Barack O'Gabriel

You can blow out a candle

but you can't blow out a fire

Once the flame begins to catch

the wind will blow it higher

...and the eyes of the world are watching now, watching now

Under Construction

Trying to move this blog away from politics and the economy.  The subjects are too angry, too ubiquitous, too tired.  Under development:

 - Swimming's real weird:  It's the only exercise that gets harder as you get better.  First, you start to build muscle while burning fat.  Fat sucks but at least it floats, unlike muscle.  I've now been in the pool for 3 months after having never swum in my life aside from the purely recreational (read: floating with a cold beverage nearby).  I can hardly float anymore.  In fact, I have to swim pretty damned hard just to be able to breathe.  Breathing while swimming is also messed up.  Inhaling during the exertion, exhaling on the recovery is exactly the opposite of what you're supposed to do during exercise.  Of course, if you get that part wrong, you drown - good incentive to do it right...or wrong...whatever.

 - An ode to Entwhistle:  Revolutionary musician and quiet madman.  The bass guitar wasn't invented as a proper instrument until the 1950's.  Played it as a solo instrument, like a carvinal organ - with lead riffs, tonal fills, percussive drives, and chords.  All at the same time while also singing back-up vocals.  The only member of the Who with any formal musical training.  Entwhistle grew up playing the french horn -- there were no trumpets left in the post-war Acton School band room.  "If Keith Moon's death was inevitable, John's was so unnecessary."

 - Alcoholics can be quite functional:  Hell, some of the most effective people I've seen are in the bag (half, all, or somewhere along the continuum) most of the time.  At low doses, booze relaxes the mind and body.  Think "shot for courage".  And unlike swimming, drinking gets easier the better you get at it.  I don't necessarily recommend boozing, but I won't condemn it either. Lessin' of course you're driving through -- and I mean through -- a school, playground, home, church or liquor store.  City hall, prison, or a casino on the other hand...well, have at it son.

 - A compare/contrast on Pippy Longstocking and Pollyanna:  Polly's a kind-hearted optimist, Pippy a burger-swilling, steroid altered, musclebound psychopath.  Gotta get back to my roots. What say you, Beth?

 - Blogging beats working anytime.  Wish reading blogs were even half as good...

Declaring Insanity

Face it, everyone is insane.  At least from my perspective.  You, on the other hand, may view me as insane.  I'd argue that.  But it would be not-guilty-by-comparison as opposed to outright innocence.

Exhibit "A" is a middle-aged white man -- let's call him, uh, "Dave" -- who firmly believes:

a)  the US government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks on New York

     and Washington, DC.

b)  Israel - indeed, Zionists everywhere - orchestrated the US

     government's involvement in the above.

c)  fluoridated water is a means to suppress intelligence and

     increase passivity among the general public.

d)  Neo-nazi web lunatics are reliable sources for information

     of any kind.

Exhibit "B" is another middle-aged man, this time black -- codename "Howell" -- who firmly believes in....well, nothing at all.  Except that he is right in all situations.  All the time.  This person embodies the lyrics:

     You don't want my love

     you want satisfaction, satisfaction

     You don't need my love

     you just want another piece of the action

     You're crazy

Now junior Freudians, please don't think I'm some jilted lover of said ebony Adonis.  No, this is purely Platonic.  It means "you don't need my friendship, opinion, input on any matter."  Instead, you're just looking for your own feeling of superiority; a way of getting ahead on the back of anyone and everyone.

That's the kind of person who would go to a reunion of friends and sit in the parking lot, listening to the audio of a Star Trek (TOS) episode.

I declare "Shenanigans!"

Twice the Truth

"I do tell you that if the Democrats win, and have substantial majorities, Congress of the United States will be more bipartisan."

      - Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

        Speaker of the House of Representatives

        Oct 28th, 2008

"Ignorance is Strength"

      - Ministry of Truth

        April 4th, 1984

"Power is not a means; it is an end."

      - George...

Numero Uno

Now Sabres are Number 1.  From the hosers, no less!

Graaawwk, Polly wants a Cup!  I'll be collecting apologies too, Marky.

Sports & Weather

A very common -- and insufferable -- tactic of national sports announcers is to define a game's narrative.  While remaining supposedly neutral, commentators pick each team's strengths & weaknesses and how they will play out in the game.  The game that's yet to be actually played.

