Monday, November 30, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-30

  • Maurice Clemmons, sought in killing of 4 Washington police officers, was freed from Arkansas jail by Huckabee http://bit.ly/5mThfT #
  • I'm thinking Google Wave is an elaborate April Fool's Day joke that was either finished 7 months late or 5 months early. #
  • When they get Google Wave for iPhone or BlackBerry, then fans at sporting events can do the Google Wave. #
  • Those of us that thought Willie Horton was a legitimate issue now have to take it from other conservatives regarding Huckabee & Clemmons. #
  • ACORN considered a name change http://bir.ly/4orxeL Did they consider NUTS? #
  • I can walk and chew gum at the same time. I cannot walk, chew gum, and use the Twitter at the same time. That is all. #
  • Huckabee's best shot for the GOP nomination now is a bunch of Dukakis supporters crossing over in the primaries #
  • Lunch was good. I'm thanking Arby's. #
  • Seeing double. That sucks. I thought I needed new glasses. Now, I know I do. No computer, TiVo, to BlackBerry for me. Bed sounds good! #

The Twelve Days of O-mas

A few days ago, SarahK and Cheryl Prater put together a post at tWits of the 12 things they'd like to see on the Oprah-Obama Christmas special. There's now an actual recording of the song to go along with it. With pictures! [Direct YouTube link] Cheryl Prater and SarahK did the lyrics. SarahK did all the singing. Exurban Jon of Exurban League did that cool graphic of Oprah with the first couple. I assisted in putting it in video format. Hope you enjoyed it.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-29

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-28

  • Hello. My name is Adrian Monk. You killed my wife. Prepare to die. #
  • TiVo is about 30 minutes behind real-time, so I just saw the six-fingered man who killed Trudy. Inigo Montoya was my first thought. #
  • Turned the TV on to ESPN, looking for a football game, but it's just showing their Windows computer. All I see is the Blue Screen Of Death. #
  • Does this mean that Ahmadinejad and Chavez will star in the new Oliver Stone film, "Endless Love II"? http://bit.ly/5aRcGQ #
  • Seems Tiger isn't such a bad driver after all. I mean, it IS hard to drive with a crazy b*tch chasing you with a club. http://bit.ly/5IqXNO #
  • Found Wings (1927) on the YouTube. Downloaded the pieces, and put it together as one iMovie. Time remaining: 12 hours! WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot? #
  • Watching Fla-FSU and some movie on the TiVo/TV split screen, surfin' the Twits, and editing a movie. Ain't technocracy great! #
  • So, assuming the rest of the games go as expected, does the OK State loss guarantee a Ga Tech vs Boise State game? #
  • Despite my accepting that Ga Tech will beat UGA tonight, the SEC is a better conference than the ACC. Even tho Tech will be 3-0 vs SEC #
  • Of course, Tech's 3 wins vs SEC will have come against the number 10, 11 & 12 teams in the conference. #
  • ESPN poll says 83% favor 16-team playoff http://bit.ly/7Skitx In Idaho, it's 94%. Lowest? FL 79%, AL 71%, NE 74%, IA 78% #
  • It's just wrong that a 6-6 team can go to a bowl. Being rewarded for mediocrity is so ... wrong. #
  • SyFy did Tin Man (Wizard of Oz), now have Alice and Beyond Sherwood Forest upcoming. I bet that in 20 years, they re-do Gilligan's Island #
  • Transsexual L.A. Times sportswriter found dead http://bit.ly/89mf7M Was tired of writing about balls #

Friday, November 27, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-27

  • UGA may face pollution penalty http://bit.ly/5RXbFs I checked; it's not for stinking up the gridiron. Although it should be. #
  • Tiger Woods injured in one-vehicle crash, charges pending http://bit.ly/7ebOTY Fortunately for his career, he putts better than he drives. #
  • What? In the 2nd quarter, Alabama is losing to West Opelika Cow College 14-0? #
  • West Opelika Cow College 14, Alabama 7 (2Q) #
  • Halftime: Tuscaloosa Community College 14, East Alabama Cow College 14 #
  • Alabama beats Auburn, 26-21. Actually, a pretty good game. #

College football playoffs: the plan

Earlier, I wrote about the 3 divisions that already have college football playoffs: Division III, Division II, and Division I-AA (FCS). We covered the number of teams that each division includes in the playoffs, raging from 32 (Division III) to 16 (Division I-AA). And we covered the number of games this means that the teams will play (15, for the two teams that reach the championship game).

