Blog 56. Ravens and the rate of change

Most of these blogs have been concerned with the progress (or regress) of society, where most of us notice that our communications, demands, and obligations seem to be increasing.  As noted by Gleick, society and daily living are changing, and the rate of change is increasing, too.  That is, the rate of change of the rate of change is increasing. Continue reading

Blog 43. Making molehills or mountains

From small molehills, big mountains grow.  Sometimes.  If the feedback is positive, that is—if the mole is rewarded with more food just for digging that molehill, and if his children are likewise rewarded.  We’re not moles eating carrots, so how does this relate to us? Continue reading

Blog 39. Is federal regulation legal?

In drafting the federal constitution, the founding fathers didn’t foresee a government involved in administering diverse things like air travel, radio waves, rivers, and food purity.  The Constitution specifically allows regulation of interstate commerce and postal roads, but, for example, does it allow federal regulation of pollution in rivers?  Continue reading

Blog 21. Needed Now: A Constitutional Amendment

In Blog 20, I described the Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court, which gave corporations the constitutional right to free speech and to make unlimited monetary donations to political advertising and commentary. Reportedly, Senator (and previous presidential candidate) John McCain  (R-AZ) said Citizens United is “one of the worst decisions I have ever seen.”

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