Funny things often happen as the contest progresses, however.  Quite often the teams buck conventional wisdom -- the good are proven bad, the bad are proven worse, the presumed defensive battle becomes an offensive shootout.

In football, halftime serves as the "reset period" for our proud analysts.  The opening minutes of the 3rd quarter either give opportunity to hold to the narrative or, clumsily & in ugly fashion, witness the network's finest cut and run.

I bring up this little parable in conjunction with two items crossing my virtual desk this afternoon.

The first is a commentary piece in Canada's National Post about stalled global warming and its likely explanations.

The second is a brief news item in England's Sunday Times on the comparative environmental merits of disposable diapers versus previously-thought-to-be-better washable nappies (that's British for diaper - worldly opinion here).

Both articles highlight the environmentalists' emotional investment in their quest to save the world -- not through rigorous discovery, but denial of heretical views and the adoption of that which is deemed worthy and good, regardless of facts.

Case in point is the Times' citation of a government report on impact to the environment from diapers.

You see, these good and just folks came in with the notion the washable nappy -- er, diaper is the obvious earth-friendly choice.  It turns out instead that disposables leave a smaller carbon footprint.  As any parent will tell you they're also simpler to use, making them highly popular. So everybody wins, right?

Unfortunately, no.  The report is to be "delayed" until "modifications" can be made.   Apparently, the public isn't to be trusted to learn a truth that undermines -- though by no means destroys -- the activist-ministry's cause.   That is, the truth should be suppressed because it doesn't agree with environmentalist dogma.  It's religulous, I tell ya!

These blind adherents are clearly wrong.  Just like the ESPN crew covering the Cleveland Browns presumed defeat to the New York Giants last week. Ditto the Fox guys watching the Rams dismantle the Cowboys yesterday.  True to form, both crews hit the reset button after halftime and altered their game view.

Our radical green activists feel no such compulsion.  Sadly, they fail to recognize this game is playing out for all to see.

And we will.

Incontinent

More required reading on the Global Economic Meltdown.  Of particular interest is the EU's criminal arrogance exacerbating the situation:

   "You could say the ECB also acted under the constraints

     of the age:  its rigid inflation mandate.  But I suspect that

     Bundesbank chief Axel Weber and German finance minister

     Peer Steinbruck were quite simply too arrogant to listen

     to anybody.

    "Mr. Steinbruck insisted that 'German banks are far less

     vulnerable than US banks' just days before the collapse of

     Hypo Real with €400bn (£311bn) of liabilities...

    "One can only guess what French President Nicholas Sarkozy

     has been saying to ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet, but he

     must have warned in blunt terms that Europe's leaders would

     exercise their Maastricht powers to bring the bank to heel

     unless it slashed rates."

I still didn't get that apology, Klaus.  You're off the hook for now, Jean-Claude.  I never thought I'd say it, but "Good job, France!"

Skinny Frog

Dude, she used to be cutting edge.  Now she's just cut.  And scary.

Number 4

ESPN has the Buffalo Sabres ranked at number 4 in their first regular season edition of the NHL Power Rankings.  Where did that come from?

Oh yeah, it's because the Buffalo Sabres rock.  Goaltending.  Defense. Penalty killing.  Thomas "2-way" Vanek.  Daniel "the Destroyer" Paille. Grrrrr!

I demand an apology from everyone who has ever called me Pollyanna!  And Pippy Longstocking too!

Cleveland Rocks

Oh yeah!  That's my (quasi) hometown!  But those aren't ACORNs - they're chestnuts.  And she, errr, he can vote any way he wants.  Once only though, please.

Plumbing for Votes

A lot has been made of Barack Obama's encounter with an Ohio plumber last weekend.

Usually, you hear the 5-second soundbite where our presumed President states he wants to "spread the wealth around" for everyone's benefit.  But it's worthwhile to watch the entire exchange below.

Obama shows great patience, charm, and skill in handling this Joe Six-Pack's question.  He also expresses honesty in recognizing he's unlikely to get the plumber's vote.

Questions:

a)  As a matter sustainability -- if not fairness, which is apparently out the window -- should people who pay no tax receive refunds (ie. wealth transferred from those who do pay)?

b)  Will a Democratic Congress push (presumed) President Obama to pursue a profligate fiscal agenda in a toxic economic environment?

c)  How does this country afford net tax cuts while Federal Spending is perched to spike dramatically?

d)  Should the American public continue to be encouraged to go shopping for things we cannot afford?

