USC lost their basketball game to Arizona State this weekend, 82-73, and their junior forward, Nikola Vucevic, perhaps because of his hour-long close proximity to the team from the "Hate State" Arizona, dared to issue the following self-targeted hate-laced epithet:
"We played like women."
[Mudge Note: my sincerest apologies for using the verbatim quote here. If I have offended anyone, I will repent by watching 5 straight minutes of The View while repeating, "I shall not offend emotionally fragile people, I shall not offend emotionally fragile..."]
So now, according to the LA Times, Vucevic (or one of his handlers) is apologizing while claiming the "I'm from Monteneg...oops...Montepersonofcolor and I speak Serbian" defense.
Okay, fair enough, he doesn't speak English as a first language (does anyone in the USA these days?). But what does that have to do with anything? In fact, why is it that he feels a need to apologize? Seriously, what idiot pulled him aside and told him "Niko, you need to be careful here in this country of free-expression that you came to so you could live free of the kind of political oppression that your parents experienced when their former countrymen were killing one another for speaking their minds about far greater things than how one performed during sport?"
I'll tell you what, get the very best of the best female basketball players, college or pro, and put them against the same Arizona State team to which Nikola and his USC team mates lost, and if the women can do better than USC did against them, I'll apologize for real. Yes, I know a lot of women basketball players, including the team from the ladies' retirement home up county here, could beat me in that sport. But that's me. I know I would have had no issue whatsoever if Nikola had said, "We played like a bunch of Mudges out there tonight." But to be honest, they only lost by 9 points so they didn't really play THAT (bunch of Mudges) bad.
They just played like women.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Virginians at UVA
Every year at about this time, the Washington Post recycles its "lots of qualified kids from Northern Virginia aren't getting into UVA these days" story. It usually comes a bit closer to the April notification deadline, but action in Richmond to force UVA (and its lesser cousin in Williamsburg) to cap out of state students appears to have forced the editor's hand.
For all the kvetching, UVA and William and Mary are both admitting 2/3 of their first year classes from among the residents of the Old Dominion, this without any kind of a quota. That Lee Seidner of Fairfax was not admitted to UVA with his stellar qualifications is indeed unfortunate, but it does not--even when rolled up with the stories of others like him--constitute rationale for a forced 75% limit as some legislators would require.
But then again, let's look at Mr. Seidner. He appears to be a white male, which renders him unremarkable. 1300 on the SAT's i s "solid work, Joel" (name the flick), but it isn't setting the world on fire. The stat I find most misleading is the 3.99.....were it to be on a 4.0 scale, I'd be impressed. But I suspect that "AP" and or "honors" classes provide a bump there, many of which are on a "5.0" scale
Be that as it may--2/3 of every first year class in Charlottesville are Virginians. 1/3 come from 49 other states and from around the world. I think this is a reasonable proportion. I'm sorry Mr. Seider must suffer through four years in Blacksburg, truly sorry. But not sorry enough to upset the apple cart.
But then again, let's look at Mr. Seidner. He appears to be a white male, which renders him unremarkable. 1300 on the SAT's i s "solid work, Joel" (name the flick), but it isn't setting the world on fire. The stat I find most misleading is the 3.99.....were it to be on a 4.0 scale, I'd be impressed. But I suspect that "AP" and or "honors" classes provide a bump there, many of which are on a "5.0" scale
Be that as it may--2/3 of every first year class in Charlottesville are Virginians. 1/3 come from 49 other states and from around the world. I think this is a reasonable proportion. I'm sorry Mr. Seider must suffer through four years in Blacksburg, truly sorry. But not sorry enough to upset the apple cart.
Egypt and the Freedom Agenda
As I watch the events in Egypt, I--like many others--have been thinking about George Bush and his Freedom Agenda for the Middle East. I was always struck by the ambition and scope of Bush's thinking on the subject of freedom in the Middle East, and I secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) cheered him on in his rhetoric. But all the time, an inner pragmatist kept perking up inside my brain saying "yes, they may want freedom, but an awful lot of them want freedom to pick fundamentalism". In the end, this horrifying thought kept me from being more than a half-hearted supporter of the Freedom Agenda.
And now, we see Mubarak falling, as Bush and the Freedom Agenda crowd knew he would. What will replace him? We see a moderate, secular veneer in the protesting crowds--but is it what will fill the power vacuum, or will it be the Muslim Brotherhood, the only opposition to Mubarak with any organization to speak of, pieced together under the boot of a police state.
