News

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Star Quality

Here’s, Johnny..

Johnny Carson has died.

Did you notice that this most famous of teevee men didn’t go out hawking any particular political philosophy, denture cleanser, or other feel good issue of the day?

Johnny Carson stepped away from the Tonight Show and lived the remainder of his life the way he saw fit.

“Johnny Carson, King of Late Night, Dies"

"I have an ego like anybody else,” Carson told The Washington Post, “but I don’t need to be stoked by going before the public all the time."

The “King of Late Night,” indeed.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/23 at 11:55 AM
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Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned

Never too late to the party, evidently…

Some woman, formerly employed by Temple University, is alleging that

”...she recalls Mr. Cosby touching her breast and placing her hand on his genitals."
Though she also states
”...that her memory of that night is poor,..."

The alleged incident took place, allegedly, about one year ago, and the woman is just now coming forward.  The police term this a

”...historical sex assault..."

Why did the woman wait so long to report this alleged incident, you ask?  Here’s why.

"The woman reportedly told police she did not immediately come forward because of Mr. Cosby’s fame and her position at the university at the time."

Right.  And now that I’m out of a job, and need a few bucks, and Bill doesn’t call, and he doesn’t write, well, damn him, I’ll sick the cops on his ass.

“Police remain mum about Cosby allegations"

I wonder if the woman has been speaking with Naomi Wolfe?

Posted by John Venlet on 01/23 at 06:34 AM
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Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Ism Schism

So that’s why they hate us, supposedly…

Commentary has published a piece, written by David Gelernter, titled “Americanism—and Its Enemies." Gelernter’s piece purportedly finds that Puritanism isn’t dead, but has instead morphed into Americanism, with the Bible acting not only as the tie between the two, but as the focal point of the potency of both of these isms.  In support of this thesis, Gelernter provides many interesting points to ponder, noting old tyme preachers, founding fathers, various historians of renown, American-Zionism, the Bible, and, of course, democracy.

After reading Gelernter’s piece over a few times, all I have to say is that if being an American entails what Gelernter believes, then I am an enemy of Americanism, also.  But I don’t necessarily think Gelernter’s Americanism is the focal point of the hate which supposedly dogs Americans.  I think the focal point of the hate, if indeed it is hate, is much more simple.  It’s called envy.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/19 at 04:56 PM
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Saturday, January 15, 2005

Looking For a Career Kids? Try Stripping

A big bust helps…

"Students at a Palo Alto middle school learned more than school officials ever expected when a recent “career day” speaker extolled the merits of stripping and expounded on the financial benefits of a larger bust.”

“...He told the students, “For every two inches up there, it’s another $50, 000,” according to Jason Garcia, 14."

But don’t do cartwheels on the playground.

“Bump, grind your way to riches, students told"

Posted by John Venlet on 01/15 at 07:49 AM
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Friday, January 14, 2005

It Goes Deeper Than That

Not just a dumbass, ignorant, too…

Reportedly, individuals around the world are up in arms over Prince (dumbass) Harry and his choice of Nazi attire for a private costume party he recently attended.  Jewish individuals have condemned Harry, as well they should.  Supposedly, Prince Charles was "incandescent with rage," and calls for a proper apology are certainly ringing in Prince Harry’s ears from all the compass points.  Well, except for the Mideast.

Articles, today, note that Harry will make a visit to Poland, as penance, to view first hand, what remains of the horrors which the Nazis visited upon the Jewish people.  This is all well and good, as Harry’s display demonstrated a real lack of understanding of what bastards the Nazis were, and still are, actually, as there are still in this day and age Nazis running around various parts of the world.  And I don’t mean just old Nazis from the days of Hitler.

But this whole brouhaha over Prince Harry is simply a masking of deeper problems, the problems of historical ignorance and moral relativism.  It is also a condemnation of those who purportedly write and teach history. 

Are the evils which the Nazis and Fascism visited upon the world glossed over when brought to children’s minds due to the moral relativism which has draped itself over current thought?  Is only victory over the Germans being taught in schools, and the moral evils of Nazism and Fascism ignored, much like the evils of Socialism are ignored when individuals look at the history of Russia?

As a friend stated in a post on another subject, instead of teaching hand wringing over history to our children, quite possibly we should be teaching them how to "cultivate their contempt." No costume required.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/14 at 04:29 AM
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Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Flu Shot Hysteria

Conjuring up demand…

Recall, if you will, in the later part of 2004, the supposed impending doom awaiting us all due to a shortage of flu vaccine.  A hysteria seemingly born and bred in the MSM, rather than by the man on the street clamoring for a shot, though the MSM did supply us with a plethora of photos showing the man in the street waiting in line for the “limited” supply of flu shots.

Granted, a flu outbreak could have terrible implications, if a particularly viral strain raised its head, but is the hue and cry for the flu shot more a government and MSM created demand, rather than a necessity for the man on the street?

After reading this article, in USA Today, titled “‘Nothing easy’ in flu season,” I’d state that the flu shot hysteria was just that, hysteria bred in the MSM with the assistance of the government drum beaters, as evidenced by this quote from the linked article.

"Yet now, health officials in many states worry that they will be left with unused shots."
Posted by John Venlet on 01/11 at 04:38 AM
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Saturday, January 08, 2005

Damn, I Didn't See That Shoal, There

Submarine aground, oops…

Well, there’s one Navy Captain who, in all likelihood, is going to lose command of his boat.  It seems the USS SAN FRANCISCO ran aground somewhere in the vicinity of Guam.  The SAN FRANCISCO is a 688 class sub, of the same type I was on during my days in the nuclear navy.

Though I rue the fact that this boat has run aground, it almost seems apropos, considering the city the boat is named after.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/08 at 07:34 AM
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