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The American Soldier at the End of History
November 11, 2014
In the racket of post-midterm exegeses, one line of analysis was missing—a lament for the paltry number of veterans serving in Congress. Of course, there were a couple high profile victories by veterans in this election, making up a colorful, if not altogether nutty, cast of ...

Daily Bafflements
November 11, 2014
• The luxurious Survival Condo, built in a former missile silo, is selling units for $3 million each, reports the Wall Street Journal. Amenities include round-the-clock armed guards, a movie theater and indoor swimming pool, and the feeling of security you get when you know ...

Death of an Enemy: Warren Anderson, 1920-2014
November 10, 2014
How do you grant humanity to those who would deny yours? Warren Anderson, CEO of Union Carbide at the time of the industrial disaster in Bhopal, India on December 2-3, 1984 that killed over 20,000 people, died in Florida last month, although news of his death became public only ...

Daily Bafflements
November 10, 2014
• Elmo Keep writes for Matter about how 200,000 people have applied to join a much-hyped, one-way mission to Mars in 2025…which may or may not turn out to be one big scam. (Via Longform.) • Today in Billionaires, and Billions: Oxfam, the organization that recently ...

On Pelf
November 10, 2014
We’re very pleased to launch our new issue online today, no. 26, if you can believe it. It’s entitled “Sickness and Pelf,” and inside you’ll find multitudinous tales of woe and profit from the culture of medicine in America. If you’re curious: ...

Daily Bafflements
November 07, 2014
• Today’s Headline Without Context, from Engadget: “Tiny robotic scallops can swim through blood and eyeball fluid to fix you up.” • Today’s Quote Without Context, from the Spectator: “And for those who can’t manage the group sessions, ...

Can Humor Be Revolutionary?
November 06, 2014
In his new book, Russell Brand grandly declares: “The Revolution cannot be boring.” Accordingly, his long and winding Revolution (Ballantine Books, 320 pages, $26) mixes comedy and politics, quoting Monty Python and Louis CK alongside the likes of George Orwell and Noam ...

Daily Bafflements
November 06, 2014
• The private takeover of public spaces continues: Portland will soon allow the company’s utility cabinets for its Google Fiber project in the middle of the city’s sidewalks. But don’t worry; they’ll be painted with funky designs for “artistic ...

The Military’s Latest Enemy: Climate Change
November 05, 2014
To say that the United States military has its hands full right now is a bit of an understatement. We might not have anywhere near the troop deployment levels reached during the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—and there have been modest cuts to the defense ...

Daily Bafflements
November 05, 2014
• Voters approved ballot measures yesterday to raise the minimum wage, in Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota (and maybe also in Alaska). • A dispatch from the “East Coast Cannabis Business Expo, Educational Conference and Regulatory Summit” turned out to be ...

Election Day Reading from The Baffler
November 04, 2014
Good morning, all you small-r republicans and patriots. It’s election day today, yessiree. How are you celebrating this iteration of our grand small-d democracy? Here’s an idea: why not ignore the pundits and the pollsters and the nerds and naysayers, and return to some ...