The Lone Elm

Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs, author of Life and Death of Great American Cities (1961) died yesterday in Toronto at age 89.  The New York Times has an extensive obituary. I remember reading her classic book in college and being terrifically inspired by her holistic view of how communities operate -- and how terribly we Americans were going about rehabilitating our cities and making our suburbs.  Very fine discussion and additional links at Jay Currie as well.

Gasoline Price - a Classic Political Hysteria

We are having a gasoline price crisis, with prices at the pump going over $3.00 in some areas. Gas Buddy has a good national map of the situation -- prices are especially high in California, Nevada and New York.  See LATimes and Washington Post for general background.  The recent increase in gas prices has a combination of causes, according to the Energy Information Administration.  These include high crude oil prices,  reduced refining capacity, partially related to Katrina and also due to refinery maintenance, the switchover from MTBE to ethanol, and, no doubt the variety of state-specific specifications for gasoline to improve air pollution.  Political uncertainty is not helping the pricing of crude oil.  As James Glassman points out at TCS Daily, we need to build some new refineries and obtain additional sources of oil, as well as engage in appropriate conservation measures.  Applying a "windfall profit" tax on the oil companies, is not the solution -- I have not investigated the year end reports, but it is hard to imagine how the oil companies have achieved a windfall in the face of the costs of Hurricane Katrina and the other storm events last fall.  Further, perhaps profits are in excess because the companies are not plowing back into new plant and equipment due to all of the obstacles facing them on that front. If we as a body politic are not interested in greater production to reduce prices, then we need to live with the higher prices.  See also the editorial at the National Review , Knowledge Problem here and here.

Spring Rain

After quite a dry spring, we are finally getting some rain today.  Here is a poem by Sara Teasdale, an American poet from the early twentieth century.

Spring Rain, by Sara Teasdale

I thought I had forgotten,
But it all came back again
To-night with the first spring thunder
In a rush of rain.

I remembered a darkened doorway
Where we stood while the storm swept by,
Thunder gripping the earth
And lightning scrawled on the sky.

The passing motor busses swayed,
For the street was a river of rain,
Lashed into little golden waves
In the lamp light's stain.

With the wild spring rain and thunder
My heart was wild and gay;
Your eyes said more to me that night
Than your lips would ever say. . . .

I thought I had forgotten,
But it all came back again
To-night with the first spring thunder
In a rush of rain.

Iran

Some very interesting insights of the Kuwaiti point of view in this translation of a Kuwaiti article translated at Watching America. And there is also a translation of an article by Frederic Tellier, that is also not so complacent about where we are headed. And for an overview, see Robert Kaplan's article in today's Washington Post.

Last Installment of Totten Story

Installment 6 of Michael Totten's whirlwind trip to Iraq via Turkey ends with their exciting re-entry into Turkey. Quite a host of comments follow. 

Iraq Update

At long last, the Shia have selected a Prime Minister, Jawad al-Maliki, to form a government within thirty days.  See BBC and the Washington Post. BBC bio of Mr. al-Maliki indicates that he favors secular pluralist government and has been active in the post-Saddam development of a new government.  Gateway Pundit has a good wrap up (and some photos) on the progress made in governing Iraq yesterday. Comment at Captain's Quarters.  Let's hope we have turned the corner.

On quite a bit of a lighter note, Iowahawk  had a very funny piece about how Mr. Zarqawri's email might be looking these days -- note that it is in current internet communication vernacular. Reminds me of The Sapling's communications a bit!

Apocalyptic Science

Al Gore's new movie "An Inconvenient Truth" headlined by penguins walking across a desert is just the latest in the "Disaster is coming NOW!!!!!!!!" press and publicity pushed by those with various political agendas. If only those same people supported windmills near their own personal estates, then maybe I might be more inclined to take them seriously!  In any case, the LA Times op-ed by Jonah Goldberg takes a step in putting all of this into perspective.  Of greatest concern to me is how our scientists are being pushed into making their research and analysis fit the needs of their clients and funders, not only on the climate change issue but with respect to pharmaceuticals and other key topics.  What happenned to objective science? Or was there never any such thing?  See comment and further link at Dean's World.

Dresden Dolls Headline in Boston

The Sapling is a huge fan of The Dresden Dolls, who are headlining in Boston tonight at the Orpheum Theater. Unfortunately, he's not going to be able to see them.  In any case, there is a nice write-up in The Boston Globe today, including a bit of them interviewing themselves.  Very cute. Unfortunately the online version is missing the picture!  Amazon has their new CD, Yes Virginia.

The Not So Distant Future: Hillary and Iran?

Timothy Garten Ash at The Guardian posts a peer into the future which assumes that Hillary Clinton becomes President in January 2009, and, shortly after assuming office, decides to bomb Iran to preven them from gaining a nuclear weapon capability.  There are a number of very interesting comments including various alternative scenarios played out. 

Hang Out with People Who are Happy!

Creating Passionate Users has a very interesting and compelling discussion of how we tend to become the people that we are around. The post has plenty of further references which I intend to follow up. The prescription is to hang around happy people and you will be happier and more productive!