Monday, August 31, 2015

How the Clintons saved money

Ace shares the news of how the Clinton's shared an IP address - for the Clinton Foundation and Hillary's secret server.
Way to keep it hidden - part of a former President's extremely public worldview tour.
But it was probably cheaper at the time.
Important since they had been broke just a few years earlier.

Focused on his future

The Boston Globe's feature on Donald Trump's college days shows the determination that has served him well.
His former classmates said he seemed a student who spoke up a lot but rarely shined in class, who barely participated in campus activities, shunned fraternity parties, and spent most of his spare time pursuing his dream: using his advantages as the son of a prominent New York real estate developer to get an early start on the business career that would make him very, very rich.
Trump didn't take a vacation during college - he began his career while getting a degree.
An example to be followed, not mocked.

New and improved

My church changes its name with the new month - it will now be known as Bridge Christian Church.
Same great God, different church name.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

The lawyers will get a workout

Part of Obamacare will be heading to court soon - which fitness programs meet the laws' requirements and will be able to bill for their services.
The heavyweight fight starts in Washington, D.C. of course.
And it gets worse, says CrossFit, which offers a brand of high-intensity workouts and asserts that it is the nation’s largest chain of fitness facilities. The District, according to the company, has allowed itself to become a pawn in a bitter industry fight over which personal trainer certification will have the muscle of the law behind it. That could enrich some for-profit organizations and cost others dearly. CrossFit, an industry rebel with millions of devotees as well as critics who say its program leads to injury, says it could be hurt the most.
The tab for revamping CrossFit’s training courses could run into the tens of millions of dollars if the company is forced to do so nationwide, says its chief executive.
CrossFit fans may be in for a big workout - and attorneys for the firm also.

The doctor is in

Donald Trump continues to lead in Iowa, but who's second - Dr. Ben Carson.
With Trump and Carson running 1-2 in Iowa, Cruz tied for third, and Carly Fiorina in seventh place, it seems clear that, at this juncture, the overriding sentiment of a critical mass of Iowa caucus-goers is disgust with the “political class.” But it is Carson alone who seems capable of expressing the disgust in an Iowa-friendly way.
Hillary Clinton continues to lead in Iowa, but maybe not the next poll at this rate of decline.
It may be only August, but there should be a chill among the expected leaders - finding themselves in poor positions.

Before the inevitable fall

As her summer polling suffers, the Hillary Clinton team tries to say "What difference does it make?"
She's got a plan - win big on Super Tuesday.
She's got superdelegates - claiming support of 440 already.
They think her name and money make her inevitable.
It just makes the inevitable fall worse.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Will Jeb be in President Trump's cabinet?

The idea of Donald Trump being a leading contender for the Republican nomination has been shocking.
So is the idea that he lead going into the early votes in 2016.
And the idea he might win.
And that he might win the presidency over a hobbled Hillary Clinton campaign.
Is it too early to think he might need to appoint people to this cabinet?
Who might be in?
Jeb Bush thought he'd be the leading contender for president.
If that didn't happen, would he accept a spot on the team?
Would he be considered?
The next month will determine whether he'll be thinking of cabinet members - or whether to join someone else's team.

Can money buy votes?

Politico reports that three fundraisers for Jeb Bush left the campaign.
Usually, raising money keeps a candidate afloat.
But this is not a normal primary season.
Especially when you have a rich opponent ready to pounce.
Frontrunner Donald Trump seized on the POLITICO report Saturday morning and took a shot at his rival on Twitter: “Wow, Jeb Bush just lost three of his top fundraisers - they quit!”
Money can't buy that kind of publicity.

How did it go

Powerline's weekly collection checks in with Joe Biden's meeting with Elizabeth Warren.



Facebook quote of the week

OK, did I miss the announcement or something? Was this declared National Cut Across Three Lanes of Traffic at the Last Second to Make Your Right Turn Week? An awful lot of people seem committed to it around here lately!

Saturday song

It's not a wasted day when you hear Freddy Fender.


Friday, August 28, 2015

CNN is terrible

I caught Donald Trump's press gathering Friday from Massachusetts.
He started by bashing CNN.
Good start.
Then he defended Tom Brady.
Ravens' fans were not amused.

Breaking the political windows

Don Surber likes how Peggy Noonan understands the Trump phenomenon.
As the summer becomes the fall, I find myself believing Donald Trump can win, and the more the elites mock him and his supporters, the less convinced I am that it would be a bad thing.

Stop preening and start doing

Charles Cooke thinks it's time for people who want gun control to put up - not just talk up everytime there's a tragedy.
You’re not going out there to tell these people that you want “reform” or that “enough is enough.” You’re going there to solicit their support for removing one of the articles within the Bill of Rights. Make no mistake: It’ll be unpleasant strolling into Pittsburgh or Youngstown or Pueblo and telling blue-collar Democrat after blue-collar Democrat that he only has his guns because he’s not as well endowed as he’d like to be. It’ll be tough explaining to suburban families that their established conception of American liberty is wrong. You might even suffer at the polls because of it. But that’s what it’s going to take. So do it. Start now. Off you go.They will never go there.

