Mardi Gras Everywhere
And Katrina.
More Apple
As usual, Apple introduces some new kewl stuff (Intel Mac Mini) and the stock falls. 3.5% today.
Wall street has always had a boner for Apple cuz they're all such PC clones. My stock has quadrupled in 10 years.
Headline
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Robert Byrd, the Senate's dean and resident constitutional expert, counts only a few regrets in his 48-year Senate career: filibustering the 1964 Civil Rights Act, voting to expand the Vietnam War, deregulating airlines. Add to the list a new one: supporting the anti-terror USA Patriot Act after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

MacDries says, "That's almost a perfect record of bad votes, Bob."
We're Ahead Of You On This One, Steve
I've been pumping iTunes through my stereo since day one. But Steve wants to sell me a different box. No thanks, thanks. Go HERE.
This One's For Kate The Great

John Mayer wants: Count Chocula and Crazy Glue backstage. Go HERE for more demands.
Gun Toting Scalia
The Supreme's reigning intellectual would like to see the return of rifles on NYC busses and Subways. Go HERE.

MacDries says, "Yeah, those were the days Tony, when you could protect yourself. Now a camera is the largest weapon you can carry and they want to take those away too."
Refresher Course: Enron Accounting
As Kenny Boy and the gang go to trial you may need an explanation.
Capitalism
You have two horses. You sell one and buy a stallion. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.

Enron AdVenture Capitalism
You have two horses. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four horses back, with a tax exemption for five horses.

The breeding rights of the six horses are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven horses back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight horses, with an option on one more.

Now you know why a company with $62 billion in assets declared bankruptcy?
Busted! Deal With It Duke
"In my life, I have had great joy and great sorrow," Duke Cunningham said after admitting his crimes. "And now I know great shame."
Cunningham pleaded guilty Nov. 28 and apologized in a tearful resignation statement. "I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office. I know that I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, my worldly possessions, most importantly, the trust of my friends and family."
His lawyers say he has since cooperated fully with the widening government investigation of congressional bribery, and they will ask the judge to go outside the sentencing guidelines and impose a lighter sentence than 10 years.

MacDries says, "I feel so bad for the poor wretch. Lock him up! Throw me the key and weld the door shut."

10 Years From Now
Don't drink the scotch whiskey before reading this. Go HERE.
Mariah Carey Is Black???????????????????????????????

Man!!!! I just found out. I always thought she was just an Aretha wanna-be with out the booty. So, how "black" is she? As black as Tiger Woods? As black as Mike Tyson?
It seems that the NAACP has it's own (segregated) awards. Awards just for "black" people.

Jamie Foxx (the "not" Ray) had this to say on winning his award, "It's good to be surrounded by black folks. Black folks are music."

MacDries says, "I am so confused. Except for Hip-Hop, my musical heroes & heroines have always started with and included Billie, Miles, Coltrane, Jimi, Sonny, Sonny, Etta, Etta, Aretha, Shirley, Dinah, Sarah, Ella, Louis, Oscar, John Lee, Albert & B.B., Buddy, Muddy, Blind Lemon, Big Bill, Mance, Ray, Dizzy & Charlie, Charles, Carmen, Dexter, and etc. (excuse me, you get the point?).
They have also included Evans & Evans, Mulligan, Brubeck, Desmond, Konitz, Baker, Pepper, Lee, Anita, Janis, Krall, Hank, Merle, Waylon & Willie, George, Dolly, Clapton, Thorogood, Stevie Ray, Earle, Dylan, Young, Raitt, Emmylou, Sammi, Suzy, Patsy, Townes, Black, Brady, Guthrie, and etc. (do you get the point?). Time to quit all this crap. Wanna be equal? Be free."
Chester Goode, 81, R.I.P.
AKA Dennis Weaver. Always way more endearing than Mis-ter Dil-lon. I grew up on Gunsmoke.
Doc was way-kewl too. And I would have totally jumped the hottie Miss Kitty, spinster that she was.
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Lonely Runs Both Ways. New album and Kate hasn't stopped playing it for two days. Kid's got great taste in music.
Civics Lesson 101
Go HERE.
"Jihad Jack" Says
Australia's Joseph "Jack" Thomas, convicted of receiving funds from al-Qaeda, says Osama Bin Laden does not like being kissed but is happy to be hugged. He also admitted he had a hard time signing on to Islam cuz he is an Irishman and loves his beer. Go HERE.

MacDries says, "That's what's keeping me an agnostic too."
Stay Away From Sudan
If you are fond of goats, don't go. You might be forced to wed. Go HERE.
PodBop
They PodCast bands coming to your town. Go HERE.
The I Word
Go HERE.

MacDries says, "Not gonna happen but I do love seeing it discussed."
Would You? Could You

Public toilet in Houston. Outside view on left, inside view on right. One way glass.

Mark Rothko
Got an advance copy of Writings On Art; a collection of letters etc. by Rothko. Though artists writing about art is seldom any good, I've yet to come across such drivel. If you like his art, don't bother. It will only lessen your respect.
Defeatist Hawk
"Our mission has failed... different plans have to be made. And the kernel here is the acknowledgment of defeat. "
-- Wm. F. Buckley

MacDries says, "I have never agreed with the Yalie Twit about anything. So why is he now sounding wise."
Go HERE.
The Aristocrats
Just tried to watch the DVD of The Aristocrats and couldn't make it past 15 minutes. Got the point and bailed without laughing once. Penn Gillette can be very funny and the cast was full-bodied, so I gave it a shot. It had about the same value as watching hard-core porn, beastiality, incest, pedophilia.
The point I got was that comics are a pretty sick bunch; even the best of them, Robin Williams, George Carlin etc. Not a single one came out and said, "No, this is not funny. This is juvenile scatology and merely a cheap way to shock someone."
Call me a prude.
I Got Nuthin'

Here's What I See
If you spend an hour in Penn Station or Grand Central or on any of the subways in NYC you will bombarded every three minutes with messages reminding you of the imminent threat of "TERRORISM".
"If you see something, say something" is a catchy little phrase but one I resent. I resent the threat I do not feel. I resent the machine gun toting Camo-Cops every 30 yards as I walk through the crowds. I resent them both practically and aesthetically. And parentally, I resent my children having to be reminded of all this crap. Camo????? Gimmie a break. They could not be more obvious if they smeared on white-face and sang Mammie.
Terror Tourism is alive and well in Bunker City. I am certain the battlefield at Gettysburg doesn't outgross "Ground Zero".
Where is Osama now that he is victorious???? And what ever happened to the Anthrax perps????
Waitin' for some answers Shrub. Don't need anymore of your propaganda.
I want America back. My America.
Cheney's Got A Gun
Go HERE.
Paris By Night
Go HERE.
Scroll horizontally.
Skip It
New Harrison Ford flik, preposterous, incomprehensible.
I'm on Amtrak, back to Bunker City.

