So, this weekend it came to light (in a rather dramatic fashion) that some folks think “colored” is a racial slur. Not just problematic, but an actual slur whose use warrants expelling a panelist from a professional conference. That’s gonna…
Still Going: The Energizer Pandemic
Even if you follow the news, you might be forgiven for thinking that the SARS-COV-2 pandemic was largely in the past. You’d be wrong, of course. It is still very much with us, and has been growing steadily since (shortly…
Abortion: Ignoring The Real Problem
Abortion’s legality is not a problem that should be addressed directly; there is an underlying problem that should to be solved instead. At what point does a new human come into existence? For any of you who aren’t familiar with…
Fix Tha’ Police: 3 Small Tweaks And 2 Big Ones
The core problem with policing in the United States is that the police have developed their own internal culture and a very strong bunker mentality. They really do view the rest of us as an unruly mob that could become…
Just Too Much: We’re Gonna Have to Invade Russia
Putin’s ambition of re-conquering all the domains of the Imperial and Soviet Russias appears to have run up against a truly immovable resistance. That’s good; his project is abominable. But even before the recent pictures from Bucha made soft-pedaling the…
Defend Ukraine: But That’s Not Defending Freedom
I’m on-record as thinking we should be doing far more to defend Ukraine from the Russian invasion. See, for example, the previous post: Ukraine: Standing With Or Just Standing Behind. But not under the banner of “defending freedom”. Because by…
Ukraine: Standing With Or Just Standing Behind
“I Stand With Ukraine” is quite a popular phrase at the moment. But, for the most part, it’s a pretty hollow expression. It’s basically a show of approval, and certainly there’s a lot to approve of in how the people…
Background: You Don’t Owe Past Generations Anything
The past has no rights that the future is bound to respect. They had their time, and now it’s gone. Every year, new people are born and old people die. And when you die, your rights die with you. And…
My Way: Calls For “Unity” Are Inherently Autocratic
This focus on “unity” and “divisiveness” is flat-out unhealthy for a democracy and really needs to stop. “Unity” just means “you all should do what I want”. What else could it mean? The person calling for unity is never offering…
Endemic Failure: Rapid COVID Tests Don’t Work Very Well
The cornerstone of any “endemic COVID” concept, including California’s newly-announced not-yet-a-plan, will have to be testing. Lots and lots of testing. And more effective testing than we’ve managed to do so far. For example, the local school district runs weekly…