———— ♦ ———— Disgusting smells provoke conservatism A logical calculus of vomit stink, gay marriage, and political leaning Research subjects exposed to the smell of vomit displayed a pronounced shift of attitudes toward the right. The Improbable Research article over-emphasizes the Biblical inerrancy question. Researchers surveyed participants on a wide range of liberal-vs.-conservative issues, and the two on which results were most outstanding were Biblical inerrancy and gay

Dan Rodricks complained that a recent Baltimore City ordinance on panhandling failed to address “the underlying issues.” He has failed to address them either; so, I thought I would. Here are those I personally see: CHECKLIST ✓ TREATMENT ON DEMAND. Drug and alcohol treatment needs to be available on demand. This doesn’t affect me personally, but does affect panhandling — and prostitution, petty theft, shoplifting, smash-and-grabs, larcenies, and in fact all crime of any type.

Here comes the spoils society Don’t let that odd title put you off. I think this op-ed by Robert J. Samuelson is pretty important. The question is whether we direct the economy so as to increase wealth for everyone, or instead merely give poorer or richer people larger pieces of the “pie.” In my conversations with other homeless folk and poor people generally, I hope to emphasize the desirability of creating wealth as opposed to merely taking it away from others. On that poin