Bored
Going into town for dinner and the new Harrison Ford flic at our local Theatre. $4 for 1st run movies. About what they are worth. Kewl.
Repeat - And The Oscar Is...

Cuz I just love this picture and I hate to be all text based.
From Emma's Blog
Well, it's official. I am going to Stuyvesant High School next year. It's only one of the best high schools in the country. Yep, this year almost ten seniors were accepted to harvard early decision.
Okay, for those of you who ducked down to gag while I was bragging, I'm done now. You can look back. The bragging is over. I just had to get it out of my system.
Go HERE for more.
Back To Bunker City
An (over)Abundance Of Turkeys

47 turkeys just walked by my window. Previous record was 40 last year. All hens, never see a rooster.
The Constant Gardener
Stupid title but not a bad film. Rachel Weisz is a great and gorgeous actress and without ever having her teeth straightened or bleached. Ralph Fiennes has very sincere and revealing eyes but not much more going for him.

Projects Of The Day
Leaves plugged up the drain downhill and required clearing so the driveway doesn't wash away with the spring rains. Then I vacuumed the apartment for the new tenant and moved some furniture she doesn't need. Made the trip to recycle center with the trash some idiot scattered at the bottom of the drive. Drove into Chatham and got my DVD for the evening. The Constant Gardener is a doubtful but they sometimes make decent movies from lousy writers like LeCarre. One of my faves is his The Spy Who Came In From The Cold with Richard Burton pre-liz.
Then I went out to the tractor dealer to look at chain saws for some spring brush clearing. Heard the spiels and got some safety manuals and a catalog for study.
Bought the NYTimes on the way home to read with my mid-aft wake-up cappucchino. The abortion wars are on in South Dakota which used to be pretty liberal; McGovern, Daschle, etc. But no longer.
Bush is still brain dead and stubbornly stuck in this U.S. Port thing.
John Mayer's version of Message In The Bottle has come up twice today and Party Shuffle is supposed to be on random. I have a sneaky suspicion that Kate's been writing subversive code. Sting is not my fave. All style, no substance.
Built a fire in the Vermont Casting stove and it's getting toasty as a slight sprinkle of new snow is falling. Noticed the wood closet in the basement will just barely last us through the winter since we mostly heat the whole place with it. Not to worry, we have a shed piled high and stack of downed logs ready to be split.
Damn, it's quiet up here, but that's what I like about the place. The deer don't come around as much since we stopped feeding them. Doh! Nor do the birds, though we do still feed them when we're here.
I miss my girls up here but I count it as practice; Kate's going away in the fall and Emma will soon be hanging out with her posse all the time too. Son & Sylvia by Eric Clapton just came up in the shuffle; a totally beautiful guitar instrumental.
Early dark tonight with the snow coming.
New CD Art

İ2006 Carl Grupp
DVD Watch
Last night's viewing was Gus VanSant's Last Days. If there has been a more gratuitous film made, I haven't seen it. Ostensibly about Kurt Cobain, in fact it's Van Sant's chance to watch pretty boys prance, strip, dress in drag and yes, climb into bed. As in his Columbine film he uses a lot of long tracking shots behind his hero as he walks from here to there. Camera POV gets pretty tedious when it gets obvious. Don't bother with this one.
Success
Met the cute little 21 year old and rented our apartment to her. She has a dog and agreed to the ground rules. Don't anticipate any real trouble.
Weather up here this week is great. Warmish, no snow on the ground. My kind of winter.
Signed up for DSL but it won't be installed before I head back to Bunker City.
But now, using Skype for our long distance FREE, we should break even.
CodeFred and MacDries are having an email exchange re: pets. Whether and whyfor. I'll boil it down and feed it to you blogstyle.
MacDries
I have real issues with pet people who go off every day with their pets cooped up so they will be greeted enthusiastically when they return.
CodeFred
Pretty much what most people do with their kids, only they board them out during the day at awful schools. I knew how to read when I got to school, so I had to spend the next six years "learning" how to read again. I would have rather spent the day locked in my room, at least there would have been something to do.
Difference was -- I did not greet anyone enthusiastically at the end of the school day. Only sorry I did not know about bringing guns to school, there would have been one less 5th grade teacher.
MacDries
Wow.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think you are one of those people.
I just rented the place to a nice young girl with a dog and she agreed to the ground rules.
CodeFred
Smart girls who live alone have dogs -- either the human kind or a real one. The real ones are a good protection from the human ones. I cannot imagine a woman living alone without a large dog.
MacDries
Well... I don't agree. I quit on a really cute girl once (you knew her but can't recall her name, in Chelsea. We did an elevator job in her bldg, 22nd street) cuz she had 2 cats and sang bdway show tunes. I might have converted her from the show tunes but couldn't face the cats when I was getting close & personal. And a dog??? No way Jose.
CodeFred
I remember her, but I doubt two cats will scare away intruders or rapists... although they seemed to work on you.
MacDries
Cute while she lasted and she knew all the Sat Night Live crew. Al Franken & Davis and the wierd one who always wanted to put ice-picks in people eyes were at one of her parties. Michael ???

Why Me???
I always manage to get a decent seat on the scenic river side of the train. But just as often, as soon as I'm settled in the most odious, loud, compulsive talkers settle in all around me with a whole brood of noisy kids. So, I've cracked out my Powerbook and cranked up iTunes to survive. Why don't people just stay home? Everywhere I go people follow me. Misanthrope me. Might as well admit it.
Train is leaving on time at least. But there is someone in the near vicinity with halitosis. The kind you can smell from 10 feet away even when you're behind her.
And they're off and talking. This women to my right, the brood mare, has not stopped yelling at her kids, directing them to take off their coats and where to put them, explaining what and when they will have for lunch...
The woman behind has been on her cellphone for 10 minutes and no sign of quitting.
And of course this time the train is too hot. Always too hot or too cold.
Amtrak sucks.
The pretty Scarlett Johannson type blonde across the aisle is reading Glamour and sniffing the perfume ads.
All along the roadbed there are discarded plastic bags, stuck in the bushes and flying around. It would be nice if "they" would pass a law outlawing such things. But "they" won't.
Brood mare is still talking. Hasn't stopped.
Yonkers. My big little sis Sybella lives here with her son and his wife. She is the matriarch and will be 81 in a week or so.
The Hudson is flat and smooth today.
And John was there to cab me to Angell Hill Road.
Heading North
Blogging will be sporadic for a few days.
Score One For Hallucinogens
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a small congregation in New Mexico may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a four-hour ritual intended to connect with God.

MacDries says, "Pot smokers listen up. Get religion. Even Dionysius will do."

Goin' To Ghent Tomorrow
Not Belgium. New York. Gotta meet the Ann anointed "adorable" new tenant in our apartment. She has a dog but promises to be a good pet person and the hound won't be barking whenever she leaves it home alone. I have strong doubts but she has agreed to a 3 month trial. And she has good references.
Be back in a few days depending on what I feel like. Meantime, modem time. Gonna have DSL installed but don't know how long it will take.

MacDries says, "I have real issues with pet people who go off every day with their pets cooped up so they will be greeted enthusiastically when they return. I have no problem with anyone who likes to have a pet with them. But there is a line between need for mammalian companionship and greedy neediness. The last tenants we had with 2 cats threw the feline feces out the window. Nice folks and it only took a couple months to get rid of them and a few more months to get paid after taking them to court for bad checks."
Ring Of Fire

OMG let Johnny Cash R.I.P. Walk The Line was bad enough but now they're pushing a Broadway Musical treatment of "The Man In Black". Obviously this will sell to all those folks out there who can't take genius straight on. Just listen to the man's music. You might get it or you might not but Johnny won't give AGGD.
The McCain 2-Step
The "New Eisenhower" is on his way to New Hampshire and Iowa for a bit of campaigning but hasn't made up his mind if he's running or not.

MacDries says, "Yeah, right. And if you buy that I've got the Brooklyn Bridge right outside my window. I'll give you a good deal. I've already predicted him as the next Prez. He'll stomp Hillary if the Dems are stupid enough to nominate her."
Brain Dead From The Git Go
The Shrub is getting the proper flak from all sides on the idiotic deal to turn the ports over to an Arab business. Even his Senate leader Frist wants no part of it. Unnecessary, stupid, and dangerous in light of the religious war going on. How many adjectives can you think of? How many negatives can you imagine.
Now The Shrub claims he'll veto any attempt to block his will. How many bloody noses can the puck take? Endless, it seems.
Thomas Nozkowski

One of the better painters around @ Max Protech. Go HERE.
Here It Comes
Are you ready. The Supremes have decided to consider the federal case on late-term abortions. The so-called "partial birth abortion" will be targeted as the first step.
What To Do
We have managed to not buy our kids any action games and they had accepted it gracefully. They spend enough time on the computer and in front of the TV. But now someone has passed an outmoded Nintendo on to My Sparkler and she is thrilled. The gifter did not ask us if we would approve but merely sent it on and now it is too late.
What is parenting anyway?

Another Reason To Rent
Just discovered that Richard Thompson, guitar extraordinaire, songwriter par excellance, (father of Teddy Thompson who is the son of Linda Thompson, damn! those genes) wrote and performed the soundtrack to Grizzly Man. Even though it didn't even get nominated for an Oscar you should see it.
The Bushiad & The Idyossey
Someone put a lot of work into this one.
Go HERE.
Probably more work than it deserved. But, nevermind.
Jimmy Carter ­ A Voice Of Reason
Instead of Israeli knee-jerk and illegal withholding of Palestinian money, they would do well to listen to Jimmy.
Go HERE.
Thank You For Smoking
Soon to be released. Wonder what the spin will be on this.
Go HERE for the trailer.
Overheard In NYC
Guy: Do you know what the word "ontological" means?
Chick: Yeah...I have seen it before...
Guy: Yeah. Me too.
Chick: Is it like an orange?
Guy: Yeah...Well, it's something weird like that.
Chick: I know what you mean.
Go HERE for more.
Johnny Mc, Comeback After 14 Years

SAN JOSE, CA - John McEnroe completed his daunting ATP Tour comeback in familiar winning form, teaming up with Jonas Bjorkman on Sunday to beat a couple of former Stanford All-Americans 7-6 (2), 4-6, 10-7 in the finals of the SAP Open.
The match ended with a vintage piercing McEnroe backhand volley up the middle between Paul Goldstein and Jim Thomas. He was light on his feet all match long, smashing overheads, slicing serves and poaching for volleys.
Makes My Skin Crawl
John Dvorak at PC World is trying to float the idea that Apple will switch it's OS to Windows. Like his namesake keyboard layout that never caught on, Dvorak has always had a limp woody for Steve Jobs and is usually wrong. None the less, I don't even like talk about such an abominable subject.
Go HERE.
Euphemisms Rule
Dick Cheney "sprayed" and/or "peppered" his "good friend", who he also decribed as "an acquaintance". Sprayed sounds like a nice little shower. Peppered sounds rather like a tasty sprinkle on nice steak. He did not shoot a man with a weapon, either willfully or accidentally.
He peppered a good friend, much like any man man would at a Texas BBQ.

Ad Hoc Sculpture

İDanny Dries 2004 (destroyed)
Good Movie
Songcatcher has a sort of HBO movie look to it but quite a nice story about the early days of recording folksongs back in the woods. It's got old blue-eyes, the highly under-rated, Aiden Quinn, and cameos by Taj Mahal, Iris DeMent, and Hazel Dickens.
Iris DeMent did my favorite song (not in the movie) of last year with John Prine. It's called In Spite Of Ourselves and it's a hoot.
And in case you didn't know, Hazel Dickens is one of the most authentic country/folk/blugrass singers of all time.
Red, White, Perhaps Rose
Guy bites off nose of his girlfriend. Some folks sure are strange.
Go HERE for the whole deal.
Neil Young
Kate and I are off to the noon showing of Heart Of Gold.
Back home and we agree, you should see it on the big screen. The sound is great and as a film it's really just a great concert. Best seats in the house.
And The Oscar Is...
Charlize Theron.
photo: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for The New York Times
Early Emmylou
Beautiful then. Still beautiful Emmylou Harris.
photo İ William E. Allen

The Difference
The last time a Veep resigned it was Agnew who everyone knew was an impotent, somewhat stupid, big mouth crook.
The Dems were in charge and had to get him out of the way if they were going to impeach Tricky Dick. They had the goods, and god forbid President Spiro.
This time the Reps are in charge and have to cover their asses for 2008.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out with an idiot Prez and a Machiavellian Veep. Factor in Rove and politics gets to the level of chess end-game.
We need Big Blue to scope the outcome.
Soft Ball, Brit Hume Style
Cheney: No, the way - this is a big ranch, about 50,000 acres. You cover a lot of territory on a quail hunt.  Birds are oftentimes - you're looking for coveys.  And these are wild quail, they're not pen-raised.  And you hunt them - basically, you have people out on horseback, what we call outriders, who are looking for the quail. And when they spot them, they've got radios, you'll go over, and say, get down and flush the quail.

MacDries says, "Damn, that's almost like going out after school to bag a rabbit or pheasant for supper. Wanna read the whole damn interview with Brit pitching?"
Go HERE.
CodeFred Checks In
In Re: Viruses
He says, "Actually that story was totally overblown by Mac haters.
1) It was not a virus, but a trojan horse (a program that masquerades as an innocent application)
2) you have to unpack it (unzip to windows users) since it is a tar file
3) you have to give it permission to install it by typing your ADMINISTRATION password.
Really I consider it a test. If you are stupid enough to reach number 3 you should just throw your computer in the trash, and go back to watching QVC."

MacDries replies, "Of course, but it's geared to iChat and who uses iChat? Kids, who don't know enough to stop and think. They see: Click Here and they click there. Luckily my kids are well trained.
If Cheney Takes The Big Walk Away
There is speculation and not just wishing on the part of Democrats. All signs point to Rice. She's not exactly Oprah but... she is Macho.
Go HERE.
Or.
Go HERE.
Mac OSX & Viruses
Red Herring has an article about some trivial viruses. I suppose now that Macs use the Intel chip we can expect mpre of this crapola. If so, I think I'll just hang onto my little laptop as long as I can. Go HERE.
Bush Backwards Countdown
Go HERE.
Right Wing Humor
It's funny when people die.
Go HERE.
Who Is The Prez
Seems it may be Dick, if Dick so chooses. Executive Order: 13292 says so. Go HERE.
On The Slopes
Ann and The Sparkler are up skiing in the rain. Doesn't sound like much fun to me.
Grupp Wants To Know
 How come whenever I dream that I gotta pee, I wake up and I gotta pee, but when I dream that I'm rich, I wake up and I'm still poor?

MacDries says, "It's because there are two types of dreams; anxiety and wish fullfillment."

It's All PR
According to Rummy, al Qaeda has better media presence that we do. Bin Laden working with Wi-Fi and a Blackberry from his cave in the mountains is winning the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. Meanwhile, we're still surfing porn. They have Al Jazeera  and he only has FOX to serve up our propaganda.

MacDries says, "Is there a dumber man on earth than our Secretary of Offense? I'd say call in the boys from Google and the war will be over in a nano-sec."
Is He British???
You know a Brit will apologize when you step on his toe but this tops that. The poor sap who Cheney shot apologizes for what Cheney and family had to go through.

MacDries says, "If he had died, I'm betting he would have mentioned Dick in his will. Whittington???? Say better, Witless."
Charles O. Perry

Charlie Perry is an old sculptor/designer/architect pal from Rome, back in the day. He designed this fantastic chess set puzzle and I'm lucky enough to have traded for one. Go HERE to see more.
A Good Wife Is An Obedient Wife
Need some guidelines? The Smoking Gun has some.
GO HERE.
Koan For Today
Embedded in the new Mac OSX
Your karma check for today: There once was a user that whined/
his existing OS was so blind/
he'd do better to pirate/
an OS that ran great/
but found his hardware declined./
Please don't steal Mac OS!/
Really, that's way uncool./
--(C) Apple Computer, Inc.

MacDries says, "Save the sentiment Steve. But ditch the doggerel."
Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, 80, R.I.P.
Remember Treasure Of The Sierra Madre?
Bogart: "If you're the federales, let's see your badges."
Gonzalez: "Badges. What badges. We ain't got no badges. We don' need no steenking badges."
My Sparkler & Our Hero
So, our Emma has decided to go to Stuyvesant High whose most distinguished graduate is the subject of her dad's blog and all around genius: Thelonious Sphere Monk.
You gotta love that.
We went to the open house last night and were all impressed. I asked Emma if she was excited or scared about the place. She said, "Excited."
I said, "It scared me." But what do I know. I only went to art school and Stuy High seemed to me like a really tough college.
Good luck Sparkler.

Picasso Calendar
A suite of paintings on prints. 12" x 12" each. 2005
Go HERE for the whole suite.
CyberToonz
Go HERE for more.
Progressive Daily Beacon

Go HERE.
Your Money?
"The Bush administration spent $1.4 billion in taxpayer dollars on 137 contracts with advertising agencies over the past two-and-a-half years, according to a Government Accountability Office report released by House Democrats Monday."

