Enjoying California and the warm weather... it's early yet, so

Enjoying California and the warm weather... it's early yet, so it hasn't gotten up to 74 yet.

Playing with the family cat, waiting for my grandaughter to wake up, thinking about coffee coffee coffee.

Then off to visit my mom. More later.

Future Badger Olympian

Check out the short videos of Chris' son's state-winning gym routines!

MMA fun for today

We bring you the double knockout:

Reason 469

Why I'm not Episcopalian (currently):

"God 'will not intervene to save us' says Archbishop of Canterbury."

I expect that was originally a small g, but the old 'cap the first word of a title' rule mucks up Rowan's meaning once again.

One wonders why he bothers at all.

Floodwater status: Janesville

Better get out your waders - the Rock River is rising, with Janesville's South River road under water in three places (I got through all three last night in my little Nissan: correct speed/force is key).

Jobless rates in Janesville/Beloit follow suit by topping the state's rate at nearly one out of seven residents out of a job.

New historical show

Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire!

Well, more of a historical rehash with small leather-and-chain-mail outfits.

And lots of jokes.

I take it back about the 'most' ironic thing

Let's try it again: "School Warns Parents Dead Daughter Can't Go to Prom."

BTW, it wasn't the original headline - Fox editors just have a way with words.

And no, we won't be hauling this out as appropriate, no matter how much we want to.

Ironic headline of the day

"EU Presidency: Obama Plans 'a Way to Hell'."

Well, you can't fault their experience in knowing about plans leading south.

Plans for a livable winter scrapped again

First they start with what should be good news: less lake ice!

Then they call their expertize into question with some stupid comment about it being a mild winter.

Then this:

Scientists at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., say global climate change can be at odds with regional climate patterns.

Arggghhhh! Permanently sentenced to flying south for the winter!

Be sure to check out my BBA stuff from today

Be sure to check out my BBA stuff from today:

More news from while I was in Cleveland, Can I call in sick on this? and Apparently he thought he was on Leno.

how to know you should change your meds or lay off the MMA

I had a dream the other night that two guys were gonna mug me.

So I said, "Would you leave me alone if I rip out his throat?" referring to one of the guys.

They looked at each other, laughed, and said, "Sure."

So I pulled some move on the guy, but only ripped his throat open about a third of the way.

I said, "Is that good enough?"

The other guy ran away, and the target dropped to the ground.

And I went on with my dream about getting settled in Paris, learning the history of the neighborhood and meeting the neighbors.

Not sure which to give up, though...

x steps forward, y steps back

A group of Saudis, the National Society for Human Rights, aim to move forward:

The report highlighted violations by the powerful Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice which runs the religious police and accused it of "infringing individuals' rights."

People detained by the religious police have been "interrogated and sometimes assaulted and made to confess under duress to acts they did not commit," the report said, adding that in some cases this has led to deaths in custody.

"In commenting on the incidents, the commission leans toward denying them, belittling their importance or saying they are individual acts," said the report.

Currently there are efforts to retrain members of the religious police through workshops, but the report said these do not go far enough.

It's hard to tell which is the chicken and which is the egg, but conservative Saudi clerics are calling for a turnabout from progressive moves in a letter published yesterday:

A group of Saudi clerics urged the kingdom's new information minister on Sunday to ban women from appearing on TV or in newspapers and magazines, making clear that the country's hardline religious establishment is skeptical of a new push toward moderation.

....

The clerics include several professors from the ultra-conservative Imam University, Islamic research scholars, a judge in a court in the resort of Taif and some government employees.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, in town for meetings with Saudi officials, told a news conference that during lunch he sat between a female Saudi surgeon and a female journalist. He said while one woman is allowed to perform surgery and another is allowed to teach, neither is permitted to drive.

"I find that bizarre," he said.

It remains difficult to tell who will prevail. King Abdullah can't afford the upheavel the clerics would bring - or can he? Slow progression would seem wise, except for one thing: At the current rate, women may be able to doff the chador in favor of the hejab sometime in the 25th century. Then we can talk about marriage choice, intermingling and other "privileges".

more jokes inapropriately centered around children

Another awesome joke!

