Julie with a B

Obama

2009-07-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

OK, so I thought this Prez would do interesting things - sort of like a new top out of the box, you pull the string and stand back a bit.
The latest "Stupid" joke was not exactly what I had expected.
So now we're all sitting down to drink beer??? Was Joe the Plumber inivted?

There's a "beer poll" at the bottom of this article

Alas, poor Daisy Cutter...

2008-06-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

All that ranting and raving about no McCain for Prez.....
Poor thing, who will you vote for now? Have you registered Independent???

But this one.....

2008-01-26T19:35:00.001-08:00

really hits the spot.
(those of you with a right wing persuasion may be offended by the language)(French)

Saturday night video

2008-01-26T19:15:00.001-08:00

OK, so Bandit likes to watch this one over and over....

Well here it is Saturday . . . let's go to the movies

2008-01-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

Well, first thing, you have to traipse on down to the Pirate's Cove for his "Saturday Night Redneck"
Foxworthy at his finest with a few Walmart Fashion Alerts.
Then run on over to Harvey's place and check out the Jan.23 video. I'm sure it's not right, but I pretty much fell out of my chair watching it... and the other vid's that are appended to the post.
Alas, the Llama Butchers have "Bad Music Video Saturday" I don't think Foxworthy's fashion statements would help any, tho.

The bell curve of California political parties. ..

2008-01-21T19:49:00.001-08:00

As usual I think California is a leader in this but other marks on the map are surely close behind. The Party membership here looks like a bell curve. Democrats, on the left of course, Republicans on the right, and a large bulge in the middle - the Independents. Yup, there are more voters registered Independent than either party. Like all middle bulges, this one wobbles left, then right, then jiggles in the middle.
The interests of the north eastern Democrats have nothing to do with what is happeing in California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and parts of Arizona and Colorado.
So . . . the bulge will grow. Hillary doesn't speak to me. Barack maybe. The others? Oh please.
Our primary is coming up on February 5th. The usuall absentee voters are notably absent. No one is ready to make their mark.
I have company in my thoughts, check out "WesternDemocrat":

"What concerns me and what should concern a lot of Western Democrats is that the GOP may be poised to nominate a Western candidate who can reach across party lines (McCain), while the Democratic Party may be poised to nominate (again) an uncharismatic Easterner who would have difficulty reaching across party lines and who has little appeal in much of the purple West (Clinton). Hillary is a known quantity, and her negative numbers in the West will be very hard to change."

So there you have it. What now?

And the little dog laughed

2008-01-16T21:51:00.000-08:00

Well, my dog laughs anyway. It's a decided little "chuff" sound. She also rolls her eyes at her stupid human.
But I guess I'm not the only one with a laughing dog:
This one from Science News

a little more recent from PhysOrg.com

Gives new meaning to "Drive Thru"

2008-01-16T21:48:00.000-08:00

Personally, I think it's just a semantics issue but:

"Man Drives Into McDonald's after Order Botched"

Tax Time . . .

2008-01-15T21:13:00.000-08:00

We all get just a wee bit bothered with forms and what did or didn't pay, or donate, or what we REALLY $made$ last year.... But this should not be considered a workable solution.

Just re-arranging the furniture...

2008-01-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

. . . and sending some of it to the recycle bin.

If I used to link to you and you just notice that the linky is now gone, c'mon over and complain. Mostly I'm moving out sites that have gone dark or I don't read or agree with anymore.

I doubt anyone will really notice, but if I removed you and you hate it, say so.

(signed)
The Mgt.

As usual, he has no clue . . .

2008-01-15T20:27:00.000-08:00

. . . what to do with that bit of diplomacy he was just handed.

Helloo -ooh

2008-01-15T19:25:00.000-08:00

Anybody here? Ha. An empty theater, a bare stage.
The acoustics are kinda good, with the echo an' all. Let's try out a couple of good lines!

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world!"

Wow! That has a really nice sound to it!
What politician said that? Well, no one from around here. Those are M. K. Gandhi's words.

Hmm.... this stage needs some lights and maybe a new sound system, and perhaps some . . .

Dragged back into the light . . .

2007-06-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged by Travis. I'm pretty honored actually, he's a big fish.
1. Here are the rules.
2. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
3. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
4. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
5. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

So eight random facts/habits about me? OK, take a break, run down to Starbucks for a double shot espresso latte. Drink deeply and try to keep your eyelids from drooping as you read THESE 8 ASTOUNDING INCREDIBLE -ly boring items.

Ahem.

1. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when JFK was shot.
2. My first paying job was as an exercise jockey at Santa Anita racetrack.
3. Weapon of choice is a 62" longbow.
4. I work in a cheese factory.
5. I translated French documents for ERDA (used to be Atomic Energy Commision) about nuclear reactors.
6. In college I learned how to shoe a horse and scale the brick wall of the men's dorm.
7. I come from a family of writers. (sadly that doesn't help out this blog)
8. My new goal is to learn how to joust.

Well let's see which of my friends is still, well, my friend, and still breathing.

Teach at Pirate's Cove is still breathing (fire)
Daisy Cutter... still cuttin' daisies
Hmmm. Jesse has wandered off, Charlie is just wandering.....
The Texican's don't do this sh... kind of thing...
I'd be willing to bet that the Democratic Veteran doesn't either, but I really enjoy his site, so.
Jesse at Life or Something Like It, seems to wander back if you will kindly leave a comment.
BillyBudd over at American Dinosaur
balance him with Wills4223
No more. I know that's not 8. Deal with it.

And more from Iraq

2007-06-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

A friend's son is there. This excerpt from one of his letters home:

"They have been dealing with a sniper that has shot two of his buddies, hitting one twice in the arm and another in the butt. Fortunately they will be fine. After this they went through several houses and found the Mother of the sniper. Turns out he is seventeen years old, and now has a death wish from Ml's squad.

One day a Captain came to M's squad and wanted them to go out with metal detectors and search for IED's etc. The Squad Leader said "no way" due to the sniper still out there and that this stupid idea could get them killed. Long story short, the squad leader was removed and transferred to bravo company. On the squad leaders flight back to base his helicopter was shot down and he suffered some minor injuries, but he'll recover.

M and his squad are angry and sad that his squad leader was treated this way for standing up and protecting them from a very bad decision. Fortunately, they still didn't have to go out on this very bad mission. Unfortunately, they lost one of the best squad leaders in their company."

Not much in the way of real leadership there. This is M's 2nd tour. He's been there since December, not expected home until early 2008.

Iraq again...

2007-06-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

Raising my head from the slog of every day drudge to wonder where our focus is. Yes, immigration is an issue but the struggles of our military are more important.

This from Democratic Veteran: "So the brass at every level from the Pentagram on down should be ashamed that this even happened.

'So many Fort Lewis soldiers are being killed in Iraq the Army base will no longer hold individual memorial services.
Starting next month Fort Lewis says it will hold one memorial a month for all the dead soldiers."

What else do you need to know. Whether you agree with my politics or not, you have to be
ashamed that this even happened."

Yes. Its shameful. Disrespectful. Painful.

Bumper sticker seen on the way to work

2007-05-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

"Don't believe everything you think."

Only on the Left Coast

2007-05-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

On the way to work, I was listening to the local PBS station. They are in the middle of the latest fund drive. One of the items you are rewarded, for signing up and sending in cash, is a Leatherman type of "multi-tool". Now these are a pretty neat tool to have - a screwdriver, knife, saw, a small socket wrench with assorted sockets, etc. all attached in one item and carefully encased in a black nylon case.
In mid-description of this utensil the commentator stopped. He then said, "I have to correct my earlier description of one of the tools - it is NOT a skinning knife. I was mistaken, it is for peeling fruit. Those of you emailing us about giving away a tool with which you can kill and skin animals, can stop now. That is not the tool's purpose!"

Lordy. I almost ran off the road.

joke from the email . . .

2007-05-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

A 3-year-old boy examined his testicles while taking a bath. "Mom", he asked, "Are these my brains?"

"Not yet," she replied.

(OK. Now you can send me all your negative jokes about women. And no I don't plan to post any. So there.)

Bumper sticker of the day . . . .

2007-05-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

"Don't believe everything you think."

A Thinking Blogger

2007-04-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

When DC said this, I thought he said, “stinking Blogger”, no doubt in reference to our difference of opinion on several topics. But he said, “Thinking Blogger”. Thank you, DC. I am impressed that I make you think. Time to do some writing . . .

But the point of this is to also name bloggers who make me think. This is difficult – I mostly read blogs to laugh, nod, comment, and move on. I was supposed to think? DC makes me think, but mostly about whether or not he’s certifiable.

First in line is Democratic Veteran. He lays it on the line, I always find myself nodding as I read his stuff, and then usually laughing as well. He’s Lefter than I am. He wins the “most sarcastic” award every time.

Second is Alternate Brain. Why is it I find myself repeating – I enjoy his writing and he makes me laugh? No, more than that, he makes me think by pointing out little bits that I've missed.

It should be noted that unless you can make me laugh, you've pretty much lost my attention. This normally includes blogs that are simply ranting - Left or Right. I don't go back unless I'm entertained. OK, so Jesus' General rants but he does it in such an entertaining fashion that I go back all the time.

Third is Nick at Progressive Blog Digest. Oddly he makes me think because he does the legwork for the background to his comments, you can read his thinking in the linkies to articles. And I do – go read the articles for myself and go “hmmm….”

None of these people will be playing the Thinking Blogger game . . . what does this mean? I would hit up Charlie the Wanker, ‘cept he is lost in thought. It’s hard to criticize since HIS last post was the same date as MY last post, so that looks to be the pot calling the pot black.

Fourth is American Dinosaur.- I read his posts and groan and then do the research and think about what he’s saying. I don’t agree, but I think about it. Oh yeah, and he’s also very funny. Check the “Earth Day” post…. and, he just might do the "Thinking Blogger" thingy . . . Never hurts to ask.

A fairwell and a comback ...

2007-03-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

Jesse at "Life or Something Like It" is throwing in the towel. I'll miss his bizarre sense of humor and level headed political commentary. Actually... it's not Jesse that I miss but Jesse's conversations with Pear. I liked Pear, we share a similar world view.

However! Charlie at Pusillanimous Wanker is back! A solid voice on the Left, he is returning, well, gradually.

Not yet

2007-03-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

Will start the new job on Monday, delayed from last Thursday. OK by me - had a week off, well, sort of. Actually worked at home on the old company books. Dropped it off at the CPA on Wednesday, had tons of things to do around the house, since I've been working some long hours trying to wrap up a the old job.
No. I didn't get time to ride the horse. It's now 4:30 and a bit late to head up to the barn. OK. So I did go shooting today and had a fine time out in the sunshine with friends and my new bow.

Oh and got the laundry done. Big woop there.. :-P

The bow up close

2007-03-03T16:11:00.000-08:00

Unstrung, leaning against the den door. It's 68" long, made mostly of walnut.

Has a nice feel, smooth to shoot. Mmmm, mmmm!

The new longbow . .

2007-03-03T15:43:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine shooting the new "Viper Delux"

Compare it to the french recurve in this photo.

Ah.. a couple days off

2007-02-26T19:27:00.000-08:00

I've spent the last 6 weeks working long hours, doing my job, hiring a replacement, and training her. Leaving the old job was a wrench - I have some wonderful friends there and I'll really miss them.
My brother was up visiting over the weekend. He's a wine fiend so we went touring about tasting at this place and that. Came back with a nice bottle of Cabernet and one of port. In general I prefer good single malt Scotch, but I can be tempted to be unfaithful...

Over the next couple days will do whatever I want - unscheduled this and that. I'm thinking of heading to the beach with the dog for a nice walk in the wind. Tomorrow will take some friends from work to the Powerhouse for a couple pints. OK, so I told 'em I'd put the Visa card on the bar and run a tab. We may be there a long time if no one throws us out.

Oh yes. And I'm finally going to buy the longbow I've been lusting after for a year or so. Oh yes. Well, when I get it I'll post a picture or two. I'm going shooting with some friends on Saturday. Since that's also my birthday I'm hoping to have it by then.

Tour of California

2007-02-19T07:46:00.000-08:00

Once againg the Tour of California rockets through my home town. The prologue of the tour was in San Francisco yesterday. Local hero, Levi Leipheimer, won the prologue which ends at the top of Telegraph Hill in San Francisco at the base of Coit Tower. A total unknown, Jason Donald, came in second.
Today the tour leaves Sausalito:

"Starting on the northern side of the San Francisco Bay, Stage 1 will cover almost 100 miles from Sausalito to Santa Rosa. The stage begins with a climb from Mill Valley up to Mt. Tamalpais State Park before turning toward Muir Beach. The route mirrors that of 2006 all the way to Valley Ford, but where the riders headed east to Santa Rosa, the 2007 route will continue north to Bodega Bay and turn onto Coleman Valley Road, a landmark climb in Northern California. Then, spectators can watch the stage win unfold as the field heads downhill from Occidental for three finishing circuit laps in downtown Santa Rosa. In 2006, Santa Rosa set the mark for one of the most enthusiastic and largest crowds of the entire Amgen Tour of California."

I am delighted that they are finally testing the hills here. In the winter months you can often see notables training here. Three time Tour de France winner, Greg Lemond used Santa Rosa as his winter training base, and, as noted, Levi Leipheimer lives and trains here.
Last year it rained and the Tour of CA took a very mild course due to the slippery roads. This year, one of the roads coming in from the coast is Coleman Valley Rd. Listed in bike tour guides as the "Coleman Valley Rd. Experience" (!) coming up from the coast is an exceedingly steep climb. I have ridden DOWN the hill and overheated my brakes. Gotta say there is a stunning view of the ocean from the top, but these guys will be facing the wrong way to see it.
The race ends with a couple circuits of downtown. Last year saw a crowd of 35,000 - a notable number of people for a town of 200,000.

Call home from Iraq

2007-02-14T08:56:00.000-08:00

From a friend, whose son is in Iraq

He called after two weeks of working out of the Iraqi police station located a few miles from their home base of Iskan. He said their days are spent patrolling, guarding, and training with the Iraqi Army unit they are assigned to.

The days are long with shifts of 8 hours on and 4 hours off. There are no showers at the patrol base, so he was real happy to get back to home base and his regular bed. Although his squad his heading right back out tomorrow for a week of patrols and missions.

He sounded really tired and a bit melancholy, but he is keeping his "chin up" and soldiering on. It is the rainy season in Iraq which means living in a giant mud hole all the time.

Fortunately things have been relatively quiet for his squad. They did have an "on and off" gun fight with a lone insurgent that lasted a few days. This guy would pop out of a building and fire at his guard tower, then slip away only to pop up from another building. They couldn't figure out how he was getting from one side of the street to the other. Later they found out he had a small trench cutout that they couldn't see, and this allowed him to crawl around out of sight. M's buddy finally got his gun sight on this guy, and let’s just say he's not crawling around anymore.

The Rules of Engagement continue to be a huge problem for our troops. They caught some terrorists trying to lay explosives near the base and gave chase after the bad guys had been spotted. They turned off their headlights to try and help get away and M had a clear shot with his .50 caliber machine gun to stop these guys. Unfortunately they were not allowed to fire because they were not being fired upon, and the terrorists got away.

On another occasion they detained a woman that had explosive residue all over her hands and her story just wasn't checking out. They were ordered to let her go because she wasn't on the current "black list". This is only two of many frustrating situations they have to deal with. I asked how the morale of the unit was and he turned to all the soldiers in the call center and asked; "My Dad wants to know how you all are feeling about our mission?"

The response was a loud; "It sucks!" Along with a couple of other words.

He wanted me to pass along to all of you a very big "Thank you" for all of your support and prayers as it means so much to him.

The Prez speaks

2007-02-14T08:47:00.000-08:00

Watching the Prez 's new conference, says he: Yes, you can disagree with the President's policy in Iraq and still support the troops.....er, as long as you vote the money for the President to spend on his policy.

Hmmm. I'm sure I should have snappy comment on that but I haven't finished my coffee yet.

Another repoter commented that he had heard soldiers questioning the purpose in Iraq, the Prez says, the families are the ones with that opinion, the leaders that the Prez has spoken with are not questioning the purpose.

More on that later.

Immigration? Prez says, work permits so that workers can legally cross the border and then beef up the border to keep out the gun runners, drugs, etc etc....

OK. I'm with that.

Now off to work, altho the home brew isn't working...cruising Starbucks on the way in.

JulieB in transition

2007-02-12T22:01:00.000-08:00

Things’ll be changing here. I’m leaving my current job at a small hospital in the hills of Sebastopol Well sort of. I’m headed for a start up funded by a bit of venture capital. T’will all be a challenge but the best kind of fun. and re-joining the corporate rat race.

The picture at the top of the Blog was taken facing east from the back of the hospital. Not sure what is in store yet, so hang on. I think I’ll follow the Pirate’s Cove model and try on a couple pictures and looks before I settle on something.

Early morning wake up call

2007-01-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

A minor earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.8 rolled across Sonoma County early today, jolting awake many who live here but causing no immediate reports of damage.
The initial temblor struck at 3:27 a.m. and was centered about five miles northwest of Glen Ellen, the U.S. Geological Survey said.An after-shock of magnitude 2.6 struck at 6:49 a.m., the USGS said."We definitely felt it," but it did not appear to cause any problems, Glen Ellen Fire Capt. Dan Pierce said."No calls from it. Nothing," Pierce said. "I think all in all it was just a reminder that we live in earthquake country,"Sonoma County Sheriff's Lt. Scott Dunn said some concerned residents called to inquire about the quake but he was unaware of any damage."It was just kind of a nice rolling one," he said.More information is available on the USGS Web site at: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/rpquake2_redirect.cfm http://www.pressdemocrat.com/rpquake3_redirect.cfm

The epicenter was about 15 mi. from where I live. Enough of a shake to wake one up, but not enough to eject one from a warm bed on a very cold night. The second one hit after the clock radio came on but while I was still comatose..... so I heard it and felt it, still didn't move.

A little bull . .

2007-01-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

A bunch of cows and bulls are standing in a field. A huge gust of wind comes along and all the cows fall over, but the bulls just stand there, bracing themselves against the gale. So all the cows stand up and brush themselves off and go back to their business. Pretty soon, a tornado blows through and all of the cows are knocked to the ground, but the bulls just munch on the grass. Next, a hurricane comes through and all the cows are knocked into the next pasture. The bulls just say "moo." Finally, one of the cows walks up to one of the bulls and says, "Moo? What's the mooing deal? How come the wind always knocks us for a loop and you just stand there unharmed ?" "Isn't it obvious?" the bull replies. "We bulls wobble, but we don't fall down."

New Speaker of the House

2007-01-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

The Democrats have been in power before... and the Republicans will be again, but Nancy Pelosi being sworn in as the new Speaker of the House is an historic moment. Take a pause, enjoy the moment.

"Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was elected America's first female speaker of the House yesterday in a raucous, bipartisan celebration of a historic breakthrough"
from the Washington Post

My hat's off to her. I think she will prove to be a good manager. Her every move and twitch is noticed, commented upon, judged, and critiqued. She'll make some good moves and some wrong moves, only time will tell the overall results.

Wednesday.... a pun...

2007-01-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

Show me a blacksmith who is making hardware for a bathroom, and I'll show you a man who is forging a head.

Sunday pun

2006-12-31T11:03:00.000-08:00

Sir Edgbert, knight of the realm, was hurrying home on a cold, dark, wet night when, suddenly, his horse suffered a major coronary and died on the spot. All Sir Edgbert could do was collect up what belongings he could and tramp onwards.

After staggering for a spell, he decides that he must get alternative transport. Accordingly, he heads for the nearest building which, as luck would have it, is a small farm. He strides up to the door, bangs on it and shouts 'A horse! A horse! I must have a horse!"

The door opens to reveal a young girl. She looks at Sir Edgbert and says, "Your pardon, good knight but my father and brothers are returning from the village on the other side of the forest and will not be back before noon tomorrow. They are riding all our horses".

Sir Edgbert is saddened by this and says "But I must return home immediately. Have you any idea where I may acquire alternative transportation?".

The young girl says "I know of no other horses hereabouts, but sometimes my brothers ride our Great Dane dog when the need arises. Would use of that help?"

Sir Edgbert is desperate and says "If I must, I must. Show me the animal". The young girl leads the way around to the back of the farmhouse to a stable. She disappears inside and returns leading and enormous dogs which is quite of a size for riding. Unfortunately, the dog has seen better days. It's coat is threadbare, it's legs are spindly and it seems to be breathing labouriously.

Sir Edgbert looks at the young girl and says, "Surely, you wouldn't send a knight out on a dog like this?"

Saddam commentary

2006-12-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

Check out "This Divided State" for an interesting pictorial (and not work safe) commentary. Only if you are LEFT - those on the RIGHT will be upset. So don't go there, 'kay?

Saturday Pun

2006-12-30T10:49:00.000-08:00

Pat: Hey, Chris! How's your new pet fish doing? You told me he was really something special.
Chris: To tell you the truth, I'm really disappointed in him. The guy who sold him to me said I could teach him to sing like a bird.
Pat: You bought a fish because you thought you could teach him to sing like a bird? I can't believe it!
Chris: Well, yeah. After all, he's a parrot fish.
Pat: I hate to tell you this, Chris, but while you might be able to teach a parrot bird to sing, you're never going to get anywhere with a parrot fish.
Chris: That's what you think! He can sing all right. The thing is, he keeps singing off-key. It's driving me crazy. Do you know how hard it is to tuna fish?

Blog Anniversary, Take Two

2006-12-28T21:28:00.000-08:00

The Second Blogiversary . . December 16th! And WHERE WAS I? Um.......

However. There should definitely be a retelling of the luscious romance of the Blogfather and the blogperson, that produced "Julie with a B".

Really I know that the Blogfather would love it if the details would simply slide quietly away and no longer trouble him, but, no, it's too much fun to retell!

Once upon a time there was a blogperson, too way left wing and too alluring to be named, that so entranced the Blogfather . . . .

Besotted he was!

(the details of said romance are here deleted due to the sensitivity of the material and the young minds that might be irreversibly damaged if they read it. Also due to the fact that the participating members might sue me for revealing said details. But check here (Dec 16th) for story and pictures! See Ogre's post on the subject of suing about explicit publishing here.)

Yet, after *everything* . . . (ahem) . . . . she left him . . . . and all he has is the memory of long heated discussions with the FAR LEFT.

Oh. And a left of center Blogdaughter. Julie with a B.

The Blogfather encouraged JulieB to find her voice, lent a hand with supporting linkies, visited to comment lovely long winded ditties that others enjoyed arguing with, and corrected JulieB's grammar, manners, and occasionally, her attitude.

Once again, thanks to American Warmonger, who created the template for JulieB. Jeremy created Julie with a B in, well, revenge for some long winded Left Wing comments I left on his Christmas blog post. (Jeremy, where are you, buddy??)

In memory, thanks to Nickie Goomba, for his support, caring , and very excellent punning. Best wishes to his heir. (by the way, note the bottle of 20 yr old single malt Scotch on the table next to the couch. Have a seat, pour yourself one, Nickie Jr. and hang for a bit.... sorry about the pretzels) (you're welcome)

And to my friends, the Texican Tattlers, Jesse at Life or Something Like it, Teach at Pirate's Cove - many thanks for, well, being my friends.

JulieB

OK. It's safe to come out from behind the curtains now, DC. They all know it was you anyway. They recognized your picture despite the chain mail.

Oh, and look out, DC

2006-12-03T22:11:00.000-08:00

Year two of JulieB is approaching it's end and year three will begin. You remember what that means? A brief visit with the parent? (recall the the "blogmother" is still a mystery. How does that work??)

Thought you'd remember....

And back to politics -

2006-12-03T21:46:00.000-08:00

NYTimes: WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 — Senator Barack Obama’s announcement that he might run for president is altering the early dynamics of the 2008 Democratic nominating contest. The move has created complications for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as she steps up her own preparations and is posing a threat to lesser-known Democrats trying to position themselves as alternatives to Mrs. Clinton, Democrats said Sunday.

Yes! .... OK, I think she's a lousy candidate. She's not got a clue - she picks up whatever theme might make her acceptable, has NO personal "vision thing" going, and she thinks the nation ends at the Mississippi River. How about us Coyote Democrats? Eh? What about the West?

At the least, Mr. Obama’s very high-profile explorations have contributed to a quickening of the pace across the 2008 Democratic field. On Sunday, Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana said that he would create a presidential exploratory committee this week. And Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa went so far as to announce his candidacy two years before Election Day, in what his aides said was a calculated strategy to grab a moment of attention before Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton blot out the sun.

Ah, huh. Choices are good. Waiting to see what else steps firmly forward...

Winter on its way in

2006-12-03T21:05:00.000-08:00

Well, yes, it's cold. But very pretty. We've had a bit of rain, though an inch less than last year so far. Perhaps not that El Nino year that the weather folks were pushing on us . . .

But cold here means a bit of ice on the windshield in the morning and putting a coat on before going out.

Foley . . .

2006-10-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

Most enteraining post about the Foley mess, find it here.

Most insightful post about the Foley mess, find it here.

Once again Republicans have proven themselves to be people, sort of, well, like Democrats only different.

Except for Rumsfeld who is actually an alien.

Uh, so no I'm not dead

2006-10-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

And yes, I'm still breathing but not posting! Uh. Excuses? Nope, well nothing besides the usual "I'm working" "I'm out riding the horse" I'm . . .

I did however buy a truck. Charlie are you out there? Yes, I finally bought the truck. Mmm, no not Ford though. Sorry. If you were here to buy it from, maybe then. Today bought a Chevy 2500. They say it is "gold" colored, I think it's tan, but S'OK as long as it pulls the horse trailer. Yes, I drove the red one . . . no I don't need any more tickets.

DC? I think my truck is bigger than yours . . . . :-)

Earthquake

2006-08-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

GLEN ELLEN – A magnitude 4.4 earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay area Wednesday night, but no serious injuries or damage were immediately reported.

“This report of my death was an exaggeration.” Mark Twain

For those of you hoping that the liberal heathens of Santa Rosa, CA are dead and gone from a terrible act of God, my apologies. We are still here, breathing, ranting left-wing rhetoric and slowing the line at Starbucks with our orders for Café-Mocha, non-fat, decaf espresso, with extra chocolate sprinkles.

