In response to Nate. Not all rap is bad, dude!
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Most Dangerous Man in Politics
I will take anyone 10-1 odds that Elliot Spitzer will run for president (and probably be elected) in 2012 if a Republican or an unpopular Democrat is elected in 2008, and in 2016 either way.
He'll also be a major contender for Clinton's Veep, for sure.
He's not a good man for the job. But he's one of the most deft, powerful, and sharp men in politics, with a shrewd outlook. He's a shark, most certainly.
He'll also be a major contender for Clinton's Veep, for sure.
He's not a good man for the job. But he's one of the most deft, powerful, and sharp men in politics, with a shrewd outlook. He's a shark, most certainly.
Death and . . .
I was listening to NPR, which was offering a special discussion of tax reform, and possible plans for re-hauling the progressive income tax system. Most especially discussed was the fair tax plan, specifically the National Sales Tax -- a broader-based consumption tax of all products, including consumer goods, health care, and real estate -- which would be a lead to a 25%-38% tax rate, creating a mid-40% markup on products.
I am no economist in the remotest sense, but the NST seems to me to be an exercise in the typical political game of false advertising. Everyone on the political spectrum is guilty of this when it comes to taxes -- proposing a system that sounds fair, even though anyone seriously considering this knows that it would be unbearable to the economy and impossible to enforce. Such a thing would be possible if it grew organically with a society, but simply applying it one day to the world's most complex economic player is ludicrous.
Certainly, though, some kind of flat tax -- however it is managed -- could be applied to replace our progressive tax. But, like it or not, we are going to have to remain income-based. The question of whether or not to tax income or consumption is much less significant than the issue of progressive tax (besides the fact that most people seem confused as to which -- taxing income and investment, or taxing consumption -- most stimulates capitalistic growth).
The progressive system strikes at the heart of democratic principles -- taxation and representation. When combining that revenue system with the government who spends that revenue, we have something akin to 9 Nazis and 1 Jew developing a racial policy. We have 80% of the voters getting to determine what to do with the 20% group's money. It's not hard to see where that's going to go. And in the midst of it all, the 80% claims that they have it hard.
Progressive tax stifles incentives for the lower and middle classes, while creating the largest burdens on the biggest capital contributions to the whole economy. So the worst and most putrid limbs of capitalism -- consumerism -- are still fed, and the roots -- entrepreneurialism and growth -- are continually being hacked off short.
I am no economist in the remotest sense, but the NST seems to me to be an exercise in the typical political game of false advertising. Everyone on the political spectrum is guilty of this when it comes to taxes -- proposing a system that sounds fair, even though anyone seriously considering this knows that it would be unbearable to the economy and impossible to enforce. Such a thing would be possible if it grew organically with a society, but simply applying it one day to the world's most complex economic player is ludicrous.
Certainly, though, some kind of flat tax -- however it is managed -- could be applied to replace our progressive tax. But, like it or not, we are going to have to remain income-based. The question of whether or not to tax income or consumption is much less significant than the issue of progressive tax (besides the fact that most people seem confused as to which -- taxing income and investment, or taxing consumption -- most stimulates capitalistic growth).
The progressive system strikes at the heart of democratic principles -- taxation and representation. When combining that revenue system with the government who spends that revenue, we have something akin to 9 Nazis and 1 Jew developing a racial policy. We have 80% of the voters getting to determine what to do with the 20% group's money. It's not hard to see where that's going to go. And in the midst of it all, the 80% claims that they have it hard.
Progressive tax stifles incentives for the lower and middle classes, while creating the largest burdens on the biggest capital contributions to the whole economy. So the worst and most putrid limbs of capitalism -- consumerism -- are still fed, and the roots -- entrepreneurialism and growth -- are continually being hacked off short.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Better is Beer, if Drink We Lack
Ten Beers Most Excellent.
1. Chimay Grande Reserve (Bleue): My favorite beer of all -- a Belgian abbey ale, brown, thick, creamy, with a bitter yeast and a good mouth of hops, but supremely well balanced with malts. -- I like at room temperature. 9% abv
2. Gulden Draak: a lovely, lovely spiced triple ale, rich amber or copper, very rich, full malts, very light hoppiness. The edge is more spice than yeast, and the beer is full of caramel and is sweet like honey. -- I like cold. 10.5% abv
3. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout: opaqe, black, full, but not bitter. Deep roasted malts are more coffee than chocolate. Excellent rich beer that even a beginner can enjoy. -- Cold or room temperature. 9% abv
4. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout: a great example of a stout that could be an Irish stout if it had come from the green Isle. Rich, fruity, hoppy, complex, with a lot of burnt malt flavor. The beer has a small head that is dense and sweet. -- I like this one room temperature. 10.6% abv.
5. Old Peculiar Theakston Ale: A rich, malty, sweet beer that is light on both yeast and hops, giving it a honey-like taste that is broadly masked by the powerful black chocolate of the malt. -- Room temperature. 5.6% abv.
6. Samuel Smith Brewery Taddy Porter: this really should be called a stout, since it can stand up to almost any stout out there. The malt is so dark and burnt that the coffee flavors ferment to a wickedly bitter finish that is only for the ambitious beer-lover. Only a touch of hops blend with the yeasty mouth. Not a complex beer, but certainly a rich one. -- Cooler temperatures help even out the dense coffee flavor. 5% abv.
7. Sam Adams Pale Ale: A light, golden, almost orange beer that is one of the tastiest hop-heavy beers I've ever had. It's fruit, citrus, and herbs all pop out of the creamy beer without souring the tongue, and the malt -- almost undetectable -- just barely smooths the edges. The perfect pale ale. -- Nice and cold. 5.25% abv.
8. Fat Tire: A Belgian-style amber ale that has a brilliant balance of malt and hops, with no sourness from the ale yeast. The mouth is dry and has flavors of toast and biscuit from the malt, with plenty of herbs from the hops. A great evening beer. -- slightly chilled. 5.2% abv.
9. Sam Adams Black Lager: another success from Sam Adams -- deep mahogany, with a rich and creamy flavor that lacks any serious bitterness, but is rich in dark fruits, roasted nuts, and fresh bread. Figs, toast, and spices are especially prominant. -- slightly chilled. 4.9% abv.
10. Rolling Rock: a delightful, inexpensive, and traditional pilsner-style pale lager, tasty enough for the veteran, mild enough for the newbie. Some drinkers say it tastes like nothing, but it does have a very mild but complex hoppy edge. The perfect "cool-down" beer -- easy to drink and fun. -- Ice cold. 4.6% abv.
1. Chimay Grande Reserve (Bleue): My favorite beer of all -- a Belgian abbey ale, brown, thick, creamy, with a bitter yeast and a good mouth of hops, but supremely well balanced with malts. -- I like at room temperature. 9% abv
2. Gulden Draak: a lovely, lovely spiced triple ale, rich amber or copper, very rich, full malts, very light hoppiness. The edge is more spice than yeast, and the beer is full of caramel and is sweet like honey. -- I like cold. 10.5% abv
3. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout: opaqe, black, full, but not bitter. Deep roasted malts are more coffee than chocolate. Excellent rich beer that even a beginner can enjoy. -- Cold or room temperature. 9% abv
4. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout: a great example of a stout that could be an Irish stout if it had come from the green Isle. Rich, fruity, hoppy, complex, with a lot of burnt malt flavor. The beer has a small head that is dense and sweet. -- I like this one room temperature. 10.6% abv.
5. Old Peculiar Theakston Ale: A rich, malty, sweet beer that is light on both yeast and hops, giving it a honey-like taste that is broadly masked by the powerful black chocolate of the malt. -- Room temperature. 5.6% abv.
6. Samuel Smith Brewery Taddy Porter: this really should be called a stout, since it can stand up to almost any stout out there. The malt is so dark and burnt that the coffee flavors ferment to a wickedly bitter finish that is only for the ambitious beer-lover. Only a touch of hops blend with the yeasty mouth. Not a complex beer, but certainly a rich one. -- Cooler temperatures help even out the dense coffee flavor. 5% abv.
