Bio

I'm a software engineer at a large web search firm. In my spare time I blog a bit about various topics - but mostly politics - at http://athwart-history.blogspot.com.


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James Jones
Name:
James Jones
Hometown:
Mountain View, CA
Joined:
Apr 18, 2011

Recent Comments

James Jones

Time to buy stock in some cat food manufacturers. Sounds like it'll be a growth business.

James Jones

Sorry, but I can't help but think of this: http://youtu.be/6rwi_0DEd_0

James Jones

In fairness, if I was down 21 in the 3rd quarter, I might not punt on 4th and 15. Depends on field position.

Love the "cash and clunkers" line but the football metaphor needs work.

James Jones

32, and I pretty closely fit the description: "A first- generation upper-middle- class person with middle-class parents" (typical score: 33).

That Jimmie Johnson question was sneaky! But I guess that was the point.

James Jones

David Williamson: Oh, one other thought. I was recently chatting with a friend who is intimately familiar with the mathematics of quantum mechanics. He is rather amused by the current controversery over the apparently-faster-than-light neutrinos.

He pointed out that it is a misconception that nothing can travel faster than light (more specifically, nothing that carries information can travel faster than light). In fact, the mathematics of quantum mechanics allows for faster-than-light particles (or waves - that's another problem with words) - they are called tachyons. Problem is, they are kinda hard to see because they, um, travel faster than light. They are unable, mathematically, to transition across the light speed barrier. · 3 hours ago

But tachyons haven't been proved to exist; they are merely possible according to the equations. Dirac showed (via his mathematical discovery of antimatter) that sometimes this works, but it's not reliable.

The ability to transmit information superluminally creates major problems for causality. If neutrinos can do this, it's going to cause a major rethink of what we think we know.

James Jones

Mendel

Above and beyond their antisemitism, there was a deep-set belief in the inferiority of certain races and types of people among many Germans.  This belief was not so much diabolic, but rather a product of the collective wisdom handed down from one generation to the next. 

To exaggerate somewhat, no one would label a human "evil" because they feel no remorse at the slaughtering of farm animals.  If you have been raised with the notion that certain races are the biological equivalent of farm animals, there is no conflict between loving members of your own race and feeling no remorse at the extinguishing of other races. · Jan 6 at 4:16pm

That analogy only works so far. Those same people were also told that Jews were responsible for much of the evil in the world. If someone told me that chickens were responsible for doing evil, but that they were also qualitatively so inferior to humans that their slaughter should not concern me, I for one would question their logic.

James Jones

Casey: He also has serious character flaws that make him an easy target.  BUT if Obama goes hard after Newt's flaws it will create the perception that he is avoiding a discussion of substance.  On the other hand, going toe to toe with Newt is a sure loser for Obama.

Contrast with Romney vs Obama.

In other words, using sports terminology, does Newt create a matchup problem for Obama? · Dec 8 at 1:08pm

Nice thought, Casey, but Obama doesn't have to go after Newt's character flaws. His proxies will be more than happy to do that for him. So all he has to do is not lose too badly on the policy questions.

James Jones

Solzhenitsyn should be mentioned: One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovitch.

James Jones
Goldgeller: Mr Mankiw should teach that day and give a pop-quiz.  · Nov 3 at 9:03am

Actually, I disagree. As tempting as it would be to take revenge like this, I think Mankiw's best move is to teach as if nothing happened. If a test or quiz was scheduled, by all means give it. But don't otherwise take any note of the students' absence.

They want attention. Don't give it to them.

James Jones
James Lileks: Not to make it sound like a chore or a duty. Listen to the Fourth, if you’re just starting. The third movement, if you have a good stereo, will pulverize any china in a six-block radius.   · Oct 30 at 2:30pm

Bruckner's Fourth? I was going to suggest that as well, as a good starting point. Although I love his 7th as well. (And several others.)

Mahler's Fourth is great as well, but not the one I'd pick as a starting point. (That would be 2nd, 3rd or 6th. The 1st is not Mahler's fully developed style. And the others are too difficult.)

James Jones
Canesplitter: I've been fortunate to have performed both composers. I could never discard one for the other, any more than tossing Messiaen (a 20thC French Bruckner if you will) for...Bartok. As  I get older, I marvel at Mahler's composer chops more than the way his music takes me emotionally. It DOES have his personal messiness all over it, but is is truly greatly crafted music on the level of the greatest composers, yeah, even Bach IMHO. I actually think his personality if anything, gets in the way of it...but it is truly intertwined in the product. Hard as hell to play too...

I was wondering if anyone would mention Messiaen. The Turangalila-Symphonie is IMO one of the great works of the 20th century. So I'm not sure Bruckner and Mahler are necessarily the "pinnacle".

James Jones

Are there no other Texans on Ricochet? GO RANGERS!!

James Jones

Roberto:

A disturbing poll:

89 percent of Americans say they distrust government to do the right thing

Congressional approval has reached a new low at 9 percent

That is disturbing. Who are these foolish 9 percent and how can we properly educate them?

James Jones
ParisParamus: Would love to set this video up on a large tv screen at Zuccoti Park and see what happens ;-) · Oct 26 at 9:16pm

Proof of spontaneous human combustion, I bet.

James Jones

Robert E. Lee: Therein lies an argument for federalism. We need ways to advance without radicalism. Federalism gives us a national Petri dish, where each state can try different things (within boundaries set by the Constitution). Those states that find the most workable solutions "win" by attracting more citizens (which puts pressure on other states to adopt similar measures).

Federalism isn't a panacea, obviously. But that's OK; conservatives rarely worry about panaceas.

James Jones

Paul DeRocco

Nathaniel Wright: ... the "six canons of conservative thought":

  1. Belief in a transcendent order...
  2. Affection for the proliferating variety and mystery of human existence...
  3. Conviction that civilized society requires orders and classes, as against the notion of a "classless society."
  4. Persuasion that freedom and property are closely linked....
  5. Faith in prescription and distrust of "sophisters, calculators, and economists" who would reconstruct society upon abstract designs.
  6. Recognition that change may not be salutary reform: hasty innovation may be a devouring conflagration, rather than a torch of progress.

It's interesting to consider which of these principles libertarians would chafe at. To me, they frequently seem to fall afoul of number 5. · Oct 25 at 8:42pm

Actually, I disagree with that. I think, in order of priority, libertarians are most likely to differ on 1, 3 and 6, followed by 5, with 2 and 4 bringing up the rear.

You might be surprised by #1, but having read a TON of libertarian philosophical literature back in the day, I can assure you that there is a distinct effort to find a "third way" between natural law and positive law. Gauthier's "Morals by Agreement" is an exemplary title.

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