The earthquake was entertaining. I was sitting in room full of people studying Talmud (Jewish Law). As the walls began to rattle, we looked at each other, wondering, “Should we move?” It was a long lasting quake, beginning with a bit of rattling, then a few moments of true shaking, a few more moments of rolling, subsiding to a half hearted shaking, to the rattling and then silence. We discussed the fact that, despite sitting next to a large wall of glass, no one raced to stand in an interior doorway. The consensus reached was that we are probably all dumb as dirt to have just sat there.

As we were leaving however, the Rabbi suggested that we put a better “spin” on our stationary response to the quake. “The Rabbis of the Talmud believed that if you were reciting Torah, nothing bad could happen to you. Therefore, clearly our faith has saved us from harm.”

Truth is that earthquakes, even 4.3 magnitude ones, happen frequently here. We sit on a fault line and there are many local geothermal areas. As DC would say, "It’s no big tuna."

Israel, back in Gaza, and back in Lebanon

2006-07-21T14:33:00.000-07:00

from USA Today by Dennis Ross:

In one of those paradoxes that so often seem to characterize the Middle East, Hamas and Hezbollah have acted to provoke an Israeli reoccupation of Gaza and extensive military operations in Lebanon. Israel might not want to be in either place, but with cross-border attacks and kidnapped Israeli soldiers, Israelis feel the need to impose a price and show such attacks come with consequences.
The problem, of course, is that for Israel it is much easier to get into Gaza and Lebanon than to get out. And that does not seem to bother either Hamas or Hezbollah. Though both claim to oppose Israeli occupation, Israeli withdrawal denies them their basis for resistance. Now with Israel back in Gaza and acting militarily in Lebanon, they have something to fight. For these Islamists, it is the cause, not humanity, that matters. And while they have always been sensitive to the public mood and support, the impact of Palestinian and Lebanese public opinion will play less of a role in ending these crises because of the pervading influence of Iran and Syria.

As the primary financier and supplier of Hezbollah and a patron of Hamas, Iran enjoys demonstrating to the Europeans and others the costs to regional stability if it faces continued pressure on nuclear issues, and it will try to manipulate these crises for its benefit.
Despite Iran's role, it is Syria that will determine how long these crises continue. In the case of Hamas, its external leadership operate and enjoy sanctuary in Damascus; should Syrian President Bashar Assad threaten to expel Hamas from Damascus if it does not release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and stop the rocket fire out of Gaza, the crisis would end quickly.

Read the whole article. Excellent with suggestions at the end.

Why would Iran use Hezbullah to incite Israel now?

2006-07-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Israel has warned repeatedly about Iran's intents and their nuclear ability. The U.S. heard them, but is not in a place to move beyond threats. The Europeans were only starting to listen to them. By blatantly calling Israel out, the world is distracted from Iran and what Israel was trying to say. Israel is back in Europe's bad graces. Any thoughts Europe had of pressuring Iran are completely gone from their heads.

Quote from Hezbullah

2006-07-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

"We will win because the Jews love life and we love the after-life!"

Israel

2006-07-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

Lets begin with this thought - quote from Newsweek - "Hizbullah guerrillas crossed into Israel to snatch two soldiers, killing eight."

What do you suppose the reaction would be if the line read "Hizbullah guerrillas crossed into the United States to snatch two soldiers, killing eight."

Now talk about whether there is over-reaction.

Nah, I'm still around . . .

2006-06-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

although my ship seems to have run aground:

Must have chocolate bunny on the brain . . .

2006-04-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

London Times:

Hundreds of churches are preparing events to coincide with the release next month of the film version of the novel, to help congregations understand why the version of events that appears in the book is untrue. The Da Vinci Code is based on the premise that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had a child, leading to a secret bloodline that was suppressed by the Roman Catholic Church and was the Holy Grail of legend.

What part of "fiction" do they not understand? The Da Vinci Code is FICTION as in "a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact; a fabrication: a deliberately false or improbable account".
Why would the church feel compelled to explain anything about The Da Vinci Code? Why would they feel threatened by something written to be an entertaining story? Seems to me their parishioners should feel insulted - the Anglican Church has no faith in their own congregants.
Ah! Maybe the Church is just jealous:

Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said that conspiracy theories would not undermine the truth of the Gospel. Dr Thomas Wright, the Bishop of Durham, said that an “ethically confused, navel- gazing society” had made Dan Brown’s novel a bestseller.

It's a best seller. Why not? It's a great read. Surely something that involves people in their religion should be popular, not condemned. Clearly, they've eaten too many chocolate bunnies.

Police shoot dead driver . . .

2006-04-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Um, OK, why 'zactly would you shoot someone who is dead? Because he wasn't *really* dead until they shot him. . . .
London Times:

Police shoot dead driver of "stolen car" at roadblock. A man was shot dead by police in Northern Ireland yesterday at a checkpoint set up to stop a suspected stolen car.
An officer opened fire after a silver BMW reached the roadblock in Ballynahinch, Co Down, 20 miles south of Belfast. Another three men and two women in the car were taken for questioning.

Nah, the first paragraph doesn't improve on anything. The rest is a bit garbled as well -

An officer opened fire after a silver BMW reached the roadblock in Ballynahinch, Co Down, 20 miles south of Belfast. Another three men and two women in the car were taken for questioning.
Nuala O’Loan, the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, announced an inquiry to establish whether the shooting was necessary to protect lives.
The BMW is believed to have travelled from Ballykinlar, about 12 miles away, and was heading for Belfast, according to reports. Officers had set up a checkpoint outside a police station in the town centre.
Police fired several shots, witnesses said. It was not clear whether the driver had tried to go through the roadblock. His body lay several feet from the car, a witness said. A priest from a nearby Roman Catholic church was called to the driver as he lay in the road.
Security sources later disclosed that the man was shot while he was still in the car. It is understood that his body was taken outside so that he could receive first aid.

First he's dead in the street, then he's dead in the car . . . see? He was dead and they shot him.

the Monday joke

2006-04-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

It was the first day of school and a new student named Pedro Martinez, the son of a Mexican restaurateur, entered the fourth grade.

The teacher said, "Let's begin by reviewing some American history.
"Who said 'Give me Liberty, or give me Death?' "
She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Pedro, who had his hand up.
"Patrick Henry, 1775."

"Very good!" apprised the teacher.
"Now, who said, "Government of the people by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth?"
Again, no response except from Pedro: "Abraham Lincoln, 1863."

The teacher snapped at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed! Pedro, who is new to our country, knows more about its history than you do!"
She heard a loud whisper: "Screw the Mexicans!" "Who said that?" she demanded.
Pedro put his hand up. "Jim Bowie, 1836."

At that point, a student in the back said, "I'm gonna puke.
" The teacher glared and asked, "All right! Now, who said that?"
Again, Pedro answered, "George Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister, 1991."

Now furious, another student yelled, "Oh yeah? Suck this!"
Pedro jumped out of his chair waving his hand and shouting to the
teacher, “Bill Clinton to Monica Lewinsky, 1997!"

Now, with almost a mob hysteria, teacher said, "You little shit. If you say anything else, I'll kill you!" Pedro frantically yelled at the top of his voice, "Gary Condit to Chandra Levy, 2001."

The teacher fainted, and as the class gathered around her on the floor,
Someone said, "Oh shit, we're in BIG trouble now!"

Pedro whispered, "Saddam Hussein, 2003."

Finally someone throws a eraser at Pedro, someone shouted "Duck"!

Teacher asked "Who said that?

Pedro: Dick Cheney 2006

Thank you Jesse

From the Pirate's Cove

2006-04-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

You Belong in Paris

You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris.You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.

What European City Do You Belong In?

From Teach

Seasonal joke at the expense of fair haired women . . .

2006-04-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

Three blondes (natural) died and found themselves standing before St. Peter. He told them that before they could enter the Kingdom, they had to tell him what Easter was.

The first blonde said, "Easter is a holiday where they have a big feast and we give thanks and eat turkey."
St. Peter said, "Noooooo," and he banished her to hell.

The second blonde said, "Easter is when we celebrate Jesus' birth and exchange gifts."
St. Peter said, "Noooooo," and he banished her to hell.

The third blonde said, she knew what Easter is, and St. Peter said, "So, tell me."
She said, "Easter is a Christian holiday that coincides with the Jewish festival of Passover. Jesus was having Passover feast with His disciples when he was betrayed by Judas, and the Romans arrested him.
The Romans hung Him on the cross and eventually He died. Then they buried Him in a tomb behind a very large boulder ..
St. Peter said, "Verrrrrry good."

Then the blonde continued, "Now every year the Jews roll away the boulder and Jesus comes out. If he sees his shadow, we have six more weeks of basketball.”