MacDries says, "To quote old Senator Ev Dirkson of Illinois, 'A billion here, a billion there and pretty soon you're talking big money'."
Resign Dick, Resign
I've seen a couple of requests that Cheney ought to resign. Let's just say these fall into the catagory of "dream on".
But I have a dream.

Macho!!!
"I'm the guy who pulled the trigger."
-- Veep Dick(less) Cheney

MacDries says, "We know that Dick. We also accept that you had no priorities that day other than Quail. But you are an ass and a fool and a criminal. Besides being ugly as a human can get."
Peppered
The euphemism is: Peppered. Wittington got "peppered" by 6 to 200 BB size pellets. Happens all the time amongst gun-toting folks. Except I hunted all my early growing up years and never saw or heard of anyone getting shot.
I like pepper. I don't even mind the heartburn when I eat a bit too much chili. Texas chili.
What I don't like, never have liked, is being shot in the chest with a 28 gauge shotgun that could kill a guy. Especially when one of those little pepper flakes gets near my heart and gives me a heart attack.
My heart is shaky enough.
Another thing. Cheney must have had his Pacemaker planted on his left since he shoots with his right. Just a detail.
Iran???
So, Rice proposes that we give Iran (1 of the 3 Axes of Evil, which has held our citizens hostage and now holds a nuke over our heads) 75 million dollars to promote Democracy. But Palestine (which just had a Democratic election, the results of which she didn't like) should have our support withdrawn.
Damn, she is one smart cookie but doesn't know beans.
Condi for Prez!
Want One!!!!!!!!!
New MacBook Pro G5 Intel has shipped.
But don't need one.
I'm betting CodeFred has already ordered one.
Not That We Need Anymore
New pictures and video emerge from Abu Ghraib. BBC.com if you need to see it.
Zero Sum Cheney
So, we got a cowardly guy who got 5 deferments from the Vietnam draft because he had other priorities. A guy who goes on to become Secretary of Defense and wages the first war in Iraq. A guy who picks himself for Veep and convinces Little Shrub to let him go back and get Saddam because Poppy wouldn't let him the first time.
A guy who does, however, like expensive designer guns and loves to shoot little birdies. And he's a bad shot too, mistaking a fellow hunter for a quail. That about it?

MacDries says, "No! he's a crook and has a crooked mouth too."
Willie, Say It Ain't So
Willie records Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other). "What did you think all them saddles and boots was about? Inside every cowboy there's a lady who'd love to slip out."
Well, maybe Willie, but I doubt Waylon went along with it.
And for damn sure not Merle or George. Jerry Lee? Nah. Randolph Scott, fer sure. Maybe Elvis. Steve Earle? no way. Johnny Cash? Excuse me! He Walks The Line. Papa Ray? He was blind. Maybe he didn't know.
The Buddha Project
Contribute your Buddha pix to Lens Culture. I did.
Go HERE.

Andy Borowitz Says
Cheney Says Shooting of Fellow Hunter Was Based on Faulty Intelligence. Believed Shooting Victim Was Zawahiri.
"I believed I had credible intelligence that al-Zawahiri had infiltrated my hunting party in disguise with the intent of spraying me with pellets."
Latest Tondo
Go HERE for the complete series.
WlfSng Says
"I understand more about Cheney's brand of patriotism and his dodging the draft of Viet Nam war.  I can see it as an act of Patriotism. He would have been very dangerous there for Our troops.  Best for all that he stayed home on the five deferrments."
Happy Valentine's Day
As you know, Valentine was no Saint and neither are you. Or me.

The Word
You can coin a new word anytime you want. Nothing in the definition of the word 'word' says that a word has to be in a dictionary to be called one.
I coined the word snerble and the word schribbet. Snerble is a more polite word for the drippy stuff that comes out of your nose. And schribbet is a raspy kind of kiss you give a kid on the tummy. Sorta like playing a trumpet.
Run Al, Run

Franken, not Gore. Al has made the move to Minnesota to set the stage.

MacDries says, "We need some humour in the senate. Seriously."
The Mystery (cont'd)
Emma called at lunch time to see if "it" arrived. Sorry, no, I said. OK, I'll call again after school, she said.
Well the letter arrived a while ago and, of course, she got accepted at both Stuyvesant, the top school in NYC and also Bard. Bard is the early college entrance school. So she has three great choices: Stuyvesant, Bard and La Guardia Music & Art.
We'll see if she wants to know when she calls. I'm guessing she will.
I'm also guessing the little nerd will choose Stuyvesant.
I was right. She wanted to know.
Ain't That Cute
"At every level -- individual, corporate, philanthropic and governmental -- we failed to meet the challenge that was Katrina. In this cautionary tale, all the little pigs built houses of straw."
So says the 11 member Republican congressional report on Katrina. A White House spokesman said The Shrub was "now focused on the future, not the past".
"It remains difficult to understand how government could respond so ineffectively to a disaster that was anticipated for years, and for which specific dire warnings had been issued for days," the report says. "This crisis was not only predictable, it was predicted."

MacDries says, "I think we knew that. What else ya got?"
Latest Tondo

Another one coming tomorrow.
Listen Up Dubya!!
"Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws."
- John Adams, 2nd US president (1735-1826)
The Mystery Extends
Most of Emma's friends have already gotten their letters on Saturday stating which specialized schools they have tested into. Our mail delivery is sporadic on Saturdays so poor Emma has been cranky all weekend, not knowing. The letter will no doubt come today, unless the snow has slowed it even longer. But Emma doesn't want me to open it and call her. She wants to wait until she gets home this evening so she can open it.
Go figger.
Friday The 13th...
Comes on a Monday this month.

Cheney Shoots Hunting Partner
It was an "accident", they say.

MacDries says, "What else would they say."
It Just Goes On & On & On...
Raul Damas, associate director of political affairs at the White House, has been on the phone directly to Republican county chairmen to arrange local speeches by active duty military personnel to talk about their experiences in Iraq.
Military regulations state that active duty personnel may "Attend partisan and nonpartisan political meetings, rallies, or conventions as a spectator when not in uniform." They may not "Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (unless attending a convention as a spectator when not in uniform)."

MacDries says, "I'm guessing the POTUS will try to justify this with a semantic work around similar to Old Bubba famous "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is".
The Elder Shrub
"Sweetsie, please look at how Mike and Kitty (Dukakis) do it. Try to be closer in more -- well er romantic -- on camera. I am practicing the loving look, and the creeping hand. Yours for better TV and more demonstrable affection. Your sweetie pie coo coo. Love 'ya GB."

MacDries says, "That's almost too embarrassing to read."
Winter Wonderland
6-8 inches and still swirling down. Some in the family are thrilled.

MacDries says, "As with those damn penguins, I don't get the point of snow or cold weather."

Get Your's Now

Go HERE.
Gospel According To Gonzalez
Prez Washington authorized electronic surveilance. It's true.
Go HERE.
Not Always Person Of The Year

Coming Soon
Wi-Fi iPod. Dig it. Apple is not talking, as usual.
Call me Doctor iPod. Kate's iPod has died on her twice in a year and both times I've been able to resurrect it. Ann's Shuffle died once, a week or two before the warranty expired, and she had to swap it. I've got to believe that most problems are software since they are such simple little boxes.
Need A Euphemism?
Go HERE.
Rollerbladers 'R Nuts
Go HERE.
The Flu Flew Through Me
Seems it's about gone now. Making a big pot of vegetable soup. Just have a craving.
Just In From Grupp
HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT WOMEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
1. She is not a "BABE" or a "CHICK"- She is a "BREASTED AMERICAN."
2. She is not a "SCREAMER" or a "MOANER"- She is "VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE."
3. She is not "EASY" - She is "HORIZONTALLY ACCESSIBLE."
4. She is not a "DUMB BLONDE" - She is a "LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY."
5. She has not "BEEN AROUND" - She is a "PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION."
6. She is not an "AIRHEAD" - She is "REALITY IMPAIRED."
7. She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY" - She gets "CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED."
8. She does not have "BREAST IMPLANTS" - She is "MEDICALLY ENHANCED."
9. She does not "NAG" you - She becomes "VERBALLY REPETITIVE."
10. She is not a "TRAMP" - She is "SEXUALLY EXTROVERTED."
11. She does not have "MAJOR LEAGUE HOOTERS" - She is "PECTORALLY SUPERIOR."
12. She is not a "TWO-BIT HOOKER" - She is a "LOW COST PROVIDER."

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
1. He does not have a "BEER GUT" - He has developed a "LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY."
2. He is not a "BAD DANCER" - he is "OVERLY CAUCASIAN."
3. He does not "GET LOST ALL THE TIME" - He "INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS."
4. He is not "BALDING" - He is in "FOLLICLE REGRESSION."
5. He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER" - He prefers "GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS."
6. He does not get "FALLING DOWN DRUNK" - He becomes "ACCIDENTALLY HORIZONTAL."
7. He does not act like a "TOTAL ASS" - He develops a case of "RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION."
8. He is not a "MALE CHAUVINIST PIG" - he has "SWINE EMPATHY."
9. He is not afraid of "COMMITMENT" - He is "RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED."
10. He is not "HORNY" - He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED."
11. Its not his "CRACK" you see hanging out of his pants - It's "REAR CLEAVAGE."

It's All Relative
Except for my triple by-pass, my Pacemaker and my type 2 diabetes, and my increasingly frequent tooth aches, this is the first time I've been sick since the girls were little and brought home some bug every other day. Always something for which to be thankful. At least that's the way Pollyannas would have it.
Oh, Yeah...
Forgot to mention that My Sparkler Emma was accepted into La Guardia High School of Music & Art.
Waydago Emster.
Get Google Earth (Now for Mac)
Go HERE.
Phooey, The Flu
Still hanging in there.
Back to bed.

Endless Fun Drawing
Go HERE.
"Music" News
Barry Manilow has the top album on the charts.
Eliot Spitzer sues Record companies and Radio Corps for payola Y2K6. Celine Dion, Franz Ferdinand, Good Charlotte, Johm Mayer (sorry Kate), JLo, JSimp, Maroon 5, Michelle Branch, all had a little help from some friends.
The Grammys still suck, big time.
Except Sly did show up looking appropriately sly. Threads, Mohawk but it looked like he was in a brace or comething and his hand was bandaged.
Sir Paul should retire, pleeze.
And, warning, you can get ear cancer from listening to Mariah Carey, Coldplay and almost all Hip-Hop.
Phooey, The Flu
Emma went back to school but I'm still spending most of my time between the couch and the euphemism. This life is a lot like the old Aztec Two-Step.

South Dakota Deer Hunter

Phooey, The Flu
Emma and I both have a stomach thing this morning.
Back to bed.

Voyeurs 'R Us
That sad French woman who had a face transplant is now being exploited by the media and I'm assuming it will go on. Perhaps she can make some money to help with her expenses and she deserves our best wishes in finding some peace of mind. But give it a rest. The pictures and diagrams are quite atrocious and it's pathetic to see her trying to perform for the camera.
McCain v. Obama
"Saint" John McCain, Bush supporter and the next POTUS, obviously sees some sort of deep threat from the attractive 1st term black Senator from Illinois. Thus the attack to brand him as an disrespectful upstart.

MacDries says, "Be kewl Saint John, you could still blow it and you're showing your arrogant side. You don't own ethics."
The New George Jones, plus Etta
Hits I Missed is in house now and in daily rotation. Some really great songs and all of them seem like naturals for The Possum. I'd buy it if I were you. Actually, I did buy it and I'm me. It's almost as good as Cold Hard Truth. George makes all these hits sound like the definitive version.
Also bought Life, Love & The Blues by Etta James. I'll have to stop buying her records eventually, I suppose. I have about a dozen but she is so damned good you can't go wrong. Kate agrees.
Where's Barbara???
4 Prez, past and present, but only 3 1st Ladies attended Cotetta's funeral. The white haired battle-axe missed it.
Hmmmm.
Gospel According To Bratton
Wm. J. Bratton, who often calls L.A. the car chase capital of the world, was asked why? "There are a lot of nuts here," he said.
Brokeback To The Future
Go HERE.
Latest Painting
Paint on printed poster.
CodeFred Explains
Any program that uses the invisible "/Temporary Items" folder in OS X and doesn't remove the files when quit will cause the "Recovered Files" folder in the trash. If this folder is not empty on startup, OS X renames and moves it to the Trash on startup.
The AOLTemp.html. file is from Windows Media Player. it is that intermediate page that is opened to launch the media player, and oddly has nothing to do with AOL the ISP.
I do not know why it is named that. It is always a blank page.
I never shut down my computers so I seldom see any of this stuff. My G5 has been on since I bought it.

MacDries says, "And that's way more than I need to know."
Insideous AOL
Every morning there is a folder in my Trash called Recovered files. Inside is a file called AOLTemp.html. I have no idea where this comes from but it pisses me off. I've searched my cookies file, trashed anything remotely related to AOL in all my Library folders... it's a mystery.
In Re: Penquins
CodeFred had this to say:
Watch it again... it is the Joy of swimming. We all spend 2/3s of our life in a march nowhere (you have been in line at the DMV, or filled out an IRS form, or been in high school), if we can swim to the bottom of the Ocean like that for only an hour it might be worth it all.
It is why I love dogs so much, just of the sight of that unnecessary leap of joy, upon finding that "outside" is still there each day, beautiful and smelly as the day before.

MacDries replied, "One day at the overheated DMV every 10 years is hardly comparable. I've swum, swam, swimmed many times. It's fun but not life fulfilling. Enjoy your dogs. They're laughing at you, not with you."

Coretta = Oprah
I don't think so. Nah! Negatory. Gimme a fucking break.
And dont't get me started on The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr = that other "King" on TV these days. The one who interviews people? Larry! Yeah Larry David. Now, Curb Your (God Damn) Enthusiasm.

MacDries says, "And don't get me started on that other Martin Luther dewd. He too was a rabble rouser."
March Of The Penguins
And, yes, I'm still wrestling with the implications of the pathetic life of those damn birds (who don't fly but swim???) down in the frozen Antarctic tundra.
What is the point of their existence?
I'm Just Saying...
There must be at least two distinct sub-species of humans. Those with the tendency to be a Republican (or a Taliban) and then all the rest of us who have brains and can actually think beyond our own selfish interests.
What A Boner
New Republican leader in the House, John Boehner has taken trips valued at more than $157,000 since 2000, paid for by nonprofit trade organizations and think tanks.
He says: "We can't lock members up in a cubbyhole here in Washington and never let them see what's going on around the country and around the world."

MacDries says, "Cubbyhole? Don'cha mean Club House, bone head? I think that guy is still compensating for his natural HS nickname."
Just To Bug CodeFred
Nevermind. When did they outlaw the blink code?
I Said, Grow Up America (ABC)

When Mick sang "Start Me Up," ABC's editors silenced a reference to a woman's sexual sway over a dead man. The lyrics for "Rough Justice" included a synonym for a rooster that the network also chopped.
Do It, Now!

Go HERE.
Phishing
Got an email supposedly from PayPal that turned out to be a phishing expedition. Reminder: Don't respond to any email regarding financial information. Always go to the site directly amd login.
Change Of Plans
Change of mind. Didn't feel like going.

Hiatus
Goin up country tomorrow for a few days. Fed up with computers, politics, the internet. Be back when I feel like it.
Out & About
Some days I just don't feel like blogging.
As Fellini said in 8 1/2, "He has nothing to say!"
Sesta Pentimento

Number 6 in the Suite Sitler. We call this one Winter Landscape.
Go HERE to view the complete suite.
Ho Hummer
The biggest day of the year has arrived and I don't even care.

The Original
Wanna see the 1st Macintosh ad?
Go HERE.
Betty Friedan, 85, R.I.P.
Just a thinker.
"A woman has got to be able to say, and not feel guilty, `Who am I, and what do I want out of life?' She mustn't feel selfish and neurotic if she wants goals of her own, outside of husband and children."

MacDries says, "I'll buy that!"
Grow Up America

The SuperBowl Telecast will have a 5 second delay to allay all fears that Mick or Keith will pull a Janet Jackson.
If America can stand 8 years of little George W. Bush, I think we can handle (no pun) Janet's tit.
Watermelon & Laser Egg art


The Metropolitan
Off to see Rauschenberg, finally. Hope everything isn't wrapped in plexiglass boxes.
Turns out Monogram and a couple others were but most were not. Go now. It's pretty damn good. They have a sort of 'old master" look to them. You will notice a certain consistancy in color in the early ones due to the yellowing of the cheap enamel paints he was using at the time. They brighten up when he starts to sell them and can use real pigments
We also went to the Guggenheim to see the David Smith show. Huge!!! Both in scope and in scale. No other American sculptor can compete with him. But that damn Museum is atrocious. I'd forgotten how awful it was. And is, still.
They should have taken F.L. Wright's advice about NYC and applied it to The Guggenheim: "Blow it up and start over".

Serious Icefishermen Live In Minnesota

Here's Another One*
FEBRUARY 3--Meet Michael Garibay. We're going to give the Orlando, Florida man the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was stoned out of his mind early this morning when he offered to sell cocaine to a prospective customer. Because the buyer Garibay, 34, targeted was a sheriff's deputy.
Wearing his uniform. Seated in a marked patrol car. According to a sheriff's report, Garibay parked his Ford Taurus directly behind Deputy Edward Johnson's vehicle around 1 AM. After exiting his car, Garibay began chatting up Johnson through the cruiser's window. Soon, he was asking the patrolman, "Do you want to buy some cocaine?"
Johnson, who thought Garibay was kidding, answered, "Yes." Garibay then took out a baggie containing "several pieces of white flat rock substances" and asked the cop if he had money.
Johnson exited the police car, seized the baggie, and arrested Garibay.
A field test showed the white substance to be cocaine. Garibay was hit with a felony drug possession charge and a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia count. He was booked into the Orange County jail.
*Stolen from The Smoking Gun. Go HERE.
David Smith @ The Guggenheim
Be there or be square. And just down the street you've got Rauschenberg's combines @ The Met (which I've not yet seen).
Huh?
6 Alabama churches burn and officials are trying to determine if arson was involved.

MacDries says, "Nah, somebody just pissed off God."
Change
I just realized that the opening sound track of our hero Thelonious might be getting a bit oppressive or redundant to some of you regulars so I have stopped the autoplay function. You can still play it whenever you want by using the controller.
Etch-A-Sketch Artist
Go HERE.
Kama Sutra Worm
Sounds just like it is. If you Windows folks are losing files or having trouble with your PCs today, you've been infected. Somtime in the recent past you clicked on a file promising "School girl fantasies gone bad" or "Hot Movie" or "Crazy illegal Sex!" or "Kama Sutra pics." Today is the day you get your just desserts.
CodeFred Says
In response to my wonderment re: "why some artists make money from their endevors and so many do not".
"50% social relations - 40% luck and timing - 10% the work.
you can tell 'em I said so..."
f

MacDries says, "OK. Gotta get me some timing. Got plenty of the work but no social relations. I thought perhaps it was just Reagan's trickle-down theory."

Just noticed that CodeFred has started another blog. Go HERE.
Remember Scooter
Libby's trial date is set next January. Conveniently two months after the mid-term elections.
But we're still waiting to hear about Rove.
The Oscars
I never miss The Academy Awards; love the spectacle and the fact that live TV is "live", even though I have seldom seen most of the movies they are selling, touting, hyping and raving about. There are seldom 10 good movies a year, much less 10 Best Movies Of The Year.
For a full list (of the major ones): Go HERE.
Of the highly praised flix I have only seen Capote Cinderella Man and March of Penguins
None the less, here are my predictions based on the hype:
Brokeback Mountain - Best Picture & Best Director
Have not seen it. Probably won't.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Best Actor
Deservedly.
Reese Witherspoon - Best Actress
Haven't seen it. Probably won't. Like Ray last year I liked Johnny too much to suffer this.
Paul Giamatti - Best Supporting Actor
He deserved it last year for Sideways.
Rachel Weisz - Best Supporting Actress
Haven't seen it. Waiting for DVD.
Adapted SP - Brokeback Mountain
Ibid.
Original SP - Good Night Good Luck
Waiting for DVD. Ditto Syriana.

MacDries says, "In truth there are few movies I will stir myself to see in a theater full of noisy, perfume drenched fellow citizens. Most movies worth seeing on the big screen are too loud and too silly to suffer."
Every So Often
The Ruth Sitler Suite mentioned yesterday got me thinking about my life as an artist and it rather surprises me; the fact that I became one at all and here I am still doing it after 45 years with virtually no reward.
I'm not complaining. Aside from childhood comments that I 'could make money from my drawing skills' I never realistically expected to get any reward. But I do wonder every so often why some artists do make money from their endevors and so many do not. Good and bad artists do get rewarded but there seem to be no direct correlation between the two.

MacDries says, "I think we should just ask The Shrub. He knows everything."
Headline
Bush Urges Confidence In His Leadership

MacDries says, "Once again, as my old Daddy said, 'Wish in one hand, s*** in the other and see which gets filled faster'."
Kobe's Just A Hunk Of Japanese Beef
NEW YORK CITY Feb 2, 2006 - Step aside Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain. Epiphanny Prince of Murry Bergtraum High School scored 113 points in a game Wednesday, breaking a girls' national prep record previously held by Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller. Prince, a 5-foot-9 senior guard, led her team to a 137-32 victory over Brandeis High School.
The Bad News
PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA -- Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. 6 more weeks of winter.
House Passes 39 Billion Spending Cuts
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office this week said cuts to Medicaid spending would affect 13 million poor people, 20 percent of the program's participants. Many of those would be children. This would include higher out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and other medical care for the poor. Reductions in farm subsidies and student loans are also to follow. However, there will be plenty of money for the War On Terror, you can bet.

MacDries says, "Who elected this Congress?"
Bring Back Jimmy
Israel owes its existence to a militant past, present and future. So does the U.S. Of A. Thus: "If you sponsor an election or promote democracy and freedom around the world, then when people make their own decision about their leaders, I think that all the governments should recognize that administration and let them form their government."
-- Jimmy Carter

MacDries says, "Once again, a voice of reason."
Go HERE for more.
Toys For Baby Bushies
Go HERE.

Grizzly Bears
If you liked Grizzly Man you may or may not like this clip.
Go HERE.
Was He Smoking At The Time?
OREM, Utah Jan 31, 2006 - A man who called police to report the theft of a quarter-pound of marijuana was arrested when police recovered the bag of pot and then invited him to come to the Public Safety Building to identify it.
Kory C. Tippetts, 18, identified the pot as his and then was arrested and booked into the Utah County jail for investigation of possession of marijuana in a drug-free zone with intent to distribute.

MacDries says, "And I'll bet Kory considers himself a very bright bulb."
What Do You Find Funny
Go HERE.
Art Does Exist In The Boonies
Carl's long time companion and all around good girl Carol Wright does her thing in Sioux Falls and just had her birthday. Go HERE to see more of what she's up to.
Can You Spot The Girl From Iowa?

MisStateMent Of The Union
The Shrub gloated and rubbed balm on his sorry ass last night but who bought it? Who actually listened to his pathetic plea? I watched The Daily Show on TiVo instead. And then The Colbert Report.
If'n Ya Feel Like Thanking Those Few Who...
supported the filibuster, that is...
Go HERE.
Another Month Shot In The Ass
As Januarys go it was pretty good, weatherwise and the dread season did a finale. Other than that, it sucked, bigtime. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Your pages will load a whole lot faster now. I assure you.

Back at'cha Shrub. You little twerp!
Go HERE to see the whole tape.

For The Latest Dries Art GO HERE
For The Latest CyberToonz GO HERE
I've never actually watched an episode of The Simpsons (I'm more of a Pixar kind of guy) butt...
*Dislaimer

Go To: MacDries Design

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