This is the post that helps the later post appear.

I cannot explain it.

When It's Too Icy for a Bed Race. . .

This photo suggest that children in other countries (okay, in Dusseldorf) are forced to race one another, dressed as Santa, in order to obtain gifts on Christmas. Poor children. Of course, if we instituted such a program here, it might be a way to deal with childhood obesity, through a Darwinian "only the fast thin kids get gifts" rationale.


We could even make the adults do it. One guy apparently thought he could substitute his boxing robe for a Santa suit. Don't worry, he'll get ding-ed at the finish line.

It's more likely, of course, that Americans will start to act like the Russians, and dress their pets as Santa. I wonder if we would let guinea pigs run as our proxies in the Great Christmas Dash.

I don't know why I am blaming the Russians for this nonsense (although this is a Russian guinea pig). It was probably the English who invented the pet costume. And they wonder what happened to their empire.....

Downer in Lowndes County

You may recall my earlier post about Teamsters' organizing in AL. I am pasting today's post from The Union Lawyer in its entirety here:

Around our office, we sometimes talk about getting at least one victory a day. I haven't had one yet, but this sure ain't it. Workers at the Daehan Solutions plant in Lowndes County, AL, voted not to be represented by a union yesterday. I had written about this earlier, surprised that the NLRB was moving so quickly on the unfair labor practice charge. Here's an excerpt from the article that I found strange:

"The company has good pay and benefits, and good and safe working conditions, which is probably why the union attempted to sway the voters with inappropriate and offensive appeals to racial prejudice," Debruge said.

What Debruge referred to was a handbill distributed at the plant Tuesday that he called "racially inflammatory." Both sides accused the other of unfair tactics as the election drew nearer.

The handbill stated, "Thirty-seven years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life fighting for union workers in Memphis, Tenn. Let's keep his dream alive Nov. 30, 2005. Vote 'yes' union."

Teamsters organizers said Wednesday that the handbill didn't come from them.

I guess it is not strange; race is the sine qua non in AL but it can hardly ever be discussed in public or polite company. I would hazard a guess that this flyer was only one side of a "racially inflammatory campaign".

While We Are On the Topic

Of cute baby animals, here's a creature I would not want to pass through my talapoosa, or whatever euphemism you prefer:

Meanwhiles, McSweeney's has this funny piece about how babies are really no big deal. Check it.

Argh! 2

If you can't see the text to the post above or below, drag your cursor over it to highlight the blank areas. This is the freaking scourge of my blog and I have not figured out yet how to fix it.

Weeping for the Lameness of It All

The Church of the Leaking Teabag has pulled this little stunt up there in Sacramento. Why why why are people so gullible?

In an equally obvious, but far more effective, ploy to manipulate public sentiment, the National Zoo let journalists see the new baby giant panda. You MUST watch the video. You'll die of cuteness.

You can also link the video from the NYT article.

For Inspiration

Sometimes, when it's been a few days since I posted, and I can't think of anything to say, I wander over to the Montgomery Advertiser and see what's ripe for the picking. Herewith, your letter du jour:

Look closer at true traitors

Be careful, Mr. Smith. You raised the specter of treason in your letter of Nov. 9, and this may cause people to reflect upon who the real traitors are in the United States. They are those who hate George Bush so much they are willing to destroy this country to bring him down.

They are the "blame America first" crowd, the critics of our troops and the underminers of the war on terrorism. They aid and abet the enemy by vociferously proclaiming the enemy line on TV and in the press. They see this war as another Vietnam and are determined to sabotage and lose it, too. They are the ones who hate God and the Christian religion and would turn us into a secular, socialistic state like much of Europe.

These are the real traitors and it amazes me that they haven't been called to account. Or maybe they have been and will be at the ballot boxes by the "sheeple" you disdain so contemptuously. Carole Wink, Millbrook

And if that doesn't make you squirm, then maybe this will. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

Enjoy.

http://www.oz.net/~bestockp/shanasweb/

Did Anyone Notice?

Condoleeza Rice's wierd man-hand, on the cover of today's New York Times? Gross.

Or maybe Ariel Sharon had his arm around her shoulder, and was reaching up to swipe a wisp of hair away from her sleek sunglasses.

I can't find the picture on the web: so check this scene. What is going on here?!

Is he literally going to peel this other guy's face off, starting at the neck?

This is Wierd

Article III Groupie has been outed as David Lat. Or outed his/her self. Or something. Can you please read this and tell me what the hell it's about?

Obligatory Post

I have to add a post so that you will be able to read the post below. I have no idea why this is so. But here it is, so you don't miss out on a word of my pithy observations.

A Rare Overlap in My Life

Normally, this is the kind of news that I would post over at The Union Lawyer, but I thought my Bama peeps would like to know that the Teamsters are organizing workers at an auto plant outside of Montgomery. The NLRB has just issued a complaint against the employer Daehan Solutions for threatening to close the plant if the workers chose the union in the upcoming election. The election will be held on November 30, and, if the union wins, it would be one of the first union auto plants in the area.

In Lieu of Content

Yes, grandparents, we will post these on Shutterfly toot-sweet.

Why Do I Care?

Tyra Banks is swiftly reaching the point of becoming the subject of an critical theory/gender studies paper with her weird-ass stunts. Like the fat suit. The breast sonogram. And the upcoming live butt endermologie treatment.

Since I'm not in a position to write that paper (Black Bottoms: A Cosmology of the Superficiality of Gender and Size; Or, "Dimpled Butt": Theories of Race and Cosmetological Artifice), I would just like a footnote from the author who wrestles with this topic.

Oh, and while we are on the topic of race, superficiality and culture, a shout-out to LKC for bringing this article, U. of C. Gets Rap for Theme of Party, to my attention. It's an interesting change in tactics for Chicago. They are now getting faux angry about a problem they intend to do nothing about. They used to just ignore problems they intended to do nothing about.

Scuba Man Strike Again

Hide the chocolate, here come's the Scuba Man again:

I Am Feeling A Little Let Down

I was going to leave the Libby indictment post-mort to Poo-Poo Platter, but since the Blossoming Turd (aka Official A) was not indicted, I am going to comment briefly.

