Saturday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Dornob)
10 Cool Lifeguard Towers Could be Converted Beach Homes
The Vine Hotel in Madeira, Portugal
Spiral House / Powerhouse Company

Style.
10engines: tip -loakes
10engines: hammer to a fly -crockett & jones
A Suitable Wardrobe: The Practical Tweed Topcoat
Esquire: Fall’s Best Overcoats

Cars.
1901: Porsche Builds The World's First Hybrid

Watches.
Last Rolex Single Red Deep Sea on auction
de Bethune Reveals Majestic DB25 Moon Phase Watch
Vulcain Diver X-Treme Automatic Limited Edition Watch
Movement Decoration Explained
Most Complicated Watch On The Planet To Be Sold Next Month: 1728 Unique Parts & Almost 2.5 lbs

Computers.
Teaching the controversy: the Left 4 Dead 2 demo is live!
atMonitor – A System Monitor On Steroids [Mac]
Three Web Services You Should Be Using

Photography.
40 Beautiful HDR Pictures You Would be Amazed

Entertainment.
“Hulu of Movies” Epix Finally Launches

Misc.
Top 10 Fascinating Deathbed Confessions

The First Time Home Buyer Fraud

Absolutely disgraceful. And what do the politicians (e.g. Republican Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia) want to do? Extend it.

The First-Time Home-Buyer Tax Credit Scam - WSJ.com: "It's hard not to laugh when viewing the results of the federal first-time home-buyer tax credit. The credit, worth up to $8,000 for the purchase of a home, has only been available since April of last year. Yet news of the latest taxpayer-funded mortgage scam has traveled fast. The Treasury's inspector general for tax administration, J. Russell George, recently told Congress that at least 19,000 filers hadn't purchased a home when they claimed the credit. For another 74,000 filers, claiming a total of $500 million in credits, evidence suggests that they weren't first-time buyers. Among those claiming bogus credits, at least some of them were definitely first-timers. The credit has already been claimed by 500 people under the age of 18, including a four-year-old. This pre-K housing whiz likely bought because mom and dad make too much to qualify for the full credit, which starts to phase out at $150,000 of income for couples, $75,000 for singles. As a 'refundable' tax credit, it guarantees the claimants will get cash back even if they paid no taxes. A lack of documentation requirements also makes this program a slow pitch in the middle of the strike zone for scammers."

Your Govt. At Work: Clunkers, Socialism, and India

Do not miss the Harsanyi column.

Harsanyi: Masterfleece Theater - The Denver Post: "And few can compete with its deception. The bill's intentions are cloaked in euphemisms and it is teeming with ulterior motives, all cobbled together in closed-door meetings where industry payoffs are offered using taxpayer dollars to facilitate a power grab of unprecedented cost. All of it, rolled right into a neat 1,900 pages."

Clunkers Program Cost $24,000 Per Vehicle: "Almost 690,000 cars and trucks were sold under the Cash for Clunkers program. But only 125,000 of the sales were truly incremental, according to auto research Web site Edmunds.com. So the $3 billion program cost taxpayers $24,000 for every extra vehicle sold."

The Welfare State Corrupts Absolutely - Ideas On Liberty: "Let’s begin at the beginning. Medical care is not a free good found in nature. Of course, no one really thinks it is. But that doesn’t keep most people from wanting to pretend otherwise, and the current institutional setting makes that possible. After a while, one forgets one is pretending. Yet medical care goes on being a collection of produced goods and services — subject to the laws of supply and demand, and requiring resources and labor that come with opportunity costs. Therein lies the problem."

Socialism Kills, Indians: "What would have happened in India if that country had liberalized its economy ten years earlier than it did?"

Dodd Tries to Freeze Credit Card Rates - WSJ.com: "But if customers are being taken to the cleaners, it is because U.S. lawmakers like Mr. Dodd sent them there. In May, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act, which bars rate increases without a 45-day notification. To reduce their risk under this law, banks in the U.S. are rushing to raise rates before it takes effect in February. Thus the Senator's latest political grandstand."

Friday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Contemporist)
N85 Residence by Morphogenesis
All Aboard! Clever Recycled Train Car Homes, Offices & Hotels
House Equanimity - CoolBoom
An Atypical Tree House - Dwell
FUTURISTIC MODERN DESIGN | STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

Cars.
a time to get: TOTALLY RUINED: Your Day
THE SIMPLE CONNOISSEUR: 1955 AJS 7R
oobject - cars from classic 80s movies

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Moleskine Reloaded: Sketching and Sketchbooks
Review: Clairefontaine Triomphe Writing Tablets

Style.
These Just In: Alden Winn Perry Longwings
Timberland Utility Jacket - Uncrate
Barker Black - Collection

Watches.
Glashütte Original Pocket Watch No. 1 - Perpetuelle (more)
1940s Breitling Duograph Rattrapante: Rare Watch With A Rare Complication
The World’s Most Complicated Timepiece to be Sold at Antiquorum’s

Food.
Espress yourself - GQ.com
Breakfasts Around the World - Curious? Read

Gadgets.
Gerber Shard - Uncrate

Healthcare.
Swine-Flu Vaccine Problem Embarrasses Obama

Politics / Lies.
Dear WSJ: Congressional Oversight is No Accountability
Administration Concedes Overestimate of Jobs “Saved”
The stimulus is a joke

Misc.
BBC NEWS - Fake Dutch 'moon rock' revealed

Dr. Robert Higgs on Democracy

Dr. Higgs does a wonderful job with this column. A must-read.

