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There's a libertarian argument which has turned into a talking point against the American Civil War which posits that slavery in the South would have ended naturally of its own accord as it was an economically non-viable practice; thus, the deaths of nearly 600,000 Americans were wasted in this regard. Putting aside the point that libertarians are attempting to have it both ways on the Civil War -- that it wasn't really about slavery (I agree with this, by the way -- it was about money), yet it took a war to end the practice -- I think the evidence is indisuptable that slavery is indeed economically viable, even controlling for fugitive slave laws and the like. In other words, even if the state did not legislate to the benefit of slaveowners, the practice would still have been viable.
Now, it may well be that in the theoretical Ancapistan/Libertopia, social norms and conventions would make owning slaves unendurable, but this doesn't have to be the case. It could well be that someone made his fortune and built a self-sustaining compound (food, water, energy, etc.) and then engaged in slaveowning such that shunning and ostracization would have little to no negative effect from his point of view. Depending of course, on the demographics of the slaves, it's conceivable that he'd actually be seen favorably by racists or bigots and such. But the empirical evidence is all against the libertarian argument about the economic viability of slavery.
Firstly, we have the fact that slavery was widely practiced throughout history, and still is in practice in some places today. It's as though libertarians mean to say to plantation owners of the Old South, "Hey, you guys were terrible businessmen!" Really? So those family fortunes were built despite slavery, not with the help of slavery?
Secondly, slavery has had to be outlawed even in places which did not fight wars which resulted in the end of the practice. What's the point of legislating against an activity which is economically non-viable? It would be like saying that the prohibition against drugs is just a theoretical exercise because no one would use them anyway. This is demonstrably false. Forced labor of varying stripes always appears to require legislation to end: child labor, indetured servitude, slavery, etc.
In short, libertarians should not promote economic arguments against slavery. They should stick to the moral arguments against slavery.
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Word of the Day
belvedere n : a structure (as a cupola or a summerhouse) designed to command a view
Baby at 22 Months
I am fascinated by how she is beginning to apply words and phrases she already knows in other contexts to new ones... for instance, when yesterday she dropped the pile of stuffed animals she was carrying around and was able to see them all in one place on the floor. She stopped, looked down at them and said, "WoooOOWWW!" And then after a second, "SOH BIHG!"
It took me a second to realize "so big" was referring to how large the heap the critters was; "so big" is something we mostly say about her! And sometimes about other large things, but a lot more rarely and never of a collection of stuffed animals.
"So big," I agreed. "That's a lot of animals!"
"Lau tah AHN mahls."
"Lot of animals, yes."
Current Plans
The One Card Draw at 11 AM EST! That's today! Also, research for tomorrow's Spots. After yesterday afternoon's labored sketching session, I started getting better results at night... I'd like to see if I can resume that tonight, if I finish the cards. I got a good picture of Scythe!
About the Photos
We did make it to the Aquarium, where I discovered that parents rarely have time to look at things (much less draw or photograph them). But I did get these two bad photos of some leafy sea dragons, which were some of the most amazing creatures I've seen. They have an astonishing presence, alien and delicate. Truly beautiful.
Elsewhere
• Robot dogs! Girls with great noses! Guitars! ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) buymelove has a sketch-post, if you haven't seen her work you should! (ninjahijinx, I bet you'd like it in particular.)
• I never could draw the stars right. Excellent post by jorrocks_j on history.
Monday's Quote of the Week
No steam or gas drives anything until it is confined. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.—Harry Fosdick (1878-1969); clergyman
Stardancer Home.
Tags : daily post, photos
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http://backspin.typepad.com/backspin/2009/07/disproportionate-coverage-of-israel-boomerangs-on-oxfam.html A British report recently found that the UK media's disproportionate attention to Israel is having a bad effect on fund-raising efforts for developing countries. When a mere three countries account for half the foreign news coverage, you know donations will be effected:
. . . during the two weeks of the study, more than half of all international coverage on the main UK bulletins focused on the USA, Australia and Israel.
