Why I read Lileks

James' post today at the Bleat is far from one of his best - and I'm not going looking right now to put up that link, you can find many FABulous writings in his archives - but this line hit me right between the eyes...so to speak:

What we see as a breathing space or a sign the worst is over is probably just the gap between swings of the two-by-four.

I better shower so I'm more awake when it comes around.

"Struck deaf by ego and narcissism..."

My title for today is taken from a comment left after this article by Jeffrey Lord at The American Spectator. Very astute. Not so sure Old Media has been struck deaf, or if it's a classic example of "none so blind as he who will not see." If I have an agenda to be advanced at any opportunity, I ignore any differing opinion, view, or evidence. Old Media are Old Hands at that game...and Mr. Lord provides examples.

The article itself is fairly long, but well-written and certainly worth the few minutes of time it takes. In it, Mr. Lord writes a letter to Tom Brokaw, detailing instances of non-reporting in Old Media and Brokaw's condescending remarks about the New Media (Talk Radio and the Internet) on a recent Meet the Press episode, where he was joined by Thomas Friedman.

Part of his smarmy line: And my line to them is you have to vet information. You have to test it the same way you do when you buy an automobile or when you go and buy a new flat-screen television. You read the Consumer Reports, you have an idea of what it's worth and what the lasting value of it is. You have to do the same thing with information because there is so much disinformation out there that it's frightening, frankly, in a free society that depends on information to make informed decisions.

Pathetic. This would be one reason I don't watch network television anymore.

Friedman's 'quote of the day' is this gem: "... the Internet is "an open sewer of untreated, unfiltered information.""

Personally, I think they sound jealous: Since ACORN has received millions of federal tax dollars over the years, and has been connected to President Obama in terms of his rise to prominence in Illinois politics, not to mention election activities while he was running for president, one would think this a major news story. Not for the Old Media. As reported by Glenn Beck a full two days after the story broke on Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com, here's the record of reports on this story:

Fox News -- 19
CNN -- 3
MSNBC -- 0
ABC -- 0
CBS - 0
NBC -- 0
New York Times -- 1 (an AP story)
Washington Post -- 1 (an AP story)

One more excerpt before I go finish the dishes: In other words, across five decades of American journalistic history, the instinct of many Old Media institutions -- specifically including NBC and the New York Times -- has been to deliberately withhold the truth. To quite deliberately use their journalism skills and tools to misrepresent those whose politics they do not favor.

This is NOT the kind of reporting I thought I was learning in high school journalism. Makes me glad I didn't pursue it as a career - I really don't like being embarrassed because I've been lumped in with liars and cheats.

Headache

I have a headache. Not that you give a rip one way or the other, but it is MY blog...gotta go get the Pixie in a few minutes, don't feel like doing much at all, so here's a fun column I can't seem to read all of...lots of good things in the sidebar there, and if you have a spare moment, think about those within short distance of wildfires. I'd rather have a headache.

Anyway, here's Lori Borgman at JewishWorldReview.com, on RELAXING - which is highly overrated, in my opinion:

Every fall I love reading essays by people who wax poetic about the melancholy they experience as they close up their summer cottages and return to the city. But now I'm wondering what it is they do all summer.

Grandpa John's: Terminological Clarification

I offer here an outrageously funny replacement for the name BarryOCare, the socialist health care plan that shows up as a topic on fairly regular occasions - and a welcome addition to my sidebar, too!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Patriotic Readers of All Ages, from Steve Burri at Grandpa John's, I give you 'The Dingell-Barry Bill.'

Maybe more later, after I wipe the tears from my eyes and clean my monitor.

*whew*

(Thanks, Paco!)

Paco Says...

The Democrats have made, I think, two fatal errors: they have come to believe their own mendacious propaganda, and they have grossly underestimated the intelligence, and the courage, of the American people.

I agree with every word.

Paco is evidence that the smartest people in the country are NOT sitting on their bums in D.C. or writing for the New York Times. I may not agree with everything he says (can't think of an example right now, though), but his positions are well-considered, well-informed, and based on fact and experience, not what it'll get him and how much power he'll wield (PacoEnterprises notwithstanding).

Read it all.

