Tolkien on fairy-stories. "Like Sendak and Gaiman, Tolkien insists that fairy tales aren’t inherently 'for' children but that we, as adults, simply decide that they are, based on a series of misconceptions about both the nature of this literature and the nature of children…" (Grokked from Terri Windling)
"This is the most detailed map yet of our place in the universe." The Total Perspective Vortex. "Hey, didn't ya hear me say, 'I'm Zaphod Beeblebrox,' baby." (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
What's wrong with the evening news? So many things (including local news that isn't local), but first, kill the stand up. And then we can talk about the "man on the street" segments. It's for all of these reasons I don't regularly watch my local news anymore. Also, radio news, you're getting just as bad with the "ambient sounds of the world" thing. Sometimes it works, sometimes it's just a distraction. (Grokked from Astrid Julian)
Cold Front spurring migration. Let's see, those red dots are right over us. Looks out window. Nope, still rainy. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"Thousands have been jailed in Berks County for failure to pay truancy fines, but court fees and other fines have put thousands of others behind bars across the country." Ah, the war on crime. I'm sure this is unintended, like the woman who died while serving a weekend because she owed $2000 for her kids' truancy. Because we don't have debtor's prison in this county, as the Judge said. Except that judge has sent a lot of people to prison for their debts. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
There's this common thread in many of the campaign-finance regulation rollback discussion about how it's a big pie and nobody really would or could give to everybody and it won't warp our election process. Yea, they lied. What most people don't understand is just how vastly wealthy the 1% actually are (hint, if you make less that 7 figures, you're not in that club). "'I would think everybody would be for more money in politics like I am, because we’re just spreading speech,' (Shaun McCutcheon) said." Well, Mr. McCutcheon, you're spreading something there. I'm not sure I'd call it speech. (Grokked from Tania)
"The most basic of economic theories would suggest that when supply isn’t enough to meet demand, it’s because the price — in this case, truckers’ wages — is too low. Raise wages, and an ample supply of workers should follow." Nah, I'm sure if we increase the salaries of the executives, that would solve it as well. I've been making this point for years. Manufacturing is highly specialized now, requiring a great deal of post high-school education (of which the factories are loath to actually do), and many positions go unfilled. Well, here's the thing, raise the pay of the workers and more people would be willing to take the gamble on more education. But then that requires understand actual economies, instead of blithely mouthing ideologue positions that sound like economics, but aren't. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
"Indeed, the empirical evidence indicates that increased or already high taxes appear not to put a damper on jobs, posing new challenges for those who argue that tax cuts are the primary and perhaps sole elixir for our economic woes and that tax increases always and everywhere spell doom for job seekers." See point above. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Say, you know the complaints of business owners, especially big businesses, like nationwide franchises… you know, "If we pay our workers more, it'll raise the cost of the burgers/pizzas/churros/whatever"? Yea, right. If fast food was such a "low margin" industry, how can they increase executive pay by 3x in a year, including the golden parachutes for the former CEO's retirement? Just in case you ever wondered why I called BS on all those claims. Food makes a ton of money (even the little local stores, although they have it harder). Hell, McDs had one (1!) month of decreased revenue and they fired the guy in charge of sales (I'm sure he also had a golden parachute). This is what the industry is really like. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"A prominent pro-life activist has called to ban all public nudity because he said that topless dancers who protested at his church had committed an 'offense to God.'" Wow, it's like Sharia, only it's not being called that because it's a "Christian" pastor leading the call. And, he thinks banning women going topless with help with another bugaboo of his, because (wait for it), "'The gay pride parade in Columbus is 500,000 strong – why? Because the women go topless,' he insisted on Facebook." I'd like to say this wing nut s rare in Ohio, but he ain't. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
"'Looking across the broadband landscape, we can only conclude that, while competition has driven broadband deployment, it has not yet done so in a way that necessarily provides competitive choices for most Americans,' (FCC Chairman) Wheeler said Thursday during a speech…" And this year's nominees in the Captain Obvious category are… Actually it is a good thing the FCC has finally recognized this. Thanks to all your comments about Net Neutrality. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
The Economist apologizes for their review of book on slavery. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
"John Johnston, who is challenging Democratic state Rep. Chuck Moseley for the 10th District seat, said during a social media discussion on poverty that 'no one has the guts to just let them wither and die.'" And the GOP wonders why the left calls them heartless. Also, it doesn't take "guts" to let people die, it takes good people doing nothing (aka evil). It takes guts to help people. Anyone who has done so knows this. Also, "'I was not trying to hurt anybody’s feelings,' Johnston said. 'I saw the opportunity to say something.'" Well, I see the opportunity to say you're a jerk, Johnson. A complete knee-biter. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
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