From SMBC, we have the clearest depiction of the difference between Normal and Economist type humans that I have seen in quite a while.
(Zach Weiner is a genius...)
(Zach Weiner is a genius...)
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Where to eat in Italy (Liguria Edition)
View Where to Eat in Liguria in a larger map
Liguria - also called the Italian Riveria, is the area around 80 miles or so on either side of Genoa. The actual riviera part is not all that interesting, its the hills and mountains that abut the riviera where all the fun happens, and where you'll find some quality non-touristic dining experiences.
And, as a key point, if there is one place that you should go to in Liguria, it would be Osteria Enoteca Baccicin du Caru outside Genoa (more details below). Oh, the rest of the places I've listed are great, but this, my friend, is destination dining. Make a point of it, and fit it into your travel plans...
THE BOOK
David is our patron saint when it comes to Italian food. We ate our way through Liguria based on his book 'bout that area, and thanks to him, have had some of our best dining experiences ever.
You'll also note that quite a few of the places below are in his book, which isn't surprising because they tend to show up in pretty much anyone's list of 'the real, real places to eat in Liguria'.
Do note however, that - with a few exceptions - most of the places are more local than touristic, i.e., you'll be rubbing shoulders w/ people who've been eating there for the last twenty years (or quite possibly, far longer).
SOME NOTES ABOUT FOOD
- No cappuccino after noon! Really! Do Remember this!
- Espresso is called coffee. What you drink here is called Cafe Americano there. They'll happily serve you some, but its just espresso with hot water added.
- Lunch typically is kinda rushed. By this, I mean "you order, it shows up moments later". Which is because most of the places serve people with jobs, and - believe it or not - they actually need to get back to work. That said, they will not rush you out the door. Once they've served you, you're pretty much left alone, till you ask for coffee, at which point your coffee will show up, and a few minutes later, the cheque.
- A word about the cheque. Most (ok, almost all) the time, you don't pay at the table. The host(ess) will be sitting up by the door, or at the counter, w/ a cash-register. You head over and pay there. Sometimes, they might leave the bill at the table, and you take it there. If in doubt, Dove si paga (my bad italian for "where do i pay") works.
- Ask them about the food (if you can speak Italian. And even if you can't). They'll happily describe it for hours!
- The house wine is almost always perfect for whatever you're ordering. Ligurians take their wine seriously. Almost as - if not more - seriously as they take their food. So, serving plonk is Just Not An Option. We typically get 0.5 litres (2/3rd of a bottle?) 'tween the two of us, and its just the right amount for lunch or dinner.
- Learn to actually order the daily special. Its typically based on what the chef (who is probably also the owner, and/or the mom or grandma) picked up at the market that morning. Either way you win - it'll be spectacular.
- Restaurants are closed on all sorts of random days. Always, always call ahead to make sure they're open.
- USE A GPS. Seriously. Pretty much any place outside the big cities (i.e., everywhere you'll go) is impossible to find unless you live there, or have a GPS.
WHAT YOU'LL BE EATING
Pansotti - Ravioli filled with a mix of local greens and prescinsêua (an ultra-local fresh cheese) usually w/ a walnut sauce. The specific greens vary depending on the location, as does the sauce.
Pesto - This is the world capital of pesto, and they take pride in it. The basil is grown out of the direct sunlight, resulting in a milder more citrusy flavor, and the pesto is invariably made in a mortar and pestle, sometimes w/ prescinsêua.
Anchovies - How they're prepared depends on the season, but you'll almost invariably find 'em. They might be stuffed, fried, salted, whatever, but they are always spectacular
Cheese - Ultra ultra-local. You won't find most of the cheeses - especially prescinsêua - anywhere else. Enjoy 'em while you can.
Wine - The (ridiculously mountainous) terrain makes viticulture interesting to say the least, and the "local" wines can be ludicrously good. Some (a lot?) of the grapes/wines are ultra-local, i.e., you're not going to find them pretty much anywhere other than at a restaurant or two (Ruzzeze and Groppolo, for example.
Olive Oil - Its poured on everything. By the litre. In fact, they'll even leave a bottle of the stuff on the table for you to pour some more. And no, this isn't the usual crap oil that you get on tables state-side, this is the real-deal. So enjoy...
Amaro - This is the (various shades of bitter) after-dinner digestivo that you'll find everywhere, which goes down brilliantly, and really, really helps you survive the insane amount you'll be eating. Its also part of the reason to sticking to 0.5l of wine, you'll be doing at least one swig of amaro after dinner. Note: If you happen to spot a particular amaro called China, get it - its next to impossible to find pretty much anywhere outside Sarzana, and is seven-shades of awesome.
RESTAURANTS BY CITY
Savona
Casa della Panizza (vico dei Crema 4R. Also called Fette e Panissa)
They are basically the best fries that you've ever had, 'cept that they are made w/ chickpea-flour. They're perfectly golden-brown and crispy on the outside, and kinda creamy and oh-so-hot on the inside, awesome all around, and addictive as all out
The place is slightly hard to find, but you'll probably see a small (or large) line outside when you get there.
Eat 'em w/ oversize toothpicks out of a paper-cone, and try not to grin too madly...
Osteria Bacco di Doberti Francesco (via Quarda Superiore 17/19R 019.833.5350)
And, of course, don't forget to ask him what local wine he might have.
(On a side note, we were quite enamored by the restaurant logo and mentioned that to the owner, who promptly presented us with a plate "To remember him by". Awesome...)
Near Genoa
Seriously.
Its run by Gianni and Rosella Bruzzone (brother and sister. Thats Gianni to the right, w/ Nicole holding the largest white truffle that we've ever seen), and they are the up there with the nicest people that you'll ever meet. Its really a simple place, and you'll be hard pressed to hit 40 Euros between the two of you, but Ye Gods is it ever awesome.
What to get?
Pretty much anything, but you must, must call ahead, make a reservation, and - and this is important - tell them you'll be having the gnocchi e pesto. Rosella makes the lightest gnocchi you'll ever have, and Gianni makes pesto that is the definitive version thereof. In a mortar and pestle of course. And in case you're wondering, he won the Worldwide Pesto-making contest like four times in a row before they basically said "Screw this, you can't compete any more, it isn't fair, be the judge please...". The cheese is from a farm up the road, the olive oil likewise, amazing local wine list, brilliant pan dolce made by Rosella. I could go on, but the bottom line is, if there is one place you should get to near Genoa - or anywhere, for that matter - its here.
Note: If you don't call ahead you may not get the pesto, and that would be criminal. Oh, everything else is awesome too, but Genoa is known for Pesto, and this, this, my friend, is the definitive pesto.
Genoa
Antica Trattoria Sa Pesta (via Giustiniani 16R 010.246.8336)
Located in one of the cobble-stoney alleys in old Genoa, this is one of the quintessential lunch-spots in Genoa. Its open for dinner too, but I have no idea what its like then. At lunch, however, you have an awesome mix of blue/white-collar people, conversation echoing around the vaulted rooms, friendly staff, and one of the more convivial experiences you will ever have. The farinata, is over the top good (ok, not as good as Luchin in Chiavari, but still pretty damn good), and the pansotti is quite possibly some of the best there is.
Yes, there are mirrors all over this coffee-shop, and yes, it is located in a high-traffic area, but that happens to be the point. The coffee is really quite good - so grab one (or a drink), have a seat downstairs, and watch the world go by.
Oh, the munchies aint bad, for what its worth...
Ombre Rosso (vico Indoratori 20-24R, 010.275.7608)
It may look trendy and stylish, but it is actually a delightful little restaurant run by the obligatory all-in-one family (dad, mom, daughter, etc.). The food is resolutely local, honest to a fault, and based entirely on whatever was good at the market that day. So yeah, there is a menu, but just follow dad's suggestions and have a great dinner. Preferably with a bottle of the excellent local Ligurian wines available
Da Ugo (via Giustiniani 86R 010.246.9302)
Located in the same alley as Sa Pesta, this ultra-local joint has the weirdest hodge-podge of diners taht we've ever seen, everything from academics through labourers to white-collar types in suits. Its owned by the Parisi family (at least two generations of which were visible when we were there), and the food is simple, straight-forward, and spectacular. There is a menu, but don't bother with it, just discuss what you'll have with the owner, and revel in the happiness.
This is definitely for the "acquired taste" crowd, but, if you do have the taste for it, well then, this is the place to go for tripe. Huge copper vats in which the stuff is boiled, big sheets of the stuff hanging, trays of white beans underneath the trippa (to catch the flavor, and thence to be consumed w/ a lot of olive oil), and marble counters at which you can sit and enjoy the tripe. Classic!
