October 20, 2004
Neal Stephenson on Slashdot
The best "self-defense means" when you are surrounded by a hundred million people of some other culture is to avoid dangerous places and figure out some way to get along with the folks around you.
The whole thing is more than worth reading. Jamais excerpted the hilarious Gibson-Stephenson smackdown portion on Worldchanging.
October 15, 2004
October 02, 2004
Andrew Sullivan's blog
Mitsu suggested I'd be pretty fascinated by Andrew Sullivan's post-debate blogging, and by gum he was right:
MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN:
Here's Jay Nordlinger, an honest, civilized guy, telling his fellow Kool-Aiders the truth:
I thought Kerry did very, very well; and I thought Bush did poorly much worse than he is capable of doing. Listen: If I were just a normal guy not Joe Political Junkie I would vote for Kerry. On the basis of that debate, I would. If I were just a normal, fairly conservative, war-supporting guy: I would vote for Kerry. On the basis of that debate. And I promise you that no one wants this president reelected more than I. I think that he may want it less.
Let me phrase one more time what I wish to say: If I didn't know anything were a political naοf, being introduced to the two candidates for the first time I would vote for Kerry. Based on that infernal debate.
The trouble is: given what Bush has done these past eighteen months, and given his abilities, I'm not sure he can do better. We may have just had a man-behind-the-curtain moment. We are at war - the most dangerous war we have ever been in. And this guy is in charge?