An essay on the dangers of not taking the campaign if Donald Trump seriously enough. I agree with what Steve says in principle, and I can tell you that if Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination for President, I will be more politically active than I've been in any other election. I never thought I'd be a "door-knocker" for politics, but the idea of President Trump scares me sufficiently that I'll change my mind.
________
Brother Eric on those asinine douchenozzles in Texas who intend to do some sort of performance art get together to prove that a "good guy with a gun" is the right resolution to a nutjob with a gun. The obtuseness of these yokels is exceeded only by their poor taste. As Eric notes, fuck 'em.
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Young Saudi women use video games to expand their horizons and social circles. Fascinating.
H/T Brother Steve
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Companies with women on their boards do better. Shocked, shocked I am that diverse teams are higher performing than homogeneous ones.
________
A photo essay of some of the members of the Somali diaspora, currently residing in Minnesota. I find it endlessly fascinating how more traditional cultures manage to preserve their heritage and still embrace modern life.
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Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake attended services with his family at a local Mosque. His comments were ones of solidarity and support. Bravo, Senator.
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Los Angeles company Meathead Movers offers free moving services to the victims of domestic violence. I love this so much. You never know when a simple act of corporate charity will change someone else's life in a profound way.
Random Acts of Remembrance
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
In the summer of 2014, I sponsored a Kickstarter project organized by some friends of Moe's. They're a group of artists who call themselves the the Atomic Pixies, and they wanted to create a unique Tarot Card deck with original artwork.
I sponsored them because they were some of Moe's closest friends, and also because one of my "perqs" for the level at which I sponsored them was a custom piece of artwork in the same style as the deck with a subject of my choosing.
Well, my deck and the accompanying reference book arrived in yesterday's mail. The art is indeed interesting and beautiful, and if you're interested in such things, I recommend you run right over to their website and order a set for yourself or someone you love:
And here's the dedication:
I sponsored them because they were some of Moe's closest friends, and also because one of my "perqs" for the level at which I sponsored them was a custom piece of artwork in the same style as the deck with a subject of my choosing.
Well, my deck and the accompanying reference book arrived in yesterday's mail. The art is indeed interesting and beautiful, and if you're interested in such things, I recommend you run right over to their website and order a set for yourself or someone you love:
And here's the dedication:
Thank you, Girls. I'm sure she would have loved it, and I can't wait to see the custom piece when it's done.
Link Me Up, Scotty - Weapons and Destruction Edition
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
The Muslim community here in the U.S. feels compelled to condemn bad behavior by members of its community as soon as possible. Why they choose to do this should be painfully, embarrassingly, obvious.
________
Analysis on why your guns are not going to allow you to resist the government and other logical fallacies. There are a number of logically sound and defensible arguments in opposition of gun control, but this is not one of them. Using it as such makes you sound like an ignorant yokel.
________
Speaking of Muslims and the San Bernardino shooting, they're raising money for the victim's families, as well.
________
When even Exxon/Mobil is issuing dire warnings about climate change, you know we're well and truly fucked.
________
Talking productively about guns and gun control isn't easy, and most partisans are hacks with nothing to say. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's sick to death of it.
________
The Department of Justice has opened a wide ranging investigation into the Chicago Police Department as a result of a pattern of misconduct, racial profiling, and the use of deadly force. This is going to suck for the CPD, in the same way the Tailhook investigation sucked for those of us on active duty during that embarrassing time. But you know what? The Navy was a very different place post-Tailhook, a much better place, and I hope that the CPD will find itself in similar circumstances after the DOJ is done and reforms are put in place.
________
New Popehat contributor Marc Randazza takes on the idea of 'safe spaces' and how academia doesn't provide them for conservatives, only for liberals. Speaking as a dirty, dirty liberal, I totally agree with Mr. Randazza on this point. I think "safe spaces" should be reserved for support groups, not politics, and it's ridiculous for there to be systemic stifling of free speech in an academic environment, regardless of which end of the spectrum is speaking. If you have an opinion and you choose to express it, you should NOT be prevented from doing so. The other side of that coin, of course, is that you should NOT be protected from the social consequences of your choice. No one should pull punches in refuting your idea, and if your idea is stupid/racist/illogical/unserious, then you shouldn't be surprised when people say so. And none of this speech should be censored, and no one should be shielded from it, especially in college. Grow an intellectual pair, why don't you, and gird your loins for battle in the marketplace of ideas. Complaints that someone's idea hurt your fee-fees do not go very far in discrediting those ideas or convincing others to your point of view.
________
Neil Peart, one of the best drummers in several generations, has formally announced his retirement. Neil's not a young man anymore, and his music is very physically demanding, so I get why he's making this choice. He wants to spend time with his family, and the same is true of his band-mates. It's just the end of an era for me, as Rush's Moving Pictures tour was the first rock concert I ever went to. The Smart Man and I have also tried to attend their shows whenever they were in town, including their 40th Anniversary Tour just a few months ago. They're getting old, and by extension, I guess that means I am, too.
________
Analysis on why your guns are not going to allow you to resist the government and other logical fallacies. There are a number of logically sound and defensible arguments in opposition of gun control, but this is not one of them. Using it as such makes you sound like an ignorant yokel.
________
Speaking of Muslims and the San Bernardino shooting, they're raising money for the victim's families, as well.
________
When even Exxon/Mobil is issuing dire warnings about climate change, you know we're well and truly fucked.
________
Talking productively about guns and gun control isn't easy, and most partisans are hacks with nothing to say. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's sick to death of it.
________
The Department of Justice has opened a wide ranging investigation into the Chicago Police Department as a result of a pattern of misconduct, racial profiling, and the use of deadly force. This is going to suck for the CPD, in the same way the Tailhook investigation sucked for those of us on active duty during that embarrassing time. But you know what? The Navy was a very different place post-Tailhook, a much better place, and I hope that the CPD will find itself in similar circumstances after the DOJ is done and reforms are put in place.
________
New Popehat contributor Marc Randazza takes on the idea of 'safe spaces' and how academia doesn't provide them for conservatives, only for liberals. Speaking as a dirty, dirty liberal, I totally agree with Mr. Randazza on this point. I think "safe spaces" should be reserved for support groups, not politics, and it's ridiculous for there to be systemic stifling of free speech in an academic environment, regardless of which end of the spectrum is speaking. If you have an opinion and you choose to express it, you should NOT be prevented from doing so. The other side of that coin, of course, is that you should NOT be protected from the social consequences of your choice. No one should pull punches in refuting your idea, and if your idea is stupid/racist/illogical/unserious, then you shouldn't be surprised when people say so. And none of this speech should be censored, and no one should be shielded from it, especially in college. Grow an intellectual pair, why don't you, and gird your loins for battle in the marketplace of ideas. Complaints that someone's idea hurt your fee-fees do not go very far in discrediting those ideas or convincing others to your point of view.
________
Neil Peart, one of the best drummers in several generations, has formally announced his retirement. Neil's not a young man anymore, and his music is very physically demanding, so I get why he's making this choice. He wants to spend time with his family, and the same is true of his band-mates. It's just the end of an era for me, as Rush's Moving Pictures tour was the first rock concert I ever went to. The Smart Man and I have also tried to attend their shows whenever they were in town, including their 40th Anniversary Tour just a few months ago. They're getting old, and by extension, I guess that means I am, too.
Link Me Up, Scotty - Science, Solace and Service Edition
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Scientists and ethicists are debating the limits of genetic manipulation. The age old problem of "just because you can do something doesn't mean you should." It's my belief that we can find a middle ground that will allow us to rid ourselves of debilitating genetic conditions without sacrificing diversity and delight in our differences.
________
An interesting take on why the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is choosing to use a for-profit company structure for their charitable giving rather than a non-profit.
________
There comes a time in all our lives where we must make a choice to be brave, or to give in to fear. Here's a wonderful example of a man who made the tough choice, and changed lives in the process.
________
Can a plan of atonement help the United States face our history of slavery the same way it helped Germany face the Holocaust? I tend to believe "yes," because telling the truth about what's happened in our past is the first step toward crafting a better future based on authenticity.
H/T Brother Eric
________
From the "furiously happy" files: Coats tied to lampposts for the homeless to take and use now that winter is truly upon us.
H/T Brother Vince
________
I love this so much I wish I'd written it myownself. The author expresses exactly how I feel about the place Moe holds in my heart, and in my life. I will NEVER stop talking about my Moe-Moe, as long as I live.
H/T Sister Aileen
________
An interesting take on why the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is choosing to use a for-profit company structure for their charitable giving rather than a non-profit.
________
There comes a time in all our lives where we must make a choice to be brave, or to give in to fear. Here's a wonderful example of a man who made the tough choice, and changed lives in the process.
________
Can a plan of atonement help the United States face our history of slavery the same way it helped Germany face the Holocaust? I tend to believe "yes," because telling the truth about what's happened in our past is the first step toward crafting a better future based on authenticity.
H/T Brother Eric
________
From the "furiously happy" files: Coats tied to lampposts for the homeless to take and use now that winter is truly upon us.
H/T Brother Vince
________
I love this so much I wish I'd written it myownself. The author expresses exactly how I feel about the place Moe holds in my heart, and in my life. I will NEVER stop talking about my Moe-Moe, as long as I live.
H/T Sister Aileen
Identifying the key word
Saturday, December 5, 2015
It's been a tough week here in the United States. In addition to all the typical election buffoonery, we've had two shooting sprees, one at a Planned Parenthood Clinic here in Colorado, and another at a Human Services organization in San Bernardino, California. The death toll stands at seventeen, three in Colorado Springs and fourteen in San Bernardino.
I think it's fair to say that all the shooters can be characterized, by definition, as "bat crap crazy." No one of sound intellectual and emotional mind goes around spraying bullets like a fire-hose, killing people indiscriminately. Nutbars, the lot of them.
But as usual, partisan politics rules the day, as people make excuses, speculate wildly, and generally crap their pants in an orgy of political sound bites and rhetoric.
Robert Lewis Dear, the Colorado Springs nutbar, was an evangelical Christian. He expressed admiration for the Army of God, an anti-abortion Christian terrorist organization, and while no evidence has been discovered to tie him directly to the organization, I think it's safe to say he is a Christian Terrorist.
Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the San Bernardino nutbars, were Muslim. The FBI has discovered correspondence that at the very least, they had sympathetic attitudes toward ISIS, although no evidence has been discovered to tie them directly to the organization. I think it's safe to say they were Muslim Terrorists.
This is what we know about the nutbars, aside from the fact that their families are all horrified beyond belief at what has transpired.
And what we know about the partisans is that both sides of the aisle have abandoned rational thought, claiming that these two events prove their points, prove that it's the Muslims/Christians/immigrants/white gun lovers who are the real threat, and IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT.
And both sides are missing the goddamn point.
The key word in all this is not "Muslim" or "Christian." It's terrorist. From the Mirriam-Webster definition of terrorism:
The key word is terrorist. And while we're all pointing the fingers at each other, trying to lay the blame at the door of the President, of the NRA, of the Christians, of the Muslims, of the liberals, of the conservatives, nothing is being done to address the issue in any kind of a meaningful way. We're like recalcitrant children, pointing the finger, name-calling, and generally running around naked with our hair on fire. What we're not doing is coming up with a plan to address the very real danger of the extremists among us, those who would rather watch the world burn than not get their way.
I'm sick of it. At this point, I'm beyond the partisan rhetoric, and have no desire to argue with those who can't understand that this is a complex issue, with myriad facets. The two extreme positions, arming every goddamn person in the country or confiscating all the weapons in the country are non-starters. Thinking people know this. Thinking people understand that in spite of the rhetoric, only a small minority would suggest such a plan in any event. Thinking people understand that compromise, pragmatism, and above all, effectiveness should be the guiding principles here.
And if you're not a thinking person, then I wish you'd just shut the fuck up. You're not helping. And as Mr. Rogers taught us, we need to look for the helpers in these troubled times. If you're not going to help, then get the Hell out of the way.
I think it's fair to say that all the shooters can be characterized, by definition, as "bat crap crazy." No one of sound intellectual and emotional mind goes around spraying bullets like a fire-hose, killing people indiscriminately. Nutbars, the lot of them.
But as usual, partisan politics rules the day, as people make excuses, speculate wildly, and generally crap their pants in an orgy of political sound bites and rhetoric.
Robert Lewis Dear, the Colorado Springs nutbar, was an evangelical Christian. He expressed admiration for the Army of God, an anti-abortion Christian terrorist organization, and while no evidence has been discovered to tie him directly to the organization, I think it's safe to say he is a Christian Terrorist.
Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the San Bernardino nutbars, were Muslim. The FBI has discovered correspondence that at the very least, they had sympathetic attitudes toward ISIS, although no evidence has been discovered to tie them directly to the organization. I think it's safe to say they were Muslim Terrorists.
This is what we know about the nutbars, aside from the fact that their families are all horrified beyond belief at what has transpired.
And what we know about the partisans is that both sides of the aisle have abandoned rational thought, claiming that these two events prove their points, prove that it's the Muslims/Christians/immigrants/white gun lovers who are the real threat, and IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT.
And both sides are missing the goddamn point.
The key word in all this is not "Muslim" or "Christian." It's terrorist. From the Mirriam-Webster definition of terrorism:
: the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goalWhether the political goal is the spread of the Caliphate or having Planned Parenthood close its doors, the methodology is the same. To frighten people as a way of trying to achieve a political goal, apparently with a body count as an added nutbar bonus.
The key word is terrorist. And while we're all pointing the fingers at each other, trying to lay the blame at the door of the President, of the NRA, of the Christians, of the Muslims, of the liberals, of the conservatives, nothing is being done to address the issue in any kind of a meaningful way. We're like recalcitrant children, pointing the finger, name-calling, and generally running around naked with our hair on fire. What we're not doing is coming up with a plan to address the very real danger of the extremists among us, those who would rather watch the world burn than not get their way.
I'm sick of it. At this point, I'm beyond the partisan rhetoric, and have no desire to argue with those who can't understand that this is a complex issue, with myriad facets. The two extreme positions, arming every goddamn person in the country or confiscating all the weapons in the country are non-starters. Thinking people know this. Thinking people understand that in spite of the rhetoric, only a small minority would suggest such a plan in any event. Thinking people understand that compromise, pragmatism, and above all, effectiveness should be the guiding principles here.
And if you're not a thinking person, then I wish you'd just shut the fuck up. You're not helping. And as Mr. Rogers taught us, we need to look for the helpers in these troubled times. If you're not going to help, then get the Hell out of the way.
Link Me Up, Scotty - People Rock, People Suck Edition
Friday, December 4, 2015
Smart Man and fellow UCFer David on the suddenness of change in society, and how, for all our technological might, you can't really fight the climate. This is so good I wish I'd written it, and I'm delighted to know someone who did.
_________
Perelli announced their new 2016 calendar, and took the media by storm by featuring women of accomplishment and substance instead of their traditional big-boobed, skinny models. Advertising genius? You bet. Effective technique to show a little respect in spite of the gimmick? Indeed.
H/T The Incomparable Anne™
_________
Elizabeth Taylor ran an underground drug ring to provide experimental pharmaceuticals to AIDS patients. Her reputation as a hottie and sometime crazy woman should not overshadow her legacy of advocacy on behalf of AIDS patients. Go, Liz.
H/T Debbie the Librarian
_________
A U.S. Marine is found guilty in a Philippines court of killing a transgender woman, thus embarrassing the U.S. Armed Forces in the second-worst way possible. There's a lot to admire about the Devil Dogs, but their forward thinking, la-dee-da attitude about non-cis sexual identity isn't one of them. In fact, the organization as a whole is homophobic mess.
H/T Brother Seth
_________
Immigration revitalizes stagnant economies and cities. The fact that they're refugees is just a big ole "let's do the right thing" bonus.
_________
An essay on mass shootings and what we can - and can't - do about them. This is from 2014, but it still has relevance.
_________
Video of my Heart: Dave Grohl and THE MUPPETS.
_________
Perelli announced their new 2016 calendar, and took the media by storm by featuring women of accomplishment and substance instead of their traditional big-boobed, skinny models. Advertising genius? You bet. Effective technique to show a little respect in spite of the gimmick? Indeed.
H/T The Incomparable Anne™
_________
Elizabeth Taylor ran an underground drug ring to provide experimental pharmaceuticals to AIDS patients. Her reputation as a hottie and sometime crazy woman should not overshadow her legacy of advocacy on behalf of AIDS patients. Go, Liz.
