Imagine, for a minute, that I have $2000 spending money. After looking around, I decide I can buy (1) a working used car, (2) furniture for my living room, OR (3) renovate my bathtub. I can only have one. Unable to decide, I choose to split the difference, and buy (1) a $200 car, (2) some old furniture (worse than what I already have) and (3) new bathroom mats. Whaddya think?

Although John F. Kennedy became popular after his assassination (JFK's election in 1960 was one of the closest in history up to that time; but after his assassination, two out of three Americans said that they had voted for him in 1960 -- one of these things is not like the other), he was known for trying to split the difference to keep everyone happy. "We'll stand firm against North Vietnam and topple the South Vietnamese government," "we'll train and transport fighters to Cuba to topple Castro, but not provide military support (and keep sending the CIA to assassinate Castro)," etc. Don't get me wrong, Kennedy was good when he went full bore, but he often chose not to go full bore.

The Iraqi Study Group apparently missed the important lessons of Kennedy's presidency. They've decided to make everyone happy, when in reality their suggestions will make no-one happy and be about as successful as the Bay of Pigs invasion.

All day long I've heard how Iraq is in a civil war, even though it doesn't quite fit the legal definition (you will have to search for "civil war" on that list). Looks like it's not really a civil war. More like sweeps week.

I'm perfectly fine with continuing the war on drugs, and I'm perfectly fine with no-knock warrants, but it looks like some police departments need to rethink when they apply for no-knock warrants, and some judges need to look a little closer when signing them.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how this is supposed to work. Why else are we required to give our SSN when we're hired? Can I go ahead and give false numbers from now on?

Wow, violating copyright can be much worse than I thought.

I'm interrupting this blog post to recommend four great posts over at TJIC.

I learn more about history every day.