Category Archives: Society

So This is How the Zombie Apocalypse Starts

The good news is that it starts in Russia. According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, a mosquito managed to live 18 months clinging to the outside of the International Space Station, without any food, being bombarded by radiation … Continue reading

Posted in Chris' Page, Humor, science, Society | 2 Comments

What Does It Take for a Police Officer To Get Fired?

Radley Balko compares two police officer firings and finds that it’s pretty hard for an officer to get fired, unless they go easy on marijuana users.The first officer kind of reminds me of Alaskan State Trooper Mike Wooten from Sarah … Continue reading

Posted in Chris' Page, Libertarianism, Society | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Day Without Pay Unpopular

Looks like the “Day Without a Gay” civil rights protest intended to send a message to the country about the importance of gay employees and consumers…had no effect whatsoever. Thus the congenitally counterproductive leadership of the gay rights movement can … Continue reading

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Morality of the Bailout

In a Q&A session at the University of the Pacific in October, Dinesh D’Souza was asked about the moral dimensions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. I don’t agree entirely with the causality he posits exists between irresponsible consumer behavior … Continue reading

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An Encounter With Political Sexism

How many children does John McCain have? It’s seven including adoptions, but very few seem to know that. Easier question: how many children does Sarah Palin have? Five and I bet you knew that instantly. Welcome to sexism says liberal … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Risk and Reward

Many of us, when we hear the phrase “risk and reward” think of Wall Street.  Or business in general. But in reality, “risk and reward” affect us throughout our lives. Our parents take a risk when they conceive us.  They … Continue reading

Posted in Law, Libertarianism, Media, Peg's Page, Philosophy, regulation, Society | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When Families Fail

Because of my background in working with emotionally disturbed, learning disabled, and generally abused kids, I am often to drawn to stories about the results of extreme neglect of children. I saw some awfully hard cases with some of the … Continue reading

Posted in Law, Libertarianism, MichaelW's Page, regulation, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

ASHC is Alan Finch Central

Alan Finch, Helen Finch, Alan Finch the Revenge Looking over our logs, it’s incredible how much global traffic we get from people searching for information on Alan Finch (August’s #1 ASHC keyword and a top-30 quantity since February). Perhaps a … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Damn

For the last six months or so, one of the first things I did upon coming into work on Sunday mornings was to check Randy Pausch’s update page. Randy Pausch, if you will remember, achieved worldwide notoriety last fall when … Continue reading

Posted in Peter's Page, Society | Tagged | 1 Comment

Boundary Issues

Peg pointed me this way, and I really enjoyed nodding in agreement. Of course, I have long nodded in agreement with Megan. Especially on these: 2) Gay marriage. I’m basically pro, but I take the Burkean arguments seriously. 3) Immigration. … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Health Care, Lance's Page, Libertarianism, Society | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Hated Become the Hateful

Jesse Helms has died today. And I have lost track of the number of gay friends who have written me congratulatory or celebratory emails and IMs. It really is terrible—yes, the man opposed our right to an equal stake in … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Josh's Page, Society | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Amazing New MPG Breakthrough!!!

Yes, after extensive research I can now offer to the public an almost guaranteed way of decreasing the amount of gas used in a week. While YMMV (Your Millage May Vary) I saw a 13% increase this past week using … Continue reading

Posted in Keith's Page, Society, Technology | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Chicks Are Cool, ‘Long As They Know Their Place

Only in America’s Army: KHOST, Afghanistan — Pfc. Monica Brown cracked open the door of her Humvee outside a remote village in eastern Afghanistan to the pop of bullets shot by Taliban fighters. But instead of taking cover, the 18-year-old … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Military Matters, Society | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Search for Truth About 9/11 Leads to Beating Up Handicapped Girl

German “Gary” Talis of the 9/11 “Truth” organization “We Are Change” beat up a wheel chair bound girl with cerebral palsy yesterday. His compatriots also got into an argument with Secret Service after trying to verbally assault Laura and Jenna … Continue reading

Posted in Chris' Page, Domestic Politics, Society | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Get Over It!

Justice Antonin Scalia will appear on 60 Minutes this coming weekend. A preview of what he has to say is here. “I say nonsense,” Scalia responds to Stahl’s observation that people say the Supreme Court’s decision in Gore v. Bush … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Law, Peg's Page, Society | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Try Legal Weed

No, not that. We’re talking Weed Beer. I’m talking about a beer made in the city of Weed, California. A local brewer there has named his beer after the small town. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms however, wasn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Chris' Page, regulation, Society | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s wrong with Iraq War Movies?

