The Eliot Spitzer thing just boggles the mind. Not the facts, but the scandal. So...a man who prostitutes himself to get elected consorts with a woman who prostitutes her body for money -- what's the big deal? People are surprised by this?
I'm not much of a Byron fan, but I'd love to read his take on this 21st century cant.
For not supporting Linda Greenhouse in a more substantial way against the attacks of M. Edward Whelan III.*
Full disclosure: I enjoy Greenhouse's reporting on the Supreme Court, devoured her bio of Justice Blackmun, and do not share toothpaste with Greenhouse (or Blackmun, for that matter).
*Somewhat unfortunate initials for a pundit.
In case anyone has been wondering what Mr. S.C. has been up to...apparently, it's with a judge with a big mouth. Whoopsie!
Thanks to Skelly for bringing this to our attention.
The ABA sent out an email about the Third Annual Homeland Security Law Institute. One of the speakers was listed as:
The Honorable John Ashcroft
It took me a few moments to realize they were talking about the former Attorney General. And as much of a stickler for titles as I am, I'd choke before I referred to him as "honorable."
Particularly if you followed my brother's progress on my blog during the time he was deployed -- you'll get to learn the things I wasn't able to blog about then. And look online, too, for a really gorgeous picture of him.
I had to run out over lunch and while doing so, listened to OPB. During a Talk of the Nation local break, there were two stories that caught my attention:
The first story was about a case for which my neighbor in front of me worked on the plaintiffs' side.
The second story was about a case where my neighbors directly behind me are the plaintiffs.
Weird.
I was delighted today to learn that the Pentagon is allowing Pentacles* to appear on the gravestones of fallen Wiccan US soldiers. This was an issue my father (a UCC minister and a former military chaplain) ended up getting involved in (I believe) by performing a funeral for one of the soldiers involved, else I wouldn't have known much about it. I'm glad the government finally came to its senses, but even this lawyer is appalled it took a lawsuit to get there.
*Technically, I think it's the Department of Veteran Affairs, but allow me a little alliteration this late at night.
I was cheerfully reading the Oregonian story about Nike's grant of money for Hillsboro schools -- after all, chances are my daughter will attend Beaverton or Hillsboro schools -- until I reached this quote:
Orenco Principal Tim Bishop agreed, calling it the most innovative company in Oregon.
"Nike's real open for us to learn from them," Bishop said. "It's kind of a two-way street, and we'll be able to use their expertise."
From: John
Just shot an interview with john edwards.
Super cool guy
Feb 16, 4:49 pm
Homeless dumping? Jesus Christ -- what kind of cold bastard could jettison a paraplegic man on the streets in a hospital gown, socks, and a broken colostomy bag?
I guess this is one way to capture the kids' interest in the space program.
How is it that my massive 38 E underwire doesn't set off the TSA metal detector at the Portland Airport?
And to the guy behind me: we really don't care what your wife is making for dinner tonight. Hang up the damn phone!
There's a picture of my father (actually, two) on CNN regarding the refusal of the Pentagon to allow pentagrams on the graves of dead US soldiers.
That was kind of surprising.
Germany
Dec. 11, 1918
Miss Maude Canfield
Harvard, Idaho
Dear Maude,
I have received all three of your letters Maude and was sure glad to hear from you and to hear that you are well for this leave me fine and dandy at the present time all but being a little bit lonesome but I guess i will make up for it when I get back. Ha. Ha. Maude I am sure sorrow that I could not write you sooner for we have been pretty busy here for the last month. Marching. We have march all the way across Belgium and about 30 miles of Germany and did not have time to write to any body so you will have to excuse me for not writing sooner. I will try and do better from now Maude.
We was on the way to the front line the morning of the 11th Nov. and some feller come running to us from a house and say that the war was over and a armistice was to stand at a 11 o'clock and it was sure hard to believe for the way our gun was going to it and the Huns was dropping a few along the road it was about 9:30 then and we march into a little Belgian town about 11:00 and stop for Dinner and found out for good and the Bag Pipe band we have in the battalion began to play and all the Belgians running around us and Dance. I guess the whole town was there dancing and it sure was some show to see Maude. I guess all the people over here can Dance forever. Town we march into for the first three days you would see kid about 4 year old danicng and women up to 90 year old dancing in the street. Ha.Ha.
