2017 archive
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness is child’s play.
Police say the boy’s parents walked out of the room momentarily when the boy picked up a loaded gun.
He accidentally shot and killed himself, according to police.
Per the NRA, had there been more guns in the house, no doubt this would not have happened.
Under the Sheets 0
In an article about the failed attempts to repeal the ACA, Solomon Jones skewers the innate hypocrisy of contemporary Republicanism. A snippet:
Read the rest.
Civic Duty, Part One 1
Once before in these electrons I’ve mentioned being called for jury duty. On that occasion, we assembled in a room and waited. Once all the juries for the day were empaneled, those of us remaining were sent home.
This was a much different experience from that one. It was also much different from what you see on TV courtroom shows. Oh, the TV may have the shape of the model correct, but they dress it up in unrecognizable garments.
I decided to post about my experience because most persons resist jury duty like the plague and because those who have not been called might like to know to expect. Please note that the experience may vary in different jurisdictions.
Misty Water-Colored Mysteries 0
I am pleasantly occupied reading Some Buried Caesar, the first Nero Wolfe mystery I read. I read it the first time in a trilogy while riding in the back seat of my parents’ car on the way to visit my grandmother.
It was the first Nero Wolfe story I read, the first of many.
It’s just as good a story now as it was then.
Make TWUUG Your LUG 0
Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source. Use computers to do what you want, not what someone else wants you to do. Learn how to use GNU/Linux and its plethora of free and open source software to get stuff done with computers.
It’s not hard; it’s just different.
When: Monthly TWUUG meeting at 7:30 p. m. on the first Thursday of the month (August 3, 2017). Pre-meeting dinner at Chicago Uno, JANAF shopping center, 6:00 p. m. (map)
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 (map). (Wireless and wired internet connection available.) Turn right upon entering, then left at the last corridor and look for the open meeting room.
Da Mooch 0
Well, that didn’t take long.
Civic Duty 0
I might have jury duty tomorrow. The way it works here is that, if you receive a summons for jury duty, you call or check the city website the evening before to see whether you must actually report.
I’m not looking forward to it, primarily because I will have to up and at ’em before I’m usually up, as the Court House is way on the other side of town. On the other hand, if I’m called, I’ll take along that book I’ve been meaning to read.
You can, nevertheless, be assured that, whatever else happens, I won’t do this.
Running the Numbers 0
There’s no delusion like self-delusion.
Tales of the Trumpling: Snapshots of Trickle-Down Trumpery 0
The Sacramento Bee reports that the number and frequency of racist verbal attacks on California officials has escalated dramatically since January (gee, what happened in January?). Here are a few examples from the report; follow the link for more.
A fervent group of Trump supporters, who disrupt Democratic town halls and other political forums in Southern California, called de León an “anchor baby” and “illegal alien scumbag” at a Latino summit in May at UC Riverside, where academics and community leaders gathered to strategize ways to fight Trump’s agenda. The protesters continue to post YouTube videos of themselves heckling politicians.
“In my mind there’s no doubt that Donald Trump has opened up this Pandora’s box,” de León said. “There’s no question about it because he’s done nothing as president of the United States to temper it down or heal the nation.”
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Practice makes polite.
Gagnon said Gallant was shot after one of the rifles being used by the young men jammed. As two of them tried to fix the weapon, it discharged, striking Gallant in the chest.
