Through the Smoke...

New material is appearing...

2007-03-06T13:44:00.000-06:00

...over at Puff House on Livejournal.

New material won't be appearing here anymore.

Apologies, but I'm going to stay mad about the whole SPAM BLOG incident.

Click the link above to visit Puff House and see the new material.

When Britney Attacks...

2007-02-28T06:11:00.000-06:00

Lesbian Cattle Haiku

2007-02-27T12:08:00.000-06:00

Heifers on parade
Confused sexuality
Splendor in the grass

Snagged the pic via A Novel Hovel...the haiku is original.

Jaime Mc in Texas

2007-02-27T09:22:00.000-06:00

Click here to enter the Jamie McMurray-Crown Royal at the Texas Motor Speedway drawing.

Must be legal drinking age to enter.

Just Us Cupdate - The Auto Club 500

2007-02-26T21:40:00.000-06:00

The Auto Club 500 at Fontana, CA

***

The Race Report...All the NASCAR News That's Unfit to Print

***

Matt Kennseth Muscles the Field at Fontana

***

Mark Martin in an Great Spot...How Long Does That Committment to Only Run a Partial Season Last, If Martin Stays in the Top 5 in Points?

***

California Unleaded

***

Three More Crew Chiefs were Fined Following Daytona

***

RaceFlash at California

***

Reutimann Goes Boom! Among Hardest Wrecks Ever Recorded

***
Gulf Oil Shows a Sponsorship Interest in Roush Fenway

***

Sunnoco Moves to Ban Kevin Harvick's Helmet from Victory Lane...This is Stupid

***

Complete Finishing Order

1 Matt Kenseth (17)
2 Jeff Gordon (24)
3 Jimmie Johnson (48)
4 Jeff Burton (31)
5 Mark Martin (01)
6 Clint Bowyer (07)
7 Kurt Busch (2)
8 Tony Stewart (20)
9 Kyle Busch (5)
10 Brian Vickers (83)
11 Denny Hamlin (11)
12 Ryan Newman (12)
13 J.J. Yeley (18)
14 Joe Nemechek (13)
15 Greg Biffle (16)
16 David Ragan (6)
17 Kevin Harvick (29)
18 Johnny Sauter (70)
19 David Stremme (40)
20 Paul Menard (15)
21 Robby Gordon (7)
22 Kyle Petty (45)
23 Tony Raines (96)
24 Elliott Sadler (19)
25 David Gilliland (38)
26 Juan Pablo Montoya (42)
27 Ricky Rudd (88)
28 Bobby Labonte (43)
29 Carl Edwards (99)
30 Jeff Green (66)
31 Casey Mears (25)
32 Dale Jarrett (44)
33 David Reutimann (00)
34 John Andretti (37)
35 Sterling Marlin (14)
36 Ken Schrader (21)
37 Jamie McMurray (26)
38 Kasey Kahne (9)
39 Dave Blaney (22)
40 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
41 Scott Riggs (10)
42 Martin Truex Jr. (1)
43 Reed Sorenson (41)

***

The Chase for the Just Us Cup-date

Place - Driver
Finishing Points
Deduction (DNQ/Prov -5, DNF -5,
Bonus (Pole +5, Most Laps Led +5, Win +5)
TOTAL

1 Matt Kennseth (17)
finish = 80
win = 5
most laps lead = 5
total = 90

2 Jeff Gordon (24)
finish = 75
pole = 5
total = 80

3 Jimmie Johnson (48)
finish = 70
total = 70

4 Jeff Burton (31)
finish = 65
total = 65

7 Kurt Busch (2)
finish = 60
total = 60

8 Tony Stewart (20)
finish = 55
total = 55

11 Denny Hamlin (11)
finish = 50
total = 50

15 Greg Biffle (16)
finish = 45
total = 45

17 Kevin Harvick (29)
finish = 40
total = 40

24 Elliot Sadler (19)
finish = 35
total = 35

29 Carl Edwards (99)
finish = 30
total = 30

32 Dale Jarrett (44)
finish = 25
provisional = -5
total = 20

37 Jamie McMurray (26)
finish = 20
total = 20

38 Kasey Kahne (9)
finish = 15
dnf = -5
total = 10

40 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
finish = 10
dnf = -5
total = 5

DNQ Michael Waltrip (55)
dnq = -5
total = -5

***
Next Up:
====================
Off week
Busch Race from Mexico City this week.
------------
March 11th - UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas, NV

Robot Chicken is Greatness...

2007-02-26T18:55:00.000-06:00

Beware Li'l Hitler!

Wow! I...Wow! There is Such a Thing as Too Flexible

2007-02-26T18:34:00.000-06:00

Imagine the shape her back is going to be in when she hits her 40's or 50's...

You'd think that this'd be hot...but...it's sort of creepy...without the sort of part.

Dice Wars...Yes...Addicting...Much

2007-02-26T17:08:00.000-06:00

Click here to play...sort of Risk based...loosely.

American Firepower...

2007-02-26T16:45:00.000-06:00

Coming Right At You

Watch Video

You think maybe the pilot saw him and kept it a little closer to the deck so it'd really mess with him.

Partition Iraq Now!

2007-02-23T10:01:00.000-06:00

The Moons of Alabama plan

***

Kurd Sellout Watch on the Slate...Should We Partition Iraq?

***

Partitioning Iraq vs. Allowing the Civil War to Happen via the Washington Post

***

It's Time to Partition via KurdishMedia

Reading this article brings up the idea that the partitioning may lead to further Balkanization into more than three countries.

***

Partition Debate Splits Iraq via the Washington Post

More recently, Simon Jenkins of The Times of London advocated partition as the last best chance for a minimally decent Western withdrawal. In a May 2006 op-ed titled, "The fantasy is over, we must partition Iraq and get out now," he wrote:

In much of Iraq everything points to a looming conflict between Shi'ites and Sunnis. To all who know these people, this is an utter tragedy, brought on by the coalition's continued presence and its failure to establish order. All recent experience of such conflict, whether in Ulster, Palestine, Sudan or Yugoslavia, sees it resolved into population movement and ethnic cleansing. This is now proceeding bloodily in and round Baghdad. It will bring an awful residue of ghost districts, refugee camps, revenge attacks and safe havens.

In Yugoslavia the solution, abetted by western intervention, was partition. In Iraq America began the same process by guaranteeing de facto autonomy to Kurdistan. That logic must now be followed to its conclusion.

***

From the University of Texas Libraries Map Collection...

***

...appears to me that the future of the people now known as Iraqis would be better served if they were three separate countries as opposed to the pseudo federalist country that was created out of a hodgepodge of post-Ottoman Empire British holdings following the World War era.

Let's Fighting Love...

2007-02-22T17:09:00.001-06:00

Let's Fighting Love

from Naruto
...and the South Park "Good Times with Weapons" episode

Hey Hey Let's Go! kenka suru
Taisetsu na mono protect my balls!
Boku ga warui so let's fighting
Let's fighting love...
Let's fighting love...