Only time will tell, but I don't like where this could go. Elliott Abrahms writes on the subject this morning, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically for my taste.
Only time will tell, but I don't like where this could go. Elliott Abrahms writes on the subject this morning, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically for my taste.
Friday, January 28, 2011
We Get The Government We Deserve
Really disheartening news here from a recent Gallup poll. We all like to think that the election in November was one that ratified the idea that costs must be cut and that government must be smaller. Well, in the aggregate maybe, because when you start pinning the American public down on cuts in particular areas, we lose our nerve and begin to act the the government addicts many of us are.
The only politician I see these days swimming against this stream is Chris Christie. Mark Sanford used to, but he's not a Governor anymore and besides, he's got better things to do.
The only politician I see these days swimming against this stream is Chris Christie. Mark Sanford used to, but he's not a Governor anymore and besides, he's got better things to do.
Guess that Texas Economy IS Booming
...because Dallas-area strip joints are getting panicky that there won't be enough strippers in town for next week's Superbowl.
Dallas is seeking a tourist to stripper ratio of 30 to 1, which means they're currently facing a shortage of 10,000 exotic dancers.
I wonder if the old guys in the Visa commercial who've been to every Superbowl are concerned. And with that pig Roethlisberger coming to town, maybe the strippers should be hiding out instead.
Big Fat Friday Free For All
Ok folks--sorry I'm late. Busy, busy, busy!
What's on your mind as we move into February?
Wondering who that guy giving the SOTU was? Where our Socialist went?
What's on your mind as we move into February?
Wondering who that guy giving the SOTU was? Where our Socialist went?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Men Have the Upper Hand in the Game of Love
Here's a little pre-Valentine's ditty on the latest on sex in America. A couple of University of Texas researchers have produced a study that validates something I think I've written about here (but can't seem to find in the index), and that is, men simply don't have to "work for it" anymore. The sexual revolution is over, and men won hands down. This is why guys in college don't have to "date" anymore--they simply have to be available for a "hook up". Don't get me wrong--I was single for a long time, and I am grateful for the benefits conferred on me by the Revolution--but there are serious consequences to the way American dating has evolved, and they will be felt for generations to come.
American women are putting off marriage later and having fewer children. This will invariably have a impact on those demographic groups impacted by these practices.
Because there is a ready population of unattached, single, available, educated women, the average unattached, single, available, educated man has little or no problem finding company--sexual or otherwise--with numerous women. This of course, puts of any incentive on HIS part to marry, which drives age of first marriage even farther to the right, exacerbating the general fecundity problem.
One of the things I found most interesting in this story is the proposition that women (and the sexual favors that come with them) once practiced "cartel" pricing--but that the pill, the end of the shotgun wedding, and a population of willing women has destroyed the cartel and cut-throat "pricing" is now the order of the day. It all seems to add up to me.
What's to be done? I don't know. Until women begin to feel that a string of deeply sexual relationships that don't lead to marriage is a bad thing, the practice will continue--as there will always be a ready supply of hormonally hyped up bachelors willing to hold up their end of the bargain. Such a reversal of the sexual revolution seems doomed, irrespective of occasional calls for a new chastity.
Not that this post is a call for a new chastity. I'm not gonna pull up the ladder after me fellahs. Nope. Not me.
American women are putting off marriage later and having fewer children. This will invariably have a impact on those demographic groups impacted by these practices.
One of the things I found most interesting in this story is the proposition that women (and the sexual favors that come with them) once practiced "cartel" pricing--but that the pill, the end of the shotgun wedding, and a population of willing women has destroyed the cartel and cut-throat "pricing" is now the order of the day. It all seems to add up to me.
What's to be done? I don't know. Until women begin to feel that a string of deeply sexual relationships that don't lead to marriage is a bad thing, the practice will continue--as there will always be a ready supply of hormonally hyped up bachelors willing to hold up their end of the bargain. Such a reversal of the sexual revolution seems doomed, irrespective of occasional calls for a new chastity.
Not that this post is a call for a new chastity. I'm not gonna pull up the ladder after me fellahs. Nope. Not me.
Back on Station
Thank you to well-wishers here and on Facebook who wished me a speedy recovery. Alas, I fear all illnesses were self-inflicted.
I spent six hours crawling and contorting myself through the crawlspace of our house yesterday laying Cat 5e cable for my home network. Not only did I emerge filthy, bruised, cut, scraped and sore in every single muscle and joint, but I think ingesting a day's worth of dust just put the finishing touches on it. I wound up sitting on the couch at 5PM yesterday feeling completely miserable and sick as a dog. So I did what I always do when sick, I hopped in bed and stayed there until I felt better. Which I do, except for the muscles and joints.
I think of the spindly little fellow who used to wrestle, twisting and contorting himself in to inhuman shapes with little or no impact--and the great endomorph he has become.....shameful.
I spent six hours crawling and contorting myself through the crawlspace of our house yesterday laying Cat 5e cable for my home network. Not only did I emerge filthy, bruised, cut, scraped and sore in every single muscle and joint, but I think ingesting a day's worth of dust just put the finishing touches on it. I wound up sitting on the couch at 5PM yesterday feeling completely miserable and sick as a dog. So I did what I always do when sick, I hopped in bed and stayed there until I felt better. Which I do, except for the muscles and joints.
I think of the spindly little fellow who used to wrestle, twisting and contorting himself in to inhuman shapes with little or no impact--and the great endomorph he has become.....shameful.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Agenda for Tonight's Conservative Wahoo Live! Internet Radio Program
Here's the working agenda for tonight's Conservative Wahoo Live! Internet Radio Program...
· The State of the Union
· Ryan’s Response
· Rahm Emanuel
· Moscow Bombing
· Obama Walks Away From Social Security Reform
· Super Bowl
· Oscars
Joi
Jo
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
State Pride
The DCist has compiled some stats to see what hallmarks of pride each state can claim. Check out yours in the map above. How'd you like to be from North Dakota, Washington or Maine?
Liveblogging SOTU---Here Tonight!
I'll be onstation a few minutes before the speech, and we'll use the little chat box feature to the right of our blog homepage.
See you tonight!
See you tonight!
Monday, January 24, 2011
What Will He Do With All Of Those #$%king Buttons?
A Chicago appellate court has ruled that Chicago mayoral hopeful Rahm Emanuel does not meet residency requirements, and therefore cannot be on the ballot in the February 22nd election.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Milbank Proposes a Palin Boycott
Snarky, over the top, and hip beyond belief, Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank has written a column in which he pledges not to mention Sarah Palin for a solid month, and calls upon his fellow leftist conspirators columnists to join in the boycott.
Clearly an admission of PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome), Milbank proposes to heal himself by going cold-turkey. He (rightfully) believes that she has become of outsized importance on the national scene, but he completely misdiagnoses why. It isn't because he and others write about her too much--it is because they write about her with venom and vindictiveness. Rather than covering her in a balanced, non-judgmental way as a major political figure of the right, she is subjected to calumnies and criticisms that flow from a well-spring of elite disdain.
Try simply covering what she says, Mr. Milbank, rather than attempting to mash what she says into a personal narrative of dysfunction.
Clearly an admission of PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome), Milbank proposes to heal himself by going cold-turkey. He (rightfully) believes that she has become of outsized importance on the national scene, but he completely misdiagnoses why. It isn't because he and others write about her too much--it is because they write about her with venom and vindictiveness. Rather than covering her in a balanced, non-judgmental way as a major political figure of the right, she is subjected to calumnies and criticisms that flow from a well-spring of elite disdain. Try simply covering what she says, Mr. Milbank, rather than attempting to mash what she says into a personal narrative of dysfunction.
High Capacity Magazines The Target of WaPost Pulitzer Hopefuls
A couple of WaPost reporters have staked their claim to a Pulitzer Prize by exhaustive "mining" and "research" that shows that the percentage guns seized during crimes since the 2004 expiration of the Brady bill banning high capacity magazines has increased. Duh. We need a four screen internet story to tell us that when the government ceases to ban something it becomes more widely used?
The story includes a litany of vignettes of horrible crimes over the past seven years committed with guns equipped with such appendages. The message here: we need to ban these clips because they are used by people to commit mass murders.
Interestingly enough, our modern media gumshoes fail to discuss two related (but inconvenient) questions:
1) were there horrible mass murders committed with guns using legal magazines while the ban was in place?
2) has there been a rise in the murder rate nationwide since the Brady ban ended?
There are lies, damnable lies, and statistics.
The story includes a litany of vignettes of horrible crimes over the past seven years committed with guns equipped with such appendages. The message here: we need to ban these clips because they are used by people to commit mass murders.
Interestingly enough, our modern media gumshoes fail to discuss two related (but inconvenient) questions:
1) were there horrible mass murders committed with guns using legal magazines while the ban was in place?
2) has there been a rise in the murder rate nationwide since the Brady ban ended?
There are lies, damnable lies, and statistics.
Liveblogging the State of the Union
Ok folks, mark your calendars for Tuesday night, where we'll "live blog" the President's State of the Union address. We'll use the little Conservative Wahoo Chat box down on the right side of the home page, so do what you need to sign up between now and then if you wish to participate.
The Case Against Cutting Defense
Military R&D saves marriages. Exhibit A: The Better Marriage Blanket:
Why does the long-suffering wife sleep on the left side of the bed at the beginning of the commercial, but ends up sleeping in Ground Zero at the end? Is the blanket that good?
Why does the long-suffering wife sleep on the left side of the bed at the beginning of the commercial, but ends up sleeping in Ground Zero at the end? Is the blanket that good?
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Fatherhood and Television
As some of you know, I'm not a father, but I play one in real life. I barged in on the Kitten and her Kittens nearing four years ago, and life on this once peaceful farm has never been the same. While I'm not the Kittens' father, I occasionally am called upon to fill father-like roles and responsibilities. I have had very mixed results, but plug away nonetheless.
As I am without the proper programming that occurs when one gazes upon a newborn of their own line (I imagine there's some kind of RF transmission of wisdom/experience/knowledge that occurs), I rely of course, on my own experiences to help shape my image of what a father ought to be. These influences fall into two general categories--1) the father images I have observed closely within my family--namely, Dear Old Dad and my more fecund brothers and 2) images of fatherhood that I saw growing up on television. In both cases, the image of father I conjure is the following: loving, supportive, consistent, smart, no-nonsense, and positive. I got this from Dad, I see it in my brothers, and Mike Brady drove it home in spades.
So I come to my role as sorta-step-dad with an image of what "fathering" ought to look like. It is however, apparently an outmoded, paternalistic, and harmful way of doing the job. How do I know this? Well, I watch TV with the Kittens.
The portrayals of fathers on what passes for kids television (you pick the channel) is ridiculous. They are bumbling, they are milquetoast, they are consistently less intelligent and savvy than their children, and they are generally speaking, potted plants in homes driven primarily by strong-willed, generally favorably portrayed mothers. It isn't only Dads who come in for this treatment--it is virtually any male authority figure, from the cop on the beat, to the teachers and principals to the coaches. Everywhere you look, modern males are weak, dumb, and maladroit. Is it any wonder that "MadMen" is as popular as it is? There, the modern male can watch his grandfather actually BEING a man, while HIS OWN existence--portrayed several channels away on Disney--resembles some kind of Opera Buffa.
I looked for some background on this subject before writing, and came up with this little article in Forbes. Its one huge failure is in that it treats only with prime-time portrayals of Dads. I don't know about you, but the 9 and 11 year-old inhabiting this house are in bed when those shows come on. Their TV viewing consists of what is on a few "family" or "kid" oriented channels after school and a bit after dinner. Here my friends, is the rub. Kids today are forming at least part of their view of fatherhood ( and male adulthood for that matter) by watching the buffoons who pass for adults on shows like "The Suite Life on Deck", "The Wizards of Waverly Place", "Hannah Montana" and "Sonny with a Chance". Watch these shows some time, folks. And you'll come away with a sense that 1) every young girl in America is or should be a singer 2) every kid in America routinely talks back to adults 3) most adults are idiots who bumble through life waiting for the next instance of brilliant intervention by a "wise-beyond-her-years" teenager and 4) "because I said so", "because I'm the parent" and "because I'm your father" have become phrases of intense parody at best, or at worst open invitations for extended debate--if used at all.
So I ask friends, am I simply over-sensitive? Have I "jumped the shark" on this one and allowed my own insecurities to cloud my judgment, seeing offense to fathers everywhere where little is offered and none should be taken? Or am I on to something?
As I am without the proper programming that occurs when one gazes upon a newborn of their own line (I imagine there's some kind of RF transmission of wisdom/experience/knowledge that occurs), I rely of course, on my own experiences to help shape my image of what a father ought to be. These influences fall into two general categories--1) the father images I have observed closely within my family--namely, Dear Old Dad and my more fecund brothers and 2) images of fatherhood that I saw growing up on television. In both cases, the image of father I conjure is the following: loving, supportive, consistent, smart, no-nonsense, and positive. I got this from Dad, I see it in my brothers, and Mike Brady drove it home in spades.
