Flea Market Finds

Whenever someone becomes famous, enterprising types come out of the woodwork to hawk various and sundry items once owned or used by the now well-known person.

Provenance, it's called.  Just watch any episode of Antiques Roadshow, and you'll likely hear appraisers tell owners that their item is worth 'such and such' but if its provenance can be verified, the amount will be much more.

So when I saw this video, I wondered if it will someday end up on a Barrett-Jackson, Sotheby's, Christie's, or Ebay listing:



I guess it would be quite the step up from BHO's Chrysler 300.

...Or Bubba's El Camino with vintage DNA-encrusted astroturf bedliner.

Throwback Tuesday

Well, back to 2007 anyway...



Cheers.

One for Peter, two for Paul

Three for Him who made us all...

I heard A-Soalin' for the first time this season on my drive home tonight:



May God abundantly bless you and yours this Christmas season!

Proud much?

On these pages, I've made no secret that I'm a fan of the lyrics of the drummer of a certain American rock-n-roll band.  And lately, I've been listening to the deluxe edition of said drummer's latest solo effort, which include a song titled Too Much Pride:

Common as dirt; as old as sin
The road to ruin, again and again
Oh, how many dreams have bloomed and died
Too much pride

How many heavens are hopelessly lost?
How many tender loves has vanity cost?
Lord, help the soul that can't be satisfied
Too much pride

You don't have to be right all the time
You can't go on with all of these axes to grind

Henley apparently referenced the person who is now President-elect during the introduction of the song on a TV show last year.  For myself, I'm going to use it as a personal reminder if at any time I find myself thinking "I deserve this" or "I didn't deserve that" (when bad stuff happens).  After all, I'm not the center of the universe.

Speaking of which, in 2007, the same referenced drummer (together with Messrs. Frey and Smith), wrote these lyrics:

Oh, love, I'll always be beside you
Wherever you may roam
Someday, with all the stars to guide you
You will find your way back home

 
This is not the center of the universe
That's alright with me

Off my rocker...

...Anymore.

Sticks and Stones

I noted recently that I'd acquired Henley's latest solo CD, Cass County.  Here's one of the songs from the CD, performed live at ACL:



23 years after Walkaway Joe.  On the CD, Yearwood sings harmony only, but in this performance, it's an actual duet.

Monday Muckraking

• Well, the world didn't end Wednesday morning.  I followed my planned election night regimen the night prior, expecting to be severely depressed at bedtime, only to find that Providence had intervened.
• I've noted many times that DJT would not have been my choice to carry the 'R' banner, as well as that I believed Joe Biden would've been a better candidate for the 'D' team.
• Will the swamp be drained?  Who knows?  What is certain is that an HRC administration would have only resulted in a more toxic swamp, so at least there's a possibility of reform, a chance that would have been deader than a doornail in four years.
• A few protesters on the left coast are talking the possibility of secession or civil war.  Hyperbole much?    Texas has often been ridiculed vis-á-vis secession talk.  I have noted in the past that in Texas' case, the real secession would not be just our State (though there's something to be said for restoring its 1845 boundaries), but a wide swath of states from the Atlantic and Gulf, through the heartland, joining a couple or more of our Canadian neighbors, eh, with Alaska.
• The electoral map sure looked a lot like what I've described for years.  The notion of California, Oregon - and maybe Washington - starting a civil war by secession is pretty far-fetched, because unless there's a counter-force trying to keep them, it's not really a war, is it?  Still, the mind giggles at the notion of the 1st Oakland Mechanized Division rolling down the interstate in columns of Priuses, tie-dyed troops bearing bongs and salad-shooters, led by General Chelsea...wait for it...Manning.  ;-)
• The Hitachi 3.5 SATA HDD on my desktop PC has apparently expired, forcing me for the time to use my Lenovo tablet for blog-posting.  Oh, bother...  I'm going to ask my IT friend if he has a usable drive for cheap, as I'm not so much interested in getting a new PC.  If I had to, I could use a BT keyboard with the tablet, but still.  I won't try to blog from my phone.
• It's said that Ruger and S&W stocks (the market kind) took a hit, with the spectre of Kommissar Hillary now in the rear-view.  Since retail delivery channels were probably inventory heavy based on the expected election outcome, wonder if bargains will abound for Black Friday and the Christmas buying season?  I have been a .45 fan for a quarter-century, but got a slim/compact 9mm last BF at Academy.   Recent technology advances in the ammo industry have narrowed the performance gap considerably, so I'm contemplating a standard-size 9.  The last one such I owned was in the 1980s.
• Gwen Ifill has died.  I frequently watch the PBS news update at 9:00, which she co-anchored with Judy Woodruff.  Despite the general bias of the news media, her reporting seemed to me as competent and professional as any, and certainly well above such hacks as Chris Matthews and similar others.  Conspicuous by her absence on election night, we now know why.  Godspeed, Ms. Ifill.

What's next?

• In mere hours, we'll know who to gripe about, or who will be griping, for the next four years.

• "Like a drunkard in the night/swingin' left and swingin' right/Republican or Democrat...Don't tell me to take it easy/'cause I've been there, done that."  Henley has a great gift for lyrics and irony.
• A couple of days ago, I noticed one of my headlights was out.  No hay problema, creo que tengo otros en el parts bin.  So I found a new bulb, and yesterday popped the hood to swap it out.  Only. To. Find.  That I needed a 9007 instead of the 9004 bulbs which I had.
• Oh well - all of life's problems should be so simple.
• In case you need a confidence builder/pick-me-up, take this quiz.  If you're over 45, born in America, and miss more than three or four of these, you probably should be flogged on the public square.
• I got a 98%, missing one question because I didn't know who Viola Davis was.  Still don't.  Don't care.
• Last Tuesday I stopped after work at a chicken place named for a fictional sailor.  After waiting about 5-7 minutes while Maria¹ the assistant manager called out a couple orders for the sparsely populated dining room, and Hector¹ clocked back in from his break to work the cash register, I thought some fried fowl might soon be heading home with me.  Then, Cameroon dude¹ walks in, asks/gestures if I've been served or not (I had not, and so said) and Hector proceeds to take his order instead of mine.  I shrugged at Bob¹, the next guy in line, and walked out.  Edit #3: Forgiving as I am, I gave the chicken folks another try tonight, walking out the door with my order in under two minutes.  Even managed to eat my chicken without choking.
• Coming to America, indeed.
• I'm hoping my reruns channel is campaign-free tonight.  Not sure I need any more of the mental masturbation that goes along with all the punditry. Edit: I ran some errands early this evening, getting home to watch my sit-coms as planned, around 8:15.  At that time, I would've agreed with dinglenutz over at the circus blog, that the news outlets are dragging out the results so as to keep eyeballs through the evening.  But as the evening wore on (gratuitous Harvey reference) - it's now a bit past 10:00 - it's looking like a real race.
• A great episode of Carson the other night, from May 15, 1992 - his last week on the air - featured Eastwood, Letterman, and Bob Hope. Edit #2: Carson tonight had a St. Elsewhere-era Howie Mandel on the show.  Mandel was über zany - I think Johnny genuinely didn't know what to make of him.

¹ Not necessarily their actual names

My Saturday Clothes

• I had a dream the other night that a woman approached me in a public place - her identity was unclear in the dream, but I was given to understand that I knew her - knelt down, and asked if I would marry her.  I then bade her stand up, and I got on one knee, and said it would be my honor. Weird, I know.
• I guess I'm a stickler for traditionalism, even asleep.
• I related that dream story to a female co-worker.  She agreed she could picture me doing that (even if the predicate premise was far-fetched).
• Next year will be a decade I've been on my own, maybe my subconscious self is trying to send me a message, that it's ready - if I can find an honest woman.
• Kind of like finding a unicorn, huh?
• Gonna leave that one to God.  My picks haven't worked out so well.
• I know some folks go to church hoping to meet someone.  I'd like to meet a woman who would attend church with me.
• On my day off this week, I voted and got my flu shot.  In the end, it came down to voting for the clown instead of the criminal, such was the dismal choice this year.  I did not vote straight ticket (I never have).
• Not looking forward to the time change next week.  With my work schedule, it won't really give me any time for doing outside work.
• Tried a new brand of melatonin last night, with vitamin B-6.  More actual melatonin than the last batch, but no chamomile or valerian root.  I don't think it worked so well.
• From the re-runs file: Another familiar voice on an ancient sit-com.  Was listening to the Andy Griffith show, when I heard a very familiar voice.  When I looked at the TV, I saw that the role of Bert Miller was played by Sterling Holloway - the voice of Winnie the Pooh.  Oh, bother...
• At work, I'm very focused and energetic.  At home, not so much.  I kind of  'leave it all on the field', so by the time I get home, I feel drained.  I need to get a personal secretary to keep me on task at home.
• One of my co-workers reminds me of Papa Hemingway in his late years.  I saw this article today.

Not my co-worker, but close...

• A while back I mentioned a job I took for a couple of weeks early this year, and that it had been posted 4-5 times since I left.  This week I noticed that the position above it had gone vacant, as well.  I had no issues with my boss, can't help wondering if he also decided that workplace was irredeemable.
• Probably a good thing I'm not the pastor.  I could've totally illustrated tonight's sermon with Henley lyrics...lol.
• I bought an inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon yesterday.  It will be uncorked tonight.  New melatonin or not, I think I shall sleep well.

Warum nicht Mittwoch?

• It would alliterate in English.
• Many times I listen to TV more than I watch it. After all, who got time for dat?  Recently I was brushing my teeth or somesuch, and heard a decidedly familiar voice from an In the Heat of the Night episode.  Sure enough, the voice belonged to Ken Curtis.  Brief research showed the episode aired in 1990, a year before Curtis passed away.  Archie Bunker and Festus - who'd a thunk it, Matthew?
• A stretch of road I drive on the way to work has many yards with Republican and/or Trumpence signs.  In the midst of same is one house with one HRC sign and several for candidates whose names are unpronounceable in English.
• Who would win in a Biden/Trump cage match?  Godzilla vs. Hillary?
• Remember Daktari?  Check out Shaqfari...
• America needs you, Joe Clark!
• Arvy's?  America's Roast Venison, Yes Sir!  That looks delicious!
• Again, listening instead of watching TV, I heard a familiar actor's voice on Jimmy Stewart's 1955 Strategic Air Command.  The character was Master Sgt. Bible, B-36 flight engineer.  The actor would later go on to portray LAPD Officer Bill Gannon and M*A*S*H Colonel Sherman Potter.  So, maybe if Jimmy Stewart were still alive, he could do a J. K. Rowling movie or appear on T.D. Jakes' talk show.  The movie was partially filmed at Carswell AFB.
• George Carlin and Richard Pryor were both on the same Carson episode last week.  I have noted previously that, due to a family friend in the record business who kept us supplied with demo copies, I could do verbatim impersonations of those, as well as Redd Foxx.  While it was amusing to my friends and classmates, I probably didn't realize that it was a bit out of tune with my career path.  In any case, watching the TV, I expected to wax nostalgic a bit during their appearances.  I didn't.  Carlin seemed much less clever than I'd thought, and Pryor was showing the effects of his drug-addled lifestyle.
• Still, I enjoyed their movie performances in Bill & Ted, and the buddy movies with Gene Wilder.
• Stevie Wonder is supporting HRC.  Heck, the jokes practically write themselves...
• I am apparently lying while I'm typing this post.  What a crock.
• One of the rerun channels has announced 'new' offerings for 2017: Head of the Class, Alice, 227, and Murphy Brown.  Lame.
• I expected to enjoy the Wings reruns more than I have.  If it came on before Carson, I'd be more interested in watching.  

Sussunday

Phil Collins was on the CBS Sunday Morning show today.



I wasn't a great fan of '80s music, but I generally liked Collins/Genesis.  Unlike some in the rock-n-roll business, he seems pretty honest and well-grounded. Apparently he is returning to performing, after nearly drinking himself to death several years ago.  While I have been aware of his interest in the Alamo, I didn't know that the collection he gifted to the State of Texas was valued at $10 million.

Don't let its misery entwine you...

This song has been covered by many artists, including Linda, Glen Campbell, and Rita Wilson [Hanks].  I missed the opportunity to see Mr. Souther earlier this year at the Kessler, as tickets sold out before I was aware he was coming to town.

I know Henley has said the Eagles are done without Glenn.  But it would be pretty awesome - and I think Glenn would have approved - if they did a tour with JD filling in.

Monday? Meh...

• Clapton does Dylan:

• What's with the new Frost Bank commercials?  They look like they could be for any other nationwide banking company rather than a Texas-based institution.  Wonder if something's up?
• After the Dallas BLM protest where five police officers were murdered, there was some hand-wringing about the use of a robot to kill the assailant.  The other night, I caught an old movie that was in some ways prescient (from 1984 - the year, not the book/movie) of the situation.  Starring Tom Selleck (midway through his Magnum P.I. series run), G. W. Bailey, Kirstie Alley, and Chaim Witz, Runaway dealt with a police department squad in the future, formed to deal with rogue robots.

Don't think twice.

• I don't watch Carson every night, but frequently enough to form a representative sample that indicates that whoever curates what shows air, has selected many for their campaign themes.  Quite interesting is that, even well before Monica, even prior to the '92 election, Carson was quipping about Slick Willie's indescretions, e.g., Bill was in trouble because "...Hillary found one of Amelia Earhart's shoes under the bed."
• Interestingly, WJC was not expected to win in '92.  Another monologue bit described Paul Tsongas as the "runner up loser" (i.e., Clinton was supposed to be the loser).  It's pretty widely accepted that GHWB would've easily garnered a second term, absent the interloping of the troll from Texarkana.
• And as if the 2016 campaign weren't stupid enough, you can buy Chia Hillary or Donald heads at retailers, Bernie by special order.
• They market those DNA tests to 'learn your nationality' and ethnic makeup, but it's probably just as much to find out 'Who's your daddy, really?'.  Oh, the tangled webs woven...

