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Normative sociology, the study of what the causes of problems ought to be, greatly fascinates us all

That sums up a lot of the next round of media coverage.  The navel gazing has begun about the killings, namely media criticism about differences in coverage, the deeper motivations of the shooter, making him the internet celebrity he seems to want to be.

Not sure what we’re going to do with him.

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Again from Slate Star Codex

The difference between “religion” and “culture” has always been pretty vague. Shinto is the best example; it’s less a coherent metaphysical narrative than a bunch of things Japanese people do and a repository for Japanese traditions and rituals. A quick look at Hinduism reveals that they have no idea what gods they believe in, it’s a bunch of different religions stuck together under one umbrella, but the point is that it’s the sort of thing Indian people do and a repository of Indian traditions. Even though Jews have a pretty coherent religion, the line between “Jewish culture” and “Jewish religion” is equally fuzzy. Religion as distinct from culture seems like a pretty Western phenomenon, the result of a triumphant Christianity colonizing cultures it never originated from, ending out with the modern conception of culture as ethnic food + silly costumes.

From a review of David Friedman’s book the Machinery of Freedom over at Slate Star Codex

My overall conclusion is that I am delighted by this fascinating and elegant system and would very much like to see it tried somewhere very far away from me.

How much did they make?  Apparently you can find out.

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From this interview with James McMurty

The thing these days is to bundle as many niches as possible and call it a career