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Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 248

In a political way, I’m very lucky. After all, my Republicans friends think I’m a Democrat while my Democratic friends think I’m a Republican … thus I combined the two thoughts into an affirmation.

I didn’t watch the State of the Union (SOTU) because it’s too much like an infomercial. All that’s missing is a Billy-Mays-type spokesperson. The event displays a canned speech delivering a collection of soundbites with minimal substance leading to predictable responses and buffoonery by those choosing to display partisanship over listening with respect.

Yes, the US Constitution requires SOTU, but not the opposing party’s televised response – and the mere fact that they have one is repulsive (let alone the multiple this year) … and I am equally disgusted at a Democratic response during a Republican presidency.

President Obama plan for free tuition at community colleges has received much attention. This response by columnist David Brooks is an interesting slant to ponder.

Regarding Islam, are the majority of non-Muslims confused or ignorant?

A board member from our local Islamic Center wrote had this guest commentary in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Although interesting, the online comments are even more so.

Malcolm recently posted about epitaphs … here’s my submission – If you didn’t understand him, you didn’t know him … now I wonder if the thought should be flipped.

Hats off to reader for providing 26 songs (at last count) at Life: The Musical – Act 16. There’s still one more act, any ideas on the theme?

No Saturday Morning Cartoon post this weekend – however … big news … an Exploring post will be there!

Here’s the reason why Saturday is Beer Can Appreciation Day.

Embed from Getty Images

To lead you into The Onion, here is a collection regarding the State of the Union.

This Week from The Onion
New Facebook Notification alerts users when they are not currently looking at Facebook
Area man clearly came to Redbox machine without a plan
Man reserving judgment on Best Actress nominees until seeing all 5 photos
Area man eats breakfast for dinner in desperate attempt to reinvent his life
Preschooler asks to borrow classmates notes on shapes

Interesting Reads
An article with a 5-circle Venn diagram about potential GOP presidential candidates
Designer babies
Politicians avoiding science is not limited to the US
Cartography and the land of the octopus
A historical look at Congressional dysfunction
A different, but interesting graphic about the history of jazz

Your Weekend Celebrations

  • (Fri) Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day, Handwriting Day, Pie Day, Measure Your Feet Day, Rhubarb Pie Day, Spouse’s Day
  • (Sat) Talk the a Grizzled Prospector Day, Fancy Rat & Mouse Day, Beer Can Appreciation Day, Belly Laugh Day, Compliment Day, Just Do It Day, Peanut Butter Day, Eskimo Pie Day, Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Today, Speak Up & Succeed Day, Wish Cynthia a Happy Birthday Day
  • (Sun) Soup Swap Day (here’mine for you), Fluoride Day, A Room of One;s Own Day, MacIntosh Computer Day, 101 Dalmatian Day, Opposite Day, Robert Burns Day, Leprosy Day

To send you into the weekend, here’s a 2-fer … the first is one that surprisingly was not submitted for latest Life: The Musical, and the second is a hit from Journey. Have a safe weekend and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

37 thoughts on “Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 248”

  1. Great opinion piece on community colleges… I love a fresh perspective! Meanwhile, I’ll admit that I kind of had the vague impression you leaned toward the same party I loosely affiliate myself with 🙂 But the idea of not being pegged to either party is a good one to be proud of!

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    • Twixt,
      Glad you enjoyed the Brooks article … heck, I’m thrilled when any of the articles get read! Yes … a fresh perspective is a good description. Sometimes the answer isn’t in either party! In terms of my party preference, I hope I never vote in a primary again … after all, in my state one has to declare (at the poll) to get the ballot. Never is a strong word, thus way it’s a hope.

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  3. I loved your response as to why you didn’t watch the SOTU. It’s pretty much the same for me. One side is constantly cheering, the other side is constantly scowling. I can get the gist of it by reading the paper the next day, all while avoiding the partisan shenanigans.

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  4. Much to my smart TV’s objections, I tuned in the SOTU, but if my TV had its way, we would have streamed a few episodes of “Girls” via Milton’s HBO Go code instead. Obama’s hour of yammering was pretty much a variation of the same old, same old and heavily populated with political theater. Wasn’t Reagan the first POTUS to pepper his speech with anecdotes about an “ordinary” schmuck or schmuck-ette in the audience? That strikes this cynic as so contrived.

    Subject change: wow, it’s almost Talk like a Grizzled Prospector Day again! Or, does this day pop up more than once a year, Frank?

