Les Enfants Terrible

It's time for another installment...

2011-02-07T10:22:00.004-06:00

...of "idiot pop singers who crap on the anthem." It's been awhile, but Christina Aguilera's performance at the Super Bowl may rise to the level of worst ever, and not because she blew the words:

"Worst ever" is a title she takes from Kat DeLuna, who has held it since September of 2008. Not a bad run.

In fact, after watching the train wreck that was the Black Eyed Peas - who sounded a lot like the band at my high school prom - I would venture to say that this was the worst Super Bowl music ever.

Well, that didn't last long

2011-01-19T21:04:00.002-06:00

The House repealed Obamacare today:

In an extraordinary outburst on the House floor, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) invoked the Holocaust to attack Republicans on health care and compared rhetoric on the issue to the work of infamous Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

“They say it's a government takeover of health care, a big lie just like Goebbels," Cohen said.

There was more.

Republicans = Nazis.

In other news:

"Frankly, I would just say to you, this is about saving lives. Jobs are very important; we created jobs," Jackson Lee said. "But even the title of their legislation, H.R. 2, 'job-killing' — this is killing Americans if we take this away, if we repeal this bill."

Republicans = murderers.

We went from "can't we all just get along" to calling Republicans murdering Nazis in one week. Gosh, I hope no insane loners get the wrong idea.

The latest sad chapter

2011-01-12T20:26:00.003-06:00

I am as fired up as any time I can remember over the conduct of Democrats and their sock puppets during the aftermath of the Arizona shootings. The enthusiasm with which Democrats have attempted to profit politically from the tragedy is as sick as their attempts to gain from body counts in Iraq.

Old habits die hard, I guess.

Krugman, the idiot, personifies the twisted logic that no tragedy should pass without trying to pin it on Republicans:

Where’s that toxic rhetoric coming from? Let’s not make a false pretense of balance: it’s coming, overwhelmingly, from the right.

He has got to be fucking kidding, right? Krugman isn't just stupid and greedy, he's evil. Sometimes I wonder if he isn't actually a conservative mole with the sole purpose of making Democrats look cheap and sleazy. If so, well done, sir. Not that I needed a reminder, but I'm a believer.

Super compiler Michelle Malkin can take you down the Bush assassination porn, gang rape Palin!, violence frenzy the left has been engaged in since 2000. Krugman, of course, is either blissfully unaware of his own party's filth or chooses to ignore it. Either way, shameful for a nationally syndicated author in an industry that is supposed to strive for truth. If you're looking for something more recent, check the four minutes of Palin assassination fantasy tweets from this week.

Contentions says this is the tipping point in Krugman's embarrassing career. I remember being that naive and hopeful. I commend his sense of hope but there is no chance Krugman's shameful behavior will be anything but a footnote. Not in this world, where all sins against the right are easily forgotten or even celebrated. No doubt there is a standing ovation for Krugman out there somewhere just waiting for him to appear.

Krauthammer - someone who actually knows something about mental illness - offers some explanation of Loughner, the shooter, but even he can't explain Krugman.

For myself, this week brings back memories of watching anti-war protesters advocating violence against soldiers and attacking recruiting offices, abortion supporters destroying memorials, and the with-each-day-comes-more-violent-speech-against-Bush we lived for eight years. All the while I waited for someone of the left to say something. Never once.

To hear them now, so concerned with the future of the nation, reminds me not that "we are all Americans." It reminds me nothing is sacred to left-Americans when it comes to smearing Republicans. A dead body is an opportunity to them, not a tragedy.

Obama wants us all to take a step back and treat each other better. If he had said that four years ago, I would have had great respect for his courage, but he was right there with the hate-mongers then. He might be more subtle, but he sounds like just another of the weasels, waking up to the barn long after the cattle is gone.

For eight years I, and conservatives in general, were treated like baby killing scum by the left. Any action against conservatives was "justifiable" for the good of the planet and society. Death was wished upon many, and celebrated when it occurred.

I didn't always hate the left, I just disagreed with them. Their beneath contempt behavior during the Bush years made me actually hate. This last week has served as a stark reminder why.

You and yours

2010-12-24T13:27:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas everyone.

Favre has to go

2010-11-22T18:35:00.004-06:00

Sigh.

It's probably not popular to say, but I am not a huge fan of the Childress firing. Then again, when your players decide they aren't going to play for you anymore - like on Sunday - there really isn't much choice.

But it wasn't Childress who threw 17 interceptions this season, it was Favre.

It wasn't Childress playing half ass on the D line, that was Jared Allen.

And on, and on.

Childress brought the Vikings from 6-10 to the NFC championship game in three years. He brought in a ton of great talent, from AP to Percy Harvin, Hutch, Jared Allen, the Williamses, and more. He turned the Love Boat into a respectable franchise. Sure he's made mistakes, but nothing that deserves firing.

C'est la vie. What's done is done.

What's really disappointing is Frazier's announcement today that Favre is his guy. This season's over, it's time to start working on next season. We need to know what we have so we know what we need. Favre ain't it. He's over the hill, done, out of gas, with barely enough left in his arm to hold his phone/camera for a close up of his johnson.

It's time to sit him down. If Childress has to lose his job, its only fair that the player most responsible for the disaster this season be put on the bench or forced into retirement.

I had hoped Frazier would get off to a better start; have something to offer than more of the same.

Again: sigh.

The highest quality fidelity

2010-10-13T20:57:00.002-05:00

Scroo-Loo had a nice surprise for me last night; she purchased Boogie Nights from Amazon. I hadn't seen it since our VHS player went on the fritz for the last time. Check out that cast list.

If you're looking for a great movie and you can handle the...ahem...rather adult content, check it out. Here's some of the more memorable quotes.

Great soundtrack, great story, and some truly superb acting from Don Cheadle, Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, and especially Robert Ridgley (RIP) as the Colonel; the jail scene between him and Burt Reynolds will make your skin crawl.

This is a truly great film that I don't think ever got the attention it deserved.

22

2010-10-01T12:50:00.002-05:00

I don't have a way with words like she does, but that don't make me any less lucky. Happy anniversary to Scroo-Loo; she's gorgeous, smart, funny, and the best friend a man could have. Did I mention she can fish circles around most people? Ya, that too. It's 22 years today and it has flown by.

Happy anniversary babe. You are everything I could have ever wanted. Love you.

Mickey Mouse care

2010-09-10T06:17:00.000-05:00

This was delivered to my e-mail:

Effective January 1, 2011, for all Health Flexible Spending Accounts
As a result of the new Health Care Reform Bill, reimbursements for drugs or medicines are only eligible “...if such medicine or drug is a prescribed drug (determined without regard to whether such drug is available without a prescription) or is insulin.” This change means that all over-the-counter drugs and medicines are no longer eligible for reimbursement unless you purchased the drug or medicine (except insulin) as a result of receiving a prescription from your doctor.

That, folks, is an added tax for people responsible enough to maintain health care. I wonder how many people with flex accounts will now go to the doctor every time they have a headache or heartburn, so they can get prescriptions instead of purchasing medicine over the counter. That, of course, will add far more to the overall cost of health care than the taxes generated through this Mickey Mouse interference with private health care.

Let the demise commence already

2010-07-29T07:28:00.001-05:00

We've been predicting it since 2008; its nice to see we're not the only ones anymore:

Future historians will pinpoint Democratic Sen. Harry Reid's energy legislation, released Tuesday, as the moment that the political movement of global warming entered an irreversible death spiral. It is kaput! Finito! Done!

Let's hope they mean it this time.

Signage backfire

2010-07-14T21:29:00.004-05:00

ABC is reporting that $20 million has been spent on stimulus signage:

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) has joined the chorus of Republican outrage over stimulus signs and claims at least $20 million has been spent on them. He told ABC News, "I think it's a bit of an oxymoron to spend tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer money, borrowed money, on a bunch of signs to tell them how we are spending their taxpayer money."

I have noted the unseemly nature of taking credit for projects paid for by tax dollars. But perhaps the most significant aspect of that is I'm thinking that while I'm stuck in traffic caused by the project the sign represents.

It occurred to me a few months ago that all those cars sitting still on roads daily may not be too appreciative of the extra gas and time they are burning, broiling in the summer heat. The signs provide a timely reminder why they are wasting so much time in construction.

The Obama administration certainly thought they found a clever way to spend taxpayer money on what are essentially political campaign signs. While that is inherently wrong and shows raw disdain for the taxpayer, it may also backfire as more and more people are reminded who is responsible for out of control spending in D.C., and the gridlock that is making everyone's lives miserable this summer, across the state.

So the next time you are roasting on a Minnesota freeway, moving five miles an hour, remember that it is stimulus dollars that put you there. And if you forget, don't sweat it; there is certain to be a sign coming up soon.

Final update

2010-07-10T22:17:00.001-05:00

And...she's home, safe and sound, and pretty much back to her old self. Thanks for the calls and concern.

Now we can get some sleep.

An update....

