Author's archive
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” . . . 0
. . . and this polite society’s politeness is going to the dogs (along with everything else).
We are a society of stupid.
QOTD 0
Thomas Haden Church, in the voice of Lowell Mather:
If you are driving a car down Sesame Street, would you in fact end up in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood?
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
To paraphrase Spiro Agnew, “social” media is full of nattering nabobs of nonsense.
An Uncomfortable Truth 0
Brian Greenspun, publisher of the Las Vegas Sun, looks at the Republican Party’s week-long struggle to select a Speaker and reaches the depressing conclusion that voters get what they vote for (emphasis added). A snippet; follow the link for his reasoning.
I believe we deserve exactly what we are getting right now. There have been no surprises. The entire country has known exactly who these people are and exactly what they want to do.
I know that it’s a depressing thought, but I think he may be onto something.
American Exceptionalism 0
Once again, the United States sets an example that others follow.
Afterthought:
Americans need to stop kidding themselves that loftiness of the American dream somehow washes away the reality of America’s history.
The Snaring Economy 0
Unexpected (and uninvited) visitors.
Persons have accused me of being cynical ever since I was a young ‘un, but, clearly, I am not cynical enough, as I am continually taken aback by the random venality that occurs daily on the inner tubes.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another driver is polite in passing.
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
Methinks Steve M. is being a bit of an optimist here.
The Rule of Flaw 0
Josh Grohlke is–er–less than optimistic about Kevin McCarthy’s coming tenure as Speaker of the House. Here’s a bit of what he has to say:
Follow the link for the rest.
Resolved 0
A life-long Republican shares his New Year’s resolution at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Not this year. I have made only one resolution — never, ever again will I vote for a Republican candidate for anything until the Grand Old Party — that I once enthusiastically supported — has succeeded in purging the MAGA craziness from the party.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
“What It Was, Was Football”* 0
In aftermath of Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest on the field (happily he seems to be recovering), Randall Balmer wonders what Americans find so enticing about so dangerous a sport. A snippet:
Which brings us back to the question about whether there is something about American society that draws us – myself included, by the way – to the carnage of football.
Aside:
I used to be a football fan. I looked forward to watching all the bowl games on New Year’s Day and a number that were not on New Year’s Day; I rooted for several NFL teams over the years. Now, though, I’ve lost all interest in football. The games have gotten far too long, the NFL owners are a mostly a bunch of jerks, and the NCAA is only in it for the money. (Indeed, the only sporting organization of which I have a lower opinion than of the NCAA is FIFA.)
My weekends are much more peaceful, relaxing, and productive now.
________________________
*With apologies to Andy Griffith.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
At the Tampa Bay Times, Daniel Ruth comments on the antics of Florida Man.
A Tune for the Times 0
Mangy comments at the Youtube page:
Kevin McCarthy is about to learn a lesson that has been learned by many who’ve finally had their dream come true. Just like those who finally got a large face tattoo, married the hot mean girl half their age, or quit their job and joined the circus, Kevin is about to learn that sometimes getting what you dreamed about can be WAY worse than you ever imagined.