Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Picture to remember

Grandpa John found this on Facebook.

Gotta love it.
UPDATE: Part of Paco's assortment.

Officer, do you know me?

George Zimmerman got out of Florida.
He tried to get through Texas faster than he should.
Drive a little slower, and keep that gun in the glove box.

Time to fight

DaTech Guy and Bob at Camp of the Saints are both in fighting moods.
DaTech Guy is ready to take on Obamacare - not worried about the "risks."
I’m not going to go back and conjure up all of the reports that show how bad this law is. You can go Google or Bing that yourself. However, at this point it is well-known that this law will have a substantial negative impact on our economy, on jobs and businesses, and on the healthcare industry as a whole. Is anyone confused about that?
Bob looks at the Left's war on America.
The Left In America is committed to doing everything in it’s power to tear-down all the structures of Society. They have come to believe that the most efficient way to do this is to rot out the Society from within. This allows them, for a time, to preserve the outside structures and appearances of every institution in the land while they ravage and eat-out the guts of them.
Stand strong. You have allies in the fight for our future.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Today's Tied with me

Technorati has this blog tied with Global Issues, which talks about Genetically modified foods in Brazil.
Maurício Lopes, president of the government agricultural research agency, EMBRAPA, emphasised another aspect.
The tropics are the world's most challenging region for agriculture, due to the impacts of climate change and the need to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by this human activity, he said.
"We need to make use of the entire technological arsenal available to us. We believe that modern biotechnology, nanotechnology, new sciences and new paradigms are important. Brazil cannot say no to these techniques, because the current challenges are enormous," Lopes told Tierramérica.
Lopes believes that the results of these past 10 years have been positive overall, but that it is important to make intelligent, planned and careful use of these new tools.

Da Truth

DaTech Guy checks out the media hype over Pope Francis' press conference Monday.
Once we define ourselves, are lives and our actions based on sin, or based on our desire for sin everything changes. Instead of being the woman caught in sin accepting the forgiveness Christ offers her:
“Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more.”
we instead answer back:
But Jesus, I like this sin, I enjoy this sin and who are you to really say this is sin? Maybe you should reconsider.
Don't think the Pope was reconsidering doctrine on the plane.
Just explaining what the church believes.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Highly influential

There's a cool meme in the conservative blog world today - the most influential blog awards.
Wyblog put in my name through his Pretty Fly for a Jersey guy site - along with several others.
If only I'd seen this earlier in the day.
Plenty of good sites to explore through the nomination links.

Bring on the doom

Think the economy's getting better.
Check over at Ace's - here's the bad news you try to avoid.

In praise of the McDouble

Via Instapundit, good things about McDonalds.
In the face of the usual foes.
The outraged replies to the notion of McDouble supremacy — if it’s not the cheapest, most nutritious and most bountiful food in human history, it has to be pretty close — comes from the usual coalition of class snobs, locavore foodies and militant anti-corporate types. I say usual because these people are forever proclaiming their support for the poor and for higher minimum wages that would supposedly benefit McDonald’s workers. But they’re completely heartless when it comes to the other side of the equation: cost.

Don't worry, keep spending

What huge debt?
The Obama crew wants to keep on spending.
No austerity for us.
Even after this warning from the CBO.
Although output would be greater and employment higher in the next few years if the spending reductions under current law were reversed, that policy would lead to greater federal debt, which would eventually reduce the nation’s output and income below what would occur under current law.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Bloomin' Onion sauce on the bricks

It's good to have the right sponsors in NASCAR.
Ryan Newman won Sunday at Indy.
Outback Steakhouse is one of his sponsors.
Kissing the bricks tastes better when you chase it with good food.

Hail, hail Peruvia

Ace had too much fun with Peruvia this weekend.
For MSNBC, fitting something into the narrative is like a game of Twister.

I'll like you if you change

CNN brings a blogger's opinion on what's wrong with the evangelical church - why it's not attracting the young.
Much like the advise given to Republicans these days - change and we'll like you.
Be more like us - seems to be focusing more on style than substance.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Bible in the room

Ever wonder how the Gideon's got their start?
Check this out.

Dominos delivered

A perfect cartoon on what's next after Detroit's bankruptcy - if the right steps aren't taken.


Via Powerline.

Saturday song

Go back to Montreal with Gino Vannelli.

Facebook quote of the week

Just had greenpeppers, cucumbers, sweet corn. tomatoes and grilled chicken for dinner....all from my garden. (except the chicken)....It was worth the trouble and work.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Blogger bites

Instapundit decided to link some recipes Thursday.
I tried the slow-cooker salsa chicken recipe tonight - pretty good.
There's his next expansion to the brand - the Instapundit Cooking Show.
With Paula Deen's troubles, there's room for a new cooking star.
Making the Lamb and Guinness Stew could be the first show.

