Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Christmas is Coming...
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Red State Update: Republicans Win
Jackie and Dunlap go nuts over actual Republican victories from Tuesday.
Labels: Red State Update, Videos
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
GOP Run Amok in Arizona
Blue Collar Muse has the story out of Maricopa County, one in a disturbing trend of recent Republican episodes that tend to fly in the face of liberty and freedom. This one involves blogging and First Amendment rights, which makes it a bit more troubling even than the NRSC's taking sides against conservative Marco Rubio in Florida or the NY-23 dust-up going on now involving Doug Hoffman. Those were deals involving political ideology (specifically conservatism). This Arizona mess seems more about pure free speech and the threat of going after professional licenses and reputations if someone dares defy members of the GOP in Maricopa County.
As with most threats against bloggers, though, I bet this one comes back and bites the perpetrators in the butt. People don't tend to react well when, after you pick up the torches and pitchforks to start the lynching, someone notices that the torch is actually the U.S. Constitution set ablaze.
Chilling effect, indeed...
Labels: First Amendment
Red State Update: The Conservative Bible
"Bring on Your Wrecking Ball..."
This is by far the busiest time of the year for me. Having tracked court activity for several years now, it's become apparent that my work in the courts kicks up a notch (which, especially this year, is hard to believe) between Labor Day and a few days before Christmas. With the recession (that will continue until jobs are actually created instead of lost, despite the claims of Obama's liberal economists) having enhanced poverty in this country, the amount of cases that we have accepted through appointment in the courts to assist indigent men, women, and children have kept us scrambling, for sure.
However, it's also a busy time on a personal level. Angela has now passed the 26-week mark for the new youngun, and the nursery isn't anywhere near finished. Also, this is the difficult scheduling time of year when UT's football season overlaps with UT's basketball season. This week, for instance, has both a basketball game on Friday night and a football game on Saturday night. Plus there's the holidays, which always adds a degree of difficulty in coordination.
One particular night, though, is very much on my to-do list. On November 18th, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are playing Nashville's Sommet Center, and my wife - knowing that I had a chance to see Bruce in Chicago in 1999 but did not due to lack of funds and that I would use the same excuse again this time around - not only insisted on purchasing tickets but also mandated that she was coming with me (even though Bruce isn't exactly her cup of tea). We have seats in the 1st row of the mezzanine right next to the stage, but there are still general admission floor tickets still available as of Wednesday morning, if you are so inclined to join the festivities. Plus, since this show was rescheduled from earlier this year, Bruce has stated that it will be a special "Born to Run" show, meaning that the entire "Born to Run" album will be included in the middle portion of the show.
I can't wait. Bruce, who turned 60 a few weeks back, puts on one of the greatest shows, but he won't be around forever. Everyone hits their own wrecking ball. Writing of which, Bruce penned a new song for this tour, which he played this month as Bruce and Band closed out the Meadowlands in Jersey and the Spectrum in Philly on consecutive weekends, both of which are set for demolition in short order. Below is a clip from "Wrecking Ball" (thanks to Backstreets.com for linking to the video).
| Bruce Springsteen performs his new song Wrecking Ball at Giants Stadium |
Labels: Bruce Springsteen, Concerts, Firm Life, Football, UT Basketball
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Out of My Element This Weekend
So, the UT football team has a bye week this weekend. No one was happier than my lovely wife, who was able to talk me into attending her reunion at Vanderbilt University.
Egads. That truly is scary.
At least (assuming I survive the "football game" between a team that lost to Army last week and a team that got beaten like it's mascot had run into Michael Vick) there is something to look forward to. Box seats for Dane Cook at the Sommet Center on Saturday night should be a fun time.
Not knowing what to expect when hanging around the financial elites, I solicited advice from my network of friends as to how to survive this weekend, which, I dare say, is probably a little different from the blasty blast reunions at the University of Tennessee.
I was shocked at what I was sent. Take a look at what awaits me this weekend, courtesy of a Duke alum.
Egads. That truly is scary.
At least (assuming I survive the "football game" between a team that lost to Army last week and a team that got beaten like it's mascot had run into Michael Vick) there is something to look forward to. Box seats for Dane Cook at the Sommet Center on Saturday night should be a fun time.
Pray for me, Vol fans. Pray that I return from Nashville with my Wranglers on, pick-up truck in working order, and conservative values intact.
