This Thread is Ajar

by Eric Martin

Something for the non-sequiturs in your lives.

Play nice or Gary will laser beam your a@@.  And we're not talking hair removal, people. 

In honor of tomorrow's match, my own non-sequitur: Real Madrid or Barcelona?

Comments

[xanax]

¿spɹɐʍʞɔɐq puɐ uʍop əpısdn sʇuəɯɯoɔ ʇsod plnoɔ əʍ ɟı unɟ əq ʇı ʇ,uplnoʍ

[Eric Martin]

that made me puke. Granted, I'm wicked hung over, but still. Mean of you xanax.

[Eric Martin]

That's weird. This open thread post double posted.

Ah the wonders of typepad.

[Jesurgislac]

Which is the real open thread?

[cleek]

it's hard to stomach the gore

[Eric Martin]

I dunno, I guess they're both real. But this one is realer.

[OCSteve]

Real is so relative dude.

[mkd]

Death to Franco!

[Bernard Yomtov]

Eric,

You mean it's not a thread?

[Bernard Yomtov]

cleek,

Nothing personal, but that's one of the worst songs I've ever heard, not to mention one of the worst singers.

[Josh]

Real Madrid or Barcelona?

Barcelona. What are you, fascist?

[OCSteve]

I’m a happy camper. My sis beat NHL. Well, for now anyway. Her last PET scan was clean as a whistle.

Prognosis was real bad, as she has a transplanted kidney. Chemo would tend to kill the kidney. Most of the family wrote her off 6 months ago. But a great great group of doctors saved her life. It was a serious balancing act to treat the cancer aggressively while not losing the kidney. They did it. A clean PET scan and a healthy kidney. Hell, the chemo seemed to just piss off the kidney. It got mean.

So, why am I in favor of national healthcare?

-Years of dialysis and expensive drugs.
-Kidney transplant.
-Years of expensive immune-suppressant drugs.
-Many many expensive tests.
-A whole team of excellent docs.
-Rituxan treatment.
-Really expensive highly tweaked and monitored chemo.
-Many more expensive tests.

Cost of all that? $0

Spending xmas with my bald-headed sister and giving her crap about being bald? Priceless…

[Eric Martin]

Real is so relative dude.

Now you're talking like a dirty f*&king hippie.

it's hard to stomach the gore

Saw d jr in 1991 at the Ritz I believe. Back when there was a Ritz.

You mean it's not a thread?

This thread is all things to all people.

Barcelona. What are you, fascist?

According to Jonah.

[Eric Martin]

OCSteve: Awesomer than mountains of 24 Karat Awesome.

[Equal Opportunity Cynic]

¡Hala Madrid!

And Googling "spɹɐʍʞɔɐq puɐ uʍop əpısdn" finds three hits, but this thread is already the top one! Good job on the SEO.

[xanax]

Bravo EOC. You know upside down and backwards it's almost CEO. A good thing...? You decide.

[JanieM]

Steve -- great about your sister.

!!

[OCSteve]

Thanks Eric. I think so too.

[john miller]

Steve, that is great news. A very special Christmas for you and yours this year.

[dr ngo]

Barcelona.

If you'd ever been there, you'd know why.

If you'd ever been to Madrid, you'd know why.

(Especially if you first went to both/either back in Franco's day.)

!Viva Catalunya!

[byrningman]

Barca is superior is a moral and footballing sense at the moment, but really, spanish footie is for posers.

[Jay C]

@ OCSteve:

Great news about your sister: sounds like her case was a tough one even by the usual tough standards. Good health!

Although the next time you post something like this, you might want to be a little clearer for the lumpen: I read your first line

"My sis beat NHL"

and kept wondering where the hockey connection would come in....

[Ugh]

A Friday afternoon in December:

4:55pm

Boss: There's an emergency. Can you meet in Boss's Boss office in 5 minutes?

Me: Sure.

5 minutes later, Boss's Boss office

Boss's Boss: I need five more minutes come back then.

5 minutes later, Boss's Boss office

Boss's Boss: I'm still not ready, but you can wait here.

30 minutes later

Boss: We don't have to discuss this now, how about Monday?

Me: *Yay*

Boss's Boss: Why don't you just give me the gist of it.

Me: *Fnck*

Boss: *15 Minute explanation, followed by* And there's a 10pm Monday conference call.

Me: *Yay, no working weekend*

2 hours later via email

Boss: Conference call has been changed to 7am Monday, need you to work the weekend.

Me: FRACK!!

[John Thullen]

Wonderful, Steve!

[von]

First, wonderful news OCSteve.

Second, Barcelona.

Third, what kind of person steals a mousepad but leaves the mouse (and computer) behind? I dunno, but the cops have his/her fingerprints so hopefully we'll find out.

Had a little burglary this week: in addition to said mousepad, they got a plasma tv (this is how I know it was a they -- that sucker was heavy), almost all of my 14-day-old daughters clothes, diapers, the keyboard to my wife's computer (to go with my mousepad, presumably), an XBox 360, a Wii, and my 3-year old son's can't-go-to-sleep-without blanket (we'll call my son Linus). Overlooked were jewelry and a Meade 12" Schmidt-Cassegrin, as well as most of our other stuff.

[Nell]

I'm whipsawed -- up with glowing happiness for Steve and his sister, then down with dismay at of thieves who'd steal an infant's clothes, and a toddler's blankey. Von, I'm so sorry, and hope those fingerprints help catch the culprits.

Steve, that's just wonderful, wonderful news. (I too was initally thrown by the opening line; before reading further, I had the impulse to respond, "Small world; the NHL beat my brother-in-law." He's the GM of the bottom-of-the-league Atlanta Thrashers.)

[J. Michael Neal]

Nell Waddell?

Good news, Steve.

[Jay C]

@ von:

Bummer about the burglary: not only does crime not pay, it doesn't even always make sense!

Oh, and unless you've posted about it, and it's been missed - congratulations on the arrival of the new vonette. Hope she's not too cold sans threads....

[hilzoy]

OCSteve: that's wonderful. And von: jeez, who would do that?

And congrats on the new daughter. ;)

[OCSteve]

Thanks all.

NHL = Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Although I feel at times she could take on the National Hockey League as well… She is one tough cookie.

I’ve been so immersed in medical acronyms lately I lost track of the fact that 3 letters might mean something else… ;)

Jeeze Von – that sucks.

[von]

up with glowing happiness for Steve and his sister, then down with dismay at of thieves who'd steal an infant's clothes, and a toddler's blankey.

I would find it a lot easier to get a good hate on if they had stuck with the big-ticket items. Folks stealing diapers and baby clothing are a little too Zola for a satisfying revenge fantasy.

Anyhoo, I just needed to vent, and shouldn't have stepped on Steve's good news.

[cleek]

but that's one of the worst songs I've ever heard, not to mention one of the worst singers.

oh, i'm sure we could find worse.

[cleek]

Conference call has been changed to 7am Monday

Me: *hmmm... www.monster.com...*

[Bernard Yomtov]

oh, i'm sure we could find worse.

Probably, but I'll leave the hunt to you. :-)

[Randy Paul]

Visca el Blau i Grana! Visca el Barça! I guess you figured that out already, Eric . . .

I had the pleasure of seeing a game at the Camp Nou in November 2000. Notwithstanding the fact that they lost to Villarreal, I've been a culer ever since.

With Barcelona possessing a plus 35 goal differential after only fourteen games, Real has their work cut out for him.

OCSteve: great news! Christmas will indeed be special this year. May you have many, many more.

Von, my condolences. I had my apartment broken into once. The little jackass didn't realize I was there and I caught him and held him until the police arrived. I'm still a liberal, btw.

[J. Michael Neal]

NHL = Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Yeah, I've got a cat going through it. First appointment with the oncologist Monday morning.

[dr ngo]

FWIW, my wife also was diagnosed with NHL this year, also went through chemo and radiation, and is also recovering. Slowly.

