London Riots
On August 4, a police officer from a gun crime unit was shot, returned fire, and killed Mark Duggan who was armed with a replica pistol converted to fire live ammunition. Mark was a taxi driver,...
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He Sees Dead People
matrygg came out to London to visit for a month, and to do work on his PhD in medieval textual analysis. It was really cool to see him, particularly in London where he's like that kid from "Sixth...
View ArticleBART, Charles Blair Hill, and The Reese's Defense
In high school I considered myself quite clever for inventing "The Reeses' Defense". Since the famous TV commercial claimed that "There's no wrong way to eat a Reese's", I reasoned that if you robbed a...
View ArticleI get to be a centrist again
One of the reasons why I left American Conservatives, and then America, is because conservatives were getting hijacked by insanity. I can't say it any better than Fareed Zakaria did. Conservatism used...
View ArticleActually, you *can* prove a negative.
A lot of people say "you can't prove a negative", which I think is wrong. You can prove a negative. What you can't do is prevent other people from employing the fallacy of special pleading against an...
View ArticleThe American Worker
I frequently hear that the US has closed its factories or moved them to China and "doesn't make anything anymore". This is not true. Depending on which numbers you pick, The United States makes about...
View ArticlePeaceful Protestors
Every time someone says the word "peaceful protestor" I feel like they're missing a major point. Protestors are nonviolent, and nonviolent protestors are obviously better than the other kind, and...
View ArticleSantarchy Asia 2011 is Go!
This year's Santarchy itinerary is looking to be pretty crazy.Siggraph Asia will in Hong Kong the week before, from December 12-15. I've never been to Hong Kong or to China, and it's more or less in...
View ArticleHistorically Accurate Thanksgiving
I was watching an episode of QI today which provided a Stephen Fry/British angle on Thanksgiving.Our image of the Puritans - steeple hat, black clothing, buckles on the shoes - is based on the 19th...
View ArticleNDAA in the House
I'm pissed about sections 1021 and 1022 of the NDAA. Extrajudicial detention has been a pet issue of mine for a long time. It's bad if George Bush does it, and it's bad if Obama does it. But who...
View ArticleNDAA in the Senate
My brother commented on yesterday's post, pointing out that I'm only telling half the story. After the NDAA was passed from the House to the Senate, more provisions were added including the one...
View ArticleGalaxy Nexus
I've owned every Google developer phone from the first Google G1 to the Nexus One to last year's Nexus S. On the day the Nexus Prime went on sale, I bought one, and this is what I think about it.I've...
View ArticleUsing Tor inside China
I spent a week of my winter vacation in China - 5 days in Hong Kong (which doesn't really count) and 3 days in Guangzhou, beyond the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Some people go on vacation to relax...
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The Placebo "Effect" vs "Meaning Response"
I was talking with a friend this weekend about the placebo effect, vaguely remembering a few articles or podcasts claiming that it was greatly exaggerated or did not actually exist. I didn't remember...
View ArticleConstitutionality cases are unconstitutional
I was listening to a podcast this evening featuring three lawyers. They ended up discussing originalism, original intent, and the "where in the constitution does it say..." argument. They pointed out...
View ArticleYakety Sax poll
View Poll: Yakety SaxBackground: This poll is actually the result of a brief Twitter exchange with @hungry_joe. While both may be true to some extent, I've intentionally constrained the survey with...
View ArticlePost-Post-Apocalyptic Film
Sometimes, old films will make a big deal out of something that that was a big deal back in its day, like interracial couples. Modern films sometimes feature interracial couples but they're no longer a...
View ArticleBeyond Mitt's Underwear: Part 1: Apostasy and Restoration
Mitt Romney is sewing up the nomination for President. Mormons are excited about the first modern Mormon candidate. (Joseph Smith announced his candidacy for President of the United States in January...
View ArticleBeyond Mitt's Underwear: Part 2: The Scriptures
Mormon Scriptures are the various books which have the authority and power of the Holy Ghost. The King James Bible is considered authoritative, although Joseph Smith also “translated” his own version...
View ArticleBeyond Mitt's Underwear: Part 3: The Preexistence, Creation, and Plan for...
Father in Heaven (Elohiem) and His wives live near the star called Kolob on a pair of magic stones. They were once mortal humans just like we are and have retained their physical bodies of flesh and...
View ArticleBeyond Mitt's Underwear: Part 4: Ordinances
The rituals and practices that Smith restored are called ordinances. Saving ordinances such as full immersion baptism and receiving the holy spirit are required prerequisites for exaltation, eternal...
View ArticleBeyond Mitt's Underwear: Part 5: Temple Recommend and Splinter Groups
The Temple RecommendDay-to-day religious practice is well summarised by the Temple Recommend. Card-carrying Mormons literally carry a physical card which is required to enter Mormon Temples. To...
View ArticleBeyond Mitt's Underwear: Part 6: My Thoughts
(I've tried to keep the rest of this overview relatively fact-based and editorial-free. In this last section I'm summarizing my personal thoughts and opinions.)Joseph Smith was an intelligent religious...
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Vote NO on CA Prop 37: Mandatory GMO Food Labeling
California Prop 37 is on the ballot for this November. I'm concerned that I'm writing this too late - some of you may have already filled out your early voter / absentee ballots. For the rest of you I...
View ArticleThe Virginia Declaration of Rights
I learned something interesting today. The Bill of Rights (1789) was based heavily on the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776). The Second Amendment was derived from this section: Section 13. That a...
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