The Ministry of Minor Perfidy

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The Thinking Man's Redneck

I'm a Vulgarian, you fuck

Standing athwart history, shouting 'Maybe!'

Family man, renaissance man, boxers man

Zombie killing, with flair and flourish

Java programmer, contrarian, and resident lefty

Minister Emeritus

Windy City Mike
social democrat, ca. 1930 trade-unionist, and professor of alleged history

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Thursday, June 26, 2003

More on moralism

Alex Knapp at Heretical Ideas elaborates on my Scalia-bashing, and applies it more broadly:

You know, it’s odd how some conservatives like to have their cake and eat it, too when it comes to the state/society distinction. On the one hand, many conservatives argue that just because the state isn’t providing for the poor and homeless doesn’t mean that society won’t step up to fill in the gap. And yet, many of those same conservatives will turn right around and say that if we don’t keep drugs illegal, or we don’t maintain the ban on gay marriage, then society will just fall apart. So apparently, people are perfectly capable and responsible enough to provide for each other without state intervention, but if we can legally get high at the coffeeshop or marry someone of the same sex, then we’ll become junkies and leave our families for crazy gay Objectivists because hey, now we can! Anyone else see the incongruity there?

Yep.

Posted by Johno on 06/26/03 at 09:01 PM
Partisan Politics • Permalink

Exhortation

Matt Welch, in a great article on immigration policy, says:

But ignored laws, suddenly enforced, will do more than weed out criminals and terrorists. It will drive people—including good, hard-working people—into the deepest of the black markets, never to interact with a government agency except maybe in the emergency room, or at the local jail.

Yes! This applies in every area of law: immigration, tax policy, municipal laws, the sodomy ruling today from the SCOTUS, the “drug war” ad infinitum ad nausem. And all of you who have, not should read The Crying of Lot 49 now. Even if you find it to be the worst kind of pretentious wankery, and you may, you should still read it.

Oh, and also, The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips is one of the greatest albums ever made. Today at least, it is the greatest. You may find it to be the worst kind of pretentious wankery. I disagree.

Posted by Johno on 06/26/03 at 07:42 PM
Just So You Know • Permalink

A Layman’s Guide To Bayesian Filtering

This is possibly the most boring headline I have ever written. Who cares! It’s interesting! Via slashdot comes this story which explains a Bayesian approach to email spam-filtering in easy to understand terms. Read it here!

Posted by Johno on 06/26/03 at 07:26 PM
Just So You Know • Permalink

Justice Scalia versus common sense

Score one for privacy!! Today, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that essentially overturned all state sodomy laws still on the books. The decision was 6-3, and Scalia, Rehnquist, and Thomas dissented. Scalia took the unusual step of reading his dissent from the bench:

“The court has largely signed on to the so-called homosexual agenda. . . .The court has taken sides in the culture war,” Scalia said, adding that he has “nothing against homosexuals.”

Oh Really, sir? And I bet some of your best friends are homosexuals, too.

Scalia is this close to being a great justice, and would be but for his willingness to let his own moral codes take precedence over legal questions.

[moreover] Although I applaud strict constructionism of the Constitution in general, I feel it has limits. Much like few Christians follow every single word of the Bible, Constitutional fundamentalism is an irrational and unsound, though logically safe, philosophy.

Posted by Johno on 06/26/03 at 04:04 PM
Perfidy Attacks • Permalink

Outage

So, this blog has been rolled over to the “new” blogger template, which wiped out the ability to post yesterday.

Now, I’m off on vacation so posting from me will be light to nonexistent. Over to you, WCM and Mr. Bucket!

Oh yes, and the comments are not working.

Johnny Two-Cents at Blogspot: Not Just Another Dog And Pony Show.