Democracy’s Most Critical Defect - The Beacon: "To see how this corruption comes about, let us begin by recognizing that in many people’s eyes, certain government functionaries may legitimately take actions that would be condemned as criminal if anyone else were to take them. If you or I were to threaten a neighbor with violence unless he handed over a specified sum of money, we would be universally recognized as engaged in extortion or attempted robbery. Yet, the functionaries of St. Tammany Parish, the state of Louisiana, and the United States of America routinely obtain money from me in precisely this manner. And although many people subject to such takings may complain that the amounts demanded are excessive, hardly anybody describes the exactions as constituting nothing more than extortion or armed robbery. Why not? Because the functionaries who assess and collect these sums of money ― which they style “taxes,” not loot, plunder, or swag ― are democratically elected “public officials.” From a moral point of view, I am hard pressed to see how their employment status gives them a defensible right to act in ways that everyone would recognize as criminal if undertaken by a private individual. In political theory, a representative democratic government is said to derive its just powers by delegation from the people who are governed, with their consent. I assure you that I have never consented to have the various governments rob me, especially for the financing of countless activities that I consider to be useless, destructive, or inherently criminal. Regardless of the uses to which a government puts its booty, however, the people cannot justly delegate to political representatives any rights that they do not possess. If I do not have a right to plunder my neighbor, how can I delegate that right to a government functionary who purports to represent me?"

Taxi Beatdown, Mumbai Style ...

I don't even know what to say. (pic via Abraham Nowitz/Nat'lGeo./Getty Images)

On Mumbai's Streets, Cabbies Fight To Keep Passengers Uncomfortable - WSJ.com: "MUMBAI -- Mumbai's taxi drivers are battling to block the newest trend in hired transport here: electronic meters, home pickups and air conditioning. Customers are demanding modern taxis to better represent this booming city, as well as provide a modicum of comfort in a steamy, tropical climate. Mumbai's authorities, keen to make the city the new 'Shanghai' of Asia by 2020, have decided to phase out the city's rusty old jalopies and are requiring that every taxi more than 25 years old be scrapped. But many of Mumbai's 200,000 or so taxi drivers are having none of it. And they are resisting those who would offer a nicer ride in shinier new cars -- with strikes, court cases and violence. Sheikh Shamin Ahmed, 43 years old, was eating chicken fried rice at a roadside stand next to his new, metallic-green cab when two old taxis full of old-taxi drivers rolled up and started to beat him. They told him his fancy new Mahindra Renault with its air conditioning and GPS navigation system had better stay away from their customers. Mr. Ahmed promised to leave once he finished his food. The angry cabbies grabbed his plate and threw it on the ground, he says."

Markets in Everything: Cute Caddies

God Bless Markets. ;-)

Caddychicks.com - About: "Caddychicks.com™ was launched in 2006 as a central meeting place between golfers and caddies and has since become the largest golf social network in the world. With thousands of members and close to one million visitors per year, we have brought more fun and excitement to the game of golf. Whether you are a golfer looking for a caddy for your next round, a group of golfers having a golf outing or a tournament director looking to bring more excitement to your event, the women on Caddychicks.com are ready to help.."

Thursday Grab Bag

Watches. (pic courtesy of The Watch Lounge)
A Lange & Sohne: 1815 Chronograph - photo essay
Weird Watch Wednesday: Concord’s C1 Quantum Gravity
Calibre 11 - new weblog about vintage Heuer watches
My Favorite Ball Watches At JCK, Big And Lots Of Lume

Architecture.
Denmark’s Solar Powered Symphony Hall
Mediacity, Liège, Belgium by Ron Arad Associates
Vertical House Plan For Family Living in Chile

Economics.
Distress Index - Foundation for Economic Education
Maximum Confusion over Minimum Wages

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Rants of The Archer: P for Preppy; P for Petit

Climate Change (nee Global Warming).
The Church of Global Warming - Cato @ Liberty
Freaked Out Over SuperFreakonomics - WSJ.com

Gadgets.
More pics and facts about the new DROID by Motorola
Verizon DROID by Motorola hands-on - SlashGear
Oakley ELITE ASSAULT BOOT

Computers.
Simple. Screenshot. Sharing. - TinyGrab

Cars.
AUTO EROTICA - RED HOT SEX ON WHEELS - The Selvedge Yard
Driven: 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT

Misc.
Fraud Suspected At Sudoku Championship : NPR
Airline Executive Creates Pan Am First Class Cabin in Garage
BBC NEWS - The map that changed the world
10 Of The Most Chilling Haunted Castles In The World

Men's Style: Topcoats, Shell Cordovan, and More ...

This first link is a great photo comparison of Alden and Allen-Edmonds Longwings, both in shell cordovan.

A Tale of Two Cordovan Derbies (AE & Alden) - Style Forum: "Until recently, I never owned cordovan. After seeing so many great pics here, I decided to start buying some. I first got a pair of AE Cambridge in burgundy cordovan to wear with suits. I figured that I needed derbies to wear with more casual clothing. Inspired by Foo's great looking shoes, I called Alden in SF and ordered a pair of long-wings in color #8. The salesman, James Smith recommended that I go down a half size. I decided to order a pair of AE MacNeil burgundy cordovan shoes as well so that I could compare them. I have always liked AE, but when they switched to that damn black sole that is so uncomfortable, I have been having a lot of doubts."

Best Mens Overcoats - New Fall Overcoats for Men - Esquire: "We traveled to New York's legendary Bannerman Island to prove that, no matter where you're starting from or where you're going, no daily trek to the office and back can go smoothly without the right overcoat"

Additional links:
Your Attention Please…From The Waist Up
Yet Another Northampton Trip Thread
Fifteen Last-A-Lifetime Men's Classics - Forbes.com (more, and more)
The Littlest Dandy: Wear It Now: GQ
Spanish shine - Gentleman’s Corner
Leffot Blog - Alden; All Day Long
Edward Green – Simple is Best : Leather Soul Hawaii

Liberty & Your Govt. At Work: H1N1, School Choice, & More

Another day ... Oh, and don't miss the text of Dr. Russ Roberts's testimony in Congress yesterday.

Flu “emergency” powers can be extensive - The Barr Code: "Legislation currently pending in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for example, would allow the governor to forceably quarantine citizens in the event he declares a “health emergency.” Forced vaccinations could also be ordered, and even forced police entry into private homes and destruction of property; citizens could be jailed for failure to comply."

Attorney General Tries to Silence School Choice Ad - Cato @ Liberty: "This, finally, is too much: Eric Holder, Attorney General of the United States, walked up to former DC Councilman Kevin Chavous at an event and told him to pull an ad criticizing the administration for its opposition to the DC school voucher program. The Attorney General of the United States! This is as outrageous and shameful as it is consistent with other administration hostilities toward free speech (see also here) and freedom of the press."

Mercatus Center at George Mason University - The Vices and Virtues of Limiting Executive Compensation: "In this Testimony, Prof. Roberts explains that the problem with executive compensation is that executives have not been subject to the profit and loss cosequences of the free-market system. Profits encourage risk-taking, and the losses encourage prudence. If the government would resist bailouts and allow these incentives to be fully operational, there will be better outcomes as large institutions will no longer be reliant on tax payer funds."

Additional links:
Chávez Declares Socialism the ‘Kingdom of God’
John Stossel: Self-Governance Works
Tyranny of the State Rises and Falls on the Search Power
Democratic donors rewarded with White House Perks

Wednesday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Coolboom)
Villa in the Woods - CoolBoom
Glass House by Nico Van Der Meulen Architects
Ferrari Factory Store by Iosa Ghini Associates
Den of Daydreams: 8 Fantastical Make-Believe Makeovers

Economics.
Science Fiction and Economic Fiction - Star Trek
Memo to Obama: Capitalism Trumps Racism

Style.
Leffot Blog - Wolverine Spotlights Leffot (more)
Longwing's Page: Window Pain
Leffot Blog - Edward Green – MTO’s
Alden Shoe Shop - Madison Avenue - Horween Leather Co.
10engines: Sartorial Heroes: Statler and Waldorf

Healthcare.
No Matter What You Call It, It’s Still Just Government-Run Health Care
Investors.com - The Administration's Flu Fear-Mongering
Thomas Sowell On Economics Of Medical Care

Computers.
How to Download All Your Google Docs Documents
Web Addresses to Adopt New Alphabets - WSJ.com
VMware Fusion Updates with Excellent Windows 7 Support

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Handbound Steampunk Journal ~ Whatever
Inkyjournal: Noodler's Army Green
Future Nostalgic Review: Moletape
Featured Pen - Lamy Safari ~ Whatever
Archival Clothing: Office Supplies: Rhodia Notebooks

Google Voice. (more)
Now Use Google Voice With Your Existing Phone Number
Google Voice Offers Voicemail Without Changing Your Number

Travel.
Lufthansa MySkyStatus™
Your Chance to Fly Pan Am’s First Class (more)

Climate Change (nee Global Warming).
Climate chief Lord Stern: give up meat to save the planet

Gadgets.
First Official Preview Video of Android 2.0 Is Now Available

Finance.
Who Owns Mortgages? - Chart Porn

Signs of The Times.
The NBA: Where Frugal Happens - WSJ.com

Food.
8 Strange Fruits and Why You Should Be Eating Them

Misc.
How To Watch NCAA Sports Games Online For Free
ZooBorns: World's Largest Rodent Has Three Tiny Babies
Tired from a hike? Rescuers fear Yuppie 911

Wristwatch Updates: MB&F, Silberstein, and Glashütte Original

How slick is this new MB&F and Alain Silberstein creation?! (pic via MB&F, TZ, and Jorge)

New Model- MB&F and Alain Silberstein – Horological Machine No. 2: "It takes a lot to surprise followers of MB&F, but the latest version of Horological Machine No2, with a case created by French artist watch designer Alain Silberstein, may well do it. Alain Silberstein is widely known for his bold use of colour and pattern – and one might have expected the adventurous Maximilian Büsser to push that tendency to the limit. But no, the two have come up with what they affectionately call the “black box”, all Bauhaus purity and restraint. It is crafted like a jewel, but Silberstein says that it reminds him of the miniature box cameras of the 1940s."
More here, here, here, here, and especially here.

Glashütte Original Goes Global With Its New Senator Chronometer - Perpetuelle.com Blog: "Now, being a Glashütte Original owner myself (you can watch my review of my Senator Navigator HERE), I can not say enough good things about the brand and their passion for watchmaking at the highest level. Having toured the manufacture last year, I also admire and appreciate the brand’s enormous sense of pride that their watches are “Made In Germany”. In fact, GO’s home town of Glashütte, Germany is home to several watch brands, but it is Glashütte Original and its neighbor A. Lange & Sohne (literally, the building next door to the GO manufacture) that put this quaint little town – and German watches – on the map. Anyway, back to the topic at hand – the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer. If you have not yet seen this watch, take as long as you would like to enjoy it ..."

Horological Meandering:I've tested the Monaco V4 for you: "In 2004, Tag Heuer presented an original watch, the V4. Since 2004, we were impatiently waiting to see the final version of this watch. It is now done! In November, and till the end of this year, Tag Heuer will deliver the first 100 pieces worldwide, while in 2010, the last fifty watches ( LE of 150 pieces ) will arrive. The revolution? 5 Transmission belts are used instead of the conventional pignons, which complement 11 Micro Ball Bearings. 2 of them have an Internal Steel Structure."

Additional links:
TimeZone: Superlative Black Strap Weekend Watch
My latest addition to the fold...what can I say...I am still a Panerai guy at heart ;-)
Radiomir PAM336 - Acquire

How The Feds Twisted The Chrysler "Bankruptcy"

This is an absolute disgrace. A must-see video about the federal takeover of GM and Chrysler.

