"This was the voice of moderation until 13 Sept, 2025"
by dr ngo! I'm just reading Giles Milton, Nathaniel's Nutmeg - which actually is about a mariner named Nathaniel (Courthope) and his search for nutmeg – and came across this wonderful sentence: One of the more popular books [of 16th century England] was Andrew Borde's Dyetary of Health, a guide to good living which earned the … Read more
by russell From the dreaded public media organ of the socialist nanny state: a modest proposal here is what I like about it: it's simple it allocates social costs to the folks who generate them it raises revenue (yes, it is of course a tax) it employs a power (the power to tax) that is … Read more
–by Sebastian The Supreme Court got it right on DOMA. DOMA involved the federal government trampling all over one of the traditional areas of state power–definition of marriage. I'm also thrilled to have gay marriage in my home state of California. I believe that is the best ultimate policy result, and should I ever … Read more
by Doctor Science As I write, Texas State Senator Wendy Davis has been talking for more than 7 hours and has less than 4 more to go, in her filibuster to block passage of an omnibus abortion bill. Video livestream and countdown clock here. Texas Senate rules are strict, and Davis is required to stay … Read more
by Ugh Prosecutors are sort of a strange duck in the lawyer world, as they are not charged by the ABA model rules with putting client interests – i.e., the government – first. The ABA rule on "special responsibilities" of prosecutors is here, and the comment to the rule is here. The model rule … Read more
by dr ngo My previous reflections were not intended as a full-scale political/intellectual autobiography, but a prelude to broader questions. What in life changes and what doesn't, taking into account the variations – the “swings and roundabouts” – that accompany both tendencies? Each dynamic, I came to realize, is unique, idiosyncratic. There are no Universal … Read more
by liberal japonicus An Illinois Republican official resigned Thursday, after writing a vicious attack on a biracial, female congressional candidate–calling her the “love child” of the Democratic National Committee, destined to work for “some law firm that needs to meet their quota for minority hires.” The target was Erika Harold, a former Miss America and … Read more
by Doctor Science Last Saturday I went up to New York City to meet some fans I’ve known online for years. After dinner, we all went to the new movie of Much Ado About Nothing. The movie was put together by Joss Whedon basically to reboot his brain between filming and post-production on The Avengers. … Read more
by russell Human genes cannot be patented say the Supremes. Unanimously. OK, so maybe we're not totally screwed. That is all.
by Doctor Science It was this kind of Monday here in New Jersey: Hiroshige, Two men on a sloping road in the rain, from Eight views of Kanazawa. Rainy and cold, cold and *really* rainy. It reminds me of my theory (need I say it is mine?) about the connection between Starbucks and the African … Read more