The Thursday Thumb-Twiddler: Thunny Thursday
1. You are a state legislator. An industry group offers you a sizable, but legal, political donation, “no strings attached,” while you have a bill they favor up before you. Do you accept the donation, or reject it?
Lobbyists are the greatest infestation since kudzu vines and termites.
Give me first a congressman (not a politician, there’s a difference) who votes for what’s best for the people he represents.
If not that, give me someone who conscientiously votes along with his party’s ideals, even if it isn’t my party. He’s got his loyalties, and I can respect that, if not them.
Give me last someone who votes according to the whims of his donators.
You were chosen for the job — you were not hired for it.
2. While reading a new book by a famous scholar whose previous work you’ve very much admired, you come across multiple passages that seem familiar. You do some digging around and find where the scholar has lifted, almost verbatim and without credit, all those passages from an obscure work by another author. What, if anything, do you do?
Review it on my site. Email my findings to the local papers. Sit back and watch the fur fly.
Yes, that is mean-spirited, petty, and course. You’re absolutely right. Sometimes I’m allowed.
3. If you were to be forced to have the same thing for dinner every night for a month, what would you choose?
Right now, I’m tempted to say seven-layer burritos from Taco Bell. All-veggie, tangy, tasty, and easy on my stomach. That might start to back up on me after a month, though… so let’s just say peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Yeah baby.
