At the Post Office:

Me: Good morning. I’d like five 80 cent priority stamps please.

Man behind counter: I’ll see. (Wanders off)

Me: (Drums fingers. Looks at scraps of paper on counter. Glances at watch.)

MBC: (Wanders back.) We don’t have any.

Me: (Voice a tad squeaky, incredulous...

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Managed to get to see the Al Gore movie, which really is very good indeed. Impressive mostly for the way he articulates the arguments, the words and presentation never merely mirroring one another -- except for when he actually wants them too. Getting on a lifting platform to show how far above base...

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To the Iota last night, an excellent joint in Arlington famous enough to have a mention in West Wing framed up on the wall.¹ To hear the Handsome Family, a fine, weird combo that I was first introduced to by a friend who now lives in this very city. He wasn't there, but then I think he is "on mi...

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As politics go, we’re surprised so many readers expect us or any publication to provide “balance,” which reflects a belief in the fallacy that there are two equally valid sides to every story. You see this in the debate over global warming and evolution. Thousands of scientists stand on one side o...

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My recent post about Jim Hansen’s article on climate change in the New York Review of Books was not the piece I set out to write. I had intended to focus on this part of his article:

I used to spread the blame uniformly until, when I was about to appear on public television, the producer inf...

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