Book Your Ticket

Here we go again!

July – 12/101

The Angel’s Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafón*

The Prodigal Mage, Karen Miller*

Game Over, Fern Michaels[1]*

Assisted Loving, Bob Morris*

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest, Stieg Larsson[2]

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, Sam Wasson[3]*

The List, J.A. Konrath*

How to Wash a Cat, Rebecca Hale*

Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century, Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger*

The Finishing Touches, Hester Browne[4]*

Wizard Squared, K.E. Mills*

The Static of the Spheres, Eric Kraft[5] *

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[1] I truly don’t know why I keep reading this stupid, badly-written series. It is weirdly addictive. Argh!

[2] Now if you’re going to get hooked on a series, this is the series that deserves the addiction.

[3] I’ve ordered Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, based on my reading of this book as now my curiosity is peaked. You try finding a copy. I had to order a used copy from an English book store.

[4] While I’m on the subject of series, I also loved Hester Browne’s Little Lady series. She doesn’t disappoint in this stand-alone novel, either!

[5] A novella, really – but nostalgic and lovely. And another addictive series, I fear!

License and Registration

Quote of the Day:

"What has he done to -- to promote unity among the races? Tell me. Let me -- tell him to come forward and tell us what he has done. I haven't seen him do anything but try to divide us, you know. Where does he think this will take us? What -- what does he think this will accomplish -- accomplish? I would like to hear him answer that. I would like him to show me how he's not a racist."

When accusation of racism equates the old, "When did you stop beating your wife?" chestnut, it's baseless and toothless.

You have no evidence to the contrary and you have no better argument, so you lob the Molotov cocktail of the race card out and then stand back and blame everyone else for the conflagration that ensues.

He has nothing to disprove because you've proven nothing.

Enough, dammit.

Saturday Matinee Cartoons

It's a good day for Tex Avery's Droopy Dog:



Cartoon Break:



And Screwball Squirrel:

Tootin' The Horn

El Capitan is celebrating another birthday. Go send him best wishes or I'll make you swab the poop deck and walk the plank or other such piratical nonsense. Argh!

Drive-Bys

Giggle of the Day:

For my pal.

Her? Yep.

Me? Yep.

Just sayin'...
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I love Sharon Montrose's animal prints in her Etsy shop (and I bought two of them, too). Now I'm drooling over her bigger prints here. Access to really cool critters and cameras out the kazoo -- the chick has everything.
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Quote of the Day, Part 1:

"Thank you for Your Corporation"

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Oooooo! Maplewood Smoked Bacon - Horseradish Dip. I'm making it this weekend, and I'm not sharing, either.
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Once again Obama's team prepares to do an end run around the Constitution. Tell me again why voting for that guy was a good idea? It's a pretty sad state of affairs when the leader of this nation regularly turns up his nose at the laws he swore on Lincoln's bible to protect and uphold.
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Like the Blagoviator, this guy talks way too much. Then again, there's something to be said for a man who only opens his mouth long enough to switch feet...
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Quote of the Day, Part 2:

Someone needs to learn to watch where they're putting that thing.

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Give them free healthcare but require them to make an appointment to get it and what happens?

In the first five years of its controversial Urban Health Initiative, the University of Chicago Medical Center has successfully steered thousands of people with non-urgent ailments from its emergency room to other South Side hospitals and clinics that could serve as a "medical home."

But a bigger challenge has been getting people who schedule appointments through the U. of C. program to keep them.

Since the initiative was launched in 2005 with help from first lady Michelle Obama, then U. of C.'s vice president for community and external affairs, only about 35 percent of the almost 16,000 appointments made as of January had been kept, hospital executives said Thursday. [Emphasis mine.]

Lovely. Just lovely.
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Jihad Gene says, "It's Friday! Let's Dance with the Air Force!"

Alrighty, then. Everybody Dance Now!



Yabu says "I Caught Her"

And you?

Update:

Pat Hickey is making all kinds of Friday Night Noise!

Peedee reminds you that we all need somebody to lean on.

Jerry's taking a politically incorrect trip down memory lane.

Eric congratulates Dax on his promotion... then tells him to "Get a Haircut".

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One More Thing:

Go read this letter from Afghanistan, and be sure to have at least one hankie handy. You're gonna need it.

Drive-Bys

Giggle of the Day:



Once you start perusing Happy Chair is Happy... you start seeing this stuff everywhere! (Go vote for this one here.)
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After all the crappy things in the news lately, stories like this are lovely. (Anyone who's ever had a beloved stuffed animal will agree!) I hope Meare-Cat does make it home again...
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See? The Answer Angel kept her word! (Thanks, Ellen!)
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Having worked for a family law attorney a gazillion years ago and having used a mediator for my own long-ago divorce, I highly recommend anyone who has ever even contemplated walking out the door cut this article out and tuck it away, just in case.