A World Without America...

2007-02-22T16:53:00.000-06:00

Oooohhhh! Wow! Good for Them...[Heavy Sarcasm]

2007-02-22T16:00:00.000-06:00

The government has arrested 195 in an illegal immigration sting.

Uh huh...propaganda much?

What about the other 12 million?

Enforce the laws already on the books, please.

Oh no, we can't deport 12 million people! It's too many.

Bull...you do it like in the elephant joke, one bite at a time.

Those that are here who begin and complete the process of becoming naturalized citizens can stay. The rest need to go back to wherever home may be.

And that whole "temporary guest worker program" is a load of crap.

Has anyone, anyone at all, heard how long temporary is?

Temporary does mean that eventually the worker would return to their homelands, correct?

If You Get a Chance, Go See This Guy at a Local Comedy Club...

2007-02-22T12:43:00.000-06:00

Thanks for sending around the video, Amy.

The Myth of the Gyroball...

2007-02-22T10:56:00.000-06:00

Hmmm, so according to this the myth of the gyroball is a reality...and it is basically a fast ball with a slightly sidearm release that doesn't have a back spin.

Interesting...wonder what it looks like to a hitter who has schooled himself to watch the ball's rotation to gauge what kind of pitch is coming at him and which way, or if, it is going to break.

Say a Little Prayer...

2007-02-21T08:31:00.000-06:00

WE INTERRUPT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CRAPTASTIC FUN FEST FOR SOME SERIOUS TALK...

We've got some family health issues going on today.

So for Nana, my Step-Dad David's Mom, and my Uncle Danny...say a little prayer today.

Me and mine would sure appreciate it.

WE NOW RETURN YOU TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CURMUDGEONLY HOST...

THANK YOU!

Windows Vista has a Message for You, Me, and the World at Large

2007-02-21T08:29:00.000-06:00

AIDS...

2007-02-20T12:32:00.000-06:00

An animated graphic showing a commentary on the spread of AIDS.

This is an eerie video to watch.

I came across it via Thor Links and linked to it via YouTube.

Love me some Barry White...

2007-02-20T12:14:00.000-06:00

Sort of a creepy way to enjoy it...but this was excellent work.

Gollum sings Barry White...excellent!

My New Favorite T-Shirt...2/20/2007

2007-02-20T08:47:00.000-06:00

This one speaks to me...HA!

Click here to purchase.

Place the State Game

2007-02-20T08:29:00.000-06:00

Click here.

The idea is to place the States of the United States on a blank map with no guidance except for the state's name and it's outline against an outline of the USA.

Beat my score and let me know about it.

Score = 90%
Avg. Error = 11 miles
time = 334 seconds

Remember that whole...

2007-02-19T17:05:00.000-06:00

Britney vs. Christina thing from back when they were new on the Pop scene...

...I guess we can declare a winner now.

Britney Spears Christina Agullera Bald Shaved Head

Comic Book Deviants...a Reason...#18

2007-02-19T16:38:00.000-06:00

Comic Book Deviants is a look back at various covers and interior art from comic books. Art that may have a tone or a subplot in the picture, intended or unintended that could have influenced the young minds...and some of the older minds of the readers who enjoy them...the comics that is.

This is from the Image Comics glory days of the early 90's. When they were THE independent comic book company and seemed poised to take the game to Marvel and DC.

Notice the little boy pulling on Santa. "Hey Santa, Check that out."

And...then...there's the whole "Glory stroking Frosty's nose" thing to worry about. And I'm not even going to touch the possible symbolism of the melting snow in her other hand.

Sold on the newsstands where all your children could see it...HA!

HO! HO! HO!

Check out all the CBD entries by clicking here.

How Close Was the Daytona 500 Finish?

2007-02-19T16:25:00.000-06:00

Racing for 500 miles only to win by .020 seconds...priceless.

You Gotta Love...

2007-02-19T15:21:00.000-06:00

...the Weekly World News.

The headline for this story...

Warrior Penguins On the March in The Falkland Islands.

Greatness...Penguins plus Grenades equals Max Silliness...and, apparently..., according to the article..., big trouble for the leopard seals who are their natural enemies.

Penguins in helmets using grenades as depth charges against Seals...yep...and someone paid for this story on the newsstand.

HA!

Just Us Cupdate - The Daytona 500

2007-02-19T13:42:00.000-06:00

The Daytona 500 at Daytona, FL

***

The Race Report...All the NASCAR News That's Unfit to Print

***

Congrats to Kevin Harvick on his First Daytona 500 Victory

Kyle Busch was out of control and all over that track on Sunday. He was shaky and jumpy and dangerous...and he caused that big wreck on the last lap. He's not a rook anymore. He doesn't have a damned excuse. He needs to pull in his horns and learn to drive at a plate race.

Of course, the media will give him a pass.

If it had been Carl Edwards, we'd be hearing talk about how he needed to learn to be more patient... Hey, media types...I'm waiting for a story that calls for Kyle Busch to learn patience... ... ... Hmmm, guess I'll be waiting awhile.

***

RaceFlash - Turn by Turn at the Daytona 500

***

Wreck-tona...That Clint Bowyer Slide Across the Start/Finish Line Was the Best

***

Scattershotting here...By the same reasoning that marks Toyota as a foreign automaker, shouldn't we call Dodge a foreign automaker too?

They are foreign owned.

Where do you think the Daimler part of Daimler-Chrysler is based?

Those Toyotas are made in the USA as Daryl Waltrip pointed out a time or two during Sunday's broadcast.

***

NASCAR heartthrob Kasey Kahne was announced as the latest addition to the Gillette Young Guns, joining Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson.

...Guess this means, he finally started shaving.

***

What the Hell was the #22 Doing When He Rocketed Through the Pits Trying to Avoid a Wreck...Exited the Pits on the Other End, Still At Speed and Smashed Ken Schrader...And Where was He the Rest of the Race?

The team ran into misfortune on lap 185 of the 200-lap race, as Blaney dove down pit road to avoid an accident on the frontstretch. With a flat right-front tire, he was unable to avoid making contact with several cars as he exited pit road.
After making a lap around the track, he headed back to pit road for four fresh tires and to give the Caterpillar team the opportunity to review any damage the contact may have made.

Unfortunately, NASCAR officials were none too pleased with the speed the Caterpillar Toyota reached on pit lane while trying to avoid the accident, and after first assessing the team a five lap penalty, they then decided to send the No. 22 to the garage for the remainder of the race. Blaney was credited with a 34th-place finish.

***

Despite Major Losses and Layoffs, Ford Seems Determined to Stay in NASCAR

***

Road Rage Outside the Dayonta International Speedway

***

Teresa Earnhardt at Daytona

***

Complete Finishing Order

1 Kevin Harvick (29)
2 Mark Martin (01)
3 Jeff Burton (31)
4 Mike Wallace (109)
5 David Ragan (6)
6 Elliott Sadler (19)
7 Kasey Kahne (9)
8 David Gilliland (38)
9 Joe Nemechek (13)
10 Jeff Gordon (24)
11 David Stremme (40)
12 J.J. Yeley (18)
13 Reed Sorenson (41)
14 Boris Said (160)
15 Robby Gordon (7)
16 Johnny Sauter (70)
17 Sterling Marlin (14)
18 Clint Bowyer (07)
19 Juan Pablo Montoya (42)
20 Casey Mears (25)
21 Bobby Labonte (43)
22 Dale Jarrett (44)
23 Carl Edwards (99)
24 Kyle Busch (5)
25 Greg Biffle (16)
26 Ricky Rudd (88)
27 Matt Kenseth (17)
28 Denny Hamlin (11)
29 Martin Truex Jr. (1)
30 Michael Waltrip (55)
31 Jamie McMurray (26)
32 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
33 Tony Raines (96)
34 Dave Blaney (22)
35 Ken Schrader (21)
36 Jeff Green (66)
37 Scott Riggs (10)
38 Ryan Newman (12)
39 Jimmie Johnson (48)
40 David Reutimann (00)
41 Kurt Busch (2)
42 Kyle Petty (45)
43 Tony Stewart (20)

***

The Just Us Cup Points Standings

Place - Driver
Finishing Points
Deduction (DNQ/Prov -5, DNF -5,
Bonus (Pole +5, Most Laps Led +5, Win +5)
TOTAL

1 Kevin Harvick (29)
finish = 80
win = 5
total = 85

3 Jeff Burton (31)
finish = 75
total = 75

6 Elliott Sadler (19)
finish = 70
total = 70

7 Kasey Kahne (9)
finish = 65
total = 65

10 Jeff Gordon (24)
finish = 60
total = 60

22 Dale Jarrett (44)
finish = 55
prov = -5
total = 50

23 Carl Edwards (99)
finish = 50
total = 50

25 Greg Biffle (16)
finish = 45
total = 45

27 Matt Kenseth (17)
finish = 40
total = 40

28 Denny Hamlin (11)
finish = 35
total = 35

30 Michael Waltrip (55)
finish = 30
total = 30

31 Jamie McMurray (26)
finish = 25
dnf = -5
total = 20

32 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
finish = 20
dnf = -5
total = 15

39 Jimmie Johnson (48)
finish = 15
dnf = -5
total = 10

41 Kurt Busch (2)
finish = 10
most laps lead = 5
total - 15

43 Tony Stewart (20)
finish = 5
dnf = -5
total = 0

Jimmie Johnson is listed ahead of Kurt Busch here only due to finishing order. Busch's team got him back on the track and he was making laps when the checkers fell therefore he is not charged with a DNF. He didn't make up enough laps to catch Johnson's listed finish position based on laps completed.

***
Next Up:
====================
The Auto Club 500 at Fontana, CA

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Winner at Daytona

2007-02-17T09:16:00.000-06:00

A hundred yards up the track, exiting Turn 4, the #6 of Travis Kvapil was in the lead and had been for a bunch of laps. Coming out of the turn, Johnny Benson in the #23 bumped the #60 of Jack Sprague rocketing him past Kvapil on the outside with Benson cutting down to try to go by underneath.

Kvapil, who probably had the best truck all night, finished third...by 0.030 seconds or something insane like that.

Congrats to Jack Sprague on the win.

I love the Truck Series. I'm hopeful that the Car of Tomorrow will take Cup Racing closer to this type of excitement.

Jeff Gordon's #24 Fails Post Race Inspection

2007-02-16T00:03:00.000-06:00

Funny how when one of the golden boys cars has something wrong that would provide an aero advantage, he is only penalized by having to start at the rear of the field for the Daytona 500.

The rear panels on his car were as much as an inch low when it was fitted with the templates after the qualifying race.

Considering that the holes in the #9, 10, and 19 were about aero advantage too, shouldn't Gordon's crew chief have been sent home for, at least, the Daytona 500 and, then, he should have been fined either $25,000 and 25 points or $50,000 and 50 points?

I mean, if NASCAR is concerned about being fair and even handed, this would only make sense to me.

Oh Good God, Why?

2007-02-15T17:47:00.000-06:00

Milli Vanilli, the Movie

Geez!

Dammit...now I've done it...guess what I've got earworming in my head...

Girl you know its true...

Oooh, oooh, oooh, I love you...

Make it stop...GAAAAHHHH!

JUC: The Duels...

2007-02-15T17:10:00.000-06:00

Michael Waltrip in a back-up car, with no practice on it, raced his way into the Daytona 500 via the qualifying 125 mile race.

Tony Stewart won the first of the Duels. Jeff Gordon the second.

The field should be set now, but I haven't found a listing online yet. When I do I'll post it.

It's almost time...

Next up...the Daytona 500.

JUC: More NASCAR Suspension and Penalty Talk

2007-02-15T13:48:00.000-06:00

Via ESPN this time.

MWR has either fired or will fire David Hyder, the #55 crew chief.

Toyota is sending a notice out to their teams that MWR has used up the first two strikes...with the implied threat that the next team that steps out of line will face a loss of manufacturer support.

Adopt a Dog in Your Local Area...

2007-02-15T13:10:00.000-06:00

And with a couple proofs of purchase, get a Dogs Rule t-shirt.

The form for the Search a Shelter and Adopt a Dog are at the bottom of this link. Let's you search based on distance from your zip code, size of dog, age of dog, breed of dog...

...warning if you are a soft touch like me, you're gonna want to bring 'em all home with you.

The Hanoi Chicks Still Don't Get It...

2007-02-15T12:22:00.000-06:00

Sigh.

This article tries to explain that the Grammys don't get country music.

That's why mainstream popular country is never honored at their awards.

Note: the Dixie Chicks won the Grammy for Album of the Year for an album that didn't make it above #36 on the Country charts...doesn't that say something.

It does to me.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T22:22:00.000-06:00

Love Stinks! by the J. Gelis Band

Valentine's Day is on the date when the Roman Catholic Church used to celebrate the Feast of St. Valentine. A Roman Catholic Saint, who they aren't sure who was...or where he was from...or even which one of three different guys named Valentus he was...take your pick. Happy Martyrdom.

JUC: Michael Waltrip Racing and the #55 NAPA Toyota Camry

2007-02-14T21:58:00.000-06:00

Michael Waltrip Racing takes the bullet...and, apparently, deserved it.

He is being docked 100 points.

His crew chief and team director are suspended from NASCAR events indefinitely.

The substance was jet fuel. Jet fuel..., I guess, will boost octane, allowing the engine to run at a higher horsepower.

Toyota is not pleased.

Waltrip issued a statement.

"During preparations for the 2007 season and especially the 2007 Daytona 500, I specifically requested that our competition teams not disrespect NASCAR, our competitors or our sponsors by blatantly circumventing the rules, Waltrip said. "This is not the action of an organization, a manufacturer or a sponsor. This was an independent act done without consent or authorization from me or any of my executive management team.