7. Sam Adams Pale Ale: A light, golden, almost orange beer that is one of the tastiest hop-heavy beers I've ever had. It's fruit, citrus, and herbs all pop out of the creamy beer without souring the tongue, and the malt -- almost undetectable -- just barely smooths the edges. The perfect pale ale. -- Nice and cold. 5.25% abv.
8. Fat Tire: A Belgian-style amber ale that has a brilliant balance of malt and hops, with no sourness from the ale yeast. The mouth is dry and has flavors of toast and biscuit from the malt, with plenty of herbs from the hops. A great evening beer. -- slightly chilled. 5.2% abv.
9. Sam Adams Black Lager: another success from Sam Adams -- deep mahogany, with a rich and creamy flavor that lacks any serious bitterness, but is rich in dark fruits, roasted nuts, and fresh bread. Figs, toast, and spices are especially prominant. -- slightly chilled. 4.9% abv.
10. Rolling Rock: a delightful, inexpensive, and traditional pilsner-style pale lager, tasty enough for the veteran, mild enough for the newbie. Some drinkers say it tastes like nothing, but it does have a very mild but complex hoppy edge. The perfect "cool-down" beer -- easy to drink and fun. -- Ice cold. 4.6% abv.
A Pernicious Government
One of the most horrible things about the current state of Iraq is not that the country is in chaos or that its cities and society have become flotsam. While there are many problems, I am very optimistic that things, slowly and surely, are turning the right way -- economically, socially, and in regards to peace in the streets.
This is not so much the case with the Iraqi body politic, and there are still lingering problems in Iraqi society at large. Those in society at large are indisputably the result of the rottenness of vitriolic Islam, especially spread by fear. In the government, it is a result of the same, even more lethally combined with corruption and self-preservation at all costs.
The reticence and nescience of this government are often used as a rationale and justification for our withdrawl from Iraq -- an argument that makes no sense at all if we want to preserve any kind of international position of strength, or if we want to prevent the nation of Iraq from sinking to a blood bath, only to be rescued and brought to order by the most radical, violent, and anti-Western factions of Shi'aism. But it cannot either be denied that it seems absurd to continue to sacrifice our money and lives for a government that is so brutish, selfish, truculent, and apathetic to our situation and the situation of it's people.
Two major incidents this week bring this home to me: the audacity of the Iraqi government in response to the Blackwater "shooting," and the absurdity of Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, in his demands for the release of an Iranian commando and spy.
Certainly, there are reasons to investigate the Blackwater incident, but it seems that perhaps if the Iraq government -- instead of simply rewriting intellectual property rights and taking vacations -- focused the same energy on stamping out the bloodthirsty insurgents that they spend trying to stamp out Americans who are attacked on that street every day, then this issue would never have arisen in the first place. In spite of the mercenary actions, and ocassionally behavior, of the Blackwater troops, I am far more inclined to suspect that they were actually fighting a vicious enemy, rather than blasting away at passers-by for fun. And it would not surprise me if Iraqis and their government are perfectly prepared to lie through their teeth about the incident.
The question of the Iranian commando is even more ridiculous. Jalal Talabani demanded the immediate release of an Iranian agent, responsible for the delivery of arms, explosives, and training to Iraqi rebels, calling him -- amazingly -- "our civilian guest." And this was a commando -- a member of the insidious and violent "Qods Force" -- who was apparently captured while training Iraqis to murder their own countrymen and Americans.
So what to do about this tough situation? It seems pulling out isn't the right thing to do, but staying in and bleeding little-by-little seems cheap. The Iraqis are showing themselves not worth the blood we spend, and it almost begins to look attractive to leave them to their deaths. But we have been light-handed, erring on the side of the greatest economy of force from the beginning, and time and time again it has cost us. Making ourselves "backup" for the Iraqis doesn't work. It doesn't make sense to say "well, you're problem now" when they cannot begin to address their own degraded and depraved practice governance.
We need to step in without gloves, and take back control. We need to cause some serious trouble in Iraq, and make sure that they understand we will arrest whomever we please, and if we are attacked, we will definitely be shooting back. This sounds brutish to Western ears, but it is neither immoral, unwise, or unjust in this situation, and it is the only thing this society would understand clearly. And if properly combined with a continued flow of aid, reconstruction, etc., would hopefully cause progress to leap forward.
