Items by bwana

• Invictus: How Does Art Inspire?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  The new movie Invictus describes a portion of the journey of Nelson Mandela and how he used the South Africa rugby team to help unify his country. But while I look forward to seeing the movie, the title caused me to stop and pondered how the Arts affect everyone. This is the poem that [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 12:20pm EST
  by bwana

• Tiger Woods Question of the Day

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  Recent revelations have the Tiger Woods conquest total going up faster than an amateur on a rainy, windy day at St. Andrews. My question is this-with all the chasin’ he was doing, how in the world did Tiger ever have time to play golf? Posted in Athletics, Behavior/Morality [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 12:28pm EST
  by bwana

• Va 37 Spec Elec-Donuts, Coffee, and Ruminations

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 3
  Some brief thoughts on last night’s GOP primary… FCRC…Next time there is a firehouse primary in a state senate district, please have two polling locations. The crowd was in good spirits throughout the time I was there. The weather was very pleasant for December, and there was no wind and there was [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 11:34am EST
  by bwana

• Va 37 Spec Elec-GOP Primary, and Long Lines

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 2
  I arrived at 9:25 PM at Centreville HS to vote.  I voted at 10:15 PM. Fifty minutes to vote. It is now 10:50 PM-and I bet the final voter is just aboutg through voting. Posted in Va Sen 37, Virginia Politics [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 10:56pm EST
  by bwana

• Steve Hunt in Va 37 GOP Primary

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  The GOP Firehouse Primary to select a nominee in the January 12 special election to succeed Ken Cuccinelli in Va 37 is today, December 1st, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at Centreville High School, 6001 Union Mill Rd. Any registered voter in the 37th District can vote. All three candidates [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 8:57am EST
  by bwana

• Groh Be Gone

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Finally. The first cut of potential replacements include Richmond coach Mike London, Temple coach Al Golden, and Louisiana Tech’s Derek Dooley. Boise State’s Chris Petersen and former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, all of whom have UVA ties. Posted in College Football [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 9:31am EST
  by bwana

• Post Thanksgiving Ruminations

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  With the holidays over and work project concluded, I get a chance to return to the blogosphere.  My apologies for not getting replies approved quickly…on the other hand, I discovered that a recent and particularly fervent advocate for a candidate posted on this blog from the same IP address using different [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 9:01am EST
  by bwana

• Random Ruminations 11.16.2009

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 4
  A few random ruminations on a bright monday morning after a weekend of scouts, church stuff, and leaves… Excellent article by Ben Tribbett regarding Bi-Partisan redistricting after the 2010 census. Got mailers from Horinko and Nance this weekend. Still haven’t heard about the results of the Dem polling, but amazed in other articles that Marsden [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 9:40am EST
  by bwana

• Va 37 Spec Elec Reflects Va Dem Problem

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 10
  As noted in this round up the GOP in Virginia Senate 37 have three candidates (Marianne Horinko, Steve Hunt, Will Nance) who were primed at the bell to run in a special election, fired up websites and fired out mailings w/in a week of the November General election, and are out combing [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 9:29am EST
  by bwana

• Mea Culpa-Bwana Blows It!

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 4
  There is a very good reason I never thought to become a lawyer…the bane of legal research… While I was correct earlier today in noting: 24.2-954. Campaign fundraising; legislative sessions; penalties. A. No member of the General Assembly or statewide official and no campaign committee of a member of the General Assembly or [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 1:09pm EST
  by bwana

• Does a Late Cuccinelli Resignation Crush Carpetbagging in Va 37?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 7
  The analysis and opinion offered in the blog piece below is in error, and is based on not reading the appropriate Virginia statute far enough.  My mea culpa and apology is offered in the blog post immediately following, but I think I will leave this up as a reminder to [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 8:33am EST
  by bwana

• Va 37 Spec Elec and My Hunch, Part 2-that Dang Calendar

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 2
  Last week I suggested that Tim Kaine would pick a special election date that gives the dems the best chance of winning the seats.  Given how things are going, I am picking the date as January 12th. Why?  Kaine will pick the longest date to give Dave Marsden as much time as is needed to [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 11:20pm EST
  by bwana

• Va 37 Spec Elec-and so It Begins…

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 2
  It has begun… At 1506 11.6.2009 I got a robocall from Marianne Horinko inviting me to her campaign  kick-off on Tuesday. Game On! UPDATE: Late mail pick up yesterday…first mailings from Horinko and Nance hit.  More later… Posted in Elections: 2010, Va Sen 37 [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 3:08pm EST
  by bwana

• Va 37 Spec Elec-”Dugout Dave” in the Spotlight!

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  Both Hoot Oleszek and David Bulova told the WaPo they will not be candidates for the Democratic nomination in the va 37 special election. GOP bloggers across the state immediately went into a state of mourning at the news that Hoot was out. Delegate “Dugout” Dave Marsden, darling of realtors in the Burke are, apparently will [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 9:55pm EST
  by bwana

• Va 37 Spec Elec and My Hunch on the Democratic Path…

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Earlier today I mentioned that the Marianne Horinko site was up but really alive.  Tune back in at 1932 hours and-as Dr. Frankenstein said’-” Its’ Alive!”…but not as populated as her opponents. Also a copy of her announcement press release is up courtesy of Virgnia Virtucon. Perhaps in her next press release she [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 7:53pm EST
  by bwana

• Ante Up-VA 37 Senate Special Election!

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 10
  Wins by GOP State Senators Ken Cuccinelli (Va 37-Attorney General) and Ken Stolle (Va 8-Sheriff, Va Beach) mean there will be two special elections in the near future.  These races hold more than a little significance in a chamber where the Democrat edge is only 21-19.  If the GOP hold both seats, [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:32am EST
  by bwana

• Go Riggo Go!

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 2
  John Riggins lets Dan Snyder have it: While I don’t know that Snyder is a “bad guy”, his business practices certainly seem contrary to fielding a winning football team.  Heed Riggo! Posted in Washington Redskins [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 2:31pm EST
  by bwana

• Bwana’s Election 2009 Winners

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  It is typical to recognize winners and losers after an election. I suggest there are many folks who were not on the ballot on Tuesday that had some significant benefit to their status, reputations, or future opportunities from the election results. 1. Michael Steele, GOP National Chairman-The GOP flipped the governorships of [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 12:48pm EST
  by bwana

• Ruminations on Election 2009

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 3
  I haven’t spent the last two weeks drawing up a j’accuse analysis of the election, but I thought I would offer a few random thoughts on the recent election. It takes some mighty big cojones to put your name in front of the public and out in public. My hat is [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 9:36am EST
  by bwana

• Blue Virginia, NLS Excoriates Deeds Campaign

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 2
  Lowell Feld’s after action review is up.  It is a thorough excoriation of the Deeds campaign.  Clearly this document has been ready to go for some time. The same for Ben Tribbett, who posted his analysis just after the polls opened The fact that these pieces are in place so quickly after the election [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 8:44am EST
  by bwana

• Kudos to Chap!

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 3
  Last night I saw a lot of unfortunate comments…Dems saying Virginia had made “the wrong choice”, profanity being directed at the GOP on Twitter, and more. Not a lot of grace under pressure. Then I saw this. Excellent post Senator Petersen!  The appropriate tone to take…and good luck in your gubernatorial campaign in [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:54am EST
  by bwana

• Where’s the Beef?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  I keep hearing all these predictions of the GOP scoring HOD gains in excess of five seats, but no one is saying where they are coming from. James Martin at BlueVA is guessing +3 or 4 GOP gain, and lays out the when/where, but no one else. So how about it GOP [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 3:59pm EST
  by bwana

• Is the GOP Ready to Lead?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 2
  If the polls are right, the GOP in VA is looking at a big night tonight. Let’s assume this happens. Some are already sounding alarm bells about revenue issues that have been off by the Kaine admin…wonder how those never made the evening news?…and difficult choices ahead. Norm Leahy has even [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 8:36am EST
  by bwana

• Vote Early, Vote Often!

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  Election Day! Polls Open from 0600 to 1900! And, as my late Cousin Clarence Noble of Princeton, WV used to say…(see above) Posted in Elections [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 5:45am EST
  by bwana

• Final PPP Poll: Mcdonnell 56-Deeds 42

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Public Policy Polling’s (PPP) final poll prior to the Virginia election tomorrow shows Bob McDonnell with 56%, Creigh Deeds with 42%. McDonnell continues to do better with voters identified with his party, and McDonnell voters are more excited about voting for him. Other key findings: McDonnell continues the overwhelming lead he has had [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 6:50am EST
  by bwana

