Month: October 2016

by Doctor Science The second weekend in October I went down to Philadelphia with a bunch of other NJ Clinton volunteers to do Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) canvassing. PA, of course, is a “battleground” state, and NJ is not. We don’t even have a Senate seat up this year. It turns out I’m not a cost-effective canvasser … Read more

by Ugh OMG, you mean people are taking you srsly? Many of the schools across America that house polling booths will not be open on Election Day for the first time after parents raised fears over violence. And what's a little harmless hanging in effigy and heads on pikes between friends, no? An effigy depicting … Read more

by wj Wonkie suggested “an open thread where we share stuff we do (besides obsess about politics), because I’m pretty sure this is an accomplished group of folks who do all kinds of interesting things.” So why not? (Well, I suppose there might be an argument for waiting until after the elections, so we will … Read more

by russell actually, it's a research project on US economic competitiveness at Harvard. what they say is: the biggest impediment to US economic growth and vitality is government dysfunction. an interesting piece.

by wj Because it’s important to keep track of what is really important in life. And the Cubs are going to the World Series for the first time since before I was born. Not only that, they did it with the first time a team has faced the minimum number of opposing hitters (27) in … Read more

by Ugh Fnck it, let's do this thing.  I'm looking forward to a substantive discussion of Trump's tax reform plan and Hillary's infrastructure spending proposal.  My guess is that Hillary may have the upper hand in the discussion because she better understands the basics of american civic institutions in general and the operations of the federal … Read more

by liberal japonicus I'm really busy, so with little ado, a thread for your thoughts on and favorite lyrics by the newest Nobel laureate (note to self: when exactly does someone become a Nobel Laureate? Is Sartre a Laureate even though he turned down the prize?). A link or two, and you're on your own…

by wj (Just because who knows where things will go tonight?) It has occurred to me. Baring divine intervention (or demonic intervention; take your pick) it’s pretty obvious by now how this election will turn out. Only two questions remain: – What will happen down-ballot? (AKA How big will it be?) – How does the … Read more

by Doctor Science Hurricane Matthew is nearing Florida. I really hope everyone who lives on Florida’s Atlantic-side barrier islands has evacuated. I don’t know if any of the regulars here are in the strike zone, but my best web-design client is an antique store in West Palm Beach. I really hope they got their stock … Read more

by Ugh It seems the NSA has another leaky contractor on its hands, as the WaPo reports.  This may be the person responsible for the hacking tools that appeared online in August getting there.  Like Snowden, this person works for contractor Booz Allen, Hamilton, which one would think might cause the NSA to ask who these … Read more