Certifiably Inane

Merry Xmas

2007-12-24T20:10:00.000-06:00

To my family in Jolly Old England! Happy New Year!

New Blackwater Logo

2007-10-26T20:26:00.001-05:00

My feeble attempt...

I wonder...

2007-10-23T08:04:00.000-05:00

... how far this idea could go with, say, a week's worth of Iraq war funding put into it? Your local wastewater treatment plant (and yes, you have one) could be running your car. I like.

Wake up Cat

2007-10-19T23:15:00.001-05:00

This is VERY familiar...

Downy Woodpecker

2007-09-05T21:30:00.000-05:00

Out in the backyard eating something from a dried out plant stem... hopefully involving Japanese Beetles. Why, no... the tripod WAS'NT handy, why do you ask?

A better hummingbird Video

2007-09-05T21:17:00.000-05:00

I think these are kinda cool...

Malaki better polish up the ol' resume...

2007-08-22T11:28:00.000-05:00

Bush says he supports him.
I give him a month.

Why am I not surprised?

2007-08-21T08:18:00.000-05:00

From the NYT:

"The growth in total incomes was concentrated among those making more than $1 million. The number of such taxpayers grew by more than 26 percent, to 303,817 in 2005, from 239,685 in 2000.

These individuals, who constitute less than a quarter of 1 percent of all taxpayers, reaped almost 47 percent of the total income gains in 2005, compared with 2000.

People with incomes of more than a million dollars also received 62 percent of the savings from the reduced tax rates on long-term capital gains and dividends that President Bush signed into law in 2003, according to a separate analysis by Citizens for Tax Justice, a group that points out policies that it says favor the rich.

The group’s calculations showed that 28 percent of the investment tax cut savings went to just 11,433 of the 134 million taxpayers, those who made $10 million or more, saving them almost $1.9 million each. Over all, this small number of wealthy Americans saved $21.7 billion in taxes on their investment income as a result of the tax-cut law.

The nearly 90 percent of Americans who make less than $100,000 a year saved on average $318 each on their investments. They collected 5.3 percent of the total savings from reduced tax rates on investment income."

Time for a BIG change. Yet, somehow I suspect the majority of Americans feel that it is their own fault they aren't getting by as well as their parents did.

Love the Government spokesdroid's comment:

'Mr. Fratto said the fact that nearly all of the growth in incomes was among those in the upper reaches of the income ladder and that the majority of investment tax breaks went to those making more than $1 million “is not a very interesting story.”

You may be mistaken Mr. Fratto-it's just not interesting to TV news.

When Professors go bad...

2007-08-20T13:08:00.000-05:00

Skube Doo.

snicker

2007-08-20T09:08:00.000-05:00

Can't relate to this..
Anyone know what they are talking about?
Not safe for work... or people who dislike inappropriate language... or the reality challenged.

Hummingbirds in Northern Illinois?

2007-08-19T13:35:00.000-05:00

I didn't know they came this far north. This was taken in South Beloit, Beloit is in Wisconsin. Doesn't get much more Northern Illinois than that...

Incontrovertible proof...

2007-08-18T09:45:00.000-05:00

That sexy is a state of mind.

	According to experts, I am : 89% Sexy
Take the Sexy Quiz at JokesUnlimited.com

Something I've always suspected...

2007-08-16T13:21:00.000-05:00

Confirmed by World O' Crap... Reading this stuff so I don't have to.

A Midwestern elitist speaks out...

2007-08-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

So our favorite political ‘genius’ Karl Rove went to the OxyRush Limbaugh show and explained just WHY I despise Dubya so much. It’s all cleared up now. The scales have fallen from my eyes! I’m an elitist! I’m effete! I can’t stand people with common sense! I hate Middle American values! I’m not a voracious reader with a passion for history, otherwise I’d probably realize just how good we’ve got it!

