Lab-Tested

Glenn Reynolds linked to them the other day.

I thought I would provide a link to Lab-Tested too. I like the site and always have a tough time finding it. I should perma link it though, and will when I get home.

Odd Jobs

Les Jones is wondering what kind of odd jobs people have held. Hmm. Here goes, in reverse chronological order.

1) Environmental Policy Wonk/Lobbyist
2) Litigator
3) Tour guide/sales rep for a Vermont microbrewer.
4) Freelance photographer (concert, nature, portrait, news)
5) Administrative Assistant
6) Legal Clerk
7) Legal Researcher
8) Marketing associate for APC Backups
9) Web page designer
10) Computer lab monitor
11) Scuba diver for swimming pool repair firm
12) factory help
13) Fried Chicken delivery driver
14) Produce Boy at local supermarket


I'm sure there have been a couple of others mixed in, but those are the ones I remember.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore


'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Fun Diversions

So, I'm driving down today when I get an itching to play with some guns (like what else is new). I decide to stop in my old stomping grounds of Knoxville and visit Coal Creek Armory where I drop the Ka-Ching to rent a gorgeous Heckler & Koch fully automatic fire MP5. It shoots both single shot and full auto. What a wonderful experience.

I've got some video of me emptying the magazine and will post it as soon as I can figure out how (probably in January when I get back home).

Anyway, if your interested in visiting the, Coal Creek Armory is in the old Guncraft Building 1/4 mile off of I70/40 at the Lovell Rd. exit.

Merry Christmas To All

I am off for the next few weeks. In addition to the normal Christmas thing, I plan to do some hunting, visit the Chattanooga aquarium, attend an engagement party, meet some clients, and eat lots of BBQ.

I return to D.C. after the New Year, but do hope to make a couple of posts while away. However, posting will be very light for the next couple of weeks. Please have a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy new years.

I Am The Walrus

I don't know if your aware of this or not, but Styx, the ultimate in over the top 1970s arena anthem rock has a new video out - their cover of the Beatles I Am The Walrus.

I Am The Walrus
Lennon/McCartney

I am he as you are he as you are me
and we are all together
See how they run like pigs from a gun
see how they fly
I'm crying
Sitting on a cornflake


Waiting for the van to come
Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you've been a naughty boy
you let your face grow long

I am the eggman
they are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob

Mr. city policeman sitting
pretty little policemen in a row
See how they fly like Lucy in the sky
See how they run
I'm crying
I'm crying, I'm crying
Yellow matter custard
Dripping from a dead dog's eye
Crabalocker fishwife
Pornographic priestess
Boy, you've been a naughty girl
you let your knickers down

I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob

Sitting in an English garden
waiting for the sun
If the sun don't come you get a tan
from standing in the English rain

I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob

Expert, texpert choking smokers
don't you think the joker laughs at you
See how they smile like pigs in a sty
See how they snide
I'm crying
Semolina pilchard
climbing up the Eiffel tower
Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna
Man, you should have seen them kicking
Edgar Allan Poe

I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus

Goo goo g' joob
Goo goo g' joob
Goo goo g' goo
goo goo g' joob goo
juba juba juba
juba juba juba
juba juba juba juba
juba juba

Its pretty good. Both the video and its cheesy tongue-in-cheek special effects as well as their general take on the song. Its also doing pretty good, currently sitting in the iTunes Top 25. Sadly though, it doesn't look like Dennis De Young, the evil genius keyboardist is still with the band. Anyone know who this new keyboardist is and what happened to De Young?

Ugh

Today's commute into work sucked hard as someone decided to rob a Rite Aid here in D.C., taking hostages or something, and requiring police to close down part of downtown.

What I dont get is how the guy has been able to hold the cops off for so long. He certainly couldn't have been using a gun, cause those are illegal in D.C.

Ski 'Bama

Heh!

I'll be traveling south later this week. We are spending Christmas at our home in LaFayette, GA but I am going to take a day to make the short drive up to Mentone, Alabama and ski.

Yep, I'm bringing my teleboards and will be cutting some turns in the heart of Dixie. I wonder if anyone else has ever teleskied that far south before???? At $20 for a full day Holiday ticket, who wouldn't???? Heck, I might even drive up there on Christmas morning.

Les Jones wants to learn. . . .this may be his best opportunity.

PM 2.5

After putting the Michael Leavitt post up, it dawned on me that not everyone might know what PM2.5 is.

YOU do know what it is though, don't you?

Our Next President?

The event I attended at EPA was the signing of non attainment designation's for PM 2.5 by former Utah governor and current EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt who was recently nominated to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Its long been rumored that Mr. Leavitt has higher political aspirations and would very much like to run for President. HHS, with a budget of over $50 billion a year and oversight of medicare and medicad, is a great place to begin that journey. Of course, all the medical research grants he can now shower on Iowa and New Hampshire don't hurt either.

I ended up attending two events with Mr. Leavitt and at both I was very impressed not only with his handle of complex facts, but with his ability to work the room. As an early predictor of Howard Dean's success in running (I predicted he would run, and that he would run well, as early as 1996. In 2002, I seemed to be the only person in Washington, D.C. who knew who Howard Dean was) I'm going to go out on a limb here (in a much more widespread and public fashion) and anoint Michael Leavitt my early front runner for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination.



But back to the photoblogging. Glenn Reynolds likes to talk about how important a small camera that you can carry around with you is. I entirely agree. Not only does the Kodak fit easily in my jacket or pants pocket, but in addition to taking pictures, it also shoots movies.


These guys, who were the top staffers working on the PM2.5 attainment designations, both wore Jerry Garcia ties to this event. It pretty much tells you all you need to know about EPA's politics.

Freedom Square

I went to an event at EPA on Friday and it was a glorious day for a walk. Across Pennsylvania Avenue from the Ariel Rios building that houses EPA is the tremendous statute staring across Freedom Plaza at the White House.

Freedom and Power

Washington D.C. is the worlds most powerful city. It also represents Freedom to billions of people around the world. However, while the powerful and not so powerful both call the city home, they rarely interact on all but the shallowest levels.

I've always been fascinated though by how much freedom the homeless of DC have, especially compared to the sea of mindless bureaucrat  and government types who march in from the suburbs every day, rigidly conforming to the dictates of peer pressure and official Washington culture. A member of the political and power class here in Washington risks it all if he were to step out of line, and as a result, is usually forced to endure a life as a stereotype. The homeless, on the other hand, are free to do what they want (and some even make decent money panhandling and busking).

This image in particular struck me as a powerful reminder of the divide as I made my way to EPA.

Photoblogging

Glen's been blogging a lot lately on digital photography. I am generally not fully sold on digital yet. I still think the quality afforded by a good film camera is just too tough for digital to beat, but, especially with the digital SLRs like the Nikon D70s, its coming close. Still, I'm not about to lay out $1,000 for one.

That said, I do enjoy the ease of digital photography, and when my son was born, obtained a great little 3.2 megapixle Point and Shoot Kodak DX3900. As some of you might know, after 2+ years of faithful service, that camera died a long, slow, painful death, and I've been without a digital camera since early this summer. All that changed, however, last week when I walked by a local Ritz Camera shop advertising $99 Kodak cameras. At that price, I couldn't afford not to get one, but being the sucker I am, let the salesman up-sell me to the 4.0 megapixel CX7430. I have to say, I am very happy and will be sharing some examples of this camera's fine work with you this week, culminating in my Christmas blow out post to carry you through my vacation (I will be posting little if any between the 24th and the 4th of January).

This first picture is of the Old Executive Office Building (also known as The Ike) yesterday afternoon.
The sun was just right and provided a beautiful highlight to one of Washington's prettiest buildings.

Drug Dealing

This guy was driving in front of me on the Beltway (I-495, the highway that circles DC for those not from around here).



OK.

So I'm a pretty open minded, non-judgmental kind of guy. I just do my thing, day to day, and don't really mind whatever anyone else is gonna do with themselves.

That said, my general advice to drug dealers is to keep a rather low profile. I guess not everyone listens.

Its Snowing

Its Snowing!!!!

Politics Makes Strange Bedfollows

HEH!

Opponents of a publicly financed baseball stadium spent roughly $50,000, trying to sway public opinion.

In one method used to get their message out, opponents used an automated phone line.

The person on the automated phone call says he's from a group called Friends of the Earth, and he's opposed to a stadium built with public money

Friends of the Earth is part of a coalition called "No D.C. Taxes For Baseball."

