Quick Hits

[kent_allard_jr]

I suspect very few of you are stuck at home doing nothing all weekend, as I am, but for those who are, here are a few quick links:

• Matt Taibbi's article on health care reform is well-worth reading.
  
• If that doesn't get you pissed off enough, read David Gran's New Yorker piece on the execution of an almost certainly innocent man. Willingham's prosecutor defends his case, and ... calling it "unconvincing" would be an understatement. Nonetheless I don't blame him or the cops -- the latter just didn't know what they were doing -- as much as Governor Perry and the Board of Pardons, who let Willingham die after experts had demolished the prosecution's case. (One geek note: In the photo the poor guy appears to be reading a Dragonlance novel.)
  
• One a lighter note: Den of Geek praises the SF movie corridor (h/t to Zompist). Naturally, I drifted to the author's list of sexiest SF costumes afterward.
  
• The Israeli government equates intermarrying gentiles with kidnappers. As commenters note, this is the same government that's trying to annul Orthodox conversions that aren't Orthodox enough. Face it: These guys are stupid bigots, full stop.
  
• One of the things I love about Matthew Yglesias is that he doesn't edit, or even think much, before he publishes. A smart guy, but occasionally we get little gems like this one: Afghanistan isn't the graveyard of empires, it's the ESPN Zone of Empires.

Anything else?

Comments

[tmlforsyth.livejournal.com]

Inter-marriage is a very legitimate concern, but the campaign may not do much good, except for those already in the choir. As for the nullification of conversions, I'm looking to convert Modern Orthodox, and I'd be more loyal to Israel than most Chasidim (well Lubavitch are cool), so the nullifiers can kiss my ass. i do however like to wear a black fedora, but not for any religious/political statements :)