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| Clearly these are deep and crippling cuts |
February 28, 2013
February 27, 2013
The sky is falling!
This is the new standard of governing.
If we cannot find a measly 2% to cut from the budget today, when can we start to reduce spending?
 |
| The Obama Method |
If we cannot find a measly 2% to cut from the budget today, when can we start to reduce spending?
Dang it all
I hate making mistakes. I especially despise mistakes when it comes to work.
I put in a request for quote for a customer and put down the wrong part number. Thus we quoted the wrong thing. Luckily, I caught the error before I sent it to the customer. But now I have to let various marketing types know I screwed up, and they have to duplicate work due to my mistake.
The only bright side of this mistake is the the discovery of my own error led to an impressive string of profanity on my part. It should have been recorded for posterity.
I put in a request for quote for a customer and put down the wrong part number. Thus we quoted the wrong thing. Luckily, I caught the error before I sent it to the customer. But now I have to let various marketing types know I screwed up, and they have to duplicate work due to my mistake.
The only bright side of this mistake is the the discovery of my own error led to an impressive string of profanity on my part. It should have been recorded for posterity.
...pants on fire
 |
| h/t Doug Ross |
I always thought the government was pretty wasteful. Based on what the President is claiming, I was clearly wrong in that assessment. For a mere 2% of the budget, we are funding police, fire, teachers, the National Guard, two aircraft carriers, 800,000 defense contractors, programs for disadvantaged children, battered women, Head Start, air traffic controllers, border patrol,, the department of Homeland Security, access to primary care and preventive care like flu vaccinations and cancer screenings, and the TSA* -- naming just a some of the stuff in DIRE STRAITS over DEEP cuts in the rate of growth. That 2% sure gets us a lot of bang for our buck.
I am not sure what the other 98% of the budget is paying for.
* this is all stuff the Executive branch has claimed will be hurt by the sequester.
EDIT: Damn it all to hell. Thanks Nathan. This is turning into a regular clusterfuck of a day. I may have to take the afternoon off and go to the smoke shop.
February 26, 2013
I will not quote that effing song, even though it would make a perfect title for this post
It is said that some pioneers were driven crazy by the relentless winds as they slowly crossed the northern plains in their wagons and carts. I had a friend who lived in Gillette, Wyoming and he said the wind blew constantly.
This has been a windy winter. We have not had a great deal of snow, but we have had some remarkably windy days. Steady blows of 25 and 30 mph (or more) have not been unusual this season. Fortunately, I have yet to detect signs of wind madness in my spouse. Me, I set the standard for normal, so who can tell? I am after all, an Average Joe.
Last night the siding squeaked and the shingles creaked as strong winds buffeted the eaves. This morning we are gifted with horizontal rain to go with the wind. Oh, but that I had put gas in the car last night! Such is life.
The rain may or may not change to ice and snow later in the day. I vote rain. I can live with snow. I do not like ice, Sam-I-Am. Not in a car, not in a bar. I do not like ice. Not with lice, not with mice. I do not like ice, Sam-I-Am.
Shaddup. Dr. Suess' birthday is Saturday.
This has been a windy winter. We have not had a great deal of snow, but we have had some remarkably windy days. Steady blows of 25 and 30 mph (or more) have not been unusual this season. Fortunately, I have yet to detect signs of wind madness in my spouse. Me, I set the standard for normal, so who can tell? I am after all, an Average Joe.
Last night the siding squeaked and the shingles creaked as strong winds buffeted the eaves. This morning we are gifted with horizontal rain to go with the wind. Oh, but that I had put gas in the car last night! Such is life.
The rain may or may not change to ice and snow later in the day. I vote rain. I can live with snow. I do not like ice, Sam-I-Am. Not in a car, not in a bar. I do not like ice. Not with lice, not with mice. I do not like ice, Sam-I-Am.
Shaddup. Dr. Suess' birthday is Saturday.
February 25, 2013
It occurs to me that
Tuna was much better back in the days before the environmentalists insisted dolphin be kept out of the can.
Spam- a- rama ding dong
This is a spam comment I got yesterday on a post from April of 2009
I deleted that nonsense along with about 80 others.
Now the spammers are hitting closer to home. Like you, I get their worthless attention on the blog. I find their roach tracks in emails asking if I can lend a Nigerian brother a hand getting millions out of his country or asking if I need a loan. Certainly I am going to give my financial info to a person with an AOL or gmail address -- first thing the day after never.
Saturday I got a hand addressed / hand stamped envelope at home telling me I won 2 airline tickets. The letterhead was clearly photocopied (it was a major airline) and I was instructed to call an 877 number. A quick google search failed to find the owner of the phone number .The letter came from Arizona. I am seriously thinking about taking it to the Post Office for mail fraud.