The Real Story Behind the Chrysler Bankruptcy - Cato @ Liberty: "If you worry about the abuse of executive power and declining respect among elected officials for the rule of law, you should watch this eloquent illumination of what really went down in the Chrysler bankruptcy earlier this year. The speaker is Richard Mourdock, Treasurer of the state of Indiana. The setting is a Cato Institute policy forum on October 15 about the “sordid details of the Bush/Obama auto industry intervention.”"



Government Motors - The Freeman - Ideas On Liberty: "When time finally ran out for GM in 2008, only two equally bad options appeared to be left for management: bankruptcy or government bailout. As it turned out, there was a third, even more horrible option: a government bailout bankruptcy. When you crawl in bed with the government, it’s not a pretty sight. After the Bear Stearns, AIG, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae debacles, it became clear that government money brings some unattractive conditions, including micromanagement, the government’s agenda, and political favoritism."

Today's Quotes

Let the laws be clear, uniform and precise;
to interpret laws is almost always to corrupt them.
-- Voltaire
[François Marie Arouet] (1694-1778)

A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device
to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie.
-- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
[Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov] (1870 - 1924), First Leader of the Soviet Union

The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow
the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors
who have allowed the subject races to carry arms have prepared
their own downfall by so doing. Indeed, I would go so far as to say
that the supply of arms to the underdogs is a sine qua non for
the overthrow of any sovereignty.
-- Adolf Hitler
(1889-1945) German Nazi Dictator
Source: Hitler's Table Talks 1941-1944, Edited by H.R. Trevor-Roper (London: Widenfeld and Nicolson, 1953), pp. 425-426.

No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms.
The strongest reason for the people to retain their right
to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves
against tyranny in government.
-- Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
Source: The quote is not found in any of his speeches, personal correspondence, or diaries. Nor has the quote ever been cited in law journals by Second Amendment legal scholars.

Tuesday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Contemporist)
King Residence by John Friedman Alice Kimm
Nation's First LEED Platinum Log Home
Concrete Fortress: Contemporary Home-as-Castle Design
Ranch House Reaches Out With Sustainable Redesign

Cars.
Mercedes 2010 E-Class: technology evolved

Computers.
Slick NASA iPhone App Puts Space in Your Pocket
New iMacs have finicky DisplayPorts

Fountain Pens / Writing.
PenGallery Blog - Lamy AL-star Purple fountain pen
Review: Diamine Prussian Blue Fountain Pen Ink
The World's Best Photos of art and moleskine. Flickr Hive Mind
Noodler’s Red Black Ink Review :: OfficeSupplyGeek
User Review: Inkophile tests Webbie vs. Mole

Style.
Heavy Tweed Jacket: Shoes with Cap Toes
A Suitable Wardrobe: The Greatest Luxury
A Suitable Wardrobe: The Pennsylvania Shoemaker
Review of my Shell Cordovan Wallet - Style Forum
The Importance of Matching Leathers and Metals

Healthcare.
AP's Woodward Fact-Checks Health Insurance Company Profits, Finds Them 'Anemic'
Robert Samuelson on the “Public Option”

Gadgets.
Executive Elite Marshmallow Blaster - Uncrate
Travelfriend Luxury Luggage - Selectism.com
SteriShoe ultraviolet shoe sanitizer
SOG Specialty Knives & Tools, LLC - Gunny Approved

Sports.
A Position-by-Position Guide to the Most Hated Yankees Ever - Esquire

Photography.
The Frame: Chhath Festival, worshipping the sun
Afghanistan, October, 2009 - The Big Picture

Economics / Govt.
Vaccine Shortage
Peter Schiff Has the Best Rant You'll Hear All Week
When Did Saying This Become the Equivalent of Beating Your Child in Public?

Misc.
LED Eyelashes from Korea
Man ordering food called a zombie, punched twice
a time to get: In Stere-ere-o
BBC NEWS - Rise of the all-you-can-eat restaurant
10 Things Your Headhunter Won't Tell You at SmartMoney.com

Wristwatch Updates: Rolex, Patek, and More

I love the vintage Rolex print ads.

The History of the Rolex Explorer I-Rolex - rolex.watchprosite.com: "Most people believe that the Explorer I was launched by Rolex for commemorating the Everest expedition and that this watch was with British explorer team consisting of Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay etc on 29th, May of 1953, achieving a great task of human being climbing. This story is definitely magic and attractive, but it still has a certain distance to the real fact. Rolex indeed had supported Himalayan expedition since 1933, and later in Everest expeditions, Rolex had been always the official supporters, so Rolex supported each explorer team with its wristwatch. However, Rolex was not the only supporter: it is said that when Edmund Hillary climbed up on the top of Everest, what he wore was a watch from the British supporter Smith. But what Tenzing Norgay wore was indeed an Explorer."

Patek Philippe:It embodies the values and standards of our family watch company!: "'It embodies the values and standards of our family watch company'. You may have already read this sentence that is the introduction to the Patek Philippe Seal launched this year."

La Clef du Temps by Confrerie Horlogere | Luxury News from Luxury Insider: "For the first time ever, a watch allows the user to actually control the speed of time. La Clef du Temps from Confrerie Horlogere – an offshoot of well-known tourbillon specialists BNB concepts – does not betray its true powers at first glance but its presence in the press tells us that the Swiss think time is on their side once more."

New Model – Gerald Genta Arena Metasonic: "An alliance of tradition and engineering for the ultimate Grande Sonnerie, the most complicated of its kind in the world for over 15 years The latest evolution of the Arena Grande Sonnerie, the Arena Metasonic raises the exclusive work of Gérald Genta to the realm of perfection. Launched as a wristwatch in 1994 and regularly improved ever since, the noble proprietary complication that was already considered beyond compare further enhances its pedigree by appearing in a revolutionary new case. An original material and unprecedented construction combine to ensure an enchanting chime, embodying progress stemming from in-depth acoustic and vibratory research that simultaneously overturns certain preconceived ideas."

