Senior Moment # 1,572

It's 6:15 AM and I'm driving the 3-mile stretch of Darley Road to the train station when that annoying "ding ding ding" telling me I need gas goes off and I resign myself to the fact that I had better stop there on Philadelphia Pike and tank up.

Having only had about 3 cups of coffee by this time, I am in a semi-conscious another-world state. Like an automaton, I slide my debit card, struggle with the gas cap and start pumping gas into my little 2001 Malibu.

My brain is in a whole different realm, miles from where I really am, but I just happen to look up and realized that I was using the handle for the premium gas ! $3.50 a gallon ! Holy cow ! I always get the el-cheapo gas. I could have kicked myself. I should have kicked myself. I was sick to my stomach all day.

These senior moments are becoming more and more frequent. I'm really starting to get worried.

Sheesh !

End of the World to be Decided by Federal Judge in Hawaii

For all of you science geeks out there, a major hat tip is due to Waldo for finding this story.

It seems as though two scientists believe that some $8-billion contraption called the Large Hadron Collider, built by a bunch of physicists in order to study the nature of mass, could have the potential of causing another black hole, which would mean the end of the universe as we know it.

Waldo's discovery is posted as: "-and starring Ernst Borgnine as Smitty, the Skeptical Engineer".

A most fascinating read.

My Mood Today

Ever have one of those days when Life gives you a couple of swift kicks in the gut and you want to....well, you just want to....

My Dirty Little Secret

On more than one occasion, I’ve had people tell me that I should run for public office. I wrestled with the idea, but decided against it. At this point in my life (age 54), I don’t have the time to develop the community presence and network that would be necessary.

A guy at work even made up a “Shirley for President” poster using my employee ID picture. I think the slogan was, “Shirley Vandever for President: The Shit Stops Here”. I took it as a compliment.

Aside from that, we all have our dirty little secrets. Eliot Spitzer has his high-priced ho’s, and his replacement David Paterson has his many affairs. Poor Larry Craig was outted for his unfortunate toe-tapping bathroom etiquette, and Obama admitted that he inhaled. It seems as though it all started with the stained blue dress..

As with all of the above, I have my very own Dirty Little Secret. And I will tell you and you alone. If this ever came out, even my mere presence at a political debate, community forum, or candidate rally would cause an uproar and the ever-so-slight tsk-tsking of the public who would look askance at one who had such promise, but fell so far.

So…..please don’t tell anyone. I feel obligated as an ethical person, to divulge my secret here.


I have the hots for Allan Loudell of WDEL Radio.

Oh yeah baby, I do. When I can listen to the radio at work, my chair is damp with anticipation at hearing his voice on Delaware News at Noon. That sultry, sexy, just-on-the-brink-of-a-cold voice sends shivers through this curmudgeon’s spine. I have to shut my office door.

I love Allan’s voice. It is one of those voices that sends teenage girls into swoons, and middle-aged women to their toy drawer.

It is one of those voices that make you say, “Keep talking, Allan…keep talking. I don’t care what you say, just keep talking. Recite a recipe. Read the telephone book. I don’t care, just keep talking.” And a week or so ago when some British dude gave Allan some sass I was ready to go to arms: “How DARE you talk to my Allan like that ! How DARE you !”.

So, there you have it. My sordid peccadillo. My secret vice. My Eliot Spitzer moment.

My Dirty Little Secret.

TommyWonk and the Curmudgeon on WILM Tomorrow

TommyWonk and I will be on WILM Radio, 1450 on your AM dial tomorrow (Saturday, 3/29) at around 10:30 A.M with host Dace Blaskovitz.

We will be talking about a variety of topics, including bloggers in general, the Obama/Indian River flap, Real ID, whether or not the Dems are in fiasco mode, and maybe even a little bit of biker stuff.

This will be the first time I've ever done this, so I'm a little nervous, especially sitting next to a brainiac like Tom.

But heck, it should be a blast !

Onshore - vs - Offshore Windpower ?

I'm just sayin' ......


Picture courtesy of Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press. Story HERE.

Badass Bikers - They Are The Law

Philadelphia Police Dept Highway Patrol friggin ROCKS ! Plus, they support Patriot Guard Riders in every way. These dudes are the bomb !

Why Ron Paul Still Scares the GOP

From Time Magazine (emphasis added)

"The real significance of the Paul campaign is not the ubiquitous bumper stickers and lawn signs or the online fund-raising records ($6 million in one day, plus another $4 million, hilariously, on Guy Fawkes Day) but the mirror Paul held up to the modern Republican Party. When his fellow candidates denounced big government, Paul was there to remind them that President Bush and the G.O.P. Congress had shattered spending records and exploded the deficit. When they hailed freedom, Paul asked why they all supported the Patriot Act and other expansions of executive power. And when they called themselves conservatives, Paul asked what was so conservative about sending thousands of young Americans to try to transform the Middle East.

....

But even if Paul's ideological purity is never going to get him to the White House, it does help illuminate the impurities — and sometimes the hypocrisies — of today's Republicans..."

LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

Chelsea and Monica

While campaigning Tuesday at Butler University in Indianapolis, Chelsea Clinton was asked if she thought her mother's credibility was damaged by the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Is this a fair question?

