Althouse: At the Reflection Café...

September 11, 2011

At the Reflection Café...

... you can talk about whatever you want.

29 comments:

Clyde said...: It's interesting how we can look at the lenghthening shadows and the quality of the light and tell that the picture was taken in late afternoon.; 9/11/11, 11:10 AM
ndspinelli said...: "On your left..on your left."; 9/11/11, 11:10 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: The most insidious thing about Mark Steyn and his anti-American doomsaying is the mindset of the people who buy books about the Apocolypse (should that be capitalized?) that like a nice healthy dose of laughter with their Armageddon imagery.

They think they are informed. Being fucking patriotic by tearing down the country, especially brain-dead liberals (not all of whom are actually evil, at least in my opinion based on some very kind friends, family, and customers both religous and non) without demanding the opportunity cost of choosing to engage in activities with a proclivity toward a higher risk of a self-fulfilling prophecy is jejune profiterring.

Write a Blackford Oaks-type series with talk of doom, the end days, etc. Don't deceive people into willful ignorance of the solutions we need (rid out corruption through mugwumpishness if need be for instance) with fantasies of death.; 9/11/11, 11:15 AM
Anonymous said...: Nicely maintained park. No litter, no graffiti, no dog turds, no skells sprawled out on the grass. Guess Madison does some things well.

Peter; 9/11/11, 11:25 AM
edutcher said...: Oh, that is beautiful.

Olbricht Gardens, I presume.

PS Steyn isn't anti-American, but his run-in with the Thought Police in Canuckistan really knocked the mojo out of him.; 9/11/11, 11:25 AM
Triangle Man said...: Does anyone know if a blog with a resident expert on matters related to planting bulbs is the Madison area? Is it too early?; 9/11/11, 11:30 AM
Emilie said...: Driving home from church this morning, I happened to hear two readings on NPR - President Obama reading Psalm 46, and President Bush reading Lincoln's letter to the woman who lost five sons in the Civil War, both part of 9/11 memorial services.

I was mainly struck by how poorly they both read. President Obama seemed to be reading the text for the first time, employing a Christopher Walken-like delivery with odd pauses. He mispronounced the word bow (he pronounced it like the bow of a ship, not like a bow and arrow).

President Bush had a little trouble with the word Massachusetts, but his reading was a little better to my ears, perhaps because it was shorter.

What I was thinking was, these are people who speak often, and speaking is a big part of their job descriptions. Can't they get some decent speech coaching?; 9/11/11, 11:31 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: When I think of Mark Steyn, I think of what crack once said:

PUT THE GODDAM MATCHES DOWN!

Screaming fire fire fire while holding a gas can and a book of matches doesn't help anything. It confuses, mixes, misleads, and maybe even causes a static explosion on a hot enough day: Steyn doesn't need to light the matches himself for doom to happen.

The answer, as I've said for sometime, is for everyone who cares to read more Buckley. State your case to those who will listen and pursuade them, over time, of your righteousness and soundness of reason.

I'm just getting started, in practice mode now, so I exempt myself from this standard (liberals can teach us many things...) on some occasions, this being one.; 9/11/11, 11:33 AM
Carol_Herman said...: Now the bridge is beautiful.

Is this the one that looked so ugly, and un-Monet like?; 9/11/11, 11:43 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Damn the (my) incongruity. I'm just getting started with my argument against doomsaying, but I've been saying for sometime that people should read more Buckley and learn from his examples, both as he lived his life as well as how his arguments pursuaded, whom, and why. I can't do that with Steyn yet and want to learn how by arguing with those who like Steyn's brand of "laugh at the decline" doomsaying.

In other, better news, the NFL network today has been just sublime in invoking 911 and the pain while also letting players and coaches explain their stories in their own words which were filled with courage and hope.

Melissa Stark was live at the WTC Memorial. Steve Mariucci cried. So did Rich Eisen. And me.; 9/11/11, 11:49 AM
deborah said...: Althouse's best bridge pic evah:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/
althouse/4949507063/; 9/11/11, 12:01 PM
bagoh20 said...: Today must be fingernails on a chalkboard to some people. All that patriotism on display, emotion about loss, pride, religiosity, reflection.

My God, the horror of it all.

It's a bad day for those who imagine themselves too cool for the rubes.; 9/11/11, 12:07 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Two things, because I've been away most of this week:

1) Glenn Reynolds still can't spot quackery - but now, instead of it just being me, even his commentors are chiding to him for his stupidity, saying, “Damn, Glenn, even Harry Potter’s wand isn’t that powerful.”

Reynolds should be shamed for his gullibility. Of course, no how often I attempt to do so, Ann won't make an issue for discussion. Strikes me as cowardly and favoritism, when she'll beat up others.

2) This week Glenn Reynolds said, when it comes to violence, etc., related to the Obama presidency, "This is what you voted for when you voted for 'hope and change.'"

Methinks that comment should be aimed directly at Ann, who should also be shamed by her gullibility - not to mention her unreasonableness, when it comes to admitting wrong in the face of it's negative effects on others. Real people are paying a hideous cost for her political stupidity, hypocrisy, and stubbornness.

That's it. Now carry on like anything else - feminist issues, gays, boobie bracelets, whether it's O.K. to cheer justice - is as important as whether or not you listen to anyone who has their head on straight. (I can't understand why The NYT "Opinionator" - or anyone else - wants Ann's opinion on anything, beyond constitutional law, except it's the NYT, which is why I don't read the NYT: I want as-close-to-accurate viewpoints as I can get now'a'days,...) It's a nice charade, but, honestly, it's getting stale - here's my 9/11 message for the Althouse crew:

Now, more than ever, we need a few honest men (and women).

