Category Archives: history

anti-government extremists attack peacekeeping force

April 19 is the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, the “shot heard ’round the world”. It has been remarked that the political establishment takes little notice of the occasion. This, I suggest, is as it should be. How sad … Continue reading

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immunizing against immune response

Carol Moore passes along a column by Harvey Wasserman which contains this: Anti-Defamation League Director Abraham Foxman has played the holocaust card for the Republicans, saying “It is hideous, outrageous and offensive for Senator Byrd to suggest that the Republican … Continue reading

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secession, anyone?

Joe Sobran’s view of Lincoln is more charitable than that of (say) Neil Smith or Thomas DiLorenzo, not that that’s saying much, but he still calls the war a tragic blunder. Given the timing of that column (October 7), I … Continue reading

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QotD

Thomas Babington Macaulay, quoted in The Economist Oct.30 p.48 If men are to wait for liberty till they become good and wise in slavery, they may indeed wait forever.

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never enough

Saturday I bought yet another historical atlas: Muir’s (1927/52). I learn to my surprise that southern British Columbia was once called New Caledonia, and northern Manitoba (before 1912) was New South Wales. Why isn’t there a New North Wales or, … Continue reading

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Vishnu Integrating Analog Computer?

Mars has a crater named Vishniac. If you’re anything like me, you’re curious about the etymology of such a name: it doesn’t fit the spelling and morphology of any language that comes to mind. Ephraim Vishniac tells all.

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in a cool dark place

Saturday was Hayward’s hottest day this year, or so it seemed; so we went to a place where, for a fee, we could sit in coolth for a while. As a bonus, they showed us Hero (英雄), the most gorgeous … Continue reading

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