"Once we have victory in Baghdad, all the critics will look like fools."
--Vice President Dick Cheney, 2002.
--Vice President Dick Cheney, 2002.
The Amazing Adventure of Lawn Chair Larry
He hatched his weather balloon scheme while sitting outside in his "extremely comfortable" Sears lawnchair. He purchased 45 weather balloons from an Army-Navy surplus store, tied them to his tethered lawnchair dubbed the Inspiration I, and filled the 4' diameter balloons with helium. Then he strapped himself into his lawnchair with some sandwiches, Miller Lite, and a pellet gun.You won't believe what happened next.
Trade Deadline and More
On Monday evening, with the trade deadline less than 24 hours away, the Red Wings announced their acquisition of Kyle Calder from Philadelphia, as part of a three-way deal. Jason Williams went to Chicago as part of the deal. The whole deal seemed to be a lateral one--Calder is about the size of Williams and doesn't really have good stats this year. Actually, Calder's plus/minus was a very dismal -31! Damn. But, then he WAS playing for the Flyers--and they are the last team in the league this year. One can always hope.
Tuesday night, Calder was already suited-up and getting ready to play his first game as a Wing. Five seconds into his FIRST shift, he scored! I wouldn't have been more surprised if you would have slapped me in the face with a dead fish! Hot damn, but that was a nice surprise. And to make it even nicer, he got an assist later in the game. Welcome to Hockeytown, Kyle Calder--glad to have you. Now, I don't expect he will be doing that EVERY game, but it was nice to see how well he played that night. Actually, the entire team seemed to be a bit revitalized on Tuesday--maybe the fresh blood did it!
Until the pre-game show on Tuesday, I thought Calder was it for Detroit in terms of trades. Then they announced that Todd Bertuzzi was coming to town. Now, if anyone thinks THIS news didn't cause one heck of a firestorm on the message boards, then they don't know hockey. In 2004, Bertuzzi hit an opposing player--a cheap shot, probably (I've never seen video of the hit, I'm just reporting what I have read)--and broke his neck, ending his career. Bertuzzi was fined, suspended, and vilified for what he did. He apologized and is still facing a civil suit because of his actions. As I said, I never saw video on the hit, so I have to try and stay neutral as far as that is concerned. We'll have to see how he plays, but everyone hopes he learned his lesson--as I'm sure he did. Other than the 'incident' looming over him is the fact that he hasn't played a game since his back surgery in November! It will be interesting to see if he comes back after this. Detroit didn't pay much for him, so if he doesn't work, at least there won't be much in terms of money or future talent wasted. Bertuzzi is expected to begin playing in about two weeks.
Going back to the game on Tuesday. I was surprised at how well the team played, considering all of the injured players that they have. Cleary is out with a knee problem for about two weeks. Samuelsson is still out with his foot--not sure when he'll be back. Kopecky probably won't be back for the season with his collarbone. AND, worst of all, Zetterberg is out for about two weeks with a back problem! It will be very interesting to see how the rest of the team steps up and works to make up for the loss of Hank. At least, hopefully, they all (with the exception of Kopecky) will be healthy for the play-offs--and Bertuzzi will be there, too.
Tuesday night, Calder was already suited-up and getting ready to play his first game as a Wing. Five seconds into his FIRST shift, he scored! I wouldn't have been more surprised if you would have slapped me in the face with a dead fish! Hot damn, but that was a nice surprise. And to make it even nicer, he got an assist later in the game. Welcome to Hockeytown, Kyle Calder--glad to have you. Now, I don't expect he will be doing that EVERY game, but it was nice to see how well he played that night. Actually, the entire team seemed to be a bit revitalized on Tuesday--maybe the fresh blood did it!
Until the pre-game show on Tuesday, I thought Calder was it for Detroit in terms of trades. Then they announced that Todd Bertuzzi was coming to town. Now, if anyone thinks THIS news didn't cause one heck of a firestorm on the message boards, then they don't know hockey. In 2004, Bertuzzi hit an opposing player--a cheap shot, probably (I've never seen video of the hit, I'm just reporting what I have read)--and broke his neck, ending his career. Bertuzzi was fined, suspended, and vilified for what he did. He apologized and is still facing a civil suit because of his actions. As I said, I never saw video on the hit, so I have to try and stay neutral as far as that is concerned. We'll have to see how he plays, but everyone hopes he learned his lesson--as I'm sure he did. Other than the 'incident' looming over him is the fact that he hasn't played a game since his back surgery in November! It will be interesting to see if he comes back after this. Detroit didn't pay much for him, so if he doesn't work, at least there won't be much in terms of money or future talent wasted. Bertuzzi is expected to begin playing in about two weeks.
Going back to the game on Tuesday. I was surprised at how well the team played, considering all of the injured players that they have. Cleary is out with a knee problem for about two weeks. Samuelsson is still out with his foot--not sure when he'll be back. Kopecky probably won't be back for the season with his collarbone. AND, worst of all, Zetterberg is out for about two weeks with a back problem! It will be very interesting to see how the rest of the team steps up and works to make up for the loss of Hank. At least, hopefully, they all (with the exception of Kopecky) will be healthy for the play-offs--and Bertuzzi will be there, too.
Time Flies
Being a stay-at-home, it always amazes me that time moves just as quickly for me as it does for those out in the 'real world.' Once again, I am faced with the 'where has the time gone' dilemma! I noticed that the last time I posted was on Monday--I couldn't believe it! Anyway, here is what has been happening:
--I did make it to my doctor appointment on Tuesday. As it was just a quick check-up, I didn't expect any problems--which there weren't. My blood work came back fine--the anemia is gone, my thyroid is fine, etc. He also is very happy with my blood-pressure numbers. Hoo-ray! I don't have to see him again until October--I just have to stop in for a blood-pressure check in June. I can handle that.
--The 3-year-old granddaughter had her hernia surgery on Thursday. Everything went well until she woke up and then she absolutely freaked because of the IV. I guess the more they tried to calm her down, the more freaked she became! When the IV was finally removed, she was fine. Almost immediately she asked for something to eat, so she was happily scarfing down popsicles and juice and other various fun-type foods, and then she vomited. Nothing unusual after surgery, but it DID keep her in the hospital for an hour or so longer. They finally let her go home and she has been doing well since.
--I talked to C tonight--to continue on with the 3-year-old's recovery--and she said the girl was kicking the sh*t out of her little brother. Now, before anyone gets upset, the younger brother is only 10 months younger and he is many pounds and a few inches bigger than the girl, so she can't really do much damage. With five kids, C lets them fight their own battles as long as there is no bloodshed. Obviously, the surgery didn't knock the wind out of her for very long--if at all.
--K is on his long weekend--and he's working every day. I was hoping for a road trip, but that is not to be--this month anyway. He thinks he is going to NOT work as much after this stretch of days--we'll see about that. It keeps him busy, at least. :)
--It probably was a very good thing that we didn't plan a trip for this weekend: we are getting DUMPED on with snow right now. Since 6:00pm or so, we have gotten around 12 inches of snow--and that is on top of freezing rain. K said he will have to take the Jimmy to work, as his truck doesn't have four wheel drive. No problem on my part--I'M not going anywhere in this weather! I took pictures of our backyard before the snow started and will take pictures tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully I will post them later.
--Talked with the youngest daughter and THEY are getting dumped on, big time, in St Paul. She didn't have to go to work this afternoon, and with all the cancellations she was hearing, the chances that she will have to go to work at all tomorrow are slim and none. For all intents and purposes, the Twin Cities and surrounding areas are closed till further notice! I think the UP of Michigan will be closed, too.
--I was born and raised here in the UP of Michigan. Other than extremely brief periods of time, I have lived here all of my life. I KNOW what snow is all about and don't really mind it. HOWEVER. I like the snow to start when it should--sometime around October or November--and continue falling in a nice, normal pattern until spring--sometime around April or May. This is the way it should be, this is the way I am used to it happening, this is the way I like it. We will get various blizzards and storms throughout the winter--this I can handle, and even welcome during the winter. I don't like the kind of winter we have had so far. Sure, it was nice and wonderful having almost no snow for the beginning of winter--till sometime in January, actually. We really didn't have any big-time snowstorms until last weekend. And now we are getting another one in less than a week--albeit, this one is MUCH more severe! It is hard to accept so much snow this late in the season--and we STILL have another couple of months where we can get more storms! Unbelievable.
