[whiteperil] Sean: Odds and ends

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Posted by Sean:
Odds and ends
http://whiteperil.com/posts/1183353980.shtml


   A friend who read the [1]post below about licensing fortunetellers
   reminded me that the classic protectionist-licensing story remains
   that of African braiders. For those who haven't seen it discussed on a
   news program or in Virginia Postrel's [2]The Future and Its Enemies,
   the Institute for Justice website [3]has a rundown.
   *******
   I'm still making my way through Brink Lindsey's most recent book, but
   he's revived his blog and has a bunch of terrific posts about
   advertisements. For me the standouts are the [4]pre-PC Jello
   commercial, apparently narrated by Charlie Chan, and the
   [5]compilation of TV cigarette commercials. I was born in '72; I don't
   remember cigarette advertising on television. But I do remember being
   a child when lots of people smoked--there were ashtrays everywhere to
   accommodate them, and it wasn't regarded as a big deal. Lindsey says,
   "Also, isnât there a powerful illicit thrill--in our current age when
   smoking is the new leprosy--in watching these folks happily taking in
   big lungfuls of carcinogens?" Yes, there is. From our perspective now,
   the ads practically feel pornographic.
   *******
   Not surprisingly, Minister of Defense Fumio Kyuma has been [6]brought
   sharply back into line by Prime Minister Abe:

     During a meeting of about ten minutes, the prime minister told
     Kyuma, "Japan is the only country to suffer a nuclear strike, and
     we must think of the feelings of the bombing victims in Nagasaki
     and Hiroshima, who suffered horribly. We mustn't hurt their
     feelings."

   Especially with an election coming up.

References

   1. http://whiteperil.powerblogs.com/posts/1182940056.shtml
   2. http://www.dynamist.com/tfaie/index.html
   3. http://www.ij.org/economic_liberty/national_hairbraiding/12_15_05pr.html
   4. http://www.brinklindsey.com/?p=111
   5. http://www.brinklindsey.com/?p=88
   6. http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/main/20070702AT3S0200B02072007.html