So I come to my role as sorta-step-dad with an image of what "fathering" ought to look like. It is however, apparently an outmoded, paternalistic, and harmful way of doing the job. How do I know this? Well, I watch TV with the Kittens.
The portrayals of fathers on what passes for kids television (you pick the channel) is ridiculous. They are bumbling, they are milquetoast, they are consistently less intelligent and savvy than their children, and they are generally speaking, potted plants in homes driven primarily by strong-willed, generally favorably portrayed mothers. It isn't only Dads who come in for this treatment--it is virtually any male authority figure, from the cop on the beat, to the teachers and principals to the coaches. Everywhere you look, modern males are weak, dumb, and maladroit. Is it any wonder that "MadMen" is as popular as it is? There, the modern male can watch his grandfather actually BEING a man, while HIS OWN existence--portrayed several channels away on Disney--resembles some kind of Opera Buffa.
 |
| One Popular Image of Modern Fatherhood |
I looked for some background on this subject before writing, and came up with this little article in Forbes. Its one huge failure is in that it treats only with prime-time portrayals of Dads. I don't know about you, but the 9 and 11 year-old inhabiting this house are in bed when those shows come on. Their TV viewing consists of what is on a few "family" or "kid" oriented channels after school and a bit after dinner. Here my friends, is the rub. Kids today are forming at least part of their view of fatherhood ( and male adulthood for that matter) by watching the buffoons who pass for adults on shows like "The Suite Life on Deck", "The Wizards of Waverly Place", "Hannah Montana" and "Sonny with a Chance". Watch these shows some time, folks. And you'll come away with a sense that 1) every young girl in America is or should be a singer 2) every kid in America routinely talks back to adults 3) most adults are idiots who bumble through life waiting for the next instance of brilliant intervention by a "wise-beyond-her-years" teenager and 4) "because I said so", "because I'm the parent" and "because I'm your father" have become phrases of intense parody at best, or at worst open invitations for extended debate--if used at all.
So I ask friends, am I simply over-sensitive? Have I "jumped the shark" on this one and allowed my own insecurities to cloud my judgment, seeing offense to fathers everywhere where little is offered and none should be taken? Or am I on to something?
Pension Reform In the Peoples Democratic Republic of Maryland
Of the front-line Democrats with whom I have to put these days, very few rankle me less than Martin O'Malley. In the recent election rematch with Bob Ehrlich, I supported Ehrlich and voted for him--though he never seemed to make a compelling case as to why the voters should eject O'Malley. O'Malley won in a walk....
And now, trying as the article says--to spend a bit of his political capital--O'Malley is proposing much needed public-sector pension reform. And my, has he stirred up a hornet's nest already. The public sector union goons have already come out foursquare against him. This should be fun--but I'm of course, on his side.
It's nice to see Democrat governors have to deal with these situations--O'Malley, Cuomo, Brown--all seem to be getting religion on cutting costs, while the new Governor of Illinois seems to want to tax folks into the arms of Indiana and Michigan....
And now, trying as the article says--to spend a bit of his political capital--O'Malley is proposing much needed public-sector pension reform. And my, has he stirred up a hornet's nest already. The public sector union goons have already come out foursquare against him. This should be fun--but I'm of course, on his side.
It's nice to see Democrat governors have to deal with these situations--O'Malley, Cuomo, Brown--all seem to be getting religion on cutting costs, while the new Governor of Illinois seems to want to tax folks into the arms of Indiana and Michigan....
Obama Shifts
From socialism toward fascism:
"Jeff Immelt's experience at GE and his understanding of the vital role of the private sector plays in creating jobs and making America competitive makes him up to the challenge of leading this new council."
-- Statement from President Obama announcing his appointment of GE CEO Jeff Immelt to lead the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness
No word yet whether Immelt plans to step down from his position at GE to avoid any perception of conflict of interest.
Full disclosure - I bought a bit of GE stock when it was in the tank, so I for one welcome the conflict.
Friday, January 21, 2011
So Close and Yet So Far
While we all hold our collective breaths hoping Republicans don't screw their new majority up, here's one thing they've gotten right: Paul Ryan will be giving the GOP response to the State of the Union address next week (which hopefully we'll be liveblogging here). Hooray! I'm looking forward to a smart, serious address from one of the brightest lights in the party.
And then, there's this....
And then, there's this....
Big Fat Friday Free For All
Here it is again ladies and gentlemen, your chance to sound off. What's got your goat these days? Share, people. Share.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
No Radio Show Tonight
Just can't go on without Big Fred.
