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Hunter S. Thompson
Mar. 18th, 2013 06:00 am"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me."
-- Hunter S. Thompson
-- Hunter S. Thompson
Mar. 18th, 2013
Inequality
Mar. 18th, 2013 11:54 amIn an article on inequality and what America may learn from Singapore's efforts, we get this snippet that says much.
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Third, the government intervened in the distribution of pretax income — to help those at the bottom, rather than, as in the United States, those at the top. It weighed in, gently, on the bargaining between workers and firms, tilting the balance toward the group with less economic power — in sharp contrast to the United States, where the rules of the game have shifted power away from labor and toward capital, especially during the past three decades.
-- Joseph E. Stiglitz at The New York Times
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Of course, the ruling elite in America have yet to acknowledge that inequality is a problem, and I know that I am not holding my breath.
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Third, the government intervened in the distribution of pretax income — to help those at the bottom, rather than, as in the United States, those at the top. It weighed in, gently, on the bargaining between workers and firms, tilting the balance toward the group with less economic power — in sharp contrast to the United States, where the rules of the game have shifted power away from labor and toward capital, especially during the past three decades.
-- Joseph E. Stiglitz at The New York Times
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Of course, the ruling elite in America have yet to acknowledge that inequality is a problem, and I know that I am not holding my breath.
Tiger Woods
Mar. 18th, 2013 03:49 pmTiger Woods. It has been a while since we have heard from him since that media explosion over the break-up of his marriage and his practically innumerable affairs with an assortment of hotties. Well, he has gotten serious with another blonde beauty, Lindsey Vonn. She is not just another pretty face. She is a gold medal Olympian for the United States ski team: "Vonn, who won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics, has been rumored to be hanging with Tiger over the past few months (even borrowing his jet at one point), but this is first official announcement that the two are actually an item."
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"I guess it wasn't a well-kept secret but yes, I am dating Tiger Woods. Our relationship evolved from a friendship into something more over these past few months and it has made me very happy. I don't plan on addressing this further as I would like to keep that part of my life between us, my family and close friends. Thank you for understanding and your continued support! xo LV"
-- Lindsey Vonn
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I suppose Tiger gets a harder time on something like this because of race. Thus, one ONTDer comments, "I'm really poor right now, so I often think about things like who I'd fuck because they're really rich. Tiger's one of them." Another chimes in, "lol I know that feel girl." But I am sure true love overcomes all.
( Pic )
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"I guess it wasn't a well-kept secret but yes, I am dating Tiger Woods. Our relationship evolved from a friendship into something more over these past few months and it has made me very happy. I don't plan on addressing this further as I would like to keep that part of my life between us, my family and close friends. Thank you for understanding and your continued support! xo LV"
-- Lindsey Vonn
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I suppose Tiger gets a harder time on something like this because of race. Thus, one ONTDer comments, "I'm really poor right now, so I often think about things like who I'd fuck because they're really rich. Tiger's one of them." Another chimes in, "lol I know that feel girl." But I am sure true love overcomes all.
( Pic )
Charles Murray on Gay Marriage
Mar. 18th, 2013 05:47 pm“With gay marriage, I think the train has left the station.”
-- Charles Murray
That is, Republicans need to give up on these contentious social issues on which they are clearly on the losing side of. Murray was speaking at that big conservative get-together, CPAC. I do not find this statement particlarly startling, since Murray was always quick to point out that he is more libertarian than conservative, but I guess he is also more Republican than anything else.
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Unless the G.O.P. drops what he called its “litmus tests” for candidates on these divisive social issues, Murray warned that conservatives were likely to alienate a large swath of the voting public, including his children, who might otherwise be attracted to the Party. He admitted, though, that, “I’m not known as an astute electoral analyst.”
This admission seemed born out by the dynamic in the conference room. Although there was some praise for Murray during a question period following his talk, several members of the audience pointedly shook their heads, and at least one young man stood up and walked out, illustrating the G.O.P.’s dilemma: it’s hard to move forward without simultaneously running the risk of, as Murray might put it, losing ground.
-- Jane Mayer at The New Yorker
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-- Charles Murray
That is, Republicans need to give up on these contentious social issues on which they are clearly on the losing side of. Murray was speaking at that big conservative get-together, CPAC. I do not find this statement particlarly startling, since Murray was always quick to point out that he is more libertarian than conservative, but I guess he is also more Republican than anything else.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Unless the G.O.P. drops what he called its “litmus tests” for candidates on these divisive social issues, Murray warned that conservatives were likely to alienate a large swath of the voting public, including his children, who might otherwise be attracted to the Party. He admitted, though, that, “I’m not known as an astute electoral analyst.”
This admission seemed born out by the dynamic in the conference room. Although there was some praise for Murray during a question period following his talk, several members of the audience pointedly shook their heads, and at least one young man stood up and walked out, illustrating the G.O.P.’s dilemma: it’s hard to move forward without simultaneously running the risk of, as Murray might put it, losing ground.
-- Jane Mayer at The New Yorker
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Guns and Obama-Hate
Mar. 18th, 2013 06:54 pmObama has taken on a lot more heat for his move to enact tougher limits on guns. Of course, it is not like the man was universally loved before, but the temperature has been bumped up a few degrees. You know how passionate some white guys can get when it comes to their guns. I suppose it is kind of like the way we feel about our pets, except insane.
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At a Massachusetts Republican Party St. Patrick’s Day breakfast Sunday, Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald, Jr. (R) joked that the nation would be better off if President Obama were assassinated.
Blue Mass Group reports that the Boston Globe noted the stunning comment Sunday:
McDonald offered a joke about Barack Obama being visited in a dream by three past presidents, who offered advice on how to improve the country. Lincoln’s advice: “Go to the theater.”
The alleged joke received “scattered laughter.”
-- News-LJ
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At a Massachusetts Republican Party St. Patrick’s Day breakfast Sunday, Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald, Jr. (R) joked that the nation would be better off if President Obama were assassinated.
Blue Mass Group reports that the Boston Globe noted the stunning comment Sunday:
McDonald offered a joke about Barack Obama being visited in a dream by three past presidents, who offered advice on how to improve the country. Lincoln’s advice: “Go to the theater.”
The alleged joke received “scattered laughter.”
-- News-LJ
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Monday, March 18, 2013
Mar. 18th, 2013 07:23 pm10:24. I didn’t make it back from my morning walk until 10:24. I got hung up feeding the ducks. Since I have an unopened five-pound bag of bird feed, was felt free in tossing all I had from my first bag. I need to be a little more frugal than that. Every time I was ready to quit and start walking home, I would see a new little gaggle of ducks rushing to join the party, and I cannot resist giving them a treat, so long as I have it to give.
Another reason for my late return, though, is Daylight Saving Time. I was up early enough that I could have left at seven-thirty, but because of that lost hour, I need to wait until eight for the day to begin to lighten. This is not a big problem. I would just prefer not to give my whole morning to my walk, even if I do get in some very good reading along the way.
* * * *
They were not wrong to forecast 92 degrees for today. Our meter reads 95 degrees. It does not feel anything like that, of course. this is definitely not a July’s 95 degrees. And this is not too worrisome because this is projected to be an odd one-day blip, which is strange but reassuring news, notwithstanding the what-the-fuck quality of getting a one-day blip like this.
* * * *
Pi leaps into the room, “M&Ms and coke at four in the afternoon?”
Monk says, “Ah, you caught me.”
She says, “Now how do you expect to get some love when you do not care in the least to watch your figure?”
Monk says, “I think we have outgrown those fond expectations, finally, at long last. Finishing out your forties will do that to you. Besides, as the old joke goes, my figure is big enough that it gets easier to watch all the time.”
Pi says, “It has been a long time since you indulged in afternoon snacks. About how long has it been?”
Monk nods, “Not counting the occasional bowl of ice cream... I think it has been years, especially since it was a habit, part of the old daily routine. How many years? God, I cannot be sure. I am tempted to say that we would have to go back to the time when Mother was still up and about and dreaming on mischief. But that seems too long ago. Maybe the afternoon snack fell out of my routine in the summer of 2005, that summer of dandelion dreams, when Gabe and I were scheming to meet in her Florida home and become the beast with two backs? Uh, I really cannot say with any confidence.”
Pi says, “Do you expect to make this a habit again?”
Monk says, “I certainly hope not. I honestly do not relish the idea of becoming morbidly obese. I think it is just today’s surprising heat that has gotten to me. But I suppose we will have to see, won’t we?”
Another reason for my late return, though, is Daylight Saving Time. I was up early enough that I could have left at seven-thirty, but because of that lost hour, I need to wait until eight for the day to begin to lighten. This is not a big problem. I would just prefer not to give my whole morning to my walk, even if I do get in some very good reading along the way.
* * * *
They were not wrong to forecast 92 degrees for today. Our meter reads 95 degrees. It does not feel anything like that, of course. this is definitely not a July’s 95 degrees. And this is not too worrisome because this is projected to be an odd one-day blip, which is strange but reassuring news, notwithstanding the what-the-fuck quality of getting a one-day blip like this.
* * * *
Pi leaps into the room, “M&Ms and coke at four in the afternoon?”
Monk says, “Ah, you caught me.”
She says, “Now how do you expect to get some love when you do not care in the least to watch your figure?”
Monk says, “I think we have outgrown those fond expectations, finally, at long last. Finishing out your forties will do that to you. Besides, as the old joke goes, my figure is big enough that it gets easier to watch all the time.”
Pi says, “It has been a long time since you indulged in afternoon snacks. About how long has it been?”
Monk nods, “Not counting the occasional bowl of ice cream... I think it has been years, especially since it was a habit, part of the old daily routine. How many years? God, I cannot be sure. I am tempted to say that we would have to go back to the time when Mother was still up and about and dreaming on mischief. But that seems too long ago. Maybe the afternoon snack fell out of my routine in the summer of 2005, that summer of dandelion dreams, when Gabe and I were scheming to meet in her Florida home and become the beast with two backs? Uh, I really cannot say with any confidence.”
Pi says, “Do you expect to make this a habit again?”
Monk says, “I certainly hope not. I honestly do not relish the idea of becoming morbidly obese. I think it is just today’s surprising heat that has gotten to me. But I suppose we will have to see, won’t we?”