I’m often guilty of seeing connections between things that others seem to think make no sense at all. So bear with me and then tell me what you think. The New York Times review of “Stop-Loss” explains the failure of … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Military Matters, Society, Synova's Page | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

End Human Slavery

One organization I send a lot of money to is the International Justice Mission. They are dedicated to ending human trafficking and exploitation through a novel approach: unlike the typical NGO scream (think Human Rights Watch), they build cases against … Continue reading

Posted in Society | 2 Comments

William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008)

I remember him most for his debates on the Firing Line in the 70′s. His style, full of respect and grace are what I’ll remember him by. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTE4NGRlOGM1NmYxYjdmNjk1MjliOTE2MTYxOWZkZjc= I’m devastated to report that our dear friend, mentor, leader, and founder … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, History, Keith's Page, Society | Tagged | 3 Comments

One Life to Give

Private jets.  Multiple mansions.  Designer clothes and vehicles.  Dazzling jewelry.  Generally, these are the hallmarks of the uber-wealthy. For one man, however, something beyond the glittering materialism of this world matters.  What is it?  Giving. Read about a remarkable man … Continue reading

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Am I anti-Intellectual or…

…am I just not impressed by YOU? Jules Crittenden responds to a column by Susan Jacoby The Dumbing of America. She concludes… It is past time for a serious national discussion about whether, as a nation, we truly value intellect … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Education, Society, Synova's Page, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Freedom can’t exist without trusting the untrustworthy

This is an extension of the commentary from this post from MichaelW. Have you heard the truism that a person is smart, but people are dumb? On the one hand it’s profoundly true. On the other hand we fail to … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Libertarianism, Society, Synova's Page | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Where’s The Youth?

The current dust-up over the Cuban-Che flag (flags?) hanging in the Houston campaign office for Barack Obama (opened by supporters, with actual staffers intended to occupy by next week), has spawned some interesting commentary. Captain Ed advised: Oh, my. Barack … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Domestic Politics, Election 2008, MichaelW's Page, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Perhaps we’re turning into Victorians

Or: What I Learned About the World from Reading Historical Romances. I learned that sometimes people get *more* uptight over time rather than less. Victorians, according to custom and any number of novels, were concerned with propriety above all. Certain … Continue reading

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I Approve This Message

(Originally posted at What if?) From the moment I purchased “Managing Your Money” software many years ago, I realized that Andrew Tobias is a very smart and very amusing fellow. Later, I discovered that Andy is also warm, friendly and … Continue reading

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Home & Land Defense

There’s a moment in Mark Steyn’s book America Alone, where he relates the truism that we’ve all experienced conversations with a mild-mannered, educated and seemingly rational person from the Arab world, where quite unexpectedly they say something nutty in the … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Firearms, Lee's Page, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Muhammad-pedia Controversy

After their success getting the Muhammad cartoons banned, some Muslims have now set their sights on wikipedia. Recently a large group of Muslims have started an email campaign asking wikipedia to remove their images of their holy prophet Muhammad, even … Continue reading

Posted in Chris' Page, Media, Religion and theology, Society, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Good Intentions; Frightening Results

  This morning, I read a column from the Wall Street Journal about race. Just when we thought we’d heard everything from the diversity police, here they come trying to prescribe even the color of charity. The California Assembly last … Continue reading

Posted in Eugenics, Law, Peg's Page, Race, Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

You Get What You Pay For

  (Cross posted at What if?) Did Rudy lose because the purportedly “ruthless” candidate was too nice? Most critical in the closing days of the contest, when he desperately needed to reinsert himself into the narrative, was Giuliani’s inexplicable refusal … Continue reading

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People are People

Are you a liberal who foams at the mouth about the immorality of big business?  Are you a conservative who rails about giving ten cents to government employees who will waste it or steal it? Turns out you are all … Continue reading

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“First They Came for the Gays”

  (Cross posted at What if?) My liberal friends think I’m a conservative. My conservative friends think I’m a liberal. Frankly – there is truth in the assessment of both groups. Depending upon the issue, you can honestly label me … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Foreign affairs, Peg's Page, Religion and theology, Society | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

This is truly disturbing-Updated

youwalkaway.com I really have little to add to my declaration of extreme discomfort. Much more on this here.