Well, that and ten thousand other things to take care of today that will keep me from being prepared.
Next week.
Well, that and ten thousand other things to take care of today that will keep me from being prepared.
Next week.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Radio Show Bleg
Please suggest a few topics for Wednesday evening's Conservative Wahoo Live! Radio Program
The Demise of the Cup
Ok. Full admission here. I've spent some time recently looking at male appendages. No, I haven't been perusing the gay porn pages, thank you GG, Hammer, Mudge and Tom de Plume--I've been watching NFL Football. It seems that the penchant for tight, spandexy trousers, technologically advanced slow motion photography and and the large scale eschewing of the old fashioned jock strap and cup have teamed up to provide the average Sunday (or Monday, Thursday, or Saturday) NFL fan with near anatomically correct closeups of the male phallus. It appears that the same aversion to undercarriage shielding prevails in the college ranks.
I wondered whether it were only me who noticed this trend....but apparently not. This article says that there hasn't been a cup worn by a Philadelphia Eagle since 1999! Holy Moly.
I wondered whether it were only me who noticed this trend....but apparently not. This article says that there hasn't been a cup worn by a Philadelphia Eagle since 1999! Holy Moly.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
I will not type that way again. I will not type that way again. I will not...
Well, I learned something today...and I would've lost money betting on this had someone challenged me to a wager on it.
Years ago in my early teenage years, I took a typing class in summer school. My buddy and I got this idea that if we took a typing class, it would be a class full of girls (it was) and that there we be a lot of returns for the investment of our time (there were--unfortunately, they were all carriage returns). In any case, skunked though we were, I really did learn how to type and it's come in handy now that the predominance of our communication these days is done via a keyboard. I should say, my typing training has come in handy until what I just learned today. There. Right there. I did it again.
It turns out, the typing rules I learned back in the (mumble)-ties are no longer valid. And even more surprising, they were not valid BEFORE the typewriter either. The rule of which I speak is the "two spaces after a period" rule.
This article in SLATE lays out the very well-supported case that I have been wrong about the two space rule, EXCEPT when I was typing on an actual typewriter. So I am now correcting my excessive spacing practice and apologize to all for the years of causing the reader to skip a beat in getting to the first word of my next sentence. And that means that everyone who has been hanging onto this practice--it's time to move on. No one should have need to use a typewriter any more except for eccentric authors or about 20% of government workers still responsible for filling out unnecessary forms in triplicate.
Years ago in my early teenage years, I took a typing class in summer school. My buddy and I got this idea that if we took a typing class, it would be a class full of girls (it was) and that there we be a lot of returns for the investment of our time (there were--unfortunately, they were all carriage returns). In any case, skunked though we were, I really did learn how to type and it's come in handy now that the predominance of our communication these days is done via a keyboard. I should say, my typing training has come in handy until what I just learned today. There. Right there. I did it again.
It turns out, the typing rules I learned back in the (mumble)-ties are no longer valid. And even more surprising, they were not valid BEFORE the typewriter either. The rule of which I speak is the "two spaces after a period" rule.
This article in SLATE lays out the very well-supported case that I have been wrong about the two space rule, EXCEPT when I was typing on an actual typewriter. So I am now correcting my excessive spacing practice and apologize to all for the years of causing the reader to skip a beat in getting to the first word of my next sentence. And that means that everyone who has been hanging onto this practice--it's time to move on. No one should have need to use a typewriter any more except for eccentric authors or about 20% of government workers still responsible for filling out unnecessary forms in triplicate.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
On Mud (II)
In February of last year, after two huge snowstorms created a ridiculous bowl of mud and muck in and around my house, I wrote about it. That post is here.
It is now a year later, and things are even worse. Where last year there was some gravel on the driveway, it is now without even a good handful of pebbles. Five months of construction traffic has seen to the removal of the gravel, and the creation of a good many muddy ruts where previously there was hardpacked dirt or grass.
It seems no driver of large vehicles gets the whole "lots of rain and snow, soft ground" thing, and we are always watching folks call larger trucks in to pull them out of their predicament. Today's example was the spot-o-pot man, who for whatever reason, felt he must drive his truck right up next to the "necessary", rather than unspool the hose from the truck. He was unable to extricate himself, but two locals finishing up a goose hunt happened to have chains and a big pick-em-up truck and pulled the hapless fellow out.
We are holding off on the necessary improvements until after the construction job ends--the Kitten's got a great plan that will someday end my mud worries. But all in all, I don't think we adequately considered just how destructive the job of making our house beautiful would be.
