Kelo Is Not The Last Word

I do not share Mr. Jones' belief that Congress can singlehandedly obviate the Kelo decision with funding withholdings. What will happen, instead, is that the courts will be forced to figure out what in the world Congress means in its vague formulation. And, of course, Congress being what it is, exemptions (this being law, not justice) will be the newest form of pork-trading, fundamentally returning us to the Kelo standard.

"Secret Air War Seals the Case for War Crime Charges"

Among the other counts against Bush in the dock will be deliberate violations of international law to provide a pretext for war. No wonder the administration won't endorse the ICJ.

Myers-Briggs Shortcut

I've been looking for a reasonable length Myers-Briggs test for a while. This one is 40 questions, and, as usual, I wish there was a way to indicate questions that could easily go both ways.

Your #1 Match: INTP

The Thinker You are analytical and logical - and on a quest to learn everything you can. Smart and complex, you always love a new intellectual challenge. Your biggest pet peeve is people who slow you down with trivial chit chat. A quiet maverick, you tend to ignore rules and authority whenever you feel like it. You would make an excellent mathematician, programmer, or professor.

Your #2 Match: ISTP

The Mechanic You are calm and collected, even in the most difficult of situations. A person of action and self-direction, you love being independent. To outsiders you seem impulsive, surprising, and unpredictable. You are good at understanding how all things work, except for people. You would make an excellent pilot, forensic pathologist, or athlete.

Your #3 Match: ENTP

The Visionary You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression. You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything. Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off. You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments. You would make a great entrpreneur, marketing executive, or actor.

What's Your Personality Type?

Google Accelerator Brings Satire to Life

I remember the first time I read the expanded Assembly Command Set with such immortal tools as "branch and hang" and "Convert to Roman Numerals" and, my personal favorite, "halt and catch fire." (Here's an even bigger collection).

Well, Google has gone ahead and done it. Their new Accelerator tool actually clicks and caches everything on a web page, ignoring little distractions like Javascript confirmation dialogues, including delete and abort buttons. Needless to say, this isn't good.... there's a patch. Does Google also sell back-up utilities, I wonder? [via All About Access]

Pick a Card.....

You are elegant, withdrawn, and brilliant. Your mind is a weapon, able to solve any puzzle. You are also great at poking holes in arguments and common beliefs. For you, comfort and calm are very important. You tend to thrive on your own and shrug off most affection. You prefer to protect your emotions and stay strong.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

[via Natalie Bennett]

OK, let's talk.

A conservative offers a truce, ground rules for serious discussion. Problem? Aside from the hard left, the fringe, most of what he requests of his interlocuters has already been conceded. Not so sure the converse applies, but at the very least he's willing to talk.

Still, it's a really good move towards something resembling a middle ground, and I'll have more thoughts about it later. It's nice to discover that there might be someone out there I can talk to.

My Taste in ROCK Music

Your Taste in Rock Music:

Classic Rock: High Influence

80's Rock: Medium Influence

80's Pop: Low Influence

Progressive Rock: Low Influence

How's Your Taste in (Rock) Music?

Of course, the complete lack of folk, classical, jazz....Beatles? I was prepared to dislike this quiz, but if you carefully check only acts that you really like, it comes out OK. It noted the complete lack of pop influence, at least.

Hey, I hadn't done a quiz in a while. This one's quick.

God Doesn't Blink....

[via Mr. Sun]

Real Life Rorschach

I saw this personalized license plate today. What do you think it's supposed to mean?

N8Z1

I'll weigh in soon, but not yet.
[Thanks to Avedon Carol for her links, and deepest sympathies for her loss]

History Carnival XI

Brandon has put more effort than usual into the visual aspects of the History Carnival (fun with bullets!), and also done a very nice job with sorting and introducing material. The role of alcohol in civilization is worth the price of admission alone. The Procession of the Cliopatriarchs has great stuff as well, particularly Luker and Ahmed's. Not new to me, but great stuff.