Today is the first full day of winter

New York Times blatant liberal bias

This story is for those who are not sure media bias exists.

In a last-minute dirty trick before the election, The New York Times took a story and twisted it in such a way as to damage the Bush Administration.

This will go down as a case study of media bias intended to sway votes.

The New York Times not only has a strong liberal bias but it also will stop at nothing to smear the Bush administration no matter how much harm is done to our national security.

We can expect false reports in the New York Times before every election.

Link

Missed my first aerobics exercise class

It seemed like my body was getting totally out of shape so I joined a fitness club.

I signed up for a beginners aerobics exercise class for seniors.

Soon I was bending, twisting, gyrating and jumping up and down. I was totally exhausted and dripping with perspiration but by the time I had my leotards on, the class was over.

Marion Barry arrested: claims another set-up

Marion Barry (pictured) is in yet another scrape with the law.

Barry said that he is talking to his lawyers and thinking about suing the D.C. government and the U.S. Park Police.

Mr. Barry is a Washington D.C. Councilman and former D.C. Mayor.

The controversial former mayor claims he was targeted. He is accusing the U.S. Park Service of racial profiling.

The story is here along with links to more than a dozen other stories of recent scrapes with the law. And that’s just this year! The charges range from DUI and drug offenses to not filing state and federal income taxes.

One thing is always consistent. It’s never his fault!

Colorado blizzard getting worse

The blizzard has paralyzed much of Colorado and is spreading east to the plains states.

Link here and here for details.

Blizzard hits Denver and Colorado plaines

The blizzard forecast for Denver and the eastern plains of Colorado has arrived.

Don’t ya hate it when the bad weather forecasts come true?!

I just returned from a short trip to Fort Collins, and return back to Loveland, to pick up a cable modem from Comcast to replace the 28-month-old modem that bit the dust during the middle of the night.

The trip took most of the morning. Snow was coming down hard with high winds. Visibility was not good and top speed for the trip was 25 to 30 mph.

The Fort Collins public school superintendent must be a hard taskmaster. He refused to close school. All other schools in a wide area are closed as are many stores and other businesses.

Click here for a Denver weather video (shown after a brief commercial).

Bumper sticker snicker

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Driver carries no cash
He’s married
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How’s that again?

The future mother-in-law hopes that her daughter gets a better husband than she did, because she knows her son will never get a wife as good as his father did.

Insanity sells

Keith Olbermann (pictured) is the MSNBC liberal bobble-head-in-chief. Well, maybe he is second behind Chris Matthews.

Anyway, there is a Power Line article here titled: “Insanity Sells.”

It seems that Olbermann, host of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, has turned his show into mostly rants against conservatives spewing venom against Republicans. It's liberal insanity.

While conservatives cry, Olbermann is laughing. Laughing all the way to the bank.

If his new contract with MSNBC is anything like he is asking for, Olbermann will quadruple his current $1 million dollar income.

Proves the Power Line label correct: insanity sells.

P.S.

Olbermann is good at one thing -- he sure can throw paper!

Link

Will Rogers had it right

Will Rogers said the problem with political jokes is they often get elected.

Rewriting US foreign policy to fix Iraq “joke”

There is an article here titled: “Kerry rewrites U.S. foreign policy to fix Iraq wisecrack.”

More on the John Kerry infamous wisecrack can be found here and here.

Who said computers would be easy?

Age gauge

Click here and then enter your birth date in the upper left of the screen to see how you fit in with other people and events.

UPDATE: Senator Johnson appropriately responsive

Family and colleagues were encouraged by his progress Thursday, yet doctors said it was too early to say whether further surgery would be required.

He has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required," said the physician, Adm. John Eisold.

Link to the update here.

Pelosi stumbles: appoints clueless Intel chief

There is an article here that asks, “Does intelligent life on the Intelligence Committee matter?”

This isn't an existential question. It arises because Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi, in an appointment fraught with intrigue, selected Representative Silvestre Reyes to be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

In an interview posted on Congressional Quarterly's Web site on Dec. 8, Reyes couldn't answer the most basic question about the antagonists in the biggest foreign policy disaster confronting the U.S.

As if that article wasn’t enough to project Reyes as an incorrigible bumbler, look at the Times Online article here titled, “Inept Democrats face failure with poor start in Congress.”

It’s a bad start, and the risk is that the Democrats are going to throw away their big chance.

Senator Tim Johnson remains in critical condition

Tim Johnson (upper picture) is still in critical but stable condition after emergency brain surgery Thursday night.