No one can seem to stop those sons of slug farts from calling me ten times a day regarding lower interest rates on my credit cards, so I doubt these amateur frauds will get much attention. Besides, when it takes eight days to send a letter 73 miles*, I suspect the Postal Inspectors will get to this in about 2018.
* Yes, I could walk the distance faster than the US Post Office can send it via truck.
Whoa! This blog looks just like my old one! It's on a entirely different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Superb choice of colors! Feel free to surf to my homepage...He/she likes all of the colors on my homepage? Is there anyone with a sense of color who would label this blog o'crap as anything but stark?
I deleted that nonsense along with about 80 others.
Now the spammers are hitting closer to home. Like you, I get their worthless attention on the blog. I find their roach tracks in emails asking if I can lend a Nigerian brother a hand getting millions out of his country or asking if I need a loan. Certainly I am going to give my financial info to a person with an AOL or gmail address -- first thing the day after never.
Saturday I got a hand addressed / hand stamped envelope at home telling me I won 2 airline tickets. The letterhead was clearly photocopied (it was a major airline) and I was instructed to call an 877 number. A quick google search failed to find the owner of the phone number .The letter came from Arizona. I am seriously thinking about taking it to the Post Office for mail fraud.
No one can seem to stop those sons of slug farts from calling me ten times a day regarding lower interest rates on my credit cards, so I doubt these amateur frauds will get much attention. Besides, when it takes eight days to send a letter 73 miles*, I suspect the Postal Inspectors will get to this in about 2018.
* Yes, I could walk the distance faster than the US Post Office can send it via truck.
February 24, 2013
weekend funny
Like I said, Quake was for losers. You Quake fans probably thought Ken was way cooler than GI Joe.
February 23, 2013
February 22, 2013
What is good for the goose...
As we discussed yesterday, Obama says we cannot afford the "devastating" cuts the sequestration will bring about. Now truth be told, this plan was Obama's, and in fact the "cuts" are really just reductions in the planned increased spending.
Leaving those facts aside, isn't it interesting the government cannot afford these "deep cuts" amounting to about 2% of the budget, yet each and every working taxpayer took a 2% pay cut starting January 1 when the payroll tax holiday was allowed to expire?
You can afford to cut 2% from your budget. The bloated Federal Government can't.
Go ahead, keep voting the same bastards back into office.
Edit: Who is really killing the economy? Hint, it is not the sequester.
Leaving those facts aside, isn't it interesting the government cannot afford these "deep cuts" amounting to about 2% of the budget, yet each and every working taxpayer took a 2% pay cut starting January 1 when the payroll tax holiday was allowed to expire?
You can afford to cut 2% from your budget. The bloated Federal Government can't.
Go ahead, keep voting the same bastards back into office.
Edit: Who is really killing the economy? Hint, it is not the sequester.
Darden [restaurants] isn't the only company saying the higher payroll tax has cut into its business. On Thursday Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said higher taxes, along with rising gas prices and delayed income tax refunds, were also crimping spending by its customers.
On Jan. 1, Social Security payroll taxes rose 2 percentage points after a temporary tax cut expired. That sliced about $1,000 from the annual take-home pay of a household earning $50,000. source
Are you with me?
I am sure sick of winter. How about you? What say we take a trip to the islands? We can go musically, if not in person.For your Friday Music enjoyment:
You can never have too much Bob Marley:
Think warm!
You can never have too much Bob Marley:
Think warm!
February 21, 2013
House cleaning
"Wear gloves. Body Fluids. Need I say more?"
Anyway, I cleaned out my blogroll. If I made you disappear and should not have, leave me a comment and I will put you back on the roll post haste.
Gloria Gainor has no comment on this post
Want ot play a "what if" game? Too bad, we are playing anyway.
Imagine you are paid $360 every week. Times are tough at your workplace, and your boss says you have to take a reduction in pay. You will now get $8.60 less every pay period. That means, for those of you who are like me -- math challenged -- your check every week will be $351.40.
Will you miss that eight bucks? Maybe. Will it necessitate a different lifestyle? Will you call that 2.3% decrease a devastating reduction? Add about ten zeroes to the back of those numbers and you will find the budget numbers represented by the Sequestration "cuts". Yes, that is right. Sequestration. will cut $86 billion from a $3.6 trillion budget. To make the President's (and John Boehner's) hyperbole even more ridiculous -- these cuts come from automatic spending increases of 5-8%. Our politicians are crying about "cuts" that are simply reductions in increased spending!
To go back to our imaginary scenario, you are not getting a reduction in your check, you are really getting a 3% raise instead of a 5% raise. The horror! How will you survive?
