You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, 1927-2003, political scholar, US Ambassador to India, and US Senator from New York.
Quote of the Day: Curmudgeon
I have been called a curmudgeon, which my obsolescent dictionary defines as a “surly, ill-mannered, bad-tempered fellow.” … Nowadays, ‘curmudgeon’ is likely to refer to anyone who hates hypocrisy, cant, sham, dogmatic ideologies, the pretenses and evasions of euphemism, and has the nerve to point out unpleasant facts and takes the trouble to impale these […]
“A city government exists only for the purpose of…”
During a refreshing, unplanned visit to the Phoenix North Mountain Visitor Center, I saw on display this letter to the residents of the Sunnyslope area, sent to them upon annexation of the area into the City of Phoenix. It says, in part, A city government exists only for the purpose of performing necessary municipal services for […]
Not subject to ethics
Scottsdale and its city treasurer sued for discrimination by former employee City attorney Bruce Washburn ultimately dismissed the complaint, saying that Nichols was not subject to the complaint process under the city’s current ethics code. Because, of course, since both are charter officers, that would mean the ethics code would apply to Washburn, as well!
The Noblest of Dogs
“Noblest of all dogs is the hot-dog; it feeds the hand that bites it.” Dr. Laurence Johnston Peter, EdD (1919 – 1990), Canadian educator and “hierarchiologist,” who postulated the Peter principle: “In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence… [I]n time every post tends to be occupied by an employee […]
One-Eyed Jackass
This crazy ‘public art’ installation was recently… ahem, erected, at Indian School Road and Marshall Way. “In the end, they [the artist and the public art division of Scottsdale Arts] went directly to the city council, which has the power to overrule the [city] design board. In February, all but one city council member voted […]
Gadflies
It’s more of the tired old sentiment that those in power can do whatever they want, and we mere peasants can only object via “civil dialog.” Plus, “gadfly” is easier to spell than “concerned citizen and taxpayer.” Why does the Scottsdale Independent constantly refer to those opposed to the Desert Edge [formerly known as […]
Quote of the Day: Confident Ignorance
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge. Charles Darwin (1809–1882), English naturalist who authored the unifying theory of the life sciences.
Quote of the Day: Action
Action is the only Truth. Marcus Aurelius, 121 AD to 180 AD, the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors of Rome. His death marked the end of the Pax Romana and the beginning of the eventual fall of the Western Roman Empire. (via John Groseclose)
Quote of the Day: Ethical standards matter
“We expect our children to learn that ethical standards matter.” Rose Finocchiaro Smith, long-time Scottsdale Unified School District employee and parent, speaking on the ethics crisis in SUSD administration; via KTVK interview.