So many defunct blogs

Sometimes I think of a blog from ye olden days of blogging (circa 2005), google to see if the site still exists, and if it does, click down its blogroll to see how many of the cites it linked to are still around. Today's old site: Demosthenes

If we just keep saying "blockchain" all of Venezuela's problems will go away

I still do not get the concept of a state managed crypto-currency. How is it a crypto-currency if it is created by and run by a state?

Just because it is an electronic currency, that does not make it a crypto-currency. The U.S. Dollar is both a physical and electronic currency (I can transfer dollars and make payments in dollars electronically). But it is definitely not a crypto-currency because it is sponsored by the government of the United States and managed by the US Federal Reserve.

If he can do this, what can't he do against anyone who criticizes the president?

I wonder if Brennan (and the other Trump enemies who are soon going to have their security clearances stripped) could sue. The executive branch has complete discretion over who gets a security clearance. But the executive branch (like every other branch of government) is not allowed to retaliate against people just for exercising their First Amendment right to criticize the president.

This is way outside my area of the law, but Brennan should sue just to clarify the law and to maybe get the President to pause before he strips the next critic of his or her clearance.

How terrified would I be if I found out someone recorded me without my knowledge?

I guess I would be a little scared--or maybe preemptively embarrassed is a better description. We all say stupid shit sometimes. I am sure if someone followed me around and recorded everything I said there would be plenty I would later be embarrassed about.

But no racial slurs. I'm positive my tapes wouldn't have them.

Even Stephen's family hates him

Can someone invite Omarosa to the Miller family Thanksgiving? I want to hear those tapes!

Upyernoz: trend setter

It took 15 years, but I guess Moynoq is now a hot destination.

I was there before the graveyard of ships got all commercial.

Guyana isn’t part of Latin America

Guyana is an English-speaking country and so my geography pedantry flared up at this:

Ninety-seven percent of Latin American women live in countries that ban abortion or allow it only in rare instances. Only Uruguay, Cuba, Guyana and Mexico City allow any woman to have an early-term abortion.

I know, who cares? I do. Not sure why but this stuff bugs me.

U.S. to remain neutral as MBS continues his anti-Canada hissy-fit

I know I know, we are already 1.5 years into the Trump administration, but part of me still can't believe that the U.S. is "taking a neutral stance" as Saudi Arabia, a country with one of the worst human rights records in the world, shits all over the U.S.'s closest ally just because it pointed out one small example of how the Saudis have one of the worst human rights records in the world.

KSA is a really shitty country

I don't think it is as broadly appreciated as it should be, but Saudi Arabia is a particularly awful nation.

Seriously, I think the people running the kingdom are worse than any other country in the Middle East. Iran has terrible leadership and a bad system of government, but it pales in comparison to MbS and his absolute kleptocracy.

Brexit

As Dylan Matthews said, I'm an American in the age of Trump, I'm in no position to judge the insanity emanating from other countries' political leaders, but:

The most bizarre thing about watching this from afar is the sense that it’s inevitable, that there’s no turning back. You can turn back! May could decide to hold a vote on just canceling the whole thing, and if a majority of Parliament goes along with it, it would be over. Would it end her political career? Probably. Would a majority of Parliament vote for it? Likely not — but again, that’s exactly what’s bizarre and upsetting about all this. It’s like watching a guy slowly demolishing all the houses on his block with a sledgehammer because he lost a Twitter poll, and all his neighbors are like, “Yep, that seems appropriate.”