Politics of Osama-hunting, Revisited

Earlier this month I blogged on The New Republic's allegation of a Bush administration plan to announce the capture of a high value terrorist during the DNC. After initial, I started reading some more skeptical voices in, for example The Corner at The National Review Online, and I calmed down abit.

But lo and behold: Andrew Sullivan reports that a scenario very similar to the one the TNR predicted has just unfolded today, on the final day of the DNC.

While keeping a skeptical eye, this is somewhat suspicious.

11th Circuit Says No to Dildos

(thanks to How Appealing for the link)

In a 2-1 decision, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals just upheld an Alabama law banning the sale of sex toys. I thought this did a good job analyzing the ruling.

Personally, I liked this quote from the Alabama statute in question, exempting from the prohibition the sale of sexual devices

for a bona fide medical, scientific,
educational, legislative, judicial, or law enforcement purpose.

(emphasis added)
What could judges and law enforces possibly need a dildo for? Perhaps Oklahoma Judge Donald Thompson could give us a clue?

You can reach the full decision of the 11th Circuit here.

Non-Conventional

Yes, I know, I haven't been posting on the Democratic National Convention. But I have good excuses!
1) I have mono.
2) I don't care what any of the speakers have to say.
3) For the only exception to #2, Barack Obama, I was at the rained-out Orioles/Red Sox game with my buddy, probably catching pneumonia to complement my mono. Second hand at least, Obama was phenomonal (The New Republic raves here and in variously lesser degrees here and here.

After tonight, when John "I served in Vietnam" Kerry officially accepts the nomination, we can put this entire thing behind us.

And for true election fun, try this from Addicting Games.

Slow News

Its been rather slow on the news front recently. So, I'll just post some funny links that people of the intellectual persuasion might find amusing.

Sartre Cookbook

Nietzsche Tech Support

A Post-Modern Essay Generator (just click refresh to make a new one!)

Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky commentating on The Lord of the Rings

And for all those who think that Kerry is a flipflopper: Bush vs. Bush