THADDEUS TREMAYNE RAGES AGAINST the dying of the light. From the comments: “GOOGLE was black today, in honour of the Coming Dark Age.”

But resistance, apparently, is not futile.

A BUNCH OF INTERESTING PODCASTS, at Loquitur.

BETWEEN EAST AND WEST: Michael Totten in The New York Times.

WAS OBAMA A “REAL” LAW PROFESSOR? I don’t think that this dispute will swing many votes even within the legal academy. . . .

JAMES CARVILLE: Yeah, I called that Benedict Arnold a Judas! And he is! “Heck, I give myself some credit for managing to get the Clinton and Obama campaigns to agree on something — that neither wanted to be associated with my remarks. . . . If Richardson was going to turn on the Clintons the way he did, I see no problem in saying what I said. Because if loyalty is one virtue, another is straight talk. And if Democrats can’t handle that, they’re going to have a hard time handling a Republican nominee who is seeking the presidency with that as his slogan.”

DEAN BARNETT on action vs. words.

THE NANNY STATE comes to Texas.

Next they’ll be cracking down on barbershop beers.

CALLING FOR A Murtha ethics investigation.

THE CLINTON/OBAMA WARS spread to Wikipedia. More here.

STOP-LOSS IS D.O.A.: “I’m told #7 Stop-Loss opened to only $1.6 million Friday from just 1,291 plays and should eke out $4+M. Although the drama from MTV Films was the best-reviewed movie opening this weekend, Paramount wasn’t expecting much because no Iraq war-themed movie has yet to perform at the box office.” And yet they keep churning out these antiwar bombs.

Related item here.

UPDATE: Reader Dave McCune suggests “an X-Prize for an Iraq war movie that doesn’t suck:”

Proposed ground rules:

1) US armed forces, allies, and their supporting families are the good guys

2) Jihadis are the bad guys

3) Freedom-seeking civilians are caught in the middle

4) #1 defeats #2 to liberate #3.

How hard can that be? It’d be entertaining, closer to the truth, and would probably make a ton of money.

I know I’d both donate to a prize fund and go see the product.

I suspect a lot of people would.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Don Wolff says it doesn’t matter, as Hollywood will soon be replaced by videogame-based platforms for moviemaking anyway. “One or two more generations in tech development, who’ll need Hollywood to make movies?”

Meanwhile, here’s a less-than-positive review of Stop-Loss: “What is possibly left to say about a poorly produced, poorly acted, poorly directed, and very poorly written anti-war film that defames our troops…? What’s left to say that hasn’t been said about the dozen or so that came before? The only new angle here is that we’re told Stop-Loss is co-written by a conservative. Either this poor guy was steamrolled flat in story meetings or it’s true that Hollywood’s idea of a conservative is someone who only kinda hates President Bush.”

And Tom Brosz emails:

Dave McCune says “I know I’d both donate to a prize fund and go see the product.”

I noticed on your link to Outside the Wire that they are trying to sell 2,900 DVDs to make their point. Maybe you need to plug that a little harder.

Consider it done!

MORE: McCune emails back:

Thanks for the tip about Outside The Wire. I’m going to buy one and then donate it to my local library. Lord knows they already have enough copies of Bowling for Columbine. If any of your readers inquire seriously about starting a prize, feel free to forward them.

Good idea.

STILL MORE: Reader Pete Jernakoff emails:

I’d love to see a movie made from David Bellavia and John Brunning’s book entitled ‘House To House’ which chronicles the US Army’s advance into Fallujah in November, 2004. It is absolutely riveting. And the US Army are the good guys! I cast my vote for Bruce Willis as Staff Sargent David Bellavia.

That would be cool.

ADVICE FOR BLOGGERS AND HOME-BASED WORKERS who don’t get out enough. “Home-based? Feeling like your work-in-pajamas lifestyle has gone a little too far. Forgetting social formalities? Not brushing your teeth until early afternoon? Forgetting to shave? All signs that you may be suffering from homepreneuritosis.”

I’VE NEVER BEEN PERSUADED by the periodic calls for a “Science Court” to decide contested scientific disputes. (Though it does have a certain appealing Planet-Krypton ring to it.) But if ever there were a case for such a court it would be this one over potential dangers posed by the Large Hadron Collider. I suspect, however, that it will be disposed of on mundane grounds of standing and jurisdiction.

STILL MORE ON THE VACCINE-AUTISM CLAIM: And John McCain still needs to address this, and stop getting his health-policy advice from Don Imus.

Michael Yon called on his satellite phone to talk about what’s going on in Iraq. I recorded it and it’s up here for your listening pleasure — nothing fancy, just a quick recording posted less than 20 minutes after it happened. Click here to listen.

A few key points: (1) It’s likely to get worse before it’s better; (2) No one seems to doubt Iranian backing for the violence; (3) This isn’t about religion, it’s about money and power; and (4) Unlike Al Qaeda in the north, this isn’t so much a fight to the finish as violence as a negotiating tactic. It’s not a civil war. Take a listen, and then take a moment to marvel at today’s technology, which lets me do this stuff from my basement at the spur of the moment.

Meanwhile, Michael has a book coming out, Moment of Truth in Iraq. If you buy it through his site, you can get an advance copy shipping Monday. Otherwise it’ll be out in a few weeks. (Bumped to top, since a lot of people may have missed it last night).

UPDATE: A reader who asks for anonymity emails:

Michael Yon is the same man who said that the sectarian strife after the 2003 invasion and before the 2007 surge was actually a civil war between Sunni and Shiite groups (I didn’t entirely agree with him, but I wasn’t over there as he was and is now), so for him to say that the current conflict in the south is not a civil war is a pretty big deal in my opinion.

Yeah, I assumed everyone knew that but I suppose it’s worth pointing out.

Also, partial transcript here.

HEATING UP: “Sen. Hillary Clinton’s most prominent African-American supporter in Pennsylvania says that had he been a member of Sen. Barack Obama’s church, he would have left because of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s fiery and controversial sermons.” He’ll be on World News Tonight talking about it.

AZIZ POONAWALLA is hosting Fitna on his site, even though he’s not a fan.

THE AFGHAN VERSION of American Idol: “The show has its own Ryan Seacrest — a hip medical student at Kabul University named Daoud Sedidi. The panel of judges is two men and a woman — Monesa Sherzad Hassan, a professor at Kabul University — who sits between the guys, just as Paula Abdul does, interjecting when she can’t take any more of the bad singers and praising the good ones.” Does Ann Althouse know about this?

MICKEY KAUS: “McCain may or may not be blocking Heath Shuler’s immigration-enforcement bill–Shuler says yes, Brian Faughnan argues no, and McCain’s camp denies it. But shouldn’t McCain at least have to take a position on the bill, if he’s such a secure-the-borders-first man? . . . The dirty secret, of course, is that the Dem leadership isn’t blocking the bill because its unpopular with House Democrats. They’re blocking it because it’s popular with House Democrats, who’d love to have a tough-on-illegals bill to vote for before the 2008 election. “

DIRTY TRICKS: “The Texas Democratic Party on Friday urged delegates to today’s senatorial district and county conventions to ignore e-mails and robotic phone calls telling them that the conventions have either been canceled or had their times changed.”

IT’S LIKE SOME MUTANT OFFSPRING of the DIY Channel and Jewelry Television: Make your own engagement ring. Readers: Would you do this?

UPDATE: Reader Nancy Revy emails:

As someone in the diamond business I have to tell you that I actually think this is pretty cool. Buying a basic diamond for an engagement ring shouldn’t be a intimidating experience. This Amazon page gives the basic client the ability to see what you can get in different cuts and clarity if you hold the price steady. With this information a buyer can go to his local jeweler and see if they can beat the price, given the same criteria for the stone. The key on all of this is the GIA certification, that way you can compare apples to apples, so to speak.

Diamond dealers have a couple of online sources similar to this Amazon page where they can input their criteria, size, color, cut etc. and get a list of available stones that fit their needs. They then make purchasing decisions based on the price versus the price on the weekly RAP sheet. As wholesale dealers we try to buy at 20% off the RAP price and sell to the client at 10% off RAP. A retail store like Tiffany will typically sell a diamond at the RAP price plus 30% percent or more.

For smallish diamonds there is no mystique. They are a commodity and their prices depend on supply and speculation…like other commodities. It’s only when you are working with rare large white and colored diamonds, that the pricing issue becomes murky.

Yesterday at my office I was messing about with a 29 carat diamond. It was so big that I thought it was fake! Someone had to tell me to put down the giant rock!

But Glenn seriously, I know how much you love Amazon, but when you get around to buying the beautiful Dr. Helen a nice little rock for your anniversary, give me a call.

The Insta-Wife isn’t that much into jewelry, but I did buy her some diamond earrings on Valentine’s day. They were not 29 carat, however. Good lord.