Somber Sábado

A lot of things have happened

Since the last time we spoke

Some of them are funny

Some of 'em ain't no joke

And I trust you will forgive me

If I lay it on the line

I always thought you were a friend of mine

• A brief reading from the Book of Henley, My Thanksgiving chapter, first verse.
• In my last post I favorably opined that I would not mind seeing the RNC pull the plug on its candidate for President.  As of yesterday, I upgraded that to actively wanting for the GOP to explore all possibilities for removing this arrogant buffoon, post haste.
• In less than 30 minutes, Lorne Michaels' show will be pillorying the Republican candidate.  Tomorrow morning, I'm guessing that not a few pulpits will be asking congregants to search their consciences.  And tomorrow evening, barring a surprise announcement, we will have another campaign debate.
• Maybe we'll have a new candidate Monday morning.

Sonntag Synopsis

• I'm afraid it's too late for Reince Priebus and the Party Poo-Bahs to stage an intervention, but I wouldn't mind seeing them try.  After nearly pulling even in several national polls after the HRC health scare, DJT and his big mouth seem determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, or at least the jaws of a respectable showing.
• After stepping on his dong awhile back answering a reporter's question about Aleppo, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson has again whiffed by not being able to name a world leader he admires.  It's a darn shame, as this is a year we could really use a credible third-party candidate.  I'll bet Ron Paul could have answered those questions.  Even before the first blunder, I sensed something was amiss when WRM praised Bill Weld, but stopped short of endorsing Johnson. If Priebus and the GOP can't dump Trump, maybe the Libertarians could jettison Johnson? 
• Some news outlets are reporting that voting machines can be remotely hacked.  Does that include Cook County?  I wonder who the hackers support?  Are dead voters voting (D) or (R)?
• I have not collectively watched ten minutes of NFL football this season, but did happen to see the Morris Claiborne pick today as it occurred.  That was a phenomenal play - the Большой should have such choreography.
• The dude who wrote the Oscar Meyer jingle has died. Lots of famous people are fondly recalling hearing the song in their youth, and I don't disagree.  The Frito Bandito song was also a touchstone of my childhood, but alas it wasn't so favorably eulogized, as it was deemed culturally insensitive. ¡Ay, caramba!...
• I just looked at that headline and realized there's a title to a tune just waiting to be written: The Man Behind the Wiener Song.  I coulda worked in the Brill Building...
• Last outing I paid homage to the Ruger #1 rifle, the most elegant single shot rifles extant.  The other night I spied on the supermarket magazine stand a 200 year retrospective of Remington.  It featured an uncharacteristically beautiful 870 on the cover, but mid-issue there was a nice article about the Rolling Block.  

Surely not your average 870

• The Rolling Block, to my mind, is a great blend of design and engineering.  Unlike the transitional rifles of its day, the Sharps and Trapdoor Springfields, which cobbled percussion sidelock action work to cartridge chamberings, the Remington was something new.  The action was brute strong, yet narrow, and the inline firing mechanism had a quicker lock time than the contemporary side hammer motion translation designs.  George A. Custer owned a Rolling Block.  The John Moses Browning designed Winchester 1885 high- and low wall falling block rifles are equally genius, but, unfortunately I don't own one of those.

Custer had one.  All the cool kids do.  ;-)

A modern Pedersoli repro, with pewter forend cap...yeah baby!

• The discerning eye may note an ever so slight hint of shadbelly in the buttstocks of some reproduction versions, which is not a bad thing.
• Billy Joe Shaver?  I don't even know 'er!

The Wacko from Waco, with some putz.

Frankly Friday

• No, not Barney.
• Good Morning Americans...it's Friday!
• If we thought the election season has been insane so far, fasten your seatbelts, as it's likely to go - dare I borrow the phrase/schtick (yes, I dare) - beyond insane.  A Morgan Stanley report suggests that the U.S. fast food and retail industries will implode if DJT is elected, because there will be no front line workers left at the BK, Wendy's and Taco Bell. Balderdash!  If Trump is elected, there is zero chance of mass deportations of Mexican, Central- and South American workers - it won't happen.  What should, and may happen, is that we will give the boot to troublemakers and actually control our borders.  It's not really fundamentally different from the notion of installing a deadbolt on your exterior doors, though some in American politics seem flummoxed by the concept.
• While there's room for debate as to the absolute and relative contributions of illegals in this country, there's little questioning that most retail does not want to see mass deportations - not so much for the supposedly reduced labor force which could be filled by legal citizens - but because of the contraction of the market size.  Illegal (undocumented if you prefer) or not, those warm bodies buy groceries, shoes, gas, utilities, housing, and the like - American businesses don't want to see fewer potential customers. You know it, I know it, DJT knows it, some of the American people know it...and Bob Dole knows it.
• Energy policy?  This could give you gas for a month.
• Here's a political insight - irrespective of who gets elected, he/she will be a one-termer.   And, as divided as the nation has become, probably the highest likelihood since 1861 that even the one term may be truncated by some form of insurrection. 
• Readers here know I don't care for DJT, but loathe HRC.  So, in the upcoming season of SNL, we'll have a doofus portrayed by a douche.
• You don't often see someone making their own comparison to Der Führer. Strange.
• Enough punditry, now for some fun stuff.  It's a delight to see a major gun magazine with a cover feature that's not a black rifle or plastic pistol.  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but...I am more the fan of steel and walnut.  Saw this at the library the other day:

Now that's my kind of centerfold...

• The Ruger #1 is like the Sophia Loren of beautiful rifles. I've taken Wyoming antelope with a #1 in .270 Winchester. Would love to own a #1-H (Tropical) in .375 H&H, even if I never hunt on the African continent. The similar Dakota falling block has some desirable traits, but Ruger kinda has the whole package right. 
• This morning's weather was perfect for my morning bike ride. And the scenery wasn't too bad, either. ;-) 
• Good Day!

