Wednesday, April 30, 2014

New girl in town

SWACgirl has a new gig, and friends helping make her new blog entry welcoming.

Mike Rowe works

CNN tells of Mike Rowe's visit to Capitol Hill.
Did you know he will have a show on CNN soon?
Maybe he can teach CNN reporters to work, instead of following Democratic talking points.

Starve, shiver to make Chris Hayes happy

Megan McArdle looks at what Chris Hayes missed - the good things that come from fossil fuel use.
So when we say that we want to leave all that fossil fuel in the ground, what we are saying is that we want everyone on the planet to be much, much poorer. Perhaps there is some metaphysical ledger where you could prove that this is the right thing to do. But here on Earth, who will volunteer to move the spouse and kids into a studio apartment and subsist on gruel?
Let Hayes live on gruel.
And see if he sticks with his opinions.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

It's a gas

Iowahawk has crowned an annual champion - the best at burning carbon.
Many cool cars were entered, but earning the trophy was EPA's Gina McCarthy - for cruising around the country touting ways not to waste energy.
Private jet travel is carbon neutral, right?

Listen to the doctor

Wall Street Journal gives space to a 58-year-old doctor who's tired of being bossed around.
I don't know about other physicians but I am tired—tired of the mandates, tired of outside interference, tired of anything that unnecessarily interferes with the way I practice medicine. No other profession would put up with this kind of scrutiny and coercion from outside forces. The legal profession would not. The labor unions would not. We as physicians continue to plod along and take care of our patients while those on the outside continue to intrude and interfere with the practice of medicine.

Looking at the Benghazi emails

Roger L. Simon knows what should be done after reading newly released emails on Benghazi.
The levels of criminality involved in this are mind-boggling.  Everyone from Ben Rhodes to Hillary Clinton to Jay Carney to Susan Rice to Mike Morell to Barack Obama and on and on must explain themselves minute-by-minute. American “liberals” and their media consorts should search their souls. People died here.
You can't cover up the truth.
That's the difference that it makes.

Stories of the NRA convention

Bob Owens tells what he saw at the NRA convention - more than a few speeches.
Definitely not what you read in the major papers, where they seem to follow a script.
You listen to a speech, or just as likely, get the pre-printed transcript. You cherry-pick the most provocative quotes that will help confirm the article you had decided to write before you stepped through the door for your press credentials.  You file a story from your hotel room, and catch your flight home. If you’re lucky, you can do all of this without having to spend time with any of the people actually attending the show.
I happen to think that this sort of “helicopter journalism”—bouncing in, bouncing out—entirely misses the point of these large consumer shows, where triumphant capitalism, possible dreams, spur-of-the-moment quips, and most importantly, individual connections, are the order of the day.

The doctor will help you now

Enjoy the background on Dr. Monica Wehby's ad for Senate in Oregon.


Monday, April 28, 2014

Fly me to the moon

A fine job by nerds - restoring and making digital photos taken from the first unmanned spacecraft to orbit the moon.
The Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project has since 2007 brought some 2,000 pictures back from 1,500 analog data tapes. They contain the first high-resolution photographs ever taken from behind the lunar horizon, including the first photo of an earthrise.

Throw your children into the volcano

Matt Walsh isn't impressed with one reason not to homeschool - the public schools need your help.
Would the school system be helped if my family ‘participated’ in it? Maybe, and I’m sure the circus would be helped if you went on stage and stuck your head in a lion’s mouth. But you won’t sacrifice your scalp to the Ringling Brothers, and I won’t sacrifice my kids’ brains to public school. I guess we’re even.
Parents want what's best for their kids.
Make the schools better for their kids is the first, not second step.

Time to make the schedule

Peter King gives the insight on how the NFL schedule is made.
After plugging in restriction after restriction, the magic schedule emerged from one of those 40 computers April 16, at precisely 4:20 p.m. In the six days that followed, 175 other schedules were analyzed as competitors, and 24 emerged as serious contenders, but none could beat the April 16 winner. 
At least you know who to fuss at if you don't like your team's schedule.

One doctor, no future

Via Drudge Report, the story of a California doctor wanting to continue practicing - but being squeezed by new laws.
In a slow-motion version of the problems that crippled online insurance “exchanges” for months, doctors who see patients under Medicare and Medi-Cal programs have been forced by the phase-in of a 2009 federal "stimulus" law to install expensive, complex software systems that sharply reduce time for patients.
For many doctors, it’s the final straw. Surveys suggest that older physicians are retiring in high numbers. Younger ones are closing practices and taking jobs with integrated health systems.
If you like your doctor, you can keep him.
If he can survive the other changes.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Gas and drive liberals crazy

Wyblog found a reason to support Wawa - an article fussing about a small donation they made to the New Jersey Republican State Committee.
I always stop at Wawa before heading to the Outer Banks.
Another reason to stop there next time.

Sterling's lifetime achievement

A poor guy can't say bad things to his mistress without getting into trouble.
But Donald Douglas has the rest of the story - Donald Sterling's record of donating to Democrats.
And it's three weeks until he was scheduled to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP.
Remember these facts you probably won't get from ESPN's wall-to-wall coverage this week.

Poor Bird

The pie in the face in the post-game interview has stormed through baseball.
But Saturday in Baltimore, the mascot got hit instead of the star player.


