It is a bright and chilly Saturday of Super Bowl weekend. I am less than excited to see two of my least favorite teams face off in the big game.
The SnowTeam/ScareTeam s in high panic over the prospect we might get a lot of snow, or maybe a little snow, or perhaps just cold rain overnight and Sunday. It could be bad. Or not. They advise that I keep watching as they continue to guess. One thing is certain, we will have weather outside my office window.
The youngest boy has the weekend off from work, primarily because the restaurant where he works was heavily damaged by fire last Sunday. He is coming home later today. I visited with my daughter and granddaughter Thursday. I had lunch with my oldest son yesterday and my youngest will be home today. Yes, that is a smile on my usually cranky countenance. If I could convince the wife to give up some nookie this morning, the weekend would be complete.
Well you can't have everything.
Have a great weekend and stay warm.
January 31, 2015
January 30, 2015
Old Habits
Back in the middle years of the 1980's, we traveled up to Merrillville, Indiana to the Holiday Star Theater to see old Hank Jr. in concert. The asshole was wasted. He would start a song, play a little bit then just kind of taper off. Sometimes Bocepheus forgot the lyrics, sometimes he forgot what song he was playing and launched into a different hit. Mayhaps it was on purpose; it came off as amateurish at best. Towards the end of the show they brought out a stool so Hank could sit down before he fell down. He ended the show stripped to the waist, fat belly bouncing as he jumped around the stage. I think he was playing Kaw-Liga. It was thirty years ago, I can't remember every detail. I think beer was involved on my part as well. The primary difference was no one coughed up hard earned dollars for ducats to see me.
In all, it was one of the worst performances I ever paid to see.
Still I like this song, and it sums up my feelings to both the Friday Music feature and the old blog in particular. Plus, Freddie, my favorite lurker-in-chief likes country music*. Perhaps not oldies like this, but it is the effort that counts. Right?
*so I think. I might be wrong. I don't know. Just listen to the music, OK?
January 27, 2015
I believe
You "believe" stuff when there is no verifiable proof. I believe in God. I cannot prove he exists, if you are a sceptic you won't believe.
People claim they believe in man-made global warming/climate change. They cannot prove it exists, but they believe fervently.
I suppose I am a climate agnostic. I used to own a book that used weather, or climate if you prefer, as a means of predicting future events. The author used past weather to map human events and offered a view of the future. Not surprisingly, I picked up the tome for either free or next to nothing at a library book sale. The whole theory is crackpot. You have to love the 1970s.
Weather models fail to forecast with much accuracy 24, heck 12 hours, in advance of a storm. Yet we are supposed to change our way of life, our economy, our behavior based on weather models for ten or twenty years from now? Those same models, ten years ago, predicted a much different reality. In fact they were dead wrong. Too bad I lost my free book, it may have been more accurate.
People claim they believe in man-made global warming/climate change. They cannot prove it exists, but they believe fervently.
I suppose I am a climate agnostic. I used to own a book that used weather, or climate if you prefer, as a means of predicting future events. The author used past weather to map human events and offered a view of the future. Not surprisingly, I picked up the tome for either free or next to nothing at a library book sale. The whole theory is crackpot. You have to love the 1970s.
Weather models fail to forecast with much accuracy 24, heck 12 hours, in advance of a storm. Yet we are supposed to change our way of life, our economy, our behavior based on weather models for ten or twenty years from now? Those same models, ten years ago, predicted a much different reality. In fact they were dead wrong. Too bad I lost my free book, it may have been more accurate.
Mental snooze button
I need more coffee. I am groggy this morning. I got a good night of sleep. I've been up an hour and ,my brain is still in sleep mode. I'll try this thing later.
January 26, 2015
Let's see
It is Monday, so I outta post something. I had a good if uneventful weekend. It snowed a bit on Sunday.
Yesterday the wife and I went out for brunch at Granite City, I ate entirely too much. Too much bacon, too much biscuits and gravy, too much prime rib. Too much of everything. Afterward, the wife dropped me off at home while she walked around the mall. I watched the movie "42" and took a well deserved nap.
Now I am off to do some work.
Things to do for this Monday:
1) write a boring blog post. Check.
Have a great day.
Yesterday the wife and I went out for brunch at Granite City, I ate entirely too much. Too much bacon, too much biscuits and gravy, too much prime rib. Too much of everything. Afterward, the wife dropped me off at home while she walked around the mall. I watched the movie "42" and took a well deserved nap.
Now I am off to do some work.
Things to do for this Monday:
1) write a boring blog post. Check.
Have a great day.
January 24, 2015
Let's Play Two
RIP Ernie. You lived and played with class and gusto.
Say "Hey" to Ronnie when you get to the big game in Heaven.
Say "Hey" to Ronnie when you get to the big game in Heaven.
January 23, 2015
January 22, 2015
But they are tryin' hard
The cool thing about deflategate is that I can republish old stuff. You gotta love the classics.
Look, I will say this, The Colts lost that game. The Patriots were better. Period. Deflated footballs had nothing to do with the Colts inability to tackle.
But cheating is cheating. Writing that algebra formula on your forearm only helps you get one answer correct, but get caught and you still fail the tst.
I will also say this, NFL players are craftsmen. They are experts in their field. A quarterback knows exactly how a ball should feel. I do not buy for a moment Brady did not know the balls were deflated by 15%. Ask any craftsman and he knows intimately the feel of each one of his tools. Eleven out of twelve balls indicates something nefarious.
January 21, 2015
The 1%
So here is the thing, I'm not rich. Not even close. I could best be described as decidedly middle class. I do live in one of the more affluent communities in one of the more affluent counties in the state. Someone has to comprise the bottom half. That said, I think I am missing that gene that makes me angry at the rich folk that surround me.
Sure, I like money. I would gladly take more of it. The fact that there are houses worth two or three times the value of mine just a few blocks away does not bother me a whit. There are millionaires and multi-million dollar houses down the street. Literally just down the street. So what?
Those people have their money. They earned it, inherited it or borrowed it. None of that concerns me. You see, wealth is not static, there is not a defined amount of cash available in the world and every dollar you earn means there is one less dollar available for me. We all can gain wealth.
Most of us would be counted as fantastically rich in many parts of the world, even if you are eating hot dogs and pancakes as part of your regular diet.
I don't think we should be envious of the one percent. I think we should aspire to be one of the club. When I read how the richest pay most of the taxes I don't think for a minute they do not pay their fair share. I wonder why some want to punish success.
Sure, I like money. I would gladly take more of it. The fact that there are houses worth two or three times the value of mine just a few blocks away does not bother me a whit. There are millionaires and multi-million dollar houses down the street. Literally just down the street. So what?
Those people have their money. They earned it, inherited it or borrowed it. None of that concerns me. You see, wealth is not static, there is not a defined amount of cash available in the world and every dollar you earn means there is one less dollar available for me. We all can gain wealth.
Most of us would be counted as fantastically rich in many parts of the world, even if you are eating hot dogs and pancakes as part of your regular diet.
I don't think we should be envious of the one percent. I think we should aspire to be one of the club. When I read how the richest pay most of the taxes I don't think for a minute they do not pay their fair share. I wonder why some want to punish success.
January 20, 2015
State of the Union
I predict* The Obama will trot out the worn pages from the Democrat playbook, namely tax the rich, banks are evil, global warming, but racists, wealth redistribution, amnesty, blah blah. I could just slap up a recording of the Ten Years After classic "I Want To Change The World", but I have done that so many times in the past it is redundant, but this line sure is indicative of Obama's policies:
"I want to change the world, but I don't know what to do"
Indeed.
* at the risk of pissing off EOB, who is obsessed with my predictions and spends significant time, words, and angst over my righteousness.
"I want to change the world, but I don't know what to do"
Indeed.
* at the risk of pissing off EOB, who is obsessed with my predictions and spends significant time, words, and angst over my righteousness.
January 19, 2015
The Art of Packing
if you have read this piece o'crap blog for very long you likely know that I am a salesman. The kind that travels to my customers. I have been doing this for more than twenty years. By my best gestimation I have flown more than 900 flights and driven more than a million miles. I have been to nearly every state and ten foreign countries. I have mastered the art of packing a suitcase. It takes me about ten minutes to pack for a four or five day trip and much of that time is spent choosing what to wear. I rarely over pack, but I do plan for contingencies: usually an extra shirt, and small clothes.
I always laugh when we get ready to pack for a vacation. My wife insists on packing the suitcases. She is confident only she can fold and arrange the stuff in a proper manner. I explained I don't show up at my customers rumpled and wrinkled, but I might as well explain the the Federal assault at Cold Harbor, she has no interest In what I have to say. She over packs, wastes space and still does not get that shoes are bulky and heavy, and it is not necessary to have a different pair for every outfit.
Oh well, I gave up that fight a long time ago. I'm off to get ready for a business trip.
Edit: it just took me 4 minutes to pack enough for four days.
I always laugh when we get ready to pack for a vacation. My wife insists on packing the suitcases. She is confident only she can fold and arrange the stuff in a proper manner. I explained I don't show up at my customers rumpled and wrinkled, but I might as well explain the the Federal assault at Cold Harbor, she has no interest In what I have to say. She over packs, wastes space and still does not get that shoes are bulky and heavy, and it is not necessary to have a different pair for every outfit.
Oh well, I gave up that fight a long time ago. I'm off to get ready for a business trip.
Edit: it just took me 4 minutes to pack enough for four days.
January 18, 2015
It is about time
Look, I'm not one to complain...
OK, even I laughed at that beginning.
...but it is past time to stop burning the Christmas lights. I get it-- it I s cold. No one wants to hazard the cold and ice, ripping down strands of lights from rooftops and shrubbery. I'm not suggesting you have to take them down, but it is possible to unplug the damn things. Enough already.
OK, even I laughed at that beginning.
...but it is past time to stop burning the Christmas lights. I get it-- it I s cold. No one wants to hazard the cold and ice, ripping down strands of lights from rooftops and shrubbery. I'm not suggesting you have to take them down, but it is possible to unplug the damn things. Enough already.
January 17, 2015
No wonder they sat out the Big One
As is my wont, I study various periods in history. On my drive back from Missouri this week I was listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast. He mentioned a fact that blew me away. I have not done the verification research, but Carlin is usually pretty good. Ponder this; in the first 3-1/2 years of WWI, the French had more casualties than the combined American losses in all of our wars.
According to Wikipedia, France lost about 1.35 million out of a population of 39.6 million. If you add civilian casualties that total increases to more than 4% of the population. If those numbers were applied to America's population today that would be losses of more than 10 million in four years.
Man is capable of creating true horror.
According to Wikipedia, France lost about 1.35 million out of a population of 39.6 million. If you add civilian casualties that total increases to more than 4% of the population. If those numbers were applied to America's population today that would be losses of more than 10 million in four years.
Man is capable of creating true horror.
January 16, 2015
Another Kumbaya moment
How about another crazy idea. I say the folks who decide what movies are nominated for "best" picture or whatever base their decision on the quality of the content rather than the color of the actor's skin. I think that is particularly an apt policy when the movie in question deals with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..
I know, "But racist" is the theme of the times.
I know, "But racist" is the theme of the times.
January 15, 2015
F you Oxford Press. F you silly people
Pork pork pork pork pork pork
Pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig
Sausage sausage sausage sausage
Bacon bacon bacon bacon
Pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/396356/oxford-university-press-authors-shouldnt-talk-about-pork-case-they-offend-others
Pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig
Sausage sausage sausage sausage
Bacon bacon bacon bacon
Pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig pig
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/396356/oxford-university-press-authors-shouldnt-talk-about-pork-case-they-offend-others
January 14, 2015
on the road again
Hotel life, passing time on America's interstate highway system. Stopping at a random McDonalds to ensure the chain continues to function as America's urinal. Not to eat, though. Even salesmen have standards. It is good to be working, doing what I do well. A whole new industry, new products, new customers bring exciting challenges. I already miss my family though. Being home six straight months has been nice. But the slight case of homesickness is offset by new places to see, new roads to drive. In the meantime I am readjusting to living out of a suitcase and trying hard not to think about what bacteria is lurking on the tv remote.
Hope you readers are having a great Wednesday.
January 13, 2015
Progressive hypocracy volume 3,411
All of the Obamapologists are defending the Administration's failure to send anyone of note to the Paris rally against Islamic terrorism, citing such events are symbolic and do not accomplish anything but make one feel better. While I agree, where were these folks deriding the Occupy protests (just what were they protesting anyway?), or even the multitude of marches in Ferguson?
Funny, the top law enforcement officer had time to protest against a cop who defended himself against a rampaging thug, but skipped out of gay Paree before he had to take a stand against real murderers.
Say, would the same folks who think the March in Paris was a waste of time offer the same opinion after viewing the movie about the civil rights march in Selma? Will Bob Beckel offer a review that says "good movie, but a mere symbolic gesture".
Funny, the top law enforcement officer had time to protest against a cop who defended himself against a rampaging thug, but skipped out of gay Paree before he had to take a stand against real murderers.
Say, would the same folks who think the March in Paris was a waste of time offer the same opinion after viewing the movie about the civil rights march in Selma? Will Bob Beckel offer a review that says "good movie, but a mere symbolic gesture".
January 12, 2015
Monday Review
I'm trying to remember what I did all weekend, I was busy but no activities come to mind.
We did babysit Saturday for a bit. Played some cards with some friends Saturday night.
On Sunday I watched football.
Yep that about covers it.
We did babysit Saturday for a bit. Played some cards with some friends Saturday night.
On Sunday I watched football.
Yep that about covers it.
January 11, 2015
Lemme see if I understand
Our erstwhile politicians in Washington have passed rules and regulations that mandate higher gas mileage standards for cars and trucks. Now vehicles use less gas. Since cars use less gas then the gas taxes collected are lower.
Well, duh!
Now the politicians from both parties are trying to blame the lower gas prices as an excuse to raise the federal gas tax. The only problem is that tax is a flat rate per gallon (about 18 cents) and bears no relation to the rising or falling cost of crude or refined gasoline. The government is not collecting less tax because of oil prices but rather because of their own short-sided stupidity. (Quick aside - if high prices were an indication that Big Oil was greedy, what do lower prices mean?).
This is not the first instance of lawmakers inability to see consequences for their laws. When the raised cigarette taxes to encourage smokers to quit, the politicos were shocked when cigarette tax revenue fell. When Congress mandated employers must pay health insurance for anyone who works 30 hours a week employers cut hours .
Here is a plan, instead of raising gas taxes, how about we cut the automatic funding increases in government programs. Better yet, how about actual funding cuts if we need money for infrastructure. Fund it that way. I know, use the money Obama has planned for free college. BTW, what happened to the billion dollars in Obama's Stimulus that was supposed to rebuild the bridges and roads?
Well, duh!
Now the politicians from both parties are trying to blame the lower gas prices as an excuse to raise the federal gas tax. The only problem is that tax is a flat rate per gallon (about 18 cents) and bears no relation to the rising or falling cost of crude or refined gasoline. The government is not collecting less tax because of oil prices but rather because of their own short-sided stupidity. (Quick aside - if high prices were an indication that Big Oil was greedy, what do lower prices mean?).
This is not the first instance of lawmakers inability to see consequences for their laws. When the raised cigarette taxes to encourage smokers to quit, the politicos were shocked when cigarette tax revenue fell. When Congress mandated employers must pay health insurance for anyone who works 30 hours a week employers cut hours .
Here is a plan, instead of raising gas taxes, how about we cut the automatic funding increases in government programs. Better yet, how about actual funding cuts if we need money for infrastructure. Fund it that way. I know, use the money Obama has planned for free college. BTW, what happened to the billion dollars in Obama's Stimulus that was supposed to rebuild the bridges and roads?
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