Weekend watchdog

Sixteen teams from around the world came to Williamsport last week.
Four remain, and one will leave Sunday as the Little League World Series Champion.
ABC has coverage of the final at 3 p.m. Sunday. The United States championship game between Texas and Pennsylvania will be Saturday at 3:30 p.m., after the international finale matching Japan and Mexico at 12:30 p.m.
The third place game will be Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN.
The Orioles head to Texas for the weekend on MASN2 while the Nationals face Miami  on MASN2.
Interleague action fills the FoxSports1 schedule Saturday, with Red Sox-Mets at 4 p.m. followed by the Yankees against Braves. TBS offers the Red Sox and Mets Sunday at 1:10 p.m., and the Cubs battle the Dodgers on ESPN Sunday night.
The Redskins head up I-95 to battle the Ravens on Comcast Saturday at 7 p.m.
CBS brings the Lions and Jaguars Friday at 8 p.m. and Seahawks-Chargers Saturday at 8 p.m. The Texans face the Saints Sunday at 4 p.m. on Fox, and it's Cardinals-Raiders on NBC Sunday at 8 p.m.
North of the border, it's Toronto-Edmonton Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
Jacksonville and San Jose battle for the Arena Football championship Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
The college football season starts in the Football Championship Series, with North Dakota State facing Montana Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
It's Florida high school football on ESPN Friday at 8 p.m., with Booker Washington against St. Thomas Aquinas. Miami Central takes on DeMatha Saturday at noon.
The Sprint Cup series gets its final week off of the season, but the Truck Series runs on FoxSports1 Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The Xfinity Series visits Road America Saturday at 3 p.m., after qualifying at 12:15 p.m.
Sonoma hosts the Indy Car circuit Sunday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports network. There's qualifying Saturday at 6:30 p.m. after practice at 1:30 p.m.
The PGA tour's playoff season begins this weekend at the Barclays, with coverage on CBS Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Newcastle United battles Arsenal Saturday at 7:45 a.m. on NBC Sports network. It's Southampton-Norwich City Sunday at 8:30 p.m. followed by Swansea City against Manchester United.
Seattle takes on Portland Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN and D.C. United faces the Red Bulls on FoxSports1 at 7 p.m. In women's soccer, Portland meets Washington at 9:30 p.m. on FoxSports1.
The road to the U.S. Open winds down this weekend, with the Connecticut Open semifinals Friday at 1 and 7 p.m. and final Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2. There's semifinal play from Winston-Salem Friday at 3 p.m. and final Saturday at 1 p.m.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Democrats' anchor problem

Republicans are getting fussed at for talking about "anchor babies."
Democrats have an anchor for frontrunner.
The NYT interviewed no less than 75 Democratic movers and shakers and found widespread “bewilderment” at how Hillary’s handled the e-mail scandal, which I take it is party-speak for abject panic that this anchor’s going to drag them down through the sheer weight of accumulated corruption. Not a single person interviewed will admit to worrying that something even more disastrous than “top secret” documents will turn up on the server, although the Times does allow at one point, in discussing Team Clinton’s whiny frustration at how “unfair” the media’s being, that “Aides have privately told supporters that the email issue is not going away anytime soon.” Hmmmm.

What's your fantasy?

All across the country, people are getting ready for the NFL season with fantasy football league drafts.
If you have multiple personalities, do you need to find a league that lets you have more than one team?

Book 'em

Don Surber's second book on Exceptional Americans hits Amazon next week.
There's 80 examples of Exceptional Americans to enjoy.

Does big money matter?

Jeb Bush has raised tons of money.
Hillary Clinton has raised tons of money.
In this cycle, does it matter?
If Joe Biden enters the race, he'll have a financial disadvantage.
But that disadvantage was supposed to keep him out of the race.
If he's in, Hillary can says to her fundraisers "What difference does it make?"

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Bad people do bad things

What's the lesson of WDBJ?
The same as the lesson of Charleston.
And Columbine.
And Sandy Hook.
Bad people do bad things.
Simple lesson.
No amount of wishful thinking will change that.

Four score and he's a moron

Powerline likes the Gettysburg Address has done by Trump.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Lettuce consider this advice

Do you feel like eating a salad?
Why?
Drink some water, and it's almost the same.
Unless you're eating at a restaurant.
I won’t be the first to point out that items labeled “salad” at chain restaurants are often as bad, if not worse, than pastas or sandwiches or burgers when it comes to calories. Take Applebee’s, where the Oriental Chicken Salad clocks in at 1,400 calories, and the grilled version is only 110 calories lighter. Even the Grilled Chicken Caesar, the least calorific of the salads on the regular menu, is 800 calories.
Of course, salad isn’t always a bad choice, and Applebee’s has a selection of special menu items under 550 calories (many chain restaurants have a similar menu category). Applebee’s Thai Chicken Salad is only 390 calories (although it has more sodium than the Oriental Chicken Salad).

It's not Trump. It's you

Ace delights in the shock Frank Luntz feels.
High Guru Frank Luntz is shocked to the point of his legs shaking as the world reels beneath his feet to discover the grassroots really, really despises the Establishment, and no longer trusts them, and in fact considers them political enemies in the same way they consider the Democrats to be political enemies.
This is news to them.
The longer Trump stays atop the polls, the more chance the establishment might figure this out.
Might.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Time to update the decor

The NBC affiliate in Bluefield, WV held a press conference Monday to announce they will broadcast three games with local college Concord.
Look closely behind the pictures.
Isn't it time to remove the Brian Williams' picture from the wall?

Ultimate campaign finance reform

Who those who want campaign finance reform, Donald Trump should be your candidate.
Other candidates need to raise money to get their message out.
Not Trump.
And his fans like that.
In interviews with voters in Michigan and New Hampshire over the past two weeks, after events hosted by Mr. Trump, none cited his policies as chief motivation for backing him. Many pointed, instead, to his wealth, saying they believed it set him apart from career politicians and freed him of the demands of donors.
“He doesn’t need anybody’s money,” said Maureen Colcord, 60, a clinical dietitian from Derry.
If you want a more pure politician, here he is.
He's pure Trump.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Bring out your dead

Time for a new Walking Dead spinoff series before the next season of Walking Dead series starts in October.
What will be more entertaining?
The show, or the grumble posts at HotAir?

If you're not feeding a midsize penal institution

Megan McArdle offers tips for feeding one or two people.
There are actually two good things about cooking for one or two: The first is that you have fewer tastes to satisfy, and the second is that you don't have to do it so much, if you make big batches of stuff ahead and store them. But this is not going to be the column where I tell you to get with the program because cooking for one is really fun! This is the column where I outline the various strategies to attack what will always remain a vexing problem.
Read the whole thing, and eat up.

Inside the Biden/Warren meeting

Biden: I think I have a way to save Democratic chances in 2016.
Warren: How?
Biden: We can work together.
Warren: How?
Biden: The Democratic base likes that I'm Obama's Vice President. They like your views. We just need to figure out breaking this to Hillary.
Warren: How?
Biden: Send her an email.

Dowd gets it

While most of the mainstream media fumble on the rise of Donald Trump, Maureen Dowd understands.
Certainly, Trump could explode at any moment in a fiery orange ball. But meanwhile, he has exploded the hoary conventions, money-grubbing advisers and fund-raising excesses of the presidential campaign, turning everything upside down, inside out, into sauerkraut.
Right now, Trump is riding high.
The establishment is going to struggle to regain their status.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Trump and McAuliffe

For all the whining about Donald Trump taking the Republican presidential race by storm, what about another New Yorker with a similar career path.
Governor Terry McAuliffe.
If it's okay for McAuliffe to be governor, why not Trump?
Who's more well-known?
Trump.
Wealthier?
Trump.
McAuliffe rode the Clinton coattails for 20 years.
Trump rides alone - it's the politicians who tried to ride his coattails.
Politicians may not like outsiders jumping into their game.
But if you despise Trump and you're a Democrat, how can you support McAuliffe and be consistent?

Reasons to support Trump

Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi thinks you can link Donald Trump to a beating of a Hispanic homeless man in Boston.
Because Trump doesn't jump to apologize when the media tries to link his words to someone else's actions.
Do you think the world is waiting for Donald Trump's words to do things you don't like?
You're not going to support him anyway.
Trump's speech Friday in Mobile continues to tip momentum in his favor.

Facebook quote of the week

I think the most difficult thing about being a Starship captain is choosing which speed to use. One day it's, "Chekov, warp factor two." The next day, "Chekov, warp factor three." Is there a galactic speed limit? Also, do they need to change the oil every few hundred parsecs? I never questioned these things when I was younger. Now I want to know.

Saturday song

Taking the oldest son to start college last weekend, this song came on the radio.
Yes, this is it.


Friday, August 21, 2015

Friday night lights

Alabama provides a football stadium for a Donald Trump rally.
No fake Greek columns, though.

Gone with the wind

People who don't like coal or other fossil fuels messing with their environment shouldn't be surprised that others don't want windmills on their mountains.
“We’re losing our foothold in the coal industry and now they’re proposing ... ‘Oh by the way, we’re going to take your beautiful land for renewable energy?’” opponent Charles Stacy said. “It is insulting, really.”
Build some windmills off the coast of the Hamptons and we can more easily build in the mountains.

Follow the Trump momentum

Bearing Drift explains reasons why Donald Trump continues to defy establishment expectations.
Just look at the strength of his position.  The establishment can’t stop him. The grassroots and untapped voters defiantly support him.  He has unlimited money, enormous name recognition, facing a huge Republican field and a very vulnerable Democrat.  He is dominating the media.  And he has so far proven immune from the persistent attacks of media from the far left to far right.

Weekend watchdog

As the time to claim a spot in NASCAR's playoffs winds down, the teams head to Thunder Valley this weekend.
NBC Sports network has the Bristol night race Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Xfinity race goes Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Eleven drivers have claimed victories so far this season, with races left in Bristol, Darlington and Richmond before the final 10 races. Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson have already posted four trips to Victory Lane before the wins really count down the stretch.
There's qualifying for both races Friday at 3:30 p.m., after practice starting at 9:30 a.m.
Across the pond, NBC Sports network brings the Belgian Grand Prix Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and practice Friday at 8 a.m.
The IndyCar racers hit the track Sunday at 2 p.m. on NBC Sports network. There's qualifying Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Orioles have a series with Minnesota on MASN while the Nationals host Milwaukee for the weekend on MASN2.
The Pirates host the Giants on FoxSports1 Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The Tigers face the Rangers Saturday at 7 p.m. on FoxSports1, and TBS offers Dodgers-Astros Sunday at 2:10 p.m.
The best Little League teams in the world gather in Williamsport for the World Series. After rain washed out Thursday's opening day, there will be eight games Friday starting at 10 a.m. on ESPN2. The day closes at 8 p.m. with Pennsylvania facing Missouri.
ABC carries a contest Saturday at 3 p.m., with other play on ESPN at 1, 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday has ABC back at 3 p.m., with other games at 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Junior League championship from Michigan will be Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Rams and Titans battle on Fox Sunday at 8 p.m. and ESPN offers the Bengals and Buccaneers Monday at 8 p.m.
The PGA tour visits Greensboro this weekend, with coverage on CBS Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Fox brings the final round of the United States Amateur Sunday at 3 p.m., after Saturday's semifinals at 3 p.m. FoxSports1 has action Friday at 3 p.m.
Manchester United and Newcastle United tangle on NBC Sports network Saturday at 7:45 a.m. Everton meets Manchester City Sunday at 11 a.m.
D.C. United faces San Jose Saturday at 7 p.m. on Comcast. ESPN has the Galaxy visiting New York City Sunday at 3 p.m.
In women's soccer, Seattle meets Houston Friday at 8 p.m. on FoxSports1.
ESPN2 has the Southern and Western Open, with quarterfinals Friday at 1 and 7 p.m. The men's semifinal is Saturday at 1 p.m. with the women at 7 p.m., and the championships will be Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Blame bureaucrats