Saturday, April 26, 2014

Spambots against guns

NRO notices a pattern of tweets against the NRA.
Real people or spambots using the same pattern of targets?

Facebook quote of the week

Ever have one of those days when you wish you could put a gag on some people???? Maybe it's just Monday.

Saturday song

Remember the DeFranco family? With a groovy set and Jack Benny too.


Friday, April 25, 2014

Precision guided tweets

Ace isn't impressed by the State Department's arsenal of hashtags.
The EU knew that they too would only offer Strongly Worded Tweets, should Ukraine depose Yanukuvich and Russia in turn invade Urkaine. Which is why they attempted to discourage Ukraine from doing that.
The American President, on the other hand, urged Ukraine to do just that, without telling them that should Russia begin shooting bullets into Ukrainians, the Ukranians could expect America to respond with Precision-Guided Tweets.
Don't think Putin has been impressed either.

A litany of failure

Rush noticed today that Commentary's Peter Wehner has come around to the "Obama as failure" side.
By now, nearly five and a half years into the Obama presidency, objective people can draw reasonable conclusions, among which are these: Barack Obama was among the least prepared men to ever serve as presidency. It shows. He has been overmatched by events right from the start. He is an excellent campaigner but unusually inept when it comes to governing.
Republicans can't wait to push the reset button.

Nerds

Larry Correia has an interesting post about angry liberals going crazy because he was nominated - one of several choices - for a science fiction book award.
You can enjoy the long or short versions:
The short one -
  1. I said a chunk of the Hugo voters are biased toward the left, and put the author’s politics far ahead of the quality of the work. Those openly on the right are sabotaged. This was denied.
  2. So I got some right wingers on the ballot.
  3. The biased voters immediately got all outraged and mobilized to do exactly what I said they’d do.
  4. Point made.
Maybe these nerds need to leave their mother's basements more often.

Getting back to the story

The left thinks they can ignore Cliven Bundy's claim against the government due to his comments.
The DaTech Guy has some other ideas to return the focus to the Bureau of Land Management.

Weekend watchdog

Tis the season for night racing.
NASCAR is in the midst of four night races - plus the all-star weekend - in five events. The lights will be on in Richmond Saturday on Fox at 7 p.m.
Seven different drivers won in the first seven races, with Kevin Harvick becoming the first repeat winner at Darlington under the lights two weeks ago. The month of May features a night race in Kansas before the all-star race and Coke 600 in Charlotte Memorial Day weekend.
The Nationwide drivers hit the track Friday on ESPNews at 7 p.m.
NBC Sports network carries the Indy Car circuit from Alabama Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
The NBA and NHL playoffs reach the middle of the first round contests this weekend. Washington, up two games to none, hosts Chicago Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN and Comcast. ESPN2 offers the Raptors heading to Brooklyn at 7 p.m., and ESPN has Houston-Portland at 10:30 p.m.
TNT has the Hawks and Pacers Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by Spurs-Mavericks. The Bobcats host the Heat Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN, and the Grizzlies take on the Thunder in the nightcap.
ABC's Sunday doubleheader starts with the Wizards and Bulls at 1 p.m. The Clippers and Warriors tangle at 3:30 p.m., then it's off to TNT for the Raptors facing the Nets at 7 p.m. and Rockets battling the TrailBlazers at 9:30 p.m.
On the ice, the Flyers and Rangers play the fourth game of their series Friday at 7 p.m. on CNBC. The Blackhawks face the Blues on NBC Sports network at 8 p.m., then the Stars visit the Ducks at 10:30 p.m. NBC plans Red Wings-Bruins Saturday at 3 p.m., and NBC Sports network brings the Blue Jackets against Penguins at 7 p.m. followed by Wild-Avalanche.
The Rangers and Flyers return to New York Sunday at noon on NBC and the Blues and Blackhawks battle at 3 p.m. It's Game 6 between the Ducks and Stars on NBC Sports network at 8 p.m.
The Orioles host Kansas City over the weekend on MASN, while the Nationals continue a set with San Diego on MASN2.
ESPN has the Yankees against Angels Sunday at 8 p.m., and the teams meet on FoxSports1 Saturday at 1 p.m. The Pirates and Cardinals battle at 4 p.m.
On the college diamond, Comcast has three games on Saturday. They start in the ACC with Georgia Tech against North Carolina State at 1 p.m., then it's Georgia at Vanderbilt at 4 p.m. Clemson faces Miami at 7 p.m.
South Carolina faces Alabama Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
Arena Football comes to ESPN2 Sunday at 4 p.m., with Iowa facing Philadelphia.
New Orleans hosts the PGA tour for the Zurich Classic Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. on CBS.
Manchester United meets Norwich City in Premier League action on NBC Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Everton takes on Southampton on NBC Sports network at 7:45 a.m., then Stoke City battles Tottenham Hotspur at 10 a.m. There's three more games Sunday, starting Sunderland against Cardiff City at 7 a.m. Liverpool clashes with Chelsea at 9 a.m. before Crystal Palace faces Manchester City.
Comcast offers the ACC women's lacrosse tournament, with the semifinals Friday at 1 and 3 p.m. and the final Sunday at 1 p.m.
Baylor hosts Kansas in college softball on MASN2 Saturday at 4 p.m.
NBC Sports network has the Penn Relays Saturday at noon and Drake Relays at 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Super Collider Collision

CBS will be having big bangs on Thursday in the fall - but where will Big Bang Theory be seen?
The Thursday night schedule starts with the Steelers at Ravens at 8:25 p.m. - definitely a big bang collision.
They just have to find room for Penny and Leonard.