"As an owner, I realize I am ultimately held responsible for the actions of my employees. Therefore, I accept the penalties issued tonight by NASCAR."

Wow!

Turns out that isn't the biggest penalty though. A few years ago, also a fuel additive case, Jeremy Mayfield was fined 150 points at a Talladega race.

Everham and Roush are upset by the severity of the penalties.

Jack Roush's comments about appealing NASCAR rulings was telling though. When NASCAR makes up their mind, they've made it up.

My favorite quote though was from Matt Kenseth, which I'm sure is being repeated by all us Haters of the 48. He was asked if he felt the penalty fit the crime.

"No. I talked with John Darby a little bit last night and the only thing that I kind of want to make clear is an infraction last year that somebody got suspended for, no points was 10 times graver infraction than this was.

JUC: Welcome Back and Welcome Aboard...

2007-02-14T16:11:00.000-06:00

Welcome back and welcome aboard for the Just Us Cup '07.

A last congrats to last year's champs; John Ellison and Jason "Captain America" Tucker for Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson's performances, respectively.

And a welcome aboard to JUC newbies, Guy Staats campaigning Matt Kenseth, Steve Cline with Tony Stewart, Puddin' Cline Racing with Jeff Burton, and GiGi Calvert with Denny Hamlin.

Comic Book Deviants...a Reason...#17

2007-02-13T16:09:00.000-06:00

Yes, Mr. Fantastic, your brilliant plan to stop the gamma irradiated Hulk is working.

All these years...all these long, long years and there it was...the way to stop the Hulk was...

...to shoot him in the ass.

Check out all the CBD entries by clicking here.

JUC: Just Us Cup Roster...

2007-02-13T16:00:00.000-06:00

The Driver List is available here. If you want to sign up for Just Us Cup Fantasy NASCAR, now is the time. Check the list in the table above for taken drivers. Check the link above for available drivers. Drop me an email here. And sign up today.

4 Days to the Daytona 500.

JUC: Kahne and Kenseth...Riggs and Sadler

2007-02-13T14:08:00.000-06:00

Kahne and Kenseth's qualifying times have been disallowed.

They will start at the back of the pack in the second Duel race tomorrow.

KTCK, Sports Radio 1310 the Ticket, in the DFW market has announced that there will be a point deduction levied against both teams and their crew chiefs will be invited not to come to races for a portion of the season, beginning at Daytona.

Now...the problem there is...Jimmie Johnson, the Golden Child of NASCAR, had issues last year at Daytona. His crew chief got busted and such. But...BUT, there was not a point penalty assessed. And he went on to win the Cup by just 56 points over Matt Kenseth.

Seems like we've got a double standard at work there.

I haven't heard or seen confirmation of the points penalty from any other source. If confirmation comes down, I will post it.

Confirmation has come down...

Kenseth, Kahne, Riggs, and Sadler were all docked points and have had their crew chiefs suspended.

Reiser(17) and Francis(9) are suspended for 4 races. Childers(10) and Brown(19) are suspended for 2 races.

Kahne and Kenseth have been docked 50 points and fined $50,000. Riggs and Sadler have been docked 25 points and $25,000 points.

Apparently all for aerodynamic reasons.

This is supposedly part of NASCAR's new tougher enforcement policy. Let's see how these situations are handled when its one of the media's love children; Jr. Smoke, Jimmie, or Jeff...since a NASCAR telecast can't go five minutes without mentioning one of them...even if the bastards aren't even sniffing the Top Ten...don't believe me...time it.

No word as of yet on the fate of Michael Waltrip as regards his car being taken by NASCAR for the mysterious substance that was found in the manifold of his #55 NAPA Toyota Camry.

Duuuude.....Duuuuuke?

2007-02-12T16:06:00.000-06:00

Duke falls out of the Top 25 for the first time since 1995.

Wow!

That's a helluva run, second only to that UCLA run back in the 60's.

Not Ready to Make Nice...

2007-02-12T15:47:00.000-06:00

You know what...

I'm not ready to make nice with the Hanoi Chicks either.

That song's lyrics are entirely too preachy for a group trying to win back their fan base...or course the Hollywood Grammy audience loved them.

Yes, they are entitled to their opinions.

So am I.

We were one of those households that tuned out when they started their big doings at the Grammys.

If the words of the song are true and they want that forgiveness, then they should recognize that an American disrespecting a President is one thing...an American doing so on foreign soil at a time of crisis is quite another.

That said, I like Rick Rubin. I loved, LOVED, his work with Johnny Cash. Maybe on his next project, he'll work with someone I can listen to without gagging.

Dixie Chicks

Just Us Cup 2007

2007-02-12T15:25:00.000-06:00

It's almost here...

Kevin Harvick------29-Shell--------------John Ellison
Greg Biffle--------16-Ameriquest---------Jerry Hood
Matt Kenseth-------17-DeWalt-------------Guy Staats
Kasey Kahne-------- 9-Dodge Dealers------Cadi Reid
Carl Edwards-------99-Office Depot-------Mark "Puff" "Cheese" "Frank" Anderson
Jimmie Johnson-----48-Lowes--------------Jason "Captain America" Tucker
Dale Earnhardt Jr-- 8-Budweiser----------Stephanie Cline
Jeff Gordon--------24-DuPont-------------Craig Cline
Dale Jarrett-------44-UPS----------------Darla "Phyllis" Kenney
Jamie McMurray-----26-Irwin/Crown Royal--Cadi Reid
Elliott Sadler-----19-Dodge Dealers------Chris Dinges
Kurt Busch--------- 2-Miller Lite--------Nancy Cline
Michael Waltrip----55-Napa---------------Cadi Reid

If you wanna play you need to get onboard soon...it's as easy as picking a driver.

You receive points based on how your driver finishes in comparison with the other drivers in the JUC. The last place JUC driver receives 5 points, next to last receives 10, and so on.

Deductions are assessed for failure to qualify(DNQ), Using a Owner's Provisional(Prov), and failure to compete the race(DNF). All cost 5 points.

Bonuses are assessed for the following; Winning, Most laps lead, and Winning the Pole. All are worth 5 points.

At the point where NASCAR's Chase for the Cup begins at Race #26, we begin our own Chase for Just Us Cup. Anyone within 400 points of the leader qualifys and are seeded according to where they are in points at the time. The leader will begin the Chase with a 5 point lead over 2nd place, 2nd place will begin the Chase with a 5 point lead over 3rd place, etc., etc.

JUC: The Bud Shootout

2007-02-12T08:48:00.000-06:00

Bud Shootout Results

***

What a Difference a Year Makes...An All Robert Yates Front Row
for the Daytona 500

***

TSK! TSK! TSK! Kahne and Kenseth Found to Have Unapproved Modifications
to Their Cars After Qualifying...Didn't Anybody Learn the Jimmie
Johnson Lesson Last Year...OHHHH Wait...He Cheated at Daytona and
Won the NEXTEL Cup Last Year...Never Mind

***

Starting Grids for the Duel 150 Qualifying Races at Dayonta, set for
Thursday:

Race 1

Race 2

***

Toyota's Underwhelming Beginning...But That's Just It, It's a Beginning

***

Shrek III Will Cross Promote with NASCAR When We get to the
the Coca-Cola 600...very nice Shrek/M&M's Paint Scheme to
be Featured that Night

***

ESPN.com reports...

NASCAR officials have confiscated the intake manifold of the Michael Waltrip Racing's #55 due to a suspected unapproved substance that was discovered inside the manifold prior to Qualifying. He was allowed to change the manifold and qualify, but the car was impounded afterward for testing at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, NC. No penalties have been discussed at this time.

***

The regular Just Us Cupdates begin next week following the Daytona 500.

Let's go Racin', folks.

"...platoons of lesbians could chase us out of Baghdad..."

2007-02-11T11:19:00.000-06:00

I love it when outtakes from Congressional speeches produce goodies like this.

It's a short clip. Listen all the way to the end.

Platoons of lesbians...greatness. HA!

The Bud Shootout is TODAY

2007-02-10T10:57:00.000-06:00

TODAY!

TODAY!

TODAY!

TODAY!

JUC: Kahne's Sex Appel, the Shootout, and Dale Jr's "Magnitude of Me" Quote...I Love NASCAR

2007-02-09T14:28:00.000-06:00

Kasey Kahne Adjusting to the Spotlight

***

Bud Shootout...Saturday Night...Daytona...That's Tomorrow, Folks

***

Uhhmmm...How Many NEXTEL Cups Has He Won??? Oh Yeah...None.

Junior wants majority stake in DEI. Someone needs to remind him that, yes, his name is Dale Earnhardt...Junior.

The quote from the story really blows my mind...

"People around me are all the time having to remind me of the magnitude of me."
-- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Wow...Arrogance, much?

Dancing with the Fires of Creation...

2007-02-06T13:36:00.000-06:00

The Wilson Quarterly has a great set of articles online about the future and past of nuclear power in the United States.
I found the comparison of how much energy is present in a gram of Uranium, as compared to how much energy is in wood, oil, or coal, very telling.

Refusal to Fight...

2007-02-06T11:01:00.000-06:00

This guy joined the freaking Army.

He joined...he wasn't drafted...he wasn't coerced...he joined.

He was trained and took advantage of that training and rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

Joining the Army means going where you're told and doing what you're told.

A hundred years ago, this guy would have faced a firing squad.

What does he think...is he trying to be the Next Generation John Kerry?

My father went to Korea. And later, went to Vietnam. And as a result of wounds sustained during Vietnam, he died. Two of my uncles went to Vietnam. My grandfather and grand-uncle were in World War II. I have family members in Iraq and Afghanistan right now. I am proud of them, beyond measure.

First Lt. Ehren Watada is dishonoring every soldier who ever wore the uniform. Those in combat today and those going back through history all the way to George Washington.

This kind of thing lights a fire in my ass. I don't agree with the war in Iraq either, but we've got troops on the ground. And if we leave, out of turn, we're going to be cheapening their service, sacrificing the Kurds, for sure, and any Shiite or Sunni who dared to stand up.

Careful consideration and action needs to be taken to do our best to guarantee the safety of those civilians who helped us out and to protect America's future interest in the region. Collin Powell warned us, "You break it. You bought it." We broke it.

Soldiers are allowed to have their own opinions...but when the chain of command says that it is go time, you, by God, go. And you put your opinions under your hat or in a drawer and do your duty.

Now, I don't think he should be shot, but he should be charged with "failure to deploy", "conduct unbecoming", and "dereliction of duty."

At the least, if he doesn't serve jail time, he needs to be dishonorably and publicly discharged.

Watada wants to be the public face of dissent.

Let him.

Ask Cindy Sheehan how the whole "face of dissent" thing is working out for her.

Additionally, he joined the Army after the war in Iraq had begun. Let me repeat that...

He joined the Army AFTER THE WAR IN IRAQ HAD BEGUN.

What the hell did he expect?

***

COUNTERPOINT:
Check this article...specifically, go to the bottom and read the debate that is going on in the comments section at this link.

***

POINT:
Wow! Here again, check out an article from the other side...my side of this debate. And go look at the comments section at the bottom.

And more on this story via the good folks over at Military Families Voice of Victory.

12 Days...

2007-02-05T23:03:00.001-06:00

...til the Daytona 500.

Campaign 2008 - John Edwards

2007-02-04T13:18:00.000-06:00

And John Edwards takes his first step toward political suicide in the 2008 Presidential Election by calling for the raising of taxes to fund health care.

Favre to Return to the Packers for Another Season

2007-02-03T20:54:00.000-06:00

YES!!!!

15 Days...

2007-02-03T13:19:00.000-06:00

15 Days 'til Daytona...

I can hardly wait.

JUC: Size Matters to NASCAR

2007-02-03T12:58:00.000-06:00

Field size will be a big issue this season.

With 52 full-time teams and a regulated starting field of 43...there are going to be big sponsors left out in the cold on occasion.

Considering the amount of money some of those sponsors are spending, 14 to 24 million dollars, this is unacceptable.

Maybe at the bigger, longer tracks the fields could be bumped up to 48 cars and on the smaller tracks make it 44. I wouldn't expand the lock-in guarantee beyond the Top 35 in points, but I would look at making more slots available for quality cars that are going to be on the edge this season.

Money talks and bullshit walks. NASCAR has always been about the money.

Campaign 2008 - Oversimplification, Iraq, Osama, and Outright Lies

2007-02-03T09:22:00.000-06:00

If a candidate wants to insure my vote, don't promise me the end of war in Iraq.

Anyone who uses a simplified statement like "I will end the war in Iraq" without any specifics or details or plans is lying to us. We've been lied to enough about Iraq. There's no such thing as a simple solution. And I believe that failure to give just weight to the Baker-Hamilton Report is a travesty.

But, if said candidate wants to insure my vote, promise me an increased focus and intensity on the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

The American people want Osama's head on a stick.

I want a candidate with some balls to promise us that.

Don't promise us you will find him...promise us that you will use every ounce and iota of your being to find him. Promise us that al-Quaida will be so busy running and hiding that they won't be able to set up for another attack.

Preach the politics of vengeance and strength instead of the politics of fear and control. We've had enough of the later, thank you Karl Rove, and could, by God, use a hearty, healthy dose of the former, I miss Ronald Reagan.

One Ring to Rule Them All...

2007-02-02T09:13:00.000-06:00

I love ESPN.

A retrospective of NFL Championship rings and stories behind them.

I would have called it by that name that they call the game between the AFC and NFC champions, but the NFL is very touchy about anyone using that name.

The NFL went so far as shutting down Falls Creek Baptist Church's "championship game" watching party. So...it's okay to watch the game at a bar...but not a church. The whole "projected on a 12-foot wide screen" thing sounds like an incredible way to watch the..."game whose name we shall not mention."

Welcome to Spam-a-lot!

2007-01-29T07:23:00.000-06:00

This one is a twist on the Nigerian Treasury/Oil Reserve Spam/Phish designed to get hold of your bank account routing numbers.

Welcome to World Cup Scam...you'll probably see it a couple of times a month for the next couple of years if you are an active emailer.

Example follows:

FROM: MR. WILLIAM MUYEKE
DESK OF CHAIRMAN
Sub-Committee on Finance
South African World Cup bid 2010
24 Steven Bikko Blvrd Pretoria,
Republic Of South Africa.
Tel: 0027-78-393-0704
Email: w_muyeke37@hotmail.co.uk

Attn: Sir,

Greetings you must be aware now that my country The
Republic of South Africa
won the bid to host the world cup by 2010,prior to
this bid my committee was
mandated to lobby the members of board of Federation
International Football
Association (FIFA) on selection of the
country to host the world, the bidding was intensive
but at the end we got
the hosting right. Mycommittee was given the sum of
$29 million dollars to
lobby the members of the FIFA ruling body to make sure
that we win the
hosting right considering the gain that comes with the
hosting right like
South Africa?s economy will receive a massive direct
boost from hosting the
2010 World Cup,

financial impact report for South Africa's World Cup
bid committee shows
that the 2010 World Cup will pump R21.3-billion into
South Africa's economy,
and creating an estimated 159 000 new jobs.With the
help the living legend
of our time 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr.
Nelson Mandela who
made an emotive case for The Republic of South
Africa, we got the bid
without spending all the money, I and my committee
members saw this as a God
sent opportunity to secure our future and that of our
family therefore was
mandated by other committee members to look for a way
to move the remaining
money to a safe place with the help of a foreigner
who we can trust and is
ready to assist us to move the funds considering the
fact that we are
still members of the bid committee and in the eyes of
the public. we have in
our possession the sum $21millon since we spent just
$8million for lobbying.
We are ready to give you 20% for all your assistance
then me and my
colleagues will keep 80% lf you are willing kindly
reply to my letter for
further directive. we will want to invest our share
into Real-estate and
air taxi business in your country with your
assistance,bearing in mind that
confidentiality is of great essences so is time in
this project I will
await your response.

Best Regards,

Mr.Williams Muyeke.

All responses should be sent to:
w_muyeke23@hotmail.co.uk

Best Monty Python voice:

SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM!

SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM!

I DON'T LIKE SPAM!

Those of You With Children Will Appreciate This...

2007-01-25T21:34:00.000-06:00

I glommed onto this via Peter David's blog.

Smoke Ring Reviews: Green Lantern #16

2007-01-25T09:51:00.000-06:00

Publisher: DC Comics

Wanted: Hal Jordan

by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Albert, Baumann, Leigh, Van Sciver, Gehrlein, and Tomasi

This was great.

It's got that "everything and the kitchen sink" feel.

I mean...Faceless Hunters from Saturn, the armored Russian Rocket Reds, the JLA, Dominators, Hunger Dog...who I wanna know more about, and Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern.

Wonder Woman's quip was priceless.

Amon Sur is a bad...shut your mouth, but I'm talkin' about Amon. The bastard walks into the comic book equivalent of Area 51 and starts blasting away.

Hope that Cowgirl isn't dead. She's a great character and we're getting to the point where there has been enough death and destruction in comics...for an issue or three anyway.

The whole "Hal Jordan buried his predecessor in the GL Corps in an unmarked grave in the Mojave and forgot about him" doesn't ring true for the character of Hal Jordan. It's a sour note, but it's also central to next issue's premise.

...and did I mention that Amon is a bad...

I give it Eight and a Half Smoke Rings out of a possible Ten.

Oh geez, Tom...

2007-01-25T09:29:00.000-06:00

Scientology leaders have labelled Tom Cruise as their "Christ-like figure."

Show of hands...did it just get harder to take Cruise seriously on film.

I liked Top Gun...I liked the first two Mission Impossible movies...now it sort of creeps me out...

Ick!

2007-01-25T08:49:00.001-06:00

Meth Coffee...

...not a joke...

It's a brand name.

Tijuana Police Force Armed with Slingshots...

2007-01-24T23:26:00.000-06:00

...not a joke.

Wow!

So...the Mexican Army took the guns away from the Tijuana PD...and they gave them...

slingshots...

slingshots...

Viva la Mexico!

My New Favorite Song...1/24/2007

2007-01-24T22:24:00.000-06:00

Came across this while perusing the Mashuptown website.

This song is one part The Trucks song "T&tt&es" and one part "I Was Made For Loving You" by Kiss.

Check out "I Was Made For Loving Your T&tt&es" mashed by Simon Idoll.

Greatness. It starts out slow...but stick around for the chorus.

Needless to say this is decidedly Not Safe for the Workplace...I recommend earphones if you have small children in the house...if you have teenage boys, however, this will be their new favorite song.

Great Car Commercial...

2007-01-23T22:45:00.000-06:00

This could have been a Super Bowl commercial.

Tennis in Dubai...

2007-01-23T22:38:00.000-06:00

Andre Agassi-Dubai - video powered by Metacafe

Wow...that's a long way down...I doubt I could relax enough to put my best game out on that court.

Smoke Ring Reviews: JLA: Classified #32

2007-01-23T13:22:00.000-06:00

Publisher: DC Comics

The 4th Parallel:
Point of Origin

part 1 of 5

by Dan Slott, Dan Jurgens, and Trevor Scott

A good old comic book romp through multiple worlds, the dream dimensions, and the darker parts of the human psyche...featuring one of my favorite villains and a new one, who could become a favorite.

Dr. Destiny, he's the bony guy laying the wood to the Justice League in the pic above, plus the collective dream energy of six billion people equals big trouble.

There was another character a couple years ago, called the Gray Man, who collected the dream essences of the world's sleeping population for the Lords of Order and Chaos. Seems like Dr. D should have ran afoul of that dude at some point...may be a future story there.

This story is sort of one part The Cell, one part Nightmare on Elm Street, and one part Groundhog's Day. Makes for an interesting mix.

I hadn't realized previously that Dr. Destiny was an Arkham resident...makes sense. He is nuts after all...and has always been presented as such.

Six billion people, six billion possible worlds...the concept plays well against the upcoming reintroduction of DC's multiple earths/multiverse.

Darrin Proffit is a well thought out, well developed character.

A throw away mention of a thousand parallel worlds...this, also, supports the earlier speculation about the multiverse.

And the real big bad of this story is revealed...the Red King. This guy has been teased for a long time. He appeared in a profile page in JLA: Secret Files 2004. And his first story appearance is JLA: Classified #32, which just hit the stands this week.

And now the JLA faces the new realities of the Red King in the next issues of JLA: Classified.

Coolness.

I give it Nine Smoke Rings out of a possible Ten.

