Monthly Archives: March 2009

For my Baptist forum buds – it is official

Posted on March 30, 2009 by Rick

I will no longer be participating in Baptistlife.Com. Sorry. And whereas before I could just log back in and poof join the fray this time I took steps to make that mighty difficult. If you are curious I changed my … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Personal | Comments Off

UPDATE – website registration/comment policy

Posted on March 30, 2009 by Rick

I have added a “Policies” page to this website. Let me summarize in a post. This website is occasionally the target of a spam campaign – comments and trackbacks that are little more than advertisements for casinos or pharmaceuticals or … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement | Comments Off

The invisible tribe (or) the sinister minority

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Rick

It hit me while watching the movie “Marley and Me” with my family. Owen Wilson is left-handed! I have noticed how quickly I notice left-handed people. Watching a movie. Watching a television show. Signing some forms at a store or … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Personal, Society and Culture | Comments Off

We are (becoming) no longer a nation of laws and due process

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Rick

The news overwhelms me of late. Where does one begin? One must ask because it is not clear where this will end. Bailouts of financial institutions. Bailouts of failing American car manufacturers. Trillion dollar stimulus packages. Budgets that rack of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Media, News, Politics | Comments Off

Jim Engster shows his true Republican colors and makes fun of heavy people

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Rick

The Soporific One showed his true political colors again while interviewing two members of an improvisational comedy troupe last Monday March 16. A few choice quotes (more or less verbatim): “In the past we’ve had presidents who are fertile for … Continue reading →

Posted in Louisiana, Media, Politics, Rhetoric | Comments Off

Richard Cohen agrees with me on the faux outrage of Jon Stewart (or) "Mocker, mock thyself"

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Rick

Well well well. Richard Cohen of the Washington Post agrees with my critique of Jon Stewart. And implicitly demonstrates why attempts to defend his attacks on CNBC and Jim Cramer do not hold up to scrutiny. In a nutshell Stewart … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Media, News, Propaganda | Comments Off

Charles Krauthammer – science unburdened by ethics

Posted on March 14, 2009 by Rick

Yesterday I was listening to “Talk of the Nation: Science Friday” with Ira Flatow who interviewed two scientists to ask how they felt now that President Obama has lifted the ban on using federal funds for stem-cell research. Notice how … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Issues, Media, News, Politics, Propaganda, Rhetoric, Science | Comments Off

Jon Stewart tries to have it both ways (or) court-jester turned cheerleader-clown

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Rick

Let me see if I got this right. Jim Cramer – a liberal Democrat who voted for President Obama and has given tens even hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic politicians for their campaigns – criticizes strongly how Team … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Media, News, Politics, Rhetoric | 2 Comments

Moment of geek – xubuntu 8.10

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Rick

We celebrated our 17th – yes seventeenth – wedding anniversay last Saturday (because we had the day free – the actual date is the 14th). Saw “Watchmen”. Had dinner. Walked over to Barnes and Noble. I bought a copy of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Fun and Geek Stuff, Personal | Comments Off

The Two Minutes of Hate strategy

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Rick

Let me repeat that I still have not listened to Rush Limbaugh in more than 15 years. I think it is time for us to put out of its misery for good this fixation on Rush Limbaugh as “leader of … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Politics, Propaganda, Rhetoric | Comments Off