I keep waiting for the liberal women's rights types to make a comment on certain a Democratic Senator and his penchant for making the beast with two backs with underage prostitutes. Chirp, chirp. Bob Packwood must be asking WTF?
I also am interested in the liberals position on rape as defined by Colorado Democrats who think the best defense for rape is urinating on the attacker or trying muster up some vomit to scare him off. Isn't that approach akin to the "rape is inevitable" position? Perhaps the NOW supporters used up all of their rage decrying Republican Senatorial candidates back in November. Fighting for the cause in the famed War on Women must have worn them out.
Imagine you are paid $360 every week. Times are tough at your workplace, and your boss says you have to take a reduction in pay. You will now get $8.60 less every pay period. That means, for those of you who are like me -- math challenged -- your check every week will be $351.40.
Will you miss that eight bucks? Maybe. Will it necessitate a different lifestyle? Will you call that 2.3% decrease a devastating reduction? Add about ten zeroes to the back of those numbers and you will find the budget numbers represented by the Sequestration "cuts". Yes, that is right. Sequestration. will cut $86 billion from a $3.6 trillion budget. To make the President's (and John Boehner's) hyperbole even more ridiculous -- these cuts come from automatic spending increases of 5-8%. Our politicians are crying about "cuts" that are simply reductions in increased spending!
To go back to our imaginary scenario, you are not getting a reduction in your check, you are really getting a 3% raise instead of a 5% raise. The horror! How will you survive?
I keep waiting for the liberal women's rights types to make a comment on certain a Democratic Senator and his penchant for making the beast with two backs with underage prostitutes. Chirp, chirp. Bob Packwood must be asking WTF?
I also am interested in the liberals position on rape as defined by Colorado Democrats who think the best defense for rape is urinating on the attacker or trying muster up some vomit to scare him off. Isn't that approach akin to the "rape is inevitable" position? Perhaps the NOW supporters used up all of their rage decrying Republican Senatorial candidates back in November. Fighting for the cause in the famed War on Women must have worn them out.
February 19, 2013
Raise the minimum wage
It is time for the quadrennial push to increase the minimum wage. The Obama called for it in his State of the Union address, and progressives across the land are taking up the banner. There was even a he said/she said op-ed in my local fish wrap this morning debating the pros and cons of raising the minimum wage.
I could bore you with facts and figures explaining how raising the minimum wage increases inflation, thus defeating the purpose. I could cite stats that show a raise in minimum wage increases unemployment. I could demonstrate that the young and minorities are hurt disproportionately by this increase. I could present case studies showing how many minimum wage workers are entry level positions and few families live and are supported by minimum wage earners. I could just use logic and point out that increasing wages above the poverty level will just move the poverty line upward, not eliminate it.
Your average liberal Democrat type does not care. We have to raise minimum wage for the children. In America's land of plenty there should be no one working for sub-poverty level wages. That position is the only one that carries weight with a progressive.
OK, how about this compromise. I will agree we should raise the minimum wage to make sure a single provider for a family of four working for minimum wage earns more than the poverty line. The editorial I read this morning stated that "living wage" was around $11.00 per hour. I'll even go $11.50. Do it and damn the consequences, I say.
Of course, since no one is in poverty any more we can scrap the food stamp program, WIC, the housing assistance programs, Obama phones, medicaid, and every other government poor-relief program. We will no longer have to give Planned Parenthood hundreds of millions in subsidies to provideabortions women's health care. The feds spent an estimated $746,000,000,000 on welfare in 2011*. We should be able to cut at least 50% of that figure immediately, since no one lives below the poverty level anymore.
I cannot wait for my tax cut. I'll need it since a hamburger will cost $9.00 and a pizza $27.00.
* this equates to spending more than $2,000 for every single man, woman and child in the US. Are you getting value for your tax dollars?
I could bore you with facts and figures explaining how raising the minimum wage increases inflation, thus defeating the purpose. I could cite stats that show a raise in minimum wage increases unemployment. I could demonstrate that the young and minorities are hurt disproportionately by this increase. I could present case studies showing how many minimum wage workers are entry level positions and few families live and are supported by minimum wage earners. I could just use logic and point out that increasing wages above the poverty level will just move the poverty line upward, not eliminate it.
Your average liberal Democrat type does not care. We have to raise minimum wage for the children. In America's land of plenty there should be no one working for sub-poverty level wages. That position is the only one that carries weight with a progressive.
OK, how about this compromise. I will agree we should raise the minimum wage to make sure a single provider for a family of four working for minimum wage earns more than the poverty line. The editorial I read this morning stated that "living wage" was around $11.00 per hour. I'll even go $11.50. Do it and damn the consequences, I say.
