by

Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 202

On Politics
President Obama is catchy his share of criticism from his “if you like your insurance, you can keep it” comment. To me, it’s a good example of Washington’s preference for politics over policy, and for the poor job done of educating the public about the Affordable Care Act.

Earlier this week was Election Day in the USA. Sadly, I’m embarrassed to say that turnout was poor. Maybe moving Election Day to a weekend is a good idea.

Another idea I heard this weekend is an 18-year term limit for US Supreme Court Justices, something I had considered before, but will continue to ponder.

On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Desperate man hands out resume to trick-or-treaters
Nabisco snack physicists develop highly unstable quadriscuits
Drug kingpin considers buying extravagant mansion
Local teen walks in on family masturbating
Giant burrito to solve all of area man’s problems in six precious minutes
Center of Disease Contraction urges Americans to suck doorknobs

Images worth seeing from The Onion
For the holidays, a Charles Darwin ornament from The Onion Store
A vegetarian option for a menu
Bedtime talk with the Clintons

Interesting Reads
Congress reforming Congress
Death by chocolate: An explanation
Safety posters from the 1930s
Reasons to ignore college rankings by US News & World Report
Cereal impacts on culture
Excellent infographic showing financial mergers since 1996
50 states, 50 sandwiches (a slideshow with short text)

On Potpourri
TeddyToppsWasn’t yesterday’s video about Teddy wonderful! Below is his baseball card, and I’m hoping the family has a card-signing event as a charity fundraiser.

Earlier this week I made my first risotto. Because it was a very tasty success, here’s the recipe.

The testimonials are now on an About subpage. Even though I shortened some, thanks for all for your generous kind words.

Given interest by many, my current plan is posting the handbell premier Tuesday (Monday evening).

For those who dare, Leo (@Doggy’s Style) is having a contest about pick-up lines.

With a huge typhoon pounding the Philippines, prayers and good thoughts for everyone’s safety.

Here are your weekend celebrations

  • (Weekend) Last chance for Intimate Apparel Week
  • (Fri) X-Ray Day, Harvey Wallbanger Day, Ample Time Day, Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day
  • (Sat) Scrapple Day, Chaos Never Dies Day, Parade Day
  • (Sun) Area Code Day, Tongue Twister Day, Sesame Street Day, Forget-Me-Not Day, Vanilla Cupcake Day

Sorry, no Saturday Morning Cartoon post this weekend.

Because a recent announcement has The Eagles returning to Cincinnati for an expensive concert, let’s go into the weekend with an Eagles classic! Have a safe weekend and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

64 thoughts on “Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 202”

  1. When it’s Scalia, Alia (oops, I mean Alito), Roberts and Thomas, can we please have an 18 month tenure?

    Frank, I have to say that that Darwin Christmas ornament is one of thefunniest things I have seen in a long time. I thought about how much fun it would be to get this for my impossible to buy for vegetarian sister-in-law, who once had a parrot named Darwin and who loves all things Darwininian. I was just wiping the tears from my eyes when I clicked on the next link — which gave me the perfect menu options for when that same sister-in-law (whom I do love) comes to dinner.

    You are a true pal, Frank, to solve all my holiday challenges in one post.

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  2. I enjoyed the Eagles mini-concert! But the references to Halloween were the most fun. Here is a link to Jimmy Kimmel’s third annual compilation of his request to parents to video tape telling their kids they ate all their candy! The first year’s videos are my favorite, but they are all fun. If it is okay to say it is fun to be mean to kids. ; ) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/05/jimmy-kimmels-halloween-candy-prank_n_4218181.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

    Thanks for always giving a good send off to the weekend!

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  3. No Saturday cartoon post Frank! Well, I suppose last week’s home run is a bit hard to top and you could use a week off. Excellent Onion headline: Desperate man hands out resume to trick-or-treaters. Glad you considered my testimonial good enough to post as is!

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  7. Frank, I’m sitting-out on Saturday’s Scrapple Day. Congrats on successful risotto! Not an easy recipe to perfect, from what I’ve heard, and my own experience. Next up, gnocchi? We made our first homemade batch, with a mushroom and wine sauce, a couple of years ago. It was extraordinary! If you and your bride are interested, I’ll dig up the recipe for you.
    The Eagles are playing Orlando, Fl. this month. I’ve been seriously considering the excursion.
    Enjoy your weekend! xo

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    • Victoria,
      Not sure if the batch was perfected, but it was tasty! Surprise … I have made gnocchi from scratch for a special meal for 8! That was a lot of work!!!! So yes, I’d love the recipe!

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  8. “Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day2- If I only had access to durian I’d cook durian pudding
    Thanks for the shout out Frank, appreciated it.
    I gotta try that risotto, I have a few white eggplants and didn’t know what to do with them.

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    • Georgette,
      I lightly mentioned the baseball card yesterday knowing I would show it today. In case you don’t know, Topps is the kingpin of baseball cards! I don’t know who got the idea, but a tip of the cap to Topps for talking to the family first. They got many cards, so I’m hoping they would do a fundraiser with the extras. … and yes … the image is fitting!