Quite frankly, it's less expensive in all sorts of ways if you can put hurt and anger on the side and treat each other with respect if you part company. It's even more important to suck it up and remember what's important when there are kids involved.
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Ear Worm of the Day:

Architectural Tour

More photos of Transformers 3 scenery -- architectural structures this time. Look for these in the movie:

The old bus shelters have, as I predicted, taken a beating (although they're not mashed as flat as I thought as soon as I thought).

They look like a stiff breeze would tip them right over.

More bits, which were being worked on when I walked by...

Drive-Bys

This should come as a surprise to no one...

You are 18% hippie.

You're not in the lowest bracket of non-hippie-hood, but you're close. I advise a field trip to a food co-op or a farmer's market. Do a few interviews and take notes, because there will be a quiz next week to see if you've learned anything.

Are you a hippie?
Take More Quizzes

... except, perhaps, the shade of The Princess Mom, who always expected I'd get married barefoot in a Gunne Sax dress with daisies in my hair on a hillside in the country with John Denver music playing softly in the background.
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Ear Worm of the Day:



Blame it on the quiz... and Ravenwood. At least one person I know won't hold it against me, anyhow.
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For once, a newspaper takes a sensible position:

This week, U.S. District Judge James Zagel settled the latest debate over jury privacy by deciding to withhold the names of jurors in the trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his brother Robert until the trial was over.

It is in the very marrow of the bones of a news organization to defend the free flow of public information, so it feels unnatural to say this, but we think Zagel got it right.

Huzzah, sirs!
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So a federal judge struck down parts of Arizona's new immigration law? The world as we know has surely landed on its head.

Professor Jacobson explains in detail why I am not wrong to think so.
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Giggle of the Day:



Just try getting that one out of your brain!

Architectural Tour

Playing around with my new toy...

Drive-Bys

Oooo! My beloved Vande Walles caramels have some hot competition! Today I tripped over L. Frances soft caramels... and fell in love all over again:

Made with the finest ingredients, including heavy cream and Wisconsin Grade AA butter (which is churned locally) and complemented by the rich flavor of C&H brown sugar. The soft and chewy caramel is slowly cooked in copper kettles which develops an amazing caramel flavor. These are an absolute delight!

I could never buy a whole bag at once, as I'd eat them in one single sitting. Yes, they're that luscious!
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Quote of the Day:

"Yeah, I'm taking my gluteus maximus to the max."

Heh!
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SCC correctly points out that this nifty idea for leasing Chicago's bridge houses for advertising purposes during certain holidays will only cover about 1.5% of our shortfall. Whatever income they do bring in, however, will not be on the backs of individual tax payers, and I think that's good. I also think this will create significant additional revenue from tourism, as more holidays than just Christmas are involved:

Corporations each would pay up to $1 million to decorate the houses at each of the city's 14 most prominent bridges around Easter, Independence Day, Halloween and Christmas, said Philip Lynch, president and owner of Lincolnshire-based Fresh Picked Media.

The company would coordinate the effort and keep 25 percent of the profit, leaving $10.5 million for the city if the projections work out, Lynch said.

It's nice to see our aldercritters doing some thinking outside the box for a change.

More, please.
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Blago's lawyer was about to begin wrastlin' with Judge Zagel during his closing arguments today, but this important bit of breaking news hit the Tribune this morning:

What police pulled out of the water was a waterlogged stuffed doll of Looney Tunes cartoon character Sylvester the Cat.

Presumably he still has eight lives left.

That's all folks.

News gathering at its finest.
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Speaking of the Blagoviator, as predicted, he's using the "stupid" defense.

I'm tired of hearing how all of the people around him should have told him that what he was trying to do, and ordering them to do on his behalf, was illegal. He's an adult, and is responsible for his own behavior.

I really do hope he's found guilty.
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Ear Worm of the Day:



This bizarre little Bulgarian ditty oddly made me think of Zonker. (Can't imagine where that came from...)

Gotta love Europopped!

Road House Rendez Vous

This post mentions a McDonald's Frappe... which reminded me of Starbuck's Frappuchino... which reminded me of the lovely cocktail my bartender buddy Parker and I whipped up the other night:

1-1/2 oz. Three Olives Triple Shot Espresso Vodka
1/2 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1 healthy splooch Half & Half

Combine over ice. Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

You can have your chocolate martinis -- for a Bean Town Betty who grew up on iced coffee, coffee ice cream and coffee sodas, this is much mo' bettah.

Errands

Giggle of the Day:

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Quote of the Day:

“Well, I mean I want this model kitten, but in a different color.”

*Facepalm*
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Ear Worm of the Day:



Where does this come from? I haven't thought about that song in years.

Where Credit is Due

An enormous THANK YOU! to my sister and sister-in-law, without whom I never would have made it through yesterday.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Archie - Take 1:

Commercial Break:

Archie - Musical Interlude:

Commercial Break:

Archie - Take 2:

World Tour

One of my frequent retorts when hearing something entirely ridiculous is, "Yes. And I'm the Queen of Romania."

