Some Thoughts Worth Pondering

More from a friend:

Even when opportunity knocks, you still have to get off your ass and open the door.

I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

There is great need for a sarcasm font.

How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

Was learning cursive really necessary?

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

Bad decisions make good stories.

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a dickhead from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Questions that Haunt Me

From a Friend:

Can you cry under water?

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'... but it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going to?

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway...

Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

If you have sex with a prostitute against her will, is it considered rape or shoplifting?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?' Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, 'That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?'

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

And my FAVORITE.........

The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons are suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Sub Today at NoBullU on WEBY

Usually on Thursdays you can listen to me, the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- no political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

But I can't make it today. I'll be back next week to deprogram you. Until then, have a laugh:

Rich Men Beware

UPDATE: "A Texas pipeline tycoon who died two months ago may become the first American billionaire allowed to pass his fortune to his children and grandchildren tax-free." Read The New York Times, Legacy for One Billionaire: Death, but No Taxes.

The estate tax was repealed for 2010, but returns next year. In other words, you are worth more dead this year than alive next year, thanks to those waskly Wepubli-cons.

Of course, we are all going to die in the next 2.5 billion years, give or take a few million.

Cats Versus Dog

How to Give a Cat a Pill

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby.



Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth.

Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.


2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa.



Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.


3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.




4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand.



Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.


5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe.





Call spouse in from the garden.


6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws.



Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.


7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail.



Get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.


8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit.



Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw


9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans and drink one beer to take taste away. Apply band-aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.




10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed.



Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.


11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink.



Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.


12. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from the top of the tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat.



Take last pill from foil wrap.


13. Using heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed, tie the little *&#%^'s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour two pints of water down throat to wash pill down.




14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room. Sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.




15. Arrange for RSPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.




How To Give A Dog A Pill

1. Wrap it in bacon.




2. Toss it in the air.

Countdown to Dismissal, Are You Ready to Protest

UPDATE VIII: More proof that the Supreme Court usually doesn't involve itself in political disputes. Read the Washington Post, High court turns down No Child Left Behind case and Court won't hear Clinton pay lawsuit.

These case reinforce my belief the health care lawsuits will be dismissed.


UPDATE VII: The speculation continues. Read The Atlantic, What Would Happen if the Supreme Court Struck Down Health Care Reform?


UPDATE VI: For a preview of the government's motion to dismiss the Florida, et al., lawsuit, watch the action in the lawsuit filed in Virginia by that state. Read the Washington Post, Obama administration asks judge to dismiss Virginia suit against health-care law.

To read the motion and some of the other court documents, click here.


UPDATE V: A new copy of the docket has been downloaded, as well as a copy of the amended complaint.

To see these and some of the other court documents, click here.


UPDATE IV: More states and organizations join the health care lawsuit. Read The New York Times, Business Group Joins Suit on Health Law.


UPDATE III: Lest ye had forgotten, there's still the health care lawsuit. Read The New York Times, Florida Suit Poses a Challenge to Health Care Law.


UPDATE II: Here is a copy of the court docket as of April 15, 2010:
Court Docket, Health Care Lawsuit

As you can see, the celebrity seekers are out hoping to become famous, Taitz the 'Birther' amoung them. A few sanctions would put a stop to that effort.

To see some of the other court documents, click here.


UPDATE: The first ruling is in, motion DENIED. Read the Pensacola News Journal, 'Birther' denied standing in health-care case.

The Judge should sanction her for frivolous arguments.

As noted before, the lawsuit challenging the federal health care bill passed last month is being heard in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division. The judge said today that the first arguments before him in the case — on the government's motion to dismiss — will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 14. Read the Pensacola News Journal, Judge sets health care reform lawsuit timeline.

According to the article, the initial scheduling order will require:

Plaintiffs to file an amended complaint (since six other states have joined the lawsuit and several changes to the bill took place during the Senate reconciliation process) on or before May 14,

Government to file an answer to the complaint and to file its motion to dismiss the case on or before June 16, and

Plaintiffs to file a response to the dismissal motion and to file their motion for summary judgment on or before until Aug. 6.

This schedule should allow a ruling on the motion to dismiss before the November elections.

"At least 20 attorneys appeared at Wednesday hearing either in person or by teleconference." We locals will be callin the lawsuit our local economic stimulus.

I expect several delays, but I've posted a countdown timer for the next important date.

What could possibly go wrong?

Just trust them. Read Salon, This Modern World:



Does this remind you of any recent event?

