Chamblee54

This content was published June 2, 2010. … I was reading another episode in the latest orgy of mid east punditry, when a couple of things made me think. The first was a breakdown of the Knesset. Towards the end of the tally, it came out that the two Arab parties had 7 seats, out of 120. This works out to 5.83%. According to wikipedia, 20% of Israel is Arab. So one fifth of the population is represented by 5 percent of the Knesset? This is not exactly one man one vote. If Israel is really a democracy, then something should be done about that.
“Israel’s policy-making no longer seems to me to be particularly related to concrete policy objectives at all. Neither the Lebanon war nor the Gaza war had actual military goals. Both were essentially wars for domestic consumption. Hezbollah and Hamas were firing rockets at Israel, and Israelis were understandably furious. “Something” had to be done about that, to let the Israeli public know that their leadership felt their fury. So the government did “something.””
Which is more or less why the United States is in Afghanistan. When 911 happened, the people required revenge. The plotters for 911 lived in Hamburg, Germany. 15 of the 19 attackers were from Saudi Arabia. For various reasons, revenge against those countries was not an option. That left Afghanistan, where Al Queda was based. … When we attacked Afghanistan, we did not have a goal. All we wanted was revenge for 911. We wanted to do something. Almost nine years later, we are stuck. … HT to Andrew Sullivan for the article quoted above.
This content was published June 7, 2010. … I was paying for dinner, when a cafeteria worker made a tacky comment to the cashier. When the worker left, the cashier and I exchanged looks that said, in effect, that guy is an idiot.
The cashier started to ramble, and she told a story of how she called someone hon. This is something that people in the south do, when they don’t say sweetie or sugar, they say hon, which is short for honey. The cashier said hon to someone, and the person was amazed. This person said that they had never heard a black person say that. They thought that was how white people talk. The cashier then asked, “how do white people talk?” I replied, “too much.”
This content was published June 13, 2010. … A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.” … The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, “You’re in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above ground elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.
“She rolled her eyes and said, “You must be an Obama Democrat.” “I am” “How did you know?” “Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you told me is technically correct. But I have no idea what to do with your information, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’ve not been much help to me.”
The man smiled and responded, “You must be a Republican.” “I am,” replied the balloonist. “How did you know?” “Well,” said the man, “you don’t know where you are or where you are going. You’ve risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You’re in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now it’s my fault.”
“The real question you might be asking yourself right now is why was the man in a boat? You understand, as a map savvy person, that 31 degrees 14.97 minutes North and 100 degrees 49.09 minutes West puts the balloon about 20 miles southwest of San Angelo, Texas, probably still in the city limits of Mertzon, Texas, just off U.S. Highway 67. He’s a few miles west of any significant boat-supporting body of water.”
Today’s entertainment was borrowed from Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub, from a comment at Crooks and Liars. MFB added the commentary about 31°14.97′ N and 100°49.09′ W. … Pictures today are from Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library. The social media picture was taken November 21, 1952. Wheeler’s Pharmacy soda fountain. ©Luther Mckinnon 2026 · selah