Does Dave read his own work?

Technorati Tags: New York Times,David Brooks,Mr. Obama,Mr.Romney,Capitalism

Poor David Brooks. He tries so hard, yet so often shoots himself in the foot during the effort.

Take this quote from his column today:

[Obama’s] economic advisers have generally touted the benefits of globalization even as they worked to help those who are hurt by its downsides.

All of Brooks’ argument in this column can be refuted by taking the final two clauses of the quote as a basis for your argument’s construction.

The difference between the visions of capitalism of Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney which we see in today’s political arena is exactly that Mr. Obama is working to help those who are hurt by various policies which might or might not be necessary in a capitalistic system.

As Brooks writes, “[Romney’s] an efficiency expert.” He does best what is best for the business plans under which he works. His vision with Bain had not been broadened to include helping those who might fall to the dictates of a theory.

We live in a society with a social contract which demands we all take responsibility for our actions. Sometimes it means giving a helping hand to a person we knocked down.

Brooks knows that, and, in that quote, he inadvertently gives the strongest possible negative take on Romney he could have given. The question remains, Why didn’t Dave realize that when he published?

Trust, but verify.

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To earn the right to give away

Technorati Tags: P. Diddy,Justin Combs,class

Wouldn’t it be nice if P Diddy’s son, Justin Combs, were to be taken aside and given a quiet lesson on class?

Someone in the organization might take the boy aside and tell him that he did, indeed, earn the sport scholarship to UCLA; and that he is justifiably proud of his accomplishment.

To torture the adage, though, the conversation might also remind Combs that much is expected from those to whom much is given.  A gesture of humility at the time of his accomplishment is in order, and such a gesture could well consist of the young man donating an equal amount of money to another scholarship fund at UCLA—one which would benefit students of need, perhaps.

The Combs’ family fortune is, after all, derived from the pockets of many needy students and their families.

Such a gesture would go a long way to further enhancing the young man’s aura of success. And be a touch of class.

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The Sins of the Father

A recent reading of The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer indicates that it is time for Mr. Archer to take a break from writing for a while.

The story is not engaging. The plot is a soap opera. The denouement leaves this reader thinking, “Meh.”

Yawn.

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Language and part of the problem

Watching an old episode of How I Met Your Mother last night and noticed this line said by aa teen boy to the woman who is Canadian:  Boy, "Am I going to get lucky tonight?"

Why is it that the male is going to "get lucky" and not the woman, or why not "Are we going to get lucky tonight?"

Has it ever been thus, women have no sexual appetites? Girls don't seek "luck?"

How long will it take for this type of sexual programming to disappear?

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Hey, Wayne!

Here's a question for you and your NRA cohorts:
What's to be done with that 9-year-old alleged shooter in Washington?
Only criminals with have handguns, right?
Nice job, guys.
[tagname]

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Sly Puss

Technorati Tags: Glenn Greenwald,Tim Russert,journalism,Salon.com,humor

It’s too good to let pass.

In writing about Topic X, authors often manage to slip in a little elbow about Topic Y to the ribs of the body politic; and those little nuggets should be identified and celebrated.

To wit:  In Salon.com you will find an article by Glenn Greenwald discussing Iran as the source of some discomfort, alright—evil—and you will also find this:  “while the Face of American Meritocracy, NBC News‘ Luke Russert…”

Think about it. Meritocracy, rising on the merits of one’s efforts; and Luke Russert, elevated to a job with a major news organization upon the death of his father, Tim.

Also think about using upper case: Face of American Meritocracy.

Then dedicate an appreciative chuckle to Greenwald.

You’re welcome.

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Um…well, I guess…

Technorati Tags: Religion&Ethics,Kevorkian,Hitchens,Religion,Spirituality

Here’s a little surprise; guess who’s included in this year’s Religion & Ethics Newsletter’s “In Memoriam 2011?”

Jack Kevorkian and Christopher Hitchens.

Along with unsavories, or, at least, once unsavories, such as Cardinal Foley—maybe he found God, or at least heard the snapping of growling watchdogs and contributors after his AIDS comments—we find these two who aren’t usually listed in the category of “Prominent Religious.”

Although, upon reflection, they both were certainly spiritual, and, in their own ways, pastoral. There’s also an environmentalist listed, probably the most spiritual of them all.

There’s also a Jewish songwriter, which is a nice gesture, because songwriters are also quite spiritual.

The others are/were (?) luminaries of various Christian sects. And now they know whether Hitchens was/is (?) correct, don’t they?

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Um…Not really

Technorati Tags: Hank Williams,Jr,ESPN,U.S. Constitution,Free Speech

The Hank Williams, Jr./ESPN brouhaha is mildly diverting on a few levels, but it is also a sad commentary on one: understanding the Constitutional right to free speech.

Williams’ Constitutional rights were not affected by ESPN’s action. The Constitution is silent on the right of company censorship of employees’ speech.

“Congress shall make no laws…” is the way the First Amendment begins. There is nothing in it which limits any other instance of speech restrictions. Most states also limit “freedom on speech” similarly in their state constitutions.

Williams should know better. We all should know better.

Sorry, Mr. Williams, Jr., your Constitutional free speech rights were not offended, and you have none otherwise.

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Silliness

“Reverse racism” is such a silly phrase.

What could it possibly mean?

A racist is a racist, regardless of skin color, and “reverse racism” is just an example of unthinking writers who waste electronic ink.

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Fraternal Quip

This from my older brother: Yesterday we could not spell third-world country; today we are one.

(I wonder if it’s a joke which has been going around. Regardless, I like it.)

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So, I’m a smart ass…So sue me

Technorati Tags: Sexual orientation,Sexual preference,Language

:

Not really…the suing part.

The local newspaper, The Desert Sun had a piece today indicating disapproval of those protesting Chaz Bono’s upcoming appearance on “Dancing with the Stars.”

I liked it except for the use of “sexual preference.”  Now, since I am of the opinion that virtually everyone who is protesting against Mr. Bono’s appearance has participated in his sexual preference activities in one way or another, I doubt very seriously they are protesting that/those preference(s).

So I wrote the following to the “Community Conversations Editor” at the paper. I got carried away.

It was such fun and became so silly that I thought I’d share it.  Have fun.

xoxox

Dear Mr. X:

Today your editorial page gave a well-deserved “Thumbs Down” to those who are protesting against Chaz Bono’s appearance on “Dancing with the Stars.”

There would be disagreement only from those who are unwilling to learn.

There is, however, one phrase with which others might quibble; it is “sexual preference.” It might be good to take a few moments to educate your writer about the more accurate “sexual orientation” for use in this type of discussion.

To personalize the point, Sir, might I suggest that your sexual preference is what you prefer to do during sexual incidents. Everyone has sexual preferences which are unique and of no concern to others.

Sexual orientation, on the other hand, is how you “lean” when choosing a partner with whom to participate in mutual sexual preferences.

Absent a declaration from a person, sexual preference is unknowable; sexual orientation is somewhat easier to discern. Since most of the protesters against Mr Bono themselves probably engage in whatever sexual activities they might imagine he participates, they are more than likely protesting his orientation than his preference.

Please discuss this with your writer.

Sincerely,

gene touchet

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From BRAAACK to lowercase 8 point “poo”

Technorati Tags: Brain,Memory,Black Holes

My brain farts (How I dislike the word!) have been reduced to a negligible poo.

They have been replaced by brain black holes. It’s possible to stand (albeit metaphorically) on the edge of the hole and virtually see the nothingness to which thought and memory are reduced, especially memory.

“I’ll have the Country Benedict.”

20 minutes later, after having the plate placed before me, I am asked, “Looks good. What is it?”

“Country…”

Nothing.

Blankness.

(Is “blankness” truly “nothing?”)

A strain to come up with the words and some babble…”It’s a famous breakfast dish…some kind of sauce…English muffins…”

“Eggs Benedict?”

“Yes.”

Crisis over.  The memory, however, of the lack of memory lingers.

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Actually, God’s punishment…

Technorati Tags: Rick Perry,Conservatives,Politics,Texas,Divine Retribution

Every wonder why God doesn’t punish those people who behave antithetically to the “teachings of the ages?”

For instance, it seems obvious to clear thinkers that the wildfires in Texas are punishment for supporting Rick Perry.

Doesn’t it?

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Alas! A crisis of conscience!

Technorati Tags: Sex studies,Bisexuals,Gays,Non-gays,Culture Wars,Box Turtle Bulletin

From Box Turtle Bulletin:

Shocking, simply shocking! A new study has determined that some men are attracted to both male and female persons. Or, at least, sexually stimulated by watching them have sex.

This new finding contradicts and earlier one which denied evidence of existence of bisexuals, but was flawed in its population selection. (NY Times)

For many, many years, I’ve been skeptical about discussions I’ve had with certain serial-one-night-stands.

“How can you date/marry her? What’re you doing here if you’re going to be there?”

“I guess I just like you both.”

Skeptical. Mighty skeptical.

Now some researchers tell us that X and Y, and a couple of other less-frequent Alphabet Letters were correct about themselves after all?

Well, after the brachytherapy, it’s pretty much moot. Still, it does give pause.

Do I apologize?

Or do I wait for the next “study” to give us another way to look at ourselves?

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Great Quip

Technorati Tags: Culture Wars,Republican Party

From today’s New York Times we find this little nugget in a column by Frank Bruni which puts l’affaire Bachmann in its place:

I once tried to pray away the gay. But sometimes a houseguest just won’t leave.

Quel drole!

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Thanks, Ms D

Technorati Tags: Maureen Dowd,Liz Smith,New York Times

Much appreciation to Maureen Dowd for reminding us of a great line.

In an article about celebrities of yore, particularly Liz and Dick (Dick ‘n Liz?), La Dowd recalls: 

As Liz Smith once observed, “Whenever somebody says, ‘So and so is a big star,’ I say, ‘Have they been condemned by the Vatican?’ ”

Is that a great humbler or not? (BTW, L&D were.)

Thanks, Les Dowd et Smith.

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June quickie

Isn’t prostitution simply enhanced masturbation?

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No More Poo Pooh-Poohing?

Technorati Tags: Andrew Sullivan,The Dish,Medicine

Well, there might not be many of you still hanging around waiting for further inanities, but here’s one I just didn’t want anyone to miss, or to lose to posterity and faulty memory.

Andrew Sullivan, on his blog The Dish, gives us this fascinating item on medical experimentation.  (It sounds like something that will, in a few days, turn out to be a hoax, but a fun one!)

It discusses the gut’s bacteria and the role those little critters play in health. There’s an interesting twist to it, and one medical wag has coined transpoosion for the procedure.

Enjoy.

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SCOTUS* vs California Republican Demagoguery

Technorati Tags: Republican Party,Supreme Court,California,Prison

In case you didn’t know it, Dear Gentle Reader(s), the State of California’s prison system is in dire straits. Check out this bit of information provided by the Supreme Court of the United States today:

The degree of overcrowding in California’s prisons is exceptional. California’s prisons are designed to house a population just under 80,000, but at the time of the three-judge court’s decision the population was almost double that. The State’s prisons had operated at around 200% of design capacity for at least 11 years. Prisoners are crammed into spaces neither designed nor intended to house inmates. As many as 200 prisoners may live in a gymnasium, monitored by as few as two or three correctional officers. App. 1337–1338, 1350; see Appendix B, infra. As many as 54 prisoners may share a single toilet.App. 1337.

This court case has been going on since the early 1990’s.

Don’t quote me, but I blame the Republican Party’s draconian misuse of the ballot initiative available to Californians.  (OK, these ballot measures passed, which means a majority of voters agreed with them.) Specifically, the three-strikes issue, and the 2/3 majority in the legislature needed for tax increases.

By one vote (*thankfully, Mr. Justice Kennedy provided it, otherwise I’d’ve been forced to call it a SC(r)OTUS decision because it would’ve gone the other way) the Court has upheld a lower 3-member Court’s decision to require California to reduce its prison population by some 40,000 inmates.

That’s a tough number, but it brings home the lesson of the dangers of falling for hyperbole during election cycles. We can’t get away from responsibility by believing those who don’t have our societal best interests at heart.

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Sheesh

Technorati Tags: Statutory Rape,victimhood

Well, Dear Gentle Reader(s), we might not agree on this, but here goes.

From the local newspaper:

A woman praised as a community leader for her work running a police activities league for youth was arrested Monday for an alleged sexual relationship with a teenage boy.

[Ms X], 33, of Cathedral City was arrested at her home  and booked into the Indio jail on multiple counts of statutory rape and oral copulation with a minor.

[X] is suspected of “having an ongoing sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male victim,” Cathedral City police Lt. Chuck Robinson said.

“…a 17-year-old male victim.”

Doesn’t anyone remember being 16, 17, 18?

One has to wonder if the youth thought of himself as a “victim,” at least before the story became public. Where does victimhood begin?

(I’ll bet he thought of himself as “lucky.”)

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