Zeitgeist

Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed – in such moments the stupid person even becomes critical – and when facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as incidental. In all this the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self satisfied and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.

-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If the Oil Companies say so...

Five major oil companies have admitted in federal court they accept mainstream consensus presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. What is there left to argue about??

Was the civil war about slavery?

Yes.

Placebo explained?

I've long secretly feared the effects of my own SSRI medication was nothing but placebo magic; and like magic, might mysteriously disappear one day in a puff disbelief. I didn't think about it too much, but it appears I'm safe for now, in the land of objective reality.

The bidirectional abilities of the body mind connection will continue astound and confound.

All acts of public violence (violence broadly on the public body[1]) have the same root causes -- the purported politics and manifestos are just window dressing; the ideological last straw.

Sad people without identity or purpose, lacking hope, but bearing a heavy grudge and a simmering rage. If you want to make it stop, you've got to address the root; and at the root are tough issues of social justice, economic development, and civic organism.

[1] school shootings, workplace shootings, baseball shootings, mass stabbings, concert bombings, church shootings, train knifings, etc.

It *wasn't* in

This is becoming something of a theme in the playoffs. It really was obviously a high stick.

Importing Crime

They're not sending us their murders; their rapists. If anything we get the best.

Post-factual World

The only thing more notable than watching a panel of people realize they don’t know whether or not something is true is watching a panel of people realize they don’t particularly care, because it feels true enough.

Flaccid Election

Vacuous Business Speak; Scourge of The Modern Professional

Not all of them are entirely terrible, but most are.