Doing the News

For as long as I can remember…it really never seemed like Christmas to me until it was time to spend a few hours with Jimmy Stewart and the residents of Bedford Falls. We’ve spent enough time together these many years that we are practically family. These last couple of years, I’ve had the treat of the privilege of shooting the dress rehearsal of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Gilbert Theatre in Fayetteville. A happy…

NC’s junior Senator getting ready for lunch with POTUS…well played sir…well played! https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/24/politics/tillis-popcorn-trump-corker/index.html

He actually went there. I’d like to offer the first question for Mr Trump’s test… Q: Whilst you blew $250K in taxpayer dollars ordering your lap dog Pence (and then effectively told him “good doggie” afterward!) to Indianapolis for a pre-planned counter protest that fooled absolutely no one, how many children could have had their CHIP premiums paid with that same money? You know…Children’s Health Insurance Programme you idiots in Washington still haven’t fixed and…

The polls have been open for about seven hours when I cast my ballot in the Raleigh municipal elections in a precinct of roughly 4,200 voters. My vote according to the machine was number 150. The candidates on offer (such as they are) will have far more direct impact on my daily life than any of the fools sent to Washington and currently about 4,000 of my neighbours could care less. At least the bright…

So we're driving along to Fuquay-Varina for my daughter's clogging classes and Alexander is eyeing a can of Coke Zero with avaricious intent when he spies the U in the circle notation. Now, he's been on a "Descendants 2" kick of late and the U made him think of his favourite character Uma. As I had a captive audience and a cousin troublemaker of the best kind, I tried explaining the basic ideas of kashrut…

After reading and hearing about Mr Trump's speech at the accepted forum for the expression of international hatred (the UN General Assembly)…it is truly scary to think that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is now officially the SECOND CRAZIEST person to address the Secretariat. I cannot recall a UN speech by a head of state where their member state called for the complete destruction of another member state. You'd think that would be the ultimate party foul worthy…

And she's parading her husband's wealth in KENTUCKY of all places which has suffered mightily over the years…that is hors categorie tone deaf! Of course, in what has become the usual response to making a political mistake of epic proportions…her strategy was to double-down and return fire to the taxpayers who were flaming her on her feed for her extravagance and arrogance. Perhaps she might want to consider spending that wealth she just shoved in…

Sadly, the GOP in Congress won't dare draw up articles of impeachment against their creature in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue even though he's already hit several of the usual crimes associated with "high crimes and misdemeanors": perjury of oath, dereliction of duty, abuse of authority, intimidation, and conduct unbecoming. And for my money you could throw in moral turpitude as well… Mr President…even though your Vice President and others in the line of succession aren't really…

Wow. This is breathtaking even for our vacuous "leader"… :( https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/12/politics/trump-statement-alt-right-protests/index.html

Looking at the photo, McFarland asked Swift why the front of her skirt did not appear to be lifted. "Because my ass is located in the back of my body," Swift said. McFarland also noted that Swift was closer to Melcher than Mueller in the photo. "Yes, she did not have her hand on my ass," Swift replied. https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/10/us/taylor-swift-trial-testimony/index.html

Two quotes from the eminently quotable Ambassador (and later Emperor) of the Centauri Republic came to mind whilst reading this article: the first a recognition of what we're dealing with and the second a suggestion of how one might actually succeed in high office. Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you. The quiet ones are the ones that change the universe… The loud ones only take the credit. I…

Latest from the NY Times on the mindset of the person who opened fire on the Republican members of Congress who were training for the annual baseball game at a field in Alexandria VA: The Virginia shooting suspect was an opponent of President Trump and “wasn’t happy with the way things were going,” his brother said. There are quite a few people (myself included) who think that the current administration and the Republican majorities on…

Now the party line is "unexpected reaction to medication". This rather begs the question…what in the hell was so unexpected about having a reaction to medications that likely had explicit warnings against driving whilst you're taking them? Or how about another question? How in the world does a billionaire golfer get banged into chokey for drink driving in the first place? One who could certainly afford a chauffeur who can remain sober and capable of…

Some of the best "Yosemite Sam" imitations Dad would do would come on Memorial Day when he'd be going all "dag blabbit…Memorial Day ain't for those still living!" when people would offer their thanks for his service. It was all I could do to not laugh out loud! He had completely forgotten his distant relative Gen John Logan who was credited with the first official order for Memorial Day… :) I completely biffed this last…

Mr Trump's administration seems to have a real problem with people not remembering the old adage "loose lips sink ships". Perhaps these guys can help find 'em and plug 'em! ;) (As an aside…we realise Mr Trump hasn't been sailing all that long but we would remind him that the ship of state is the only ship that tends to leak from the top!)

