2018 archive
The Climates They Are a-Changing 0
Air conditioning. In November.
When I was growing up in these parts, by this time, I’d have been wearing my Air Force style parka to go for walks in the evening.
Words fail me.
One Note Samba 0
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Recommended Reading 0
Shaun Mullen rounds up a list of the best books about Russian Impulses.
Playing the Victim 0
A letter to the editor of my local rag exposes the con.
Jingo Jangle 0
Jay Bookman decodes Donald Trump’s cynical embrace of “nationalism.” A snippet:
“Globalist” and “nationalist” are terms with deep roots in racism, anti-Semitism and fascism. In Hungary, fascists call themselves nationalist and rant against George Soros and the globalist elite, as do their counterparts in places such as Poland, Russia, Italy, Austria and France. Such words serve as code, to signal to others at home and around the world that they share a common cause and understanding.
In all those various countries, nationalism is understood to have a common meaning, and that is “white nationalism.”
Herky-Jerky 0
Jeremy E. Sherman explores the moves and motives of “total jerks.” Here’s a bit from his intro:
Some people love the way he’s putting total jerk liberals in their place to make America great. Some people just think he’s a total jerk. Either way, his behavior is a golden opportunity for us all to attend to the most fundamental moral challenge ever: How to identify and thwart total jerks.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness is going to the dogs.
The shotgun fired by Charlie, a 120-pound Rottweiler mix — or, presumably, a “Shot-weiler” — blasted through the driver’s seat and entered Gilligan’s back, breaking several ribs and his collarbone. He was lucky to survive the freak accident, he said.
I do not want to seem querulous–oh, forget it, I do. There’s a reason that guns are supposed to be kept unloaded, or, at the minimum, kept with safeties engaged, until you are ready to use them (though I have been given to understand, he weasel-worded, that some guns these days are not equipped with safeties, because responsible gun owners are always responsible; also, pigs, wings).
“Lessons in Leadership” 0
My boss at my first full-time job was a really good boss. (Like many good bosses, if he had a failing, it was that he would try too hard to save the jobs of persons who had demonstrated that they richly deserved to be separated from the organization.)
One day after I had known him long enough to feel comfortable do so, I asked how he got to be so skillful at managing people. He replied, “Welllll, I think about what my first boss would have done.
“Then I do the exact opposite.”
Ronald E. Riggio suggests that the same statement applies Donald Trump’s leadership you-could-hardly-call-it-a style.
“Demoniacs” 0
Tony Norman considers the perpetrators of the recent spate of right-wing terror attacks upon citizens of the United States, starting with Robert Bowers, who attacked a Pittsburgh synagogue during services. A snippet:
A Gaggle of Gullible 0
Raw Story reports; follow the link for more.
The Russian propaganda was “nine times more effective than its disinformation in Russian,” the report says, because Russians are smarter about identifying it.
Americans will believe stuff they read on Facebook and Twitter when they wouldn’t believe the same stuff if they watched the hand of God descend from the sky to write it on a stone tablet with His own finger.
We are a society of stupid.
False-Flagging Interests 0
PoliticalProf explains the cynical cycle of the conservative con.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Drive politely.
A bullet hole was found in the car door of the vehicle the couple arrived in, and after more questioning the woman said the man had accidentally shot himself while in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The gun had been tossed out of the vehicle in the area of Wicks Lane and St. Andrews Drive.
It seems that the jumper and jumpee were one and the same.
Guns and stupid, guns and stupid.
They go together like love and Cupid.
Let me tell you, brother,
You can’t have one without the other.
“Block Contact” 0
What bright light decided that unexpected annoying text messages from unknown persons would be a productive way to get out the vote?
Furrfu.
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.
When: Monthly TWUUG meeting at 7:30 p. m. on the first Thursday of the month (November 1, 2018). Pre-meeting dinner at Chicago Uno, JANAF shopping center, 6:00 p. m. (map)
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 (map). (Wireless and wired internet connection available.) Turn right upon entering, then left at the last corridor and look for the open meeting room.