I learned a new Spanish word today while having lunch with my boyfriend and his mom. She's the sweetest lady, and a former U.S. Army officer. Kerry's face flashed across one of the tv's in the restaurant, and the conversation went like this:

b/f's mom: What a loser. I don't listen to that culícagao.

me: what's that?

b/f's mom: In the island, that's what we say when somebody is full of shit.

me: but what does culícagao mean?

b/f's mom: shit ass.

Ha Ha, I love it! I'm going to use it.

Posted by: annika at 02:45 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 96 words, total size 1 kb.

I've been following the polls and the elections closely, but until now I've avoided making any predictions. Now, a week out, I'm ready to cut through all the MSM's pro-Democratic propaganda and all the pie-in-the-sky optimism from the right wing press.

Here are my predictions. The Senate looks tight, but I think it will take a miracle for the Republicans to retain control. By my calculations, it will be a 50/50 split after next Tuesday. Republicans will lose in MT, OH, NJ, PA and RI. I think Corker will beat Ford, keeping TN Republican, but I could be wrong about that. In MD, Steele deserves to win, and though I mistrust polls generally, they can't be that far off. I don't think Steele will do it.

An evenly divided Senate is a de facto Democratic majority, since there are enough turncoat RINOs in the Senate to do Harry Reid's bidding. The Dems also know how to play rough and they will insist on some sort of accomodation on committee chairs. Republican Senate leaders, never known for stiff spines, will cave in to these demands.

As for the House, I have just two words for you: trust Gerrymandering. The Republicans will hold the House.

Divided government here we come. Now maybe in peacetime, a Democrat Senate was tolerable, but Kerry's despicable anti-military insults yesterday illustrate clearly why the Democrats cannot be trusted with any position of leadership.

Posted by: annika at 10:23 AM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
Post contains 246 words, total size 2 kb.

1 There's only one poll that counts, and it's taken on election day. Dewine deserves to lose, but it is laughable that Sharrod Brown will win in Ohio. He is a Kucinich type flake, and an empty suit like Casey. The word is "low turnout", that works for us. Worst case, the D's end up in a blowback situation for '08. Can you say President Hunter?

Posted by: Casca at October 31, 2006 10:58 AM (Y7t14)

2 You could be right about the Senate. My guess at this point, which I think is too early, is that the Dems are +4 or +5. Still, either party can pull a Kerry in the last few days. Also, there can always be some world event that shapes perception. Two weeks are an eternity when things are this close. I think you are correct about the House, but the Dems still win 10+ seats.

Posted by: blu at October 31, 2006 11:14 AM (IDpQp)

3 Did I write two weeks? Oops! Well even a week is an eternity. Let's hope the Rep $ advantage makes a difference.

Posted by: blu at October 31, 2006 11:16 AM (IDpQp)

4 How do independents figure in? If there are two independents and both caucus with the Dems, do the "count" in the Dems favor if it ends up 49-49-2? Or does Cheney still hold the tiebreaking vote?

Posted by: ken at October 31, 2006 11:43 AM (hFZJx)

5 Ken, I'm pretty sure that the I's can caucus with either party. In this case, both the I's are committed to the Dems.

Posted by: blu at October 31, 2006 11:49 AM (IDpQp)

6 I disagree. I think there will be a record turnout of Republicans that exceeds the huge turnout of 2004. Republicans will not turnout because they like the Republican candidates. No, the Republicans will turn out to spit in the eye of the MSM and to get revenge on the MSM for their vote suppression techniques, news suppression and left-wing cheerleading. Republicans also want revenge on Democrats for all their outrageous insulting statements. We are mad as hell, and we are not going to take it anymore.

Posted by: Jake at October 31, 2006 12:15 PM (V6rxT)

7 Annika, let's hope your prediction about the Senate is as accurate as your predictions on Monday Night Football have been.

