What Would Paul Say?

 

September 22, 2020

 

In “Parental Concern” (Sept. 19, 2020) I noted that some parents and schools were skirting the “no youth sports” rules in St. Louis County by having their future stars play their games in St. Charles County, instead.

One of the first schools to do this was a Catholic school.

Since the Catholic Church is so fond of (mis)quoting St. Paul when it suits them; and since Paul said in Romans 13 that people should be subject to the governing authorities;

I’m surprised that the archbishop of the St. Louis Diocese hasn’t given them a sternly-worded scolding on not following the law, AND on setting a bad example for others.

 

Maybe we should have the Pope weigh in.

 

 

The Ig Nobels are Back

 

September 20, 2020

 

Well, the Ig Nobels (in what was billed as “The 30th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony”) have been announced for 2020.

My favorites: The study that shows people can often identify a narcissist by the person's eyebrows; and the one discussing why many entomologists are afraid of spiders (which are not insects, but still...).

Boston Accent

 

September 19, 2020

 

I watched “Spenser: Confidential” today. If you’ve never read a Spenser book, it’s a passable movie. Actual Spenser fans might be irritated with Hawk being portrayed as a marshmallow; and God forbid that Spenser look rugged instead of smooth-featured; but that’s Hollywood for you.

What I find just as annoying as the Hawk personality debacle is the fact that only one person in the entire movie has anything approaching a Boston accent. A movie set in Boston, rife with Boston cops and Boston citizens, and nobody speaks Bostonian? (It was the same way in the TV series with Robert Urich and Avery Brooks.) And the woman with the accent, although brave and clever and tough, was made to look just a little lower-class than the star. (She was, however, a huge improvement over Susan Silverman, so that’s a plus.)

 

Don’t be afraid, Hollywood. We’ll be able to understand what they’re saying. Instead of just having a few shots of the city, let us get the whole picture—accent and all.

Parental Concern

 

September 19, 2020

 

With COVID-19 running rampant, some parents in St. Louis County are concerned about their children playing sports.

That is, the parents are concerned that their children are not being allowed to play sports. Many use the excuse that their young Beckhams, Bradys, and Gretzkys may be losing college scholarships since they are not allowed to play team sports.

(I wonder how many of them already have each and every move their child ever made on the field on video? Can’t they send those loaded-with-potential clips to the scouts?)

Are these kids really that good? Good enough to risk their lives in order to play high school sports on the chance that a college may come calling?

Now parents and schools are scheduling games outside the county so that their budding stars can play without those pesky health restrictions.

Honestly, it makes me sick to my stomach—no exaggeration—that they would put their kids’ lives at risk in order to try for scholarships that most of them—let’s face it—wouldn’t earn anyway, or in order to live vicariously through them.

Every time a meeting is held about letting kids play sports, I think that it should start with one of the many videos made by teens who have suffered through COVID-19, and are warning others to take precautions. It might make a smidge of an impression on some of those rabid parents.

 

Kids: If your parents are pressing you to play sports—well, best of luck to you, my friends.

 

RIP, RBG

 

September 18, 2020

To Justice Ginsberg, who fought the good fight for years and years,

We are grateful for all that you did.

It Should Be Included in the Licensing Process

 September 15, 2020

 

So: A lot of helpful citizens—with weapons—are stopping people in Oregon to make sure they’re not looters. They are basing their behavior on rumors they’ve heard about wildfires being started deliberately by various groups that they don’t like.

Now, the right to bear arms is contingent on belonging to a “well-regulated militia.” Threatening people because you’ve heard a rumor is not being well-regulated. It’s being a sap. It means you’re being played.

Perhaps when people apply for their weapons permits, there can be an added step to the process. In addition to proving that they can handle their firearms safely,

 

Maybe people should be required to prove that they know how to tell fake news stories from real ones. Especially the self-appointed defenders of law and order.

 

 

 

Add Another Item to the List

 

September 15, 2020

 

After reports that armed citizens in wildfire-impacted areas of Oregon are stopping people to make sure they’re not looters, it seems that there’s going to have to be another item in municipal Emergency Plans.

Keep in mind that there are already plenty of things to keep law enforcement and municipal authorities busy. For example:

“Go Door to Door to Evacuate Residents.” “Deal with Medical Emergencies.” “Monitor Evacuation Routes” “Keep on Top of Disruptions in Services.” “What to do if Gas Lines Break.”  Etc.

 

Now they can add, “Deal with Vigilantes” to the Emergency Response list.