Hold the Bus!

If you're wavering at all about who to vote for in November, strongly consider this:

Are senior Obama administration officials considering transferring to Egypt a poisonously influential Islamist cleric serving a life term in federal prison for trying to unleash a war of urban terrorism in the United States? That's the impression several officials have given over the past three months, apparently out of fear that if the cleric dies in U.S. custody, American outposts in the Middle East could be overrun by vengeful mobs.

Omar Abdel Rahmen is the architect of most of the large-scale terrorist attacks in recent history:

He served as spiritual adviser to El Sayid Nosair (in connection with the 1990 assassination in Manhattan of Meir Kahane, a right-wing Israeli politician) and to the band of terrorists who carried out the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center that killed six and wounded numerous others (an operation undertaken in part to free Nosair from jail). Abdel Rahman was convicted in 1995 of participating in a seditious conspiracy that included the Kahane murder, the 1993 WTC bombing, and a plot to blow up other landmarks in New York and to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak when he visited the United Nations.

Furthermore:

In 1997, members of Abdel Rahman's organization (Gama al Islamiyah, or the Islamic Group, which is designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization) murdered more than 60 tourists at Luxor, Egypt, and inserted notes in the body cavities of several victims demanding the Blind Sheik's release. Also in the mid-1990s, Abdel Rahman contrived from jail to issue the fatwa that Osama bin Laden cited as authorization to carry out the 9/11 attacks. The sheik's confinement was on bin Laden's list of grievances meant to justify that atrocity.

Apparently Obama and his merry band of foreign policy morons learned absolutely nothing from the foreign policy disaster of the release of the Lockerbie bomber  (supposedly on his deathbed), who was made a hero on his return to Libya.  Abdel Rahmen's foul deeds are on a far larger and more heinous scale.  To release him to Egypt would be the equivalent of having Osama bin Laden* in our grasp and then deliberately setting him free to plan jihad on a mass scale.

That members the current administration are even considering this action is madness.

The State Department's spokesperson last week, after the ceremonial "let me be clear," said that there had been no approach on this topic "recently" from any "senior" official of the Egyptian government—an elucidation laden with ambiguity and certain to send chills up the spine of anyone familiar with Abdel Rahman's record and President Morsi's inclinations. 

All of this plays out in the context of an Obama administration that hasn't hesitated to employ executive orders to get around Congress, led by a president who was caught on a "hot mike" assuring Russia's leaders that if he wins re-election he will have more "flexibility" to accommodate Russian demands that the U.S. curtail missile defense in Europe.

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*Abdel Rahman should die in prison, then be buried at sea ala bin Laden, thereby refusing his worshipers a martyr's temple.

Knock, Knock!

Is this thing on?

Yeah... I've been a bit distracted by other things lately. I'll try to be more regular, if only to let you know I'm off doing other stuff.
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On a political note, I haven't found a candidate that I'm 100% behind yet. Between Cain's accusers (and I do believe in assuming he's innocent until proven guilty) and Perry's debate blundering, my concern that Romney is too far left for my taste and my skepticism that Gingrich is capable of sustaining it for the long haul... I'm just not ready to back a candidate at this point.
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I saw my first snowflake of the season this morning. I'm not ready for Chicago winter weather.
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I am aghast that Mike McQueary will be coaching the Nittany Lions this weekend. Of all the horrible questions I have about what happened at Penn State, why McQueary didn't: a) step in and stop Sandusky when he was caught in the act of raping a 10 year old; or, b) call 911 immediately -- local, not campus police is beyond me.

Why, when he called his father, didn't his father tell him to call the police immediately? And if his dad did tell him to call the police, why didn't he???

Why has he kept his mouth shut all this time?

I agree with John Kass and David Haugh -- I don't understand why McQueary wasn't shit-canned along with Paterno and Co.

I am sickened by the actions of the students who rioted in support of Paterno this morning.

Sadly, the whole story looks to be even worse than we thought.

