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Stone Age dentists
That’s not some sort of metaphor or epithet. Apparently, there really were Stone Age dentists: Neanderthals used stone drills to treat cavities almost 60,000 years ago in what is the earliest known evidence of dental treatment. The single molar, which … Continue reading →
Israel’s defamation lawsuit against the NY Times for publishing the Kristof piece
From Alan Dershowitz; very instructive: As I thought, he says the lawsuit won’t work in the US. One reason is that an entity like Israel can’t sue under US law; it has to be a person who was harmed. Plus, … Continue reading →
Steve Cohen of Tennessee’s 9th won’t be seeking re-election – plus, Virginia’s recent redistricting history
I confess I was unaware of Steve Cohen before a couple of days ago, despite the fact that he’s been representing Tennesse’s 9th district in the US House for 19 years. The 9th has been a majority-minority district, but now … Continue reading →
Open thread 5/16/2026
Why was the Harvey Weinstein jury hopelessly deadlocked in his third NYC sex crimes trial?
This is why. The accusation was that he had raped actress Jessica Mann in 2013. However: Mann, now 40, broke down several times during her painful testimony as she faced off against her abuser for the third time after a … Continue reading →
So, what went on between Trump and Xi during the China visit?
Hard to say exactly. Here are six points as the NY Post sees it: 1. Taiwan remains a flashpoint … 2. Xi shows willingness to help Trump on Iran [not with the war, but with keeping the Strait open] … … Continue reading →
How “journalism” works these days
This is a discussion of the Kristof piece in the Times, but it’s actually of more general value than that because it explains how modern journalism works – not just for the NY Times but for so many media outlets. … Continue reading →
Open thread 5/15/2026
It may not be the SAVE Act, but it’s something
Republicans got more serious in 2024 about trying to block the opportunity for fraud in the elections. This effort will be ramped up even further in 2026. At least, that’s the plan: Under former co-chairs Lara Trump and Michael Whatley, … Continue reading →
100 years of rape inversion
I know I’ve already written about the Kristof article and the report on the sexual crimes of Gazans on 10/7. But I want to highlight this article by Guy Goldstein, because it offers a great deal of relevant historical background … Continue reading →
AOC as a presidential candidate
I mentioned the other day that I think AOC’s candidacy for president is a distinct possibility for 2028 or 2032. I didn’t really explain why I say that, though, and so that’s what this post is about. AOC is on … Continue reading →