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Archive for March, 2007

Broken bridges (a follow-up post)

When I said Friday that I’d be writing on the Tynesha Stewart story again, I didn’t expect it to be so soon. Last night, though, the sheriff’s office announced that there will not be a search for her remains after all (CNN):
HOUSTON, Texas (AP) — A 19-year-old Texas A&M University student was killed by her […]

Rest in Peace trash (Updated x2)

A young woman is murdered, and her killer confesses, leading police to a dumpster where he says he left her body. Of course, that’s not where the body is any more:
Sheriff’s officials say the man charged in the slaying, Stewart’s ex-boyfriend Timothy Wayne Shepherd, confessed to investigators Wednesday night that he choked her, stuffed her […]

Piñatas, chips and salsa

From Ruben Navarrette, Jr:
The nation’s first Hispanic attorney general is being pressured to resign by — pick ‘em — Democrats trying to make hay, an elite media that long opposed him, civil libertarians who condemn administration policy on detainees and wiretaps, conservatives who think Gonzales is too liberal, and liberals who think he’s too conservative.
[snip]
Leading […]

Think Twice, Type Once

Ben Smith’s apology at The Politico for having announced that John Edwards would suspend his presidential campaign underscores both the new power — and pitfalls — of this Brave New Era of communications and media. In spite of Ben’s reasonable, understandable explanation about sources, later test results, etc., the underlying reality is that the rapid-fire, […]

Edwards campaign to continue

Rumors have been rampaging all over the ‘net since last night, as both the traditional media and the political blogosphere speculated that if Elizabeth Edwards’ cancer has recurred (and it evidently has), John Edwards would be either suspending or withdrawing from the presidential campaign.
Nope.
Every now and again, it’s a good idea to wait and see […]

Next time we go a’nation-building…

In a profoundly “duh” finding, the Pentagon’s special investigator reports (via CNN)
Planners for Iraq reconstruction did not anticipate conditions after the 2003 invasion, setting the scene for lackluster services that still plague the country, according to a report by the Pentagon’s inspector.
I can’t tell you how hard it is to restrain my nearly overwhelming desire […]

An Idle Idol Post (Updated)

Televisions are very nearly ornamental in my house; I detest them.
However, as Adorable Child (AC) approaches the dreadful Middle School Morph, I’ve been spending more evenings in the den with her (and sometimes her friends), watching various programs, and I have a surprising confession to make: I like watching American Idol (AI).
This no doubt […]

Up is down, left is right

This is absolutely surreal.
Media Matters has an item up about Rush the Mighty Limbaugh (doo, doo doo doo), in which he criticizes (at length) Ehrenstein’s “Magic Negro” piece in the LA Times. (My earlier post on that op-ed here)… and I find myself in at least partial agreement with el Limbaugh.
Next thing ya know, the […]

Evil vs Stupid

There’s a world of difference between stupid decisions and soulless evil.
As blatantly self-evident as that statement may seem, I think the distinction sometimes gets lost in passion and rhetoric. A quick review:
Invading a country with neither the resources required nor a plan for the invasion aftermath is abysmally stupid.
Deliberately blowing up children is evil:
A US […]

A sucker bet

From the comments on a NOLA post this weekend:
In the mean time, half the state is losing their insurance. Mine got canceled this week…because I’d held it for under three years.

I could feel wisps of steam starting to waft from my ears when I read that. That’s a reason to cancel someone’s policy???? Is that […]

Vouchers, healthcare, and nationalization

There’s been an excellent debate / discussion going on about school vouchers (here, here, and here), and the reasons they’re being resisted by some (many?) folks. Unions, and their motives / purposes, are interesting topics, but I have a separate question altogether.
Megan McArdle wrote (on the subject of school vouchers):
1) A voucher system which required […]

Taxes are forever

Have you ever wondered about all those nickels and dimes (and quarters) of obscure taxes tacked onto your phone bill? From the Houston Chronicle:
AUSTIN — Consumers would save an estimated 63 cents a month on a $50 telephone bill, depriving state coffers of close to $400 million over the next two years, under a […]