Missing the Judds
When I leave the house I try to at least dress up in a t-shirt, shorts, socks and shoes but, unless I have a meeting, I don't go beyond that minimal effort to look presentable. I must have looked pretty destitute a few months ago on a day when I decided to eat at the Route 66 Cafe in Tulsa.
As I was entering the cafe a scrawny fellow in blue jeans and what we call a "cowboy shirt" turned to me with a huge grin and an unusual greeting - "how ya doin'? Did you see the Judds last night?" For a moment, I thought he had said "juggs" but a synaptic spark ignited and reminded me the Judds were some sort of country and western singing group. "Uh, no" I said, "I missed them." Still enthusiastic, the cowboy must have felt my pain and tried to console me. "Well, the tickets were $15 and I guess you couldn't afford it - it was kind of expensive," he nodded in sympathy as he went through the door.
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Brad Carson, a liberal?
I've missed out on a lot of the political ads from the US Senate race in Oklahoma. I just don't watch that much local television programming - I especially avoid the vacuous local news so I miss the ads. But I did catch one from Tom Coburn this evening as I was flipping through channels - and it was very illuminating. Did you know that Brad Carson is a liberal? That's what Coburn says in his ad and if this rock of morality says so it must be true! Yeah right.
If Brad Carson is a liberal then Coburn must be just a tad left of center. Carson, a man in love with the NRA, is so conservative that this moderate will have to hold his nose to vote for him. Before this election started OkiePundit was of the opinion that Coburn was an unusually honest politician but too far to the extreme right and too interested in legislating morality - his idea of morality. Now I just think he's an extremist willing to lie to us to get elected.
I've missed out on a lot of the political ads from the US Senate race in Oklahoma. I just don't watch that much local television programming - I especially avoid the vacuous local news so I miss the ads. But I did catch one from Tom Coburn this evening as I was flipping through channels - and it was very illuminating. Did you know that Brad Carson is a liberal? That's what Coburn says in his ad and if this rock of morality says so it must be true! Yeah right.
If Brad Carson is a liberal then Coburn must be just a tad left of center. Carson, a man in love with the NRA, is so conservative that this moderate will have to hold his nose to vote for him. Before this election started OkiePundit was of the opinion that Coburn was an unusually honest politician but too far to the extreme right and too interested in legislating morality - his idea of morality. Now I just think he's an extremist willing to lie to us to get elected.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
He's for (wink wink) "Traditional Values"
It's still six weeks before the election but those automated phone calls about candidates have already started. I had one on my answering machine today. It was, as usual, from an anonymous voice and source but in support of a local candidate for state representative. The caller stressed the pro-traditional policies of the candidate and his support of "traditional marriage" (ie. anti-gay marriage). The word "traditional" was used several times - in a blatant attempt to appeal to the intolerance streak in voters. Until I heard this appeal I was leaning toward voting for the candidate but its my policy not to vote for people who appeal to the baser instincts in people to win elections.
In Oklahoma, gay marriage hasn't the chance of a snowball in hell - but it will someday. As the Pew surveys show, this type of intolerance is losing ground fast - especially among young people and educated people of all ages. The day will come, none too soon, when using codewords such as "traditional marriage" to appeal to prejudice will lose elections. In the meantime I'll just have to be content to be at the cutting edge tolerance in Oklahoma.
It's still six weeks before the election but those automated phone calls about candidates have already started. I had one on my answering machine today. It was, as usual, from an anonymous voice and source but in support of a local candidate for state representative. The caller stressed the pro-traditional policies of the candidate and his support of "traditional marriage" (ie. anti-gay marriage). The word "traditional" was used several times - in a blatant attempt to appeal to the intolerance streak in voters. Until I heard this appeal I was leaning toward voting for the candidate but its my policy not to vote for people who appeal to the baser instincts in people to win elections.
In Oklahoma, gay marriage hasn't the chance of a snowball in hell - but it will someday. As the Pew surveys show, this type of intolerance is losing ground fast - especially among young people and educated people of all ages. The day will come, none too soon, when using codewords such as "traditional marriage" to appeal to prejudice will lose elections. In the meantime I'll just have to be content to be at the cutting edge tolerance in Oklahoma.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
A Day's Mail
Judging by the links I receive I'm aware that many of my readers are from other countries. Many of you have emailed to ask me to talk more about what life is like in the middle of the USA. With this in mind I thought I'd let you know what mail I received in my mailbox today:
Judging by the links I receive I'm aware that many of my readers are from other countries. Many of you have emailed to ask me to talk more about what life is like in the middle of the USA. With this in mind I thought I'd let you know what mail I received in my mailbox today:
- an appeal for money from the American Cancer Society
- an appeal for money from the John 3:16 Mission
- an appeal for money from Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the US House of Representatives (the appeal was disguised as a "policy survey"
- an appeal for money from the Republican National Committee
- an appeal for money from the Democratic National Committee
- an appeal for money from James Carville on behalf of the Democratic National Committee
- a sales appeal (disguised as an invoice) from Internet Corporation Listing Service
- a sales appeal from AARP for their long-term care insurance
- a sales appeal from American Airlines Citi credit card
No letters from friends. Not even any news. Just people wanting my money. That's what's in a typical mailbox in Oklahoma USA.
Monday, September 20, 2004
"You can't get right of the guy."
That's what Kirk Humphries, the conservative former mayor of Oklahoma City said about Tom Coburn, the man who defeated Humphries in the Republican primary for the US Senate race in Oklahoma. Here's what publicity Tom Coburn is reaping for our great state from the New York Times.
That's all we need. The extreme of the right-wing extreme to represent us and lend credibility to the unwanted opinion that Oklahoma is a political throw-back to the good ol' 14th century.
That's what Kirk Humphries, the conservative former mayor of Oklahoma City said about Tom Coburn, the man who defeated Humphries in the Republican primary for the US Senate race in Oklahoma. Here's what publicity Tom Coburn is reaping for our great state from the New York Times.
That's all we need. The extreme of the right-wing extreme to represent us and lend credibility to the unwanted opinion that Oklahoma is a political throw-back to the good ol' 14th century.
Sunday, September 19, 2004
The Lord is Keeping Tabs on your Check book
Our preacher spent the entire sermon today trying to get us to believe that tithing has a direct impact on our salvation AND earthly rewards. Example after example was given of people who religiously tithed and were rewarded with promotions, windfalls, and health. He said we couldn't take it with us when we died, but we could send it on ahead (by tithing). The message being that those who tithed could buy their way into Heaven. "Have you ever seen a U-Haul behind a hearse?" he asked us.
As a finale leading up to the passing of the collection buckets he trotted up on stage a lady that told us she had glaucoma and had been unable to afford an operation - until she gave $20 to the church's fund for a new building and kapow! - she got a call from the gov'ment offering to pay for her operation AND pay for her to go to college anywhere she wanted for two years. Must be part of President Bush's faith-based initiative. As the congregation went wild I wondered to myself who it is that is paying for her operation and college education? Guess I'm tithing and didn't know it! Does this count?
Our preacher spent the entire sermon today trying to get us to believe that tithing has a direct impact on our salvation AND earthly rewards. Example after example was given of people who religiously tithed and were rewarded with promotions, windfalls, and health. He said we couldn't take it with us when we died, but we could send it on ahead (by tithing). The message being that those who tithed could buy their way into Heaven. "Have you ever seen a U-Haul behind a hearse?" he asked us.
As a finale leading up to the passing of the collection buckets he trotted up on stage a lady that told us she had glaucoma and had been unable to afford an operation - until she gave $20 to the church's fund for a new building and kapow! - she got a call from the gov'ment offering to pay for her operation AND pay for her to go to college anywhere she wanted for two years. Must be part of President Bush's faith-based initiative. As the congregation went wild I wondered to myself who it is that is paying for her operation and college education? Guess I'm tithing and didn't know it! Does this count?