If you’ll look to the profile thingie on the side there, some people might think Rockford Illinois is somewhere in the neighborhood of middle America. I look around at what’s left of a small city that used to rely on a manufacturing economy and mostly what I see are ‘For Lease’ signs in the industrial parks. I see a crowded unemployment office with very few jobs posted that pay more than ten bucks an hour. I see house for sale signs all over the place. I see decent apartments costing 600 a month. I see companies that pay enough for someone to live in these apartments lowering wages and breaking unions so the already rich owners can afford a second or third Lexus (or that Ferrari they’ve had their eye on). I see older people trying to live on Social Security they’ve paid into their whole lives, people who don’t use a lot of prescription drugs, paying 100+ dollars a month they didn’t need to spend on insurance that is required for them to have. Good old Midwestern, common sense values.

Apparently Karl thinks Middle American values are:

Taxation without Representation.

Kicking the weakest people when they are down.

Making sure industries that make billion dollar profits get the government handouts they deserve.

Lowering the tax base even further so the poor exploited millionaires don’t have to settle for a 150 foot yacht when they really want a 200 footer.

Ensuring that only the ‘right’ people can vote without a hassle.

George W. Bush definitely represents Middle America too. I know many, many people who got legacy admissions into Harvard and Yale. Half the people I know have their failing businesses propped up by their Dad’s rich friends for political favors. I wish people would quit bugging me to accept sweetheart deals on baseball teams just so I can make multi-million dollar profits. You hear it in bars all the time ‘Man, if someone threatened MY Dad I’d lie my ass off so I could send in the US military to kick his ass!’ The standard 9 weeks paid vacation per year is just an accepted fact here.

Fuck you Karl Rove.

If there is a hell...

2007-08-13T21:02:00.000-05:00

I hope Fred Phelps and his band of 'Christians' get a special spot reserved for them for picketing the funeral of this guy.

Rove 'resigns'

2007-08-13T07:41:00.000-05:00

Our long national nightmare is still proceeding nicely!
Who's he going with, Romney? Or Giuliani? Seems like Giuliani is big on hiring felonious people, so he's my guess.

Fun with LOL

2007-08-11T12:37:00.001-05:00

Great thoughts on Freedom-Republican style

2007-08-10T08:53:00.000-05:00

Well, first of all, I sincerely doubt Janis Joplin would be a Republican if she were alive today. However the line "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" pretty much sums up the direction of the modern day GOP in my opinion.

Then there's the incomparable Rudy Giuliani describing his philosophy on freedom:

"Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do it."

Huh? This man is the self-described protector of American Values? Our last bet hope to stay safe from the civilization destroying threats of Islamofacism and, uh... ferrets?
I just read that quote and it reminded me of something.
The Declaration of Independence? Nope.
The Constitution? Nope.
Actually it reminded me of this:
'Work makes one free'
The gates of Auschwitz

Rampant Materialism?

2005-12-11T19:29:00.000-06:00

So, the pope has called for the season of Christmas to be separated from 'Rampant Materialism' By that, I assume he means giving gifts to people, frivolous things like prada loafers or expensive robes. Nope, that sort of thing is wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Of course it's understandable why he would think that, considering the leader of the Catholic Church is following the example of Jesus, living in a shack and working in a dingy office with a tiny budget so that the poor can receive all the benefits from contributions to the church.
Another hypocritical religious leader. Do as I say, not as I do.

Merry F***ing Holidays!

2005-12-10T10:08:00.000-06:00

So, the most pressing concern for fundamentalist Christians in these United States isn't a war that is immoral, people dislocated by hurricanes, poverty, racism, torture, a government who is more concerned about rich people than poor people or even keeping churches open on holy days.

Nope.

I guess priority one is people who are going around saying 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas'. Wow. How scary! What a terrible thing to do to our poor children! Who gives a shit if they starve, don't get a decent education or end up as cannon fodder so George can look like a tough guy and enrich his friends in the oil industry? This is CHRISTMAS damn it! This is IMPORTANT! The whole religion of Christianity rides on the number of people who say 'Merry Christmas'. I'm not really sure what the target number is, but apparently we aren't reaching it. Buncha commie, atheist slackers! Dire consequences await! Armageddon! Destruction! Wanton pillaging! Oh, wait, strike that-see the paragraph above about who the government favors. Horrible, evil things will come to pass if we acknowledge the existence of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or any other non-majority religion (at least non-majority in THIS country). By gosh it's a veritable attack on right-thinking, God-fearing Christians that people who don't share their faith aren't kicked to the curb in this season of love, tolerance and happiness.
Like many people in this country I went to a Christian church, including Sunday school when I was a kid. I was taught that Jesus taught love and compassion. I'm pretty sure I even read parts of the Bible that reinforced that apparently errant belief. Obviously I was mistaken. The TRUE practitioners of Christianity play by different rules I guess. For some reason I don't picture Jesus and his disciples living in multi-million dollar mansions or advocating the wiping out of people who don't agree with them. I have a hard time picturing Matthew, Mark Luke, John or Peter diverting contributions from good-hearted people that are supposed to go to help the poor into funding a diamond mine and propping up dictators.

