Happy New Year

Best wishes for a safe and happy New Year.

If you drink, don't drive.

I will see you on the other side of the calendar.

Friday Five. Holiday Week/Thursday edition

I know, I am excited too.

It is trivia time! Answer these trivia questions in the comments. No fair using search engines or encyclopedias, research materials etc. You on your best Boy Scout and Girl Scout honor here, no cheating.

1. In what movie did the characters of Ma and Pa Kettle make their debut?

2. In the TV Show M*A*S*H, what is Frank Burns home town?

3. In what was the city the TV series One Day at A Time set?

4. Cheers bartender Woody Boyd came from what town?

5. Where was Steve McQueen born?

bonus: what is the common theme to each answer?

Have fun. No cheating.

Bad hair day

I received the worst haircut of my life yesterday.  That is saying something since my Mom used to cut my hair.

About once a month, or maybe six weeks, Mom would put a stool in the middle of the kitchen, drape a sheet around our shoulders and clip away. That all stopped after she bought some torture device combination razor/comb. The thing was supposed to make a home hair cut as easy as running a comb through your locks. It cut your hair in nice layers as you combed it. Otter and I took our turns. The thing did not cut, it pulled the hair. Mom and Dad thought we were just big babies as we cried at every tug and pull. Mom thought the thing worked great.  Dad thought he had raised a couple of pussies -- crying over a haircut. Things changed when it was Dad's turn on the stool. He cursed my Mom and the evil razor comb. Not long after that the Parents decided we were old enough to get our hair cut at a real barbershop.

Fast forward to yesterday. The haircut did not hurt, but it was still a hack job. I have long let the stylist at the discount place use clippers on the side and back.  They then go to work on the top with scissors and comb.  This girl used clippers on the whole thing, going in every direction possible. She did not cut the front to accommodate a part, she did not layer the hair to lay down on the top. She just clipped away. I have parted my hair for at least 40 years (I do not remember ever having a different hairstyle, it was just much longer in the 1970s). Now I guess I just comb it straight, at least until it grows out a little.

My ever-present optimistic side says it is time to try something new. My realistic side says I got a shitty haircut.

Books, books, books

The lovely and talented Jean asked what books I have downloaded so far. I purchased Bernard Cornwell's newest The Fort. If you dig historical fiction there is no one better writing that genre today. I also copped a copy of the Autobiography of US Grant, The Red Badge of Courage, The Count of Monte Cristo, Tarzan, and some Zane Grey among others. I have plenty to occupy me while on my travels.

I used to own  copy of Grant's memoirs.  It is one of the best autobiographies ever penned. Grant wrote it in the last months of his life, in a mountain top cabin. Though he was dying of throat cancer, he doggedly stuck to the project, living on the advance, so his family would have something to live on after he died. This hefty tome was part of my collection that was destroyed by termites at my Mother-in-law's house. 

I had taken a job in a different city and when it came time to go, we still had not found a house to live in. We rented a small apartment and took what furnishings and such we needed to live, and boxed the balance and stored it at my MIL's. Clearly hundreds of books were not necessary. I lost probably 40 or fifty books on the Civil War, including Grant and Sherman's memoirs.  Gone was my rare copy of The Rock of Chicamauga. I lost my collection of books on the Zulu Wars (except The Washing of the Spears, which I had loaned to someone). I lost some college textbooks and both my wife's and my High School yearbooks. Box after box of novels, textbooks and history books were chewed.  They all had to go. Such is life. I hope the bugs that got to them enjoyed my Tacitus, my Livy, and my Herodotus as much as I did.

I still have far too many books. They are stacked in shelves, in boxes, in storage containers. I have weeded through them and sold or donated hundreds. I have spent far too much of my hard earned treasure on books. My wife has been accommodating, and in recent years I have backed off somewhat from my reading. Some of my favorite authors have had the bad grace to die, or write too damn slow. My vision is not what it used to be, nor is my attention span such that I can read for six, eight or ten hours at a time. My new toy may very well reverse that trend.

What are you reading?

If it is Monday I think it is a vacation day

Good morning readers.  Did you catch Manning doing his Michael Vick impersonation at the end of the Colts-Raiders game? I do not think his plaque at Canton will compare him to the Galloping Ghost.

I am up and at 'em early this morning.  No matter, I can catch a nap after while. It is OK, as the post title indicates I am on vacation this week.  I entered December with five days left and our company has a "use them or lose them" policy. So here I am screwing around on the Internet.

I got 20 free eBooks loaded yesterday.  I also bought a book I was wanting.  I have plenty of reading to hold me through the cold winter.

I hope you guys out east are stocked up on bread, milk and eggs. Everyone knows there is an endless need to make French Toast when there is a big snow storm.  That must be true.  The stores are always emptied of those items whenever the Snow Team/Scare Team goes into panic mode around here.

That old Christmas Hangover

Greetings fellow inhabitants of this big blue rock we call home. I hope you had the Merriest of Christmases (or at least a great Saturday if you are of the non-Christmas types).

WE had a great day around here.  My kids were home. My daughter and her husband came down late in the morning. We opened up some presents then I fixed a late breakfast. WE played some games and messed around .  I then got busy putting together the Christmas dinner spread. Turkey, mashed spuds, homemade mac and cheese, noodles, gravy, green bean casserole, candied sweet potatoes (puke) and rolls rounded out the carb-heavy but scrumptious meal. My daughter made an awesome dessert called a truffle.  It was loaded with fruit, angel food cake and pudding. My diet and blood sugar took a hit but WTF, it was Christmas!

The wife surprised me with an awesome Kindle. I had been reading books on her iPad, but she was not too keen on me taking it on business trips because then she could not use it. It is sweet. She let me order a new book to go on it. Done.  Now I have to find out how to get at the free books as well. I have been reading the free offerings from the Apple bookstore. Now I need them on the new toy. In all I think everyone was more than satisfied with their gifts.

I need another cup of coffee this morning then I am off to read what you have to say before settling in with a new book. Have a great Sunday!

Merry Christmas

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas to all of you.

Don't Forget What it is All About

Snooping

Eating alone sucks as any single person or frequent traveler like me can attest. There is only one advantage: you can overhear some interesting conversations. This evening the wife was off finishing the Christmas shopping and the boy was at a wedding rehearsal and I hit the grocery and WalMart. I stopped at the local fried chicken emporium for a quick supper. Two guys and a couple of kids sat in the booth behind me.

Kid one asked kid two if they had a Christmas tree? Kid two replied they had two. Adult with kid two said this was the last year for that. Adult one wanted to know why.

"Two reasons. One, the white one won't light no more. It is out"

"You cain't replace the lights?" asked Adult one.

"No, it is whatchacallit, pre light bulb"

(HB: candles?)

"Two" said adult two, "with five people, two dogs, and a cat, the trailer is just too crowded to have two Christmas trees".

Indeed

Only days away from Christmas

Is your shopping done? Have you decided what you are getting the old Hoosierboy this year?

What's that? I did not make your naughty or nice list this Christmas? Shame on you.

I was messing around on the interwebz yesterday.  Here are a couple more great TV Themes for your enjoyment:


Dad watched reruns of this show every Saturday afternoon.


I have to admit I screwed up when I did not put this one into the top 10. I loved the original TV series. The movies, not so much.

Did you all notice that?  I actually said I was wrong about something. Mark this as a rare day in the calendar.

Insert pithy title of your own choosing

I got most of my Christmas shopping done yesterday. I was the one at the mall.  Did you see me? I still have one or two items to grab.  Probably tomorrow.

There was no view of the big eclipse last night (or is it tonight?). The view of the Heavens was blocked by large snowflakes. It took me well over an hour to get home from the mall, a drive that usually takes about 20 - 25 minutes.  I saw two vehicles in the ditch, both four wheel drive SUVs. Those drivers think the laws of physics do not apply to them I guess. Of course I totaled my 4WD last January when I hit some ice, so who am I to point arthritic fingers?

It is supposed to be above freezing for the first time in weeks today, so some of the snow should melt.  There is another big storm due to hit Friday. I am not sure what the record snowfall is for December, but we should be approaching those high totals. That was an awkward sentence. Hopefully, you can follow my meaning.

Well I am off to peruse the interwebz. I hope someone is prepared to entertain me this morning.

Ridin' the Storm Out

Her brother was on the sofa, eatin' chocolate pie.
Momma was in the kitchen, cuttin' chicken up to fry.
Daddy was in the backyard, rollin' up a garden hose
I was on the porch with Charlotte, feelin' love down to my toes.
and we were swingin' (swingin')
yes we were swingin' (swingin')  --John Anderson *

I fried up some chicken last night. Every time I fry chicken this song goes through my brain. I made some of my usual kick-ass chicken gravy to go with the mashed spuds and biscuits.

