CNN is reporting his cancer related death. I have no more details. The author of bestsellers like Jurassic Park and creator of ER was 66 and shared a birthday with YaYa.
I will update this post later in the day.
Published writer, compulsive reader, Old School Whovian, Match Game enthusiast, NKOTB fan, data hoarder, and - surprisingly, given that list - married with four kids. Welcome to my take on life, fatherhood, entertainment, and whatever strikes my fancy. Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
{sniff} Obama wins
"Will you put on the movie already?" I asked Lisa.
"No, I want to watch the election results," she said.
"Why? You can go on the internet and get county-by-county votes. Obama's got Ohio he's gonna win, put on the movie."
"Wait," she said.
And so I was forced to watch California slide, inevitably, into the blue and Obama being declared President. I suffered through local coverage of the Obama celebrations, with prim and proper reporters covering the downtown gala while the token black reporter was sent to cover an inner-city party, which to me reeks more of racism than a host of perceived slights.
I hate the result but I applaud the election as a monumental step for African-Americans, one that may help bury the lingering sins of the past. Still, it's sad that after all these years we could put a minority into office before a female even landed a nomination. The world changes, and it changes not at all.
"You're taking this well," Lisa said. "You must not be that upset."
"I've lost elections before," I said. 'Tis true - I was a Dem until '91, switching parties just in time to lose two more times.
Others were less practiced at the art. I took phone calls from friends in different parts of the country. One urged me to be 'careful' of pro-Obama violence on the way to work, which I told him was silly, while another joked of leaving the country and bemoaned the passing of the republic. Socialist was AWOL, no doubt busy passing out cigars 'redistributed' from the Bourgeois tobacco shop ;)
We then watched McCain's concession speech. I was very moved and finished watching it 100% convinced that the better man, if not the better candidate, had gone home vanquished. Has there ever been a more sincere and eloquent concession?
"Why didn't he speak like that during the campaign?," Lisa, who was never a fan of the man, said. "He'd have had a chance. I like him more than I ever did before."
I didn't/couldn't watch Obama take the stage, and so at that point we turned on the ever-present HGTV.
Watching the election results, local, state, and federal, was like watching Little Bighorn while wearing a Calvary uniform. Without question the Democrats have a reactionary mandate from America and can - or should be able to - push their leftist agenda through with ease.
While it's like saying the silver lining of dying from a stroke is that you don't have to worry about drowning, I'm glad the GOP is completely out of the loop, rather than just a visible but powerless minority. Whatever happens, good or bad, it will fall squarely on the Democrats, and should provide an equally reactionary turnabout down the road.
Now I'm going to go on record and say that I'll support the office of the President and hope for the best. I don't want to see him fail outright at the very least on foreign policy, as that would mean this nation has failed. Bush's opponents never understood that concept, as part of their makeup seems to be an inherent belief that America's sins will always outweigh her greatness; therefore seeing us fail was not a concern if it meant a Republican could go down in the process.
I won't stoop to the insulting, childish, and frankly ignorant commentary that the left has used to describe the Presidency in the last eight years. I promise you that.
But I'm going to lay something on the table. I think all these calls for 'unity' and 'let's put it behind us' are hypocritical bunk. It is akin to bringing eggs and rotten tomatoes to a play and bombarding the cast from before the lights go down until after the curtain falls, then taking the stage yourself and calling anyone with food in their hands a racist and an extremist.
Democrats spent eight years sowing seeds of hate and discord, and there will be plenty of people who are looking for payback over the next four years. The harvest may not be pretty, and they have no one to blame but themselves.
* * * *
I'd also like to thank the voters of Milwaukee for shooting themselves in their pocketbook by passing the Sick Leave referendum by a two-thirds majority. Never doubt a voter's ability to put aside reason if it means putting someone else's money in their wallet.
Someone needs to step up and rescue this city from itself. Where's a little 'hope/change/hope/change' when you need it?
"No, I want to watch the election results," she said.
"Why? You can go on the internet and get county-by-county votes. Obama's got Ohio he's gonna win, put on the movie."
"Wait," she said.
And so I was forced to watch California slide, inevitably, into the blue and Obama being declared President. I suffered through local coverage of the Obama celebrations, with prim and proper reporters covering the downtown gala while the token black reporter was sent to cover an inner-city party, which to me reeks more of racism than a host of perceived slights.
I hate the result but I applaud the election as a monumental step for African-Americans, one that may help bury the lingering sins of the past. Still, it's sad that after all these years we could put a minority into office before a female even landed a nomination. The world changes, and it changes not at all.
"You're taking this well," Lisa said. "You must not be that upset."
"I've lost elections before," I said. 'Tis true - I was a Dem until '91, switching parties just in time to lose two more times.
Others were less practiced at the art. I took phone calls from friends in different parts of the country. One urged me to be 'careful' of pro-Obama violence on the way to work, which I told him was silly, while another joked of leaving the country and bemoaned the passing of the republic. Socialist was AWOL, no doubt busy passing out cigars 'redistributed' from the Bourgeois tobacco shop ;)
We then watched McCain's concession speech. I was very moved and finished watching it 100% convinced that the better man, if not the better candidate, had gone home vanquished. Has there ever been a more sincere and eloquent concession?
"Why didn't he speak like that during the campaign?," Lisa, who was never a fan of the man, said. "He'd have had a chance. I like him more than I ever did before."
I didn't/couldn't watch Obama take the stage, and so at that point we turned on the ever-present HGTV.
Watching the election results, local, state, and federal, was like watching Little Bighorn while wearing a Calvary uniform. Without question the Democrats have a reactionary mandate from America and can - or should be able to - push their leftist agenda through with ease.
While it's like saying the silver lining of dying from a stroke is that you don't have to worry about drowning, I'm glad the GOP is completely out of the loop, rather than just a visible but powerless minority. Whatever happens, good or bad, it will fall squarely on the Democrats, and should provide an equally reactionary turnabout down the road.
Now I'm going to go on record and say that I'll support the office of the President and hope for the best. I don't want to see him fail outright at the very least on foreign policy, as that would mean this nation has failed. Bush's opponents never understood that concept, as part of their makeup seems to be an inherent belief that America's sins will always outweigh her greatness; therefore seeing us fail was not a concern if it meant a Republican could go down in the process.
I won't stoop to the insulting, childish, and frankly ignorant commentary that the left has used to describe the Presidency in the last eight years. I promise you that.
But I'm going to lay something on the table. I think all these calls for 'unity' and 'let's put it behind us' are hypocritical bunk. It is akin to bringing eggs and rotten tomatoes to a play and bombarding the cast from before the lights go down until after the curtain falls, then taking the stage yourself and calling anyone with food in their hands a racist and an extremist.
Democrats spent eight years sowing seeds of hate and discord, and there will be plenty of people who are looking for payback over the next four years. The harvest may not be pretty, and they have no one to blame but themselves.
* * * *
I'd also like to thank the voters of Milwaukee for shooting themselves in their pocketbook by passing the Sick Leave referendum by a two-thirds majority. Never doubt a voter's ability to put aside reason if it means putting someone else's money in their wallet.
Someone needs to step up and rescue this city from itself. Where's a little 'hope/change/hope/change' when you need it?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The 1000th Post and some Great News!
I'd planned on making the 1000th post a big to-do, but with the election results looming I hurried things up a bit. I didn't want a blog started in the afterglow of an election win to 'celebrate' with a (possible) election loss.
Anyhow, if you're of a mind to review the last 999 entries I've added the entry labels - an index of sorts - to the sidebar. Let me know when you find a post with missing pictures from the AOL era and I'll get it up and running.
And now, drum roll please:
As I walked in the house after voting I took a call from O. Ricardo Pimentel, editorial page editor of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
You might remember the contest to join the editorial page for a year as a guest columnist. At the time I wrote on this blog
I don't think I'll fare well. It just didn't 'flow' tonight, the construction was awkward, midway through one column my research proved faulty and I had to rework it back to the bare bones. . .Huh. Shows what I know. Pimentel was calling to ask if I was still interested, and if so if I'd be willing to take the job. The answer to both questions was a very happy 'yes'.
