Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Link-O-Rama

I have started adding links to the site (see sidebar on the right). Such a list is necessarily a work in progress, with blogs and other sites being added (and occasionally deleted) on an ongoing basis. The list I have started with, however, are a few sites I have gotten into the habit of checking on a daily or at least near-daily basis. You are what you read, so while I am sure these choices say something about me, I will leave it others to say what that is.

So, for the uninitiated, here is a brief summary of these blogs:

  • Andrew Sullivan.com -- Sullivan is widely read, in part because he was one of the first well-known writers/commentators to embrace blogging in a big way, but mostly because he is consistently interesting on a wide variety of issues, including current events, politics, Catholicism, and gay issues.
  • Disability Law -- a recently created blog by Washington University Law Professor Sam Bagenstos. I wish he would write more, but I am sure that between teaching, writing law review articles, and the occasional Supreme Court argument, he is a busy guy.
  • Freakonomics -- Commentary on many things from the authors of the best-selling book.
  • How Appealing -- Amazingly thorough and frequently updated blog from Philadelphia-area appellate lawyer Howard Bashman. Great source for legal news and court decisions from around the country. If you are interested in legal issues, you have to read this blog.
  • The Note -- All things political, courtesy of the ABC News political editors.
  • Poynter -- This site as a whole is devoted to journalism issues and coverage of news made by newspapers and the people who write, edit, and own them. I mostly read the daily news compilations from Jim Romenesko, and that is the page I have linked to.
  • Progressive Law Blogs -- This blog provides snippets from and links to about a half dozen law bloggers that write from, as the name suggests, a more liberal prospective. Good way to get a quick overview of several different blogs.
  • SCOTUSblog -- This blog, created by the D.C. law firm of Goldstein & Howe, which specializes in handling Supreme Court appeals, is a great source of information about the Supreme Court, the justices, and the cases/issue they address. Several months ago, long-time Supreme Court newspaper beat writer Lyle Denniston began contributing to the blog, which has been a great addition.
  • Talk Left -- Interesting, informative, and decidedly liberal blog created by Denver-based criminal defense attorney Jeralyn Merritt. Mostly deals with criminal law issues, but also comments on political subjects as well.
  • Volokh Conspiracy -- Legal blog created by UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, who has assembled a group of fellow conspirators (mostly other law professors) to contribute to the site, which results in a nice mix of a voices commenting on a wide variety of legal topics. Often academic in tone, as one might expect, but interesting nonetheless.

Suggestions for other sites to try and then perhaps link to are welcome.

Friday, November 25, 2005

What's Good for Blue Cross...

Reading about the significant financial problems General Motors faces, and about the layoffs, plant closings, benefits reductions, and other steps being taken to address them, reminds me yet again of the unmatched power held by insurance companies.

It has been widely reported that a large part of GM's troubles stem from health care costs, which remain huge even after the recent changes negotiated with the United Auto Workers. According to Paul Krugman in today's New York Times (I can't link because it costs $49 a year or the cost of a print subscription to access NYT op-ed columnists), GM spends $1,500 per vehicle on health care, compared to $201 for Toyota here and $97 for auto makers in Japan. This is not just a problem for GM, of course, since nearly all businesses and public entities struggle to come up with the funds to pay ever-rising health care costs.

And that is what I have never understood. Why does everyone -- but especially the largest companies with the most clout as well as the biggest financial stakes -- just take it? Oh, sure, everyone complains, or nibbles around the edges of the problem, but how come dealing with health care costs is not The Number 1 Issue for every chamber of commerce, small business association, trade group, union, and all others affected by the economy (that is, everybody). And why doesn't it stay the The Number 1 Issue until real change occurs? And why isn't all that potential political pressure being brought to bear on our elected representatives. We all pay -- either directly or indirectly -- an astonishingly high amount of money for a system that pleases no one, not employers, not consumers, and not providers. Oh, wait, except for the insurance companies. And keeping them happy seems to be more important than keeping everyone else happy.

I am not a big fan of Hillary Clinton, but I hope she runs for President in 2008 just so she can give the following speech (which, of course, she won't, but one can dream):

"In 1993, upon coming to office, President Clinton made reforming the American health care system his number 1 domestic priority. My husband and I were attacked, ridiculed, portrayed as socialist proponents of the Demon National Health Insurance, and generally battered around enough that we gave up the issue for good. No major reform efforts have occurred since.

"So, now it is 15 years later, and I have a few questions for all those who joined the insurance companies in putting a stop to that effort: How's that health insurance thing working out for you? Have coverage? Your kids? Paying less for what you do have? Have more choices?

"Didn't think so."

The Clintons did not have all the right answers (although I am sure they thought they did, since they always think they do). But at least they were asking the right questions.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Greatness in Our Time

Just as players give balls and bats to Cooperstown after historic achievements like getting 3,000 hits or 500 home runs, perhaps Drew Rosenhaus should send his cell phone to the Bad Advice Hall of Fame, located next to Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. It was on this cell phone that Rosenhaus gave T.O. the negotiating tips that has won the agent bad advice immortality, with a plaque in the same room as other proponents of the Really Bad Idea, such as the original inductee, Mary Lincoln ("Let's go see a play tonight!") and the guy who invented fish sticks. Congratulations, Drew. You've earned it.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

But You Have to Like His OBP

Is Adam Greenberg the Moonlight Graham of the 21st century?

