Today was the first day of classes at our English training school here in Dali, Yunnan Province. This semester I have three classes, each two hours. I am exhausted tonight. It usually takes me two weeks to get back into teaching shape. Teaching English as a foreign language to kids, you’re on your feet prettyContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Tag Archives: both-sides-do-it
Someone Was Wrong on the Internet!
While navel-gazing today I found a significant error in my first post of consequence. Stop the presses! Someone was wrong on the internet! I wanted to see what my writing was like four months ago when I started this thing, remind myself of the mission, and try to find instances where my writing could beContinue reading “Someone Was Wrong on the Internet!”
Weekend Links
We invited one of the students in my adult class and her husband over for dinner tonight. This student, who goes by the English name Dana, is really impressive in her dedication to learning English. She teaches full time at a local high school. This year, Dana is the lead teacher for a class of high schoolContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Morning Coffee in China Links
First blue sky and sun we’ve seen in three days here in Dali. We got our first taste of the cold season here these last few days, and it tasted bitter! While Dali’s winter climate is quite mild, it’s kind of a tough season because there are no central heating systems. We use (terribly inefficient) space heatersContinue reading “Morning Coffee in China Links”
Reality Has a Well-Known Liberal Bias, Paul Krugman Edition
Why don’t facts say what we want them to say? Paul Krugman has been on this beat for a long time, notably writing in 2014 about conservatives unable to deal with the fact that the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, was doing what it was designed to do. Here, Krugman catches The Federal Reserve BankContinue reading “Reality Has a Well-Known Liberal Bias, Paul Krugman Edition”
Weekend Links
Teaching today and tomorrow, so I might not get around to another full post this week. Some links: First, some self-promotion. Here’s a link to something I wrote this week. It’s my longest essay and I think my best one so far. I tried to explain the leadership crisis in the House and why it’s kind of aContinue reading “Weekend Links”
How Not to Govern in America
John Boehner’s decision to resign as Speaker later next month can help explain why the Republican Party in its current state is incapable of governing. As Jonathan Chait points out, Boehner resigned/was ousted because of extremely unrealistic expectations that he would, or could, force Obama to cave to conservative demands. The story here is quite simple.Continue reading “How Not to Govern in America”
A Good Place to Start
Apples are just like oranges. Spread some peanut butter on an apple wedge, spread some peanut butter on an orange slice, same difference. Am I right? Of course not. As explained in this blog’s first post ever, the major theme here will likely be the myths and misunderstandings that bedevil contemporary American politics. It isContinue reading “A Good Place to Start”
Nonsense Consensus 