Month: February 2012

I’m a bit skeptical, especially as to exactly how this accident (an electronic cigarette apparently exploded in a man’s face) might have happened. But I noticed that the e-cigarette does use a lithium ion battery. They certainly can explode, and they have in occasional cellphones and laptops (although 43 fires in 60 million laptops seems like…

Earlier I read the libertarian case for Santorum (by John Samples, Director of Cato’s Center for Representative Government): One recent poll has the former senator running even with Obama, but most polls have shown a decided gap of about eight points between the incumbent and Santorum. Right now the latter is not well-known to most…

We hear so much these days about the problems with American education. Take this comment about the relative states of South Korean and American education. The South Koreans are educating more scientists and engineers per capita. It has been obvious since the launching of Sputnik that science and technology are the keys to national wealth.…

While I haven’t followed Rick Santorum as closely as I probably should have, via Glenn Reynolds I found a lovely remark he made about libertarians which displeased Neal Boortz big time: “I am not a libertarian, and I fight very strongly against libertarian influence within the Republican Party and the conservative movement. I don’t think the…

Finally, I earned something! I was awarded the above Certificate of Achievement, suitable for framing. And you can get one too! All you need to do is answer a simple 20 question test that Virginia Postrel linked in her very amusing “Can You Pass the ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ Test” article. The idea is to to determine…

Jeff Id at The Air Vent is discussing his politics and how it can contaminate his objectivity. And he waxes philosophical about the human need for challenge and how it shapes his political views. The post is not very long but it is very deep. Jeff looks at how the desire by some for greater…

I promised Joshua of Post Libertarian almost a month ago that I would post this. As you can tell I’m rather far behind. You have no idea the complications you can run into in a circuit with less than 20 parts. Magnetic components will do that to you. In any case here are Joshua’s views:…

I believe I have posted this song before. I’m doing it again because I really like the visuals in this version. And my thanks to Sarah for my promotion to music editor at CV. Heh.

While I don’t have all day to study it in detail, I found this Atlantic article (“How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy“) deeply absorbing. A scientist has spent many years researching the psychological effects of human infection by the common protozoal agent Toxoplasma gondii, transmitted primarily by the house cat. He claims to have studied…

Via Glenn Reynolds (who properly warns not to take counsel of your fears), I was drawn one of the most thoughtful — if fearfully depressing — analyses of the Republican plight that I have seen. Here’s John Hinderaker: Nevertheless, if you are a Republican, the vibes are very bad. The presidential primary season has turned into…

In response to Eric’s post about winning elections commenter Richard had this to say (among other things): I am an conservative, not a Republican. If the Republicans advance the cause, I am with them. If not, I am not. America can probably survive another 4 years of a socialist government. To which I responded: Richard,…

Last night, I asked what I thought was a rhetorical question. The goal is beating Obama, right? Just thought I’d ask. Several commenters replied that the goal is not beating Obama, so I guess my question was not as rhetorical as I thought. If the goal is not beating Obama, despite the fact that the…

Why is it that the only choices offered to GOP primary voters are Establishment RINO types, ridiculous social conservatives, or ridiculous libertarians? Commenting on Rick Santorum’s “victories” in three “primaries,” Bill Quick (via Stacy McCain) said this: What you see here, though, isn’t a giant boom for what Santorum is pushing, especially the socon stuff, which…

As someone who doesn’t like government telling people what to do, I am not especially enamored with the 9th Circuit Court ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.  I didn’t like Prop 8, but I think ordinary voters at the state level ought to have a right to make up their minds about these things. I…

I am hardly a fan of Ann Coulter, as most longtime readers realize. But every once in a while, I have felt obligated to defend her, and this is one of those times. In an American Spectator broadside, Coulter is being accused of having been “castrated.” Her offense? Saying that Mitt Romney is the best candidate…

While I’m probably not the first person to make this observation, I have noticed something about YouTube that utterly fascinates me as a student of history. To put it bluntly, it’s a bloody freak show! Medical disorders (from severe obesity to Hurler’s disease, Progeria, and serious infantile diseases) and  are being exhibited for eager gawkers,…

I’m in too much of a hurry right now to be a responsible blogger and write something that might require thought. But I learned about an amazing Ron Paul video that is making me see him in an entirely new way. Enjoy! The process is infectious, and has spread to the other candidates. Except Gingrich,…

So said the Philadelphia District Attorney in refusing to press hate crime charges in a well publicized case. THREE JUVENILES accused of assaulting a cabdriver and his passenger in Center City Saturday night while shouting racial slurs will not be charged with a hate crime, the District Attorney’s Office said yesterday. The teens, who are…