We're happy with the eventual outcome, but it did knock a good deal of 2008 out of our lives.

[asterisk]

Good-bye, Mr. Anderson.

[JakeB]

OCSteve: glad to hear your good news.

My brother and I went to see MacHomer tonight; most delightful was the gratuitous encore, a live rendition of this, with some excellent changes like s/Robbie Robertson/Tom Waits/.

And I'm darn glad that this week that combined 50+ hours of work with two final exams is now over, leaving me with nothing to do but exult in my directionless weekend.

[cleek]

my wife is an NHL survivor, as well.

and therefore, the specter of "pre-existing condition" haunts us. should we ever lose employer-based health care for even an hour, it'll be very hard to get affordable insurance in the individual market.

[Bob W.]

Hey, Obsidian Blogging team and commenters,

I found your blog a few weeks ago, and I wanted to say kudos for a great blog. I often disagree with your points of view, but you argue your points well, and the commentocracy generally refrains from lame conspiracy talk (which on both the left and right is getting OOOOLD!)and contributes to the discussion.

Keep up the good work, and have a great weekend!

Bob W

[john miller]

I already said what I wanted to say to Steve. von, that sucks big time, but I also echo hilzoy's congrats on the new addition. j. Michael, good luck with your cat.

And I am now going to make a criticism of the site. It has been said before and will undoubtedly be said again, but the No Bailout thread really emphasizes how the new 50 comment layout to a page sucks big time. To read the latest comments I have to keep scrolling down and hitting next. It is a real pain.

I know this is just repeating gripes already mentioned, but just perhaps it will reach the point of being the straw that broke the camels back.

[russell]

Hey OC, that's great news. Dr ngo, sorry to hear your wife was ill, but very happy to hear she's on the mend.

Congratulations on newbie, von! Who needs plasma TVs with a two-week-old around?

And cleek, I'll see your Dinosaur Jr and raise you an Of Montreal.

Thanks -

[Barrett Wolf]

Zoe: "You sanguine about the kind of reception we're apt to receive on an Alliance ship, Cap'n?"

Mal: "Absolutely." (beat) "What's 'sanguine' mean?"

Zoe: " 'Sanguine'. Hopeful. Plus -- point of interest -- it also means 'bloody'."

Mal: "Well, that pretty much covers all the options, don't it?"

[bedtimeforbonzo]

OC, great news. Good luck, dr. ngo. And I hope john's cat makes it. Welcome, Bob W.

J. Michael Neal: Linking onto your blog, I see you are a baseball fan. What do you think of the Phillies acquisition yesterday of Raul Ibanez to replace Pat Burrell? I know he's a good hitter, so I'm fine with it -- although having another left-handed bat in the middle of the order could make us vulnerable.

P.S. With no apologies to Yankee fans, I really hate the way they try to buy a pennant. Glad it keeps failing.

[cleek]

I'll see your Dinosaur Jr and raise you an Of Montreal.

that video is hilarious.

here's one of my recent favs.

Bernard, this one's for you.

[Eric Martin]

To read the latest comments I have to keep scrolling down and hitting next. It is a real pain.

AFAICT, hilzoy and others put in complaints to typepad and thus far no progress.

If I was even mildly tech-enabled, I'd give fixing it/chaning the format a whack.

Von: Sorry to hear that, and happy to hear that. In the applicable order.

Congratulations!

[cleek]

the new 50 comment layout to a page sucks big time.

it really does. i find myself giving up on threads once they start getting longer than a page or two just - especially if the connection is slower than usual.

[BP in MN]

@bedtimeforbonzo:

That signing is going to look really bad a year or two from now. Ibañez really needs to be in the DH league, as his defense already sucks and is unlikely to get better. Check out the links about halfway down http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/ibanez_phillies_agrees_to_deal/>this thread for some examples.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Oh, my.

BP: I practically fell off my seat laughing at that display of miscues. Being a National League guy, I had no idea this guy was that bad. Makes Burrell look like a Gold Glover.

