2019 archive
David Delves into the Dinar Dodge 0
Normally, I would not post something like this.
But I know first-hand someone who buys into this sort of stuff (and you probably do too)–someone who should know better, but will believe obscure Youtube videos and web sites on the back roads and woodland paths of the inner webs before he would believe the handwriting on the wall, even if he himself had seen the moving finger having writ it.
QOTD 0
Rex Stout, in the voice of Archie Goodwin:
My rule is, never be rude to anyone unless you mean it.
Stout, Rex, “Counterfeit for Murder” in Homicide Trinity (New York: Bantam, 1970), p. 127.
We Went to a Concert 0
The violin soloist was marvelous, as was the guest conductor.
And the musicians of the VSO gave their usual excellent performance.
Aside:
Last year, the VSO performed Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade as a tribute to the first violinist, who was celebrating his 25th anniversary with them.
Scheherazade has been my favorite bit of classical music since I first heard it back when “stereo” was new (I still have the album), but I did not know until I saw it performed that it is a tour-de-force for the first violinist; much of it is the first violinist in solo. They–and he–nailed it.
Absolutely nailed it.
If you live in this area, be sure to take in a VSO concert. If you go their website a few days before the show and the show is not sold out, you can pick up tickets cheap. But, be warned! you’ll be buying a subscription the next season. That’s what happened to us.
All the News that Fits 0
Steve M. discusses Fox News’s “coverage” of the arrest of Roger Stone.
Tales of the Trumpling: Snapshots of Trickle-Down Trumpery 0
Afterthought:
I did a year of grad work (History, U. S. Southern) at U. Va. I had a couple of great professors, one so-so one, and one so bad that his book got remaindered under his nose right there in C’ville.
I learned one thing in particular: A love for the study of history is not ipso facto a qualification for becoming a professional academician.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Fun in the food court.
But less than an hour later, Morrow Police Chief James Callaway said while the shooting is still considered accidental, the gun owner may still be considered a suspect because he left the scene.
Facebook Frolics 0
Clueless frolics.
The Rich Are Different from You and Me 0
The have money. Here’s an example:
Texas, like Virginia, is a two-license-plate state. The Austin, Texas, Statesman reports that someone wants to change all that, but only if you have the wherewithalls.
Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian (a small town in the Texas panhandle—ed.), is pushing House Bill 673, which adds one category to the current list of vehicles exempt from the front-plate requirement. In addition to “a road tractor, a motorcycle, a trailer, (and) a semitrailer,” King wants to add “luxury passenger car” to section 504.943 of the Texas Transportation Code.
Why? Because a constituent with a fancy car asked him to. If you can’t do stuff for constituents with fancy cars, who can you do stuff for?
The Art of the Dealing with, Reprise 0
Stanton Peele, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, contrasts Nancy Pelosi’s and Donald Trump’s leadership styles (though, in the case of Trump, the word “style” might not be the best term, but I digress). Here’s a bit; follow the link for the rest:
Others disagreed, prompting Trump to tweet, “This was in no way a concession.” Huh, that’s the word that is usually applied to giving in to the other side’s position.
A Nation of Immigrants 0
David and Tom Gjelten discuss the history of American immigration policy. It’s dirtier and more twisted than you might have thought (at least, if you have not studied it).
Aside:
I think I have mentioned before in these electrons that the history of American immigration laws is a tutorial in applied racism.
The Art of the Con 0
Eugene Robinson sees through the hype. A nugget:
Follow the link for more.
Afterthought:
Headlines today indicate that some sort of (temporary?) agreement may be pending.
That does not invalidate the above.