[NOTE: The following is a re-edited and updated version of a post that has appeared previously on this blog.] Unbelievable that it’s been eight years since commenter FredHJr died suddenly and tragically. As time passes, the number of readers here … Continue reading →
Please explain this NY Post article to me: A “Breatharian” mom and dad of two have barely eaten for nine years as they live off “the universe’s energy.” Husband and wife Akahi Ricardo and Camila Castello believe that food and … Continue reading →
Until a reader alerted me, I hadn’t realized that one of my favorite movies of all time—one I’ve written quite a few posts about—had been turned into a musical. My gut reaction was that it must be a bad idea. … Continue reading →
Yesterday I wrote a post titled “A modern slave” about an article in the Atlantic. I had two articles on the subject open on my browser at the same time; not only were on the same subject, but they looked … Continue reading →
This morning commenter “Yankee” wrote: “Mr. Trump is both smarter and more honest than his critics think he is.” And commenter “Bill” responded: More honest? He’s one of the most transparently dishonest politicians I’ve ever been exposed to. It doesn’t … Continue reading →
The world seems to be abuzz about
Continue reading →Last month I got William Shirer’s The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich out of the library. I had actually read it many moons ago, when I was a teenager. But “read” is a bit of a euphemism. It … Continue reading →
I try to follow the general outlines of the current theories of theoretical physics, but it goes without saying that I don’t understand the math, and that I miss a lot of the details. So although I’d never even heard … Continue reading →
Did you ever have to try to reform or redesign a real-world program? When I was in law school, I took a course that focused on the welfare system. We were assigned to read reams of papers detailing all the … Continue reading →
Actress Cate Blanchett wants us to know something about her: When talking about her upcoming Broadway debut with “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, Blanchett discussed how the play is relevant for audiences today. “It’s all about as you move forward … Continue reading →
I found the following quote from Thomas Hobbes in a Powerline post discussing the curious fact that so many renowned philosophers over the years have gotten entranced with tyrannical forms of government. It’s worth reading the whole thing, but here’s … Continue reading →
Obsession may be a necessary but not sufficient requirement for success in the arts (and perhaps even elsewhere). I know quite a few people who later became famous—some a little famous, some more famous. Having known these people in childhood … Continue reading →