At least it appears that I'm the queen of searches for "funny-pictures-cat-butt-can-hear-ocean" from Miercurea-Ciuc. Now I'm convinced that eastern Transylvanians are more than a bit odd.

Drive-Bys

I've thought much but said little about all the coverage of accusations of racism in the news lately until now.

Here's the deal: If you lob the "racism" label at me, be prepared to give a specific example of what you think I did to earn it. Then I get to weigh whether or not what you say is true and/or valid.

If you are correct, I will apologize and take steps to correct my behavior, attitude and thinking.

If you are not correct, however...

... Pppppppppffffffffffffffffffffttttttttttttt! That's the sound of the air wheezing right out of your meaningless little word, rendering it shriveled, puny, worthless and of no consequence whatsoever to me.
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Giggle of the Day:


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

(Inspired by me and my new toy.)
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Inspired by Jay G, Calvin's Mom let's us in on her guilty pleasure.

In no particular order, here are some of mine:

• Dip made of two heaping spoonfuls of French Onion dip and two heaping tablespoons of Pace Picante sauce (hot), mixed well, with Tostitos Hint of Lime tortilla chips right before bed
• VandeWalle's vanilla caramels
  
• Nick Digilio
• Country music -- the old sappy stuff
• Musicals -- movies, television and stage
• Fonseca 1977
• Karaoke
• Cowboy hats and boots
  

Yours?
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Jihad Gene says, "It's Friday! Let's Dance Like Mexicans!"

I say, "Oh, Mexico!"



Billy Sweetfeets Gingersnap Norton is grooving to Pina Colada Boy.

Doug from Sligo, on the other hand, is in a Newport (Ymerodraeth) State of Mind.

How about you?

Update:

Joanie wants to know If You Know Love?

Drive-Bys

Ear Worm of the Day:



(Via europopped.) It's wedged firmly between my ears and won't go away!
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"The donkey screamed and children cried" is not a line from American Pie. Although it could have been...

Poor thing.
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Ghetto parenting at it's very best:

Two men who both have children with a young woman who was also on the scene began arguing, according to police Lt. Ted Roberts, who was assigned to the Gresham District the night of the incident.

The altercation was between the victim’s mother’s current and former boyfriends, according to the police release.

The argument started because both men were trying to visit with their children at separate times and during one of the visits, one man disciplined the child of the other man, sending that man into a rage, according to Roberts.

The angry man pulled out a gun and fired at the other man and didn’t hit him but accidentally struck the child in the cheek instead. The bullet also pierced her shoulder, the lieutenant said.

Even more confusing,

The wounded baby is the child of either a sister or an aunt of the mother who has children with the fighting fathers, according to the lieutenant.

Got all that straight? (I sure don't.) According to the beginning of the article, the wounded baby's mother is the woman with the battling exes. By the end of the story, it's unclear whose baby was shot.

But that a baby was shot at all, let alone for these reasons, is horrifying.
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Remember when I said that the Blagoviator likes to pick his own audience? He may not have testified in court, but he certainly couldn't wait to try his cause in the court of public opinion again!

I've got to admit that while most of his blathering was more of the same old same old, this little gem is priceless:

At his media conference, Blagojevich also admitted he had learned from the case.

“I’ve learned a lot of lessons from this whole experience and probably the biggest . . . is that I talk too much. Thank you.’’

I don't believe that lesson will stick.

And I do believe John Kass is correct:

Our former governor had a lot to say awhile ago, but now, apparently, he doesn't have the — what did he used to call it? — the testicular virility to take the stand in his own defense, as he promised about a gazillion times.

Weenie.

Tootin' The Horn

It's here!

(And I almost had heart failure because the box weighed a ton. Turns out, it was the four different copies of the instruction manual that weigh half again what the camera itself weighs. Whew!)

Now all I want to do is go out and PLAY!

Playing Chicken

The Blagoviator blinked.

Despite what he's been saying all along, it looks like Rod and Patti won't be taking the stand.

I guess my instincts were correct!

Yes, Officer?

When I was a kid we had Band-Aid brand bandages that were size tiny and useless -- about 1/4 inch wide and about an inch long. We also had those little round dots (3/4" diameter) that dads used to stick over their shaving nicks. (Kind of like these, which apparently are good for "insect bites, zits, etc.")

Seems Mayor Shortshanks has decided to apply one of those dinky band-aid dots to the giant sucking chest wound that is the police officer shortage in Chicago.

He's hiring a whopping 100 more officers... when we're understaffed by more than 2,000.

We've got a problem here, in that a good chunk of the population here no longer fears the CPD. We've had not one, but two officers in uniform killed recently, and the last one by three thugs who walked up and robbed and killed him in daylight when there was no mistaking the fact that he was in uniform.

Yes, this last killing is different. But I fear there'll be a lot more where that one came from.

I don't care what it takes -- Daley needs to find the money and hire the manpower needed to police our streets, not make a symbolic, but useless, gesture for the media.

I truly do fear for this city.