I was sure sorrow to hear that the Spanish Flu was over there. But glad to hear that you did not have it for it sure is no fun Maude I had it in the line last June for a week it pretty near got my goat Ha! Ha!
I received your letter wiht the snap shots and they are sure good fo ryou Maude. Is rue would like to be in that place where your sister was. Ha. Ha. I will have to talk nice to you when I get back and see if I can get you for my girl for the one I had before I joined the Amry has forgot all about me and it will be up to me to find a new one.
You say in your letter that you wish that you had a brother to come over here and fight the Huns. Well Maude I will be your brother as long as I am over here Muade so don't be downhearted. Ha. Ha. I will sure will have a lot to tell you when I get back to dear old uncle farm again and sit in the moonlight and spoon with you Ha. Ha. Well Maude I have to ring off for this time. Wishing you a Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year Maude.
I am as ever yours.
Bill
Pvt. A. W. Gunton
A Co. 39th Battln
#1 Platoon Canadian
France
Write soon
Excuse the bad writing
[Very marginally copy-edited to fix some really egregious mistakes and for clarity, but the more charming errors were left in.]
Brooklyn, NY
Nov. 11. 1918
Maude Canfield
Harvard, ID
My Dearest Maudy,
I received your letter last night and was sure glad to hear from you. I guess the Germans have quit at last it is sure some big day. Parades are going all the time and the streets are very crowded. Oh, how I wish you were here to see the things that happen. The people are going crazy they are just mad with happiness.
I am going to try to get out just as soon as possible and then that will be a happy day for me for I am tired of the life it don't suit me very well.
How will it suit you to have me come back and tease you and go out and have a real old good time, the kind we used to have only I have changed a whole lot. I know I sure would like to be back and have a real time once more. I will some day dear girl and then we will have a real time. I must close for now. Write soon.
Your loving Clark
Two years ago, I was in my last year in law school. My brother was in Iraq. And I'd really thought we might have a chance of getting him home if Kerry were elected. (Not that I much liked Kerry; I much favored John Edwards, and still do.) When the election returns came back, I -- like most of my classmates -- was devastated. The next day the school was a mausoleum, with people speaking in hushed tones and occasional bursts of anger.
Most of my conservative friends were diplomatic, and if they were elated, they kept it to themselves. (There's a reason why they're my friends, even though we have fundamental belief differences.) One of my acquaintances, though -- a woman I encouraged to put a Bush sticker on her car, if that was how she felt, though she'd mocked my Kerry/Edwards sticker -- was not diplomatic. She was ecstatic, and when she saw me, she made a nasty comment. I can't remember what it was (I blogged it, but it was on the old, dead blog), but it was only slightly more articulate than "Nah, nah: we showed you." I told her it wasn't polite to gloat, and she was mad at me for months afterwards.
If I were a better person, I would hope that she doesn't feel half as bad as I did in 2004. But I'm not that person. Today, two years later, with my brother home after he was almost killed three times, with permanent hearing loss and PTSD, I hope she feels a hundred times worse than I did.
I'm wearing blue tomorrow!
This guy left a flyer on my door this afternoon. The flyer is very funny, as it's missing articles and other words -- but the site is just about as good. You have to read it out loud, with the "My name is Natasha and I am from Russia" voice.
My favorite line from the site: Former Mayor of City of Portland (OR) Vera Katz ignored my help and she got cancer which could have been prevented.
Second favorite: Federal law: "No Child Left Behind" is so stupid as it's creators. Third: Instead of to take much more money for transportation projects from some companies and special interests who do not pay taxes or pay very little, Senator Smith puts our nation in bigger debt. What an idiot. "Best Dressed Senator". How about his brain? Toys are dressed good too. The reader judges a book not by cover, but how helpful it is.
Yeesh. And I don't even like Gordon Smith.
My brother Phil was in Iraq last year. He was involved in two IED explosions in the last couple of weeks he was there. He is mostly fine, if you discount a bit of PTSD and some hearing loss. These photos are from a different incident.
The remote detonator:
The Humvee after:
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