The Somin Family's D-Day
June 6 is not only the anniversary of D-Day, but also of the Somin family's arrival in America, back in 1979. This post reprints my reflections on that milestone, which I hope remain relevant today.
Culture
"He Is Right Who Is Defending His Home"
"Our generation always understood each other without borders and passports / There, where we sang about friendship, today people dream only of complete revenge / All that normal people built over the years—all is obliterated."
Former New York Times Reporter Denies in New Book That Hugo Chávez Was a Socialist
A new book vividly portrays human beings coping with daily existence in a disintegrating society but offers an incoherent analysis of what went wrong.
New York City Sued Over Illegal Foie Gras Ban
Hudson Valley foie gras producers are not taking New York City's guff sitting down.
Ohio Lawmakers Want To Subject Female Athletes to Genital Inspections
There’s reportedly only one trans female athlete competing in the state, but this sports ban can be used to harass cis girls as well.
HBO's Wild Irma Vep Adaptation Skewers Modern Films
Just don’t expect a whole lot of plot coherence.
David Cronenberg's Crimes of the Future Is a Gross-Out Sci-Fi Film About Bodily Autonomy
Disturbing, eerie, and strangely relevant, it's a return to form for the Canadian horror master.
Review: My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
The political podcast uses relevant history to contextualize controversial current events.
Review: SKIMS
If you've detected increased sexiness in the atmosphere, you can thank Kim Kardashian and her lingerie brand SKIMS.
Secret City Recounts the Gay History of D.C.
In his new book, James Kirchick focuses on homosexuals' relationship with national politics during a time when gays were banned from working for the federal government.
Destroying Islamic Fundamentalism With Books
Ideas Beyond Borders is bringing ideas about pluralism, civil liberties, and critical thinking to hotbeds of Islamic extremism.
A Maine Couple Is Suing the State for the Right To Hunt on Sundays
The Parkers filed their lawsuit under Maine’s new ‘right-to-food’ constitutional amendment.
Book Review: The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity
Early cities' concentrated populations and burgeoning scale didn't spontaneously summon pharaonic god-kings or bureaucrats.
David E. Kelley Brings Legal Thriller The Lincoln Lawyer to Netflix
Adaptation of Michael Connelly’s book series is punchy, clever, and entertaining.
How a Baseball Non-Fight Illustrates Our Weird Journalistic Discourse on Racism
White player suspended for calling black player "Jackie"; many journalists conclude that the player (and Yankees fans!) are racist.
Netflix Airs Ricky Gervais' Controversial Standup, Chooses Actual Entertaining Over Woke Pandering
"The platform's choice to release this special now, during a wave of unprecedented anti-trans legislation, is unconscionable," according to Vox.
A Plague of Policymakers Returns Hunger to the World
Lockdowns, trade disputes, and warfare make the next meal once again a matter of concern.
Review: Raccoon Tycoon
Unlike in Catan, the value of your wheat, wood, iron, coal, manufactured goods, and luxuries will fluctuate depending on what has recently been bought and sold in the game's marketplace.
The Slaughter-Free Future of Cultured Meats
Real factories are beginning to replace factory farms.
NPR Tries To Cancel Stoner Metal Legend Matt Pike
An exhaustive profile of the Sleep and High on Fire frontman focuses almost entirely on his "dangerous" affinity for David Icke's lizard people conspiracy theories.
Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, Melissa Chen: Bringing Enlightenment Values to the Middle East
The co-founders of Ideas Beyond Borders talk about bringing Steven Pinker and John Stuart Mill to an audience dying for them.
Reason Is a Finalist for 8 Southern California Journalism Awards
Nominated stories cover minor league baseball, drug tests, and L.A.’s plan for ending homelessness
Civilization Runs on Ammonia, Plastic, Steel, and Cement—for Now
Vaclav Smil’s How the World Really Works offers hope and despair for techno-optimists.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Demonstrate How Not To Handle a #MeToo Case
The torturous trial calls to mind Title IX investigations on college campuses.
Agnieszka Pilat: 'I Didn't Realize People Still Think Socialism Is a Good Idea.'
The Polish-born artist is creating "heroic portraits" of machines and defending individualism and creative expression in Silicon Valley.
San Francisco Archbishop Bars Nancy Pelosi From Communion Over Abortion Stance
This has nothing to do with the separation of church and state.
Britain Finally Relaxes GMO Rules, but Advocates Want More Deregulation
New GMO rules are a good break from the E.U., but they don't go far enough.
The Perpetually Canceled Ludwig von Mises
"Hold on, now, you're starting to sound like an anarchist..."
The Inevitable #MeToo Allegation Against Elon Musk Is Weak
It seems like an ambiguous episode that was handled appropriately.
Privileged People Oppose Even 'Win-Win' Pro-Equality Policies, Says New Study
"Advantaged group members misperceive that equality necessarily comes at a cost to their group."
The Ipcress File Abandons Its Satirical Roots for Spy Thriller Hijinks
The drama is engaging, but fans of the book should prepare for a wildly different story.
Alex Garland's Provocative Men Asks: Are Men OK?
A surrealist nightmare of gender terror from one of Hollywood’s most distinctive directors.
Review: The Batman
The movie's whole idea seems to be that if Batman truly wanted to make Gotham a better place, he'd find some other way to do it, perhaps involving politics.
Review: The Second Shooter
Despite caricaturing (some) gun owners, Nick Mamatas' conspiracy-fueled science fiction novel avoids moralizing in favor of dark humor.
New York Times Columnist Gail Collins Proposes a 'Simple Battle' To 'Get Rid of the Guns'
It's not clear which guns she is talking about, and even Collins does not seem to know.
FDA Will Ease Enforcement of Baby Formula Regulations To Address Shortage
Plus: Supreme Court sides with Ted Cruz in campaign finance case, gender quota for corporate boards ruled unconstitutional, and more...
America's Families Still Revile USDA-Funded School Lunches
The central planning of America's public school lunch menus has been a disaster.
Netflix Adds 'Artistic Expression' Policy, Says It Will Not 'Censor Specific Artists'
"If you’d find it hard to support our content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for you," the company tells employees.
Romance and Sci-Fi Tangle in The Time Traveler's Wife
The latest attempt to adapt the novel comes as an HBO miniseries.
How Bad Government Policy is Fueling the Infant Formula Shortage
Trade restrictions and over-zealous FDA regulation are a big part of the problem, but there's more.
Review: South Park
The veteran satirists tackle major issues in America's increasingly divisive culture war with no condescension, cringe, or partisan preference.
Denver Drops Effort To Criminally Prosecute Pickleball Enthusiast Who Made Small 'X's on City-Owned Gym Floor
The city is insisting that 71-year-old Arslan Guney pay nearly $5,000 to cover the alleged costs of restoring the gym floor.
GMOs Are Good for Us
The activists who say otherwise are wrong on the costs and wrong on the science.