Fans of the movie Field of Dreams will remember Archibald "Moonlight" Graham as the character played, as a young man, by Frank Whaley and also, as a genial family physician, by Burt Lancaster. In the movie, Moonlight hits a sacrifice fly in what turns out to be his only big league at-bat. Soon thereafter, he leaves the ghostly confines of the Field of Dreams to tend to Kevin Costner's daughter, who has fallen and is choking on a hot dog. As he steps from the field, he changes from Frank Whaley the youthful ballplayer to Burt Lancaster the older doctor. Dr. Moonlight saves the girl, and all is well -- until everyone realizes that he cannot go back to his youthful self. It's off to Cornfield Heaven for Burt/Moonlight.

The real-life Moonlight Graham also played in just one major league game, on June 29, 1905, for the New York Giants. He entered the game as a late-inning replacement, but, unlike his fictional counterpart, he did not get a chance to bat. When the game ended, his major league career was over. Thanks to the W.P. Kinsella novel Shoeless Joe as well as Field of Dreams, however, one hundred years later Moonlight Graham is better known than any of his Giant teammates, with the possible exceptions of Christy Mathewson and John McGraw.

So back to Adam Greenberg. Here are his career numbers to date. Greenberg, a 24-year-old outfielder for the Cubs, made his major league debut on July 9 of this year. On the first pitch of his first at-bat, he got hit in the head. He left the game and did not return to the Cubs lineup the rest of the year. This week, the Cubs sent Greenberg back to the minor leagues.

Wait a minute. The Cubs' AAA team is in Iowa. The Field of Dreams is in Iowa. Coincidence???

Friday, November 18, 2005

Standing Offer

I don't want to seem like one of those vulture/agent-types, so I am making this offer to Terrell Owens BEFORE any decision is made in today's arbitration hearing:

I will get you thrown off your next team for half of what Drew Rosenhaus is charging you.

Call me.

Second Amendment Update

Guns don't kill people, but apparently teenagers with 54 guns in their house do.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Sore Throat

I have never been a Bob Woodward fan, and today's news that he withheld information from his own editors relevant to the Valerie Plame leak case -- at the same time he talked on Larry King Live and other outlets about the case while pretending to know nothing -- only confirms what I have long thought: It's all about Bob. Here's Woodward's side of the story.

I enjoyed Woodward's early work, particularly The Brethren, in which he and co-author Scott Armstrong let us peek under the judicial robes at the Supreme Court in a way that had never occurred before. But his journalistic style has evolved into simply this: "I'm Bob Woodward, dammit. Just trust me." But I don't -- nor should I have to -- trust Woodward or any other journalist. I should be able to read his work, see what the facts are, who is saying what, and decide for myself.

You can't do that with Woodward, though. Large chunks of his biggest recent stories, and even larger chunks of the books the stories come from, are not explicitly sourced. When Woodward is asked who told him something, or how he knows something occurred, he says that he has great sources, but he cannot tell you who they are, and thus you will just have to -- all together now -- trust him. He acts like some sort of journalistic Pontiff, someone who speaks ex cathedra and expects that the faithful will believe him simply because of who he is. That may not work so well anymore for Pope Bob (and it isn't working so well lately for Pope Ben either, but that's a post for another day).

There were two other interesting details that have now come out. First, Woodward often speaks to groups for large fees, $10,000 to $50,000 according to his booking agency. According to today's New York Times, that is a violation of Washington Post policy. Second, according to his own statement, Woodward sent Lewis Libby an 18-page list of questions that Woodward wanted to ask Vice-President Cheney. What?? He gives them the questions first? No wonder they give him the access they do.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

A-Rod vs. Big Papi

Count me in the A-Rod column on the question of who should have been the American League MVP for 2005. I love to watch David Ortiz hit, and he has more big home runs the past two years than anyone, but if all you do is whack the ball you have to do it a whole lot better than anyone else by a very large margin to win the MVP trophy. Defense matters. It is one thing to be a lesser defensive player; it is another to rarely play the field at all. Given roughly equal offensive contributions, even an average defensive player -- and A-Rod is far from that -- is more valuable to his team than any DH. And remember, A-Rod's annual October vacation to the back of a milk carton plays no role for the voters, who have to submit their choices by the end of the regular season.

But my favorite part of this story is A-Rod's $1 million bonus for winning a second MVP. $25 million a year just doesn't buy what it used to.

I'm Shocked, Shocked

A thousand writers and the best they could come up with is "You're fired." Maybe they are not underpaid.

Slow News Day

Headline in yesterday's Business Day section of the New York Times: "After Storm, Sales of New Orleans Guides Decline." I guess "Dog Bites Man" didn't fit.

Monday, November 14, 2005

What's In a Name?

Well, hopefully, millions in licensing fees. But not, alas, in this case -- at least not yet. The title of this blog comes from an observation made by a friend while he watched my wife and me read the newspaper over breakfast. He was a bit taken aback by the animated dissection of the news at such an early hour.

And why not? Just today, you have Supreme Court nominees talking abortion in job applications; MVP debates; and some good old-fashioned torture talk. Who needs quiet time when you have all this? Pass the sugar.

Well, Why Not?

Welcome.

Everyone else has one, or so it seems, so why shouldn't I? At this point in my life, most everyone I know has been exposed to my various rants on this subject or that, so now I will just give them this blog address and let them tune in or not. Maybe some of them -- and a few others -- will.

As noted in the heading above, this blog will focus on law (yes, I am a lawyer), sports (primarily baseball), and whatever else catches my attention at any given moment. More information on all this, including me, in the days to come. Let's see what happens.