Posted by: Jason H. at October 31, 2006 02:26 PM (jTuRA)

8 Annie, before the Kerry "f" up I would agree with you, but I think a lot of pissed off repubs and independents just might remember how much they hate these guys and go out to vote against them, rather than voting for the Republicans.

Posted by: kyle8 at October 31, 2006 04:29 PM (OPhHb)

9 The Associated With Terrorists Press is running a story with Dems insiders predicting them winning 35 seats (giving them a 20-seat majority). The MSM has been running stories like this for the past two weeks. Any contrary opinion gets buried in the middle of the story. The cheerleading will be constant and loud the next few days. I've yet to see one-story about how Kerry's fuck-up might affect things. That's not part of the template.

Posted by: blu at October 31, 2006 06:01 PM (IDpQp)

10 Annie: Stick to the books. Politics is a very difficult game, a body contact sport, indeed. The most important vote, every session, is the very first one. All the others are just details. We will definitely hold the Senate, even if it is with 50, and that includes the RINO's. But if you control the Agenda, you control the pace and the issues, and don't scoff at it. I'll take every vote we can get. I also agree that we will hold the House. I am in San Francisco for a few days, hanging out with people who are intoxicated by the thought of a Pelosi Speakership. They are doing the end zone dance, before they have crossed the goal line. We Republicans are mad, and are all voting; the Democrats are dancing. My only question is: From which bridge will Nancy jump after she doesn't get the new drapes? George Washington, Golden Gate, Francis Scott Key, Golden Gate or 14th Street? Your guess is as good as mine.

Posted by: shelly at November 01, 2006 04:02 AM (Eodj2)

11 Shelly, I have to agree with you. All the old war elephants have seen this dance before. It's really hard to pickup seats. That's why you need a tidal wave like '94, you remember, the Clintons, national health care, and a congress full of check kiters. Pelosi's thugs have done a great job of October surprising and sliming the shit out of R's this year. Heh, knocking off Bob Ney was a coup. They have been masterful. The Delay thing was all part of the plan. One hopes that R's learn the lesson, which I think Boener will, and spend the next cycle ripping these NGCS's a new asshole. Ultimately, our targeted cash, and ground organization carries the day. Plus the tide of history is running R, and has been since Nixon.

Posted by: Casca at November 01, 2006 08:17 AM (Y7t14)

12 The Dems peaked too early--around Foley. But this is going to go down to the wire and be very close regardless of who ultimately winds up on top. If I had to bet, I'd go with exactly the opposite result as Annie's prediction: R's hold the Senate, D's take the House, but razor-thin margins in each. The GOP will lose PA and RI, but I think we'll pick up NJ since Menendez is such a disastrously terrible candidate and Kean has name recognition. And I do think Mike Steele will win in Maryland: Prince George's County especially will swing in his favor way beyond what the polls suggest, because black voters do not want to tell pollsters they'd vote Republican. That should be enough to even counter any voting shenanigans in Baltimore.

Posted by: Dave J at November 01, 2006 07:01 PM (GKQ+L)

13 You didn't mention Virginia. Webb and Allen have been in a statistical dead heat in the last several polls I've seen.

Posted by: Matt at November 02, 2006 08:39 AM (10G2T)

14 i think Allen will win.

Posted by: annika at November 02, 2006 09:27 AM (zxtCi)

15 We'll see. Webb just released his response to the NRA questionnaire, and he got 24 of 25 substantive questions right. I give him half-credit for the other one. (Maybe he just hasn't thought it through.) That'll play well outside Northern Virginia, though it may also be a sign of desperation.

Posted by: Matt at November 02, 2006 10:57 AM (10G2T)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

For this Very Special Halloween episode of Poetry Day, I offer a poem by the Original American Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. Some find this poem scary, and while the setting and word choice are certainly not cheery, in the end I find this tale of a lonely widower lamenting his beloved (but dead) wife sad rather than frightening.

If you like, you may go to this page to hear Basil Rathbone read "The Raven." Versions are available in mp3 and Real Audio formats.

