Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 117

On Politics
I still have not watched a Republican debate. I would watch a debate without Romney, Perry, Cain, and Bachmann.

Earlier this week I listened to a good speech by John Huntsman.

I know Herman Cain is the latest champion of the Anybody-but-Mitt club. Read what a Republican economist says about Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan.

Reading local reaction to Kathleen Parker’s column on Sarah Palin not running has been interesting. For those who obviously did not get it, the column is about The Nincompoop, not Christians!

Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher filed to run for Congress. Just another reason to dislike Toledo – but don’t hold that against Tony Packo’s!

Here is one reason for the Occupy Wall Street movement: The risk-taking banks that helped create the economic funk – and without consequences for their actions.

Now that the Senate nixed President Obama’s job bill, the monkey is on Capitol Hill’s back. Oh sure, as if we can rely on them!

I remind Speaker Boehner that it is Week 40 of the Boehner-led House without a jobs bill. To quote Speaker Boehner, “Where are the jobs?”

Interesting Reads
7 Top Republicans who taxed the Super Rich
Barry Ritholz regarding CEO Pay
Recession Nightmare
Ruth Marcus examines a recent poll
A clean water project

On Headlines from The Onion
Horny Man not Even Going to Inflate Her All the Way
New Bipartisan Law Would Make Dog Neckerchiefs Mandatory
Man receives First Baboon-Face Transplant
Nervous Americans Worried About Botching Another Election
New Hampshire Residents Convince Incoming GOP Candidates that Maple Syrup Enemas are State Tradition

On Potpourri
My Sept 27th post about Science at Work get some interesting comments for a Villanova University faculty member. Click here to revisit the post.

Last week we took our first trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Maker’s Mark was our intended first stop, but the GPS took us to a lone house on a one-lane road.

Handbell season opened at last Sunday’s services with An Expression of Joy. If you enjoy handbell music, listen to it here and take notice of the different types of sounds bells create with different techniques.

Mormonism and Islam have this in common: A lack of knowledge by the majority of nonmembers fuels a load of misconceptions.

I recently heard an interesting presentation by the executive director of an Islamic relations organization. She was very good, but it was also interesting to listen to the audience.

The college conference shuffle is pathetic.

These must-see photos are from an amateur photographer in Norway, who simultaneously captured the Northern Lights and the Milky Way.

As a loyal watcher of Dancing with the Stars, the theme of this season seems to get the better dancers off the show.

It’s hard to believe, but Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway forty years ago this week. So, I send you off into the weekend with a song from that classic – but without the words of Garrison Keillor first: Be well, do good works, and stay in touch.