Playoffs work for three divisions. And the extra games are not a problem for the teams. And they play those games in December.

So, why doesn't Division I-A (FBS) use the playoffs?

Reasons given include tradition, money, and power. And it's all three.

Against that, it'll be hard to change things. Still, if they ever do, I have the plan:

Automatic Bids

There are 11 conferences. The 11 conference champions get an automatic spot. The remaining 5 spots ... call them "wild card" spots ... would be taken up by the top teams in the BCS standings that don't get an automatic berth.

Here are the 11 conferences, with their respective champions or possible champions, listed alphabetically by conference:

Conference
Champion
Atlantic Coast
Clemson vs Georgia Tech
Big East
Cincinnati or Pittsburgh
Big Ten
Ohio State
Big 12
Nebraska vs Texas
Conference USA
East Carolina or Southern Mississippi vs Houston or Southern Methodist
Mid-America
Central Michigan vs Ohio or Temple
Mountain West
Texas Christian
Pacific 10
Oregon or Oregon State
Southeastern
Alabama vs Florida
Sun Belt
Troy
Western Athletic
Boise State or Nevada
Champions in the following conferences are determined by a championship game: Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-America, and Southeastern

Wild Card Teams

The remaining 5 spots are filled by the best teams that did not win their conference championship. That would be done by taking the top five teams BCS standings that did NOT win their conference.

This would lead to some seedings that some people really wouldn't like. For instance, the loser of the SEC championship game (either Alabama or Florida) would probably be one of the top five non-champions, and therefore, be a wild-card team.

This team (either Alabama or Florida) would be seeded lower than, say, Troy (the Sun Belt champion).

Personally, I'm fine with this. There is precedent in the NFL, where an 8-8 division champion is seeded higher than an 12-4 wild card team. This happened in 2008, when San Diego, the AFC West champion, was the number four seed, while 12-4 Indianapolis was the number five seed, and 11-5 Baltimore was the number six seed. But the Chargers won their division, while the Colts and Ravens didn't win theirs.

This seeding I'm proposing would give extra importance to winning the conference championship, as well as giving the best of the rest a spot in the dance.

The bowls

What about the bowls?

Well, what about them? They can still play bowl games. In 2009, there are 33 bowl games scheduled. 34 if you count the "BCS National Championship Game."

That's 68 teams. So, this playoff system would not affect 52 teams. That's 26 bowls not impacted one little bit.

The other 8 bowls? They can still play along. Or not. Their choice.

The championship game could be one of those, or a stand-alone, as it is today. The semi-finals could be two of the big bowls. Rotate it if they like.

And, the teams that lose out in the first round -- 8 good teams, by the way -- could still qualify for a bowl. Second round losers -- 4 good teams -- could also make to to a bowl.

So, there's the 8 bowl games (4 taking the first-round losers, 2 taking the second-round losers, and 2 hosting the semi-finals).

Next

After the remaining conference championships are decided, I'll revisit this, showing the seedings and the match-ups. And the bowl impacts.

College football playoffs: 3 divisions already do it

Let me first state that all levels of college football should have playoffs. If you disagree, you won't like what I'm about to write.

Playoffs in 3 of 4 levels

There are four levels of college football in the United States today. Sure, there are only three divisions, but the upper division actually has two sub-divisions. So, yes, there are four levels of college football.

Division III has a 32-team playoff tournament. Most teams in Division III play a 10-game schedule. The two teams that make it to the championship will have played up to 15 games when the title is decided.

Division II has a 24-team playoff bracket. It's essentially a 32-team bracket with the top 8 seeds (actually, the top two in each of four regionals) getting first-round byes.

Most teams in Division II play an 11-game schedule. The two teams that make to the championship game will have played 15 games (or 16 games, if not one of the top two seeds in a regional) when the title is decided.

Then, there's Division I. And that's where things are a huge cluster... of trouble.