The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
" 'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;
Only this, and nothing more."

more...

Posted by: Victor at 05:51 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 1180 words, total size 7 kb.

Don't like waiting in line? Here's an idea, idiots. Get to your polling place early.

Here's another idea. Vote absentee.

When I go to the Post Office and there's a long line, it doesn't mean I'm being discriminated against. It just means there's a lot of customers. And if I show up at the Post Office at 5:00 and they shut the door in my face, it just means that I should have got there earlier.

Another thing, idiots. If you can't figure out the ballot, fucking ask somebody to help you. Or study the sample ballot before you show up.

It ain't that hard. If voting is so important to you that you are ready to scream disenfranchisement at the drop of a hat, why not take the time to avoid problems by planning ahead.

Unless of course, crying fraud is part of your strategy for winning.

P.S. If you're one of the unfortunate voters who has to use one of these beasts, and you encounter problems, blame Florida and disregard the above. I've never trusted the idea of computer voting, its an example of knee-jerk overreaction to a nonexistent problem.

Posted by: annika at 11:30 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 200 words, total size 2 kb.

It's been a while since the last Cotillion carnival, but Beth of Blue Star Chronicles has done a wonderful job of collecting the best recent posts from the premiere group of female bloggers. Go check out Cotillion Colloquy. I'm in there!

Project Valour-IT is fundraising again. Superblogger Beth of My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy is on the Marines team, though she's an Air Force veteran. And our very own A-List blogger Cassandra is leading the Marines team.

Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of voice-activated laptops for wounded servicemembers. As of October 2006, Valour-IT has distributed nearly 600 laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines across the country.

During its initial phase, Valour-IT created “libraries” of laptops equipped with voice-controlled software for the severely wounded staying at major military medical centers. In many cases a laptop was provided to a wounded hero for permanent use.

Art and jewelry collectors take note: Holly Aho (a huge supporter of Soldiers' Angels by the way) has opened a new online store with here original artwork and jewelry. Go send her some love.

Posted by: annika at 09:12 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 205 words, total size 2 kb.

New England at Minnesota. Patriots favored by 2½ points. The opening line was closer, at 1½ points. To me, this signals that the crowd is going with NE, and I agree. On turnovers, balanced running game, and quality of their quarterback and coaching, New England is the superior team. I'll take them to cover the spread.

Result: Patriots crush the Vikings. I'm now 5 and 3!

Posted by: annika at 03:43 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 78 words, total size 1 kb.

Here are my California ballot proposition recommendations. It might be interesting to you, even if you're not from California, since it provides an insight into the workings of my political mind.

As I've said before, I have an easy way to decide on any bond issues. I vote no as a rule on every bond measure, no matter how tempting it sounds (with one exception, I vote yes on all prison bonds*). It seems to me that bond measures are a way for this state's government to spend beyond its means, even though excessive spending is its biggest problem. My philosophy is that the legislature should do its job and prioritize the budget so we won't have to rely on bonds to get things done.

I'm also sick and tired of two or three school improvement bonds every time we have an election. They generally win, because nobody (except me) wants to vote to keep kids learning under leaky roofs and without enough crayons or construction paper. Yet every election, the schools hold out their hand for more. Whatever happened to the promise that the California Lottery was supposed to solve all our school problems? I'm told that "Our schools win too" was the motto back in '84 when the lottery initiative passed. Well, I for one won't play that game anymore. Whatever they're doing with all that money isn't working, so let's cut off the spigot and force them to try something else.

Here's the propositions on the statewide ballot:

Prop 1A: TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROTECTION This initiative would force the government to use gasoline sales tax revenues for transportation improvements only, instead of dumping that money into the general fund so the legislature can squander it as they love to do. I vote YES.

