New at Reason: Cathy Young on Ridley Scott's Robin Hood

Now this is a Robin I can get behind. Interesting backstory of the legend and how it's become corrupted.

New at Reason: Cathy Young on Ridley Scott's Robin Hood: "

The new Ridley Scott film Robin Hood is
drawing some critics' political ire. In New York's leftist weekly,
The Village Voice, Karina Longworth laments that 'instead
of robbing from the rich to give to the poor, this Robin Hood
preaches about 'liberty' and the rights of the individual' and
battles against 'government greed'; the film, she scoffs, is 'a
rousing love letter to the tea party movement.' But as Contributing
Editor Cathy Young explains, the Robin Hood of myth and folklore
probably has much more in common with the 'libertarian rebel'
played by Russell Crowe than with the medieval socialist of the
'rob from the rich, give to the poor' cliché.

View this article.

"

From Newsweek's Blogs: Lost and Heroes: In Defense of

On the lighter side, an excellent piece on Lost, the creative process, and why it's the creator's baby, not us fanboys. Fascinating stuff, particularly for an old Babylon 5 fan (to which Lost owes considerable...)

Lost and Heroes: In Defense of Arrogance

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Stossel: Where Are the Bodies?

A couple of days old, but worth a read if you haven't seen it:

Where Are the Bodies?: "

Today’s NYTimes features yet another scare story about industrial chemicals.

The writers say that the widespread use of the weedkiller Roundup has created “superweeds” which are herbicide resistant! That “could lead to higher food prices, lower crop yields, rising farm costs and more pollution.”

Well, it could.

The MSM always obsess about terrible things that chemicals will do. They predicted the cancer epidemic that never happened. They predicted the male sterility crisis that never happened. Now they claim that the preservative BPA in plastic bottles is injures us. If these omnipresent chemicals are so evil, where are the bodies? We’ve been exposed for years now, and yet Americans live longer than ever.

The MSM almost never point out that BPA reduced botulism poisonings, or that Roundup saves lives by lowering the cost of food. That doesn’t fit the anti-industry narrative.

So it was nice to discover “Truth or Scare,” the blog of a woman who calls herself “Junk Science Mom.”

This week she calls out scaremonger/hustler David Fenton:

“If you believe what you see and hear in the media, those fighting an unnecessary battle against bisphenol-A (BPA) are altruistic individuals concerned about health and safety. Concerned about their children and their environment. It's all rainbows and butterflies. After all, who wouldn't want to protect babies from being poisoned to death?

But there is an ugly truth behind the scenes that you will never hear about in the media. Greed, propaganda, political agendas, profits, lies and scams. And it all can be tied to one person and one powerful PR firm. David Fenton and Fenton Communications….

He is the puppet master and we moms are his puppets. He orchestrates the scare and we, being fearful for our children, unknowingly carry out his plan for him. He comes out a winner, and we are duped into wasting our time, money and energy fighting a battle that never needed to be fought”

Good for you, junk science mom, whoever you are. Truth or Scare is a wonderful addition to the debate.

"

From Reason: Does the Constitution Need a Parental Advisory Sticker?

From our "Are you f'ing kidding me?" Dept:

Does the Constitution Need a Parental Advisory Sticker?: "

Walter Olson
highlights a remarkable reader advisory attached to a $4.95
paperback version of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence,
and Articles of Confederation:

This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same
values as it would if it were written today. Parents might wish to
discuss with their children how views on race, gender, sexuality,
ethnicity, and interpersonal relations have changed since this book
was written before allowing them to read this classic work.

Of course, several of the actual amendments to the Constitution
reflect a few of those changes, but I suppose you can never be too
safe when it comes to the children.

"

I wonder why Greenpeace never protests in Qatar?

From "Watts up with That?," of course. An excellent object lesson in 'spin' among other things.

Big. Bad. U.S.

Sigh.

I wonder why Greenpeace never protests in Qatar?: "