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.
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.
The Tyranny of Low Expectations
At one level, the debate is over current controversies in public education: Many parents believe that their children, mostly in elite schools, are being pushed too hard in a hypercompetitive atmosphere. But other parents are complaining about a decline in programs for gifted children, leaving students to languish in “untracked” and unstimulating classrooms. Some critics of education believe that boys especially are languishing in schools that emphasize cooperation instead of competition. No Child Left Behind, indeed.
But the basic issue is the same one raised four decades ago by Kurt Vonnegut in “Harrison Bergeron,” a short story set in the America of 2081, about a 14-year-old genius and star athlete. To keep others from feeling inferior, the Handicapper General weighs him down with 300-pound weights and makes him wear earphones that blast noise, so he cannot take “unfair advantage” of his brain.
That’s hardly the America of 2004, but today’s children do grow up with soccer leagues and spelling bees where everyone gets a prize. On some playgrounds dodge ball is deemed too traumatic to the dodging-impaired. Some parents consider musical chairs dangerously exclusionary.
Fascinating article….
A Night on State Street & The Madison Symphony
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Dinner at LuLu’s, the Madison Symphony at the Overture and a walk around the Square.
Shoppers get Savvy: 40% of consumers shop Online
They do plenty of buying in stores, but before they go, they check the family’s Christmas Web site, log in with a password and look at wish lists from their far-flung relatives.
When the Wildermans are ready to buy, they’ll be able to use retail Web sites and shopping portals such as www.pricegrabber.com or www.shopping.com to check prices. And they might look to their own in-box to find special offers from e-commerce sites where they’ve shopped in the past.
“I think the person who is into online shopping is addicted now,” said Lauren Freedman, president of the E-tailing Group consulting firm in Chicago. “The customer has become savvier.”
Begs the question: 40% (and growing) shop online, why do retailers spend so little on internet advertising (compared to legacy ad spending)?
Bowl Bound Badgers……
Less than two hours after the Badgers drubbing at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Wisconsin Alumni Association sent this email promoting bowl packages.
The football Badgers just finished a first-class season!
And while a bowl destination is still up in the air, one thing’s for sure: the Wisconsin Alumni Association will take you there!
As the UW’s official tour carrier, only the Wisconsin Alumni Association can promise:…….
Tax by the Mile
Robert Salladay on the California DMV’s plans to replace the gas tax with a mileage tax based on miles driven:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday appointed a new Department of Motor Vehicles director who has advocated taxing motorists for every mile they drive ? by placing tracking devices in their cars.
The idea would mean a significant overhaul of how California collects taxes to maintain its often-crumbling roads. Under the plan, the state gas tax ? now 18 cents a gallon ? would be replaced with a tax on every mile traveled by each car and truck.
Interesting privacy issues here…