Cotton, the WTO, and You Tube

November 19th, 2010

I want to share 3 links I uncovered over the past 6 months, 2 of them this week, one thanks to Kara, about the World Trade Organization, how it works, and what Google wants to do with it.

First, an NPR Planet Money podcast about Cotton. The Planet Money team is trying to buy cotton from a cotton farmer, and they get caught up a whirlwind of intentional politics, economics, and enforcement.

Second, if you think cotton is the only industry where this has happens, this re-cap peice from Arstechnica last March sets the record straight about the myriad of WTO claims against the US, which we have ignored or paid off.

Some commentary before we move on. Farm subsidy are awful, economically, you shouldn’t need me to explain that. So we should comply with the WTO decision on cotton. The Antigua ruling about on-line gambling is likewise an easy choice, we should repeal the law and come into compliance. On-line gambling remains legal in Nevada even under the current law, and horse racing exemption make the current policy inconsistent at best. Cuban sanctions should have been lifted long ago, along with all their associated cruft. Now, the music issue, its strange. I think its the Europeans who are wrong on this count, but our radio payment system also needs an overhaul for other reasons. But the real reason why we want a better record for complying with the WTO is because of China, Turkey, and Pakistan.

All of those countries engage in internet censorship. Specifically they have blocked YouTube.com in the past. This Arstechnica piece describes how Google, owner of You Tube, sees that as a very specific trade embargo. If I were the WTO, and based on the Antigua case I would accept that argument and rule against those countries for censorship as it ruled against us. That, if the WTO rulings were enforceable, would be a really great way to force China and the Islamic world to stop censorship, something that sweet talking about human rights has not accomplished in the least.

It all comes down to the Rodrik Hypothesis, which I increasingly see reason to beleive may be accurate. It states roughly that:

Economic globalization, political democracy, and the nation-state are mutually irreconcilable. We can have at most two at one time. Democracy is compatible with national sovereignty only if we restrict globalization. If we push for globalization while retaining the nation-state, we must jettison democracy. And if we want democracy along with globalization, we must shove the nation-state aside and strive for greater international governance.

In this case, as with most that I am prone to like, we are going the globalization + democray route by getting rid of the nation-state. Making the WTO rules enforceable over the sovereignty of the nation-state has the essential action of eliminating what makes a nation-state a nation-state.

Posted in Economics, From the Internet | Comments Closed

Don’t Blame Massachusetts

November 3rd, 2010

We sent a 10 out of 10 democrat delegation to the U.S. House today! Way to go M.A. If only more people lived, here then we could have done more to help. Trust me, I am doing my part, I have 4 room mates in a 4 bedroom house (plus me).

This is proof that:

  • We still love Obama.
  • Only Martha Coakley could have lost to Scott Brown.
  • Mike Capuano (my representative) still rocks! No one even had the balls to run against him in this year of “change.”

So, I don’t want to hear any whining when nothing gets done for the next 2 years. On the plus side Nancy Pelosi is out; if only she could be replaced by someone reasonable, and not John Bohner who’s just as damn fucking crazy as she is. Oh I wish every day was a rally4sanity.

Posted in Politics | Comments Closed

WWGWBD

October 20th, 2010

The Justice Department under president Obama has asked for a stay of execution while they appeal Judge Virginia Phillips’s ruling overthrowing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. What the fuck, Obama! This is exactly what is wrong with you. You have said, repeatedly that “This policy will end and it will end on my watch,” but yet you are now extending the policy, not ending it. This is an example of why your base is not energized in this election. You are going out of your way to fail to do what you promised. You’re recent defense, is no defense at all:

“I can’t simply ignore laws that are out there,” he said. “I have got to work to make sure that they are changed.”

This is true, however, laws can be changed in 2 ways: via congress passing new superseding laws, or via the judicial branch striking down unjust, unconstitutional laws. You have control (well maybe) over the first method, so that’s normally how things are done, but the second method is equally valid. Every law does not have to be defended all the way to the supreme court. It is perfectly legal for a law to be struck down, and the Justice Department to choose not to appeal the loss. We, your supporters all agree this is a bad law and it needs to go, so just let it go, quietly into the night without a fight. Without letting John McCain filibuster any attempt to change it; he can’t filibuster an already finished court decision. By appealing the decision you make this an issue, when it should not be, and you allow for the ruling to be overturned.

At the very least, don’t ask for a stay of execution. A law that you have every intention of repealing was declared unconstitutional by a court and the judgment was that it should not be enforced starting immediately. You like this decision! If you feel you have some legal obligation to appeal this favorable ruling all the way to supreme court, you can at least ensure that the law is not enforced, by simply doing nothing. Thousands of laws are not enforced every day, laws that are perfectly legal. Let this, declared illegal law not be enforced legally by not asking for a stay. You’re just going to repeal it anyways.

Imagine, if you will, that during George W. Bush’s presidency this same court overturned a law that George Bush intended to repeal. He would praise the court for this rare instance of sound judgment amid a tide of judicial activism, and that would be that. He would set aside his claims of legislating from the bench for a few months (ok, days). If questioned on the apparent conflict in his reasoning, he would ignore the question. This is because what he wanted to happen, happened. This sort of thing results in a lot of awfulness, but it does do one thing well: It ensures that you are not the reason that you fail to succeed on your own priorities. I appreciate the thoughtfulness and the duty to the law, but if you want the American people to think that your are getting things done, you need to stop fighting against yourself, and occasionally ask yourself “What Would George W. Bush Do?” At least when it serves the good of the country in a minor, and legal way.

Posted in Politics | Comments Closed

Penobscot River Rafting

September 8th, 2010

Hurricane Earl, if you want to call it that (it was pretty week) hit Boston Friday night, and hit up at the rafting site from 7am to 10am Saturday. I managed to convince everyone to stay home Friday night and drive up Saturday. The rain was all over by the time we got up there. We did talk to some boy scouts who in addition to to crowding the hot tub, had rafted on Saturday, during the storm. They all said it was very wet but they still had fun. I was glad to have no rain on our trip, but it was cloudier, windier, and cooler than I expected, so I was not quite dressed appropriately, and got very cold when the wind and clouds combined. There are some stories about the rapids on the map.


View Penobscot Rafting Trip in a larger map

I also want to tell a brief story about the baby squirrel pictured below. He was tiny and cute and very energetic. He visited us on Sunday at sunset for the first time. He did quite a bit of hiding from me while I was trying to capture his picture. Eventually he scampered off with a bit of wood that he perhaps confused for food. Anyways, when I woke up in the morning at 7am I noticed that our basket of dry food had been left out and not placed in a car. Then I noticed that said basket was rustling, and shortly after that the head of this small squirrel was visible. He exited the basket with what was left of a packet of Hershey’s milk chocolate following a night of smore making. I ran up to him and he ran away, leaving the chocolate on the ground beneath the picnic table. I picked up the chocolate, put it on the table and walked away for a few minutes. When I came back the chocolate was gone without a trace. I sincerely hope that chocolate does not harm small squirrels.

Posted in Maps, Trips | Comments Closed

Google Instant Search

September 8th, 2010

Today Google unveiled Instant Search, which shows results as you type in the search box. I decided to try out a very simple test case to see how it did. I chose the test case “How do I turn off Google Instant Search”, and some shorter versions “Turn off Google Instant Search” and “Google Instant Search Off.” Surprisingly google instant search requires the user type out the entire query for these sure to be popular search terms before returning any useful results. The entire point of Google instant search is to provide results before the user hast to type out the entire query. I’m sure in a few days this fail will be corrected, after some 25% of the internet starts searching for how to make things go back to the way they used to be.

Posted in From the Internet | Comments Closed

A Couple More

August 30th, 2010

My Parents thought this one was the best of the whole sideshow:

These are from Sarah’s Camera:

John at the Jama Masijd.

John is tired of riding this autorichshaw 20km back to the hotel.

The walls of Agra Fort

A wedding ceremony at Sriram’s grandmothers house. This is his ready to go live in the mountains because he has had second thoughts play outfit.

Sign seen on the streets of Hyderabad doesn’t make a whole lot of sense:

Posted in Trips | Comments Closed

India

August 21st, 2010

In June of 2010 my friend Sarah and I took a trip to India (and Amsterdam — see a future post) for my room mate Sriram’s wedding. We went a week early and did some sight seeing in Delhi and Agra in the North before heading to Hyderabad in the south for the wedding.


View India Trip in a larger map

For best viewing, use the in a larger map link. Or, see all the pictures included in the gallery below. Hover text provides captions in the gallery, or click through to cycle one per page.

