In his Slate/Marginal Revolution endorsement, Steven Landsburg gives one of the most defensible arguments for voting against the Kerry-Edwards ticket that I have heard-- reiterating his view that using the law to force people to Buy American (which he alleges Edwards does) is morally no better than forcing people to Buy White.

For this view he comes in for a drubbing from The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum.

Most Galactically Incomprehensible Endorsement: Steven Landsburg, who is voting for Bush because "the xenophobe John Edwards" is morally equivalent to the racist David Duke. Where do they find these guys?

Heidi Bond asks:

How could you possibly eat this little guy? [Indicating chicken.]

Greg here sensibly asks Red Sox Nation "what now?" Though an understandable bitterness tinges Greg's question, I have a few suggestions:

1. Start laying claim to one of the all-time great examples of playoff baseball. Though I think the Yankees going 22-3 in the 1998 and 1999 playoffs may represent the most impressive post-season work in the "modern playoff era," winning eight straight (including four on the road) against two 100-win teams is an historic feat.

2. Start laying claim to being the greatest professional sports town ever. World Series champs, Super Bowl champs (with 21 wins and counting), the Celtics and the Bruins are quite a collection. Of course, we may never have professional hockey again, but college hockey in Boston is almost as good anyway.

3. Start writing letters to Fox for showing reactions shots from New York City(!) when the BoSox were on the verge of clinching.

4. Get ready for Spring Training, which is less than four months away.

5. Dust off your Cubs cap.

Steve Landsburg over at Marginal Revolution relays an interesting study where male and female students tried various pickup lines on members of the opposite sex. Here are the lines:

1) I've been noticing you around campus and I find you attractive. Would you go out with me tonight?

2) I've been noticing you around campus and I find you attractive. Would you come over to my apartment tonight?

3) I've been noticing you around campus and I find you attractive. Would you sleep with me tonight?

Head to Marginal Revolution for a breakdown of how each group responded to the questions.

Dear Red Sox Nation,

Congratulations. As a St. Louis native and Cardinals fanatic, I watched with dread as Boston thoroughly dismantled the Red Birds on their way to a 4-0 series victory. On behalf of Cardinals Nation, I ask: what now?

It seems Red Sox fans have developed an identity primarily through "the curse" and otherwise playing the role of underdog to the mighty Yankees. You have experienced countless years of misery exemplified by moments of intense heartbreak: Johnny Pesky, Bill Buckner, Aaron Boone, and so on. You have proclaimed your hated rivals from New York the "Evil Empire" despite being an empire of sorts yourselves.

But what now? The hated Yankees were defeated. The curse was lifted. How will Red Sox Nation identify with their team? Without the misery and heartbreak, what force will drive your group identity? Social groups--of which the fan base of a particular sports team is one type--often bind together through some identity. For Yankee fans it is superiority. For Cardinals fans there exists a norm whereby most are deeply interested in being considered a fan of the team--a fan that will show up dressed all in red and politely cheer in good times and bad. For you, Red Sox Nation, the identity has been heartbreak.

I suppose Red Sox Nation is ecstatic this morning, standing around the office bantering about on how the curse has been lifted, how they never thought they would see the day, and so on. But the euphoria will not last. You will wake up someday soon and realize that it was more fun to be a Red Sox fan when you were losing. You will miss identifying with each other through decades of hurt and wrought faces.

Enjoy your victory, Red Sox Nation, but it is a hollow one. You've traded your identity for it, and now there is no turning back. Despite the expressions of sorrow and misery, you enjoyed being hurt year after year. You enjoyed the community--the common sense of longing losing afforded you. Now it's gone. You are no longer anything special. No one cares. You will be lost without your identity--just another baseball community with a World Series title. You are Marlins Nation now. Congratulations.

Sincerely,
Cardinals Nation

Update: More here.