Think you have it rough?

The Federalist compares the tough lives of American women to the problems faced by women around the world.
It's Happy Meals vs. kidnapping.
Banning bossy vs. banning driving.
It's no contest.
American women have it tougher - comparing their small problems to the rest of the world.

What about the real issue?

Liberals are trying to use racist statements by Cliven Bundy to weaken support for the rancher.
Which raises the question.
Should his opinions disqualify him from his livelihood?
If not, why the fuss?
If so, then anyone can lose their livelihood at the whim of government or the crowd.
The man wanted to be left alone to continue the family tradition of raising cattle.
The government thought the west was tamed, and now didn't need ranchers to help watch the land.
Can you depend on government or can you lose your livelihood when they change their minds?
You'd think liberals would want to support the man against the power.

See the circus

A circus is coming to town next week.
Not just Ringling Brothers.
The anti-circus whiners will be there too.
When heading into the arena, remind your children not to point at the protesters and laugh.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Hail to Haley

Poor liberals at Think Progress.
They think they've found the worst ad of the 2014 political season already.
I wonder if they thought before they whined.
South Carolina's Nikki Haley leads by 15 points in polls.
It's early in the political season, and only junkies are watching ads now.
And it's South Carolina, where Republicans have held the state house all but four years since 1987.
I'd think Haley, her staff and the Republican Governors Association know the voters they are trying to reach in South Carolina.
A worst ad for liberals probably boosts Haley's likely re-election.

Plan your fall

The NFL brought out its 2014 schedule Wednesday.
Both games between the Ravens and Steelers will be in primetime.
And welcome back Saturday football the weekend before Christmas.

Hillary, the delicate flower

Erick Erickson offended liberals while hosting Rush's radio show Tuesday.
“She’s going to be old!” Erickson noted. “I don’t know how far back they can pull her face!” he added.
“Can I say that on the air? I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t,” Erickson continued. “You know what I mean, though!”
You can't be mean to Hillary.
Just because she'll be 69 in November 2016, you can't say she'll be old.
The coming election won't be pretty.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Saving the worst for last

The New York Times waits until the final two paragraphs to explain a major problem with Obamacare - the incentive to stay on subsidies instead of working and making more money.
And now that she has health insurance for the first time, she has already begun worrying about losing it. Might she have to give it up if her income grows and her subsidy shrinks?
“If work picks back up and I jump right back up there,” she said, “then I’m stuck.”
If she stays on the subsidy, then the people are stuck with the bill.

Hail to the victors valiant

The Supreme Court let the Michigan voters have their say Tuesday - not overturning the 2006 electoral decision on discrimination.
Time to move on - but I doubt MSNBC will.

Going to the senior specials together

Via Instapundit, news of a rise in people ages 50-64 moving back in with their parents.
For seven years through 2012, the number of Californians aged 50 to 64 who live in their parents' homes swelled 67.6% to about 194,000, according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development.
The jump is almost exclusively the result of financial hardship caused by the recession rather than for other reasons, such as the need to care for aging parents, said Steven P. Wallace, a UCLA professor of public health who crunched the data.
Wonder if they have curfews again?

A good career

A longtime Baltimore newscaster - Don Scott - has announced his plans to retire this summer.
While in high school, I talked with him at a career fair about working in broadcasting.
That was 35 years ago.
I went into the newspaper business, but obviously Scott knew plenty about being successful in his career.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Guesses, based on too little data

Megan McArdle tries to tease some information out of the latest Obamacare numbers.
The good news is that pretty soon, we’ll find out what the insurers are thinking; they’ll start filing some of their preliminary rate increases in a couple of weeks. My guess would be that those increases will be modest in places such as New York, which had a lot of signups -- and had also nearly destroyed its private insurance market, so that almost any reform would have been an improvement. My guess would be that in other places, where the signups are too old or too few, premiums will jump sharply.
The debate continues.

The word for today is "dilute"

My 13-year-old likes the Kool-Aid liquid that you squirt into a bottle of water.
He wondered what the liquid tasted like straight.
He checked the label for safety, to see if you shouldn't do that.
He saw "Always Dilute" on the side of the package.
He wasn't sure what "dilute" meant.
He learned after taking a sip of the liquid.
It's good to learn new words.

Guess who's out of the will

Washington Post shares an interesting question - do you have to carry your child on your insurance until they turn 26?
No.
For the daughter who said the law requires it, it's doesn't require you staying in the will.

Posting what you don't understand

Over at Ace, they blast a post by Vox that goes completely opposite of their political philosophy.
If your entire worldview is based on greater concentration of political power over the economy and the incentives under which individuals operate, wouldn't you look at those 4 points alone and either say, "What an idiot this guy is!" or "Hmmm....I may need to evaluate my thinking on everything."?
How can you read those words and think, "Yes! This guy nails it and oh by the way, society should be organized in such a way as to ignore everything he just said"?

Sunday, April 20, 2014

At the cross

DaTech Guy stands at the cross and remembers the reason for this season.
But no matter where you fall within the Christian sphere there is one issue that can’t be ducked, dodged or hidden if you claim Christianity you are confronted with Easter, Jesus died for our sins and after three days rose from the dead.
It is this, and NOT Christmas that is the center of our belief, if Christ doesn’t die for our sins, our debt is not paid, and if he doesn’t rise again our eternal life is not achieved.
Even decorated with flowers, the cross stands out.

