Friday, April 30, 2004
What the.....
Someone found us today on google looking for "Omorosa smiley emoticon"
For the love of gawd, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Someone found us today on google looking for "Omorosa smiley emoticon"
For the love of gawd, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Kerry said WHAT?
Please, please, please, PLEASE!
UPDATE: The "Torch" Song is playing rather loudly these days. The funny thing about this article is how all these leading Democratic "strategists" point all sorts of fingers as to who is to blame that Kerry is doing so poorly and Bush is surviving---what these geniuses haven't figured out is that they've set up a circular firing squad, and that Bush has hit the deck.... About five years from now they'll have a seminar at the K School and figure it out. That's Adlai Stevenson political smarts at work for ya.
Please, please, please, PLEASE!
UPDATE: The "Torch" Song is playing rather loudly these days. The funny thing about this article is how all these leading Democratic "strategists" point all sorts of fingers as to who is to blame that Kerry is doing so poorly and Bush is surviving---what these geniuses haven't figured out is that they've set up a circular firing squad, and that Bush has hit the deck.... About five years from now they'll have a seminar at the K School and figure it out. That's Adlai Stevenson political smarts at work for ya.
Why you should never trust a monkey with your heart
Our old pal INDCent Bill tipped us off to a "make fun of Frank J." contest going on over at The Frank J. Fan Club.
We all know of Frank J.'s thing about monkeys, and his even bigger thing about Glenn Reynolds. But did you know he's even bigger thing about David Hasselhoff?
I didn't think so (mainly because we are making that up).
Anyhoo, here's our entry into the contest:
Our old pal INDCent Bill tipped us off to a "make fun of Frank J." contest going on over at The Frank J. Fan Club.
We all know of Frank J.'s thing about monkeys, and his even bigger thing about Glenn Reynolds. But did you know he's even bigger thing about David Hasselhoff?
I didn't think so (mainly because we are making that up).
Anyhoo, here's our entry into the contest:
Because I have a reputation to protect
To blot out any sneaking suspicions possibly planted by my post below about Umberto Eco, I just wanted to post the following two things side by side and ask, "does this creep anybody else out?"
I mean, I knew David Hasselhoff was a god, if only a back-waxed one, in Taiwan and Germany, but in ancient Rome?
To blot out any sneaking suspicions possibly planted by my post below about Umberto Eco, I just wanted to post the following two things side by side and ask, "does this creep anybody else out?"
I mean, I knew David Hasselhoff was a god, if only a back-waxed one, in Taiwan and Germany, but in ancient Rome?
AIIEEE!! Another Diane Chambers Moment!
Sheila, who probably thinks I'm stalking her by now (and if so, it's her own damn fault for posting such interesting material), asks which books you compulsively re-read and why.
I remember one time causing a fellow lawyer's jaw to swing down into his Adam's-apple by bringing up this topic. He said, "You mean, you read books more than once?"
Well, yes. In some cases, lots and lots and lots of times. Not only is there the pleasure of revisiting the book itself. There is also a kind of anticipatory delight when you first sit down with your old favorite once again, coupled with a vague sense of guilt that you Really Ought To Be Reading Something New.
As to why I reread some books compulsively, well that's tricky. I'd say there are a variety of reasons, dependent on subject matter, plot, style, craftsmanship, "message" and a variety of other factors. It would be interesting to develop them, but I really don't have time now.
A short list of books that I read regularly (say 2 or 3 times a year) would include, on a non-exclusive basis, at least the following:
-Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series;
-J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy;
-P.J. O'Rourke's All The Trouble In The World, Give War A Chance, Holidays In Hell and Parliament of Whores;
-Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honor Trilogy, Scoop, A Handful of Dust and Decline and Fall;
-P.G. Wodehouse's Summer Lightning, Money In The Bank, Hot Water and Uneasy Money;
-C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia (with or without kiddies present);
-James Thurber's My Life And Welcome To It;
-John Mortimer's Rumpole stories.
And in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to confess that I frequently read Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising and Hunt for Red October. This is one of those examples that makes the "why" question so difficult to answer completely and succinctly. Outside his obvious grasp of military matters, I think Clancy is an awful writer. His characters are cardboard, his non-military dialogue (especially in his love scenes) is cringe-making and his name and place dropping, although encyclopedic, is adolescent. Nonetheless, I enjoy the books because I like a good story about Our Boys taking down Ivan. Go figure.
So. How about you?
YIPS from Steve: Okay, I'm going to lose all the fan base I've developed posting such erudite things as the poster of the new CHiPs Movie, starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Richard Simmons, but the book I've re-read the most is easily The Name of the Rose. I've been through it about eleven times---it's the same paperback copy, and after the second or third time I started writing on the inside cover when I did it. I've only seen part of the movie once, and just walked away from it (and not just because of Christian Slater's ugly teenage butt). Second place (other than the complete corpus of Calvin & Hobbes, Bloom County, the Far Side, and the Dave Barry books which all don't count because it's just assumed everybody does that) would be Dune, but that would only be five or six and that would have been about ten years ago. Willow's going to come and dump patcholi on my head for admitting this, but I've only been through LOTR once, and that was just a couple of years ago. Most novels that I like I usually go through again at least once (except for the Scarpetta books, which are great the first time but like smoking fiberglass a second). One that stood out in my mind this way was a book called Fatherland, that came out about a dozen years ago, a sort of alt-history (before the term was popular) murder mystery set in Nazi Germany in 1963. That book just freaked the bejeebus out of me at the time, and still does. Good alt-history can do that. I'm looking forward to going through Cryptonomicon again. Clancy alas I have to put in the "like smoking used fiberglass" category. But who am I to criticize, since I love reading the John Weisman novels....
Good biographies are like that too. One that keeps getting better with multiple re-readings is William Manchester's second (and sadly last) volume in his biography of Winston Churchill, Alone. What a simply stunning read.
One book I would love to re-read is Christopher Buckley's Thank You For Smoking; I would love to except I loaned my copy to a certain, ahem, fellow Llamabutcher who has yet to return it....
Sheila, who probably thinks I'm stalking her by now (and if so, it's her own damn fault for posting such interesting material), asks which books you compulsively re-read and why.
I remember one time causing a fellow lawyer's jaw to swing down into his Adam's-apple by bringing up this topic. He said, "You mean, you read books more than once?"
Well, yes. In some cases, lots and lots and lots of times. Not only is there the pleasure of revisiting the book itself. There is also a kind of anticipatory delight when you first sit down with your old favorite once again, coupled with a vague sense of guilt that you Really Ought To Be Reading Something New.
As to why I reread some books compulsively, well that's tricky. I'd say there are a variety of reasons, dependent on subject matter, plot, style, craftsmanship, "message" and a variety of other factors. It would be interesting to develop them, but I really don't have time now.
A short list of books that I read regularly (say 2 or 3 times a year) would include, on a non-exclusive basis, at least the following:
-Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series;
-J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy;
-P.J. O'Rourke's All The Trouble In The World, Give War A Chance, Holidays In Hell and Parliament of Whores;
-Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honor Trilogy, Scoop, A Handful of Dust and Decline and Fall;
-P.G. Wodehouse's Summer Lightning, Money In The Bank, Hot Water and Uneasy Money;
-C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia (with or without kiddies present);
-James Thurber's My Life And Welcome To It;
-John Mortimer's Rumpole stories.
And in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to confess that I frequently read Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising and Hunt for Red October. This is one of those examples that makes the "why" question so difficult to answer completely and succinctly. Outside his obvious grasp of military matters, I think Clancy is an awful writer. His characters are cardboard, his non-military dialogue (especially in his love scenes) is cringe-making and his name and place dropping, although encyclopedic, is adolescent. Nonetheless, I enjoy the books because I like a good story about Our Boys taking down Ivan. Go figure.
So. How about you?
YIPS from Steve: Okay, I'm going to lose all the fan base I've developed posting such erudite things as the poster of the new CHiPs Movie, starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Richard Simmons, but the book I've re-read the most is easily The Name of the Rose. I've been through it about eleven times---it's the same paperback copy, and after the second or third time I started writing on the inside cover when I did it. I've only seen part of the movie once, and just walked away from it (and not just because of Christian Slater's ugly teenage butt). Second place (other than the complete corpus of Calvin & Hobbes, Bloom County, the Far Side, and the Dave Barry books which all don't count because it's just assumed everybody does that) would be Dune, but that would only be five or six and that would have been about ten years ago. Willow's going to come and dump patcholi on my head for admitting this, but I've only been through LOTR once, and that was just a couple of years ago. Most novels that I like I usually go through again at least once (except for the Scarpetta books, which are great the first time but like smoking fiberglass a second). One that stood out in my mind this way was a book called Fatherland, that came out about a dozen years ago, a sort of alt-history (before the term was popular) murder mystery set in Nazi Germany in 1963. That book just freaked the bejeebus out of me at the time, and still does. Good alt-history can do that. I'm looking forward to going through Cryptonomicon again. Clancy alas I have to put in the "like smoking used fiberglass" category. But who am I to criticize, since I love reading the John Weisman novels....
Good biographies are like that too. One that keeps getting better with multiple re-readings is William Manchester's second (and sadly last) volume in his biography of Winston Churchill, Alone. What a simply stunning read.
One book I would love to re-read is Christopher Buckley's Thank You For Smoking; I would love to except I loaned my copy to a certain, ahem, fellow Llamabutcher who has yet to return it....
Java U
Now here's a great idea - coffee school!
Think about this:
"Class, for your lab work today, I want you to brew and consume coffee."
"Hey, Joe! C'mon over to Delta Tau tonight! We're doin' espresso shots! Par-TEEE!!!"
And the school saves an enormous amount on overhead because it doesn't have to furnish beds - everyone is so jacked up on the caffeine that they never go to sleep!
I guess the downside would be in football - the QB would have such a bad case of the shakes that he'd fumble every snap.
Heh.
(The subject of this gentle ribbing brought to you again courtesy of Lynn, who puts together such interesting multi-link posts that I can just float around them like a hummingbird, gathering all sorts of material.)
Now here's a great idea - coffee school!
Think about this:
"Class, for your lab work today, I want you to brew and consume coffee."
"Hey, Joe! C'mon over to Delta Tau tonight! We're doin' espresso shots! Par-TEEE!!!"
And the school saves an enormous amount on overhead because it doesn't have to furnish beds - everyone is so jacked up on the caffeine that they never go to sleep!
I guess the downside would be in football - the QB would have such a bad case of the shakes that he'd fumble every snap.
Heh.
(The subject of this gentle ribbing brought to you again courtesy of Lynn, who puts together such interesting multi-link posts that I can just float around them like a hummingbird, gathering all sorts of material.)
Harpsichord Music
Here is a nice little review by Ionarts of a recent harpsichord concert here in Your Nation's Capitol. (HT to Lynn.)
I don't recognize some of the composers included in the concert, especially the Americans, but they sound quite interesting from a curiosity stand-point. I sight-read the Handel d minor suite mentioned every now and again, although Handel does not translate very well to the piano. I also occasionally take a whack at Couperin, but his music fares even worse in translation.
One thing that has always got my goat was the performance of baroque keyboard music on a piano, particularly by professionals in live concerts and in recordings. A few years back, the local public radio station got it into their collective heads that such music is more "accessible" when heard on a piano. So now whenever they play a Bach keyboard concerto, for example, you can forget about hearing a harpsichord.
Feh, says I. Baroque keyboard music was written with the plucking, almost percussive tonal quality of the harpsichord (and its cousins like the cembalo, etc.) in mind. The piano, using a hammer technique for tone production, has none of that about it, making baroque pieces sound mushy where they should be sharp, clear and crisp. Now I play them on a piano because I don't have any choice in the matter. But I feel there is no excuse for professionals to do so, given the easy availability of good quality instruments. (Actually, I've a sneaking suspicion that many pros prefer to play them on the piano because, as the article notes, there is much more room for histrionic grandstanding and other forms of flagrant self-promotion. But showing off on stage is a topic for another day.)
Here is a nice little review by Ionarts of a recent harpsichord concert here in Your Nation's Capitol. (HT to Lynn.)
I don't recognize some of the composers included in the concert, especially the Americans, but they sound quite interesting from a curiosity stand-point. I sight-read the Handel d minor suite mentioned every now and again, although Handel does not translate very well to the piano. I also occasionally take a whack at Couperin, but his music fares even worse in translation.
One thing that has always got my goat was the performance of baroque keyboard music on a piano, particularly by professionals in live concerts and in recordings. A few years back, the local public radio station got it into their collective heads that such music is more "accessible" when heard on a piano. So now whenever they play a Bach keyboard concerto, for example, you can forget about hearing a harpsichord.
Feh, says I. Baroque keyboard music was written with the plucking, almost percussive tonal quality of the harpsichord (and its cousins like the cembalo, etc.) in mind. The piano, using a hammer technique for tone production, has none of that about it, making baroque pieces sound mushy where they should be sharp, clear and crisp. Now I play them on a piano because I don't have any choice in the matter. But I feel there is no excuse for professionals to do so, given the easy availability of good quality instruments. (Actually, I've a sneaking suspicion that many pros prefer to play them on the piano because, as the article notes, there is much more room for histrionic grandstanding and other forms of flagrant self-promotion. But showing off on stage is a topic for another day.)
Friday Afternoon Silliness
Okay, everyone else is playing this game, so here goes:
1. Grab the nearest CD.
2. Put it in your CD-Player (or start your mp3-player, I-tunes, etc.).
3. Skip to Song 3 (or load the 3rd song in your 3rd playlist)
4. Post the first verse in your journal along with these instructions. Don't name the band, nor the album-title.
And here is the result:
Laocoon and her two sons
Pressured storm, tried to move
No other more, emotion bound
Martyred, misconstrued
(Actually, the CD is in my car down in the building's parking garage, but I figure that's good enough.)
Should be an easy one to figure out.
HT to Tainted Bill, among dozens of others.
UPDATE from Steve: Here goes....
hips like cinderalla
most B avenue good shame (?)
talking sweet about nothing
cookie out bit you (?)
TAME TAME TAME TAME (for years I thought it was PAIN, but no)
makin good friends with you
when you shaking your good frame
following your face in those bad shoes
something something LACTOSE
TAME TAME TAME TAME
a-huh a-huh a-huh a-huh
TAME TAME TAME TAME
Okay, everyone else is playing this game, so here goes:
1. Grab the nearest CD.
2. Put it in your CD-Player (or start your mp3-player, I-tunes, etc.).
3. Skip to Song 3 (or load the 3rd song in your 3rd playlist)
4. Post the first verse in your journal along with these instructions. Don't name the band, nor the album-title.
And here is the result:
Laocoon and her two sons
Pressured storm, tried to move
No other more, emotion bound
Martyred, misconstrued
(Actually, the CD is in my car down in the building's parking garage, but I figure that's good enough.)
Should be an easy one to figure out.
HT to Tainted Bill, among dozens of others.
UPDATE from Steve: Here goes....
hips like cinderalla
most B avenue good shame (?)
talking sweet about nothing
cookie out bit you (?)
TAME TAME TAME TAME (for years I thought it was PAIN, but no)
makin good friends with you
when you shaking your good frame
following your face in those bad shoes
something something LACTOSE
TAME TAME TAME TAME
a-huh a-huh a-huh a-huh
TAME TAME TAME TAME
Gratuitous Blogging on Blogging
Allison at An Unsealed Room has a nifty metaphor to explain the difference between journalism and blogging.
I think the idea can be stretched even farther to include any amateur blogger who makes his or her living by some other form of writing. After all, as a lawyer I face many of the same pressures and constraints on my professional writing as does a journalist like Allison. And I'm sure as hell not writing about the heartbreak of radio spectrum reallocation and the fierce rivalry for satellite orbital slots out of any burning love for the subject matter - I'm doing it because I get paid to.
On the other hand, when in the Butcher's Shop.....Well Lawd knows we're up for just about anything!
The funny thing is that while I like to maintain that I would keep writing about whatever strikes my fancy no matter whether anyone actually reads it or not, the delight I get in seeing a comment left after one of my posts or a link from another site or a steady rise in traffic renders this notion a bunch of horse-hockey. But then again, I think this is more akin to trying to win your way into a circle of friends than it is trying to sell your product to an audience.
HT to Sheila.
Allison at An Unsealed Room has a nifty metaphor to explain the difference between journalism and blogging.
I think the idea can be stretched even farther to include any amateur blogger who makes his or her living by some other form of writing. After all, as a lawyer I face many of the same pressures and constraints on my professional writing as does a journalist like Allison. And I'm sure as hell not writing about the heartbreak of radio spectrum reallocation and the fierce rivalry for satellite orbital slots out of any burning love for the subject matter - I'm doing it because I get paid to.
On the other hand, when in the Butcher's Shop.....Well Lawd knows we're up for just about anything!
The funny thing is that while I like to maintain that I would keep writing about whatever strikes my fancy no matter whether anyone actually reads it or not, the delight I get in seeing a comment left after one of my posts or a link from another site or a steady rise in traffic renders this notion a bunch of horse-hockey. But then again, I think this is more akin to trying to win your way into a circle of friends than it is trying to sell your product to an audience.
HT to Sheila.
Jeez-Loueeze!
How does this man do it? Bill gets his 200th Insta-link in about 72 hours!
Just don't be surprised when the Insta-Wife shows up on your doorstep in a fit of jealous rage and kicks your ass!
How does this man do it? Bill gets his 200th Insta-link in about 72 hours!
Just don't be surprised when the Insta-Wife shows up on your doorstep in a fit of jealous rage and kicks your ass!
Ted "Takin' It To The Airwaves" Koppel
Anybody out there reeeaaally believe that Teddy-Boy's planned reading of the names of U.S. casualties in Iraq on the air tonight is not politically motivated? Wha - you do? Do your parents know you're online, young man?
Anyway, why don't we let the Big Guy tell us what he was thinking himself.
Money quote:
My executive producer Leroy Sievers remembered, and asked me if I remembered and I did, a two-page spread in Life magazine back in 1969 on the Vietnam war dead for one week and the impact; he reminded me of the impact that that had had. And said, why don't we try to do something similar?
Gee. No political motivation there.....
Also, some advice to Teddy on the other criticism that this is a cheap ratings stunt. Fer chrissake, if you're gonna fib about something, at least make it plausible:
But quite apart from that, it seems to me absolutely silly that anyone would suggest that we were doing this for ratings. In point of fact, we were sitting around (a) unaware that it was sweeps, that's how dumb we are at "Nightline."
Not as dumb as you evidently think readers of this interview are.
Go read the whole thing. Frankly, I think this whole business is pretty cheesy and I certainly don't intend to watch the program (well, I don't anyway). As for others who do watch it, the question will be whether they consider those soldiers killed to be heroes or victims. I know which one I think.
HT to the Mox.
Anybody out there reeeaaally believe that Teddy-Boy's planned reading of the names of U.S. casualties in Iraq on the air tonight is not politically motivated? Wha - you do? Do your parents know you're online, young man?
Anyway, why don't we let the Big Guy tell us what he was thinking himself.
Money quote:
My executive producer Leroy Sievers remembered, and asked me if I remembered and I did, a two-page spread in Life magazine back in 1969 on the Vietnam war dead for one week and the impact; he reminded me of the impact that that had had. And said, why don't we try to do something similar?
Gee. No political motivation there.....
Also, some advice to Teddy on the other criticism that this is a cheap ratings stunt. Fer chrissake, if you're gonna fib about something, at least make it plausible:
But quite apart from that, it seems to me absolutely silly that anyone would suggest that we were doing this for ratings. In point of fact, we were sitting around (a) unaware that it was sweeps, that's how dumb we are at "Nightline."
Not as dumb as you evidently think readers of this interview are.
Go read the whole thing. Frankly, I think this whole business is pretty cheesy and I certainly don't intend to watch the program (well, I don't anyway). As for others who do watch it, the question will be whether they consider those soldiers killed to be heroes or victims. I know which one I think.
HT to the Mox.
New Literature Imitates Bad Science Fiction
Glenn is recommending a new novel depicting an alternate history in which Rome never fell. (I fail to see what Moses has to do with it, btw.)
Funnily enough, I'm pretty sure I've seen this idea somewhere before.
Glenn is recommending a new novel depicting an alternate history in which Rome never fell. (I fail to see what Moses has to do with it, btw.)
Funnily enough, I'm pretty sure I've seen this idea somewhere before.
Change your summer travel plans now!
Lawren Mills (who should be studying for finals but is instead blogging) links to the fabulous news that a museum in St. Petersburg is putting Rasputin's schlong on display.
Unfortunately, that's St. Petersburg Russia, but you can imagine how that would have helped the city by the bay compete with Orlando.
What's distinctive about the story is the claim of, er, how do I put this delicately? Ah yes, size.
No word on whether Ron Jeremy will now be appointed Ambassador to Russia.
Lawren Mills (who should be studying for finals but is instead blogging) links to the fabulous news that a museum in St. Petersburg is putting Rasputin's schlong on display.
Unfortunately, that's St. Petersburg Russia, but you can imagine how that would have helped the city by the bay compete with Orlando.
What's distinctive about the story is the claim of, er, how do I put this delicately? Ah yes, size.
No word on whether Ron Jeremy will now be appointed Ambassador to Russia.
Friday morning SMACK-down
Watch out, mon! Our pal Willow is opening up a can of Mega-whup ass over at Whomping Willow, with lots of casualties, including innocent bystander INDCent Bill. Something about defending the honor of patchouli-stanked art students.....
Who new blogging could be such a bloodsport?
PS--confidential to Willow: You are our choice in the FrankJ LMAO Hawk-girl t-shirt contest, but to be perfectly honest you could have sown the competition up if you had put a little StarTrek Comm badge on the outfit. I mean, after, Glenn Reynolds is a judge and all.....
(How's that for completely self-absorbed and inbred?)
Watch out, mon! Our pal Willow is opening up a can of Mega-whup ass over at Whomping Willow, with lots of casualties, including innocent bystander INDCent Bill. Something about defending the honor of patchouli-stanked art students.....
Who new blogging could be such a bloodsport?
PS--confidential to Willow: You are our choice in the FrankJ LMAO Hawk-girl t-shirt contest, but to be perfectly honest you could have sown the competition up if you had put a little StarTrek Comm badge on the outfit. I mean, after, Glenn Reynolds is a judge and all.....
(How's that for completely self-absorbed and inbred?)
Spirit of America Update - Thank You
We received the following email from Jim Hake, founder of Spirit of America:
Greetings,
Today we delivered to Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA the equipment that will be used to equip Iraqi-owned and operated television stations in Al Anbar province. On Saturday, May 1 the Marines will fly the equipment from March Air Force Base to Iraq. This initiative and the original request is described here: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/req_12/request.html. We try hard to provide rapid response to requests we receive. Here is the timeline of this project:
April 8: SoA receives Marines request for television equipment.
April 14: SoA posts the request on our Web site and begins fundraising.
April 29: SoA delivers $82,687 of TV studio equipment to Camp Pendleton.
April 29: Marines pack donated equipment and prepare for shipment to Iraq.
May 1: Marines fly equipment to Iraq.
This rapid turnaround makes a difference in Iraq.
********
Please check Friday's Wall St. Journal, Dan Henninger talks about Spirit of America in his column on the editorial. You can find it online here: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/
We have received $1,532,931 in donations in the last two weeks. Contributions from 7,438 donors have been made to every request and every area of Spirit of America's operations. I can't begin to describe the effects this generosity will have on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan - both in helping the people of those countries and in supporting the hard work of those serving there.
As encouraging as the last 14 days have been, I believe we are just at the beginning of seeing homefront support for America's efforts in Iraq. We're fortunate to receive emails, letters and handwritten notes from our donors that thank us for finally getting the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. Since 9/11 many have felt helpless. That no longer need be the case.
You can find more on what's happened and what next at: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/blog. As promised, we have an accounting there of how the money was spent on the first phase of the Marines TV request.
All the best,
Jim Hake
On top of that, we received word from fearless leader Kevin that the combined forces of the three blogger coalitions - The Victory Coalition, the Castle Aaarrghhh Fighting Fusileers and the Liberty Alliance - managed to meet our goal of raising $50,000 for the cause.
Well done, everybody!
We received the following email from Jim Hake, founder of Spirit of America:
Greetings,
Today we delivered to Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA the equipment that will be used to equip Iraqi-owned and operated television stations in Al Anbar province. On Saturday, May 1 the Marines will fly the equipment from March Air Force Base to Iraq. This initiative and the original request is described here: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/req_12/request.html. We try hard to provide rapid response to requests we receive. Here is the timeline of this project:
April 8: SoA receives Marines request for television equipment.
April 14: SoA posts the request on our Web site and begins fundraising.
April 29: SoA delivers $82,687 of TV studio equipment to Camp Pendleton.
April 29: Marines pack donated equipment and prepare for shipment to Iraq.
May 1: Marines fly equipment to Iraq.
This rapid turnaround makes a difference in Iraq.
********
Please check Friday's Wall St. Journal, Dan Henninger talks about Spirit of America in his column on the editorial. You can find it online here: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/
We have received $1,532,931 in donations in the last two weeks. Contributions from 7,438 donors have been made to every request and every area of Spirit of America's operations. I can't begin to describe the effects this generosity will have on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan - both in helping the people of those countries and in supporting the hard work of those serving there.
As encouraging as the last 14 days have been, I believe we are just at the beginning of seeing homefront support for America's efforts in Iraq. We're fortunate to receive emails, letters and handwritten notes from our donors that thank us for finally getting the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. Since 9/11 many have felt helpless. That no longer need be the case.
You can find more on what's happened and what next at: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/blog. As promised, we have an accounting there of how the money was spent on the first phase of the Marines TV request.
All the best,
Jim Hake
On top of that, we received word from fearless leader Kevin that the combined forces of the three blogger coalitions - The Victory Coalition, the Castle Aaarrghhh Fighting Fusileers and the Liberty Alliance - managed to meet our goal of raising $50,000 for the cause.
Well done, everybody!
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Uh, you mean that cheesy hot-coroner tee-vee show starring the dead chick from Law & Order?
NE Republican has got the goods on the other crossing Jordan story, of the AQ dog that didn't bark: the thwarted AQ gas attack in Amman.
This is why the 9/11 Commission is such a cruel joke: it's not just the now irredeemable hack Bob Kerrey appearing on Comedy Central to get pointers from Jon Stewart on interviewing the President. It's the simple fact of asking what if Atta and his AQ buddies were thwarted on the tenth or early in the eleventh---how would the left have responded? Racist discrimination against Arab men? Where was the law-enforcement violation?
Here you have a bona fide attack thwarted and not a peep from the American press.
Pathetic.
NE Republican has got the goods on the other crossing Jordan story, of the AQ dog that didn't bark: the thwarted AQ gas attack in Amman.
This is why the 9/11 Commission is such a cruel joke: it's not just the now irredeemable hack Bob Kerrey appearing on Comedy Central to get pointers from Jon Stewart on interviewing the President. It's the simple fact of asking what if Atta and his AQ buddies were thwarted on the tenth or early in the eleventh---how would the left have responded? Racist discrimination against Arab men? Where was the law-enforcement violation?
Here you have a bona fide attack thwarted and not a peep from the American press.
Pathetic.
With Friends Like These
Blogs for Bush (which the Llamas have recently joined) notes that the WaPo editorial page is once more putting the boot to Kerry's backside.
Heh, indeed.
Blogs for Bush (which the Llamas have recently joined) notes that the WaPo editorial page is once more putting the boot to Kerry's backside.
Heh, indeed.
Maginot Candidate Watch
We may have to switch metaphors very soon, because a certain haughty, French-looking Massachusetts liberal, who by the way served in Vietnam, is beginning to sound an aweful lot like Howard Dean.
Stand by for a "Yeeeeagggghhh!!!" Moment.
HT to Taranto.
We may have to switch metaphors very soon, because a certain haughty, French-looking Massachusetts liberal, who by the way served in Vietnam, is beginning to sound an aweful lot like Howard Dean.
Stand by for a "Yeeeeagggghhh!!!" Moment.
HT to Taranto.
Refreshing Candor From The World Of Natural Disaster
Big Llama Yips! go to Gary Pearl, one of the executive producers of the upcoming earthquake miniseries 10.5 for stating publicly in response to those who get their shorts in a twist over the flick's scientific accuracy, "Lighten up, Francis, it's a movie."
Too bad the producers of this upcoming doomfest can't get into the same spirit.
Of course, no one has successfully figured out how to blame George Bush for earthquakes yet. Have they?
Big Llama Yips! go to Gary Pearl, one of the executive producers of the upcoming earthquake miniseries 10.5 for stating publicly in response to those who get their shorts in a twist over the flick's scientific accuracy, "Lighten up, Francis, it's a movie."
Too bad the producers of this upcoming doomfest can't get into the same spirit.
Of course, no one has successfully figured out how to blame George Bush for earthquakes yet. Have they?
SPIRIT OF AMERICA - UPDATE
Folks, we're into the final eight or so hours of the drive (extended from yesterday). According to the latest update, the combined blogger forces have raised a total of $45,068.83. This is fantastic! But here's the thing: Why not make it a round $50K?
Remember, this is all for a very worthy cause. Also, our various fellow bloggers have rounded up a fantastic variety of cool stuff that could be yours for contributing.
So go, already. Donate now!
Yip! Yip! Yip!
Folks, we're into the final eight or so hours of the drive (extended from yesterday). According to the latest update, the combined blogger forces have raised a total of $45,068.83. This is fantastic! But here's the thing: Why not make it a round $50K?
Remember, this is all for a very worthy cause. Also, our various fellow bloggers have rounded up a fantastic variety of cool stuff that could be yours for contributing.
So go, already. Donate now!
Yip! Yip! Yip!
Right Wing Babes
Frank J. has posted the bios and pics of the contestants in his IMAO T-Shirt Babe Competition. Go on over and, heh, read the entries. (Like you're not going to click straight to the pictures, you geeky horndogs!)
Judging is this weekend, with results posted Monday.
All we can say is Good Luck and Llama Yips! to our pal Willow!
Frank J. has posted the bios and pics of the contestants in his IMAO T-Shirt Babe Competition. Go on over and, heh, read the entries. (Like you're not going to click straight to the pictures, you geeky horndogs!)
Judging is this weekend, with results posted Monday.
All we can say is Good Luck and Llama Yips! to our pal Willow!
Gosh, those new "truth in publishing" laws really sting!
Some fun weekend reading around Rancho Non-sequitur
Some fun weekend reading around Rancho Non-sequitur
Afternoon Snark
A hi-larious parody interview with Noam Chomsky, brought to you by Protein Wisdom.
All this, in turn, brought to you courtesy of the Pious Agnostic.
A hi-larious parody interview with Noam Chomsky, brought to you by Protein Wisdom.
All this, in turn, brought to you courtesy of the Pious Agnostic.
Gratuitous Classical Civ Posting
Now this is the sort of thing that will always immediately grab my attention: Ghost of a Flea has a piece up on new efforts to understand how triremes worked. The plan apparently is to emphasize efforts to collect examples of Greek and Persian remains to try and figure out why modern recreations cannot perform to what are believed to be the ancient technical specs. (I dimly remember from other readings that much is made of statements by authors such as Herodotus and Thucydides about triremes traveling from point A to point B from one sunrise to the next. The estimated speed of such a ship on such a journey has been calculated to be something between 7 and 10 knots, I think, which is really booking for an oared ship.)
Be sure to check out the photos of the Greek Navy's very own trireme, the Olympias, whose existence is certainly very cool, but might also go a long way in explaining why Greece is not exactly a naval powerhouse in the Eastern Med. Also, if you're really feeling like a classical civ nerd, check out this dissertation on ancient trireme construction funding. (Okay, I only looked at the table of contents.)
HT to Rocket Jones.
Now this is the sort of thing that will always immediately grab my attention: Ghost of a Flea has a piece up on new efforts to understand how triremes worked. The plan apparently is to emphasize efforts to collect examples of Greek and Persian remains to try and figure out why modern recreations cannot perform to what are believed to be the ancient technical specs. (I dimly remember from other readings that much is made of statements by authors such as Herodotus and Thucydides about triremes traveling from point A to point B from one sunrise to the next. The estimated speed of such a ship on such a journey has been calculated to be something between 7 and 10 knots, I think, which is really booking for an oared ship.)
Be sure to check out the photos of the Greek Navy's very own trireme, the Olympias, whose existence is certainly very cool, but might also go a long way in explaining why Greece is not exactly a naval powerhouse in the Eastern Med. Also, if you're really feeling like a classical civ nerd, check out this dissertation on ancient trireme construction funding. (Okay, I only looked at the table of contents.)
HT to Rocket Jones.
Ouch, That's Gonna Hurt!
BTW, have you noticed the blogads for "Quent Cordair Fine Art" running over at Glenn's and elsewhere? Right now, there is one up for a piece called "Self-Made Man." (I'd link it, but can't owing to Internet filtering problems here.) Suffice to say, the way that guy's got his chisel positioned and his hammer poised makes me wince every time I see it. Certainly worthy of a Darwin Awards Honorable Mention.
BTW, have you noticed the blogads for "Quent Cordair Fine Art" running over at Glenn's and elsewhere? Right now, there is one up for a piece called "Self-Made Man." (I'd link it, but can't owing to Internet filtering problems here.) Suffice to say, the way that guy's got his chisel positioned and his hammer poised makes me wince every time I see it. Certainly worthy of a Darwin Awards Honorable Mention.
Space: The No Noogie Frontier
Here is a sure-fire way to keep Jim Kirk from ever joining Starfleet, instead staying in Riverside, Iowa to raise hogs, brew his own apple-jack and raise hell at Shriner's conventions.
Here is a sure-fire way to keep Jim Kirk from ever joining Starfleet, instead staying in Riverside, Iowa to raise hogs, brew his own apple-jack and raise hell at Shriner's conventions.
Ben Affleck, son of David Hasselhoff?
My analysis of this nascent threat to the republic is up over at Truly Bad Films.
Let's just say this gets mentioned as a possibility:
My analysis of this nascent threat to the republic is up over at Truly Bad Films.
Let's just say this gets mentioned as a possibility:
Ray of Sunshine
The New England Republican does much to ameliorate at least one source of my crabbiness this morning. Thanks!
The New England Republican does much to ameliorate at least one source of my crabbiness this morning. Thanks!
The Llama Butchers - Today With Free Side of X-tra Curmudgeon Fries!
I apologize if I'm in something of a foul mood today. Go to Drudge and you'll see today is one of the Press's Blizt Bush days. That always makes me crabby. Then note the plain wickedness discussed in the two posts below. Enough to rile anybody.
But on top of that, I spent forty-five minutes this morning practically coughing up a lung. This has been going on for better than a week now. At first I thought it was just allergies. Then I thought it might be a sinus infection. Now I'm thinking tuberculosis. Whatever it is, it leaves me feeling less than sunny.
Oh, and memo to the woman who was driving the green Suburban with Maryland tags down the GW Parkway about 7:30 this morning: Madam - people can see you!
I apologize if I'm in something of a foul mood today. Go to Drudge and you'll see today is one of the Press's Blizt Bush days. That always makes me crabby. Then note the plain wickedness discussed in the two posts below. Enough to rile anybody.
But on top of that, I spent forty-five minutes this morning practically coughing up a lung. This has been going on for better than a week now. At first I thought it was just allergies. Then I thought it might be a sinus infection. Now I'm thinking tuberculosis. Whatever it is, it leaves me feeling less than sunny.
Oh, and memo to the woman who was driving the green Suburban with Maryland tags down the GW Parkway about 7:30 this morning: Madam - people can see you!
Today's Choice Cut
Peggy Noonan has a piece up today that starts out innocently enough as a review of a new production of "Raisin In The Sun" featuring Puff Daddy (or whatever he calls himself) and then morphs into withering commentary on a horrifying aspect of our collective social conscience. What have we become and what can we do about it? Peggy has a small suggestion. Go and read.
Peggy Noonan has a piece up today that starts out innocently enough as a review of a new production of "Raisin In The Sun" featuring Puff Daddy (or whatever he calls himself) and then morphs into withering commentary on a horrifying aspect of our collective social conscience. What have we become and what can we do about it? Peggy has a small suggestion. Go and read.
Un-Effin-Bulievable!
Want to start your morning with a blood-pressure spike? Want that blue backgrounder on your computer screen to go red? Want to hurl your coffee cup against the far wall and kick the cat down the stairs? Then read this unbelievable piece of filth penned by one Rene Gonzales for the Daily Collegean. The title - "Pat Tillman Was Not A Hero: He Got What Was Coming To Him" is probably the least offensive part of the screed.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph.
Well. I don't have time to take this bit of pond scum apart. But fortunately, I don't have to - Michele has already done it.
Want to start your morning with a blood-pressure spike? Want that blue backgrounder on your computer screen to go red? Want to hurl your coffee cup against the far wall and kick the cat down the stairs? Then read this unbelievable piece of filth penned by one Rene Gonzales for the Daily Collegean. The title - "Pat Tillman Was Not A Hero: He Got What Was Coming To Him" is probably the least offensive part of the screed.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph.
Well. I don't have time to take this bit of pond scum apart. But fortunately, I don't have to - Michele has already done it.
It's not your machine!
The server where all your Llamabutcher graphics are ensconsed like little stowaways seems to be down at the moment. Sorry!
The server where all your Llamabutcher graphics are ensconsed like little stowaways seems to be down at the moment. Sorry!
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Blogistan Institute of Technology, Department of Forensic Moonbatological Studies
Outakes from the INDC/PBS Special "Get a Life on Earth", the tragic story of when moonbatis oberlinis escapes from its natural environment and accidently tries to take over the set of "Walking Tall II."
Outakes from the INDC/PBS Special "Get a Life on Earth", the tragic story of when moonbatis oberlinis escapes from its natural environment and accidently tries to take over the set of "Walking Tall II."
Serious thoughts
We've been heady on the snark as of late, in an almost Bugs Bunny-ian fit of contempt and defiance as a means to address serious times.
But here are two rather serious and absolutely vital posts, from Wretchard over at Belmont Club, that shows why Blogistan is good for more than Moonbat Jokes and Olson sister parodies:
the first is on contrasting Vietnam with Algeria, and how America has adapted strategically and tactically to fight in the Arab Way of War;
the other looks at the ongoing Battle of Fallujah from a tactical perspective with some solid conclusions that don't fit the Nightline/NPR view of the world because they are based in, oh, a sound understanding of doctrine as well as history.
We've been heady on the snark as of late, in an almost Bugs Bunny-ian fit of contempt and defiance as a means to address serious times.
But here are two rather serious and absolutely vital posts, from Wretchard over at Belmont Club, that shows why Blogistan is good for more than Moonbat Jokes and Olson sister parodies:
the first is on contrasting Vietnam with Algeria, and how America has adapted strategically and tactically to fight in the Arab Way of War;
the other looks at the ongoing Battle of Fallujah from a tactical perspective with some solid conclusions that don't fit the Nightline/NPR view of the world because they are based in, oh, a sound understanding of doctrine as well as history.
Yet Another List
The NY Times film critic puts together the 1000 Best Movies Ever Made. As is always the case, arbitrariness reigns. For instance, how is it that "Total Recall" made the list but "The Great Escape" didn't? An outrage, I tells ya!
Release the hounds!
HT to Lawren, who should be studying.
The NY Times film critic puts together the 1000 Best Movies Ever Made. As is always the case, arbitrariness reigns. For instance, how is it that "Total Recall" made the list but "The Great Escape" didn't? An outrage, I tells ya!
Release the hounds!
HT to Lawren, who should be studying.
Cats and Dogs Living Together!
It's official, all three Blogger Alliances raising money for Spirit of America have joined forces. The goal? To hit $50,000 by midnight tonight, which is now just under eight hours away. How close are we? Pretty damn close - somewhere in the high 30's by the latest info I have.
So you know what to do: give, give, give!
It's official, all three Blogger Alliances raising money for Spirit of America have joined forces. The goal? To hit $50,000 by midnight tonight, which is now just under eight hours away. How close are we? Pretty damn close - somewhere in the high 30's by the latest info I have.
So you know what to do: give, give, give!
Why I Love Doing What I Do
Don't ever say the FCC isn't looking out for all of us, even murderous Communist dictators. Here is the text of a recent order in which the Commission fined a Miami radio station $4000 because of a prank phone call a couple of its jocks pulled on Fidel Castro and then broadcast over the air. (The stunt violated FCC rules because you cannot record a telephone conversation for broadcast without first informing the person with whom you're speaking that they will be put on the air.)
So how are the jocks planning to respond to the forfeiture order? Pay it in pennies!
The FCC generally only investigates this sort of thing when someone complains. I'd really really like to know who the wanker is who believed making Fidel look like a fool was sufficient cause for filing a complaint and bringing the gov'mint down on the radio station.
Don't ever say the FCC isn't looking out for all of us, even murderous Communist dictators. Here is the text of a recent order in which the Commission fined a Miami radio station $4000 because of a prank phone call a couple of its jocks pulled on Fidel Castro and then broadcast over the air. (The stunt violated FCC rules because you cannot record a telephone conversation for broadcast without first informing the person with whom you're speaking that they will be put on the air.)
So how are the jocks planning to respond to the forfeiture order? Pay it in pennies!
The FCC generally only investigates this sort of thing when someone complains. I'd really really like to know who the wanker is who believed making Fidel look like a fool was sufficient cause for filing a complaint and bringing the gov'mint down on the radio station.
Welcome to the Department of Forensic Moonbatology, Blogistan Institute of Technology
Welcome visitors from INDC's Documentary on Migrating Moonbats in the Wild, aka the "Get a Life on Earth" science series.
The Llamabutchers are the proud musical producers behind Dr. Werner Van Schtrudenbacher's recent phenomenal musicological discovery, The New Chomsky Minstrels:
Given the fabulous success of Moonbat music, in conjunction with Al-Jazeera records, the Llamabutchers and INDC Bill are coming out with some all new recordings from Dr. Van Schtrudenbacher: look soon for "Meet the Moonbats," "Comrade Pepper's Lonely Moonbat Band," not to mention the Moonbat-boy band "38 theses on Feuerbach."
We're also the executive producers for the new tee-vee sensation taking Al-Jazeera by storm:
That's the Llamabutchers---cover the waterfront so you don't have to (and coming back with the rats all nicely roasted on a stick, with a nice cilantro sauce)
Welcome visitors from INDC's Documentary on Migrating Moonbats in the Wild, aka the "Get a Life on Earth" science series.
The Llamabutchers are the proud musical producers behind Dr. Werner Van Schtrudenbacher's recent phenomenal musicological discovery, The New Chomsky Minstrels:
Given the fabulous success of Moonbat music, in conjunction with Al-Jazeera records, the Llamabutchers and INDC Bill are coming out with some all new recordings from Dr. Van Schtrudenbacher: look soon for "Meet the Moonbats," "Comrade Pepper's Lonely Moonbat Band," not to mention the Moonbat-boy band "38 theses on Feuerbach."
We're also the executive producers for the new tee-vee sensation taking Al-Jazeera by storm:
That's the Llamabutchers---cover the waterfront so you don't have to (and coming back with the rats all nicely roasted on a stick, with a nice cilantro sauce)
Don't Pop The Champagne Corks Yet
Glenn is cautioning Republicans not to get too cocky about Kerry's recent attempts to play Russian Roulette with an automatic pistol. He also has some thoughts on the advantages to Bush of getting rid of Cheney and subbing in Condi instead, claiming Cheney is a liability to the ticket.
Let me throw this open to discussion (That means you, Professor): I have always believed that the significance of VP choice is wildely overrated. Where, in the past 30 or 40 years, has it really made that much difference? Quayle? Ferrarro? Algore? Am I correct in believing that whether Cheney stays or goes is really not going to make that much of a difference this time around?
Glenn is cautioning Republicans not to get too cocky about Kerry's recent attempts to play Russian Roulette with an automatic pistol. He also has some thoughts on the advantages to Bush of getting rid of Cheney and subbing in Condi instead, claiming Cheney is a liability to the ticket.
Let me throw this open to discussion (That means you, Professor): I have always believed that the significance of VP choice is wildely overrated. Where, in the past 30 or 40 years, has it really made that much difference? Quayle? Ferrarro? Algore? Am I correct in believing that whether Cheney stays or goes is really not going to make that much of a difference this time around?
Famous Last Words
Having written the post below rallying us all to keep a smile on our faces, I just received word from home that the compressor on our air-conditioner is, in fact, shot and has to be replaced to the tune of $2,500.
Fortunately, that's not politics. So I can say this without violating my own principles: Son of a BITCH!
Having written the post below rallying us all to keep a smile on our faces, I just received word from home that the compressor on our air-conditioner is, in fact, shot and has to be replaced to the tune of $2,500.
Fortunately, that's not politics. So I can say this without violating my own principles: Son of a BITCH!
Crankiness With A Smile
Joseph Epstein could very well be an honorary Llama Butcher. In a piece in today's Wall Street Journal, he instructs conservatives to cheer up. (The piece is available in the On-Line Journal, but it's subscription only. I saw it in the Dead Tree edition.)
Here is a sample:
[A conservative] takes the world as given, a place always full of sin, silliness, and a rich surplus of stupidity - but also much goodness and mirth. The conservative fancies he views the world, as the philosopher says, as in itself it really is. Utopia is not his idea of a good time; it is not, for him, an idea at all but an illusion. If he is sensible, he understands the need to alter social arrangements that are cruel or grossly unfair. But the installation of perfection in a patently permanently imperfect world is not something he has signed on to deliver. This in itself ought to bring a smile to his face.
Buh-LIEVE me, it does. And I like to think that is a guiding philosophy 'round here. Oh sure, we occasionally get very serious indeed. But for the most part, we like to think of ourselves as a pair of Happy Warriors in the great cultural and political wars of our time.
Always remember, people: Have some fun with it.
Yip! Yip!
Joseph Epstein could very well be an honorary Llama Butcher. In a piece in today's Wall Street Journal, he instructs conservatives to cheer up. (The piece is available in the On-Line Journal, but it's subscription only. I saw it in the Dead Tree edition.)
Here is a sample:
[A conservative] takes the world as given, a place always full of sin, silliness, and a rich surplus of stupidity - but also much goodness and mirth. The conservative fancies he views the world, as the philosopher says, as in itself it really is. Utopia is not his idea of a good time; it is not, for him, an idea at all but an illusion. If he is sensible, he understands the need to alter social arrangements that are cruel or grossly unfair. But the installation of perfection in a patently permanently imperfect world is not something he has signed on to deliver. This in itself ought to bring a smile to his face.
Buh-LIEVE me, it does. And I like to think that is a guiding philosophy 'round here. Oh sure, we occasionally get very serious indeed. But for the most part, we like to think of ourselves as a pair of Happy Warriors in the great cultural and political wars of our time.
Always remember, people: Have some fun with it.
Yip! Yip!
FREE MONTESSORI!
Not exactly "Free Mumia!" but unlike Mumia, free Montessori is coming soon to Chicago.
Although this should thrill Robbo's dearly betrothed, won't this reduce the cachet of Montessori among the goat-cheese, chablis, and Volvo crowd?
Not exactly "Free Mumia!" but unlike Mumia, free Montessori is coming soon to Chicago.
Although this should thrill Robbo's dearly betrothed, won't this reduce the cachet of Montessori among the goat-cheese, chablis, and Volvo crowd?
Mid-Day Diversion
Looking for something to do at lunchtime on a glorious day like this? Why not try squirrel fishing?
HT to Jonah.
Looking for something to do at lunchtime on a glorious day like this? Why not try squirrel fishing?
HT to Jonah.
Akalaka-CHING! Update
Looks like my old crew split a pair of races with arch-rival Trin-Face this past weekend, with the 1st Eight losing by two seconds and the 2nd Eight finishing up an undefeated season with a nine second win. (Forget about the Varsity Four - which lost again. It was never competitive.)
Overall, 7-3 and 8-0 records are not too shabby at all. I can't believe next weekend is the New Englands regatta already. Good luck to Wescrew!
Looks like my old crew split a pair of races with arch-rival Trin-Face this past weekend, with the 1st Eight losing by two seconds and the 2nd Eight finishing up an undefeated season with a nine second win. (Forget about the Varsity Four - which lost again. It was never competitive.)
Overall, 7-3 and 8-0 records are not too shabby at all. I can't believe next weekend is the New Englands regatta already. Good luck to Wescrew!
Bad Flashbacks....
Have you checked out Bill's outstanding field work, complete with photos, on the Seasonal Moonbat IMF Migration? I felt like I was looking at the courtyard of my undergrad dorm from 18 years ago right down to the Che Berets, the aggressive hairstyling and the Soviet flag. I swear I even recognized a few of these people.
By now, I'm sure a few of you are thinking, "Jim, why were you there?" Well, the answer is really pretty simple: Everyone in WestCo mouthed platitudes about the joys of Diversity, but they were really all the same: same politics, same music, same drugs, same clothing, same damn' everything. As a stolid conservative, anti-P.C. academic traditionalist and high-culture snob, I was the only person in the asylum who really was different. And they hated that. Which is why I stayed.
Heh.
Have you checked out Bill's outstanding field work, complete with photos, on the Seasonal Moonbat IMF Migration? I felt like I was looking at the courtyard of my undergrad dorm from 18 years ago right down to the Che Berets, the aggressive hairstyling and the Soviet flag. I swear I even recognized a few of these people.
By now, I'm sure a few of you are thinking, "Jim, why were you there?" Well, the answer is really pretty simple: Everyone in WestCo mouthed platitudes about the joys of Diversity, but they were really all the same: same politics, same music, same drugs, same clothing, same damn' everything. As a stolid conservative, anti-P.C. academic traditionalist and high-culture snob, I was the only person in the asylum who really was different. And they hated that. Which is why I stayed.
Heh.
Well, THAT stinks
I was going to needle Rob by linking to an old classic story in the Onion:
Mom Finds Out About Blog
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—In a turn of events the 30-year-old characterized as "horrifying," Kevin Widmar announced Tuesday that his mother Lillian has discovered his weblog. "Apparently, Mom typed...
3944 | 12 November 2003 | News
but the bastages now have a subscription requirement to get into their archives! Damn capitalism......
I was going to needle Rob by linking to an old classic story in the Onion:
Mom Finds Out About Blog
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—In a turn of events the 30-year-old characterized as "horrifying," Kevin Widmar announced Tuesday that his mother Lillian has discovered his weblog. "Apparently, Mom typed...
3944 | 12 November 2003 | News
but the bastages now have a subscription requirement to get into their archives! Damn capitalism......
Cackling sounds
Hugh Hewitt on the impending breakup of the Kerry Nomination.
This has been such a bizarre year, one wonders why the heck not?
UPDATE: What do the British Bookies have to say about Kerry NOT getting the nomination?
Over at Tradesports.com the Kerry getting the nomination contract has started to slip, but not in a way that I'd call significant. It's till trading at $96, but there's a queue of "bids" much lower:
The way Tradesports anticipated the collapse of Dean-O well before the public opinion polls, I'm following this like a hawk. This market is a measurement of what people think is going to happen, not what they want to happen, and therefore is fundamentally different than a typical poll. But that's it's value---precisely because there is some serious money to be made here if you sell Kerry at $97 and he doesn't get the nomination (and if he does, you're only out $3 plus fees), this will focus the revealing of information much better than any poll.
If Kerry drops below $94, he's in serious trouble.
And somewhere, sitting in traffic in south Burlington VT, cursing at Air America while on his way to the CVS, Howard Dean is laughing....
Hugh Hewitt on the impending breakup of the Kerry Nomination.
This has been such a bizarre year, one wonders why the heck not?
UPDATE: What do the British Bookies have to say about Kerry NOT getting the nomination?
Over at Tradesports.com the Kerry getting the nomination contract has started to slip, but not in a way that I'd call significant. It's till trading at $96, but there's a queue of "bids" much lower:
The way Tradesports anticipated the collapse of Dean-O well before the public opinion polls, I'm following this like a hawk. This market is a measurement of what people think is going to happen, not what they want to happen, and therefore is fundamentally different than a typical poll. But that's it's value---precisely because there is some serious money to be made here if you sell Kerry at $97 and he doesn't get the nomination (and if he does, you're only out $3 plus fees), this will focus the revealing of information much better than any poll.
If Kerry drops below $94, he's in serious trouble.
And somewhere, sitting in traffic in south Burlington VT, cursing at Air America while on his way to the CVS, Howard Dean is laughing....
It's The End of the WUUUUUURLLLDDD!!!!
Apparently, the Greenie Fringe, aided and abetted by Al "Mr. Kyoto" Gore, are going to try and make some political hay out of the upcoming release of Fox's The Day After Tomorrow, the tale of insta-enviro-apocalypse-that-is-All-Our-Fault.
Well, good luck with that. I think most people's reaction on coming out of the theatre is not going to be "Could this really happen? What can we do to stop it? Let's go home and study the isssues of Global Warming right now!" No, it's be something more like, "That scene with the twisters in Los Angeles was way cool, Dude!"
The hoopla reminds me a bit of what happened when The Day After, a movie about nuclear holocaust, came to television in 1983. I was a fresher at The Glorious Worker's Soviet of Middletown at the time and vividly remember the pre-airing frenzy. Counselling Hot Lines were set up. Discussion and Support Groups were formed. The school infirmary stocked up on sedatives. In short, everyone was expecting (and looking forward to) mass panic - and a corresponding outburst of fury against Reagan's aggressive nuclear stance towards the Soviets in Europe.
Waaaaal.......
We all gathered in one of the lounges for the Big Event. Everyone fidgeted nervously until the Big One was dropped, and there was a reasonable amount of shock and awe as Kansas City was wiped off the map. But later on, well, it's always a sign you've lost your audience when people start critiquing performances. And giggling. By the end of the evening, there was a good deal of laughter, as the movie devolved into a stock tale of post-disaster survival.
Mind you, this was in the Den of the Moonbats, too. And I never did hear any tales of suicide or Crisis Hotline phonebanks being swamped by distraught viewers from anywhere else either.
I guess if you're hoping to rally a flagging political campaign via a cheesy disaster flick, you've got some serious problems.
Apparently, the Greenie Fringe, aided and abetted by Al "Mr. Kyoto" Gore, are going to try and make some political hay out of the upcoming release of Fox's The Day After Tomorrow, the tale of insta-enviro-apocalypse-that-is-All-Our-Fault.
Well, good luck with that. I think most people's reaction on coming out of the theatre is not going to be "Could this really happen? What can we do to stop it? Let's go home and study the isssues of Global Warming right now!" No, it's be something more like, "That scene with the twisters in Los Angeles was way cool, Dude!"
The hoopla reminds me a bit of what happened when The Day After, a movie about nuclear holocaust, came to television in 1983. I was a fresher at The Glorious Worker's Soviet of Middletown at the time and vividly remember the pre-airing frenzy. Counselling Hot Lines were set up. Discussion and Support Groups were formed. The school infirmary stocked up on sedatives. In short, everyone was expecting (and looking forward to) mass panic - and a corresponding outburst of fury against Reagan's aggressive nuclear stance towards the Soviets in Europe.
Waaaaal.......
We all gathered in one of the lounges for the Big Event. Everyone fidgeted nervously until the Big One was dropped, and there was a reasonable amount of shock and awe as Kansas City was wiped off the map. But later on, well, it's always a sign you've lost your audience when people start critiquing performances. And giggling. By the end of the evening, there was a good deal of laughter, as the movie devolved into a stock tale of post-disaster survival.
Mind you, this was in the Den of the Moonbats, too. And I never did hear any tales of suicide or Crisis Hotline phonebanks being swamped by distraught viewers from anywhere else either.
I guess if you're hoping to rally a flagging political campaign via a cheesy disaster flick, you've got some serious problems.
One more than back to work
Darwin Awards, Gaza Division
Thugs try to mug a suicide bomber. As they say at Fark, Hilarity Ensues....
Final Score: Humanity 3, Muggers & bombers 0
HT to master of all that is evil yet funny Laurence Simon, lunatic in chief at Amish Tech Support
Darwin Awards, Gaza Division
Thugs try to mug a suicide bomber. As they say at Fark, Hilarity Ensues....
Final Score: Humanity 3, Muggers & bombers 0
HT to master of all that is evil yet funny Laurence Simon, lunatic in chief at Amish Tech Support
Cool.
Read James Dunnigan's StrategyPage article on sniper and sharpshooter operations in Iraq and their growing importance from a tactical standpoint.
HT to James Joyner who calls snipers "the ultimate smart weapon."
Read James Dunnigan's StrategyPage article on sniper and sharpshooter operations in Iraq and their growing importance from a tactical standpoint.
HT to James Joyner who calls snipers "the ultimate smart weapon."
Another Book Meme
I know, I know. But I can't resist. Here is another set of book-y questions to ponder:
Q - What did you last read?
I think the last book I finished was C.S. Forster's Ship of the Line, one of the Hornblower series.
Q - What are you reading now?
Teddy Roosevelt's History of the Naval War of 1812. I've managed to slog through the first part, which is a long statistical account of shipping tonnage, comparative weaponry and manpower and the like, and am now getting into the good parts - descriptions of actual combat.
Q - What do you plan to read next?
Some fiction. I don't know what, exactly, but it has to be something I either haven't read before or else read so long ago that I've forgotten about it. I have a big collection of Joseph Conrad that I picked up at a library sale last year - perhaps I'll dip into that. I never did read Lord Jim and I should.
Q - What would you like to read, but don't have?
Victor David Hanson's Ripples of Battle and Florence King's STET, Dammit! Despite everything short of outright pleading over the holidays and my birthday, nobody gave me either one of these.
Q - What would you recommend for others to read?
Well that depends, of course, on what interests them. Just a few authors that come to mind (in no particular order and on no particular subject): Patrick O'Brian, P.J. O'Rourke, C.S. Lewis, Evelyn Waugh, P.G. Wodehouse, Tom Wolfe.
Q - What's your favorite book from childhood?
The one I remember most vividly is Rascal by Sterling North. It was an autobiographical story about a boy who adopts a raccoon cub. When the raccoon grows up, the boy has to let him go. I used to cry bitterly at the ending, but read the book over and over.
Q - What book last made you laugh?
Christopher Buckley's Little Green Men. Wicked.
Q - What book last made you weep?
Other than noted above, I honestly don't remember. I don't tend to get weepy about books.
Q - What book last made you angry?
That depends - angry at the author or angry about the subject matter? I got angry with Patrick O'Brian towards the end of the Aubrey/Maturin series because he gratuitously killed off several major characters and because the last couple of books became increasingly formulaic and melancholy. I got angry with Douglas Adams because the last two books of the Hitchhiker's Guide series ought never to have been written. As for subject matter, well the thing that seems to get my goat the most is studies of the deplorable mess our educational system has become, particularly accounts of the P.C. cancer that has swept Academia. A number of books on this subject by Dinesh D'Souza, Roger Kimbell and Nat Hentoff, for example, regularly make my blood boil.
Thanks for your indulgence. This was all Lynn's fault.
I know, I know. But I can't resist. Here is another set of book-y questions to ponder:
Q - What did you last read?
I think the last book I finished was C.S. Forster's Ship of the Line, one of the Hornblower series.
Q - What are you reading now?
Teddy Roosevelt's History of the Naval War of 1812. I've managed to slog through the first part, which is a long statistical account of shipping tonnage, comparative weaponry and manpower and the like, and am now getting into the good parts - descriptions of actual combat.
Q - What do you plan to read next?
Some fiction. I don't know what, exactly, but it has to be something I either haven't read before or else read so long ago that I've forgotten about it. I have a big collection of Joseph Conrad that I picked up at a library sale last year - perhaps I'll dip into that. I never did read Lord Jim and I should.
Q - What would you like to read, but don't have?
Victor David Hanson's Ripples of Battle and Florence King's STET, Dammit! Despite everything short of outright pleading over the holidays and my birthday, nobody gave me either one of these.
Q - What would you recommend for others to read?
Well that depends, of course, on what interests them. Just a few authors that come to mind (in no particular order and on no particular subject): Patrick O'Brian, P.J. O'Rourke, C.S. Lewis, Evelyn Waugh, P.G. Wodehouse, Tom Wolfe.
Q - What's your favorite book from childhood?
The one I remember most vividly is Rascal by Sterling North. It was an autobiographical story about a boy who adopts a raccoon cub. When the raccoon grows up, the boy has to let him go. I used to cry bitterly at the ending, but read the book over and over.
Q - What book last made you laugh?
Christopher Buckley's Little Green Men. Wicked.
Q - What book last made you weep?
Other than noted above, I honestly don't remember. I don't tend to get weepy about books.
Q - What book last made you angry?
That depends - angry at the author or angry about the subject matter? I got angry with Patrick O'Brian towards the end of the Aubrey/Maturin series because he gratuitously killed off several major characters and because the last couple of books became increasingly formulaic and melancholy. I got angry with Douglas Adams because the last two books of the Hitchhiker's Guide series ought never to have been written. As for subject matter, well the thing that seems to get my goat the most is studies of the deplorable mess our educational system has become, particularly accounts of the P.C. cancer that has swept Academia. A number of books on this subject by Dinesh D'Souza, Roger Kimbell and Nat Hentoff, for example, regularly make my blood boil.
Thanks for your indulgence. This was all Lynn's fault.
Victory Coalition Update!
First Allahpundit, now Lileks has thrown in with the Victory Coalition!
Now, for those keeping score at home:
People who don't want you to contribute to the Victory Coalition:
Chirac, Kofi Anan, the Baldwin Brothers (with the possible exception of Skippy Baldwin, who is actually quite reasonable), James Brolin, John Kerry, Muqtada al-Sadr, and Ayatollah Bill.
People who want you to contribute to the Victory Coalition:
James Lileks.
'Nuff said.
Support the Victory Coaltion today!
UPDATE!: Add Stephen Green to the Victory Coalition! Neener!
First Allahpundit, now Lileks has thrown in with the Victory Coalition!
Now, for those keeping score at home:
People who don't want you to contribute to the Victory Coalition:
Chirac, Kofi Anan, the Baldwin Brothers (with the possible exception of Skippy Baldwin, who is actually quite reasonable), James Brolin, John Kerry, Muqtada al-Sadr, and Ayatollah Bill.
People who want you to contribute to the Victory Coalition:
James Lileks.
'Nuff said.
Support the Victory Coaltion today!
UPDATE!: Add Stephen Green to the Victory Coalition! Neener!
Gratuitous Domestic Blogging (TM) - Parallel Tracks Dept.
Eloise the Spitbull has a post up that comes awefully close to perfectly describing life with the Llama-ettes. It's comforting, in a way, to know that we're not the only ones dealing with this sort of thing.
You can always tell when the four year old needs to make a pit stop because she suddenly starts trying to pretend she's not really there, frequently going so far as to stand stock still or hide behind whatever is available. And it usually takes about ten minutes' worth of commands like "Go.....POTTY!" to get her to finally come to roost. The six year old isn't so bad and is pretty self-sufficient. The two year old is still in diapers and I shudder to think about having to go through potty-training one more time.
I'm always reminded of one of Letterman's old Top Ten Lists entitled "Children's Books You Won't See," or something like that. My favorite among them was: Daddy Drinks Because You Cry.
Eloise the Spitbull has a post up that comes awefully close to perfectly describing life with the Llama-ettes. It's comforting, in a way, to know that we're not the only ones dealing with this sort of thing.
You can always tell when the four year old needs to make a pit stop because she suddenly starts trying to pretend she's not really there, frequently going so far as to stand stock still or hide behind whatever is available. And it usually takes about ten minutes' worth of commands like "Go.....POTTY!" to get her to finally come to roost. The six year old isn't so bad and is pretty self-sufficient. The two year old is still in diapers and I shudder to think about having to go through potty-training one more time.
I'm always reminded of one of Letterman's old Top Ten Lists entitled "Children's Books You Won't See," or something like that. My favorite among them was: Daddy Drinks Because You Cry.
Llamabutcher Science Channel
Here's your "spray coffee out your nose onto the computer screen" pointer for the day:
Bill from INDC Journal has the pics + commentary on the Seasonal Moonbat IMF Migration Study he conducted last weekend in DC.
Not to toot our own horns, but the expose features some Llambutcher art, to boot:
Here's your "spray coffee out your nose onto the computer screen" pointer for the day:
Bill from INDC Journal has the pics + commentary on the Seasonal Moonbat IMF Migration Study he conducted last weekend in DC.
Not to toot our own horns, but the expose features some Llambutcher art, to boot:
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Punching out
What a day. I actually got a ton done in the grading department--got my senior's grades in on time, and have been attacking the pile of all the others.
Also had time for a little diversion photoshopping some Moonbat album covers for our pal Bill over at INDC Journal. Let's just say MeatLoaf never looked so good.
What a day. I actually got a ton done in the grading department--got my senior's grades in on time, and have been attacking the pile of all the others.
Also had time for a little diversion photoshopping some Moonbat album covers for our pal Bill over at INDC Journal. Let's just say MeatLoaf never looked so good.
WE HAVE A WINNER!
A-double-lizzle is cheesed off, as usual, and has some great suggestions for the new Iraqi flag: the third one is priceless.
UPDATE! NEWS FLASH!
You know things are gettin' weird when the creator of worlds himself is shilling for the Victory Coalition!
A-double-lizzle is cheesed off, as usual, and has some great suggestions for the new Iraqi flag: the third one is priceless.
UPDATE! NEWS FLASH!
You know things are gettin' weird when the creator of worlds himself is shilling for the Victory Coalition!
Evening Reading
Want to blow that pre-dinner martini all over your library in rage and disgust? Then read this update on UNSCAM from James Morrow in the Australian.
And just bear in mind as you read that John Kerry's sole proposal for dealing with Iraq now is preemptive surrender to the U.N.
Via Glenn.
Want to blow that pre-dinner martini all over your library in rage and disgust? Then read this update on UNSCAM from James Morrow in the Australian.
And just bear in mind as you read that John Kerry's sole proposal for dealing with Iraq now is preemptive surrender to the U.N.
Via Glenn.
Huge Llama Yips! - Spirit of America Update
Wow. Would you believe it? So far we bloggers have raised almost $30,000.00 to help Spirit of America help the Marines equip Iraqi television stations in order to give the Iraqi people an alternative to Al Jazeera's 24 hour a day reruns of "Fatwa Eye for the Saddam Guy."
Out-bloody-standing!
Remember - the pledge drive goes through midnight Thursday, so there is still plenty of time to chip in. If you haven't yet, go do it. If you have, think about doing it again. And don't forget to check out all the valuable prizes available from the Victory Coalition via Fearless Leaders Michele and Kevin!
Extra Added Bonus! Remember - Donating will cheese off these guys:
Support the Victory Coaltion today!
Yip! Yip! Yip!
Wow. Would you believe it? So far we bloggers have raised almost $30,000.00 to help Spirit of America help the Marines equip Iraqi television stations in order to give the Iraqi people an alternative to Al Jazeera's 24 hour a day reruns of "Fatwa Eye for the Saddam Guy."
Out-bloody-standing!
Remember - the pledge drive goes through midnight Thursday, so there is still plenty of time to chip in. If you haven't yet, go do it. If you have, think about doing it again. And don't forget to check out all the valuable prizes available from the Victory Coalition via Fearless Leaders Michele and Kevin!
Extra Added Bonus! Remember - Donating will cheese off these guys:
Support the Victory Coaltion today!
Yip! Yip! Yip!
Postcards From The Fever Swamps
Every now and again, we like to don fake mustaches and sunglasses and stroll over to the Democratic Underground to see what our friends on the other side are up to.
Apparently, the Dizzy Girl likes to make these incognito trips as well. (How she looks in a mustache is a matter of pure conjecture.) Recently, she came across this delightful entry, in which one "Mo" proceeds to swallow his tongue over the idea of reinstating the draft.
Of course, one of Mo's more serious problems (and he seems to have many) is that he doesn't seem to realize the draft idea didn't exactly originate in the White House. As this article about recent comments by Sen. Chuck Hagel (hardly an Administration Favorite) notes, current legislation to revive the draft was actually introduced in the Senate by Fritz Hollings (D-SC) and in the House by Charlie Rangel (D-NY). That's "D" as in Democrat. Now I admit the VRWC is pretty large, but we haven't quite got those guys to join yet.
Every now and again, we like to don fake mustaches and sunglasses and stroll over to the Democratic Underground to see what our friends on the other side are up to.
Apparently, the Dizzy Girl likes to make these incognito trips as well. (How she looks in a mustache is a matter of pure conjecture.) Recently, she came across this delightful entry, in which one "Mo" proceeds to swallow his tongue over the idea of reinstating the draft.
Of course, one of Mo's more serious problems (and he seems to have many) is that he doesn't seem to realize the draft idea didn't exactly originate in the White House. As this article about recent comments by Sen. Chuck Hagel (hardly an Administration Favorite) notes, current legislation to revive the draft was actually introduced in the Senate by Fritz Hollings (D-SC) and in the House by Charlie Rangel (D-NY). That's "D" as in Democrat. Now I admit the VRWC is pretty large, but we haven't quite got those guys to join yet.
Hammer Time
It looks like we really are pulling the trigger in Fallujah. 'Bout bloody time, as Jed Babbin and others have been arguing. Get all the latest from the Command Post, including info on the AC-130 gunship, one serious piece of butt-kicking hardware.
In the meantime, what in the world is going on in Damascus?
It looks like we really are pulling the trigger in Fallujah. 'Bout bloody time, as Jed Babbin and others have been arguing. Get all the latest from the Command Post, including info on the AC-130 gunship, one serious piece of butt-kicking hardware.
In the meantime, what in the world is going on in Damascus?
Request Post
Fellow LB Steve asked in a comment a while back why I hadn't posted anything yet about new Astro Roger Clemens. Well, let's see.....Last evening I spread slug poison all over my flower garden. Does that count?
Fellow LB Steve asked in a comment a while back why I hadn't posted anything yet about new Astro Roger Clemens. Well, let's see.....Last evening I spread slug poison all over my flower garden. Does that count?
Who's Got Your Back, Senator?
The haughty, French-looking Massachusetts liberal, who by the way served in Vietnam, takes one between the shoulder blades from The Village Voice.
Let's go to the tape:
With growing issues over his wealth (which makes fellow plutocrat Bush seem a charity case by comparison), the miasma over his medals and ribbons (or ribbons and medals), his uninspiring record in the Senate (yes war, no war), and wishy-washy efforts to mimic Bill Clinton's triangulation gimmickry (the protractor factor), Kerry sinks day by day. The pros all know that the candidate who starts each morning by having to explain himself is a goner.
Yeeowch! That's gotta smart. The V V's solution?
What to do? Look for the Dem biggies, whoever they are these days, to sit down with the rich and arrogant presumptive nominee and try to persuade him to take a hike. Then they can return to business as usual— resurrecting John Edwards, who is still hanging around, or staging an open convention in Boston, or both.
Does the Voice really think that Edwards would be a viable candidate anymore? If the relentless press hammering of the past couple months has done anything, it has finally started to convince significant numbers of people that we really are in a war and one that we have to win. It has also started to convince people that Bush means to do just that - thus the rise in his poll numbers. John Edwards is a light-weight pretty boy. During the false peace of the 90's he might have stood a chance. But now? I don't think so. People aren't going to change commanders in the middle of a battle just because they want something new and different.
The Voice also looks wistfully at What Might Have Been:
If things proceed as they are, the dim-bulb Dem leaders are going to be very sorry they screwed Howard Dean.
See! Dean didn't self-destruct, he was screwed by the Establishment! If only they'd have let him be, the Glass-Jawed Porcupine would be wiping the floor with Dubya right now!!
The Dems' basic problem now is that they don't have anybody other than Kerry. Hillary's not going to run, not with the economy rising and people getting serious about the war. Aside from her, try thinking fast of another nationally-prominant Dem who could garner enough support to take the convention and plausibly challenge Bush. C'mon........We're waiting.......Time's up! See? I tried that thought experiment myself and the first name that flashed into my mind was Al Gore. When I had finished laughing, I couldn't come up with anyone else. There is simply no Dem bench.
Note to Dems: You took the tags off Kerry. You can't return him to the store now. Too bad.
HT to Jonah.
The haughty, French-looking Massachusetts liberal, who by the way served in Vietnam, takes one between the shoulder blades from The Village Voice.
Let's go to the tape:
With growing issues over his wealth (which makes fellow plutocrat Bush seem a charity case by comparison), the miasma over his medals and ribbons (or ribbons and medals), his uninspiring record in the Senate (yes war, no war), and wishy-washy efforts to mimic Bill Clinton's triangulation gimmickry (the protractor factor), Kerry sinks day by day. The pros all know that the candidate who starts each morning by having to explain himself is a goner.
Yeeowch! That's gotta smart. The V V's solution?
What to do? Look for the Dem biggies, whoever they are these days, to sit down with the rich and arrogant presumptive nominee and try to persuade him to take a hike. Then they can return to business as usual— resurrecting John Edwards, who is still hanging around, or staging an open convention in Boston, or both.
Does the Voice really think that Edwards would be a viable candidate anymore? If the relentless press hammering of the past couple months has done anything, it has finally started to convince significant numbers of people that we really are in a war and one that we have to win. It has also started to convince people that Bush means to do just that - thus the rise in his poll numbers. John Edwards is a light-weight pretty boy. During the false peace of the 90's he might have stood a chance. But now? I don't think so. People aren't going to change commanders in the middle of a battle just because they want something new and different.
The Voice also looks wistfully at What Might Have Been:
If things proceed as they are, the dim-bulb Dem leaders are going to be very sorry they screwed Howard Dean.
See! Dean didn't self-destruct, he was screwed by the Establishment! If only they'd have let him be, the Glass-Jawed Porcupine would be wiping the floor with Dubya right now!!
The Dems' basic problem now is that they don't have anybody other than Kerry. Hillary's not going to run, not with the economy rising and people getting serious about the war. Aside from her, try thinking fast of another nationally-prominant Dem who could garner enough support to take the convention and plausibly challenge Bush. C'mon........We're waiting.......Time's up! See? I tried that thought experiment myself and the first name that flashed into my mind was Al Gore. When I had finished laughing, I couldn't come up with anyone else. There is simply no Dem bench.
Note to Dems: You took the tags off Kerry. You can't return him to the store now. Too bad.
HT to Jonah.
The Maginot Candidate's Medal Mania
Power Line has a great round up of links on John Kerry's Medal Meltdown, including embarrasing evidence that the "D-Bunker" screenpage dealing with the medal business on Kerry's own website has been fiddled with recently. They also link to Kaus and a must-read John Podheretz NY Post opinion piece.
Go on over and wallow!
Power Line has a great round up of links on John Kerry's Medal Meltdown, including embarrasing evidence that the "D-Bunker" screenpage dealing with the medal business on Kerry's own website has been fiddled with recently. They also link to Kaus and a must-read John Podheretz NY Post opinion piece.
Go on over and wallow!
Nudge Nudge
The California Milk Processors Board are either a bunch of hopelessly naive dorks or else a gang of filthy pervs. Check out their latest Got Milk? Ad featuring the Olsen Twins complete with, er, milk on their faces and ridiculously suggestive t-shirt.
HT to Bill, who picked it up from Jeff at Shape of Days, both of whom, I am sure, posted the piece as part of their tireless crusade to ensure that our nation's young people get sufficient daily amounts of calcium.
The California Milk Processors Board are either a bunch of hopelessly naive dorks or else a gang of filthy pervs. Check out their latest Got Milk? Ad featuring the Olsen Twins complete with, er, milk on their faces and ridiculously suggestive t-shirt.
HT to Bill, who picked it up from Jeff at Shape of Days, both of whom, I am sure, posted the piece as part of their tireless crusade to ensure that our nation's young people get sufficient daily amounts of calcium.
I Had To Ask
My oldest daughter has been talking a lot about the planets lately - how big they are, which ones have rings, how many moons each, gaseous or rock, how long it would take to get to them, etc. (Well, she is very talkative.)
Anyhoo, when she names them, she always sort of slurs over the name of the one just recently discovered - it comes out as "Sedmnff." And for a long while, I couldn't think what she was trying to say.
Well finally, this intrepid Truth Hound had enough. A quick check on Google produced this article, which claims the planet, Sedna, is named after the Inuit goddess of the ocean.
Does nobody who attends to these matters have any aesthetic sense? Here you have a solar system with eight planets named after perfectly good classical Roman gods and goddesses and someone, overcome with PC disease, has to spike the whole thing. You can argue all you want one way or another about religious/cultural inclusiveness and dead white male Euro-centrism. To me, this is just an example of exceedingly bad taste.
While thinking about this, it occurred to me that I don't know more than a handful of moon names, a mere fraction of the 137 or so known moons in the solar system. Here is a chart breaking them down and naming them all. As you'll see, most of the names keep to the classical tradition. The last 12 of Saturn's 31 are an exception - they seem to have been named by someone who likes to dress up as a klingon for Star Trek conventions. And all of Uranus' moons are named after Shakespearean characters for some reason or another.
My oldest daughter has been talking a lot about the planets lately - how big they are, which ones have rings, how many moons each, gaseous or rock, how long it would take to get to them, etc. (Well, she is very talkative.)
Anyhoo, when she names them, she always sort of slurs over the name of the one just recently discovered - it comes out as "Sedmnff." And for a long while, I couldn't think what she was trying to say.
Well finally, this intrepid Truth Hound had enough. A quick check on Google produced this article, which claims the planet, Sedna, is named after the Inuit goddess of the ocean.
Does nobody who attends to these matters have any aesthetic sense? Here you have a solar system with eight planets named after perfectly good classical Roman gods and goddesses and someone, overcome with PC disease, has to spike the whole thing. You can argue all you want one way or another about religious/cultural inclusiveness and dead white male Euro-centrism. To me, this is just an example of exceedingly bad taste.
While thinking about this, it occurred to me that I don't know more than a handful of moon names, a mere fraction of the 137 or so known moons in the solar system. Here is a chart breaking them down and naming them all. As you'll see, most of the names keep to the classical tradition. The last 12 of Saturn's 31 are an exception - they seem to have been named by someone who likes to dress up as a klingon for Star Trek conventions. And all of Uranus' moons are named after Shakespearean characters for some reason or another.
Thought For The Day
"She liked to think of herself as a straightforward person. 'People always know where they are with me,' she would say rather smugly; it never occurred to her that people might not always want to know such things."
- Barbara Pym, No Fond Return of Love
(Stolen lock, stock and barrel from Terry Teachout.)
"She liked to think of herself as a straightforward person. 'People always know where they are with me,' she would say rather smugly; it never occurred to her that people might not always want to know such things."
- Barbara Pym, No Fond Return of Love
(Stolen lock, stock and barrel from Terry Teachout.)
More people who don't want you to support the Victory Coalition
Jane Fonda accidently supporting the Victory Coalition because she thinks it's the VC
Support the Victory Coaltion today!
Jane Fonda accidently supporting the Victory Coalition because she thinks it's the VC
Support the Victory Coaltion today!
Afternoon blood-pressure medication
Want to get that blood-pressure up without all the troubling of scarfing three baskets of cheese-fries?
Have a read of John Kerry's testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1971.
Want to get that blood-pressure up without all the troubling of scarfing three baskets of cheese-fries?
Have a read of John Kerry's testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1971.
Remember: There are Important, Smarter-than-Thou, and More Sophisticated Blue-State Volvo-Driving, Goat-cheese eating Metrosexuals who DON'T want you to support the Victory Coalition!
Such as Jacque Chirac
Screw the French while sticking it up Ayatollah Bill's Muqtada! Support the Victory Coaltion today!
Such as Jacque Chirac
Screw the French while sticking it up Ayatollah Bill's Muqtada! Support the Victory Coaltion today!
Pledge week at Llamabutchers
and unlike other people we could name, we're not raising money to get a swanky new mauve velvet ottoman for the boudoir: we're rattling the tin cup to rattle the cage of al-Jeezera
Michele has all sorts of stuff up for auction, including cool art, fab cooking, and all sorts of goodies. Stop by and help out a great cause.
and unlike other people we could name, we're not raising money to get a swanky new mauve velvet ottoman for the boudoir: we're rattling the tin cup to rattle the cage of al-Jeezera
Michele has all sorts of stuff up for auction, including cool art, fab cooking, and all sorts of goodies. Stop by and help out a great cause.
What I look for in a blog
Further scrolling on Insults Unpunished produced this interesting report on environmental trends in North America. Contrary to what you would think if you read the papers (or heaven forbid talk to your average junior high school science teacher/propagandist) things are improving quite noticeably. This was a trend we discussed in the last few weeks in Legal Theory and Public Policy this semester, which I'm sure would piss off our buddy LaneH at Debunkers.org.
You got to love a blog (named after a Jefferson quote no less) that can transition from Katie Couric anti-fellatio humor straight into talking about the Julian Simon/Paul Ehlrich Malthusian Commodities bet (which the neo-Malthusians lost).
Further scrolling on Insults Unpunished produced this interesting report on environmental trends in North America. Contrary to what you would think if you read the papers (or heaven forbid talk to your average junior high school science teacher/propagandist) things are improving quite noticeably. This was a trend we discussed in the last few weeks in Legal Theory and Public Policy this semester, which I'm sure would piss off our buddy LaneH at Debunkers.org.
You got to love a blog (named after a Jefferson quote no less) that can transition from Katie Couric anti-fellatio humor straight into talking about the Julian Simon/Paul Ehlrich Malthusian Commodities bet (which the neo-Malthusians lost).
Bad mouthing, er, Katie Couric
Fabulous new-to-me blog Insults Unpunished does a double-bitch slap--aiming for and hitting John Kerry and Terry McAuliffe, with the added extra bonus of getting Katie Couric on the ricochet.
For those keeping score, that's one bitch slap, three bodies--nice shooting, Robert!
Fabulous new-to-me blog Insults Unpunished does a double-bitch slap--aiming for and hitting John Kerry and Terry McAuliffe, with the added extra bonus of getting Katie Couric on the ricochet.
For those keeping score, that's one bitch slap, three bodies--nice shooting, Robert!
The Rocket vs. The Ferrarri
Very interesting post by Mike of Cold Fury comparing Beethoven and Mozart with some, er, colorful imagery, before going on to discuss the Emperor Concerto, and Van Cliburn's performance of it in particular. (I don't believe I've ever heard this performance.)
Generally speaking, I think Mike's right about the difference between Beethoven's rough-hewn, raw energy and Mozart's laser-like precision. (For the record, I'm a Mozart man myself.)
As it happens, I bought a copy of the full scores of Beethoven's five piano concerti the other night and on Sunday sat down to pick my way through solo bits of the 1st in C Major. I found, as I so often do while sight-reading his solo works, that a little bit of banging goes an awful long way in furthering Beethoven's musical ideas. Individual notes can be jettisoned, like children being thrown over the side of the Russian sled being chased by wolves, in order to keep the momentum going, so long as a sufficient amount of bluster is maintained.
One simply cannot do that with Mozart, either in his concerti or his solo works. Every single note has a place and a purpose. If you miss one, you and everyone else immediately knows it. And trying to bluster your way through a Mozart piece is a first class ticket to musical disaster.
Does this mean Beethoven was more passionate than Mozart? Or that he was more "authentic" or that he was more of a Man? Mike is right - Not in the least.
HT to Sheila, whose congratulations to Mike on hitting the million unique visitors mark we also share.
Very interesting post by Mike of Cold Fury comparing Beethoven and Mozart with some, er, colorful imagery, before going on to discuss the Emperor Concerto, and Van Cliburn's performance of it in particular. (I don't believe I've ever heard this performance.)
Generally speaking, I think Mike's right about the difference between Beethoven's rough-hewn, raw energy and Mozart's laser-like precision. (For the record, I'm a Mozart man myself.)
As it happens, I bought a copy of the full scores of Beethoven's five piano concerti the other night and on Sunday sat down to pick my way through solo bits of the 1st in C Major. I found, as I so often do while sight-reading his solo works, that a little bit of banging goes an awful long way in furthering Beethoven's musical ideas. Individual notes can be jettisoned, like children being thrown over the side of the Russian sled being chased by wolves, in order to keep the momentum going, so long as a sufficient amount of bluster is maintained.
One simply cannot do that with Mozart, either in his concerti or his solo works. Every single note has a place and a purpose. If you miss one, you and everyone else immediately knows it. And trying to bluster your way through a Mozart piece is a first class ticket to musical disaster.
Does this mean Beethoven was more passionate than Mozart? Or that he was more "authentic" or that he was more of a Man? Mike is right - Not in the least.
HT to Sheila, whose congratulations to Mike on hitting the million unique visitors mark we also share.
Things you don't see that often
Glenn Reynolds breaking out into open sarcasm. One of the things I like so much about Instapundit is how clever his writing is, how he gets right up to the edge without having to cross the line. Hacks like me, however, need GPS to find that line because we passed it eons ago.
The subject: honor killings in fundamentalist Islamic societies. But you know, according to folks like this, the Republicans are the real threat to women.
Go figure.
(See? Glenn went for pithy, I went for "hey, let's talk about the serious issue of honor killings by linking to Bill's pictures of "Shazam the super lesbian" and "Angry Troll Lady" from the Sunday Pro-Choice Rally.)
BTW, when you follow the link you'll see Bill's new look--now that he's the benefit of four Instalanches in three weeks, life is getting all swanky......
Glenn Reynolds breaking out into open sarcasm. One of the things I like so much about Instapundit is how clever his writing is, how he gets right up to the edge without having to cross the line. Hacks like me, however, need GPS to find that line because we passed it eons ago.
The subject: honor killings in fundamentalist Islamic societies. But you know, according to folks like this, the Republicans are the real threat to women.
Go figure.
(See? Glenn went for pithy, I went for "hey, let's talk about the serious issue of honor killings by linking to Bill's pictures of "Shazam the super lesbian" and "Angry Troll Lady" from the Sunday Pro-Choice Rally.)
BTW, when you follow the link you'll see Bill's new look--now that he's the benefit of four Instalanches in three weeks, life is getting all swanky......
More larval Llama comments
Here's some more classic flashbacks from the Primordial Archives of the Llamabutchers:
That's why Terry Mac starting the general campaign boasting about John Kerry's "chestful of medals" and attacking Bush for being AWOL [without the proof to seal the deal] was politically insane.
As I said yesterday, it's almost as if Terry Mac wants Kerry to lose.
Oh, yeah, I forgot....
Here's some more classic flashbacks from the Primordial Archives of the Llamabutchers:
Tue Feb 24, 10:10 AM | SteveCampaign strategy notes
From the beginning of January to the third week of February, John Kerry's folks ran an error free campaign. Kerry kept on message, he didn't do anything to undermine the campaign's plausibility, and most importantly he resisted the greatest temptation in politics by standing back and letting Howard Dean and Wesley Clark immolate themselves in a conflagration of ego, naivete, and political idiocy. It was a nice run while it lasted.
In the past week Kerry has made two mistakes, big ones at that.
First was cutting into John Edwards' speech after his unexpectedly good showing in Wisconsin, knowing that the networks would cut away to his speech. That lacked class--and an ironclad rule of political media coverage is that the media will be as boorish and mean as it wants to be, but will not tolerate boorishness and meanness from candidates. Fair? No, but it's reality. What it led to predictably was the question why is John Kerry afraid of John Edwards? The professional politics media has an interest in drawing the primary season story out longer, if only for the ratings that the uncertainty can generate. You don't want to do anything to feed this, anything to detract from the sense of inevitability that has been the motive force of the Kerry victories so far. Any whiff of fear on Kerry's part about Edwards will produce vapor lock instantly for his prospects: think Wiley Coyote as the clouds start to dissipate. Because what Kerry would see, if he looked in the rear view mirror, is not this but this.
The second mistake was his "How dare you talk about Vietnam" letter of yesterday. I think this is why reports that his campaign was less than pleased with Terry MacAuliffe's playing of the Bush National Guard card so early make sense: the story raged for a week, but then burned out for lack of, well, substance. However, stories like that never just die--they tend to then rebound and lash back at the other side. In this case, it's not Kerry's service in country that's the problem, but rather what he did when he got home with the "Junkie Vets," as many referred to the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Kerry needed to get his image and perceptions set with the public before the story inevitably turned to the early 1970s, which he then could distance himself from. Instead, he now has to address this issue as most of the general public is getting their first full look at him. So which is he--the saluting guy with the medals in his ads, or the long haired guy throwing his medals over a fence? The problem is for Kerry that he's both: and this whole point of Kerry's having it both ways is the opening move that the Republicans are going to make on him. Worse, he's got himself in a classic two-front bind--by opening up on Bush and Vietnam, his party's leaders in effect kicked off the general election campaign before Kerry had sewed up the nomination. Terry Mac "misunderestimated" Dubya once again: they thought if they opened up on Bush and the Guard, that he wouldn't respond, at least until later. It's insane in politics to make such an assumption--they should only have raised the Guard issue if they had the proof of their charges. Instead, they've accidentally started the general election, but in a way that's going to hurt Kerry. John Edwards doesn't have to go negative on Kerry: Dubya's folks are going to do that for him. The last element to this is that letter's such as Kerry sent have the opposite effect: instead of focusing the issue back on Bush, they in effect call in the fire on Kerry himself. Kerry--if he becomes the nominee--might have to run not only against Dubya and Ralph Nader, but also against the haggard long haired John Kerry of 1971. And that's not the way to win 270 electoral votes.
That's why Terry Mac starting the general campaign boasting about John Kerry's "chestful of medals" and attacking Bush for being AWOL [without the proof to seal the deal] was politically insane.
As I said yesterday, it's almost as if Terry Mac wants Kerry to lose.
Oh, yeah, I forgot....
Gratuitous Lazy-Man Posting
I've got nothing this morning and not much time to say it anyway. Soooo...I will instead pass on to you the following sent in by the Butcher's Wife, who picked it up from an email making the rounds in our little circle. Enjoy!
These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in
church services:
1. Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
2. Announcement in a church bulletin for a national PRAYER & FASTING Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals."
3. The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."
4. "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.
5. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
7. Remember in prayer the many that are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
8. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
9. Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
10. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
11. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
12. Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for moretransfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.
13. The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."
14. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24th in the
church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
15. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
16. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.
17. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
18. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
19. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
20. Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.
21. The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment and gracious hostility.
22. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 p.m. - prayer and medication to follow.
23. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
24. This evening at 7 p.m. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
25. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 a.m. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
26. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
27. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.
28. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
29. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
30. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."
I've got nothing this morning and not much time to say it anyway. Soooo...I will instead pass on to you the following sent in by the Butcher's Wife, who picked it up from an email making the rounds in our little circle. Enjoy!
These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in
church services:
1. Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
2. Announcement in a church bulletin for a national PRAYER & FASTING Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals."
3. The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."
4. "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.
5. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
7. Remember in prayer the many that are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
8. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
9. Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
10. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
11. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
12. Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for moretransfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.
13. The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."
14. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24th in the
church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
15. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
16. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.
17. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
18. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
19. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
20. Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.
21. The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment and gracious hostility.
22. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 p.m. - prayer and medication to follow.
23. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
24. This evening at 7 p.m. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
25. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 a.m. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
26. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
27. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.
28. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
29. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
30. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."
Monday, April 26, 2004
Don't Forget!
Today's Required Reading
I have a weakness for tornado movies and shows. (Does anyone else remember the cartoon "Emergency +4," the Saturday morning animated version of the tee-vee show "Emergency" from the 70's? There was an episode about a tornado. I still remember it.) And no, it's not just because I believe Helen Hunt is the Thinking Man's Babe.
Anyhoo, t'other night I found myself watching "Tornado!" on the Hallmark Channel. Hideously enough, I'd seen it before - a production so devoid of dialogue, plot or acting that it could best be described as looking like soft-core porn without the sex. Another fav is "Night of the Twisters" starring the former Bo Duke. I read somewhere that this was the highest rated made-for-TV movie ever, in terms of audience draw. Tanta stultitia mortalium est, indeed. And let's not forget the powerful "Atomic Twister" of a few years back in which a pair of killer twisters attempt to take out an atomic power plant somewhere in Tennessee. You KNOW when Carl Lewis and Corbin Bernsen team up, we're talking movie magic.
So I figured I pretty much had the waterfront covered. Not so. Our good friend Pep stumbled across an opus on the PAX network called "Tornado Warning!" and has penned a review. Go. Read. And be advised the No Hot Beverages Rule is in full force and effect.
Yip! Yip!
I have a weakness for tornado movies and shows. (Does anyone else remember the cartoon "Emergency +4," the Saturday morning animated version of the tee-vee show "Emergency" from the 70's? There was an episode about a tornado. I still remember it.) And no, it's not just because I believe Helen Hunt is the Thinking Man's Babe.
Anyhoo, t'other night I found myself watching "Tornado!" on the Hallmark Channel. Hideously enough, I'd seen it before - a production so devoid of dialogue, plot or acting that it could best be described as looking like soft-core porn without the sex. Another fav is "Night of the Twisters" starring the former Bo Duke. I read somewhere that this was the highest rated made-for-TV movie ever, in terms of audience draw. Tanta stultitia mortalium est, indeed. And let's not forget the powerful "Atomic Twister" of a few years back in which a pair of killer twisters attempt to take out an atomic power plant somewhere in Tennessee. You KNOW when Carl Lewis and Corbin Bernsen team up, we're talking movie magic.
So I figured I pretty much had the waterfront covered. Not so. Our good friend Pep stumbled across an opus on the PAX network called "Tornado Warning!" and has penned a review. Go. Read. And be advised the No Hot Beverages Rule is in full force and effect.
Yip! Yip!
Gardener's Delight
Lynn is rose-blogging. Go on over and check out the pics.
I've only got two roses. One is an Improved Blaze, a climbing rose with a bright red flower. The other is supposed to be a Blaze as well, but has never shown any inclination to climb, just to bush. They sit side by side in front of my garden fence. I'm giving the non-climber one more year to prove itself before it gets yanked.
I had tried to transplant a couple of roses into my peony bed from my folks' place up in Maine. One was a Lady Jane Grey. Forgot the name of the other. They were both very small and did not make it through the winter. Oh well.
Today the Butcher's Wife purchased for me some slug-bait. This is lovely stuff. You sprinkle the pellets all over your garden and then the next morning go out to view all the little corpses doubled over in agony. We hates slugs.
Now if only they made a deer-sized dosage.......
Lynn is rose-blogging. Go on over and check out the pics.
I've only got two roses. One is an Improved Blaze, a climbing rose with a bright red flower. The other is supposed to be a Blaze as well, but has never shown any inclination to climb, just to bush. They sit side by side in front of my garden fence. I'm giving the non-climber one more year to prove itself before it gets yanked.
I had tried to transplant a couple of roses into my peony bed from my folks' place up in Maine. One was a Lady Jane Grey. Forgot the name of the other. They were both very small and did not make it through the winter. Oh well.
Today the Butcher's Wife purchased for me some slug-bait. This is lovely stuff. You sprinkle the pellets all over your garden and then the next morning go out to view all the little corpses doubled over in agony. We hates slugs.
Now if only they made a deer-sized dosage.......
Want To Put Your Child In Therapy For Years To Come?
Put one of these on their pillow! Hours of psyche-damaging fun!
HT to Reen.
Put one of these on their pillow! Hours of psyche-damaging fun!
HT to Reen.
Signs the Victory Coalition is doing well
Although I think new fan fave Baseball Crank said it best:
WAR: The Tin Cup Is Rattling
I've post-dated this post to April 29 so it will stay at the top of the page until then (updated as necessary), humbly asking you to donate to the Spirit of America, a charitable group supporting the efforts of U.S. troops to spread good will in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. It's a worthy goal, and one that gives us private citizens a chance to do a little something to help out in the war for hearts and minds. See here and here for more details. I'm in with one of three coalitions of blogs competing in a drive to raise money for Spirit of America by April 29. For rewards, Michele is offering to dedicate posts and music to people who donate, and Dean Esmay is offering supporters of his coalition a post on a topic of their choice. Bah. I can do better: I promise that if you donate to Spirit of America, the Cubs and the Red Sox will win the World Series in your lifetime, or your money back. [disclaimer: refund may only be claimed after conclusion of lifetime] So there.
Give Victory a Chance! Please Donate Here. Thank you.
I'm going to take B'Crank and Michele at their own game and offer any donor free pics of me clad in either a Yankees or Mets shirt and hat, kissing the arse of a picture of George Steinbrenner, who makes a $50 contribution to the Victory Coalition on behalf of your humble Llamabutcher servants. Recognize that I was born in Boston and was raised a Red Sox fan, in the way only that being a guilt-ridden Boston Irish Catholic secular Calvinist can root for the Sox. PLEASE recognize that every fiber of my being will feel the presence of said shirts on my skin as burning gasoline being liberally applied by a rusty brush by Hillary Clinton. How's that for wanting to go the extra mile....
For a $200 contribution, I'm willing to be photographed walking in front of the White House at Lafayette Park wearing a tin foil hat and a sandwich board sign that says "I'm a Moonbat." (I'm calling you out, Bill!)
Although I think new fan fave Baseball Crank said it best:
WAR: The Tin Cup Is Rattling
I've post-dated this post to April 29 so it will stay at the top of the page until then (updated as necessary), humbly asking you to donate to the Spirit of America, a charitable group supporting the efforts of U.S. troops to spread good will in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. It's a worthy goal, and one that gives us private citizens a chance to do a little something to help out in the war for hearts and minds. See here and here for more details. I'm in with one of three coalitions of blogs competing in a drive to raise money for Spirit of America by April 29. For rewards, Michele is offering to dedicate posts and music to people who donate, and Dean Esmay is offering supporters of his coalition a post on a topic of their choice. Bah. I can do better: I promise that if you donate to Spirit of America, the Cubs and the Red Sox will win the World Series in your lifetime, or your money back. [disclaimer: refund may only be claimed after conclusion of lifetime] So there.
Give Victory a Chance! Please Donate Here. Thank you.
I'm going to take B'Crank and Michele at their own game and offer any donor free pics of me clad in either a Yankees or Mets shirt and hat, kissing the arse of a picture of George Steinbrenner, who makes a $50 contribution to the Victory Coalition on behalf of your humble Llamabutcher servants. Recognize that I was born in Boston and was raised a Red Sox fan, in the way only that being a guilt-ridden Boston Irish Catholic secular Calvinist can root for the Sox. PLEASE recognize that every fiber of my being will feel the presence of said shirts on my skin as burning gasoline being liberally applied by a rusty brush by Hillary Clinton. How's that for wanting to go the extra mile....
For a $200 contribution, I'm willing to be photographed walking in front of the White House at Lafayette Park wearing a tin foil hat and a sandwich board sign that says "I'm a Moonbat." (I'm calling you out, Bill!)
Cue Frank Barone: Holy crap!
I hadn't actually read the transcript of Kerry's confrontation with noted right wing bigot, uh, Charlie Gibson, on that biased, right-wing show "Good Morning America." All I can say is Holy crap.
Key exchange:
That's REALLY going to leave a mark.
It's almost like the good olde days when Baghdad Bob was denying the Americans are in Baghdad....."You're not seeing that! It didn't happen! Who do you trust, your own lying eyes or me?"
YIPS! from Robbo: Roving Llama correspondent Paul has this to say about the GTA visit: "Karl Rove could not have written a better “flip-flop” sound bite."
I hadn't actually read the transcript of Kerry's confrontation with noted right wing bigot, uh, Charlie Gibson, on that biased, right-wing show "Good Morning America." All I can say is Holy crap.
Key exchange:
GIBSON: senator, i was there 33 years ago and i saw you throw medals over the fence and we didn't find out until later -
KERRY: no, you didn't see me throw th. charlie, charlie, you are wrong. that's not what happened. i threw my ribbons across. all you have to do -
That's REALLY going to leave a mark.
It's almost like the good olde days when Baghdad Bob was denying the Americans are in Baghdad....."You're not seeing that! It didn't happen! Who do you trust, your own lying eyes or me?"
YIPS! from Robbo: Roving Llama correspondent Paul has this to say about the GTA visit: "Karl Rove could not have written a better “flip-flop” sound bite."
Llama PSA
If you're not already reading and linking to the New England Republican, get on over there and get busy. It's your one-stop shopping event for all things Kerry and a brave outpost of conservatism in Baahston. Go check it out!
Yip! Yip!
If you're not already reading and linking to the New England Republican, get on over there and get busy. It's your one-stop shopping event for all things Kerry and a brave outpost of conservatism in Baahston. Go check it out!
Yip! Yip!
Robbo Rantin' Interlude
This is probably going to get me sent straight to PC hell, but here goes:
I was walking back to the office from a meeting earlier. As I crossed the top of Lafayette Park, I overtook one of those wagons full of preschool kids that day care agencies use around here to give their little charges a breath of fresh air. As I passed by, one of the little tykes kept pointing at one of the accompanying attendants and saying, "Mommy! Mommy!" To which another worker would reply, "No, that's Miss Christine. Mommy's at work."
If you're a parent and that doesn't give you the creeps, something's wrong with you.
That is all.
This is probably going to get me sent straight to PC hell, but here goes:
I was walking back to the office from a meeting earlier. As I crossed the top of Lafayette Park, I overtook one of those wagons full of preschool kids that day care agencies use around here to give their little charges a breath of fresh air. As I passed by, one of the little tykes kept pointing at one of the accompanying attendants and saying, "Mommy! Mommy!" To which another worker would reply, "No, that's Miss Christine. Mommy's at work."
If you're a parent and that doesn't give you the creeps, something's wrong with you.
That is all.
MEDIA BIAS! GET YER MEDIA BIAS RIGHT HERE!
Came across this gem pulling together a proposal for a project:
First parapgraph:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's only Sept. 11 defendant and the government are claiming partial victories in an appeals court ruling, but the judges' ultimate message is clear: The Justice Department can prosecute Zacarias Moussaoui in a civilian courtroom and seek to kill him.
Last paragraph:
Moussaoui, while acknowledging his loyalty to Osama bin Laden, has said he was not part of the Sept. 11 plot but indicated he was to take part in a later operation.
Oh, well then, that's different---let him go!
Came across this gem pulling together a proposal for a project:
First parapgraph:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's only Sept. 11 defendant and the government are claiming partial victories in an appeals court ruling, but the judges' ultimate message is clear: The Justice Department can prosecute Zacarias Moussaoui in a civilian courtroom and seek to kill him.
