Category: Bits and Pieces

As a public service announcement to those of my United States readers who, for your entire lifetimes, have been springing forward in April, don’t forget that this year, we’re springing forward in March.  This weekend, March 11, is the new spring daylight savings time change day.  Hmmm….

As you know, the U.S. Mint is trying to sell the public on a new series of one dollar coins. It makes sense. Although they’re more expensive to make than paper bills, they have greater longevity. However, having held these coins in my hand, I can tell you that they

My phone lines are inoperative. The nice computer voice at my local phone company has assured me that it’s the phone company’s fault, and that I should have service back by Friday night. How comforting. Thank goodness I have a cell phone and cable internet access. My sister missed a

I can’t think of anything better to say than to quote Mark Steyn’s take on the Scooter Libby trial outcome: I have no idea whether Scooter Libby is a “good man” or a partisan hack, but I certainly hope he has a Bush pardon in his pocket or in his

You know you’re tired when you look in the mirror, see dark circles under your eyes, and assume that they’re make-up that’s drifted down, only to discover that no amount of make-up remover will take those shadows away! Reminder to self:  get more sleep.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xESiWCzdllY]

It was a very, very busy weekend.  With the exception of a minute to check my email and comments, I never made it near the computer.  That didn’t stop me from thinking, though, and as soon as I’m done with this service call, I’ll start blogging in dead earnest. If

The Watcher’s Council, residing comfortably at Watcher of Weasels, has again carefully reviewed 12 council-authored blog posts and 14 posts from the rest of blogosphere. As I’m discovering week after week, this is a great way for me to learn and read things that I wouldn’t otherwise know about. Aside

I’m back — and have been so busy unpacking and tidying, that I haven’t even read the headlines.  I did, however, want to tell you that, if you find yourself near Goleta, California (north of Santa Barbara) in winter, you absolutely must visit the Coronado Butterfly Preserve.  Tens of thousands

Except in the rare circumstance when genocide is the goal, war is never an end in itself. It is always a means to the end of a better negotiating position. Someone in one of these threads mentioned the old saying that war is diplomacy by other means. With this in

I was told yesterday that I am a “warmonger.”  I opposed the invasion of Iraq.  But I’m a warmonger.  I believe that war should be used only as a last resort.  But I am a warmonger.  Why?  Well, because I refuse to denounce all war as evil.  Because I believe

Are you proud to be an American (or a German, or a Brazilian, or whatever nationality your are)? Why, or why not? I’ll share my answer with you tomorrow. I look forward to reading yours. My Answer: I am proud to be an American, but sad as well. I’m proud

Rather than start a new thread, I’m going to let the one from yesterday run another day.  The conversation is the most important one we could possibly have here, and it appears to just be gaining momentum.  I invite everyone reading this to read the comments to that post and

At your command, BigAl. In fact, my first post will feature you. A couple weeks ago I asked for everyone, but especially liberal readers of this blog for their positive ideas on what America should do now to counter the jihad that is being waged against us. After a false

I’m off for a few days (ski week, although we’re not skiing) and I’ll be without computer access.  I’m therefore keeping my fingers crossed that DQ will have the time and the inclination to blog here.  I always love coming back to my blog after he’s taken over, because his