for those young people who've never seen an analog clock, the second hand counts off the seconds. In a quiet room you can hear each of the 60 ticks that culminate in the minute hand moving from, say 11:59:59 p.m. to 12:00:00 a.m. There's some magic in that second hand, because with just one tick […]
The Supreme Court today heard arguments in a pair of cases challenging the display of the Ten Commandments on public land in Kentucky and Texas. I will be very surprised if the monuments are allowed to stay. The Court for years has been moving toward removing religion from public life. The interesting thing that struck […]
Former Klansman and current senator from West Virginia, Robert C. Byrd, went to the floor of the U.S. Senate and gave a speech comparing Republicans to Hitler and the Nazis. Byrd is old enough that he should know the difference between the two -- and if he doesn't he needs to be put in a […]
I'd like to thank all of the bloggers/Web sites who've linked to the Paul Krugman banner. They include (in no particular order): Private Radio Poor and Stupid Accidental Harpist Random Jottings (which is also running a caption contest inspired by Krugman's mug. Mandelinope Always Right Slings & Arrows Southern By Blog Porkopolis Countertop Chronicles Eclipse […]
Nearly two months ago, in what appears now to be a fit of pique, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman made a promise to his readers. In the next few weeks, I'll explain why privatization will fatally undermine Social Security, and suggest steps to strengthen the program. Well, as the graphic indicates, Krugman has suggested […]
A correction from Monday's New York Times: [A]n article on Friday about Syria's intention to withdraw its troops from Lebanon paraphrased incorrectly from a comment by Imad Moustapha, Syrian ambassador to the United States, after he acknowledged that his country had used its influence to have pro-Syrian candidates offered for the Lebanese Parliament. He said […]
A Philadelphia judge last week dismissed criminal charges against four antigay activists who were arrested at a gay and lesbian street festival. In dismissing the case, which attracted national attention, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Pamela Dembe said that the demonstrators simply had been exercising their First Amendment rights. Calling the United States "one of […]
When you say someone has a "mixed record," what exactly do you mean? They've done some bad, some good? They've had some failures, some successes? Either of those definitions, I can understand, but Sunday's Los Angeles Times, in the liberal spirit of kicking someone when they're down and dying, runs an editorial in Sunday's paper […]
I'll be going to the San Diego State Aztecs' last home game tonight -- I fully expect them to lose to Air Force. I also expect the zebras to call the game as though the Aztecs were the away team. If you're at the game, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to hear me -- […]
Just got finished watching the real-life game the movie "Hoosiers" was based on -- Milan vs. Muncie Central. Watching a game that occurred more than 50 years ago, the most striking thing was the absence of the shot clock. At one point to start the fourth quarter, a Milan player held onto the ball at […]