Here’s a couple of news items demonstrating that being an officer of the court is not the same as having good judgment:
Circuit Judge David Viviano has allowed Scott T. Zielinski to sue the owner and employees of Nick's Party Stop. Scott had robbed the store but the employees then shot at him, chased him down and beat him.
Personally, I think the employees deserve a bonus – but I’ll bet they get fired for violating company policy [1].
Keith Bardwell has resigned after refusing to perform a marriage ceremony for an interracial couple [2]. Even though all bans against interracial marriage were struck down by the US Supreme Court in 1967 [3], this soi disant justice of the peace decided not to allow it in “his” parish [4]. He initially defended his decision, claiming that he was afraid for the children of any such union [5]; he only decided to step down after pressure was brought to bear by the governor and other ranking politicians. His final word on the subject? “I found out I can't be a justice of the peace and have a conscience”
Er, no, bud – you found out that you couldn’t be a justice of the peace and make up new laws to suit your personal prejudices.
John
[1] Most companies forbid employees from taking any action other than pushing the panic button during a robbery. Why? Because if the employees or bystanders get hurt while trying to foil the robbery, the store can be liable (as this suit demonstrates).
[2] My favorite quote from this character? “I needed to step down because they was going to take me to court, and I was going to lose." Kind of says it all, doesn’t it?
[3] Yet another clear example of an activist court making law that the people didn’t want and won’t stand for! Oh, wait – maybe they will…
[4] Louisiana was originally divvied up by Catholic missionaries and settled by French Acadians who had been kicked out of France for refusing to swear allegiance to the King of France and then kicked out of Canada for refusing to swear allegiance to the King of England; as a result, it is one of the two states without counties (Alaska has boroughs).
[5] Or perhaps “afraid of” might be more accurate…
The List:
1. Frog Star using 2008 shop hop fabric --finish purchasing fabric, finish designing,piece,applique, quilt, bind
2. Pacific Koi block swap -- quilt, bind
3. Edmond Quilt Guild block of the month --piece blocks,prepare applique blocks, finish applique, assemble top, quilt, bind
4. Front Porch stars -- quilt, bind
5.Starry Night in May --quilt, bind6. The Mother Road -- quilt, bind
7. Weather Vane -- quilt, bind
8. Christmas Quilt -- quilt, bind
9. Plumeria alba II --design,fracture, border,quilt, bind
10. In the Merry Old Land of Oz -- quilt, bind11. Yellow Brick Road --
piece blocks,add borders,quilt, bind12. Lone Star --
piece star, add borders, quilt, bind
OK, I've made very little progress this month. But the quilt that I've added to position 12 will get finished. It's a challenge quilt that must be turned in before the end of December. And since I really do have all those wall hangings I made this year that don't show on the list I think it's fair to say that this resolution is in the bag. Now to start planning my strategy for next year's resolution...
If you could only drink one beverage for the rest of your life (not including water), which one would you choose?
Wine. I like wine. But I'd sure miss beer and Diet Coke an awful lot.
If you could be any age again for one week, what age would you be?
As far as me in general is concerned I'm rather fond of the age I am now. Can't see any point in reliving any past age. Life just keeps getting better as times goes on. But if I could simply regain an earlier stage of my body with everything else remaining in the present, well, I'd like to have my 25 year old body for a bit. Dang, I miss it!
You have probably heard of the oratorical "oops!" created by Merwin and Ulmer last weekend. If you haven't, here is the long and short of it - in an op-ed piece ode to the fiscal restraint of the GOP, the two party leaders wrote the following:
As of this writing, Merwin and Ulmer have apologized for their phrasing, but not for the sentiment.
The verity of the statement can be challenged on several levels [1], however that is not what has raised the greatest ire over this piece. Instead, it was the use of the word "Jews" which critics charge is playing to stereotypes [2].
But was it a stereotype? There is a simple test that will answer that question. Simply replace the offending word with "person" [3]. If the sense remains, then the only reason to use the offending word was in order to play to a stereotype. In the Merwin and Ulmer case, the phrase would have worked just as well [4] as
Since the sentiment remains, there was no reason to use the word "Jews". Thus, this was a stereotype and should have been avoided [5]."like people who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars, but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves."
I'll admit a certain amount of sympathy for these two. Growing up, my relatives relished stereotypes (and some of them still do). As a result, my speech patterns are sometimes less than optimal [6]. However, I try to take an extra effort to ensure that what I say isn't obscured by how I say it. In writing, this is relatively easy (simply use the test above). And I heartily recommend the practice to Mssrs. Merwin and Ulmer - and to anyone else who wishes to avoid being thought a bigot.
John
[2] Like the statement itself, the verity of the stereotype is not relevant.
[3] Or some other, equally neutral word.
[4] And perhaps better!
[5] Why? Is it because stereotypes are offensive? No, because some can be complimentary (e.g., "rocket science"). Is it because stereotypes are untrue? No, because some are true some of the time. Is it because stereotypes replace thinking with easy categorization? Yes! By relying on stereotypes, you replace people with abstract that may have no basis in reality. And a person (much less a good politician) should know better!
[6] E.g., indiscriminate use of the word "boy" in casual conversation. To many, it is a non-demeaning word; however, certain groups still feel the sting of its lash, a century and more after it should have been retired.
Many thanks to everyone who voted in last week's survey about the future of the Steampunk Librarian. The overwhelming majority told me to keep everything as is, and so it shall be!
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I took this last summer and was a Gadgeteer. Apparently my tastes have changed a bit.
Your result for The Steampunk Style Test...
The Ragamuffin
18% Elegant, 55% Technological, 13% Historical, 48% Adventurous and 60% Playful!
You are the Ragamuffin, the embodiment of steampunk playfulness. Chances are, you approach the genre from a much more casual and lighthearted standpoint than most other fans. To you, there is always an element of play inherent in the genre, and you may very well enjoy fashion as much for the opportunity to dress up as for the style itself. You probably wear goggles as an accessory, and rarely as actual eye-protection. Your outfits are likely to incorporate a lot of brown or cream, and combine large boots, Victorian corsets or vests, aviator caps or bowler hats, and gypsy skirts or slacks, simply because you like them all.
Anyway! Steampunk Month continues over at Tor.com, with all sorts of neat posts and book excerpts. As for books, has anyone read Kage Baker's stories? They look intriguing.
Also intriguing: the web production titled Riese: The Series. The costuming alone looks awesome!
Steampunky websites with fabulous names: Strange Undisciplined Dreams of Great Things and the Electro-Plasmic Hydrocephalic Genre-Fiction Generator 2000.
The artist known as Tin does quite beautiful art with robotic overtones.
And finally, a poster that could serve as the Steampunk Manifesto!
Just a reminder - this is the International Year of Astronomy, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo's work. And this Saturday is Astronomy Day. If you happen to be in Houston, go to George Observatory, Brazos Bend State Park between 3:30 PM and 10:30 PM for lots of fun. Otherwise, look to your local university or science museum. And, in the words of one of my favorite people, keep looking up!
John
Today is "Evaluate Your Life Day." So, tell us: how do you think you're life's going so far?
Swimmingly. Though winning the lottery would be a nice touch.
