The subject has been burning hole in my psyche for a week now.  Well, longer than that, I suppose.  Aspects of it have been simmering for a few decades, but now that the two most notable politicians in the country at the moment have stirred the pot the bubbles have risen once again and the steam must escape.

Last week’s 7/21/08 edition of The Weekly Standard had an article that caused the overflow.  In an article titled Self-Interest Is Bad?, Andrew Ferguson wrote his lead paragraph:

News reports of Randy Pausch’s death are circulating now.

If you haven’t heard his lecture or read his book you can get a start here and here.  And if you’ve heard the lecture but not read the book, I suggest you get the book.  Yes, it of course contains the lecture, but there is more there.  It is also somethnig you can pass on to others.

I’ve been very fortunate in my life, but will admit to thinking wishful thoughts as I listened to and read his words.

Gone at 47.  Very much too early, but he’s reached out to many many people.  I hope they were listening.

Source

Enacted or not, this shows a scary mindset on the part of those in charge.

Police given THREE HOURS to respond to emergencies under new Home Office guidelines

By Matthew Hickley
Last updated at 12:28 AM on 16th July 2008

Guidelines ordering police to respond to emergency calls within three hours and to attend less urgent incidents such as burglaries within three days have been drawn up by the Home Office.

The astonishing proposals were designed as ‘national standards for local policing’ in England and Wales.

because that’s where most of the clowns are.  Would have been a perfect traveling circus.

Giraffe helps camels, zebras escape from circus

Jun 30, 2008

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Amsterdam police say 15 camels, two zebras and an undetermined number of llamas and potbellied swine briefly escaped from a traveling Dutch circus after a giraffe kicked a hole in their cage.

Police spokesman Arnout Aben says the animals wandered in a group through a nearby neighborhood for several hours after their 5:30 a.m. breakout.