Waiting for the new season

Soon it will be time for the new season of "Big Bang Theory."
Kaley is staying in the news.
And Jeffords is the place to see the best of her past.

Weekend watchdog

For the 20th time, the gentlemen (and lady) starting their engines at Indianapolis will be NASCAR drivers.
ESPN carries the Brickyard 400 Sunday at 1 p.m. Following the final off weekend of the season, it's seven weeks until the 10-race Chase for the Cup.
There's qualifying Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN, after practice coverage on ESPN2 at 9 a.m.
The Nationwide racers take the track Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPN.
Formula One racers will be in Hungary, with NBC Sports network covering the race Sunday at 8 a.m. There's practice Friday at 8 a.m. and qualifying Saturday at 8 a.m.
The Orioles host East-leading Boston on MASN this weekend (TBS also covers Sunday's contest). The Nationals have a four-game set with the Mets. Friday afternoon's contest will be on MASN, Saturday on Fox, and Friday night and Sunday on MASN2.
Other Fox offerings on Saturday include Angels-A's and Cardinals against Braves. ESPN's Sunday night brings Cardinals against the Braves.
Senior golfers stay across the pond for the British Senior Open - ESPN2 has coverage Thursday through Sunday at noon. CBS brings the Canadian Open Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Fox shows the final of the Gold Cup between the United States and Panama Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
D.C. United faces New England in MLS play Saturday at 7 p.m. on Comcast. On NBC Sports network, Chicago travels to Houston Saturday at 9 p.m. and ESPN2 has Colorado-Los Angeles Saturday at 7 p.m.
The WNBA holds its All-Star game Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
The World Team Tennis season ends with the final Sunday at 5 p.m. on Comcast.
The road to the U.S. Open begins on ESPN2 this weekend, with the Atlanta Open and Bank of the West Classic. Coverage from Atlanta will be Friday at 4 and 7 p.m., semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. and final Sunday at 6 p.m. Out west, there's play Friday at 11 p.m., Saturday at 10 p.m. and the final Sunday at 5 p.m.
Chesapeake meets Denver in major league lacrosse Saturday at 2 p.m.
ESPN offers the bowling U.S. Open Saturday at noon.
NBC Sports network has the AMA Spring Run National 250 Saturday at 4 p.m.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Will Dorian leave us gray?

The WeatherNerd gives some early warning about Tropical Depression Dorian.
Got plans for August 2-4?
Dorian may have a say in that.

Super news

Weekly Standard examines the big news from ComicCon - the Superman/Batman movie.
As long as you can keep track of your Batmen.

Healthy growth in Fishersville

Augusta Health and Woodrow Wilson Rehab Hospital both reside in Fishersville.
More medically related organizations are joining the two, and the county endorsed a marketing plan - Lifecore.
Fishersville is a healthy place to be.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Summer trip

Professor Jacobson from Legal Insurrection hit the road for Israel to see the sights and learn about a great American ally.
Why are we allies?
One simple and obvious question came up toward the end and caught me off guard.  To paraphrase:
What explains Americans’ strong support for Israel, this tiny county of 8 million people so far away?
I babbled something about shared enemies and so on.  Undoubtedly the rise of radical Islam was part of it. But I struggled. The best I could come up defied data points.
At some point in the last 40 years something fundamental happened in the relationship between the American people and Israel far deeper than government policy, which fluctuates.  The friendship with and support for Israel became a part of the American psyche.

Distract in chief

Victor Davis Hanson offers his insights in dissecting President Obama's Trayvon speech on Friday.
The president, I think, spoke out for three reasons: 1) He is an unbound,  lame-duck president, with a ruined agenda, facing mounting ethical scandals; from now on, he will say things more consonant with being a community organizer than with being a nation’s president; 2) he knows the federal civil-rights case has little merit and cannot be pursued, and thus wanted to shore up his bona fides with an aggrieved black community; and 3) as with the ginned-up “assault-weapons ban” and the claim that Republicans are waging a “war on women,” Obama knows, as a community activist, that tension can mask culpability — in his case, the utter failure to address soaring unemployment in the inner city, epidemic black murder rates, the bankruptcy of Detroit, and the ways his failed economic policies disproportionately affect inner-city youth.

Trouble for lawyers

Megan McArdle looks at the woes in the world of lawyers.
Life didn’t used to be so harsh inside the firm. Getting the job used to be the great thing; once you had it, you were set. Oh, maybe you wouldn’t make partner, but by then you’d know enough people to enjoy a soft landing in-house somewhere.
The recession changed all that. There are more law school graduates than ever, and fewer jobs for them to take. Fighting your way into a good firm just buys you the right to fight desperately to stay there. Once unthinkable, mass layoffs happen regularly; and once those graduates are laid off, they have a hell of a time finding work. Did I mention that there are too many law school graduates for the available jobs?

