No, my kid is smart!

So, right on the heels of my last post about child stars I see this headline:

Child Genius at Oxford Becomes Prostitute

The article is here.

I know of a few controlling parents. It ain't pretty.While this story may be the extreme exception, many controlling parents can look forward to rebellion manifested in some fashion.

No, my kid's a star!

OK. There are guilty pleasures, and there are guilty guilty pleasures. The new VH1 show I Know My Kid's A Star is my new guilty guilty pleasure. All these show have the same premise. Teams compete, and each week a team is sent packing. At the end there is a lone survivor, the winner. The show, hosted by used to be Danny Bonadouchebag, is a star search for the next child star. But, it's as much about the parents as it is about the kids in that they are judged in the manner in which they coach, guide, and parent their children throughout the competition. Danny points out, and correctly so, that the parents have as much at stake as the kids do in adapting to hollywood life. It's an interesting exercise.

On the one hand, it's a horrible thing to put the kids through. I know it's what goes on all the time. But it usually isn't broadcast to the entire country . . . and . . . the kids aren't usually booted by such a loser as Bonadouchebag. That's harsh. To be honest, though, Danny has used his own life as an example of what not to do when moments warranted his advice. So, I'll give him that.

On the other hand, and as one might expect, it's the parents who need a good slap. They get it, too. There's a variety of loser parents on the show. Some have no clue what they're doing, others are trying to do it all . . . include get the attention.

I'll give Danny something else, he picks who goes . . . and he's been right on so far.

The one thing that struck me . . . none of the kids seem like they have "star" quality. It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Fetus found on plane

HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities are investigating the discovery of what appears to be a fetus in the bathroom of a Continental Airlines plane that arrived in Houston on a flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport.
FBI Special Agent Shauna Dunlap said that while the plane was being cleaned about an hour after the plane landed Sunday, the cleaning crew found the apparent fetus. The medical examiner's office will do an autopsy to determine if it was viable.

Dunlap said that if it is determined that a crime occurred, then the FBI will work with Houston police to determine where it occurred and continue from there.

I

I hope they find out who did this. One would think it wouldn't be too difficult. I'm not sure what to think of this. My first thought is that it's pathetic. Another lack of regard for the life of a fetus. We don't know if it was viable or not, but if it was . . . what a waste. I hope this person is found and punished. What a way to have your life ended. In the toilet of an airplane. Simply left there to die . . . simply left there and forgotten.

I can't imagine this is much of anything else. The first question that comes to mind, why didn't the person say something? If this was an early delivery, a miscarriage, then no one is at fault and no one would think anything of the person in that position. As it is now, even if it was a miscarriage, you have to wonder why nothing was said and the fetus was just left there in the toilet. Doesn't speak well for the intentions of the mother.

Sad, sad, sad.

More caring? Debatable. Sense of humor? Not!

Over the past few days I've read at a number of conservative blogs the foolishness of the "black out" hour that was observed around the world as a . . . bow to Goredom and the fantasy that is global warming. I should be specific . . . the alarmist view of global warming. Anyway, it was suggested by a few that instead of bowing to the goracle, we do the opposite and turn all of our lights on. Well . . .

I can appreciate people taking shots at people for the sake of a laugh. Leno and his ilk do it every day. It's funny. I'm not so wrapped up in my beliefs and dedications that I can't take a joke. Nor am I so above it all to see the humor in things.

I actually looked this up. Now, even I can admit I'm not fully convinced, but if you google happiness and liberals and conservatives, you'll find articles that seem to indicate that studies show conservatives are happier people than are liberals. There seems to be all sorts of empirical evidence of this. But, I don't mean to generalize.

Anyway, the responses to the notion of an anti-movement to the lights out effort was humorless, at the very least, and insulting at the most. I opted not to chime in as I was taken aback with some of the responses and figured I would just get myself in to trouble. Clearly, though, some libs out there in blogdom can't take a joke.

Lighten up, people.

Nipple rings and airport scanners

I don't have a huge opinion on the woman, Mandi Hamlin, who had to remove her nipple rings in order to board a flight. She was ordered by the TSA to remove them after she caused the hand held scanner to go off. She passed through the walk through detector no problem. In her case, removing the piercings proved somewhat difficult and she needed a pair of pliers to do the, not surprisingly, painful job. Of course, now she's suing and wants an apology from the TSA.

Do I think she could have been privately observed by a female officer to ensure compliance? Yes. Do I think the TSA over reacted? Yes. Is this worth a lawsuit? No. But I do think the TSA could apologize.

My larger question is this . . . what 37 year old wears nipple rings? That's kind of pathetic.

Best way to start the day!

When I stepped out of the shower this morning, I saw that my daughter had written "I love you, daddy" in he mirror that had fogged over from the shower.

That made my day.

Eggsellent!

We decided to try a couple of egg kits. One was a marble kit, the other was a sponge kit. he were both a lot of fun and produced, I think, some very cool and unique eggs. Now we hate to wreak them by eating them!

More Snow?!?!

From JSonline:

Winter storm watch Thursday
Call it the winter that just won't quit: The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for all of southeast Wisconsin beginning Thursday morning.

The weather service says the potential exists for 6 inches or more of snow. More snow could fall in areas near Lake Michigan, according to the latest forecast.

I'm gonna need more xanax.

Routine? Not by a long shot.

Kanye's mother died due to complications from cosmetic surgery. While it was revealed that she had a heart condition that caused her to die, it still underscored the risk any surgical procedure carries. Stephanie Kuleba died recently due to complication from cosmetic surgery. Likely, from the anesthesia.

The article is here.

A couple of things stood out.

"Breast augmentation is one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures out there. Teenagers are getting these surgeries done earlier and earlier, and the fear is that if they get them too early, it might not be indicated."

There seems to be a lot of evidence that parents allow their teens to have breast augmentation done. I can understand if a girl is overly large, very lopsided, or has some other medical reason to have augmentation done. Beyond those reasons though, it seems wrong to encourage and allow teens to have their breasts done. Very wrong. Forget about the risks. What kind of message is this? Now, I have no idea if Stephanie needed the procedure or not . . . medically speaking. But if she didn't, and this was simply to have bigger boobs, hopefully her death will send a message. There's no such thing as routine surgery.

Also:

Alvarez said the danger with cosmetic procedures is the casual way in which they're sometimes approached.

"In plastic surgery, there's a laissez-faire attitude because people tend to be healthy," Alvarez said. "It’s not seen as a therapeutic operation. That underlying trend could allow you to be exposed to unnecessary risks."

Literally, the healthier you are, the higher the risk as you're not one to have been exposed to medical treatments, tests, and procedures before. Thus, with no history, there's no way to know, definitively, if you're going to react to anything with regard to procedures, medications, and being put to sleep.

I don't mean to sound cold. This is tragic. I just think there's a lesson to be learned.

Global foolishness 115

This isn't new, but I'm sure few people know about it. Several years ago a group of oceanographers launched 3000 robots called Argo Robots for the purpose of studying the ocean's temperatures. I'm sure they wanted to prove the point of global warming, but the data they received was contrary to opinion . . . I'm sorry . . . contrary to the discussion that is no longer a discussion. Turns out, for the past 5 years, there's been no warming at all. A slight cooling, in fact. But, that's brushed off as insignificant. The article from NPR here.

The whole article has a "we're not sure" sort of tone to it.

Trenberth and Willis agree that a few mild years have no effect on the long-term trend of global warming. But they say there are still things to learn about how our planet copes with the heat.

So, along with NASA satellites that CAN accurately measure telling us that the atmosphere isn't warming . . . and now these robots telling us that the oceans haven't warmed . . . what's left?

Oh yeah. The discussion is over.

What is wrong with people?

Jarvis Duke is a scumbag. A low life scumbag. In Duke's case, it's difficult to find a word to satisfactorily describe him without using profanity. Maggot. Thug. One that's at least accurate, murderer. Duke was sentenced to 80 in prison today for the murder of Shaina Mersman. She was 18 years old. She was also 33 weeks pregnant. Her fetus also died.

According to the article, it was not only a senseless murder, it was also particularly cold and callous as it happened in the middle of the day in the middle of a street. Clearly, the judge did the right thing. But what struck me about the article was this:

And though Duke will be closing in on his 100th birthday before he is a free man, he stood up from the defense table, turned to the supporters behind him and smiled.

Some clapped.

A few hooted.

Several called his name.

The senselessness of the display befitted the senselessness of the crime.

Who would support this dirthole? For what possible reason? Because they're standing up for him? Standing beside him in his time of need? These people are as morally corrupt as Duke is. Who would support someone who murdered a person? What kills me . . . Duke got his. With any luck he'll become someone's b*tch and live forever in fear of being shanked. But these low lifes in the courtroom cheering Duke on . . . these are dangerous people. The type that will turn their backs on someone in need, have little respect for life, and would likely kill themselves for the dumbest of reasons. The only good thing, none are likely smart enough to get away with it.

Sad, pathetic, and disturbing.

We know it's snowing!

I came home from work early today because of the snow. I travel from Milwaukee to West Bend so in weather like this it's not only hazardous but lengthy. Sometimes taking over an hour to get home.

