it comes in pints?

The year in review

Nah, not me. It's Tony Hicks in our local deadtree. Here are some choice highlights, but read the whole thing:

[Britney] shaved her head, got tattoos, went to rehab, left rehab, went back to rehab, left again, then went back. Again. Despite that, she couldn't, or wouldn't, stop partying and driving badly, to the point where a judge gave custody of her two sons to her Ward Cleaver-like ex-husband, Kevin Federline... her children [are] safely ensconced with history's worst rapper. But, as she said when firing her manager for making her go to rehab, she, like, totally doesn't have a problem.

[...]

[Paris] was sentenced to 45 days for reckless driving, got it reduced to 23 because she's rich and bought a Bible. She then pretended she was mentally ill, got sent home, had to go back, cried for her mother, finished her sentence and went on "Larry King Live" to tell the world she was a new, less-shallow Paris Hilton. We have yet to see any difference.

[...]

Somehow, 2007 was the year when female celebrities waited until their water broke before admitting they were pregnant.

[...]

Speaking of babies, we also discovered that Larry Birkhead was the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby, which was a crushing disappointment to anyone who had the dead guy, Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband or O.J. Simpson in the office pool.

[...]

Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump's early 2007 "feud" was about as meaningful as two 12-year-olds slap-fighting after school. Apparently, each thinks the other is ugly or something.

[...]

Despite all the craziness of 2007, there were actually a few high points. ... Madonna didn't make a movie in 2007.

The Friday Fuck Off Thread

I don't have time for the year end run-down. I'll have to do that next week. I got nothing. I'm still hungover from the last holiday and am now trying to get ready for the next. Go ahead and drop a Fuck Off or two of your own, though.

Happy Fucking New Year.

Quote of the Day

Regarding this fervent prayer that "future refugee troglodytes" be disenfranchised by their liberal betters:

Be Careful What You Wish For, Unarmed Pussies

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

Have a wonderful, happy, and safe holiday all of you!

Country/Western Music Trivia (What's My Line? Edition)

[UPDATE: Some answers added, three still unguessed. Also, for those of you interested, I've bumped the Dan Fogelberg quiz because the lovely Linda added some questions and I don't got 'em. Have at it, kids!]

Okay, so I'm kinda lame. I had a "What's My Name" Edition last week and it took me days, days I tell you, to come up with the obvious pop culture reference. Everybody, I'm sure, remembers the old game show "What's My Line?" If you don't, then I shall, um, jeez I know there was something I wanted to do to those children in the audience but I can't remember what...

Hmm. Oh well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Shut up children, someday you'll be senile like me. If you don't piss me off first.

Where was I? Oh yeah. Back in dubya dubya one... wait, that's not right. Back in the sixties and seventies (possibly the fifties too, I was kinda young then – shut up, I WAS young then) there was a rather fun game show in which a panel of celebrities would try to guess the occupation of the guest. I seemed to remember Kitty Carlisle being one of the regulars but the online info says no (must be "To Tell the Truth" I'm thinking of). Anyway, as an aside, I didn't remember that she was married to Moss Hart, though the Sainted Bride swears she told me that when Kitty died some months back at the age of 96.

Where was I? Shut up, not-yet-senile-kids.

Where was I? Oh yeah, "What's My Line?" It was kind of a fun game show. My Mom, living out in the boonies at the ranch, had a satellite dish and when we visited my girls got a kick out of watching the "Game Show Network", which, in addition to retarded new game shows, had reruns of the classics, including "What's My Line?".

Oh, yeah. Good times, good times.

Where was I? Oh yeah, "What's My Line?" Anyway, some days after my quiz last week, it occurred to me that a "What's My Line?" edition would be kind of fun. So I thought I would do it. Despite the fact that some of you CHILDREN out there might not get the pop culture reference. Children. You should be swatted with a hickory switch. I think. Can't remember.

Where was I? Oh yeah, beating children with a hickory switch.