He said he'd be sending me a detailed email in the next few days about the job. If the original intent of the contest holds true I'll be joining around 30 other writers who'll share the duties of producing content six days out of the week. By my math that means I'll have at least ten columns published in the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winning Journal-Sentinel, albeit at a mere $25 payment for each.
Well, hot dog!
So after 1000 posts spread out over just (days) shy of four years, I've finally reached one of the original goals of this site: to get my writing noticed and to land a job that pays me to tiki-ticki-ticki on a keyboard!
That's worth celebrating!
Kate Winslet, Voting, and a Simple yet devious Plan
I took LuLu and voted this afternoon. There was no line to speak of and it all went smoothly.
Mind you, I didn't have to show ID or for that matter even spell out my complete eleven letter last name. I got through 'slap' before they found me on the printout. The election workers themselves then volunteered my first name, I concurred that yup, I am Daniel, and they handed me a ballot. I really don't understand how you need two forms of ID to get a library card in this city but, in theory, any of you could have walked in and voted in my place without knowing my first name or most of my last.
Eh, a fight for another day.
Of the six non-Presidential offices up for grabs on the ballot, five were fully uncontested and the sixth faced token opposition from a gay/lesbian party. Whatever problems this city might have - oh, and there's a bunch - Republicans are completely absolved from blame, since they don't even get a whiff of elected office in Milwaukee. Sad.
I'll confess to waffling on the park tax at the last minute, convinced by a wife who argued that the chance for reviving the parks was worth the risk. I think it was all a bit too Capra-esque, but she's right; I guess the parks are worth the risk.
So while I think I'll regret doing so, I voted 'yes' when faced with the ballot.
Fear not, there was no way in hell I was voting anything but 'no' on the silly sick leave referendum, and that decision held.
* * * *
On a COMPLETELY different topic, Vanity Fair has a series of stunning photographs of Kate Winslet, the best actress of this generation and a crush of mine since before Titanic.
Here's the deal. Someday I intend to write a bestselling novel that will be made into a blockbuster movie. At my insistence the New Kids will do the title song, Donnie Wahlberg will have a part, Ben Afleck will star and Kate Winslet will have the female lead. Thus Lisa and I will get to meet our respective crushes personally.
A simple plan, no?
Mind you, I didn't have to show ID or for that matter even spell out my complete eleven letter last name. I got through 'slap' before they found me on the printout. The election workers themselves then volunteered my first name, I concurred that yup, I am Daniel, and they handed me a ballot. I really don't understand how you need two forms of ID to get a library card in this city but, in theory, any of you could have walked in and voted in my place without knowing my first name or most of my last.
Eh, a fight for another day.
Of the six non-Presidential offices up for grabs on the ballot, five were fully uncontested and the sixth faced token opposition from a gay/lesbian party. Whatever problems this city might have - oh, and there's a bunch - Republicans are completely absolved from blame, since they don't even get a whiff of elected office in Milwaukee. Sad.
I'll confess to waffling on the park tax at the last minute, convinced by a wife who argued that the chance for reviving the parks was worth the risk. I think it was all a bit too Capra-esque, but she's right; I guess the parks are worth the risk.
So while I think I'll regret doing so, I voted 'yes' when faced with the ballot.
Fear not, there was no way in hell I was voting anything but 'no' on the silly sick leave referendum, and that decision held.
* * * *
On a COMPLETELY different topic, Vanity Fair has a series of stunning photographs of Kate Winslet, the best actress of this generation and a crush of mine since before Titanic.
Here's the deal. Someday I intend to write a bestselling novel that will be made into a blockbuster movie. At my insistence the New Kids will do the title song, Donnie Wahlberg will have a part, Ben Afleck will star and Kate Winslet will have the female lead. Thus Lisa and I will get to meet our respective crushes personally.
A simple plan, no?
Fantasy Football Weeks 7 and 8 (NFL Week 8 & 9)
Well, fiddle dee dee. I went into Monday's tepid Washington/Pittsurgh game needing under ten points to win, with both Hines Ward and Santana Moss lining up for me. Ward came within feet of a TD, but in the end . ..nada. I lose - again - and fall to 4-5.
