I Wanna Play!

Curly goes after the stringstick, even though it is not being waived madly about by Jeffraham. :) Oh, another fang shot.
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How Would A Patriot Act, Part II

Holy shit. Colbert didn't hit 'em with the chair -- he jammed a whole chair factory up their asses sideways, without grease.

Of course the Preznit & First Lady took it graciously.

UPDATE: I'm taking up a collection to buy Colbert a wheelbarrow (see graphic, top right), so that he may have something comfortable in which to transport his gargantuan gonads. I'll coordinate with folx I know in NYC to have it delivered (and videotaped, of course), if I raise sufficient money to cover the wheelbarrow, singing presenter, card, etc.
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My Mutant Kitty

Dark claws! Do you think this means that as a kitten, Curly had his toes smashed?
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More RW Moral Relativism

A chap who goes by the handle Tman was one of several local right-wing blogger who were suckered by Matt Drudge's factually-challenged "alert" regarding the poor sales of Crashing The Gate, by left-bloggers Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas Zúniga. If one were to use Drudge's criteria (Nielsen Bookscan), nationally-syndicated winger radio host Hugh Hewitt's latest book (see Update II), as well as winger law-prof-cum-blogger Glenn Reynolds' book both fare poorly in sales, compared to sales for Crashing The Gate -- which obviously isn't going to rate a Drudge alert, right? But at least Reynolds, and Pajamas Media co-founder Roger L. Simon had the good graces to issue apologies and/or retractions for spreading Drudge's misleading, factually-incorrect meme throughout the winger blogosphere.

Will the locals do the same, or is this more moral relativism on the right? Or, is Glenn Greenwald correct in his analysis that some folks just parrot what they want to believe, regardless of the facts, and then simply can't apologize or admit when they turn out to be wrong?
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Dubai Deals, Part Deux

Hey, if not selling off U.S. ports, how's a bunch of war profitteers supposed to make out?

But his action is almost certain to attract scrutiny in Congress, because of the political furor that erupted over the administration’s approval of a deal earlier this spring that would have given another Dubai-owned company, Dubai Ports World, leases to operate several American port terminals through its acquisition of a British company, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.

In this case, the plants in question are owned by Doncasters Group Ltd., a British company that is being purchased for $1.2 billion from the Royal Bank of Scotland Group by Dubai International Capital, which is owned by the United Arab Emirate government.

Oh, yes. Read it.
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Laughter: The Be(a)st Medicine

Heh! Did you mean...?

Oh, and even better:

Eternal optimist, or psychotic and somewhat delusional? I report -- YOU DECIDE, you Decider, you!
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More Fitting For October

I was trying to exhaust the NiMH rechargeable AA batteries in the Canon Powershot A410, which meant taking some non-flash photos, when I walked out on the balcony this afternoon, to catch Curly in the act of a big spinal stretch.

He completed the routine by turning around, stretching out his forepaws, and stretching out horizontally, with a big yawn. Of course, the camera didn't recycle quickly enough for me to get a good shot of that.
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Long-Promised Video

UPDATE: I forgot to mention -- the music is "Silver," by French-Vietnamese jazz guitarist Nguyen Le, from his album Three Trios.
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Jeffraham & Bro

Again, with the large harddisk clean-up and archiving project, comes the unearthing of more photos. Here, Jeffraham (L) is quite obviously sunburned like a mofo -- a result of a 5.5 hr. drive in a convertible Mustang in July. My bro, who is 12 years my senior, lives five minutes from the home where we were raised. See the resemblance?
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It's Always A Good Time

... to pet the Curly beast. Dang, if he hasn't been needy tonight.

Maybe it was because I took a walk, tonight. I think he knows the sound of my car starting, and when I'm gone for 30+ minutes, and he doesn't hear the car, maybe he gets worried.

Anyway, I've done three 2-mile walks this week, and it feels really good. I may have to dig out the ol' fanny pack, so's I can take the digicam around and take some pix of some of the more interesting sites in my 'hood.
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Rove Gets A Target Letter

So, that explains the "concentrating on the 2006 elections/no more policy buffoonery" (say... wasn't Rove put in charge of Katrina recovery efforts?).

