Free kibbles

FREEDOM OF SPEECH:

Proposal to allow UK police to shut down internet domains without a warrant. Why? If they convince a judge to issue a warrant, they shouldn't be able to shut them down.

SOCIALISM:

The Daily Show skewers union.

ECONOMY:

European stock markets plunge on new bailout and recession fears. This sounds like an opportunity to sell short in the US.

TAX AND SPEND:

In a reminder that emergency money is just a way to buy votes, Obama declared an emergency before tropical storm Irene hit the eastern seaboard, a Democratic stronghold, but he hasn't declared an emergency for wildfires in Texas, a Republican stronghold. Since I don't expect to see Perry picking up a hose and fighting the fires himself, it sounds to me like he's ducking this event.

The New York Times blames lack of a strong central government as the reason Europe can't fix its sovereign debt crisis. Why can't the US fix its? They're using the Articles of Confederation as a symbol to promote more central authority in Europe. They're going the wrong way.

The USPS will default if Congress doesn't save it, which it will.

GLOBAL WARMING AND ENERGY:

Conflict of interest discovered in case of resigned editor: he apparently angered the chairperson at his new job.

WAR:

Wikileaks releases document that shows the US ambassador pretty much gave a green light for Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait, sparking 20 years of US war.

POLITICS:

Obama speech writer goes to Hollywood to write for sitcoms. Why not? Washington is political theater.

Republicans have changed to proportional delegate allocation for primaries held before April 1.

Trouble in the Bachmann camp.

MISC:

Interesting take on Google's business model: we are the product that Google sells to advertisers who are its customers.

Now Ron Paul calls to "get FEMA out of the way", whatever that means. The text says "abolish FEMA", but Paul never says that in the speech. Yesterday he said FEMA's rescue operations were great. Today he describes how FEMA hinders rescues and recovery. This is a perfect example of how his talks are confusing to his and our detriment.

Criticism of anthropologist who claims the theory of money creation is incorrect.