Of course, since no one is in poverty any more we can scrap the food stamp program, WIC, the housing assistance programs, Obama phones, medicaid, and every other government poor-relief program. We will no longer have to give Planned Parenthood hundreds of millions in subsidies to provide
I cannot wait for my tax cut. I'll need it since a hamburger will cost $9.00 and a pizza $27.00.
* this equates to spending more than $2,000 for every single man, woman and child in the US. Are you getting value for your tax dollars?
February 18, 2013
President's Day
I am pretty sure a significant number of egomaniacal current and past Senators and Representatives are seething in envy that the Presidents get a eponymous federal holiday, while the Congress gets no recognition at all.
February 16, 2013
Friday Music -- Saturday edition
Suffer through the ad -- the music is worth it. I was too busy posting rants yesterday to get to music.
You likely don't care either way.
February 15, 2013
Feed the beast
Democratic Senator Tom Harkin is the latest in a line of Democrats who maintains we do not have a governmental spending problem in the United States.
Your neighbor may be rich, but you might still be maxed out on your credit cards. His money is not your money. My money and your money is not Washington's money.
Wealth belongs to the individual. Democrats of Harkin's ilk believe they allow you to keep your wages. Conservatives like me believe the government takes my money. Read that again. There is a clear difference.
Digging a little deeper, can we assume it is OK in Harkin's mind to lower the standard of living, to reduce the per capita income in order to feed an ever-growing government? Is it perfectly natural to reduce the standard of living to Cuba. Zimbabwe, Venezuela, North Korea levels in order to spend, spend , spend until Daddy takes the T-bill away?
History has shown us multiple times that the economic model espoused by your average progressive is a total failure. The French Republic, the Soviet Union, North Korea, Cuba -- all resulted in a lower standard of living and poverty for all. The poor are never lifted up, the rich and middle class are brought down.
What leaves me dumbfounded is not hat Democrats like Harkin are economically illiterate, rather that so many voters clearly are too.
First of all, I want to disagree with those who say we have a spending problem. Everyone keeps saying we have a spending problem. And when they talk about that, it’s like there’s an assumption that somehow we as a nation are broke. We can’t afford these things any longer. We’re too broke to invest in education and housing and things like that. Well look at it this way, we’re the richest nation in the history of the world. We are now the richest nation in the world. We have the highest per capita income of any major nation. That kind of begs the question, doesn’t it? If we’re so rich, why are we so broke? Is it a spending problem? No.” linkBesides the fact that the Senator is clearly mathematically challenged, Harkin's statement belies the real truth of the Democrat position on spending. It may be true we are the richest nation in the world. It may be true we have the highest per capita income of any major nation. I will accept the Senator at his word. What the man fails to grasp is that wealth, that income, belongs to individual citizens. The riches of the United States is not Governmental wealth, doled out by the State. The government takes my money to spend.
Your neighbor may be rich, but you might still be maxed out on your credit cards. His money is not your money. My money and your money is not Washington's money.
Wealth belongs to the individual. Democrats of Harkin's ilk believe they allow you to keep your wages. Conservatives like me believe the government takes my money. Read that again. There is a clear difference.
Digging a little deeper, can we assume it is OK in Harkin's mind to lower the standard of living, to reduce the per capita income in order to feed an ever-growing government? Is it perfectly natural to reduce the standard of living to Cuba. Zimbabwe, Venezuela, North Korea levels in order to spend, spend , spend until Daddy takes the T-bill away?
History has shown us multiple times that the economic model espoused by your average progressive is a total failure. The French Republic, the Soviet Union, North Korea, Cuba -- all resulted in a lower standard of living and poverty for all. The poor are never lifted up, the rich and middle class are brought down.
What leaves me dumbfounded is not hat Democrats like Harkin are economically illiterate, rather that so many voters clearly are too.
White sheets and wheelchairs
History is a fluid thing. Facts come and go out of fashion. Today's popular narrative is that the Democrats are the party of Civil Rights. Somehow Lincoln and the radical Republicans who ended slavery are dismissed. The Republicans who passed the various Civil Rights Acts in the 1890's, 1950's and 1960's are overlooked and LBJ gets the credit.
Today's modern Liberal points to FDR as the end-all, be-all; the scion of progressive policy. He is the consummate Democrat. Current historical fashion paints a picture of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt as the defenders of the common man, the model uber-rich who democratized America, the author of Social Security, and pioneers in women's rights. Somehow, the fact that Roosevelt was a racist never enters the conversation. Despite recommendations of the Joint Chiefs, he kept the military segregated. It was Truman who opened up the military.
Perhaps you may not know that FDR only invited white Olympians to the White House following the 1936 Olympics. History tells how the black American Jesse Owens humiliated Hitler and his notions of Aryan Supremacy. It is reported Hitler refused to shake Owens hand. Yet FDR did not even acknowledge Owens' miraculous winning of four gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
It is too bad history is not taught in school any more.
