YouTube is adding a “skip ad” feature:

The idea is as simple as this: If an advertiser’s commercial isn’t captivating enough to watch in its own right, it’ll be skipped by viewers. If viewers don’t watch the ad, Google doesn’t charge the advertiser.

Accusations of manipulating a scientific report on partial-birth abortion are being levied at Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. These accusations are from credible sources (National Review and Power Line) and, though conclusive proof is lacking, there seems to be evidence enough to support reasonable suspicion. Essentially, Kagan is accused of tampering with a report from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) on the subject of partial-birth abortion. The tampered report played a key role in the striking down of Nebraska’s partial-birth abortion ban by the Supreme Court. If the accusations were proved true, Kagan would not only be eliminated as a Supreme Court candidate, but would be disgraced and disbarred. These accusations, arising from a credible source, should be taken seriously and investigated, but my guess is that they will not even be mentioned during Kagan’s confirmation proceedings.

The purpose of this post, however, is not to opine on alleged wrongdoing by Elena Kagan. On a more general level, citizens and their representatives must not be so quick to dismiss what many write-off as conspiracy theories. Obviously, I am not suggesting that consideration be given to every half-baked idea appearing out of the ether of cyberspace. But throughout history, many thinkers branded as “radicals” were later proved right. The likes Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams were branded as extremists, yet American colonists eventually saw the necessity of uniting for the cause of liberty. Winston Churchill’s warnings against Adolf Hitler and, later, communism, went unheeded – but he was vindicated by the events of history.

The accusations against Elena Kagan may be nothing more than mere accusations. But blindly discarding theories because they do not conform to our expectations is an invitation for peril.

The Center for American Progress released a report earlier this year reviewing the state of border policing and the projected impact of immigration policies.

Notice the spending increase on border patrol agents on the U.S.-Mexico border between 1992 and 2009:

Now notice the simultaneous increase of illegal border crossings:

And notice border crossing deaths:

The report also estimates the projected changes in the GDP under three different conditions: immigration reform, allowing temporary workers only, and mass deportation:

This illustrates the considerable economic contribution of undocumented workers, one that would disappear under a mass deportation.

HT: Sociological Images

A recent Newsmax article serves as an excellent illustration of the intellectual courage displayed by our Founding Fathers:

Preservation scientists at the Library of Congress have discovered that Thomas Jefferson, even in the act of declaring independence from England, had trouble breaking free from monarchial rule.

In an early draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote the word “subjects,” when he referred to the American public. He then erased that word and replaced it with “citizens,” a term he used frequently throughout the final draft.

The Library released news of the struck word for the first time on Friday.

Fenalla France, a research chemist at the Library, said her lab made the discovery last year by using hyperspectral imaging, using a high resolution digital camera that compiles a series of images to highlight layers of a document. Some of those invisible layers — like erased text and even fingerprints — pop into view on a computer screen.

In switching from “subjects” to “citizens,” France said it appears Jefferson used his hand to wipe the word out while the ink was still wet. A distinct brown smudge is apparent on the paper, although the word “subjects” is not legible without the help of the digital technology.

Americans often make the mistake of viewing freedom as the status quo. Historically, liberty is an aberration. Man’s existence has been dominated by collectivist societies, with the good of the society being held superior to that of the individual. The Founders’ departure from this mode of thinking was neither gradual or easy. It was a radical change by radical men – one for which mankind will forever be in debt.

Umphrey’s McGee. Sorry, I couldn’t help it:

David Rosnick of the Center for Economic and Policy Research shows that the young worker share of the labor force “has fallen nearly by half in the last thirty years.”