Year: 2014
Plenty of Blame to Go Around for the National Debt
I spotted this awful meme image on Facebook, from the Being Liberal page: Aside from the poor grammar and gratuitous attention-getting reference to 9/11, its implications about the history of our national debt are just plain wrong. On 9/11 we were attacked. Immediately after military expenditures doubled. Do you recall the Bush administration seeking added… Read more
The Opposite of Boiling Water
Here’s something to think about if you’re in Chicago like me, and you’re thinking of going outside: Go to your kitchen and fill a pot with water. Put it on the stove and turn the burner up to high. Bring it to a boil. That water is now at about 212°F. Given that your internal… Read more
It’s Not Anti-Vax, It’s Anti-Force
Why are antivaccinationists so at home with Libertarianism? That’s the question Orac asked last month at Respectful Insolence. It’s kind of an odd question, since the main piece of evidence he discusses is Ronald Bailey’s pro-vaccination article at Reason Magazine, one of the flagship publishers of libertarian thought. Here’s the main point of Bailey’s argument:… Read more
Farewell Simon, We Hardly Knew You
Last spring, our cat Ripley passed away after a somewhat lengthy period of illness. It was a very sad time for us. My wife was especially heartbroken, as Ripley had been the first cat we adopted after a catless period that followed the death of her previous cat. As is my way, I had put… Read more