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Two Idiots -- Rush Limbaugh & Brett Favre
Professional writers aren't letter perfect spellers and typists. They're idea-mongers, creators of memes, and provocateurs. A blog amplifies this. Unblocked by an editor or publisher and with a wider-range of subject matter control, the writer can just go off. Going off can be impulsive. The next day we all regret some aspect of what we've written. Especially the typos and awkward grammar that detract from the idea, meme, or provocation we present with our words. Unless they are truly awful, focussing on such trivial mistakes is small-minded. It suggests a puerile "gotcha" mentality. Instead, as a good commenter, WTF ought to discuss the blog entries. Disagree, or agree, or go off on a tangent. Nagging on grammar, in comparison, is lame.— July 5, 2008 8:04 a.m.
Amid losses, newspapers take on debt
Don, In this story and others, you've used the term "kinky" to describe various deals. I'm familiar with the standard definitions: (from dictionary.com) 1. full of kinks; closely twisted: a kinky wire. 2. (of hair) closely or tightly curled. 3. Slang. marked by unconventional sexual preferences or behavior, as fetishism, sadomasochism, or the like. Are, for example, the ballpork bands partiucularly kinky, since they put our youngsters in debt-bondage? Did John Moores (only hypothetically speaking here) dress up in leather and latex to convince the City Council to give him our money? Was Jack McGrory there in his facial-mask, prince albert piercings, and cuffs, led around in chains by Susan Golding smirking in an ill-fitting dominatrix costume? Is that kinky business? Perhaps it's just dull, full-bellied balding men in business suits conspiring over filet mignon at Mortons while robbing us blind. Don, are you the author of this term in the business reporting world? Do you think we can propogate it and see it appear in a national financial broadcast before the election? It's so versatile when it comes to describing our national business climate. Do you tell your friends at parties that you write about the ongoings at kinky businesses? Inquiring minds want to know. Best, Fred— July 2, 2008 8:39 p.m.
Crowd Control
Josh, what you've described is a large part of the reason I just don't bother to go to live shows anymore. Either the music is ten decibels above pain, or I've got to listen to annoying yappy-chick and her hen-friends. Othere places in the world are not so bad as here. I think this is cultural. It's a by-product of our inclination to always have something on, and ignore it. Those people yapping away, if you visit their homes, will have the T.V. on all day and night, whether they watch it or not. They're the ones who have the radio on, but tune it out. They just want ambient noise, not something to listen to. It's part of the telegraphic epistemology, where we require constant simulation and have the attention spans of chipmonks. People who read books, on the other hand, know how to actually shut up and listen to something intently, allowing themselves to be immersed in the music rather than using it as a prop to their own self-centered conversations. Contrast the concerts here with what I've seen in central and northern european venues. When I go to see Psi Vojaci or Iva Bittova in Prague, or the Hellicopters in Stockholm, the crowds actually moderate their noise so everyone can listen. Moreover, in these places where people actually care about the music, there's no need for hulking bouncers. After the show, you can often walk up and introduce yourself to the band. None of this storm trooper bodyguard nonsense. Again, I think the explanation is the lack of appreciation for books here in America. In a culture dominated by shouting heads on television, rather than reasoned linear discourse, you can't expect much but instant gratification seeking and totally oblivious airheads chatting away instead of listening to the music. I'm sure there are other factors, but that's my take on why American audiences just can't shut up. Best, Fred— July 1, 2008 8:30 a.m.
Stocks Slaughtered, Now Near Official Bear Market; Oil Almost Hits $140, Dollar Drops
Worst. Revocation of habius corpus, torture camps, data-scraping in cahoots with the telcos, turning the DOJ into a branch of the Republican party...need we go on? Worst. What awaits our glorious King George II after his reign as the imperial president who ignores Congress, the courts, and common decency? A plush mansion with servants and gushing acolytes? He was born rich and will die richer, having done little positive with his wealth and advantages. Worst. This president who so easily labels others terrorist, is himself a traitor to his oath of office. Along with his minders, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the like, he's done more damage to the Constitution than any other President. Worst. His mismanagement of the economy, typified by his cheerleading for mindless consumerism, will be paid for by future generations. What we see now in the housing, stock, and commodities markets are only the beginning. Hopefully the next administration won't be blamed for their efforts to fix Bush's errors. Worst. Under his "leadership" we're outcasts and renegades to many of our foreign friends. The Wahabists who attacked us are Bush family buddies, so instead we squandered our military on Iraq. Settling old family grudges was sold to us as removing a serious threat to world peace. He and his team knowingly lied to make us go to war. Worst. Impeachment is too good for Bush, but with sovereign immunity and a too crooked court system with politically motivated judges...he has only history to truly judge him. The verdict? Worst.— June 27, 2008 1:11 p.m.
