Friday, January 31, 2014

QUINN ON CLERGY SEX ABUSE, OBAMA’S myRA SCHEME, AND THE U.S. OVERSTEPPING ITS BOUNDS…AGAIN.

1/31/14

My posts continue as the sane and sober counterpoints to the typical titillations and pop culture updates that otherwise characterize Rant Lifestyle.   The combination seems to be nearly as disjunctive as marshmallow soup, but we’ll see how this works out.   I have to say that my colleagues’ articles certainly draw readers (or viewers, I am sure, for many of the posts; e.g., “The Hottest Daughters of Rock Stars” and “The 10 Most Beautiful Women at the Detroit Auto Show,” and these are milder fare at the site) to the site, so maybe all this will work out.

This week’s fare from my end included

Obama’s myRA Scheme:   Countering The “Livin’ On Money That I Ain’t Made Yet” Attitude?
Even those of you who might not find the subject matter compelling will find this one of my best, and entertainingly, written pieces in awhile.

The United States To Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe:  Don’t Go There
We used to be appalled that the Soviets told their satellites what to do.   The geopolitical mirror may not look so good now.

Hamid Karzai:   “Feel the (Country) Breakin’ and Everybody Shakin’ and We’re Stayin’ Alive”
What’s an installed guy to do when the installers head for the door?

“Bishop” Raymond Goedert And Clergy Sex Abuse:  “We Have Done What We Were Obliged To Do.” 
I found the Archdiocese’s released documents on clergy sex abuse especially interesting, and sickening, because some of the cited creepiness, or far worse, allegedly took place in the rectory of St. Walter Parish on the far south side in 1970 and 1971; I am a 1971 graduate of that proud parish.  This post does not relate to those particular episodes, but goes to perhaps a more salient sin of the Church.  “Bishop” Goedert (I’m having a hard time calling the man “Bishop.”), by the way, was ensconced at a neighboring parish, in which we later lived, during some of the period discussed in this piece, so his juggling act sort of hits home as well, though not nearly as much as the shenanigans going on, unbeknownst to most of us, at St. Walter.

Have a great weekend, everybody.  Alas, the Hawkeye loss to the Spartans Tuesday night has relegated Iowa to the second tier of Big 10 basketball, but the second tier of the Big 10 is not such a bad place to be this season.

Mark




Friday, January 24, 2014

QUINN ON McDONALD’S, THE GOVERNOR’S RACE, OIL, THE MARKETS, ETC.

1/24/13

I’m still writing for Rant Lifestyle, even though some of the other articles on the site embarrass a man with my sensibilities.   I am sure, however, that many of my Rant colleagues, most of whom are less than half my age, are at least as embarrassed by the old codger who rants about things like oil, Iran, and the Illinois governor’s race.

My ruminations this week included:

Memo To McDonald’s Execs:   Cater To The Customers, Not The Busybodies
McDonald’s will never be White Castle, but at least it can avoid self-immolation.

EXPORT CRUDE OIL:   SO SIMPLE (MAYBE) EVEN A CONGRESSMAN CAN UNDERSTAND IT
Explaining economics to a politician is like explaining bobsledding to a resident of Fiji.

The Syrian Peace Negotiations:   Let’s Keep Out The Guys Who Pull The Strings And Pretend We Are Accomplishing Something
Another Potemkin round of “peace” negotiations limited to like-minded participants.

2014 Illinois Gubernatorial Election Year Rag:   “Hand Me Down My Bulletproof Vest…”
A very good, though, of course, not unbiased, summary of the governor’s race.  Anyone know the reference in the title?  As my students would say, this is another of Mr. Quinn’s OGCRs  (“Old Geezer Cultural References”).

14 Foot Sinkhole In Detroit:   The Symbolism Is Obvious And Painful
The once proud and mighty Motor City just can’t catch a break.

Calling The Financial Markets:  “Another Day Useless In A Year Spent”
A true expert knows his or her limitations in the pointless endeavor of calling markets; thus, by definition, most of the experts in the financial media are mere poseurs.

Thanks and have a great weekend.  Rest assured that, because I bought a new snow blower last week, we will have no appreciable snow in Chicago for the rest of the season.  You’re welcome.

Mark


Monday, January 6, 2014

QUINN’S POSTS MIGRATING TO A NEW WEBSITE

1/6/14

The posts that would normally be found at either Mighty Quinn on Politics and Money or The Insightful Pontificator can now be found at Rant Lifestyle:


Most of my articles can be found under the “News” tab.  I hope to write regularly for Rant; we’ll see what time allows.

Thanks.