Glenn Reynolds said the cool thing about being a law professor (aside from the money, as poor oppressed Ann pointed out recently) is that they don't have to care about the effect of their bullshit on others.

I think I'm starting to really understand what that means,...; 9/11/11, 12:08 PM
Scott said...: I am at the Dunkin Donuts on Clifton Ave in Clifton NJ at this moment. The sky is overcast and a little clammy. I remember 9/11/01 in NYC as clear, brilliant, breezy, and beautiful.; 9/11/11, 12:28 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "Now the bridge is beautiful. Is this the one that looked so ugly, and un-Monet like?"

No, this is the one I was standing on when I took the picture of the other one. This is the footbridge built in Olbrich Gardens fairly recently, to provide access to the very expensive gift from Thailand, the gold pavilion. The "ugly" one is a very old bridge, built for a utilitarian function, getting a train across a creek. Both bridges seem beautiful to me.; 9/11/11, 12:33 PM
Hagar said...: Emilie,

Bush can't speak with a teleprompter; Obama can't speak without one.

I kind of prefer Bush's handicap.; 9/11/11, 12:36 PM
deborah said...: Something to reflect upon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=SKd0VII-l3A&feature=BFa&list=
AVGxdCwVVULXefL
FxqEpC03Zy7yZajuOy3&lf
=list_related; 9/11/11, 12:39 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Thanks, Deborah.

I thought it was going to be one of my NY bridge pictures, like this, this, or this.; 9/11/11, 12:40 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "Glenn Reynolds still can't spot quackery - but now, instead of it just being me, even his commentors are chiding to him for his stupidity, saying, “Damn, Glenn, even Harry Potter’s wand isn’t that powerful.” "

Crack can't spot humor.; 9/11/11, 12:41 PM
Kirby Olson said...: Obama did have one specific: he wants to fix the Brent Spence bridge that travels between Cincinnati and Coventry, Kentucky over the Ohio River.

" Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us a economic superpower. And now we’re going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America? (Applause.)"

There is a multinational corporation that has a contract to build the Brent Spence bridge:

"There are private construction companies all across America just waiting to get to work. There’s a bridge that needs repair between Ohio and Kentucky that’s on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America."

The Brent Spence bridge has a long history including many fatalities and such, it was opened three days after Kennedy's assassination. There are four other bridges across the river, but that one bears the most traffic. It will cost 2 billion and 2 years to fix it.

An aesthetics committee is assigned to think about sighting for the bridge, among other things. Their meeting notes can be found online:

"Goals and Measures Development
The discussion of goals for aesthetics started with views to and from the bridge and along the corridor. A comment was made that discussion of views could distract from the functionality of the bridge and corridor. Economic protection and development, existing plans, and connectivity are important to the aesthetics of this project."; 9/11/11, 12:44 PM
edutcher said...: Ann Althouse said...

"Now the bridge is beautiful. Is this the one that looked so ugly, and un-Monet like?"

No, this is the one I was standing on when I took the picture of the other one. This is the footbridge built in Olbrich Gardens fairly recently, to provide access to the very expensive gift from Thailand, the gold pavilion. The "ugly" one is a very old bridge, built for a utilitarian function, getting a train across a creek. Both bridges seem beautiful to me.

The Blonde really likes it, too.; 9/11/11, 12:49 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: bag,

Check this out: U.S. Flag "Primes" Voters Toward Republican Viewpoints; 9/11/11, 12:53 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Ann Althouse,

Crack can't spot humor.

Gawd, must you guys always deflect and/or make excuses for each other, too? Where does the circle jerk stop and reality begin - especially on this day? How many lies - even little white ones - must you tell before you realize you ARE lying? Don't you realize that deceiving others about the nature of reality is one of the most evil things you can do? That's why I can be so hard on you two:

By cleaving you to reality, I'm trying to be your friend.

The commenter may have been humorous but he's still pointing out the stupidity of a grown man even entertaining the idea that a magic wand is "magic." And I've documented Glenn Reynolds falling for this malarky enough times that it's no accident anymore - the man's a goofball - and (because he has an audience) a potentially dangerous one at that:

Dr. Helen has medical issues, which makes them a prime target for quackery, and, if they can't even spot the obvious bullshit, they're in trouble - not to mention, by attacking the wrong issues related to such things (as he did with organics and raw milk) Reynolds leaves others undefended.

I notice you didn't have a comment on him saying you voted for Obama violence, either. That's a lie of omission. I swear, you two take the cake.; 9/11/11, 1:38 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Reflection, how transcendental.

This bridge is existential.; 9/11/11, 3:17 PM
Scott said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/11/11, 5:31 PM
Scott said...: I posted this commenton the Althouse blog at 10:07 a.m.

John Hayward at Human Events posted this comment at 12:02 p.m.

If I'm doing Mr. Hayward's work for him, at least the bastards at Human Events ought to pay me for it.; 9/11/11, 5:32 PM
m stone said...: Sounds too good to be true, and

Believe it or not.

Lots of room for disbelief in both.

Don't confuse gullibility with cleverness.; 9/11/11, 8:47 PM
Scott said...: Q: How many existentialists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: It doesn't matter.; 9/11/11, 10:04 PM
Jose_K said...: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100104361/traveller-slaves-vanessa-redgrave-can-surely-explain/
Slavery and multiculturalism
blogger is worse everyday; 9/12/11, 10:49 AM