with its portrait of Americans who loved their country and their soldiers. It's a story of goodness, generosity, kindness, and patriotism. For almost five years the residents of North Platte, NE gave six million traveling soldiers a taste of home. Sandwiches were made, coffee brewed, candy donated, popcorn balls rolled, eggs boiled, chickens fried, and cakes baked just for passing troops spending ten minutes at the depot while their train was being loaded with coal. It wasn't just food that was offered: Songs were sung, peopled danced, hugs and kissed were exchanged. The soldiers couldn't believe or understand the generosity, but they welcomed it and never forgot it. Whether they were on the front lines in Europe or island-hopping in the Pacific, those soldiers looked back to North Platte as a common memory. For many, this train took them farther than ever from home. Many were young and lonely. The sight of women bearing baskets of fruit warmed their hearts. During a few of Green's interviews with veterans, the men had to stop because tears came to their eyes. The people of North Platte gave unconditional love to men they wouldn't see again. Those beautiful hearts brought up tears in veterans' eyes. The depot that hosted the canteen is gone; torn down in the 1970s. All that's left are railroad tracks and bums drinking booze. Could a town ever be that generous again? Since we're at war now, the question's quite pertinent. If there is crisis and we feel it around us, then Americans display the same generosity that was shown at North Platte. Americans gave freely to the many 9.11 victims funds. New Yorkers pulled together after the attack despite their brash reputation. If sacrifices are needed, Americans are willing to do their part. Since this is a different kind of war, huge displays of generosity like that of North Platte aren't happening. The economy hasn't been massively reorganized for the war effort. There has been no call for rationing, victory gardens, or buying war bonds. In fact, taxes have actually been cut with many in Washington pushing for them to be permanent. No one's been drafted. Unlike World War II the country isn't focused on fighting the war. There is a general sense of complacency. Deep down, we know we will win. Unlike the citizens of North Platte we're not in fear of invasion if we lose. President Bush even wants us to live as we normally would. We're at war even if it doesn't feel like it. North Platte isn't an aberration anymore than New York City post-9.11. Human nature hasn't changed between those times. If Americans feel threatened they'll pull together in ways that bring tears to people's eyes. American's save their goodness for when it's most needed. "North Platte's War Effort" Sean Hackbarth | 12:30 AM This quote from Professor Joseph Kunkel adds to my contention that Jesse Ventura hurt the prospects for a significant third party:
"Calling it Quits" Sean Hackbarth | 6.20.2002 2:36 AM Patrick has some good thoughts on weblogging as a business tool. Google's already doing it internally. He then made a quick thought that weblogs would be good for "information sharing in the hunt for terrorists." FBICIA.blogspot.com might have let lower level agents and analysts stumble on the 9.11 terrorists. What I find fascinating is many companies have been spending billions of dollars and huge amounts of man-hours developing software for employees to better communicate. Collaboration software is seen as a killer app. Heck, IBM bought Lotus a few years ago just for Notes. But big, sophisticated, expensive programs haven't made their mark. I'm sure there are plenty of businesses that use stuff like Notes to good effect. Then along comes weblogs and with them Blogger, Moveable Type, and Radio UserLand. These programs aren't huge, complex creations. They've been created by small teams to do a few simple things: allowing a user to edit text and upload it to a web site. The programs are allowed to do this because of Internet standards like HTML, TCP/IP, and FTP. While collaborative software systems attempt to integrate video conferencing, chat, calendaring, and other bells and whistles, weblogging software focuses on plain text. A user who only wants to type in their daily diary entry can do that, while tech heads who want streaming video or audio can integrate that into their own weblog. The result from these simple programs is an explosion of new, interesting voices commenting on everything. Now, we see weblogging move into the business setting. Could IBM be kicking itself for spending