Veep Richardson?

January 22, 2007 Rand Simberg

I don’t think he has a prayer of getting the Democrat nomination, barring some political earthquake, but is he really running for running mate?

That would be interesting, if he actually became Vice President, because, traditionally, the Veep is in charge of the space program in the White House (Cheney has actually been one of the most hands off in this regard in years). And Richardson has been very supportive of NewSpace (at least partly because of all the hype over Spaceport New Mexico), so that could actually result in some useful changes of direction for NASA.

Not that I’m thrilled in general about a Dem in the White House, of course.

Technology and Society

Let Email Be Email

January 22, 2007 Rand Simberg

I’ve also noticed the huge increase in image spam for stock scams. The solution to this seems pretty simple to me. Just block any email with an image in it.

Sure, a lot of people who like to flood their friends’ mailboxes with pictures of cute puppies will whine, but is this really a critical need for email? Much of the evil of spam is enabled by the bloat that emails have become in recent years, with HTML and embedded graphics (just one more bit of proof that Microsoft is evil).

Just say no, mail servers, and go back to ascii. And for users, if you want to show someone a picture, send them a link, or attach it.

War Commentary

Romancing Araby

January 21, 2007 Rand Simberg

Sam Ser has a review of what looks to be a fascinating new book by Michael Oren, on the history of the US involvement with the Middle East and the Arab and Muslim world, going back to the Barbary Pirates.

Political Commentary

Because She’s Mean

January 21, 2007 Rand Simberg

That’s why Ron Rosenbaum likes Hillary. Mark Steyn, meanwhile, says yes, but that she’s mean to the wrong people:

My problem begins when Rosenbaum expands the proposition to argue that, in a field of Democrat wimps, Hill

Political Commentary

Because She’s Mean

January 21, 2007 Rand Simberg

That’s why Ron Rosenbaum likes Hillary. Mark Steyn, meanwhile, says yes, but that she’s mean to the wrong people:

My problem begins when Rosenbaum expands the proposition to argue that, in a field of Democrat wimps, Hill

Political Commentary

Because She’s Mean

January 21, 2007 Rand Simberg

That’s why Ron Rosenbaum likes Hillary. Mark Steyn, meanwhile, says yes, but that she’s mean to the wrong people:

My problem begins when Rosenbaum expands the proposition to argue that, in a field of Democrat wimps, Hill

Media Criticism

No Jihad Here, Folks

January 21, 2007 Rand Simberg

Nothing to see, move along.

The religion that dare not speak its name. Or rather, the name that the media dare not speak.

Political Commentary

I Hope You’re Sitting Down

January 20, 2007 Rand Simberg

I know you’ll be as shocked as I was to learn that Hillary Clinton is running for president. But I don’t think that the Slick Grope Vets For Truth will be deployed before she actually gets the nomination.

Political Commentary