That's 17 members of Congress calling for the resignation of US Attorney General Eric "Reports? I don't read reports!" Holder.
While flocks of reporters chase Herman Cain around and ask pArobing questions about ancient and nebulous events nobody will go on the record to discuss in detail, some other news is going sadly underreported. Among these stories are the latest ticks of the Eric Holder Career Death Watch. As the Daily Caller notes, nine more members of Congress have called upon Holder to resign over his role in the Fast and Furious gun-walking scandal, and the gigantic cover-up that major media sources other than CBS News have barely noticed:
The latest group of members includes Republican Reps. Dan Burton of Indiana, Allen West of Florida, Lynn Jenkins of Kansas, Trent Franks of Arizona, Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, Mike Pompeo of Kansas, Duncan Hunter of California, Devin Nunes of California and Dennis Ross of Florida.
All Republicans, presumably.
h/t Sipsey Street Irregulars.
Monday, October 31, 2011
More On Bambi In the Road
The Charlotte Observer has an article on the young SC fellow who let Bambi kill him:
A teenager from Kershaw, S.C., died Saturday when he swerved his car to avoid hitting a deer and struck a utility pole.
On back-to-back mornings last week, deer ran into major Charlotte thoroughfares - East Independence Boulevard last Monday, then South Tryon Street on Tuesday - and collided with cars.
Unlike the Kershaw crash, there were no serious injuries in the Charlotte collisions.
But police and wildlife experts say deer and motorists are colliding with increasing frequency, causing 17 deaths and 3,453 injuries in North Carolina over the last three years.
Authorities have two pieces of advice for motorists, when it comes to deer:
Slow down in posted deer crossing area and heavily wooded locations.
If a deer collision is imminent, don't try swerving out of the way. Hitting the deer is better than the alternatives - going off the road and possibly hitting a tree or other deadly barrier - as happened in Saturday's accident - or going into oncoming traffic and risking a head-on crash.
State officials say studies have shown that the majority of deer-vehicle collisions happen from October to December, mostly between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. And, they add, deer populations are growing in urban areas.
By God, the very same exact advice I gave just a day or so ago. It's probably something that should be taught in driving classes.
A teenager from Kershaw, S.C., died Saturday when he swerved his car to avoid hitting a deer and struck a utility pole.
On back-to-back mornings last week, deer ran into major Charlotte thoroughfares - East Independence Boulevard last Monday, then South Tryon Street on Tuesday - and collided with cars.
Unlike the Kershaw crash, there were no serious injuries in the Charlotte collisions.
But police and wildlife experts say deer and motorists are colliding with increasing frequency, causing 17 deaths and 3,453 injuries in North Carolina over the last three years.
Authorities have two pieces of advice for motorists, when it comes to deer:
Slow down in posted deer crossing area and heavily wooded locations.
If a deer collision is imminent, don't try swerving out of the way. Hitting the deer is better than the alternatives - going off the road and possibly hitting a tree or other deadly barrier - as happened in Saturday's accident - or going into oncoming traffic and risking a head-on crash.
State officials say studies have shown that the majority of deer-vehicle collisions happen from October to December, mostly between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. And, they add, deer populations are growing in urban areas.
By God, the very same exact advice I gave just a day or so ago. It's probably something that should be taught in driving classes.
Happy Birthday...
...to Zdenek Mezl of the Czech Republic.
Mezl is a woodcut artist, a good one; click the link for a gallery of images. He's also a sculptor. He's been in ill health for a number of years now, but seems to keep hanging in there.
Mezl is a woodcut artist, a good one; click the link for a gallery of images. He's also a sculptor. He's been in ill health for a number of years now, but seems to keep hanging in there.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Dying So Bambi Might Live
"Driver swerves to avoid deer, dies in wreck."
A 19-year-old Kershaw man died after a crash Saturday morning on Taxahaw Road, five miles north of Jefferson in Lancaster County, according to the S.C. highway patrol.
The driver, whose name had not been released Saturday evening, was going east on North Taxahaw Road. He swerved the 1998 Honda four-door to avoid a deer and struck a utility pole, Trooper Scot Edgeworth said.
19 years old, and presumably he was never taught how to properly deal with Bambi, Thumper, and Rocky Raccoon and the rest of the critters waiting to scamper out into the road just as you're coming along at a high rate of speed.
A few years ago I was driving with my friend Sara here in rural North Carolina after dark, and the subject came up. "What do you do when a critter runs out in front of you?" I asked. "Well, I brake or swerve to avoid it," she answered. "No, wrong answer," I replied. "If you're going over 35 miles an hour, you won't have time to either brake or swerve away safely, because with typical car headlights you won't see the critter in time. And if you do swerve in a place like this (it was down by the coast, with drainage canals and swamp on either side) you'll go into the water and drown. What you do is, you let Bambi die. Your life is worth more than Bambi's, so take your foot off the gas if you can, but keep the wheels straight and hit that animal." We discussed it a little more, but the point was made.
And just in time, too; a while later, going back to our hotel along the same road, a raccoon scampered out in onto the road in front of the car ahead of us, which hit it; Rocky, screaming in agony, died as Sara followed my instructions to the letter and hit him herself rather than swerve off the road (I confess that I myself screamed like a girl when our tires went over Rocky).
If you value your own life, Bambi has to die. Or Thumper the rabbit, or Rocky Raccoon. If it's at night and you're traveling over 35mph and a critter is in the road, kill it. Don't let it kill you.
A 19-year-old Kershaw man died after a crash Saturday morning on Taxahaw Road, five miles north of Jefferson in Lancaster County, according to the S.C. highway patrol.
The driver, whose name had not been released Saturday evening, was going east on North Taxahaw Road. He swerved the 1998 Honda four-door to avoid a deer and struck a utility pole, Trooper Scot Edgeworth said.
19 years old, and presumably he was never taught how to properly deal with Bambi, Thumper, and Rocky Raccoon and the rest of the critters waiting to scamper out into the road just as you're coming along at a high rate of speed.
A few years ago I was driving with my friend Sara here in rural North Carolina after dark, and the subject came up. "What do you do when a critter runs out in front of you?" I asked. "Well, I brake or swerve to avoid it," she answered. "No, wrong answer," I replied. "If you're going over 35 miles an hour, you won't have time to either brake or swerve away safely, because with typical car headlights you won't see the critter in time. And if you do swerve in a place like this (it was down by the coast, with drainage canals and swamp on either side) you'll go into the water and drown. What you do is, you let Bambi die. Your life is worth more than Bambi's, so take your foot off the gas if you can, but keep the wheels straight and hit that animal." We discussed it a little more, but the point was made.
And just in time, too; a while later, going back to our hotel along the same road, a raccoon scampered out in onto the road in front of the car ahead of us, which hit it; Rocky, screaming in agony, died as Sara followed my instructions to the letter and hit him herself rather than swerve off the road (I confess that I myself screamed like a girl when our tires went over Rocky).
If you value your own life, Bambi has to die. Or Thumper the rabbit, or Rocky Raccoon. If it's at night and you're traveling over 35mph and a critter is in the road, kill it. Don't let it kill you.
Begun, the Pizza War Has
Two Domino's Pizza managers have been charged with burning down a rival Papa John's Pizza Restaurant.
The battle for pizza supremacy has taken a wrong turn in Florida.
Two managers of a Domino's Pizza restaurant in Lake City, in north-central Florida, have been charged with burning down a rival Papa John's location.
The motive? Police say one of the men admitted that he believed with his competitor out of the way, more pizza lovers would flock to his restaurant.
The Papa John's was gutted in the Oct. 20 fire.
h/t Rabid Librarian.
The battle for pizza supremacy has taken a wrong turn in Florida.
Two managers of a Domino's Pizza restaurant in Lake City, in north-central Florida, have been charged with burning down a rival Papa John's location.
The motive? Police say one of the men admitted that he believed with his competitor out of the way, more pizza lovers would flock to his restaurant.
The Papa John's was gutted in the Oct. 20 fire.
h/t Rabid Librarian.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
A New Rape Defense?
Prosecutors will tell you that there are only three defenses offered in the typical rape prosecution. They are:
1. Denial (Bitch lied).
2. Consent (Bitch wanted it).
3. Mistaken identity (SODDI, or Some Other Dude Did It).
A fellow from West Palm Beach, though, thinks he has discovered a fourth rape defense: sleep = consent.
So far he's not having too much success with his innovation.
The question, though, is whether it was rape or rape-rape. Let's consult the authority, Whoopi Goldberg:
1. Denial (Bitch lied).
2. Consent (Bitch wanted it).
3. Mistaken identity (SODDI, or Some Other Dude Did It).
A fellow from West Palm Beach, though, thinks he has discovered a fourth rape defense: sleep = consent.
So far he's not having too much success with his innovation.
The question, though, is whether it was rape or rape-rape. Let's consult the authority, Whoopi Goldberg:
Arrival
From Blind Horse Knives, the Li'l Muk:
This is a really small sheath knife; even a Swiss Army Knife, when opened, is longer than this knife is. Its blade is only 2 3/8" long, which makes it legal to carry in damned near every state in the Union. I plan to use it as an EDC (Every Day Carry) knife, replacing the slightly larger BHK Drover I have been carrying.
I now have three of BHK's knives. They are quality work at a fair price; this Li'l Muk was only $93, including shipping. A bargain for a handmade knife.
