And Now The Work Truly Begins

President-Elect Obama (how sweet the sound) begins solidifying his transition team today, and will probably begin announcing staff and Cabinet picks soon. Who will he choose to fill the spots? How will he deal with the New Depression? And let's not forget the truly existential threat of our time:



(picture h/t to Cap'n Dyke)

For Posterity (and so's I can find it later)

Fun With Math

According to the 2006 estimate from the Census Bureau, there are 6,740,374 people of voting age in North Carolina.

According to the State Board of Elections, there are 4,876,543 registered voters in North Carolina.

According to the poll results from yesterday, 4,216,993 people voted for President in North Carolina.

Candidate	Votes for	%age of vote
Barack Obama	2,101,986	49.85
John McCain	2,089,826	49.56
Bob Barr	25,181	0.59

So that means:

62.89% of eligible NC voters voted and,
86.47% of registered NC voters voted.

Can you say "Wow!"?

The Night America Grew Up?

Congratulations, President-Elect Obama!

(screen cap from the livestream of Obama's Victory Rally)

Wow

Technology is cool:

A Non-political Election Day Post

(click for to embiggen)

The Reappearing House:


Fall colors around the Secret Lair (aka '73 Winnebago):

Fired Up! Ready to Go!!

Speech from 3 November, 2008

Dont Foreget Two Voat Tommorow

Why? I'll tell ya.

Everbody exagerrates virture.[sic]

The Party of Family Values

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe (you know, the dude that's sent you about a blue million emails in the last two months?) was on Fox Noise Sunday and questioned by Chris Wallace. Included in the interview was this:

WALLACE: In fact, you do have a very big event coming and that is not the election. It’s the birth of your second child. In fact, that’s the reason you’re in Washington. Your wife, as I understand it, was due yesterday. What do you do if you’re in Chicago on election morning and you get the word your wife’s in labor? PLOUFFE: I will get back as quickly as I can and head to the hospital. First things first, and we’re obviously so excited about that. We’re hoping that our new one will wait till after Tuesday, but either way we’ll be thrilled. WALLACE: But you’re saying that if election morning you find out that the new one’s coming and isn’t waiting for the election, you’re going to leave Chicago and head off to the hospital? PLOUFFE: Absolutely. WALLACE: Boy, there are — a lot of people in the Beltway are going to question your priorities, David.

OMG!!! He cares more about his wife and soon-to-be-born child than he does about the outcome of the election!?!?!? Frakkin' socialist.

LOL Your Translating

That's Welsh, there, below the arrow. Care to guess what it says?

(Hint: not what you think)

(Hint #2: What does your 'vacation' email message say?)

Yep. It says, "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated."

Story at the BBC, via Angelos.

BOO!

(h/t Monkey)



(h/t Frog)

New Word

Contraptiomathingy.

(given to me by Jen)

That is all.

I'm a Buy Me a '65 Chevy Now

Hallowe'ene'en Post

You Are Candy Corn

Your Halloween personality is whimsical, colorful, and creative. You see Halloween as a time to get your creative juices flowing. Each year, Halloween can't start soon enough for you. You tend to go all out for Halloween. You decorate like crazy and always dress up.

What Halloween Treat Are You?

You Are a Werewolf

You are moody and easily provoked. You are highly loyal and protective of those you love. While you can be intense at times, you are generally a laid back person. But if a fight comes your way, you will fight 'til the death if necessary. You seem normal to most people. No one understands how different you can be. It's like a switch flips for you sometimes - and then you're a completely different creature.

Are You a Vampire or a Werewolf?

(h/t to sherry for these)

Quote of the Morning

"They call him a socialist for embracing a principle that's rooted deeply in the teachings of the Christianity that they wear on their sleeves but cannot find room for in their hearts." - Joseph L. Galloway | McClatchy Newspapers

FYI: Robots Suck At Spades

No time for blogging tonight!

Playing Spades online with Steve, Christina (on and off) and Jen.

Posting will resume a regular schedule tomorrow.

New Vehicle Standard?