Prop 1B: HIGHWAY SAFETY, TRAFFIC REDUCTION, AIR QUALITY, AND PORT SECURITY BOND Here's an example of a bond measure with worthy goals, which I will reject simply because of my hard and fast rule about bond measures. If the legislature would do its job, cut the frivolous spending, and cut regulation and taxes to keep businesses from fleeing the state, we'd have enough money to do this kind of shit without mortgaging our future with 39 billion more in bond debt. I vote NO.

Prop 1C: HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER TRUST FUND More bonds. Hey, I'm all for helping out battered women and their kids, low-income seniors, the disabled, military veterans, and working families. But again, if this is such a priority, the legislature should find a way to do it without adding to the bond debt. Otherwise, let's encourage private charities to continue their good work in this area. I know that there are many fine non-profits that help battered women and provide shelter for their families, because I did pro-bono work for one of them last year. I vote NO.

Prop 1D: KINDERGARTEN–UNIVERSITY PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES BOND Another school bond. See above. I vote NO.

Prop 1E: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND FLOOD PREVENTION BOND Another bond. I vote NO.

Prop 83: SEX OFFENDERS. SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS. PUNISHMENT, RESIDENCE RESTRICTIONS AND MONITORING This initiative tightens punishment and monitoring of violent sexual predators. Again, where was the legislature on this? Why is such an important public safety issue being left up to the initiative process? A definite YES vote.

Prop 84: WATER QUALITY, SAFETY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, PARK IMPROVEMENTS, BONDS All important and worthy goals, which I support — Just not by increasing the bond debt. I sound like a broken record here. I vote NO.

Prop 85: WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINORÂ’S PREGNANCY This proposition would require a doctor to notify parents when a minor comes in for an abortion, with certian exceptions. If I had a kid, I'd want to know if she was going to have an abortion. I don't care if some other kid doesn't have a good relationship with her parent. I'd want to know about my daughter. It's that simple. I vote YES.

Prop 86: TAX ON CIGARETTES This initiative would add $2.60 in taxes to each pack of cigarettes. Right now, they're about $5 a pack. If this initiative passes, a pack would cost more than it does in New York City. I was shocked at the cost of cigarettes during my last trip to New York. I suppose I should favor this proposition because it might motivate me to quit. But realistically, even though I grumbled, I still paid the seven bucks when I was in New York. I generally oppose sin taxes, because they encourage the black market. We already have enough problems with drugs and illegal aliens coming across the border without creating a whole new market for contraband. I vote NO.

Prop 87: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY. RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, INCENTIVES. TAX ON CALIFORNIA OIL PRODUCERS This is the most controversial measure on California's ballot. President Clinton is doing tv spots in favor of this plan, which would create a whole new alternative energy research bureaucracy funded by a tax on oil drilling in California. The opposition ads are disingenuous because they do not say that the law would prevent oil companies from passing on the tax to the consumer. It sounds tempting, especially to those who don't understand economics. But when you do the research, this proposition reveals itself as one of the worst ideas to come down the pike in a long time. Virtually every major newspaper to opine on the issue agrees that it's a horrible idea. And I'm talking the San Francisco Chronicle, the L.A. Times, the Sacramento Bee, the O.C. Register and the Wall Street Journal. That's a pretty wide sampling of the editorial spectrum there. I'd encourage anybody undecided on this measure to read those editorials, which can be found here. As much as we'd all like to stick it to the oil companies, It doesn't make much sense to punish them for developing domestic oilfields in order to achieve energy independence. If it's no longer profitable to drill in California, guess where our oil will come from? That's right, overseas. I also have a problem with the prohibition against passing the new tax on to the consumer. In my view, the way to encourage alternative energy sources is to let the free market work. High gas prices are the best way to create a demand for the new technology, not a poorly regulated and graft ridden new bureaucracy. I vote NO.

Prop 88: EDUCATION FUNDING. REAL PROPERTY PARCEL TAX The schools got their hand out again. They're like the cookie monster, except it's not Chips Ahoy they want, it's your money. This time they want to add $50 to everybody's property tax bill. If we let them, next year it will be another $50 or maybe $100. Just say NO.

