Ron Paul, George W. Bush, and Anarchy

Professor Juan Cole argues here that Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul's fundraising success is fueled not only by opposition to the war in Iraq, but also by Bush's abuse of government's functions, thus making anarchism seem increasingly attractive.

New Orleans and Political Calculations

The always eloquent Digby has some cogent thoughts about New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, and Karl Rove's political calculus here.

Another Review for Farseed

Faren Miller has a long review of Farseed in the June (print) issue of Locus, in which she calls the novel "well-told, moving, and thoroughly gripping SF."

The Storm: What Went Wrong and Why During Hurricane Katrina

The Storm is a suspenseful, detailed account of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, written by Ivor van Heerden, Deputy Director of the Louisiana State University Hurricane Center, and co-author Mike Bryan. Recommended for its insights into the often contentious interactions of scientists and politicians, and for the abundance of evidence it offers to show that the loss of New Orleans, far from being the outcome of a natural disaster, was the result of human negligence. If you need an excuse to get a copy, it's now out in paperback.

On the eve of the Fourth of July...

...Keith Olbermann should not have had to say this.