Gilmour’s Albums
Posted on Friday, July 30, 2004 @ 12:33 pm
Filed Under History, Musick
No responses
The Handel harp concerto was one of Gilmour's theme songs, at least in the sixties when I made a point of listening to his program. One of the neat things about Clyde's use of this theme was variation--always the same piece, but an array of recordings, each with strengths and weaknesses, all with something to appreciate. A good lesson.
Stopgap Solutions
Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 @ 9:57 am
Filed Under Michigan, Political Process, Readings
No responses
While I really dislike the short term limits we've put on the legislature, I don't see this connection. Methought one purpose of the term limits was to reduce the proportion of career politicians in office, thus reducing those officials' institutional commitments and freeing up the creative juices. That objective was certainly worthwhile, and ought to still apply.
Fabulous Ruins
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 @ 11:57 pm
Filed Under Baseball, Baseball Pix, Michigan, Readings
No responses
Lowell's tribute to Tiger Stadium is a wonderful thing. Read it, and read all the Detour panels about the stadium. Read it even if you hate baseball, and despised the old ballyard. This is love, and it's something beautiful.
Unintended Consequences
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 @ 8:37 pm
Filed Under Bureaucrats, Computing
No responses
In short, all the failings attributed to government happen in private enterprises too. These failings are a fixture of human nature and organizational dynamics.
Republican Primary
Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 @ 12:26 am
Filed Under Joel, Michigan, Political Process
No responses
The national gerrymander habit must die. The practice of routinely creating one-party election districts undermines political discourse, and subverts republican government. One party elections encourage extremism, and create a climate where debate, discussion, and compromise are impossible--on many issues, the practice permits folks to honestly believe that reaching a compromise is indecent. Few politicians, and few citizens, are naturally extremist, but we've created a system which encourages an extremist culture. Party advantage is not a healthy basis for defining political boundaries, and ideology needs to be tempered by honest discussion. We ought to do better than this. We must do better than this.
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