I Know Why

Bridget Johnson, writing for The Wall Street Journal, wonders why Hollywood wonks won’t step up and condemn the murder of Theo VanGogh.

I think it’s because he hadn’t paid his SAG dues.

“Look Who Isn’t Talking - A filmmaker is murdered, and Hollywood loudmouths say nothing."

Step Aside, and Stay Out of My Little Garden, Too

"The case could put conservatives on the Supreme Court on the spot. Since the mid-1990s, Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas have trimmed federal attempts to enter areas, such as gun regulation and pornography, that traditionally have been covered by state or local ordinances.

But to do so in this case, notes Kermit Roosevelt, law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, would place the conservatives on the side of pot smoking."

The above is taken from a USA Today article noting an upcoming Supreme Court case regarding medical marijuana.

The title to this post, is advice the conservatives should embrace.

“Medical-pot fight goes to justices"

I Don't Think So

Peter Singer has some extremely whacked ideas, though he considers them rational, logical, and oh so intellectual.  Sex with corpses?  Have it at.  A full grown chimp has more value than a infant, and other supposedly rigorously rational, logical thoughts.

Just because someone states they are rational, logical and intellectually endowed, or are considered by others in that vein, does not mean that they are.  Recall Chauncey Gardiner, if you will.

“Blue-state philosopher"

Via Arts & Letters Daily.

Property Rights over Visionaries

"Under a ballot measure approved on Nov. 2, property owners who can prove that environmental or zoning rules have hurt their investments can force the government to compensate them for the losses - or get an exemption from the rules."

Naturally, The New York Times pins a negative headline on this news.

“Property Rights Law May Alter Oregon Landscape"

Has Anyone Informed Monty Python?

“New clue to mystery of Holy Grail"

Via Google News.

So, What Reasons, Do They Teach, As To Why the Pilgrims Came to America?

“Students Free to Thank Anybody, Except God"

"Young students across the state read stories about the Pilgrims (search) and Native Americans, simulate Mayflower (search) voyages, hold mock feasts and learn about the famous meal that temporarily allied two very different groups.

But what teachers don’t mention when they describe the feast is that the Pilgrims not only thanked the Native Americans for their peaceful three-day indulgence, but repeatedly thanked God."

Via Drudge.

Cooperator, Defector or Shunner?

Interesting study, out of UCLA, which looked into the evolutionary roots of altruism and moral outrage.  Two traits that only humans exhibit.  Utilizing Game Theory, the study researchers utilized the following players.

*“Cooperators," or people who always contribute to the public good and who always assist individual community members in the group with the favors that are asked of them.
*“Defectors," who never contribute to the public good nor assist other community members who ask for help.
*“Shunners," or hard-nosed types who contribute to the public good, but only lend aid to those individuals with a reputation for contributing to the public good and helping other good community members who ask for help. For members in bad standing, shunners withhold individual assistance."

A telling finding from the study.

"But without individuals willing to mete out punishment, we have a hard time explaining how societies develop and sustain cooperative behavior. Our model shows that as long as it is socially permissible, withholding help from a deadbeat actually proves to be in an individual’s self-interest."

So, what are you?  Me, I’m in the Shunner camp.

“UCLA study points to evolutionary roots of altruism, moral outrage"

Link via Gary Cruse.