Last paragraph:
Moussaoui, while acknowledging his loyalty to Osama bin Laden, has said he was not part of the Sept. 11 plot but indicated he was to take part in a later operation.
Oh, well then, that's different---let him go!
Bizarre
I just don't know what to make of this development.
(This is one of those rare moments when I'm actually being serious.)
I just don't know what to make of this development.
(This is one of those rare moments when I'm actually being serious.)
So what IS Howard Dean up to these days?
Dusting off that Glass-Jawed Porcupine entree brought back some nostalgia about little Dean-O--what the heck is he doing these days? Finding inner peace? Cursing at "Air America" while stuck in traffic on his way to the Burlington, VT Piggly-Wiggly?
Apparently he's been hanging around leaving desultory comments on blogs.
This gem from The Queen of Evil's site is pure Dean (second comment down):
There you have the entire Dean candidacy--its ascent as well as crash--summarized in an easy five sentences. Let's go to the tape:
There in a nutshell is the rise and fall of the Dean candidacy---all the rage, faux-intellectual arrogance, cultural bigotry, hilarious snafus, and strident anti-Americanism---packaged in a neat five sentence rant.
So I'm glad to see Dean-O has a new hobby, I mean other than picking up dry-cleaning for Dr. Steinberg and all.
Dusting off that Glass-Jawed Porcupine entree brought back some nostalgia about little Dean-O--what the heck is he doing these days? Finding inner peace? Cursing at "Air America" while stuck in traffic on his way to the Burlington, VT Piggly-Wiggly?
Apparently he's been hanging around leaving desultory comments on blogs.
This gem from The Queen of Evil's site is pure Dean (second comment down):
Yeah, Kerry uses a lot of big words, and many of them have more than three syllables. He may be a deuschbag, but he's much less of one than Bush is.
Even if you're a bible-thumping, inbred southern baptist, you've got to be an idiot to vote for a man who can't pronounce the word "nuclear", who's against a medical technology that promises to end an enourmous amount of suffering worldwide, and has never done a day of hard work in his life (he's an aire to an oil fortune) while claiming to be a plain-old regular guy who relates to the common man because he doesn't use big words.
But I guess bumper stickers on pickup trucks are a lot easier to read than news sources from different parts of the country and world, so the lying dummy has a lot of support from dittoheads who listen to AM radio across the nation.
If he gets re-elected, we deserve to get nuked.
There you have the entire Dean candidacy--its ascent as well as crash--summarized in an easy five sentences. Let's go to the tape:
1. Yeah, Kerry uses a lot of big words, and many of them have more than three syllables.
Theme: We're smarter than you.
This is a DemocraticUnderground fan favorite dating back to the New Frontier---IQ=Best & Brightest=Ideal Government=Bliss. But does the highest IQ make for the best president? Looking over American history, it's pretty easy to identify the three smartest presidents in terms of pure IQ brain power: James Madison, Herbert Hoover, and Jimmy Carter. Madison's easy--he's James Freakin' Madison, after all. Highlight of his presidency? Getting the White House burned out from under him. Hoover? That one is obvious. Carter? Say what you want about Jemmah, but he got through the first course of students at Admiral Hyman Rickover's nuclear sub school in the 50s, which is about the damned hardest thing there is. Sure, you can add to the list Jefferson and Wilson, but I'm going to have to come upside your head about the failure of the League of Nations and its crappy job dealing with the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, as well as something about "if Jefferson was so damn smart how come he died so deeply in debt?" And don't make me go Sally Hemmings on you....
2. He may be a deuschbag, but he's much less of one than Bush is.
Theme: Our guy sucks, but yours is worse!
I'm not sure if "deuschbag" was an intentional pun on Kerry's francophilia (rather than a simple misspelling of feminine hygiene products), and I tend to think it's the latter. But it's interesting that the best the BusHitler crowd can come up with is admitting their candidate is akin to something used to make one's arse more fragrant.
3. Even if you're a bible-thumping, inbred southern baptist, you've got to be an idiot to vote for a man who can't pronounce the word "nuclear", who's against a medical technology that promises to end an enourmous amount of suffering worldwide, and has never done a day of hard work in his life (he's an aire to an oil fortune) while claiming to be a plain-old regular guy who relates to the common man because he doesn't use big words.
Theme: I'm a I-5/I-95 blue-state metrosexual bigot!
What's the deal with this wing of the Democratic party hating southern baptists so? It's as if they forgot that Clinton (as well as Gore), Carter, and I think LBJ all basically fit the description given of southern white-trash Southern Baptists (you capitalize religions, sonny, even the ones you have contempt for). (I'm not sure about Johnson, whether he was a Methodist, but he sure as heck fits the stereotype being thrown out here). Seriously, if someone like that talked like that to LBJ he would have broken his nose without batting an eyelash. As for Carter, he graduated from nuclear sub school and still pronounces it Nuk-leer (actually comes out closer to NUK-lah). Add these things together and you get the pervasive bigotry on the part of blue state I-5 and I-95 demos for, well, the rest of the country, and the south in particular. And the Republicans are laughing it up all the way to the Electoral College.
Then you've got to love the whole sneering condescension of the writer premised on issues of social class, elite education, and diction then misspell the word "heir." Sigh, I guess they're giving out trust funds to just anybody these days.
And maybe I too am an "enourmous" idiot for not being as smart as the poster.
Of course, what makes the sentence work is the political tone-deafness of it---oh yeah, John Kerry is a man of the people? Riiiiiiggght.
And now the closer:
4. But I guess bumper stickers on pickup trucks are a lot easier to read than news sources from different parts of the country and world, so the lying dummy has a lot of support from dittoheads who listen to AM radio across the nation.
Theme: We're only losing because the American public is stupider than sheep.
Hey, at least he credits right-wingers with the ability to read (but not notice his misspellings, of course). And it's gotta be Rush's fault somehow, because Al Franken says so!
5. If he gets re-elected, we deserve to get nuked
Theme: I'm an American-hating weasel who doesn't understand that the only thing standing between me and Muqtada al-Sadr imposing sharia is Uncle Sam's Misguided Children--the effin USMC!
This basically sums up the leftist mantra these days: better that millions of American civilians die a horrible death from terrorism than our precious slogans proven to be wrong!
This guy probably gets real touchy if you "challenge his patriotism."
There in a nutshell is the rise and fall of the Dean candidacy---all the rage, faux-intellectual arrogance, cultural bigotry, hilarious snafus, and strident anti-Americanism---packaged in a neat five sentence rant.
So I'm glad to see Dean-O has a new hobby, I mean other than picking up dry-cleaning for Dr. Steinberg and all.
SMMMMMMMACK!! [wince]....THAT'S going to leave a mark!
Democratic savant Terry MacAuliffe (he of the Bush/AWOL fame):
"It's time for Dick Cheney to call off the Republican attack dogs. The American people have better things to do with their time than listen to more misleading attacks from a man who has been misleading them from the day he took office," McAuliffe said.
Fat chance, Terry. And by the way, we laundered your pants with Milk Bones.
I'm supposed to be grading right now, so later I'll revist this digging up the quote from Howard Dean calling on Terry Mac to do the same thing back in January.
OH what the hell.
Here's the article I was thinking about, and here's what the newbie-Llamabutchers had to say about it then:
So my advice to you Terry is this: comments like this are like pouring blood into the Amazonian stream---any journalists not now on the attack will see the need to get in on the story. And the whole Medals story is a perfectly legitimate example of this, made the more so by your raising of the Bush/AWOL story on Day One that Kerry had the nomination in the clear.
Jeez, you almost would think that Terry is trying to help make Kerry lose or something.
Oh, yeah, I forgot.....
Democratic savant Terry MacAuliffe (he of the Bush/AWOL fame):
"It's time for Dick Cheney to call off the Republican attack dogs. The American people have better things to do with their time than listen to more misleading attacks from a man who has been misleading them from the day he took office," McAuliffe said.
Fat chance, Terry. And by the way, we laundered your pants with Milk Bones.
I'm supposed to be grading right now, so later I'll revist this digging up the quote from Howard Dean calling on Terry Mac to do the same thing back in January.
OH what the hell.
Here's the article I was thinking about, and here's what the newbie-Llamabutchers had to say about it then:
Monday December 29, 2003
Every Good Campaign Needs a Mascot
How about a glass-jawed porcupine?
Complaining about the torrent of attacks raining down on him from his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, Howard Dean on Sunday criticized his party's national chairman, Terry McAuliffe, for not intervening to tone down the debate.
Hmmm, maybe it's because you called him a prostitute just days ago in the soon to be famous Concord Monitor interview?
"If we had strong leadership in the Democratic Party, they would be calling those other candidates and saying, `Hey look, somebody's going to have to win here,' " Dr. Dean, the former governor of Vermont, told reporters trailing him as he campaigned through central Iowa. Referring to one of Mr. McAuliffe's predecessors, he added, "If Ron Brown were the chairman, this wouldn't be happening."
If there was strong leadership in the Democratic Party, Dr. Dean would be writing scrips for amoxicillin back in Burlington right now. Seriously, this guy's the front-runner? Does he realize the amount of scrutiny that's about to open up now that the regular season is starting? I remember fall last, when Steve Spurrier was starting out as coach of the Redskins, and he ran up the score against Steve Mariucci and the 49ers in a meaningless pre-season game in Tokyo. Afterwards, he was cocky and self-sure, talking about bringing the razzle-dazzle of the fun-n'-gun to the NFL. Spurrier did great that preseason, with the 'Skins winning all their preseason games except the last one by wide margins. Then the regular season began....
If he doesn't like the heat, maybe Dr. Dean should give Dan Quayle a call--perhaps they could open up a private detective agency or something.
Dr. Dean also implied that many of his supporters, particularly young people, might stay home in November if another Democrat's name ends up on the ballot.
"I don't know where they're going to go, but they're certainly not going to vote for a conventional Washington politician," he said.
Though Dr. Dean has repeatedly said he would back whichever Democrat wins the nomination, he said Sunday that support was "not transferable anymore" and that endorsements, including his own, "don't guarantee anything."
"Right now those guys think we're the front-runner, so they're saying all this stuff, `He can't win'," Dr. Dean said. "How are they going to win?
So strong party discipline is good when it benefits him, but screw everyone else?
"What I'm saying is I think we're the best and most capable candidate of beating George Bush because we're the only one that is exciting the party," he said.
The Royal We. I think I was wrong: maybe he should give this guy a call--he's not busy.
In Ames, Dr. Dean repeated his promise to support whichever Democrat wins. "Any of them are better than what we've got right now," he said. But, he added, "you can't beat George Bush if you behave like the Democrats are behaving."
That's right. Bush is very beatable in a number of ways, however not in any way the current Democrats running are going. But the answer is NOT in the way that Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Snide would have: if they want to win, they are going to start hitting much harder. MUCH harder. But the point that emerges from this piece is telling: once the real political season starts and the gloves [quite legitimately] come off, there's a good chance he's going to crumble under the scrutiny. The question is, does he [and his supporters] go and sulk like Achilles in his tent?
Free pass time is over. Cute insurgent time is over. Look for lots of stories now that have "questions linger...," "doubts are raised...," and "concerns mount over..." in the first paragraph of stories, not in NR [either National Review or New Republic] but in the Washington Post, and the NY and LA Times. If he starts to lose their political reporters, look forward to some hilariously bitter speeches for the Burlington area Kiwanis Club in about twelve months.
So my advice to you Terry is this: comments like this are like pouring blood into the Amazonian stream---any journalists not now on the attack will see the need to get in on the story. And the whole Medals story is a perfectly legitimate example of this, made the more so by your raising of the Bush/AWOL story on Day One that Kerry had the nomination in the clear.
Jeez, you almost would think that Terry is trying to help make Kerry lose or something.
Oh, yeah, I forgot.....
A new ally
On the advice of Dean, I went over and took a look at the Queen of All Evil.
You got to love a blog that makes into the blogroll after reading the first post......
On the advice of Dean, I went over and took a look at the Queen of All Evil.
You got to love a blog that makes into the blogroll after reading the first post......
The biggest idiot in the Old Dominion
Wizbang point to a fun new website dedicated to keeping tabs on the biggest political idiot in the state of Virginia: Congressman Jim Moran of the 8th District in Northern Virginia (motto---"what the *&%^! YOU lookin' at!"
I was trying to satirize him for awhile, but couldn't come up with anything more preposterous and ridiculous than what he's actually said. He's a one man "Real Life Congressman imitates Diamond Joe Quimby on crack." We're talking "Roger Clinton telling you to show some class"--level behavior here.
This guy is a world-class idiot---I mean, we're talking UN level batshit behavior here: forget Jim Richardson, if Kerry wins the presidency we'd have to have Moran as UN Ambassador!
Wizbang point to a fun new website dedicated to keeping tabs on the biggest political idiot in the state of Virginia: Congressman Jim Moran of the 8th District in Northern Virginia (motto---"what the *&%^! YOU lookin' at!"
I was trying to satirize him for awhile, but couldn't come up with anything more preposterous and ridiculous than what he's actually said. He's a one man "Real Life Congressman imitates Diamond Joe Quimby on crack." We're talking "Roger Clinton telling you to show some class"--level behavior here.
This guy is a world-class idiot---I mean, we're talking UN level batshit behavior here: forget Jim Richardson, if Kerry wins the presidency we'd have to have Moran as UN Ambassador!
Rattling the cup for the Victory Coalition
One more, then I actually have to get some real work done:
One more, then I actually have to get some real work done:
Hammer Time?
Looks like we finally have run out of patience in Fallujah. You know what to do - visit The Command Post frequently for up-to-the-moment news.
Looks like we finally have run out of patience in Fallujah. You know what to do - visit The Command Post frequently for up-to-the-moment news.
Those Meddling Unacknowledged Legislators of the World!
Okay, it isn't exactly what ol' Percy Bysshe had in mind, but the media's self-generated "Fourth Estate" status isn't all that far from Shelley's idea of the Model Poet. Glenn has a long string on the shifting relationship among the institutional press, the government and all the rest of us. Suffice to say the times, they're a'changin'.
Read the whole thing.
Okay, it isn't exactly what ol' Percy Bysshe had in mind, but the media's self-generated "Fourth Estate" status isn't all that far from Shelley's idea of the Model Poet. Glenn has a long string on the shifting relationship among the institutional press, the government and all the rest of us. Suffice to say the times, they're a'changin'.
Read the whole thing.
Monday Morning Yips!
Wow, what a big weekend. Amazing what happens when I'm not around - massive TTLB evolution, big sitemeter traffic spike - it's like a party at my house that I wasn't even invited to. (And no smart remarks, please.)
While Steve-O was ignoring his wife and kiddies this weekend to play with photoshop, I was ignoring mine to play in the garden. Saturday, I rented a tiller. The tiller is one of those Manly Gardening Tools. It doesn't quite have the Beavis & Butthead "Cool" quotient of a wood-chipper, but it's still one of those pieces of equipment that makes you feel you should have a packet of Marlboros rolled up in the sleave of your t-shirt and drink beer for breakfast.
Not sure if I'm cut out for the Pa Ingalls frontier life, however. I pulled all kinds of back muscles hoisting the beast out of the back of my car and getting it back in. My hands are now covered with blisters and the back of my neck is severly sunburned. If you see a hunched figure shuffling about the streets of DC this morning rubbing his hands and muttering about those bastard rabbits, it'll probably be me.
Well, with that, I have to go prepare for a meeting, so probably won't have much to say until later on today. But not to worry: Long-range sensors indicate that Steve-O is still in love with his new toy. Expect more outstanding Llama Agitprop Artwork as the day unfolds.
Yip to you later!
YIPS from Steve: Tillers are cool! We're renting ours for Thursday and Friday, in anticipation of the mulch truck delivery. I've taken a vow on a stack to get our mulch all spread within 48 hours of its delivery, at least to prevent the embarassment of paleontologists conducting a dig in it later in the fall, looking for Mastadons or something. In the garden front, a big bed of irises I transplanted last summer from the front yard to the back yard has started to bloom--it's randomly weird, but every time I look at them I think of Kate Hepburn, as I did the transplant on the day after she died and had read the big spread in the Post's Style section on her just before I headed into the garden. Life's funny that way.
Wow, what a big weekend. Amazing what happens when I'm not around - massive TTLB evolution, big sitemeter traffic spike - it's like a party at my house that I wasn't even invited to. (And no smart remarks, please.)
While Steve-O was ignoring his wife and kiddies this weekend to play with photoshop, I was ignoring mine to play in the garden. Saturday, I rented a tiller. The tiller is one of those Manly Gardening Tools. It doesn't quite have the Beavis & Butthead "Cool" quotient of a wood-chipper, but it's still one of those pieces of equipment that makes you feel you should have a packet of Marlboros rolled up in the sleave of your t-shirt and drink beer for breakfast.
Not sure if I'm cut out for the Pa Ingalls frontier life, however. I pulled all kinds of back muscles hoisting the beast out of the back of my car and getting it back in. My hands are now covered with blisters and the back of my neck is severly sunburned. If you see a hunched figure shuffling about the streets of DC this morning rubbing his hands and muttering about those bastard rabbits, it'll probably be me.
Well, with that, I have to go prepare for a meeting, so probably won't have much to say until later on today. But not to worry: Long-range sensors indicate that Steve-O is still in love with his new toy. Expect more outstanding Llama Agitprop Artwork as the day unfolds.
Yip to you later!
YIPS from Steve: Tillers are cool! We're renting ours for Thursday and Friday, in anticipation of the mulch truck delivery. I've taken a vow on a stack to get our mulch all spread within 48 hours of its delivery, at least to prevent the embarassment of paleontologists conducting a dig in it later in the fall, looking for Mastadons or something. In the garden front, a big bed of irises I transplanted last summer from the front yard to the back yard has started to bloom--it's randomly weird, but every time I look at them I think of Kate Hepburn, as I did the transplant on the day after she died and had read the big spread in the Post's Style section on her just before I headed into the garden. Life's funny that way.
Sunday, April 25, 2004
Beat on the French week continues
With apologies to Mario Puzo
If you like the new cartoon kick, then by all means stick it to Chirac, al-Jeezera, and the humanities faculties of the Ivy League--support the Victory Coalition!
With apologies to Mario Puzo
If you like the new cartoon kick, then by all means stick it to Chirac, al-Jeezera, and the humanities faculties of the Ivy League--support the Victory Coalition!
Pledge week at Llamabutchers
and unlike other people we could name, we're not raising money to get a swanky new mauve velvet ottoman for the boudoir: we're rattling the tin cup to rattle the cage of al-Jeezera
and unlike other people we could name, we're not raising money to get a swanky new mauve velvet ottoman for the boudoir: we're rattling the tin cup to rattle the cage of al-Jeezera
Signs the Victory Coalition is doing well
Our new feature: People who DON'T want you to support the Victory Coalition
1. Jacque Chirac
Screw the French while sticking it up Ayatollah Bill's Muqtada! Support the Victory Coaltion today!
1. Jacque Chirac
Screw the French while sticking it up Ayatollah Bill's Muqtada! Support the Victory Coaltion today!
Support our troops while sticking it to Ayatollah Bill!
Not exactly "Why we fight" but worth remembering what we're up against:
Not exactly "Why we fight" but worth remembering what we're up against:
Why I hate smiley emoticons, part deux
Lynn over at Reflections in d Minor has been trying to bait me ever since my Friday afternoon anti-smiley face emoticon outburst (and the mysterious "Pep" of Hot Chai Journal has seen fit to join into the Llama-poking as well).
Which caused me to wonder, "Steve, why exactly do you hate smiley-face emoticons? It's not like they are faux-ally treacherous backstabbing weasels like, say, our history department or, say, the French?"
And I said to myself, "good point, but dude, we have to stop having conversations like this in line at the Great Valu [motto: We're so damn cheap we aint payin' for no stinkin' "E"] or people are really going to start staring."
I don't know why---it's not like I was a Boy Scout Altar Boy and got diddled by some freakin emoticon or something, although I'd like to see His Rotund A-Hole-iness Milord Bernard Cardinal Law (of the Diocese of Leavenworth) try to tell his future bunky "Tyrone" that the whole scandal was due to little smiling computer faces.
So I don't know why--I'll have to ask my shrink later this week. He'll probably blame it on my mother, or my dissertation advisor, either way works fine for me.
Although I tell you what I WOULD like to do is pull an Elvis, and shoot out the computer screen with a big-ass Colt revolver every time I saw one.
Lynn over at Reflections in d Minor has been trying to bait me ever since my Friday afternoon anti-smiley face emoticon outburst (and the mysterious "Pep" of Hot Chai Journal has seen fit to join into the Llama-poking as well).
Which caused me to wonder, "Steve, why exactly do you hate smiley-face emoticons? It's not like they are faux-ally treacherous backstabbing weasels like, say, our history department or, say, the French?"
And I said to myself, "good point, but dude, we have to stop having conversations like this in line at the Great Valu [motto: We're so damn cheap we aint payin' for no stinkin' "E"] or people are really going to start staring."
I don't know why---it's not like I was a Boy Scout Altar Boy and got diddled by some freakin emoticon or something, although I'd like to see His Rotund A-Hole-iness Milord Bernard Cardinal Law (of the Diocese of Leavenworth) try to tell his future bunky "Tyrone" that the whole scandal was due to little smiling computer faces.
So I don't know why--I'll have to ask my shrink later this week. He'll probably blame it on my mother, or my dissertation advisor, either way works fine for me.
Although I tell you what I WOULD like to do is pull an Elvis, and shoot out the computer screen with a big-ass Colt revolver every time I saw one.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Good God - We've Been, Er, Pseudo-Deanalanched!
We usually get like 15 or 20 hits here on a typical Saturday. So I spend all day slaving in the yard and go out with the Butcher's Wife and friends to dinner and idly check the Butcher's Shop when I get back. Imagine my surprize when sitemeter says were topping 100 hits for the day!
A little checking uncovered the efforts of our good friend INDC Bill, who very kindly plugged us while guest-posting over at Dean's World. Thanks, Bill! I'm not totally sure if being compared to a drunk Glenn Reynolds is a compliment or not, but we appreciate the effort. And thanks to all of you who have wandered over to our little opus as a result of Bill's thoughtful gesture. (Bet that's the last time Dean lets someone else guestblog at his site! That's the trouble with housesitters - you never know when they might invite their disreputable friends to come over and party.)
Yip! Yip! Yip!
YIPS from Steve: I prefer the term "Faux-esmayalanched"---it's sounds like something I'd serve right next to the brie. And, "Glenn Reynolds huffing airplane glue" is at least what I'm shooting for.....
More YIPS from Steve: Seems like that post from Bill (combined with our new readers picked up from our little border war with Debunkers.org) has pushed us up the TLB Food Chain: the blogosphere now concurs with the judgement of my prom date that we are "adorable little rodents."
We usually get like 15 or 20 hits here on a typical Saturday. So I spend all day slaving in the yard and go out with the Butcher's Wife and friends to dinner and idly check the Butcher's Shop when I get back. Imagine my surprize when sitemeter says were topping 100 hits for the day!
A little checking uncovered the efforts of our good friend INDC Bill, who very kindly plugged us while guest-posting over at Dean's World. Thanks, Bill! I'm not totally sure if being compared to a drunk Glenn Reynolds is a compliment or not, but we appreciate the effort. And thanks to all of you who have wandered over to our little opus as a result of Bill's thoughtful gesture. (Bet that's the last time Dean lets someone else guestblog at his site! That's the trouble with housesitters - you never know when they might invite their disreputable friends to come over and party.)
Yip! Yip! Yip!
YIPS from Steve: I prefer the term "Faux-esmayalanched"---it's sounds like something I'd serve right next to the brie. And, "Glenn Reynolds huffing airplane glue" is at least what I'm shooting for.....
More YIPS from Steve: Seems like that post from Bill (combined with our new readers picked up from our little border war with Debunkers.org) has pushed us up the TLB Food Chain: the blogosphere now concurs with the judgement of my prom date that we are "adorable little rodents."
Well THAT'S Interesting
Seems like our "friends" the French have suddenly noticed something: that the best way to fully address our troop needs in the Southwestern Asia Theater is by pulling them out of the US Army of the Rhine. Suddenly, we are no longer despised:
You bet your ass you do, Pierre. But it gets funnier:
Hate to break it to you, Pete, but as Inspector Clousseau would say, "Nit eenymore."
I think the French are suddenly realizing that while they hate our soldiers and our tourists, they are Muqtada'd without them.
My advice to you, Pete, is to look for your support---military, tourism, technological, whatever--from your new buddies in Damascus and Pyongyang. Because you aint our allies anymore.
Seems like our "friends" the French have suddenly noticed something: that the best way to fully address our troop needs in the Southwestern Asia Theater is by pulling them out of the US Army of the Rhine. Suddenly, we are no longer despised:
PARIS--The French are trying to make up--well, some of them. A year after Paris threatened to use its veto in the Security Council to block United Nations' approval of military action against Iraq, French business people, artists, and media personalities are planning what they're calling "Liberty Week" to celebrate the "friendship" between France and the United States. The events are scheduled to coincide with the 60th-anniversary celebration this spring of the D-Day Normandy Beach landings, which President Bush is expected to attend. Many Americans, furious at France's opposition to the war, pointed out that the French seemed to have forgotten who liberated them from Nazi Germany. Seems the criticism touched a chord. "I am struck by the deterioration of France's image in the United States," says Pierre Lellouche, the idea's architect, who has a Ph.D. in international relations from Harvard University. "We told ourselves that it was necessary to do something about it."
You bet your ass you do, Pierre. But it gets funnier:
The Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, the latter erected to celebrate Napoleon's victories, will be bathed in red, white, and blue lights. "Beyond the disagreements and arguments, the essential understanding between the two peoples continues to exist," says Lellouche.
Hate to break it to you, Pete, but as Inspector Clousseau would say, "Nit eenymore."
I think the French are suddenly realizing that while they hate our soldiers and our tourists, they are Muqtada'd without them.
My advice to you, Pete, is to look for your support---military, tourism, technological, whatever--from your new buddies in Damascus and Pyongyang. Because you aint our allies anymore.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Friday Afternoon Out-a-Here Reminder
Mass of thunderstorms heading this way and the top is down on my car. I need to scoot home before they hit. I'll check in later on to see how things are going. Lots of Gratuitous Domestic Blogging (TM) - Garden Division to relate later.
In the meantime, don't forget:
Right here. Go read the post below and then come back. You'll be glad you did.
Mass of thunderstorms heading this way and the top is down on my car. I need to scoot home before they hit. I'll check in later on to see how things are going. Lots of Gratuitous Domestic Blogging (TM) - Garden Division to relate later.
In the meantime, don't forget:
Right here. Go read the post below and then come back. You'll be glad you did.
Must. Control. Rage.
I wasn't going to post anything on the death of NFL player-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman today because I really didn't have much to add to what has been said elsewhere.
But just now I overheard a couple of the office moonbats discussing how Tillman's death might be beneficial in that it would raise public awareness of and anger towards the casualties we're taking in Iraq and Afghanistan and weaken Dubya politically.
There ya go. Pat Tillman - Poster Boy for the Angry Left.
Not only are these people absolutely grotesque in their calculations, they are also completely clueless. When Tillman joined up, Peggy Noonan posted some thoughts about what it meant that such a media celebrity would choose to give up all those perks and privileges to go and serve. She concluded that this was a good thing, and both reflective and encouraging of a new attitude among the American people:
We are making a lot of Tillmans in America, and one wonders if this has been sufficiently noted. The other day friends, a conservative intellectual and his activist wife, sent a picture of their son Gabe, a proud and newly minted Marine. And there is Abe, son of a former high aide to Al Gore, who is a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy, flying SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. A network journalist and his wife, also friends, speak with anguished pride of their son, in harm's way as a full corporal in the Marines. The son of a noted historian has joined up; the son of a conservative columnist has just finished his hitch in the Marines; and the son of a bureau chief of a famous magazine was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army last month, on the day he graduated from Princeton.
As the Vietnam-era song said, "Something's happening here." And what it is may be exactly clear. Some very talented young men, and women, are joining the armed forces in order to help their country because, apparently, they love it. After what our society and culture have been through and become the past 30 years or so, you wouldn't be sure that we would still be making their kind, but we are. As for their spirit, Abe's mother reports, "Last New Year's, Abe and his roommate [another young officer] were home and the topic came up about how little they are paid [compared with] the kids who graduated from college at the same time they did and went into business.
"Without missing a beat the two of them said, 'Yeah--but we get to get shot at!' and raised their beer bottles. No resentment. No anger. Just pure . . . testosterone-laden bravado."
-------
The Abes and Gabes join a long old line of elders dressed in green, blue, gray, white, gold and black. Pat Tillman joins a similar line, of stars who decided they had work to do, and must leave their careers to do it. They include, among others, the actors Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable and Tyrone Power in World War II; sports stars Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio in the same war; and quarterback Roger Staubach in Vietnam. It is good to see their style return, and be considered noble again.
And good to see what appears to be part of, or the beginning of, a change in armed forces volunteering. In the Vietnam era of my youth it was poor and working-class boys whom I saw drafted or eagerly volunteering. Now more and more I see the sons and daughters of the privileged joining up.
That is a bigger and better story than usually makes the front page. Markets rise and fall, politicians come and go, but that we still make Tillmans is headline news.
Do the moonbats believe that this new-found spirit is going to go "poof" because of the death of a celebrity soldier? Do they really believe that American resolve, newly discovered after 9/11, is so fleeting and ethereal that some highly-publicized tragedy will easily dispel it? And do they really believe that the motives that led Tillman to volunteer in the first place have somehow been invalidated because he has been killed?
Apparently so, at least judging from this conversation. But I don't think it will happen. Bush's rise in the polls despite the battering he has taken in the press over Iraq and 9/11 in the last few weeks is fueling an increasingly substantial suspicion in my mind that while the Leftist Elite (including the Maginot Candidate) have pretty much forgotten the meaning of 9/11, much more of the country than anyone previously imagined has not. If the Left continues to pursue this kind of knee-jerk attack, they are in danger of marginalizing themselves completely.
In other words, Pat Tillman is not a victim, he's a hero. Rest in peace. And thank you.
I wasn't going to post anything on the death of NFL player-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman today because I really didn't have much to add to what has been said elsewhere.
But just now I overheard a couple of the office moonbats discussing how Tillman's death might be beneficial in that it would raise public awareness of and anger towards the casualties we're taking in Iraq and Afghanistan and weaken Dubya politically.
There ya go. Pat Tillman - Poster Boy for the Angry Left.
Not only are these people absolutely grotesque in their calculations, they are also completely clueless. When Tillman joined up, Peggy Noonan posted some thoughts about what it meant that such a media celebrity would choose to give up all those perks and privileges to go and serve. She concluded that this was a good thing, and both reflective and encouraging of a new attitude among the American people:
We are making a lot of Tillmans in America, and one wonders if this has been sufficiently noted. The other day friends, a conservative intellectual and his activist wife, sent a picture of their son Gabe, a proud and newly minted Marine. And there is Abe, son of a former high aide to Al Gore, who is a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy, flying SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. A network journalist and his wife, also friends, speak with anguished pride of their son, in harm's way as a full corporal in the Marines. The son of a noted historian has joined up; the son of a conservative columnist has just finished his hitch in the Marines; and the son of a bureau chief of a famous magazine was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army last month, on the day he graduated from Princeton.
As the Vietnam-era song said, "Something's happening here." And what it is may be exactly clear. Some very talented young men, and women, are joining the armed forces in order to help their country because, apparently, they love it. After what our society and culture have been through and become the past 30 years or so, you wouldn't be sure that we would still be making their kind, but we are. As for their spirit, Abe's mother reports, "Last New Year's, Abe and his roommate [another young officer] were home and the topic came up about how little they are paid [compared with] the kids who graduated from college at the same time they did and went into business.
"Without missing a beat the two of them said, 'Yeah--but we get to get shot at!' and raised their beer bottles. No resentment. No anger. Just pure . . . testosterone-laden bravado."
-------
The Abes and Gabes join a long old line of elders dressed in green, blue, gray, white, gold and black. Pat Tillman joins a similar line, of stars who decided they had work to do, and must leave their careers to do it. They include, among others, the actors Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable and Tyrone Power in World War II; sports stars Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio in the same war; and quarterback Roger Staubach in Vietnam. It is good to see their style return, and be considered noble again.
And good to see what appears to be part of, or the beginning of, a change in armed forces volunteering. In the Vietnam era of my youth it was poor and working-class boys whom I saw drafted or eagerly volunteering. Now more and more I see the sons and daughters of the privileged joining up.
That is a bigger and better story than usually makes the front page. Markets rise and fall, politicians come and go, but that we still make Tillmans is headline news.
Do the moonbats believe that this new-found spirit is going to go "poof" because of the death of a celebrity soldier? Do they really believe that American resolve, newly discovered after 9/11, is so fleeting and ethereal that some highly-publicized tragedy will easily dispel it? And do they really believe that the motives that led Tillman to volunteer in the first place have somehow been invalidated because he has been killed?
Apparently so, at least judging from this conversation. But I don't think it will happen. Bush's rise in the polls despite the battering he has taken in the press over Iraq and 9/11 in the last few weeks is fueling an increasingly substantial suspicion in my mind that while the Leftist Elite (including the Maginot Candidate) have pretty much forgotten the meaning of 9/11, much more of the country than anyone previously imagined has not. If the Left continues to pursue this kind of knee-jerk attack, they are in danger of marginalizing themselves completely.
In other words, Pat Tillman is not a victim, he's a hero. Rest in peace. And thank you.
Not a good campaign idea
Why in the world would the Kerry people go and publish this picture?
I mean, I understand that Lenin was a hero to many of his generation, and Kerry is from Massachusetts and all, but ....
Why in the world would the Kerry people go and publish this picture?
I mean, I understand that Lenin was a hero to many of his generation, and Kerry is from Massachusetts and all, but ....
Well this is pretty cool
Appealing to the more professional side of my geekiness is this new comparative constitutional law website. A whole lot of neat stuff in one convenient location.
Appealing to the more professional side of my geekiness is this new comparative constitutional law website. A whole lot of neat stuff in one convenient location.
J-DAMing the Maginot Candidate
Hugh Hewitt bullseyes the target. Here's a money quote that should send you smiling into the weekend:
I'm leaving for the weekend, convinced that there is no way John Kerry will ever be president, because a whining, waffling UNophile is not what America wants, and the media can't not cover the Democratic candidate for president, no matter how much most of it hates Bush. Kerry's disastrous performance with Russert is slowly registering, and his buffoonish SUV-evasions put a period on a week where his campaign said Kerry was re-launching his New Coke campaign yet again.
Yeeouch!
Hugh Hewitt bullseyes the target. Here's a money quote that should send you smiling into the weekend:
I'm leaving for the weekend, convinced that there is no way John Kerry will ever be president, because a whining, waffling UNophile is not what America wants, and the media can't not cover the Democratic candidate for president, no matter how much most of it hates Bush. Kerry's disastrous performance with Russert is slowly registering, and his buffoonish SUV-evasions put a period on a week where his campaign said Kerry was re-launching his New Coke campaign yet again.
Yeeouch!
Sounding The Alarm Over Threat Of The Death Cookie
Here is an example of school zero-tolerance policies gone completely mad.
Actually, for some reason I couldn't help envisioning the episode as something out of SCTV, perhaps "Dr. Tongue's 3-D House of Snacks":
"Would you like some more....Nutter Butters??
Here is an example of school zero-tolerance policies gone completely mad.
Actually, for some reason I couldn't help envisioning the episode as something out of SCTV, perhaps "Dr. Tongue's 3-D House of Snacks":
"Would you like some more....Nutter Butters??
Pardon ME While I'm Having A Friday Afternoon Moment
:: how jedi are you? ::
It's all Tainted Bill's fault.
:: how jedi are you? ::
It's all Tainted Bill's fault.
Pardon me while I'm having a Blues Brothers moment
Our new buddy LaneH over at Debunkers.org has now officially apologized for calling us names for using "We" in a post. We were prone to just let the issue drop but.....
he used a smiley face emoticon that blushes.
Not to go off on a rant here, but I think Ellwood Blues would agree with me on this one:
Our new buddy LaneH over at Debunkers.org has now officially apologized for calling us names for using "We" in a post. We were prone to just let the issue drop but.....
he used a smiley face emoticon that blushes.
Not to go off on a rant here, but I think Ellwood Blues would agree with me on this one:
"Smiley face emoticons and Nazis......I HATE smiley face emoticons and Nazis!"
Coming soon to a wacky cable channel near you...
In response to Robbo's post below about the 50 greatest books of all time, my proposal for perhaps the greatest tee-vee show of all time (that didn't involve lesbian forensic pathologists of course)
If you take this post to mean that there's some Yassir/Omarosa jokes looming, you would be correct....
In response to Robbo's post below about the 50 greatest books of all time, my proposal for perhaps the greatest tee-vee show of all time (that didn't involve lesbian forensic pathologists of course)
If you take this post to mean that there's some Yassir/Omarosa jokes looming, you would be correct....
A Very Rare Basketball Post
I have to confess that I have practically no interest in basketball, either pro or college. But I'm still pleased to see the Spurs doing so well.
I grew up in San Antonio during the days when Gervin and Silas were the core of the team and used to watch the games more often. About the only thing I have left from those days is a residual fondness for the Cotton-Eye Joe, which the Spurs used as their theme song - I even learned one of the line dances to it. Do they still play it at home games?
I have to confess that I have practically no interest in basketball, either pro or college. But I'm still pleased to see the Spurs doing so well.
I grew up in San Antonio during the days when Gervin and Silas were the core of the team and used to watch the games more often. About the only thing I have left from those days is a residual fondness for the Cotton-Eye Joe, which the Spurs used as their theme song - I even learned one of the line dances to it. Do they still play it at home games?
Maginot Candidate Update
The haughty French-looking Massachusetts liberal, who by the way served in Vietnam, has his own "I never inhaled" Moment over the fact that he owns an SUV. Money quote:
"I don't own an SUV," said Kerry, who supports increasing existing fuel economy standards to 36 miles per gallon by 2015 in order to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil supplies.
....
Kerry thought for a second when asked whether his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, had a Suburban at their Ketchum, Idaho, home. Kerry said he owns and drives a Dodge 600 and recently bought a Chrysler 300M. He said his wife owns the Chevrolet SUV.
"The family has it. I don't have it," he said.
Snerk!
Now all fooling aside, it really doesn't matter a single solitary damn whether Kerry has an SUV or not. But this is the Show in terms of candidate politics, and goofy gaffs like that have an evil habit of shaping a candidate's public image in a way far out of proportion to their real significance. Just ask Al "I invented the Internet" Gore. The Republicans have already developed their strategy of painting Kerry as a flip-flopping hypocrite and something like this just plays right into it.
Via Drudge.
UPDATE: Speaking of candidates, go check out the latest wrinkle on the Red vs. Blue Map over at the New England Republican.
FURTHER UPDATE: I am training James Joyner well!
FURTHER FURTHER UPDATE: See? It just gives Drudge something to play with!
The haughty French-looking Massachusetts liberal, who by the way served in Vietnam, has his own "I never inhaled" Moment over the fact that he owns an SUV. Money quote:
"I don't own an SUV," said Kerry, who supports increasing existing fuel economy standards to 36 miles per gallon by 2015 in order to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil supplies.
....
Kerry thought for a second when asked whether his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, had a Suburban at their Ketchum, Idaho, home. Kerry said he owns and drives a Dodge 600 and recently bought a Chrysler 300M. He said his wife owns the Chevrolet SUV.
"The family has it. I don't have it," he said.
Snerk!
Now all fooling aside, it really doesn't matter a single solitary damn whether Kerry has an SUV or not. But this is the Show in terms of candidate politics, and goofy gaffs like that have an evil habit of shaping a candidate's public image in a way far out of proportion to their real significance. Just ask Al "I invented the Internet" Gore. The Republicans have already developed their strategy of painting Kerry as a flip-flopping hypocrite and something like this just plays right into it.
Via Drudge.
UPDATE: Speaking of candidates, go check out the latest wrinkle on the Red vs. Blue Map over at the New England Republican.
FURTHER UPDATE: I am training James Joyner well!
FURTHER FURTHER UPDATE: See? It just gives Drudge something to play with!
The Royal We
I see that we are still getting sniper fire from our friends over at Debunkers.Org.
LaneH has this pithy observation to make:
I wonder why so many bloggers speak of themselves in the plural? (Misha can get away with it, he's got the hits) Oh, never mind, we are quite amused at their self importance.
Well, of course I can't speak for any other blog, but in the Butcher's Shop it might just have something to do with the fact that there are two of us.
Next!
YIPS from Steve: Seems like LaneH is losing the battle for the hearts and, er, minds of the folks over at Debunkers.org. One Robert Espy writes in:
Wherever you want is fine with us---as long as it's not under the Flava-fav file. I always had a problem with Public Enemy--they were right about Elvis, of course, but generally they started to piss me off after awhile. Fear of a Black Planet was the worst---and needless to say I was quite pleased when the Dead Milkmen came out with their whole Fear of a Beige Planet thing and shot that pretense back to Cleveland.
While searching around for that, and in honor of our new friends at Debunkers.org, I had forgotten about this Milkmen gem:
I see that we are still getting sniper fire from our friends over at Debunkers.Org.
LaneH has this pithy observation to make:
I wonder why so many bloggers speak of themselves in the plural? (Misha can get away with it, he's got the hits) Oh, never mind, we are quite amused at their self importance.
Well, of course I can't speak for any other blog, but in the Butcher's Shop it might just have something to do with the fact that there are two of us.
Next!
YIPS from Steve: Seems like LaneH is losing the battle for the hearts and, er, minds of the folks over at Debunkers.org. One Robert Espy writes in:
I rather like them.
There is some fairly refreshing writing going on there. Not to mention the marketing scheme.
I might have to put them in the 'fav-file' for a while. Under Drudge, of course.
Wherever you want is fine with us---as long as it's not under the Flava-fav file. I always had a problem with Public Enemy--they were right about Elvis, of course, but generally they started to piss me off after awhile. Fear of a Black Planet was the worst---and needless to say I was quite pleased when the Dead Milkmen came out with their whole Fear of a Beige Planet thing and shot that pretense back to Cleveland.
While searching around for that, and in honor of our new friends at Debunkers.org, I had forgotten about this Milkmen gem:
The Conspiracy Song
Please let me tell you
They own our homes, they own our banks
We take out loans to buy them tanks
They own our children, they own our pets
The owned Elvis and Bernhard Goetz
They own our rugs and our flower pots
There ain't nothin' they haven't got
They own the papers and the TV's
The water works, record companies
Let me remind you
They own the talk shows
They make the rules
They own Geraldo and Donahue
They own the state, they own the church
They pick the winners on Star Search
They own the Christians, they own the Jews
They own the Moslems, Mormons, too
They put the holes in our socks
They put that snake in my mail box
From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli
We are all tools of the conspiracy
From the littlest baby to the biggest V.I.P.
We are all tools of the conspiracy
Run to the window, they're coming to get you
Hide in the basement, they're coming to get you
Flee to the rooftop, they're coming to get you
Don't go outside, no don't let them get you
Someone should tell you,
They own the CIA and the IRS
They tell us where to shop and how to dress
They own the workers, they own the boss
They know what's in the secret sauce
They own the drugs, they own the narcs
We all know they own Dick Clark
They own it all, they own everything
They write the songs that make the whole world sing
Today's Choice Cut
The supurb Victor David Hanson shoots down myths about Iraq as if they were skeet and, as usual, lays his finger on the true conflict facing us now:
But the lingering question — one that has never been answered — was always our attention and will. The administration assumed that in occasional times of the inevitable bad news, we were now more like the generation that endured the surprise of Okinawa and Pusan rather than Tet and Mogadishu. All were bloody fights; all were similarly controversial and unexpected; all were alike proof of the fighting excellence of the American soldiers — but not all were seen as such by Americans. The former were detours on the road to victory and eventual democracy; the latter led to self-recrimination, defeat, and chaos in our wake.
The choice between myth and reality is ours once more.
Given Bush's recent rise in the polls, despite the bashing he has been taking and the bad news out of Iraq, I believe more people understand this now than did in the days prior to 9/11.
Let's hope so. That alternative? Krauthammer spells out Kerry's vision of what would amount to a U.N. Anschluss in Washington.
The supurb Victor David Hanson shoots down myths about Iraq as if they were skeet and, as usual, lays his finger on the true conflict facing us now:
But the lingering question — one that has never been answered — was always our attention and will. The administration assumed that in occasional times of the inevitable bad news, we were now more like the generation that endured the surprise of Okinawa and Pusan rather than Tet and Mogadishu. All were bloody fights; all were similarly controversial and unexpected; all were alike proof of the fighting excellence of the American soldiers — but not all were seen as such by Americans. The former were detours on the road to victory and eventual democracy; the latter led to self-recrimination, defeat, and chaos in our wake.
The choice between myth and reality is ours once more.
Given Bush's recent rise in the polls, despite the bashing he has been taking and the bad news out of Iraq, I believe more people understand this now than did in the days prior to 9/11.
Let's hope so. That alternative? Krauthammer spells out Kerry's vision of what would amount to a U.N. Anschluss in Washington.
Spirit of America Update
Fearless Leader Kevin at Wizbang has the Day Two results of the campaign. Check it out:
Day Two Results------ Amount Raised
The Victory Coalition-----$3,231.00
Castle Argghhh!------$1,498.50
Liberty Alliance-------$1,132.00
Overall Results--------Amount Raised
Castle Argghhh!-------- $8103.50
The Victory Coalition -------$6208
Liberty Alliance----------$2417
Aha! We of the Victory Coalition kicked ass yesterday! Hey Castle Arggghh! Can you hear the footsteps coming up behind you? What I said yesterday - fly and die.
Okay. You're here. You see what we're up against. Now go donate!
UPDATE: See? All the cool kids are joining the Coalition. You want to be cool, don't you?
Fearless Leader Kevin at Wizbang has the Day Two results of the campaign. Check it out:
Day Two Results------ Amount Raised
The Victory Coalition-----$3,231.00
Castle Argghhh!------$1,498.50
Liberty Alliance-------$1,132.00
Overall Results--------Amount Raised
Castle Argghhh!-------- $8103.50
The Victory Coalition -------$6208
Liberty Alliance----------$2417
Aha! We of the Victory Coalition kicked ass yesterday! Hey Castle Arggghh! Can you hear the footsteps coming up behind you? What I said yesterday - fly and die.
Okay. You're here. You see what we're up against. Now go donate!
UPDATE: See? All the cool kids are joining the Coalition. You want to be cool, don't you?
Happy St. George's Day, Everybody!
Since it also happens to be Shakespeare's birthday, we're starting off the morning with another literary post that's making the rounds, stolen by us from Lynn at Reflections in d Minor. Here's the deal - work your way down this reading list and highlight the books you've read. Ready? Heeeere we go.....
Reading List:
Beowulf
Achebe, Chinua - Things Fall Apart
Agee, James - A Death in the Family
Austen, Jane - Pride and Prejudice
Baldwin, James - Go Tell It on the Mountain
Beckett, Samuel - Waiting for Godot
Bellow, Saul - The Adventures of Augie March
Brontë, Charlotte - Jane Eyre
Brontë, Emily - Wuthering Heights
Camus, Albert - The Stranger
Cather, Willa - Death Comes for the Archbishop
Chaucer, Geoffrey - The Canterbury Tales
Chekhov, Anton - The Cherry Orchard
Chopin, Kate - The Awakening
Conrad, Joseph - Heart of Darkness
Cooper, James Fenimore - The Last of the Mohicans (Booooring!)
Crane, Stephen - The Red Badge of Courage
Dante - Inferno
de Cervantes, Miguel - Don Quixote
Defoe, Daniel - Robinson Crusoe
Dickens, Charles - A Tale of Two Cities
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor - Crime and Punishment (Shame on me!)
Douglass, Frederick - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Dreiser, Theodore - An American Tragedy
Dumas, Alexandre - The Three Musketeers (Well written dime novel)
Eliot, George - The Mill on the Floss
Ellison, Ralph - Invisible Man
Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Selected Essays
Faulkner, William - As I Lay Dying
Faulkner, William - The Sound and the Fury
Fielding, Henry - Tom Jones
Fitzgerald, F. Scott - The Great Gatsby
Flaubert, Gustave - Madame Bovary
Ford, Ford Madox - The Good Soldier
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von - Faust (No, but I've read Marlowe's Doctor Faustus)
Golding, William - Lord of the Flies
Hardy, Thomas - Tess of the d'Urbervilles (One of the few Hardy's I've not read)
Hawthorne, Nathaniel - The Scarlet Letter
Heller, Joseph - Catch 22 (Just saw the movie the other night. Horrid.)
Hemingway, Ernest - A Farewell to Arms
Homer - The Iliad (Go for the Fitzgerald translation.)
Homer - The Odyssey (See above.)
Hugo, Victor - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hurston, Zora Neale - Their Eyes Were Watching God
Huxley, Aldous - Brave New World
Ibsen, Henrik - A Doll's House (And most of the rest of his plays.)
James, Henry - The Portrait of a Lady
James, Henry - The Turn of the Screw
Joyce, James - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Kafka, Franz - The Metamorphosis
Kingston, Maxine Hong - The Woman Warrior
Lee, Harper - To Kill a Mockingbird
Lewis, Sinclair - Babbitt
London, Jack - The Call of the Wild
Mann, Thomas - The Magic Mountain
Marquez, Gabriel García - One Hundred Years of Solitude
Melville, Herman - Bartleby the Scrivener
Melville, Herman - Moby Dick
Miller, Arthur - The Crucible
Morrison, Toni - Beloved (No, but I had to read Song of Solomon. I figure that's enough.)
O'Connor, Flannery - A Good Man is Hard to Find
O'Neill, Eugene - Long Day's Journey into Night
Orwell, George - Animal Farm
Pasternak, Boris - Doctor Zhivago
Plath, Sylvia - The Bell Jar
Poe, Edgar Allan - Selected Tales
Proust, Marcel - Swann's Way (Never made the All-England Summarize Proust Competition)
Pynchon, Thomas - The Crying of Lot 49
Remarque, Erich Maria - All Quiet on the Western Front
Rostand, Edmond - Cyrano de Bergerac
Roth, Henry - Call It Sleep
Salinger, J.D. - The Catcher in the Rye
Shakespeare, William - Hamlet
Shakespeare, William - Macbeth
Shakespeare, William - A Midsummer Night's Dream (Not only that, played Lysander in a college production of it. Best time I've ever had.)
Shakespeare, William - Romeo and Juliet
Shaw, George Bernard - Pygmalion (Wittiest playwrite in history.)
Shelley, Mary - Frankenstein
Silko, Leslie Marmon - Ceremony
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander - One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Sophocles - Antigone
Sophocles - Oedipus Rex
Steinbeck, John - The Grapes of Wrath (Most over-rated American novel ever.)
Stevenson, Robert Louis - Treasure Island (Arrrgh, Jim Lad!)
Stowe, Harriet Beecher - Uncle Tom's Cabin
Swift, Jonathan - Gulliver's Travels
Thackeray, William - Vanity Fair
Thoreau, Henry David - Walden (The drivel of a Sanctimonious Beatnik.)
Tolstoy, Leo - War and Peace (Shame on me! Perhaps when I retire...)
