Written

No Trucks sign at Exit 14 on 95

A questionable RIDOT road sign makes truckers go the long way.

By Justin Katz | October 29, 2021 |

Chris Maxwell of the Rhode Island Trucking Association (RITA) has put out a statement shining a spotlight on the road sign pictured in the featured image of this post: This sign presumably pertains to the weight restriction recently placed on a Route 37 bridge.  The restriction, posted without public notification on October 11, lowered the…

A water drop and ripples

America is increasingly encouraging Brandon!

By Justin Katz | October 29, 2021 |

This guy is great: On October 20, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran foiled an attempted armed robbery in Arizona. Video of his heroic efforts has since gone viral. … In recognition of his actions, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office presented James Kilcer with the Citizen’s Valor Award “for extraordinary heroism and exceptional courage while voluntarily…

Goya Attended by Doctor

Dr. Elizabeth Lang’s child-vaccine advocacy requires a critical eye.

By Justin Katz | October 29, 2021 |

The state and federal governments are preparing the country, with the help of the news media, to be pressured to vaccinate young children against COVID-19, despite the documented reality that children are not at great danger from this disease (see here and here, for starters).  As part of the performance, the doctor-advocates are making the…

A water drop and ripples

Alex Cannon has a realistic plan for climate change.

By Justin Katz | October 29, 2021 |

Brown Daily Herald reporter Michael Seoane has published a straight-news article on the Republican candidate for the 3rd district senate seat in the state General Assembly, Alex Cannon. After a few paragraphs of agreement with the Cannon’s policy proposals, I braced for the worst when the article inevitably turned to climate change, but this seems…

A water drop and ripples

Always consider the complexity of any large-scale public policy, like government-funded vaccines.

By Justin Katz | October 29, 2021 |

Conservatives tend to emphasize reliance on the market not because it is a white patriarchal system designed to funnel money to them (which is so comical widespread belief in that proposition should be sufficient evidence that young adults are being maleducated).  Rather, the value of the market is that it is an independent mechanism to…

An empty kitchen area

A Rhode Island rental owner has discovered that the law is only that which is enforced.

By Justin Katz | October 29, 2021 |

We’ve heard quite a bit about the terrors of eviction during the pandemic and the government-driven closure of our economy, and the talk tends to imply that people who own rental properties don’t need the money — as if the rentals merely contribute side cash to big piles in their basements.  That perspective has informed…

Bishop Tobin's tweet to Pope Francis

Bishop Tobin’s tweet to the pope is certainly a sign of changing times.

By Justin Katz | October 28, 2021 |

Naturally, I’m in agreement with Bishop Tobin and this tweet to Pope Francis, both in substance and in the meta-factor of thinking it needs to be sent: Dear Pope Francis, You have boldly stated that abortion is “murder.” Please challenge President Biden on this critical issue. His persistent support of abortion is an embarrassment for…

A water drop and ripples

Universities don’t really believe their “all students should feel safe” talk.

By Justin Katz | October 28, 2021 |

With some variation depending on role and discipline, college professors should enjoy wide latitude to speak their minds, but at the very least, this story proves the talk about valuing all people and their comfort and despising racism in all its forms is just that… talk: Controversial Rutgers associate professor and author Dr. Brittney Cooper…

2021 RICAS & SAT results

What difference do COVID-related education declines in RI make?

By Justin Katz | October 28, 2021 |

Not to be cynical, but the question of this post’s headline is serious.  I look at the results for students on the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) — with overall proficiency drops from 38% to 33% in English and from 30% to 20% in math — and I think, “So what?”  The same goes…

A water drop and ripples

Officials should factor in their own incompetence before imposing things like vaccine mandates.

By Justin Katz | October 28, 2021 |

Katherine Gregg frames her story about state health facilities’ challenges getting by without unvaccinated employees for the Providence Journal in terms of the government’s incompetence at replacing them: Despite promises made to the state Department of Health to bring in replacements for unvaccinated staff, neither the state-run Eleanor Slater Hospital nor the Veterans Home has…