Vikings: 6-0

Highlights. Based on my behavior, my wife declared me to be insane after the Ravens' last second field goal went wide left. She just does not get it. But I love her regardless of her faults.

Interesting question

Link. Read it all.

People can, and undoubtedly will, argue for some time about whether President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Meanwhile, though, there's a simpler and more immediate question: Does the Constitution allow him to accept the award?

Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution, the emolument clause, clearly stipulates: "And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State."

This sounds like a technicality, but if it is unconstitutional without explicit congressional consent, it is unconstitutional. We can't just decide that we will respect about some parts of the Constitution but not others because they aren't that important. Out of respect for the Constitution, Congress should pass a resolution authorizing Obama to accept the Prize.

Words escape me

Link.

NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told he Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

I don't even know what to say.

Pakistan

The situation in Pakistan is starting to make me very nervous. The Taliban with nuclear weapons would not be a tolerable situation. I hope that people smarter than me have a strategy.

Further justification for the Nobel

Obama To Enter Diplomatic Talks With Raging Wildfire

5-0

If you look at the boxscore, you will find that a woeful St. Louis team had more first downs and more total yards than the Vikings. Yet, it was a blowout on the scoreboard, 38-10. (Highlights here.) But not a truly dominating performance. Two weeks from now, after we have played Baltimore and Pittsburgh, we will know a lot more about this club.

Cub Scout camping

My son and I leave tomorrow morning for an overnight Cub Scout camp where there will be approximately 5000 Cub Scouts, plus 5000 parents, and we will sleep in tents. If that is not crazy enough, the forecast for tomorrow is for a high temperature of 37 degrees (with snow flurries) and an overnight low of 24 degrees. Jealous?

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

Seriously? For what? Speeches? Listen, I voted for Obama, and I think that he has made some good foreign policy moves, but he has also stumbled. And what has actuallly been accomplished so far?

Richard Cohen is sarcastic:

In a stunning announcement, Millard Fillmore Senior High School chose Shawn Rabinowitz, an incoming junior, as next year’s valedictorian. The award was made, the valedictorian committee announced from Norway of all places, on the basis of “Mr. Rabinowitz’s intention to ace every course and graduate number one in class.” In a prepared statement, young Shawn called the unprecedented award, “f---ing awesome.”

At the same time, and amazingly enough, the Pulitzer Prize for Literature went to Sarah Palin for her stated intention “to read a book someday.” The former Alaska governor was described as “floored” by the award, announced in Stockholm by nude Swedes beating themselves with birch branches, and insisted that while she was very busy right now, someday she would make good on her vow to read a book. “You’ll see,” she said from her winter home in San Diego.

James Joyner notes that Ronald Reagan was not ever awarded the prize despite the fact that he actually won the Cold War without a shot fired.

This smells like a situation where a person is promoted at work over a more experienced and proven co-worker based on looks. It cheapens the award.

Twins win division

Unbelievable. Both going 17-4 in the last 21 games to come from 7 games back in September (and 3 games back with 4 to play, which has never been done bef0re), and the play-in game itself.

This is the quote from Ron Gardenhire, the Twins manager: "We witnessed one of the best baseball games I have ever been a part of in my whole life."

And this is from a writer for the Detroit Free Press after he described the ups and downs of the game: "This was one of the most amazing games any of us have ever seen."

And this from the beat writer for the Twins: "What a night. Unreal."

If I were a Yankee fan, I would be nervous.

Surreal

Favre had an almost perfect game to beat the Packers. It is feels great and weird at the same time. Here are the hightlights. And Jared Allen was an animal on defense. Sometimes it is really fun to be a football fan.

My sports teams

The next 2 days, and possibly 3 days if the Twins have a playoff game, are going to be so much fun.

Twins vs. Tigers battle for the title on the last day of the season after the Twins were a supposedly insurmountable 7 games back in the last month

For the third time in four years, the Twins enter the final day of the regular season with a chance to win the American League Central.

Vikings vs. Packers on MNF, with Favre at quarterback for the Vikings.

"This is probably the most anticipated game I think, for a regular season game, that I've ever been a part of," Leber said.

I stocked up on Budweiser.

Baseball's code

I really wish that I better understood baseball's unwritten code. Like whether or not it is acceptable to try to steal signs, when it becomes unacceptable to try to steal bases, and when a beaning is not only acceptable, but the beaned batter does not get mad at the pitcher for the beaning, but his own teammate for provoking it. Heck, our manager said that "[t]hey did the right thing” by intentionally hitting one of our players with a baseball at 90 mph.

More Polanski

This has really gotten under my skin in a "Mussolini made the trains run on time so he wasn't that bad" kind of way. From an invited contributer on NY Times editorial page today we find this:

"Of course what happened cannot be excused, either legally or ethically."

