Events

Via Calculated Risk, Georgia's junior (Republican) senator has one of the dumbest proposals in history: Isakson is pitching an idea to his colleagues in Congress: a $15,000 tax rebate check to anyone who agrees to buy a home. Congressional budget analysts project the program would cost $14 billion over the next few years. But Isakson said the rebate checks are well worth the hefty price tag. "If we can convince buyers to come back to the marketplace and buy these houses, then the houses aren't vacant....

And I'm not dead. I am, however, very busy, and I was travelling all weekend. Regular postings will resume soon.

Joel Spolsky's latest column in Inc. is a must-read for entrepreneurs (and I include anyone who has founded an organization) who have grown beyond the garage: The great employees will be devoted, sure, and it's completely reasonable to expect them to work their butts off. But unlike founders, employees are concerned about what their jobs are like today. They're not as excited about making sacrifices for the long run. So don't tell your star salespeople to take the bus and stay with relatives when they...

Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeons & Dragons, died this morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wis. Half of the developers on my team are old enough to feel sad; the other half said "Dungeons and what?"

Via Talking Points Memo, Reuters reports the reception Iran's president got in Baghdad this week: Pomp and ceremony greeted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his arrival in Iraq on Sunday, the fanfare a stark contrast to the rushed and secretive visits of his bitter rival U.S. President George W. Bush. Ahmadinejad held hands with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani as they walked down a red carpet to the tune of their countries' national anthems, his visit the first by an Iranian president since the...

After a several-week absence, the ParkerCam is back up.

Via Bruce Schneier, a true horror.