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Thursday, 15 March 2012 18:51

Written by Reg Henry

I was called to jury duty today in the criminal division of the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County. This is only the second time I have been called in close to 20 years and both times have worked out the same. I did not make it on to a jury. I didn't even make it to being interviewed.

I think if I got to the interview stage I might be rejected anyway. The attorneys would figure out that Reginald is the long version of Reg, shortly after they noticed that I had admitted to being a journalist on the questionnaire.

Actually, I would really like to be called — it would be interesting — but as long as I am working here I think I will just have to go down to the courthouse every few years only to be disappointed.

Oh well, my civic duty is done. They also serve who but stand and wait. My only advice to you if you are called for your jury duty is to bring a good book, There is a lot of waiting.

I have decided our venue for the reunion/wake. It will be held next Thursday from about 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 or 9 ish at ..... wait, that's a secret only to be shared in confidential emails with Reg-ulators. I have enemies. It's not that I fear my enemies, but I just don't want to buy them a drink.

I will mail all those who sent me a note with the details tomorrow (Friday). If you haven't responded to the general invitation to all blog readers of goodwill, please do so. If you don't get a note from me by the end of Friday, send me another note on Monday.
I will try and buy everyone an initial drink and will supply some horses doovers — hors d'oeuvres in your language. After that, it's a cash bar.

Again, I repeat that this is not an official PG function (although some of my PG friends may be there). It's just me saying thank you.

Be there or be square.

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Wednesday, 14 March 2012 18:15

Written by Reg Henry

Having proposed a 30 percent cut in state funds for Pitt, Penn State and Temple and Lincoln in his budget, Gov, Tom Corbett this week told his higher education commission to figure out a way to help schools be content with their measly helping of gruel — a la Oliver Twist. These are not the exact words Mr. Corbett used, but I characterize it like this for the benefit of any English majors who may have been drawn to the blog,

With the university challenged to "think differently," the new chair of Penn State's board of trustees disclosed that it is cautiously considering the option of going private. It has looked at the example of Cornell, a private school with public ties that has many distinctions, not the least of which is that it is the school my son-in-law Critter attended.

Now, a quick look at the US News and World Report Web site reveals that Cornell has an enrollment of about 14,000 and the tuition is $41,541.

Penn State has en enrollment of 90,000 on 24 campuses, including 44,000 at State College. The tuition is listed at $15,984, but slightly more than half the students get some financial aid.

In short, I don't think Cornell is a great comparable, as they say in real estate assessment circles. My guess is that this interest in Cornell was revealed only to put subtle pressure on the governor. It was just a way of saying, "Please, sir, may we have some more gruel." Good luck with that one.

But I think the remedy is not to go private; that shouldn't even be considered. It really is up to the governor to recognize the importance of higher education on future prosperity. To boast that he didn't raise taxes today, Mr. Corbett is prepared to beggar Penn State (and Pitt and the rest) tomorrow.

If Penn State were to go private, it would betray the public trust. Pennsylvanians have supported the school with public money for many years with the understanding that it would remain affordable for their children. And if it ever becomes the Cornell of Pennsylvania, look for Cornell-style tuition.

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Tuesday, 13 March 2012 18:51

Written by Reg Henry

If you recently logged on or have gone back to the home page, you will see that a great new day for the Post-Gazette online operation has dawned. The change that nudged me to my decision to quit this blog is here.

So what do you think of it? I'm interested in your comments and you don't have to be on facebook to give your opinion here.

I found that the new site is not the easiest thing to navigate if you are not used to it, but I suppose that is a self-curing problem. I had difficulty finding my own blog this afternoon.

This blog has had its uses to me as well as you. One of you — I think it was Little Minx — gave me the idea for my Wednesday column: Rick Santorum declaring that teleprompters should be illegal if you are running for president. Thank you, thank you (two thank yous, one for Little Minx and one for Rick himself for saying something so stupid.)

I am not looking forward to the mail tomorrow. Those Who Are Not Amused will be contacting me and denouncing me in the usual terms — just like a liberal, your socialist buddy is the big joke, etc.

However, none of them will be as unconsciously funny as this letter to the editor we got from a reader about the Tom Tomorrow cartoon that runs on the Weekend Perspective page Saturdays .

"The political cartoon posted in your March 3rd edition of the post-gazette was tasteless and appalling. I do not subscribe to your paper. I almost wish I did, just so I could cancel it to make a point."

Yes, life is so unfair. You have to be in the ballpark to yell at the umpire.

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Monday, 12 March 2012 16:28

Written by Reg Henry

In 1972-74, Rush Limbaugh was a Pittsburgh radio DJ under the name "Jeff Christie," working at KQV and WIXZ.

In August 2005, he unwisely saw fit to blast me on his show for a column I wrote about the nomination of then Judge John Roberts as chief justice of the United States.

I warned America, although America didn't listen, that Judge Roberts was too preternaturally nice, which could only lead him to become a reactionary who would cause trouble. "As any gal will tell you," I wrote, "it's the nice ones who break your heart." So it proved, I would argue, from the Lilly Ledbetter case to Citizens United.

After Rush called me out, I wrote another column which demonstrated the use of the Aussie stock whip (literary version) in corralling swine. Since then, he has left me alone. (No guts.)

I am reminded of this because not only is Rush more in the news but Chief Justice John Roberts will be soon too. He will be presiding over the nation health-care legislation case.

Indeed, the chief justice was the subject of an interesting front-page profile in The New York Times this morning. It pictures a jurist at once sensitive to the court's reputation and the desire not to change the course of the law too abruptly but also capable of leading a strictly ideological majority in overturning "Obamacare."

What will he do? I suspect he'll break the hearts of those (like) me who approve of the law, just as I wrote seven years ago.

By the way, the curse on Rush was the traditional curse of the Aussies: May all your chickens turn into emus and kick over your patio furniture.