HBD Chick shows that the effort she's done working through inbreeding versus outbreeding as predictors of positive outcomes (higher IQs, higher social stability, etc.) fits in line fairly well with Emmanuel Todd's summary of family types. I admit that in my sociology courses, I was never a fan of Todd's work, but I'm pretty sure…
Jenny McCarthy Causes Autism, Global Warming
The best part of being a social scientist is that all you need is a tiny p value to say anything, no matter how stupid. Steve Hayward pokes fun at GMO-haters.
“Diversity Before Diversity”
Steve Sailer brings up a very interesting concept: various Indian tribes were feared up until the early 1900s, and yet Robert L. Owen could be named Senator. As Sailer notes, this behavior strikes a blow against the notion that white-black bigotry was hate-based, given that whites tended to hate and fear Indians far more than…
Top thirty crime procedurals, #1: Dexter
IMDB link. Basic premise: Is it okay to be a sociopath? Why it's the greatest crime procedural (and second best TV show, behind Doctor Who) of all time: Most shows that focus on the supply side of crime rely on anti-heroes. Breaking Bad or the Sopranos are good examples. Yet, Dexter Morgan is not an anti-hero. He is, in a…
Obamacare Notes
It's been a while since I've done one of these, so I have to assume that Obamacare's just hunky-dory now. Well, except for: Newly insured individuals visit emergency rooms more often than they did while uninsured. Considering that the cost per visit for these individuals goes down, why the shock? Colorado Senator Mark Udall tried to…
Skyrim vs. Fallout 3
I just finished Fallout 3's main storyline yesterday, so I wanted to compare Bethesda's two great games. I heartily recommend both, incidentally. Better graphics: Skyrim. No surprise -- the latter is a new title -- but even for its time, Fallout isn't that visually impressive. Visually APPROPRIATE, yes, but not visually impressive. Moments at Skyrim made…
Top thirty crime procedurals, #2: Psych
IMDB link. Basic premise: How to con the police into being a cop without all of that training (or carrying a gun). Why it's here: I hate some of the new portmanteaus the English language has invented. I especially hate anything with the word "bro". But there is no better term to describe the relationship between Shawn…
Jews In Space
Steve Hayward shows us a hilarious intersection of astrology and anti-Semitism, two great tastes that taste great together.
Top thirty crime procedurals, #3: Breaking Bad
IMDB link. Basic premise: In a startling twist, crystal meth helps cure cancer, indirectly. Why it's here: Bryan Cranston was, before this show, a decent actor, but not much to write home about. This show made him into a star. More than any other show on this list, it looks hard at society and doesn't pull punches.…
Single Parents Holding Children Back
"The strongest and most robust predictor [of social mobility] is the fraction of children with single parents."
36 Chambers - The Legendary Journeys: Execution to the max! 