A little geek humor

2006-04-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

From the LATimes:

In the ongoing battle of the nerds between Caltech and MIT, the latest volley has been fired from a 130-year-old cannon.
Actually, the latest volley is a cannon.
Massachusetts pranksters, posing as professional movers, stole the beloved Fleming Cannon — traditionally fired at each year's commencement — from the Pasadena campus last week.
On Thursday it popped up, pointed toward Pasadena and adorned with an oversized Massachusetts Institute of Technology school ring, at the Cambridge campus next to a plaque referring to Caltech as "its previous owners."
The plaque explained that the students created the phony "Howe & Ser Moving Company" and used fake work-order forms to get past Caltech campus security guards. After that, a real shipping company toted the 2-ton relic across the country.
The heist continues a long-running rivalry. Last year, Caltech students went to Cambridge to give prospective MIT students T-shirts that looked official. But on the back, they read: "Because not everyone can go to Caltech."
As for the cannon, it has traveled before. Twenty years ago, 11 Harvey Mudd College students spirited it off to Claremont.

I confess the story caught my eye because my Dad was a graduate of Cal-Tech and he would occasionally haul us over to the campus to wander around. I've seen the cannon "in situ".

It *does* boggle the mind to consider some jokesters hauling a functioning cannon across state lines with some kind of fake paperwork.

A friend of mine hauled one of his guns to a gun show in W. Sonoma County. It's a 6 barrel, 20mm, "Vulcan" cannon that's been de-militarized. However, since it was tied into the back of his pickup truck, some friends decided to have a little "fun" and called the County Sheriff to report a "mounted cannon" in the back of a pick up truck headed towards Santa Rosa. All hell broke loose and it took Gary over an hour to disentangle himself from the prank.

OK, so the ATF or Homeland Security care not for a cannon traveling from coast to coast?

Just wondering . .

This explains alot of things . . .

2006-04-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

You are Charles VI of France, also known as Charles the Mad or Charles the Well-Beloved!
A fine, amiable and dreamy young man, skilled in horsemanship and archery, you were also from a long line of dribbling madmen. King at 12 and quickly married to your sweetheart, Bavarian Princess Isabeau, you enjoyed many happy months together before either of you could speak anything of the other's language. However, after illness you became a tad unstable. When a raving lunatic ran up to your entourage spouting an incoherent prophecy of doom, you were unsettled enough to slaughter four of your best men when a page dropped a lance. Your hair and nails fell out. At a royal masquerade, you and your courtiers dressed as wild men, ending in tragedy when four of them accidentally caught fire and burned to death. You were saved by the timely intervention of the Duchess of Berry's underskirts.
This brought on another bout of sickness, which surgeons countered by drilling holes in your skull. The following months saw you suffer an exorcism, beg your friends to kill you, go into hyperactive fits of gaiety, run through your rooms to the point of exhaustion, hide from imaginary assassins, claim your name was Georges, deny that you were King and fail to recognise your family. You smashed furniture and wet yourself at regular intervals. Passing briefly into erratic genius, you believed yourself to be made of glass and demanded iron rods in your attire to prevent you breaking.
In 1405 you stopped bathing, shaving or changing your clothes. This went on until several men were hired to blacken their faces, hide, jump out and shout "boo!", upon which you resumed basic hygiene. Despite this, your wife continued sleeping with you until 1407, when she hired a young beauty, Odette de Champdivers, to take her place. Isabeau then consoled herself, as it were, with your brother. Her lovers followed thick and fast while you became a pawn of your court, until you had her latest beau strangled and drowned.
A severe fever was fended off with oranges and pomegranates in vast quantities, but you succumbed again in 1422 and died. Your disease was most likely hereditary. Unfortunately, you had anywhere up to eleven children, who variously went on to develop capriciousness, great cruelty, insecurity, paranoia, revulsion towards food and, in one case, a phobia of bridges.

thanks to Robert at The LLamaButchers

Sitemeter fun . . .

2006-04-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

Apparently if you Google "contour bikini" you get my July 15, 2005 post re: Productivity Enhancer. However, when I google "contour bikini" I get this. Uh. This has *not* enhanced productivity in THIS office, however, it has produced a steady stream of co-workers.

Then there is this one, some clicking on the "see *larger* image" link . . . although the "enlargement" was not quite what was hoped for.

Eh, well, hope "springs" eternal....

The French - chicken when dealing with possibility of bird flu

2006-04-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

Oh dear. Why do they keep providing fodder for the joke mill? Apparently, after hearing that cats may help carry bird flu, the French have been dumping their "beloved" pets at the pound at a hefty rate.
There is evidence that cats who eat birds that are infected with the H5N1 virus fairly easily and pass it on to other cats. As yet there is no evidence that the cats are passing it on to their humans.
The article notes in several places that all kinds of cats, large ones in the zoos and regular domestic kitties, can come down with and die from eating infected birds and poultry. What I wonder is how they can note that and in the next news release announce that it is perfectly safe for humans to eat poultry? They claim that the virus cannot be caught by ingestion.
Hmm. I say. Hmm. Bird flu. Mad Cow. Maybe the vegetarians are right?

(nah)

Exposure, indeed

2006-04-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

From the London Times:

THE most senior British agent to have been exposed as having worked at the heart of Sinn Fein was found murdered at his home last night.
Denis Donaldson had been shot in the head, execution-style, inside the primitive cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal, where he had been living since he was dramatically outed as a spy in December.

After reading several articles, I can't figure out how he was "exposed" as a British spy. Although this bit might be a clue.

Tracked down by an Irish newspaper last month to a cottage in Co Donegal, Mr Donaldson was said to appear gaunt and chastened by his change of circumstances. For years he had been liked, as much by journalists as by fellow republicans, for his humour, sharp mind and evident pleasure in the finer things in life. Little did anybody realise that he had been working for British Intelligence and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch for more than 20 years. That a man as trusted and apparently committed to the republican cause as Mr Donaldson could have been spying for the British for so many years posed the pertinent question: “If Denis, then who else?” Mr Donaldson was an East Belfast Catholic who joined the IRA as a teenager. He served a prison sentence for bombing a distillery and forged a close alliance with Mr Adams’s “kitchen cabinet”, a team who went on to reshape the Provisional IRA into the most lethal and efficient terrorist organisation in Western Europe.

From the "breaking news" box on the page:

British spy Denis Donaldson was warned by police in the Irish Republic his life was in danger weeks before he was murdered, it has emerged. Even though the 56-year-old former Sinn Fein official believed he was safe living in an isolated, run down cottage in Co Donegal despite betraying his colleagues for more than 20 years, he was gunned down in a house belonging to his son-in-law Ciaran Kearney. As Gardai mounted one of the biggest operations seen in the county questioning motorists at roadblocks, they vowed to leave no stone unturned in hunting down the Belfast man's killers.

The economy...

2006-04-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

This guy is walking with his friend. He says to this friend, "I'm a walking economy."

The friend replies "How so?"

"My hair line is in recession, my stomach is a victim of inflation, and both of these together are putting me into a deep depression!"

Oye, oye, oye

2006-04-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

From WaPo:

This month, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach becomes a family-adviser-on-the-road hosting a reality TV show, "Shalom in the Home," scheduled for prime-time broadcast on The Learning Channel.

I had to read this article... I laughed and then I thought and now I'll be looking for it on The Learning Channel.

My favorite part of this is that in Judaism sex is not a sin. It's encouraged, within marriage, but encouraged none-the less. Not only that, sex on the sabbath primarily for the wife's pleasure is considered a mitzvah (good deed). So nice to be Jewish . . .

Where have I been?

2006-04-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, I dunno - working mostly.
Now I'm watching the immigration situation heat up. It's about time. Some things we need to look at. We need borders. We need a process for good workers to get into the U.S. We want most of them to go home again, but not all of them. And how about those already here? We need a process for them to become legal taxpayers.
I worked for a farm/food processing company in Northern California for 6 years. There were legal and illegal workers. Trust me, having the INS come in, discover an illegal worker or two and shut the company down is not the best way to get the job done. Some of those are big wealthy companies, they pay taxes, they donate to election funds. Hmmm.
And why are there illegal workers here? Because they work for cheap at jobs that many Americans won't take. Really. They are more desperate for a day's pay than we are.
Employers need the workers. The workers need jobs. Employers, friends, and families give workers places to stay and a level of anonymity. How many are here? Hard to know - really.
We could use a committment of capital to border security, unfortunately that did not happen in the last Federal budget. It's not ALL about resources, but some of it is.
Its more about how to allow workers in, out, and keeping some as taxpayors. I would rather they stayed, not in hiding, but paying taxes for things like hospitals, schools, and social security.

Politically Correct and "Fair and Balanced" bashing

2006-03-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

Due to the climate of political correctness now pervading America, Kentuckians, Tennesseans and West Virginians will no longer be referred to as "HILLBILLIES."

You must now refer to them as APPALACHIAN-AMERICANS.

And furthermore ...

