Fallows on Palin

Just in case you care, allow me to direct you to the sanest web coverage I've seen on l'affaire Palin. That would be the work of James Fallows, whose day-job beat is China, but whose experience in politics includes a stint as a speech-writer for Jimmy Carter, enough to give him some compassion for mediocrity. Find his work here. Recall also: Underbelly opined weeks ago that she actually looked pretty good in an Alaska state debate. The real question may be whether the McCain "handlers" have so mismanaged her as to damage her spirit. I'm not at all ready to bet on who will come out winners in the Biden match, but it ought to be fun to watch.

While I was Away ...

Stuff I would have blogged about, had I been blogging last week:

Charles Tilly: the distinguished sociologist who died at 78 said he never held office in a professional association, never chaired a department, never got chosen for a jury (link). Hey, that’s me to the life! Okay granted, I never wrote 51 books, either…

The awfulness in Upper Austria: the last thing I want to do is to seem to be flippant about the irredeemably dreadful story of the guy who kept his daughter in the basement as his sex slave—and of how this is kind of the second time this sort of thing has happened lately, in the same neighborhood. But just a brief two cents’ worth: could it be the architecture? I mean—how many houses do you know of where they even have a basement where you could hide somebody that long and that well? Where they even have a basement?

The Rev. Wright (aka, Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy): I really haven’t caught much of his act, but from what little I hear/see, I’d say he is smart and entertaining in a Rush Limbaugh sort of way. My concern is not that Obama hangs out with him—as a listless nonbeliever, I have to forgive worse nonsense than Rev. Wright, almost every day. My concern is that Obama should not have been blindsided by this: it’s one more proof (there have been too many) that this truly attractive human being may just lack the killer instinct.

Historical footnote to the above: I used to know a guy who trained urban organizers for the Saul Alinsky community development movement. One thing about these black preachers (he said), they never let you see their mailing list. They may cooperate with you, and they may do you a lot of good. But they have their own agenda and they know they are going to be there when you’re gone. Obama should have known that, too.

Best blog entry of the week: James Fallows, on why Bill Gates never learned the truth about Clippy (link).

Making Money By Giving Stuff Away

I read this a couple of days ago but it sticks in my mind; the best explanation I've ever seen as to how you make money when you give stuff away for free (link) (and H/T Jim Fallows).