I was all ready to rally around the idea that this was just the first indictment of many (Fitzukkah rather than Fitzmas, as has been said), but I've read the indictment and I think that, sadly, Scooter made his own little bed and will have to sleep in it, cold and alone. It wasn't illegal for Cheney and the CIA to tell Scooter that Wilson was in the CIA, and it wasn't illegal for I. to tell Fleischer, Miller, "Counsel to the Vice President", or Cooper that info either. It was just illegal to lie about it. And wow, did he lie about it. What an idiot.

I Kept My Eyes on the Prize

I called it. You can send checks, cash, trophies and gold bullion to me at my PayPal account. You know why. Poor Harriet. Does she really think this news will last past noon EST if Fitzgerald indicts even the cleaning lady?

You Can Feel The Magic

Friends. Chicago Ex-Pats. You are excited about tonight. The Sox!! They've won! How will you celebrate? Oh, probably alone in your big city, missing the stale beery smell of a Southside bar and the companionship of Rob Schrader. Well, search no further, my friends. Here he is, to celebrate the Sox victory with you.



That's him, there at the left, midground. At Puffers. Remember the hot bartender? Yeah him. And her. What the hell were they doing in Bridgeport? Anyway, back to your beer, and your worrying how you will get Shredder home safely in that condition.

Recipe for a Bar Association Dinner - in Haiku

Here's a haiku recipe poem regarding the Bar Association of San Francisco dinner we went to last night:

One Linda Ronstadt
supports pro bono lawyers
with liberal ditties

Then John Edwards speaks
favors Katrina refugees
for re-election

Passable chicken
So many lawyers - head spins
Add in Meredith and Brook

And when I was inspired to write those little gems, I came up about this one about The Boys fellow traveler back from Boston:

Early off the plane
Big Geraldo Rivera
Orange sunglasses

Bad News for Anti-Union Employers

It's a little difficult to post news about one's own personal achievements but I thought it was only fair warning to let the Anti-Union Employers of America (a.k.a. Wal-Mart) know: the partners at my firm voted unanimously to make me a partner this evening, and, I suppose, through my enthusiasm, I have accepted. So, wooo-hooo!!!

Is Harriet Miers a Stall Tactic for Bush?

As you know, I have already predicted that Harriet Miers will withdraw her nomination, probably on the pretense of needing to care for her elderly mother (rather than because she's unqualified). The question now is, when will she announce? Is she stalling to buy time for the President? And if so, what's he waiting for?

One guess: He's waiting for Scooter Libby's indictment on Friday afternoon, and then HM can withdraw her name Monday. That will keep the vultures busy for a few more days. Then Bush can announce her replacement the following Monday, just when folks might start noticing that the House of Cards (or of, err, Andrew Card) is starting to fall.

Any other thoughts on the smoke screen?

BTW: Check out this b***sh** "Ask Harriet Miers" forum posted on the White House webpage. I think I am going to barf up a lung.

Love is a Beautiful Thing

From Craigslist. This is so moving.

juror at your trial - m4w

As fate and a juror summons would have it, you entered my life. I was juror #4 at your 2 day trial for drug possession, assault and battery, and resisting arrest at Circuit Court at 26th & California. Unfortunately, I like "bad girls". I am afflicted with "opposites attract" syndrome in the worst way. The mere mention of "26th & California" or that late night call from a raspy, but lovely voice saying, "Hey baby, I'm in jail" warms my heart and brings back fond memories. I was so captivated by your profile that I could hardly pay attention to what was said; evidence this or that, blah, blah, blah. I love the Snoopy, butterfly, and bunny tattoos on your neck and arms. You had a cute snarl for each witness. As hard as I tried, there was no swaying the verdicts in your favor because lets face it, you were guilty as hell! Give me a shout out in 2 to 4 years...depending on good behavior. I will assume it's the latter based on your tantrum and the sucker punch to your lawyer. I'll look out for your release date!!! Good luck and be good,

Juror#4

What's In Store for Our Little Friend?

Now that Chief Justice Roberts has ascended to his throne, and all the heat is on Harriet Miers, you are probably worried that Jack Roberts will fall out of the news until he is arrested at age 17, or until his wild coming-out while hosting Saturday Night Live in 22 years. Fear not. Master Jack clearly plans to hijack the headlines at every chance he gets. He's a busy little man. Check out this C.V.

1. He may run for the Oregon Supreme Court. Not surprisingly, he will run as a Republican. He probably had to wait until his father was confirmed before making his announcement, to alleviate the political fall-out.
2. He does voice-over work from a private studio in a remote London suburb. Unfortunately, he's non-union. As a Republican Labor Commissioner in OR, however, this is not surprising.
3. He's leading climbing expeditions in Colorado. Which is sort of dangerous for a 4-year old, but his parents have not demonstrated that they have a lot of control over his behavior.
4. He's selling his art. It's not very good, but then of course, he is only 4.
5. He's . . . bartending?! Geez, can the oversight of this child be any more lax?
6. Now this one is really strange. He's trying to cultivate a reputation as a leading champion of the Olsen twins, in the guise of a founder of a group called Teens/Adults Who Love the Olsen Twins. Only a four year old would think that this sounds legitimate. Jack Roberts agrees with me that he, and not those other brats, should have been taken under the Olsen wings to be cultivated for a multibillion dollar synergism.
7. And if all these don't work, the young lad is bright enough to realize that sometimes a good steady engineering job, done with pride and poise, is the best reward in itself.

A Quick Tour Through Montgomery

We got back from our trip to Montgomery last night and there's a lot to tell. But let me start you off with this image:

That's what it looks like near the end of a meal of pulled pork at Sam's BBQ on Atlanta Highway. It turns out that a child can survive on french fries for 4 full days, by the way.

The trip started out with a visit to Jeff and Danielle's, where some rabbit got snuck into the dinner. Mmm, rabbit. When in 'bama, dine on the available roadkill, I guess.

On Saturday, we visited Abraham (my son's entry: "Abraham, pee-pee, potty") and then went to Sam's.