When are we going to stop putting sports icons ahead of our moral and ethical duties?
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Speaking of moral and ethical duties, handing out bonuses to the leadership of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- and that leadership accepting those bonuses -- is beyond the pale. If I bungled my own job so badly, I wouldn't expect a reward, and neither should they.

Let them have bonuses when they've actually fixed something, first.
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On a much happier note, it looks like a vaccine for breast cancer might just be one step closer to reality.

Faster, please.
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Did you know it's National Adoption Month? Clearly this is a subject near and dear to my heart.

I've been reading Carrie Goldman's Portrait of an Adoption every day. I found one story that was very close to my own, and responded via the comments. Guess what? That young woman was finally able to bring her story out in the open and received the same kind of support that I experienced.

While I wish every adoption story could have an ending this happy, Ask Amy today has a letter from a sister who finds her younger sister's judgment wanting in deciding to place her child for adoption.

This is exactly why some of us kept and continue to keep our secrets to ourselves.

National Adoption Month -- it's not for sissies.
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I'm kind of caught between wanting to get my hair colored right now because the roots are about 3/4 of an inch long and letting it grow out enough to chop the colored part off and just see what nature has to offer.

Thus, today's ear worm:

Knock, Knock...

... is this thing on?

Yes, I've been a bad blogger. But I've also been a busy girl. I'll try harder, m'kay?
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For a dear friend, Moonbeam McQueen's post here should speak straight to your heart. 2011 will be a good year for you, too.
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Photography and friendship -- no wonder I loved this story!

During his trip, Bieber took his own pictures. He took a few final shots with Roche and one of her brothers, and then they put the film canister outside the Café des Deux Moulins in Montmartre, the restaurant where Amelie works in the movie.

In the canister, they left a note that read, "It happened once, it can happen again. If you find me, I can buy you coffee and we'll become friends. It's the beginning of an adventure."

I love DSL, but you'll never find that creating this kind of story... unless the whole camera is lost and then found.

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Got an idea for a gadget, but no money to manufacture? Try this Quirky idea.
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Given that parts and cars out of Japan are going to be scarce for a good long time, it seems pretty stupid to have the tax paying public fund discounts for GM cars once again. Ford has managed to not only survive, but to thrive on its own. It's time for GM to do the same.
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Given that I found my own St. Paddy's Day hat, filled with Popeye's chicken nuggets, in the refrigerator it makes absolute sense to me to look for the remote in the freezer. (And, no -- don't ask.)
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Yes, I'm loving food trucks here in Chicago, but I find the idea of A Game of Thrones food truck more than a bit odd, even if Tom Colicchio is behind the menu.

The Buzz: Game of Thrones King's Landing Menu

More info on the food truck here and here. HBO really has gone nuts on promoting this series, as evidenced by the themed store it's opened in Manhattan.

Fantasy fiction lovers are the new cool. Who knew?

(A tip of the cap to Ray at Finish the Book, George.)
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Speaking of AGOT, 1600 pages into the next manuscript and it's still not done and turned in??? George'll never make the July deadline... but I've been saying that all along.
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DWTS -- I'm pretty sure the DJ is outta here tonight. Who do you think will be voted off?

Drive-Bys

For Andy...

... who's rocking a Movember mustache. Go donate, if you can.
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I suspect this guy...


... is related to my little buddy Grabby Hayes, so named because now he won't take the almonds dropped on the ground -- he'll ignore them and insists on being close enough to grab them from my hand. (Video to follow soon.)

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Vito and the Salutations may just have managed to kill my undying love for doo-wop music with this mangling of a thing of beauty.

(Gee, thanks, Ken.)

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Giggle of the Day:

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Spit-Take of the Day:

Seventeen year old son opines the swords and knives are just a front. The real reason for Ren-Faire is boobies.

Heh!

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"Four pounds of cheese fries in an edible [tortilla shell] bowl -- you can't beat that."

-- Nick Digilio, talking with Ted Brunson, host of Chicago's Best TV, about Susie's Drive-In on Montrose, between Elston and Keeler. Yum!

They also reverentially mentioned "The Slinger" at the Diner Grill as fine late night (i.e., after bar) dining. What's a Slinger?