And, WTOP Radio has learned up to 20 percent of the $50,000 came from Robert Siegel, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner whose business would have to move to make way for the stadium.

Siegel is a major landowner on the South Capitol stadium site, an area that Siegel calls "D.C.'s unofficial Red Light district."

He owns 11 properties, several of which house gay nightclubs. He also owns a gay porn shop and adult theaters.

I have some gay friends, they were very concerned they would lose their nightlife because of baseball.

I also worked for Friends of the Earth once. But in the UK. We didn't work on Gay issues. Not that I know of.

Asshats and Heros

What an ass hole.

So, I am trying to get my wife a last minute Christmas gift. She's been using a P22, but I thought she might like to move up to something in the womenly 9mm range.

Hmm, maybe a nice Star BM. I know there were a bunch floating around pretty cheap about 6 months ago, but being the schmuck I am, I failed to secure one then.

Well, I decided to call around and while most local vendors (all of whom I have done plenty of business with) were out, they were all generally understanding of my desires. All but the fucking asshole at National Pawnbrokers in Arlington, VA. His response "They've been out of business for a while. We don't have carry them." TO which I responded, "sure, but there are a number floating around, can you let me know if you come across one?"

Know, I don't think my response was so bad, in fact, it indicates a willingness to even consider doing business with this asshat who in no way deserves to be in business at all. He of course cursed me out "NO. I DON'T HAVE ANY AND AM NOT GETTING ANY. WE DON'T CARRY THOSE'

I should point out of course that Arlington, VA is about as GFW of a locality as you can find, and Mr. National Pawnbroker gun dealer (the old asshat in the back) is on friend of gun owners - refusing to carry EBRs and once refusing to sell me a .44 mag because I didn't have a proper need for it.

Do them a favor. Don't give them any business. If your in Northern Virginia and looking for firearms, go to Potomac Arms in Alexandria (great collection of old He Who Shall Not Be Named approved military arms), or Virginia Arms in Manassas (about as upstanding and gun friendly a place as you could dream about - plus they do cheap internet transfers) or Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly (which had some asshole kid working there the other night but is still 100X better than it used to be) or The Range in Stafford (they rent nice toys) or Shooters Paradise in Woodbridge (a nice local local range) or any of the other great firearms dealers in Virginia looking to cut you a good deal.

Moonbats: Why The Left Keeps Losing

Clayton Cramer nails it.

they spend so little time outside their little community of cranks that they don't realize how out of touch they are.

Clayton, by the way, is approvingly cited as a leading modern scholar in the Justice Department's wonderful Christmas gift. Congrats!

What Slippery Slope?

From NRA-ILA's Did You Know? series:

New York City`s rifle-shotgun registration fee has risen 1733% since becoming law in 1967. When the sponsored the registration bill, City Councilman Theodore Weiss promised the fee would never be raised.

A Wonderful Christmas Gift

For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the Second Amendment secures an individual right to keep and to bear arms. Current case law leaves open and unsettled the question of whose right is secured by the Amendment. Although we do not address the scope of the right, our examination of the original meaning of the Amendment provides extensive reasons to conclude that the Second Amendment secures an individual right, and no persuasive basis for either the collective-right or quasi-collective-right views. The text of the Amendment's operative clause, setting out a "right of the people to keep and bear Arms," is clear and is reinforced by the Constitution's structure. The Amendment's prefatory clause, properly understood, is fully consistent with this interpretation. The broader history of the Anglo-American right of individuals to have and use arms, from England's Revolution of 1688-1689 to the ratification of the Second Amendment a hundred years later, leads to the same conclusion. Finally, the first hundred years of interpretations of the Amendment, and especially the commentaries and case law in the pre-Civil War period closest to the Amendment's ratification, confirm what the text and history of the Second Amendment require.

The Volokh Conspiracy has more and you can read the full Office of Legal Counsel opinion here.

Idiots

Seems even the nation's most elite universities can admit complete and utter idiots.

In a “statement of fact” prepared by Sadler and made available to the DoG Street Journal by Doherty, two very different claims are laid forth, one by Jonathan Rhymes, who was involved in the incident, and the other by Doherty. In both versions, Doherty attended a party on Ireland Street, was involved in a fight with three other students, fled the party running from these individuals, fired a gun into the air, and left the weapon ready to fire in a trash can in the law school on South Henry Street. These three individuals are students Jonathan Rhymes, Joe Roenker, and Mike diCarlo.