Turgenev, Ivan - Fathers and Sons
Twain, Mark - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Voltaire - Candide
Vonnegut, Kurt Jr. - Slaughterhouse-Five
Walker, Alice - The Color Purple
Wharton, Edith - The House of Mirth
Welty, Eudora - Collected Stories (No, but the Butcher's Wife is a huge Welty fan.)
Whitman, Walt - Leaves of Grass (Well, parts of it.)
Wilde, Oscar - The Picture of Dorian Gray
Williams, Tennessee - The Glass Menagerie
Woolf, Virginia - To the Lighthouse
Wright, Richard - Native Son
YIPS from Steve: What? Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns isn't on the list? What a gyp---that book completely reinvented the Batman genre.
Since it also happens to be Shakespeare's birthday, we're starting off the morning with another literary post that's making the rounds, stolen by us from Lynn at Reflections in d Minor. Here's the deal - work your way down this reading list and highlight the books you've read. Ready? Heeeere we go.....
Reading List:
Beowulf
Achebe, Chinua - Things Fall Apart
Agee, James - A Death in the Family
Austen, Jane - Pride and Prejudice
Baldwin, James - Go Tell It on the Mountain
Beckett, Samuel - Waiting for Godot
Bellow, Saul - The Adventures of Augie March
Brontë, Charlotte - Jane Eyre
Brontë, Emily - Wuthering Heights
Camus, Albert - The Stranger
Cather, Willa - Death Comes for the Archbishop
Chaucer, Geoffrey - The Canterbury Tales
Chekhov, Anton - The Cherry Orchard
Chopin, Kate - The Awakening
Conrad, Joseph - Heart of Darkness
Cooper, James Fenimore - The Last of the Mohicans (Booooring!)
Crane, Stephen - The Red Badge of Courage
Dante - Inferno
de Cervantes, Miguel - Don Quixote
Defoe, Daniel - Robinson Crusoe
Dickens, Charles - A Tale of Two Cities
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor - Crime and Punishment (Shame on me!)
Douglass, Frederick - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Dreiser, Theodore - An American Tragedy
Dumas, Alexandre - The Three Musketeers (Well written dime novel)
Eliot, George - The Mill on the Floss
Ellison, Ralph - Invisible Man
Emerson, Ralph Waldo - Selected Essays
Faulkner, William - As I Lay Dying
Faulkner, William - The Sound and the Fury
Fielding, Henry - Tom Jones
Fitzgerald, F. Scott - The Great Gatsby
Flaubert, Gustave - Madame Bovary
Ford, Ford Madox - The Good Soldier
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von - Faust (No, but I've read Marlowe's Doctor Faustus)
Golding, William - Lord of the Flies
Hardy, Thomas - Tess of the d'Urbervilles (One of the few Hardy's I've not read)
Hawthorne, Nathaniel - The Scarlet Letter
Heller, Joseph - Catch 22 (Just saw the movie the other night. Horrid.)
Hemingway, Ernest - A Farewell to Arms
Homer - The Iliad (Go for the Fitzgerald translation.)
Homer - The Odyssey (See above.)
Hugo, Victor - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hurston, Zora Neale - Their Eyes Were Watching God
Huxley, Aldous - Brave New World
Ibsen, Henrik - A Doll's House (And most of the rest of his plays.)
James, Henry - The Portrait of a Lady
James, Henry - The Turn of the Screw
Joyce, James - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Kafka, Franz - The Metamorphosis
Kingston, Maxine Hong - The Woman Warrior
Lee, Harper - To Kill a Mockingbird
Lewis, Sinclair - Babbitt
London, Jack - The Call of the Wild
Mann, Thomas - The Magic Mountain
Marquez, Gabriel García - One Hundred Years of Solitude
Melville, Herman - Bartleby the Scrivener
Melville, Herman - Moby Dick
Miller, Arthur - The Crucible
Morrison, Toni - Beloved (No, but I had to read Song of Solomon. I figure that's enough.)
O'Connor, Flannery - A Good Man is Hard to Find
O'Neill, Eugene - Long Day's Journey into Night
Orwell, George - Animal Farm
Pasternak, Boris - Doctor Zhivago
Plath, Sylvia - The Bell Jar
Poe, Edgar Allan - Selected Tales
Proust, Marcel - Swann's Way (Never made the All-England Summarize Proust Competition)
Pynchon, Thomas - The Crying of Lot 49
Remarque, Erich Maria - All Quiet on the Western Front
Rostand, Edmond - Cyrano de Bergerac
Roth, Henry - Call It Sleep
Salinger, J.D. - The Catcher in the Rye
Shakespeare, William - Hamlet
Shakespeare, William - Macbeth
Shakespeare, William - A Midsummer Night's Dream (Not only that, played Lysander in a college production of it. Best time I've ever had.)
Shakespeare, William - Romeo and Juliet
Shaw, George Bernard - Pygmalion (Wittiest playwrite in history.)
Shelley, Mary - Frankenstein
Silko, Leslie Marmon - Ceremony
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander - One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Sophocles - Antigone
Sophocles - Oedipus Rex
Steinbeck, John - The Grapes of Wrath (Most over-rated American novel ever.)
Stevenson, Robert Louis - Treasure Island (Arrrgh, Jim Lad!)
Stowe, Harriet Beecher - Uncle Tom's Cabin
Swift, Jonathan - Gulliver's Travels
Thackeray, William - Vanity Fair
Thoreau, Henry David - Walden (The drivel of a Sanctimonious Beatnik.)
Tolstoy, Leo - War and Peace (Shame on me! Perhaps when I retire...)
Turgenev, Ivan - Fathers and Sons
Twain, Mark - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Voltaire - Candide
Vonnegut, Kurt Jr. - Slaughterhouse-Five
Walker, Alice - The Color Purple
Wharton, Edith - The House of Mirth
Welty, Eudora - Collected Stories (No, but the Butcher's Wife is a huge Welty fan.)
Whitman, Walt - Leaves of Grass (Well, parts of it.)
Wilde, Oscar - The Picture of Dorian Gray
Williams, Tennessee - The Glass Menagerie
Woolf, Virginia - To the Lighthouse
Wright, Richard - Native Son
YIPS from Steve: What? Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns isn't on the list? What a gyp---that book completely reinvented the Batman genre.
What a great morning!
The first Iris bloomed this morning in our garden.
This is going to be a great summer!
The first Iris bloomed this morning in our garden.
This is going to be a great summer!
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Llama Yips!
Go out to the Limey Brit, who long, long ago linked to a little essay of mine from back in the day about the difference between God and Jesus. I see now that he's blogrolled us as well. Thanks muchly!
He also appears to be typing in a kind of Monty Pythonish pseudo-German at the moment. Don't know why, but there it is.
Yip! Yip!
Go out to the Limey Brit, who long, long ago linked to a little essay of mine from back in the day about the difference between God and Jesus. I see now that he's blogrolled us as well. Thanks muchly!
He also appears to be typing in a kind of Monty Pythonish pseudo-German at the moment. Don't know why, but there it is.
Yip! Yip!
As Long As You're Here.....
Yes, Steve-O's full broadside against Debunkers.Org reminds me somewhat of the Leopard firing on the Chesapeake, leaving behind the same kind of indignation.
If you've come over here from there to protest or mock (or both), why not chip in a couple bucks to the Victory Coalition? It's a worthy cause and we don't get anything out of it. So go do it.
Yes, Steve-O's full broadside against Debunkers.Org reminds me somewhat of the Leopard firing on the Chesapeake, leaving behind the same kind of indignation.
If you've come over here from there to protest or mock (or both), why not chip in a couple bucks to the Victory Coalition? It's a worthy cause and we don't get anything out of it. So go do it.
When Cat blogging meets War Blogging, bad things are bound to result....
Apparently Chairman Arafat was able to find someone, er, dumb enough to be the next leader of Hamas:
Joyful protests--accompanied by chants of "Death to Bill Rancic! Long live Omarosa!"--broke out all over the occupied territories when the news that Ayatollah Bill had taken the reigns of Hamas:
........TO BE CONTINUED!
Somebody alert Laurence Simon---cat/war blogging has suddenly turned ugly!
(with respectful apologies to Berke Breathed)
Apparently Chairman Arafat was able to find someone, er, dumb enough to be the next leader of Hamas:
Burned from his torrid love affair gone wrong with Condeleza Rice, Bill the Cat---formerly Bagwan Bill, Fundamentally Oral Bill, lead singer of DeathTongue and Billy and the Boingers, as well as traitorious spy of the Russkies, back when they were Commies--refound himself in militant Shia Islam, where he has reemerged as-----AYATOLLAH BILL! Something about 72 virgin sofa legs and tender vittles from the creator of worlds apparently sealed the deal. Just in time to lead Hamas into, well, May. His first act---starting a new ad campaign (HAMAS---putting the H, A, M, A, and S into "SHAMA-lama-ding dong" since 1981) was met with cheers and shouts of "I-heart-jihad!"
Joyful protests--accompanied by chants of "Death to Bill Rancic! Long live Omarosa!"--broke out all over the occupied territories when the news that Ayatollah Bill had taken the reigns of Hamas:
........TO BE CONTINUED!
Somebody alert Laurence Simon---cat/war blogging has suddenly turned ugly!
(with respectful apologies to Berke Breathed)
Lunchbox Sex Toys
Either a certain Canadian company has no sense of humor whatever, or else a very sick one indeed. Check out their new product. Note especially some of the colors it comes in, including "passionate purple" and "glow in the dark."
Um....yeah.
As I say, either the, er, suggestiveness of all this went rocketing right over their heads, or else they know it perfectly well and are keeping the kind of poker face granted only to certain demented individuals. You be the judge.
HT to Rocket Jones.
Either a certain Canadian company has no sense of humor whatever, or else a very sick one indeed. Check out their new product. Note especially some of the colors it comes in, including "passionate purple" and "glow in the dark."
Um....yeah.
As I say, either the, er, suggestiveness of all this went rocketing right over their heads, or else they know it perfectly well and are keeping the kind of poker face granted only to certain demented individuals. You be the judge.
HT to Rocket Jones.
I guess the picture of Llamas wearing sunglasses and smoking cigarettes didn't register
Apparently, I misread the post at Debunkers.org from LaneH (who has the fearless motto: "Never let your mind remain so open that your brain falls out."). I assumed that he was commenting on the DDT/Malaria tradeoff discussion from the day before, since he was posting on a website that allegedly talks about, like, science and stuff.
Fortunately, LaneH decided to respond:
Silly me. So much for debating the merits of cost-benefit analysis in difficult policy situations that raise numerous ethical quandaries.
The real issue seems to be our name: apparently the little picture off to the right of two llamas photoshopped to look like mooks from the Sopranos wasn't enough of a clue that we don't take ourselves too seriously around here nor stand on points of formality.
I guess running around with your brains duct-taped down so they don't fall out of your open mind impairs the lobe that recognizes satire.
That's our Llamabutcher guarantee: no insipid animated smiley emoticons will mar our mocking of the French!
Apparently, I misread the post at Debunkers.org from LaneH (who has the fearless motto: "Never let your mind remain so open that your brain falls out."). I assumed that he was commenting on the DDT/Malaria tradeoff discussion from the day before, since he was posting on a website that allegedly talks about, like, science and stuff.
Fortunately, LaneH decided to respond:
Uh, no.
added via edit -- Wow. Just Wow. One small, pointless, post and I get a 945 word essay debating something that I had not even read.
Silly me. So much for debating the merits of cost-benefit analysis in difficult policy situations that raise numerous ethical quandaries.
The real issue seems to be our name: apparently the little picture off to the right of two llamas photoshopped to look like mooks from the Sopranos wasn't enough of a clue that we don't take ourselves too seriously around here nor stand on points of formality.
I guess running around with your brains duct-taped down so they don't fall out of your open mind impairs the lobe that recognizes satire.
That's our Llamabutcher guarantee: no insipid animated smiley emoticons will mar our mocking of the French!
More Letters From The Front
Via Sullivan.
This one is supposedly from a military chaplain in Falluja, relayed by a source that Sully trusts:
Here's some background on Al Faluja to keep in mind.
A) Why is it in the news almost every night? Because it is one of the FEW places in all of Iraq where trouble exists. Iraq has 25 million people and is the size of California. Faluja and surrounding towns total 500,000 people. Do the math: that's not a big percentage of Iraq. How many people were murdered last night in L.A.? Did it make headline news? Why not?
B) Saddam could not and did not control Faluja. He bought off those he could, killed those he couldn't and played all leaders against one another. It was and is a 'difficult' town. Nothing new about that. What is new is that outside people have come in to stir up unrest. How many are there is classified, but let me tell you this: there are more people in the northeast Minneapolis gangs than there are causing havoc in Faluja. Surprised?
C) Then why does it get so much coverage? Because the major news outlets have camera crews permanently posted in Faluja. So, if you are from outside Iraq, and want to get air time for your cause, where would you go to terrorize, bomb, mutilate and destroy? Faluja.
D) Why does it seem to be getting worse? Two answers:
1) This country became a welfare state under Saddam. If you cared about your well-fare, you towed the line or died. The state did your thinking and your bidding. Want a job? Pledge allegiance to the Ba’ath party. Want an apartment, a car, etc? Show loyalty. Electricity, water, sewage, etc. was paid by the state. Go with the flow: life is good. Don't and you're dead. Now, what does that do to initiative? drive? industry?
So, we come along and lock up sugar daddy and give these people the toughest challenge in the world, FREEDOM. You want a job? Earn it! A house? Buy it or build it! Security? Build a police force, army and militia and give it to yourself. Risk your lives and earn freedom. The good news is that millions of Iraqis are doing just that, and some pay with their lives. But many, many are struggling with freedom (just like East Germans, Russians, Czechs, etc.) and they want a sugar daddy, the U.S.A., to do it all. We refuse. We don't want to be plantation owners. We make it clear we are here to help, not own or stay. They get mad about that, sometimes.
Nonetheless, in Faluja, the supposed hotbed of dissent in Iraq, countless Iraqis tell our psyopers they want to cooperate with us but are afraid the thugs will slit their throats or kill their kids. A bad gang can do that to a neighborhood and a town. That's what is happening here.
2) We have a battle hand-off going on here. The largest in recent American history. The Army is passing the baton to the Marines in this area. There is uncertainty among the populace and misinformation being given out by the bad guys. As a result there is insecurity and the bad guys are testing the resolve of the Marines and indirectly you, the American people. The bad guys are convinced that Americans have no stomach for a long haul effort here. They want to drive us out of here and then resurrect a dictatorship of one kind or another.
Okay, what do we do? Stay the course. The Marines will get into a battle rhythm and, along with other forces and government agencies here, they will knock out the crack houses, drive the thugs across the border and set the conditions for the Falujans to join the freedom parade or rot in their lack of initiative. Either way, the choice will be theirs. The alternative? Turn tail, pull out and leave a power vacuum that will suck in all of Iraq's neighbors and spark a civil war that could make Rwanda look like a misdemeanor.
Hey, America, don't go weak kneed on us: 585 dead American's made an investment here. That's a whole lot less than were killed on American highways last month. Their lives are honored when we stay the course and do the job we came to do; namely, set the conditions for a new government and empower these people to be the great nation they are capable of being.
While you're pondering this, go on over and join the Victory Coalition.
Via Sullivan.
This one is supposedly from a military chaplain in Falluja, relayed by a source that Sully trusts:
Here's some background on Al Faluja to keep in mind.
A) Why is it in the news almost every night? Because it is one of the FEW places in all of Iraq where trouble exists. Iraq has 25 million people and is the size of California. Faluja and surrounding towns total 500,000 people. Do the math: that's not a big percentage of Iraq. How many people were murdered last night in L.A.? Did it make headline news? Why not?
B) Saddam could not and did not control Faluja. He bought off those he could, killed those he couldn't and played all leaders against one another. It was and is a 'difficult' town. Nothing new about that. What is new is that outside people have come in to stir up unrest. How many are there is classified, but let me tell you this: there are more people in the northeast Minneapolis gangs than there are causing havoc in Faluja. Surprised?
C) Then why does it get so much coverage? Because the major news outlets have camera crews permanently posted in Faluja. So, if you are from outside Iraq, and want to get air time for your cause, where would you go to terrorize, bomb, mutilate and destroy? Faluja.
D) Why does it seem to be getting worse? Two answers:
1) This country became a welfare state under Saddam. If you cared about your well-fare, you towed the line or died. The state did your thinking and your bidding. Want a job? Pledge allegiance to the Ba’ath party. Want an apartment, a car, etc? Show loyalty. Electricity, water, sewage, etc. was paid by the state. Go with the flow: life is good. Don't and you're dead. Now, what does that do to initiative? drive? industry?
So, we come along and lock up sugar daddy and give these people the toughest challenge in the world, FREEDOM. You want a job? Earn it! A house? Buy it or build it! Security? Build a police force, army and militia and give it to yourself. Risk your lives and earn freedom. The good news is that millions of Iraqis are doing just that, and some pay with their lives. But many, many are struggling with freedom (just like East Germans, Russians, Czechs, etc.) and they want a sugar daddy, the U.S.A., to do it all. We refuse. We don't want to be plantation owners. We make it clear we are here to help, not own or stay. They get mad about that, sometimes.
Nonetheless, in Faluja, the supposed hotbed of dissent in Iraq, countless Iraqis tell our psyopers they want to cooperate with us but are afraid the thugs will slit their throats or kill their kids. A bad gang can do that to a neighborhood and a town. That's what is happening here.
2) We have a battle hand-off going on here. The largest in recent American history. The Army is passing the baton to the Marines in this area. There is uncertainty among the populace and misinformation being given out by the bad guys. As a result there is insecurity and the bad guys are testing the resolve of the Marines and indirectly you, the American people. The bad guys are convinced that Americans have no stomach for a long haul effort here. They want to drive us out of here and then resurrect a dictatorship of one kind or another.
Okay, what do we do? Stay the course. The Marines will get into a battle rhythm and, along with other forces and government agencies here, they will knock out the crack houses, drive the thugs across the border and set the conditions for the Falujans to join the freedom parade or rot in their lack of initiative. Either way, the choice will be theirs. The alternative? Turn tail, pull out and leave a power vacuum that will suck in all of Iraq's neighbors and spark a civil war that could make Rwanda look like a misdemeanor.
Hey, America, don't go weak kneed on us: 585 dead American's made an investment here. That's a whole lot less than were killed on American highways last month. Their lives are honored when we stay the course and do the job we came to do; namely, set the conditions for a new government and empower these people to be the great nation they are capable of being.
While you're pondering this, go on over and join the Victory Coalition.
Today's Choice Cut
Go read Peggy Noonan's piece on Bush, Kerry, the polls and what makes a President.
I said the same sort of thing the other day but, of course, not nearly as well as the Divine Peggy. (Mmmm......Peggy.)
Go read Peggy Noonan's piece on Bush, Kerry, the polls and what makes a President.
I said the same sort of thing the other day but, of course, not nearly as well as the Divine Peggy. (Mmmm......Peggy.)
The Llama Butchers - Yippo Ergo Sum
I am following, in a desultory way, the hornet's nest Steve-O is stirring up over here. (Well, so far it's not much of a nest. Mostly a discussion about downloading issues. Eh.)
One misconception needs to be addressed so that the debate does not get off track. Lane H, whoever he is, has this to say:
"I just don't like the concept of killing llamas, seems very wrong now."
Ah, Lane is obviously a stranger in these here parts. See, the central enigma of our little venture is this: Are we people who butcher llamas? Or are we llamas that butcher?
As with many philosophical quandaries, there is no clear, correct answer. But we like to think that this uncertainty is what allows us to dish up our, shall we say, rather eclectic offerings.
So relax! And if it makes you feel any better, I personally certify that no llamas were butchered in the creation of this post.
Yip! Yip!
UPDATE: By the way, I'd just like to point out that this little flurry is helping us to cross the 5000 site visits threshold, probably in the next hour or so. Yes, that's not the same thing as 5000 unique visitors, and you have to discount for our own peeking, but still, we are pretty damn' grateful for and pleased with the reception y'all have given us since the Butcher's Shop opened its doors five months ago. Yip! Yip! A-YIIIPEEE!!!! to all of you!
I am following, in a desultory way, the hornet's nest Steve-O is stirring up over here. (Well, so far it's not much of a nest. Mostly a discussion about downloading issues. Eh.)
One misconception needs to be addressed so that the debate does not get off track. Lane H, whoever he is, has this to say:
"I just don't like the concept of killing llamas, seems very wrong now."
Ah, Lane is obviously a stranger in these here parts. See, the central enigma of our little venture is this: Are we people who butcher llamas? Or are we llamas that butcher?
As with many philosophical quandaries, there is no clear, correct answer. But we like to think that this uncertainty is what allows us to dish up our, shall we say, rather eclectic offerings.
So relax! And if it makes you feel any better, I personally certify that no llamas were butchered in the creation of this post.
Yip! Yip!
UPDATE: By the way, I'd just like to point out that this little flurry is helping us to cross the 5000 site visits threshold, probably in the next hour or so. Yes, that's not the same thing as 5000 unique visitors, and you have to discount for our own peeking, but still, we are pretty damn' grateful for and pleased with the reception y'all have given us since the Butcher's Shop opened its doors five months ago. Yip! Yip! A-YIIIPEEE!!!! to all of you!
Al Jazeera Delenda Est - Update
Just so it doesn't get lost among the chops, joints and entrails that get hurled around here at the Butcher's Shop, let me just remind you again: Join the Victory Alliance! It's fast, it's cheap and it does a whoooole world of good.
Yip! Yip!
Just so it doesn't get lost among the chops, joints and entrails that get hurled around here at the Butcher's Shop, let me just remind you again: Join the Victory Alliance! It's fast, it's cheap and it does a whoooole world of good.
Yip! Yip!
Minimally Snarky Post
Mary McGrory, long time WaPo columnist, is dead at 85.
I'll just say that she always struck me as the writer's version of Herblock and leave it at that.
Mary McGrory, long time WaPo columnist, is dead at 85.
I'll just say that she always struck me as the writer's version of Herblock and leave it at that.
Bartender, I'll have what HE'S having...
I've been laying off the den Beste as of late because he's gotten rather tempermental and cranky (which of course is his right!) But then he fires off this one to the American correspondent for Paris Match who had criticized as simplistic den Beste's condemnation of their Iraq reportage, specifically tagging along with insurgents when they tried to shoot down an American cargo plane in the fall:
Yowza! But why stop with characterizing just their magazine that way? Somehow, Mac Daddy Chirac needs some props too!
(HT to the omniscient one.)
I've been laying off the den Beste as of late because he's gotten rather tempermental and cranky (which of course is his right!) But then he fires off this one to the American correspondent for Paris Match who had criticized as simplistic den Beste's condemnation of their Iraq reportage, specifically tagging along with insurgents when they tried to shoot down an American cargo plane in the fall:
Your magazine has the ethical standards of a pimp.
Yowza! But why stop with characterizing just their magazine that way? Somehow, Mac Daddy Chirac needs some props too!
(HT to the omniscient one.)
Eew
I haven't really paid any attention to the whole Michael Jackons business, but, hot damn, South Park ripped him a new one last night!
(Linkage not provided because of fascist office Internet filter.)
I haven't really paid any attention to the whole Michael Jackons business, but, hot damn, South Park ripped him a new one last night!
(Linkage not provided because of fascist office Internet filter.)
Storm-a-brewin!
Our new pal LaneH at Debunkers.org didn't like my post yesterday. Now, I'm going to take a flyer here and guess that he wasn't referring to my catblogging/warblogging synthesis, but rather my post on DDT and malaria. Debunkers looks actually like a pretty funny site---and I mean that in a good way, as in how Snopes.com is a funny site. They claim as their motto the trashing of what they call "junk science" which I'm all in favor of too---in theory. However, my experience in academia is usually that means "things which ideologically I disagree with"----it's the political side of the crises produced when paradigms don't entirely explain reality that Kuhn discusses in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
But it's not clear what exactly LaneH was disagreeing with, other than saying "this is just wrong."
So let's go to the tape:
I'm not sure what LaneH's issue is with: if it's the reference to the drunk driving conundrum, it's a phenomena that's beginning to gain more attention: as DUI fatalities have decreased, the available supply of organs for donation (which come overwhelmingly from traffic fatalities involving the young) has decreased at a time in which organ waiting lists have increased dramatically. DUI laws have saved lives by reducing accidents, but they have also costs lives by reducing the availability of organs for donation. Here's the citation to the article from the New York Times I use in class on the DUI/organ donor relationship:
Here's the link to the article, but it's now behind their payment horizon. You could get the article for free from the library, or probably from Lexis-Nexis if you have access.
[I use that issue because it's something that can grab the attention of 18-22 year olds in class, and I use it in conjunction with Deborah Stone's excellent Policy Paradox. I usually use the DUI thing on the first day, then follow it up with the Kenneth Brannagh/Stanley Tucci movie Conspiracy on the Wannsee Conference. The seminar is Legal Theory and Public Policy, and I've found that it is a good combination of things to get them thinking about how theoretical concepts of obligation and the internal aspect of law are wound through policy making.]
I don't raise the issue because I like drunk driving----I think it sucks and I'm glad the incidence of it is going down. The point, however, is that in formulating public policy, unplanned for casual links emerge whose unanticipated costs have to be weighed against the total benefits received by the policy being pursued. Lives are being saved in one area, but quite tragically lives are being lost elsewhere. If LaneH's objection is with the very idea of cost/benefit analysis, so be it---I know from experience that to some folks even mentionning CBA makes you, well, suspect. But, if you aren't willing even to consider such things, I guess you aren't much of a debunker, eh?
As for the DDT/Malaria issue, the facts on this are pretty clear. Hey, I think DDT sucks more than drunk-driving does, and I still think the policies pursued by the Nixon administration to ban its use were the right thing to do. And I also think the move towards wetlands protection was also the right thing to do. But we shouldn't be blind to the costs on the other side of the ledger: more wetlands plus less powerful pesticides means more mosquitos. Mosquito-borne diseases kill a whole lot of people, and we shouldn't be surprised that newer forms of mosquito borne illnesses are gaining new footholds. It's kind of like being surprised when predatory cats eat hikers---they are just doing what evolution has taught them to do. And if we choose policies that promote these things, we shouldn't be surprised when they happen.
Public policies often have costs that were unanticipated or unplanned. That's life. It doesn't mean that the policies should be revoked, necessarily. But it does mean we need to be honest about those costs, even when they potentially cast doubts on secular saints like Rachel Carson.
Or maybe I have it all wrong---maybe LaneH was objecting to our recent fixation on the need to urgently correct the historic underrepresentation of nubile lesbian forensic pathologists on the tee-vee. If so, I'm sorry, but that's not something I'm backing down on.
Our new pal LaneH at Debunkers.org didn't like my post yesterday. Now, I'm going to take a flyer here and guess that he wasn't referring to my catblogging/warblogging synthesis, but rather my post on DDT and malaria. Debunkers looks actually like a pretty funny site---and I mean that in a good way, as in how Snopes.com is a funny site. They claim as their motto the trashing of what they call "junk science" which I'm all in favor of too---in theory. However, my experience in academia is usually that means "things which ideologically I disagree with"----it's the political side of the crises produced when paradigms don't entirely explain reality that Kuhn discusses in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
But it's not clear what exactly LaneH was disagreeing with, other than saying "this is just wrong."
So let's go to the tape:
You call em Wetlands, I call em swamps
Virginia Postrel has an interesting series of posts on the return of Malaria and other mosquito born diseases, tying it to the ban on the use of DDT.
We just talked about this last week in Legal Theory and Public Policy as indicative of values conflicts in framing public policy issues. Together with the whole issue of the impact decreases in DUI traffic fatalities because of stringent anti-drunk driving campaigns have had on increasing the mortality rate of people on organ donation lists (because of the decreased supply), the whole wetlands/mosquito-borne disease issue makes a difficult set of policy paradoxes.
I'm not sure what LaneH's issue is with: if it's the reference to the drunk driving conundrum, it's a phenomena that's beginning to gain more attention: as DUI fatalities have decreased, the available supply of organs for donation (which come overwhelmingly from traffic fatalities involving the young) has decreased at a time in which organ waiting lists have increased dramatically. DUI laws have saved lives by reducing accidents, but they have also costs lives by reducing the availability of organs for donation. Here's the citation to the article from the New York Times I use in class on the DUI/organ donor relationship:
METROPOLITAN DESK | August 19, 2003, Tuesday
Downside to Fewer Violent Deaths: Transplant Organ Shortage Grows
By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA (NYT) 1392 words
Late Edition - Final , Section B , Page 1 , Column 4
ABSTRACT - Reduction in violent deaths and death by auto accidents in New York reduces number of organs available for transplanting; 40 percent of dead donors in region are over 50, as compared to 30 percent nationwide, and 6,000 persons around nation die each year waiting for organs; organs from more than 12,000 people, living or dead, are harvested each year, but 82,000 persons are waiting for them; New Yorkers lag behind other regions in donations; photos (L)
Here's the link to the article, but it's now behind their payment horizon. You could get the article for free from the library, or probably from Lexis-Nexis if you have access.
[I use that issue because it's something that can grab the attention of 18-22 year olds in class, and I use it in conjunction with Deborah Stone's excellent Policy Paradox. I usually use the DUI thing on the first day, then follow it up with the Kenneth Brannagh/Stanley Tucci movie Conspiracy on the Wannsee Conference. The seminar is Legal Theory and Public Policy, and I've found that it is a good combination of things to get them thinking about how theoretical concepts of obligation and the internal aspect of law are wound through policy making.]
I don't raise the issue because I like drunk driving----I think it sucks and I'm glad the incidence of it is going down. The point, however, is that in formulating public policy, unplanned for casual links emerge whose unanticipated costs have to be weighed against the total benefits received by the policy being pursued. Lives are being saved in one area, but quite tragically lives are being lost elsewhere. If LaneH's objection is with the very idea of cost/benefit analysis, so be it---I know from experience that to some folks even mentionning CBA makes you, well, suspect. But, if you aren't willing even to consider such things, I guess you aren't much of a debunker, eh?
As for the DDT/Malaria issue, the facts on this are pretty clear. Hey, I think DDT sucks more than drunk-driving does, and I still think the policies pursued by the Nixon administration to ban its use were the right thing to do. And I also think the move towards wetlands protection was also the right thing to do. But we shouldn't be blind to the costs on the other side of the ledger: more wetlands plus less powerful pesticides means more mosquitos. Mosquito-borne diseases kill a whole lot of people, and we shouldn't be surprised that newer forms of mosquito borne illnesses are gaining new footholds. It's kind of like being surprised when predatory cats eat hikers---they are just doing what evolution has taught them to do. And if we choose policies that promote these things, we shouldn't be surprised when they happen.
Public policies often have costs that were unanticipated or unplanned. That's life. It doesn't mean that the policies should be revoked, necessarily. But it does mean we need to be honest about those costs, even when they potentially cast doubts on secular saints like Rachel Carson.
Or maybe I have it all wrong---maybe LaneH was objecting to our recent fixation on the need to urgently correct the historic underrepresentation of nubile lesbian forensic pathologists on the tee-vee. If so, I'm sorry, but that's not something I'm backing down on.
Al Jazeera Watch (Cont.)
Robert Alt has a piece up at the Weekly Standard with more on the "Al Jazeera Effect."
Robert Alt has a piece up at the Weekly Standard with more on the "Al Jazeera Effect."
Al Jazeera Delenda Est
Have you made your contribution to Spirit of America yet? What? No? What's the matter with you?
As we mentioned, one of the many projects S of A is involved in is raising money to help our people in Iraq set up local broadcast stations. I quote you the text of the request:
The Request
US Marines seek to equip seven (7) television stations serving local communities within Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The Province includes the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi. These stations will offer information that is more accurate and balanced than existing alternatives. The goal is to improve understanding between Americans and Iraqis, build trust and reduce tensions.
Current TV news in Iraq often carries negative, highly-biased accounts of the U.S. presence. Unanswered, its effect is to stoke resentment and encourage conflict. The Marines seek to ensure the Iraqi people have access to better, more balanced information. By equipping local television stations and providing the ability to generate news and programming, the Marines will create a viable news alternative - one owned and operated by local Iraqi citizens.
The donated equipment will be the property of the Iraqi stations. The stations can create their own news and choose their own programming with the agreement that they will prohibit airing of anti-coalition messages that incite the local population. The stations also agree to sell airtime at a fair market price so that the Marines can communicate their information efficiently and quickly when needed.
For example, images were recently broadcast of a mosque in Fallujah damaged during fighting. With these stations the Marines could have provided the full picture by airing video of combatants firing on them from the mosque grounds. These stations would have enabled Iraqis to understand the complete picture. News of reconstruction projects and humanitarian assistance that balances the news of conflict will also be provided on these stations. The stations will be free to criticize the Coalition.
The Marines say, "this was started with the idea that information is key to success. It builds greater knowledge, understanding and ultimately, trust." They add, "As Operation Iraqi Freedom carries on, this venture becomes more and more important. The lack of accurate news reports during this rebuilding phase undercuts the good work being performed throughout the majority of Iraq. Instead, news is being passed by word of mouth and becomes more and more distorted as the tales are retold. It is essential to success of the Marine Corps' mission in Iraq that the Iraqi people understand our sincerest desires to help them rebuild their country and lay the foundation for a viable and free democratic society."
Think this is an exaggeration? Then check out what Al Jazeera is saying. (Note - this is the English version. The Arabic is far more inflammatory.) Not enough for you? Go see what else INDC Bill has compiled.
So go! Join the Victory Coalition and help the Marines. This challenge is open until next Thursday and we're just going to keep buggin you until you do it, so make a move now.
HT to Bill of course, even though he's a member of that Band of Losers known as the Liberty Alliance. (And what better way to take down your rival than to stroll in and help yourself to his posts? Hell-oo! Mc-Fly!)
UPDATE: Here are the First Day Results. Nearly $11,000 - Kick Ass! Of the three blog coalitions competing, looks like the VC is pacing itself well in the middle. I'm not overly-worried about the big lead currently held by the Castle Aaaarggh! crew - they have "fly and die" written all over them.
Have you made your contribution to Spirit of America yet? What? No? What's the matter with you?
As we mentioned, one of the many projects S of A is involved in is raising money to help our people in Iraq set up local broadcast stations. I quote you the text of the request:
The Request
US Marines seek to equip seven (7) television stations serving local communities within Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The Province includes the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi. These stations will offer information that is more accurate and balanced than existing alternatives. The goal is to improve understanding between Americans and Iraqis, build trust and reduce tensions.
Current TV news in Iraq often carries negative, highly-biased accounts of the U.S. presence. Unanswered, its effect is to stoke resentment and encourage conflict. The Marines seek to ensure the Iraqi people have access to better, more balanced information. By equipping local television stations and providing the ability to generate news and programming, the Marines will create a viable news alternative - one owned and operated by local Iraqi citizens.
The donated equipment will be the property of the Iraqi stations. The stations can create their own news and choose their own programming with the agreement that they will prohibit airing of anti-coalition messages that incite the local population. The stations also agree to sell airtime at a fair market price so that the Marines can communicate their information efficiently and quickly when needed.
For example, images were recently broadcast of a mosque in Fallujah damaged during fighting. With these stations the Marines could have provided the full picture by airing video of combatants firing on them from the mosque grounds. These stations would have enabled Iraqis to understand the complete picture. News of reconstruction projects and humanitarian assistance that balances the news of conflict will also be provided on these stations. The stations will be free to criticize the Coalition.
The Marines say, "this was started with the idea that information is key to success. It builds greater knowledge, understanding and ultimately, trust." They add, "As Operation Iraqi Freedom carries on, this venture becomes more and more important. The lack of accurate news reports during this rebuilding phase undercuts the good work being performed throughout the majority of Iraq. Instead, news is being passed by word of mouth and becomes more and more distorted as the tales are retold. It is essential to success of the Marine Corps' mission in Iraq that the Iraqi people understand our sincerest desires to help them rebuild their country and lay the foundation for a viable and free democratic society."
Think this is an exaggeration? Then check out what Al Jazeera is saying. (Note - this is the English version. The Arabic is far more inflammatory.) Not enough for you? Go see what else INDC Bill has compiled.
So go! Join the Victory Coalition and help the Marines. This challenge is open until next Thursday and we're just going to keep buggin you until you do it, so make a move now.
HT to Bill of course, even though he's a member of that Band of Losers known as the Liberty Alliance. (And what better way to take down your rival than to stroll in and help yourself to his posts? Hell-oo! Mc-Fly!)
UPDATE: Here are the First Day Results. Nearly $11,000 - Kick Ass! Of the three blog coalitions competing, looks like the VC is pacing itself well in the middle. I'm not overly-worried about the big lead currently held by the Castle Aaaarggh! crew - they have "fly and die" written all over them.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
20 KIAs
Bets on whether Maria Hinojosa tracks down any of the families of the twenty kills Kerry was credited for in VietNam?
Didn't think so.
Bets on whether Maria Hinojosa tracks down any of the families of the twenty kills Kerry was credited for in VietNam?
Didn't think so.
Merciful God In Heaven Above - Update
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Michele goes and dredges up these awful song memories.
Run, Joey Run!!!???!!! I haven't thought of that in years. Now, I can't get the friggin' thing out of my head!
People, there's a reason we suppress these things!
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Michele goes and dredges up these awful song memories.
Run, Joey Run!!!???!!! I haven't thought of that in years. Now, I can't get the friggin' thing out of my head!
People, there's a reason we suppress these things!
Go. Read.
Lileks on Kerry's plan to preemptively surrender to the U.N.
Think James saves all his best stuff for the Bleats?
Heh, indeed.
HT to Eric the Viking.
Lileks on Kerry's plan to preemptively surrender to the U.N.
Think James saves all his best stuff for the Bleats?
Heh, indeed.
HT to Eric the Viking.
Titans Of Western Civilisation Smack Down III
Pep responds to my comments about the relative merits of 80's pop music. (Relative to what, you ask? Go over and see! Think I put these links in for nuthin'?)
I feel a bit like Porter Alexander at Gettysburg: "It is playun that naythuh we nor the Fed'ruls are goin' to gain a cleayuh advayntage in this business."
Pep responds to my comments about the relative merits of 80's pop music. (Relative to what, you ask? Go over and see! Think I put these links in for nuthin'?)
I feel a bit like Porter Alexander at Gettysburg: "It is playun that naythuh we nor the Fed'ruls are goin' to gain a cleayuh advayntage in this business."
Two themes that were eventually going to meet.....with tragic results
Cat blogging meets war blogging over at Whomping Willow.
Somebody better alert Laurence Simon.
Cat blogging meets war blogging over at Whomping Willow.
Somebody better alert Laurence Simon.
Moonbats over the Supreme Court
Photoblogging at its best: our old pal Bill from INDC Journal has the pics recording the epic sea of protesters at the Supreme Court yesterday over the Gitmo cases--all two dozen of them.
Bonus points to Bill for correctly identifying the lead singer of 80s crap hair band Krokus in the crowd.
My favorite pic is of the guy in prison orange holding up the cardboard and duct tape prison door--he has the sad look of a Dolphins fan trying to lead a cheer for defense, wondering where the hell Marty is with the big cardboard and duct tape "D."
Too bad the dude dressed as Darth Vader from the Bush v. Gore oral arguments wasn't there--talk about a First Amendment non-sequitor. And has anyone seen that old black farmer with the donkey protesting US Department of Agriculture policies lately? He used to be a reliable fixture at protests in front of the Court (because you know, in his spare time, the Chief Justice sets.....agricultural subsidy policies? What, this old geezer read Wickard v. Filburn once too often sitting in the outhouse under the hot Arkansas sun?)
Photoblogging at its best: our old pal Bill from INDC Journal has the pics recording the epic sea of protesters at the Supreme Court yesterday over the Gitmo cases--all two dozen of them.
Bonus points to Bill for correctly identifying the lead singer of 80s crap hair band Krokus in the crowd.
My favorite pic is of the guy in prison orange holding up the cardboard and duct tape prison door--he has the sad look of a Dolphins fan trying to lead a cheer for defense, wondering where the hell Marty is with the big cardboard and duct tape "D."
Too bad the dude dressed as Darth Vader from the Bush v. Gore oral arguments wasn't there--talk about a First Amendment non-sequitor. And has anyone seen that old black farmer with the donkey protesting US Department of Agriculture policies lately? He used to be a reliable fixture at protests in front of the Court (because you know, in his spare time, the Chief Justice sets.....agricultural subsidy policies? What, this old geezer read Wickard v. Filburn once too often sitting in the outhouse under the hot Arkansas sun?)
You call em Wetlands, I call em swamps
Virginia Postrel has an interesting series of posts on the return of Malaria and other mosquito born diseases, tying it to the ban on the use of DDT.
We just talked about this last week in Legal Theory and Public Policy as indicative of values conflicts in framing public policy issues. Together with the whole issue of the impact decreases in DUI traffic fatalities because of stringent anti-drunk driving campaigns have had on increasing the mortality rate of people on organ donation lists (because of the decreased supply), the whole wetlands/mosquito-borne disease issue makes a difficult set of policy paradoxes.
Virginia Postrel has an interesting series of posts on the return of Malaria and other mosquito born diseases, tying it to the ban on the use of DDT.
We just talked about this last week in Legal Theory and Public Policy as indicative of values conflicts in framing public policy issues. Together with the whole issue of the impact decreases in DUI traffic fatalities because of stringent anti-drunk driving campaigns have had on increasing the mortality rate of people on organ donation lists (because of the decreased supply), the whole wetlands/mosquito-borne disease issue makes a difficult set of policy paradoxes.
Do The Right Thing
You do know about the Victory Coalition efforts to raise money for Spirit of America, don't you? Among other things, these folks are trying to raise funds to help the Marines to build television stations in Iraq to help counter the blatant anti-U.S. propoganda being spewed by Al Jezeera.
So go over there and make a donation. Go! We'll wait for you. And thanks.
You do know about the Victory Coalition efforts to raise money for Spirit of America, don't you? Among other things, these folks are trying to raise funds to help the Marines to build television stations in Iraq to help counter the blatant anti-U.S. propoganda being spewed by Al Jezeera.
So go over there and make a donation. Go! We'll wait for you. And thanks.
More Letters From The Front
An account of things in Iraq from Spc. William Marchese, C Company, TF 120, Operation Enduring Freedom, whose family asks that it be passed around. Read this and be proud of our people over there.
HT to Dean.
An account of things in Iraq from Spc. William Marchese, C Company, TF 120, Operation Enduring Freedom, whose family asks that it be passed around. Read this and be proud of our people over there.
HT to Dean.
This Is Cool.
The 2 Blowhards have a fascinating post about the history of human migration, complete with maps and diagrams. If you're a Biblical Literalist, don't read this - it will only make you crabby. But note some of the interesting parallels raised by the piece between Genesis and scientific analysis. I've seen variations on this kind of parallel suggested before, most recently between the Biblical Flood and cataclysmic events in the Black Sea.
Of course, even if there is no particular Biblical link, the pure science of this stuff is absolutely fascinating as well.
HT to Pejman.
The 2 Blowhards have a fascinating post about the history of human migration, complete with maps and diagrams. If you're a Biblical Literalist, don't read this - it will only make you crabby. But note some of the interesting parallels raised by the piece between Genesis and scientific analysis. I've seen variations on this kind of parallel suggested before, most recently between the Biblical Flood and cataclysmic events in the Black Sea.
Of course, even if there is no particular Biblical link, the pure science of this stuff is absolutely fascinating as well.
HT to Pejman.
Test
I guess I'll have to check back in about a week to see whether it was a good idea to do so much blogging this week while taking that high-powered cough syrup.
I guess I'll have to check back in about a week to see whether it was a good idea to do so much blogging this week while taking that high-powered cough syrup.
And now to something serious
The Commissar directs all loyal members of the party to observe a new blog, dedicated to a single source point for news about UNSCAM, the UN's Oil Bribes for Well-Connected Eurocrats tragedy.
A great blog with a nice look, and if I could make one suggestion: it would be snazzy if it played the "Friends" theme song when it loads....
And what would the UNSCAM Friends lineup look like? Mary Robinson and Winnie Mandela would be sharing the big apartment, with those wacky guys Saddam and Yassir across the hall, and with their pal Kofi stopping by to moon after Mary. And Beau Bridges in drag could be "Barbra" the ditzy folk-singer/community activist/actor/director/producer.
Just a thought.
YIPS! from Robbo. Okay, if we're going to play this game, let's also include M. Chirac as the owner of the coffee shop downstairs. Hilarity ensues as he scoffs at American attempts to pronounce "latte," while secretly mooning after Mary himself.
The Commissar directs all loyal members of the party to observe a new blog, dedicated to a single source point for news about UNSCAM, the UN's Oil Bribes for Well-Connected Eurocrats tragedy.
A great blog with a nice look, and if I could make one suggestion: it would be snazzy if it played the "Friends" theme song when it loads....
And what would the UNSCAM Friends lineup look like? Mary Robinson and Winnie Mandela would be sharing the big apartment, with those wacky guys Saddam and Yassir across the hall, and with their pal Kofi stopping by to moon after Mary. And Beau Bridges in drag could be "Barbra" the ditzy folk-singer/community activist/actor/director/producer.
Just a thought.
YIPS! from Robbo. Okay, if we're going to play this game, let's also include M. Chirac as the owner of the coffee shop downstairs. Hilarity ensues as he scoffs at American attempts to pronounce "latte," while secretly mooning after Mary himself.
Llama Announcement
Just wanted to let you know that we've added Terry Teachout's About Last Night to the Llama Blogroll. (I should have done this some time ago.) Go see Terry's daily postings the Arts in New York and elsewhere. I don't think he's going to break Steve-O's monopoly obsession with television shows about lesbian forensic pathologists, but other than that, there's lots of good stuff.
Yip! Yip! Yip!
YIPS from Steve: Phew! For a minute there I thought we had a new policy to link to really awful Jim Belushi/Rob Lowe movies.....
And frankly what's so wrong with wanting more lesbian forensic pathologists on the tee-vee? Hell, they could have squeezed a couple more lifeless years from the Frasier franchise with that twist alone!
Just wanted to let you know that we've added Terry Teachout's About Last Night to the Llama Blogroll. (I should have done this some time ago.) Go see Terry's daily postings the Arts in New York and elsewhere. I don't think he's going to break Steve-O's monopoly obsession with television shows about lesbian forensic pathologists, but other than that, there's lots of good stuff.
Yip! Yip! Yip!
YIPS from Steve: Phew! For a minute there I thought we had a new policy to link to really awful Jim Belushi/Rob Lowe movies.....
And frankly what's so wrong with wanting more lesbian forensic pathologists on the tee-vee? Hell, they could have squeezed a couple more lifeless years from the Frasier franchise with that twist alone!
Today's Morning Read
Andrew Sullivan fisks the National Review's latest stance on Iraq. I have to say that I'm with Andy on this one.
Andrew Sullivan fisks the National Review's latest stance on Iraq. I have to say that I'm with Andy on this one.
New Iraq Poll Numbers
Here is Gallup's latest breakdown of U.S. opinion concerning our involvement in Iraq. What is remarkable from these numbers is the rising sentiment, especially in the wake of the last couple of weeks' worth of violence, that we should be doing more, i.e., dropping the hammer. You won't see that number bandied around much in the mainstream press.
In fact, this is very good news. And it seems to support the hypothesis I put forth yesterday that Bush is improving in the polls despite the ferocious media attacks against his Iraq and terrorist policies because 9/11 caused people to take a longer view of what needed to be done in the world and made them less likely to revert to knee-jerk scape-goating in the face of bad news.
HT to Dean, who also nails Kerry's real position on all of this beautifully.
Here is Gallup's latest breakdown of U.S. opinion concerning our involvement in Iraq. What is remarkable from these numbers is the rising sentiment, especially in the wake of the last couple of weeks' worth of violence, that we should be doing more, i.e., dropping the hammer. You won't see that number bandied around much in the mainstream press.
In fact, this is very good news. And it seems to support the hypothesis I put forth yesterday that Bush is improving in the polls despite the ferocious media attacks against his Iraq and terrorist policies because 9/11 caused people to take a longer view of what needed to be done in the world and made them less likely to revert to knee-jerk scape-goating in the face of bad news.
HT to Dean, who also nails Kerry's real position on all of this beautifully.
Merciful God In Heaven Above
Stephen Green is taking the whole "bad songs" thing up a notch. This time, confess to the ones you like. Confess, I say!
In answer to Stephen's inquiry, three choices sprang to mind:
"Wild Thing" as performed by Sam Kinneson (video version only), "Rock Me, Amadeus" and "Blinded By Science."
My head is going to be pounded by the cacaphony of the party mix from hell all day.
UPDATE: This thing is spreading like a fungus. Andrea Harris is taking down 70's songs (a mild form of calisthenics, to be sure), and Mike of Cold Fury trashes the 80's with Pep-like disdain.
Stephen Green is taking the whole "bad songs" thing up a notch. This time, confess to the ones you like. Confess, I say!
In answer to Stephen's inquiry, three choices sprang to mind:
"Wild Thing" as performed by Sam Kinneson (video version only), "Rock Me, Amadeus" and "Blinded By Science."
My head is going to be pounded by the cacaphony of the party mix from hell all day.
UPDATE: This thing is spreading like a fungus. Andrea Harris is taking down 70's songs (a mild form of calisthenics, to be sure), and Mike of Cold Fury trashes the 80's with Pep-like disdain.
Bush Blog
Go check out the new Bush Campaign blog. Looks pretty sharp. Today, they're all over a WaPo fisking of Kerry's weathervane policy on Iraq.
Go check out the new Bush Campaign blog. Looks pretty sharp. Today, they're all over a WaPo fisking of Kerry's weathervane policy on Iraq.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Attention Reagan Youth!
Vodka Pundit has a post about a list that just came out of the 50 worst songs of all times. (The guys on the radio were discussing it this morning as well.)
Amongst the ten worst was "Heart of Rock n' Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News. I was, well, not appalled by this, but I thought it was wrong - In my humble opinion, that song and the album it came from - Sports - were one of those markers that defined 80's music.
Other examples of quintissential 80's music come to mind as well. Albums like Talking Heads' Speaking in Tongues and The Police's Every Breath You Take; heyday groups like The Cars, Duran Duran and Robert Palmer; specific songs by people like
Billy Joel, Cindi Lauper and (shudder) Madonna.
Obviously, there was a wide variety of styles and tastes. But there seems, looking back, to be something that linked all these songs and people, something that makes you think "That is an 80's song." I think there is a kind of unifying energy, a creative drive that bore some relationship to the Reagan Revolution. I don't suggest all these people were Republicans. After all, many of them hated Reagan and Reaganism. But nonetheless, his coming into office sparked a reawakening of a cultural spirit that had gone dead during the malaise of the 70's. I believe the energy unleashed by that change was reflected in pop music as much as anywhere else, giving it a distinctive decade feel.
So anyway, what do you think? What songs or albums would go on your list of definitive 80's pop music?
UPDATE: One reader who, I suspect, recognizes that pop music represents nothing more than something kids think is cool and fun to dance to, responds:
Anything by:
1. The Go-Gos
2. Foreigner
3. The Producers
4. Flock of Seagulls
5. The Bangles
6. Miami Sound Machine
Take that, Pep!
