When Tigers step on tigers

by Doctor Science On Wednesday, Texas Senator Ted Cruz put this up on his official Facebook page: The post received thousands of comments, most of them very negative, from Republicans as well as Democrats. I personally was particularly appalled because, like Cruz, I also am a Princeton alumn, and we tend to feel pretty protective … Read more

Memories and memorials

by liberal japonicus Whether it is nature or nurture or both, I am achronic. Don't know if that is a word, but within me, there seems no clock or calendar organizing my time, which is why I enjoy the doctor's posts about solstices, and holidays. As my wife and daughters will tell you, my memory … Read more

Gay marriage and Obama

by liberal japonicus Not quite an open thread, but definitely open thready (something coming up on Saturday, I promise). This NYT piece on the back stage events about Obama and gay marriage is fascinating. It is amazing to me the number of Republican stalwarts (Melhman, Olsen) that appear in this narrative. I suppose that if … Read more

Life is skittles and life is matzah

by Doctor Science (Obligatory Tom Lehrer reference) It’s that time of year again! Two male cardinals are working out a territory boundary in the back yard, we had windows open all night, daffodils are blooming their bloomin’ ‘eads off, and I’ve spent all day in the kitchen: A page from the Rylands Haggadah. If the … Read more

What we do for science open thread

by liberal japonicus A little early for yet another open thread? Not after you check this one out! Smith is a graduate student at Cornell University, who studies the behaviour and evolution of honeybees. In this line of work, stings are a common and inevitable hazard. “If you’re wearing shorts and doing bee work, a … Read more

Hopey Changey Open Thread

by Ugh Not sure if LJ was going to put one up, but talk about whatever.  New unemployment numbers, Final Four, the forthcoming release of a portion Senate Intelligence Committee report on the CIA torture jamboree, Letterman retiring, doing your taxes, etc.  I guess the new baseball season too, if you must.

Campaign Finance in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission

by Ugh SCOTUS released its latest Campaign Finance opinion today in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission.  The opinion can be found here, a short SCOTUS Blog analysis here, and more reportorial report here.  In short, the decision removes the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (as amended) restriction on the overall amount of money donor can … Read more