Analytics

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Post #3381 M

Quote of the Day

If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, 
he will scrutinize it closely, 
and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. 
If, on the other hand, he is offered something 
which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, 
he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. 
The origin of myths is explained in this way.
Bertrand Russell  


Tweet of the Day













Image of the Day


GIF of the Day





Price's Law and the 1%




Universal Basic Income? Thumbs DOWN!




Facebook Corner


(Libertarian.org). Is Taxation Theft?
Yes. Even if you argue that government provides services, there's nothing voluntary about related transactions, and government doesn't allow competition. Taxes cause a deadweight loss from consumer and producer surplus.

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Mike Lester via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists


Dolly Parton (with Porter Wagoner), "Just Someone I Used To Know"


Post #3380 J

Trump, the NFL Anthem Kerfuffle, and Impeachment

In my recent one-off post on the kerfuffle, I wanted to provide a more comprehensive discussion vs. the fragmentary nature of social media posts. I came down on the point one is entitled to freely express one's thoughts and opinions, but it depends on the right time and place--and your voluntary contractual obligations. Football players know this: they can't get in the face of a referee who has thrown a flag on them and tell them what they think of the decision. They can't engage in unsportsmanlike behavior, including taunting the other team. They can't sell space on their uniforms or helmets to commercial sponsors. Most people know this from their work experience: I never wear a preferred political candidate's button on my lapel, I don't discuss religion or politics at work, I never discuss privileged information on my blogs or social media (in fact, I never even mention my social media accounts or blogs at work, and I don't friend or follow work colleagues). I do not post anything during work hours (my employer is not paying me to do that). As any reader of my blogs or social media accounts knows, my work has not preempted my ability to speak out on issues.

When a football player is on the field, he is representing the team and the league; if and when he expresses himself, short of a disclaimer, his team and/or the league are responsible for what he says or does; there could be economic circumstances. including a fan backlash or lawsuits. The NFL knows in a major 2-party system country like ours, almost evenly split, it really doesn't want to get in the middle of petty political battles and lose up to 50% of its fan base.

For me and millions of fans like me, we don't tune in or buy tickets to see some rogue football players use their privileged status on the field engage in self-serving political messaging of any kind. It's not asking so much for players, like Americans everywhere, to act respectfully (i.e., standing, hand over heart) during the brief 3 minutes or so while the anthem is playing, to put the interests of the game and their job over the freeloader exploitation of coverage to propagate their idiosyncratic political views.

What then to make of Texas Congressman Al Green's quixotic attempt to impeach Trump (who, Green notes, called football player protesters "sons of bitches"? Well, surprisingly I do think Green has a point (although Trump's bluntness or use of profanity really doesn't bother me; this is part of his political persona. He kicked off his Presidential campaign with disparaging remarks about Mexicans and later his political opponents. Personally, I don't like it; I think his crude behavior makes for a poor role model, but the American people elected him, knowing the baggage of his personality).

As I mentioned in my earlier essay, I have issues with how Trump talks with respect to liberty issues. He has threatened to go after how companies make business decisions, like Ford, Carrier and Nabisco, which he considers unpatriotic for shifting production (say, to Mexico). There are serious issues with these threats, over and beyond economic illiteracy, the law of comparative advantage, etc.: we are talking about the rule of law, bill of attainder, breaching the separation of powers, etc. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if he would threaten some sort of government action against the NFL or its teams (even, say, a cutoff of military recruitment ads) if there is no crackdown on NFL player misconduct during the national anthem.

I do not think Trump should have threatened the players themselves, who see it as an infringement on free expression. It would be different if he had criticized the league or teams for lax enforcement of the league's code of conduct during the national anthem. Or maybe if he had suggested that Trumpkins boycott the NFL.

But when Trump goes after individuals who are exercising a form of political dissent, he's on very shaky ground. He's attacking the right of dissent itself; this is profoundly anti-American and anti-constitutional. He swore an oath to protect individual liberties, even when he profoundly disagrees with their thoughts or behaviors.

I think Trump is coming very close to crossing the line of an abuse of power warranting impeachment. It really depends on the nature or extent of his activities. I don't think it's a proper function of the government to monitor or enforce participation in nationalist rituals, like the anthem or the pledge of allegiance. I think it's more of a function of the private sector: fans can use their economic power as consumers to register their disgust with the NFL and team owners. The NFL may well consider whether the anthem should be played before games.

 I think under current circumstances the NFL should consider coming up with some accommodation, e.g., athletes unwilling to participate during the anthem should remain in the locker room for the duration of the anthem.

