TCod is entering the presidential race. That should liven things up.
Category Archives: Social Commentary
The Racial Consequences
…of gun control. As he notes, unlike the early days when the laws were explicitly driven by racism and a desire to disempower law-abiding blacks, the current laws continue to have that effect if not intent.
Philistines
Why architects design such awful buildings. I think something similar goes on in the fashion industry. And if we don’t get how wonderful their creations are, there’s something wrong with us.
Lileks, call your office. I think that Tom Wolfe had something to say about this as well.
My Annual Vice
There is one time a year I eat too much (or any) candy, and it’s in October.
But it’s not Halloween. It’s at the International Symposium on Personal and Commercial Spaceflight, where they have candy bars and big bowls of M&Ms in the afternoon.
Are Most Women Bisexual?
I think another factor is that while men tend to compete on power and money, rather than looks, women primarily compete on appearance, so they have to be more naturally attuned to what makes women attractive. But I think that a lot of men are bis3xual, too. Anyone who really believes that sexuality is a “choice” has to be, logically, and it would explain the behavior of a lot of sailors and prisoners. But the only way I’d do it with a guy would be if I were raped.
Transhumanism
Is it coercive?
The World’s Greatest Philanthropist
…was Steve Jobs.
The part of the piece that most struck me was this:
A 2006 Wired article on Jobs, “Great Wealth Does Not Make a Great Man,” reported that even though his wealth was estimated at $3.3 billion, Jobs’s name did not appear on Giving USA’s list of gifts of $5 million or more for the previous four years, nor on another that list showing gifts of $1 million or more. (The article acknowledged that he could have been giving anonymously.)
The article took a cheap shot: “Jobs can’t even get behind causes that would seem to carry deep personal meaning…he is a cancer survivor. But unlike [Lance] Armstrong, Jobs has so far done little publicly to raise money or awareness for the disease.” It went on, “…he’s nothing more than a greedy capitalist who’s amassed an obscene fortune. It’s shameful…[Bill] Gates is much more deserving of Jobs’ rock star exaltation. In the same way, I admire Bono over Mick Jagger, and John Lennon over Elvis, because they spoke up about things bigger than their own celebrity.” Yes, but in part their own celebrity was connected to the things they spoke up about.
Emphasis mine.
Really? Is there an adult on the planet, or at least in this country, who is unaware of cancer? Really? Does their awareness really need to be raised? Will the elevation of their “awareness” somehow magically result in less cancer?
This kind of “journalism” isn’t just stupid, it is insipid.
Signs Of Decline
You know your city has become a hellhole when…
The End Of Servants
The world has changed.
I know that if I were rich, I wouldn’t want them. I hate being waited on and like to do things for myself. It’s one of the reasons I don’t really enjoy dining out — I merely tolerate it.
There Will Be A Test Later
Lessons in achieving consensus.
I like the twinkles.