2025 archive
Spatial Awareness 0
The writer of a letter to the editor of the New Orleans Times-Picayune argues that (column) size matters.
I don’t know that I fully agree with him, but he certainly raises an intriguing argument.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
One of those “responsible gun owners” chartered a cruise to politeness.
Stray Thought 0
It occurred to me as I drifted off to sleep last night that there must be some irony in honoring Memorial Day while a draft dodger occupies the White House.
But, then, as Professor Shade was fond of pointing out, “History is irony.”
QOTD 0
Rex Stout, in the voice of Nero Wolfe:
War doesn’t mature men; it merely pickles them in the brine of disgust and dread.
Stout, Rex, Over My Dead Body (New York: Bantam, 1994) p. 119
A Notion of Immigrants 0
The Arizona Republic’s E. J. Montini, prompted by a communication from a reader, asked ICE why its agents are wearing masks while arresting immigrants who have broken no laws–who, in fact, have played by the rules. ICE did not respond when he asked for an explanation, so he offers his own theory:
Follow the link, where he explains how he came to that conclusion.
Republican Family Values 0
At the Bangor Daily News, Stephen McKay suggests that Donald Trump provides a somewhat less than stellar modeling of behavior to be emulated by our nation’s youth.
Methinks he makes several points worthy of consideration.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Thom comments on the Trump maladministration’s acting to sue the city of Chicago for not keeping them uppity darkies in their place (and if you think my characterization of the suit to be a tad flippant, just watch the video).
Sizing It Up 0
A bit from the artist’s commentary (emphasis added):
Springsteen has been using his platform and calling out the needless cruelty of Trump’s policies at his concerts, which in turn elicited insults and attempts at intimidation from Trump.
The president’s response to a superstar musician criticizing how he’s running the country is to launch vague threats about not letting him back in the country. Silencing of critics is authoritarian level nonsense and the president’s willingness to go after celebrity members of the opposition is both incredibly petty and terrifying.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another oxymoronic “responsible gun owner” practices courtesy on the concrete.
The Rule of Lawless 0
In a longer column discussing the Trump maladministration’s attempt to punish Harvard University for daring to stand up to it, Noah Feldman makes this observation, which methinks is quite en point (emphasis added):
As has become typical of the Trump administration, Noem’s action blatantly violates the law, not even paying lip service to it. Her letter didn’t even deign to claim that Harvard had broken any rules or regulations.
Instead, the letter embraced the “we can do anything we want” reasoning behind so many of Trump’s executive actions.
Vaccine Nation 0
Farron comments on what happens when a science denier is put in charge of an agency that (supposedly) relies on science.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Occasionally correct? As my old boss used to day, even a blind pig finds an acorn sometime.
Real Big Men 0
Does this article remind you of anyone in the news?