    I enjoyed the interactive element of that history of jazz map, but I’m baffled as to why Pat Boone would be on it, but at least he was positioned by himself on the outer reaches of the grid.

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    • Lame,
      Yammering … a wonderful description of SOTU. Not sure about the first president to feature a schmuck/schmuckette, but it would have been Reaganesque.

      In terms of Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day, I’m not sure … although some do appear more than once due to different sponsors. Then again, maybe your feeling is based on the euphoria it created last January, thus it doesn’t seem like a year. But I imagine it will be celebrated at The Grind.

      I must admit that your Pat Boone question made me laugh!

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  5. You are amazing thinker and writer… Although I don’t interest with politics, you know, I read you always… Enjoyable reading for me. Because there is always a nice touches at the end… smile or music… I love these songs, Great selection. Thank you dear Frank, have a nice and enjoyable day and weekend, love, nia

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  6. I like the idea of higher education being free, and I would hope that Obama can push this idea of free college through, then maybe Canada will follow suit. The drop out rate did surprise me though, so I googled Canada’s rate. According to the Conference Board of Canada we rank 1st in completion out of 16 peer countries. Now these stats are from 2010, but still I am happy with it.

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  7. Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day – that sounds like a lot of celebrations in one day! Thanks for visiting me today Frank and I’ll try to be better at roaming. It’s been a busy semester…ugh.

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  8. Life: The Musical – Act 16 “Reincarnation”

    Beer cans should be appreciated when the contents are icy cold and you have just sweated most of your bodily fluids out of your good self in the pursuit of good honest hard work on the land.

    An eclectic mix of Oniony opinions and I loved the Cartography and the land of the octopus read Mr Frank. Nothing is as intelligent as the average octopus.

    I will choose only one of the celebrations listed this week to embrace and call my own. On Sunday I will embrace Robert Burns Day and will make an entirely vegan haggis to consume with gusto for my dinner that night. You can’t ask for much more than that.

    Billy Joel is one of my all time favourite musicians. Love his work and loved revisiting this excellent example of it 🙂

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  9. Your Republican friends thinking you are a Democrat while your Democratic friends think you are a Republican is indeed a well-earned affirmation, although I have detected during the past few years an ever so slight tilting of your center-right views to the left.

    Really glad to see you posting the New Yorker Magazine and David Brooks articles. I look forward to your reactions.

    I’m trying to figure out the jazz chart.

    “Area man clearly came to Redbox machine without a plan” hit me.

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  11. Interesting subjects. I tried writing a noninflammatory comment about the US government (exec and legislative branch). Couldn’t do it. They are all so complicit in dereliction of duty it surprises me the populace puts up with it and still tries to blame one side or the other. Couldn’t do a nice comment on Islam either. I am so disappointed that Muslim leaders have not yet come up with a plan to effectively denounce the so-called extremists. SI guess I’ll just say happy birthday to Cynthia

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    • John,
      As we know, Congress’s approval rating is very low … yet amazingly, the public continues to re-elect their representatives and senators … Oh yes … we hate Congress … throw the bums out … but not mine.

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  13. Always the provocative one Frank – left/right or center. Who is touting “candy” today? Thanks for your thoughtful comment and resources. Happy Birthday to Cynthia, I’ll be celebrating with a spoonful of peanut butter!

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  14. Man reserving judgment currently looking at Facebook in desperate attempt to reinvent his life.

    I always thought you were a cross between a Libertarian and a non-denominational Centrist; was I wrong Frank. Dang, I can’t believe I pegged you so wrong.

    Love Love Love me some Onion this week.

    The Op-Ed on Community College, it is pretty close to dead to right. Just my humble opinion. I think, personally CC should be an extension of High School in many ways but expanded to include the Trades.

    The articles this time, great catches all. The Venn on GOP candidates, wonderful.

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    • Val,
      Given your background, i’m not surprised you enjoyed the community colleges op-ed. I saw that because I imagine you have seen your share of examples of throwing money at the wrong places.

      Once I saw the Venn about the GOP candidates, I knew it was a must use. As for me, I see myself having a pinch of Libertarian in me .. heck … many probably do … but not really that much. Occasionally, Rand Paul gets my attention, but then he keeps taking causing me to shake my head.

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  15. Okay. So. New topic for the next act in the Life series? How about rebirth or reinvention or second chances? I’m in at the ground floor with “With You I’m Born Again” That’s the title, right, not just the refrain?

    And the Onion cobbled up article title al la me: “New Facebook Notification alerts on shapes by area man in desperate attempt to reinvent his life.” 🙂

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