...and want to have 10,000 of his babies
This is a thing of beauty.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Political linkage
Dover Bitch at Hullabaloo with a link-festy smackdown.
This may be the worst thing to ever some out of a Republican's mouth. And that's saying something. Another take. More.
"Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit one of its presidential election candidates." And after 8 years, I don't doubt it for a second.
Wingnuts still won't give up on the Obama birth certificate thing. Insanity isn't a strong enough word.
A reminder: the last two wars we won were under Clinton's watch. But you know, Democrats are weak on national security.
This may be the worst thing to ever some out of a Republican's mouth. And that's saying something. Another take. More.
"Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit one of its presidential election candidates." And after 8 years, I don't doubt it for a second.
Wingnuts still won't give up on the Obama birth certificate thing. Insanity isn't a strong enough word.
A reminder: the last two wars we won were under Clinton's watch. But you know, Democrats are weak on national security.
Monday, August 25, 2008
On the magic of live music
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
This was pretty much what I was going through when I saw Pearl Jam, 5/6/06. Except I can't write like that.
This was pretty much what I was going through when I saw Pearl Jam, 5/6/06. Except I can't write like that.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The formerly-Virgin Ben has not yet learned to logic
Sadly NO! performs one of their always amusing schoolings.
Anatomy of a foreclosure
Mortgage payment: $3400.
Rent: $1200.
Skip out on the first in favor of the second, take a hit on the credit rating for a few years, and actually have a chance for your family to survive on your income? That's a no-brainer, folks.
Rent: $1200.
Skip out on the first in favor of the second, take a hit on the credit rating for a few years, and actually have a chance for your family to survive on your income? That's a no-brainer, folks.
Where's my superfecta now?!?!
Yesterday was the Travers, the crown jewel of the Saratoga racing season, and we were there with bells on, as usual.
This year we had a table of 6 at the Carousel Restaurant, one of the half-dozen or so on-site establishments. Erica, myself, Meghan and Renee (two of Erica’s co-teachers), and long-time friends Berns and Frank made up this year’s group of merry-makers.
As I predicted last week, I shouldn’t have been gambling. Where-as I was able to slowly build a pile of winnings last week with mostly “safe” bets and a couple high-odds ponies, Saratoga on Travers Day once again lived up to its billing as the “graveyard of favorites.”
Here’s how it went last week:
Bet 6, get back 18.
Bet 12, get back 16
Bet 6, get back 10
Bet 10, lose
Bet 12, get back 14
And so on. Nothing great, just a solid day in which I turned $60 into $85.
Here’s how it went yesterday:
Bet 6, lose
Bet 12, lose
Bet 6, lose
Bet 6, get back 8
And so on. I think only two favorites won all day. We had horses winning that went off at 28-1, 30-1, 88-1, 18-1, etc. And not only that, the favorites weren’t even close! It’d be fine if some nag came out of nowhere to win, but at least the favorite came in second so I could get back some money on the ticket with a Place/Show payout. But noooooo, the favorite came in 6th. All. Fucking. Day. Long.
You want to know how NOT exaggerating I am? Check out race 4:
Yes, that’s a $1,293 Exacta, and a $19,482 trifecta. You don’t see that very often.
But WAIT! There’s more! Look at this fucking thing:
You’re looking at a $2,565 Exacta, a $105,914 Trifecta, and a $1,523,188 Superfecta!! That had the crowd buzzing for a good 20 minutes. As the PA guy was announcing the payouts, the laughter and applause grew louder and louder, reaching ovation levels as he slowly annunciated “one… million… five… hundred… twenty… three… thousand…”
Needless to say, I had none of those horses. Some lady a couple tables over did. The exacta.
Well, after 10 races of slow bleed, my $60 SAM card now worth $17, it’s Travers time.