But he objects to -

"[t]he almost pornographic relish with which his critics are retelling the lurid details of the assault ."

Meaning, he objects to anyone actually reminding people of the reprehensible nature of Polanksi's actions. And then there is this:

"His past did not bother me . . . "

I guess that he was not bothered like Frank Sinatra was not bothered by the bad acts of the Mafia guys with whom he associated.

And as I mentioned in an update below, Woody Allen has now spoken. A film producer who married his daughter defending another film producer who is a child rapist. I wonder if they have some sort of secret society.

I say, again, what is wrong with these people? He is a convicted rapist and fugitive who gave the finger to the justice system. How can there be two sides to this story?

UPDATE: "The French" don't seem to agree with their Culture Minister, whatever the heck that job is.

Seven Days in May

I really liked Seven Days in May. But this guy, who apparently worked in the Johnson and Carter administrations, is nuts.

Roman Polanski

I used to respect Anne Applebaum's opinion. Not any more. Polanski is a pedophile who drugged and raped a 13 year old girl, pled guilty to the crime, and then fled the country before sentencing and has been living the very good life in France ever since. "We should just let bygones be bygones" is a pathetic argument in his defense. And to call his arrest "outrageous" is, well, outrageous.

UPDATE: Link.

"To see him thrown to the lions and put in prison because of ancient history — and as he was traveling to an event honoring him — is absolutely horrifying," French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand said after Polanski was arrested upon arrival in Switzerland to attend the Zurich Film Festival, where he was to receive a lifetime achievement award. "There's an America we love and an America that scares us, and it's that latter America that has just shown us its face."

There is a France that we love and a France that disgusts us, and it's that latter France that has just shown its face.

And Whoopi Goldberg says that it wasn't "rape-rape." That might be true; it was child rape.

What is wrong with these people?

UPDATE 2: Woody Allen wants Polanski released. That changes everything.

That was fun

Link to game winning touchdown video.

Plus: Harvin to the house. It looked like he was twice as fast as anyone else on the field.

Stupidity

Here is the definition.

"You have got to be kidding me" category

This might be the dumbest public relations strategy that I have ever seen. Also, finding a sympathetic jury might be a wee bit difficult. For Pete's sake, even Barney Frank is against you now.

All Day

Today's highlights. Not gaudy numbers, but the man is a football player. Check out the play that starts at about 00:24. Rather than just step out of bounds, he decided to punish the defender.

Missile defense

For missile defense supporters, hold the hyperbole. If you don't trust Obama, trust Gates.

"This new approach provides a better missile defense capability for our forces in Europe, for our European allies and eventually for our homeland than the program I recommended almost three years ago," said Gates, who was defense chief in the last two years of the Bush administration and stayed on when Obama took office.

Dumbass

Michael Crabtree could be the dumbest guy ever born. The NFL pays by a slot system. The number 9 pick makes more than the number 10 pick, and the number 10 pick makes more than the number 11 pick. You don't get to change the rules by having a temper tantrum. So Crabtree is playing chicken, threatening to sit out a year (and not get paid) and to re-enter the draft next year (where he will drafted much lower and, therefore, paid much less, because he will have established himself as a confirmed prima donna). The stupidness and greed (he has been offered $28.5 million with almost $18 million guaranteed) is astounding. He needs the NFL much more than the NFL needs him. He does not seem to grasp that fact of life.

Federer

You don't have to be a tennis fan to appreciate this amazing shot.

He's Back

Video highlights from today's game.

Never forget

Every year I Google to find and re-read this piece.

Hypocrisy

The true believers almost always turn out to be exposed as hypocrites. Time to expose another.

Popular right-wing blogger: "Debating public policy issues is not "bickering." Disagreeing with a proposal to radically change one of the largest sectors of our economy is not a "game." This kind of gratuitous insult--something we never heard from President Bush, for example--is one of the reasons why many consider Obama to be mean-spirited."

Bush, 2001: "It is time to set aside the old partisan bickering and finger-pointing and name-calling that comes from freeing parents to make different choices for their children."

I'm sure that if I invested the time, I could find many more similar quotes. The point is, I can't stand it when either side takes a self-righteous "we have never done and would never do such a thing" attitude. It is all bullsh*t.

__________________

P.S.: Popular right-wing blogger's past proclamation: "It must be very strange to be President Bush. A man of extraordinary vision and brilliance approaching to genius, he can't get anyone to notice. He is like a great painter or musician who is ahead of his time, and who unveils one masterpiece after another to a reception that, when not bored, is hostile."

I concur

Ted Kennedy - RIP

More Favre

Favre

So it is done. The local media followed his SUV from the airport to Vikings HQ via helicopter like he was O.J. Simpson on the run. This is going to be a crazy year. And Zigi Wilf got his immediate payoff; 2000 season tickets sold in 3 hours last night.

Personally, I'm not convinced that he has much left in the tank. However, a used BMW is still probably better than a new Fiat, so why not.

Cartoon of the day

Sadness

Today, the wife of a colleague and friend of mine lost her long battle with cancer. She was younger than me, and it is the second death in a couple of weeks of someone close to my age who had been a dinner guest at our house.

I don't need any more reminders that life is short. Please stop.

This is satire, right?

Let's just all go hide under our beds. Oh, we should probably also blow up the Statue of Liberty before the bad guys do.

Link.

MASSENA, N.Y. — It has been nearly eight years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but the fears and anxieties they gave rise to continue to take a toll on the design of public buildings. Even the words “United States,” it seems — when spelled out in the wrong size and color — can be an unacceptable security risk.

Four years ago, when the federal General Services Administration unveiled its plans for a new border-crossing station here in northeastern New York State, the design was presented as part of the agency’s campaign to raise the dismal standards of government architecture. Even many in the famously fractious architectural community celebrated the complex — particularly its main building, emblazoned with glossy yellow, 21-foot-high letters spelling “United States” — as a rare project the government could point to with pride. The Customs
and Border Protection agency of the Department of Homeland Security seemed to like it too. After years of working closely with the architects, the New York firm of Smith-Miller & Hawkinson, the agency signed off on the final version of the project in 2007.

Yet three weeks ago, less than a month after the station opened, workers began rying the big yellow letters off the building’s facade on orders from Customs and order Protection. The plan is to dismantle the rest of the sign this week. “At the end of the day, I think they were somewhat surprised at how bold and how bright it was,” said Les Shepherd, the chief architect of the General Services Administration, referring to the customs agency’s sudden turnaround. “There were security concerns,” said Kelly Ivahnenko, a spokeswoman for the customs agency. “The sign could be a huge target and attract undue attention. Anything that would place our officers at risk we need to avoid.”

Life is short

I have had too many reminders of this fact of life recently. But here is another.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Six weeks after Phil Mickelson announced his wife had breast cancer, his mother was diagnosed with the disease and is to have surgery later this week.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on its Web site that Mary Mickelson discovered she had breast cancer last week. She is to have surgery Friday at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the same hospital where Mickelson's wife, Amy, had surgery last Wednesday.

Sarah Palin

As I stated at the time, one reason that I decided to support Obama in the last election was because the idea of Sarah Palin becoming president scared me. It still does. With respect to the current circus, Eugene Robinson, a man with whom I agree with infrequently, states it well:

You can say that all of us who ever took Sarah Palin seriously -- or pretended to take her seriously -- should be deeply ashamed. And you can say that John McCain should publicly apologize for putting the nation he loves at risk by choosing Palin as his running mate. Imagining Palin within a heartbeat of the presidency should be enough to make even die-hard Republicans shudder. . .

The thing is, Palin's unsuitability for high public office has been obvious all along. Tina Fey got it right; the rest of us were far too reluctant to state plainly that the emperor, or empress, has no clothes.

There are basically two reasons the political class and the commentariat continue to speak and write about Palin as if she were a substantial figure whose presence on the national stage is anything but a cruel, unfunny joke. The first is fear -- not of Palin and her know-nothing legions, but of being painted as elitist and sexist. . .

The other reason Palin is taken more seriously than she deserves is that she has a constituency. Heaven help us.

Michael Jackson - RIP

The second cultural icon to go on the same day.

I was never more than a lukewarm fan of his music, but his historical status is undeniable. He was the Elvis of my generation.

Farah Fawcett - RIP

She lost her long battle with cancer today. I had this poster in my bedroom when I was in junior high school.

TV movie

This story is going to be made into a TV movie, for sure.

Obama is brought down to earth

Obama Drastically Scales Back Goals For America After Visiting Denny's

Nixon's ongoing disgrace

His contemporaneously recorded reaction to Roe v. Wade in 1973.

“There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,” he told an aide, before adding, “Or a rape.”

YouTube video of the day

Iran

In my judgment, Krauthammer offers nuggets of wisdom from time to time. But not everytime.

This time, I think that his advice is not wise.

And I think that he is willfully ignoring Obama's obvious strategy, which is to tread very carefully so as not to taint the demonstrators as American stooges. Obama is prudently content at this point to let Britian do the heavy rhetorical lifting.

