I’M OFF ON A FAMILY VACATION, and blogging is likely to be light next week. I plan to kick back and relax and spend very little time on the Internet. I’m taking a bunch of science fiction novels and only one serious book, Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures: A True Story from Hell on Earth — I figure if Kofi Annan tried to suppress it, it’s probably worth reading. (To give you an idea of how seriously intellectual the trip will be, I’m also taking along the entire first season of Gilligan’s Island on DVD.)

Daniel Drezner will be guest-blogging over at GlennReynolds.com next week, so be sure to stop by. See you later!

MERDE IN FRANCE HAS MOVED: Note the new location.

NANOTECHNOLOGY UPDATE:

A useful self-replicating machine could be less complex than a Pentium IV chip, according to a new study (PDF, 1.73 MB) performed by General Dynamics for NASA.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems recently concluded a six-month study for NASA’s Institute for Advanced Concepts that examined the design of “kinematic cellular automata,” a reconfigurable system of many identical modules. . . .

The study also examined machine designs that would meet guidelines established by the California-based nanotech think-tank Foresight Institute to ensure the safety of self-replication techniques. The preliminary study is believed to be among the first U.S.-sponsored studies on self-replication in two decades.

This is quite significant. I hope we’ll see more research — instead of mere speculative pooh-poohing — on this subject.

WINDS OF DISCOVERY is a survey of scientific news items, from the Winds of Change folks.

DANIEL DREZNER has interesting news on Hugo Chavez and Venezuela.

THE HATRED JUST GETS WORSE:

Human beings, who have imaginations, can see a recipe for disaster in the making; Republicans, whose goal in life is to profit from disaster and who don’t give a hoot about human beings, either can’t or won’t. Which is why I personally think they should be exterminated before they cause any more harm.

From the opening paragraph of a theater review (!) in The Village Voice. (Via Jason van Steenwyk, whose blog should be a regular stop). Republicans — not human, and in need of extermination? Sheesh. Hugh Hewitt is right: The Left has come unhinged.

THE MOST HIGHLY DECORATED SERVICEWOMAN OF WORLD WAR II: Very interesting item. (Via Hiawatha Bray).

ROGER SIMON has thoughts on right, left, and what’s “progressive” these days. Some other people seem to be rethinking those subjects, too.

UPDATE: More here.

TAXPROF notes a report on the seamy side of state tax incentives.

DAVE KOPEL REVIEWS the new Harry Potter movie.

JIHAD SUMMER CAMP: Appalling, but not surprising.

MORE ON REP. JIM MORAN and charges of anti-semitism.

SOLDIER STORIES: Worth reading on this anniversary weekend.

SLACKERNOMICS: I haven’t read it, but it sounds kinda interesting.

ANOTHER BIG DAY over at Stephen Green’s. He seems to be on a hot streak.

MORE THOUGHTS ON insufficient diversity in the media.

INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS:

Algerian forces took custody on Friday of a man believed to be one of North Africa’s most powerful Islamic terrorists in a highly unusual multinational operation deep in the desert of Niger, according to an official from one of the countries involved. . . .

Germany paid Mr. Saifi nearly $6 million in ransom for the hostages’ release, American and Algerian officials say. He is reported to have used the money to recruit fighters and buy weapons for the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which is fighting to establish an Islamic state in Algeria. [Thanks, Germany! Jeez. . . .]

In March, Chadian rebels captured 17 members of the group after a battle near the border with Niger. Mr. Saifi is believed to be among those captured.

The rebel organization, the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad, approached the United States and other countries involved in the American-led campaign against terrorism in hopes of delivering the prisoners and reaping a political benefit from its good deed.

There seems to be a lot of interesting stuff going on in the Sahara.

MATT WELCH notes Kerry’s support of a crackdown on broadcast indecency and observes:

There’s nothing I’ve seen to indicate that a Democrat-run FCC would be a damned bit better than Michael Powell’s boobs, and Kerry’s comments about media consolidation in the same interview indicate a stronger willingness to regulate.

Indeed. The anti-indecency move is bipartisan, and instead of blaming Bush, opponents should be explaining to the voters why it’s a bad idea. Because it’s not something being foisted on voters by a few right-wing zealots. It’s something with broad support, which is why Kerry and Bush are so close together on the subject.

QUOTING SCRIPTURE WHILE SHOE-BLOGGING: Surely a first for the Volokh Conspiracy.

NIGHTLIFE IN JENIN? Go figure.