2014 archive
Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go 0
Back under 300K.
(snip)
The monthly average of claims, a less volatile measure than the weekly figures, rose to 300,750 last week from 296,000.
The number of people on jobless benefit rolls declined by 49,000 to 2.5 million in the week ended Aug. 9. It’s at the lowest level since June 2007, before the last recession began.
In other news, Bloomberg’s “experts” were wrong again.
On the Ground in Ferguson, Mo. 0
The significant bit starts at about the three-minute mark.
Mugging for the Camera 0
Funny or Die recounts Rick Perry’s Tips on How To Use Your Mugshot.
Cushy Gigs and Gig-olos. 0
Werner Herzog’s Bear argues for eliminating tenure for New York Times columnists; he offers a report card on the lot of them. A nugget:
Brooks’ columns are almost always based on some kind of false dichotomy he uses to oversimplify complex issues. He is a tireless purveyor of Conservatism Lite, completely unaware of the fact that he is a self-parody. If you printed his columns in the Onion, people would think they were a satire on neo-conservatives.
Follow the link for the rest of the report card.
What’s Wrong with This Picture, Border Patrol Dept. 0
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness promotes creativity.
Elisabeth Koulouris, 55, and daughter Anne-Marie, 23, had been struggling over the loaded rifle when it went off, the County Court heard yesterday.
The bullet went flying into a neighbour’s bedroom, just missing the two terrified occupants.
Jim Crow v. 2.0 0
Juan Cole wonders whether the bigots, empowered by Nixon’s odious Southern Strategy (now relabed the “Tea Party”) and the Roberts Supreme Court, may have succeeded in rolling back the most important gain of the Civil Rights Movement.
Read it.
And weep.
Gassed 0
Under siege last night in Ferguson, Mo.: It’s a painful listen, but you need to listen all the way through.
You can see a snippet of video here.
Race or Class? 0
Steven M. wonders whether Americans cannot seem to shake racial hatred because of race or because of class. He thinks it may be a some of both. A nugget:
My money’s on a symbiotic relationship between the two: race is used to bolster class; feelings of class are influenced by race. I’ll quote Lyndon Johnson again:
As long as the less-privileged fight amongst themselves, the privileged and the plutocrats are safe in their catbird seats.
“Phone Home” 0
I’m not sure how I feel about this:
Otherwise all other apps and phone functions will be locked. However, even when the phone is locked, the child will always be able to call 911 in case of an emergency.
I’m not sure where this falls on the scale from motherly (and fatherly) concern to neurotic manipulation, but it does not awaken within me sanguine feelings.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Spray that politeness around.
(snip)
The homeowner was struck by a bullet in his behind. Sedgwick County Officers said it came from across a farm field behind his backyard. Five men ages 18-20 were shooting several rounds from the other side of the field. They were aiming at a dead stump with no back stop.
More gun nuts too stupid to have guns.