WWE Storylines

Well, I didn't watch my first PPV since dropping my subscription. I thought they did a great buildup to the Lesnar-Strowman confrontation. I didn't think they would put the belt on Strowman, who was like the anti-Lesnar--even bigger, stronger, more destructive. In a certain sense, I worried that WWE might pull another John Cena move--where they signed the former UFC champion to a lucrative contract, just to have him job to Cena. It made Lesnar look weak and devalued his contract. Although Strowman is perhaps one of the most athletic big men they have signed, it's very difficult to see how they could book serious challengers to an even bigger Monster. They might have had to book a gimmick to get the belt off him, like a Fatal 4-Way where the champion doesn't have to be pinned to lose the championship.

I'm not a fan of either Cena or Reigns, but I am particularly annoyed by how many times WWE management has been intent on shoving Reigns down fans' throats. He's now gotten even two bigger rubs this year: being only the second wrestler to beat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania and in this last PPV defeating the perennial champion Cena, surviving multiple Cena finisher moves. This is a strong indication that Cena is probably nearing the end of his career, with few if any championship reigns, putting the rub on up and rising stars (like Reigns), more feature storylines. I thought he was an obvious challenger to WWE champ Jinder Mahal with his anti-American promos (perhaps they wanted Mahal to have a more credible title reign). The problem with Cena is that he has never been a heel. It might be interesting to see him go rogue for a record-making final championship reign.

I'm still mystified by Jinder Mahal. WWE are now featuring a rematch of Mahal vs. Nakamura. Mahal's politically correct anti-American promos aren't really drawing much heat, and the WWE quickly distanced itself from Mahal's anti-Japanese rant at Nakamura.  To date, I haven't been impressed with how they've built up Nakamura on Smackdown.

Roode's "Glorious" gimmick is intriguing, an interesting twist in a modern-day Flair-like character. I'm still not buying Alexa Bliss as the woman's champion.

Ironically, Kevin Owens is getting the best exposure with his main event feud with Shane McMahon. I'm not crazy about the McMahon storylines, but I did not anticipate Owens beating up 72-year-old Vince with a head butt, leap flog and super kick. I think the Shane conflict is really a setup for a bigger battle with Triple H. There was a noted clip of Raw General Manager Stephanie McMahon briefly confronting Owens after his attack of Vince on Smackdown. Triple H notoriously turned on Seth Rollins and all but put the championship on Owens. I can just see the promos now: Triple H saying he made Owens champion, but he will now take Owens out.

Friday, September 29, 2017

Post #3379 M

Quote of the Day

The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success.
Paramahansa Yogananda  

Tweet of the Day















Political Humor



The Pauls On the NFL Anthem Kerfuffle





Facebook Corner

This is an extension of my comment on a LFC photo in yesterday's post.

[My original comment] First of all, this "progressive" retard doesn't know the difference between fascism and authoritarianism; this has nothing to do with State ownership or regulation over a private sports league. 

Second, NFL players have a code of conduct, including expected behavior during the playing of the national anthem. We pro-liberty accept constraints as part of voluntary work contracts; they might include things like dress codes, drug policies, professional behavior, etc. For decades, the opening ceremonies, including the anthem, have been part of football where players, with differing political views, made their statement on the field of play, not on the sidelines, prioritizing their beliefs over the game. Fans paid good money to watch a game, not attend a political rally.

Third, Trump's opinions have no legal bearing on owner decisions.

[Laissez Faire Capitalism] the NFL players have only even been outside of the locker rooms for 8 years (and only then because the nfl was given a bunch of taxpayer money to stage pro-military demonstrations), not "decades"

 Laissez Faire Capitalism you are partly right: the NFL did not REQUIRE teams to be on the sidelines for REGULAR SEASON games until 2009. I was thinking of Super Bowl games primarily, but you are wrong in implying there was a regular season prohibition. It really then depended on the policies of owners in question. I have seen it practiced over decades.

Let us recall Rule 5, which clearly restricts personal expression on the field:

" Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items approved by the League office, if any, must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and noncontroversial; must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be worn by players on other teams in the League."

The protests in question were certainly unapproved, controversial in nature and related to political activities or causes.

Now the NFL may choose to look away from enforcing the rule last Sunday given the nature of Trump's provocation and its player agreement. But my point remains: if and when you join the NFL as a player, you are expected to abide by its rules and code of conduct.

As for the Ron Paul-crazy like idea that the anthem is the State's requirement in exchange for stadium subsidies, I do not like public subsidies of sports in any form, but the ones you are referencing occur on the state/local, not federal level and the playing of the national anthem, again, has been a signature tradition for many, if not most pro sports for years. You may disagree with the tradition, and I would personally prefer not to see nationalist rituals. But if you're going to do it, do it right and respectfully.