Time to rev up

Iowahawk wants to get your motor running - time for the annual Earth Day cruise-in.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Easter song

Get ready for Easter with Keith Green.


Ice, ice baby

Powerline finds the picture of ice coverage of the Great Lakes - a month into spring.
Few recreational boats act like icebreakers - so it might be a while before they enjoy the lakes.

More trouble? How?

Legal Insurrection wonders how Elizabeth Warren's new book will be received by the Cherokee women whom she receives to meet.
They are ready for the book signings.
“We would still like to meet with Senator Warren and share information with her. She’s in a position to make a difference for American Indians if she would be willing to meet with us and listen to our concerns. It’s just my opinion, but I think it would be an opportunity to take something negative from the past and turn it into something positive for the future.”

Facebook quote of the week

According to the 9 citations I got for trespassing and peeping, "Neighborhood Watch" is not what I thought it was...

Saturday song

Rocking the disco world with Yvonne Elliman.


Friday, April 18, 2014

Moochers against moochers

An interesting attack by liberals against Cliven Bundy is to call him a deadbeat.
Look at him use our land and not pay for it.
Coming from people like Harry Reid, who use our money to build their powerbase. I doubt it's persuasive.
Highlighting moocher reminds conservatives of their dislike of those who ride in the wagon - not someone driving cattle through the desert looking for food.

Scary Harry

Branco perfectly sums up the warped mind of Harry Reid.

Weekend watchdog

Time for a rarely written sentence - the Washington Wizards are getting ready for a playoff game this weekend.
For only the fifth time since taking the name in 1997 - and the first time since 2008 - the Wizards continue playing after the regular season.
They moved into the fifth seed on the season's final day, and open against the Bulls Sunday at 7 p.m. on TNT.
The postseason starts on ESPN Saturday at 1 p.m., when the Raptors host the Nets. ABC carries the Clippers' game with the Warriors, then it's back to ESPN for Hawks-Pacers at 7 p.m. and the Thunder meet the Grizzlies at 9:30 p.m.
TNT tips off Sunday when the Mavericks meet the Spurs at 1 p.m. The defending champion Heat face Charlotte on ABC at 3:30 p.m., and TNT has the Rockets at Blazers in the finale at 9:30 p.m.
The NHL postseason began Wednesday, and continues Friday with three contests. CNBC has the second game between the Canadiens and Lightning Friday at 7 p.m., and NBC Sports network's twinbill starts with the Red Wings at the top-seeded Bruins at 7:30 p.m. and the Stars facing the Ducks at 10 p.m.
The Blackhawks and Blues battle Saturday at 3 p.m. on NBC, and NBC Sports network offers Blue Jackets-Penguins at 7 p.m. followed by Minnesota-Colorado.
It's Game 2 for the Flyers and Rangers Sunday at noon on NBC before the Red Wings meet the Bruins. Montreal hosts Game 3 against Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports network and the Kings battle the Sharks at 10 p.m.
The Nationals continue a series against the Cardinals Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. on MASN2 before moving to MASN Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
The Orioles battle the Red Sox Friday and Saturday on MASN, then move to ESPN Sunday at 8 p.m.
FoxSports1 has a day-night doubleheader Saturday, with the Angels at Tigers at 1 p.m. and the Diamondbacks facing the Dodgers at 8 p.m.
On the college diamond, Virginia hosts North Carolina on Comcast Saturday at 1 p.m. Georgia and Florida clash Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. and South Carolina faces Auburn Sunday at 2 p.m. Kansas meets Oklahoma State Sunday at 2 p.m. on FoxSports1.
Formula One racers visit China this weekend, with NBC Sports network starting coverage Sunday at 3 a.m. There's qualifying Saturday at 2 a.m.
The PGA tour visits Hilton Head this weekend, with the Heritage Classic on CBS Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
In the MLS, New England faces Chicago Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
Chelsea faces Sunderland in Premier League play on NBC Saturday at 12:30 p.m. NBC Sports network has a pair of contests Saturday, with Tottenham Hotspur against Fulham at 7:45 a.m. followed by Cardiff City meeting Stoke City.
Norwich City battles Liverpool Sunday at 7 a.m., then it's Hull City-Arsenal at 9 a.m. and Everton taking on Manchester United.
Auburn has its spring football game Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
Texas takes on Oklahoma in college softball on MASN2 Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

See you in October

The Washington Capitals got an earlier than expected start to their summer vacation.
So did Yasmeen and the Red Rockers.

Watch the knick-knacks burn

If you've been to the Outer Banks, you've seen a Wings store.
Towels, shirts and lots of beach junk to catch your kid's eye.
The one in Duck caught fire this morning.
It's almost tourist season. Is there enough time to rebuild this one?

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Blame is their only plan

Bearing Drift wonders if  Democrats have a "Plan B" in the budget standoff.
Nope.
The only plan "Blame Republicans."

Hungry for chicken?