Anyway, I shoveled first thing then sat down to dry off and warm up. I turned on the TV to see what was on. Good thing we have cable. I can't speak for all the local stations but channel 4 was all snow all the time.

All snow all the time.

All day.

Once you see it's snowing . . . once you're told it's going to snow a lot, that conditions are bad, and that there are cancellations, what more is there?

Hey, let's look at the fuzzy and wet traffic cams to see the slow traffic we just told you about! Over and over and over and over again. Look, 10 minutes later and it's still snowing and the traffic is still moving slowly! Now let's update you on the storm we just told you about. AFter that, we'll go to the crappy traffic cams and have a look at the slow moving traffic again. It's moving slow because . . . it's snowing out!

Over and over and over and over and over . . .

You can't simply give us a 60 second update every 30 minutes? A scroll at the bottom of the screen?

Stupid. I can't stand local news on TV anymore. They lost me. This is one reason why.

At least TMJ4 didn't recommend going to Chucky Cheese with the kids today.

Enchanting!

The family sat down last night with sandwiches from Robert's and watched the movie Enchanted. Wow! Incredible! I knew what the movie was about, I knew the people in it, I knew some of the songs, but I never expected it to be as good as it was. Amy Adams was great. Both in voice and in character. She really brought her animated character to life . . . which is what happens . . . but she carries on like her animated charter would. It was great. The highlight of the film is the musical bit in Central Park to the song That's How You Know sung by Amy Adams. Incredible!

My only gripe . . . I didn't think Susan Sarandon did a very good job when a live character. But, it's a minor quibble of an otherwise excellent movie. Great for the family. My daughter loved it. Plus, it makes our DisneyWorld trip all the more memorable as they were "inducting" Giselle in to the castle when we were there.

Lastly, Carrie Underwood really lets go on the song Ever Ever After. I didn't know her voice was that good.

America Needs an Idol!

For the third week now, I've been less than impressed with the entire ensemble. First, what is it with the Beatles songs? Give it a rest. Let them sing what they want! Still, if you want to call yourself a singer, you gotta sing. No one is in a position of calling their own shots, yet.

On the other hand, why not let them play to their strengths?

Anyway, of the bunch, David Cook seems to have the most talent. He's got a Scott Stapp kind of voice and has pretty good stage presence. Amanda Overmyer thinks she's cool. She's not, and she's not that good. Kristi Lee Cook continues to disappoint. Carly Smithson continues to make bad choices with her songs. And Rami, Syesha, and Jason will likely advance on their looks.

More than that, Randy, Paula, and Simon are just annoying. Their commentary is worse than the performances. Simon is often right, in my opinion, but is such an asschute he diminishes the point of his comments. If I have to hear "check it out . . ." from Randy any longer I'll go insane. And Paula . . . trim your bangs!

David Cook should win it. He's been the most consistent and has the best natural talent. I think when allowed to finally let go, Carly could do well. Maybe Jason as well. But on a scale of 1 to 10, David's an 8. The rest are, at best, a 5.

BTW, Dan Deibert over at the D Spot live blogs the telecast. Check it out and join in. It's a lot of fun!

How do you look up what you can't spell?

Google it. Do a search spelling the word however you think it's spelled. When Google returns the results it will usually ask: "Did you mean . . . ?" with the correctly spelled word.

I use that a lot.

Eruption! I don't have to wait long!

I've admitted to being a Rock 'n Roller, and a bit of a metal head. I have a love for the 80's hard rock bands and have seen quite a few over the years. One of my perennial favorites is Van Halen. Not only does Van Halen virtually define 80's hard rock, Eddie was instrumental (get it?) in shaping it's sound with his unique sound and guitar technique. He didn't invent finger tapping, but he did pave the way for it's popularity.

When David Lee Roth split from the group, I was a little shocked . . . and sad. What would happen to the group I loved so?

Sammy Hagar Walks In (get it?).

It was perfect. First, he was another guitar player. Second, he wrote some pretty good songs on his own. It really brought Van Halen to a new level. As much as I liked the old Van Halen and Roth, the new Van Halen rocked. Sammy was every bit as good a front man as David was. Vocally, probably a bit better.

Anyone who has followed the group knows Eddie is kind of a nut case. Temperamental, over bearing, controlling . . . and worse when he's sober. He was a mess. It came as no surprise that Sammy eventually left. Eddie also had other problems. Tongue cancer and arthritis. He's had surgery to cut out a portion of his tongue and surgery to replace a hip. Guitar god, perhaps. But mortal none the less. It seemed like the end.

There had been talks of a reunion on several occasions. David did come back once before to join Sammy on a short tour and record updated versions of their songs. Again, it was short lived. Eddie, Sammy, and David together on the road? I can only imagine. My understanding is that there's no love loss between David and Sammy. Go figure.

Fast forward to recent times . . . ironic how it turns out David is the most normal of the bunch. He did radio for a while (he's a conservative) and trained to become a paramedic . . . and worked as one going on hundreds of calls. He's a pretty stand up guy, now. Though time and age has tamed Eddie as well.

I believe it was early last year when the news finally broke . . . Van Halen was reuniting with Roth. Then, no. Then, YES! Unfortunately, there would be no Michael Anthony as he got fed up with everyone and formed a new group and was committed to them. In steps in Eddie's son, Wolfgang. All of 15 years old, Wolfie was to take Anthony's place on bass guitar.

What?

I still think it's pretty weird, but all reports indicate he's good. Real good.

I had planned to go to Chicago with my wife to see Van Halen as Milwaukee wasn't on the original tour schedule. I thought it would be a cool over night date. At the time, though, I really wanted to go to Door County with the whole family. Doing both would have been expensive. Plus, I thought if I waited, they'd get around to Milwaukee. I was right. The day the tickets went on sale was the same day Miley Cyrus tickets went on sale. Miley was virtually a waste of time as tickets sold out within minutes. Van Halen, though, I scored big. Very good seats.

Eddie seemed ready to hit the road. Seemed to have his "act together", so to speak. Nope. News came of a few dates being postponed due to medical reasons. As I post this, no one knows why, yet. Soon after more dates were cancelled. Including Milwaukee.

Crap.

News today has it that Van Halen will perform at the end of April . . . instead of April 7th. So, not bad. Not bad at all. It will be interesting to see if the Bradley Center sold out. Other places have. Whatever the case, I'm looking forward to this. Seeing Van Halen again is not just about Eddie or Dave. It's a testament about the music of the time. I highly doubt we'll see a Britney Spears come back tour in 30 years.

Rock on.

It's so easy.

The absolute definition of innocence. Completely void of bias and stereotype. Unhindered by opinion and ignorance. Completely dependent and incapable of defending themselves.

Children. They ask nothing more than to love them and care for them. They have no built it need or want for things other than what makes them happy. For most, the love of their parents is more than adequate.

Why is it, so often, that's too much to ask?

What's particularly telling is what the girl told the police:

The child told police that she was scared that someone might kidnap her.

She would know this only because the father told her. Likely to purposely cause her to be scared. Nice. What a dirtbag. To sit for hours, scared, alone, and in the dark.

What a big man.

What a low life scumbag.

Global Foolishness 114

It just keeps pouring in. The NOAA has reported that the 2007/2008 winter season has been the coolest since 2001, putting the IPCC in the hot seat as reported here.

The comment of most interest to me in the article was this:

The IPCC published its Fourth Assessment Report in 2007 predicting global warming will lead to widespread catastrophe if not mitigated, yet failed to provide the most basic requirement for effective climate policy: accurate temperature statistics

Something us non-expert, scientifically challenged buffoons have been saying all along.

Global Foolishness 113

Now, this is a great idea:

Sue Al Gore for Fraud.

It would be interesting to not only call out the so called "experts" on the alarmist side, but also expose the money trail that exists
that the deniers get blamed for all the time.

I doubt this will go anywhere . . . but I hope it does.

Freedumb of Speech

Something I think we've all wondered about, particularly with regard to the war in Iraq, and our national security. Does the press go too far in it's reporting? Does it reveal too much? Does the press have an obligation to safeguard the public? According to this short article negative news about the war inspires the insurgents.

Insurgents in Iraq get a boost from coverage in the news media that shows support for troop withdrawals from the war torn country, according to a study.

Two Harvard University economists found that insurgent groups are responsive to "antiresolve" statements in the media.

"It shows that the various insurgent groups do respond to incentives and shows that a successful counter insurgency strategy should take that reality into account," Jonathan Monten, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, told US News and World Report.

Insurgent attacks increased between 7 and 10 percent immediately after a spike in "antiresolve" statements in the media, according to the findings.

The study was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Baghdad was excluded from the study and it did not review overall cost and public debate.

The ice will melt!

No. This isn't about the icebergs in Lake Michigan. Which IS interesting. Particularly during this time of catastrophic level global warming. But, no. This is about our revered senior citizens.

What is it about old folks and chopping ice in the street?

Right?

Maybe it's the exercise.

American Idol

I don't watch until the end when, supposedly, only the best are left. With respect to this year's crop of hopefuls . . . they suck. I'm not a huge Beatles fan to begin with but the decision to use their songs was . . . well, not good. If anything, it put many of the performers at a disadvantage as they really couldn't pull the song off very well.

It will be interesting to see who survives.

