Joe Sudbay makes a great point...
If things were going so well -- five years later -- why would Cheney need a surprise visit?
Cheney was so confident about being greeted as a liberator, why does he sneak into Iraq?
Why not announce the visit in advance so the Iraqis can plan the parade?
St. John McSurge is also skulking around the Green Zone with Lieberman and Lindsay Graham.
Flowers and chocolates, right? Five years, 4,000 American lives and 700 billion dollars later, and they are all still sneaking around like the hyenas in The Lion King.
Monday, March 17, 2008
"Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones...
we got a thang, goin' on.... "
Somehow with all the other news of the world, Spitzer, McGreevey, McCain in Iraq, Cheney in Iraq, Bear Stearns in the toilet....I somehow missed the news about another faux memoirist, Margaret B. Jones.
"Me...ah, me...ah, Me and Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones....
we got a thang, goin' on...."
Somehow with all the other news of the world, Spitzer, McGreevey, McCain in Iraq, Cheney in Iraq, Bear Stearns in the toilet....I somehow missed the news about another faux memoirist, Margaret B. Jones.
"Me...ah, me...ah, Me and Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones....
we got a thang, goin' on...."
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Remember the U.S. Attorney Scandal???
I used to think that the Democratic leadership was dragging their feet on the U.S. Attorney Scandal because they feared it would distract from the presidential campaign, ensuring another Republican term.
Now I am not so sure. After the arcane parliamentary tricks they unveiled to stymie a FISA do-over, I'm now thinking they were/are taking their time so that the actual prosecution of the rats involved does not begin until AFTER Bush leaves office, thereby guaranteeing that Rove and Company do some hard time for peeing on the Constitution, and preventing Bush from issuing a sweeping pardon, as his father did with Cap Weinberger, et al.
Now I am not so sure. After the arcane parliamentary tricks they unveiled to stymie a FISA do-over, I'm now thinking they were/are taking their time so that the actual prosecution of the rats involved does not begin until AFTER Bush leaves office, thereby guaranteeing that Rove and Company do some hard time for peeing on the Constitution, and preventing Bush from issuing a sweeping pardon, as his father did with Cap Weinberger, et al.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Is the End Really Near?
We were good throughout this era, squirreling our money away and not refinancing every other week like the rest of the planet.
But it seems we'll get punished just the same when it all comes crashing down.
But it seems we'll get punished just the same when it all comes crashing down.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Denounce & Reject
It is Obama's turn again to denounce and reject someone else's idiotic rhetoric.
I'm reminded of the scene in A Few Good Men:
Lt. Weinberg: "I strenuously object?" Is that how it works? Hm? "Objection." "Overruled." "Oh, no, no, no. No, I STRENUOUSLY object." "Oh. Well, if you strenuously object then I should take some time to reconsider."
This storm will pass. The Right Wing Noise Machine is cranked up to 11, as it were. Nothing short of Obama's crucifixion on HBO will satisfy them. Whether or not Obama gets the nomination, this is how the dead-enders are going to campaign for Bush's third term. Hillary will get the same treatment.
Meanwhile, McCain's buddy Rev. Hagee is getting a pass. I haven't read the Federalist Papers in their entirety, but I'm pretty sure there's no mention of America being founded to destroy Islam in there.
Whatever happened to a) separation of church and state and b) freedom of speech?
It is going to be a long campaign. Ugh.
I'm reminded of the scene in A Few Good Men:
Lt. Weinberg: "I strenuously object?" Is that how it works? Hm? "Objection." "Overruled." "Oh, no, no, no. No, I STRENUOUSLY object." "Oh. Well, if you strenuously object then I should take some time to reconsider."
This storm will pass. The Right Wing Noise Machine is cranked up to 11, as it were. Nothing short of Obama's crucifixion on HBO will satisfy them. Whether or not Obama gets the nomination, this is how the dead-enders are going to campaign for Bush's third term. Hillary will get the same treatment.
Meanwhile, McCain's buddy Rev. Hagee is getting a pass. I haven't read the Federalist Papers in their entirety, but I'm pretty sure there's no mention of America being founded to destroy Islam in there.
Whatever happened to a) separation of church and state and b) freedom of speech?
