September, 2013 archive
Alan Grayson’s Classic Description of Republican Health Care Comes to Life: “Don’t Get Sick. If You Do Get Sick, Die Quickly.” 0
Extending health care to the community, the Republican way.
War, Because, If We Don’t, Who Will? 0
I write mail in response to this news report:
The Honorable Tim Kaine
United States Senate
388 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510Dear Mr. Kaine:
I see in today’s Virginian-Pilot that you voted for intervention in Syria because, to paraphrase your statement as quoted in the story, “Somebody should do something.”
As it appears that “doing something” will not end the civil war in Syria, will not bring peace in any form, will not, in fact, accomplish anything other than to blow up more stuff and people, I submit, sir, that “Somebody should do something” is not a sound basis for policy formation.
Copied to my other elected representatives incongruously assembled.
Consider it cc-sa.
A Liberal Education 0
Reg Henry reflects:
And so did I become a paragon of learning and a pillar of decency? Er, not quite. I think I would have done better with a self-esteem program. Having watched corporal punishment applied brutally and arbitrarily, I became outraged by unfairness and skeptical of sternly imposed authority.
In short, I started down the road to becoming a liberal. Now you mockers of self-esteem wouldn’t want that to happen to any kid, would you? Old-school thinking deserved an F in some areas and that’s why the education world changed.
Job Creation 0
Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go 0
For all practical purposes, the patient is stable, but not improving.
(snip)
The jobless claims report showed the four-week moving average, a less volatile measure than the weekly figures, declined to 328,500 last week, the lowest since October 2007, from 331,500.
The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits declined by 43,000 to 2.95 million in the week ended Aug. 24. The continuing claims figure does not include the number of Americans receiving extended benefits under federal programs.
The Voter Fraud Fraud 0
In Republican World, democracy is all well and good, as long as it votes Republican.
“Unintentional Misfire” 0
As opposed, I reckon, to an intentional misfire.
“It has been revealed to us that the subject shot by one our DeKalb police officers was not associated with the burglary on Streamside Court,” Alexander said. “He was truant from school and began running when he saw police officers in the area.”
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
And you thought magazines were a dying industry.
Just as a point of reference, the county seat of James City County is Williamsburg (aka, at least when I attended school there, “Colonial Disneyland”).
Bad Hair Daze, Reprise 0
Students’ hair continues to make grown-ups stupid.
She’s a seven-year-old African American child who had dreadlocks .
The school’s policy states
“hairstyles such as dreadlocks, afros, mohawks, and other faddish styles are unacceptable.”
Of the ones listed, the only one that I could consider “faddish” is the mohawk, since it seems to reappear for a short while every other generation.
Oddly enough, the last time I saw a mohawk, it was worn by the virtuoso guest pianist at a concert by the Virginia Beach Symphony.
I am skeptical that this policy is “colorblind.”
I am certain that it is stupid.
The Fever Isn’t Catching 0
The resident curmudgeon at my local rag takes the temperature of this area, home of the largest complex of military bases in the world, and finds no sign of war fever.
In fact, quite the opposite.
ROI 0
Jonnie Williams, he of the magickal nicotine pills, expensed many of his “grifts” to the Regent as business expenses.
Really.
Gamed 0
Noz keeps his poker face.
Make TWUUG Your LUG 0
Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source.
What: Monthly TWUUG Meeting.
Who: Everyone in TideWater/Hampton Roads with interest in any/all flavors of Unix/Linux. There are no dues or signup requirements. All are welcome.
Where: Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk Training Room. See directions below. (Wireless and wired internet connection available.) Turn right upon entering, then left at the last corridor and look for the open meeting room.
When: 7:30 PM till whenever (usually 9:30ish) on Thursday, September 5.
Directions:
Lake Taylor Hospital
1309 Kempsville Road
Norfolk, Va. 23502 (Map)
Pre-Meeting Dinner at 6:00 PM (separate checks)
Uno Chicago Grill
Virginia Beach Blvd. & Military Highway (Janaf Shopping Center). (Map)
Stray Thought 0
Persons who complain about “political correctness” signify their wish for a free pass to be offensive.
Recency Affairs 0
Life for the Regent, aka Governor Ultrasound, is getting more and more interesting.
His claims of being an innocent buystander bystander, an unknowing victim caught in a shower of unnoticed largess from a smooth-talking marketeer wanting favors from the Commonwealth, seem to be getting shakier and shakier.