Teacher Residency

Teachers would no longer have to live in Milwaukee under bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Teachers in the Milwaukee Public Schools would no longer have to live within the district under a bill that passed the state Assembly.
The bill would have to pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Jim Doyle before it would become law. But that appears unlikely given that the legislative session ends on Thursday.
The Milwaukee residency requirement has been fought by those who argue it keeps away good teachers who may not want to live in the district.
The state teachers union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, also supports removing the prohibition, arguing it places an unfair burden on teachers.
The bill, passed Tuesday on a 62-35 vote, would take effect July 1, 2009.

I think this is a good thing and long over due. I understand the desire to have teachers live in the city of Milwaukee, particularly for voting reasons, but I feel we're at a point where we need to relax this rule as it seems to be hurting more than helping. My daughter's school lost a good teacher due to this rule and there have been other cases in the news recently.

I'm wondering, though, what is this "unfair burden" the article talks about. Living in Milwaukee? Should we assume once this is enacted teachers will flock out of the city? If so, doesn't that tell everyone something(s) about Milwaukee?

I'm also curious how this will affect school board elections should there be even a modest move by teachers.

Doomed Domes Donor

A major upgrade of the Mitchell Park Domes this summer, spurred by $550,000 in private donations for a new lighting system, will include a "halo ring" illuminating the top of the Show Dome and making it visible at night from I-94.

The donation was announced today at the Milwaukee County Board's parks committee, which voted 6-0 to accept the money. It was given by local philanthropists Michael Cudahy and Chris Abele and a third unnamed donor.

Abele said the dome project represented a prime example of positive public-private partnerships. The county is planning on spending more than $390,000 to replace the roof and ceiling of the lobby building linking the domes.

The county also plans to replace broken glass panels on the domes, formally known as the Mitchell Park Conservatory.

Combining the public and private money will allow a project with a bigger impact and perhaps encourage other future efforts, Abele said.

The lighting project will include new entry and exterior lights, energy efficient LED lamps inside the domes that can be programmed for different effects and the outside ring.

The halo effect will restore the intent of Domes architect Donald Grieb, who designed the triple-dome structure that was built in the 1960s at 524 S. Layton Blvd.

The full County Board votes on the gift March 20.

The domes will be closed during construction this summer.


I'm happy about this. While I often thought the Domes and the Gardens (Whitnall Park) should be combined (and still do), the Domes were in bad need of repair and renovation. I would have hated to see them go but I wouldn't have been willing to dump a lot of tax payer money in to them to save them. They're not THAT needed. Again, like having the stadium downtown, I think the Domes would be better off as part of the Gardens. By itself, the Domes don't offer much in the way of stuff to see and do. As part of the Gardens, an all in one monster gardens would be very attractive. Still, this is a good compromise. Plus, the Domes have been part of Milwaukee's skyline since they were constructed. No more boob jokes?

Disney - Yaks playing hide and seek

"You can't see me!"

Disney - Medieval Babysitter

What better way to enjoy the sites with my queen than to allow our brood to be carefully looked after and kept from getting underfoot.

San Francisco Treat

Some years ago, my wife accompanied me on a business trip out to California. The job was in Santa Cruz but we stayed in San Fran for a few days. One night walking the streets, we heard what sounded like a small jazz band. We followed the sound to a small crowd gathered near the street. Here was a lone gentleman by the name of Daniel Kane, the Stickman. He was playing what's called the Chapman Stick. A twelve string guitar that has 6 bass strings and 6 middle and lead strings. You play it by pressing on the frets, hammering and pulling off, giving the instrument a very unique sound. Kane's music he wrote himself and so captured the essence of the SF night we bought his CD. Last I heard he still plays out on the streets.

Anyway, if you've never heard Chapman Stick music, you owe it to yourself to play the video. I'm not familiar with the artist, but after listening to a few selections of Chapman Stick music on Youtube, I felt this one represented the instrument the best. It's also closest to the sound of Daniel Kane.

The Barrett Express

Mayor Barrett wrote a small column in this weekend's JournalSentinel on our local transit issue. He points out the 91 million from the federal government that has gone unused and goes on to lament about not having a balanced transit system. While he does touch on the bus system and it's woes, it's all about not having a rail system.

What is it with the libs and trains?

A couple of things struck me about the article. First, why? He blathers on about all sorts of things yet never answers a basic question . . . why? He makes declarations about how behind we are, that we need this, that other cities have it, and claims that we'll benefit if we invest in it.

If we fail to modernize transit in Milwaukee and throughout southeastern Wisconsin, our region will miss critical economic development opportunities and fall further behind other parts of the country.

Why? While a few other cities have invested in a rail system (debatable whether any of them are successful), lots of cities don't have rail and do just fine. Including Milwaukee. So we're doomed in some fashion if we don't have rail? Why? Don't freeways spur economic development?

Then there was this:

Recently, the state approved a $1.9 billion expansion of I-94 from the Mitchell Interchange down to the Illinois state line. This would be the most expensive road construction project in Wisconsin's history, and it was decided without a debate or a referendum.

Well, maybe it's because PEOPLE LIKE TO DRIVE! What a ridiculous statement. Roads are clearly a priority over rail . . . there's more of them and they're the basic infrastructure of travel throughout the country. DUH.

The other thing about that statement that he doesn't tell you that he always blathering on about otherwise, is the amount of JOBS that project will create. I guess if it isn't a rail construction job, it's not good enough.

As for the 91 million . . . if you can do it with rail, you can do it with wheels.

Definition of sweet . . . 13

The family is sitting at dinner the other day. While we always sit down together, my daughter had finished some of hers before my wife and I had finished plating ours.

Jamie: "Thank you, mama."

Jackie: "You're welcome honey. Did you want more rice?"

Jamie: "Yes, please."

My wife heats up a little more rice and gives it to my daughter.

Jackie: "Did you want something to drink? Juice? Water?"

Jamie: "Juice, please, mama."

My wife fetches the juice while I get a glass.

Jamie: "Sorry if you can't eat because of me . . . sorry if your dinner is getting cold, mama."


Now that's sweet.

Daylight Savings

I love Daylight Savings. I love that it's earlier now and goes longer. Two weeks on both ends, I believe. It was originally supposed to be even longer but the 4 week compromise was reached due to many opposed to extending it at all. Whatever. I like it.

Years back when I battled a bout of depression, I couldn't wait for Daylight Savings. While I was already on the mend, it made a huge psychological difference in my mood.

Now I just like the extra daylight. While the days aren't technically longer, they feel that way. You do more and you feel better. Of course, it's also the time when the weather typically starts to turn. Maybe not this year, but typically.

Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Savings. In the summer, they can't wait for the sun to go away. Build a city in a desert and that's what you get.

This is an antsy time, though. Better weather is just around the corner and we're generally sick of winter and the short days. This year has been especially bad. While our trip to Florida did the family wonders, I really can't wait for the weather to warm up now.

Deep election thoughts . . . II

Seems it was not too long ago everyone was all on the "the republican party is falling apart" horse while no one noticed the storm in the distance. Now, McCain is it. Everyone else is virtually gone and many in the party are backing McCain. No controversy here. The dems, on the other hand, have taken their mess and elevated it to chaos status. Between how their delegates are set up, to the new mud slinging that's going on between Shrillary and Obama, to the almost inevitable court action on their nomination, this is fun to watch from the right.

Definition of Pathetic, 76

I really hate giving any celebridouche any attention. But sometimes you just gotta vent. What kind of egomaniacal whorebag do you have to be to sell your baby pictures for 6 million dollars to, of all publications, People magazine? Perhaps more importantly . . . why would anyone agree to pay that? Are we that far gone, that retarded as a society, that we're all going to rush out and buy the magazine just to see JBlows baby pictures? To do so would not only reward JBlow for pimping her baby, it would condone pandering by People magazine.

Just another definition of pathetic.

Actors strike?

Turns out, many of the issues the writers had, actors also have. As such, there is a slight threat of a strike. The article is here.

Now, writers are one thing. The actors . . . completely another. I, for one, could care less if we don't see most of these people . . . ever again. Yes, I would miss my favorites from the TV shows I watch. But as far as movies go . . . who would care? These spoiled, over paid, under talented, egomaniacal brats and their over hyped movies can all go away and I wouldn't care. It might be just what hollyweird needs.

Actor strike? Let 'em. Who needs 'em.

Brett Favre

I actually had a post ready to go on Favre's retirement. But, I got sick and couldn't even look at my computer. I know, I know! That's sick . . . in many ways. Anyway, like many, the original news seemed vague and talked about some possible miscommunication. So, my initial thought was, oh, really?

Well, as we know now, yes, really.

I watched the replay of his press conference. I gotta tell you, I was crying. I really felt for him. In as much as I thought he thought this was the right decision to make it still had to be one of the more difficult decisions he's ever made. He feels as though he can still play, and probably wants to, but just can't take on the enormous emotional and mental toll it takes. That's pretty honest. He had every opportunity to simply say he wants to be with his family, he's getting old, the injuries hurt too much, but he didn't. He told us from his heart. The same way he played the game.

Tom Pippins made a comment about his press conference. That he tossed the idea of a prepared speech for the one he gave. Tom felt Brett stayed true to himself right to the very end. A freelancer on the field, a freelancer at the press conference. I couldn't agree more.