Posted in Maps, Trips | Comments Closed

Ice Cream Marathon

August 15th, 2010

On Saturday August 14, 2010 the long planned Wednesday Night Dinner Ice Cream Marathon occurred from 1pm until 7:30pm. We followed and approximately 7 mile route from Boston’s North End to Harvard Square in Cambridge following this route:


View Ice Cream Marathon in a larger map

We stopped at each place marked in green. We skipped over duplicate stores, chains, and stores we didn’t know existed. We carried score cards. Here is the digital representation of mine:

Location Time Flavor Size Score (1-10)
1. Gelateria 1:20pm Hazelnut / Vanilla Small 5 / 8
2. Sprinkles 2:00pm Butter Pecan Child 7
3. Emack
& Bolio’s		 2:45pm Cake Batter1 One Scoop 3
4. Picco’s 3:25pm Cinnamon2 One Size 93
5. Bon Bon 4:25pm Pineapple Sorbet One Size 2
6. J. P. Licks 4:55pm Cake Batter Not Available4 0
7. Toscanini’s 5:55pm Cake Batter Kiddie 9
8. Christina’s 6:30pm Corn5 Small 4
9. Lizzy’s 7:30pm Vanilla Cookie Dough Kiddie 6

1Like most flavors at Emack and Bolio’s this cake batter is infused with chocolate. This is not an acceptable thing to do and still call it cake batter, but that is what they do.
2Also bread and water were provided at no cost at Picco’s.
3The flavor of the Cinnamon (and they Honey flavor that I tired) were so intense as to deserve top honors. However, we were unable to finish these flavors due to their intensity.
4J. P. Licks has suddenly, and without warning discontinued the cake batter flavor at all of their locations. This is not acceptable as it was the best cake batter flavor available in the city and my favorite ice cream overall. Until such a time as cake batter is returned to the menu I am forced to boycott J. P. Licks. I did get in line and ask for cake batter, only to be told they they don’t have it, to which I responded, “Ah, never mind then.”
5Bacon flavor was also available and I tried a spoonful of it. Someone got bacon flavor and was unable to finish the salty delicious treat. I had tired corn flavor earlier in the week and thought it quite good, but I was unable to finish my small size of it either.

The clear winner was Picco’s. Picco’s is a sit down pizza restaurant that also hand makes ice cream for their desert menu. They were great sports and sat a table for 13 who intended only to have ice cream. They also provided bread and water at no charge, which was most appreciated. Surprisingly appreciated was the bread! The flavors at Picco’s are intense, rich, and wonderful. I could taste the gainyness of the cinnamon in my ice cream! Everyone agreed this was the best place.

Clear runner up in my book Toscanini’s. Toscanini’s, since inciting me into their store for the first time in years with their ROFLCon inspired “Internet” Flavor (vanilla + grape nerds) has become my favorite ice cream parlor. The fact that J. P. Licks has recently committed seppuku has only help them reach the top. Other excellent recent flavors include Fig Newton, Ginger, and the best remaining cake batter flavor in town! Enough said!

Posted in Around Town, Cooking & Food, Fun, Maps, Wednesday Night Dinner | 1 Comment »

Targeted Advertisement Fail

July 16th, 2010

Although 85% of teens experiance some from of acne it doesn't have to be a rite of passage for your teen.

How many people with teen-aged children do they think there are on Ok Cupid?

Certainly there are people with children on the site. Overwhelmingly these children are toddlers from the random sample of profiles I’ve come across. Note, that is not a statistically random sample at all, but still the number can not be that high. Plus, I was logged in; the site knows for sure that I don’t have any children, let alone teen-aged children. Now, acne could be something people using online dating sites in general might worry about, but I think I would use a different angle to target that audience. Maybe this ad was just not tagged correctly and the software is fine, but in any case, showing me that add is a fail.

Posted in From the Internet | 1 Comment »

Shiner Bock

June 7th, 2010

Shiner Bock is probably my favorite beer, which says a lot considering I am not a huge fan of beer in general. It is not a great beer, but it is easy to drink without cringing, which is a tough test to pass with me. It was the best part about all that traveling to New Mexico. It is a Texas brew, and I was introduced to it when I lived in Austin in the summer of 2006. As Sam Adams is to Boston so Shiner Bock is to Austin, with the exception that Shiner is not brewed in Austin. Of course, most Sam isn’t either so its not a big difference. I mean to say that it is the default beer in Austin, and everywhere has it on tap. The same can be said for the non-chain non-portifino restaurants in Roswell and Alamogordo. On each of my first two trips back from Roswell I brought home a six pack. On my last trip I brought home two six packs in my checked luggage. In all 24 bottles, and only 1 broke in transit. Sadly the pictured bottle is the last one. Shiner Bock is sold in 41 states, but none of them are in New England, so the supply will not be replenished soon. Although, I may spend part of July back out there again, the beer is the only reason to look forward to that, and remember I don’t really like beer.

Posted in Cooking & Food | Comments Closed

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