“You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.” So advised Rep. Jeannette Rankin, R-Montana, the only member of Congress to vote against both world wars. Muhammad Ali understood. Much has been written about his 1972 sojourn to these parts to fight light heavyweight champion Bob Foster at Lake Tahoe with Mills Lane as referee. Only the Barbwire covered his … [Read more...]
Nevada utilities continually consume consumers
Your grandma’s lifeline telephone rate may not live as long as grandma. The bedrock basic service for the underprivileged and elderly will shortly begin its death spiral, along with jeopardized 911 service in many rural areas. AT&T got a bill through the 2013 Nevada Legislature allowing Ma Bell to retire as telephone “provider of last resort” (POLR) should enough … [Read more...]
Dirty words for dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Last week, I reported that the May 18 Charlie Rose show on KNPB TV-5 did not bleep two of George Carlin’s legendary Seven Words You Can’t Say on TV (from the same dictionary sections as Fudge and Shucks). Curious George would have been 79 this month. What better tribute could there be to the great wise man than a column about dirty words - real, imagined and especially … [Read more...]
Karmic fowl, fox paws and other freakin’ f-words
Sometimes there is justice in this world. Big karma comes around and bites where it hurts most. Such is the case with northern Nevada’s Public Broadcasting System affiliate, KNPB TV-5. I’ve been protesting (and on one occasion, reversing) Channel 5 censorship since 1997. I’ve criticized current GM Kurt Mische for not airing Bill Moyers in this market and for being the … [Read more...]
Quick fixes & old hexes in the month of yes, you May
My fantasy fiancée is indestructible. After getting zilch coverage from last Tuesday’s congressional debate, up popped her name at the Nevada State AFL-CIO convention the very same day. Republican Assemblymember Michele Fiore’s candidacy for a Gomorrah South congressional seat was submitted for endorsement by the Southern Nevada Central Labor Council/AFL-CIO. Bizarro. I’m … [Read more...]
It’s OK, that’s the way we’ve always done it, right?
People everywhere display a serious weakness for believing something just because it pre-dates their birth. Some institutionalized superstitions have become very profitable and so powerful that they cause wars. Voter registration is deemed good but was actually developed to keep poor southern blacks and whites and northern European immigrants (my relatives) from voting. As … [Read more...]
When taking the cure is worse than the disease
Last week’s decision by Judge Patrick Flanagan allowing Reno lawyer Jason Guinasso to continue his Nevada Assembly candidacy raised an important issue — albeit barely related to Guinasso’s disputed residency in the southwest Reno/Incline district. In the late 1990s, northeastern Nevada State Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, got tired of beating the same opponent twice each … [Read more...]
Deconstruction, carpetbaggers and hall-of-famers
Washoe District Judge Patrick Flanagan has ordered legislative candidate Jason Guinasso into court to defend his eligibility. One Frank Wright brought an affidavit to the D.A. alleging that the Reno attorney could not have lived in District 26 when he filed for the seat held by retiring incumbent Randy Kirner, R-Reno. Wright’s statement contains building permit … [Read more...]