Framing the Dialogue

Archive for June, 2013

The Fifth Dimension

irsThis week’s cavalcade of IRS shenanigans featured a Deputy IRS Directory, Greg Roseman, who, when questioned by a congressman, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination.  That is the second IRS official to delve into the fifth dimension in as many months.  In case you weren’t keeping track of all of the IRS scandals this one doesn’t deal with the targeting, harassing, and preventing conservative groups from organizing.  They could certainly organize, it was just raising money that they really couldn’t do.

Back to Roseman and as reported by Fox News…

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Happy, Happy, Happy

happySo I really enjoy the A&E show Duck Dynasty and it is a very popular reality show.  If you have not paid attention the show is about the family that makes duck calls, apparently really really good ones.  All of a sudden the Roberson family is everywhere and the founder and now author, Phil Robertson, comes out with a book; Happy, Happy, Happy.  It is in all of the stores, but I decided not to buy the book.  It just seemed like the guy was cashing in on his fame (he already has a fortune) and I didn’t want to give him more.  So what do you think that I get on Father’s Day?  That’s right!

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Red Sparrow

red sparrowWith cover art reminiscent of a James Bond opening credits, Red Sparrow brings back an American “enemy” from the Cold War.  Instead of the USSR the spy game written by Jason Matthews pits American assets against the new Russia which is sort of like the old Soviet Union.  Matthews brings reality, or a least as much as he can divulge, as a former member of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service.

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Fair Trial?

zimmerman1I find it interesting how racists already know the guilt George Zimmerman.  Racists like Jamie Fox who wore a Travon Martin shirt in public as if to say Zimmerman is guilty.  How do these folks know that Zimmerman isn’t telling the truth or that the truth lies somewhere between what they think and what Zimmerman says.  To my knowledge our systems still is innocent until proven guilty.  I would venture that not many people know all of the facts of the case and certainly not celebrities who just like to try to show their cred by acting hip and edgy.

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The “Adults” Are In Charge

tshirtUnless you are one of the under-informed (low information voter), you have probably heard the story of the young man from West Virginia who got suspended from school for wearing a pro Second Amendment t-shirt. The 14 year old was told to remove the shirt and when he refused he was arrested. According to his attorney (yes there are some good ones out there) the school code does not prohibit such shirts (his had a picture of a hunting rifle).

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The only thing Orwell had wrong was the year

obama constitutionThe title of this post was one of the comments after a C/Net story about how invasive the NSA domestic spying capabilities truly Think this quote from the article should chill you to the bone;

“Because the same legal standards that apply to phone calls also apply to e-mail messages, text messages, and instant messages, Nadler’s disclosure indicates the NSA analysts could also access the contents of Internet communications without going before a court and seeking approval”

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A Few Thoughts From Einstein

Albert Einstein Quotes

einstein2“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.”

“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.”

“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”

“The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.”

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The Paris Vendetta

paris vendettaIn this thriller by Steve Berry, Napoleon Bonaparte almost comes alive. Not really, but the banished leader plays in integral part of the plot in The Paris Vendetta. The novel features the return of Cotton Malone the former Justice Department Operative who is pulled back into the underworld to help a friend. Malone gets pulled in different directions trying to help his friend and help his country while their missions do not converge and are often actually at odds. The action is strung out through Denmark, England and Paris with roots in Cairo, Mexico and the home of Napoleon’s final banishment, the island of Saint Helena.

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