It is going to be a long campaign. Ugh.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Hated Moralizer Downfall Alert
Newsflash: Eliot Spitzer (D-NY Luv Guv), perhaps the homeliest (former) Attorney General this side of Dick Blumenthal, a man best known for his moralizing and heavy-handed prosecuting, was caught financing the interstate transport of a multi-thousand dollar hooker.
Who says capitalism is boring?
Incidently, this officially caps the Tri-State Governors Corruption Trifecta: McGreevy in NJ, Rowland in CT, now Spitzer in NY... with Giuliani & His Hamptons Mistress the cherry on top of the sundae.
And Eliot resigned, albeit artlessly.
A final thought: Hey, all you conservative Republican low-lifes (Rick Renzi, Larry Craig, David Vitter, etc.) hanging on out there. That is what you are supposed to do when you're caught red-handed. Slink off into the sunset.
Who says capitalism is boring?
Incidently, this officially caps the Tri-State Governors Corruption Trifecta: McGreevy in NJ, Rowland in CT, now Spitzer in NY... with Giuliani & His Hamptons Mistress the cherry on top of the sundae.
And Eliot resigned, albeit artlessly.
A final thought: Hey, all you conservative Republican low-lifes (Rick Renzi, Larry Craig, David Vitter, etc.) hanging on out there. That is what you are supposed to do when you're caught red-handed. Slink off into the sunset.
Delays, Emergencies, Lousy Travels Airline
We had a great vacation. Lots of time relaxing. My son and my youngest daughter had fun. Mrs. MI and I even slept late a couple of times! I didn't think about work for about 9 days straight, so that was very cool. My job can be high pressure at times so it was wonderful to disengage from that energy for a while. I even finished reading the novel (Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy) that I brought.
But...
You have to get home, if you've traveled. And that means mass transportation, in a country that has little respect for the term.
I will not get into any details because they are tedious. And I won't tell you the name of the hideous organization I blame most for our travel-related fiascos, but their initials are DELTA.
As in: you suck, DELTA.
I'll never fly DELTA again.
DELTA, may your airline go into Chapter 7 so fast all of your stockholders end up in debtor's prison.
I won't compare my dark thoughts about DELTA with the infinite wanton violence in Blood Meridian. That is one gory, gory book. Supposedly Ridley Scott is directing the movie version.
I only wish them financial ruin.
But...
You have to get home, if you've traveled. And that means mass transportation, in a country that has little respect for the term.
I will not get into any details because they are tedious. And I won't tell you the name of the hideous organization I blame most for our travel-related fiascos, but their initials are DELTA.
As in: you suck, DELTA.
I'll never fly DELTA again.
DELTA, may your airline go into Chapter 7 so fast all of your stockholders end up in debtor's prison.
I won't compare my dark thoughts about DELTA with the infinite wanton violence in Blood Meridian. That is one gory, gory book. Supposedly Ridley Scott is directing the movie version.
I only wish them financial ruin.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Clinton/CIA Water Slide Dream
Yesterday I went down a water slide several times with my 7 year old daughter. The experience, with jet-assisted water, was like being expelled at high speed from a giant womb through a 4 foot wide birth canal. The only indication the event was ending was the sudden appearance of light at the finish. I was thankful I didn’t injure my back.
So I dreamed last night that the Clinton campaign, having won the presidency, had me spelunking underneath the White House. I was digging from one direction, Bill Clinton was digging from the other, and I guess Hillary was giving us direction from the Oval Office. I knew I’d reached Bill when the light broke through at the end. Repeating this process 3 or 4 times, Bill would emerge each time we completed a tunnel. He would then rip a wooden panel off the tunnel wall, exposing colored wires “for the CIA” he’d say to me in an aside.
I don’t know what to make of this dream. Which was more disturbing? The idea that Hillary won (I'd prefer Obama, but I could vote for Hill)? The idea of Bill tunneling beneath the White House on behalf of the CIA? That Hillary was aware and approving all of this? That I was invited to help out, me, a lowly Rhode Island Democrat with no Clinton connections whatsoever? That I had subconsciously connected a high-tech rebirth experience with political dirty works?
So I dreamed last night that the Clinton campaign, having won the presidency, had me spelunking underneath the White House. I was digging from one direction, Bill Clinton was digging from the other, and I guess Hillary was giving us direction from the Oval Office. I knew I’d reached Bill when the light broke through at the end. Repeating this process 3 or 4 times, Bill would emerge each time we completed a tunnel. He would then rip a wooden panel off the tunnel wall, exposing colored wires “for the CIA” he’d say to me in an aside.
