The spawn of seething apathy has hibernated for a quarter-century. I launched the None of the Above for Governor Political Action Committee (NAGPAC) in September of 1982 after learning that the major candidates were sending their printing out of state. Then-Gov. Robert List, R, at least had a sense of humor about my “semi-tongue-in-cheek” satire. The man who beat him for … [Read more...]
Whatever Happened to Basketball?
The above question is often posed to me by fellow athletes and a few old teammates. It is because the original game that was invented when Dr. Naismith hung up that famous peach basket and challenged players to develop the ability to score from various points on the court has transmogrified to something resembling an MMA contest. It has now developed into some sort of … [Read more...]
High Court Should Stand Firmly for Free Speech
It has long been agreed that the First Amendment right to free speech includes the right to not be compelled to speak, but this past week the U.S. Supreme Court appeared to skirt this simple premise, though it ruled in favor of a Colorado cake baker who refused in 2012 to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple for a different reason. The court’s 7-2 ruling in favor of … [Read more...]
Lucky June 13: Cheap Shots and Low Blows
Pity the poor ink-stained wretch who wishes he could be writing this ‘round midnight on Tuesday. Alas, the Silver State election gods do not so ordain. So we gotta do the best we can with what we got. Predictions are too chancy and nobody’s leaking any credible polls, so the Barbwire, as usual, has spared every expense in researching the following cheap shots and low … [Read more...]
Time Travel
Many years ago there were a couple of monthly pulp fiction magazines entitled “Amazing Stories” and “Fantastic Adventures”. While they were pricier than the ten-cent comic books of that era, they featured many outstanding writers, such as Ray Bradbury. The main theme of both publications was of a sci-fi nature. One of the most intriguing subjects that many of the stories were … [Read more...]
Being ‘Green’ Is Easy, Ignore Facts
If you thought the “green movement” was more about self-righteous politics than clear-headed science, here are two tales that prove the point. In Arizona a petition is being circulated in an effort to get on the ballot an initiative called the Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment. This would require 50 percent of the electricity generated in the state to come from … [Read more...]
A Duo of D-Days Visit Nevada This Week
It’s D-DAY so DON’TCHA DALLY or DASTARDLY DEEDS may be DONE DIRT CHEAP. On June 6, 1944, allied troops staged a carnivorous frontal assault on Hitler’s defenses on the beaches of Normandy in France. It was recently revealed that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had devised a much less bloody strategy to invade from the Mediterranean side. Supreme Allied Commander … [Read more...]
Ahh, the Joys of Disneyland
My son and darling daughter-in-law ponder taking their 18 month-old son to Disneyland. I must warn them … 2011. My youngest is 9. It’s a violation of federal law to have a 9 year-old who has never been to Disneyland. So, I pack my boy Joseph into the car and put Las Vegas in my rear view mirror, hitting the road for California. Interstate 15 south – construction, more … [Read more...]