3.21.2015

Don't step on me

Chocolate Chip Mint: Keeping it weird in Portland

"PDX Carpet Has Last Hoorah As Starlight Parade Grand Marshal

"As part of what seems to be the longest goodbye to flooring ever, the Portland Rose Festival named the Portland International Airport carpet grand marshal of the 2015 Starlight Parade in late May."

Spies! Spies! Privacy!

Common Core's cyber spies - Stephanie Simon - POLITICO

"The web patrol team works for Caveon, a test security company charged with protecting the integrity of new Common Core exams developed by the publishing giant Pearson. To that end, they’re monitoring social media for any leaks about test questions. News of the surveillance broke this week, sparking a firestorm."

Me, I say let ‘em cheat. USA!

And there's an app

From the New York Shakespeare Exchange:

The Sonnet Project

Cowboys don't pummel, do they?

Unleashed: America Must Pummel ISIS | The National Interest

"One suspects that President Obama, his core supporters, and many of his inner circle find this fierce and unexpected response from the U.S. public toward ISIS rather terrifying. Isn't this the sort of characteristically American, 'cowboy' foreign policy reaction Obama was elected to suppress?"

Wait, didn't this guy just make a plea deal yesterday?

Petraeus Puts the Icing on Bibis Iran Cake

“Don’t just rely on Benjamin Netanyahu’s passionate advice to Congress on his way to reelection that Iran is our arch enemy. Now we have the counsel of retired general David Petraeus…"

Warp-speed rehabilitation, that.

The good news is, a lot of that ugly, dirty, old snow is gone

The bad news is, because it’s covered up by new, white snow. And it’s still snowing. Or snowing again, which is just about the same thing. 

We’re supposed to get into the low 40s by this afternoon, which means the new snow will melt (most of it) and freeze into ice tonight. So all the ice we just got rid of is coming back. 

We wait all this time for Spring and we get this?

Details, details

Who had the worst week in Washington? Rep. Aaron Schock. - The Washington Post

"And he was getting uncomfortable questions about billing the government for 170,000 miles on his private car between 2010 and 2014 — despite the fact that when he sold the car, it had only 80,000 miles on the odometer."

3.20.2015

Yes, it's snowing

Not much, but a little.

And yes, it’s nasty cold out there.

Spring schming.

Why don't they just outlaw kids and get it over with?

Lawmakers Trample On 4th Graders' Bill As They Watch From The Gallery | Crooks and Liars

"What is the matter with these jerks?"

He's baaaaack!

David Petraeus: Iran more of a threat than ISIL - Nick Gass - POLITICO

"‘In fact, I would argue that the foremost threat to Iraq’s long-term stability and the broader regional equilibrium is not the Islamic State; rather, it is Shiite militias, many backed by — and some guided by — Iran,’ Petraeus said in written comments to The Washington Post’s Beirut bureau chief, Liz Sly."

Why are there so many people who never go away? Ever.

And, in other news…

EPIC - Most U.S. Voters Want "Right to Be Forgotten"

 Who said irony is dead?

Sounds like a riddle to me

Why Libertarians Hate Rand Paul - The Daily Beast

"‘It sounds reasonable [to compromise] in order to win,’ said Jason Weinman, the party’s outreach director. ‘But if you’re compromising and then you’re going to lose anyway, why are you compromising to begin with?'"

Oh oh, maybe we ought to pay a little attention to that loopy Joe after all (says guy at Politico)

The Case for Covering Biden - Jack Shafer - POLITICO Magazine

"No matter what the odds are of a Clinton crackup, no party can afford to bank so completely on a single candidate this far out—especially…a candidate who makes Vladimir Putin look cuddly."

Recorded lectures in quantum physics

The refreshing transparency of education-shunning Kentucky | New York Post

"Why, as Tournament teams are seen boarding or off-loading buses, are they now always seen wearing earphones? Why do we never see anyone carrying a book? Or are they listening to Books on Tape?"

So being president would be sort of a retirement project?

Hillary’s favorite TV show follows female Danish head of state | New York Post

"The lighthearted appearance before the American Camp Association could be one of Clinton’s last paid speeches — where she has netted $200,000 and up — before she officially enters the presidential race."

Or at least a big step down in pay. Can a president get food stamps?

3.19.2015

We empathize

‘God almighty, clean up after your dogs,’ mayor pleads | Boston Herald

"Walsh made the comments this morning during an appearance on Boston Herald Radio’s ‘Morning Meeting’ program, telling hosts Jaclyn Cashman and Hillary Chabot he often has to remind dog owners that ‘the street is not a trash barrel.’"

Here too. Especially now when snow is starting to melt off, uncovering a winter’s worth of inattention. Maybe the dog owners should so community service for a weekend.

(Not you. We know you’re not responsible. But definitely them.)

I can think of a lot of fun things you probably wouldn't want to make mandatory by law

Mandatory Voting? Obama Says It Would Be 'Transformative' - ABC News

"Obama said he thought it would be 'fun' for the U.S. to consider amending the Constitution to change the role that money plays in the electoral system. But don't hold your breath."

Good news for your waffles

The kind of weather we’re heading into—warm days and below-freezing nights—is what makes the maples give up all that good syrup. 

Not today, though. Today it’ll be below freezing all day. And it’s very windy, so good thing I don’t believe in wind chill. I have to make one more trip to the laundry and then I just might stay in for the rest of the day.

3.18.2015

Really? So what's wrong with today?

Obama says he should have closed Guantanamo on his first day - Yahoo News

"CLEVELAND (AP) — President Barack Obama says if he could start his presidency over, he would have closed the Guantanamo Bay prison his first day."

A groaner

"So far, it looks like only one person has been committing this strange act — but there could be some copycat crimes soon."

[Emphasis in original.]

The return of Trickshot Dick

Cheney: Obama is 'worst president of my lifetime'

"'I used to have significant criticism of Jimmy Carter,' said the former Republican vice president. 'But compared to Barack Obama and the damage he is doing to the nation — it's a tragedy, a real tragedy, and we are going to pay a hell of a price just trying to dig out from under his presidency.'"

If the R's have debates they ought to pay a cabaret tax

Donald Trump Takes Formal Steps Toward A 2016 Presidential Run

"'We have lost the respect of the entire world,' Trump said in a statement Wednesday. 'I am the only one who can make America truly great again!'"

Imagine our surprise

Secret Service needs bushes and fountains

Secret Service wants to build W.H. replica to train agents - NY Daily News

"Right now we train on a parking lot, basically,' Clancy told the House Appropriations Committee…'We don't have on that parking lot, we don't have the bushes, we don't have the fountains,"

Your congresscritter at play

Havana-Bound: Cuba Rapidly Becomes a Favorite Member Destination - NationalJournal.com

"March 17, 2015 The first wave of American tourists hasn't yet hit the beaches of Havana, but members of Congress are—in record numbers.

"Even before President Obama's December announcement of normalization of relations with the country, congressional travel to Cuba had spiked following a 50-plus year standoff between the two countries."

3.17.2015

Because "the revered tradition of amateurism in college sports"

As March Madness Begins, NCAA Returns To Court To Keep Players From Being Paid | ThinkProgress

"Before the NCAA Tournament begins with opening round games in Dayton, lawyers for the organization that will haul in an estimated billion dollars in revenue from college basketball’s biggest event will be in a California courtroom fighting off a threat to its current model and its future."

Imagine our distress.

They don't call them cheeseheads for nothing

Wisconsin Miscellany - Public Policy Polling

"There actually is one thing in Wisconsin (narrowly) more popular than Aaron Rodgers: cheese. 80% of voters in the state have a favorable opinion of cheese to only 5% with a negative one. Beer is popular too, with a 65/24 favorability rating. But it can't match up to cheese- when asked which of the two they like better 66% of voters pick cheese to only 23% for beer."

There's always yesterday

Is anything worth a try?

Defending the indefensible Hillary Clinton | New York Post

"Instead of trying to persuade voters that Hillary’s honest, Team Clinton should sell her as a president who will meet the public’s low expectations.

"Vote for me, she could say, because you already know you can’t trust me."

3.16.2015

We are shocked…shocked!

McConnell vows: no vote on attorney general until abortion flap solved (+video) - CSMonitor.com

"According to the Democrats, Republicans tried to pull a fast one…"

We're waiting

Chief White House forecaster: 2015 will be a 'good year' - CSMonitor.com

What, they're too cheap to send it to a shrink?

Rubio Puts Financially Troubled Home On The Market For A Loss

"Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and former Rep. David Rivera (R-FL) have put the troubled Florida house they co-own on the market for less than they originally paid for it, according to a Politico report."

We can get back to the Stone Age all by ourselves

Ted Cruz Visits N.H., Vows To Abolish IRS And Education Department

Some people just won't ever be happy with anything

Coke a healthy snack? How company gets its message out

"The message that Coke can be a healthy snack is debatable."

And in even more amazing news…

Boston sets new snowfall record | Boston Herald

"Yesterday’s snowfall officially broke the record for snowiest winter in Boston, topping the list by an inch — and there could be more before the season is through.

"‘Superbowls, World Series, Stanley Cups, and snowfall records. We are truly a title city,’ joked Mayor Martin J. Walsh on Twitter, adding, ‘There will be no parade.’"

…we might break 50º this afternoon, which will certainly melt off some more of this ugly, dirty, totally depressing snow we still have on the ground—and even better, get the rest of the ice off the sidewalks. Progress is good.

Another top-shelf book from Erik Larson

Dead Wake describes the final Atlantic crossing of the British liner Lusitania in May of 1915. Wait until you have a little time to spare before you start this one, because you won’t want to put it down.

3.15.2015

So in a two-week vacation you can do it with time to spare

Data geniuses have figured out what the ultimate U.S. road trip looks like

"If you didn’t sleep, stop or hit traffic, Olson calculates that this would take roughly 9.33 days of driving."

I used to work in a factory that closed for two weeks every summer, providing employees with what was called “standard vacation.” Everybody (except for a few maintenance people) and their assorted families took off a the same time. The week after standard vacation, the prevailing topic of conversation among the reassembled was “how far we drove."

“We packed a lunch every morning so we wouldn’t have to stop."

“We got up at 4:00 every morning and were on the road by 5:30."

"The wife kept wanting to stop and shop for antiques but I just kept driving."

This kind of trip would have been just the thing.

"Popular books for fighting men"

 

Library of Congress

Now this, Bunky, might be fun

Obama adviser behind leak of Hillary Clinton’s email scandal | New York Post

"Then, according to this source, Bill [Clinton] added: ‘The Obamas are out to get us any way they can.’"

Working too much? Avoid more!

World Carrot Museum

"Users who rely on the information contained in this website or any part of it do so at their own risk. "

Veggieism

We’re throwing away tons of fruits and veggies for not being pretty enough - The Washington Post

" Cucumbers should be straight, cauliflower florets should be tightly held, and rhubarb stalks should be ruby red. If not, retailers tell farmers, consumers won’t buy them."