Internal Monologue

via Ezra Klein .

I just finished listening to the last of David Blight's lectures on the build-up to, fighting of, and aftermath of the American Civil War. I think it would be fair to say that this series of lectures transformed my understanding of American history, race relations, and politics. So much of what seemed baffling to me about my country now seems explicable, indeed even inevitable , given what happened in this country from 1861 to 1865, and then from 1866 through the rest of the 19th century. I did not realize how absolutely devastating the war was, particularly to the South. And then, after all that, for the nation to come together again within a few short years is both miraculous and hideous. Such a cataclysmic schism and subsequent rapid reconciliation could not possibly happen without a thousand myths, delusions, distortions, projections, and obsessions taking hold. And certainly not without a massive backlash and a lot of people being thrown under the bus (or to the back of it).

According to this chart , only 23% of people on OK Cupid who identify as bisexual actually send messages to both genders. OK Cupid identifies more interesting lies here , about height, income, and age of photos.

Here's a good writeup that captures some of what is frustrating about the recent Grant verdict.

Rock Fans Outraged As Bob Dylan Goes Electronica Given the number of genre and identity transformations he's undergone, I wouldn't be all that surprised.

From here .

If you're not one of the over 3 million people who has already seen this: