Britney Spears, Puker

Britney Spears is bulimic and bipolar, according to an anonymous source.

Just who is this anonymous source, anyway? How come they are allowed to get away with revealing all this stuff about every celebrity out there without any obvious consequences? I'm guessing this one is from staff at the rehab facility.

It wouldn't surprise me if it's true, though. Hard to keep a smoking body with white-trash eating habits like Britney has unless you're a puker.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Puts His Foot In

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine General Peter Pace, has gone on record as saying that homosexual acts are immoral.

"I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," Pace said in an interview with the newspaper. "I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is okay to be immoral in any way."

Well, I hope he's ready for the hue and cry that are about to go up, along with the summons to various Congressional committees to be scolded and scorned by the various Democrats who chair those committees. It's even possible he'll be forced to resign. The next few weeks will tell the tale.

Tribute to The Spoiler, Don Jardine

Don Jardine, who wrestled as The Spoiler, died December 16th of last year, age 66, complications of leukemia. He was Canadian by birth, passed away there.

He was one of the two "heels" who most made an impression on me as a youngster, the other being Buddy Colt. Both were soft-spoken and very menacing, not given to shouting or lots of gesticulation/facial contortion. Cold, cold men, scary wrestlers.

The Spoiler was lean and in great shape compared to many wrestlers, and his sense of balace was extraordinary. He was the first wrestler I ever saw walk the top ring rope in perfect balance, no swaying or hesitation, as if he was on the mat below. (I understand he taught The Undertaker this skill). He used an "Iron Claw" as a submission hold. Others used it as well, I remember Pak Song and The Sheik using "Iron Claw," and wrestlers relying on Germanic/Nazi images seemed to particularly specialize in the move: Siegfried Stanke or Fritz von Erich come to mind. (I may be having a memory lapse on these, if I am, forgive me).

Don Jardine wrote some poetry after his retirement; here's one of his poems:

Dreams

I dream of sun and mountain streams too soon
The ones that flow through my life at noon
They ripple their waves against my sands of time
As if this pleasure was as tasty as gushes of wine

Yes, my dreams sometimes take the low road of shame
But then I escape to a sanctuary of higher up fame
As the wind coils it's life around the unforgiving sea
Only then will I see the meaning of sky blue trees.

I hear the spirit tree of life making a silent scream
Exploring the murky clouds soul searching for my lost dream
When will the sky release it's last snow flake earth-bound
I realize my passionate awakening alarms my sleepless sound

Donald Jardine

Copyright ©2007 Donald Jardine


Donald Jardine, The Spoiler. Rest In Peace.

Texas Rattlesnake Roundup Vs. Ecologists

via Reuters.

It's time for the annual rattlesnake roundups in Sweetwater, Texas, and the ecologists are there to register their formal ecological disapproval:

"There's no glory in rattlesnake hunting," said Lee Fitzgerald, an associate professor and curator of amphibians and reptiles at Texas A&M University.

Hunters scour the arid landscape for snake dens, into which they pump gas fumes to drive them out. Then they snatch them with the tongs.

Hunters say the fumes have minimal ecological impact but many scientists disagree.

"It's an unethical way to hunt and it harms other animals such as scorpions and rodents," said Fitzgerald.

Frankly, I'm not going to be overly concerned with the welfare of rats and scorpions, thanks all the same.

A Few Thoughts On Comic Books

Since the death of Captain America in the most recent issue of that comic book, I have been reflecting on a comment someone made; it was possibly by Joe Quesada, the publisher of Marvel, to the effect that based on letters he received, liberals think Captain America would be joining protesters marching against the Iraq war, and conservatives would want Cap to go to Iraq to kick Saddam's ass. It's another profound example of the political divide in the US right now.

I started wondering: would Marvel, for example, be able to increase its market share and number of comics sold if it catered to both red states and blue states?

Is that a good thing? Would it lead to the hardening of the divisions?

Isn't the same thing happening in the music industry? Country music is divided in red and blue camps now, isn't it?

World's Hottest Chili Pepper: From India

via CNN.

It's called the Bhut Jolokia, or ghost chili.

On the Scoville units scale, the Bhut Jolokia measures 1,001,304, or twice as hot as the next hottest, the Red Savina. By comparison, the typical Mexican chili measures 1500, and a jalapeño comes in at 10,000.

Imagine that one being used in pepper spray for crowd control.

Sincerity and Honesty: I Like That In A Writer.

