Category Archives: Politics and Economics

Tyler Cowen on Free Speech, Trump-style

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Trump has said he will issue an executive order requiring higher education institutions to play by free speech rules or else lose federal research dollars. While the details are unknown and who knows if he will do it … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | 2 Comments

More Good News on Asset Forfeiture

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Fenster

Fenster writes: State and local police in many jurisdictions regularly seize property in the course of their duties. Sometimes property is seized in the context of a conviction–for instance the taking of a car from a person convicted of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | 1 Comment

Wither the Yellow Vests?

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Fenster

Fenster writes: The American press has had a herky-jerk relationship with the Yellow Vests. The media avoided much mention of the protests when they first occurred, presumably banking on them fading away quickly. Then, when it became apparent that coverage … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged diana johnstone, Yellow Vests | 4 Comments

Pinkerian Pollyannism?

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Here in the Wall Street Journal we find more cheery optimism about the world. This could all be true. It could possibly just be Pinkerian Pollyannism. Or perhaps it is both. As with disease, poverty is being eradicated … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged greg ips, Steven Pinker | Leave a comment

Notes on “Roma”

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: In “Roma,” writer-director Alfonso Cuarón rationalizes chic aesthetic loop-the-loops by pretending to social consciousness. The movie concerns an indigenous maid who serves a white Mexican family. Though critics have compared it to Italian Neorealism, its canned … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers, Politics and Economics | Tagged Alfonso Cuaron, Film, Mexico, movies, Roma, Yalitza Aparicio | 1 Comment

Front Porch Republic on the Yellow Vests

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Fenster

Fenster writes: It is hard enough getting the big picture right in your own life, your own family, your own community. When asked to consider what is happening on very large tapestries we face serious problems. Kahneman’s System 2 reasoning … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged Front Porch Republic, Yellow Vests | 1 Comment

Sailer and Taleb

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Steve Sailer is not being mainstreamed but seems no longer to be taboo. Charles Murray–suspect in some quarters but respected nonetheless–refers to him regularly and fairly on Twitter. Murray: PolySci & sociology grad students, looking for a dissertation … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged Charles Murray, Sailer, taleb | 2 Comments

Notes on “The Minds of Men”

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Aaron and Melissa Dykes, who operate under the name Truthstream Media, are Alex Jones expats (they seem to regret the affiliation) who make videos about government cover-ups, conspiracy lore, and the like; they’re like Mulder and … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Politics and Economics, Science | Tagged Aaron Dykes, documentaries, Film, Melissa Dykes, movies, Truthstream Media | Leave a comment

“We desperately need our own version of the First Amendment”

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Fenster

Fenster writes: You may have read about the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision a few days ago which “upheld a conviction against an Austrian woman who called the Islamic prophet Muhammed a ‘pedophile.’”