Archive for 2012

FATHER’S DAY GIFTS for new dads.

PUNCHING BACK TWICE AS HARD: Man visited by armed EPA agents not satisfied with answers, wants agency changes. “The North Carolina man visited by armed EPA agents after sending an email to a controversial agency official says he’s not satisfied with the explanations about what he considers an excessive response and that he wants changes to agency policies and procedures.”

This is the way a citizen should respond to efforts at official intimidation.

JENNIFER RUBIN: Obama’s Love Affair With Government. “The president’s news conference belly-flop Friday was a killer on two levels. Obviously, the private sector is not doing fine, as Obama admitted later in the day when he tried to walk back the remark. (But if it’s not doing fine is he to blame? No! That’s 2E and 2F.) But the rest of his message — that it’s good to keep growing the public sector — won’t be walked back. That is what he believes and why his comments, coupled with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s victory in last week’s recall election, spell big trouble for him.”

Government is the tool by which resources are put under the control of people like him. From his perspective, what’s not to love?

WISCONSIN FALLOUT: Scott Walker uses his newly won influence to press Mitt Romney to go “big” and go “bold.” “You see what Walker did? At first, by avoiding sounding as though he wanted government workers fired, he seemed more sympathetic and softer than Romney. But in the end, he said that the way to win the swing states like Wisconsin, was to be an out and proud conservative like Ronald Reagan. That was well played… and not what Bob Schieffer was angling for.”

HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UPDATE: At UCLA, a defeat for “studies” departments at the hands of “academically conservative liberal” faculty. Good thing it was a secret ballot.

Plus, from the comments: “Groseclose is suggesting that this is the start of a ‘preference cascade’ heralding the rapid decline and fall of the ‘Studies’ empire. Commenters are more cynically viewing it as simple self-interested turf protection. The two views are not entirely inconsistent. Self-interest, in a time of limited resources, will force people to finally acknowledge what everyone knows.”

Is it just me, or are we hearing more about “preference cascades” lately?

A FINAL PUSH FOR RESTAURANT CARRY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THIS WEEK IN THE FUTURE.

A REVOLUTION IN ART AND DESIGN using 3D printing.

FASTER, PLEASE: University of Tennessee Professors Take Big Step to Develop Nuclear Fusion Power. “UT researchers have successfully developed a key technology in developing an experimental reactor that can demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy for the power grid. Nuclear fusion promises to supply more energy than the nuclear fission used today but with far fewer risks.”

ROBOT SEWING MACHINES COULD MAKE “MADE IN CHINA” OBSOLETE. “Sweatshops filled with robots could bring manufacturing of smartphones, computers and TVs to the United States, as well.”

READER BOOK PLUG: Reader Paul Graven asks that I plug his sister’s book, Joyfully Gluten-Free. Done!

WALTER JON WILLIAMS on Ray Bradbury.