In response to my post last week about instant runoff voting, Richard Homonoff sent me this description of numerous other proposed voting methods. I had no idea. If I get the gist, IRV still makes the most sense.

Note to Democrats: Get a Defense Policy — “Once again the Democratic Party finds itself on the defensive on defense.” NY Times op-ed

Of course the Times would say so: ” New Jersey’s Supreme Court made the right call yesterday when it ruled that the State Democratic Party could substitute Frank Lautenberg for the discredited Robert Torricelli as its candidate in November’s election for the United States Senate. The ruling appears to clear the way for a vigorous if necessarily abbreviated campaign, thus giving New Jersey voters the choice they deserve.”

James Crabtree, of voxpolitics

and the i society, takes aim at rightwing bloggers in a New Statesman piece. Since NS doesn’t allow free access to their content, Crabtree reappropriates the intellectual rights to his content and posts it for all to see. It appears at The Work Foundation website, which describes itself in this way:

The dynamic relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) and how it affects us in the way we live and work is the single most critical social and economic issue of our time. iSociety is an independent analysis of that impact on our lives, today and in the future.

Through its projects it is a major three- to five-year examination of the inter-relationship between work, life and ICT. We are taking the first forensic, independent look at the real impact of the new technologies on the way we live and work.

Oil firms wait as Iraq crisis unfolds:

“The world’s biggest oil bonanza in recent memory may be just around the corner, giving U.S. oil companies huge profits and American consumers cheap gasoline for decades to come.

And it all may come courtesy of a war with Iraq.

While debate intensifies about the Bush administration’s policy, oil analysts and Iraqi exile leaders believe a new, pro-Western government — assuming it were to replace Saddam Hussein’s regime — would prompt U.S. and multinational petroleum giants to rush into Iraq, dramatically increasing the output of a nation whose oil reserves are second only to that of Saudi Arabia.” SF Chronicle

However, it strikes me as just as likely that a post-Saddam Iraq, while throwing the doors open to petrochemical companies to help it exploit its oil resources efficiently, would collaborate with OPEC on pricing in order to pull in urgently needed cash for reconstruction, rather than compete with OPEC as this article suggests. Unless, of course, it becomes a US territory.

Ask the pilot — “By popular demand: The full, unexpurgated story of what happens when dry ice is mixed with blue toilet acid at 33,000 feet.” Salon

Mark Fiore: Why We Must Go to War Salon

News Analysis: Playing A Weak Hand Well:

“Iraq’s decision to readmit United Nations inspectors has heightened differences between the United States and its allies and complicated the Bush administration’s task of winning Security Council approval for a tough new resolution.

Seeking to regain the initiative, President Bush announced today that he had reached an agreement with House leaders on a resolution authorizing him to use force if President Saddam Hussein refuses to abandon his efforts to develop chemical, biological and nuclear arms.

The move seemed intended to show the United Nations that the president has the support of numerous American lawmakers and is prepared to take military action on his own if the Security Council is reluctant to act.” NY Times

Also: Path to War on Iraq Gets Murkier

:

“As UN inspectors prepare to head for Baghdad in two weeks, the US seeks tougher terms, and consequences.” Christian Science Monitor

As Trees Die, Biologists Battle Back:

“Such is the power of this plant pestilence that has infiltrated much of California and jumped to Oregon, and that researchers fear could easily spread to the midwest and east. The disease has already killed tens of thousands of trees in California and spread to 17 different species, including huckleberry, big leaf maples, rhododendrons and bay trees. Scientists have found it can also infect the northern red oak and pin oak, species that are widespread in the East and Midwest. Recently, the United States Forest Service declared large regions of the East, including the southern Appalachian Mountains, whose climate would probably suit the disease, as areas of high risk.” NY Times