Steve Kelman on politics, culture, and life June 13, 2024
Mexican flags at LA demonstrations
Many of us feel that identification with the country of our ancestors as well as our own is a wonderful feature of our society. I am proud to be American, and I am proud to be Jewish. This should apply to Mexican-Americans as well as others. I do believe, and I have stated here online, that waving a Mexican flag is a politically bad tactic. But in terms of substance, I have not the slightest problem with Mexican-Americans being proud of their heritage and showing that pride.
A conservative friend on Kristi Noem
A conservative friend posted last night about Noem that it is not the role of the federal government to overthrow the elected leadership of local states. He asked who does she think she is, the head of the Gestapo?
Testing civil servants candidates on Trump’s executive orders
New guidelines for federal hiring reported in The Times today include asking candidates to submit an essay describing their allegiance to administration policies. They also propose to include training for senior career managers in Trump’s executive orders. Civil service RIP.
Non-question questions on Fox
More than any mainstream network, interviewers on Fox constantly ask non-question questions, such as just now, “Wasn’t Padilla just trying to create a spectacle, right?”
No fat soldiers at Trump’s parade
Apparently, the guidelines for soldiers in the audience at Trump’s Fort Bragg jamboree includes “no fat soldiers.“ A fat commander-in-chief is OK, however.
Hong Kong police collude with Chinese police against pro-democrats
For the first time ever, the Hong Kong puppet police have joined the Chinese government in conducting an investigation of “collusion with external elements” to “endanger national security.” Hong Kong was once a free place. Sad.
Should you refrigerate maple syrup?
An article in the wellness supplement in The Times gives an expert guide to whether about 15 condiments need to be refrigerated or not. Without the benefit of their experts, I got most of the choices right on my own – honey, mustard, and peanut butter do not need to be refrigerated, maple syrup, mayonnaise, and kimchi yes.