As a former journalist, I say welcome to the club.

Look at the whiffy record

Smitty casts an eye toward the Virginia gubernatorial race.
While it’s likely that McAuliffe will do well amongst the junior Gollums infesting Northern Virginia, who keep re-electing the likes of ‘Gentleman’ Jim Moran and ‘Merry’ Gerry Connolly, is the rest of the state so decadent as to send a no-talent clown like McAuliffe to Richmnod? As we research more of McAuliffe’s rather whiffy record, one wonders how he will do at the next debate, in September. One does not expect Cuccinelli to get any less Irish or Italian in his onslaught. One also does not expect McAuliffe to be “packin’ the gear” enough to pick up his end. It would cut into his fundraising time.
Do we want a class clown leading our state?

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Standing your ground

Andrew Branca continues teaching about the benefits of Stand Your Ground and self-defense doctrine.
Because of the weakness of the other options - like duty to retreat.
A criminal who knows he can seize physical control of his immediate surroundings with no fear of death or grave bodily harm being visited upon him is emboldened to do exactly that. You get more violent aggression from the criminal element of society, not less, when you force law-abiding citizens to cede control to violent criminals.  It’s Heinleins’, “An armed society is a polite society,” turned topsy-turvy.

For National Hot Dog day

National Hot Dog Day seems like a perfect day for more Anthony Weiner news.

Today's Tied with Me

Technorati has this blog tied with Mom to Bed by 8.
They are getting ready for back to school.
I am too.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Pivot? I thought you meant divot

Time for another pivot to the economy.
Why now?
Obama was on the golf course. All of his divots reminded him to pivot on the economy.
Again.

To heir is human

Congratulations to William and Kate on the new baby.
How long before the media asks when they'll have another?
Probably has happened already.

Coming soon to you

Zero Hedge gives the bad, and worse news, about Detroit.
We have been living way above our means for so long that we think it is "normal", but an extremely painful "adjustment" is coming and most Americans are not going to know how to handle it.
So don't laugh at Detroit.  The economic pain that Detroit is experiencing will be coming to your area of the country soon enough.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Right is right

Virginia Right has a lengthy look at Cuccinelli proposal to protect children, and the left's attempts to make it a "Religious Right bashing gays" story.
Cuccinelli proposal comes due to a court ruling that threw out a sodomy statute, and might allow some sex offenders to escape their convictions.
Now, this opinion has the potential to overthrow legitimate statutes that are needed to protect children.  For example, the indecent liberties with minors section (18.2-370) has a reference to the sodomy statute as one prohibited act with a minor.  So does the indecent liberties by a teacher or other custodian of a child. (18.2-370.1)  I hate to sound alarmist but there is no other legal way (other than perhaps a misdemeanor contributing to a delinquency of a minor charge) to prosecute anyone for consensual sodomy with a minor or for seeking to persuade a minor to have consensual sodomy in Virginia.
For some, it's better to bash the Religious Right than to focus on protecting children.

Flower power

There's still time to get to the Daylily Festival in Fishersville.
Plenty to see and enjoy.

You are hurting your cause

Do we still live in the country of Emmett Till?
You have to remember what that country was.
It's not today's United States.
The Left wants a frank conversation about race. Fine, here’s my contribution: By hysterically insinuating that the country hasn’t changed dramatically, and by willfully confusing the claims that “racism still exists,” which is true, and that “racism is a vast, institutional problem,” which is not true, you are hurting not helping the cause. Stop it.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Get a job

Instapundit likes this advice from a radio host to someone who is two years old - but still living in his parents' basement.
So your brilliant and gifted 29 year old son would “starve” if he was forced to take care of himself? The “gifted” standard is getting lower by the day, isn’t it? I’ve been living independently and taking care of myself since before I could legally drink a Heineken. I guess that makes me a Nobel candidate — if your helpless grown adult son gets to set the bar for “gifted.”

It's usually hot in July

Powerline notes another climate change discussion, with more trouble for alarmists.
One of the highlights was when the assembled panel of experts was asked whether any of them could support Barack Obama’s claim that global warming has been accelerating over the last decade:
Warmists were asked: “Can any witnesses say they agree with Obama’s statement that warming has accelerated during the past 10 years?” For several seconds, nobody said a word. Sitting just a few rows behind the expert witnesses, I thought I might have heard a few crickets chirping.

From the Fedora

DaTech Guy isn't distracted from the real news of the week.

Saturday song

Hello, it's Todd Rundgren this morning.

