Haven't done one of these in a little bit, and the schedule's going to be kind of hectic for the next few days between traveling to and from Aspen and trying to attend/cover the Ideas Festival but what are you guys interested in?
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Requests Thread
29 Jun 2008 06:35 pm
Comments (62)
I want to know why the signed copy of "Heads in the Sands" purchased at the Strand bookstore was 25% of the list price? Does the Yglesias signature decrease the value of the book?
I want to know why the signed copy of "Heads in the Sands" purchased at the Strand bookstore was 25% of the list price? Does the Yglesias signature decrease the value of the book?
I want to know why the signed copy of "Heads in the Sands" purchased at the Strand bookstore was 25% of the list price? Does the Yglesias signature decrease the value of the book?
Posted by David | June 29, 2008 6:48 PM
Posted by David | June 29, 2008 6:49 PM
Posted by David | June 29, 2008 6:49 PM
I know what my request is...
Had to triple post to greater emphasize my post
A follow-up to this post regarding the bike racks at your building. What has been the result of the managment's actions?
Are you as excited as I am about Hellboy 2: The Golden Army? If not why not.
Chicago: overgrown small town or world city?
Get anything good to eat or drink (not counting the thoroughly obnoxious Taste of Chicago which I'm sorry it was your misfortune to be here during)?
Tell us how liberalism went from supporting individual liberty and responsibility to pimping bolshevist collectivism.
1. Spend a couple days working on a post about this announcement concerning the Dem convention. Really: take your time, don't try to write a whole post in 10 seconds as seems to be the case. And, just as importantly, ask people outside the cocoon what they think. Accurately represent their concerns, and try to provide a counterargument (if any). Then, before posting, double and triple check the post to make sure you haven't engaged in any LogicalFallacies. I realize that sounds like a lot of work, but I'm just trying to help.
2. On a lighter note, should we impose a 250% tariff on ImportedCanadianEntertainmentProducts?
I saw that you responded to Richard Steven Hack's questions; on a related note, I wonder what you think is "up" with commentors such as Hack, Don Williams and chris ford. (I left this purposely vague so that you can respond to these guys' oeuvre however you see fit.)
TLB, I have a request for you:
Why are conservatives--who are in general pro-religion, pro-family, and pro-traditional values--so damn anti-Mexican, when Latino immigrants are the ONLY significant social group trending in these directions?
Spend a couple days working on a post about this announcement concerning the Dem convention.
There's no need for Matt to spend a couple of days working on a post about the DNC's sensible decision to do a Spanish-language simulcast. All you need to know is Democrats know how to count and Republicans, inexplicably (but thankfully!) no longer do.
If you're really asking I'll be serious. How about 'Behavioral Economics'. I hear Obama is totally into Behavioral Economics'. I don't know anything about 'Behavioral Economics'. But I found this article from the NYR earlier this month to be totally fascinating:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21491
How about Obama at the University of Chicago - Home of Milton Friedman and Leo Strauss. Obama's time as a Law Professor in that particular intellectual environment. Perhaps its no big deal. Is there any irony there at all? Is there anything there at all?
If you're really asking I'll be serious. How about 'Behavioral Economics'. I hear Obama is totally into Behavioral Economics'. I don't know anything about 'Behavioral Economics'. But I found this article from the NYR earlier this month to be totally fascinating:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21491
How about Obama at the University of Chicago - Home of Milton Friedman and Leo Strauss. Obama's time as a Law Professor in that particular intellectual environment. Perhaps its no big deal. Is there any irony there at all? Is there anything there at all?
"I wonder what you think is "up" with commentors such as Hack"
What do you think is up?
Matt's already called me a "troll" - which is to laugh.
Meanwhile, Matt, I saw "Wanted" last night. Great flick. Angelina as usual is awesome. The movie is insane.
Go see it. Report on it, please.
Meanwhile, FIX THE GODDAMN ATLANTIC SERVER!
TLB: You forgot to tell Matt to double and triple check his post so he doesn't make his usual stupid typos and grammatical gaffes.
The 'Chicago-ness' of Barack Obama. Has there ever been a President from Chicago before? Does 'Chicago' bring something to the national stage in the same way as say being a white man from the south, or liberal from the northeast etc. does?
I don't why it posts twice like that. The first time I tried I got an 'internal service error'.
You haven't blogged much (if at all) about women's sports, but I was wondering if you had an opinion and/or perspective on the decision of Becky Hammond to play in the 2008 Olympics for Russia?
Matt:
Since Aspen Ideas is sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton, can you please comment on Carlyle Group's recent acquisition of the Government portion of Booz Allen's business? Your thoughts on the Complex?
