Winter’s Haven

Bryan Caplan on Democratic Fundamentalism and The Baby Business.
A very cute way to make students pay attention: “it is my intention to work into each of my lectures … one lie”.
John Timmer wants to know Why is the news media comfortable with lying about science?
Violinist Joshua Bell plays the DC Metro. Or, rather, he did [...]

Via Ophelia Benson, I found a news article titled South Sudan: Women Perpetuate Culture of Submission, which is mostly self-explanatory but still very much worth reading. I am reminded of what Alex Tabarrok said about Ayn Rand:

it’s no accident that Hillary Clinton was once an avid Randian (recall her political career started with Barry Goldwater) [...]

Or something like that.
Insect eats time:

[Video: 36 Pop songs, but only 4 chords..]

…and time eats insects.

In a post at Meteuphoric, Katja Grace explains why the notion of (non-deterministic) free will is just incoherent nonsense. I wholly concur.
I’d like to further point out that her argument does not depend on a materialist theory of mind. Buying into dualism doesn’t help make free will the least bit more tenable. The question of [...]

How to fail Philosophy 310, Metaphysics
Swimmer Michael Phelps is observed smoking marijuana. He apologized, but I like Radley Balko’s response better. I think this is the most beautiful rant I’ve ever seen.
A molecular-level view of speciation. (The post title, “Why Can’t Mules Breed?” conveys the spirit of the research, but it actually examines thale cress [...]

Steven Johnson has a fascinating article up on BoingBoing about how much better video games are for kids than the idiotically random kid’s games of previous generations.
There’s probably something deep to be said about this, but all I can think about right now is planning a Candyland themepark/casino. Fun for the whole family!
Hat tip [...]

I am most amused by the recent introduction of “100% Cranberry Juice” to grocery store shelves. It is, of course, no such thing. Cranberries are very sour, and drinking pure cranberry juice is about as popular as drinking pure lemon juice.
The fine print reveals these products to be 100% fruit juice, most of which is [...]

Rathergood wishes you a merry Communist Christmas!
Virginia Postrel writes about the psychology of bubbles.
And lastly, researchers read images off your visual cortex using MRI.

Kerry Howley sold her ova for IVF. In an illuminating post,
she explains that

my emotional response does not seem to conform to the acceptable cultural script. Reporters call and ask “How painful was it?” and “Do you regret it now?” It wasn’t painful, I reply, I’m quite happy to have had the experience. Awkward silence.

She [...]

This news item, on felons buying gun hunting licenses in Wisconsin is amusing (disconcerting, but amusing) for several reasons, not the least of which is this comment:
…if you haven’t tried “Spotted Cow” you’re missing one of the best beers brewed in the nation. I’m sure it goes great with feloniously acquired turkey.
Sounds delicious.