Facebook quote of the week

After a trip to the grocery store & $227 later, if anyone in my house says there is nothing to eat.... I might get physical with them! Just sayin'

Friday, July 19, 2013

Guess the traffic court judge was busy

It took a district court judge to put a hold on Detroit's bankruptcy filing.
Sorry bondholders and pension seekers - we had to fight this woman's decision before trying to save the city.
Your money went to lawyers' fees.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Weekend watchdog

Don't sleep too late this weekend.
There's some big events on the calendar.
The British Open visits Muirfield this weekend, and the second round begins Friday at 4 a.m. After the cut, the third round goes at 7 a.m. and final round starts at 6 a.m.
Tour de France finishes its run in Paris on Sunday, after stages in the Alps Friday at 6 a.m. on NBC Sports network. Saturday's stage will begin at 7:30 a.m., then the teams fly to Versailles for the final stage at 11:30 a.m.
The Nationals return from the All-Star break against the Dodgers on MASN, (TBS also covers Sunday) while the Orioles visit Texas on MASN2 - Sunday night on MASN.
The Yankees and Red Sox meet this weekend at Fenway, Saturday afternoon on Fox and Sunday night on ESPN. Fox also offers Pirates-Reds and Braves taking on the White Sox.
The Sprint Cup series takes the weekend off, but the Nationwide racers will be in Chicago Sunday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
D.C. United travels to Chicago Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast.
Up north, Montreal travels to Calgary for a CFL contest on ESPN2 Saturday at 7 p.m.
There's stateside golf from Nevada, with the American Century Championships. NBC Sports network has coverage Friday at 4 p.m., and NBC shows the stars Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
ESPN2 offers Major League Lacrosse action between New York and Charlotte Saturday at 4 p.m.
NBC Sports network brings motorcycle racing Saturday at 6 p.m.
There's pro slo-pitch softball on ESPN2 Saturday at 2 p.m. between the USSSA Pride and the Comets. There's a rematch Sunday at 3 p.m.

Back to the IRS mess

Ed Driscoll has the latest on the IRS - and where the orders came from.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Ted speaks

Ted Nugent offers his thoughts in the aftermath of the Zimmerman verdict.
Here’s the lesson from all this, America: Teach your children to not attack people for no good reason whatsoever. Conduct yourself in a responsible, civil manner, and everything will be just fine. Try to kill someone and that someone just may be exercising his or her Second Amendment rights and you could get shot. It’s called self-defense, and it is the oldest, strongest and most righteous instinct and God-given right known to man.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Discovery period

So the feds want to continue looking into the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin affair.
And there's a possibility of a civil suit.
At least the lawyers will have plenty of discovery material from the trial for their cases.

Whiners on the road

The Florida prosecutors gave interviews Monday about the case.
Better they should hide in shame.
Ace can't wait for them to leave the stage after this performance.
The case is over, and there is no prosecutorial privilege. Most importantly, as in the case with de la Rionda, it's an attack on the fabric of our criminal justice system. It's terrible for a prosecutor to do this, and I have never seen anything like it. The proper response is to say "the jury has spoken" and maybe even "now we must move on," but it's clear Corey has no respect for the jury, despite her frequent statements to the contrary.

Thanks, media coverage

Speaking to a teen attending the NAACP convention, they find a woman who was not ready for a not guilty verdict.
"I was very shocked at the verdict because they way that they made it seem was that he was going to get found guilty, explained 18-year-old Kierra Curry from Fort Wayne, Ind.
Remember burdened of proof, media members.

Today's Tied with me

It's All-Star game day in New York.
And this blog is tied with Mr. Met is My Brother.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Forgotten backstory

The Other McCain got Rush's attention with the story of Trayvon Martin's problems at his Miami Gardens high school.
It's the reason he was in George Zimmerman's neighborhood that fateful night.
The reason Trayvon was in Sanford, Florida, more than 240 miles north of his home in Miami-Dade County, was that he had been suspended from school, and was staying in a townhouse community known as The Retreat at Twin Lakes. Trayvon was staying there with Brandy Green, who was dating Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin, which brings us to another story the media doesn’t want to report.
Trayvon Martin comes from what used to be called “a broken home,” back in the days when most Americans got married and stayed married, so that kids had a Mom and a Dad and brothers and sisters — y’know, what we used to call a “family” once upon a time — instead of a kaleidoscopic arrangement of stepparents and half-siblings, Baby Daddies and Mama’s New Boyfriend and so forth. Call me old-fashioned, if you will, but I tend to think it might be relevant when we learn that a Troubled Youth comes from a Broken Home.

Wait for this, DOJ

Will the Department of Justice pursue a case against George Zimmerman?
Before deciding, perhaps they should wait for the Zimmerman case against NBC.
It's hard to win a civil rights case against a plaintiff who has beaten back racial accusations in court.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Not so fast, my friend

Guess who you might see picking games on College GameDay on Saturday this fall?
President Obama.
Find him a game site near a golf course and it's a go.

