Random shots around the web:Radley Balko now has a home at the Washington Post. Interestingly, he's billed as an "Opinion Blogger" rather than an "Opinion Writer" like the columnists featured at the top of the Opinions page. (In fact, he doesn't appear anywhere on that page as I write this.) Radley plays it like an old-school blogger too: He starts with an Introduction … [Read more...] about Scattershot 2014-01-10
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 taxes or … [Read more...] about Plenty of Blame to Go Around for the National Debt
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 body temperature is just under 99°F, the boiling water is about 113°F hotter than your body.As I … [Read more...] about The Opposite of Boiling Water
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: People who … [Read more...] about It’s Not Anti-Vax, It’s Anti-Force
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 up a post about Ripley's passing. Unbeknownst to me, someone over at the Opinionated … [Read more...] about Farewell Simon, We Hardly Knew You