Weather....or not

Seen on The Weather Channel today; heading "Traffic Delays"

Milwaukee- heavy rains

Boston- Heavy rains

Texas- Torrential rains with possibility of tornadoes

San Francisco- wrecked tanker truck burns and melts expressway

Uhhhh....what was that last bit again?

Maybe tomorrow: "Downpour of freight trains slows traffic to a crawl on the Dan Ryan Expressway," or "Backup of crescent wrenches stalls traffic on Triborough Bridge."

Vonnegut & Transitional Whys

I started the day early, before 0500, thinking about the passing of a common literature in English, no doubt provoked by the death of Kurt Vonnegut and a column written by a friend on that subject. After reading today's Bleat by James Lileks, and reading the part on the Minneapolis Public Library, I decided there must be something teleological in the air, to be reflecting on the ends of things. All in all, though, it's probably just a result of my acquiring and re-reading Robert Hughes' The Shock of the New, a survey of modern art that I find nearly indispensable. I didn't care for most modern art before I read it, and don't now, but at least I can now comprehend it, and why it has reached its dry, abstract end, whether embodied in the Kandinskys and Klees and all their ilk in hundreds of museums and galleries around the planet, or in such mausoleums of urbanity as Albany's Empire State Plaza. Look at it, and see a representative government achieve what Mussolini could only dream of, and remember that somebody thought that this pile was actually architecture. What derailed all the paradigms between 1850 - 1950? Why is it perhaps important that these things happen? I wish I knew, or perhaps I don't......

Well, somebody's getting 'em

No hummingbirds so far at this latitude (40° N), but others are luckier........

Pissing Contest

Yes, ladies & gentlemen, it made the national news- saw it on CNN this morning, which will shortly change its name to the CMN (Cable Micturation Network): you can be traumatized by not getting a hall pass to the restroom.

The Sacramento "A"'s are at work, as reported in the Sacramento "Bee," over an incident involving Sacramento "Pee." I'm sure the Revs. Jesse & Al have been called....if they work weekends.

Resistance is NOT futile!

There is evidence to contradict the usual advice of law enforcement authorities that one should offer no resistance to armed criminals, viz.:

When Mass Killers Meet Armed Resistance.

It took place at a university in Virginia. A student with a grudge, an immigrant, pulled a gun and went on a shooting spree. It wasn’t Virginia Tech at all. It was the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, not far away. You can easily drive from the one school to the other, just take a trip down Route 460 through Tazewell. It was January 16, 2002..... {You may read entire article here, courtesy of Classically Liberal}

When Entertainers (Try to) Think

This is what happens when people who caterwaul -or learn a script for a living- get a bully pulpit and begin to spout as they please. This particular gem is from Sheryl Crow, on Huffington Post. I prefer to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she's trying to shift to a career in standup comedy:

I have spent the better part of this tour trying to come up with easy ways for us all to become a part of the solution to global warming. Although my ideas are in the earliest stages of development, they are, in my mind, worth investigating. One of my favorites is in the area of forest conservation which we heavily rely on for oxygen. I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don't want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required. When presenting this idea to my younger brother, who's judgment I trust implicitly, he proposed taking it one step further. I believe his quote was, "how bout just washing the one square out."

"-the area of forest conservation which we heavily rely on for oxygen." .....and some of us just aren't getting enough to our brains.

Earth Day, 2007

Ah, Earth Day! Remember when they invented that? Mary Margaret told me a little anecdote of the Earth Day discussion at church this morning, and it was just like all those discussions back in '73 after the "energy crunch" about who was going to bell the cat. It didn't matter what elements of energy conservation were under discussion, it always devolved into generalizations about "-what must be done," and not "Here's what we personally are doing / planning to do."
As they discovered 30 years ago, when interviewed, the majority of people thought that it would be a wonderful idea if their neighbors on either side implemented a whole array of energy-saving measures, but that they "might" do something "someday." Needless to say, Mary didn't win any popularity polls when she said she didn't want to hear anything except what each person in the conversation planned to do themselves.
The power companies have spoken of their need to raise rates after the long freeze in Illinois, and I know a great way for them to get the money. Just have a sliding scale for each residential customer, based on a determined average usage. Up to X kwh, the rate is at par, whatever the ICC says. Above that rate, for the next 100 kwh or so, it increases by 25 %, and so forth, until by 400 kwh over the rate is double.....and it doubles for each 100 kwh over that. My guess is that no further measures would be required. Oh, people can argue that cheaters can cheat with such a system, but they cheated on rationing in WWII, and did it wholesale. The fact that there are always cheaters doesn't invalidate a math exam, and it doesn't invalidate this. And it provides instant and very powerful incentives to conserve.
There- I've made my Earth Day contribution, and in a much more pragmatic way than people burning french-fry oil in their diesels or ethanol made from corn. I know we eat a lot of fries, but not enough to make a drop in the bucket against diesel use. I recently read an article that estimated that if EVERY ear of corn grown in the U.S. were converted to ethanol, it would equal.....12% of the gas burned. But look on the bright side; the food shortages that would ensue should abate the national concern over obesity.

Make a Note....

Spring was "officially" here exactly one month ago. In central Illinois, it arrived today. Warm but cool, blue skies, breeze. Birds engaged in reproductive activities, me on the porch soaking up the atmosphere. If it gets any better than this.....it's not any place I've ever been.

Ah...yeah, that oughta work.

You just can't make this stuff up: wooden swords instead of "realistic" swords in a Yale student play might prevent.....what, exactly? Whatever else happened this week, it's demonstrable that someone stole yet another university administrator's brain.

Reaction and Remembrance

This morning, as I was perusing news channels on the selection of big-screen TVs at the gym (actually watching the subtitles & streamers while listening to Jeno Jando play Scarlatti sonatas), I was made aware that the killings at Virginia Tech had moved from the “sheer speculation on a few facts” stage to the “psychoanalyze and victimize the perpetrator” phase, along with a smattering of “find something else that’s wrong with society, and blame that.” Again, no perspective on the abyss of human evil, no mention of the man who died saving his students.

As I watched, I recalled the difference in what I’ve seen so far in the fallout from Virginia Tech and the aftermath of the murders of five Amish schoolgirls in Nickel Mines, PA. When I looked the story up later, I was astonished to see that this sad occurrence was only about 6 months ago (2 Oct 2006), and reflected on why it seemed longer to me. Perhaps it was because of the way that the Amish community handled it. This can be best summed up, I think, by stating that they not only profess Christianity, but applied it to the perpetrator of this terrible event as well as his family. The Amish community acted, and it was as if any of the media furor usually seen in the aftermath of such atrocities was suppressed by the simplicity and truth of their actions. The following entry is from the Wikipedia entry Amish School Shooting:

Amish Respond With Forgiveness

CNN reported a grandfather of one of the murdered Amish girls said of the killer on the day of the murder: "We must not think evil of this man."
Jack Meyer, a member of the Brethren community living near the Amish in Lancaster County, explained: "I don't think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss in that way but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts," he told CNN.
The Amish have reached out to Roberts' family. Dwight Lefever, a Roberts family spokesman said an Amish neighbor comforted the Roberts family hours after the shooting and extended forgiveness to them.
An article in a Canadian newspaper the National Post stated that the Amish have set up a charitable fund for the family of the shooter.
The Amish do not normally accept charity, but due to the extreme nature of the tragedy, donations were being accepted. Richie Lauer, director of the Anabaptist Foundation, said the Amish community, whose religious beliefs prohibit them from having health insurance, will likely use the donations to help pay the medical costs of the hospitalized children.
The most amazing thing was the fathers of the Amish girls shot went to the killers parents and asked what they could do to help them.

No- what the Amish did was not "amazing." It was completely consistent with their beliefs, and their determination to live by them.

Just When You Think You Know Someone

How to explore the possibility of encountering -and counteracting- mindless or quite purposeful violence, courtesy of The Anchoress. I've read her posts before, but this post opened up whole new vistas of her skill sets. Makes me want to take a seminar or two...

In Memoriam....

This solves the problem of how to conclude the downfall of Don Imus, thanks to Mark Steyn in the Sun-Times.

....and, like any good commentator, when he shits he doesn't miss anybody.

....and ends with random shootings in the streets

Seen this morning on A Cable News Channel (and it doesn't really matter which one....)

31 students killed at Virginia Tech by an "Asian Male."

Picture of "Asian Male" not shown.

Name of "Asian Male" not given.

Views of semiautomatic 9mm pistols

More views of semiautomatic 9mm pistols.'

Statistics on capacity of 9mm pistols, firing rate, etc.

Not one word even alluding to good or evil.

Not one word even alluding to free will.

Putin Abducted by Aliens: Film at 11

I had no idea that Pravda had turned into such an investigative powerhouse. This puts all the theories I've heard about Don Imus' firing to shame....

Happy Birthday, Henry

Today, Henry James would be 171....and probably still writing what most English teachers (used to) condemn as run-on sentences. Author of Washington Square, The Bostonians, The Spoils of Poynton, The Golden Bowl, and other light classics, he despised America for its simplicity. He should have lived to see us now.....

Prudishnesss vs. Prurience

One of the few interesting things about the furor over Don Imus' departure from the airwaves is the schizoid mentality in our contemporary culture. On the one hand, when other purveyors of verbal detritus claim dispensation because of their "artist" status (rap musicians, various other broadcasters who go downhill from Imus, and other deere), as I'm sure everyone in radio, TV, or the movies will, if the call for a purge builds further. On the other hand, those screaming for censorship and that there be a Speech Code Amendment to the Constitution are not the bluenoses of yesteryear, but persons who themselves have strong -or even extreme- beliefs, and would be incensed at any suggestion that they curb or moderate their tone, e.g. that certain politicians are "war criminals."

Where Would I Begin?

Family of Faggot Fans Fly the Flag


....probably with "Don't practice your alliteration on me!" However, as one moves into the story, the phrase "cultural divide" that Brian Tiemann, at Peeve Farm employs seems hardly adequate. We like to think of our British brethren as linguistically divided from us only by their use of amusing words like "lorry," "carriageway," "boot," and "lift." But this doth take the breath away....and the only thing that could possibly top it would be the given name of the head of household to be "Howdy."

Cultural Statement

I recently became aware that some bloggers posted "Best Beer Ever" lists. I immediately felt the need to contribute to this hitherto neglected area of culture, so- here's mine. The top 10, the order not to be taken as set in stone:

1. Three Floyds Alpha King

2. Three Floyds Robert The Bruce

3. Dogfish Head 90 min IPA

4. Newport Storm Blizzard Porter

5. Avery "The Czar" Imperial Stout

6. Goose Island IPA

7. Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter

8. Lagunitas Maximus IPA

9. New Holland Dragons Milk English Strong Ale

10. Rogue St. Rogue Red / Shakespeare Stout (a tie)

You may feel that there are a lot of IPAs on my list. You may feel that weak nancy-brews are underrepresented. My reply to that is "What's your point?" or maybe "Do your own list!"

How to Atone

The Great Heretic Don Imus has now apologized publicly, and also specifically and privately to those to whom his remarks were putatively addressed, and yet has received no absolution. In fact, a number of persons who have arrogated to themselves the right to speak for all persons offended have repeatedly "refused to accept Imus' apology."

Ignoring for the moment the presumptuousness of such claims, we are driven to inquire what might be considered sufficient atonement. Even at the height of the autos-da-fe of the Spanish Inquisition, the accused were afforded confession and absolution before the fires rose on their bodies.