Manan
I have a request. Come out to Portland, talk about your book at Powell's books, talk transportation policy (bikes and light rail), and frankly why Portland rocks!
Could you maybe tell us whether, though you were opposed to the DC gun ban, you acknowledge the frankly horrific history of gun violence in the DC area?
Western Sahara: what the heck?
I'd like to know what your thoughts are on the national debt: what the long-term consequences of it are, whether you see it going down in the future (if at all), and how you think we can pay it down.
I'd like to know what your thoughts are on the national debt: what the long-term consequences of it are, whether you see it going down in the future (if at all), and how you think we can pay it down.
MattY, I have yet another request for you: analyze scythia's request to me, pointing out how it's wrong. Look at it word-by-word as I would do, don't rush it or be sloppy as you're prone to do. How is scythia wrong? What is scythia forgetting? (Just don't do too good a job at it, since I prefer to be one of the few commenters who really looks into things in that way and I don't need to competition.)
Also, and on a lighter note, I have another request for you.
Contact a local group (like totalclimbing.com) and tell them you want someone to "guide" you up a local 14er. I.e., you want them to take you on a hike not a climb, you just want them to make sure you don't get sick. I know they have some that are even easier than this one in CA, but with a guide you can totally push it to the max.
Have you seen the documentary A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash? If so, I'd be interested to read your thoughts. I enjoy the blog though this is the first time I've been motivated enough to venture into the comments section.
In the movie WALL-E do the actors who appeared in Hello Dolly get repaid scale for this feature film? Specifically Michael Crawford and Marianne McAndrew?
Maybe based on your chicago trip you could write about the city's parks?
How the only person who is as bitter as Bill Clinton at Hillary's loss, and as unable to let go of it, is Maureen Dowd.
Weird. It's like those people who crave and can't stop gorging on food they're allergic to.
Every article about the increased ridership of mass transit due to fuel prices talks about how difficult it is for transit systems to add capacity because of how long it takes to get new buses and train cars, 2 plus years. Why should it take that so much longer as compared to manufactuing new cars? Do we need a "fuel crisis" conversion plan where GM stops making Hummers and starts making buses?
I'll request a thread on why, considering the emphasis on gaining as large a Senate majority as possible, more governors aren't being talked up as VP prospect. Govs & former govs like Ritter, Culver, Schweitzer, Vilsack and Doyle among others. Obama has said he doesn't necessarily think he needs foreign policy experience on the ticket and some of these guys could help in crucial geographical areas. (I'm not ignoring Napolitano & Sebelius out of worry of Clinton supporters--I think Sebelius is the only dem who can take a Kansas senate seat when Brownback retires in 2010, so we need her there. Napolitano, well lets face it, having a woman on the ticket requires breaking two glass ceilings. And as a woman, I don't think the country is ready to go there.
Since everyone seems to agree that the wives of the candidates are fair game in the political arena, that they say something about the judgment and character of the candidate himself, I am wondering about McCain's first wife. Who is she? Why did they get divorced? What does this say about McCain's judgment? What does she think about her ex-husband's Presidential bid? Perhaps you could compare and contrast McCain's two wives? It's not something that I've seen anywhere else.
I request that in future request threads you choose my request to answer.
Your thoughts on Michael O'hanlon's enthusiasm on Obama's new Iraq thinking...http://www.thenation.com/blogs/dreyfuss/333240
You seem to be perpetually at odds with O'hanlon (for good reason). It's a bit worrisome that he is excited by the apparent new thinking Obama is holding vis a vis Iraq.
Thoughts?
The music er Hawkwind rated on a scale er 1-10, with 1 bein havin yer home rebuilt by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and 10 being a fresh wind, a fleet ship, and a target vessel full er booty (in all senses er the term) wallowin unawares on the horizon.
I'd request a post on Iran, in particular the weakness of the case for threatening/talking tough to Iran. It's just common sense that we have nuclear weapons, so what right do we have to threaten another country if they try to develop nuclear weapons? What's the moral justification, other than "because I say so"?
Many prominent bloggers, including yourself, have recently published books. There's Andrew's Conservative Soul book, your Heads in the Sand book, Ross and Reihan's Grand New Party.
My question is where do you see these books fitting into the cultural discussion five years from now? Ten years from now? Still relevant or remainder bin?
We can always use an Iran post.
1) There is always the issue of "nuclear capable". The line the US draws is that Iran must not only not have a nuclear weapon, but must not have the knowledge necessary to build a weapon. This is the idea behind the demand that Iran stop enrichment during talks aimed at Iran accepting a permanent enrichment ban.
To draw the line at "knowledge" instead of where the NPT does at "manufacture" has all kinds of ramifications that can be examined.
