I am not going outdoors until it warms up. Which will probably be tomorrow, when it should at least get out of the 30s, which is good enough. So it's likely to be a short boycott, but still. It's the thought that counts.
3.28.2015
Plus, it's snowing
Eastern U.S. much colder than normal this weekend. #Freeze Warnings in the Southeast. http://t.co/Encl3tHoEg pic.twitter.com/Ejiy8TWEnQ
— NWS (@NWS) March 28, 2015
This is wearing a little thin.Wait! Maybe a kiss is NOT just a kiss
Are your kids getting high with Burt’s Bees lip balm? | Vital Signs
"A Nashville television station recently reported that teens are rubbing Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm on their eyelids. The lip balm contains peppermint oil, which reportedly causes tingling and burning that ‘creates a sensation of being drunk or high,’ the report stated. This new ‘trend,’ for those in the know, is called beezin’ (minus the obviously lame g)."
3.27.2015
The war that's over isn't
"American taxpayers will spend $4 billion on Afghanistan’s soldiers in 2015. It’s likely that Kabul will need that level of funding for years to come. Corrupt and incompetent, the Afghan government can’t afford to pay its security forces."
Make 'em sweat
Exclusive: Upset by Warren, U.S. banks debate halting some campaign donations | Reuters
"Representatives from Citigroup, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, have met to discuss ways to urge Democrats, including Warren and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, to soften their party's tone toward Wall Street, sources familiar with the discussions said this week."
I saw a woman…
…standing on the sidewalk in front of her house energetically poking the snow with a long stick. Maybe that will make it go away.
New Yorker covers are reliably brilliant…
New Yorker cover mocks Hillary Clinton's email controversy with emojis - Yahoo Singapore Finance
"'Seriously, how does anyone understand anything that's written with only letters?' Blitt asked. 'I feel sorry for the alphabet. I'm waiting for the first original novel to be composed solely with emoticons. Oh, and Hillary Clinton.'"
…and this week’s totally cracks me up.
If there ever was a reason to go back to bed, this is unquestionably it
Charles Krauthammer: Early odds in GOP sweepstakes - NY Daily News
"With Ted Cruz announcing and Rand Paul and Marco Rubio soon to follow, it’s time to start handicapping the horses and making enemies."
3.26.2015
Picturing the city
Weegee’s New York - Associated Press Interactive
"A new book of photos by the legendary New York photographer shows the industrialized, pre-gentrified city of the mid-20th century."
Smile when you say "underappreciated," pardner
This Chef Is Rethinking One of America's Most Underappreciated Foods
"Ravi Kapur loves Spam. Obviously. Who doesn't? But the Hawaiian-born chef of the Liholiho Yacht Club in San Francisco has brought his admiration for the iconic, imperishable canned delicacy to a higher plane. "
Hoosier
Indiana Gov. Pence Signs Anti-Gay Religious Freedom Bill Into Law
"Pence said signing the bill into law makes sure that 'religious liberty' is completely protected in the state."
And I don't even want to know what he thinks about formal policy
Ted Cruz's Foreign Policy Advisor Calls For War With Iran | ThinkProgress
"John Bolton, the former U.N. ambassador and informal foreign policy advisor to presidential candidate Ted Cruz, is advocating for the bombing of Iran."
Where would Congress be without hot air?
"The two senators, both likely contenders for the 2016 presidential race were voting against an amendment offered up by Vermont independent Bernie Sanders. Democrats have repeatedly offered up such amendments—which in the current Senate have no chance of passing—in order to highlight Republicans' positions on climate change, betting it will repel swing voters."
Like us or else
Negative Yelp, Angie’s List reviews prompt dog obedience business to sue - The Washington Post
"Lawsuits over negative reviews have risen in recent years with the popularity of sites such as Yelp, Angie’s List and TripAdvisor that allow users to rate and provide feedback on businesses."
(I don’t know what the First Amendment has to say about Yelp, which is one of the many good reason’s I’m not a judge.)
"Lucrative" is the key word here
Welcome to the world of the $6 bus ride to work, $7 juice not included - The Washington Post
"If you were to look around any city and try to identify a problem in need of lucrative new solutions that emerging technology might provide, the dreaded commute is an obvious one."
Hey, maybe it's space gas
Purported sighting of UFO near Nevada's Area 51 | Sun-Times National
"There are a few inconsistencies in the video as well. For one, the purported UFO isn’t concealed by any tarps or covering. Second, take a look at the gas prices. One appears to show $4.15 per gallon and another $4.25."
So much for what the little Tucker knows
City Hall aide rips ‘Daily Caller’ boss for insulting email - NY Daily News
"He also said that ‘outside of New York City adults generally write polite, cheerful emails to one another, even when asking for corrections.’"
3.25.2015
You mean, there's some means left?
Clinton Email Probe Means Political Tightrope for House GOP - NationalJournal.com
"The panel wants to avoid the appearance that it is attacking Clinton by any means possible."
"Don't go to college," some guy says
This 21-Year-Old Is Trying to Become a Major Player in Conservative Politics - NationalJournal.com
"Since launching Turning Point, Kirk has written op-eds for The Washington Times and Breitbart, appeared frequently on Fox News and CNBC, built a network of thousands of student activists around the country, and been entrusted with, he says, at least $1 million by donors enthralled by his conservative promise. His backers swear he's the future of conservative politics—and he's only just old enough to drink."
If you learn too much you might get, you know, confused.
The answer is, get back off fast
This scale I have, the kind where you stand on it and it tells you how much you weigh, the longer I stand on it the higher it goes. WTF? I’m not gaining weight just standing there, am I? I don’t think so. It’s broken or something. I don’t know.
Get on it and then get right back off. Fast.
How did we get away with growing up (not to mention being parents)?
“Help! My boys were stopped three times by police for being outside unsupervised” - Salon.com
"Several months ago, youngest son (age 6) was accosted by an officer for riding his bicycle on the sidewalk in front of our house (our block is three houses wide — he was riding from one end of the block to the other). The officer told my husband, who was home at the time, that our son wasn’t allowed to play on the sidewalk ‘without supervision.’ He had apparently received a call from a ‘concerned citizen’ who had seen him riding."
It's gonna be a long, long year
Ted Cruz: I stopped liking rock music after 9/11 - Salon.com
"Cruz didn’t specify what he didn’t like about how rock responded to the attacks, which the founder of the university where he launched his campaign blamed on ’the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way — all of them who have tried to secularize America.’"
Who, us?
Boehner ‘baffled’ by reports that Israel spied on Iran nuke talks | New York Post
"‘There’s no such thing that Israel spies on the Americans,’ Yaalon said."
It seems we woke up in some strange alternate universe this morning.
Good headline, though
Cuomo is quacking up | New York Post
"A poll had found that New Yorkers don’t like his proposals, with two-thirds opposing key elements and giving him his lowest approval rating yet."
3.24.2015
Agricultural anarchy
There's a squirrel on top of neighbors' chicken coop and the chickens, well, there're up near the house pecking at a place where the snow has melted enough to reveal what looks suspiciously like planet earth. The snow is high enough around the chickens' fence that they can just walk over, I guess. There are only two chickens left– one of them got knocked off by the winter.
I don't know what the squirrel's story is.
I don't know what the squirrel's story is.
3.23.2015
Sand gets in our teeth
Sand is everywhere. It's blowing around in the streets and the sidewalks. It's on the driveways, on the steps, the kitchen floor. It's public sand.
The Department of Public Works spreads it on the streets all winter and keeps a big pile handy for anybody who wants some for their sidewalks or driveways or just to carry around in their cars or trucks. All you need is a bucket to haul some home for yourself.
Pretty soon, now that winter's over, they'll come around with a big machine to sweep it up again.
Where other people have "infrastructure," we have public works. Public works is something people do together—build it, take care of it, share it, and keep it. Infrastructure is something you lease to Taiwan.
Public works is better. Not just the sand, but all of it belongs to us.
But how would we ever really know?
Hillary Clinton's emails: her reaction to Benghazi attacks - CBS News
"Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails show her concern about the fallout from the 2012 U.S. consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya, but the emails Congress has do not suggest that she told American forces responding to the attack to stand down or that she participated in a cover-up about the Obama administration's response, the New York Times reports."
How can you possibly not love this stuff?
The label on the Kraft cheese slices package says CONTAINS: MILK.
W00t! Better thee than me
15 inches of snow in Midwest. Last blast of winter?
"PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (AP) — Spring came crashing down on winter weary residents in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa with more than a foot of new snow in some areas."
Second best idea all day
Bacon hotdogs. No kidding.
I woke up this morning dreaming of a cheeseburger. I don’t even remember the last time I had one. So when I went to the grocery store I had that on my mind, but it’s Monday morning and the meat guys alway start slow. They were still setting things out, and no ground beef to be seen.
So I wandered on down to the end of the bin, or cooler, or whatever you call that place where they put the meat, and that’s when I saw…bacon hotdogs.
Guess what’s for lunch.
And he* called April the cruelest month
Snow begins falling ahead of Monday morning commute | Chicago
"A winter weather advisory is in effect until noon for the entire Chicago area, according to the National Weather Service. The snow is expected to continue falling until about 11 a.m. leave between 2 and 5 inches on the ground."
That’s Chicago. Here it may not snow, but we’re not likely to break 30, thermometerwise. March is not far behind.
*Pop quiz: Who’s he?
The end of civilization
Cruz becomes first major candidate to jump into 2016 race
"'I am running for president and I hope to earn your support,' the tea party favorite said in a Twitter message posted just after midnight on Monday."
On the other hand, maybe next year the pols could have their debates on Twitter: That might actually be an improvement.
3.22.2015
Found under a pile of old junk in the back room…
Apple's Largely Forgotten QuickTake 150 Digital Camera
"The model I own is the QuickTake 150, which differs from the 100 (but not the 100 Plus) in the fact that it will work with Windows machines and has added support for TIFF, BMP, PCX, and JPEG, in addition to the proprietary QuickTake and PICT formats. It weighs exactly 1 pound, so it's no lightweight by today's standards. It can only shoot at 640 x 480, has a 1 MB EEPROM to store 16 640 x 480 images or 32 320 x 240 images, and looks like a pair of binoculars."
The QuickTake cameras date from the mid-1990s (they were discontinued in 1970.) Although I’d forgotten it was there, I do remember using it. It has a viewfinder about the size of a postage stamp and runs on AA batteries. No doubt the one I have still works, but using it would require scrounging up a long-discontinued serial cable and who knows how many adapters in order to connect it to a computer of some kind.
It's gonna be a long year for headline writers, too
Iowa's uneasy embrace of Hillary - Gabriel Debenedetti - POLITICO
"Few expect she’ll get much of a challenge, but almost no one is under the illusion she’ll be campaigning in Iowa as a happy warrior either.
"
Something about this sentence doesn't quite work out
Lawmakers, lobbyists to square off — in the rink - Daniel Lippman - POLITICO
"‘The rink doors open and in walks John Kerry with his hockey bag slung over his shoulder and his expensive suit and sticks in his hand…"
Or, in other words, men are dumber than
Will: Social inequality’s roots grow deeper in America | Boston Herald
"WASHINGTON — The rate of dog ownership is rising ominously. How can a profusion of puppies be worrisome? A report from the Raymond James financial services firm concerning trends in the housing market explains: Increasing numbers of women ‘are adopting dogs for security and/or companionship,’ partly because of ‘the great education divide.’"
All that snow: A flake too many
Mayor on parade flap: just ‘grow up’ | Boston Herald
[Meanwhile] "Mahoney said he wondered what the odds were of Boston Pride marchers ‘picking up 10 or 15 identical umbrellas unless (they were) trying to send a message’ and went on to ask what the response from the public would be if members of the veterans council decided to carry ‘traditional marriage’ umbrellas in the city’s annual gay pride parade."
I was just thinking about that myself
Smart power: US evacuating 100 commandos from Yemen air base after AQ captures nearby town « Hot Air
"Remember when the Obama administration cited Yemen as a success story for its counterterrorism strategy? Let’s say that the situation has evolved since Josh Earnest bragged about the outcome of Barack Obama’s Arab Spring strategy of bolstering the local government they wanted after chasing out the previous regime."
Nothing is forever, I guess. Or even very long.
Completely, 100% out of the loop
NEWSWEEK: EELS LEADER SAYS JINX SONG IS ABOUT HORNY WEREWOLF NOT MURDER: E talks about Fresh Blood and THE JINX: http://t.co/fVX6mXcl8q
— EELS (@THE_EELS) March 21, 2015
Really, I have no idea.
It's gonna be a long, long year
New Hillary Clinton ads are as dumb as they are offensive - NY Daily News
"If you wanted Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers to drop more than the slight amount they have since the great email debacle, the thing you’d do is launch the singularly most offensive campaign in the history of bad political campaigns – right?"
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