Today's modern Liberal points to FDR as the end-all, be-all; the scion of progressive policy. He is the consummate Democrat. Current historical fashion paints a picture of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt as the defenders of the common man, the model uber-rich who democratized America, the author of Social Security, and pioneers in women's rights. Somehow, the fact that Roosevelt was a racist never enters the conversation. Despite recommendations of the Joint Chiefs, he kept the military segregated. It was Truman who opened up the military.
Perhaps you may not know that FDR only invited white Olympians to the White House following the 1936 Olympics. History tells how the black American Jesse Owens humiliated Hitler and his notions of Aryan Supremacy. It is reported Hitler refused to shake Owens hand. Yet FDR did not even acknowledge Owens' miraculous winning of four gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
"Hitler didn't snub me -- it was [FDR] who snubbed me," said Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals. "The president didn't even send me a telegram."
It is too bad history is not taught in school any more.
February 14, 2013
Get your romance on
Frank Sings a tune from one of my favorite movies.
Here is a link to a YouTube video from Holiday Inn depicting the Valentine's Day scene. This is the tune as Mr. Berlin envisioned it. Embedding is a no-no, so you have to click over. Go ahead, it is worth it.
Just do it.
Isn't that dress beautiful?
February 13, 2013
Dear Mayor Ballard and members of the Indiana Legislature
 | |||
| www.adnahome.org |
In those early years of the twentieth century there were no sprawling shopping malls dotting the suburbs. In fact, for many residents of Central Indiana, the only place to find a big department store outside of the limited offerings of the town square was in downtown Indianapolis.
In other words, light rail and public transportation made sense. Yet it was an economic failure. The interurban went the way of street cars, covered wagons and passenger trains. The tracks are gone, the stations torn down. Riding the interurban is now but a lost memory of your grandparents' parents.
What makes anyone think the economic variables of a light rail business model that failed a century ago, in far more favorable conditions, is a good idea today? IndyGo bus service is losing money, so the concept of expansion makes no sense either. Even more of a bad idea does not make it better.
What is it about politicians that makes them lose sight of the basic fact that every penny a government spends -- at the local, state and federal level -- comes from the hard earned wages of a working taxpayer?
State of the Union recap
Blah, blah, lie, blah, blah, bigger lie, blah, blah, Michelle, blah, blah , lie, blah, blah, blah.
Republican response:
Blah, blah, words, roll over and let the Dems get 90% of their agenda, blah, blah, blah.
Republican response:
Blah, blah, words, roll over and let the Dems get 90% of their agenda, blah, blah, blah.
February 12, 2013
Sunshine and Lollipops
Dang, this is turning into a good day.
I am certain I will not watch the SOTU and let that socialist MOFO ruin my day.
I am certain I will not watch the SOTU and let that socialist MOFO ruin my day.
February 11, 2013
Pope Joe I
The Pope is calling it quits. I admire a man who recognizes his limitations. The greeter at my local WalMart should follow Benedict's lead. He too is old and infirm and unable to do the job. If you have to sit down to supervise the cart area, it is time to retire. On the other hand, my greeter friend always offers a polite nod and a cheery good morning/afternoon/evening when I enter Satan's Retail Hell, so I guess he is fulfilling the greeter role.
I imagine it is too late to convert to Catholicism and impress enough Cardinals to get some Popey consideration. Too bad. According the article I read, there are no clear frontrunners for the job. I would look good sporting a Pope hat. I would have a red 'C' emblazoned on it, perhaps a little sacred Pope support could spur the Cubbies to a title!
Imagine the moon you could make from the glass bubble on the Popemobile! I know if I am elected Pope, there would be a Papal decree keeping Tom Hanks out of Vatican City. Every time that guy shows up at St. Peter's people die. I am certain it would be beyond awesome to live in a big palace/church surrounded by artwork done by Ninja Turtles.
Is there a Rosetta Stone for Latin? I see white smoke in my future.
I imagine it is too late to convert to Catholicism and impress enough Cardinals to get some Popey consideration. Too bad. According the article I read, there are no clear frontrunners for the job. I would look good sporting a Pope hat. I would have a red 'C' emblazoned on it, perhaps a little sacred Pope support could spur the Cubbies to a title!
Imagine the moon you could make from the glass bubble on the Popemobile! I know if I am elected Pope, there would be a Papal decree keeping Tom Hanks out of Vatican City. Every time that guy shows up at St. Peter's people die. I am certain it would be beyond awesome to live in a big palace/church surrounded by artwork done by Ninja Turtles.
Is there a Rosetta Stone for Latin? I see white smoke in my future.