There were some awesome football games yesterday. I was hoping there existed some miracle rule that could cause both the Steelers and the Jets to lose. How do the Giants choke away that game? I don't care if I have to hire some guy who punted at the local high school, the Giants punter has to go. Not punching the final kick out of bounds is inexcusable.

Today is my last working day of the year. Good for me. I have a quick conference call with the boss this morning and my December expenses are waiting to be filed. Then I will spend the balance of the day cleaning up my desk etc.

We are heading down the Christmas home stretch. I sill have a few gifts to purchase for the wife. Well, if I am honest, I have all of the gifts yet to purchase, but who is keeping score? There is a mixed back of sports metaphors to chew on.

I am not sure I like the red/green look of the old blog. I may mess with it a little more. But then I may not. You should probably check back eight or ten times today just see if I have made any changes.


* My wife simply loathes that song. Perhaps for the same reason people named "Mandy" loathe Barry Manilow. Never mind, there are a lot of reasons to hate Barry Manilow.

Don't blame it on Rio -- It is my fault

The damn cursor is mocking me again this morning. I hate its' smug blinking. Like it really knows what to write either.

The coffee is good and hot. The donuts were fresh yesterday, but they are DONUTS.

Really. you best move on today, I have nothing. It is not you, it is me. I promise to do better tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by, though.

If you spend this Saturday in the park you freeze your ass off

It looks like another Saturday morning has rolled around. It is cold and snow still covers the ground and. I guess it is winter, so I should not be surprised.

Is it a sad commentary that I have become so used to living and breathing Murphy's Law that disappointment has become an expectation? It is hard to remain upbeat and positive when you are routinely served a shit sandwich. On stale bread. There are people far worse off than me, and I thank God for my blessings every day. I have plenty to be thankful for. And yes, I know the preceding sentence is bad grammar.As I have stated her many times, if you focus on all that is wrong in life, you will miss out on what is good. It is my mantra the past several years.

The boy had his girlfriend over last night.  We watched Christmas with the Kranks. This flick has become one of our favorite Christmas movies. I read the Grishom novel before I saw the film.

I think I will fix  bowl of instant oatmeal for breakfast. Yum (insert sarcasm). I recorded a boatload of Andy Hardy movies yesterday. I think I will go watch Mickey Rooney ham it up. And people say Shatner is the king of over actors...

Pygmy Sex -- with extreme close ups!

So it is Friday. I still do not have any of my Christmas shopping done; maybe this weekend. To be honest, I only have to buy for the wife, she takes care of everyone else. Much of that is done.

I had to go get some blood drawn this morning. No problem.

I am trying to get things wound down at work, Monday is my last day until January 3! Whoo hoo, it is good to be me. That is why I am not stressing too much about shopping.  I can hit the mall early next week and be in and out with only small crowds to hamper me. Have I mentioned I hate people? I try extra hard to be extra nice at Christmas time though. Except for the asshole at Target last week who was clearly wanting to look at the Kindle I was playing with. He kept giving me the "hurry up" death glare. he paced behind me, snorting and sighing. I took my time. He left and came back just as I was about to put the sample unit down and gave me another big sigh. I decided to read one of the sample books. Does that make me a jerk? Finally he came up and actually leaned into me and started looking at the unit over my shoulder. His rudeness outpaced mine so I gave in. he won by actually touching me. I hate to be touched.

I see the House has passed the Tax bill.  I still do not understand how they can pass a revenue bill from the Senate. maybe a lawyer-type can help me out. For this poor moderately-educated boy from Indiana the Constitution seems pretty clear.

Isn't it ironic the Democrats in Congress and The Obama have all voted to continue ANOTHER GW Bush policy? For a guy who was so wrong on every front -- tax cuts, Afghanistan, WOT, Wire taps, Patriot Act, Iraq, Guantanamo, etc. -- it sure seems like many of Bush's policies are continued by the current dipshits in charge.  I am just sayin'.

Does anyone in Washington understand the Constitution?

The senate has passed a tax bill and sent it to the House.

source

This cannot be. The House should reject it on principle.  The Constitution mandates all Revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives. This Bill is Unconstitutional.



Article. I.
Section. 7.