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT WOMEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
1. She is not a "BABE" or a "CHICK" - She is a "BREASTED AMERICAN."
2. She is not a "SCREAMER" or a "MOANER" - She is "VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE."
3. She is not "EASY" - She is "HORIZONTALLY ACCESSIBLE."
4. She is not a "DUMB BLONDE" - She is a "LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY."
5. She has not "BEEN AROUND" - She is a "PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION."
6. She is not an "AIRHEAD" - She is "REALITY IMPAIRED."
7. She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY" - She gets "CHEMICALLY
INCONVENIENCED"
8. She does not have "BREAST IMPLANTS" - She is "MEDICALLY ENHANCED."
9. She does not "NAG" you - She becomes "VERBALLY REPETITIVE."
10. She is not a "TRAMP" - She is "SEXUALLY EXTROVERTED."
11. She does not have "MAJOR LEAGUE HOOTERS" - She is "PECTORALLY SUPERIOR."
12. She is not a "TWO-BIT HOOKER" - She is a "LOW COST PROVIDER."

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
1. He does not have a "BEER GUT" - He has developed a "LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY."
2. He is not a "BAD DANCER" - He is "OVERLY CAUCASIAN."
3. He does not "GET LOST ALL THE TIME" - He "INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS."
4. He is not "BALDING" - He is in "FOLLICLE REGRESSION."
5. He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER" - He prefers "GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS."
6. He does not get "FALLING-DOWN DRUNK" - He becomes "ACCIDENTALLY
HORIZONTAL."
7. He does not act like a "TOTAL ASS" - He develops a case of RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION."
8. He is not a "MALE CHAUVINIST PIG" - He has "SWINE EMPATHY."
9. He is not afraid of "COMMITMENT" - He is "RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED."
10. He is not "HORNY" - He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED."
11. It's not his "CRACK" you see hanging out of his pants - It's "REAR CLEAVAGE"

In anticipation . . . a St Paddy's Day joke

2006-03-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

Two men were sitting next to each other at a bar.
After a while, one guy looks at the other and says, "I can't help but think, from listening to you, that you're from Ireland."
The other guy responds proudly,
"Yes, that I am."
The first guy says, "So am I.
And where about from Ireland might you be?"
The other guy answers,
"I'm from Dublin, I am."
The first guy responds,
"Sure and begora, and so am I. And what street did you live on in Dublin?"
The other guy says,
"A lovely little area it was, I lived on McCleary Street in the old central part of town."
The first guy says,
"Faith & it's a small world, so did I.! So did I.
And to what school would you have been going?"
The other guy answers,
"Well now, I went to St. Mary's of course."
The first guy gets really excited and says,
"And so did I. Tell me, what year did you graduate?"
The other guy answers,
"Well, now, let's see, I graduated in 1964."
The first guy exclaims,
"The Good Lord must be smiling down upon us!
I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same bar tonight.
Can you believe it! I graduated from St. Mary's in 1964 my own self."
About this time, Vicky walks into the bar, sits down, and orders a beer.
Brian, the bartender, walks over to Vicky, shaking his head & mutters,
"It's going to be a long night tonight."
Vicky asks,
"Why do you say that, Brian?"
"The Murphy twins are drunk again."

Wednesday pun . . .

2006-03-15T17:22:00.000-08:00

Two ropes walk into a bar. The bartender says to the rope "Hey! we don't serve ropes in here" so one of the ropes left. The other rope frayed up his hair and tied himself in a knot. The bartender said to the rope "Are you a rope?" and the rope said " I'm afraid not"

Tuesday's cynical look at: Love, Lust, Marriage

2006-03-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

LOVE - When your eyes meet across a crowded room.
LUST - When your tongues meet across a crowded room.
MARRIAGE - When you try to lose your spouse in a crowded room.

LOVE - When you argue over how many children to have.
LUST - When you argue over who gets the wet spot.
MARRIAGE - When you argue over whose idea it was to have kids.

LOVE - When you share everything you own.
LUST - When you steal everything they own.
MARRIAGE - When the bank owns everything.

LOVE - When it doesn't matter if you don't climax.
LUST - When the relationship is over if you don't climax.
MARRIAGE - When ... uh ... what's a climax?

LOVE - When you phone each other just to say, "Hi."
LUST - When you phone each other to pick a hotel room.
MARRIAGE - When you phone each other to bitch.

LOVE - When you write poems about your partner.
LUST - When all you write is your phone number.
MARRIAGE - When all you write is checks.

LOVE - When your only concern is for your partner's feelings.
LUST - When your only concern is to find a room with mirrors all round.
MARRIAGE - When your only concern is what's on TV.

LOVE - When you are proud to be seen in public with your partner.
LUST - When you only see each other naked.
MARRIAGE - When you never see each other awake.

LOVE - When your heart flutters every time you see the other.
LUST - When your groin twitches every time you see the other.
MARRIAGE - When your wallet empties every time you see the other.

LOVE - When you're only interested in doing things with your partner.
LUST - When you're only interested in doing things to your partner.
MARRIAGE - When you're only interested in your golf score.

And what is an embryo?

2006-03-14T11:05:00.000-08:00

(This is a continuing discussion of this article.)
Charlie says:

“But implanting then giving birth to what will be, genetically, his own child against his will strikes me as wrong, regardless of his legal obligations to that child.”

My thought is, Why would it be wrong? This would clearly be a wanted, well-loved child. Do you own your own genetic material? Is property? Are the embryos property?

If two people have consensual sex, yet not with the stated reason of producing a child, and the woman becomes pregnant, does the prospective father have rights? To whom does the unexpected embryo belong?
Does the answer change if the man, within weeks of the encounter, has a tragic accident and is no longer able to father a child?

DC comments:

“We may be discussing what “conception” means here, that is, the distinction between an embryo (potential life) and an embryo growing inside of a mother’s womb (in my view, life).”

Yet the definition, in medical terms, of conception is fertilization of the egg. The fertilized egg is a zygote until it is implanted when it becomes an embryo. I think what needs to be defined is what point does an embryo become property of both parents? Charlie feels that that point is before conception, that the father owns his genetic material. For DC, it seems to be once the embryo has implanted.

As a girl person I cannot lay claim to an opinion on the father’s side. From my point of view, I own my genetic material. It is mine to use or not use as I see fit. And, of course, I include in that “not using” the ability to end the pregnancy any time before the end of the 2nd month, and probably before the end of the 3rd month. Beyond that *my choice* would not include ending the pregnancy. There are many reasons why others would make a different choice.

Jack said:

“I feel badly for the woman but it is not exactly fair to the children who might come of this either.”

Why, Jack? Clearly this woman wants a child very badly. Most mothers who love their children acknowledge the need for a father or father figure in their child’s life. Would the child feel rejected by its “natural” father? Maybe. But there are many well adjusted happy adopted children in the world. Many would wonder who that genetic provider might be, many wouldn’t care. In my mind, if for some reason a court over-rode the contract, the injured party would be the father. He does not want his genetic material walking around as a child.

Monday joke, not depending . . .

2006-03-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Government verbage....

Pythagorean theorem: 24 words.
The Lord's prayer: 66 words.
Archimedes' Principle: 67 words.
The 10 Commandments: 179 words.
The Gettysburg address: 286 words.
The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words.
U.S. Government regulations on cabbage sales: 26,911 words.

At what point does the right to become a father become real?

2006-03-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

Continuing with the discussion below, at what point does the man back out of fatherhood? I suggest that, in the below case, he signed on to fatherhood when he agreed to have the embryos created. The legal side of the argument says, no, he and the woman also signed the contract that states that both parents have to agree to have the embryos implanted. Truly there is no legal discussion here, only, in this case, a plea for empathy for the plight of the potential mother.

Charlie, Pusillanimous Wanker, states in comments:

For some reason, I don't have a problem with this. I can't really put my finger on it, though.
"It seems to me that consent when the embryos were conceived is consent to be a parent" sounds too much like an anti-abortionist's argument to me.
Think about it for a while and roll it over; reverse the genders, reverse the "inside/outside the womb" question, and it all gets complicated and confusing quickly.
Doesn't a male have some measure of "choice"? Especially considering that, as you pointed out, the embryo has not yet implanted?
A female has that choice . . . even after implantation.
For now, anyway.

Which is my point. Of course he has a choice to not become a father, particularly in this case. However, Charlie, if this is inside the womb, and the partners have consentual sex, and there is a legal agreement for non-parenthood, unless both agree, could he force her to have an abortion?

Hmmm...

I wonder how this would play out in the U.S.

2006-03-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

From the London Times:Woman denied use of embryos without her partner's consent “We knew what we were doing. It's not too late for him to change his mind."
A woman who yesterday lost a court battle to use her frozen embryos to have a baby has made an emotional appeal for help to the one person on earth who can enable her to become a mother — her estranged former fiancé.
Natallie Evans, who was left infertile after cancer treatment, said that she was devastated that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had ruled that she cannot use embryos created in 2001 with Howard Johnston, then her fiancé, because he had since withdrawn his consent.
With time running out before the storage period of the six embryos expires in October, Ms Evans, 34, urged Mr Johnston to change his mind, emphasising that the embryos are her last chance of having a natural child of her own.

It seems to me that consent when the embryos were concieved is consent to be a parent. Interesting that because conception occurred outside of the womb, this man can now decide not to be a father.

Today's bad pun

2006-03-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

It has just been reported that miniature fighter planes piloted by specially trained circus midgets, have flown several shorties against Iraq today.