On the Dangers of Flying to Close to the Sun

To understand the "high price for keeping [America's] manhood intact," read The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris.

The author "calls Ronald Reagan a dove in hawk's feathers, and his final conclusion is that Obama will need to... decouple American optimism from the project of American global mastery."

Contempt of Court or Contempt For God: Now The Teachers Sue

UPDATE IX: Pace High's Class of 2010 has been the center of the prayer disputes, with several members of the class now suing the school district. Well Saturday, "stormy weather forced [the graduation] ceremony indoors, but [the] gym wasn't big enough for everyone," causing a near riot by parents left out. Read the Pensacola News Journal, Parents upset over Pace graduation chaos.

Was it God's retribution?


UPDATE VIII: "In attempts to vacate the [original] agreement, Christian Educators and attorneys from the Christian law group Liberty Counsel argued that the consent decree is dubious because the students have graduated from Pace High School." The Court denied the motion. Read the Pensacola News Journal, Prayer challenge shot down by federal judge.


UPDATE VII: More proof that the latest Liberty Counsel lawsuit is frivolous. Last year, "seeking to avoid additional “protracted litigation” over prayer in Santa Rosa County schools, the American Civil Liberties Union made an offer to the pro-school prayer Liberty Counsel.

The ACLU offered to allow the Liberty Counsel to help reshape a federal consent decree under which the school district is operating." Read the Santa Rosa Press Gazette, ACLU made earlier overture to Liberty Counsel.

And read the letter.

Liberty Counsel refused. And money that could be better spent on education will now be wasted as the Liberty Counsel grandstands.


UPDATE VI: Let's form a group of Friend of the Santa Rosa School Board, intervene in the lawsuit, and move for sanctions!

First step, create a webpage to organize the friends.


UPDATE V: After a quick review of the 90+ page complaint, it appears to be based on exaggeration or fabrication.

Compare each factual allegation to Exhibit C, the SRCSD's Technical Assistance Paper: Frequently Asked Question regarding The First Amendment in Santa Rosa County Schools. That document seems to be a reasonable well thought out effort to remedy the problems that were the basis of the original lawsuit.

If that be the case, the Court should sanction Liberty Counsel, and the appropriate individual plaintiffs.


UPDATE IV: The teachers sue, part II. Read the Pensacola, News Journal, Group sues School Board over prayer decree. Here is the complaint:

Liberty Counsel v. SRCSD, Complaint

I haven't read the it, but if Liberty Counsel is re-arguing the issues that were the basis of the earlier motion to intervene, which was denied, the Court should sanction Liberty Counsel.


UPDATE III: First there was the lawsuit, now will there be two graduations. Read Rick's Blog, Buzz: Pace High will have two graduations:

There is a group in Pace that is quietly organizing a separate high school graduation for the Class of 2010 from Pace High School. It is labeled “The First Amendment Graduation” – which I assume means students and families will be allowed to pray at the service. It’s not known whether the students will also march at the official high school graduation.

UPDATE II: The judge says the teachers can't sue. Read the Pensacola, News Journal, Judge: Group can't fight prayer case, which said that "Liberty Counsel founder and attorney Mathew Staver said Christian Educators plans to sue the Santa Rosa County School District to challenge the constitutionality of the agreement with the ACLU . . . [saying] "the judge has just created nuclear war."

One commentor noted that the "easy way would have been for the Liberty Counsel to sit down and attempt to negotiate a revision when it was offered, not grandstanding and threatening more lawsuits. It's all about the money."

He better watch it. The judge said his arguments had no merit. If he sues the School Board on that issue he could be sanctioned.


UPDATE: The legal arguments continue in the court hearing(s) on the Liberty Counsel's Motion to Intervene. Read the Northwest Florida Daily News, Christian group to sue district over school prayer. The article includes a link to the most recent court documents. Warning -- do not operate machinery while reading the court documents!

In our last episode, a teacher threatened to sue.

On Wednesday, the Liberty Council filed a motion on behalf of Christian Educators Association International to intervene and set aside the consent decree and order. Read the Northwest Florida Daily News, School/religion ruling challenged. Here are the most recent court documents:

The Motion to Intervene by Christian Educators Association International:




The Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene:




Exhibit to Memorandum of Law, Federal Guidelines for Religious Expression in Public Schools:



Read these previous posts:

Wrongdoing Not Judicial Tyranny
Happy Ending for ACLU Lawsuit?
Is the Rally for the Constitution, or Religion
Contempt of Court or Contempt For God?

Class on Thursday (Vice Friday) at NoBullU on WEBY

UPDATE: Read all about the baseball perfect game at Wikipedia.

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast Thursday from 4:05 to 6:00 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and regional: PANIC!, PANIC!, the sheen and some tar balls are a coming!; and

Nation and international: faking it!; School of One; what would you cut in the federal budget (I suggested my long ago proposal to cut all federal pay and benefits by 10% for the first $100k and 50% above that) (early responses to another Republi-con request for ideas have been pretty far out); a Korean 'symphony of death;' health care lawsuit update; and oil spill fallout to date: watch out, Cantore says oil not coming, serious reporting or media fear-mongering, does the oil keep flowing cause we are just not angry enough or is it God's wrath for destroying his planet?, time to send in the military and nuke the leak?, shocking realization that bottom-line influences corporate policy, political grandstanding, and Republi-CON 'less government' hypocrisy.

(Any chance of a serious discussion regarding risk and "the difficulty of predicting disaster in complex technological systems" (read The York Times, Drilling for Certainty)? Tune-in and find out.)

But I'll discuss anything. Disclaimer: the host reserves the right to end any discussion and hang up on you.)

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle some ass kickin' discussion of politics and current events!

Political Kleptomania

"The truth about lies is that they’re sometimes aspirational truths." Read The New York Times, Lies as Wishes.

A Day to Remember

This Memorial Day:

Class on Thursday (Vice Friday) at NoBullU on WEBY

UPDATE: As a follow up to the discussion regarding risk and "the difficulty of predicting disaster in complex technological systems," read The York Times, Drilling for Certainty.

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast Thursday from 4:05 to 6:00 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and regional: another curve ball for Pace High's baseball team, but they hit it out of the stadium; the local bad boy Commissioner and the pretty dead blonde, his impeachment charges and now his indictment for murder; and

Nation and international: Republi-CON Memorial Day CONtroversy; fact-free Palin, is her brand tarnished?; Senator 'Sexy Bitch'; the CONspriacy game; faking it!; School of One; what would you cut in the federal budget (I suggested my long ago proposal to cut all federal pay and benefits by 10% for the first $100k and 50% above that) (early responses to another Republi-con request for ideas have been pretty far out); a Korean 'symphony of death;' health care lawsuit update; Republi-CON 'adultery' hilarity; monetize out-of-wedlock teen pregnancy; and oil spill fallout to date: watch out, Cantore says oil not coming, serious reporting or media fear-mongering, shocking realization that bottom-line influences corporate policy, political grandstanding, and Republi-CON 'less government' hypocrisy.

But I'll discuss anything. Disclaimer: the host reserves the right to end any discussion and hang up on you.)

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle some ass kickin' discussion of politics and current events!

4 Worms in Church

A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon.

Four worms were placed into four separate jars.

The first worm was put into a container of alcohol.

The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke.

The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup.

The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil.

At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following results:

The first worm in alcohol - Dead

The second worm in cigarette smoke - Dead

Third worm in chocolate syrup - Dead

Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive.

So the Minister asked the congregation - “What did you learn from this demonstration?”

Maxine was sitting in the back, quickly raised her hand and said, “As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!”

That pretty much ended the service!

Two Great Qualities in Life

Patience and wisdom:



May you be blessed with both.

Republi-CON Memorial Day CONtroversy

"In 1983, President Reagan was at a summit meeting, and the deputy secretary of defense -- not even the veep! -- placed the wreath. Nine years later, President George H.W. Bush passed off the wreath to Vice President Dan Quayle (who had used family connections to get a slot in the National Guard during the days of the Vietnam War draft). And in 2007, Vice President Dick Cheney took on the wreath mission, while President George W. Bush was in Texas, perhaps clearing brush." Read Politics Daily, The Right Wing's Memorial Day Attack on Obama.

The Memorial Day CONtroversy is just part of the Republi-con's never-ending campaign of fear, anger, and hatred.

Fact-Free Palin

UPDATE II: "Between surreal appearances from Wasilla as the caged pundit of Fox News and quick, splashy landings in the lower 48 states, Palin has shown she still has the attention span of a hummingbird on a nectar jag. She does not do basic homework. Never has. The result is a string of endorsements for people whose lives are living contradictions of their stated philosophies. . .

But in deciding to get rich quick, the demi-governor has ditched whatever grounding she may have had in what Bush aides dismissed as the “reality-based community,” and lost her way in the Last Frontier State. Her brand is toast there, as well."

