I’ve been noticing recently how many parallels there are between the field of computer security, and the problems that face government policy in general. The two domains both seek to solve the same problem: how do you set up a system of rules that will be somewhat resistant to motivated, creative adversaries? The core problems [...]
Representative Brad Miller takes issue with the “Mexican strawberry picker making $14,000 getting a $750,000 loan” story, comparing it as a symbol to Reagan’s welfare queens. This anecdote, if true, should actually be promoted by advocates of reform. The dynamics of power between “housing boom-era bank” and “$14k/year agricultural worker” are indisputable. I really [...]
Never-married women senators (Susan Collins, Barbara Mikulski, Maria Cantwell) outnumber never-married male senators (Lindsey Graham, Herb Kohl) three to two. Why do women hate the institution of marriage?
Wherever you are, stop and read this absolutely stunning article by Michael Lewis (a hero of mine) on the subprime mortgage crisis. The entire thing just leaves me speechless. Money quotes:
He called Standard & Poor’s and asked what would happen to default rates if real estate prices fell. The man at S&P couldn’t say; its [...]
Barack Obama only won the election because of dynasty politics.
“Democrats seem to lack a common man who can just win a good, old-fashioned election,” said Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.)
Well, it looks like it only took four days for Leahy to cave on Republicans’ insistence to hold up AG hearings. Sigh. Can we please have some democratic congressional leadership that doesn’t totally suck? I mean, you guys are the frigging majority, you can push them around now. In case you didn’t get the memo, [...]
I supported Barack Obama from the beginning of the Democratic primary process, not so much because of his policy stances with regards to his competitors, but because of what I saw as his nuanced understanding of process as well as policy. I also thought that the greater emphasis he would give to long-term issues such [...]
The Electoral College meets tomorrow. (But not all at once… and not all at the same time… somewhat unlike what the word “college” would imply.)
Now taking bets on whether there will be a faithless elector, and from what state. My bet is that someone from Alaska votes Palin for both P and VP.
Also known as, predict 95% of election results in a half hour!
Before Nate Silver became a blogging superstar at 538, he was a prominent baseball blogger, primarily known for his work on PECOTA, the most accurate baseball projection system around. PECOTA takes into account scores of factors in order to project a players’ performance next [...]
Jesse Jackson is
The new lead guitarist for
The “Candidate Five”
Topical haiku
Is getting a little old
Japanese art sucks