Category Archives: Politics and Economics

Reading du Jour: An Interview with Musa al-Gharbi

Posted on May 6, 2018 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Excellent stuff from Columbia U. sociologist Musa al-Gharbi. Why were social scientists so baffled by Trump’s victory? Did people who voted for Trump have any rational reasons for doing so? What might be done about the left/lib bubble … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | 2 Comments

Biology

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Paleo Retiree

Geoffrey Miller, author of the excellent “The Mating Mind,” is an amazingly provocative and smart Tweeter.

Posted in Politics and Economics, Science, Sex, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Chappaquiddick and PR

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Speaking of Chappaquiddick, as we are all about to do– Here is a Boston Globe interview with Ted Kennedy on the subject of Chappaquiddick.  It ran in July 1979–the tenth anniversary of the event. The summer of 1979 … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Politics and Economics | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Jefferson on Judicial Review

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: You seem … to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy. Our judges are as honest … Continue reading →

Posted in Law, Politics and Economics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Law is a “Propaganda Weapon,” Says Former Supreme Court Justice

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: In today’s New York Times editorial page, former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens calls for the repeal of the Second Amendment. In doing so, he attacks the majority decision in DC v. Heller written by Scalia: … Continue reading →

Posted in Law, Politics and Economics | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Note to M—, on Brooksie

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Dear M—–, You and I have an ongoing dialogue going over David “Brooksie” Brooks.  I was once a fan, especially on his culture stuff.  Even second-rate Tom Wolfe can be excellent, and Brooks often was.  And he can … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

David Fuller’s “A Glitch in the Matrix”

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: This isn’t the dazzling Chris Marker/Erroll Morris/Adam Curtis doc about the present moment that we might dream of, but it’s admirable and thoughtful anyway. David Fuller, a British video journalist turned life coach, uses Cathy Newman’s recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Personal reflections, Philosophy and Religion, Politics and Economics, Science, Technology | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Guns Again

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Fenster

Fenster writes: In The Nation, Katha Pollitt suggests that in a new generation the NRA may have finally met its match.  Could be.  A spate of recent polls indicate a spike in support for some kind of action.  If those … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Zero Days and Russian Meddling

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Fenster

Fenster writes: If you haven’t seen Alex Gibney’s excellent 2016 documentary Zero Days you should.  If you have you will recall it recounts good, bad and ugly aspects of cyberwarfare as practiced by America on others, and the risks of … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Wonton Speculation

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Citizenship increasingly resembles a night at the movies.  Better yet, an obscure foreign art film without subtitles.  Better yet, a foreign miniseries with multiple plot lines and seasons, each uncertain climax leading us not to clarity but to … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments