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Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 256

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While I appreciate the No-Labels organization and their agenda as the National Strategic Agenda (for problem solving), in the end, politicians remain loyal to their party. Nonetheless, this is a good read.

The Senate’s delay of dealing with confirming a new Attorney General is the type of political theater I deplore. All presidential nominees should be acted upon, thus not treated as political footballs … and that’s regardless of the president’s party and the majority party in the Senate. If the senators are hiding behind Senate Rules, then I suggest changing the rules.

Welcome to another edition of It’s Time for Truth with Presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Here’s the explanation from PolitiFact.

CruzSmallBiz

Wayne LaPierre is the Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Given a high position in many other organizations (if not most), remarks like he makes would have gotten him fired.

The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame recently inducted new members. Joan Jett before the Moody Blues? Joan Jett before Yes? That organization has no credibility – None, nada, zilch, zero. Their credibility level is near that of Baseball Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig and Congress … and that’s not good company.

I had a lousy week of visiting your blogs. 😦

Our energy provider recently sent us this graph regarding energy use.

EnergyUse1year

Meals: The Musical is scheduled to return next week, which means I will announce Act 3’s theme on the next Monday Morning Entertainment.

No Saturday Morning Cartoons this weekend, but Saturday will bring a new Explore post.

Milestone alert – Approaching a quarter of a million hits, thus should surpass next week.

Body cameras on police is getting a lot of attention. To lead you into it’s headlines, The Onion offers a list of pros and cons regarding this issue.

On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Medical experts disappointed in man who failed to live up to life expectancy
Lethal injection least effective drug man took while in prison
Hand gestures transform friend’s story into immersive virtual reality experience
Relationship reaches point where breaking up, getting married would be equally huge hassle
Lovestruck Arabian princess begs father to spare John Kerry’s life

Interesting Reads
Columnist Dana Milbank on partisanship, the elected, and the electorate
Redefining India’s textile heritage
World War I Anzaks (and Anzak Day is Saturday)
How an octopus is coordinated
A short web & digital technology quiz from Pew Research Center

Your Weekend Celebrations
(Fri) Hairball Awareness Day, Satchmo Days, Meningitis Day, Arbor Day, Pigs in a Blanket Day, New Kids on the Block Day, Teach Your Children to Save Day, Puppetry Day, Sylvester the Cat’s Birthday, Natasha’s (Sesame Street) Birthday
(Sat) Anzac Day, DNA Day, Dance Day, Hug a Plumber Day, Bob Wills Day, Eeyore’s Birthday, Hairstylists Appreciation Day, Marconi Day, License Plates Day, Malaria Awareness Day, Go Birding Day, Herb Day, Penguin Day, Red Hat Society Day, Rebuilding Day, Save the Frogs Day, Sense of Smell Day, Spring Astronomy Day, World Day for Animals in Laboratories, World Healing Day, Veterinary Day, Tai Chi & Qigong Day, Telephone Day, Kiss of Hope Day, East Meets West Day
(Sun) Hug an Australian Day, Photography Day, Static Cling Day, Hug a Friend Day, Help a Horse Day, Audubon Day, Mother-Father-Deaf Day, Kids & Pets Day, Pretzel Day, Pet Parent’s Day, Richter Scale Day, Intellectual Property Day

There should be any doubt why these songs will send you into the weekend, Have a safe weekend and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

55 thoughts on “Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 256”

  1. I agree with you about Joan Jett – [My initial response was ‘Really?’ – I know of only one song from her] while the MB’s changed the way we listened to our music! I like to remain out of US politics for obvious reasons, but I must let you know I am currently caring for a Virginian turkey [movable plastic parts and solar powered] who was christened ‘Ted Cruz’ by my American friends. 🙂 Just to clarify the spelling of Anzac for you it is an acronym for Australia – New Zealand Army Corps.

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    • Pauline,
      I just don’t get the R&R HOF’s not selecting the Moody Blues or Yes … I simply don’t understand. … Thanks for telling readers about the meaning of Anzac … Meanwhile, why would your American friends torture you with naming the turkey Ted Cruz? Yikes!!!! … you may be scarred for life!