Division I is broken out into two parts: the Football Bowl Series (formerly Division I-A) and the Football Championship Series (formerly Division I-AA). I'm going to use the older terms (I-A and I-AA) rather than the current designations (FBS and FCS) because, well, I feel like it.

The reality is that I-A/FBS teams are a different level than I-AA/FCS teams. They are both officially Division I, but you and I know better. The I-AA powers -- like Montana, Villanova, and Appalachian State -- are usually considered better than middle-of-the-pack I-A teams, but no better than, usually, top 40 or top 50.

Division I-AA (FCS) has a 16-team tournament. Most teams play 11 games, which means that the teams playing for the title will have played 15 games when the championship is decided.

Number of games

Let's focus on one aspect of all of this right now: the number of games played.

The teams that make it all the way through the tournament, in all divisions (I-AA, II, and III) plays 15 games. That's two teams playing 15 games. Two other teams play 14 games (draw it out, you'll see). Four more teams play 13 (again, draw it out). And eight teams play 12.

Got it? In the three smaller divisions, a few teams play more games. And the season for those few teams is extended into December.

Now, if you think that holding a playoff tournament is a problem for Division I-A, then maybe you should be spending your time fighting against the NCAA for their Division I-AA, Division II, and Division III playoffs.

But, if you are open to extending the football season into December for Division I-A teams as part of a playoff tournament, then stick around. I'll have this year's version of my call for playoffs coming up soon.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-26

  • AT&T man was in the yard when I got home. Maybe, just maybe, Internet is fixed. And will stay fixed for more than 4 days this time. #
  • Here We Come A-Waffling #ObamaCarols #
  • Barry Did You Bow? #ObamaCarols #
  • O Rahm, O Rahm Emanuel #ObamaCarols #
  • Taxes We Shall Raise So High #ObamaCarols #
  • I Saw Barry Taxing Santa Claus #ObamaCarols #
  • This whole Tweeter thing is hard. For stupid people. Like me. #
  • I'll Be Home for Christmas (But You'll Still Be In Iraq Because I Didn't Mean What I Said In The Campaign) #ObamaCarols #
  • What Child Is This? And Where Is His Birth Certificate? #ObamaCarols #
  • I Wonder as I Wander, Looking For A Job In This Economy #obamacarols #
  • The First Nobel Prize #obamacarols #
  • O Holy Crap (The Poll Numbers Are Falling) #obamacarols #
  • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Because You Can't Afford A Big One #ObamaCarols #
  • Wife, walking through the living room, heard "Team Edward" said on the TV. She reacted like a cat when you shake the Little Friskies box. #
  • Helen Thomas is thankful for a black president http://bit.ly/7FYg6N If she finds out about Ann Dunham, will she be only half as thankful? #
  • I don't know why they're so upset about "Kick A Jew" Day at that school in Florida http://bit.ly/6RIn8F The White House has it every day. #
  • South Korean men can now lie to have sex http://bit.ly/6Ubugx See? America still leads the way! #
  • I remember when I used to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Not sure what happened. Probably got sick of the announcers. #
  • Obama: Too many fear end of American dream http://bit.ly/8fgwRn Counters with the American Nightmare #
  • Couple crashes White House dinner, David Cross does coke near POTUS. I hope they take the nation's security more serious than Obama's #
  • Cable still out. Maybe we should call it and report it? #
  • Local cable company offers phone service. That way, when cable goes out, you can't call and complain. Genius! #
  • Called cable company. Answering service says they've received a report already. Will call tech. Must be a two complaint minimum. #
  • Those who thought Obama would be a tax-and-spend liberal were wrong. He's a spend-and-tax liberal http://bit.ly/8ml1Mn #
  • Rihanna embarrassed by nude pics, defends sending them to then-boyfriend http://bit.ly/5iuoAT Why I'm glad I don't know who Rihanna is #
  • An actual result from googling "Obamas Christmas" http://bit.ly/5X3xhD #
  • So, when does the name change from Christmas to Obamamas? http://bit.ly/7NwTk3 #
  • Have a very merry Obamamas everyone! http://bit.ly/4tTgNQ #
  • Have a holly, jolly Obamamas http://bit.ly/5LwmJc #
  • You know, some folks will actually like these actual "Obamamas" cards http://bit.ly/6jJC6Y I call those people s***heads #
  • Good news! My blog is now the top Google result for "south indian breastpornpictures" http://bit.ly/4Lh6au It's like Christmas came early #
  • I like Jeff Dunham's character Walter. Except that he looks like Joe Biden. #

Thanksgiving 2009

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It's a day set aside for giving thanks for the many blessing we have received. Many families will gather together, many good times will be shared, and many meals will be consumed.

