There is nothing like being right to make an impression. After calling the majority of congressional districts in the 2012 US election Nate Silver enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame. Before his election prediction I was only dimly aware of Nate Silver. I knew he worked for the New York Times, but that's no longer … Continue reading Review: The Signal and the Noise
The Myth of Sisyphus: Camus’s Absurd Prototype
In 1942, with World II raging, readers of The Myth of Sisyphus could easily identify with Camus's absurd man. Not only is man absurd he has reduced his entire world to absurdity. Now, seventy-plus years later, Sisyphus readers are more likely to politely yawn and wonder what the fuss is about. Camus's themes are not … Continue reading The Myth of Sisyphus: Camus’s Absurd Prototype
Oz the Gratuitous and Purile
This is not the Oz you're looking for! The original Wizard of Oz, the one we have all seen many times, is on a very short list of nearly perfect movies. Everything about the 1939 film is superb in excess. It's as fun to watch today as it was over seventy years ago and you … Continue reading Oz the Gratuitous and Purile
Australia It Is
I'm putting up with a little feces storm; it's flying off the fan in all directions. Let's start with work. Lately it's been grueling. I'm coding like a mad twenty something, wasting my weekends for the man and being very much the good little corporate drone. I do my best to avoid crazy hours but … Continue reading Australia It Is
A Memo to the next Murdering Dorner
No doubt you've been following the breathless media swooning about Christopher Dorner and his Djangoistic, fight the power, murder spree and you’re wondering if you should take up arms against a sea of troubles and go off some bystanders. Before loading up your assault weapons, making suspiciously large purchases of plant food and diesel oil, or enrolling … Continue reading A Memo to the next Murdering Dorner
My Dream of Liberty Encased
I have cinematic dreams that I watch as a little sleeping movie critic. I'm sure you're familiar with this weird state of consciousness. You know you're asleep and dreaming; the dream is unfolding around you, but part of your mind, the part that knows you're dreaming, is aware and watching. It's busy taking notes, making snide … Continue reading My Dream of Liberty Encased
Argentina or Australia
We're planning a major trip for the fourth quarter of 2013. It's been over a decade since my wife and I last sojourned beyond North America so this year we're going to spend a few dollars, before the Obama economy reduces them to useless paper, and see more of the world. Two countries have long … Continue reading Argentina or Australia
2012 Blog Robot Review
The WordPress.com robots gave us an amusing end of year blog attaboy. Here's an excerpt: 600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 11,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 18 years to get that … Continue reading 2012 Blog Robot Review
Books to Ignore
My superpower is indifference. Indifference is the soporific that lets my inner beast nap in peace. Without it I would have long since turned into a murdering psychopath, but I remain calm, rational, nearly ethereal, as I proudly ignore the unhinged idiocy of my fellow human beings. I prize my detachment, my don't-give-a-shit-ness, my lordly … Continue reading Books to Ignore
Let’s Trade Constitutional Amendments
I'm a big fan of stark choices. Stark choices push trivialities aside, expose underlying problems and bring hidden motivations to light. There is nothing more satisfying than watching well nursed notions self-destruct when reduced to stark choices. Here's a stark choice our corrupt ruling class will never put on ballots, or discuss, or dare mention. … Continue reading Let’s Trade Constitutional Amendments
