MRI Follow-up
My physician’s assistant told me this morning that the last MRI result leads the doctor to believe that there is no need for concern at this time. A follow-up MRI will be done three months from now.
Sincere thanks to those of you who extended your good wishes.
Freedom Quantified?
There’s no practical and honest way to organize society around the notion of freedom. The majority has to use other sorts of language to bring the outliers toward the average. Criminals are “punished” or “incarcerated.” The rich are taxed at higher rates under the absurd notion of “giving back” something they didn’t actually “take” in the first place, assuming their activities stimulated the economy and created wealth where there had been none. (Hedge fund billionaires are obvious exceptions.)
It seems to me that envy, not freedom, or even selfishness, is the organizing principle of society. And maybe that’s the only way it can work.
(Dilbert creator Scott Adams)
Job Fair
Only the already employed need apply:
Some companies have even gone as far as posting signs, stating you must have a job just to fill out an application.
Wealth in America
(Via Mother Jones)
Many other interesting charts at the link. (Click on the graphic for larger image)
A Man’s Best Friend
(NOT photo-shopped! Full story at Los Angeles Times)
While I’m at it, this may be worth a gander:
Christchurch Quake
Administrator’s note: I’m front-paging this post for the time being, because its comments section has unexpectedly become such an extraordinary source of direct reporting from Christchurch.
It appears that most of those killed by the devastating earthquake that hit Christchurch, New Zealand, were inside modern structures built to strict standards. The latest reports are that none of the 100 people believed to be inside the CTV building when it collapsed during the quake survived.
The CTV building pre-quake:
The remains of the CTV building after the quake:
Like a Good Neighbor?
As anyone who has read my comments over the years surely knows by now, I generally view Ezra Klein as over-rated and unimaginative. As the saying goes, “Even a broken clock is right twice a day,” and Klein provided a genuine public service this week when he noted:
If you look at how the federal government spends our money, it’s an insurance conglomerate protected by a large, standing army.
Renovation Time
As currently seen at the official website of the Egyptian government
(Via Outside the Beltway)
Affect’s Effect
Headline of a Citibank email sent to millions of customers:
Your Credit Score Can Effect Your Finances
Ambiance 