12/31 Let’s end the year on a happy note. Law professor Glenn Reynolds argues that 2004 was a good year for free speech. And columnist Radley Balko nicely summarizes the overall good news indicators from 2004. (Via Instapundit.com.)
12/30 The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 may have killed 70,000 people, and Voltaire and Rousseau debated its implications for the theodicy problem. Rob Vischer raises the issue again in poignant form, since the tsunamis killed Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, and atheists alike. Meanwhile, Johann Hari asks: Why is atheism failing as a mass movement? Updates: Here’s a startling confession from James Wolcott, who must be in ecstacy over the tsunamis. And at SOLO, Lindsay Perigo proposes that “God works in mysterious ways” is a euphemism for “God works in irresponsible ways”.
12/29 Francis Morrone’s pleasant discussion of the interplay between art and architecture in several of America’s major museums.
12/28 After the Florida hurricanes: How best deal with disasters? Frank Bubb explains the benefits of price gouging. In the wake of the Asian tsunami, The Wall Street Journal explains why rich countries are better protected against natural disasters, and Glenn Reynolds focuses on the role of blogs in spreading news quickly and mobilizing relief efforts. And here is a link to send disaster-relief donations to the American Red Cross via Amazon.com.
12/27 Now that the primary global warming model has been debunked, what will be the scaremongers’ next Omigod-we’re-all-going-to-die!!! scenario? Reason’s science correspondent Ronald Bailey reviews Michael Crichton’s new novel, State of Fear, and brings us up to speed on the current state of knowledge about global temperatures and species extinctions. Finally, Robert Bidinotto plays a role in exposing more shameless indoctrination of children by doomster environmentalists.
12/25 Steven Landsburg hails Ebenezer Scrooge as a great benefactor of mankind. And what if Johnnie Cochran, Ayn Rand, or Stephen King had written A Christmas Carol? (Thanks to Robert for the link.)
12/24 Is the Axis of Atheists taking over Christmas? Reason’s Julian Sanchez on the controversy over “Happy holidays” and “Seasons’s greetings”.
12/23 Cause and effect: the cost of frivolous lawsuits.
12/22 Libertarian philosopher Tibor Machan has published his memoirs. And here is Professor Machan’s very full bio site at the Hoover Institution.
12/21 Roger Donway’s always-fascinating summary-survey of economic, civil, and political liberties: What are the most free and unfree countries in the world?
12/20 Free markets in organs: Alex Tabarrok estimates the cost and proposes a solution to the donor organ shortage. Here also is Lifesharers, a non-profit voluntary network of organ donors.
12/18 Excellent: A Cato Institute study helps sink a proposal to use tax money to subsidize baseball in Washington, D.C. (Via TomPalmer.com.)
12/17 InsideDefense.com’s special report: The books and manuals that generals, intelligence and defense experts are recommending as essential reading for understanding and dealing with the insurgency in Iraq. (Thanks to Keith for the link.)
12/16 Rowan Hooper’s journalistic discussion of neuroscience, free will, and the purposes of law and punishment. And here are philosopher of science Daniel Dennett’s compatibilist Freedom Evolves, computer scientist Eyal Mozes’s critical review of Dennett’s book, and philosopher David Kelley’s Foundations of Knowledge set, which includes his lecture on The Nature of Free Will.
12/15 William Mattox’s touching article on China’s ‘daughter dearth’. (Thanks to Virginia for the link.)
12/14 Today let’s think about safety and technology. Friedrich of the 2 Blowhards takes up anew the benefits and challenges of nuclear power generation. And Wired magazine’s Tom McNichol looks into making road traffic safer by eliminating signs, lights, and painted lines. (Via Marginal Revolution.)
12/13 For those interested in the philosophy of history: I have begun reading Randall Collins’s massive and magisterial The Sociology of Philosophies, and I am hooked. My briefer introduction to the philosophy of history is here.
12/11 Martin Morse Wooster of the Capital Research Center on effective philanthropy for liberty.
12/10 Columnist Stuart Buck connects boredom, phonics, and other fundamentals of education. Speaking of fundamentals, this semester my Philosophy of Education students and I read Edward Lazear’s anthology Education for the Twenty-first Century, containing useful essays by Gary Becker, Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, and others. And economist Walter Williams asks whether college students are getting their money’s worth.
12/9 The legacy of Hayek. Samuel Gregg and Wolfgang Kaspar provide an introductory overview. [pdf]
12/8 Via Steven Den Beste, two important essays on international culture and policy: John Fonte on the “transnational progressives” and their ideological war with the West. And Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters’s classic essay on Seven Signs of Non-Competitive States.
12/7 The usually-quiet, liberty-loving majority takes it to the streets. (Thanks to Marsha for the link.)
12/6 Richard Epstein, Randy Barnett, David Friedman, and James Pinkerton: Four distinguished thinkers on liberty and coercion.
12/4 The most influential art pieces of the 20th century. (Thanks to Craig S. for the link.) Then to get that out of your system, visit these three contemporary masters: Martine Vaugel, Michael Newberry, and Stuart Mark Feldman. [Broken link.]
12/3 For history geeks like me, a fun and informative research site: Timelines of History.
12/2 FIRE’s guide to due process and fair procedure on campus. And while we’re on campus, Joanne Jacobs asks: Why do middle-class black students perform less well than middle-class white students? Update: The Wall Street Journal has more data on harassment of students with minority views. (Via PrestoPundit.com and GalleySlaves.Blogspot.com.)
12/1 David Boaz of the Cato Institute on how to solve the gay marriage debates:
Privatize marriage. (Via David Mayer.)