The key word here is "voluntary"

Melinda Gates working for increased access to voluntary birth control across globe.

I'm going to assume here the point of conservativism is to maximize the amount of human misery

John Scalzi posts about Obama's recent belated embrace of marginal decency and gets this interesting comment from one of his readers:

As a fiscal/foreign policy conservative living in Bluest Vermont, I generally don’t give a crap about what people do in the privacy of their bedroom, much less on whom is marrying whom. My only concern is the health of the institution of marriage. You want gay marriage? Fine, but let’s let make it harder to divorce; get rid of no-fault divorce and try to discourage out of wedlock births and cohabitation before getting married.

Later on, the commenter expands on their thesis:( Read more... )

A bit of history

Nicked from Cheryl Morgan:

ARPANET Test June 1976
with Samir Amin, Steve Biko, Francis Fukuyama & Minoru Yamasaki

Published on 14 March 2011. Presented as ACAF's contribution to MARKER at Art Dubai 2011. Featuring guest collaborator Khwezi Gule, a curator, artist and writer based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The following transcript presents an excerpt of a conversation that took place in June 1976 between Egyptian Marxist economist Samir Amin, South African Anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, American political economist Francis Fukuyama, and prominent American architect Minoru Yamasaki.

More comments about the old radio show X Minus One

Generally I prefer the Galaxy stories to the Astounding stories. No surprise there.

Clearly the X Minus One people like Ray Bradbury's stuff more than I do.

I am a bit surprised at the number of stories that could be taken as criticisms of how the US treated its Indian population. OK, touchy feely liberals like the Galaxy crowd getting the guilts doesn't surprise me but Astounding? And this early in US history?

Man Conquers Space video

I prefer the history we got to the one people lament not having but I know people will enjoy this:

Too pornographic or not pornographic enough?

According to some people, this new $20 has naked people on it. I am showing it to you so you know what bill to avoid in Canada if you want to avoid the naked people bill.