It's true, I think. After lunch, we drove past the former home of Poo Poo Platter, and I can assure you, it was just as he left it. In fact, the rocker on the porch was swaying in a manner that suggested he had just gotten up to yell at his dawg. After a nap and a jump in the pool, Doodle went back to Abraham's, and BD and I headed over to the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, for the Judge's celebration. Congressman Artur Davis (clerk circa 1995) mc'ed; other speakers included Honorable Truman Hobbes, Dean John L. Carroll of Cumberland School of Law, Dr. Joe L. Reed, and Bill Baxley, husband to Lucy Baxley (among other noteworthy accomplishments). Miles was the most moving speaker, but the whole affair was really really nice.

Sunday, we went to visit Ms. Kirkpatrick at her new home. She's 92 and she looked great. She gave L a flag that was on her dresser, saying (imagine a drawl here), "Ah'm so glad to give it to him. Ah didn't have the heart to throw that out." We ran from there to Judge's for a brunch. After the Kid napped, we went to Tina's, where L learned to program a Cray II Supercomputer.

In (one of) Montgomery's (many) misguided attempts of boosterism, the following has recently appeared 2 houses West of the Fitzgerald Museum, which proudly trumpets the fact that Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived in Montgomery for 10 weeks:

Say what?

Let Me Be the First

I want to get on record way ahead of everyone and predict that Harriet Miers will withdraw her name for the nomination for Sandra Day O'Connor's Supreme Court seat. I have no information to support that. If I am wrong, then whatever. But if I am right, I will collect untold millions in cash, prizes, bullion and the esteem of my colleagues. A trophy with my name engraved on it will be paraded through the towns. Mark my words.

If Only...

If only the python smoked, maybe he wouldn't have been hungry to eat the alligator.

Just a Couple Can't Miss Items

Thanks to HD for sharing this great story about a chimp in China who has finally quit smoking after 16 years and 2 heartbreaks.

And if you thought the golf disability question was well-settled, both in law and in this blog, you were mistaken. The SF Chronicle reports that disabled golfers are suing for golf carts at 80 Marriott golf courses. Why exactly, now, are golf courses cartless?

Mustache Championship or Union Convention?

You make the call:

What's The Matter With Miers?

I was listening to NPR this morning, and one of the conservative commentators interviewed was lamenting the fact that Harriet Miers has never clerked for a Supreme Court justice, did not go to a prestigious law school, has never had any of her writings published, etc. This sentiment echoes the disappointment of other conservatives, including Article III Groupie, who does not hide her confusion about why Bush would nominate such a plebe.

I don't have an opinion about Harriet Miers (other than I dislike anyone associated with Bush) but it strikes me that the conservative response to her nomination is so unabashedly elitist that I am inclined to like (or not hate her) solely on the basis of the fact that she is not one of the Elite.

But I also note that the conservative response to Mier's nomination perfectly illustrates Tom Frank's point (everywhere, but most compactly) in What's the Matter with Kansas? Conservatives claim to trumpet the values of the common folk, and insist that Bush's entire presidency has been about waiting for This Very Moment, so that a Real Conservative could finally take back the SCOTUS for The People, instead of the Liberal Elite. But when a good old fashioned boot-strapper like Harriet Miers gets nominated, without fancy schoolin' or ass-kissin', they shoot her down as trailer trash. Conservatives don't want a Justice of the People, they want an elite, privileged insider who they can count on to do their bidding. Arguably, Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers may be the first time in Bush's presidency when he has actually done something for his base, unmediated by conservative lobbyists and pundits. And look at the trouble he's in now.

My Son's Blog: Entry 1

Chris nice. Blue vase.

Bama Folks: Who is This Guy?

I am probably the last one to have read this but, Underneath Their Robes is reporting that W. Keith Watkins has been nominated to replace Judge Albritton. Clerks: What's his story?

Grappling with the Hard Issues

A new reader to this blog (and my other blog The Union Lawyer) asked two very good questions:

1. Is it "to wit" or is it "to whit"?

2. Where does the kerfuffle over Flightplan fit in these blogs? Who gets first blogging rights to it?

These are pretty hard hitting questions. The answers:

1. "To wit". In the future, I will be more careful with my idiomatic toss-offs.

2. I think the Flightplan boycott discussion belongs in this blog, if it belongs anywhere. I feel this way for a couple of reasons. It's celebrity news, so unless it concerns Sandra Feldman's passing, then The Union Lawyer probably won't blog about it. And Sandra Feldman, godresthersoul, was not really a celebrity. The other reason is, this boycott is annoying. (Sub-reason: I like Jodie Foster.) People can tell the difference between real flight attendants and fake-ass flight attendants in a movie, and flight attendants should not getting all heroic over nothing, i.e. this movie. This boycott does nothing to illuminate the labor struggles of workers in the airline industry (which are legion) and everything to (a) publicize this movie and (b) make the flight attendants' union look like they are pitching a fit til their next order of bon-bons arrives. Not that I think flight attendants eat bon-bons or anything (although a publicized boycott of this website might get it some actual readers), but you can well picture the scene.

I would just note that labor lawyers did not boycott Enemy of the State, even though Will Smith was a labor lawyer in that movie (okay, so he was the good guy), and his labor lawyer bosses and clients were protrayed as weak or mafioso. I recognize that my point is not well-made by this comparison. But I recommend this tagline from Enemy of the State to the Flight Attendants: "It's not paranoia if they're really after you."

In the case of the Flightplan boycott, I say this: Flight attendants: they are not after you; it's paranoia.

Sorry to Harsh Your Mellow

In case you were feeling all giddy from Tom DeLay's Recent Unpleasantness, here's a few questions from Mike Davis about what the hell happened in New Orleans. Thanks, Dunes. If you are not already familiar with Mike Davis, read Ecology of Fear or City of Quartz. That way you won't have to hear me blather on about him if the topic of Los Angeles ever comes up between us.

This Should Make Your Day!

Ding dong, the Witch has been indicted. Buh-bye, Tom DeLay.



DeLay's indictment has the same pigs-can-fly-in-frozen-hell feel to it as the news that a giant squid has finally been photographed.

My Brain Seeped Out of My Ear

Thank you, Kimi Peck, for your efforts. Now, formerly homeless Chihuahuas can distinguish themselves on the fields of glory, competing for the World's Fastest Chihuahua.