But there are people who don't have families with whom to gather together, who are suffering hardships and having trouble making ends meet, and are cold and hungry. Think about these people. While there are some people that you just can't help, there are many, many more you can. Find a way to help others as you recoginize all the blessings you have received.

And don't forget to give thanks for what you have. Don't worry about what you don't have. The Good Lord has been very kind and gracious to use, allowing us to reap the benefits of living in the United States of America. Let's don't lose sight of that fact.

What began as a harvest celebration between European settlers and indigenous communities nearly four centuries ago has become our cherished tradition of Thanksgiving. This day's roots are intertwined with those of our Nation, and its history traces the American narrative.

Today, we recall President George Washington, who proclaimed our first national day of public thanksgiving to be observed "by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God," and President Abraham Lincoln, who established our annual Thanksgiving Day to help mend a fractured Nation in the midst of civil war. We also recognize the contributions of Native Americans, who helped the early colonists survive their first harsh winter and continue to strengthen our Nation. From our earliest days of independence, and in times of tragedy and triumph, Americans have come together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

As Americans, we hail from every part of the world. While we observe traditions from every culture, Thanksgiving Day is a unique national tradition we all share. Its spirit binds us together as one people, each of us thankful for our common blessings.

As we gather once again among loved ones, let us also reach out to our neighbors and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand. This is a time for us to renew our bonds with one another, and we can fulfill that commitment by serving our communities and our Nation throughout the year. In doing so, we pay tribute to our country's men and women in uniform who set an example of service that inspires us all. Let us be guided by the legacy of those who have fought for the freedoms for which we give thanks, and be worthy heirs to the noble tradition of goodwill shown on this day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 2009, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all the people of the United States to come together, whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place where family, friends and neighbors may gather, with gratitude for all we have received in the past year; to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own; and to share our bounty with others.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA
Thank be to God for all the things He has placed on this world for us.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-25


  • Climate Change might not be man-made, but the evidence for it is http://bit.ly/6GYeeY #
  • If I don't want to see Britney Spears push some guy's face into her crotch, am I hetero-bashing? http://bit.ly/6dus8b #
  • Trying to make up my mind about who should be first against the wall when the revolution comes. #
  • Is The Bow going to be Obama's Attack Rabbit? #
  • Screw healthcare. Do you have any idea how many people in this country don't have reliable broadband Internet service? It's a travesty! #
  • Hasan to use insanity defense http://bit.ly/8WUpU9 The good news: It's now okay to say "them m*****f*****s is crazy" #
  • If this car looks like the inside of your kitchen drawers and cabinets, it's because it IS covered with contact paper #
  • I'm worried the elevator in Sears is about to go Jihad on me #

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-24

  • Very upset with AT&T Internet. Service is down more than up. But, they say it'll be fixed by last night. #
  • What did Santa look like in the 1850s? I could go to the Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus and find out http://bit.ly/5oWP2g #
  • PETA wants UGA to replace Uga VII with a robotic mascot http://bit.ly/5UDbMl Better idea: use PETA as mascot & change team name to Jackasses #

Monday, November 23, 2009

TV trays

When I bought my first laptop computer -- a Gateway -- several years ago, I quickly abandoned using a desktop.

Oh, I kept a desktop set up for a little while. Then, I realized that I never used it. Because I really liked the laptop and used it exclusively.

Replaced the Gateway with a Dell a few years later. And a couple of years back, replaced the Dell with a MacBook.

It didn't take me long to move the laptop from the desk -- where the desktop used to be -- to its new home on a TV tray. A wooden TV tray, with folding legs.

The TV tray finally gave out this weekend. Probably because I was a little rougher on it than I should have been: frustrated because of the problems with Internet connectivity we've had lately.

Anyway, the TV tray finally gave out. Or at least, a nail gave and the lip on the side came off. Plus the legs kept giving out.

So, when I got off work this afternoon, I decided to get a new TV tray.

I knew this day was coming, and I had previously looked at K-Mart for one, since K-Mart is not as far out of the way as, say, Wal-mart. But, K-Mart didn't have what I wanted. So, tonight, I went to Wal-mart.

I looked all over for TV trays. I checked the furniture section, the TV section (maybe they considered it a TV accessory, you know?), and thought about, but didn't, check the frozen dinner section. I tweeted that I looked there, but that was just a joke.

Turns out, Wal-mart -- at least the one I stopped by -- didn't have any TV dinner trays. Not that I could find, anyway.

However, they did have something else: a Folding Laptop Table.

Imagine that! They didn't have a TV tray; they had what I wanted to use the TV tray for.

It's plastic -- a hard, molded plastic thing that has a built-in mouse pad and really sturdy legs. It ought to be able to stand up to my handling.

And it needs to. AT&T service has gone down twice during my writing this post.

Thoughts for 2009-11-23

  • AT&T Internet up and down -- mostly down -- for two days now. #
  • I don't know where Wal-mart keeps its TV dinner trays, but it's neither with the TVs nor with the dinners. #

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-22

  • Georgia lost to Kentucky in Athens for the first time since Herschel Walker was a high school sophomore. Dark times or Biulldog Nation. #

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-21

  • Waitress asked Wife if she wanted more coffee, and she said "no." This never happens. My wife has been replaced by a pod person! #
  • Bought the cat a bed for when she's inside on freezing nights. Should have bought her a cardboard tray like the Pringles multipak comes in. #
  • The line to get out the Sam's Club is bigger than the line to get in. Probably the church donut salesmen outside. #
  • Wife and a friend debate Team Edward vs Team Jacob. I say Team Buffy. #
  • Edward or Jacob? Folks my age know Barnabas Collins could kick both their a**es. #
  • Sears' toy section seem so fantastic when I was little. I'm not little any more. And toyland seems so sparse. #
  • As soon as we got in the checkout line at Sears, she sent me straight to Customer Service. I must look like trouble. #

Friday, November 20, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-20

  • I love my job. I really do. But -- gosh! -- I hate having to work late. Production server issues bite the big one! #
  • Well, that was fun. Working late always is. Probably be late to work in the morning. #
  • Georgia not taking new mental patients at Milledgeville http://tinyurl.com/ydl3q39 State says go crazy on your own time #
  • Let's see. A double Whopper with cheese? Or two double cheeseburgers? $3.99 or $2 ? If all decisions were this easy. #
  • D.O.A. #hcrmovies #
  • I Know Who Killed Me #hcrmovies #
  • The best way to honor Jesse Jackson ... is to not talk to him http://bit.ly/1LlaQ #
  • Verizon's Website doesn't navigate well on a Verizon BlackBerry. Maybe if I had an AT&T iPhone... #

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Harry Reid and the Pages of Gold

The Senate version of the health care bill is out. And it's big. And expensive. And puts J. K. Rowling to shame.

Let me explain.

The bill is 2,074 pages long.

CNN reports the cost of the bill, over 10 years, is calculated at $849,000,000,000

That's $409,353,905.50 per page.

J. K. Rowling's seven-book Harry Potter series sold 325-million copies in the first 10 years. At 4,195 pages, at the hardcover price of $24.95, that works out to $8,108,750,000 in sales (and the amount is less, if any of those sales were cheaper paperback versions).

Amount per page sold in a Harry Potter book? $1,932,955.90

That means a single page of the Senate bill is worth 211.7 times more than a page from a Harry Potter book.

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) says he will read the entire bill aloud on the Senate floor before allowing a vote.

I hope he does. And I hope he then reads the entire Harry Potter series aloud. Then, Harry Reid can see if his bill is really worth more than a Harry Potter book.

One final thought: both Rowling and Reid are masters of fiction. The difference is that I have the choice of not buying Rowling's writings. Reid demands I pay for his.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-18

  • Obama "probably won't" read Palin's book http://bit.ly/38AKQn Too many words, not enough pictures #
  • Obama "probably won't" read Palin's book http://bit.ly/38AKQn Too busy not deciding about troops for Afghanistan #
  • Obama "probably won't" read Palin's book http://bit.ly/38AKQn Feels uncomfortable bowing to the clerk at Barnes and Noble #

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-17

Old White Men - UPDATED

As an American, I feel that the major political parties should be representative of America.

