Category: Edgewise

  • One of the All-Time Great “Thought Experiments”

    This must have come from Galileo, I guess. In any case, it is to show that heavy objects don’t fall faster than lighter objects. Imagine three identical bricks falling–at the same speed, obviously. Two of the bricks have adhesive on their sides. As they fall, these two bricks happen to touch, and the adhesive joins…

  • Mass Confusion over “ASST”

    I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets confused by the terribly ambiguous abbreviation “ASST.” I mean, all you have to do is take one look at: ASST VEGETABLES and ASST DA’s Don’t you often find yourself reading them: Assistant Vegetables and Assorted DA’s Please, sign-makers, a little clarity wouldn’t hurt.

  • A Four Star Officer Is Something to Be

    “[Vice Adm.] Olson, 55, has been the command’s deputy chief since August 2003. If confirmed by the full Senate, he would receive a fourth star and…” I can totally relate. I once won a Gold Star for getting all the words right on a Spelling Test. It was a terrific motivator. And it still works…

  • “Enemy Combatant” vs. “Unlawful Enemy Combatant”–A Technicality?

    The Guantanamo prisoners were found by pre-trial tribunals to be “enemy combatants,” but not necessarily “unlawful enemy combatants.” US officials have characterized this as a “technicality,” and the press has bought in to that. Shockingly, even Sen. Levin’s proposed revamp “would make the commissions act’s definition of ‘unlawful enemy combatant’ the same as it is…

  • Apocalypse from the Moment of Conception

    US charges 4 men in plot to blow up JFK airport, Boston Globe, 6/3/07 “[T]he alleged plot was never close to fruition. The FBI had been tracking the alleged plot since 2006, and a member of the group was an FBI informant. In addition, the suspects lacked both the expertise and equipment [explosives, for example]…

  • Why Should Halliburton Have to Suffer?

    “Democrats accepted a GOP plan to establish 18 benchmarks….If Iraqis fall short, they could forfeit U.S. reconstruction aid.” Washington Post ———————- DKo: Forfeit U.S. reconstruction aid! Why should Halliburton have to suffer for Iraqi failures? We know that $16 billion in US reconstruction aid has provided negligible benefit to Iraqis. This won’t hurt them. But…