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Monday Miscellany

For anybody who’s been wondering, I expect to have the third (and probably final) post on “Comfort with Complexity” tomorrow. Been cogitating on it.

  • Quote of the day: “One … of the chief differences between an adult and a juvenile is that the adult knows when he is an ass while the juvenile never does.” — Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American author, philosopher, and longshoreman
  • Census: the good, the bad, and the ugly: Here’s a constitutionalist view of the census including its legal history and updated information on the potential penalties for refusing cooperation. OTOH, I’ve been trying to find an online image of those ghastly census propaganda table cards I wrote about the other day. Haven’t found one. But you know, there’s no shortage of risable — or is it gaggable? — census propaganda online. Take a look at these Census Partner Toolkits. Something for everybody — Asians, Pacific islanders, college students, social workers, politicians, the media, and one-eyed Russian-American women in wheelchairs. Okay, I exaggerate about that last one. But only slightly. How come there’s no “toolkit” for reaching white-bread middle Americans?
  • My favorite census propaganda pieces are the Faith-Based Toolkits. Here’s a sample of the recommendations for religious leaders: “Conduct ‘Census Sundays’ and devote a few minutes to building a greater understanding of the purpose and benefits of the census. Share the message that census participation is both important and safe.” And why is it important? From another faith-based promo: “Faith-based organizations and institutions use census data to apply for grants.” Yes, Dear Church Leaders, it’s all about Mammon. And we know Who Provides, don’t we? What’s best is that all this advice comes complete with photos of glorious light bursting from behind dark clouds. Yes, folks, you get the message: The U.S. Census Comes Directly from His Divine Hand …
  • The comments section provided a host of great links last week. Here are a few: Karen offered a link to a forum discussion, “My Bug-Out Bag went to Haiti.” Without its owner, it was put to excellent use. On the subject of labels, Kent McManigal posted his definition of his political self. Finally Rebecca Iocca included a link that led me to her “Tale of Two Airports.”
  • You’ll be glad to hear that Brad Jardis, the New Hampshire police officer publicly booted out of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), then forced out of his job — all because he read the state constitution and concluded that it didn’t authorize him to bust medical cannabis patients — has found a new position I hope it’s a paying one. (The irony of LEAP kicking somebody out for actually practicing what they preach is … I dunno. You find the words; I can’t.)
  • Evil empires of technology. They rise and fall, says Bob Enderle. And right now, Google is rising. (You may have to click to skip an ad before getting to the article.)
  • Dahlia Lithwick (love that name) thinks it’s odd that the media twists itself through all kinds of contortions to avoid calling waterboarding torure when the government does it. But these same people rush in to use the term when an ordinary government-trained thug does it on his own time.
  • An Austrian millionaire gives away all his money, saying it made him unhappy. I’m pretty sure he’s wrong. The money didn’t make him unhappy; the shallow life he was leading and the onerous efforts to get the money were the source of his unhappiness. Still, more power to him for going after what he wants while putting the cash to good use.
  • And isn’t this cool? A young actress makes a “Lord of the Rings” prequel — and apparently a pretty decent one — for about $40k.

5 Comments

  1. Charles Wood
    Charles Wood February 15, 2010 7:27 am

    Claire, I just discovered your new blog. So glad you’re back!

    Charles

  2. Pat
    Pat February 15, 2010 10:19 am

    As I understand the Constitution re the census, the U.S. government never assumed responsibilty for actually collecting information in the first place — it turned the job over to the States. So why is the Fed taking census for local and State purposes? (I know… databases at all levels.)

    I would think that the Census takers are, in that sense, “illegitimate” jobholders, and any one of them who brings up State/local benefits at the door should be challenged: Who pays you for this job — State or Fed? To whom do you directly send this information? Why should the Fed be interested in what I do at my local level… Why does the info go through Fed level before it comes back to local/State level (if it does)… And how do you think it will be using that information at the Fed level?

    In any case, for someone with time and inclination to spar with the census-takers, “The Best Defense is a Good Offense.”

  3. Winston
    Winston February 15, 2010 11:54 am

    I have decided what I’m gonna do with the census forms. Just disregard all the questions and slap “# PEOPLE LIVE HERE” in big red ink over everything…

  4. Gary
    Gary February 15, 2010 6:55 pm

    Thanks for the “constitutionalist view of the census” link. I have read it, and I’m going to send the form back with a letter stating how many people live at my home.

  5. Kevin Wilmeth
    Kevin Wilmeth February 16, 2010 3:17 pm

    I surprised my wife last night with an at-home viewing of “Born of Hope”, and I gotta say I was pretty impressed.

    I love most that Madison just did it.

    Thanks for the tip!

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