Random Notes from a Crank

As many of you might know or have gathered if you've read this blog for a while, I tend to have pessimistic attitudes about politics, the "democratic" process, voters, the 24-hour cable news networks, FoxNews, and the intelligence of the average American. "The Dumbed Down Democracy" by Timothy Egan represents my feelings to a degree. 

Too often people think being a teacher is easy. Wrong. Read "7 Thing I Wish People Understood about Being a Teacher" for a reality check. 

The short interview with Garry Trudeau could be worth your time: "Doonesbury Cartooonist Garry Trudeau: 'If Trump wins, I'll miss civilization as we know it.'"

Check out this article from Slate from 2012: "Chaos Theory: A Unified Theory of Muppets." I'm an Order Muppet. And I think Oscar, my favorite Sesame Street character, is one too. 

In the "Ask Umbra" feature of Grist, a reader asks about the eco-responsbility of certain kinds of liquor: "What Kind of Liquor Is Best for the Environment?" I had no idea Four Roses used non-GMO grains, and my favorite, bourbon, looks like an eco-winner relatively speaking. 

Portal to Post-Massacre Links

If there is ever going to be a time to enact stricter gun control laws, that time is now. Below I've provided some articles that hint at possible solutions.

"After a 1996 Mass Shooting, Australia Enacted Strict Gun Laws. It Hasn't Had a Similar Massacre Since." by Will Oremus on Slate. 

"The Geography of Gun Deaths" by Richard Florida from The Atlantic. 

"Viewpoint: If We Want Gun Control, We'll Need to Compromise" by Adam Cohen from Time.

"Joe Manchin: Time to Act on Guns" from The Washington Post.  

"Notes on Catch"

I thought I'd pass along this interesting but somewhat silly article on catch-phrases, stock phrases that are helping denude our vocabularies at an alarming rate.

Click HERE for the link to "Notes on Catch."

The catch-phrase I hate the most (and one not mentioned in the article) is "thinking outside the box." Who the hell ever thought inside a box? Is this cubicle-speak or something? Are there corporate executives in food courts across America plotting marketing strategies inside of refrigerator boxes? Whenever I hear someone say "thinking outside the box," I think to myself, "You don't know what the hell you're talking about, do you?"

That phrase has been played out, or has "played out" been played out? 

While this is not a phrase, I have been using the catch-word "liberate" from time to time. For example, "I'm wearing this Ole Miss t-shirt today because I liberated it from Diana." 

The Case for Obama Dropping Out

In the link provided from Slate, the author makes a strangely alluring case for Obama dropping out.

His causal analysis is interesting in that he gives Hillary minimal chance of beating McCain if Obama were to bow out. Hell, I at least give her a fifty-fifty shot. 

I don't know if Obama could sustain the blowback from his supporters if this fantasy were to ever happen, but I find this entry interestingly specious.

Link: http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/trailhead/archive/2008/04/24/drop-out-obama.aspx

McCain's Unused Attack Ad Against Romney

Check it out on Slate: http://www.slate.com/id/2181005/

I wonder what he's waiting on?