People close to the case said that Fitzgerald has presented additional evidence to the grand jury in the past week that shows Rove lied to federal investigators and a grand jury eight out of the nine times [emphasis mine --JP] he was asked about his knowledge of the leak since October 2003.

Should Wednesday's court appearance by Rove provide the grand jury with answers to lingering questions, Rove may not be charged with obstruction of justice, but will likely be indicted for perjury and lying to investigators, sources close to the case said.

For one, according to the sources close to the investigation, the likelihood that Rove will be charged with perjury centers on the fact that Rove has testified at least three times that he first discovered that Plame worked for the CIA after her name was printed in a July 2003 newspaper report by conservative columnist Robert Novak. Evidence has since surfaced that shows Rove spoke to Novak about Plame prior to Novak's published report in which Novak outed the undercover CIA officer.

Moreover, Rove did not disclose that he had also been a source for a story about Plame written by Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper, and Rove testified that he was not involved in a campaign to discredit or attack the credibility of Plame's husband, Ambassador Wilson, when at least two dozen witnesses have testified before the grand jury that Rove was in fact instrumental in the smear campaign on Wilson.

So, pop your popcorn, or pop your champagne cork -- and read on.
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Standing Watch

This one's from a few days ago, when it was warm and sunny. Today, it's cloudy and clammy... well, it's in the high 50-low 60F, somewhere, but after 70s and 80s, it feels kinda coolish. :) Later this week, we'll really have some video. Honestly.
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How Would A Patriot Act?

Damn straight -- if Jane Hamsher is correct (and there's no reason to think she wouldn't be), Glenn Greenwald's book pre-orders today made it jump from #50,925 in sales to Numbero Uno at Amazon in less than 24 hours. Much to my surprise, I had $12 on a forgotten gift certificate at Amazon, and only had to shell out $3.99 for the shipping to get my copy pre-ordered.

Kickin' ass, and makin' change.

Change is what the nation needs, and we're going to get it, by any means necessary.

Pre-order here, and give Atrios a little love, too. That's how I found Mr. Greenwald, so he should get his pennies, IMO.
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Me-Blogging

Well, archiving 70GB of stuff to DVD has almost made me feel productive today, even if I did blow off the haircut one more day, 'cause it was pouring the rain early this morning when I could get a quick walk-in.

The problem is, I found a half-gig of photos, and now I figure I just have to bore some of you with some of them. :)

This is me, back when I was a mortgage-holder, doing some home improvements (drilling holes through walls to run speaker cables, actually). The person who took the photo asked me what I'd use if I were asked to do a prostate exam on the Chimp-in-Charge, so... that's why the maniacal grin.
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From The Archives: First Ever Curly

These are the very first photos I ever took of Curly, from June, 2003. See, there's no way he was two years old -- he was only one, I tell you. Look at the size of those ears! He's just barely out of kittenhood.

At least he still had fur on his belly, back then. ;)
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Clean Shaven

I'm trying to clean up a bunch of files, and free up some space on my 160GB external drive, so's I can bounce a bunch of stuff from the notebook onto it (and then, possibly onto DVDs, from there). Anyway, I ran across a bunch of old photos -- almost a half-gig, actually -- and that was before I had a 3.2 megapixel camera. ;) Anyway, I thought I'd share my clean-shaven mug with ya... this was from April, 2002, apparently.
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Dark Cat

Why is it you can never get a cat to face in the direction of the light source when you want him to? :)
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Okay, That Was Too Easy

Yes, it's Curly's brush -- which was sorely needed. In the last 24 hours, I've removed enough loose fur from the boy to knit another 4-5 Curlys. I finally found it in my mass of unpacked goods yesterday.

Fortunately (and I'd forgotten this), Curly loves being brushed with this thang, no matter how painful it may look. He has to move around, and rub his face all over the non-pointy bits of it every 20 seconds while he's getting brushed.

The funniest guess, btw, was WalterNeff's: "Ann Coulter's pubic hair?" :)
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What Izzit?

My first ever "identify this object" contest. More clues, tomorrow, if someone actually tries to make a guess. :)
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As Long As He Can Touch Dad

... he's okay. Sorry for the shot of the unsexy toes, ladies. ;)
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Monday's Curly Edition

In this edition of Monday With Curly, we find our hero waiting by the open balcony door... for unsuspecting flying or crawling prey to happen by.
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Dumpster Art

I'll give you three guesses what my new neighbor's name is, and the first two guesses don't count.

Apparently, she decided that this wouldn't match her fashionable new West Gnashvegas decor, so... and no, I'm not keeping it. I just wanted to take a photo of it. :) "Early subway car" isn't 'zactly my idea of home furnishings, either.
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Heartland Values

I caught this blerb over at NashvilleIsTalking.com (where I find many funny items these days, go figure), in a post by weekend guest-blogger, Nashville Knucklehead. He'd found this at a blog named Six Meat Buffet (which, I know, sounds a bit like Toby Petzold's short description of his dream date with those three-peckered billy goat twins). This is Preston Taylor Holmes, who, while conducting a yard sale, just had to liveblog it to boast about his mad lyin' skillz:

I was just made for sales. I think I should change careers. I just got rid of two books by lying through my teeth about how great they were. Chumps.

Notice how proud Preston seems that his lying skills can earn him some pocket change? Well, I noticed that, too, and thought, "Y'know, this anecdote illustrates perfectly the much-trumpeted 'values' of the GOP better than anything I've seen in some time."

Sure, it sounds silly -- who cares about some winger, sitting in a lawn chair on a nice, spring day, and lying to someone, so he can unload a couple of paperbacks for a quarter (if that)? I sure don't -- but I found it interesting that Preston Taylor Holmes cared enough about his lying skills that he had to braggart-blog it, live from the event. And his reward? Not enough money to buy something from the Big Bell Value Menu. You probably have more money under your sofa cushions.

What's so funny (besides the pride Preston parades, here) to me is also this realization: Wingers lie when they don't even have to lie -- remember the bullshit story about the British Airways jetliner, who spotted Air Force One, on its way to Iraq? Supposedly, they nearly scotched the trip, because one of the crew got his knickers so moist that he radioed the fact back to... well, I suppose it was to air traffic control, somewhere, but I don't honestly remember. Turns out that story was as fake as the plastic turkey that Bush served the troops when he got to Iraq on that epaulet-encrusted, Members Only-jacketed trip. Why wouldn't the truth have served, instead of this lie? Because the simple truth wouldn't have made Bush look like a bold, unbowed leader, flying into the maw of awaiting Iraqi SAM batteries that the British Airways crew had tipped off (damn their traitorous, Islomfascist hides!).

Yes, lying for personal gain is definitely a Beelzebublican "value." Preston Taylor Holmes couldn't have said, "I didn't like those books, but here's the basic storyline; maybe you'll like it," and you know why?

Because getting a couple of coins isn't worth being honest... but it certainly makes it worthwhile to lie.
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Continuing On A Theme

... of "graphic Curly," here we see Curly fascinated once more by the wrist strap of the Canon Powershot A410.
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More Curly Fame

Gore bless WalterNeff (and EvilWalterNeff)!
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I Can't Stop Laughing

Click the pix for the original, 'cause something is fucked about this Blogger template, and won't allow me to properly display anything that doesn't have an exact 4:3 aspect ratio (fix that shit, Blogger!!!!!).

Anyway, for you graphics-noir fans, two blogs you cannot afford to pass up: Pacific All-Risk and EvilWalterNeff. 'Nuf said.

UPDATE: Oh! Blogger has fixed that shit! Never mind... hey, Curly's famous!
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In Honor Of Hecate's Beltane Post

... I give you some springtime photos of my neighborhood.

Dogwood in bloom, of course... a common site here in MidTN....

A squirrel, scoping out one of my landlord's horseshoe pegs (unused in a long time, I suspect, but I still get to mow around it!)... this photo demonstrates why digital zoom is evil, evil, EVIL. I was 50 yds. away, and forgot to turn off the flash, as you can see in the squirrel's eye...