2) Then there is the connection between this US position and Israel, which I've seen spelled out directly in a mainstream western media outlet for the first time today:
"Iran may be a tougher policy nut to crack than North Korea for two reasons: oil and Israel," said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "We have less economic leverage over Iran, yet we're less tolerant of their nuclear prowess given their hostility toward Israel. You can enrich uranium and you can call for Israel's demise, but you can't do both at the same time."
3) And lastly, every Seymour Hersh New Yorker article on the Middle East automatically deserves wide discussion. The latest, on the large spike in US funding for covert anti-Iranian activities maybe even more so.
While the article focuses on Bush' usurping power from Congress by blurring the line between intelligence and military activities, the use of funds to sponsor non-conventional warfare on Iranian territory also seems very interesting, and may have far reaching effects of its own.
In recent months, according to the Iranian media, there has been a surge in violence in Iran; it is impossible at this early stage, however, to credit JSOC or C.I.A. activities, or to assess their impact on the Iranian leadership. The Iranian press reports are being carefully monitored by retired Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner, who has taught strategy at the National War College and now conducts war games centered on Iran for the federal government, think tanks, and universities. The Iranian press “is very open in describing the killings going on inside the country,” Gardiner said. It is, he said, “a controlled press, which makes it more important that it publishes these things. We begin to see inside the government.” He added, “Hardly a day goes by now we don’t see a clash somewhere. There were three or four incidents over a recent weekend, and the Iranians are even naming the Revolutionary Guard officers who have been killed.”
Have you mentioned the Hamas cease-fire?
How come Andrew hangs out over at Marc's office but not at yours?
Seven male bloggers and one female: you guys are like a Math Department.
Second a review by Matt of the Sy Hersh piece.
It's pretty clear from that article that what the US is doing is funding terrorist groups to kill Iranian civilians while not having a snowball's chance in hell of destabilizing the Iranian government with those groups.
This makes the US functionally equivalent to Al Qaeda (not that we weren't before.)
Lampwick: Another good question would be: who hangs out at McMegan's cubicle (do these people actually have offices or just cubicles would be another)?
I'd be interested in seeing you explain your consistent praise of Bloomberg's mayorship of NYC on technocratic ground while ignoring the fact that he's pretty hostile to free speech.
I'm just generally amazed at the fact that people tend to consider Bloomberg as a non-partisan, centrist, etc. while ignoring the fact that he suspended habeus corpus in order to jail people for protesting the Republican National Convention. As someone who is pretty smitten with him as a leader, how do you feel about his hostility to political opposition - to the point of undermining the basics of American Jurisprudence?
What's with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's orange head?
Also:
I second the need for commentary on the Sy Hersh article.
But would not mind your thoughts on the recent purge undertaken at Haaretz--Israel's paper of note--of troubling political viewpoints (i.e.sympathetic reporting on Palestinians and honest viewpoints on Israel).
In the past you have spoken favorably of the streamlining of papers(not on political lines but for financial reasons--which is, to an extent, going on here)
And I would like to see your voice on this: The internet is not capable of filling the vacuum on this one. There is no silver lining, if the paper sanitizes itself on honest reporting of its own country, where do we turn? And is this not a grave sign if Israeli editorial policy is going to resemble American newspapers on its own issues--where it has been light years ahead of the former?
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214492516011&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Light years ahead of the latter, that is.
1. Agree with this post - And lastly, every Seymour Hersh New Yorker article on the Middle East automatically deserves wide discussion. The latest, on the large spike in US funding for covert anti-Iranian activities maybe even more so.
2. Partisan camps are still locked in fixation on Iraq, terrorist rights, tax cuts, Global Warming - when events have overtaken them. A doubling of oil may trigger a deep global recession and America facing a broad economic crisis on several fronts - failure of goverment to fix major issues for 30 years are coming to a head. Global warming and Iraq will be backburnered to medium significant issues that can be addressed with less urgency than the global economic crisis now beginning American paralysis had a big contributory factor in creating:
Voters will vote mainly which side has the best energy plan, which side has the best plan to make America competitive, and which side is best to make fiscally sound again.
3. To that end, on energy and finances, what solutions do MY commentors and MY himself see solutions:
stuff like:
a. Drill everywhere ASAP?
b. 4-day, 10 hour workweeks. 55 mph speed limit imposed?
c. National Emergency declared with energy allocated for farmers and food first?
d. A top to bottom strategic audit of government with waste and duplication cut immediately?
e. Mandatory 10% reduction in social welfare spending, entitlements. Drop of 10% in jobs in gov't an audit deems "non-essential"?
