It appears that I precipitated the exposure of a multiple hoaxer on Wikipedia.

In Line of succession to the British Throne I noticed that “The Earl of Amersham” had been inserted and, four minutes later, removed. Curious, I looked up Earl of Amersham and found it fishy on two points: the title was said to be created in 1964 (since 1960 only three non-royal Brits have been made peers other than life barons) and the genuine but extinct title Earl Roberts was attributed to Amersham’s son.

I tagged Earl of Amersham as a likely hoax, and within hours . . . well, you can read for yourself.

Why (you may ask) does an American anarchist know enough about British aristocracy to spot the hoax? I’ve been fascinated by heraldry since I found Moncreiffe & Pottinger’s Simple Heraldry Cheerfully Illustrated in my hi-skool’s library circa 1974; and one can’t study heraldry without picking up some knowledge of dynasties and such.

Putting on my constitutional minarchist hat for a moment . .

The White House and its apologists have often claimed (successfully) that the US Constitution does not restrict its actions outside US borders. I argue in response that, since the US Govt’s authority (if any) is derived through the Constitution, wherever the Constitution does not apply no such authority can exist.

If I were President I’d obviously shut down Camp X and order an end to “rendition”. I was about to say I’d decree a policy that we don’t do anything by proxy that we could not legally do ourselves within the US — but something is scratching at a distant corner of my mind, as if I’m forgetting something.

Can you think of any exceptions to such a policy that would pass the filter of minarchist ethics?

Medical Guesswork (Business Week)

The navel and the WTO antidote, by Sauvik Chakraverti

a slightly naughty chuckle

When Bigots Become Reformers: The Progressive Era’s shameful record on race (Reason)

Arnold Kling: Bleeding-Heart Libertarianism

an annoying conversation that every libertarian has sooner or later, in template form (Degrees of Freedom)

Woo hoo, the first season of The Wild Wild West is out on disc.

To the question “Who is your favorite James Bond?”, I always say Robert Conrad.

Andy Weir, weary of writing Casey and Andy, announced that strip #666 would be the finale. Meanwhile he has launched a new series about Alice Liddell, Wendy Darling and Dorothy Gale.

The bank sent me a new card.

Daily ATM Withdrawal Limit: $310

Not since 1990 (or was it 1998?) have I seen a cash machine that gives bills smaller than $20.

Heinlein’s Starship Troopers has a teacher say that all wars are caused by population pressure.

Did Europe have a lull after 1348?