Tim DeRoche's Blog, page 7
March 21, 2018
Owl!
It only took me 7 years to get a photo of an owl at our house. This one is a western screech owl that lives in the palm tree above my car. I had to stake it out for 4 consecutive nights — after I first heard the hooing — and then got this photo. Still going to try to get a video of the owl emerging from the tree at sunset. Stay tuned!
February 23, 2018
When is it okay to be happy that someone is dead?
Billy Graham died. And I’ve seen several posts in my Facebook feed saying, in effect, “Good riddance. The world is better without Billy Graham in it.”
I don’t know very much about Billy Graham, but I’m curious about this instinct to declare judgment on his life. How would one know whether Billy Graham had a net positive or net negative impact on the world?
The man had five kids, 19 grandchildren, and presumably even more great-grandchildren. What impact will all of them have on the world? ...
February 7, 2018
February 6, 2018
Need to entertain a 3-year-old? Try Pina Bausch
I’m always on the look-out for video content that will challenge and engage our three-year-old daughter Neve. The latest discovery? She loves Pina Bausch.
February 3, 2018
Scariest jobs chart ever – Not so scary anymore
This is astounding. Back in 2009-10, I used to share this Calculated Risk chart with folks to get them to understand how devastating and persistent the job losses were after the financial crisis (especially when compared to prior recessions).
But now the very same chart tells a very different story. The job recovery has been incredibly steady. We’re coming up on 100 months of strong, persistent job growth.
Given the strong job market, when will workers begin to demand more in wages?
Reverse the Facts – the Nunes memo
Imagine for a moment that the Bush-era DOJ had sought a FISA warrant to surveil someone on the Obama campaign. And they didn’t disclose to the court that a significant piece of evidence was an unverified product of oppo research funded by Romney.
As Orin Kerr points out, it doesn’t mean that the warrant is legally invalid or that the substance of the oppo research is incorrect. It doesn’t mean that the subject wasn’t worthy of being surveilled.
But it’s still pretty icky.
If you reverse the...
February 2, 2018
“I think I’m on a date. I’ve never been on a date before. What do I do?”
In the last two days, about 14 different random amazing things have happened to me.
It all started with this: Yesterday I’m waiting in line at the restroom of a cafe, and a random very young girl approaches and says, “Can I ask you something? I think I’m on a date. I’ve never been on a date before. He just paid for everything, and I really like him. What do I do?”
Over on Facebook, everyone wants to know what I told her to do. But I don’t think she was actually looking for advice. She just...
January 30, 2018
Johnny Get Angry
Kazoos! And strings.
I want a brave man
I want a cave man
Johnnie show me that you care, really care, for me
January 19, 2018
The *huge* tax issue no one is talking about
During the debate about the Republican tax overhaul, there was quite a bit of Sturm und Drang about how the bill will exacerbate income inequality. Well, yes, it probably will, on the margin. It cuts marginal tax rates on the highest levels of income, and it provides lots of protections for certain types of income — like passthrough income — that will benefit more rich people than non-rich people.
But no one — including the Democrats — is talking about the main source of inequality in the t...
Dropkick Me, Jesus
How have I never heard this song before?