Wow. What a great idea:

Pat and I have just hired a car in the UK for 10 days: a Peugeot 308, a proper 4-seater with a non-trivial boot and a turbo-diesel engine, generally a nice car. The onboard computer told us the fuel consumption, for a mixed cycle of town, country and motorway driving, was 54 Imperial mpg, or 45 US mpg. It hadn't been zeroed between hires, so the value covered 2000 miles. Not bad; and comparable to what you can expect from a Toyota Prius hybrid. Peugeot, along with other European carmakers, are working on diesel hybrids: they promise 83 Imperial mpg for the comparable model due in 2010, or 69 US mpg. [...] The main thought this experience has triggered is the insight that miles per gallon is now an obsolete and misleading measure. What we should worry about is carbon emissions: grams per kilometre (or mile). For traditional cars, mpg is a perfectly good proxy. But not for hybrids. Once you enable recharging the battery from the mains, a car is no longer an isolated system. A hybrid used as an urban runabout in pure electric mode could have an infinite mpg; but it has positive carbon emissions, because electricity isn't carbon-neutral.

I think the author is definitely on to something, but even more, why is it that cars in Europe have so much better average mileage than cars for sale in the US? Must be the Socialism, I guess.

It's No Longer 'Morning In America'

(via Think Progress)

A Secessionist Movement We Can All Get Behind

I've gotten this in email a couple of times and, on the off chance that someone out there hasn't seen it....

Dear Red States: We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you. Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11... and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties. Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico. Peace out, Blue States

Wait, What Month is it?

I just looked at Bill Ayers website, and -- what? Oh. Not that Weather Underground. My bad. Huh, guess that means I haven't been palling around with terrorists after all. Damn.

Anyway, forecast for Asheville this morning:

Partly sunny with a chance of snow showers. Total snow accumulation up to 1 inch possible. Breezy with highs in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

And I look outside and see what? SNOW FALLING!!1!11!!! Yay!



Gratuitous link.

There Is No Race Problem in the United States...

According to some people, anyway.

I wonder if, like me, they saw the news item about the two Neo-Nazis in Tennessee earlier this afternoon. I have nothing to say other than -- read this.

Calling A Spade A Spade

As Doctor Zaius would say, "No Time For Blogging Today!"

Teaching -- okay, reminding -- someone how to play Spades. Online. So, we shall be a force to be reckoned with shortly... and will begin accepting challengers, no doubt.

Today's Parroted Message

Ben Sargent, Austin American-Statesman

Happz Birthdaz, Steve

Even though you're celebrating it at your alma mater and with Christina instead of here with me and Puff.

Hmmm, actually, can't blame you for that.

If you, Gentle Reader, are looking at my title and saying to yourself, "What the poop?", then you obviously haven't seen this post.

Again (and in normal keyboardese this time), Happy Birthday, Brotha! If I had one, I'd drink a Bud in your honor. Alas, I don't even have the gnat's piss, much less a real beer.

Thursday Python Random Monty

Also, sorry about the no Phyre last night. I just didn't post it.

Mmmmm, Doughnuts

You Are a Powdered Devil's Food Donut

A total sweetheart on the outside, you love to fool people with your innocent image. On the inside you're a little darker, richer, and more complex. You're a hedonist who demands more than one pleasure at a time. Decadent and daring, you test the limits of human indulgence.

What Donut Are You?

(h/t to kona)

Yeah, Well...

Those pictures I took yesterday? While I was rearranging?

Yeah, well, they might as well be photos of Planet Zod. Looking at them, I can't even tell what they are, and I took the damn things.

So, no photos for you, Dear Reader.

"Pooped after long day. Pics tomorrow."

I decided today to do some rearranging of the Secret Lair (aka '73 Winnebago).

It's done, but took longer (and ended up more involved) than I expected.

I remembered to take a couple of pics, so you've got that to look forward to.

My Inner Science Geek Is LOLing

The McCain campaign has broken through a heretofore impenetrable barrier in quantum physics, experimentally proving the existence of unseen dimensions and, in the process, setting three of its surrogates on a pathway towards winning the 2009 Nobel Prize in the physical sciences. Gov. Sarah Palin, campaigning, she said, in "real America," which apparently includes part of North Carolina, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, calling for a media investigation to determine whether Americans are real or not, and today, McCain all-around best surrogate Nancy Pfotenhauer (pronounced -- Foe-Ten-How-er, like proton power), said that parts of the state of Virginia, heretofore universally assumed to be in America, were not, in fact, in the country. [snip] So what Pfotenhauer, by locating "real America" in the middle of an expansion of "unreal America" -- has given us more evidence yet that "unreal America" is expanding. Perhaps unreal America is a like a bubble in Alan Guth's Inflationary Universe Hypothesis, one that, when it envelopes "real America" will tear apart. (That would explain the fear in the voices of P,B and P.)