Day after

An Orlando lawyer offers his thoughts on the CBS coverage Sunday morning.
For those of you unfortunate enough to have watched CBS this morning, and "Face the Nation" -- Wow! Talk about prejudice, and ignoring the facts! These guys are out to make this case into an "unequal" justice, racial prejudice landmark -- no matter what the evidence was, and no matter how fair or drawn out the trial was to allow those facts!
That's the latest from expert at the scene of the Zimmerman trial (now acquittal).

Don't punch a stranger in the nose

What's the lesson of the George Zimmerman trial?
Pretty simple.
Don't fight a stranger. They might have a gun.
Be careful.
It only takes one unlucky shot.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Da talking points

DaTech Guy went to MSNBC when the Zimmerman verdict came out.
More talking points to follow in the coming days.

Attorneys General to the rescue

Weekly Standard highlights the role of attorneys general like Ken Cuccinelli in holding off the Obama administration.
Republican AGs regard themselves as “the last line of defense” against Washington and its blob-like tendency to grow. It’s a conceit, but a defensible one. Thus the new book by Virginia’s hyperactive AG, Ken Cuccinelli, is titled The Last Line of Defense: The New Fight for American Liberty. Cuccinelli says the levels of resistance to a power-hungry federal government work this way: first Congress, then the president, next the “regulatory arena,” and “then it’s up to the states.” What if the state AGs fail? “Then we’re stuck,” Cuccinelli told me. In the end, says AG Sam Olens of Georgia, “it’s us or no one.”

Saturday song

A headline reminded me of the Kansas song "Dust in the Wind."
Except I've used that as a Saturday song once before.
I'll carry on with another one.

Facebook quote of the week

"Dang, it's supposed to rain again tomorrow."

Friday, July 12, 2013

Disaster of Sharknado

Looks like more people were talking about Sharknado than watching.
SyFy will take a bite of that publicity.

Weekend watchdog

It seems summer has just started, but TNT's Summer NASCAR series closes this weekend.
TNT offers the final of its six races Sunday at noon in New Hampshire. The rest of the campaign will be on ESPN and ABC, including the Chase for the Cup starting in September.
ABC has the Nationwide race Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The IndyCar circuit heads to Toronto, with races on NBC Sports network Saturday and Sunday.
Heading into the All-Star break, the Orioles' homestand continues against Toronto on MASN. The Nationals visit Miami with games Friday and Sunday on MASN2, and Saturday's contest part of the Fox coverage. Other featured games are Pirates against Mets, Rockies-Dodgers, Cardinals at Cubs and Rangers facing the Tigers.
TBS has Rangers-Tigers on Sunday afternoon, with Cardinals against Cubs from Wrigley Field on ESPN Sunday night.
All-Star festivities in New York begin Sunday with the Futures Game at 2 p.m. on ESPN2 and Celebrity softball game at 5 p.m. on ESPN.
The Tour de France continues its run through the countryside on NBC Sports network. Stage 13 begins Friday at 8 a.m., and coverage continues each morning at 8 a.m.
The PGA tour prepares for the British Open with the Scottish Open on NBC Saturday and Sunday at noon, while CBS shows the John Deere Classic Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The best of the senior golfers gather for the U.S. Senior Open. ESPN2 has coverage Friday at 4 p.m., then NBC carries the final two rounds Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
British Columbia meets Edmonton in the CFL Saturday at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
D.C. United takes on Chivas in an International friendly on ESPN2 Friday at 8 p.m. The under-20 World Cup concludes Saturday at 1:47 p.m. with France playing Uruguay.
In the MLS, Portland hosts Los Angeles Saturday at 11 p.m. on NBC Sports network
The United States faces Australia in the World Cup of Softball Friday at 8 p.m. There's games against Canada Saturday at noon and Japan Saturday at 9 p.m. They battle Puerto Rico Sunday at 1 p.m., then there's a contest between Team USA and the Futures team at 3 p.m. The World Cup championship will be Sunday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
Los Angeles faces Tulsa in the WNBA Thursday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
Major League Lacrosse has its all-star game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Close but not quite

Sabine Lisicki has sparkled at Wimbledon before.
But this year she made the final before losing.
Maybe next year will be her year.


Open close

Legal Insurrection offers analysis of the prosecution case in the George Zimmerman trial.
Today, the State presented their closing argument to the jury in the matter of Florida v. Zimmerman. After 14 months of investigation and discovery, weeks of pre-trial hearings, weeks more of trial testimony, and the expenditure of taxpayer money on the order of a million dollars, this was it–this is where the State would close the deal and deliver their compelling narrative of guilt to the jury.
What the jury got was not a compelling narrative of guilt, however, but a rambling monologue of isolated bits of circumstantial evidence, much of which was consistent with–and even supportive of–the defense’s “self-defense” theory of the case.
A closing full of holes. 
Let's see how the defense does Friday morning.