Certainly beats the Great Train Robbery

2006-02-24T09:56:00.000-08:00

In Briatain, the heist of 50 million pounds certainly beats the measly 2.3 million pounds of the Great Train Robbery and is the largest heist in history. Cash. And where is this large sum of cash going?

The heist is still in the old tradition, from the Telegraph:

Just as importantly, the criminals themselves had begun to realise that conducting armed bank robberies - or "going over the pavement", to use the underworld's parlance - was far less lucrative and more dangerous than the drugs trade. As one Flying Squad detective put it: "What's the point of going over the pavement with a shotgun to rob a couple of hundred thousand pounds when you can make 10 times that from a consignment of drugs? You'll get anything up to 20 years for armed robbery - life, if someone gets killed - whereas the average drug conviction might get you six or seven."

The problem for the traditional, white, London gangsters is that the drugs business is truly multicultural. Those playing this game have to operate in a climate dominated by the Russian mafia, Jamaican Yardies, Islamic terrorists and Colombian smugglers. After a few years of trying to deal with such hardcore brutes, armed robbery might seem a more appealing prospect, even if it is less instantly rewarding. It is perhaps telling that this week's raid was perpetrated in Tonbridge in Kent, a neighbourhood to which many of the old white south London criminal families emigrated.

The robbery in Kent looks like an inside job: carrying it out would require either brilliant surveillance or the help of an employee. Yet it may be harder to dispose of the money than to steal it. Divided into £50 notes, a sum of £40 million would weigh half a ton.

And perhaps the cash is difficult to handle within the UK:

When robbers carried out a raid on the Northern Bank in Belfast in December 2004, they found much of their haul rendered useless after the bank introduced a new-style note.

Yet if they can get it out of the country it would be a bit more useful, London Times:

Speaking at a press conference before the arrests, Mr Leppard, who is leading a team of 100 investigators, confirmed that police were looking at the possibility that the gang had fled across the Channel. Officers have already seized security camera footage and computer numberplate records of vehicles going through the Channel Tunnel and on the Dover ferries after the raid early on Wednesday morning.
Mr Leppard also confirmed that detectives were looking into the possibility that the gang had inside information for an operation that had been “executed with military precision”.

Hmmmm. "military precision"

Dick Cheney being considered for a Medal of Freedom

2006-02-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

(from my email)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A white house source stated that Congress is considering awarding Vice-President Dick Cheney the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian commendation, for his act of bravery in shooting an attorney. The source was quoted to say, "All Americans have wanted to shoot a lawyer at one time or another and Cheney actually had the guts to do it".

In a related story, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which issues hunting licenses, said that it will start requiring hunters, wishing to bag a lawyer, to have the new "lawyer's stamp" on their hunting license. Currently Texas hunters are required to carry stamps for hunting birds, deer, and bear, at a cost of $7 annually.

The new "lawyers stamp" will cost $100, but open season will be all year long. The department further stated that although the "lawyers stamp" comes at a hefty price, sales have been brisk and it is believed it will generate annual revenues in excess of $3 billion dollars the first year. Other states are considering similar hunting stamps.
*****
San Francisco might look better and better to some folks. They would have to stay inside The City limits, however, since hunting is quite popular north of the Golden Gate.

The 4 things meme . . .

2006-02-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by Teach at the Pirate’s Cove with the 4 Things meme.

4 Jobs I have held in my life
Accountant
Exercise jockey
Nursery school teacher
I.R.S. intern

4 places I have lived
Burbank, CA
Gaithersburg, MD
London, England
Pocatello, ID

4 TV shows I love to watch
Night Detective (BBC)
Midsomer Murder (BBC)
Um . . . Mythbusters
Oh! and the Mail Call guy on History Channel.

4 places I have been on vacation
Mt. St. Helens (helicopter ride around the inside of the caldera!)
Hill hiking in Scotland
To Seattle by “Coast Starlighter” for the Seattle to Portland bike ride
Pony riding, Wales

4 Websites I visit daily
NY Times
London Times
LA Times
Jerusalem Post
And, time allowing, all my friends in the side-bar!

4 favorite food
Rare steak and mushrooms
Good Thai food
Hot curry – Vindaloo
Stilton cheese, apples, Scotch (Laphroig)

4 places I would rather be right now
On my horse, in the hills – the desert is pretty this time of year, maybe Mojave
Portland, OR, in Powell’s books, drinking a mocha, reading trashy romance
Provence, France in the sun, enjoying the scenery
A quiet sunny beach, waves rolling in, hot sand, and . . .

4 Favorite movies (at least at the moment)
Shakespeare in Love
Pirates of the Caribbean
Princes Bride (I know, I know)
Monty Python Meaning of Life

4 new suckers to tag
Jess at Life or Something Like it
Daisy Cutter
Ken is a Verb
Catfish over at the Texican Tattlers
(would tag JR but he’d just be grumpy…)

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

2006-02-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone got bad poetry, good chocolate, and unexpected kisses. . .

Monday funnies, still resorting to email humor.

2006-02-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

I have spent WAY too much time on airplanes. The drone of the flight attendant lecture was mind numbing. Then a few years ago on a Southwest Airline flight there was a new patter from the attendent. He was hilarious. OK. OK, now I'm listening. I have heard #3 on the list, as well as, "Please don't leave your children behind, we don't want them either."

Airline cabin announcements: All too rarely, airline attendants make an effort to make the in-flight "safety lecture" and announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:
1. On a Southwest flight (SW has no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people, we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"
2. On a Continental Flight, with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
3. On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have."
4. "There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane"
5. "Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
6. As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald Reagan, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"
7. After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
8. From a Southwest Airlines employee: "Welcomeaboard Southwest Flight 245 to Tampa: To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."
9. "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."
10. "Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Southwest Airlines."
11. "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and, in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."
12. "As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."
13. And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Delta Airlines is pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
14. Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump, and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."
15. Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo, Texas, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"
16. Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
17. An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline." He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no, Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"
18. After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."
19. Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways."
20. Heard on a Southwest Airline flight. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing and if you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."
21. A plane was taking off from KennedyAirport. After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from New York to Los Angeles. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax.....OH, MY GOD!" Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!" A passenger in Coach yelled, "That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!"

Friday funnies. . .

2006-02-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

1) When I die, I want to die like my grandfather--who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."
--Author Unknown

2) Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle:
"Take two aspirin" and "Keep away from children."
--Author Unknown

3) "Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so?
There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar." --Drew Carey

4) "The problem with the designated driver program, it's not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it. At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house."
--Jeff Foxworthy

5) "If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base."
--Dave Barry

6) "Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks' notice. There should be severance pay, the day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp."
--Bob Ettinger

7) "My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim.'" --Paula Poundstone

8) "A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study:
"Duh." --Conan O'Brien

9) "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant??
I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God.... I could be eating a slow learner."
--Lynda Montgomery

10) "I think that's how Chicago got started. Bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough. Let's go west.'"
--Richard Jeni

11) "If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead." --Johnny Carson

12) "Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography."
--Paul Rodriguez

13) "My parents didn't want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that's the law."
--Jerry Seinfeld

14) "Remember in elementary school, you were told that in case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest.
What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?"
--Warren Hutcherson

15) "Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many.
Monogamy is the same."
--Oscar Wilde

16) "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress...
But I repeat myself."
--Mark Twain

17) "Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student.
At least they can find Afghanistan."
--A. Whitney Brown

18) "Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place."
--Billy Crystal

19) "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'"
--Dave Barry

20) Do you know why they call it "PMS"? Because "Mad Cow Disease" was taken.
--Unknown, presumed deceased

(I'll be back soon, its just that accountants tend to be really busy this time of year.... Darn day job!)

A little help for my friends

2006-02-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

Being liberal, I think I'll give this guy a hand out, or something . . .

Conservative group takes the sleazy road

2006-01-20T14:12:00.000-08:00

LA Times: Advisor quits UCLA Alumni Group

......Rogan, now a lawyer in Irvine, on Wednesday sent an e-mail tendering his resignation to Andrew Jones, head of the Bruin Alumni Assn. and its one full-time employee. The year-old group, supported by donations, has no formal connection to UCLA.
In his e-mail, Rogan wrote, "I am uncomfortable to say the least with this tactic. It places students in jeopardy of violating myriad regulations and laws."
Jones had offered to pay UCLA students $100 for recordings and lecture notes of professors caught in "indoctrination, one-sided presentation of ideological controversies and unprofessional classroom behavior." Jones said one student, whom he declined to identify, had taken up the offer thus far.

Yes, many higher education institutions teach in a liberal manner. Oh my. What is the big deal? If this practice was truly “A PROBLEM” then why aren’t the majority of educated individuals liberal? What are conservatives afraid of? They got a college education without corruption, maybe it even aided in their conservative resolve. If you want to know what students are hearing, go there. Take a class. Interview a teacher/prof on his or her opinions.

