Michael R. Shannon

Why Are Schools of Education Such an Oxymoron?

Most of the problems of modern public education originate outside the school building. The locus of the worst influences are schools of education that turn out teachers and administrators who have absorbed four to six years of fantasy–based theory and practice.

Bend Over & Experience 21st Century Air Travel

Visiting grandma’s house is going to be a lot different this holiday season. Instead of “Grandma, what big teeth you have!” It’s going to be “G–man what cold hands you have!” as thousands of unsuspecting travelers undergo their first enhanced airport “pat–down” at the hands of TSA.

Shannon Post How to boost the TEA Party’s Caffeine Level

Once you start bossing people around it’s really hard to stop — just ask Janet “No Toner for You” Napolitano. Last week it was instructions the new Congress, this week the benefit of my wisdom goes to real victors: the TEA party and independents not ready for Obama’s socialism lite.

New Congress To–Do List

Tuesday voters placed the House of Representatives under new management and put the fear of God into what remains, temporarily, a Democrat Senate. Now it’s time for a resuscitated GOP to deliver.

Is Anyone Not Offering Flu Shots This Year?

I’ve been forced to get my flu shot early. Normally I wait until November for my vaccination, unless the federal government declares an influenza emergency. Then the resulting vaccine shortage means I get left out entirely, since I’m just a taxpayer and not on the priority list for survival.

Are Newspapers This Hard Up?

The most remarkable thing happened last week. The Wall Street Journal tried to pick my pocket. I assumed when Titans of Wall Street selected victims they focused on businesses that actually had money, but I suppose the Great Recession has lowered everyone’s sights.

Another 18th Century Infestation Courtesy of the EPA

Normally it would be cause for great joy when “socially–conscious progressives” are literally bitten on the behind by the results of their bad ideas. In this case it’s unfortunate that the conservatives who should be enjoying a nice gloat, are instead forced to scratch their own rear ends simply because you can’t rely on bedbugs to exercise judgment before biting.

Why the GPS Is Magellan and Not Columbus

1492 was a big year for Christendom. The fortress of Granada fell to the combined forces of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. Driving the last of the invading Islamic horde out of Spain and returning the peninsula to its original owners.

Call 1–8700–Ask–A–Lawyer

In a recent Washington Post story, University of Virginia Law Professor A.E. Dick Howard ruled it is not unconstitutional to ask your lawyer a question. This is a load off my mind, because when it comes to constitutional questions one never knows where a law professor is likely to alight.

Death Is Cheapened in VA

Last week Teresa Lewis was Virginia’s only woman on Death Row (although she has permanently vacated the premises by the time you read this). Lewis earned her death sentence by conspiring to murder her husband and stepson for insurance money with the help of her backwoods lover and his trusty sidekick.

Take Two Tranquilizers And Call After November

Democrats have inadvertently stumbled across a sure–fire method of depressing Republican turnout in November: put House Minority Leader John Boehner (R–OH) on TV discussing how he intends to vote on taxes.

Elephant Community Suffers Another Drive By

There was a RINO sighting in the capitol over the weekend. Meghan McCain (Republican In Name Only) was making the rounds selling her new book.

Northrop Grumman Introduces Y2K!

Conservatives occasionally wonder if anyone would notice should the government just go away one morning. This is not an attractive prospect for elected officials and Virginia Lt. Governor Bill Bolling had a personally scary experience in relation to just that topic when he was stranded in Italy last spring due to a volcano eruption.

You Wouldn’t Take a Dog to that Clinic

Fetuses all across the Virginia are smiling on their sonograms this week in the wake of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s opinion that concludes the Commonwealth can legally resume oversight over “clinics” that abort the unborn.

Brass Ring Escapes Again

My local delegate to the Virginia state house, Bob Marshall (R—Prince William) is not particularly popular in Richmond because he’s conservative even when it’s inconvenient.

Sisters of Political Futbol

(Note to Democrat press secretaries: even the mainstream media will ask embarrassing questions regarding immigration after a drunk illegal runs over a nun.) Virginia’s Sen. Mark Warner (D–Waffle) successfully dodged commenting on the death of Sister Denise Mosier for almost a week.

One More for the Road

The DC metro area suffered a little collateral damage this week as part of Democrats long march toward “Social Justice.” One nun was killed and two were hospitalized after their car was hit head on by an auto with a drunken Carlos Montano at the wheel.

I’m Still Not Jerry Kramer

My age and marital status have combined to place severe limits on what are acceptable topics for my formerly rich fantasy life. I’m pretty much down to dreaming about food and fantasy football.

Did the Earth Move for You?

Last Friday at 5 AM, after a quiet spell of some 13 years, Prince William County, VA had an earthquake. For commuters 5AM is when they’re getting ready to head to work. For drunks and night owls it’s the time they are arriving home. So thousands of people were out of bed and functioning, more or less, yet only six residents here called 911.

The Readers Are Always Write

This is a good week to catch up on reader correspondence concerning pressing national issues like government employee hydration. So stand by for the letters: