I think in trying to be specific you are losing the essence of culture. Law and language are necessary but not sufficient. Perhaps it is fair to say that nothing else is necessary but more is needed … (View Post)

There were definitely McDonald's in Moscow in 2008. I will happily admit to eating three meals there in one day when breakfast at the fried dumplings and vodka place (the only other option in wa… (View Post)

Which in itself wasn't a bad request. It was what he did with the first two of those 10 that was at issue. (View Post)

Pure meritocracy is such a ludicrous proposition as to not be worth discussing, in my view. Nevertheless, an approximation could serve as a useful fiction if we were just a little better at defining … (View Post)

Agreed. Like many of us he believes first, and finds evidence later. He isn't unusual in that (and I'm uncomfortable implying that he is). What's unusual is what he chooses to believe.… (View Post)