This is a really small sheath knife; even a Swiss Army Knife, when opened, is longer than this knife is. Its blade is only 2 3/8" long, which makes it legal to carry in damned near every state in the Union. I plan to use it as an EDC (Every Day Carry) knife, replacing the slightly larger BHK Drover I have been carrying.
I now have three of BHK's knives. They are quality work at a fair price; this Li'l Muk was only $93, including shipping. A bargain for a handmade knife.
Scary Guy
It's August, 1969. Your friend Jay Sebring has been killed by the Manson Family in a night of horror, along with Sharon Tate and her unborn baby, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, and her friend Voytek Frykowski. Rumor has it that you're on the target list for killing, yourself. What do you do?
If you're former Marine actor Steve McQueen, you carry a gun with you, which, in book reviewer Marco R. della Cava's mind, makes you "a scary guy."
There's the problem with the anti-gun crowd, right there. Law-abiding citizen cognizant of genuine threat = scary guy, Manson Family = not so much. Law-abiding Joe Sixpack carrying a gun in a restaurant = scary guy, Gangbanger doing same = not so much. The hoplophobe is more afraid of the law-abiding, honest citizen than he is of the criminal. It probably has to do with proximity. The hoplophobe tends to avoid the places where the criminals go (or so he thinks), whereas the armed, law-abiding citizens might be all around him, ready to explode in an orgy of death and destruction.
Yah, right.
If you're former Marine actor Steve McQueen, you carry a gun with you, which, in book reviewer Marco R. della Cava's mind, makes you "a scary guy."
There's the problem with the anti-gun crowd, right there. Law-abiding citizen cognizant of genuine threat = scary guy, Manson Family = not so much. Law-abiding Joe Sixpack carrying a gun in a restaurant = scary guy, Gangbanger doing same = not so much. The hoplophobe is more afraid of the law-abiding, honest citizen than he is of the criminal. It probably has to do with proximity. The hoplophobe tends to avoid the places where the criminals go (or so he thinks), whereas the armed, law-abiding citizens might be all around him, ready to explode in an orgy of death and destruction.
Yah, right.
Friday, October 28, 2011
I Think People Need To Get Out More Often
Lost in an apple orchard.
Oh, well, it could have been worse, they could have been lost in a corn maze.
Oops.
Oh, well, it could have been worse, they could have been lost in a corn maze.
Oops.
Was the Hair Kosher?
In Evesham, Pennsylvania, a cop sues over hair on a bagel.
That's one of the reasons cops like to eat at Subway, so they can see the food being prepared. Otherwise you might get a scene like this:
That's one of the reasons cops like to eat at Subway, so they can see the food being prepared. Otherwise you might get a scene like this:
Navy Airships On Duty Again
Based out of Lakehurst, New Jersey, scene of the Hindenburg crash.
Sounds like they're set up for spying.
Sounds like they're set up for spying.
Well, He Just HAD To Test It
A man from Bellingham, Washington, severed his arm with a home-made guillotine.
He's no longer one of the 99%, it's more like 98.00000194%.
Guess he couldn't afford a piece of salami to test it on. Or was too stupid (or drunk) to think of that.
He's no longer one of the 99%, it's more like 98.00000194%.
Guess he couldn't afford a piece of salami to test it on. Or was too stupid (or drunk) to think of that.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Meanwhile, Up At Zucotti Park...
...a familiar scenario plays out:
One wonders how the OWS cooks know that the “freeloaders” are vagrants and criminals. After all, aren’t both the “professional homeless” and the “amateur homeless” (the OWS protesters) squatting on land that does not belong to them? I bet I know how they know: most of the amateurs are white and most of professionals are black. And both groups are freeloaders. After all it isn’t as if the OWS protesters bought the food.
Baldilocks brings the pain. Read the whole delicious thing.
One wonders how the OWS cooks know that the “freeloaders” are vagrants and criminals. After all, aren’t both the “professional homeless” and the “amateur homeless” (the OWS protesters) squatting on land that does not belong to them? I bet I know how they know: most of the amateurs are white and most of professionals are black. And both groups are freeloaders. After all it isn’t as if the OWS protesters bought the food.
Baldilocks brings the pain. Read the whole delicious thing.
In Other Religion of Peace News...
...Muslim students at Catholic University are complaining that all those crosses everywhere violate their human rights.
The vampire students have the same complaint, although they say that the crosses violate their inhuman rights.
again, h/t Weasel Zippers.
The vampire students have the same complaint, although they say that the crosses violate their inhuman rights.
again, h/t Weasel Zippers.
Today's "I Sh*t You Not" Story
Training US Marines On Getting Along With Afghanis.
Mubarak also said the Marines should never spit or urinate to the west, the direction of Mecca that Muslims in Afghanistan face when they pray.
In addition, when sharing a base with Afghan army troops, Marines shouldn't sleep with their feet pointed west, because that also is considered offensive, he said.
*shakes head in disgust*
h/t Weasel Zippers.
Mubarak also said the Marines should never spit or urinate to the west, the direction of Mecca that Muslims in Afghanistan face when they pray.
In addition, when sharing a base with Afghan army troops, Marines shouldn't sleep with their feet pointed west, because that also is considered offensive, he said.
*shakes head in disgust*
h/t Weasel Zippers.
Money Where the Mouth Is
Representative Ron Paul, currently running for President as a Libertarian, is a medical doctor and a specialist in Obstetrics.
At Paul's medical practice, he performed no abortions. He also did not participate in either Medicare or Medicaid: patients from those two programs he saw free of charge.
You can say whatever you like about various of his positions on the issues, the man seemingly has his full allotment of integrity.
h/t Radley Balko.
At Paul's medical practice, he performed no abortions. He also did not participate in either Medicare or Medicaid: patients from those two programs he saw free of charge.
You can say whatever you like about various of his positions on the issues, the man seemingly has his full allotment of integrity.
h/t Radley Balko.
Treasure Blog: Velázquez Portrait
Bought for 7 UK shillings and valued at a minimum of £3,000,000.00.
It will go on auction in December, will probably sell for far more. Works by Velázquez almost never come up for sale.
Pic:
It will go on auction in December, will probably sell for far more. Works by Velázquez almost never come up for sale.
Pic:
It Sounds Obscene, But It Ain't
Cockle Pickers.
A cockle is a mollusk similar to a scallop. Here's a pic, I'm sure you've all seen the shells on the beach:
I think what makes it sound obscene is that it sounds very much like Al Swearengen's favorite word:
And it also sounds like cotton-pickin', which used to be a mild profanity common here in the South. Funny, I haven't heard anyone use it in a long time, now.
A cockle is a mollusk similar to a scallop. Here's a pic, I'm sure you've all seen the shells on the beach:
I think what makes it sound obscene is that it sounds very much like Al Swearengen's favorite word:
And it also sounds like cotton-pickin', which used to be a mild profanity common here in the South. Funny, I haven't heard anyone use it in a long time, now.
Go To Jail, Go Directly To Jail...
...Do Not Pass GO, Do Not Collect $200.
SANTA FE, N.M. A Santa Fe woman has been arrested on suspicion of repeatedly stabbing her boyfriend over a game of Monopoly.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports police arrested 60-year-old Laura Chavez Wednesday after finding a 48-year-old man with stab wounds and bleeding heavily from his head and right wrist.
According to a probable cause statement from Santa Fe police, Chavez and the victim began fighting because Chavez thought he was cheating.
SANTA FE, N.M. A Santa Fe woman has been arrested on suspicion of repeatedly stabbing her boyfriend over a game of Monopoly.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports police arrested 60-year-old Laura Chavez Wednesday after finding a 48-year-old man with stab wounds and bleeding heavily from his head and right wrist.
According to a probable cause statement from Santa Fe police, Chavez and the victim began fighting because Chavez thought he was cheating.
WWII-Era Submarine Located In the Pacific
via Last Stand On Zombie Island.
Found near Rabaul. If it's a US boat it could be either USS Argonaut (SS166), USS Amberjack (SS219), or USS Grampus (SS207). All of these were lost in that area.
update: Japanese, seemingly.
Found near Rabaul. If it's a US boat it could be either USS Argonaut (SS166), USS Amberjack (SS219), or USS Grampus (SS207). All of these were lost in that area.
update: Japanese, seemingly.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
LITERALLY Rum, Sodomy & the Lash
"Fired DDG skipper charged with rape, sodomy."
SAN DIEGO — The former commanding officer of the destroyer Momsen has been charged with rape, sodomy and maltreatment and will be court-martialed on Friday, a Navy spokesman confirmed.
The charges stem from two alleged incidents, one with a female officer and another with a female enlisted member, both involving alcohol.
OK, to be fair, a lash isn't mentioned, but I'll include it under the general term maltreatment.
Here's the drink-sodden, maltreating sodomite:
USS Momsen, CDR. Jay Wylie, Sodomite.
Hmm, how do you rhyme Momsen? Well, we'll just go with the old classic:
SAN DIEGO — The former commanding officer of the destroyer Momsen has been charged with rape, sodomy and maltreatment and will be court-martialed on Friday, a Navy spokesman confirmed.
The charges stem from two alleged incidents, one with a female officer and another with a female enlisted member, both involving alcohol.
OK, to be fair, a lash isn't mentioned, but I'll include it under the general term maltreatment.
Here's the drink-sodden, maltreating sodomite:
Hmm, how do you rhyme Momsen? Well, we'll just go with the old classic:
Nice Heads Up There, Slick
"Hit squads to swoop on 500 care homes to root out neglect and tackle abusive treatment."
Andrew Lansley is to send hit squads into 500 care homes to root out examples of the neglect of the elderly.
The Health Secretary will today order inspectors to carry out unannounced spot checks on residential homes to flush out and tackle the scandal of poor and abusive treatment suffered by the frail and vulnerable.
If it's in one of the UK's most-read newspapers, how can it be "unannounced," exactly?
Andrew Lansley is to send hit squads into 500 care homes to root out examples of the neglect of the elderly.
The Health Secretary will today order inspectors to carry out unannounced spot checks on residential homes to flush out and tackle the scandal of poor and abusive treatment suffered by the frail and vulnerable.
If it's in one of the UK's most-read newspapers, how can it be "unannounced," exactly?
I Heard a Rumor That Kim Kardashian's Ass Wants One
That would be a Sealyham Terrier, in danger of extinction.
Here's a Sealyham:
We Hunt Vermin! We Aren't Just Cute!
And here's our celebrity endorsement:
Ooo, Sealyhams Are Soooo Cute!
Here's a Sealyham:
And here's our celebrity endorsement:
You Let Him Out Again, Old Man Willow!
In Laguna Hills, California, a man had to be rescued from a tree.
Pic:
Help! It's Eating Me!
Luckily a funny-looking man in a bright blue jacket and yellow boots came by and helped free him:
You let him out again, Old Man Willow! What be you a-thinking of? You should not be waking! Eat earth! Dig deep! Drink water! Go to sleep! Bombadil is talking!
And, Hey! Presto! they got him loose. Bombadil left soon after, muttering something about water lilies and "the River's Daughter."
Here's another pic, post-rescue:
It's Been a Tough Year, and I Needed Fertilizer.
Pic:
Luckily a funny-looking man in a bright blue jacket and yellow boots came by and helped free him:
You let him out again, Old Man Willow! What be you a-thinking of? You should not be waking! Eat earth! Dig deep! Drink water! Go to sleep! Bombadil is talking!
And, Hey! Presto! they got him loose. Bombadil left soon after, muttering something about water lilies and "the River's Daughter."
Here's another pic, post-rescue:
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Things You Hear At Hotels, Revisited
*ring ring* (11:15 p.m., no maintenance staff available)
"Front Desk, this is Bob."
"My toilet is overflowing."
"There are plungers available for your use here at the desk."
"Well...um...I really don't know how to use a plunger..."
"Give me five minutes to lock down the lobby and I'll be right up."
This conversation from an adult woman, no doubt with a bachelor's degree in Sociology. Of course, she was blonde...
"Front Desk, this is Bob."
"My toilet is overflowing."
"There are plungers available for your use here at the desk."
"Well...um...I really don't know how to use a plunger..."
"Give me five minutes to lock down the lobby and I'll be right up."
This conversation from an adult woman, no doubt with a bachelor's degree in Sociology. Of course, she was blonde...
Today's Poll
Ever eaten chowchow? Ever even heard of it?
I've heard the word, but never seen the stuff, and have certainly never eaten it.
Chowchow.
I've heard the word, but never seen the stuff, and have certainly never eaten it.
It's Rising Like A Soufflé!
Unfortunately, though, it's a volcano, not a soufflé, and you don't want volcanoes that rise like soufflés.
They tend to make an earth-shattering kaboom when they do.
Let's just hope it's an Acme Products volcano.
They tend to make an earth-shattering kaboom when they do.
Let's just hope it's an Acme Products volcano.
Chesapeake Bay: Government-Regulated Oysters, Free Enterprise Oysters
Two different approaches via two Chesapeake Bay states, Virginia and Maryland.
A great Reason Magazine article by Rona Kobell.
Excerpt:
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary. At 200 miles long, it stretches from the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Havre de Grace, Maryland, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia Beach. The two states may share the waters known as Great Shellfish Bay, but their historical approaches to how to manage the shellfish within it couldn’t be more different.
The divergence happened in the 19th century, when the Chesapeake Bay produced nearly half of the oysters eaten in the United States. Canneries in Baltimore and Norfolk packaged the bivalves, and by 1852 railroads were shipping them to the Midwest.
Maryland and Virginia had long fought among themselves over the bay’s most lucrative product, the species Crassostrea virginica. As early as 1808, oystermen from New England and Long Island were sailing down to the Chesapeake and dredging for oysters after they’d depleted their own beds back home. Both states passed laws banning the practice of dredging by outside companies, but the New Englanders found a way to come in anyway. In 1877, a bay-wide survey showed a decline in oyster populations. Both states recognized that they had to do something or the oysters would be lost forever. That wouldn’t be just an economic blow: Oysters filter the water and build reefs, which are excellent habitat for fish, crabs, and the smaller organisms on the bottom of the food chain.
Virginia responded by effectively privatizing its oyster fishery. Scientists surveyed and mapped their oyster bars, then developed a system for leasing the bars out to oystermen. The leases cost a nominal fee and were renewable every 10 years; to keep the lease, oystermen only had to prove they were working it. Virginia put no restrictions on how many acres an oysterman could lease, nor did it care if the oysterman had a corporation or was just an individual. And if an oysterman didn’t want his grounds anymore, the state didn’t care if he subleased them to another entrepreneur.
Because oysters grow best on a bed of clean shells, Virginia oystermen bought their own shell from shucking houses and placed their own seed on it. If oysters weren’t doing well in one area, the oystermen could move them to another. Because they owned the product, they weren’t restricted on the gear they could use or the seasons they could harvest.
Maryland’s solution, in contrast, was to make the oysters harder to catch. The state passed a series of restrictions on what kind of gear the oystermen could use, when they could harvest, where they could harvest, and the size of oyster they could take.
Click to read the rest. It's well worth the time.
A great Reason Magazine article by Rona Kobell.
Excerpt:
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary. At 200 miles long, it stretches from the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Havre de Grace, Maryland, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia Beach. The two states may share the waters known as Great Shellfish Bay, but their historical approaches to how to manage the shellfish within it couldn’t be more different.
The divergence happened in the 19th century, when the Chesapeake Bay produced nearly half of the oysters eaten in the United States. Canneries in Baltimore and Norfolk packaged the bivalves, and by 1852 railroads were shipping them to the Midwest.
Maryland and Virginia had long fought among themselves over the bay’s most lucrative product, the species Crassostrea virginica. As early as 1808, oystermen from New England and Long Island were sailing down to the Chesapeake and dredging for oysters after they’d depleted their own beds back home. Both states passed laws banning the practice of dredging by outside companies, but the New Englanders found a way to come in anyway. In 1877, a bay-wide survey showed a decline in oyster populations. Both states recognized that they had to do something or the oysters would be lost forever. That wouldn’t be just an economic blow: Oysters filter the water and build reefs, which are excellent habitat for fish, crabs, and the smaller organisms on the bottom of the food chain.
Virginia responded by effectively privatizing its oyster fishery. Scientists surveyed and mapped their oyster bars, then developed a system for leasing the bars out to oystermen. The leases cost a nominal fee and were renewable every 10 years; to keep the lease, oystermen only had to prove they were working it. Virginia put no restrictions on how many acres an oysterman could lease, nor did it care if the oysterman had a corporation or was just an individual. And if an oysterman didn’t want his grounds anymore, the state didn’t care if he subleased them to another entrepreneur.
Because oysters grow best on a bed of clean shells, Virginia oystermen bought their own shell from shucking houses and placed their own seed on it. If oysters weren’t doing well in one area, the oystermen could move them to another. Because they owned the product, they weren’t restricted on the gear they could use or the seasons they could harvest.
Maryland’s solution, in contrast, was to make the oysters harder to catch. The state passed a series of restrictions on what kind of gear the oystermen could use, when they could harvest, where they could harvest, and the size of oyster they could take.
Click to read the rest. It's well worth the time.
Oh, It's ON Now, Beyotch!
Paula Deen vs. Michelle Obama.
Now Paula is rehashing those attacks on Michelle in an attempt to plug her latest cookbook and offset Michelle's new book about eating healthy, noted the source.
“She’s no different than the rest of us,” Paula said about Michelle in a new interview.
Paula added: “She probably ate more than any other guest I ever had on the show! She kept eating even during commercials. Know what (the Obamas’) favorite foods are? Hot wings. Y’know – those kinds of foods that aren’t necessarily top-of-the-list healthy foods.”
via Weasel Zippers.
Now Paula is rehashing those attacks on Michelle in an attempt to plug her latest cookbook and offset Michelle's new book about eating healthy, noted the source.
“She’s no different than the rest of us,” Paula said about Michelle in a new interview.
Paula added: “She probably ate more than any other guest I ever had on the show! She kept eating even during commercials. Know what (the Obamas’) favorite foods are? Hot wings. Y’know – those kinds of foods that aren’t necessarily top-of-the-list healthy foods.”
via Weasel Zippers.
A Man Bites Dog Story
"South Korean man sentenced in rape of U.S. soldier."
This one's unusual in that it describes a South Korean citizen raping a US soldier, whereas the usual scenario is a US soldier raping a South Korean citizen.
This one's unusual in that it describes a South Korean citizen raping a US soldier, whereas the usual scenario is a US soldier raping a South Korean citizen.
He Really WAS a Smelly Hippie
The late Steve Jobs, that is.
Fans were also offered intriguing titbits about the Apple co-founder's private life. Born in 1955, and later adopted, he struggled with personal hygiene. During his first job, at Atari, co-workers called him "a goddamn hippie with BO" and forced him to work night shifts.
Later, he grew long hair, experimented with LSD and decided that eating a fruitarian diet would allow him to get away with bathing just once a week.
via Drudge Report.
Fans were also offered intriguing titbits about the Apple co-founder's private life. Born in 1955, and later adopted, he struggled with personal hygiene. During his first job, at Atari, co-workers called him "a goddamn hippie with BO" and forced him to work night shifts.
Later, he grew long hair, experimented with LSD and decided that eating a fruitarian diet would allow him to get away with bathing just once a week.
via Drudge Report.
Monday, October 24, 2011
$1 Coin Proposal Gathers Steam
Could result in savings of 5.6 billion dollars.
And, although the coins are heavy, increased production of the $2 bill (it could go in the $1 bill slot in cash drawers) would alleviate most of the concerns people have over weight.
And, although the coins are heavy, increased production of the $2 bill (it could go in the $1 bill slot in cash drawers) would alleviate most of the concerns people have over weight.
Meanwhile, In Nombre Dios Bay...
...treasure hunters search for Sir Francis Drake's coffin.
A team of international treasure hunters is close to finding the final resting place of British Naval hero Sir Francis Drake.
They have found two of his ships which were scuttled off the coast of Panama over 400 years ago following the adventurer's death.
The team believes Drake's lead-lined coffin could be near to the location of the two ships 'Elizabeth' and Delight' and have begun a search for the historical artefact.
If they happened to find the coffin, they'd probably recover it for interment in Westminster Abbey.
Poet Henry Newbolt wrote of Drake:
Drake's Drum
Drake he's in his hammock an' a thousand miles away,
(Capten, art tha sleepin' there below?)
Slung atween the round shot in Nombre Dios Bay,
An' dreamin' arl the time O' Plymouth Hoe.
Yarnder lumes the Island, yarnder lie the ships,
Wi' sailor lads a-dancing' heel-an'-toe,
An' the shore-lights flashin', an' the night-tide dashin',
He sees et arl so plainly as he saw et long ago.
Drake he was a Devon man, an' ruled the Devon seas,
(Capten, art tha' sleepin' there below?)
Roving' tho' his death fell, he went wi' heart at ease,
A' dreamin' arl the time o' Plymouth Hoe.
"Take my drum to England, hang et by the shore,
Strike et when your powder's runnin' low;
If the Dons sight Devon, I'll quit the port o' Heaven,
An' drum them up the Channel as we drumm'd them long ago."
Drake he's in his hammock till the great Armadas come,
(Capten, art tha sleepin' there below?)
Slung atween the round shot, listenin' for the drum,
An' dreamin arl the time o' Plymouth Hoe.
Call him on the deep sea, call him up the Sound,
Call him when ye sail to meet the foe;
Where the old trade's plyin' an' the old flag flyin'
They shall find him ware an' wakin', as they found him long ago!
More on Drake's Drum here.
A team of international treasure hunters is close to finding the final resting place of British Naval hero Sir Francis Drake.
They have found two of his ships which were scuttled off the coast of Panama over 400 years ago following the adventurer's death.
The team believes Drake's lead-lined coffin could be near to the location of the two ships 'Elizabeth' and Delight' and have begun a search for the historical artefact.
If they happened to find the coffin, they'd probably recover it for interment in Westminster Abbey.
Poet Henry Newbolt wrote of Drake:
Drake's Drum
Drake he's in his hammock an' a thousand miles away,
(Capten, art tha sleepin' there below?)
Slung atween the round shot in Nombre Dios Bay,
An' dreamin' arl the time O' Plymouth Hoe.
Yarnder lumes the Island, yarnder lie the ships,
Wi' sailor lads a-dancing' heel-an'-toe,
An' the shore-lights flashin', an' the night-tide dashin',
He sees et arl so plainly as he saw et long ago.
Drake he was a Devon man, an' ruled the Devon seas,
(Capten, art tha' sleepin' there below?)
Roving' tho' his death fell, he went wi' heart at ease,
A' dreamin' arl the time o' Plymouth Hoe.
"Take my drum to England, hang et by the shore,
Strike et when your powder's runnin' low;
If the Dons sight Devon, I'll quit the port o' Heaven,
An' drum them up the Channel as we drumm'd them long ago."
Drake he's in his hammock till the great Armadas come,
(Capten, art tha sleepin' there below?)
Slung atween the round shot, listenin' for the drum,
An' dreamin arl the time o' Plymouth Hoe.
Call him on the deep sea, call him up the Sound,
Call him when ye sail to meet the foe;
Where the old trade's plyin' an' the old flag flyin'
They shall find him ware an' wakin', as they found him long ago!
More on Drake's Drum here.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Carolina Renaissance Festival Photos
Here with a few photos from the Carolina Renaissance Festival.
He Has A Better View Than You Do.
Belly Dancers.
The Tortuga Twins.
Comic Duellists Don Juan & Miguel Camp It Up.
Light Posting Today
I'm going to the Carolina Renaissance Festival this morning, and will be gone most of the day. Catch all of you later!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Treasure Blog: Royal Navy Uniform From Battle of Trafalgar
Worn by a junior officer on HMS Conqueror.
It's the only Royal Navy uniform of its kind extant from that period. It stayed in the attic of the officer's family for over 200 years.
It's the only Royal Navy uniform of its kind extant from that period. It stayed in the attic of the officer's family for over 200 years.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Fast & Furious: FBI Covering Up 3rd Gun's Existence?
Maybe.
Via your go-to source for Fast and furious news, Sipsey Street Irregulars. Once upon a time all three networks and many of the major newspapers would compete to find out the details of a scandal of this magnitude. Not with a Democrat president.
Via your go-to source for Fast and furious news, Sipsey Street Irregulars. Once upon a time all three networks and many of the major newspapers would compete to find out the details of a scandal of this magnitude. Not with a Democrat president.
Did They Kneecap Him?
Khadafi's been captured and wounded in both legs?
We'll have to see. Maybe the families of the Lockerbie plane bombing will finally get some long-overdue closure.
h/t Jammie Wearing Fool.
update: Dude's DEAD. Shot to doll rags, as the late Louis L'Amour might say.
We'll have to see. Maybe the families of the Lockerbie plane bombing will finally get some long-overdue closure.
h/t Jammie Wearing Fool.
update: Dude's DEAD. Shot to doll rags, as the late Louis L'Amour might say.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Vote For Your Favorite Patch: Monster Hunter Patch Contest
Over at Larry's place.
There's a ton of good submissions, including a Day By Day patch submitted by Chris Muir. I picked the Tombstone (AZ) Gravediggers, but the Omaha Stakes patch is also inspired. (I tried to get a Scottish friend to do one based on a clan badge, but he couldn't be bothered).
Go vote!
update: fixed a typo pointed out by Crack Skull Bob. Thanks!
There's a ton of good submissions, including a Day By Day patch submitted by Chris Muir. I picked the Tombstone (AZ) Gravediggers, but the Omaha Stakes patch is also inspired. (I tried to get a Scottish friend to do one based on a clan badge, but he couldn't be bothered).
Go vote!
update: fixed a typo pointed out by Crack Skull Bob. Thanks!
The Names Change...
...the tactics don't.
"MI5 officer says MP Mike Hancock was 'honeytrap' victim of Russian spy, as politician steps down from Defence post."
They don't call the Russian spy service the KGB any more - - I think it's the FSB now - - but the honeytrap, one of the oldest espionage techniques in the history of the world is just as effective as it has always been.
"MI5 officer says MP Mike Hancock was 'honeytrap' victim of Russian spy, as politician steps down from Defence post."
They don't call the Russian spy service the KGB any more - - I think it's the FSB now - - but the honeytrap, one of the oldest espionage techniques in the history of the world is just as effective as it has always been.
I Hope They Tested Her For Leprosy
The War on Guns: When Frozen Armadillos are Outlawed...
You can catch leprosy from armadillos, you know. Maybe not frozen ones, but you can't be too careful.
You can catch leprosy from armadillos, you know. Maybe not frozen ones, but you can't be too careful.
One Step Forward, One Step Back
Marines have won the privilege of wearing bracelets commemorating Killed In Action personnel...
...but they've also lost the privilege of wearing their uniform sleeves rolled up.
...but they've also lost the privilege of wearing their uniform sleeves rolled up.
Scouting Undergoing Renaissance In UK
Story.
Increase in number of Scouts due to allowing female Scouts, modernising the uniform, updating Merit Badge activities with such things as snowboarding and abseiling, and installing Bear Grylls as Chief Scout.
Increase in number of Scouts due to allowing female Scouts, modernising the uniform, updating Merit Badge activities with such things as snowboarding and abseiling, and installing Bear Grylls as Chief Scout.
"Terminally Stupid" Walking Dead
Kurt Schlichter's opinion, over at Big Hollywood:
The problems with ‘TWD’ come in two flavors. The least annoying – yet still annoying – are the liberal Hollywood assumptions that permeate the stories. The second is the fact that the characters act like such utter idiots that it actually suspends the suspension of disbelief – for example, a “shocking” sequence at the end of the premiere (Caution: Light Spoilers Ahead!) actually caused me to burst into laughter.
One set of annoying liberal assumptions is about religion. Last season, we saw how the brutal wife-beater was – wait for it – one of those crazy born-again types. Naturally, his wife’s version of Christianity in the premiere is a twisted, weird form of it unfamiliar to anyone who actually knows and hangs out with born-again Christians. Her religion only manifests itself when the writers want to creep out the audience with gothic freakiness – and not the good kind. Note that though the story takes place in Georgia, this weirdo appears to be the only one with any kind of pre-existing interest in religion.
Then there’s the stuff about guns. The dozen or so survivors in the little band seem to have plenty of guns. It’s just that the hero and his cop buddy have decided no one else gets to have any. The rationale is that the others are “untrained.” Let’s leave aside the fact that there aren’t a whole lot of Southern folks who don’t know how to shoot – though this band seems nearly entirely urban except for one redneck guy.
The liberal premise is that firearms are to be reserved to an elite is obnoxious – in fact, one key sub-plot in the premiere is that they took the gun belonging to one woman away, and refused to give it back to her even after she was nearly eaten because she was unarmed. I can’t abide a zombie flick that would earn the Brady Campaign’s seal of approval.
Maybe they could solve the training “problem” by actually training the civilians, but that never seemed to occur to the self-appointed leaders. In fact, the two cops don’t seem interested in preparing the civilians at all. Instead, they spend most of their time talking about their feelings. It’s agonizing.
Read the whole thing, as they say.
The problems with ‘TWD’ come in two flavors. The least annoying – yet still annoying – are the liberal Hollywood assumptions that permeate the stories. The second is the fact that the characters act like such utter idiots that it actually suspends the suspension of disbelief – for example, a “shocking” sequence at the end of the premiere (Caution: Light Spoilers Ahead!) actually caused me to burst into laughter.
One set of annoying liberal assumptions is about religion. Last season, we saw how the brutal wife-beater was – wait for it – one of those crazy born-again types. Naturally, his wife’s version of Christianity in the premiere is a twisted, weird form of it unfamiliar to anyone who actually knows and hangs out with born-again Christians. Her religion only manifests itself when the writers want to creep out the audience with gothic freakiness – and not the good kind. Note that though the story takes place in Georgia, this weirdo appears to be the only one with any kind of pre-existing interest in religion.
Then there’s the stuff about guns. The dozen or so survivors in the little band seem to have plenty of guns. It’s just that the hero and his cop buddy have decided no one else gets to have any. The rationale is that the others are “untrained.” Let’s leave aside the fact that there aren’t a whole lot of Southern folks who don’t know how to shoot – though this band seems nearly entirely urban except for one redneck guy.
The liberal premise is that firearms are to be reserved to an elite is obnoxious – in fact, one key sub-plot in the premiere is that they took the gun belonging to one woman away, and refused to give it back to her even after she was nearly eaten because she was unarmed. I can’t abide a zombie flick that would earn the Brady Campaign’s seal of approval.
Maybe they could solve the training “problem” by actually training the civilians, but that never seemed to occur to the self-appointed leaders. In fact, the two cops don’t seem interested in preparing the civilians at all. Instead, they spend most of their time talking about their feelings. It’s agonizing.
Read the whole thing, as they say.
Treasure Blog: Viking Ship Burial, Ardnamurchan, Scotland
Smaller and less ornate than the more famous Sutton Hoo ship burial, which was a Saxon, rather than Viking, ship burial.
Of course, as an archaeological dig that is centuries old, there isn't much left, with the sword and axe buried with the warrior nothing but masses of powdery rust. An artist's conception of how it would have looked:
Just looking at it I'd think that the man was probably a notable warrior but not any sort of king or other leader, since the grave goods are at a minimum and no precious metals such as gold or silver are present in the grave. Or perhaps this is how Vikings buried their common warriors?
Of course, as an archaeological dig that is centuries old, there isn't much left, with the sword and axe buried with the warrior nothing but masses of powdery rust. An artist's conception of how it would have looked:
Just looking at it I'd think that the man was probably a notable warrior but not any sort of king or other leader, since the grave goods are at a minimum and no precious metals such as gold or silver are present in the grave. Or perhaps this is how Vikings buried their common warriors?
Zombie Math
Seems like most of you watched the season premiere of The Walking Dead, One of the questions I keep seeing is How come they don't have any guns? Why don't they just bust into a gun shop?
Ok, let's use Charlotte, NC for our arithmetic example. Let's estimate that, if you total all the guns available in Charlotte gun shops, pawn shops and sporting goods stores, that you end up with a total of 10,000 firearms. Presume that the merchants didn't sell any of them during the zombification crisis, just left them in the stores for survivors (*rolls eyes*)
Charlotte has a population of 731,424 people. If the zombie plague carried off 90% of the population (and good riddance to a lot of them, frankly) that leaves 73,143 people who'd probably like to have a gun or two. Or three. And lots of ammunition, too.
Do the math. A lot of people will be left without guns.
Yeah, you say, but lots of houses have guns in them, probably. They should just go house to house and look for guns.
Yes, that's true, a lot of houses will have guns in them. They'll also have zombies in them, around them, near them. Clearing and securing houses is dangerous enough when you have guns and can shoot at will, but when you're creeping around quietly trying not to draw the attention of the zombies, it becomes a nightmare. Here at the start of season 2, the survivors in Rick's group only have six able-bodied men to do this house-clearing, with only two of them trained in police work such as house-clearing. After three or four houses there will probably be a couple of casualties, men bitten by zombies or accidentally shot/killed by comrades.
Thus the wisdom of being prepared in advance of the disaster. After the disaster is too late.
Ok, let's use Charlotte, NC for our arithmetic example. Let's estimate that, if you total all the guns available in Charlotte gun shops, pawn shops and sporting goods stores, that you end up with a total of 10,000 firearms. Presume that the merchants didn't sell any of them during the zombification crisis, just left them in the stores for survivors (*rolls eyes*)
Charlotte has a population of 731,424 people. If the zombie plague carried off 90% of the population (and good riddance to a lot of them, frankly) that leaves 73,143 people who'd probably like to have a gun or two. Or three. And lots of ammunition, too.
Do the math. A lot of people will be left without guns.
Yeah, you say, but lots of houses have guns in them, probably. They should just go house to house and look for guns.
Yes, that's true, a lot of houses will have guns in them. They'll also have zombies in them, around them, near them. Clearing and securing houses is dangerous enough when you have guns and can shoot at will, but when you're creeping around quietly trying not to draw the attention of the zombies, it becomes a nightmare. Here at the start of season 2, the survivors in Rick's group only have six able-bodied men to do this house-clearing, with only two of them trained in police work such as house-clearing. After three or four houses there will probably be a couple of casualties, men bitten by zombies or accidentally shot/killed by comrades.
Thus the wisdom of being prepared in advance of the disaster. After the disaster is too late.
Monday, October 17, 2011
V-Man On Occupy Wall Street
I call myself a one percenter not because I am insanely wealthy, but because I cannot relate to the insanely wealthy trustafarians currently enjoying a nice autumn camp out with no worries. Also, their retarded, unwashed aunts and uncles.
I spent six hours in a crawlspace yesterday. In a crawlspace on the Sabbath, two months after I had a fucking heart attack, in order to pay my rent. One should never have to spend a weekend day in a crawlspace without at least the luxury of a 14-year-old boy to bury. At least there's memories there. Possibly video.
Go, and read the whole magnificent thing.
I spent six hours in a crawlspace yesterday. In a crawlspace on the Sabbath, two months after I had a fucking heart attack, in order to pay my rent. One should never have to spend a weekend day in a crawlspace without at least the luxury of a 14-year-old boy to bury. At least there's memories there. Possibly video.
Go, and read the whole magnificent thing.
I Hear the Sound of Possums Screaming
"Fruit of the future? Brits' taste for the exotic sees soaring sales of persimmons overtake mangoes and pineapples."
Persimmons.
We used to have a persimmon tree in our yard in Florida. My dad was the only member of the family that ate them. If you eat them before they're fully ripe you'll regret it, they have an astringent quality when unripe that will pucker your mouth up. Possums, of course, love persimmons. Naturalist John James Audobon noted this when he painted possums, placing them within the branches of a persimmon tree:
We used to have a persimmon tree in our yard in Florida. My dad was the only member of the family that ate them. If you eat them before they're fully ripe you'll regret it, they have an astringent quality when unripe that will pucker your mouth up. Possums, of course, love persimmons. Naturalist John James Audobon noted this when he painted possums, placing them within the branches of a persimmon tree:
Why Don't You Just Go Load 16 Tons of #9 Coal, Then, Braggart?
A story about weapons confiscated at the Statue of Liberty.
One boastful Canadian doesn't apparently feel the need for weapons:
"I have two fists - one of iron and one of steel. Who needs Mace?" said a man who identified himself only as Roger, of the Rocky Mountain region of western Canada. He was surprised by the rigorous screening, much like an airport, with screeners asking visitors to take off their belts and shoes.
One boastful Canadian doesn't apparently feel the need for weapons:
"I have two fists - one of iron and one of steel. Who needs Mace?" said a man who identified himself only as Roger, of the Rocky Mountain region of western Canada. He was surprised by the rigorous screening, much like an airport, with screeners asking visitors to take off their belts and shoes.
Today's Musical Interlude
The instrumental version of Chris Isaak's Wicked Games. Not as often heard as the regular version, it was featured on the Wild At Heart soundtrack.
Today's Poll
In my travels around the blogosphere, I often see horrendous examples of bad grammar, bad spelling, and bad word usage. I don't usually mention these in blog comments, and I especially don't do so to try and score debate points or "win" the debate. Still, I often wonder if sometimes a blogger should be corrected privately via email; I have done this in the past, and it's usually accepted graciously. What do you folks feel about it?
(This post was provoked by a blog post elsewhere that made the tenant/tenet mistake.)
(This post was provoked by a blog post elsewhere that made the tenant/tenet mistake.)
Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Swim...
...and Gurkhas gotta chop off heads.
A Gurkha station in Afghanistan who chopped off the head of a Taliban casualty to prove identity has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Trivia: blog post title came from the title of a Gilligan's Island episode. Sherwood Schwartz, producer of Gilligan's Island, obviously got the title from the song shown above.
A Gurkha station in Afghanistan who chopped off the head of a Taliban casualty to prove identity has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Trivia: blog post title came from the title of a Gilligan's Island episode. Sherwood Schwartz, producer of Gilligan's Island, obviously got the title from the song shown above.
Just Sayin'
If life in the US is as bad as the OWS people describe, how come I never see Sally Struthers in a TV commercial standing next to a starving kid from Nebraska?
They Like Zagnut? Who Knew?
There's going to be a Bigfoot hunt in the nearby Uwharrie National Forest, and Zagnut plays a role.
More about Zagnut (if you've never heard about it) here. Apparently they're popular with troops in Afghanistan because they don't have easily-melting chocolate as an ingredient.
More about Zagnut (if you've never heard about it) here. Apparently they're popular with troops in Afghanistan because they don't have easily-melting chocolate as an ingredient.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
My Sympathy For Your Plight...
...is in low supply.
Over here in the US, because of the actions of men your government allowed to train in your country, old women in their 80's have to take off their incontinence pants to get on an airplane, as do babies in diapers. Recently a woman who'd had a mastectomy had to prove it to TSA agents.
So Abdul, I don't really give a shit that you have to take your turban off, you Muslim bastard.
Over here in the US, because of the actions of men your government allowed to train in your country, old women in their 80's have to take off their incontinence pants to get on an airplane, as do babies in diapers. Recently a woman who'd had a mastectomy had to prove it to TSA agents.
So Abdul, I don't really give a shit that you have to take your turban off, you Muslim bastard.
Today's Musical Interlude...
The music from the movie The Monster Squad, composed by Bruce Broughton:
My favorite section starts around 8:30 and lasts until 9:10, the "vortex" scene in which Frankenstein's Monster departs. Broughton definitely had his Tchaikovsky groove going for that segment.
Where did classical music go during most of the 20th century? Who knows, or even cares. The composers were writing for each other or for academics, mostly, with a few exceptions such as Rachmaninoff. They certainly weren't writing for the listening audience. People that wanted to hear lush, sweet melodies that were common in the Romantic era and typified by Tchaikovsky or Grieg or Dvorak, had to watch Hollywood movies, because that is where that sort of music found its home during the 20th century while the classical composers engaged in circle-jerking.
My favorite section starts around 8:30 and lasts until 9:10, the "vortex" scene in which Frankenstein's Monster departs. Broughton definitely had his Tchaikovsky groove going for that segment.
Where did classical music go during most of the 20th century? Who knows, or even cares. The composers were writing for each other or for academics, mostly, with a few exceptions such as Rachmaninoff. They certainly weren't writing for the listening audience. People that wanted to hear lush, sweet melodies that were common in the Romantic era and typified by Tchaikovsky or Grieg or Dvorak, had to watch Hollywood movies, because that is where that sort of music found its home during the 20th century while the classical composers engaged in circle-jerking.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Which Walking Dead Character Are You?
I'm Dale:
Only 7 questions. Unfortunately Merle Dixon isn't one of the possible results.
update: take the quiz here. Sorry for not linking it earlier. Not that anyone reads my sorry shit anymore, anyway.
Only 7 questions. Unfortunately Merle Dixon isn't one of the possible results.
update: take the quiz here. Sorry for not linking it earlier. Not that anyone reads my sorry shit anymore, anyway.
Friday, October 14, 2011
"So 1100 Men Went In the Water...
...316 men come out, sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945."
49 of the 316 still survive, and told their experiences to students at Blue Ridge Community College.
Survivors.
And yes, I'll throw in that chilling, immortal scene from Jaws:
49 of the 316 still survive, and told their experiences to students at Blue Ridge Community College.
And yes, I'll throw in that chilling, immortal scene from Jaws:
Bill Whittle On the Protesters
I have to disagree with him, though. He thinks it can be done in 3.5 day increments, I think the lesson can be best driven home in a single 30-day period once in a person's life. 30 days of subsistence-level existence, with no electronic toys to play with? A definite attitude adjustment.
h/t Smallest Minority.
h/t Smallest Minority.
I've Been Watching...
the 1977 BBC version of Bram Stoker's Dracula, featuring Louis Jourdan as the Count. It's the most faithful version of all, although it takes a few liberties here and there. (I was watching it on YouTube, so got it in 10-minute increments).
Here's the first segment, if you wish to watch it yourself:
Here's the first segment, if you wish to watch it yourself:
Thursday, October 13, 2011
It's a Win-Win Scenario!
Victor Davis Hanson on Obama's heavy use of Predator drones and Hellfire missile strikes:
For Pres. Barack Obama, the Predator drone avoids former candidate Obama’s past legal objections by simply blowing apart suspected terrorists without having to capture them — and then to ponder how and where they should be tried. With a dead, rather than a detained, terrorist, civil libertarians cannot demand that Obama honor his campaign pledge to treat suspects like American criminals, while conservatives cannot pounce on any perceived softness in extending Miranda rights to captured al-Qaeda killers.
h/t Weasel Zippers.
For Pres. Barack Obama, the Predator drone avoids former candidate Obama’s past legal objections by simply blowing apart suspected terrorists without having to capture them — and then to ponder how and where they should be tried. With a dead, rather than a detained, terrorist, civil libertarians cannot demand that Obama honor his campaign pledge to treat suspects like American criminals, while conservatives cannot pounce on any perceived softness in extending Miranda rights to captured al-Qaeda killers.
h/t Weasel Zippers.
Where'd the Cornerstone Get Off To?
I distinctly remember it being here at one time, they even wrote about it...
The cornerstone of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City can't be found.
In this age of cocksure, know-it-all-the-science-is-settled arrogance, it's a bit humbling, isn't it, that a cornerstone could go missing like that?
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Might get lost if you aren't paying attention, though.
The cornerstone of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City can't be found.
In this age of cocksure, know-it-all-the-science-is-settled arrogance, it's a bit humbling, isn't it, that a cornerstone could go missing like that?
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Might get lost if you aren't paying attention, though.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
4:00 A.M. Hotel Phone Calls
"Do you guys have any, like, Viagra, like, a machine that sells it?"
"No, ma'am. Viagra is a prescription drug and isn't dispensed over-the-counter."
"You don't have, like, anything?"
'No, ma'am."
*click*
"No, ma'am. Viagra is a prescription drug and isn't dispensed over-the-counter."
"You don't have, like, anything?"
'No, ma'am."
*click*
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
My Name Is Iñigo Montoya...
...You want a sequel? Prepare to die.
Apparently Mandy Patinkin isn't a go for a Princess Bride sequel.
Apparently Mandy Patinkin isn't a go for a Princess Bride sequel.
Pin the Tail On That Donkey...
...and listen to him bray.
Mr. Attorney General, you have made numerous statements about Fast and Furious that have eventually been proven to be untrue. Your lack of trustworthiness while speaking about Fast and Furious has called into question your overall credibility as Attorney General. The time for deflecting blame and obstructing our investigation is over. The time has come for you to come clean to the American public about what you knew about Fast and Furious, when you knew it, and who is going to be held accountable for failing to shut down a program that has already had deadly consequences, and will likely cause more casualties for years to come.
Operation Fast and Furious was the Department’s most significant gun trafficking case. It related to two of your major initiatives – destroying the Mexican cartels and reducing gun violence on both sides of the border. On your watch, it went spectacularly wrong. Whether you realize yet or not, you own Fast and Furious. It is your responsibility.
Sincerely,
Darrell Issa
Chairman
Save Me, Mr. President! Don't Throw Me Under the Bus!
h/t Sipsey Street Irregulars.
Mr. Attorney General, you have made numerous statements about Fast and Furious that have eventually been proven to be untrue. Your lack of trustworthiness while speaking about Fast and Furious has called into question your overall credibility as Attorney General. The time for deflecting blame and obstructing our investigation is over. The time has come for you to come clean to the American public about what you knew about Fast and Furious, when you knew it, and who is going to be held accountable for failing to shut down a program that has already had deadly consequences, and will likely cause more casualties for years to come.
Operation Fast and Furious was the Department’s most significant gun trafficking case. It related to two of your major initiatives – destroying the Mexican cartels and reducing gun violence on both sides of the border. On your watch, it went spectacularly wrong. Whether you realize yet or not, you own Fast and Furious. It is your responsibility.
Sincerely,
Darrell Issa
Chairman
h/t Sipsey Street Irregulars.
Occupy Charlotte: The Usual Gang of Commie Symps and Useful Idiots
Charlotte's own muckraking journalist Tara Servatius does the work that the Charlotte Observer isn't prepared (willing?) to do:
The Charlotte Observer did a fabulous job of painting the Occupy Charlotte protesters who descended upon the city this weekend as your righteously disgruntled, average-guy neighbors next door.
They aren’t. If they really do plan to camp out and continue their protest for a year (a length of time that conveniently coincides with the re-election of Barack Obama, which is their real goal) the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department better brush up fast on who these people really are.
While there were no doubt well-intentioned, useful idiots who showed up for the protests this weekend, the leaders of Occupy Charlotte, per their own website, are following a well-known, hardcore, anarchist communist playbook. The founders of the Ruckus Society, whose materials the Occupy Charlotte protesters have linked to on their website and suggested their followers follow, played a major role in the planning of the violent, destructive Seattle occupation of 1999.
Seattle protesters did $3 million of property damage, caused $17 million in lost sales due to the violence and looting and cost Seattle and surrounding cities over $10 million, $7 million of which was due to extra policing costs to control violence by protesters.
No surprise there, given that the founders of the Ruckus Society are self-avowed communists dedicated to the overthrow of capitalism using violent means.They first achieved fame for putting spikes in trees so loggers who harvested them would be impaled. They seriously hurt several people. They were also leaders in the radical anarchist environmental movement.
Click the link to read the rest.
The Charlotte Observer did a fabulous job of painting the Occupy Charlotte protesters who descended upon the city this weekend as your righteously disgruntled, average-guy neighbors next door.
They aren’t. If they really do plan to camp out and continue their protest for a year (a length of time that conveniently coincides with the re-election of Barack Obama, which is their real goal) the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department better brush up fast on who these people really are.
While there were no doubt well-intentioned, useful idiots who showed up for the protests this weekend, the leaders of Occupy Charlotte, per their own website, are following a well-known, hardcore, anarchist communist playbook. The founders of the Ruckus Society, whose materials the Occupy Charlotte protesters have linked to on their website and suggested their followers follow, played a major role in the planning of the violent, destructive Seattle occupation of 1999.
Seattle protesters did $3 million of property damage, caused $17 million in lost sales due to the violence and looting and cost Seattle and surrounding cities over $10 million, $7 million of which was due to extra policing costs to control violence by protesters.
No surprise there, given that the founders of the Ruckus Society are self-avowed communists dedicated to the overthrow of capitalism using violent means.They first achieved fame for putting spikes in trees so loggers who harvested them would be impaled. They seriously hurt several people. They were also leaders in the radical anarchist environmental movement.
Click the link to read the rest.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Why Gridlock Is a Good Thing
Supreme Court Justice Scalia's viewpoint, over at Patterico's Pontifications.
Very few countries in the world have a separately elected chief executive. Sometimes, I go to Europe to talk about separation of powers, and when I get there I find that all I’m talking about is independence of the judiciary because the Europeans don’t even try to divide the two political powers, the two political branches, the legislature and the chief executive. In all of the parliamentary countries the chief executive is the creature of the legislature. There’s never any disagreement between them and the prime minister, as there is sometimes between you and the president. When there’s a disagreement, they just kick him out! They have a no confidence vote, a new election, and they get a prime minister who agrees with the legislature.
The Europeans look at this system and say “It passes one house, it doesn’t pass the other house, sometimes the other house is in the control of a different party. it passes both, and this president, who has a veto power, vetoes it,” and they look at this, and they say (adopting an accent) “Ach, it is gridlock.” I hear Americans saying this nowadays, and there’s a lot of it going around. They talk about a disfunctional government because there’s disagreement… and the Framers would have said, “Yes! That’s exactly the way we set it up. We wanted this to be power contradicting power because the main ill besetting us — as Hamilton said in The Federalist when he talked about a separate Senate: “Yes, it seems inconvenient, inasmuch as the main ill that besets us is an excess of legislation, it won’t be so bad.” This is 1787; he didn’t know what an excess of legislation was.
Go read the whole thing.
Very few countries in the world have a separately elected chief executive. Sometimes, I go to Europe to talk about separation of powers, and when I get there I find that all I’m talking about is independence of the judiciary because the Europeans don’t even try to divide the two political powers, the two political branches, the legislature and the chief executive. In all of the parliamentary countries the chief executive is the creature of the legislature. There’s never any disagreement between them and the prime minister, as there is sometimes between you and the president. When there’s a disagreement, they just kick him out! They have a no confidence vote, a new election, and they get a prime minister who agrees with the legislature.
The Europeans look at this system and say “It passes one house, it doesn’t pass the other house, sometimes the other house is in the control of a different party. it passes both, and this president, who has a veto power, vetoes it,” and they look at this, and they say (adopting an accent) “Ach, it is gridlock.” I hear Americans saying this nowadays, and there’s a lot of it going around. They talk about a disfunctional government because there’s disagreement… and the Framers would have said, “Yes! That’s exactly the way we set it up. We wanted this to be power contradicting power because the main ill besetting us — as Hamilton said in The Federalist when he talked about a separate Senate: “Yes, it seems inconvenient, inasmuch as the main ill that besets us is an excess of legislation, it won’t be so bad.” This is 1787; he didn’t know what an excess of legislation was.
Go read the whole thing.
Rumsfeld In Japan
Long line of fans waited to get their copies of Rumsfeld's book Known and Unknown, much to the Stars and Stripes' writer's disgust.
Well, it's a Navy base, and Rumsfeld was a Navy guy before he went into government. That probably accounts for a lot of it.
They had to find a stand-up desk for Rumsfeld to sign books at, since he doesn't like sitting:
Well, it's a Navy base, and Rumsfeld was a Navy guy before he went into government. That probably accounts for a lot of it.
They had to find a stand-up desk for Rumsfeld to sign books at, since he doesn't like sitting:
State Department To Samir Khan's Family: Sorry 'Bout That
The US State Deparment has telephoned the family of Al Qaeda propagandist, US traitor, and recipient of the Hellfire Kiss of Death, Samir Khan, and offered condolences for offing him.
An official from the U.S. State Department has called the Charlotte family of al-Qaida propagandist Samir Khan to offer the government's condolences on his death in a U.S. drone attack last week in Yemen, according to a family spokesman.
"They were very apologetic (for not calling the family sooner) and offered condolences," Jibril Hough said about the Thursday call from the State Department to Khan's father, Zafar.
The phone call came a day after the family released a statement through Hough that condemned the "assassination" of their 25-year-old son - a U.S. citizen - and said they were "appalled" that they had not heard from the U.S. government to discuss their son's remains or answer questions about why Khan was not afforded due process.
Rusty over at the Jawa Report has more.
An official from the U.S. State Department has called the Charlotte family of al-Qaida propagandist Samir Khan to offer the government's condolences on his death in a U.S. drone attack last week in Yemen, according to a family spokesman.
"They were very apologetic (for not calling the family sooner) and offered condolences," Jibril Hough said about the Thursday call from the State Department to Khan's father, Zafar.
The phone call came a day after the family released a statement through Hough that condemned the "assassination" of their 25-year-old son - a U.S. citizen - and said they were "appalled" that they had not heard from the U.S. government to discuss their son's remains or answer questions about why Khan was not afforded due process.
Rusty over at the Jawa Report has more.
If You're Not Reading Sipsey Street Irregulars...
...you're missing out on some great reporting on the Fast And Furious scandal:
It Is Nice To Be Loved. I Make My Second Clinton "Enemies List."
Why Obama's Flacks Bullied A CBS Reporter."
CBS: Deputy AG received detailed Fast and Furious briefing. Apparently the dog didn't eat HIS homework.
Leahy plans Fast and Furious hearing with Holder. (I wonder if people know that Patrick Leahy Is Eric Holder's Bitch?)
And more. Go. See. Bookmark it and add it to your RSS feeds.
It Is Nice To Be Loved. I Make My Second Clinton "Enemies List."
Why Obama's Flacks Bullied A CBS Reporter."
CBS: Deputy AG received detailed Fast and Furious briefing. Apparently the dog didn't eat HIS homework.
Leahy plans Fast and Furious hearing with Holder. (I wonder if people know that Patrick Leahy Is Eric Holder's Bitch?)
And more. Go. See. Bookmark it and add it to your RSS feeds.
Friday, October 07, 2011
Martin Sheen On the Strange Road To Santiago
A fascinating interview with actor Martin Sheen, who is featured in the new film The Way, which documents travelers on the old Catholic pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in northern Spain.
A marvelous interview, conducted by the most intelligent of the conservative talk-radio hosts, Hugh Hewitt. I hadn't realized that Sheen is a devout Roman Catholic. Hewitt allows Sheen the opportunity to apologize to George W. Bush for the insensitive "white-knuckled drunk" comment that Sheen made during Bush's term of office, and Sheen graciously does so.
I have to say that, having lived in Spain and being interested in the Way of St. James myself through books such as James Michener's Iberia and Paulo Coelho's The Pilgrimage, I might actually be tempted to see this movie, although I indicated in a very recent post that I'm not incline to reward actors whose politics I dislike with my entertainment dollars. Maybe I'll make this movie an exception.
A marvelous interview, conducted by the most intelligent of the conservative talk-radio hosts, Hugh Hewitt. I hadn't realized that Sheen is a devout Roman Catholic. Hewitt allows Sheen the opportunity to apologize to George W. Bush for the insensitive "white-knuckled drunk" comment that Sheen made during Bush's term of office, and Sheen graciously does so.
I have to say that, having lived in Spain and being interested in the Way of St. James myself through books such as James Michener's Iberia and Paulo Coelho's The Pilgrimage, I might actually be tempted to see this movie, although I indicated in a very recent post that I'm not incline to reward actors whose politics I dislike with my entertainment dollars. Maybe I'll make this movie an exception.
FEMA? We Don't Need No Steenkin' FEMA!
The self-reliant and proud residents of North Carolina's Outer Banks, which were hit by Hurricane Irene last month, don't really need the federal government's assistance, and they certainly don't want it.
Unlike the citizenry of New Orleans, the residents of the Outer Banks weren't raised in a culture of dependency, so they aren't looking to Washington to help them out. They're pitching in and helping each other, just as they always have, and just how Americans are supposed to.
