Eight Babies

Just caught the full story of the wonderful mother who gave birth to eight wonderful babies. The story broke through the British media (not the BBC). It is as bad as anyone could possibly imagine.

They name her (I won't). She already had six kids. She's 31. Never been married, no "boyfriend". No job ("professional student"). Lives off of parents and our tax-paying dime. Worked or volunteered for a time at a fertility clinic (presumably long enough to zero in on a donor or two). I can't make this stuff up.

Have at it! I'll comment later when I've fully digested how we've gotten to this point.

Limber Joe

Drumming up support?

I'm asking anyone who may have been in a marching unit...oh...perhaps even a pipe band...what to make of the story embedded below. I think there is more to the suspension of this drum major (or is he a pipe major?) than a wink and a nod.

Come to think of it, why are the anchors supporting this guy for such a harmless gesture? Wasn't Sarah Palin regarded as a ditzy yokel because of a wink and a nod? Could these reports be biased? You betcha!

Update: Check out the comments for an authoritative analysis.

Advice form the Bush girls to the Obama girls

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And they didn't even get a chalupa

A high school girls basketball game got a little lopsided in Texas as The Covenant School defeated Dallas Academy 100-0 in a recent contest. Now the winning team has issued an apology and requested the game be recorded as a forfeit.  

There is no mercy rule in girls basketball that shortens the game or permits the clock to continue running when scores become lopsided. There is, however, "a golden rule" that should have applied in this contest, said Edd Burleson, the director of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. Both schools are members of this association, which oversees private school athletics in Texas.

"On a personal note, I told the coach of the losing team how much I admire their girls for continuing to compete against all odds," Burleson said. "They showed much more character than the coach that allowed that score to get out of hand. It's up to the coach to control the outcome."

Firstly. You KNOW this is not the pro game. In the pro game it is not up to the coaches to control the outcome. It is up to the referee who has a little wager involving the game who controls the outcome.

Secondly, just what was the other option for the losing team?  They continued to compete against all odds. Yes. What else where they to do? Walk off and have some pizza? Start a fight and hope to get ejected?

I'm just hoping that these teams face off in an alumni game in 15 years or so. Time tends to level the playing field - or court as it were.

Inauguration 2009

I enjoyed watching all the events unfold for our new president. Just a few things I observed. I can't say that I would do this any better but I think Michelle looks awkward at times. Like when she greeted Mr & Mrs Bush. I don't know if she knew whether to hug or kiss on the cheek. One other observation I made is that she is very very tall. I guess I didn't realize this. Also I was disappointed she didn't grab Obama's butt during one if the "First Dances" at the balls.

My son, the future investigative reporter

John came home from school today with a Barack Obama coloring book. A beautiful commemorative edition ready for individual crayon customization. It was a mini-biography of the president-elect. A whirlwind tour of Hawaii, Indonesia, Kenya, Chicago and DC.

On the last page it asks "If you could ask the President to do something, what would it be?" I misread it and asked John "If you could ask Barack Obama one thing, what would it be?" (I told him I'd ask him what his favorite baseball team is.) John thought for a moment and said "Where did you get all your money?"

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

The Boys of the NYPD Choir Still Singing Galway Bay

It's Christmas time again.  I'm very sentimental and love the Perry Como/Bing Crosby catalog, but I also think this song is brilliant. (RIP Kristy McColl)

Tackle Me Elmo

Patrick was given an Elmo Live doll for his second birthday. The brothers "welcomed" him into our home in typical boy fashion.

Santa Drives a Truck

Every year I lament the musical injustice that Rob Ervin's "Santa Drives a Truck" is not in heavy rotation and making a mint in royalties for my old WBGU-FM radio buddy.

In hopes that there will be sweater-in-the-drugstore moment, I share Santa Drives a Truck with you on Amaze.fm.

And If you are an A&R person looking for talent, I think I can get in touch with him for you.

Update: Thanks, everybody! Song of the Week!

Snobs on Parade - NYT and Wendy's

Timothy Egan wrote a column in the New York Times decrying the very thought of Joe the Plumber getting a book deal. It is ripe with the worst kind of elitist claptrap. Tim Blair at the Daily Telegraph fisked it quite nicely.

When writers, painters or musicians whimper about the world being unfair because they, their friends or some other creative-types are not living the easy life or  - God forfend - are not suitably famous, I want to whisper "This is why capitalism is so wonderful." Really. Grow up. We are just not that in to you.