No, that's not quite right. Oh yeah, "What's My Line?" Here are a regular dozen (not a baker's dozen, nor an accountant's dozen - c'mon, Maggie, you know I was just funnin' with you; please don't hurt me) C/W questions about jobs (and if the specific job is actually mentioned in the song, please be just as specific):

1) I have a mind that's weak and a back that's strong. What's my line? [Mike: Coal miner]

2) I have no hat upon my head and no shoes upon my feet. What's my line? [Joel: Newsboy]

3) I got my orders in Monroe, Virginia. What's my line? [Angie: Railroad engineer]

4) I left Seattle in the year of '92. What's my line? [Mike: Gold miner]

5) I came to take an outlaw back alive, or maybe dead. What's my line? [Mike: Arizona Ranger]

6) I'm from down old Tennessee way and I say "Good morning, Captain." What's my line? [Mike: Mule skinner]

7) I'm taking little white pills, and if you think I'm happy you're right. What's my line? [Mike: Truck driver]

8) One hand hold is all I got to pit myself against the clock. What's my line?

9) I ain't big, just tall. What's my line? [Joel: Big boss man]

10) I'm cautioned as a mountain cat and fleet as a deer as I travel over the high Sierras. What's my line?

11) I was hangin' 'round town, just spendin' my time out of a job, not earnin' a dime. A feller steps up and guesses my profession from looks of my clothes. What's my line? [Mike: Bronc fighter]

12) Portland Maine is just the same as sunny Tennessee and any old place I hang my hat is home sweet home to me. What's my line?

Rock 'n' Roll Trivia (Dan Fogelberg Edition)

[UPDATE: The lovely Linda nails the entire quiz. Major kudos and props, dear! And since I can't answer any of hers, I've added them to the end of the quiz to see if anyone else can.]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Kind of early for the weekend, and kind of treacly, but so what? I still like a lot of his stuff. And as the first (unnumbered) question of today's edition for you Y-chromosome-afflicted guys out there, which has already been asked of me by the Sainted Bride and by my buddy Julie: Have you had your PSA checked recently? Seriously, DO IT already. I'm serious. Especially for you guys over forty (I'm looking at you Bingley).

Okay, morbidity aside, here are some relatively simple questions. In fact, it's an accountant's dozen of them. Because we all know those silly bastards can't frickin' count. Bakers toss in one just to be nice, but accountants are just mathematician-wannabes who couldn't hack it. Don't give me no crap about it, you know it's true.

Anyways, here goes:

1) Four parter: What runs through my instrument? What's in my soul? What has my life been? And what am I? [Julie and Linda: (a) his blood runs through my instrument; (b) his song is in my soul; (c) my life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man; (d) I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band]

2) We went to have ourselves a drink or two but couldn't find an open bar. So what did we do? [Nightfly and Linda: We bought a six-pack at the liquor store and drank it in her car]

3) Deeper than any forest primeval, what? [Nightfly and Linda: I am in love with you]

4) Lucky at love (maybe) but every time you think you've got it straight, what happens? [Nightfly and Linda: You fall]

5) Now that the lonely nights are over, how do we do this? [Nightfly and Linda: How do we make love stay]

6) Hard days I'm traveling alone for too long. What am I doing? [Linda: I'm missing you]

7) Despite the doubts you harbor, you might do what? [Linda: Believe in me]

8) She's got a way of getting so inside you that you think she's gonna steal your soul. But what doesn't she do? [Linda: She don't look back]

9) The only girl I've ever loved has gone away. What doesn't that heartless bitch realize? [Linda: That along with her she took my heart]

10) Love when you can, cry when you have to. Why? [Dave and Linda: Because that's part of the plan]

11) My lady sent down a poem, written on the back of a leaf. Strange chick. Where did she find that leaf? [Linda: Monterey]

12) South California, your sun is too cold, and it looks like your hills have been raped of their gold. So where am I going? [Dave and Linda: Illinois]

13) What fall every time a lover has to face the truth? [Julie and Linda: Stars]

14) Follow the dreamer, the fool, and the sage. To where? [Linda: Back to the innocent age]

15) Let's talk tears for a minute. In Dan's case, they start to rise, they form in his heart, then they fall from where?

