Treasonous intellectuals

From Glenn Greenwald:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/12/24/torture/index.html

Here are Tufts University Political Science Professor Dan Drezner and Stanford Philosophy Professor Joshua Cohen demonstrating how good-hearted, profoundly reasonable, oh-so-intellectually sophisticated Americans diligently struggle with -- torture themselves over -- what they have convinced themselves is the vexing question of whether our leaders should be considered "war criminals" by virtue of . . . . having committed unambiguous war crimes:

Here's a 2004 critique of similar apologies for torture by "human rights expert" Michael Ignatieff:

http://www.columbia.edu/~lnp3/mydocs/fascism_and_war/Treason.htm

The moral and intellectual decay of American and Western European intellectuals over the past couple of decades will deserve scrutiny by scholars of future generations. Just as we try to understand what made Martin Heidegger an obedient stooge of the Hitler regime, others will try to figure out what makes a Harvard "liberal" pimp for torture.

The Onion got scooped

http://adage.com/moy2008/article?article_id=131810

Obama Wins! ... Ad Age's Marketer of the Year

At ANA Gathering, Marketing Pros and Agency Bigs Tap Barack Over Apple, Zappos

ORLANDO, Fla. (AdAge.com) -- Just weeks before he demonstrates whether his campaign's blend of grass-roots appeal and big media-budget know-how has converted the American electorate, Sen. Barack Obama has shown he's already won over the nation's brand builders. He's been named Advertising Age's marketer of the year for 2008.


Mr. Obama won the vote of hundreds of marketers, agency heads and marketing-services vendors gathered here at the Association of National Advertisers' annual conference. He edged out runners-up Apple and Zappos.com. The rest of the shortlist, selected by Ad Age's editorial staff, was rounded out by megabrand Nike, turnaround story Coors and Mr. Obama's rival, Sen. John McCain.

One of my heroes started a blog

http://gerryspence.wordpress.com/

Truth about ACORN

ACORN LED FINANCIAL SECTOR
WITH WARNINGS ON LENDING

The national advocacy group appears to deserve recognition for its prudent -- and ignored -- early advice about home loan practices. > By Eileen Markey

http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3641

Penny Auctions

http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/money_10.html


My favorite finance blogs:

http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/

http://suddendebt.blogspot.com/

http://www.creditslips.org/creditslips/

False confessions in Central Park Jogger case

Lawyer Elaine Cassel discusses the coerced confessions that sent 5 teenagers to prison for 12 years before the real killer came forward, and the problems of false confessions in general.

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/cassel/20021217.html

Here, law professor Anthony D'Amato discusses problems with the "confessions" of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khlaid Shaikh Mohammed:

http://works.bepress.com/anthony_damato/13/

"The hedge fund of the people."

http://strategerycapital.com/