Gelateria Profumo (vico Superiore del Ferro 14R, 010.251.4159)
The best gelato in Genoa, with all the ingredients impeccably sourced (and listed on the walls), and no additives, air, etc. Be sure to get the panera (a semifreddo w/ fresh coffee and heavy cream) since this may very well be the definitive version, go out and up the stairs, check out the palazzi along via Garibaldi, and be happy...
Chiavari
One of the few upscale dining places on this list, but well worth going to. Yes, you get the while linen table-cloths, the discreet spacing of the tables, etc., but you also get some spectacularly awesome renditions of local cuisine. If you're feeling in a "fish" mood, this might be one of the best places to get some. Its (quite) pricy, but it is - literally - what came in off the boat that day, and is stunningly good.
As always, go with whatever they recommend, and be sure to discuss that in gory detail with them :-)
Luchin (Via Bighetti 53. 0185.50.1063).
You know what Farinata is, right? No? Well, think of it as a Chickpea-flour pancake. Mind you, that is pretty much the same as calling foie-gras "goose liver". It kind-a misses the point.
They're made in huge copper pans in a monster wood-fired oven, the outside is crisp, the inside is tender and creamy, and the whole is deeply, soul-satisfyingly, awesome.
They have all sorts of other stuff there too, all of which is ludicrously awesome, but Luchin's farinata stands alone...
(unless you are From La Spezia, in which case it is at at La Pia. See further down)
Defilla (corso Garibaldi 4, 0185.309828
This is a fairly weird "combo" type place - bar, coffee shop, gelateria, chocolates, the works. Its huge, covering pretty much the entire block, but is partitioned into a set of wee rooms (especially if you make it past the bar, coffee shop, etc. to the back) all of which seem to hearken back to the days of yore. The gelato is ridiculously good, and the the entire place is well worth just hanging out in for a while.
Gelateria Verdi (corso Dante 74, 0185.306703)
The best gelato in Chiavari. Period.
Go there, and get the pistachio flavored gelato (which, they will gladly point out, is award-winning) to discover what you have been missing all your life
Recco
Panificio-Pasticceria Moltedo (Via XX Settembre 2/4 0185.74046)
You know what focaccia di Recco is, right? No? Well, it also goes by focaccia di formaggio, and is basically two thin sheets of dough with a layer of crescenza cheese in between, the whole thing baked rapidly in an oven so that the cheese gets bubbly, the dough crispy, and the whole thing addictively unctuous. Get there early. Seriously. And it doesn't matter how early you get there, they'll be lined up three deep waiting for the focaccia.
If you can't get there in time, then you might want to try going to
Ristorante Da Angelo (via San Rocco 86 0185.76719)
The focaccia di Recco, while not as good as dau Louensu's (then again, what is), is still so, so, so good. The advantage here is that you can actually sit and eat, and there is stuff other than the focaccia (though you can probably happily just eat the focaccia). What to get? Pretty much anything. Its long on regional classics, and the chef (who is the brother of Angelo, the dude out front) is very, very good at what he does.
Capreno (near Sori)
Osteria Tabacchi Da Drin (Frazione Capreno 66, Near Sori. Use a GPS. 0185.782210)
Sarzana
Gemmi Pasticceria e Confetteria (via Castruccio 24 0187.621700)
The most famous caffe in town, its beautiful inside, has excellent coffee.
Yeah, I know.
Its excellent everywhere.
Its even more excellent here.
Not as excellent as Sant' Eustachio in Rome, but still way excellent).
More importantly though, it has some of the best spungata that you'll find anywhere.
Spungata?
Oh, its like a mini pastry filled w/ a mix of nuts, raisins, dried fruit, and what not. Unique to and made in Sarzana for, oh, forever.
La Spezia
La Pia (via Magenta 12, 0187.73.9999)
This is the best Farinata that you can get in Liguria (unless you are from Chiavari, in which case it is at Luchin). See way above, and in particular, in case you don't know what Farinata is...
This is, however, the definitive "take-out" version of Farinata. Show up, get a slice, douse w/ some black-pepper if you wish, walk off eating it, and then race back 'cos you realized that you actually need many more slices.
