Concerns at A.C.L.U. Over Document Shredding - New York Times

A fine kettle of fish. The ACLU appears to be an organization of hypocrites at the highest levels. If this story is correct, the ACLU is unworthy of respect for its positions if it cannot follow their own principles.

'No' Votes in Europe Reflect Anger at National Leaders - New York Times

While the people may not believe it, the reality is that cradle to grave socialism's heyday has passed. Free market reforms are needed. The extent of these reforms is uncertain.

"The governing parties of the left and the right are saying the same things to their people: that painful, free-market economic reforms are the only path toward rejuvenation, more jobs, better futures. And the people, who have come to equate the idea of an expanded Europe with a challenge to cradle-to-grave social protections, are giving the same answer: We don't believe you."

Unions Struggle as Communications Industry Shifts - New York Times

An inevitable result of the tremendous upheaval in telecom and technology in the last two decades.

French No Vote on European Constitution Rattles Continent - New York Times

Goodbye, Mr. Chirac...good riddance, I think. But the devil we know may be preferable to the one we don't.

C.I.A. Expanding Terror Battle Under Guise of Charter Flights - New York Times

I suppose the Times and these journalists see their patriotic responsibility to investigate and report on the well known fact that the CIA has clandestine air and a host of other operations set up through front companies. I'm glad they do.

Publicizing these operations serves no useful journalistic purpose. In fact, such exposure may be harmful to our national interests and the war on terror.

The New York Times > Technology > E-Commerce Report: Online Travel Industry Tries to Adjust to Maturity

The travel reservations sector of the internet marketplace is strong, but maturing, according to Bob Tedeschi.

"By most measures, travel is the Web's most developed category. According to comScore, online leisure travel bookings reached about $51 billion last year, or 44 percent of all online sales. Roughly 30 percent of all travel bookings occur online - a far greater share than, say, retailing, where less than 5 percent of all sales are recorded on the Internet."

French Voters Deliver a Crushing Defeat to European Constitution - New York Times

Ahh, those Frenchmen and women. Vive la France and all that stuff. They can't see beyond their noses as they become Europe's pariah. Deserved? Perhaps. They think of themselves more highly than they ought.

The Dwinell Political Report 05-27-05

James Dwinell hits the nail on the head. Is anyone in Vermont listening? The Legislature and towns are driving up the costs of land and housing by well meaning laws, regulations, permit decisions, etc. The law of un(INTENDED?) consequences is alive and well.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WE DIDN'T MEAN TO...

"The legislature and state and local agencies add incrementally to the building code, each new rule, regulation, code, or law increasing construction costs.

Add to that the increasing cost of the permit process and the holding costs of permit delays. You have significantly higher land cost, permit cost, and construction cost. Now add in inflation. There is no way wages can keep pace with increasing housing costs, most of them caused by the same governments which bemoan the lack of affordable housing.

The legislature decries the lack of affordable housing and of course blames greedy developers. We are lucky to have any developers willing to put themselves through the abuse incurred during the process. There will never be affordable housing."

A Compromise With Overtones for 2008 - New York Times

Maybe McCain will run as a Democrat?? Clearly ,he has lost ground with the conservatives. This story has yet to play out fully. When/if a Supreme Court vacancy occurs and Bush nominates Thomas or Scalia, the real Senate fight will erupt. What will McCain do then?

I love this quote:

"John McCain has always followed his own star," Alan K. Simpson, the former senator from Wyoming, said. "That is why he was always so attractive to the American electorate. He can tell people to go to hell - and they'll look forward to the trip."

The electorate may look forward to the trip, except conservatives. McCain has the same maverick disposition as Simpson's.

Publishers balk at Google book copy plan | CNET News.com

The copyright debate swells. It seems to me the world is better served by having all the works of these major libraries in digital form. Working through the thicket of interests, particularly the publishers' concerns about the works not in the public domain is a necessary step along the way.