Read the whole thing here. (h/t to The Reality-Based Community)

Saturday Funny

(h/t to Dusty)

Neither Cunning, Nor a Runt, But Does Have A Camera

So I don't have a fancy-shmancy camera like some people, but what I do have can sometimes take a decent image. I was up early t'other morning, and got some shots of the sunlight first hitting some o' the trees by the Secret Lair (aka '73 Winnebago). As always, you can click on an image to embiggen it:






And here's this week's shot of the Reappearing House. You can actually kinda-sorta see it, cause of the angle of the sun:

Just Say No... to Republicans

Cue George Burns

A US judge has thrown out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served.

The whole story is here.

Pheaux Phyre Phorum: The Debate Edition

Everybody and their second cousin has an open thread for tonight, but I figured I'd throw this up here anyway.

Quick, Before Teh InterWebs Tubes Die Again

Connectivity problems... will say more later if I'm able.

See? I'm Not Wasting My Time

Gaming Makes Grown-Ups Safer Drivers

So says the headline on the Discovery News article.

Allstate and Posit say they have science on their side. Ten hours of game play turns the clock back 10 years in terms of memory, useful field of view, processing visual information, and general cognitive functions, say both companies. Increased mental acuity leads to safer drivers. Studies, some 20 years old, funded by the National Institutes of Health and conducted at the University of Alabama show that similar video games cut the risk of a crash by 50 percent. The training doesn't only make better drivers, but "it raises the overall quality of life," said Warden. "The benefits are not just in physical activities like driving a car, but also in remembering things more often to have fewer senior moments."

If anyone needs me, I'll be playing a video game keeping my mind limbered up.

Wherein The Author Recycles Earlier Writing

I came up with this post after reading Teh Portly Dyke's latest, so, if ye haven't yet, go read it.

Long time readers -- and those who have delved into my archives -- know that I was, for a time, a columnist in the Rapid River Literary Magazine. Back when I started this blog (over 700 posts ago), I "introduced" myself by reprinting a few of those columns. Some of them were general, and some specific, and I posted the general ones here for the two people who were reading me back then. If you're interested, you can click on the Tag (AKA Label, AKA Category): Rapid River, and read the ones that I posted. Anyway....

One of them was about the "Impending Doom" of Y2K. Remember that? We were all going to be catapulted back into the Stone Age because computer programmers didn't think ahead back in the 1970's, and only had 2 digits in the year columns. Yeah, that happened. So, the main thrust of that article was... not correct. Part of it, however, has become relevant in today's Economic situation, so I figured I'd post it here (with a couple of word changes in brackets):

A much more likely possibility, in my opinion, is that the giant herd of cattle and sheep we call Civilization will be scared by all this talk of [Economic Disaster and Depression] and will lose its collective shit. You think I'm loopy? That's how the Great Depression [of 1929] started. A couple a guys on Wall Street got nervous and sold off some stock to cover their margins, the people buying those shares did the same and a landslide resulted that threw the entire world into a depression. All it will take is for the herd to lose faith in the dollar and everything will collapse. Life in America will not be like "The Waltons", it will be more like The Grapes of Wrath mated with Red Dawn.

Do something for me. Pick up that dollar you are going to leave as a tip and look at it for a moment. How much is it worth? Why? The answers are, 1) "A dollar" and 2) "Because it says so right on it and we all believe it". Is that gallon of milk at the grocery store, that you will pay [$4.69] to purchase, any different from the gallon of milk for which John Boy Walton would have paid 20 cents at Ike Godsey's store? Not really. I know, I know, inflation is inevitable, blah, blah, blah.

Do yourselves a favor, folks. Start working on a barter network (there are lots around already if you look) and plan an escape route. The Self-Perpetuating End-Of-The-World Government-Promoted ... Thing could hit hard and fast.

By the way, that was part of my very first column (August 1999). And I was asked to keep writing. Heh.

Sunday Humour

Keyboard shortcuts:

She Is One Crazy Bitch

Betty White on The Late Late Show....




BTW, Betty is not the Bitch in the title. Watch the video.

Friday (plus 1) Kitteh Blogging

"You have no idea what I'm thinking, you silly human."


"Seriously, don't even try to figure it out."


Puff snoozing in one of her favorite comfy positions. I swear, she does this just about every day.


Of course, when I take a picture of her, she wakes up and ... well, I'm not worthy of her, as anyone can see. ;)

Milestone Of A Sort

About a year ago I added the StatCounter widget to my blog, because I liked the stats and presentation better than SiteMeter.

And just a few minutes ago, I received my 20,000th hit since adding the StatCounter!!

I want to thank each and every one of you who visit me. Especially those of you who come back time and again, for what reason I'm not really sure, but I certainly appreciate it.

I've met some really cool people, a couple of total freaks, and one extra special person, since joining Teh Blogosphere, and I'm very glad. It's not an exaggeration to say that blogging - and blogs - have changed my life.

Thanks to you all, and here's to the next 20k!!

Unclear On The Concept?

Lee Judge / The Kansas City Star (September 5, 2008)

Thursday Python & etc....

We have a special this week.

Please click here to see the special.

Brought to you by Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel.

Pheaux Phyre Phorum: The 1st Anniversary Edition

A year ago (plus a few days) some of us were hanging out at Shakesville's Virtual Pub, and it was brought up that we needed a mid-week version. One of the other regulars said, "We tried that. Didn't catch on."

Sounds like a challenge, dunnit?

So, with some photo-atering help from Jen, I rigged up this little get together. In an email to her, I reasoned:

Since I live in a camper in the woods, I thought maybe a virtual campfire might be apropos. Using my decidedly not mad search skillz, I found the fire pics below. (I like the last, cause there's people... but unidentifiable, so it could be us Shakers.

"Phydeaux's Bonphire"? ("Campphire" looks too weird)

"Phire Away at Phydeaux's Place"?

or maybe just

"Phydeaux's Phriendly Phire"?

Thoughts? Ideas?

Phydeaux/Bob

And the first one was 10 October 2007.

Happy Anniversary, Pheaux Phyre!!

Rebirth of a Series (Sorta)

Back in the Spring I did a series of photos of The Disappearing House. Now that it's Fall, I figured the only right thing to do is show the other end of the spectrum. And so, it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you....

The Reappearing House!!1!!one!


It's there, you just can't see it yet. What you can see is a wee bit o' Fall Color in the trees. And a wee bit may be all we get in these here parts.


The most glorious bit that I can see around here. Except for the beech trees, which the leaves always turn a pretty yellow (as evidenced in the top photo), most of the rest either haven't changed yet or are going straight to brown. We'll see what the next few weeks bring.

I hear the Farmer's Almanac is calling for a cold, wet winter.

Joe Six-Pack, You Betcha

Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi nails it perfectly:

Here's the thing about Americans. You can send their kids off by the thousands to get their balls blown off in foreign lands for no reason at all, saddle them with billions in debt year after congressional year while they spend their winters cheerfully watching game shows and football, pull the rug out from under their mortgages, and leave them living off their credit cards and their Wal-Mart salaries while you move their jobs to China and Bangalore.

And none of it matters, so long as you remember a few months before Election Day to offer them a two-bit caricature culled from some cutting-room-floor episode of Roseanne as part of your presidential ticket. And if she's a good enough likeness of a loudmouthed Middle American archetype, as Sarah Palin is, John Q. Public will drop his giant-size bag of Doritos in gratitude, wipe the Sizzlin' Picante dust from his lips and rush to the booth to vote for her. Not because it makes sense, or because it has a chance of improving his life or anyone else's, but simply because it appeals to the low-humming narcissism that substitutes for his personality, because the image on TV reminds him of the mean, brainless slob he sees in the mirror every morning.

And, as if to prove Taibbi's point, we have this comment on the article:

dang! with tat B-minus Hawaii prep school kid on the other side of tat fence clinchin' to names like Khalid al-Mansour, Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko and Rev. Jeremiah Wright tat Palin lady from what you write fits right nicely in tat big picture. Maybe tat Matthew Franck fellow wus lookin' for a pin and not a needle in tat hay sack.
Aenold Glasow said, "It is harder to conceal igorance than to acquire knowledge." With tat neither one could be a hair on a gnats a!!. Sad tat Shawnee Chief Tecumseh ain't still around.

The quote in that quote, by the way, is Arnold Glasgow, and the word was, duh, "ignorance".

Read the whole thing here.