Useless time-wasters

I wandered over to Margo's Maid's Shadowlands. She posts some of the strangest stuff. In continuing on past her links, I came upon this. Now, I'm an expert at doing something so I don't have to DO something (which is the reason these blogs exist, isn't it?), but it hasn't come this far just yet. So far, I've managed to stick with cooking and blogging to waste my time - and yours!

Go see Paco...you won't regret it

Paco has picked up many of Tim Blair's commenters, and this post shows a couple of 'em in top form! They are SO creative and quick, I am in awe.

NOTE: Do NOT drink coffee or other beverages while reading the linked post.

What NOT to wear...er...so to speak

Via Paco and Something and Half of Something: A life of crime might be more difficult if you have obvious distinguishing marks. Lotta criminals seem to be lacking in the area of common sense, don't they? "Floridiot" is a GREAT word, but I don't believe the condition is exclusive to the Sunshine State.

Among other oddities in the land of non-compliance - postings from News of the Weird:

In May, police in Winder, Ga. (pop. 10,200), arrested a marijuana seller with a quite-low-tech delivery system. A wireless doorbell was hidden on a tree in woods alongside a house, and when the buzzer sounded, a bucket was lowered from a second-story window. The buyer put money in, the bucket was raised, and the dope would be sent back down. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution-AP, 5-29-09]

The St. Paul Pioneer-Press, located in America's ground zero for "New Age," reported the growing discontent of establishment New-Agers for fringe New-Agers. Who belongs? Pagans? Chiropractors? Channelers? Organic farmers? Pet psychics? One NA spiritual center owner: "I have customers who completely believe in fairies [but] will laugh at you if you believe in Bigfoot." (But we're told that "fairies" is not politically correct; it's "nature divas.") [NOTE: I'm told that the reporter probably heard "Nature Deva" and not "nature diva."] On the other hand, at least New-Agers don't have the baggage of believing in virgin birth, turning water into wine, and rising from the dead (much less celebrating it with bunny rabbits). Pioneer Press

[In America, you're presumed innocent . . . until the mug shot is released]
Don't know who this is, or what he's charged with, but he might possibly need to be locked up somewhere. TheSmokingGun.com

Found this in the Billings Gazette online edition:

They are NOT pets! They are not "gentle giants." Even if they're wandering through YOUR camping area! What part of "wild animal" do you not understand?
California man gored by bull bison.

And, from my home town, some pictures of the high point of the summer: Rodeo!

Great Northern Fair has something for everyone.

Busy rest of the day, late night tonight, thanks for stopping by!

Hey, Kae! Anything we can do to help?

I love Best of the Web Today from OpinionJournal.com. It was the people - the community of commenters, many of whom started blogging on their own and which I refer to fondly as Blair Nation - at Tim Blair's blog years ago that eventually set me on the path to blogging for myself.

When I saw this at BotWT, I got a bit anxious, not knowing the geographical details Down Under...so, Kae, what's the good word?

Massive quake moves New Zealand closer to Australia!

No more picture

I had a picture posted here that I received in my email - had to do with our upcoming descent into GMC (Government Medical Care). It was FUNNY. Posted quite nice, excellent likeness. But when I came back, picture was replaced by the numerical designation. When checked Google, the only reference was this blog, so I've taken it down till I can get a better copy or till something as funny comes along...though that ain't gonna be easy!

Changing and washing sheets, cleaning the bathroom, and cleaning up wet spots left by a cute lil blond Pixie has been my day so far. My Chief's taking his CDL test today, no idea when he'll be home, so I may have a Coke and something to eat while the Pixie naps, instead of doing up the dishes like I should. Sinus headache is hanging on, it's near 2 weeks now. Bleh.

Thanks for stopping by, y'all have a fine day from here on out, eh?

PS - the Pixie's Great Uncle's initials are GMC, but we don't hold that against him.

I got nuthin'

It's Thursday after the book study I attend and I'm pretty tired, but I have a request. If you read one of my posts, would you please attempt a comment? I got word it was impossible for some people to add a comment, and though I do write mostly for me, I'd LOVE some feedback. I reconfigured the comment thingy, it's now a pop-up instead of embedded, so I need you to add a little note to see if it's working. If the durn thing still won't work, shoot me an email so I know, ok? Thanks for your consideration and your continued reading!

One other thing - if you post anonymously because you can't or don't want to sign in to whatever your choices may be, please sign your comment so I can tell who you are. Not as quick at deciphering as I used to be, y'know.

Busy! Linkages to fill the time.