After his statement Brett answered questions for a bit. I thought all of his answers were well stated. Humble and from the heart.

So, what now? Again, I think there's a lot to be hopeful for in Aaron Rogers. He's got quite an arm and may surprise us. As for Brett . . . tv analyst? I doubt it. Brett seems like he'll be happy spending this time with his family. Not that he couldn't do it. If such morons as Steve Young and Emmit Smith (with all due respect to their past professions) can get the gig, Brett certainly could. It takes a certain egomaniac to want to get in to that area of broadcast and while it fits most of who do it, it wouldn't fit Favre. I'm sure we'll see Warren Saap on ESPN soon.

Anyway, thank you Brett. For what you brought to football, the NFL, the Green Bay Packers, and to us fans. Take back and enjoy your life now. I wish you all the best.

Disney

Spent the last week in DisneyWorld in Florida. Nice break from winter . . . and a heck of a good time. But . . . I need a vacation! Holy cow! I just got here, like, a minute ago and now I'm leaving. It doesn't even feel like I unpacked my bags. Weather was . . . is great. A little cool at first but got in to the 80's by midweek. I'm at the Orlando airport waiting for a delayed flight. First today it's completely cloudy.

Anyway, had a good time. More on everything later. Like all vacations, it will feel good to be home.

The Show Must Go On!

No, not the Oscars, my girlie's birthday party! This weekend my girlie, who is now 8, celebrated her birthday in decadent style. She wanted a chocolate-themed birthday party . . . and sleep over! If you follow this blog you know this was supposed to happen last weekend, but thanks to my daughter's curse, she was sick and we had to post pone until this weekend. Well, everyone originally invited saw fit to squeeze Jamie in to their busy little schedules and so it was on. My girlie and 7 of her best buds . . . I mean, BFF's were about to get their party on.

So, I get sick. Really sick. Fever sick.

I think anyone who knows me knows that I take my daddying very seriously. So not being able to be a part of the preparations and potentially the celebration of my girlie birthday is heart wrenching. But, you gotta take care of number one first if you're to be of any good to anyone else. So, I had to sit this one out a bit.

Now, anyone who knows my wife knows there is no "half way", no "cutting corners", no "scaling down", no "do it the easy way". Nope. Nope. Nope. Doesn't matter if it's our wedding anniversary party or my daughters 8th birthday party, you go all out and make it special. Not that I disagree with that. But, when I do up a football party it's a bit different from how my wife does it. Yes, in most cases, thankfully so. But there are times when taking an easier approach to things doesn't lessen the enjoyment people get out of it.

She'll dispute that. And she'll be right. People notice the little things and it does add to everyone's enjoyment. One of the many reasons I love her to death.

Anyway. So, along come 8 girlies looking to party on. My wife had everything ready. All I had to do was enjoy it and at one point read a story. The girls did crafts, went outside and played in Jamie's playhouse, built a chocolate house, played some games, and ended the evening with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. They stayed up a bit past midnight just so so we could say it was the next day. They all slept like cute little rocks until about 7:30. Then, my wife made pancakes, they did chocolate fondue, and ended the morning learning the Oompa Loompa dance from the DVD. It was wonderful.

All the girls are a part of my wife's Brownie Troop so we both know them pretty well. Still, they were a great bunch of girls. No fighting, bickering, nothing. They all had fun and were a pleasure to have.

First today I'm feeling better and can help out by cleaning up a little. Very little. Jackie did most of that, as well.

I'm a lucky guy to be blessed with two wonderful girls in my life. I love you both very much.

Deep election thoughts . . . by jimi

It's not over, of course, but it seems all but certain that it will be Obama and McCain. Some random thoughts . . . this was supposed to be Hillary's year. She became a senator, waited, and was poised to become President. Particularly after the 2006 elections, it was to be a shoo in. Now it all seems lost.

This has to be a huge blow to her plans and to her ego. If McCain gets in, she could have a chance in another 4 years. But, if Obama gets in, it could be 8 years until she has a real chance again. By then, she will be, particularly because she's a woman, too old. So, this is it. Which is why she has started pulling out all the stops in her campaign. She has little chance, but there is a chance. And as long as there's a chance she will use whatever means necessary to get that nomination.

And what does she do if she loses? Well, she goes back to the senate, of course. But she'll find herself in the position of having to cozy up to the man (if it's Obama) who stole her dreams. Jinkies. That's gotta hurt.

What did I say?

I realize I'm often behind on the headlines, but no sooner did I post my rant about the press and this article comes to my attention:

For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk

A few bloggers have brought it up and written opinions on this. For me, it ties in well with what I've already said. The press lacks any integrity it may have had at one time. Old news, no proof, no reason to run a story like this at all.

But, it could end up to be more mud on the face of the Times should this backlash on them. Again, while I don't know for sure, the accusations made are unfounded.

Packers make some moves

The Packers released tight end Bubba Franks. He was a first round draft pick in 2000 and played well enough to earn a trip to the pro bowl. Never considered a "threat" he was none the less a good go to guy. Big, strong, and soft hands. He could catch anything you threw at him. He hit a slump a couple years back and was then injured. In the meantime Lee and Martin wee making strong headway. Particularly Lee who was much faster than Bubba. One area of the offense Bubba was very solid at was blocking. He was very good at both pass protection blocking and run blocking. Still, probably considered getting on a bit and with Lee playing so well, it comes as no surprise that he was released.

In another move they tacked the franchise player tag on Corey Williams, the only impact player who's to become a free agent this year. Probably a good move but can sometimes cause bad feelings. They did this to Bubba some years back and he held out that year until finally signing a contract. Hopefully with Williams they will come to an agreeable and quick resolution.

Beyond Williams, that's it for any impact player on the team as far as free agency goes. The Packers will come back intact this fall.

Hey! I gotta boob job on my leg!

This is actually old news but I just saw it today. Apparently the latest trend in tattoo art is to make them 3D . . . ish. This guy not only had a busty female tattooed on his leg, he had implants added to the breasts. Kind of dumb, if you ask me. But the story doesn't end there. His body rejected the implants! They had to be removed a few weeks later.

Too much fondling?

Lunar Eclipse

My wife called from her friend's house to tell me and my daughter to get outside and view the eclipse. I'm glad she did. While not the rarest of occurrences, it's cool none the less. We caught it at the perfect time. There was the shadow of the Earth, a crescent, and a bright spot at about 1:00 . . . it was beautiful. I remember past eclipses being disappointing because of cloud cover. The only thing tonight is that it was COLD! I would have tried to video tape it, but no way. Too cold.

Thanks for the phone call honey!

Heroes

Not until 2009?

Noooooooo!

Protecting sources or protecting lies?

WASHINGTON — A federal judge held a former USA TODAY reporter in contempt of court on Tuesday for failing to identify sources who named former Army scientist Steven Hatfill as a possible suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people.

The whole article is here.

I don't have any sympathy for the press anymore. I understand that, like detectives, the press have their sources that provide them with information. Sometimes valuable information. And to risk losing the ability to break a story or provide a story with facts no one else has is a big deal. But it's become a joke of late. When newspapers can divulge information about the military that would otherwise be thought to be confidential, they're stepping over the line. In my opinion, the press has become very biased and devoid of any integrity. It should be a reasonable request that the news reported be accurate. But accuracy doesn't seem to matter at times.

In the case of this USA Today reporter, we're not just talking about a person's reputation. After all, what if the claims are correct? This is also a criminal matter. A serious criminal matter. Be it a doctor, detective, or the press . . . give it up. You are not only not above the law, you are not above contempt. When issues become this serious one would expect those in the press to be forthcoming with information. To withhold that information shows a complete disregard of the law, the people involved in the case, and to an extent, public safety.

Vote for me . . . I'm not in jail!

So there he sits. Collecting a paycheck yet doing absolutely nothing in regard to the job he was elected to do. He's not present to vote on anything, he can't visit on behalf of his constituents, he can attend no forums, he can attend no committees, he cannot hold a press conference (well, I suppose he could). In short, he can't do anything to justify his position or the pay he gets for that position. Yet, many people in the central city voted for him. In fact, while he didn't "win" his aldermanship quite, he did win the primary. He will have to win again in the general election to keep his job. That could be a tall order as 70% of the people voted for someone else. But, people did vote for him.

There are many things in life I don't understand. The cosmos, 747s flying, teflon, women's emotions . . . but voting for McGee trumps all of that. I don't get it.

No games . . . just vote

I know there are strategies out there in which to vote. The strongest opinion seems to be to vote for Shrillary even as a republican, to give her whatever edge she can over Obama. Obama is viewed as our worst enemy though our most powerful one. It's thought that Shrillary can be defeated . . . Obamathon cannot.

Well, I can't. First, it would cause me nightmares to draw that line on the ballot. I just can't. More than that, though, whatever power Shrillary has in terms of the "Clinton Machine", I don't want to add to it. She's starting to pull out the concealed weapons, so to speak, to try and muscle her way in for the democratic nomination. I don't trust her. Whatever she can do in the primary, she can do in the general election. She should be very beatable. But, she's not. Plus, McCain is not that electable, though he should be.

Anyway, I'm going to vote for McCain and not play any of the games out there. Back who I believe in and be done with it.

The curse continues

My daughter's birthday was an exercise in hanging in there. Just enough to get through. The real party was this weekend. A sleepover with 8 of her friends. Well, with a runny nose, cough, and fever, we had to cancel. Not for good, of course, still. The capper was to be her choice of restaurant to go out to. She likes La Fuente's, Friday's at the stadium, and Le Bistro Shangai. But she loves the Rainforest. Problem is the nearest one is Gurney Mill and were supposed to get 10 inches of snow! Depending on when that happens we may not be able o do that!

Poor girl. This birthday has been cursed!

Cursed!

My 7 year old turned 8 today. Yep, a Valentine baby. What better gift for my wife and I to give one another than our little girl. Today is actually Mother's Day and Father's Day. We view it as 4 holidays in one. Very special.

Apparently, fate isn't so fond of our arrangement as it has seen to it that my girlie be sick every year on her birthday. Last year was the only exception so far. We thought we get by this year as my daughter was sick early in the week. Nope. She was just warming up, so to speak. Today, fever of 101.

It's a big deal as she misses out on two occasions . . . Valentine's and her birthday, at school. Today she went in for as long as she could hold out. We hate to expose her germs to other kids, and generally we wouldn't hesitate to keep her home, but it's such a special day for her we hate to see her miss out. Plus, it was just for a little while. A couple of hours. Just enough to pass out Valentines and her birthday treat. And get everyone sick, I suppose. Well, I hope not.

Anyway, she's a trooper. Did what she could then wanted out. When she got home she went to bed. That's when you know a child is sick . . . when they want to go to bed. A bit later we had soup for dinner and gave her her gifts. We played Scene It, and she was off to bed for the night.

Te amo, borreguita.

The Academy A-snore-ds

Does anyone really care? This article asks that question. I've admitted to being an awards show junkie. I've also said I think, in principal, they're rather lame and self serving. Still, it's chance to see people all dressed up acting like fools. With shows like the Oscars you can tell these people take themselves waaaaaay too seriously.

But this is a particularly interesting year. Of the nominated films, only Juno did in excess of 100 million. Additionally, none of the movies have huge names in them.

Should that matter? I definitely think the desire to have a big name in a film often hurts more than it helps. It's often done simply for box office draw and not because the person chosen is any more talented than a lesser know actor. In fact, in many cases the choice of a big name ruins the film, in my opinion. For the Oscars, however, big names means viewers. Without any big names in this year's crop of movies the Oscars aren't going to seem very compelling. Which doesn't bode well for the designers who want to have the biggest names wearing their designs.

Still, I'll watch. I like the fact that there are lesser known names this year. Maybe there will be some humility.

Nah. I doubt it.

Thin is not in

Good. Maybe over weight people don't make most people's hot list, but for me, neither do skinny women.

Three models banned from fashion show in Madrid for being too thin.

Something to think about

"The great weapon they have is persistence and patience, and the one weakness that we have is the tendency to lose patience and become complacent."

The whole article here.

Never forget.

Grammys Part Two

As a musician myself, I can respect those who have musical talent and who can perform. I didn't expect to like the Grammys but I did as most of the performances were pretty good. There are those, however, who don't share my opinion. Go here.

Yikes. Some scathing comments. But, I have to agree with a few points that were made . . . though made somewhat crudely. First, most of today's music does suck. There's no real substance to it. Jay Weber once commented that music today is made up of "sluts, thugs, and idiots". I don't disagree. I do think, however, that thanks to the internet we have a more inside view of the lives of these people than many of us did when we were young. Er, younger. We know many performers did their fair share of drugs and had their fair share of sex. We just didn't see it. We weren't exposed to it on a regular basis. So, I try not to be too hypocritical when passing judgement. Yes, I think it's a shame we reward Amy Crackhouse with a grammy, reward an egomaniac like Kanye, and pass rap off as music. Much of today's music is, indeed, passed off. How is it that the likes of Britney Spears can sell millions of CD's? Other than her ability to dance, she has nothing else. Well, except for being a skank. Yet, that's all the news. All she has to do is go to Starbucks and stop at a gas station and it's headlines on TMZ.

So much for talent.

Second, reward shows are idiotic. It is one big "look at me, I'm better than you" kind of event. Most involved are egomaniacal with Kanye as the poster child. Again though, what's changed? You don't think David Lee Roth has an ego? David Gilmore? Like politics, I think a certain amount of ego is necessary in order to really make it in the business. Well, except for Country. Seems like everyone is nice in Country Music.

What draws me in is the performance. I can appreciate a Kanye performance as long as it's honest. While awards shows may be self-serving, at least with the Grammys, unlike hollyweird award shows, performers put themselves out there with their talent. You may not like them or their music, but you cannot deny their performance and the talent they do have.

Still, I admit that today's crop of performers are more shallow and less talented than ever before. In years past, it was never about the award. It was about the music. For Kanye, it was ALL about the award. For most others it's about the exposure, the fame, the charts and sales, and the rewards that go with it all. In the end, though, who's to blame?

The public. If you own a Britney Spears CD, you're part of the problem. Shame on you.

The Grammys

OK. I was actually somewhat blown away. Not so much by any of the awards, but by the performances. Some random thoughts:

Jerry Lee Lewis is alive?!

Fashions were, over all, horrible.

Kanye is a world class *sshole.

Having said that, his performance was compelling, and his MAMA song was touching. Still, he's a jerkbag. I'm glad he didn't win more than he did.

Feist not only looked out of place in a nice dress, she wasn't very good. About the only uninspired performance of the night.

Having said that, I don't quite understand the appeal of Amy Crackhouse. She performed better than the last time I saw her, but for me that's not saying much.

Being a rocker, I really liked the Foo Fighter's performance. It sounded great with the orchestra back up.

Tina Turner, you blew me away. But, NASA wants their spacesuit back. Yikes.

The Cirque de Solei-ish performance during the Beatles tribute was stupid.

Josh Grobin and Andrea Bocelli were excellent. Very moving.

Rhianna clearly has the best legs though I'm not sure what to make of the outfit she wore. It was a combination of cave girl meets Emu. Or, cavegirl kills emu and wears it. Anyway, her Umbrella song never sounded so good after she paired with Morris Day and the Time. Geat performance.

My favorite performance was "No One" by Alicia Keys. John Mayer was an unexpected vurp, but a really good performance by Alicia. Now, I will say Alicia doesn't know how to move, and I'm sure the keyboard on the runway was really just a prop for something for her hands to do . . . because she doesn't move well. Still, she sang her heart out. Once again, the outfit was a little strange. Half slip, half disco dress . . . too short for her legs.

Beyonce got owned by Tina Turner. That's saying something.

It was absolutely incredible that Herbie Hancock won best album. I wasn't sure, but he said it. It was the first time in a number of years that a jazz artist won this award. I'm not a huge fan of jazz, but good for him and good for the genre. As long as Kanye didn't win.

How Springsteen beat Satriani or Vai for best instrumental rock performance is beyond me.

Prince must have a painting of himself in an attic somewhere.

It's funny, in spite of it's length, not many awards are handed out during the show. It's mostly the performances. If you check the website there must be 100 awards actually awarded. Seems to be a good strategy for the show. I'm much more compelled to go listen to an artist that I've been given a sample of than because they've won an award. Maybe the Oscars could use the same template?

Pro Bowl

A few thoughts:

It's fun to watch the interaction of the various players from different teams. I thought the Packers were pretty well represented. Driver caught a key pass, Clifton did a good job, Kampman had a good game with a few hurries and one sack, and I thought McCarthy called a good game.

I'm sooooo glad TO did't get MVP. HA!

Anderson from the Browns isn't very good.

Hollywood Pitstop

So, I'm gathering that the writer's strike as acted like a pitstop for the celebrity crowd what with all the check ins in to rehab lately. Eva Mendes, Kirsten Dunst, Pat O'Brien, Twitney . . . I'm sure I'm forgetting a few, all have checked in to rehab lately. I guess they figure they'll get it in between gigs.

50th Grammy Awards

50 years. That's kind of a big deal. If you go to the website there's quite a list of nominees. Including my boys Ozzie, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai. Now, I've come to view the grammy's as a joke lately, but like other award shows there's always the fashions and behavior to keep one entertained. Perfect for the DVR.

Are you going to watch this Sunday?

Grammy's? ProBowl? Grammy's? ProBowl? Hmm. Both kind of a joke, really. Again, perfect for the DVR.

Kill the Death Tax

Sign the petition to do away with the Death Tax. Then, tell all of your family and friends to sign it.


http://www.PetitionOnline.com/deathtax/petition.html

H/T to Real Debate

Good advice for parents 2

Kids: Open to Discussion
We all know it's important to talk with your kids. But how you do it may well be the key to their success.

By: Lybi Ma

Gabbing is good for kids. Researchers at the Emory University Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life studied the conversations of Atlanta-area families and came across some noteworthy findings. Parents who encourage their children to talk about feelings, like anger and sadness, were more likely to raise resilient kids.

The researchers took special note of family conversations concerning negative events such as a death. In these instances, kids struggled to understand what happened. When parents didn't shut them down, children felt accepted and acknowledged. More than that, these children also had better self-esteem and were more socially adept.

