IAIN MURRAY explores the argument that both strict gun laws and strict drug laws create more crime. He finds it to be half right.

DAVID JANES says that Microsoft’s Palladium program will fail because no one but Microsoft wants it.

The Palladium will fail as a PC technology, for the simple reason that it offers little to anyone. To the end user, there is seemingly no benefit and many potential downsides with this new technology. For businesses, Microsoft’s dismal record at producing reliable and secure software means they would be best advised to stick with what they have for system security. For governments, the issue is even more clear cut: Palladium without a back door offers a world of unmonitorable data and Palladium with a back door means foreign governments have to worry about their citizen’s data being secretly read by the US.

Microsoft Bob, meet Palladium; Palladium meet Bob.

I hope he’s right.

UPDATE: Dan Gillmor is less sanguine.

KEN LAYNE has identified some celebrity bloggers that I was, ahem, previously unaware of.

ERIC S. RAYMOND writes about trying to quiet a computer. My old computer sounded like a Harrier taking off. My Dell is so quiet it’s hard to tell it’s on. That’s how I “quieted” my computer. Eric’s approach is a bit more hands-on.

When recording music into the old computer, I threw a comforter over it, which worked pretty well when coupled with pointing the microphone so as to pick up as little as possible. One thing that Eric touches on that is absolutely right is that volume is only part of the issue: the pitch of the noise is also important. Best: “white noise” from rushing air. Worse: multiple discordant pitches from different cooling fans, drives, etc. The intrusiveness (in recording) and fatigue level (in just working) from different kinds of noise varies much more than the volume.

I don’t think designers of computers — or other noisy products — give this much thought, but they should. Noise is a qualitative matter as much as a quantitative one.

Natch, one of Eric’s commenters says “get a Mac!” Problem is, lots of music software that I use — especially the superb Sonic Foundry Acid Pro — isn’t available for the Mac. And there’s just nothing comparable to Acid.

THE MARKET is so far failing to live up (down?) to the hyped fears that were all over cable this weekend.

As we wait to see what happens later, consider this question: How much current investor fear is based on accounting issues, and how much is based on the likelihood that Congress will do something stupid?

LARRY KLAYMAN: How things have changed. He used to be regarded as a Republican tool. Now he’s respectably bipartisan, and complaining that he’s being shut out by FoxNews.

STOCK CRASHES AND RUMORS OF WAR? Don’t worry, be happy! Salon delivers its Summer sex issue!

JOANNE JACOBS joins the many who think that Harper’s magazine is out of touch.

It’s been that way for a while, actually, but (1) it’s gotten worse; and (2) The Atlantic has gotten much better, providing a damaging contrast.

AMERICAN BASES IN SAUDI ARABIA: What to do? Dr. Weevil looks at the situation.

REPUBLIC AND EMPIRE: Many classical writers thought it natural and unavoidable for republics to evolve into empires. Americans (including this one) have never wanted to see their nation become an empire. Science Fiction writer Jerry Pournelle has been meditating on this subject for years (he was predicting a U.S. / Russian “codominium” back in the 1970s) and now has a page on his site pulling together links and observations.

AL QAEDA AND IRAN: There seems to be a connection.