LaurieB

Even though the current discussion and others in the past that have been outside of my wheelhouse, I find value in reading as a lurker because inevitably I learn at least a few new things. This particular topic […]

  From WEIT:   Steve’s response: From: Pinker, StevenThu 1/9/2020 10:32 AM Thanks for posting about the interview. I’m in favor, on the record, of some degree of affirmative action — no policy is absolut […]

Michael 100 I remember the book being more about how to reason rather than about any particular political orientation. I definitely agree. Perhaps Pinker would be more inclined to discuss affirmative action […]

Strato It seems Steven Pinker is unfavourable toward ‘affirmative action,’ the policy and program of reduced fees to candidates from low socio-economic backgrounds to Ivy League universities. Did you come acr […]

Strato, Wrangham is an interesting character. I’ve seen him speak at Harvard and read the book The Goodness Paradox which I thoroughly enjoyed.  His other book, Catching Fire was also a great read. You’ve gott […]

Strato, DeSantis is a piece of work for sure. He has a substantial following and definitely uses the Woke movement and everything they stand for to gain ground politically.  He is not an outlier. He has […]

Michael, (you cured me of that bad habit several years ago when you correctly nailed me for saying something that was completely opposite to the available data), Well, I certainly don’t remember that […]

Strato He criticises affirmative action as a policy and philosophy, allocating a proportional number of placements to socio-economically disadvantaged applicants I don’t read every word uttered by Pinker but I’m […]

Michael 100 I think I remember you mentioning that you read Jerry Coyne’s website – Why Evolution is True. Did you catch the latest post there?  Harvard starts new faculty council to promote academic […]

Sean,

Sometimes the law steps in to impose restrictions on our behavior. We have laws that require us to wear seatbelts for our own good, laws that prevent us from beating other adults, children and animals too. […]

Michael

About the only thing I remember from my elementary and high school history classes about the fall of the Roman Empire was that the City of Rome was sacked by a band of barbarians — as though it h […]

Cairsley
An interesting situation. Thanks for the background info.

Michael

 keep in mind though, Meacham reported it as a rumor rather than a fact.   

If that rumor happens to be true then I’ll have some disappointing news for the entire family. A large section of the ge […]

Michael
Nothing remarkable about Nancy Hanks in my genealogy. It only lists her as wife of Thomas.

Michael

Although I don’t know a lot about Meacham, I was, and still am, under the impression that he is a respected historian.

How very strange! I’ve seen Meacham in respectable circles on TV in interesting d […]

 
 
For your viewing pleasure, consider that even in the face of substantial challenges to our species (and others), some day, from who knows where, a very mediocre specimen of humanity will emerge and lead us t […]

Marco #165
An excellent summary.  I couldn’t have said it better!
 

Aroundtown
Right now the dollar is strong against the Euro. If it’s in the budget, what about spending a month in Portugal or Spain? Morocco? Not sure about the S. American currencies but maybe do the same thing […]

Michael
I agree. When I read books that are outside of my academic domain I am satisfied when at the end of them I realize that I’ve managed to advance my knowledge to some degree.  From time to time I do revisit […]

Dec 13, 2022 at 8:58 pm
Michael 100 says:

I admit I don’t understand the issue very well,

It’s ok. I understand nothing in those books you are reading! ha