I don’t what it is, but I’m a total jigsaw puzzle wussy.  Seriously.  Not only do I feel like I’ve suddenly become elderly by doing a jigsaw puzzle (wearing the shawl and listening to Paul Harvey probably doesn’t help), but I’m not even good at it.  Maybe once every two years or so, my wife […]

I don’t usually watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, but it worked out rather conveniently this time around, and even if it hadn’t, Danny Boyle – the director of the ceremony – is one of my favorite directors and I was really, really curious to see what he’d do with it.  Something loud and […]

As you may have seen, on July 8, Greenland’s ice sheet had melted to the point that it generally melts by the end of a hot summer. Four days later, NASA satellites took another scan and thought their scanner was on the fritz: 97% of the remaining ice sheet had melted.  Now, many are quick […]

The other day I happened to mention that it’s illegal in Oregon, where I live, to pump your own gas.  This was inconceivable to a few people, seeing as how it’s a law that, you know, makes no sense and protects nobody from anything.  This was compounded when I explained that it’s illegal to pump […]

Oh, boy, I’m going to get myself detained more often!  Not only was it relaxing, but I got to see the awesome creativity of people rallying around a non-cause!  I’m actually back from the orchard, so whatever you did worked.  Hopefully you used the opportunity to impress someone with your heartfelt concern (while making sure […]

Chances are pretty good that you’re familiar with Jules, over at the terrific blog, Go Jules Go.  Odds are really good that you’re familiar with me and my blog, what with you reading this sentence and all.  Also this one.  And this one. Et cetera. Finally, there’s a decent chance that you have a fair […]

First thing’s first: I have returned from exile!  In what can only be described as a global grassroots movement, the governments of the world have been forced to take notice, and I am home from my forced labor.  Also, my step-father-in-law just got tired of cleaning.  The tomatoes remain now, only in my dreams.  By […]

“We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.”  – page 20, Republican Party of Texas, 2012, […]