80 years ago today, the 21st Amendment was passed, repealing Prohibition, as dictated by the 18th Amendment. If you find the time today, take a moment to celebrate. (photo from this gallery at the NY Daily News)

So yes, I only work four days per week (never mind that it’s ten hours per day). Doesn’t matter, I sit here on Friday morning, paying my bills, and I can’t help but reflect that this was one long week, at least from the point of view of this observer. Relativity in action, folks, look […]

from a few different commenters in the fark thread for this column from National Review, about children of conservatives ending up being liberal: Liberals: “I’ve learned that…” Conservatives: “I was raised to believe…” That’s about the best description of this particular modern social dynamic I’ve heard.

So, tomorrow, Tuesday, is election day in America. Here’s where I make use of my little pulpit to encourage everyone within reach of my electronic voice to make the effort to get out to your polling place and vote. Sure, it’s an off-year election, and unless you happen to be in one of two states […]

So, it’s looking more and more likely that, barring a miracle before midnight, Tuesday morning I’ll be heading into the office to sign furlough paperwork, then getting essentially locked out until Congress can stop playing chicken with my paycheck. While I’m known for getting occasionally political in this space, I haven’t actually done so in […]

Settling in before starting what I hope will be a quiet workday from home. My calendar, at this moment, is completely clear of meetings, which is, perhaps a first. it’s been a rough week, especially the front half, though I’m convinced myself that I’m not going to let The Man™ (in the sense of that […]

Excellent grades in several AP History courses, a degree in History and Social Studies education (with significant credits sunk into American history), and the actual experience of teaching a high school honors history course as a substitute for a couple of weeks, and it wasn’t until today that I knew why the XYZ Affair of […]

Because I always do, The State of the Union Drinking Game. Sadly, I can’t really stay up late enough to watch, as I have to work my usual early (if from home) tomorrow. I’ll have to make due with excerpts (worth 7 or 8 drinks by my count) now, and the full transcript later.

Looks like the Boy Scouts have put off making a decision regarding gay admittance to the organization, at least until May. (incidentally, nice placement of the God and Country medal, the default Protestant religious emblem, in the photo on the linked HuffPo article. Points off for the age of the photo, though – “Quality Unit […]

I’ve been following with some interest the recent news regarding the Boy Scouts of America’s overtures over the last week or so regarding it’s consideration of lifting it’s ban on gay Scouts and Leaders. I’m encouraged, yet a little surprised, given that as recently as last year, they publically doubled down on the national organization’s […]