How'd he get the gun out?

This one woman commentator on the George Zimmerman trial keeps pushing this thought - since the gun holster was on his back, there was no way Trayvon Martin could have seen it.
Makes sense for a second.
Then you think, how did Zimmerman get the gun out if it was under his back?
She doesn't go the next step.
The gun could have been in the holster on his back first, but wiggled to the side during the struggle. Where Martin could see it.
And Zimmerman then use it.
Next theory?

Obama the Hutt

Daniel Henninger finds the perfect symbol for our broken government - Jabba the Hutt.
Excepting the military's fighting units, the federal government has become a giant slug, like Jabba the Hutt, inert but dangerous. Like Jabba, the government increasingly survives by issuing authoritarian decrees from this or that agency. Barack Obama, essentially a publicist for Jabba's world of federal fat, euphemized this mess Monday as the American people's "democracy."

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Are you ready for some football?

The 2013 football schedules for Virginia high schools are out.
Fishersville's Wilson Memorial has six home games, plus two road trips against county foes.
You won't have to burn too much gas to follow the Hornets - until the postseason.

He's got a bad feeling about this

Professor Jacobson at Legal Insurrection has watched the George Zimmerman trial closely.
As the case heads to the jury, he's not sure the details will make it to the verdict.
I hope the jury views the evidence with the dispassion of the original prosecutors. I fear it will not.

All-star attraction

Next week, some fans are excited about Major League Baseball's All-Star game.
Others can't wait for the "Honey Boo Boo" scratch and sniff event Wednesday.
Maybe ESPN can have a "scratch and sniff" ESPYs to counterprogram.

For the appeal

Today's burning question in the George Zimmerman trial - did Trayvon Martin author the texts sent on his phone?
Legal Insurrection mentioned the court room discussion, and a reader found a case with a similar issue.
If only the trial judge had friends like Legal Insurrection.

Overpromised

The slowdown of implementation of Obamacare shows a basic problem - overpromising what can be done.
In an ideal world, the exchange websites need to be able to talk to several federal agencies—IRS to verify an applicant's income and employment status, the Department of Homeland Security to determine her citizenship, and the state government to see if she qualifies for Medicaid, to name a few—all in real time, so a person could fill out a form and purchase insurance in one sitting.
Each of those departments has its own computer system and its own means of tracking information. Creating a "data hub" to share them has been a challenge, as a recent Government Accountability Office report highlighted. It is increasingly clear that the kind of Amazon.com, one-stop shopping that was once described – and that Obama himself referenced in a speech on Monday -- will not be available in most parts of the country.
In an ideal world.
Last time I checked, it's not an ideal world.
A needed reminder when you're tinkering.



Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Al Gore's son could not be reached for comment

Enough fussing about Governor McDonnell's son.
Remember the troubles Al Gore's son got into in the past.
Such things happen. 

Clash of cultures

Ace recommends this essay about the different cultures brought together in the George Zimmerman trial.
And remember that the story you're hearing isn't the real story.
But the case isn't about race either. It's about a struggling middle class in a precarious economy trying to hang on to what it has. And it's about a culture of dropouts from the economy who celebrate thuggery and then pretend to be the victims. It's doubtful that anyone in Zimmerman's neighborhood who weathered multiple break-ins has much sympathy for the Martin family. And that's one reason that the prosecution hasn't found any useful witnesses.

Today's Tied with me

Technorati has this blog tied with American Elephant, which looks at the baffling Middle East policy of the Obama administration.

Monday, July 8, 2013

I want a crookie

The Daily Mail shows a new taste sensation - a croissant with Oreo cookies.
The cookie-croissant mix is made by stuffing croissant dough with crushed Double Stuf Oreos and icing sugar, then baking it with half an Oreo placed on top.
The sweet invention, born in the ovens of Toronto's Clafouti Patisserie et Cafe, materialises into a delicious-looking cake, flaky and gooey all at once.

See how the west was won

Gizmodo shows 15 tools that helped the pioneers survive.
Eight of the pictures come from the Frontier Culture Museum.

Getting ready for the acquittal

ABC's Dan Abrams brings the idea into the mainstream media - George Zimmerman can be acquitted of murder.
Readers of Legal Insurrection will not be surprised by the conclusion.
Here's hoping more and more will not be surprised in a few weeks.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Blow the whistle on this break-in

An interesting story from Dallas, where a law firm suffered a break-in.
Only certain computers were taken.
Not the silver coins or silver bars.
Just a law firm representing a Washington whistleblower.
I'm sure Democrats will say "Nothing to see here."

