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Random Thoughts, Whatcha Gonna Do? Edition

Quail Hollow

The Crowdstrike-caused, world-wide computer outages on July 18 reminded me of an old joke that, in retrospect, doesn’t seem quite as funny now: If builders built buildings the way programmers write programs, the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization. I wrote a bit of software myself long ago in another life, and I still play around with some pretty complicated Excel spreadsheets, so I can attest to its truth. Which brings to mind a piece of advice from one of my computer science instructors: Always have a paper backup. ______________________________________________________________ The assassination attempt on Donald Trump wasn’t the … Continue reading Random Thoughts, Whatcha Gonna Do? Edition

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Random Thoughts – Oh, the Stupidity! Edition

Quail Hollow

The Stupid Party Gets Competition Who was it that first labelled the Republicans “The Stupid Party”?  I’ve often shared the sentiment.  A little discipline would go a long way toward implementing its policy preferences, which, before Trump hijacked the party and turned it into his own little personality cult, I largely shared. It seems there is always a splinter faction determined to “stand on principle” that is just large enough and stupid enough to prevent anything from getting done. For them, half a loaf is totally unacceptable – far better to starve.  If you don’t believe me, ask Kevin McCarthy … Continue reading Random Thoughts – Oh, the Stupidity! Edition

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Random Thoughts, Return of Sanity (?) Edition

Quail Hollow

The 80s Want Their Foreign Policy Back, Part II, or, Romney Was Right Let’s stipulate that both Republican and Democratic administrations have made their share of foreign policy blunders over the years.  The House of Representative’s vote this week to provide billions in assistance to Ukraine has the feel of a sea change, an admission of one of the biggest blunders of recent times and the correction thereto.  We all had hopes that Russia, after its disastrous experience with communism, would align itself with the West and begin the long march to peaceful prosperity.  Barack Obama’s devastating put-down of Mitt … Continue reading Random Thoughts, Return of Sanity (?) Edition

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Random Thoughts, Pick Your Poison Edition

Quail Hollow

Blind Hog Finds an Acorn Donald Trump is a dreadful man, but, as the saying goes, even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then.  Such is his recently-stated position on abortion:  It’s an issue for the states to decide, and the federal government must stay out of it.  Pro-life though I am, he’s right. There is nothing in the Constitution that gives the federal government any say in the matter – and unless you’re willing to embrace the penumbras and emanations of that document, you’ll have to agree that it says what it means and means what … Continue reading Random Thoughts, Pick Your Poison Edition

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Random Thoughts, Spring Allergy Edition

Quail Hollow

The Wall St. Journal’s Joseph Sternberg brings us news that Portugal recently had an election.  A new far-right party, Chega, which roughly translates as “Enough”, finished a respectable 3rd with 18%.  That’s enough to make its leader, entertainer Andre Ventura, a kingmaker as the new government is formed, but not enough to have much influence on policy.  Which is well and good as far as Mr. Sternberg is concerned, because he sees Chega as a party of loud, unfocused protest without a serious plan for governance or any hope of formulating one.    Says he, “Europe’s consensus isn’t immutable, it is … Continue reading Random Thoughts, Spring Allergy Edition

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Hope and Glory

Quail Hollow

When in downtown Boston, one must walk the aptly-named Freedom Trail, which passes many of the greatest landmarks of American history.  Near the site of the Boston Massacre and across the street from Old South Meeting Hall is a small square with a memorial to the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s.  On one pedestal is a family in Ireland, starving, in rags, at the point of death.  On another pedestal, a family of immigrants in Boston, still poor, the mother and son barefoot, but decently dressed and fed.  Although it has been criticized for representing “pious clichés and dead … Continue reading Hope and Glory

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The Education Dilemma

Quail Hollow

Several years ago I was active in a national business organization that has a large scholarship program.  One year I went to Elizabethton’s and Carter County’s high schools and distributed the materials to the guidance counselors.  The reception was cordial but not enthusiastic; perhaps, I thought, because they see lots of these things, there was nothing all that novel about this one, and they had more important things to do than chat with me.  Then came the encounter with the counselor at a rural high school who set me straight.  The truth was, he said matter-of-factly, that college wasn’t in … Continue reading The Education Dilemma

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Claudine Agonistes

Quail Hollow

Claudine Gay is leaving the presidency of Harvard University, but for reasons that escape me, staying on the faculty.  As has been widely reported, she said in her resignation letter: “Amidst all of this, it has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor — two bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am — and frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus.” Let’s see – confronting hate.  Tell it to the Jews at Harvard, who suffered through almost 3 dozen student organizations signing … Continue reading Claudine Agonistes

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Ya’ll Ain’t Gonna Like It

Quail Hollow

A recent editorial in the Wall St. Journal discussed Texas’s attempt to declare it a misdemeanor to be in the state illegally.  Texas has been hard hit by the Biden administration’s wretched botching of the border situation (“botching” is too tame a word, someone please suggest a better one), and is resorting to desperate measures that, however understandable, are almost certainly illegal.  Like it or not, border control is exclusively a federal domain. The editorial didn’t reveal anything new or suggest anything that hasn’t been suggested a million times before, reflecting the fact that everything that can be said already … Continue reading Ya’ll Ain’t Gonna Like It

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The Schools We Need and (for the most part) Don’t Have

Quail Hollow

There’s good news and bad news for local schools in the Tennessee Department of Education’s new letter-grade report card.  This is the first year of the report, and it’s always a good idea to take these kinds of lists with a grain of salt.  The methodology used always has its strengths and weaknesses, and may measure what’s important or may not.  TDoE itself describes the report as a “snapshot” that captures the situation at the school at a single moment.  As such, it isn’t indicative of trends, nor does it tell you whether the school has recognized problems and is … Continue reading The Schools We Need and (for the most part) Don’t Have