That's two! Pyu pyu!

And I'm not puttin' it in the holster just yet.

joke so bad you should probably avert your eyes

Mr. President, why you hatin' on the developmentally delayed?


* I think I could hear Rahm Emmanuel yelling sh*t!!!!!! all the way from the Green room.

Stories of Cleveland adventures to come. Bwahahahaha!

Stories of Cleveland adventures to come. Bwahahahaha!

Meanwhile, I've put some stuff up over at BBA.

Proving that cheese and beer are recession-proof

The news isn't all bad - "Wisconsin exports rise despite bad economy."

Wisconsin’s exports increased by 11.8 percent to $20.6 billion in 2008, ranking the state as the 18th-largest exporter in the nation.

Sure they love our industrial machinery - the world's largest excavator was built here - and our computer stuff and our electrical gadgets.

But we know what Canada, Mexico and China can't get enough of: deep-fried cheese curds and Leinie's!

Survey says

One in seven Britons is a caveman-misogynist.

of Mice and Women

Rhianna's mother, father, brothers, uncles and friends should read the police report of Chris Brown's attack on her.

Then all of Brown's sponsors should read it, and Brown's record company, event planners who have hired him for concerts and his family should all read it.

• He should serve a minimum of three to five for attempted murder.
• She must testify against him.
• Her family should keep her away from him permanently.
• His family should insist he get the help he needs.
• His mother finally become a role model by getting the help she needs
• His mother has to realize that by allowing a man to beat her and for her children to know about it and live with it caused this mess. Brown clearly got the message that men can get as angry as they want, and can control situations with violence.
• Everyone making a buck off Chris Brown should stop all business with him.
• His concerts, albums and radio airplay should all be boycotted.
• If she refuses to testify, everyone, including Cover Girl, should stop all business with her.
• If she refuses to testify, her concerts, albums and radio airplay should all be boycotted.

That it took him nine days to apologize, in a text message to her assistant, is the least of this tragedy.

They can all still be role models - just not the hero-type.

Proving once again that accountants really are smart

A grant from the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants paid for yesterday's "Reality Check" event for Janesville high school students.

Armed with a checkbook, students went through a series of real life "stations," such as taxes, housing and transportation, writing checks and watching their money disappear.

Other stations collected money for utilities, insurance, clothing, groceries and gas.
Then students had to navigate through a variety of optional stations, including entertainment, family activities and dining out. Other options included charities, spa services and pets.

Finally, "fate" visited students, doling out financial surprises in the form of unexpected expenses or windfalls.

To make everything a little more complicated, a wandering police officer and health official doled out tickets and health-related events. Run through a stop sign? Pay a ticket. Strep throat? Pay the doctor.

Rtwt - some of the students' choices are fun and funny.

Considering the prevailing attitude among younger adults that they deserve a certain quality of life whether they earn it or not,* and considering how society pays for it in bankruptcies, bad debt and unpaid taxes, it's a big favor the accountants are doing us all with this fun but all-too-real exercise.

Plus, they get the perk of expecting a little less whining and a more earnest attempt by their clients to dig out those receipts and to know more about how to reduce their tax debt.

*This is my experience based on years teaching at the college level.

Busy watching UFC matches tonight.In case you think that's

Busy watching UFC matches tonight.

In case you think that's wrong of me, I'm in good company: Apparently, our 16th president was a fan as well.

First strike defense

North Korea: "N. Korea Vows to Punish U.S., S. Korea 'Warmongers'."

South Korea: "How ya gonna do that?"

North Korea: "With bombs!"

South Korea: "So... you're going to stage a mock attack on us."

North Korea: "Yeah!!!"

South Korea: "So... about that whole "warmongers" thing.

North Korea: "Yeah?"

South Korea: ...

North Korea: ...

South Korea: "Well then, okay. In the spirit of the thing, uh, break a leg."

Promises, promises Dept.

Yes we can. We want to just move on.

C'mon, the real enemy isn't congress and their insatiable appetite for pork that's making the Obama break his campaign promises, it's Rush and those lobbyist types!