US Automakers Choose Not to be the Best
I was talking with an out-of-state CEO of an auto parts manufacturer last week and he confirmed what I had suspected. This man's company supplies both American and Japanese auto manufacturers and he said that his Japanese buyers think first of quality and then price. The American car manufacturers, on the other hand, think first of price and then of quality. This comes from a man who knows both sides.
One thing about Americans is that we have a firm belief that that we can do a better job than anyone in the world. We have a lot of empirical evidence to back up this belief - and that deep-rooted belief in ourselves makes the excellence possible. Therefore it is all the more disturbing that we, as exemplified by our auto manufacturers, often choose not to be the best at whatever we do.
I was talking with an out-of-state CEO of an auto parts manufacturer last week and he confirmed what I had suspected. This man's company supplies both American and Japanese auto manufacturers and he said that his Japanese buyers think first of quality and then price. The American car manufacturers, on the other hand, think first of price and then of quality. This comes from a man who knows both sides.
One thing about Americans is that we have a firm belief that that we can do a better job than anyone in the world. We have a lot of empirical evidence to back up this belief - and that deep-rooted belief in ourselves makes the excellence possible. Therefore it is all the more disturbing that we, as exemplified by our auto manufacturers, often choose not to be the best at whatever we do.
More Aggressive Scams
I've noticed, in the last six months, a significant increase in the number of email-driven scams I'm receiving in my inbox. There's been a huge increase in the type of scam that purports to be a bank or other financial institution wanting me to "update my account information" by clicking on a link and filling out a form that asks for all the vital data someone would need to steal my identity. I just got one of these from "Citizen's Bank" wanting me to do just this. Got the same thing the other day from "Pay Pal" wanting me to update my account data. Only trouble is, I have no accounts with Citizen's Bank or Pay Pal. This is usually a clue that the appeal is a scam.
Another good clue to the lack of authenticity is the poor English and grammar of most of these emails. They are obviously written by the illiterate or by people whose native language is not English.
Why can't the feds or Interpol track down these scam artists? Can't they follow the money trail?
I've noticed, in the last six months, a significant increase in the number of email-driven scams I'm receiving in my inbox. There's been a huge increase in the type of scam that purports to be a bank or other financial institution wanting me to "update my account information" by clicking on a link and filling out a form that asks for all the vital data someone would need to steal my identity. I just got one of these from "Citizen's Bank" wanting me to do just this. Got the same thing the other day from "Pay Pal" wanting me to update my account data. Only trouble is, I have no accounts with Citizen's Bank or Pay Pal. This is usually a clue that the appeal is a scam.
Another good clue to the lack of authenticity is the poor English and grammar of most of these emails. They are obviously written by the illiterate or by people whose native language is not English.
Why can't the feds or Interpol track down these scam artists? Can't they follow the money trail?
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Executive Talk
I was in a private meeting this week where some of Oklahoma's top CEOs told us about their problems. They whined mostly about the high expense of workers' comp insurance, medical insurance for their employees and the poor state of Oklahoma's highways and bridges. One CEO pointed out that he operates factories in several states and the workers comp costs him more in Oklahoma than in any other state except California. "You can't fight it", said another guy in a Brooks Brothers suit, an owner of a beverage factory. "The deck is stacked against you by the state and there's no way to fight back."
"I tell you what the real problem is," said a graying agricbusiness exec, "it's the tax-free competition from the Indian tribes. They have gone way beyond the smoke shops and the gas stations and are setting up hotels, golf courses, and buying up the best urban restaurants and operating tax free! You should take a look at their financial statements - they're getting fat by taking business away from those who have to pay taxes." There was general consensus around the table. A lady executive in the oil business pointed out that the Indian tribes were big contributors to Brad Henry's campaign and he is now wanting to renegotiate the compacts that former Governor Keating had done. "Henry's going to make this a lot worse. He owes the trial lawyers and the Indians."
I was in a private meeting this week where some of Oklahoma's top CEOs told us about their problems. They whined mostly about the high expense of workers' comp insurance, medical insurance for their employees and the poor state of Oklahoma's highways and bridges. One CEO pointed out that he operates factories in several states and the workers comp costs him more in Oklahoma than in any other state except California. "You can't fight it", said another guy in a Brooks Brothers suit, an owner of a beverage factory. "The deck is stacked against you by the state and there's no way to fight back."
