Monthly Archives: June 2011

Drinking in the Southwest

Posted on June 28, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

Following AMW’s advice, I’m drinking in the Southwest. A few beers are always appropriate, after all. We’re currently in San Jose, where the Plaza Cafe, recommended, iirc, by D.C. Sessions is temporarily closed due to a fire. Plans to go … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Thank You, New York

Posted on June 25, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

Everyone reading this surely already knows that the New York legislature passed a bill authorizing same-sex marriages, but I can’t let the occasion go by without taking notice of it. First, congratulations to all the happy couples who will soon … Continue reading →

Posted in The Democratic Process | 8 Comments

Hai Yatus

Posted on June 19, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

I’m on vacation until early July, so there’ll be little to no new posting during that time. Thanks to those who gave me New Mexico tips. Enjoy our time apart!

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Originalism as Infantilism

Posted on June 17, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

In a discussion about constitutional interpretation at another blog it suddenly struck me that originalism is a form of infantilism. What originalists long for is a single clear authoritative and unquestionable interpretation of what the Constitution means. And that’s really … Continue reading →

Posted in The Supremes | 11 Comments

Syria Photo Gallery

Posted on June 16, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

With Syria in the news and events there looking increasingly ugly, I’d like to post a few pictures from my 2008 trip there, just to try to make Syria at least marginally more real and less abstract. I may have … Continue reading →

Posted in The Democratic Process | 2 Comments

The Surprisingly Lively “Dying” Grand Rapids

Posted on June 15, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

Newsweek published an article on the top 10 dying cities in the U.S. Three Michigan cities made the list. Unsurprisingly, two of them were Flint and Detroit. Considerably less unsurprising was the inclusion of Grand Rapids. Their criteria seem to … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics in General | 2 Comments

Political Junkies in Need of an Intervention

Posted on June 15, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

Apparently there were people–even liberals–who watched the Republican candidates’ “debate” a couple nights ago. I’m not embarrassed to admit I didn’t even know about it until well into the next day. Addiction is an ugly thing, particularly with a substance … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics in General | Comments Off on Political Junkies in Need of an Intervention

Bad Health Care Analogies

Posted on June 14, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

I haven’t argued in favor of a single-payer healthcare system (or of the awkwardly named Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act*), and I’m not ready to start doing so. But some arguments just aren’t persuasive, like this dreadful analogy from … Continue reading →

Posted in Economical Musings | 3 Comments

Crowd-Sourced Constitutional Convention

Posted on June 14, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

Iceland is crowdsourcing the process of developing a new constitution. This ought to be a fascinating case-study for democratic and constitutional theorists, but how generalizable could it be? Offhand I can think of three reasons it may not be applicable … Continue reading →

Posted in The Democratic Process | 4 Comments

Bad Dog

Posted on June 10, 2011 by J@m3z Aitch

Maryland’s Flying Dog Brewery has a bone to pick with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. The brewery gives all of its varieties dog-related names, but the MLCC is drawing the line at Raging Bitch brew on the grounds that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Laws-Damned Laws-and Statists, The Nanny State | 5 Comments