Comic Book Deviants...a Reason...#16

2007-01-23T12:11:00.000-06:00

Hmmm...is that tentacle rape?

Not tentacles though...

Vine rape...?

An odd scene to be sure. And I believe this was from Detective Comics...so its not like it is a fringe, manga, weirdo comic or something. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will point out the correct attribution of the image.

I believe that is supposed to be Poison Ivy, long-time Batman foe.

Disturbing...

Check out all the CBD entries by clicking here.

Wow! Remind Me Not to Swim in the Deep End Anymore...

2007-01-23T12:08:00.000-06:00

Swallowed face first by a 10 foot shark....and he survived...

Wow!

That is bad assed.

Is Your Computer Ready for Vista?

2007-01-23T11:34:00.000-06:00

Click here to find out.

The Master of Smoke feels that the best, most considered thing to do vis-a-vis upgrading Windows is to wait 6 months so that the new release bugs have a chance to get worked out.

Additionally, we would recommend not going to Vista until you go to a brand new desktop/workstation...less likely to run into compatibility issues and such in that way.

...course, I just have a DeVry education...what the hell do I know.

If Someone Really Annoys You Today...

2007-01-22T07:20:00.000-06:00

...click here and sing along with Ray.

Greatness.

JUC: Apparently...

2007-01-20T17:06:00.000-06:00

The Evil Stepmother wants Cinderfella to remain with DEI after all.

JUC: Petty to TNT

2007-01-20T17:01:00.000-06:00

Rumor has it that Kyle Petty is going to begin stepping away from the race car with another driver getting seat time in his Petty Enterprises machine.

Petty will be joining the TNT broadcast team when they do their summer run of races.

I hope this doesn't adversely impact the competitive growth the Petty Enterprises has shown over the last year.

JUC: The Apples Aren't Falling Far From the Tree

2007-01-20T16:57:00.000-06:00

DEI, Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated, has signed a new driver to their developmental program...Jeff Earnhardt, that would be Kerry's son...Dale Jr's nephew...Dale's grandson.

My Favorite T-Shirt...01/18/2007

2007-01-18T11:44:00.000-06:00

Order it here.

I knew there were Klingons in the White House...

2007-01-17T17:14:00.000-06:00

...I just didn't know there were Star Trek geeks in Congress...

Click here and, then, activate the You Tube from the Daily Show featuring George Takei and Leonard Nimoy...or two great imitators.

From the Front Page of Today's Wisconsin State Journal...

2007-01-17T16:34:00.000-06:00

The Favre watch continues...

Three Packers Make NFL All Rookie Team

2007-01-17T16:17:00.000-06:00

A. J. Hawk at linebacker, Greg Jennings at wide receiver, and Daryn Colledge at guard made an impact in their first season. All three started all 16 games and were voted by the Pro Football Writers of America to the NFL All Rookie Team.

I was surprised by the combined total of games started by Packer draft choices in the '06 season...66, with the offensive line featuring the majority of them. In addition to Colledge's play at guard, the offensive line, also, featured rookies Jason Spitz at guard for 13 games and Tony Moll at tackle for 10 games.

I think this bodes well for the Pack in seasons to come.

Love Cursor Mania!

2007-01-17T14:18:00.000-06:00

Comic Book Deviants...a Reason...#15

2007-01-16T14:26:00.000-06:00

Hey, Mark...you wanna help me bring in the wood?

Yeah, I know...I've commented on this before...but it's a classic and it belongs on the CBD list.

Check out all the CBD entries by clicking here.

Why Dogs Don’t Live As Long As People

2007-01-16T14:18:00.000-06:00

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-
old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his
wife Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very much
attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the
family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to
perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it
would be good the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.
They felt as though Shane might learn something from the
experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's
family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old
dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was
going on.

Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The
little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any
difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering
aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than
human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next
stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said,

"People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life
like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"

The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do
that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

~Author Unknown~

JUC: Benny Parsons

2007-01-16T12:52:00.000-06:00

Benny Parsons passed away Tuesday.

Benny was a great driver and a great racing color commentator.

JUC: 72...That's Not His Car #...It's His Age.

2007-01-16T12:49:00.000-06:00

72-year old driver James Hylton will attempt the Daytona 500 this year.

He was Rookie of the Year in 1966. Over his career he won 2 races.

He figures his best season he won $150,000...43rd place at Daytona last year paid more than that.

More power to him.

My Favorite T-Shirt...01/09/2007

2007-01-16T10:55:00.000-06:00

I thought this was visually very neat...

Order it here.

JUC: Update

2007-01-10T09:12:00.000-06:00

Mark Martin's(#01-Army) '07 schedule through June 17th is up over at Jayski. He is only scheduled to miss 3 races through 6/17. The second half of the season hasn't been released yet. Doesn't look like much of a retirement year.

***

Ward Burton(#4-State Water Heaters) named to drive the #4 for Morgan McClure.

***

DEI's Director of Motorsports Richie Gilmore says that Jr's contract will be done by May, despite the tension between Dale Jr and his stepmother and DEI owner, Teresa Earnhardt.

***

Kasey Kahne(#9-Dodge) has been racing Sprint cars in Australia and, apparently, doing very well at it.

***

Ameriquest looks to be Biffle's primary sponsor on his #16 this season.

***

Schrader(#21-Little Debbie/Air Force) to run 27 races in the upcoming season.

***

Jeff Gordon and wife are expecting.

***

Larry Carter will be Jamie McMurray's(#26-Crown Royal) 4th crew chief since he took over the car...that's 4 crew chiefs in one year.

***

Kevin Harvick(#29-Shell/Pennzoil) has a new sponsor onboard as the Goodwrench logo slips out of the driver seat.

***

Matt Borland, the former crew chief who helped guide the early career of Ryan Newman, is the crew chief for Dale Jarrett's(#44-UPS) Michael Waltrip Racing entry into this season. Borland has been blamed for the failures of last season on the #12, so he has a lot to prove this season.

***

Jimmie Johnson's(#48-Lowes) wrist is ready to go for Daytona.

***

An 11 episode ESPN2 series called Michael Waltrip Racing: A New Era is now showing on ESPN2 Garage. The series follows the formation and development of MWR.

Congrats...

2007-01-09T12:26:00.000-06:00

...to the Florida Gators.

And...for Randy who commented that this guy looked like Moe Doodle's Dad...or something...

JUC: Little E and the Evil Stepmother...

2007-01-09T12:19:00.000-06:00

I can already see how this free agency year is going to look. The media is going to kiss the crown prince's butt again, like always. It'd be nice if he...I don't know, won a championship before we start treating him like he was the best driver in Cup.

Click here for the Yahoo story about Earnhardt Jr., DEI, and Teresa Earnhardt.

Dale Jr.'s contract is up at the end of the season...so is the Budweiser sponsorship deal.

JUC: Bobby Hamilton...

2007-01-09T09:44:00.000-06:00

...lost his battle with cancer.

Bobby was the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Champion for his own team.

His son, Bobby Hamilton Jr. has raced in Trucks and Cup.

NASCAR remembers Bobby Hamilton, click here.

Scooby Dooby Doo, Where Are You!

2007-01-09T09:40:00.000-06:00

The man who created Scooby Doo has passed away.

I loved Scooby Doo.

Thank you, sir, for all the joy that your creation gave me.

Rest in peace!

NCAA College Football Playoffs

2007-01-08T16:11:00.000-06:00

A great article on the whys, the why nots, and the who is responsibles for there not being a playoff for the college football championship in NCAA Division 1.

The Just Us Cup 2007

2007-01-06T22:08:00.000-06:00

The Just Us Cup Fantasy NASCAR Racing is coming.

If you want in you need to email me with your driver pick, name, and return email.

Claimed drivers:

Matt Kenseth (17) - Guy Staats
Greg Biffle (16) - Jerry
Kasey Kahne (9) - Cadi
Kevin Harvick (29) - John
Carl Edwards (99) - Mark
Jimmie Johnson (48) - "Captain America" Jason Tucker
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8) - Stephanie
Jeff Gordon (24) - Craig
Dale Jarrett (88) - Darla
Jamie McMurray (26) - Cadi
Elliott Sadler (19) - Chris Dinges
Kurt Busch (2) - Nancy
Michael Waltrip (55) - Cadi

Mark Martin and Ken Schrader are supposed to be moving to a limited schedule next season.

The 43 Days of Daytona Season Preview should be beginning end of next week.

Why the World's Average IQ is in Decline...

2007-01-05T22:46:00.000-06:00

Evidence...

2007-01-05T20:13:00.000-06:00

...has surfaced that Iran is indeed supporting the troublemakers in Iraq on both sides.

There is precedent with their support of both Shiite Hezbollah and Sunni Hamas.

Apparently, documents have been captured which show planning and logistics are being handled for some of the insurgents and jihadis in Iran and funnelled into Iraq.

The Dark Tower by Stephen King

2007-01-05T10:40:00.000-06:00

I finished it last night.

The last book made me mad...and happy...and satisfied. As I started reading the last book, I had that "don't want it to end" feeling.

7 books.

Publication stretching from 1982, though King had started writing it much earlier than that, through 2004.

The Tower Megology wove its threads through many of King's other works. Characters crossed over, lived, died, or went back home to their fates in their own books.

This was one of the best examples of BIG story writing that I've seen. This stands alongside other Megology stories. The closest analog, in size anyway, is the John Carter: Warlord of Mars series, though I'm sure there are other examples.

Roland should have been Clint Eastwood, but I think Clint is too old to be Roland now. His look could have been pulled off by Lance Hendrickson. But lately I've been thinking that Keifer Sutherland could play Roland in a movie.

I'm less than pleased that Marvel Comics is going to present the Dark Tower story as a comic book. I'm of the opinion that it won't translate to serialized fiction. It needs to be in the long form. breaking it into monthly installments will probably rob it of some of its fire...for me anyway.

This was great writing. This was great storytelling. This was a man following his ka, his soul, his destiny, and printing it out for others to read. You could almost feel King bleed on the page. And when something happened you didn't like, you hated him. And when something else happened that put it all in context, you loved him...like I said...great storytelling.

I may write more about this. I've been going book to book and not reading the series back to back to back. I would read an installment and, then, pause for awhile as I digested it, during the interim reading other books in the meantime. The scope and size of this story requires those of us who were into it to sit and think for a bit when it is complete.

I expected to be sad when it was complete, sort of the losing an old friend, considering the thousands of pages that made up the Dark Tower story, it is an old friend. But I'm not sad. I feel...well...the story was satisfying, not an easy thing to accomplish when you are speaking of thousands of pages over 7 books and 20 years.

Thank you, Mr. King.

I say thank ya'.

You too...

2007-01-04T16:26:00.000-06:00

...could smell like Play-Doh.

Considering that kids don't wear cologne...who would buy this?

A beautiful woman stops you and smiling at you asks, "What is that wonderful cologne you're wearing?"

Uh huh...go ahead, studman...tell her that you are wearing Play-Doh's 50th Anniversary scent...who knows...maybe the scent of Play-Doh makes her hot.

Ah what the hell, purchase it here.

Bounce Houses for Adults...

2007-01-04T16:23:00.000-06:00

Virtual Sky Diving

This looks like a blast.

Packers to Brett Favre...

2007-01-04T15:52:00.000-06:00

We want you back for at least one more season.

If they do this, Aaron Rogers needs to get a load of playing time in the preseason next year. We need to know if the kid has anything or if he's just got a big bag of nothing.

I would love for Favre to play one more year behind that soldifying offensive line. Get another year's experience on Greg Jennings and see where it all leads.

We only missed the playoffs by a game.

NFL Report Cards from Yahoo Sports

2007-01-04T09:40:00.000-06:00

Click here for the article.

The Packers got a B-. Not too shabby.

I think that the Saints should have been a letter grade above the Colts based on the last month of play.

And the Giants got a C+, despite making the playoffs. A couple of non-playoff teams got better grades than they did.

And the Chargers and Ravens got the only solid A's. I can agree with this. They were head and shoulders above the rest of the Herd this year. If the Bears would have had a solid offense this year, they would be in this category instead of finishing a tick behind at A-, alongside the New England Patriots.

And now for the "Kiss of Death"...My pick for the Super Bowl...New England vs. New Orleans with New England winning it all.

Good luck to both of these teams on overcoming the bad mojo that my picking a team seems to bring upon them.

Death by...

2007-01-04T08:53:00.000-06:00

This is an interesting series of art photos.

My favorite is Death by Oreos.

Although the kitty cat sitting there looking up at the woman in the Death by Tupperware one is hilarious. Sort of like "what the hell do you think you're doing, Mommy?"

Just Us Cupdate-Offseason

2007-01-03T16:04:00.000-06:00

Ricky Rudd is back with Robert Yates Racing.

Number to be determined...could be the 28 that he campaigned for Yates a few years ago.

Sponsor is Masterfoods USA, probably with the Snickers brand on the car.

Which Superhero Are You?

2006-12-30T08:16:00.001-06:00

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man		80%
Green Lantern		70%
The Flash		55%
Catwoman		55%
Hulk		50%
Batman		45%
Superman		40%
Supergirl		40%
Robin		40%
Iron Man		40%
Wonder Woman		35%

You are intelligent, witty,
a bit geeky and have great
power and responsibility.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!

2006-12-30T07:58:00.000-06:00

Saddam Hussein has passed on to whatever afterlife awaits such as he.

I'm still of the opinion that a CIA assassin's bullet finding him sometime in the spring of 2002 would have been the best way to prosecute the bastard and would have saved the necessity of invading Iraq.

But thoughts like that are why I'm unelectable...

The pictures on the news this morning of Iraqi nationals celebrating in the streets...in Michigan were interesting to say the least.

Burn in hell, Saddam. Burn in hell.