Nillson's Leaf, Peterman's funny definition, Dan Grobstein File
March 26, 2012
My friend Bob Nillson recently bought a Nissan Leaf electric car. Since I drive less than 20 miles a day most days, I am thinking of a Leaf as well. He's going to keep me posted on the ownership experience. In the meantime, his car reads my column to him.
Kent Peterman shared a definition: "synonym (noun): A word used in place of the one you can't spell." I don't know about you, but I do that all the time.
Dan Grobstein File
- Family planning
There seems to be some mistaken notion out there that the the efforts to limit access to family planning by Republicans are purely abstract and hypothetical and “political” and unlikely to have any real effect on real women, if Democrats win the “message war” on the HHS contraception rule. That isn’t true. - It is still amazing to me that the wingnuts don't realize that when the Republicans control all three branches of government they don't make abortion illegal because they need it to stir up the base.
Meghan McCain in Playboy and Why It Matters - Greek Yogurt, Meet American Politics, By Matthew Yglesias
I had a Greek neighbor when I was in jr high. Her yogurt was more sour but I've always liked the thicker stuff and an glad that Greek style is popular. The absolute best is noosa from Colorado which says it's an Australian style yogurt. Much more like pudding. It was available here for a few months in the Shoprite chain but recently disappeared. I don't know if you can get it in California but is highly recommended and delicious. - Quote from British PM David Cameron's speech: "There is now an urgent need to repair the decades-long degradation of our national infrastructure and to build for the future with as much confidence and ambition as the Victorians once did."
Anyway, I wonder how much Thatcher's privatization is the cause of the "decades-long degradation of our national infrastructure". So much money was sucked out of what had been public infrastructure. Government services should not have to make a profit. The profit is the improvement in the quality of life for the population which allows so many other aspects of society to improve. - Mr. Zimmerman, a criminal justice major, often patrolled the neighborhood. He had placed 46 calls to 911 in 14 months, for reports including open windows and suspicious persons. unquote. he's a cop wannabe with a completely wrong idea of what it means to be a cop.
U.S. | March 21, 2012
A Florida Law Gets Scrutiny After a Teenager's Killing
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
Seven years after Florida adopted the "Stand Your Ground" law, the shooting of Trayvon Martin, who was unarmed, has put that law at the center of an increasingly angry debate. - It's not as easy as it once was before the internet, but it is still much easier to do things in the states that would not be done with national publicity. The Republicans hide their true agenda (look at all the no-power moderates speaking at their conventions). Of course when in power federal wins.
OPINION | March 20, 2012
Editorial: The States Get a Poor Report Card
State governments have long been accused of backroom dealing and cozy relationships with moneyed lobbyists. A new study suggests those accusations barely scratch the surface.