Media: I just re-read an interesting little volume entitled A New Birth of Freedom: Human Rights, Named & Unnamed by Charles L. Black Jr. It argues that a good foundation of national human rights law can be based on the Declaration of Independence, the Ninth Amendment, and the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the 14th Amendment. The first, especially the "pursuit of happiness," is basically the core guide for the other two. I think he tries to argue a rather unusual argument as more obvious than it really is, but I am supportive of his efforts. I also think, however, other components of the Constitution (broadly interpreted, in part because those three components encourage us to do so) is an important guide in this effort. Black (not related to the justice, to my knowledge) briefly touches upon this, but probably not enough.

As long as I'm recommending books, "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith [woman detective in Botwansa] and "Distant Relations: How My Ancestors Colonized North America" by Victoria Freemen [last chapter drags] also are worth reading. Also, "Whale Rider," was also enjoyable. It concerns, in the words of the NYT review, "young Pai [who] must overcome resistance as she tries to assume her destiny as the leader of a tribe on the New Zealand coast."

Baseball: This is useful information in that lately NY baseball teams do not bear recommending ... Seo started things well v. Seattle, but Leiter/Bacsik was about as successful in the doubleheader as Glavine (hurt) and Trachsel (fever) did vs the Brewers ... in fact, both aces only got to the second inning, and the backenders lasted around five but gave up loads of runs -- Bacsik did have four good innings. Astacio joined the injury brigade and will be out for the rest of the year.

The Yanks? They also won Game One vs. the Cubs. In the second game, Clemens took a 1-0 lead into the seventh until relieved by ... Acevedo. One pitch, it was 3-1, via a home run by the replacement of a player earlier out with a concussion. Acevedo, the latest in a line of relievers after Pettite left way early, also gave up a couple key runs in the rubber game ... when Charles Gibson was picked off first in the ninth, the Yanks scratched back to 8-7. Acevedo this time managed to pitch his first inning with no score ... these two are not long with the club in all likilihood, if anyone wants them.

Further Joe Reading: On impeachment, antiquities loss in Iraq (and also), and WMDs.