What's your problem, Dre? You are probably wondering. Frankly, I don't have an answer to that question.

From Beyond the Watery Remains

Allen! Greetings from New Orleans. Suze and I have for the most part been enjoying ourselves. We had one glitch the other night getting help up outside this divey 9th ward joint called Vaughn's. The kid couldn't have been more than 13, the gun he was pointing at us looked older. Anyway, it's nothing a few sazeracs won't cure. Southern hospitality does exist, provided you don't get shot first. TaTa Rich

This site, Greetings From New Orleans, is a great fake "found art" project that y'all should check out. Pre-K, this guy made 99 postcards, wrote out stuff on the back (addressed to an address in Ohio), put a stamp on them and "lost" them all over New Orleans. 47 of the cards were helpfully put in mailboxes by their finders, and the artist has put his cards up. Normally Mardi Gras photography is a genre that annoys the living sh*t out of me, but under the present circumstances, these are quite striking. Enjoy.

This is Just Good for a Quick Chuckle

McSweeney's article today on G.W.'s unqualified successes in office so far.

Speaking Truth to Power

Here's one of the more reasonable letters appearing in the Montgomery Advertiser today:

I would like to know how a official in an Arabian horse association was chosen by the administration as the head of FEMA, and if there were any connections with Saudi Arabian oil contacts and the administration governing his obvious political appointment. I think a full investigation is needed to find out why the president approved this selection. John Crookston Montgomery

The rest of the letters are so nonsensical that I can't even summarize their main points. But I do like the Bright Idea that Arabian horses and Saudi oil interests aligned to get "Brownie" his job at FEMA.

More Slow News Day Photos

Like a slow news day on Channel 7, I fill the void with human interest footage. I don't have the video of the squirrel on the waterskis or anything. Instead here are some pix from Fireman Doodle. And I don't know what's up with the blue font. Sorry.

I Finally Figured Out Links

Notice that I managed to navigate the sophisticated underbelly of this program to include links, so if you have one, let me know, and I'll add it.

Can Someone From Montgomery Please Tell Me What's Going On??

I earlier posted that liberals were at the helm at The Montgomery Advertiser during Katrina. But apparently the change is permanent in the cartoon editorial department (assuming such a department exists). Or folks are getting really pissed. I know Bobby Bright is, and not in a good way. He's advocating that folks arm themselves, probably against the evacuees that landed in Mongum'ry.

Tales Too Amazing to Be Fiction

Thanks to Pooplatter, I was steered to this DailyKos bit'o'brilliance. Check it out.

The Truth about Those Roberts' Kids

BlameBush! has this awesome piece about those wacky Roberts' kids. It does stoke my theory that Jack has a bit of the Ron Reagan about him. Since I guess bloggers are supposed to constantly credit one another so that their Blog Shares go up: Thanks, UTR.

Do They Have the Authority to Do This?

Yahoo News! has this headline: Olsen Twins Pick Boy Successors. It's too bad that there aren't two Jack Roberts in this world*. I wondered what they were going to do when they got too old for their little 'tween empire-building. This frees them up to be the next Doublemint twins, fug-style.

By the way, Get Your War On has been replenished. And it's chicken soup for the abandoned, poverty-stricken corpse's soul.

*Who knows, maybe there are. Jack was adopted from Ireland. Maybe there's another wacky tyke out there just like him.

The Jack Roberts Album

This is awesome.




What gang is Jack a member of? (Thanks, pooplatter.)

It's A Start, I Guess

The New York Times has this story on Bosnian peace efforts:

BOSNIA: COMING TOGETHER OVER BRUCE LEE The ethnically divided Bosnian city of Mostar has agreed to erect a new symbol of unity - a statue of the martial arts legend Bruce Lee, left, beloved of the city's Muslims, Serbs and Croats alike. The statue, cast in bronze and showing the star in a fighting pose, will be designed by a local sculptor and put up in Mostar's central square in November. Mr. Lee's widow, Linda, will be invited to attend the ceremony. A civic group in the strife-ridden city developed the idea in 2003, and recently won a $6,250 donation from a German organization to finance the project. Veselin Gatalo, a member of the organizing group, said, "This will be a monument to universal justice that Mostar needs more than any other city I know." (Reuters)

Maybe if we buy them all a Coke, they'll live in harmony.

Jack Roberts Rocks!

There is a picture in the NYT this morning (page A17) that I cannot find on the web, showing Jack Roberts yawning during the confirmation hearing yesterday. It turns out they did not make the kids sit there all day (Roberts himself looked like he could barely stand to be there, and I wonder if his lip will ever recover from all that chewing).

Jack also started the morning with some muscle-flexing for the press, but no one has put the pictures on the web. If someone can find them, send me a link.

All this, combined with his known krumping, makes me think that Jack Roberts may turn out to be a non-lame Ron Reagan.

The Most Senseless and Awful Thing I Have Seen This Week (well, almost)

You must be wondering: What is more senseless and awful than the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina (and the willful ignorance of generations of politicians/governments, etc etc)?

Answer: A Burning Man attendee trying to justify why he had fun at the festival, despite Katrina.

Now That's Good People

Thanks to Jen for passing this one along. The Tuscaloosa News reports that one Alabama football fan opened his heart, and his hotel room, to hurricane evacuees/refugees.

Billy Ray Moore has been coming to every University of Alabama football game since he can remember. And for years, this Florence resident has slept at the Hampton Inn on Harper Lee Drive. But the 57-year-old Moore won’t be at Bryant Denny/Stadium on Saturday. He’s staying home so a family that lost everything to Hurricane Katrina can use the room he/sreserved nine months ago.“This thing is catastrophic in so many ways," Moore said. “There is no way I could put even an Alabama football game above that.“I love Alabama football, but I love my fellow man even more."

Wow. I will let you make your own sarcastic, angry remarks.

By the way, lots of folks stuck in New Orleans are expressing anger that many troops and supplies have been mobilized to Iraq. They perceive Iraq as getting services that are needed in New Orleans. While the good people of Baghdad might quibble with that (and I doubt anyone in the Superdome knows about the stampede), this attitude really increases the pressure on Bush and Congress to get their act together and fix this debacle. Probably most folks left in New Orleans were not pro-Bush, pro-war to start with, but the scenes painted by the news, coupled with the reiteration of this anger, could really fuel anti-war sentiment nationally.

