He's coming to your city

The weeks of whining are almost over.
Benjamin Netanyahu will soon be in the United States for his pre-election visit.
And speech to Congress Tuesday.
He's a man who'd prefer not to be right about Iran.
But will not let wrong impressions go unanswered.

Time for winter to leave

Just a few hours left in February.
One of the coldest and snowiest in many areas of the East and Midwest.
Anybody heard from the global warming crowd lately?
Definitely not hearing from these robins.

Think beach

Tired of freezing February temperatures?
It's now less than 90 days until Memorial Day.
You can start thinking about your beach plans.
It will be warm soon.

Facebook quote of the week

Just moved a book off the desk to make room for my phone and maybe that one action just symbolized everything that's going wrong with us.

Bird in the hand worth two in the bush

I enjoy reading reasons why we shouldn't develop fossil fuels.
We have resources in the ground.
They work with our current infrastructure.
But that doesn't persuade this group.
Solar and wind are the answer - they just need time and government money.
Sure, gas and oil are a bird in your hand.
They offer two in the bush.
Which might make life easier.
Or fly away and leave you empty handed.

Saturday song

Another Reddy for Hillary songs, with Angie Baby telling the radio good night.

Tiny Spock, help

The passing of Leonard Nimoy reminds me of his appearance - voicing a Spock toy - on The Big Bang Theory.

Dump on the hill

C-Ville revisits the sad story of the buildings atop Afton Mountain.
The owner has plenty of property in Augusta and Nelson counties.
Perhaps Dominion can link his properties with their new pipeline.
A gas pipeline would be an improvement over the Afton properties.

Weekend watchdog

In many of the past 15 years, you never knew when Virginia would play its last home basketball game.
They might make the NCAA tournament, but it was more likely an NIT or other college tournament bid that kept the arena going into March. The scheduled regular season finale wasn't going to be the final home contest.
Not this year.
When the Hokies visit Saturday at 4 p.m. on the ACC network, it will be the last chance for local fans to see the Cavaliers in action. The second-ranked team closes the regular season with two road games, then it's time to defend their ACC tournament championship in Greensboro.
The third week of March will be played at an NCAA tournament venue to be determined, not John Paul Jones Arena.
In other ACC action, Georgia Tech takes on Clemson Saturday at noon.
Iona takes on Manhattan on ESPN2 Friday at 7 p.m.
CBS gets ready for the NCAA tournament with three games Saturday and two more Sunday. Georgetown faces St. John's at noon, then North Carolina visits Miami and top-ranked Kentucky battles Arkansas. Sunday's action starts at 2 p.m. when SMU meets Connecticut, then Michigan State plays Wisconsin.
Villanova visits Xavier on Fox Saturday at 2 p.m.
Maryland meets Michigan Saturday at noon on ESPN, followed by Northern Iowa taking on Wichita State. Texas tangles with Kansas at 5 p.m., then Syracuse heads to Duke and Arizona battles Utah at 9 p.m.
ESPN2 has 14 straight hours of action, starting at noon with Louisville-Florida State. Dayton visits VCU at 2 p.m. and it's Iowa State-Kansas State followed by Tennessee taking on Florida. The final three games are out west, with Boise State going to San Diego State at 8 p.m. BYU battles Gonzaga then UC Irvine goes against UC Santa Barbara at midnight.
Marquette meets Providence on FoxSports1 Sunday at 3:30 p.m. It's off to the Pac-12 at 7 p.m. for Oregon-Stanford, then Washington State battles UCLA.
On Comcast, North Carolina State faces Boston College Saturday at noon, followed by a pair of CAA matchups - Drexel against William & Mary at 2 p.m. before Hofstra heads to James Madison.
Rhode Island meets LaSalle Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
Columbia clashes with Dartmouth Friday at 8 p.m. on MASN. UNC-Asheville meets Liberty Saturday at 3 p.m. and there's Atlantic 10 action between George Mason and Saint Louis at 7 p.m.
George Washington duels with Davidson Saturday at 7 p.m. on MASN2.
On the women's hardcourt, Texas takes on West Virginia on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m. North Carolina battles Duke at 3 p.m. before South Carolina faces Kentucky.
FoxSports1 brings Providence against Villanova Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Virginia hosts Louisville on Comcast Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by Florida State facing Miami.
Baylor battles Iowa State Saturday at 4 p.m. on MASN2. Southern Miss faces UTEP Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Heat visit New Orleans on ESPN Friday at 8 p.m., with Oklahoma City-Portland as the nightcap. The Thunder tangle with the Lakers Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
Comcast has the Wizards' contest with the Pistons Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Clippers meet the Bulls Sunday at 1 p.m. on ABC, followed by the Cavaliers against the Rockets.
NASCAR heads to Atlanta Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox. The Xfinity Series will be on FoxSports1 Saturday at 2 p.m., then the trucks take to the track at 5:30 p.m.
NBC brings NHL action to prime time, with the Rangers meeting the Flyers Saturday at 8 p.m.
The Capitals visit Carolina Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast and host Toronto Sunday at 7 p.m.
The Ducks take on the Stars Sunday at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
On the college ice, Notre Dame faces Boston College Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
The PGA tour moves to Florida and NBC this weekend, with the Honda Classic on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
West Ham United faces Crystal Palace Saturday at 7:45 a.m. on NBC Sports network, with Manchester United against Sunderland at 10 a.m. It's Liverpool-Manchester City Sunday at 7 a.m. before Everton takes on Arsenal at 9 a.m.
NBC Sports network has the U.S. Indoor track and field championships Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.
Freeskiing from the United States Grand Prix will be on NBC Sports network Saturday at 3 p.m.

We're going to build it. Will you come?

President Obama vetoed the bill from Congress to get the Keystone XL pipeline built now.
Jim Webb isn't impressed.
But after six years of waiting, two more isn't too long.
We're going to build it.
No matter your protests.
How long until liberals come along?

Nightmare side of the Dream act

Powerline highlights the video of a father whose won was killed by an illegal immigrant - one the government had in custody and released.

Was the money for nothing?

The Clintons sure love money.
Powerline notes the Washington Post checking into their latest fundraising.
Accepting donations to a family foundation from foreign governments while serving as Secretary of State represents extraordinarily bad judgment. Sure, most of the money went to bona fide charitable causes. But there are any number of ways to donate to, say, earthquake or flood relief. Does anyone seriously think that a foreign government would choose the Clinton Foundation as its preferred charitable vehicle unless it sought to curry favor with a) a former president and still leading figure in the Democratic Party, b) the Secretary of State, and c) a possible future president? How dumb do the Clintons think we are?
Will there be questions raised about the cash as the campaign heats up?

Big news from the little guys

2015 will be the big year for exploring Ceres and Pluto - our solar system's dwarf planets.
Never before visited by human spacecraft, Ceres and Pluto, as we will soon bear witness, are both evolving, changing worlds. Yesterday, Ceres and Pluto were strangers, distant, barely known runt members of our solar system. By the end of this calendar year, however, we will have showered both objects with our passion and our attention, we will have welcomed them both into our embrace. And we almost certainly will once again call both of them planets.

Hoo is stalking him?

Ray Stevens has a new album coming out - including an ode to Taylor Swift.
If Swift could sing about Tim McGraw, why can't Stevens sing about her?

Lessons from 1880

The Weekly Standard gives Jeb Bush some bad news from 1880.
Being the establishment guy doesn't mean you'll be the ultimate guy.
The 1880 campaign has been mostly forgotten, but the nomination that year was really a watershed in the young GOP’s history. Ulysses S. Grant had been out of the White House for four years by that point, and the ensuing time had been hard for the professional political class. Nowadays, when we think of the GOP “professional class” we imagine the mega-donors, strategists, consultants, and lobbyists -- all of whom draw a living off Republican politics in some manner or another. Back then, the professional class hailed from the political machines in states like Pennsylvania and New York. These were the bosses, lieutenants, and various campaign workers who depended on federal patronage, mostly through government jobs like the post offices and customs houses.
Bush offers the professional class a chance to make cash.
What does he offer the rest of the party?

You are....a loser

If you enjoy Keith Olbermann on TV, you'll be missing him the rest of the week.
He got into a Twitter battle about Penn State.
Insulting the school - which just raised 13 million dollars for cancer research this weekend - didn't go over well.
Olbermann.
You are
not very smart

More fun for managers

Via Instapundit, FuturePundit looks at a major impact on robots - making life easier for managers.
Suppose you manage low skilled and low productivity workers. Suppose they aren’t very conscientious. What is your day going to be like? Kinda like someone running around plugging new holes that spout in dikes. Will you like your job? For most people the answer is going to be “No!”. So automate the jobs and stop dealing with people who are a hassle to deal with.
Be nice to your manager.
So they don't think they need to replace you.

Yes. Next question

Breitbart asks a question many must answer yes to - “Do you now or have you ever held a negative personal opinion of President Barack Obama?”
Yes, I think he's a lousy president.
Next question.

Free from the union burden

Union leaders hate Scott Walker.
The numbers tell why.
Union officials declined to release precise membership data but confirmed in interviews that enrollment is dramatically lower since the new law was signed in 2011.
The state branch of the National Education Association, once 100,000 strong, has seen its membership drop by a third. The American Federation of Teachers, which organized in the college system, saw a 50 percent decline. The 70,000-person membership in the state employees union has fallen by 70 percent.
Walker's reforms didn't make it illegal to join unions.
He just removed their ability to have dues taken from employees paychecks automatically.
When given a choice, former union members decided to keep their money instead of giving it to the union.

Walking to the White House

The Federalist offers a thank you to the left - for building Scott Walker into a potent Republican candidate.
Had the Democrats not targeted Walker with a recall, that massive fundraiser network, the national profile, the party unity, and his highly developed get-out-the-vote team almost certainly wouldn’t exist. He may have still won re-election, but he would be just another Midwestern Republican governor who enacted reforms and faced push-back, not the conservative folk hero of a party longing for a win.

Does ISIS watch the Oscars?

Last night's Academy Awards fills the news.
Who won.
Who wore what.
The political speeches and concerns.
If ISIS watches this, what do they think?
Does this show help their recruiting - showing Muslims how different their concerns are with this part of America.

Defending themselves

Rudy Giuliani did the country a favor - reminding us how liberals and the media hate any criticism of President Obama.

The real Oscar winner

Why watch the Oscars, when the best movie of the year wasn't represented?
Good thing the guys from the Lego movie know how to make cool statues.

Come with me if you want to live

Just over a week until Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled speech to Congress.
His message will be simple.
If we want to live, we must do something.
Not depend on the Obama administration's negotiations.

Happy Hockey Day

NBC has a team at Lake Placid for its annual "Hockey Day in America" promotion.
They visited the locker room used by the United States team before the win over the Soviets.
Reminds me of the Herb Brooks speech.
Go out there and take it.

When to take a break from shoveling

Fishersville is digging out from about a foot of snow Saturday.
Temperatures in the 40s are helping.
But when I looked into the backyard and saw buzzards sitting high in a tree beyond the tree, I took the sign to go inside for a while.

