Madoff: more evidence…
…that if it seems too good to be true, maybe it is too good to be true.
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The night without artificial light
The ice storm that hit most of New England and some of New York last week is long gone. In most places, the shimmering coat that covered everything for a day has melted, and the downed branches and power lines … Continue reading →
Mind change on climate change?
This is interesting. And here’s something related. It’s from a year ago, when a number of previously convinced scientists were having doubts about the proof that global warming is generated by human activity. That number seems to have increased since—and … Continue reading →
Snowflakes: no two alike?
Want to photograph snowflakes? The approach of winter makes it seem an attractive proposition. If so—and if you can follow these incredibly complex instructions—no doubt you’ll be rewarded with some wonderful photos. And if you can, no doubt you are … Continue reading →
Valerie and Cecilia and…
Ah, those bad girls, Valerie and Cecilia. They remind me a bit of each other. First we have Valerie: Now Cecilia (I looked for a live version, but the few on You Tube were really bad, so I settled for … Continue reading →
Gun control and Mumbai
Remember the discussion (here and here) about the ineffective cops who confronted the very effective terrorists in Mumbai? Not only were the terrorists probably well aware of the lack of training and poor equipment of the Mumbai forces. It seems … Continue reading →
Mother nature, frosty in tooth and claw
Posting will be delayed today due to widespread ice-generated power outages all over New England, including my home. It’s spotty though—I’m at a nearby friend’s house right now, and it’s a little oasis of power. I probably will do some … Continue reading →
More on “Midnight Run”
After mentioning the film “Midnight Run” in yesterday’s post—and searching You Tube for relevant videos—I started wondering what it is about that movie that I like so very much. After all, it features the f-word very prominently, and it’s an … Continue reading →
What is it about Illinois?
USA Today is eager to point out that Illinois is not the state with the highest number of elected officials convicted of corruption per capita. That dubious honor goes to North Dakota, with Alaska and Louisiana not far behind. Of … Continue reading →
Blagojevich: what the wire reveals
At this point we can safely say that Governor Blagojevich of Illinois is outrageously corrupt in an almost-comic book—or textbook, if you prefer—sort of way. The proof is in the wire. It’s not a case of “he said, she said.” … Continue reading →
Book groups: ah, the complexity!
If you want to have a reason for refusing to join a book group, just read this article to discover how petty and strange people can be. Confession: I am a member of a book group. An all-female one, as … Continue reading →
Art imitates life—and death
Is the wildly successful avant garde artist Damien Hirst (about whom I wrote here, and who specializes in works that feature dead animals) finally feeling the pinch of the economic downturn? Well, at the very least, his employees are. He … Continue reading →