Irene Saves Hundreds
The Telegraph lampoons the television and governmental coverage of Irene, calling it The Perfect Storm of Hype:
The surf may have told a story but so too did the sight behind the reporter of people chatting and ambling along the sea front and just goofing around. There was a man in a t-shirt, a woman waving her arms and then walking backwards. Then someone on a bicycle glided past.
I realize there was flooding and property damage, and I'm still a little antsy having not heard from Grammy, but I do not believe that Irene lived up to her wall-to-wall coverage over the weekend.
In fact, my theory is this: Irene saved lives.
Think of how many people stayed home over the weekend and did not get killed on the highway. The way Irene was hyped, I'm sure that every death that could possibly, in any way, be attributed to the storm was meticulously counted and placed in Irene's column. But how many people didn't die by remaining safely at home with their rented DVD's and gratuitous groceries.
And what about all those people at home with no electricity? What are they doing to amuse themselves? How many unplanned pregnancies will be directly attributable to Irene? Irene was most likely responsible for more new lives than lives taken.
So there you go!
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Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
White Michael Vick
...to me, Vick seems to have a deeply African-American approach to the game. I'm not saying that a black QB who stands in the pocket ain't playing black. I'm saying Vick's style is so badass, so artistic, so fluid, so flamboyant, so relentless -- so representative of black athletic style -- that if there were a stat for swagger points, Vick would be the No. 1 quarterback in the league by far.
A decade after he became the first black QB to be drafted No. 1 overall, about one in five of the league's passers is African-American, compared with two-thirds of all players. But after his arrest for dogfighting, so many people asked: Would a white football player have gotten nearly two years in prison for what Vick did to dogs?
I don't know what it's like to be a black man. I suspect it's like the proverbial monkey on your back... Always feeling as if you have to prove your character is above all the old stereotypes... laziness, dullness of wit... feeling as if you enter every arena of life painted with doubt and suspicion.
But articles, like this one in ESPN Magazine, that trumpet an unlevel playing field and that instill anger... and worse, discouragement... They simply offer another excuse for failure and sub par behavior.
....
...to me, Vick seems to have a deeply African-American approach to the game. I'm not saying that a black QB who stands in the pocket ain't playing black. I'm saying Vick's style is so badass, so artistic, so fluid, so flamboyant, so relentless -- so representative of black athletic style -- that if there were a stat for swagger points, Vick would be the No. 1 quarterback in the league by far.
A decade after he became the first black QB to be drafted No. 1 overall, about one in five of the league's passers is African-American, compared with two-thirds of all players. But after his arrest for dogfighting, so many people asked: Would a white football player have gotten nearly two years in prison for what Vick did to dogs?
I don't know what it's like to be a black man. I suspect it's like the proverbial monkey on your back... Always feeling as if you have to prove your character is above all the old stereotypes... laziness, dullness of wit... feeling as if you enter every arena of life painted with doubt and suspicion.
But articles, like this one in ESPN Magazine, that trumpet an unlevel playing field and that instill anger... and worse, discouragement... They simply offer another excuse for failure and sub par behavior.
....
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Onions
It seems like every year the weather cooperates to produce a good crop in one or two areas of the garden. This was the year for kale, corn, and onions.
These beauties are dried to perfection, and should last well into the spring. They'll be used on sandwiches... pots of boiled arm roasts and pork roasts... scrambled eggs... vegetable soup and chili soup... and my hash brown casserole.
Click twice to enlarge... Because you know you want to.
....
It seems like every year the weather cooperates to produce a good crop in one or two areas of the garden. This was the year for kale, corn, and onions.
These beauties are dried to perfection, and should last well into the spring. They'll be used on sandwiches... pots of boiled arm roasts and pork roasts... scrambled eggs... vegetable soup and chili soup... and my hash brown casserole.
Click twice to enlarge... Because you know you want to.
....
Friday, August 19, 2011
Romney vs Perry
For conservatives, the two front runners for the Republican nomination carry baggage from their days as governors. As I've said before, you can't get elected governor of Massachusetts sounding like Lester Maddox... And you can't get elected in Texas with a hard line on illegal immigration.
I believe Romney has learned his lesson on health care... Romney-Care was a failure... His other problem is his religion, but I think a Mormon is preferable to Obama's religion... Which is the hate-filled rhetoric of Reverend Wright. But then there is Romney's recent obsequence to the global warming idiots.... Very troubling.
From what I've read about Perry, he has much to answer for his stand on illegal immigration. He is definitely a Christian, but so was George Bush, who really didn't represent conservatives on immigration.
There is no perfect candidate... Just give me the one who can win.
