The Sloop John B


A very long time ago, WC worked a summer for the University of Alaska Institute of Marine Science, aboard the R/V Acona in the waters off – sometimes a long ways off – Alaska. That summer, the Beach Boys had a hit with “Sloop John B.,” which made it to #3 on the Top 100…

What Price Democracy?


In the fallout from the 2010 election, it’s easy to lose sight of one of the important lessons: you can’t always buy your own way to a major political seat (ask Meg Whitman), but you don’t need to. It much easier to persuade American voters to give it to you. Like televangelists selling salvation, the…