September Stardust

• I'm sometimes critical of the way Willie breezes through material in live appearances, but on Stardust, he nailed it.
• The CEO of Wells Fargo is going to, well, forgo about $40+ million in stock options as a result of the banking giant's shenanigans in opening accounts not requested by customers.  I used to manage some former Wells employees, and heard some stories, so I wasn't surprised when news broke of the government fining the company $185MM.  The pity is that of that sum, only $5MM went for restitution to the affected customers - the remainder went to the government.  Almost makes me wonder who has the bigger racket going.  
• A former senior manager at an old job, who had not come from Wells, would probably have been right at home with them.  Although he always talked about how ethical our firm was, he essentially pushed for sales at any cost, and turned a blind eye to what some of the front line bankers did to make quota.  And some of the sales tactics that he actually promoted in managers meetings suggested to me that he was either dishonest, or had failed Finance 101.
• Some recent Ray Vander Laan video series I've been attending have helped in understanding the news about Shimon Peres death, and life, this week.
• No one who's read my scribbles would be surprised that I'm not much the fan of Colin Kaepernick.  Linking perceived racism of police shootings with the National Anthem is pretty random.  The government cannot force him to respect the flag or the anthem, nor should it attempt to do so.  My feeling is that he's probably more of an opportunistic prick trying to score some tail  than an impassioned SJW, but these days it's all about the packaging anyway.  
• Some sports bars have used his jersey as a floor-mat in counter-protest, and for their 1A displays, have been labeled racists.  It's a strange world we live in.
• Wonder what the legal eagle would make of this?
• Mark Cuban recently said that if Trump is elected, the stock market will crash.  I think Cuban is right, but is only telling half the story.  My view is that it is highly probably there will be a substantial economic/market crash in the next 18 months - irrespective of whether DJT or HRC is elected, so he really could make the same statement about Clinton.  It has to do with fundamentals, global and domestic debt, that have little to do with who resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
• Anyone surprised that it's Texas' own Sheila Jackson Lee?
• [Author's disclosure: Stepping onto soapbox.]
• One of the popular blogs features lots of posts about traffic stops gone wrong, with discussion about whether cops are intrusive or drivers should just comply.  What appears to be emerging from the discussions is a confluence of the liberal viewpoint with the sovereign citizen movement.  Call it white privilege (free/white/over 21) or good raising, but I've not yet been mis-treated by cops, which in large part can be attributed to not being an a$$ when I get stopped, even if I'm not thrilled, as well as the fact that I'm not drinking or doping or fighting.  Some folks seem to think that you can be just barely skating within the letter of the law, and that it makes sense to get didactic with a cop who's trying to determine what the situation is.  While technically they're right if they're on the legal side of whatever line, trying to play Professor Kingsfield to an officer, who on average has less than a bachelor's degree, on a deserted road or at 3:00 a.m. is not prudent.  Save it for a civil courtroom.
• A lot of videos I've seen, whether from drivers, or pro- open carry/2A supporters, look an awful lot like baiting.  Some seem to be masters of it. 
• 'Complying' may be a bitter pill to swallow for some radical libertarians, but using a bit of Dale Carnegie can pay dividends, either in totally de-escalating an interaction, or at least living to file a complaint later.  The reality is that, no matter how many athletes take a knee, LE doesn't have the resources to have a sea change in their hiring, training, and indoctrination - certainly not in the short term.
• If I were a legislator or senior LE type, I'd prioritize training for recognizing cognitive disabilities and differentiating, if possible, from substance-induced impairments.  It also wouldn't hurt if there were some PSAs reminding citizens that sometimes the cops are actively trying to find a murderer, and that taking the [psychological] parent role by giving a civics lesson in that context might not be appreciated.
• [Steps down from soapbox.]  Has anybody actually seen a soap box?
• When I was a kid, trips to the Sears store's tool section occurred about every other Saturday.  I don't recall that we got clothes there much, but certainly Craftsman tools, and maybe some appliances.  In high school and beyond, I can remember buying some power tools at their outlet stores in Grand Prairie, Oak Cliff, and Haltom City. It's now looking like the iconic retailer may not make it through the Christmas season.
• A couple of points from last night's videos: Samson didn't lose his strength by getting a haircut, or having a glass of Merlot, or hooking up with that chick.  It was because he did not preserve those traits which had set him apart, he undermined the destiny God had prepared for him.  The message being that God's people are to reflect His values, not those of the contemporary culture.  It's an interesting exercise in the modern world.  Another point made was that young David was not so much given super power or accuracy to slay Goliath - he was doing what a young shepherd would have done every day (throwing rocks) - but because he used his meager ability faithfully, he achieved an unimaginable result.  How many times do we wait for some great event or epiphany to do something, instead of taking the small but disciplined steps in faith toward our destiny?  I know I'll be mentally marinating on this over the next several days.
• Possibly a first step toward Texas Secession?  Perhaps, but even if not, with all the mischief that goes on in New York and inside the D.C. beltway, why not bring it back to Texas?  Just don't tell these Mobile residents where it's stored...
• Found while looking for something else.  Too good not to post.  In 2008, taking the kids on a post-separation road trip through East Texas to the coast, we made a diversion so I could see Linden, where Henley grew up.  Apparently, he now owns about half of the town.

 henley

On the cusp of Tuesday

• Although I've never met him, that guy in an internet services commercial (where the family's internet is out) reminds me of an area blogger, particularly when his wife asks him if the internet's back on.
• Here's why you should park facing the interior of a parking tower.
• Open carry has not been so pervasive as its detractors - or even supporters - might have imagined.  I have probably seen maybe 10 people carrying openly since the first of the year.  The other day, however, I saw two within just minutes.  The first was carrying a Glock 17, and the other appeared to have a nickel-plated 1911 (yuck, to the nickel plate, not the 1911).  I had the opportunity to talk with the first one, who said he carried openly because reaching for a concealed handgun was too cumbersome and time-consuming.
• I wouldn't swear off the possibility of ever carrying openly, but if I were carrying, I'd be more likely to do so with a concealment vest, or IWB rig.  And although I'm quite fond of .45 ACP, I can better conceal a compact 9mm on my 6'1", 176 # frame.
• In the time that Carson re-runs have been airing, I've seen probably a half-dozen Carnac the Magnificent sketches, but only one Floyd R. Turbo.  American.
• Silence please.  
• "T. S. Eliot."
• "What did Eliot Janeway's bank tell him when he complained about his account being overdrawn?"
• The preceding was from February 20, 1975.
• There have been more  Carl Reiner, and fewer Rickles and Newhart appearances, than I would have imagined.
• While researching some contact info in my old phone, I ran across a text that reminded me of the mendacity of the female persuasion.  After I had asked one such a rather straightforward question, I almost immediately received the following, almost frantic sounding, mis-forwarded response, "Don sent me that previous text.  WTH do I tell him????"  It seemed out of character for her to have to ask someone else what lie to tell, as I knew her to be a shameless prevaricator.  About six minutes later, she and the unidentified other party had apparently concocted a cover story, and I received a vetted response text.
• I presently have three opened containers of salsa in my fridge: Some chunky Sabra medium salsa, some restaurant style (kinda like Mexican Inn's), and some peach mango.  When they're both half-full, I'll consolidate the first and last tubs.
• Overheard at work today - a couple of co-workers conversing: "Does your wife's shop do watercolor tats?"  The one asking was a woman, who did not have any visible tattoos, but seemed quite interested in getting some.
• I did not watch the debates tonight.

Salsa Saturday

• On the most recent bike ride, I encountered this fellow - maybe a wolf spider?

I tossed a few kernels of unpopped popcorn

to see if the web would catch them.

It caught one.

• I wasn't trying to shoo or hurt the spider with the popcorn kernels...and also because I didn't know for sure he wasn't a jumping arachnid.  The Google says it's a Black and Yellow garden spider.
• This kid could be the next José Feliciano, Van Cliburn, or Rubik's Cube master.
• Our church recently concluded a sports-themed series which had a ton of pretty cool sports memorabilia, some possibly on loan by the efforts of one of our members, we'll call him "Norm".  The next-to-last weekend featured a 5-7 minute video clip of our pastor and "Norm" conversing, probably filmed at the latter's office.  If he didn't have that other gig, he would make an excellent pastor.
• I wonder if these are any of the floating homes like Chevy Chase had in the movie Foul Play.  It's too bad Chase and Hawn only did two movies together - they are both excellent flicks.
• After church this evening, I stopped at the local Kroger, as is my wont.  An attractive woman, between 45 and my age was wearing what appeared to be an authentic Reagan/Bush '84 campaign t-shirt.  I remarked to her that it was too bad they aren't on the ballot this year, but did not otherwise try to flirt with her, as I thought I saw a wedding band.  Bummer.
• Somewhere, I have a pristine "Nixon - Now More Than Ever" bumper sticker.  Ha!
• O, Henry!  What Santa could bring me for Christmas:

I like the one one on the bottom,

lever actions should have straight stocks (IMNSHO).

• Those are .45-70s, not .30-30s.  Not that I have anything against .30-30s.  It would be pretty potent for hunting with Hornady LeveRevolution ammo, or a fun heavy plinker with some 350 grain copperplated handloads.
• What does he do if he sees squab on the menu?  Oh, it's OK, he only reads four-letter words.
• Every now and then I catch a few minutes of Rizzoli & Isles, mostly to see Angie Harmon, though I don't believe I've ever watched a full episode. It's also kinda fun to see Bruce McGill (not as fun as Angie Harmon...), who was D-Day in Animal House.  I also saw him awhile back on a re-run of Walker, Texas Ranger.
• Jay Pharoah Dr. Ben Carson discusses productive dialogue about Charlotte with Megyn Kelly.

¿Es el tenedor del Diablo?

• If it is, can la leche de la Madre - and the emerald - be far away?  No, it's just a dead tree that will likely fall on the bike path 'ere long.
• Tonight I caught the last 20 minutes of the most excellent 'closing of the American West' film My Name is Nobody, partially directed by Sergio Leone.  Starring Henry Fonda, most of the rest of the cast, including Terence Hill, were Italian, with early appearances by Steve Kanaly and Geoffrey Lewis being notable exceptions.

Gunslinger nonpareil Jack Beauregard and Nobody

• Afterward, I sat down to scribble this post, but the TV was still on in the den.  I kept hearing a Native American voice that sounded familiar.  Sure enough, it was the masked man's faithful companion - not that there's anything wrong with that - Jay Silverheels.  I checked the listing and found the movie was The Black Dakotas, from 1954 (color), and also featured Clayton Moore, though not in his famous role.

'Cause the eyes of the Ranger are upon you...

Endless Summer

• Between mid-August and the resurrection of Summer, it appeared that snake season was blooming.  On a bike ride, I encountered two of the slitherers.  One was smallish, about 14-16", and beat a hasty retreat into the tall grasses as my 26" wheel approached.  The other was stationary, about 36-42" and 1-1/4" across.  I initially had mistaken it for a charred stick when I spotted it just off the path.  After discerning where its head was, I shooed it away by tossing a couple small handfuls of dry dog food in its direction.
• Ever since FCA started running those Dodge commercials with all the rumbling engines, I've wondered if I was hearing the announcer correctly, as it seemed he said "a murderer of crows".  Apparently I'm not the only one.
• Amusing sight:  A vehicle rear window sporting NRA and Sig/Sauer decals at the corners, and Diesel Dog Garage written large across the middle...on a Honda Fit.
• I don't know if everyone has OCDs, but I have at least a couple.  When I eat grapes, it's seven at a time - I pick up seven, not all in my mouth at the same time.  If I'm eating Halloween peanut butter taffy, I have to get one orange and one black at a time, even though the candy inside is the same.
• The Earth recently checked in to a Meineke Service Center for an alignment tune-up, which has resulted in a 13th Zodiac sign being added.  Thankfully, I don't hang out in bars, so if a chick were to ask me my sign, I won't have to say "It's that new one - I'm not sure how to pronounce it."
• One more reason to like Michael Caine.
• Don King, appearing for Donald Trump, accidentally said a word that would have disqualified a modern candidate for political office.  Wonder how the media will react to this?  Interestingly, the article's author, in identifying King, includes the phrase once convicted of manslaughter.  True enough, but I wondered how he might describe the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is supporting another candidate.  I did not find him using the term discredited in promoting the 1987 Tawana Brawley rape hoax to describe Rev. Sharpton.  
• A bit of research indicated the author actually may be conservative.
• Media Bias, part II: In a CBS News piece about the Mylan CEO (EpiPen maker) being questioned by a Congressional committee about recent price hikes, no mention was made that the company CEO, Heather Bresch, is the daughter of  Senator Joe Manchin III, D-WV.  CNBC's coverage did mention the link.
• Protests in Charlotte, NC over a police shooting of a black man have left a black man dead - killed by another protester.  Edit:  The man's condition has been upgraded from deceased to critical.

Toes Go In First

• A Friday mnemonic for blondes.

Airmeal delivery...

• Right here, that's where.
• It was late when I got off work, so I caught part of the Carson show, which featured a very young Mark Harmon, plugging his then-new movie Summer School, which featured the adorable Courtney Thorne-Smith.  
• The TV was still on after the Tonight Show, and then I realized the schedule change that had put Barney Miller ahead of Johnny had made way for back-to-back Wings episodes after.  Yay!
• Wings, of course, featured the equally adorable Crystal Bernard.  The second of last night's episodes featured Cliff and Norm flying out to Nantucket, as the show was produced by the same team as Cheers. 
• Initially, Cliff was given the right seat on the twin-engine commuter plane, but when Steven Weber's [pilot] character made an unwitting comment about "busier than a pit bull at a mailman convention", he became agitated, and was asked to exchange seats with Norm (which probably helped with W&B issues anyway).

I hadn't planned to run two Peter Cetera videos in one week,

but, you know, because Crystal Bernard

• Interesting tidbit gleaned while fact-checking: Wings co-star Tim Daly (younger brother to Cagney & Lacy's Tyne Daly) formed a company last decade named Wandering Bark Productions.  Shakespearean minds think alike.  There is a local lady whose online dating site moniker is "Ever-Fixed Mark".  I've never met her, but I think she attends my old church.
• I'm probably more amused than outraged by the current spate of petulant prima donna athletes protesting the national anthem.  We've got  black and mixed-race football players bemoaning the state of race relations - 50 years after the civil rights act, and after nearly two terms of a black President.  Gay soccer players 'ashamed' of the U.S. - after near universal legislation enhancing the rights of LGBTIQ and the Supreme Court decision legalizing same sex marriage.  Exactly what goodies have not been afforded to these interest groups?
• It's a very loose converse analogy, but I'm reminded of the Westboro Baptist group, who decided to dishonor American servicemen and -women because of U.S. social trends vis-à-vis homosex.  Truly a non sequitur, inasmuch as our troops do not legislate social policy.  Why one decides to specifically disrespect something celebrating our independence, because of some modern skirmishes on wholly unrelated modern issues, escapes me.  
• Because they can, I guess.  And yes, I support that they can, though not that they do.
• I passed a co-worker walking the other direction the other day.  "Hey Don, what's up?"   Still walking, I replied "The rent."  A few steps later, in unison, we both turned around, saying "It's too damn high!"  We had never previously discussed that subject at all.

