A blog post without topic
<snip>
There’s another word I’m gonna haul out to describe the world today: doldrums. You know, that feeling of being stuck, becalmed, stranded. The August heat weighs down like wet wool. The air is a tangible thing. Being outside is like being embedded in molten amber, viscous and yellow. The days go on for weeks and the weeks feel like years.
Basically August just sucks.
<snip>
(Via The Shape of Days.)
Embedded in molten amber. Love that phrase!
Just hits the nail right on the head about Texas summers. I remember the first double take I did when the weatherman said we would have a cold front moving through and the temperatures would only get into the high 90s. That's the nature of a summer cold front around here.
Man, it's hot.
Liberty Matters: Property Rights May Be a Major 2006 Election Issue
Liberty Matters: Property Rights May Be a Major 2006 Election Issue:
The Liberty Matters News Service, writing August 5, had some good news for property rights advocates:
The Supremes' decision in Kelo v. New London in June has had some unforeseen results; people in all walks of life have suddenly realized their homes are not secure from government seizure and are taking steps to correct the problem. 'A property rights revolt is sweeping the nation, and Alabama is leading it,' said Republican governor Bob Riley, as he signed the nation's first bill to prohibit local governments from seizing private property to turn it over to other private interests. The Kelo decision has been a wake-up-call for those who have long considered property rights concerns to be 'red state' issues. 'A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found that Americans cite private property rights as the current legal issue they care most about.' Donald Lambro, writing for the Washington Times said; '[T]he property rights movement, which had been somewhat moribund before the court acted, has spawned what many political strategists expect to be a major issue in the 2006 election cycle.'
(Via Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog.)
Let's remember folks, all rights are property rights. The root of property rights is the right to ownership of yourself. Everything flows from that, and it's the reason taxation is theft and slavery.
Social Security’s Birthday
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey says the Social Security program turns 70 this week.
It seems a lot older than that.
(Via Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog.)
That's right folks, step right up and see the oldest pyramid scheme in the USA. I would say I'm amazed it lasted this long, but I'm not amazed at things like that any more. Just sad and dispirited.
Hair’s all gone!
Morgan likes to look at pictures of me from the past when I had a buzz cut. He specifically asks for "Picture. Hair's all gone?" I know he's asking to see my driver's license picture when he asks for this. I don't have it any more, because I got a new driver's license and my hair was longer at that time. For quite a while, though, it was one of his favorite pictures. If I'm lucky, I'll have short hair again and can take a picture of it.
I got this haircut in 2001, before I even came to Texas. For the longest time, Ash has cut my hair at home. We have a little box with Wahl haircutters and the plastic colored guides that let you cut a certain length. We did this when we were broke to save on the cost of haircuts, and just kept doing it. Anyway, one day Ash decided to cut my hair while she was intoxicated. Bad idea. It was going along fairly well, until she cut too far with the shorter guide. She tried to fix it, but eventually gave up and cut it all down to a quarter or half inch all over.
I liked it, but I love short short hair. Ash doesn't like it because she says I look like an axe murderer. The fun part was that I was going to a job interview in Seattle. I also got my driver's license renewed right afterwards as well. I got the job, btw, and it was the best one I've ever had. My boss was in Seattle, but I was in Dallas (this is why I moved from Maine to Dallas).
Morgan still remembers the picture and asks for it from time to time. His hair is now cut the same length as mine was, so if you see one of his pictures, you can get an idea of how short my hair was. All I have to do now is get Ash intoxicated again and get her to cut my hair.
New Phrases
Now that school has started, I'm on the lookout for new phrases by Morgan. I can usually get a little insight into what's going on at school by listening to what he's saying. A little before he started school his new phrases were "What's going on?" and "What's your problem?" He says them all the time now.
Some of his old school phrases from Kindergarden:
"Stay out of the teacher's room."
"No hitting teacher."
"Good job! Nice asking!"
"I need help please!"
