links: easy mode privilege, libertarian trains and countries, balance bikes, Lucas, lighting, etc.

[mindstalk]

Privilege as difficulty level: straight white male is playing life in easy mode
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-there-is/

Argument that libertarians should be friendly to train, which were fine and profitable until crushed by government subsidies of roads and airports. It notes a 1935 law barring US electric utilities from owning streetcars, despite their natural connection.
http://keephoustonhouston.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/all-good-libertarians-are-pro-transit/
Tangentially, I've amused myself for a long time with the thought that US libertarians tend to be rural or suburbanites fantasizing about dispersed living, but actual 'Libertopia' would look like a handful of zoning-free megacities with few and expensive services in the rural hinterlands.

me on libertarian countries
http://bleedingheartlibertarians.com/2012/05/the-administrative-state-vs-the-soc
ial-insurance-state/#comment-529769358

On balance bikes. Also links to an old book on bicycle and tricycle designs, and bicycle physics. http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2012/05/training_wheels_don_t_work_balance_bikes_teach_children_how_to_ride_.single.html

witch fighting fertility cult
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benandanti

George Lucas to build low income housing in revenge
http://www.movies.com/movie-news/george-lucas-grady-ranch/7883

lighting efficiency
http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/2012/05/spectral-extravaganza-the-ultimate-l
ight/

break up sitting
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2012/02/22/dc11-1931.abstract