The Slinger is, in its own greasy way, a masterpiece and it comes on a large oval platter. The foundation is a massive portion of hash brown potatoes covered with grilled onions. On top of that is 2 side-by-side cheeseburgers, topped with a couple of fried eggs, sunny-side up. The whole thing is covered with several ladles of chili. Two pieces of toast come on the side.

Sweet Baby Jeebus!
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I don't generally visit the bars on Division Street -- too touristy or waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too young -- but I might just have to make an exception and spend some time at The Lodge:

The Lodge, 21 W. Division, brought back its clunky Flash Bowling (or Puck Bowling) machine after a 15-year absence.

Whoohoo! Let the youngsters play their video games -- flash bowling and pinball are the games of my youth, and I'll take them over their contemporary counterparts every single time.
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The Presidency hasn't grown -- the government has grown, and if it's too big for one president to handle, then it's time to shrink the government back to manageable proportions.

Drive-Bys

Found on a stroll down Michigan Avenue last Saturday:



More autumn pretties from the Lurie Garden:



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When parents not only show an interest in their kids, but a commitment to their education, the school system really should pay attention:

Chicago Public Schools agreed Monday to lease a field house next to Whittier Elementary School to a community group for $1 a year and build a library inside the school.

The action comes as a group of Pilsen parents continued a sit-in to gain control of the building and convert it into a library to prevent it from being razed.

The CPS turned off the heat and the water in the building during night time temperature drops down into the 30's and 40's. The parents hung in there anyway, and the school board was forced to turn them both back on.

I'm 100% in support of these parents. God bless 'em every one for not backing down.
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Bomba the Jungle Boy bit the big one? Oh, no! He was a Sunday afternoon favorite of mine growing up!


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Sweet Potato Soup with Maple and Bacon? That sounds an awful lot like yummy, yummy comfort food to me!
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Just how out of sync with the working public are government employee benefits? Go here to find out. Guaranteed to make your head explode.
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Drive-Bys

It's a trifecta of man vs. train within the past 24 hours:

• One guy on the Pink Line during rush hour (try 'splaining to St. Peter that you met your end on the pink line);
• One guy in San Antonio in the wee hours who traumatized an engineer, but at least didn't screw up rush hour; and,
• A stupid teen who might just get lucky and pull through despite his best efforts to the contrary.

I shudder to think what the totals for man v. train will be here in Chicago by year's end.
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The hippiest, dippiest joint in Chicago appears to be in financial trouble:

The Heartland's financial problems are varied. Some might blame the service or the food. (I like the food.) [I do, too -- especially the fried brown rice.] The bigger problem, James and Hogan say, is the recession. Paying bills with money they didn't have, they accumulated huge overdraft charges. Their bank won't give them credit. Big city license fees are due.

"It's the first time someone could say 'You're not living within your means,'" Hogan said. "It's taken us close to two years to ..."

"Get it," James said.

They get it now. They've made changes they hope will help. And they're hoping that the same trust and instincts that made them shake hands on a far-fetched deal 34 years ago will get them through again.

I hope they do learn the lesson, because that place is a gem. In fact, this song pretty much sums it up:


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Don't blame the mobile phone -- blame the inconsiderate assholes who think their time is more valuable than yours. (And if a friend does it to you more than once, they're not a very good friend.)
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The first in a series of laws designed to completely eradicate smoking and tobacco use in Finland came into effect Friday, including possible prison sentences for selling cigarettes to minors.

Finland is the first country in the world to write into its legislation that it intends not just to reduce smoking but to end all tobacco use through law.

Actually, my argument all along here has been that if it's not illegal to sell them or smoke them, it's pretty hard to say you can smoke them here but you can't smoke them there. Pretty smart, those Finns...
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Seeing "pink testicle" at first glance here, instead of "pink tentacle" means I should think about getting my eyes checked, right? (And not that my Freudian slip is hanging down a mile...)


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What are we heading for here? Oh... maybe this:

Most families who are due to lose their child benefit are worrying about how they'll make ends meet without it.