H/T Debbie the Librarian
_________
A U.S. Marine is found guilty in a Philippines court of killing a transgender woman, thus embarrassing the U.S. Armed Forces in the second-worst way possible. There's a lot to admire about the Devil Dogs, but their forward thinking, la-dee-da attitude about non-cis sexual identity isn't one of them. In fact, the organization as a whole is homophobic mess.
H/T Brother Seth
_________
Immigration revitalizes stagnant economies and cities. The fact that they're refugees is just a big ole "let's do the right thing" bonus.
_________
An essay on mass shootings and what we can - and can't - do about them. This is from 2014, but it still has relevance.
_________
Video of my Heart: Dave Grohl and THE MUPPETS.
It's the end of the world as we know it
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Another day, another mass shooting. This time it's a human services organization, a group that provided services to the disabled. Because nothing says "ammosexual nutjob" like shooting up an organization dedicated to helping the least among us, I guess.
But that's not why I think it's the end of the world. This is the 351st mass shooting this year, putting the U.S. on par for having more than one each day. It's part of our life now, part of our culture, and I think we can all agree that there will be no legislation or fundamental change that will prevent this type of thing from happening again tomorrow. We just don't have the political will to fix what's broken, and in fact, we can't even agree on what that is, which makes taking action more than a little difficult.
No, what's driven me to my keyboard was a brief exchange I had on Facebook with the friend of a friend on the shooting in San Bernardino. This individual truly believes that people who choose not to purchase guns are "neutering" themselves and have only themselves to blame if some nutjob chooses to kill them with a firearm. No, I'm not making that up. No, I won't mention who it is or identify the mutual friend. Yes, I have blocked this person, because...damn.
To me, this idea that the victims of violence are to blame because they choose not to go armed in what is purportedly a civilized society is more indicative of lawlessness and a slow slide into barbarism than the nutbars who are spraying bullets like a fire-hose. One of the definitions of a civilized society is that violence becomes the privilege of the state, not armed vigilantes roaming the streets with some sort of cockamamie "good guy with a gun" complex. The thought that each of us is responsible for our own personal safety, with no recourse or protection from the state...this idea frightens me deeply. It's a precursor to the world of Mad Max, and has implications far beyond the fact that the United States can't/won't address the problem of mass violence in our society. Where's the line in the sand? At what point does unacceptable behavior legitimize taking personal action versus allowing the authorities to handle it? Do I get to run my neighbor down because they don't shovel their sidewalk and they drive poorly? Do we now start to turn our house into fortress because we can't trust law enforcement to maintain the rule of law?
I've always despised victim-blaming, but this...this is something different, and something far more sinister.
Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.
But that's not why I think it's the end of the world. This is the 351st mass shooting this year, putting the U.S. on par for having more than one each day. It's part of our life now, part of our culture, and I think we can all agree that there will be no legislation or fundamental change that will prevent this type of thing from happening again tomorrow. We just don't have the political will to fix what's broken, and in fact, we can't even agree on what that is, which makes taking action more than a little difficult.
No, what's driven me to my keyboard was a brief exchange I had on Facebook with the friend of a friend on the shooting in San Bernardino. This individual truly believes that people who choose not to purchase guns are "neutering" themselves and have only themselves to blame if some nutjob chooses to kill them with a firearm. No, I'm not making that up. No, I won't mention who it is or identify the mutual friend. Yes, I have blocked this person, because...damn.
To me, this idea that the victims of violence are to blame because they choose not to go armed in what is purportedly a civilized society is more indicative of lawlessness and a slow slide into barbarism than the nutbars who are spraying bullets like a fire-hose. One of the definitions of a civilized society is that violence becomes the privilege of the state, not armed vigilantes roaming the streets with some sort of cockamamie "good guy with a gun" complex. The thought that each of us is responsible for our own personal safety, with no recourse or protection from the state...this idea frightens me deeply. It's a precursor to the world of Mad Max, and has implications far beyond the fact that the United States can't/won't address the problem of mass violence in our society. Where's the line in the sand? At what point does unacceptable behavior legitimize taking personal action versus allowing the authorities to handle it? Do I get to run my neighbor down because they don't shovel their sidewalk and they drive poorly? Do we now start to turn our house into fortress because we can't trust law enforcement to maintain the rule of law?
I've always despised victim-blaming, but this...this is something different, and something far more sinister.
Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.
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