April 12, 2004

If this mission was accomplished, why have so many died lately?

Posted by northstar at 09:13 PM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

And now, a word from one of our sponsors

TPRS reminds you to:

Have a Jalapeno Coke and a smile!!!

Posted by northstar at 06:34 PM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

Can Ashton be First Man? Oops, wrong Moore....

Draft Moore: The Web Site. A Draft Moore movement emerges. But who's behind it?

When I first heard the words "Draft Moore", I was dumbstruck. Which Moore? Demi? Well, she certainly would be the best-looking President ever, no? Michael? Can't you just hear the weeping and gnashing of teeth among red-meat Conservatives? Roger? Wait, he's not even an American, is he?

Imagine my surprise when I realized that the Moore in question was none than Roy Moore, yes, THAT Moore, the Scripture-spouting, constitutionally-challenged former Alabama Supreme Court justice.

It is entirely possible that Roy Moore this year could be to George Bush what Ralph Nader was to Al Gore in 2000. Wouldn't THAT be sweet? Yes, paybacks are a b***h, eh??

Speculation that Moore will run for president this year on the Constitution Party ticket is music to the ears of Democrats, because Moore has a large Christian Right following and would very possibly take enough votes away from President Bush to throw the election to John Kerry. Moore himself has been noncommittal. Hence this fledgling draft effort.

The Draft Moore site, which went up on March 30, links to an online "Roy Moore for President" petition, which, as of this writing, has only 27 "signatures." We can do better than that, can't we? An estimated 5,000 people turned out in Dallas on April 3 for a "Ten Commandments Texas Rally," where Moore was the star attraction. They just need to be asked. (Kindly ignore two other petitions the site links to, one to give Moore his old job back, and the other to appoint him to the U.S. Supreme Court. We love you, Roy, but judicial robes just aren't you.)

The Web site nicely outlines a list of reasons why fundamentalist Christians should be ticked off by President Bush, including Bush's "silly ecumenical project to try to pretend that all religions are really the same and equally valid."

Right. Heaven forbid that someone shouldn't view themselves as God's Chosen Folk. Hey, if White Southern Males weren't supposed to be the ruling class, then why did God make so many of them? Indeed, why else would he have created NASCAR?

It's hard to believe that there is a more narrow-minded, intolerant, and shallow candidate out there than George W. Bush. If you're looking for someone to fit that bill, however, Judge Roy Moore is clearly your man.

Posted by northstar at 06:07 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

The truth? You can't handle the truth!

Memo contradicts Condoleezza Rice

I had somehow (and somewhat naively, as it turns out) hoped that the 9.11 Commission's investigation might turn up something resembling the truth of what happened. I suppose that could still happen, but it is looking less and less likely. While the evidence seems to point towards something close to malfeasance on the part of the Bushies, the Administration is too busy furious spinning to address whatever the "truth" may be.

The reality here is that Job One for the Bushies is to get there man elected- by whatever means necessary. Truth may be the first casualty of war, but it is also the first casualty of modern Presidential campaigns. Three thousand dead American civilians seem almost beside the point.

Speaking only for myself, I am more interested in the truth than in laying blame. After all, we can't un-murder 3000 Americans. I want to understand how and why 9.11 happened, so that I can make peace with that tragedy in my own mind. Perhaps 9.11 could have been prevented if someone had correctly read the tea leaves. Perhaps it would have happened regardless. I don't "blame" George W. Bush for 9.11 any more than I "blame" Bill Clinton. To do so would be to miss the point. Nonetheless, would it be too much to ask for some honesty and spin-free analysis??

National Security adviser Condoleezza Rice insisted in her public testimony to the 9/11 commission last week that the document relating to the 6 August 2001 presidential briefing contained mostly historical information and did not warn of any coming attacks.

But the page-and-a-half memo contradicts Rice, revealing that President George Bush had been warned of an al-Qaida plan to attack the US.

The report said it had not been able to corroborate some of the "more sensational threat reporting" such as a report in 1998 that bin Ladin wanted to hijack a US aircraft to gain the release of those responsible for the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Centre.

IS this a warning that could have led to 9.11 being prevented? Who knows? I certainly don't. I just want to know who knew what and when. I'm just looking for a little peace of mind, not more election-year spin doctoring.

Yeah, like THAT'S going to happen....

Posted by northstar at 05:57 AM | Comments (1) | Trackback (0)

So much for "Best Player Never To Have Won A Major"

Mickelson ends majors drought at the Masters

Mickelson is a Major Champion

Mickelson makes fives birdies on back nine

As "feel-good" moments go, it would have be hard to top yesterday's finish at the Masters. Phil Mickelson, who if nothing else demonstrated the value of perserverence, finally won his major. Much to the crowd's delight, Mickelson's 18-foot birdie putt on 18 lifted the weight of an entire career of coming up just-THAT-close off his shoulders.