The Atlantic's Conor Friedersdorf tries to help Hillary Clinton with her email - blame bureaucrats.
Too much stuff is top secret.
“We classify everything!”
“It’s a way of covering our assess, leveraging control of information to make ourselves more powerful, and feeling special. Sure, there are some secrets that really need to be kept. And we’re careful with that stuff. But when it comes to classified material, following the letter of the law would be a huge pain in the ass. And it would make government even less efficient than it is."
Why can't Hillary Clinton use this line of defense?
It destroys her entire reason for being.
The same people who clog the system with over classified messages also want to run your life.
Tell you the best health care plans, the best way to live, the places you can live, and things you can say.
If you can't trust these people to appropriately classify intelligence, why trust them with our lives?
Leave us alone to make our decisions.
The American people can decide to live their lives much better than being under the rule of Hillary Clinton and friends.

Movies at the mansion

Planned Parenthood plans to protest Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal.
Jindal will show the Planned Parenthood videos while they do.
“Planned Parenthood has a right to protest today, but Governor Jindal’s office will ensure that anyone who shows up will have to witness first-hand the offensive actions of the organization they are supporting,” Jindal, who is also a Republican presidential candidate, wrote in a statement.
“We hope the protesters will take a minute to watch them so they'll have an opportunity to see first-hand our concerns with Planned Parenthood’s practices,” he added.
Maybe the protesters will learn something.

Da good question

DaTech Guy meets Donald Trump.
"Why can't you ask a question like that."

Does Trump own Democrats?

Donald Trump gave money to politicians on all sides.
Does that mean he supports their agenda?
Or will politicians from both parties have to support his agenda if elected?
Does money corrupt the donor, or the receiver?
Say you're a Democrat who received Trump's money in the past.
If you come out forcefully against him, are you a hypocrite?
Why should people donate to you if you might attack them in the future? After you cashed the check?
Presidents usually need a team throughout government to help get their agenda passed.
Trump's past donations give him a bi-partisan team.
Do they want to keep the money following?

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Will the food taste funny?

Via Althouse, a Canadian couple who redid their kitchen - to look like the kitchen in The Simpsons.

How many trees did Hillary kill?

Hillary Clinton's defense about her emails - I printed them out for you - raises a question.
How many trees does it take to print 55,000 pages of emails?
And copies of those 55,000 pages.
And the new paperwork for each time they are questioned.
It takes a forest.

Need my chicken

For years, Bisquick had a recipe for oven-fried chicken on the box.
It's been demoted.
And it's not easily found on the Bisquick website - what other search words should I use besides "bisquick chicken."
At least someone saved the recipe for me.

Eve of destruction

Traffic north of Charlottesville has been rough since I moved here in 1995.
It's going to get worse starting in September, as the powers that be decided to make an at-grade intersection into a overpass.
By tunneling under the existing road.
While it's packed with traffic as usual.
Phase one starts soon.
And there's really no alternate routes around this.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

It's the perfect time to panic

August rolls on, and Hillary Clinton continues to stumble on the stump.
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza hears from Democrats that they’ve begun to see Hillary as an albatross, but with no other options on the horizon, they’re lost as to how to handle it.
Go ahead - mock Republicans and the Trump parade.
But it's hard to be worse than the Democratic side.

Menendez drops the bomb

The opposition to President Obama's Iran deal now includes Democratic Senators from New York and New Jersey.
Robert Menendez has the speech with the strong ending.
Here is the marker Menendez laid down for Democrats, at the end of the speech:
“I have looked into my own soul and my devotion to principle may once again lead me to an unpopular course, but if Iran is to acquire a nuclear bomb, it will not have my name on it.
“It is for these reasons that I will vote to disapprove the agreement and, if called upon, would vote to override a veto."
They don't look Republican to me.

Give the girl a hand

Thanks to 3-D printing technology, a five-year old threw out the first pitch at Monday's Orioles game.
Watch and enjoy.

Too big to jail

How bad does Hillary Clinton look legally?
Others have gone to jail for mishandling smaller amounts of secure/classified emails.
Could see go to prison?
Nah.
Democrats think she's too big to jail.