Additional links:
Patek Philippe: caring for watches for generations to come - Madrid
Vincent Bérard: when man, brand and philosophy make one
Vaucher Manufacture brings its activities in Fleurier under one roof
JLC: Some oldies but goldies from the Manufacture

Monday Grab Bag

Architecture.
$4.25 Million Pinecrest Home Manages What Miami Can’t
Staircase Design
House RR - luxury home - Architecture & Home Design Trends
m.o.daby design - website projects : architecture design
Pile ou Face Houses / TANK Architectes - ArchDaily

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Moleskine- Cover
De Atramentis Sepiabraun in a Namiki Falcon - An Inkophile’s Blog

Style.
To Pleat or Not to Pleat? - The Great Trouser Debate
Men's Wool-Blend Peacoat: Outerwear - Old Navy
A Look Inside Alden - A Continuous Lean.
A Suitable Wardrobe: How Many Braces?
Why Shell Cordovan Is The $#! - Style Forum

Watches.
Interview With Denis Giguet, Founder Of Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps
Omega DNA: Omega’s Vintage History
Omega Shows Optimism with New Ad Campaign

Computers.
Hoot! An In-Depth Look At A Web-based Twitter Client

Animals.
ZooBorns: Four Baby 'Taz's' Live Up to Their Reputation

Cars.
Gilera 500 4 - Bike EXIF
Iconic Auto Design - The Porsche 911 - The Selvedge Yard
STEVE MCQUEEN’S DUNE BUGGY DAYS - The Selvedge Yard

Environment.
How They Are Turning Off the Lights in America by Edwin X. Berry

Economics.
Ron Paul on the recession: 'None of this is behind us'
Economic View - How an Insurance Mandate Could Leave Many Worse Off - NYTimes.com

Healthcare.
There’s No Natural Right to Health Care by Christopher Westley

Misc.
12 Most Creative Bathtubs - Oddee.com

Quick Book Review: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

This book is a legend and love it or hate it, an important cultural reference. For years I would hear or read a reference to Atlas Shrugged and wonder what the angle was. And who IS John Galt?! Some years ago I read enough to understand the outline of the book and understand the reference. I had wanted to read the book but at approx. 1100 pages it was tough to convince myself to get started when there are so many other books in the queue, and all of the rest of them non-fiction.

[also see: Ayn Rand meets Dr. Seuss]

I finally picked it up last month and jumped in. In short, the writing is long and tedious. I got to around 350 pages before I punched out. The library had the Cliffs Notes (high-school flashback) so I checked it out; and even that is 140 pages.



I find the writing, as mentioned above, too drawn out and tedious. The points she makes however are excellent. And the book is far too important to ignore for cultural and literary reasons. And the subject matter is particularly relevant over the last 18 months or so.

From a purely pragmatic standpoint, I don't think I can recommend Atlas Shrugged as either pleasure reading or to learn Rand's points. The writing is too tedious and summaries of the book's theme are available everywhere with a much smaller investment in one's time (opportunity cost and all that). I do however recommend reading the Cliffs Notes or some other non-judgmental summary.

I generally appreciate and agree with much of Rand's points in the book. But there is one very important (imho) point I disagree with. If I understand Rand correctly she believes that the individual is of primary concern, as opposed to "society." That's admittedly a rough and brief summary of a 1000+ book. ;-) But I think she also believes that the individual has no moral imperative to help others (from an individual or collective standpoint), a point (if I understand and characterize Rand correctly) runs absolutely counter to my beliefs as a Roman Catholic. I do believe that we have an individual responsibility to help others, I do not believe that government is a good, or even proper, way to do that.

Additional links:
Atlas Shrugged at Amazon

What Are Rights? Do You Have A "Right" To Healthcare?

Dr. Boudreaux gets it. [and remember Rights vs. Wishes?]

Genuine rights are negative, in the sense that they demand only that each of us refrains from harassing others. Because each unit of health care requires labor and resources for its production, no one can have a ‘right’ to health-care in the same way that she can have a right to speak freely or to worship the God of her choice. Enforcing Jones’s ‘right’ to health care necessarily means forcing Smith to work to produce this health care. A political ‘right’ that cannot even in principle exist without the confiscation of persons’ labor and property is no right at all; it’s a wrong.
-- Dr. Donald J. Boudreaux

Sunday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via ArchDaily)
Omena House / Danny Forster
Horse Truck Hermitage
Innovative Architecture Firm A.L.X. Makes Its Mark In Japan
Hiroshima Wedding Hall Marries Design And Nature
(Metal) Stairway to Heaven? Shocking Sky

Cars.
Lexus LF-A - Uncrate
Honda VFR1200F – First Impressions

Economics.
Competition - The Freeman - Ideas On Liberty

Unions.
Land of Obama Signs Away Children’s Future to Teachers’ Union
Learning to Love Insider Trading - WSJ.com

Style.
Welcome to Workboot.com - Viberg Boots (more)
White's Boots, Hunting Boots, Work Boots, Outdoor Clothing
Inventory Magazine - Quoddy

Healthcare.
American Healthcare Fascialism - Thomas J. DiLorenzo

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Postalatry: Pens: the Kaweko Sport
De Atramentis Ink – A Brief Look - An Inkophile’s Blog

Computers.
Amazon.com: Microsoft Windows 7 Resource Center: Software & Hardware
Six free antivirus programs made for your Windows 7 system

Watches.
TimeZone: Incoming! (AP RO)
As Complete A Pepsi-Bezel Rolex As You'll Ever See
Omega’s new Liquidmetal Seamaster Planet Ocean continues the brand’s impressive renaissance
LUM-TEC C Series Watch - Uncrate

Photography.
The Frame: Scenes from Afghanistan
Diwali 2009 - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Misc.
oobject - 12 sexist vintage ads
BBC NEWS - World's largest thesaurus debuts
Kraken Rum Unboxing at Boqueria (NOTCOT)
Ancient Secrets of Super-Cement May Lead to a Shield Against Bunker Busters