Read The New York Times, The Palin Brand.


UPDATE: "A question for fellow reporters and editors: At what point do Sarah Palin's attacks and smears become so vile and absurd that they no longer merit attention?" Read the Washington Post, Is there a Sarah Palin vileness/absurdity threshold?, which comments on Sarah Palin's strange, unprofessional and paranoid grudge.

Is Palin's learning curve is flat? Read the Washington Post, Sarah Palin's fact-free commentary on Paul and BP. From the article:

First, there was Palin on Republican Senate nominee Rand Paul, whose candidacy she had championed. Anchor Chris Wallace asked straightforward questions: Was Paul right or wrong in his view that the 1964 Civil Rights Act went too far in banning discrimination in private establishments? What did Palin make of the controversy? He got typically Palinesque answers, rambling and aggrieved:

"I think there is certainly a double standard at play here. When Rand Paul had anticipated that he'd be able to engage in a discussion, he being a libertarian-leaning constitutional conservative, being able to engage in a discussion with a TV character, a media personality, who perhaps had an agenda in asking the question and then interpreting his answer the way that she did, he wanted to talk about, evidently, some hypotheticals as it applies to impacts on the Civil Rights Act, as it impacts our Constitution. So he was given the opportunity finally to clarify, and unequivocally he has stated that he supports the Civil Rights Act."

Then there was Palin's best-defense-is-an-untrue-offense response to questions about the oil spill in the Gulf. The cheerleader for "drill, baby, drill" suggested that President Obama was in the pocket of Big Oil:

"The oil companies who have so supported President Obama in his campaign and are supportive of him now -- I don't know why the question isn't asked by the mainstream media and by others if there's any connection with the contributions made to President Obama and his administration and the support by the oil companies to the administration. If there's any connection there to President Obama taking so doggone long to get in there, to dive in there, and grasp the complexity and the potential tragedy that we are seeing here in the Gulf of Mexico."

Facts are stubborn things. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the McCain campaign -- that would be the McCain-Palin campaign -- received $2.4 million from oil and gas interests to Obama's $900,000. BP employees did give more to the Obama campaign ($71,051) than to McCain's ($36,649), but this was a pittance in the context of Obama's fundraising.

Why does Republi-con created reality surprise anyone?

Senator 'Sexy Bitch'

"Today, let’s play Political Kingmaker.

Pretend you’re the Republican leadership in a smallish state with an open United States Senate seat. The opposition is running a popular, longtime officeholder whose sense of inevitability was shaken by recent revelations that he had referred to himself as a Vietnam War veteran when he isn’t one.

Your own options are:

A) A well regarded former congressman who is a decorated Vietnam War veteran.

B) A political novice who made her fortune building up an entertainment business that specialized in blood, seminaked women and scripted subplots featuring rape, adultery and familial violence. In which the candidate, her husband and children played themselves. Also, the family yacht is named Sexy Bitch.

Well, obviously, you go for the yacht owner."

Read The New York Times, Who Wants to Elect a Millionaire?

The CONspriacy Game

Xenophobic patriotism, conspiracy theories (even discussion of the secret ownership of the Federal Reserve), and a narrative of victimhood by hard-line pundits and loud political parties with ties to fundementalist religion. No, not the Republi-cons and the U.S., Islam and Pakistan. Read The New York, U.S. Is a Top Villain in Pakistan’s Conspiracy Talk.

The CONspiracy game's the same no matter the country or religion.

The Great Law of Change

Edmund Burke once said: "We must all obey the great law of change. It is the most powerful law of nature." But "America has never settled whether its governing form of reason is one of radical abstraction or humility and gradualism." Read The New York Times, Two Theories of Change.

"Today, if you look around American politics you see self-described conservative radicals who seek to sweep away 100 years of history and return government to its preindustrial role. You see self-confident Democratic technocrats who have tremendous faith in the power of government officials to use reason to control and reorganize complex systems. You see polemicists of the left and right practicing a highly abstract and ideological Jacobin style of politics.

The children of the British Enlightenment are in retreat. Yet there is the stubborn fact of human nature. The Scots were right, and the French were wrong. And out of that truth grows a style of change, a style that emphasizes modesty, gradualism and balance."

The editorial is about a "superb dissertation by Yuval Levin at the University of Chicago called The Great Law of Change." (If anyone has a link, let me know by leaving a comment.)

Faking It!

