To understand the Internet, watch how rumors spread. Too many people evaluate stories by how well they match their preconceptions. Since few “nodes” on the Internet bother to check sources — or even care about sources — the Internet often makes us dumber.  Today we examine a rumor spreading like wildfire on the Internet, on a subject of …
Anatomy of a rumor, showing how the Internet can make us dumber Read More »
Thomas Barnett is one of our foremost geopolitical visionaries, so his presentations are always worth attention.  His latest is insightful and elegantly expressed, as always. However, I have a few suggestions — minor changes to make  it better suit the current situation and needs of America. (I have a draft post in the pipeline describing the implication of the revised …
What Tom Barnett should have told Congress about America’s 21st century Navy Read More »
Summary: This post looks at four views of modern Iran. Spengler paints a picture of despair and hopelessness. The second indicates a profound rot in Iranian society. The next two give evidence for optimism. Contents “Sex, drugs and Islam“, Spengler, Asia Times, 24 February 2009 World Drug Report 2008“, UN office of Drugs and Crime “Education and …
Iran – a key state to watch as the new world order evolves Read More »
The FM site occasionally posts material from other sites that is original and thought-provoking, with no express or implied opinion. Here is one such. In this article Spengler does remote psychoanalysis. Few things are less credible, although few do it better. Spengler is one of our few original thinkers, and so deserves attention. This just hints at the …
Spengler describes “How Obama lost the election” Read More »
Summary: this is the first in a new series, considering one of the most powerful geopolitical forces of our time: demographic change. This first chapter looks at one of the more interesting — even exotic — writers about these things: Spengler. Many forces shape our world. Some work quickly, like the four horsemen — war, …
Another front in the geopolitical struggles shaping our world: demography Read More »