For what its worth, there is also a chestnut-flour version of the same - its slightly sweeter, and not quite to my liking, though it is a bit of a hit judging from the rapidity with which it tends to vanish
Friday, September 21, 2012
CPU Utilization in Erlang R15B02
For those of you who didn't feel like reading through all of that, it basically boils down to the followingRegarding increased CPU utilization in R15. When schedulers run out of work, they busy wait for a while before going to sleep. Waking up a busy waiting thread is much faster than waking up a sleeping thread. Due to the rewrites of memory allocation in R15, schedulers are more frequently woken, which cause more busy wait, which in turn cause an increase in CPU utilization when schedulers frequently run out of work (you will at least see some decrease of CPU utilization due to this in R16). When not running out of work there will be no busy wait at all. That is, the increase in CPU utilization does not translate into loss of performance. The busy waiting is there since it shortens the average time to wake up a scheduler, and by this reduces average communication latency between processes. Depending on application the reduced latency might also translate into improved throughput. If the increase in CPU utilization is unwanted, one can as of R15B02 shorten the busy wait threshold (+sbwt command line argument). Note that by shortening the busy wait threshold, there will be an increased average latency.
- The Erlang VM has schedulers that, well, schedule processes
- Basically, they look at all the processes waiting to "do stuff", figure out which one needs to run next, and run that process
- As long as there are processes waiting to be run, the schedulers are busy
- Note that busy is not the same as inefficient. They are, if anything, ludicrously efficient
- If there are no processes waiting to be run, the schedulers "busy wait".
- Basically, they act like you do when you've drunk a lot of coffee, but have nothing to do, i.e., act all jittery and fidgety. This way, if a process shows up, they can spring rapidly (and caffeine-atedly) into action
- As a side effect, the CPU looks like the system is busy. In reality, however, its busy "wait"-ing, i.e., not really doing anything
- After a while, if no processes show up, the schedulers go to sleep
- And, consequently, the CPU utilization goes down
The bottom line is that in R15B02, higher CPU utilization doesn't necessarily mean that the erlang VM is thrashing - it could very well mean that the VM is actually not doing anything.
The key, of course, is to know which of the two it actually is doing...
Mind you, this isn't exactly free.
As @duomark points out, this is "responsiveness as a service", with the higher CPU utilization translating to a higher electricity bill.
The tradeoff is, however, under your own control. From the erl man page
As @duomark points out, this is "responsiveness as a service", with the higher CPU utilization translating to a higher electricity bill.
The tradeoff is, however, under your own control. From the erl man page
So yeah, you can lower the wait time before the scheduler goes to sleep, thus reducing your electricity bill, at the cost of increasing the response time when a new process comes along.
+sbwt none|very_short|short|medium|long|very_long
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Creationism - FTW!
Doonesbury w/ a riff on the idiocy associated w/ Creationism.
Which brings to mind Billy Nye's (the Science Guy) take on all this
P.S. : Saying "I don't care, I'll be safe due to the Rapture" is not a reasonable response. Go aways.
P.P.S. : Saying "I don't need anyone, I can take care of myself when I'm 93" is even less of a response...
Which brings to mind Billy Nye's (the Science Guy) take on all this
"I say to the grownups, 'If you want to deny evolution and live in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we've observed in the universe that's fine. But don't make your kids do it."Because, seriously, if you insist on raising your kids to be morons, Who is going to take care of you when you get old?
[...]"We need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future."
P.S. : Saying "I don't care, I'll be safe due to the Rapture" is not a reasonable response. Go aways.
P.P.S. : Saying "I don't need anyone, I can take care of myself when I'm 93" is even less of a response...
MySQL vs Postgres (vs MongoDB)
MySQL is what you get when application developers build an RDBMS.This isn't really flame-bait - its intended as a statement to show how people approach arguments (flame wars?) about MySQL vs PostgreSQL. To paraphrase Chris,
PostgreSQL is what you get when database developers build an application development platform.
MySQL has been massively disruptive because it tends to really, really look at the world from a Use Case perspective, answering the questions "What problem are you trying to solve", while
Postgres has been massively disruptive because it tends to look at the world from a theory perspective, answering the question "How should the database work in the solution"
I'd add MongoDB to this mix though, and extend the above quote to say
MySQL is what you get when application developers build an RDBMS.MongoDB has a great GUI, the documentation is spectacularly good, the API is pretty neat (OK, from a RoR perspective), and 10gen has great marketing, but the Design Decisions underlying the database? Boy Howdy, are those entertaining - and not in a good way.
PostgreSQL is what you get when database developers build an application development platform.
MongoDB is what you get when GUI developers build an RDBMS.
Or, to put it differently, its like the "Booth Babes" at trade shows - they look good, suck you (ok, the guys) in, but are basically eye-candy for item actually being displayed
Boys and Girls, Database Theory is hard.