Answer: No.

It is a stupid question, and whoever asked it should be spanked.

RIP, Richard Widmark

Richard Widmark, who created a villain in his first movie role who was so repellent and frightening that the actor became a star overnight, died Monday at his home in Roxbury, Conn. He was 93.

RIP, Man.

Pork Three Ways

Is there a chance that Republicans can return us to an era of fiscal responsibility? They haven't done very well so far. This article examines the three candidates and their position on earmarks.

On Friday a House Appropriations Committee website was so overwhelmed by legislators' wish lists that it crashed, forcing the committee to extend the deadline for earmark requests until Monday.

read more digg story

Statistical Katrina in the Making - A Timeline

January, 2004, from GAO Publication 04-37, “2010 Census: Cost and Design Issues Need to be Addressed Soon”:

“However, if Congress is to accept and fund the Bureau’s approach – now estimated at more than $11 billion – then the Bureau needs to more effectively demonstrate that it has (1) selected a design that will lead to the most cost-effective results and (2) establish a rigorous capacity to manage risks, control costs, and deliver a successful head count.”

July, 2007:

From the Prepared Statement of Charles Louis Kincannon, Director, US Census Bureau for the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, US Senate, July 17, 2007:

“We are, in general, pleased with the performance of the handheld computers, whose overall durability and usability were affirmed during the addressing canvassing operation. In fact, out of 1,388 handheld computers, only five had problems out of the box. …We are confident that we can and will effectively implement the use of handheld computers for the 2010 Census. The handheld computers, as well as other innovations, have created new opportunities to improve the accuracy and coverage of the census.”

March, 2008:

Harris Corp. was awarded a $596 million contract in March 2006 to supply the handheld computers and the operating system that supports them. The contract has since grown to $647 million, and could balloon by as much as $2 billion, according to a report this month by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress.

So what happened?

The handheld computer project is only a small part of the very complicated effort that is the US Census. The major sticklers are: (1) poor technical requirements on the part of Census officials, (2) the agency’s inexperience with managing large contracts with outside vendors, (3) the computers appear to be too complex for some technical workers, and (4) changing specifications. The GAO Report also is not confident in the agency’s project management technique, most notably their risk assessment process and budget transparency.

Shirley's Spin (with apologies to Kilroy):

My prediction: The hand-held computer aspect of the 2010 Census will be scrapped. More money down the drain. The next administration, whoever it may be, will inherit a nightmare of inefficiency, poor planning, and bureaucratic myopia.

And everyone saw it coming.

The World's Best-Known Protest Symbol is 50 Years Old

"It started life as the emblem of the British anti-nuclear movement but it has become an international sign for peace, and arguably the most widely used protest symbol in the world. It has also been adapted, attacked and commercialised. The real power of the sign, its supporters say, is the reaction that it provokes from fans and from detractors."

read more digg story

Rotten Fruit

From Congressman Jeff Flake’s (AZ) website comes the egregious earmark of the week: $1,529,000 to the Appalachian Fruit Lab in Kearneysville, West Virginia.

The Lab itself does not have a website, but one important project they are working on is dwarf fruit tree research. If it works, newly-dwarfed pear trees should be bearing fruit in two to three years.

Why? It would allow, for the first time, a high-density production system for pears not dependent on quince rootstocks that dwarf scions but aren't well adapted to major U.S. production districts. While it is admitted that not all fruit growers will use dwarf trees, it will be a boon for home gardeners who lack the normal space needed for the normal-sized tree. I'll bet they can't wait.

This is just an example of how our tax dollars are being spent. And you wonder why we’re in trouble? The problem with earmarks is that they are almost self-perpetuating.

Once planted, they dig their roots in deeper and deeper each year until it is virtually impossible to dig them out of their comfortable complacence. And it goes on and on and on......

Keep On Swearin', Bob !

Just shows how a little tenacity can pay off (we hope).

From Ron Williams' column today:

"Bob Reeder, the former University of Delaware football star, U.S. Marine and retired teacher, has uncovered a little-known section of the state House of Representatives' rules that looks like it will allow citizens to file ethics complaints against lawmakers. Before Reeder's discovery, it was generally believed that only House members could bring charges against colleagues. But
Reeder's research found that a complaint can be filed by "any person" so long as it's sworn under oath. His target is state Rep. Nancy Wagner, R-Dover. He's been been after her for 10 years, most recently for double- dipping and putting her husband on the state payroll."

Keep on keepin' on, bro. I'm rootin' for ya.

We've Come A Long Way, Baby !

The following is an excerpt from the July, 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine, written for male supervisors of women in the workforce during World War II.

1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.

3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.

5. Stress at the outset the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.

6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.

7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.

8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.

9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.

10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.

11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy."

Red State Update Weighs in on Crack Ho's, Spitzer, and Life in General

Warning: Adult material. But dang, if it isn't funny.

