Category Archives: humanities

numerology

In today’s paper, a rare coin minted in New England. Bonhams expects their sixpence to sell for around $33,200 to $41,500. Those numbers struck me as a bit fishy; a bit of juggling, and I conjecture that the pound is … Continue reading

Posted in history | Leave a comment

neurochemistry update

Two weeks after dropping my newest drug habit, I’ve had no occasion to regret doing so.

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

spot the monster

Führer or Faker? Sixteen snaps of the creep of the century – or is he? [Link updated 2006]

Posted in history | Leave a comment

dismal liberty

“Occasional Discourse on the Negro Question“, source of the phrase ‘dismal science’. . . . with regard to the West Indies, it may be laid down as a principle, which no eloquence . . . can invalidate or hide, except for a short time … Continue reading

Posted in economics, history | Leave a comment

Herbert Spencer

Roderick Long defends Herbert Spencer: So what common ground could there be between Spencer and the eugenicists? Both, to be sure, were “Social Darwinists,” if that means that both thought there were important sociopolitical lessons to be drawn from evolutionary … Continue reading

Posted in history, politics | Leave a comment

my clutter is functional, dammit!

I’m surprised to find that I haven’t linked this before: The Social Life of Paper by Malcolm Gladwell This idea that paper facilitates a highly specialized cognitive and social process is a far cry from the way we have historically … Continue reading

Posted in psychology, technology | Leave a comment

beautiful plumage

Public service announcement: I keep reading that “the Norwegian Blue prefers keeping on its back,” which makes a tortured sort of sense; but the word in the script is kipping which means sleeping. Hope this helps.

Posted in arts, language | Leave a comment