Seriously hard.
Don't let anyone tell you differently.
And no, I'm not talking about using databases, I'm talking about the fun stuff associated with building databases from the ground up.
If you doubt any of this, just take a class - one of the first (literally, one of the first) things you learn is how to lock your little Database to do CRUD stuff. And then you realize that its easy to lock the table, but locking just the row (or god forbid, the cell) - oh my, quantum jump in difficulty.
The point behind this being, this is stuff you only find out if you know the problem exists in the first place.
So yeah, MongoDB is what you get when GUI developers build an RDBMS...
Friday, September 14, 2012
Cameras to watch Speed Cameras - The Awesomeness is making my head explode!
Got that?Many people find speed cameras frustrating, and some in the region are taking their rage out on the cameras themselves.But now there's a new solution: cameras to watch the cameras.One is already in place, and Prince George's County Police Maj. Robert V. Liberati hopes to have up to a dozen more before the end of the year.
And, in case you are wondering about why the speed camera can't take the pictures itself, it isn't about people sneaking up from behind
Speed cameras themselves can't be used for security because under Maryland law speed cameras can only take pictures of speeding, says Liberati.The sheer insanity of this whole process is mind-boggling. Me, i'm waiting for when they put up cameras to monitor these cameras :-)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Hackers and Obsolescence
Bloom County said it all, a long time ago
Hackers, as a rule, do not handle obsolescence well.
Mind you, the unsaid caveat should be "Unless you are a fanboy" (ref: the latest MessiahPhone)
Hackers, as a rule, do not handle obsolescence well.
Mind you, the unsaid caveat should be "Unless you are a fanboy" (ref: the latest MessiahPhone)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The (Medically) Uninsured - Visualization
Herewith a somewhat frightening interactive chart showing where, in the US, all the uninsured people are.
The short answer - Everywhere.
The slightly less short answer is - Most of the country has an uninsured rate of 13% or greater.
Yeah.
13%
Mind you, it goes up from there.
(Below is just an image. Click here to go to the actual interactive map)
The short answer - Everywhere.
The slightly less short answer is - Most of the country has an uninsured rate of 13% or greater.
Yeah.
13%
Mind you, it goes up from there.
(Below is just an image. Click here to go to the actual interactive map)
Where stuff is Banned in London - Visualization
From BannedInLondon, we have this (not so) little piece of awesomeness - a visualization of every area where stuff is banned. To quote
Go to the actual interactive map, the below is just an image...You are in danger of unwittingly committing an offence if you stray into one of 435 special zones in London. The boundaries of these zones are often unmarked and within them many everyday activities are either banned or restricted.A new Manifesto Club online Google map, Banned in London, reveals the 435 special zones that now cover half the area of the UK capital.In these areas, people can be fined or prosecuted for activities that would not otherwise be an offence - including leafleting, protesting, dog walking, gathering in groups, and drinking in public.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Gummint size has *shrunk* under Obama. Wait! What?
The number of gummint employees has actually gone down under Obama. The chart above, based on the Federal Reserve of St. Louis, shows the number of (federal) public sector employees added since Obama's inauguration.
Helpfully, it also shows the same under Bush (hat-tip Krugman).
The Bottom line is that we currently have almost 700K less Gummint employees than when Obama started!!!
And the spike?
That big honking spike that proves that Obama is an evil baddie dude?
Those are the census workers - the temporary (!!!) census workers - that are (Temporarily!!!) hired once every 10 years. So no, can't use that against him.
So, seriously, based on the chart above,
- Which of these is the "Big Gummint" President?
- Which of these is the "Shrinks Gummint" President?
As I've said earlier
So yeah, the bottom line (to the bottom line) is that if you care about reducing the size of government spending (Yes! You! I'm talking to you, who is so clearly frothing at the mouth about this, even though Austerity Now! Austerity Forever! is destroying economies all around), you want to vote for a Democrat as President. Because they clearly do better, and the Republicans, even more clearly do worse.
Why go to College?
