Sam Clements is Turning Over In His Grave

Regarding journalism: in my youth, it was procedure to check out stories and see if they're true. This included stories from politicians. Today's "press release journalism," in which the reporters listen to the politician and simply write it, would never pass a real editor. "Go find out if he really did that!" "See if you can dig up a little more on this!"

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Texting vs Spelling

I find the tendency of (mostly) youth to spell words incorrectly to make texting easier (I guess) very annoying--it tends to bleed out into other writings. I recall a few years ago, when government children's prison "teachers" were telling kids that wrong answers were "all right" to avoid offending their students' tender sensibilities. Then, along comes texting, which becomes a perfect fit with bad spelling and poor grammar.

I find texting suspect in its value anyway because all it's good for is "passing notes in class" and for causing auto collisions. Seems like a regular phone call would suffice--after safely parking the car, or finding a private corner in which to make the call.

In business, as well as in polite society, an inability to spell properly and use proper grammar brands an individual as semi-literate at best, and as a Victim of Government schools at worst, or just plain stupid.

Dumbing down the herd.

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Drought

I've been a mite slow lately adding new articles to this blog. The well is (I hope) temporarily dry. I just can't bring myself to get excited right now about anything political. Both of my Senators, my Congressman, and my state legislators (may they all rot in their own private hells) are raging socialists who won't be swayed by reason or anything else other than vast sums of money. This tends to dampen my enthusiasm just a bit.

Additionally, I'm writing a novel. I was stuck for at time at a point in the plot, beyond which I could not seem to get (make the most of it, TWC!). I puzzled over it for over a year, and I finally know what I'm going to do. The work will require some restructuring and some deep rewriting. I want to make the most of it, in the hopes of finishing the story before senility hits.

I am able to throw in the odd quip on facebook or twitter, thus can conclude that I'm not quite brain dead yet, so I can assume that I won't quit writing this stuff completely. Perhaps I'm just a little bit politically depressed at the thought of America turning into the USSA.

I'll place things here as my mood, and my time permit. I just don't think it will be very rapid-fire for a while.

I apologize, and thank you for your indulgence.

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California