[note: great Texas - Texas Tech game over the weekend. I was on my feet cheering when Tech struck with a single second left]
I've got to get a more competitive RB package going, although I admit that will be hard to do this late in the season. I dropped Fred Taylor (damn your low point totals sir!) and picked up Derrick Ward, but that won't exactly light up the night.
So I'm 3-5 and in 8th place. Ouch.
Bay View SlapJacks
3-5-
VS.
Dueshebags
4-4
Points
Pos Player Opp Status Projected Actual
QB Peyton Manning
(Ind - QB) 20.47
WR Santana Moss
(Was - WR) 1.40
WR Braylon Edwards
(Cle - WR) 16.60
WR Hines Ward
(Pit - WR) 3.90
RB Jamal Lewis
(Cle - RB) 6.20
RB Fred Taylor
(Jac - RB) 1.20
TE Zach Miller
(Oak - TE) 0.90
K David Akers
(Phi - K) 15.00
DEF Indianapolis
(Ind - DEF) 10.00
Total 75.67
VS.
Pos Player Actual
QB Jay Cutler
(Den - QB) 14.43
WR Roy Williams
(Dal - WR) 2.80
WR DeSean Jackson
(Phi - WR) 2.30
WR Ted Ginn Jr.
(Mia - WR) 3.80
RB Leon Washington
(NYJ - RB) 5.50
RB Tim Hightower
(Ari - RB) 18.80
TE Tony Gonzalez
(KC - TE) 6.20
K Josh Scobee
(Jac - K) 10.00
DEF Philadelphia
(Phi - DEF) 14.00
Total 77.83
Here's last week's pitiful results too:
Bay View SlapJacks
3-5
VS.
fire ted
5-3-0
QB Peyton Manning
(Ind - QB)21.53
WR Santana Moss
(Was - WR) 30.00
WR Braylon Edwards
(Cle - WR) 6.40
WR Hines Ward
(Pit - WR) 3.00
RB Jamal Lewis
(Cle - RB) 16.80
RB Fred Taylor
(Jac - RB) 2.40
TE Zach Miller
(Oak - TE) 5.60
K David Akers
(Phi - K) 8.00
DEF San Diego
(SD - DEF) -6.00
Total 87.73
Fire Ted
QB Donovan McNabb
(Phi - QB) 16.93
WR Calvin Johnson
(Det - WR) 14.40
WR Anquan Boldin
(Ari - WR)25.30
WR Kevin Curtis
(Phi - WR) 4.50
RB Brandon Jacobs
(NYG - RB) 5.30
RB Brian Westbrook
(Phi - RB) 38.90
TE Jason Witten
(Dal - TE)0.80
K Nick Folk
(Dal - K) 8.00
DEF San Francisco
(SF - DEF) -3.50
Total 110.63
[note: great Texas - Texas Tech game over the weekend. I was on my feet cheering when Tech struck with a single second left]
I've got to get a more competitive RB package going, although I admit that will be hard to do this late in the season. I dropped Fred Taylor (damn your low point totals sir!) and picked up Derrick Ward, but that won't exactly light up the night.
So I'm 3-5 and in 8th place. Ouch.
Bay View SlapJacks
3-5-
VS.
Dueshebags
4-4
Points
Pos Player Opp Status Projected Actual
QB Peyton Manning
(Ind - QB) 20.47
WR Santana Moss
(Was - WR) 1.40
WR Braylon Edwards
(Cle - WR) 16.60
WR Hines Ward
(Pit - WR) 3.90
RB Jamal Lewis
(Cle - RB) 6.20
RB Fred Taylor
(Jac - RB) 1.20
TE Zach Miller
(Oak - TE) 0.90
K David Akers
(Phi - K) 15.00
DEF Indianapolis
(Ind - DEF) 10.00
Total 75.67
VS.
Pos Player Actual
QB Jay Cutler
(Den - QB) 14.43
WR Roy Williams
(Dal - WR) 2.80
WR DeSean Jackson
(Phi - WR) 2.30
WR Ted Ginn Jr.