Political Cartoon





Musical Interlude: Your Favorite Vocalists


Dolly Parton (with Porter Wagoner), "Yours Love"

Some Comments On the NFL/National Anthem Kerfuffle

I've already published my opinions on social media (principally Twitter and Facebook, usually reprinted in blog posts). Basically, I do not like to see nationalist rituals, like the National Anthem, mixed with sports. But if you are going to do it, do it respectfully.

Let's set the stage. last season, SF 49er QB Colin Kaepernick became notorious for his ("progressive") political protests of sitting, later kneeling during the national anthem. (Kaepernick opted out of his contract and became a free agent. As of this post, no NFL team has signed him.) A few other players carried the protest further, into this season. Trump notoriously noticed the incidents and basically told the owners that they should fire the players engaging in such protests. This perceived threat resulted in the backlash of last Sunday's nearly universal adversarial response from innumerable players on the sidelines showing solidarity with the malcontents and/or against Trump's meddling, owners and/or coaches locking arms with players on the field, teams refusing to come out, and owners/teams (over the past week) releasing statements distancing themselves from Trump's provocations.

Now there are a lot of nitpicking arguments going on: is there any rule about player conduct during the National Anthem, are the teams required to be on the sideline, even how long teams have been on the field for the National Anthem in terms of tradition. (I got such a response from LFC to a post I made on their photo, which was an exchange from some leftist terming conservative/patriot responses to unconventional behavior as fascist; the FB exchange pointed out the government healthcare was also fascist, i.e., aren't you being a hypocrite? LFC mocked my reference to a tradition of decades citing teams have only been required to be present on the field during the Anthem since 2009.

It's not like I keep a stockpile of NFL games since the 1960's for the opportunity to prove someone wrong regarding the National Anthem playing with players on the field. Some of the skeptics suggest that television preferences kept players off the field before 2009. This really doesn't make a lot of sense; if somehow this was a priority of commercial coverage, why would the NFL have made the 2009 rule?  Take this anecdotal comment:
Maslowski played for the Chiefs from 1999 to 2004 and always stood during the singing of the anthem.
From where? Inside the locker room?

What motivated the 2009 rule change? Inconsistent policies across teams?  A proactive change in response to notorious incidents in other sports, like the NBA? It really isn't material to the key point.

Now what about Trump's behavior, urging NFL owners to terminate football players who have been violating norms during the National Anthem? To a certain degree, he has a point. The NFL has a policy against a variety of self-serving or indulgent behaviors on the field, and the rules expect players to be on the sideline during the playing of the Anthem. While one can quibble over how well-defined the NFL rule is, there is an existing US code standard:
36 U.S. Code § 301
(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart
Now there is also a kerfuffle about an Internet meme going around (I may have cited it in one of my own tweets), but it's more of a nuanced distinction:
"The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem. During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses."
Please note, the meme going around several days ago said it was in the Official NFL Rulebook which is different from the Game Operations Manual. The Rulebook handles the rules of the game. The Game Operations Manual handles how teams and players should conduct themselves.
I've also seem similar distinctions being made, e.g., policies defined in the Game Operations Manual vs. the rules in the Game Rulebook. And in fact the NFL implied as much when it announced there would be no sanctions over last Sunday; the very discussion of sanctions implicitly affirms its right to impose sanction. Then there is rule 5 itself:
" Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items approved by the League office, if any, must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and noncontroversial; must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be worn by players on other teams in the League."
And we know that the league, on multiple occasions, has threatened to sanction players over violations of those rules.

As I was saying, Trump certainly would have been within his rights to criticize the NFL's perhaps too lax enforcement of professional behavior during the playing of the anthem.  And certainly behavior during the anthem is a legitimate issue; it was, for example, during the 2008 Democratic primary when a group of candidates placed their hands across their hearts--except Barry Obama, whose hands remained folded at his waist.

But when Trump urged termination of malcontents, it was an existential, disproportionate threat to one's livelihood for expressing oneself--far beyond prescribed NFL sanctions, such as a suspension or fine.

In fact, if you read among the earliest of my tweets on the kerfuffle, I was arguing against Trumpkins, saying Trump  wasn't simply a mere citizen exercising his constitutional right to free expression. As the President, he is sworn to uphold the Constitution and its values, including the right of political dissent. I thought that his actions constituted a possible violation of his power as President. For someone who has routinely threatened business (e.g., Ford,  Carrier, Nabisco, etc.)  with government sanctions for the "wrong" decision (say, shifting production to Mexican plants), it's not unthinkable for Trump to threaten the NFL or its owners if they failed to respond according to his preferences.

