On his own time

Some years ago the campaign manager for a candidate for the California legislature was accused of murder.  When a reporter questioned the candidate about his manager’s activities, the candidate said, “What he does on his own time is his own business.”

Pressuring the Ukraine

When Trump delayed on sending the military material authorized by Congress for the Ukraine, I just assumed he was doing his usual suckup to Putin.  Now I understand why.  He was using that as leverage for his call for the Ukrainians to find dirt on the Biden family.  

Fifty-two Republican Senators will decide that this is no big deal.  Foreign interference in American politics is fine as long as it benefits Trump’s re-election.

The end of Governing magazine

Governing magazine was published for the past three decades; I’ve been a subscriber for at least 20 years.  It ran articles about local and state governments, an invaluable source if you taught or were interested in either of those subjects.  Since many newspapers lack the resources to staff state capitols, and since most local papers don’t cover local activities outside their subscriber base, a magazine devoted to state and local government filled a huge hole in news reporting.

It is still needed, but today I received an email explaining that Governing will no longer be published in a paper format.  Here is the key sentence:  “Governing has unfortunately proven unsustainable in the current media environment....” 

The email said I could get a daily newsletter.  Really.  Another thing to read on my screen.  Sorry, no thanks.

Sewing machines for Africa and more

I’ve been somewhat critical of religion.  I’ve written before about not understanding how a committed “Christian” can be a Trump supporter. 

Today I saw an example of how religious people should act.  We took our unused sewing machine down to the small town of Perkasie.  A church there collects them and ships them overseas to villages in Africa where recipients can use them to start small-scale businesses.

While we were there, a guy was unloading plastic buckets from his car.  He said that each bucket contained “sanitary packets” of soap, a tooth brush and toothpaste, and other materials that can be used after a disaster.  The empty buckets, of course, also have many uses.  The church in Perkasie acts as the depot for about ten churches in the area.  When they accumulate a load of supplies, a truck is called and the material is taken to a disaster site.  

Sex on a business trip

American politics is just too depressing.  Trump’s attempt to stop California from mandating higher gas milage cars, a policy that four companies have already agreed to, is one of the stupidest, most counter-productive actions in an administration noted for stupid actions.  This policy, unfortunately, will have long-range and global consequences.  

But enough of that.  Did you hear about the French guy on a business trip who died from a heart attack after having sex.  The Court ruled that this was a work-related accident, and that his employer was liable.

This is amazing news.  The court in Paris ruled that the law protected everyday activities of employees, and that sex was part of everyday life, “like having a shower or a meal.”

I don’t think the American courts would take the same view, although I am familiar with the “three state rule” that applies to American business trips.  That’s the rule that says if you are three states away from your home and you have sex with another conventioneer, it doesn’t count as being unfaithful.  Really.  You can look it up.

Ben Sasse

When I read Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse’s book Them, I was impressed.  Sasse wrote about how we are divided into tribal groups, and he had some suggestions on how to overcome this.  He wrote about the importance of community-building, and even discussed how high school sports helped to do that.

I was so impressed I sent him a reprint of my study of community-owned movie theaters in Kansas along with a letter praising the book, although I did criticize him for home schooling his children, which I thought was the antithesis of community building.

I never heard back, but that was ok, since I figured he was a busy U.S. Senator who kept his integrity in the face of Trumpian dysfunction.

I was wrong.  Trump endorsed him for re-election, and he has muted–ok, abandoned–his criticism of Trump.  He has turned out to be the usual Republican gutless toady who will do what it takes to win re-election.  

I must hand it to Justin Amash, the Tea Party guy who is running against Trump.  He’s a guy who seems to be unwilling to abandon his principles.  Sasse, the coward who only talks a good game, could take a lesson.

Response to Saudi Arabia getting bombed

So what.  Wasn’t that the home of all but one of the 9/11 bombers?  Isn’t that the country that dismembers critical journalists?  Are they are our allies?  Why are they involved in Yemen’s civil war?  Why do they treat women so badly?  Why do we even care if Iran blows up their oil refineries?  

Is Trump making money there?   That must be it.

Note to readers:  I didn’t post last night because our modem wasn’t working.  Today I learned what a “modem” is.  I also learned what a “router” is, which is what I use for my internet connection.  I already knew what a “keyboard” was–that wasn’t too hard to figure out.  I don’t know what the screen thingy is called; is that the monitor, or was that the ironclad ship that the U.S. launched when it was fighting the traitors in the Confederacy?

Tomorrow:  Ben Sasse, coward or toady?