"If the human psyche were a big map, nestled somewhere between the sea of cheating and the valley of lying, you'd come to the kingdom of faking it" Listen to Freakonomics Radio, Faking It.

Also, read the book, Faking It.

And if you want to know, read Freakonomics, Who’s More Likely to Fake It in the Bedroom?

Angry Voters

Why are voters angry? Read The New York Times, The Story of an Angry Voter.

What do recent primary election foretell? Read The New York Times, Angry Boomers and Other Election Clues.

A Devoted Husband

What more can I say:

Class on Thursday (Vice Friday) at NoBullU on WEBY

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast Thursday from 4:05 to 6:00 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and regional: should Mark O'Brien give the commencement speech at Pace High School?; the local bad boy Commissioner and the pretty dead blonde, and his impeachment charges; and

Nation and international: what do recent primary election foretell, health care lawsuit update; Republi-CON 'adultery' hilarity; monetize out-of-wedlock teen pregnancy; and oil spill fallout to date: serious reporting or media fear-mongering and Republi-CON 'less government' hypocrisy.

But I'll discuss anything. (Disclaimer: the host reserves the right to end any discussion and hang up on you.)

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle some ass kickin' discussion of politics and current events!

Republi-CON 'Adultery' Hilarity

UPDATE: Regarding Florida's ban on gay adoption, in November 2008, a Florida trial court declared the law unconstitutional. The Judge "wrote that Dr. Rekers was 'motivated by his strong ideological and theological convictions that are not consistent with the science,' and not 'credible.'" McCollum appealed that decision, denouncing "the court’s 'wholesale disregard' of testimony by Dr. Rekers and another expert, calling the decision 'arbitrary,' stressing Dr. Rekers’ qualifications and stating that 'the trial court entirely discredited him based on his religion.'" Read The New York Times, Scandal Stirs Legal Questions in Anti-Gay Cases.

Who need science, Republi-cons rely on fear, anger, and hatred, as well as self-loathing closeted hypocrites, to advance their political careers.

Giving new meaning to the phrase: do as I say, not as I do, "Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.), who will resign from Congress as a result of an affair with a female staffer, filmed a video interview about abstinence only education with that same staffer." Read Politico, Souder and staffer in 'abstinence only' video.

This follows the story of George Rekers, a married, 61-year-old Baptist minister and clinical psychologist with a bent for “curing” homosexuality, who co-founded the Family Research Council "was caught by Miami New Times last month in the company of a 20-year-old male escort at Miami International Airport." Read The New York Times, A Heaven-Sent Rent Boy.

BTW, Rekers was "the 'expert' that Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican who is running for governor, got the state to pay $120,000 to testify in support of Florida's ban on gay adoption." Read the St. Petersburg Times, Rentboys, Cadillacs and scandals, oh my!

For a "guide to some of the more notable public embarrassments over the last four decades and how individual politicians weathered the storm," see the Washington Post, A History of Political Sex Scandals.

"Of all wars, only culture wars offer the hope of sheer, unadulterated hilarity. Sex and hypocrisy were staples of farce long before America became a nation, and they never go out of style."

Is America Too Prosperous?

UPDATE II: "People all over America are discussing freedom's future. In short, they are worried. In fact, many are actually talking about State secession. In coffee shops and cafes, and around dining room tables, millions of people are speaking favorably of states breaking away from the union. Not since the turn of the twentieth century have this many people thought (and spoken) this favorably about the prospect of a State (or group of states) exiting the union. In my mind, this is a good thing." Or so says Chuck Baldwin, Breakup Of U.S. Is Inevitable.

Around your dining room table, are you speaking favorably of states breaking away from the union?

Of course, prophets of doom have been entertaining and enriching themselves since time immortal. Read The New York Times, Doomsayers Beware, a Bright Future Beckons.


UPDATE: Is it the end for the U.S.? Read Chuck Baldwin, U.S. To Break Up Soon? He references the Wall Street Journal, As if Things Weren't Bad Enough, Russian Professor Predicts End of U.S., which includes a predicted map of the new 'Divided States':




Fear, anger, hatred -- the Republi-cons will try anything to get reelected.

Is it true that "that great nations start out tough-minded and energetic. Toughness and energy lead to wealth and power. Wealth and power lead to affluence and luxury. Affluence and luxury lead to decadence, corruption and decline?" Read The New York Times, The Next Culture War.

The Beginning of the Too Big to Fail Era

"Every crisis — from the global economy to national security — seems to make the powerful more powerful." Read The New York Times, The Great Consolidation.