But what about the players themselves? Well, I make a distinction between what they do privately vs. what they do on the field. I don't have an issue with NFL players voting their conscience or speaking their minds (with any necessary caveat that their views do not reflect the position of their teams or the NFL) on their own time. However when you voluntarily sign an NFL contract, you voluntarily agree to certain restrictions on your behavior, including team owner policies and NFL rules and code of behavior. These may include, over and beyond the national anthem, drug tests and/or morals clauses (e.g., a Pittsburgh quarterback was sanctioned over allegations of sexual misconduct). If and when you break these obligations, you face the risks of sanctions, even termination, depending on your contract. And there are good reasons for this; for example, player misconduct could expose the team or league to economic consequences (e.g., television ratings, ticket or merchandise sales, etc.) or lawsuits.

There are differences among libertarians on this issue. To give an example, Ron Paul recently appeared on Alex Jones and had relevant comments on owner property rights and cultural marxism. One of his biographers published a strong dissent on Reason.com. For the most part, I agree with Paul's analysis, but I don't agree the national anthem is some sort of quid pro quo for sponsoring interventionist policies overseas.

But it looks like last Sunday's protests didn't help the NFL. Viewership is down over 10% from last season (which could translate to millions in lost revenue); there are reports of softening ticket sales, the jersey for the Steeler who alone stood for the anthem last Sunday has become an Internet best seller. Could the military, which advertises for recruitment, cut their commercial spots? (I saw that game beginning at a laundromat last Sunday). The NFL Commissioner has lower approval ratings than Trump. There are reports that Americans side with Trump over the protests from 58-65%? I myself am joining an NFL boycott until at least through Veterans Day (although to be honest, I've watched the NFL less regularly over the last few years, mostly to dwindling interest vs. politically motivated reasons.


Thursday, September 28, 2017

Post #3377 M


Quote of the Day

We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld  

Tweet of the Day













The Jones Act and Hawaii


(OK. This clip is dated; Barry is no longer POTUS. But the analysis is relevant.)



What Does Freedom Mean to You?





Sanders' Attempt to Bankrupt the USG




Choose Life: Little Girls Need Daddy Hugs





Facebook Corner


via LFC on FB

First of all, this "progressive" retard doesn't know the difference between fascism and authoritarianism; this has nothing to do with State ownership or regulation over a private sports league. 

Second, NFL players have a code of conduct, including expected behavior during the playing of the national anthem. We pro-liberty accept constraints as part of voluntary work contracts; they might include things like dress codes, drug policies, professional behavior, etc. For decades, the opening ceremonies, including the anthem, have been part of football where players, with differing political views, made their statement on the field of play, not on the sidelines, prioritizing their beliefs over the game. Fans paid good money to watch a game, not attend a political rally.

Third, Trump's opinions have no legal bearing on owner decisions.

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of the original artist via Liberty.me on FB



Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists


Dolly Parton (with Porter Wagoner), "We'll Get Ahead Someday"


Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Post #3376 M

Quote of the Day

The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.
Arthur Koestler  


Tweet of the Day


















Scott Adams On the Trump Mystique




Shapiro On How To Debate Leftists




Political Cartoon



Courtesy of Chip Bok via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists


Dolly Parton (with Porter Wagoner), "Holding On To Nothing"

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Post #3375 M


Quote of the Day

Organizing is what you do before you do something, 
so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.
A. A. Milne  

Tweet of the Day















ADA v Free College Courses




Ideological Feminism and Marxism




Facebook Corner



Remind people that China owns trillions in US debt, and taxpayers have to pay them interest.

Regulatory Dark Matter




Prairie Dogs Don't Need a Federal Monopoly





Political Cartoon



Courtesy of Steve Kelley via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists


Dolly Parton (with Porter Wagoner), "The Last Thing On My Mind"

Monday, September 25, 2017

Post #3374 M

Quote of the Day

I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it. 
Groucho Marx  

Tweet of the Day









Image of the Day

via Dollar Vigilante


Satire of the Day




Trump Is the King of Debt




Heuristics




Facebook Corner


(Independent Institute). Given the fact that the flag is now often synonymous with the military or police, and the checkered history between police and minority groups in the United States, I can’t blame Kaepernick for wanting to take a seat. To him, the anthem isn’t a song celebrating freedom, it’s a glorification of a group of people he sees as abusive.
Look, I'm a libertarian who is a former Air Force brat. I have my own issues with what Trump said about player protesters and how he said it. I also don't like mixing nationalist rituals with sports.