16) The letters and calls got you climbing the walls, and everyone wants this.

17) In one of his songs, Dan writes "praying the wind doesn't blow too hard" because he was living in one of these...

18) He's on the run, from something he's begun, be he can't seem to do what?

19) Don't forget what your failures have taught you or else what?

20) She drew a bath and then what happened?

21) Same song as #6, the spell is broken and what falls free?

Cool

My cousin is now a grandma.

The Friday Fuck Off Thread

Fox Sports can fuck off. When I tune in to a baseball or football game, it's because, amazingly enough, I want to see fucking baseball or football, not ten minute shots of the C-list slutlet the quarterback is currently fucking or happy images of a pitcher's mom watching a game I want to see myself. I don't mind the novelty crowd shots during breaks, but Fox routinely pulls this shit while balls are in the air and penalties are being called and it fucking sucks.

And ordinarily, I get really pissed of when a wife or girlfriend is blamed for the blunders or unpopular decisions of players, managers, and owners, but in this case, Jessica Simpson can fuck off for eating that shit up. Grow a brain and an ounce of modesty, you airheaded attention whore.

WTF?

Forget it, Jake Brian. It's Chinatown Seattle.

Yet more proof...

...that "UN" stands for Underage Nookie.

Denial is not an option

This is good. As Mark Steyn said, it's the best column yet on the "honor" murder of Aqsa Parvez.

Found at my brand new blogroll entrant Bloodthirsty Liberal. Just found his blog last night, and it's a gem. I also learned that these folks have made some buttons to post in support of Steyn's piece in Maclean's magazine. Here's one:

There are a couple of animated ones too.

Just checking

Yep. Still Number One.

It is a good day.

The Decline and Fall of the British Empire

continues apace. It seems that a certain name has, counting its various potential spellings, become the second most popular name in Great Britain.

Being an enlightened, multiculti, forward-thinking sort, I feel I must help this evolutionary process along so here is yet one more potential spelling to help raise the score:

BAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (updated:

From my buddy Julie comes this little bit of news:

Lynne Spears' book delayed indefinitely

NEW YORK - Lynne Spears' book about parenting has been delayed indefinitely, her publisher said Wednesday.

Lindsey Nobles, a spokeswoman for Christian book publisher Thomas Nelson Inc., said Wednesday that the memoir by the mother of Britney Spears was put on hold last week. She declined to comment on whether the delay was connected to the revelation that Spears' 16-year-old daughter, Jamie Lynn, is pregnant.

UPDATE: Maggie just hit a homerun in the comments.

Heh

Heh, indeed.

Well rats

This sounded really cool until I realized where the link went.

"Republican Presidential candidate Fred Thompson today, upon hearing that rival Ron Paul’s supporters had raised $6 million in 24 hours to commemorate the Boston Tea Party, called on his supporters to match that figure in gun purchases before Christmas to mark George Washington’s victory at the Battle of Trenton."

Jeebus

I just threw up a little. Thanks one friggin' hell of a lot Andrea. Warn a person next time.

In memoriam

Earlier today, my buddy Julie passed along the news that Dan Fogelberg died yesterday. I enjoyed his music a lot and while "Rock 'n' Roll" is probably not a really accurate description of it, expect a R'n'RTrivia quiz for him this coming weekend. Or possibly earlier.

UPDATE and ADDENDUM: If anyone has a particular lyric or song you'd like to see a question about in the quiz, shoot me an email to make sure it gets included. I'll trust you not to answer your own.

Country/Western Music Trivia (What's My Name Edition)

Well rats. I was hoping to come up with a few more but I can only think of these questions about lyrics which say "my name is...". If anyone thinks of any other good questions, drop them in the comments.