Meanwhile, reader Matthias Shapiro writes:

recently purchased an engagement ring and I actually used that very same diamond finder to get an idea of what good diamond prices should be given the cut, clarity and size that I (she) wanted. It was an invaluable tool for establishing some base values so I didn’t get ripped off, which I found was dangerously common. And the lack of sales pressure while I get some understanding of diamonds was really nice.

While I might purchase a diamond that way, I would never use it to select a complete ring, largely because (Amazon techies take note) there is only one view of the ring and it is really hard to get a good perspective on it. Plus theres a lot to be said for seeing it on her hand which is, of course, the ultimate goal.

Yes, this will impose some price discipline even if it never gets a big share of the market. And reader Ananth Sarathy emails:

Recently got engaged, and most people I know and talked to already did something like this, shopping for the stone and then picking a setting. Anyone who makes rings can find the diamond you want based on the certificate number…

Sure everyone knows about color, carat and clarity, but the big secret it looking at the cut angles to get the mathematical idea of how much light will be reflected out (Sorry I am an engineer, so science helps me deal with spending that kind of money on a rock):

http://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

You plug in the angle information, and it gives a very good idea about the *sparkle* factor of the diamond, which I find, woman are much more concerned about than they originally realize.

Indeed.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Myron Ledford writes: “I did it this past January…I got hooked on Amazon Prime (thanks/curse you) so I decided to look at engagement rings that Amazon had to offer and saw the design your own ring tool. I used it to design a ring for my fiancee that we both love and saved about $200. We did have a problem with the band, it broke about a month after we got it but it needed to be resized anyway. One thing I enjoyed was there was no salesperson to let out slight sighs and tut-tuts as I moved the slider closer to the $100 diamonds than the $125K ones…” Yes, the absence of personal attention can be a minus, or a plus . . . .

MORE: Reader Paxton Helms writes:

Blue Nile has been doing the same thing with diamonds for a whole lot longer than Amazon. I have been 100% satisfied with them. Just a great company and a very smooth diamond purchasing interface. Would hate to see a great site not get mentioned as long as you are talking about Amazon.

And, no, I’m not an employee or PR flack for Blue Nile!!

News to me, but I haven’t been in the engagement-ring interest zone for a while, and hopefully won’t be again.

SILLY JAKE: Of course John Kerry’s medals mattered. He was a Democrat. And of course John McCain’s service doesn’t mean anything positive. He’s a Republican. It’s as simple as that, in DeanWorld.

And as stupid, since Dean’s dumb remarks will bring more positive publicity to McCain, and play up the contrast in this department with Hillary and Obama.

THE TEN BEST PROPHETIC SCIENCE FICTION MOVIES, ever. But I agree with the commenter who says that Demolition Man deserves more respect. “President Schwarzenegger” isn’t quite so much a laugh-line, anymore.

THIS SEEMS RIGHT, to me: “I have no doubt now that the biggest obstacle to Obama’s being able to unify the Democratic Party is likely to be the behavior of Obama blogs, Obama radio talk show hosts, the Obama network (NBC), Obama supporters and the Obama campaign itself.” As with Ron Paul, Obama’s online supporters are doing a lot to put off people who might otherwise be persuadable.

Meanwhile, Taylor Marsh writes: “If the elite DC Dems keep trying to push Clinton from this race, Hillary’s supporters will sit the November election out or worse, protest the party’s actions by voting for John McCain.” See the item just below.

UPDATE: Panic.

THE WAGES OF IDENTITY POLITICS: Clinton’s women supporters fear her bid has unleashed a sexist backlash:

Just as Barack Obama’s campaign has been empowering for African-Americans, Sen. Clinton’s run has inspired women across the country, drawing millions to the polls and putting her in a neck-and-neck battle for the nomination. She has already gone farther than any woman before her — a source of great pride for her women supporters.

But her campaign has also prompted slurs and inflammatory language that many women thought had been banished from public discourse. Some women worry that regardless of how the election turns out, the resistance to Sen. Clinton may embolden some men to resist women’s efforts to share power with them in business, politics and elsewhere.

Read the whole thing. Meanwhile, Victor Davis Hanson worries that the Obama/Wright flap has brought about “disastrous regression in race relations.”

LIVIN’ ON TUZLA TIME: If you missed it on XM Satellite Radio, you can now hear this week’s PJM Political online. Now with extra monkeyfishing!