2017 archive
In Security 0
I tend to be skeptical when persons raise concerns about “national security.” Too often that phrase is used to either intrude illegitimately into areas that are nobody’s business or to hide official misconduct or, perhaps more often, official acts of stupid.
Nevertheless, “national security” is a real thing and ignoring or weakening it costs blood and treasure, as when President George the Worst ignored warnings that Osama Bin Laden was determined to attack the U. S.
In The Guardian, Jeffrey H. Smith argues that Donald Trump and his administration are inimical to legitimate national security. Here’s an excerpt:
Second, some of his actions and utterances are so far outside the bounds of responsible presidential conduct that many professionals who serve in the national security agencies lack confidence in him as commander-in-chief. Much damage has been done and whether it can be repaired, and if so how, is not clear.
Do please follow the link.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Brian K. Fennessy looks up the history of Confederate statues. What he finds is no surprise: they were statues to racism. Here’s the nugget:
Racist language pervades the dedication speeches. If one assumes that the speaker is excluding blacks from the term “southerners,” when its use clearly meant only white southerners, then white identity politics are present in every speech. But speakers were often more explicit. 14 speeches explicitly invoked “our Anglo-Saxon ancestors,” “love of race,” or “your own race and blood.”
Follow the link for examples.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
The hunt for politeness intensifies.
Conservation officers have determined that Stratton’s 12-gauge shotgun had accidentally discharged as he attempted to grab the soft case it was in, which was hanging from a branch next to his ladder stand. DNR says the gun was pointed towards Stratton and the safety was off.
This is why you don’t load the gun until you are ready to use it, for Pete’s sake.
Now, about those IQ tests for hunting licenses . . . .
And, in more news of the polite . . . .
Moore Trumpling, Reprise 0
Bryan Greenspun, publisher of the Las Vegas Sun, marvels at the hypocrisy. A nugget:
I understand the difficulty most people have when the matter is determined by what “he said” and “she said,” and it is difficult to find the line between fact and fiction. But in the matter of Moore, this is a “he said” and “they said” proposition in which no one yet has refused to believe the many female accusers. In fact, there are some who incredulously say they believe the women — which means they believe the abhorrent behavior of the man who seeks their votes — and yet they will still vote for him.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
The Trumpled Polls 0
Farron runs the numbers.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
The hunt for politeness continues apace.
The stupid.
It burns.
The Internet of Targets 0
If you are thinking of getting internet enabled doo-dads for Christmas for yourself or others, check Mozilla’s report, “Privacy Not Included.”
Via Bruce Schneier.
Geeking Out 0
Listening to KCEA with QMMP skinned with a Winamp skin on Slackware Linux v. 14.2 with the KDE Deaktop Environment running Xclock and the Gkrellm system monitor whule reading a Nero Wolfe mystery.
I think the hot springs in the wallpaper are in Yellowstone; I visited Yellowstone once a long time ago.
Empty Suits 0
Why does David Brooks still have a job?
Moore Trumpling 0
Dick Polman examines the implications of Donald Trump’s decision to endorse “Judge” Roy Moore in Alabama. He notes some that others have overlooked:
This was also the gist of his message:
Women and black people are not believable. If women say they were molested or harassed or assaulted, don’t believe them. If Barack Obama, via his birth certificate, proves he was born in America, don’t believe him. If the Central Park Five (black teens who denied raping a white jogger) are ultimately vindicated and exonerated by DNA evidence, don’t believe them. But if a white, right-wing man “totally denies” serial behavior deemed repugnant by society, believe him.