I don’t know what to make of this dream. Which was more disturbing? The idea that Hillary won (I'd prefer Obama, but I could vote for Hill)? The idea of Bill tunneling beneath the White House on behalf of the CIA? That Hillary was aware and approving all of this? That I was invited to help out, me, a lowly Rhode Island Democrat with no Clinton connections whatsoever? That I had subconsciously connected a high-tech rebirth experience with political dirty works?
Friday, March 7, 2008
Weird Deli Meats
I was in a Publix the other day with my 21 year old son, and we admired the coldcuts together.
He moonlighted for a summer as a deli clerk when he was still in high school. So he knows his deli meats, for the most part.
But I asked him, while the woman behind the counter sliced us some nice rosemary ham, whether or not he had ever tried some exotic staples: liverwurst, head cheese, olive loaf, pimiento loaf.
The answer was no. My son likes prosciutto. He likes Genoa salami. He likes fatty mortadella. He’s never tried these other coldcuts that were the standards of my childhood, growing up with a cranky old omnivorous Danish grandfather. Head cheese, in particular, was a favorite of his. Head cheese appealed to Pop’s “waste not, want not” attitude. For the uninitiated, head cheese is a collection of little meat bits carved from the heads of pigs (nose, ears, jaws, etc.) suspended magically in clear gelatin. Pop was forever complaining about not being about to get a good blood sausage. Yeeesh.
So when I returned to Publix today to get a little more, I asked the girl behind the counter for free samples of head cheese and olive loaf. She kindly wrapped each in its own wax paper blanket with a smile. I asked her if she’d ever tried either. She looked at me as if I had tentacles growing out of my forehead.
And when I saw my son 30 minutes later, I offered him a taste of both rarities. Unfortunately, though, by then the gelatin in the head cheese had melted from the warmth of my hand, so I was left with moist nose and ear bits, not a slice of history. And he politely declined the olive loaf as well. I tried a piece of the overly wet head cheese…man, was it salty. And the olive loaf was a disappointment, too. It seemed even greasier than I remember.
Thank God I had some rosemary ham and fresh baby swiss to fall back upon.
He moonlighted for a summer as a deli clerk when he was still in high school. So he knows his deli meats, for the most part.
But I asked him, while the woman behind the counter sliced us some nice rosemary ham, whether or not he had ever tried some exotic staples: liverwurst, head cheese, olive loaf, pimiento loaf.
The answer was no. My son likes prosciutto. He likes Genoa salami. He likes fatty mortadella. He’s never tried these other coldcuts that were the standards of my childhood, growing up with a cranky old omnivorous Danish grandfather. Head cheese, in particular, was a favorite of his. Head cheese appealed to Pop’s “waste not, want not” attitude. For the uninitiated, head cheese is a collection of little meat bits carved from the heads of pigs (nose, ears, jaws, etc.) suspended magically in clear gelatin. Pop was forever complaining about not being about to get a good blood sausage. Yeeesh.
So when I returned to Publix today to get a little more, I asked the girl behind the counter for free samples of head cheese and olive loaf. She kindly wrapped each in its own wax paper blanket with a smile. I asked her if she’d ever tried either. She looked at me as if I had tentacles growing out of my forehead.
And when I saw my son 30 minutes later, I offered him a taste of both rarities. Unfortunately, though, by then the gelatin in the head cheese had melted from the warmth of my hand, so I was left with moist nose and ear bits, not a slice of history. And he politely declined the olive loaf as well. I tried a piece of the overly wet head cheese…man, was it salty. And the olive loaf was a disappointment, too. It seemed even greasier than I remember.
Thank God I had some rosemary ham and fresh baby swiss to fall back upon.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
You Learn Something Every Day
Well...I haven't used a memory stick in a long time. Memory stick. Reminds me of the "Head-On" ads....
"Next time you walk into a room and can't remember why, use Memory Stick...apply directly to the forehead."
In any case, I bought a Geek Squad memory stick at Best Buy yesterday to reduce the actual amount of time I spend on the pay-per-use computer at our hotel. Only I hadn't read the fine print...these things are USB devices and plug in like keyboards and other accessories.
Only this stick requires you to formally "eject" it first. Which I hadn't done. So I ended up not being able to use it last night when I wanted to. Arrgh.