So far, I approve of Obama's moves, but this is a fluid situation. 48 hours from now I could be agreeing with his harshest critics if he doesn't adapt adeptly.

This is a big moment. A really big moment.

Book review

I have not done book reviews before. This will be my first, and it will be terse.

My Mother gave me a copy of Nelson DeMille's "Wildfire". The plot is right up my alley, and my wife (and Google) attested to the quality of this author's other works, none of which I had read. Sounded perfect.

I enjoyed the book to a degree, as I covered the 500 pages in a few days. But, overall, I found it stupid for several reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

• The premise is that the US Government has a secret contingency plan which provides that if a nuclear weapon is detonated in the United States and there is no substantial negative evidence within 30 minutes of detonation that it was not the work of Islamic radicals, the US would automatically and without discussion launch 122 ICBMs at Islamic countries from Morocco to Pakistan and wipe them all out. No presidential authorization would be needed to launch these 122 missiles that would kill at least a billion people, and would contaminate the entire planet indefinitely. Under this plot, the President had to take affirmative steps to stop the launch of 122 nuclear missiles, not specifically authorize such launches. Hence, part of the plot is to have the President distracted and out of communication during those 30 minutes.
• The hero, along with his wife, identifies the body of their friend and colleague in a morgue, the victim of a gruesome murder. After they leave the morgue and go back to their B and B and while they are unraveling a conspiracy of apocalyptic proportions with only hours available, they are uncontrollably horny and decide to use one of those hours to have sex.

I will stop there. The book was not an uninteresting read, with all of its flaws. But it made the early James Bond movies seem remarkably plausible in comparison, including the "Mr. Bond, here is my plan, you cannot stop me, and have a seat over there and enjoy some Scotch while you watch me destroy the world" final chapter.

If plots like this still make the NY Times bestseller list, I need to seriously consider a different line of work.

You want to do what?

It isn't that I don' t understand the issue but, still, this story has a strong "say what?!" factor for me, so I can only imagine the gut reaction of someone who is a more casual observer of the news of the day.

After so much bad news, it scarcely seems possible. But having regained a financial footing as well as a bit of their old swagger, major banks are racing to pay back billions of taxpayer dollars. Many insist they will do so by year-end. . .

But now that big banks seem to have stabilized, regulators are trying to determine how and when these institutions should be allowed to return their bailout money . . .

Weather oddity

The fact that I was even tempted to do a blog post about the weather (much less that I yielded to the temptation) may be a sign that I should shut this thing down. Anyway.

The Twin Cities blasted into a heat record Tuesday with a high temperature of 97 degrees, breaking the previous record for the date by eight degrees.

Meanwhile, as Granite Falls hit 100 degrees at 5 p.m., Grand Marais was recording 34 degrees, giving Minnesota both some of the nation’s warmest and coolest temperatures simultaneously.

Strange, indeed.

Did he really say this?

This guy just signed a contract for over $50 million for the next 6 years.

When the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers make their trip to the White House Thursday, one of the players largely responsible for their victory over the Arizona Cardinals says he won't be attending.

Linebacker James Harrison said he'll pass on the invite from President Barack Obama. . .

"This is how I feel -- if you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don't win the Super Bowl. As far as I'm concerned, he [Obama] would've invited Arizona if they had won," said Harrison.

Well, yes, when you have a ceremony to honor the champions of a sporting event (no matter how silly how that may be in the first place, particularly when it happens many months after the competition ended), it is better to invite the champions, not the runners-up. I hope to heck that this is a joke and this guy is not really this stupid.

What ails conservatives, as described by a conservative that I can respect

Posner.

My theme is the intellectual decline of conservatism, and it is notable that the policies of the new conservatism are powered largely by emotion and religion and have for the most part weak intellectual groundings. That the policies are weak in conception, have largely failed in execution, and are political flops is therefore unsurprising. The major blows to conservatism, culminating in the election and programs of Obama, have been fourfold: the failure of military force to achieve U.S. foreign policy objectives; the inanity of trying to substitute will for intellect, as in the denial of global warming, the use of religious criteria in the selection of public officials, the neglect of management and expertise in government; a continued preoccupation with abortion; and fiscal incontinence in the form of massive budget deficits, the Medicare drug plan, excessive foreign borrowing, and asset-price inflation.

By the fall of 2008, the face of the Republican Party had become Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Conservative intellectuals had no party.

Excuse me?

Current banner headline on CNN.com:

"LIVE BREAKING NEWS: News briefing on future of Miss California USA Carrie Prejean".

Seriously?

Kentucky Derby

For reasons that aren't entirely explainable because I'm not a horse racing fan generally, I have always loved the Kentucky Derby. This year was a classic, the second biggest upset in history. Because I can, I will preserve it forever on this blog.

