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Crooked Timber — Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made

A few weeks ago, I got an email from a publicist at Penguin Books: In 2008, columnist Jonah Goldberg triggered a firestorm of controversy with his first book, LIBERAL FASCISM , a #1 New York Times bestseller. Now, he’s about to unleash another bold, funny, and thoughtful argument in his new book, THE TYRANNY OF CLICH ÉS: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas (Sentinel, May 1). … Please let me know if you’d like a copy of THE TYRANNY OF CLICH ÉS. I responded by saying that I was grateful for the offer, but that I’d rather slice my eyeballs open with a rusty can-opener.

During his visit to Washington last week Brian Cowen gave a speech (entitled ‘ The Euro: From Crisis to Resolution? Some Reflections from Ireland on the Road Thus Far’) at Georgetown University, reported in today’s Financial Times (behind paywall). It was the first time he has spoken of the financial calamity he presided over since becoming a “private citizen”. ‘Highlights’ included: “Ireland’s adjustment path and return to markets can be helped by continued restructuring of the banking system.

Broadsheet.ie

James Ball sent me the data for the Russian election vote counts this morning and asked me to test whether it deviates from Benford’s law, a test that can give a hint at whether numbers are the product of fraud. Posted below is my analysis, and also a check for last digit preference, which is another method for spotting sneakiness. Read the rest of this entry » Ben Goldacre, The Guardian, Saturday 9 July 2011

Bad Science

By Xeni Jardin at 10:19 am Sunday, Apr 8 • 3 Comments • Share This is how it's done. A ring-tailed coati mauls and slurps Easter eggs in Zagreb Zoo April 8, 2012. (REUTERS/Antonio Bronic) By Cory Doctorow at 9:53 am Sunday, Apr 8 • 0 Comments • Share

Boing Boing

What Games Are

… is a game. In contrast to the Dear Esther ‘is it a game?’ question of two weeks ago ( answer: no ), the question arises whether Draw Something is a game. To some it doesn’t feel like one because it is creative and based on user collaboration, but like charades or Pictionary this does not disqualify it: A game is a simplified, fair, fascinating, empowering and enclosed world whose purpose is to provide structured play through moderated yet unscripted actions and learnable dynamics, with the goal of winning through victory or achievement.