Author Archives: Anton

humanity sneezes with me

So it looks like the Chinese pneumonia may be the newest mutant of the common cold. Maybe a vaccine for the latter will emerge from efforts against the former.

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corpus inhabebile?

What’s a Latin term for someone to whom habeas corpus does not apply? Anyway, MoorishGirl reports that an Intel engineer, naturalized 14 years ago, is among the ‘disappeared’. Update: Aug 6: Mike pled guilty today to one count of his … Continue reading

Posted in constitution, security theater | Leave a comment

seek converts

Thanks to Dr Frank for citing this piece – “If you want peace, preach to the unconverted” – which more or less expresses my feelings about the street peaceniks. November update: The column itself is no longer available for free, … Continue reading

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another day

Damn — five weeks and still my knee is sore. Around 2pm today the clouds were curiously regular: all about the same size and shape, and all with flat bottoms. My companion and I thought simultaneously: “They’re Magritte clouds.” My … Continue reading

Posted in California, me!me!me! | Leave a comment

that symmetry guy

The eminent geometer HSM (Donald) Coxeter of Toronto died a few days ago, aged 96 years. His book Regular Polytopes (1963) sits on my reference shelf. For you non-mathematical types, it was Coxeter who sent MC Escher an article on … Continue reading

Posted in arts, mathematics | Leave a comment

my new drug habit

I’m now taking Wellbutrin @ four dollars a day. Full dose since Friday. Sleep slightly disturbed. My housemate says I’m less irritable. I’ve had just one depressive episode since I started on half-dose (the previous Friday); normal average would be … Continue reading

Posted in me!me!me!, medicine, psychology | 1 Comment

voodoo security

A year ago I griped to you about hassle at the Federal Building. I also wrote to the home office of US Marshals, as well as to the three relevant legislators:

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