2010-07-06T06:16:00.000-05:00

Mother Teaparty is improving very nicely. She remains in transitional care but we are hopeful she can come home in a matter of days. Thanks for all the calls and well wishes.

Tough times....

2010-06-30T22:29:00.002-05:00

It's been a pretty rough few days. Mother Teaparty took a bad fall and got a nasty gash on her head, complete with a concussion and some minor bleeding in her brain. Her age and other health concerns are causing complications.

This happened Monday evening and today she started showing some very promising signs of improvement. She was even allowed to leave the ICU. We're hoping to have her back home within the week.

Haven't done much sleeping and the commutes to the city, downtown driving, parking ramps, lack of meals, crisis management, and so on are taking a toll. Hopefully tomorrow will bring another round of improvements.

At times like these I have to be thankful for Scroo-Loo. She is a rock without whom this would be unbearable.

If I don't make it back soon, have a great "fourth;" thoughts and prayers are always appreciated.

At least I know I'm not the only one...

2010-06-24T06:58:00.000-05:00

It was of relief to discover this morning that I am not alone in my fascination with Whale Wars. Sisyphus at Fraters Libertas sums up why the show commands my attention:

“Whale Wars” produces comedy based on the formula:
(unbounded self-righteousness + self-delusion) * extreme incompetence = comedy gold!

I have yet to see the crew actually save a whale, despite spending millions of dollars in donations. Contrary to the show's obvious desire to paint the crew as heroes to the whales, the effort is best described in the show's theme song, "despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage."

Bragging rights

2010-06-18T22:10:00.006-05:00

It started with Louie catching a 4 1/2 pound largemouth. Boz matched it a few weeks ago, his biggest fish ever. Louie topped it last weekend with a 4 3/4 pound fish. GD4 was briefly in the lead this evening with a 5 pounder (pictured below), until I caught this monster, ending weeks of whining that I never get to catch a big fish:

This 6 1/2 pound, 21-inch behemoth was caught on a five-inch black and white sparkle Slurpie worm. Purple Glory was rock solid, as was the 20-pound test braided line, but the No. 5 hook was twisted all to hell when it was over. It is also the biggest bass I have ever caught. It's less than three pounds and two and a half inches short of the state record.

Credit where it is due, Louie - beside being gorgeous, super cool, and the best friend anybody could ever hope for - really knows how to pick a fishing spot. We were getting pretty much skunked all afternoon until she pointed and said "That looks like it might be a good spot." Five minutes later what had been a very disappointing day had suddenly become epic. It is but one of the innumerable reasons why I love her.

Below is GD4's five-pounder, and that smile was all about knowing he owned "biggest fish of the season." I wiped that smile right off his face seconds later. Someone once said that true joy is watching your children succeed. Nonsense! Real happiness is achieved when you steal their most glorious moments for yourself.

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict right now that the behemoth is going to hold up for the rest of the summer. And it's mine...all mine.

UPDATED: It really wasn't nice of me, neglecting to post Louie's 4 3/4 pounder - currently in the freezer awaiting the taxidermist (unavoidable - hooked in a bad spot). So here it is, and in any case, it gives a frame of reference for how much bigger mine is:

Steamy propoganda

2010-06-15T17:03:00.003-05:00

Apparently making propaganda together creates a lot of heat:

...Al and Tipper's breakup didn't come as much of a surprise to one Hollywood player — Laurie David. Star has learned that Al has been having an affair with Laurie, who divorced Seinfeld creator and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David in 2007 amidst reports she was cheating with the caretaker of their Martha's Vineyard summer home.

Here's the obligatory denial.

'When I lay my vengeance upon thee..."

2010-05-23T15:01:00.004-05:00

Combining two of my favorite things, hockey and Pulp Fiction, I give you Pulp Fiction Hockey....

"Give 'em the gourmet shot." Sweet.

Trust but verify

2010-05-04T07:17:00.000-05:00

Filed under, "I was not aware of that, but intend to verify at my earliest convenience:"

The St. Croix River is a warm water habitat. The stretch from Danbury down stream to St. Croix Falls is recognized as one of the finest smallmouth bass fisheries in the country.

Interestingly enough, I first heard the river north of the dam was "filthy" with smallmouths from a completely crocked barfly at about 12:30 a.m. a few months ago. I wasn't sure I believed him or if he was just trying to score the sweet "St. Croix Rods" hat I was wearing at the time (a free gift with my recent purchase of a 7-foot Mojo Bass rod).

We've been talking about exploring the river for bronzebacks since late last fall. Here's why:

Smallmouth bass are known as the pound for pound strongest fighters in the black bass genus (micropterus), of the sunfish family. They are aggressive in nature and, once hooked, their aerial displays rival Shamu the killer whale.

With Johnson in ship shape, there is nothing to stop us.

Twenty-five more days.

Blog: A love story

2010-04-29T16:44:00.003-05:00

For those who may not pay very close attention (everybody), April marks five years and roughly 45,000 visits at this site. This is post number 1,433.

Even without recent slowdowns, this site had given me far more than I have given in that time. There has been some great moments, like a certain homework assignment and subsequent Blair-a-lanche. But this blog turned into much greater things for me. It taught me to articulate and debate, and gave me great confidence in my abilities to publish online.

Back in the old days of Blogger, a working knowledge of HTML code was necessary, and I spent hours learning the language so my site wouldn't look just like the template. I read incessantly looking for new material, and learned everything I could about subjects so I wouldn't look like a idiot when I put something out there.

I credited this blog for making the difference in a 2005 job interview; I was certain my confidence running web sites was the difference between myself and other candidates.

Now, five years later, I work as a communications specialist and manage a massive web portal. I help shape decisions that affect people's lives on a daily basis, and am responsible for the communications and image of a massive organization. I'm not trying to brag, there are certainly far more important jobs; I just find myself stunned at times what's happened since I signed up for a Blogger account.

For that, I am in debt to Tom D. (happy birthday Heath!), who was a first generation blog reader and convinced me I would enjoy it. Among many others, he introduced me to Blair, Powerline, and Iowahawk. He has been a devoted reader all this time, and provided plenty of material as well (click link under his name).

The last five years have been quite a ride, and I owe a lot of that ride to this insignificant web site which, as it turns out, appears to have had great significance.

Thanks to all for sticking with it over the years. Though I can't claim more than a handful of fans, I can certainly claim the most loyal fans in the sphere.

Cheers to you!

Anything but this...

2010-04-28T22:49:00.003-05:00

Brett Favre can retire, Obama can be re-elected, life could be discovered on Mars, I don't care. But Steve Carell cannot, must not, leave The Office.

Is there no God? And, if there is, in what world is this just?

Barrett for representative

2010-04-17T14:20:00.002-05:00

Scroo-Loo and I attended the GOP endorsing convention this morning and I am happy to report that Bob Barrett won the party nomination for district 17B. Don Taylor and Russ Goudge were gracious enough to throw their support to Bob, which put him over the top against Sheldon Anderson.

It was a good learning experience and we were pleased it turned out the way it did.

And so it begins...

2010-04-15T20:35:00.002-05:00

Scroo-Loo and GD⁴ enjoyed the sunshine this afternoon out on Little Lake, the first fishing trip of the season. Not a single nibble on this day, but no one seemed to mind.

For me, the primary reason for the trip was to make sure Johnson was running smoothly. In that regard, the trip could only be characterized as a smashing success.

Since the fish weren't biting though, I did find the time to take this picture and send it to Boz with the caption "Eat your heart out."

I didn't hear anything back until I got home, where this message awaited me: "Just wanted you to know that my thoughts are of you...dying a horrible, painful death."

My, my. Such hostility.

Sissy fraud

2010-04-06T17:43:00.000-05:00

I tuned into this clip to listen to Obama stumble to try and name a single ChiSox player - the team he professes to absolutely adore. While you listen to him avoid that subject, watch him throw one of the worst pitches I have ever seen:

More cuckoo

2010-03-30T07:11:00.000-05:00

Professor James Lovelock is prepared to do whatever it takes to fight the war on global warming:

"Even the best democracies agree that when a major war approaches, democracy must be put on hold for the time being. I have a feeling that climate change may be an issue as severe as a war. It may be necessary to put democracy on hold for a while."

Climate change, thus far, is a "war" without a single casualty, or even potential casualty (unless you believe people are too stupid to move when the ocean theoretically slowly encroaches on the shore line). Nevertheless, Lovelock is prepared to ash can the greatest hope of man until his "war" is won; a war in which the enemy is harder to define with each passing day.

James Hansen, look out. You got competition.

Goose; meet gander

2010-03-26T07:23:00.000-05:00

Listening to the Dems whine about angry people is kind of funny. I don't remember them having such a big problem with it historically. Enjoy this stroll down memory lane.

B's first baits

2010-03-10T19:22:00.004-06:00

We've been keeping GD⁴ busy this winter building baits for next summer.

We found a great tackle craft kit at Cabela's, with 10 spinner bait bodies, lots of blades, paint, and skirts.

These are Bailey's first offerings and pretty darn good.

So, there you go.

