Actually, the federal budget does, too. We need to institute zero-based budgeting. But neither is likely to happen, given the nature of the interests involved, and their ability to donate to campaign coffers.
Category Archives: Media Criticism
Gluten Intolerance
What if it’s all in your head? I think the same may be true for MSG.
The Frightening Frontier
Linda Billings (whom I’ve known for thirty years or so) seems to have a problem with space development and settlement. I’d argue with her, if I could figure out just what her objection is. Perhaps there’s a clue in that she thinks that Howard Zinn’s tracts are just great.
Hyphens
Is the Internet killing them? This is the problem:
“People are not confident about using hyphens anymore, they’re not really sure what they are for,” Shorter OED editor Angus Stevenson told Reuters at the time.
It’s part of the continuing breakdown of the educational system. Hyphens are important, primarily for disambiguation of modifiers. There is a difference between a light brown suitcase and a light-brown suitcase. The former is a brown suitcase that doesn’t weigh much, and the latter is a suitcase (of unknown weight) that is light brown. It’s that simple.
The Supreme-Court Shut Outs
Thoughts on the constitutional recklessness of this administration:
When a president pursues policies that require such expansive federal power that he can’t get a single justice to agree, something is probably amiss.
Such overreach, though, has become a part of our political culture. Administrations of both parties are often unwilling to accept constitutional limits on their authority.
This administration, though, more than most, finds that pesky Constitution to be an impediment to its goals to “transform society.”
The Reverse-Mussolini Fallacy
Some thoughts on (some) libertarians and the confederacy. As he points out, the south wasn’t opposed to a large centralized government — they just wanted to have one of their own to continue to enforce slavery.
Gun Control
Why gun owners are right to fight it:
The anti-gun crowd doesn’t want “compromise.” They want confiscation and control.
Exactly right. When they tell you they don’t want to take your guns away, they’re lying. In order to take your guns away.
Stand-Your-Ground Laws
As Glenn says, Hollywood dumbasses.
In addition to his points, a) there’s nothing wrong with stand-your-ground laws and b) the Zimmerman case had nothing to do with stand your ground.
These morons just can’t stand the notion that people should be able to defend themselves.
[Update a few minuts later]
Hey, remember when Barack Obama supported stand-your-ground laws? Well, neither does he. To repeat: dumbasses.
[Update a while later]
OK, you’ll be as unsurprised as I am to learn that John McCain has decided to become one of the dumbasses.
Lea Thompson
OK, so what am I missing? Can anyone explain it to me other than the pathetic geeks? (Sorry, the discussion is in comments, though the movie review is about as entertaining as one might expect from DDay).
Good Timing
Those Al Qaeda terrorists sure picked a good news day to bust out of prison in Iraq.
This is why we have Gitmo.