Category Archives: Random

BMJ goes myth-busting

The British Medical Journal recently did some serious myth-busting (see part one and part two). Apparently, all of the following are myths: Sugar causes hyperactivity in children Suicides increase over the holidays Poinsettia is toxic Not wearing a hat causes … Continue reading

Posted in Clippings, Random | Leave a comment

Dani Rodrik’s academic fantasy

Dani Rodrik writes: I once had a fantasy. I would devote a whole year, perhaps a sabbatical, just to reading and thinking, and would not write anything. I mean really nothing: no papers, no articles, no op-eds, no contributions to … Continue reading

Posted in Random | Leave a comment

Another dispatch from the Central Coast

The fire is said to have spread to the area of 5,400 acres and shows no signs of abatement…

Posted in Random | Leave a comment

California’s Central Coast on fire

Well, not all of it, if course… The photo above was taken today in Goleta, CA, from approximately this location:

Posted in Random | Leave a comment

Protected: A password-protected post

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Posted in Random | Enter your password to view comments.

Making WordPress Private

Every once in a while, it may be necessary to build a WordPress-powered site only accessible to registered users. Interestingly, a very simple theme hack can take care of this. All you need to do is to include the following … Continue reading

Posted in Random, Technology | Leave a comment

Paul Krugman wants to be a songwriter

Paul Krugman writes: Oh my God. How could I have missed the fact that Suzanne Vega is blogging for the Times? In my next life I want to be a songwriter — precisely because I can’t imagine how it’s done. … Continue reading

Posted in Clippings, Random | Leave a comment

Eugenics and evolutionary theory

A question from Askville: Is eugenics rooted in and inspired by evolutionary theory? The New Oxford American Dictionary defines eugenics as “the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics. Developed … Continue reading

Posted in Answers, Random | Leave a comment

Earth Policy Institute: books

I keep forgetting to write down this link: http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/ The book that first got me there was Plan B 2.0 (since redeveloped into Plan B 3.0).  Lots and lots of things to think about…

Posted in Clippings, Random | Leave a comment

Of alien life

A question from FunAdvice: Are we not advanced enough to perceive alien life? Do you think the reason we can’t find life on the moon, the sun, the 70 sextillion stars, and the decillions of moons and planets that revolve … Continue reading

Posted in Answers, Random | Leave a comment