Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
Like California: Lawmakers narrowly approved the bill to repeal part of a law enacted during the Red Scare of the 1940s and '50s when fear that communists were trying to infiltrate and overthrow the U.S. government was rampant. The bill now goes to the Senate. To tell the truth, a real Communist would be an …
Continue reading "Ending a Ban on Communists in Government is an Improvement in Some Places"
It's that time of year when most people who graduate from anything actually do it. And graduation brings up more the most important issue: where do I go from here? Really, if you've waited until graduation to answer that question, you're in serious trouble. If you're reading this long before graduation, perhaps it will save …
Continue reading "Advice to Graduates: Consider the Brusilov Option"
Harvard tries to shake things up in its music curriculum: University curricular reform doesn’t typical ignite fiery internet controversy. But last month, when The Harvard Crimson reported on the adoption of a new undergraduate curriculum at Harvard, the classical music corner of the internet—composers, performers, theorists, musicologists – briefly erupted in intense discussion. The college’s …
Continue reading "Harvard's Music Curriculum Changes: Another Attempt to Sidetrack the Asians?"
In the wake his victory, Turkey's President Recep Erdogan does something distinctly Ottoman: As he stood before the tomb of Selim I, Erdogan gazed upon the caliph’s caftan and gently touched it. Would the garment become his, and more importantly, would he inherit the powers of the conquering Turkish caliph? This custom, which finds application …
Continue reading "Erdogan: Touching the Sultan's Garment is Still a Big Deal"
The Chinese present an interesting take on the upcoming meeting at Mar-a-Lago: Susan Thornton, acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said this was a chance for the two leaders to get to know one another. "We want them to establish a good working relationship, so they can, in times of …
Continue reading "Xi and Trump "Getting to Know" Meeting a Good Idea"
It's not just the Republicans any more, as is obvious in the current Democrat plans to filibuster Neil Gorsuch: "Not only is the base there, but the politics of the moment demand it. Democrats are looking for members to take a stand," said Democratic strategist Jim Manley, a former top aide to Harry Reid, who …
Continue reading "Obsession with "Principles" Spreads Across the Aisle"
Literally, it has gone up significantly since joining the undemocratic, Procrustean experiment: “Sweden’s alcohol policy is more liberal than 25 years ago, and consumption is 20-25 per cent higher than before we joined the EU.” And this, mind you, with all the tee-totaling Muslim immigrants... I saw this in action because Finland also has serious …
One of Donald Trump's promises to the Evangelical community--and one which he's gotten much enthusiasm about in return--is his promise to repeal the so-called "Johnson Amendment," the provision in the tax code which prohibits 503(c)3 tax-exempt organisations--and that includes churches--from explicitly endorsing candidates for public office. I say "explicitly" because churches on both sides of …
Continue reading "The Perils of Repealing the Johnson Amendment"
It's next to impossible to get anyone in this country to face up to it, but Zero Hedge has done it: As for Iran, the CIA admits that the U.S. overthrew the moderate, suit-and-tie-wearing, Democratically-elected prime minister of Iran in 1953. He was overthrown because he had nationalized Iran’s oil, which had previously been controlled …
That's what Snapchat's offering to the world: Investors are furious at Snap’s decision to deny them a say in running the company when the owner of message app Snapchat launches one of the US’s largest tech initial public offerings. A dozen of the US’s biggest pension funds have sent a letter of objection to Snap, …
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