The existence of theocratic regimes that have illegally acquired weapons of mass destruction, that are war with their own people, that are exporting their violence to neighboring countries, sending death squads as far away as Argentina to kill other people as well as dissident members of their own nationality—the existence of such regimes is incompatible with us. If there is going to be a confrontation, we should pick the time, not them.

People who don’t think twice about brutalizing their fellow countrymen aren’t about to stop what they’re doing because we ask them nicely.

via Greg Mankiw

“The essence of totalitarianism is that it’s systematic, thorough, and absolute, but it’s also unpredictable and capricious.”

Hannah Arend couldn’t have said it better. Read the whole thing.

For Ramsay, this was especially embarrassing because Kitchen Nightmares showcases him as a savior of other people’s restaurants.

“It’s not great if you’re making a show called Kitchen Nightmares and advising people on how to fix their businesses for you to go bankrupt,” says Pat Llewellyn,

I’ve watched Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America (I can’t speak for any of his Fox shows in the US) and I find it an entertaining show particularly for the way Ramsay (known for his screaming and liberal use of the f-bomb) deals with the softer aspects of running a restaurant. In episode after episode he’s called in to punch up disillusioned staff and help return them to past glory. It’s usually morale and interpersonal relations that add to bad cash flow management in killing good restaurants. To see how Ramsay turns the attitudes of put-upon staff and restores their confidence is what really makes this show for me. Who wouldn’t mind having Jack Welsh or Vince Lombardi as your personal coach for a month?

• Are South Africa the weakest host country? “They’re not the strongest hosts… but… the host nation more times than not finds a way to get through.”
• On Mexico- are they underestimated?: “Mexico… can be intimidated…  when they get up against vert strong, physical sides that get on top of them they can have some trouble… The States… for the longest time have built a team equipped to beat the Mexicans”
• On Argentina- ‘very dangerous to link qualifying performances with performances at World Cup’
• “I’m not a big watcher of Slovenian soccer but I watched both games against Russia… the second leg performance… was outstanding…. If they’re a counterattacking team… I think they cause problems for England.”
• If Slovenia and Algeria were replaced in Group C with Russia and Egypt, people would be calling it the “Group of Death”
• Bobby’s predictions for which teams will make it through…
  • Group A: France & Mexico;
  • Group B: Nigeria & Greece;
  • Group C: US & England;
  • Group D: Serbia & Germany;
  • Group E: Netherlands & Cameroon;
  • Group F: Italy & Paraguay;
  • Group G: Brazil & Ivory Coast;
  • Group H: Spain & Chile

Listen to the whole conversation here.

4. In The Vicinity
The restaurant’s high-profit dishes tend to cluster near the anchor. Here, it’s more seafood at prices that seem comparatively modest.

I didn’t realize the degree by which my decision making at dinner has been manipulated by business considerations. I do now.

This is why I have a problem increasing the size of  government for any reason. They have guns and prisons and are incented to increase their power above all. In addition, ambitious public employees drape themselves in the mantle of selflessness and public service which is rarely the truth. I seldom find ambitious private sector employees with such duplicitous motivations.