--I did make it to my doctor appointment on Tuesday. As it was just a quick check-up, I didn't expect any problems--which there weren't. My blood work came back fine--the anemia is gone, my thyroid is fine, etc. He also is very happy with my blood-pressure numbers. Hoo-ray! I don't have to see him again until October--I just have to stop in for a blood-pressure check in June. I can handle that.
--The 3-year-old granddaughter had her hernia surgery on Thursday. Everything went well until she woke up and then she absolutely freaked because of the IV. I guess the more they tried to calm her down, the more freaked she became! When the IV was finally removed, she was fine. Almost immediately she asked for something to eat, so she was happily scarfing down popsicles and juice and other various fun-type foods, and then she vomited. Nothing unusual after surgery, but it DID keep her in the hospital for an hour or so longer. They finally let her go home and she has been doing well since.
--I talked to C tonight--to continue on with the 3-year-old's recovery--and she said the girl was kicking the sh*t out of her little brother. Now, before anyone gets upset, the younger brother is only 10 months younger and he is many pounds and a few inches bigger than the girl, so she can't really do much damage. With five kids, C lets them fight their own battles as long as there is no bloodshed. Obviously, the surgery didn't knock the wind out of her for very long--if at all.
--K is on his long weekend--and he's working every day. I was hoping for a road trip, but that is not to be--this month anyway. He thinks he is going to NOT work as much after this stretch of days--we'll see about that. It keeps him busy, at least. :)
--It probably was a very good thing that we didn't plan a trip for this weekend: we are getting DUMPED on with snow right now. Since 6:00pm or so, we have gotten around 12 inches of snow--and that is on top of freezing rain. K said he will have to take the Jimmy to work, as his truck doesn't have four wheel drive. No problem on my part--I'M not going anywhere in this weather! I took pictures of our backyard before the snow started and will take pictures tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully I will post them later.
--Talked with the youngest daughter and THEY are getting dumped on, big time, in St Paul. She didn't have to go to work this afternoon, and with all the cancellations she was hearing, the chances that she will have to go to work at all tomorrow are slim and none. For all intents and purposes, the Twin Cities and surrounding areas are closed till further notice! I think the UP of Michigan will be closed, too.
--I was born and raised here in the UP of Michigan. Other than extremely brief periods of time, I have lived here all of my life. I KNOW what snow is all about and don't really mind it. HOWEVER. I like the snow to start when it should--sometime around October or November--and continue falling in a nice, normal pattern until spring--sometime around April or May. This is the way it should be, this is the way I am used to it happening, this is the way I like it. We will get various blizzards and storms throughout the winter--this I can handle, and even welcome during the winter. I don't like the kind of winter we have had so far. Sure, it was nice and wonderful having almost no snow for the beginning of winter--till sometime in January, actually. We really didn't have any big-time snowstorms until last weekend. And now we are getting another one in less than a week--albeit, this one is MUCH more severe! It is hard to accept so much snow this late in the season--and we STILL have another couple of months where we can get more storms! Unbelievable.
Juan Cole on Iran's Nuclear Program:
We don't even know that Iran has a weapons research program. It hasn't been proved, there isn't any solid evidence, and the Supreme Jurisprudent has given a fatwa against having or using nuclear weapons as illicit in Islamic law. You can't acknowledge that Iran is a dictatorial theocracy and then turn around and say that his fatwa is irrelevant.
The people who assert with such confidence that Iran has a weapons program are the same ones who insisted that North Korea had a uranium enrichment program, which now turns out to be unlikely. And then there was that little mistake about Iraq's "program."
CIA Papers Reveal 1950s Japan Coup Plot
(AP) Declassified documents reveal that Japanese ultranationalists with ties to U.S. military intelligence plotted to overthrow the Japanese government and assassinate the prime minister in 1952.
The scheme _ which was abandoned _ was concocted by militarists and suspected war criminals who had worked for U.S. occupation authorities after World War II, according to CIA records reviewed by The Associated Press. The plotters wanted a right-wing government that would rearm Japan.
Hattori and others had worked under the aegis of Maj. Gen. Charles Willoughby, the anti-communist G-2 chief. During the occupation, Willoughby was considered the second most powerful American after his boss, Gen. Douglas MacArthur.General Charles Willoughby is featured prominently in Dick Russell's JFK assassination book The Man Who Knew Too Much.