[Peter]

I'm a Red Sox fan, so I can't really get angry at the Yankees for spending a lot of money. But I am glad they just signed Carl Pavano 2.0 and a 325 lb. Pitcher for 7 years.

Sabathia is gonna be really good for probably the first few years, but after that? we'll see.

[J. Michael Neal]

J. Michael Neal: Linking onto your blog, I see you are a baseball fan. What do you think of the Phillies acquisition yesterday of Raul Ibanez to replace Pat Burrell? I know he's a good hitter, so I'm fine with it -- although having another left-handed bat in the middle of the order could make us vulnerable.

It's a horrible signing. Ibanez is, at best, as good as Pat Burrell. Their hitting the last three years has been about even, and they are both so bad defensively that it's hard to measure. Ibanez is also six years older, and thus six years more likely to decline at any time.

To truly understand how bad this signing is, though, you have to understand the rules for arbitration and draft compensation. Both Ibanez and Burrell are Type A free agents. Therefore, if their previous team offers them arbitration, they get the sgining team's first round (or second round, depending upon where the signing team is in the draft order), and a bonus pick between the first and second rounds.

The Phillies declined to offer Burrell arbitration, so they don't get any compensation when he signs with someone else. The Mariners did offer Ibanez arbitration. Therefore, the Phillies lost their first round pick by signing him.

Not offering Burrell arbitration was a dumb, dumb decision. The team's fear was that he'd accept, and they'd owe him $15 million for next season. I understand the logic, even if I don't agree with it. That's particularly true since Burrell had pretty clearly indicated that he wouldn't accept.

Where it becomes really dumb is signing Ibanez. I would much rather have Burrell for one season at $15 million than Ibanez for three at $10 million each. They'd be in much better shape if they had Burrell, and got to make the same choice again next year. If Burrell falls off a cliff, you don't owe him the money.

That's before taking the draft picks into consideration. Amaro screwed this one up badly.

[Bernard Yomtov]

The Montreal video was weird enough to be funny, but the other two were pretty bad. I'd still rate the dinosaur thing as the worst, though.

You want music worth watching? Try this

or this.

I'm an old guy.

[Bernard Yomtov]

Sabathia is gonna be really good for probably the first few years, but after that? we'll see.

Free-agent pitchers have a pretty bad history. They seem to do well, sometimes, for a year or two and then decline. This goes back even to Catfish Hunter, the very first big money free agent pitcher (at $1 million total for four years, IIRC).

Is this reflected in the salaries?

[Peter]

Sabathia's contract seems to reflect a belief he will get better with age. Effectively, the Yankees signed him for 3 years, and then Sabathia has a 4 year $100 million dollar opt out clause. Basically, he can decide whether he wants to stay or not.

For the Yankees, they have to hope he won't decline, cause then they're almost guaranteed to be on the hook.

Burnett's contract seems to be a straightforward guaranteed contract for 5 years. I'm not sure if details of the contract have been released yet though.

[J. Michael Neal]

Free-agent pitchers have a pretty bad history. They seem to do well, sometimes, for a year or two and then decline. This goes back even to Catfish Hunter, the very first big money free agent pitcher (at $1 million total for four years, IIRC).

This is true. Pitchers are more likely to get injured than hitters are, so signing them for more than three years is generally not a good idea. However, it's very rare for a pitcher as good as Sabathia to hit the market; you might have to go back to Mussina to find one. The Yankees are also going to open up an ATM new stadium in April, so they have the money. I would not be at all surprised if they also land Texeiera and Sheets.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

"The Yankees are also going to open up an ATM new stadium in April, so they have the money. I would not be at all surprised if they also land Texeiera and Sheets."

The Yankees ALWAYS have the money.

Sure, the Red Sox spend it. But the Yanks seem to be obsessed with having an All-Star at every position, and that never seems to work.

They have gotten away from building on their homegrown nucleus the way they did under Joe Torre, then add a player like Paul O'Neill, who was the heart and soul of their World Series winners along with Derek Jeter.

