From Pine View Farm

February, 2016 archive

QOTD 0

Russell Baker:

The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.

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And Now for Something Completely Different 2

Via The 1920s Radio Network.

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The Race 0

Writing at The Roanoke Times, Robert A. Strong, the Wilson Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University, thinks the Reality TV nominating process could use some work.

Donald Trump is not really an anomaly. If you build a circus, you shouldn’t be surprised when a clown comes along and steals the show.

Follow the link to see his reasoning.

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Stray Question 0

Just what exactly are “polar bear plungers” trying to prove?

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All the News that Fits 0

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Don’t Overlook the Obvious 2

Leonard Pitts, Jr., tells of a conversation that took place just a little while ago. Here’s a bit from his article:

President Obama had just spoken before the Illinois General Assembly. Now, he and some old friends, all retired from that body, were being interviewed by the Los Angeles Times. Obama was talking about the legislative gridlock that has marked his terms and how he might have avoided it.

“Maybe I could have done that a little better,” he said.

One of his friends wasn’t having it. “They were afraid of you for a couple of reasons,” said Denny Jacobs. “Number one, you were black.”

Obama parried the suggestion, saying what he always says when asked about race and his presidency. “I have no doubt there are people who voted against me because of race . . . or didn’t approve of my agenda because of race. I also suspect there are a bunch of people who are excited or voted for me because of the notion of the first African-American president. . . . Those things cut both ways,” he said.

Jacobs, who is white, was unpersuaded. “That’s what they were afraid of, Mr. President,” he insisted.

Dan Simpson also has something to see on this matter. A nugget:

At some point let us hope that American people will realize that the McConnells, Trumps, Rubios and Cruzes of this world are willing to risk destroying our system of government to get ahead personally. It is in circumstances such as this, when the functioning of our Supreme Court is on the line, that we can see just how greedy and immoral they are.

Image of Senator McConnell with arms all twisty and finger crossed saying,

Image via Job’s Anger.

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Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go 1

Not at all bad. In fact, a little better.

Initial jobless claims dropped by 7,000 to 262,000 in the week ended Feb. 13, the lowest since Nov. 21, a report from the Labor Department showed on Thursday.

(snip)

The four-week average of claims, a less volatile measure than the weekly figures, decreased to 273,250, the lowest since Dec. 19, from 281,250. The latest figure compares with an average of 285,250 during the comparable employment survey period for January. The economy added 151,000 workers in January, the fewest in four months.

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits rose by 30,000 to 2.27 million in the week ended Feb. 6. The unemployment rate among people eligible for benefits climbed to 1.7 percent from 1.6 percent. These data are reported with a one-week lag.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” (Updated) 0

Jesus said, “Suffer the children.”

Gun nuts said, “Make it so.”

Addendum:

More information has become available.

Investigators say the boy found a handgun that was kept in the home and accidentally shot himself in the upper shoulder. The boy’s mother and a 2-year-old child were home when the incident occurred.

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“The Smart One,” Great Moments in Flailure Dept. 1

I guess it’s true.

Florida must indeed be like a different country.

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QOTD 1

Stephen King:

We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.

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Comment Rescue, Original Intent Dept. 0

Gerald commented on my Original Intent post earlier today and sums up the last seven years:

(Republians) are attempting to treat POTUS Obama’s presidency as 3/5’s (of a presidency).

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“Secret Senate Rules” 0

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The Candidates Debate 0

Jim Wright is having trouble absorbing what he heard. A snippet:

I opened the live feed to watch in stunned revulsion as the men who would be president of the United States of America argued over which one of them was more insane.

Carpet bombing? Waterboarding? And the crowd cheered.

The crowd cheered.

What in the holy hell is it with these goddamned people?

When did the unabashed willingness to engage in the indiscriminate obliteration of entire populations, when did the enthusiastic willingness to torture our enemies, when did those things become traits anybody liberal or conservative would want in an American president?

Follow the link. Read the rest.

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Not All It Krakened Up To Be 0

Science 2.0 explores the origin of the legend of the Kraken.

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Beyonce the Line, Reprise 0

Via Raw Story.

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“Original Intent” 3

Gravestone:  Antonin Scalia, Constitutional Originalist.  Looking on: Four men in colonial-era attire under an umbrella, plus one black slave 3/5s of the way under the umbrella.

Original intent” is neither a legitimate interpretation of history nor a coherent legal theory. It is a racist primal scream.

More here.

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Twits on Twitter 0

Aspiring ammosexual twits.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

As the twig is bent shot . . . .

A 5-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed on Tuesday evening. It happened at 71st and Canton, near Trinity Christian High School.

“Unfortunately, a child did die after being transported to Covenant Women’s and Children’s, from a gunshot wound,” Sgt. Jason Lewis with the Lubbock Police Department, says. “It appears to be accidental.”

No doubt, had the boy had a gun, this would not have happened. Isn’t that how things work in NRA Paradise?

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QOTD 0

Mackenzie King:

Far more has been accomplished for the welfare and progress of mankind by preventing bad actions than by doing good ones.

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Immunity Impunity 0

Republicans move to establish a secret(ive) police force in Virginia, apparently because they believe the no account should be no-accountable.

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