Palin Aphabet

A is for Apocalypse, which we're hoping to have
B is for Bailout, so the haves can have more
C is for Christ, ya we like him a lot
D is for Doncha know, doggone it
E is for English only, no heathen tongues here
F is for Free Markets, except for cases of B
G is for God, who created Earth 6000 years ago
H is for Heathens, who'll be left behind
I is for Ice caps, which cover our oil
J is for Jews, we'll perfect them for A
K is for Killing, those wolves from the air
L is for Libruls, hated by G
M is for Money, second only to G
N is for Neo-cons, beloved by G
O is for Oil, drill baby drill
P is for Palin, of course
Q is for Queers, who G really hates
R is for Republicans, the real chosen ones
S is for Shoutouts, to 3rd graders during debates
T is for Taxes, which must be cut back
U is for Uranium, which powers nukular bombs
V is for Virgin, which my daughters all mostly are
W is for Wasilla, which I ran really bad well
X is for X husbands of sisters, who get fired by me
Y is for Younger, which my running mate isn't
Z is for Zero credibility, which I hide by being folksy

The End Times Are Here

Lions are lying with lambs, and 80-something bluegrass legends are doing radio spots for Barack Obama.

Pretty damn cool if you ask me.

And if you don't know who Ralph Stanley is... well, I'll forgive you this time. You know his voice, though....



(h/t to Brian at Incertus)

Should We Mess With It?

::Snort::

(found at Bark Bark Woof Woof)

Python Random Thor's Day

DO IT NOW (If you haven't already)

Pheaux Phyre Phorum: The Wev Edition

Talk amongst yerselves. I'm prepping Sarah Palin for her debate tomorrow night.

"A is for Apple"
"B is for Boy"
"C is for Cat"
.
.
.
.

If His Mouth Had a Third Side, He'd Speak Out Of It, Too

The Real McCain.

Separated at Birth?

Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes

Sunday Fiction Reappears... But Not Here

Check out my latest Creatively Created Creative Writing post at ShakesQuill, y'all.

And, if'n ye want to, check out the whole story here.

So Long, Paul Newman

Thought For The Day

“Civilization rests on a set of promises; if the promises are broken too often, the civilization dies, no matter how rich it may be, or how mechanically clever. Hope and faith depend on the promises; if hope and faith go, everything goes/”—Herbert Agar, American Author.

And Like A Good Neighbor...

Mishael is there.

He's a new(ish) resident next door, and he's one cool dude. We can sit and talk about, for example, the Big Bang, pre-Historic civilizations, Classical music, and politics. And that was just this afternoon.

And?

He feeds me, which is a welcome break from the taters I've been living on for the last several days. Vegetable beef soup and cornbread - baked in a cast iron skillet. Yum.

Also?

He sent me home with two big ole containers of soup, and a third of one of the cornbreads.

Phriends Rule.

Hmmm, Wanna Bet This Becomes A Talking Point For Limbaugh, Hannity, et. al.?

Generate a Barack Obama Quote!

"These people haven't had orgasms for fifty years. So you can't be surprised if they get bitter and cling to their Republicans and their Christianistas and their Republican Christianistas. That's what my campaign is about. Teaching all the little people in this country that they can have Multiple Orgasms."
Generate your Barack Obama quote at Buttafly.com

Pheaux Phyre Phorum: The Huh Wednesday Happens Every Damn Week Edition

Huh?

Oh, Hi guys!

Forgot you was comin' over.

We Interrupt This Meltdown To Bring You....

Received via email:

If you feel that pigs with lipstick and Paris Hilton have hijacked our political debate this election season, you’re not alone.

This Friday, you can help get the media back on track when PBS's Jim Lehrer hosts the first presidential debate. We need 3,000 people to use our online tool to instantly rate how well the media moderates and reports on the debates.

Your ratings will be immediately reported back to members of the press as soon as the debates are finished -- allowing you to weigh in before the spin cycle gets out of control.

Will the media cover the issues that are most important to you? Will they focus on trivial issues? Will they ask tough questions?

RatetheDebates.org will help reporters focus on real issues like the economy over campaign gossip and candidate gaffes. Now more than ever, we need the media to be the watchdogs of our democracy.

Debates are marquee moments in American elections. The few journalists selected to participate -- and the media narrative that follows -- will play a defining role in determining our next president.

Go here to sign up. And, just because you don't have a teevee doesn't mean you can't join in. cspan.org is livestreaming the debates.

Lenny Bruce is Not Afraid. Eye of a Hurricane, Listen to Yourself Churn -

Rule 5: Always keep in mind that the goal is to privatize gains to a few, and socialize losses to the many.

h/t to Mustang Bobby, over at his place.
(Also, is it just me? I keep thinking of Lesbian Rules)

That's Great, It Starts With An Earthquake, Birds & Snakes & Aeroplanes....