• Dan Aykroyd as a tripping Jimmy Carter may not have been far off the mark.  First UFOs, then killer wabbits?  Was someone giving him LSD-laced peanuts?
• The other night, Doc was filling in for Ed in handing Carnac the envelopes, which had been hermetically sealed on Funk & Wagnall's front porch.  I didn't recall having seen anyone but McMahon do that bit.

Wazzup Wednesday!

• A Target shopper has reportedly won the litigation lottery, worth millions of dollars, for slapping a hypodermic needle out of her daughter's hand in the retailer's parking lot.
• The speculation that HRC used an earpiece during a speech recently reminded me of this.
• Cobie Smulders' husband is no longer in the SNL cast.  Seems a little surprising, since Killam has been the recent 'go-to' for DJT impressions.  I kinda liked his Jebidiah Atkinson bit on 'Update', but didn't care for his morning show gay husband/co-host sketches.  In Season 41, Darrell Hammond was specifically not tapped to do cameo DJT appearances - wonder if he'll reprise the role this year (his was unquestionably the better version).
• In a recent batch of hardboiled eggs, I cracked one open to find that it only was about 2/3 full, despite no prior cracks in the shell.  It's like the egg factory has taken a page from the miniature candy bar industry, and is reducing the size of the product inside.
• I like it, but for that kind of money, I'd expect something more.

Starting at $137K...buy an extra for a spare

• The internet is so stupid.  This was from one of those "Can you guess what this is?" sites:

Duh!, said the Tin Man...

• Maybe it's just raw materials for DJT to build that wall.  Or perhaps we could build a tunnel and snatch all of that bauxitic treasure.  To build a boatload of Bowlus RVs.
• The internet is stupid, part II - It asks "Who owns this 51 year old bikini body?":

Naturally, I clicked and found that my answer of Elizabeth Hurley was correct.

• In the interest of full disclosure, I am not running for office or anything, but my doctor visit last month showed total cholesterol of 126, CHOL/HDL ratio 3.0, triglycerides 118, BMI of 23.35, body fat 17.15%, and BP of 106/68...and a zero risk factor for voting for HRC.
• Carson's monologue from September 5, 1990, featured the following gem: "Times are hard.  Today driving in to work, I saw a guy picking up cans from the side of the road to get pocket money.  I stopped and gave him five bucks, and said 'Have a nice day, Mr. Trump.'"

Never Forget

I'm perhaps a little late in posting this.



I first heard this excellent version when a top M-B Credit executive gave me a copy of  a sampler CD that they used to showcase the audio systems on the Teutonic automobiles.

There's just so many summers...

• ...and just so many springs. 

• A painful reminder of great plans not realized - reprising the trip to the coast with my kids in 2008, a hunting trip with my dad and oldest son, canoeing/kayaking with my daughter.  Life can be such an interloper.
• Honey, I may be late getting home.  Gotta love the line, "Some of the bees flew away from the accident scene."  Ya think?  Does that mean the rest stayed and gave statements to the accident investigators?  At least these were domesticated bees, and not like this one:

Gonna look into your bones, when de bees come down.

• Surely they don't teach this at Baylor's College of Dentistry.  And, no, you're not Shirley.
• Sexit? I don't know that it's reached that point, but the Swiss, a generally reasonable group, have reservations about following rules from nitwits in Brussels.  I guess they may not be willing to wait until concert venues are getting bombed and people get run down by trucks to maintain control of their scene.
• A few years ago I read The Day After the Dollar Crashes, believing the sub-heading that it was a survival guide for economic chaos.  While it did correctly identify several drivers for an impending worldwide economic meltdown, I found that it quickly devolved into the author's 'one-world' fantasy, as I so opined on these pages at the time.  Subsequent events have reinforced my contention of the irrationality of expecting that any one person or cabal can successfully govern all peoples of the globe.
• "A Republic - If you can keep it."  Those guys in 1787 realized that although all men [and women] may have been created equal, not all geographic, ethnic, and cultural groups have the same desires. Maximizing local autonomy and control is more likely to produce lasting peace than an attempt at centralized global hegemony.
• Even in North Texas, within a neighborhood, there's not unanimity.
• Sorry Elvis, no Suspicious Minds here.
• I frequently feature, shall we say, dated musical references on MWB. One might assume I am a fan of all old music.  
• I am not.
• Watched a bit of a documentary from last decade about The Mamas and The Papas.  Although I like a couple of their songs, count me as Not. A. Fan.
• 60 Minutes was actually sorta interesting this evening, with segments about cellphone hacking (vindicating my decision to not load mindless apps on my phone - although such abstinence does not guarantee security); a Louisiana man released after 30 years of imprisonment; and the CERN Hadron Collider.
• I consider myself as smart as an average bear, Boo-Boo, but for the life of me, I don't understand the whole Higgs Boson thing.  I wonder how much CERN's Reliant bill is to power that whole collider contraption.

• PBS had a concert special of The Highwaymen from 1990. If I recall correctly, it opened with Jimmy Webb's title tune, then Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies..., Ring of Fire, then Me and Bobby McGee, before I decided it was more important to take an evening bike ride. Of the four, Cash seemed to be in his best voice, with Kris and Waymore tied for second. Willie was doing his hurriedspeakingoflyricsoutoftimewiththemelody as he has come to do in recent years. I've seen the red headed stranger about a half-dozen times, mostly prior to 1990, and don't remember such widespread use of that technique back then. Sort of reminded me of how Neil Diamond lazily strolls through what used to be some of his best material (of course, he can never top his 1972 Hot August Night performances).
• Raised mostly on folk/pop, I remember sitting in a shady parking area at Texas Lil's (I think my Dad's company was having a cookout/corporate event there), looking at the radio of his K-5 Blazer when Good Hearted Woman came on.  
• W/W paved the way for me to check out country music, and for the next 20 years or so, I kept both metromess country FM stations on my presets.

It doesn't really matter anyhow...

But this is one of my most favorite Chicago tunes.  There is a remastered version of the original arrangement (from Chicago Transit Authority) which is really tight and perfectly paced, but I wish it featured Robert Lamm's slightly transposed vocals, as in this 1969 version, complete with hippie-dippy chicks:



Jimi Hendrix reportedly said that Terry Kath (in green jersey) was his favorite guitarist.  When the group decided to continue (partially at the urging of  Carl Hilding Severinsen) after Kath's death in 1978, they hired Donnie Dacus (raised in Cleburne) as guitarist. Kiefer Sutherland subsequently was married to Kath's widow for a time in the late '80s.