This is not so much the case with the Iraqi body politic, and there are still lingering problems in Iraqi society at large. Those in society at large are indisputably the result of the rottenness of vitriolic Islam, especially spread by fear. In the government, it is a result of the same, even more lethally combined with corruption and self-preservation at all costs.
The reticence and nescience of this government are often used as a rationale and justification for our withdrawl from Iraq -- an argument that makes no sense at all if we want to preserve any kind of international position of strength, or if we want to prevent the nation of Iraq from sinking to a blood bath, only to be rescued and brought to order by the most radical, violent, and anti-Western factions of Shi'aism. But it cannot either be denied that it seems absurd to continue to sacrifice our money and lives for a government that is so brutish, selfish, truculent, and apathetic to our situation and the situation of it's people.
Two major incidents this week bring this home to me: the audacity of the Iraqi government in response to the Blackwater "shooting," and the absurdity of Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, in his demands for the release of an Iranian commando and spy.
Certainly, there are reasons to investigate the Blackwater incident, but it seems that perhaps if the Iraq government -- instead of simply rewriting intellectual property rights and taking vacations -- focused the same energy on stamping out the bloodthirsty insurgents that they spend trying to stamp out Americans who are attacked on that street every day, then this issue would never have arisen in the first place. In spite of the mercenary actions, and ocassionally behavior, of the Blackwater troops, I am far more inclined to suspect that they were actually fighting a vicious enemy, rather than blasting away at passers-by for fun. And it would not surprise me if Iraqis and their government are perfectly prepared to lie through their teeth about the incident.
The question of the Iranian commando is even more ridiculous. Jalal Talabani demanded the immediate release of an Iranian agent, responsible for the delivery of arms, explosives, and training to Iraqi rebels, calling him -- amazingly -- "our civilian guest." And this was a commando -- a member of the insidious and violent "Qods Force" -- who was apparently captured while training Iraqis to murder their own countrymen and Americans.
So what to do about this tough situation? It seems pulling out isn't the right thing to do, but staying in and bleeding little-by-little seems cheap. The Iraqis are showing themselves not worth the blood we spend, and it almost begins to look attractive to leave them to their deaths. But we have been light-handed, erring on the side of the greatest economy of force from the beginning, and time and time again it has cost us. Making ourselves "backup" for the Iraqis doesn't work. It doesn't make sense to say "well, you're problem now" when they cannot begin to address their own degraded and depraved practice governance.
We need to step in without gloves, and take back control. We need to cause some serious trouble in Iraq, and make sure that they understand we will arrest whomever we please, and if we are attacked, we will definitely be shooting back. This sounds brutish to Western ears, but it is neither immoral, unwise, or unjust in this situation, and it is the only thing this society would understand clearly. And if properly combined with a continued flow of aid, reconstruction, etc., would hopefully cause progress to leap forward.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The Knee Bone Connected...
I love types.
I was reading Ezekiel this morning and read over one of my favorite chapters in the prophets: Ezekiel 37. One thing that particularly struck me in this reading is how the miracle of the dry bones is a glorious Old Testament type, and really shows the beauty of how Incarnation and Resurrection are connected.
When Ezekiel speaks the prophesies of the Lord to the bones, they come together, bone to bone, and are wrapped in sinews and flesh. Then Ezekiel speaks a prophesy to the wind, and it fills the bodies with breath and life. Ezekiel 37 : 13 -- "Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up from your graves."
The miracle is incarnation -- literally. It is the "en-flesh-ment" of dead dry bones. And the incarnation is simultaneously, or subsequently, perhaps, resurrection -- the dead are raised from the grave.
The Incarnation of Christ is a glorious fulfillment of this type. Even as the dry bones were wrapped in flesh and given new life, the act of Christ's incarnation in human flesh makes us incarnate in spirit. Through His incarnation, binding God and Man, the dry bones of our sinful and corruptable humanity are wrapped in sinless and eternal flesh. And thus His incarnation (and death, buriel and resurrection), enables our eternal resurrection.
