2017 archive
“. . . and Provide for the General Welfare.” 0
Shorter Badtux: “Yeah. Right.’
Shamed by the Bell 0
In the silence between the third and fourth movements of the first piece, as the conductor raised his baton, the cell phone rang from somewhere in the back of the concert hall. The conductor stood, motionless, as he and the musicians waited in silence for quiet to return.
Fortunately, I had remembered to mute my phone, so it wasn’t me.
Afterthought:
Later, as I returned from intermission, I remarked to the usher, who was quietly ushering in the hallway, “I’m glad I muted my cell phone.”
He was still laughing as I reentered the auditorium.
A Matter of Lives 0
Writing in The Charlotte Observer, Tiffany Capers describes her own first #metoo moment, then moves a new topic to the discussion. Here’s an excerpt, in which she highlights some hypocrisy.
Do please read the rest.
Click for the original image.Tin-Pot Trumpery 0
We are doomed.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness takes practice.
Authorities said the victim was shot in the chest and died at the scene.
Light Bloggery 0
Things to do.
Predators on the Prowl 0
Jessica Valenti suggests that predatory behavior, far from being penalized, is too often rewarded. A snippet:
For too long, we’ve lauded men’s domination and aggressiveness as a sign of leadership rather than possible red flags. When men talk over everyone else in a room, we call it confidence rather than entitlement. If they berate others in meetings, we call them powerful and passionate, not bullying. And when they treat women at work differently than they do men, we’re told that they’re not sexist – they’re just “old-school.”
If One Standard Is Good, Two Must Be Better 0
Andres Oppenheimer notes a contrast:
Follow the link for the complete article.
The Axman Cometh 0
Paul Krugman has the details. Here’s a nugget:
Oh, wait — did you think I was talking about Donald Trump? I’m talking about Paul Ryan, the speaker of the House, an obvious phony who nonetheless convinced the rubes — that is, much of the news media and the political establishment — that he was a brilliant fiscal expert. What we’re witnessing now is the end of the charade, the political equivalent of what happened when graduates of Trump University tried to get some value in return for their money.
Rule of Lawless, One More Time 0
Peter Baker takes a look at Donald Trump’s recent belittling of law enforcement. The whole article is worth a read, but I think the introduction sums up the key bit (emphasis added):
In other words, he’s mad because he can’t get his way.
Follow the link to see why I said that.
The Fox Fear Factory 0
Thom looks back on Fox News’s greatest greatest hits and how Fox lies got us to where we are. Pulled together in one summary, it’s an impressive resume of serial dishonesty in pursuit of political gain.
The Court Is in Session 0
Elie Mystal suggests–well, to be precise, states outright–that Attorney-General Jeff Sessions is a “zealous theocrat.”
Brazile Nuts? 0
Josh Marshall tries to figure out just what Donna Brazile is hoping to accomplish with her recent revelations, which are not, in fact, revelations, that Hillary Clinton’s campaign has a fund-raising agreement with the DNC, as too did the Sanders campaign.
Here’s a nugget:
