Around the World Wide Web 40

1. Burgess Laughlin has started a blog, Making Progress. Burgess has an Aristotelian mind, which fits someone who wrote The Aristotle Adventure. By Aristotelian, I mean that he focuses on clear and precise definitions of the words we use. He strives for clarity in thinking.

2. Salma Hayek's prayers were answered -- along with the prayers of a lot of red-blooded men. Praise the Lord.

3.Glenn Greenwald continues his campaign against Rudy Giuliani. Andrew Sullivan is on board.

4. Sullivan also links to a piece by Norm Geras that says intentional bombing of civilians is a crime, just as terrorist bombings are. Geras doesn't understand that in matters of defense the end justifies the means. Killing in self-defense is not murder; it prevents murder. If a free nation must bomb civilians in order to survive in a war against those who would destroy freedom, then the bombing is morally justified.

If we get hung up on "Just War Theory," then we are heading for the end of civilization by following principles of altruistic sacrifice in war.

5. Dan McLaughlin has a series of posts on Republican presidential candidates, Rudy Giuliani (whom he supports), Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney 1, 2, 3.

The Huckabee piece is particularly revealing of what a disaster that candidate is. When asked what his three priorities would be he answered (in my words): 1) Some vague state-corporation program for health care (vague because intentions and feelings are more important than facts to altruists like Huckabee); 2) Volunteerism; and 3) Balanced Budget Amendment. This guy combines the worst aspects of both parties -- mysticism, collectivism and statism. The last thing America needs is a Republican President who is a religious socialist. Oh, wait -- that's what we have now.

6. Starbucks reports decreased earnings. Comments interesting, too.