Today would have been my grandmother Williams' 104th birthday and our usual celebration of that milestone would be an elaborately designed cake baked by my father in which the candles would reflect the combined ages of her, me, and Uncle Roger who all had birthdays in the first half of May. If we added my oldest son Nicholas whose birthday was yesterday…we could kick that number up to 251! The cluster of early May birthdays…

At least the AMR PR department had a better response to a viral video crisis than United and acted swiftly to stand down the employee involved pending investigation but still…you'd have thought that any airline employees that come near the passengers would be operating under the assumption that there is a live camera pointed at them at all times. You shouldn't NEED that fear to do the job professionally but if you're inclined to harass…

A couple of recent events in the news make me really wonder if the law really ought to have some mechanism for dealing with unintended consequences in less idiotic and hurtful ways. First up was the revelation that as a result of the ongoing appeal of Aaron Hernandez's original murder conviction of Odin Lloyd, Hernandez's suicide means that the conviction will automatically be set aside by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the doctrine of "abatement".…

This morning's unfortunate encounter with a very rude and inconsiderate individual who was smoking at the petrol station whilst they were fueling their vehicle (and as he was downwind was blowing the smoke directly in my face!) got me wondering what actual legal authority and enforcement stands behind the non-smoking signs posted conspicuously about the petrol pumps. After much searching, it turns out that the answer isn't particularly straightforward because it is left to the…

I'm not sure which bit of hypocrisy is more astounding…that Trump would effectively condone Bill O'Reilly's behaviour or that he would declare April 2017 as "National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month" with the idea that his administration "will do everything in its power to protect women, children, and men from sexual violence." If there was ever a time that Melania would be justified in insisting that Donald sleep on the couch, I'd think this…

My goodness...that was certainly a lot more exciting than it needed to be with way too many missed free throws and open shots that were missed on both sides. Full marks to Gonzaga for one heck of a run and really pushing the Heels to the limit...I don't think this will be the last time we see them or Mark Few in a title game! 2017 National Champion UNC Tarheels! I like the sound of…

When you get a chance, kindly spare a thought for the family of PC Keith Palmer and the other victims of the attack upon the Palace of Westminster earlier today. Were it not for his actions to stop the advance of the attacker until armed reinforcements could arrive on scene at the breached fence…the death toll could have been much higher. Prime Minister May described the attack as "sick" and "depraved"…an example of British understatement…

When I learned of the horrific desecration to a Jewish cemetery near St Louis, I'll confess that the first reaction I had was anger that anyone could commit such an atrocity in anyone's sacred ground but that this Jewish cemetery had been targeted was even more outrageous. And I'll confess I had some rather unpleasant thoughts for the individuals responsible for this act of hatred. But there's a reason one ought to lay angry thoughts…

A French chap is suing Uber for 45m euro because of an alleged bug in the app that allowed his now ex-wife to discover that he was using Uber's services to carry on with an affair. My favourite quote in the article comes from his lawyer who should really consider doing standup comedy: "The lawyer did not comment on a report in Le Figaro newspaper that the lawsuit was worth up to €45m, saying only…

Transcripts of the debate leading up to the DeVos confirmation vote: https://www.c-span.org/video/?423606-1/us-senate-democrats-continue-hold-floor-devos-vote-looms Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio's comments really stood out to me as a parent of three children that run the entire spectrum of the kids that IDEA is meant to protect: "I can't support Betsy DeVos because I can't look Ohio parents in the eye and tell them she won't put profits ahead of their children's education. Our children deserve to be --…