Words of Wisdom

from William F. Buckley Jr:

     "Though liberals do a great deal of talking about hearing

       other points of view, it sometimes shocks them to learn

       that there are other points of view."

     - and -

     "I've spent my entire lifetime separating the Right from

      the kooks."

     - and -

     "Radical conservatives in this country have an interesting

      time of it, for when they are not being suppressed or

      mutilated by Liberals, they are being ignored or humiliated

      by a great many of those of the well-fed Right, whose

      ignorance and amorality have never been exaggerated for

      the same reason that one cannot exaggerate infinity."

Icy Hot

Wow, this Global Warming really frosts my chardonnay!  It moves at a glacial pace of course.  Just for the record, this heat has never been so cool!

Thank God for Stupid People!

I take consolation these people* probably won't vote anyway...

 * and by "these people" I mean stupid idiots who don't know when they're being manipulated.  Either way.

Freezing in the Heat

At this rate I could freeze to death waiting for Global Warming.  Or is it already the Day After Tomorrow?

Still just axin'...

Obamanomics

I don't buy Obama's economic plan.

He says he'll cut taxes for 95% of Americans - any one earning less than $250,000 / year.  Hey!  I'll take some of that!  After all, I earn less than a quarter-mil and my tax bill is still going to run well north of $15k this year.

But people whose tax bills are already ZERO will take some that too! That is, you get a refund on tax you did not pay.

Now it's one thing to eliminate the burden of paying tax for people struggling to get by.  But to give them public money?  From where does this money magically come?  Hikes on those making more than $250k and corporations -- generally an unsympathetic lot I admit (especially these days).  And you, if you paid any tax.

Now just so I get this straight, Obama will increase taxes on those who drive the economy in a time when the economy is in dire need of good drivers?  With a car.  And a tank of gas.  Did you ever get a job from a poor man?

By the way, 40% of filers pay no income tax.  That stacks the populist voter deck in Obama's favor. Of course Atlas may Shrug someday.  He's gotta be tired of carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Rightfully so.

So let's call Obamanomics what it is:  Punishing Success?  Rewarding Failure?  Perhaps it's Redistributing Wealth?

Or simply Communist.  Right Ayn?

Not Now John

Sorry John.

I like McCain's position on taxes and foreign policy.  I just happen to like Barack Obama's demeanor and calm confidence better.

How many times did McCain not answer the question in debate no. 2 in favor of essentially selling people on the fact he's worked across the aisle to get things done?  That is, he's all mavericky and stuff.

You know who I didn't like last night?  Tom Brokaw.  So wedded to the format and time limits "you both agreed to" that he couldn't ditch those contrived rules when it was obvious both candidates had from the start.

At least Brokaw never associated with terrorists...

McCain v. Obama - Round II

Zzzzzz....huh?  Oh, it's over.  BO-RING.  Zzzzzz...

NBC Censors Itself

*** UPDATE 2 ***

NBC's putting it back up.  After editing out "People who should be Shot" caption from the corrupt, errr they edited out that phrase too, lenders who made a killing selling predatory loans then bundling the debt and selling it to Wachovia, among others.

Apparently, the lawyers were ready to pounce...

*** UPDATE 1 ***

This one's getting all sorts of conspiracists going.  Where's Brick?  Another link to the CENSORED skit here.

Too close to home???

***************

A few posts down ("Pullin' on the Sweater"), I highlighted the words "San Fran Nan" with a link to SNL's acidic takedown of Democratic Congressional leadership, idiotic mortgage borrowers, greedy financial manipulators, and George Soros.

For some reason, NBC took this skit off its own website.  Like it never happened.  Are we in Russia or something?

The skit -- available here -- is GREAT!  It cuts down everyone who played a role in the mortgage meltdown:

   Imbecile GWB?  Check.

   Partisan hack Pelosi?  Check.

   Craven Barney Frank?  Check.

   Insolvent Borrowers?  Check.

   Greedy Arbitrage Artists?  Check

   World Class Financial Manipulators?  Check.

While it's still available, I highly recommend watching.  Then ask yourself why NBC would censor its own biting social commentary?  Why?

Schadenfreude in Reverse

As I was saying, Francois and Klaus ought to look in their own kitchen before getting all up in mine.

Now get to work on some solutions, Idioten!

Castles in the Sand

From the "Ya can't take it with you" department...

Take Off...

...to the Great White North, eh?

It says here that Fairbanks, Alaska is off to the coldest Winter in 16 years.  Temps are 7-8 degrees below normal with twice the average snowfall.

I thought global warming would cure this!  Or is it just a natural part of the end-of-days kind of stuff?

Just axin' the question...

The Merry Barracuda

Take a look at this photo:

The caption read "Pit Bull".  Quite a remarkable shot for its seemless blend of extremes.

Palin's stance is forceful & aggressive. Her hand is clenched; she's literally squeezed the color out of it.  The veins in her neck & chest are popping.  She's crouched forward - a lioness poised for the kill. Yet her eyes are almost mirthful.  The sunny smile on her face conveys pure joy.

I'm astounded she's able to convey two totally divergent attitudes at once. Whatever you say of her policies, don't make the mistake of believing she's stupid.  GWB laughed that accusation all the way to the White House.

This chick is a political fembot.  Like the TX in Terminator 3.

Watch out for the flamethrower in her left hand!

Pullin' on the Sweater

If you want to destroy my sweater

Hold this thread as I walk away

Watch me unravel, I'll soon be naked

Lying on the floor

I've come undone

    - Weezer

Class, your assignment is to first read:  World Markets Plunge on Crisis Fears.

Then compare:  "The USA is taking its hits now, but you people haven't even begun pulling on the sweater.  Europe's got the same toxic debt as here.  China is rapidly losing its (one way) trading partner.  Oil prices will follow demand downward hurting those sympathetic Middle Eastern sheiks and rabble rousers.  Third world nations won't be getting aid."  - Oct 1, 2008

Now answer:  Who was the brilliant & accomplished, no doubt Ivy-league educated, economist who predicted today's headline?  Yep, me. Except Clarkson is ECAC league and I was a C+ engineering student, currently living a B- life.

I bring this up not to toot my own horn so much as to ask why we're not hearing more about the causes, remedies, and ramifications (of, for, and from respectively) this meltdown.

Instead, we hear silence or BS from politicians and news media alike; fundamentally unserious people.  C',mon Phil!  You're just towing the "liberal media" line.  Sorry, this isn't about liberal vs. conservative.  This is honesty vs. deception.  And most of the people above are deceiving themselves first.

Case in point, instead of leveling with the public about dishonest borrowers and deceptive lenders, we get this tripe:

"[$700 billion] is a number that is staggering, but tells us only the costs of the Bush Administration's failed economic policies—policies built on budgetary recklessness, on an anything goes mentality, with no regulation, no supervision, and no discipline in the system.

"Democrats believe in the free market, which can and does create jobs, wealth, and capital, but left to its own devices it has created chaos."  ...so we opposed reform at every turn.

or this:

For years, Republicans warned of this danger and advocated reform of these government-sponsored enterprises. And for years such reforms were thwarted by legislators with deep political ties to the worst offenders, putting the companies' interests ahead of the interests of our country."   ...so we did nothing about it.

All it takes to understand the situation is a smart 5th grader and a set of dominoes.  The US economy has already started to melt.  But the rest of the world is coming with us for the ride. Europe, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, all depend on American largesse and political cover for their own niggardly, dishonest, and self-serving behavior.  Now they'll depend on us figuring out a plan to follow.  Criticizing the US all the while. 

Oh, I forgot.  We've got GWB, San Fran Nan, Barney the gay Dinosaur, Sister Sarah, Katie Olbermann Limbaugh, and the rest.

Back to Wheezer:

Oh no

It go

It gone

Bye-bye

Who I

I think

I sink

And I die

NFL Picks - Week 5

I'll try to post 'em earlier next week.  Sorry, I don't do spreads - just straight up win or lose.  I was a disappointing 9-4 last week.  40 & 19 on the season.

Tennessee @ Baltimore

San Diego @ Miami

Chicago @ Detroit

Atlanta @ Green Bay

Kansas City @ Carolina

Seattle @ New York Giants

Washington @ Philadelphia

Indianapolis @ Houston

Buffalo @ Arizona

New England @ San Francisco

Cincinnati @ Dallas

Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville

Monday

Minnesota @ New Orleans (49 pts combined)

Lord Stanley's Revenge

Note:  This post is re-printed from an email dated 9/14/2007.  I changed the text a bit to reflect the real season is actually a week away (time travel's a bitch!).  Bound to get it right one of these years....

Friends,

You know, we could sit around all day debating things like Bihler's decades-long semi-psychotic break from reality; Chopra's homosexual pedarastic tendencies; Eddie's complete and fundamental lack of musical knowledge; Beth's apparent lack of taste in men; Smitty's principled commitment to, hmmm, well...err, I guess we'll have to get back to that one; and Rainus's plain ugliness.

But folks, I say we forget all those ugly little flaws.  Hockey season is upon us.  That's right!  One week to the (pre) real (!) season.  (Three weeks to the real thing.)  Predictions?  Prognostications?  Punditry?  Anyone?  Buehler?

I still owe 40 bucks for last year's playoff pool (the check's in the mail, Bethy).  Translation:  someone else should go first...

Fuck you all.  (Jennifer says that I just can't express platonic love in a healthy way.  I call her Oprah now).

 - Philbony

Ho-Lee Shit!

Required reading.  Beware.  It'll make you sick:  link.

We've given away the treasury, our privacy, and our livelihoods.  This law -- LAW! -- penalizes individuals and companies who played it smart, honest, and safe.

Consider, as an example, a mortgage lender that actually lent according to reasonable & prudent standards.  The Fed now has the ability to reduce a borrower's mortgage.  In sober times that's called undue seizure of private property.

It gives hucksters and creative accountants license to buy bad debt, declare bankruptcy, and be reimbursed by the Fed.  By law.  That's a loophole created in the 450-page travesty of legislation our politicians forced upon a nation under duress.  Scare tactics?  No, it's economic terrorism!

Why even try living honestly?  Seriously, why?

Ode from a forgotten Friend

"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost."

A fine birthday to you, Tito.

Sabre Rattling

Wake up, Maggie.  I think I've got something to say to you.  It's (past) late September and I really should be watching hockey.

The boys in blue & gold (okay, cornflower & maize) are taking shape, now pared down to 25 players.  That's two over the limit.  But it doesn't include the wounded Paul Gaustad (thumb) or Adam Mair (knee).

"This is the team we kind of expected it would be," says Ales Kotalik.

Coach Ruff's preseason plan was to evaluate talent from bottom to top.  Lately he's been bleeding off players like a Medieval surgeon.  With few exceptions, he knew what he already had on the main roster.  So motivate the kids and see what your future holds.

The Sabres came into training camp with nearly 60 players and rotated rosters nightly.  The first couple preseason games had half the team travel to Toronto with the other half go to Montreal.  Hell, they had six - SIX! - goaltenders.  Pretty much anyone following the club could tell you it'd end up being Miller & Lalime.  Lo! and behold, it is.

Ditto the 19-man blueline.  The only question there boils down to Paetsch, Weber or Sekera at the No. 7 slot.  Still, it was sure nice to allow the prospects like Gerbe, Kennedy, the Tylers (Ennis and Myers) et al to compete and dream a bit.  Great call up potentials there (except Stretch Myers who needs to gain another 100 lbs in the juniors).

So where does the final ax fall?  Buffalo needs to free up 4 roster spots -- two now, two later. Just remember:  there will be only 7 defensemen.  Here are the names on the bubble:

Forwards

Mathieu Darche (LW) - Career fill-in will be gone to Portland eventually.  Probably on track to player-coach.

Matt Ellis (LW) - So far a younger version of above.  Should play on the big squad as long as Goose and Mair are out.  Do I smell breakout season?

Andrew Peters (LW) - Enforcer and perpetual game night scratch.  On track to be replaced by Kaleta.  I miss Rob Ray.

Patrick Kaleta (RW) - Physicality disproportionate to his size.  Can a team's enforcer be only 5 foot-11 and 195 lbs?

Defense

Dennis Persson (D) - At 20 years old, Buffalo's 1st pick in 2006 will mature in Sweden awhile longer

Nathan Paetsch (D) - A big question mark!  Great 1st year in the bigs, considerably less passion and brains last year.  Would have to clear waivers before going to Portland.

Andrej Sekera (D) - Ruff loves this kid's potential - stick handling and offensive skill.  Call him Kalinin without the baggage.

Mike Weber (D) - Young (20), improving, and expendable.  Good mid-season call up.  Send us a postcard from Maine, kid.

----------

Parting Shots:  Slightly off topic, but I know you care.  Afinogenov will be Maximum this year.  It's a contract year and his girlfriend is a real champion.  Call it motivation through fear & embarrassment.

IMO this season is make-or-break for Timmy Connolly.  He's already CURSED with a soft melon and brittle knees, now he's starting to get fat.  Which one of his ancestors pissed off the hockey gods so much?  "We grant thee talent, speed and smarts.  But you shall NEVER play!"

Biden v. Palin - Fargo Edition

Biden:    I told ya.  We haven't had any vehicles go missing.

Palin:    Okay.  But are ya sure?  'Cause I mean, how do ya know?  Do you do a count, or what kind of routine do ya have here?

Biden:    Ma'am, I answered your question!

Palin:    I'm sorry, sir?

Biden:    Well, heck, if you wanna play games here.  I'm workin' with ya on this thing, but I... Okay, I'll do a damned lot count!

Palin:    Sir?  Right now?

Biden:    Sure, right now!  You're darned tootin'!

Gwen Ifill:    There's a minimum charge of four dollars.  Long term parking charges by the day.

Biden:    I guess you think you're...you know, like an authority figure, with that stupid fuckin' uniform, huh buddy?  King clip-on tie there, big fuckin' man, huh?  You know these are the limits of your life, man.  The rule of your little fuckin' gate here.  Here's your four dollars, you pathetic piece of shit!

Palin:    Mind if I sit down?  I'm carrying quite a load here.  (smiling) Two more months...

Biden:    Oh, for Chris'sakes here!

Palin:    So Joe, should we get together another time?

Biden:    No!  [sobs]... I'm sorry, I... I shouldn't have done this.  I shouldn't have done this, I shouldn't have... I thought we'd have a really terrific time.

Palin:    It's okay, Joe.

Biden:    You were such a super lady... and I'm, I'm so lonely.  [sobs]

Palin:    Oh for Pete's sake, he's fleeing the interview!  He's fleeing the interview!

Ifill:    You're a smooth smooth, you know.

Palin:    You betcha!  I'm doing really super here, thanks.

______

(After the debate, the families join the candidates on stage.  Todd Palin smiles at his wife, congratulates her, and keeps oddly smiling.)

Todd:     They announced it.

Sarah:    They announced it?

Todd:     Yeah.

Sarah:    So?

Todd:     Three-cent stamp.

Sarah:    Your mallard?

Todd:     Yeah.

Sarah:    Oh, that's terrific!

Todd:     It's just a three-cent stamp.

Sarah:    It's terrific.

Todd:     Hautman's blue-winged teal got the 29-cent.  People don't much use the three-cent.

Sarah:    Oh, for Pete's sake.  Of course they do.  Whenever they raise the postage, people need the little stamps.

Todd:     I love ya, Margie.

Sarah:    I love you, Norm.

Biden v. Palin

Interesting debate tonight.  And by "interesting debate" I mean it didn't put me to sleep.  A few points I found striking:

a)  It took exactly 21 minutes for Sarah Palin to flip that lock of hair away from her eyelid.

b)  Joe Biden was calm, confident, and conversant about the facts.

c)  Women hate men who are calm, confident, and conversant about facts when debating another woman.

d)  Palin is as perky as Tina Fey portrays.

e)  Biden didn't embarrass himself with any of the gaffes he's been prone to lately (FDR appearing on TV as President when the stock market crashed in 1929).

f)  Palin didn't embarrass herself with deer-in-the-headlights moments as with Katie Couric.

More on the way, but my laptop battery's about to go dead.

Palintology

Quick!

1)  Is the Earth 6,000 years old?

2)  Has there been more than one Supreme Court decision?

3)  Has John McCain accomplished one specific thing in his 28 year public career?

4)  Is dear Sister Sarah really Tina Fey in disguise?

I personally believe the answers to the above are obvious, though not as much as you think to #4.  She's really Caitlin Upton.  Can't wait for her answers tonight about maps, South Africa, the Iraq, and Asian countries.  Everywhere like such as.

So we can build up our future.  For us.

 - US Americans for Palin

Wool?!?

Dearest Lady Guinevere,

Gatherest thou the wool of your finest sheep and spinnest me I beg a mere swatch of cloth for I to take unto battle!

For our good and faire King shall slaughter his kingdom's best oxen upon which we shall sup! And thereafter, I bid thee to save all your reciepts so as to declare the proper deductions and subsidies in your 2008 tax return.  Tho the Good King's treasure has been wontonly squandered, he gladly giveth over to you the spoilt remains of all that has been picked over. For the rest shall be plundered by corporate raiders; bondsman of the Orient I say.

I remain yours forever, glad to have sacrificed all I hath earnethed in humble tribute to that which never could have been sought in any faire or just land before or since,

 - Babbitt

The Road leads where it's Led

Well the European chickens are coming home to roost:  France seeks $500 Billion Bailout for European Banks.  I'm sorry, Jean-Pierre.  I must have missed your apology for mocking the USA's fiscal morass last week.  Sie auch, Klaus.  Dum Arsch!

Meanwhile, the US Senate has started the process to simultaneously buy us off and sell us out. $200 million for Puerto Rican rum producers.  $480 million for movie & TV producers. $109 million for NASCAR race tracks.  What's another $200,000 for wooden practice arrow manufacturers?  And why not another few million for the wool trust fund?  Wool?!?

Hey, all this only adds another $100 billion to the package.  Besides they threw in a couple mental health care provisions.  We'll need it.

Pass the rum!

[Full Senate text here.  At 451 pages of dense legalese, I'm still reading the introduction.]

More Busting on West Virginia

It's coming up on West Virginia's favorite holiday.  Halloween.  It's when they all get to Pump Kin.

da-da-duh...

West Virginia Sushi

For no good reason, there are a lot of sushi bars in the Mountaineer State.

For every good reason, I wouldn't eat at any of 'em.

A Step in the Right Direction

Ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the 0:23 mark of the upper video linked here.

The Buffalo Sabres appear to be officially gravitating back to a charging bison over two crossed swords.  If it's at center ice today, it's there for the whole season.  This dovetails with the unveiling of the "new" third jersey.  Classic.  And classy!

Season starts Fri - Oct 10th @ 7:30 PM (ET) when BUF hosts the Canadiens de Montreal.

Away Banana Slugs.  Let's Go Buffalo!

Fallout from the Blast

Now it's the day after tomorrow.  The "intelligent" consensus is Congress will eventually get an economic deal done.  I'm confident too they'll come together in the end to sell out the American people.  After all, ours are the best politicians money can buy.

That notion greatly comforts the bourses*, having mostly rebounded after Monday's freefall. But watch out on Main Street.  Industrial production ground to a halt over the last week.  Zip Zero.  Nada.  If you produce steel, cars, machinery, or the like your customers canceled their orders last week.  You in turn canceled orders with your suppliers this week.  Next week it moves up the supply chain.  Bye-bye Christmas bonus.  If you're still employed.

I don't like this bailout plan.  It sickens me -- as you can read two items below -- to the core that reckless spenders, borrowers, and hucksters get made whole.  Why not do it all over again?

However, the current state of affairs means no credit.  No credit means no new buildings, cars, cranes, planes, forklifts, elevators, plumbing, couches, carpet, clothes, and all the other crap we charge.  Americans consume.  Americans borrow to consume.  That's the way it is.

And we pay the monthly installment with wages from our jobs.  Are you feeling pretty saucy because your job isn't in manufacturing or construction?  Don't be.  Folks with jobs order meals at restaurants, buy earrings from the Piercing Pagoda, get their nails done, splurge on strudel, go to football games, take vacations, make sure their cars are insured, and all that other optional fun stuff.

Unemployed people don't.

So, good job Wall Street!  You've created an economic Frankenstein now running roughshod over the country.  And congratulations Congress!  You've shrunk in response to the greatest challenge any of you arrogant fat cats will ever face.  Right on Hanky Paulson!  You told us to give you a $700 billion check and just trust you to do the right thing.

Oh, and the rest of the world.  Don't get smug.  The USA is taking its hits now, but you people haven't even begun pulling on the sweater.  Europe's got the same toxic debt as here.  China is rapidly losing its (one way) trading partner.  Oil prices will follow demand downward hurting those sympathetic Middle Eastern sheiks and rabble rousers.  Third world nations won't be getting aid.

Anybody own a yurt compound?

* Bourse = Stock Market.  I used the more worldly term to ingratiate myself with the Nobel literary committee.  Apparently, US writers are too insular:  link