But I figured it out this morning. So far, so good.
"Next time you walk into a room and can't remember why, use Memory Stick...apply directly to the forehead."
In any case, I bought a Geek Squad memory stick at Best Buy yesterday to reduce the actual amount of time I spend on the pay-per-use computer at our hotel. Only I hadn't read the fine print...these things are USB devices and plug in like keyboards and other accessories.
Only this stick requires you to formally "eject" it first. Which I hadn't done. So I ended up not being able to use it last night when I wanted to. Arrgh.
But I figured it out this morning. So far, so good.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Technical Issues and Blogging in a Swimsuit
The recent gap in my blogging was due to tech issues.
I couldn't get the wireless internet to function on my laptop, so I was hostage to a pay-to-use computer in the hotel's business office (69 cents per minute).
Which worked fine the first time I used it. That was then. On Monday it choked on my credit card, and yesterday I was so fatigued by the end of TX/OH/VT/RI primary day that I couldn't summon the energy to do battle with it again.
But today all is fine. When I told Mrs. MI I was going to blog, she asked me if I was going to go in my swimsuit (dark blue with vague aqua amphibian/piscean shapes). I told her I most assuredly was. You guys don't care, do you? I never ask you what you're wearing when you read this blog.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
I couldn't get the wireless internet to function on my laptop, so I was hostage to a pay-to-use computer in the hotel's business office (69 cents per minute).
Which worked fine the first time I used it. That was then. On Monday it choked on my credit card, and yesterday I was so fatigued by the end of TX/OH/VT/RI primary day that I couldn't summon the energy to do battle with it again.
But today all is fine. When I told Mrs. MI I was going to blog, she asked me if I was going to go in my swimsuit (dark blue with vague aqua amphibian/piscean shapes). I told her I most assuredly was. You guys don't care, do you? I never ask you what you're wearing when you read this blog.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
27 for 38...Ty Cobb Would Be Jealous
So rabid plagiarist Tim Goeglein sampled other folks sweat for 27 of his 38 published columns. That's a .711 batting average for you kids scoring at home.
The column that got him caught was a decade old, apparently, but many of his other columns were freshly pilfered from 2006 and 2007 materials.
Some commenters to Nancy Nall's blog have had the nerve to tell her she should have given Goeglein a headsup first, or perhaps the White House itself, to spare this man the humiliation and perhaps his job.
You can't cut Goeglein any slack. This guy was being lazy AND stupid.
And give the White House a headsup? What!?!?! THIS White House? The home of more Constitution-shredding, obfuscating, stonewalling behavior than the Nixon and Reagan and Bush 41 White Houses COMBINED?
This White House and this Administration got exactly what they deserve: more sullying of their dreadful reputation. Bush 43 will be forever renowned for incompetence, greed, failure, and mismanagement.
The column that got him caught was a decade old, apparently, but many of his other columns were freshly pilfered from 2006 and 2007 materials.
Some commenters to Nancy Nall's blog have had the nerve to tell her she should have given Goeglein a headsup first, or perhaps the White House itself, to spare this man the humiliation and perhaps his job.
You can't cut Goeglein any slack. This guy was being lazy AND stupid.
And give the White House a headsup? What!?!?! THIS White House? The home of more Constitution-shredding, obfuscating, stonewalling behavior than the Nixon and Reagan and Bush 41 White Houses COMBINED?
This White House and this Administration got exactly what they deserve: more sullying of their dreadful reputation. Bush 43 will be forever renowned for incompetence, greed, failure, and mismanagement.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Undisclosed Location Blogging
I'm channeling Richard B. Cheney.
No, I'm not exacerbating my pump head by having further secret bypass surgery or shooting casual acquaintances in the face with shotguns. And I'm not dropping f-bombs on the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee or subverting Congressional oversight at every opportunity.
I'm hangin' at an undisclosed location. And blogging whilst on vacation.
The idea of blogging runs counter to the principles of vacation. Instead of blogging, you should be relaxing. Taking your mind off work. Taking your mind off your responsibilities. Perhaps enjoying a frosty umbrella beverage or three poolside. But no...blog I must.
I owe it to you, Dear Reader, to forge ahead, to leave no cliche unuttered. Fear not. I will continue to post throughout the week. If I seem distracted, though, or not up to my usual blogging excellence, at least I have an excuse: too many umbrella drinks.