Even after signing Sabathia and Burnett, they have plenty of holes in the everyday lineup -- needing a first baseman and a good-hitting outfielder.

After getting the skinny here on Ibanez, I have lost my enthusiasm for that acquisition and wonder if the Phillies did their homework.

Burrell was always underappreciated. You could count on him for 30 homers, 90 runs batted in, and, defensively, he actually got everything his limited range would allow -- no big deal since we tend to have great center fielders. Plus, Burrell is controversy-free and team-first.

I grew up in the Seventies watching the Phillies meld a Boone-Bowa-Schmidt-Luzinski nucleus when the idea was to keep your good homegrown guys as long as possible.

It's a shame to me that the Indians weren't able to keep Sabathia and then neither were the Brewers -- as if the small-market teams are extensions of the minor leagues for Boston and New York.

Hopefully, Tampa Bay will continue to defy the odds.

P.S. JMN -- I tried to comment on your blog but my password came up as invalid, so I came here. As you may notice, the Phillies' resurgence the past two years has rekindled my interest in baseball . . . For the football fans here, tomorrow is a great day for divisional matchups: Pittsurgh-Baltimore at 4 (which could be a bloddy mess) and Giants-Dallas at 8 (which should decide the Cowboys' season.) Without knowing the early games, it's a good day to go out and get the tree.

[dj]

To put in a good word for Ibanez, he is said to be a great guy, one of the nicest in baseball. Always plays 100%. Along with Ichiro, he's been the face of the Mariners franchise for the past few years.

Plus he can hit. (Though as btfb noted, another lefty batter is the last thing the Phillies need.)

The big downsides are fielding and age. I'd take the last 3 years of Ibanez over the last 3 years of Burrell, but the guy is going to be 37 next year.

Bottom line, if Ibanez keeps playing at his current level, he'll be worth the money. I wouldn't bet on it, but stranger things have happened.

[J. Michael Neal]

Bottom line, if Ibanez keeps playing at his current level, he'll be worth the money. I wouldn't bet on it, but stranger things have happened.

I don't think Ibanez will be worth the money, but that isn't the real problem. It's the opportunity costs that the Phillies paid along the way that's the problem.

[J. Michael Neal]

P.S. JMN -- I tried to comment on your blog but my password came up as invalid, so I came here.

I thought I had that turned off. The c_mm_t sp_m finds its way through.

By the way, using the phrase "c_mm_t sp_m" causes TypePad to refuse to post, because its flagged as c_mm_t sp_m.

[Bob W.]

While you are all waiting for another brilliant post here at the wings, why don't you take a detour over http://acreofindependence.com/2008/12/13/electric-cars-in-america-can-we-do-it/>here to learn a little about the potential for an electric car economy/Obama Admin infrastructure investment crossover.

Cheers, and good night.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Bob: Clicked on to your link and saw the Barney Frank headline. Frank is a little like my guy from Delaware, Joe Biden -- sometimes he needs to think before he speaks. Using the "welfare" language only hurt his own cause.

BTW, I guess many here know that Clinton loyalist Anne Lewis is Frank's sister. Imagine the heavy conversations at the kitchen table when those two were growing up.

On a very light note, my wife, son and I were just watching the second Garfield movie, hardly a classic. Still, what makes a talking cat -- or a talking animal, period (remember Mr. Ed?) -- so damn funny?

[bedtimeforbonzo]

One final light note before I sign off:

Has anyone else seen the Jennifer Aniston photos in GQ? Very saucy. She may be the best-looking 40-something on the planet.

Only in America can you look that great, make that much money, have that John Mayer guy as your boyfriend, and be painted as a victim.

That wicked Angelina Jolie.

[d'd'd'dave]

Off Topic:

I've been watching the Fed's actions for the last couple of months with some curiosity. They've been pumping out alot of money without seeming to balance it on the other side with borrowing by the treasury. The treasury has issued far fewer dollars in notes than the fed has pumped out to banks and others.

Then there is the current story about the fed refusing to disclose who they've lent $2 trillion to. And the odd condition of treasury note interest rates being inverted last week in the face of reckless spending by the treasury.

I ran across this article with what appears to be a reasonable guesstimate of where the fed money has gone. I offer it up with a grain of skepticism. The writer of the article is a gold investor (and they can be a bit...er...focused sometimes.) Ignore the first 5 paragraphs and the gold investing advice at the end.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/109210-the-manipulation-of-gold-prices?source=article_sb_popular

Is this merely to keep the banks from being in technical default? Perhaps it is just an effort to hold off deflation. Or maybe it really is a place to park money ahead of an overnight devaluation of the dollar.

I'd be glad to hear opinions as it is over my head.

[Randinho]

Barça 2-0 nothing over Real Madrid on two late goals. Exciting stuff!

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Post from commenter MaryK at "Crooks and Liars" made me laugh:

WHAT PETS WRITE IN THEIR DIARIES
Excerpts from a Dog's Diary......

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary...

Day 983 of my captivity...

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed
hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I
nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt
to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet.
I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly
demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I
could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my
confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this
means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this
again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.
The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and
seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with
the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My
captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so
he is safe. For now ...

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Jes: Among other things, this does not send a good message for gay rights.

[Bernard Yomtov]

btfb,

Great. Hilarious. Thanks.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Merry Christmas!

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Jes: Hope you saw what was on that CNN link on the 17th -- didn't realize the link itself would change every day and, honestly, a week later, I don't remember what it was. I think Lunesta is destroying my brain cells.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Bernard: I have no idea MaryK is, but I think her "What Pets Write in Their Diaries" is as spot-on about the general difference between dogs and cats as anything I've ever seen with her repetitive "My Favorite Thing!" exclamations(yes, it's so easy to make man's best friend happy).

And her cat thoughts are just plain funny: "My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects . . . they merely made
condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards . . . I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released -- and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded."

Sorry, guys, but two days before Christmas and I am stuck at work with two other guys and not a thing to do.

Guess I could use a lighthearted thread:)

[bedtimeforbonzo]

No need of a bailout here.

I think the Yankees have more money than the U.S. Treasury.

Obscene.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Bah-humbug!

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Another reason to love Rachel Maddow.

[Gary Farber]

Probably you meant to link to this post.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Another example of why you are an editor extraordinaire, Mr. Farber.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Holed up in the office all day, I had no idea this had caused such a stir until I just caught the 10 o'clock news on CNN.

Give me a break.

Methinks beer-bellied editors are jealous that ol' Barrack looks so good.

What's the man supposed to do -- swim fully clothed?

[Gary Farber]

"What's the man supposed to do -- swim fully clothed?"

One of Memeorandum's linked headlines early today was this, with the header "Topless Obama doesn’t captivate the Russians."

To my vast disappointment, the actual linked story wasn't to the effect that the Russian government or people thought Putin had a better body, or quotes about Obama being puny, but instead was a mundane news story about the world situation not improving in their view because of the new president.

I was hoping Putin was going to challenge Obama to a swim-off, or a judo bout, or a game of one-on-one basketball, winner take all.

I mean, really, winner taking all.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Russian military official quoted in Gary's link: "If anyone thinks that the world situation will get better because a new administration will enter the White House, then he is sadly mistaken.”

I think the Russians are in the minority about this globally -- strange reaction from a country that grew to really dislike Bush 43 -- and it says something about their obsession over military might.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

G: That would be some showdown -- given that Russians like their leaders to look like this and this -- a pay-per-view event whose funds could go to their respective countries' bailouts.

No wonder Russians, my wife and mother-in-law included, love this guy. I love the music:)

[bedtimeforbonzo]

December 24 -- Christmas Eve has found us.

Moved my an appropriately mushy thread over at "Taking It Outside," I hope everyone at ObWi can be . . . well, my friend Perry can say it better than I.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

December 24 -- Christmas Eve has found us.

Moved my an appropriately mushy thread over at "Taking It Outside," I hope everyone at ObWi can be . . . well, my friend Perry can say it better than I.