"Don't touch the window!"
What will it be this year? I shudder to think about it.
The voice of Morgan
Here's one of Morgan saying daddy's current favorite phrase.
Update
Just FYI, I recorded this on my iBook's internal mike in Garage Band, exported to iTunes, then converted it to mp3 in iTunes, attached in ecto and published. Sweet! I love my Mac!!!
More Inflatable Insanity
Well, Morgan's Inflatable Insanity visit was Saturday instead of Sunday this week. He's missed a few because he was very naughty and naughty boys don't get to go to Inflatable Insanity. This week he was extra good.
We got there a little late, and this time Ash came with us. We were going to do the weekly grocery shopping this week, so that's why she came along. Usually, its just Morgan and me. I watched Morgan while Ash got to speak to other adults. It's a rare treat for her, so I didn't mind keeping an eye on Morgan. I think she had a good time. She got some email addresses and new correspondents. She told me later that someone mentioned that she should be a political activist. She has some strong opinions about circumcision and the causes of autism.
Morgan, of course, went straight for the matchbox cars. I just shake my head at this. He has almost a hundred of them at home, and he loves going on the slide, jump room and obstacle course, so I wonder what makes him go for the cars. Probably because they are familiar and he knows how to play with them. I'm not a psychologist, so I don't know for sure.
Eventually, Morgan started going around playing on the inflatable slide and such. This was a good session, because there were no bad influences around. Some of the other kids can get Morgan into trouble. He loves to play with other kids, and likes to follow them around copying them. Unfortunately, these other kids are sometimes not very well behaved. Nothing drastic, but still borderline bad.
He was really tired out by the time we were all done. We went to Wal-Mart for our grocery shopping and he was in a pissy mood because he was pretty tired. He sat in the shopping cart and basically fell asleep. He lays his head down on my arm and just zones out. Of course, we had to visit the fan section of the store first. That is a given. Once that was done, we got the groceries and he zoned out for the most part.
I bet Ash $10 that he would get his second wind by the time we got home and wouldn't feel like sleeping at all. It was around 9:30 p.m. when we arrived at home, and of course he was full of energy. I guess he rested up in the store.
When he finally went to bed he crashed hard, going to sleep very quickly. We usually simulate a marching band going through the house when we know he's asleep, with the base drums and cymbols and all. We're bad that way. It's just a cause for celebration when he finally goes to sleep. If you have a child you know what I mean, if you have a child with autism, you understand.
When it rains, it pours
Yes, I was making up for not posting anything this week.
I have a Moleskin full of other ideas for posts. Coming soon.
Lies, Damn Lies, and Limbaugh’s Press Release About Progressive Radio
Lies, Damn Lies, and Limbaugh's Press Release About Progressive Radio:
Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh, through his radio syndicator Premiere Radio Networks, sent out a press release titled "Limbaugh Leads the Race Against Liberal Talkers," purportedly comparing his ratings to those of progressive talk stations.
<snip>
The reality is that in several major markets, ratings for progressive talk are booming. In Denver, Air America's ratings are up 500% from one year ago. Seattle's newly talk-formatted KPTK, doubled in the winter [ratings] book, Portland's KPOJ-AM grew 1000% in audience share. In conservative San Diego, KLSD-AM went up 73%. Other markets with similar success include: Boston, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Sacramento and Columbus. Rush is even on the verge of being overtaken in his own home state.
An even more interesting comparison is found when looking at stations with integrated lineups that carry both Rush and a progressive host. In that apples-to-apples comparison, we see that Rush Limbaugh and Ed Schultz are actually very competitive.
(Via Think Progress.)
Blah, blah, blah. I disagree with just about everything Rush Limbaugh says, but come on! Can anyone name these "progressive" broadcasters who are beating him? Want to know who is winning the ratings war? The guy whose name everyone knows. I've heard of Rush Limbaugh, I haven't heard of your guys. Ed who?