billions on Lotus? Sean Hackbarth | 6.19.2002 2:46 AM Guys, I'm thinking of putting my money where my mouth is. Since the Blogathon gang suggested a few too many Left-of-center charities (namely Planned Parenthood), I'll consider signing up if I can find a good charity and some sponsors. This is where I need your help: I'm looking for a charity that does good work effectively, but without the Leftist agenda. A charity that supports conservative/libertarian values is a plus, but a politically neutral one would be fine too. Please leave out the oodles of think tanks. Even though they're legally charities, they're blatantly political. Initially, I'm considering The Nature Conservancy. They're environmentalists, but they actually buy land to protect from owners instead of demanding government edicts. Consider it free market environmentalism. What would really be satisfying is some crisis pregnancy organization. I really want to balance the Planned Parenthood suggestion. After finding a deserving charity, I'll need sponsors. I'll be a complete sell out (within reason) and push other websites, offer blatant plugs to whoever the sponsor wants, even cheer for the Minnesota Vikings to win the Super Bowl. Oops, maybe not the last one, but you get the idea. If I find a charity and enough sponsors to make this worthwhile, I work on the logistics. I'm guessing that I have roughly two weeks to see what response I get in order to get time off of work and get mentally prepared to weblog for 24 hours. I'm willing to do it to raise money for a good cause and to inject a little real diversity into Blogathon. You can e-mail me, sign my guestbook, or leave a comment below. Sean Hackbarth | 2:02 AM Cuban dissidents get thousands of signatures demanding a vote on basic human rights--the Varela Project. Castro's response is to force millions to sign a petition calling for Communism to be "untouchable." An unnamed European diplomat said in a mealymouthed way, "No doubt people support the regime. You can't force nine million people to sign. We have to accept that." The diplomat obviously doesn't comprehend that Cubans were forced to sign Castro's petition. Maybe that person did know and just doesn't care. "Cuba Musters Support for Communism in Hard Times" Sean Hackbarth | 1:51 AM Again, I offer Arafat this suggestion: if he can't stop Hamas from bombing Israelis, then call for a joint U.S.-Israel-PA operation to destroy Hamas. Not only would much of the homicide bombing stop, but Arafat would be the one who a major risk to move toward peace. Sadly, this won't happen. Arafat sees his role as Palestine's most visible victim. Sympathy for him and the Palestinians is the source of his international standing. He has the Muslim world behind him with muted support from Europe. The U.S. looks like it will make a big push for Palestinian statehood. His biggest opponents are Sharon and Likud who will not back down to the ceaseless bombings. Another reason Arafat won't strike down Hamas is that too many Palestinians support Hamas' methods and their goal of destroying Israel. To fight Hamas would be to fight the people he supposedly represents. "Israel to Recapture Palestinian Land Over 'Terror'" Sean Hackbarth | 6.18.2002 2:08 PM Governor Jesse isn't running for re-election. He lays part of his decision on the media. [It's difficult] "do these public service jobs when you know that your family can be assassinated by the media at any point," Ventura told Minnesota Public Radio this morning. It's partly the media's fault that Jesse became the most colorful political character in U.S. politics in the past 50 years? It was partly the media that had Jesse appear on Leno and Letterman and do commentary for the XFL? Maybe Jesse's problems with the media could be summed up by his suggestion to talk radio host Jason Lewis to "stick it where the sun don't shine." I understand why Jesse did what he did: he's a man who loves the spotlight. He loves to entertain. His days as pro wrestler and commentator were entertainment. He starred in Predator--entertainment Hollywood-style. He entertained talk radio listeners with his blunt, straight talk. Then he ran for governor. His campaign ads featuring a action figure Jesse were the political talk of the nation. Compared to his staid Democratic and Republican rivals, Jesse was fun, exciting, and cool. He deftly combined the entertainment factor with some serious policy to win a three-way election. Then political reality set in. While having public support, Jesse faced a state legislature with one house