Monday, March 27, 2006

Recommended Reading

Here, recommended to me by Shmuel Ross, is an interesting article about the immigration question. I think it's right that there's something wrong with a set of laws that remain on the books but are only enforced inconsistently and arbitrarily.

One thing I'd change in it is the line about how undocumented workers "do the work that Americans won't." As Krugman and others have been noting, they do the work that Americans won't do for that salary. And I guess with that should go the recognition that it isn't just the take home pay...it's also the working conditions.

• Posted at 5:04 PM · LINK

The Mystery Woman

Item before last, we asked if anyone could identify the woman in the photo with Phil Silvers. Several of you wrote me to say it's Polly Bergen. I think you're all wrong.

Charlene Ryan Aragonés (wife of some cartoonist) just phoned to say she thinks it's Julie Wilson. I think Charlene is right.

• Posted at 4:48 PM · LINK

Update

Several people in the last hour or so have sent me links to speeches George W. Bush has given recently about the immigration situation. I would like to retract where I just said "I sometimes find myself semi-agreeing with" the man. Or at least, I'd like to emphasize the exceptions noted in that statement.

• Posted at 1:26 PM · LINK

Name That Actress!

Who is that woman in the photo with Phil Silvers? Obviously, it's from an episode of Sgt. Bilko (aka You'll Never Get Rich, aka The Phil Silvers Show). But who is she?

A friend of mine needs to know. Drop me a note if you do.

• Posted at 12:11 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

I don't necessarily agree with all of this column by Paul Krugman about the problem of illegal immigration. But I think every point he makes is an issue that will have to be addressed if the matter is ever to be settled. Certainly a lot of people who want all the illegals rounded up and deported are in denial about the economic impact it would have on our society. Frankly, I'm so conflicted and confused on this issue that I sometimes find myself semi-agreeing with George W. Bush on it.

• Posted at 12:08 PM · LINK

Today's Video Link

You all remember Die Hard? That was the slightly implausible 1988 movie that starred Bruce Willis as a cop who battles crooks who have taken over an office building near where my mother lives. Well, what you may not know is that the film was a remake of a 1924 silent picture, The Ballad of John McClane.

Okay, you got the premise? Die Hard as a silent movie set in 1924. Good. Here's a nine minute version of that film...

• Posted at 1:25 AM · LINK