February, 2024 archive
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
You’ve heard of drive-by shootings, what about a drive-thru shooting?
Guns and stupid, guns and stupid.
They go together like love and Cupid.
Let me tell you brother,
You can’t have one without the other.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
Jackie Calmes reminds us that, when you points a finger at someone else, three fingers point back at you.
Disorder in the Court 0
At Above the Law, Kathryn Rubino decodes de code.
Recommended Viewing 0
Olivia de Havilland’s performance was outstanding. Her character was real.
We saw it on TCM.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
She had politeness in the bag.
The employee was shot in the leg. She is in stable condition.
Aside:
No, the firearm did not “accidentally discharge.” Guns don’t fire themselves.
She negligently discharged the firearm.
Furrfu.
Establishmentarians Establishing Establishmentarianism 0
Thom talks with Tim Alberta about his new book, The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory: American Evangelicals In An Age of Extremism.
Republican Thought Police 0
At the Tampa Bay Times, the past president, current president, and incoming president of the American Sociological Association take strong exception to Florida’s decision to remove sociology from the list of “core” courses at Florida universities.
I commend their article to your attention.
Afterthought:
I am a strong believer in the value of sociology as a field of study. I majored in history, as I’ve mentioned before in these electrons, but, had my college given minors, I had more than enough credits for a minor in sociology.
History teaches how we got where we are. Sociology teaches us to understand how where we are functions, plus it sheds light on the workings of the where-we-came-froms.
But, of course, racists and bigots (and fascists and wannabe dictators) don’t want you to understand, or you’ll see through their game.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Just because you see–er–hear it on a computer–er–device, it ain’t necessarily so.
Details at the link.
The Campaign Promise 0
Once again, Maya Angelou’s admonition comes to mind:
When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.
Facebook Frolics 0
A Consumer Reports study details the extent to which you have been assimilated by the Zuckerborg and its enablers. Indeed, perhaps the most astounding bit in the report is the number of Zuckerborg enablers who “share” your data with Facebook.
Follow the link for the article.
One more time, “social” media isn’t.
You don’t use “social” media. It uses you.
H/T Bruce Schneier for the head up.
Taylor Mad 0
Along the same lines, Sam and his crew take a look at the right-wing’s Taylor Swift freak out.
A Critique of Poor Reason 0
At the Kansas City Star, Melinda Henneberger takes on what may be the looniest right-wing conspiracy theory since pizzagate: That the Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor Swift tools of Joe Biden. She wonders
. . . But how will Chiefs Kingdom push back against the slander that their wins aren’t real?
I think you will find her article a worthy and entertaining read.
Establishmentarians 0
Oklahoma establishmentarians want to erect a graven image.