We wish the best for the Senator and his family.

However, with all the talk about the consequences of life in the Senate without Tim Johnson, this may be a good time to look at just how he became a Senator in the first place.

After serving in the House as a congressman representing South Dakota, Tim Johnson won a narrow victory in a Senate race over John Thune (center picture) in 2002.

Thune went on to defeat the then Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (lower picture) in 2004.

Tim Johnson was losing to Thune in 2002 until the Democrats allegedly flooded the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with operatives distributing cash to registered voters.

Shannon County gave Tim Johnson nearly 90% of the vote even though the registrations showed a much lower percent of registered Democrats. It was enough to give Johnson the victory in a very close (500 vote margin) race.

You won’t read about this in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader but handing out small amounts of cash to voters on Indian Reservations at election time is nothing new to South Dakota.

Tom Daschle allegedly did it as well as Bill Janklow a former Republican four-term Governor of South Dakota.

Animation or music machine made from farm equipment?

Click here for a fabulous YouTube music video that is nothing short of amazing.

The YouTube video is presented as music coming from a device made from farm equipment.

However, that is not the case. The video is an excerpt from a piece called "Pipe Dreams" made by a computer animation company called Animusic. Their web site is here.

Animusic focuses on the production of 3D computer graphics music animation. They have many more full length music animation presentations that are even more awesome.

Some of their virtual instruments are invented by building computer graphics models of objects that would appear to create the sound of the corresponding music synthesizer track.

Graphical instruments range from being reminiscent of existing instruments to arbitrarily abstract.

There was a recent PBS fundraiser program that presented and sold CD’s of this style of animated music.

…thanks to Twila Bauer for calling this to our attention.

Three short sample video clips of more computer music animations are here, here and here

A short video clip in color of “Pipe Dream” is here. Their Music Store is here.

Health of Tim Johnson worries Democrats

Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota underwent surgery yesterday after suffering from what doctors described as "symptoms of a stroke."

While there was no immediate word on the condition of the 59-year-old senator, the source, who is familiar with Johnson's situation, said surgeons sought to remedy an unspecified medical problem.

Just hours after Johnson was admitted to George Washington University Hospital, a spokeswoman for him said the senator had not suffered a stroke. She provided no other details.

The actions prompted concerns about his fellow Democrats' razor-thin majority in the incoming Senate.

As a result of last month's elections, Democrats would control the Senate 51-49 when the 110th Congress convenes on January 4.

The consequences of a permanent disability to Senator Johnson has the Democrats worried.

If the senator had to be replaced, South Dakota law says Republican Gov. Michael Rounds would name someone to finish the final two years of his six-year term. An election for a successor would be held in November 2008.

If Rounds named a Republican, that would put the Senate at 50-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney breaking any tie and putting Republicans in charge.

Link

Ticket to dine with Governor Blanco sells for $1

A dinner with Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco drew a winning bid of $1 at a recent fundraising auction hosted by a group of business leaders.

Blanco is the Governor who insisted that Bush keep National Guard troops out of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina hit and then criticized the President for not sending help sooner.

The president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, in northeastern Louisiana, said she called Blanco's office Tuesday to apologize for a "poor joke gone awry."

Many would say the auction winner overbid. Many would also say the Governor herself was the “poor joke gone awry.”

One dollar is a lot of money to eat with the Louisiana Governor. On top of that, you’d probably be expected to stay awake through the entire meal.

Link

Profound epitaph

This epitaph was found on a gravestone in a British cemetery:

"Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, you soon will be.
Prepare yourself and follow me."

Clinton wiretapped Princes Di

The Clinton administration bugged Princess Diana in France at the time of her death.

Is it a story or a non-story by omission in the main stream media.

If this had happened during the Bush administration, the media would have been all over the story and it would have been front page news. It would have been another chance to criticize the president.

Other than to be reminded once again of the bias in the media, this scantily reported story is really quite humorous as shown in the Glenn McCoy cartoon below fond on Power Line here. Our previous posting about this story is here.

(click on the cartoon to enlarge)

Some are teachers - some are educators

A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick at a private school.

They would apply the lipstick in the restroom. After they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of lip prints. The custodian would remove lip marks from the mirror each night but the girls would put them back the next day.

Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the girls restroom and met them there with the custodian. The principal explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night.

To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the custodian to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and used it to clean the mirror.

Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.

Best political humor of the year

The following was a photo caption contest winner

"After successfully holding his breath for five years, 10 months and 26 days, Al Gore decides to call off his protest of the 2000 U.S. election result in favor of prayer."