American Research Group poll (h/t to C&L)

Post #682

I got nothing to say today, so go read my blogroll.

Over there --->

Just scroll down.

TAKE ACTION

Tell your Representative/Senators/Presidential Candidate of choice that you think the Corporate Welfare Package being proposed is a steaming pile of bullshit!!

Click here to sign the petition.

Today's Reading

(found at The General's)

Do Ye Know What Today Be?

Arrrrrr!

That be all.

Thursday Pythonica

Pheaux Phyre Phorum: The I Miss Callie Edition

I'm not, like, really sad or anything, but I do miss her.

So, now that I've pepped you all up, what's on yer minds this evening?

The best shot of her...

..and a more typical outcome of trying to photograph her.

Highway Robbery (Literally)

A week ago today, I got gas at the country store down the road for $3.45/gallon.

Enter Hurricane Ike (which didn't get within 500 miles of Western North Carolina)...

Today I had to drive to five different places to even find gas - apparently they've all been without since Friday - and it was $4.69/gallon.

Let's hear it for unfettered Capitalism!!!

Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, Trig, and....

If Sarah Palin had named you, you would be called....

Scat Dubya Palin

I think I'll stick with Bob... whatever my last name is.

(nicked from knikked - thanks Vikki!)

Sunday Political Thought

If Republicans and Reich-Wing Bloviators (Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, et.al.) are always calling Dems/Liberals "commies", then why are the Republican states the Reds?

Jeebus, That's a Big MoFo

This image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Ike in the Gulf of Mexico closing in on the Texas coast. The image was taken at 4:40 a.m. EDT Friday Sept. 12, 2008. Ike was then a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds that had increased slightly to near 105 mph. (from the Discovery website)

Re: This post, I received the following email....

Dear Bob,

STREWTH!

The Michael Palin for President campaign is off to a
roaring start.

The campaign video, launched the same night the OTHER
Palin delivered her "you haven't actually nominated me
yet but I'll accept your nomination anyway" speech, has
now been seen by MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE.

According to ViralVideoChart and several other sources,
we're one of the most-viewed videos in the world over
the last week.

The Palin for President video has also been featured in
blogs on the Los Angeles Times website and the Obama-Biden
website, along with hundreds ofothers all over the web.
(We even got a call from CNN!)

Best of all, the official Monty Python site, Pythonline.com,
is currently featuring the video as one of its lead stories.

Viewer response has been almost universally positive, with
an avalanche of requests for bumper stickers and campaign
buttons coming in. (We're workin' on it!)

Of course the opposition has been heard from as well, offering
such insightful and considered political discourse as "If you
have a child, I hope he dies in a car fire!" and "F--k your video
and f--k you!"

Apparently we've hit a nerve.

But now is not the time for complacency.

As has been suggested recently (we forget where) this election
is not about the candidates. It's about YOU.

You may not know it, but because you signed up for this newsletter
and accepted your free fuzzy thing, you are now a de facto member
of the Committee to Elect Michael Palin President (also known as
the Silly Party).

AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

With only two months to go before the election, there are a number
of things you can do to help YOUR candidate...

--SPREAD THE WORD by sending everyone you know to:
http://www.michaelpalinforpresident.com/vid

--ENGAGE IN SOCIAL DEBATE by rubbing Fuzzy Things on Republicans.

--ENGAGE IN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE by doing Silly Walks in government
buildings.

But the big question on everyone's mind is...

****************************************************************
WHO SHOULD MICHAEL PALIN CHOOSE AS HIS RUNNING MATE?

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Quote of the Day

It’s been a sobering, humbling seven years riding this Learning Curve, hurtling through an ever narrowing tunnel of darkness on the back of this unrecognizable thing we call America the Beautiful, America the Terrible, One Nation Under God, Inexcusable, Indefensible, Unaccountable, With Liberty and Justice for the Highest Bidder. And in the end, if we paid any attention at all, we learned that Fundamentalism, be it Islamic, or Christian, or Capitalist, is an evil thing, a poison, an indiscriminate reaper of souls, those of its practitioners who perceive its darkness as The Light, and those who, in opposing it, become the Beast we set out to destroy.

- my Siamese Cousin, TheCunningRunt. Please go read the whole thing.

Forever Autumn

Back when I was first in college (try #1), I became a big fan of the Moody Blues ... okay, there was a woman involved, but I had always like the band.... Anyway, Justin Hayward - guitarist and lead singer of the Moody Blues - did a project with Jeff Wayne; a musical adaptation of HG Wells War of the Worlds.

