Monthly Archives: February 2002

it’s all derivative

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

LotR: same old thing?

Posted in arts | Leave a comment

precision ≠ accuracy

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

Go get ’em! The LP responds to the notorious infamous “if you buy dope you’re supporting terrorism” spot with this newspaper advertisement. (Thanks to Ananda, who credits Declan McCullagh.) Pet peeve nº 17000: false precision. When you write “boosts . . . … Continue reading →

Posted in drugwar, mathematics | 1 Comment

Mr Lincoln’s war

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

What made 1861 such a hot topic in the blogs of late? Douglas Turnbull wrote: So yes, there may be a Constitutional case for a state’s right to secede from the Union, but the Southern states did not secede just … Continue reading →

Posted in history, politics | Leave a comment

the uvular fricative is written Z in English

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

My housemate was talking to a physician this morning (didn’t say why) and mentioned my snoring. The physician imitated the sound of sleep apnea, and it sounded (I’m told) exactly like a noise that I make. She suggested I have … Continue reading →

Posted in language, me!me!me! | 1 Comment

hi, werewolves!

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

xearth is among my favorite toys. I set it to look down from the Moon; right now the Earth is completely black, which means the Moon is full.

Posted in neep-neep | 3 Comments

there’s always been a lottery

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

Office lottery in ancient Athens. In short, the lottery – and the great Iron Age pachinko machine that was its finest expression and most powerful tool – made the first democracy what it was. Together, the system and its technology … Continue reading →

Posted in constitution, history | Leave a comment

nothing new under the sun

Posted on Tuesday, 2002 February 26 by Anton

I thought the “. . . Not!” construction was new when Wayne & Garth used it, but here it is in the mouth of Archie Goodwin: “We know she didn’t kill her husband. Either you thought she had and probably still do, or … Continue reading →

Posted in language, prose | Leave a comment