Winner: Hugh Scott (Getty Images photo)
Snifter-Clink to the National Post (Canada) Photo Caption Contest

…found on Luczanne last October

New intelligence chief botched easy intel quiz

Nancy Pelosi (pictured) appointed Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas to head the Intelligence Committee.

After nearly appointing Alcee Hastings to the position, one would think Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi would find a qualified appointee this time.

Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably Shiite."

That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics.

Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern Lebanon.

Nancy Pelosi has never been known for her intellect. Now it looks like she will be in good company with her new House intelligence chief.

We could be in for a long two years with a Democratic controlled House of Representatives.

The CNN story of the Rep. Reyes botched intel quiz here.

More about former intel candidate Alcee Hastings here and here.

Computer crossword puzzle

Investigation into media hyped global warming

Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, who is chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, began a full committee hearing on "Climate Change and the Media."

The hearing will look at how the media has presented scientific evidence regarding predictions of human-caused catastrophic global warming, the senator's office said.

Senator Inhofe believes that poorly conceived policy decisions will result from the media's nonstop hyping of 'extreme scenarios' and dire climate predictions.

Link

John what’s his name yearning to run again

John what’s his name wants to be president so bad he can taste it!

So what did he do? Invited a group of his supporters to the Heinz-Kerry Georgetown townhouse for pot roast and butternut squash. I guess it just wasn’t a steak and potatoes crowd.

Wouldn’t it have been hilarious if the butler had brought out Hunt’s catsup for the pot roast?

According to a source who knows one of the attendees, Kerry (pictured) started off by asking guests if he should run or not: "When no one answered, he launched into a speech about why he was the best candidate."

The key phrase was: “no one answered.”

Does he think he has a chance because he sees cars in Boston that still have Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers?

One thing you can count on -- he will decide to run before he decides against it.

He only came close in 2004 because the media gave him a non-stop free political commercial.

They won’t be so kind in 2008 after breaking their hearts in 2004.

You can stick a fork in the Kerry presidential dream - it’s done.

Link

Culture shock on Capital Hill with 5 day work week

No slack hours for House members beginning in January.

Forget the minimum wage. Or outsourcing jobs overseas. The labor issue most on the minds of members of Congress was their own: They will have to work five days a week starting in January.

Members of the House of Representatives have had it easy.

Up until now, the legislative work week started late Tuesday and ended by Thursday afternoon -- and that was during the relatively few weeks the House wasn't in recess.

Next year, members of the House will be expected in the Capitol for votes each week by 6:30 p.m. Monday and will finish their business about 2 p.m. Friday.

Funny thing about the longer hours is that reporters will probably cry louder than the lawmakers.

Link

Longtime Carter advisor quits in disgust

A longtime advisor to former president Jimmy Carter has resigned from the Carter Center in response to the new Carter Mideast book.

Evidently Carter (pictured) did his fact checking Dan Rather style. If it’s written by a liberal it doesn’t need fact checking.

Being president doesn’t give one the prerogative to change the facts to reach a prescribed reality.

Link

Square hare from Delaware

Is this just another entry in a Worth 1000 contest for photoshopped photos or did someone finally capture that elusive Square Hare from Delaware?

Worst kept secret is out: Hillary to run for president

Nearly everyone but the chimney sweep knew Hillary would run for President in 2008. Now it’s official.

The cat’s out of the bag: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday let a New York lawmaker in on her not-so-secret plan to run for president.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (pictured) yesterday answered the question on everyone's mind - telling one New York lawmaker flat out: "I'm really going to go for this."

If she waits until her likability factor climbs up off the floor, she will never have a chance to run.

Of course Chris Matthews, Brian Williams, Tim Russert and Diane Sawyer will pander to her so much it will be embarrassing.

But will it be enough to increase her likability factor? Probably not.

Link

Kerry still evaluating effect of Botched Joke

Sen. John Kerry’s Botched Joke will haunt him for a very long time.

In fact, it looks like Kerry's political career could be ruined by the very thing that launched it -- running down the American soldier during a time of war.

There's before The Joke, when the Massachusetts senator appeared to be well on his way toward making a political comeback, laying the groundwork for a White House bid despite losing the 2004 presidential election.

Then there's after The Joke, when even fellow Democrats and former supporters question whether Kerry is still politically viable.

Kerry's quip just before the November 7 midterm elections that those who don't study hard "get stuck in Iraq" not only forced him into isolation in the campaign's final days, it rekindled criticism about his failure to beat a war-plagued president two years ago.

