IN DEFENSE OF BOOZE

On the 70th anniversary of the end of prohibition, Radley Balko worries about the new war on social drinking.

POSEUR ALERT: “One of the reasons I live here is that I really feel like New York needs me right now. New York is not the center for American culture and art that it once was because of the forces of conservatism. Giuliani, capitalism – and then there was 9/11. I really believe that if I leave, it will suffer! Maybe that’s why I love it here, because I feel wanted.” – singer Rufus Wainwright, The Observer, October 12. I love Wainwright’s music. Pity he can say idiotic things like this.

BLOGS AND TRENT LOTT: On almost the one-year anniversary of Lott’s Senatorial leadership demise, a scholarly study of the role of blogs.

HMMMM: Here’s an interesting question. This is a quote from John Le Carre’s new novel, in which the United States assumes the role of the old Soviet Union as a menace in world affairs:

“Tell the new zealots of Washington that in the making of Israel a monstrous human crime was committed and they will call you an anti-Semite.”

You know what? Calling the creation of Israel a “monstrous human crime” and leaving it at that is, to my mind, the statement of an anti-Semite. Opposing Israel’s existence is one thing. Criticizing it is one thing. But calling this attempt to find a refuge for a people just murdered in the millions “a monstrous human crime” is simply so extreme that I have to wonder where the sentiment is coming from.