Justice, or Not, in NW Florida

UPDATE VIII: Except in the case of murder, juvenile offenders may not be sentenced to life without chance of parole. Read the Washington Post, Supreme Court rules out some life sentences for juveniles.

The court dismissed the case of Joe Sullivan, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a rape committed at 13, because of procedural problems. “Sullivan will probably be able to challenge his sentence, however, because of the ruling in Graham v. Florida. “


UPDATE VII: With no consensus on the age to drink, fight or rent a DVD, the Supreme Court considers if a convict can be too young for life in prison. Read The New York Times, How Old Is Old Enough?


UPDATE VI: Should a court take into account the age of young offenders who could face life without parole? Read The New York Times, Justices Consider the Role of Age in Life Sentences.


UPDATE V: Is life without parole for a crime committed by a 13-year old 'cruel and unusual? The Supreme Court will consider that question. Read the Washington Post, Justices will scrutinize life sentences for youths.

An interesting fact from the article, of the "111 people are serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed as juveniles that did not result in a death, according to one report; 77 of them are locked up in Florida."

If you wonder how plicies on sentencing for juveniles vary among states, see the Washington Post, What states allow.


UPDATE IV: The Supreme Court accepted the case and will consider whether sentencing a juvenile to life without the possibility of parole is cruel and unusual punishment. Read The New York Times, Justices Agree to Take Up Sentencing for Young Offenders.


UPDATE III: Also read a recent update on the King boys at Pensacola News Journal, Derek King nears release.


UPDATE II: For more about the case, read Pensacola News Journal, Cruel and unusual sentence? Unlike The New York Times article, the PNJ article discusses Sullivan's criminal and behavioral history, which included a "long criminal record" for among other things, an assault on a counselor at the Lakeview Center and killing a dog during a burglary.


UPDATE: Remember, a person is not guilty just because of an arrest, or even after a jury verdict of guilt. Listen or read NPR, Family Of Man Cleared By DNA Still Seeks Justice. You might also read John Grisham, The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town.

Justice is the concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, fairness and equity.

So read The New York Times, Defining ‘Cruel and Unusual’ When Offender Is 13.

Then compare Joe Sullivan's case with that of the King boys.

Alex and Derek King were 12-and-13-years-old, respectively, when they killed their father on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, 2001, with a baseball bat, in his Cantonment home near Pensacola, then set the house afire.

After the boys were convicted of second-degree murder, for which they could have been sentenced to 22 years to life in prison, an Escambia County Circuit Court granted a motion to throw out the convictions and ordered mediation. Yes, mediation in a murder case.

After a week of mediation the State agreed that in exchange for a plea to third-degree murder, Alex would serve seven years in prison and Derek would serve eight years.

After the case the court-appointed mediator, Bill Eddins, an attorney in private practice at the time, said the plea deal was intended to provide structure for the boys, whose mother left them when they were young. He is quoted as saying "They have had instability in their life, it became very important to give them structure and stability."

FYI, Eddins is now the State Attorney for 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida, which includes Pensacola. Makes you wonder what he might say about sentencing a 13-year-old to life for rape.

Tell me, justice, or not, in NW Florida?

The Party Purge

UPDATE II: "Has the Republican Party become more extreme, or is the country just beginning to notice?" Read The New York Times, Going to Extreme.


UPDATE: How's that purge coming along? Read the Washington Post, GOP's Utah and Maine conventions show a party coming unglued.

The purge is on in the Republi-con party. But no recent GOP president was conservative enough for today's party. Read Newsweek, Even Reagan Wasn’t a Reagan Republican.

According to the article, the most conservative recent GOP President: George H.W. Bush. His purity rating: 5/10 (with 10 being perfect pure).

After the British Election

An interesting article: "The fiscal future of the developed world looks bleak, but the British coalition should give us hope." Read The New York Times, Glimmers of Hope.

Will the U.S. follow the British example?

Class on Thursday (Vice Friday Now) at NoBullU on WEBY

UPDATE II: For a primer on oil reserves, click here.


UPDATE: As discussed during the program, click here for the names of the individials who die in the oil rig explosion.