"I tell you what the real problem is," said a graying agricbusiness exec, "it's the tax-free competition from the Indian tribes. They have gone way beyond the smoke shops and the gas stations and are setting up hotels, golf courses, and buying up the best urban restaurants and operating tax free! You should take a look at their financial statements - they're getting fat by taking business away from those who have to pay taxes." There was general consensus around the table. A lady executive in the oil business pointed out that the Indian tribes were big contributors to Brad Henry's campaign and he is now wanting to renegotiate the compacts that former Governor Keating had done. "Henry's going to make this a lot worse. He owes the trial lawyers and the Indians."
I overheard this story at a Denny's today:
"When I go, I want to go like my granddad did - peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming and pissing like the passengers in his car."
"When I go, I want to go like my granddad did - peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming and pissing like the passengers in his car."
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Internet Corporation Listing Service
In the mail I received what looks exactly like a bill with an AT&T-like logo and it comes from something called the "Internet Corporation Listing Service" in San Jose, California. The "bill" is for $35 for "annual website search engine listing". What is this? I thought. I don't remember signing up for this!
A thorough reading led me to the following verbiage amid all the other verbiage, "THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER". So, why make it look exactly like a bill then? Could it possibly be that the Internet Corporation Listing Service has done some research and found that 2-10% of recipients just pay what they think is a bill? I don't know what the real percentages are but you can bet this company wouldn't be doing this if it didn't work. I can imagine that some clerks in businesses get this bill-like paper, think "must be some advert the guys in marketing did" and just pay it without reading the whole thing. Then some people are just so stupid or paranoid they pay - hoping to stay out of trouble.
The Search Engine Marketers are not too happy about ICLS either.
I've noticed this type of misleading direct mail a lot lately. Disguising your advertising as a bill - hoping to fool some people - is dirty. May you, Internet Corporation Listing Service, receive your karma.
In the mail I received what looks exactly like a bill with an AT&T-like logo and it comes from something called the "Internet Corporation Listing Service" in San Jose, California. The "bill" is for $35 for "annual website search engine listing". What is this? I thought. I don't remember signing up for this!
A thorough reading led me to the following verbiage amid all the other verbiage, "THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER". So, why make it look exactly like a bill then? Could it possibly be that the Internet Corporation Listing Service has done some research and found that 2-10% of recipients just pay what they think is a bill? I don't know what the real percentages are but you can bet this company wouldn't be doing this if it didn't work. I can imagine that some clerks in businesses get this bill-like paper, think "must be some advert the guys in marketing did" and just pay it without reading the whole thing. Then some people are just so stupid or paranoid they pay - hoping to stay out of trouble.
The Search Engine Marketers are not too happy about ICLS either.
I've noticed this type of misleading direct mail a lot lately. Disguising your advertising as a bill - hoping to fool some people - is dirty. May you, Internet Corporation Listing Service, receive your karma.
Friday, September 10, 2004
Barbedwire Ankles
Oklahoma's ban on tattoo shops has worked about as well as Prohibition did in the 30s. Never underestimate the ingenuity of fools to find a way to hurt themselves. Ok, ok, tattoos don't kill (often) but they sure are ugly - especially on the leg or ankle of an otherwise beautiful woman. This is especially true as the tattoo (and the leg) ages, stretches and discolors. I'm not sure if the fad has passed yet or not but I sure notice a lot of 20-30ish women in Oklahoma with barbedwire tattoos encircling their ankles. This is ugly enough but when you see it under nylon stockings in the workplace you can't help but gag a little.
Don't get me wrong. People ought to have the right to get tattoos, pierce themselves with metal or bone, cut off body parts, or whatever they care to do to their own bodies. It's ludicrous for Oklahoma to try to control the expression of free will. I still think getting a tattoo is a permanent indication of flawed cognition.