February 10, 2013
Do not read this post unless you want to be bored or are in need of soporific material
Friday the Missus and I joined some friends up in Capital City for a quick dinner and a show. We had tickets to see Larry the Cable Guy. Larry was entertaining as always. I imagine his humor only appeals to a certain segment of the population and I doubt many of my artsy-fartsy liberal friends were there. It was not a mimosa-at-the-art gallery crowd -- beer and pigs-in-a-blanket more likely comprises the party fare of your typical Larry the Cable Guy fan.. I have long suspected some of you imagine Larry is my better looking, funnier, smarter doppelganger.
My complaints of frequent, long-lasting chronic diarrhea finally made a impression on my doctor. My vivid and detailed account of the seven hour trip home from Rockford, Illinois a few weeks ago left him nauseous. He decided to change my meds before I broke into another tale. He cut me off before I could even mention that a score of gas stations, truck stops and McDonald's across central Illinois have banned me for life.
I have been on the new pills for over a week and so far there have been no urges to make a bowl of ass soup, but my glucose levels indicate maple syrup is flowing in place of blood. Thequack doc says give it four weeks. I have said it before, getting old ain't for the faint of heart.
I am part way through F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tales of the Jazz Age. I am enjoying it. I have always liked his writing. I have often opined I would travel back to the turn of the 20th Century were I in possession of a time machine. Perhaps the 1920's would be a better choice. If you are a historian of fashion and culture, could there be a bigger shift in clothing, morals, and societal character than comparing the earliest years of the century to the 1920's? Compare Meet Me in St. Louis to The Great Gatsby. Only about 15 or 20 years separates the two stories.
As an added bonus, there was not as much horse shit lining the streets of 1920's America. I find it interesting that as soon as muck-filled streets started to disappear, dresses quit dragging the ground.
If I was smart, this would have been three posts, instead of one I wrote Saturday and published Sunday. Yep, not only is the content boring, it is not even fresh!
Bad Blogger.
 |
| I'm healthy as a broken down horse |
I have been on the new pills for over a week and so far there have been no urges to make a bowl of ass soup, but my glucose levels indicate maple syrup is flowing in place of blood. The
I am part way through F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tales of the Jazz Age. I am enjoying it. I have always liked his writing. I have often opined I would travel back to the turn of the 20th Century were I in possession of a time machine. Perhaps the 1920's would be a better choice. If you are a historian of fashion and culture, could there be a bigger shift in clothing, morals, and societal character than comparing the earliest years of the century to the 1920's? Compare Meet Me in St. Louis to The Great Gatsby. Only about 15 or 20 years separates the two stories.
 |
| 1905 |
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| 1920's |
As an added bonus, there was not as much horse shit lining the streets of 1920's America. I find it interesting that as soon as muck-filled streets started to disappear, dresses quit dragging the ground.
If I was smart, this would have been three posts, instead of one I wrote Saturday and published Sunday. Yep, not only is the content boring, it is not even fresh!
Bad Blogger.
February 9, 2013
February 8, 2013
February 7, 2013
What she said.
Joan has it exactly right. She states what I have been struggling to put to paper here for weeks. Rove and his consultants and their war on Conservatives earlier this week decided me.
I may vote for Republican candidates going forward. If a candidate does not meet my expectations or represent my views I will vote None of the Above.
The Stupid Party will not get another penny of my hard-earned money. I will be proclaim myself an Independent going forward until a viable party with conservative views comes forth.
I may vote for Republican candidates going forward. If a candidate does not meet my expectations or represent my views I will vote None of the Above.
The Stupid Party will not get another penny of my hard-earned money. I will be proclaim myself an Independent going forward until a viable party with conservative views comes forth.
I never even turned on the GPS
Grab your trusty atlas and follow along with me on one of my journeys this week. I use a Rand McNally 2010 WalMart version, and your choice may vary.
I picked up highway 135 just west of Franklin, Indiana Tuesday afternoon. Franklin is just south of Indianapolis if you need a starting point. I headed south on 135 through Trafalgar and into quaint Brown County. For those of you who live in other parts of the country, southern Indiana is more akin to Kentucky or Tennessee or perhaps the Ozarks in that it is hilly and still forested. Brown County is a little tourist area centered on the town of Nashville and Brown County State Park.
I followed my highway through Nashville and skirted back east to go around the massive State Park. The road looped and dipped over the hills and valleys. I stayed on 135 through Brownstown and Salem.
I kept in my southernly direction until I reached Corydon, Indiana's first state capital, on the other side of I-64. In Corydon I turned right onto highway 62. I caught a glimpse of the Ohio River from the bluffs at Leavenworth. The river was a fat brown swollen snake coiling through the hills. The road twisted its way westward.
