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Like dogs catching a car


It appears the Democrats have taken both houses of Congress. This makes me happy not because of any particular party loyalty but rather it provides a little hope that maybe some of our country’s problems can be made just a little better. I know, I know. I’m like Charlie Brown thinking he’s going to kick the football “this time.” But I’m an Astros fan. I’m used to disappointment.

It makes me extremely happy to see Rumsfeld go. I don’t recall Rummy doing anything particularly good or bad when he was Defense Secretary the first time, which was during part of my Navy enlistment in the mid-to-late 1970s. But Rumsfeld’s tenure this time could be equated to the Hindenburg crashing into the Titanic. Oh the humanity!

Rumsfeld does not bear the blame for getting us into the Iraq mess. But he can be blamed for his reckless and arrogant leadership which has put our troops into an untenable position. I just hope that both the Iraq Study Group as well as Rumsfeld’s presumed successor, Robert Gates, can find an exit strategy from this ill-advised war that will neither leave our nation completely dispirited nor weakened.

What is with all this hope and optimism from the original founder of the Pessimists club (Our motto: We would have a meeting but we are afraid no one would attend)? I don’t know. I guess I just like to torture myself. I’ve got to get me one of those waterboards … (Warning, danger Will Robinson: Facetious reference)

The changing of the guard at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill leave our nation with a host of new opportunities. But those leaders who can make things work will be like a dog chasing a car and catching it. Okay Fido, you’ve got the car, now what are you going to do with it?

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Mid-terms post mortem: Hand me the bone saw


Gee Dubya tried to pull off a miracle in Crawford but to no avail.

The Democrats took back the U.S. House in yesterday’s election rumble. As of this morning, control of the Senate appeared to hang on who wins in Virginia and Montana. Go figure. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. This is especially so since two Nor’eastern Independents were elected.

Bernie Sanders of Vermont has described himself as a “democratic socialist,” so it’s doubtful he will regularly break bread with the Senate G.O.P. caucus. The picture is not so clear about Smoking Joe Leiberman, who was whipped in the Democratic primary but went on to beat the candidate who beat him. Of course, Leiberman playing kissy-face with Gee Dubya didn’t endear him to his fellow Donkeycrats. But Lieberman has said he will vote with the Dems. We shall see.

I guess the best thought about this entire election — aside from the fact that all the stupid ads are over (for now at least) — is that maybe a fraction of that congenital smirk on Karl Rove’s face has been removed. Now I am a reasonable guy. I normally judge people by their character and not by their looks. But once in a great while, someone’s looks pisses me off. Call it a sick (sic) sense. Karl Rove fits in that category.

Here in the Lone Star State there were no big surprises. Gov. Goodhair will have another term. Kinky can make a movie. Carole Keeton Strayhorn Acosta Diablo Von Hindenburg will still be a tough grandma. And Chris Bell? Someone might actually recognize him when he walks down the street. I probably won’t, but someone might.

We shall see what we shall see as for the future. For now, it is time for the victors to celebrate and for the losers to … do loser things. Once again democracy raises its weary head and loudly proclaims: “Keep those drinks a’ coming!”

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PC or Mac? Or if 6 was 9?


You have probably seen the Mac guy vs. the PC guy ads on TV in which Mac guy is cool and hip and PC guy is rather drab and clueless. I guess that maybe the ads are a little bit funny. But when it comes to personal choice, I could give a rat’s ass.

Now I think computers are great and thank Al Gore everyday for inventing the Internets. But the truth is, computers are a tool that I use. They are tools that I enjoy using much more than other tools such as say, a mill bastard file or a crescent wrench, but they are nonetheless a tool. I want the tool that works best and is the easiest to use and that does not cause me to bloody my knuckles. I used Macs a lot when I worked full-time for newspapers. I use a PC now because I am borrowing one. Both seem to get the job done. Both seem to screw up at the most inopportune times. Six of one or nine of the other.

No doubt many people out there in Computerland are as rabid about their own computer as I am about … well, I’m not very rabid about a whole lot. But people have their own brand loyalties as well as preferences and that makes the business world go around I suppose.

Since I have wasted way too many words on the subject of Mac vs. PC, I intend to close with a list of other matters taken from today’s headlines about which I really don’t give a rat’s ass:

1. Madonna’s attempt to adopt a child from Mars, or wherever the hell it is that she was.

2. Kirstie Alley fitting into a bikini.

3. The Seahawks beating the Raiders.

4. Mice with jet lag die young.

5. FedEx cancels order for 10 Airbus A380s.

Or in the words of Jimi Hendrix:

… If the sun refuse to shine,
I don’t mind, I don’t mind,
If the mountains fell in the sea,
let it be, it ain’t me.
Alright, ‘cos I got my own world to look through,
And I ain’t gonna copy you.

Now if 6 turned out to be 9,
I don’t mind, I don’t mind,
Alright, if all the hippies cut off all their hair,
I don’t care, I don’t care.
Dig, ‘cos I got my own world to live through
And I ain’t gonna copy you.

White collared conservative flashing down the street,

Pointing their plastic finger at me.
They’re hoping soon my kind will drop and die,
But I’m gonna wave my freak flag high, high.
Wave on, wave on
Fall mountains, just don’t fall on me … “