Unqualified Offerings

By Thoreau
A mathematician has proved that the two most symmetric lattices are diamond and some funky lattice called (10,3)-a. (Don’t ask.) In the article that I’m linking here, it says that nobody knows if this crystalline structure occurs in nature, but some subscription-only articles note that it does occur in certain inorganic compounds.

Not [...]

Jeet Heer probably has the best William F. Buckley appreciation today.
I hope someone will write as good an appreciation of Myron Cope, who also died today. Cope was the voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 34 years, and invented the Terrible Towel on-air one night while doing the sports for WTAE Channel 4. In my [...]

Garfield Minus Garfield == Bitchin’!
One from yesterday is especially good.
Via, among other places, Poliblog.

By Thoreau
I’ve been reading it for a few months now and loving every issue.  It’s definitely accessible to the layman.  So far the best article I’ve read in the latest issue is an interview with Darius Rejali, an expert on torture:
If it doesn’t work, why does it persist?
Myths and rumours. There is a perception that [...]

By Thoreau
We go to our good friend Jennifer who interviewed a state legislator proposing a ban on smoking in cars when children are present:
So if enclosed spaces are the issue here, will the bill make an exemption for smoking in open-top convertibles?
No, Genga said firmly. “If you’re in a vehicle with a child in a [...]