I zipped through hamlets with abandoned stores and closed gas stations, victims of the Interstate that paralleled my path a few miles northward. I passed the beautiful church at the St. Meinrad.Archabbey.. St. Meinrad is known as the Martyr of Hospitality according to a quick web search.
I motored on west, in a real driving groove now. I passed Lincoln's Boyhood home and Santa Claus without stopping. Highway 62 took a bend south and west in Dale. The hills flattened out and more farms appeared as I approached Boonville. The highway became 4 lanes and fast food franchises lined the sides as I fought the setting sun just under my visor all the way into Evansville proper.
A night in a hotel and customer stuff filled my evening and Wednesday morning.
Early Wednesday afternoon found me heading north on US 41 out of Evansville Just north of Interstate 64 I picked up Indiana highway 68 headed back east. The road ran right next to the interstate, often looking like a frontage road. Arriving back in Dale, I paused at the intersection of US 231, again thinking about seeing the Lincoln Boyhood home. Instead I turned left heading north. The road took me uneventfully through Huntingburg and Jasper. I stopped off at America's Urinal (McDonald's) to relieve myself and climbed back into the trusty Ford.
Downtown Jasper brought a turn eastward on another hilly, curvy highway. Eastbound 164 took me over Potoka Lake, but following a box truck and then a purple minivan harshed my driving buzz. The truck slowed as it lumbered up the hills. The minivan poked along, the driver unable to concentrate with a cell phone stuck to her ear. I curved along the man-made lake and picked up 145 north toward French Lick and the casino. In West Baden I turned off for a quick drive around the gorgeous West Baden Springs Hotel.
I picked up US 150 briefly toward Paoli. I passed Paoli Peaks ski resort (yes, in Indiana!) and turned north on 37 toward Bloomington. Once in the city made famous by the movie Breaking Away, I took my youngest son to dinner. I dropped him back at his dorm on the south side of Indiana University and drove east on highway 46. I skirted Brown County State Park again, this time on the north and west sides, passing once more on the edge of Nashville.
I jumped on I-65 northbound in Columbus and drove home to my loving wife. Trip totals -- two days, ten plus hours and almost 500 miles. Some days it is good to be me.
I picked up highway 135 just west of Franklin, Indiana Tuesday afternoon. Franklin is just south of Indianapolis if you need a starting point. I headed south on 135 through Trafalgar and into quaint Brown County. For those of you who live in other parts of the country, southern Indiana is more akin to Kentucky or Tennessee or perhaps the Ozarks in that it is hilly and still forested. Brown County is a little tourist area centered on the town of Nashville and Brown County State Park.
I followed my highway through Nashville and skirted back east to go around the massive State Park. The road looped and dipped over the hills and valleys. I stayed on 135 through Brownstown and Salem.
I kept in my southernly direction until I reached Corydon, Indiana's first state capital, on the other side of I-64. In Corydon I turned right onto highway 62. I caught a glimpse of the Ohio River from the bluffs at Leavenworth. The river was a fat brown swollen snake coiling through the hills. The road twisted its way westward.
I zipped through hamlets with abandoned stores and closed gas stations, victims of the Interstate that paralleled my path a few miles northward. I passed the beautiful church at the St. Meinrad.Archabbey.. St. Meinrad is known as the Martyr of Hospitality according to a quick web search.
I motored on west, in a real driving groove now. I passed Lincoln's Boyhood home and Santa Claus without stopping. Highway 62 took a bend south and west in Dale. The hills flattened out and more farms appeared as I approached Boonville. The highway became 4 lanes and fast food franchises lined the sides as I fought the setting sun just under my visor all the way into Evansville proper.
A night in a hotel and customer stuff filled my evening and Wednesday morning.
Early Wednesday afternoon found me heading north on US 41 out of Evansville Just north of Interstate 64 I picked up Indiana highway 68 headed back east. The road ran right next to the interstate, often looking like a frontage road. Arriving back in Dale, I paused at the intersection of US 231, again thinking about seeing the Lincoln Boyhood home. Instead I turned left heading north. The road took me uneventfully through Huntingburg and Jasper. I stopped off at America's Urinal (McDonald's) to relieve myself and climbed back into the trusty Ford.
Downtown Jasper brought a turn eastward on another hilly, curvy highway. Eastbound 164 took me over Potoka Lake, but following a box truck and then a purple minivan harshed my driving buzz. The truck slowed as it lumbered up the hills. The minivan poked along, the driver unable to concentrate with a cell phone stuck to her ear. I curved along the man-made lake and picked up 145 north toward French Lick and the casino. In West Baden I turned off for a quick drive around the gorgeous West Baden Springs Hotel.
