More Buyer’s Remorse

The National Popular Vote Initiative
Steven Taylor notes that Massachusetts has become the latest state to sign on to the National Popular Vote Initiative and proceeds to shred the usual claims that the Initiative is inconsistent with the spirit (if not the letter) of the Constitution.  I interviewed Paul Fidalgo, the former communications director for FairVote, about the NPV Initiative back in February. (10)

I write like . . . H. P. Lovecraft
The Old Ones have spoken . . . or rather, this incredibly unreliable website has determined I’m a bad Lovecraft knock-off. Sound off in comments with your own results (via). (10)

Quick Question
Lately, I’ve read a number of news stories about this sort of thing. Out of curiosity, has there, in fact, been a recent uptick? If so, does anyone know why? (12)

The Good Germans
Although I think he makes a number of highly questionable logical leaps (and certainly overstates his case) in his attempt to tie the failure of the Allies to support the WWII German resistance to “Egalitarian Western Liberals,” this piece by Jerry Salyer on the German aristocrats who resisted Hitler or, at a minimum, did all they could to maintain their humanity is the most informative thing I’ve read in a long while.  Even if you don’t buy Salyer’s attempt to tie this to “Egalitarian Western Liberalism” (and I don’t), the piece contains plenty of food for thought on the limits of power, the value of chivalry, the hubris of nationalism, the potential value of aristocracy, and plenty else. (2)

Interesting Standards...
So, let me get this straight… Activist accuses ideological opponents of racism on basis of highly misleading video clip taken completely out of context.  NOT RACE-BAITING. Target of racism accusation based on highly misleading video clip taken completely out of context responds by accusing said activist of racism.  RACE-BAITING.  read more... (13)

Bleg/Open Thread
I got nuthin’ right now – any suggestions on something you’d all like me to write about? (19)

The Twitter
Now you can follow me on Twitter. I plan to use Twitter only to consolidate a list of links for content already published elsewhere (here, the Washington Examiner, Cato@Liberty, etc). (2)

Balance and Propaganda
I’m not typically a fan of EJ Dionne’s, but I have to say that I’ve got a hard time disagreeing with any of his column today.  “Balance” does not mean that you take seriously and uncritically broadcast whatever partisan mouthpieces put out there. (36)

Revenge of the Nerds
The Westboro Baptist Church decided to picket Comic Con 2010 for some reason. (God probably hates anime.) The cosmic alliance of convention-goers responded by staging a counter-protest across the street with an appropriately high level of silliness. Pictures here. I tip my hat. (3)

God Bless America
From the (female) owner of a Denver strip club: read more... (1)

@My Other Blog
A bit of a satire, because it’s been too long. (0)

A Penniless Aristocracy
This is why we should repeal the estate tax altogether for illiquid assets, and maybe do away with annual property taxes, too. The creation of a penniless aristocracy would benefit us all. (1)

Flotsam and Jetsam
Flotsam:  James Joyner’s piece on the JournoList and “Conservative Media Bias” is right on the money.  Relatedly – I’m done with this topic. Jetsam: Publius at the Fourth Branch has an interesting and (I think) unique take on whether Obama flip-flopped over calling the individual health insurance mandate a “tax.” (0)

Picture. 1000 Words.
I know this is low-hanging fruit, but still…amusing.  And poignant.  Via Popehat. (0)

This.
I would just like to fully associate myself with Tim Lee’s latest post on liberaltarianism. (2)

Inception Nano-Review
After you get past the heavy-handed plot exposition by characters, the cutesy classical allusions and maybe-nothing-is-real philosophizing, I think the movie is actually meant to be a paean to Le Corbusier. The final, skyscraper-filled city is a presentation in film of what could never be made real: the Radiant City.

For the Book Clubbers
For those reading along at home, this CBC podcast has a great interview with Chris Hedges about “Empire of Illusion”, during the first 20 minutes or so, that asks a number of good questions about the book. (0)

"Dignity and Respect"
I’m not sure why this hasn’t taken the Internet by storm, but Wired found a military comic from 2001 explaining how army personnel are expected to deal with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Fortunately (or tragically, depending on your appreciation for unintentional comedy), the artist omitted any depiction of the “homosexual acts” that prompted this riveting drama. (0)

By request
To avoid a hopeless threadjacking of Jason’s post, please put any and all thoughts on the latest Journolist revelations in this thread.  Personally, I think it’s just the latest in a long line of non-troversies on which we culturally seem to have a penchant for focusing. (81)

Oh, Canaduh!
Rivaling the problems of John Stagliano in the U.S., Quebec make-up effects artist Rémy Couture is facing criminal charges for “moral corruption” under section163 of the Criminal Code of Canada for the content of both his horror-themed website and his two short films about a psychopath, apparently because his effects were deemed too realistic. Psychopaths, incidentally, are noted to have trouble distinguishing fiction from reality. read more... (0)

Uh Oh, Canada!
It takes a lot to get me to side with PETA on something, but this has to be one of the most egregious violations of free speech in recent Western memory. In fact, the banned ad campaign looks to be remarkably tame by PETA standards, and I’d even go so far as to say that it’s outright clever.  And for this to be banned as “sexist” in Montreal of all places? Just wow.  Via Ken at Popehat. (6)

My Latest Examiner Opinion Zone Piece
“John Stagliano faces prison for perhaps the rest of his life. Will putting him there save even a single pair of innocent eyeballs? And for how many milliseconds? Is that a trade-off we’re happy about making?” (23)

Immigration and Preemption
Transplanted Lawyer has an important follow-up to his guest-post last week on whether the Arizona immigration law is Constitutionally preempted.  TL suggests that the arguments advanced by the Obama Administration may not be likely to succeed, while reiterating that the Arizona law may be preempted under Article II and that the primary purpose of the law is likely simply to make the President look bad. (8)

For those of you who don't follow me on Twitter...
…apologies for my extended absence from the blog. You see, my wife had a baby Monday. This was our second and we had him at home. It was an incredible experience. Incredibly painful if you happened to be my wife, but incredible in many other ways as well.  Should be back to irregular posting sometime in the future.  Oh, and you can follow me on Twitter here. (7)

A Blog of Fire and Ice
For the League’s fantasy aficionados (and Erik, who I know loves this stuff): Alyssa Rosenberg is blogging George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice. Here’s her latest entry. (11)