In an article about the death of Captain America, I happened to glance at the small blurb that the writer, Steve Shives, included in his author profile:

I'm not especially intelligent or eloquent, but I'm honest, independent and prolific, so chances are I'll stumble over an insight here and there. Thanks for reading, and don't be shy with the feedback.

This is self-effacing, sincere and very charming. It makes me happy to see a writer make a statement like that about himself, especially in these days of arrogance and snark.

Thank you, Steve.

Volcanoes On Io, Jupiter's Moon: Extraordinary!

via NASA.

Good article for those interested in volcanoes and space.

There are plumes from two different volcanoes in the photograph, positioned at 9:00 o'clock and 11:00 o'clock.

Apparently the fierce tidal pull of Jupiter and the other moons causes the vulcanism on Io(see animation toward bottom of article).

First Captain America, Now Lassie.

The news isn't good these days. Marvel Comics killed off Captain America, and now I read that Lassie died in a fire while saving her family.

These deaths always happen in threes, you know. Who'll be next? Bozo the Clown? Kermit from Sesame Street?

It gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

New Edged Tool Arrives!

A Bark River Woodland. A2 steel and handle scales of bone, jigged to resemble stag. A2 is a nice old tool steel, it will take a patina and even rust if you don't care for it. Bone jigged to resemble stag is an old cutler's trick, this is one of the better efforts you'll see, it's possible that the Bark River people did it with CNC machines. The sheath is a little too heavy for the knife, and a little too small, too. The knife should slide easily into and out of the sheath; this one must be forced in or out, thus making it damned dangerous. I'm willing to bet that Bark River uses this sheath for all the knives of this pattern, not taking into account diffent handle materials; I'm betting that this knife of mine has thicker handle scales than if it had Micarta scales.

$108.00, all told. Nice knife.

UPDATE: after soaking in water for several hours to soften the leather, I put the knife in the sheath and wet-molded the sheath to the knife. This is the technique used by holstermakers to custom fit guns, and is called boning. I'm happy to say that after the boning, the knife and sheath are better matched now, and I'm much happier with the sheath.

Paging Chicken Little!

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down the DC gun control laws as unconstitutional.

h/t instapundit.

In other news, weather forecasters in Hell are unable to explain the sudden appearance of a blizzard there, attribute it to "infernal cooling."

Ninth Circuit Gets One Right!

They decided that spitting in someone's face is a crime.

Just in time for this event.

Is Michael Newdow Working At The Mint?

Some of the new George Washington Dollar Coins just released from the US mint lack the words IN GOD WE TRUST that are supposed to be stamped on all US coinage.

Sounds like a sinister Michael Newdow plot, if you ask me.

I can see for miles and miles.......from Mt. Hitler!

The mayor of Bad Toelz, Germany, would be happy if Google Earth re-labeled a nearby mountain.

During WWII, the nearby Heigelkopf was known as Adof Hitler Berg (Mt. Hitler). The name was change back to the original form on most maps, but apparently Google Earth still uses the old name for some obscure purpose.

Google said they'd see about fixing this.

It's Not Enigma, But It's Still A Code.

It's the Waffle House ordering code that allows that restaurant to keep track of dozens of orders simultaneously.

h/t Mary Katharine Ham

Arkin Has Good Column On Libby

William Arkin, the Washington Post columnist who got himself in trouble after calling the US military merceneries, has an even-handed column posted on the Libby trial and outcome.

Muslim US Navy Sailor Arrested For Espionage

Story here.

I think I'd be a bit suspicious of a sailor named Hassan Abujihaad, but that's just me.

I personally think the charges should include treason, and the Navy should seek the death penalty.

Blues Traveler's John Poppers Arrested for Drugs, Guns

Story here.

Poppers had the above arsenal in his Mercedes SUV, all of it hidden in "secret compartments." He also had some drugs, night vision gear, police strobe and siren. Sounds like he's a commando/cop wannabe, or maybe reads too many survivalist magazines.

He was pulled over after his vehicle was stopped for going 111 MPH. If you're going to have an arsenal and drugs in your car, you really need to drive....as if you have an arsenal and drugs in your car.

Dumbass.

NASA fires Loony Female Astronaut

via CBS News.

Only part of the unhappiness she'll have to face. Court, possible jail time and a Dishonorable Discharge from the Navy are waiting in the wings, too.

I feel damned sorry for her.

Edited to add: In truth, she, her astronaut lover, and his other Air Force lover all have acted despicably; two marriages ruined, three careers down the drain, one probably heading for jail. You just have to shake your had at how pathetic it is.

Mullah Mahmood In a Burqa!

via Reuters.

Soon to be in a noose, one hopes.