Fresh paint on an old house

If you think your job is tough, at least you aren't trying to rebrand Hillary Clinton's image before the coming campaign.
The most sensible view expressed in the Post’s story is that of Republican advertising “guru” Fred Davis. He says that if Clinton’s re-branding “seems like a craven attempt to try to put fresh paint on an old house, then it will backfire.”
I don’t see how yet another attempt to re-invent Clinton at this late date could seem other than craven. With an old war horse candidate, “what you see is what you get” might be the best marketing approach. It’s telling that Team Clinton rejects this approach. You’ll get something better than what you’ve seen is their pitch.

It worked for him

Hot Air shares the story of a North Carolina blogger who won the right to tell his story.
Talking about changing your diet to feel better doesn't make you a dispenser of unauthorized medical advice.
Celebrate the warrior's victory.

Let it warm - save government budgets

If you don't like global warming and want you stop burning fossil fuels, don't you realize what you're doing to government budgets?
All this snow plowing means government budget troubles.
Less money available for your priorities.
If you want government to spend more for your people, let the coal burn.

Get off my cyber lawn

Chris Graham laments the loud, unhappy voices that fill the internet today.
What do you think?
Flame away.

Saturday song

Reddy for Hillary month continues with another campaign theme song "You and me against the World."

A plan for the end of the world

Ed Driscoll uses this review of an "end of the world lifestyle" book to examine what ISIS is thinking.
The author thought the world was ending, and wanted to live like he thought it would be when civilization broke down.
He broke down instead.
The reviewer has a better plan for the end.
In any event, when the balloon goes up, I have my plan ready. I shall hide in the stockroom at Morrison’s (Strood branch), spending what’s left of eternity scoffing their individual fruit pies.

Facebook quote of the week

Got home a while ago after a 16 hour day. Ate, showered , and off to bed for about 4 hours sleep. Then it's back to work. To everyone who gets to stay home from work tomorrow...PFFFFTTTTT!!!!!!

Thon time

My nephew is among the thousands of Penn State students participating in this weekend's Thon fundraising event.
Lots of kids have been helped through the years.
More will be helped after this weekend.

Cool stellar triangle

There's a cool view in the Western sky tonight.
A sliver of a moon right near Venus and Mars.
Look up for a second while you're outside in the frosty weather.

Opening Pandora's Box

The Weather Channel's habit of naming winter storms can be irritating, or cool.
It's easy to have fun with a storm named Pandora.
I'm looking for a box of warm weather.
And the 10-day forecast now includes March 1.
Spring is coming.

Weekend watchdog

It's DW time.
"Boogity, boogity, boogity, let's go racing boys."
Darrell Waltrip and the Fox crew bring the 2015 Daytona 500 Sunday. Coverage starts at noon.
Jeff Gordon, who announced this will be his final full-time NASCAR season, has the pole position with Jimmie Johnson on the outside of the front row.
FoxSports1 has the opening race of the XFINITY series Saturday at 3 p.m., after the first truck series race Friday at 7:30 p.m.
NBC holds its national hockey day Sunday as the Capitals meet the Flyers at 12:30 p.m., followed by Bruins-Blackhawks at 3 p.m.
The Stadium Series visits the 49ers' new stadium Saturday at 10 p.m., with the Sharks hosting the Kings on NBC Sports network.
Comcast has the Capitals' meeting with the Islanders Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The Stars visit the Wild on NBC Sports network Sunday at 8 p.m.
The ACC network offers Georgia Tech-North Carolina Saturday at noon along with Pittsburgh's visit to Syracuse.
Cleveland State clashes with Green Bay Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
CBS brings Florida's trip to LSU Saturday at 1 p.m., and Ohio State battles Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m.
Minnesota-Wisconsin starts ESPN's day Saturday at noon. It's off to the ACC at 2 p.m. for Miami against Louisville and Clemson heading to Duke, then top-ranked Kentucky hosts Auburn at 7 p.m.. UCLA plays Arizona at 9 p.m.
ESPN2's slate of six Saturday games begins with VCU meeting Massachusetts. Iowa State tackles Texas at 2 p.m, followed by TCU-Kansas. Virginia Tech heads to North Carolina State at 6 p.m. before Alabama meets Georgia. Gonzaga facing Saint Mary's closes the night at 10 p.m.
Seton Hall tangles with St. John's Saturday at noon and Utah meets Oregon Sunday at 3 p.m. on FoxSports1.
Dayton duels with Duquesne Saturday at 2 p.m. on NBC Sports network, followed by Drexel-Northeastern. LaSalle faces St. Louis Sunday at 2:30 p.m. before William & Mary faces Hofstra.
Notre Dame takes on Boston College Saturday at 4 p.m. on Comcast, and College of Charleston clashes with James Madison at 7 p.m.
It's off to the Ivy League on MASN Friday at 8 p.m. with Columbia-Brown. Southern Miss clashes with Charlotte Saturday at 5:30 p.m., and East Tennessee faces Chattanooga at 8 p.m.
There's three more games Sunday, starting with Furman against UNC-Greensboro at 1 p.m. before Cleveland State-Milwaukee at 3:30 p.m. It's off to the Ohio Valley at 6:30 p.m., with Southeast Missouri meeting Eastern Illinois.
MASN2 has Butler taking on Xavier Saturday at 2 p.m. and Grand Canyon hosts New Mexico State at 9 p.m. Western Kentucky goes against Middle Tennessee Sunday at 1 p.m.
In women's hoops, Duke meets North Carolina State Sunday at noon on ESPN2. Rutgers takes on Michigan State at 2 p.m., followed by California-Stanford.
West Virginia battles Iowa State on MASN2 Saturday at noon and Old Dominion meets Louisiana Tech Sunday at 3 p.m.
Florida State faces Boston College on Comcast at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Wizards host LeBron James and the Cavaliers Friday at 8 p.m. on Comcast and ESPN. Comcast has the visit to Detroit Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
ESPN's Friday night finale matches San Antonio and Golden State at 10:30 p.m.
Tottenham Hotspur takes on West Ham United Sunday at 7 a.m. on NBC Sports network. It's Everton-Leicester City at 9 a.m. and then Southampton battles Liverpool.
CBS has the PGA tour's Northern Trust Open Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.

