Yesterday’s payroll tax deal

At this point, I’d be happy to trade in my $1,000 tax break for a new Congress. One that, you know, has something resembling a spine running down its back and guts that aren’t quite so yellow. One that makes it clear they do what’s best for the people and not what’s best for the [...]

Security vs. Freedom

I remember a graph from my political science days which had security on one axis (low to high) and freedom on the other (low to high).  As security increases, freedoms necessarily decrease and vice versa. I was thinking of this as I read that President Obama will sign the Levin/McCain detention bill into law. This [...]

Election Day 2011

So I voted, despite being utterly fed up with the current state of politics and politicians in the country. I would have felt guilty if I hadn’t voted. But the truth it, I completely forgot it was an election day, until I saw the tweets start coming in on Twitter this morning. That’s how much [...]

We need a national Rosie’s Bar day

With everything going on in the world right now, I think we need a national Rosie’s Bar day. What is a “Rosie’s Bar day”? It comes from the M*A*S*H episode “A Night at Rosie’s.” Hawkeye decides to quit the war and goes to Rosie’s bar for a drink. Colonel Potter sends someone off to find [...]

The debt deal

I saw late last night that a deal was reached on the debt ceiling. I’m not particularly relieved by this deal, nor do I think the people involved deserve applause for getting this deal done. It should have been done a long time ago without the petty bickering and childishness that took place over the [...]

Why this is a bad time for any politician to be asking me for money

I just got a phone call from the Democratic committee to reelect President Obama. The campaign representative went through the usual schpiel, thanking me for my past donations, pointing out that the Republicans are launching a $20 million ad campaign, and that the Democrats and the Obama reelection campaign needs to be prepared to respond [...]

Some Heinlein quotes that seem apropos today

I just finished reading Robert Heinlein’s “Logic of Empire” in the March 1941 Astounding* and there were two quotes that jumped out at me as particularly apropos to current events in the Federal government today. First quote: “I suppose you’re a radical now?” Doc’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Not at all. Radical and conservative are terms for [...]

Congress and diapers at Disney World

Two ridiculous things for a Monday: Congress. I’m reminded of the old joke: if “pro” is the opposite of “con” what is the opposite of “progress”? Kids wearing diapers at Disney World. Kids mind, you, not toddlers. The Little Man is in the very early stages of potty training. So naturally, Kelly was searching online [...]

An open letter to all Washington politicians

Dear Washington Politicians, Please do something–anything–other than worrying about how whatever “it” is will play for reelection. Your constituents would appreciate the reminder that government can do something and that we are not better off replacing our politicians with marble statues (which at this point would seem equally effective). Got that? Thanks! Most sincerely, Jamie [...]

Crisis averted? Or crisis delayed?

I was paying unusually close attention to the news this week, this big story of course being the thread of a government shut down. I had two reasons to be interested in this: Kelly is an employee of the Federal Government and a shutdown would have a direct affect on our bottom line. I like [...]

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repealed!

It’s about time. This was a terrible policy from the outset and it is to Congress’s shame that they can’t seem to learn from history.  There was a time in the U.S. military when certain races were excluded and the thought of integration was repellant for similar reasons given by the military today, that it [...]

Economics

I’ve never gotten economics. It’s one of those subjects which my simple brain isn’t designed to handle. Economists are like mystics in my mind. I mention this as a preface to what follows because you have to know where I’m coming from. Yes, I took an economics class back in college. No, I didn’t do [...]

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  • Vacation in the Golden Age

    Episode 32: February 1942

    Stories by Smith, Moore, Brackett, Jones, Sturgeon

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    Episode 33 coming February 20

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    All Clear
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