Oklahoma's ban on tattoo shops has worked about as well as Prohibition did in the 30s. Never underestimate the ingenuity of fools to find a way to hurt themselves. Ok, ok, tattoos don't kill (often) but they sure are ugly - especially on the leg or ankle of an otherwise beautiful woman. This is especially true as the tattoo (and the leg) ages, stretches and discolors. I'm not sure if the fad has passed yet or not but I sure notice a lot of 20-30ish women in Oklahoma with barbedwire tattoos encircling their ankles. This is ugly enough but when you see it under nylon stockings in the workplace you can't help but gag a little.
Don't get me wrong. People ought to have the right to get tattoos, pierce themselves with metal or bone, cut off body parts, or whatever they care to do to their own bodies. It's ludicrous for Oklahoma to try to control the expression of free will. I still think getting a tattoo is a permanent indication of flawed cognition.
Swift Vets and a Swift Kick
Aren't you sick of these people? Fortunately, living in a state no national politician cares about, Oklahomans haven't had to suffer through a lot of their ads attacking Kerry for serving in Vietnam. But we still see a few on cable news networks and I get sick every time. The one I saw tonight attacking Kerry for throwing away some of his ribbons or whatever in a protest over the war was really disturbing. The gist of the ad was "how can you trust a guy who threw away symbols of his country?" As if medals or ribbons were as sacred as the US flag and that demonstrating one's revulsion over the war was unpatriotic!
If you go to the Swift Vets website to find a way to contact them and tell them what nattering nabobs they are you'll find it quite impossible - they don't place any contact info on their site. That is, unless you sign up to receive their broadcast emails - after which their contact info suddenly appears. When I signed my dog up to get their emails I was rewarded with the email address to contact them. It is: Latch@SwiftVets.com So now you can tell ol' Latch you'd like to give them all a swift kick.
Just who are these people anyway? Turns out a bunch of them are old dirty tricks professionals and Republican Party operatives rather than actual swift boat veterans. The Disinfopedia has the straight poop on these folks.
Aren't you sick of these people? Fortunately, living in a state no national politician cares about, Oklahomans haven't had to suffer through a lot of their ads attacking Kerry for serving in Vietnam. But we still see a few on cable news networks and I get sick every time. The one I saw tonight attacking Kerry for throwing away some of his ribbons or whatever in a protest over the war was really disturbing. The gist of the ad was "how can you trust a guy who threw away symbols of his country?" As if medals or ribbons were as sacred as the US flag and that demonstrating one's revulsion over the war was unpatriotic!
If you go to the Swift Vets website to find a way to contact them and tell them what nattering nabobs they are you'll find it quite impossible - they don't place any contact info on their site. That is, unless you sign up to receive their broadcast emails - after which their contact info suddenly appears. When I signed my dog up to get their emails I was rewarded with the email address to contact them. It is: Latch@SwiftVets.com So now you can tell ol' Latch you'd like to give them all a swift kick.
Just who are these people anyway? Turns out a bunch of them are old dirty tricks professionals and Republican Party operatives rather than actual swift boat veterans. The Disinfopedia has the straight poop on these folks.
Sunday, September 05, 2004
J.C. Watts, Syntroleum and Nigeria
The Tulsa World reports that Tulsa-based Syntroleum Corp has agreed to develop oil and gas off the Nigerian coast. OkiePundit reported over a year ago that Syntroleum had a close working relationship with J.C. Watts while he was a Congressman and that the Congressman helped Syntroleum open doors in corruption-rich Nigeria. It should come as no surprise that after leaving Congress a couple of years ago Syntroleum showed up on J.C.'s list of clients for his new firm. I'd like to see the Tulsa World ask Syntroleum or Watts how much he's made off this deal.
The Tulsa World reports that Tulsa-based Syntroleum Corp has agreed to develop oil and gas off the Nigerian coast. OkiePundit reported over a year ago that Syntroleum had a close working relationship with J.C. Watts while he was a Congressman and that the Congressman helped Syntroleum open doors in corruption-rich Nigeria. It should come as no surprise that after leaving Congress a couple of years ago Syntroleum showed up on J.C.'s list of clients for his new firm. I'd like to see the Tulsa World ask Syntroleum or Watts how much he's made off this deal.
