This is insanity.
It’s not a justice system, it’s an injustice system. This kind of thing is where we could really use jury nullification.
Category Archives: Social Commentary
Shaving Cream
Liberate yourself, gentlemen.
I haven’t used the stuff since the last man walked on the moon.
Scientists And Philosophers
Why they need to talk to each other:
Most of climate science is in ‘shut up and calculate’ mode. This is a very dangerous place to be given the substantial uncertainties, ignorance and areas of disagreement, not to mention the problems/failures of climate models. Climate science needs reflection on the fundamental assumptions, re-interpretations, and deeper thinking. How to reason about the complex climate system, and its uncertainties, is not at all straightforward. And then of course there are the ethical issues, including understanding how the climate debate has gone so badly wrong.
Yes.
Six Californias
This Time piece seems to be all ad-hominem snark, and no content. Nowhere in it does he explain why breaking California up would be a bad idea. He also seems to lack a sense of irony. He seems to be one of those fools who thinks that libertarians are going to “run your life” by leaving you alone.
What Is A Scientist?
An interesting history, and some reflections, from Judith Curry.
On The 45th Apollo Anniversary
…author says too few people are dying in space.
Engineering And English Majors
It’s a revealing chart, though some of the liberal arts types might not understand it.
“Post-Empirical Science”
Yes, yes it is.
Libertarianism
What it isn’t:
…journalists cover complex things they don’t know about all the time, and this is usually okay because they research and talk to people who do know about it.
Unless, of course, they’re writing about libertarians.
Not only do you not have to know the first thing about libertarianism to cover it for major news outlets, it is perfectly fine to a) decline to ask anybody who does know, b) make up your own version of what it is, and then c) lament the terribleness of this terrible philosophy or people you have just created. Cases in point: approximately every 10th article published by Salon, this piece by Damon Linker at The Week.
A lot of people seem to have difficulty with the concept of liberty.
If You Oppose Administration Policies
…you just might be racist.
My response:
Not saying main driver of administration policies is socialism, race baiting and class warfare, but those are elements, Attorney General.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) July 14, 2014
[Update Tuesday morning]
The nation’s chief law-enforcement officer is trying to spark racial hatred:
For most, this is a joke. The meme that the bipartisan notion of “taking the country back” is somehow racist was long ago debunked. As the brief history lesson above demonstrates, however, no one is listening to this nonsense beyond the cult of true believers. Those for who racism is a religion – ubiquitous and unfalsifiable – nod in agreement at Holder’s self-aggrandizement. All others roll their eyes.
It is natural and right to be incensed over the attorney general’s statement here, but a 30,000 foot view suggests there is even more reason to take heart in his remarks. Only those liberals [sic] Democrats the party desperately needs to turn out in the fall are inspired by this rhetoric; that desperate need is met with increasingly desperate tactics. A glance at the polls suggests it will not be successful.
Let’s hope.
[Update a few minutes later]
The real problem isn’t racial animus, but Eric Holder’s animus toward his critics.
[Bumped]