Jodi,

About the geometry teacher, there is definitely outrage in the McCallum household over that idiot. A couple of lengthy dinner conversations with the children over proper and improper teaching methods.

I can only hope a visit from the Secret Service scared that fool straight.

On a lighter note, my son is doing his annual year-end stand-up comedy routine at school for the parents night (which I write for him), and thanks to that jackass I was so very tempted to make a late addition to the material:

Did you hear about the geometry teacher in Alabama who taught angles using the example of assassinating the President? And they say you never learn anything practical in high school math...

But that's a china cup of a line which has got to be delivered delicately. And it's a little too edgy, so I resisted temptation. But I got to share it here so the creative urge was not wasted.

Mike O'B,

You mentioned Karl Rove. He was in Redding the other morning, the day after Mother's Day, to speak at a fundraiser breakfast. A few weeks back we had Sarah Palin for not one but TWO speeches at the twice sold-out 2000 seat Convention Center. (She was here the day after the writing-on-her-hand flap.)

The way things are going in this burg, I'm wondering if they are going to exhume Richard Nixon's bones and bring them to town for a visit!

From the Missed Opportunities Department:

I had been tempted to make Mother's Day dinner reservations for that Sunday night, but my eldest daughter REALLY wanted to cook a special meal for her mum, so we stayed in and made a feast.

Little did I know that at the restaurant we would have gone to that night, at the time we would have reservations and right next to our usual table, there dined Karl Rove!

I came THIS close to being able to get you a personalized autograph: "To Mike, Hope we didn't screw you too badly over the last eight years. Your friend, Karl."

Perhaps there will be another time...

Having said that, I agree with these police officers 100%.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/21/2768857/woman-killed-after- confronting.html

I honestly, deeply send my heartfelt thanks to those brave officers, who I believe did the right thing.

I think this story is fully appropriate in a thread about fighting for ignorance, by the way.

The stupid keeps coming.

Having said that, we would be willfully ignorant to turn a blind eye to
the fear mongering and panic being flammed in the conservative
media. They rant and rant and rant about the baby-killer, and finally
some sick nut takes the challenge and saves innocent babies by
shooting the doctor in the fucking head in church right in front of his
wife.

They rant and rant and rant about not filling out the census and
derranged nuts pull shit like the above story.   One of many such
recent stories about census workers attacked, by the way.

Now, again, personal responsibility. I get that the criminals in
question were sick and would have done something wrong with or
without fox news and talk radio.

But here's my point - what is the perfect freedom loving free market
solution to deal with the fear-stoking and hate mongering? Call them
on it publically. Right?

Here comes the point - so then, when people do it - people like Keith
Olberman, whose show mostly revolves around calling people on
their shit, their lies, the propaganda, he's written off as "just as bad".

Really?

One talking head says "the sky is falling!" And the second talking head
says "That moron says the sky is falling! What a dumb-shit thing to
say!" And people react by saying "they're both bad."

Goddamnitsomuch.

You republicans really want to curb the return of the "fairness
doctrine"? Then clean your own houses. Shut down your fear-
mongering horseshit on your own.   

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/21/2768857/woman-killed-after- confronting.html

Without judging the merits of the above case one whit: would you like to know how many women have *ever* been shot in the UK by the police under any circumstances whatsoever?

Two.

Simon BJ

We atheists will have to start carrying papers to prove we have a moral right to be here.

If it's any help, Jodi, as far as I'm concerned you've got a God-given right to be here, regardless of your beliefs. If things get bad and the mob comes looking for you, you can hide out at my place.