Monthly Archives: September 2015

Links 9/15: Linkua Franca

From the Department of Omens: Why is everyone having weird dreams about Jeremy Corbyn? Myths and facts about medieval fighting, mostly good for ruining your enjoyment of things: “Spears were the medieval and ancient weapon. Swords are always a secondary … Continue reading

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The Problems With Generic Medications Go Deeper Than One Company

I. Like many people, I recently read about Turing Pharmaceuticals’ purchase of anti-toxoplasma drug Daraprim and subsequent price increase of 5000%. Vox and Marginal Revolution have already done some good work addressing this particular case, but have only touched upon … Continue reading

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Vegetarianism for Meat-Eaters

[Content warning: discussion of animal suffering. If you don’t care about animal suffering, this post is probably not for you. There is no reason to read it anyway and loudly complain in the comments.] Brian Kateman on QZ.com writes that … Continue reading

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Beware Systemic Change

[Epistemic status/edit: After reading comments, no longer sure I agree with Part I. Part II still seems right but possibly a cost that can be outweighed by other factors. I continued to be worried about this without necessarily thinking it … Continue reading

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OT28: Where In The World Is Comment Sandiego?

This is the semimonthly open thread. Post about anything you want, ask random questions, whatever. Also: 1. After reading one of my past posts, probably The Right To Waive Your Rights, someone mentioned that they’re no longer willing to see … Continue reading

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Cardiologists and Chinese Robbers

I. It takes a special sort of person to be a cardiologist. This is not always a good thing. You may have read about one or another of the “cardiologist caught falsifying test results and performing dangerous unnecessary surgeries to … Continue reading

Links 9/15: Linker Tailor Soldier Spy

Little-known footnote to the Scramble For Africa: Russian Somalia lasted one month before being conquered. Latest big meta-analysis finds “little evidence” for Roy Baumeister’s ego depletion hypothesis, describes itself as “strongly challenging” the idea of willpower as a limited resource. … Continue reading

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Book Review: Manufacturing Consent

I. Consider: It is our view that, among their other functions, the media serve and propagandize on behalf of the powerful societal interests that control…them. The representatives of these interests have important agendas and principles that they want to advance, … Continue reading

If You Can’t Make Predictions, You’re Still In A Crisis

A New York Times article by Northeastern University professor Lisa Feldman Barrett claims that Psychology Is Not In Crisis: Is psychology in the midst of a research crisis? An initiative called the Reproducibility Project at the University of Virginia recently … Continue reading

Theses On Trump

The smart money still says Trump will crash and burn before getting the nomination. But everyone saying this should have to add “however, he’s certainly lasted much longer than we originally predicted.” Scott Adams places the blame for this surprising … Continue reading

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