State Rep. Mike Barbieri Resigns…. to take a State Job he is actually qualified for.

State Rep. Mike Barbieri Resigns…. to take a State Job he is actually qualified for.

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State Rep. Mike Barbieri has resigned from the General Assembly effective at the end of the month to take a job as the Director of the Department of Health and Social Services' Division of Substance Abuse. I normally balk at a situation where a State Representative takes a state job, because it normally looks just too damn convenient. Like the situation with Rebecca Walker and others before her. But this is a situation where it seems like Barbieri is the most qualified and experienced guy for a job.
Monday Open Thread [7.13.15]

Monday Open Thread [7.13.15]

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The Washington Post's Robert Costa had a bizzare interview with renowned bankruptcy and divorce expert Donald Trump on his private plane following his seventy-minute rant of a speech in Phoenix during which he used the Nixonian phrase "the Silent Majority." Costa was wondering if Trump was concerned that he had borrowed the phrase from a disgraced President. Trump replied:
Nah. Nobody remembers that. Oh, is that why people stopped using [the phrase]? Maybe. Nobody thinks of Nixon. I don’t think of Nixon when I think of the silent majority. The silent majority today, they’re going to vote for Trump. Remember, many Republicans didn’t vote for Mitt Romney. He didn’t inspire people. They’re going to vote for me.
Actually, Mr. Trump, Republicans and conservatives did come out to vote for Mr. Romney. The reason why you lost is because Democrats and Independent also showed up. And the reason you Republicans were so surprised on election night that year is because you thought the turnout would be closer to 2010 percentages, and not 2008 percentages. Yes, the turnout would be higher, but the percentage breakdown between Democrats and Republicans and Independents would be the same. You were wrong. And then you cried. And we smiled. Some of us laughed and pointed.
All Things Being Equal, John Still Gets The Advantage Over Jennifer

All Things Being Equal, John Still Gets The Advantage Over Jennifer

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This morning I dropped my daughter off for her university orientation. She’s attending school in Philadelphia – she’s a declared Mechanical Engineering major on scholarship. We are very proud of her accomplishments. So… when a study like this comes out it worries me.
For the study, researchers from Yale University asked more than 100 science faculty members at academic institutions across the country to evaluate one of two student résumés. The résumés were identical except for one small part: The candidate’s name was either John or Jennifer. Despite both candidates having the exact same qualifications and experience, science faculty members were more likely to perceive John as competent and select him for a hypothetical lab manager position.