We at Blog Wyrm rarely comment on politics and, when we do, it usually on the lower-case politics (how we interact with each other generally) and not upper-case politics (focusing in on some politician or another).  However, we can’t always avoid calling the situation as we see it.  Right now, be it the Iowa Caucuses or the Impeachment of Donald Trump, the conviction of Harvey Weinstein or the disgrace and death of Jeffery Epstein, or the cancel culture so rampant on social media it is our duty to uphold the central principles of the republic.

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, not only in a legal court but also in the court of public opinion.  Our neighbors, as well as our enemies, deserve to be treated as we would want to be.  Each of us should have the opportunity to have his side of the story heard before the ‘mob mentality’ of modern tribalism concludes that he needs to be exterminated for the common good.

Throughout history, the hysteria found in the Inquisition or the Salem Witch Trials rears its head and sweeps the innocent up with the guilty.  Sentiments like those ushered by the Bishop of Béziers, who said “Kill them all, God will know his own.” become the rallying cry to justify swift retribution untempered by justice or compassion.  After all, one cannot make an omelet with cracking some eggs and vice in the pursuit of virtue        is no vice at all.  As long as the guilty are punished and expunged from the public eye.

And speaking of the guilty, it is important to remember that no matter how vile and repulsive the behavior the person underneath is still a human being and we ignore that fact at our peril.

Enough said… now onto the columns.

One of the weirdest and paradoxical parts of mathematics is the Axiom of Choice. Aristotle To Digital takes a hard look at this controversial, mathematical concept and demonstrates that humans still have a long way to go in dealing with infinity and infinite sets.

The trendy new idea circulating amongst certain circles is the forgiveness of student debt.  Certainly student debt is burdensome and even crushing for students but is forgiveness really the correct amelioration?  Common Cents argues that such a course of action has terrible unseen costs and incentivizes or even rewards behavior bad for society,

Continuing with the concept of vorticity, this month’s Under The Hood looks at the Rankine Vortex and some of the difficult concepts such a simple model brings in its train..