John Edwards

There are degrees of asshole-ishness. By any measure, John Edwards clearly deserves an A+.

After the former presidential hopeful confessed his betrayal, Elizabeth Edwards writes in her new book, "I cried and screamed, I went to the bathroom and threw up." . . .

Edwards admitted the hanky-panky to her days after declaring his candidacy in 2006 . . .

Let me recount. First, cheat on your wife who is suffering from terminal cancer. Second, convince her to back your bid for president. Third, only after she commits and you publicly announce your candidacy, you reveal to her that you have been cheating, a fact that is sure to be exposed and will cause her incredible public humiliation, on top of the deep personal hurt.

Once again, a scene from one of my favorite movies seems appropriate, although I include it only for the last line.

The real world

Today, our son was told by one of his best friends that the "friend" didn't want to be friends anymore. The reason? Because our son is Hispanic and adopted. The friend later called to apologize, apparently on his own initiative, and to request a play-date.

I'm not looking forward to the cruelty of junior high school.

All good things must come to an end

An amazing streak ends.

Not unlike shooting 59 for even the most talented golfer, a no-hitter requires a rare combination of skill and luck for even the most talented baseball pitcher. But, as far as I know, no one has ever broken 60 on a regulation golf course four times in a row.

Twitter

I don't get the Twitter rage, and I'm not going to try to get it. I'm just going to ignore it the same way that I have ignored other crazes among some folks, like NASCAR and The Food Network. If Twitter makes the people who use it a bit happier, good for them.

But some people just can't ignore something that they don't understand why anyone would be interested in, so instead they lecture in a holier-than-thou-way about what other people should be doing with their time.

I really enjoy unintentional self-parody.

Send in your money

The Onion hits another home run.
Treasury Department Issues Emergency Recall Of All US Dollars

I've got to get me one of those!

Story.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - The Finch Arboretum is being overrun by ground squirrels, and Spokane Parks and Recreation is bringing in some special artillery.

The agency is using a special machine called the Rodenator Pro to detonate some of the estimated 100 to 150 squirrels tearing up the grounds.

Shades of Carl Spackler, the gopher-hating groundskeeper from "Caddyshack."

The Rodenator Pro pumps propane and oxygen into the tunnels of squirrels, then sends an electric spark that causes an explosion. The shock waves kill the squirrels and collapse their tunnels - but in a humane way, the agency said.

Chipmunks, not squirrels, are my problem.

Happy Easter

Hat tip: Steph.

Vet's dog murdered

Link.

All it took was the gunshot fired outside his Walker County home to trigger training ingrained in former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor of a dramatic battle in Afghanistan in 2005.

He did a sweep through the house. Checked on his mother. And bolted out the door, where he found dead his beloved Labrador retriever, Dasy, a dog given to him to help him recover from his own wounds and the loss of his fellow Navy comrades.

Read the rest.

Go away

Shorter Spitzer: "I have a moral obligation to foist my redundant opinion on the world. Hey, pay attention to me!"

Spitzer told CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" that he thinks he still has a duty to speak about issues like million-dollar bonuses to American International Group executives

First day of spring

Laughing instead of crying

"Lex Luthor Bailout" with Jon Hamm from Jon Hamm

Simple explanation

This was sent to me by e-mail, so no link.

The financial crisis explained in simple terms

Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Berlin . In order to increase sales, she decides to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).

Word gets around and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi's bar.

Taking advantage of her customers' freedom from immediate payment constraints, Heidi increases her prices for wine and beer, the most-consumed beverages. Her sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic customer service consultant at the local bank recognizes these customer debts as valuable future assets and increases Heidi's borrowing limit. He sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts of the alcoholics as collateral.

At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert bankers transform these customer assets into DRINKBONDS, ALKBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These securities are then traded on markets worldwide. No one really understands what these abbreviations mean and how the securities are guaranteed. Nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb, the securities become top-selling items.

One day, although the prices are still climbing, a risk manager (subsequently of course fired due his negativity) of the bank decides that slowly the time has come to demand payment of the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi's bar.

However they cannot pay back the debts.

Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations and claims bankruptcy.

DRINKBOND and ALKBOND drop in price by 95 %. PUKEBOND performs better, stabilizing in price after dropping by 80 %.

The suppliers of Heidi's bar, having granted her generous payment due dates and having invested in the securities are faced with a new situation. Her wine supplier claims bankruptcy, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor.

The bank is saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock consultations by leaders from the governing political parties. The funds required for this purpose are obtained by a tax levied on the non-drinkers.

Business sense

Very insightful, even though Calvin and Hobbes stopped running in 1995. (Link to larger image.)