Via Instapundit, a look at the rising prices for beef, pork and shrimp.
Hope your wallet has what it takes.
Or you like chicken.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Back on the ranch

The Nevada ranch standoff continues to stir discussion about the relationship between citizen and government.
First, the left often criticizes the right for having a "paranoid" view of government, seeing it as a menace which must be contained.
But notice here that the left harbors its own paranoid views of menaces that must be stamped out -- notably, the American people themselves.
Second, if the populace were really in such a state of near-rebellion such that the tiniest spark from a Nevada cattleman could set off a conflagration, wouldn't that be a sign that perhaps the government needs to adjust its behavior and attitude, rather than Harry Reid's suggestion that it must Show Who's Boss Here like a juvenile street gang demarcating its turf?

A good Republican choice

Powerline sees good things in a Wisconsin poll for Governor Scott Walker.
I expect that, with a solid victory in November, Scott Walker will become the effective front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination. By effective front-runner, I mean the most likely nominee (assuming he wants the nomination), not necessarily the Republican who polls the best in early surveys.

Release the schedule

It's almost time for the new NFL schedule to be released.
September will be here shortly.

Apologize? For what?

The Daily Caller grabs an advance copy of Ben Carson's book.
"He did not appear to be hostile or angry,” Carson writes of Obama, “but within a matter of minutes after the conclusion of the program, I received a call from some of the prayer breakfast organizers saying that the White House was upset and requesting that I call the president and apologize for offending him. I said that I did not think that he was offended and that I didn’t think that such a call was warranted.”
Put a Band-Aid on your boo-boo, White House.
 and grow up.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Pony up

Dustbury signed the car for Mustang's 50th anniversary.
It's getting closer to 50,000.

Bundy's "Act of Love"

Have you been following the Nevada rancher story?
It has even caught Rachel Maddow's attention.
Shouldn't the government let a man do in the desert what he thinks is best for his family?
His family has raised cattle in this worthless stretch of land for years.
Bundy just wants to take care of his family.
Doesn't that reach the Jeb Bush "not a felony, but an act of love" criteria?

Keep tissues handy

The Boston Globe checks in with the Richard family, a year after the bomber took their son Martin and seriously injured other family members.
They faced loss.
Then the curiosity.
Then the outside expectations of doing good where they suffered evil.
A family that didn't want this attention - but don't want their son's death to have been in vain.

Don't moo-ve along yet

DaTech Guy try to make sense to the Bundy cattle war in Las Vegas.
It might be really simple.
If the government lets you do something for years, it's hard to stop.
If you give people a choice of villain - an individual or the government - the government easily becomes the bad guy.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Know your zombie safe zone

Via Ace, states where it might be best to be doing a zombie apocalypse.
Sorry, Rhode Island and Delaware.
Looks like you're what's for dinner.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Single payer problems

Megan McArdle ponders the problems Vermont's proposed single payer system will find.
Vermont is a middling-tax state, as states go. And that’s not an accident; its population consists of longtime Vermonters, some of whom vote Republican (at least for governor) and are not super-tax-friendly, and transplants from Massachusetts and New York state, who, last time I looked, had moved to Vermont partly because the taxes were lower. Paying for this program would likely make Vermont the highest-taxed state in the nation, by quite a lot.

Facebook quote of the week

So I bought silk sheets for the FIRST TIME EVER because there was a Groupon and I thought it would be romantic. HOWEVER, I have GERD and the head of our bed is raised about 4" to keep me from coughing all night . So we end up sliding down to the bottom of the bed. Turns out to be pretty funny, but not so romantic - lol!

Saturday song

Back to the 70s for some 10cc.


Friday, April 11, 2014

Facebook and friends

Checking today's Facebook feed, I see one of my cousins and her family are in Times Square.
Two other cousins and their families had breakfast with Mickey Mouse.
Guess going to the beach isn't in that league, but still not too shabby.

Weekend watchdog

mastersFor the first time in years, Tiger Woods won't be in Augusta.
CBS will be there. And a fresh new green jacket, ready for the week's winner.
The Masters continues Friday with second round on ESPN starting at 3 p.m.
After the cut, CBS has third round play Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday's final round starts at 2 p.m.
And the green jacket presentation in Butler Cabin.
The Nationals head to Atlanta for the weekend on MASN, while the Orioles host the Blue Jays for three on MASN2.
The Red Sox and Yankees battle Saturday at 1 p.m. on FoxSports1 and Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
On the college diamond, Georgia Tech battles Florida State Saturday at 2 p.m. on Comcast while Arkansas takes on LSU Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Wizards gear up for the postseason Saturday, facing the Bucks on Comcast at 7 p.m.
The Thunder clash with the Pacers Sunday at 1 p.m. on ABC.
NCAA's Frozen Four concludes Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when Union faces Minnesota on ESPN.
The Capitals host the Blackhawks Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, then host Tampa Bay Sunday at 3 p.m.
NBC closes the regular season with the Penguins against Flyers Saturday at 3 p.m. and the Red Wings face the Blues Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
NBC Sports network offers a doubleheader Friday featuring the Hurricanes and Red Wings at 7:30 p.m. followed by Colorado-San Jose. The Blackhawks take on the Predators Saturday at 8 p.m.
NASCAR visits Darlington Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on Fox, while the Nationwide racers go Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
The IndyCar circuit visits the streets of Long Beach Sunday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports network. Qualifying is Saturday at 6 p.m., and the Indy Lights racers go at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
It's spring football season, with ESPN showing Florida State's game Saturday at 3 p.m. Notre Dame's Blue-Gold game will be on NBC Sports network Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
In the Premier League, Fulham faces Norwich City Saturday at 10 a.m. on NBC Sports network. Liverpool meets Manchester City at 8:30 a.m., followed by Chelsea against Swansea City.
MASN2 has college softball between North Texas and Marshall Saturday at noon. Oklahoma plays Baylor on ESPN Saturday at 5 p.m. and Washington faces Stanford Saturday at 10 p.m. on ESPN2.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Mixing up over the mixing bowl

The Weekly Standard looks at the bad deal Virginia got with the "Lexus lanes" on the Beltway and I-95.
Looking at the deal, it seems like a poor deal for Virginia taxpayers.
For one thing, citizens should always be wary when the government conveys public land to a private entity. They should be doubly so when the private party gets the land free. And triply so when the private party has no competition for the gift.

Ace schools Common Core

Ace notices the common problem with Common Core - skipping the basics leaves behind those who don't understand the basics.
Confronted with kids who aren't proficient with the low-level, low-conceptual-insight view of the problem, they decide... we'll teach them the high-conceptual-insight method of doing it.
If kids "aren't getting math," it seems to me the wrong way to go is to go higher concept on them.
Simple can be better.

Let the Masters begin

Enjoy the honorary starters getting the 2014 Masters going.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Work of the Master

Via Ace, the story of Billy Casper meeting the soldier he inspired back in 1968.
Clebe McClary has done many things since being critically wounded and lying on a hospital bed in Japan.
Many thanks to Billy Casper.

Keep on fishing

Sad to hear of the passing of Arthur Smith today.
My time in South Carolina included covering his sportfishing tournament.

Get credit for life experience

Powerline follows Scott Walker's desire to finish his college requirements in the next few years.
I think his life experience running for office ought to be worth a few college credits - probably enough for a life.

97 percent unconvinced

Do you still believe 97 percent of scientists believe in man-caused global warming?
I am remain 97 percent unconvinced after reading the article.
The question Cook and his alarmist colleagues surveyed was simply whether humans have caused some global warming. The question is meaningless regarding the global warming debate because most skeptics as well as most alarmists believe humans have caused some global warming. The issue of contention dividing alarmists and skeptics is whether humans are causing global warming of such negative severity as to constitute a crisis demanding concerted action.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Wait 'til next year

Who could play in the 2015 Final Four?
ESPN has Virginia in the preseason top 10, along with Duke and North Carolina.
Let's see how the Cavaliers look in November.

Next Obamacare idea - dogs for everyone

Dogs make you healthier.
Can we have a mandate that all families should have a dog?
In a study of 95 people who kept “laughter logs,” those who owned dogs laughed more often than cat owners and people who owned neither.
Garfield could not be reached for comment.

If you like your premium

Forbes has the latest on health insurance rate hikes.
The analysts conducting the survey attribute the rate increases largely to a combination of four factors set in motion by Obamacare:  Commercial underwriting restrictions, the age bands that don’t allow insurers to vary premiums between young and old beneficiaries based on the actual costs of providing the coverage, the new excise taxes being levied on insurance plans, and new benefit designs.
Plenty of potential faces for Republican ads throughout the fall.

Stand for your rights

DaTech Guy wants to see more direct stands in the Eich case.
My advice is for Christians or any people who stand on the side of marriage.  I would encourage you to utterly reject the trap being laid out by those who would accept our right to exist if we just shut up and be quiet about it.  We must fight back, loudly.  I’d start with “hostile workplace environment” suits and go from there.
Being quiet won't save your skin.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Grow up

Megan McArdle looks at the number of people ages 18-26 who benefitted from staying on their parents health insurance.
That wouldn't have helped me 30 years ago.
I moved out of state and got a job with health insurance at age 22.
It was nice to stay on family insurance while in college, but four years was enough to get the degree.
Obamacare supporters can throw around the number - three million - but it's a guess. Likely on the high side.
After looking at the numbers, likely not worth the effort.
But given that most of the people covered by it are healthy people who would have gotten insurance pretty quickly anyway, it probably doesn’t provide much aggregate benefit, either.

Enjoying the fantasy

I signed up for my first fantasy baseball league this year.
Before Sunday night's game, I checked my matchup. We were tied 5-5, and I figured the only way I could win the week would be for Matt Kemp to hit two home runs.
And he did.
On to week 2. Let the sunshine and the hits continue.

Find the parasite

Via Instapundit, the opposite of the Welcome Wagon.
This group thinks tech entrepreneurs are ruining San Francisco, and want it to stop.
For only $3 billion.
To an anarchy group.
Google Maps should have pictures of other communities that will welcome the tech entreprenuers and their friends.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

NASCAR is all wet

NASCAR should have known better than to have a race sponsored by the Duck Dynasty guys.
Ducks bring wet weather.
Let's see if they can race on Monday.

No calories, no sales

The TaxProf is cutting back on his diet soda drinking.
So are a lot of people.
I'd like to buy the world a Coke, and make sure they drink it.

Drift away

Bearing Drift has a winner in its NCAA bracket contest two days early - since no one picked either Kentucky or Connecticut to reach the final game.
I finished sixth out of 36 entrees by letting the computer pick the top seed to win each game. If Florida had won the final Monday, it would have worked better.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Just say no

Northwestern football has three weeks until voting whether to join a union.
The likely starting quarterback next season thinks a "no" vote is best.
So does the coach.
Fitzgerald spoke at the end of a spring practice session at the school's lakefront facility, alongside a plot of land being developed for a $225 million athletic center. He also said that while he's constrained in what he can discuss regarding a union, he sent players and their parents a letter stating his position before addressing the team in person.
Think there will be money for the new athletic center if the union gets certified?