My mind wanders backward, through the great weight of the dead generations, and I reflect on Becket, that "troublesome priest." Might we require Imus, a la Henry II, to don a hairshirt, sackcloth & ashes, and crawl from the Imus Ranch to Canterbury Cathedral, where he could beg forgiveness of ....The Offended Parties.

For those who find such suppliance excessively ceremonious and lacking true sincerity, Ruth Benedict's account of the New Mexican Penitentes may prove more satisfying:

"The Penitentes of New Mexico are the last surviving sect, in a far corner of the world, of the Flagellants of Mediæval Spain, and they have retained to the present day the Good Friday observances of identification with the crucified Saviour. The climax of the rite is the crucifixion of Christ, impersonated by one of the members of this cult. The procession emerges from the house of the Penitentes at dawn of Good Friday, the Christ staggering under the weight of the tremendous cross. Behind him are his brethren with bared backs, who lash themselves at every slow step with their great whips of bayonet cactus, to which are lashed barbs of the cholla. From a distance their backs look as if covered with a rich red cloth. The 'way' is about a mile and a half, and when they reach the end, the Christ is bound up on the cross and raised. If he, or one of the whippers, dies, his shoes are placed upon his doorstep, and no mourning is allowed for him."

- Ruth Benedict, Patterns of Culture, p. 90-91

While this expedient may seem excessive to some, I submit that it may address a number of issues:

1. Don Imus may actually volunteer for this, if people will agree to finally shut up about it. Besides, in its historical context it's very close to the Imus Ranch, so no extended commute is involved.

2. Given the blood, gore, and general excess, some satiation of the public prurient interest may be satisfied, and it would go away. On the other hand, it may simply turn into a series on Bravo.

3. If certain persons, a list starting with but certainly not limited to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, would agree to fulfill the role of "-his brethren with bared backs, who lash themselves at every slow step with their great whips of bayonet cactus," I would agree to be Official Photographer and produce a commemorative photo album.

No, it isn't

Upon reflection, I decided that the column in question needs to be reproduced here, at least in part, because it is so well-said, so pointed, and contains so much that is true......that it's likely to share in the fate of "Imus in the Morning."

Excerpt from Jason Whitlock's column "Time for Jackson, Sharpton to Step Down"

"We have more important issues to deal with than Imus. If we are unwilling to clean up the filth and disrespect we heap on each other, nothing will change with our condition. You can fire every Don Imus in the country, and our incarceration rate, fatherless-child rate, illiteracy rate and murder rate will still continue to skyrocket.

"A man who doesn’t respect himself wastes his breath demanding that others respect him.

"We don’t respect ourselves right now. If we did, we wouldn’t call each other the N-word. If we did, we wouldn’t let people with prison values define who we are in music and videos. If we did, we wouldn’t call black women bitches and hos and abandon them when they have our babies.

"If we had the proper level of self-respect, we wouldn’t act like it’s only a crime when a white man disrespects us. We hold Imus to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. That’s a (freaking) shame.

"We need leadership that is interested in fixing the culture we’ve adopted. We need leadership that makes all of us take tremendous pride in educating ourselves. We need leadership that can reach professional athletes and entertainers and get them to understand that they’re ambassadors and play an important role in defining who we are and what values our culture will embrace.

"It’s time for Jesse and Al to step down. They’ve had 25 years to lead us. Other than their accountants, I’d be hard pressed to find someone who has benefited from their administration."

Enough said.....

After reading this post by Jason Whitlock of AOL Sports concerning the brouhaha over Don Imus, I feel no need to comment further:

http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/_a/time-for-jackson-sharpton-to-step-down/20070411111509990001

It begins with bad manners....

If this utterance by a professional natterer is offensive:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704060003

- then so is much that passes for public speech.

And I demand a retraction.