Benjamin J. Kirby's Profile

The Hermit

The old hermit was finally dead, laid out quiet and still in a diminutive wood casket. The stark, sharp-cornered pine box was now three quarters filled beyond the body of the hermit with trinkets, baubles, and the kind of scented... Continue reading

Posted Apr 2, 2014 at Clintonaut

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See You Around

by Benjamin J. Kirby Two-plus weeks later, I'm still enjoying the time away from the blog, though I admit it has been strange. It's been strange not to write about politics every day (most days), it's been strange not to... Continue reading

Posted Mar 21, 2013 at The Spencerian

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It's Such a Very Serious Thing to be a Funny Man

by Benjamin J. Kirby My dear young friend, whose shining wit Sets the whole room ablaze, Don't think yourself a "happy dog," For all your merry ways; But learn to wear a sober phiz, Be stupid if you can: It's... Continue reading

Posted Mar 7, 2013 at The Spencerian

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The Obligatory Contemplative Post

by Benjamin J. Kirby Tonight I walked outside and looked up at the stars. I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. It's cool, but not cold -- not by a far sight. Up in Washington, they're bracing for a snowstorm.... Continue reading

Posted Mar 5, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Finally Friday Sequest-Mageddon Edition

by Benjamin J. Kirby Yeah, Julie? What would you suggest he do? Welcome to Seqeuster Nation, everybody. We're all screwed, blued and tattooed, as my old bosses at the Drug Czar's office who served in the Army used to say.... Continue reading

Posted Mar 1, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Almost Friday Bold Predictions Edition

by Benjamin J. Kirby I've been home for two days, now. Emmy has been sick -- fever, stuffy nose. I think she's probably on the road to feeling better, but let me tell you: it's hard with Finn -- who... Continue reading

Posted Feb 28, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Get To Work: The Yahoo Work From Work Debate

by Benjamin J. Kirby This week, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer ordered all the Yahoo employees back to the office. No more working from home. A memo explaining the policy change, from the company’s human resources department, says face-to-face interaction among... Continue reading

Posted Feb 27, 2013 at The Spencerian

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The Sequester Grift

by Benjamin J. Kirby Well, all my life I've expected only the best of things Now I see your clouds and they are appearing And these strange sensations have such an, oh, so familiar ring Rain on the window and... Continue reading

Posted Feb 25, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Rick Kriseman and a St. Petersburg We Can Believe In

by Benjamin J. Kirby Rick Kriseman has been running for Mayor of St. Petersburg for just a couple of weeks now, and already there's a lot of news -- good news -- to report. But first... Please go visit his... Continue reading

Posted Feb 22, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Almost Friday Tied to the Whipping Post Edition

by Benjamin J. Kirby This week started with Finn having a pretty high fever. He is fine, now -- teething, which any parent will tell you is unpleasant, at best -- but mostly back to his old self of giggling... Continue reading

Posted Feb 21, 2013 at The Spencerian

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I'm Around

by Benjamin J. Kirby I know, I know -- a weekend and a weekday with no post. Disaster. Here's the thing. Very busy at work -- a lot on my mind. Even busier at home. Finn had a fever on... Continue reading

Posted Feb 19, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Water

by Benjamin J. Kirby Mama never understood what it's like for a losin' man when her number one son goes bad playin' cards with the Devil's hand -- Eddie Money, Gimme Some Water Can I tell you how unimpressed I... Continue reading

Posted Feb 15, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Finally Friday the Place That's the Best Edition

by Benjamin J. Kirby I lived and worked in the Washington, D.C. area for a dozen years. It was a great place to live, to have a job, to learn. I must've eaten at hundreds of different restaurants during my... Continue reading

Posted Feb 15, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Smart Money: Raise the Minimum Wage

by Benjamin J. Kirby We know our economy is stronger when we reward an honest day’s work with honest wages. But today, a full-time worker making the minimum wage earns $14,500 a year. Even with the tax relief we put... Continue reading

Posted Feb 14, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Off the Radar 'Round Florida (and Everywhere Else) Edition

by Benjamin J. Kirby I was really thrilled to see that Steve Schale, the Democratic political operative who oversaw then-Senator Obama's win in Florida in 2008, is hanging out a shingle, going out on his own. I have made the... Continue reading

Posted Feb 12, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Rick Runs: Kriseman Runs for Mayor of St. Petersburg

by Benjamin J. Kirby I am incredibly excited about Rick Kriseman running for Mayor of St. Petersburg. Check out his announcement video: This is fantastic news for the City of St. Petersburg. Yes, I'm a resident of Gulfport, but we're... Continue reading

Posted Feb 11, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Happy Birthday, Duncan

by Benjamin J. Kirby Today is Duncan's birthday. I don't say enough about her on this blog, and that really is wrong and awful. It is wrong, because there is no one more supportive of my writing efforts than Duncan.... Continue reading

Posted Feb 9, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Finally Friday Kicked in the Face Edition

by Benjamin J. Kirby My buddies at Progress Florida gave me a Best of the Blogs shout-out again for my post on Integrity Florida's big oops. If you're in Florida, I hope you're supporting the important work of Progress Florida... Continue reading

Posted Feb 8, 2013 at The Spencerian

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The Bad Old Days: Blog Comments on the George W. Bush Administration

by Benjamin J. Kirby It's rare, but every once and again, I get some fun comments on this blog. Most recently, these comments have come from a post I did way back in April of last year after a photo... Continue reading

Posted Feb 8, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Almost Friday Invisible State Edition

by Benjamin J. Kirby I have done a few posts on drones in warfare. In a recent post, I talked about what we all now know, which is that the use of drones may in fact "take out" terrorists --... Continue reading

Posted Feb 7, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Sam Henderson for Mayor of Gulfport

by Benjamin J. Kirby We got our ballots in the mail yesterday, and I am about to break one of my own rules... sort of. I have said in the past that I wouldn't write an endorsement of a candidate... Continue reading

Posted Feb 7, 2013 at The Spencerian

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The Enterprise of Integrity

by Benjamin J. Kirby Buckle up, kids: this one is complicated. First, make yourself familiar with a fantastically-named organization called Integrity Florida. This is "a nonpartisan, nonprofit research institute and government watchdog whose mission is to promote integrity in government... Continue reading

Posted Feb 5, 2013 at The Spencerian

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The Fix and the Best of Florida

by Benjamin J. Kirby Eighteen months ago, I was lucky enough to be nominated and later selected as one of nine of the best political blogs in the state as recognized by The Fix, the go-to political blog of the... Continue reading

Posted Feb 4, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Emmy at Three

by Benjamin J. Kirby I wrote my daughter, Emeline, an open letter and published it on this blog when she was born. Today is her third birthday, and I thought it was time for another letter. Dear Emeline: Well, that... Continue reading

Posted Feb 3, 2013 at The Spencerian

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Hillary Clinton on the Horizon

by Benjamin J. Kirby Of course, the standard caveat applies: though incredibly minor in scope and depth, I am nonetheless one of a vast league of people who have served in the vaunted (and now multi-platform) "Hillaryland". My year of... Continue reading

Posted Feb 1, 2013 at The Spencerian

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