In the last post of a series discussing the open carrying of firearms at protests (specifically, some recent health care town hall meetings), Megan McArdle makes the following observation: People carrying guns are acting like jerks. So are the liberals who have created a giant scary amalgam of a right-wing...

Brilliant execution.

The problems of our economy have occurred not as an outgrowth of laissez-faire, unbridled competition. They have occurred under the guidance of federal agencies, and under the umbrella of federal regulations. –Senator Ted Kennedy in 1978, defending the deregulation of the trucking industry (via...

This real time U.S. Debt Clock, as seen on Patrick Deneen’s blog, begs to be made into a widget.

Updating my previous story, yesterday the ELCA approved a new statement on human sexuality that seems to pave the way for allowing non-celibate gays and lesbians to become priests within the denomination. With exactly the 2/3 majority needed (676 yes to 338 no), the social statement passed, with Presiding...

I went to the State Fair on opening day, and I tried the deep fried pizza. More properly, it is the dough that is deep fried, in a disc, and then covered with marinara sauce and mozzarella. I can recommend that this is a tasty way to prepare dough, but it’s not at all as good as the name implies....

First contact between humans and extraterrestrial beings has long been a major theme in science fiction. District 9–a new film directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson–presents an unusual (perhaps even unique?) vision of the consequences of such contact. In the film, a large...

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United States’ largest Lutheran church body, is going to have a big week. At their 2009 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis this week, the denomination will take up the issue of ordaining non-celibate gay clergy, and possibly more. Back in February,...

With regards to the health care debate, it seems as usual the media is reporting the noise and scandal of the town hall protesters rather than the serious issues involved and any substantive problems with Obamacare. As such, if you had the opportunity to ask your Congressman one question at a health...

By which they mean, to protect and serve themselves.