April, 2011 archive
There Are None So Blind . . . 0
Cynthia Tucker, writing at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, illustrates how folks refuse to see what’s going on around them.
In this case, she’s considering Haley Barbour’s inability to see the racist undertones of many of his public statements; she tells a story to illustrate her point that he has an excuse for not knowing how to behave in public:
I was stunned by her certitude, her arrogance and her lack of compassion. But I didn’t believe her response was born of flat-out racism. It was born of a willful ignorance — an unwillingness to confront the truth about a system in which she was complicit.
Nor do I believe Barbour is racist. But he showed the same blindness my piano tutor did — an inability to empathize with Jim Crow’s victims. Given his state’s history, that’s no minor failing.
I am not nearly so charitable.
In the case of the old lady from Ms. Tucker’s youth, I can accept this argument, at least somewhat.
When you grow up and live inside a system that seems immutable, you tend to accept that system.
Jim Crow seemed quite normal to me when I was seven years old.
In the case of Mr. Barbour (and many others like him), not so much. He has lived to see the system change (though much more change is needed).
In his case, not only is ignorance no excuse, ignorance is inexcusable.
Fright of the Sea Hawk 0
Storms, wind and driving rain are most often to blame for power outages in coastal Virginia.
But osprey nests?
Dominion Virginia Power says a large nest, made from straw, reeds and sticks, and resting on transmission lines along Northampton Boulevard, caused a 90-minute blackout Thursday night that affected more than 12,000 homes.
Be honest now.
Haven’t you always harbored a secret desire to give the electric company the bird?
When I was a young ‘un, back in the olden days, ospreys (AKA “sea hawks,” sometimes “sea eagles”) were rare. The article goes on to point out that their population has rebounded since DDT was banned in the 1970s.
They build large nests at the very top of dead trees. And what is a light pole other than a man-made dead tree?
One of the pleasures of boating is seeing ospreys in flight as they hunt.
Occasionally, though they prefer not to, the electric company puts a platform on top of light poles so that ospreys can nest there safely above the transformers. Follow the link to see a picture of one such platform.
On the Birthers of a Nation 0
Via ABL at Balloon Juice.
Afterthought:
It is truly difficult not to characterize birthers as being truly evil people.
Virginia Beach Democratic Party Fourth Fifth Saturday Breakfast
0
Moved because of Easter.
Date: Saturday, April 30th.
Special Guest Speaker: Louisa Strayhorn, the last African American to serve on the Virginia Beach City Council
Location: Bubba’s Deli & BBQ, 3600 Dam Neck Rd, Virginia Beach (Map).
Cost: Adults $10.00, Under 12 $6.00 for all-you-can-eat buffet (it’s a pretty good buffet, too–plenty of variety).
More information here.
Snowplow Parents 0
My mother, who retired from teaching over two decades ago, once said that the biggest change she had observed during her career was this:
When she started, if little Johnny got into trouble, the parent would call and say, “What did the little bastard do today?” (only she would never have said “bastard”).
By the time she retired, that same phone call would start, “How dare you mistreat my little darling. He didn’t do it.”
It appears to have gotten much worse.
A school official speaks out. A nugget:
Gen Xers orchestrate every move of their preschoolers, from perfect play dates and obsessively healthy diets, to instructional flashcards and hypoallergenic socks.
Once school starts, Gen X parents may become upset to discover other students doing more advanced work than their own, demanding a meeting with the principal about why the teacher is “letting their child fall behind.” Of course the parents have done their research, identified the problem, and it’s clearly the school’s fault that their child is “underperforming” — in kindergarten.
Indeed, a Gen X parent holds her child’s self-esteem as something to be protected at any cost. Gone are the days of the “helicopter parent,” hovering obsessively to make sure little Taylor is prepared for success. Gen Xers are “snowplow parents,” knocking all potential obstacles out of their children’s paths to pack their young résumés with successes.
I have long thought that parents take themselves and their children far too seriously. If you get the kids to adulthood so that they can be responsible, moral, and functioning citizens and persons, that’s doing a damned good job. Anything else is gravy.
As someone–I wish I could remember who–once said to me, “When you’re raising kids, if you do one more thing right than you do wrong, you’re going to be a good parent.”
Mania Nova, Reprise 0
Josh Marshall elaborates on his DSM for birthers. Here’s one classification:
Follow the link for the rest.
Aside:
Racism has driven these folks nuts.
On Royal Weddings 0
Thank heavens that’s over.
Now our media can go back to covering important things, such as LIndsey Charlie Paris Keira Hilton Sheen Kim Knightly Snookidashian.
QOTD 0
Jay Leno, from the Quotemaster (subscribe here):
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.
Teach a man to create an artificial shortage of fish and he will eat steak.
“May I See Your Papers Please . . . .” 0
“When they tell you this isn’t racial, don’t believe them.”
Listen. It’s four minutes. It’s worth it.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Via Bob Cesca.
Update from the Foreclosure-Based Economy 0
Iowa alleges the use of creative strategies to keep those foreclosures coming:
The bank tried to get attorneys general to break away from those supporting the proposed accord, Iowa Assistant Attorney General Patrick Madigan said during a recent conference call, according to the person. A second person familiar with the settlement talks said the bank sought to sow dissent among the states, eight of which have publicly criticized the proposal’s terms. Both people asked not to be identified because the talks are private. Madigan declined to comment.
Read the whole thing. Further down in the story is a report that it is Republican attorneys-general who are allowing themselves to be divided and conquered.
Republicans? Defer to the banksters?
On noes.
Twits on Twitter 0
Really big twits.
Trump Thump 0
This may well be Lawrence O’Donnell’s swan song on MSNBC, as he calls out the lies and lying liars as enabled by his bosses at NBC in what he appropriately dubs the “Trump hatred campaign”:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Via Balloon Juice.
