Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Uncommon denominators: A quick glance at this chart from the News & Record, headlined "Biotechnology Funding," might make you think that North Carolina is putting big money into biotech. What it really shows is that North Carolina continues to attract a relatively small amount of venture capital, and that a large proportion of that small number is going toward biotechnology. California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are getting a lot more biotech investment than we are. Which is what the well-done accompanying article says. Our bet on biotech may well be a good thing. And when the industry explodes here and a lot of venture money flows in and we really do rise to the top of the national rankings in biotech funding, we've already got the bar chart to show it. 12:46:58 PM    comment []

First North Carolina Republicans used the Web to attack one of their own, with Tabor Tales in the fractious 5th congressional district. Now "progressives" are joining the fun, with this parody site aimed at gubernatorial candidate Bill Cobey. 8:53:33 AM    comment []

David Brooks: "The predictions people on my side made about the postwar world have not yet come true. The warnings others made about the fractious state of post-Saddam society have." Well, we "others" hate to say we told you so. Thanks for saying it for us. His side, as he puts it, suffered "an intellectual failure. There was, above all, a failure to understand the consequences of our power. There was a failure to anticipate the response our power would have on the people we sought to liberate....There was a failure to understand the effect our power would have on other people around the world...we were blinded by idealism." Gosh, blinded by idealism. It sounds so....noble. But, Brooksie, you left one out: There was a failure of execution. Whatever intellectual shortcomings you cop to, there was also a string of poor choices that helped get us where we are today: disbanding the Iraqi army, deploying too few troops, allowing abuse of prisoners, etc. It isn't just that we did the wrong thing, it's that we did it wrong. So, why should we trust you now? 8:45:23 AM    comment []

Hoggard says the Greensboro Sports Council is abandoning War Memorial Stadium, with the News & Record driving the getaway car. "This whole thing stinks... real bad." 8:07:08 AM    comment []