I picked up US 150 briefly toward Paoli. I passed Paoli Peaks ski resort (yes, in Indiana!) and turned north on 37 toward Bloomington. Once in the city made famous by the movie Breaking Away, I took my youngest son to dinner. I dropped him back at his dorm on the south side of Indiana University and drove east on highway 46. I skirted Brown County State Park again, this time on the north and west sides, passing once more on the edge of Nashville.
I jumped on I-65 northbound in Columbus and drove home to my loving wife. Trip totals -- two days, ten plus hours and almost 500 miles. Some days it is good to be me.
February 6, 2013
Speechless
In today's version of the poitically correct Twighlight Zone I present for your disaporaval the following:
Vanderbuilt censors Christian group for being Christian.
Words fail me.
Vanderbuilt censors Christian group for being Christian.
Words fail me.
February 5, 2013
ET Phone Home
The phone worked great. Unless I was in the deepest hinterlands, I could get a crystal clear reception. I suspect the clarity of signal was partially due in that the total number of people using a cell phone in my area was small. In those dinosaur days cell phone users in semi-rural Indiana numbered in the hundreds, not the hundreds of thousands that use the phones today.. Lots of bandwidth (or whatever the magical cellphone airwaves are called) was available.
Those old cell phones called and received calls. There were no games, no calculator, no video, no music. They were phones. For the record, few people had my cell number, I mostly used my limited minutes to call out. Roaming was a constant feature and one had to pay attention when crossing the imaginary lines into the territories of rival cell phone providers.
After a time I migrated to a chunky Nokia and eventually to a series of flip phones. I combined my trusty Palm organizer with my cell phone when I got the first of two or three Treo models. I might have had a Blackberry sandwiched in there somewhere. I have had iPhones the past several years.
I am due for a replacement phone in a few weeks. I am not sure what I am going to buy this time. I like my iPhone just fine. The Droids have some cool features. I might just keep my current phone until it quits functioning.
February 4, 2013
Shaking my head here, Boss
Much of this world leaves me dazed and confused. Not in the movie way, but rather in a WTF? way.
I was watching a cooking show on TV. I do this a lot. The experts were showing how to make homemade Tater Tots. While I am sure they were tasty, all I could think was Why?
I was watching a cooking show on TV. I do this a lot. The experts were showing how to make homemade Tater Tots. While I am sure they were tasty, all I could think was Why?
February 3, 2013
Sports Sunday
Today is the Big Game. I will not offer a prognostication as I really do not care. I will watch. I think it could be a good game, but I do not care which team wins.
The sports writers of America clearly believe recovering from a severe knee injury in short period of time (forget players in the past like Wes Welker have done the same thing) is far more impressive than returning from four freaking neck surgeries to compete at the highest level in the most difficult position in football.. Manning's numbers were remarkable considering he had not played for a year, and was on a new team with new coaches. Peterson carried his team to two great victories at the end of the season to make the playoffs. Manning lead his team to the best record in the AFC.
Spring training starts in a few weeks and perhaps the Cubs can keep from losing 100 games this year.
Did you see my boy on TV? He was in the crowd at the IU beat down of Michigan last night.
The sports writers of America clearly believe recovering from a severe knee injury in short period of time (forget players in the past like Wes Welker have done the same thing) is far more impressive than returning from four freaking neck surgeries to compete at the highest level in the most difficult position in football.. Manning's numbers were remarkable considering he had not played for a year, and was on a new team with new coaches. Peterson carried his team to two great victories at the end of the season to make the playoffs. Manning lead his team to the best record in the AFC.
Spring training starts in a few weeks and perhaps the Cubs can keep from losing 100 games this year.
Did you see my boy on TV? He was in the crowd at the IU beat down of Michigan last night.
February 2, 2013
Happy Groundhog Day
I love the movie Groundhog Day. I once had a dream I watched it over and over. .Andie MacDowell is easy on the eyes
Happy Groundhog Day
I love the movie Groundhog Day. I once had a dream I watched it over and over. .Andie MacDowell is easy on the eyes
Happy Groundhog Day
I love the movie Groundhog Day. I once had a dream I watched it over and over. .Andie MacDowell is easy on the eyes
Happy Groundhog Day
I love the movie Groundhog Day. I once had a dream I watched it over and over. .Andie MacDowell is easy on the eyes
Happy Groundhog Day
I love the movie Groundhog Day. I once had a dream I watched it over and over. .Andie MacDowell is easy on the eyes
February 1, 2013
A Democrat finally speaks the truth!
“Nothing we’re going to do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that we will bring gun deaths down to 1,000 a year from what it is now,” Biden told reporters Thursday afternoon after he spent over an hour lunching with Democratic senators at the Capitol. VP Joe Biden via Hot Air
As I have said, Democrats are not pushing for gun control to stop another mass shooting, it is about control.