• Some Contrarian Thoughts on the Election

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Lots of reasons are  being offered for the state of the Deeds campaign.  Noises are being made about a GOP blowout this Tuesday.  An amazing number of smart people are taking the easy way out and blaming Creight Deeds and his campaign…and there are a number of places where the [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 10:46am EST
  by bwana

• Will the More Human Candidates Win?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  There seems a point when politicians forget they were human beings long before they became politicians.  Their language becomes stilted.  They become afraid of saying anything nice about their opponent.  Code words are used for campaign assaults, even on personal issues. Voters always say they “vote the person, not the party”.  I [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 10:27am EDT
  by bwana

• The Fight for Independent Voters is not What You Think

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Much has been said about Bob McDonnell scoring so high with Independent voters. The folks at Public Policy Polling, who are tracking the Deeds-McDonnell imbroglio, offer an interesting analysis on that development: You might look at those numbers and say Republicans are winning voters in the middle, but there’s a little [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 10:14am EDT
  by bwana

• Chap! Labels Cooch Supporters “Freak Show”

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Chap Petersen attended the Vienna Halloween parade last night.  Apparently he was not happy about the enthused Cuccinelli supporters riding unicycles and waving “Don’t Tread on Me” signs.  He calls it the “most bizarre” sight of the evening and labeled the exercise a “Freak Show”, and his comments were noted [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 9:30am EDT
  by bwana

• Sign Wars-GOP out for Big Stakes

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  After grabbing the Demo HQ picture last night, I saw something on the way home that pointed out the changed landscape for next Tuesday. I have seen precious few GOP “ticket” type yard signs.  Each candidate has his own sign style, graphics, coloring, like these: However, last night I saw a new [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 6:47am EDT
  by bwana

• Sign Wars-You Have to Give Credit…

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 2
  …where credit is due. I am quite respectful of those who have the drive to run for public office in this country-even those whom I disagree with. I also have  soft spot for those folks who are out there volunteering for their candidate, working the phones and going door-to-door. So when I see [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 5:23pm EDT
  by bwana

• And yet Another-Rasumussen Shows McDonnell +13

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Latest Rasmussen Poll-McDonnell up by 13, which is a four point increase in McDonnell’s lead from their last poll. As for President Obama’s impact: The Deeds campaign and the White House have gone back-and-forth over whether the president should make a campaign appearance in the state. The initial reaction from Virginia voters to the [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 11:23am EDT
  by bwana

• Put Another Poll on the Barbie, Creigh-Down 18 pts at VCU

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Adding to the stunning polls released yesterday, today VCU/Commonwealth Poll releases a new poll showing Creigh Deeds 18 points down to Bob McDonnell at a pace of 54-36 The poll shows McDonnell leading in all parts of the state. Yes, all parts of the state, including Northern Virginia (54-38). Some of the [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 10:58am EDT
  by bwana

• Deeds and Obama-How is the Pres Not a Factor?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Recently BlueVa opined that pollings shows that President Obama is a complete non-factor in this years Governors race and goes on to quote polling data, etc., to say that it is ridiculous to call the McDonnell-Deeds contest a referendum on President Obama. Fair enough. Now two new polls show Bob McDonnell opening an even larger [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 5:10pm EDT
  by bwana

• Democratic Despair and Desperation

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  The despair felt in some quarters of the Democratic Party is palpable.   The White House is playing the Blame Game.  Deeds staffers are saying the it’s all over (later identified in the comment section as Susan Swecker).  Even Lowell Feld, as tenacious a gamer as the Democrats have (does that make him [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 10:56am EDT
  by bwana

• NC Mortgage Scam Engulfs Dan Meier, Robinson Secondary Principal

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 4
  I only heard about this yesterday at the bus stop…and it sounds like it could it get bad. Principal Dan Meier of Robinson Secondary and his brother Thomas, principal at Langley HS in McLean, were participants in what might be the biggest mortgage fraud scam in the history of the state [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 3:00pm EDT
  by bwana

• The Hot Corner-37th Senate Special Election?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  A member of the Virginia House of Delegates must give up his seat to run for statewide office.  Not so for a Virginia state Senator, where the four year terms occur two years after the Gubernatorial election. If the votes fall right there could be three special elections-in Creigh Deeds 25th [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 10:44am EDT
  by bwana

• Ring the Bell…but what of Character?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  Former State Senator Brandon Bell, endorser of Creigh Deeds, has now come out for Bob McDonnell. This situation brings to mind a Winston Churchill comment.  Churchill began his career in Parliament as a Conservative, crossed to the Liberals, and in the aftermath of WWI and the virtual dissolution of the Liberal Party [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 3:23pm EDT
  by bwana