It also highlighted a shallowness to what he and his aides still considered to be widespread public support.

Link

Leading Democrat wants more troops in Iraq

As the debate over Iraq intensifies, leading Democrat Silvestre Reyes is calling for the deployment of more U.S. troops. He says, “we can’t afford to leave.”

In a surprise twist in the debate over Iraq, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, the soon-to-be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said he wants to see an increase of 20,000 to 30,000 U.S. troops as part of a stepped up effort to “dismantle the militias.”

The soft-spoken Texas Democrat was an early opponent of the Iraq war and voted against the October 2002 resolution authorizing President Bush to invade that country.

That dovish record got prominently cited last week when Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi chose Reyes as the new head of the intelligence panel.

But in an interview with Newsweek on Tuesday, Reyes pointedly distanced himself from many of his Democratic colleagues who have called for fixed timetables for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

House Speaker Pelosi probably chose Reyes for that position because of his opposition to the Iraq war and his reputation as a dove.

Now, with his surprise announcement calling more troops, instead of the usual Democratic ‘cut and run’ stance, Pelosi is surely regretting her decision.

Link

Name selection goes hi-tech

Venezuela Pres. Hugo Chávez wins by wide margin

Hugo Chávez was re-elected by a wide margin.

Emboldened by a resounding re-election, President Hugo Chávez pledged to shake up Venezuela with a more radical version of socialism and forge a wider front against the United States in Latin America.

Current law prevents him from running again in 2012 but he has said he plans to seek constitutional reforms that would include an end to presidential term limits.

He intends to be “President for life.”

In 1992 Hugo Chávez attempted to overthrow President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Although the coup failed, Chávez was elected president six years later.

In 1998 Chávez campaigned against the "savage capitalism" of the United States.

When there was talk of election fraud prior to the 1998 elections in Venezuela, ex-U.S. President Jimmy Carter volunteered to monitor the election.

In spite of widespread charges of election fraud, Jimmy Carter certified the 1998 election results in Venezuela.

Chávez didn’t need Jimmy Carter this time. He bought his election by giving cash and other benefits to the poor as a part of the anti-business socialism during his first administration.

The 2006 election story is here.

Digital photo editing book with strange title

Last summer I stumbled across a digital photo-editing book with a title that seemed a bit unseemly.

The book is called, Digital Photo Editing for Seniors. Since the book is meant for seniors, I nearly passed it up thinking the content would be a bit shallow and intended for neophytes.

I looked up the book on Amazon.com. The MSRP price was $29.95. Amazon had it listed for $19.47, marked down from $24.95. I scrolled down to the link “61 used and new available from $3.95.” These are available from other vendors who sell new and used books through Amazon via Amazon Marketplace.

I found a used copy of this book from a third party Amazon Marketplace seller for $4.05 plus $3.49 shipping. The book arrived, from the third party vendor in Oregon, 5 days after placing the order with Amazon.

The book was a pleasant surprise. It contains 360 pages of comprehensive instruction including retouching, layering and special effects using the software on the CD supplied with the book.

It was written by Addo Stuur and translated into English by Visual Steps. The first printing was January, 2005.

The CD contains ArcSoft PhotoStudio, a program that seems to contain a very adequate set of tools for editing digital photos.

Now, back to the unseemly title of this book. I really don’t know any seniors, just beginning to work with digital photos, who are eager to dive into 360 pages of techno talk about everything from translucent layering to removing a selection boundary and using tools like the bucket fill and magnetic lasso.

Incidentally, if you buy this book used, make sure the description says the CD is included.

Link here to book description which has mostly been translated into English. The book itself has been translated into English in its entirety.

John whats-his-name is stunned by joke fallout

John Kerry (pictured) plans to postpone his decision to run for President in 2008.

Senator John F. Kerry's election-eve "botched joke" about the war in Iraq -- and the fierce denunciations his comments drew from fellow Democrats -- has led him to reevaluate whether to mount a run for the presidency in 2008 and has led him to delay an announcement about his decision, according to Kerry associates.

Kerry -- who had methodically resurrected his political standing after a tough loss to President Bush in 2004 -- was stunned by the swift, angry reaction to his Oct. 30 statement that underachieving students would end up "stuck in Iraq."

Aides and friends say the senator was particularly stung by the fact that so many Democrats had joined Republicans in rebuking him.

It would be ironic if Kerry’s political career ended the same way his political career began -- by defaming our military in wartime.

Link

Pot of gold at the end of rainbow

And we all thought there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I don't think there is any gold in this pot.

Janet Reno: most controversial Clinton appointee

Few members of the Clinton administration have evoked as much controversy as Attorney General Janet Reno (pictured).

The praise she received for her role investigating the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing was overshadowed by her handling of the Ruby Ridge incident and the storming of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Tex.

There were needless deaths in both incidents because of Reno’s heavy handedness. At Waco there were deaths of many innocent women and children.

And who can forget that picture, which was probably staged at Reno’s request, of the “capture” of Elian Gonzoles by a trooper in full riot gear?

Once again the liberal media gave her amnesty along with the entire Clinton Administration.

Janet Reno does have an excuse for being a poor Attorney General. She was too busy covering up for the escapades of the molester-in-chief who appointed her.

Brrr! There is cold weather nearly everywhere

It's cold almost everywhere and it isn't even winter yet. Story here.

Reported here are several random places that show unusual cold including that recent snow storm in Seattle.

Below are links to 6 random locations:

Miami, Florida
Seattle, Washington
Monterey, California
Arizona
Salt Lake City, Utah
Texas

What do the global warming alarmists have to say about this?

Novelist and screenwriter Roger Simon says that they'd still believe in Global Warming if Palm Springs turned into Antarctica. I agree. Should someone alert Al Gore?

Mr. Simon’s comment is here.

Man stole car to keep appointment with sheriff

A 26-year-old man Vermont man was required to report to the sheriff daily as dictated by his bail conditions.

He found himself in a nearby town with a broken-down car.

So determined was he to keep his court-ordered appointment that he stole someone else's car, police said.

Now, in addition to the theft-related charges he previously faced, Joshua E. Reed of Rutland is accused of felony possession of stolen property, and two misdemeanor counts of operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent and violating the conditions of his release.

Link

US Mint to give dollar coins another try

The U.S. Mint will give $1 coins another try.

The U.S. Mint is hoping that Martin Van Buren and Millard Fillmore can do what Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea couldn't - get Americans to use dollar coins.

The Mint on Monday revealed the design of the new U.S. $1 coin, which will be issued in a series that will eventually include the faces of each U.S. president.

It will release four new presidential dollars each year, starting with George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 2007. The Van Buren dollar will be released in 2008 and the Fillmore in 2010.

The Susan B. Anthony dollar was first issued in 1979.

Because of its size and silver color, it was too easily confused with a quarter which is why it was dubbed the Carter quarter.

As long as we have one dollar paper currency in circulation, dollar coins will never be successful.

We're going to have to discard the $1 bill or mass produce so many of these coins so they'll be out there at retailers.

Link

The ultimate Coke billboard

This photo of the ultimate Coke billboard was one of the entries in a Worth 1000 contest.

This picture was altered using PhotoShop.

John Kerry finished dead last in likability poll

Out of 20 top American political figures, John Kerry (pictured) finished dead last in a likability poll.

Among those placed ahead of Kerry were about a dozen potential 2008 White House rivals, including Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

The article says Americans know who he is, and have pretty much decided they don't like him.

This is not good news for Kerry who still has presidential aspirations. The news is not surprising, however.

Link

Genetically modified cotton is edible

Cotton has been genetically modified to make it edible by researchers at Texas A&M University.

Cotton, for thousands of years one of the most important crops for clothing and shelter, might also become a source of food.

A chemical called gossypol makes cottonseed inedible for humans, though some of it is used in feed for cattle, which are less affected by the toxin.

Now, researchers at Texas A&M University have genetically modified cotton to produce seeds with little or no gossypol.

Edible cotton? Bart Simpson knew it all along. He has been saying, “eat my shorts” for years.

Someday cotton candy may literally be cotton candy.

Not sure what cotton would taste like but it should make you feel all fuzzy and warm inside!

Now if they could just make it taste like chocolate…

Link

Diversity stops at the classroom door

American professors are overwhelmingly liberal, according to a report on faculty political attitudes.

The report shows that professors who are liberals and Democrats outnumber conservatives and Republicans by large margins.

Previous surveys have reached similar conclusions, but this one suggests that the ideological divide on campuses may be greater than has previously been thought.

The authors of this survey say that their evidence suggests say that conservatives, practicing Christians and women are less likely than others to get faculty jobs at top colleges.

Faculty members in the study were asked to place themselves on the political spectrum, and 72 percent identified as liberal while only 15 percent identified as conservative, with the remainder in the middle.

The liberal percentage was highest in English literature with 88 percent. The performing arts and psychology were next at 84 percent.

Other fields have a little more balance:

Education 61 percent
Economics 55 percent
Nursing 53 percent
Engineering 51 percent
Business 49 percent

The study also found a negative correlation for being a practicing Christian or a woman to getting positions at top colleges.

It is well known that liberals have always been more secular than conservatives. It is the gender bias that comes as a surprise to me.

Link to article here. Link to report here.

Monday Night Football: then and now

I watched my first Monday Night football game while staying at the Ramada Inn in Fort Walton Beach Florida during an audit of the FWB Centel office (Centel is now owned by Sprint).

It was September 1970 and the game was between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets.

Keith Jackson was the play-by-play announcer. Howard Cosell and former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Don Meredith joined Jackson in the broadcast booth.

At the start of the 2006 football season, the broadcast team left me cold. For me it was a big disappointment. After the third game the contention and disruption in the broadcast booth was just too much.

From then on I turned off the TV audio and listened to the play-by-play on the radio.

from left: Tony Kornheiser, Mike Tirico and Joe Theismann

I enjoy Monday Night Football so much more while listening to the radio broadcast where Tony Kornheiser is not a source of disruption and discord in the broadcast booth.

I don’t care if Kornheiser is a big-name Washington Post sports columnist, I choose not to listen to the TV game broadcast. I don’t like his argumentative, disruptive style.

To be fair, I should turn the radio off and listen to the TV broadcast again. Maybe Kornheiser has mellowed since the start of the 2006 football season.

Loveland Colorado reflections

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Emily Peoples

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Emily Peoples - our newest great grandchild

Thanks for coming back (updated and bumped)

After the recent disaster converting to the new Blogger beta, It’s nice of you to come back for a visit! Thanks for giving us another look.

Blogger beta doesn’t always work well with outside functionality requiring third-party code on the sidebar. Blogrolling, for instance, require new code from Blogrolling especially designed for Blogger beta.

More on the Blogger beta disaster here.

Contact ‘em by email

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Chainsaw motorcycle

The Dolmar company of Hamburg, Germany is noted for gas powered chain saws which they began making in 1927. Now they put their talents to work on a custom motorcycle unlike any other.

The end result is a monstrosity of a motorcycle they call the Dolmette.

The Dolmette uses 24 Dolmar chain saw engines. Power is transmitted by a series of belts to a Harley Davidson 5-speed transmission. The end result is a 24-cylinder, 2-stroke power source with a total displacement of 1900cc with about 170 horsepower.

This elongated speedster can reach speeds in excess of 120 MPH in third gear. The cycle is now on a publicity tour at locations around Europe. Wonder what 24 chains saw engines sound like all working in together? A bit tricky to ride on the street but the sight and sound would be awesome!

Link

How not to lead my example

There is a Washington Times article here that says:

House Democrats put lobbying reform near the top of their agenda, but their incoming majority leader was one of the biggest recipients of special-interest money.

A new report states that Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, was the "most dependent" on special-interest funding and received the fifth-highest total in lobbying contributions among members of Congress.

Look for Hoyer to pretend to back lobbying reform while continuing to benefit from special interest funding. That’s the Democratic way.

The golfer who broke 70

Clem: “How did you do at the golf course today?”

Lem: “I broke 70”

Clem: “That’s a lot of clubs!”

Will the GOP fall in the old Donkey trap?

For the last 12 years the Democrats watched as their numbers dwindled in congress.

One of the reasons is because they thought they deserved to win and that would be enough to win elections.

(click on cartoon to enlarge)

Now the Republicans seem to have fallen into that same trap.

Will it take them 12 years to come to their senses like it did the Democrats?

Over the river and through the woods…

…to grandmother’s house we go

Parking lot attendants wanted

Note: this is back again by special request.

Wanted: Experienced parking lot attendants

The last crew didn’t work out.

Time magazine weighs in on the Hastings appointment

It’s Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi’s next big call.

The incoming House Speaker already made a questionable move backing the losing candidate in the race for Majority Leader.

Will she stumble again by choosing a member with a checkered past to lead the House Intelligence Committee?

Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi, who stumbled badly last week when she publicly backed the failed candidacy of Rep. John Murtha for majority leader, could be headed for another political tumble if she presses ahead with long-standing plans to elevate Rep. Alcee Hastings, a senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, to the panel's chairmanship.

Link here and here.

Book - Wicked Witch of the Left: sales soaring

A new book called: “Help! Mom! There are Liberals Under My Bed!” In the book, Hillary becomes a storybook villain.

Sales of Help! Mom! There are Liberals Under My Bed! have rivaled even the latest Harry Potter novel, with the book racing up the best-seller charts after it was published two weeks ago.

A children's picture book for conservatives whose villains include Hillary Clinton and Senator Ted Kennedy has become the surprise publishing hit of the year.

Link here for an interesting report on this book.

The new Blogger beta has serious problems

The Blogger crew just couldn’t leave well enough alone. It wasn’t broke but they just had to “fix” it anyway.

Then they said we would all be required to switch to the beta version within the next couple of months.

In the process of changing over, I must have missed something. Anyway, I shot myself in the foot in the process and completely lost my origianl blog on Blogger. It was two and one half years old with a couple of thousand postings. It went poof . Just like that it was history.

Blogger said they couldn’t bring it back to life. They did say I could set up a new blog using the same URL. Only thing is Blogger didn’t release my old URL for reuse until three weeks later.

Well, now I have my old location on the web back - just none of the previous material.

No one told me blogging could be this much fun! Anyway, it’s good to be back at the old lemonade stand.

It was nice to be able to carry forward the 39,000 blog visits on the SiteMeter counter.

It was also great that Technorati could re-establish my old links. At this point, I’m just thankful for the little things.

Thanks for coming back to visit.

Sorry about the confusion.

Just wondering…

Why do we say something is out of whack?

What is a whack anyway?

Tech meltdown at CBS News

Since Dan Rather shot himself in the foot two years ago with “fake memo” trying to embarrass the President, things have been going downhill at CBS News.

Rather was forced to step down as anchor of CBS Evening News in the spring of 2005. Bob Schieffer did a credible job of filling in until Katie Couric (pictured) took over last spring.

The Katie Couric era at CBS Evening News has not been stellar. Viewership has slipped most of the time since Couric stepped into the anchor chair.

What Couric didn’t need was a tech meltdown. It came anyway.

Link

Alcee Hastings: most corrupt member of house?

Alcee Hastings (pictured) was a prominent South Florida attorney when he was appointed to the federal bench in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

Judge Hastings was later accused of taking a $150,000 bribe.

In 1988 Hastings was impeached by the House of Representatives and was removed from the bench by the Senate.

The terms of his conviction did not bar him from holding a future public office.

In 1992, four years after his impeachment, Alcee Hastings, a Democrat, won a seat in the House of Representatives from Florida’s 23rd District, which he still represents today.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House-elect, has the corrupt, impeached judge Hastings in line to be chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee.

As an elected congressman, Hastings does not need to apply for security clearance.

The position does not need a vote. It is an appointment that Nancy Pelosi can make on her own.

So now a corrupt, impeached judge is about to get one of the most prestigious and sensitive positions in Congress.

Link

Charles wants to be a Green Prince

Prince Charles (pictured) plans to put his staff on bicycles in a effort to remake his legacy because he wants to be remembered as the "Green Prince.”

Charles is making a personal statement by planning a radical shake-up of his travel plans.

Charles will stop using royal helicopters and private jets on official engagements whenever possible.

He intends to make more use of the royal train and has ordered his chauffeurs to leave their cars behind and travel by bicycle when they check arrangements ahead of his appointments in London.

Charles has also told aides to find a more environmentally friendly fuel for his fleet of cars.

He has even suggested commuting to London on the train from Kemble station in Gloucestershire instead of driving or going by helicopter.

The Prince wants the new system in place for him and Camilla by February. But it is causing a headache for palace staff and some senior courtiers fear his green plans could embarrass the Queen and other members of the royal family who continue to use helicopters and jets.

Does this mean Charles will stop flying in large jet aircraft to the British Colonies scattered around the world?

After all, isn’t it his duty to present himself to all of the Queen's Royal subjects wherever they may be in the far-flung British Empire?
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Somehow I doubt if the paparazzi will ever have a chance to photograph the Prince riding a public commuter train or peddling a bicycle on the streets of London.

Link

Larry King admits he has never used internet

The 72-year-old technologically challenged Larry King (pictured) admits he has never used the internet.

CNN television interviewer Larry King, famous for questioning celebrities and newsmakers, admits he's never asked a question of an Internet search engine.

"Ive never done it, never gone searching," said King, who reads viewers' e-mails on air.

"The wife loves it. I wouldn't love it. What do you punch little buttons and things?"

How does that old saying go … you can’t teach an old dog new … oh, never nind.

Punch little buttons indeed.

Link

McGovern gives support for Iraq withdrawal

The Democrats recruited candidates in the recent election who were mostly non-political. With no political background, it’s hard to know how they will vote on the issues.

It was easy for them to tell voters what they want to hear with no congressional voting record to hold them accountable.

That’s the beauty of the Democrats strategy. All the new recruits had to do was act like conservatives and they won easy victories in a climate of disillusionment with Bush and Iraq.

Their strategy of recruiting political opposites just to regain control of congress may backfire long before the next House election in two years.

In a puzzling move, the Democratic leadership asked former South Dakota Senator George McGovern (pictured) to make a speech to Democratic congrssmen urging the immediate pull-out from Iraq.

Is this an attempt to influence the newly elected congressmen? How many of them have even heard of McGovern?

If they are students of American political history they will know that the 84-year-old former Senator from South Dakota was a miserable failure as a presidential candidate.

McGovern is a true war hero. He flew 35 missions over Germany as a B-24 pilot in WWII. But what can he offer now with his dismal political record?

McGovern’s 60%–38% loss to Richard Nixon in 1972 tells the story of his lack of political skills. In losing to Nixon, McGovern lost in the Electoral College tally 520 to 17, which is downright embarrassing. He didn’t even win his home state of South Dakota!

What, if anything, could the 84-year-old former Senator contribute to the Democratic Party now?

For one thing, McGovern could bring back his demogrant program for a guaranteed minimum income of $6,500 for all Americans (that was in 1972 dollars!).

Actually, the McGovern demogrant wealth distribution program of 1972 may play well with the far-left Democratic leadership in Washington. They have wanted to push us closer to socialism and the old McGovern plan would do it.

How would they finance the wealth distribution program? Raise taxes, of course.

Link here to the current McGovern influence peddling.

Bogus airline boarding passes on the internet

A student at Indiana University's School of Informatics caused quite a stir by posting a feature to his web site which allowed anyone to type in their name and flight information and print a boarding pass for Northwest Airlines on their home computer.

The student said he was simply trying to highlight a flaw in the nation's airline security procedures when he put a tool on his Web site allowing anyone to create fake boarding passes.

(click on picture to enlarge)

The FBI didn’t see it that way. They raided the 24-year-old student’s home in Bloomington, Indiana and carted off his computers.

The bogus passes might help a terrorist get past the initial security checkpoints but probably would not let a terrorist board a plane.

Link
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103101313.html

The political battle to unionize Wal-Mart

WakeUpWalMart and Wal-Mart Watch are two union-backed groups intent on unionizing the retail giant. Now they are getting help from the Democrats.

The Democratic Party, flushed with their recent election success, are joining union activists in the battle against Wal-Mart.

Senator Obama and another potential Democratic 2008 presidential contender, a former North Carolina senator, John Edwards, will speak to activists from one of Wal-Mart’s most vociferous union-backed critics today as debate over the world's largest retailer becomes increasingly political.

Unions helped make the Democrat wins possible and now they want their just rewards.

It will be a sad day for America if organized labor successfully unionizes Wal-Mart stores. Anyone thinking otherwise should look at what labor unions did to the American auto industry.

American cars are generally inferior to foreign cars in price and quality.

Top-heavy union contracts keep the cost of American cars too high.

Union autoworker’s jobs are protected whether they are efficient workers or not. This affects the quality of the cars they build.

Link here to the Edwards and Obama pro-union involvement.

Link here to the union “we helped make it happen” story.

Democrats to push for troop cuts

The recent elections have emboldened and energized the Democratic Party.

The Democrat win has also emboldened and energized the terrorists. We can expect more suicide bombings and other terrorist acts.

Make no mistake about it -- the Democrats new direction in Iraq can be summed up in one word -- retreat.

Maybe the Democrats can get some white flags from France so our troops will have something to wave as they leave Iraq in full retreat.

Al Qaeda is rejoicing because, along with the Democrats in this country, they have also won a big victory.

Troop cut story is here.

No refills

A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office. "Is it true that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so," the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, "I'm wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS'."

Habitat for Humanity hustlers

Habitat for Humanity is helping the underprivileged into home ownership. However, freewheeling lenders are taking advantage of the financially naïve.

Habitat families are able to buy their homes for much less than full market value.

A decade of rising prices has made them wealthier--on paper.

At the same time, many are strapped for cash and unsophisticated about credit. For freewheeling brokers and lenders eager for refinancing business, the combination couldn't be better.

Naïve Habitat borrowers have targets on their backs and hustling lenders are taking advantage.

More of the story here.