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  10. Cold weather’s here – time to cook. It’s too hot to cook or eat much in the summer – and fall is so pretty, who wants to be inside – but chilly weather, yes, time for soups and chili.
    (Hope they get that stupid website fixed. TX had a high risk health insurance pool for anyone with preexisting conditions, but it ends after Dec as all those people were supposed to be able to get the Federal exchange. The few that managed to get on the website are complaining it costs so much more, deductibles are higher – and their doctors must change- not good for patients. Panic is an understatement. Don’t know if CHIPS has been impacted – that’s the TX health insurance program available to any child in TX (documented or not) if their parents could bother to sign them up. The question is why is the President in Dallas saying “those who never had insurance can get insurance”? Here. they could…until the Feds said they would do it. Fine, do it – but do it right. Quickly)
    Now, back to nice weather, cartoons and laughter. Have a great weekend, Frank
    Can’t wait to see what you’re up to – it’s always fun

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      • Not to say it’s perfect here, but I think people try – especially when the area/group is small..and you can run up and get face to face with elected officials. The Federal gov. is totally dysfunctional – partly because they are so isolated.
        Until recently I didn’t realize state laws varied so widely. State level is the fastest way to get things done – if, like you say, people vote and participate. LAst month TX passed a new gun law: now law enforcement authorities can now pick up and keep guns from any individual that is taken in and put in for mental health observation/commitment. Weapons not returned until judge is convinced by psychologist/ mental health docs that the person is not a threat to himself or society. Officers are thrilled as this has been a problem keeping weapons out of hands of known unstable people. NRA did not oppose it either.
        If the feds can’t get their act together, work with state authorities. ….same with health care (and it’s not the docs getting “rich” – most are on salary with hospitals or big health corporations now…doc now get $100. for taking out an appendix….hardly pays for med school loans)
        But off to the kitchen/grilling…and football games. Enjoy the weekend, Frank (and can’t wait to hear what you’re up to)

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  11. “for the poor job done of educating the public about the Affordable Care Act.”—I agree with you on this. I’m all for the ACA. Have been from the start. But I am surprised by how poorly it was unveiled. There needed to be much better grass roots effort to promote the act and educate on its merits. Although we might wish otherwise, many people never read a newspaper or watch the news. I saw in the paper this morning that 40% of the country still doesn’t know about the insurance marketplace–and that was actually an improvement! (The point being that the one good thing to come from the website mess was that more Americans were now aware of the marketplace.) There should have been more local involvement, but of course, that proved difficult by the inconsistency of the states’ involvement. Still, the dissemination of information was poor, leading to misunderstanding and misperceptions.

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    • Carrie,
      Well said … after all, you are supporting my point, so how can I say anything but good stuff! 😉 With one group doing poor informative role, and the other focusing on misleading and incorrect information, no wonder people are clueless! Thanks for making good points.

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  14. It’s still depressing that Obama’s great messaging during his 08 run disappeared once he took office.
    As for Supreme Court limits, I’m against the term limits. History has shown judges generally be more centrist as their terms evolve, and turning the SC into what would be a scheduled political appointment is just a bad idea.

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  15. I’m glad you called it the Affordable Care Act, Frank. One of the things bugging me about the media is the way everyone calls it “Obamacare.” I think that causes a bias, especially for those who don’t care for President Obama. It’s no wonder so many people don’t even know what the Affordable Care Act is.

    My favorite Onion headline this week: Nabisco snack physicists develop highly unstable quadriscuits.

    I’m off to go look at the 50 sandwiches. I never could resist a good sandwich. 🙂

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    • Robin,
      A coupe of weeks ago I reported a poll showing people preferred the Affordable Care Act over Obamacare. Boy … now that ever say a lot!!!! … sad to say. Hope you found a yummy sandwich.

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  17. The Eagles are coming here, too…and I can’t afford to see them. I did look into it! 🙂 I hope you enjoy your weekend, Frank. I look forward to reading many of your links. Our weekend looks quiet for a change. I might actually recover from the week and prepare for the new one. I think I’ll celebrate Vanilla Cupcake Day!

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  19. iceberg lettuce on bread, please. 😛
    …and on theobromine intoxication – now i understand how chocolate poisons our lovely pet friends.
    btw, i really like this new theme you selected. ♥

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  20. . . .bedtime talk with the Clintons. My fav! 🙂 Congrats on the risotto. Not an easy one. The secret is in the uninterrupted stirring as I’m sure you discovered. Sad for the debacle that has happened around the ACA; really praying for the Prez; and extremely unhappy that great segments of our country are cheering the ACA’s demise when so many people have no insurance. Had the act had less attempted assassinations against it, I think the messaging would have been more upfront and there would have been more drilling down sessions with the public before the rollout, but the administration was paranoid about sabotage as they should have been. Wonder when we’re going to realize as a country that we are only as strong as our weakest link.

    Fun collection as always.

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    • E-Tom,
      Well, I considered the risotto a success because it tasted good … but I’m not sure it was good risotto.

      Regarding the ACA, let’s just say that you have more faith in Washington than I.

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