Category Archives: News

Word of the Week – October 17, 2020

Organon

Noun

Greek, late 16th century

1. A tool or instrument used to gain knowledge

2. A set of guiding principles for a particular science, philosophy, or discipline

An organon is something (such as a textbook) used to help someone acquire knowledge.  The “Organon” is a collection of six books by Greek philosopher Aristotle dealing with logic, all combining to create a definitive lecture still referenced today.

Example: During the Senate confirmation hearings, I kept reaching for my spiritual organon; hoping I could make sense of the relentless balderdash.

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Tweets of the Week – October 17, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci throws first pitch of 2020 baseball season.

Mercedes Schlapp

Trump Adviser Mercedes Schlapp Defends Biden ‘Mr Rogers’ comment.

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Most Hypocritical Quote of the Week – October 17, 2020

“We’ll go to the floor on Friday the 23rd and stay on it until we finished.  We have the votes.”

Sen. Mitch McConnell, on the Senate voting to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court

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Most Curious Quote of the Week – October 17, 2020

“The courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life.”

Judge Amy Coney Barrett, in her opening remarks at her Senate confirmation hearing

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Worst Quotes of the Week – October 17, 2020

“They talk about the suburban women. And somebody said, ‘I don’t know if the suburban woman likes you.’ I said, ‘Why?’  They said, ‘They may not like the way you talk,’ but I’m about law and order.  I’m about having you safe.  I’m about having your suburban communities.  I don’t want to build low-income housing next to your house.”

President Donald Trump, at a campaign rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania

“The fact that it is a box does not make it illegal.”

Tom Hiltachk, general counsel for the California State Republican Party, regarding accusations the organization placed fake ballot boxes around the state

Hiltachk added that the boxes comply with California’s “ballot harvesting” law, which lets people collect ballots from voters and return them to county election offices to be counted.  He said all of the party’s drop boxes are indoors at county party headquarters, churches or retailers that have agreed to participate and that the boxes are locked and monitored by people.

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Best Quotes of the Week – October 17, 2020

“I think this hearing is a sham.  I think it shows real messed up priorities from the Republican Party.  But I am here to do my job, to tell the truth.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, in her opening statement at the start of the confirm hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett

“Politicians should never decide what medical procedures a patient can and cannot receive.”

Nancy Northup, Center for Reproductive Rights, reacting to a court ruling that blocked a 2017 anti-abortion law passed by the Texas State Legislature

“I don’t like to be associated with anything political or with any political campaign.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, on Good Morning America, 10/15/20

“I don’t get that.  You’re the president.  You’re not like someone’s crazy uncle who can just retweet whatever.”

Savannah Guthrie, during a live “town hall” meeting with Donald Trump, questioning his retweet of a QAnon-linked conspiracy theory

No to be outdone, Trump made a trite insult at Guthrie during a campaign stop the next day.

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Indigenous Peoples Day 2020

“You have to look deeper, way below the anger, the hurt, the hate, the jealousy, the self-pity, way down deeper where the dreams lie, son.  Find your dream.  It’s the pursuit of the dream that heals you”.

Billy Mills (Tamakoce Te’Hila)

Indigenous Peoples Day 2020

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Retro Quote – Robert H. Jackson

“The very purpose of the First Amendment is to foreclose public authority from assuming a guardianship of the public mind through regulating the press, speech and religion. In this field, every person must be his own watchman for truth, because the forefathers did not trust any government to separate the true from the false for us.”

– U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, 1945

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Word of the Week – October 10, 2020

Anodyne

Adjective

Greek, 16th century

1. Intended to avoid offense or disagreement

2. Helpful in lessening or relieving pain

Example: My anodyne response to this week’s vice-presidential debate was to keep peace in the family and avoid going back to jail for creating a civil disturbance.

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Video of the Week – October 10, 2020

Donald Trump standing in the front White House balcony and defiantly removing his mask.  He then retreated into the building – still sans mask – where a number of Secret Service agents and other White House staffers waited.  Remember, he remains contagious.

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