And that's the problem with the Republican party. As anyone on the left, or in the traditional media, will tell you, the GOP is the party of old white men.

And they're right. Just look at these prominent Republicans.

Let's start with Republican Party chairman Michael Steele:

Old White Man

Look at the two GOP politicians that have ignite the most passion in Republican followers. First, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin:

Old White Man

Next, Minnesota 6th District Representative Michele Bachmann:

Old White Man

And, it's not just the party politicians, it's those in the media. Take a look at two of the major Republican pundits that appear most on news shows.

First, Michelle Malkin:

Old White Man

Then, there's Ann Coulter:

Old White Man

It's old white men like these that are holding the Republican party back. Until the GOP takes actions to make itself more diverse, they'll never be taken seriously again.

UPDATE:
More Old White Men, as suggested by others...

IMAO commenter Jimmy suggests:

Conservative Christian entertainer AlfonZo Rachel (Zo)

Old White Man

Author and talk show host Laura Ingraham

Old White Man

Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal

Old White Man

IMAO commenter Alice H suggests:

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski

Old White Man

Communications strategist Dana Perino

Old White Man

IMAO commenter Dohtimes suggests:

Talk show host Dana Loesch

Old White Man

IMAO commenter shiggz suggests:

Actress Patricia Heaton

Old White Man

UPDATE II

Harvey suggests:

Former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice

Old White Man

Stanford University Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Dr. Thomas Sowell

Old White Man

Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas

Old White Man

George Mason University Professor of Economics Dr. Walter Williams

Old White Man

Monday, November 16, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-16

  • Apple reverses, let's the app with the "objectionable" caricature in the Apple Store http://bit.ly/gjuAq #
  • Obama doesn't trust the military to try terrorists, but is willing to try them in civilian court with evidence the military obtained? #
  • UK Health Care baby dies "in a planned way" http://bit.ly/1nACkD #

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-15

Leader of the Free World

It's an old term with origins during the Cold War: Leader of the Free World. And it has always meant the president of the United States.

There were three worlds: the Free World, the Communist World, and the Third World (nations not aligned with either of the other two blocs, in case you didn't know the origin of that phrase).

The Free World, the nations aligned against the threat of communism, referred to the United States, Great Britain, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, West Germany, and other U. S. allies.

With the fall of the Soviet Union, the Cold War isn't what it used to be. But some of the terminology remains. Including referring to the president of the United States as "Leader of the Free World."

But is that accurate any more?

No.

The Leader of the Free World doesn't bow to other leaders.

Obama has abandoned the role: he is not the Leader of the Free World.

So, who is?

Certainly not the leader of any communist country, or any dictatorship. And, I'm thinking a leader of the Free World should be the leader of a country with a major presence on the world stage.

No offense to our friends in Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, but those countries just aren't major players. Certainly, they are more so than, say, Luxembourg or Iceland, but they're not at the top of the pyramid.

So, who?

Let's look at the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: the Unites States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and China.

Obama has already relinquished the title, so the leader of the U.S. is out. Four to go.

China? China is communist. Free World? Just the opposite. Two down, three to go.

Great Britain? They have a queen. A queen? A non-elected monarch? As leader of the Free World? Three down, two to go.

So, who's left?

Russia and France.

Who's the president of Russia? Vladimir Putin? Actually, no. It's Dmitry Medvedev. Former president (and current Prime Minister) Vladimir Putin might be running the show, but Medvedev is president, elected by the people. Forget all the other problems with Russia, the leader isn't the person elected by the people. So, four down, one to go.

That leaves: France.

Yes, France. The president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, is leader of the Free World.

France, despite all the jokes we throw her way, has a long, storied military history. The Franks took Gaul from the Romans, Charlemagne controlled much of Europe and the Mediterranean world, France helped the American colonies win the Revolutionary War, Napoleon led France to nearly conquer the world in the early 19th century...

You get my point, I hope. France isn't a pushover.

The French government, though, has been a problem. It was the French government, not the French people, who were defeated by Germany in World War II. The people, most of them, kept fighting.