No, I'm not exacerbating my pump head by having further secret bypass surgery or shooting casual acquaintances in the face with shotguns. And I'm not dropping f-bombs on the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee or subverting Congressional oversight at every opportunity.
I'm hangin' at an undisclosed location. And blogging whilst on vacation.
The idea of blogging runs counter to the principles of vacation. Instead of blogging, you should be relaxing. Taking your mind off work. Taking your mind off your responsibilities. Perhaps enjoying a frosty umbrella beverage or three poolside. But no...blog I must.
I owe it to you, Dear Reader, to forge ahead, to leave no cliche unuttered. Fear not. I will continue to post throughout the week. If I seem distracted, though, or not up to my usual blogging excellence, at least I have an excuse: too many umbrella drinks.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Memoir Was Fake...But Was It Also Plagiarized?
From Melissa Trujillo, AP writer.
"Almost nothing Misha Defonseca wrote about herself or her horrific childhood during the Holocaust was true. She didn't live with a pack of wolves to escape the Nazis. She didn't trek 1,900 miles across Europe in search of her deported parents, nor kill a German soldier in self-defense. She's not even Jewish."
*******************************************
Her book, "Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years," was a bestseller. The French made it into a movie, but that is understandable given their inexplicable love for Jerry Lewis.
Seeing how plagiarism is a hot topic lately, I thought it would be funny if we find out later that she and her ghost writer had also plagiarized the story, misappropriating portions of "Amish: A Memoir of the Pennsylvania Years." This was a tale about a young Pennsylvania Amish woman whose parents were kidnapped and murdered by redneck hunters from the Allegheny Mountains. The young woman then fled 1,500 miles across America by foot, killed a Michigan lumberjack who accosted her with her bare hands, but made it to Wisconsin eventually with the help of a roving band of caring woodchucks.
"Almost nothing Misha Defonseca wrote about herself or her horrific childhood during the Holocaust was true. She didn't live with a pack of wolves to escape the Nazis. She didn't trek 1,900 miles across Europe in search of her deported parents, nor kill a German soldier in self-defense. She's not even Jewish."
*******************************************
Her book, "Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years," was a bestseller. The French made it into a movie, but that is understandable given their inexplicable love for Jerry Lewis.
Seeing how plagiarism is a hot topic lately, I thought it would be funny if we find out later that she and her ghost writer had also plagiarized the story, misappropriating portions of "Amish: A Memoir of the Pennsylvania Years." This was a tale about a young Pennsylvania Amish woman whose parents were kidnapped and murdered by redneck hunters from the Allegheny Mountains. The young woman then fled 1,500 miles across America by foot, killed a Michigan lumberjack who accosted her with her bare hands, but made it to Wisconsin eventually with the help of a roving band of caring woodchucks.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Who Would Jesus Plagiarize?
From the WH Press Secretary:
"Tim Goeglein has loyally served President Bush for over seven years and worked tirelessly on his behalf to promote the President's policies. Among his contributions, Tim helped establish the President's Faith-Based and Community Initiative, and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. He also played an important role in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices Roberts and Alito.
Today, Tim accepted responsibility for the columns published under his name in his local newspaper, and has apologized for not upholding the standards expected by the President. The President was disappointed to learn of the matter, and he was saddened for Tim and his family. He has long appreciated Tim's service, and he knows him to be a good person who is committed to his country. President Bush accepted Tim's resignation today. "
Ah, yes. Faith-Based Initiatives and the bald-faced lying and thievery of other folk's intellectual property. They go together like Domenech and the Washington Post, like DKGoodwin and Russert, like Barnicle and Imus.
The fellow who wrote the book Goeglein stole from...that's a little bit understandable. I haven't checked it but it probably didn't sell many copies.
But plagiarizing music columns from Jonathan Yardley of the WaPo?!?!?! What...the LA Times doesn't have any Cole Porter fans? [tip of the hat to The Kenosha Kid, via Eschaton]
Hey, buddy...some of us read the paper every day. We're not all Bloombergs. You were bound to get caught.
I'm gonna make a t-shirt: Who Would Jesus Plagiarize?
"Tim Goeglein has loyally served President Bush for over seven years and worked tirelessly on his behalf to promote the President's policies. Among his contributions, Tim helped establish the President's Faith-Based and Community Initiative, and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. He also played an important role in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices Roberts and Alito.