FURTHER UPDATE: Michelle is running with the worst songs theme. But don't pay too much attention to her - she's defending "Billy Don't Be A Hero." Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Vodka Pundit has a post about a list that just came out of the 50 worst songs of all times. (The guys on the radio were discussing it this morning as well.)
Amongst the ten worst was "Heart of Rock n' Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News. I was, well, not appalled by this, but I thought it was wrong - In my humble opinion, that song and the album it came from - Sports - were one of those markers that defined 80's music.
Other examples of quintissential 80's music come to mind as well. Albums like Talking Heads' Speaking in Tongues and The Police's Every Breath You Take; heyday groups like The Cars, Duran Duran and Robert Palmer; specific songs by people like
Billy Joel, Cindi Lauper and (shudder) Madonna.
Obviously, there was a wide variety of styles and tastes. But there seems, looking back, to be something that linked all these songs and people, something that makes you think "That is an 80's song." I think there is a kind of unifying energy, a creative drive that bore some relationship to the Reagan Revolution. I don't suggest all these people were Republicans. After all, many of them hated Reagan and Reaganism. But nonetheless, his coming into office sparked a reawakening of a cultural spirit that had gone dead during the malaise of the 70's. I believe the energy unleashed by that change was reflected in pop music as much as anywhere else, giving it a distinctive decade feel.
So anyway, what do you think? What songs or albums would go on your list of definitive 80's pop music?
UPDATE: One reader who, I suspect, recognizes that pop music represents nothing more than something kids think is cool and fun to dance to, responds:
Anything by:
1. The Go-Gos
2. Foreigner
3. The Producers
4. Flock of Seagulls
5. The Bangles
6. Miami Sound Machine
Take that, Pep!
FURTHER UPDATE: Michelle is running with the worst songs theme. But don't pay too much attention to her - she's defending "Billy Don't Be A Hero." Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
YIPS from Steve: I'm going to have to sidle up to the bar and take a hit on this one. I realize I already drove away core loyal readers for my admission of using a metric measuring tape; a sin further compounded by confessing to having been a regular watcher of "The Apprentice." So I'm going to have to go for the Trifecta here and confess to having seen Huey Lewis and the News live in concert in Hartford Connecticut in oh about 1984.
Sue me, I was in High School for crizesakes, what the hell did I know? This from a guy of course who, admitedly while drunk, answered "sure" to someone's question, "hey steve--want to go see Blurgblurg SPRING Blur Blur tonight at the Civic Center?" thinking that the first "BlurgBlurg" meant BRUCE and the second STEEN, only to realize to my buzz-killing horror that the blurgblurg actually meant RICK and FIELD !!!! Talk about one of your patented "FOR THE LOVE OF GAWD, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" moments.
So I was probably the only person in America to pay to see The Clash and Rick Springfield in the same venue in the same year.
So I guess I'm not a reliable source of objective reasoning on this issue.
Cicada Watch
Here is a nifty website tracking this year's big 17 Year Cicada Eruption. What surprises me about the map is that I had a vague idea they were going to emerge everywhere in the East. In fact, according to this site, they will be concentrated in DelMarVa and surrounding environs, as well as the Ohio River Valley and some points north and south.
This is my first cicada outbreak. I'm a bit dubious, not for myself, but because I think my girls are going to go ballistic. Good bloody luck getting them to play in the yard if the trees are covered with these little beasts. (Unless, of course, I can persuade them that whacking the critters with a stick is wholesome entertainment.)
One nice point of relief is that the things are not going to eat my garden locust-like. Their only function when they emerge is to mate and die. Good luck and go to it, says I.
HT to Jen.
Here is a nifty website tracking this year's big 17 Year Cicada Eruption. What surprises me about the map is that I had a vague idea they were going to emerge everywhere in the East. In fact, according to this site, they will be concentrated in DelMarVa and surrounding environs, as well as the Ohio River Valley and some points north and south.
This is my first cicada outbreak. I'm a bit dubious, not for myself, but because I think my girls are going to go ballistic. Good bloody luck getting them to play in the yard if the trees are covered with these little beasts. (Unless, of course, I can persuade them that whacking the critters with a stick is wholesome entertainment.)
One nice point of relief is that the things are not going to eat my garden locust-like. Their only function when they emerge is to mate and die. Good luck and go to it, says I.
HT to Jen.
Poll Patrol
Following up on our Maginot Candidate item earlier, Real Clear Politics has a composite roundup of all the latest presidential polls.
HT to VikingPundit.
Meanwhile, the World's Oiliest Campaign Consultant is predicting doom and gloom for Dubya, thereby probably ensuring his landslide victory.
HT to VodkaPundit.
Following up on our Maginot Candidate item earlier, Real Clear Politics has a composite roundup of all the latest presidential polls.
HT to VikingPundit.
Meanwhile, the World's Oiliest Campaign Consultant is predicting doom and gloom for Dubya, thereby probably ensuring his landslide victory.
HT to VodkaPundit.
Led Zeppelin Watch (Yes, We Cover A Lot Of Territory)
Remember that old legend that if you played Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" backwards it contained all kinds of devil-worship lyrics? Well now you can be the judge.
Personally, I find it hard to believe that a bunch of zorked out stoners could come up with something this complicated (writing lyrics that are not only comprehensible backwards and forwards, but also mean what you want them to), and subtle (check out how many steps this guy had to go through - with 21st Century computer tech, no less, to sort it all out). I would think they'd have more pressing issues to deal with - like remembering to put one foot in front of the other or not to drink Clorox. But hey - that's just me. Mr. Cranky Ol' Social Conservative.
HT to INDC Bill.
Remember that old legend that if you played Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" backwards it contained all kinds of devil-worship lyrics? Well now you can be the judge.
Personally, I find it hard to believe that a bunch of zorked out stoners could come up with something this complicated (writing lyrics that are not only comprehensible backwards and forwards, but also mean what you want them to), and subtle (check out how many steps this guy had to go through - with 21st Century computer tech, no less, to sort it all out). I would think they'd have more pressing issues to deal with - like remembering to put one foot in front of the other or not to drink Clorox. But hey - that's just me. Mr. Cranky Ol' Social Conservative.
HT to INDC Bill.
Indecency Watch
(What a job description, BTW!)
The Professor links to a post by Neal Boortz pointing out that attacking Michael Powell (and through him, Dubya) for the FCC's new push against indecency is foolish because one of biggest proponents of tougher indecency standards, Commissioner Michael Copps, is a Democrat (in fact, the former chief of staff of Fritz Hollings).
As I noted in an email to Glenn, it's even sillier than that because the other Democrat on the Commission, Jonathan Adelstein, is also an enthusiast of the tougher limits. In fact, so far as I am aware, there is no dissention among the five FCC Commissioners on this one.
I think that the Powell/Bush meme is a legacy of past political battles, specifically the media consolidation fights that rocked the FCC last year. Then, Powell really was leading the charge for deregulation in line with general Bush White House philosophy. The move was bitterly opposed by both Copps and Adelstein, which opposition was reflected among Congressional Democrats as well. Most (but not all) of the Big Players in the industry supported the deregulation effort. So it was easy for opponents to label Powell a stooge of Bush who, in turn, was labelled as a stooge of Rupert Murdoch and the Evil Republican Big Business Fat-Cats.
Here, the dynamic is different. Most of the Industry is, at best, uneasy with the crackdown. On the other hand, there is not much traditional Republican/Democratic dissention over the matter. Instead, the most vocal opposition is coming from the fringes - both Left and Right - and is aimed at a large center-crossing coalition of proponents. This coalition exists at both the Commission and the Congressional level. So trying to apply the old Powell/Bush Evil Republican Plot rhetoric is, in fact, rather silly, if not downright counter-productive.
(What a job description, BTW!)
The Professor links to a post by Neal Boortz pointing out that attacking Michael Powell (and through him, Dubya) for the FCC's new push against indecency is foolish because one of biggest proponents of tougher indecency standards, Commissioner Michael Copps, is a Democrat (in fact, the former chief of staff of Fritz Hollings).
As I noted in an email to Glenn, it's even sillier than that because the other Democrat on the Commission, Jonathan Adelstein, is also an enthusiast of the tougher limits. In fact, so far as I am aware, there is no dissention among the five FCC Commissioners on this one.
I think that the Powell/Bush meme is a legacy of past political battles, specifically the media consolidation fights that rocked the FCC last year. Then, Powell really was leading the charge for deregulation in line with general Bush White House philosophy. The move was bitterly opposed by both Copps and Adelstein, which opposition was reflected among Congressional Democrats as well. Most (but not all) of the Big Players in the industry supported the deregulation effort. So it was easy for opponents to label Powell a stooge of Bush who, in turn, was labelled as a stooge of Rupert Murdoch and the Evil Republican Big Business Fat-Cats.
Here, the dynamic is different. Most of the Industry is, at best, uneasy with the crackdown. On the other hand, there is not much traditional Republican/Democratic dissention over the matter. Instead, the most vocal opposition is coming from the fringes - both Left and Right - and is aimed at a large center-crossing coalition of proponents. This coalition exists at both the Commission and the Congressional level. So trying to apply the old Powell/Bush Evil Republican Plot rhetoric is, in fact, rather silly, if not downright counter-productive.
A Real Plum
Here is a New Yorker reprint of a 1960 interview with P.G. Wodehouse. As I said just the other day, I think Plum is one of the greatest writers in the English language. His skill and craftmanship don't get taken seriously because he confined himself to light comedy, but they are there nonetheless.
(I would point out to Geoffrey Hellman, the author of the article, that Jeeves is not a butler. He's a gentleman's personal gentleman. The distinction comes up more than once in the novels.)
Anyway, go read and enjoy.
HT to Reen.
Here is a New Yorker reprint of a 1960 interview with P.G. Wodehouse. As I said just the other day, I think Plum is one of the greatest writers in the English language. His skill and craftmanship don't get taken seriously because he confined himself to light comedy, but they are there nonetheless.
(I would point out to Geoffrey Hellman, the author of the article, that Jeeves is not a butler. He's a gentleman's personal gentleman. The distinction comes up more than once in the novels.)
Anyway, go read and enjoy.
HT to Reen.
Life In Your Nation's Capitol
I don't know why I've never paid attention to this before. My receipt for lunch is as follows:
Caesar Chicken Wrap & Bag of Chips - $6.08.
Tax - $0.60.
Even with my paltry math skills, I can see that the tax is damn near 10%.
I don't ever want to hear any more yapping about a commuter tax to make us free-loading Virginians pay our "fair share" to the District's treasury.
That is all.
I don't know why I've never paid attention to this before. My receipt for lunch is as follows:
Caesar Chicken Wrap & Bag of Chips - $6.08.
Tax - $0.60.
Even with my paltry math skills, I can see that the tax is damn near 10%.
I don't ever want to hear any more yapping about a commuter tax to make us free-loading Virginians pay our "fair share" to the District's treasury.
That is all.
FrankenAir Watch
I still haven't found any fresh news about what's going on with Air America in Chicago and Los Angeles. In the meantime, tho, Mindles H. Dreck has a review of what folks in those markets may or may not be missing. Heh.
UPDATE: Eloise at Spitbull has a round-up of some more reactions. I know investigative reporting would dictate that I sit down and listen to this drivel before adding my own comments, but the only time I listen to the radio is while driving and I have to stay awake, so......
I still haven't found any fresh news about what's going on with Air America in Chicago and Los Angeles. In the meantime, tho, Mindles H. Dreck has a review of what folks in those markets may or may not be missing. Heh.
UPDATE: Eloise at Spitbull has a round-up of some more reactions. I know investigative reporting would dictate that I sit down and listen to this drivel before adding my own comments, but the only time I listen to the radio is while driving and I have to stay awake, so......
Oh, STEEEE-eve!
Read this! The television is your friend. Yes! You wouldn't want to ditch your friend, would you?
Read this! The television is your friend. Yes! You wouldn't want to ditch your friend, would you?
Now This Is Cool!
It's Trebuchet Madness!, courtesy of the Cranky Professor.
One of the physics classes (I believe) at my girls' probable future high school does a project involving the construction of a catapult. I've seen some of the kids out in their yards right around Halloween putting them together. I must say, this is one project Dad will be more than happy to help out with!
It's Trebuchet Madness!, courtesy of the Cranky Professor.
One of the physics classes (I believe) at my girls' probable future high school does a project involving the construction of a catapult. I've seen some of the kids out in their yards right around Halloween putting them together. I must say, this is one project Dad will be more than happy to help out with!
Scots Wha Hey!
See what happens when you don't pay attention? Turns out that last Friday, April 16th, was Jacobite Day, anniversary of the Battle of Culloden that cemented the Hanovarian (read "German") rule over Britain and led, by and by, to the current disastrous tragi-comedy that is known as the House of Windsor.
Look on my face. My name is Might Have Been.
HT to Joe at Cold Fury.
See what happens when you don't pay attention? Turns out that last Friday, April 16th, was Jacobite Day, anniversary of the Battle of Culloden that cemented the Hanovarian (read "German") rule over Britain and led, by and by, to the current disastrous tragi-comedy that is known as the House of Windsor.
Look on my face. My name is Might Have Been.
HT to Joe at Cold Fury.
Semper Fi
Go read Citizen Smash's relay of a message from the commander of the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines to the families of his men back home recounting the outbreak of the recent attacks in Iraq. If it doesn't move you, check your pulse because you're probably dead.
And by the way, when was the last time you saw anything even remotely like this in the mainstream press? Didn't think so.
UPDATE: Dr. Horsefeathers has another fascinating account. Goddam.
Go read Citizen Smash's relay of a message from the commander of the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines to the families of his men back home recounting the outbreak of the recent attacks in Iraq. If it doesn't move you, check your pulse because you're probably dead.
And by the way, when was the last time you saw anything even remotely like this in the mainstream press? Didn't think so.
UPDATE: Dr. Horsefeathers has another fascinating account. Goddam.
Well, THAT'S bizarre!
Digging further through the Tasty Bits (TM) Mail Sack came up with this beauty, and in true Dave Barry fashion No, I am not making this up:
Apparently, this globe-trotting best selling author came across my humble posting from last week where I listed The Dante Club as one of the books that I had read recently and had thought it was pretty darn good.
Here's my answer:
Digging further through the Tasty Bits (TM) Mail Sack came up with this beauty, and in true Dave Barry fashion No, I am not making this up:
Thanks for mentioning my book on your blog. Much appreciated!
Best wishes,
Matthew
----------
www.thedanteclub.com
The Dante Club: A Novel by Matthew Pearl -- The New York Times Bestseller
"A preternaturally accomplished book as wise as it is entertaining." -- Carlo Wolff, The Boston Globe
"'The Dante Club' delivers in spades." -- David Lazarus, The San Francisco Chronicle
"Working on a vast canvas, Mr. Pearl keeps this mystery sparkling with erudition... [a] captivating brain-teaser." -- Janet Maslin, The New York Times
Apparently, this globe-trotting best selling author came across my humble posting from last week where I listed The Dante Club as one of the books that I had read recently and had thought it was pretty darn good.
Here's my answer:
Matthew:
Thanks for your message! I can't believe I'm penpals with a world famous author like you!
Anyways, I'm sure all your pals are suggesting ideas for "The Dante Club II" but I've got some ideas that will really schizzle, if you know what I mean.
Okay, I like the Longfellow/Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr./Lowell trio, but how about a little sexual tension? I mean, we all know historical accuracy is great and all, but what if one of the main characters was Olivia Wendell Holmes, and she was a crime fighting lesbian pathologist as well as a member of the Fireside Poets? Think of the possibilities!
Also, the biracial police officer could be played in the movie by The Rock. Trust me on this one.
And don't neglect the kiddie cartoon market: I'd suggest "The Dante Club Babies" for PBSKids----Longfellow, Holmes, and Lowell in diapers [and top hats!] fighting crime in between naps!
I look forward to our conversations in the future,
Love,
Steve the Llamabutcher
Further thoughts on the fate of Osama
Checking through the ticking packages in the Tasty Bits (TM) Mail Sack, I noticed that Llamabutcher Military Law Correspondent "Paul" notes about Osama's recent penchant to, uh, only favor us with the audiotape. What, no Radio Shack they can bop on over to in the tribal areas to get some more video tape? Paul's theories:
The way things are going for Osama and Hamas, the only way they are going to dial up 72 virgins is by donning some Klingon makeup and heading to a Trekkie convention....
Checking through the ticking packages in the Tasty Bits (TM) Mail Sack, I noticed that Llamabutcher Military Law Correspondent "Paul" notes about Osama's recent penchant to, uh, only favor us with the audiotape. What, no Radio Shack they can bop on over to in the tribal areas to get some more video tape? Paul's theories:
Osama always seems to send audio rather than a videotape. The inferences I draw are: (a) the Air Force got him in Tora Bora when they dialed up the ambient temp by about 1500 degrees so the voice is one of his minions doing a passable impression; or (b) the boys in blue so badly screwed him up that what is left of his face is not, how shall we say, “camera ready.” Osama may look so scary that the sight of him might actually make some of followers think it will take more than 72 virgins to join the jihad.
The way things are going for Osama and Hamas, the only way they are going to dial up 72 virgins is by donning some Klingon makeup and heading to a Trekkie convention....
Whoops! Blogger is acting peculiar today.
Jet-Set Heh
Lawren has some hi-lariously useful English-to-French translations that are sure to make your next trip to Paris unforgettable.
(BTW, congrats to Lawren on finishing her law classes. My reaction was "oh no, you mean I have to get a job?")
Lawren has some hi-lariously useful English-to-French translations that are sure to make your next trip to Paris unforgettable.
(BTW, congrats to Lawren on finishing her law classes. My reaction was "oh no, you mean I have to get a job?")
Got me the shakes reaaaaaal bad
If you get the sense that I'm a meth head coming off a three-week bender rattlin' through my first day at rehab, well, you'd be pretty close: so far I've survived Day One of National Tee-Vee Turnoff Week.
The durn fools at my kids' school are really big on the olde TV Turnoff thing--actually, the school is about as anti-tv as you can get in 'Merika without the stormtroopers from Viacom actually crashing through the windows and forcing you to watch The Price is Right until your eyelashes fall out. I should be grateful--my kids really don't watch tv at all, believe it or not, save the occasional movie when someone is home sick or the weather turns very nasty, and then it's something in the Chitty-Chitty Bang Mary Poppins genre (which suddenly dawned on me that that is probably the name of a porno movie.....sorry for that). My wife, she of the three book clubs as well as being on the board at aforesaid mentioned school is also tee-vee free, which leaves me: as you have probably guessed from my posts I'm a conniseur of bad pop culture.
Back when we had cable, I used to revel in the sheer quantity of bad tee-vee out there: give me the USA Network, and I could give you an extended thesis on the influence of Edmund Spenser's romantic poetry on Spenser: For Hire, or find elements of the Odyssey in Magnum P.I. Of course, I would be full of crap, but that's beside the point.
Now I stick generally to the crime and coroner shows, which get me through most of the week. Sitcoms? Don't bother me with your piffle---I need serious dramatic development, not to mention scantily clad coroner chicks.
What exactly is the deal with the scantily clad coroner chicks? In the beginning, we had Quincy, M.E., and let's face it: if you wanted to envision Jack Klugman in something low-cut and revealing, you basically have a pretty serious problem on your hands (that not even Andrew Sullivan with his bear-fetishes can really help you with). Nowadays, it's like they are putting Mick Jagger's line from Start Me Up to the test: Navy NCIS (and by the way, shouldn't the name of the show be "Navy CIS" since the "N" in NCIS stands for, uh, Navy???) has Goth-chick Pauley Perrette as "Abby the nubile and hot Goth-chick coroner;" CSI of course has Marg Helgenberger as former stripper turned forensic scientist Catherine Willows (certainly not her stage name, which we can reckon would have been Pussy Willows); Crossing Jordan featuring once nerdy (as Claire Kincaid on Law & Order) but now babe-a-licious Jill Hennessy; the double dose on CSI: Miami of Khandi Alexander and Emily Procter as babe-scientists; hell, even Law & Order has had Leslie Hendrix get all Rudolph-red in the hair to keep up. Even the late great Homicide brought in former Trek hottie Michelle Forbes to cut open the bodies before cutting open some love the last few seasons of that great show.
Now what was the root cause of babe-a-lizing the Morgue? Who can we blame (or thank) for this genuine pop-culture trend? For once I have no idea---I can't see where exactly this trend started. Maybe it's a Patricia Cornwell thing, maybe people started reading Scarpetta and thinking to themselves hmmmmm........deliciously hot and smart lesbians + dead bodies on tables = great ratings! Maybe. I'm not sure.
So this is what I'll be thinking about this week during Tee-vee turnoff week, sitting there, reading a book, asking myself the eternal questions of the ages, such as when did studying death get to be so hot? And, now that The West Wing has officially jumped the shark, when are they going to start having C.J. solve crimes in her spare time?
If you get the sense that I'm a meth head coming off a three-week bender rattlin' through my first day at rehab, well, you'd be pretty close: so far I've survived Day One of National Tee-Vee Turnoff Week.
The durn fools at my kids' school are really big on the olde TV Turnoff thing--actually, the school is about as anti-tv as you can get in 'Merika without the stormtroopers from Viacom actually crashing through the windows and forcing you to watch The Price is Right until your eyelashes fall out. I should be grateful--my kids really don't watch tv at all, believe it or not, save the occasional movie when someone is home sick or the weather turns very nasty, and then it's something in the Chitty-Chitty Bang Mary Poppins genre (which suddenly dawned on me that that is probably the name of a porno movie.....sorry for that). My wife, she of the three book clubs as well as being on the board at aforesaid mentioned school is also tee-vee free, which leaves me: as you have probably guessed from my posts I'm a conniseur of bad pop culture.
Back when we had cable, I used to revel in the sheer quantity of bad tee-vee out there: give me the USA Network, and I could give you an extended thesis on the influence of Edmund Spenser's romantic poetry on Spenser: For Hire, or find elements of the Odyssey in Magnum P.I. Of course, I would be full of crap, but that's beside the point.
Now I stick generally to the crime and coroner shows, which get me through most of the week. Sitcoms? Don't bother me with your piffle---I need serious dramatic development, not to mention scantily clad coroner chicks.
What exactly is the deal with the scantily clad coroner chicks? In the beginning, we had Quincy, M.E., and let's face it: if you wanted to envision Jack Klugman in something low-cut and revealing, you basically have a pretty serious problem on your hands (that not even Andrew Sullivan with his bear-fetishes can really help you with). Nowadays, it's like they are putting Mick Jagger's line from Start Me Up to the test: Navy NCIS (and by the way, shouldn't the name of the show be "Navy CIS" since the "N" in NCIS stands for, uh, Navy???) has Goth-chick Pauley Perrette as "Abby the nubile and hot Goth-chick coroner;" CSI of course has Marg Helgenberger as former stripper turned forensic scientist Catherine Willows (certainly not her stage name, which we can reckon would have been Pussy Willows); Crossing Jordan featuring once nerdy (as Claire Kincaid on Law & Order) but now babe-a-licious Jill Hennessy; the double dose on CSI: Miami of Khandi Alexander and Emily Procter as babe-scientists; hell, even Law & Order has had Leslie Hendrix get all Rudolph-red in the hair to keep up. Even the late great Homicide brought in former Trek hottie Michelle Forbes to cut open the bodies before cutting open some love the last few seasons of that great show.
Now what was the root cause of babe-a-lizing the Morgue? Who can we blame (or thank) for this genuine pop-culture trend? For once I have no idea---I can't see where exactly this trend started. Maybe it's a Patricia Cornwell thing, maybe people started reading Scarpetta and thinking to themselves hmmmmm........deliciously hot and smart lesbians + dead bodies on tables = great ratings! Maybe. I'm not sure.
So this is what I'll be thinking about this week during Tee-vee turnoff week, sitting there, reading a book, asking myself the eternal questions of the ages, such as when did studying death get to be so hot? And, now that The West Wing has officially jumped the shark, when are they going to start having C.J. solve crimes in her spare time?
Maginot Candidate Watch
The latest polls have Dubya increasing his lead on the haughty French-looking Massachusetts liberal, who by the way served in Vietnam. Expect the blogsphere to be overwhelmed with the deafening noise of dissecting scalpels for the next few days as we etha-pundits try to figure out What It All Means.
James Joyner has a roundup of early reaction that focuses on the fact that Bush is gaining despite the hammering he has taken in the press over the past couple of weeks over the outbreak of fighting in Iraq and the 9/11 Commission grandstanding. James is somewhat surprised by this, but I think there are two basic explanations:
First, as Cori Dauber notes in a comment quoted by James, people are of course very concerned about terrorism and the troubles in Iraq. But perhaps instead of reflexively blaming the Bush Administration, they are actually looking farther a-field, recognizing the real responsible parties (i.e., the terrorists and the insurgents) and generally supporting the Bush response. If this is true, it represents a level of maturity in the public that would have been unthinkable prior to 9/11.
Second, the fact of the matter remains that Kerry is a terrible candidate. I think there is a great deal of validity to the argument that he was shunted through the nomination process too quickly to be properly vetted, largely because the "Anybody But Bush" crowd was desperate to the point of blindness for somebody, anybody, who looked like he could take down Dubya. Now they are stuck with a candidate whose sole campaign message is "Bush is Aweful," and who, instead of proposing a strong, viable alternative vision of America's future, is squandering his political capital on idiotic flip-flops, evasions about his past record, tired "tax the rich" domestic rhetoric and a foreign policy that consists of surrendering to the U.N. Thoughtful liberals like Mickey Kaus have been howling about Kerry's weakness for months. And gleeful conservatives like Eric have been having a field day with him.
In the end, in the face of all the negative hammering that Bush is taking at the hands of the Press, I think a goodish number of people in the middle - even those who may not necessarily believe that Bush's approach to terrorism and the war in Iraq is the best choice- are simply looking at Kerry and concluding that he really isn't much of a viable alternative.
The latest polls have Dubya increasing his lead on the haughty French-looking Massachusetts liberal, who by the way served in Vietnam. Expect the blogsphere to be overwhelmed with the deafening noise of dissecting scalpels for the next few days as we etha-pundits try to figure out What It All Means.
James Joyner has a roundup of early reaction that focuses on the fact that Bush is gaining despite the hammering he has taken in the press over the past couple of weeks over the outbreak of fighting in Iraq and the 9/11 Commission grandstanding. James is somewhat surprised by this, but I think there are two basic explanations:
First, as Cori Dauber notes in a comment quoted by James, people are of course very concerned about terrorism and the troubles in Iraq. But perhaps instead of reflexively blaming the Bush Administration, they are actually looking farther a-field, recognizing the real responsible parties (i.e., the terrorists and the insurgents) and generally supporting the Bush response. If this is true, it represents a level of maturity in the public that would have been unthinkable prior to 9/11.
Second, the fact of the matter remains that Kerry is a terrible candidate. I think there is a great deal of validity to the argument that he was shunted through the nomination process too quickly to be properly vetted, largely because the "Anybody But Bush" crowd was desperate to the point of blindness for somebody, anybody, who looked like he could take down Dubya. Now they are stuck with a candidate whose sole campaign message is "Bush is Aweful," and who, instead of proposing a strong, viable alternative vision of America's future, is squandering his political capital on idiotic flip-flops, evasions about his past record, tired "tax the rich" domestic rhetoric and a foreign policy that consists of surrendering to the U.N. Thoughtful liberals like Mickey Kaus have been howling about Kerry's weakness for months. And gleeful conservatives like Eric have been having a field day with him.
In the end, in the face of all the negative hammering that Bush is taking at the hands of the Press, I think a goodish number of people in the middle - even those who may not necessarily believe that Bush's approach to terrorism and the war in Iraq is the best choice- are simply looking at Kerry and concluding that he really isn't much of a viable alternative.
Monday, April 19, 2004
Not Even Close
Aquarius style:
Aquarius and drinking don't go together that well
(execpt for water that is). They have an innate
tendancy toward know-it-allism, and if they get
an idea while sizzled, they're more stubborn
than stain or a stone, If they're throwing a
party or orgainising an outing, however,
they're too preoccupied with their duties to
get combative -- and they make perfectly
charming drunks in that case. fortunetly,
they're usually capital drink-nursers. they
also make the best-designated drivers (if youy
can get to them before they start raising their
wrist): Auqarius is fascinated by drunken
people and capable of holding interesting
conversations with soused strangers while sober
Alcohoroscopes MRK 2- the stars and your drinking style
brought to you by Quizilla
I hasn't din't know the faintest idea what I'm talking to me about! But you look mahvelous!
Thanks to Sheila.
UPDATE: Sorry, folks. I was trying to do a cross between Homer Simpson and Billy Crystal and I don't think it worked. The Llama Editorial Board has instructed me to write 500 times "I will not blog while on Extra-Strength Sudafed."
Aquarius style:
Aquarius and drinking don't go together that well
(execpt for water that is). They have an innate
tendancy toward know-it-allism, and if they get
an idea while sizzled, they're more stubborn
than stain or a stone, If they're throwing a
party or orgainising an outing, however,
they're too preoccupied with their duties to
get combative -- and they make perfectly
charming drunks in that case. fortunetly,
they're usually capital drink-nursers. they
also make the best-designated drivers (if youy
can get to them before they start raising their
wrist): Auqarius is fascinated by drunken
people and capable of holding interesting
conversations with soused strangers while sober
Alcohoroscopes MRK 2- the stars and your drinking style
brought to you by Quizilla
I hasn't din't know the faintest idea what I'm talking to me about! But you look mahvelous!
Thanks to Sheila.
UPDATE: Sorry, folks. I was trying to do a cross between Homer Simpson and Billy Crystal and I don't think it worked. The Llama Editorial Board has instructed me to write 500 times "I will not blog while on Extra-Strength Sudafed."
"Don't Mention the War!"
This is interesting. James Joyner's Beltway Traffic Jam today carries dueling takes on the burial this past weekend of the remains of the crew of the C.S.S. Hunley in Charleston, S.C. Professor Bainbridge thinks honoring these men is wrong and would toss their bits into the marshes for the crabs. On the other hand, the folks at Southern Appeal think the crew deserve full honors.
I have been surprised several times by outburst of genuine bitterness over the war from, of all people, Yankees. I know several Northerners who seriously argue that Southerners ought not to be able to vote, in continued punishment for secession. (Of course, some of these folks are liberal moonbats who don't like the fact that the South votes Republican these days.) It strikes me as strange that people on the winning side, especially after all this time, should still feel the urge to beat down their ancient opponents and deny them any kind of recognition for their personal effort and sacrifice (which, it strikes me, is what this memorial is all about).
This is interesting. James Joyner's Beltway Traffic Jam today carries dueling takes on the burial this past weekend of the remains of the crew of the C.S.S. Hunley in Charleston, S.C. Professor Bainbridge thinks honoring these men is wrong and would toss their bits into the marshes for the crabs. On the other hand, the folks at Southern Appeal think the crew deserve full honors.
I have been surprised several times by outburst of genuine bitterness over the war from, of all people, Yankees. I know several Northerners who seriously argue that Southerners ought not to be able to vote, in continued punishment for secession. (Of course, some of these folks are liberal moonbats who don't like the fact that the South votes Republican these days.) It strikes me as strange that people on the winning side, especially after all this time, should still feel the urge to beat down their ancient opponents and deny them any kind of recognition for their personal effort and sacrifice (which, it strikes me, is what this memorial is all about).
BRRLING! [annoyingly upbeat voice] You've got regulation!
Virginia Postrel has a piece on the latest crap-ola law in California, designed to hamper the likes of AOL from sending unsolicited CDs in the mail.
While Virginia has her much more sophisticated than I analysis premised in free-market libertarianism, my concerns would center on what this would do to the do-it-yourself coaster making industry.
We've turned this into an annual rite of the holidays around Rancho Non-Sequitor, gathering around the little Christmas village constructed entirely of AOL promotional CDs and casings. There's the little general store [with roof advertising AOL 8.3 New SPAM block-ah!], the church [with the stained glass windows made from the sliced-pieces of the colored jewel cases], and the cute little city jail, replete with the AOL Identity -Theft-inator! guy in his little computer screen with bars! And the favorite of all the kids, the little yellow AOL guy as Santa, about to climb down the chimney of the little happy house, bringing Daddy AOL-Turbo broadband, so all that porn I mean stock quotes download instantly! And what about the AOL CD mobiles that have been a Steve the Llamabutcher special for those annoying baby-showers you get invited to from co-workers you really don't like? (You know, for when the "Hey, congrats on getting knocked up" card just won't do....) And don't forget that Salvador dAOLi artwork on the mantel, of the partially melted AOL CDs draped over that tree....that is SO much cooler than those macrame Schaefer beer can hats from the 1970s!
All this coming to an end because of those bastards in the California legislature!
And people wonder why I hate the government.
Virginia Postrel has a piece on the latest crap-ola law in California, designed to hamper the likes of AOL from sending unsolicited CDs in the mail.
While Virginia has her much more sophisticated than I analysis premised in free-market libertarianism, my concerns would center on what this would do to the do-it-yourself coaster making industry.
We've turned this into an annual rite of the holidays around Rancho Non-Sequitor, gathering around the little Christmas village constructed entirely of AOL promotional CDs and casings. There's the little general store [with roof advertising AOL 8.3 New SPAM block-ah!], the church [with the stained glass windows made from the sliced-pieces of the colored jewel cases], and the cute little city jail, replete with the AOL Identity -Theft-inator! guy in his little computer screen with bars! And the favorite of all the kids, the little yellow AOL guy as Santa, about to climb down the chimney of the little happy house, bringing Daddy AOL-Turbo broadband, so all that porn I mean stock quotes download instantly! And what about the AOL CD mobiles that have been a Steve the Llamabutcher special for those annoying baby-showers you get invited to from co-workers you really don't like? (You know, for when the "Hey, congrats on getting knocked up" card just won't do....) And don't forget that Salvador dAOLi artwork on the mantel, of the partially melted AOL CDs draped over that tree....that is SO much cooler than those macrame Schaefer beer can hats from the 1970s!
All this coming to an end because of those bastards in the California legislature!
And people wonder why I hate the government.
Evolutions In Blogging
I think I reached some kind of plateau of maturity in my blogging skills when I decided just to throw away a long post on the manipulative quality of Band of Brothers I'd been fiddling with off and on all day because it just wasn't jelling.
On the other hand, I'm feeling sufficiently lousy this afternoon that I find the seduction of posting the following to be too irresistible:
It's the first and last time anyone will ever suggest I am in any way like Ah-nuld.
HT to Jen.
I think I reached some kind of plateau of maturity in my blogging skills when I decided just to throw away a long post on the manipulative quality of Band of Brothers I'd been fiddling with off and on all day because it just wasn't jelling.
On the other hand, I'm feeling sufficiently lousy this afternoon that I find the seduction of posting the following to be too irresistible:
| You are 22% geek | OK, so maybe you ain't a geek. You do, at least, show a bit of interest in the world around you. Either that, or you have enough of a sense of humor to pick some of the sillier answers on the test. Regardless, you're probably a pretty nifty, well-rounded person who gets along fine with people and can chat with just about anyone without fear of looking stupid or foolish or overly concerned with minutiae. God, I hate you. |
Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com
It's the first and last time anyone will ever suggest I am in any way like Ah-nuld.
HT to Jen.
Good for a late afternoon chuckle
The patriot-savants at the Democratic Underground have their shorts in a twist about a CNN poll showing Bush leading Kerry: check out the comments noting that Gallup and CNN are conservative "sell-outs," not to mention one blaming it on Diebold (the maker of many of the computerized voting machines). The meme in the making apparently is a Bush victory, no matter how large, would be the result of a corporate conspiracy.
Like true Red Sox fans, it's only April and they are already building in excuses for the fall flop....
Meanwhile, over at Tradesports.org, the British bookies have the market for Dubya being reelected trading at $58.50 on a cumulative volume of 275K contracts traded (the lifetime trading chart is below).
The patriot-savants at the Democratic Underground have their shorts in a twist about a CNN poll showing Bush leading Kerry: check out the comments noting that Gallup and CNN are conservative "sell-outs," not to mention one blaming it on Diebold (the maker of many of the computerized voting machines). The meme in the making apparently is a Bush victory, no matter how large, would be the result of a corporate conspiracy.
Like true Red Sox fans, it's only April and they are already building in excuses for the fall flop....
Meanwhile, over at Tradesports.org, the British bookies have the market for Dubya being reelected trading at $58.50 on a cumulative volume of 275K contracts traded (the lifetime trading chart is below).
The Apprentice II: The Supreme Court Clerks
Which leads to my idea for a great tee-vee show in the Mark Burnett/the Apprentice mold: a multi-ethnic group of perky young lawyers compete to be Chief Justice William Rehnquist's law clerk.
EPSIODE ONE of THE CLERK:
Competitors are divided up into two teams, named "Separate" and "Equal." The teams are all housed up in the attic of the Supreme Court building, and have to use the restrooms across the street in the Library of Congress. Hillarity ensues when the teams are given the task to locate the graves of Homer Plessy and Dred Scott and hold a picnic there; reward challenge points for the group that can do so without entering the stream of interstate commerce.....
Back in the conference room, the Chief dismisses a member of the losing team by saying "Cert. denied."
Week 15: a white man wins the job.
Which leads to my idea for a great tee-vee show in the Mark Burnett/the Apprentice mold: a multi-ethnic group of perky young lawyers compete to be Chief Justice William Rehnquist's law clerk.
EPSIODE ONE of THE CLERK:
Competitors are divided up into two teams, named "Separate" and "Equal." The teams are all housed up in the attic of the Supreme Court building, and have to use the restrooms across the street in the Library of Congress. Hillarity ensues when the teams are given the task to locate the graves of Homer Plessy and Dred Scott and hold a picnic there; reward challenge points for the group that can do so without entering the stream of interstate commerce.....
Back in the conference room, the Chief dismisses a member of the losing team by saying "Cert. denied."
Week 15: a white man wins the job.
Dirty little secrets of the LLamabutchers
Well, I wasn't going to write about the whole Omarosa/Apprentice thing, because to do so would force the admission that yes, indeed, I watched that crap.
And I did. I'm not proud of it, but hey, sue me.
Anyhoo, then I came across this gem from the Chicago Sun-Times: turns out Omarosa not winning was all a conspiracy by "The Man." Actually, that's what I wished the article was about; instead it's a description of how "The Man" conspired to dig up someone like Omarosa to put..... well, read it for a good chuckle.
I'll have to make a hard admission here: I'll confess that Donald Trump is a marketing genius for this crap. At the very minimum, if you had asked me five years ago that one 80s greed icon would be going to jail, while the other was making a ton of money reinventing themselves as a reality tee-vee guru, I would have cackled over the prospect of The Donald in prison orange while fully predicting The Martha as the tee-vee diva. And I would have been absolutely wrong.
And hand it to Donald, after hiring Mr. Chicago Bill Rancic, that the project The Apprentice was to run was.......building in effect Trump Tower II in downtown Chicago, right by the Wrigley Building. Talk about putting a new face on the organization. And Bill won mainly because he was the contestant least impressed with the whole "Trump" thing, which was part of the point: that whole organization succeeds by creating and selling an image, and they weren't looking for someone to be completely cowed by it.
But I will have to say one thing left a disturbing image from last Thursday's greed-a-thon: the realization of what an enormous ass Donald Trump has, from the whole golf course scenes. Lawd Gawd, talk about En-Why-Cee's last great undeveloped real estate.....
Well, I wasn't going to write about the whole Omarosa/Apprentice thing, because to do so would force the admission that yes, indeed, I watched that crap.
And I did. I'm not proud of it, but hey, sue me.
Anyhoo, then I came across this gem from the Chicago Sun-Times: turns out Omarosa not winning was all a conspiracy by "The Man." Actually, that's what I wished the article was about; instead it's a description of how "The Man" conspired to dig up someone like Omarosa to put..... well, read it for a good chuckle.
I'll have to make a hard admission here: I'll confess that Donald Trump is a marketing genius for this crap. At the very minimum, if you had asked me five years ago that one 80s greed icon would be going to jail, while the other was making a ton of money reinventing themselves as a reality tee-vee guru, I would have cackled over the prospect of The Donald in prison orange while fully predicting The Martha as the tee-vee diva. And I would have been absolutely wrong.
And hand it to Donald, after hiring Mr. Chicago Bill Rancic, that the project The Apprentice was to run was.......building in effect Trump Tower II in downtown Chicago, right by the Wrigley Building. Talk about putting a new face on the organization. And Bill won mainly because he was the contestant least impressed with the whole "Trump" thing, which was part of the point: that whole organization succeeds by creating and selling an image, and they weren't looking for someone to be completely cowed by it.
But I will have to say one thing left a disturbing image from last Thursday's greed-a-thon: the realization of what an enormous ass Donald Trump has, from the whole golf course scenes. Lawd Gawd, talk about En-Why-Cee's last great undeveloped real estate.....
Freaking brilliant
Laurence Simon, lunatic-in-chief over at the indispensable Amish Tech Support, has a counter-proposal to Andrew Sullivan's call for a dollar a gallon gas tax to create sacrifice for the war effort (metro man Sullivan owns no car, of course): tax AIDS research.
Ouch.
Personally, I've been laying off Sullivan, lately, as the writing has become rather predictably strident and unwitty, and the links preachy. It's funny how blogging has changed my reading habits in that way--some sights (like VodkaPundit) I visit less because I don't want to accidently plagiarize, but others have become not as interesting---maybe its just my different perspective, or maybe its the site itself. I don't know. But Sullivan--and Steven den Beste too--just haven't been as good lately.
Laurence Simon, lunatic-in-chief over at the indispensable Amish Tech Support, has a counter-proposal to Andrew Sullivan's call for a dollar a gallon gas tax to create sacrifice for the war effort (metro man Sullivan owns no car, of course): tax AIDS research.
Since Andrew believes in targeting sacrifice to the portion of population that benefits from the action, maybe it's time that that other forms of federal subsidies and examples of under-taxation are brought into alignment.
And this is where I say the unspeakable...
AIDS research funding.
That's right, cut AIDS research funding. Here's an idea: reduce federal spending on AIDS research and, instead, increase taxes on maintenance drugs like retrovirals and AZT. Tax home-care and hospices and then pump those taxes into the research grants. Limit the source of AIDS research subsidies to those either with the malady or those highly likely to get it through lifestyle choice instead of by accident.
The research is a public good? Benefits everybody? *shrug* Ambulances are provided as a public good, but someone ends up footing the bill, right? Why not the research?
Hey, it's a self-sustaining tax, too. It's not like AIDS is going away, thanks to the fundraisers in California that are really just fronts of sex parties, China's and India's walls of denial, or Nelson Mandela's fine efforts in Africa to obliterate the foundations of a health care system.
Why should the American taxpayer-at-large pay for the research that leads the world? I figure combined with the dimes and quarters per pill from our own population of the needful, let's see a little effort on China or India's behalf, eh. We're shipping all these tech jobs over there, how about a little payback in research?
All that extra cash we AIDS-free Americans will walk around, well, we'll spend it on the economy, more taxes get generated for the war effort, and maybe even a few subscriptions to Andrew Sullivan's site.
Best of all, I won't have to pay it. And it's not like I'm trying to duck the gas tax myself, since I haven't had a car since January of 2003.
Ouch.
Personally, I've been laying off Sullivan, lately, as the writing has become rather predictably strident and unwitty, and the links preachy. It's funny how blogging has changed my reading habits in that way--some sights (like VodkaPundit) I visit less because I don't want to accidently plagiarize, but others have become not as interesting---maybe its just my different perspective, or maybe its the site itself. I don't know. But Sullivan--and Steven den Beste too--just haven't been as good lately.
FrankenAir Update
Well, so much for FCC expertise. Apparently, Air America won its restraining order to get put back on the air in Chicago. I haven't been able to find a copy of the TRO yet, but I suspect the court was interested in the contract dispute and didn't give much attention (if any) to the licensee control issue.
But here's a funny thing - several bloggers, including the Lone Wacko commented on the rather obnoxious press statement issued by Evan Cohen, Chairman of Air America, discussing the dispute. Go to the first link above to read it, because you aren't going to see it here.
Also strange, if you look at the comment trail on this post, you'll see rumors that Multicultural actually sold the same airtime twice - to Air America and to someone else. (Jane Galt heard that one too.) You'll also see a rumor that Multicultural is defying the New York court's TRO and refusing to let Air America back into its Chicago station. Checking around the Chicago press websites (at least the ones I can access) reveals no new information this morning.
So what's going on? Beats the hell out of me. But I'll keep watching.
Well, so much for FCC expertise. Apparently, Air America won its restraining order to get put back on the air in Chicago. I haven't been able to find a copy of the TRO yet, but I suspect the court was interested in the contract dispute and didn't give much attention (if any) to the licensee control issue.
But here's a funny thing - several bloggers, including the Lone Wacko commented on the rather obnoxious press statement issued by Evan Cohen, Chairman of Air America, discussing the dispute. Go to the first link above to read it, because you aren't going to see it here.
Also strange, if you look at the comment trail on this post, you'll see rumors that Multicultural actually sold the same airtime twice - to Air America and to someone else. (Jane Galt heard that one too.) You'll also see a rumor that Multicultural is defying the New York court's TRO and refusing to let Air America back into its Chicago station. Checking around the Chicago press websites (at least the ones I can access) reveals no new information this morning.
So what's going on? Beats the hell out of me. But I'll keep watching.
Hamas Really Reaches
"Okay, Israel, you popped Rantisi this time, but you missed earlier! Neener! Neener! Neeeee-ner!"
"Okay, Israel, you popped Rantisi this time, but you missed earlier! Neener! Neener! Neeeee-ner!"
Lousy with anniversaries
This week is full of em: Oklahoma City, Waco, and of course Columbine. Ecch.
This week is full of em: Oklahoma City, Waco, and of course Columbine. Ecch.
Well, that's rich
Kevin at Wizbang has the irony department covered for the week: the CEO of McDonald's, heralded for bringing on the new "lighter" "healthier" menu, dropped dead of a massive heartattack at age 60 over the weekend at the annual franchise meeting.
Kevin at Wizbang has the irony department covered for the week: the CEO of McDonald's, heralded for bringing on the new "lighter" "healthier" menu, dropped dead of a massive heartattack at age 60 over the weekend at the annual franchise meeting.
What the Zarking Fardwarks!
It appears a movie version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is in the works. John Malcovich is going to be in it, playing a character that doesn't appear in the books.
Color me dubious. If you know anything about the Guide, you'll know that it went through any number of permutations in its various incarnations on radio and television and in print. Apparently, Adams was fiddling with the screenplay for this movie when he died. (I don't mean exactly the moment when he died, rather that it was one of his on-going projects.) The Reuters article says that Adams created Malcovich's character especially for the movie, so I suppose one could argue that it has some authenticity, but still.......
I enjoy the rather awful television series the BBC did all those years ago - low budget special effects, a cast of second-rank Beeb regulars, and funky Beeb sci-fi music. There was something appealing about its shoe-string approach, a kind of intimacy that made you feel you were part of the little circle of Adams aficionados.
But it appears Hollywood has now got its hooks into the project and has placed a high-power star as the movie's driving force. To quote from another science fiction movie, "I got a baaad feeling about this!"
HT to Dean.
It appears a movie version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is in the works. John Malcovich is going to be in it, playing a character that doesn't appear in the books.
Color me dubious. If you know anything about the Guide, you'll know that it went through any number of permutations in its various incarnations on radio and television and in print. Apparently, Adams was fiddling with the screenplay for this movie when he died. (I don't mean exactly the moment when he died, rather that it was one of his on-going projects.) The Reuters article says that Adams created Malcovich's character especially for the movie, so I suppose one could argue that it has some authenticity, but still.......
I enjoy the rather awful television series the BBC did all those years ago - low budget special effects, a cast of second-rank Beeb regulars, and funky Beeb sci-fi music. There was something appealing about its shoe-string approach, a kind of intimacy that made you feel you were part of the little circle of Adams aficionados.
But it appears Hollywood has now got its hooks into the project and has placed a high-power star as the movie's driving force. To quote from another science fiction movie, "I got a baaad feeling about this!"
HT to Dean.
Akalaka-Ching! Update
Since my brain is not yet ready for much else, I will note that Wescrew had mixed results at the Little Three this weekend, with the 1st eight losing, the 2nd eight winning and the four getting crushed.
According to the report, the races were again held at Lake Quinsigimund, near Worchester, Mass. Originally, they had been scheduled to be held at Williams' home pond. Don't know why the switch was made. Has there been much flooding in New England recently?
Anyway - Apparently the 1st Wes eight got an early lead but could not hang on, losing by four seconds. This is a very, very bad thing in a crew race and a result for which my own coach would have crucified several boat members by way of example.
On the other hand, the 2nd Wes eight blew away its Williams rival. Woo-Hoo!
(I note that Amherst did not field an eight.)
As for the Wes four, well, this may be shaping to be a bad boat. A time of 8:30 is pretty horrendous. It's also their worst time this season. Losing by a whole minute is also pretty awful, although this was not their worst losing margin. That occurred in the race where a Zoo-Mass Amherst boat, screaming down the course in 6:30, beat them by a minute and a half.
Rowing in a four is a tricky business - because you have half the oarsmen of an eight, each one counts for twice as much. This is true not only physically, but mentally as well.
Often, in a situation with two varsity eights and a four, the four is the "leftovers" boat and does not get that much attention from the coach. In the language of modern psychobabble, this can cause these rowers to feel "marginalized."
We had a situation somewhat like that in my time. There were two varsity heavy eights and a very, very light lightweight four. During spring training, we in the four were basically told, as Bill Cosby would say, "you go long," and wound up practicing on our own a fair bit. We could easily have given up. But we didn't. Instead, we got together and said screw the coach, screw the team, screw everybody, we're going to go out and have some fun with it. Which we did. Result? Undefeated against other lightweight fours for the season (although, to be fair, we got spanked by some heavy fours as well).
Actually, my fondest memory of rowing was a morning practice in which our four beat the crap out of the second heavy eight. The coach was so angry at them that he sent us in early, the better to berate in peace. The grins on the faces in our boat as we pulled up to the dock, accompanied by the gentle echo of the coach's tirade downstream, said it all.
Alas. At least based on results, this doesn't seem to be happening here. These guys haven't managed to win a race yet this spring. If they let that get to them, they aren't going to win any races.
Since my brain is not yet ready for much else, I will note that Wescrew had mixed results at the Little Three this weekend, with the 1st eight losing, the 2nd eight winning and the four getting crushed.
According to the report, the races were again held at Lake Quinsigimund, near Worchester, Mass. Originally, they had been scheduled to be held at Williams' home pond. Don't know why the switch was made. Has there been much flooding in New England recently?
Anyway - Apparently the 1st Wes eight got an early lead but could not hang on, losing by four seconds. This is a very, very bad thing in a crew race and a result for which my own coach would have crucified several boat members by way of example.
On the other hand, the 2nd Wes eight blew away its Williams rival. Woo-Hoo!
(I note that Amherst did not field an eight.)
As for the Wes four, well, this may be shaping to be a bad boat. A time of 8:30 is pretty horrendous. It's also their worst time this season. Losing by a whole minute is also pretty awful, although this was not their worst losing margin. That occurred in the race where a Zoo-Mass Amherst boat, screaming down the course in 6:30, beat them by a minute and a half.