4. If this rapidly deepening crisis requires a change in VP selection "attributes" like hates abortion/loves sweet baby Jesus; been in the Senate so long he become foreign policy experienced and an expert just on inertia, or "not really bright, but likeable and fills an identity politics slot. (The Hagle, Richardson, lindsay Graham bit).
Instead, what is the possibility the new criteria will be VP capable of doing the Prez's job if need be, and a person who has performed brilliantly, on crisis-riddled economic matters. (Bloomberg, Corzine,Bayh ) or (Romney, Haley Barbour )
Iran for me too, please.
Here's a supplemental: If Dubya decides to go in Iran before Jan. 20, 2009, is there anyone in Washington who can stop him, since even the Joint Chiefs have trouble restraining him?
This whole mess starts to look a bit too clancy-esque for my liking... and there is no Jack Ryan.
a. Drill everywhere ASAP?
Without a coherent plan to build a post-petroleum infrastructure I think it makes zero sense to take crude out of the ground at sub-market rates.
I don't know why you would know anything about this, but I was wondering if you could do a quick post about the impacts of San Francisco's "Healthy San Francisco" universal healthcare program. How have local businesses been impacted? Is it a model that could work elsewhere?
I don't know why you would know anything about this, but I was wondering if you could do a quick post about the impacts of San Francisco's "Healthy San Francisco" universal healthcare program. How have local businesses been impacted? Is it a model that could work elsewhere?
Yes, Iran please. Ron Paul's comments in the house about the relationship between the price of oil and the US/Israeli menacing of Iran are consistent with what the president of OPEC is saying and as he says the blockade is alarming.
rouben says above 'threaten another country if they try to develop nuclear weapons' but as everyone knows they aren't developing nuclear weapons. As Arnold Evans says the issue is knowledge gained from Uranium enrichment, something they have guaranteed in the NPT.
As Paul points out Resolution 362 is proposing a blockade of Iran. The preamble is as reality-challenged as anything you will hear from a neoconservative--it looks as if we are right back in 2002/3 and the Democrats are clearly right behind this. Obama advisors Tony Lake and Susan Snow signed off on "preventive military action" against Iran recently.
Aren't we kidding ourselves. The neoconservatives have thrived and endure because we are all neocons now and this will remain the case until we face up to (or are forced to face up to) what we have been doing and what we are doing. The failure to address what we have done in Iraq means it is a matter of time before we made the situation worse, much worse.
Yes, Iran please. Ron Paul's comments in the house about the relationship between the price of oil and the US/Israeli menacing of Iran are consistent with what the president of OPEC is saying and as he says the blockade is alarming.
rouben says above 'threaten another country if they try to develop nuclear weapons' but as everyone knows they aren't developing nuclear weapons. As Arnold Evans says the issue is knowledge gained from Uranium enrichment, something they have guaranteed in the NPT.
As Paul points out Resolution 362 is proposing a blockade of Iran. The preamble is as reality-challenged as anything you will hear from a neoconservative--it looks as if we are right back in 2002/3 and the Democrats are clearly right behind this. Obama advisors Tony Lake and Susan Snow signed off on "preventive military action" against Iran recently.
Aren't we kidding ourselves. The neoconservatives have thrived and endure because we are all neocons now and this will remain the case until we face up to (or are forced to face up to) what we have been doing and what we are doing. The failure to address what we have done in Iraq means it is a matter of time before we made the situation worse, much worse.
If high energy prices are the primary stimulus needed to spur alternative energy, why has so little R&D on alternative energy been done in Europe? Or has it and we just haven't see it in the U.S.?
I know you've written about this some already, but I'd be interested in getting your current take on the following question:
What will be the effect Obama's much-vaunted organizational strength and hordes enthusiastic volunteers going forward, and are the media underestimating or overestimating it?
Will they make a real difference in GOTV efforts? Voter registration? Popular vote totals? Will it tip the balance in some states? What about down-ballot races?
Perhaps more importantly, if he were elected, will the campaign organization turn into an effective political force for grassroots lobbying, etc.?
i'd like to get your thoughts on this
Was your accent ridiculed and mimicked when growing up? Also your appearance and body shape? What coping strategies did you develop? Or were your (upper-middle class bobo?) schools and peers tolerant of difference and eccentricity?
How about why Continental Europe doesn't get rock music? or
How shafted are all these NBA free agents going to be considering under the restrictions of the CBA only maybe three teams will be under the cap?
I repeat, the status of Australian basketball (the national league is falling apart) and ZZ Top's latest tour.
I repeat, the status of Australian basketball (the national league is falling apart) and ZZ Top's latest tour.
Comments closed July 13, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
I'd like to know your opinion in re: auto racing events (or boat racing events for that matter) in light of ever rising petroleum costs.
Posted by JRVJ | June 29, 2008 6:41 PM