Category: Bits and Pieces

The comment section of the first part of this three-part entry took an unexpected, but welcome, turn when someone asked what the word “progress” meant.   Having not really considered the matter, I took it as a given that “progress” meant advancement toward a goal and that “Progress” meant the acquisition and use

UPDATE:  1/23/10 @ 7:30 PST:  Ryan and Viola have been found, scared, thirsty, hungry, cold — AND SAFE!  Thanks to all who helped publicize this story. Our local ABC news affiliate did a really solid story on the missing couple I blogged about earlier today: If you’re in California or

Few would quarrel with the statement that medical science has advanced more in the last 50-75 years in its ability to diagnose and treat disease, save lives and improve the quality of life than in all of prior recorded history combined.  The American medical system, relatively free of governmental intervention,

I grew up in the 50s & 60s, when “progress” was a popular and positive term.  Indeed, progress was all around us — in our homes, our cars, our televisions, our hospitals, even our kitchen appliances.  We were headed to the moon and beyond.  Sometimes, progress was a little scary; we had

As I suspected, the answer to my thought a couple days ago established that we have very few liberal readers left here in the Bookwormroom (So glad you still drop by, Helen, insults and all).  No wonder we have so few really good disagreements anymore. So, is this problem unique

Coakley just conceded, with 75% of precincts reporting.  I will blog tomorrow regarding this staggering sea change in American politics (and, yes, it is more significant than 1994 and 2008).

The race in Massachusetts is ridiculously exciting, but we cannot let it overshadow the fact that Haiti has gone from appalling to apocalyptic.  The Anchoress has details and urges all of us to continue doing what we can to help those poor people.

Sure hope the election today isn’t close, because you just know they’ll keep recounting the votes until the democrat wins.

Back when I was more active here in the Bookwormroom, we had a number of liberal readers, most of whom were here more to insult than to discuss, but some of whom made valuable contributions to the discussions here.  I wonder whether liberals/progressives/folks who see themselves as politically lef-of-center still

I’ve never heard of Ray Stevens, but I loved this video, which a local conservative friend sent me: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc_-L4fyLUo[/youtube]

When I switched from cable to satellite TV a few years ago I was very pleased, except for one problem.  The sound volume varied dramatically from channel to channel.  Thus, I was (and am) constantly adjusting the volume when I switch channels.  At the same time, I use a nifty