Rowing in a four is a tricky business - because you have half the oarsmen of an eight, each one counts for twice as much. This is true not only physically, but mentally as well.
Often, in a situation with two varsity eights and a four, the four is the "leftovers" boat and does not get that much attention from the coach. In the language of modern psychobabble, this can cause these rowers to feel "marginalized."
We had a situation somewhat like that in my time. There were two varsity heavy eights and a very, very light lightweight four. During spring training, we in the four were basically told, as Bill Cosby would say, "you go long," and wound up practicing on our own a fair bit. We could easily have given up. But we didn't. Instead, we got together and said screw the coach, screw the team, screw everybody, we're going to go out and have some fun with it. Which we did. Result? Undefeated against other lightweight fours for the season (although, to be fair, we got spanked by some heavy fours as well).
Actually, my fondest memory of rowing was a morning practice in which our four beat the crap out of the second heavy eight. The coach was so angry at them that he sent us in early, the better to berate in peace. The grins on the faces in our boat as we pulled up to the dock, accompanied by the gentle echo of the coach's tirade downstream, said it all.
Alas. At least based on results, this doesn't seem to be happening here. These guys haven't managed to win a race yet this spring. If they let that get to them, they aren't going to win any races.
The Idea
Someone googled in here this morning on the words "llama beating."
Either someone has got a seriously screwed up fantasy life, or else the moonbats have found us out and are getting ready to put the hurt on us.
Someone googled in here this morning on the words "llama beating."
Either someone has got a seriously screwed up fantasy life, or else the moonbats have found us out and are getting ready to put the hurt on us.
Monday Morning and Open For Business
Well, I managed to survive 72 hours of unadulterated Llama-ette demands for attention. The big highlight was hauling them all off to the local petting zoo on Saturday, where we spent much time feeding lambs and kids. We saw some llamas too, one of them looking remarkably like the beast to the right on our logo. Unfortunately, the outing ended in a spat over the subject of pony rides, but it was sufficiently slurred over by the time we got home that we were able to have an enjoyable picnic in the back yard.
Anyway, I am now trying to get my sun-and-pollen addled head back into order and to catch up with things. In the meantime, let me echo Steve-O's heartfelt thanks to all of you who have helped us, er, earn our wings. Yip! Yip!
Well, I managed to survive 72 hours of unadulterated Llama-ette demands for attention. The big highlight was hauling them all off to the local petting zoo on Saturday, where we spent much time feeding lambs and kids. We saw some llamas too, one of them looking remarkably like the beast to the right on our logo. Unfortunately, the outing ended in a spat over the subject of pony rides, but it was sufficiently slurred over by the time we got home that we were able to have an enjoyable picnic in the back yard.
Anyway, I am now trying to get my sun-and-pollen addled head back into order and to catch up with things. In the meantime, let me echo Steve-O's heartfelt thanks to all of you who have helped us, er, earn our wings. Yip! Yip!
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Doing the Darwin Shuffle
As Ray's dad (the inestimable Peter Boyle) would say, "Holy Crap!" I do the good thing--stay away from the blog-pipe since cutting out of work Friday, spending the whole weekend with the family---and what's our reward? Evolving up the TLB Blogosphere food-chain. Yeah, yeah, I know--all that stuff's silly and all. And it is. But I still can't believe that people read this. Basically, much of our postings are things that Robbo and I used to email back and forth for the past couple of years, plus stuff that I used to mutter about under my breath around the house. Four months of blogging has produced a cadre of regular readers [from around the world, no less], plus, most importantly, a decided decline in the "Steve Cranky-o-meter" as determined by the dearly beloved. And you know what that means....basically everyone wins.
Friday night we did family pizza; Saturday morning, soccer with the 5 yr old boy [go Maroon eagles!], followed by a trip with the whole family over to the Shenandoah Valley for a Wool Festival at a farm. Sheep sheering, clogging, animal petting [including llamas!!!], wool dyeing---lets just say it was carnivore heaven! The whole way home I was thinking of two things, besides the beautiful scenery: lamb chops, and the chapter in Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel about the role of animal husbandry in the development of society, in particular the development of disease and its spread via warfare.
Today was spent playing with the 18 month old and the 5 year old all day. They are both a bit under the weather, so we stayed home from church. The boy and I finished reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and he came up with an elaborate game playing Narnia, with the backyard as Narnia, the front yard as our world, with the garage as the woods between the worlds and the basement stairs as the wardrobe. He was Diggory as well as Peter [depending where we were in the game], and I was either Mr. Beaver, Diggory as an old man, and on occasion Aslan [which was the best, of course]. When his little sister woke up from her nap, she filled in for all the "girl" parts---she made a convincing White Witch throwing her bowl with applesauce in it.
Tonight is grading--I have a mound of paper's to go through and return this week. Yeah, I know---waaaaaah. I'm not complaining, though---never trust a professor who complains about their job [unless they are an adjunct, which is a low form of degraded servitude that I thought was banned by the Thirteenth Amendment].
Big week ahead for the world, for the campaign, for the 9/11 Commission, and in pop culture [I feel a big review coming on for Truly Bad Films on the genres of CFGB (Chick Flicks Gone Bad), and GMTS (Guy Movies that Suck), premised on our renting of the Colin Firth/Heather whats-her-name stinkeroo Hope Springs. You know a movie is sucking wind when you think to yourself, "didn't Sandra Bullock make the same movie, but only better?"] Not to mention whatever snarkiness and wisecracking arises inevitably. And don't forget to come here for the latest on the whole Air America disaster---what with our very own in house FCC lawyer to provide the inside scoop. Just like mixing CSpan, SportsCenter, the History Channel, and Fark together with a pound of crack and a half gallon of Chablis!
That's the Llamabutchers for you: covering the waterfront so you don't have to! [And bringing back the rats, tastily skewered in a fine fennel sauce....]
As Ray's dad (the inestimable Peter Boyle) would say, "Holy Crap!" I do the good thing--stay away from the blog-pipe since cutting out of work Friday, spending the whole weekend with the family---and what's our reward? Evolving up the TLB Blogosphere food-chain. Yeah, yeah, I know--all that stuff's silly and all. And it is. But I still can't believe that people read this. Basically, much of our postings are things that Robbo and I used to email back and forth for the past couple of years, plus stuff that I used to mutter about under my breath around the house. Four months of blogging has produced a cadre of regular readers [from around the world, no less], plus, most importantly, a decided decline in the "Steve Cranky-o-meter" as determined by the dearly beloved. And you know what that means....basically everyone wins.
Friday night we did family pizza; Saturday morning, soccer with the 5 yr old boy [go Maroon eagles!], followed by a trip with the whole family over to the Shenandoah Valley for a Wool Festival at a farm. Sheep sheering, clogging, animal petting [including llamas!!!], wool dyeing---lets just say it was carnivore heaven! The whole way home I was thinking of two things, besides the beautiful scenery: lamb chops, and the chapter in Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel about the role of animal husbandry in the development of society, in particular the development of disease and its spread via warfare.
Today was spent playing with the 18 month old and the 5 year old all day. They are both a bit under the weather, so we stayed home from church. The boy and I finished reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and he came up with an elaborate game playing Narnia, with the backyard as Narnia, the front yard as our world, with the garage as the woods between the worlds and the basement stairs as the wardrobe. He was Diggory as well as Peter [depending where we were in the game], and I was either Mr. Beaver, Diggory as an old man, and on occasion Aslan [which was the best, of course]. When his little sister woke up from her nap, she filled in for all the "girl" parts---she made a convincing White Witch throwing her bowl with applesauce in it.
Tonight is grading--I have a mound of paper's to go through and return this week. Yeah, I know---waaaaaah. I'm not complaining, though---never trust a professor who complains about their job [unless they are an adjunct, which is a low form of degraded servitude that I thought was banned by the Thirteenth Amendment].
Big week ahead for the world, for the campaign, for the 9/11 Commission, and in pop culture [I feel a big review coming on for Truly Bad Films on the genres of CFGB (Chick Flicks Gone Bad), and GMTS (Guy Movies that Suck), premised on our renting of the Colin Firth/Heather whats-her-name stinkeroo Hope Springs. You know a movie is sucking wind when you think to yourself, "didn't Sandra Bullock make the same movie, but only better?"] Not to mention whatever snarkiness and wisecracking arises inevitably. And don't forget to come here for the latest on the whole Air America disaster---what with our very own in house FCC lawyer to provide the inside scoop. Just like mixing CSpan, SportsCenter, the History Channel, and Fark together with a pound of crack and a half gallon of Chablis!
That's the Llamabutchers for you: covering the waterfront so you don't have to! [And bringing back the rats, tastily skewered in a fine fennel sauce....]
Friday, April 16, 2004
Llama Appreciation Citation
Big Llama YIPS! go to Lynn for posting a somewhat obscure movie bleg for me and to her alert reader who had the answer almost immediately.
Thanks muchly.
Yip! Yip!
Big Llama YIPS! go to Lynn for posting a somewhat obscure movie bleg for me and to her alert reader who had the answer almost immediately.
Thanks muchly.
Yip! Yip!
Re-organization of the Intelligence Community
Phil Carter has some excellent thoughts on the whole issue of how to reform intelligence gathering.
Mancur Olson studied these types of situations--the turgidity [if that's a word?] created by ossified bureaucracy over time, in terms of the costs imposed upon the flow of information. The ideal answer is to tear down completely and start anew, although this is next to impossible.
More thoughts on this later--I'm bugging out and heading home.
Phil Carter has some excellent thoughts on the whole issue of how to reform intelligence gathering.
Mancur Olson studied these types of situations--the turgidity [if that's a word?] created by ossified bureaucracy over time, in terms of the costs imposed upon the flow of information. The ideal answer is to tear down completely and start anew, although this is next to impossible.
More thoughts on this later--I'm bugging out and heading home.
Just Checking In
"Baby Beethoven" is currently playing downstairs, after a morning at the park. The lunch shift starts soon. Quick round of email/voicemail/blog/sitemeter checks in between.
In the meantime, all the cool kids are still playing the literary game. I felt kind of goofy when I posted on it the other day, since I was at the office and only had yucky legal stuff around me. Since I'm at home today, I feel I can take a mulligan with impunity.
So here we go. First book in sight, page 23, fifth line down. Goes something like this:
"from modern literature would require the end of individual reading. All"
- from Quotations From Chairman Bill - The Best of Wm. F. Buckley, Jr.
Just thought you'd like to know.
Coming Later: My Martin Luther take on HBO's "Band of Brothers."
"Baby Beethoven" is currently playing downstairs, after a morning at the park. The lunch shift starts soon. Quick round of email/voicemail/blog/sitemeter checks in between.
In the meantime, all the cool kids are still playing the literary game. I felt kind of goofy when I posted on it the other day, since I was at the office and only had yucky legal stuff around me. Since I'm at home today, I feel I can take a mulligan with impunity.
So here we go. First book in sight, page 23, fifth line down. Goes something like this:
"from modern literature would require the end of individual reading. All"
- from Quotations From Chairman Bill - The Best of Wm. F. Buckley, Jr.
Just thought you'd like to know.
Coming Later: My Martin Luther take on HBO's "Band of Brothers."
Gratuitous Domestic Blogging (TM)
So far, so good. Got fiends A&B on the bus without incident. Fiend C is currently climbing all over me - I must take her to the park soon.
Don't let Lileks fool you - this is hard.
More later.
So far, so good. Got fiends A&B on the bus without incident. Fiend C is currently climbing all over me - I must take her to the park soon.
Don't let Lileks fool you - this is hard.
More later.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
M. Chirac, M. ben laden connectée deux...
What to make of the "new" "bin Laden" tape: I don't think it's real, because I think he's dead.
But let's assume he's not, and make the second assumption that it's in fact legit---what does it mean?
Here's the text, as recounted in The Jordan Times:
Let's get the obligatory joke out of the way: I sure as hell am glad the tape wasn't in German, otherwise we know what the French and Belgians would do....
With that out of the way, let's take this "offer" apart:
UPDATE: Got to learn to scroll all the way to the bottom--on second look, the tape was delivered with German subtitles.......we all know what THAT means!
UPDATE DEUX: Lawrence Simon, lunatic in chief over at Amish Tech Support, adds another dimension to the analysis that I can't believed I missed: when M. Chirac says "there can be no negotiations with terrorists," I'm sure what he's saying is in fact the initial price that France paid will just have to do. You know the policy--you can't haggle with terrorists....
What to make of the "new" "bin Laden" tape: I don't think it's real, because I think he's dead.
But let's assume he's not, and make the second assumption that it's in fact legit---what does it mean?
Here's the text, as recounted in The Jordan Times:
"I offer a truce to them (Europe) with a commitment to stop operations against any state which vows to stop attacking Muslims or interfere in their affairs. ... The announcement of the truce starts with the withdrawal of the last soldier from our land and the door is open for three months from the date of the announcement of this statement. Whoever rejects this truce and wants war, we are its (war's) sons and whoever wants this truce, here we bring it."
Let's get the obligatory joke out of the way: I sure as hell am glad the tape wasn't in German, otherwise we know what the French and Belgians would do....
With that out of the way, let's take this "offer" apart:
1. Let's say Osama has taken the measure of M. Chirac, M. Schroeder, and whoever the insignificant weasel is in charge of Greater Belgium at the moment. Suppose they collectively Muqtada their shorts at the same time, hide under their desks and say "Oui!" Where would that leave them? Three months from today......May 15.....June 15.....July 15......just in time for the Olympics!!! You can almost guess what the "extension" message would be: another three months if you hand over the rest of your Jews?
2. I like how nobody seems to have picked up on the Osama's loophole: it's as if he spent his early years fine tuning his negotiation skills at a Rent-to-Own store. The contract requires the Europeans to leave from all Muslim lands..........which, according to Osama's worldview, includes Spain, Greece, Rumania, Bulgaria, Serbia, part of the Ukraine, and Austria just to the east of Vienna. And don't forget southern France up to about Tours. Because Muslim lands are all lands ever controlled by the Caliphate. ..
UPDATE: Got to learn to scroll all the way to the bottom--on second look, the tape was delivered with German subtitles.......we all know what THAT means!
UPDATE DEUX: Lawrence Simon, lunatic in chief over at Amish Tech Support, adds another dimension to the analysis that I can't believed I missed: when M. Chirac says "there can be no negotiations with terrorists," I'm sure what he's saying is in fact the initial price that France paid will just have to do. You know the policy--you can't haggle with terrorists....
They fight under the banner of religion but do the work of the devil
Holy cow---have a look at this editorial, in the Arab News. Trust me on this one.
If a Saudi woman can get something like this published, we just might be winning the larger, deeper war.
Holy cow---have a look at this editorial, in the Arab News. Trust me on this one.
If a Saudi woman can get something like this published, we just might be winning the larger, deeper war.
Stemwinder
Sheila O'Malley uncorks a heck of a rant over at Sheila A-stray. And yes, American politics would be more fun if we had a Question Time format for the president.
YIPS! from Robbo. I worked for a year in Parliament after college and, as a treat, sometimes got to sit in on Question Time. Once, Neal Kinnock (then leader of the Labour Party) was razzing Thatcher about something or other. Her reply was so wicked, precise and compelling that it left Kinnock literally speechless. He just sat there with his jaw hanging open. It was a priceless moment. Mmmm.....Maggie.
Sheila O'Malley uncorks a heck of a rant over at Sheila A-stray. And yes, American politics would be more fun if we had a Question Time format for the president.
YIPS! from Robbo. I worked for a year in Parliament after college and, as a treat, sometimes got to sit in on Question Time. Once, Neal Kinnock (then leader of the Labour Party) was razzing Thatcher about something or other. Her reply was so wicked, precise and compelling that it left Kinnock literally speechless. He just sat there with his jaw hanging open. It was a priceless moment. Mmmm.....Maggie.
Gratuitous Domestic Blogging (TM)
The Butcher's Wife has to head out of town tomorrow morning for a couple of nights. This leaves me alone and knee-deep in Llama-ettes for the weekend. Thank God we're supposed to have fantastic weather here in Your Nation's Capitol, so ideal booting-into-the-yard conditions will prevail.
Still, I think I'm going to need a big assist from Daddy's Little Helper to see this thing all the way through till Sunday afternoon.
The Butcher's Wife has to head out of town tomorrow morning for a couple of nights. This leaves me alone and knee-deep in Llama-ettes for the weekend. Thank God we're supposed to have fantastic weather here in Your Nation's Capitol, so ideal booting-into-the-yard conditions will prevail.
Still, I think I'm going to need a big assist from Daddy's Little Helper to see this thing all the way through till Sunday afternoon.
Ask Mr. FCC-lawyer dude: RE Air America's legal problems
Hey Robbo, care to explain what the heck is going on with the CIA-front lib radio network, from a legal perspective?
YIPS! Robbo exclaimed, his pink little ears perking up. Well, all I have to go on is what Drudge is relaying. As I understand it, FrankenAir was operating on these stations pursuant to what's known as a Time Brokerage Agreement, which basically is a contract under which a station leases airtime to a programmer. The FCC permits these kinds of agreements so long as the station licensee maintains ultimate control of the station, both in terms of physical control and in the ability to accept or reject content. Usually, the "content" control gives the station licensee the ability to substitute programming it considers to be of greater importance or value to its audience and to reject any programming that it considers inappropriate. Generally, TBA's will include language acknowledging that they are subject to FCC regulations. (I haven't seen the text of this particular TBA.)
The interesting part to me is FrankenAir's complaint to the New York courts seeking an injunction to force Multicultural to put its signal back on the air. I recall a case somewhat similar to this a few years ago somewhere in (I think) Ohio. If I remember correctly, in that case the programmer had got a court to issue a TRO to stop a station from preempting its programming without judicial supervision. The station complained to the FCC and the FCC fined the programmer for interfering with the station's operations. UPDATE: Here is the case.
The bottom line is that FrankenAir may (depending on the facts) have a claim Multicultural for breach of contract, but may have a more difficult time forcing Multicultural to put its signal back on the air. On the other hand, a lot of state courts don't pay much attention to federal regulation in these situations and instead will focus purely on the contractual arguments. This case is sufficiently high-profile that I would think the FCC would watch the fight pretty carefully - licensee control of broadcast stations is something it guards pretty jealously.
UPDATE: Extra Robbo YIP! - I realized after reading this that I'd just written perhaps the most boring post I've ever done. Sorry 'bout that. I'l try harder next time....
Hey Robbo, care to explain what the heck is going on with the CIA-front lib radio network, from a legal perspective?
YIPS! Robbo exclaimed, his pink little ears perking up. Well, all I have to go on is what Drudge is relaying. As I understand it, FrankenAir was operating on these stations pursuant to what's known as a Time Brokerage Agreement, which basically is a contract under which a station leases airtime to a programmer. The FCC permits these kinds of agreements so long as the station licensee maintains ultimate control of the station, both in terms of physical control and in the ability to accept or reject content. Usually, the "content" control gives the station licensee the ability to substitute programming it considers to be of greater importance or value to its audience and to reject any programming that it considers inappropriate. Generally, TBA's will include language acknowledging that they are subject to FCC regulations. (I haven't seen the text of this particular TBA.)
The interesting part to me is FrankenAir's complaint to the New York courts seeking an injunction to force Multicultural to put its signal back on the air. I recall a case somewhat similar to this a few years ago somewhere in (I think) Ohio. If I remember correctly, in that case the programmer had got a court to issue a TRO to stop a station from preempting its programming without judicial supervision. The station complained to the FCC and the FCC fined the programmer for interfering with the station's operations. UPDATE: Here is the case.
The bottom line is that FrankenAir may (depending on the facts) have a claim Multicultural for breach of contract, but may have a more difficult time forcing Multicultural to put its signal back on the air. On the other hand, a lot of state courts don't pay much attention to federal regulation in these situations and instead will focus purely on the contractual arguments. This case is sufficiently high-profile that I would think the FCC would watch the fight pretty carefully - licensee control of broadcast stations is something it guards pretty jealously.
UPDATE: Extra Robbo YIP! - I realized after reading this that I'd just written perhaps the most boring post I've ever done. Sorry 'bout that. I'l try harder next time....
The latest on the good economic numbers
Daniel Drenzer is on the case of the better than expected trade figures announced today.
Daniel Drenzer is on the case of the better than expected trade figures announced today.
Can Richard Ben Veniste snatch a clue from the Master's palm? I don't think so...
Hugh Hewitt has a nice take on the political immolation being conducted by Richard Ben Veniste on the 9/11 Commission. Obviously, he got Jay Rockefeller's memo from last fall about how to turn Intelligence Committee hearings over Iraq into a partisan drive-by shooting and decided, "hey, what the hell---let's take the biggest tragedy in the last sixty years of American history and turn it into a chance for me to make my party look like a bunch of leeching hacks---not to mention having people stop saying to me "Dude! I loved A Mighty Wind! But what the hell was the deal with American Pie 3?"
Richard Ben Veniste: willing to reopen and pour salt in America's wounds so people will stop mistaking him for Eugene Levy in airports!
Well, I'm sure that's NOT what he was thinking---he was thinking "hey this is a great way to sneak up on Dubya, pour a can of gas on him, light it and run!" But in some bad David Carradine/Kung Fu/quantum mechanics event horizon snafu, just as he's throwing the match, Darth Vader's helmet pops off and it's HIS HEAD INSIDE!
Insert evil mixed metaphor laugh here.
I have a hunch here that the 9/11 Commission is backfiring on those who wanted to use it as a partisan hack-smear of the Bush administration. Just as much as the Democratic Underground-types' protests at the Republican Convention in NYC are going to back-fire spectacularly.
Particularly if the "Fruits of Appeasement" show up.
Hugh Hewitt has a nice take on the political immolation being conducted by Richard Ben Veniste on the 9/11 Commission. Obviously, he got Jay Rockefeller's memo from last fall about how to turn Intelligence Committee hearings over Iraq into a partisan drive-by shooting and decided, "hey, what the hell---let's take the biggest tragedy in the last sixty years of American history and turn it into a chance for me to make my party look like a bunch of leeching hacks---not to mention having people stop saying to me "Dude! I loved A Mighty Wind! But what the hell was the deal with American Pie 3?"
Richard Ben Veniste: willing to reopen and pour salt in America's wounds so people will stop mistaking him for Eugene Levy in airports!
Well, I'm sure that's NOT what he was thinking---he was thinking "hey this is a great way to sneak up on Dubya, pour a can of gas on him, light it and run!" But in some bad David Carradine/Kung Fu/quantum mechanics event horizon snafu, just as he's throwing the match, Darth Vader's helmet pops off and it's HIS HEAD INSIDE!
Insert evil mixed metaphor laugh here.
I have a hunch here that the 9/11 Commission is backfiring on those who wanted to use it as a partisan hack-smear of the Bush administration. Just as much as the Democratic Underground-types' protests at the Republican Convention in NYC are going to back-fire spectacularly.
Particularly if the "Fruits of Appeasement" show up.
Llama Public Service Announcement
I just received the following email from Not In Our Name, the lovely anti-U.S., er, anti-war petition organization. To them, I really am a Captain in the Vogon Constructor Fleet:
Dear Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz,
On Tuesday, April 20, and on Wednesday, April 28, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on the power claimed by the President to designate people as "enemy combatants" and have them incarcerated by the military--indefinitely, without charges, and without access to the court system--solely on his say-so.
This is a critical moment in United States history. How the court rules on these cases will determine the type of country we will be living in.
We urge those of you who can to be present outside the Supreme Court on these dates. For further information please see www.nlg.org/eccases.
Not In Our Name statement
working group
Seems to me that any D.C. area bloggers looking for a moonbat sighting (like you,
Bill), might want to go over and check 'em out.
I just received the following email from Not In Our Name, the lovely anti-U.S., er, anti-war petition organization. To them, I really am a Captain in the Vogon Constructor Fleet:
Dear Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz,
On Tuesday, April 20, and on Wednesday, April 28, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on the power claimed by the President to designate people as "enemy combatants" and have them incarcerated by the military--indefinitely, without charges, and without access to the court system--solely on his say-so.
This is a critical moment in United States history. How the court rules on these cases will determine the type of country we will be living in.
We urge those of you who can to be present outside the Supreme Court on these dates. For further information please see www.nlg.org/eccases.
Not In Our Name statement
working group
Seems to me that any D.C. area bloggers looking for a moonbat sighting (like you,
Bill), might want to go over and check 'em out.
oops!
Suddenly our pal Moqtada al-Sadr is looking a little less bellicose---actually, he has the same look on his face in the article's picture that my five year old nephew gets if he accidently poops in his pants.
What's going on right now is Mogadishu, yes, but what would have happened in Mogadishu if that infernal jackass Les Aspin had let the Rangers have proper armor support (and if the Commander in Chief wasn't more interested in booty call and the latest polls than actually defending the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic).
Someone last week said this would be the Marine Corps' Belleau Wood of the War on Terrorism--not to mention payback (principal + 20 years interest) to those Hezzbollah bastards for Beiruit.
I only have one thing to say to Moqtada (and his buddies in ANSWER): Semper Fi, motherfucker!
Suddenly our pal Moqtada al-Sadr is looking a little less bellicose---actually, he has the same look on his face in the article's picture that my five year old nephew gets if he accidently poops in his pants.
What's going on right now is Mogadishu, yes, but what would have happened in Mogadishu if that infernal jackass Les Aspin had let the Rangers have proper armor support (and if the Commander in Chief wasn't more interested in booty call and the latest polls than actually defending the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic).
Someone last week said this would be the Marine Corps' Belleau Wood of the War on Terrorism--not to mention payback (principal + 20 years interest) to those Hezzbollah bastards for Beiruit.
I only have one thing to say to Moqtada (and his buddies in ANSWER): Semper Fi, motherfucker!
Oliver Stone Is An Effin' Moron
Well, you probably knew that already. But just as a refresher, read this in-person fisking by Ann Louise Bardach.
HT to Vodka Pundit's Bottle-Washer.
Well, you probably knew that already. But just as a refresher, read this in-person fisking by Ann Louise Bardach.
HT to Vodka Pundit's Bottle-Washer.
Tax Day
Yes, it's April 15. The radio jocks I listen to on the drive in were down at one of the local post offices handing out extra stamps and "Payday" candy bars this morning and trying to get people to confess to goofy things they had tried to deduct over the years.
I have to confess that I had our taxes done by the end of January. The only time of year when I don't feel quite so bad about our God-awful mortgage payments is when I do the tax forms and figure out how much of a rebate we're going to get from Uncle. That's a huge incentive to get 'em done early.
Two anectdotes about tax time.
A number of years ago I sent in my Virginia tax forms as usual. A few weeks later, I got a letter back from the state pointing out that I would have saved some money by filing one kind of return as opposed to another. (The Butcher's Wife and I were both pulling down paychecks and the difference was based on whether we filed individually or jointly - I forget which was which now.) The letter went on to say that the state had gone ahead and made this change for me and that we could expect a modified refund. I have never been so pleased with a governmental body in my life. God bless Virginia!
On the other hand, one year I blew off doing the taxes until, well, April 15. Late that evening, the BW and I set out to find an open post office. Discovering that the local satellite office did not stay open late, we found ourselves having to crawl over to the Merrifield VA central office. We had to sit in line in the car for a looong time. A group of Young Republicans was out waiving signs that said things like "Honk if you hate Clinton's tax increase!"
On the way back, we got caught in a violent thunderstorm and further caught in traffic caused by an accident in Tyson's Corner. As we crept along past the crash sight in a driving rainstorm and bumper to bumper congestion, a VA State Trooper came over from about 15 or 20 yards away and tapped on the windshield to note that my state inspection sticker was a month expired. He didn't ticket me, but he looked like he was thinking about it. Talk about priority issues!
After that trip, the BW swore that if I ever put her through that again she would leave me.
Yes, it's April 15. The radio jocks I listen to on the drive in were down at one of the local post offices handing out extra stamps and "Payday" candy bars this morning and trying to get people to confess to goofy things they had tried to deduct over the years.
I have to confess that I had our taxes done by the end of January. The only time of year when I don't feel quite so bad about our God-awful mortgage payments is when I do the tax forms and figure out how much of a rebate we're going to get from Uncle. That's a huge incentive to get 'em done early.
Two anectdotes about tax time.
A number of years ago I sent in my Virginia tax forms as usual. A few weeks later, I got a letter back from the state pointing out that I would have saved some money by filing one kind of return as opposed to another. (The Butcher's Wife and I were both pulling down paychecks and the difference was based on whether we filed individually or jointly - I forget which was which now.) The letter went on to say that the state had gone ahead and made this change for me and that we could expect a modified refund. I have never been so pleased with a governmental body in my life. God bless Virginia!
On the other hand, one year I blew off doing the taxes until, well, April 15. Late that evening, the BW and I set out to find an open post office. Discovering that the local satellite office did not stay open late, we found ourselves having to crawl over to the Merrifield VA central office. We had to sit in line in the car for a looong time. A group of Young Republicans was out waiving signs that said things like "Honk if you hate Clinton's tax increase!"
On the way back, we got caught in a violent thunderstorm and further caught in traffic caused by an accident in Tyson's Corner. As we crept along past the crash sight in a driving rainstorm and bumper to bumper congestion, a VA State Trooper came over from about 15 or 20 yards away and tapped on the windshield to note that my state inspection sticker was a month expired. He didn't ticket me, but he looked like he was thinking about it. Talk about priority issues!
After that trip, the BW swore that if I ever put her through that again she would leave me.
This Is Cool
Here is an interesting paper discussing the possible relationship (in terms of loudness and pitch variation - what the paper calls 1/f-noise) among music, natural sounds and man-made noise generated in urban and suburban settings. It further asks questions about the possible relationship between the apparent human affinity for a specific range of 1/f-noise and what the paper calls "self-organized criticality (SOC)." The paper explains SOC as
the term given to systems with behavior that fluctuates between predictability and unpredictability. SOC was discovered everywhere: the fluctuation of the water level in the Nile, a pile of sand sliding down as grains were added, the fluctuation of the stock market, road traffic flow, etc. Is it possible that we like this critical balance between predictability and unpredictability so much that we reproduce it in our music?
The paper seems, in the end, more concerned with issues of urban planning and noise control than in the pure relationship between natural and man-made noise - it never actually answers the question posed about SOC. But still, this is fascinating stuff.
There is nothing new about Mankind's awareness of the "music" of the natural world and our effort to understand it in terms of physical and philosophical laws. The Music of the Spheres is a concept that has been around since Classical times. And it is perfectly understandable that if we are part of this great matrix of mathematical relationships, we would naturally seek to create music that resonates with it, echoing the music of nature however faintly. It is intriguing that, as this paper suggests, we are now beginning to think about these relationships in terms of other artificial sounds. (The example that immediately came to mind was the pleasant sound of neighborhood lawnmowers on a balmy afternoon). If there are, in fact, traffic patterns and other urban noises that can be tweaked, as it were, to generate a 1/f-noise signature more in line with that which is pleasant to the human ear, well, it is at least worth investigating them.
By the way, I know I've mentioned it very recently, but again Douglas Adams was all over this idea of mapping natural and artificial physical phenomena, including SOC's, mathematically and exploring the relationships between such maps and music. This idea is central to his Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
HT for unearthing this article goes to Lynn at Reflections in d Minor.
Here is an interesting paper discussing the possible relationship (in terms of loudness and pitch variation - what the paper calls 1/f-noise) among music, natural sounds and man-made noise generated in urban and suburban settings. It further asks questions about the possible relationship between the apparent human affinity for a specific range of 1/f-noise and what the paper calls "self-organized criticality (SOC)." The paper explains SOC as
the term given to systems with behavior that fluctuates between predictability and unpredictability. SOC was discovered everywhere: the fluctuation of the water level in the Nile, a pile of sand sliding down as grains were added, the fluctuation of the stock market, road traffic flow, etc. Is it possible that we like this critical balance between predictability and unpredictability so much that we reproduce it in our music?
The paper seems, in the end, more concerned with issues of urban planning and noise control than in the pure relationship between natural and man-made noise - it never actually answers the question posed about SOC. But still, this is fascinating stuff.
There is nothing new about Mankind's awareness of the "music" of the natural world and our effort to understand it in terms of physical and philosophical laws. The Music of the Spheres is a concept that has been around since Classical times. And it is perfectly understandable that if we are part of this great matrix of mathematical relationships, we would naturally seek to create music that resonates with it, echoing the music of nature however faintly. It is intriguing that, as this paper suggests, we are now beginning to think about these relationships in terms of other artificial sounds. (The example that immediately came to mind was the pleasant sound of neighborhood lawnmowers on a balmy afternoon). If there are, in fact, traffic patterns and other urban noises that can be tweaked, as it were, to generate a 1/f-noise signature more in line with that which is pleasant to the human ear, well, it is at least worth investigating them.
By the way, I know I've mentioned it very recently, but again Douglas Adams was all over this idea of mapping natural and artificial physical phenomena, including SOC's, mathematically and exploring the relationships between such maps and music. This idea is central to his Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
HT for unearthing this article goes to Lynn at Reflections in d Minor.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Um, Nooooo.......
Take the quiz: "Which American City Are You?"
New York
You're competative, you like to take it straight to the fight. You gotta have it all or die trying.
No I'm not. I loathe NYC. Cities I like far more: Boston, Portland ME, Wash DC, Fredericksburg VA, Charlottesville VA, Lexington VA, Charleston SC, Austin TX, San Antonio TX. (Gee - all places I've lived or spent significant amounts of time. Go figure.)
Take the quiz: "Which American City Are You?"
New York
You're competative, you like to take it straight to the fight. You gotta have it all or die trying.
No I'm not. I loathe NYC. Cities I like far more: Boston, Portland ME, Wash DC, Fredericksburg VA, Charlottesville VA, Lexington VA, Charleston SC, Austin TX, San Antonio TX. (Gee - all places I've lived or spent significant amounts of time. Go figure.)
BAWBWAAAA!
Yes! Just when you thought you'd seen all of her talents on display, Mecha-Streisand has taken up the scandal of corporate taxation!
Check out this startling statement:
- Bush's Tax Cuts
Bush's 2002 and 2003 tax bills provided the largest corporate tax cuts since the early 1980's.
At only 1.2% of the economy, corporate taxes are currently the lowest they have been since the 1930's; except for one year during Reagan's first term when corporate taxes produced 1.6% of the economy.
Corporate taxes produced 1.6% of the economy? What the hell does that mean? Does Babs believe that taxes are a good or service in and of themselves? Or does she believe that the Federal budget is the economy? Inquiring minds want to know.
Go read the rest and have a good chuckle.
Oh, just a few more questions (as Columbo used to say): I note at the bottom of her page that Babs has her own limited liability company - "BJS, LLC." An LLC doesn't actually pay corporate income taxes. I'd be curious to know how much of Babs' revenue from all those royalties, concerts, merchandise, etc., etc., runs through this LLC. I'd also be curious to know how much money Babs saves every year by using this, ahem, loophole. I'm sure Ms. Streisand wouldn't do anything to shirk paying her fair share of this nation's, um, economy!
Yes! Just when you thought you'd seen all of her talents on display, Mecha-Streisand has taken up the scandal of corporate taxation!
Check out this startling statement:
- Bush's Tax Cuts
Bush's 2002 and 2003 tax bills provided the largest corporate tax cuts since the early 1980's.
At only 1.2% of the economy, corporate taxes are currently the lowest they have been since the 1930's; except for one year during Reagan's first term when corporate taxes produced 1.6% of the economy.
Corporate taxes produced 1.6% of the economy? What the hell does that mean? Does Babs believe that taxes are a good or service in and of themselves? Or does she believe that the Federal budget is the economy? Inquiring minds want to know.
Go read the rest and have a good chuckle.
Oh, just a few more questions (as Columbo used to say): I note at the bottom of her page that Babs has her own limited liability company - "BJS, LLC." An LLC doesn't actually pay corporate income taxes. I'd be curious to know how much of Babs' revenue from all those royalties, concerts, merchandise, etc., etc., runs through this LLC. I'd also be curious to know how much money Babs saves every year by using this, ahem, loophole. I'm sure Ms. Streisand wouldn't do anything to shirk paying her fair share of this nation's, um, economy!
Attention Liz and Pep!
As long as we're at lists 'n stuff, Michelle relays a Premiere Magazine list of Top One Hundred Film Characters of All Time.
I've a sneaking suspicion the list was created by filling a hat full of names and throwing it down the stairwell, because it doesn't make much sense. But it's fun to play with. Got a comment? You know what to do.
As long as we're at lists 'n stuff, Michelle relays a Premiere Magazine list of Top One Hundred Film Characters of All Time.
I've a sneaking suspicion the list was created by filling a hat full of names and throwing it down the stairwell, because it doesn't make much sense. But it's fun to play with. Got a comment? You know what to do.
And now for something completely different
So I had a chance during lunch to jot down the Sheila O'Malley "list of the last twenty books you have read." I know, I know, based on all my postings about such pressing concerns as the role of the Dukes of Hazzard in the crackerploitation subgenre of the blaxploitation movie, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon starring in a "CHiPS" movie, not to mention the creeping Jenna Elfman menace, that you would think that I spend my spare time sitting in a leather club chair, monocle firmly entrenched in my eye, ensconsed in a velvet smoking jacket, reading Proust. And you'd be right. Okay, I'm lying about that: I dress like that to watch this week's very special episode of JAG, or whatever coroner show is on.
The danger in a posting like this is lying to try to make yourself more well read than you actually are. In my case, I'm a Philistine through and through--my dear wife, the english major who is in three book clubs, she's the one who does all the Garcia Gabriel Marquez work in our family [whereas I stand on chairs and change the lightbulbs. It's a good division of labor, and it's worked for the past ten years.] So basically anything I say is going to make Robbo look good.
Anyhoo, I've divided the list up into categories which place the reading in their context. The list isn't inclusive--some books I can remember reading but for the life of me I can't remember what they were about. And I've left off most of the more technical stuff.
YIPS! From Robbo - Oh hell, if you're counting children's books, I'd also have to include a great deal of Madeline (which I like) and several of the Magic School Bus series (which I hate, largely because Miss Frizzle reminds me too much of Bawbwa Stweisand).
So I had a chance during lunch to jot down the Sheila O'Malley "list of the last twenty books you have read." I know, I know, based on all my postings about such pressing concerns as the role of the Dukes of Hazzard in the crackerploitation subgenre of the blaxploitation movie, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon starring in a "CHiPS" movie, not to mention the creeping Jenna Elfman menace, that you would think that I spend my spare time sitting in a leather club chair, monocle firmly entrenched in my eye, ensconsed in a velvet smoking jacket, reading Proust. And you'd be right. Okay, I'm lying about that: I dress like that to watch this week's very special episode of JAG, or whatever coroner show is on.
The danger in a posting like this is lying to try to make yourself more well read than you actually are. In my case, I'm a Philistine through and through--my dear wife, the english major who is in three book clubs, she's the one who does all the Garcia Gabriel Marquez work in our family [whereas I stand on chairs and change the lightbulbs. It's a good division of labor, and it's worked for the past ten years.] So basically anything I say is going to make Robbo look good.
Anyhoo, I've divided the list up into categories which place the reading in their context. The list isn't inclusive--some books I can remember reading but for the life of me I can't remember what they were about. And I've left off most of the more technical stuff.
KID's BOOKS: Seriously, two books have been fun reading to the kids in the past month: the first is Roald Dahl's Matilda which I would have loved as a kid but hadn't been written yet. As an adult it was hilarious to read, as the Trunchbull is a good approximation of our current Dean, but in drag, and Matilda's family reminds me of some neighbors down the street. The other one is The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. I don't know how I missed the Narnia books as a kid, but somehow I did. The chapter where Aslan the Lion sings the world into existence almost made me cry.So that's me, Mr. Vegas. I'm going to have to proofread this one later.
ADVENT/LENT READING: Reading The Magician's Nephew made me dip back into C.S. Lewis's larger works. I had listened to The Screwtape Letters on tape [read by John Cleese no less] in the fall, and was meaning to go back through Mere Christianity during Lent but haven't had a chance. It's on deck, so to speak, on the nightstand. I've also been going through The Character of God in the Book of Genesis by Lee Humphreys, which is good but very dense and so has to be read in smaller doses. During Advent I started going back through The Four Witnesses: The Rebel, the Rabbi, the Chronicler, and the Mystic by Robin Griffith-Jones, looking over the chapters on the Gospel of John. I also read Bruce Feiler's Walking the Bible which was a great read.
FUN: My tastes here are wide open. I really liked The Devil in the White City, Easter Island, Cryptonomicon, Band of Brothers, as well as The Dante Club. That one was particularly funny, partly because I kept imagining the character of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. as Robbo's dad. All were provocative in some way. I also read a couple of detective novels over break, but for the life of me I can't remember any of them. Oh, last summer I read The DaVinci Code, and to be perfectly honest it was like a good BBQ cheeseburger--great going down, extra juicy and all, but gives you real chest pains later. I had actually finally gotten around to reading Elaine Pagel's The Gnostic Gospels before that by coincidence: a friend who is a religion professor had recommended that as a good read. Dan Brown is a good suspense writer, but I can't believe people are taking that stuff seriously.
WORK: So far in the past two semesters there are a number of books that I assigned the kiddies that were fun to reread again: Richard Posner's The Problems of Jurisprudence, Hart's The Concept of Law, Golding's The Lord of the Flies, Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, Father Prucha's The Great Father: A History of American Indians and the United States Government, and Robert Williams' The American Indian in Western Legal Thought which is great on so many levels, particularly in his lucid descriptions of the formulation of Canon Law and the Crusades, and how it evolved into the core property doctrine in American law (ie the Right of Discovery). Also, for a class on American Empire? I had fun going through Blackhawk Down, Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel which is a truly awesome book, VDH's Carnage and Culture, Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations [brilliant, except for that part about never actually defining a civilization....oops!], Paul Kennedy's Decline and Fall of Great Powers [hilarious for its descriptions of the challenges the Soviet Union would face going into the year 2000---yeah, like not existing any more! And don't forget all the "how America is being bought by Japan" crap. Ah, 1986! So wrong on so many levels.....and not just Wang Chung, either!], and Robert Kaplan's Warrior Politics. In terms of research, the one that stands out recently is Robert Remini's Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars, which basically makes the argument that while Jackson was no humanitarian by our standards, he was given the definition of the time, and that short of his actions the five southern tribes would have been wiped out altogether. I don't buy this, necessarily, but Remini is an interesting historian [and by that I don't mean occasionally writing a book but spending the rest of your time pal-ing around with Chalmers Johnson on PBS---Doris, I'm talking to YOU!]
YIPS! From Robbo - Oh hell, if you're counting children's books, I'd also have to include a great deal of Madeline (which I like) and several of the Magic School Bus series (which I hate, largely because Miss Frizzle reminds me too much of Bawbwa Stweisand).
Burning Condi Rice
I was reading Dorothy Rabinowitz's piece on the so-called "Jersey Girls" over lunch. Rabinowitz documents quite sickeningly the way this small group of 9/11 widows have managed to enthrall certain segments of the media and political class, and how their original, understandable grief has transmogrified into a frenzy of hurling the most outrageously flimsy accusations of wrong-doing at whoever they choose to target, to the delight of their press and political handlers.
As I read, I began to think that I'd seen something like this before.
It's fashionable here at the End of History to sneer at the credulity and foolishness of our forebearers, but it doesn't strike me that times have really changed all that much.
I was reading Dorothy Rabinowitz's piece on the so-called "Jersey Girls" over lunch. Rabinowitz documents quite sickeningly the way this small group of 9/11 widows have managed to enthrall certain segments of the media and political class, and how their original, understandable grief has transmogrified into a frenzy of hurling the most outrageously flimsy accusations of wrong-doing at whoever they choose to target, to the delight of their press and political handlers.
As I read, I began to think that I'd seen something like this before.
It's fashionable here at the End of History to sneer at the credulity and foolishness of our forebearers, but it doesn't strike me that times have really changed all that much.
Our new motto
I just was emailing Robbo that one of the reasons this blog has turned out to be so fun to do is one minute we're talking about Jane Austen and Dickens and stuff, and the next minute it's Meg Ryan's skank-o-rific rating [currently off the charts--she's becoming skankier than Katie Couric!] or the A-Rod/Jeter "double play combo."
The Llamabutchers: we cover the waterfront.....and bring you all the rats tastily roasted on a stick!
I just was emailing Robbo that one of the reasons this blog has turned out to be so fun to do is one minute we're talking about Jane Austen and Dickens and stuff, and the next minute it's Meg Ryan's skank-o-rific rating [currently off the charts--she's becoming skankier than Katie Couric!] or the A-Rod/Jeter "double play combo."
The Llamabutchers: we cover the waterfront.....and bring you all the rats tastily roasted on a stick!
Yeeeesssssss!!!!!!
After weeks of drought, Yours Truly has gone and won himself the latest caption contest over at the Captain's Quarters!
I know it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Bill was guest-judging. (BTW, I'll get that check in the mail this afternoon.)
Yip! Yip! Yip!
After weeks of drought, Yours Truly has gone and won himself the latest caption contest over at the Captain's Quarters!
I know it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Bill was guest-judging. (BTW, I'll get that check in the mail this afternoon.)
Yip! Yip! Yip!
Col. Jane Kurtz
Growing up, I was a great fan of Jane Goodall. I found her research, at least as regurgitated by National Geographic and other outlets, fascinating. (I suppose I had a bit of a crush on her, too.) Well, Ed at MonkeyWatch has been keeping an eye on her and tracking her slow but sure descent into jungle madness. Here is the latest symptom.
Growing up, I was a great fan of Jane Goodall. I found her research, at least as regurgitated by National Geographic and other outlets, fascinating. (I suppose I had a bit of a crush on her, too.) Well, Ed at MonkeyWatch has been keeping an eye on her and tracking her slow but sure descent into jungle madness. Here is the latest symptom.
Dispatches From The Fever Swamp
A little lunchtime entertainment provided courtesy of our friends at the Democratic Underground, who are in a snit because the people at Air America are running the radio network about the way you'd expect a bunch of hippies to run a business, with about the results you'd expect as well. We'll flag this link for No Hot Beverages/Raise Screenguard status. Oh, and better finish swallowing that chunk of sandwich too.
HT to Drudge.
A little lunchtime entertainment provided courtesy of our friends at the Democratic Underground, who are in a snit because the people at Air America are running the radio network about the way you'd expect a bunch of hippies to run a business, with about the results you'd expect as well. We'll flag this link for No Hot Beverages/Raise Screenguard status. Oh, and better finish swallowing that chunk of sandwich too.
HT to Drudge.
Llama Yips!
In addition to the ongoing Sheila-lanche, I wanted to give the big HT to Ted, who is also providing us with a, um, Rocket launch. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Welcome to everyone who beams over here from thar! Enjoy yourselves!
Yip! Yip! Yip!
In addition to the ongoing Sheila-lanche, I wanted to give the big HT to Ted, who is also providing us with a, um, Rocket launch. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Welcome to everyone who beams over here from thar! Enjoy yourselves!
Yip! Yip! Yip!
Diane Chambers Moment - Part II
Following up on DCM Part I (below), I also warned you yesterday that I intended to take up Reen's question of what are your ten favorite novels. This is much harder, and in the end I am cheating somewhat - rather than picking ten novels, I'm picking ten novelists and highlighting some of my favorite of their works. Note - This is a list of favorites, not necessarily what I consider the best (although in several cases the two overlap). Also, I really do not read that many novels - see my recent reading list below. Many authors who should be represented - Twain and Trollope, for example, are not because it's been such a long time since I read one of their books. Others - most notably Henry James - are not on the list because I am a literary fraud who has not read everything I ought to. And it was fun deliberately snubbing authors like Steinbeck and Hemingway because I think they are over-rated blowhards.
So - On With The (In No Particular Order) List!
Evelyn Waugh - I have to say that I think his Sword of Honor trilogy is one of the finest pieces of literature I know. Of his other works, I am especially fond of Handful of Dust and Scoop. There is a term paper inside me somewhere discussing the growth of Waugh's anti-hero from Paul Pennifeather through William Boot, Tony Last and Guy Crouchback that never got written, but I still think about it a lot.
P.G. Wodehouse - I don't give a damn that the man only wrote light fiction. He was a genius - a supreme craftsman of language and timing. One doesn't read Wodehouse to discover Cosmic Truths, one reads him to laugh for an hour or two. And he absolutely delivers the goods. Of the Bertie & Jeeves novels, I think my favorite is The Code of the Woosters. Of the Blandings Castle set, it is probably Summer Lightning. And of the others, may I recommend Money In The Bank and Hot Water, both of which feature American criminal low-life characters with which Plum had endless fun.
Robert Graves - Everybody knows him for I, Claudius and Claudius The God, but he wrote many historical novels, each of which he tried to set in the style and language of the times. Among these, my favorites include Hercules, My Shipmate - a retelling of the story of Jason and the Argonauts, Count Belisarius - which is very informative of religious and political intrigue in Constantinople under the reign of Justinian, and Homer's Daughter - which picks up on the interesting theory that the Odyssey was written by a woman, and tells the story of how this might have come about. Also, although it is not a novel, you simply must read Goodbye To All That.
Patrick O'Brian - I first discovered the Aubrey/Maturin series some time in the early 90's. Since then, I've read the complete cycle probably a dozen times or so. Every time brings fresh discoveries in terms of the joys of O'Brian's craftsmanship. And the Royal Navy of the early 1800's is an endlessly fascinating topic. Probably my favorite novels in the series are The Mauritius Command and The Far Side of the World, both of which represent what might be described as the full flower of early adulthood of the cycle. Frankly, I think the last of the truly good books is The Wine-Dark Sea. After that, I'm afraid O'Brian got exhausted and melancholy, and the last novels are disappointingly bitter, formulaic and lifeless.
Jane Austen - Well, how can she not be on any serious novel reader's list? My favorite is Emma. I think it wins out over Pride and Prejudice because John Knightley is a subtler and more mature character than Charles D'Arcy. But it's close.
Thomas Hardy - Again, one of the pillars of the genre. It's been a while since I last read a Hardy novel and I think it will be time to start up again soon. My favorites have always been Far From The Madding Crowd and The Mayor of Castorbridge.
Charles Dickens - See above. Everyone has to have a favorite Dickens novel. Mine is probably Tale of Two Cities, for the frighteningly sinister Madame Defarge and the way in which the Froggies are hoodwinked in the end. Great Expectations is pretty high up there too. Again, it's been a sufficiently long time that I need to start in on him again.
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings trilogy. (Much to the chagrin of Mom, who does not care for what she calls "little green men" fantasy.) I marvel at Tolkien's ability to create an entire universe, but one with clear rules with which his stories and characters must comply. I further marvel at his ability to weave such a vast and complicated story within this context, but to keep sufficient control of it that one never gets lost. (And let me just add here again that I hated the movies.)
Douglas Adams - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Remember, we're talking favorite novels, not best. Can Adams be compared to Dickens? Of course not. But I enjoy his work nonetheless because of his skewed way of looking at the universe and his wit. As much as I like the first three books of the Hitchhiker's Guide series, this one is my favorite because it has more meat on it, more depth of character and plot. Adams starts out with a potentially silly plot about a ghost and a time machine, but builds a solid body of work around it, effectively weaving in substantial discussions of music and poetry. Oh, and a horse. I also enjoy the fact that in the end, Adams gives a nice, back-handed complement to J.S. Bach. (Alas, the second Dirk Gently book suffered the same fate as the last two Hitchhiker's Guide books - burnout.)