Here are some links to some things I found interesting, as I'll be mostly offline till we conclude the business with the computer. I don't even have cutesy amusing little remarks to go with 'em, just the link and maybe a line from the story. You understand, my brain doesn't always work real well first time around...and you don't need my commentary, anyway, do you? If you want good commentary, go visit Paco Enterprises or the Grouchy Conservative Pundits - they always have a point of view or one of the commenter's got a point of view that'll either amuse you or piss you off. And that's a GOOD thing. Y'all have a fine day, y'hear? Thanks for stopping by!

Bert Prelutsky -
The question that’s been preying on my mind is who is best suited to study those strange beings known as liberals. It strikes me that they’d be fit subjects for psychiatrists, who might be in a position to figure out why they revere the people they do -- people such as Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Al Gore and Ted Kennedy -- men who haven’t a single notable accomplishment to their name, aside from either winning elections or eliminating them altogether.

Cal Thomas -

Before buying a car, a shopper might be expected to ask people who own the same brand how they like theirs, or at least consult Consumer Reports. Before we buy the biggest transformation of health care in history and its consequences, shouldn't we first look at countries where government makes most health care decisions to see how things are working for them?

Larry Elder -

President Obama and the Democratic Party's congressional supermajority represent nothing less than a grave and gathering threat to that which made America great — free enterprise, competition, allowing people to keep as much of their own money as possible, and the assumption that people know better how and on what to spend their money than does government.

Bob Tyrrell -

With the government suddenly looming so large in the life of every American, it is time for us to consider what is a singularly American possession: individual liberty. The Founding Fathers created a government that was uniquely solicitous about individual liberty. With the federal government so deeply involved in our health care, our banking, our manufacturing and the many targets of its $787 billion stimulus program, it is time to think about your liberty vis-a-vis the government bureaucrats who are about to minister to you.

Jonah Goldberg -

In July of 2007, Obama said that he would order U.S. forces out of Iraq as quickly as possible, even if he knew it would lead to an Iraqi genocide. This makes Obama the first president in modern memory to have suggested that causing a genocide would be in America's national interest.

Karma

A few years back, My Chief (retired) bought a copy of Windows, while deployed for Uncle Sam's Yacht Club and Flying Circus, for ten bucks. It has served us well, and Gates never seemed to miss the money we weren't sending him. However, the time has come when more of some certain things are needed on the computer, and nothing can be loaded without a Windows update...which we can't get, because it's a pirate. Tomorrow, my loving husband is going out to buy us a 'new' computer with a registerable and updatable operating system. Won't that be nice???

Posting and reading and commenting may, once again - for a different reason - be spotty at best and severely delayed at worst. I'll still be checking in now and again, but this'll mean I can concentrate on hanging out with the Pixie, so it's certainly not a BAD thing. She is a lot of fun, and cuter'n Hell, too.

Have a FABulous day..or two!

Did I mention I really like this guy?

And not just his cute self, of course, I like the way his mind works. Now, Stossel has his own blog, and I may be able to tear myself away from it for normal human interaction...in a couple hours.

I've also been to check out Grouchy Conservative Pundits - even though I'm only marginally conservative, I like they way those folks write. One of the Global Moderators is our friend SwampWoman, and one of the newbie registrants is an old buddy of mine from SoCal. Wow!

My blogroll continues to grow...
UPDATE! Another new one! On Paco's recommendation, go say howdy to Dan Collins at Piece of Work In Progress.

Here in NEFL, it's Hot as Hell with the blowers on, as my dad used to say - even at 8pm it was nearly +100F. Blech. Not sure when to expect relief - but hope it's in time for my birthday! Lovely Daughter, Handsome Son-in-law and BEEootiful Pixie came over to have Father's Day burgers & dogs with Daddy/ Grandpa. I let the other grownups do the outdoor part, I stayed inside with the Pixie and we arranged pickles, beans, and other assorted condiments in the comfort of the air conditioning. Oh, and we watched some Tigger & Pooh, while we waited for the ball game to come on. As the terrible writers at my school paper used to say, MUCH too often, "A good time was had by all." Pfft.

One more load of laundry to fold, then I'm off to bed. Thanks for stopping by!

WHAT was she thinking?

Track-A-Crat has a picture that is worth much more than a thousand words. If you want to know what kind of people take and spend your hard-earned dollars, get a load of the broad who's First Lady of the United States.

