April, 2017 archive
The Court Is in Sessions 0
Solomon Jones watches Jeff Sessions bring back the good old days.
Read the rest.
Ethnicity 0
Many years ago, I read in one of Bennett Cerf’s books a story about a European author who was visiting the United States in the days of Jim Crow; it was so long ago I can’t remember who the story was about.
He was in a bus station with a friend when he needed to use the restroom. He headed towards the door labeled “Colored” (I’m old enough to remember doors labeled “Colored”).
His friend, somewhat panicked, said, “That’s for colored people!”
He answered, “I am colored. I am pink.”
Both Sides Not 0
Continuing the theme from the previous post, David Leonhardt points out that the media can’t handle the truth. A snippet:
. . . journalists are good at producing “both sides do it” stories.
But when reality falls somewhere in between, the media often fails to get the story right. Journalists know how to do 50-50 stories and all-or-nothing stories. More nuanced situations create problems.
The 2016 campaign was a classic example. Hillary Clinton deserved scrutiny for her buckraking (sic) speeches and inappropriate email use. Yet her sins paled compared with Donald Trump’s lies, secrecy, bigotry, conflicts of interest, Russian ties and sexual molestation. The collective media coverage failed to make this distinction . . . .
The Business of America Is Giving America the Business 0
If you think that “business” and “integrity” are in any way related, listen to the “Camel cigarette” ad in this OTR broadcast (a RealPlayer compatible audio player is required; kplayer works on Linux, somewhat to my, and no doubt to Real’s, surprise).
And, yes, I used to be addicted to tobacco; now I’m addicted to nicotine gum. One does what one can.
There’s nothing like addiction to create a successful sales strategy.
Just ask the vapids vapers.
If One Standard Is Good, Two Must Be Better 0
Atrios considers the reporting on the possible end of the filibuster:
Frankly, I think Historiann is onto something here. The filibuster has been used for evil far more often than for good. Just look back on its usage during President Obama’s term.
A Piece of the Rock 0
In a curious sidelight to Brexit, there seems to be a bit of kerfuffle over Gibralter. From The Local:
British rhetoric quickly heated up after the EU’s Brexit negotiating guidelines released on Friday included a section saying Spain must have a say on any future trade deal involving Gibraltar.
In related news, the British paper, The Sun, which makes our National Inquirer look like Smithsonian Magazine, decided to do a bit of saber-rattling.
The Snaring Economy 0
Josh Marshall points out that there is nothing new about the “gig” economy. It has happened before, and it wasn’t pretty then, either.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
A mess of politeness:
The woman was in stable condition, police said Monday.
The stupid. It burns.
Koch Dealers 0
Thom reads from the platform for which David Koch ran for president in 1980 on the Libertarian ticket. It’s more out there than you can imagine.
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, April 6.
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.
Whither the Trumpled? 0
Ben Cohen looks at some poll numbers and argues that Donald Trump voters are suffering “buyers’ remorse.”
Meanwhile, Dick Polman views CNN’s recent interview (linked in his article) of six die-hard Trumplers and draws a different conclusion.
Alas, the six Trump voters who met with CNN the other day are implacable. Trump is “governing” for his base — the 35 percent — and there’s no way he’s going down unless a sizeable chunk of the base abandons him. And if these six people typify his base, it ain’t happening any time soon. We might as well parse their thinking, even if it’s inexplicable. I’ll start with a few appetizers before I serve the main course.
I’m inclined to agree with Polman. There is a baseline of bigots who are steeped in Fox News fiction and are committed to Trump, and I do not see the Republican Party, which currently controls Congress and has embraced racism as one of its primary political strategies since Richard Nixon’s odious Southern Strategy, as either inclined or willing to stand up to the Trumplers.
Follow the links to read the full pieces.
The Presidential Pitch 0
Shaun Mullen throws a spitball. Here’s the windup.
This is because of their lavish lifestyles, penchant for vacation weekends and brazenly mingling family business with the nation’s business in far-flung places. Typical is a February trip when Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr., with a Secret Service detail in tow, decamped nearly 8,000 miles from Washington to attend the grand opening of a Trump-branded golf resort in the United Arab Emirates in but one of many egregious examples of the Trump and his family using the presidency as a profit center.
Follow the link for the pitch.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Just another day in NRA Paradise . . . .
Investigators said that Morales left a loaded semi-automatic gun on the kitchen table, within reach of the child. The child got ahold of that gun and accidentally shot himself in the face, officers said. He later died at the hospital.
More guns would not doubt have prevented this.
