PinnedMember-onlyConfessions of a Hungry ApeThe evolutionary advantages of eating meat — There are plenty of moral and environmental arguments for vegetarianism. On the moral side, we know that animals want to live, (as do plants, of course) and that killing them contradicts that desire. …Evolution11 min read
PinnedMember-onlyHow To Kill A Chicken: Thoughts on The Morality of Killing from the Barnyard.How To Kill A Chicken: Thoughts on The Morality of Killing from the Barnyard. Ever since reading Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma, I have been thinking a lot about his defense of carnivores. Although his latest book suggests a simple, somewhat vegetarian mantra (Eat food, not too much, mostly plants), Om…Vegan9 min read
Feb 11Member-onlyPutin: An Ever-Growing Threat to World StabilityPutin: An Ever-Growing Threat to World Stability Putin’s been around long enough by now for most people to understand the measure of the man. Many people have spoken out about and against him over the last twenty years. For decades now, Gary Kasporov, better known for his chess moves, has…Putin7 min read
Feb 1Member-onlyWhy Amazon is not a river, and other capitalist oddities: On naming, language and reality.Why Amazon is not a river, and other capitalist oddities: On naming, language and reality. Mention the word “Amazon” these days and chances are people will assume you are talking about online shopping. “My odyssey” likely brings to mind a family minivan. And in that flagship vehicle you will also…Amazon7 min read
Published in The Shadow·Aug 21, 2021Member-onlyRepublicanism is Dead: How today’s global challenges invalidate current Republican politics.Many people on the Left have for decades considered Republican politics anathema. But as the twenty-first century advances into ever-more perilous territory, Republicans are clinging to political and ideological stances which simply defy common sense, logic, reality and efficacy. Bearing in mind the existential nature of the problems facing the…Republican Politics7 min read
Published in Raw History·Jul 5, 2020Member-onlyWhy Government Needs to be Better Than the PeopleWhy Government Needs to be Better Than the People The truth is, Democracy is not God-given. Neither is it inevitable, “normal” or required. Democracy is, like all other human ideas, just that — an idea. And as such, its value can rise and fall. Strangely, perhaps, many well-known Ancient Greeks…Democracy And Rule Of Law5 min read
Published in Raw History·Apr 1, 2020Member-onlyWhat The Plague Has to Teach Us About Social Distancing, Public Health and the Growth of GovernmentHow Humans Adapt: Plague, Government, and the Rise of Science Throughout ancient history rapacious diseases have repeatedly devastated populations — in many cases proving that bacteria and viruses are far more of a threat than human violence or malfeasance. But throughout history the human response to pandemics evolved, as we…Pandemic17 min read
Feb 13, 2020Member-onlyHow Learning Some Basic Math Will Help You Look Smarter: A true Story (sorta)How Learning Some Basic Math Will Help You Look Smarter: A true Story (sorta) Excerpted from Look Smart: How To Appear Intelligent (When You’re Not). Let’s face it; before mathematics, everything we knew came from religious texts. It didn’t matter if you were Mayan, Muslim, or Manichean, you had a…History15 min read
Nov 1, 2019Member-onlyBad Men, Great Artists: How to Reconcile one with the OtherBad Men, Great Artists: How to Reconcile one with the Other Pablo Picasso was an awesome artist. No one really argues about that. …Art4 min read
Mar 23, 2019Member-onlyThe Value of Corporate HistoryThe Value of Corporate History Everything has a history, simply because everything exists in time (except of course Monty Python which is timeless). Starting with nations, which are the best-known kind of histories, we drill down to regions, states, cites and towns. …History4 min read