Cultural evolution

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Veterans Day

Schulz from November 11, 1998 (via TCW)

Weekend reading

Michael Totten at World Affairs: No Exit: Why the US Can't Leave the Middle East.

New York magazine has an extract from Double Down the new book from Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.

Wrath of the Multiculturalists: Tommy Robinson and the End of the EDL at Jacobinism.

Dig A Pony

Mbox

Norman Geras RIP

I am deeply saddened to learn today of the death of Norman Geras, Professor Emeritus of Politics at the University of Manchester and author of Normblog.

I was a big fan of Norm's writing and, in the days when I was blogging regularly, I frequently linked to his posts at Normblog.

The world is made poorer by his passing. He will be greatly missed.

Max Dunbar has a tribute to Norm cross-posted at Harry's Place.

Nothing to see here

What? Blogging again? Me? Why ever would you think such a thing?

Disappointed in Portland

Yesterday, driving back from the shops, I turned on the radio to find Socialist Workers Party member Richard Seymour and Darcus Howe talking claptrap about the UK riots on OPB.

I didn't travel 5,000 miles for this!

Top presidents

So, I asked the Big Fella for his three favorite U.S. presidents. He's sixteen now and already knows a lot more about American political and economic history than I do, which makes having political conversations with him somewhat daunting.

Anyway, these are his picks:

1. Grover Cleveland
2. Calvin Coolidge
3. Warren G Harding

Not the kind of list you'd expect from your average teenager!

Religious freedom

Followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster rejoice!

From the Telegraph: Austria recognizes the right of a Pastafarian to wear a pasta strainer on his head for his driving licence photo.

Pinker animated

An RSAnimate of Steven Pinker talking about some of the ideas in his book "The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature".

Tuesday roundabout

At CIF: Omid Djalili on the plight of the Bahá'í in Iran.

At Harry's Place: Flaming Fairy on the UK's Equalities and Human Rights Commission's seeming preference for religious rights over gay rights.

According to calculations at Bad Astronomy, it's been a Neptunian year since the planet was discovered.

Did I miss Talk Like A Pirate Day? Ms Baroque was in bucaneering mode Saturday and Sunday.

And finally,

T-shirt of the day at Sense of Events.

Symbiosis

When I saw this at xkcd, I knew a post about it at Language Log would soon follow.

Down in Dingle

Lisa Hannigan at Dick Mack's pub.

Saturday roundabout

James Lileks takes a look at representations of 1950s suburbia.

Neo-neocon revisits some of John Updike's non-fiction.

Language Log: writing "going to" for "gonna".

Lee Goldberg at the WSJ pays tribute to Peter Falk's Columbo.

And finally,

Lionel likes it! Poliwood reviews "Bridesmaids".

Poetry corner

I've only just come across this, so excuse me if it's old hat, but Taylor Mali has his own YouTube channel.

You'll find more than just Taylor Mali there, including: Sarah Kay, Rives and Marty McConnell.

Check it out! And while you're there, you might help Taylor Mali in his quest for a thousand teachers.

Right Wing Radio Duck

Boy, am I behind the times! I only just came across this inspired Disney/Glenn Beck mashup. [h/t The Wardman Wire]

Tuesday roundabout

Talking Turkey: Michael Totten interviews City Journal's Claire Berlinski.

Bad Astronomy features stunning time lapse images of the Milky Way.

Baroque in Hackney has a link-filled tribute to Gil Scott-Heron.

Impatience and Wisdom: Cobb just turned 50.

And finally,

Sciencepunk has a recipe for desserts that look like bacterial cultures.

Scratch & Dent Dreams

Eric Darby at the 2005 National Poetry Slam.

Doctrine! What doctrine?

From today's New York Times:

In laying out his justification for the American-led assault on Libya on Monday night, the president offered the most detailed portrait of when he might commit the country’s military might in a tumultuous world.

He would take action, he said, if vital national security interests were at stake. He would consider it if economic interests were threatened, or if there was a humanitarian crisis so deep it could not be ignored. But in those two instances, he would hesitate unless there was international participation, and the cost was not too high.

But these conditions seemed tailor made for Libya, and the president seemed to provide little guidance for what position he would take in other, more vital nations in the region[.]

The money quote (from David J. Rothkopf):

If there were ever a speech more dedicated to eliminating the idea of a doctrine, this was it.

Computer computer computer

I just got my computer back from the shop - that's the third time it's been in since I bought it a couple of weeks ago.

If you're looking to buy gum, Office Depot sells it. For anything else, I'd shop elsewhere.