All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. source

Snow

Bush and tax Cuts

As a matter of record, the final Bush tax rates passed Congress in mid-2003, shortly after Republicans retook the Senate.  From August 2003 to December 2007, over eight million net new jobs were created, and real GDP grew almost 3% per year.  At that same time, federal revenues increased by 2.3% of GDP ($785 B), putting revenues above the average level of 1960-2000, the forty years before Bush.  Unemployment fell to 4.4%, and the deficit fell to 1.2% of GDP.  Such was the catastrophe of four years of Bush's tax rates and Republican-written federal budgets. source

Read the whole thing

For the record, I can not emphasize that extending the current tax rates does not give ANYONE a tax cut. Anyone -- reporter, blog, TV talking head-- who claims otherwise is a damn liar.

Michael Moore -- What a piece of garbage

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-12-14/michael-moore-why-im-posting-bail-money-for-julian-assange/

Michael Moore you are fucking asstard of the highest order.

Confessions of a band geek

Rita, in comments to the post below, could not believe I did not have March of the Marionettes (Alfred Hitchcock Theme) in my top ten list. You see, I am scarred for life because of that song. So I will tell the story of why I cannot put that TV Theme into my top ten list.

I have  confession. I was once a band geek. I played the trombone, but not very well. I was part of the marching band, the pit band for the high school musicals we produced, the stage band (big band music), and I played in the brass section of the orchestra. Yes, my little high school actually had an orchestra.

If you ever spent time in band you know there is pressure to compete in the State solo and ensemble contests. Four of us trombone players decided to form a quartet and compete. The song we chose was March of the Marionettes (Alfred Hitchcock Theme). In all honesty, the song was not hard to play, the difficulty was each part came in at different times, each in turn playing a subtle counter-melody. Timing was key. The four of us actually got pretty good on the song. A first place was a given, according to our bandleader and fellow band geeks. We even played at a local church during services to great acclaim.

The day arrived for contests. We were typical high school band geeks. We thought we were cool, and were cocky for no reason at all. We went into the classroom at some school (three decades have blurred that memory). The judges sat in the back and we stood in the front of the classroom , near the chalkboard.

We began to play: dooop da diddle da doop da doop. And first trombone began to giggle. He could not stop. Soon we all were laughing. We stopped and asked to begin again. We gathered to compose ourselves.  First trombone told us what had cracked him up. We started again. Third trombone began to laugh. Soon we all lost it again. This time we only got about six bars into the song. (I will not tell you which part I played in this drama).

The judges told us to leave and come back after the next group.  We waited in the hallway, giving each other stern pep talks. Our second chance came. We made it through the song, but all of us were laughing at various times. We were horrible.

The scores were later posted and we got a third place. None of the group was surprised. The  second trombone stuck his head into the judge's room and asked "What does it take to get a fourth place anyway?" We all nearly died in hysterics. Like I said, we were just a bunch of band geeks.

Fellow band members were shocked, the band leader pissed. "You guys were so good, how could the judges screw you like that?" We explained that one of the judges was a fat, older bald guy. He looked remarkably like Hitchcock himself. The irony was too much. Hitchcock liked to put himself into cameo roles in all of his films, and a cameo as a judge was too delicious. The notion cracked us all up.

Perhaps you had to be there.

Anyway, that is my story. And here is the song, played correctly:

Friday Five -- Monday Edition (The Monday Ten)

Friday's post got me thinking about some of the great TV theme songs. It may be a product of my age, but it sure seems like the shows of my youth had much better theme songs than those television classics of today. Some shows opening themes are instantly recognizable. Partly because of the popularity or long runs of the shows. The Simpsons Theme comes to mind. Everytime I hear the M*A*S*H theme I instantly think of the death of Henry Blake episode. Who does not love the Alfred Hitchcock Hour theme? Do you know the Masterpiece Theater Theme?

Who among us does not instantly connect with the Lonney Toons theme or Three Stooges songs? For those of us of a certain age, we instantly recognize the themes from Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie, Leave it to Beaver, Bonanza and Laverne and Shirley. Younger readers may associate closer with the themes from Friends or Full House. Many of us will recognize the theme from Days of Our Lives or Pee Wee's Playhouse.

Here are some of what I consider the greatest TV theme songs of all time:

1. Rat Patrol. Listen
          The undisputed best theme song ever.

2. The Andy Griffith Show Listen

3. The Addams Family Listen

4. Hogan's Heroes Listen
    
5. Rawhide Listen

6. Peter Gunn Listen

7. Hawaii Five-O Listen

8. The Monkees listen

9. Batman Listen

10. Daniel Boone Listen

Honorable mention -- The Tonight Show Theme (Johnny Carson version) Listen

I am sure I missed some great ones. What are your favorites?

I saw the news today, Oh boy

We are scheduled for a brown out today.

I am not talking about electricity/power issues.

Instead of the usual hues of red, yellow and green denoting rain and the pinks and blues that represent ice and snow, our area is covered in shades of brown.

Yep, we are in for some shitty weather.

Saturday night's all right for fightin'

Good morning, dear readers. As is my custom, I was up early on this cloudy (I think -- it is still dark) Saturday morning.

I put up a poll over there on the left. You might as well participate. I know you ain't got nothin' better to do, 'else you would not be wasting time here. Did you like that sentence?  That is some pure Hoosier talkin' for you this fine day.

A collection agency started calling the house yesterday looking for a Joanna.  There is not and has never been a Joanna at this number. I told them that the first and second times they called. I did not answer the third time nor the fourth nor the fifth. They called approximately every hour from 8:30 in the morning until 9:00 pm. I know they use phone bots, but if you call during the weekday and no one answers, wouldn't you think it is safe to assume the party you are trying to reach is at work? The jerkoff I talked to the second time pretty much called me a liar when I said there was not and never has been a person by that name at this number. I pointed out I have had the same phone number for 20 years. He asked me for a number to reach Joanna.  I told him again I don't know Joanna. He started yelling that I need to tell her to call him at...I hung up. If they call again today I am calling the State AG. BTW, If you are Joanna Wilson -- pay your bills or do not give my number.

I am not sure what is on tap for today.  I may go see the Harry Potter movie this afternoon, if I can get the boy to be seen in public with me. I have some minor drywall repair to do. I probably will not get that. The hole has been there since last spring when the toilet paper holder tore out of the wall. Another day week month will not hurt anything. I don't mind the spackle work -- it is the painting I will have to do after. I hate to paint and I know when the paint and brushes come out the wife will find a thousand places that need touched up. Did I mention how much I hate to paint?  I would rather pick up dog turds with my bare hands. NO-  before you ask -- I will not come over and clean up your dog doo if you come and paint.

Have a good Saturday.

Friday Five

This week is a list of five firsts.

1. What was your first car?
           1966 Chevy Pickup w/ a "three on the tree" manual transmission
2. Who was your first kiss?
           Joni
3. What was the first concert you attended?
           The Doobie Brothers
4. What was your favorite Saturday morning cartoon?
          Bugs Bunny or Jonny Quest
5. What was your Kindergarten teacher's name (or earliest teacher you can remember)?
          Mrs. Lewis? I know I had Mrs. Delacroix in first grade.

How about you?

Come on play along. Failure to play means orphans will go hungry. Without you answering there will be no white Christmas. Kittens will cry and baby seals will die. Please put your answers in the comments.  If you really loved me you would. It hurts me when you do not play along. Do it for the little babies in Haiti. Do it for the old people of Tibet. Do it for America!



There is a pre-Christmas gift for you, just for playing along!

Pushing the limits of the Second Amendment

The local paper, when it arrives, is always a source of humor and amusement. I suspect the best and brightest journalism students do not choose to work at a small daily paper in the Hoosier hinterlands.

A caption in today's fishwrap is the best ever, though:

Students work on finishing the music and editing for their movie trailer for their book — which is about animals that carry guns — in class Wednesday at Triton Central High School. (The animals in question were stuffed.) The group members said they were close to done and would be prepared for Friday's film festival. [emphasis mine} source

You can read the whole article and see the caption here . Some liberal nutcases want animals to have the right to sue in court. Maybe we can extend Second Amendment Rights to animals as well.  Then local students will not have to use stuffed animals in their films. A film about pigs shooting Islamic terrorists just might be a hit...wouldn't that make the 'spodytards furious?

Knowing a second language could come in handy

I was in suburban Chicago yesterday. I started my day at McDonald's for breakfast. When I entered the store a lady in what I would guess was her late fifties had just completed her order and received her food. A nice Hispanic gentleman, who based on his dress was a manager of some type, took my order in perfect, accent free English. While we were all waiting on my Sausage McMuffin to be prepared the manger-type was talking to another Manager.  She also spoke perfect English.