It get worse. Turns out that not only was Mr. Doherty (an alleged Virginia CHL holder) at instigating fights (we don't know if he was drunk or not), but that he did so in a particularly putz sort of way.

According to the report, Rhymes claims that Doherty instigated the fight by stepping into his path at the party and pouring a cup of urine on him. Rhymes then pushed Doherty, who threw a punch and missed, but Rhymes slipped and fell to the ground. Doherty then ran away, pursued by the three students. Along the way, one or more of the students pushed Doherty into some bushes. Doherty continued to flee, and on South Henry Street pulled out a gun, aiming it at Rhymes saying, “I'll [expletive] kill you.” After Rhymes told him the gun was fake, Doherty pointed it in the air and discharged one round.

In his version, Doherty claims that at the party Rhymes and then another student stepped in between him and a female student while they were talking, declaring himself, the “man in between.” Doherty then went upstairs to use the toilet, which was stopped up. He instead urinated in a cup, taking it outside to dump it. When he saw Rhymes and two of his friends watching him as he came outside, he decided to leave and called his brother on his cell phone. As Doherty's back was turned from Rhymes while talking, Rhymes pushed his shoulder into Doherty, causing him to spill some urine on Rhymes. Rhymes began to yell and push Doherty, who was also punched several times in the face by one or more other students, breaking his nose and cutting his face. He recalls the rest of the flight as described above, but claims to not remember exactly what he said. The report also states that Doherty said he has a legal “carry permit” for his weapon, does not bring it with him when he intends to be on campus, and is well trained in the care and use of the weapon.

So in both scenarios, no matter whose account you listen to, Doherty seems to have acted in a less than cautious manner, especially considering his packed status. Of course, I don't blame him for feeling threatened when three individuals chased him around campus threatening him and while others disagree, if he thought firing a warning shot might end the conforontation without further violence, that seems acceptable to me (but he should really have maintained possession of the gun).

As for media bias (so I can get the much desired Alphecca mention) . . . the initial reports included this.

Police later found the 45-caliber handgun cocked and loaded in a trashcan. AK-47 rounds, M-16 rounds (223 caliber) and cases of numerous other calibers were found in Doherty’s car.

The information on the weapon in question is certainly relevant. However, what the heck does his possession of 7.62x39 and .223 Remington ammo have to do with anything and isn't it a little presumptious of the paper to assume the ammo is for the weapons mentioned. Did Doherty have a fully automatic AK-47 or M-16? Isn't it more likely that the ammo was for a semi-auto AK clone (like the SAAR-1) or more likely an SKS? I doubt a student owns a real M-16. AR-15 maybe, but it could also be for a bolt action varmit rifle too!

Anyway, William & Mary held a disciplinary hearing for Doherty which he refused to attend

Senior James A. Doherty did not appear at his Judicial Council hearing Tuesday evening, 7 November, at 5:00 p.m., while several students and student media who had planned to attend were turned away. Officials explained the hearing had never been an open event, and allowed media to remain just outside the hearing room on the second floor of the Campus Center

. Much more information is available here and here, including the fact that the three individuals were members of the schools varsity baseball team, and that Virginia's brandishing and discharge laws contain exemptions for self defense.

In other news . . . .

Republican odds for picking up additional Seante seats in the 2006 mid term elections increased markedly today. Congress Daily (Subscription required) is reporting that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid announced changes in the Democrat's leadership structure. Among the changes, Barbara Boxer will become the Deputy Minority Whip with Patty "Bin Laden's Really a Hero" Murrary (Al Quaeda) assuming control of the Speakers Group as assistant floor leader. The Speakers' Group is a quasi-official part of the Democratic Caucus made up of the party's more liberal members, including Sens. Edward Kennedy (Taxachusetts), Frank Lautenberg and Jon Corzine (Peoples Republic of New Jersey), Hillary "The Bitch" Rodham Clinton (The Big Red Fruit), Boxer and liberal deity, Minority Whip Richard Durbin (Daleyville). Members of the group meet on a regular basis to map out the parties floor speaking strategy and generally act as the party's standard bearers and use their floor speeches as a way to lay out the Democratic agenda.

