The Wannsee Conference
Yesterday wasn't just Martin Luther King Day. It was also 51st anniversary of the Wannsee Conference. A lot of people lazily describe this event as the meeting at which the…
The Believing Brain
Yesterday I did a marathon post that was largely about how smart people convince themselves to believe weird things. For those who hadn't gotten enough from that, I suggest either…
My Significant Other Reporting
Sadly, this isn't video, just a picture of Venice reporting on the legislative session for TVW Channel 23 (our local version C-Span). If you live in Washington State and have…
Congrats, Seahawks
I'm not all that big a Seahawks fan, or one at all really; but seeing people excited for their team is fun, and if the team should win, it would…
The Unsinkable Rubber Ducks of Italy
Update (3/26/2015): Amanda Knox and Raffele Sollecito were acquitted today by the Italian Court of Cassation. So ends their legal nightmare. I wish them both the best going forward, and I'm glad…
Manifesto By Strange, Sullen, Hectoring Twit Is An International Bestseller
Yes, we're talking about Mein Kampf, apparently one of the bestselling political books of the year. B-School grads in India are expected to have devoured its lessons in business management. (Curious,…
Moringen Concentration Camp
While Dachau was the most famous of Germany's concentration camps--its name became synecdoche for the entire camp system--many others sprang up during the 1930s. One that was important in Summer…
Raiders Coach Dennis Allen Wants To Get What He Deserves
After wrapping up a second consecutive 4-12 season for the Oakland Raiders, Dennis Allen says he "deserves" to return for a third. Here are some of his reasons for wanting…
A Reader’s Perspective on Christmas in the Third Reich
From my reader, Lilo, (b. 1939, near Munich), further evidence that any changes the Nazis made to Christmas celebrations were subtle and often ignored by the German public: I wasn't…
Support Victims of Prison Rape This Holiday Season
Being in prison during the holidays would be rough for anyone--especially in those prisons that seem to go out of their way to make inmates' lives miserable--but the victims of…