...I've been incommunicado for so long, I have no idea what to talk about!
How about this--the ol' hometown has spiffed up their website! The older version wasn't really bad, but it did look a bit tired and some of the information was outdated. The new one is actually very nice and easy to read, and wonder of wonders, doesn't use Flash or any other of your various inappropriate animation, yet is spiffy enough that it looks almost 21st Century-ish. Nice and neat and very well done. Nice photos, too.
Politics? Whew--been a while since I actually said anything that rose above mild mockery, but I know if you read my blogroll, there seems to be a lot of talk about conservative sorts making Republicans "pay" for acting like Democrats. Now call me crazy, but if you don't like the Democrats and their silly ways, finding a way to get them into power seems counterproductive. Something like cutting your nose off, then your entire head, to spite your face, which, for good measure, you decide to also kick. Yes, they've not been true to their stated goals, but is that worse than having the Party of Fecklessness in power? Sure, the world won't end (probably) if the Democrats are put in control, but here's the deal, if you're trying to teach someone a lesson--YOU DON'T HURT YOURSELF (i.e., ME!) IN THE PROCESS! Whatever happened to just beating them with a cane? That way you get the satisfaction of teaching them a lesson, and yet the stupid people are still a minority party. And hey, beat them with a cane, too, while you're at it, but just remember the idea is to NOT PUNISH YOURSELF (i.e., ME!) for the misdeeds of others.
Just remember, although there may be plenty of Democrats who talk conservative, they are beholden to the national party, which, believe it or not, isn't conservative. You might get yourself a nice conservative Dem as a Congressperson (i.e., convict-in-training), but that only means all the howling loons who actually run the party get to get themselves all the cush committee seats and chairmanships. Your guy just gets left standing around with his hands in his pockets. In local offices, even governorships--indulge your "punish 'em" fantasies all you want--kick out all the Republicans you want. But don't think that doing that on a national level is going to get you what you think it will. [UPDATE: Related take on things via Betsy Newmark (1st Update), and Kim du Toit (2nd Update).]
Lunacy? Hey, if you must ask, here's a nice story from the Land of Kennedy: Not it! Mass. elementary school bans tag
ATTLEBORO, Mass. (AP) — Tag, you're out! Officials at an elementary school south of Boston have banned kids from playing tag, touch football and any other unsupervised chase game during recess for fear they'll get hurt and hold the school liable.
Recess is "a time when accidents can happen," said Willett Elementary School Principal Gaylene Heppe, who approved the ban. [...]
Speaking of which, someone who NEEDED to run and play at recess a bit more, Dear Brother Leader hits the airwaves: Kim makes 1st appearance since nuke test. Like a groundhog, ain't he?
By JAE-SOON CHANG
The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Il made his first known public appearance since his nation's nuclear test, official media reported Wednesday, amid concerns that the regime was readying a second detonation.
Kim, accompanied by top Communist Party officials and military officers, attended a performance of songs praising him, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
The exact date of the performance was not specified, but Kim most likely attended the event Tuesday evening on the 80th anniversary of the "Down-with-Imperialism Union" — a political platform on which the ruling party was built. [...]
NOW THEN, off to find more stuff to talk about.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at October 18, 2006 09:43 AMIn regards to schools and liability, My middle boy, Nate, had somehow trapped his arm on the playground equipment. They got him out, but were obliged to call me and fill me in before he got home. They treated me with kid gloves until they realized I was reasonable and understood that these things happen.
Fortunately the offending play structure was not removed, just modified to prevent future re-occurrences.
Tag rules, dodge ball, however, is another story.
Posted by: Sarah G. at October 18, 2006 01:01 PMI do kind of agree with the danger of dodgeball, if the wrong type of ball is used. But the idea is still a good one, and like any sort of ball game, it's fun if the competition is fair and supervised so that you don't have guys taking off their helmets and beating you with it.
I think there's just too many people who are jealous that youth is wasted on the young, and seem to be trying to do everything possible to wrest it back away from them.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 18, 2006 01:27 PM