Current Events Archive
March 14, 2010
The American People Think, The American People Believe, The American People Want
I’m rather sick of hearing from both sides of every issue what the American people think, believe, or want. In general, I don’t care what the American people think, believe, or want. In those cases where I do care what...Read all of "The American People Think, The American People Believe, The American People Want"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:05 AM
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March 9, 2010
Another Reason For Health Care Reform
“I don't know. I'll just tell you this, if this passes and it's five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented -- I am leaving the country. I'll go to Costa Rica.” - Rush Limbaugh on the health...Read all of "Another Reason For Health Care Reform"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:02 PM
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January 13, 2010
Don't Pray For Haiti
Send Money Now! You might want to consider Direct Relief International as a channel but there are lot's of other choices including Doctors Without Borders. If for some mysterious reason you feel a need to pray, do it later....Read all of "Don't Pray For Haiti"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:38 AM
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December 6, 2009
It's The Stupid Voters Stupid
The budget situating for California Universities is dismal and going to get worse. Of this Steve Lopez writes in Los Angeles Times, And so it goes in a state run by a governor who has greatly magnified every problem he...
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Posted by Duane Smith at 10:09 AM
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November 13, 2009
The "Impact" On The Humanities In Britain
It's not just biblical studies. Brian Leiter has a brief post on "The end of the humanities in Britain?" He links to a Times on Line article on the proposed "impact" standard for research. Here's a sample that may keep...Read all of "The "Impact" On The Humanities In Britain"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:34 PM
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October 9, 2009
Omama's Nobel Peace Price
At this stage in his presidency, this prize is more of a burden than an honor. It does the President no good and potentially some harm. I think the tone of Obama's acceptance acknowledgement speech was pretty much on target,...Read all of "Omama's Nobel Peace Price"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:23 PM
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September 28, 2009
Oh, The Inconvenience Of It All
Paul Krugman writes, Every once in a while I feel despair over the fate of the planet. If you’ve been following climate science, you know what I mean: the sense that we’re hurtling toward catastrophe but nobody wants to hear...Read all of "Oh, The Inconvenience Of It All"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:26 PM
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September 11, 2009
Social Security’s Evolution
By guest blogger Loren Fisher [Loren Fisher wrote this essay on September 8, 2009, the day before President Obama's speech to the join session of Congress - des] My grandfather had a small sawmill in western Oregon during the thirties...Read all of "Social Security’s Evolution"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:50 AM
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September 10, 2009
With A Little Practice Mike Duvall Could Become A Liar
A pro-family values California lawmaker who resigned after being caught on tape boasting about his sexual conquests denied Thursday that he had extramarital affairs, saying "my offense was engaging in inappropriate storytelling." Check out the whole story and see what...Read all of "With A Little Practice Mike Duvall Could Become A Liar"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:16 PM
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August 29, 2009
The Joy and Nobility of Politics
Here is my favorite paragraph from President Obama's eulogy for Ted Kennedy, We can still hear his voice bellowing through the Senate chamber, face reddened, fist pounding the podium, a veritable force of nature, in support of health care or...Read all of "The Joy and Nobility of Politics"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:45 PM
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August 26, 2009
Edward Kennedy February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009
Ted Kennedy - I already miss him....Read all of "Edward Kennedy February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:57 AM
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August 11, 2009
Say What?
This is all over the blogosphere but just in case you haven't seen it, here's a line from the first posting of an editorial in the Investor’s Business Daily. I link to the Google Cache version. They have since deleted...Posted by Duane Smith at 2:17 PM
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July 18, 2009
Did You See The News Last Night?
If between 1962 and 1981 you asked anyone in the US that question, they knew exactly what news you meant. That was true independent of what news they had actually watched the night before. Walter Cronkite, dead at 92....Read all of "Did You See The News Last Night?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:28 AM
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July 13, 2009
Ed Brayton Is Correct
"Say Goodbye to Free Speech in Ireland" or anywhere else that adopts a law even close to this, 36. Publication or utterance of blasphemous matter. (1) A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offence...Read all of "Ed Brayton Is Correct"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:04 AM
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July 8, 2009
I'm Not Sure What I Think About This
President Barack Obama is choosing an influential scientist who helped unravel the human genetic code _ and is known for finding common ground between belief in God and science _ to head The National Institutes of Health. Obama called Dr....Read all of "I'm Not Sure What I Think About This"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:23 PM
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May 27, 2009
Never Give Weapons To People Who Are Crazier Than You
I came to this maxim while listening to the news out of Afghanistan, Pakistani, and North Korea. I don't know why it isn't written in our genes. Never Give Weapons To People Who Are Crazier Than You Are While I...Read all of "Never Give Weapons To People Who Are Crazier Than You"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:37 PM
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May 26, 2009
Quotation Of The Day
Referring to Judge Sotomayor's now famous words that the Court of Appeals is "where policy is made," Sean Carroll offers the following observation at Cosmic Variance. In reality, of course, Sotomayor is simply telling the truth — a cardinal sin...Read all of "Quotation Of The Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:49 PM
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May 9, 2009
A Sign Of The Times
I don't often post on my professional life, past or present. It really isn't one of my abnormal interests and, for all practical matters, I'm completely retired at this point. But I received an update email from a professional networking...Read all of "A Sign Of The Times"
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May 4, 2009
Entitlements
Next time you hear someone talking about entitlements, remember this paragraph from a September 22, 2008 letter Edward M. Liddy sent to a select group of AIG employees. I fully recognize the devastating loss of personal wealth you've suffered, and...Posted by Duane Smith at 12:33 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
April 10, 2009
Quotation of the Day
Paul Krugman on making banking boring, Part of the problem is that boring banking would mean poorer bankers, and the financial industry still has a lot of friends in high places. But it’s also a matter of ideology: Despite everything...Read all of "Quotation of the Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:13 AM
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March 31, 2009
The Lobbyists' Lobbyists
Yes, the American League of Lobbyists is a professional organization that among other things represents lobbyists. Here's part of what they say about themselves. Established in 1979 as a nonprofit organization, The American League of Lobbyists (ALL) is the national...Read all of "The Lobbyists' Lobbyists"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:34 PM
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March 30, 2009
Well, I'm Certainly Glad To Hear This
Boston Latin School headmaster Lynne Mooney Teta issued a notice to parents and students yesterday quashing rumors of vampires at the school. An odd move for the head of a historic elite preparatory school, but Teta and Boston public school...Read all of "Well, I'm Certainly Glad To Hear This"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:34 PM
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March 28, 2009
Analysis and Curriculum: Some Things Just Come First
Responding to additions to the Texas State Board of Education science standards, PZ Myers at Pharyngula says the following. There are other obvious problems with those additions. High school students are expect to study all sides of scientific evidence? Really?...Read all of "Analysis and Curriculum: Some Things Just Come First"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:36 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
March 4, 2009
Getting Our Haircut
This post is on an all too normal interest and I promise not to do another one like this for a while. Like most retired people who once worked in the semiconductor industry, my family's daily bread depends on a...Read all of "Getting Our Haircut"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:35 PM
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February 17, 2009
Home, Sweet Home
Paul Krugman writes on his New York Times blog, Everyone should be paying attention to the political/fiscal catastrophe now unfolding in California. Years of neglect, followed by economic disaster — and with all reasonable responses blocked by a fanatical, irrational...Read all of "Home, Sweet Home"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:45 PM
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February 1, 2009
Capricious Official Harassment or Official Ignorance
Security officials threatened Chris Brady, the Targuman, with missing his flight for taking pictures at an airport. He wasn't in the security area where taking pictures is illegal. And yes, he further offended the security officers by talking to his...Read all of "Capricious Official Harassment or Official Ignorance"
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January 26, 2009
Brandeis to Sell Art to Pay the Bills
Rocked by a budget crisis, Brandeis University will close its Rose Art Museum and sell off a 6,000-object collection that includes work by such contemporary masters as Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Nam June Paik. And other things, as draconian,...Read all of "Brandeis to Sell Art to Pay the Bills"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:28 PM
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January 20, 2009
Happy to be Included
"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers." Barack Obama, Inaugural Address I do worry that the President still excluded some from the list. Perhaps it is time to stop making such a list...Read all of "Happy to be Included"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:26 AM
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Mr. President
If you tell us the truth when it is good for us and when it isn't; tell us the truth when it is good for you and when it isn't; we'll get along just fine....Posted by Duane Smith at 10:21 AM
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January 19, 2009
Our Dream
I've spent sometime yesterday and today trying to write a post for Martin Luther King Day. I thought about the recent CNN poll. I thought about Barack Obama's election. I thought about the racist light parents who raised me: equal...Posted by Duane Smith at 3:03 PM
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Titles Only From Here On
January 15, 2009
No More Bibles In South Carolina
November 25, 2008
No One Is Immune From Criticism
November 6, 2008
This Is Our Moment
A Still More Perfect Union
November 4, 2008
Congratulations Mr. President (Elect)
November 3, 2008
Election Paralysis
October 27, 2008
The Question of Media Bias
October 15, 2008
I Vote "Mostly"
October 8, 2008
A Question of Morality
September 29, 2008
Good Math on Bad Loans
September 21, 2008
Terrible, Unexcusable
September 1, 2008
Another Relevancy in the Election
August 27, 2008
Did Any Sane Person Notice This?