Live Blogging Chicken Pot Pie - Sort Of

I am sure everyone is waiting with bated breath to hear how the chicken pot pie turned out. Last we heard, the brother was simmering. Once that was done, I stripped the meat off the chicken and set it aside, drained the broth, and started on the vegetable part. Here are the onions, carrots and celery getting sauteed:

I then had to finish the filling by addining all sorts of goodies, including 1/4 cup of sherry. Since I had purchased the sherry 2 hours earlier, I was lucky I had 1/4 cup left! The filling was thickened, and the recipes said to turn it into six individual ramekins. Well, hell, who the heck has reamekins laying around? I read the comments on the recipe, and found that this would do just as good:


Then, I rolled out the dough and stuck it on top:


The finished product. Yummy !


The verdit from Chainsaw was that it was delicious. He thinks the crust could have been thicker, so I can adjust that next time.

It was great fun, and I have some leftover homemade chicken stock for later.

I'm telling you, you should try it. Makes for good comfort food.

And don't we all need a little comfort nowadays?

Live Blogging Chicken Pot Pie

Thank goodness for Waldo, who led me to a delicious food porn site which offers a great-looking recipe for chicken pot pie.

I left most of my favorite cookbooks back in Philly in a past life. Thank you these here internet tubes and the people who blog on food. I've had a hankering for chicken pot pie lately. I asked my VSO (Very Significant Other) Chainsaw if he liked chicken pot pie and he said "yeah, I do". Being the curious person I am, I asked further: "Well, the last time you had it, who made it?", thinking mother, girlfried, ex-wife, etc.div>

He answered, "Swanson".

So, I guess I have my work cut out for me to beat a Swanson Chicken Pot Pie. I figured I would live-blog my concoction. Not that anyone cares but me, but what the heck.

I made the crust Wednesday night:

Combine the flour and salt in a food processor. Add the chilled butter cubes and pulse 5 times to combine. And the shortening and pulse a few more times, until the dough resembles a coarse cornmeal, with some pea-sized pieces of butter. Slowly stream in ice water, a tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition, until the dough sticks together when you press some between your fingers. Empty the food processor, placing the dough on a clean surface. Use your hands to mold into a ball, then flatten the ball into a disk. Sprinkle with a little flour, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 days, before rolling.

The dough is out right now, gettin' itself to room temperature:

In the meantime, I'm making the chicken stock:

Cook the chicken and make the chicken stock. Combine the chicken, carrot, celery, onion and salt into a large stock pot. Add cold water until just covered and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and let cool for 15 minutes. While the chicken is cooling, continue to boil the remaining water and vegetables in the pot. When the chicken has cooled enough to touch, strip away as much of the meat as you can. Place the meat on a dish, set aside. Return the chicken bones to the stockpot and continue to boil, on high heat, until the stock has reduced to a quart or quart and a half. Set aside 2 1/2 cups of the stock for this recipe. The remaining stock you can refrigerate and store for another purpose.

And here it is a brewin':

Now, chicken stock takes awhile. You gotta let it "set a bit", as they say. And I'm seeing that later on in the recipe, I'm going to be needing some sherry. I don't have that on hand, so a trip to the liquor store is in order.

My stock is simmering, and dang if it doesn't smell good. This is an all-day affair, and I am truely digging it. I'll let you know how it turns out, with updates to this post.

Prices are up, foreclosures are up, the stock market is in a tailspin, and the price of oil is through the roof. But, when you are with someone you love and you are making chicken pot pie I just have to ask:

Isn't life Grand?

Stating the Obvious

From the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2008

Deficit Figures Underscore Need to Restrain Spending

Washington, DC — OMB Director Jim Nussle issued the following statement regarding the deficit figures released today by the Department of the Treasury.

(LINK)

“Americans are not undertaxed. We’re seeing record revenues coming into the Treasury. Revenue is not the problem – spending is the problem.

Congress needs to get spending under control, but the budget put forward by Congressional Democrats would lead to an explosion in spending. That’s the wrong approach to deficit reduction and is why the President has pledged to veto bills that exceed his responsible spending levels.”

Who Can Make Something Happen at DOE?

Kilroy has posted Woodruff’s Answer, Just Raise Taxes in response to a News Journal article on education issues where Education Secretary is quoted as saying, “There is a great need for property assessment to occur”. Kilroy’s spin was that this was just a “cover for those mismanaging educational dollars.”

I couldn’t agree more, and the fault lies more in institutionalized inefficiencies which are probably beyond the power of a single person to overcome.

What really annoys me about these kinds of issues is that there is so much more information out there for people to form their opinions. Unless people really take the time, they will only have kneejerk reactions to limited soundbytes.

The final report on efficiency opportunities in the Delaware education system is 243 pages long. That is quite a bit to digest. The report identifies seven areas where potential exists to save money, and transportation is only one of them. As mentioned in the article, one suggestion is to raise the number of years for bus replacement, but again this is only a small component. I think it is worth it to list them, as it shows how incredibly inefficient and wasteful the entire system is. (Note: I downloaded the report when it came out. I do not see it available online any longer).

Contracts and Incentives ($1.6-4.6 million or more in potential savings):

• Delaware is the 4th highest among states in per-student transportation spending.
• Full state funding provides no incentives…to save money, and no mechanism for contractors to compete on price.
• (A) review of the contractor terms reveal(ed) several places where funding exceeds (the) likely cost to contractors (e.g. interest allowance, salvage value, depreciation schedule).
• (The) State gives contractors 11% more to purchase buses than it pays for the buses itself (!).
• (There are) almost 200 different contractors used across the State, many with 1 or 2 routes.

