Current Events Archive
February 3, 2012
Quotation Of The Day
On Planned Parenthood and the Komen Foundation: A multi-year concerted effort to shut down a nonprofit for ideological reasons, one even pursued in the halls of Congress: not just fine, but applauded. A pushback against said partisan efforts? Tyranny! Villainy!...Read all of "Quotation Of The Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:38 PM
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February 2, 2012
Now The President
Stop it. Just Stop it. Stop citing the Bible and/or Jesus in favor of (or against) anything. It says exactly nothing that might directly inform our modern world about anything and that includes tax policy. Truthfully, it says very little...Read all of "Now The President"
Posted by Duane Smith at 5:46 PM
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February 1, 2012
A Biblical Principle, You Say
"It's a Biblical principle. If you double a teacher's pay scale, you'll attract people who aren't called to teach,” so said Alabama State Sen. Shadrack McGill. But as far as I can tell he didn’t vouchsafe to us exactly what...Read all of "A Biblical Principle, You Say"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:33 PM
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January 31, 2012
Claremont McKenna College Caught
Claremont McKenna College, a liberal arts school near Los Angeles, said a college official had reported inaccurate SAT entrance exam statistics since 2005. The SAT scores for critical reading and/or math were generally inflated by an average of 10 to...Read all of "Claremont McKenna College Caught"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:14 PM
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January 17, 2012
No New Post For Wednesday, January 18, 2012
While I am not exactly blackingout today, Abnormal Interests is otherwise on strike to protest the so-called “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA) and “Protect IP” or “Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of...Read all of "No New Post For Wednesday, January 18, 2012"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:58 PM
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December 10, 2011
Quotation Of The Day
Ed Brayton wrote, Rod Blagojevich was sentenced on Wednesday to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of 18 charges of corruption, including trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat after he was elected president. That’ll teach him. We don’t...Read all of "Quotation Of The Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:44 AM
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November 17, 2011
Going After Women Voters
“Newt Gingrich said a Gingrich-Hermain Cain ticket would be ‘a real possibility’ if he won the Republican presidential nomination.” - The Hill...Read all of "Going After Women Voters"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:26 AM
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September 5, 2011
Happy Labor Day
It is not needed nor fitting here that a general argument should be made in favor of popular institutions, but there is one point, with its connections, not so hackneyed as most others, to which I ask a brief...Posted by Duane Smith at 9:37 AM
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August 18, 2011
Why Jon Huntsman Will Not Get The Republican Nomination
“To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.” - Jon Huntsman Tweet Despite his snarky final words, Jon Huntsman is either just not crazy enough or is unwilling to pretend that he...Read all of "Why Jon Huntsman Will Not Get The Republican Nomination"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:28 PM
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August 5, 2011
From The Guys Who Gave AAA Ratings To Dealers Of Worthless CDOs
Standard & Poor's downgrades US debt rating to AA+. This is the same Standard & Poor's who, along with other credit rating services, didn't see the risk in most Collateralized Loan Obligations and other “financial products” with almost no value...Read all of "From The Guys Who Gave AAA Ratings To Dealers Of Worthless CDOs"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:34 PM
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August 2, 2011
Varnishing A Turd
Perhaps I’m being way too cynical and I was indeed thrilled to see Gabby Giffords’ return to the House floor but the timing of her return reminded me of the common marketing procedure of varnishing a turd. If something is...Read all of "Varnishing A Turd"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:20 AM
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July 31, 2011
A Prophecy That Is Coming True
“We will make it so that a Democrat cannot govern as a Democrat.” Grover Norquest, President of the United States Dictator of the Republican Party and apparently of the Democratic Party as well, uttered this prophecy at a college reunion...Read all of "A Prophecy That Is Coming True"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:45 AM
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July 29, 2011
A Simple, Clean, Solution
While one house of the United States Congress works on a debt ceiling bill that everyone knows has no hope of becoming law, the other house works on a debt ceiling bill that no one wants. Let’s just have a...Read all of "A Simple, Clean, Solution"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:55 PM
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July 24, 2011
Truism Of The Day
For lawmakers at every level of government, there are two unalterable prerequisites for making bad policy. One: Paint yourself into a corner. Two: Run yourself up against an implacable deadline. It’s hard to find a more obvious truism than that...Read all of "Truism Of The Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:07 PM
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July 15, 2011
Quotation Of The Day
“So there has been no pressure on the G.O.P. to show any kind of responsibility, or even rationality - and sure enough, it has gone off the deep end. If you’re surprised, that means that you were part of the...Read all of "Quotation Of The Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:48 PM
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July 9, 2011
When To Have A $350 Bottle Of Wine
The lefty online press, in other words, the home of my favorite pundits, is all up in arms about Rep. Paul Ryan sipping a $350.00 bottle of wine with a couple of clients associates. I find nothing unusual about this...Read all of "When To Have A $350 Bottle Of Wine"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:54 AM
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July 7, 2011
Memory, History And Policy
At a Fourth of July party a friend and I were discussing the changes we’ve seen in the Los Angeles area over the course of our lifetimes. We both mentioned air pollution. Our earliest memories were of the air in...Read all of "Memory, History And Policy"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:30 PM
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July 2, 2011
It’s A Win Win
“Wall Street wraps up best week in two years” – Reuters via MSNBC “Vatican Returns Profit After Three Years In Red” – Huffington Post But due to a few other minor economic issues of little consequence to Wall Street and...Posted by Duane Smith at 3:02 PM
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“She Didn’t Want To Get In That Green Stuff”
Stephen Lacey at Climate Progress tells how Senator Jim Inhofe became deathly sick after swimming in the algae infected Grand Lake in Oklahoma. The whole story is well worth the read but I can’t help giving away the punch line...Read all of "“She Didn’t Want To Get In That Green Stuff”"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:28 PM
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June 30, 2011
Oh Foolish Me
I’ve never thought that people should necessarily vote in their own narrow self-interest. But until the advent to the tea party I imagined that people knew what was in their own narrow self-interest....Posted by Duane Smith at 2:39 PM
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June 19, 2011
Someone Loves Government
At least someone loves the Los Angeles County government. The Los Angeles County auditor-controller's office confirmed Friday that back in May they received a cashier’s check for $10,000.00. The accompanying note said, “In this time of economic difficulties, governments need...Read all of "Someone Loves Government"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:52 PM
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June 17, 2011
On Genre Identification
The genre of a text is crucial to its interpretation. If you don’t know the genre, it’s almost certain you will misunderstand the text. And this doesn’t just apply to ancient texts. Take a look at the first three paragraphs...Read all of "On Genre Identification"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:25 PM
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June 8, 2011
But Then He Doesn't Need To Look At It
Reactionary Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker replaced a painting by David Lenz in the executive residence with a painting of Old Abe, a Civil War-era bald eagle from Wisconsin. Here’s part of what the news release from the governor's office said...Read all of "But Then He Doesn't Need To Look At It"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:24 PM
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June 4, 2011
Prayer In Public Schools – What's So Hard To Understand?
The appeals court in Texas got it right. The issue is clear and I can't figure out why it ever comes up. Students are not government officials. They are, err, ah, students. Provided it is not government sanctioned, it is...Read all of "Prayer In Public Schools – What's So Hard To Understand?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:40 AM
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May 17, 2011
The Press And The Crazy
Jim West actually has a good idea. Here’s my suggestion: when some ridiculous claim is made by the Simchas of the world and someone writes or discovers a reasonable, responsible, scholarly debunking each and every one of us copy the...Read all of "The Press And The Crazy"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:37 AM
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May 6, 2011
Among The Problems With Anti- Sharia Legislation: Halachah
With conservative lawmakers across the United States trying to outlaw sharia, or Islamic religious law, Jewish organizations are concerned that halachah could be next. If the state legislative initiatives targeting sharia are successful, they would gut a central tenet of...Read all of "Among The Problems With Anti- Sharia Legislation: Halachah"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:45 PM
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May 2, 2011
Osama bin Laden’s Death
I consider it beyond unseemly to celebrate any death, particularly the killing of a fellow human being. However, that doesn’t keep me from feeling that the killing of Osama bin Laden’s was a positive development....Read all of "Osama bin Laden’s Death"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:21 PM
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April 1, 2011
This Is Not An April Fools Joke
I have two grandchildren — Maggie is 11, Robert is 9. I am convinced that if we do not decisively win the struggle over the nature of America, by the time they're my age they will be in a secular...Read all of "This Is Not An April Fools Joke"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:00 AM
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March 25, 2011
Taking Our Country Back
to the 19th century. More than a third of all U.S. states allow borrowers who can't or won't pay to be jailed. Judges have signed off on more than 5,000 such warrants since the start of 2010 in nine counties...Read all of "Taking Our Country Back"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:40 PM
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March 21, 2011
Paul Krugman on Elizabeth Warren,
The fact that she’s so well qualified is, of course, the reason she’s being attacked so fiercely. Nothing could be worse, from the point of view of bankers and the politicians who serve them, than to have consumers protected by...Read all of "Paul Krugman on Elizabeth Warren,"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:26 PM
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Titles Only From Here On
March 16, 2011
Some “Communist” On Collective Bargaining
March 11, 2011
Earthquake in Japan
March 9, 2011
The End Of Philosophy At The University Of Nevada, Las Vegas?
February 15, 2011
The ACLU, The First Amendment and A Muslim Charter School
February 13, 2011
On The CEO President And Why It Won’t Work
February 12, 2011
Juan Cole On Egypt
February 2, 2011
A “Fool’s” Perspective On The Deficient
January 29, 2011
The “Philosophical” Basis For Not Taking Government Assistance
January 23, 2011
Headline Of The Day
January 20, 2011
Governor Bentley’s Unbrotherly Remarks In Larger Context
January 11, 2011
Assault Rifles On The Defensive
January 10, 2011
Anonymous Reason
December 22, 2010
Good News For The Humanities
December 8, 2010
Things To Remember
November 3, 2010
Making California Harder Govern, Again
November 1, 2010
Things Could Get Worse
October 31, 2010
How Much Math Do We Really Need?
October 24, 2010
Negative Campaigning Works
October 4, 2010
Here We Go Again
September 23, 2010
On The Constraint Of Free Expression
September 3, 2010
Quotation of the Day
September 2, 2010
An Academic Balance Sheet
August 28, 2010
Is There Anything That Will Keep A “Family Values” Candidate Off The Ballot?
August 14, 2010
Give Jay Valentine A Job
August 13, 2010
Amazing
August 11, 2010
The Left Thinks This Is All About Them
August 8, 2010
Calling All Eunuch Judges
July 31, 2010
Recent Comments From Ed Brayton
June 5, 2010
They Want Their Country Back
June 4, 2010
You Knew This Was Coming
May 30, 2010
Another Mission From God Aimed At Additional Harm To California
May 29, 2010
The Amazing Mind Of Glen Beck
May 21, 2010
How Convenient
May 8, 2010
“Philosophers Hold Their Seats”
April 10, 2010
Stop It! Just Stop It!
March 23, 2010
In Which I Support Ann Coulter (Sort Of)
March 14, 2010
The American People Think, The American People Believe, The American People Want
March 9, 2010
Another Reason For Health Care Reform
January 13, 2010
Don't Pray For Haiti
December 6, 2009
It's The Stupid Voters Stupid
November 13, 2009
The "Impact" On The Humanities In Britain
October 9, 2009
Omama's Nobel Peace Price
September 28, 2009
Oh, The Inconvenience Of It All
September 11, 2009
Social Security’s Evolution
September 10, 2009
With A Little Practice Mike Duvall Could Become A Liar
August 29, 2009
The Joy and Nobility of Politics
August 26, 2009
Edward Kennedy February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009
August 11, 2009
Say What?
July 18, 2009
Did You See The News Last Night?
July 13, 2009
Ed Brayton Is Correct
July 8, 2009
I'm Not Sure What I Think About This
May 27, 2009
Never Give Weapons To People Who Are Crazier Than You
May 26, 2009
Quotation Of The Day
May 9, 2009
A Sign Of The Times
May 4, 2009
Entitlements
April 10, 2009
Quotation of the Day
March 31, 2009
The Lobbyists' Lobbyists
March 30, 2009
Well, I'm Certainly Glad To Hear This
March 28, 2009
Analysis and Curriculum: Some Things Just Come First
March 4, 2009
Getting Our Haircut
February 17, 2009
Home, Sweet Home
February 1, 2009
Capricious Official Harassment or Official Ignorance
January 26, 2009
Brandeis to Sell Art to Pay the Bills
January 20, 2009
Happy to be Included
Mr. President
January 19, 2009
Our Dream
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