controlled by Democrats and the other by Republicans. Tough to get anything done in that environment. This year's state budget battle features plenty of political posturing. Since neither major party has their guy in the governor's mansion, they don't look to the head of the state to break any impasse. Jesse may not think so, but he hurt independent chances to win major offices. Jesse is just so charismatic, so unpredictable, so entertaining. The difference between him and Dean Barkley, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate on the Reform/Independent ticket, is that Barkley is a boring car-wash owner. Jesse and Ross Perot got much of their support from people tired of plain old, vanilla politics. Both these men shook things up with their style and substance. If independent runs for office require more of an entertainment factor to succeed, it will eventually become a literal circus where Bozo the Clown runs on his painted face platform while Alec Baldwin threatens to leave the country unless he gets enough votes. "Ventura: 'I am not Seeking Reelection'" Sean Hackbarth | 2:16 AM Could the Blogathon people suggest non-Leftist charities to support? Planned Parenthood, Amnesty International, and Friends of the Earth don't inspire me to give. How about Habitat for Humanity or the Salvation Army? At least they're not suggesting donating to another 9.11 victims fund. Sean Hackbarth | 1:30 AM I've preferred the word "weblog" over "blog." The later just feels too grungy and grimey--probably because it rhymes with "grog." But blog may enter the Oxford English Dictionary. [via Blogdex] Sean Hackbarth | 6.17.2002 11:09 PM It made be over a week old, but Josh Chafetz's description of spontaneous order is outstanding and would make Hayek proud. Since he recommended a few readings, I'll suggest my own. To really appreciate Hayek's application of spontaneous order to economics, read "The Use of Knowledge in Society" found in Individualism and Economic Order. After reading it, you'll understand why central planning is folly. You'll also see that Hayek's thoughts on knowlege can be applied in many, many areas of social analysis. Sean Hackbarth | 10:57 PM Brock Yates sees that one big impediment to fuel cells is a rare element.
"Fuel Cell Follies" Sean Hackbarth | 10:48 PM John Burkett is a petty man. He doesn't realize that the All-Star Game isn't about baseball owners or players. It's tribute to the fans that pay for ballparks and salaries. "Burkett reiterates stance that he'll skip All-Star Game" Sean Hackbarth | 6.16.2002 11:36 PM Amazon.com has gone into the resturant menu business. They have scaned copied of menus from major American cities. Unfortunately for me, Milwaukee isn't on the list. This is a strange business strategy. The whole premise of Amazon.com is that it's an online store. I go to the site to buy books, music, DVD, bread makers, CD players, etc. I don't think of Amazon.com when I want to go out to eat and want to see the menu before hand. Amazon.com wants you to send take out orders through them, but it's much easier just to call the resturant (they provide the phone number with the menu). They aren't trying to cross promote other products while you're looking at a menu. This idea is too much like Microsoft's failed Sidewalk.com. Amazon.com is a store, sure an online store, but a store no less. They shouldn't lose sight of their focus and go into the city guide business. This feels like a 1995 dot-com idea. You know one of those Web-arrogant ones where if it can be done on the Web, it should be done. Sean Hackbarth | 11:27 PM All I got to see were the highlights on SportsCenter on the U.S. Open. That's all I needed to see to understand the greatness of Tiger Woods. He's won eight majors by his 26th birthday. Will he go on to win golf's first grand slam--not just 4 consecutive majors? I can't wait to find out if Tiger can pull it off. Even if he doesn't, I already consider him the greatest golfer ever. The man is so dominant, so skilled, and so calm under pressure. Mucho kudos to Tiger. Patrick's rooting for Phil Mickelson at the British Open, while I want to see continued dominance. "U.S. Open: Woods Secures Second Major of the Year" Sean Hackbarth | |
ABOUT When I'm not pondering the fate of the universe, I'm reading, writing, or selling books. Here you'll find comments on politics, culture, books, and music. Not necessarily in that order. MAILBOX sean--at--theamericanmind.com  Support democracy and human rights in Iraq! 
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