Once again, God help me, I watched the entire debate last night. I don’t quite know why, as it wasn’t that great as spectacle, and it’s not like there was any way it would change my vote… I wound up being struck by something, though. The last eight years have made me pretty cynical about… Continue reading Cynicism and the Debates
Category: Politics
Innumeracy on Parade
Via Physics and Physicists, a breathtaking blog at the Washington Post proudly proclaiming the author’s ignorance of algebra: I am told that algebra is everywhere – it’s in my iPod, beneath the spreadsheet that calculates my car payments, in every corner of my building. This idea freaks me out because I just can’t see it.… Continue reading Innumeracy on Parade
The Bright Side
Throughout the unfolding financial meltdown, I keep finding myself thinking that there might be one small, positive effect to come out of this: namely, a much-needed dose of realism and humility for market advocates. Because, really, after reading this Steven Teles post: All through the financial crisis, governments have failed to act in a powerful,… Continue reading The Bright Side
The Pope’s Astronomer, and Galileo’s Telescope
Some time back, I saw Brother Guy Consolmagno talk at Boskone, and said “You know, I should invite him to campus.” For those who don’t recognize the name, he’s an SF fan and an astronomer (well, planetary scientist) who also happens to be a Jesuit brother. He works at the Vatican Observatory, where he is… Continue reading The Pope’s Astronomer, and Galileo’s Telescope
Nobel Peace Prize to Finnish Mediator
The 2008 Nobel Peace Prize goes to Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, “for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.” Fortunately for uneducated boors like me, they provide a press release listing some of those efforts: Throughout all his adult life, whether as a senior Finnish public… Continue reading Nobel Peace Prize to Finnish Mediator
The Kibble Bubble
A Colbert Report re-run about the financial crisis has just ended, so I turn the tv off, grab my jacket and the leash, and head out for a walk with the dog. She’s oddly pensive as we head up the street. After a little while, she stops and asks, “What was that all about?” “All… Continue reading The Kibble Bubble
Obama Disappoints Me
I got email this morning from the Obama campaign, bearing news that will no doubt have the more rabidly partisan Democrats of blogdom dancing with glee: The Obama campaign as prepared a video about the Keating Five scandal (Wikipedia link, not the campaign video), and John McCain’s role in it. The video will be released… Continue reading Obama Disappoints Me
Quick VP Debate Commentary
I made it through half an hour of last night’s VP candidate debate. When they got to the question of global warming, I realized that her answer was indistinguishable from something the Sarah Palin Interview Generator might cough up, and opted for Tombstone on the History Channel (!) instead. “Evidently, Mr. Ringo is an educated… Continue reading Quick VP Debate Commentary
Go, Barney Frank
The House Republicans blame their failure to pass the bailout bill on Mean Nancy Pelosi, and Barney Frank lets them have it: The key bit, for those who don’t want to watch YouTube: “[T]hink about this. ‘Somebody hurt my feelings, so I will punish the country.’ That’s hardly plausible. And there are 12 Republican members… Continue reading Go, Barney Frank
Big-Picture Debate Commentary
As I said last night, I wound up watching all of the presidential debate. I turned it on expecting to get disgusted and flip away in half an hour or so, but it was remarkably better than the last two elections’ worth of debates. Almost as if both participants were qualified to be President. I’m… Continue reading Big-Picture Debate Commentary