Tentatively backing the immigration deal

I've thought a bit more about it.

Dani Rodrik, a prominent economist and sometime critic of free-trade conventional wisdom, backs the guest worker program. He doesn't get to my core worry, that we'll move to more European style immigration. However, having thought about it, I'm not sure how a guest worker that overstays their visa is any different than any current illegal immigrant. So long as any kids they have born in America are still American citizens, our model still holds. I would oppose any law that changes that.

Even more directly on point is this key fact (from TPM by Nathan Newman).

In the Bush 2007 budget, a grand total of $177 million was appropriated to enforce our wage and hour laws. Compare that to the $13 billion in the 2008 Bush budget for border enforcement -- nearly ONE HUNDRED TIME AS MUCH spent for border enforcement as for wage enforcement.

The comprehensive bill has provisions for upping employer side enforcement. Although, I suspect that under a Republican president those provisions aren't going to be pushed that hard. However, a Democratic President would be in the position to push hard on the employer enforcement side, so long as the fee-based amnesty was already in place. Labor would love it and, if done carefully, I don't think it would encounter strong opposition from immigrant-right groups. And, at this point the amount we're spending on enforcement is pretty minor, so substantially upping enforcement wouldn't be that expensive. If those provisions work, they should be fairly easy to defend and will force employers to lobby to raise immigration quotas if they want more workers.

Cyberwar

Russia may be waging a form of cyber-warfare against Estonia.

Assuming for the moment that this is a move by the Russian government. I think this is on the whole a bad move by Russia. There's some successful intimidation but it also is going to piss people off. It also sounds like Estonia is weathering it. But the real net gain is for Nato. We're getting a chance to play defense on cyber-warfare when nothing is on the line militarily. Presumably Russia isn't using all their best stuff, but it still represents a value source of both practice and knowledge. We're going to be better prepared next time.

Also, props to Estonia. They seemed to react quickly and in smart ways. I hope Nato will help them with repairs. I don't think any large scale retaliation would be a good idea, but they are our ally and they deserve some aid.

Music Sign

Two new albums:
The Lion King: Original Broadway Cast Recording
I got this for my birthday. I actually was angling for the movie soundtrack, but this works too. For most of the songs, the quality is just as good. The voices and arrangements are sometimes a bit different, but that doesn't necessarily bug me. I think the stampede song may be original to broad way and I like it. I have to remember to check out the choral group that Disney hired for Lion King. I do love choral stuff so they probably have some other CDs I'd like.

Only real down note is that, as I've heard before, they ruined Scar. The singer is alright, although he's not quite hammy in the way that Jeremy Irons was. But I'd already bought the movie soundtrack version on i-Tunes, so no biggie. I'll also fairly automatically skip "The Madness of King Scar" which is where the Broadway show makes Scar into a crazy villain desperate to be loved. Give me movie Scar any day of the week.

Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick
I had first heard this song on the radio and later bought a cover by a female vocalist on i-Tunes. I've been searching for it for some time, but hadn't checked Borders (or online). My mistake was that I kept looking for it on various compilations and albums. kamalloy actually saw it first on the shelf where the Album is clearly labeled "Thick as a Brick." The track list is as follows: "Thick as Brick (22:45), Thick as a Brick (21:05) Thick As a Brick (live) (11:48), Interview." Obviously they cut it down some for the radio.

I do rather like the full version. It's playful, full of variety, and ramble-y. According to the interview, it was actually meant to be a parody of a concept album. The band was inspired after their prior album (Aqualung) was described, incorrectly in their view, as a concept album. They'd just meant it to be a collection of songs. Anyways, I'm a little sad that my absolute favorite bits, the ones in the radio cut, aren't actually later replicated. But on the other hand there's a lot of fun flute, drum, and guitar work throughout the song so it stays true to the spirit of the cut. Similarly, my favorite lyrics are in the radio cut version, but the full version is also neat and doesn't really repeat itself.

I'd love if I could get a Guitar Hero track of this, short version or long. I don't see it happening, but an endurance mode for crazy long albums could be a lot of fun. Although I'd probably be lynched if I ever tried to play it at a party.

[Addendum: Also, when my boss saw the CD case on my desk, he commented that it was a great album. I do love my co-workers.]

BBQ poll

I'll be hosting an event at my place in June. I figure it's about time I show off the apartment. If you're interested and can make it, please reply to one of the emails I sent or just vote here. It'll be open invite. I'll send out a proper invite with details in a few days.

[Poll #988926]