Recent Comments

1. over 9 years ago on Doonesbury

   Did Mark ever finish college? He’s still with NPR.

   Of course, by 1978 he would have been at Walden for nearly 10 years, so if he hadn’t graduated by then…

2. over 9 years ago on Doonesbury

   This makes it official: FDA is not wholly owned by pharm companies any more. Tobacco companies have bought in.

   Let’s be clear: There is no way to measure pleasure, so this study is bogus on its face. Anecdotally, I don’t see smokers getting much enjoyment from their habit, compared to drinkers or pot smokers.

   A Gallup poll in 2013 found 74% of smokers would like to give it up, 72% say they are “addicted” and 85% have tried to quit (on average, smokers have tried to quit 3.6 times). That doesn’t sound like smokers themselves are getting much pleasure compared to the health problems, loss of productivity, inconvenience and high cost.

   The rest of us don’t get any pleasure from smoking and a lot of “pain” – the smell, second-hand smoke, butt litter and heavy metals from butts leaching into soli and water, harming fish and plants.

3. over 9 years ago on Doonesbury

   Duke took the drug that makes you believe in the Laffer Curve and the wisdom of teaching Creationism in public schools. It was a well-received speech.

4. over 9 years ago on Doonesbury

   Joanie was over 40 when we met her back in the early 1970s, which would put her in her eighties now. But I guess that would mean she was in her fifties when Jeff was born, so GBT must have adjusted her age long ago.

5. over 9 years ago on Doonesbury

   Jim could have lived almost anywhere.

   Presidents Andrew and Lyndon Johnson both became President after assassinations of previous Presidents, in different centuries.

   There are many, many cases of land transferred from one state to another — due to changes in river borders, re-surveying of borders, court cases, Congressional action, etc. In 2013 the border between N and S Carolina was moved 150 feet — barely made the news. CT and NY, OK and TX, MI and IN, FL and GA all had disputes settled in the 19th or 20th century. Several E Coast states gave up land that became other states.

   Also, other countries have states whose boundaries have changed. Jim didn’t have to live in the U.S. to be aware of presidential succession here.

6. over 9 years ago on Doonesbury

   I either don’t understand or don’t agree with your overall point, but whatever - the part I would correct is the statement that Jones claimed she threw herself at Clinton. AK State Trooper Danny Ferguson claimed Jones had offered to be BC’s mistress but she has always denied this, and her behavior throughout the incident supports her claim, not Ferguson’s. Perhaps you are thinking of Gennifer Flowers or Kathleen Willey-the latter also publicly claimed she had not pursued BC, but less convincingly than Jones IMO.

7. almost 10 years ago on Doonesbury

   GBT named a book after that phrase – probably why it sticks in the mind. I am surprised at how often in life someone will say a line that I recognize from a D strip, although the speaker rarely knows it. You read a cartoon five or 10 times and that’s what happens.

8. almost 10 years ago on Doonesbury

   Far be it for me to comment on a female candidate’s clothing, but doesn’t that yellow outfit get ripe after a few days on the campaign trail?

9. almost 10 years ago on Doonesbury

   You’ve perfectly described Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-IL. Unfortunately born in Thailand.

10. almost 10 years ago on Doonesbury

    Then as now, some incumbents ran unopposed. If a law student is the only person willing to run against the incumbent, then sure, she can get the nomination. In Slade’s case, she wasn’t expected to have any chance of winning until a scandal erupted on the other side.