Via Instapundit.

Panama canal

Most of us will never get the chance to go through the Panama canal. This is the next best thing. It is quite cool.

Impeach the SOB already!

Via John Cole.

This stimulus bill is huge, so disastrous, and so harmful to our country that even though Obama has been in office for less than a month, I think it’s already fair to label him as one of the worst Presidents in American history. – John Hawkins, Right Wing News

PETA's latest protest

The Westminster Dog Show.

So why's PETA doing this? Neo-Nazi dogs, of course.

Their goal, according to a post on the PETA website, was to draw a parallel between the KKK and the American Kennel Club. "Obviously it's an uncomfortable comparison," PETA spokesman Michael McGraw told the Associated Press.

But the AKC is trying to create a "master race" when it comes to pure-bred dogs, he added. "It's a very apt comparison."

The group passed out brochures implying the Klan and AKC have the goal of "pure bloodlines" in common.

Click the link above to read an effective and humorous mocking.

Historic day

Wow

Good story

I see a movie.

Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Florida State University safety Myron Rolle is bypassing an immediate chance at a multimillion-dollar contract in the National Football League to study at Oxford University.

Rolle, a three-year starter for the Seminoles, is accepting a Rhodes scholarship to study at the school in England . . .

He graduated in 2 1/2 years with a degree in exercise science and is pursuing a master’s in public administration, Florida State said when it announced in November that he was among the 32 scholarship winners. He will work on a master’s degree in medical anthropology there. . .

The New York Times said Rolle has been told he was projected to be one of the top 49 picks in the NFL draft, with the potential to go higher with a strong performance at the league’s scouting combine.

The top-picked safety in 2008, Kenny Phillips of the New York Giants, made $3.8 million this season, including bonuses. He was selected 31st overall.

One reason to love the NFL

Link.

Before the season, the two teams that opened with the longest odds to win the Super Bowl were the Dolphins (250-1) and the Falcons (200-1). Now they're both in the playoffs.

The two preseason favorites -- the New England Patriots (2-1) and Dallas Cowboys (7-1) -- failed to reach the playoffs.

Veterans Day - 2008

More AD

The man's nickname is AD, for "All-Day." He lived up to his nickname on Sunday against the Packers, as he tookover the game on the last drive.

If he can stay healthy, he may very well go down as the greatest running back ever. Better than Brown, Payton, Sanders, Dickerson, Smith, Tomlinson. He has a long way to go, but I would not bet against this guy, someday, becoming the most legendary of the legends.

Video from his 192 effort in the Packers game, in which he took the lead in NFL rushing yardage, here.

Foreign op-ed reaction

From the Times of London.

On Tuesday night, with a countdown to precisely 10pm Chicago time, American democracy transformed in an instant not only the hopes and expectations of African Americans, but also the self-image of their country and their country’s image in the world. . .

One in 50 people on the planet voted in this election, but it was truly a global political event. This is not just because of the openness of the American electoral system and of its voters’ yearnings. It is not just because of the theatricality of the marathon campaigns, or because, despite its soaring deficits and disastrous loss of prestige in the Iraq war, the US remains the most powerful nation on earth.

The world has been fascinated and profoundly moved by this election most of all because of what America is — a nation founded on universal aspirations, and thus a mirror to humanity.

President-elect

The new chapter of American history begins.

Obama for President

In 2004, I unenthusiastically opted to vote for Bush for the reasons given here. This year is so different in so many ways starting with the fact that, while I disliked both of the choices in 2004, I like both of the choices this year. But in the end, I have decided that Obama is going to get my vote. Here is why.

1. In my opinion, McCain exercised horrible judgment in picking Palin. It was a stunt designed to energize the “base.” McCain’s health is an obvious concern, and for me he needed to pick a seasoned person who I could see being president. He failed.

2. The entire McCain campaign has been marked by stunts. I found the proposed gas tax holiday to be particularly obnoxious and pandering. Obama earned points with me for refusing, in the face of being double-teamed by Hillary and McCain, to agree to that bad policy proposal for political reasons. More generally, I think that Obama has acted amazingly presidential throughout this whole process, something that I can not say about McCain. The relative presidential auras of each also came through to me during the debates, and I don’t think it was even close.

3. Obama made an excellent choice in Biden. The man runs on at the mouth sometimes, but I would be comfortable with him as president and he brings actual governing qualities to the table.

4. I believe that Obama’s election would have a profound positive impact in this country and around the world. It would remind the world that this is the greatest country on earth. It would generate more goodwill than $1,000,000,000,000 in foreign aid could generate. And it would remind every kid in this growingly diverse country that you can be the best that you can be. Of course, all of this is because he is black. Although his skin color certainly is not the reason to vote for him, the fringe benefits that would accompany his election would be vast and immeasurable.

