I am watching the debate right now, but instead of live-blogging the debate, I am missing my daughter. Since Michelle was born, I haven’t been away from her for more than a few hours. But now I am out of town for 2 days. So I am missing Michelle a lot. Amber tells me Michelle… Continue reading Missing Her
Author: Zack
Dad, gadget guy, bookworm, political animal, global nomad, cyclist, hiker, tennis player, photographer
Vice Presidential Debate
Here are some scattered thoughts on yesterday’s debate between Cheney and Edwards. It is difficult to watch a debate when one’s baby is being fussy. As a corollary, consoling the baby is more important than watching two politicians talk. Dick Cheney definitely lived up to his name. Cheney lied about every 30 seconds. Since Cheney… Continue reading Vice Presidential Debate
Vote for Syed Kerry
Hey, American Muslims, vote for a Syed. “New research by Burke’s Peerage reveals that Mr. Kerry is the only presidential candidate in U.S. history who has genealogical descent from Muslims, Jews and Christians.” Mr. Kerry is kinsman of the Shi’ite shahs of Persia (the most famous was Shah Abbas I, who reigned from 1587 to… Continue reading Vote for Syed Kerry
Self Employment Help Needed
Does anyone know what all is involved in being self-employed? I am particularly interested in the tax aspects. It seems that a self-employed person has to send checks to the IRS multiple times in a year. Is that true? Another important issue is health insurance. How can one get individual health insurance? Are there many… Continue reading Self Employment Help Needed
Presidential Debate
In my obviously biased opinion, Kerry did better than Bush. But I don’t think any one of them convinced many undecided voters…
Legal Torture
Obsidian Wings has a very important post about a bill in Congress which will allow the US to legally send suspected terrorists to any country for torture. The Republican leadership of Congress is attempting to legalize extraordinary rendition. “Extraordinary rendition” is the euphemism we use for sending terrorism suspects to countries that practice torture for… Continue reading Legal Torture
Air Marshall on No Fly List
I can’t understand why so many so-called libertarians defend no-fly lists and related actions like refusing to let Cat Stevens into the US when it is clear to me, a social democrat, that the government can be quite incompetent. I have posted previously about members of Congress being on no-fly lists but now comes the… Continue reading Air Marshall on No Fly List
Urban Vs Rural = Democrat Vs Republican?
Via Political Animal, there is an interesting data analysis about the Democrat-Republican divide. The two parties today not only represent different political philosophies but find their core support in different kinds of communities. The nation has gone through a big sort, a sifting of people and politics into what is becoming two Americas. One is… Continue reading Urban Vs Rural = Democrat Vs Republican?
Anglo-Sikh War Journal
Sepoy of Chapati Mystery has started posting the journal of an anonymous subaltern from the second Anglo-Sikh war in the Punjab in 1848-49. It should be interesting reading. Some historical background is available here. Sepoy promises another journal from the 1857 war of independence/mutiny later. Fascinating!
National Interest = Narcissism
It would be funny if the fate of 160 million Pakistanis did not depend on it. I grew up hearing General Zia talking about justifying every stupid act of his on Islam and the nation. Now, it is Musharraf’s turn. Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s president, said Thursday that he may renege on his pledge to… Continue reading National Interest = Narcissism