Monthly Archives: December 2009

Great Balls O’ Fire

Posted on December 30, 2009 by

US media have published photos of the singed underwear that a Nigerian terror suspect allegedly wore to hide explosives in, as investigators in the Yemen attempt to piece together his movements and contacts. The pictures provided by the FBI and obtained … Continue reading →

Posted in NIMBY | 6 Comments

Meet The Beetles

Posted on December 29, 2009 by

Remember the good old days of citrus canker, when our government hired arboreal assassins to chop down private citizens’ citrus trees to protect the agriculture industry’s profits?  I lost three trees in this scam, one of which miraculously grew back, … Continue reading →

Posted in News From the Nation's Dicktip | 10 Comments

Dep’t of Yeah, But That Was Then

Posted on December 26, 2009 by

It looks as though for better or worse, we got ourselves a health care bill for Christmas.   Its provisions have been under attack from both left and right, led by ‘Pub conservatives issuing blood-curdling warnings about expanding government and destroying … Continue reading →

Posted in Gen. Snark, Maj. Snafu, Corp. Punishment | 1 Comment

A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Bottles

Posted on December 24, 2009 by

Thoughts and a photo, none original. “I don’t mind Baptists. I just wish they’d keep ‘em under water a little longer.” — Kinky Friedman, as Kinky Friedman. Careful on the roads.  Even when they’re not slippery, the drivers are. Sunscreen … Continue reading →

Posted in Golden Oldies (Deja Vu All Over Again) | 4 Comments

Fear of Flying

Posted on December 23, 2009 by

In the midst of all the other end-of-year craziness, the US Department of Transportation announced a “Passengers Bill of Rights,” which carries penalties to airlines for  such inhuman crap as sitting on the tarmac for over 3 hours, and showing … Continue reading →

Posted in Shaken and Stirred | 9 Comments

Let Us Bray

Posted on December 22, 2009 by

What is it about Christmas that wrings the Christ right out of Christians? At 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon — nine hours before the 1 a.m. vote that would effectively clinch the legislation’s passage — Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) went to … Continue reading →

Posted in Gen. Snark, Maj. Snafu, Corp. Punishment, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

The Gall

Posted on December 21, 2009 by

If I were starting my academic career over again – “7 years of college education, wasted!” – I might write my thesis on the tension between “civilization” and “freedom.”  Here’s perfect example of what I mean: Accustomed to a certain … Continue reading →

Posted in Gen. Snark, Maj. Snafu, Corp. Punishment | 6 Comments

Who Are You? (hoo hoo hoo hoo)

Posted on December 18, 2009 by

I’m on an island, surrounded by water sufficiently deep to keep me from going anywhere today, assuming I even wanted or had to.  Eastern Hollywood appears to be totally under water, with more rain forecast.  Could be worse.  Could be … Continue reading →

Posted in Shaken and Stirred | 12 Comments

Paul Bearer

Posted on December 15, 2009 by

Paul Naschy, prolific horror movie actor, died, age 75. I haven’t seen a film of his for a dog’s age  But I remember staying up late, huddled in front of the old black and white Zenith, to catch severely edited … Continue reading →

Posted in People Who Died, Died | 12 Comments

Straight White Atheist Man Casts First Stone

Posted on December 14, 2009 by

City Councilman Cecil Bothwell of Ashville…. does not believe in God. His political opponents say that is a sin that makes him unworthy of office. One opponent, H. K. Edgerton, is threatening to file suit against the city to challenge … Continue reading →

Posted in Gen. Snark, Maj. Snafu, Corp. Punishment | 12 Comments