Michael Hudson | Naked Capitalism | 2 December 2011 International finance is a "new mode of warfare. Its objective is the same as military conquest in times past: To appropriate land and mineral resources, communal infrastructure and extract tribute." Fine essay on debt, democracy Comments Freeman Dyson | NYRB | 2 December 2011 Freeman Dyson on Daniel Kahneman and cognitive illusion. In brief, how we too often persuade ourselves that we are right, by ignoring evidence that we are wrong Comments Kenan Malik | Pandaemonium | 2 December 2011 Everyone wants to feel offended these days. And, if you don't, the authorities – from police to trade union bureaucrats – will try to make you. Lovely (short) blogpost commenting on three incidents of the past few days Comments Geza Vermes | Standpoint | 1 December 2011 "The expression 'Jewish Christian', made up of two seemingly contradictory concepts, must strike readers not trained in theology or religious history as an oxymoron." But it isn't. Here is the full story of Judaeo-Christianity Comments Anonymous | Economist | 3 December 2011 Profile of David Gelernter, professor of computer science, victim of Unabomber, prophet of social networks. Imagined Facebook in 1991, pretty much invented it in 1997, but his investors wanted corporate clients, not individuals Comments Dominic Hilton | New Humanist | 19 November 2011 Anglican gets engaged to atheist. Confesses belief to fiancée's friends. "I may as well have said, 'Hi, my name's Dominic, and I'm a polygamist.'" To explain appeal of religion drags fiancée to a christening. It doesn't go well Comments |