A web feed for this site is available,Archive: Random Observations Bin
All the little Harveys (October 20, 2017)
The problem isn’t one rich, powerful man abusing women for his own gratification. The problem is that there are lots of men doing that
Movie review (kinda): “The Neon Demon” (October 11, 2017)
It’s a great film and a terrible film, all at once
What to do with the Confederate monuments (August 16, 2017)
These monuments belong in hell. Let us therefore make a hell, and consign them to it.
Movie review: “Dunkirk” (July 30, 2017)
A beautiful film that’s not nearly as good as you’ve heard
People met in hotel lobbies (May 24, 2017)
Selections from the Washington Post’s Gilded Age coverage of notable visitors to the city
Five (more) podcasts I recommend (November 4, 2016)
Yes! There are more!
A well-regulated apocalypse: inside the Code of Emergency Federal Regulations (November 3, 2016)
A guided tour of the secret regulations that were to go into effect in the event of a Soviet nuclear attack on the US
Presenting a bit of history: the Code of Emergency Federal Regulations (October 27, 2016)
Download the secret Cold War regulations that would have gone into effect if the US was struck by a devastating nuclear attack
Oktoberfest in Winchester (October 16, 2016)
Another random road trip, this time to the Shenandoah Valley
It’s raining in Charlottesville (October 11, 2016)
Notes from a random road trip
Fifteen years later (September 12, 2016)
9/11 pulled a thread, and the sweater of history has been unraveling ever since
Why do I do this? (September 9, 2016)
In the hope that if I write something meaningful, it will find its way to whomever needs it. Like a message in a bottle
Why airplane windows have round corners (September 8, 2016)
It’s to prevent them from killing you
We did it, all by ourselves (September 7, 2016)
Prophets are easy to find, if you don’t care whether they are false. It gets much harder if you do
Autumn (September 1, 2016)
A time to prepare for a long march
This blog is now secure by default (August 30, 2016)
JWM flips the switch for 100% HTTPS
A word about #Brexit (June 24, 2016)
As a degree-bearing political science nerd, I feel a responsibility to say a little about why this is a Big Deal and what it may mean
Jason recommends: “Our World War” (November 24, 2015)
Our World War is thrilling, engaging and profoundly moving; it brings World War I to life in a way that no other production I’ve seen ever has
Marvel Unlimited: Everything good and bad about comics, for $9.99 (November 20, 2015)
It’s not perfect, but if the idea of binge-reading comics appeals to you, Unlimited is where you want to be
Ask Mr. Science: How to securely manage your passwords (September 16, 2015)
Securely managing all your passwords is easy! As long as you’re not stupid, lazy, or a Communist
Our new comments policy: don’t let the door hit your comments on the ass on their way out (September 4, 2015)
Comment sections are the male nipples of online publishing. So the nipples are gone, my friends. The nipples are gone
Book review: “Wolf Hall” (September 3, 2015)
Wolf Hall appears to be one of those novels that polarizes its readers — either they love it, or they really, really do not. I loved it, for a few different reasons
“Show Me a Hero” and the limits of Life, the Movie (August 31, 2015)
To live in the world, the good guys have to accept that sometimes the only reward for doing the right thing is your own awareness of having done it
Pardon the dust (August 25, 2015)
For the first time in something like seven years, I’ve done some remodeling around here
Your daily Zorroscope (August 10, 2015)
Advice for life’s everyday challenges, especially those involving treacherous Californio noblemen