Gordon Hopkins

Boys and Their Toys

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 11/20/2020 - 10:52am
I first got the cats about the same time the pandemic began. Much like the pandemic, every time I think I've got a handle on what's going on with them, everything changes. 

Jackpot!

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 11/13/2020 - 10:45am
Once again, Nebraska voters roundly rejected measures that would have allowed casino gambling and off-track betting on horse races.
Except, they didn't, and I don't know anyone who wasn't surprised by the outcome. After holding the line against gambling for decades, the Cornhusker State is now ready to roll the dice and bet on gangling. It probably helped that most of the tax revenue is earmarked for property tax relief.

Don't Forget The Other 364 Days

Published by admin on Tue, 11/10/2020 - 8:32am
So last week we had an election and it was exhausting. This week we celebrate Veterans Day. This is apropos, actually, since you can't have the one without the other.

The Night Shift

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 11/06/2020 - 3:21pm
So this week the country participated in one of those things that makes a democracy a democracy: an election. More than two centuries ago, this country's founders fought against an empire who thought the best way to fight in a war was to stand in a row while wearing bright red jackets.
We broke away from the monarchy so that we could rule ourselves, so that we could be independent, so that we could have beer and pizza instead of tea and crumpets. (What the heck is a crumpet, anyway? No, never mind. I don't want to know.)

Fifty Shades of Meow

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 10/30/2020 - 10:13am
“This latter was a remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to an astonishing degree.” ― Edgar Allan Poe, The Black Cat
 
Black cats get a bad rap. Some people even believe black cats are the minions of Satan. Well, let me tell you something. The idea that Satan has chosen black cats to do his bidding on Earth is just so much hogwash. ALL cats are the minions of Satan. Why would Satan pick just one color? That crazy.

When The Magic is Gone

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 10/23/2020 - 11:23am
Adjectives are dangerous. The Incredible Hulk. The Fantastic Four. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. These all sound really impressive but only as long as you are that adjective. 
Fortunately, there was never a moment when the Amazing Randi was not amazing.
James Randi died on Tuesday at the age of 92, and the world is a poorer place for it. Not just poorer, but possibly a more dangerous place as well, without Randi to expose the charlatans who prey on those eagerly willing to suspend common sense.

The Darth Vader Guide To Leadership

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 10/16/2020 - 11:51am
A couple of weeks ago, I rewatched “The Empire Strikes Back” again. As I'm sure you can guess, I've seen this flick more times than I've had car accidents. (And I'm a terrible driver, so that's a lot.) This time, I noticed something that I never noticed before.
Darth Vader is actually a pretty good boss.
Now, don't get me wrong, I would never want to work for him, primarily because he works for an organization that blows up planets. Still, working for a bad company doesn't always make one a bad boss.

Just When You Though It Was Safe To Go Back To Jail

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 10/09/2020 - 10:15am
Should the punishment fit the crime? I can think of three guys who better hope not.
Three ex-employees of an Oklahoma jail have been charged with cruelty to prisoners, corporal punishment to an inmate and conspiracy. According to court records, detention officers handcuffed prisoners in an empty room and then played the “Baby Shark” song loudly on a loop. 
Over and over and over again. For hours.

Squirrels on Ice Planet Hoth

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 10/02/2020 - 12:24pm
So last weekend, on Sunday, the Bonham Theatre was showing “The Empire Strikes Back.” It was the 40th anniversary of the best of the ever increasing number of “Star Wars” flicks. Anywhoo, it was about ten or so minutes in, and I think Luke had just escaped the ice cave of the Wampa (sort of a cross between the abominable snowman and Jason from “Friday the 13th” movies), when everything went black. The power hiccuped.

The Many Deaths Of Wild Bill Hickok

Published by gordonhopkins on Fri, 09/25/2020 - 3:40pm
The year was 1873 and American newspapers had the sad duty to report the death of James Butler Hickok, better known to the world as “Wild Bill,” who was reportedly gunned down that year. (For those of you saying to yourselves, “Wait! That can't be right,” and rushing to Wikipedia to prove me wrong, just keep reading.)
Here is what was published in the Clarkesville Chronicle on Saturday, March 29, 1873:

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