Author's archive
Minimum Qualifications 0
Paul Ekman, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, identifies six personality (as opposed to political) characteristics which he considers desirable in a president or presidential candidate. They are:
- Not impulsive
- Comfortable with ambiguity
- Tolerates taking risks
- Values transparency
- Takes the blame for mistaken actions
- Seeks to act consistently with our American heritage
Follow the link for his reasoning, and, as you do so, reflect on how well the incumbent embodies these qualities.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
One of those “responsible gun owners” was just horsin’ around . . . .
(snip)
“He was limping, dragging that leg — it was really swollen. He just had marginal interest in food,” said Kelly Nelson, the owner of the boarding facility that cares for Jasper, according to KOIN. “His eyes just looked really dull and like he was in a lot of pain.”
And, in related news, politeness is going to the dogs.
Just the Vaxx, Ma’am 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Bryna Siegel tries to make sense of the maelstrom of misinformation magnified in the electrons of the inner webs, primarily via “social” media. She focuses on anti-vaxx as a springboard. A nugget:
I commend the entire piece to your attention.
Meta: Blogroll 0
I’ve just gone through my Blogroll and deleted a few sites that are no longer active. (That’s something I’d encourage my fellow bloggers to do from time to time, based on my experience with their blogrolls. . . .)
I’ll likely add a few new links when I get a round tuit.
I know that blogrolls seem to have become an anachronism in these days of twits and Zuckers, but, dammit, it’s my site and I’ll try if I want to. You would try too if it happened to you.
Stray Thought 0
I’m so old that I can remember when politicians of a certain age voluntarily entered retirement.
Plastic People, You’re Such a Drag* 0
And it looks like all of us are becoming plastic people:
The study estimates that adults consume and inhale at least 98,000 of the particles each year, based on a review of previous research about microplastic intake from things like seafood, honey, bottled water and beer.
Many more particles at the link.
______________
*With apologies to Frank Zappa.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Extend the hand of politeness to our four-legged friends.
Philip H. Taylor, 54, of Bryan, Ohio, who is charged with a fifth-degree felony, is accused of killing the dogs Saturday with a handgun, according to records in Bryan Municipal Court.
Facebook Frolics, Rule of Lawless Dept. 0
Will Bunch considers the Philadelphia police officers who have been outed for racist rants on the Zuckerborg and the implications of their behavior. An excerpt:
In a related item, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s editorial board points out that
That’s why the existence of these posts represents a crisis in this city and elsewhere.
It’s not just in Philly, folks.
Unnaturalizing Citizens 0
David points out the absurd lengths to which wingnuts will take their conspiratorial thinking.
Purity 0
I have from time to time complained in these electrons of political “purists,” those who, if a candidate or nominee does not agree with their positions in their entirety, run whining off to throw their votes away on a Jill Stein or a Ralph Nader.
The other side of “purists,” I reckon, are the cultists, those who support their idol regardless of what he or she does, even if that includes, say, just to pick a fr’instance from thin airwaves, shooting someone in broad daylight on Fifth Avenue.
At Psychology Today Blogs, Adrian Picotic explores the latter. A snippet:
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Bringing new meaning to the term, “gun lover” . . . .
He said Williams first rubbed the gun along his body. Afterwards, he did the same to her, but she grabbed the gun when it was pointed at her chest and it went off, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Shinault would later change his story and told detectives that he had been pulling the trigger and it clicked as he rubbed Williams with the gun.
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.