(Mia - WR) 3.80
RB Leon Washington
(NYJ - RB) 5.50
RB Tim Hightower
(Ari - RB) 18.80
TE Tony Gonzalez
(KC - TE) 6.20
K Josh Scobee
(Jac - K) 10.00
DEF Philadelphia
(Phi - DEF) 14.00
Total 77.83
Here's last week's pitiful results too:
Bay View SlapJacks
3-5
VS.
fire ted
5-3-0
QB Peyton Manning
(Ind - QB)21.53
WR Santana Moss
(Was - WR) 30.00
WR Braylon Edwards
(Cle - WR) 6.40
WR Hines Ward
(Pit - WR) 3.00
RB Jamal Lewis
(Cle - RB) 16.80
RB Fred Taylor
(Jac - RB) 2.40
TE Zach Miller
(Oak - TE) 5.60
K David Akers
(Phi - K) 8.00
DEF San Diego
(SD - DEF) -6.00
Total 87.73
Fire Ted
QB Donovan McNabb
(Phi - QB) 16.93
WR Calvin Johnson
(Det - WR) 14.40
WR Anquan Boldin
(Ari - WR)25.30
WR Kevin Curtis
(Phi - WR) 4.50
RB Brandon Jacobs
(NYG - RB) 5.30
RB Brian Westbrook
(Phi - RB) 38.90
TE Jason Witten
(Dal - TE)0.80
K Nick Folk
(Dal - K) 8.00
DEF San Francisco
(SF - DEF) -3.50
Total 110.63
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Inevitable Presidential Endorsement Post
Four years ago I started Slapinions as a political blog t in the wake of the 2004 election. The blog was never supposed to feature my children, movie reviews, humor, or rants about AOL.
Well, the last time I checked 'politics' has consumed only around forty posts out of a thousand, proving once again that in politics even the best of intentions often fall to the wayside.
Still, in honor of the site's origin I'm going to give my two cents about this election. Sorry - by this late date I bet you thought you were out of the woods.
It's no surprise to readers that I'm voting for McCain. Lisa would say it was inevitable, that I believe the party is bigger than the individual and automatically mark an 'X' by anyone with an (R) next to their name. Eh, that's a wee bit strong - I'm not a Stalinist for Pete's sake - but she's got a point. But I don't think that's the case here.
Personally, I see no value in listing the reasons why I think Obama is a poor choice for President, at least in any depth. Minds are made up, his backers are frighteningly zealous, and frankly going negative wins no fans.You'll have to take my word that it is more than mere distaste, and trust that I'm intelligent enough to think it over, whether you disagree or not.
Let's leave it at this, in 200 words or less: I think 'Hope/Change/Hope/Change' is not a policy, and that for all his impressive eloquence he is woefully inexperienced and unprepared for the office. I believe that while he is a loyal American he is one of many who believe our faults outweigh our positives. I think his economic policy does not add up - literally - and that his foreign policy will either be a wilting failure or, on the other extreme, a harsh, unduly aggressive approach to negate his critics. I don't look forward to either path.
[One snide observation: when the housing bubble burst and the (idiotic) economic bailout went through he was quick to say that it would hinder his proposed programs. That's true to an extent, but it's also convenient, and to me it reeked of a man who bemoans the fact that his car broke down before a trip to the in-laws, while secretly thanking the Heavens it took him off the hook.]
On the other hand, I am not a huge fan of McCain. I brought up Eight is Enough in a post yesterday. That show was based on the life of Crossfire's Tom Braden, who was often miscast on the panel as a liberal. Timothy Leary famously said that era of Crossfire was like watching 'the left wing of the CIA debating the right wing of the CIA'.
Well, watching this election is like watching the left wing of the DNC debate the right wing of the DNC.
I think, for lack of a better term, McCain is a Democrat at heart, or what the more extreme of the party would call a RINO - a Republican in name only. He's strong on defense, sure, but prior to '68 there was nary a Democrat who wasn't, and I don't see that as exclusive to one party.