5. In the end, I look for something deeper in my presidential candidates than policy proposals and ideology. Above all else, I value common sense. So I ask myself “if I was not able to make a major decision for myself that has nothing to do with politics or ideology, which of the candidates would I most trust to make that decision for me and do what I would do?” It is an instinctive, intuitive feeling. In the 1990s, my instincts led me to vote for Clinton. In the 2000s, my instincts led me to despair, but ultimately to Bush. In 2008, my instincts point to Obama.

So this year, unlike in 2004, I will cast my vote with enthusiasm and with the hope that 2009 will represent the year we started a new and exciting chapter in American history.

(For substantially similar cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

UPDATE: It turns out the my favorite former Minnesota governor has endorsed Obama.

Gripe/consumer warning

One of the nice things about having a blog is that I can complain and no one actually has to listen.

Last week, we decided to buy a used pool table. I contacted a mover, Game Room Gallery, in Burnsville, MN, based on a Craigslist ad, and the ad and over the phone price of $200 for the move was quoted. Today, the table was moved, after which the cheats at Game Room Gallery demanded $275, and said "$200 was the September price." Needless to say (if you know me), they got an earful, and left with $200.

In sum, (1) they didn't get any extra money, (2) they lost my return business forever, and (3) they are getting free publicity here for being the stupidest businesspeople alive. Nice business plan. Assholes.

Fat lady

This thing is over. Good. We are going to turn a new page in the history of this country. The time is right.

The latest on Hillary

I know that there is a presidential campaign in progress and the markets are on the brink of collapse, but shouldn't this story be getting more attention? Link.

Changing world

David Brooks.

After a liberal era and then a conservative era, we’re getting a glimpse of what comes next.

SNL - Gold

Tina Fey is brilliant as Sarah Palin. She has the voice and mannerisms down perfectly.

Daunte Culpepper

I have lost all respect for him. Here is his retirement letter.

He made more than $5,000,000 dollars a year in his last contract (yes, he could get hurt but, playing a game, he made more in a year than I will in a career as a lawyer) and he acts like a victim who was paid minimum wage to clean toilets, and he leaves pouting. Astounding.

Blaming

This is just pathetic.

The US women's gymnastics team blamed stadium officials Wednesday for distracting one of their athletes who went on to make crucial mistakes that destroyed their gold medal hopes.

China won its showdown with the United States after Alicia Sacramone fell off the balance beam then slipped over during the floor exercise, opening the way for the home team to post a narrow 2.375 point victory.

US team coordinator Martha Karolyi said officials at Beijing's National Indoor Stadium had disrupted Sacramone's preparations for the beam.

"First they called her name up, then they did not even put her name up even though the Chinese had finished ... (it was) totally unusual holding," she said.

"She was mentally prepared and then she had a mental break, then after not doing the job, the beam, on the floor exercise her concentration was bothered."

Karolyi insisted the world champion US team would have won gold if Sacramone had not become unsettled.

As an American, I'm embarrassed.

Grumble

We decided to get a new Kinetico water softener. When I got the contract (1) it stated that under no circumstances could the terms be modified, (2) I had to pay 100% in advance, (3) omitted any representation that the installation would be successful, and (4) contained untrue statements (e.g., that we had already been given the owners' manual). When I attempted to discuss these issues, I was advised that was a "big red flag" (their exact words) that I could be a problem customer and they didn't want my business. Surreal.

Stop it

These types of headlines make me want to hit my head with a hammer.

Does No One Care About Matt Jones' Cocaine Arrest Because He's White?

Are you kidding? First of all, most of us who are even sports fans have never heard of Matt Jones. Second, try this one: "Did Everyone Care About Gary Condit Because He is White?"

Racism is real. Feigned indignation about imagined racism makes a mockery of the issue.

Edwards

I have never understood the appeal of John Edwards. To me, he has always come across as a complete narcist phony. It never computed for me that he could gain political traction in a presidential race, but a guy like Chris Dodd could not. Michael Kinsley, in an email to Micky Kaus, opines that the MSM should issue a formal "correction" to its past Edwards' reporting.

AS for your laundry list of reasons to cover it, I think there's one more much simpler: the MSM told a story about Edwards—they told it often and loud—it was probably one of the best-known and totally accepted stories of the 2008 campaign: John loyally standing by his loyal wife as she deals with cancer. If the story isn't true, they should run a correction. My god, look at the things they run corrections over—the spelling of people's names, and so on. Yet they're leaving this huge story uncorrected, and leaving their readers misinformed. No?

I never bought the story, but the liberal Kinsley still makes an interesting point.