Derek Robinson - Piece of Cake. I mentioned this book in an unrelated post yesterday. It's the story of a British fighter squadron in the opening days of WWII, culminating in the Battle of Britain in September, 1940. I learned more about the technicalities (and horrors) of combat aviation in one reading of this novel than I did in umpteen history books. Robinson also displays a talent for dialogue and group dynamics that I enjoy. It isn't really first class literature, more of an unusually well done action/adventure novel, but is both informative and entertaining, which is why I like it.
Well, there you have it.
Following up on DCM Part I (below), I also warned you yesterday that I intended to take up Reen's question of what are your ten favorite novels. This is much harder, and in the end I am cheating somewhat - rather than picking ten novels, I'm picking ten novelists and highlighting some of my favorite of their works. Note - This is a list of favorites, not necessarily what I consider the best (although in several cases the two overlap). Also, I really do not read that many novels - see my recent reading list below. Many authors who should be represented - Twain and Trollope, for example, are not because it's been such a long time since I read one of their books. Others - most notably Henry James - are not on the list because I am a literary fraud who has not read everything I ought to. And it was fun deliberately snubbing authors like Steinbeck and Hemingway because I think they are over-rated blowhards.
So - On With The (In No Particular Order) List!
Evelyn Waugh - I have to say that I think his Sword of Honor trilogy is one of the finest pieces of literature I know. Of his other works, I am especially fond of Handful of Dust and Scoop. There is a term paper inside me somewhere discussing the growth of Waugh's anti-hero from Paul Pennifeather through William Boot, Tony Last and Guy Crouchback that never got written, but I still think about it a lot.
P.G. Wodehouse - I don't give a damn that the man only wrote light fiction. He was a genius - a supreme craftsman of language and timing. One doesn't read Wodehouse to discover Cosmic Truths, one reads him to laugh for an hour or two. And he absolutely delivers the goods. Of the Bertie & Jeeves novels, I think my favorite is The Code of the Woosters. Of the Blandings Castle set, it is probably Summer Lightning. And of the others, may I recommend Money In The Bank and Hot Water, both of which feature American criminal low-life characters with which Plum had endless fun.
Robert Graves - Everybody knows him for I, Claudius and Claudius The God, but he wrote many historical novels, each of which he tried to set in the style and language of the times. Among these, my favorites include Hercules, My Shipmate - a retelling of the story of Jason and the Argonauts, Count Belisarius - which is very informative of religious and political intrigue in Constantinople under the reign of Justinian, and Homer's Daughter - which picks up on the interesting theory that the Odyssey was written by a woman, and tells the story of how this might have come about. Also, although it is not a novel, you simply must read Goodbye To All That.
Patrick O'Brian - I first discovered the Aubrey/Maturin series some time in the early 90's. Since then, I've read the complete cycle probably a dozen times or so. Every time brings fresh discoveries in terms of the joys of O'Brian's craftsmanship. And the Royal Navy of the early 1800's is an endlessly fascinating topic. Probably my favorite novels in the series are The Mauritius Command and The Far Side of the World, both of which represent what might be described as the full flower of early adulthood of the cycle. Frankly, I think the last of the truly good books is The Wine-Dark Sea. After that, I'm afraid O'Brian got exhausted and melancholy, and the last novels are disappointingly bitter, formulaic and lifeless.
Jane Austen - Well, how can she not be on any serious novel reader's list? My favorite is Emma. I think it wins out over Pride and Prejudice because John Knightley is a subtler and more mature character than Charles D'Arcy. But it's close.
Thomas Hardy - Again, one of the pillars of the genre. It's been a while since I last read a Hardy novel and I think it will be time to start up again soon. My favorites have always been Far From The Madding Crowd and The Mayor of Castorbridge.
Charles Dickens - See above. Everyone has to have a favorite Dickens novel. Mine is probably Tale of Two Cities, for the frighteningly sinister Madame Defarge and the way in which the Froggies are hoodwinked in the end. Great Expectations is pretty high up there too. Again, it's been a sufficiently long time that I need to start in on him again.
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings trilogy. (Much to the chagrin of Mom, who does not care for what she calls "little green men" fantasy.) I marvel at Tolkien's ability to create an entire universe, but one with clear rules with which his stories and characters must comply. I further marvel at his ability to weave such a vast and complicated story within this context, but to keep sufficient control of it that one never gets lost. (And let me just add here again that I hated the movies.)
Douglas Adams - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Remember, we're talking favorite novels, not best. Can Adams be compared to Dickens? Of course not. But I enjoy his work nonetheless because of his skewed way of looking at the universe and his wit. As much as I like the first three books of the Hitchhiker's Guide series, this one is my favorite because it has more meat on it, more depth of character and plot. Adams starts out with a potentially silly plot about a ghost and a time machine, but builds a solid body of work around it, effectively weaving in substantial discussions of music and poetry. Oh, and a horse. I also enjoy the fact that in the end, Adams gives a nice, back-handed complement to J.S. Bach. (Alas, the second Dirk Gently book suffered the same fate as the last two Hitchhiker's Guide books - burnout.)
Derek Robinson - Piece of Cake. I mentioned this book in an unrelated post yesterday. It's the story of a British fighter squadron in the opening days of WWII, culminating in the Battle of Britain in September, 1940. I learned more about the technicalities (and horrors) of combat aviation in one reading of this novel than I did in umpteen history books. Robinson also displays a talent for dialogue and group dynamics that I enjoy. It isn't really first class literature, more of an unusually well done action/adventure novel, but is both informative and entertaining, which is why I like it.
Well, there you have it.
Llamabutcher TV update
So last night was pretty funny---the first assumption I made was that I'd be sitting behind something, so I wore a blue blazer, white shirt, red and black tie, ....and jeans with a rip in the knee, because that's what I had been wearing during the day. So I get there and of course the thing is on a couch [who knew the Dr. Phil infection had spread this far!] So I sat the whole interview with my pad on my knee like I was freaking Goose in Top Gun or something [no wait, Anthony Edwards gets killed in Top Gun---but then again, he was shagging the pre-skanky Meg Ryan, so I guess it balances out].
So, what did I say? I shamelessly stole from all the greats: Sullivan, Lileks, Easterblogg, Vodka Man and his Cabana Boy, the omniscient one---it was the closest thing to warblogger tee-vee you are going to get in central Virginia. Of course, they ate it up with a spoon (I did this whole bit about aging hippie academics trying to relive the 1960s, and made the point about people screaming "VIETNAM!" would kind of be like people protesting the Mexican War because it was turning into another War of 1812 fiasco.....that sufficiently confused the anchor guy.] All in all a fun time all around, and odds are good I've got a gig for election night. I've been doing local talk radio for about five years now [I had to rally and do a segment this morning at 7---yeah, yeah, I know, hard life, waaaaaa etc.] so tee-vee is the next frontier---provided I don't look too much like Mr. Potato Head in the process.
The one thing that stuck in my head was how they kept trying to pin Dubya down on an apology---the analogy I used was that if someone had asked FDR to apologize for Pearl Harbor in the context of the presidential campaign, he would have gotten up out of his chair [which he could do, with excruitatingly painful difficulty], and beaten the reporter's head in with an inkwell. And the press corps would have cheered. Yamamoto and Tojo were to blame for Pearl Harbor---and they got theirs, one in a fiery plane wreck into the Pacific and the other at the end of a noose. Hitler and Goering were to blame for the Blitz, and they got theirs in similar manner. The question that seems to be simmering in my brain is if we need to find a scapegoat for 9/11 [other than Osama effing bin Laden!], why not ask who is profiting from this personally? Who has written a book about it and sold the movie rights? I think Pericles would have treated the likes of Richard Clarke in a different manner. But that's just me, riffing off my VDH.
There was a brief thunder and lightning storm about 430 this morning that woke me up, and I couldn't fall back to sleep. It's going to be one of those days, I fear.
I started pulling together my book list last night in the car. After class, I have to write my final exams and do some paperwork stuff, but later I want to get it all down.
Have a good day, all!
WAIT! Don't order now! Extra BONUS linkage!
I saw this page this morning and fell for the gag entirely---I thought it was a real Peter Gammons column at first. As we say, follow the link but be forewarned: the no hot beverages/screen sneezeguard rule is in effect! [As soon as we get this into MT, I want to get a little JPEG of the Robot from Lost in Space, preferably animated, for these warnings. Ah, a feller can dream, can't he?]
So last night was pretty funny---the first assumption I made was that I'd be sitting behind something, so I wore a blue blazer, white shirt, red and black tie, ....and jeans with a rip in the knee, because that's what I had been wearing during the day. So I get there and of course the thing is on a couch [who knew the Dr. Phil infection had spread this far!] So I sat the whole interview with my pad on my knee like I was freaking Goose in Top Gun or something [no wait, Anthony Edwards gets killed in Top Gun---but then again, he was shagging the pre-skanky Meg Ryan, so I guess it balances out].
So, what did I say? I shamelessly stole from all the greats: Sullivan, Lileks, Easterblogg, Vodka Man and his Cabana Boy, the omniscient one---it was the closest thing to warblogger tee-vee you are going to get in central Virginia. Of course, they ate it up with a spoon (I did this whole bit about aging hippie academics trying to relive the 1960s, and made the point about people screaming "VIETNAM!" would kind of be like people protesting the Mexican War because it was turning into another War of 1812 fiasco.....that sufficiently confused the anchor guy.] All in all a fun time all around, and odds are good I've got a gig for election night. I've been doing local talk radio for about five years now [I had to rally and do a segment this morning at 7---yeah, yeah, I know, hard life, waaaaaa etc.] so tee-vee is the next frontier---provided I don't look too much like Mr. Potato Head in the process.
The one thing that stuck in my head was how they kept trying to pin Dubya down on an apology---the analogy I used was that if someone had asked FDR to apologize for Pearl Harbor in the context of the presidential campaign, he would have gotten up out of his chair [which he could do, with excruitatingly painful difficulty], and beaten the reporter's head in with an inkwell. And the press corps would have cheered. Yamamoto and Tojo were to blame for Pearl Harbor---and they got theirs, one in a fiery plane wreck into the Pacific and the other at the end of a noose. Hitler and Goering were to blame for the Blitz, and they got theirs in similar manner. The question that seems to be simmering in my brain is if we need to find a scapegoat for 9/11 [other than Osama effing bin Laden!], why not ask who is profiting from this personally? Who has written a book about it and sold the movie rights? I think Pericles would have treated the likes of Richard Clarke in a different manner. But that's just me, riffing off my VDH.
There was a brief thunder and lightning storm about 430 this morning that woke me up, and I couldn't fall back to sleep. It's going to be one of those days, I fear.
I started pulling together my book list last night in the car. After class, I have to write my final exams and do some paperwork stuff, but later I want to get it all down.
Have a good day, all!
WAIT! Don't order now! Extra BONUS linkage!
I saw this page this morning and fell for the gag entirely---I thought it was a real Peter Gammons column at first. As we say, follow the link but be forewarned: the no hot beverages/screen sneezeguard rule is in effect! [As soon as we get this into MT, I want to get a little JPEG of the Robot from Lost in Space, preferably animated, for these warnings. Ah, a feller can dream, can't he?]
Diane Chambers Moment - Part I
Yesterday, I warned you that I intended to take up Sheila's question about the last twenty books I've read. I can't resist this sort of thing. It was great fun going through my library last night trying to reconstruct what amounts to roughly the last six or seven months' worth of evening reading. The following list is very, very approximate:
Current:
The Naval War of 1812 - Theodore Roosevelt
Past (in reverse chronological order):
Ship of the Line - C.S. Forester
Sharpe's Company - Bernard Cornwell
Beat to Quarters - C.S. Forester
John Paul Jones - Evan Thomas
Sharpe's Eagle - Bernard Cornwell
A History of the Vikings - Gwyn Jones
Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg - Earl J. Hess
Captain James Cook, A Biography - Richard Hough
Decisive Battles - John Colvin
The Wars of the Ancient Greeks - Victor David Hanson
The First Crusade - Steve Runciman
Africa Speaks - Mark Goldblatt
Carnage & Culture - Victor David Hanson
How I Joined The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (And Found Inner Peace) - Harry Stein
Little Green Men - Christopher Buckley
The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven - Charles Rosen
The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad
Joshua Chamberlain, A Hero's Life and Legacy - John Pullen
Custer, The Controversial Life of George Armstrong Custer - Jeffrey D. Wert
Shows About Nothing - Thomas Hibbs
Climbing Parnassus, A New Apologia for Greek and Latin - Tracy Lee Simmons
Grant Moves South/Grant Takes Command - Bruce Catton
Napoleon & Wellington - Andrew Roberts
As you can see, I'm juuuust a little skewed towards history at the moment. I'd say I probably read more fiction in the summer. Perhaps it's a legacy of the academic cycle - cooler months for more serious study and warmer months for more pure enjoyment.
BTW, I note that Pep at Truly Bad Films has taken up the challenge as well.
Yesterday, I warned you that I intended to take up Sheila's question about the last twenty books I've read. I can't resist this sort of thing. It was great fun going through my library last night trying to reconstruct what amounts to roughly the last six or seven months' worth of evening reading. The following list is very, very approximate:
Current:
The Naval War of 1812 - Theodore Roosevelt
Past (in reverse chronological order):
Ship of the Line - C.S. Forester
Sharpe's Company - Bernard Cornwell
Beat to Quarters - C.S. Forester
John Paul Jones - Evan Thomas
Sharpe's Eagle - Bernard Cornwell
A History of the Vikings - Gwyn Jones
Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg - Earl J. Hess
Captain James Cook, A Biography - Richard Hough
Decisive Battles - John Colvin
The Wars of the Ancient Greeks - Victor David Hanson
The First Crusade - Steve Runciman
Africa Speaks - Mark Goldblatt
Carnage & Culture - Victor David Hanson
How I Joined The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (And Found Inner Peace) - Harry Stein
Little Green Men - Christopher Buckley
The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven - Charles Rosen
The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad
Joshua Chamberlain, A Hero's Life and Legacy - John Pullen
Custer, The Controversial Life of George Armstrong Custer - Jeffrey D. Wert
Shows About Nothing - Thomas Hibbs
Climbing Parnassus, A New Apologia for Greek and Latin - Tracy Lee Simmons
Grant Moves South/Grant Takes Command - Bruce Catton
Napoleon & Wellington - Andrew Roberts
As you can see, I'm juuuust a little skewed towards history at the moment. I'd say I probably read more fiction in the summer. Perhaps it's a legacy of the academic cycle - cooler months for more serious study and warmer months for more pure enjoyment.
BTW, I note that Pep at Truly Bad Films has taken up the challenge as well.
POTUS Press Conference - Snap Response
I'm sure Steve-O will have much more to say about it, so I will just give a few quick impressions. First, of course, this kind of open Q&A session is not Bush's strong suit. He wanders and rambles and you can almost feel his sense of relief when he manages to work a familiar piece of rhetoric into his responses, as if he's suddenly realized what street he's on and where he's going.
Second, the press were all tricked out in warpaint and tomahawks, as expected. We happened to be watching CNN's coverage and after the conference Judy Woodruff's eyes were practically blazing as she recounted recent Iraq casualty figures. CNN's Baghdad correspondent - whose name escapes me - was openly contemptuous of Bush's transition plan. (It was about here that I turned it off.)
However, I took an envelope-full of notes and was impressed with Dubya's determination to stay the course. He smacked off Terry Hunt's first question trying to paint Iraq as a quagmire by saying flat out that the Vietnam analogy is false in every way. He acknowledged that what we are doing is hard work, but it has to be done, that we are changing the world and that it is the right thing. He also pointed out that one year is hardly a long time, given the scope of what we are trying to do. And he made it clear that his actions are not poll-driven.
Later on, he made what I thought was the key point of the evening when he discussed what he called the ideology of murder. The civilized world is at war with this ideology. Now is the time. Iraq is the place (one of many theatres). He emphasized that we must not waiver. And he tied the current practitioners of this ideology of murder in Iraq to those who bombed Madrid, Bali, Jerusalem and our marines in Beirut in 1983. He tied it to the thugs who murdered Danny Pearl. He laid out the trail of mayhem from the first World Trade Center bombing to our African embassies, to the Khobi Towers, to the U.S.S. Cole and to 9/11. And in all this long line, he noted that concession or retreat have simply invited more bloodshed. He said that what we are doing now - globally - is the first concerted response of the civilized world to this force. He noted that in 30 months of action, many, many benefits have been realized. He again cautioned that a desperate enemy is a dangerous enemy and there is no predicting what they might try to pull. At the same time, he reiterated that we have no choice but to fight, that it is "unthinkable" to run.
So there it is. A clear line in the sand. Imperfectly articulated, but clearly stated. I'll be interested to see how it is received by the public.
For what it's worth, the drive-time jocks were discussing the press conference on the radio this morning and taking calls. Granted, I was listening to a country station, but the overwhelming sense was that the Press and the Left have really overplayed their hand trying to pin 9/11 on Bush and trash our Iraqi efforts. In fact, the most commonly expressed feeling was outrage at the Press.
More later as reaction develops and after I've had some coffee.
I'm sure Steve-O will have much more to say about it, so I will just give a few quick impressions. First, of course, this kind of open Q&A session is not Bush's strong suit. He wanders and rambles and you can almost feel his sense of relief when he manages to work a familiar piece of rhetoric into his responses, as if he's suddenly realized what street he's on and where he's going.
Second, the press were all tricked out in warpaint and tomahawks, as expected. We happened to be watching CNN's coverage and after the conference Judy Woodruff's eyes were practically blazing as she recounted recent Iraq casualty figures. CNN's Baghdad correspondent - whose name escapes me - was openly contemptuous of Bush's transition plan. (It was about here that I turned it off.)
However, I took an envelope-full of notes and was impressed with Dubya's determination to stay the course. He smacked off Terry Hunt's first question trying to paint Iraq as a quagmire by saying flat out that the Vietnam analogy is false in every way. He acknowledged that what we are doing is hard work, but it has to be done, that we are changing the world and that it is the right thing. He also pointed out that one year is hardly a long time, given the scope of what we are trying to do. And he made it clear that his actions are not poll-driven.
Later on, he made what I thought was the key point of the evening when he discussed what he called the ideology of murder. The civilized world is at war with this ideology. Now is the time. Iraq is the place (one of many theatres). He emphasized that we must not waiver. And he tied the current practitioners of this ideology of murder in Iraq to those who bombed Madrid, Bali, Jerusalem and our marines in Beirut in 1983. He tied it to the thugs who murdered Danny Pearl. He laid out the trail of mayhem from the first World Trade Center bombing to our African embassies, to the Khobi Towers, to the U.S.S. Cole and to 9/11. And in all this long line, he noted that concession or retreat have simply invited more bloodshed. He said that what we are doing now - globally - is the first concerted response of the civilized world to this force. He noted that in 30 months of action, many, many benefits have been realized. He again cautioned that a desperate enemy is a dangerous enemy and there is no predicting what they might try to pull. At the same time, he reiterated that we have no choice but to fight, that it is "unthinkable" to run.
So there it is. A clear line in the sand. Imperfectly articulated, but clearly stated. I'll be interested to see how it is received by the public.
For what it's worth, the drive-time jocks were discussing the press conference on the radio this morning and taking calls. Granted, I was listening to a country station, but the overwhelming sense was that the Press and the Left have really overplayed their hand trying to pin 9/11 on Bush and trash our Iraqi efforts. In fact, the most commonly expressed feeling was outrage at the Press.
More later as reaction develops and after I've had some coffee.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
One last one before I go
Over at Tradesports.com, not only can you bet on the presidential election [state by state in the electoral college if you want to], you can also bet on the June 30 Iraqi handoff. Almost 1400 contracts traded so far. Osama captured by June futures are down, but Osama captured by September contracts are still inching up. The Bush wins the election future is holding firm at around $60.
Over at Tradesports.com, not only can you bet on the presidential election [state by state in the electoral college if you want to], you can also bet on the June 30 Iraqi handoff. Almost 1400 contracts traded so far. Osama captured by June futures are down, but Osama captured by September contracts are still inching up. The Bush wins the election future is holding firm at around $60.
Tonight's Press Conference
You bet I'm going to watch it. I may even go so far as to take a few notes. But no live-blogging. The vacuum tubes in my 6 year old Gateway econo-computer would probably overheat. And I would lose my internet link so many times that I'd be too busy re-dialing to listen to the conference. (I have a theory that AOL has deliberately introduced some kind of bug into the service I currently use in order to get me to upgrade to something else less frustrating.) Further, I can write with one hand, but it takes two to type. How will I hold my wine glass?
I hope Dubya comes out swinging tonight. You can be sure the Press are going to be gunning for him. Anyway, I'm sure I'll have some yipping to do about it all later on.
In the meantime, time to head out into the rain. The Butcher's Wife recently accused me of staying late at the office in order to avoid the bulk of the getting-kids-ready-for-bed duty. The idea!
You bet I'm going to watch it. I may even go so far as to take a few notes. But no live-blogging. The vacuum tubes in my 6 year old Gateway econo-computer would probably overheat. And I would lose my internet link so many times that I'd be too busy re-dialing to listen to the conference. (I have a theory that AOL has deliberately introduced some kind of bug into the service I currently use in order to get me to upgrade to something else less frustrating.) Further, I can write with one hand, but it takes two to type. How will I hold my wine glass?
I hope Dubya comes out swinging tonight. You can be sure the Press are going to be gunning for him. Anyway, I'm sure I'll have some yipping to do about it all later on.
In the meantime, time to head out into the rain. The Butcher's Wife recently accused me of staying late at the office in order to avoid the bulk of the getting-kids-ready-for-bed duty. The idea!
A new blogosphere phenomena is born
I just checked Sitemeter, and noticed something starting to happen: the beginning of a bona fide Sheila-lanche!
I just checked Sitemeter, and noticed something starting to happen: the beginning of a bona fide Sheila-lanche!
LLamabutcher TV....or "Liberal Media? What Liberal Media?"
A banner day for the Llamabutchers! First, we get a nice mention from the fabulousSheila O'Malley, then The Commissar shamelessly steals my idea about the formation of the lumpen blogitariat [replete with Marx's dictum from the theses on Feuerbach, No. 7: "Philosophers to this point have studied the world; the point is to blog it." The original post was March 19--permalink aint working.] Then I got a call about an hour ago to do in-studio tee-vee commentary for the president's news conference tonight for a local station [okay, local for the school I teach at, but about an hour and half drive for me]. Look for me shamelessly cribbing from the White House talking points tonight on Lynchburg Virginia's Channel 13 (I'll be the one looking like Mr. Potatohead wearing a very tiny "Jerry Falwell Sucks!" button.] Supposedly, I'll be on just before and just after (hey, you wouldn't want this to interfere with tonight's compelling episode of "According to Jim"]. They said they'd take my idea to do an on-air running commentary, a la "Mystery Science Theater", under advisement. Needless to say, I hope this goes well, as I want to spend election night on TV.
Yeah, I know, I'm a whore. As Nathan Detroit would say, "sue me, sue me, shoot bullets through me....."
WAIT: Don't Order Yet! Added extra value post!
I checked the website for the station to see if they have a webstream of some type [answer: yeah, right]. But.....they have this wonderful news feature: their very own horoscope page. No wonder more 'Merikuns get their news from ABC News than any other source. Here's my horoscope (I'm an Aquarius):
So in the immortal words of Karl the Greenskeeper from Caddyshack: "Well, I've got that going for me now." Fisking your horoscope--that's gotta be a new one.
A banner day for the Llamabutchers! First, we get a nice mention from the fabulousSheila O'Malley, then The Commissar shamelessly steals my idea about the formation of the lumpen blogitariat [replete with Marx's dictum from the theses on Feuerbach, No. 7: "Philosophers to this point have studied the world; the point is to blog it." The original post was March 19--permalink aint working.] Then I got a call about an hour ago to do in-studio tee-vee commentary for the president's news conference tonight for a local station [okay, local for the school I teach at, but about an hour and half drive for me]. Look for me shamelessly cribbing from the White House talking points tonight on Lynchburg Virginia's Channel 13 (I'll be the one looking like Mr. Potatohead wearing a very tiny "Jerry Falwell Sucks!" button.] Supposedly, I'll be on just before and just after (hey, you wouldn't want this to interfere with tonight's compelling episode of "According to Jim"]. They said they'd take my idea to do an on-air running commentary, a la "Mystery Science Theater", under advisement. Needless to say, I hope this goes well, as I want to spend election night on TV.
Yeah, I know, I'm a whore. As Nathan Detroit would say, "sue me, sue me, shoot bullets through me....."
WAIT: Don't Order Yet! Added extra value post!
I checked the website for the station to see if they have a webstream of some type [answer: yeah, right]. But.....they have this wonderful news feature: their very own horoscope page. No wonder more 'Merikuns get their news from ABC News than any other source. Here's my horoscope (I'm an Aquarius):
AdZe's Fortune Cookie
Get over old hurts. Obviously they saw some inner meaning to the old girlfriend email response contest from last week!
Current Influence of the Inner Planets I'm guessing Mercury and Venus, but do they count Mars in this? Answers, dammit--I need answers!
Each influence lasts from a day to several weeks. That's what I like from tee-vee news--specificity!
Search your feelings. Be objective. Fat chance of THAT happening! If George Stephanopolous doesn't have to be, neither do I.
Do your duty to resolve alienation. Hence my plan to convince Nader voters that that vote for Ralph really isn't thrown away...
In time, people will appreciate the work that you do on yourself....I'm not touching that one
Positive deeds bring you the benefits and advantages that you desire....All that linking to Allah Pundit is finally paying off!
You're challenged to stay lively and alert. Double-check all details. Fortunately, I'll be sitting down behind a desk on the air, so I don't have to worry about the whole "nice live interview, btw your fly is down" effect
Buy some recycled paper.... What? Horoscopes are giving consumer tips now? Why not give me something useful, like whether it's good to get back into Fidelity's Magellan Fund or something, not how to handle freakin' "paper or plastic?" Jeez!
You can reach exclusive agreements.... Channel your boundless energy. Call me Sir Edmund Hillary, for thou art climbing Mt. Dew.
Current Influence of the Outer Planets There's the obvious "Uranus" joke I'm just not going to go for here--we're a classy operation, after all
Each influence lasts from several weeks to a month or more. Ooooooo--a month or more. That's practically as valuable as advice from Dr. Phil!
Get more involved with music, poetry and photography. Honest, hon! My horoscope told me to start reading Playboy again, for the articles!
The more that you trust your intuition, the easier your life becomes.... You have the opportunity to deepen your roots and thus rise far in life. Lately, I've been doing the whole George Costanza routine of doing the OPPOSITE of what my intuition tells me (ie--don't waste time blogging!), and it seems to be working quite nicely....
So in the immortal words of Karl the Greenskeeper from Caddyshack: "Well, I've got that going for me now." Fisking your horoscope--that's gotta be a new one.
Maginot Candidate Watch
Gregg Easterbrook is in the observation tower today, taking apart Kerry's new Middle Class Misery Index. You may not even have realized it, but you and I are currently suffering through the worst years since the Depression. Note in particular how the Kerry Camp seems to yearn for the Golden Age of the Carter Administration.
Given the recent news about retail sales, jobs and business confidence, I believe what Kerry really is referring to here is his own misery.
Gregg Easterbrook is in the observation tower today, taking apart Kerry's new Middle Class Misery Index. You may not even have realized it, but you and I are currently suffering through the worst years since the Depression. Note in particular how the Kerry Camp seems to yearn for the Golden Age of the Carter Administration.
Given the recent news about retail sales, jobs and business confidence, I believe what Kerry really is referring to here is his own misery.
Who The Hell Is Adnan Ereli?
And why is Foggy Bottom so goddam blind?
Do they think these people were being funded by the Boy Scouts?
And why is Foggy Bottom so goddam blind?
Do they think these people were being funded by the Boy Scouts?
Bill Watterson, Call Your Copyright Lawyers. Oh. Um, Never Mind.
Ever wondered what Calvin would look like when he grew up? Well check out Frazz to find out. (Well, I didn't think Calvin will become an elementary school janitor. But you never know.)
The Swanky Conservative spots Watterson's "influence" too. I thought that was a pretty generous way of putting it.
BUT - Get a load of this linking theory put forth by Eric Meyers! Wow.
I used to draw editorials and cartoon strips for various school newspapers, so I know something about comics style and composition. To me, there is a very, very strong case to be made for Meyers' theory.
Ever wondered what Calvin would look like when he grew up? Well check out Frazz to find out. (Well, I didn't think Calvin will become an elementary school janitor. But you never know.)
The Swanky Conservative spots Watterson's "influence" too. I thought that was a pretty generous way of putting it.
BUT - Get a load of this linking theory put forth by Eric Meyers! Wow.
I used to draw editorials and cartoon strips for various school newspapers, so I know something about comics style and composition. To me, there is a very, very strong case to be made for Meyers' theory.
Deja Vu and Gratuitous Weather Blogging
I've no idea why More Moonbats posted twice. But so you don't have to read it twice, I'm taking one of them out and filling the space in the time-honored way by talking about the weather:
Even though fall is my favorite season, I also enjoy this kind of April day in Virginia. Rainy, soggy, maybe some thunderstorms later, but you can just feel spring beginning to, well, spring around you. It's as if every time you look up, everything is just a little greener, with the new leaves practically growing before your eyes.
Unfortunately, the grass works that way too. I'm going to have to break out the mower for the first time this weekend. Hope the thing still runs.
And now back to your regularly-scheduled yipping.
I've no idea why More Moonbats posted twice. But so you don't have to read it twice, I'm taking one of them out and filling the space in the time-honored way by talking about the weather:
Even though fall is my favorite season, I also enjoy this kind of April day in Virginia. Rainy, soggy, maybe some thunderstorms later, but you can just feel spring beginning to, well, spring around you. It's as if every time you look up, everything is just a little greener, with the new leaves practically growing before your eyes.
Unfortunately, the grass works that way too. I'm going to have to break out the mower for the first time this weekend. Hope the thing still runs.
And now back to your regularly-scheduled yipping.
More Moonbats
I am not normally a violent person. But looking at this photo just makes me want to take a two-by-four to this butt-ugly bastard and smack some of that smirk off his face. Read the commentary that goes with this post as well.
Un-Effin-Jay-Buhlievable!
I am not normally a violent person. But looking at this photo just makes me want to take a two-by-four to this butt-ugly bastard and smack some of that smirk off his face. Read the commentary that goes with this post as well.
Un-Effin-Jay-Buhlievable!
Outstanding!
INDC Bill's post documenting DC moonbats just got picked up by Glenn.
Well done, indeed!
(BTW, if you haven't read the piece and seen the pictures, go do so. Right now.)
INDC Bill's post documenting DC moonbats just got picked up by Glenn.
Well done, indeed!
(BTW, if you haven't read the piece and seen the pictures, go do so. Right now.)
Feel Like Playing God?
Well now you too can calculate the damage to Earth from your very own custom asteroid impact.
And there's not a damn thing Bruce Willis can do about it!
MWA-Ha-Ha-Ha-Haaaaa!
HT to Dean.
Well now you too can calculate the damage to Earth from your very own custom asteroid impact.
And there's not a damn thing Bruce Willis can do about it!
MWA-Ha-Ha-Ha-Haaaaa!
HT to Dean.
Arise Ye Worker Blogs!
The Commissar posts a Manifesto for the Blog Proletariat. Read it - the Rodina expects nothing less!
The Commissar posts a Manifesto for the Blog Proletariat. Read it - the Rodina expects nothing less!
Attention Bibliophiles!
Sheila asks what 20 books you've read lately. Reen is interested in your ten favorite novels.
I can't answer either question without going back and looking at my library. Expect results tomorrow.
Sheila asks what 20 books you've read lately. Reen is interested in your ten favorite novels.
I can't answer either question without going back and looking at my library. Expect results tomorrow.
And now for something a little more serious...
Moving away from the "nekkid pictures of Eleanor Roosevelt" front, Kevin at Wizbang has the goods on how John Kerry's office ignored repeated complaints and warnings that security was a joke at Logan Airport. Apparently, his staff didn't respond because those complaining weren't constituents.
I guess Mohammad Atta wasn't either. But then again I'm sure Mr. Kerry would find him to be a legitimate voice of dissent against American foreign policy....
Moving away from the "nekkid pictures of Eleanor Roosevelt" front, Kevin at Wizbang has the goods on how John Kerry's office ignored repeated complaints and warnings that security was a joke at Logan Airport. Apparently, his staff didn't respond because those complaining weren't constituents.
I guess Mohammad Atta wasn't either. But then again I'm sure Mr. Kerry would find him to be a legitimate voice of dissent against American foreign policy....
The Infallibility of Predictive Hind-Sight
The King of Fools has a review of the 9/11 Commission's work that warms my heart by using a post-mortem of the failed German Operation Eagle, the August 1940 air offensive against Britain now known to the world as the Battle of Britain.
His Majesty's point is simply that what looks obvious in the past is nearly impossible to see in the future. It is only after the fact that one can gauge the true value of available information and "connect the dots" as they are fond of saying these days.
Does this mean that all intelligence predictions are worthless? No. Of course not. Rather, it means that predictive intelligence will only get you so far in terms of allocation of resources, preventive measures and so on. It will not provide a prophylactic shield against future threats. As the King notes, the purpose of the 9/11 Commission should be to figure out ways to improve the efficiency of what we can do, not try to assign blame for not doing what we couldn't have done.
HT to Martini Man.
BTW, and not completely off the subject, for an excellent historical novel about the Battle of Britain as seen from the perspective of a squadron of R.A.F. fighter pilots, may I heartily recommend Derek Robinson's Piece of Cake. Don't waste your time on the video, tho. It's rubbish.
The King of Fools has a review of the 9/11 Commission's work that warms my heart by using a post-mortem of the failed German Operation Eagle, the August 1940 air offensive against Britain now known to the world as the Battle of Britain.
His Majesty's point is simply that what looks obvious in the past is nearly impossible to see in the future. It is only after the fact that one can gauge the true value of available information and "connect the dots" as they are fond of saying these days.
Does this mean that all intelligence predictions are worthless? No. Of course not. Rather, it means that predictive intelligence will only get you so far in terms of allocation of resources, preventive measures and so on. It will not provide a prophylactic shield against future threats. As the King notes, the purpose of the 9/11 Commission should be to figure out ways to improve the efficiency of what we can do, not try to assign blame for not doing what we couldn't have done.
HT to Martini Man.
BTW, and not completely off the subject, for an excellent historical novel about the Battle of Britain as seen from the perspective of a squadron of R.A.F. fighter pilots, may I heartily recommend Derek Robinson's Piece of Cake. Don't waste your time on the video, tho. It's rubbish.
Why I love the internet, Volume CXXVIX
We can thank Al Gore for inventing the internet today, as it brings us this gem from our old demented pal Kevin at Wizbang. The subject matter is J. Edgar Hoover's secret porn stash uncovered by a biographer. Let's just say we can now be succesfully googled for using the phrase "nekkid pictures of Eleanor Roosevelt."
For.The.Love.Of.Gawd.NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
We can thank Al Gore for inventing the internet today, as it brings us this gem from our old demented pal Kevin at Wizbang. The subject matter is J. Edgar Hoover's secret porn stash uncovered by a biographer. Let's just say we can now be succesfully googled for using the phrase "nekkid pictures of Eleanor Roosevelt."
For.The.Love.Of.Gawd.NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Dispatches From The Fever Swamps
The St. Petersburg Florida Dems Club is apparently running an add that says Rumsfeld should be put up against a wall and shot. Here is a copy of the ad.
One Edna McCall, the club VP, apparently has trouble with common English usage:
When asked if the ad was a challenge to inflict violence on Rumsfeld, McCall explained: "'Pull the trigger' means let Rumsfeld know where we stand, not to shoot him!"
Uh, huh. And no doubt the "put this S.O.B. up against the wall" means that she wants him to rest comfortably while she explains her position.
For God's sake, Woman, if you're obnoxious enough to run this kind of filth, at least have the courage to stand up for your words!
Apparently, there are all sorts of things going on in the Florida badlands:
"We are getting raped, and they are planning to steal the election again."
Multiple Rape? Theft? When does the Florida G.O.P. find time for sleep?
More -
McCall said her club is in direct contact with John Kerry campaign.
"We're all working together."
I would imagine that the Kerry campaign no longer necessarily shares this view. Edna may find herself reassigned to the Ross Ice Shelf campaign HQ shortly.
The St. Petersburg Florida Dems Club is apparently running an add that says Rumsfeld should be put up against a wall and shot. Here is a copy of the ad.
One Edna McCall, the club VP, apparently has trouble with common English usage:
When asked if the ad was a challenge to inflict violence on Rumsfeld, McCall explained: "'Pull the trigger' means let Rumsfeld know where we stand, not to shoot him!"
Uh, huh. And no doubt the "put this S.O.B. up against the wall" means that she wants him to rest comfortably while she explains her position.
For God's sake, Woman, if you're obnoxious enough to run this kind of filth, at least have the courage to stand up for your words!
Apparently, there are all sorts of things going on in the Florida badlands:
"We are getting raped, and they are planning to steal the election again."
Multiple Rape? Theft? When does the Florida G.O.P. find time for sleep?
More -
McCall said her club is in direct contact with John Kerry campaign.
"We're all working together."
I would imagine that the Kerry campaign no longer necessarily shares this view. Edna may find herself reassigned to the Ross Ice Shelf campaign HQ shortly.
Heh, Indeed
Richard Ben-Veniste may not know it, but he's fisked the August 6, 2001 PDB! I think we're going to have to go with the hot beverage yellow flag on this one. Be careful out there.
HT to the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler. Good Dog!
Richard Ben-Veniste may not know it, but he's fisked the August 6, 2001 PDB! I think we're going to have to go with the hot beverage yellow flag on this one. Be careful out there.
HT to the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler. Good Dog!
Lit Crit Snit
Sheila has a nifty post up about the world of modern literary criticism, including a link to a long eye-straining article by Dale Peck on the same topic.
Sheila writes:
The current trend of criticism (and who knows, maybe it's changing - I can't tell) - is that we, the public, need these hoards of interpreters. Art is WAY too loaded with meaning for us to understand without their translations. Hence, the almost unreadable prose of criticism these days, of "theory". With all its "isms" and long long long words - paleocriticalanthropologicalblahblah blah.
The interpreters have lost the meaning. Their language has tipped off the deep end. They now are imitating themselves. They are writing for one another, not for us.
That's right, but I also think it's deliberate. The modern art critic is the equivalent of the management consultant guru - someone who has invented a need for his services. The difference is that in the business world this class of vultures prey on people who are, to be frank about it, too stupid to realize they're being huckstered. In the art world, it's more of a mutual assurance scheme: Artists who really have nothing to say rely on critics who convince the public that it simply doesn't understand, thereby bolstering the value of the artists' "work" in the market. The critics, in turn, rely on the artists to churn out sufficient amounts of unfathomable twaddle to keep the critics on the cocktail circuit and the tenure track. (Critics try this sort of thing with the classics as well, of course. How well I remember arguing with a junior assistant professor over whether Jane Austen's works should be interpreted as closet lesbianism! The difference here is that a reader of average intelligence can simply ignore the criticism and get straight to the art itself. The same applies in the visual arts and music as well.)
Given all this, it's especially fun to watch Camille Paglia hurling the crockery around the salons. As Sheila notes, some of what Paglia says is pure banana-oil, but the way she goes about it - clear, concise, laser-like, grounded in the present with a strong sense of the past - is always a breath of cold, crisp air in the dank, hot, opium-scented dens of the Enlightened.
Sheila has a nifty post up about the world of modern literary criticism, including a link to a long eye-straining article by Dale Peck on the same topic.
Sheila writes:
The current trend of criticism (and who knows, maybe it's changing - I can't tell) - is that we, the public, need these hoards of interpreters. Art is WAY too loaded with meaning for us to understand without their translations. Hence, the almost unreadable prose of criticism these days, of "theory". With all its "isms" and long long long words - paleocriticalanthropologicalblahblah blah.
The interpreters have lost the meaning. Their language has tipped off the deep end. They now are imitating themselves. They are writing for one another, not for us.
That's right, but I also think it's deliberate. The modern art critic is the equivalent of the management consultant guru - someone who has invented a need for his services. The difference is that in the business world this class of vultures prey on people who are, to be frank about it, too stupid to realize they're being huckstered. In the art world, it's more of a mutual assurance scheme: Artists who really have nothing to say rely on critics who convince the public that it simply doesn't understand, thereby bolstering the value of the artists' "work" in the market. The critics, in turn, rely on the artists to churn out sufficient amounts of unfathomable twaddle to keep the critics on the cocktail circuit and the tenure track. (Critics try this sort of thing with the classics as well, of course. How well I remember arguing with a junior assistant professor over whether Jane Austen's works should be interpreted as closet lesbianism! The difference here is that a reader of average intelligence can simply ignore the criticism and get straight to the art itself. The same applies in the visual arts and music as well.)
Given all this, it's especially fun to watch Camille Paglia hurling the crockery around the salons. As Sheila notes, some of what Paglia says is pure banana-oil, but the way she goes about it - clear, concise, laser-like, grounded in the present with a strong sense of the past - is always a breath of cold, crisp air in the dank, hot, opium-scented dens of the Enlightened.
Well Whaddaya Know.
I just got a call from a trade press reporter looking for some commentary for a story he's pitching his editor on telecom mergers and acquisisitions. I do believe this is a first for me.
If anything comes of it, I'll let you know.
YIPS from Steve: Dude! Llamabutcher TV is coming, I can feel it!
I just got a call from a trade press reporter looking for some commentary for a story he's pitching his editor on telecom mergers and acquisisitions. I do believe this is a first for me.
If anything comes of it, I'll let you know.
YIPS from Steve: Dude! Llamabutcher TV is coming, I can feel it!
Osama Gets It
Go check out Osama's love letter to Uncle Ted, courtesy of the Dog Snot Diaries.
Heh. The secret of good parody is to remain juuust on the edge of plausibility.
HT to the New England Republican.
Go check out Osama's love letter to Uncle Ted, courtesy of the Dog Snot Diaries.
Heh. The secret of good parody is to remain juuust on the edge of plausibility.
HT to the New England Republican.
Today's Choice Cut
Tony Blair. However much of a Clinton-like weasel he was before 9/11, I've had nothing but admiration for his actions since then. A few choice quotes:
Of course [the terrorists] use Iraq. It is vital to them. As each attack brings about American attempts to restore order, so they then characterise it as American brutality. As each piece of chaos menaces the very path toward peace and democracy along which most Iraqis want to travel, they use it to try to make the coalition lose heart, and bring about the retreat that is the fanatics' victory.
They know it is a historic struggle. They know their victory would do far more than defeat America or Britain. It would defeat civilisation and democracy everywhere. They know it, but do we? The truth is, faced with this struggle, on which our own fate hangs, a significant part of Western opinion is sitting back, if not half-hoping we fail, certainly replete with schadenfreude at the difficulty we find.
And the clincher:
But our greatest threat, apart from the immediate one of terrorism, is our complacency. When some ascribe, as they do, the upsurge in Islamic extremism to Iraq, do they really forget who killed whom on 11 September 2001? When they call on us to bring the troops home, do they seriously think that this would slake the thirst of these extremists, to say nothing of what it would do to the Iraqis?
Or if we scorned our American allies and told them to go and fight on their own, that somehow we would be spared? If we withdraw from Iraq, they will tell us to withdraw from Afghanistan and, after that, to withdraw from the Middle East completely and, after that, who knows? But one thing is for sure: they have faith in our weakness just as they have faith in their own religious fanaticism. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us.
It is not easy to persuade people of all this; to say that terrorism and unstable states with WMD are just two sides of the same coin; to tell people what they don't want to hear; that, in a world in which we in the West enjoy all the pleasures, profound and trivial, of modern existence, we are in grave danger.
There is a battle we have to fight, a struggle we have to win and it is happening now in Iraq.
Now go read the rest of it.
The question I have is: Why isn't Bush saying the same thing? Loudly. Over and over again. He needs to do so. Perhaps tonight's press conference will be a start.
Tony Blair. However much of a Clinton-like weasel he was before 9/11, I've had nothing but admiration for his actions since then. A few choice quotes:
Of course [the terrorists] use Iraq. It is vital to them. As each attack brings about American attempts to restore order, so they then characterise it as American brutality. As each piece of chaos menaces the very path toward peace and democracy along which most Iraqis want to travel, they use it to try to make the coalition lose heart, and bring about the retreat that is the fanatics' victory.
They know it is a historic struggle. They know their victory would do far more than defeat America or Britain. It would defeat civilisation and democracy everywhere. They know it, but do we? The truth is, faced with this struggle, on which our own fate hangs, a significant part of Western opinion is sitting back, if not half-hoping we fail, certainly replete with schadenfreude at the difficulty we find.
And the clincher:
But our greatest threat, apart from the immediate one of terrorism, is our complacency. When some ascribe, as they do, the upsurge in Islamic extremism to Iraq, do they really forget who killed whom on 11 September 2001? When they call on us to bring the troops home, do they seriously think that this would slake the thirst of these extremists, to say nothing of what it would do to the Iraqis?
Or if we scorned our American allies and told them to go and fight on their own, that somehow we would be spared? If we withdraw from Iraq, they will tell us to withdraw from Afghanistan and, after that, to withdraw from the Middle East completely and, after that, who knows? But one thing is for sure: they have faith in our weakness just as they have faith in their own religious fanaticism. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us.
It is not easy to persuade people of all this; to say that terrorism and unstable states with WMD are just two sides of the same coin; to tell people what they don't want to hear; that, in a world in which we in the West enjoy all the pleasures, profound and trivial, of modern existence, we are in grave danger.
There is a battle we have to fight, a struggle we have to win and it is happening now in Iraq.
Now go read the rest of it.
The question I have is: Why isn't Bush saying the same thing? Loudly. Over and over again. He needs to do so. Perhaps tonight's press conference will be a start.
He's Tanned. He's Rested. He's Ready.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Stephen Green fisking John Kerry.
Barkeep! I'll have whatever he's drinking!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Stephen Green fisking John Kerry.
Barkeep! I'll have whatever he's drinking!
Wonkette Watch
Yesterday I linked to a post by Michelle damning a certain snarky Darling of the D.C. In-Crowd blogger. Well, there must be some kind of trend starting, because Eric the Viking has officially delinked her as well.
Well, I don't think we'll go quite that far. But every time I read her posts, I get annoyed, so perhaps we're going to have to move her to our Tofu Haggis section. "Gross, Inane Crap," indeed.
Yesterday I linked to a post by Michelle damning a certain snarky Darling of the D.C. In-Crowd blogger. Well, there must be some kind of trend starting, because Eric the Viking has officially delinked her as well.
Well, I don't think we'll go quite that far. But every time I read her posts, I get annoyed, so perhaps we're going to have to move her to our Tofu Haggis section. "Gross, Inane Crap," indeed.
Monday, April 12, 2004
What Smoking Memo?
You may have read it already, but here is the much bally-hooed August 6, 2001 PDB memo (courtesy of the Barking Moonbats):
Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US
Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate Bin Ladin since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the U.S. Bin Ladin implied in US television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and "bring the fighting to America."
After US missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, Bin Ladin told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington, according to ------------- service.
An Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) operative told an ----------------- service at the same time that Bin Ladin was planning to exploit the operative's access to the US to mount a terrorist strike.
The millennium plotting in Canada in 1999 may have been part of Bin Ladin's first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the US. Convicted plotter Ahmed Ressam has told the FBI that he conceived the idea to attack Los Angeles International Airport himself, but that Bin Ladin lieutenant Abu Zubaydah encouraged him and helped facilitate the operation. Ressam also said that in 1998 Abu Zubaydah was planning his own US attack.
Ressam says Bin Ladin was aware of the Los Angeles operation.
Although Bin Ladin has not succeeded, his attacks against the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 demonstrate that he prepares operations years in advance and is not deterred by setbacks. Bin Ladin associates surveilled our Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as early as 1993, and some members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were arrested and deported in 1997.
Al-Qa'ida members - including some who are US citizens - have resided in or traveled to the US for years, and the group apparently maintains a support structure that could aid attacks. Two al-Qa'ida members found guilty in the conspiracy to bomb our Embassies in East Africa were US citizens, and a senior EIJ member lived in California in the mid-1990s.
A clandestine source said in 1998 that a Bin Ladin cell in New York was recruiting Muslim-American youth for attacks.
We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational threat reporting, such as that from a -------------- service in 1998 saying that Bin Ladin wanted to hijack a US aircraft to gain the release of "Blind Shaykh" 'Umar 'Abd al-Rahman and other US-held extremists.
Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.
The FBI is conducting approximately 70 full field investigations throughout the US that it considers Bin Ladin-related. CIA and the FBI are investigating a call to our Embassy in UAE in May saying that a group of Bin Ladin supporters was in the US planning attacks with explosives.
Okay, now it's Pop Quiz time: If you were POTUS and this was delivered to you, what would you have done? (And remember, no fair using hind-sight.) Shut down the airports? Start rounding up Middle Eastern-looking men for interrogation? Bomb Kabul? What, exactly?
The only mention of aircraft in the memo is in the context of hijacking. Prior to 9/11, we had become almost used to that. Remember that TWA plane in Beirut back during the Reagan Administration? A crisis, to be sure, but one that could be talked through. Evidently, the passengers on the first three 9/11 flights thought so too, because they didn't do anything to stop the bombers. But the fourth flight was delayed in departure long enough that folks on board were able to get word of what happened with the others and to do something about it. The rest, as they say, is history.
The point of the matter is that even a quick scan of this memo reveals that no one was thinking anything even approaching what happened on 9/11 before it occurred. The memo was written by someone still living in a 9/10 world and read by people still living in the 9/10 world. There is no crime there. And any blame that can accrue is easily apportioned among all of the Presidents of the past twenty years.
Sigh. So in the end, this whole 9/11 Commission business just boils down to political hatchetry after all. Fortunately, it looks as if the public is catching on.
Heh. Cox and Forkum nail it in terms even a moonbat could understand.
UPDATE: I lost my yellow sticky from earlier today, but the New England Repubican is all over this, showcasing reaction from both the Boston Herald and John Podhoretz. Read 'em both.
Hey! Let's start a new meme: "WWJFKD?" HE sure as hell doesn't have an answer himself.
You may have read it already, but here is the much bally-hooed August 6, 2001 PDB memo (courtesy of the Barking Moonbats):
Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US
Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate Bin Ladin since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the U.S. Bin Ladin implied in US television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and "bring the fighting to America."
After US missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, Bin Ladin told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington, according to ------------- service.
An Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) operative told an ----------------- service at the same time that Bin Ladin was planning to exploit the operative's access to the US to mount a terrorist strike.
The millennium plotting in Canada in 1999 may have been part of Bin Ladin's first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the US. Convicted plotter Ahmed Ressam has told the FBI that he conceived the idea to attack Los Angeles International Airport himself, but that Bin Ladin lieutenant Abu Zubaydah encouraged him and helped facilitate the operation. Ressam also said that in 1998 Abu Zubaydah was planning his own US attack.
