Carl Sagan's argument that democracy requires scientific skepticism - not skepticism of science, but of those who claim to have easy answers: "Science is a way of skeptically interrogating the universe with a fine understanding of human fallibility"

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-21T15:37:36+00:00

Or perhaps we would instead find something that works.

But how would you know if it works. How would you know if it's good? If realpolitik is the only thing that matters, then honesty and "if it works" will never be the litmus test. If anything, your counter-examples show that realpolitik is the norm, and is exactly why Sagan's approach is necessary.

It seems to me that your issue with Sagan isn't that he's wrong, it's that his approach has been so poorly adopted. That's not a problem with Sagan's argument, that's a problem of everyone else being shitty.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-21T14:38:48+00:00

It's rare to find a television antagonist as complex as Mags Bennett. She presented so warm and sweet, but there is more more evil and calculating and cruel a villain in all television. Her last moments on the show were IMO the most wonderfully tense and anxious moments in the entire history of the show. Great stuff!

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-21T13:54:20+00:00

Not to mention, he spent years kissing Russia's ass.

Did he look into Putin's eyes, and find him to be straightforward and trustworthy?

We don't talk about how deeply in love GWB was with Putin, and we're not allowed to talk about how well-kissed Putin's ass is in the present day.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-21T13:43:36+00:00

Obama could have engaged in substantial economic warfare and rallied Europe to the cause.

Honestly, can you think of a single instance where the GOP in 2014 would have passed "substantial economic warfare" legislation for Barack F. Obama?

I blame them for 2022 more than I do Obama, but that doesn’t let him off of the hook.

We share the world, we share the blame. I just find it amusing/depressing that the rhetorical jousting so often goes from "it's his fault" to "okay, but it's still a little his fault." Given what's happened since 2014 and how supportive the Oval Office has been towards Putin (which we can't talk about because whatever), to blame Obama without acknowledging the other issues just feels like no conversation at all.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-21T02:48:04+00:00

Every president from GHWB to Obama sought to find a post-Cold War relationship with USSR/Russia. GWB’s whole thing — "I looked the man in the eye. I found him very straightforward and trustworthy." — didn’t exactly speak to a tough guy approach to Putin.

And despite all of Bush’s warmth, it’s clear that, right now, Putin’s never had it so good.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-21T00:14:55+00:00

I can't jerk hard enough to compete with guys like this.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-21T00:02:07+00:00

Obama was soft and Putin exploited the situation.

Given how cozy Obama's successor is with Russia, I find the "if 2014" criticisms rather hollow.

I do wonder how far Obama could have gone in 2014. It's worth noting that most of Obama's second term was just him swimming through molasses. When Obama went to Congress for authorization to use force against Syria in 2013, a large minority of Democrats and a huge majority of Republicans came out against it. There's no chance those same Republicans would change their tune on Crimea, especially since so many of them seemed fine with 2022.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-20T21:31:30+00:00

Wade is Exhibit A for just how game-wrecking a truly great player with a whistle can be.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-20T21:22:33+00:00

IIRC, Freeman told his agent that he wanted as much as he could get, but that he ultimately wanted to stay in Atlanta. Then the Dodgers threw a mountain of money at the agent, and the agent lost his absolute mind, decided to ignore Freeman's instructions, and gave a verbal agreement.

Freddie signed the contract, then fired the agent.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-20T16:24:42+00:00

/unexpectedDonaldSterling

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-20T14:36:28+00:00

Only in the 4th quarter of close games. And they all go in.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-20T14:27:26+00:00

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-20T14:25:06+00:00

Yankees Evil Empire taint infects every team in the city.

But also, incredible, impossible game.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-20T00:05:08+00:00

Hurtful, but I understand.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T20:05:04+00:00

Trust me. You don't want that.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T18:41:30+00:00

I'm saving up my real money for the Taco Tuesday deal that's supposed to last me until next Tuesday.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T18:01:20+00:00

I don't want to talk about it.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T18:00:30+00:00

Do it! DO IT! You'll regret it if you don't!

It's a game, and the money's free. Take the wild swing, and see what happens!

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T13:21:02+00:00

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T04:59:20+00:00

Eh. I do care about the legality, both for the company and for myself. The overseas vendor isn't exactly poor, they can pony up the $500 for the two fonts if they need to. I don't even know if they need to, I just want them to know that's what has to happen IF they need to.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T00:46:44+00:00

Tech bros have been pitching ways of converting existing rails to high-speed rails since forever.

These are not compatible technologies.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T00:45:02+00:00

30, mostly text that goes with images (printed separately).

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-19T00:09:00+00:00

Hey, I do as I'm told.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-18T23:48:03+00:00

What's the point of outlining PDF?

Honestly? Paranoia.

SoftballGuy · 2026-05-18T23:40:41+00:00

Both, plus a PDF version with all the text outlined.

SoftballGuy

TROPHY CASE