....
For conservatives, the two front runners for the Republican nomination carry baggage from their days as governors. As I've said before, you can't get elected governor of Massachusetts sounding like Lester Maddox... And you can't get elected in Texas with a hard line on illegal immigration.
I believe Romney has learned his lesson on health care... Romney-Care was a failure... His other problem is his religion, but I think a Mormon is preferable to Obama's religion... Which is the hate-filled rhetoric of Reverend Wright. But then there is Romney's recent obsequence to the global warming idiots.... Very troubling.
From what I've read about Perry, he has much to answer for his stand on illegal immigration. He is definitely a Christian, but so was George Bush, who really didn't represent conservatives on immigration.
There is no perfect candidate... Just give me the one who can win.
....
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
When Modems Die
My ability to enjoy the Internet at home is currently made impossible due to the death of my DSL modem which crashed late last week. The good people at AT&T are sending a new one for free... which is supposedly faster... And they are giving me a discount in monthly fees for my trouble...But they are wasting no money shipping it to me.
Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers who offer free WiFi.
I'll be back.
....
My ability to enjoy the Internet at home is currently made impossible due to the death of my DSL modem which crashed late last week. The good people at AT&T are sending a new one for free... which is supposedly faster... And they are giving me a discount in monthly fees for my trouble...But they are wasting no money shipping it to me.
Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers who offer free WiFi.
I'll be back.
....
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Malott Spends Money
I recently gave (unloaded) my futon to my lovely niece and found myself without a couch in my Family (hah!) Room.
This is me and my lovely niece.
Anyway, I bought a sofa and a couple end-tables, (or is it in-tables?) choosing micro-fiber over leather because I am basically cheap at heart... And it looks like this:
Now I want to jerk up the carpeting, exposing the hardwood floor underneath, buy a thousand dollar rug, purchase the matching love seat, a flat screen TV with HD, two recliners, seating for seven or eight, though I have never entertained in the nine years I have lived here...
I figure I can do it for 5K... which I have... And since bachelors die young... It kind of makes sense...
Click on pictures to enlarge... because I know you want to...
....
I recently gave (unloaded) my futon to my lovely niece and found myself without a couch in my Family (hah!) Room.
This is me and my lovely niece.
Anyway, I bought a sofa and a couple end-tables, (or is it in-tables?) choosing micro-fiber over leather because I am basically cheap at heart... And it looks like this:
Now I want to jerk up the carpeting, exposing the hardwood floor underneath, buy a thousand dollar rug, purchase the matching love seat, a flat screen TV with HD, two recliners, seating for seven or eight, though I have never entertained in the nine years I have lived here...
I figure I can do it for 5K... which I have... And since bachelors die young... It kind of makes sense...
Click on pictures to enlarge... because I know you want to...
....
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Party Albums
Back in the early 60's when I was in grade school, the culture was gentler and more innocent. There were two kinds of party albums in our home: Bill Cosby, and The Smothers Brothers. I had every word on the albums memorized because I listened to them over and over again on my sister's mono-speakered record player. (This was before stereo) I would mouth the words and pretend people thought I was funny.
I still pretend people think I am funny.
This is a classic early Smothers Brothers bit. It's still funny.
And here is Jack Paar introducing a very young black comedian.
....
Back in the early 60's when I was in grade school, the culture was gentler and more innocent. There were two kinds of party albums in our home: Bill Cosby, and The Smothers Brothers. I had every word on the albums memorized because I listened to them over and over again on my sister's mono-speakered record player. (This was before stereo) I would mouth the words and pretend people thought I was funny.
I still pretend people think I am funny.
This is a classic early Smothers Brothers bit. It's still funny.
And here is Jack Paar introducing a very young black comedian.
....
Friday, July 29, 2011
Old Dan Tucker
When I was little, my grandmother, Thelma McRoberts, would rock me and sing this song with a heavy backwoods Kentucky accent...
Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man
He washed his face in the frying pan
He combed his hair with a wagon wheel
And died of the toothache in his heel
Get out the way for old Dan Tucker
He's too late to git his supper
Supper's over and dishes washed
Nothing left but a piece of squash
I would give 500 dollars to have a recording of that.
Sitting next to her during the song service at church was priceless.
....
When I was little, my grandmother, Thelma McRoberts, would rock me and sing this song with a heavy backwoods Kentucky accent...
Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man
He washed his face in the frying pan
He combed his hair with a wagon wheel
And died of the toothache in his heel
Get out the way for old Dan Tucker
He's too late to git his supper
Supper's over and dishes washed
Nothing left but a piece of squash
I would give 500 dollars to have a recording of that.