Feels like 30 years ago

2010-02-25T21:57:00.005-06:00

The Canadian women won the gold in hockey tonight, damnit.

I love Olympic hockey. I'm a Minnesotan who came of age with the 1980 U.S. men's team, how could I not? As I have been watching the Olympics this winter my eyes have naturally been drawn to one of my favorite photos, which hangs prominently in our family room:

Ya, that's me in the middle with my brother close behind, waiting to have our sticks signed by Herb Brooks the summer after the 1980 Olympics. The photo was taken at the Roseville Ice Arena just after a session in Herbie's summer camp. Attending his camp the summer after the Olympics was akin to hanging out with God just after the seventh day. We even got a pep talk from the man himself, in which we were instructed by the greatest coach ever to watch out for fast women.

And the stick? Still got it, including the signature, which I immediately covered in scotch tape when I got home that day. The curve is long gone and it would no doubt disintegrate if I tried to pass a donut, but the signature is as clear as the day he signed it:

No reason at all for this post beyond taking a stroll down memory lane. I hope you're enjoying the games. I'm looking forward to another chance to steal hockey gold from Canada. We shall see.

Another dagger

2010-02-14T10:13:00.003-06:00

Dr. Phil Jones admits he is a lousy record keeper, and adds this gem, sure to rip the heart right out of anyone who worships at the altar of warming:

Professor Jones also conceded the possibility that the world was warmer in medieval times than now – suggesting global warming may not be a man-made phenomenon.

And he said that for the past 15 years there has been no ‘statistically significant’ warming.

Yes, even Jones is suggesting now we were all subject to a giant fraud. Well, some of us were more "subject" than others. Les Enfants Terrible has been proud purveyor of denialism since 2005.

A familiar stirring

2010-02-12T20:03:00.003-06:00

The winter Olympics are officially open for business, which means - like in 2006 when we mainlined Torino snow - blogging will be even lighter than normal. Indeed, The Terrible Children has been around long enough to cover two winter Olympic games. How about that?

This games gets off to a tragic start. Here's the disturbing video (Just a warning, I wished I hadn't watched it after I did). I'm normally not one to rush to judgment, but how in the hell could there not be copious amounts of padding on those posts?

As is often the case (I'm pretty sure), There are more athletes from Minnesota on the U.S. Olympic team than from any other state. Minnesota probably has more athletes than some of the nations represented at the games.

I don't know how it does in the rest of the country, I've heard not that great. But I bet the broadcast does great here. The winter Olympics are Minnesota's games. It's such a shame that, due to a lack of altitude, we can never host the games. They belong here.

Because you know you want it, here's the curling schedule. Hockey is going on all the time. I can't wait until the medal round, especially the men. All that speed and grace on the big ice. Mmm.

I think I just went "from six to midnight."

Enjoy the games!

Inflation is Everywhere

2010-02-04T21:05:00.003-06:00

So, 10-year-old GD⁴ just walked into the room with twenty bucks in quarters. He earned it selling his snacks at school. That's right, he's the kid hooking you up with Oreos for money; every school has one.

The going rate these days, according to GD⁴, is 75 cents to a dollar. And it sure doesn't hurt that GD³ is paying him $1.65 for a scoop of cotton candy ice cream. (The entire box of ice cream was $2.50.)

Time capsule: Everything you could buy from a kid in school was a quarter when I was his age. Everything.

We've had Teaparty since 2005

2010-02-03T21:19:00.003-06:00

He doesn't have a website yet, but Bob Barrett is running for Jeremy Kalin's House seat (17B). I've known Barrett and his family for a number of years and he and I have had many a conversation over that time.

Fans of the local editorial pages may recall Barrett; Chisago County is GOP was a big fan of his letters to the editor when he was writing.

I am certain all of the GOP candidates for this seat are good people, but Barrett is the only one I know well enough to state it unequivocally. Bob's not a big shot or anything, just a regular dude; the kind of guy you just know the legislature needs more of but rarely, if ever, enjoys.

If any of the five or ten 17B readers would like to know more about Bob, here's his e-mail: barrett.is.change@gmail.com

Tell him the original Teaparty said hello.

If Not Now, When?

2010-01-31T10:35:00.005-06:00

Yet more disturbing revelations surrounding IPCC global warming claims:

In its most recent report, it stated that observed reductions in mountain ice in the Andes, Alps and Africa was being caused by global warming, citing two papers as the source of the information.

However, it can be revealed that one of the sources quoted was a feature article published in a popular magazine for climbers which was based on anecdotal evidence from mountaineers about the changes they were witnessing on the mountainsides around them.

The other was a dissertation written by a geography student, studying for the equivalent of a master's degree, at the University of Berne in Switzerland that quoted interviews with mountain guides in the Alps.

I was once told I should "assume the worst." Not a bad tip. Tim Blair has more examples of the rather unsciency approach used by AGW "scientists." It would be funny if it hadn't caused such terror in typically rational people.

All Hail Chantix!

2010-01-29T16:43:00.000-06:00

I haven't had a smoke since Jan. 10. I may officially be a non-smoker at this point, which is something I haven't been since my cousin Dave taught me how to inhale when I was 13.

Feels good.

Louie is on the program too. Together, it is like we got a $300 a month raise.

Inaction On a Roll

2010-01-25T06:28:00.000-06:00

Inaction strikes again, this time saving us from an increase in hurricanes and floods:

THE United Nations climate science panel faces new controversy for wrongly linking global warming to an increase in the number and severity of natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods.

It based the claims on an unpublished report that had not been subjected to routine scientific scrutiny — and ignored warnings from scientific advisers that the evidence supporting the link too weak. The report's own authors later withdrew the claim because they felt the evidence was not strong enough.

Imagine the world we could create if everyone just did a little less to address climate change.

Inaction Saves Glacier

2010-01-21T17:36:00.000-06:00

In yet another astounding way, inaction seems to have yet again helped the climate.

Doing absolutely nothing has now saved the Himalayan glaciers from extinction!:

The UN’s top climate change body has issued an unprecedented apology over its flawed prediction that Himalayan glaciers were likely to disappear by 2035.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said yesterday that the prediction in its landmark 2007 report was “poorly substantiated” and resulted from a lapse in standards.

The IPCC assured this is an isolated incident of inaction having such a remarkable affect on climate. However, it could not rule out future inactions having further positive affects on the climate as well. With this announcement, inaction is now credited with a far greater affect on future climate than all to-date action combined.

Blue Dogs Leave the Room

2010-01-20T07:06:00.003-06:00

Not heard from since Favre became a Viking, Hitler makes an appearance to comment on the victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts:

Nice Fish Dude

2010-01-08T20:13:00.003-06:00

Ya. No one with blond highlights should get credit for world record bass. Alas:

The International Game Fish Association today rocked the bass fishing world by announcing a new world record — or co-world record — caught by Manabu Kurita of Japan. The fish ties the all-tackle record for largemouth bass held for 77 years by George Perry of Georgia.

Not surprisingly this morbidly obese fish, caught on 25-pound test, only fought briefly:

Kurita, 32, of Aichi, Japan, was fishing Biwa that July day using a Deps Sidewinder rod and a Shimano Antares DC7LV reel loaded with 25 lb Toray line when he pitched his bait, a live bluegill, next to a bridge piling. It was Kurita’s first cast to the piling where he had seen a big bass swimming. He only twitched the bait a couple of times before he got bit. After a short, three minute fight he had the fish in the boat.

(Sigh)

He Was For It...You Know the Rest

2010-01-06T17:20:00.001-06:00

In light of C-SPAN's efforts to have public business conducted...in public, this promise - made over and over again by Obama - is pretty damning now:

For it, for it, for it, for it, for it, for it, for it, for it....against it!

Parodies Everywhere

2009-12-30T12:04:00.003-06:00

At Iowahawk, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab describes his recent air travel experience:

When I came to, I was handcuffed, surrounded by cops and bomb sniffing dogs. Amid all the hysterical hippies I felt a strange sensation and heard a soft klink. -Yep, you guessed it. My freeze dried bar-b-cued junk had just fallen off. Before I could locate it, one of the bomb sniffing dog snarfed it up like a frozen snausage.

In other parodies, the Obama administration tries to protect America. Thank goodness for pushy Eurotrash.

A Few Random Statements

2009-12-28T11:21:00.002-06:00

It's nice to the sun again.

The Wii is cool, but my shoulder hurts like a mofo.

The Hangover is as funny a movie as I have seen in quite some time.

A Christmas Feast T-Style

2009-12-24T21:04:00.004-06:00

I started on the rum and cokes about 3:30 today and this post is the natural result.

A feast fit for planet haters on a holiday celebrating American greed! Behold the giant piece of cow in its "before" pose:

And...after four hours; cooked to perfection by Yours Truly. Nine pounds of prime rib roasted to a perfect medium rare:

And, because no celebration of American greed would be complete without complete and total over-indulgence, home-made pies in cherry and pumpkin:

Louie made a French silk too, but it had to stay in a place of shame (the fridge) because we hate fureners so much.

Naah. Just kidding. We love our European brethren.