Posted by Johno on 06/26/03 at 02:59 PM
Just So You Know • Permalink

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Wisdom From The Head Weasel

No, not those Weasels. Screeching Weasel! Ben Weasel, erstwhile singer of that celebrated, beloved smartasspunkrock band, now has a ‘blog. It’s a good one, found at http://weaselmanor.blogspot.com. Ben recently weighed in with a long essay about file sharing, and it’s full of greatness, wit and wisdom. His thesis in a nutshell: “don’t lie to yourself: it’s stealing, a-hole!” Excerpted:

More Perfidious Goodness...

“Musician” is the only job title in the world other than “monk,” “nun,” or “priest,” where those who benefit the most from your work expect you to do that work for cost, or free. At least monks and priests get health benefits. But to the music fan, musicians should be martyrs for their art. Believe me, it’s scary to realize that your financial future rests in the hands of a demented child who really, really loves you - as long as you behave according to a stringent set of creative and financial rules, that is. Music fans – again, the true fanatics, the bellowing minority - seem to have two personalities: plodding, overly affectionate lummox, and hyper, shrill arbiter of musical correctness. The music fan is constantly checking up on us to make sure that we know we’re adored as well as to ensure that we’re suffering properly and sufficiently. The reason we keep the fans at arm’s length is because if we don’t, we’re liable to end up playing Curley’s wife to their Lenny. . . .

Legally and ethically speaking, of course, you have no right to steal from anyone. Justifying your theft with “Oh, they’re all rich” or “Well, the major labels are crooks anyway” might make you feel better about yourself, but you’re still a thief. Yet in a way, I don’t blame you, at least not for wanting a little revenge. You’ve been ripped off. The majors gouged you – they were busted for it, for crying out loud – and it’s not the first time they screwed you. They’ve been doing it since rock and roll began. They are the reason that quality and success are unrelated concepts in rock and roll. They are in the business of bullying, lying, cheating and stealing. But as wrong as they are – and let’s not forget that they’ve screwed musicians right along with fans – as wrong as they are in practically everything they do, they are right about stealing music. I don’t like to agree with the RIAA – they certainly don’t represent any musician I know – but they are right. Stealing IS wrong, and Internet theft of music IS killing the industry. Maybe the industry deserves to die – I don’t know. But is it worth putting so many people out of business (not to mention losing their creative voices) to get back at what amounts to a handful of very wealthy, very powerful people who, regardless of what you do, will remain very wealthy and very powerful? I don’t think so – working towards an alternative would seem to make more sense. . . .

You’ll be left, for all practical purposes, with two groups of musicians. The first will consist of musicians who aren’t any good and never were and were formerly engaged primarily in attempts to convince suckers in Estonia to download the dopey love songs and experimental art-rock they recorded on their four-tracks; these self-indulgent, pretentious rank amateurs will be your new alternative and they will rule the college radio charts. In the second group will be the musicians you’ll be hearing on commercial radio and seeing on TV. They will be the Survivors Of The Fattest. . . .

This revolution of theft is having an effect on the industry, no question. But it’s not taking out the big guns. They aren’t going anywhere. You’re killing the little guy. You’re ruining the very people that make music interesting, exciting, and vital. I hope you can manage to enjoy what will be left over, and when that day comes – and it’s coming fast – at least don’t insult our intelligence by blaming Metallica or the RIAA or Warner Bros. At least try to be honest enough to admit that it was your own willingness to rip off your heroes – whether out of greed, or misplaced moral outrage, or both - that drove us out of the business. Don’t blame the big, bad corporations for killing rock and roll. Blame yourselves.

Too Goddamn Much Perfidy...

Posted by Johno on 06/24/03 at 07:46 PM
Entertainment • Permalink

Update

Last week, I linked to a story about a woman who was pulled over in Ohio for breastfeeding while driving. Nice little episode, right? Well, it’s still rolling! Check this out! Turns out the father is suing to be sole defendant, arguing under Mosaic law the father is the sole head of the household and responsible for all members therein. They’re members of a sect (here’s the main page), of course. The family vows to take this all the way to the Supreme Court on the grounds of religious freedom, claiming they are being harassed by the great state of Ohio.

