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!!!