bkdunn.com

I’m re-posting this (originally compiled this list in ’04 or so). Seems ever-useful. These are the number of deaths in 2001 by cause and IIRC there were some other causes in the 10-14 range that got omitted because they started getting redundant and/or uninteresting (there are many types of cancer). Lung cancer: 157,400 Car accidents: [...]

Saw this sign at the Long Beach airport on my way up to Seattle over the weekend: First off, I’m glad that the TSA is finally getting around to their most important assignment: self-preservation through public relations. Otherwise known as scaring people into thinking that they’re still relevant. I love these accomplishments, though. System wide, [...]

In case you somehow missed the news, as of today you’re no longer allowed to leave the United States without a passport. Previously, other countries might have required a passport in order to enter them, but as of now (well, this morning), your government decides whether you’re allowed to leave its jurisdiction. More here. Y’know, [...]

The definition of “fascism” has gotten pretty squirrely since Benito Mussolini coined the term to define his governing principles. The current street definition seems to be something along the lines of “stuff that someone else does that I don’t like”. The definition drift seems unfortunate — its core definition is something that, IMHO, needs a [...]

Or maybe those are synonyms — whatever. Just saw this on Cato-at-Liberty: (The recording and interview with the guy are the good part, the rest of the clip is usual FoxNews grandstanding and chest-thumping.) Seriously, though, how can anyone *not* have a problem with a quasi-police force at the airport that’s not responsible enough to [...]

Fascism = “the welfare of the state is more important than the welfare of the individual”. Seatbelt laws. Patriot Act. Airport security. Airport closures for “suspicious comments” (and exploded batteries). Homeland security. DUI checkpoints. Helmet laws. Mandatory waiting periods. Car seat laws. School attendance requirements. Having to register with your driver’s license in order to [...]

Somehow I think this is useful to consider:   So I dunno. I think *most people* would say that the columns don’t matter nearly as much as the lines. They’d rather a positive outcome from a bad intent than a negative outcome from a good intent. In theory, I think most people would agree to [...]

A few (several?) weeks ago, I went out to Yorba Linda to check out the Nixon Library, seeing as it’s not that far away and I hadn’t ever been to a presidential library before. Ate lunch in Placentia at Carl’s Jr., among whose customers that day I believe I was the only one who hadn’t [...]

It turns out that San Francisco is going to put a net around the Golden Gate Bridge in order to prevent people from committing suicide. If someone really has the audacity and desperation to throw themselves off a bridge, it kind of seems like we should let them. If someone wants to die, why does [...]

The case against the bailout (or a case): http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/29/miron.bailout/index.html I suppose the upside of all this is that at least the presidential election is starting to focus on things that matter. Of course it doesn’t help that both candidates agree on the same mid-bellcurve policies of failure. Oh well — maybe next time. And I [...]