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Category Archives: Politics
Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics
According to that unimpeachable source, Wikipedia, Mark Twain popularized the saying in Chapters from My Autobiography, published in the North American Review in 1906. “Figures often beguile me particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Politics
Tagged An Upper-Middle-Class Crisis, Bloomberg Businessweek, equality, Income Inequality, Incomes, Mark Glassman
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The Untrammeled Right of Free Speech
Is the United States of America an exceptional nation? I believe so for a number of critically important reasons. When I heard a recent immigrant from England asked this question, I listened with curious anticipation for his answer. After an extended … Continue reading
Posted in Human Behavior, Musings, Politics
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Young vs. Old and Other Artificial Dichotomies
In my most recent post, I admitted to being old, conservative, and educated. Labels! Why do I associate myself with such terms, and what do they mean? What age is old? What does it mean to be a conservative? How … Continue reading
Posted in Human Nutrition, Musings, Politics
Tagged Conservative, Gallup, Liberal, Moderate, Stereotyping
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On Being Old, Conservative, and Formally Educated
Does the Earth revolve around the Sun and who thinks it does? Who believes that astrology is a scientific discipline? Professor of Law and Director of the Demography of Diversity Project at Northwestern University, James Lindgren, JD, PhD., explored these questions in his analysis … Continue reading
Posted in Astronomy, Musings, Politics
Tagged Conservative, Education, James Lindgren, NSF, Science
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The Debate is Settled
Bets get settled, debates are won or lost, and facts can be stubborn things. Science, on the other hand, helps us to better understand or to become enlightened by learning something new. Are we ever finished learning? Do we ever know everything? … Continue reading
Posted in Climate Science, Politics
Tagged carbon dioxide, Climate Change, global warming, President, SOTU
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About Oceans
Fear is a strong motivator. We’re wired that way. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is justified in his fear of rising sea levels and he wants to do something about it. Last June he received the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s (NMSF) Leadership Award … Continue reading
Choose Your Battles
It was my grandmother who often offered this wise advice. Unfortunately, advice is easily offered, but not so easily followed. When emotions hijack us, we’re in no mood for thoughtful consideration. Yesterday, the United States Senate Committee on Environment and … Continue reading
On the Closing of Parks and Bridge Lanes
What is unexpected about this photograph? It’s Yosemite National Park on a pleasant Sunday afternoon in the fall, but that is not unusual. It is a beautiful scene, one enjoyed by millions of visitors each year, but that is neither … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Musings, Politics
Tagged confirmation bias, Dysfunctional Government, Media Bias
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Don’t Be Deceived
We can be so easily fooled by an illusion or by what someone tells us. It happens all the time. in the photograph at the right, it appears that I’m leaning on a large cactus, which would not be wise in most circumstances. … Continue reading
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On Being Human and Biased
Last I checked, all newspaper, radio, Internet, and television reporters are human. The same holds true for commentators, bloggers, editors, publishers, photographers, videographers, and the guy or gal that delivers your paper. Being human, they have world views, attitudes, passions, slants, frustrations, … Continue reading →