Damn

Damn. Nobody has left a single comment in over a week. I know this little blog isn't all that interesting, but I do wish somebody would say something.

The McCain-Hayworth Debate

I didn't actually watch it, as I'm trying to maintain my mental health, but reading that McCain And Hayworth Pound Each Other At First Debate wasn't surprising. This race is an "ugly" contest, with each trying to be the ugliest in show:

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had his first debate tonight with his challengers, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth and conservative activist Jim Deakin, hosted by 3TV in Phoenix.

And one thing was made very clear, as if we didn't know it already: McCain and Hayworth really don't like each other, and they're not trying to hide it as they head toward the August 24 Republican primary.

"Congressman Hayworth is a pretty persuasive fellow," McCain said early on. "After he was voted out by his constituents he became a lobbyist, and after that a talk show host, and after that an infomercial late night star." Hayworth was first elected to the House in the Republican wave of 1994, and went on to lose re-election after six terms in the Democratic wave of 2006.

"John claims he's a Ronald Reagan Republican, and right out of the gate he's violating the 11th Commandment," Hayworth responded a short while later. (Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment was, "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican.") "Now I will admit I made a mistake making that informercial, but I'm willing to admit my mistakes." By contrast, said Hayworth, McCain isn't admitting his mistakes in voting against the Bush tax cuts, and in having supported amnesty for illegal immigrants.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/mccain-and-hayworth-pound-each-other-at-first-debate.php

Sadly, this is Arizona, so whichever wins the repub primary will win the senate seat. And as much as I hate St. Sleazy McCain, J.D. "dumber than an eggplant" Hayworth would be even worse. Hayworth embodies all the most hateful traits of the current republican party.

And regardless of who wins, we'll continue to have the embarrassment of Jon Kyl. Damn.

Because I Can

Here's a gallery of Hairy Grotesques for you.

Saddest News of the Day

Lab tests cast doubt on olive oil's virginity.

Yup, even the Olive Oil is screwed.

Sunny Summer Boobies

Is there a better way to spend a sunny summer Friday than looking at Boobies? I don't think so.

I'd Like to Do This

(from helenofdestroy, who is definitely NSFW but very entertaining)

A Morbid Thought

Just to piggyback on the post below, based on the lack of an estate tax, anyone want to make a bet on Dick "the dick" Cheney making it to January? I'm pretty sure that one of his spawn would be more than willing to short circuit his 'device' to avoid paying taxes.

Death And Taxes

Ol' George Steinbrenner chose a good year to die:

By dying in 2010, the billionaire and long-time New York Yankees owner's wealth avoids the federal estate tax, likely saving his heirs enough money to field an entire team of Alex Rodriguezes

. Steinbrenner's death Tuesday came during an unplanned year-long gap in the estate tax, the first since it was enacted in 1916. Political wrangling has stalemated efforts in Congress to replace the tax that expired in 2009.

That deprives the government of billions of dollars in annual revenue but represents an unexpected bonanza for those who inherit wealth.

"If you're super-wealthy, it's a good year to die," said Jack Nuckolls, an attorney and estate planner with the accounting firm BDO Seidman. "It really is."

The death of the 80-year-old Steinbrenner, who had been in poor health for years, highlights a quirky tax situation that has drawn much scrutiny among the moneyed but little on Main Street. Only those with estates valued at more than $3.5 million had to pay under the old law.

Forbes magazine has estimated Steinbrenner's estate at $1.1 billion. The federal estate tax in 2009 was 45 percent, with the $3.5 million per-person exemption. If he had died last year, his estate could thus have faced federal taxes of almost $500 million, depending on how the estate was structured.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/13638313/no-estate-tax-for-yankees-after-steinbrenners-death/rss

Repubs love to rail against the estate tax, calling it the "death" tax, but only the very wealthy were subject to it. Certainly, Steinbrenner's heirs could pay the tax and remain incredibly rich.

I wonder how many more billionaires will kick the bucket before the year ends.

Animas Pic

Sorry to take so long, but here's a pic from Saturday on the Animas. We ripped it, and had a rather good time.

(I only took four pics on the entire trip.)

Go Laugh

6 Reasons to Ride a Polar Bear to Work

George Steinbrenner 1930-2010

I will restrain my urge to speak ill of the dead.
FTFY isn't speaking ill of him, is it?
Added: Such timing, passing on the day of the All-Star game, taking the focus away from a grand tradition.

