Fauxlosophy

The difference between an open mind and ideological mind is this; when an ideological mind learns conflicting facts it changes the way it argues. When the open minded person learns of inconsistencies, it changes the way they think.

Come Halliburton or high water

Halliburton has pleaded guilty regarding the 2011 Gulf spill, but not because the record shows them doing anything wrong. No because they records don't show anything at all since Haliburton destroyed them and that's what alas they are pleading guilty to doing. The CEO and major stockholders such as Dick Cheney, how could their moral compass go awry?

A goose that's worth a gander

The jury in Sanford, Florida has spoken and George Zimmerman has been acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin. According to many legal experts this verdict was a good call, since the state did not meet the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.  So  those who are upset with the verdict as well as those who are jubilant about it, all have to abide by the rule of law. And as is his  undeniable right, George Zimmerman chose not to testify in his own defense, an option which is ingrained in our legal system and should, of course,  continue. What should not continue, as I have so often heard from my friends on the right, is the presumption that when someone won't testify citing their right not to incriminate themselves it infers that they must certainly be guilty. That is an argument they can never legitimately use again, since their guy, George Zimmerman took that option. This would indeed appear to be food for thought as a sauce for the goose that is certainly worth a gander.

This week in dumb da dumb, dumb, dumb

 The High Court in Iowa had a pretty low standard when they backed up a dentist who said that he could fire his assistant because he considered HER too attractive.  It gets better. He said because of her attractiveness he had to fire her because - and this would not be his fault - he could have an affair with her. Are we sure Anthony Scalia and Clarence Thomas are not on that court?

This week in are you friekin' kidding me???

Palin may have been the smart one. Republican congressman Michael Burgess last week argued against abortion based on the fact that fetuses feel pleasure as well as pain and inferred that they masturbate at 15 weeks in the womb. It gets better, he's an OB/GYN

This weekend dumb da dumb dumb, dumb

Its not easy being green. The North Carolina State Legislature noticed that people who were driving hybrid or electric cars use fewer gallons of gas. Okay that makes sense. What they didn't like is that by not using all that gas they are not paying taxes on all that gas they are not using, so they have proposed a "solution". And that would be a special tax on hybrids and electric cars, $50 a year on a hybrid, $100 on an electric so even if those car owners save on gas, they won't save on gas taxes. Are we sure the North Carolina legislators are Republican not populated by Kenyan Socialists?

This week and dumb da, dumb dumb, dumb

 A gentleman I met in East Haven, CT (who shall remain nameless because I don't actually know his name ) actually believes (!) that actress Tina Fey is not spoofing Sarah Palin. Rather, (and I have to repeat he actually believes this) he maintains that Tina Fey and Sarah Palin are the same person pulling a hoax on the American people. Right, and the plot originates from President Obama's Kenyan socialist mosque. Even more surprising...I met him at a luxury car dealership...I guess brains and wealth are not always synonymous.

Dog-gone Right

The American heart Association says that owning a dog may well produce the following results "reduce stress levels, cardiovascular risk, and obesity". Those folks way back in the Middle East domesticated wolves for a reason, and whether we know or not we're all better off with a good beast!

Fun faux quote of the week

Senator Marco Rubio appeared on "This week" spoke about the election in Iran of cleric Hassan Rowhani who advocates a "more conciliatory" approach to the world. Mr. Rubio said "he is moderate by Iranian  political standards which is not what we would describe as moderate here in the west". Remember, Marco Rubio is considered moderate by the Tea Party standards, which again, is not how we would describe "moderate" in the west.

This weekend, in dumb da dumb dumb, dumb

On the subject of designated drivers, it turns out that folks under the influence need some better influences. Surveys show conclusively that at least 40% of the "designated drivers" actually drink and 20% to the point of being impaired. Apparently the "designated drivers" are chosen by their group because they are (according to their answers on surveys) "the least drunk among them". That's like the most capable inmate running the asylum.

The Write stuff?

It turns out that for the typical student loan, the quickest payback is to be in advertising, as in less than 10 years to pay it off. The longest payback is journalism with the average time being a staggering 32 years. If you are a writer and you have the "write stuff", you might want to consider at least doing some advertising as long as you are a journalist, and maybe split the infinity it would take get even otherwise

This week in dumb da dumb dumb, dumb

The city of Milford, CT seems determined to take the lead as  Connecticut's most backwoods backwards city by  coming out with an "interesting" calendar for the 2013-2014 school year. Looking for a hedge against snow days they decided to cut off two particular holidays, the first being Veterans Day and the second being Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. I'm spelling out what Rosh Hashanah is because it's possible people from Milford reading this might not know. In any event under pressure they immediately backed off. But as a Vietnam veteran who is Jewish I am compelled to ask, Milford how don't I love thee, let me count the ways, While you're counting snow days.

When you see food, look for sea food

Survey after survey is showing a preponderance of evidence that people who eat sea food at least once a week have a 30% lower rate of dementia. What was our subject again? Oh yes, when you are looking to see food, make sure it is sea food.

This week in Who'd of thunk it

"Concerned conservatives" on the debt crisis might have a way to deal with it in the future, politically that is. That's because since World War II only three presidents have left office with a higher debt to GDP ratio than when they came in, and their names are Reagan, Bush, and Bush. So how do Republicans improve the debt ratio? Based on history, vote for Democrat Presidents.

This weekend dumb da dumb dumb

Pierre Lapupu of the NRA said to the convention in Texas this week "how many Bostonians wish they had a gun the day of the Boston Marathon?" Ok, and what would you have had these armed Bostonians do exactly? Shoot randomly at flying bomb fragments? Shoot the young man mistakenly identified as the bomber on the cover of the New York Post? Or maybe every kid with a backpack running away? Hey Mr. Lapupu why not wonder how many New Yorkers on 9/11, 2001,wish they could have shot the incoming airliners because guns solve everything? Or seriously now, how many wish they had a president was not so obsessed with allowing assault rifles to again be legal and clearing brush, that he actually took the time to read memos such as "Osama bin Laden determined to attack United States"?