White House rejects Death Star petition
By Jodi F. Bullock
While not the answer they were hoping for—34,435 “Star Wars” fans have received a response to their petition for the Obama Administration to begin construction of a Death Star by 2016.
Despite his serious-sounding title, Paul Shawcross, chief of the science and space branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget, let the Death Star hopefuls down humorously by asking, “Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?”
Then Shawcross did something that made me love him even more: He listed the ways we’re already using technology to tackle space exploration and said the Force would be with those in pursuit of careers in science. It’s wonderful that instead of dismissing the petition as silly, Shawcross took the time to respond thoughtfully and encourage citizens to pay attention to the real science that is out of this world.
Plan to sell Belle Isle Not Beneficial
By Jodi F. Bullock
Rodney Lockwood, a developer and board member of the conservative Mackinac Center for Public Policy, has put forth a plan to sell Detroit’s Belle Isle to private investors for $1 billion. After the sale, Belle Isle would secede from Michigan to become a commonwealth similar to Puerto Rico. At that point, the citizens of Belle Isle (anyone with a clean criminal record, a command of the English language, a good credit score and $300,000) could enjoy a life free from income tax.
While I applaud anyone who attempts to come up with ways to alleviate Detroit’s seemingly never-ending problems, Lockwood’s idea is never going to happen, nor should it. Selling the city’s most beautiful and historic park so that rich people (a $300,000 entry fee is prohibitive for most people, which I assume is the point) can finally stop paying taxes is not a solution that would benefit the people of Detroit.
Alex Jones is a lizard person
By Jodi F. Bullock
I’m not typically a fan of Piers Morgan. But when talk radio quack Alex Jones appeared on Morgan’s show to argue that the British CNN host should be deported, I found myself firmly on the side of Morgan. Jones, a devoted conspiracy theorist and pro-gun advocate, is convinced that Morgan is part of a plot by the New World Order to take guns from U.S. citizens.
What could have been a typical cable news debate quickly devolved into Jones ranting and raving and sweating about how Americans are taking suicide pills disguised as anti-depressants. He appeared to have become completely unhinged as he rasped and sweated.
And who can blame him? If Jones believes everything he claims to believe—that under everything (including the Denver airport) lies an evil plot—how can he possibly keep from appearing as if he has lost his mind?
Another possibility is that Jones doesn’t actually believe the garbage he spews, but is deftly preying on those who buy into conspiracy theories and listen to his depressingly successful radio show in over 60 countries.
I know some of these otherwise intelligent people and they are the reason I’m glad Jones showed his insane colors on television. The more the public sees Jones for the ridiculous fear-monger he is, the less likely they’ll pay attention next time he starts ranting about the Illuminati.
