-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Titus Anderson on The Nature of Faith
- グッチ 財布 on The Potion of Lao-Tsze
- Jackie Atwell on Proselytizing
- john doofus on What Makes People Become Suicide Bombers?
- External Battery Pack on In Defence of Group Selection
Categories
Archives
- May 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- June 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- November 2011
- October 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- March 2007
- October 2006
- September 2006
- July 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- September 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- December 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- July 2004
- February 2004
- September 2003
- June 2003
- May 2002
- February 2002
- November 2001
- September 2001
- April 2001
- February 2001
- January 2001
- December 2000
- October 2000
- September 2000
- August 2000
- July 2000
- June 2000
- May 2000
- March 2000
- February 2000
- January 2000
- December 1999
- November 1999
- August 1999
- July 1999
- June 1999
- April 1999
- March 1999
- December 1998
- November 1998
- May 1998
- April 1998
- February 1998
- November 1997
- October 1997
- July 1997
- April 1997
- March 1997
- August 1990
- January 1989
- November 1986
- July 1967
Links
War Clouds over Damascus
Yesterday’s reports of air strikes against Syrian military targets around Damascus signal a new and more active Israeli response to the Syrian civil war. We should be backing a UN Security Council action to negotiate a truce and establish a transitional government. Continue reading
Posted in Topical Issues
Leave a comment
Carbon Tax or Keystone XL, Why Not Both?
The greens want a carbon tax with no pipeline, the power moguls want a pipeline with no carbon tax, the country will be best served by a compromise involving both. Continue reading
Posted in Topical Issues
3 Comments
Honi Soit Qui Mali Pense
The report that DOD is considering establishing a base somewhere in the Western Sahara is disquieting even if it is just for managing reconaissance drones. Continue reading
Tuaregs and Arabs in Northern Mali
A sensible Western response to the Northern Mali problem is to bribe the Tuaregs to defect Continue reading
Fractal Physics and human evolution
Human social evolution and the physics of water? Poetry, maybe, science, maybe not… Continue reading
Posted in Topical Issues
Leave a comment
Happier New Year
We are capable of making 2013 a less unhappy year then 2012, if we want to. Continue reading
Posted in Progressive Humanism
2 Comments
Gun Control, A Different View
How can we head off future schoolside massacres by deranged students? It isn’t just by legislating more gun control. There’s a need for alertness and preventive action that can and must begin at home. Continue reading
Posted in Topical Issues
Leave a comment
Syria
Syria is a place where our idealism crashes on the hard rocks of sectarian reality. Supporting a gradual, phased evolution seems wisest. Continue reading
In Defence of Group Selection
How do human societies and social groups begin, grow, interact with each other, and eventually fade away? Would it be useful to have a global theory explaining this process, similar to the way Darwinian natural selection theory explains biological evolution? Continue reading
Persuasion versus Coercion
Persuasion is generally ok, coercion is not. Philanthropy can be a tricky business; the donor should try to see himself as the recipient sees him. The Komen case and a current spat with Egypt are cases in point. Continue reading
Advice for a Declining Superpower
We need to play the influence game more intelligently if our long term strategy is to succeed. More brains, less brawn. Continue reading
Reframing the debate
The Occupy Wall Street movement may have saved the country from a revolution, if it has persuaded enough voters that the important debate in this country is not about the deficit, it is about fairness. Continue reading
China and Australia, (Geopolitics Near and Far)
Obama has reaffirmed our strategic commitment to Australia. This should not by itself upset China too much. Meanwhile, think Antarctica. Continue reading
You Can’t Give Something to Nobody
If we want to stop being the world’s policeman, to whom do we turn over our badge? If we can get over our prejudice against the UN, it’s a logical choice. Continue reading
Posted in On the Lighter Side, Progressive Humanism, Topical Issues
Tagged Israel, National security, US foreign policy
2 Comments
Moral Implications for Differing Reproductive Strategies
In judging the value of an animal’s life, should we consider the reproductive strategy of its species? How about humans? Continue reading
Posted in Progressive Humanism
Tagged morality, reproductive strategies, value of a human life
1 Comment
Political Evolution and the Tea Party
If civilization is like climbing a mountain, the Tea Party types are suffering from altitude sickness. Continue reading
Posted in Progressive Humanism, Topical Issues
Tagged altitude sickness, cultural evolution, Tea Party
2 Comments
Deutschland Ueber Alles
German economic power within Europe shows the fruit of its work ethic but also has lessons for the USA in the present deficit crisis Continue reading
When Terrorists have Drones
When terroists get drones we shall face a truly vital challenge. Continue reading
Is Our Country in Trouble and What Do We Do About It?
The world is getting out of control, at least by us, and we need to cut back. While we still have the clout, we should refashion the UN to take over our role as world policeman. Continue reading
Difficult Choice
Obama faces a difficult choice, whether the US abstains or vetoes when the Palestine statehood issue comes to the UN Security Council in September. We should abstain. Continue reading