By Mar 30,2009

A query

When the man who invented BASE jumping on skis dies while BASE jumping on skis,* isn’t it wrong to describe his death as an “accident”? Wouldn’t some variation of “logical...

By Mar 30,2009

The politics of intelligence

It’s the old nature vs. nurture debate. Is intelligence genetic, or does your upbringing matter? Yesterday, the Times reviewed a new book that makes the case for nurture. This comment...

By Mar 30,2009

I know a bestselling author

Craig Mullaney, my classmate from grad school, is at #10 on the NY Times bestseller list for hardcover non-fiction (for the second week in a row). His book, The Unforgiving...

By Mar 30,2009

The Russian Reset and Europe

Europe will be closely watching as leaders of its two most important partners—Russia and America—meet for the first time on April 1 on the sidelines of the G20 summit in...

By Mar 29,2009

Virginia’s booze laws are a hoot

My former coworker Caleb Brown and his colleague Austin Bragg have made a funny short on Virginia’s nonsensical alcohol laws. Worth watching for Caleb’s voice alone. When’s Hollywood gonna hire...