2013 archive
Tan Lines 0
Republicans in Maine have forestalled an attempt to ban persons under 18 from tanning salons because parental freedom.
Under that reasoning, I should have been free to give my kids plastic bags and tell them to go play in the street.
David Farmer also disapproves. A nugget:
In fact, nearly 80 percent of salons said that indoor tanning is beneficial to health, and some said it would prevent cancer.
At least one salon said: “It’s got to be safe, or else they wouldn’t let us do it.”
We shouldn’t let them do it.
The science is shocking.
A study released last fall by the University of California-San Francisco estimated that indoor tanning is responsible for more than 170,000 new cases of skin cancer a year just in the United States.
Ricin Beans (Updated) 0
Read Dick Destiny about the latest ricin scare. He knows whereof he speaks.
A nugget:
And no terror weapon has ever been made with it.
But, really now, facts are not nearly so much fun as fear-mongering if you want to sell papers and website hits or build an overarching surveillance empire.
Addendum, Later That Same Day:
Dick Destiny explains the chemisty.
Texting while Gouging 0
In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Kevin Carey marvels at the magic of the text-book publishing industry, as nice a scam as anyone has yet devised. A nugget:
Back in the olden days, that figure would have been my textbook budget for two semesters–and I studied history, sociology, and other book-intensive subjects.
Read the rest and learn part of the reason that students a drowning in debt.
No Speculation, Reprise 0
I have been glancing at the news from time to time throughout the day. I see more details about what happened in Boston yesterday, but no hint of who or to what end.
Others are dwelling on what happened. I shall not, for they say it better (or worse) than I.
Accordingly, “no speculation” continues in force.
Light Bloggery 0
Editing a podcast that I’ve been preparing for off and on for a couple of months.
PTA 0
That is, Packing Teachers’ Association: Michael Feldman imagines the faculty meeting in the new age of faculty with heat.
15-2, 15-4, and a Pair . . . 0
From the How about a Little Good News Dept.
In St. Pete, Margaret Austin is teaching cribbage to kids at the Northside Boys and Girls Club. She needs cribbage boards.
My father loved cribbage–in fact, he loved card games of all types, except for the ones that required betting to be fun (try playing poker without betting something–can’t do it). I remember playing cribbage with him, but it was so long ago that I’d have to read up on the rules before I could play again.
No Speculation 0
Regarding the Boston bombings, what Stephen D. said.
And I’m certainly not going to subject myself to a bunch of talking heads on television playing “what if.”
Endless War 0
In an article about Sunday’s stupid op-ed in the New York Times, Steven M. buries this nugget.
He’s quite correct, you know.
Twits on Twitter 0
Redundant twits once more all over again.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Winning the race to politeness:
It shall not come as a surprise that a pick-up truck was involved.
Honest to Pete, you can’t make this stuff up.
If you did, no one would believe you.