The scourge of perpetually undecided voters: an election story 7 January 2010
Posted by theageofman in Uncategorized.add a comment
On election day 2004, I drove to the polling precinct the sweetest old lady, who was so physically fragile that it took us 45 minutes to move her from her living room and down a single step to her carport. Any movement caused her obvious pain, but she rejected countless opportunities to give up and stay in the relative comfort of her house. I’ve never met anyone so fiercely insistent on voting. (more…)
I need a drink 2 January 2010
Posted by theageofman in food and drink.Tags: carbon, root beer, soda, tonic
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…in general that is true, but specifically I need recipes for syrups that will make soda when mixed with carbonated water. (more…)
Ten years worse 28 December 2009
Posted by theageofman in media.Tags: media
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Today the news media apologist Howard Kurtz, appropriating a line from Ronald Reagan, asks “Are you better off, as a media consumer, than you were 10 years ago?” (more…)
Airports, violence, etc. 26 December 2009
Posted by theageofman in politics.Tags: airports, terrorism
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Well, I’ll be honest: right now I don’t know what to make of the latest terror plot, attempting to blow up a Detroit-bound jet. A wide range of first takes (none of which are especially insightful) can be found here.
Just a couple days ago, on our Christmas Eve flight from Chicago to Seattle, I was cursing the airport security pantomime, in which I removed my shoes and belt to enjoy the privilege of travel in a free society. I don’t think today’s attempt, apparently thwarted by quick-thinking passengers, changes the basic reality of airport security: there are nearly infinite ways to cause an airplane disaster. If anything, this event should remind us that airport security measures are an ineffective, expensive way to combat terrorism, but an effective way of tricking the public into thinking that the government is doing something. (more…)
Beating a dead Tiger 24 December 2009
Posted by theageofman in media.Tags: media
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I know, I know, the Tiger story was Thanksgiving, not Christmas. But the admirable Sally Jenkins ponders his meaning in today’s paper. Why does anyone still care? Here’s why I do: (more…)
This lousy decade 23 December 2009
Posted by theageofman in media, politics.Tags: world
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The second half of December is a slow news time. There’s just not very much going on, and so if your job is to fill a daily newspaper with content, you might pray for real news. Having exhaustively catalogued Tiger’s harem and having hacked out the definitive, multipart biography of loser social climbers, journalists new and old have no doubt welcomed the Christmas Eve healthcare vote. But any year endings with a 9 brings a special gift: the obligatory, end-of-decade best-of listings. (more…)
The odds of meeting aliens 22 December 2009
Posted by theageofman in politics, purpose.Tags: Congress, universe
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From this morning’s paper, a story on the convergence of science, politics, and aliens. The proximate topic is the radio telescope array known as SETI, the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence. As you may have learned from the movies, SETI is a bunch of scientists listening to the skies for radio transmissions directed towards Earth by the intelligent life forms of other solar systems.
The article mentions a favorite of mine, the Drake Equation. (more…)
The long view of this healthcare bill 21 December 2009
Posted by theageofman in politics.Tags: Congress, Democrats, healthcare
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This morning, Marc Ambinder suggests that, if you believe the Democrats have laid the foundation for future healthcare reforms, the compromise bill displays their political skill and awareness of incrementalism’s possibilities. And E.J. Dionne implores Democrats to gear up for the next battle on healthcare.
There’s no way of knowing right now, but I think this bill will show the limits of incrementalism. This bill may be a dead end. (more…)
New spirits 21 December 2009
Posted by theageofman in food and drink.Tags: cocktails, food
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I am not a good cook. But today I cooked something good. It was a beef stew: chopped an onion, cooked it with bacon, added stewing beef, chopped parsnips (8) and chopped carrots (4), poured in a pint of beef broth, salt + pepper, and chopped parsley.
I served it, to the approval of my wife the test eater, with raisin bread and a cocktail of my own creation, which I will call a Ginger Flower. (Between this drink and this blog, I am really bad with names; I pity my future children already.) It’s 2 ounces of vodka (Ketel One, leftover from the days when I had money), 1 ounce Koval ginger liqueur, 1/4 ounce of fresh squeezed lemon juice, and 1/4 ounce of honey. Shake with ice and serve in a chilled martini glass. (more…)
Declining free stuff from declining papers 20 December 2009
Posted by theageofman in media.Tags: Chicago, media
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After my wife’s parents, most calls to my house come from Chicago’s two newspapers, the Tribune and the Sun-Times. The pitch is always the same: 1) we’re not seeking your money; 2) we want to give you our Sunday paper for free, along with lots of coupons.
Given my student loans, I could sure use some free stuff. But I’m not taking what those papers want to give me. The telemarketer is always insistent, and seems unable to understand how anyone could refuse such a good offer. So let me state my position: (more…)
