Weblog

A photo essay of the improvised weapons of the Libyan rebels (Alan Taylor, The Atlantic)
I give those guys credit. They are quite brave to be hammering, welding and otherwise monkeying around with live weapons and ammo salvaged from the battlefield. Some of their improvisations (e.g., an aircraft missile launcher mounted on a pick-up truck bed) are quite ingenious if insanely dangerous.

US bases in Afghanistan for decades? (T.P.M. Barnett, Battleland blog)
"We reached success when the Iraqis started demanding we leave. That is what success looks like - not pretty, not perfect, actually kind of awkward. The Afghans want us to stay - after a decade of trying. That is failure staring you in the face."

NATO: An alliance who's time has passed (Ted Galen Carpenter, Daily Caller)

"Washington needs to ask what the purpose is of having allies. This country should not be simply a security partner collector — acquiring allies for the sake of having allies. The NATO “partners” now seem to fit that description."

Review: McMillan DiamondBlade Knife (Dave Petzal, The Gun Nuts blog)
Petzal says it's the best knife he's ever seen. Costs around five hundred bucks not counting tax and shipping. For that price it had better be. Me, I just can't see it. An Opinel knife with a old school style carbon blade is a better value in my opinion. It costs less than fifty bucks (price includes tax, shipping and handling) although it'll rust if you don't take care of it. But if you happen to lose it out in the woods or it gets dropped into the river or whatever you can cheaply replace it.

weblog

Cubans producing homemade guns to defend livestock and crops from thieves.-Generation Y


Bees like nicotine and caffeine as much as people do. - University of Haifa
People in arranged marriages happier over time than those who married for "love". - LA Times
Happy Valentine's Day. Heh.
Chasing The White Dog: A book review about the modern moonshine trade-WSJ
The cat-n-mouse game between the government and the moonshiners has been going on since George Washington sicced the militia on 'em two hundred years ago. And it still goes on today.
How A New Jobless Era Will Transform America - The Atlantic
Don't turn good scientists into poor entrepreneurs - New Scientist
Obama to give commencement speech at Michigan this spring - Michigan Daily
I guess we're all supposed to be honored by this somehow. What it really means though is that in exchange for a thirty minute speech the whole area between DTX and Ann Arbor is gonna be a no-go zone of closed streets, police road blocks, roof-top snipers and constant (and very noisy) aerial fly overs by police helicopters for 48 straight hours. Some honor.

The hubless Zigzain bicycle - Gizmodo
No spokes or axles. Amazing looking. I have no idea how efficient it is as transportation though.



Saturn's rings disappear from view when observer is on the same plane - Astronomy Pic of the Day (02.15.2010)
Macworld a great time despite—or because of—Apple's absence - Ars Technica
“We give the citizens the lack of policing they demand.” - Ann Arbor.com/
Ex-Ann Arbor cop explains how the LEO's here use their discretion in low-level crime situations.
What Are They Up To In Davos?-Adbusters
The poobahs of the capitalist class get together yearly to devise new forms of bread & circuses to lull people into complacency.
Bob Black: The Libertarian As Conservative -
"The state tries to turn its soldiers and policemen into objects of veneration and respect, but uniforms lose a lot of their mystique when you see them on park rangers and garbage men."