Oh, and if I were an Edwards' campaign contributor, I would sue him for fraud.

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

08/08/08

Reasons to enjoy this date:
1. It is my daughter's birthday; she is now 7 (going on 15).
2. The Olympics start.
3. The weather here is perfect.

Unlikely cause

Link.

Bill Clinton made a plea yesterday for a new emphasis on monogamy . . .

Reunion with lion in the wild

This is the latest YouTube hit. For animal lovers, it is quite touching. Obviously, David Gregory is not an animal lover, although his final comment was funny.

JibJab

The new JibJab video is out. I don't think it is nearly as good as this one from 2004, but it is still entertaining.

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Not helping

The number of people who have seen this "tasteless and offensive" cartoon is now exponentially greater than it would have been if this whole dust-up had not been blown completely out of proportion. And since the theory is that pictures speak louder than words, endless complaints that draw more attention to the cartoon are counterproductive, at least if you are an Obama supporter. Just let it go. It is satire, for Pete's sake.

Hire me

Which police officer is going to cost his city the most money in the litigation that is coming? This one, who arrested a grandmother for prostitution while she was walking to the emergency room, because she allegedly was carrying a condom (which she denies)? Or this one, who arrested a guy for taking the officer's picture in public?

Beer = life

George Will.

Suffice it to say that the good news is really good: Beer is a health food. And you do not need to buy it from those wan, unhealthy-looking people who, peering disapprovingly at you through rimless Trotsky-style spectacles, seem to run all the health food stores. So let there be no more loose talk -- especially not now, with summer arriving -- about beer not being essential. Benjamin Franklin was, as usual, on to something when he said, "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

Hooplehead of the day

Jesse Ventura.

All you Minnesotans take a good hard look at all three of us [Sen. Coleman, Franken and Ventura]. And you decide: if you were in a dark alley which one of the three of us would you want with you?

Clearly, given the rough and tumble nature of the Senate, the ultimate question will be who can physically beat up other Senators.

Bunny vs. Snake

You will be surprised how this little spat goes.

Our political discourse

The state of political discourse in this country is embarrassing. I guess that it is an inevitable consequence of the fact that presidential campaigns last 2 years, and blogs and cable news require an outrage-of-the-day to generate readers and viewers.

The most recent dust-up involves Wes Clark's comments over the weekend on Face the Nation (offending comments in bold).

CLARK: He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded — that wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, "I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not, do you want to take the risk, what about your reputation, how do we handle this publicly? He hasn't made those calls, Bob.

SCHIEFFER: Can I just interrupt you? I have to say, Barack Obama hasn't had any of these experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down.

CLARK: I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.

Although Clark's comment was undisciplined and he should have known better, the context demonstrates that he was making a valid argument (i.e., that McCain's misfortune does not somehow mean that he is more qualified to lead the nation than Obama). You may agree or disagree with that argument, but the argument itself is not offensive.

Let's move on.

A survival guide for the political season

Today Now!: How To Pretend You Give A Shit About The Election

Takes one to know one

Super-blogger Markos calls Joe Lieberman an "asshole" and then brags about it. I'm trying to think of a word to describe Markos. Hmmm.

Why people hate airlines

Today I am flying from Minneapolis to Grand Rapids, Michigan. My client is paying an astounding $1,300 for my round-trip ticket. So today I go to check-in online and find that I have been assigned a middle seat, even though plenty of aisle and window seats remained available. Of course, I changed my seat assignment, but why should I have to jump through that hoop? These people are just stupid. No wonder every airline seems to make a trip to bankruptcy court every 10 years.

Handedness

This interesting article identifies yet another obstacle between me and the Oval Office.

Spam

My spam filter keeps spam-detected emails for 30 days. I currently have 2284 emails in my spam filter. That is an average of approximately 76 spam emails a day. Think about that. I am not sure if I am more astounded in the volume of crap that is sent to me, or more thankful that I don't see 98% of it. Unfortunately, 2% still find a way to get through.

Major Number 14

Link.

SAN DIEGO — He has won four Masters titles, the first one by 12 strokes. He has won three United States Opens, the first by 15 strokes. He has won three British Opens, the first by eight strokes. He has won four P.G.A. Championships, one of them by five strokes.

Yet on Monday, in a playoff for the 108th United States Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course, Tiger Woods matched Rocco Mediate with a par-71 before parring the first sudden-death playoff hole to win a 19-hole struggle. Woods called it “probably the greatest tournament I’ve ever had.”

During my lifetime I have seen many remarkable athletes do remarkable things. Ali, Gretzky, Jordan, Brady, Bonds*. But Tiger is the most remarkable of all.