Bus Replacement ($4.1 million in potential savings):

• Delaware pays for bus replacement after 7 years and 100,000 miles at the earliest, or after 10 years (any mileage) or 150,000 (any age).
• The national average for school bus replacement is 14 years.

Non-public school funding ($3 million in potential savings):

• The State gives $3 million to families of non-public schools for transportation.
• (There is) no correlation to (the) actual cost of transporting children, (and) there is no requirements that the funds be used on transportation (!).

Budget bill exceptions ($0.6 – 1.4 million in potential savings):

• Over 2,400 otherwise ineligible students are provided transportation through explicit mention in the annual budget bill. This process is independent of the Unique Hazards Committee, which was created to determine eligibility for bus service due to safety concerns.

Remember, this is just in the area of transportation. I am not saying that all of these recommendations need to be taken, but I am wondering who in Delaware can take the ball and run with it to make something happen? What incentives are there for this to take place?

American Capitalism At Its Finest

Mother Jones reports that the t-shirt industry is already all over Spitzer, with slogans such as,

“Don’t blame me, I voted for Client #8”.

“I’m not only the governor, I’m also a client”.

There is even a slide show of the most memorable. Get ‘em while you can !

There is Still Hope !

George Clooney and Sarah Larson may be getting serious, but there is no wedding imminent, the actor has declared after a published story out of Europe claimed the pair had gotten secretly engaged……….

(Sound of Sigh Heaving........)

Contraband Epidemic Halted in Connecticut

The battle against pubescent bulge is in full force in Connecticut, where 8th-grader Michael Sheridan was stripped of his title as class vice president, barred from attending an honors student dinner and suspended for a day after buying a bag of Skittles from a classmate.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, Michael. In your own words, you said you noticed that the seller of the smuggled Skittles was “being secretive”.

Thank goodness the principal of Sheridan Middle School nipped this problem in the bud before it got out of hand.

It's All In A Name

Our government just can’t seem to stop spending stupidly, even when they are on the right track.

In June of 2006, the Army and Air Force announced that an agreement had been reached whereby the purchase of small cargo aircraft would be pursued jointly. Previously, each branch had their own acquisition method, with their own contracts, standards, purchasing agreements, and naming conventions. The Army called their the “Future Cargo Aircraft” program, while the Air Force had the “Light Cargo Aircraft” program. They were essentially purchasing different things for the same purpose. The joint purchasing agreement was to be called the “Joint Cargo Aircraft” program, with first deliveries expected to be in 2008.

That all sounds well and good. It is a consolidation of effort which no doubt removed many redundancies and inefficiencies between the two service branches in the purchase of small aircraft.

But of course, no good idea goes un-discombobulated when you are dealing with the government, and usually for the most ridiculous of reasons.

The Army and Air Force agreed on the purchase of the C-27 J Spartan as the joint cargo aircraft. Everybody in the industry knows it as the C-27 J Spartan. The Army calls it the C-27 J Spartan. All the technical manuals refer to the C-27 J Spartan. But the Air Force, in its wisdom, refers to it as the C-27 B Spartan. Why? The Air Force used to have a previous generation of the same aircraft which was called the C-27 A Spartan. They insist that it only makes sense that this model be called the C-27 B since it follows alphabetically.

The problem is that the cost of redoing all of the technical and operating manuals to accommodate the name change would be about $16 million. That’s almost half of the cost of one of the aircraft.

If the Air Force insists on this change, (and in an odd fact they have the sole authority, under a Pentagon decree, to name all military aircraft), any efficiencies gained from this joint effort would probably be wiped out.

I can’t think of any fancy word for this. This is just plain stupid. Keep the manufacturer’s name, and save the taxpayers the $16 million.

Don’t we have enough important issues to deal with without playing name games?

What's All the Fuss About?

The Eliot Spitzer story is almost yesterday’s news, and the bloggers, pundits, and politicians have had their way and their say with him. When things of such nature happen, the American public seems to revel in a kind of salacious glee that is, to tell you the truth, quite unbecoming. Just as we must look at a car crash, we also seem to enjoy when the mighty fall. It does not seem to matter the good work a person has done...once sex comes into play we go for the jugular. It is a sad commentary on the American psyche.

A kindred blogger notes: “As far as I'm concerned, I got no problem with folk doing the "wild thing". In fact if their are ladies out there getting like $50,000 a weekend legalize it, tax it and we ought be out of the recession in a heartbeat.” That’s pretty close to my way of thinking. Sure, Spitzer’s reputation may have been a bit holy, but that should result in a little egg on the face, not a wholesale condemnation of a man and thus his life’s work.

If Governor Spitzer was involved in some shady financial transactions that are proved to be illegal, well then that makes him a crook and he deserves what he gets. But if all that is involved is a little rendezvous in a motel room with a high-class hooker, who are we to judge him, and who are we to shriek in pious outrage, demanding that he resign? We Americans are so silly about those things.

Can your life withstand this scrutiny? I wonder why anyone runs for public office. A little hanky-panky doesn’t define your entire existence.

The only possible prurient curiosity I have about the story is I am wondering exactly what happens for $5,000/hour. Is there a specific task list? Who determines the qualifications? Are there tryouts? I’m just saying….

As far as anything else, I suppose my moral indignation just isn’t quite up to the snuff of the rest of America.

Does McCain Wear Depends?

In late-breaking news, The Gay Black Jew reveals the truth behind some pants-puffiness, because as he says in his most recent post:

"Nothing stops The Gay Black Jew, especially when it comes to humiliating a Republican."

Good stuff.

Define the Problem, Don't KneeJerk the Solution

Kentucky State Representative Tim Couch has filed a bill that will make anonymous posting online illegal.

“The bill would require anyone who contributes to a website to register their real name, address and e-mail address with that site.
Their full name would be used anytime a comment is posted.” (LINK TO STORY)

The purpose of the filing was to address the issue of online bullying.

Although the issues of anonymous posting and online bullying are not mutually exclusive, the existence of one does not always mean that the other exists as well. An anonymous post may be ignorant or childish, but it could also be thoughtful and informative. In extreme cases, an anonymous post is bullying. Online bullying (the definition of which is subject to interpretation) may or may not always be anonymous.

If the legislator wishes to address the issue of online bullying, making anonymous posting illegal is not the answer. Rep. Couch makes the common mistake of offering a solution before actually defining the problem.

The problem is “online bullying” or “cyber bullying”. Bullying is bullying, whether it is anonymous or not. Leaving anonymity out of the issue, online bullying can be loosely defined as electronic communication(s) which “intend(s) to cause emotional distress and has no legitimate purpose.” Of course, there are many degrees and permutations of what can or should be considered bullying, and opinions will vary. At the very worst, it could be as bad as the case in Vermont of 13-year-old Ryan Patrick Halligan who committed suicide after months of online insults from classmates.

States are dealing with cyber bullying in different ways. It is a slippery slope when dealing with an issue that has the potential to infringe upon free speech. Most States are starting by simple definition of policies, as well as student education. Kids will be kids, and they can be nasty. Always have been, and always will be. The internet is just a newer platform for the mean-spirited to wield their juvenile powers. The root of the problem is of course in the home and the parents, but just as there should be policies in schools for playground brawls and lunchroom food fights, the issue of online bullying is one that warrants good and honest discussion in the home, places of worship, and schools.

It is a much larger and more complicated debate as to whether or not the legislatures should be addressing the problem (if, it can be proven to be a problem of such magnitude that warrants addressing and not just a few isolated but well-publicized incidents). I hesitate to have government inject itself into what appears on the surface to be simply bad behavior, but then again there are incidences where the behavior of the bully is so egregious that is probably should be part of the criminal code. The many gradations of behavior that can occur and that could be considered by the legislature are many. I think the discussion should occur, ever watchful for the Safety Nannies that want to make their own common sense our own in order to save us from ourselves. Last year in Delaware, the School Bullying Prevention Act was passed. I have mixed feelings about that bill, the first of which is wondering what happened with the Attorney General’s program and why it wasn’t enough. That is another discussion.


Representative Couch’s solution of making anonymous posting illegal doesn’t even begin to address the issue of cyberbullying, and opens up an entirely different set of topics. Those who post or blog online have all experienced the nameless flamers that anonymously troll cyberspace in search of a cheapshot. If you have have been on the Delaware Online Forums, you have probably been exposed to some of the same idiocy. However, anonymous posting has its place, and making it illegal is not the answer. Again, that is a different discussion.

I hope that Kentucky has the sense to realize that online bullying and anonymous posting are distinct issues and take steps to address the problem without infringing on free speech and the very nature of online communication which, for good or bad, may sometimes be anonymous. The media is changing, and what will come of it we do not now know, but it is exciting and new, informative and inane, thoughtful and silly, exciting and boring. Don’t unnecessarily cramp the freedom inherent in this change, and let the people over time determine how it evolves.

Gays Worse Than Terrorists?

According to Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern, yes:

"One of Kern's most controversial claims is that homosexuals and homosexuality is more of a threat to the United States than terrorism. " (LINK)

Kern did not know her remarks were being taped, and seemed a little chagrined:

"Shame on the person who didn't have the courage to come and say, 'I'm going to tape you and put it out on YouTube,'" she said. (LINK)

We have a long way to go. A long, long way.

Chuck Norris Rocks the Troops

In an article on Chuck Norris' cult status among American and Iraqi troops, I was made aware of the website Chuck Norris Facts.

Some of my favorites:

Chuck Norris once ate a whole cake before his friends could tell him there was a stripper in it.

Chuck Norris can divide by zero.

Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas.

Chuck Norris built a better mousetrap, but the world was too frightened to beat a path to his door.

President Roosevelt said: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself. And Chuck Norris."

Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

They once made a Chuck Norris toilet paper, but there was a problem-- It wouldn't take shit from anybody.

Chuck Norris knows the last digit of pi.

Chuck Norris let the dogs out.

Chuck Norris puts the laughter in manslaughter.

There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

Around the Horn Friday

In what some may consider an unholy alliance, Delaware Libertarian announced two more conspirators contributors to this already-prolific blog: Tyler Nixon and Brian. Perhaps in deference to Women's History Month, there were two feminine-related posts: Brian expresses amazement over full-body tattooing, and Steve discusses the difficulty of being a Libertarian with feminist leanings. How far do we go in order to save us from ourselves? Food for thought, indeed.

Sadness filled the heart of The Digital Federalist with the loss of his Mom, Greta Demoss Hope (aka Greta Coffey). Our hearts are with you, Alan. He also wonders if we are the ones we've been waiting for in looking for a new way of doing business in Delaware.

Hube has some interesting commentary on the dearth of male teachers. I can't get the specific post link to come up, just trust me and go there under entries for 3/1/2008. The teachers I remember most from middle and high school were all male; I guess there is some advantage in growing up in a diffferent time.

Mike put his camera down for a moment and mused upon who we have become, asking if the rule of the mob will overtake and silence the rule of reason. Mike didn't like the trend, however commenter jason330 insisted on his own right to be rude.

Of course, the primaries were big news this week, and speaking of Jason, he has vowed not to vote for Hillary Clinton, and declares that he is "done with the Democratic Party" should she win the nomination. After recovering from his disappointment with Tuesday's results, he was inspired to create with some motivational posters reflecting his mood here and here. Ryan, on the other hand wonders WTF Dems are trying to pull. Joe M spills the beans about what really happened at a recent fateful meeting, and on a serious note opined somewhat sadly on voter short-sightedness, asking why a voter's particular demographics would influence them more than the actual issues. Dumbassess, indeed.

An ill wind was blowing over Delaware this week as the Bluewater Wind hearings withstood a blindsided attack. Dana asks the big questions, and Nancy provides a transcript of WDEL's Al Mascitti show. Thanks, Nancy. That was alot of work and much appreciated. Our resident expert Tommywonk in posts on 3/6 and 3/7 describes it as an ambush and having the effect of putting the PSC on trial. Kavips describes the shenanigans as out of a scene from Cool Hand Luke (and his blog tags are most interesting). Both Tommywonk and Kavips had high praise for the deportment of Arnette McRae as one who displayed grace, knowledge, and tenacity under pressure “again and again and again and again.”

Not all was politics this week. Flying into the face of the notion that all Republicans are old, balding, fat white guys, rsmitty started the public outing on Delaware Politics. The avalanche of confessions of commenters brought a tear to my eye. Dave has also added another contributor: Rich Collins. Who knew there were that many closeted conservatives in Delaware? Governor Minner has commissioned an Emergency Task Force to deal with the continuing saga of the Duffy Dishwasher Dilemma, and Mat's friend got out the old thesaurus to wax eloquently on a Facebook Bubba-attack.

An interesting week. If I missed anyone, it’s on me. I’m going to punt to Duffy for next week’s edition.

Cure for Distraction

Thanks go out to Nanny Knows Best for alerting us to the dangers of walking on Brick Lane in London’s East End. It seems as though one out of ten people in England who walk while texting run into either a lamppost or another pedestrian. Brick Lane, it seems, is one of the top spots for dangerous “unprotected text”. Among other reasons, the number of drinking establishments along the route was determined to be a factor.

The solution is simple. Pad the lampposts.

Brick Lane will serve as a pilot project in order to determine if the practice of padding lampposts should be rolled out to other London streets that prove such a menace to the unsuspecting texter. According to a survey, 44% of the people want padded lampposts in order to avoid mild concussions, bruised knees, and, horror of horrors, and interrupted text message.

Londoners and tourists perambulating the pubs on Brick Lane can rest easier now.

A Typical Biker Day

I've been doing alot of thinking lately about perceptions, stereotypes, and asssumptions. I've been thinking how people want to live their lives and just want to be left alone to enjoy their families and friends. I worry about the self-appointed demigods who want to legislate our lifestyles, our bedrooms, our safety, and our diets.

A very small part of this is the perception of bikers. So, to do my part, I thought I'd give you a typical biker day. This is our day, Chainsaw and GirlGeek's day.


We get up at 5:00 A.M., which is mighty early when you consider all the terrorizing and pillaging we had to do the night before. Of course, this time of year the pillaging is at a minimum. We're just a'waitin' for Spring. I usually awake before the alarm, turn on the coffee, grab a smoke, and check the usual news websites and my favorite blogs. Chainsaw stumbles out at the sound of the alarm, pees, and grabs and smoke and a Diet Dr. Pepper. He's out the door to his welding job at 6:00, I follow out the door at about 6:25.

We do our job things...I catch the 6:51 (or thereabouts) R-2 to Philly, get there about 7:45 and go to my favorite street vendor (Lou and Betsy) for a ham-egg-and-cheese-on-a-roll-salt-pepper-no-catsup and a large coffee. Chainsaw and I both do our time in the rat race. He gets home around 4PM, I vary between 5:30 and 6:30. It's a long train ride.

Working for the man is what keep the lights burning, at least for now. Our real love is riding, and our committment to biker, veteran, and liberty issues. When I get home, Chainsaw has already been working on the site he maintaines for ABATE, and has been yapping with our Patriot Guard Riders friends: Wolfman, Codman, Little Sister, R12Guy, Lutz, and AngryInch. He's probably also been talking to Larry the Rolling Sportsman of Newark who has become a good friend. I roll in the door, pour a glass of wine, deal with e-mail, check the news and blogs again (which I do all day at work, but I'm a junkie and nothing's shakin' at the job), and try to chill.

Now, here is the most important part of the evening. All bikers do this. At 6:55 PM, all work ceases and we watch Jeopardy. It's a must. We're addicted. We try to outdo each other, and our favorite thing of late is to go "all in" on Final Jeopardy. If you play any poker, you might guess that this means that we see the category and yell out our answer before we even see the question. For example, with a category of "Famous Film Duos", I might say "Laurel and Hardy" and Chainsaw might say "Fred and Ginger". It's amazing how it works out sometimes.

After Jeopardy, our fun and games are pretty much over unless there is a Quentin Tarrantino movie on. We're still waiting for My Name is Earl to come back. We talk about what we need to get done over the weekend, what food is in the house, strategies for different projects we're working on, and how we're glad the people across the hall moved out.

In between all the stuff so far, we've been a cookin' something on the stove. We eat some, chill out, and Chainsaw tells me more about welding than I ever needed to know. We try not to fall asleep on the couch, since we're getting up in years and it hurts our bones to do that. If we make the bed early there might be a chance for a little hootchie-kootchie, but more than likely we're too dang tired.

So, there it is: a typical biker day. Oh, I left out alot of stuff. Our home is like CNN on steroids: we discuss, argue, agree, and in between all that happen to love each other very much. It's a funny thing, that love thing. A damn funny thing.

And aside from all that, we like to have our fun. Most all of it surrounds political issues, but we find that to be a gas. Who would suspect?

So, the next time you see some biker-trash riding by, just wonder.

Do they watch Jeapordy, and did they get the final answer last night? You never know, maybe we did.

ATHF - Curmudgeon Edition - Reminder

Please submit your suggestions for Around the Horn Friday as soon as you can. I’ll probably work on it tomorrow night (Thursday).

Send to: svandever@gmail.com. Please include “ATHF” in the subject line.

If you don’t have anything in particular you want to highlight, I will pick my own and have my way with you !

Fast Eddie With the Quote of the Day

"We'll know by the end of the night whether Pennsylvania will be irrelevant or the center of the universe."

And Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney comes in a close second with:

"It could be like Iowa on steroids. It will be wild, is what it will be."

(LINK)

Curmudgeons are Everywhere !

I am not alone:

The Knitting Curmudgeon - East Stroudsburg, PA
"Shut up, I'm counting"

The Stubborn Curmudeon - USA
"News and views from the secular irregular"

Flaming Curmudgeon - New York City
"A screaming queen screams"

Cheerful Curmudgeon - Missouri
“A complete lack of ideas and the power to express them.”

Siege Curmudgeon - New York City
"Adventures of the antithetical road warrior"
About me: …"a remote worker for a tech company in the US. This blog chronicles his misadventures as he works with people he’s never met, from an office no one sees, in a rocky little socket near New York City….”

The Potable Curmudgeon - Louisville
“America’s megabrewers have done for beer what Pol Pot did for Cambodia”

The Curmudgeon - London
“You’ll Come for the Curses, You’ll Stay for the Mudgeonry"

Wind Farm Off of Jersey Shore Proposed

"Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. and Winergy Power Holdings today said they submitted a plan to build a 350 Megawatt wind farm about 16 miles off the shoreline of Cape May and Atlantic Counties.

The wind farm, if approved, could be operational in 2013, Newark-based PSEG said."

LINK

Hope for the Economy

Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk:

"It is becoming harder and harder for Washington and the mainstream media to ignore the ripple effect the collapse of the housing bubble is having on the economy. Inflation is up, cost of food is up, oil and gold are up, foreclosures are up, unemployment is up, government spending is at record highs, its seems that the only thing down is the value of the dollar. The middle and lower classes are getting squeezed as prices jump and wages stay flat.

Though it is good that Washington is acknowledging the problem instead of sweeping it under the rug, I always get nervous at their ideas of solutions. A proper solution requires an honest, in-depth look at the root of the problem.

What the government needs to stop doing is taxing Americans literally out of house and home in the wake of the housing debacle. We should not take money from taxpayers to bail out bad businesses. At the same time, we need to make sure that America can get back to work by easing taxes and regulations on good businesses and allow them to function and prosper. Also there a lot of tax cuts and tax reforms we could be making to ease the burden on the American people.

I have many bills in Congress that address the high taxes Americans pay, but one in particular – my Tax-Free Tips Act – should be a no-brainer at a time like this. This legislation would exempt gratuities earned by service sector workers from income tax liability. A tip is a small gift and there is no contractual requirement to give it, yet if someone leaves a restaurant without tipping, the IRS will still estimate how much they should have been tipped and tax the waiter based on that, should they perform an audit. This is patently wrong.

People working these jobs are the backbone of our economy, and they often support a family or put themselves through school on this money. They are already taxed on their base wages through withholding. They should not be taxed on tips. We do not need to put this kind of pressure on our service workers.