This is an interesting-- even complicated-- matter, but whatever. Under Ohio law, you can’t breastfeed while driving, period. A $100 fine could have been paid by the woman, end of story, except that according to her husband, that would have been bearing false witness, rendering her hellbound. Now it’s a federal case. Literally.

Read the article. Great stuff in there. I swear.

A special bonus for those who know me well-- can you spot familiar places in the article? I bet you can!!

Posted by Johno on 06/24/03 at 05:47 PM
Darwin Award Contender • Permalink

Da Bears

I seem to recall the Bears did acquire Kordell Stewart from the Steelers recently, and intend to play him at quarterback. So, this naming thing is only the second dumbest move of the off-season.

Posted by Johno on 06/24/03 at 03:43 PM
Darwin Award Contender • Permalink

The Limit

I see via fark that the Chicago Bears are now going to call themselves, wherever possible, ”Bears football presented by Bank One“.

No, I’m not kidding. Really, I’m not.

You can call me old-fashioned, hypocritical, or conservative if you like, but the DAY the Cleveland Browns change their name to Browns football presented by Goodyear, I drive seven hundred miles to Ohio with a tire iron, a roll of duct tape, and a car with a three-body-big trunk to take care of some business.

I have no problem with corporate sponsorship per se-- it’s as big a part of modern sport as growth hormone, endorsement contracts, and drug convictions. But of all the stupid… cynical.... *sputter* ... They sold their name??

Posted by Johno on 06/24/03 at 03:36 PM
Unmitigated Gall • Permalink

Trial Of The Century

Calpundit asks a very good question.

Every time there’s a big trial the media names it the “Trial of the Century.” But it occurred to me the other day that now that the 20th century is over, we should be able to decide which trial really was the Trial of the Century (American version).
Leopold and Loeb? Sacco and Vanzetti? The Lindbergh baby kidnapping? Julius and Ethel Rosenberg? The Chicago 7? Patty Hearst? OJ?

A reader also mentions the Scopes trial, which would probably get my vote, and I would have to add in more: the Debs trial; Nuremburg (though a military tribunal); Roe v. Wade.
The problem with choosing just one trial of the century is that all the standouts are so iconic, and for different reasons. Anti-communism. Xenophobia/Anti-immigrant sentiment. Racism. Anti-Semitism (repeatedly). Class. Culture. Morality. The damn anarchists. If nothing else, an interesting mind exercise which illustrates what you believe to be the single dominant theme in 20th century US-weighted history.

Posted by Johno on 06/24/03 at 02:19 PM
Entertainment • Permalink

Synthesis

Mike, it occurs to me that the one arena where your argument about class being more important to Americans than race is affirmative action. I was partially mistaken in arguing the contrary, and I apologize.

In fact, affirmative action illustrates your point perfectly. If it weren’t for class, AA would not be as widely considered as necessary because class-derived performance issues (including those attributed to the legacy of segregation, i.e. race) would be less of a concern. In fact, I remember writing something to that effect a while back, so I am doubly remiss in contradicting you.

More Perfidious Goodness...

Posted by Johno on 06/24/03 at 02:19 PM
Just So You Know • Permalink

More on Libraries

Upon discussions with Goodwife Two-Cents (who knows about such things), I find I was wrong about something yesterday (no!). While I was correct that public libraries generally do not receive operating money from the Federal Government, they do receive lots of Federal funding in the form of grants. That’s how they buy computers. With library budgets slashed to the bone, libraries have two options to buy new computers for patron and administrative use: federal grant money, or Bill Gates’ largesse. The first comes with strings attached, the other is rather rare. As a result, the Supreme Court’s decision yesterday to uphold the CIPA will have an immediate, and unfortunate, effect on public libraries.