Prop 89: POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, PUBLIC FINANCING, CORPORATE TAX INCREASE, CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE LIMITS Another corporate tax increase at a time when California needs to stop business from fleeing out of state. How is that a good idea? And how is it a good idea to make it harder for ordinary Californians to run for office by requiring "a specified number of $5.00 contributions from voters?" This initiative also puts limits on political contributions to state candidates, which is a free speech issue. I vote NO.

Prop 90: GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION, REGULATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY The last ballot initiative is the Protect Our Homes Act, which I first heard about from Tim Sandefur. This is the anti-Kelo initiative. It would basically prevent the state government from using its eminent domain power to grab your property and give it to some corporation, which is what happened in the Kelo case. If you hated Kelo, vote for this. I vote YES.

There you have it. Since I encourage all my blog's visitors to be in complete agreement with me, I suggest that you Californians print out this post and take it with you on November 7th.
_______________

* The reason I vote against school bonds and for prison bonds is not because I'm a heartless bitch. I understand the argument that better schools may lead to fewer criminals. But school bonds always win, and yet we still need prisons. Insofar as my one vote can be a message, I plan to send that message. Where school bonds are concerned, my message is that the state should use the gobs of money we send them for schools each year more wisely. As for prisons, they're an unpopular but necessary part of our infrastucture, and my message is that I want them built. As the late Ann Richards said of Texas' vast prison system, when asked what kind of a message it sent to the world: "If you commit a crime in Texas, it means we got a place to put you."

Posted by: annika at 10:35 AM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
Post contains 1482 words, total size 9 kb.

Or more specifically, Beaver DE Jeff Van Orsow lends Cal a hand, by batting away John David Booty's last ditch pass to send the game into OT. Beavers win (despite wearing the NCAA's ugliest uniform) and Cal moves into sole possession of first place in the Pac-10.

Thanks Beevs!

Posted by: annika at 04:28 PM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
Post contains 59 words, total size 1 kb.

Here it is, the long-awaited first music video from Peter Pumpkin The Spectacular Pumpkin!

I call it "Pumpkin Nation." It's a poignant story of love triangulation, set to a pulsating beat.

From Paris Hilton to David Hasselhoff and William Shatner, it's natural for cultural icons to branch out into the world of music video. Peter Pumpkin is no exception. So gimme a break.

Pumpkin Related: How to carve a pumpkin, Klingon style! Here are some other ideas for Halloween. via Kevin.

Posted by: annika at 08:41 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 85 words, total size 1 kb.

1 spellbinding...then again, its been pouring rain all day

Posted by: jimi at October 28, 2006 11:12 AM (apKKo)

2 BWAHAHAHAHAA the California long haired golden boys are finally defeated. This time, Beavers Devour Trojans! Schadenfreude is so sweet!

Posted by: kyle8 at October 28, 2006 04:12 PM (lRc3c)

3 Heh. That reminds me of one of those Aqua Teen Hunger Force commercials I've seen before. All it needs now is some Mooninites and it'll be golden.

Posted by: reagan80 at October 28, 2006 04:24 PM (dFOlH)

4 Excellent.

Posted by: Mike C. at October 30, 2006 04:21 AM (GIL7z)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Chris Matthews has been obsessing over the chick from the Ford ad all week. I think he's smitten. He keeps calling her "sexy, sexy, naked, naked, very alluring, sexy, naked," etc.

But she just isn't that hot. Seriously, I don't even think Casca would go after her. Well, maybe after a few Bacardi and Cokes, I don't know.

More: In Australia, there is a conservative politician running for a seat in a district named, coincidentally, Forde. Her name is Hajnal Ban and she is something.

via AWH

Posted by: annika at 08:52 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
Post contains 91 words, total size 1 kb.

And just in case you thought a cease fire in the north meant peace all over Israel, think again.

