We should also remember, however, that Mel Brooks, as the 2000-year-old man, admonished us, We mock the thing we are to be.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Technology helps but a little
We should also remember, however, that Mel Brooks, as the 2000-year-old man, admonished us, We mock the thing we are to be.
Pretty much where it all began
This announcement in 1993 brought Mosaic, the first web browser for general use, into the mainstream, albeit if your mainstream was a place where there were workstations made by DEC, Sun, IBM, or SGI.
It would be a few months before a version of Mosaic was available for VAX/VMS workstations and a few years before it was available on Windows.
The rest is more than history.
The rest is more than history.
How to remember better
Ray Kurzweil is a very smart guy with an eclectic set of interests, although most of what he does focuses on intelligence - what it is, how we get it, and how machines might someday be more intelligent than us.
It's not surprising, then, that Kurzweil would find very different approaches to learning and memory.
In one article, Why One Way Of Learning Is Better Than Another, he reports that a study of mollusks confirms that the brain learns better with lots of small doses of learning over a longer time rather than intense learning in a short time. In other words, cramming for exams is not effective. (For something completely different, here's a way to learn something about mollusks from Monty Python (YouTube).)
Or, as Kurzweil discovered, you can just spray some stuff up your nose and get smarter. - Scientists Develop Nasal Spray That Improves Memory.
It's not surprising, then, that Kurzweil would find very different approaches to learning and memory.
In one article, Why One Way Of Learning Is Better Than Another, he reports that a study of mollusks confirms that the brain learns better with lots of small doses of learning over a longer time rather than intense learning in a short time. In other words, cramming for exams is not effective. (For something completely different, here's a way to learn something about mollusks from Monty Python (YouTube).)
Or, as Kurzweil discovered, you can just spray some stuff up your nose and get smarter. - Scientists Develop Nasal Spray That Improves Memory.
Crime in suburbia
From The Landmark (subscription required):
[Editor's note: 28 suspicious people, things, or events]
10:46 a.m. Lost-looking German shepherd
1:53 p.m. Motor vehicle with possible radiator issues, may be on fire
10:02 p.m. Sewage backup on Boyden Rd.
4:43 p.m. Suspicious male in Centerwood Dr. area; okay, just picking mushrooms
6:16 p.m. Two suspicious males on Woodland Rd., looks like they're casing houses
6:31 p.m. Suspicious person in Big Y Plaza
10:32 p.m. 911 People yelling and screaming on Main St.
6:01 p.m. No power on Quinapoxet St.
6:06 p.m. 911 Truck driving on sidewalk
6:41 p.m. Power outage on Quinapoxet St.
11:04 p.m. Three suspicious males looking in windows of business on Main St.
11:51 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in parking lot on Reservoir St.
12:47 p.m. Caller requesting information on how to start vehicle
12:54 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Bailey Rd.
5:25 p.m. Two males in Grove Cemetery
6:30 p.m. Complaint about neighbor's dogs barking on Winthrop Lane
6:32 p.m. Dog found on Wildwood Rd.
9:50 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in Dawson Recreation parking area
8:38 a.m. Landscaping vehicle parked on Salisbury St. inhibiting visibility
3:33 p.m. Suspicious incident at Mountview School
4:10 p.m. Caller regarding disposing of dead cat in front of house
4:12 p.m. Golf ball from golf course struck vehicle and caused damage; caller reports response unsatisfactory
4:31 p.m. Car hit by acorns on Autumn Circle; caught little girl throwing them
9:55 a.m. Crosswalk light stuck on red near Subway
10:03 a.m. Older male hitchhiking down Main St.
10:20 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle at Dunkin Donuts
11:42 p.m. Approximately 30 youths in Friendly's lot on Main St.; threatened business workers who asked them to leave
1:50 p.m. Crutches noticed near home on Cook St.
8:39 p.m. Person taken into protective custody
9:00 p.m. Possible blown transformer, power outage, Pleasant St.
5:10 p.m. Metal object in roadway at West St./Wildwood Dr.
11:57 a.m. Suspicious male with gas can walking down Pleasant St.
3:20 p.m. Trash dumped near South/West Sts.
3:25 p.m. Call regarding suspicious person, Camelot Dr.
5:28 p.m. Loose dog in distress in swimming pool, Hill St. Animal out and returned to owner
6:35 p.m. Unmanned construction vehicle has headlights on, Laurel/Marshall Sts.
8:28 p.m. Caller locked out of her home, Woodland Heights/Village Rd.
10:19 p.m. Report of loud music, South St.
9:05 a.m. Officer investigation, Town Hall Dr.
9:28 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Rte. 140 N
3:14 p.m. Assist animal control officer, Calamint Hill Rd. N
3:23 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Clearings Way
6:05 p.m. Officer investigation, Prospect St.
11:46 p.m. Public service, Main St.
1:09 p.m. Person at station with item found on Worcester Rd.
6:15 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Boylston Ave.
7:09 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
8:01 a.m. Public service, Main St.
8:12 a.m. Assist other PD, Sterling Rd.
3:20 p.m. Public service, Ball Hill Rd.
6:53 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Mountain Rd.
9:20 a.m. Assist other PD, Leominster State Forest
11:39 a.m. Suspicious incident, Sterling Rd.
4:24 p.m. Request for traffic control, Hobbs Rd.
11:48 p.m. Assist fire dept., Ralph Rd.
4:38 p.m. Traffic control duty, Hobbs Rd.
11:59 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Beaman Rd.
12:52 p.m. Assist fire dept., Beaman Rd.
3:30 a.m. Suspicious incident, Brooks Station Rd.
12:35 p.m. 911 hang-up, Mountain Rd.
12:45 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Thompson Rd.
4:19 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout, Sterling Rd.
8:09 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
8:59 a.m. People in yard taking signs off barn, Main St.
9:22 a.m. Caller wants to speak with dog officer about loose dog, Main St.
12:41 p.m. Man trying to wave down vehicles, Main St.
1:22 p.m. Officer at school, community policing, Main St.
1:25 p.m. Car parked at Rural Cemetery with young male in back seat and another person who appears to be sleeping
1:29 p.m. Person at station to turn in items that came in mail. Unauthorized purchases using her credit card
8:38 p.m. Officer requested to remove person involved in shouting match, Main St.
11:45 a.m. Mandatory quarantine on cat attacked by unknown animal, Pleasantdale Rd. Cat vaccinated and received booster
4:05 p.m. Suspicious activity, possible sale of drugs, Memorial Dr.
8:15 p.m. Report of missing female, Miles Rd.
11:00 p.m. Line painting crew that only had DPW for traffic safety, shut down, Pommogussett Rd.
11:39 p.m. Officer wanted for line painting monitoring, Pommogussett Rd.
12:05 p.m. Officer speaks to female on E. County Rd.
3:39 p.m. Caller complaining that dog won't let her pass by house, River Rd.
4:12 p.m. Stop sign knocked over, Pommogussett Rd.
6:09 p.m. Caller wants officer for people in her back yard and problems with their dogs, Maple Ave.
10:55 a.m. Loose cows, Pommogussett Rd.
1:39 p.m. Resident wants to speak with animal control officer about dog issue, Peters Ave.
3:17 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
10:07 p.m. Flashing blue light at neighbor's house, Village Way
11:05 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer about neighbor issues, Main St.
11:10 a.m. Report of someone dumping trash in Dumpster, Peters Ave.
4:18 p.m. Suspicious male in vehicle parked across from pool, Maple Ave.
4:25 p.m. Report of golden retriever in yard, Campbell St.
5:11 p.m. Person has out-of-control six year old, East Hill Rd.
5:29 p.m. Person reports a skunk in his son's soccer bag, Crestview Dr.
11:15 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle parked behind building, Main St.
3:00 p.m. Person came to station to discuss landlord/tenant problems, Main St.
4:15 p.m. Report that gas line in car ruptured, Pleasantdale Rd.
6:18 a.m. One of three golf carts missing from Sholan Farms found in woods, Upper N. Row Rd.
8:59 a.m. Dog dragging pink leash, running in road causing problems with heavy vehicular traffic, Redemption Rock Trl. Princeton PD advised
9:42 a.m. Attempt to deliver message, Worcester Rd.
11:36 a.m. Officer wanted, person stole two bags of apples, Kendall Hill Rd.
4:16 p.m. Residential lockout, Main St.
5:45 p.m. Suspicious-looking male looking for pills, Laurelwood Rd.
7:17 p.m. Argument between male and female walking away from car, Mellon Hollow Rd.
11:42 a.m. Officer investigation, Upper N. Row Rd.
3:20 p.m. Officer investigation, Clinton Rd.
