The philosopher Peter Singer makes an excellent argument for the human moral imperative of helping others. If we want to be good people, says Singer, we need to give some of what we have to alleviate the misery of the world's poorest people.

The NY Times review, which gives a nice summary of his arguments and possible counter-arguments (the ( Read more... )

The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (named for the author of the opening sentence "It was a dark and stormy night") celebrates the worst first sentences of (thankfully) nonexistent novels. Too bad there isn't a fanfic category ( Read more... )

I had a perfect summer day being a tourist on Martha's Vineyard. I had never been before and it had an almost mythical pull for me. We caught the Ferry from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven and then went to Edgartown and had lunch and saw the historical museum there and then went to Oak Bluff for the beach, ice cream and the carousel. I think one ( Read more... )