Labels: Football, Nashville, Vanderbilt
Red State Update: Obama's Prize
Jackie and Dunlap offer commentary on why Obama wasn't deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Labels: Red State Update, Videos
Monday, September 28, 2009
Court Orders Girl to Public School, Saying Mother's Teachings are "Too Religious"
A fascinating - and ultimately disturbing - case out of New Hampshire has a father using his child as a weapon against the mother post-divorce. Certainly nothing extraordinary there; I see the described situation nearly every day that I happen into a civil court where divorce matters are being litigated (whether they be juvenile matters, orders of protection, or other legal maneuvers that are ancillary to divorce proceedings).
What is interesting is the objection of the father. He doesn't want his child homeschooled by the mother. He thinks homeschoolers don't have enough social interaction and that will ultimately harm the child.
The judge found the 10 year old girl to be likable, socially developed, and intellectually advanced, testing well above her age-level.
He then ordered her into public school. (Guess that will bring her back to the pack, huh, judge?) The bottom line is that the judge found the mother to be too religious - and it was rubbing off on her child.
ASIDE: Where is NOW on this issue? Surely this is a violation of a woman's right to choose, right? Does it matter that she's choosing to educate at home and expose her child to religion? Isn't that a fundamental right?
Labels: Divorce, Education, Judiciary
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Happy Belated Birthday, Bruce
Yesterday (September 23rd) was Bruce Springsteen's 60th birthday. I'm not sure which is harder to believe - that he's still performing at such a high level in 2009 or that he's 60 to begin with.
Happy 60th, Bruce. We may disagree about how to do so, but there's no questioning your passion for making America great.
Labels: Birthdays, Bruce Springsteen, Videos
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Gameday at UT from a Bruin's Perspective
Oftentimes, I think that some Vol fans take for granted what a unique and wonderful thing we have every Saturday in the fall on the banks of the Tennessee River.
Read this chronicle from a UCLA fan who made a sudden and unexpected trip across the country to see his Bruins play the Vols this past Saturday.
And think about how lucky we are every time you participate in a Vol Walk, chill on the Strip after a game, or raise the roof on a big third down, because not everyone has what we have.
Read this chronicle from a UCLA fan who made a sudden and unexpected trip across the country to see his Bruins play the Vols this past Saturday.
And think about how lucky we are every time you participate in a Vol Walk, chill on the Strip after a game, or raise the roof on a big third down, because not everyone has what we have.
Labels: Football
American Disloyalty
"Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activity poses a real threat, not just to the United States, but to Iran's neighbors and our allies. The Czech Republic and Poland have been courageous in agreeing to host a defense against these missiles. As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven. If the Iranian threat is eliminated, we will have a stronger basis for security, and the driving force for missile defense construction in Europe will be removed." - President Obama, April 5, 2009.
"I think we are fully capable and secure dealing with any present or future potential Iranian threat.. The whole purpose of this exercise we are undertaking is to diminish the prospect of the Iranians destabilizing that region in the world. I am less concerned -- much less concerned -- about the Iranian potential. They have no potential at this moment, they have no capacity to launch a missile at the United States of America." - Vice President Joe Biden, September 17, 2009.
I know that the focus for our country has been domestic as of late, as President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Max Baucus try desperately to destroy economic and social freedom in this country by the end of the year, but the action by Obama to turn America's back on our former allies is the largest foreign policy shift in recent times. No longer are we on the side of Great Britain, Germany, Poland, and so many of the other members of NATO and Eastern Europe who joined our causes, such as the war on terror, over the years. They have been replaced, because this maneuver puts us in bed with such countries as Russia, North Korea, Iran, China, and Venezuela, all who have spoken out against the missile defense shield and the prospects of America being able to defend itself and its allies from attack.
The tin-foil hat club that follows Obama as if he were the Pied Piper of Chicagoland will call this hyperbole and ridiculous, but I assure you that what Obama did today hurts our standing with our allies more than anything that President Bush ever did. Not that I care what they think, because I would be more interested in what people like Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Tony Blair, and Angela Merkel feel about America turning its back on our friends.
And when you're reading Biden's quote above, keep in mind that it came out today that Iran does have the capacity to create a nuclear warhead. The International Atomic Energy Agency says so. Sorry, Joe, but you're timing - as usual - couldn't be worse.
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Labels: National Defense, NATO, President Obama, Russia