In discussing a negative event, people often recall things differently and they disagree on how the event unfolded. Yet it's a good thing that they have their different perspectives, because it gives children the chance to learn how to listen and be heard. In fact, when parents let each family member air his or her point of view, kids learn how to negotiate differences of opinion.

The bottom line is: Children who talk about their feelings are much better off. Here are a few tips to keep the lines of communication open:

Start early. Listen to your child when he is very young. If he learns as a child that you will drop everything and listen, he will continue to talk as he grows up.
Make yourself available—even if it's inconvenient for you. Children may want to talk at the end of the day when you're exhausted, but don't miss the chance to communicate.
Don't judge. A child will become defensive when he feels he is being judged. That's when communication stops.
Refrain from interrupting your child; let her talk even when you don't want to hear what she has to say.
If you ask a question, begin with the words like "tell me" or "how." This encourages a child to be specific and lessens the chance of her shutting down.
Don't get emotional; remain calm. If you have something to say, think beforehand.
If your child tells you something shocking, don't show it. Otherwise, she will stop talking for good.
Engage in activities together. Take a walk, run or go to the gym together. Or try a trip to the museum or cultural center.
Try a new restaurant and perhaps a new type of food. New experiences will help inspire discussion of all types.
Eat dinner together. Children who sit down at the family dinner table three to five times a week are less likely to smoke, drink, and take drugs than kids who dine on their own. They also have better grades and fewer emotional problems.

My wife and I encourage our daughter to talk about things. I'm sure most parents can tell when something is on their kids' mind. I encourage my daughter to open up, to trust me, to always know she can come to me, that the truth is best, and that she won't be judged. She may only be 8 years old, but trust and respect are very important to her, and us as well.

Good advice for parents

I don't always agree with the views of Psychology Today but they have a couple of small articles with advice for parents. Here's the first one on over-parenting:

We all want the best for our children, but sometimes it's better to give them a little space. Here's how to prevent yourself from overparenting.

• Never invest more in an outcome than your child does.
• Allow children of all ages time for free play. It's a natural way to learn regulation, social skills and cognitive skills.
• Be reasonable about what is dangerous and what is not.
Some risk-taking is healthy.
• Don't overreact to every bad grade or negative encounter your child has. Sometimes discomfort is the appropriate
response to a situation—and a stimulus to self-improvement.
• Don't be too willing to slap a disease label on your child at the first sign of a problem; instead, spend some time
helping your child learn how to deal with the problem.
• Peers are important, but young people also need to spend time socializing with adults in order to know how to be adults.
• Modify your expectations about child-raising in light of your child's temperament; the same actions don't work
with everyone.
• Recognize that there are many paths to success. Allow your children latitude—even to take a year off before starting college.
• Don't manipulate the academic system on behalf of your child; it makes kids guilty and doubtful of their own ability.
• Remember that the goal of child-rearing is to raise an independent adult. Encourage your children to think for themselves,
to disagree (respectfully) with authority, even to incur the critical gaze of their peers.

I only have a small issue with the very first bullet. As a parent I think I recognize when I need to put in extra time for the sake of my daughter and for the future. But, I do it transparently. The worst situation would be to expect more and not get it . . . and have her realize I expected more. That would be bad.

Great advice, though.

Stormageddon 2

WE'RE ALIVE!

McCarthy takes 5

Packer coach Mike McCarthy was signed to another five years the other day. Good for him and good for the Packers. Between his coaching and Ted Thompson's personnel picks, the Packers haven't had it so good since the Superbowl days. On top of that, save for one starter and impact player, Corey Williams, the Packers will come back intact as a team. Of course, we don't know about Favre yet but it seems a good bet he'll be back.

Then, look at their schedule:

Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

I know the Bears will come back intact. Detroit and Minnesota will have some free agent problems. I'm not sure about everyone else. But, we could be looking at another 13 and 3 year.

Stormageddon

Well it's toward the end of the day and what a storm! It doesn't seem quite over yet so things as far as getting around won't be easy for a day or so yet.

Which makes, in retrospect, the article by TMJ4, all the more irresponsible. This was a bad storm. Not real cold, but a lot of snow. My wife went to the store only 8 blocks away and almost got stuck. I can't imagine anyone being so stupid as to try and take their family to Chucky Cheese or Stone Fire Pizza because the kids were home from school.

Not only that, but how unimaginative does TMJ4 think we parents are? FIrst, you see that snow out there? As I mentioned, it wasn't particularly cold out . . . go out and play! My girlie and her cousin were outside 70% of the time today. The girls would come in just to have their clothes dried, have a little snack, and . . . back out.

Why would anyone recommend trying to travel anywhere in weather like this?

As a daddy, I don't get a lot of extra days with my girlie. A snow day like this is a perfect opportunity to have some fun with her. Let's see, we could work on homework together, play games, watch a movie or two, read together, take some pictures or video to send to grandma in Arizona, practice piano together, call grandma, make slime, do a puzzle, make lunch and dinner together, listen to music and watch her dance, and PLAY OUTSIDE!

It boggles my mind someone would recommend not only putting themselves and their kids in danger, but to also recommend things that doesn't promote family time. Does it have to be about spending money to pacify your kids? To a degree, I'm lucky. My girlie loves family time and doing simple things. But, I give my wife and I a lot of credit as we've raised her in that manner.

Well, enough of my rant. Hopefully every parent was smarter than the recommendation of TMJ4 and understood that a severe snow storm meant going out would be foolish, and stayed home to have some quality time with their children.

Thundersnow!

Well, it keeps getting worse. The predictions started at about 8" then went to 10 - 11". Now the Weather channel is saying we could get 20"! And they're calling for "thundersnow"! I'm not sure what that is, but it doesn't sound good.

But, TMJ4 says . . . take the kids out! Have fun! Never mind those pesky driving conditions!

Too dangerous for school? TMJ4 says: go out!

This is stupid. So, a major snow storm is due to hit the city. So major that schools are likely to be closed. Not because of the cold, because of the road conditions. It will be too dangerous to travel the roads to get kids to school safely. So, what does tmj4 suggest? Go out!

Where To Go For Snow Day Fun For Kids
Katie DeLong
MILWAUKEE – A winter storm is expected to enter the Milwaukee area Tuesday night and continue through Wednesday afternoon. A total of 10 to 14 inches of snow could fall in the area.
Below is a list of places you can take your kids that PLAN to be open Wednesday. Some of these places could close depending on road conditions, so it is best to call before making the trip.

The entire article is here.

One would think if you could get to Chucky Cheese you could get to school, no?

I know having the kids home can create problems for working parents. But, it's not a good idea to be promoting travel on a day that travel is likely to be dangerous! I thought the advice was always: don't go out unless you really have to. Not only is it dangerous, but you could potentially hinder efforts to control the snow and other emergency vehicles. The Weather Channel is recommending preparations due to conditions and possible power outages.

TMJ4 is recommending going out.

How irresponsible.

Honey schnookums . . .

I never called anyone "honey" until after my child came along. Never used it with my wife or any other child prior to my girlie.

Weird, huh?

Superbowl Commercials

I liked the Pepesi spot with Timberlake, The Coke spot with Frist and Carville, the Bud Light spot with Will Ferrell (though I'm sure the movie will suck), and the screaming spot for Bridgestone Tires. The rest . . . eh.

Update: Actually, the Tide To Go spot with the talking stain was hilarious!

Superbowl Halftime

Zzzzzzz.

Superbowl!

Wow! What a game! 17 - 0 vs 10 - 6. A team that has averaged about 30 points a game against one that often gave up 30 points to very average teams. A playoff hardened veteran against a playoff noob. A true David vs Goliath confrontation with one team favored by 12 points.

And David won.

The Patriots were owned. They didn't beat themselves, they didn't get the raw end of any calls, they got beat. Squarely. Fairly. Soundly.

The game started with a Giant drive that was to set the tone for the entire game. Eli executed a great opening drive. They only got three points out if it but they used up about 10 minutes of the quarter in the process. The Pats came back to score a touch down. Then, it was all Giant defense after that. Tom Brady saw up close the Arizona turf more often than most Arizonians do. He was rushed, mauled, knocked, hurried, and sacked. A lot. The Giants bent a bit with Welker getting so much attention, but they never broke.

Only on the last drive of the Patriots did the Giant defense look weary and hot . . . huffing to try and make it another play. After the Pats scored I wondered if the Giants had it in them to win the game. The answer was a resounding, yes! Eli lead the team on another great drive hitting Burress with a pass in the corner of the end zone. Burress caught the first pass of the game, and the last to win the game. The Patriots actually had a chance with 27 seconds left and the ball on their own 20. Even with rushing just 4 Brady was hurried and couldn't get the ball were it needed to go. So, three hail mary's later and the game is over.

Of course, the poor sport cheater jag Belicheat huffed off the field. As did Brady. Ha! Justice.

Great game!

Superbowl

The Packers by 10.

OK. I admit it. I'm in denial over the Packers not being in the Superbowl. There's very reason to believe the Packers are a better team than the Giants. Except in one area . . . coaching. McCarthy has all but admitted he stayed with a game plan that got the team to the playoffs . . . and didn't change a thing. I believe this was their greatest downfall. The offensive coordinator simply didn't have the experience to change up blocking schemes to make the run work. The defensive coordinator didn't have the experience to change up the coverage. Hence, we lost. It's that simple. Yes, I think the cold had a bit to do with Favre's performance. But, again, this should have been recognized by the coaches and adjustments been made.