Just because the anti-semitic media in this country doesn't deem it news don't meant this shit ain't still happening almost every fucking day.

P.S. The comments under the article are crazy. Man, if a Kassam rocket landed in my yard, but I was only "lightly injured" do you think I would: a) say "no harm no foul," and go on with my day, or b) get pissed as hell and start screaming nonstop until I saw warplanes flying back from Gaza with empty hardpoints.

via Morning Coffee

Posted by: annika at 09:56 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 114 words, total size 1 kb.

Australia's leading moslem dude says any chick who's not dressed like this...

...is just asking to get raped.

Sheik Hilali was quoted as saying: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside ... without cover, and the cats come to eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat's? The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab [the headdress worn by some Muslim women], no problem would have occurred."

Nice religion, assholes.

Posted by: annika at 09:02 AM | Comments (28) | Add Comment
Post contains 130 words, total size 1 kb.

Score one for our side.

"It cannot be ruled out that the drawings have offended some Muslims' honor, but there is no basis to assume that the drawings are, or were conceived as, insulting or that the purpose of the drawings was to present opinions that can belittle Muslims," the court said.

The seven Muslim groups filed the defamation lawsuit against the paper in March, after Denmark's top prosecutor declined to press criminal charges, saying the drawings did not violate laws against racism or blasphemy.

The plaintiffs, who claimed to have the backing of 20 more Islamic organizations in the Scandinavian country, had sought $16,860 in damages from Jyllands-Posten Editor in Chief Carsten Juste and Culture Editor Flemming Rose, who supervised the cartoon project.

h/t Right Thinking Girl

Posted by: annika at 08:44 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 161 words, total size 1 kb.

A boy got stuck inside a friggin' toy machine today! Can you believe it?

Crazy kids. Whattayagonnado?

After dropping $20 in quarters, Dad finally gave up 'cuz the stupid claw thing kept dropping the kid. "Those damn things are rigged," he was heard saying as he drove away in frustration.

Charles E. Cheese could not be reached for comment.

Developing.

Posted by: annika at 11:32 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 70 words, total size 1 kb.

This is so wrong on too many levels.

Posted by: annika at 08:50 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 16 words, total size 1 kb.

I got an e-mail from Nancy Pelosi today. No lie. I'm on some Democrat list, inexplicably. I thought it was a weird e-mail because it was titled "what we need to do," yet she pretty much avoided mentioning any of the key issues of the day. So much for a Democratic version of the Contract With America.

Here is the entire text of the e-mail:

Dear annika,

You know how high the stakes are -- so I'll get right to the point: there's never been a more critical time to highlight the priorities everyday Americans share.

Right now, working families suffer because corporate lobbyists write the laws. Our seniors can't get the drugs they need because the drug companies get everything they want. And President Bush continues to threaten one of our society's greatest accomplishments -- Social Security -- with his risky privatization schemes.

Congress needs to focus on an agenda that benefits the American people:

* Impose new rules and regulations to break the link between lobbyists and legislation
* Allow the government to negotiate with drug companies and fix Medicare Part D
* Stop Social Security and Medicare privatization plans in their tracks
* Raise the minimum wage to $7.25
* Cut the interest rates on student loans in half
* Roll back subsidies to Big Oil and gas companies
* Enact all the recommendations made by the independent 9/11 Commission

And that all needs to be done in the first 100 hours!

Working together, we will make that happen. Please help Americans United today:

http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/100hours

There's a lot at stake in the coming weeks, but we must never lose focus on the task at hand: building a better country. Your work changes the national debate, raising awareness about the misplaced priorities of the current leadership.

Last year, Americans United led the national media campaign against Social Security privatization -- and won.

Now, with so much more at stake, will you help us win again?

http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/100hours

Onward to victory.

Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader, U.S. House of Representatives

(It's nice that the Democrats want to cut student loan rates in half, but if you can't afford 8% over thirty years with the almost unlimited deferment schemes available, something is seriously wrong with your post college career path.)

I'm sorry but that was a weird e-mail. It's weird because she said absolutely nothing about the big issues that people are arguing about — the issues that are going to get people off their ass and down to the voting booth less than two weeks from now.

She said nothing about Iraq.

Nothing about the War on Terror.

Nothing about impeachment.

Nothing about tax cuts.

Nothing about gay marriage.

Nothing about abortion.

Nothing about crime.

Nothing about North Korea.

Nothing about Iran.

Nothing about the border.

The Democrats are either a party with no agenda or a party with a hidden agenda. Either way, they absolutely cannot be trusted with a majority.

Posted by: annika at 07:40 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 503 words, total size 3 kb.

Today represents a confluence of five favorite blog themes: poetry, drama, politics, history and religion. Today is St. Crispin's Day. Wikipedia says this about Saints Crispin and Crispinian.

Crispin and Crispinian were once the Catholic patron saints of cobblers, tanners, and leather workers. Born to a noble Roman family in the 3rd century AD, Saints Crispin and Crispinian, twin brothers, fled persecution for their faith, winding up in Soissons, where they preached Christianity to the Gauls and made shoes by night. Their success attracted the ire of Rictus Varus, the governor of Belgic Gaul, who had them tortured and beheaded c. 286. In the 6th century, a church was built in their honor at Soissons.

The feast day of Saints Crispin and Crispinian is October 25. However, these saints were removed from the liturgical calendar (but not declared to no longer be saints) during the Catholic Church's Vatican II reforms.

The reasoning used by Vatican II for this decision was that there was insufficient evidence that Saints Crispin and Crispinian actually existed. Indeed, their role as shoemakers, their relationship as twins, and the timing of their holiday are suggestive of the possibility that they could have represented a local Celtic deity (Lugus-Mercurius) which had been made into a saint as a result of syncretism. [links omitted]

That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:

And let's not forget too, that 62 years ago was day three of the biggest naval battle in history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Posted by: annika at 10:43 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
Post contains 332 words, total size 3 kb.

In case regular readers of Annika's Journal haven't noticed, she has left Poetry Day in my hands. Since I can do whatever I like with Poetry Day, I've declared the last Wednesday of the month will be dedicated to Bad Poetry. This week: NASCAR Poetry.

A few weeks ago, I had some fun at NASCAR's expense, asking, "Notice there's no real good NASCAR poetry out there?" Believe me, there's not (I looked. Lord, how I looked!) and I doubt there ever will be.

I state this because NASCAR isn't a sport that lends itself to poetry. I realize there is strategy and drama and winners and losers, but the sport in and of itself isn't poetic. In fact, NASCAR and poetry are so far apart, the thought of combining the two was turned into a joke at The Specious Report. Take a look at NASCAR haiku, as printed in that article:

Pit crew watches, waits;
Tire tread and ashpalt embrace
Sweet sigh of relief.

Kids can't really "play" NASCAR, while lots of kids play football, baseball, basketball...you get the idea. NASCAR will never inspire anything like How To Play Night Baseball.

But still, some try. I suspect T. is a very nice person--the kind of person who'll give you the shirt off her back, invite you to her house & feed you until you can't move, and make you feel like a friend you've known since the day you were born. I kind of feel bad about making fun of her poetry.

I mean, she has a poem to her pets on her page! Anyone with pets is OK in my book. But take a look at this:

A Prayer For The Drivers
This is a prayer to say before every race begins
To keep all the drivers safe and God bless whoever wins
So bow your heads with me, and together we will ask
That God protect every driver for each and every lap...
"Dear God in heaven we ask you to watch over this track
and keep these drivers safe and sound for every single lap
watch them and protect them with your caring watchful eye
and bless them each and every time a green flag lap goes by
we pray there are no cautions because of a crash
and let them continue to race this race until the very last
so which ever driver makes his way to Victory Lane
we, the fans, know you heard our prayer
and blessed us all the same...
Amen"

Umm...OK. This is a nice sentiment (although every time I read God bless whoever wins I want to continue The rest of you LOSERS can go to hell! ) but the meter is generic (when it's not blown completely), the rhyming is forced at times, and it almost sounds as if it was produced by the head of the Prom comittee who's about to blow her own deadline or something...I dunno. Bad poetry leads to bad analogies.

Posted by: Victor at 05:05 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 576 words, total size 3 kb.

1 One might think that I'd relish the weekly opportunity to bitchslap this nitwit. Alas, it's reached the level of beating an idiot child, and this I can not do. One holds that he MUST be one of God's creatures, although one found on the more extreme end of the spectrum of stupidity. I shall avert my gaze.

Posted by: Casca at October 25, 2006 06:18 AM (Y7t14)

2 haha, bad poetry leads to bad analogies, lol speaking of racing poetry, one lyric immediately jumped in my mind: "Reluctantly crouched at the starting line, Engines pumping and thumping in time. The green light flashes, the flags goes up, Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup." Sounds familiar? i love that song, remember the video here. there's no cars in it, but the lyrics are definitely about some type of car race.

Posted by: annika at October 25, 2006 07:51 AM (qQD4Q)

3 BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Strawman gets PWN3D!

Posted by: Radical Redneck at October 25, 2006 09:47 AM (IsmEM)

4 Hello Victor, What a great theme. I actually grew up around a place that sponsered a stock car. I could hear the races at night and I lived like 5 miles from the track. The only other thing I had to add is that there is a very cool murder mystery series by Janet Evonovich (or something like that) one of which is called Metro Girl. Drake Steel

Posted by: Drake Steel at October 29, 2006 10:31 AM (vrCzD)

5 Funny that you didn't come across my blog during your search: http://nascarpoetry.blogspot.com/ It's mostly lyrics to popular songs altered into NASCAR race reviews, but the site started out with a handful of poems about NASCAR. I admit that none of my work is T.S. Eliot, but for the benefit of your argument, I suggest you take a gander.

Posted by: Brock Beard at October 31, 2006 05:25 PM (0WbFA)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Posted by: annika at 07:03 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 14 words, total size 1 kb.

According to today's New York Times,

In many ways, the economy has not looked so good in a long time.

“Voters overwhelmingly don’t approve of the president on the economy,” said Amy Walter, a senior editor at the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan firm that handicaps political races. “It comes down to the issue of credibility. And so many voters feel so pessimistic about the direction of the country.”

As you can see, since WWII, unemployment has been over 5% a lot more than it's been under. Yet you still get comments like this one:

Ann O’Callahan, a 64-year old Irish immigrant in suburban Philadelphia, defines herself as a social conservative. She voted Republican in 2000, but switched to the Democrats in 2004. This year she plans to vote Democratic again, mainly because of the economy. “I am very disturbed by the economic policies of the Bush administration,” she said.

Ms. OÂ’CallahanÂ’s district, PennsylvaniaÂ’s Seventh, is an island of relative affluence. The median income in the area, according to the Census Bureau, topped $63,000 last year, more than a third higher than the national median. According to Economy.comÂ’s analysis, based on county data, unemployment this year in the district should average 3.8 percent, well below the national average.

But, Ms. O’Callahan said, jobs were not enough. “I work with job placement so I see up close how a lot more work is demanded of people, how benefits are disappearing, how hourly rates have been stagnant throughout the Bush administration,” she said. She said that jobs were plentiful, “but paying $8 an hour with no benefits.”

We need entry level jobs. They're where most people start out. And they're good for students and retired people. Look at what's going on in France where "youths" are burning busses and attacking police because their country won't allow businesses the freedom to offer entry level jobs.

With the Dow over 12,000 and unemployment under 5%, I say the economy is doing great.

Posted by: annika at 02:06 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
Post contains 469 words, total size 4 kb.