See ya, Dave

Ed Driscoll bids goodbye to David Letterman.
Is he still on the air?
Give us a good top 10, please.

Facebook quote of the week

There's a dog in a training class that has been barking NON STOP for 20 minutes. Why do they not have him in some secret government bunker torturing prisoners? He would be perfect for the job.

Only trust my pundits

Thanks to Blue Virginia, I got to see this Daily Kos post about pundits.
They are upset with conservative pundits.
Wah.
They think pundits should be held to a standard - how do they toe the liberal line?
They splash the 97 percent of scientists agree, and laud the reporting of the Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin - the same person who's part of the Koch Brothers/Keystone pipeline article that Powerline has destroyed.
Maybe Eilperin can examine this study that Powerline found.
Or maybe the conservative pundits are right.

Saturday song

Start your morning with Neil Diamond.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Conform or else

Mark Steyn knows about the speech police.
Most Christian opponents of gay marriage oppose gay marriage; they don't oppose the right of gays to advocate it. But increasingly gays oppose the right of Christians even to argue their corner. Gay activists have figured that, instead of trying to persuade people to change their opinions, it's easier just to get them banned.
Current events make him look smarter all the time.

Stages of spin

Peggy Noonan breaks down the different spins used through the years on Obamacare.
Finally, the program's supporters have gone on quite a rhetorical journey, from "This is an excellent bill, and opponents hate the needy" to "People will love it once they have it" to "We may need some changes" to "I've co-sponsored a bill to make needed alternations" to "This will be seen by posterity as an advance in human freedom."
The spin keeps your head spinning.

Weekend watchdog

2014 final fourReady for the Final Four?
Check your local listings.
TBS gets the Final Four Saturday action this year. Top-seed Florida takes on the court against Connecticut at 6 p.m. and Wisconsin meets Kentucky's freshmen five in the nightcap.
If you head to CBS like you've done since 1982, you'll be disappointed.
CBS will be there Monday at 9 p.m. for the final.
And for "One Shining Moment" to roll after the nets come down.
The women's Final Four will be on ESPN Sunday. ACC newcomer Notre Dame bids farewell to Big Ten-bound Maryland at 6:30 p.m., then Connecticut battles Stanford.
The final will be Tuesday.
ESPN shows the boys final of the National High School championship Saturday at noon. The semifinals are Friday at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The best girls teams meet Saturday at 10 a.m. on ESPN2.
The Wizards continue their contest for the playoffs, visiting the Knicks Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast and hosting the Bulls Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The Nuggets and Grizzlies tangle on ESPN Friday at 7 p.m. before the Thunder visit the Rockets.
The Heat and Knicks play on ABC Sunday at 1 p.m., and it's the battle of Los Angeles between the Lakers and Clippers at 3:30 p.m.
FoxSports1 takes over the Saturday afternoon baseball coverage in 2014, and begins the season with a twinbill. The Twins face the Indians at 1 p.m., then the Dodgers face the Giants.
The Dodgers return to Sunday night baseball on ESPN2 at 8 p.m.
The Orioles visit Detroit Friday at 1 p.m. on MASN2, Saturday at 1 p.m. on MASN and Sunday at 1 p.m. on MASN2. The Nationals host the Braves in the home opener Friday at 1 p.m. The series continues Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. on MASN.
On the college diamond, North Carolina State heads to Clemson Saturday at 1 p.m. on Comcast and Middle Tennessee State faces Southern Mississippi on FoxSport1 Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
ESPN has college softball between Arkansas and Alabama at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Comcast offers the Capitals taking on the Islanders Saturday at 5 p.m.
NBC Sports network has the Capitals meeting the Devils Friday at 7 p.m., and Buffalo battles Philadelphia Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
The Blackhawks host the Blues Sunday at noon on NBC.
NASCAR heads to Texas this weekend, with the Sprint Cup race on Fox Sunday at 3 p.m. The Nationwide racers go Friday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Bahrain hosts Formula One racing this weekend, with the race Sunday at 11 a.m. on NBC Sports network. There's qualifying Friday at 11 a.m.
Getting ready for the Masters, the PGA tour visits Houston on NBC Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
In the MLS, Seattle battles Portland Saturday at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
Chelsea takes on Stoke City Saturday at noon on NBC. Manchester City meets Southampton on NBC Sports network at 7:45 a.m., followed by Newcastle United-Manchester United at 10 a.m. Everton plays Arsenal Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
ESPN2 offers the Family Circle Cup quarterfinals Friday at 1 p.m., a semifinal Saturday at 1 p.m. and final Sunday at 1 p.m.
Preparations for the Kentucky Derby continue on NBC Sports network, with the Wood Memorial and Santa Anita Derby at 5:30 p.m.

Spreading the legal word

A nice profile of Eugene Volokh and the impact of his blog - remembering how it all began.
“I’m a law professor and I’m a Jew, and we both like to hear ourselves talk,” Volokh said wryly. “I’ve always wanted to spread my ideas; I think that’s an important part of my job—not just to speak to a little corner of the academy, not just to speak to the professionals like judges and lawyers, but to speak to the public on public policy.”