Today, Tim accepted responsibility for the columns published under his name in his local newspaper, and has apologized for not upholding the standards expected by the President. The President was disappointed to learn of the matter, and he was saddened for Tim and his family. He has long appreciated Tim's service, and he knows him to be a good person who is committed to his country. President Bush accepted Tim's resignation today. "
Ah, yes. Faith-Based Initiatives and the bald-faced lying and thievery of other folk's intellectual property. They go together like Domenech and the Washington Post, like DKGoodwin and Russert, like Barnicle and Imus.
The fellow who wrote the book Goeglein stole from...that's a little bit understandable. I haven't checked it but it probably didn't sell many copies.
But plagiarizing music columns from Jonathan Yardley of the WaPo?!?!?! What...the LA Times doesn't have any Cole Porter fans? [tip of the hat to The Kenosha Kid, via Eschaton]
Hey, buddy...some of us read the paper every day. We're not all Bloombergs. You were bound to get caught.
I'm gonna make a t-shirt: Who Would Jesus Plagiarize?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Bloomberg Decides Not to Run
Apparently Mayor Bloomberg announces in tomorrow's NYTimes that he ISN'T running for President.
Duh, ya think? Bloomberg's been stalling so long he was making Fred Thompson seem more decisive than John Paul Jones.
Dude hardly reads the paper. You wanted him to run our country?
The possibility exists for Mayor Mike, however, to swoop in as McCain's VP. Maybe that is what this announcement is really about. FatCat billionaire rescues the destitute St. John W. McSurge.
Duh, ya think? Bloomberg's been stalling so long he was making Fred Thompson seem more decisive than John Paul Jones.
Dude hardly reads the paper. You wanted him to run our country?
The possibility exists for Mayor Mike, however, to swoop in as McCain's VP. Maybe that is what this announcement is really about. FatCat billionaire rescues the destitute St. John W. McSurge.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Bloomberg Outraged About Old McCain News
Mayor Bloomberg announced today that he was shocked, just shocked, and very angry that the New York Times reporters wrote mean things last week about Johnny Mac, scandal-wise. "I hope that the Times would be more careful the next time," he said, a tone of menace in his reedy voice. Apparently Mayor Mike reads his Thursday NYT first thing the following Tuesday.
In other news, Mayor Bloomberg opined that the reported Swift-boating of John Kerry was "outrageous." The New York Post reporters who used these rumors for article ideas would have "a negative impact" on Mr. Kerry's chances, he said.
He concluded his press conference by also saying that there was no truth to evil rumors that President Cleveland was responsible for the Panic of 1893. Bloomberg thoughfully rubbed his chin and exclaimed that reporters for The Sun who had written accusatory stories detailing those rumors should be "horsewhipped" for attempting to "hornswoggle" the public.
In other news, Mayor Bloomberg opined that the reported Swift-boating of John Kerry was "outrageous." The New York Post reporters who used these rumors for article ideas would have "a negative impact" on Mr. Kerry's chances, he said.
He concluded his press conference by also saying that there was no truth to evil rumors that President Cleveland was responsible for the Panic of 1893. Bloomberg thoughfully rubbed his chin and exclaimed that reporters for The Sun who had written accusatory stories detailing those rumors should be "horsewhipped" for attempting to "hornswoggle" the public.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Today's Backronym
Today's Backronym is SPAM.
I like SPAM. I'm talking about SPAM luncheon meat. SPAM started out as a portmanteau of "SPiced hAM."
When I was in Hawaii I learned that some folks like to fry it up for breakfast, and now, when I have a can lying around, I sometimes do the same.
According to Wikipedia, though, it has been turned into a backronym.
It has "unofficially assigned acronyms" including:
Specially Processed Assorted Meat
Slime Posing As Meat
Some Parts Are Meat
Specially Prepared American Meat
Scientifically Produced Artificial Meat
Sedatives, Preservatives, And Meat
Stuff Posing As Meat
Spare Parts After Mutilation
And, of course, "spam" refers to that nasty email detritus that plagues us all.
This definition generated:
Self-Propelled Automated Mailings
Stupid, Pointless, Annoying Messages
There are lots of varities, too.
