recursion

I recently read three novels by A. E. van Vogt, one of the early masters of pulp science fiction. I picked up this three book set at Book Smart on a whim, and it turned out to be a good deal. For four bucks, I got The World of Null-A, The Voyage of the Space Beagle, and Slan. I was mostly curious about The World of Null-A, and I'd never even heard of Voyage of the Space Beagle, but all three books ended up being enjoyable reading. This is old skool sci-fi, where the heros are men, the science isn't, and the pages turn quickly and the writing best not dwelled on. But very entertaining.

Here's a photo of a car from work:

(I've taken the liberty of blurring out his license plate number.)

On this older economy car, there are:

1. One bike rack
2. One "Live simply that others may simply live" bumper sticker
3. One "Defend the Earth" bumper sticker
4. One "Dismantle the Nukes" bumper sticker, slightly worn
5. One Bush-Cheney '04 bumper sticker

(Cue Seasame Street music: "One of these things is not like the others/One of these things just doesn't belong")

What is the story with this car? Did the owner buy it used, with the environmental stickers already attached? Is the owner being ironic? Perhaps he's one of those "crunchy" conservatives, who cares about the environment (but in that case, what's he doing voting for Bush?). Or maybe the owner is a triffle confused. Or an idiot.

These are the only explanations I can come up with, and yet each is dissatisfying.

IRS files tax lien against state GOP chairman, wife

Associated Press

June 16, 2004 IRS0617

State Republican Party Chairman Ron Eibensteiner and his wife have had a $390,113 federal tax lien filed against them by the Internal Revenue Service.

The dispute, Eibensteiner said, relates to the calculation of capital gains for stock options he exercised in the Eden Prairie-based software company Stellent Inc., on which he once served on the board.

``I thought it would get resolved, and I think the position they're taking is unreasonable,'' said Eibensteiner of the IRS. ``My accountant and my attorney have a different view of it than the IRS.''

Although the lien was filed on May 6, Eibensteiner said he was unaware of the filing. The lien indicates that the dispute can be traced to the 2001 tax year.

Stellent, which was previously called IntraNet Solutions until being renamed in 2001, is publicly traded. Stellent identifies itself as ``a global provider of content management solutions.''