August 16, 2008
A Place For Indifference
August 10, 2008
Quotation of the Day
July 26, 2008
I'm Baffled
July 13, 2008
You Know, Ummm, Ahhh
July 5, 2008
Selective Quotation
June 12, 2008
Habeas Corpus, What a Concept
June 9, 2008
Bill Moyers at the National Conference for Media Reform
May 28, 2008
Campaigning and Propagandizing
May 14, 2008
Faith, Hope, Change and Pandering
April 9, 2008
Global Warming for the Drinking Classes
March 28, 2008
The Mahdi Army in Basra
March 23, 2008
US Airways Not Gun-shy
No One To Read The Ancient Writing
March 21, 2008
The New Attorney General As The President's Consigliere
February 21, 2008
Vandalizing Blogs Is Not A Sport
February 11, 2008
Obama and Clinton on 60 Minutes
January 28, 2008
What He Didn't Mention
January 6, 2008
John Edwards and the Old Two Boy Strategy
December 27, 2007
Benazir Bhutto's Assassination and Presidential Politics
November 29, 2007
Does Karl Rove Have Twain Syndrome?
November 6, 2007
In Which I Worry About the Election
October 12, 2007
Congratulations Al Gore
October 7, 2007
Collateral Damage and a 2000 Year Old Culture
August 13, 2007
"I Think We Got It Right"
August 5, 2007
The Land of the Watched and the Home of the Cowards
July 15, 2007
Foreign Fighters in Iraq
July 7, 2007
The 23rd Psalm, a Stolen Credit Card and an Appearance Bond
July 4, 2007
Let Freedom Real Estate Ring!
My 4th of July Wish List
June 23, 2007
What Department is President Bush In?
June 19, 2007
More Special Pleading Against "Insults to Religion"
June 13, 2007
Outrage to Action
June 11, 2007
A Place of Their Own
May 31, 2007
O'Reilly Fears the Loss of White, Christian, Male Power
May 28, 2007
Memorial Day
May 22, 2007
Liberty College Student Prepares a Terrorist Attack
May 17, 2007
Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)
April 29, 2007
Integrity in the Face of Uncertainty
April 20, 2007
That's What Obstruction is All About
April 16, 2007
The Virginia Tech Shootings
April 6, 2007
A Blog Against Theocracy (and Aristocracy)
March 28, 2007
The CBS Evening Medical News
March 18, 2007
It's About Time
March 17, 2007
A Pop Quiz
March 12, 2007
It's Time for an Attorney General Rather than a Consigliere
February 22, 2007
Kareem Amer Gets Four Years For Blogging Insulting Islam and Mubarak
February 13, 2007
A What Kind of Office?
January 17, 2007
In the Face of the Threat of Congressional Oversight . . .
January 13, 2007
Confusing Current Facts With Feared Future Results
January 6, 2007
When the Unthinkable Becomes a Possibility
December 29, 2006
New Speak - Failure Means Success When It's Pakistan's Fault
December 27, 2006
A President for Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, and Atheists
December 12, 2006
No Natural Constituency
December 10, 2006
Jeff Stein Has a Lot to Learn
December 6, 2006
Too Obvious; Perhaps Too Little and Too Late
December 2, 2006
Civil War? That is Not the Issue
December 1, 2006
The Bargain Between The Civilian Authorities And The Armed Services
November 8, 2006
The Election: It's a Start
November 6, 2006
Tomorrow's Election
November 5, 2006
"I Am a Deceiver and a Liar."
November 4, 2006
If You're Tortured, Don't Tell Anyone
October 22, 2006
If Lies Don't Work Try the Truth