Spam Black Pepper
Spam Less Sodium
Spam Garlic
Spam and Cheese
Spam with Bacon (Hormel bacon)
Spam Spread
Spam Fritters
Spam Lite (containing pork and chicken)
Spam Golden Honey Grail
Spam Hot and Spicy (with Tabasco sauce)
Spam Hickory Smoked
Spam Oven Roasted Turkey
Consider yourself spammed.
I like SPAM. I'm talking about SPAM luncheon meat. SPAM started out as a portmanteau of "SPiced hAM."
When I was in Hawaii I learned that some folks like to fry it up for breakfast, and now, when I have a can lying around, I sometimes do the same.
According to Wikipedia, though, it has been turned into a backronym.
It has "unofficially assigned acronyms" including:
Specially Processed Assorted Meat
Slime Posing As Meat
Some Parts Are Meat
Specially Prepared American Meat
Scientifically Produced Artificial Meat
Sedatives, Preservatives, And Meat
Stuff Posing As Meat
Spare Parts After Mutilation
And, of course, "spam" refers to that nasty email detritus that plagues us all.
This definition generated:
Self-Propelled Automated Mailings
Stupid, Pointless, Annoying Messages
There are lots of varities, too.
Spam Black Pepper
Spam Less Sodium
Spam Garlic
Spam and Cheese
Spam with Bacon (Hormel bacon)
Spam Spread
Spam Fritters
Spam Lite (containing pork and chicken)
Spam Golden Honey Grail
Spam Hot and Spicy (with Tabasco sauce)
Spam Hickory Smoked
Spam Oven Roasted Turkey
Consider yourself spammed.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Saturday Coffee Run; Jared's 10th
Today is the conclusion of a week of my commuting news, with politics and observations thrown in: From a driving perspective today, there's not much to report.
Saturday is a day of hanging around our town, running errands.
An early morning coffee run to the nicer (i.e., newer: we have two in town) Dunkin' Donuts. We like doing this on a Saturday morning...Me and Mrs. MI.
We get coffees, occasionally donuts to bring to back if the kids aren't with us, perhaps a blueberry muffin to split. And we drive around town, looking at houses that have gone on the market and just exploring in general. We've lived in town for 9 years but our town is large and spread out, and we are still discovering new places to walk or hike or bike.
Later in the day, a run to the dump, er, transfer station.
Perhaps a trip to the local hardware store, or to Stop & Shop for groceries.
Today I stopped at the combo gas station (Mobil)/Subway shop in town to fill up. The Subway owner had posted a large life-size decal of Jared. He's holding his (size 6X?) pants from 10 years ago out at arm's length. This represents some kind of anniversary celebration of his initial weight loss. Good for Jared.
I actually like Subway sometimes...fast food, but it stays down. Some of the ingredients are fresh. But the image of Jared bull-fighting Fat with giant blue denims does the opposite of what the Subway marketing folks intended, I think.
Looking at the present day skinny Jared, though, holding out his parachute jeans so big that the old Dick Gregory would have been swimming in them...that just puts me off eating anything. Ever. Again.
I might just begin a weekend fast.
Saturday is a day of hanging around our town, running errands.
An early morning coffee run to the nicer (i.e., newer: we have two in town) Dunkin' Donuts. We like doing this on a Saturday morning...Me and Mrs. MI.
We get coffees, occasionally donuts to bring to back if the kids aren't with us, perhaps a blueberry muffin to split. And we drive around town, looking at houses that have gone on the market and just exploring in general. We've lived in town for 9 years but our town is large and spread out, and we are still discovering new places to walk or hike or bike.
Later in the day, a run to the dump, er, transfer station.
Perhaps a trip to the local hardware store, or to Stop & Shop for groceries.
Today I stopped at the combo gas station (Mobil)/Subway shop in town to fill up. The Subway owner had posted a large life-size decal of Jared. He's holding his (size 6X?) pants from 10 years ago out at arm's length. This represents some kind of anniversary celebration of his initial weight loss. Good for Jared.
I actually like Subway sometimes...fast food, but it stays down. Some of the ingredients are fresh. But the image of Jared bull-fighting Fat with giant blue denims does the opposite of what the Subway marketing folks intended, I think.
Looking at the present day skinny Jared, though, holding out his parachute jeans so big that the old Dick Gregory would have been swimming in them...that just puts me off eating anything. Ever. Again.
I might just begin a weekend fast.
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