Of course, this is going to sit real well with Jeff Bingaman (New Mexico), Kent Conrad (North Dakota), Herbert Kohl (Wisconsin), Bill Nelson (Florida), Ben Nelson (Nebraska), and Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) who now have to run for re-election on the record and public actions of these liberal loons.

Oh well, six more senate seats is just fine by me.

Mundane Blogging

Soemtimes the downright personal, lovelorn, mudane blog, can make for fascinating reading. The writing of Shannon Dawn at Everywhere I look there I am is a particlar case in point. The blogworlds missed her for the past month, but she is back today with a remarkable post on the dilema of blind dates. You should also read her posts on equal opportunity.

Not that its a comment on Shannon or anything, but Says Uncle has a completely unrelated must read post on Porn.

What is it with the blogsphere and sex these days? The election is over, readership is down, and no one has anything to say. Whats the response? A spate of porno postings.

An Important Message From Santa

I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer serve the states of Georgia, Florida, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana on Christmas Eve.

Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, my contract was renegotiated by North American Fairies and Elves Local 209. As part of the new and better contract, I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies, so keep that in mind.

However, I'm certain that you will be in good hands with your local replacement, who happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Joe Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us:


1. There is no danger of the Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba Joe Claus because he has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads, "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson."

2. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Joe Claus prefers that children leave an RC Cola and pork rinds [or a moon pie] on the fireplace. And Bubba Joe Claus doesn't smoke a pipe. He dips a little snuff though, so please have an empty spit can handy.

3. Bubba Joe Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin' coon dogs instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time, and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba Joe Claus' fireplace.

4. You won't hear, "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen" when Bubba Joe Claus arrives. Instead, you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, Stewart, Gordon, Johnson, Newman, Martin, on Elliott and Petty!"

5. "Ho, Ho, Ho!" has been replaced by "Yee Haw!" You also are likely to hear Bubba Joe Claus' elves respond, "I heer'd dat!"

6. As require d by Southern highway laws, Bubba Joe Claus' sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety triangle on the back with the words, "Back Off."

7. The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area. Instead, you'll see "Boss Hogg Saves Christmas" and "Smokey and the Bandit IV" featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Joe Claus and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other. Don't worry, "A Christmas Story" will still be shown.

8. You wont be hearing songs like jingle bells or Frosty the snow man. With Bubba Joe its more like "Sweet Home Alabama" or " Grandma got ran over by a raindeer" and "The 10 Redneck days of Christmas."

9. Finally, a warning. Bubba Joe Claus doesn't wear a belt. If I were you, I'd make sure your wife and kids turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree.


Sincerely yours,

Santa Claus

Con Law

Perhaps you don't have to take Constitutional Law to practice (or judge) in Louisiana. Surely thats that only reason the Louisiana Supreme Court would disregard the 1st amendment and punish a New Orleans judge for his choice of Halloween Costumes (free speech and freedom of religion and all of that).

Indict the Politicans

Well, I think Dimebag Darrell was probably going to die anyway. However, we can probably blame the death of the other 3 victims of the murderous rampage at the Damage Plan concert last week on the political establishment in Ohio who disarmed a concealed carry holder standing 5 feet from the gunman when he opened fire.

ll I can say is that I felt SOOO helpless in there. We have been there 5-6 times in 3 years for various events, all of which without personal protection. We are both licenced to carry concealed. I leave my firearm at home for these types of events because of the law. The 'Villa serves alcohol, so no guns. I leave it at home instead of in the car because of the crime (I'd hate to lose my 1911 to a criminal).

Well, last night it all became clear to me. WOW! I stood not 5 feet from a man that was discharging his weapon into the band members head, shoulder and abdomen, then waving and shooting into the audience. I watched as he swapped clips, then I watched as he ran behind the stage where I heard several more rounds fired. I WATCHED!!!

While its too late to change the terrible results of this legislative mistake in Ohio its not too late to prevent future tragedy's from occuring solely because of the irrational fear of guns. Please let your elected official know that they have the power to stop these senseless killings from happening.

RIP Grandma

iPods

Glenn's been discussing iPods lately. I've had mine since they first came out - I got it in May 2002 when I purchased my iMac right after my son was born.

Here are some pics of my iPod

• LaFayette, GA


• Washington, D.C.


• Fresh Air BBQ Jackson, GA


• St. Simon's Island, GA (I)


• St. Simons Island, GA (II)

Motley Fuckin' Crue

Sin is Good, Sin is Great, Sin is Back!!!!!!





Heh, they even did a Larry King Interview!

Rolling Stone has their new video If I Die Tomorrow.

Cooool. The Red, White and Crue tour is set to get underway in February.

Where is he?

Here he is.

You can find me over at Saysuncles today. Lots of interesting conversations. Lots of reasons to comment.

The Countertop continues to be lightly visited today.

Free your heels and you'll free your mind.

Bored with snowboarding? Done with downhill? You're not alone: Earlier this year, the trade group Snowsports Industries America released a study showing that sales of alpine skis and snowboards were flat nationwide. So what was hot? Fat skis, twin tips -- and telemark skis, for a once-thought-dead technique that's being revitalized across the country.

Sweet. Tele skiing in the Washington Post. Heh, it even includes info on Whitegrass

"The hardest part is getting that initial start," says Chip Chase, owner of White Grass Touring Center in Davis, W.Va. "People have an Alpine hangover. . . . But it's more of a cross-country skiing movement." Turning is initiated by genuflecting motions that dip your knees close to the snow. It looks tough on the joints but actually spares them the twist necessary to make parallel turns. The pumping up and down from one leg to the other, however, is a killer quad workout. Expect a lot of practice: Chase says that getting to the intermediate level is harder than in downhill skiing.

Go Chip Go.

If anyone in the DC area (heck, anyone nationwide) wants pointers or a free lesson from someone who used to be pretty gosh darn good at this thing before he had a kid and fell out of shape (if I do say so myself), shoot me an email and I'd be glad to take you out. Of course, that same offer also stands for anyone looking to go to the range and see what the shooting sports are all about, too.

UPDATEHere's a great video of Chip Chase telemarking. I have a longer post on telemarking here and of course be sure to check out the Whitegrass Daily Report - they've been running a very blog like homepage - the most honest assessment of ski conditions at any ski area I've ever experienced - for far longer than I've known about blogs. I should also take the opportunity to point out that one of the great Whitegrass employees also happens to be America's top Female Mountain Biker and honorably took the high ground when the U.S. Olympic Committee stole her spot in Athens and gave it to someone less deserving.

Nothing

I've got lots of thoughts on lots of subjects, but not the will or patience or time to write anything worth posting (not that a lack of anything worth posting has stopped me before).

I might post more later today or I might not.


Ok, probably not.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Light Blogging

There will be no blogging today as I am at Georgetown. Actually, throughout the winter I will be taking classes at Georgetown so blogging will stop for those events.

Suckers

I believe it was P.T. Barnum who uttered the famous words "There's a sucker born every minute."

Tonight, I saw proof.

The wife and I took the little boy to Tyson's II (also known as Tyson's Galleria or the Fancy Expensive Northern Virginia Mall, as opposed to just Tyson's Corner across the street) for a picture with Santa Clause and dinner.

On the way out, we stopped off at Neiman Marcus where I looked for some shoes and cufflinks (Christmas is coming, ya know). Well, while there we saw a Prada newsboy hat similar to this except it had the logo on the front with a houndstooth pattern.

$289

W.T.F.?????

And there were two there. And someone actually bought one.

My goodness, where do they grow these people. Don't they have any clue????

Lets Just Shoot Blogger

I know, I know.

I shouldn't complain about something they are giving out for free. Nevertheless, it gets frustrating when Blogger is still running slow and not letting me post the posts I want in the fashion I want.

My early New Years Resolution - get a new blogging software.

Anyway, things are getting pretty busy here in DC for me as the year winds down. The regulators like to slip things in when no one is looking - and these weeks leading up to Christmas are the perfect time for that. Hence, I am looking. Add to that lots of administrative crap, a plethora or holiday parties to attend, and the desire to spend some time with my family, and it leads me to face the realization that blogging is going to slow down here for the next couple of weeks.

If something big and important happens, I'll post about it.

In the meantime, read this pretty fair article from Knoxville's Metro Pulse paper: Automatics for the People. Its not too bad. Read the whole thing.