"Agency and liberty mean nothing absent the ability to make decisions that others judge unwise." Hear, hear!
The U.K. Smoking Ban Is Illiberal
Distaste for cigarettes is no reason to cede bedrock liberties to the state.
theatlantic.com
@DWFWhite
Focused reader — 1 sources in 90 days
"Agency and liberty mean nothing absent the ability to make decisions that others judge unwise." Hear, hear!
The U.K. Smoking Ban Is Illiberal
Distaste for cigarettes is no reason to cede bedrock liberties to the state.
theatlantic.com
Finally someone who remembers the lunatics of the 90s. Maybe you had to be in Dallas to get the full Ross Perot experience. A thoughtful review of an intriguing book.
William Davies · Repeal the 20th Century: Pre-MAGA
To understand the intellectual coordinates of Trumpism requires us to look in less conventional places and to pay more...
lrb.co.uk
In other news from the Washington Post, opinions will now be limited to “why I’m so rich and why the rich should be so free.” Other ideas to be covered by “the internet.”
Post owner Bezos announces shift in opinions section; Shipley to leave
In an email and social media post, Jeff Bezos outlined dramatic changes to The Washington Post’s opinions section, and announced that opinions editor David Shipley has resigned.
washingtonpost.com
I often assume that everyone’s aware of the absurdity of Musk’s stated positions, but sometimes it’s worth restating: this man is himself the grifter he’s meant to be finding.
Elon Musk’s business empire is built on $38 billion in government funding
Government infusions at key moments helped Tesla and SpaceX flourish, boosting Musk’s wealth.
washingtonpost.com
An argument for constraining the drug and the late-stage capitalist monster.
Legal Weed Didn’t Deliver on Its Promises
Advocates touted a host of benefits and no real costs. That’s proven to be a fantasy.
theatlantic.com
An uncomfortable reminder that, no, we haven’t done this before.
Adam Tooze · Trouble Transitioning: What energy transition?
An honest account of energy history would conclude not that energy transitions were a regular feature of the past, but...
lrb.co.uk
Clearly tragic news from Laos, but also some curiously uplifting medical advice: if you do find yourself with methanol poisoning, grab the nearest large bottle of sweet, sweet ethyl alcohol and drink deeply.
What is methanol and how does it affect the body?
Travellers are being warned of the dangers after six tourists in Laos died from methanol poisoning.
bbc.com
Random old read I found after finishing Fareed Zakaria’s latest: Age of Revolutions. I knew there was something wrong with Locke.
JOHN LOCKE AND THE NOT-QUITE-GLORIOUS REVOLUTION
I have been publishing on Pandaemonium a series of 'lost pages' from The Quest for a Moral Compass, my forthcoming book on the history of moral thought. In completing the book,  I had to cut the original manuscript quite considerably. Much of what has been lost is better off left on the cutting room floor. There are, however,…
kenanmalik.com
I love the thought experiment encapsulated by the non-alcoholic drinks debate because it problematizes human categories—always a fun time. Smart people are reduced to responding with iffy logic and sometimes ultimately end up at, “I don’t know, but I know I don’t like it.”
The Sober-Curious Movement Has Reached an Impasse
No one can decide on the drinking age for “adult” drinks that don’t contain alcohol.
theatlantic.com
The Nevada Court revisits bite mark analysis, and that’s about it.
I’m Begging the Courts to Stop Citing My Work
A court finally took notice of my reporting—but for all the wrong reasons.
theatlantic.com
Your daily dose of doom porn...
As disasters spike, superpowers face mounting calls to forge climate deal
COP28 hinges on China and the United States putting their political differences aside, said Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency.
wapo.st
I remember getting my Florida driving license in Miami and standing next to a Venezuelan woman. The clerk was complaining that her passport was out of date. In response, she said, "But my country doesn't have a government!"
The Scale of Venezuela's Exodus
Comparisons to Ireland's Great Hunger or the Syrian civil war are not absurd
gideons.substack.com
This is a new author for me, but I do very much like the question
"Was the Past Better Than Now?" is, Unsurprisingly, Not a Coherent Question
sometimes, I suspect that human existence is multivariate
freddiedeboer.substack.com
You know, I have no idea, but they certainly weren't posting on the new Seabird Reader app.
What Did People Do Before Smartphones?
No one can remember.
theatlantic.com
Do police shortages actually fuel crime?
Opinion | Half the Police Force Quit. Crime Dropped.
This charming town has a powerful tale to tell.
nytimes.com
Robusta cometh! Get ready for the redheaded stepchild of coffee varieties.
Climate change imperils coffee. A rescue plan is brewing in Vietnam.
As climate change imperils the much-loved but vulnerable arabica coffee plant, Vietnam is going all in on more robust robusta.
washingtonpost.com
If you thought this wasn't going to happen, you were very confused about power.
Biden’s In
The president announces his reelection bid—a development both highly improbable and totally expected.
theatlantic.com
It’s not just Republicans: Uncle Joe continues his surprisingly (or not) effective form of governance. For those who thought he was just going to step aside after his first term, you weren’t paying attention.
Republicans Keep Underestimating Joe Biden
And that’s good for the president.
theatlantic.com
There is something nice about feeling so small.
The Existential Wonder of Space
How old will you be when Halley’s Comet comes back? When people walk on Mars? When we explore Jupiter’s mysterious, icy moon?
theatlantic.com
Well… it’s the playoffs.
Angry Football Fans Keep Punching Their TVs
And shooting them, and knifing them, and running them over with trucks
theatlantic.com
How responsible are we for understanding labeling?
Mini bottles of Fireball Cinnamon don’t contain whiskey, leading to a lawsuit
The Fireball Cinnamon for sale at places that can't sell liquor is different than the stuff you buy at the liquor store -- and that's misleading, a lawsuit alleges.
washingtonpost.com
The idea that houses should be treated as purchases rather than as investments is hardly new, but I think this article does a good job of synthesizing a lot of the absurdity behind the obsession we have with buying homes.
The Homeownership Society Was a Mistake
Real estate should be treated as consumption, not investment.
theatlantic.com