January, 2017 archive
“Ku Kluck Dynasty” 0
Tony Norman marvels at the unreality of the now-defunct “reality” show about the Klan.
Newton Minnow characterized television as a “vast wasteland.” Today I suspect he would consider “septic tank” to be a more accurate metaphor.
Full Disclosure:
I wrote this post solely so I could steal Norman’s most felicitous phrase for the title.
Make TWUUG Your LUG 0
Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source. Use computers to do what you want, not what someone else wants you to do. Learn how to use GNU/Linux and its plethora of free and open source software to get stuff done with computers.
It’s not hard; it’s just different.
What: Monthly TWUUG Meeting.
Who: Everyone in TideWater/Hampton Roads with interest in any/all flavors of Unix/Linux. There are no dues or signup requirements. All are welcome.
Where: Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk Training Room. See directions below. (Wireless and wired internet connection available.) Turn right upon entering, then left at the last corridor and look for the open meeting room.
When: 7:30 PM till whenever (usually 9:30ish) on Thursday, January 5.
Directions:
Lake Taylor Hospital
1309 Kempsville Road
Norfolk, Va. 23502 (Map)
Pre-Meeting Dinner at 6:00 PM (separate checks)
Uno Chicago Grill
Virginia Beach Blvd. & Military Highway (JANAF Shopping Center). (Map)
Join the forums.
On the Spread of Stupid 1
Alex Caron of the Portland Press-Herald notes the proliferation of stupid. A snippet:
From both American and world history, we know where the dictatorship of the stupid takes a society: to autocracy, mediocrity and strife. And to the enrichment of a few over the many and a general collapse of civil society.
Let’s be careful not to confuse stupidity with ignorance or lack of education, although they generally expand together. . . .
Stupid is different. To win a degree in stupid, you have to willfully reject facts in favor of superstitions, myths, fears and conspiracy theories. And then get all your news from fake or biased news sites targeted at the stupid.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Go the gun range. After all, practice makes perfect.
The bullet went through the man’s left hand and he went to a hospital in Brick “where he is expected to make a full recovery,” Staffordsmith said.
Perfectamundo!
QOTD 0
Rex Stout:
If you eat the apple before it’s ripe, your only reward is a bellyache.
Stout, Rex, The League of Frightened Men (New York: Bantam, 1992), p. 124.
Light Bloggery, Reprise 0
I still got the miseries, but today for the first time they seem a little less miserable. One hopes that normal insanity–well, “normal” may be too much to hope for during the Trumpling of America–will resume by the weekend.
A Never-Ending Story 0
At the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, John Gurda begs to disillusion Americans, who seem peculiarly unable to remember history beyond last year’s Super Bowl, of the notion that the United States has a history of welcoming newcomers. I urge you to read it; it brings to life the to-true-to-be-parody rewording of Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, as noted in this nugget from the beginning of the article:
The “again” part has raised numerous eyebrows. The implication that America was once a nation of haters strikes many people as simply inaccurate. Hasn’t the United States always been a country of newcomers? Didn’t we always open our door to “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”?
Well, no. In fact, hell, no. The vein of xenophobia that Trump has tapped to such great effect is as old as the republic. One group after another has tried to pull up the gangplank for everyone behind them, or at least to limit their freedoms.
Aside:
I’ve never quite understood the type of racism that shouts at African-Americans, “Go back to Africa!”
It not as if their ancestors came here willing–oh, never mind. Stupid is as stupid does.
Post Mortem 0
Shaun Mullen looks back on 2016,
Ideal vs. Real 2
Thoreau submits the thesis that, when you forget high-sounding theory, Today’s North Carolina is American democracy in practice, with ample precedent: petty, mean-spirited, vengeful, and power hungry.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Usher in the New Year, politely.
Police investigated and confirmed the incident was accidental.