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Show me the campaign cash

Volokh looks at why Democrats want to limit money in politics.
It’s therefore not all that surprising that when the Supreme Court decided Buckley v. Valeo in 1976, affirming some limits on campaign contributions to avoid corruption, but holding that political donations receive substantial First Amendment protection, the opinion was written by liberal stalwart William Brennan, and was thought too weak by the ACLU.
Since then, opposition to First Amendment protection of campaign donations has become a significant “cause” on the liberal left.  It’s not hard to see why: the legacy mainstream media, Hollywood, academia, publishing, the legal profession, the mainline churches, and the arts, i.e., almost all of the leading opinion-making areas of American life, are dominated by liberals (though conservatives dominate talk radio, evangelical churches, and have Fox News).  The one place where the playing field is more or less level is in campaign spending.  Limit campaign spending, and left-leaning opinion-makers utterly dominate American political discourse.
We have a right to speak - and we're going to use it.

Let freedom ring

Althouse breaks down a breakdown about the Supreme Court's political speech ruling Wednesday.
Hasen — to my amusement — goes directly from noting Roberts's avoidance of "an opinion that dramatically adopts strict scrutiny" to "Third and most dramatically..." Most dramatically? I thought the whole idea was that Roberts was doing 3 things that were subtle and not dramatic, that he was the no-drama guy. In that context, what does it mean that the third thing was the most dramatic? This is practically a Zen koan. What is the sound of one hand clapping and what is the drama of no drama? Is the most dramatic subtlety the thing that is most subtle? It's so subtle, it's dramatic. I am deafened by the silence and dazzled by the darkness.
Poor liberals. It's terrible when the Supreme Court lets rights stand.

Can you hear us, Washington Post?

Powerline still have questions about the timing of the Washington Post's story on the Koch Brothers and the Keystone pipeline.
Especially since Democrats seemed to use the article to bash the Brothers.
You'd think that would be news.
Maybe if Post readers wondered about the connection too.

Get your news here

What happened in Benghazi?
Sharyl Attkinson is on the case.
She doesn't need a network gig to chase the truth.

Koch adds life

Charles Koch gives his opinion free to the Wall Street Journal.
Instead of fostering a system that enables people to help themselves, America is now saddled with a system that destroys value, raises costs, hinders innovation and relegates millions of citizens to a life of poverty, dependency and hopelessness. This is what happens when elected officials believe that people's lives are better run by politicians and regulators than by the people themselves. Those in power fail to see that more government means less liberty, and liberty is the essence of what it means to be American. Love of liberty is the American ideal.
Koch for a better America.

Selfie - 1987 version

I've been enjoying Throwback Thursday's on Facebook.
It's great to scan some old pictures and relive the memories.
Like this one.
The editor of my paper decided I should do a story on the new fitness course at the local high school.
I put my camera on the tripod, set the timer and raced to get into the picture.
A selfie from 1987.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

They call me the wanderer

Megan McArdle discusses her career path - and where the twists and turns landed her.
I simply wanted to make the point that how hard you worked in high school is not necessarily a good predictor of how hard you will work at the age of 40 -- that the mother fretting about her underachiever may someday be the mother fretting about her workaholic.

The Frosty City

Chicago just went through its coldest four-month period in recorded history.
Gotta love that global warming.

Watching heads explode

The Supreme Court came out with a ruling on campaign finance reform Wednesday.
Liberals are raging.
Mitch McConnell approves.
The euphoria over the Obamacare enrollment didn't last very long.

Count the cost

Powerline points out what Obamacare will be costing employers.
The study is based on internal cost data from more than 100 large employers (10,000 or more employees each) doing business in the United States. It offers the first-ever look at how these organizations believe Obamacare has impacted the current and future cost of providing health care to their employees.
The study’s main findings are that over the next decade:
Obamacare will cost large U.S. employers between $4,800 to $5,900 per employee.
Hope you're worth that much more to your boss.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

To skip the fine, I stand in line

Best of the Web follows the walkers - those standing in line this weekend to sign up for Obamacare.
Do the lines mean enthusiasm or grim recognition it's something they have to do.
At the end of open enrollment, the White House boast is akin to the IRS's citing a "surge" in filing of tax returns two weeks from now as evidence that the income tax system is popular and well designed.
I hope those who stood in line don't need tons of reminders to pay the insurance premiums they signed up for.

Obamacare can stay

..if these people pay.
Will the new enrollees pay their premiums?
Megan McArdle wonders as she waits for good numbers.
Start with what we know about these people: They waited until the last minute to sign up. This tells you that a lot of them will fall into one of a few groups:
  1. People who are incredibly disorganized.
  2. People who are so financially pinched that it was important to wait until the last minute so that they could pay eight months' worth of premiums instead of 12.1
  3. People who are young and healthy enough to make acquiring insurance less than urgent.
The fate of Obamacare lies in the hands of enrollees paying their premiums.
When you say your program is "paid for," it means all of these people will pay their monthly premiums.
For years to come.

Show me the money

Amazing.
The Obama administration sets a number for enrollments - and announces it made it with just a few hours to spare.
Great.
Show me the insurance premium money.
Show me the numbers of newly insured versus those using the exchange when their policies were deemed not good enough.
Enough talk.
Time for real numbers.