Vast conspiracy

When Eugene Robinson's column takes on Hillary Clinton, it's not just a right-wing conspiracy.
It's a vast conspiracy for the truth.
So I wish Hillary Clinton would be respectful enough to say, “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” I wish she wouldn’t insult our intelligence by claiming she only did what other secretaries of state had done. None of her predecessors, after all, went to the trouble and expense of a private e-mail server.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Not as bad as the others

For those who dislike Donald Trump's bombastic style, does he differ much from current Washington leadership?

Sad preppies

DaTech Guy sees how Donald Trump upends the Republican empire builders - they think they're big stuff but they barely have an impact on their small corner of the world.
It’s the same problem for the media and political gatekeepers.  Donald Trump is horrifying the media, the GOP elites and those who have been the gatekeepers can’t stand the idea that a bunch of people who normally would not pay attention might actually select a nominee outside of their sphere of influence and can’t handle the idea that they might have to sell their candidates to the unwashed masses rather than making them choose between their approved candidates.
Like the end of Men in Black, where we find the universe is just a small part of an alien marble game. We don't realize how small we are.

Trump's slogan

Trump - he'll wipe the Obama legacy like Hillary wiped that server.
Like it never even happened.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

In the game, but not for long

A player in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system has announced he is gay.
Whatever his status, it's doubtful he'll be a major leaguer.
He's in his third season with the Brewers.
He's back in a short-season team in Montana after some time in the Class A Midwest League.
Helena is a team for first or second year players. Someone dropping down to that level for a third season has a small chance of advancing.
Forty or fifty new prospects join the organization each year.
They may be younger, or have more potential.
The guy will be better known than most short-season players this year.
But it's doubtful he'll be in organized baseball much longer.

Trump is Marxist (Groucho, that is)

Friday was Marx Brothers movie day on Turner Classic Movies.
Can't you see Donald Trump doing this speech?
"Whatever it is, I'm against it."


Saturday, August 15, 2015

Trump's script

The rise of Donald Trump frustrates pundits - why are people supporting him?
Don't they realize the problems he brings?
I found the Bible story that matches today's political situation.
As Samuel grew older, he wanted his sons to follow him as the judges leading Israel.
But his sons, like the sons of Eli before him, were corrupt.
The people wanted a king like the other nations.
God had Samuel list all the bad things that come with a king.
When they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
Didn't make a difference.
Israel still wanted a king.
The American people see corruption in the current situation.
You can say Trump isn't the solution, but he's something different.
Your logic and reasoning doesn't slow the momentum.

Saturday song

A candidate for a new theme song for the Megyn Kelly show.


Facebook quote of the week

What do we want?! If you have to ask, we're not telling!"
"When do we want it? We don't know!"
~Women's protest rally.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Venus, oh venus

I miss seeing Venus in the evening sky. It's been dominant there for months.
Today, it passed between the sun and Earth - along with its buddy the moon.
It's time in the morning sky will be here soon.

What do they know and when will they show it?

An Instapundit reader lists ways Hillary Clinton will be blackmailed due to her emails.
No spin can help if other countries have our secrets.
Just because Hillary wanted to keep her own email server.

Weekend watchdog

Tiger Woods won the PGA championship in the seventh year of Bill Clinton's presidency.
He won the PGA championship in the seventh year George W. Bush was in the White House.
It's the seventh year of President Obama's tenure - will Woods make a run this time?
Woods has been trying for his 15th career major since Obama took the oath of office in 2009. TNT has the second round Friday at 2 p.m., then CBS has coverage Saturday and Sunday starting at 2 p.m.
Rory McIlroy returns from injury to defend his title, while Jordan Spieth goes for his third major of the year. And Woods will try to find his youthful form one more title.
FoxSports1 brings the final round of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Sunday at 4 p.m. The semifinals are Saturday at 4 p.m. after quarterfinals Friday at 4 p.m.
The Orioles return home to face the A's for the weekend on MASN. The Nationals take on the Giants on MASN2, and Saturday's game will also be on FoxSports1.
The Royals host the Angels Saturday on FoxSports1 and Sunday night on ESPN. TBS brings the Pirates and Mets Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
Little League's road to Williamsport continues Friday at 11 a.m. with a New England semifinal, followed by semifinals from the Midwest at 1 p.m., Northwest at 3 p.m., Mid-Atlantic at 7 p.m. and West at 9 p.m.
Four berths to Williamsport are on the line Saturday on ESPN - Midwest at 1 p.m., Northwest at 3 p.m., Great Lakes at 5 p.m. and West at 9 p.m. There's semifinals in New England at 11 a.m. and Mid-Atlantic at 7 p.m., with those finals Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m.
NASCAR heads to Michigan, with the Sprint Cup race Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network. The Xfinity Series goes Saturday at 3:30 p.m., and there's practice Friday at 11 a.m. FoxSports1 carries the Truck Series race Saturday at 1 p.m., after practice Friday at 1:30 p.m.
North of the border, Ottawa heads to Calgary Saturday at 10 p.m. on ESPN2. Indoors, Portland and San Jose battle in the Arena League playoffs Friday at 11 p.m. on ESPN2.
Aston Villa takes on Manchester United Friday at 2:45 p.m. on NBC Sports network. Southampton faces Everton Saturday at 7:45 a.m., and it's Crystal Palace-Arsenal Sunday at 8:30 a.m. followed by Manchester City against Chelsea.
Seattle meets Orlando City Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN2, while Philadelphia plays Chicago at 7 p.m. on FoxSports1.
The United States meets Costa Rica in a women's friendly Sunday at 2 p.m.
ESPN2 has the Rogers Cup quarterfinals Friday at 12:30 and 7 p.m. There's a women's semifinal Saturday at 1 p.m., with men's semifinals at 3 and 8 p.m. The women's final will be Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.
Indiana takes on Phoenix in the WNBA Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

How about a Trump Mudder?

