The Biggest Obstacle to Blogging
Megan McArdle reports that she has had a fourth bicycle stolen since moving to DC, all of them locked, all of them at her home, the most recent inside a stockade fence. In frustration, she observes, "I think I'm done with bike commuting. I'd rather just hand out $100 bills to random people on the street; at least I ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 21, 2009 13:47
Gay Teen Prom Queen
The YahooNews headline "Openly gay teen voted prom queen at LA high school" did its intended task of enticing me to click to read the AP story: An openly gay teen was voted prom queen at Los Angeles' Fairfax High School in a campaign that began as a stunt but ended up spurring discussion on the campus about gender roles ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on May 28, 2009 15:50
U.S. Presidents and Royal Protocol
The Obamas are coming under criticism from around the blogosphere for their dealings with royals. First, Barack Obama gave Queen Elizabeth II a video iPod filled with some rather add materials (along with an actually thoughtful gift). Then, Michelle Obama got into trouble for getting too familiar with the the queen. Now, Barack Obama is getting chastised for bowing to ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on April 3, 2009 07:45
OTB Latenight – Queen/David Bowie
No further comment required: UPDATE: Video replaced.Posted in Outside The Beltway on August 1, 2008 22:15
Caption Contest Winners
The Queen and I Edition OTB Caption ContestTM is now over. (Larry Downing/Reuters) ✰ THE WINNERS ✰ First: Maggie Mama - "I say, it seems like Russert still has a few questions for you, Georgie." Second: Suzanne Berton - It's a bird; it's a plane; no, it's your father sky diving again. Third: Wyatt Earp - "And one night when we ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on June 24, 2008 21:18
Caption Contest
Time for the Thursday OTB Caption ContestTM (Larry Downing/Reuters) Winners will be announced Monday PMPosted in Outside The Beltway on June 19, 2008 06:14
What Is A Fair Copyright Term?
James Wimberly writes in favor of drastically limiting copyright terms.[T]he 21-year limit of Queen Anne's Act (footnote) provided adequate incentives for authors; the 95 years or life-plus-75 years of contemporary IP law is a giveaway to a clever lobby of wealthy engrossers of the commons. If you don't believe me, check out Justice Breyer's dissent in Eldred v. Ashcroft and ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on May 19, 2008 00:55
McCain Responsible for Influence Peddling?
Today's New York Times has a very long and detailed article regarding John McCain's relationship with real estate developer Donald Diamond, a relationship that at least raises questions about whether Sen. McCain improperly used his influence as United States Senator to benefit a major donor.For Mr. McCain, the Arizona Republican who has staked two presidential campaigns on pledges to avoid ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on April 22, 2008 10:20
Texas Tech Profs Revolt Over Teaching
Some professors at Texas Tech are warning of dire consequences if the university goes forward with a massive increase in enrollment, especially if it is achieved by forcing teachers to teach more. Some of Texas Tech's most prestigious professors are concerned about their chancellor's drive to increase the student body from 28,000 to 40,000 by 2020. They especially are concerned about ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on April 17, 2008 08:06
Caption Contest Winners
The Wrong Day To Give Up Sniffing Glue Edition OTB Caption ContestTM is now over. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ✰ THE WINNERS ✰ First: Hodink - "Negative Ads? Moi???" Second: William d'Inger - Listen up, Monica, no Lincoln bedroom sleepovers for you. Third:(tie) Scott_T - Bill, you're in luck! The giant behind me does like gladiator movies. Third:(tie) bugalugs - BILL!!!! Put you pants ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on March 6, 2008 18:32
MI6 Denies Killing Princess Diana
British intelligence denies killing Princess Di. The former head of MI6 denied Wednesday that the British intelligence agency was responsible for the car accident that killed Princess Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi al Fayed, in 1997. Sir Richard Dearlove, who was the director of special operations for the agency at the time of Diana's Paris accident, testified at the inquest into ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on February 20, 2008 14:18
Michael Vick’s Dogs
Good news for some of Michael Vick's dogs. Ten of the dogs have been taken in by a dog rescue group in San Francisco called Bad Rap. All ten dogs on well on their way to transitioning from a short brutal lives as warriors under a brutal and sadistic man to lives as happy family dogs. His back resting ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on January 27, 2008 15:18
Miss Belgium Doesn’t Speak Dutch
Alizee Poulicek, the new Miss Belgium, speaks three languages. Unfortunately, Dutch is not among them. Belgium's political tensions entered the glamour stakes after it was revealed that the new Miss Belgium does not speak Dutch. Alizee Poulicek, who comes from the country's French-speaking region, was booed by some of the 4,000 audience when she admitted that she could not understand a ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on December 17, 2007 18:22
Hillary Clinton No Longer ‘Inevitable’
While I remain firmly in the camp that it's almost inconceivable that Hillary Clinton won't win the Democratic nomination, a growing number of people think they see the wheels coming off the bandwagon. Obama supporter Mark Kleiman believes the planted question kerfuffle has "legs" and that "the moment she stops being inevitable, we have a whole new ballgame." ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on November 15, 2007 09:45
Hillary Clinton Earmark Queen
Hillary Clinton has been amazingly effective in bringing home the pork to New York, Alexander Bolton reports for The Hill. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) has won tens of millions of dollars more in federal earmarks this year than her rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, even though two of them have significantly more Senate seniority. A review of the first three ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on November 9, 2007 11:28