Even Susan, who cares not a whit about golf, stopped what she was doing to watch Mickelson's championship-clinching putt. It was one of those moments that transcends all sports- one putt, one chance. Make it, and your life changes forever. Miss it and...well, at worst Mickelson and Ernie Els would have gone to a playoff, but it was tough to miss the drama inherent in the moment.

I could only dream of playing a round of golf like Mickelson did yesterday afternoon. Never mind doing it in front of thousands of people. Never mind putting on heavily-contoured, lightning-fast greens. Never mind the pressure, which Mickelson clearly seemed to be relishing. I think what I enjoyed about watching yesterday's final round was the look of absolute joy that Mickelson had
on his face for most of the round. Clearly, he was having the time of his life, and the crowd fed off that.

As CBS's Jim Nantz said after Mickelson sank his birdie putt, "The game of golf doesn't get any better than this!" Indeed. Imagine winning the Masters with a birdie putt on the 72nd hole after one of the best back nines in the storied tournament's history. We should all have a moment like that in our lives.

Posted by northstar at 05:41 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

Putting a face on death and deceit

A mosaic of dead heroes and the President responsible for their deaths.

Posted by northstar at 05:26 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

When I think of how we stole the election, it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling

So much happened and there was so much effort by so many people. To us what happened in Florida was a triumph in democracy. It wasn't a blemish. Whenever I think of Florida or come back here, it rekindles within me almost a sense of gratitude about the capacity for this country to endure.

- Marc Racicot, Bush campaign chairman

Posted by northstar at 05:10 AM | Comments (1) | Trackback (0)

April 11, 2004

Yep, there's more here than just the naked pictures of Ann Coulter!

Welcome to TPRS, #1 on Google for "x rated geek chic"! Enjoy your stay, but please remember to put the seat down when you are finished....

Thank you,

The Management

Posted by northstar at 09:50 PM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

It's not often I'm able to say "cold and blustery" with having to use "Ann Coulter" in the same sentence

A cold front blew through last night, and after the attending wind, rain, and blowdown, we've been left with a grey, dreary day- the kind you don't see much of 'round these parts this time of years. Where the high yesterday was 85, it's 57 right and unlikely to get much warmer. It's too chilly to wear shorts today, and there really is a refreshing, wonderful nip in the air.

OK, I realize that to someone living in the Great White North, a day like today might seem like a godsend after a long, cold winter. Things are a bit different down here, though. It's been in the mid-80s for most of the past week, and it really has been T-shirts and shorts weather. This afternoon, though, the skies are growing increasingly and menacingly grey and mean.

Here it is, one o' clock in the afternoon, and it looks like nightfall. Ah, well, perhaps I really will just spend the afternoon watching the Masters. It's not as if I'm going to be able to play any golf today.

And yes, the moment we've all been waiting for...monsoon season just started....

Posted by northstar at 01:06 PM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

Ouch...that's going to leave a mark....

Posted by northstar at 11:22 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (2)

Um...honey, it looks as if Easter is going to be a bit delayed this year....

Well, this ought to free up some extra time to watch the Masters

Posted by northstar at 07:39 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

If only it were so easy....

Trump to Bush: 'You're fired'

I woke up with a smile on my face this morning. Maybe it was the dream I had during the night:

Donald Trump called President George W. Bush into his boardroom today to deliver bad news to the embattled CEO of America Inc.

"You're fired."

The superstar New York developer cushioned the blow by saying he might be able to find something for Bush as a mid-level executive in one of his shell companies or perhaps "clearing brush" outside one of his skyscrapers.

"For a guy with a bachelor's from Yale and an MBA from Harvard, you don't have much sense, do you?" said Trump, who seemed to enjoy making Bush squirm a bit before dropping the axe on the slack-jawed former president.

Trump said Bush had already been on thin ice for leading his organization into an expensive, high-risk war that offered little potential for return on the massive investment of taxpayer money.

But the final straw was the recent revelation that the president knew all along his $400 billion Medicare plan would actually cost $550 billion. Like many Americans, Trump also seemed bothered that the White House misled the world about weapons of destruction.

Hey, come on now...a man can dream, can't he??

Posted by northstar at 06:58 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

Another DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener

Jeff Skilling's attorney denies report of bizarre behavior

Skilling in New York confrontation: Effect on Enron case depends on whose version of story is true

DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener #81: Jeff Skilling

Apparently, Mr. Skilling has determined that relying on the evidence is a recipe for certain disaster- and a long prison sentence. Since a man of his station rarely looks forward to the prospect of doing hard time, Skilling has apparently resorted to the time-honored "DUMB@$$ defense".

NEW YORK -- Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was taken to a hospital early today after several people called police saying he was pulling on their clothes and accusing them of being FBI agents, a police source told The Associated Press.

Police found Skilling at 4 a.m. at the corner of Park Avenue and East 73rd Street and determined he might be an "emotionally disturbed person," said the source, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity....