Education and politics have held hands for 2300 years – it is noted that the Academy that Aristotle attended was heavily involved in politics-

Aristotle probably begun his work Politics on Assos as well as On Kingship which is now lost. He began to develop a philosophy distinct from that of Plato who had said the kings should be philosophers and philosophers kings. In On Kingship Aristotle wrote that it is:-
... not merely unnecessary for a king to be a philosopher, but even a disadvantage. Rather a king should take the advice of true philosophers. Then he would fill his reign with good deeds, not with good words.
However, Aristotle's time in Assos was ended by political events. The Persians attacked the town and Hermias was captured and executed. Aristotle escaped and stopped on the island of Lesbos on his way to Macedonia. It was more than a passing visit for he remained there for about a year and must have had the group of scientists from Assos with him for they continued their biological researches there.

So there you have it – Aristotle would have the King be a conservative and his advisors liberals.
That's a handsome idea!

Wednesday joke

2006-01-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

A pirate goes into a bar, a steering wheel between his legs. The bartender leans over and whispers "whats with the steering wheel?" Pirate replies, "It's driving me nuts."

Then there's the one about the baby seal that walks into a club. . . .

Definition of criminal

2006-01-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

condemnable: bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
guilty of crime or serious offense; "criminal in the sight of God and man"

From the Jerusalem Post:

The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement urging Christian leaders to distance themselves from the remarks. Robertson made similar comments as the Gaza withdrawal occurred, it said.

"It is outrageous and shocking, but not surprising, that Pat Robertson once again has suggested that God will punish Israel's leaders for any decision to give up land to the Palestinians," said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group, which fights anti-Semitism. "His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. Unlike Robertson, we don't see God as cruel and vengeful."

Ariel Sharon

2006-01-06T13:29:00.000-08:00

Ariel Sharon is an incredible leader. To quote Moby Schtick, “Like a lot of Jews, I have both loved and hated Sharon's policies over the past few years.” Although Stevin and I are at opposite points on what we have loved/hated over the last several years no one can deny that he works hard at leadership. With an every sensitive ear to the complicated opinions of the Israeli people he has managed to balance atop that ball. When he was elected, the citizens were looking for a tough hawkish leader. In recent years they looked for someone to have a broader view. I prefer his more recent actions to the earlier ones. Stevin prefers the earlier actions to his recent ones.

According to the Jerusalem Post:

At 5:35 p.m., Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef, director general of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, briefed the press outside of the emergency room. Mor-Yosef prefaced his remarks by saying that although Hadassah as an institution honors the Sabbath, the gravity of Sharon's situation necessitated constant updates.
Mor-Yosef confirmed that the intracranial pressure had been relieved, and blood clots remaining from the previous operation were successfully drained.
Professor Mor-Yosef explained that Hadassah neurologists and neurosurgeons agreed that the most recent CAT scan results showed a 'significant' improvement in Sharon's condition. He added that doctors were working to adjust the placement of the catheter, and that Sharon would be moved to neurological intensive care, where he would be closely monitored.

Prime Minister Sharon, you are in all our prayers.

Abramoff . . . As the Worm Turns

2006-01-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

NYTimes:

A day after he pleaded guilty to three felony counts here, Jack Abramoff, a once prominent Republican lobbyist, was set to plead guilty today in Miami to two charges of conspiracy and fraud in a case stemming from his purchase of a casino boat line in 2000.
On Tuesday, Mr. Abramoff instantly became the star witness in a sweeping federal investigation into public corruption in Washington when he pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials as part of a settlement with federal prosecutors. The inquiry could involve as many as a dozen lawmakers, people involved in the case said.

Neither side of the aisle should be grinning too broadly since there were noted Dems accepting a bit of cash as well as a larger number of Repubs, Harry Reid being one of them.

Just think what this will do to the D.C. party circuit

2006-01-03T16:03:00.000-08:00

Caviar Exports Canceled in Move to Stop Sturgeon Extinction
Martha hold the date open! What will we do????

The global export trade in caviar, the briny eggs of sturgeon that for decades have been one of the world's most exotic and lucrative wildlife products, was abruptly ordered shut down today by the international convention that helps nations manage threatened species.

Have you ever seen one of these puppies? Ugly just does not cover it.

Exporting nations must "ensure that the exploitation of sturgeon stocks is commercially and environmentally sustainable over the long term," the convention's secretary general, Willem Wijnstekers, said in a statement.
Sturgeon products, legal and illegal, are thought to be worth at least several hundred million dollars each year. But scientists and managers have said for decades that the caviar industry, and the species that drive it, are in jeopardy.
The world's remaining sturgeon fisheries have all suffered from plummeting populations, caused by a combination of dam building, pollution, excessive fishing and unchecked black markets. Several localized extinctions of sturgeon stocks around the world have already occurred, and many other species, including ones in the United States, have been reduced to remnant populations.

I, myself, try not to consume remnants....

One persistent problem in sturgeon management has been that national quotas and harvest data, which appear impressive on annual ledgers, do not account for widespread poaching. Mr. Morgan said that exporters would have to satisfy the secretariat that their fishing plans accounted for both the real size of the stocks and the total mortality from legal and illegal fishing.

Poaching? Euuuwww, poached fish eggs, gag. Oh. Not that kind of poaching.
Well, sad news to be sure. I have a couple extra jars of gefilte fish if anyone could use that . . .

Pun for Dr. Larry...

2006-01-03T15:34:00.000-08:00

Old doctors never die they just lose their patience

Monday pun

2006-01-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.dieselsweeties.com/

Still no pets..

2006-01-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

There were numerous announcements about places you could go to escape the rising water. None of them allowed pets. Hmmm.
Something that occurred to me was that I don't have little pet carriers for my 4 cats. I always schlep them to the vet inside pillowcases firmly tied with string. Poor little buggers? No, they actually are much calmer. However that would not work particularly well in a case where they needed to be penned for any length of time.
The horse was high and dry up on Taylor Mountain. It is soggy there with little streams running everywhere but the area has been well set up for water drainage, with french drains and rock lined channels to move water downhill and off the property.
There's an idea! Hey, Bandit, move over - the cats need a little space!

Might as well take advantage of that lake!

2006-01-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

Kayaker resting next to the backstop at the local Jr. High. City workers were close by working on how to get the water pumped out of there.

Just checked in with the Accuweather report...

2006-01-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

Hour-By-Hour™

1pm	3pm	5pm

Rain	Rain	Rain
55° F	55° F	52° F

Looks like rain. Not too cold though. I tried to get out yesterday to take pictures of what was going on. Uh, no. First I couldn't get more than a couple blocks away. Then anything that was interesting had alot of road signs and people keeping you away. Where's my press pass....

Drying out, the wind picking up

2005-12-31T09:25:00.000-08:00

Apparently this was the smaller of two storms headed our way, the second will arrive tomorrow night. My.
The water is going down here. A few blocks away people were evacuated. Not the poor woman who had a hillside come down on her house though. It took them 45 minutes to get her out of her ruined house. I understand she's OK. Or, as OK as you can be when you live alone and a hillside slides down and destroys your house.
Rosie doesn't think much of water that she can't see through. She wants to know where her feet are. Where I'm standing the water is about 2 feet deep.

Real time flood blogging . . .

2005-12-31T07:39:00.000-08:00

Excitement here as the creek overflowed its banks last night. I woke this morning to a lake where the road should be. I can hear ducks. Water came a foot into the garage, floated the trash cans around outside and brought a bit of storm debris up onto the lawns. The torrential rains have slowed to light rain. I wandered out to take pictures abut 7:00. It still wasn't light enough.

All those reports of flooding in N. California

2005-12-30T22:35:00.000-08:00

Well, lets just say there is plenty of water rushing around.

Trades . . .

2005-12-30T22:34:00.000-08:00

What would Texas trade for a little California rain? Hmmmm....

Where's that boat-car when you need it . . .

2005-12-30T22:32:00.000-08:00

From the comments . .

2005-12-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

A grasshopper goes into a bar and orders a drink. The bartender says, Wow, you know what? We have a drink named after you!

The grasshopper replies, "You have a drink named Steve"?

(with thanks to Dave)

Why sex ed needs to be taught in Catholic Schools

2005-12-29T12:46:00.000-08:00

Mother Superior called all the Nuns together one evening and said to them:
"I must tell you all something. We have a case of Gonorrhea in the convent.""Thank God," said an elderly Nun at the back. "I'm so sick of Chardonnay."

Wednesday pun

2005-12-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

The Orchestra ended every concert with a cello solo. Everyone knows there's always room for cello!

Oops...

2005-12-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

Well, yeah, that IS the water splashing up as I drive slowly across the very flooded section of road. We have flood warnings all over on most of the smaller roads, yet this is Hwy 116, not a freeway, mind you, but a major thoroughfare none the less.
Glub glub glub.....

A little more rain...

2005-12-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Tuesday pun

2005-12-27T17:13:00.000-08:00

The electrician worked on the side as a musician. He was a conductor on the train.

Happy Hanukkah!

2005-12-25T21:35:00.000-08:00