Monday Evening

November 19, 2009

I should watch more TV

Filed under: Politics — Marcel @ 3:29 pm

or read less

Maureen Dowd is categorized in my head as “that one liberal, you know, writes for that big newspaper back east…” The other day I realized the lady I thought was Maureen Dowd was really Helen Thomas.

Now I’ll have to figure out who this Olberman guy is people are always talking about. Because apparently he’s not the guy who plays the pan flute and used to sell records on TV.

November 18, 2009

That explains the confusion

Filed under: Healthcare — Marcel @ 3:16 pm

November 16, 2009

Closing Gitmo

Filed under: Politics — Marcel @ 7:57 pm

Some options

There are some prisoners at Guantanamo Bay who can’t be tried or released, ever. President Obama promised to close Guantanamo Bay. What to do? Mister President, here are some options.

  1. Be a man about it. Say you were wrong, and the facility can’t be closed without opening a comparable facility somewhere else.
  2. Open a comparable facility somewhere else, and move everyone there. (I suggest Fort McNair. Or maybe Cuba, if Fort McNair is too close to your home.) Pat yourself on the back for having closed Gitmo.
  3. Have a big ceremony closing Gitmo. Have a small ceremony renaming it “Happy Valley.” Nobody leaves his cell. If you’d done this the day after you took office, you would have gotten away with it. Today, there might be some muted criticism in the Post.
  4. Get a ship. Name it the Bush. Find a man willing to change his name to Cheney and make him the captain. Put the terrorists on the ship, and sail around and around Antarctica until there’s an “unfortunate accident.” Blame Bush and Cheney.

November 14, 2009

Martians?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Marcel @ 12:56 pm

Why would I link to a web log that includes coarse language and inappropriate humor? Go see. Look! A Baby Wolf!

Turning back the clock

Filed under: Politics — Marcel @ 9:16 am

to September 10

One bad idea followed by another: Illinois the next Gitmo? – “Near-empty prison a leading contender to house terror suspects.”

November 8, 2009

European humor

Filed under: Language — Marcel @ 4:44 pm

New-born French and German babies cry differently. To scientists this suggests some component of language acquisition occurs in utero. To me it suggests a joke, but I haven’t been able to think of a punch line.

November 7, 2009

Hasan’s nightmare

Filed under: Politics — Marcel @ 9:13 am
Tags:

There’s a raging storm of politically-correct denialism about Hasan’s motivation – Who ever heard of such a thing? What could have caused it? Incomprehensible! Inexplicable! Inconceivable! Things will have to get worse before they get better. Others have written about this and will continue to, but let me consider a few things.

Hasan was upset because people talked mean to him; called him names. I’m sorry, but wtf? A major in the US Army? It’s not like he was a junior nco and the sergeant major called him a dumb ass. Did an enlisted man or junior officer call him a rag-head? Rip the offender a new one. Did a colonel call him a sand-jockey? Have it out with him on the spot, or file a complaint if you’re that kind of guy.

And again, a major, and a medical officer; so he shoots civilians, unarmed junior enlisted men, and a physician’s assistant; while shouting “Allah Akbar.” Yes, God is great. Hasan is a contemptible coward.

His relatives say Hasan’s worst nightmare was being deployed to Afghanistan. Even if he was thinking of his personal safety or comfort, it’s not like he would have been going out on patrols. He’s a Major, and a psychiatrist. He’d have been sitting in an office in a rear area, talking to people and writing reports, eating in the officer’s mess, sleeping in officers’ quarters – field-grade officers’ quarters, if they still divide it up like that.

Okay, that’s not seventy-two virgins in a garden watered by rivers of honey and wine. But he didn’t die in his attack. He was shot (by a woman) and taken into custody. When he regains consciousness and sees his circumstances, he’s going to have a different worst nightmare. Hopefully one productive of repentance, about life in federal prison and the fate of sinners in the hands of an angry God. A year at Bagram airbase may not look so bad then.

November 5, 2009

Physics question

Filed under: Math, Science & Technology — Marcel @ 3:17 pm

November 4, 2009

Leasson learned?

Filed under: Politics — Marcel @ 11:17 am

Hey, Republicans!

Got the conservatives locked up? Thinking your votes will ingratiate you with the left while your speeches energize the base? Think again, and read the post-script. Having an R after your name won’t magically make conservatives vote for you.

October 29, 2009

Wrong way

Filed under: Politics — Marcel @ 10:48 am
Tags:

Normally it’s pointless to link to the Insatpundit, but it’s necessary for this quote: “They’d never dare to do this sort of thing to subcultures they’re afraid of.” That explains a lot about the regrettable rise of the British National Party.

The underlying story involves yet more heavy-handed government intrusion: Parents banned from watching their children in playgrounds… in case they are paedophiles. England is a few years ahead of America on this one, but we’re headed in the same wrong direction.

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