Posted in Economics, Society | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Education and Socialization

All four of my children have been homeschooled, and one of the complaints about homeschooling that irritates me the most, is that it is socially damaging. My children have various social strengths and weaknesses, just as kids I knew in … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Education, Lance's Page, Society | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Take Two

Earlier in the day, you might have been wondering how much of your assets might melt away, as markets around the world gyrated with perceived increasingly negative news. Later, on political blogs everywhere, reports that Fred Thompson was ending a … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008, Health Care, Media, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Parade of Fools

Behold the band of idiots. JENA, La. (Jan. 21) – The residents of this central Louisiana town, who watched their community turn into a battleground over the “Jena Six,” will watch out-of-towners doing most of the marching on the birthday … Continue reading

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3rd Party Startup

Bill Quick has an interesting discussion over at the American Conservative Party, on what such a party might look like. Says Bill: My gut feeling is that the traditionally American conservative viewpoint has been constitutional in nature, has tended toward … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Keith's Page, Society | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Nigerian Virgins Wanted

(photo: enric/baldiri) Nigerian magazine editor Madam Adunni Adediran, is appalled by the decline of traditional moral conduct in her country. In particular she’s concerned about rampant promiscuity and abortions among young women. To combat the trends she’s helped organize a … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign affairs, Lee's Page, social science, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perfunction Awakens the Mighty King of Trolls

The other day Perfunction posted David Duke’s political advice for the Ron Paul campaign. The noxious white nationalist’s recommendations being essentially that while Paul was great, he needs to be just a wee bit more, you know, anti-Semitic. Anyway, it … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Humor, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Fighting the Mafia with Social Networking

In a bottom-up rebellion in Sicily, a group of Palermo youths have started a social networking site called Addiopizzo, which provides public attention and mutual support for Sicilian businesses which publicly refuse to pay the mafia “protection” money. Evidently it’s … Continue reading

Posted in Around the Web, Foreign affairs, Society, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Constant Viewer has resurfaced

One of my favorite bloggers has resurfaced, and I am hurt, hurt, hurt that D. A. Ridgely didn’t let his fans (okay, me) know to where he had disappeared. He is now blogging at Positive Liberty, and the blogosphere has … Continue reading

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The paradox of choice

An interesting TED talk on how to many choices are making us miserable. I’ve been seeing more and more people referring to these talks. Everyone I’ve sat through has been interesting in some way.

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“XMas” Origins

Jon Henke posts an interesting history lesson concerning the origins of the well-known abbreviation for Christmas: Growing up, I sometimes heard – in church and from various religious scolds – that XMas was a secular attempt to “take Christ out … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, History, MichaelW's Page, Religion and theology, Society | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

We’re All Teen Girls Now

“Teen pregnancy can happen to everybody.” Bill Albert, Deputy Director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, commenting on the recent revelation that 16 y.o. Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. I’m guessing that I don’t need to … Continue reading

Posted in Media, MichaelW's Page, Society | 3 Comments

Happy Repeal Day!

For information on Repeal Day you can visit www.repealday.org: The turn of the twentieth century was a dark time in America. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union, which had been promoting Prohibition for many years, believed alcohol was the cause of … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, History, Lance's Page, Law, Libertarianism, Society | 2 Comments

Feminism vs Multiculturalism – UPDATED

The radicals over at N.O.W. continue to be in a pickle over their support or at least their inaction over a case where one set of values conflicts with another set of values. How can you defend womens rights, and … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Foreign affairs, Keith's Page, Society | 2 Comments

Slippery Slope

I guess “man bites dog” is just too normal nowadays: NEW DELHI – A man in southern India married a female dog in a traditional Hindu ceremony as an attempt to atone for stoning two other dogs to death — … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign affairs, Humor, MichaelW's Page, Religion and theology, Society | Leave a comment

Cracked Toys

Hat Tip: Tyler Please run through this list of baffling toys. Please leave responses. People who understand Japan are especially encouraged to leave comments. I need to understand the fascination with poop. This is a practice stripper poll, that was … Continue reading

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Oh, To Be a Fat Cat

The New York Times has a nice piece on the latest health research on the impact of weight on health. Of course, like most nutrition and weight related research we should approach it with some caution as John Tierney has … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Health Care, Lance's Page, social science, Society | 1 Comment

It Must Be So

Bono says it is, so it must be so… http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/11/07/2007-11-07_clear_and_present_danger.html “There is an imminent threat,” says Bono. “It’s real and grave. It is as serious a threat as Stalinism and National Socialism. Let’s not pretend it isn’t.” Exactly. Be afraid. … Continue reading

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Rich People Prefer Democrats

Or, at least, that’s what the data says: In a surprising development, the Financial Times reports that the Democratic Party – traditionally the party of minorities and the lower classes – has become the party of the rich. More and … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, MichaelW's Page, Society | 1 Comment