Red Cross Hurricane Fund

The Red Cross is accepting on-line donations for Hurricane Katrina Relief at https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

The Red Cross is describing this as the biggest US relief operation they’ve ever mounted because of the number of displaced individuals.

Oakland Did Not Have the Juice

Usually I rely on hometown news provider The Oakland Tribune for the wierd shit I put on this page. The OT was not bringing it today, so I wandered over to The Montgomery Advertiser for some good stuff. Unfortunately, Katrina is tearing AL a new one at the moment. Which must have the liberals at the editorial helm, because this cartoon ran today.

Another Slow News Days

My brain has been sort of empty lately, incapable of sussing out wacky news or generating pithy ways of making fun of John Roberts. In lieu of golf or mustache theories, I will continue to woo you with pictures of the Buddha Man.

Problems You Didn't Want to Worry About

Readers outside of Cali may not have to worry YET, but those of you living in the Golden State should probably be on the lookout for the plague. Yeah, that plague. California cats are carriers, according to the Oakland Tribune. And I know you trust them.

The Bean of Which Ms. H Speaks

Of COURSE He Is!

It turns out, the Piano Man is German. He finally identified himself. And he can only tap on one piano key repeatedly, not play Swan Lake. And he's been drawing Kilroy, not pianos. I made that last one up, but frankly, that's where this story is headed.

To augment the slow news

I thought this was a no-news day, but Piano Man surfaced, so instead, you can consider this a slow-news-day supplement

Can I Get a Hell Yeah?

In some sense, it's rude to make your friends the focus of a blog entry, and in some other, but related, sense, they have to expect it. Right? So Radio Boy proposes to do a blog along the following lines, and I want you, my other friends, to vote it into existence by saying, Yes, Radio Boy, Yes! Or maybe I should say, "Can I get a hell yeah? hell yeah hell yeah"

I thought about creating a blog that was devoted to classic rock. I'd use the voice classic rock fans use when they write reviews on Amazon. You know, stuff like: "IMHO Starz is a criminally under-appreciatedband. They are the missing link between Aerosmith and Triumph. You can't understand anything about this portion of the continuum of mid- to late-seventies rockdom without understanding Starz. Richie Ranno's leads were f-ing awesome! THEY ROCKED! YAW!" And the blog could have a feature devoted to the rock-n-roll deaths of hair-metal rockers ("Scott Smith of Loverboy was swept off the deck of a yacht by a wave. Dude,that is SO FREAKIN' COOL!") and maintain body-counts from fires and tramplings at hair-metal shows at shit-hole clubs in places like Columbus and Harrisburg ("So I'm sure you all heard that 10 folks were stomped to death at an April Wine show in Sioux City last week. What you might not know is that the band was playing Rock & Roll Is a Vicious Game when it happened. It's a tragedy and all that, but isn't it f-ing poetry that they were playing that song when folks were getting trampled? IMHO it just shows how freakin' TRUE that song is! ROCK ON AND RIP!")

Scratching That Bed Race Itch

I know that ever since I posted about my Dad's Libertarian Bed Race Fiasco, you have been wondering: when is the next bed race? Can I enter? Can I win?! The answers are September 5, Yes, and Hells No! Here's why:

The race will begin at 9 a.m. with the team from Sergio's Restaurant returning to defend not only its 2004 title, but the best time ever posted by any team in the 30-plus year history of the bed race. The Sergio's Restaurant team won the title last year in a stunning burst of speed, sailing past all competitors, to post a record-breaking time of 1:43.16.

I highly doubt that you amateurs are going beat that. You could get noticed for your bed's decorations however. But probably not, since

In a new twist reminiscent of the bed races of the 1970s, LaserZone on Rte . 20 will not only enter a bed in the race, but will decorate one for the Lions Club's entry in the Labor Day parade.

In case you were inclined to give humanity a break

Don't do it. As evidence by this stampede at an iBook sale, we are truly the worst species on the planet.

Wondering what your problem is?

Ella helpfully passes along this link where you can find a list of all known phobias. Please note, this is known phobias; I cannot find a name for the fear of reproductive tourists.

Another sign of Aporkalypse?

The term "reproductive tourists" makes me want to barf. For some folks, though, a trip to Egg-o-land is just the thing for a relaxing vacation.

Hidden Rees

Dig the Mustache of Understanding. I'm glad that David Rees has his own mustache theory, even if it in no way jibes with mine.

The Amway M.O.

I know that the capture of this escaped convict and his gun-blazin' bride is all over the place, but the best part is the tip-off of the cabdriver:

"They didn't strike me as the Amway type because to be honest they weren't very pushy about their product and I've dealt with them before so — that was my only real suspicion," Wagers said.

Latest affliction to hit Bay Area

Here is a great story about a driving instructor so afraid of driving that his only self-medication is grope his female students. And y'all know we're crazy out here....

In the probation report prepared by authorities, Cat is quoted as saying
that he was driven over the edge by a phobia of having no control while being in
a car while someone else was driving.

Cuddle up with Karl Rove

I hate to scoop Poo Poo Platter on some juicy anti-Rove material, but y'all should check out Steal This Sweater, the website of a political knitter. I particularly "like" her mittens with the Iraq body counts on them. So warm and toasty.