4:50 p.m. Missing cat, white with black spots, Redstone Hill Rd.
8:14 a.m. Dead animal at Princeton/Wilder Rds. Traffic swerving to avoid it
9:30 a.m. Officer investigation, Redemption Rock Trl.
11:35 a.m. Suspicious activity, Waushacum Ave. Medicine cabinet open in home, tracks in house
6:25 p.m. Paperwork served to person on Holden Rd.
9:07 p.m. Someone yelling in woods behind home, Newell Hill Rd.
[Editor's note: 28 suspicious people, things, or events]
Holden
Monday, September 28
4:00 a.m. Pumping station alarm sounding on Quinapoxet St.10:46 a.m. Lost-looking German shepherd
1:53 p.m. Motor vehicle with possible radiator issues, may be on fire
10:02 p.m. Sewage backup on Boyden Rd.
Tuesday, September 29
1:20 p.m. 911 Suspicious person on Anderson Ave.4:43 p.m. Suspicious male in Centerwood Dr. area; okay, just picking mushrooms
6:16 p.m. Two suspicious males on Woodland Rd., looks like they're casing houses
6:31 p.m. Suspicious person in Big Y Plaza
10:32 p.m. 911 People yelling and screaming on Main St.
Wednesday, September 30
5:33 p.m. Suspicious call regarding credit card, believes it was a scam6:01 p.m. No power on Quinapoxet St.
6:06 p.m. 911 Truck driving on sidewalk
6:41 p.m. Power outage on Quinapoxet St.
11:04 p.m. Three suspicious males looking in windows of business on Main St.
11:51 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in parking lot on Reservoir St.
Thursday, October 1
2:12 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Reservoir St.12:47 p.m. Caller requesting information on how to start vehicle
12:54 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Bailey Rd.
5:25 p.m. Two males in Grove Cemetery
6:30 p.m. Complaint about neighbor's dogs barking on Winthrop Lane
6:32 p.m. Dog found on Wildwood Rd.
9:50 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in Dawson Recreation parking area
Friday, October 2
2:02 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Main St.8:38 a.m. Landscaping vehicle parked on Salisbury St. inhibiting visibility
3:33 p.m. Suspicious incident at Mountview School
4:10 p.m. Caller regarding disposing of dead cat in front of house
4:12 p.m. Golf ball from golf course struck vehicle and caused damage; caller reports response unsatisfactory
4:31 p.m. Car hit by acorns on Autumn Circle; caught little girl throwing them
Saturday, October 3
2:51 a.m. Two suspicious individuals on Main St.9:55 a.m. Crosswalk light stuck on red near Subway
10:03 a.m. Older male hitchhiking down Main St.
10:20 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle at Dunkin Donuts
11:42 p.m. Approximately 30 youths in Friendly's lot on Main St.; threatened business workers who asked them to leave
Sunday, October 4
12:28 a.m. Individuals behind Dawson Recreation1:50 p.m. Crutches noticed near home on Cook St.
8:39 p.m. Person taken into protective custody
Paxton
Monday, September 28
9:45 a.m. Officer out with disabled motor vehicle, Richards Ave.9:00 p.m. Possible blown transformer, power outage, Pleasant St.
Wednesday, September 30
10:47 a.m. Report of home being fraudulently listed on Craig's list as part of rental property scam, Pleasant St.5:10 p.m. Metal object in roadway at West St./Wildwood Dr.
Thursday, October 1
5:52 p.m. Manhole cover out of place at West St./Wildewood Dr.Friday, October 2
11:57 a.m. Suspicious male with gas can walking down Pleasant St.
3:20 p.m. Trash dumped near South/West Sts.
3:25 p.m. Call regarding suspicious person, Camelot Dr.
5:28 p.m. Loose dog in distress in swimming pool, Hill St. Animal out and returned to owner
6:35 p.m. Unmanned construction vehicle has headlights on, Laurel/Marshall Sts.
8:28 p.m. Caller locked out of her home, Woodland Heights/Village Rd.
Saturday, October 3
8:07 a.m. Female's keys are locked inside her vehicle, Suomi St.10:19 p.m. Report of loud music, South St.
Sunday, October 4
10:51 p.m. Report of car alarms sounding, Suomi St.Princeton
Monday, September 28
2:25 a.m. Assist other PD, Justice Hill Rd., Sterling9:05 a.m. Officer investigation, Town Hall Dr.
9:28 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Rte. 140 N
3:14 p.m. Assist animal control officer, Calamint Hill Rd. N
3:23 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Clearings Way
6:05 p.m. Officer investigation, Prospect St.
11:46 p.m. Public service, Main St.
Tuesday, September 29
7:49 a.m. Traffic control duty, Sterling Rd.1:09 p.m. Person at station with item found on Worcester Rd.
6:15 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Boylston Ave.
7:09 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
Wednesday, September 30
7:07 a.m. Traffic control duty, Fitchburg Rd.8:01 a.m. Public service, Main St.
8:12 a.m. Assist other PD, Sterling Rd.
3:20 p.m. Public service, Ball Hill Rd.
6:53 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Mountain Rd.
Thursday, October 1
8:46 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Gregory Rd.9:20 a.m. Assist other PD, Leominster State Forest
11:39 a.m. Suspicious incident, Sterling Rd.
4:24 p.m. Request for traffic control, Hobbs Rd.
11:48 p.m. Assist fire dept., Ralph Rd.
Friday, October 2
4:49 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Westminster Rd.4:38 p.m. Traffic control duty, Hobbs Rd.
Saturday, October 3
2:39 a.m. Domestic disturbance, Goodnow Rd.11:59 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Beaman Rd.
12:52 p.m. Assist fire dept., Beaman Rd.
Sunday, October 4
2:16 a.m. Assist animal control officer, Beaman Rd.3:30 a.m. Suspicious incident, Brooks Station Rd.
12:35 p.m. 911 hang-up, Mountain Rd.
12:45 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Thompson Rd.
4:19 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout, Sterling Rd.
8:09 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
Rutland
Monday, September 28
8:41 a.m. Larceny of kid's bike, Main St.8:59 a.m. People in yard taking signs off barn, Main St.
9:22 a.m. Caller wants to speak with dog officer about loose dog, Main St.
12:41 p.m. Man trying to wave down vehicles, Main St.
1:22 p.m. Officer at school, community policing, Main St.
1:25 p.m. Car parked at Rural Cemetery with young male in back seat and another person who appears to be sleeping
1:29 p.m. Person at station to turn in items that came in mail. Unauthorized purchases using her credit card
8:38 p.m. Officer requested to remove person involved in shouting match, Main St.
Tuesday, September 29
11:30 a.m. Report that neighbor put sugar in gas tank of car, Maple Ave.11:45 a.m. Mandatory quarantine on cat attacked by unknown animal, Pleasantdale Rd. Cat vaccinated and received booster
4:05 p.m. Suspicious activity, possible sale of drugs, Memorial Dr.
8:15 p.m. Report of missing female, Miles Rd.
11:00 p.m. Line painting crew that only had DPW for traffic safety, shut down, Pommogussett Rd.
11:39 p.m. Officer wanted for line painting monitoring, Pommogussett Rd.
Wednesday, September 30
11:40 a.m. Request to speak with officer, Main St.12:05 p.m. Officer speaks to female on E. County Rd.
3:39 p.m. Caller complaining that dog won't let her pass by house, River Rd.
4:12 p.m. Stop sign knocked over, Pommogussett Rd.
6:09 p.m. Caller wants officer for people in her back yard and problems with their dogs, Maple Ave.
Thursday, October 1
6:08 a.m. Caller reporting her dog got loose, Lynnwood Dr. Dog later returned home10:55 a.m. Loose cows, Pommogussett Rd.
1:39 p.m. Resident wants to speak with animal control officer about dog issue, Peters Ave.
3:17 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
10:07 p.m. Flashing blue light at neighbor's house, Village Way
Friday, October 2
4:10 a.m. Strange vehicle in front of house and three people headed toward door, Colonial Dr.11:05 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer about neighbor issues, Main St.
11:10 a.m. Report of someone dumping trash in Dumpster, Peters Ave.
4:18 p.m. Suspicious male in vehicle parked across from pool, Maple Ave.
4:25 p.m. Report of golden retriever in yard, Campbell St.
5:11 p.m. Person has out-of-control six year old, East Hill Rd.
5:29 p.m. Person reports a skunk in his son's soccer bag, Crestview Dr.
11:15 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle parked behind building, Main St.
Saturday, October 3
9:19 a.m. Complaint that horseback riders rode through property and left a mess, Overlook Rd.3:00 p.m. Person came to station to discuss landlord/tenant problems, Main St.
