The challenge of being a heterodox economist. After grabbing a free drink in the Friedman reception, I strike up a conversation with economist Michael Perelman in the hallway... Perelman, who is there for the EPI reception, works at the margins of the discipline; he is one of a few hundred self-described "heterodox" economists at the conference. His last book, Railroading Economics, was about the creation of the "free market mythology"... I ask him about how he relates to the so-called mainstream of his profession. "It's a mafia," he says quietly, his eyes roving over to the suits spilling out of the Freedom to Choose room. more inside

Fundamental physics in 2010 (low-quality flash video): a talk by notable theoretical physicist Nima Arkani-Hamed, professor at Harvard, as delivered to the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in February 2007. He gives a great introduction to the status and crises in the Standard Model of Particles and Interactions, together with his impression of how the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) with its unprecedented ability to make observations in the 10^-19m range will change the model. The talk should be accessible to a general audience.

You are all monkeysig. more inside

B.C. Legislature murals to come down. Last April, B.C. MLAs voted to remove murals from the Legislature, on the basis that the depictions of the First Nations were inaccurate and offensive (the murals, painted in the 30s, show aboriginals as subservient and inferior, and take a casual approach to representations of their culture). The debate continues -- is the removal tokenism, a whitewash of history, or simply a just correction?

Academic Freedom

US university students will not be able to work late at the campus, travel abroad, show interest in their colleagues' work, have friends outside the United States, engage in independent research, or make extra money without the prior consent of the authorities, according to a set of guidelines (pdf) given to administrators by the FBI.

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Dice Wars is an obsessively playable flash game that feels a bit like Risk. I started playing it months ago and I'll still give it a quick game before bed.

Vague online profiles helps dating chances ... so suggests Psychology Today. Finally, a scientific justification for lying on your Match.com profiles.

The Ancient Standard. From King Tut's taste in wine to ancient pornography.

Metrosexual tarot carts. What does your future hold? And will that afghan go with that new lamp?

Everybody Likes Sandwiches

In NYC tonight? Come see the first show I've ever produced! Woulda posted earlier, but didn't wanna be a self-promotin' monkey. Now, it's close enough to time I suppose. More info inside. more inside

First-born children 2.3 IQ points smarter, says totally dumb and bogus study. So, older siblings in denial of the obvious, and much cooler, popular, smartser younger siblings -- FIGHT!!!

13 minutes (not wasted) with Tom Lehrer. Doesn't include "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" or "The Masochism Tango" but still a video to cherish - a genius - even makes maths sound like fun.

Nothing could put this guy off his stroke. Man insists on continuing to pleasure himself despite getting stabbed. SFW.

If I Post It For what surely (???) will be a limited time only, here's is the OJ Simpson "If I Did It" tome, in its entirety, on Scribd. Download the PDF before they take it away...

Colin Powell advising Barack Obama. Mr Powell, 70, who left office in January 2005 under a cloud left by the war in Iraq, has served three Republican presidents, but made clear that he is considering backing a Democrat to succeed his former boss, George W Bush.

June 19th is Juneteenth The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22, 1862. It was not until June 19th, 1865 that the last slaves in the United States were to learn that they had been freed. In Texas and 24 other states it is an official holiday. more inside

Salman Rushdie knighted, to chagrin of some. Iran's foreign ministry summoned the UK ambassador in Tehran and said the knighthood was a "provocative act". Pakistan voiced similar protests, telling the UK envoy in Islamabad the honour showed the British government's "utter lack of sensitivity". Britain denied that the award was intended to insult Islam.

QE2 Sets sail for a new home. The Queen Elizabeth 2,arguably one of the most famous ships in the world, is set to become a 100 million dollar tourist attraction in a specially designed dock located in The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Some are very upset at this sale.

Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road. The Pope lays down Drivers' Ten Commandments. more inside