But the national anthem is part of the tradition. There are expectations we have of the men on the field, to be sportsmen, to be professional. In part, they are role models for kids. They have a responsibility for how they act in public. There is an expectation, even a US code, on how to act during the playing of the National Anthem. The anthem and the flag are NOT about Trump; they symbolize a heritage based on classical liberal ideals. Trump does not represent that tradition; he exploits patriotic sensibilities.

Everybody knows that the national anthem is part of the spectacle of professional football; it has been all my life. The NFL even discusses it and expectations of professionalism in their rule book.

We often have to deal with expectations in our voluntary work contracts. We often have to adhere to appearance standards, we have to respond on the job professionally to adverse situations, we can't disclose privileged information, etc. We knew these policies when we took the job. Yes, they constrain our liberty, but we are free not to accept that job offer.

When these NFL "professionals" took the job, they knew that part of their responsibilities was to respond reverently for the 2-3 minutes of the national anthem, never mind wear a uniform and gear which may not reflect their personal preferences or work for a coach who may be an asshole. This is not a time for players to abuse their celebrity to impose their political views on the fans.

The NFL needs to make a decision: either retain or get rid of the national anthem before football games. I have no issue with the latter. But if you're going to do it, do it right. And that includes telling the malcontents to suck it up. No one is telling them how to vote or whether to agree with Trump. But having a temper tantrum in front of a national audience is divisive and unacceptable; you aren't sitting at home arguing politics. You know the tradition; you are dishonoring your predecessors who exercised more self-discipline and self-respect.


No, I also feel irritated by entertainers who use awards to impose their political ideology on other people who didn't choose to go to a political rally. I don't give a damn what a loser QB thinks. It's not about one's political beliefs; he went into the job knowing he was expected to act professionally, He is a loser of epic proportions.

(Cato Institute). A solid majority of Americans oppose firing NFL players who refuse to stand for the national anthem before football games in order to make a political statement.
When you work for a company, there are expectations. In the case of football, the national anthem is part of the game-opening ritual; in fact, the NFL has policies in place regarding expectations of player appearance during the anthem. I've seen thousands of athletes comply with these rules for decades.

The rule book does not specify a sanction of termination, But when you decide to engage in deliberately provocative, indulgent, divisive, unprofessional behavior vs. honoring a tradition for decades for a mere 2-3 minutes at the start of a game, I think an owner or coach has to consider the player's discipline, judgment and team mentality. What father wants his son to follow the bad example of a rogue football player?

We are not talking about a football player's right to self-expression. But we as libertarians honor agreements we made in good faith. If football players cannot do the same, they should find another line of work.


Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Jerry Holbert via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists


Dolly Parton (with Porter Wagoner), "Daddy Was an Old-Time Preacher Man"

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Post #3373 M

Quote of the Day

Books, the children of the brain.
Jonathan Swift 


Tweet of the Day























































Image of the Day


Sarcasm by Dank Pro-Life Memes on FB

Facebook Corner


(Cowboys Nation). Jerry Jones, Owner of the Dallas Cowboys called a meeting with all of his Coaches, Players and field staff and firmly told them, "You are all simply paid performers on a stage and that field is my stage! You will stand, with your hand over your heart and with respect, when our Country's National Anthem is being played or you will no longer be a Dallas Cowboy, a Coach for the Dallas Cowboys or have any association with the Dallas Cowboy Organization! I will immediately fire you, no matter who you are!"
I guess if you stand as a Cowboy you are a b**** (trumps words) and Jerry Jones owns you. You are not free!! So sad he has no respect.
They all voluntarily signed contracts with the Cowboys organization. Many companies/employers have morals or behavior causes which restrict performance on or off the job. (For instance, I have worked for the government, directly or indirectly, which has non-drug policies.) Some jobs come with a business dress code. Businesses have a reputation to uphold, and they don't like having to defend or explain the unprofessional or criminal behavior of their employees.

No, the Cowboys can't tell their players how to vote or think. But they make policy, and if you as a player break the contract, there are consequences. If you put your priorities ahead of your employer's, don't be surprised if not only you lose your job, but you find it hard to find other employers who will put up with your crap.


Laudato Si: A Catholic Economist Responds




Political Cartoon



Courtesy of Jerry Holbert via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists


Dolly Parton (with Porter Wagoner), "Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark". I can still remember the syndicated show with Dolly pitching laundry detergent that came with a free towel.