That doesn't make him a bad person, but I didn't like him (as a candidate) in 2000, and I'm not in love with him now. It's curious, really, how quickly Dems have turned on him, given that three years ago they'd have sung his praises. I assume most of it is election year b.s., because anyone with common sense can see his move to the right is for show, just as Obama caters to his own base.
Of the two I still bow to McCain's experience, his strength on defense, and the fact that no single party should control both houses of Congress and the White House. It didn't work recently, it didn't work in the past, it won't work in the future.
Additionally, McCain has a true talent for bipartisanship. Oh, Obama preaches unity but he's essentially running the same campaign Bush did in '00; the last eight years were bad, we need a distinct change, I'm really different than the last guy, vote for me. He's earning the love of his fans and the deep animosity of his opponents, and that's just a recipe for more of the same.
Not the strongest of endorsements, I admit, but by far McCain is the lesser of two evils.
It might shock you, but I still think the best candidate isn't on the ballot. Hilary, for all her faults, was an intelligent, forceful, and experienced choice for the office. It was that second bit that killed her, as it's sad that even today a woman can't exhibit strength without meeting the wrath of the masses, many of whom turned on her and called her 'arrogant' or worse. (Dan, you're a Republican? What about her lefty-loosy ideas? 1. She's pragmatic and 2. There's just enough of that sexism to deny her a free reign with Congress)
So, I'll go to the polls and vote for McCain. I hope he can squeak out a victory, but if not . . . well, I'm not going to stock up on rifles and move to the hills. I'll suck it up, honor the office, hope for the best (especially on foreign policy) and get on with my life. I'll be quick to point out his mistakes, which will be numerous, but I'll acknowledge his successes.
Hey, it's more respect than the left ever offered Bush, before, during, and no doubt after his administration.
Get out there and vote, and God Bless America.
graphic hat tip to And Rightly So!
YaYa's 7th Birthday Party - Sun Oct 26th
For the longest time YaYa wanted a kitten themed birthday party. Then, maybe a month or two ago she decided she wanted a party at the local roller skating rink. It seemed like a rash decision, but sure enough she stuck by it and in the end it was certainly the right call - she had a blast!
She wanted to choose the neon themed room, but Lisa talked her out of it, preserving that more 'grown-up' room for later parties. Instead, YaYa picked the 'Dream Den', a princess themed area.
Most of the party, obviously, was spent on the skating floor, but as the party girl YaYa did get to spend some time in the 'cash machine'.
Unfortunately, we'd trained her to stuff the cash in her shirt and pockets, only to find out that was not allowed!
The party was mainly family and the friends of family - my oldest three, my niece S, Chris' kids, the neighbor, and two kids from her school. As space was limited, we could not invite more of her class to attend. The Lump was at a babysitter - the very first time a child of mine had been watched by someone other than family (or Chris)since early 2002, when we had YaYa in a daycare for all of half an hour at the Mall of America.
We'd been unsure of whether or not Smiley should go, as he couldn't skate, but in the end we gave the go ahead. We were expecting him to be a drag, truthfully, asking for our help and consuming our time on the floor, much as the girls did as they learned. Not so. While he happily skated with us, much of the time he set out on his own, albeit at a snails pace. Your courage and determination are duly noted little man, duly noted!
On to the skating pics!
Soon enough it was time for pizza and presents.
Amongt the gifts were a Suite Life bed set, a Jonas Brothers CD that is in solid rotation here, and a bunch of Hannah Montana items, ranging from a sheet set to folders.
[Her best friend continuously critiqued the gifts as they were opened, telling people YaYa 'doesn't like Hannah Montana'. Thankfully YaYa's been trained well and was exhuberant and thankful as she opened each of them.]
Did I skate? You betcha. I looked scrubby as heck, but I did my damage on the floor.
We all got excited when the DJ played two New Kids songs - Single and Summertime! YaYa raced to the floor and the rest of us were right behind her. "When's the last time you skated to the New Kids?" I asked Lisa. "1989," she answered.
Of note: my mother in law tried on skates briefly but didn't hit the floor; my parents were unable to attend (my Dad worked, my Mom was ill), and it snowed on the way home!(although it melted on the windshield).
A great party. Again, happy birthday YaYa!