But for Kelly Marshall, who has five children by four different fathers, the handout has never been about paying for nappies, food and other everyday expenses.

She saved her benefit money to help pay for breast enhancement.

And as many parents envisage tightening their belts after the Tories announced plans to cut the benefit for higher-rate taxpayers, she plans to save more of hers for liposuction and a tummy tuck.

Fasten your seat belts. I predict that attitude will find it's way across "The Pond" soon, if it hasn't done so already.
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Independence Day

Stomping the Brakes

I don't care what your race, color, creed or political affiliation -- this is simply appalling.

Either Obama brought in appointees with agendas other than those he espoused throughout his presidential campaign OR he knowingly appointed them. In any case, that heads in the Justice Department have not rolled over this debacle is pretty compelling evidence the White House has no problem with any of this.

Just when I think I can't possibly be gobsmacked by the hypocrisy of this administration, I get whomped again.

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One little note that you may have missed in there is that J. Christian Adams has joined Pajamas Media. I've kind of resisted registering there before this, but that changed today... and a darned good thing, or I'd have missed this story:

Call it Panthergate, call it what you will. The Department of Justice (or its minions) is already attempting to slime its whistleblower J. Christian Adams — the attorney who recently resigned from the Department over its abandonment of the New Black Panther case.

Now Adams has struck back, telling Pajamas Media that the DOJ’s smears were a “blatant lie.”

Go register.

Drive-Bys

Quote of the Day:

'The rise of the compensation culture over the last ten years is a real concern, as is the way health and safety rules are sometimes applied.

'We need a sensible new approach that makes clear these laws are intended to protect people, not overwhelm businesses with red tape.'

Mad props to the first one of you who can identify the speaker without peeking.
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For those of you who think the recent efforts by Turkish ships to break the Israeli naval blockade is a good idea and that those poor Gazans would be starving to death without the Turkish aid -- go here, noodle around the site, watch the video and then come back and talk to me.
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It seems to me that the crux of the problem is that we keep catching these rambunctious rascals and then just sending them back to Mexico so they can try again. Now I’m no Lou Dobbs but a wiser idea might be to round these folks up, pop them in a cargo plane and then parachute them into Belgium under cover of darkness. And if the Belgians take issue and kick up a stink, we can always try the Swiss instead. They’re a tolerant lot and dandy yodellers too.

Those Mexican lads may be able to hop a fence but I don’t expect they can swim the Atlantic. And if they can – I’d say they’ve damn well earned a green card.

Donald Mills for President in 2012? I'd vote for him!
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Here's another example of Illinois' taxpayers getting told once again to "bend over and grab your ankles":

Local officials acknowledge that a giant sewage-cooking machine in west suburban Stickney is a waste of money, but they have decided to move ahead anyway with a project that could cost Chicago and Cook County taxpayers $217 million.

Once billed as an innovative way to turn the region's sewage sludge into fertilizer, the project is a decade behind schedule.

And you wonder where Obama learned it?
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It's sad to see that another of my childhood icons has passed away:





And one of the Princess Mom's Sunday brunch favorites was Jimmy Dean sausage patty sandwiches with lettuce, tomato and mayo on a burger bun. (None of that sausage biscuit business for Yankees like us!)
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Winter is coming!

Winter Is Coming

Geek girl here got goosebumps. I'll admit it.
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Giggle of the Day:


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Bus Fumes

Gah! Governor Giveaway is at it again:

Gov. Pat Quinn has announced a $6 million capital grant to the Museum of Broadcast Communications to assist with the completion of its new facility in downtown Chicago.

In remarks prepared for an event with museum officials and supporters Friday night, Quinn said that as one of only three museums dedicated to broadcast history in the nation, completion of the project will help enhance Illinois' tourism industry.
MBC officials anticipate the completed museum will create approximately 200 jobs.

We have teachers who have been or will be fired because there's no money for their salaries. I'll lay you odds that the number of those fired, as opposed to the number of jobs that will be created by this grant, is embarrassing. I'm not opposed to the museum; I just don't believe spending $6 million on it instead of on education makes one bit of sense right now.

