Krugman's column today explains how Treasury's banking "reform" over the last week isn't, actually. And he concludes with a fear I've had for some time now:

If we don’t reform the system this time, the next crisis could well be even bigger. And I, for one, really don’t want to live through a replay of the 1930s.

It's a must-read.

After six cancellations due to weather, I finally got up in an airplane today. I flew 1.9 hours of just maneuvers and landing practice with an instructor. I'm a little rusty, but they can use the plane again, so that's all right.

Long-time readers know that I have a GPS-enabled bike speedometer. Today, I brought the little bugger along in the airplane, so you can see where I flew. (Google Earth 4.x required to view the file.)

Via Bruce Schneier, confirmation of your suspicions about automatic traffic cameras:

Faced with data showing that drivers pay attention to cameras at intersections — resulting in fewer ticketable violations and ever-shrinking revenue from fines — municipalities across the country are reconsidering red light cameras, which often work too well.

...

Citywide statistics obtained by NBC [Dallas] affiliate KXAS-TV found that red light cameras do reduce accidents. That is a good thing.

But they do it by reducing red light violations, by as much as 29 percent from month to month at particularly busy Dallas intersections. On the face of it, that, too, is a good thing — but not, necessarily, if you rely on traffic fines to make up a healthy chunk of your budget.

I don't even know where to begin. It's just sad, isn't it, that saving lives isn't the reason we enforce traffic regulations.

'Nuff said.

From Chicago Tribune weather forecaster Tom Skilling:

Chicago's 2007-08 snowfall tally eased above 153 cm Thursday, making it one of only seven season to reach or exceed 60 inches. ... Thursday's 4.3 cm at O'Hare became the city's 43rd day of measurable snow. No season since 1978-79 has recorded more days of measurable (2.5 mm) snow.

Skilling yesterday gave the cheery forecast that the Cubs' home opener Monday will get rained out.

Finally, did you know the U.S. government patented the atomic bomb? This suggests a tactic we can use against North Korea: sue them for infringement! Forget the 82nd Airborne, send the patent attorneys!

From my co-worker MG, evidence that we're one step closer to making a Cylon:

From old college buddy JWL, Thirty error messages you never want to see:

The first—the most serious one—comes from David Brooks via my friend RB:

Let’s take a look at what [Clinton is] going to put her party through for the sake of [a] 5 percent chance [of winning]: The Democratic Party is probably going to have to endure another three months of daily sniping. ... For three more months (maybe more!) the campaign will proceed along in its Verdun-like pattern.

Snow has started falling in Chicago this morning, with predictions of 25 cm by tomorrow:

Northern Cook County and Lake County could see as much as 9 inches of it by late afternoon, according to Rich Brumer, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Chicago and the western suburbs could see 4 to 6 inches, while the south suburbs may get 2 to 3.

The worst of today's snowfall, which Brumer described as "wet and heavy," should occur between mid-morning and early afternoon.

"By the evening rush hour, things should be letting up a bit," Brumer said. "We should get a reprieve by this morning's rush; the heavier stuff shouldn't occur."

Oh, I hope it lets up by this afternoon. I really do.

Let's review. I moved back to Chicago from Evanston. Between finding my new apartment and moving to it, I got a job in Evanston, across the alley from the old Inner Drive World HQ.

Then yesterday, because my new company is overflowing, my team moved back to IDTWHQ.

Today we looked at new space. The new space would combine space currently occupied by a friend's company (she was surprised to see me troop through) and my attorney's old office. In fact, my office would be my attorney's office.

When I found my new apartment, I figured by now, I'd come to Evanston maybe once a month to see friends or maybe go to my favorite Evanston pub.

I feel like Al Pacino.

From reader TLC, I don't know where I'd put it in my apartment, but I think Parker would dig this:

On this anniversary of our invasion of Iraq, do you feel safer?

So, in January I started a new job, right around the corner from my old office. Then I moved out of my old office. Today I'm moving back in, with three of the developers who work for me. It's temporary, and it's surreal. I'll have before-and-after pics later.

Via Calculated Risk, Georgia's junior (Republican) senator has one of the dumbest proposals in history:

Isakson is pitching an idea to his colleagues in Congress: a $15,000 tax rebate check to anyone who agrees to buy a home. Congressional budget analysts project the program would cost $14 billion over the next few years. But Isakson said the rebate checks are well worth the hefty price tag. "If we can convince buyers to come back to the marketplace and buy these houses, then the houses aren't vacant. It's replaced by an owner-occupant, who is there making payments on a loan and helping all of the other houses around."

Where does one begin to explain to this guy what's wrong with the proposal?

I hope longtime blog reader AR, a resident of Georgia, will chime in and explain how this guy got elected.

And I'm not dead. I am, however, very busy, and I was travelling all weekend. Regular postings will resume soon.

Joel Spolsky's latest column in Inc. is a must-read for entrepreneurs (and I include anyone who has founded an organization) who have grown beyond the garage:

The great employees will be devoted, sure, and it's completely reasonable to expect them to work their butts off. But unlike founders, employees are concerned about what their jobs are like today. They're not as excited about making sacrifices for the long run. So don't tell your star salespeople to take the bus and stay with relatives when they make that call in St. Louis, even though that's what you did when you started the company.

Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeons & Dragons, died this morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wis. Half of the developers on my team are old enough to feel sad; the other half said "Dungeons and what?"

Via Talking Points Memo, Reuters reports the reception Iran's president got in Baghdad this week:

Pomp and ceremony greeted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his arrival in Iraq on Sunday, the fanfare a stark contrast to the rushed and secretive visits of his bitter rival U.S. President George W. Bush.

Ahmadinejad held hands with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani as they walked down a red carpet to the tune of their countries' national anthems, his visit the first by an Iranian president since the two neighbours fought a ruinous war in the 1980s.

His warm reception, in which he was hugged and kissed by Iraqi officials and presented with flowers by children, was Iraq's first full state welcome for any leader since the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Weren't our troops supposed to be greeted this way? Funny how that didn't happen.