Alabama's Medicaid's Riposte

As you know, Jen Lav, through a dentist friend of hers, enlisted Cher's help in battling her client's problems with Alabama Medicaid. You KNOW that Alabama won't take that s**t lying down. Here's a recent story from the Tuscaloosa news (reprinted in full so that you won't have to give them highly valuable private information):

Cher, the international movie, TV and pop star, has a song in her vast repertoire called “I’m No Angel." But you couldn’t prove it by Joseph Sullivan of Northport.The 16-year-old has muscular dystrophy. He can move his head and fingers but little else. His mother, who is 69, is disabled from two strokes. Sullivan lost his Medicaid coverage this summer when his survivor benefits from his father’s death increased his monthly income to $13 over the agency’s $599 limit. When Medicaid was cut off, his family couldn’t afford the $190 a week cost of home health care that helped keep Sullivan bathed and dressed. Without those simple amenities, his hopes of leaving his house and eventually returning to school were dimmed. A local dentist, Dr. Tony Davis, heard of Sullivan’s plight and contacted Cher, who has been helping children with disabilities since her movie“Mask," which focused on a disfigured teen. She donated $550 for two weeks of home health care, saying that she hoped the money would inspire others to help the Sullivan family. Now the Area Agency on Aging for West Alabama is providing the family $1,200 from money set aside for caretakers older than age 60. Along with the seed money from Cher, it will cover Sullivan’s home health care through October. Meanwhile, others have donated nearly $450. Cher might be the first to admit that she has not always lived an exemplary life. But there is no denying the good that she has done in helping to publicize Sullivan’s plight. In an age of cold glitz and hot Hollywood scandals, her involvement shows that celebrity can be a positive force as well. We hope it inspires many others to help the Sullivans.

So Jen asks, what did Cher do that was so bad to deserve this little offhand slap? I posit that AL is starting a smear campaign against Cher to discredit her good works in helping the Sullivans. Shame on them.

By the way, her old name is Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre Bono Allman.

A Little Tale of How John Roberts Came to Do Right in this World

Here's what I imagine happened:

As we all know, the Roberts' clan is very talented, dance-wise. I have wondered, here, does John Roberts krump? Well, that's just silly. John Roberts is too old to krump. But he isn't too old to Vogue. Rather, he wasn't too old to Vogue when Vogueing was cool. In fact, JR was something of a Vogueing wunderkind, but he was so old school, so underground, so Old Way, that Madonna didn't tout him on her tour, and he faded out of the scene when he went to DOJ and couldn't really find any good clubs in DC that weren't filled with skinheads and skaterats.

Anyway, years pass, and he gets a call from an old buddy. "JR, honey, we're trying to get rid of that stupid law in Colorado banning bans on discrimination. I recall that you were a lawyer or something, can you give us a hand?" So John pulls his fedora out of the closet and goes on to help win Romer v. Evans. When the briefs are filed and the arguments are made, JR puts the hat back in the closet, changes his phone number, starts shaving against the grain, and hopes to Gawd that those old friends don't tell anyone he helped.

Proof that Alabama Medicaid Did Not Know Who It Was Messing With.

As you know, I have previously touted the wondrous deeds of J. Lav. We all knew it was just a matter of time before Jen brought Alabama's f***ed up Medicaid system to its knees. It turns out that Jen has a secret Superfriend in her battles: CHER. I once saw Mike Dukakis on the street in Boston, but we didn't even make eye contact (at 14, I was already taller than he was).* No celebrity has ever come to my assistance, although now I guess I can claim Jenny Lav as my celebrity helper, since she babysat a few times and even brought a delicious chicken over when the Doodle was born.

Anyway, Cher is a big deal, and I hope that, with Cher's help, Alabama Medicaid comes begging Jen for help in clearing up what is no doubt an awful backlog of denied benefit appeals they've been meaning to grant.

* I do have more recent celebrity sightings than this. For example, my cousin saw Viggo Mortenson at an anti-war rally, holding a poster of Earth or something. Also, Rowan Atkinson took a piece of cauliflower off Brook's plate at the River Cafe in London (not exactly true) and Val Kilmer has 2 daughters, one of whom is a tomboy that looks like Oliver from the Brady Bunch after it jumped the shark. But my friend Virginia sort of passively engineered those sightings, so I feel like maybe she's my celebrity helper, in the sense that she has helped me to see celebrities.

Better than the Matrix Name Generator

You may or may not be this bored: Hobbit Name Generator

I was.

Verily,

Rithralindë High Queen of the Noldor

My second least favorite political party of the day

I am so glad that Libertarians are keeping themselves busy trying to get eminent domain over the Supreme Court Justices' homes while the Prez fiddles and the Constitution burns.

Which reminds me. When I was a kid, my dad ran for Congress on the Libertarian party ticket in Indiana. I have two memories about his candidacy. (1) The head of the state party had one room in his house that was a monkey cage and had a scary monkey; and (2) as part of his campaign, my dad ran in a local bed race but one of the wheels came off before he finished.

You can see why I still cannot stand the Libertarians.

Fight for Your Right to Birdie, Part II

BD points out that there have been other civil rights' victories on the golf course, including Casey Martin's victory* over the PGA Tour for an accommodation to use a golf cart during tournament play. I thought about it some last night (I know, lame) and I think there are a few reasons why golf courses are the loci of civil rights litigation:

1. Golf courses/country clubs have many stupid rules, many of which, when challenged, illustrate how unnecessarily self-regulated golf courses and country clubs are.

2. "Golf course" and "country club" are two of the only phrases that evoke a certain class meaning without additional description. They are "white", "old money", "straight", "healthy" and most of all "rich". Thus, in civil rights discourse and litigation, they are an easy stereotypical "villain". Which does not entirely explain why they get sued more.

3. Except it does. Obviously, in litigation, "rich" = "deep pockets", so that might make them even more attractive. But more importantly, the plaintiffs in these suits are golfers, which like "country club" and "golf course" means that they are "white" and "rich". This means they have the means (financial) to litigate, and the sense of entitlement to dream that they should have access to any golf course in America.

Which I guess is why I have a hard time having my heart strings tugged by these folks, notwithstanding the fact that there victories open the door to so many good outcomes.

*Scalia's dissent discusses "Platonic golf", which, although funny to imagine, demonstrates how far afield of reality Scalia will sometimes go to avoid joining an opinion that acknowledges a statutory or Constitutional right.

A Formal Apology

I am real sorry about all the puns. I can't promise that I will stop, but I regret them even as I type them.

Fight for Your Right to Birdie

Okay, I am totally down with the recent Cal Supremes ruling that domestic partners are entitled to the same discounts afforded to married couples, but since when is golfing a "human right"? Sooth the plaintiff in the recent suit that permits her partner to golf for free just like a married spouse at their country club: "We aren't activists, we aren't politically charged. We just wanted to play golf together and we just really felt we had every human right to do that."