More Boobies

Because it's Friday. And on that note, I'm off on the road for the weekend to go play on the Animas river.

The Spying Game

The Russian spy story has felt strangely out of time, like a piece of cold war nostalgia. It's interest that in "a spy swap", the Russians had four spies in custody to trade back to us. Nobody seems to be talking about our spying.

A Day At The Ballgame

Odd how things line up sometimes. Infrequent poster Zymurgian needed a ride to the airport this evening, which I reluctantly agreed to provide. I have absolutely no enthusiasm for driving to Phoenix in July, but I'm willing to make a sacrifice to help a friend.
Then I got offered two tickets to today's Diamondbacks-Cubs game. Suddenly, the trip became much more appealing. So Zymurgian and I are off to enjoy a nice afternoon of baseball before I drop him at the airport.

Happy Independence Day

Celebrating 234 years this Fourth of July. Throw some animal parts on a grill, consume large quantities of beer, and once you've got a proper buzz, blow up some shit.
Well, not me. No fireworks here on our mountain (scroll down to prior posts if you have any doubts as to why) as the fire danger is way too high. Which is a bit sad, as I love to blow things up. I made my own fireworks when I lived in Washington and California, mortars that rivaled professional stadium pyrotechnics. But only an idiot would unleash even a minor spark around here.
I do intend to grill some animal parts with my neighbor/friend, but we try to do that most every Sunday, so it's not a truly celebratory grilling. And there will be beer.
Have fun, y'all!


And here's the Declaration of Independence read aloud on NPR's "Morning Edition."

Cartoon Boobies

This would make a very nice t-shirt for several women I know. Happy Friday!

The Noise of the Vuvuzela

I hate the Vuvuzela, but I do support using 100 (or more) Vuvuzela players to serenade BP headquarters with vuvuzela concerts until the Gulf is cleaned up.
It wont change a damn thing, but at least the worlds most annoying things will be at the worlds most annoying company.

Some Links:

Vuvuzela symphony planned at BP headquarters - Boing Boing

Vuvuzela symphony planned at BP headquarters // Current

Now For the Jetpacks

Those of us of a 'certain age' can recall the fantastic future technologies that we were promised as children. Well, behold, the flying car is finally here:

A highway-worthy airplane moves one step closer to production with a recent weight exemption approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Transition Roadable Aircraft, developed by Massachusetts-based engineering firm Terrafugia, will be allowed a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds, the same allowance made for aircraft designed to operate on water.

Going from plane to car "takes about the same amount of time as putting down your convertible top," and the transition takes place from inside the cockpit. After landing, a cockpit-operated system folds up the wings, and the pilot can drive away.

Transition is designed for trips of up to about 450 miles and can travel about 100 miles per hour in the air and "highway speeds" on the ground of "65, 70, [miles per hour] -- something like that," Dietrich said.

"We're really not pushing the performance as an automobile because it is really designed to be used as an airplane that has this additional capability," she said.

"Functionally, it's a lot closer to an airplane than it would be to your car."

The price is more in line with aircraft as well; Terrafugia anticipates the Transition will cost $194,000. The first delivery will occur in about 18 months, Dietrich said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/30/transition.flying.car/index.html

Actually, technology has done pretty well compared to science fiction. Just compare the Star Trek communicator to your current phone.

But I still want jetpacks, dammit!

What Is Wrong With Us?

Our country deserves to be eaten by zombies. We can spend $60 billion more on our lovely wars, but we're unable to scrap together the votes to extend unemployment benefits for our own people?

This is why I've almost given up on politics. We've replaced the really evil party with the stumblingly evil party.

Added: Read distributorcap for a much better post on the really evil party's take on all of this.

Deaths in the News

Today's big news is about the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), which is certainly appropriate. He served in the senate longer than any other in America's history. Heck, he began his senate career before I was born, so a long time ago. A huge and controversial legacy, to be sure.
But I also think that attention should be paid to Martin Ginsburg, Husband Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dies At 78, as I wonder how it will impact Ms. Ginsberg's ongoing battle with cancer. She certainly has been courageous in her battle, but she's looking worse and more frail of late, and losing her husband certainly wont help. As the Kagan hearings begin, there is a very likely possibility that Obama may soon have another Supreme Court vacancy to fill.