Fish for Friday

Senator Harry Reid

The vote in the Senate to block expanded gun sale background checks is a glaring example of dysfunction in democracy. No matter if you are personally for or against increased gun control measures, the polls show 90% of Americans are in favor, so you have to wonder what it says about our political system when elected officials vote against the wishes of such an overwhelming majority.

When one considers the horrific damage done by two small "pressure cooker" bombs at the Boston Marathon, then compares it to the warfare-like massive destruction caused by the fertilizer plant explosion in West, TX, it raises the question of where a terror-minded person might be most likely to strike next. The Boston attack garnered much news coverage, but it will soon fade from the headlines and be mostly forgotten until the date nears for next year's marathon. The explosion at the fertilizer plant, on the other hand, could be repeated at any time at any such plant. In Boston people will feel safe until next year. Will people living near a fertilizer plant anywhere in the country ever feel safe?
    It is not unlike the difference between the impact of 9/11 in Washington, DC versus the "Beltway sniper attacks" the following year. One event grabbed more headlines, the other affected more people. A couple of days after 9/11, people in DC were on the way back to their normal lives. The sniper attacks had people living in fear, changing their schedules, and curtailing their spending for three weeks.

I think that you have really found something interesting to do in retirement. While I am probably far more interested in what you write (as opposed to the other members of the staff), I think that your approach to broadening the scope is really innovative and creative.

great surprise anniversary party at your place last night. Sorry you and Carolyn missed it. Confusion on your travel dates, I guess....

I have just returned from watching Yale beat Quinnipiac in the NCAA championships—4-0. They were held here this year (for the first time) and for the first time Yale made it to the finals and won across the boards. Yale had been seeded 15 out of the 16 to make it into the qualifying rounds and Quinnipiac was the number 1 seed. I had thought about going to the semi-finals, which were also here, but watched them on TV and saw Yale win in overtime 3-2. I called [my older son] and got him to go with me although he thought that he was going to a Penguin game initially. I talked to his brother on the phone, and he wished that he was back here too so he could have gone with me. He watched the game on TV. And we all celebrated. It was kind of an odd game since while it was pretty even (and no score) through all but the last three seconds of the second period when Yale scored, the third period was all Yale. [My son at the game with me] was convinced that Yale could not hold the lead and I thought Yale needed another goal, which they got relatively quickly about seven minutes into the third period. At that point I was certain Yale would win because Quinnipiac was bound to make a mistake trying to score and Yale had the speed to capitalize on it. I was right and Yale got a break-away goal from its captain to make it 3-0 about 12 minutes into the third period. With players on each side being in the penalty box—and 4 to 4 matchup—Quinnipiac with seven minutes to go pulled its goalie and Yale got an empty net goal. After that it was simply a matter of time.

I hate to tell you this, but I found Trouble with the Curve [the 2012 Clint Eastwood movie reviewed approvingly on January 20] so boring I read through most of it. The beginning was very very boring to me, and I glanced at it from time to time, and it didn't seem any better. I did watch the ending and liked it. I'm sorry, maybe I would have liked it better in a theater or with someone who liked it, but Trish didn't like it either and went into another room to watch TV. SORRY.

When I say the "real" NC is a backward place run by small-minded, corrupt people, I have my reasons.
    The politicos create a law that will get members of an endangered species killed, supposedly in part to help deal with the coyote problem: "Red wolves need our help."
    Now read to the end of this to see how coyotes got here to begin with and the fox hunter legislation involved in that: "Wildlife Group Off on Vain Hunt?"
    How long before the politicos start grabbing Homeland Security money by having coyotes declared terrorists for trying to take out planes? "Coyote population steadily rising in N.C."
    Big dogs no longer deter them, they eat corn, and pets—and they can even stand to live in downtown Charlotte—when do we go nuclear? "Henderson County coyotes are here to stay."

Limerick of the Week:

Why do I sometimes wait till Thursday night,
When the pressure's on and I'm not too bright,
    To sit me down
    To look around
And try to think of a limerick to write?

_______________
Copyright © 2013 by Morris Dean

Please comment