A Mom, a Kid, a Park, Cops, Court, Etc.

July 20, 2014

Blogger success depends on picking the right battles. Write “What is a Will” or “Powers of Attorney.” Sure, although very few people read your posts. Food is always safe … so long as you’re not too assertive about whose pizza is best. Even inequality and Hobby Lobby seem to be mostly non-controversial. (We’ll see how my review of the Dinesh D’Souza movie goes; watching it today at 2:10; stay tuned.)

I’ve been cautious about commenting on Debra Harrell. She’s the South Carolina mom who works at McDonalds—yes, Ed Gillespie, former RNC Chair and candidate for the U.S. Senate from Virginia, grown-ups do have minimum wage jobs and try to support families, and they don’t just use the money for drinking

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It’a a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

July 18, 2014

These have been a really, really awful few weeks! Yes?

We have a war in Ukraine we really don’t acknowledge, and a bizarre missile attack on a commercial airliner which reminds us that, in fact, Ukraine is at war. (My theory? The separatists intended to blow up a plane, because they could, never intending to hit a commercial airliner. No reason for them to have messed with this plane. Bad move!!!)

We have yet another war between Israel and the Palestinians. There have been so many we don’t identify them as we did in the past. No 1948, no 1967, 1973, etc. No one knows for sure “why now,” but we have a war.

Awfulness in Africa is off the

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Dinesh D’Souza and Sunday Afternoon at the Movies

July 17, 2014

Not long ago an old friend who lives out East told me I’m a little narrow in my political universe. He called me “close-minded,” and said I’d see the error of my ways if I got a more “fair and balanced” perspective on the world. I hollered about Fox News for a while, for I know “code” when I hear it, even when it’s bunk. He ranted back at me, demanding that I go see America:  Imagine the World without Her, Dinesh D’Souza’s new film. He even offered to send me the money for a ticket, but I passed on that, only imagining the “freeloading liberal” crap I’d hear. I can pay my own way, thank you very

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Airbnb and Trust

July 16, 2014

I saw David Brooks’ June 30 column, The Evolution of Trust, several days after the New York Times published it. Hmmm, I wondered, trust evolves? And in which direction?

The first lined grabbed me. “I’m one of those people who thought Airbnb would never work.” As it happens, we’re Airbnb-ers, Ms. J, the daughter, and I. Months ago, after a hotel booking problem, Ms. J found herself needing a bed for two nights in San Francisco, on a not-so-small-but-this-is-SF budget. Enter Airbnb. Ms. J stayed in a deluxe Soma loft, with the owner, for two nights. Great stay. Pleasant company. Fair price.

So I took a look at Airbnb for the DC-NYC trip in May/June. New York places did

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The Wednesday Curator – 7/16/14

July 15, 2014

They just keep on coming, G-d bless them! One Wednesday after another.

I have driven Prius automobiles since 2004, and no non-Prius has been domiciled in our garage since 2006. Ms. J and I are committed to clean, fuel efficient transportation. So I read with interest John Voelker’s article, Hyundai v. Tesla: Exec Claims U.S. Funds Superchargers, Electric-Car Maker Angrily Rebuts, posted at Green Car reports on July 15. When manufacturers are fighting about who got more bennies from which government, we’re getting closer to the tipping point, when combustion engine behemoths look like the funny old cars many of us saw in the movies when we were children.

I’d never heard of Larry Pratt until I read The

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My Not So Very Complete Supreme Court Roundup

July 14, 2014

I was consolidating pieces I’ve read and noted for further referencing. Plenty got tossed, and some material will pop up on Wednesday (and future Wednesdays). I did find some writing about the Supreme Court, though, which made me think it’s time for a bit of a wrapping up.

I don’t have the constitutional chops for a term in review. I looked for some on line, and all I found was this invite for the Supreme Court Round-Up in Tulsa, OK on July 24. Alas, I won’t be able to make it, but the price is right—$15.00—and you get two hours of CLE and refreshments.

Adam Liptak covers the Court for the Times now. He’s a Yale Law grad who practiced

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We Didn’t Start the Fire (annotated)

July 13, 2014

We Didn’t Start the Fire was written by Billy Joel, whose real name is William Martin Joel. He married Christie Brinkley on March 23, 1985, and they divorced on August 25, 1994. And the Uptown Girl in Uptown Girl—Mr. Joel’s big 1983 hit song—was maybe only partly inspired by Ms. Brinkley, as this 5’5” downtown guy, while he knew and was friendly with Ms. Brinkley when he wrote the song, was dating 6’ uptown girl Elle Macpherson.

Some readers know about my affinity for trivia. Every Monday night for going on four years I play with my team, the Emperor Penguins, at Sky Bar in Tucson. Only illness, a family crisis or being out of town keeps me away,

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The Suit

July 11, 2014

I’m writing about the suit.

Hugo Boss suit, circa 1998

Hugo Boss suit, circa 1998

No, not the one you see, although it’s an old favorite. About 15 years old. Worn, worn, worn, but it was a beaut in its day. It’s still in my closet, it works if I leave the jacket on, and it still fits, so long as I’m exercising and not eating too, too much!

No, I’m discussing Boehner v. POTUS, Speaker John Boehner’s intended suit against President Barack Obama. Before I get ahead of my comments on this stupid f*cking political stunt, let’s review the bidding.

In June the Speaker announced plans to sue the president for what he claims are abuses of power. House Republicans take umbrage

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Odds and Ends

July 11, 2014

Ms. J has been away at a work meeting in Atlanta. PART-YYY!!! Actually, I hosted the firm poker tournament last night. No pics … despite the camera sitting out! Pizza, roast pig, potatoes, cole slaw, etc. Good food and company, and the evening ended early:  two were at the table until about 10:15, by which time—I was knocked out at about 9:00—the house was back in order and all was well.

We had 13 players, ranging from one of my partners who, in his mid-60s, had never played a poker hand in his life, to our winner, who plays Vegas tournaments regularly. Still, everyone seemed to have an enjoyable time. All in, I doubt whether dinner cost more than

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