Whaddayaknow?

or,
You Know You Got It... Shout if it Makes You Feel Good...
(oh yes indeed...)
Blogging kingpin Glenn Reynolds* links to this WaPo piece by Jennifer Rubin, who wrote on Sunday morning, that David Brooks' previous column about Just Saying Yes to Suicide, takes us down a slippery slope...

David Brooks of the New York Times likes to fancy himself as a truth-seeker, bringing social and hard sciences to the masses. But in his Friday column on health care and death, he makes some shocking and inaccurate assertions. Given his coziness with the Obama administration one has to wonder if he is test-driving some Obama administration rationalizations for rationing.
...
But is someone confined to a wheelchair (no dog walking) or who needs help dressing not living a life of value? Clendinen, and in turn Brooks, begin down a slippery slope as they decide that, really, is it worth it to keep grandpa around for years if he can’t tie his tie?
...
Anyone, for example, who has had an elderly parent, a friend with cancer, or an experience with mental illness knows the difference our health-care system, warts and all, has made in the lives of millions and millions of Americans. Who of us would choose to receive only the medical care available 20 years ago? And, from where I sit, I’m not ready to throw in the towel on my loved ones (or anyone else’s) because they can’t walk the dog.

Now need I point out? This blogger was there first on Friday.

Just sayin'.

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ADDED: Nevermind all these stories about "discrimination" against traditional African names. (For my money, it's not the names so much, as perhaps the unassimilating attitude that often comes with the Afro-centric names that makes employers fear making a poor hire...)

Maybe if I wasn't a "Mary" and changed my name instead to something more ... Jewish sounding. Like, Rachel say. Or Josh something-or-other. There's a reason, besides simply quality of the work, that certain types advance in the media world, and plenty others of us out here simply have our work picked over and published under other professional bylines.

Maybe as an Ezra say, my words would carry more weight.

Still, I'm pretty pleased with the benefits package I've got here... And the writerly independence thing too.

DOUBLE PLUS:
Me thinks Ms. Rubin might be a regular Subsumed reader:

The hardest stories to cover in politics are the dogs that don’t bark, that is figuring out why something isn’t happening. When it comes to Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) the dog that isn’t barking, at least not yet, is her gender.

While I'm always flattered when I find folks imitating my work,

Friday, July 1
The Life You Save Might Be Your Own.
Eugene Robinson, on the debate that didn't bark:

The skies over at least six countries are patrolled by robotic aircraft, operated by the U.S. military or the CIA, that fire missiles to carry out targeted assassinations. I am convinced that this method of waging war is cost-effective but not that it is moral.

There has been virtually no public debate about the expanding use of unmanned drone aircraft as killing machines — not domestically, at least. In the places where drone attacks are taking place, there has understandably been great uproar. And in the rest of the world, questions are being raised about the legal and ethical basis for these antiseptic missile strikes.

or adopting my pet phrases or features here, I must say this: Ms. Rubin, find your own voice. Trust me, you'll be stronger for it if you stop copping work from others, and learn a bit more independence in developing your own work.

That goes out to all other imitators too. I know: I read a lot.

BONUS PLUS:
Y'all know who was posting personal Views from my Windows, waaay before the young interns at the Dish picked up on that feature and made a schlocky, for-profit book off it, right? See here, here, here, here, here, and keep searching on the early blog entries, if you need more... (I've always taken photos from my residence windows, dating back to college days.)

Then there was the whole, taking pictures of nature's beauty -- the twisted trees especially -- while out walking in the woods, thing.

Nevermind that two prominent blogs by UW Law professors -- who began their postings chatting about hen parties, coffee clatches and other indoors fun -- are now suddenly posting pictures of their plants too, coincidence?, and various Wisconsin water fun.

Like I say, flattered, ladies. Indeed!

Sunday, June 12
Heading out to Fleet Farm today to have the tires rotated. I'll bring a book to read in case there's a wait.
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If you're looking for a mild getaway this summer, try Stillwater, Minnesota. Quaint storefronts, a pretty rivertown. Near Willow River State Park in Hudson, and Taylor's Falls State Park in Minnesota.

If you head further north, there's the Hayward, Wisconsin area, whose sportfishing tourist heyday is behind it, but has a historic charm. Winter home of the Birkebeiner.

Finally, Bayfield on the shores of Lake Superior, and La Pointe on Madeline Island, are reminders of the trapper and missionary days in north America. They're accommodating, and you'll come back relaxed if you take a few days summer getaway. Happy flag day in a few.

posted by Mary at 12:50 PM

That's from way back in 2005, for those of you out there who might be keeping track...