To replace Mom, young adults need to form new relationships. Close friends. Romantic partners, and eventually a spouse (which in turn leads to kids, another motivator). But it is very difficult to form these relationships fast (which you need to do in order to start a career fast) without sacrificing quality; if you're just randomly searching, it takes a long time to find friends and a lover who really click with you, especially if you're a smart person who clicks best with other smart people.Me, I think Noah Smith is right, but SMBC is, definitely, funny :-)
This is where college comes in. College is an intense incubator where smart people meet other smart people. The large number of leisure activities and the close quarters in which people live facilitate the formation of friendships and romantic relationships, while the exclusiveness of college makes sure that the people you're meeting are pre-screened to be the type of people with whom you are most likely to click. In the U.S., the "college experience" includes parties, trips, clubs, athletic events, religious fellowships, communal drug use, study groups, endless late-night conversations, and more esoteric events like the one pictured above. In Japan, it includes "go-kon" (group blind date) parties, "nomikai" (pub nights), and clubs. American college works better, but it's much the same sort of thing.
Second, there is "perspective". This is about learning the set of possibilities for life. Before I went to college, I never knew people who went into the finance industry, or joined tech startups, or worked for the World Bank, or did sound engineering for movies, or taught English in foreign countries. In college I met people who did all of the above, and seeing them taught me a lot about the set of possibilities for human life. Simply knowing one's career choice set is a hugely important part of choosing the right career. And it's surprisingly hard to do. College is a great way to gain career and life perspective; if you go from high school straight to the workforce, you are basically assured of not meeting as diverse a group of high achievers.
Finally, there are the human networks built by college. I won't talk a lot about this, because other people have done so quite a lot, and there are a bunch of scientific papers about it. And it's pretty obvious, just from looking at MBA programs, which cost more than college and are well known to be all about professional networking. (Note: As a commenter points out, this is actually called "social capital".)
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Signs of the Apocalypse - a Cereal Bar & Cafe
Spotted across from Gate C6 at DFW, we have Cereality - a Cereal Bar & Cafe.
From the marketing material
From the marketing material
Words fail me...Cereality® is more than a place to get cereal. It's a new way of thinking about cereal. A new choice in fast food. And an idea whose time has come.At Cereality, customers choose from their favorite brands and toppings. Pajama-clad Cereologists™ fill the orders. And customers choose and add their own milk, just the way they like it
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Cold Fusion? Really? Awesome!
CARNEY: What role should government have in promoting certain industries or economic activities such as homeownership, or manufacturing, renewable energy or fossil fuel energy, exports, or just advanced technology? What sort of subsidies and incentives do you favor? You had some of these in Massachusetts, I know.Mind you, if you listen to the video, he - kinda, sorta - chuckles, but this is still seven levels of Awesome...
ROMNEY: Very limited -- my answer to your first question. I’m not an advocate of industrial policy being formed by a government. I do believe in the power of free markets, and when the government removes the extraordinary burdens that it puts on markets, why I think markets are more effective at guiding a prosperous economy than is the government.So for instance, I would not be investing massive dollars in electric car companies in California. I think Tesla and Fisker are delightful-looking vehicles, but I somehow imagine that Toyota, Nissan, and even General Motors will produce a more cost-effective electric car than either Tesla or Fisker. I think it is bad policy for us to be investing hundreds of millions of dollars in specific companies and specific technologies, and developing those technologies.I do believe in basic science. I believe in participating in space. I believe in analysis of new sources of energy. I believe in laboratories, looking at ways to conduct electricity with -- with cold fusion, if we can come up with it. It was the University of Utah that solved that. We somehow can’t figure out how to duplicate it.
Everything you need to know about America and Science
John Kovalic with a brutal riff. Mind you, the ongoing whack-a-doodle attempts to push Creationism in schools, and insisting that Vaccines are Bad, (why? for god's sake, why?) don't exactly help...
Consitutional Idiocy #28 - Wine Shipping
Do you see what I see?
Yup. Three states - California, DC, and Alaska - thats it. And even there its tricky - California technically a "Reciprocal" state, but they have a policy of non-enforcement.
The next map shows all the states where you can not ship wine legally
The remaining ones are Reciprocal states - "You can ship to me if I can ship to you", and Permit states - "Follow my rules. All of them. And yes, you may as well abandon hope while you are at it".
To put it all together, we have this
Of course, you know the reason for this, right? Section 2 of the 21st Amendment, that sez.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.Or, to put it really simply, States can do whatever the hell they want vis-a-vis Wine (and other alcoholic beverages). Ordering Kitty-litter across state lines is OK, but wine is verboten.
Immensely logical, no?
And please don't get started on the "Its an amendment. The actual Constitution itself is perfect", etc. Remember this awesome bit from Article 1 Section 2 (emphasis mine)?
Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.If it wasn't for the 14th amendment....