From Tulsa to Russia
Well school starts for Tulsa Public Schools this week and my daughter heads back to finish out her last year in elementary school. There's a lot of excitement that first day as the kids see each other for the first time in months and head off to meet their new teachers and learn what fate has dealt them in seating assignments. Whether she has to sit behind Simon the bully or Matilda the Cruel are her greatest concerns at this point in her life. Thankfully, in Oklahoma school life is relatively safe. We have the rare shooting or knifing but here, even tornadoes are more of a concern. Not to mention the aggressive SUV and truck-driving idiots that threaten on the route to school.
But none of this is anything compared to the horror that many children in the world face everyday. The worst horror comes in the form of adults so sick with hatred that they will purposely set out to kill other people's children to achieve some goal of theirs. The Russian-Chechen conflict is a little understood matter here. Most Americans, and certainly Oklahomans, couldn't point out Chechnya on a map. Many, sadly, couldn't even point out Russia. Nevertheless, the horribly cruel murder of hundreds of children and adults in the school in the North Ossetia region of Russia this past week had many people here shaking their heads in disbelief. It is beyond belief indeed and while we don't understand the larger situation we do know that ones that lower themselves to such brutality against innocent children is sick beyond all comprehension. There can be no justification whatsoever for killing children.
The extent of most American's knowledge of the murders is that they were carried out by Muslims - Russia says by Al-Qaida funded Muslims. Here again, Americans are thinking "what is it with the Muslims?" "Why is it always the Muslims that are blowing up buses, schools, and markets crowded with civilians?" As a CNN story this evening pointed out, this kind of situation is doing great damage to the reputation of Muslims in general. I hope reasonable Muslims will speak out against these atrocities carried out by their brothers and sisters and help put a stop to the bloodshed.
When I take my daughter to school this week I'll be happy for her - that all she needs to worry about is her seat assignment. At the same time I'll be thinking of all those Russian parents who had their little sons and daughters needlessly taken away from them by evil. I can imagine, for a brief moment, their pain.
Well school starts for Tulsa Public Schools this week and my daughter heads back to finish out her last year in elementary school. There's a lot of excitement that first day as the kids see each other for the first time in months and head off to meet their new teachers and learn what fate has dealt them in seating assignments. Whether she has to sit behind Simon the bully or Matilda the Cruel are her greatest concerns at this point in her life. Thankfully, in Oklahoma school life is relatively safe. We have the rare shooting or knifing but here, even tornadoes are more of a concern. Not to mention the aggressive SUV and truck-driving idiots that threaten on the route to school.
But none of this is anything compared to the horror that many children in the world face everyday. The worst horror comes in the form of adults so sick with hatred that they will purposely set out to kill other people's children to achieve some goal of theirs. The Russian-Chechen conflict is a little understood matter here. Most Americans, and certainly Oklahomans, couldn't point out Chechnya on a map. Many, sadly, couldn't even point out Russia. Nevertheless, the horribly cruel murder of hundreds of children and adults in the school in the North Ossetia region of Russia this past week had many people here shaking their heads in disbelief. It is beyond belief indeed and while we don't understand the larger situation we do know that ones that lower themselves to such brutality against innocent children is sick beyond all comprehension. There can be no justification whatsoever for killing children.
The extent of most American's knowledge of the murders is that they were carried out by Muslims - Russia says by Al-Qaida funded Muslims. Here again, Americans are thinking "what is it with the Muslims?" "Why is it always the Muslims that are blowing up buses, schools, and markets crowded with civilians?" As a CNN story this evening pointed out, this kind of situation is doing great damage to the reputation of Muslims in general. I hope reasonable Muslims will speak out against these atrocities carried out by their brothers and sisters and help put a stop to the bloodshed.
