Thursday, September 27, 2007

Guess which 2 are engaged!!!!

Go on, guess.


It isn't Ed. It isn't Jane.

That's right, it's Dan and Laura. (They of the "hurry the hell up" head tilt above.)

Now I will apologize straight off for the terrible picture here. We had been sitting at a 20 over cricket game in the rain and it isn't the best of Laura. But I ... well I had to say something.

Now, I met Laura on her ... what.. 13th birthday? Eddie and I were there the night she came home after her first serious snogging session. We saw her grow from a kid to the lovely young lady she is now. It took us a while to meet Dan, but we did. He's a great guy. A little geeky, but geeky is this year's black (so hip it hurts) - so that is okay. (By the way, black is so not this year's black. Grey is this year's black. And as for pink - pink was so 2 year's ago's black. But I digress.)

No hard and fast date yet, but I hear rumours of a ring from Tiffany's.

ps- In case you are wondering, Laura hasn't crashed one of Lisa's cars in almost a year. She isn't driving right now - but still. She crashed Lisa's car once when learning to drive and once when she "wasn't driving" - so that means nothing.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

An Idea

You know, since we are shoving money down a rathole anyway, here is an idea. No! No! Hear me out.

So our President wants another $50 Billion for the rest of the year for his war in Iraq (We broke it, we gotta fix it.) Since I pay quite a bit of money into taxes for that, they should at least listen to an idea from me.

Iraq's way of life is in the shitter, right? I mean they got no electricity most of the time, very little food, and let's face it - it is like face of the sun hot over there.

What say we offer every Iraqi - everyone man, woman, infant everybody - $500 a month for every month they don't kill someone else. That's only $150 Billion a year (cheaper than what we are doing now) and that is IF they stop killing.

They are fleeing the country and living off crumbs - here is a way to make money and establish peace. Maybe $500 a month for a family of 4 is $2000 - maybe enough to buy a generator and an air conditioner. And that assumes 25,000,000 people. Rumour has it that a lot of them have fled or been killed already. It might be cheaper.

AND, if someone on your block kills someone - no one on the block gets any money. Skeeter, down on 15th street - someone will go tell him to knock it the hell off if no one is getting air conditioning money in August!

Hey it is as good as any other half assed idea.



Sorry. Gallows humor is all that is getting me through this sad, terrible situation without banging my head against the wall.

Week-end was a kick

Well, it was a nice visit with Jo and Don. I love the fact that Don sleeps like a log. I wish I slept that well. They ran us ragged over hill and dale. Don and Jo walk a lot so they had no problem keeping up. On Saturday we walked from the Natural History Museum to the Nuie Museum and the Guggenheim across Central Park.

Eddie toured them through Rockefeller Plaza up to Central Park South on Friday and then up to Time Warner.

We ate with them at two of our favorite places, Rosa Mexicano and The Spice Market. For the Spice Market on Sunday we brought in Iowa reinforcements J. Paul and Randy joined us. It was cool, we got a little room and had great food. The little room could have used a big fan – but I nitpick.

We had a lot of fun with them.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

The Nincompoops visit New York City

Eddie's parents are in New York for the week-end. Here are some pics of them on their way out to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.




On the boat being toursits.

A bit more poised.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Why Crocs are a bad idea.

As if you didn't already know you looked bad in them.


Thursday, September 20, 2007

Totally Fun Map

There is a totally fun map you can get, but the picture is really big. I gotta figure out how to make it smaller for my side bar. Here is the small picture - and the big picture rotated.

These are the countries Eddie and/or I have visited.




Bigger map sideways.


Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Ed's Favorite Headline

My Eddie sent this to me. I think the headline writers at CNN have a touch of nincompoopery-itis.


Baggy pants crackdown goes national

It is a great headline and a funny picture



Then I realized that there are a lot of angry residents. Consider these annoyed posts...


Saggy in Rapid City.


Saggy in Dallas


Saggy in San Jose


Saggy on MSNBC

And my favorite

Saggy in Saint Petersberg - with the caption "Pull up your pants, Moron!"

Stupid Slogans

Is it me, or have ad men run out of good slogans lately? Two institutes that should be able to buy great slogans, Citibank and the US Federal Government, have terrible new slogans.

Citi: Let’s get it done.

Isn’t that a little close to Larry the Cable Guy’s “Git ‘er dun”? Do the ad men for Citibank never watch Comedy Central when the Blue Color Comedy Tour is playing? Actually my best guess is that they don’t, and that says a lot about Ad Men and Citibank right there. Citi probably isn't going for the Larry the Cable Guy Audience.


Iraq for President Bush: Return on Success.

I am NOT being political here. I am just saying that it is a stupid slogan. We haven’t had success and “Return on…” only reminds people we have invested hundreds of billions down that particular mid-east rat hole with no return on investment at all. A self-professed CEO President can do better.


Here are my new slogan suggestions:

Citi: If you’re rich, we’re your bitch.

Iraq: We broke it, we gotta fix it.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

New York Story #521

So, our condo sits on 9th and 42nd. Ninth Ave is a very very busy street near us. Tons of traffic uses it to enter the Lincoln Tunnel or to avoid Times Square when heading downtown. It is, to give it Susan’s sobriquet, a clusterf**k.

Well, the other day a ambulance was trying to make its way down 9th. This is not unusual. Ambulances on their way south (to the poor folk’s hospital) seem to get stuck on the street a lot. It is a cause of consternation for both Ed and I. In fact, on this day, Eddie was troubled by the whole scene.

The ambulance – sirens blaring - couldn’t move. The 9th street drivers, butt-heads each and every one, refused to pull over and Ed got more and more outraged. I mean here is some schumck, obviously in serious trouble, who might die on 9th because Eilene from Hoboken MUST get to the Lincoln tunnel ahead of the delivery truck. Come on folks!

Then, the ambulance pulled over and stopped. Maybe Ed would witness the valiant drivers saving a man’s life.

Or… maybe he would just see the 2 drivers get out of the ambulance and go into the 44th Street diner for lunch. Really. Unless one of them was dying of hunger – there was no emergency. They took a booth and laughed over a good meal.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Grandpa

Here is just the cutest picture of Donald and Dora.


Sunday, September 16, 2007

Back from Ohio

Well, we had a great time with Lynn in Columbus Ohio. It was a lot nicer than I expected. To be frightfully honest, I was a little afraid that Columbus would be a tiny burg in the middle of Nowhere, Midwest. After all, Columbus is like the 34th biggest metro area in the US.

My fears were unfounded. Lynn has a great house (really!) just a few minutes from her sister and nieces and nephew. The friends are great. We meet a lot of them on Friday night after we got there. The city lives and dies by Ohio State Football, and you know I love college ball.

The picture below is Ed and I with Lynn and her sister Sue (we are in our Ohio State U T-Shirts).

And Gracie, one of the cutest little pup in the world.

We also walked around the re-gentrified downtown. The hep downtown was called "North Short" and was a lot of fun. All in all, I quite like Columbus. Like I said it was cool.

Of course, then there is football. UCLA sucked giant wind this week-end. We had our worst loss since 1984.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Fog...

The fog comes on little cat feet...
Carl Sandberg

Old age comes in with fuzzy slippers, holding a donut and the remote, and says, "Go on. Hit the Snooze."

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

My respect and thanks go out…

I get freaked out about the war and all, I know it. I am sorry. But we forget sometimes that real people are fighting this. Two young men – husbands and fathers – were killed this week.
Staff Sergeant Yance Gray of Ismay, Montana and Sergeant Omar Mora of Texas City were both killed in Iraq, just weeks short of going home. They had served multiple tours of duty in Iraq willingly. They both leave behind wives and very young daughters.

They also were two of seven co-authors of a New York Times Opinion piece. Their bravery in serving and in speaking out – but continuing to serve our country is not something I take lightly.

That their lives are over is heart breaking. I hope they knew how much people like me honor their service.

The opening of the editorial.

To believe that Americans, with an occupying force that long ago outlived its reluctant welcome, can win over a recalcitrant local population and win this counterinsurgency is far-fetched. As responsible infantrymen and noncommissioned officers with the 82nd Airborne Division soon heading back home, we are skeptical of recent press coverage portraying the conflict as increasingly manageable and feel it has neglected the mounting civil, political and social unrest we see every day ...

The claim that we are increasingly in control of the battlefields in Iraq is an assessment arrived at through a flawed, American-centered framework. Yes, we are militarily superior, but our successes are offset by failures elsewhere ... In a lawless environment where men with guns rule the streets, engaging in the banalities of life has become a death-defying act ...

As committed soldiers, we will see this mission through.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Born into the wrong Era



Sometimes I think I was born into the wrong era. I would have done well as a fedora wearing big shot. You know drinking a Main Brace at cocktail hour. Going to see a dame belt out a big number at the club while trying to pry information from a wily informant.






I would have been perfectly in place here in the old days. At least the olden days depicted on the movies of the era.




Of course the problem here is that the reality depicted in the movies isn't always the reality (we all remember the train debacle). But the reality in the movies was cool.



Monday, September 10, 2007

Great News from General Patraeus on Iraq

General Patraeus, with feet on the ground and "honest" reporting, will tell it like it is. Just like he did below, three years ago.


"I see tangible progress. Iraqi security elements are being rebuilt from the ground up ... The institutions that oversee them are being reestablished from the top down. And Iraqi leaders are stepping forward, leading their country and their security forces courageously in the face of an enemy that has shown a willingness to do anything to disrupt the establishment of the new Iraq ... There are reasons for optimism ... Momentum has gathered in recent months. With strong Iraqi leaders out front and with continued coalition -- and now NATO -- support, this trend will continue. It will not be easy, but few worthwhile things are." -- Gen. David Petraeus, Sept. 26, 2004.


And they wonder why we don't believe them. Here's why. Because they lie. It's like why do we believe that fire is bad. Because it burns you. We aren't idiots.

I could explain how they are cooking the numbers (gunshots in the back of the head are crimes and not counted as sectarian killings, gunshots in the front of the head are counted as sectarian killings). I could explain how 3 of the 18 benchmarks (set BY THE ADMINISTRATION as the minimal needed) have been meet.

But why. Either people think that this war is a giant CYA exercise until 2008 and then they can dump it on Hillary - or they believe that 4,000 dead Americans and 1500 dead Iraqis a month is a price worth paying for a slow burn civil war with no end in sight and a "hope" that things get better.

Whatever...

A big difference now (versus the past) is that we are smart enough to know that Washington doesn't listen to actual people. They bend the truth, twist the facts and regurgitate pablum to us like it is reality. It isn't that people don't care - it's that we know voice when Washington has made up it's mind you can't change it.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

To-Tally Nincompooperous

I don't know if you saw this, but Liza Mennilli started the US Open Finals by singing. She sing God Bless America.



Now, the first chorus was pretty good, but then she "jazzed" it up - including Jazz Hands. I swear she ended the day with her signature "New York, New York!!!!!!!!" poise. If I find a picture I will post it.

Good Football Week-end


One must say, it was a good day for football. This is the Oregon Football team celebrating their win over Michigan. Michigan has now lost 2 in a row. The one to Oregon was embarrassing in they got blown out at home.

UCLA and Wisconsin both won (neither really convincingly - but a win is a win). It was a great evening of football. Late on the East Coast (Ed's game started at 10:00 PM),but it was great fun .

Friday, September 07, 2007

Phil Spector: New Toup for the Closing Arguements

Is it me, or does Phil Spector look like he threw a ferret pelt over his dome at the last minute?


