Welcome Maximus Stefanescu to planet Earth—congratulations Alina!

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Standard economic analysis would suggest that the proportion of bars (or restaurants… but let’s stick to bars) in a given region that adopt smoking vs non-smoking policies is a simple function of consumer demand. If most bars permit smoking, on this logic, it must be because that reflects the preferences of bargoers. If very many […]

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I got to wondering today whether theory isn’t bad for you—whether I mightn’t be a better person if I’d stuck with my original notion, as a freshman at NYU, of majoring in English. The thought is prompted by Martha Nussbaum’s appreciation of the late philosopher Bernard Williams, who I’m pretty sure would go on a […]

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Now up at Reason. There’s also an insightful addendum from Jesse Walker, and a boatload of comments at Hit and Run. I should add two comments here as well. First, I suppose the argument there is directed, not necessarily at self-identified hardcore libertarians (or Libertarians) but at the wider set of folks with broadly libertarian, […]

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So I’ve long found Pitchfork Media an invaluable source for solid reviews of indie records, but an astute friend has hepped me to the intolerable coolness of William Bowers’ stuff: In addition to fulfilling the standard review function of letting you know whether you want to listen to / buy the album in question, they’re […]

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The first meeting of “Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire,” a group organizing to oppose efforts to ban smoking in DC bars and restaurants will be THIS THURSDAY (October 16) at 7:30 pm at Jo McNeil‘s place. Email Jo for directions.

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It’s time, yet again, for the occasional Blogorama on Kalorama. Rockstars, blogstars, and miscellaneous non-squares are highly recommended to make their way to the Rendezvous Lounge on 18th Street and Kalorama on Thursday, October 23 around 7pm. Invariably big fun and good conversation: You’ll be ashamed if you have to tell your kids you never […]

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So, Will’s right that most of the libertarians quoted in this TAP article are friends. But I think Virginia Postrel’s a little hard on it as a result: Whatever you want to say about the sourcing of this particular piece, I’ve heard similar sentiments expressed by plenty of libertarians who I don’t know socially. There […]

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Aussie researchers are developing a form of male birth control that clinical trials so far are reporting is “100 percent effective.” The FDA had better not sit on this one, or they’re apt to have several million angry guys marching through D.C. After all, it’s clear that this would have plenty of secondary health benefits […]

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I think the headline says it all, but you can read the article too if you’re curious.

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