ARGH!! Along with the whole Masters battle about women playing at Augusta (Michelle Wei will walk in next year, which is so third - or is it fourth? - wave feminist), this idea that our human rights battles occur on the golf course makes me sick. I recognize that this is not the most cutting commentary ever, but could we get a friggin' injustice up in here, please?

Scuba Man

Further Evidence in Support of My Theory of the Crippled Spirit

Bear with me to the end of this. I have this theory about the labor movement that grows out of the following maxim: You can tell when an old person loses it, because they do not buy any new styles after the season of the onset of their losing it. This is my Gram's theory. She can tell - to the season - when someone drops out.

This theory applies, whole cloth, to the labor movement. But there's only one moment that occurred for thousands of people - The PATCO strike. Many in Labor never recovered from Reagan's firing of more than 11,000 air traffic controllers. And you can tell because a lot of people in labor still sport fashions from 1981, including a vast array of mustaches.

So whatever. I've had this theory for years, and occasionally (okay, weekly, in my line of work), I will meet someone, and think, Yeah, The Theory.

But then I get this update from a friend who was at the AFL-CIO convention:

What I'm sure you won't read anywhere else is that the convention closed with the playing of Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin'.' From John Sweeney to Journey.
Perhaps the oddest segue in AF of L convention history.

And the saddest.

The most satisfying thing I have done today

Poo Poo Platter offered up this satisfying little treat. It's even better when you "assist" Gee Dub through the bubbles.

Best advice ever?

Maureen Dowd relates in a recent NYT piece that her mother once wrote:

"I hope you will never take a drink when you are unhappy. It would break my heart to think you had become a jobless derelict, an easy prey for unscrupulous men, me dead, and a family who held you in contempt because you had tossed aside your beauty, youth and talent."

Strangely, it makes me want to have a glass of wine when I read that.

I'm blog-giddy tonight!

Finally, the reclusive but brilliant Misha Collins has emerged from his scholarship on all things Canadian to describe his role in the upcoming thriller Karla. To wit: "This story had changed the way Canada thinks about itself," he said. "If that's true, that makes it all the more vital material to explore in a film."

Sometimes, Misha's bon mots are so concise and, dare I say, true, that I cannot even parse their real significance. Not since his work interpreting "Baltimore" in Liberty Heights has the man I once knew as Misha Krushnik turned in such powerful work. Or maybe this turn will soar with his role as Man Hanging from the Rope in The Crux. Good job, Misha.

To those uneducated in the ways of MC, think Matthew Barney* mashed up with Matthew Bender, and you get the idea.

*I'm not going to link to The Cremaster Cycle website for fear it has something that could offend my mom or mother-in-law on it. I didn't even want to poke around on the site myself. My sensitivities are that delicate.

My bad-computer-programming self

Can't get the image-adding-machine to work at the moment, so for some new pix of Liam and other people who you may not know, click here.

Where are the hell. . .

Before I get back to my incisive political commentary (see the one sizzling post below this one), I thought I would give a brief update on my past week. But first, a disclaimer:

I do not intend to turn this blog into an annoying micro-gossip fest or just a place to post pictures of my cute kid. I am only doing it in this instance so that people who care, but could not accompany me through my week, can share my experiences. If you don't care, and you're all "Who's Emily? And who cares what she named her kid?", then this post is not for you. But if life updates of my exes is really what you tune in for, stick around.

Me and the two cutest people I know traveled to Chicago for a wedding and to see our various friends, fathers (okay, just one of those) and former flames. Dave and Rebecca got married. Greg was there with Mary and the Holy Child. Dan was there with HIS Rebecca, but Steve was there without his Rebecca, who is on bedrest for, like, forever. Emily was there with her kids, Ellie and, get this, William. Yeah, William. I think its wierd, too. We saw Dan and Connie and Axel and Sander, and Tom was there sans Wendy but avec Maddie (not that weird since she's his daughter). Other Baffleros were present. Andy G was in the house. In addition to the wedding, we saw my Dad, Ella, Tim and Suzy, and Hannah and her new special man.

Are you dead of boredom yet? You are supposed to be. Travel with a 21-month old is rough stuff. The stultifying heat did not help, although aside from the weather (and a rough patch on the outgoing flight), L-dawg was pretty chill. Bonus: "Scuba man" (pronounced "Buddha man") has replaced "Bat the ball" as the most oft-said phrase in my child's daily-expanding vocab.

So that's it. I will put pix up in a minute.

Not as funny as the John Roberts' one. Maybe not funny at all.

T&A Lady has an interesting exchange about Ann Landers, which prompted me to dig out a post I started last week. I think it's a little creepy that T&A Lady and I are on some wierd, advice-giving-columnist wavelength.

How low on the celebrity totem pole do you have to go before you no longer have to tolerate the adult children of celebrities and their pitiful attempts to re-live their parents' "glory days"? As an Ann Landers fan, I am not sure whether Dear Abby even had a glory day, so why is her daughter forcing us to walk the same lovelorn path that teens in 1960 were treading? And is she really making her living off of selling pamphlets about wedding planning and some such? I realize that this problem (C-list celebrity children) is not as pressing as the SCOTUS nomination (what IS a charm offensive?) but TomKat is the sole province of T&A, and Bradgelina's touching adoption and recent struggle against meningitis puts them off-limits. Plus, they bore me to tears so I can only google them once every fiscal year.

Admittedly, I need to warm back up to this blogging thing.

There is hope yet for the Roberts family

I wonder if Judge Roberts can krump as well as his son can?



His mother, Pepto, looks like she wants to bust out as well. His sister Jane, Jr. or whatever her name is, just looks scared.

At this moment, GWB is wondering, "can mah ah-brows float off my face? Wha!? Who is that little boy? Is he one of those Wilson twins? Goddamnit with those people! This was supposed to distract folks from Rove. This is low, sending a 4 year old. I can't top that. Oh, wait, I saw that kid at dinner. How do ah know him? Robert's kid? Is that rah-t? What the hell is wrong with this guy? He can't keep his own damn kid under control and ah'm asking him to overthrow Roe? Crap. Where's Karl?"

Low in Carbs, High in Heroin

Was the guard who snuck the heroin into San Quentin doing a favor for the inmate or the warden?

