On October 7, 2006, Alex Roy set out from the Classic Car Club on Hudson Street in New York City. His self-assigned mission: Beat the record for a cross-country drive to Los Angeles. That record, set in 1983, is 32 hours and 7 minutes. To achieve his goal, Roy and his copilot, Dave Maher, would… Continue reading The Route Coast to Coast
A Nation of Christians Is Not a Christian Nation
The only acknowledgment of religion in the original Constitution is a utilitarian one: the document is dated “in the year of our Lord 1787.” Even the religion clause of the First Amendment is framed dryly and without reference to any particular faith. The Connecticut ratifying convention debated rewriting the preamble to take note of God’s… Continue reading A Nation of Christians Is Not a Christian Nation
Conservatives Are Such Jokers
What’s happening, presumably, is that modern movement conservatism attracts a certain personality type. If you identify with the downtrodden, even a little, you don’t belong. If you think ridicule is an appropriate response to other peoples’ woes, you fit right in. From Conservatives Are Such Jokers – New York Times Great quote from Krugman. Bush… Continue reading Conservatives Are Such Jokers
Republicans Grow Skeptical On Free Trade
By a nearly two-to-one margin, Republican voters believe free trade is bad for the U.S. economy, a shift in opinion that mirrors Democratic views and suggests trade deals could face high hurdles under a new president. From Republicans Grow Skeptical On Free Trade – WSJ.com File this under WTF. Three things come to mind: Opinions… Continue reading Republicans Grow Skeptical On Free Trade
When the Fed says X, they really mean Y
The Fed typically convenes every month to discuss interest rates. It is not only the action (whether rates are raised, lowered, or held constant), but also the accompanying “statement” which is of interest to investors and analysts. In its statement, the Fed may signal both its motivation for the current policy decision as well as… Continue reading When the Fed says X, they really mean Y
Religious right may blackball Giuliani
A powerful group of conservative Christian leaders decided Saturday at a private meeting in Salt Lake City to consider supporting a third-party candidate for president if a pro-choice nominee like Rudy Giuliani wins the Republican nomination. From Religious right may blackball Giuliani, by Michael Scherer | Salon News I don’t think the Texas Taliban is… Continue reading Religious right may blackball Giuliani
Off-Peak Discounts May Be Part of M.T.A. Fare Increase
Under this proposal, a person who buys a pay-per-ride MetroCard would be charged $2 to ride the subway or bus during the morning and evening peak periods. Travel during off-peak periods, including midday, would cost $1.50. Off-Peak Discounts May Be Part of M.T.A. Fare Increase – City Room – Metro – New York Times Blog… Continue reading Off-Peak Discounts May Be Part of M.T.A. Fare Increase
Hired Gun Fetish
the so-called private security contractors are mercenaries. They’re heavily armed. They carry out military missions, but they’re private employees who don’t answer to military discipline. On the other hand, they don’t seem to be accountable to Iraqi or U.S. law, either. And they behave accordingly. From Hired Gun Fetish – New York Times Krugman describes… Continue reading Hired Gun Fetish
one billion dollars
Less than a month before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein signaled that he was willing to go into exile as long as he could take with him $1 billion and information on weapons of mass destruction, according to a report of a Feb. 22, 2003, meeting between President Bush and his Spanish counterpart… Continue reading one billion dollars
Spain Opens the Books on Bush?
But it seems someone in the Spanish government has leaked to El Pais transcripts of conversations between President Bush and then Spanish Prime Minister Aznar just before the outbreak of the Iraq War. The gist seems to be that Bush was rather candid about the fact that the efforts to find a peaceful solution to… Continue reading Spain Opens the Books on Bush?