True to form, when the time comes to back words up with deeds Arlen Specter has never met a matter of principle on which he won’t cave. In fact I can’t imagine why anybody would take his “concern” over Mukasey at face value. Specter has folded on the torture issue several times already, so why should this time turn out any different? If you want principles, forget fake mavericks like Specter, Graham and Warner and instead look to the vanishingly small cadre of unrepentant pains in the ass like Chuck Hagel. The difference between play-acting and following through couldn’t be more obvious.
Atlanta May Require Businesses to Recycle
Although I consider myself to be a small “l” libertarian at heart, when I see something like this, it makes me very happy:
Atlanta could become the first major U.S. city to require businesses to recycle.
Legislation that will be considered Nov. 5 by the Atlanta City Council would create a 16-member task force that would spend nine months studying a mandatory recycling program for businesses operating in the city.
The legislation has the support of a majority of the council and Mayor Shirley Franklin, a proponent of other environmentally friendly initiatives including green building practices and combating global warming.
Normally, I’m very wary of government using its police power, but there are times when things just aren’t happening fast enough. In my opinion, recycling is one of those things. And since I don’ t think anyone’s life, liberty, or property is being affected in any way, I don’t much consider it a violation of anyone’s rights (unless you believe there is a constitutional right to litter.)
In 1998, I lived in a small town just outside of Halifax, NS in Canada. Every resident had 3 bins. Yes, 3. One for regular trash, one for compost, and one for recycling (bottles, cans, paper, etc.) The trash bin was the smallest of the three. I remember thinging that if government is going to use its police power to force anything on the community, then this is one thing I could get behind. You could actually be fined if your trash bin contained items that should have been in the recycle bin.
And seeing the all the recyclable material that is regularly carted away from the buildings where I work, it’s something I would love to see put into action.
Atlanta May Require Businesses to RecyclePost + Comments (38)
Dope Floats
I was doing my daily chores (reading Red State, Malkin, Hugh, etc.), when I came across something equal parts terrifying and intriguing:
From Old World sophistication to New World energy, South America is a balance of opposites. Life pulsates with remarkable diversity in South America – not only in its music, but in its widely contrasting landscapes, cultures and cuisines.
It is a land of stunning extremes – the world’s highest waterfall, longest mountain range, driest desert and largest rain forest. Stretching from the steaming Amazon basin to the bone-dry Atacama desert to the glacial peaks of the Andes, South America contains enough beauty and soul-searing diversity to quicken the pulse of the most experienced traveler.
Inclusions, Pricing & Details
* Per person fares begin at $6095 based on double occupancy.
12 Nights Aboard the All Suite – All Balcony Seven Seas Mariner
* $200 per suite Shipboard Credit
* Special Reduced Fare Economy Class Airfare Available
* Private Welcome Reception with Hugh & David
* Exclusive Seminars with Hugh and David
* Private Farewell Reception with Hugh and David
* Select Wine and Spirits & All Non- Alcoholic Beverages Anytime
* On Ship Gratuities Included
* New bookings only
* Certain restrictions apply
* Offer is capacity controlled, subject to availability
* Single Supplement applies
* Deposit of 10% due at time of booking.
* Final Payment is due by November 21, 2007.
* Rates do not include port charges of $323.00 per person, fuel surcharge may apply
* Remember you must book your cruise package through Sterling Travel, Inc. to attend the Hugh Hewitt exclusive events
We have to get someone on this ship, and I know who is perfect for this mission.
*** Update ***
Apparently, other cruises of comparable lengths cost only $3000. The other $3095 for this cruise must be the cost of stupid. Apparently Hugh is unaware we can get that for free when we read his website.
Photographic rendition of Cruising with Hugh, here.
Open Thread
Always trust the commenters to inform me when we need an open thread.
Jim Henley Hates America
Watch as Jim Henley uses history to prove that he hates America:
Absent a terrorist assault on Turkish territory from within an American protectorate, the resolution would be merely galling. Barely 20 years before the 1915-17 ethnic cleansing of Turkey’s Armenians, the US was still wrapping up its own comprehensive forced march of its indigenous enemies. The spectacular arrogance of the Armenian genocide resolution would probably be a transitory offense, one more in a long example of America’s “do as we say, not as we do” pedagogy to the world. The bizarre notion that the American government has to render judgment on every historical event would still count as a warning, to pretty much everyone, but not necessarily a pressing one.
When will the leftist assaults on this country stop? I bet he only wrote that because he hates Bush.
Things That Make You Say Geek
Last night, while trying to fall asleep, I was thinking of a list of things that when I hear someone say them/reference them/joke about them, I immediately know I am dealing with a geek (not that there is anything wrong with that). So far:
1.) “These aren’t the droids you are looking for.”
2.) All your base are belong to us.
3.) Han Shot First.
Let’s expand this list. Consider this an open thread.
Thomas Barnett On Iraq
If you don’t know about it, the annual TED talks program has a vaguely creepy Ayn Rand/Mensa club-of-supergeniuses vibe to it, but I have to admit that the eclectic speakers list includes some truly excellent talks. For example, this 2005 presentation by military strategist Thomas Barnett covers the same ground that us blogs have hashed over for years, yet somehow he packs in three four major ideas that hadn’t occurred to me before, or at least not as clearly. And it’s funny. Give it a listen and see whether you agree.
Also – Al Gore speaking in 2006. Guess the topic!