Friday, December 22, 2006
Merry Christmas!
Trans-Siberian Orchestra provides the soundtrack to this light show.
Happy Birthday, Dad!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
#7 Picks Off #2!
****
The Blue and the Gray Fantasy Football League playoffs saw only one upset in the opening round as the #7 Hoosiers, who backed into the playoffs on the heels of 5 straight losses after starting the season 6-3 - at one point we were 5-0! - beat #2 Fort Knocks, despite sup-par performances from SD QB Rivers and the the Bears' defense looking more like Detroit's against the mighty Buccaneers.
It's been a strange season. Byron Leftwich was my starting QB in week one with Rothlisburger on the roster as I waited for him to come off the injured list. I now start Chad Pennington or Phillip Rivers - neither models of consistency. Rivers' QB rating last week was atrocious.
Next up are the #3 Bummers, who thumped me good in week 9, our only meeting. The Bears play Detroit and the Jets, who have everything to play for, go against Miami, who is going nowhere.
Pennington, Berrien, Harrison and the Bears defense should have good games.
I like my chances in the semi-finals.
Go Hoosiers!
12/28/06 UPDATE: The Bears' defense was underwhelming, coming in at 9 points. Given a couple of no-shows from other players on my roster who I normally don't count on for more than a couple of points - late season replacements, but I have to start someone - and my Hoosiers find themselves in the consolation game after a four point loss. I'm rooting for the Bummers to win it all. Oh well. I was lucky to make the playoffs at all.
1/2/07 UPDATE: The Bummers won it all; my Hoosiers got drilled in their consolation matchup with Bullets, and the The Blue and Gray Fantasy Football League is done for the year.
The Blue and the Gray Fantasy Football League playoffs saw only one upset in the opening round as the #7 Hoosiers, who backed into the playoffs on the heels of 5 straight losses after starting the season 6-3 - at one point we were 5-0! - beat #2 Fort Knocks, despite sup-par performances from SD QB Rivers and the the Bears' defense looking more like Detroit's against the mighty Buccaneers.
It's been a strange season. Byron Leftwich was my starting QB in week one with Rothlisburger on the roster as I waited for him to come off the injured list. I now start Chad Pennington or Phillip Rivers - neither models of consistency. Rivers' QB rating last week was atrocious.
Next up are the #3 Bummers, who thumped me good in week 9, our only meeting. The Bears play Detroit and the Jets, who have everything to play for, go against Miami, who is going nowhere.
Pennington, Berrien, Harrison and the Bears defense should have good games.
I like my chances in the semi-finals.
Go Hoosiers!
12/28/06 UPDATE: The Bears' defense was underwhelming, coming in at 9 points. Given a couple of no-shows from other players on my roster who I normally don't count on for more than a couple of points - late season replacements, but I have to start someone - and my Hoosiers find themselves in the consolation game after a four point loss. I'm rooting for the Bummers to win it all. Oh well. I was lucky to make the playoffs at all.
1/2/07 UPDATE: The Bummers won it all; my Hoosiers got drilled in their consolation matchup with Bullets, and the The Blue and Gray Fantasy Football League is done for the year.
Friday, December 15, 2006
I'm off to get my armadillo helmet!
Much more entertaining than X Files!
At least a worldwide conspiracy that doesn't involve the Catholic Church - or Jews - is fresh.
The full length movie is also available on YouTube.
Much more stuff here.
Remember:
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.
Whoever THEY are.
Lucifer is a lollipop.
****
I could be described as Chestertonesque. That is to say, I'm Catholic and overweight; I don't pretend to be nearly as smart.
I could also be described as Buonoesque. That is to say, I can write a little and act a little and I'm overweight; I don't pretend to be nearly as witty.
Fat Man's Prayer
Lord, My soul is ripped with riot
incited by my wicked diet.
"We Are What We Eat," said a wise old man!
and, Lord, if that's true, I'm a garbage can.
I want to rise on Judgment Day, that's plain!
But at my present weight, I'll need a crane.
So grant me strength, that I may not fall
into the clutches of cholesterol.
