Without doubt, Gloucester and Hamilton are different by social and economic standards. Still, I don't enjoy the suggestion of cultural trends in the region. And I firmly believe that education would help prevent this increase in and desire for pregnancy. Oh, also, we could use a president who supports sex education based on science and common sense rather than religion and blind optimism.

Everyone drinks and drives — especially those guys who drive home after work. I’d love to give them a tattoo, right on their forehead — like one of those scarlet letters. I’d like to get them all out on a Saturday and have them stand on a corner with a sign: “I’m a drunk driver and I’d like to wash your car for free.” I wouldn’t mind taking them around to do errands for others on their block for free on weekends. Or maybe they have to wear a bright orange suit for a month everywhere they go! You know what I mean? The courts don’t do sh-t.

Sure, I could quickly agree that polices officers should be able to take such independent action against people whom they know are bad. Wait, right, how do they know, absolutely, that they are bad? I would be agreeing not only quickly but quite foolishly.

Also, to comment in the theme of Freakonomics, does any evidence exist, other than the officers' intution and experience, that such vigilante policing is a greater deterrent to crime than the judicial system is?

In closing, the article is quite interesting and touches upon problems and trends in the United States that I do not normally consider. I would love to hear your comments.

Brilliant. I honestly don't see how we, the Democratic Party, can lose the presidency. Unless Hillary somehow holds on in the nomination battle until Halloween. Or, unless the article is correct regarding Barr's possibility to steal young, anti-war voters from Obama. Seriously? Check out that photo—Barr looks like a crazy uncle! And he's Libertarian.

Can't we just give the presidency to Obama already?

First, a new stick figure slideshow cleverly and succinctly describes the Sub-Prime Mortgage Disaster in the United States. I found the explanation reminiscent of XKCD as well as a fitting accompaniment to Liar's Poker, which I read at the beginning of the year.

After Kottke posted his list of single serving sites, someone meta'd the topic and made a single serving site listing all other single serving sites. I particularly enjoy Beth Cherry, who maintains a single page blog with no archives or apparent feed to which to subscribe. This blog philosophy reminds me of my drawing professor senior year, who recommended keeping a sketchbook in which one glues down the page after completing each drawing (but admitted personally to tearing out and saving particularly good ones).

Finally, art imitates life. And let's hope life will imitate art come November.

The Guardian has a full discussion of the Santos-Obama story.

This song and video truly moved me. It's good to have hope for our country's future, political and otherwise. I'll be taking some time off tomorrow morning to hear Barack Obama speak at Key Arena a bit after noon.

Four days later, Fox announced that they would not be renewing the contract for Montel's show. In short, he appears to have been fired for standing up to Fox's poor journalistic ethics. Check out the coverage on Daily Kos.

Montel raises an interesting point regarding the lack of availability and relevancy to US citizens of information on casualties of the Iraq War. After some superficial searching, I identified iCasualties, which provides a wealth of information in an unfortunately bad interface. Alas, I cannot seem to answer Montel's question: what are the names of the US soldiers who died in Iraq today, if there were any. The site even has the names of those who died as recently as two days ago.

(Video link via Dan Phiffer)

I have had this post waiting in the wings for some time now. I keep trotting out this fantastical story to friends---it even came out at Thanksgiving. I figure the time is right to support my wild leporid tale with hard facts.

I first read of Karl Szmolinsky in an interview in Viceland. This champion breeder of giant rabbits outside of Berlin was informed by the North Korean embassy that Kim Jong Il was interested in Szmolinsky's humongous hares as a food source for the famine-stricken Hermit Kingdom. The good-natured and trusting man was happy, even proud, to support such a noble cause as feeding children. Regardless, the BBC profiled Szmolinsky soon after North Korea's request and labeled him a Communist, nostalgic for the old days before the Berlin Wall fell.

Szmolinsky sold 12 rabbits to the North Koreans, who sent the animals to a farm in Pyongyang. He also provided a book about breeding, feeding and raising them for maximum food production. Szmolinsky was optimistic for the program and understandably excited at the prospect of traveling to North Korea to further instruct in proper techniques.

The happy tale ends here. The disingenuous North Korean officials cut off all communication with Szmolinsky and their embassy in Berlin refused to speak to or see him. Plans for a local film feature were scrapped and the affable German became fearful for his rabbits' fate. He did not wait long for his fears to be confirmed: a London reporter returned to Europe with news for Szmolinsky. Kim Jong-il ate the rabbits as part of a special birthday feast.

In the interview in Viceland, Szmolinsky declares that "all politicians are bandits" and decries the now obvious scam. Regardless, he is negotiating with the Chinese government to broker a similar deal, trusting that country not to trick him similarly.

John Updike would likely counsel, "Rabbit, run!" What can I say? Only in Communist states do they take the Red pill and see how deep the rabbit-hole goes.