Links and Minifeatures 03 01 Wednesday

Carnivals



Carnival of Liberty Recommended: Combs Spouts Off, Solomon's House



Carnival of The Vanities

(My submission was an editor's choice! The happy dance will now commence!)

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I belong in Time Enough For Love. What Heinlein novel should you be a character in?



HT Below the Beltway



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All please take a moment to pay tribute to the passing of one of our heroes of yesterday: Robert Scott, author of "God is My Co-pilot", has gone from among us. Story here. This is the guy who painted his propeller a different color every day, to indicate a different squadron. Japanese propaganda broadcasts indicated that they had caught on to the trick somewhat, saying they knew there weren't more than three squadrons of P-40s in Burma. They were right. There was a grand total of one P-40 - piloted by Robert Scott.



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Chutzpah: Saddam Asks: 'Where Is the Crime?'



Let's grant your point, Mr. Dictator. How many of those people actually shot at you? How many just happened to be from the wrong village? Considering the fact that your "investigations" killed 48 of those accused, wouldn't a reasonable person have grounds to conclude that perhaps the evidence was extracted by means not in compliance with the search for truth?



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Consumerism Commentary notes occupations where women make more than men.



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Dr. Sanity has a breath of fresh air on events in Iraq, the war on terror, and how our media are treating it. The media over here is more exercised than the Iraqis are - mostly because they see a chance to "get" George Bush and those evil Rethuglicans. Step back and take a deep breath. I'm not certain I agree that we've already won, but taking action now was significantly superior in outlook to waiting.



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Michael Barone has some thoughts on whether the New York Times should be prosecuted for its role in publishing and publicizing classified data. He wonders how we should guard against selective prosecution



My answer is that we shouldn't. Allow any federal prosecutor the discretion to bring charges. Alternately, set up two special prosecutors if we have to, one appointed by Donkeys and the other by Elephants, and either of them could bring charges unsupported by the other. The purpose of bringing charges is to say that there's enough evidence here not to be laughed out of court. It is the purpose of the trial to determine actual guilt or innocence, but the jury can't make that call if they don't get the case. (Limiting it to two special prosecutors would limit the number of cases to the most egregious).



I don't think any member of the press has been prosecuted for this since 1972. I'm thinking that needs to change.



If someone is convicted of something minor, picayaune, or justifiable: That's what executive clemency is for.



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Speaking of predictions: Big Lizards is justifiably proud of one of his on the grandstanding of the Donkeys in the Senate.



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Captain's Quarters notes that Mexico is violating NAFTA.



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By the way, I'm planning on doing an article on buying a home (or not) in the current market. I would appreciate half a dozen or so volunteers, either in comments or email, coming up with the following information about the situation as it exists in your area. You'll get linked if you want it.



1. Purchase price of a home you might buy

2. Down payment you have available.

3. How undervalued or overvalued you think your local market is

4. How much of an value appreciation, percentagewise, your area might see in a typical year

5. What kind of a rate, and at what cost you might qualify for a loan. If you don't say, I can fill in the blanks by assuming A paper.

6. What property taxes are like in your area (assesment rate and rate of increase). If you don't say, I can fill in the blanks by assuming it's California.

7. How much in extra costs you think you'd have beyond the loan and taxes. I can ballpark this if you don't say.

8. The inflation rate you think we'll have. I'll use historical if you don't say.

9. How much per month the rental alternative is right now

10. Whether you are married or single, and your marginal tax rate.

11. Time frame until you need to sell, assuming there's a reason, either in your life plan or just beyond your control (e.g. you're in the military and get transferred every so often, or you work for one of those industries/companies where you have to change assignments to keep them happy)