4:15 p.m. Report that gas line in car ruptured, Pleasantdale Rd.
Sterling
Monday, September 28
2:08 a.m. Suspicious activity, two people in back yard by vegetable garden with flashlights, Princeton PD notified, Justice Hill Rd.6:18 a.m. One of three golf carts missing from Sholan Farms found in woods, Upper N. Row Rd.
8:59 a.m. Dog dragging pink leash, running in road causing problems with heavy vehicular traffic, Redemption Rock Trl. Princeton PD advised
9:42 a.m. Attempt to deliver message, Worcester Rd.
11:36 a.m. Officer wanted, person stole two bags of apples, Kendall Hill Rd.
4:16 p.m. Residential lockout, Main St.
5:45 p.m. Suspicious-looking male looking for pills, Laurelwood Rd.
7:17 p.m. Argument between male and female walking away from car, Mellon Hollow Rd.
Tuesday, September 29
11:19 a.m. Officer investigation, Justice Hill Rd.11:42 a.m. Officer investigation, Upper N. Row Rd.
3:20 p.m. Officer investigation, Clinton Rd.
4:50 p.m. Missing cat, white with black spots, Redstone Hill Rd.
Wednesday, September 30
12:10 a.m. Assist citizen who is lost, Leominster Rd.8:14 a.m. Dead animal at Princeton/Wilder Rds. Traffic swerving to avoid it
9:30 a.m. Officer investigation, Redemption Rock Trl.
11:35 a.m. Suspicious activity, Waushacum Ave. Medicine cabinet open in home, tracks in house
6:25 p.m. Paperwork served to person on Holden Rd.
Thursday, October 1
10:35 a.m. Black and white dog roaming area of Maple and Main Sts.Saturday, October 3
5:06 p.m. Multiple 911-hang-ups, advise children about playing with phone, Laurelwood Rd.9:07 p.m. Someone yelling in woods behind home, Newell Hill Rd.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Let the record show: I got nothin'
New Federal Trade Commission guidelines (FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials) define how bloggers and others must declare their financial relationship with products or services that they review. The particulars of the guidelines are laid out in 81 luscious pages (PDF document) with annotations such as this:
Well, truth be told (and that's what this is all about), the guidelines aren't that onerous. It's pretty much this:
There is a lot of angst (The No-Fun Police target the blogosphere and Is the FTC being used to marginalize independent bloggers?, for example) in the blogosphere about all this and some of the discussion is insightful.
If there are to be rules, and that seems to be the core issue, then us body-temperature-IQ bloggers, however, need simple rules and I think we have them.
So, for all who care, believe me, I've received no compensation from anyone and that non-compensation has had no influence on any products or services that I've discussed in these journals.
Well, truth be told (and that's what this is all about), the guidelines aren't that onerous. It's pretty much this:
If you receive compensation from companies whose products or services you review, you must disclose that relationship.
If there are to be rules, and that seems to be the core issue, then us body-temperature-IQ bloggers, however, need simple rules and I think we have them.
So, for all who care, believe me, I've received no compensation from anyone and that non-compensation has had no influence on any products or services that I've discussed in these journals.
Dept. of unsolicited tweets
Through various means, people can set up automatic schemes to follow you on Twitter. Mostly, it's benign. If they're following you, they can see your posts (tweets), but can't send anything to you unless you follow them. You can take the added step of blocking that user so that they can no longer see your posts.
Every day, I get a few of these unsolicited follower notices. I block all but a very few. This one is a superb example of why I would a) not follow and b) block one of these subgeniuses:
Every day, I get a few of these unsolicited follower notices. I block all but a very few. This one is a superb example of why I would a) not follow and b) block one of these subgeniuses:
The next time I need Greating Cards, I'll know where to go.
I have no idea if the company, SendOutCards®,to whom that shortened url points,is responsible for this Twitted intrusion. I hope not.
Then, again, this how the company presents its Compensation Plan to its distributors:
I have no idea if the company, SendOutCards®,to whom that shortened url points,is responsible for this Twitted intrusion. I hope not.
Then, again, this how the company presents its Compensation Plan to its distributors:
Dunno if these folks read my blog, but ...
A few months ago, I wrote about the bleakness that is Santa’s Workshop in Rovaniemi, Finland (Where there was no darkness).
Now, the Helsingin Sanomat is reporting that folks in Rovaniemi are wondering about the same thing.
Arctic Circle needs new magic to attract more tourists.
It's even thought that Santa, while all powerful at Christmastime, doesn't have enough mojo in the off-season.
“What does Santa do the rest of the year? As he is a mythical figure, could he convene a conference of other mythical figures in the summer -such as Batman or Superman? I think that there would be many ways to make Santa Claus a more special, year-round experience.”
Now, the Helsingin Sanomat is reporting that folks in Rovaniemi are wondering about the same thing.
Arctic Circle needs new magic to attract more tourists.
It's even thought that Santa, while all powerful at Christmastime, doesn't have enough mojo in the off-season.
“What does Santa do the rest of the year? As he is a mythical figure, could he convene a conference of other mythical figures in the summer -such as Batman or Superman? I think that there would be many ways to make Santa Claus a more special, year-round experience.”
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
The war for our hearts and minds goes up a notch
The Liberty Counsel has created a Adopt a Liberal Home program.
Until such time as I gain wider notoriety, you can just call me The "Unknown Liberal"
The good folks at WorldNet Daily, who brought this service to light in their story, Tired of gritting your teeth over liberals?, also note that
Until such time as I gain wider notoriety, you can just call me The "Unknown Liberal"
The good folks at WorldNet Daily, who brought this service to light in their story, Tired of gritting your teeth over liberals?, also note that
Liberty Counsel also said it will be creating a deck of cards similar to baseball trading cards, with one side featuring the picture of a liberal and on the other side some of their liberal positions "that negatively impact life, liberty and family."
"In this way people can pray for a specific person and then trade cards with their friends," the organization said. "There will be 51 cards, which is one card short of a full deck!"
Monday, October 05, 2009
One for Mrs. Meacham
Our high school English teacher, Mrs. Meacham, tried to teach us the basics of grammar. She would have enjoyed the headline on in this morning's Telegram:
It's a fun headline and in the same league as the line attributed to Groucho Marx Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana..
And, the Dept. of What the Heck?, the Telegram wimps out in the later online versions of the story by changing the headline to something parsable.
You can see an image of the full front page here
And, the Dept. of What the Heck?, the Telegram wimps out in the later online versions of the story by changing the headline to something parsable.You can see an image of the full front page here
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Gambling et al
I still think that a plan to boost revenues to cities and towns by way of casino gambling is dumb. It is dumb on a few levels:
- I think that it's a cowardly and cynical way for government to raise revenue by calling it 'fun'.
It's one thing to tax cigarettes, booze, dining out, or other forms of entertainment. We are not, in those instances, promoting those activities as good for our educational system. We're taxing those activities because we can.
In the case of the Lottery and, I believe, casino gambling, we are encouraging those activities because we want the money.
- It doesn't work.
With more states adding more casinos, we've reached the point where we're all just chasing the same dollars.
I arrived at my opinions based on my own observations, irrespective of the Telegram and Gazette's editorial policy. (Jeff, whom I respect greatly, and I differ on this one.)
That said, I don't have strong objections to people having fun in the way that they want to.
For example, one of my ideas of fun is to find old newspapers in my attic and see what they said about life then and how it might apply to life now.
In March of 1980, the Telegram offered this editorial on beano.
(At one time, games named Bingo were outlawed in Massachusetts. Social groups used the name Beano instead. Bingo was re-legalized in 1971, with the state getting a piece of the action, but beano was still commonly used for several years. Beano, the game, to my knowledge, had no relationship to this product, although these basement social halls did get a bit odoriferous after a night of play.)
The salient point, I think, is that the game of raising money takes the focus of the real mission of the institution, be it a church, Legion, or social club.
From the front page ads on the paper of the same day,
The issues, raised by religious leaders, however, are not exclusively religious or moral issues. The issues focus on how an organization works to build and sustain itself through its own contributions.
Who's your idiot?
On Saturday morning, while Glenn Beck loaded up on Vicks® VapoRub® and talked to local idiots, some of us showed our good sense and went to the Fallon Clinic on North Lake Ave. There we stood for 20 minutes in the rain to get a flu shot. Some (well, one) had neither jacket or umbrella.
There were, by some blogger's count, about 150 people in line. There were few complaints, with several folks remarking that they could have done a great business selling coffee to the queued patients.
The cop who was helping with crowd control also provided valuable assistance to people getting from and to their cars.
Now, where's that VapoRub®?
Now, where's that VapoRub®?
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