Oxfam's media director Sam Barratt groused that his organization "is adjusting to the decline by establishing media partnerships and longer-term projects that are better insulated from these pressures.”
But the NGO-Monitor blog blisteringly says Barratt's reaction is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black:
Oxfam’s comments however, are ironic given the fact that Oxfam is itself a major part of the problem. Its own activities reflect a highly disproportionate focus on Israel and obsession with the Arab-Israeli conflict. Oxfam Great Britain alone put out 16 press releases on Israel between December 27, 2008 and January 30, 2009 – more than all of the press releases issued about the entire world in the month of June, 2009. Oxfam has also lobbied the EU, held press conferences and published reports [pdf format] on the situation in Gaza, promoting the Palestinian narrative and fueling the conflict. As part of the DEC, Oxfam attempted to televise an appeal for Gaza on the BBC and Sky News, not for any other crisis.
The report was commissioned by the UK Dept. for International Development. The full version's in pdf format.
(Hat tip: NGO-Monitor blog)
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http://www.scrivener.net/2009/07/in-news.html In the news...
What are the odds of getting away with murder? About 40% nationally, 30% her in tough-on-crime New York City. The story. Hey, 40% is a lot more than the impression you'd get from watching CSI, Law & Order, and all those procedural shows. The next time someone really annoys me...
Saddam's astute strategy: Be more concerned about what the Iranians might do to you than what the US might. Kick the weapons inspectors out because they “would have directly identified to the Iranians where to inflict maximum damage to Iraq.” Better to let the Iranians and everyone think maybe you really have those WMDs, as long as they can't prove it. Such he told his interrogators, who told the New York Times. The next time you think about starting a war, consider how probably everybody's misjudging everybody.
Climate change shrinks sheep. Is there anything it can't do? "It's too early to say if, in 100 years, we will have chihuahuas herding pocket-sized sheep." (It's also very good for the wild sheep, enabling more to survive harsh winters.)
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Френдесса bebe4ka нечаяно навела меня на мысль...
Кстати вот немогу для себя разобраться чье исполнение мне больше нравиться. Вот это Магомаева или Бернеса в фильме Два Бойца.
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This spring when I did my annual pull of summer clothing to check for size, wear, and touch-ups (ironing, sewing on buttons), I discovered I didn't have many clothes suitable for work: some were too worn and some didn't fit. I put the things that wouldn't do for work in a pile for a while and thought about what to do. I didn't have a budget for new clothes this summer, so I decided to try to find a simple pattern to sew some tops. Tops are simpler to make than pants, and anyway I have enough pants and one skirt that still work.
This is a very beginner-oriented story; at least, I hope I've included enough detail for beginners. I haven't sewn much for years, and I have only once before tried to make clothing for myself (and that was a complete flop). Ask if something isn't clear and I'll try to explain in comments.
( Number one in a series: Start at the very beginning )
Next: more prep.
Tags : sewing
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White Roses Beneath Snow
by KC
Disclaimer: I don't own none of this.
Pairings: Lucius/Severus and Lucius/Narcissa/Severus
Other Info: Takes place years before Oath Breaker I, around the time of Draco's birth.
Summary: Severus has been hurt badly in his life. Narcissa fulfills an arranged marriage barely knowing her new husband. Both claimed by Lucius, Severus and Narcissa work out their places in the Malfoy family and with each other.
( Prologue )
Tags : hp fic, oath breaker
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Not riches exactly, but I was rummaging around video.google.com and youtube for some diversion or other and came across a couple of Cyndi Lauper videos (I love her forever) that I really liked. They are from an album called The Body Acoustic. I was thinking I'd like to listen to that, I'll bet it's good. Then I remembered I downloaded a bunch of Cyndi Lauper from alt.binaries.sounds.mp3 a few months ago. Lo and behold, I have it. I'm finally listening to it. It's really good. I love you forever, Cyndi.
.jpeg) 
( She Bops below the cut... )
Tags : cyndi lauper, music, youtube
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