Friday, February 27, 2004

Unbelievable

Just returned from my sons’ basketball game.  The lovely Melis has returned from her travels also.  Nice.  I’m sitting in the kitchen while my sons and Melis sit in the LR and click through the five channels the household receives.  A pause in the clicking and I hear, “Tonight’s story The Hurried Woman Syndrome.”  I hear Melis say “Sheesh, another frickin typecast.”  I quietly chuckle.  I hear one of my sons say “That’s crazy.”  I laugh a little louder and say “Did I hear that right, a hurried woman syndrome?”  Yes, I did.

Step right up and get your diagnosis here.  Prescriptions liberally applied.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 09:01 PM
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Chicken Little Redux - A Serious Inquiry

When I posted Chicken Little yesterday I made light of the concern over the possibility of an catastrophic asteroid strike here on earth in this modern age.  I also heartily condemned calling for tax dollars to fund preventive measures.  Though I recognize the danger of one large metorite possibly wiping out the earth, at least as we know it, I am more interested in the actual risk associated with the possibility, though some would say certainty, of this happening.  Prior to continuing, I must admit my ignorance of physics but reiterate I am inquiring here, seriously.  My thoughts.

The largest meteorite ever discovered intact is in Namibia.  It measures, approximately 9.68 feet by 9.32 feet.  Granted, the type of meteorite strike individuals are concerned with are much larger, but the earth shows little evidence of these striking ground.  Reasons postulated include breakup of meteorites in the atmosphere and erosion action on earth.  Is this type of information include in the methodology which calculates the chances of a catastrophic meteorite strike in today’s world?

Another question.  Angle of attack.  My current understanding is that if an object strikes the earth’s atmosphere at too shallow of angle it “could well bounce back into space.”  Is this information consider in calculations of possible catastrophic meteorite strikes?

The moon.  Does the moon’s gravity provide any natural protection to the earth?

Is the fact that 70% of the earth is covered by water, the large majority ocean water, considered when considering this issue?  Does that fact offer any natural protection?

The additional reading I linked to in my first “Chicken Little” post does not address these questions.

I ask these questions because I think asking for millions, if not billions, of dollars to prevent something that possibly may happen, and I understand some individuals say certainly will happen is wrong.  There is no possible way to eliminate all risk.  I do not think the risk has even been adequately calculated.  I could very well be wrong though and a metorite may strike my home this evening.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 02:02 PM
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The Wolverine State

Michigan is known as The Wolverine State.  Of course the last time a Wolverine was spotted in Michigan was reportedly in 1837, before Michigan was even a state.  It appears that Michigan’s designation as The Wolverine State may now be more appropriate.  In a news story filed from Bad Axe, Michigan, a Wolverine reportedly has been spotted by a group of hunters and was photographed by one Arnie Karr, a DNR employee.  According to the story, the Wolverine may have hitched a ride from Canada.  In a garbage truck.

Here’s the story.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 10:02 AM
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Self-flagellation or Just Stupid?

Paul Theroux on his four days as a sexual prisoner in Africa: ‘This was my first true experience of captivity and difference, memorable for being horribly satirical. It had shocked me and made me feel American.’

From ‘Over There’ as posted at Granta.

Via Arts & Letters Daily.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 08:10 AM
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Cap’n Arbyte Reports for Jury Duty

Kyle Markley shares his first experience of being summoned as a potential juror.  He dealt with long lines.  The Cap’n states he has a conversation to share later.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 07:53 AM
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Degree of Scientificity

Via Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution we are made aware of Europeans’ ranking, of various fields of study, as to their degree of being scientific.

1. Physics
2. Medicine
3. Biology
4. Astronomy
5. Psychology
6. Astrology
7. Economics
8. History

Cowen noted that astrology beat economics.  I note that history is last.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 07:19 AM
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Classical Eudaimonism Reconciles

Roderick T. Long proposes reconciliation of egoism and anarchism via the above.

According to Classical Eudaimonism, self-interest is indeed the ultimate criterion of right action, but our true self-interest is to live a life of objective human flourishing. Acting in accordance with the virtue of justice is not a mere external means to such flourishing, it is part of that flourishing; hence self-interest properly understood requires that we place value – and not merely strategic value either – on behaving justly toward others. Hence the Classical Eudaimonist can happily embrace both the egoist’s insistence of the paramount supremacy of self-concern and the natural-rightser’s insistence on the sacred authority of justice.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 07:13 AM
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He’s Doing the Best That He Can

Kim DuToit is working his way through Mona Charen’s book Useful Idiots.  Well, he’s trying to anyway.

I’ve been reading Mona Charen’s book, Useful Idiots, if tossing the book across the room in fury every dozen pages can be called “reading”.

Read the remainder of Kim’s reading experience here.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 07:01 AM
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On The Environment

Michael Jennings has a post up at Samizdata which details Bjorn Lomborg’s lecture at the Adam Smith Institute in London.  Andy Duncan, another poster at Samizdata, attended the lecture also and has some observations to share.

Both Jennings and Duncan recommend Lomborg’s book The Skeptical Environmentalist.  So do I.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 06:46 AM
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A Passion for Knotted Panties

Andrew Sullivan quotes Wieseltier on the passion.

It is a repulsive masochistic fantasy, a sacred snuff film,...

Sullivan wrote his own review after seeing the film.

In a word, it is pornography…The center-piece of the movie is an absolutely disgusting and despicable piece of sadism…

I have not seen the film, yet, but I’m curious if the term sadism would be applied to the films Pulp Fiction, Resevoir Dogs, Saving Private Ryan, Schlinder’s List, or The Godfather, among others.

Update:  Emperor Darth Misha I on the violence.

Update II:  Allison, of Allison Lives provides a nuanced comment.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/27 at 06:13 AM
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