This is so embarrassing...when my daughter was 2, she had more fashion sense! She was always kinda advanced that way. Granddaughter is 20 months, she might find this 'pretty' - she has the excuse of her youth and inexperience!

What a classless, clueless bunch.

(shudder)

Internet and phone were down for a major portion of the afternoon and early evening. I'm almost sorry they came back!

But thanks, Track-A-Crat and Paco - now, if y'all will excuse me, I think I'll go bleach my eyes.

Fisk Friday?

Saint takes apart BarryO's oh-isn't-Islam-grand speech, with a link to a spectacular fisking of said speech.

Paco has a link to a great post on the LACK of respect for the Rule of Law by our esteemed (cough) Present Administration.

Three Beers Later lists some things BarryO declined to include in his speech in Egypt. You know, other contributions the followers of Mohammed have made to "civilisation."

More comment on that speech by The Other McCain.

Some great things to read today, a break in the rain for awhile, gotta shower and get moving to pick up my Pixie, so may be back later and thanks for stopping by!

UPDATE: Love the cartoon posted by Lemuel at Hillbilly White Trash, too. I must be in a snarky mood today. Fatigue does that to me...

UPDATE2: This has been at Tim Blair's for a day or so - hey, I'm slow, so sue me - and it is PRICELESS! The comments are well worth your time, too. What would give YOU better value than this 6-pack/ $15???

Thank Goodness it's Thursday's Round-up...

...because I'm about as tired as they come. And I had an easy day yesterday! Emotional, but easy. Hubby worked a good shift yesterday, then filled in for another driver when there was an accident while they waited for the replacement, and his bus broke down. He spent HOURS, sitting in the bus, twiddling his thumbs, being hot and damp (that bus leaks), waiting on a tow or at least a ride back to the yard. When I left for a meeting, he wasn't home, and by the time I got home around 7:30, he was sound asleep in bed. Fifteen hour days will do that to ya, especially when 6pm is your regular bedtime.

Tow trucks were at a premium all day - and likely today, too - because when it rains in Florida, idiot drivers seem to just pour out of the sky. You'd think it was SNOW, these people get so stupid!

I've added a link to Thomas Sowell's 3-part (so far) column in an update to Tuesday's post, if you want to access it from there. Excellent reading.

Paco has graced us with his own take on BarryO's "foreign" policy - a 'must-read."

I don't know how old Junior is, but Boy On A Bike, Senior and Mrs. BoaB are teaching him some valuable lessons.

And last, but not least, El Campeador has video about my favorite Supreme Court Justice, who happens to be a very cool guy. Anyone who flings the "out-of-touch-with-America" blather about this man is just plain full of it. And maybe a little out of touch themselves? No, I'm not linking to that, you can find it, I know you can...if you want to read such drivel.

I think I'll have a bit of breakfast before the Pixie gets here, so y'all have a FINE day and thanks for stopping by!

Busy Monday

We're pretty busy here at Pixie Place, with the little blond one keeping Grandma on her toes and out of this chair. In the meantime, bereft as I'm sure you are with the lack of MY OPINION, here's Mark Steyn, Mitch Albom, Michael Barone. Also, an article which is, according to the sub-head - "must reading for those concerned with confronting contemporary evil and its perpetrators" written by Rabbi Yitzchok Alderstein. I found all these columns at JewishWorldReview.com but you know that's not their only source.

Enjoy! And thanks for stopping by!

I think he said it quite well enough...

AFGANISTANSHRUGGED has a new post with a rave review of the women who keep the candle in the window, to light the way Home. Got a spiffy t-shirt, too, with $5 from each sale going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Take a look.

One of these days I'll repeat here what my "Navy Wife, Retired" certificate has to say about my role in my husband's Navy career. Hubby wrote just about everything the Skipper said that day, and I was properly impressed at what they said about me...though their viewpoints are obviously skewed some.

Leader of Team Vampire says it pretty well himself.

BlogBirth Days!

Margo's Maid's Shadowlands' BlogBirthDay was earlier this week. Kae's Bloodnut Blog has been giving us the benefit of her red-headed wit and wisdom since a year ago today (or tomorrow, depending on which time zone you're in). Paco Enterprises is hosting a bash Memorial Day for Paco's anniversary day.

I am honored to be among them.