Even rode my mountain-cycle in the rain...

• So does that only prove that I'm insane?
• You may be right, I may be crazy.

• Actually, when I left the house to ride this morning, it was not raining, and the trail was pretty devoid of joggers and cyclists. Returning to base, it started raining, but there were many more people out there.  So, I'm. Not. Alone.
• The origin of immigration politics.
• Black grapes on sale this week at Albertson's for 88¢/lb.  Why they don't value black grapes the same as green or red this week, I don't know.  But, because of my commitment to anthocyaninism, and believing that black grapes matter, I bought some.  They are delicious.  This evening, I learned that Kroger is supporting the red-skinned grapes, at the same price.  
• For probably two years, I've had an unsightly stain or deposit in the bottom of my guest bath toilet, the composition of which I preferred not to consider.  Despite vigorous brushing, oxygenated aerosols, bleach and ammonia (not at the same time), and clinging viscous-gel cleaners, nothing fazed it.  I figured I'd have to get a new toilet at some point.  This week I got some Zep Acid Toilet Bowl Cleaner.  In just three treatments, using probably less than as many ounces, I can report that the bowl is as clean as new.
• Dropping acid in your toilet bowl is where it's at, man.  Quart bottle under five dollars at fine home centers, and probably the Wal-Marts.
• And speaking of dropping acid, don't you want somebody to love?

Pass...

• Saturday afternoon TV pretty much sucks.  One channel was running an awful movie, Mysterious Island, sort of a B minus minus movie predecessor of Jurassic Park or something.  I only watched a couple of minutes, but it included a scene of a guy trying to save a girl from some ginormous Oak Lawn ostrich looking creature by jumping on its back. Further research revealed it was a 1961 film adaptation of a Jules Verne book.

T-rex meets Big Bird meets Liberace?

• I also caught a couple of minutes of The Blue Lagoon.  I've never seen the whole thing, even as a kid, but it reminded me of something Robert Blake said on the Carson show in the '70s or '80s, possibly in connection with that movie, about wanting to buy a deserted island and populate it with nubile 15-year old girls, ostensibly for immoral purposes.  Yeah, the guy with the bird was a strange bird from way back.
• Seen in the Krogers after church this evening.  The times they are a-changing.

With these readers, I can always find my Calvins...

• Folk singer Glenn Yarbrough died this week at 86.  Some months ago I posted a Youtube of Seven Daffodils, one of The Limeliters' outstanding songs.  Here's another, featuring Mr. Yarbrough's beautiful tenor, that's possibly more accessible to my younger readers, by virtue of its association with BB:

• A syllepsis (non mutagenic) from The Limeliters' Have Some Madeira, M'dear:  "She lowered her standards by raising her glass, her courage, her eyes...and his hopes."  A figure of speech similar to a diazeugma (Gk), where the subject governs multiple verb phrases, such as "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." - JFK
• Welcome to Professor Donald's Composition 101.
• #9 Dream, with apologies to the late John Lennon.  If they're gonna do this, time is of the essence.  I can think of maybe three persons who would be good replacements, with sufficient name recognition, resources, and organization to defeat HRC in November.
• I have watched none of the Olympics.  Oldest son texted me the other night commenting on some gymnasts or volleyball chicks, but I was watching a PBS documentary, The Presidents, on RWR.  Last night was the episode on GHWB.  Not sure if I'll be able to stomach the installment on WJC, if there is one.  On the Bush 41 segment, it was kinda funny to see archive footage when GWB and Jeb were young.  Even though derided as patrician for his Connecticut and Kennebunkport associations in the '92 election, I think history will be kind to 41 for his life of service to country.
• We could use an Eisenhower/Bush type Republican today.  That's not a plug for Jeb, though, as he did not prove to be competitive in the 2016 primaries.
• In my spam box is an offer for 'Get Lipo'.  Srsly?  Look, I have a BMI of 23, and a 16.85 BF% - what the heck are they gonna lipo?
• It's being reported again that bananas may go extinct.  I remember reading in the WSJ in the '80s or early '90s that the popular cultivar we all enjoy was about to go extinct in just a few years, so I guess what's old is new.
• When I was a kid, I read of having kite wars by dipping a section of kite string in powdered glass so you could cut through your opponent's string.  Not having a ready supply of powdered glass, I never tried it.  Apparently it's become a problem in India.
• Fun With Dick and Jane (1977) was on tonight.  Funny line: George Segal asks Hanoi Jane if she'd be embarrassed if he kissed her in a very public place.  Her response: "No, I'd be embarrassed if you kissed me in a very private place in front of all these people."  Also featuring Ed McMahon.
• Had I unlimited funds, I might buy a motorhome and travel the country, leaving no forwarding address.
• I think I should go now to watch Roxanne, to get a glimpse of Daryl Hannah's bum.

Untitled Post - You can bid for naming rights!

• Once again, there has been rioting and looting after police brutally executed an angelic choir boy/honor roll student in Milwaukee.  (Note to self: You forgot to turn on the sarcasm font.)  About a half-dozen businesses burned, police cruiser windows smashed out.
• The usual.

Guess who's not coming to dinner...

• That dude was no Sidney Poitier.
• I want a Jet wood lathe, and maybe also a ShopSmith.  What event will allow me to loot a Rockler, Woodcraft, or Texas Tool Traders store?  I mean, like, because, you know - fair?  Right?
• Had a doc visit yesterday to interpret recent lab tests: Overall cholesterol 126, CHOL/HDL 3.0, Triglycerides 118, BP in normal/good range.  Food choices and bike rides paying off.
• About three weeks ago, I noted that political observer/talkfest host John McLaughlin did not look well.  Rest in peace, Dr. McLaughlin.
• The Playboy mansion went on the market a few months ago for $200 million.  I commented at the time (but can't seem to find whether it was on MWB or on another blog) that it'd be lucky to bring half that.  Well, it did bring half that.
• Karl Rove assesses the state of Election 2016, but gives no clues about receiving political insight from MWB.
• I had a job interview in Collin County yesterday, which I think went really well.  It was a panel, affair, with two women questioning me.  One of the questions was: "When have you had a time when a plan of action did not produce the intended result?"  My response, "Besides marriage?" broke them up.  Of course, I followed up with an actual business example, so they would know I'm not really the next Shecky Green (like they would've known who Shecky Green is...).
• There's lots of office building construction near the DNT and the Sam Rayburn interchange.
• Coming back, I cut across FM-1171, which is apparently soon to be 6 lanes from I-35 east to west.
• Attended a high school orientation last night.  I saw fewer tattoos on the parents than I'd remembered at a similar event years ago, but I thought the students kind of resembled a freak show.  I texted the kids' mom that I'm glad to have graduated when and where I did.
• Nice bike ride this evening.  Coming back through the park, there was the smell of wood smoke - maybe folks grilling at the outdoor cooking area.  Enjoying the cooler temps.  Still a lot of idjits wandering forlornly around like the undead, looking for Pokémon.
• Another Russian woman, Katunya Sweet, wants to meet me.  She seems more down to earth than the other prospective honeys: "Hey there.. I am looking for a serious relations I like cooking and watching tv. I live in Russland. I would be grateful if you could answer." Like, she seems low-maintenance, isn't making any lewd suggestions or such or telling me to check out her nekkid pics (although there was a .jpg attachment)¹.  Maybe she might be the one I could settle down and grow old with?