May my flesh with carrot-curls be sated,
that my soul may be polyunsaturated
And show me the light, that I may bear witness
to the President's Council on Physical Fitness.
And at oleomargarine I'll never mutter,
for the road to Hell is spread with butter.
And cream is cursed; and cake is awful;
and Satan is hiding in every waffle.
Mephistopheles lurks in provolone;
the Devil is in each slice of baloney,
Beelzebub is a chocolate drop,
and Lucifer is a lollipop.
Give me this day my daily slice
but, cut it thin and toast it twice.
I beg upon my dimpled knees,
deliver me from jujubees.
And when my days of trial are done,
and my war with malted milk is won,
Let me stand with the Saints in Heaven
In a shining robe--size 37.
I can do it Lord, If You'll show to me,
the virtues of lettuce and celery.
If You'll teach me the evil of mayonnaise,
of pasta a la Milannaise
potatoes a la Lyonnaise
and crisp-fried chicken from the South.
Lord, if you love me, shut my mouth!
~ By Victor Buono ~
As I prepare to surround myself with all the temptations a fat man is subject to this holiday season, and knowing of no patron saint for fat middle-aged farts on diets - more or less - I'd like to appeal to Victor Buono, assuming he's in a position to help out, of course.
My aunt makes chocolate chip cookies like Lays Potato Chips. No-one can eat just one...
"Deck the halls with buckets of eggnog,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la!"
I could be described as Chestertonesque. That is to say, I'm Catholic and overweight; I don't pretend to be nearly as smart.
I could also be described as Buonoesque. That is to say, I can write a little and act a little and I'm overweight; I don't pretend to be nearly as witty.
Fat Man's Prayer
Lord, My soul is ripped with riot
incited by my wicked diet.
"We Are What We Eat," said a wise old man!
and, Lord, if that's true, I'm a garbage can.
I want to rise on Judgment Day, that's plain!
But at my present weight, I'll need a crane.
So grant me strength, that I may not fall
into the clutches of cholesterol.
May my flesh with carrot-curls be sated,
that my soul may be polyunsaturated
And show me the light, that I may bear witness
to the President's Council on Physical Fitness.
And at oleomargarine I'll never mutter,
for the road to Hell is spread with butter.
And cream is cursed; and cake is awful;
and Satan is hiding in every waffle.
Mephistopheles lurks in provolone;
the Devil is in each slice of baloney,
Beelzebub is a chocolate drop,
and Lucifer is a lollipop.
Give me this day my daily slice
but, cut it thin and toast it twice.
I beg upon my dimpled knees,
deliver me from jujubees.
And when my days of trial are done,
and my war with malted milk is won,
Let me stand with the Saints in Heaven
In a shining robe--size 37.
I can do it Lord, If You'll show to me,
the virtues of lettuce and celery.
If You'll teach me the evil of mayonnaise,
of pasta a la Milannaise
potatoes a la Lyonnaise
and crisp-fried chicken from the South.
Lord, if you love me, shut my mouth!
~ By Victor Buono ~
As I prepare to surround myself with all the temptations a fat man is subject to this holiday season, and knowing of no patron saint for fat middle-aged farts on diets - more or less - I'd like to appeal to Victor Buono, assuming he's in a position to help out, of course.
My aunt makes chocolate chip cookies like Lays Potato Chips. No-one can eat just one...
"Deck the halls with buckets of eggnog,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la!"
Dawkins Delusional?
****
Haven't read Dawkins "God Delusion" yet - so much to read and so little time - and frankly it's low on my reading list.
I'm not a "professional" layman. I have a daytime job and a wife and children and grandchildren who would feel ill-used if I didn't pay enough attention to them. I have other interests and I am also the chief mechanic and handyman around the house.
I get recommendations to read anti-Christian or anti-Catholic screeds all the time, which is tiresome enough, but I no longer question my faith vis atheism or agnosticism or Catholicism. Those issues, for me, were settled some time ago and I've no wish to go through that again.
It was painful enough the first time.
My time is better spent learning about my Lord than in learning why some don't know Him.
Please, do me a favor. Spare me. If that sounds like I'm not interested in your particular athiaganticath author du jour, well I'm not.
I am however interested in what you think.
I'd prefer my blog be a conversation spot. I can read essays by people more competent than I to write them, and it's not all that hard to link to them.
****
I don't claim to be the world's best example of a Christian. There are times I step back and wonder if my blog posts are always up to the One Whose standards I should be meeting.
Haven't read Dawkins "God Delusion" yet - so much to read and so little time - and frankly it's low on my reading list.
I'm not a "professional" layman. I have a daytime job and a wife and children and grandchildren who would feel ill-used if I didn't pay enough attention to them. I have other interests and I am also the chief mechanic and handyman around the house.
I get recommendations to read anti-Christian or anti-Catholic screeds all the time, which is tiresome enough, but I no longer question my faith vis atheism or agnosticism or Catholicism. Those issues, for me, were settled some time ago and I've no wish to go through that again.
It was painful enough the first time.
My time is better spent learning about my Lord than in learning why some don't know Him.
Please, do me a favor. Spare me. If that sounds like I'm not interested in your particular athiaganticath author du jour, well I'm not.
I am however interested in what you think.
I'd prefer my blog be a conversation spot. I can read essays by people more competent than I to write them, and it's not all that hard to link to them.
****
I don't claim to be the world's best example of a Christian. There are times I step back and wonder if my blog posts are always up to the One Whose standards I should be meeting.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Martians drive SUV's?
****
Current Science & Technology Center: Global Warming on Mars?
Wait a minute...
How indeed?
And while you're thinking, ponder this:
How warm did it have to be for Greenland to support agriculture?
Hint: a lot warmer than it is today!
Current Science & Technology Center: Global Warming on Mars?
A study of the ice caps on Mars may show that the red planet is experiencing a warming trend.
Wait a minute...
But how do we square the fact that almost every planet in our solar system is simultaneously undergoing temperature change and volatile weather patterns. Does this not suggest that global warming is a natural cycle as a result of the evolving nature of the sun? - Gortbusters
How indeed?
And while you're thinking, ponder this:
How warm did it have to be for Greenland to support agriculture?
Hint: a lot warmer than it is today!
Labels: global warming
Friday, December 08, 2006
Perspective
It's an argument I've made myself. The total American casualties in the War on Terror - an unfortunate tag for a struggle with far wider implications - so far don't approach the toll of a single battle in the American Civil War or Iwo Jima or any of a host of other military engagements. This is not to say that I minimize the life of even one American serviceman, but I believe that some perspective is needed, as does Victor Davis Hanson.
Could you imagine fighting the Civil War for three years at such an enormous cost in blood and then just disengaging and walking away, almost assuredly laying the groundwork for a far more brutal conflict in the future?
I don't disagree that some rethinking of American stategy was necessary, but we'd better be aware that the sharks are sensing blood.
Sometimes I find myself thinking that maybe the barbarians should win. After all, Alaric's posterity built a pretty decent civilization on the rubble of Rome. But while I have to say that the world would be improved by the enclosure of Pelosi or Rodham - that would be sweet - in a burkha, or that the prospect of watching the French pray in the direction of Mecca 5 times a day would be highly satisfying, I don't believe that a Muzz or atheistic world order could possibly be an improvement over the Christian West.
When we do leave Iraq,we should make our withdrawal through Damascus.*
*The first moron to suggest we stay and help the Muzz build a democracy should be immediately shot. Smash them and leave. And when the next head of the Hydra presents itself...well, there's no shortage of burning firebrands, is there?
...we need some perspective on this new assessment of “lost” {Iraq} What would these same critics {of the war} say to Abraham Lincoln in May-June 1864 (“Each hour is but sinking us deeper into bankruptcy and desolation.”) when Grant’s Army of the Potomac tottered at the brink (Spotsylvania [ca. 18,000 casualties]; Cold Harbor [ca. 13,000 casualties]; Petersburg [ca. 12,000 casualties), prompting calls for an armistice on the basis of a status ante bellum, and the real prospect not just of Lincoln not winning the election of 1864, but perhaps not even receiving the Republican nomination? Or what would the pundits of the Kennedy School of Government or the Council on Foreign Relations have said about retreat from the Yalu River in November 1950 (ca. 14,000 casualties)? Korea is lost? We destabilized the Korean peninsula? We only empowered the real enemy Russia in Europe?
Could you imagine fighting the Civil War for three years at such an enormous cost in blood and then just disengaging and walking away, almost assuredly laying the groundwork for a far more brutal conflict in the future?
If anyone wishes to understand the ripples of an immediate American withdrawal from Iraq, try reading Raul Castro’s public address in Havana, in which he announces the end of American global influence as evidenced by our inability to defeat the terrorists (e.g., “In the eyes of the world, the so-called “crusade on terrorism” is unavoidably heading down the path to a humiliating defeat.”). My favorite line is the enforcer of the Cuban Gulag sermonizing on Americans’ “secret prisons.”
I don't disagree that some rethinking of American stategy was necessary, but we'd better be aware that the sharks are sensing blood.
Sometimes I find myself thinking that maybe the barbarians should win. After all, Alaric's posterity built a pretty decent civilization on the rubble of Rome. But while I have to say that the world would be improved by the enclosure of Pelosi or Rodham - that would be sweet - in a burkha, or that the prospect of watching the French pray in the direction of Mecca 5 times a day would be highly satisfying, I don't believe that a Muzz or atheistic world order could possibly be an improvement over the Christian West.
When we do leave Iraq,we should make our withdrawal through Damascus.*
*The first moron to suggest we stay and help the Muzz build a democracy should be immediately shot. Smash them and leave. And when the next head of the Hydra presents itself...well, there's no shortage of burning firebrands, is there?
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Just to make sure I get this in before Saturday - Kentucky SUCKS!
What's the difference between a PUke and a pUKe? The color of the uniform. You can't even spell SUCKS without UK.
All expressions of partisan rancor aside, the game Saturday will be the true tale of the tape for the Hoosiers. As good as Duke is, they're dysfunctional offensively. Butler and Duke exposed the IU offense as inadequate, although defensively IU is starting to look pretty good. IU needs to play a complete game on both ends of the court to beat Contucky at Rupp Arena. I'm somewhat encouraged after the pasting IU gave Western Illinois (92-40) last night, but we'll see come Saturday in another rivalry game where we are as a team - and as a fan I may hate to lose to the PUkes, but I really hate to lose to the pUKes.
I know it's early in the season, but a loss to Kentucky and the Hoosiers likely go into the Big Ten at 10-3 with no "quality wins" for the selection committee to look at come selection Sunday. IU needs this win.
****
I've decided that I really hate the B-10 conference tourney. The regular season has become nearly meaningless. It's bad enough that in the minds of many the NCAA is the sole yardstick for success for a program. While we've won the crapshoot 5 times, the regular season needs to be more meaningful again.
Kill the B-10 tourney and return to round-robin play.
****
While I'm tilting at windmills - can we please return the open class tourney to Indiana high school basketball? I've gone from going to sectionals and regionals to watching one or two of the finals games on TV to merely reading about the games in the paper. I can't name the State champs in the four classes from last year and furthermore - I NO LONGER CARE.
Your product sucks.
****
Congrats to UCSB, winners of the College Cup. If IU had to be eliminated in the tourney, at least it was by the eventual champion.
All expressions of partisan rancor aside, the game Saturday will be the true tale of the tape for the Hoosiers. As good as Duke is, they're dysfunctional offensively. Butler and Duke exposed the IU offense as inadequate, although defensively IU is starting to look pretty good. IU needs to play a complete game on both ends of the court to beat Contucky at Rupp Arena. I'm somewhat encouraged after the pasting IU gave Western Illinois (92-40) last night, but we'll see come Saturday in another rivalry game where we are as a team - and as a fan I may hate to lose to the PUkes, but I really hate to lose to the pUKes.
I know it's early in the season, but a loss to Kentucky and the Hoosiers likely go into the Big Ten at 10-3 with no "quality wins" for the selection committee to look at come selection Sunday. IU needs this win.
****
I've decided that I really hate the B-10 conference tourney. The regular season has become nearly meaningless. It's bad enough that in the minds of many the NCAA is the sole yardstick for success for a program. While we've won the crapshoot 5 times, the regular season needs to be more meaningful again.
Kill the B-10 tourney and return to round-robin play.
****
While I'm tilting at windmills - can we please return the open class tourney to Indiana high school basketball? I've gone from going to sectionals and regionals to watching one or two of the finals games on TV to merely reading about the games in the paper. I can't name the State champs in the four classes from last year and furthermore - I NO LONGER CARE.
Your product sucks.
****
Congrats to UCSB, winners of the College Cup. If IU had to be eliminated in the tourney, at least it was by the eventual champion.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Quote of the Day
"The state -- or, to make matters more concrete, the government -- consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can't get, and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time it is made good by looting 'A' to satisfy 'B'. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advanced auction on stolen goods." - H.L. Mencken
Friday, December 01, 2006
Errata
Friday again...
hmmm.
Lots of rain the past couple of days. Middle Fork was out of its banks when I came to work this morning and South Fork was really high. The pond in the side yard, while not at record depth, is still plenty big.
All the dire predictions of snow failed to pan out however. Plenty of the stuff north of us though. It's been nearly 30 years since a snowfall more than just a petty annoyance around here, and while I remain a global warming sceptic - or a zetetic (word of the day. Thanks, Vox!) - it does seem that winters aren't as harsh as they used to be. Maybe I just have more years of experience. Come to hink of it, I remember a warm February day in 75 or 76 when I was hanging out in the neighborhood in shirtsleeves. Then came 77-78...
The twins were born between snowstorms in January of 82 and Christmas of 82 was cold as hell and windy.
Bah. The Ice Age cometh! Either that or Global Warming. Clowns to the left of me; jokers to the right...
***
Just bought tix to The Who in Indy March 6th; I'm looking forward to that. Now that I'm approaching 50 I'm starting to get around to some of the stuff I wanted to do when I was 25. There's a pretty good chance I'll remember the last couple of shows a lot better than I remember the first few. My clearest memory of Sabbath in 75 was the drive home. The timed stoplights on Illinois Street were utterly fascinating.
I'm told that Kiss, Uriah Heep, Golden Earring, the James Gang, etc. were good shows. I was there. You think I'd know? Errr...
***
The Hoosiers, coming off a loss to Duke at Cameron, have Charlotte tomorrow.
And damned if Butler didn't win the whole thing.
***
The tree is up. That gets tougher every year. If youngest daughter didn't badger me it wouldn't happen at all. I need to get a less complicated tree.
hmmm.
Lots of rain the past couple of days. Middle Fork was out of its banks when I came to work this morning and South Fork was really high. The pond in the side yard, while not at record depth, is still plenty big.
All the dire predictions of snow failed to pan out however. Plenty of the stuff north of us though. It's been nearly 30 years since a snowfall more than just a petty annoyance around here, and while I remain a global warming sceptic - or a zetetic (word of the day. Thanks, Vox!) - it does seem that winters aren't as harsh as they used to be. Maybe I just have more years of experience. Come to hink of it, I remember a warm February day in 75 or 76 when I was hanging out in the neighborhood in shirtsleeves. Then came 77-78...
The twins were born between snowstorms in January of 82 and Christmas of 82 was cold as hell and windy.
Bah. The Ice Age cometh! Either that or Global Warming. Clowns to the left of me; jokers to the right...
***
Just bought tix to The Who in Indy March 6th; I'm looking forward to that. Now that I'm approaching 50 I'm starting to get around to some of the stuff I wanted to do when I was 25. There's a pretty good chance I'll remember the last couple of shows a lot better than I remember the first few. My clearest memory of Sabbath in 75 was the drive home. The timed stoplights on Illinois Street were utterly fascinating.
I'm told that Kiss, Uriah Heep, Golden Earring, the James Gang, etc. were good shows. I was there. You think I'd know? Errr...
***
The Hoosiers, coming off a loss to Duke at Cameron, have Charlotte tomorrow.
And damned if Butler didn't win the whole thing.
***
The tree is up. That gets tougher every year. If youngest daughter didn't badger me it wouldn't happen at all. I need to get a less complicated tree.
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