• WaPo Explicitly Endorses Deeds-Implicitly Endorses McDonnell

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Last Sunday the WaPo endorsed Creigh Deeds for Governor of Virginia. In doing so, and in attempting to savage Bob McDonnell, they capably indicate why Deeds is the wrong man at the wrong time in 2009. The items they ignore in their explicit endorsement of Creigh Deeds implicitly show why Bob [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 11:43am EDT
  by bwana

• Dan Snyder-Man Up and Pull the Trigger

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  We all know the basics…the Washington Redskins offense is bad, the team seemingly has no coherence, the o-line is ragged, the young receivers selected by Vinne Cerrato have not yet proven themselves. There is little doubt that until owner Daniel Snyder selects a proven football guy with good instincts on personnel [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 9:42am EDT
  by bwana

• Deedsiana-It’s His World and I Just Don’t Get It

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  I don’t understand the Deeds campaign plan.  Recent events  have not enlightened me on the subject. In the last week two things have come clear. 1. Creigh Deeds is almost 2 million dollars behind Bob McDonnell in cash on hand at this late date in the campaign. 2. All the recent polling suggests that [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 10:39am EDT
  by bwana

• America’s Scouts-Armed and Dangerous!

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 5
  Zero tolerance policies always sound good yet create the potential for making those that administer them seem foolish.  Just how foolish?  Depends on the policies-but in a latest instance it makes America’s Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts seem like dangerous criminals. Six year old Zachary Christie, a Delaware Cub Scout, loves [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 8:38am EDT
  by bwana

• McDonnell and Deeds-How Much Do We Really Need?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 3
  As the fall campaign continues I am having one of those moments where I focus on what the candidates are not saying.  In doing so, they are finding common ground, but it is not good ground for the state. Both candidates say Virginia needs more money to solve transportation problems.  McDonnell talks [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 10:31am EDT
  by bwana

• They Say It’s Your Birthday!-Bwana Turns 50

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 7
  Yep, today I turn 50…and energetically make the turn into my 6th decade, completely confident that any beauty I have lost is more than offset by the wisdom I have gained…and a good look at my various driver’s license pictures indicates the older I get, the better deal I am [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 1:01am EDT
  by bwana

• The Ironic Affirmative Case for Deed

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  In the wake of months of negative ads leading Creigh Deeds to a nine point deficit in the most recent polling, Bob Holsworth suggests an affirmative action planfor Creigh Deeds, part of which is highlighting Virginia showing up on “best managed state”, “best place to do business”, etc. The only problem [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 11:25am EDT
  by bwana

• President Obama wins Nobel Prize-Sends Thank You Note to GW Bush

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  US President Barack Obama today became the third sitting US President awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  Despite taking office only two weeks before the nomination deadline of 2.1.2009, the Nobel committee praised Obama for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”.  The choice was such a shock [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 8:08am EDT
  by bwana

• Is Mark Warner on the Highway to Hell?

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 2
  My old scout master was pure death toward deceit, and when faced with a known falsehood would say “You can go just as straight to hell for lying as you can for killing someone”.  Those who have read the Ten Commandments understand the theological underpinnings of his statement. US Senator Mark [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2009, 8:31am EDT
  by bwana

• Tim Kaine Administration Doesn’t Want Soldiers Voting

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  The Kaine administration argues it is legal to send out absentee ballots to soldiers the day before an election. They argue for motor voter and lowering limits to allow felons to regain voting rights, but they want to send out absentee ballots the day before an election? In other words, they [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 8:05am EDT
  by bwana

• Deeds Bumper Sticker Gap

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  Number of comments: 1
  I saw this phenomena several times in Tysons at lunch today, and it is happening enough to mention it. Many years ago I learned the peculiar CR science of bumper sticker application.  Not just the application, but the idea that the best place for a bumper sticker was on the front [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2009, 2:08pm EDT
  by bwana

• Amazon Kindle Apparently Makes People Stupid

  —Renaissance Ruminations

  I just went to Amazon.com to check on the reviews of the just released Rough Countryby John Sandford, author of the “Prey” series of novels and now spinning off his character Virgil Flowers into a newish series (this is the third book). The book has 3 of 5 stars rating-which is [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2009, 11:20am EDT
  by bwana