I know I've plugged Fathom before, but I thought I'd do it again.  They sent an e-mail with information about some newer courses, including the following:

http://www.fathom.com/feature/190161/1/1196#

>>Assessing the Economic Impact of September 11
From: University of Chicago | By: Gary Becker   
EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION | Corporate executives and market watchers have cited "the post-September 11 climate" as a reason for layoffs, poor corporate earnings and other financial setbacks. But have the attacks and their aftermath had any long-term effect on the US economy? Not according to Gary Becker.  [p] Becker, professor of economics at the University of Chicago and a 1992 Nobel laureate, says that the attacks may have had a profound effect on the American psyche, but their effect on gross domestic product and other economic indicators was negligible. He sees only certain sectors of the economy affected in the short term, and considers what it would take for the attacks and the war on terrorism to have wider repercussions <<

Well, so it's not really a course per se, it's an interview.  And considering the topic du jour and the alleged connection between Iraq and al Qaeda, this might be of interest to you.  Enjoy -- especially since this is a freebie from Fathom.

9:18:32 PM    comment []

Remember the first time you heard about West Nile Virus?  Bet you weren't concerned; only kills a bunch of black birds, right?

That little nuisance bird killer is now killing humans - mostly at-risk, immune-compromised, but humans nonetheless.  Kids have to be slathered up with bug dope whenever they go outside, to reduce the chance for infection from mosquito bites; communities are spraying more heavily, more often.  Mothers are afraid to breastfeed children if they've been mosquito-bitten; organ and blood donations are now suspect.  We're undersiege from bugs, falling dead birds, chemicals and even parts of our bodies.  (And if this little bug can mess with our public health teams, imagine what a biological terror attack could do...)

Wait, it could get worse.  Something's coming that kills even bigger black birds.  And we don't have a clue what all the repercussions could be.

11:55:02 AM    comment []

Did it frost after all here?  No.

Before I went to bed, it was a brisk 37 degrees; I could see my breath in the air as I brought in my tender plants.

When I woke up at 5:00 am, it was 43 degrees, overcast, humid, now threatening rain. 

Did I get convinced that we need pre-emptive strikes?  No.

I still don’t see clear and present danger, although I do see an Iraqi mad man continuing scurrilous behavior.

The concerns outlined in the Washington Post aren’t answered – like what happens if the Arab world suffers from the “al-Jazeera effect” once the U.S. begins an assault?  Jordan is highly exposed, and any constructive work on Palestine/Israel is lost for good, and the risk of major terrorist attacks increases exponentially.

One other scenario that I’ve not yet seen mentioned: what happens if we don’t do this effectively – Saddam is “removed”, but his party remains in power – and his son becomes heir apparent.  (His son makes Saddam look like a cupcake.  No sociopath, a definite psychopath.  Even Saddam wants him put down.)

I simply don’t know that we have all the bases covered yet.  I guess I’m still not for pre-emptive strikes.  

I do support punitive actions if Saddam fails to permit inspections; we should have done more to force the inspection issue over the last four years while we had the U.N. mandate to do so.  And I’ve always had a problem with a leader whose people want badly for better healthcare and more food, while he continues construction and improvements on 70+ “palaces” in a country roughly the size of Texas or France.  Perhaps a better embargo would have brought in only food and healthcare, improved our relations with other neighboring Arab countries, and kept “palatial building supplies” to a minimum?  There’s simply more we could have done, could be doing, in the way of non-violent solutions.

7:13:01 AM    comment []