The older lady who got her food as I entered came up to the counter.  She had coffee all over her business suit and coat.  She loudly demanded to see the manager.  Coffee-lady claimed the lid was not on her coffee properly and wanted the McDonald's to pay her dry cleaning bill.  She was angry and flustered and kept ranting about an important meeting and how she had to go home and change.

Coffee-lady again asked the young manger who was waiting on me to see the manager. He finally turned the the other manager, who was making coffee and pretending to not hear the ranting Coffee-lady. and spoke something in Spanish. The other manager turned and stared at Coffee-lady.  Coffee lady was livid at this point.  She kept saying she just wants a number so she can get her dry cleaning taken care of.

The McDonald's managers spoke to each other in Spanish, as if each was trying to translate Coffee-lady's rantings. Both turned again and stared at the Coffee-lady. Coffee-lady again asked for a manager. Female manager mumbled something in Spanish. Coffee-lady cursed and said she would just call corporate. She then stormed out of the McDonald's.

The female manager handed me my food and told me thanks and have a nice day in perfect English. As I walked away she turned and told an employee in the back to check the trash and dining room. Normal McDonald's business continued.

I guess being bi-lingual is a real advantage in customer service.

A day that shall live in infamy

Help, Help me Rhonda

Does anyone know how to publish an audio file on Blogger? Not a Youtube, but a file from my collection?

You do not have to be named Rhonda to answer. Anyone can play along.

Let me know in the comments or send me an email.  The address is over there on the left.

Welfare and why am I feeding your kids?

Contrary to popular belief, I am not a complete heartless bastard. I do believe in giving people a helping hand.

I do not quite understand some of the policies regarding free school lunch and such. Low income students get a free or reduced lunch at school. We are providing free lunches during the summer. These same students are now served a free breakfast. Recently The Dems are pushing to provide a free dinner to needy students as well. WTF? Low income families are given food stamps to feed their kids. If they are not using those food stamps to provide breakfast or lunch -- and soon not even dinner, what are they using the food stamps for? Are we going to reduce the welfare available when school is in session?

Completely understanding anecdote is not fact, the wife claims that a significant number of her students who get free lunch and breakfast at school are routinely picked up in cars, trucks and SUVs far newer than ours. She relates the story of a family that lives in one of the nicest neighborhoods in town. Since they are now divorced, the kids get free lunches. The Mom does not have to report the income from alimony and child support, so her part-time job qualifies them for free lunch. The child reports the family is going to their condo in Cancun for Christmas. You and I are paying for those kids to eat breakfast and lunch.

It all makes you want to work harder on a Monday doesn't it?

Its been lonely in the saddle since my horse died

Spammers, I do not get them. What is the point of publishing their shit on posts two and three years old? They are not even popular posts (like I have any). Seriously, I get Google hits on the posts titled with a pygmy sex theme (10-15 hits a day), and the one about the ten greatest historical events. The spammers do not comment on those, but on obscure posts no one reads. I do not understand. Why put the effort into a venture that garners no results?

Here is a representation of the crazy spam I have been getting lately:

I give birth to be familiar with a insufficient of the articles on your website in the present circumstances, and I unqualifiedly like your tastefulness of blogging. I added it to my favorites trap age list and last will and testament be checking stand behind soon. Cheer contain into public notice my orientation as approvingly and vindicate me know what you think. Thanks.

And some of you think I butcher the English Language.

In other news, I noticed sections of two strings of lights went out. The offending sections are each about a foot long. I have two peaks on my house.  Both are beyond the reach of my extension ladder, so I have to climb on the roof and lean over the side to put up the lights. Guess where the outages are? I do not even need to tell you they are at the very peak of the two gables. Just as I told the wife before she could ask -- I will not climb up a snowy roof and replace those lights. Maybe, and it is a big maybe, if the temps climb above freezing and the roof completely dries, I will consider it.

There is a big football game today.  The Colts take on the hated Dallas Cowgirls. I hate the Cowgirls almost as much as the Damn Yankees. I will root for any team playing against Dallas.

I hope you have a great Sunday.

I am a Ramblin' Man

We find ourselves before the monitor this wintry Saturday morning. It is gently snowing tiny flakes outside. We are expecting a couple inches by late afternoon. Of course the snowteam/scareteam has been in full force on the nightly news about this "big storm" since about Wednesday. Seriously -- for two frickin' inches of snow. I am sure the local citizenry have been out in force scarfing up all of the milk, bread, and eggs at the grocery store. I guess snow brings on an irresistible urge to make French Toast?