This freaking governor has an unbelievable need to be viewed as a "nice guy" -- usually at the expense of the taxpayer. I hope, for once, the old adage "nice guys finish last" is true... come November.

Interpreting the Signs Along the Way

Having a hard time keeping up with fast-moving developments in the Gulf? Confused by the cacophonous nonsense coming from oil industry hacks and government spokesmouths?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Below is a handy timeline that cuts through the absurdity and tells you everything you need to know.

April 20 – An explosion on the oil rig Deepwater Horizon – owned by TransOcean and leased to British Petroleum (BP) – kills 11 workers and injures dozens in the Gulf of Mexico. Within days, the rig sinks in 5,000 feet of water. Industry and government officials insist there is no oil leaking from the site. Few people believe them.

April 24 – BP and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency admit that well, actually, yes, oil is leaking, but only at a rate of 1,000 barrels a day. This number is determined by combining data from an Ouija board, several antique backgammon dice, and a family of capuchin monkeys who throw darts at numbers taped to a wall. (This method is also used to calculate the unemployment rate and other massively understated government statistics.)

April 28 – The Obama administration and BP now say that oil is spilling at a rate “more than originally estimated,” perhaps as much as 5,000 barrels a day. BP insists that “it’s too early to speculate” on the flow rate and flatly refuses to make its capuchin monkeys available for comment.

May 7 – As the scale of the disaster becomes clear, outraged Americans react in typical American fashion: By complaining loudly about oil company greed – and by continuing to consume 20 million barrels of oil a day.

May 11 – In testimony before Congress, BP blames TransOcean. TransOcean blames Halliburton. Halliburton blames TransOcean and BP. Rinse. Repeat.

May 12 – Some Americans begin to ask why a private corporation continues to call the shots on containing the spreading environmental disaster it created. These Americans are quickly labeled socialists, tree-huggers, terrorists, dead-enders, criminal elements, petty thieves, and even “former Ba’athists.” Meanwhile, heavy oil reaches Louisiana’s coastal marshes.

May 13 – Independent scientists studying new video of the massive gusher suggest the flow rate may be as high as 95,000 barrels per day. Viewing the footage for the first time, a spokesperson for BP accidentally says, “Whoa! Look at that sucker go! Ain’t nothin’ gonna stop that thing!” (He is quickly fired.)

May 14 – BP CEO Tony Hayward suggests that the amount of oil released is “tiny” compared to “the total volume of water” in the Gulf of Mexico. A BP spokesman says “it’s too early to speculate” on whether Hayward’s brain is “tiny” when compared to the size of his entire skull – or to the brain of a capuchin monkey.

May 15 – BP again refuses to deploy equipment that could accurately measure the flow rate. A company spokesman actually says, “It’s not relevant to the response effort, and it might even detract from the response effort.” This earns him a Botox Award, given to PR flacks who say ridiculous things with a completely straight face.

May 19 – With options dwindling, the world turns once again to the one man who can save the day. He is contacted by a talking holographic image of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, beamed from a small, beeping robot: “Help us, Kevin Costner. You’re our only hope!” Costner responds by (a) providing technology that filters oil from seawater, and (b) apologizing, yet again, for “Message in a Bottle.”

May 20 – BP tests a new machine (also developed by Kevin Costner!) that takes weeks’ worth of preposterous public relations statements and transforms them into a massive, impenetrable ball of solid waste that can be used to plug leaking oil wells. The company says “it’s too early to speculate” on the machine’s effectiveness, but ramps up its production of “preposterous public relations statements” anyway.

May 21 – Reports surface that a newspaper columnist Bill Shein recently trademarked the phrase, “it’s too early to speculate” and has made millions in royalties from BP and the Obama administration for its use. BP says it’s too early to speculate on how much the columnist will ultimately earn, but that a team of capuchin monkeys are working on an estimate.

(Thanks, Elizabeth!)

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Via Calvin's Mom, an explanation of just what "Mr. I'm Responsible" has been up to since the day the well blew. Pryoritteez -- he haz Dem.

