Ed Driscoll covers Tom Wolfe’s recent speech at San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre. Wolfe was introduced by Michael Lewis, author of the excellent Liar’s Poker and Moneyball among other interesting books. Wolfe spoke about his new book: I am Charlotte Simmons.
Daily Archives: November 22, 2004
Hubris
Josh Marshall on the congressional republican’s hubris:
This weekend Congress was working on a massive $388 billion omnibus spending bill that will cover all manner of federal spending. But at the request of Rep. Ernest Istook of Oklahoma, chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, a special provision was inserted into the bill which allows the Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees or their “agents” to review any American’s tax return with no restrictions whatsoever.
Made in USA
Paul Graham writes about things we Americans are good at and not so good at….
Americans are good at some things and bad at others. We’re good at making movies and software, and bad at making cars and cities. And I think we may be good at what we’re good at for the same reason we’re bad at what we’re bad at. We’re impatient. In America, if you want to do something, you don’t worry that it might come out badly, or upset delicate social balances, or that people might think you’re getting above yourself. If you want to do something, as Nike says, just do it.
This works well in some fields and badly in others. I suspect it works in movies and software because they’re both messy processes. “Systematic” is the last word I’d use to describe the way good programmers write software. Code is not something they assemble painstakingly after careful planning, like the pyramids. It’s something they plunge into, working fast and constantly changing their minds, like a charcoal sketch.
Graham makes some useful points.
Tokyo’s Underground Water System
Tokyo’s massive underground water system.
Kaki King
Liane Hansen interviews acoustic guitar queen Kaki King.