Rubbish from the Philadelphia DA’s office

A little more than a year ago a mob of Philadelphia police beat three men whom they suspected of committing a shooting.  The grand jury investigation of this incident was released yesterday.  The grand jury, of course, found that the police acted appropriately. Ironic, that.  After all, in the days after the beating, police commissioner [...]

99% uptime…or not

In the “real virtual world” of Internet-based entrepreneurship, Web hosting companies aim to provide 99.9+ uptime to satisfy their clients, who in turn have customers to satisfy, and so on. So imagine my sardonic chuckle at seeing this screenshot taken from the “virtual virtual world” of government — namely, the website of the Social Security [...]

On learning to stand up straight

I generally have a tendency to think about things too much, and to be too cautious in my decision making. I have, at times, passed up opportunities because of too much risk, or so I thought. In the area of music, which is my profession, this happens a lot. I shy away from projects with [...]

Learning the lessons of August 15

Today, September 11, is a day of much State-sponsored solemnity in memory of the terrorist attacks that took place here seven years ago. One will read and hear much pious civic claptrap, but undoubtedly there will be little soul-searching as to what might have motivated people to come halfway across the world to kill innocent [...]

Fred Thompson’s Gratuitous Violence

Last night I sat in stupefied wonder at the grotesquely detailed account which actor Fred Thompson gave of John McCain’s war service.  “Is Fred Thompson going to say anything relevant?” I asked a neocon.  I was ignored, of course. After telling us all about all of McCain’s tortures and injuries, down to every last scar, [...]

Land of the free, or home of the slave?

New York’s robotic Mayor Michael Bloomberg is in the news peddling a new government surveillance program which is being introduced in New York City. Honestly, this is ridiculous. And don’t give me the speech about safety. The Revolutionary War was not won by making people feel safe. In any case, I would rather be dead [...]