Dirac Angestun Gesept

So there’s this soi-disant literary agent (when you don’t appear to have any sales, despite claiming to have been representing authors since 1984, I think you are probably not), Barbara Bauer. She’s on Writer Beware’s Twenty Worst Agencies list. So far, whatever; no different than the other 19, right?

Well, except for her multiple attempts to get sites closed down or her sending of legal threats for one! billion! dollars! for mentioning her name. Most recently, the Absolute Write discussion site disappeared rather suddenly, apparently due to their ISP rolling over for an abusive phone call that may have mentioned the DMCA.

There’s a bunch of coverage around on this, including two posts from Miss Snark.

It’s all about Barbara Bauer. Hmm, Google juice much?

The American Repertory Theater (at Zero Arrow Street, near Harvard) is running Charlie Victor Romeo for a few more days.

It’s a 90-minute play based on cockpit voice recorder transcripts from accidents, but it is definitely not just for the aviation enthusiast. (The cast, writers, and director have had no aviation experience at all.) The set is minimal, but the acting is wonderful and the sound design…oh, the sound design. Each of the six accidents is introduced by a simple text slide, giving the flight, aircraft, date, number of people aboard, and cause. At the end of each, another slide gives the aftermath: survivors (if any) and casualties.

After the show, there’s time to discuss the play with the cast and creators; you should stick around for it if you’re curious about how they interpreted it, why they chose those accidents, or anything like that. The audience questions tonight ranged from discussion with a former pilot to questions from people without aviation experience, but all enjoyed it.

Had I seen it sooner, I’d have blogged it sooner. As it is, it’s only showing through Sunday. If you’re staying in town, or if you can go Thursday even if you’re headed for Wiscon, I highly recommend going if at all possible.

Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, in 2000:

Among the handful of principles that are fundamental to any true protection for health care consumers, probably the most important is allowing states to continue in their role as the primary regulator of health insurance. This is a principle which has been recognized–and respected–for more than 50 years. In 1945, Congress passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act, a clear acknowledgment by the federal government that states are indeed the most appropriate regulators of health insurance. It was acknowledged that states are better able to understand their consumers’ needs and concerns. It was determined that states are more responsive, more effective enforcers of consumer protections. […] Wyoming has its own unique set of health care needs and concerns. Every state does. For example, despite our elevation, we don’t need the mandate regarding skin cancer that Florida has on the books. My favorite illustration of just how crazy a nationalized system of health care mandates would be comes from my own time in the Wyoming legislature.

Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, in 2006, pushing a bill that would pre-empt state regulations on health insurance:

the hodgepodge of varying state mandates makes it difficult for a carrier or trade association to offer coverage on a multi-state basis

What’s the difference? Well, in 2000, he was against Federal regulation by way of a Patient Bill of Rights; in 2006, he’s against state regulations that might require insurers to cover people, or conditions, they’d rather not. (Like, say, mammograms; don’t worry, guys, your “magic” pills will still be covered, I’m sure.)

Philosophical consistency? Well, yes, it’s philosophically consistent. It’s just that the philosophy isn’t “state’s rights”, but rather “loosen regulation on my big campaign contributors.” (2006 election cycle? $113K+ from the insurance industry.)

(Original pointer to S.1955 via Universal Hub; Enzi’s 2000 statement found with a quick Google search.)