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  2. What would the Moon Dog say? Answer: Who is Joan Jett? Did she sing ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot?

    Applauds your energy efficiency. I think that is commendable. Though it seems the more efficient we become the higher the service climbs in price.

    Two good musical choices for the up coming weekend.. The older the rocker, the folksier the message.

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  5. I just tonight watched a PBS special featuring The Moody Blues! I think it’s a shame they haven’t yet been inducted, but I’ve given up trying to understand how these things work. Thanks, in particular, for the read on WW I. I have a particular interest and will look forward to reading this!

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    • Debra,
      Putting the R&R HOF selection criteria and process in the same sentence with Congress & Bud Selig speaks volumes … pathetic … simply pathetic. Enjoy the WW I read. 🙂

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  7. I’m hoping you can find a way to send me columnist Dana Milbank’s article on partisanship, the elected, and the electorate, given that (1) it was unavailable when I tried your link, (2) I’m over my 10 article limit with the Washington Post, and (3) I’d like to read it before releasing my Congressional Job Approval report.

    Although I share your outrage at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame not including The Moody Blues, I’m wondering if the inclusion of acts like Joan Jett are in fact based upon – REVENUE?

    I’m interested in finding out more about the No-Labels organization and their National Strategic Agenda for Problem Solving, but before providing the link my email address and zip code, I’d like to hear from you the skinny on what they’re all about. P.S. My Bumper Sticker Of The Week reads: “But what if the Hokey Pokey IS what’s it’s all about?”

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    • Tim,
      In terms of the Milbank article, I fixed the link. In terms of your report, I don’t believe there is one.

      Your revenue question isn’t worth answering. In terms of No Labels, their website provides a lot of information that doesn’t require your email and zip code.

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  12. I’ve done it again,
    “disappointed Lovestruck man in immersive prison Relationship reaches point where Hand gestures failed to transform married life”

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  14. I thought I had best mention (lest you thought I was deceased) that I am having a forced, self imposed hiatus from my RSS Feed Reader for a while till I catch up with the real world Mr Frank. Catch you on the flip side 🙂

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  15. Are you certain those headlines came from the Onion?

    Have to agree with you on the RR Hall of Fame, that simply makes no sense, none at all. Hard to choose between DNA Day and Hairball Day. Maybe not obvious but really, there are very real reasons for it.

    Keeping this one open to come back for the reads, will let you know in a follow on comment. Promise.

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  18. I am going between the article on Textiles and WWI, both are very interesting. Love the octopus, but having seen it before and not being able to watch the video, it doesn’t make it to my top read this week. Love the quiz! 11 out of 12, means I am a guru of sorts.

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  20. Dana Milbank on political partisanship was indeed a “good read”. The nugget I take from his column is that the problem lies not with political leaders but with the electorate. I agree. There is a natural tendency toward tribalism in the human brain and it has come to the fore here in the 21st century where Americans are shielded by a professional volunteer military from traditional threat of war and as a result have lost national cohesion. The natural tendency, then, is to abandon compromise and coalesce around emotive issues like abortion and social programs.

    The study Milbank writes about concludes that there is no solution in sight. I think that’s true, but it occurs to me that one thing could change it: the use of nuclear weapons by a rogue state. There’s nothing like personal fear to boost social and political cohesion.

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    • Jim,
      Glad you enjoyed this one. I still recall you telling me (and I don’t say this being critiical) that my moderate independent stance is a wishy-washy cop-out to avoid choosing … thus one of the reasons I like this article is that the common ground shared by the parties is shrinking … if not gone … OH well …. I accept my island. 😉

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      • I’m all for moderation, Frank. The problem is extremism, founded in the notion that capitalism is the be-all and end-all and can somehow, if it’s given all that it wants, solve the social problems too. It can’t, it won’t, and Baltimore is a current symptom.

        A man named David Simon, a native of Baltimore, has recently said it far better than I could. I know you are a rational man but I hope many of your multitude of readers will also consider what Simon has to say. It’s the best summary I have read.

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