Thursday, September 06, 2007

Hi - You May Remember Me...

Hi, I'm Fred Thompson and I am running for President. You might remember me from such Movies hits as "Curly Sue", "Baby's Day Out", "Days of Thunder" or "The Hunt for Red October".


(sorry about the lines, that was before the lift).

But those movies (along with 20 others - most available from Amazon.com) are not why you should elect me President. Hell no. Everyone knows that Movie Actors are left wing nut jobs. No, you should elect me because I have years and years of managerial experience from my years on Law and Order. You see, Law and Order is TV - made people who are the salt of the earth, not some prissy left wing movie aficionados.

How serious am I? Deadly serious. So serious I skipped the debate last night in New Hampshire to be on Jay Leno to announce my candidacy. Just like Arnold in California.



And if you have objections let me introduce you to my second wife, Jeri. She's already ran out 2 of my campaign managers, and she'll convince you I am deadly serious. (Plus she does a kick-ass impersonation of Olivia Newton John at the end of "Grease".

(Hey! Quit staring at those. You pervert. You'll have plenty of time later when Evita here travels the world as my ambassador of goodwill.)

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

We're Kicking Ass!

That's what Bush said about our work in Iraq. Let me quote from Austrlia's biggest paper, where Bush visited our Ally this week.

GEORGE Bush is a man who likes a short sentence. Which is not to say the President of the United States reduces ideas to bite-sized chunks. Or maybe it is.

Either way, during the course of his first 24 hours in Sydney, there were plenty of efficient exclamations. Like the exchange on the tarmac as Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile inquired how things were going in Iraq. "We're kicking ass," he declared.


His glibness does not help. I don't need a healer in cheif, but I don't need a Texan in Cheif either. Headlines would seem to disagree with the "Kicking Ass" asessment:

From today:

At least 19 dead in latest Iraq violence

A roadside bomb attack killed 13 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad suburb today and three separate attacks has resulted in the deaths of six US soldiers. (today's Ireland.com)

Parliament reconvenes in Iraq

Returning lawmakers get off to slow start, spending much of the session bickering but making little progress on legislation. (today's LA Times)

11 Killed in Baghdad Bomb Blast

Iraqi authorities say a bomb blast in Baghdad's mostly Shi'ite Sadr City district has killed at least 11 people and wounded about 20 others. (Voice of America, today)

Iraq's war of the warlords
September 4, 2007
WHEN the radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Sadr called last week for a freeze on his Mahdi Army's operations, it might have been tempting to take it as a positive step toward reducing violence and promoting stability in Iraq. But even if his directive is heeded by most components of the far-from-unitary Mahdi Army, any such timeout will only be a tactical pause to let Sadr's forces regroup. It hardly portends a transformation of the basic situation in Iraq (Boston Globe)

Mascot for September: Enrique

Enrique Inglesias: Not just to plug the new album (which is good).

But just because he is a cutie, a nice guy, a great singer, and a fun interview. He doesn't take himself seriously and enjoys a joke. His new video is Somebody's Me. It's just a nice song from a nice album.

He was funny on the TV show "Two and a Half Men".


And he is a cute singer.

And his girlfriend is the lovely Anna Kournikova. She is a looker.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Bill Richardson has heard God


Bill Richardson has heard God speak to him. And what did he say?


"Sioux City, Ia. - God's will is for Iowa to have the first-in-the-nation caucus, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson told a crowd here Monday..."Iowa, for good reason, for constitutional reasons, for reasons related to the Lord, should be the first caucus and primary," Richardson, New Mexico's governor, said at the Northwest Iowa Labor Council Picnic.
Yeah, I want his finger on the button.

Monday, September 03, 2007

Back from Football and the Dells

It was a great trip. Pictures are here.

We saw Wisconsin win. Heard UCLA win and Michigan lose. Good football day.




The next day we went to the Epicenter of Fabulously Tacky, the Wisconsin Dells. We took a Duck Boat tour of the Dells.