And it’s not the first: Baracktrema obamai isn’t just any parasite. It’s so distinctive that it represents not just a new species but an entirely new genus… B. obamai is a flatworm that infects black marsh turtles and southeast Asian … Continue reading →
Recently something reminded me of a book I had first read back in the 1980s, one I would recommend to everyone. It’s called Hasidic Tales of the Holocaust, and it’s quite different from most Holocaust literature: An important work of … Continue reading →
…asks Michael Barone. His explanation relies heavily on voter turnout models that might favor Republicans this year because of lack of enthusiasm for Hillary in the Democratic camp, as well as Trump’s recent more presidential presentation of self. I can … Continue reading →
Recently a commenter used the phrase “cloud cuckoo land” to refer to something outlandish in the political realm. I’d heard the phrase before, and always had thought it was of relatively recent vintage—sort of like “la-la land” or “tinfoil hats.” … Continue reading →
I often see people claiming that one advantage of Trump is that Congress would have no hesitation to impeach him if he oversteps. (As so often happens, they’re probably using “impeach” to mean “impeach and convict,” but let’s not be … Continue reading →
It’s such a corny joke, but such a good one. I never tire of these things, and it’s because Sellers delivers the lines with such outraged dignity:
Continue reading →This will either charm or horrify you. Maybe both:
Continue reading →Donald Trump gave an interview yesterday: In an exclusive sit down with ABC News’ David Muir, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said that people don’t care about whether he should release his taxes, while Gov. Mike Pence argued that the … Continue reading →
The comments section here offers food for thought, and lots of it. So here’s a post based on a few comments and my reaction to them. (1) “The Other Chuck” wrote of all the GOP presidential candidates in 2016: “It’s … Continue reading →
Labor Day is a three-day-weekend, but today is the actual Labor Day. What are you going to do? I’ve got a $25 credit at a store that expires after today, and it’s burning a hole in my pocket. So I’m … Continue reading →
Oh, why rehash the bitter disputes that led us to where we are right now in September of 2016? Sometimes I think it’s impossible—or at least highly unlikely—for people to learn from their errors, or even pay attention to them. … Continue reading →
Every now and then I lose something and can’t find it, or it takes me a long time to find it. My favorite earring fell off in my car, and seemed to completely disappear. Several years later I found it … Continue reading →