It is now a year later, and things are even worse. Where last year there was some gravel on the driveway, it is now without even a good handful of pebbles. Five months of construction traffic has seen to the removal of the gravel, and the creation of a good many muddy ruts where previously there was hardpacked dirt or grass.
It seems no driver of large vehicles gets the whole "lots of rain and snow, soft ground" thing, and we are always watching folks call larger trucks in to pull them out of their predicament. Today's example was the spot-o-pot man, who for whatever reason, felt he must drive his truck right up next to the "necessary", rather than unspool the hose from the truck. He was unable to extricate himself, but two locals finishing up a goose hunt happened to have chains and a big pick-em-up truck and pulled the hapless fellow out.
We are holding off on the necessary improvements until after the construction job ends--the Kitten's got a great plan that will someday end my mud worries. But all in all, I don't think we adequately considered just how destructive the job of making our house beautiful would be.
Build The Fence!
I am one an ardent supporter of legal and liberalized immigration policies in the United States. I believe one of the great strengths of our system is in its ability to constantly refresh itself with new ideas, cultures, and energy. It sets us apart from virtually all of our economic competitors, and it will be a big part of how we renew ourselves in the decades ahead.
Illegal immigration? No. A nation must be able to control its borders and lay claim to its own territory. This is one of the very basic jobs of government, the quintessential national security task.
It seems our Director of Homeland Security, Ms. Napolitano, is going to cancel the "fence" begun in the Bush Administration.
Would that this were a decision made on cost and effectiveness grounds only. I fear the fence has fallen victim to the twin crimes of ridiculous gold-plating AND political correctness.
It would be wonderful to hear the Secretary say that such a physical barrier is in the best interests of the country, though this particular version has grown out of control. But that's not what she's saying. She says there's "no one size fits all" solution for the 2000 mile border--and I agree. But a 20 foot fence along the length of the boarder, along with drones and sensors, makes a lot of sense to me.
Illegal immigration? No. A nation must be able to control its borders and lay claim to its own territory. This is one of the very basic jobs of government, the quintessential national security task.
It seems our Director of Homeland Security, Ms. Napolitano, is going to cancel the "fence" begun in the Bush Administration.
Would that this were a decision made on cost and effectiveness grounds only. I fear the fence has fallen victim to the twin crimes of ridiculous gold-plating AND political correctness.
It would be wonderful to hear the Secretary say that such a physical barrier is in the best interests of the country, though this particular version has grown out of control. But that's not what she's saying. She says there's "no one size fits all" solution for the 2000 mile border--and I agree. But a 20 foot fence along the length of the boarder, along with drones and sensors, makes a lot of sense to me.
Friday, January 14, 2011
On Cause And Effect...
If we are to believe that right-wing talk radio can cause a person to attempt political assassination, can left-wing "free speech" cause violence and political unrest in Tunisia?
From the Business Insider:
Tunisia's government has collapsed, partially due to food price inflation and unemployment, but also because of Wikileaks.
One of the US government cables released by Wikileaks exposed the corruption of Tunisia's President's family, its reach into business in the country, and the ability to transcend the rule of law. President Ben Ali's family was called "The Family" throughout the leak. The government attempted to block access to Wikileaks earlier this month.
Some of the highlights of the June 2008 leak
On the power of the President's family:
Whether it's cash, services, land, property or yes, even your yacht, President Ben Ali's family is rumored to covet it and reportedly gets what it wants.
Often referred to as a quasi-mafia, an oblique mention of "The Family" is enough to indicate which family you mean. Seemingly half of the Tunisian business community can claim a Ben Ali connection through marriage, and many of these relations are reported to have made the most of their lineage. Ben Ali's wife, Leila Ben Ali, and her extended family - the Trabelsis - provoke the greatest ire from Tunisians.
What would Krugman think?
Big Fat Friday Free For All
Well folks, what's eatin' ya? Didn't get your memorial service t-shirt? Share your feelings--you're among friends.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tigerhawk Has A Good Pet Peeve
The incomparable Tigerhawk has a solid addition to the travel pet-peeve list. All hail Tigerhawk.
The President's Speech
It is now the morning after President Obama's speech in Tucson called for after the tragic shootings there some days ago. We spent the first 30 minutes of the radio show last night (you can listen to it podcasted here) kicking around the whole notion of the suggestion that incivility in political discourse was the proximate cause of this monstrous crime, a radio show that fortunately or unfortunately, played out whilst the President was speaking these words.