And, in recent years, the rise of the left in France has caused the French government to take weak stands against opponents of freedom.

Sarkozy defeated a Socialist Party candidate to assume the presidency in 2007, and has shown himself to be more of a leader on the world stage than Barack Obama.

True, that's not saying a lot. But, for now, the president of France is the Leader of the Free World.

And that's a damned shame.

November 6, 2012 can't get here soon enough.

Hold your head up

Sometimes, pictures are worth more than 1000 words...


[YouTube direct link]

Hat top: Allah Pundit / HotAirPundit

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-14

  • When Obama does something that seems stupid and irresponsible, it's really part of a secret plan. To be stupid and irresponsible. #
  • Remember when the president of the United States was the leader of the free world? Those were the days. #
  • Wouldn't it be great if the New York legislature authorized death by waterboarding? #
  • Turns out Obama was saving the bow for the Emperor http://bit.ly/28Og0j #
  • Tech at noon. UGA at 7PM. And a bouncy moon-walk thingy in the front yard all day for the grandchildren. Busy, busy Saturday. #
  • Tech just clobbered Duke. Now, off to find the place daughter and her husband are looking to rent. #

Friday, November 13, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-13

  • Just started using Picasa for Mac. Let's see how well it identifies faces. #
  • I ID'd pictures of me in Picasa. Now, it's finding pictures it thinks is me. Including daughter's baby pictures. Wait until she finds out! #
  • Now they're sculpting vaginas. http://bit.ly/22HkFk Trying to comment, but failing. I guess I'm tongue-tied. So to speak. #
  • Mass. principal bans students from saying 'Meep!' http://bit.ly/2tDvxV School is Falcons, not Knights; that's why they didn't say "Ni" #
  • Want Congressional info on your iPhone, compete with caricatures? Thre's NOT an app for that. http://bit.ly/2WInLK #
  • ACORN Sues Over 'Unconstitutional' Funding Cuts By Congress http://bit.ly/47a1ti Alright, who told ACORN about the Constitution? #
  • CDC: H1N1 Has Sickened 22 Million in 6 Months http://bit.ly/1Lks7 RNC: Obama has sickened 250 million in 10 months #
  • Beaver pees on CBS correspondent http://bit.ly/140Ycd I understand the feeling #
  • Fish declare jihad on Israel http://bit.ly/2trG4Q #
  • I wish a black person would make really big news in, say, England. I'd love to see a CNN anchor talk about a British African-American #
  • There are now three sexes in India http://bit.ly/DjTLu #
  • There is a clone farm in Enid, Oklahoma http://bit.ly/1ddUkV I wonder why there aren't two #
  • Academics hope history in video games spurs interest http://bit.ly/4GBIjf I can see it now: JFK, The Video Game #
  • Camilla owns a KFC franchise #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • Scooter burned down the Muppet theatre to collect insurance #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • The Count served seven years for cooking the books #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • Sweetums turned state's evidence on Taminella and has been in witness protection since 1972 #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • Cookie Monster eats Fig Newtons #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • Guy Smiley was sued for sexual harassment and settled out of court #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • The Two-Headed Monster divorced itself in 2003, but continues to live together for the sake of the children #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • Twiddlebugs are the secret ingredient in Ernie's famous oatmeal "raisin" cookies #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • Wolfgang the Seal was Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's first assistant ... before that experiment went horribly wrong #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • King Rupert the Second ascended to the throne after his older brother died under mysterious circumstances #viciousmuppetrumors #
  • Reuters breaking: Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to be sent to New York for trial #
  • BBC: KSM to NYC http://bit.ly/7IB3P #
  • I don't remember seeing any pictures of Obama bowing to anyone in Japan. Maybe if Yukio Hatoyama converted to Islam... #
  • Three Tennessee players try to rob men http://bit.ly/A3sh3 If acquitted, they stay on team; if convicted, they transfer to Florida State #
  • Krauthammer: Medicalizing mass murder http://bit.ly/42pN9G #
  • Did Shep Smith ever finally say "the shootet's" name? I'd have to watch him to find out, so I'm asking you. #
  • I must disagree with Krauthammer: "Excess of sensitivity" is to blame. Excess of sensitivity didn't cause Hasan's spree, but it allowed it. #
  • Triskadecaphobia: fear of monarchs who live near Fred Rogers #

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Thoughts for 2009-11-12

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

AT&T DSL Hell

AT&T is down. Mostly. It comes and goes. Mostly goes.