To really fix the economy and get it back on track, though, a sea change, not a quick-fix attempt, is needed. I was very pleased and encouraged that on Friday the Wall Street Journal published my letter to the editor addressing some of our economic problems. The message is getting out because people are demanding answers. The American people are strong, resourceful, hard working and determined. Because of this we can get through these tough economic times, but our leaders need to understand how we got here in the first place. Continuing the same flawed policies that got us here will only prolong the agony."

Oh, To Be Sure !

I used to harbor some envy for those who seemed to be so sure of their positions. To have such a sense of certainty must be comforting. That is, until I really began a study of their sureness. I have found that those who protest too much, scattering their invective with smartass hubris, aren’t defending a position at all. In most cases, they invoke a WWF smack-down style of argument because they have little else to go on. I call them the Truth Nazis.

“All propaganda must be popular and its intellectual level must be adjusted to the most limited intelligence among those it is addressed to.”

Take “Democrat” and “Republican” for example. To a Truth Nazi Republican, Democrats are limpid socialists, Hollywood panderers, content only to suckle off of the government teat until everyone is bled dry and only the red oaks of California remain. To a Truth Nazi Democrat, Republicans are mean-spirited, balding, cigar-smoking old white guys intent on trampling the middle-class into oblivion and spitting on the poor, whose only objective is a New World Order, shotgun in hand.

The truth is that most people lie somewhere in between these two axes of evil.

Those without legitimate argument or too lazy to present one will tout out their stock characterizations of malevolent opposition and parade them as so many trophies on the mantle of an middle-aged loser reliving the glory days of a high school football championship. Sadly, these past nuggets of glory (or, in the case of the Truth Nazi, mere whispers of a partial truth), no longer matter. So the back and forth goes on, signifying nothing.

An excellent example of thoughtful discussion sans the usual abuse is Steve Newton’s post questioning the sincerity of Barack Obama’s stand on gay rights and Waldo Lydecker’s thoughtful and researched response. Waldo expounded further on his own blog, and Delaware Libertarian later comes about as close as a professor can to a concession speech. It was interesting to read the point-counter-point that was done in such a thoughtful way. There was no, “You ignorant slut !”, hand-wringing, or verbal abuse. Just a good ‘ole discussion. I like that. I learned things. My world has been expanded.

So, while I sit in amazement at the Truth Nazis and their air of self-assuredness, their absolute conviction, their distortion and innuendo, I can only thank God for the likes of Brian and Steve and Waldo. Sure, I have to look up just about everything they write, but it is a learning process and I don’t care how old you are you are still learning, or should be.

So, the next time you start shaking your fist in righteous indignation and questioning the parentage of your opponent, remember these great words:

“The function of propaganda is, for example, not to weigh and ponder the rights of different people, but exclusively to emphasize the one right which it has set out to argue for. Its task is not to make an objective study of the truth, in so far as it favors the enemy, and then set it before the masses with academic fairness; its task is to serve our own right, always and unflinchingly.”

Obama Camp Story on NAFTA Changes Again

Ok, now they admit there was a meeting....

"Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) campaign on Monday defended a top campaign adviser’s meeting with Canadian government officials that has raised questions over whether Obama’s rhetoric against the North American Free Agreement would be fulfilled in office.

Initially the Obama campaign and Goolsbee denied such a meeting or conversation had ever taken place.

'Are these denials, half-denials, quarter-denials no longer operative?' Howard Wolfson, a Clinton spokesman, said on a separate call Monday. "

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

My Own Version of Internet Porn

I love to cook. There is nothing I’d rather do than spend a cold winter day with various concoctions simmering on the stove, baking in the oven, and resting in the refrigerator.

But, you can’t let this piece of information get out about me. Let’s keep it between you and me, lest I tarnish my biker-chick image. Can’t have that, can we? I am supposed to be out terrorizing small towns and staring down soccer Moms, not scouring Epicurious for something new to try (much to my s.o.’s dismay at times, but at other times it works out pretty good).

I am more at ease with soups and stews as opposed to breads and pastries. With soups, you don’t really need a recipe and can experiment a little more. Breads require more exact measurements and timing. Someone once told me that “Soup is an Art, Pastry is a Science”. That is probably true, but over the years I have been able to refine my bread and pastry skills so I can make a passable batch of cracklin’ corn bread, good enough so that my Southern s.o. gives them his stamp of approval.

What does this have to do with internet porn?

Through a very circuitous route of bloggers (Waldo Lydecker via Delaware Libertarian), I was alerted to the existence of Cook and Eat which describes itself as “Tasty Photos and Recipes”. How can you not get excited over quince and cranberry bustrengo or be intrigued by a post titled “Lard Help Me” ? The photography is excellent and has me drooling at the computer screen. It even has me wanting to try things I would normally wouldn’t.

If you love to cook, love food, or even if you just appreciate great photography, take a gander at Cook and Eat.

Just make sure the kids are out of the room.

Obama vs. Clinton on the Top 10 Economic Policy Issues

Have you been wondering what the difference is between Clinton and Obama? Here is the perspective of Mother Jones' reporter/writer Nomi Prins:

More differences between Obama and Clinton from Mother Jones. The dueling candidates differ in key ways on health care, subprime bailouts, family leave, and social security.

read the story

To All My Friends Out There.....