Sitting next to her during the song service at church was priceless.
....
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
When You Water Stuff
Since I moved into my house 9 years ago, my Black-Eyed Susans have been going downhill... The leaves never looked healthy and the flowers became fewer and less attractive.
But this year they took off early in the spring and grew like crazy! This was also one of the rainiest springs that I can remember.
So, never the fool, I put two and two together. Rain... Plants... Water... Plant growth...
At the end of June, when the rain stopped coming, I started pouring a full watering can on my Susans and other flowers, and I can't (duh) believe the difference. (Click on picture twice)
Next year: Miracle Grow Fertilizer!
....
Since I moved into my house 9 years ago, my Black-Eyed Susans have been going downhill... The leaves never looked healthy and the flowers became fewer and less attractive.
But this year they took off early in the spring and grew like crazy! This was also one of the rainiest springs that I can remember.
So, never the fool, I put two and two together. Rain... Plants... Water... Plant growth...
At the end of June, when the rain stopped coming, I started pouring a full watering can on my Susans and other flowers, and I can't (duh) believe the difference. (Click on picture twice)
Next year: Miracle Grow Fertilizer!
....
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Gov. Perry's Invitation to The Response from The Response USA on Vimeo.
Not sure I want him to be president, but this is refreshing.
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Sunday, July 10, 2011
Legalism and License
Just finished listening to a sermon by Chuck Swindoll from his 4th of July service. His subject was freedom in Christ, and he used the circumcision issue in the early Church to suggest that we don't need to let legalists tell us how to live our lives... That there is nothing we need to do to compliment the free gift of salvation... Not baptism, not nothin'... except possibly attending Church... and maybe financially supporting radio ministries. (Ok, he didn't say that)
So we believe and are saved, and that's that. What a legalist Paul was to suggest that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling! Legalist! Jerk! Why fear? Why tremble? Don't need to! We're saved by grace!
If the Apostle Paul went to Sodom and Gomorrah his message would not be about grace. He would tell them to believe on Christ, come out, and be separate... Which is the same message he would have for the Church in the United States. Paul would not be shocked by our culture. He would be shocked by the extent to which believers embrace it... And willingly pollute themselves with it.
There are too many believers that call themselves the Bride of Christ, that have never actually made the commitment. They date Jesus on Sundays, but crawl into the world's bed the rest of the week.
Swindoll would be calling me a legalist about now.
....
Just finished listening to a sermon by Chuck Swindoll from his 4th of July service. His subject was freedom in Christ, and he used the circumcision issue in the early Church to suggest that we don't need to let legalists tell us how to live our lives... That there is nothing we need to do to compliment the free gift of salvation... Not baptism, not nothin'... except possibly attending Church... and maybe financially supporting radio ministries. (Ok, he didn't say that)
So we believe and are saved, and that's that. What a legalist Paul was to suggest that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling! Legalist! Jerk! Why fear? Why tremble? Don't need to! We're saved by grace!
If the Apostle Paul went to Sodom and Gomorrah his message would not be about grace. He would tell them to believe on Christ, come out, and be separate... Which is the same message he would have for the Church in the United States. Paul would not be shocked by our culture. He would be shocked by the extent to which believers embrace it... And willingly pollute themselves with it.
There are too many believers that call themselves the Bride of Christ, that have never actually made the commitment. They date Jesus on Sundays, but crawl into the world's bed the rest of the week.
Swindoll would be calling me a legalist about now.
....
Saturday, July 09, 2011
The Obama Administration and Vanilla Prayers
The Houston National Cemetery, which, at 419 acres, is the second-largest cemetery administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, exceeded in size only by Arlington. Recently, however, (Arleen) Ocasio, the cemetery’s Obama-appointed director, has been credibly accused of engaging in a pattern of censorship directed against private religious expression.
In May, with the approach of Memorial Day, Ocasio required that the ministers who planned to speak at the cemetery submit their proposed prayers to her in advance. Pastor Scott Rainey of Living Word Church did so, and was told to revise his prayers to be more “inclusive” — by excluding specific reference to his own religion.
Rainey took his case to federal district court in Houston, where Judge Lynn Hughes sharply rebuked the VA and Ocasio, issuing a restraining order against them on May 26. As Hughes said in his opinion, “the government cannot gag citizens” in the name of “some bureaucrat’s notion of cultural homogeneity.”
Scott Rainey prayed on Memorial Day as he had originally proposed, including the Lord’s Prayer and this closing: “While respecting people of every faith today, it is in the name of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, that I pray. Amen.”
