Archive for the ‘All’ Category
Hitler Fatigue
Friends of mine who are of a certain age–hence, in their prime–who were active Usenet denizens in the early 1990s, are familiar with Godwin's Law from being there in the flame wars. In essence: the longer a Usenet discussion lasts, the probability of a comparison to Hitler approaches one. It is generally understood by all, […]
In: All, Current Events, Laughing Matters
It Wasn't a Heart Attack
Over a week ago (8–9 August, to be precise), I spent the night in the hospital, finding out what the vague "observation and test" might mean in my case. For a couple of days I'd been having some vague, not terribly threatening sounding symptoms, mainly a persistent feeling of light-headedness–not dizziness, but more a tendency […]
"Better Off" in Iraq?
Human Rights Watch issued a report ("They Want Us Exterminated", 17 August 2009) with the subtitle "Murder, Torture, Sexual Orientation and Gender in Iraq". From the introduction: A killing campaign moved across Iraq in the early months of 2009. While the country remains a dangerous place for many if not most of its citizens, death […]
In: All, Current Events, Reflections
Inspiration, Courage, & Democracy
Ever since the fight last year in California over Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that took away marriage equality, the christian supremacists have been nervous. They seem to remember only the good old days when homophiles cowered in darkened stairways on disreputable streets, rather than the new, improved post-Stonewall generation of gays and lesbians and […]
In: All, Faaabulosity, Reflections
"It Should be Stopped"
I dislike taking an entire blog posting and quoting it; I hope I can be forgiven. I see no need to amplify this remark with any comment on the history of intellectual achievement in senators from Pennsylvania. "I am tired of all this thing called science. … We have spent millions in that sort of […]
In: All, Common-Place Book, Laughing Matters
Dingell on Racism & Health-Care Townhall Mobs
Michigan congressman John Dingell on "Coundown", with Keith Olbermann (segment on "Racism in the Public Square", c. 12 August 2009), explained that the staged "disruptions" at health-care town halls–his in particular–reminded him of a previous experience: Well, the last time I had to confront something like this was when I voted for the Civil Rights […]
In: All, Common-Place Book, Current Events
Scienticity for Laughs
I enjoy meeting new people in the same of scienticity; I try for one new person a day. Today I made the acquaintance of Irish comedian Dara OBriain (thanks to BoingBoing). He doesn't know me yet but I've enjoyed watching him on YouTube and now Dara and I will demonstrate that a good scientific outlook […]
In: All, Laughing Matters, Snake Oil--Cheap!, Speaking of Science
Who Stands?
Now I'm confused — again. It happens so easily these days. I read (via Towleroad: "Arlen Specter Health Care Town Hall Nearly Gets Physical") that the loudest, angriest white male at Arlen Specter's recent healthcare townhall meeting shouted: "One day, God's gonna stand before you. And he's gonna judge you…". Now, I am just an […]
In: All, Current Events, Will Rogers Moments
Stephen Hawking Erroneously Found Dead in "Death Panel" Marketing
How interesting. I learned from Avedon Carol (who learned from Wonkette….) of an editorial in the Investor's Business Daily that, in explaining how government-run-healthcare "death panels" wold imperil your grandmother's life, used as the centerpiece of it argument that famed physicist Stephen Hawking, whose life is challenged with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as […]
In: All, Current Events, Laughing Matters, Raised Eyebrows Dept., Will Rogers Moments
Who Took Whose Country?
Rachel Maddow told me that, according to the SEC, the profits of health insurance companies were $2.4 Billion in 2000, but $12.7 Billion in 2007. This is only a 429% increase, almost keeping pace with inflation. (I watched the segment at Joe.My.God.) She also notes that by 2007 the average compensation of the CEO of […]
In: All, Current Events, Will Rogers Moments
"The Buried Nose" and "Eye for Science": Scienticity Updates
I have managed in the last few weeks to make a little progress on matter concerning Ars Hermeneutica. (Updating the company website is not one of them, however.) On the book note front, there were some enhancements and new features that appeared some little while back that I didn't mention. Among all the fascinating notes […]
In: All, It's Only Rocket Science, Personal Notebook
Mozart Hated It–We Should Love It?
Somewhere in my top-10 of all-time vapid pieces of music is Mozart's concerto for flute and harp, K. 299, in c major. It is dull, totally devoid of inspiration, and defines the tedious listening experience. Virtually every radio announcer who introduces this playlist favorite will point out how much Mozart is reputed to have hated […]
In: All, Music & Art, Splenetics
Friday Soirée: Feynman & Villa-Lobos
Let us have now a little soirée, a short program of ideas and music to cheer up my rather drab Friday evening. On tonight's program, Richard Feynman and Heitor Villa-Lobos. The Feynman bits are both excerpts from a BBC series called "Fun to Imagine" (1983), in which Feynman is interviewed and talks about all sorts […]
In: All, Friday Soirée, It's Only Rocket Science, Music & Art
Positive Procrastination
[What follows is an essay I evidently wrote about five years ago. I was surprised to get to the end and find that I have done just what I said I should do, even though it's taken some time and I haven't hired the staff yet. All things in the fullness of time….] Yesterday morning […]
Please, Link Me to George Soros
Sometimes I save little bits of this and that from my reading, thinking to write something about it. Sometimes I even get around to it, too. The evangelical right can wallow in denial all they want about Palin being victimized by liberals or Democrats or even George Soros (some illiterate wingnut recently tried to link […]
In: All, Hermeneutics, Reflections
APA Disses "Ex-Gay Therapy" in No Uncertain Terms
Just a few days ago the American Psychological Association (APA) adopted a resolution saying, basically, that claims for the success of "ex-gay therapy"* have no scientific merit. Quoting from the APA press release‡ TORONTO—The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution Wednesday stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their […]
In: All, Current Events, Faaabulosity
Egg Salad
Once a year about this time Isaac goes off for a few days to his annual, regional ACDA* conference. The house always seems quiet and dull with just me and the hounds at home. Last night I distracted myself by mowing the lawn; tonight, it's food. As is my tradition, I consoled myself by making […]
Not Missing the News
For most of my life, and certainly from about the time of graduate school onward, I have not had much time, patience for, or interest in broadcast television or radio news. I also never developed the habit of, nor set aside time for, reading a newspaper. Once upon a time I might have listened to […]
Still More Books
For those who might care* I thought I would mention that I've just updated my online "book of books", the database in which I keep a list of the books I've read.† I only seem to get to updating it once a year or so; therefore you'll find that I've added titles from about the […]
To the Moon
I am excited to think that today is the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's and Buzz Aldrin's landing on the moon, while command-module pilot Michael Collins orbited the moon in the Apollo 11 command module. I am, perhaps, less excited that its been forty years since I was 12 years old! The photograph is of […]
In: All, Current Events, Reflections