The Hump Master: 1942 — I know what humping is in railroad operations, but I never realized there was such a person as "the hump master." How'd you like that on your business card?
Would Colleges Be Better Off Without Football? — Everything we think we know about college football's impact on students' grades, graduation rates, rankings, and school finances adds up to this: Football might be bad for some colleges. Yes, this.
Power in Numbers — A profile of scientist Eric Lander.
AGNES (Age Gain Now Empathy System) — An aging simulator from MIT. I note passim that late stage chemotherapy does a pretty good, if not precise job, of this same thing. (Via Curiosity Counts.)
Two more states allow same-sex civil unions — Note that civilization continues to not collapse, and traditional marriage continues to endure despite the horror of gay nuptials.
The spectre of 1932: How a loss of faith in politicians and democracy could make 2012 the most frightening year in living memory —
Conservative White People’s Primary — Juan Cole compares Iowa's ethnic makeup with the US as a whole. Why do we care about the caucuses?
Nobody Understands Debt — Paul Krugman on the deficit. Warning: this column will only make sense if you are a member of the reality-based community.
George W. Bush presidency barely mentioned in Republican contest — Why talk about one of your most epic failures? Not that voters seem to be able to remember that.
Eric Cantor's Press Secretary Interrupts 60 Min Interview to Claim Reagan Never Raised Taxes — This is why the rest of us think conservatives are basically nuts. Bald-faced denial of basic historical fact isn't a coherent governing philosophy. It isn't even a coherent philosophy for sane daily living. Yet millions of low-information GOP voters will nod along with the assertion rather than believe the facts.
The Truth Inside Romney's Swift Boat Moment — Sooner or later, we will grow as a nation and realize that a political smear doesn't become true just because enough people believe it to make it effective. Some day, the truth of things will matter again. At which point, the entire Republican campaign playbook would be null and void. A victory for reality like that ain't gonna happen in FOX News America.
?otd: When's the last time you ate a Midwestern pork tenderloin sandwich?
1/3/2012
Writing time yesterday: 0.0 hours (chemo fatigue)
Body movement: 30 minute stationary bike ride
Hours slept: 8.5 (lights out time, absolute insomnia with no sleep)
Weight: 212.0
Currently reading: Daughter of the Sword by Steve Bein