Misterimpatient

I came across the serialized story of Jill Carroll’s captivity in Iraq. This was for me a riveting tail of powerlessness. After reading it, I’m not clear how I feel about her captors. Disgust, certainly. But what else? I don’t know.

I do know that anyone who thinks the Iraqis can avoid an all out civil war, (as opposed to the short story version underway), is going to have to explain how they deal with these bastards and the 1000’s of others like them. With more being minted everyday, this seems to be the impossible dream.

Later…

Filed by misterimpatient at 10:45 pm under Un-categorized Outrages
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I’ve heard of Freudian slips, but Darwinian? It sure would seem so. Somehow, and inexplicably, Evolutionary Biology has accidentally gone missing from the list of university majors approved for federal grants for low income students. “Opps”, or words to that effect says a spokesperson for the Department of education. Right.

Later…

Filed by misterimpatient at 10:25 pm under Patter
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Turner broadcasting, after receiving viewer complaints, has decided “to edit out scenes that glamorize smoking.” My initial reaction is Yeah Baby! I’m not sure that’s really how I feel about it. I watched a lot of TV as a kid. It would have been better for me if they edited out glamorized eating. Both my parents smoked and I found myself never tempted by the habit myself. I used to be a radical anti-smoker: Lets just send all smokers to a lovely tropical island, sterilize them, and let them live out their days in sunny splendor. That’s not my view today but I still avoid most social situations that might expose me to smoke.

Later…

Filed by misterimpatient at 2:29 pm under I'm not fat today, Patter
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The curse of certainty

Has anyone else noticed that within at least American politics, it is no longer possible for anyone in an elected position to express uncertainty or perhaps doing so is a third rail of sorts? Public uncertainty has become a sign of weakness.

Let’s take the conflict in Lebanon as an example. Personally, I think the conflict will make the overall situation for Israel and the West, worse. How strongly do I feel that? Oh, about 55/45. I absolutely believe that eliminated an armed Hezbollah (and Hamas)is crucial to long term stability in the region, but I am not convinced that armed struggle is the solution. I think only the Lebanese can eliminate this regional and world threat and that the actions underway this past month make the possibility of that happening remote at best.

Within the political sphere, we mostly hear absolutes. That would be bad enough, but there is evidence that the public absolutes are backed up by private planning without contingency. This suggests to me a narrow view of the world and out role in it. The classic: Our way or the highway.

At a minimum, our leaders should express public confidence while engaging in private planning for the possibility of being wrong.

To quote a favorite current TV theme song: “I could be wrong now, but I don’t think so”.

Later…

Filed by misterimpatient at 9:39 am under Slightly left of Center
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