This latest exhibit reminds me of a TV ad running for Wendy's. It shows a security guard, an administrative assistant and one other representative of the working class (perhaps and auto mechanic) speaking in glowing terms about the latest samiches from the cartoon redhead. Not Ronald McDonald, the girl with pigtails. 

The "humor" in this ad is that these pedestrian slobs are using "foodie" language. You see, if you are a mere administrative assistant or night watchman you are unable to use the same language found in magazine or newspaper restaurant reviews. Perhaps you have seen some chefs on the idiot box, but you probably like Paula Dean most. Crinckle nose here.

The imagination runs wild. To make a TV ad that actually brightens my cathodes, a writer has to write it, an actor has to read it, a director has to tell 'em where to stand, a client has to review it, an editor then has to re-edit it to make the shot dwell on the logo for one more second.  Not to mention the focus group. Do you mean to tell me not ONE of the people in this herd didn't raise a hand and question if this might be in poor taste?

Update: Just saw the commercial again. It seems the occupations are welder and parking garage attendant. My premise is unchanged.

Turkeys Away - Still the Best 30 Years Later

It was 1978 when this episode of WKRP in Cincinnati first aired. I think I went into radio because of this show.

Cranberry Sauce Fan?

A New Elf Yourself Creation

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Anybody Remember This?

A friend on Facebook linked to this YouTube channel. This person (Dan -or- videoholic50sthru70s) has made it his mission to collect, and now share, video for 50's through the 70's. Remember Mona Scott and Doug Adair? You can go to the channel and find Blizzard of 77 footage and many other blasts from the past.

That's LIFE - Google Picture Archives

LIFE Magazine and Google recently released a fascinating collection of archival images. I was browsing the collection and looking at old baseball images for the Cleveland Indians, Great stuff.

However - check out this image. The caption says fans are arriving at a ball game in the old stadium. Are they doing a lap around the ballpark before they enter?



And this caption is even less accurate!

It may be snarky, but I think I agree with it.

I was browsing Google News headlines and I came across an emoticon in a headline. You don't see that every day. The LA Times political blog has a smiley face after the  headline that reports McCain won't run in 2012.  I kind of feel the same way. But I suspect I'm happy for different reasons than the LAT staff.

Snazzy new seal you got there

You know how the two teams in the Super Bowl or World Series always have t-shirts and hats and other gee-gaws made up in advance proclaiming them champions? One team always has to throw them away or donate them to some relief agency. Children in foreign lands scamper about in "Cleveland Indians 1997 World Champions" gear, I suppose.

This thought crosses my mind as I catch a glimpse of Barack Obama's first news conference in a LONG time. Remember how he had a cute seal on the campaign trail? Folks thought it was a bit presumptuous, so he put it in mothballs.

But today is different. Today he is President-Elect and he has an office and everything. To be fair, it does not seem to say "Obama" or "The One" on it. Maybe these are government issue and McCain has one in the dumpster outside his office.



Update: I know that many people remarked that the President-elect was an inspirational leader. I did not really see it until now. He has moved me.



Get your own at Says-it.com

For All The Saints About TO ROCK!

I'm not a super-duper arch-conservative Catholic. I'm not a guy to get in a huff over applause in church. or contemporary music. I even tapped my feet at the recent polka mass I attended.

I'd like to learn and pray a little more Latin. However, I was educated by guitar playing nuns with a penchant for felt banners, so I'm not pining for the good old days of my youth.

All I ask of the priest is to stick to teaching what the Church teaches and respect the authority of his bishop and B16. Sometimes even my low threshold is too high. Amy Welborn asked recently what All Saints Day and All Souls Day looked like in her readers' parishes. Here is my story.

The World Series

I'm surprised that Phillies have a 3-1 lead right now as last night's game is suspended due to rain. I think there have been more than a few blunders not just by the umpires. I think Bud Selig and his crew have tried to force the issue when it comes to the weather. There is no way the game should have been played Saturday night. I think starting a game at 10pm when the fan base is on the East Coast is ridiculous. Then to have the field get as bad as it did was just stupid. This evening they are calling for bad weather again and Bud vows "to wait as long as necessary even if its until Thanksgiving". I think the comment that gets me ticked off the most is Bud saying if the Phillies were winning when the game was stopped he would have made them continue play to protect the integrity of the game. How is changing the rules when you feel like it protecting the integrity of the game? The Rays are lucky they scored in the top of the 6th inning so the game is tied. That protected the integrity of the game. Selig you are an idiot. It's time for a new Commissioner.