Jokes My Father in Law Told Me

My Lovely Bride's father dropped this one on me while I was drinking a glass of juice one morning last week. I avoided the spit-take, but only just.

Man #1: Say, what's that ya got there?
Man #2: Load o' horse manure.
M#1: Oh yeah? What's it for?
M#2: Gonna put it on my raspberries.
M#1:
M#1: I've always been partial to cream and sugar myself.

My New Representative In the Blogging Ecosphere

The Capybara. A native of South America, it is the largest living rodent. I don't know about "Adorable" and it sure ain't "little", but it really is a rodent.

Sweet Home Chicago

Back in Chicagoland for Christmas Day and I got to see the Bears/Packers game yesterday. I was a little conflicted having grown up among all things Wisconsin all my life. (You know? I was a fan of the Badgers as a young child before it even dawned on me that Illinois had a similar school. It became abundantly clear with plenty of time for me to make my college choice back in high school. Funny thing, that.)

The Bears won the game yesterday afternoon, which I guess is for the best since they got the most out of it. With the win the Bears clinched the NFC North title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. With the Vikings eliminated last night after their loss to Bawlmer, the Bears' season finale in Minnesota will probably resemble the final pre-season game with the starters playing about 1 quarter and everyone else playing the rest of the game. Except, maybe for Rex Grossman: I expect he'll play the entire first half.

As for the Packers, Noah Herron the Ball-Carrier got his first NFL touchdown--he went to My Better Two-Thirds's alma mater, don'tcha know. Brett played okay, but he still gave up a handful of interceptions to a really good pass defense. It would be sad to see #4 go out after a season like this one. I expect he'll come back next year to play with the Real Packers rather than the conglomeration of NFL Europe players he has around him now.

Nothing Says Merry Christmas

Like a Wookiee.

A Wookiee singing Silent Night.

Nice!
For a brief while, anyway.

(found it at Ace's)

Patriot Act Extension Blocked in Senate

Sleeper Cells, Big Media Rejoice

From FoxNews.com:

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday blocked a vote to reauthorize 16 expiring provisions of the controversial USA Patriot Act.

So much for any kind dot connecting between agencies. So much for tearing down the wall between intel and law enforcement.

According to the FoxNews.com story, Senator Vegas wants the Senate to 'take their time now to make the law right.'

And while the rest of Big Media spins this as a defeat for Bush, I can't help wonder who they think would be most hurt by another terrorist attack on this country. Apparently the newsies think they'll get a pass.

From Reuters:

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, demanding increased protection of civil liberties, defied President George W. Bush on Friday and blocked legislation to renew the USA Patriot Act, a centerpiece of his war on terrorism.
(emphasis mine)

Apparently the rest of us aren't in a war. That's a relief because I was really sure the Islamists wanted us all dead.

VI Day!

(And no, I don't mean the text editor.)

Smash has a roundup of Big Media headlines contrasted with what it might have been had it been the newspapermen of 60 years ago writing them. The post also includes words attributed to Zarqawi in a letter to bin Laden. Read it here.

Should Zarqawi move to a new country to foment the violent overthrow of Western Civilization, we should follow him there. Give him no rest. Keep them on defense.

Failure in Iraq

Zarqawi's failure, that is.

Zarq's been called out in the town of Babil by one Jasim Hameed:

"I'm here at this early hour to challenge the terrorists who want to kill the democratic process in Iraq and I want to encourage the healthy people to vote”.

Pajamas Media has first hand accounts from all over Iraq. Take a look at the upperleft portion of the site for updates throughout the day.

The story didn't mention the nature of Mr. Hameed's disability. I haven't heard a word yet from international election watcher and miserable failure of a US President James Earl Carter. I suppose that if there is no chance for a dictatorial regime to win the day, he won't consider the election "fair".

UPDATE 1720 EST: Pajamas Media has a summary of coverage up now here. Sounds like it has been a good day.

UPDATE 2005-12-16 1533 EST: A photo of a couple of Iraqi hotties sportin' the purple finger look is up at MVRWC. Iraqi Hotties... there's a phrase I never thought I'd type. Yet there it is.

Memo to Dr. Dean

There were quite a few more American troops KIA in Viet Nam than the 25,000 he cited on a Texas radio show.

(Trying like mad to give him the benefit of the doubt)
Was he referring to a 'after some milestone' figure?

Or was it an attack of massive ignorance on his part?

Regarding his trotting out the "we support the troops" message after whining about his comments being taken "out of context", I have just one thing to say:

Nothing says "We support you!" like "You're doomed to fail."

Dean's going to complete the job of running the Democrat Party right off the rails.

Announcement

I will be posting from time to time over at The Potbelly Stove. The proprietor over there finds today's UN just as distasteful as I do... possibly even more!

Some of hbl's photography will begin to appear here as well.

More blogging next week... the moving truck is due to arrive at Stately Larson Manor shortly.

Merry Christmas, ACLU

This is the best thing ever! I missed Kevin McCollough when he left Chicago's WYLL, but can still read him at Crosswalk.

Here (via Michelle Malkin) is a great idea from Kevin:

We are excited to be launching the opportunity today...between now and Christmas we are asking you to send the ACLU direct "MerryChristmas" cards.

And we aren't talking about these generic "happy holiday" (meaning nothing) type of cards...

Go get as "Christmas" a Christmas card as you can find... something that says.. "Joy To The World", "For Unto Us A Child Is Born", but at least "Merry Christmas", put some of your own thoughts into it, sign it respectfully and zip it off in the mail...

Head on over to Kevin's blog to get the address for the card writing campaign.

And be nice! As it is written in the Bible, it will be like heaping ashes on their heads... far more than any snotty comment one could conceive.

UPDATE: Perhaps they will reciprocate with a "Blandly Inoffensive, Politically Correct, Generic Seasonal Greeting" card of their own. Or not. I won't hold my breath.
(Adapted from a comment I left at Myopic Zeal)