2014 archive
People’s Rights (and Gay People Are People) (Updated) 4
Wow. Just wow.
The times they are a-changing (though climate change is likely to erase all the changes, but that’s a different post).
That was fast. The co-founder and CEO of Mozilla, Brendan Eich, has decided to step down.
Eich’s decision, announced Thursday, came a few days after the dating website OkCupid started blocking Mozilla’s Firefox browser from accessing the dating site because Eich “is an opponent of equal rights for gay couples.”
Normally, I don’t approve of browser sniffing, but I will make an exception in this case.
As I’ve said before, nothing that ever happened in a same-sex bedroom has affected a marriage of mine.
I cannot say the same for opposite se–oh, never mind.
Afterthought:
Wingnut World is claiming that Eich’s “freedom of speech” has been somehow violated. Seems to me he got to speak all he wanted to.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.
Also, what the Booman said.
Addendum, That Afternoon:
John Aravosis has an incisive analysis of the wingnut weaction. A nugget:
“It’s Only a Game” 0
After this, Philadelphia can no longer be charged with having the Worst Sports Fans in the World.
WFAN host Mike Francesa — who has been known to take entire months off — berated Murphy for taking three days of paternity leave to be with his wife after the birth.
“What are you going to do,” Francesa asked, “sit there and look at your wife in the hospital bed for three days? You’re a major-league baseball player. You can hire a nurse.”
More Worst Sports Fans in the World at the link.
Carnage Candy 0
No doubt this will work out exactly as its adherents predict (details at the link).
All seriousness aside, this is more carnage candy for the diminutive phallus brigade, who will not rest until every city is Dodge City and every hill is Boot Hill.
Theft of Services 0
Almost two thirds of charter schools are run by for-profit outfits. Public money that goes into those profits is not going to the students. And it is simply not true that for-profit companies will somehow magically do the right thing because of the fee hand of the market.
Denial Is Not Just a River in Egypt 0
It’s the foundation of Republican policy on health care.
Dick Polman considers recent attempts by some conservative commentators to convince the Republican Party that health care reform of some sort–if not the Affordable Care Act, then an alternative Republican plan–was inevitable, and the failure of the Republican Party to face the challenge. Here’s a snippet (emphasis added):
Read the rest.
Sign-Up Day 0
Brian Greenspun decided that, after a lifetime of paying into the system, it was time to sign up for his Social Security benefits. What he saw at the Social Security Office gave him pause (emphasis added).
So before you argue the merits of smaller government — code for reducing the money set aside for people in real need — take a trip to the Social Security office.
I know looks can deceive, but I saw no one that day who didn’t appear so obviously in need of the few assistance dollars they would get from their visit to the office. Young, old, sick, challenged and generally lost and silent in our great society, they filled the room and waited for someone to help.
Remember, in GOP-speak, an “entitlement” is money that goes to someone who is not already rich.
Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go 0
No significant change.
(snip)
The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, was little changed at 319,500 from 319,250 the week before.
The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits rose by 22,000 to 2.84 million in the week ended March 22.
Windows 8, Land of the Lost 3
Today, I helped an acquaintance set up her new Windows 8 computer.
I now have a first-hand understanding of why Windows 8 has failed in the marketplace.
It is a dog, a kludge, a monstrosity. Essential features, such as the command line (to do simple things like a ping command to test an internet connection) are hidden many fathoms deep.
I had to do a web search to find out how to reboot the computer, for Pete’s sake.
It is no surprise that Steve Ballmer is out of a job. Every decision he made was wrong.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Another mass shooting at another military base.
Politeness is a wonderful thing, is it not?
NRA Paradise nears fruition.
First son is stationed on a different military base. I think I shall be ill.
Missing InAction 0
In other news, here’s the nearest thing Republicans have to a “health care plan.”