I don't recall Jesus saying anything sounding like people who disagreed with you are scum. I was under the distinct impression that this judging thing was best left up to God.

But that's just me.

How macho am I?

2005-12-09T22:21:00.000-06:00

Not especially I guess...
Androgynous
You scored 73 masculinity and 63 femininity! You scored high on both masculinity and femininity. You have a strong personality exhibiting characteristics of both traditional sex roles.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 86% on masculinity
You scored higher than 64% on femininity

Link: The Bem Sex Role Inventory Test written by weirdscience on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

All you need to know...

2005-12-09T07:45:00.000-06:00

About the integrity of our fearless war promoter and current World Bank flunky, via ThinkProgress. There goes another big chunk of the glacier! Who says GOPal warming is a myth?

Why do I picture a glacier?

2005-12-09T07:38:00.000-06:00

With huge chunks of ice breaking off.. falling into the sea to melt away? Majestic! Self destruction... things are getting a bit too warm for the Republicans I guess.

Scanner broke...

2005-12-09T07:28:00.000-06:00

Not that anyone is reading them or anything, but new cartoons will be available as soon as I can get them up. Happy Birthday to me! Buy me a scanner! Or a graphics tablet (drawing with a mouse is a pain) ! LOL

This'll fly!

2005-12-09T07:24:00.000-06:00

David Broder on a Democratic initiative that sounds pretty good! I'm sure the Republicans will see the value of this and vote accordingly. *snort!*

How's that going Bill?

2005-12-07T22:40:00.000-06:00

Just wondering what's up with our friendly neighborhood terrorist sympathizer. Oh! the War on Minority Religions, oops! I mean Christmas...

Hey guys! Practice, practice, practice...

2005-12-06T18:33:00.000-06:00

And maybe you won't have to settle for cartoon bunnies...

And here I was worried about racoons...

2005-12-06T11:35:00.000-06:00

Bear Hibernates Under Porch

Woodward!

2005-12-06T08:57:00.000-06:00

Meet the new Bob, not quite the same as the old Bob....

The 'Newstron Bomb'

2005-12-05T16:59:00.000-06:00

Cheney Press Conference

2005-12-05T16:40:00.000-06:00

Since everyone else is doing it...

2005-08-30T13:23:00.000-05:00

These are the top 100 songs from the year I graduated. Eek. 1979 seems like a whole different century already! Anyway, the ones I liked are bold, the ones I really liked are bold AND italicized. Good thing I don't use my real name since I'm being honest about what I liked then!

1. My Sharona, The Knack
2. Bad Girls, Donna Summer
3. Le Freak, Chic
4. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, Rod Stewart
5. Reunited, Peaches and Herb
6. I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
7. Hot Stuff, Donna Summer
8. Y.M.C.A., Village People
9. Ring My Bell, Anita Ward
10. Sad Eyes, Robert John
11. Too Much Heaven, Bee Gees
12. MacArthur Park, Donna Summer
13. When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman, Dr. Hook
14. Makin' It, David Naughton
15. Fire, Pointer Sisters
16. Tragedy, Bee Gees
17. A Little More Love, Olivia Newton-John
18. Heart Of Glass, Blondie
19. What A Fool Believes, Doobie Brothers
20. Good Times, Chic
21. You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
22. Knock On Wood, Amii Stewart
23. Stumblin' In, Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman
24. Lead Me On, Maxine Nightingale
25. Shake Your Body, Jacksons
26. Don't Cry Out Loud, Melissa Manchester
27. The Logical Song, Supertramp
28. My Life, Billy Joel
29. Just When I Needed You Most, Randy Vanwarmer
30. You Can't Change That, Raydio
31. Shake Your Groove Thing, Peaches and Herb
32. I'll Never Love This Way Again, Dionne Warwick
33. Love You Inside Out, Bee Gees
34. I Want You To Want Me, Cheap Trick
35. The Main Event (Fight), Barbra Streisand
36. Mama Can't Buy You Love, Elton John
37. I Was Made For Dancin', Leif Garrett
38. After The Love Has Gone, Earth, Wind and Fire
39. Heaven Knows, Donna Summer and Brooklyn Dreams
40. The Gambler, Kenny Rogers
41. Lotta Love, Nicolette Larson
42. Lady, Little River Band
43. Heaven Must Have Sent You, Bonnie Pointer
44. Hold The Line, Toto
45. He's The Greatest Dancer, Sister Sledge
46. Sharing The Night Together, Dr. Hook
47. She Believes In Me, Kenny Rogers
48. In The Navy, Village People
49. Music Box Dancer, Frank Mills
50. The Devil Went Down To Georgia, Charlie Daniels Band
51. Gold, John Stewart
52. Goodnight Tonight, Wings
53. We Are Family, Sister Sledge
54. Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy, Bad Company
55. Every 1's A Winner, Hot Chocolate
56. Take Me Home, Cher
57. Boogie Wonderland, Earth, Wind and Fire
58. (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away, Andy Gibb
59. What You Won't Do For Love, Bobby Caldwell
60. New York Groove, Ace Frehley
61. Sultans Of Swing, Dire Straits
62. I Want Your Love, Chic
63. Chuck E's In Love, Rickie Lee Jones
64. I Love The Night Life, Alicia Bridges
65. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now, McFadden and Whitehead
66. Lonesome Loser, Little River Band
67. Renegade, Styx
68. Love Is The Answer, England Dan and John Ford Coley
69. Got To Be Real, Cheryl Lynn
70. Born To Be Alive, Patrick Hernandez
71. Shine A Little Love, Electric Light Orchestra
72. I Just Fall In Love Again, Anne Murray
73. Shake It, Ian Matthews
74. I Was Made For Lovin' You, Kiss
75. I Just Wanna Stop, Gino Vannelli
76. Disco Nights, G.Q.
77. Ooh Baby Baby, Linda Ronstadt
78. September, Earth, Wind and Fire
79. Time Passages, Al Stewart
80. Rise, Herb Alpert
81. Don't Bring Me Down, Electric Light Orchestra
82. Promises, Eric Clapton
83. Get Used To It, Roger Voudouris
84. How Much I Feel, Ambrosia
85. Suspicions, Eddie Rabbitt
86. You Take My Breath Away, Rex Smith
87. How You Gonna See Me Now, Alice Cooper
88. Double Vision, Foreigner
89. Every Time I Think Of You, Babys
90. I Got My Mind Made Up, Instant Funk
91. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Michael Jackson
92. Bad Case Of Lovin' You, Robert Palmer
93. Somewhere In The Night, Barry Manilow
94. We've Got Tonite, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
95. Dance The Night Away, Van Halen
96. Dancing Shoes, Nigel Olsson
97. The Boss, Diana Ross
98. Sail On, Commodores
99. I Do Love You, G.Q.
100. Strange Way, Firefall

Just got back..

2005-08-30T06:35:00.000-05:00

I know, it's been a while since I blogged. I have an excuse though! I went to Jolly Old England for two weeks and started a new job. England was great, the job is so-so. I'll be back soon.

For everyone who believes Creation is a fantasy...

2005-07-23T07:58:00.000-05:00

Check out a short history of humans at Unscrewing the Inscrutable. Lots O' good science there too. Click Here

Arnold the Crime Fighting Pig has passed on...

2005-07-20T08:01:00.000-05:00

In honor of his passing I declare a bacon free day, although his owners may be planning a free bacon day. Story here: Bye Arnie.

Beginning Post

2005-07-18T21:56:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone... or anyone more likely. Just decided to start a blog. Mainly just random thoughts, whatever happens to strike my fancy on any given day. Hopefully funny, pointing out the inanity of life in these United States, specifically Illinois! Hope you enjoy, if not there are about a billion other blogs to browse! Have a good one.