SeaWorld Could Be Sold: InBev Officially Bids $65 a Share for Anheuser-Busch, Which Turns Down Bid
Didn't SeaWorld sell their height extension by claiming it would contribute to marine education. Last time I was at SeaWorld I was aghast to see that what little eductional material was available was drowned out by the laughy-happy-cutesy show business. Yes, it's good to see killer whales, but seeing them doing tricks with a few "fun facts" thrown in isn't doing much in the way of education. So if InBev splits off the amusement parks, does that mean that San Diego will have a chance to renegotiate the lease? If so, our new and improved council ought to require more education and less fluff from the new owners. Best, Fred— June 27, 2008 9:30 a.m.
San Diegans Arthur Lipper and Richard Russell on the current gloom
Re: #39 That would make a great campaign commercial...but only for the reformist candidates. I can just see it: Crook gets out of car, looks at San Diego skyline, scans the UT, gets a big grin on his face and lights a cigar. "Boys, I think we have found ourselves a new home and a glorious future here in bee-yootiful San Diego." Hee, hee. (Sorry, I only laugh so I won't cry.) Fred— June 26, 2008 9:42 p.m.
With $6 Million Gift, David Copley Endows UCLA Center for Costume Design
A few words from H.C. Andersen on clothes making for the wealthy and deluded... "They cut it out in the air with a huge pair of scissors, and they stitched away with needles without any thread in them....How well his Majesty looks in the new clothes! How becoming they are!"— June 26, 2008 9:32 p.m.
Canyon Encampments Nuisance to Residents
Seems the homeless are considered by the SDPD as some sort of rabid animal that civilians dare not approach. I wonder how many so-called Christians have attempted to have a conversation with these exotic creatures, or if they just set out to attack or demean them, and take away what little they have left. "Officer, I feel threatened. I saw an old woman pushing a shopping cart in the street! I think she sleeps in the canyon." No one doubts that untreated mental illnesses and alcoholism are the roots of most homelessness. The way to treat mental illness isn't to confront them with steroid-pumped police. It doesn't do much to treat alcolism either. "Stop, right there! Hands where I can see them. Back away from the cart. Shut up! I didn't give you permission to speak. On the ground, now. On the GROUND!" I've met more than a few down and out people, and few of them are violent except when provoked...like anyone else. For the official police policy to be that they cannot be approached by anyone but uniformed officers is a disgrace.— June 17, 2008 5 p.m.
Brandes Gets Mug in Newspaper, but Moneywise Gets Mugged by Newspapers
Don, I wonder if Brandes went along for Prince David's merry jaunt so he could invest in the UT? It would seem to fit nicely into his media acquisition strategy, which seems to be buying ventures tumbling downward in price, prospects, and longevity. Or maybe he just enjoys our little Davie-boy's company. Nothing wrong with having friends... Don, unlike our good friend fumber, I appreciate when you decline thin veils, and slap a burlap sack filled with cats right upside the fat heads of the rich and pathetic. Their flacid displays of wealth mark them out as true losers in the game of life. Talk about abusers of Veblen goods*. They have no purpose in life but invidious distinction through conspicuous consumption. Wanna-be dandys like Burl "I'm so" Stiff reporting on their antics must regret wasting their writing talent on such fluffery. It's useful for the employees of the UT, who it seems, read your articles diligently for signs of their future. I hope they are all out looking for another job, so they can swim away from Happy Days and its corpulent captain before it sinks. Best, Fred Ref: * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorstein_Veblen— June 17, 2008 4:18 p.m.
Service at Restaurants
I just can't resist from repeating the oldest joke in the universe here: Q: What did the leper say to the prostitute? A: Keep the tip. For more thoughts on tipping, see: http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2008/… http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolut…— June 16, 2008 12:52 p.m.