Saturday Grab Bag

Cars. (pic via SwipeLife)
SwipeLife - Daihatsu Basket
Gear Patrol - 1968 Datsun 2000 Roadster
SwipeLife - 2010 Kawasaki Concours 14
MID-ENGINE DUEL THAT NEVER WAS - THE 390 AMX/3 VS. THE 351 PANTERA

Architecture.
Luxury Beach Home Plan by Australian Architects
Icelandic Prefabricated Home To Remember Summer Days By

Climate Change (nee Global Warming).
WWF: We Have Until 2014 To Stop Global Warming
BJøRN Lomborg: The View from Vanuatu on Climate Change - WSJ.com

Fountain Pens / Writing.
The Pen Addict: Ink Links
Online Retailer Spotlight: JetPens :: Rhodia Drive
notebookism: Moleskine Reloaded
Inkyjournal: Moleskinefriendly rating system

Watches.
HUBLOT GENEVE - Official Website
Beyond the Big Bang – What’s Next for Hublot?
Seiko Izul, The Coolest Watch You've Never Heard Of (And Can't Get)
1954 Breguet Type XX Chronograph For French Aeronavale: A Study In The Archetype

The Fed.
The Fed should be more transparent - Rep. Ron Paul

Style.
Best Alden Indy Boots - Style Forum
A New Pair From Koronya - Style Forum
"REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE" CURSE -THE CURIOUS CAST OF CHARACTERS AND TRAGIC DEATHS BEHIND THE 1955 FILM

Watches.
TimeZone: Equation of Time

NASA.
1966: The (Real) First Moon Landing - The Daily Planet
“A Very Unusual Machine” - Airspacemag.com

Gadgets.
Wedding gift can't open until taken to secret GPS location
Scubacraft: The Submersible Boat That Can Dive 100 FT

Markets In ... Pink Taxis?

Markets do work, though not always the way we expect. That's probably part of the point. ;-) (pic: Joel Merino / AP)

Mexico's pink taxis go women-only - Americas- msnbc.com: "MEXICO CITY - Each pink taxi comes with a beauty kit, a GPS system and an alarm button. The new fleet of 35 cabs in Mexico's colonial city of Puebla are driven exclusively by women and don't stop for men. The cabs cater especially to those tired of leering male drivers. 'Some of the woman who have been on board tell us how male taxi drivers cross the line and try to flirt with them and make inappropriate propositions,' said taxi driver Aida Santos, who drives one of the compact, four-door taxis with a tracking device and an alarm button that notifies emergency services. 'In the Pink Taxi they won't have that feeling of insecurity, and they feel more relaxed.'"

Friday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via SwipeLife)
SwipeLife - Cottesloe House by Paul Burnham
$13.4 Million Vanderbilt-sized Waterfront Austin Home
11 Incredible Homes From Around the World for Under $50K
View House - CoolBoom
Buffalo, New York - Architecture

Travel.
Bulgari Resort, Bali - Luxury Insider
World's Most Expensive Cruise Ship

Computers.
Kindle Software Coming to PCs - BNET
Review of the Apple iMac and MacBook - WSJ.com
Chrome Portable 3.0 Lets You Take Google's Browser Anywhere

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Namiki Emperor Chinkin Tiger Fountain Pen
Unposted: Bleu Nuit
Review: Paperblanks Handstitched Tao Blossoms Blank Journal
a time to get: I'm Sorry, What?
Clever Hardbound Loaf of Small Sliced-Bread Sketch Books

Watches.
New Brand – Henri Duvoisin
The Ultimate Rolex Daytona Book
Day 2, The Purists on Tour 2009, we visit Chopard in Geneva (part 1)
Girard-Perregaux swiss haute horlogerie manufacture (new site)

Style.
Real McCoy’s Flight Jackets

Cars.
Maserati brilliantly updates its Quattroporte Sport GT S

Engineering.
Ultimate Factories: Porsche 911 Featured on National Geographic (VIDEO)
'Smart' speed bumps being developed in Mexico

Photography.
The Frame: Winter approaching
2009 UN World Drug report - The Big Picture

Gadgets.
Gear Patrol - The Auto Moto
DesignAddict: Kiran, a low-cost solar lantern
Rotary Rage - Addictive DJ Designs
Excelsior Dawes Hovercraft - Uncrate

Misc.
Let us now praise: The cliche - The Boston Globe
Worst Horror Movies - Inside Movies
70 Years of Telescopes Tuned to Cosmic Radio - Wired Science
Our Priorities and Concerns Out of Whack? - The Unbroken Window
Despite All the Corpses Milling Around, Things Are Quite Lively at This Mall

Should We Worry About Cartels & Collusion In Free Markets?

Probably not too much. Click through and read on, very short post.

Cheating for a $20 - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com: "Each year in my 500-student principles class I gather a group of eight students and tell them that I will auction a $20 bill to the highest bidder. If two or more students bid the same thing, the difference between $20 and their joint bid will be divided among the winning bidders. They can collude to fix the price just like oligopolists who violate antitrust laws, but they must mark down their bids in secret."

Men's Style Updates: Shoes, Shell, and More

Maybe I'll take a look at these new Wolverine (via Horween) 1000 Mile Boots. Leffot has them, in Rust. Though I still want some Alden Indy boots.

Why Shell Cordovan?
Cordovan shoes: The Style Guy: GQ: "Cordovan shoes are made from horsehide. Before you start weeping and gnashing your burger-biting teeth, consider that the hides that wind up on our feet are not from steeds raised for that purpose but from older horses that have been knackered for other reasons. Often called shell cordovan, this leather is made from the “shell,” a membrane on the part of the horse that goes over the fence last. For some reason, this is where the most nonporous leather known to man is found. Each horse provides two shells, enough to produce one pair of shoes. Genuine shell-cordovan shoes are known for their shiny finish, durability, and flexibility. The word cordovan comes from Córdoba, Spain, where the natural vegetable tanning of these hides originated, but the lone remaining factory in the States that produces shell cordovan in the painstaking, time-consuming traditional manner is Horween Leather Company of Chicago"

More nice-looking boots, and a nice video about Alden!
A Look Inside Alden - A Continuous Lean.: "The Brooklyn shop Epaulet recently took a trip up to Middleborough, Mass. to visit the factory of the venerable American shoemaker Alden to finalize the details on the shop’s new special edition Brixton boot."

