This winter threatens to be “bitterly cold,” with below-average temperatures in two-thirds of the country. That’s if you believe the folksy — but often, they claim, accurate — Farmers’ Almanac.
Joe Donnelly on "dangerous" spending cuts:
Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., warned Monday that congressional budget cuts could shortchange the U.S. military and its suppliers – as well as America’s security.
Administration Consigliere Attorney General Eric Holder, Dream Stealer:
Since it appears we'll be back on a war footing any day now (whether in a limited way or as an introduction to Armageddon it's hard to say), let's take a look at what a true military hero looks like. Meet Ty Michael Carter, only the fifth living Medal of Honor recipient since Vietnam:
A couple of months ago, Minnesota tacked an andditional $1.50 per pack sin tax on cigarettes. Smokers in that state near the North Dakota border took the rational option of going across the state line to buy their smokes at much cheaper prices. This is one "laboratory of democracy" lesson other states should heed (and luckily most of our leaders here seem to get it):
Today we learn a new phrase -- the Permanent Bipartisan Fusion Government -- and it says everything we need to know about politics today:
Today I'm failing in my efforts not to be so parochial. This story of Big Government bungling shouldn't bother me more than any other story of such bungling just because I'm a veteran, but it does, OK?
There seems to be a slight imbalance here. Elizabeth Paige Coast made a false accusation of rape, and then:
Coast, 26, accused Johnathan C. Montgomery, a former neighbor of raping her in 2000 when she was 10 years old and he was 14. She later admitted that she made up the story and lied on the witness stand at his June 23, 2008, trial.
Today's "well, duh" entry. A study from South Korea finds that shortening the work week does not necessarily result in happier workers. The reason?
Partially, the lack of impact on overall happiness could be due to companies reducing the number of hours their employees worked, but not the amount of work they were required to complete.
[. . .]
If you're a wedding photographer in New Mexico and refused to take pictures at a gay wedding, too bad for you -- you've just violated your state's human rights act. So says the state Supreme Court, which cited the need to compromise in a multicultural, pluralistic society "to accommodate the contrasting value of others." This strikes me as an evenhanded response:
Guess we knew this was coming:
Even before the school bells are ringing for many families, retailers are sounding sleigh bells.
Yes, that's right. With 120-plus shopping days left, stores are already talking up their holiday offers.
I know complaints about the earlier and earlier start of the Christmas season are getting tirsome, but, c'mon! August? This just in: Black Friday sales are being moved to the labor Day weekend.
Bradley or Chelsea, you're still a traitor:
Now, why in the world did I read an interview with Al Gore by Ezra Klein about global warming and not see this coming?
Here's a good argument starter from Charles Krauthammer:
Here we go again. When I post about drivel, it's usually from a political source (or from my own musings, yeah, yeah, I know). But here's some from Scientific American:
So finally it's come to this. Daniel Boone is seen by some as offensive:
Is a cartoon-like college mascot reminiscent of Daniel Boone -- right down to the legendary coonskin cap -- racist, sexist or otherwise offensive?
I don't think this is as big a deal as some people will make it out to be:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The members of the Supreme Court continue to communicate with one another through memos printed on ivory paper even as they face the prospect of hearing cases related to emerging technology and electronic snooping in the years to come, Justice Elena Kagan said Tuesday.
When you hear that Gary, IN, has a dozen homes for sale for $1 each, you might be inclined to dig into your wallet and ask, “Will you take a 10-spot for the whole lot of them?” But these home aren’t available to just anyone with four quarters to rub together, so nearly 94% of interested buyers have been turned away.
It’s a simple question—perhaps so basic that it’s been overlooked: How old were the leaders of the American Revolution?