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast Thursday from 4:05 to 6:00 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and regional: no booze on the beach, is it deja prohibition?; the local bad boy Commissioner and the pretty dead blonde; robotix coming to a mailbox near you; Pace High School H. Frank Lay Stadium or not; the teachers sue, part II; are Morning Mike and Bobby sexists or a chauvinists; and

Nation and international: the Party Purge; told ya so re the health care lawsuit; Red Families v. Blue Families; who you callin a Neanderthal; the death of fairy tale government budgets and spending; know your terrorist; and oil spill fallout to date: anxiety, paranoia, ambulance chasing and political grandstanding, and Republi-CON 'less government' hypocrisy; as ye sow, so shall ye reap; would $500k have saved $1.6B?; why not bomb the spill? and other extreme solutions.

But I'll discuss anything. (Disclaimer: the host reserves the right to end any discussion and hang up on you.)

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle some ass kickin' discussion of politics and current events!

The Death of Fairy Tale Government Budgets and Spending

UPDATE: More comparisons. Read The New York Times, In Greek Debt Crisis, Some See Parallels to U.S.

The graph show that the government deficit situation is worse in the U.S.

"Sitting in America, it’s hard to grasp the importance of the British elections and the Greek riots. Nothing to do with us, right? Well, I’d pay attention to the drama playing out here. It may be coming to a theater near you." Read The New York Times, Root Canal Politics.

Without spending cuts and tax increases, this fairy tale will have an unhappy ending.

Who Wants to Be A Terrorist

When it comes to terrorism, some think that ignorance is bliss. Not true:

"So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.
If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.
If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself."

"The Times Square bomb suspect didn't create his "jihadist ideology" out of thin air." Read The New York Times, The Making of a Terrorist.

Red Families v. Blue Families

Since "the sexual revolution overturned the old order of single-earner households, early marriages, and strong stigmas against divorce and unwed motherhood":

Blue families = marital success and material prosperity.

Red families = teen childbirth, shotgun marriages and high divorce rates.

And the difference -- sex education, contraception, and abortion.

Is culturally conservative 'red America' "stuck trying to sustain an outdated social model?"

Read The New York Times, Red Family, Blue Family.

Why Is America Great?, Questioning the Status Quo

The capacity to learn and adapt in the face of adversity.

One example, "[t]he Army’s implementation of a new counterinsurgency strategy shows that institutions don’t have to stay wedded to the status quo." Read The New York Times, Leading With Two Minds.

The U.S. military is especially good at critical examination of the status quo.

Obama the Clueless

UPDATE II: As I've said before, Obama should cut the pay of federal government workers. Read USA Today, Federal workers earning double their private counterparts.


UPDATE: What should Obama have done when he took office. Given it to us straight like British Prime Minister David Cameron. He has said that Britain’s financial situation is “even worse than we thought.” Read The New York Times, Cameron Warns Britons of ‘Decades’ of Austerity.

Obama just doesn't get it. The U.S. of A. is bankrupt. Read the Washington Post, Senate rejects bonus Social Security payments.

Instead of a $250 bonus payment to people on Social Security, he should be proposing pay/payment cuts, as much as 50%, as part of the effort to balance the budget, as I've suggested since early 2009.

Class on Thursday (Vice Friday Now) at NoBullU on WEBY

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast today from 4:05 to 6:00 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and regional: oil spill fallout to date: anxiety, paranoia, ambulance chasing and political grandstanding, and Republi-CON 'less government' hypocrisy; would $500k have saved $1.6B?; why not bomb the spill?; and the teachers sue, part II; and

Nation and international: how much would you bid for your very own portrait of Crist (it might be historically significant, Crist is currently leading in 3-way race); the new Republi-con elixir - take two aspirin and bring me a chicken in the morning; and NC beach town says no thong you, could this be a promotional opportunity for local beaches?

But I'll discuss anything. (Disclaimer: the host reserves the right to end any discussion and hang up on you.)

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle some ass kickin' discussion of politics and current events!

Bye, Bye America, When You Buy, Buy From China

The Capitol Steps perform "Buy, Buy American Pie" from their album "Campaign and Suffering":

Fla. 8153

Have they discovered the Holy Grail of supermarket tomatodom? Read the Washington Post, Does Jay Scott hold the future of decent store-bought tomatoes in his hands?

I'm gettin hungry just thinkin about it!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

UPDATE XI: How much would you bid for your very own portrait of Crist? Read the Pensacola News Journal, O'Brien's O'pinions, Crist portrait on sale as GOP cuts losses.

Is the Republi-con party of Florida a poor loser?


UPDATE X: Is Crist a bumbler -- or a victim of a purity purge underway in the Republi-con party? Read the Washington Post, Cast-off Crist goes it alone. And can he win with no party affiliation? Read the Washington Post, Crist just might resurrect his Senate campaign.

BTW, there is a new face in the Florida race, a billionaire real estate developer. Read the Washington Post, Jeff Greene enters the Florida Senate race.

Let's not forget the McCain Mutiny. Earlier this week:

"Jon Stewart called Arizona the “the meth lab of democracy.” A few days ago, the governor signed the instantly infamous “show me your papers” law, allowing authorities to stop and question anyone who looks Hispanic. Another new measure lets people carry concealed weapons without a permit, following on the heels of the new-found freedom to pack heat in bars and restaurants, something that was outlawed in much of the Old West. And the state house has just approved a bill that would require candidates for high office to show a birth certificate.

The birther bill is a sop to the flat-earthers who believe — without a shred of evidence, even after all the hard work of hard-right opposition-research — that our president was not born in the U.S.A.

“It suggests that Arizona is a place where any crackpot whim can be enshrined into law.” That was the verdict from the sensibly conservative Arizona Republic, the state’s leading newspaper, which had also urged the Republican governor, Jan Brewer, to veto the immigration bill that could foster a police state. She signed it, of course.

Stewart, the Mark Twain of our day with a New Jersey quirk or two, got it right with his meth lab jab. But Arizona is more than a laboratory for intemperate times: this place is a warning of what a state can look like when it’s run by talk-radio demagogues and their television cohorts.

The crackpot laws owe their genesis to the crackpots who dominate Republican politics, who in turn cannot get elected without the backing of crackpot media."

And Florida and Arizona are not the only interesting races. Read the Washington Post, Utah Conservatives sing chorus of 'Bye bye Bennett' with glee.

Thanks to the Republi-con, we live in interesting times.


UPDATE IX: Most expect Crist to announce he will run as an independent (actually No Party Affiliation in Florida). If so "Florida will once again become a gawk-worthy stage of American politics, where the country’s desires, conflicts and direction will dramatically play out." Read The New York Times, Breaking Down a 3-Way Race in Florida.

And there are questions whether he can make a go of it. Read the Washington Post, The questions Charlie Crist must answer -- and fast.


UPDATE VIII: Will he or won't he? We will know tomorrow. Read USA Today, Republican or independent? Crist to announce Thursday.


UPDATE VII: Is it time to hug a moderate? Read the Washington Post, Charlie Crist needs a hug.

And in that other Republi-con slug fest, some say McCain is sacrificing his principles in his primary election battle with a "radio host endorsed by border vigilantes." Read The New York Times, Come Back, John McCain.


UPDATE VI: What should Crist do, remain in the GOP primary, drop out, or go independent? Read USA Today, Florida voters split on Crist's next move.

And to understand how the decision might affect the 2010 Florida Senate race, see Pollster.com, Florida Senate: Playing 'What If.'

Morning Joe says "Florida is a state where an Independent can win a statewide race if he has the money and name recognition to mount a strong campaign."

UPDATE V: It appears Crist will run as an independent. Rick's Blog reports that Crist has dropped any mention of the Republican Party from his campaign website.


UPDATE IV: Not lookin good for Crist and the Republi-con Party. Read the Washington Post, Who's distancing himself from Gov. Charlie Crist today? and Everybody hates Crist in the GOP.


UPDATE III: Read CBS News, Charlie Crist Pulls TV Ads, Increasing Speculation About Campaign's Future and Rick's Blog, Scarborough thinks Crist can win as I.


UPDATE II: Now it is Friday, April 30, 2010 after a veto spurred speculation may abandon the party to run for Senate as an independent. Read The New York Times, Florida Governor Splits With G.O.P. on Teacher Pay.

A recent poll shows Rubio beating Crist in the GOP primary, with 56 percent of the vote to 33 percent. But in a three-way race in the general election, Crist would get 32 percent of the vote, compared with 30 percent for Rubio and 24 percent for Meek. Crist must decide by April 30 if he will remain in the Republican primary or take his chances as an independent. He cannot switch after the Aug. 24 primary


UPDATE: The politician former known as the Maverick now says that he's not really a maverick, but just a good ol' Republi-con. Read CBS News, John McCain: I'm not a Maverick.

Why the change? Because of The McCain Mutiny.

Arizona and Florida are two 2010 primary elections to watch. Read the Washington Post, For Charlie Crist, dark days in the Sunshine State primary and GOP Senate contest heats up in Arizona.

Both primaries are August 24, 2010.