Kenneth Pike's blog

How Many Wrongs Break a Right?

Kenneth Pike — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:36:50 -0700

General Wesly Clark is all the buzz. He made headlines yesterday by suggesting that "'riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down' is not 'a qualification to be president.'" Predictable and perhaps requisite pseudo-patriotic umbrage followed. The conservative talking heads are swarming all over this, trying to find some way to blame Obama (and downplay the tenuous-but-nonetheless-interesting parallels with the 2004 Kerry smear).

Abu Ghuraib, the Peking Olympics, and the Weight of Authority

Kenneth Pike — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:55:15 -0700

So the other day I was discussing something political with my father and for the life of me could not remember how to spell "Abu Ghraib." Specifically, I knew there was an "h" in there but I couldn't remember where to put it!

Wandering Wondering

Kenneth Pike — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:26:00 -0700

Sorry for the radio silence. This judicial clerkship has been devouring my days. It seems like I hear something worth blogging about every few hours. But by the time I get home, all I want to do is relax for bit.

Still, while I've got a minute, it's worth thinking "aloud." Surely at least one of the following observations will inspire comment. d^_^b

Gushing Over Linux

Kenneth Pike — Sun, 25 May 2008 12:29:09 -0700

Alright, everybody, time for some serious geekery! For the first time in probably ten years, I have built myself an entirely new computer. It's not bleeding-edge, but it gets the job done. But this is not about my new hardware--rather, this is about how pleased I am with Linux, both on my new wireless router and with regard to the progress desktop Linux has made in the last 18 months. In fact, I daresay Ubuntu is about two steps away from surpassing Windows Vista by every conceivable measure.

Do a Judicial Clerkship

Kenneth Pike — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:09:05 -0700

I know, it's been a while since I posted--and even longer since I posted about law school, which is ostensibly the focus of my life and (by extension) this blog. So here's a little update to make up for that.

That Which We Hate Most

Kenneth Pike — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:50:44 -0700

Imagine yourself in a small, rural town, like those that speckle the back roads of our fair country from sea to shining sea. One stoplight, two gas stations, a high school with, say, 300 students--even if you've never lived there, chances are you drove through on your way somewhere more exciting. Half the town lives in the local trailer park. The other half, in cabins up yonder.

How to Spot a Monopoly

Kenneth Pike — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:51:01 -0700

Microsoft says:

"Any definitive agreement between Yahoo! and Google would consolidate over 90% of the search advertising market in Google’s hands. This would make the market far less competitive, in sharp contrast to our own proposal to acquire Yahoo!"

The emphasis is mine, but come on. Are they even trying anymore? Or was this press release written by a PR intern who was simply unaware that Microsoft's share of the OS market is over 90%?

A Little Self-Aggrandizing

Kenneth Pike — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:46:53 -0700

My good friend and colleague Tyler Snow pointed out an article in the New York Times discussing a trend I was completely unaware of. Apparently, studying philosophy is all the rage! Since I graduated in 2004, the relative popularity of philosophy as an undergraduate major has apparently ballooned. Assuming the trend can maintain itself for another 5 years, that bodes well for my chosen career!

Stabilize the Patient Before You Operate

Kenneth Pike — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:48:57 -0700

As a rule, I stay out of economic policy discussions. I am not an economist. I have my doubts as to how many professed economists actually know anything themselves, because as often as not their predictive powers are about as reliable as entrail-readings, but I tend to assume (for the sake of argument) that they at least know more than I do about the subject.

The Professional Student

Kenneth Pike — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:46:44 -0700

A decision has been made: after graduation, I will pursue a PhD in philosophy. Now, let's see if I can explain... because I really do have a lot of explaining to do. Like, why I didn't just do this in the first place, why I'm doing it now, and why I'm doing it at all... d^_^b

Well. Here goes. Have patience; the law school stuff comes near the end.