Tweet Talk about your nightmares. White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer made an observation Tuesday on Twitter about how the changing media world was adding to political polarization in the country. Then he tried to add, to @jmartNYT, “also a much bigger factor on the right.” Only his finger slipped, and he typed an N […]
TweetThere was a thought-provoking little piece in the WSJ today by a bookstore owner in Tennessee: The weather in Tennessee has been unaccountably beautiful this summer, with late July temperatures in the 70s rather than the 100s. The drive from Chattanooga, where President Obama gave his jobs speech at the Amazon warehouse Tuesday, to Nashville, […]
TweetAny astronomers out there? Because I’ve got a question that’s been bugging me. Some time ago, I picked up one of those cards at Starbucks that provides a code that lets you download a free iPhone app. This one was called “Star Walk,” and it was very cool. Basically, you hold your phone up to […]
TweetRunning a bit behind with this, but it was a busy weekend. As you can see, a good time was had. Particularly by me, what with the honor of riding on the official Yesterday’s float. My first time on an actual float in an actual parade. They issued me a green cowboy hat, but it […]
Tweet That — what I said in my headline — is what struck me first about the American version of “House of Cards.” Kevin Spacey’s character is a powerful congressman who represents South Carolina’s 5th District. At least, he’s from Gaffney, and that’s in the 5th District. (The Peachoid features prominently in episode 3.) Indeed, […]
Tweet UPDATE: Heads up! WLTX just reported via an alert on my phone (although I can’t find it on their website) that Kirkman Finlay III is now the winner. So disregard all that stuff I said below speculating as to why Joe McCulloch won. At least, until we hear yet another correction. This Richland County voting […]
TweetEver since they were babies, the Twins have loved my beat-up 2000 Ford Ranger. When they were smaller, they’d get excited every time they saw a pickup truck, of any color, thinking it was mine. But neither ever had a chance to ride in it, until today. And that only happened because of an unforeseen […]
Tweet Having been required to leave the house because there’s a bridal shower going on there for a family friend, I came by Barnes & Noble and got some coffee, since I hadn’t made any at breakfast. OK, technically, I got the coffee at the Starbucks about 50 yards away (yes, I’ve become that sort […]
Tweet Jenny Isgett is our fourth and final candidate interview for the Columbia City Council seat being vacated by Belinda Gergel. I caught up with her at the Five Points Starbucks this past week. You may note a certain resemblance between her signage and that of Dr. Gergel four years ago, right down to the […]
TweetAs previously mentioned, I met Kara Gormley Meador over at Starbucks for coffee today, to talk about whether she is going to run for the state senate. As you’ll recall, Ms. Meador had intended to oppose Jake Knotts in the GOP primary in District 23, but learned that she had been misinformed by officials who […]
TweetY’all probably think I haven’t blogged in days. I have; it was just microblogging. One of these days I’m going to get social media totally integrated into this blog so y’all can immediately see my posts on Twitter, because when I’m away from my laptop, that’s where I’m sharing observations. From Friday through Sunday, I […]
TweetTomorrow, Groundhog Day, there will be another community blood drive at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. I can’t give, because it’s too soon after the last time. But you probably can. And of course, since I can’t do it this time, they’re giving away cool free stuff: • A free American Red Cross Lifesavers t-shirt […]
Tweet This evening I was browsing Barnes and Noble (which, like Starbucks, should buy an ad here) and happened to look up and see this sign exhorting me to “Discover Great New Writers.” I harrumphed to myself as I passed on, thinking, “If they are new, they are not great.” Which, I realized on another […]
TweetBeen in a meeting all day and am now at a Starbucks in Charleston. Here’s a quick look at the headlines: Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging Health Law (NYT) — So I guess we’re gonna settle this, huh? Jordan calls on Assad to resign (BBC) — How do you say “pariah” in Arabic? Troops […]
TweetFollowing on my previous post, I’ve realized for some time that the Coffee Party wasn’t going be the kind of sensible Third Way alternative, a la the UnParty, that I’ve been looking for all these years. I was momentarily beguiled by the word “coffee,” but I eventually woke up and smelled it. Basically, for some […]
TweetThe last day or two, you may have noticed, things were slower than usual here on the blog. That’s because I was travelling back and forth, back and forth to Charleston. And blogging on my iPhone is a tad awkward. However… I keep commenting on breaking news on Twitter. It’s just that some of y’all […]
Tweet After all these years, and after all the frustration, I still prefer to take the Interstate route to and from the Grand Strand. The back route through Georgetown, Andrews and Manning that my wife prefers just seems to take much longer to me, even though there’s always less traffic. I’m not a two-lane road […]
Tweet This kind of cracked me up, even though I remain puzzled. Corey Hutchins Tweeted this out about 20 minutes ago: Favorite scene from this week: @BradWarthen puzzled by a blank-faced John Rainey when his ‘Ricky Bobby reference’ went thud at Starbucks. Corey always gets a kick out of me being confused and disconcerted. But […]
TweetActually, I think I can, slightly. Went to Starbucks just now to get me a nice, piping-hot Pike to see me through the afternoon and evening, and checked the weather on my phone on the way in. It was 103, and “felt like” 105. Fortunately, my suit jacket was summer-weight. I’m not going to overdress […]
TweetReally, really, REALLY have to get a bunch of nonblog stuff done today, and don’t know when I’ll get back to you. So while I’m doing it, ponder the question I just posed on Twitter: What’s the best full-momentum, unleashed rock ‘n’ roll song: Seger’s “Katmandu,” CCR’s “Travelin’ Band,” or Elvis’ “Hard-Headed Woman”? Why those […]