I can only remember one time that we were "snowed in" and could not get out to get food.  That was during the blizzard of '78. Even then, within a day or two, we were able to get to the store. We could have made it the next day had we chosen to walk. I suspect some people who live out in the hinterlands have been snowed in a few times, but those people know they have a long drive to the nearest food store and plan accordingly.

All of this talk about food makes me hungry.  I could go for some bacon about now.  Who wants to fry me up some bacon? I guess I will have to settle for some apple oatmeal or a bowl of Wheaties.

We met up with some friends last night and ate some pizza. We played some euchre and had a beer or two (two actually, and just me; the wife hates beer). We had a lot of laughs. Some days life is good. Any time spent with me is good though. That is even true if you only spend time with my general genius through this old blog. Go ahead, testify!

The boy is going with his girlfriend to the Winter Formal this evening. It is not formal, in fact, he will not even wear a jacket.  He will sport a tie though. If the roads are too slick he will have to stay in town to eat. Unfortunately there is only an Applebees in this one-horse town, and it will be packed with other teenagers whose parents will not let them make the drive into Capital City either due to the roads.

The retail environment has become so pitiful here. If you want to buy men's clothing there are two choices -- the farm store and WalMart. One has to make the drive to Indy (30 - 40 minutes) if you want to buy a pair of Dockers. But we do have eight or nine pizza joints and a handful of Mexican and Chinese eateries to go with our THREE McDonalds. Such is the price we pay when living in a small town.  I would have it no other way.

I have that song "caroling, Caroling" stuck in my head. Only one line though: "Caroling, caroling through the drifting snow" It is on an endless loop. Please make it stop. I bet it would if you made me some bacon...

Clearly I am rambling. If you are still reading at this point I thank you.  I hope you have a great Saturday. Who knows, maybe you will get laid!

The Hoosierboy Flag is at half mast

I just heard Cubs great Ron Santo has passed away. source

Words fail me right now.  The radio broadcasts will not be the same.

Is it strange I chose my favorite Cubs hoodie to wear this morning -- before hearing the news?

RIP Ron. You are a Hall of Famer in my book.

Dear Progressives and Liberals

I will type this slow, so you liberals can better understand.

1. Extending the current tax rates is not giving anyone a tax cut. Not the undefined "rich", not millionaires -- NO ONE. If you are currently paying 13% of your income in taxes and next year you will pay 13% of your income in taxes -- that is not a reduction nor a "cut". By the same extension, if you increase the budget for a favorite Federal Program, but not by as much as you originally had planned -- that is not a "cut".

2. If, by some chance, I were to have my taxes lowered, the Government is not "giving me a tax cut". They are giving me nothing but my own money.  A tax cut means the Government is taking less from me. It is my money -- not Washington's. This is a fundamental fact the progressives out there cannot comprehend -- wealth belongs to the individual -- not the Government. If you are in the 40-plus percent of people who do not pay income taxes, any "refund" you get is not a refund, but rather the Government took money from me and gave it to you. It is not possible to get a refund on something for which you did not pay. Robin Hood was a thief and a fucking Commie bastard. There is no free lunch and I am getting sick of picking up the tab.

3. Maybe we should, maybe we should not extend Unemployment Benefits. We could likely pay for the extension through the unused TARP or stimulus funds.  Maybe GM could use some of its IPO money to pay you and I the money they got. In any case unemployment compensation does not create jobs. It does not put money into the economy. That money was taken out of the economy when it was taken from me and my employer. See Number two above.

4. Coolidge, Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush all cut taxes. The result was higher tax receipts to the Government. GDP increased and unemployment was reduced. The Laffer economic theory has been tried four times. It has worked all four times. The Keynesian model has failed every time it has been used. Government spending does not improve the economy. The Government cannot produce money. It can only print money -- which devalues the currency, or they can take it from me and you in the form of taxes. See Number two above.

5. The Government cannot create jobs in the private sector. Any Government Job is created by taking wages and money from you and I and giving it to someone else. A business does not pay taxes. It passes those costs to the consumer.

But Christmas music makes me happy

It is cold and gray.  Snow flurries are spinning through the air. Winter has arrived.  The highs are expected to be in the mid-thirties for the next week or so. I do not mind the cold, it is the clouds all of the time that depress me.

Four months until Spring.