This cold pops

I like buying several 12-packs of soft drinks at a time.
I just don't like bringing them all in at once.
So I'll leave one or two in the back of the car for when they are needed.
This week, I brought in one 12-pack from the cold.
Except the Pepsi wasn't just liquid - more like a slushy.
That's a little too ice cold for my son's taste.

Is this thing on?

A crow is ready for ice hockey at the 49ers' stadium.

Always coldest before the spring

Hopefully today and tonight will be the last coldest times of the winter.
At midnight, the 10-day forecasts will include March 1.
Pitchers and catchers are working out in Florida.
I think there is hope.
If I can stop shivering.

I went to college with this guy

Mike Rowe's article on the need for college for presidential candidates has the internet buzzing.
Scott Walker went to college but didn't finish.
Mike Rowe went to the same college I did, in the same time frame.
College was a place I learned about writing at a newspaper - just 12 years before the internet began making newspapers obsolete.
I learned some things in class at college - and probably more outside of class.
Just like you learn on the job.
Scott Walker has dealt with the dirty job of leading Wisconsin for four-plus years.
More work than most people do to get their diploma.

It doesn't feel warmer

After years of railing about global warming, they don't want to use that term this week.
Wonder why?
You build the fear-mongering on warming.
When people are stuck in below-zero weather, a turn of phrase doesn't warm them up.

ISIS article is a revelation

The conservative websites are buzzing about the Atlantic story on ISIS's motivations.
They want to bring about the end of the world.
An end where Islam rules the world.
They should read the book of Revelation.
It doesn't end like that.

Over-rated

Powerline finds a survey on President Obama's place among the nation's leaders.
He doesn't do well.
First, President Obama ranks 18th overall, but beneath the surface of the aggregate figures lurks evidence of significant ambivalence. For example, those who view Obama as one of the worst American presidents outnumber those who view him as one of the best by nearly a 3-1 margin. Similarly, nearly twice as many respondents view Obama as over-rated than do those who consider him under-rated.
People who wish he was doing well push his popularity up.
History likely won't be so kind.

Watch what you say

Legal Insurrection updates the story of Justine Sacco - the woman who's tweet produced a crazed mob while she flew to South Africa.
With all the angry people out there, the lesson is clear.
Be careful what you write on Twitter, folks. It’s a public forum, and you may be held accountable, like it or not.

Comprehensive historical ignorance

Commentary takes on the idea President Obama is smart - using his words against him.
On matters of great significance–the major world religions, the Middle East, Russia. And the president’s unwillingness to grasp the past certainly gives reason for concern with Iran as well–a country whose government has used the façade of negotiations to its own anti-American ends for long enough to see the pattern.
They’re not just minor gaffes or verbal blunders. They serve as a window into the mind of a president who acts as if a history of the world before yesterday could fit on a postcard. We talk a lot about the defects of the president’s ideology, but not about his ignorance. The two are related, but the latter is lately the one causing a disproportionate amount of damage.

Prepare for battle

Roger L. Simon sees the signs from Copenhagen.
And looks for someone who also sees the problem.
With each passing day it becomes increasingly clear we are in a huge war of civilizations.  This is a bigger deal than anything since WWII.  Nothing could be more obvious.   That means 2016 is about as serious as it gets.  We need our Churchill fast, but in searching for him (or her) we cannot afford a bloodletting.  We have to treat this as a wartime situation because it is.
Frankly, I haven’t seen a single candidate do that yet. I’m looking for that person.  Everything else is secondary or tertiary.  They’re all irrelevant, even a distraction at this point, if we don’t win the war.  And don’t think we can’t lose.  Our technology is only a small advantage and has already been ripped off and used against us.  The will to win is far more important and our will is next to non-existent, especially at the top.

A good lesson to learn

Instapundit finds a great lesson for us if Scott Walker gets elected president.
Already people can point to tech pioneers like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as evidence that a college degree isn't essential to getting ahead. But just as electing America's first black president had a resonance that no other achievement did, so, perhaps, electing America's first non-college-grad president in many decades will serve to remind people that a college degree isn't the be-all and end-all, and that accomplishments and practical skills are, in the end, more important than credentials. It would be educational.

We have thundersnow, baby

Jim Cantore gets excited by thundersnow.
So does a young fan.

Chances of action on climate change

Liberals warn of global warming, and we must act now.
They need to step outside this morning.
Lows in single digits.
Higher numbers than the chances of getting the action they want.
Most people know you talk about the weather but there's nothing you can do about it.
Unfortunately, the chances that liberals will learn is the same numbers as the low temperatures.

How about that global warming?

It's a brutally cold night in Fishersville.
There's plenty of snow in Boston.
And more snow coming.
Anybody talking about global warming this weekend?
Didn't think so.

Recycling update

A Valentine's Day trip to the recycling center brought 50 cents a pound for aluminum cans.
I love getting cash for that trash.

Facebook quote of the week

If I do not physically hurt someone or smoke today, it will be a miracle!
Worst. Morning. Ever.