This is one of the regular, informal, warm weather volleyball games that happen at my condos every weekend. The chubby old guy at the left, pointing at the lady in the green top? He's a Metro cop. The lady just right of him in this photo obviously wondered why she was being surveilled. :)
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Shedding

Someone mentioned catfur-shedding season over at Eschaton today... and I realized this photo shows the severe need for me to comb (heh) through all my as-yet-unpacked cardboard boxes, so's I can find Curly's funky li'l wire brush thingie.
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A Mean Thing To Do

... to someone who's so unwillingly nice to me. :) Seems Cadillac Man and his ladyfriend, AKA Girl, rented a karaoke machine for the weekend (or, I should say I hope it's a rental... if they bought one, I guess I'll get to hear Cadillac Man's Luther Vandross impressions on a continuing basis!). So, without further adieu, I give you Cadillac Man's croonings.
It's a little noisy, since I set the mic out on the balcony -- lots of birdsong and ambient noise, but I think you'll enjoy this brief clip. He'd apparently just turned down the volume on the karaoke track, to practice this difficult vocal passage.
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Get Comfortable

... like you just don't care. Haven't you ever buried the top of your head into a pillow like this, and woke up with your hair sticking out at every conceivable angle?
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It's Still Friday Where I Am

... so let's pet Curly, shall we?

How ya doin'?

What'd I miss?

Not much new to report here, other than the fact that a twenty-something cutie (okay, a bit on the bookish/geeky side, but I find that hawt) moved into Linda's condo this week. Curly's watched her comings-and-goings (no pun intended) the last few days, quite intently. Of course, she has two little "teacup pooches," as I call them. One's a Yorkie, and the other looks like a chihuahua/min-pin mix. What is it with young broads these days and the pocketbook pooches?!?
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Things That Piss Me RIGHT Off.

There was a recent dust-up over a local blogger who resigned his position at a university over a local alternative weekly newspaper alerting the public to the fact that he, in a moment of questionable judgement, posted an entry into a "Mohammed cartoon" contest. I'm not going to repeat what you can find on this all over the web -- whether the contest was real or imagined, or whether he just thought he was presenting high comedy for a certain audience, I don't know. It's gotten enough play all over the blogosphere, locally and nationally, that I honestly don't care -- I don't care why he did it, I don't care that he did it, and I really don't care that he and his employer have parted way.

What I do care about is running across complete, utter horseshit, such as I what I quote, below, when reading accounts about a trivial, non-event, such as someone resigning over what amounts to a simple error in judgement:

The Nasvhille Scene “pile on” is just another example of how David Horowitz is right–namely that an “unholy alliance” exists between the liberals in this country & our media and the radical Muslims who seek to wipe Israel, infidels, and the West off the face of the map.

That's an excerpt of a post by another local blogger -- Terry Frank. Later, in the comments of that same post, she went on to spout:

An alliance doesn’t mean that both American liberals and terrorists are strapping on bombs–it means that they both share a hatred for America.

If Terry Frank loved America as much as this liberal, she'd be a hell of a lot more worried about what Bush supporters are willing to cede, without the slightest hesitation, in the name of fighting a "war" on terrorism, than about some nebulous, imaginary, undefined "unholy alliance". I'm talking about Constitutional rights that our forebearers fought, bled and died for -- not some abstract symbol, like a flag, or a magnetic ribbon. I mean actual fucking rights -- such as the freedom to be secure in one's person, home and effects. I sure as hell didn't surrender any of that, but now my phone can be tapped and my e-mail monitored without a warrant, and my home can be searched without my ever being notified. I never surrendered my right to an attorney, or to a speedy trial... and yet American citizens can now be held, indefinitely, without access to an attorney, and without being charged -- all on the word of the executive branch of our government, all the while, hiding behind "executive privilege," and "national security," not having to show a court any evidence that you've committed these crimes that ostensibly justify your imprisonment. If you're innocent, hey, maybe in a few years, the Supreme Court might hear your case. If you're lucky, you'll get relief -- if not, it's back to the gulag, boy!

And where are the checks and balances described by our Founding Fathers, to insure that citizens are not deprived of their liberty without due process? The Preznit doesn't need 'em! "Inherent powers," "unitary executive," and reams of other legal posturing that essentially means, "The law is what I say it is."

I do NOT live in the America I learned about in 8th grade Civics class. Do you?

In spite of that sad fact, I don't hate America. I do hate, with the heat of a thousand suns, that the current administration has urged America to abandon its most basic principles, though.

Benjamin Franklin said, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety," yet that is exactly the Faustian bargain so many citizens are willing to make with the current U.S. administration, today. Look at the electoral map of this country in 2000, and 2004. You'll note that areas that are far more likely to be terrorist targets voted not with their fears, but with their hopes and convictions. Then, ask yourself -- what is America? Is it land? Is it people? Or is it ideas?

Then, ask yourself: Who hates America?
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Friday Fun-n-Funky Felinebloggin'

Nope... no ear mites, here, boss!
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33%

Preznit Bush's approval rating... in a Faux News poll.

So, the actual number's closer to 25%, eh?
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Attentive

Here's Curly in bird-catching class.
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Starboard Curly

Another photo of Curly, enjoying his Tuesday on the balcony.
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Tuesday Balcony Bloggin'

Enjoying the springtime weather.
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Leaves Smell... Interesting.

CurlyQ is the sniffingest cat in Gnashvegas. If I had to rename him right now, I'll call him "Schnoz." :)
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MC

"Monday Curly." This pix is part of the deck slug collection. Heat makes cats lazy, y'know.
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Earlier Curly

From this morning, when he was sniffing out the trail of birds who had landed here, before.
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The Traditional Easter Beverage

... at the WGOWC: Busch, in 24 oz. cans. Hey, they're just 99 cents!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, btw. There are three robins in the yard, gathering dinner. I'd take a photo of 'em, but they fly off whenever I get up, so...

Pleasant Sunday to you, all.

And come back later for a final Curly photo.
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More Photos From The WGOWC

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Sunday Slummin'

Curly assumes the standard "comfort position," which is to say, the position he assumes 90% of the time he's awake.
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Today's Mobile Blogging Brought To You By

... the fine folx at the West Gnashvegas Outdoor WiFi Cafe! The Ethernet Bunny didn't bring me a basket this year, dang. :)

Curly pix comin' right up.
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CurlySprawl

Just too adorable not to share.

I also saw the first lightning bug of the season here in Gnashvegas, tonight. Wow. That's the earliest I can ever recall seeing one. Whatever it is, it's not due to global warming, gaddamnit!
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Gnashvegans! Get Your Jimi On TONIGHT

This is an early show, no alcohol -- so come enjoy some classic Hendrix tunes like you ain't never seem 'em before. And, you'll still have plenty of time to go out and hit the bars, afterward.

A good time will be had by all.
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Here Comes The Sun

Sunshine on my furry
Makes me happy...

Here's a close-up -- note the fangs!

In other news: Connectivity at the condo is becoming problematic. Even late at night, I'll have it for a while, and then... gone. Not sure what's happening, but I suspect the neighbor's been spending more time looking at his router this week. Right now, I'm sending this from the landlord's back patio (and yes, that means I had to drag the half-broken notebook and a monitor over), so my online time may be limited going forward. I apologize for those expecting video today -- all my captured video is on the 160GB external drive, which I forgot to pack up and bring with. :(
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For Plum P

Additional humpday Curly, by special request. :)
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Photoshop Saves The Day

It's been a while since I salvaged a blurry Curly photo with the cutout filter, so I figured now was the time. :)

I'm also going to have some new video up for Friday, if the Iranians don't nuke Gnashvegas between now and then.

*sigh*
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Work, Of A Sort

So, I got to give the landlord a hand, today, over at his rental house. The job: Install a new closet door. Yippee! I get to mortise! The old door was just basically falling apart -- he and I repaired it before he rented the house out last Fall, but really, it was just a matter of time.

Now the thing is, when all was said and done, and we were hanging the new door, his tenant was watching some horriffic TV show -- Dr. 90210? -- and some guy was having penis surgery. Just what I want to see/hear after working with power tools and chisels, right? Thankfully, I was able to position myself so I didn't have to see what was going on... egad.
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Hunting At Dusk

Oh yes -- spring has arrived, and bird hunting continues long after the sun has set, here in Gnashvegas!

I had a shitty job interview today... one in which I was asked if I had a blog, even, which I denied. It just didn't make sense to own up to something that would likely disqualify me from employment with an obviously conservative company... *sigh*
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Sneakin'

Target: Acquired
ID: Mockingbird
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Most Bizarre Curly Photo Ever

In which he appears to have... no face!

What's happening: He's got the catnip sock, and just as I start to trip the shutter, he starts violently shaking the sock (that's what I'm assuming the fuzzy brown blob at mid-right is).

Anyway, the photo was so funky, I just thought I'd share.
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