She wanted to choose the neon themed room, but Lisa talked her out of it, preserving that more 'grown-up' room for later parties. Instead, YaYa picked the 'Dream Den', a princess themed area.
Most of the party, obviously, was spent on the skating floor, but as the party girl YaYa did get to spend some time in the 'cash machine'.
Unfortunately, we'd trained her to stuff the cash in her shirt and pockets, only to find out that was not allowed!
The party was mainly family and the friends of family - my oldest three, my niece S, Chris' kids, the neighbor, and two kids from her school. As space was limited, we could not invite more of her class to attend. The Lump was at a babysitter - the very first time a child of mine had been watched by someone other than family (or Chris)since early 2002, when we had YaYa in a daycare for all of half an hour at the Mall of America.
We'd been unsure of whether or not Smiley should go, as he couldn't skate, but in the end we gave the go ahead. We were expecting him to be a drag, truthfully, asking for our help and consuming our time on the floor, much as the girls did as they learned. Not so. While he happily skated with us, much of the time he set out on his own, albeit at a snails pace. Your courage and determination are duly noted little man, duly noted!
On to the skating pics!
Soon enough it was time for pizza and presents.
Amongt the gifts were a Suite Life bed set, a Jonas Brothers CD that is in solid rotation here, and a bunch of Hannah Montana items, ranging from a sheet set to folders.
[Her best friend continuously critiqued the gifts as they were opened, telling people YaYa 'doesn't like Hannah Montana'. Thankfully YaYa's been trained well and was exhuberant and thankful as she opened each of them.]
Did I skate? You betcha. I looked scrubby as heck, but I did my damage on the floor.
We all got excited when the DJ played two New Kids songs - Single and Summertime! YaYa raced to the floor and the rest of us were right behind her. "When's the last time you skated to the New Kids?" I asked Lisa. "1989," she answered.
Of note: my mother in law tried on skates briefly but didn't hit the floor; my parents were unable to attend (my Dad worked, my Mom was ill), and it snowed on the way home!(although it melted on the windshield).
A great party. Again, happy birthday YaYa!
Family Guy, Dick Van Patten, and Undecided Voters
The election is a mere 24 hours away, and by now I hope you've made up your mind, one way or another. This thing has dragged on longer than Oprah's version of Beloved ,and we've all had plenty of time to draw our own take on both the issues and the character of the candidates involved.
That said, barring the chaos that is life, I intend to post an appeal to voters here later today.
Meanwhile, I thought you'd enjoy the following Family Guy assault on the IQ of undecided voters (which, naturally, I do not endorse ;). As much as I love it Family Guy is your typical product of the Hollywood Left, and so the intended target would seem to be the GOP. It's funny even so, but now that I think about it the phenomenon in the clip seems strangely . . . Obama like, no?
Hat tip to And Rightly So!
And on a non-political, and certainly non-politically correct, subject, here's their take on the TV show Eight is Enough. I didn't see where it was going until after the fact, and it-is-sooooooo-wrong. Don't watch it more than once. I promise you, on the second go-round you'll just feel dirty.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Vote 'No' - for now - on the Park System Tax November 4th
When it comes to taxes I don't make anyone happy. I'm a Republican and I philosophically oppose most efforts to increase the size and complexity of the Machine. That makes my more liberal-minded friends - like Socialist - furious. So be it; better that than the near-empty wallet his politics would dictate.
But I'm also not ignorant of the fact that this isn't 1776, and the government has more responsibilities - right or wrong - than the version run by guys in powdered wigs. Some taxes are necessary, and yes, there are situations where raising a tax may be the only viable option.
This year residents will be voting on the Milwaukee County Sales Tax referendum, known around here as the Park vote. Arguments for the tax pin the very future of our park and transit system on the outcome. If I agreed with that assessment, I'd say yes in a heartbeat. But I remain unconvinced.
For that reason, I'd urge you to vote 'no' on November 4th.
I've always been justifiably proud of Milwaukee's Park and Recreation system, which covers 15,000 acres and puts green space within walking distance of every resident. That's more than 4 times as much park land, per capita, as our neighbors in Chicago enjoy.