This song was my favorite from the whole album, and contains one of my favorite set of lyric lines ever:

Through autumn’s golden gown we used to kick our way
You always loved this time of year
Those fallen leaves lie undisturbed now
’Cause you're not here

Here's Hayward singing the song with chamber orchestra backup:

Here's Hoping

Barack Obama was not my first - or second choice - for the Democratic nomination. He is far from a perfect candidate; but then again, perfect candidates exist only in dreams and movies. But, by God, he's infinitely better than the offering of the other major party. And if the election isn't decisively and unfudgably won by Obama, then there is something woefully - and quite likely fatally - wrong with this country.

Barack Obama responds to the faux charges by the McCain Campaign:

Pheaux Phyre Phorum: The "Hey, TCR, It's Actually Wednesday Today" Edition

I pick on my Siamese Cousin, but the days of the week, they do seem to all blend together sometimes. It's not just him that gets confoosed. (love ya, Cuz)

So, what's happening out there in the wide, wide world?

GOPer's Charge

nabbed from The General's Place.
(1000 irredeemable points to the first person to ID, in comments, the origin of the pic)

Were You Like Me?

And couldn't bear the thought of watching the Republican National Convention last week?

Well, the folks over at 23/6 took pity on us, and boiled the whole thing down to a more palatable 1 minute.

Ladles and Jellyspoons -- the RNC:




Hmmm. The video doesn't seem to be appearing on my screen, so here's a link.

Recommended Reading

Jesus Christ quits Christianity after viewing Republican platform

But?

Put down the drink before you read. Trust me.

BWAH!!!!

(h/t to Chet Scoville)

Anti-Pork Palin

Image from this article.


Apparently the "change" the McCain/Palin Campaign is talking about is to change the meaning of words.

• "I'm against pork barrel spending" = "I submitted 31 earmark requests totaling $197 million in the current (FY2009) budget cycle."
  
• "I have foreign policy experience" = "Alaska is only 300 miles from Russia." and "My plan landed for refueling at Shannon Airport in Ireland."
  
• "Country First" = "I used to belong to a secessionist movement."
  
• "I am a feminist" = "Abortion, even in cases of incest, rape or the health of the mother, should be illegal."
  

The only change these Morans (please follow the links there for a lesson in FAIL) are interested is ... wait, there are two changes - 1) Changing money into their pockets (and the pockets of their cronies) and, 2) Changing Democracy into Theocracy.

A Post For Sunday

Okay, I've posted now.

Off to play....

Fare You Well, Muh Kitteh

Fare you well, my one true Callie.

A couple of weeks ago, I stepped next door for a few minutes and didn't make sure that the screen door of the Secret Lair (aka '73 Winnebago) was closed. When I came back, Callie had decided to venture outside.

She decided that she wanted to leave this Brokedown Palace. I tried coaxing her back in. No dice. I tried picking her up and carrying her back in, and she clawed the screen out to get back outside. I fixed the screen and tried again, and got scratches on my arms for the effort... and she found another weak spot on a screen.

The cat obviously wanted to be outdoors.

Around Monday or so, she started coming back inside to eat, but then wanted right back out. So, I'd just leave the door open for her when she came calling for food; or if I wanted to get her attention, I'd just shake the food dish. That sound has always caused both cats to come running. I had hoped this was leading to her staying inside again.



I haven't seen her since Thursday afternoon.

I've called. I've walked around in the woods. I've shaken the dish and even filled the empty tuna can, that I use to scoop cat food from the bag to the dish, and taken it outside so the sound would carry farther.

No sign.

Wherever you are, Callie, I hope you can listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock your soul.








Brokedown Palace

Fare you well, my honey, fare you well my only true one.
All the birds that were singing are flown, except you alone.

Going to leave this brokedown palace,
On my hand and knees, I will roll, roll, roll.
Make myself a bed in the waterside,
In my time, I will roll, roll roll.

In a bed, in a bed, by the waterside I will lay my head.
Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul.

River going to take me, sing sweet and sleepy,
Sing me sweet and sleepy all the way back home.
Its a far gone lullaby, sung many years ago.
Mama, mama many worlds Ive come since I first left home.

Goin home, goin home, by the riverside I will rest my bones,
Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul.

Going to plant a weeping willow,
On the banks green edge it will grow, grow, grow.
Sing a lullaby beside the water,
Lovers come and go, the river roll, roll, roll.