Sunday Schedule

Oooo! DWTS starts this week! (Just a guess, but Evan Lysacek and Chad Ochocino are going to be the hot contenders to beat.)

Interviews --

Cheryl on Chad

Louis on Niecy

Derek on Nicole

Anna on Evan

Evan Lysacek

Aidan Turner

Yay! I can't wait!

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Why am I happy I don't own a car any more? How about this, for a start?

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Quote of the Day:

"We are sick and tired of being sick and tired of our children being gunned down," said Louvenia Hood, of Mothers Opposed to Violence Everywhere. "It's time for this to stop."

I am sympathetic. However... here's the problem, as I see it: These kids are not being gunned down; they're gunning each other down. The problem starts in the home, and change also needs to start in the home. Standing in the street and praying in front of cameras won't fix anything; being present every day and parenting your own kids well will.

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I'm sorry, but $16 million would be better spent on teachers' salaries in this state right now. This is just one more example of governmental decision making processes that care more about pleasing "popular" agendas than actually fulfilling the mandate of educating children in this state. Oh, well. Dick and Jane may not be educated in Illinois, but, by golly, they'll be fashionably fit.

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The Illinois Democratic party moves on to the finals in Dem Lt. Governor Candidate Idol next Saturday. Too bad the voters can't vote online or text their votes for their favorites. Oh, wait! They did that already. Oops! My bad.

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"This legislation won't go into effect tomorrow."

Maybe not, but a dear friend of mine who works for the IRS informed me Friday night that the IRS has been champing at the bit to begin hiring not hundreds, but thousands, of new IRS agents to do nothing but ensure that businesses and individuals alike are complying with the new law, and that hiring will commence immediately on passage of the legislation. [Update: Here's more proof.]

Any way you look at either bill, it's the largest governmental power grab in the history of this country. Given that I'm already unhappy with this news: The five largest employers in the Chicago area are 1) the U.S. government; 2) Chicago public schools; 3) the City of Chicago; 4) the State of Illinois; and, 5) Cook County... and we can't afford any of them here at the moment... you can imagine my current level of disgust.

Mark my words -- we are about to get far more governmental intrusion into our lives and give up far larger portions of our paychecks than we ever thought possible.

Thank you, Mr. Boehner, for requesting a roll call vote. I want to know exactly who I will be working very hard to vote out of office in the next several elections.

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Bigger Models Make Women Feel Bad About Themselves, Too

[snip] The study did, however, come up with one icky way bigger models can be used to actually influence product sales: “if a normal-size woman sees moderately heavy images in ads for weight-loss products, she might feel overweight and be more inclined to buy a diet plan or gym membership.” Basically, use plus-sized models to make women feel bad enough about themselves that they spend more money on gym memberships and diet products. [The Cut]

What do you think? Do ads with bigger models make you feel better or worse about yourself?

When it's models like these, they just want to make me go shopping for one of everything in their catalog, because I know I'm going to look and feel wonderful... and that's good, because I'm already educated, unlike Dick and Jane.

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Yes, once upon a time I did Princess Idol. No, this wasn't me:

(Stick with this. It gets really... um... interesting... around the 1:20 mark.)

Seriously, I'd never do that to people.

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Programmed by elitists? And here I thought the Tea Party movement was full of booger-eating morons...

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Whoa! Mamacita is kicking butt and taking names:

I have already entered a zero for the midterm for each of you who blew it off. If you want that zero changed into something else, be bloody sure you get that test taken before your time is up. After I place your test in the Testing Center, the rest is entirely up to you. If you don’t get yourself up there, the zero stands.

If you allow that zero to stand, you will need to present yourself to the registrar to withdraw from the class. You’ll also be required to pay back your financial aid.

Sincerely, Professor Had-It-Up-To-Here with the lot of you.

P.S. Students who showed up on the proper day get bonus points, which will be added at the end of the semester. Also? These students rock. They’re awesome, while you’re. . . . well, never mind. It was an antonym. I hope you had a good time in Cancun.

Don't you wish she was your kid's prof?