Rumor central

Bearing Drift has the lowdown on a blast story from Saturday night - Governor Bob McDonnell would be resigning.
Why?
Why six month before his term ends?
I haven't been following the supposed scandal about McDonnell gifts - too much partisan "he said, he said" and thinking gifts have any influence on political decisions.
If you're in politics, you attract people with similar mindsets. It would have to be a major, major gift to make a difference.
A "Global Crossing" size windfall.
At this point of the administration, it's keep things going until the new guy starts in January.
While they talk in Richmond, it's time to gear up for November.
The next four years matter more than the possible problems of the current crew.

Welcome to the exchange

Discussions about the Obamacare exchanges usually wonder if businesses will dump their employees there - instead of continuing to provide their healthcare.
Did anyone think cities, crushed by years of over promises, might find the exchanges as helpful places to dump their obligations?
The municipalities plan to end or limit health coverage for retirees under 65 who don’t yet qualify for Medicare, with the expectation they can get insurance in the exchanges opening Jan. 1 under President Barack Obama’s health-care law.
With U.S. cities facing rising benefit costs and billions of dollars in unfunded liabilities, more municipalities will consider moving retirees off city rolls and into the exchanges, even if they continue to subsidize the coverage, said Neil Bomberg, a program director at the National League of Cities in Washington
There's another added cost to your "free healthcare."

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Fireworks in Fishersville

One of our neighbors lit up the skies Saturday night.


An expert for Fox

Watching the coverage on Fox of the San Francisco plane crash, they have the author of Jetwhine.com discussing the accident.
Seems like a good place to check for information.

Dunking on the tax man

TaxProf blog checks in on the sporting world - did Dwight Howard sign with the Rockets instead of Lakers due to taxes?
His Houston offer was much lower, but the tax rate differential makes the offer very close to the Lakers' offer - after the tax bite.




The new line will be "show me the money, after taxes."

Saturday song

They got the money, they got away.
Steve Miller Band brings the happy song.

Facebook quote of the week

The latest production of Writer's Block Theatre is:

Friday, July 5, 2013

Princess and the pea-brain

Mark Steyn follows Egypt's falling fortunes - through the life of a princess who died hours before the Morsi government fell.
After she left the shah, Princess Fawzia served as the principal hostess of the Egyptian court. In tiara and off-the-shoulder gowns, she looks like a screen siren from Hollywood’s golden age — Hedy Lamarr, say, in Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945). Sixty years later, no Egyptian woman could walk through Cairo with bare shoulders without risking assault. President Morsi’s wife, Naglaa Ali Mahmoud, is his first cousin, and covered from head to toe. If you were a visiting foreign minister, you were instructed not to shake hands, or even look at her.

Bao wow

Legal Insurrection's expert on the Zimmerman trial still can't believe Friday's testimony.
After Jaharvis the State introduced Dr. Shiping Bao, the medical examiner who had conducted the actual autopsy on Trayvon Marting. I can come up with no positive way to describe Dr. Bao’s testimony, nor the time at present to make the herculean effort to do so, but perhaps will touch on it in a post this weekend. Let it just be said that not only was his testimony not compelling of guilt, it would seem prudent for Dr. Bao to be exploring alternatives to his present employment.
Wow.
Can't wait for the weekend roundups.

Weekend watchdog

wimbledonMany of the stars are gone. But new stars will shine this weekend at Wimbledon.
The fortnight closes this weekend with the women's final Saturday at 9 p.m. and men's championship Sunday at 9 a.m. ESPN has the coverage of the final matches.
The women's champion - either Sabine Lisicki or Marion Bartoli - will hoist their first Grand Slam championship trophy.
The men's semifinal will be on ESPN Friday at 8 p.m. Top-seed Novak Djokovic faces Juan Martin del Porto in one men's semifinal, while hometown favorite Andy Murray meets Jerzy Janowicz in the other.
The PGA tour makes its closest stop to Fishersville, with the top players gathering about 100 miles away at the Greenbrier. CBS has weekend coverage starting at 3 p.m. each day.
After a sweep in Baltimore last weekend, the Orioles head to New York to face the Yankees on MASN (Sunday afternoon on TBS), while the Nationals host San Diego on MASN2.
The Saturday night slate on Fox includes Dodgers at Giants and Astros facing the Rangers. Other games include White Sox-Rays, Mets at Brewers and the Braves against the Phillies. ESPN shows the Red Sox meeting the Angels Sunday night.
NASCAR returns to Daytona for 400 more miles of action Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on TNT. The Nationwide racers go in the Firecracker 250 Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Indy Car circuit visits Pocono on ABC Sunday at noon, while the American Le Mans tour has its Northeast Grand Prix Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Tour de France continues on NBC Sports network Friday at 8 p.m. NBC has coverage Saturday at 8 p.m., and the ninth stage starts Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
Gearing up for the World Cup, the United States plays Guatemala in an International Friendly on NBC Sports network Friday at 11 p.m. The Messi All-stars face the World All-Stars Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
D.C. United continues a western swing at Colorado Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on Comcast, while Seattle visits Vancouver Saturday at 11 p.m. on NBC Sports network. ESPN brings Chicago against Kansas City Sunday at 3 p.m.
Charlotte faces Boston in Major League Lacrosse Saturday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

IRS on the job

A friend posted a nice cartoon on Facebook.

Dogs aren't patriotic

There's fireworks going off all around tonight.
My yorkie doesn't like the noise.
Guess it's hard for dogs to be patriotic.

Know your history

Philly has 10 interesting facts about the Declaration of Independence.
Maybe we should have Independence Week.

Rocking the fourth

Just a Conservative Girl helps rock the Fourth of July.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Now it's Less-si

PJ Media provides a platform for an Egyptian protest leader to discuss the background of today's ouster of President Morsi.
On Sunday, June 30, Egyptians took their anger to the streets. They protested against the Morsi administration and his Muslim Brotherhood government. Egyptians are protesting against the Brotherhood imposing their beliefs on Egypt, as well as protesting against fascist rule in general.
The protestors are demanding a stable Egypt and stable Middle East. They are demanding a better future for the nation. And the only way to achieve that is to force Morsi to step down.
Americans should demand that the Obama administration stop supporting fascist rule in Egypt. His support for the Muslim Brotherhood  will create another Osama Bin laden, and will eventually destabilize the whole Middle East.

Morsi you later

Lots of happy people in Egypt this afternoon.
What will happen next?
Another interesting weekend in the Middle East.

Where's my Pops?

The Fourth of July won't be the same without the Boston Pops on TV.
Old blog posts are fine.
Nothing beats the sights and sounds of Boston.

Young and still learning

The youth vote helped Obama get two terms in the White House.
With Obamacare, now it's time for them to pay up.
As an older, wiser voter, I hope this will change their impression of him.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Big Bang Theory on Gettysburg

The first season of Big Bang Theory brought an alternate version of Gettysburg - would history have changed with superheroes joining the fight?
How would Godzilla get through the countryside to the battle, anyway?

Shoo fly, don't bother me

So a Democratic senator sent a letter to Governor Bob McDonnell.
McDonnell's spokesman called it blatantly partisan and uninformed - because he couldn't say, "Shoo fly, don't bother me."
You don't have to be a scientist to figure this out.


My first home is a college admin building

Attention potential home sellers:
Who's going to buy your house?
Somebody with a big college debt?
The college admins beat you to the market.

Today's Tied with me

Technorati has this blog tied with Adventure Blog, which shows a cool way to park your bike.
If you're a pro.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Another good day for Zimmerman

Legal Insurrection details Day Six of the Zimmerman trial - more prosecution witnesses turning out to help the defense.
On the stand was Chris Serino, who was the lead investigator for the Sanford Police Department on the Trayyvon Martin shooting. Defense counsel Mark O’Mara led cross-examination with his usual consummate skill, obtaining responses from this witness–remember, the State’s witness–that all but completely guts the State’s charge in this case.
Among the key revelations so far:
Zimmerman was always completely cooperative, open, and straightforward with all the police investigators over many weeks of multiple interviews, both in person at the police station and phone. The sense given is that Zimmerman demonstrated endless patience.
O’Mara noted that Serino was leading an investigative team, gathering and sharing evidence ,that included all levels of the Sanford Police Department up to the Chief, and even members of the 18 Circuit State Prosector’s office. Asked if there was ANYTHING that Zimmerman had said that contradicted the wealth of evidence possessed by Serino, the Investigator answered, “No, sir.” No physical evidence, no witness evidence, no officer statements, nothing? “No, sir.”
The case is basically over. Unfortunately, those who followed the initial media reports will be in for a surprise.

Challenging hitters for 1.8 million years

The New York Times looks at the pitching motion - why we have it and other animals don't.
The ideas that human throwing ability is unique and that it was important in human evolution and related to hunting are as old as Darwin. And pitching coaches and experts in sports medicine have long analyzed the details of the throwing motion, which is used in a number of sports. What is new in Dr. Roach’s study, say anatomists, is the idea of the shoulder’s functioning like a slingshot, and tying the specific anatomical changes to the fossil record.

Do your home work

Via American Interest, a story on how to manage a remote team.
Telework rules.

Fun at the park

What's more fun?
Watching the Orioles sweep the Yankees, or the Bird and friends dancing to YMCA?
Both.