Opinions in the Shorts: Vol 191

On Politics
Congress has been in session this week, which means little-to-no good things to say.

Lauren Green’s (FOX News) interview with Reza Aslan is a good example of why I don’t watch FOX News. Watch for yourself.

Why Washington continues to ignore infrastructure is beyond any good reason.

The Onion recaps 25 years of Rush Limbaugh.

Gotta love the news headline Way Too Much Weiner.

On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Congress fiercely divided over completely blank bill that says and does nothing
Vatican quickly performs damage control on Pope’s tolerant remarks
“Congratulations” typed in Facebook Comment bar reconsidered, then deleted
Report: Ape neurology much like banana-obsessed humans
Tiny advisor who lived in president’s ear dead at 83

Interesting Reads
Countries that will replace China
Taking National Review’s science to the woodshed
Chicago’s Great Ferris Wheel (by Jim, a visitor here, so tell him I sent you)
Weekend habits of highly effective people (Thanks to Tim)
Interactive map for WW I’s western front
The cost of not following doctor’s orders
Verifying death

On Potpourri
July is gone, but we had a great month of gasoline savings as we saved $3.35 per gallon on 20 gallons, then $1.00 per gallon on 24 gallons, and $0.90 per gallon on 22 gallons – which is slightly over $100 savings.

August is upon us, so it starts with International Clown Week (1-7) – as if Le Clown needs reasons to celebrate.

Friday (Aug 2nd) is International Beer Day and India Pale Ale Day – as if TBM needs a day to go to the pub. Saturday is National Mustard Day, Watermelon Day, while Sunday is National Chocolate Chip Day. (Yes, another reason for Graeter’s!)

Saturday also celebrates Coast Guard Day, so here’s a salute to the men and women serving!

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Thanks to participants in Time: The Musical – Act 5. Hopefully, Act 6 occurs in mid-August.

My wife and I recently received praise from each of our dental hygienists about improvement in our gums, which we and they say is due to using these picks.

I have planned a cartoon post for Saturday.

To send you into the weekend, let’s go full circle as I started it here last week and then featured them as open Act 5 … and I still don’t understand why they aren’t in the Rock and Hall of Fame – yet Boy George is. May this weekend fulfill your wildest dreams. In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 148

On Politics
Cheers to Republican Jon Huntsman for these words: “I will not be attending this year’s convention, nor any Republican convention in the future, until the party focuses on a bigger, bolder, more confident future for the United States — a future based on problem solving, inclusiveness, and a willingness to address the trust deficit, which is every bit as corrosive as our fiscal and economic deficits. … I encourage a return to the party we have been in the past, from Lincoln right on through to Reagan, that was always willing to put our country before politics.”

I enjoy listening to a radio station dedicated to politics (POTUS, XM). However, my channel-changing urge kicks in when I hear any of these voices: Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV, and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

Besides the campaigns for US president being too long, this one is quite boring.

This David Brooks’ column about opportunity ended with these words: “Political candidates will have to spend less time trying to exploit class divisions and more time trying to remedy them — less time calling their opponents out of touch elitists, and more time coming up with agendas that comprehensively address the problem. It’s politically tough to do that, but the alternative is national suicide.”

On Headlines from The Onion
Highest Blender Setting Drowns Out Angry Jamba Juice Customer
ESPN Poll Asks Readers if They Like Sports
Grandpa Used as Yard Sale Greeter
Roommate Eats Emergency Preparedness Kit
Washington Monument Set Up with Date with Eiffel Tower
Player Asks Stadium Crew to Turn Off Lights so Team can See the Stars

Interesting Reads
The Subtle Science of Scotch Whisky
Math and the musical genius of the Beatles
A high-performance electric car
Myths about the Financial Meltdown
Blogger Alisha about happiness
About Charles de Gaulle
50 years of Bond’s style – that’s James Bond

On Potpourri
The World Choir Games ends its first time run in the US run this weekend. It’s been a surprising success as tickets are difficult to get and one has to go early to get a seat at the free events.

Some readable potpourri about the God Particle
An infographic
Naming
A humorous look
Blogger Nancy chimes in

Artists to see who are connected to this blog in some way: African art and watercolors from Greece.

A reminder to everyone: Check your Spam folder on your dashboard to see if comments by regular visitors are unexpectedly going there.

While in the Spam folder, you may find some gems – like the one about Christmas music on my recent post about Education: Texas GOP Style.

I will have a classic cartoon post this weekend.

To send you into the weekend, here’s a tribute to the dedicated people of the U.S. Coast Guard. Have a safe weekend everyone. In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.