Saturday song

Reddy for Hillary month continues with Delta Dawn.

Premature immolation

Via National Review, video of a car bomb going boom too soon - thanks to a Kurdish sharpshooter.

Won't back down

Do you think Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu will decline to speak to Congress in March?
Elie Wiesel thinks he should speak.
Maybe Democrats could learn from Netanyahu instead of shunning him.
Welcoming the prime minster with courtesy and respect as the leader of a democratic ally is the least we should do, but it’s not all we can do. We can also learn from him. Netanyahu has spent many years on the front lines of the war on terror. As a young man, he was fighting terror while Barack Obama was fighting boredom. As an adult, while Obama was community-organizing his way to the presidency, Netanyahu was a participant in the civilizational struggle in which both Israel and the United States, as leaders of the West, are engaged.

The saga continues

Brian Williams' troubles have given Proof Positive plenty to work with.

Weekend watchdog

It's an NBA All-Star weekend too big for one arena.
The best of the NBA head to New York this weekend, with action at both Madison Square Garden and Brooklyn's Barclay Center.
The activities begin Friday at 7 p.m. with the Celebrity contest on ESPN. The Rising Stars compete in Brooklyn on TNT at 9 p.m.
Brooklyn gets to host the All-Star Saturday night activities, capped by the Slam Dunk contest. Action begins at 8:30 p.m. The big game tips Sunday at MSG at 8:30 p.m. on TNT.
The stars of NASCAR gear up for the Daytona 500 this weekend. The Sprint Unlimited takes the track Saturday at 8 p.m. on Fox., and the first two starting positions will be decided Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox.
Arizona heads to Washington Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPN, while ESPN2 has Green Bay against Valparaiso at 7 p.m.
CBS offers Baylor-Kansas Saturday at 1 p.m., with Illinois taking on Wisconsin Sunday at 1 p.m.
North Carolina battles Pitt at noon Saturday on the ACC network. Virginia hosts Wake Forest at 2:30 p.m., and other areas will see Florida State-Georgia Tech.
Ohio State heads to Michigan State Saturday at noon on ESPN, followed by top-ranked Kentucky against South Carolina. It's off to the ACC at 4 p.m. for Louisville-North Carolina State and Duke's visit to Syracuse, then SMU hosts Connecticut at 9 p.m.
ESPN2 offers six contests Saturday, starting at noon with Georgia State facing Texas State. VCU visits George Washington at 2 p.m. and West Virginia heads to Iowa State. It's Illinois State-Wichita State at 6 p.m. before Oklahoma faces Kansas State and New Mexico-Nevada caps the night at 10 p.m.
Marquette meets Creighton on FoxSports1 Saturday at 1 p.m. It's off to the Pac-12 Sunday, with Stanford-Colorado at 4 p.m. before Arizona faces Washington State at 6:30 p.m.
Virginia Tech heads to Clemson Saturday at noon on Comcast, followed by Lafayette against American. Western Kentucky meets Marshall at 5:30 p.m. Hofstra and Drexel tangle Sunday at 5 p.m.
There's a pair of games on NBC Sports network Saturday, with St. Bonaventure-Dayton at 12:30 p.m. before Delaware faces William & Mary. Towson meets College of Charleston Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and it's back to the A-10 for St. Joseph's-Fordham.
On the women's hardcourt, ESPN2 brings three games on Sunday. North Carolina takes on Louisville at 1 p.m., then it's Kentucky-Tennessee before West Virginia heads to Baylor at 5 p.m.
There's a pair of contests on Comcast Sunday afternoon, as Florida State visits Virginia at 1 p.m. before Georgia Tech goes against Miami.
FoxSports1 offers St. John's against Marquette Friday at 9 p.m. St. John's goes against DePaul Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Capitals' west coast trip includes contests with the Kings Saturday at 10 p.m. and Ducks Sunday at 8 p.m. on Comcast.
Comcast brings the Flyers' contest with the Blue Jackets Friday at 7 p.m.
The Blackhawks host the Penguins on NBC Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
On the college ice, Providence faces Notre Dame Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
The PGA tour visits Pebble Beach this weekend, with coverage on CBS Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
West Bromwich Albion faces West Ham United in FA Cup action Saturday at 7:30 a.m. on FoxSports1. Aston Villa meets Leicester City Sunday at 7:30 a.m.
The United States meets England in a women's international soccer friendly on FoxSports1 Friday at 3 p.m.
NBC Sports network has the finals of the Giant Slalom World Championships Friday at 4 p.m.
The Millrose Games will be on NBC Sports network Saturday at 6 p.m.
The rugby World Seven Series are Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.

Learning in the real world

As Scott Walker rises in the Republican standings, critics try to knock him down.
Asking his opinion on evolution.
Fussing about his lack of a college degree.
While denying the evolution of Wisconsin politics under his wise leadership.
He's smart enough to win three statewide elections in Wisconsin in four years.
None of them have.

Gotta get back in time

It's 2015.
According to Back to the Future II, the Cubs will win the World Series.
So far, two minor league teams have planned nights to honor the movie.
Interesting looking uniform tops.

Little League protest

Little League International has taken the 2014 United States championship from Chicago's Jackie Robinson West.
Jesse Jackson is upset.
The players won on the field because adults messed with the rules.
But during the investigation by Little League International into boundary issues, Jackie Robinson West's leaders attempted to meet with officials of three nearby leagues, "essentially asking them to give JRW that territory so they could legitimize" the map submitted to the league's governing body,
"Those leagues refused," he said.
The matter came to a head during a meeting in Chicago on Jan. 31, when Jackie Robinson West was found to have annexed areas from the other leagues without their permission. The map had been "redrawn and backdated and signed to make it appear it had been the map used during the entire" tournament, Keener said.
When rules are broken by your group, having Jesse Jackson standing with you doesn't help the image.