Unlike the citizenry of New Orleans, the residents of the Outer Banks weren't raised in a culture of dependency, so they aren't looking to Washington to help them out. They're pitching in and helping each other, just as they always have, and just how Americans are supposed to.
I Won't Spend My Money On Your Agitprop
Hollywood finally begins realizing that politics in films can hurt the bottom line.
On Sept. 23, Morgan Freeman went on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight to proclaim that Tea Party opposition to President Obama "is a racist thing." The timing wasn't ideal, considering Dolphin Tale had opened that day and the film was tracking particularly well among conservatives, many of whom the star had suddenly maligned.
While only 627,000 people saw Freeman on CNN that night, millions soon viewed the clip as Drudge Report, Twitter, Facebook and other digital outlets turned it into a viral sensation -- not difficult given how partisan and personal politics have become in this run-up to the 2012 presidential election. "He belongs on my 'no pay, no watch' list after his latest, nearly hallucinatory raving," wrote one commenter on a conservative media site.
With Dolphin Tale opening with a strong $19.2 million that first weekend and finishing No. 1 with $13.9 million in its second, the financial impact of Freeman's comments is hard to quantify. But they did have an effect. In a far-ranging poll Penn Schoen Berland conducted for The Hollywood Reporter of 1,000 registered voters to gauge moviegoing tendencies of Democrats vs. Republicans, it's clear political allegiances have shifted entertainment viewing habits. Jon Penn, the firm's president of media and entertainment research, says that before Freeman's words, interest in Dolphin Tale was considerably higher among conservatives and religious moviegoers than among liberals. After the remarks, 34 percent of the conservatives who were aware of them, and 37 percent of Tea Partiers, said they were less likely to see the film -- but 42 percent of liberals said they were more likely. (Five days after Freeman's remarks, 24 percent of all moviegoers were aware of them.)
In fact, overall, 35 percent of Republicans and 45 percent of Tea Partiers consider a celebrity's political position before paying to see their films, compared with 20 percent of Democrats.
Many exhibitors say privately that they cringe when a star waxes politically just before one of their movies opens -- like when, seven weeks before Contagion, Matt Damon attended a Save Our Schools march where some attendees compared Republicans to "terrorists." Videos of Damon mocking conservatives for their fiscal policies spread like wildfire on the Internet.
"Of course it impacts box office," says Landmark Theatres owner Mark Cuban. "You just hope that for every member of one party that no-shows because of comments, another buys a ticket for the same reason."
If a particular actor, director or even writer has a problem with people like me and can't refrain from making it part of his/her film, then I'll certainly acknowledge the contempt shown by not supporting it with my entertainment dollars.
How say you? Do you go to movies (or buy music, or books) based on the politics (or lack of it) by the people involved with it?
Let's have a poll.
On Sept. 23, Morgan Freeman went on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight to proclaim that Tea Party opposition to President Obama "is a racist thing." The timing wasn't ideal, considering Dolphin Tale had opened that day and the film was tracking particularly well among conservatives, many of whom the star had suddenly maligned.
While only 627,000 people saw Freeman on CNN that night, millions soon viewed the clip as Drudge Report, Twitter, Facebook and other digital outlets turned it into a viral sensation -- not difficult given how partisan and personal politics have become in this run-up to the 2012 presidential election. "He belongs on my 'no pay, no watch' list after his latest, nearly hallucinatory raving," wrote one commenter on a conservative media site.
With Dolphin Tale opening with a strong $19.2 million that first weekend and finishing No. 1 with $13.9 million in its second, the financial impact of Freeman's comments is hard to quantify. But they did have an effect. In a far-ranging poll Penn Schoen Berland conducted for The Hollywood Reporter of 1,000 registered voters to gauge moviegoing tendencies of Democrats vs. Republicans, it's clear political allegiances have shifted entertainment viewing habits. Jon Penn, the firm's president of media and entertainment research, says that before Freeman's words, interest in Dolphin Tale was considerably higher among conservatives and religious moviegoers than among liberals. After the remarks, 34 percent of the conservatives who were aware of them, and 37 percent of Tea Partiers, said they were less likely to see the film -- but 42 percent of liberals said they were more likely. (Five days after Freeman's remarks, 24 percent of all moviegoers were aware of them.)
In fact, overall, 35 percent of Republicans and 45 percent of Tea Partiers consider a celebrity's political position before paying to see their films, compared with 20 percent of Democrats.
Many exhibitors say privately that they cringe when a star waxes politically just before one of their movies opens -- like when, seven weeks before Contagion, Matt Damon attended a Save Our Schools march where some attendees compared Republicans to "terrorists." Videos of Damon mocking conservatives for their fiscal policies spread like wildfire on the Internet.
"Of course it impacts box office," says Landmark Theatres owner Mark Cuban. "You just hope that for every member of one party that no-shows because of comments, another buys a ticket for the same reason."
If a particular actor, director or even writer has a problem with people like me and can't refrain from making it part of his/her film, then I'll certainly acknowledge the contempt shown by not supporting it with my entertainment dollars.
How say you? Do you go to movies (or buy music, or books) based on the politics (or lack of it) by the people involved with it?
Let's have a poll.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Yet Another UK Homeowner Arrested For Shooting Criminals
This sorry shit was supposed to cease once the Coalition government came in. Guess we see how good that pledge was.
A watchmaker has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a suspected burglar was allegedly shot in the leg during a botched raid in a quiet rural village.
The man, named locally as clock repairer Malcolm White, who is in his sixties, is believed to have caught two raiders trying to steal his new Audi from outside his £420,000 home in Whitbourne, Herefordshire, last night.
Mr White lives in a four-bedroom Tudor property called 'Stocking Gobbetts' which sits next to St John the Baptist Church and was bought for £420,000 in 2007.
He is a horologist - a clock repair and maintenance specialist - and is believed to carry out work on church clocks, including the one next to his home.
Residents in Whitbourne, where he has lived for four years, described Mr White as a 'softly spoken' and 'gentle-natured' man.
Yet deep down inside, this man is A SEETHING CAULDRON OF HATE!!!!!111!1!1!
Geez. Old guy's probably never been in trouble with the law in his entire life. They should give him a medal instead of arresting him.
A watchmaker has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a suspected burglar was allegedly shot in the leg during a botched raid in a quiet rural village.
The man, named locally as clock repairer Malcolm White, who is in his sixties, is believed to have caught two raiders trying to steal his new Audi from outside his £420,000 home in Whitbourne, Herefordshire, last night.
Mr White lives in a four-bedroom Tudor property called 'Stocking Gobbetts' which sits next to St John the Baptist Church and was bought for £420,000 in 2007.
He is a horologist - a clock repair and maintenance specialist - and is believed to carry out work on church clocks, including the one next to his home.
Residents in Whitbourne, where he has lived for four years, described Mr White as a 'softly spoken' and 'gentle-natured' man.
Yet deep down inside, this man is A SEETHING CAULDRON OF HATE!!!!!111!1!1!
Geez. Old guy's probably never been in trouble with the law in his entire life. They should give him a medal instead of arresting him.
No High-Speed Chases Anticipated
A tragic tale of beard cuttings by rival clans in Amish country.
Members of the Amish community in Ohio are being investigated by the sheriff's department after several homes were broken into and the beards and hair of fellow Amish people were chopped off.
Four different sheriff's departments - Jefferson County, Carroll County, Holmes County and Trumbull County - reported similar incidents this week involving hair cutting, with reports of groups of Amish men yanking victims out of their homes by their beards or bursting into their homes and attacking them with scissors.
The Carroll County Sheriff's Department reported the Amish men referred to themselves as being part of the 'Bergholz Clan'.
Detectives in the area were said to be gathering evidence from buggies and horse trailers believed to have been used in connection with the assaults.
Wow, it's like the Amish version of Crips and Bloods!
Members of the Amish community in Ohio are being investigated by the sheriff's department after several homes were broken into and the beards and hair of fellow Amish people were chopped off.
Four different sheriff's departments - Jefferson County, Carroll County, Holmes County and Trumbull County - reported similar incidents this week involving hair cutting, with reports of groups of Amish men yanking victims out of their homes by their beards or bursting into their homes and attacking them with scissors.
The Carroll County Sheriff's Department reported the Amish men referred to themselves as being part of the 'Bergholz Clan'.
Detectives in the area were said to be gathering evidence from buggies and horse trailers believed to have been used in connection with the assaults.
Wow, it's like the Amish version of Crips and Bloods!
Obama Not Throwing Holder Under The Bus...Yet
Holder must have pics of the President fucking a kid, or something.
h/t Weasel Zippers, again. If this keeps up I should just redirect my blog over there.
h/t Weasel Zippers, again. If this keeps up I should just redirect my blog over there.
That's My Bocephus
Going to punish Hank Jr, ESPN? Two can play that game.
“After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment
Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.” -- Hank Williams Jr
h/t Weasel Zippers Headlines.
“After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment
Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.” -- Hank Williams Jr
h/t Weasel Zippers Headlines.
Headline of the Day
"Charges Dismissed For Baby Rat Eater."
Which could mean an infant that eats rats, or a person that eats baby rats. The story makes it clear that it's the latter, but the headline isn't at all clear. It's very similar to Johnny Carson's old "baby doctor" routine.
Which could mean an infant that eats rats, or a person that eats baby rats. The story makes it clear that it's the latter, but the headline isn't at all clear. It's very similar to Johnny Carson's old "baby doctor" routine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