I'm glad Mr Rainey happened to get the right judge, but since Memorial Day, Obama's prayer monitor is at it again:
The chapel has allegedly been closed, its cross and Bible removed, and it is now said to be used as a “meeting space” when it is unlocked at all. The carillon in the 75-foot bell tower no longer tolls on a regular basis. And members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the National Memorial Ladies, attending upon the bereaved families and friends at veterans’ funerals, say they have been required to have their prayers pre-approved by Ocasio’s office, and have been told that the words “God” and “Jesus” are not to be used by them if they wish to continue their volunteer service at the cemetery.
I think we need some peaceful civil resistance aimed directly at our over-reaching federal government.
....
The Houston National Cemetery, which, at 419 acres, is the second-largest cemetery administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, exceeded in size only by Arlington. Recently, however, (Arleen) Ocasio, the cemetery’s Obama-appointed director, has been credibly accused of engaging in a pattern of censorship directed against private religious expression.
In May, with the approach of Memorial Day, Ocasio required that the ministers who planned to speak at the cemetery submit their proposed prayers to her in advance. Pastor Scott Rainey of Living Word Church did so, and was told to revise his prayers to be more “inclusive” — by excluding specific reference to his own religion.
Rainey took his case to federal district court in Houston, where Judge Lynn Hughes sharply rebuked the VA and Ocasio, issuing a restraining order against them on May 26. As Hughes said in his opinion, “the government cannot gag citizens” in the name of “some bureaucrat’s notion of cultural homogeneity.”
Scott Rainey prayed on Memorial Day as he had originally proposed, including the Lord’s Prayer and this closing: “While respecting people of every faith today, it is in the name of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, that I pray. Amen.”
I'm glad Mr Rainey happened to get the right judge, but since Memorial Day, Obama's prayer monitor is at it again:
The chapel has allegedly been closed, its cross and Bible removed, and it is now said to be used as a “meeting space” when it is unlocked at all. The carillon in the 75-foot bell tower no longer tolls on a regular basis. And members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the National Memorial Ladies, attending upon the bereaved families and friends at veterans’ funerals, say they have been required to have their prayers pre-approved by Ocasio’s office, and have been told that the words “God” and “Jesus” are not to be used by them if they wish to continue their volunteer service at the cemetery.
I think we need some peaceful civil resistance aimed directly at our over-reaching federal government.
....
Thursday, July 07, 2011
The Fox is on the Town-o, Town-o, Town-o!
I have no rabbits wreaking havoc upon my garden this year. I suspect this is because I have a wabbit-killing-buddy living under my neighbor's shed.
I tried to thank him this afternoon, but alas, he is shy... Too humble to accept thanks for his good deeds, and he took off into the soybean field behind my house.
I wonder if he has babies living under the shed with him... And I wonder if when a couple of the rabbits greased his chin... I wonder if the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o...
....
I have no rabbits wreaking havoc upon my garden this year. I suspect this is because I have a wabbit-killing-buddy living under my neighbor's shed.
I tried to thank him this afternoon, but alas, he is shy... Too humble to accept thanks for his good deeds, and he took off into the soybean field behind my house.
I wonder if he has babies living under the shed with him... And I wonder if when a couple of the rabbits greased his chin... I wonder if the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o...
....
Hiker Killed
A husband and wife's backcountry hike along a popular trail turned tragic when they stumbled upon a grizzly bear and her cubs and the 57-year-old man was mauled to death, Yellowstone National Park officials said. The initial indication was that the sow grizzly was protecting her cubs.
Officials explained that the bear would not be destroyed for displaying more maternal instinct than Casey Anthony, who was recently found not guilty in the death of her cub.
....
A husband and wife's backcountry hike along a popular trail turned tragic when they stumbled upon a grizzly bear and her cubs and the 57-year-old man was mauled to death, Yellowstone National Park officials said. The initial indication was that the sow grizzly was protecting her cubs.
Officials explained that the bear would not be destroyed for displaying more maternal instinct than Casey Anthony, who was recently found not guilty in the death of her cub.
....
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Not Guilty
Casey Anthony was found not guilty of killing her baby 24 months too late. It's an important lesson for all American women to learn... That while babies' lives are cheap in this country, if you put off your abortion into the toddler years, you may run the risk of spending the balance of your life in prison.
Then again... maybe not.
....
Casey Anthony was found not guilty of killing her baby 24 months too late. It's an important lesson for all American women to learn... That while babies' lives are cheap in this country, if you put off your abortion into the toddler years, you may run the risk of spending the balance of your life in prison.
Then again... maybe not.
....
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