More random links
- The benefits of being stupid at work
- "Stupidity can increase efficiency, claims Mats Alvesson, professor of organization studies at Lund University in Sweden. ... what they call 'functional stupidity' generally helped get things done. 'Critical reflection and shrewdness' were net positives, but when too many clever individuals in an organization raised their hands to suggest alternative courses of action or to ask 'disquieting questions about decisions and structures,' work slowed."
- S Africa stunned by fatal circumcisions
- "More than 20 boys in South Africa have died during coming-of-age rituals in the past week. Police say botched circumcisions are the probable cause." Note that the Al Jazeera video suggests these were doctor-supervised. It seems more or less the sort of thing that the WHO is advocating - I think I've said enough about the poor quality of that research already.
- Broadening IRS Victims Include Pro-Life Advocates, As Congress Investigates
- "In a phone call to Coalition for Life of Iowa leaders on June 6, 2009, the IRS agent “Ms. Richards” told the group to send a letter to the IRS with the entire board’s signatures stating that, under perjury of the law, they do not picket/protest or organize groups to picket or protest outside of Planned Parenthood. Once the IRS received this letter, their application would be approved." If true this seems like an even bigger issue than the IRS targetting right-wing organizations for investigation.
- Smart on Crime
- "Being tough on criminals hasn’t worked, but neither has being lenient. Here’s how to prevent—and punish—crime the right way."