Peter Harkness on eminent domain

CQ Weekly: "Why exactly Congress needs to pre-empt the states and localities on a land use issue, beyond bagging a quick political trophy, is unclear, especially when the trend in the legislatures is so pronounced. But it has, which will only further inhibit any thoughtful debate on the issue."

I really agree with this perspective on eminent domain. It's fairly nuanced, and I feel like I've been challenged to think more about the role of the state in taking private property over the last 6 months. It IS interesting to watch Congress take the initiative to prevent states from using eminent domain.

Gimme an Rx! Cheerleaders Pep Up Drug Sales - New York Times

Gimme an Rx! Cheerleaders Pep Up Drug Sales - New York Times: "'The cheerleaders now are the top people in universities; these are really capable and high-profile people,' said Gregory C. Webb, who is also a principal in a company that runs cheerleading camps and employs former cheerleaders. He started Spirited Sales Leaders about 18 months ago because so many cheerleaders were going into drug sales."

One can find removed joy and humor in the bizarreness of our world, or one can cry one's eyes out (or medicate).

TPMCafe || A Political Thanksgiving

TPMCafe || A Political Thanksgiving: "We are to the point where a former CIA director publicly calls our Vice President a Vice President for Torture, and where the Washington Post calls our current CIA director a Director for Torture, and yet we cannot get a bill through Congress that would return to our half-century tradition of complying with the Geneva Conventions and extending the obligation not to engage in torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment to the CIA."

I'm blogging this post that is written by Anne-Marie Slaughter, the dean here at the Wilson School. I'm posting it because I think that it kind of perfectly captures the political, center-left feel of the school as a whole. Some of the comments are right on, but then you see things like the pat on the back for Lindsey Graham and Condi, and you sort of wonder whether the dean could have found better ways to be bipartisan and accomodating to the only (if you can believe it, relatively less extreme) right... I woke up last week (maybe 2 weeks ago?) to Senator Graham on the clock radio railing about how the Guantanamo evil American-hating terrorists don't deserve any rights. You definitely could read in the comments that he felt any mistreatment was fine, probably deserved and who cares if it weren't -- made for the beginnings of a rough day.

The comments that follow are pretty good though. It's just a reminder of where political discourse is in the U.S. these days and what constitutes a challenge to the status quo.

From WBEZ in Chicago | This American Life

From WBEZ in Chicago | This American Life

If you've never listened to This American Life or haven't in a while, you should visit and spend some time with RealAudio here. It's really a great radio show.

I found Episode 298 which is basically all about consumption particularly enjoyable. The prologue is quite funny, the first act is depressing but really interesting, and act two has that sort of "oh yeah" moment when someone articulates a phenomenon that most of us have undergone. Listening requires a fair amount of focus, but one can fold laundry or knit and still follow.

WSJ.com - The New White Flight

WSJ.com - The New White Flight: "Whites aren't quitting the schools because the schools are failing academically. Quite the contrary: Many white parents say they're leaving because the schools are too academically driven and too narrowly invested in subjects such as math and science at the expense of liberal arts and extracurriculars like sports and other personal interests.
The two schools, put another way that parents rarely articulate so bluntly, are too Asian."

This article is a bit painful to read, and it's a bit astonishing that white people are willing to go on the record and say that they're moving out or changing their kids' schools because there's too many Asians in their current schoool.

Anyhow, thanks Angry Asian Man for the link.

I can't write more right now, back to my paper on legislative decision-making (so boring).

On a completely random note, I saw John Leguizamo in New York yesterday.

music

I've been buying tons of music lately, more in the past year than the previous 4 or 5 years combined I'd say, and while some of it is superb, it doesn't last in terms of the satisfaction.

Who are the artists that have always inspired you and continue to every time you listen? I'm up for any genre, any time period. Any suggestions are welcome.

Star Wars - Did Michelin lower the bar for New York? By Mike�Steinberger

Star Wars - Did Michelin lower the bar for New York? By Mike Steinberger: "Alain Ducasse, Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, and Per Se"

blah blah blah. But anyway, these are the 4 restaurants who got the 3 michelin stars. I thought this would have gotten more news coverage. Not that it needed it, but there was all this pre-release hype. No bang upon release?

Ggreg.com - Queer SF Bohemia

Ggreg.com - Queer SF Bohemia: "Saturday only, brings Sing-Along Truth or Dare. Madonna's navel gazing documentary is a dated treasure, and god only knows you know the words to every song in the movie, whether you admit to it or not. "

The fact that this kind of thing happens in SF is why I miss the city so much. It's not even that I'd ever drag myself to something like this at midnight -- it's the fact that I could.

Also, check out Ggreg's post on Brundibar which involves "A libretto adapted by Kushner with costumes by the creator of Where the Wild Things Are."

AP Wire | 11/09/2005 | NRA sues to overturn San Francisco gun ban

AP Wire | 11/09/2005 | NRA sues to overturn San Francisco gun ban: "SAN FRANCISCO - The National Rifle Association sued Wednesday to overturn an ordinance voters here overwhelmingly approved a day earlier that bans handgun possession and sales of firearms in the city."

This is interesting -- sometimes the local ballot measures are sort of crazy, but I think that this makes some practical sense. I do wonder if it will hold up in court though.

MISRA

MISRA

Salon's Audiofile today is featuring the new album by The Mendoza Line. They are a fabulous group! They were one of my discoveries at Green Apple Books which has sort of moved me down my current quasi-indie rock trajectory.

The link goes to the MISRA label's section on Mendoza Line, and there are many free downloads on the page including two from the new album and four from Fortune. Go get them!

Also, they're playing in NY:
Nov 26 Brooklyn NY Sound Fix Records Instore (free, 4PM, cd release party)
Dec 2 New York NY Knitting Factory

I will probably be spending quality time with Don while he's in town on 11/26 but might get us over to Brooklyn if he's feeling it. Anyone want to go to the concert on 12/2 with me?

Energy Fiend � Death by Caffeine

Energy Fiend � Death by Caffeine

This website is great!

It lets you know your limits.

For my diet coke consumption, here is what it tells me:

"After 288.17 cans of Diet Coke, you'd be pushing up daisies."

Tailored to my weight no less. Excellent!

MenKnit Magazine

MenKnit Magazine

The Lover Tank utilizes the "English Mesh Lace Pattern." Most excellent.

I'm trying to relearn a basic knit again. Wish me luck on my next scarf.