I was reading Ezekiel this morning and read over one of my favorite chapters in the prophets: Ezekiel 37. One thing that particularly struck me in this reading is how the miracle of the dry bones is a glorious Old Testament type, and really shows the beauty of how Incarnation and Resurrection are connected.
When Ezekiel speaks the prophesies of the Lord to the bones, they come together, bone to bone, and are wrapped in sinews and flesh. Then Ezekiel speaks a prophesy to the wind, and it fills the bodies with breath and life. Ezekiel 37 : 13 -- "Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up from your graves."
The miracle is incarnation -- literally. It is the "en-flesh-ment" of dead dry bones. And the incarnation is simultaneously, or subsequently, perhaps, resurrection -- the dead are raised from the grave.
The Incarnation of Christ is a glorious fulfillment of this type. Even as the dry bones were wrapped in flesh and given new life, the act of Christ's incarnation in human flesh makes us incarnate in spirit. Through His incarnation, binding God and Man, the dry bones of our sinful and corruptable humanity are wrapped in sinless and eternal flesh. And thus His incarnation (and death, buriel and resurrection), enables our eternal resurrection.
Sipping Syrah with a Straw
So I have not posted anything at all in a long time. I have really slacked off. The last ten days are excusable, but since I'm averaging two posts a month, I must hang my head in shame.
The surgery went very well, as many of my beloved readers know (Hi, Mom!). It's embarassing to have to sip wine with a straw, though.
The surgery went very well, as many of my beloved readers know (Hi, Mom!). It's embarassing to have to sip wine with a straw, though.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Somebody Say Somethin' About Cheese??
Best Kinds of Cheese in the World --
1. Blue Wensleydale -- sharp, bitter, cheddary white cheese with lovely blue marbling. It's like a less creamy gorgonzola. Very crumbly. Best part is, Bekah doesn't like it. All mine.
2. Saint Andre's -- Close to indescribable. It's label has created it's own variety of cheese. It's a creamy, fragrant cheese whose texture varies from soft, like Camabert, to semi-hard, like most blue. It's like Brie-flavored butter, but the flavor, while not bitter or overpowering, is more pronounced than most bries I've had.
3. La Gruyere -- An excellent French cheese, and nothing really needs to be said, since everyone knows about it. Excellent in melting, baking, or any application. A unique and classic flavor that even the most ardent opponent of Swiss cannot resist.
4. Danish Havarti -- A very smooth and very sweet cheese that is springy and pourous, and has a classic flavor that can accompany strong foods and spirits or sweet fruits and desserts.
5. Vermont White Cheddar -- Cheddar is the world's most consumed cheese, and everyone is familiar with it...but usually in the mass-market variety. The best of Vermont cheddars, especially uncolored types, is on a par with the best of hard French and Italian cheeses, carrying the finest flavors of Asiago, Parmesan, and various blue cheeses.
1. Blue Wensleydale -- sharp, bitter, cheddary white cheese with lovely blue marbling. It's like a less creamy gorgonzola. Very crumbly. Best part is, Bekah doesn't like it. All mine.
2. Saint Andre's -- Close to indescribable. It's label has created it's own variety of cheese. It's a creamy, fragrant cheese whose texture varies from soft, like Camabert, to semi-hard, like most blue. It's like Brie-flavored butter, but the flavor, while not bitter or overpowering, is more pronounced than most bries I've had.
3. La Gruyere -- An excellent French cheese, and nothing really needs to be said, since everyone knows about it. Excellent in melting, baking, or any application. A unique and classic flavor that even the most ardent opponent of Swiss cannot resist.
4. Danish Havarti -- A very smooth and very sweet cheese that is springy and pourous, and has a classic flavor that can accompany strong foods and spirits or sweet fruits and desserts.
5. Vermont White Cheddar -- Cheddar is the world's most consumed cheese, and everyone is familiar with it...but usually in the mass-market variety. The best of Vermont cheddars, especially uncolored types, is on a par with the best of hard French and Italian cheeses, carrying the finest flavors of Asiago, Parmesan, and various blue cheeses.
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