I’m poring over the Racing form, checking out all the tip sheets I have, trying to find something that will point me to the right underdog. Any underdog. But I couldn’t find one, so I went with the favorites: #2 Colonel John (sired by Tiznow), and Pyro. I know, I should have just cashed the ticket as is, but that’s no fun. I bet $3 WPS for Colonel John, and $2 WPS for Pyro. Two dollars left on my SAM card. Ouch.
In one of the tightest races ever at the Travers (we’re talking ½ inch, maybe), Colonel John eeked out a win, and Pyro finished third. A $15 bet brought back $33.85, cashing me out with $35.85, or $25 down. It’s a wash on the year, and I had a hell of time playing. I’ll take that deal.
We cashed out our tab (another ouch, especially when it wasn’t an even split), and headed off to Berns’ car for a tailgate on the first turn. We try to get out there as soon as possible to watch the final race right on the rail. More hijinx, more drinking, more laughter. Then, off to Siro’s, the place to be after the track. It’s quite a feat that place has pulled off. Total beer-fest on the outside, and a world-class restaurant and bar on the inside. Seriously, last time I was there, 8 of us racked up a $1700 tab, but we may have overindulged, since dinner was on the guy who won $4500 at the track that day… Elk? Sure, bring us over an elk. And a couple ducks. Bring the whole fucking zoo over, while you're at it. Medium rare.
Did I mention babe city? Frank, Berns and I had the privilege of the company of the three hottest women in the place, of course. But let me tell ya, Saratoga + Travers + nice weather = Sundresses and Boobs and Legs and Double-Takes. Especially for the two single guys in the group.
Story of the night:
Frank got to Siro's after us, and as he was coming in, he noticed two attractive women just off to the side. He's walking around looking for us, and he happened to stop within earshot of the following conversation between them:
Woman 1: I gotta take a shit. Wanna come?
Woman 2: Sure.
(Ignore the audio here, the mic on my Q sucks. But Siro's was packed, and HOPPIN'!)
This year we had a table of 6 at the Carousel Restaurant, one of the half-dozen or so on-site establishments. Erica, myself, Meghan and Renee (two of Erica’s co-teachers), and long-time friends Berns and Frank made up this year’s group of merry-makers.
As I predicted last week, I shouldn’t have been gambling. Where-as I was able to slowly build a pile of winnings last week with mostly “safe” bets and a couple high-odds ponies, Saratoga on Travers Day once again lived up to its billing as the “graveyard of favorites.”
Here’s how it went last week:
Bet 6, get back 18.
Bet 12, get back 16
Bet 6, get back 10
Bet 10, lose
Bet 12, get back 14
And so on. Nothing great, just a solid day in which I turned $60 into $85.
Here’s how it went yesterday:
Bet 6, lose
Bet 12, lose
Bet 6, lose
Bet 6, get back 8
And so on. I think only two favorites won all day. We had horses winning that went off at 28-1, 30-1, 88-1, 18-1, etc. And not only that, the favorites weren’t even close! It’d be fine if some nag came out of nowhere to win, but at least the favorite came in second so I could get back some money on the ticket with a Place/Show payout. But noooooo, the favorite came in 6th. All. Fucking. Day. Long.
You want to know how NOT exaggerating I am? Check out race 4:
Yes, that’s a $1,293 Exacta, and a $19,482 trifecta. You don’t see that very often.
But WAIT! There’s more! Look at this fucking thing:
You’re looking at a $2,565 Exacta, a $105,914 Trifecta, and a $1,523,188 Superfecta!! That had the crowd buzzing for a good 20 minutes. As the PA guy was announcing the payouts, the laughter and applause grew louder and louder, reaching ovation levels as he slowly annunciated “one… million… five… hundred… twenty… three… thousand…”
Needless to say, I had none of those horses. Some lady a couple tables over did. The exacta.
Well, after 10 races of slow bleed, my $60 SAM card now worth $17, it’s Travers time.
I’m poring over the Racing form, checking out all the tip sheets I have, trying to find something that will point me to the right underdog. Any underdog. But I couldn’t find one, so I went with the favorites: #2 Colonel John (sired by Tiznow), and Pyro. I know, I should have just cashed the ticket as is, but that’s no fun. I bet $3 WPS for Colonel John, and $2 WPS for Pyro. Two dollars left on my SAM card. Ouch.
In one of the tightest races ever at the Travers (we’re talking ½ inch, maybe), Colonel John eeked out a win, and Pyro finished third. A $15 bet brought back $33.85, cashing me out with $35.85, or $25 down. It’s a wash on the year, and I had a hell of time playing. I’ll take that deal.
We cashed out our tab (another ouch, especially when it wasn’t an even split), and headed off to Berns’ car for a tailgate on the first turn. We try to get out there as soon as possible to watch the final race right on the rail. More hijinx, more drinking, more laughter. Then, off to Siro’s, the place to be after the track. It’s quite a feat that place has pulled off. Total beer-fest on the outside, and a world-class restaurant and bar on the inside. Seriously, last time I was there, 8 of us racked up a $1700 tab, but we may have overindulged, since dinner was on the guy who won $4500 at the track that day… Elk? Sure, bring us over an elk. And a couple ducks. Bring the whole fucking zoo over, while you're at it. Medium rare.
Did I mention babe city? Frank, Berns and I had the privilege of the company of the three hottest women in the place, of course. But let me tell ya, Saratoga + Travers + nice weather = Sundresses and Boobs and Legs and Double-Takes. Especially for the two single guys in the group.
Story of the night:
Frank got to Siro's after us, and as he was coming in, he noticed two attractive women just off to the side. He's walking around looking for us, and he happened to stop within earshot of the following conversation between them:
Woman 1: I gotta take a shit. Wanna come?
Woman 2: Sure.
(Ignore the audio here, the mic on my Q sucks. But Siro's was packed, and HOPPIN'!)
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Ohio voting machines "lose votes"
And they're going to use them anyway.
(UPDATE: Link Fixed)
But yeah, those of us who are not at all confident in an Obama win are just Chicken Littles.
Wake up.
Again, I really fucking hope I'm wrong. But Wolfrum's list is exactly my list of fears for November. I'm not entirely with him on the Clinton thing, but you cannot argue that the electorate is stupid, the media is in the GOP's pocket, Obama is black, etc...
(UPDATE: Link Fixed)
But yeah, those of us who are not at all confident in an Obama win are just Chicken Littles.
Wake up.
Again, I really fucking hope I'm wrong. But Wolfrum's list is exactly my list of fears for November. I'm not entirely with him on the Clinton thing, but you cannot argue that the electorate is stupid, the media is in the GOP's pocket, Obama is black, etc...
Veep THIS!
Considering CNN is "confirming" Biden, this is kind of moot, but I was thinking about it all day.
While some people were speculating that the pick would be Hillary, others said no way, she hadn't been "vetted."
Seriously? You sure you don't want to reconsider that train of thought?
You mean after 8 years of ass-probing during Bill's presidency by the corrupt media and the scandal-mongering GOP, continued demonization during the Bush II fiasco, and then a very close race for the Dem nomination, there's something we don't know about Hillary Clinton?!?!?!?
Again: seriously?
OK, imagine you're Obama, sitting in your elitist strategy tower, bowl of arugula in front of you, maybe a little raspberry vinaigrette on the side (of course). You've got five people on your finalist list: Hillary Clinton and four others. Those others? You get their tax returns, a full list of closet-based skeletons, some high school yearboooks, voting records, YouTube moments, whatever. You "vet" them. Hillary? You say, "sit tight, I may ask you, I may not, but I think you're a known quantity. We don't need it in triplicate."
To be clear, this is neither a pro or con on Clinton, or Biden, or whomever. I just thought that the whole "vetting" thing was a little silly.
While some people were speculating that the pick would be Hillary, others said no way, she hadn't been "vetted."
Seriously? You sure you don't want to reconsider that train of thought?
You mean after 8 years of ass-probing during Bill's presidency by the corrupt media and the scandal-mongering GOP, continued demonization during the Bush II fiasco, and then a very close race for the Dem nomination, there's something we don't know about Hillary Clinton?!?!?!?
Again: seriously?
OK, imagine you're Obama, sitting in your elitist strategy tower, bowl of arugula in front of you, maybe a little raspberry vinaigrette on the side (of course). You've got five people on your finalist list: Hillary Clinton and four others. Those others? You get their tax returns, a full list of closet-based skeletons, some high school yearboooks, voting records, YouTube moments, whatever. You "vet" them. Hillary? You say, "sit tight, I may ask you, I may not, but I think you're a known quantity. We don't need it in triplicate."
To be clear, this is neither a pro or con on Clinton, or Biden, or whomever. I just thought that the whole "vetting" thing was a little silly.
If everyone is {X}, no one is {X}
Another victim of the "Terrorist Watch List."
Seriously, what's fucking point? My six-syllable first-last-name combination may be a mouthful, but there are 10 of us in the US, maybe. I'd hate to be named John Williams or something. Because not only do you have to face the fact that 99.999% of the people on that list have nothing to do with terrorism, but any one of 15,000 other people could have fucked your traveling life up for eternity. Because it doesn't matter who's in the White House in Jan 2009. Government programs like this do not die.
Seriously, what's fucking point? My six-syllable first-last-name combination may be a mouthful, but there are 10 of us in the US, maybe. I'd hate to be named John Williams or something. Because not only do you have to face the fact that 99.999% of the people on that list have nothing to do with terrorism, but any one of 15,000 other people could have fucked your traveling life up for eternity. Because it doesn't matter who's in the White House in Jan 2009. Government programs like this do not die.
McCain
A comprehensive collection of anti-McCain arguments.
I am fortunate to not be on the spam lists of any wingnut friends or family. But if you get that shit, just send this right back.
I am fortunate to not be on the spam lists of any wingnut friends or family. But if you get that shit, just send this right back.
Olympic musings
What's with all the ugly sportsmanship this year? I thought Usain Bolt was bad in the 100, but the men's and women's British 4x400 teams, in heats, were just fucking terrible. The woman lollygagged her ass to the line for that last 80 meters or so and almost lost the 3rd qualifying spot. The men's anchor was taunting as he crossed the finish line, waving his baton, doing the "shhhhhh" finger-to-mouth thing, etc. Is your goal in life to be hateable?
I really hope the Jamaicans crush them in the final.
---------
Speaking of crush, the men's 4x100 was hilarious. I think a couple teams were still on the baton exchange when Powell crossed the finish line. Bolt could have won the damned thing, and he was just jogging out the momentum after the handoff and exhorting Powell to go. That's gotta be embarrassing for everyone else. Almost a full second to second place? Wow.
---------
The woman who is part of the diving announcing team is almost Susyn Waldman-level terrible.
I really hope the Jamaicans crush them in the final.
---------
Speaking of crush, the men's 4x100 was hilarious. I think a couple teams were still on the baton exchange when Powell crossed the finish line. Bolt could have won the damned thing, and he was just jogging out the momentum after the handoff and exhorting Powell to go. That's gotta be embarrassing for everyone else. Almost a full second to second place? Wow.
---------
The woman who is part of the diving announcing team is almost Susyn Waldman-level terrible.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Yes, Kaus still fucks goats
But that has nothing to do with this heartwarming post (with quality Ailes snark).
Quote of the day
"Ladies and gentlemen, your Republican party: where the political incentives line up in such a way that letting women die rather than get an abortion is the smart way to go."
-Hilzoy
-Hilzoy
Wingnut values
I see how it works now. The disastrous health care situation in America actually encourages people to get, and stay, married.
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