The limits of good vs. evil thinking

Take Climategate.  One response is: 1. “These people behaved dishonorably.  I will lower my trust in their opinions.” Another response, not entirely out of the ballpark, is: 2. “These people behaved dishonorably.  They must have thought this issue was really important, worth risking their scientific reputations for.  I will revise upward my estimate of the… Continue reading The limits of good vs. evil thinking

The Nation of Futurity

The Chinese now have lavish faith in their scientific and technological potential. Newsweek and Intel just reported the results of their Global Innovation Survey. Only 22 percent of the Chinese believe their country is an innovation leader now, but 63 percent are confident that their country will be the global technology leader within 30 years.… Continue reading The Nation of Futurity

Treasury Invites Bloggers to Round Table

Mr. Geithner, the Treasury secretary, was among the senior officials who talked with bloggers at an outreach session on Nov. 2. The two-hour round table was held on background, meaning that the bloggers could describe the sessions, but not attribute quotes to specific officials. Lengthy posts about financial system reforms — and the bloggers’ disagreements… Continue reading Treasury Invites Bloggers to Round Table

Will You Go To Jail If You Don’t Buy Health Insurance?

Will You Go To Jail If You Don’t Buy Health Insurance? No. Section 501 of the House bill imposes a tax of 2.5 percent of adjusted gross income. You are exempted from the tax if you already have qualifying health insurance from your employer, if you receive benefits from Medicare or Medicaid, if you are… Continue reading Will You Go To Jail If You Don’t Buy Health Insurance?

How Ayn Rand Became an American Icon

In her 70s Rand found herself dying of lung cancer, after insisting that her followers smoke because it symbolized “man’s victory over fire” and the studies showing it caused lung cancer were Communist propaganda. … Rand was broken by the Bolsheviks as a girl, and she never left their bootprint behind. She believed her philosophy… Continue reading How Ayn Rand Became an American Icon