The New York Post looks at the extreme mudder races - trying to add more gimmicky obstacles to the race.
How about a political mudder?
Run several miles and then talk with Donald Trump.
If you think you're tough, dealing with electric voltage and fire is nothing compared to him.

Chillin' in July

For those who claim the earth is warming, July was warmer than last year in the United States.
Still below the average of the past 121 years.
Fewer 90 degree days.
Today's morning lows in Fishersville are in the 50s.
Where are the hurricanes?
Maybe your panic can keep you warm.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Cool it

PJ Media wonders why the hate of air conditioning has become an item.
Of course, without regulatory overkill and artificial scarcity, none of this would be necessary. We’d be able to afford all the chill we wanted. Instead, the regulators would rather try to convince us that worse is better, less is more, and hotter is cooler. And while Europeans may be easy for Americans to dismiss, the men vs. women angle is part of what they think is the natural Left coalition: anyone who’s pro-A/C must be waging a [Cold] War on Women.
One article starts off with a woman in Omaha, upset because her office is too cold. I’ve been in Omaha in August. It’s every bit as bad as D.C. in August, and I spent 25 Augusts in D.C. You walk out of the building, and it’s like you’re hit with a wall of water. I can think of many cities that need A/C less than D.C. does, but few that need it more than Omaha.
Don’t let them tell you otherwise.

Will Hillary go third party?

Donald Trump keeps getting asked if he will still run if he doesn't get the Republican nomination.
What would Hillary Clinton do if she doesn't get the Democratic nod?
Bernie Sanders now has a polling lead in New Hampshire.
Sanders is surging.
Will Hillary go quietly into the night after another nomination loss?
Maybe someone should ask her.
If she'll take questions.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Top Secret on Hillary's computer

There's new talk of Top Secret info on Hillary Clinton's personal computer.
And she's proud.
She liked the 1984 movie.

Put the seat down or else

Seattle wants to change your bathroom habits.
Maybe they can hire people at $15/hour to make sure women are safe from men in the bathroom.

Not what he says, but how he says it

The Washington Post wonders about Donald Trump's supporters - do they really like his ideas?
Maybe they aren't looking for a consistent policy framework - just a voice angry at the system.
They are happy with a focus of their anger.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Zombies can't spell

AMC's new "Fear the Walking Dead" looks interesting - how it all began and how people reacted.
I've tired of the original - too much hopeless moping.
At least they can spell.

Chick-fil-A in NYC

The Big Apple gets big chicken in October.
On Oct. 3, he'll open his doors at 1000 Sixth Ave. for the hungry masses eager for their fix of Atlanta's famous fried-chicken brand. Mr. Fittipaldi anticipates strong demand. He plans to hire 180 employees and offer extended hours (though not past midnight on Saturdays because the store will be closed Sundays, per company policy.) The 51-year-old expects to work 100-hour weeks.
"We're coming to a great place that has completely different dynamics than we've seen anywhere else in the country," he said. "We're going to have to become students of the market to get results."
Best of luck.
There will be lots of happy customers, and probably many complaining liberals.

Channel the anger

Virginia Right looks for someone other than Donald Trump as a vessel for the anger in the electorate.
I want to understand why Trump is better than Ted Cruz. I want to know what Trump has done for the American People that Ted Cruz hasn’t. Where was Trump when Obamacare was moving through Congress? I want to know why Trump is better than Rand Paul. I want to know what Trump has done for the American People that Rand Paul hasn’t. Where was Donald Trump on NSA spying?
I want to know why Trump is better than Ben Carson. When Trump fails, he uses our laws to get out of taking responsibility, by filing for bankruptcy. If Carson fails, people would have died. Trump made money buying off Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell.
Ben Carson saved lives.
Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker have fought merciless battles that conservatives support, while Donald Trump played God on a reality TV show.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Trump's rules

Stephen Hayes notes the home-field advantage Donald Trump has with the media.
From the beginning, he’s played by different rules because the media have let him. Trump works just blocks from the headquarters of the major broadcast and cable outlets. But as he’s rolled out his Trump for President brand, he has gotten journalists to come to him. He sits for interviews in the gilded atrium of Trump Towers, a nice home field advantage and one that sets him apart from the other politicians sitting in boring studios.
He's their friend. As the viewers keep watching, they will stay his friend.

Trump and his bankruptcies

The Washington Post helps us understand the four bankruptcies in the Trump era.
Some of Trump’s glitziest real estate developments were unveiled amid national economic downturns, during which many business leaders suffered from bad investments, and his Atlantic City deals came at a particularly grave time for the coastal mecca. “Every company virtually in Atlantic City went bankrupt,” he said Thursday night.
But Trump’s multiple spells in bankruptcy court, and the little effect they have played on his abundant wealth, highlights the stiff gap between how businesses and consumers are treated amid financial strife. The Trump businesses, as with many companies, were afforded significant leeway in the hope they could recoup those massive debts.
And he's used bankruptcies to build his empire back.
He bought Trump National Golf Course in Los Angeles in 2002, after the previous operators filed for bankruptcy following a landslide that sent the 18th hole sliding in to the Pacific Ocean. Trump National Doral Golf Course in Florida was purchased out of bankruptcy in 2012.

When will Hillary be interrupted?

Poor Bernie Sanders.
The Black Lives Matters crew kept him from speaking Saturday.
If the Black Lives Matters crew is really serious, they must interrupt Hillary Clinton.
Keep her from speaking.
Might even help her candidacy.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Losing Iran like he lost Iraq

For the Obama team, opposing the Iraq war is the be all and end all.
They are wise because they opposed the war.
Their opponents are war-mongers - even if they are Democrats like Charles Schumer.
The Obama team bases their decisions on going into Iraq - not Iraq now.
The Obama team messed up Iraq, and this deal will make the Iran decision worse.
Will we have a chance to note that 10 years from now?

Trump's insult list

Powerline presents the statement from Donald Trump on the retracted invitation to speak at Red State Saturday.
By the way, the guy (Erick Erickson) who made the decision about RedState called Supreme Court Justice David Souter a “goat [expletive] child molester” and First Lady Michelle Obama a “Marxist Harpy.” He was forced to make a humbling apology.
Also, not only is Erick a total loser, he has a history of supporting establishment losers in failed campaigns so it is an honor to be uninvited from his event. Mr. Trump is an outsider and does not fit his agenda.
The insult list grows.

Saturday song

Inspired by Mark Steyn's column this week, the Tokens sing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."


Facebook quote of the week

Someone should develop a karaoke game for the car; like people sing at home more than they do around other people haha

Friday, August 7, 2015

Stand with Schumer

It's so rare to get a chance to like something done by New York senator Charles Schumer.
When the Obama team blasts him for his decision on the Iran deal, he needs support.
Especially when it appears only one person could have released the news before Schumer wanted it out.

If his name wasn't Bush

Jeb Bush has a problem - his last name.
The same as too many recent former Presidents.
Over at Ace, they wonder if the name lets him stand next to Donald Trump on the stage.
His last name hurts him but if it were say, "Pataki" he'd be at the kid's debate. He was... there. I guess. Other than really rich people throwing money at him, I just don't see why this is happening.

Weekend watchdog

For football fans, the drought is over.
There will be some version on NFL football in action each weekend until February 7.
The Steelers and Vikings meet Sunday at 8 p.m. in the annual Hall of Fame game to kick off the preseason. NBC has coverage of the contest.
Sure, the starters will only play a few plays. But it's now five weeks until the season opener in New England.
ESPN and NFL network carries the Hall of Fame enshrinement Saturday at 7 p.m.
North of the border, Edmonton takes on British Columbia Thursday at 10 p.m. on ESPN2. Montreal meets Ottawa Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Orioles continue their West Coast swing in Anaheim, meeting the Angels on MASN2. The Nationals host the Rockies on MASN for the weekend.
The Pirates and Dodgers get plenty of coverage this weekend, with games Friday and Sunday on ESPN and Saturday at 4:05 p.m. on FoxSports1. The Cardinals take on the Brewers Saturday at 7 p.m. on FoxSports1 and TBS offers the Giants and Cubs Sunday at 2:20 p.m.
ESPN2 brings the final of the Intermediate Little League World Series Saturday at 9 p.m. while ESPN has the Senior League finale Saturday at noon. Little League softball crowns champions in Junior League Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN, Senior League Saturday at 4 p.m. and Big League Sunday at noon.
NASCAR hits the Glen this weekend, with the Sprint Cup race Sunday at 2 p.m. on NBC Sports network. The Xfinity Series goes Saturday at 3 p.m. There's practice Friday at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
The Premier League season starts Saturday on NBC, with Chelsea clashing with Swansea City at 12:30 p.m. Arsenal meets West Ham Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on NBC Sports network, followed by Stoke City-Liverpool.
D.C. United visits Montreal Saturday at 8 p.m. on Comcast. The Galaxy battle the Sounders Sunday at 4 p.m. on ESPN while the Red Bulls face New York FC on FoxSports1 at 7 p.m.
In women's soccer, Portland plays Chicago Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on FoxSports1.
CBS carries the Bridgestone Invitational Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
The U.S. Open Series continues on ESPN2, with the semifinals of the Bank of the West Classic at 3 and 7 p.m. The final is Sunday at 5 p.m.
NBC carries the Breeder's Cup Challenge Series from Saratoga Saturday at 5 p.m.
Phoenix faces Chicago in the WNBA Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Who can clean up Obama's messes?

Why does Donald Trump have such support?
Republicans want someone who will overturn the problems of the Obama years.
Will a politician do it?
They haven't stood up much in the past years.
Trump has the arrogance of Obama.
You can see him repealing EPA rules or any number of executive orders.
Obama's team think their rules will stay because politicians will be too afraid to change them.
Trump won't be afraid.
If you don't like Trump, remember where he got his political start - Obama.

Mullah this over

Mark Steyn closes his column with the big news on Mullah Omar.
Mullah Omar banned music in Afghanistan. Yet, when US troops seized his abandoned compound in Kandahar, they found in his private quarters a bunch of Rod Stewart cassettes - not the easy-listening Rod Slays The Great American Songbook stuff, but the full-strength "If you want my body and you think I'm sexy" big-hair'n'codpiece classics. So the one-eyed mullah was forced into exile, and twelve additional years of life he should never have enjoyed ...but without his double-cassette of Rod Stewart's Greatest Hits. I suppose we should be grateful for such modest victories as that.

Glad to be alive

Instapundit runs a lengthy article about the dropping of the atomic bombs - and the American lives it saved.
Planners of the invasion assumed that it would require a full year, to November 1946, for the Japanese to be sufficiently worn down by land-combat attrition to surrender. By that time, one million American casualties was the expected price.
If you're related to one of those possible casualties, you are thankful for the atomic bomb.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Greet your next president

All 17 Republican candidates for president gather in Cleveland Thursday.
One will be taking the oath of office in January 2017.
Democrats better get used to the idea.

Accept my lousy deal or else

President Obama didn't impress in his latest discussion on the Iran deal.
It's his way or war.
No other option.
Dealing with Iran, it's going to be war - now or much harder to deal with later.
And later may be sooner than you think.

Cherish the time

Via Instapundit, the lessons from having children.
Obviously, if you don't want kids, having them won't make you happier. But if you already know you want kids and you're worried that they'll ruin your life and destroy your career, think again. Kids don't just bring a lot of joy to your life by being weird and funny and yes, annoying and loud, too. Kids also force you to decide what's worth your time and what isn't. Kids force you to focus on the things you love (yes, like your kids! But other things, too!) and to invest in those things with all of your heart. And as your kids grow up, those three seconds of free time expand into three or four hours of free time that you truly enjoy. Kids teach you how to enjoy your time, in other words, both by modeling enjoyment (usually by gnawing on something expensive or squealing at the top of their lungs) and by squeezing your free time down to nothing.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

$120,000/month

Thanks to the latest video, we know how much federal funding can be cut from Planned Parenthood.
If they make $120,000 per month at one facility selling fetal parts - including intact babies - they don't need that amount from the taxpayers.

Today's birthdays

Roger Clemens - retired.
Jeff Gordon - retiring.
President Obama - can't wait until he's retired.

Warming up for Cleveland

Fourteen of the 17 Republican candidates made a stop Monday in New Hampshire.
Powerline was impressed.
Trying to be as objective as I can, it seems to me that Ted Cruz sounded the best (not surprisingly, given his speaking and debating skill). After hearing him blast “the Washington cartel,” it’s more of a mystery to me than ever why GOP “populists” prefer a blowhard billionaire (and, until recently, a center-left Democrat) to Cruz.
For those who like their candidates a bit less slick and polished, I thought that Chris Christie stood out. One feels that, for better or for worse, what you see is what you get with the New Jersey governor.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Do they support selling baby parts?

Nice to see liberals rallying to the side of Planned Parenthood.
It's all an attack on women's health, they say.
Five groups and none mention the subject of the videos - selling organs from aborted babies.
Do they support that?
Whatever Planned Parenthood does is good enough for them?

This isn't very tasty

Thanks to this German couple's GoPro camera, you can fly along with a seagull.
And find he doesn't think the camera tastes good.
Via Never Yet Melted.

No taxation level cures selfishness

NRO helps debunk a liberal notion - pro-life people only care for the unborn but not for children who are born.
Want proof that it’s nothing but a misdirection? Ask an abortion activist whether they’d agree to outlaw abortion at any level of taxation or welfare. Given that abortion radicals are happy to see women abort even to preserve a short-lived career as a professional volleyball player, it’s clear that a community could reach a level of peak liberal compassion and they’d still zealously guard the right to kill with impunity. After all, the true concern isn’t for child welfare but for transient notions of adult fulfillment, and no level of taxation will cure the selfishness of the human heart.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Inside Koch World

NRO gives details of the first two days of the gathering led by the Koch Brothers.
As the Kochs have applied their well-known entrepreneurial skills to the realm of politics, what has emerged is less a group of billionaires plotting the destruction of Hillary Clinton under the cover of dark than a shadow Republican party that attends to the vast array of issues conservatives today are concerned about, from preserving free speech on college campuses to improving the data and technology available to candidates and their campaigns. Koch world is a center of gravity, and the GOP’s top candidates now clamor to come into its orbit.

Arrogantly shabby visitor

Thirty years ago, I began attending church in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
There was a different kind of visitor in town today.

He's an animal

Dustbury brings the latest on Cecil the Lion.
Who's brother is also a lion.
What a surprise.

Biden his time

The more Hillary flounders, the louder the calls to Joe Biden consider a run for the Democratic nomination.
If his sons want him to run, can he say no?

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Cut those taxes

It's almost back to school time.
Next weekend is "tax-free weekend" for school supplies and clothing.
The youngest is ready to get some stuff for his first year in high school.
Not quite yet.

Making your computing life happier

Over at Ace, common sense about what to download.
I looked for this article because of my recent computer problems. I almost, almost clicked on a driver download place called DriverInstaller.com. That site didn't even make the list. So, one more word to the wise: When you're on the internet, don't click on anything. Ever. Actually, the word is, check things out first. DriverInstaller might be a fine place, but I don't know, and if it doesn't even rank as a reputable site on that list, well, see ya.

University of No Hope

Back in my college days, I knew a guy who went to the University of New Hampshire.
UNH was the University of No Hope.
He sure knew the future.

Saturday song

Time to Runaway with Del Shannon, in the original black and white.


Facebook quote of the week

I like July.
July is when my Christmas lights change from "still being up" to "being up early".