Don't get me wrong, the Giants played a great game. In fact, Eli was deadly accurate. In spite of some of the pressure he was getting. But they were really better coached.

This doesn't mean I don't give them a chance in the Superbowl. I do. I also hope they do win. Nothing would make me happier than to see Brady and Belicheat lose the game and ruin their perfect season. It's an underdog thing.

But, the Patriots beat them scoring 38 points. If the Giants hope to win they'll have to match the Pats touchdown for touchdown and hope the breaks come their way. The Giants scored 35 in that game so it can be done. Protection for Eli will be priority one. I also think it'd be a good idea to have a running game. I forget what game it was, but the older Pats on defense were getting pretty worn out by the end of a game that had a lot of running in it. If the Giants could get the run game working to a point of pounding the Pats in the 4th, I give them a good chance. But, can they? The Giant's running game is nothing special. They'd really have to come with a new scheme, ready to play, and fired up as all heck.

I do see it close. I think the Giants will beat the spread which is at 12. In fact, I'm going out on a limb and predicting the Giants will win the Superbowl 38 to 35. Same score the Pats beat them in their last showing. I think Eli will have a great game along with Buress, and I think the defense will get pressure on Brady. The X factor is Brady's ankle and I think the Giants will put it to the test.

But, I could be wrong. If the Pats do go on to win it will be an incredible feat for which they should be congratulated.

Things that never grow old

I'm not the type of person who brings work home. I can walk through the doors at the end of the day and, poof! All done. I look forward to going home and being with my family.

That said, there's nothing quite as satisfying as walking in the house and having my 8 year old daughter scream "daddy" as she runs to give me a hug.

I'll never get tired of that.

FINALLY!

Wisconsin doesn't get a lot of respect in hollywood. It's often regarded as a state with cows, cheese, hicks, and less than ideal weight residents. We're often the brunt of jokes. And babes? Forget it. If you're not from California or Florida you ain't no babe. You even have a better chance being from Nebraska!

Well no more. Thanks to the Wisconsin Bikini Girls. Two sisters and a cousin have been "exposing" themselves for some time. They finally got noticed. From JSonline:

The girls pick the coldest home game of the year, and they wear their bikini tops under heavy coats. From the waist down they're like any other fans in snow pants and long underwear.

During breaks in the action, time-outs and such, the girls whip off their coats and jump around with their sign, hoping to attract a TV camera or at least get on the Jumbotron. Fans in Section 126, especially guys, seem to go for it. Ashley said two "little ladies" in the seats behind them always hold their coats during the bikini outbursts.

The girls' seats are 10 rows behind the Packers bench. "A couple of them turn around and take notice. We wouldn't mind Brett Favre calling us up," Jen said.

Lambeau has always had its share of fans, especially drunk and big-bellied ones, who expose skin in frigid weather. The bikini girls have become their own franchise, and the beer-gut guys ask to pose with them for photos.

Pat, father to Jen and Ashley, goes along to the games. He remembers the first time the girls went wild.

"Jen said, 'Do you mind if we take our clothes off? We've got our bikinis underneath. Mom said it was OK.' "

They didn't want him to lose his four season tickets - two that he had inherited from his father, and two that he spent 32 years on the waiting list to get.

"They're just having fun," he said. "It's kind of a tradition."

As it was a nationally televised game, they were noticed by Maxim magazine and have a small spread in the current issue. Good for them and good for Wisconsin. Anyone who lives here knows there are plenty of babes and I would put up our girls against any anywhere else. I hope this helps break a bit of the stereotype we have here.

Ironically, Wendy over at Boots and Sabers has lamented that it's never the "hot" guys who take their shirts off during the games. Funny that it's the guys who get that wish first.

CIty living

A science teacher at Custer High School is being fired for, of all things, not living in Milwaukee. Like most city jobs, there is a requirement to live in the city. He did not. As such . . . bye, bye.

There are two sides to this. On the one side, the rule exists and teachers know about it. Disregard the rule and I think one should expect to be fired. It's that simple. I know of another case of this happening. It didn't make the news and I'm not about to say who or where it occurred. But it was a flagrant disregard for the residency requirement. To a point of being stupid.

I understand the residency rule. You work as a city employee, I think it's good to live i the city. It gives you a perspective of the city you may not have if you lived somewhere else. But, is it really necessary? After all, teachers aren't government representatives, or policemen or women, they are not responsible for making decisions that affect a community . . . why make them live here? Also, we have a severe shortage of teachers and a lack of quality teachers. Perhaps now is a good time to revisit the residency requirement.

Now, there is a reason the union wouldn't want this . . . voter base. Having all their minions in one place where they can be controlled is best for . . . the union. Nevermind what's best for the kids.

Paige Davis is back!

I used to be a Trading Spaces junkie. It was really he first of that kind of program. I liked it. There was a mix of design, carpentry, and other DIY projects done is the span of a couple of days. What really made the show, though, was Paige Davis. Cute and perky, she really gave the show personality. She left after a couple of seasons citing a desire to be with her family and do more stage performing.

The show sort of died after she left. I stopped watching. No question Paige did it for me.

Well, she's back, and the first program already has that old spark the program used to have. Not sure if I'll be a regular watcher, but it's nice to see Paige Davis again.

Ah, guilty pleasures.

Here she is, Miss America . . .

I can't say as I recall last year, but this year's broadcast of the MA pageant was on TLC. No offense to TLC but the MA pageant has really become insignificant. FIrst off, it's just sort of creepy. I know supporters would point to the positives that come from the pageant as well as the reign . . . well, at least they'd want to. There have been a handful of scandals involving contestants in several of the pageant shows. Beyond that, though, it really seems archaic. The show (I DVR'd it and zoomed through most of it) was kind of a joke. Not polished. And, TLC turned the whole ordeal in to a reality show leading up to the pageant. To me, that's the height of becoming a joke. I'm sure they thought it would help with the popularity of reality shows. Don't know. I only caught sections here and there. Boring.

Wisconsin made it in to the finals. I thought she was cute but was too muscular in the chest. Made her cleavage look funny. While she wasn't perfect on the violin, she was the most entertaining talent.

In the end, Michigan won. Good for her.

Maybe next year the pageant will be on TNT.

I am not alone

Solitude vs Loneliness
Loneliness is marked by a sense of isolation. Solitude, on the other hand, is a state of being alone without being lonely and can lead to self-awareness.

As the world spins faster and faster—or maybe it just seems that way when an email can travel around the world in fractions of a second—we mortals need a variety of ways to cope with the resulting pressures. We need to maintain some semblance of balance and some sense that we are steering the ship of our life.

Otherwise we feel overloaded, overreact to minor annoyances and feel like we can never catch up. As far as I'm concerned, one of the best ways is by seeking, and enjoying, solitude.

That said, there is an important distinction to be established right off the bat. There is a world of difference between solitude and loneliness, though the two terms are often used interchangeably.

From the outside, solitude and loneliness look a lot alike. Both are characterized by solitariness. But all resemblance ends at the surface.

Loneliness is a negative state, marked by a sense of isolation. One feels that something is missing. It is possible to be with people and still feel lonely—perhaps the most bitter form of loneliness.

Solitude is the state of being alone without being lonely. It is a positive and constructive state of engagement with oneself. Solitude is desirable, a state of being alone where you provide yourself wonderful and sufficient company.

Solitude is a time that can be used for reflection, inner searching or growth or enjoyment of some kind. Deep reading requires solitude, so does experiencing the beauty of nature. Thinking and creativity usually do too.

Solitude suggests peacefulness stemming from a state of inner richness. It is a means of enjoying the quiet and whatever it brings that is satisfying and from which we draw sustenance. It is something we cultivate. Solitude is refreshing; an opportunity to renew ourselves. In other words, it replenishes us.

Loneliness is harsh, punishment, a deficiency state, a state of discontent marked by a sense of estrangement, an awareness of excess aloneness.

Solitude is something you choose. Loneliness is imposed on you by others.

We all need periods of solitude, although temperamentally we probably differ in the amount of solitude we need. Some solitude is essential; It gives us time to explore and know ourselves. It is the necessary counterpoint to intimacy, what allows us to have a self worthy of sharing. Solitude gives us a chance to regain perspective. It renews us for the challenges of life. It allows us to get (back) into the position of driving our own lives, rather than having them run by schedules and demands from without.

Solitude restores body and mind. Lonelinesss depletes them.

This short article appears in Psychology Today and it's dead on. Of the many things I have in common with my wife is an ability to spend time alone. There have been times when my wife and daughter have gone to visit a friend out of town and asked me to come along. In every case, I decline. I enjoy the time alone. As I'm sure any parent or spouse can attest, time alone is a bit of a commodity. It's rare. Particularly time alone of any length. Sure, there are times when my wife and daughter are out for the day. But, a whole weekend? More? That's rare.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE spending time with my family. But as one with many interests, many projects, and a bit on the selfish side, I like having time to myself to do the things I enjoy. It's often not much at all, though. Simply having a quiet house to myself is enough. As the article indicates, it's a recharging . . . a rest from normal day to day routine. I've certainly used the time to accomplish things that would be difficult otherwise. Home improvement projects are one. Plumbing and electrical, where service needs to be disrupted is a good example. Painting is another. There are other projects . . . software tutorials, writing, even shopping with no restrictions can be enjoyed.

