[politics] labels left and right are relatively meaningless

Fascinating debate going on right now over at Chris Dillow’s. He gave numbered reasons why he’s leftist and concluded: rationality, then, isn't the cause of my political beliefs. And I doubt it's the cause of anyone else's. Various people have weighed in and my contribution was: What about a model a bit like the solar system ellipse, instead of a linear left/right continuum? Then the dictatorship of the proletariat meets the fascists at one point on the ellipse. Along the other points are an increasing tendency to deregulation, free market ethics, small government, less shop steward mini-gods, no political correctness, redistribution according to market policies rather than regulation and so on. Seems a more realistic model, for mine.

[in brief] thought for the day

Once in a while you will stumble upon the truth but most of us manage to pick ourselves up and hurry along as if nothing had happened.

[ryder cup] results and no comment

18.5 9.5

#Montgomerie def Toms 1 up #Cink def Garcia 4 and 3 #Casey def Furyk 2 and 1 #Woods def Karlsson 3 and 2 #Donald def Campbell 2 and 1 #Henry vs McGinley Halved #Clarke def Johnson 3 and 2 #Stenson def Taylor 4 and 3 #Howell def Wetterich 5 and 4 #Olazabal def Mickelson 2 and 1 #Westwood def DiMarco 2 up #Verplank def Harrington 4 and 3

[phonetic dictionary] last three

73 Truculent..................Borrowed lorry
74 Vicarious...................Clergyman's debts
75 Wedlock....................Chastity belt

[usa] nfl hates noise

At most big ballgames, noise is good, and more noise is better. Seattle fans make Qwest Field, where the Giants play Sunday, notoriously loud. In last year's game there, the Giants had 11 false-start penalties. Skin-baring cheerleaders, cartoonish mascots and maniacal M.C.’s take turns trying to whip fans into a frenzy. Scoreboard messages tease the crowd with fake decibel meters and implore fans to “Raise the Roof!” Because vocal cords are not enough, fans sometimes receive noisemakers like inflatable bat-shaped balloons at the gate. They can create a cacophony of thump-thump-thumps meant to lift the home squad’s spirits and deflate the visiting team. There can never be too much commotion. Except in the N.F.L. Find out why.

[kinky friedman] this issue just won’t die away

This is a perfect example of not dabbling in someone else’s politics. I ran the first Kinky post as an illustration of how the US differs from the UK. Then came this. Right, I thought, that seems reasonable enough. So I wrote to the guy's campaign headquarters, offering my services. There was no reply from his people but there was a communication from this lady and she explained the other side of it. Now I'm not sure what to think.