In addition to open land there are public pools, playgrounds, wading pools, and festival grounds scattered throughout the county. It is, without question, a shining jewel and something we can be proud of calling our own.
But in recent years the park's have fallen by the wayside. I've written about it here, in this blog, as the changes became visible: restrooms are locked to the public, parking lots go unplowed, ball fields are left to grow wild, flower beds are left unplanted and the driveways go unrepaired. Public pools (including the one I frequented in my youth and my daughter is using at this very minute) are being slated to close, and the wading pools all my children enjoy are becoming few and far between.
The estimated cost, according to a member of the Park Advisory Commission, of bringing the system physically back up to par - not improving it - is close to $300 million.
Why? The parks are run by the County. In the last twenty-two years the system's share of the tax levy fell 21%, down to a mere 8% in 2008. The reason for the decline? In large part, the increased cost of a (much) busier justice system. Then, a few years ago a major pension scandal shook up the county and brought the rare Republican into office. The operation of the system has improved, with even proponents of the tax calling the Park director's 'masters of doing more with less' but the damage is done. By necessity we continue to fund outrageous pension and post-retirement benefits.
The parks need money. No question. I concur that a tax specific to the upkeep of the parks is in order. But adding a 1% increase to our sales tax, without permanently earmarking where those proceeds would go, is just asking for trouble, especially with a governmental body with a track record of corruption. Even if the current Board would guarantee the money would be funneled exclusively to the park and transit system, it has no legal power to force that agreement on future members.
So the 1% increase that pays for the parks next year could be cut in half the next, with proceeds funding increased union contracts or silly pork barrel projects. That's not good enough.
What worries me too is that the idea of funding our park system, which in and of itself is a worthy cause, is apparently not a convincing enough argument for the tax proponents. They feel it necessary to cloud the vote with popular, tried and true add-ons. What are future uproar are they proactively trying to smother?
You can spare me the ridiculous argument that even with the increase our sales tax would be less than Chicago, Minneapolis, or Boston. Well . . good. Would you prefer it otherwise? Nor is the always popular 'it'll reduce property taxes' argument worth discussing; even if you could convince me it would happen, I'm sure the city would discover some 'need' to more than make up the difference.
[You'll note that I tossed the word 'transit' in a few times. The original tax increase was to be .5%, but it was quickly ramped up to pay for new buses and maintenance on our transit system. There are a thousand arguments for and against our current bus system, but maybe if people weren't assaulted on a daily basis on the bus, ridership wouldn't be on a decline and you could afford the buses you crave. Just a thought.]
Provide Milwaukee County with an independent body, accountable to the taxpayers, whose sole purpose is the maintenance of the park system and I will be more than happy to sign on the dotted line. Our parks are something that's worth saving for future generations - but not at the expense of commonsense, and not by handicapping the resources of those very generations.
For now, vote 'no' to a park system tax increase.
Trick or Treat - October 25th 2008
Trick or treat in my neighborhood fell on my 12th Wedding anniversary this year, which I admit annoyed me at first. Those emotions quickly retreated once we hit the annual trick-or-treat trail.
Along for the ride: my four, Lisa, our friend Chris and her three kids, along with their father, and my sister C and my niece.
Nighttime trick or treat is *not* the norm in Milwaukee, but it is allowed in my neighborhood. It's still new enough to me that the novelty hasn't worn off. It's a whole different atmosphere than daytime trick-or-treat, although it has its drawbacks too - grumpy little kids out past their bedtime, increased danger from passing cars, and, of course, Ghouls
Here's some pics of the walk:
Smiley loved his outfit btw, choosing it over an assortment of options. It was hard to find in his size, so I'm glad his affection for it didn't wear off.
Note: this isn't me in this pic. It's another bearded overweight guy in a green pullover. Seriously.
Along the way we ran into a school friend of LuLu's
The temperature dropped at the same time the sun did, but we made do:
This past Friday their school held their annual Halloween Social, which we'd intended to become an anual tradition. Unfortunately Lu was sticken with a fever and couldn't go, so Lisa, YaYa, and my niece KayKay went by themselves:
Happy (belated) Halloween!
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