You can't lose for winning

Father's Day Eve on the terrace at Camelot-by-the-Sea. Martinis and grilled marinated steaks with Kayem (Chelsea made) dogs and Sissy's Superb Potato Salad. Goomp, never disappointing, claims it's the best steak he's ever had. Meanwhile (above), Tiny has her eye on the prize (dogs and steaks on a platter off screen to the left).

Our favorite read of the day that says it all is the WSJ's "Mad Dogs and Englishmen." We caught it early morning just before we hit the road down east and sent a link to Goomp, who picked it up later on in his snail copy of the Journal:

With Great Britain now the world's most violent developed country, the British government has hit upon a way to reduce the number of cases before the courts: Police have been instructed to let off with a caution burglars and those who admit responsibility for some 60 other crimes ranging from assault and arson to sex with an underage girl. That is, no jail time, no fine, no community service, no court appearance. It's cheap, quick, saves time and money, and best of all the offenders won't tax an already overcrowded jail system.

Meanwhile,

Not everyone will be treated so leniently. A new surveillance system promises to hunt down anyone exceeding the speed limit. Using excessive force against a burglar or mugger will earn you a conviction for assault or, if you seriously harm him, a long sentence. Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer jailed for killing one burglar and wounding another during the seventh break-in at his rural home, was denied parole because he posed a threat to burglars. The career burglar whom Mr. Martin wounded got out early.

When you enjoy being a cat, it's no good unless you enjoy being a cat all the way. Tiny does it in spades.

Then there's Brit crit Melanie Philips's "All must have prizes" phenomenon [via Clive Davis], not to mention those 41 valedictorians of Fairfax's Robinson Secondary School [via Ann Althouse] on this side of the pond. It got us to thinking and remembering. This Gramscian incursion has been infiltrating our educational system for some time now. The same phenomenon burst full blown upon our unsuspecting consciousness perhaps 20 years ago, when a Boston public-school contest sponsored by our employer at the time, the Art Institute of Boston, made a big point of "awarding" all the losers with an "I participated" sticker -- as if the kids were stupid enough to think participation was as good as achievement. The City Hall coordinator, having swallowed the p.c. party line, insisted upon it. The winners -- one from each of four age groups -- got to have their designs printed and sold as "holiday" greeting cards during the unmentionable Christmas season. The contest itself was mighty bless, but even then the Gramscian soul killers were in control, demanding that all were winners and Christmas was the holiday that dare not speak its name.

Comments

[Laura Lee Donoho]

Sissy, my oldest daughter graduated from Robinson High School in Fairfax, VA. Back then there were about seven valedictorians and I thought that was much.

Many of them took fluff sort of courses. My daughter was not among them because she only spent her senior year there and they gave us trouble transferring her credits from the Catholic High School from which she transferred.

But she loved it at Robinson because of the drama department. She learned a lot but thankfully we were able to talk her out of majoring in drama. There are some wonderful teachers at that school but it sounds to me like they now care a little too much.

[Tara]

It gets worse.

The British police have gone crazy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,1799777,00.html

The police are considering a proposal to let selected British Muslims examine the intelligence used to mount anti-terrorism raids before they take place, the Guardian has learned.

I just read about this at Sister Toldjah right after reading your post.

It feels like the world has lost its mind.

http://sistertoldjah.com/archives/2006/06/17/what/#comments

[Teresa]

I've got to say, at one time I had wanted to visit England...not anymore. My problem is, if someone attacks me, I'm going to defend myself. Period. I'd end up in jail over there. And they have the audacity in Europe to say it's dangerous in the US... HA! Well, at least we have a fighting chance against the criminals over here. Pretty soon the criminals will have complete control over there.

On the valedictorian issue, I blogged last year on a Seattle school that had 44 valedictorians... how stupid. Unfortunately Munu is down right now, but when it's back, the post should be here:

http://technicalities.mu.nu/archives/092188.php