¹ Heck, no, I didn't open it!  I don't want to get interwebs cooties.

In the Heat of the Thursday

• Would it be fair to say that DJT is HRC's only chance to win the WH? Seriously, with all of her flaws and lack of integrity, she'd be trailing any serious candidate by strong double digits.
• Yesterday's would-be Tobey Maguire apparently wanted to deliver a message to DJT.  Wouldn't a phone call or email be easier?
• Sometimes the news is in the silence.  After much fanfare last week, not much this week about the Libertarian candidate, or endorsements thereof. Is the GOP considering tumping Trump?  As kids, we used the word 'tump' all the time, but in my 20s or so, I remember saying it to my mother and she had no idea what I was talking about.  I understand it's a Southern-ism, but we're not exactly carpet-baggers.
• Regarding the brouhaha about DJT's 2nd amendment gaffe - My sense is that he was being tongue-in-cheek, and 'yugely' overestimated the humor factor, then spun the idea he was talking about 2A supporters' votes as damage control.  I don't agree that it intrinsically means he lacks the temperament for the Presidency, but it's poor judgment to fail to understand that such gaffes - in the limited time remaining in the race - are costing him tons of political capital that he doesn't have, while establishing no policy positives to attract undecideds.
• Word has it that Ted Cruz may have rough going in seeking Senate re-election in 2018.  Maybe the Weatherford car dealer should take another run at it.
• I know what you're thinking: "If Karl Rove were smart, he'd come to MWB for advice."  (Not that KR is consulting for any major candidate this cycle, so far as we know.)
• As I had the day off today, I took a phone interview (to be followed up in-person next week), and had a bike ride commencing just before noon. Who knew that on the day predicted to be the year's hottest, there'd be so few joggers/bikers on the trails?  I've never used a Camelbak, but at a couple of stations along my ride, I don't fail to replenish with several gulps of water from the water fountains.  My heat tolerance is getting better.
• Confirmed - all of the Carson shows this week have featured an Olympian(s).
• RPM's commute may be getting a bit more congested - Chuck Schwab is putting in a Texas campus nearby¹.
• Why can't we be friends?
• Blazing Saddles, History of the World, Young Frankenstein, and Silent Movie are all great Mel Brooks movies.  Life Stinks (1991) was a bit atypical, equal drama and comedy, and less slap-stick.  Nonetheless, it featured a stellar cast, with Lesley Ann Warren, Jeffrey Tambour, and Billy Barty (remember Foul Play?).  Another character in the movie, Sailor, looked sorta familiar:

• Here's some of Howard Morris' earlier work:

• This Christmas, Antenna TV is bringing back the '90s TV show Wings. This will be a plus for their lineup.  Now, if someone would just return the Bruce shows: The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (Campbell), and Moonlighting (Willis), as well as Lorenzo Lamas' Renegade.
• Speaking of Christmas...the other night I caught an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, Christmas edition.  In the show, Cordell defuses a tense barrio situation by reciting from Luke 6, then delivers Maria y Jose's baby, with Trivette's help.  Lots of references to Jesus Christ.  Think that episode would make prime time TV today?

¹ A dated news release was used, for the photos.  In image #1 (with Lake Turner on the right), Dad & oldest son and I shot sporting clays several years ago from the hilltop just left of the bald spot in the foreground.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday

• Another newcomer seems to be jumping into the Presidential election fray.  Heck, why not?
• Will any credible candidate rise to save the 2016 election?  Can Meteor Strike's chances reach a plurality?  The remaining election season looks like a monkey screw.
• A co-worker of mine predicts civil war II within two years.  I don't think smart money would bet against him.
• Clock dork is back in the news, still trying to extend his 15 minutes of fame and win the litigation lottery in the waning months of the current administration.  The article bemoans that he misses his 'makeshift laboratory'.  If his student desk with a few scavenged electronics bits and pieces is a makeshift lab, my garage is a certifiable Menlo Park (NJ).  It's been reported that he wants to return to the U.S., as the fam's fifteen minutes have fizzled in Qatar, as well.
• HRC could try to make a useful idiot of him - she already has Kazir Khan and the Orlando shooter's father.  He could round out her three stooges lineup.
• BTW, props to the DNC for scheduling Khan, in what was basically a non sequitur attack on DJT.  The calculation was spot-on, that DJT would overreact and make an ass defending himself.
• I surmised something like this would happen.  After widespread success getting representations of the Northern Virginia battle flag removed from public view, the PC crowd is now going after the Gadsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag.  The convoluted logic apparently has it that because someone who allegedly harassed someone else wore a cap with the flag depiction, it's a "racist" symbol.  Lawyers for CAT, Ford, Ram, GMC, NASCAR and Cabela's should probably be paying attention if this gains traction.
• Similarly, certain PC groups, emboldened by successes in recent years, now want to quash any vestiges of normalcy wherever they can be found.  The culture war rages on.
• I've watched several features on Grit-TV lately.  If we get into another war, forget the B1s, B2s, B52s, F15/16/18/22/35s - All we need is to send Chuck Norris, Wesley Snipes, Clint Eastwood, and maybe Bruce Willis (but not as Petruchio) to wreak devastation and havoc on any foe.

Wilbur never knew Ed was a classically trained Shakespearean actor...

•  Apparently Col. Braddock didn't always keep his dong in his wallet - giving rise to Missing in Action III, in which Col. Jimbo returns to get his Vietnamese love interest and their son.  She doesn't make it, but he is able to take out about a hundred Charlies, and with his son and a priest liberate an orphanage, hijack a C-47 and flee to Thailand.  In The Marksman (2005), Wesley Snipes is able to evade thousands of rounds of machine gun fire and RPGs, while practicing an economy of shooting with a suppressed carbine, seemingly earning a 1:1 shot:kill ratio that would've made White Feather proud.  I do at least admire his practicality, as in the 'fog of war', you probably won't have Danny Noonan to caddy around extra ammo for you.
• The schedulers of Carson's reruns at Antenna-TV seem to be capitalizing on the Olympics.  Last night they had Greg Louganis (and more interestingly, Carl Reiner).  The night before featured Caitlyn Jenner (née Bruce), from about 1979, which was kind of a fun time capsule, as Jenner spoke of the upcoming birth of hizr (a term I just coined) first child, and preparing to be a commentator for the next year's Olympics, along with Orenthal James.
• Carson's monologue featured a reference to the L.A. Rams moving...to Anaheim during the off season, noting that the move exceeded yardage gained during the prior year.