Disqus - Latest Comments for bhelverson

Re: Reporting 101

bhelverson — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:49:35 -0000

N8 said"Is there any way to have punitive damages awarded when frivolous lawsuits are lost?"

Punitive damages aren't available under Washington law. But sanctions are available under the Civil Rules, However, the injured party must make a motion for sanctions and the Attorney-Judge clique is too incestuous to grant (or even to bring) these types of motions.

Re: State Sen. Randy Gordon: “I’m Not Mr. Quiet.”

bhelverson — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:40:32 -0000

I spent an afternoon with Randy Gordon about 5 years ago, long before he decided to run for ofice. I was really impressed and was happy when he joined the Legislature. I certainly wouldn't describe Randy as "quiet," but based on my experience I would use the terms "smart," "funny," and "reasonable." I hjope that Randy has a long political career ahead of him.

Re: Question of the Day

bhelverson — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:39:38 -0000

When I was in the Third Grade, I saw John Kennedy speak at the 1960 Democratic Convention and remember thinking that he was a handsome fellow. I also saw President Eisenhower endorse Nixon. I went to school the next day and a classmate said that Nixon was going to win because President Eisenhower said so. I must have had a little political savvy even then because I took issue with her and later reminded her of our conversation when JFK won.

Re: Ed Schultz to Obama: ‘Your base thinks you’re nothing but a sellout’

bhelverson — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:43:09 -0000

So Old Eddie doesn't like Obama. Maybe Ed will recall that he was as responsible as anyone for cramming Obama down our collective throats because he didn't like Evil Bitch Hillary Clinton. Well, Ed, do you think that Hillary would have the courage to stand up to the Republicans? Barack sure doesn't.

Let's face it, folks. They have neutralized Obama just like they neutralized Mario Cuomo. They realized that his rhetoric was a threat to their reign, so they invited him inside. Now that he is there, he can't afford to embarrass his new pals. We have neither money nor power and are expendable. But for the rest of his life, Barack Obama and his heirs have it made!

Re: Daily Kitteh

bhelverson — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:25:06 -0000

I would title them as "Portraits of the Queen."

Re: On Pirate Radio

bhelverson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:31:30 -0000

The film is set in history. In the early 60s, women did not serve aboard ships of any kind and there were very few women in radio and (fewer still who were on the air). An absence of women and 1960s-era sexual harassment would be expected in a period piece like Pirate Radio.

For fun, type "Radio Caroline" into Wikipedia and follow the links Caroline was one of the longest-lasting Pirate stations of Great Britain and was conceived and financed in Texas. It's story is the most fascinating of the Pirate radio stories.

Re: Quote of the Day

bhelverson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:24:29 -0000

Kevin Drum says that if you watch the video, it is clear that Shields is indulging in satire.

http://www.motherjones.com/...

Re: Cheney falsely accuses Obama of ‘libel’ against CIA over torture

bhelverson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:34:19 -0000

Someone needs to explain to Dick "Dick" Cheney that .Obama hasn't libeled anyone. He didn't write anything. Spoken words are "slander," not "libel." Of course, President Obama didn't do that either.

Re: Question of the Day

bhelverson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:19:09 -0000

To my grade scghool principal, Homer Neal (hopefully dead by now):

I have nothing to say to you, you low-class bully. But if you were here right now, I would kick you squarely in the nuts.

Re: Question of the Day

bhelverson — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:52:15 -0000

We found Truman (his squeaky little voice sounds like Truman Capote) on the internet through Petfinders. I knew that if I visited the shelter I would take them all home, so we looked through the listings and picked Truman. The shelter was surprised when I asked for him by number and didn't want to see him before the adoption. I told her that we would make friends with him.

And we did. Truman is a delightful cat who loves to play and always comes to "help" whenever we are doing something around the house. He loves to be combed with his red pocket-type comb and loves to be scratched and petted. I recently learned that my father had passed away and when I came back to sit on the bed, Truman came up and laid in my lap. I don't know how he knew something was wrong, but he did.

Truman was about 6 months old when we adopted him. However, you might consider adopting an adult cat. As a fellowr commenter said above, they are more self-sufficient and because they are harder to adopt, you would be doing the cat a real favor. Good luck!

Re: Dolly Parton on The View

bhelverson — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:00:05 -0000

Gene Siskel once said that Dolly Parton had an aura about her that reminded him of a faith healer. I met a Nashville musician whose wife was Dolly's personal assistant and he confirmed that Dolly had a presence like no other. Then he told me a story.

Dolly was appearing in a concert in New York City and had a suite at a luxury hotel. The assistant invited her parents to meet her in New York to celebrate their anniversary and were staying at that same hotel. When Dolly found out, she insisted that they swap rooms and insisted that the older couple celebrate their anniversary by staying in her suite. The older couple had brought a cooler full of country ham and they and Dolly enjoyed a feast.

Re: RIP Bea Arthur

bhelverson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:43:12 -0000

Archie: "Maude, this country was r-u-i-n-e-d by Franklin Delanor Rosenfelt."

One of my favorite lines of all time

Re: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2009/04/framing.html

bhelverson — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:03:12 -0000

As Erica already knows, The Seattle Times is a biased newspaper run by a corrupt publisher. The SeaTimes is on the edge of bankruptcy because it has lost its credibility by slanting news like this.

Re: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/12/any-egrets.html

bhelverson — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:02:24 -0000

I also saw a flock of egrets following a guy on a riding lawnmower. I assume that he was uncovering bugs for them to eat. Smart bird!

Re: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/12/any-egrets.html

bhelverson — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:01:49 -0000

During a recent trip to Kaua'i, I saw an egret catch and eat a gecko. I guess it was good luck for the egret, although not necessarily for the gecko.

Re: Update on 8

bhelverson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:12:15 -0000

They can't invalidate the existing marriages because they were legal when they were formed. Any invalidation would be an ex post facto law and therefore invalid under the U.S. Constitution.

Of course, this assumes that the Constitution is still valid in the United States of President Cheney.

Re: The Student Loan Market Hits the Wall

bhelverson — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:53:45 -0000

As best I can tell, the student loan sharks are the reason that tuition rates are so high. Look at from the college's perspective. Instead of loaning money directly to a student and thereby having a stake in the student's future success, the college immediately gets its money from the student loan company and really doesn't care if the student succeeds or not. This money fountain naturally appeals to college administrators, who may also be receiving incentives to deliver their students into the loan company's hands. When and if this little party ends, the colleges will be faced with pricing tuition toward what a student can directly afford instead of what the student can borrow.

This isn't an indictment of college professors - little of the money flow comes their way. But when you think about it, and except for lab sections, most courses could be conducted by a professor with a blackboard under a tree somewhere. Aside from professor salaries, a lot of this money flow is unnecessary. I can't see how my education was improved by having a President, a Provost, and 10 Vice Presidents sitting in fancy offices sending memos to each other. Perhaps a collapse in the student loan racket will return teaching to the people who do the teaching.