Monthly Archives: February 2011

When Imitation is NOT Flattering…

Posted on February 28, 2011 by ErgoOne

My undergraduate alma mater, Reed College, is struggling with an unusual problem.  A scammer in China thinks so well of the college that they created the University of Redwood out of whole cloth by repurposing much of the data and … Continue reading →

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The “Stalinist State” of the Modern UK?

Posted on February 27, 2011 by ErgoOne

Sunday the UK Telegraph posted a horrifying story about a single mother whose children were taken from her permanently, and who is barred under pain of imprisonment from approaching within 500 meters until they are eighteen years of age.  This … Continue reading →

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Why You Should Pay Attention at School

Posted on February 26, 2011 by ErgoOne

Below is an image of a page from the front of what I believe must have been a high school science textbook. I couldn’t possibly improve on it, so without further comment: NOTE: Sunday a reader emailed me the link … Continue reading →

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Serendipity: Discovery Launch as Seen from Airplane

Posted on February 26, 2011 by ErgoOne

This video is “trending” around the Internet, but I couldn’t resist showing it here.  Gorgeous!

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Calling a Thug a Thug

Posted on February 26, 2011 by ErgoOne

Eugene Volokh of the Volokh Conspiracy (a blog about the law, mostly inhabited by libertarian and conservative bloggers) today condemned a court ruling whose effect was to vindicate threats of violence by a group of thugs in Seattle against Seattle’s … Continue reading →

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The ACLU Gets It

Posted on February 26, 2011 by ErgoOne

Today Sam Ritchie of the ACLU posted a truly wonderful blog on the ACLU’s Blog of Rights.  Apparently some nitwits fine upstanding state legislators in Iowa object vehemently to a display in the State Historical Building in honor of the … Continue reading →

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A Married, Non-Celibate, *Nun*?

Posted on February 23, 2011 by ErgoOne

Today’s Washington Post has an article about a married German man who was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest.  Although rare, that isn’t unheard of; it usually happens when a married man who was an Anglican or Orthodox priest, or … Continue reading →

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Fun New Blog, *Mostly* About Archaeology

Posted on February 22, 2011 by ErgoOne

A new blog went live yesterday: Square Holes.  The blogger, Joe Jefferson, plans to write mostly about archaeology, but I would expect to see the occasional blog about trains (he’s a fanatic), other science subjects, and politics, with the occasional … Continue reading →

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Libya: The Scoop (HT Mother Jones)

Posted on February 22, 2011 by ErgoOne

Yet another excellent roundup from Mother Jones Magazine:  “What’s happening in Libya Explained”.  If you want the background and timeline for the unrest (and, God willing, impending revolution) in Libya, this is a great place to get it.

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Earthquake in New Zealand

Posted on February 22, 2011 by ErgoOne

New Zealand’s capital city, Christchurch, was hit by an earthquake Tuesday at around noon local time.  Various media sources report that a number of buildings collapsed.  Over sixty are known dead, and others are missing and likely trapped beneath the … Continue reading →

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