I have still not seen the speech as presented; I have only read and re-read the words prepared for delivery. What I find in them is a nearly perfect treatment, incredibly well-crafted for the occasion. As written, it was not a lecture, it was not a scolding, it was not what many of us feared.
I have read several reports that the crowd was somewhat less than solemn at times, but who is to say what the psychology of the crowd there should have been. I imagine there's quite a sense of collective shock. And the President's preachery call and response style sometimes elicits a degree of audience participation not required or desired by the more reserved listener. But that said, his call for civility was downright civil.
I have read several reports that the crowd was somewhat less than solemn at times, but who is to say what the psychology of the crowd there should have been. I imagine there's quite a sense of collective shock. And the President's preachery call and response style sometimes elicits a degree of audience participation not required or desired by the more reserved listener. But that said, his call for civility was downright civil.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Agenda for Tonight's Conservative Wahoo Live! Internet Radio Program
Here's the plan for tonight's Conservative Wahoo Live! Internet Radio Program. I'll be broadcasting from my hotel room in Arlington, VA, so I hope the hotel high speed internet supports things. Catch you at 8PM....
Dial in at 347.637.2203 to call in or to listen on your phone in case you're away from a computer. Click the link above to listen via the interwebs and to join the chat room.
· Arizona Shooting and “The Blame Game”
· Implications of the Arizona Shooting
· Whitewashing Huck Finn
· Tom Delay is going to jail
· The President’s new Chief of Staff
· New Chinese fighter test flight as SECDEF arrives
Dial in at 347.637.2203 to call in or to listen on your phone in case you're away from a computer. Click the link above to listen via the interwebs and to join the chat room.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The War on Terror Hits Home
It seems the devils in Homeland Security are delaying my shirts from the UK....the sacrifices we make......
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Dear Mr McGrath
I am writing to you today with regard to your Charles Tyrwhitt order placed on 12/12/2010
As you may already know, we are currently experiencing severe and unprecedented delays with a large number of orders shipped in the last few weeks to the US. I would like to apologise unreservedly and wholeheartedly if your order is still yet to arrive or indeed if it was delayed past its intended date of arrival but has now reached you.
I would also like to clarify the reasons for the delay to your order. Certainly there have been some delays due to the weather. Freezing conditions and heavy snow in the UK meant that transporting orders for overseas shipping became near impossible and even once the situation had improved there were large backlogs that needed to be cleared. These delays were exacerbated when goods flown into the US via the East Coast then met the same problem upon arrival with severe weather disruptions across the Eastern Seaboard hindering the United States Postal Service in their efforts to deliver on time.
The major and overriding factor, however, was not the weather. Since November, the United States Department of Homeland Security has dramatically increased its security measures following the "toner" incident. In short, mail weighing at least 1 pound can no longer enter the US via passenger aircraft and instead must be transported via other means. It is now also a requirement that all parcels over one pound are individually scanned, which the vast majority of Airlines and Postal Authorities simply aren’t equipped to deal with. We have also been informed that Homeland Security representatives are randomly intercepting consignments and holding them for an indefinite period.
These measures were implemented without prior notice and all involved parties have been doing their utmost to work around these issues. However despite our best endeavours these exceptional circumstances together with the increase in mail over the festive period simply meant that there were no other options left to explore and severe delays have been occurring.
I must stress that these severe issues with delivery are not restricted to ourselves and over this period the vast majority of airlines, carriers, businesses and of course customers have had to bear the brunt of these problems. You may have received another order from us or another company in this time without delay (certainly the amount of successful and timely deliveries we have completed far outweighs those that have been unsuccessful). Our major problem is that there has been no way to guarantee what will arrive and will not with any degree of certainty.
If your parcel has still not arrived then do please feel free to get back in touch with us and we will do whatever we can to assist you. We would recommend contacting our Customer Service department via telephone to discuss the specifics of your own situations but you can also email us if preferred. Our contact details are below:
Telephone: 1-866-797-2701 Monday-Friday between 0500 (EST) to 1700 (EST) and Saturday between 0500 (EST) to 1300 (EST). Please select option 2 to speak to one of our Customer Service Representatives.
Email: Please visit http://www.ctshirts.com/contactus
Again, from all at Charles Tyrwhitt, we are truly sorry for the extraordinary problems that you have experienced here and would like to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to make sure our delivery service quickly returns to the standards we and our customers expect.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Higgins
Vice President Operations