Ripple

A water drop and ripples

A random musical tip…

By Justin Katz | October 12, 2021 |

I learned this too late in life.  Whether you’re just getting started with music or have been playing for a long time, get yourself a pan flute (or zamponá).  Something about having to move to a different part of the instrument for each note by feel of the distance rather than by sight (as on…

A water drop and ripples

When Facebook matters… and when it doesn’t.

By Justin Katz | October 12, 2021 |

Writing in The Federalist, William Doyle describes how Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg helped buy Biden the election: During the 2020 election, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent hundreds of millions of dollars to turn out likely Democratic voters. But this wasn’t traditional political spending. He funded a targeted, private takeover of government election operations by nominally non-partisan —…

A water drop and ripples

It’s unsettling to see journalists so credulous about YouTube bans.

By Justin Katz | October 12, 2021 |

The Associated Press takes YouTube’s framing completely for granted: YouTube is wiping vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories from its popular video-sharing platform. The ban on vaccine misinformation, announced in a blog post on Wednesday, comes as countries around the world continue to offer free immunizations for COVID-19 to a somewhat hesitant public. Public health officials…

A water drop and ripples

The mask narcing shows the media’s alignment.

By Justin Katz | October 12, 2021 |

Maybe it’s a small thing, and at least WJAR has somebody there, but it’s telling that Katie Davis would mix their failure to wear masks with the substance of this story: NOW: Group angry with @RIStatePolice and @GovDanMcKee deliver written complaints alleging brutality during protest outside McKee’s home to State Police HQ. None are masked…

A water drop and ripples

Connecticut provides a fantastic case study in a state moving progressive on taxation…

By Justin Katz | October 11, 2021 |

… too bad it’s not studied more.  (Maybe because academics know what they’ll find.)  Anyway, it now takes the most-taxed award: Connecticut received the dubious honor on Sept. 29 of displacing New Jersey as the state with the highest taxpayer burden, according to a new “Financial State of the States” report from Truth-in-Accounting (TIA). Illinois,…

A water drop and ripples

RI’s DOH Medical Director James McDonald gets COVID messaging for the holidays right.

By Justin Katz | October 11, 2021 |

This is how the messaging should have been for COVID and the vaccine for a long time: The holiday season fast approaching, and R.I. Department of Health Medical Director Dr. James McDonald is expecting the celebrations to look like they did prior to the pandemic. “I’m not planning on a virtual Thanksgiving or Christmas this…

A water drop and ripples

Leftism makes things worse in such a way as to leave people not knowing what they’re missing.

By Justin Katz | October 11, 2021 |

That’s a conclusion that leaps off the page of Stacey Matthews’s roundup of info on New York City’s ban on gifted & talented programs for children.  First, consider a tweet from New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz: It really is leftism in action. They could not make the bad schools better so they’ll make the…

A water drop and ripples

Shocking night of Hollywood discoveries for me…

By Justin Katz | October 9, 2021 |

Not only did I learn that actor Clint Howard is the brother of Richie Cunningham, but also that he isn’t the same person as Curtis Armstrong. Just when you think you’ve got a grip on reality…

A water drop and ripples

Modern autocracies are benefiting from the Sparta spin.

By Justin Katz | October 8, 2021 |

In an EconTalk episode, Russ Roberts evoked a fascinating response from University of North Carolina historian Bret Devereaux when he asked why, considering that the Spartans were so evil by today’s standards and also mediocre at warfare, they’ve enjoyed such a positive legend: The Spartans get really good press in our ancient sources. And part…

A water drop and ripples

Fading vaccine effectiveness shows the foolishness of confidence.

By Justin Katz | October 8, 2021 |

One of (the many) aspects of our public arguments around COVID-19 and the vaccine is the confidence with which everybody is asserting their positions.  This affects both sides, but I’m thinking in particular of the pro-vax people who assert that we know that naturally acquired immunity fades after a few months.  Frankly, the virus hasn’t been…