April, 2013 archive
RIP Allan Arbus 0
Farewell to Maj. Sidney Freedman of M*A*S*H,
Whenever he appeared in an episode, it was always a good episode.
Drinking Liberally Virginia Beach Thursday–Special Location 0
Fun and fellowship for liberals. Join us and talk about anything in a relaxed atmosphere.
Because of a special event at our regular location, we will be meeting at Harold’s this week, which will cut my drive time by about two-thirds.
When: Thursday, April 25th, 6 p.
Where:
Harold’s
4445 Virginia Beach Blvd. (just east of Barnes and Noble at Pembroke)
Virginia Beach, VA (map)
More here.
Culture Warrior Roots 0
Katherine Stewart takes a peep at the man behind the curtain, and sees that he’s a plutocrat who’s only in it for the money.
The culture war also allows this militant minority to sustain the delusion that it speaks for the majority. By wrapping guns and crosses in American flags, they derive power from falsely believing that they represent the “real America”. And as they become bolder in their claims, those of us who, in fact, represent the majority – supporting equitable policies on taxation, gun safety, access to reproductive care and the like – tend to limit ourselves. We begin to believe that we represent a minority in our country. We don’t.
Read the rest.
Stay out of the Draft 0
As a sporting event, the NFL draft is, as my mother would have said, “The biggest nothing.”
Bob Molinaro comments:
Follow the link. It’s a delightful read.
Lockdown 1
Elsewhere, I’ve seen questions as to why DHS and the city of Boston “locked down” a major metropolitan area to search for one fugitive. Not even in the days of Dillinger and open mob warfare was such a step taken for so long a time.
On the one hand, it could have been security theatre, turning out the troops because they can, or life imitating television cop shows, where all arrests seems to be made by SWAT teams any more and no one ever comes quietly.
On the other hand, Pepe Escobar has lots of questions and a theory, and it’s not a pretty one.
I’m not saying I buy his theory, certainly not in toto. In particular, I think that the answers to some of his questions lie more with irresponsible and craven news reporting and the fog of fast-moving events than with official contrivance.
Nevertheless, as someone whose low expectations of human nature often turn out to be too high and who has little faith in those who surveil in the surveillance state, I think his column is worth a look.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Be polite in the drive-through:
Sequestrian Dressage, Some There, There Dept. 0
“Industry-wide, the FAA plan could delay one out of every three people who fly, and the delays could be significant,” United Airlines says.
Some have wondered why the one sequestrian dressage dance step that upset Republican Congresspersons was the closure of certain air traffic control centers.
It’s because of a central myth of wingnuttery: the belief that the evul Fedrul guvmint doesn’t do anything useful.
Indeed, this may be a core belief of the nihilists on the right. In their view, government is not of the people, by the people, for the people, but is some kind of inherently evil other.
In reality, most of what most governments do is useful, stuff such as providing roads, hospitals, schools, garbage collection, scientific research, citizen protection, and many other things (with the possible exception of blowing up peasants all over the world because they look hinky to a gamer droning on in Nevada, yes, all over the world, tonight, all over the world you can hear the sounds of boom!).
Being reminded that the evul Fedrul guvmint does useful stuff strikes at the core of their nihilism, so they want the evidence to just
please
go
away.
A Digital Rights and Wrongs Post 0
Marty Moss-Coanne discusses digital etiquette with Emily Post’s great-great-grandson. From the website:
Follow the link to listen or download for later listening on your podplayer.
Republican Family Values . . . 0
. . . the central one of which appears to involve being mean for the sake of mean.
Scott Maxwell reports from the Orlando Sentinel:
Last week, I watched two groups of people hold passionate discussions about health care.
During one, doctors, pastors and patients swapped stories of inspiration and altruism, urging everyone to help as many people as possible.
During the other, politicians tried to persuade one another to help fewer. A plan was afoot to help 1 million people. But most of the politicians wanted to scale the help back — by as much as 90 percent.
At one, attendees talked about a moral obligation to help their fellow man and serve a higher power.
At the other, leaders demonstrated their desire to seek higher office.
The first event was a fundraiser for Shepherd’s Hope — a faith-based model of providing health care to Central Floridians that has become a national role model.
The other was the legislative session in Tallahassee, where politicians are scrambling for excuses to turn away billions of dollars in federal money to provide health care for the poor.
Both groups of people often quote Scripture.
Only one of them lives the Gospel.
Do You Believe in Magic? 2
PoliticalProf says, “Get real.”
I do always find it amusing when people presume presidents have magical powers that can overcome any resistance … especially when those people have never held any elective office, much less worked with a Senate in which 60 votes is the default vote these days.
Until we stop electing tools and idiots to Congress, we will continue to be doomed.
Follow the link; read the rest.
“Get Off My Lawn” 0
I hope that my mind and heart are never so old and shriveled that I want to live in a “55 and up” community.
