"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you, never excuse yourself." -- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Bush administration = in pockets of corporate lobbyists?: This sounds pretty mundane, but even the appearance of conflict of interest is just stupid. Plus, Ms. Victory comes off, at best, sounding like a cheapskate (i.e., a corporate attorney who can't afford to pay for her own party?) and a nincompoop (you know you're headed for a public position with disclosure requirements; why risk the appearance that you're in the pocket of lobbyists?).

Will the Segway fly?: Business Week says maybe not, joining a rising chorus.

Diplomas and transcripts are for framing & display only: This is not the most amazing piece of hoohah I have ever seen, but it's close. Here's what the index page says:

Avoid Phony Diplomas and Fake Degrees

Get a real college degree in 7 days, based on your life and work experience. Three years experience in a field qualifies you for a degree.

Our diplomas are printed on parchment paper. Both the transcripts and the diplomas carry an embossed seal.

Then, click on the link and you're taken to an order page, where it appears you can make up a diploma. You can even "[c]hoose the field of study and year for your Bachelors diploma." You can also add honors, if you're feeling really smart. In addition, you can purchase up to 8 semesters of transcript, complete with GPA! Then, way at the bottom, here's the disclaimer:

Diplomas and transcripts are for framing & display only

These college diplomas are being distributed to boost your confidence and esteem. By ordering a diploma or transcripts, you are certifying that you will not misuse the diploma, the listing in the Universities records or any other improper use. The Inter-Collegiate Joint Committee on Academic Standards and the accrediting agencies listed on the transcript forms are controlled by College Services Corp.

Please carefully review the information that you have entered, to make certain that there are no errors. When approved, this order form will be the source document that is used for the preparation of your diploma and other documents. We will E-Mail confirmation of receipt of your deposit within eight hours of receiving it. The E-Mail will confirm the total price and the amount to be paid upon delivery.

Degrees may not be obtained by residents in states where prohibited by law, including the states of MO and NV.

Turns out Senator Susan Collins doesn't agree that diploma mills should be in business and asked the GAO to investigate. Here's what the GAO had to say about degree mills. [via Volokh Conspiracy]

Now, it's personal: Verizon was ordered to turn over personal information about a file-sharer on its network who allegedly downloaded 600 songs in a single day. Score another one for the bad guys. (That means you, Hilary Rosen.) Will they ever get it? Also, I'm sick of all this "piracy" mumbo-jumbo spouted by the RIAA. You're a "pirate" if you buy a CD, burn copies, and sell them on eBay. If you buy the CD and "trade" what you have through a file-sharing network, you may be a swapper, but you're no pirate -- you gain no financial advantage from the swap. There may be an opportunity cost to the recording industry (I doubt it, as I personally have purchased more CDs in the past year than in any of the previous ten and -- not coincidentally -- I began using file-sharing services in the past year or so), but there is no definitive financial cost.