First Looks category archive

The Rude One points out, rudely, that not voting is not taking a stand or some how making a statement by not (ahem) making a statement. It’s abdication. A snippet (warning: language):

Not voting when you are ready and able to vote is privilege taken to the hilt. The non-voters on the left have decided that their beliefs trump (goddamn him for taking that word from us) whatever good can be done through elections as the parties stand now. If you don’t vote and that causes Republicans to keep both houses of Congress, you have condemned yourself and all the people you think you’re taking a stand for to at least two more years and the lingering effects of gutted social programs, of a war on women and non-whites, of an openly racist immigration policy, of inaction on climate change, and so very much more. You will be deciding that you would rather that happen, you would rather fuck up real lives of real people, than you compromised.

‘Nuf said.

My friend Andrew Jackson tells me that there will a Virginia Beach City Council candidate forum–likely the last one of this election season–on Thursday, October 25, at 6:30 p. m. at the Morning Star Baptist Church, 4780 First Court Road, Virginia Beach.

There is no URL that I can point you to, but I plan to be there (heck, for all practical purposes, it’s just around the corner for me). You can be there too.

Aside:

After that, I should be able to finish my PVF Endorsements, over there (——>) on the sidebar.

I don’t expect to have an endorsement for every contest, but I’ll do the best I can.

Headline of the week: Collins blasted ‘dark money’ groups in Kavanaugh fight. One just paid to thank her for her vote

Off to drink liberally, hoping that the storm doesn’t really start until we’re done.

Addendum:

As I write this at about 11:00 p. m., the storm hasn’t amounted to much. There’s been a bit of rain, heavy at times, but really no big deal.

I’ll check the rain gauge (yes, I have a rain gauge) in the morning and report back.

And, yes, those of us who showed up at the DL gathering had a great conversation, ranging from Hammer Films vampire movies to OTR (Old Time Radio). It was a nice break from politics.

Addendum-de-dum-dum:

We got only about half an inch of rain, but the winds kicked up over night; as I look out the window, I see a number of branches, some of them substantial, that were once attached to trees . . . .

When fellowship is needed, join us . . . .

When: Thursday, October 11, 6 p.

Where:
Croc’s 19 Street Bistro
620 19th Street (Map)

Read the chapter blog and sign up to have your inbox flooded with one or two emails a month here.

Schoolhouse Trumpling.

Off to drink liberally.

If you are a mystery buff, as I am, and like your mysteries delivered with a soupcon of comedy, you can’t do better than Carter. It gets better with every episode.

Private Eyes is also a fun watch.

(Misplaced tag fixed.)

The Virginia Beach Drinking Liberally gathering will be delayed one week until Thursday, September 20, because of Hurricane Florence.

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Robert van Gulik’s last book of the Judge Dee series, written shortly before his untimely death, Murder in Canton.

I’ve just started it and I’m already enraptured.

Leonard Pitts, Jr., points out that the recent New York Times column about Donald Trump by “Anonymous” does not mean what its author thinks it means. He takes issue with the implication that Anonymous and his fellow insurgents are somehow bravely standing between Donald Trump and catastrophe. A snippet (emphasis added):

To the contrary, he or she shows the jellyfish spine and bunny rabbit bravery common among Republicans these days. Real courage would’ve required the writer and the “many Trump appointees” he or she says are part of this to quit their jobs en masse, find a public forum and speak the obvious truth without hiding behind the cloak of anonymity. Namely, that this tantrum-throwing child is unfit to govern.

New studies indicate that perhaps persons should stick with amateur biotics.

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Via Job’s Anger.

Just another day in NRA Paradise.

“My neighbor’s son just came over and said he was on Facetime with a friend and the kid shot himself in the head,” said the neighbor in the 911 call.

The 14-year-old’s friend then got on the phone telling the 911 operator that the shooting appeared to be an accident.

The 911 operator asked: “Did he say anything before he did it?”

The friend on the 911 call responded saying: “He didn’t know there was a live round in it. He thought it was completely empty. He just pulled the trigger and shot himself.”

Ira Hyman contemplates the assault on truth and suggests that the medium does indeed have some responsibility for the message. Here’s an excerpt (emphasis added):

When most news was presented to the public through TV news programs and traditional papers, editors and journalists followed ethical standards that helped the news adhere to the truth. When errors occurred, ethical journalists acknowledged and corrected. But today there are so many promoters of “news.” I’ve put news in quotes because some of what is promoted is known to be false. And this matters.

When social media platforms become the source of news for many people, they may have the same ethical obligations as newspapers and journalists. Social media platforms can’t hide behind claims of being neutral. Being neutral with respect to true information and misinformation isn’t neutrality. Instead, this promotes the misinformation by treating it the same as the truth. Similarly when news and opinion shows present people peddling snake oil, misinformation, and conspiracy theories, they have ethical obligations. Giving air time to people who deny climate change, for example, promotes that misinformation – even when the peddlers of false information are asked hard questions.

Methinks he has a point.