Skilling was at two bars in Manhattan -- American Trash and The Vudu Lounge -- where he allegedly ran up to patrons and pulled open their clothes, the source said.

"He was shouting at them 'You're an FBI agent and you're following me,'" the source said.

Skilling allegedly did the same thing to people on the street, the source added. He was with his wife at the time.

Skilling was described as being intoxicated and highly uncooperative when he was approached by police, the source said.

Of course, Skilling's attorney and his PR flacks are in high dudgeon over the impugning of their meal ticket's sanity and image. Geez, if Skilling really IS as crazy as a March hare, these hangers-on might actually have to go out and find useful work- not a pleasant prospect, I'm sure.

Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Skilling in an orange prison jumpsuit. As a former Enron contractor, there are many people I worked with whose fortunes went the way of the buffalo because of greedheads like Jeff Skilling. Since we cannot very well have him flayed and boiled in oil in the village square, a long prison sentence and a DUMB@$$ AWARD will have to do.

Posted by northstar at 06:34 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

But it certainly will kill a lot of Iraqis

Posted by northstar at 06:06 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

How about a tragedy AND a travesty?

President Bush's war was ill-advised and unnecessary and based on erroneous statements, and has turned out to be a tragedy. And my prayer has been that brave young American men and women, and others who are there, that their lives will be spared and there will be some peaceful resolution of the war.

- President Jimmy Carter

Posted by northstar at 05:52 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

April 10, 2004

The cat doesn't care

Posted by northstar at 08:09 PM | Comments (1) | Trackback (0)

The vision thing

Yesterday marked two weeks since LASIK surgery was done on my right eye. To say that the past two weeks have been an amazing experience would be something of an understatement. My world is at once the same as it was, and yet it looks very, very different.

Given that it has been only two weeks, there are still numerous adjustment issues. My vision still fluctuates, and I've been told that this will be the case for three months or so. What has excited me most is that I'm now able to get through most of a day without even being conscious of my vision. This must mean that I'm becoming acclimated to the change, and that can only be a good thing.

Along with the good, though, there is also the frustrating. I hesitate to use the word "bad", because bad to me would indicate that I'm having some second thoughts about having had LASIK done- and nothing could be farther from the truth.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the adjustment process is adjusting to how my eyes react to different types of lighting conditions. Bright, sunny days give me no problems at all. The conditions I seem to struggle with to greater or lesser degrees with are overcast days and days which might be partly cloudy, but have a high overcast. Night driving is also a bit more challenging than it used to be.

The conclusion that I've drawn from this is that the amount of available ambient light definitely seems to effect the quality of my vision. This may be just another aspect of the adjustment process that I'm going to have to learn to cope with. Still, if that is as bad as it gets, then I don't have much to worry about.

So far, so good. Now, if I could just convince myself to stop looking for my glasses....

Posted by northstar at 08:34 AM | Comments (1) | Trackback (0)

Saying goodbye to a legend

Last stroll for Palmer

Yesterday, the golf world paid tribute to Arnold Palmer, who himself said goodbye to the Masters tournament after a 50-year run. The fact that he shot a second-round 84 and missed the cut seemed almost irrelevant.

Kudos to Palmer for recognizing when the time has come to make a graceful exit. Fifty years is indeed an impressive run. And kudos should also (grudgingly) go out to the stuffed shirts in green jackets who run the Masters. These same dinosaurs did try to run Palmer off a couple of years ago, but they were at least smart enough to recognize that they were about to do something incredibly stupid. This way both parties were able to bask in the moment. For Palmer, it was a well-deserved 18-hole standing ovation. For the stuffed shirts, well, for at least one day they didn't come off as a bunch of ham-handed Good Ol' White Boys. These buffoons need all the positive press they can get.

Posted by northstar at 08:09 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

I only hope it's not the same dog and the same cat

House cats date back 9,500 years, excavation finds

It's true, I suppose- the more things change, the more they stay the same.

It appears that dogs have been chasing cats around the house for much longer than anyone thought.

A cat that may have been buried with its owner at least 9,500 years ago has been uncovered at an archeological site in Cyprus. If the animal was indeed a pet, the discovery, reported Friday in the journal Science, turns back the clock on the origin of the house cat by thousands of years.

Only dogs, domesticated 12,500 years ago, have a longer history as pets.

It had been thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first known cat owners. The Egyptians revered their felines and kept them as pets more than 4,000 years ago.

The new find adds to scientists' understanding of how early civilization grew. It indicates that grain farming, with its attendant mice, most likely brought the cat to the human hearth in prehistoric times.

Yes, even in prehistoric times cats ruled and dogs drooled....

Posted by northstar at 07:49 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

Yes, democracy is SO unpredictable

Posted by northstar at 07:33 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)

How about we not find out??

One shudders to think what additional errors Bush will make in the next four years.

- Richard Clarke

Posted by northstar at 07:23 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback (0)