Posted by Johno on 06/24/03 at 02:08 PM
Just So You Know • Permalink

Irish Americans and Whiteness

Well, I had an extended post on the subject and I lost it. I’ll be brief. First, I’ll reiterate my intense hatred for Noel Ignatiev and his so-called book that is really a big pile of crap. Second, whiteness studies, including Noel Ignoramus’, argue that the Irish were racially distinct in Anglo-Saxon America and then tried to become white. Really? All the Irish Americans in all of America all got together at a meeting and voted unanimously to become white? In order to do so, they also voted to hate African Americans and be mean, evil, racist, awful terribly people. Where are the minutes of that meeting? There was no meeting. Irish Americans, like every other ethnic group, have simply wanted better for their children than they had. That’s it. End of story. I’ve touched on this in previous posts so I won’t belabor it here. I’ll just say this. Sure. Members of the Irish-American ethnic group have, and some still do, prejudged others. But other ethnic groups are exempt from this? Hardly. In a previous post I wrote that my mother used to tell me that there’s good and bad in all kinds, and that most American ethnic historians weren’t paying attention if their mother told them the same thing.

Thus, whiteness studies are another way for the IT to browbeat Irish Americans. They decided to become white by hating African Americans. They are evil horrible people.

Oh, go sit on your Ivory Tower and spin.

Posted by Mike on 06/24/03 at 06:35 AM
Perfidy Attacks • Permalink

Monday, June 23, 2003

Oh, Riiiight…

This is why the rest of the country thinks we’re a joke. From Reason’s blog:

“Accessibility for all is very important,” says the Web site for the town of Shutesbury, Massachusetts. “Please remember all public events in Shutesbury are fragrance free.”
If you are wondering what “fragrance free” means, there’s a helpful explanation here from Ziporah Hildebrandt, chairperson of Shutesbury’s ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Committee. If you’re planning to go to a select board meeting or visit the public library during Fragrance Free Hours, you should

shower beforehand using baking soda instead of soap and shampoo. Baking soda effectively removes many odors. Change into clothing that has not been dry cleaned or laundered with scented products, especially fabric softeners, and has not been around smoke or fragrances. Rinse contaminated clothes with baking soda. Dry without additives. Wear a hat to contain residual odors from hair products. Wear an uncontaminated shirt over your other clothing. Depending on the event, these measures may be sufficient. Ask others present if your clothing, hair, etc. is a problem. Leave if you cause discomfort to others, or sense that your presence may be a problem. Remember: “An ounce of prevention!” Planning ahead to be free of scents is the easiest and best solution.

The connection between accessibility and fragrance freeness is “multiple chemical sensitivity,” a syndrome that, according to Hildebrandt, makes its sufferers vulnerable to “extremely upsetting symptoms as well as irreparable damage” from “just one whiff of many chemicals.” Combine this contention with the logic of the ADA, and we may all be forced to go fragrance free one day--not just in government buildings but in any business identified as a “place of public accommodation.” Since “just one whiff” is reportedly all it takes to cause “severe pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, respiratory distress and other symptoms,” separate sections for the fragrant will not cut it.

Jesus. Good think I had my underarms botoxed, or I’d be a damn pariah!
FYI, Shutesbury is a small town about fifteen miles north of Amherst, a pretty cool little place like you find in that area where farmers and hippies can coexist in peace. Entertainingly, Shutesbury is governed by selectmen and open town meetings. Question: can barring citizens from town meetings on grounds of fragrance be construed as violating the 24th Amendment? (Probably not, but it’s still not right.)

Posted by Johno on 06/23/03 at 07:12 PM
Darwin Award Contender • Permalink

Thinking of the children, again

In regard to my post this morning on the Supremes upholding the Children’s Internet Protection Act, I have to ask… if the Court is leaving it up to “community standards” to determine what gets filtered from library to library, what is the point of upholding the law in the first place??

Posted by Johno on 06/23/03 at 07:00 PM
Unmitigated Gall • Permalink

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