Merry Christmas all! I hope yours is as great as ours has been. The first for GD - grandchild edition (GD^GE).

Blog for Climate Action!

2009-12-23T17:20:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone has a great Christmas, it looks like it will be a snowy one around here. In fact, according to this study, this may be just the beginning:

Cosmic rays and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), both already implicated in depleting the Earth's ozone layer, are also responsible for changes in the global climate, a University of Waterloo scientist reports in a new peer-reviewed paper...In his research, Lu discovers that while there was global warming from 1950 to 2000, there has been global cooling since 2002. The cooling trend will continue for the next 50 years, according to his new research observations.

Perhaps it would be best to "assume the worst, and proceed accordingly." A good start would be to make pollution cool again. Dirtying up our act with irresponsible, non-innovative, unsustainable action; an approach that intrinsically addresses the long-term consequences of inaction.

Or we could do nothing.

This is Cool

2009-12-19T09:48:00.002-06:00

An international team of physicists working in the bottom of an old iron mine in Minnesota said Thursday that they might have registered the first faint hints of a ghostly sea of subatomic particles known as dark matter long thought to permeate the cosmos.

The discovery occurred at the Soudan mine, which we visited just a few years ago. The only dark matter we saw was when they shut out the lights on us.

Here's more on the enormity of the discovery:

Confirmation of the particles would also constitute the first evidence for a new feature of nature, called supersymmetry, that physicists have been seeking as avidly as the astronomers have been seeking dark matter. It is central to theoretical efforts like string theory, which unify all of the forces of nature into one mathematical expression.

Super cool.

Fear Not Selling Anymore

2009-12-14T21:30:00.005-06:00

We've grown used to these kind of scare tactics from Al Gore over the years:

"Some of the models suggest to Dr [Wieslav] Maslowski that there is a 75 per cent chance that the entire north polar ice cap, during the summer months, could be completely ice-free within five to seven years."

Unfortunately for Al, these kind of statements no longer get the free pass they once enjoyed:

However, the climatologist whose work Mr Gore was relying upon dropped the former Vice-President in the water with an icy blast.

“It’s unclear to me how this figure was arrived at,” Dr Maslowski said. “I would never try to estimate likelihood at anything as exact as this.”

Mr Gore’s office later admitted that the 75 per cent figure was one used by Dr Maslowksi as a “ballpark figure” several years ago in a conversation with Mr Gore.

It would be interesting to know how many years "several" is. Could it be 5 to 7 years?

Over the last "several" years it has become much more common for the warmenists to talk of impending disaster in terms of "within the decade" rather than "within the century." We are rapidly coming up on a time when we can look at those predictions in a comparison to the reality. At that time, what were likely scare tactics in a gamble to create urgency could be the final nail in the pseudo-religio-science of global warming.

When you bluff, sooner or later you get burned. Al Gore does not seem to have realized yet that the tide has turned against the fear mongerers. That's fine with me, as it will only "hasten the decline."

Rest in Peace Foge

2009-12-11T15:37:00.003-06:00

A little Vikings tidbit: Foge Fazio, defensive coordinator for the Vikings (1996-1998) has died of leukemia. The most significant thing I remember about coach Fazio was his unusual name, which is why the story caught my eye. It turns out he had a long, successful career in the thankless world of assistant coaching:

Fazio was Minnesota's defensive coordinator from 1996 to 1998, and was also the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2001 and 2002. Prior to that, he held numerous other coaching jobs, including the head coaching position at the University of Pittsburgh from 1982 to 1984. He also served as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame under Lou Holtz, and was also an assistant coach for the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, and New York Jets.

I read a story once about being an assistant coach in the NFL; it was almost exclusively downside. Unbelievably long hours, no job security, and first to take the blame for everything. To me, the more significant career is the one that never resulted in a head coaching position in the NFL. More significant because you would have to be really dedicated to continue in it knowing your prospects for a head coach job are non-existent.

Foge, passed on, is likely getting the much-deserved rest he hadn't had since the '70s. And hats off to him.

It's Real Now

2009-12-10T21:58:00.004-06:00

Stiffed by Obama, "Save the Children" concert organizers came up with a solution:

...organizers replaced him with an Obama cardboard cutout.

And thus, six years after the myth was born, the fake turkey finally makes an appearance.

I wonder if Tim Blair will hold some kind of ceremony marking this auspicious occasion.

Ward's karma is bad

2009-12-08T16:53:00.000-06:00

Roughly a week ago, Steelers receiver Hines Ward pounded his two-time Super Bowl champ in the media for not playing with a concussion:

"This game is almost like a playoff game," Ward said. "It's almost a 'must' win. So, I can see some players or some teammates kind of questioning like, 'Well, it's just a concussion. I've played with concussions before. I would go out there and play.

Fast forward a week:

Wide receiver Hines Ward strained a hamstring near the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders and is expected to miss Thursday night's game in Cleveland.

If anything, the Cleveland game is more "must win" given the Steelers lost to the Raiders. If Ward doesn't play, will he question his own toughness?

Karma is a beautiful thing.

Treat Us as Monkeys

2009-12-07T07:06:00.000-06:00

The problem isn't that we, as humans, have a natural and healthy skepticism or that we have the capacity to recognize bullshit when we see it. The problem, according to Karen Fish, is that we are too narrow-minded:

The root problem with the names Climate Change, Global Warming and Environmental is that these words are too narrow for the problems they describe and more importantly, people do not understand these words. “Environmental” sounds like a mental enviro. This is why the climategate people are so ready to pillory us over the climategate scandal. They think that we are mentally ill.

Well, she's got me there. I do tend to think that members of the warming cult are a bit "off." I mean, when the warmenists are demanding show trials and intentionally scaring small children, it makes you wonder if there is anyone at the controls. But I digress.

Karen has a solution; appeal to our monkey DNA:

In our primitive reptilian brain stems we have an instinctive gut wrenching fear of poison. People fear and understand the word poison in their guts.

The first step that we need to take to heal our home Planet Earth is to change the words we use and replace them with new words. We must change the word “environmentalist” to “antipoisoner.” Instead of the “Copenhagen Climate Conference” we must pass a resolution renaming it the “Copenhagen Antipoisoner Convention.”

Until now, apparently, the warmenists have shunned fear as a tactic.

In other news, antipoisoners in Copenhagen spew poison into the air equal that of 60 small countries. Don't they realize they are hastening the time when a "black purple cloud of nuclear winter encircles the tiny ball called Earth?"

Ideology is settled

2009-12-02T17:58:00.000-06:00

My hat is off today for Barack Obama, who has the courage to come forward and demonstrate a dedication to science over politics in the face of overwhelming pressure:

...we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisers based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions.

***

Promoting science isn't just about providing resources -- it's also about protecting free and open inquiry. It's about letting scientists like those who are here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient -- especially when it's inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda -- and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.

Oh, wait. He wasn't talking about climate science; he was talking about stem cell research. Despite an emerging pile of evidence to the contrary, Obama continues to insist global warming is "settled science."

Game, set, match: ideology. Hat back on.

At Last: Unity

2009-11-26T22:28:00.002-06:00

Monbiot, as disgusted was ever with the oil companies coordinated attack on climate science, nevertheless notes an irony emerging among the warm mongers:

Confronted with crisis, most of the environmentalists I know have gone into denial.

We're all denialists now!

Hiding the Decline of Global Warming Science

2009-11-25T18:23:00.007-06:00

And thus, the NYT proclaims Climategate a mere speed bump:

The evidence pointing to a growing human contribution to global warming is so widely accepted that the hacked material is unlikely to erode the overall argument.

Of course, the evidence comes from the very same models that the now infamous climate "scientists" admit in private cannot account for the cooling since 2001. Hell, until the e-mails were released they wouldn't even admit publicly the cooling had occurred.

One of the scientists, Kevin Trenberth, is spinning like a top:

...he added that he thought the revelations might backfire against climate skeptics. He said that he thought that the messages showed “the integrity of scientists.”

One thing certainly hasn't changed. The warm mongers still think the rest of us are abject idiots.

Conspicuously silent through this scandal has been James Hansen, although perhaps for not too much longer. It was barely a year ago he wanted skeptics put on trial for high crimes against humanity.

Given how badly skeptics have been treated; the reputations destroyed, the character assaults, the pattern of silencing, I would suspect they will keep a foot firmly placed on the throat of the climate change set. At least, I hope so. It's time for this nonsense to end.

Vindication is Sweet

2009-11-24T16:28:00.000-06:00

Mark Steyn has quotes from two leading warming-mongers today. Here's one from Aussie Tim Flannery:

We’re dealing with an incomplete understanding of the way the earth system works… When we come to the last few years when we haven’t seen a continuation of that (warming) trend we don’t understand all of the factors that create earth’s climate...We just don’t understand the way the whole system works… See, these people work with models, computer modelling. So when the computer modelling and the real world data disagree you’ve got a very interesting problem… Sure for the last 10 years we’ve gone through a slight cooling trend.

Until I read this I was prepared to believe that the erupting climategate e-mail scandal would blow over with little fanfare. But when Tim Flannery sounds like the people he and others have been denouncing in the loudest terms possible for the last few years, the impact of this scandal to global warming science can't be understated. If people such as Flannery and others had been willing to simply admit this earlier, their cause may not be as dead as it appears today.

Over the years I have done 163 posts on the subject of global warming. The evidence provided by the e-mail scandal justifies every single one. As far as I'm concerned skeptics are vindicated completely. I predicted 2008 would be the year of the skeptic. It was, and 2009 has become the year that skepticism caved the whole thing in on itself.

Of course, we'll still need a cap and trade bill - because this has never been about science anyway. It's about money.

Beer Fridges Create Hookers

2009-11-20T16:09:00.001-06:00

Never let it be said that people lack imagination when it comes to finding things to lay at global warming's door:

Suneeta Mukherjee, country representative of the United Nations Food Population Fund (UNFPA), said women in the Philippines are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the country.

“Climate change could reduce income from farming and fishing, possibly driving some women into sex work and thereby increase HIV infection," Mukherjee said during the Wednesday launch of the UNFPA annual State of World Population Report in Pasay City.

Look for prostitution numbers to plummet in the near future, if past predictions are any guide.

What the Hell, its Only Other People's Money

2009-11-19T20:36:00.003-06:00

A $100 million here, a $100 million there, and sooner or later it starts adding up to real money.

If I was one of the senators not getting a $100 million payoff for my vote, I think I'd hold out.

Eating Crow on Favre

2009-11-17T20:10:00.002-06:00

Eight games into the 2009 football season, let's revisit my reaction to the signing of Brett Favre back in August:

I think it's a bad deal.

An excellent illustration why my professional football coaching career never really got off the ground.

Contrary to my stellar instincts, Favre has not only played very well for the Vikings, he is having one of the best seasons of his career. He has turned Sidney Rice into a superstar, utilized Percy Harvin beautifully, taken a lot of pressure off of Adrian Peterson (leaving him fresh for the home stretch while other premier backs - like the Bengals Cedric Benson for instance - are breaking down), and generally infected the team with a joy for football and a hunger for victory.

If I harbored any lingering fantasy that the Vikings would be anywhere near where they are without him, they flew high and wide with T-Jack's passes late in the Detroit game.

My main argument in August was that Favre was a one-season answer to a decade problem. Perhaps, but what a season. A quality quarterback truly was the missing link. Plus, and frankly, if Favre finishes the season healthy and successful (with or without a Super Bowl) I am not convinced he won't be back next year. Why wouldn't he play again? He's at the top of his game, is surrounded by extraordinary talent, has a great defense, and a system designed for his success.

As for the Vikings in general, I think they are still getting better from week to week, and are poised to peak in December. Will it be enough? Don't know, don't care. At this point what would a prediction serve anyway? My track record doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

Best of all has been the deepening agony of Packers fans with every Favre success. Their hope Favre would "break down" in the second half of the season now has a distinct odor of desperation which, to me, smells like a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.

Mmmm.

Doing My Part

2009-11-17T19:57:00.005-06:00

Don Surber argues that beautiful women are to be found on the cutting edge of social change.

WILLisms adds: "Look for the babes, and that's where the social action is, that's where the success will be."

I offer Scroo-Loo to further bolster the Babe Theory of Revolution. Gorgeous, conservative, revolutionary, and all mine fellas so..you know...settle down.

It's Like a Tumor

2009-11-16T19:41:00.003-06:00

Editor's note: GD⁴ (demonstrating how deeply ingrained technology is in the next generation) suggested I Google the topic of this post, and sure enough I am not the first person to notice.

I just wanted to point out that Jon Gruden, who is terrific as a Monday Night Football announcer, needs to make a choice: close the legs, or buy baggier pants (see photo). Seriously, as much as I am enjoying his commentary, I am not prepared to look at his junk for the next four years.

Just sayin.

Enemy in the sky

2009-11-16T06:46:00.000-06:00

Hugo Chavez has had enough of bad weather and wants to go to war:

"I'm going in a plane; any cloud that crosses me, I'll zap it so that it rains," Chavez said at a ceremony late on Saturday with family members of five Cubans convicted of spying in the United States.

Our hero.

Sweet as Honey

2009-11-07T20:58:00.003-06:00

This song makes me miss making music. Nickel Creek is a three piece featuring guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, with vocals to die for. The song linked above, "Reasons Why" is sung by Sara Watkins, while this one, "When in Rome" is sung by Chris Thile:

The most surprising thing about this band is they aren't a household name.

Getting on with life

2009-11-04T16:54:00.000-06:00

With a rather time-consuming and, at times, traumatic experience behind me professionally, life returned very much to normal today. Hopefully that will lend itself to more attention to this site in the near future.

Sorry about the drop in activity. But at least I can say I wasn't even trying. Poor CNN has no excuse. Aaah. It's always nice to come up for air and see that things are going your way.

Are those horns?

2009-10-23T16:31:00.000-05:00

No one will remember this one, but it is a sweet groove just the same, from 1984:

Did I Miss a Meeting?

2009-10-13T20:51:00.006-05:00

Used to be I'd go to the doctor; they'd ask, and I'd answer, "yes, I still smoke."

Not this time. Having been previously diagnosed as a smoker (dozens and dozens of times), it is now sufficient to simply note my existing condition on the paperwork.

And thus it was I discovered I suffer from "tobacco use disorder."

When did this happen?

Off the subject, GD² brought home Michael Buble's "It's Time," and we are listening to it now. Holy crap can that guy sing. It's a nice little revival he's got going there.

No sympathy here

2009-10-10T10:54:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure which is more absurd in this column by Tim Rutten; the almost biblical terms in which the far left sees a man whose "legend" remains strictly potential, or how he characterizes the response to Obama being awarded something for...well...nothing:

It would have been unthinkable a few years ago that the opposition party would not have at least extended the president perfunctory congratulations for this honor; he is, after all, the head of state.

I guess it depends on how you define "few."

It's not so much the revision of Obama - from the moment he was elected - which seeks to write history before it even occurs; it's the revision of the years 2000-2008, during which the left - apparently - would have found it "unthinkable" to act in a manner lacking respect for the "head of state."

I don't particularly care for some of the criticism of Obama. I have no time for birthers. But I have no sympathy for a left suddenly "appalled" at the tone. The left created this atmosphere every day for eight years. As far as I'm concerned they can eat it. They bought it, they own it.

More on Billy Mac

2009-10-08T18:10:00.003-05:00

Boz, feeling a bit swiney after catching Monday Night Football at our place (with a very sick GD³), clued me to a huge feature article on Billy McLaughlin in the PiPress. My favorite line was this one, from a friend of Billy's, describing what it was like to re-learn to play left-handed:

Friend and attorney Ken Abdo likens it to learning to speak again "by uttering every word in reverse phonetically."

llew tup.

Wierder by the Day

2009-10-03T11:16:00.002-05:00

While the MSM is mourning Obama's Olympic foibles, another story - one much more disturbing - is flying under the radar; Obama's "Safe Schools" czar Kevin Jennings.

Jennings appointment calls into question even more Obama's judgment, if that is even possible. Jennings is inspired by NAMBLA founder Harry Hay, who advocates for the rights of men who want to molest boys, and founded GLSEN, which readers of this blog will recall instructing middle school students in Massachusetts not to drink too much alcohol before they get "fisted."

Mr. Jennings is also being criticized for not reporting a relationship between a 15-year-old sophomore student and an older man. Jennings was a teacher at the time and therefore a mandated reporter.

But it's all good says Media Matters! They have proof the boy was 16 years old, so this whole thing is just a right-wing "witch hunt." Of course, as Dan Riehl notes, it was Jennings himself who asserted the boy was 15, and adds:

"Whether the student was straight or gay, does anyone really believe that a 15, or 16 year old student involved in restroom sex with total strangers is the bar we want to set for safe and acceptable behavior in our public schools? Give me a break. Media Matters might have done better to not engage this issue at all."

The left, of course, is going to make any and all criticism of Jennings an anti-gay bigotry issue, just like criticizing Obama is an anti-black racism issue. But Jennings, as someone who doesn't seem to care one wit - and even promotes - the molestation of boys, is an appalling choice to be in charge of school safety, and that has nothing to do with his sexual orientation.

Jennings is someone who should never have gotten within a thousand miles of a government appointment. Yet he is now in charge of the safety of America's school children. Obama has put the fox in charge of the hen house. I have never been more convinced that he is a complete idiot, and totally unfit.

Where do I sign up for the recall?

Pay No Attention To That Continent Over There

2009-09-28T22:14:00.001-05:00

It's interesting that, while the Democrats in America are so bent on creating a socialist utopia right here, countries that have actually embraced that form of government are moving strongly away from it.

I'll Take Dim Journalists for $100

2009-09-18T16:09:00.001-05:00

Imagine comedian Andy Richter and prime time CNN national news anchor Wolf Blitzer faced off on Jeopardy. Who would win in a landslide?

A no-brainer right?

Well ya, if you picked Richter.

The Best Yet

2009-09-15T22:34:00.005-05:00

This becomes the greatest run yet by Adrian Peterson:

It's amazing how fast he gets from the 40 to the 50 yard line. He covers ten yards in six steps and that's with a juke. Six guys had their hands on him in the first 20 yards, and none even forced him to alter course. I don't know who 24 is for Cleveland, but it won't be a fun week for him in the film room. That was embarrassing.

Watching Adrian break loose is just as exciting as any part of the vertical game during the Moss years. It's breathtaking.

Here's four minutes of highlights from rookie season, set to perfect music, that highlights not only his explosiveness, but how severely he punishes tacklers. Included are a number of runs from the Chargers game, in which he set the single game rushing record (296 yards) and which I attended with GD³, an experience we will cherish forever. Does anyone remember which other record was set that game?

This is going to be a fun year.

UPDATE: Well, I must stand corrected and amend my title to read "The Best Yet...as a Viking." This is the best run I have even seen.

A Distinguishing Mole

2009-09-15T22:14:00.006-05:00

Almost 30 years later, this is still one of the funniest scenes on film:

There is something innocent about Porky's (trailer here), despite the subject matter. I think it has something to do with being released before the PG-13 era, which hyper- sexualized everything for younger and younger ages. As long as actual nudity is avoided, anything's acceptable in a PG-13 film. Porky's, with all its nudity and crudity, is somehow less corrupting than your average modern day teen flick. Maybe its because the film didn't take it all so seriously.

It's just fun, and therefore funny. At least, it's funnier than 90 percent of the movies I've seen in the last 10 years.

Today on Geraldo...

2009-09-09T18:22:00.003-05:00

It's been a long time since I read something so powerful and that so masterfully deconstructs the cult of personality currently occupying the executive branch. I couldn't choose a quote, there's just too damn many.

It also makes me wonder when I started forgetting to read VDH, and reminds me not to do it again.

No Word Yet on a Ransom

2009-09-09T17:54:00.004-05:00

Obama says pass health care reform or "more people will die."

Wait. People have been dying? Does everyone? Will I?

When did this start happening?

WTF

2009-09-03T17:22:00.000-05:00

There sure is a lot of left-wing bullying going around these days. People are getting fingers bitten off, and locally, this poor guy is being constantly harassed by the carpenters' union.

I guess the left is no longer pro-choice or non-violent.

Thanks for the Extra Work

2009-09-02T20:13:00.003-05:00

Obama has created a real mess for school districts across the country, which now have to figure out what to do about his speech to school children. And make no mistake, this is a quagmire created by Obama. Most of what he intends to say is great...work hard, pay attention, strive for success, yada yada. No problem there.

But Obama hasn't released the context of his speech, and the teaser suggests there is an element of political agenda. This liberal writer encapsulates the problem, much of the pre- and post-speech activities are about Obama. And, Obama's press people have given little to no detail about the part of the speech where Obama is going to talk about his plans for education, what kids can do to help.

As the above linked writer notes, it's creepy.

Certainly if a conservative president planned to address school children about an educational agenda that included vouchers and getting rid of teachers' unions there would be outrage, and justifiably so. The classroom is no place for politicking. Public schools are for all children, and Obama has no right to go around parents and push his agenda and values on children.

Granted, we don't know that Obama will do that, and I would like to believe he's smarter than that. But no one knows because, while they must plan for the event now, no one has had a chance to preview what it is will be shown. The event is being billed as curricular, but curriculum is something that is reviewed before it is bought into by educators. No school in its right mind would put untested curriculum in front of kids, but that is exactly what they are being asked to do.

Naturally, conservatives are concerned that Obama is about to break the American golden rule by going around parents to instill his values in their children. And why not? The left is notorious for disregarding the rules when it comes to their own politics. A school is already apologizing for showing a left-wing video at an assembly that shows famous people pledging to support stem cell research, buy a hybrid, and support Obama. His administration has no problem calling Republicans "assholes" in public. I certainly don't trust him, his agenda, or many of his immature administration with my children.

Obama could clear this all up by releasing the transcript of his speech, and let parents and educators review it for content and educational value. I would expect nothing less of anybody who wanted to "teach" my children. And let's hope he does it soon because as it looks right now, districts across the country look to be spending the rest of this week in the middle of this mess when they should be preparing to start classes. In other words, all he has accomplished thus far is to throw school district into an unwinnable public relations tailspin before it has gotten off the ground.

Somehow I don't think that was his intent.

So fix it. And hurry please.

Change is Hard

2009-08-30T10:45:00.001-05:00

Via Loafer, Hitler gets the news about Favre:

They Both Had It

2009-08-28T21:15:00.004-05:00

So, these worms are a KICK ASS bait off shore too. GD⁴ caught this 3 1/2 pound bass offshore at the same park we've been shore-fishing from for years.

Why is Scroo-Loo in the photo? Because 10 minutes before it was caught she snapped her line and insisted it had been something huge. She was right; upon further inspection this fish had a second worm and hook deep in its throat.

I caught a 2 1/4 pounder at the secret spot too, and we'll be eating that because the hook got it good. Damn. I hope bass is tasty.

Now With Real Photos

2009-08-28T17:11:00.003-05:00

Crappy cell phone photos at Get the Net have been replaced with real ones. The jealousy factor is guaranteed to climb.

Confliction

2009-08-24T18:46:00.003-05:00

Regarding possible CIA investigations, Glenn Reynolds puts my mind at ease:

"You know, I should feel bad about this, but given the CIA’s extensive efforts to undercut Bush, well, I hope they’re enjoying the new administration."

Don't you feel better too?

Worlds Colliding

2009-08-22T12:12:00.004-05:00

My worlds violently collided in the last couple of weeks when I learned from Boz that Tom D. was having outboard issues.

They are my very best friends but, and despite living within about a mile of each other, until the fateful collision at both individuals' favorite superette only saw each other at officially sanctioned Teaparty functions and after-functions.

Boz was here a couple of weeks ago outfitting us with his throwaways - a new tower and laptop that for him are Jurassic but for us are sweet new computers; thanks Boz! And so it was that, in the middle of a conversation as typical as any over the last 25 years, he casually mentioned that Tom D., following a successful outboard tank test, was unable to reproduce a similar result in an actual lake. The words washed over me like ULF waves and I was instantly nauseous contemplating the enormity of the moment's significance.

I don't really know what happens now. I just know this bell cannot be un-rung. Imaginary boundaries existing only in my own head have been crossed. "Tomorrow" is an enigma.

In other Worlds Colliding news: They're chanting "Hide your beagle, Vick's an Eagle" in Philly.

Love Me Do

2009-08-18T17:53:00.003-05:00

It's reality. My opinion?

I think it's a bad deal. We might win a few more games this season, but I don't think we'll win a Super Bowl despite assurances from Tom "This time I know we won't be disappointed" D.

Favre will eat time in the pre-season which means we won't be able to properly evaluate the quarterbacks that will be here past this season. So, we'll be right back here next year.

A surprisingly Un-Chili move. Until now he's been so good about bringing in long-term talent - Allen, Peterson, Greenway, Hutchinson, and many more - Favre has always seemed like an Achilles heel for Childress. And, he brings with him more negatives than positives.

I hope Favre has a great season, but that's all it will ever be. It's not the start of the "Brett Favre era" like the drooling news rubes are suggesting. Suggesting? What am I saying? I can't remember the last time the local media was so far in the tank. Apparently we are all beside ourselves on a level commensurate with New Yorkers when the Beatles landed. Chubby, purple-clad Miller Lite drinkers are fainting in the streets.

I know, I know. I'll probably eat these words when the Minnesota Vikings stomp the crap out of the entire league this year and take it all the way to The Show!

Super Bowl baby!
Ya!
2010 World Champs!
You know it!
Eat it Cheeselosers!

Whatever. I ain't drinking Miller Light.

Get the Net

2009-08-15T11:44:00.005-05:00

We have arrived home from our vacation, and has become the tradition, I have fish pictures and stories for you. Unfortunately, I had my camera phone set on small so most of the images are grainy. Sorry.

We'll start with a story, and I swear every word is true. Pictured first is GD⁴ with a 5 1/2 pound northern he caught off the dock. He was bobber fishing with a sucker minnow when it struck. For gear he was using an ultra-light pole (made to make sunnies feel fun), four-pound test and no leader. By himself on the dock, he fought the fish boat-side, held his tiny pole in one hand and scooped the fish out using the net with the other. By the time he ran to the cabin and told us he had caught a "huge fish," the drama was over. Suffice to say the event spread resort-wide within hours and GD⁴ became a 10-year old fishing legend, a reputation that stuck all week.

Pictured below is LeAnn's first big fish of the week, a four-pound northern:

Below is a four 1/2 pound northern GD⁴ caught deep-water trolling with our neighbors, a wonderful family from Chicago. Bailey likes to set his drag light so he can say "big fish" whenever it starts spooling off. In this case the drag was so light the fish got fought out before he could get it to the boat, which actually had to go back to pick up the fish off the surface:

Louie and I were bored with northerns and really wanted to see if we could pull some bass out of the lake. After much investigation we discovered the Slop Monster Bait Co.'s green pumpkin Wacky Garlic Stick and the week got very interesting. Below is not only the biggest bass of the week (4 pounds) it was the largest either of us has ever caught. Louie - who was using a medium light rod - said she felt like the 19 inch fish was going to snap her pole:

About a half and hour later, she caught this three 1/2 pound fish:

My biggest catch of the week was this three-pounder:

We had a great time, and to celebrate I think we're going fishing later.

I'm Harry Ried and I'm a Rageaholic

2009-08-06T21:12:00.004-05:00

This just keeps getting better. It has become increasingly clear that Democrats simply have no idea how to deal with opposition:

The Senate's most powerful Democrat on Thursday scolded health care protesters dogging his party's lawmakers at local meetings, arguing that some critics on the political right have run out of ideas—and ditched their civic manners. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada accused the protesters of trying to "sabotage" the democratic process.

So, if you are taking part in the Democratic process - going to town hall meetings, legislative listening sessions, etc. - expecting to be heard, you are "sabotaging" the process. Funny, Reid wasn't much concerned about that when his party's lapdogs were throwing pies at Conservative speakers, shouting down war supporters, or stomping on little old ladies' crucifixes for supporting traditional marriage.

It is wrong now, of course, because single payer health care is good for us, whether we know it or not. So, essentially, Democracy is only a tool for those in power to be used when the masses agree. When they don't, you simply condemn the people you were sent to DC to represent and do what you want anyway.

Democrats have no idea how to lead. They have this health care system they think is going to save the country and the only talking point they can come up with is "don't listen to Republicans." If they could sell this program, they would. They can't because it sucks and everyone knows it.

They are hamstrung and sinking; which refers to the first sentence of this post.

Help Us Make People Understand

2009-08-05T21:38:00.003-05:00

The White House is asking for people to turn in their neighbors:

“There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”

I wonder if White House director of new media Macon Phillips could have chosen a better e-mail prefix than "flag."

Sen. Cornyn covers the obvious with Obama:

“I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward emails critical of his policies to the White House. I suspect that you would have been leading the charge in condemning such a program -- and I would have been at your side denouncing such heavy-handed government action.”

Now that would have been a big story; an outrage, really.

UPDATE: Iowahawk has more from the White House:

...beware: though small in number the state health reform enemy is clever, and well trained in subterfuge and disguise by his monopolist paymasters.

Plus, tips for recognizing good and evil in the world of protest.

Where Have All the Good Times Gone?

2009-08-04T22:07:00.003-05:00

Is it just me, or is the Obama administration in a flat-out free-fall?

His approval rating is in the tank, he's getting slaughtered on health care since most people actually like their insurance, Cash for Clunkers is a disaster. Meanwhile, Obama needs a do-over with Israel, his Gitmo solution lies in absolute shambles, and he drinks Bud Light. The only currently non-controversial moves seem to be his many affirmations of Bush policy.

He has become a cartoon character faster than he sheds campaign promises.

The Generic Congressional Ballot has Republicans up by five points, a lead almost equal their deficit in 2008. Then there's this:

Voters not affiliated with either party prefer Republicans two-to-one - 43% to 22%.

Deservedly to Bush or not, Obama took office with nowhere to go but up. That opportunity has slipped into disaster pretty steadily. Republicans up by five just seven months into 2009? That's an epic fail.

Something to keep in mind for the future: When the time comes the American people favor the Democratic party to lead, perhaps the time has come to let it.

"We, uh, kill the Batman"

2009-08-03T20:57:00.007-05:00

During the Bush years it was common to see him depicted as a monkey, a Nazi, or in any number of humiliating ways, so why not?

Frankly, this depiction of Obama even made me cringe. It has the added churn of being devastatingly effective. No doubt myriad leftie activists world-wide are kicking themselves today, having not been hip enough to think of this when it's power could have been used to unite the world against right-wing tyranny.

I don't think this poster is going to sit well with the left. No siree.

UPDATE: I didn't see this earlier. Here's Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson:

"Depicting the president as demonic and a socialist goes beyond political spoofery," says Hutchinson, "it is mean-spirited and dangerous."

Dangerous. Like yelling fire in a crowded theater I suppose, this poster is a public safety issue!

"We have issued a public challenge to the person or group that put up the poster to come forth and publicly tell why they have used this offensive depiction to ridicule President Obama."

Depicter, expose thyself!

Earl has forgotten that dissent is the highest form of patriotism.

UPDATE II: Private health care has Batman-like approval ratings.

UPDATE III: Sometimes you can only take so much of the Rantings of Loafer. In this case, it is the confidence with which he makes the following statement:

Face it, if this depiction was of the Pope, or of her honor (former) Gov. Palin, all hockey sticks would be flying, with hours of "coverage" on the lack of lefty ethics by the RW Media.
Hmmm - The hypocrit meter just pegged.

I offer exhibit A, virtually the same depiction of Bush, which passed without comment, as far as I know. And don't get me started on all the "assassination chic" wear from the Bush era, which also passed with little comment. I don't know about the hypocrit meter, but it seems a bit late to be crying about this kind of stuff now.

All Hail the Backup

2009-08-02T17:23:00.003-05:00

I was trying the get the mighty Johnson to cooperate this morning and not getting far. A lot of pulling on the rope, not much payoff. Covered in sweat, and heaving, I decided to give the other Johnson a try.

We had been told it was running rough and may need some work, but we dropped it in the barrel just to see. She fired on the third pull, and after a minor idle adjustment purred like a kitten for a half an hour.

Our outboard issues appear to be solved, and just in time for our coming fishing trip. I sure hope the fishing is as good as last year.

President Skunky Beer

2009-07-30T22:06:00.003-05:00

The idiotic "Beer Summit" occurred to today, and it looks like it was a major failure by all counts. Gates is still a Harvard Faculty Asshole, and Obama is still pretending it is we who need to learn a lesson about "ginning up anger." For his part, Crowley appears to be a pretty regular guy.

But, on to important things...the beer menu:

Gates brought a Red Stripe, the official beer of the Harvard Faculty Asshole. People like Gates grin and drink it because it comes from a foreign country, even as it goes down like the swill it is.

Disappointingly, Crowley brought Blue Moon, which is just another cloudy swill..with orange flavoring. If you've ever had it, you know how God awful it is. However, I will at least give him credit for grabbing something from the specialty shelf, which is more than I can say for President Focus Group.

Obama drinks...you guessed it...Bud Light. Tom D. and I concluded that the only reason the President of the F-ing United States would drink that piss water is that some plebe in the administration said it would go over well with the non-Harvard Faculty Asshole set. My own observations tell me he likely will get a poll bump with the just-turned-21-and-need-to-get-wasted-on-the-cheap bloc (pictured). It may even be the official beer of Overweight Pool Players of Wisconsin. It tastes going down about like it tastes coming up four hours later, in the parking lot on Karaoke night. Ryan82SM at ratebeer.com sums it up nicely, "The King of Peroxide flavored beers."

Obama has either no taste or he is a serious cheapskate.

All the way around, the beer menu for the so-called "Beer Summit" was a major disappointment. I can think of ten readily-available beers offhand that would have actually allowed the three to enjoy a decent beer while they posed for the photo op:

Stella Artois
Michelob Amber Bock
Bass Ale
Sam Adams
Grolsch
Rolling Rock
Leinenkugels
Heineken
Guiness
Killians

Surely I missed a few. Feel free to add more in comments.

Put This in Your Pipe...

2009-07-28T20:29:00.003-05:00

This one's for the Wyoming Mole: I might be out on a limb assuming you have yet to make its acquaintance, but given the quality of the latest offering now seems like a perfect time to introduce you to the genius of Iowahawk:

When I first learned of the arrest of my colleague Professor Henry Louis "Skip" Gates after he stood up to the fascist jackboots of a declasse, ill-educated Cambridge police officer, I was of course angered -- but scarcely shocked. L'Affaire Gates simply aired, in public, the dirty 100-thread-count table linen of an American culture where Harvard faculty assholes still face a daily struggle against profiling, abuse, and insolence.

Check it out.

And then, check out the great Seething Midwest Explodes Over Lombardi Cartoons, and one of my personal favorites, Flood Ravaged Iowans Idiotically Move On:

As an Iowan and the proud owner of two big screen LCDs from Coralville Rent-A-Center, I've seen my share of weather disasters. But, even with full 1080p HD, I never really stopped to think that it could happen to me. So when the floodwaters of the Iowa River reached my own home this week, I suppose I was unprepared for the devastation -- and the aftershock that my fellow Iowans would sabotage my once-in-a-lifetime golden ticket on the FEMA gravy train.

Good stuff at the homepage too.

Oh, My Freakin' Gawd

2009-07-27T19:37:00.002-05:00

This person shows all the qualifications to be a highly ranked Obama advisor, maybe in foreign policy:

Hail to the Rube

2009-07-24T16:05:00.006-05:00

President Obama, who just days ago publicly maligned the Cambridge Police in defense of a friend who was flinging "racist!" around like so much poo, is today doing the mother of all backpedals. But that doesn't mean he can't find the energy to condescend:

Obama said he hoped the event would end up being a "teachable moment, where all of us instead of pumping up the volume spend a little more time listening to each other" and improve race relations "instead of flinging accusations."

All of us? Thank goodness father Barack is there to protect us from the lesser angels of our nature.

Incidentally, he goes on to say that no one is talking about health care since this episode began, pretending of course that he is frustrated by that. Some Democrats though, are talking about health care:

The seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee stormed out of a Friday meeting with their committee chairman, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), saying Waxman had been negotiating in bad faith over a number of provisions Blue Dogs demanded be changed in the stalled healthcare bill.

“I’ve been lied to,” Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chairman Charlie Melancon (D-La.) said on Friday. “We have not had legitimate negotiations.

Obama might want to consider calling another citizen "stupid."

UPDATE: This statement is a beautiful Obama gem:

"In my choice of words [ A quick choice of words refresher - "The Cambridge Police, acted stupidly" - Ed.], I unfortunately gave the impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sergeant Crowley specifically."

Who would've thought everyone would have gotten such a wackie impression? Give the moron back his teleprompter! Please!

That's One Small Right Cross For Man...

2009-07-21T22:24:00.004-05:00

Unfortunately, we live in a country where paranoid crackpots can call national icons "cowards" and "liars" to their face without any basis other than their sick pathology. Fortunately, we still live in a country where an honorable man can smack the shit out of paranoid crackpots.

Alford Needs to Get in Step

2009-07-16T21:03:00.003-05:00

Watching the exchange between Sen. Boxer and Black Chamber of Commerce CEO Harry C. Alford is painful. Alford, a businessman, was testifying in opposition to the new energy bill. In response, Boxer appears to be attempting to explain to Alford that many of his race support the bill, as if that has anything to do with anything.

Boxer actually seems to be trying to demonstrate to Alford that he is not thinking like the rest of the black people. Interestingly enough, Alford does appear to be thinking like a business person.

Alford rightly hammers her for it during the hearing and said it called to mind "Mississippi in 1945" in a post-hearing interview.

For years it has been patiently explained to me by my liberal friends that minorities have absolute moral authority when it comes to recognizing racism. Therefore, if Alford believes Boxer exhibited racism in her questioning, Barbara Boxer must be a racist.

2009-07-10T23:11:00.002-05:00

It's always in the background but its one of those things you're not allowed to say: abortion rights were born in racism. Here's Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this very week:

Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion.

I know, you immediately wonder who "populations that we don’t want to have too many of" refers to. Who wouldn't? Well, apparently the NYT reporter (whose job it is to think of these things) didn't find the follow-up worth the effort, and instead immediately changed the subject:

Q: When you say that reproductive rights need to be straightened out, what do you mean?

Ginsburg just admitted publicly that she understood choice as a way to control "certain" populations. Nothing newsworthy there...apparently.

Then there's Obama's "Science Czar" John Holdren. Zombie reports on Holdren's 1977 book "Ecoscience," which includes support for the following:

• Women could be forced to abort their pregnancies, whether they wanted to or not;
• The population at large could be sterilized by infertility drugs intentionally put into the nation's drinking water or in food;
• Single mothers and teen mothers should have their babies seized from them against their will and given away to other couples to raise;
• People who "contribute to social deterioration" (i.e. undesirables) "can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility" -- in other words, be compelled to have abortions or be sterilized.
• A transnational "Planetary Regime" should assume control of the global economy and also dictate the most intimate details of Americans' lives -- using an armed international police force.

Yes, these are liberals in charge of justice and science at the highest levels of government.

"Reproductive rights," it turns out is just another sweet sounding bumper sticker slogan used to distract people from the elites actual, self-admitted goal of reigning in the populations of undesirable populations - those who contribute to social deterioration.

Could these people be any more creepy?

It's a Sickness

2009-07-05T22:01:00.003-05:00

At HuffPo, will the attacks on Sarah Palin using her children ever cease?

In Sarah Palin’s resignation announcement she complained about the treatment of her son Trig who always teaches her life lessons. She said that the “world needs more Trigs, not fewer.” That’s a presidential campaign promise we can all get behind. She will be the first politician to actually try to increase the population of retarded people.

Too bad HuffPo pulled this insidious post. The world would know the left much better if it didn't have such easy access to the "delete" key.

Read the post in its entirety here.

Over at TPM, a really classy joke:

Q: What's the difference between Sarah Palin's mouth and her vagina.
A: Only some of the things that come out of her vagina are retarded.

Of course, the world would be so much better if the right wasn't so hateful.

No Brainer

2009-07-03T09:57:00.002-05:00

We're back.

Lot's to tell but not right now. The starter cord on the Johnson is fixed, it's a beautiful day, and we're going fishing.

At right is a picture of Scroo-Loo at Fisherman's Wharf. We had seafood there at Castagnola's with my dad's brother and family; the crab and scallops were divine.

We also had dinner at Michelangelo caffe in North Beach, and steak at John's Grill in the financial district. Despite the fact that the restaurant was packed, our dinner was in front of us within ten minutes of ordering. Amazing.

By far the biggest culinary adventure though, was the $5.99 dim sum and Chinese barbeque in Chinatown. Suffice to say we spent the rest of the night waiting for the other shoe to drop.

All in all, food-wise, it was a great trip. And we actually lost a couple of pounds anyway due to all the walking.

More to come.

A Quick Update

2009-06-30T14:32:00.002-05:00

I'm sitting in Union Square on a lunch break, enjoying the lovely weather and atmoshpere of San Francisco - more on that later this week.

In the meantime, a piece of advice: If you are planning on coming here, bring extra smokes. Every time I light up I am inundated with requests for a cigarette from the - as we say at this conference - lowest rung on the socio-economic ladder.

Scroo-Loo is out, as I write, collecting subjects for a photo essay later this week. I have to go back to work.

Conferences should never be held in places like this. They should be held in places like Omaha where the distractions are less...well...distracting.

I Love a Parade

2009-06-25T13:13:00.001-05:00

Here's the first thing we will see when we arrive in San Francisco.

Lockjaw

2009-06-12T10:03:00.002-05:00

For the record, I hope Sarah Palin never removes her teeth from David Letterman's neck.

What an awful thing to say, one of those things it is only okay to say about conservative women and their families. Once again, "feminists" have proven to be a bunch of frauds who could care less if women are exploited, insulted, and degraded, as long as those women aren't feminists.

If the pervert David Letterman said that about my daughter I would kick his ass. He is an un-funny, tiny-minded troll who has long outlasted his entertainment value.

Give it up David. You suck. You're an embarrassment.

Graduation: The Photo

2009-06-05T16:48:00.006-05:00

As promised, a photo from the GD² graduation ceremony. That's GD² holding all of her educational booty, which was plentiful - highest honors and all that.

Speaking of booty, GD² is posing with the super-fine Scroo-Loo.

A grandchild, ridiculously smart kids, and gorgeous trophy wife. I'm the luckiest guy you know.

Probably Good Advice

2009-06-03T20:10:00.004-05:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks, what with the graduation and subsequent party planning, two soccer teams going strong now, and assorted work related business. Fishing is essentially off the radar, not just because of other priorities, but also due to a broken starter cord on the vaunted Johnson (yes, it happened on the lake, but at least it was at the launch).

Pics to come soon from GD²'s graduation day - in this house we still do film for the important things, which must then be developed, time providing.

A footnote from the ceremony: the teacher-speaker, although giving the usual "go to college/be good to your kids/seize the day" speech, focused especially on encouraging graduates to learn to use their hands. I can only assume he meant that, in these tough economic times when the government is taking everybody's money, those "handyman" skills might be their only chance to work off the books.

2009 Bass Opener

2009-05-23T21:52:00.005-05:00

We took our inaugural fishing trip as boat owners today (all these years it turns out my fear of backing up trailers was completely irrational).

Forgive the cell photo in bad light, squished to within an inch of its life to pull out the image, but there you go...the first picture worthy bass from our very own fishing platform - A 14ft Lund with a 9.5 horse vintage Johnson on the back. The fish weighed in at a tad over two pounds. Not a trophy exactly, but not too shabby either.

GD⁴ saw a fish jump, Louie's cue to pull out the hulapopper. A few casts later she saw a ripple, dropped the hula right on it, gave it one pop and pow! She was using an ultralight rig, the "Lady Angler" to be specific, with four pound test.

We had a beautiful day for the bass opener and after a false start on South Center Lake - you can't believe how choked with weeds it is - we went to another nearby lake (which shall remain nameless) where the photo was taken.

No. Don't even ask. You can't have it.

Anyway...caught a few bass, a small northern, and so many crappies I lost count early on. They were hitting on...well...everything.

Not a bad way to start the summer - our first with a boat.