Author's archive
Are We a Society of Stupid? 0
My two or three regular readers know that I use “we are a society of stupid” as a tagline on posts regarding especially moronic and vile behavior.
And really, just look around.
At Psychology Today Blogs, though, David Niose suggests otherwise, arguing that “(a)nti-intellectualism has little to do with intelligence.”
Frankly, I think he draws a false dichotomy. Being smart in one area (say, math or real estate or computer coding) does not cancel out being stupid an another (say, governance or ethics or charity).
Intelligence ipso facto values the intellectual. Look the word up, for Pete’s sake. But follow the link and see what you think.
Dogged Pursuit 0
AL.com doggedly investigates the bite marks. A snippet:
Folow the link. And snarl.
Immunity Impunity
0
Brenda Salter McNeil has a question.
Icing the Cake Climate
0
Thom talks with Dr. Michael Mann about how the climate seems to be warming more quickly than predicted a decade ago.
A Tune for the Times 0
Warning: Language.
Gutting Out the Vote 0
At the Hartford Courant, Dahleen Glanton reviews Republican voter suppression strategies and concludes that
(t)he GOP has become the biggest threat to our elections, and thus democracy.
Follow the link to see how she makes her case.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Don’t mess around with politeness.
“Yes, But” Always Means No 0
Many years ago, in another incarnation, I was a management trainer in the corporate training department of a national corporation (one of the benefits was that I got to travel all over the country, mostly by rail; there is no better way to see the country than through the windows of a passenger train).
One of the classes that we taught was “Interpersonal Communications Skills” (among ourselves, we referred to it as “How To Talk Good,” but, really, it was much more about how to listen good). The title of this post is one of the catch phrases we used to use to drive a point home to the trainees.
Because it’s true.
Software Upgrade 0
Image via Juanita Jean.
Aside:
I suspect that the Trumpettes will never admit–especially to themselves–how thoroughly they have allowed themselves to be conned.
All Hallows Eve in These Viral Times 0
Stephanie Hayes re-imagines a haunted house for today.
Geeking Out 0
Listening to Philo Vance from the Old Time Radio Network Library with the VLC media player on Mageia v. 7 under the Fluxbox window manager. The wallpaper is from my collection.
Sacrificial Lambs 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Jim Jones explains.
“My Way or the Highway” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Jeremy Sherman suggests that the motivations for members of right-wing “populist” movements may be simpler than many theorists believe. In that context, he opines that Donald Trump’s behavior during this week’s “debate” was not to be unexpected.
Methinks his comments are worth consideration; here’s a tiny bit:
Trump is the perfect embodiment of that proud stance and this week’s debate was the first test of that stance in four years, Trump’s first public moment in four years as an equal to others, not the dominant leader granting audience to respectful supplicating subordinates.
. . . His best and only remaining strategy is simple: Continue to pose as indomitable; imply inevitable and absolute dominance with ever-louder dog-whistles.
All he had to do was demonstrate continued unflappable dominance and he pulled it off brilliantly running roughshod over every social norm. He didn’t blow the debate; he nailed it.
Sherman, I think, makes a telling point. I suspect that Donald Trump does indeed believe that he nailed it.
Follow the link to put that little bit I quoted in context. It’s worth the five minutes.
Aside:
I put quotations around the word “populist” because the usage of the term has morphed significantly. Initially, it denoted a progressive movement, rather than, as it does today, a regressive one.