For the last few weeks, I've noticed an occasional hiccup with the Internet service. But, starting yesterday, it went from occasional hiccup to full seizure.

Tonight, I decided to call. On my BlackBerry, of course.

I'm not impressed with their voice-response service. I call one department, it asks me questions, and then it wants to send me to another department. And can't seem to remember my phone number from one department to the next.

I called, answered the questions the robo-voice asked, it said "Hold for a service representative" then, after some Kenny G-sounding muzak, started over, asking my number again.

Finally, after talking to someone in the Internet department. She asks about my phone line. Which we don't use. So, I plugged a phone into the phone line, and got some weird noisy noise. Yes, that's actually an accurate description. Wife thought I was crazy for saying that, so I let her hear it. She no longer thinks I'm crazy. Not for that, anyway.

Back to the human. I'm answering her questions, then getting placed on hold while she transfers me. More muzak. Then, another woman comes on, I acknowledge her, and I'm disconnected. They have my cell number, but don't call back.

I call again, and the whole thing starts again.

Then, this time, the voice system decides to not send me to a person, but handle the issue itself. The crazy-ass voice system asked me if I saw the "support page" in my browser. I said "no." Robo-bitch said "Great! You're now connected to the Internet. Blah blah blah. Thank you for calling the new AT&T." And disconnects me.

Called again. This time, answering the same questions, it decides to test my phone line. And, it finds a problem. Which is why I called to begin with.

And they tell me when they'll have it fixed: by the evening of Monday, November 16.

I'm now checking into how to tether my BlackBerry service on my Mac. I don't know if I can do that. Actually, I don't know if I may do that. If it can be done, I'm sure I can.

Thoughts for 2009-11-11

  • I like the new villains on "V" ... but Jane Badler (Diana on the original mini-series) was hot hot hot ... for a cold-blooded lizard. #
  • As much as the new "V" can be seen as a jab at the Obama administration, I think a reimaging of "They Live" would be more appropriate #
  • Electronic Holy Water dispenser http://bit.ly//3YksIv Fully compatible with Preacherbot 3000 #
  • Anna grants interview to Chad Decker. Obama grants interview to Major Garrett. Same rules apply? #
  • Columbus GA Council denies permit to right-wing group for a rally http://bit.ly/2gB357 #
  • So, what's this about a right-wing blogger thingy in Vegas? Amazing that I won't go to Atlanta for one, but would go to Vegas. #

Veterans Day 2009


VETERANS DAY, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America. From the Minutemen who stood watch over Lexington and Concord to the service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, American veterans deserve our deepest appreciation and respect. Our Nation's servicemen and women are our best and brightest, enlisting in times of peace and war, serving with honor under the most difficult circumstances, and making sacrifices that many of us cannot begin to imagine. Today, we reflect upon the invaluable contributions of our country's veterans and reaffirm our commitment to provide them and their families with the essential support they were promised and have earned.

Caring for our veterans is more than a way of thanking them for their service. It is an obligation to our fellow citizens who have risked their lives to defend our freedom. This selflessness binds our fates with theirs, and recognizing those who were willing to give their last full measure of devotion for us is a debt of honor for every American.

We also pay tribute to all who have worn the uniform and continue to serve their country as civilians. Many veterans act as coaches, teachers, and mentors in their communities, selflessly volunteering their time and expertise. They visit schools to tell our Nation's students of their experiences and help counsel our troops returning from the theater of war. These men and women possess an unwavering belief in the idea of America: no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who your parents are, this is a place where anything is possible. Our veterans continue to stand up for those timeless American ideals of liberty, self-determination, and equal opportunity.

On Veterans Day, we honor the heroes we have lost, and we rededicate ourselves to the next generation of veterans by supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen as they return home from duty. Our grateful Nation must keep our solemn promises to these brave men and women and their families. They have given their unwavering devotion to the American people, and we must keep our covenant with them.

With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our servicemen and women have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2009, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I call on all Americans, including civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative expressions and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA