Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 185

On a New Header
I chose the previous header of the Aurora Borealis because we were going into winter. Now that summer has arrived in Cincinnati, the solar flares from the Goddard Space Center’s Solar Dynamics Observatory is an appropriate selection. Click here to see their image gallery.

On Politics
Would the phone records controversy be such an issue if today was late September 2001?

Do you remember Monday’s metronome video? I appreciate the analogy that this resembles our political representatives. After all, the eventually fall in line with their marching orders in order to sound like one.

Fox News loves to bash both the liberal media and President Obama, yet, it given the latest flap regarding the phone records, they can’t bash both.

Speaking of Fox News, I see the rehired Sarah Palin (aka Nincompoop) as an analyst. In this past post I list reasons why Fox News is fair and balanced.

On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Local Laundromat employs social media coordinator
Curiosity Rover to explore massive Martian synagogue
Ghost of Alvah Roebuck enjoying Sears’ decline
Weird porno stops at kissing
Report: 250 million Americans still need guests on their podcasts this week
Narrow line of dust not being swept into dustpan without a fight

Interesting Reads
Columnists Thomas Friedman on whistleblowing
Links to articles about each US presidential elections from Adams to Lincoln
The mystery of the lost members of male birds
Spanish wines
Superman (Man of Steel) and theology
Infographic of One World Trade Center

On Potpourri
Too bad that the Philadelphia area has received so much rain for this weekend’s US Open. After all, softening the course generally lowers the scores – which doesn’t make me a happy camper.

Attention New Followers: Thanks for following. Another way of increasing stats is by interacting with other bloggers … especially those who reciprocate.

There will be a Saturday Morning Cartoon post this weekend.

Happy Father’s Day weekend to the fathers who visit here, fathers of my readers, and to all fathers who have passed.

Have a good weekend … and I hope the only stormy weather you have is this song by Lena Horne. In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

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Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 184

On Politics
I laughed at the video of the IRS workers doing the Cuban Shuffle. After all, how many organizations do team building exercises? However, their use of Star Trek and Gilligan’s Island didn’t make me smile.

As Washington continues to pursue the IRS issue, politicians continue to politicize the event while avoiding the tough question: Do political groups fit the definition for 501 (C)(4) tax exemption as an organization organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare? Here are examples, and the regulation is below.

The promotion of social welfare does not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. However, a section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization may engage in some political activities, so long as that is not its primary activity. However, any expenditure it makes for political activities may be subject to tax under section 527(f).

See the IRS-cited examples for yourself.

This week marked the passing of the last WW II veteran to serve in Congress – Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). It’s obvious that the current generation of Congress could learn much from The Greatest Generation, but fat chance of that happening.

Two interesting reads about dysfunctional government from the AP and Washington Post .

On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion

• Gap forced to recall pants after man dies eating 37 pairs of corduroys
• Angelina Jolie stuns on first rollerblading competition since double mastectomy
• Family’s euphemism for genitals really weird
• Company hosts fun night for employees to get drunk and complain
• Vain Galapagos tortoise trying to pass for 90
• Teen declares, “You’re not my real step-dad!”

Interesting Reads
Obamacare indicators
David Ignatius on Obama and counterterrorism
Americans and financial literacy
The Breadwinning Females from Pew Research
Black/White marijuana arrest gap in charts
Adrenalin: A book review
Comparisons and human cognition

This past week was the 71st anniversary of WW II’s Battle of Midway. Because John Erickson is such a WW II buff, here are two links: Pictures & Maps and the Japanese story.

CNN’s Jeanne Moos reports on a moose statue attracting a moose.

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On Potpourri
I am proud to say that I smiled the first time I saw this Cheerios commercial, thus sadly shake my head at the controversy.

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Ohio State University President Gordon Gee put himself in the negative spotlight, so he retired. Good riddance – I never cared for him.

For those needing to know: GEICO’s Hump Day commercial with the camel does air on days other than Wednesday.

I hope to announce the next act of Time: The Musical on the next Monday Morning Entertainment post.

There will be a Saturday Morning Cartoon post this weekend.

As a change of pace, here is a peaceful sendoff into your weekend. Have a good weekend! In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

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Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 183

On Politics
I discovered that all but one of Oklahoma’s representatives and senators voted against relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Because of the recent tornado, keep your eye on them. Interestingly, the one rep that supported the relief is from the district taking the biggest hit this week.

Do you remember the cranky criticizing UN Ambassador Susan Rice? Well, the disclosed emails regarding Benghazi seem to be vindicating her.

Because important problems remain, I like the headlines of this Charlie Cook column: Republicans Hatred of Obama Blinds Them to the Public’s Disinterest in Scandals.

Earlier this week, I asked a question that Congressional committees focusing on the IRS scandal, so here is another one. Whereas the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling opened the door to financial contributions to campaigns, did it protect the fact that such a vehicle be through a 501(C)(4) tax-exempt organization?

This week we saw the dark side of humanity through the horror of the senseless attack of the British soldier.

On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
90% of audience at college graduation involved in heated family argument
Nation supposes it is outraged by White House scandals
Burundi Beef Council announces, “Please send beef”
YouTube to air first hour-drama: Turtle has Sex with Shoes
Everyone forgets to bring swimsuits to coworker’s party
Study: Anxiety resolved by thinking about it real hard

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Onion secured this picture of Duchess Kate Middleton with morning sickness.

Interesting Reads
The global garment trail
Ottomans then, Turkey today
Clergy and their views of origins
Importance of mom from Scientific American
Infographic: The evolution of headphones
Caffeinated toothpaste

On Potpourri
To my American readers, we have a three-day holiday weekend, don’t forget to remember Monday’s intent.

Congratulations to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough for winning the latest Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). I know cast selection involves luck, thus this season’s cast was a bit weak (in terms of dancing). However, Kellie and Zendaya were awesome …. and how could anyone not enjoy Jacoby Jones!

Overall, I continue to believe that part of DWTS success is that it is a throwback to variety shows of the past.

The rash of followers continues, but it surely is not translating into increasing reads and comments. For someone who has blogged as long as I have, my stats are, at best, mediocre. On the other side, thank you to my regulars.

I’m taking a break after this post, which means another Saturday morning without a cartoon post. I know – that’s three in a row. Nonetheless, I plan on using the break to 1) finish some in-progress posts, 2) focus on visiting other blogs, and 3) doing some daytime activities with my wife during her time off. Besides, maybe I will at least sneak in some satire to charge my week.

I’ll send you into the weekend with two videos. The first is a commercial that I couldn’t take my eyes away. The second is a tribute to the US Armed Forces, fitting for our Memorial Day weekend. Personally, I like this tribute from 2008, as it also reminds me of a wonderful maestro who is no longer with us.

Have a good weekend! In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

Omega Co-Axial Commercial

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Armed Forces Salute

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On Parties and the Partisans

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.” — George Washington, September 19, 1796, Farewell Address

As we watch the current uproar regarding the event of Benghazi, sadly and shamefully, this is the way Washington works. Regardless who occupies the White House, regardless who controls Congress, our elected officials are primarily about spin – spin to protect an ideology, advancing a political point of view, and setting the course for the next election.  With spin favoring manipulating facts, or even worse, lying, truth and integrity are two of the casualties. With many, if not the majority, of Americans aligning themselves with a preferential political party and relying on biased perspectives, who are the real winners and losers?

The recent IRS news is another example. Congress is jumping into the fray with various committee hearings, which are actually prime opportunities for predictable political grandstanding. Besides taking advantage of diversions to avoid critical issues, the committees probably will not address this key question: Do political groups fit the definition for 501-C4 tax exemption as an organization organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare.

The answer: Absolutely, because they act in the welfare of most (if not every) elected official in Washington!

FYI: I wrote the above before reading these two good reads: a column by Ruth Marcus and this commentary from Roll Call.

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Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 182

On Politics
With current topics as Benghazi, the IRS, and the AP, our elected officials continue to demonstrate their preference for diversions over finding solutions to primary problems.

The IRS story has activated a burr. I’ve been writing on it other the past several days for this post, but eventually exceeding a short, so it will an upcoming post.

Here’s a good one for Gov. Steve Breshear (D-KY) responding to state Republicans avoiding expanding Medicare at the state level in response to Obamacare: “I say get over it. This law was passed by Congress and it was upheld by the Supreme Court. This is not a political decision, it’s a policy decision.”

On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Seedless watermelon coming to grips with facts it will never have kids
New crispy cracker to ease crushing pain from modern life
Man demands to know how many siblings co-worker has
Sea World to discontinue Great White Shark ride
Elf finger found in box of Keebler cookies

Interesting Reads
A conservative economist’s support for Keynes
The Bible is not a science book
Top 10 blown umpire calls
Fred Flintstone’s feet as breaks
Wyatt Earp’s Fourth Wife
How curling stones curl?
A slideshow of Cincinnati’s mosaic murals

On Potpourri
The recent news about Angelina Jolle’s choice of a preventative double mastectomy surprised many. Interestingly, the morning of the Jolle’s news, CNN’s Zoraida Sambolin stepped up to publicize her decision for a double mastectomy after her recent breast cancer diagnosis three weeks ago.

Just finished reading Oracles of Science: Celebrity Scientists versus God and Religion by Karl Giberson and Mariano Artigas (2007). Very interesting profiling six leading scientists who also publish: Richard Dawkins, Stephen Jay Gould, Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, Steven Weinberg, and Edward O. Wilson. I’ll review it later, but a thumbs up. PS: Debra, I haven’t forgot!

I haven’t cooked this recipe in a while, so we just did for a friend. Still, a big thumbs up to Cranberry-Sausage Spaghetti.

Several weeks ago, I mentioned the Cincinnati Ballet doing a production with Peter Frampton to his music. Here’s a review.

Sorry – no Saturday Morning Cartoon feature this weekend.

As my Chocolate and Wine week ends, below are a few short videos fitting for the occasion. Have a good weekend! In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

Chocolate Covered Bacon

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Chocolate Covered Jalapenos

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Chocolate in Wine (Rosenblum Desiree)

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