Takin' a Boxer here boss ...

Boxer: Hackers should face criminal probe over 'Climategate'

Congressional Democrats rabid dogs live in another universe.  Dick Morris may be on to something.

Spoiled Tools

Spoiled tools

PeTA Terrorism

PeTA a Terrorist Group? On page 4, the USDA lists PETA under the section labeled “Terrorist Threat,” listing it alongside the notorious domestic terrorist groups Animal Liberation Front, Earth Liberation Front, and Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. (The USDA removed the form from its website yesterday after we started spreading the word. But you can find a PDF copy preserved here.) ”

I've put my Pastor Niemöller hat on for this one.  On the one hand, I'm leery when gummint, most especially this gummint, starts putting people on lists.  On the other, PeTA is not just a collection of misguided pinheads who like rats, they're violent True Believers for whom this a a religion.  Unless you don't think throwing blood on women wearing fur, or breaking into laboratories & destroying property constitutes violence. PeTA members are as big a canker blossom as this nation has on its backside.  Founder Ingrid Newkirk's DNA [“Humans have grown like a cancer. We're the biggest blight on the face of the earth.”] runs through offshoot Animal Liberation Front, "which have claimed responsibility for hundreds of crimes and acts of terrorism, including arson, bombings, vandalism and harassment, causing more than $100 million in damage." Bottom line ... screw 'em; I'm not now, nor ever will be a member.  Snort.

Barn Army Montage

It's being kept alive despite media silence

ACORN- The Movie

Rainy Day Bat

Del Femina

Apples and Scotch in the Shower

This is what I was thinking about  in the shower this morning (unlike Raymond, I use my shower time for serious reflection).  Scotch and apple juice.  Yesterday, when I went to the Giant, I again picked up a bottle of "Simply Apple."  It cost $3.99.  This morning while I poured some I thought , WTF?  I can buy a gallon of the store brand for the same price, and it tastes just as good (I chug cold liquids, so taste is secondary). Why did I buy this again? There, on the counter, was the top from the last bottle.  I saved it.  I saved it!  Because, I thought at the time, to replace other bottle caps with it.  Why?  Because it's so damned ergonomically pleasing to open.  You don't twist it with a thumb and two girly fingers. You wrap your hand around its girthful elegance and undo. That led me to the Scotch. In his book "From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor," Jerry Del Femina recounted how Chivas Regal became THE prestige Scotch whiskey in the U.S..  Chivas had been priced to compete with the Johnny Walker brand, but was not selling.  A new ad agency did two things.  They commissioned the design of a distinctive new bottle.  They doubled the price. It became the the second best selling brand almost overnight, largely because of that bottle design, and snob appeal.  While this isn't a direct corollary to my apple juice, it doesn't have to be in my shower. ASIDE I:  I am not a big Scotch drinker, but several of my friends are.  My BIL was, I suspected, a snob drinker.  I took an empty Chivas Bottle, and filled it with whatever was cheapest at the liquor store.  When he'd came over I asked,  "soda with your Scotch?"  He  looks at the bottle and feigns, "are you kidding me? Adulterate Chivas?  I'll have mine neat."  He takes a sip, and with eyes closed  goes, "Ahhhh - now that's Scotch."   ASIDE 2:  I notice that the Wikipedia entry for Del Femina states: “ His 1971 book From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor was a best-seller. The title refers to a tongue-in cheek slogan proposed for the client Panasonic during a brainstorming session. ” The story is much more delicious than that.  On his first morning at a new agency he was told he had a meeting with Panasonic in two hours, and needed something fast.   Not knowing a thing about Panasonic, other than they were a Japanese company selling televisions, he went to the art department and came up with something like this .  An hour later he unveiled the copy to  less than enthusiastic Panasonic executives.   But Del Femina became an icon in the business as the story was told, and retold over Madison Ave luncheon Martinis.  I loved that book, and it did have an affect on how I approached marketing.

Afterall, there has to be some joy during Christmas

LIBS in TOYLAND

Good stuff on Obama

In Passing

I find stuff if you didn't know, now you do.

Now and then “ Lord Zero's Afghanistan speech alalyzed lie by lie  In 4608 words, he did not once mention the word “victory” and the closest he came to using the word “win” was those three letters appearing in the word “withdrawing.” A Defense of the Incandescent Light Bulb Specifically, Mr. Brandston accuses “energy zealots” of using faulty science to determine the efficiency of light bulbs, and he says that simplistic lumens-per-watt comparisons obscure questions of how well different bulbs do what they’re supposed to do: light up a room. Can the Republicans take the Senate in 2010? “I am making a prediction right now that the Republican Party will take both houses of Congress” — Dick Morris   When you've lost Jon Stewart.. ...you have a real problem... Deacon Blues    I wonder what kind of golf club Tiger Woods' wife used to wop him upside the punkin? Whatever it was I can see a new add campaighn. "The only club to beat Tiger Woods ". Searching in Vain for the Obama Magic Der Spiegal critiques Obama's speech.  They were cruel. "Never before has a speech by President Barack Obama felt as false as his Tuesday address announcing America's new strategy for Afghanistan. -- Just minutes before the president took the stage inside Eisenhower Hall, the gathered cadets were asked to respond "enthusiastically" to the speech. But it didn't help: The soldiers' reception was cool. What Do the Dalai Lama and the F-22 Have in Common? Answer: Obama won't pose for a picture with either of them: (Quote: Weekly Standard) ”