The Science of Hoarding

In case you were staking your Ph.D. on being the first to study animal hoarding, you are too late. Way way too late, apparently.

How will the nominee be revealed?

Good question. Brook thinks GWB should put the nominee under a heavy black cloth and then, right as he says his/her name, whisk the cloth off, revealing the nominee.

For me, I sort of imagine him being really gushing and silly, saying “I just hope the American people are as crazy about (him/her) as I am!” and then lofting the nominee’s hand high above their heads in victory.

Truly, A Battle Worth Fighting

I am sure Kimi Peck's father-in-law would be SO . . . "how can I say this without getting sued?". . . . PROUD of her.

Shelter Accused of Keeping Too Many Chihuahuas From the L.A. Times (Sorry about the cut-and-paste on this article, rather than a link)

The little creatures snarl when they feel threatened. So do those who care for that curious breed of dog called the Chihuahua. Accusations were flying Monday in Burbank as dog lovers debated whether the operator of a nonprofit shelter is "hoarding" unwanted Chihuahuas instead of finding new homes for them.

Former volunteers at Chihuahua Rescue were in Los Angeles Superior Court to demand that shelter founder Kimi Peck be ordered to put 275 Chihuahuas up for adoption. They say the dogs are being held in filthy conditions at her Moss Street shelter.

Their concerns were heightened when they learned that Peck, former daughter-in-law of the late actor Gregory Peck, shipped 100 of the Chihuahuas out of the jurisdiction of city prosecutors hours before the scheduled court hearing. Peck, a film writer and producer, has operated her Chihuahua Rescue shelter in Burbank for two years. The Brentwood resident and former wife of Stephen Peck launched the shelter with proceeds from her 1980 Tatum O'Neal comedy "Little Darlings" and says she has spent $10 million of her own money on animal rescue work.

"Two years ago, Peck helped coordinate the release of about 200 abused and neglected Chihuahuas who were impounded and scheduled to be destroyed after being seized in a 2002 raid on a breeder's home in Acton. Neighbors had complained that the Chihuahuas were being housed in unsanitary conditions. Authorities found that the dogs had formed feral fighting packs and deemed them unsuitable for placement.

A few blocks away in the industrial area near the Chihuahua Rescue headquarters, the smell of disinfectant was heavy in the air as Peck and other volunteers cleaned cages and played with snippy, yelping Chihuahuas. "I think rescue attracts a lot of — how can it say it without being sued? — emotionally unstable people who are passionate about animals," Peck said. She blamed what she characterized as "this smear campaign" on a homeless former volunteer who sought to live for a time at the Chihuahua shelter. When asked to stop sleeping at the shelter, Peck said, the woman filed a complaint with the city noting that the shelter was housing about 40 more dogs than it was licensed for. Peck said she was terrified that the city would raid the shelter following Monday's court hearing and place the Chihuahuas in public pounds, where they might face destruction. So "we moved 100 dogs last night. I called 10 of my close friends in rescue," she said. "We were up all night saving them."

The Chihuahuas will return, she said, but not for long. "We've outgrown Burbank. There are too many dogs for this little place. I'm tired of rescuing. I'm retiring. I'm opening a sanctuary for dogs in retirement. Maybe in Northern California or Arizona." A din of high-pitched barking almost drowned out Peck as she tried to explain her devotion to the diminutive dogs. "They can be pretty rotten. They're quite stubborn. They're too loud," she said. But she loves them anyway.

Blog-shame

The rumor mill has been spinning at a red-hot speed; not even the aforementioned NASCAR Fantasy participants could keep up with it. Finally, your question - What is the deal with Hedge Funds? - can be answered.

Okay, so this is just a plug for my friend Hannah E. Dunn's book. Only chapters 8, 9, 11 and 17 are worth reading. I heard the same thing about the new Harry Potter book, by the way.

This blog is becoming "about" how excellent my over-achieving friends are*, and how handily they find their own names in print.

This post, however, really concerns the blog-shame I have about telling people that this blog exists. I think I only tell them once they have made an appearance, and even then only if I can extol their fame. What is my problem? Poo Poo Platter, do you feel the same way? Readers, am I lessened in your eyes?

*As opposed to being about my jujitsu career, which I have considered at length as a theme for this blog, notwithstanding the short-livedness of that career.

Mamas, Don't Let Yer Babies Grow Up to Play Fantasy NASCAR

For those of my very few readers who are also my competitors in the Yahoo! NASCAR Fantasy thing that we do to alleviate our far-flung loneliness, a note of caution. A lot of you have used up the number of times you can run a driver in a race (9 is the max), so you need to get in there and pick a different driver. I am pointing this out to you because Tsvidogg and Jeff (can't remember Liszt's secret name) probably already know this and will continue to dominate unless you take affirmative action to pick new drivers. And the real reason is that Brook has just now firgured it out (see, I was not even spreading this around in the house) and he will probably get ahead of all of us unless we band together and act like the Longshots we are. Good luck.

Shout Outs to J Lav

Not satisfied with merely surviving the Tuscaloosa summer, Jen Lav has decided to bust Alabama Medicaid's ass. Clearly Medicaid does not stand a chance.

Who is Scobie?

Joshua Scobie is a character from Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. From the Literary Encyclopedia:

"Perhaps most colourful of all is aging policeman Scobie, whose ultimately fatal “tendencies” involve dressing up as a woman during the full moon and trolling for British sailors on shore leave. . . In other developments, Scobie is kicked to death by outraged British sailors, but is elevated to sainthood by his Muslim neighbors; his bathtub, in which he was wont to prepare a lethal “Mock Whisky”, becomes a holy relic."

For more scintillating plot twists along those same lines: http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=10820

Scobie was also our cat for awhile.

The Post Where I Learn How to Post Pictures

Here are the two cutest people I know. But in case you are worried that it will be "that" kind of blog, where I post pumpkin pie recipes and console everyone that my impetego is getting better, don't sweat it. This is just a test to figure out if I can do this properly.

The Accidental Blog

Jeez, I was just trying to set up an identity so I could post pithy remarks in the Comment box of a friend's blog, www.tnda.blogspot.com. I didn't mean to go off and start my own blog. Oh, well, here I am now.