I like the new John Lobb shoes.
John Lobb’s New Spiral Cut Shoes: "John Lobb sent out an email recently with a link to images of a very interesting new pair of shoes, a model they’re calling “Saint-Crépin”. At first glance they’re a bit ordinary." (more info and pics)

Great video.
SwipeLife - Viberg Boot: Down to the Brass Tacks : "The men’s blog formerly known as h(y)r collective, re-branded in recent weeks as INVENTORY, continues its mega make-over with its first video posts: a visit to the British Columbia factory of Viberg Boots, a company that’s sidestepping the expected collaborations with hip fashion houses to re-devote itself to crafting top quality boots."

Additional links:
The Season's 10 Best Waxed Jackets (Fall '09): Wear It Now: GQ
A Visit to Florence. - Style Forum
Alden Shoes – The American Longwing: Leather Soul Hawaii
A Suitable Wardrobe: Fittings
SwipeLife - Band of Outsiders Camel Hair Polo Coat
Gear Patrol - Lodger Shoes
Bespoke Man - Forbes.com
Wolverine Introduces The 1000 Mile Boot

ObamaCare Updates ...

A few things to keep your eye on.

Investors.com - A $250 Billion Doctor Bill: "Democrats are said to offer physicians a deal — freezing Medicare payment cuts if the docs sign on to health care reform. This is pricey bribery even by Washington standards."

Investors.com - 'You Lie!' Rap Doesn't Sound So Harsh Now: "As liberals rush ObamaCare through Congress, let's review the disparity between promises and text. Joe Wilson's declaration 'You lie!' is ringing truer with each passing day."

Democrats Plan to Strip Sustainable Growth Rate Formula from Health-Care Reform - WSJ.com: "President Obama has made serial promises that he will not sign a health-care bill that 'adds one dime to our deficits, either now or in the future, period.' This was never plausible, but now we can begin to understand what he meant: Democrats plan to make ObamaCare 'deficit-neutral' by moving nearly a quarter-trillion dollars off the books, in the fiscal deception of the century. Later this week, or maybe next, Senate Democrats plan to vote on a stand-alone bill that strips a formula that automatically cuts Medicare physician payments out of 'comprehensive' health reform. Rather than include the pricey $247 billion plan known on Capitol Hill as the 'doc fix' as part of ObamaCare, they'll instead make this a separate contribution to the deficit, without compensating tax increases or spending cuts. Majority Leader Harry Reid explained at a press conference last week that 'All we're doing is wiping the slate clean by adjusting the baseline to what is current policy. This is not new policy.' Wiping the slate is right."

House Health Bill Called Deficit Reducer - Foundation for Economic Education: "“A preliminary estimate from the Congressional Budget Office projects that the House Democrats’ health care plan that includes a public option would cost $871 billion over 10 years, according to two Democratic sources. CBO also found that the Democrats’ bill reduces the deficit in the first 10 years.” (CNN, Wednesday) Yo, I gotta nice bridge here. Ya wanna buy a bridge?"

Additional links:
Your Doctor Serves The State, Not You by Michael Scott, MD

Thursday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Toxel)
Upside Down House in Germany
The Centrifugal Villa by OBRA Architects
Hampton Beach House By Alexander Gorlin Architects
South Harbor Resort / Suppose Design Office
Art deco 1920s decor: Jeeves & Wooster

Cars.
Tokyo 2009 Preview: 2010 Lotus Exige Scura AKA Stealth
Veritas RS III Roadster Officially Enters Production
Veritas RS III Roadster Goes Into Production (video test drive)
2011 Lexus LFA Test Drive - Lexus LFA Prototype Test Drive

Economics.
Random Thought - The Unbroken Window
Bad Credit - Cafe Hayek

Watches.
Big Time, Watch Finishing - Forbes.com
You never actually own a Patek Philippe
Seiko Luxury Watches - aBlogtoRead.com
Ticket to the Moon: Ulysse Nardin's "Moonstruck"
Omega:My SM 300 will not be alone anymore
A Breitling Perpetual Calendar? 100 Made in the World, 500 Parts, and 13 Hands
Vintage Heuer Regatta in PVD: The Ultimate Urban Yachtsman's Timepiece
TX Introduces 830 Linear Duo Chronograph Watch

Style.
Paul Smith Shoe Care Kit - Uncrate
A Suitable Wardrobe: The Bespoke Waistband
Gear Patrol - Finding The Right Dress Shoes
Leffot Blog - Edward Green Sandringham – MTO

Food.
Seven Under-the-Radar Scotches You Need to Know - Esquire
The Bachelor Guy - Bacon Jam: Spreadable Bacon

Computers.
Pixavid: The Fastest & Easiest Way to Upload & Share Your Photos
Barnes & Noble’s Shiny, Sharing-Friendly ‘Nook’ eBook Reader

Animals.
Bach the Labrador Retriever - Daily Puppy

Misc.
BBC NEWS - The secrets behind our processed food
The 8 Best Viral Advertising Videos of 2009
Anvil Shooting: using explosives to fire anvils -- yes, ANVILS -- into the air
Gallagher, Gallagher Too & The Motorcycle Twins
Google Flu Trends - United States

Today's Quotes

This first one is von Mises on Orwell's 1984 and Newspeak.