Fare you well, fare you well, I love you more than words can tell,
Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul.

The Party Of Change

There's no way in hell I was gonna watch the Speechifying of Jamakane last night, but I did grab a bucket this morning and try to make it through the NYT online article about it.

Standing in the center of an arena here, surrounded by thousands of Republican delegates, Mr. McCain firmly signaled that he intended to seize the mantle of change Mr. Obama claimed in his own unlikely bid for his party’s nomination.

The best part of the article was the link to this Word Bubble chart:

(click to embiggen)

As you can clearly see, the Dems outChange the Reps by nearly 3:1.

Suck on that, you lying sacks o' shite Dinosaurs!!

(image gleefully absconded from Liss at Shakesville)

For the video - or text if you're like me and would rather have bamboo shoved under your nails than listen to Jamakane - of his acceptance speech, and lots of excellent critique/snark/wev, go check out Shakesville.

Oh, and for the record, I couldn't even make it through the article about the speech. My tummy curdled.

Thursdom Ranty Pyday Monthon

Hmmmm

During the Speechifying^TM at the RNC last night, the dog-whistle "community organizer" was repeated. Over. And. Over. Again.



(h/t to Rana in comments at the above link)

Just The Facts, Ma'am

The whole country - okay, the part that is doing more than just munching on the prairie grass as the wildfire rages towards them - is talking about Gov. Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention last night.

Well, those godless trehugging libruls at MoveOn.org have compiled a list of positions and statements that Palin has held/made that should give thinking people pause as regards getting behind the McCain/Palin ticket. I'll be taking they're advice and writing to my local rag. You should too.

• Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God's task." She's even admitted she hasn't thought about the war much—just last year she was quoted saying, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq." ^{1, 2}
  
• Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin told members of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union—to "keep up the good work" and "wished the party luck on what she called its 'inspiring convention.'" ³
  
• Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools. She hasn't made clear whether she thinks evolution is a fact. ⁴
  
• Palin doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming. Speaking about climate change, she said, "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being manmade." ⁵
  
• Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP. ⁶
  
• Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn't even support abortion in the case of rape or incest. ⁷
  
• Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. She's said she will only support abstinence-only approaches. ⁸
  
• As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them—shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor." ⁹
  
• She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." ¹⁰
  

Sources
1. "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'," Associated Press, September 3, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24701&id=13709-8534799-7P4.Mmx&t=6

2. "Palin wasn't 'really focused much' on the Iraq war," ThinkProgress, August 30, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24702&id=13709-8534799-7P4.Mmx&t=7

3. "The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

4. "McCain and Palin differ on issues," Associated Press, September 3, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24703&id=13709-8534799-7P4.Mmx&t=8

5. Ibid

6. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

7. Ibid

8. Ibid.

9. "Mayor Palin: A Rough Record," Time, September 2, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24704&id=13709-8534799-7P4.Mmx&t=9

10. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

Pheaux Phyre Phorum: The I Totally Forgot It Was Wednesday (Again) Edition

Please send your thoughts to Brave Sir Robin and his family, as his brother was in a bad accident.

The Bloom Is Off The Rose

For those of you who don't pore over Crooks & Liars like I do...

The camera is off but the mics are still on, and Peggy Noonan, Mike Murphy and host Chuck Todd keep talking:



Rough transcript at C&L.

The 2008 Campaign in 104 Words

From The Washington Post:

Rick Davis, campaign manager for John McCain's presidential bid, insisted that the presidential race will be decided more over personalities than issues during an interview with Post editors this morning.

"This election is not about issues," said Davis....

[...]

In reaction to Rick Davis' comments about the election not being about issues, Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe released the following statement: "We appreciate Senator McCain's campaign manager finally admitting that his campaign is not in fact about the issues the American people care about, which is exactly the kind of cynical old politics people are ready to change."

You know, he may tend to say misogynist things and ... well, whatever you may not like about Barack Obama, but one thing his campaign is not doing is shying away from hitting back at the Jamakane Parade of Bullshit.

Palin Money Quote

“I’m not sure what she brings to the ticket other than she’s a woman and a conservative. Well, she’s a better speaker than McCain.”

– Faye Palin, the mother-in-law of Gov. Sarah Palin, quoted by the New York Daily News.

(h/t to Scrutiny Hooligan's Gordon Smith)

Happy Proletariat Day!!!

What? Labor Day is all about the masses, you know.


Pete Seeger and the Weavers