A Chicago Blog

Since today marks the beginning of summer, there’s no better time to sort out my top-five summer beers.
1) Goose Island Summertime
2) Red Stripe
3) Old Style (Cubs games only)
4) Modelo Especial
5) Moosehead
Notice, that just because I think of these beers as “top” summer beers, doesn’t mean they are all “top” beers. Red Stripe isn’t all that [...]

Zorn’s column yesterday was titled “Let churches decide what marriage is.” Here Here! This is the only possible compromise. And pretty libertarian sounding to me. There is no reason why I, a straight man, shouldn’t have to get a “civil union” contract to share any legal privileges with my wife. For that matter, my tax [...]

So I didn’t know what to right about today. But I was shocked to find out that Scarlett Johansson has an album! I haven’t decided whether or not to buy it, but listening to the iTunes previews I can already tell you two things about it. First, she is obviously a little uncomfortable singing (and [...]

According to Psyblog, short term memory is only about 20 seconds.

Here’s more evidence that there is a coming Libertarian Generation. (Hat tip: YeahRight)

Here’s a good topic from Cory at BoingBoing. Just as technology frees up labor to be applied to other productive pursuits, thereby creating wealth in a free economy; so also does it free up cognitive ability to be used up in other cultural projects. Clay Shirky calls this cognitive surplus. Here’s one good passage:

And what [...]

Well, I’m finally back in Chicago after more than a week on the road. I feel like Johnny Cash; I’ve been to Seattle, Denver, Reno, and Vegas. Two days in Seattle were vacation days and I will be posting pictures and video shortly.
It’s good to be home, and the spring weather reminds me that I [...]

I’m in Denver on work. We’re doing blogger training here. We call it Samsphere. I’m currently moderating a panel. Hey, look! it’s being live blogged! This creates all sorts of metaphysical quandries.

We should embrace free speech in this country, even when it is offensive. Unerringly. But whenever a certain “speech” touches on our personal or national symbology it is very natural to be outraged. The millions of men and women who have served this country in the military, who have risked their lives, and who have [...]