David WineberginThe Straight DopeThe only thing continuously evolving is evolutionary theoryBeginning in the 1970s, a freewheeling gang of, yes it’s true, paleontologists, centered on their most famous member, Stephen Jay Gould…20h ago120h ago1
David WineberginThe Straight DopeMust horror have an ulterior motive?If summer is getting you down, you can now read Jon Greenaway’s Capitalism: A Horror Story. It is all but guaranteed to make you feel…6d ago6d ago
David WineberginThe Straight DopeSome books are readable because they are infuriating.May starts out on the wrong foot with me by trying to evaluate Man’s value in the cosmos by the degree of happiness (he claims) they…Jul 21Jul 21
David WineberginThe Straight DopeDismantling the artificial real estate spiralWhat if selling land was not the main way to wealth? What if land could not be bought and sold, but only the improvements on it? These are…Jul 14Jul 14
David WineberginThe Straight DopeTwo old men in a grudge match is history’s signal this era is overThe upcoming election has suddenly made the book End Times a very real possibility. When I read it in late 2022, my reaction was — yeah…Jul 83Jul 83
David WineberginThe Straight DopeOf sawdust vitamins, gold coins, and fake non-profits: what has become of the Republican PartyAs regular readers of this space know, I am forever trying to read and appreciate right wing, conservative viewpoints. But I keep running…Jul 61Jul 61
David WineberginThe Straight DopePutinizing the USAI cannot believe President Joe Biden went on national TV tonight, and all he said was “I dissent.”Jul 23Jul 23
David WineberginThe Straight DopeAntipoverty incentives are all wrong. No wonder America hates the poor.In a sincere but misguided effort to improve government services, President Ronald Reagan instituted a still ongoing effort to outsource…Jun 301Jun 301
David WineberginThe Straight DopeThe oceans are alive with the sounds of music, even if people can’t hear it (or maybe because…I’ve reviewed several books showing how unbelievably noisy everything is in the universe. Human bodies are on fire with continuous…Jun 233Jun 233
David WineberginThe Straight DopeEveryone’s customized reality on social media is crushing civilizationWhen I was a radio talkshow host, there was no internet (for the general public), and we were still in the age-old mode of shared…Jun 16Jun 16