Killing an animal as punishment or revenge is pointless, and determining which animal is the culprit--I'm thinking particularly of sharks--is virtually impossible. But allowing culling of large, dangerous sharks that hunt close to shore seems sensible to me. Tiger, Bull, and White sharks all eat people and I would be happy if their numbers were reduced worldwide.

In the same way that I wouldn't advocate killing alligators in the Everglades or Tigers in the deep jungle, I wouldn't push for the culling of dangerous pelagic sharks such as Blues and Oceanic Whitetips that rarely venture into shallow waters.

James, I'm in complete agreement with you on this. As to Yeti's point that animals shouldn't be punished for instinctual actions, I agree. Forget the term punishment, I'm happy to just call it killing and we should get on with it until the numbers of large, dangerous predators are culled to a reasonable point.

I recognize that ecological balance is important, but as it stands now, any killing of Great Whites is illegal in many areas. If it has to be managed, fine. But allow them to be culled to a certain point and observe the results. Continue until there's hard data that harm is occurring and then back off. I don't buy the charge that by the time you observe harm irreparable damage is done. Too many species have gone from very small populations to vigorous health.

The problem with the Global Warming debate. We're all lined up in opposition along a Right/Left political axis. Our scientists are better/smarter/more honest than your scientists. I'm inclined to agree with our side, but anyone on either side can snow me with the "facts" because I don't know the science. All I have to go on is the Left's history of justifying any means to achieve their desired end and faith in the integrity of people like James Delingpole. I trust Jame's integrity, but is his scientific judgement sound? I think it is, but I have no way of objectively determining that. Aaarrgg.

Sometimes I think physicists tell us these stories just to see how gullible we are.

"Then I said that the motion of matter through the black hole's boundary would only happen in one direction, providing a direction of time that we perceive as moving forward, haha."

"They bought it? They'll believe anything! Hahaha."

Joseph, if there's any group of people less informed about politics than voters, I'd say it's the non-voters.

I can't pretend to get the point, but this post was enjoyably manic.

If we'd retained just two of the qualifications for voting in place at the founding, that of being male and that of owning property, how many Democrats would there be in government? Precious few.

Sorry to disenfranchise you Diane, but not owning property in the States I'd have to sit out the election too. Happily.

Well done!

I like that Romney is showing some fighting spirit. McCain was next to useless in '08. When the economy turned he shrugged and said he didn't know much 'bout economics, in spite of numerous videos with McCain himself warning about Fanny/Freddie. Why he didn't capitalize on that I'll never understand.

Well, near the shower.

Edit: I didn't mean to bar any chance of your post making the main feed, Fred.

“We’ve got to stop with the rhetoric,” Martinez says on her way out of Starbucks. “I’m so tired of the rhetoric. ‘Lower taxes,’ you know. ‘More opportunity.’ Da da da. It’s this five-liner of nothingness. There have to be some distinctions for people to latch onto.”

What she sees as empty rhetoric are ends we ought to be working towards. If by "distinctions" she means specifics, I'm all for it. Ryan's economic plan is a start. But "nothingness"? Who suggested this woman for VP?

Black partisanship accounts for a small percentage. Racial pride over a black attaining such high office.

White guilt over race accounts for a moderate percentage. Liberals being "fair" and trying to square accounts.

Defiant Democratic partisanship accounts for a substantial percentage. Supporting their man come hell or high water against the evil opposition.

And as many people have pointed out, the press supports all the above efforts. Add it all up and you have an approval rating impervious to genuine personal opinion.

So self evident, Tab, it almost didn't need to be said. Almost.

Haha, isn't that the truth. It's great though, Ricochet casts a wide net.

California is the beautiful Hollywood starlet with such charm and glamour that she can't imagine her appeal fading, no matter what she does. The destitution of the fusty old rust belt will never happen to her. She's golden. Her beauty and talent will, like, save her!

This is just what was missing from Bush and McCain. I hope Romney counters the lies at every point. After over a decade of frustration, this just fires me up.