There prevails in the writings of many contemporary authors the disposition
to represent every extension of governmental power and every restriction of
the individual's discretion as a measure of liberation, as a step forward on
the road to liberty. Carried to its ultimate logical conclusion, this mode
of reasoning leads to the inference that socialism, the complete abolition
of the individual's faculty to plan his own life and conduct, brings perfect
freedom. It was this reasoning that suggested to socialists and Communists
the idea of arrogating to themselves the appellation liberal.
-- Ludwig von Mises, March 9, 1953

Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges.
"(The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.)"
-- Cornelius Tacitus
(55-117 A.D.)
Source: Annales, 1st century A.D.

It used to be the boast of free men that,
so long as they kept within
the bounds of the known law,
there was no need to
ask anybody's permission
or to obey anybody's orders.
It is doubtful whether any of us
can make this claim today.
-- Fredrich August von Hayek
(1899-1992), Nobel Laureate of Economic Sciences 1974
Source: The Constitution of Liberty (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1972), p. 208

A State which dwarfs its men, in order that
they may be more docile instruments in its hands --
even for beneficial purposes -- will find that
with small men no great thing can really be accomplished.
-- John Stuart Mill
(1806-1873) English philosopher and economist

Liberty & Your Govt. At Work: Czars, Field Trips, and Net Neutrality

Oh, dear!

RCSD Field Trip Permission Slip Prompts Concern - 13WHAM.com: "(Rochester, N.Y.) – Elaine Francesco’s daughter is a senior at the City School District’s School of the Arts. Her daughter brought home a field trip permission slip that requires parents to promise not to sue the district in case of the loss, injury, or even death of their children."

Deserted shopping mall bleak symbol of Fed bailout - Reuters: "OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - A $29 billion trail from the Federal Reserve's bailout of Wall Street investment bank Bear Stearns ends in a partially deserted shopping center on a bleak spot on the south side of Oklahoma City. The Fed now owns the Crossroads Mall, a sprawling shopping complex ..."

Walter E. Williams: American Idea: "We Americans, as human beings, are no different from any other people, including Germans, Russians, Chinese, Africans and other people who have produced tyrannical regimes such as those of Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Idi Amin. As such we are just as capable of committing acts of gross evil that have been a part of mankind throughout his history. We’ve not been a perfect nation but we’ve never approached the level of hideousness seen in other nations. That’s despite the fact that our population consists of people who have for centuries been trying to slaughter one another in their home countries, whether it’s between the French and Germans, English and Irish, Japanese and Chinese, or Palestinians and Jews, Igbos and the Hausa of Nigeria. Thrown into the American mosaic are religions that have been in conflict for centuries such as Catholic and Protestant, and Christian and Muslim. The question is: Why is the United States an exception and will it remain so?"

Aircraft Carrier Costs by Jeremiah Dyke: "Let us imagine a floating city that houses a population of roughly 6000 individuals. Let us imagine the costs to provide electricity to these 6000 individuals is roughly identical to that of providing electricity to a small city which populates 100,000. Let us further imagine paying these 6000 individuals to live on this floating city as well as paying any costs to support and maintain their stay. Finally, let us reveal this floating paradise for what it truly is: a colossal apparatus of butchery that costs the taxpayer billions in annual dollars!"

Investors.com - A Power Grab Called 'Net Neutrality': "First Amendment: Diversity czar Mark Lloyd's FCC votes Thursday on the issue of net neutrality. Advertised as providing access to all, it will do to the information superhighway what Lloyd proposed for talk radio. Not much was said when $7.2 billion was included in the stimulus bill 'to accelerate broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas and to strategic institutions that are likely to create jobs or provide significant public benefits.' The administration has big plans for the Internet — like controlling it."

Additional links:
Bad Checks Cost Uncle Sam $20 Million - CBS MoneyWatch.com
Smile! The TSA is taping you — and here’s what you need to know about it

Wednesday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Mocoloco)
Richard Rogers Bags Britain's Highest Architectural Prize
Geometry in Black by YH2_Yiacouvakis Hamelin Architectes
Tiny Churches
Prefab, Proven - Homes - Dwell
$3.9 Million Georgian-style Chicago Home

Watches.
10 Classic Watches Every Man Should Know
TZ: There is a New Tradition in the Family...
Minerva Chrono mono-pusher with column wheel
The Purists on Tour 2009, we visit Chopard in Fleurier
Alpina Avalanche Extreme Chrono Double Digit
Vintage Rolex: 100% PASSION 2009...(mega-burner)
Esquire on watches (more here, here, & here)

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Pocket Blonde
Marieke's Moleskine Journal

Computers.
Step Up to Awesome Alt-Tab Application Switching
MacBook Pro sees a price drop
First Look: New iMacs announced, and they're incredible!
Verizon Launches Anti-iPhone Ad for Motorola Droid [Video]

Cars.
Codatronca: это не Gotham City
Tucker: 1962 Land Rover from Orvis (more)
2010 VW Golf Review - Test Drive of Diesel and Gasoline 2010 VW Golfs

Travel.
Qantas First Lounge: Sydney - Dwell
One bike. 8 years. 28,000 miles. 37 countries. $2.
SwipeLife - Dubai’s Luxury Metro

Animals.
ZooBorns: Baby Mongoose Pups at the Odense Zoo

Photography.
10 Flickr Groups For Serious Shutterbugs
Canon 1D Mark IV Joins the Nigh-Vision Club, This Time With Full HD Video
Giz Explains: Why More Megapixels Isn't Always More Better

Gadgets.
Gear Patrol - Bushnell Spectator Permafocus Binoculars

Style.
Shoe Antiquing - Style Forum (great pics)
The Gentleman's Code - GQ.com
Florsheim for Duckie Brown Brogue Boots
The Vintage Oxford Archive - A Continuous Lean.

Misc.
Banned Words for 2009 - Esquire
J.J. Abrams Comes Clean on Star Trek Coincidences, Sequel
50 most annoying things about the internet - Telegraph