Political Compass

OK, so I admit I purloined this link from Josh's blog (sorry, Josh), but I couldn't resist posting it here.

Similar to other personal political polarity tests (how's that for alliteration?), the Political Compass features a short quiz on economic, political, and social issues designed to suss out your political leanings. However, rather than just plot the results across one domain, i.e. Liberal/Conservative, this test provides a two dimensional score based on your Social (Libertarian/Authoritarian) and Economic (Liberal/Conservative) views.

If you've got about 10 minutes (or less), give it a try and then post your results here. It'd be interesting to see where we all lie. As a point of comparison, here's a chart of where some contemporary national/international leaders would score if they took the test.

"Million Dollar Murray"

In his New Yorker article, "Million Dollar Murray," Malcolm Gladwell advances an interesting "Power-Law" theory regarding the problem of homelessness in this country. In a nutshell, Gladwell contends that rather than being an out of control epidemic, it is a far more manageable problem. At its heart, the theory holds that the greatest societal cost is incurred by a small number of "chronically homeless," comprised of only approximately 10% of the total homeless population. And, if communities target their efforts specifically on this smaller group of chronically homeless, they will go a long way towards reducing the incidence of homelessness and its associated costs. Of course, as Gladwell points out, these "chronically homeless" persons are also the hardest cases--the alcoholics, infirm, drug users, and mentally ill. However, if you consider the costs to the community in terms of emergency room visits, jail time, rehab programs, etc., Gladwell asserts, it makes far more sense to focus pre-emptive programs on this group. Several communities have piloted such programs, going so far to provide free apartments and free, preventative health services. So far, it would seem that the results are encouraging. However, while I think such programs could conceivably help reduce the strain on public health resources from this small group of chronically homeless, I have to wonder about the other 90% of our nation's homeless. What do we do for the single mothers and children, who make up almost half of the homeless population? Where's their free apartment?

Metro Woes

So Richmond decides that NoVA doesn't need cash for Metro, huh? This is bad, bad news.

Itzah C. Kret

Came across this pic on flickr and thought it especially appropriate considering our country's current political climate.

(BTW, this pic was taken in DC.)

Happy Valentine's Day

This loving Valentine's Day story is brought to you by the Spotsylvania Sheriff's department. Don't worry, it has a happy ending.

WP: Spotsylvania Deputies Receive Sex Services in Prostitution Cases

RTD: On-duty sexual activity defended
Spotsylvania sheriff: It helps the county's detectives build cases

Looks like somebody's been meeting in the Holiday Inn Rosslyn parking lot again!

Vice President Dick Cheney authorized Scooter Libby to "out" Valerie Plame as a CIA agent in order to discredit her husband. Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Watergate II has begun.

YES!!!!!

Sorry, this is not political, but its such great news that I had to post it!!

Iranian newspaper to run "Holocaust cartoons"

This is rather amazing to me. I guess it puts the ol' "freedom of expression" to the test, huh?

What's wrong with the Right?

Great article from the Post on former U.S. Senator John Danforth. It examines Danforth's dismay at the total dominance of the Christian Right in the Republican Party and the country. Keep in mind, he is a minister and a Republican. Interesting stuff.

Black on black crime??

Apparently a black person criticizing another black person is "black on black crime" according to Donovan McNabb. Oh really? REALLY?? I'd imagine there are a few mothers out there who's kids were gunned down in a drive-by who will not take too kindly to that characterization (or should I say trivialization). And McNabb's proof? Owen's saying the Eagles would be better off with Brett Favre at QB. McNabb said that if Owen's had said McNair, Vick, or some other black QB, that's OK, but not a white guy. Apparently the fact that Favre is a Hall of Famer with a Super Bowl ring couldn't possibly have entered into Owen's thinking, he just wanted someone white. Right, gotcha Donny.

I hate TO as much, or more (since he was a $25 fantasy waste of mine last year) than the next guy, but he was being an a$$hole, not a racist when he ripped on McNabb. All McNabb is doing is making himself look bad and taking the focus off of TO and his idiocy. Not to mention trivializing racial issues in the wake of the passing of a true civil rights hero.

I think Doug Williams, who truly faced racist attitudes when attempting to become a black QB, just threw up a little in his mouth...

Microsoft's New Anti-Censorship Policy for Blogs

According to an article on Yahoo! News, Microsoft has formulated a new policy for censoring blogs following an incident where they removed a blog from MSN due to an order from a Chinese government agency.

The blog in question was Zhao Jing's, which used to live here on MSN.

That is tbe bad news. The good news is that, "going forward" ("air quotes" required), Microsoft says that, when prompted with a court order--and only then--they will remove a blog, but only in the country from which the takedown order originated!

This is wonderful news! As much as it pains and surprises me to say this, Microsoft has just taken a major pro-civil rights, anti-censorship stand. Bravo!

I am starting to gain a lot of respect for Bill Gates The Humanitarian--I wonder how heavily his social views play into this decision? (In case you do not know what I mean, Bill was just named--along with his wife Belinda and some guy named Bono--Time Magazine's Man of the Year, and bloody deservedly so, in my opinion.