Ressam says Bin Ladin was aware of the Los Angeles operation.
Although Bin Ladin has not succeeded, his attacks against the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 demonstrate that he prepares operations years in advance and is not deterred by setbacks. Bin Ladin associates surveilled our Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as early as 1993, and some members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were arrested and deported in 1997.
Al-Qa'ida members - including some who are US citizens - have resided in or traveled to the US for years, and the group apparently maintains a support structure that could aid attacks. Two al-Qa'ida members found guilty in the conspiracy to bomb our Embassies in East Africa were US citizens, and a senior EIJ member lived in California in the mid-1990s.
A clandestine source said in 1998 that a Bin Ladin cell in New York was recruiting Muslim-American youth for attacks.
We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational threat reporting, such as that from a -------------- service in 1998 saying that Bin Ladin wanted to hijack a US aircraft to gain the release of "Blind Shaykh" 'Umar 'Abd al-Rahman and other US-held extremists.
Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.
The FBI is conducting approximately 70 full field investigations throughout the US that it considers Bin Ladin-related. CIA and the FBI are investigating a call to our Embassy in UAE in May saying that a group of Bin Ladin supporters was in the US planning attacks with explosives.
Okay, now it's Pop Quiz time: If you were POTUS and this was delivered to you, what would you have done? (And remember, no fair using hind-sight.) Shut down the airports? Start rounding up Middle Eastern-looking men for interrogation? Bomb Kabul? What, exactly?
The only mention of aircraft in the memo is in the context of hijacking. Prior to 9/11, we had become almost used to that. Remember that TWA plane in Beirut back during the Reagan Administration? A crisis, to be sure, but one that could be talked through. Evidently, the passengers on the first three 9/11 flights thought so too, because they didn't do anything to stop the bombers. But the fourth flight was delayed in departure long enough that folks on board were able to get word of what happened with the others and to do something about it. The rest, as they say, is history.
The point of the matter is that even a quick scan of this memo reveals that no one was thinking anything even approaching what happened on 9/11 before it occurred. The memo was written by someone still living in a 9/10 world and read by people still living in the 9/10 world. There is no crime there. And any blame that can accrue is easily apportioned among all of the Presidents of the past twenty years.
Sigh. So in the end, this whole 9/11 Commission business just boils down to political hatchetry after all. Fortunately, it looks as if the public is catching on.
Heh. Cox and Forkum nail it in terms even a moonbat could understand.
UPDATE: I lost my yellow sticky from earlier today, but the New England Repubican is all over this, showcasing reaction from both the Boston Herald and John Podhoretz. Read 'em both.
Hey! Let's start a new meme: "WWJFKD?" HE sure as hell doesn't have an answer himself.
Heh - In Stereo
Via Big Stupid Tommy, here's an interesting article purporting to set out the Fifty Most influential Comedy Albums. (Note: "Most influential," not "Funniest" or "Best.")
I've never even heard of some of these. I have owned others (or other albums by the same people) and still have several.
My very first experience with comedy albums was a collection of highlights from old radio shows. In particular, I loved a long sketch featuring W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy called "The Golf Game." At one point, Fields blanked out on his line and Bergen (via Charlie, of course) ripped him for it. The album also had a good version of Abbot and Costello doing "Who's On First," together with a bit between Fred Allen and Jack Benny where Benny tries to sneak onto Allen's radio contest show disguised as "Myron Proudfoot" in the hope of snagging free prizes.
My first experience with modern standup was back in junior high, when I had a friend who owned several Bill Cosby records. We thought his routine about "Roland and the Rollercoaster" was the funniest thing in the world. Over the years, I really began to appreciate how Cosby's humor has evolved with his age and station in life. A year or two ago, the Butcher's Wife and I saw him in concert at Wolf Trap, where he did many, many jokes about his life as a grandfather, and a very comfortable one at that. Hard to believe this was the same guy who, years ago, was joking "We don't have to hold on to no bar. Man, we from the Projects." I also still do his "Chocolate Cake" routine when talking about raising the kids. "Milk! Eggs! Wheat! That's nutrition!"
I agree with Tommy about Bob Newhart. Many of his lines from Button-Down Mind have made it into my family's vocabulary, chief among them being, "He banged the kid with the door!" and "You're going too fast, Mrs. Webb!"
My roommate in college used to listen to Firesign Theatre all the time. I never thought I'd be a fan of stream-of-consciousness lefty drug humor, but I find these guys plenty amusing.
I notice there are no Monty Python albums listed. I think this goes to the issue of influence, as opposed to greatness. But since we're on the subject, I wanted to point out that the record versions of several of their sketches are better than what they did on television. (I'm thinking, to name a few, of Dead Bishop on the Landing, the Oscar Wilde Sketch, the Spanish Inquisition, the Architect Sketch and Bruces.) The Pythons were capable of a lot of verbal nuance that got lost when they had to shout in front of a studio audience.
Finally, I ask out of curiosity: Has Jerry Seinfeld ever done a stand-up album? I should think his influence on the younger crop of comedians is pretty remarkable. (Although I honestly don't know.) And why so many George Carlins when there are no Steven Wright recordings?
Definitely worth a read.
Via Big Stupid Tommy, here's an interesting article purporting to set out the Fifty Most influential Comedy Albums. (Note: "Most influential," not "Funniest" or "Best.")
I've never even heard of some of these. I have owned others (or other albums by the same people) and still have several.
My very first experience with comedy albums was a collection of highlights from old radio shows. In particular, I loved a long sketch featuring W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy called "The Golf Game." At one point, Fields blanked out on his line and Bergen (via Charlie, of course) ripped him for it. The album also had a good version of Abbot and Costello doing "Who's On First," together with a bit between Fred Allen and Jack Benny where Benny tries to sneak onto Allen's radio contest show disguised as "Myron Proudfoot" in the hope of snagging free prizes.
My first experience with modern standup was back in junior high, when I had a friend who owned several Bill Cosby records. We thought his routine about "Roland and the Rollercoaster" was the funniest thing in the world. Over the years, I really began to appreciate how Cosby's humor has evolved with his age and station in life. A year or two ago, the Butcher's Wife and I saw him in concert at Wolf Trap, where he did many, many jokes about his life as a grandfather, and a very comfortable one at that. Hard to believe this was the same guy who, years ago, was joking "We don't have to hold on to no bar. Man, we from the Projects." I also still do his "Chocolate Cake" routine when talking about raising the kids. "Milk! Eggs! Wheat! That's nutrition!"
I agree with Tommy about Bob Newhart. Many of his lines from Button-Down Mind have made it into my family's vocabulary, chief among them being, "He banged the kid with the door!" and "You're going too fast, Mrs. Webb!"
My roommate in college used to listen to Firesign Theatre all the time. I never thought I'd be a fan of stream-of-consciousness lefty drug humor, but I find these guys plenty amusing.
I notice there are no Monty Python albums listed. I think this goes to the issue of influence, as opposed to greatness. But since we're on the subject, I wanted to point out that the record versions of several of their sketches are better than what they did on television. (I'm thinking, to name a few, of Dead Bishop on the Landing, the Oscar Wilde Sketch, the Spanish Inquisition, the Architect Sketch and Bruces.) The Pythons were capable of a lot of verbal nuance that got lost when they had to shout in front of a studio audience.
Finally, I ask out of curiosity: Has Jerry Seinfeld ever done a stand-up album? I should think his influence on the younger crop of comedians is pretty remarkable. (Although I honestly don't know.) And why so many George Carlins when there are no Steven Wright recordings?
Definitely worth a read.
Catfight Part II
Michelle is steamed about all the attention that's being paid to a certain female D.C. blogger whose name rhymes with "Bonk-Pet."
Not that it makes much difference one way or the other, but I'd much rather read ASV and, in fact, visit it several times a day. Michelle's nemesis is a little too Tina Brown-ish for me, wracked with that particular brand of swollen-headed snarky disease that often infects the glitteratti of Manhattan, Hollywood and the Beltway, together with their hangers-on. It causes her site to take on a sort of "I'm so precious because I hang with the In Crowd" feel. I much prefer Michelle's genuine feeling, hard work and thoughtful writing (to say nothing of her outstanding work conning the Command Post on the side).
Michelle is steamed about all the attention that's being paid to a certain female D.C. blogger whose name rhymes with "Bonk-Pet."
Not that it makes much difference one way or the other, but I'd much rather read ASV and, in fact, visit it several times a day. Michelle's nemesis is a little too Tina Brown-ish for me, wracked with that particular brand of swollen-headed snarky disease that often infects the glitteratti of Manhattan, Hollywood and the Beltway, together with their hangers-on. It causes her site to take on a sort of "I'm so precious because I hang with the In Crowd" feel. I much prefer Michelle's genuine feeling, hard work and thoughtful writing (to say nothing of her outstanding work conning the Command Post on the side).
Now Hear This
After what seemed much longer, but was really only about a week, the God of the Martinis is back at it. Lots of good stuff, including this link from Just One Bite entitled "35 Imagined Answers to "Why Do You Blog?"
I'm pretty sure I've used just about all of them at least twice. What floats your boat?
After what seemed much longer, but was really only about a week, the God of the Martinis is back at it. Lots of good stuff, including this link from Just One Bite entitled "35 Imagined Answers to "Why Do You Blog?"
I'm pretty sure I've used just about all of them at least twice. What floats your boat?
Akalaka-CHING! Watch
I got caught napping by the advent of crew season in New England which, for some reason, my addled brain thought started later. However, I'm glad to see that this past weekend, the Wescrew Varsity 8 crushed both Bates and Tufts. The second 8 won as well. Alas, the Wes Varsity 4 got whumped in turn by UNH.
Flipping back through the previous two meets, I see the first and second 8's beat Colby, Zoo-Mass and WPI last weekend, but again the Varsity 4 got beat. (And, Sweet Jesus, look at the time for the Zoo-Mass Amherst 4 that won that race - 6:32. That boat was walkin'.)
Checking on the first week of the season, the first 8 and the 4 managed to lose to Holy Cross, although the second 8 won its race. I am pleased to see that we at least beat the Coast Guard Academy the first week. As a matter of general principal, it's always a good thing when the Coasties lose. They were the Darth Vader of NESCAC rowing my first two seasons. When our Varsity 8 beat them my junior year, I think it was our first victory in something like 17 seasons against them. Since that time, the win/loss columns have taken on something more closely related to parity.
Ah, Lake Quinsigimond! where the first two meets were held. This is a nasty piece of water near Worchester, MA. When the wind gets up, it howls right down the course, kicking up a hefty chop and making life unpleasant for anyone fool enough to be throwing away a Saturday morning flailing around in it. Oddly, my first and last college races were there: I was in the second Frosh 8 my first year - we beat Holy Cross after one of their guys caught a crab that nearly launched him into downtown Worchester. My last race was at the New Englands my senior year (held at the end of the spring term). I was in a four that had to enter a heavyweight race because of an emergency substitution at 3 seat. (We had to put in a big guy that disqualified us from entering the lightweight race. The rest of us had an average weight of about 151 pounds.) We got crushed, only beating a kind of Jerry's Kids-4 put out by the Coasties.
Next week: Little Three - Amherst and Williams, both of which are well-known Al Qaeda/unrepentant-East German hives of scum and villainy.
I got caught napping by the advent of crew season in New England which, for some reason, my addled brain thought started later. However, I'm glad to see that this past weekend, the Wescrew Varsity 8 crushed both Bates and Tufts. The second 8 won as well. Alas, the Wes Varsity 4 got whumped in turn by UNH.
Flipping back through the previous two meets, I see the first and second 8's beat Colby, Zoo-Mass and WPI last weekend, but again the Varsity 4 got beat. (And, Sweet Jesus, look at the time for the Zoo-Mass Amherst 4 that won that race - 6:32. That boat was walkin'.)
Checking on the first week of the season, the first 8 and the 4 managed to lose to Holy Cross, although the second 8 won its race. I am pleased to see that we at least beat the Coast Guard Academy the first week. As a matter of general principal, it's always a good thing when the Coasties lose. They were the Darth Vader of NESCAC rowing my first two seasons. When our Varsity 8 beat them my junior year, I think it was our first victory in something like 17 seasons against them. Since that time, the win/loss columns have taken on something more closely related to parity.
Ah, Lake Quinsigimond! where the first two meets were held. This is a nasty piece of water near Worchester, MA. When the wind gets up, it howls right down the course, kicking up a hefty chop and making life unpleasant for anyone fool enough to be throwing away a Saturday morning flailing around in it. Oddly, my first and last college races were there: I was in the second Frosh 8 my first year - we beat Holy Cross after one of their guys caught a crab that nearly launched him into downtown Worchester. My last race was at the New Englands my senior year (held at the end of the spring term). I was in a four that had to enter a heavyweight race because of an emergency substitution at 3 seat. (We had to put in a big guy that disqualified us from entering the lightweight race. The rest of us had an average weight of about 151 pounds.) We got crushed, only beating a kind of Jerry's Kids-4 put out by the Coasties.
Next week: Little Three - Amherst and Williams, both of which are well-known Al Qaeda/unrepentant-East German hives of scum and villainy.
Iraq Watch
I know half the planet has linked it already, but go read Ralph Peters on the strategic situation in both Iraq and Iran and our dealings with al-Sadr and his goons, who seem to make a convenient bridge between the two. I can't get a clear handle on this "cease-fire" business, but it seems like bad, bad news.
I know I quote this waaay too much, but it's still true: "When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
UPDATE: The Commissar has more thoughts on the matter. I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with Ivan, but put this down with Churchillian devil-himselfing. Da Svedanya, Tovarisch!
MORE: General Sanchez gets it.
EVEN MORE: So does Steyn.
Bring on Hammer Time, says I.
I know half the planet has linked it already, but go read Ralph Peters on the strategic situation in both Iraq and Iran and our dealings with al-Sadr and his goons, who seem to make a convenient bridge between the two. I can't get a clear handle on this "cease-fire" business, but it seems like bad, bad news.
I know I quote this waaay too much, but it's still true: "When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
UPDATE: The Commissar has more thoughts on the matter. I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with Ivan, but put this down with Churchillian devil-himselfing. Da Svedanya, Tovarisch!
MORE: General Sanchez gets it.
EVEN MORE: So does Steyn.
Bring on Hammer Time, says I.
The Fog of War
Steven den Beste has an interesting post on the the role of information in warfare, along with some tasty examples of "liberal media bias? what liberal media....?"
Information is as much a source of power as the ability to compel force and to define and control resources, and I think its use has been no clearer than in the past three weeks with the 9/11 hearings and the Fallujah/al-Sadr offensives. I've got a larger point I want to get to on this [tying it to maybe a little Thucydides, as well as VDH's chapter in Carnage and Culture on self-criticism in warfare, but I've got to go to a meeting with the Dean in ten minutes.
Damn day job, getting in the way of my blogging....
Steven den Beste has an interesting post on the the role of information in warfare, along with some tasty examples of "liberal media bias? what liberal media....?"
Information is as much a source of power as the ability to compel force and to define and control resources, and I think its use has been no clearer than in the past three weeks with the 9/11 hearings and the Fallujah/al-Sadr offensives. I've got a larger point I want to get to on this [tying it to maybe a little Thucydides, as well as VDH's chapter in Carnage and Culture on self-criticism in warfare, but I've got to go to a meeting with the Dean in ten minutes.
Damn day job, getting in the way of my blogging....
Keep The Faith
Our Llama Military Expert sent the following email in over the weekend that I think is worth sharing with all of you:
Saturday morning I went to the pistol range to keep my marksmanship skills sharp. The range, a ten minute drive from home, is on the second floor of the local gun shop where the staff is extremely safety conscious, very Second Amendment-oriented, and heavily armed. I arrived a few minutes after 9:00 a.m. and found myself along with two other early risers, not counting the two old codgers who work part-time behind the counter. My fellow range members were another fellow around my age, 40, and a sailor in his mid-twenties. By coincidence, all three of us had brought our personal weapons-all 9-millimeters, two Berettas and a Glock.
The sailor was yukking it up with one of the old coots, a guy just known as Chet. They were talking pistols and Chet remarked he recently purchased a new revolver. The sailor asked him if he brought it with him and Chet put a metal gun carrier on the counter the size of an attaché case. Out came the newest, and the most powerful, production model pistol in the world: a Smith & Wesson 500, a five-shot, fifty-caliber magnum. This weapon made my Beretta M9, the military's standard issue sidearm since 1983, look like a slingshot. His fellow Social Security recipient said: "show him the magazine." Chet obliged and pulled from the case a 1958 Sports Illustrated with the great Johnny Unitas on the cover and an article inside on one Sergeant First Class Chester Hamilton, the Army's shooting champion that year. It did not take much to figure out old Chet and SFC Hamilton were one and the same.
Chet and the sailor went into the range area, put on their ear and eye protection and sent one target down range. He cranked off two rounds-the first went dead center of the target and the second almost exactly inside of hole created by the first. In other words he put two bullets into an area the size of a dime. Not bad for a guy in his seventies balancing a slab of steel weighing four and a half pounds. Chet let the sailor fire a few rounds from the S&W and then walked the sailor through a few pointers to improve his aim with his Glock. The sailor would fire a round, Chet would comment on an aspect of his technique, and then the sailor would shoot again-improving with each comment from the 1958 Army marksmanship champion. I looked at the other guy my age and we agreed that we were nothing, not even navel lint, in the presence of old Chet, not to mention his hand-held cannon. We also agreed we would never introduce our wives to him since a man that could shoot like that at his age was plainly capable of anything.
Every now and again I run into people like old Chet-genuine pros at what they do and are only too happy to pass along what they know simply for the joy of helping out someone less experienced. Keeps my faith in the American people up in these uncertain times.
I have nothing but complete respect and admiration for these people. God bless 'em.
Our Llama Military Expert sent the following email in over the weekend that I think is worth sharing with all of you:
Saturday morning I went to the pistol range to keep my marksmanship skills sharp. The range, a ten minute drive from home, is on the second floor of the local gun shop where the staff is extremely safety conscious, very Second Amendment-oriented, and heavily armed. I arrived a few minutes after 9:00 a.m. and found myself along with two other early risers, not counting the two old codgers who work part-time behind the counter. My fellow range members were another fellow around my age, 40, and a sailor in his mid-twenties. By coincidence, all three of us had brought our personal weapons-all 9-millimeters, two Berettas and a Glock.
The sailor was yukking it up with one of the old coots, a guy just known as Chet. They were talking pistols and Chet remarked he recently purchased a new revolver. The sailor asked him if he brought it with him and Chet put a metal gun carrier on the counter the size of an attaché case. Out came the newest, and the most powerful, production model pistol in the world: a Smith & Wesson 500, a five-shot, fifty-caliber magnum. This weapon made my Beretta M9, the military's standard issue sidearm since 1983, look like a slingshot. His fellow Social Security recipient said: "show him the magazine." Chet obliged and pulled from the case a 1958 Sports Illustrated with the great Johnny Unitas on the cover and an article inside on one Sergeant First Class Chester Hamilton, the Army's shooting champion that year. It did not take much to figure out old Chet and SFC Hamilton were one and the same.
Chet and the sailor went into the range area, put on their ear and eye protection and sent one target down range. He cranked off two rounds-the first went dead center of the target and the second almost exactly inside of hole created by the first. In other words he put two bullets into an area the size of a dime. Not bad for a guy in his seventies balancing a slab of steel weighing four and a half pounds. Chet let the sailor fire a few rounds from the S&W and then walked the sailor through a few pointers to improve his aim with his Glock. The sailor would fire a round, Chet would comment on an aspect of his technique, and then the sailor would shoot again-improving with each comment from the 1958 Army marksmanship champion. I looked at the other guy my age and we agreed that we were nothing, not even navel lint, in the presence of old Chet, not to mention his hand-held cannon. We also agreed we would never introduce our wives to him since a man that could shoot like that at his age was plainly capable of anything.
Every now and again I run into people like old Chet-genuine pros at what they do and are only too happy to pass along what they know simply for the joy of helping out someone less experienced. Keeps my faith in the American people up in these uncertain times.
I have nothing but complete respect and admiration for these people. God bless 'em.
Just Checking In
Got back safely from hit-and-run Easter Dinner visit to the 'rents in what we like to call Weeeyamsburg. If I ate like that every day, I'd be dead inside two weeks.
Well, Steve-O really came through in the clutch! Go read all of his posts and you'll see why I continue to believe he's the Smartest Man in the Universe. Too bad we're going to have to kill him for going metric.
Meanwhile, on another note, I see from sitemeter that we have been blogrolled by Big Stupid Tommy, who writes a lot about movies, television, baseball and other stuff. Go on over and say hello. If you tell him we sent you, you'll be entitled to a coupon worth 50% off!
More later this afternoon/this evening.
Yip! Yip!
UPDATE: Oh, the Pious Agnostic also has us up. As always, go over and check it out. And don't spend too much time drooling over this. Thanks and YIP! YIP! YIP!
Got back safely from hit-and-run Easter Dinner visit to the 'rents in what we like to call Weeeyamsburg. If I ate like that every day, I'd be dead inside two weeks.
Well, Steve-O really came through in the clutch! Go read all of his posts and you'll see why I continue to believe he's the Smartest Man in the Universe. Too bad we're going to have to kill him for going metric.
Meanwhile, on another note, I see from sitemeter that we have been blogrolled by Big Stupid Tommy, who writes a lot about movies, television, baseball and other stuff. Go on over and say hello. If you tell him we sent you, you'll be entitled to a coupon worth 50% off!
More later this afternoon/this evening.
Yip! Yip!
UPDATE: Oh, the Pious Agnostic also has us up. As always, go over and check it out. And don't spend too much time drooling over this. Thanks and YIP! YIP! YIP!
OHHHH BAY-BEE!
How about a little VDH to get your jets going on a rain-soaked and cold Monday morning, eh?
Key quote: "The twentieth century should have taught the citizens of liberal democracies the catastrophic consequences of placating tyrants."
The title is "The Fruits of Appeasement." To riff off Dave Barry's "that would be a great name for a band" meme, I think "The Fruits of Appeasement" would be a great name for a faux-protest group. Maybe that's what we should start doing: not just send bloggers to record the various ANSWER protest rallies, or send in the Counterprotest dudes [who rallied outside of a Noam Chomsky lecture with "Comrade Noam: Millionaire Marxist" signs!], but should send in our own groups---let's start with "The Fruits of Appeasement" [obviously dressed like Carmen Miranda and waving the French flag] and they can battle with the Judean People's Front.
How about a little VDH to get your jets going on a rain-soaked and cold Monday morning, eh?
Key quote: "The twentieth century should have taught the citizens of liberal democracies the catastrophic consequences of placating tyrants."
The title is "The Fruits of Appeasement." To riff off Dave Barry's "that would be a great name for a band" meme, I think "The Fruits of Appeasement" would be a great name for a faux-protest group. Maybe that's what we should start doing: not just send bloggers to record the various ANSWER protest rallies, or send in the Counterprotest dudes [who rallied outside of a Noam Chomsky lecture with "Comrade Noam: Millionaire Marxist" signs!], but should send in our own groups---let's start with "The Fruits of Appeasement" [obviously dressed like Carmen Miranda and waving the French flag] and they can battle with the Judean People's Front.
Sunday, April 11, 2004
More foreign support for John Kerry
The Kerry juggernaut picked up support from another foreign leader. Bill at INDC has the details.
The Kerry juggernaut picked up support from another foreign leader. Bill at INDC has the details.
She's Moved!
Lawren at Martini's, Persistence, and a Smile has joined in the voortrek over to Mu.Nu
All the cool kids seem to be doing it......
So go over and see the new digs, and while you are there wish her luck on her upcoming final law school finals.
Lawren at Martini's, Persistence, and a Smile has joined in the voortrek over to Mu.Nu
All the cool kids seem to be doing it......
So go over and see the new digs, and while you are there wish her luck on her upcoming final law school finals.
Happy Easter
Sheila O'Malley has a nice little post on the end of Lent and the role of public ritual and drama.
As a fallen-away Catholic her words resonated. There is something to getting lost--in the right way--in ritual. It's a chance to lose oneself into a larger feeling of meaning. Of course, for some that's more efficiently realized at, oh, a Def Leppard concert. But as a kid at least there was some sense of profound meaning gained in walking the Stations of the Cross, black cassock pinching at the neck, the heat from the candle held right out below your nose, a certain clarity that's lost as an adult.
Somber. Maybe I should stick to the snarky Ted Kennedy jokes and predictions for the winner on The Apprentice (Bill by a landslide!)
Sheila O'Malley has a nice little post on the end of Lent and the role of public ritual and drama.
As a fallen-away Catholic her words resonated. There is something to getting lost--in the right way--in ritual. It's a chance to lose oneself into a larger feeling of meaning. Of course, for some that's more efficiently realized at, oh, a Def Leppard concert. But as a kid at least there was some sense of profound meaning gained in walking the Stations of the Cross, black cassock pinching at the neck, the heat from the candle held right out below your nose, a certain clarity that's lost as an adult.
Somber. Maybe I should stick to the snarky Ted Kennedy jokes and predictions for the winner on The Apprentice (Bill by a landslide!)
Alternative History
The new meme from the Copperhead Left [you know, the racist ethnic Irish hack-pols who are against Reconstruction, whether it be the one that began April 9, 1865 at Appomattox, or April 9, 2003 in Baghdad] is that BUSH KNEW! Not, of course, about Iraq--that meme is BUSH LIED! This one is that Bush Knew About 9/11 But Did Nothing So To StartARacistImperialistWarForHisSithMastersAtHalliburton (TM).
Deep breath. Quiet happy place quiet happy place ......
There. Better. Where was I?
The Washington Post joins this fiesta with a cover story today, with a picture of Dubya riding his golf cart the day he got the briefing on August 6 mentionning AQ activity. (I'm too beat to link. You'll have to trust me on this---yeah, I know, how can you trust me now that my dark secret about using the metric system in carpentry projects is out?)
The meme is that if only we had followed up with the tireless, earnest dilligence of the Clinton White House in its relentless pursuit of Bin-Laden.
Riiiiiiggght. There was a tireless, earnest, and relentless pursuit of something, but it sure as hell wasn't the protection of the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Unless a chronic booty shortage is a threat to the Constitution (although, now that you mention it, I do believe John Jay mentionned something about K.C. and the Sunshine Band when discussing foreign policy and the presidency in Federalist Number Four.)
Anyhoo, the new-look omniscient one has a collection of links asking the question: "what if Dubya had tried to attack AQ before 9/11?"
The answer has something about StartingARacistImperialistWarForHisSithMastersAtHalliburton (TM)...
ADDED EXTRA BONUS!!!! DISSING THE 9/11 COMMISSION PARTISAN HACKERY BY CITING THE FEDERALIST PAPERS!
In researching my throw-away line about K.C. and the Sunshine Band and John Jay, I did a quick little search to make sure that John Jay had in fact written Fed No. 4, and that it was in fact about foreign policy. I hadn't read it in a couple of years, but I was right on the mark.....
But even more than I realized.
Here's what John Jay had to say about why a strong Union [and with it a strong presidency] was needed to protect the country against foreign enemies:
The divisions that Publius was talking about were regional: but he could just as easily been talking about partisan splits. Look, the country is severely divided now, but no more so than it was in the 1860s-1870s and the 1790s. Dissent is valid and important, and one of the hallmarks of what we are fighting this war for is for the very idea of contesting elections during a war.
Yet, there reaches a point when that very division feeds our enemies a sense of opportunity. Their weapon of choice has been the attack aimed at public perceptions, to use their willing allies in the foreign media to strike paralysis into our bones. It worked sadly in Beiruit, and in Mogadishu. We cannot let it happen again.
Racist hack Irish pols cheered the rise of the KKK in the 1870s, helping to end the Reconstruction in the American south. Racist hack Irish pols now cheer the rise of al-Sadr in Iraq in the hopes of ending Reconstruction in Iraq. Why? In both instances, they felt freedom for their own was more important than those they thought otherwise worthy of slavery. And both times, Republican adminstrations meant less corrupt pork-barreling for their own Democratic districts.
The Kennedys have been corrupt opportunists from the beginning. Old man Kennedy supported Hitler in the 1930s when it was politically expedient; his brother Bobby supported McCarthy in the 1950s when it was politically expedient [why else is his eldest daughter's godfather Tailgunner Joe?]; his brother Jack supported ML King in the 1960s when it was politically expedient; and now Ted is supporting al-Sadr if it means getting a Democrat in the White House and the patronage and pork flowing back to his constituents. Tireless tribune of the people my fanny: Copperhead believer in the politically expedient is more like it.
There, isn't that the Llamabutchers for you? Start you with a little KC and the Sunshine Band before hitting you over the head with some political theory and some anti-Kennedy ranting.....
The new meme from the Copperhead Left [you know, the racist ethnic Irish hack-pols who are against Reconstruction, whether it be the one that began April 9, 1865 at Appomattox, or April 9, 2003 in Baghdad] is that BUSH KNEW! Not, of course, about Iraq--that meme is BUSH LIED! This one is that Bush Knew About 9/11 But Did Nothing So To StartARacistImperialistWarForHisSithMastersAtHalliburton (TM).
Deep breath. Quiet happy place quiet happy place ......
There. Better. Where was I?
The Washington Post joins this fiesta with a cover story today, with a picture of Dubya riding his golf cart the day he got the briefing on August 6 mentionning AQ activity. (I'm too beat to link. You'll have to trust me on this---yeah, I know, how can you trust me now that my dark secret about using the metric system in carpentry projects is out?)
The meme is that if only we had followed up with the tireless, earnest dilligence of the Clinton White House in its relentless pursuit of Bin-Laden.
Riiiiiiggght. There was a tireless, earnest, and relentless pursuit of something, but it sure as hell wasn't the protection of the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Unless a chronic booty shortage is a threat to the Constitution (although, now that you mention it, I do believe John Jay mentionned something about K.C. and the Sunshine Band when discussing foreign policy and the presidency in Federalist Number Four.)
Anyhoo, the new-look omniscient one has a collection of links asking the question: "what if Dubya had tried to attack AQ before 9/11?"
The answer has something about StartingARacistImperialistWarForHisSithMastersAtHalliburton (TM)...
ADDED EXTRA BONUS!!!! DISSING THE 9/11 COMMISSION PARTISAN HACKERY BY CITING THE FEDERALIST PAPERS!
In researching my throw-away line about K.C. and the Sunshine Band and John Jay, I did a quick little search to make sure that John Jay had in fact written Fed No. 4, and that it was in fact about foreign policy. I hadn't read it in a couple of years, but I was right on the mark.....
But even more than I realized.
Here's what John Jay had to say about why a strong Union [and with it a strong presidency] was needed to protect the country against foreign enemies:
But the safety of the people of America against dangers from FOREIGN force depends not only on their forbearing to give JUST causes of war to other nations, but also on their placing and continuing themselves in such a situation as not to INVITE hostility or insult; for it need not be observed that there are PRETENDED as well as just causes of war.
It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting anything by it; nay, absolute monarchs will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it, but for the purposes and objects merely personal, such as thirst for military glory, revenge for personal affronts, ambition, or private compacts to aggrandize or support their particular families or partisans. These and a variety of other motives, which affect only the mind of the sovereign, often lead him to engage in wars not sanctified by justice or the voice and interests of his people. But, independent of these inducements to war, which are more prevalent in absolute monarchies, but which well deserve our attention, there are others which affect nations as often as kings; and some of them will on examination be found to grow out of our relative situation and circumstances.
Jay assess various powers at the time before turning to the issue of how perceptions of weakness affect decision-making in foreign policy:
From these and such like considerations, which might, if consistent with prudence, be more amplified and detailed, it is easy to see that jealousies and uneasinesses may gradually slide into the minds and cabinets of other nations, and that we are not to expect that they should regard our advancement in union, in power and consequence by land and by sea, with an eye of indifference and composure.
The people of America are aware that inducements to war may arise out of these circumstances, as well as from others not so obvious at present, and that whenever such inducements may find fit time and opportunity for operation, pretenses to color and justify them will not be wanting. Wisely, therefore, do they consider union and a good national government as necessary to put and keep them in SUCH A SITUATION as, instead of INVITING war, will tend to repress and discourage it. That situation consists in the best possible state of defense, and necessarily depends on the government, the arms, and the resources of the country.
As the safety of the whole is the interest of the whole, and cannot be provided for without government, either one or more or many, let us inquire whether one good government is not, relative to the object in question, more competent than any other given number whatever.
One government can collect and avail itself of the talents and experience of the ablest men, in whatever part of the Union they may be found. It can move on uniform principles of policy. It can harmonize, assimilate, and protect the several parts and members, and extend the benefit of its foresight and precautions to each. In the formation of treaties, it will regard the interest of the whole, and the particular interests of the parts as connected with that of the whole. It can apply the resources and power of the whole to the defense of any particular part, and that more easily and expeditiously than State governments or separate confederacies can possibly do, for want of concert and unity of system. It can place the militia under one plan of discipline, and, by putting their officers in a proper line of subordination to the Chief Magistrate, will, as it were, consolidate them into one corps, and thereby render them more efficient than if divided into thirteen or into three or four distinct independent companies.
...
But whatever may be our situation, whether firmly united under one national government, or split into a number of confederacies, certain it is, that foreign nations will know and view it exactly as it is; and they will act toward us accordingly. If they see that our national government is efficient and well administered, our trade prudently regulated, our militia properly organized and disciplined, our resources and finances discreetly managed, our credit re-established, our people free, contented, and united, they will be much more disposed to cultivate our friendship than provoke our resentment. If, on the other hand, they find us either destitute of an effectual government (each State doing right or wrong, as to its rulers may seem convenient), or split into three or four independent and probably discordant republics or confederacies, one inclining to Britain, another to France, and a third to Spain, and perhaps played off against each other by the three, what a poor, pitiful figure will America make in their eyes! How liable would she become not only to their contempt but to their outrage, and how soon would dear-bought experience proclaim that when a people or family so divide, it never fails to be against themselves.
PUBLIUS.
The divisions that Publius was talking about were regional: but he could just as easily been talking about partisan splits. Look, the country is severely divided now, but no more so than it was in the 1860s-1870s and the 1790s. Dissent is valid and important, and one of the hallmarks of what we are fighting this war for is for the very idea of contesting elections during a war.
Yet, there reaches a point when that very division feeds our enemies a sense of opportunity. Their weapon of choice has been the attack aimed at public perceptions, to use their willing allies in the foreign media to strike paralysis into our bones. It worked sadly in Beiruit, and in Mogadishu. We cannot let it happen again.
Racist hack Irish pols cheered the rise of the KKK in the 1870s, helping to end the Reconstruction in the American south. Racist hack Irish pols now cheer the rise of al-Sadr in Iraq in the hopes of ending Reconstruction in Iraq. Why? In both instances, they felt freedom for their own was more important than those they thought otherwise worthy of slavery. And both times, Republican adminstrations meant less corrupt pork-barreling for their own Democratic districts.
The Kennedys have been corrupt opportunists from the beginning. Old man Kennedy supported Hitler in the 1930s when it was politically expedient; his brother Bobby supported McCarthy in the 1950s when it was politically expedient [why else is his eldest daughter's godfather Tailgunner Joe?]; his brother Jack supported ML King in the 1960s when it was politically expedient; and now Ted is supporting al-Sadr if it means getting a Democrat in the White House and the patronage and pork flowing back to his constituents. Tireless tribune of the people my fanny: Copperhead believer in the politically expedient is more like it.
There, isn't that the Llamabutchers for you? Start you with a little KC and the Sunshine Band before hitting you over the head with some political theory and some anti-Kennedy ranting.....
Uhhh....make that 3 for 4 on my part
RE my Master's prediction below, there's only one thing to say:
D'Oh!
RE my Master's prediction below, there's only one thing to say:
D'Oh!
Selling out my country and the cause
Yesterday I was out in the driveway building some shelves for the garage: two by eights, power saw, T-square, metal joists, power drill fitted as a screwdriver--it was fun.
But I have to report I sold out my heritage and my country.
I used a Metric tape measure.
For the life of me, I just can't do the math in inches in my head. I can't keep it straight.
I realize this might be enough for some of you to just leave the Llamabutchers forever, and, well, I can't blame you.
I realized I disgraced the cause, and will continue to do so whenever I have to do home carpentry projects.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not one of those mamby-pamby la-de-la Episcopalian volvo drivin', goat-cheese eatin', chardonnay drinkin', dockers wearin', classical music listenen' wusses. Well, okay, maybe I am. But I like my beer in pints, my football fields in yards [and my football players to use their hands to touch the ball, being chased by some 300 pound guy who can do the 40 in 4.8 seconds wanting to crush all his teeth via his shoulderblades, thank you very much]. I like my gas in gallons, and my banannas in pounds. And when Buford Pusser/Chris Vaughn is breaking up some corruption and smacking "The Man" in the head, I want it to be a two by four, for heaven's sake, not a 20cm/80cm/1.4M board.
But if it has to be level and even? [insert squeaky frog voice here] It has to be metric.
Sorry. Please forgive me.
Yesterday I was out in the driveway building some shelves for the garage: two by eights, power saw, T-square, metal joists, power drill fitted as a screwdriver--it was fun.
But I have to report I sold out my heritage and my country.
I used a Metric tape measure.
For the life of me, I just can't do the math in inches in my head. I can't keep it straight.
I realize this might be enough for some of you to just leave the Llamabutchers forever, and, well, I can't blame you.
I realized I disgraced the cause, and will continue to do so whenever I have to do home carpentry projects.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not one of those mamby-pamby la-de-la Episcopalian volvo drivin', goat-cheese eatin', chardonnay drinkin', dockers wearin', classical music listenen' wusses. Well, okay, maybe I am. But I like my beer in pints, my football fields in yards [and my football players to use their hands to touch the ball, being chased by some 300 pound guy who can do the 40 in 4.8 seconds wanting to crush all his teeth via his shoulderblades, thank you very much]. I like my gas in gallons, and my banannas in pounds. And when Buford Pusser/Chris Vaughn is breaking up some corruption and smacking "The Man" in the head, I want it to be a two by four, for heaven's sake, not a 20cm/80cm/1.4M board.
But if it has to be level and even? [insert squeaky frog voice here] It has to be metric.
Sorry. Please forgive me.
Regression to the mean, and three predictions
Just checked quickly at The Masters as I hadn't a chance to check in all weekend. Here's a telling statistic to illustrate the concept of "regression to the mean:"
They have a handy feature that gives the scores, but also breaks down with all sorts of stats worthy of a seamhead [a baseball fan enamored of stats]. Anyhoo, Tiger's drives are averaging 279.5 yards off the tee: the rest of the field is averaging 278.1.
Wow. Remember the olden days when Tiger was able to outdrive the whole field by what seemed like olympic swimming pool lengths?
My prediciton: Phil will choke. I'm on a predictive tear as of late (going 3-0 on Thursday, with Nick, Amy, and tatoo guy all getting the boot). My other prediction: in the Nedow Pledge of Allegiance case at the Supreme Court, the Court will vote 6:2 to smackdown the Ninth Circuit and uphold the Pledge as is. The decision will be on the merits and not on standing, and Justice Stephen Breyer will either write the opinion for the majority or a major concurring opinion. Ginsberg and Stevens will be the dissenters.
And, oh yeah, Antonin Scalia will step down from the Supreme Court to cash in on the speaker circuit.
Remember, you heard it hear first.
Just checked quickly at The Masters as I hadn't a chance to check in all weekend. Here's a telling statistic to illustrate the concept of "regression to the mean:"
They have a handy feature that gives the scores, but also breaks down with all sorts of stats worthy of a seamhead [a baseball fan enamored of stats]. Anyhoo, Tiger's drives are averaging 279.5 yards off the tee: the rest of the field is averaging 278.1.
Wow. Remember the olden days when Tiger was able to outdrive the whole field by what seemed like olympic swimming pool lengths?
My prediciton: Phil will choke. I'm on a predictive tear as of late (going 3-0 on Thursday, with Nick, Amy, and tatoo guy all getting the boot). My other prediction: in the Nedow Pledge of Allegiance case at the Supreme Court, the Court will vote 6:2 to smackdown the Ninth Circuit and uphold the Pledge as is. The decision will be on the merits and not on standing, and Justice Stephen Breyer will either write the opinion for the majority or a major concurring opinion. Ginsberg and Stevens will be the dissenters.
And, oh yeah, Antonin Scalia will step down from the Supreme Court to cash in on the speaker circuit.
Remember, you heard it hear first.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Bloggy Notice and Random Stuff
We'll be headed out of town directly after Church tomorrow to have Easter dinner with the 'rents in Williamsburg. Coming back late tomorrow night. Then I have a client meeting earlyish on Monday. Upshot is that only posting you're likely to see between now and Monday afternoon is what Steve-O can serve up.
Spent a very satisfactory day playing Chemical Robbo out in the yard - weeding and feeding everything that didn't scramble out of the way. Also put some gladiola bulbs in my garden with the able assistance, or at least non-stop commentary, of my six-year old. Just finished up this evening transplanting some seedlings in my workshop to the accompaniment of some Beethoven. I was listening to John Eliot Gardiner doing the 7th and 8th Symphonies. I have never ever heard anyone take the finale of the 8th that fast. Too hectic for me.
So last night I found myself watching Star Trek: First Contact. I think it's the best of the Next Generation movies. (I haven't seen that one where the Enterprise has to save the inhabitants of the Planet of Aging Volvo Hippies, or whatever it is, but I've seen the others.) First, there's no Whoopi, which is key. Second, you have the Borg - good solid eviiil enemy. And third, whatsisname who plays Effram Cochran rocks. I'd be curious to hear what anyone else thinks vis a vis Next Generation movie rankings.
Oh, btb, finally saw Mars Attacks. Waste of two perfectly good hours.
As I was tooling home yesterday, I saw an interesting sight: Coming across the Roosevelt Bridge, I fell in behind two cars: a short-stretch limo and a Suburban. Both black, both tinted windows, both with lots of aerials and whatnot sticking out of their tops. They turned north on the GW Parkway in front of me and got off where I do at Chain Bridge Road.
Now tooling around DC, one gets used to this sort of thing: Diplomatic Muckety-Muck and Security Escort. What was interesting here was the way they were acting. The Suburban was literally two feet off the limo's bumper the entire time. Someone tried to sneak past in a traffic snarl and one of the guys in the Suburban leaned way out and vehemently waived him off. This guy was Aryan-scary. Like Gary Bussey in lethal Weapon Aryan-scary. Like the Menthos Kids would be if they graduated from Navy Seal School, Aryan-scary. As I say, I've seen plenty of security escorts, but never one that looked so jumpy and nervous.
By the way, the driver of the limo was a total dick. Not that he was going fast or acting arrogant. In fact, just the opposite. He was tooling along just fast enough to creep up on the traffic in front of him. When he reached it, he would hesitate about whether to pass or not. He'd start drifting over and then suddenly switch back. You could tell that the Suburban driver was getting very crabby about this, as he tried to figure out what the hell the limo was going to do next. I hate drivers like that - give me a hot-dogging lane surfer, whose behavior I can at least predict, any time over one of these doofus doodlers.
Anyway, I was so puzzled by all of this, including the erratic driving, that I didn't dare try to pass myself. Just dogged along behind. As I say, they got off at Chain Bridge and I thought for sure they were headed for the CIA. But they passed the entrance and turned off into one of the swank neighborhoods down past the Georgetown Pike intersection. Wonder who it was.....
Well, enough of this. Pardon the incoherence, but I'm tired. Have a very happy Easter, all of you! I'll yip back to you later on Monday.
We'll be headed out of town directly after Church tomorrow to have Easter dinner with the 'rents in Williamsburg. Coming back late tomorrow night. Then I have a client meeting earlyish on Monday. Upshot is that only posting you're likely to see between now and Monday afternoon is what Steve-O can serve up.
Spent a very satisfactory day playing Chemical Robbo out in the yard - weeding and feeding everything that didn't scramble out of the way. Also put some gladiola bulbs in my garden with the able assistance, or at least non-stop commentary, of my six-year old. Just finished up this evening transplanting some seedlings in my workshop to the accompaniment of some Beethoven. I was listening to John Eliot Gardiner doing the 7th and 8th Symphonies. I have never ever heard anyone take the finale of the 8th that fast. Too hectic for me.
So last night I found myself watching Star Trek: First Contact. I think it's the best of the Next Generation movies. (I haven't seen that one where the Enterprise has to save the inhabitants of the Planet of Aging Volvo Hippies, or whatever it is, but I've seen the others.) First, there's no Whoopi, which is key. Second, you have the Borg - good solid eviiil enemy. And third, whatsisname who plays Effram Cochran rocks. I'd be curious to hear what anyone else thinks vis a vis Next Generation movie rankings.
Oh, btb, finally saw Mars Attacks. Waste of two perfectly good hours.
As I was tooling home yesterday, I saw an interesting sight: Coming across the Roosevelt Bridge, I fell in behind two cars: a short-stretch limo and a Suburban. Both black, both tinted windows, both with lots of aerials and whatnot sticking out of their tops. They turned north on the GW Parkway in front of me and got off where I do at Chain Bridge Road.
Now tooling around DC, one gets used to this sort of thing: Diplomatic Muckety-Muck and Security Escort. What was interesting here was the way they were acting. The Suburban was literally two feet off the limo's bumper the entire time. Someone tried to sneak past in a traffic snarl and one of the guys in the Suburban leaned way out and vehemently waived him off. This guy was Aryan-scary. Like Gary Bussey in lethal Weapon Aryan-scary. Like the Menthos Kids would be if they graduated from Navy Seal School, Aryan-scary. As I say, I've seen plenty of security escorts, but never one that looked so jumpy and nervous.
By the way, the driver of the limo was a total dick. Not that he was going fast or acting arrogant. In fact, just the opposite. He was tooling along just fast enough to creep up on the traffic in front of him. When he reached it, he would hesitate about whether to pass or not. He'd start drifting over and then suddenly switch back. You could tell that the Suburban driver was getting very crabby about this, as he tried to figure out what the hell the limo was going to do next. I hate drivers like that - give me a hot-dogging lane surfer, whose behavior I can at least predict, any time over one of these doofus doodlers.
Anyway, I was so puzzled by all of this, including the erratic driving, that I didn't dare try to pass myself. Just dogged along behind. As I say, they got off at Chain Bridge and I thought for sure they were headed for the CIA. But they passed the entrance and turned off into one of the swank neighborhoods down past the Georgetown Pike intersection. Wonder who it was.....
Well, enough of this. Pardon the incoherence, but I'm tired. Have a very happy Easter, all of you! I'll yip back to you later on Monday.
Friday, April 09, 2004
Coming Back Up For Air
Well, everything is written, proofed and zapped off to clients. I could stick around and blog for a while, but I think I'm going to head downstairs, put the top down on the jeep and head on up the GW Parkway. I'll yip to y'all later on.
Well, everything is written, proofed and zapped off to clients. I could stick around and blog for a while, but I think I'm going to head downstairs, put the top down on the jeep and head on up the GW Parkway. I'll yip to y'all later on.
Friday Contest: Tell me whether my instincts are right about this one
Al Gore did some wonderful things for us by inventing the internet [how else could I have found that site last week dedicated to proving Bob Saget is the anti-Christ?], but he also created some problems. Let's face it, ten years into the internet revolution and I have come to the conclusion that email completely sucks.
And the daily inundation of Nigerian penile enlargement schemes is not the worst of it. You know what I'm talking about: the desire of people you thought you shed long ago wanting to "get back in touch."
I graduated from high school twenty years ago, so in the past month the "so what the heck you been doing with yourself you son of a gun!" emails have started to come in. One was actually welcome--someone who I truly had lost track of. The rest-----grrrrr.
But my favorite are the old flames dropping a line to see how things are going. Nothing is quite as worse for the happily married guy to have email drop into the box from girlfriends not seen or heard from in years. I have two rules regarding these: 1. of course is full disclosure to my wife and 2. is not responding. My basic instinct here [nice slip there, btw] is that nothing really good can come from answering.
What I'd like to ask our readers is if these two rules make sense. I think they do, but I just want to make sure I'm not being paranoid.
Case in point: this arrived in my email box yesterday.
We dated, let me think for a second, yes it was the waning months of the Reagan administration. About five months, if memory serves, in the fall and winter of 1988. I had just graduated college and was starting grad school, she was a junior or senior. Vicious droppage was received on my end--it was kind of like getting a walk in freezer dropped on your head by a low-flying B2 bomber, and all you've got is one of those little Wiley E. Coyote umbrellas over your head. I hadn't done anything nasty, if anything I think it was the opposite--I was too nice perhaps [those were the days when Rob Lowe was the brooding bad boy rather than the respectable mini-driving guy on The West Wing after all]. Over the years, we talked a couple of times in 1990, but after that, nothing from my end. But I've gotten a number of calls over the years (unanswered by me) and this is maybe the third email in the past four years. I mentioned it to my wife and she had a hearty chuckle.
So anyways, I'd like some advice, particularly from
Al Gore did some wonderful things for us by inventing the internet [how else could I have found that site last week dedicated to proving Bob Saget is the anti-Christ?], but he also created some problems. Let's face it, ten years into the internet revolution and I have come to the conclusion that email completely sucks.
And the daily inundation of Nigerian penile enlargement schemes is not the worst of it. You know what I'm talking about: the desire of people you thought you shed long ago wanting to "get back in touch."
I graduated from high school twenty years ago, so in the past month the "so what the heck you been doing with yourself you son of a gun!" emails have started to come in. One was actually welcome--someone who I truly had lost track of. The rest-----grrrrr.
But my favorite are the old flames dropping a line to see how things are going. Nothing is quite as worse for the happily married guy to have email drop into the box from girlfriends not seen or heard from in years. I have two rules regarding these: 1. of course is full disclosure to my wife and 2. is not responding. My basic instinct here [nice slip there, btw] is that nothing really good can come from answering.
What I'd like to ask our readers is if these two rules make sense. I think they do, but I just want to make sure I'm not being paranoid.
Case in point: this arrived in my email box yesterday.
Hi Steve!
Your name keeps coming up as I visit my friends from Smith...and I realize
that I'm long overdue in being in touch and seeing how you are. So, how ARE
you???? [followed by a smiley face emoticon]
I see from your web page that you got tenure----Congratulations! That must
feel good....
Drop me an email when you get a chance and let me know how everything is
with you...
best,
[name withheld]
We dated, let me think for a second, yes it was the waning months of the Reagan administration. About five months, if memory serves, in the fall and winter of 1988. I had just graduated college and was starting grad school, she was a junior or senior. Vicious droppage was received on my end--it was kind of like getting a walk in freezer dropped on your head by a low-flying B2 bomber, and all you've got is one of those little Wiley E. Coyote umbrellas over your head. I hadn't done anything nasty, if anything I think it was the opposite--I was too nice perhaps [those were the days when Rob Lowe was the brooding bad boy rather than the respectable mini-driving guy on The West Wing after all]. Over the years, we talked a couple of times in 1990, but after that, nothing from my end. But I've gotten a number of calls over the years (unanswered by me) and this is maybe the third email in the past four years. I mentioned it to my wife and she had a hearty chuckle.
So anyways, I'd like some advice, particularly from