Learn a lesson about debt

South Carolina State's financial situation has South Carolina in turmoil.
Some legislators want the president to go.
Others want to shutter the school for two years.
Everybody wants to know where the money went.
It's a preview of what we'll be seeing across the country in the years to come.
Just because you got money in the past doesn't mean it will keep flowing - no strings attached.

It's not about you

Democrats continue to go crazy over the idea of Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to speak to Congress.
"Don't disrespect our president," they say.
It's not about disrespect, but disagreement.
Netanyahu has a simple message.
Netanyahu, however, feels the United States and its international partners are being naive about Iran’s true intents.
“I’m determined to speak before Congress to stop Iran,” Netanyahu tweeted on Tuesday.
It's not about Obama.
It's about Israel's survival.
He's president, not king.
Netanyahu doesn't have to submit to this will.
Obama should not disrespect Netanyahu that way.

Take a nap

All great stories have a beginning.
Before there was this blog, there was a sleeping baby many years ago.

Debt of gratitude

CafeHayek brings a great response to Paul Krugman's column dismissing fears of debt.
The problem with public debt is that governments that borrow impose on other people - future taxpayers (many of whom don’t vote in today’s elections!) - the obligation to repay.  As a result, governments tend to borrow excessively and to spend the proceeds carelessly.  The costs to society of the resulting misuse and misdirection of resources are not in the least reduced by the fact that the debt is held internally.
It's not the money, but the poor use of resources, that scares people.
People who know those resources will be needed in the future.

Minecraft your own business

Volokh tells the tale of a teacher who lost her job - due to fear of boys talking about Minecraft.
Two girls heard the boys talking about bombs and maps - from their Minecraft game.
The principal investigated and solved the misunderstanding.
The teacher decided to tell the tale to the local newspaper - highlighting the bombs and not telling how it was a video game.
Her career blew up.
Don't mess with Minecraft.

Teach the children well

The youngest had a dental appointment today, so we were driving past some road construction.
He saw a truck with a big barrel of water, with the words "Non-potable."
He wondered, since the barrel was on a truck, how it was "non-portable."
He learned a new word today.
Potable - able to drink safely.

Millstone to Keystone

Congress will be sending its Keystone pipeline bill to President Obama shortly.
He plans to veto.
He's the temporary millstone to the Keystone.
The oil is be there longer than Obama. It will make it out to the market.

My night is shot

Today is new phone day.
Time to remember all the passwords to move apps to the new phone.
Time to figure out the phone.
How did a simple phone become so complex?

It would be awesome, baby

The story about Bill Raftery being selected to announce the Final Four this year contains a gem - Dick Vitale would like to do a game with Charles Barkley.
They have contracts with different networks now.
Would those networks let the dream pairing happen?

Medal of dishonor

Brian Williams' trouble is simple - anyone with any past slight can now talk and receive support.
Like this story from Boston in 2006 - when he left a Medal of Honor commitment early to appear on Saturday Night Live.
Before last week, it would have been hard to believe the reason Williams backed out of his commitment.
This week, it's another example of his poor character.

On the other side

A cool video from NASA on the far side of the moon.

Kick away

Powerline collects more of the images on Brian Williams' tall tales.
Why does this attract such attention?
If you think there's media bias, this proves your point.
If you're in the media, you don't want to be blamed. So you hit Williams as the rogue individual.
Don't ask how he kept things going for so many years.
Lester Holt will be in the anchor chair this week.
Any interview he's given will be reviewed, questioned and rechecked.
Then he can take over full-time.

Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Brian Williams

Mark Steyn goes beyond "misremembering" of Brian Williams to the obvious loss of credibility.
And wonder if it will make a difference.
Thirty years ago, it would be difficult to imagine a liar or fantasist surviving in a job that supposedly depends on one's trustworthiness. Yet today Brian Williams' survival is the way to bet - because the obsolete format of Big Three "network news" is a dinner-theatre exercise that now bears so little relation to real news that Williams' ability to project the aura of authority and integrity trumps the reality that he doesn't actually have any. If you get your news from old-school "network news", you're not actually getting any news, you're watching a guy 'cause he has great hair. So getting it from a delusional narcissist is only taking it to the next level.
Jimmy Swaggert and Jim Bakker lost their religious empires when it turned out they weren't who they projected.
Brian Williams projected an image of himself that's being torn apart.
How long until his career is finally shot down?

Fond remembrance

News of the death of golfer Billy Casper reminded me of last year's story about Casper's visit to a severely wounded Vietnam vet in the 1960s.
I attended the same church as Clebe McClary during my Georgetown years.
McClary was still there thanks to his inspirational meeting with Casper while recovering from his injuries.
It's a good way to remember Casper's life.

The longest offseason

How are you surviving the first weekend without any football since August?
It gets worse.
Since Labor Day is late this year, the season will be starting later.
The offseason will be a few days longer than usual for this era.
Can we make it?

To use next Friday

Via Dustbury, a medieval version of Rebecca Black's Friday.

Facebook quote of the week

Happiest man in America with that play call Coach Carroll? Joe Pisarcik

Diversion

The uproar about President Obama mentioning the Crusades at the National Prayer Breakfast highlights a simple point.
Failure to focus on the real issue.
ISIS is evil.
It's that simple.
Talking about other evils of the far past doesn't help understand that.
It's only a diversion.
A temporary diversion.
Whether President Obama sees it or not, the American people see ISIS for what they are.

Saturday song

Democrats are Ready for Hillary.
Here, February will be Reddy for Hillary theme month.
First, the only reason Hillary can offer for her campaign.

Let's go to the videotape

Do you still have a VCR?
Or blank tapes to record your memories?
I was searching Wal-Mart for some writable DVDs for a family project, and I found they still sell blank tapes.
Five tapes for $15.
While you can get 10 DVDs for $10.
The old technology is barely hanging on.

How to remember Bruce Jenner

If you visit the grocery store, you can't miss the new pictures of Bruce Jenner.
I remember this photo from Saturday Night Live in 1978.

Knocking Obama off his high horse

Jonah Goldberg shreds the president's comparisons of bad deeds done in the far past by Christians and those of present day Islamic terrorists.
When Obama alludes to the evils of medieval Christianity, he fails to acknowledge the key word: “medieval.” What made medieval Christianity backward wasn’t Christianity but medievalism.
It is perverse that Obama feels compelled to lecture the West about not getting too judgmental on our “high horse” over radical Islam’s medieval barbarism in 2015 because of Christianity’s medieval barbarism in 1215.

Weekend watchdog

The Virginia Cavaliers went 20 games before losing on the basketball court this season.
The next goal, after an undefeated season, is a regular season title in the ACC. The quest continues Saturday at 7 p.m., when Louisville comes to Charlottesville. ESPN has coverage.
The third-ranked Cavaliers saw the dreams of a perfect season end last Saturday against Duke, but bounced back against North Carolina Monday.
Louisville stands one-game behind Virginia, joining Notre Dame with two conference losses entering the final four weeks of the regular season.
George Washington meets Dayton Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
CBS has the ACC battle between Notre Dame and Duke Saturday at 1 p.m. Michigan takes on Indiana Sunday at 1 p.m.
Georgetown faces Villanova on Fox Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by Arizona-Arizona State at 4:30 p.m.
ACC network brings Virginia Tech's contest with Florida State Saturday at 3 p.m. along with North Carolina-Boston College.
ESPN starts its Saturday at noon when Illinois plays Michigan State. It's Kansas against Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. before Kansas State hosts Texas. The GameDay crew will be in Florida for a game against Kentucky at 9 p.m.
Tennessee takes on Georgia on ESPN2 at noon, and Texas-Arlington faces Louisiana-Lafayette at 2 p.m. It's off to the ACC for Syracuse against Pittsburgh before Alabama plays LSU at 6 p.m. and Missouri State takes on Wichita State. Second-ranked Gonzaga closes the night at 11:30 p.m. against San Francisco.
Providence plays Xavier on FoxSports1 Saturday at noon, followed by DePaul battling Butler. Washington takes on Oregon State Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
Wake Forest heads to Georgia Tech Saturday at noon on Comcast, followed by James Madison-Towson.
It's off to the Ivy League Friday at 8 p.m. as MASN offers Pennsylvania against Cornell.
There's three games on the schedule Saturday, starting with George Mason visiting St. Joseph's at 4 p.m. Louisiana Tech takes on Middle Tennessee at 8 p.m. before Grand Canyon meets Bakersfield at 10:30 p.m. Sunday at 3 p.m., it's off to the Horizon League for Oakland against Valparaiso.
Creighton clashes with St. John's Saturday at noon on MASN2.
On the women's side, ESPN2 has a pair of top-25 matchups Sunday. Baylor battles Texas at 2 p.m., followed by Maryland meeting Nebraska.
FoxSports1 has Providence-Seton Hall Friday at 8 p.m.
Virginia Tech hosts North Carolina on
Comcast Sunday at 1 p.m.
Florida Atlantic faces Texas-San Antonio on MASN Sunday at noon.
ESPN has Clippers-Raptors Friday at 7 p.m. before the Heat battle the Spurs in the nightcap.
The Wizards take on the Nets Saturday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.
The Thunder meet the Clippers on ABC Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by Lakers-Cavaliers.
Former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau returns to the Verizon Center Friday, as the Ducks meet the Capitals on Comcast at 7 p.m. The Flyers come to town Sunday at 3 p.m.
NBC Sports network offers the Red Wings at Colorado Thursday at 9 p.m.
Chicago takes on St. Louis on NBC Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
The Hockey City Classic features Miami of Ohio against Western Michigan Saturday at 4 p.m. on MASN2.
Everton battles Liverpool on NBC Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
ESPN has a men's soccer matchup between the United States and Panama Sunday at 3:55 p.m.
There's an international women's soccer friendly between the United States and France Sunday at 11:55 a.m. on ESPN2.
The PGA Tour heads to Torrey Pines on CBS Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt

Roger Simon tries to understand President Obama's thinking about radical Islam.
What would be his reaction to that?  Pretty much what it is for most throughout the Islamic world — shame.  As many have noted, Islam is a shame culture (the kind of society that will go berserk over cartoons) and, like it or not, our president is part of it culturally.  That does not mean he is stoning adulterers or cutting off the hands of thieves or treating women like chattel, but it does mean he is genuinely and quite deeply ashamed of the religion he, in part, came from.  He cannot adjust to or accept the calamities it is causing.  Unlike the president of Egypt,  he cannot name it.

The blog goes on

The end of Andrew Sullivan's run produced a ton of pieces on the future of blogging.
Those who continue see their place still firm in the internet.
This blog has entered its seventh year, and I look forward to post number 10,000 later this year.
The free tools that existed when I started have waned - does sitemeter still count visitors - but I enjoy typing away.
No burn out here.

Do nothing

Wednesday was a night of big meetings in the area.
In Augusta County, they talked about Dominion's plans for a natural gas line.
In Charlottesville, they debated improvements to U.S. 29 north of town.
Opponents have a message.
Do nothing.
Augusta County landowners don't want gaslines in their areas.
Charlottesville businesses don't like the idea of major construction shutting down their livelihoods for months at a time.
People around the nation need more natural gas.
People in Virginia need a quicker way through Charlottesville.
These improvements are needed.
They must go somewhere.
But no one wants them in their backyard.
The Route 29 bypass could have been built 20 years ago.
But people preferred to do nothing, and pushed the trouble down the road.
Traffic has grown.
The need that was there in the 1990s remains.
Do nothing didn't solve the problem.

Evil begats evil

Mark Steyn wonders when President Obama will wake up to the evil of ISIS.
Obama, by contrast, declares action, and then does nothing. His war against ISIS was supposed to be one in which the US would not put "boots on the ground", but instead leave that to our allies. The allies have the boots, but they could use some weapons, too. Obama has failed to supply the Kurds or anybody else with what they need to defeat our enemies. It's becoming what they call a pattern of behavior.

Finding peak vanilla

Jonah Goldberg finds reasons for Scott Walker's sudden popularity surge - he's the least objectionable choice.
Walker is in the golden spot. He can, like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day listening to Andie MacDowell explain the perfect man, reply “that’s me” to almost everything Republicans say they want. Executive experience? Challenge conventional thinking? Anti-establishment fighter? “Me, me, me.”
Respondents looking for an establishment candidate said Romney was their first choice. Those preferring an outsider said Paul was their first choice. But both groups said their second choice was a big scoop of Walker.

Fishersville's finest

National College football signing day came today, and four athletes from Fishersville joined the fun.
After four fine years of high school, these four head off to new adventures on the college gridiron.

Big fat hairy deal

Ace has a great headline and more about the battle between women and guys who wish to become women.

He's all right

Virginia Right's Tom White gets a feature profile in Tuesday's Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Listen to the auto dealer

How nice of Democrats to let an auto dealer talk about climate change.
How many cars have Don Beyer's multiple dealerships sold over the years?
How many hours of traffic jams did his cars cause?
How much pollution did Beyer's autos push into the atmosphere?
Would he have been Lieutenant Governor of Virginia or current Congressman without those cars?
When he stops selling gasoline cars, I'll think of listening to his climate change concerns.

Not as smart as Homer

DaTech Guy wonders if President Obama will squander the good economy he accidently inherited - lower gas prices from a team that wants gas too expensive to use.
President Obama tried to stifle domestic oil production, but instead created the incentive to start fracking on a greater scale. This gave America lower prices and concrete gains in energy independence while also harming enemy petrostates (Venezuela, Russia, Iran) around the globe.
In other words, Barack Obama managed to “pull a Homer.”
But while Homer Simpson and the people of Springfield were satisfied to happily enjoy the fruits of Homer’s accidental success, President Obama is not, according to Bloomberg.
Bloomberg wrote that “The Obama administration said it will issue rules to cut leaks of climate-warming methane, a step the oil and gas industry warned could choke the U.S. energy renaissance fueled by hydraulic fracturing.

The coming Democrat dilemma

Megan McArdle examines the problems with political predictions - including those who think Hillary Clinton has the inside track in 2016.
Other reasons to think that Democrats might have difficulty include the fact that the longer your party holds the White House, the harder it gets to hold onto it, as voters long for a change and the odds of a scandal rise. To be sure, economic growth and low oil prices are improving Barack Obama's approval ratings, which will help whoever follows. On the other hand, if Al Gore could barely grind to a statistical tie after the 1990s boom, then I wouldn't count on these to carry Clinton over the finish line -- even if they last, which they might well not.

Walker in a walk

Drudge Report put up a poll for readers - pick your Republican candidate.
The winner at 46% - Scott Walker.
Wow.
Nice impact for the Drudge Report.

One Direction to this problem

With their Super Bowl win, the New England Patriots would be scheduled to host the season-opening game September 10.
One problem.
One Direction has scheduled a concert at their stadium September 12.
Two days isn't enough to prepare the stadium for a concert.
Which group will be making changes to their schedule?

The ad killed it

Based on early Facebook returns, people will be talking about the Nationwide ad for days.
Not in a good way.
Apparently the company wanted it that way.
Seems like they killed whatever goodwill they hoped to develop.
Remember, if people don't want to talk about an issue - they don't want to see it during a party.

A real halftime show

Remember when other networks tried to grab viewers during the halftime show?
Fox had "In Living Color" take on the CBS halftime in 1992.
The jokes about balls years before Deflategate.

Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

Scott Walker is gearing up for a battle with Hillary Clinton, with the right ammunition.
Looking forward and not looking to Washington.
I think Americans overwhelmingly want fresh new ideas that build the economy from the ground, that put the power back in the hands of the people, not only at the state and local level, but of individual Americans. I don’t think they want government telling them what to do, and that’s what I’ve been advocating for a long time.
The Clinton's theme song of 1992 can be Walker's in 2016.
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow.
Yesterday's gone
Yesterday's gone.

Live from Pink Taco Stadium

Political Clown Parade isn't that excited about Super Bowl XLIX.
She posted a list of bad things about the game.
But you had to read all the way to the bottom to get to this gem.
"We're in serious discussions with companies about naming rights, and Pink Taco is not one of them," Cardinals spokesman Mark Dalton said Monday afternoon. "There's no doubt in our minds that this is a publicity stunt."
How history would have been different if the Cardinals accepted this offer in 2006.