My daughter also seems to have this trait. It's very comforting. Again, like us parents, she loves to do things together with mom and dad. But she also loves her own time. She very much gets in to a creative mood and is able to have a lot of fun just doing things by herself. We encouraged it from little on telling her to go play make believe, color, listen to music, whatever, just so she was occupying herself. It ms have worked. She's very much like her daddy in that she like time to herself. Doesn't want to be bothered until she finished. The apple fell right next to the tree with this one.

Someone's lying!

Climate change 'significantly worse' than feared: Al Gore

Climate change is occurring far more rapidly than even the worst predictions of the UN's Nobel Prize-winning scientific panel on climate change, Al Gore said on Thursday.
Recent evidence shows "the climate crisis is significantly worse and unfolding more rapidly than those on the pessimistic side of the IPCC projections had warned us," climate campaigner and former US vice-president Gore said.

There are now forecasts that the North Pole ice caps may disappear entirely during summer months within five years, he told a gathering at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a massive report the size of three phone books on the reality and risks of climate change, its 4th assessment in 18 years.

Global warming is a key theme at this year's meeting of the world's business and political elite in Davos.

OK. Someone is lying. How or where did Gore come up with this? Couldn't have been from the IPCC report which was released LAST YEAR, less than 6 months ago. It doesn't conclude this. If one believes what Gore is telling us then you must believe the IPCC report is wrong. Or, the IPCC report is accurate and Gore is lying.

Which is it?

Of course, it could be that there's so much backlash against the goracle, that he needs to start his fear mongering again.

Three Faces of Twitney

I guess bi-polar isn't crazy enough. The talk now is that Twitney is suffering from a multiple personality disorder, or dissociative identity disorder. There's Twitney, some girl that talks in a british accent, and some girl that acts like a diva. Apparently when in one of her "other self's" she has no recollection of events and that explains why she missed all those darn depositions!

That's all well and good. Except, non of her personalities seem to remember to wear underwear, and the ONLY thing she tends to forget is anything regarding the well being of her children. Starbucks? No problem. Clubs? No problem. Taco Bell? No problem. Nope, just those pesky courts. Hmm.

What I don't understand is, how does this at all benefit her with regard to her children? This can't help. Bi-polar is very treatable. A multiple personality disorder would be much more difficult to diagnose as well as treat. Of course, this is if it's at all true. I get the sense Twitney really doesn't want to bother with her kids. Sad.

Whaddaya mean they lost?

Like a movie that keep you on the edge of your seat, the Packer/Giant game was scripted beautifully. Not favorably for the Packers mind you, but a breath holder non the less.

A great season, a record setting season, an absolutely "no one expected this" season, came to a halt for the Packers after they lost to the Giants in over time, 23 -20. On the cold but not frozen tundra, the Packer couldn't get much offense in gear, and couldn't quite stop the Giants as NY over came mistake after mistake to win the game on a field goal. In fact, the Giants missed two earlier field goals. One that could have given them the win in regulation time. After winning the coin toss, the Packers, again, couldn't get much going. Then, Favre threw a pass meant to go wide but it didn't, and was easily intercepted. A few plays later and the Giants had the win.

Hard to say what went wrong. The Giant defense did a good job, but not a great job. I really think the play calling was bad. Defensively, we couldn't stop them. The defeat could have been worse as the Giants made more than their share of mistakes. I surprised Harris didn't get any help. But, I'm not the coach.

In spite of the loss there's a lot to be proud of. The Packers had an incredible season. They were fun to watch. Favre became a national hero. They have every reason to hold their heads high in defeat.

Packers Giants halftime

Whew! Hard hitting game. I think the Packers are not at full momentum and the Giants are playing their butts off. Which bodes well for us. Should the Pack get to 7 cylinders, I think you'll see them walking away with the game. Right now they'rer at about 5 cylinders. I will say the play calling hasn't been that great. But, we're winning, and we're playing pretty well. Though I have to admit we got a little lucky on a few plays.

Second half should be good!

Searching for Bobby Fischer

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Bobby Fischer, the reclusive chess genius who became a Cold War hero by dethroning the Soviet world champion in 1972 and later renounced his American citizenship, has died. He was 64.

Fischer had a profound affect on the game of chess. I became very involved in chess as a result of his rise and was a school champion at one point. For that, I have fond memories.

Beyond that, though . . . he hasn't been missed nor likely will be.

RIP

As long as it's a baby or a child . . .

Drunken driver gets jail term

Man was drunk, speeding with his baby girl in SUV

By MIKE JOHNSON
mikejohnson@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Jan. 17, 2008

Waukesha - For driving drunk with his month-old baby in his sport utility vehicle and roaring past a sheriff's deputy at more than 100 mph, a Milwaukee man will spend 30 days in jail with work release privileges.

Matthew L. Kucharski, 22, was told Thursday by both Assistant District Attorney Michele W. Hulgaard and Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez just how fortunate he was to come away from his May 13 crime with only a month in jail.

He's fortunate no one - his daughter or the Waukesha County sheriff's deputy who pursued and stopped Kucharski - was killed or injured while he was driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.138, well above the 0.08 level considered evidence of intoxication, they said.

Kucharski could have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his conviction for second-degree recklessly endangering safety by racing along I-94 through the City of Pewaukee.

Hulgaard told Ramirez that as the case wound its way through the system, Kucharski and his attorney sought to have the felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor because Kucharski had no criminal record.

But Hulgaard said she would not agree to a lesser charge because of the circumstances.

Hulgaard told Ramirez that as a mother, she was horrified that Kucharski drove drunk and fast with a child in the vehicle, behavior that she said was "just inexcusable."

Kucharski apologized and asked the judge for leniency, saying he did not want to be away in prison and miss his daughter's "first step, first tooth, first word."

"You don't have to worry about me doing something like this again. . . . You'll never see me in your courtroom again," Kucharski said.

According to a criminal complaint, the baby was in a child's car seat in the rear passenger area when Kucharski's vehicle was stopped. Kucharski told the deputy that the girl was his daughter; that he had just had a quarrel with her mother, his fiancée; and that he was hurrying to a relative's house.

Although Kucharski is a first-time offender and understands the gravity of his offense, Ramirez said, jail time must be imposed "to make sure you never do this again" and to send a message to others that there will be a loss of freedom for such crimes.

"You endangered the thing most precious to you in your life. There's no doubt . . . that you get how serious this was, how close you came to hurting your child," Ramirez said.

The headline is very misleading. Yes, this dirtbag got jail time. But it's akin to standing in the corner for 15 minutes, or going to bed without any dessert. One month? No, he doesn't deserve 10 years. He probably doesn't deserve 5 years. But 30 days? What's particularly funny (not ha ha) about the story is that is that Ramirez makes himself sound like he's being really hard on the guy. What a load of crap. This guy should have received about a year or two. That would send a message.

I don't mea to make light but I swear this guy would have gotten more time if he'd of had his dog in the car with him.

Sad. Sad. Sad.

NFL Playoffs 4

OK. Still only 50% for the playoffs. Although I've been correct on some insight. Oh well. Anyway, this weekend seems pretty clear cut to me. We have mirror situations in the AFC as in the NFC . . . the under dogs are all banged up and likely have no chance of winning. I see the Pats rolling over the Chargers, and I see the Packers walking away with a victory. Rolling and walking. I think it will be easy wins for both teams.

Voter Fraud

I have to admit, I'm not fully in favor of a voter ID. I tend to agree that there isn't much evidence that there's "widespread" fraud, and an ID requirement wouldn't necessarily fix all of the problems. I don't buy in to the whole "disenfranchise" thing either, though. I feel if we were to implement a voter ID (or federal ID) people would just do it. All that said, I do support efforts to maintain voter integrity and to keep voting honest and fair. I have wanted to do away with same day registration and have emailed as many politicians as I could about it. From the JS:

Same-day registration. Republicans pushed through an Assembly committee a bill that would end Wisconsin's decades-old practice of letting voters register on Election Day, saying it invites fraud. One out of every five voters in the November 2006 election registered on that day, records show.

The party-line, 5-3 vote of the Assembly Elections and Constitutional Law committee sent the bill to the full Assembly for debate. Decker said the Senate won't take up the measure because the Democrats who control that house believe it would create barriers that would discourage people from voting.

"Wisconsin's high rate of voter participation is something we should be proud of and other states should be following our model," he said.

The bill would require voters to prove their residency and register 14 days before a general election.

Republican Rep. Robin Vos of Racine said the current system invites fraud, because it allows anyone to register to vote on Election Day by providing nothing more than a utility bill.

This just makes sense. In fact, one can make the argument that same day registration causes as much disenfranchisement as does voter ID. I've ben in lines when people in front of me have registered. It takes time and causes long waits. Plus, this seems to be where and when the bulk of fraud has occurred. By having people register in advance, it makes the voting list accurate, makes the process go faster, and eliminates the type of fraud we've seen in the past several elections.

Don't get me wrong. I'd support a voter ID bill. But this is a better and an attainable first step.