Otherwise, just drop your answers to these:

1) I'm not Lisa. What's my name? [Whoa. Both Lisa and Julie hate this song]

2) I'm looking for a lover, looking for some fun, and I'm a son of a gun. What's my name? [Answer: My name is Bocephus]]

3) I looked at him and my blood ran cold. What's my name? [ktel: My name is Sue]

4) I sell the morning paper, sir. What's my name? [Joel: My name is Jimmy Brown]

For Emily

My lovely Blogmama. I know she will appreciate it.

And of course God appreciates my plugged-in tribute to The Savior:

UPDATE: Okay, I had to add this. Can't find a link for the intro so I'm going to reproduce it verbatim from Bob Rivers's [genuflect] website:

Daughter: Daddy Daddy Daddy
Daddy: What is it, Honey?
Daughter: Can I put the star on the Christmas tree?
Daddy: No, honey, this year we’re gonna put an angel on top of the tree, because an angel reminds us of the baby Jesus and why we celebrate Christmas.
Daughter: Oh, okay
Daddy: Okay, now let’s make sure this is steady
Daughter: Can I climb the ladder please?
Daddy: No, no, Honey, let Daddy climb the ladder.
Daughter: I want to climb the ladder.
Daddy: I’ll do it Honey, I’ll do it.
Daughter: That’s sure a beautiful angel!
Daddy: Okay now, just a little.
Angel: Aaaaaaghhhh!!!!
Daddy: How’s that, is that good?
Daughter: It’s crooked!
Daddy: Well I can fix that, lemme
Angel: Agh ow ow agh ow
Daddy: Now, how about now? How’s it now?
Daughter: It leans to the right
Angel: Oh ow ooh that smarts oh that hurts ooh
Daddy: How about now, is it still leanin?
Daughter: Now it leans to the left.
Daddy: What?
Angel: Gentle, gentle, gentle
Daddy: Hmmm
Angel: Aghhhh
Daddy: Mmmkay… how about now, is that good?
Daughter: Can you push it any further down?
Angel: Oh No, no Aghhhhh!!!!
Daughter: That’s beautiful
Angel: Oh yeah, right. Not from where I’m sittin’…Oh owwwww!

And with that, here is the vid:

MORE UPDATE: Okay, had to add this one too:

Oh dear

This is bad. Via McGehee.

I've read his comments in several places, not least on his own blog. Thoughts and prayers, man.

UPDATE: He's passed.

To help a fellow human

You can, you know.

There is a very lovely youngest child in desperate need of a little sister.

There is a very lovely young bride (with surprisingly odd taste in men) aching for another child.

There are two wild and wooly young men requiring more feminine influence in their lives to civilize them.

There is a crotchety old fart with strange and forbidden fascinations in desperate need of something to channel his proclivities in more positive directions.

And there is a beautiful child in an orphanage, looking for a new family.

You can help these people by clicking here to donate what you can to bring this family together. I dare you to resist this beautiful child in need:

For Ricki, Emily, Kate, and Julie

Okay, and JeffS too.

Just because.

UPDATE: Can't find a video online but there's actually a lead-in to the above called "The Twisted Chipmunk Song". You can hear a snippet here (scroll down). The lyrics go something like this:

"All right you chipmunks, ready to sing your new song?"
"I'll say we are. Let's get this over with.'
"Okay Squeaky?"
"Okay."
"Okay Thagadore?"
"Okay."
"Okay Melvin? Melvin?MEEEELLLLVVVVIIIIINNNNN!!!!!! "
"Relax old man. Jesus!"

Christmas chipmunks sing each year
Squeaky rodents hurt your ears
We'll sing bad till Christmas past
Hurry Christmas pass real fast
We're a pain to listen to
Been around since '62
You could hardly stand us then
Now here we come again

"Ah boys excuse me...Hold it, look you guys"

You can hardly stand to hear
Three weasels every year

"All right, you know that's not how it goes boys."
"Ah, that's how it goes now, pops"
"Lets cool it with the ad-libbing and give it one more try."
"I'm sorry, who's the artist here?"
"You know you guys could all be used in shampoo testing."
"What would you know about shampoo?
"Nice rug."
"Oh yeah, that looks real."
"I tell you Melvin, I got a friend in the research lab that would pay top dollar for a gerbil like you."
"Could he get me some Viagra?"
"You want an ear growing out of your back pal?"
"You wouldn't dare"
"Let's shake and bake man"
"You want me to let the cat in here? I'll do it. I've been wanting to do it for years"
"That's impressive"
"That goes for all of ya! That's it, I'm going to fire up the barbeque"
"Oooooh"
"Ariva derci Melvin. You little jerk"

The Friday Fuck Off Thread

People who seem to think they are the only ones who need to buy presents for loved ones this time of year can fuck off. They're called lines and are pretty much an indication of social evolution and progress. First come, first served. Get it? I'm getting just a little sick of all of the idiots who seem to think that it should be important to me that THEY are busy. Guess what, you self-obsessed ass ferret --- So am I, and it's likely that everyone else around you is as well. Pushing, cutting, and acting like a rude asshole to everyone around you that you've somehow imagined to be inferior to yourself isn't really in the spirit of the holiday, is it?

Merry Friggin' Christmas, Mr. Rude Shopper Man. You'll enjoy it a lot more if you pull your head out of your ass. Trust me. You can hear the lovely carols much better.

A victim of the bunko squad

As you regulars know, I do loves me Guinness as does the Lady Emily, but in truth I am a full-time devotee of Gods' Own Brew. Occasionally, though, something a little different makes a nice change. The past week or so, I've mixed in a few of these, bought on a lark on the last trip to Costco. It's good, a little different from their regular ("God's Own") brew.

Tonight, it's a bit of a change of pace. Story below the fold:

The Sainted Bride is a member of two Bunko groups. Unlike Mr. Lileks, I have seen the Bunko (or Bunco, depending on exact geographic location) rituals, at least those the wimmenfolk deign to allow us mere mortals to see. One of these groups to which the SB is affixed allows their menfolk ("chauvinist pigs") to attend once per annum. At these annual rituals, the menfolk trade beers.

This particular group met last week, and I dutifully purchased a beer to trade. I chose one I hadn't seen before but which is put out by the same company that manufactures this potent potable. Some of my blog friends are acquainted with this particularly virulent brew.

The one I actually chose is this one. And by an odd set of circumstances (i.e., luck of the draw) that's the one I ended up with on that night. And tonight I opened it.

Do I face ruin? I don't know yet, haven't finished it yet. I'll let you know in the morning.

If there is one...

Out. Stand. Ing.

Oh, this is EXCELLENT! Bravissima, Maggie!

Now I feel the need to do something* like that. Anybody else want to do one too?

*As many of you have already realized, most of my best ideas are stolen from other people. [sigh] Someday I'll have an original thought...

Your morning chuckle Leave Britney Alone!!!!!!

And a heapin' helpin' of cruel mockery.

The audio from this was played on the radio this morning, with accompanying commentary by the local RWDB morning people. which is still going on periodically several minutes later.

Watch it, or at least as much as your stomach can take.

Then watch at least a few seconds of this one. [Aaaaaalllllvvvvviiiiinnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!]

Then watch this one. Heh.

Tarring and feathering is a lost art

Exhibit A. Via Andrea.

UPDATE: A reference, for those of you who didn't know.

Some days...

...it's just not worth gnawing through the leather straps.

Had to do this

I actually thought of this last night. Tonight, couple of beers in after a hard day's night slog in the salt mines I decided to go ahead and do it.

I told you before that I do enjoy Country Gospel, even as a decidedly non-religious sort. Even if I don't share the religious ideas often expressed, I like the sentimental feelings and the hope that comes through many of the lyrics. And some of the songs rock, so to speak.

STRANGE INTERLUDE: Just as a small aside, I liked an idea expressed by Stephen King in The Stand, in which an atheist is hesitant to express his beliefs to an old, very religious woman: He says "I don't believe in God." She laughs at him and says "That's okay, He believes in you." Hey, I figure if it turns out there is a God, he's probably a cool dude like that and will smile benignly as He fries my ass for eternity in fire and brimstone.

Anyway, the last question in that last quiz was about a really pretty song that expresses some of these feelings well. As best as my meager memory serves, this is how it goes:

I saw a weary pilgrim in tattered garments clad
He was struggling up a mountain, it seemed that he was sad
His back was heavy laden, his strength was almost gone
But he shouted as he journeyed, "Deliverance* will come"

And Palms of Victory, Crowns of Glory,
Palms of Victory I shall wear

*No Ned Beatty jokes please; there are children present.

Random "WKRP in Cincinnati" quote strangely applicable to stories ripped from today's headlines

"I know what's going on here. You had an orgy. And I wasn't invited!"

(Link stolen from Instapundit)

Tell Laura I love her

Because she provided the link to this video. This is great. Thanks Laura.

"Back on those cold Indiana mornings, I would get up at 5:30 and go milk the cows."

"Why? Did you not know that you could get it for like $1.39 a carton?"

- snort -

PFLM (updated twice)

That's my vote. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Mark-e-Steyn. But I am certainly happy to use any of those offered if it helps this outrageous abuse of libel laws to "fail miserably and with embarrassment".

If it doesn't fail miserably and with embarrassment, I shall blame Canada.

[UPDATE: Oh for chrissake. Quoting a dumbass imam now counts as racist. Via Andrea]

[ANOTHER UPDATE: "Jim, you ignorant slut" - BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

Country/Western Music Trivia (Country Gospel Edition)

[UPDATE: Well, looks like all has weighed in that's gonna, so the last of the answers are posted]

Well this is one for our religious readers. You know who you are.

So do we.

You all know, of course, that I am a devout agnostic, and if you religious folks turn out to be right, I'm totally screwed for eternity. OTOH, I did live through the disco era (thanks for the reminder, Alan; now remind me to whap you upside the head as revenge sometime) so how bad could eternal damnation be? That which does not kill me only serves to make me wish it had.

Or something like that.

Where was I? Oh yeah. Country gospel. I may not be religious but I still enjoy a lot of country gospel. Much of it was borrowed from the old mountain gospel of the 19th century, much was borrowed from the black gospel of the 19th century, some was borrowed from the very old hymns of the various denominations, some is even newly written material, but it's still a great listen.

Maybe I don't take it quite as much to heart as some others but I still like the sound and much of the sentiment, so here's a few (baker's dozen, go figure) examples of the genre in no particular order other than putting the ones I consider tougher toward the end:

1) I looked across Jordan, and what did I see? [Dr. Weevil: A band of angels, comin' after me, comin' for to carry me home]

2) I'm so happy and there's no sorrow in sight. Why not? [Dr. Weevil: Because I saw the light]

3) When troubles surround us and evils come, what does He do? [Answer: He sends down his love on the wings of a dove (a snow-white dove, to be specific)]

4) We were just poor people trying to make a living out of black land dirt. One of these days, what will I do? [Wolfwalker got the right song so I'm throwing him a mulligan; the exact lyric is I'm going to join the family circle at the throne]

5) I went back home but my home was lonesome, and all of my brothers and sisters were crying. What is waiting and where? [Answer: There's a better home awaiting in the sky, Lord, in the sky - and there's a reason this question followed hard on the heels of #4]

6) There'll be no sadness, no sorrow, and no trouble I see. What else will there be? [Laura's Mom: There'll be Peace in the Valley]

7) If there's room for many more, what should the little children do? [Answer: They should "get on board"]

8) If you want to hear the songs of zion and get in touch with God, what should you do? [Laura: Turn your radio on]

9) When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more, where will I be and why? [Laura: I'll be up yonder waiting for the roll to be called]

10) Where shall we meet on that beautiful shore? [Laura: In the sweet by and by (and yes, I think she's right that it's "when", not "where")]

11) When the lights grow dim and the shadows creep and your loved ones are gathered to weep, what will you meet? [Dr. Weevil: The Angel of Death]

12) All the other birds are flocking 'round her and she is despised by the squad. She is spreading her wings for a journey and she will rise and be gone in a moment. What is she and what does she represent? [Dr. Weevil: She's the Great Speckled Bird, representing the Church of God]

13) I saw a weary pilgrim, in tattered garments clad. He was struggling up a mountain, his back was heavy laden and his strength was almost gone. What did he look to find at the end of his journey? [Answer: Not surprised no one got this, I think it's fairly obscure but it's a very pretty song. At the end of his journey he looked to find Palms of Victory and Crowns of Glory]

I don't normally usually do this

I don't normally like to post above a FFOT till the next day, but for some odd reason I just couldn't pass this up.

The Friday Fuck Off Thread

Well, I'm turning 35 tomorrow. I don't really have any issue with it, because I've still got my health, my energy, and my happiness. But anybody who thinks a woman has outgrown any usefullness after a certain age can fuck off.

And if Tim Burton wound up giving Sweeney Todd daddy issues, he can fuck off, but not before I kick his ass.

Take it away and have a great weekend.

And in the category of...

...headlines I never expected to read comes this one from Jeff Soyer.

Eco-friendly kangaroo farts could help global warming: scientists

Kangaroo: It's What's for Dinner

"a date which will live in infamy"

One of the most stirring speeches in American History. Read and listen to the whole thing.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory... With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph

Speechless

This has to be the most appalling quote I've read all year.

I don't think anything less of him because I know that Robbie would have never have done anything like this just for the fun of it, it was he wanted to go out in style and that's what he did...he went out in style.

Oh shut up

I heard a little bit of this on the way home from work and it pissed me off all over again. I thought about fisking it but piss on it. Not worth the effort. I'm just sick of politicians pandering to the irresponsible.

Best Bumper Sticker EVAH

Post title, post body, hell, basically the entire post stolen lock, stock, and barrel from Caltechgirl.

"Hey Dumbass-- It's not the guns. It's a lack of parenting"

seen on the back of a big pickup being driven by an off-duty cop rocking a great big 'stache.

Their timing leaves something to be desired

A federal appellate court has chosen a rather poor time to weigh in on this question (emphasis added).

Court stricter on fire control
Environmental OK needed to clear brush near urban areas.

By Denny Walsh

In a decision that affects all national forests, a federal appellate court ruled Wednesday that the U.S. Forest Service cannot cut brush and use controlled burns to reduce the risk of wildfires in and near urban areas unless it first performs a detailed assessment of the environmental impact.

The ruling, which reversed a 2005 decision by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. of Sacramento, comes after a devastating fire season that included the destruction of more than 250 homes in the South Lake Tahoe area and a series of Southern California firestorms that displaced hundreds of thousands of residents.

Environmentalists hailed the ruling, saying it halts part of the Bush administration's "Healthy Forests" initiative and what they see as unchecked logging in national forests.

But even one of the federal judges who concurred with the ruling questioned whether the net result would be years of delay before real efforts can be made to protect residents near national forests from wildland fires.

The decision requires Burrell to issue an injunction against the Forest Service that will apply to all 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands halting much of the efforts to use controlled burns and brush clearing to prevent future wildfires.

End of the Year Administrative Post

At the end of last December, I devoted the final FFOT of 2006 to the best Eff Offs of the year. I want to do that again, but I want us all to pick the best, instead of just me. Not just because I'm lazy. Well, I am, but seeing as how it's always been a sort of community venture, I think it's more fun if everybody that enjoys it has a say or two in the thing.

So, when you've got some extra time, spend a little bit of it here if you like and e-mail me your favorite FOs of 2007 to secondbreakfast3 - at - yahoo - dot - com.

UPDATE: All of the FFOT posts from 2007 have now been collected in a nice convenient location called, oddly enough, The FFOT 2007 - Ken

I'm crying here

I haven't paid really close attention to the sub-prime mortgage issue. Buyers got in over their heads, lenders made risky loans. Old story. It's hard to work up too much sympathy when people have to deal with the consequences of their own choices, but I can work up some for those who are just trying to buy their first house but whose finances took a turn for the worse. I remember how it was, and the market is a lot harder to break into now.

But this pisses me off.

In Granada Hills, Calif., Natalie Brandon is fighting to keep the three-bedroom ranch house she bought in 1985 for $105,000. Mrs. Brandon, 51, does medical billing for doctors; her husband is a dispatcher for a local gas utility. Last year, she got a $625,500 mortgage from Argent, now owned by Citigroup. Her 7.99% interest rate isn't set to rise until next June, but she already is behind on payments.

Over the past five years, she has refinanced her home five times, each time taking out cash and paying prepayment penalties. Last year, all she had to do to refinance was state that she and her husband earned a combined $100,000. She says she used the proceeds to pay off $30,000 owed on her white Lexus.

And owns a frickin' Lexus.

On which she still owed far more than I paid for my car.

Not only have I no sympathy, I'm edging toward actual malice. If I were a Citigroup investor, I'd be fighting the urge to slap her.

This had no title

[UPDATE: So in the cold, hard light of morning I see that I completely forgot to go back and put a title on this]

Not sure how this came up this evening, but what the hell.

For the tune associated with these juvenile lyrics below, identify:

1) the title of the tune

2) the movie it is associated with [Joel gets two, though technically he got the title of one wrong but I'm not one to pick nits]

3) any other strange trivia about it (open ended question)

Comet, it makes your teeth turn green
Comet, it tastes like gasoline
Comet, it makes you vomit
So get some Comet and vomit today.

Singin' the praises

I've sung the praises of various folks before. Today it's for one of my favorite character actors. This is motivated by Joel's post on the passing of one of the oddest ducks in contemporary Americana, Evel Knievel.

Joel posted an update with a clip from a movie about the man, and one of the first things that jumped out at me while glancing through the clip was this guy. I've seen him in tons of stuff and always got a kick out of him. Even if, as is entirely likely, you don't know the name, you gotta know the face.

He's on the far right in this picture, next to Roy Clark. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dub Taylor.

Rock 'n' Roll Trivia (Grateful Dead edition)

Well, yeah, I've covered a little of these guys before. I do like their stuff (at least partly a function of having gone to school at UCSC), and I asked questions before about their country/western stuff before so now it's the rock 'n' roll stuff. Because I took a CD of their stuff on my weekly bike ride.

After I got back, I composed 11 questions. And there is a theme, so question 12 is, what's the theme? [Joel: The theme is this album]

Strange Interlude: It's highly likely I will do a David Gates edition because he popped into my mind while on my ride with the GD CD. Question 13 is: Why? That makes it my standard baker's dozen of questions. [Being a bad person, I'm going to leave this one unanswered for now]

Don't ask my why I like to do a baker's dozen. I just happen to like that expression. I have no idea why. I just do. And with that, on to the questions:

1) See that girl. What is she doing while whistling and singing? [KG: She's barefootin' along and carryin' on]

2) I'm staring out of a hotel window. What's just about to happen? [Dr. Weevil: The cops are going to kick the door in]

3) She wore boots of leather and a breath of cologne. Where did she sit? [I'm going to give Joel a mulligan on this one for being so close; she sat by a mirror which was a window for her]

4) Who can jump like a Willys in four-wheel drive? [Dr. Weevil: Sugar Magnolia]

5) Who goes in and out of a garden? [Joel: St. Stephen]

6) If their walls are built of cannonballs, what should you hear? [Nightfly: Uncle John's Band]

7) What time does this old engine leave Central Station? [Dr. Weevil: Quarter to nine]

8) If black-eyed girls giggle when I smile, where am I? [KG: Mexicali]

9) Without a warning, what did you do? [Joel: Broke my heart]

10) On what night do you crank up that old Victrola and put on rockin' shoes? [Joel: Saturday night]

11) What trailed me from Reno? [Dr. Weevil: Twenty hounds]