December, 2017 archive
The Galt and the Lamers 0
Paul Krugman tries to make sense of the Republican rush to enrich those who already have more money than they can use. A snippet (emphasis added):
Tales of the Trumpling: Snapshots of Trickle-Down Trumpery 0
Trumpling the coffee bar.
While they didn’t understand what she wanted at first, they quickly realized that she was upset that they were speaking Korean to one another.
At one point in the dispute, Starbucks staff members came over to ask the woman what her problem was.
At one point in the dispute, Starbucks staff members came over to ask the woman what her problem was.
“They’re speaking in Oriental,” she replied. “I hate it.”
Afterthought:
Is is not ironic in that one must needs learn a made-up ersatz language just to order a coffee at Starbucks?
To the Contrary 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Ronald Riggio explores the reasons why persons will vote against their own self-interest. Here’s a bit of his piece:
In the U.S. Presidential election, two other psychological processes come into play: (1) the limitations caused by a two-party system; and (2) the we-they feeling (or in-group, out-group bias).
Follow the link for the rest.
‘____________________
*I must quibble with his use of “surprisingly.” The Republican Party has quite skillfully marshaled white resentment and racism since the days of Richard Nixon and his odious “southern strategy.”
Republicans listened to Lyndon Johnson, even if no one else did, and took his words to heart.
Break Time 0
Off to drink liberally.
Hoist on the Elmer Gantry 0
Josh Marshall reflects on the death of a uniquely American huckster.
Tales of the Trumpling: Snapshots of Trickle-Down Trumpery 0
This is your country on Trump.
As Washington’s KHQ station reports, the manager, Jade Cardwell, was sticking up for a black bartender against two unruly customers before the situation escalated to violence.
“Right away, when they came in, they were dropping the N word,” Cardwell said. “We have a black bar tender we just employed. We weren’t having it. We wanted them gone.”
The Trumplers left him severely injured and in need of surgery.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Practice random acts of politeness.
About 9:30 a.m., the 57-year-old San Antonio man was driving his tractor-trailer westbound in the 18000 block of Interstate 30, near Dalrock Road, when he changed lanes because of an accident ahead.
Fly the Fiendly Skies 0
The International Air Transport Association reports that the skies are getting fiendlier. A nugget:
“We saw an increase in incidents where all other forms of de-escalation had been exhausted and the cabin crew had no other option but to restrain the unruly passenger for the safety of everyone onboard,” he said.
The numbers break down to approximately 30 serious “unruly passenger” incidents on U.S. flights every day, Forbes reported.
That’s 30 a day out of over 40,000 flights in the US, so it’s an inconsequential percentage, but still too high. The story goes on to point out that alcohol is often a factor. Few things ruin a air trip more than being trapped on a plane with an obstreperous drunk–not even a crying baby, because, remember, the baby can’t help it.
If One Standard Is Good, Two Must Be Better 0
A constituent writes an open letter to his Congressman asking why he refuses to do his job.