When I take my daughter to school this week I'll be happy for her - that all she needs to worry about is her seat assignment. At the same time I'll be thinking of all those Russian parents who had their little sons and daughters needlessly taken away from them by evil. I can imagine, for a brief moment, their pain.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Arnold vs History
How could Arnold have seen Soviet tanks in the British occupied part of Austria? Well, he couldn't.
How could Arnold have seen Soviet tanks in the British occupied part of Austria? Well, he couldn't.
Covering the Hurricane
I'm very sorry about the suffering of people in Florida as Frances hits them. I can't help but note that there was virtually no "action news" coverage when it hit the Bahamas. Do Bahamians suffer too?
Watching the news people standing out in 70 mph winds with rain and debris slapping them around is, well, kind of entertaining if you can forget about the destruction. They always seem to show up in poorly designed rain gear that flaps and blows as they stagger around with their cheeks flapping when they try to talk. Look, if you are going to do the hurricane coverage thing on national TV why not put on a wet suit that will make you look cool. At least the hood won't balloon out and make you look like a drunk Martian.
I'm very sorry about the suffering of people in Florida as Frances hits them. I can't help but note that there was virtually no "action news" coverage when it hit the Bahamas. Do Bahamians suffer too?
Watching the news people standing out in 70 mph winds with rain and debris slapping them around is, well, kind of entertaining if you can forget about the destruction. They always seem to show up in poorly designed rain gear that flaps and blows as they stagger around with their cheeks flapping when they try to talk. Look, if you are going to do the hurricane coverage thing on national TV why not put on a wet suit that will make you look cool. At least the hood won't balloon out and make you look like a drunk Martian.
Who is Zell Miller?
Fred Kaplan has the best point-by-point review of Zell Miller's speech at the Republican Conention. See it at Slate.
Fred Kaplan has the best point-by-point review of Zell Miller's speech at the Republican Conention. See it at Slate.
Thursday, September 02, 2004
JC Watts and Zell Miller
JC was on MSNBC's After Hours news show tonight. I had to change channels several times so I wouldn't choke on his platitudes. JC is among the best at talking at length without saying anything. Why do the news programs have this guy on?
Now retiring Senator Zell Miller of Georgia says something when he talks! He may be an 18th century lunatic but there's no mistaking what he is trying to communicate. When he wants to challenge a news pundit to a duel he says he wants to duel. If JC Watts ever got passionate I can imagine he might challenge Chris Matthews to " Agree on the facts bearing on the problem and close the issue at hand".
JC was on MSNBC's After Hours news show tonight. I had to change channels several times so I wouldn't choke on his platitudes. JC is among the best at talking at length without saying anything. Why do the news programs have this guy on?
Now retiring Senator Zell Miller of Georgia says something when he talks! He may be an 18th century lunatic but there's no mistaking what he is trying to communicate. When he wants to challenge a news pundit to a duel he says he wants to duel. If JC Watts ever got passionate I can imagine he might challenge Chris Matthews to " Agree on the facts bearing on the problem and close the issue at hand".
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Reality Video
I was at the back of the Hollywood Video store this evening when I became aware that the violent video being played loudly throughout the store was sounding increasingly realistic. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a commotion. Two men at the front of the store were kicking the poo out of each other. A teenage girl was screaming. The Hollywood Video staff was watching in disbelief. Blood was flying. Were there knives? I ran to the front to see if my daughter was OK - she was smart - she ran to the back. The fight went outside and one of the guys got in his car and sped away. Within minutes a fire truck and three police cars were at the store bandaging the other guy. I rented Kungfu Soccer.
I was at the back of the Hollywood Video store this evening when I became aware that the violent video being played loudly throughout the store was sounding increasingly realistic. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a commotion. Two men at the front of the store were kicking the poo out of each other. A teenage girl was screaming. The Hollywood Video staff was watching in disbelief. Blood was flying. Were there knives? I ran to the front to see if my daughter was OK - she was smart - she ran to the back. The fight went outside and one of the guys got in his car and sped away. Within minutes a fire truck and three police cars were at the store bandaging the other guy. I rented Kungfu Soccer.