Wisdom from a Four-Year Old

If a dinosaur or a monster ever eats you, wiggle and jiggle inside his body, then climb up his throat, grab his teeth and shake them. Then it will spit you out.

"You Got People"!?

"You Got People" is H&R Block's new slogan. I've heard some of the commercials, but didn't notice the missing word until I saw an online ad.

If you ain't got grammar, I don't think I can be trustin' you'z wif my numberz.

Picture of the Day

Ehi's Official Endorsement

Mitt Romney has been accused of flip-flopping on issues, maybe so, but he has flipped in the right direction, and don't we want converts to the conservative movement?

On the other hand, John McCain's signature laws have been, or would be, flops:

McCain-Fiengold restricts our political speech.
McCain-Kennedy immigration bills is a de facto amnesty for people who have illegally breached our borders.
McCain-Lieberman cap-and-trade bill would impose a hefty new tax on businesses.
McCain-Kennedy-Edwards Patient Bill of Rights contained mandates that would have driven up premiums and expose employers and health plans to expensive lawsuits.

And notice how he teams up with some of the biggest liberals in Washington.

Mitt Romney is the best choice to lead the Republican Party and the nation.

If McCain secures the Republican nomination, I could never cast a vote in his favor. I would vote third party or write-in a protest vote.

Go, Mitt, Go!

The Transformation of AlGore

Gore's been animated several times now for special appearances in Futurama:


But, in real life:
he is starting to resemble a different Futurama character, Mr. Horrible Gelatinous Blob:

John Edwards Quote of the Day

"Nothing is more important to our children's future than America's teachers."

I would have thought it was parents, but maybe that is because I am not a stark raving mad socialist.

In his world view, teachers trump parents because they are generally unionized, and in most cases, agents of the state, oozing with mushy notions of political correctness.

Thankfully, this blinky lunatic doesn't have a chance to win the primary, unfortunately, the Dems have two other socialists in the queue, albeit slightly less nutty, and much less blinky.

Anyhow they are all three lawyers.

Don't
Elect
Any
Lawyers!

Now That's Irony

"Fire destroys building at insulation business."

http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/292127.html

Foux da fa fa

Mother Flippin'!

Honey

Another study. It seems there are as many studies as there are blogs, but this one is worth a shot. Our little guy has had a night-time cough.

A teaspoon of honey before bed seems to calm children's coughs and help them sleep better, according to a new study that relied on parents' reports of their children's symptoms.
The folk remedy did better than cough medicine or no treatment in a three-way comparison. Honey may work by coating and soothing an irritated throat, the study authors said.

Fuzzy Math

Michelle Malkin writes about a new teaching fad, the "Everyday Math" curricula, which she labels "fuzzy math."

I must admit, after reading the FAQs from the "Everyday Math" homepage at the University of Chicago's Education Department, it does look like a dubious, and confusing technique. Especially the "Alternative Algorithm" section. See if you can make sense of it.

As Michelle noted, there has been a backlash against "Everyday Math" by parents who wonder why their kids have the same homework over consecutive years, or asinine exercises like this:

"A. If math were a color, it would be –, because –.
B. If it were a food, it would be –, because –.
C. If it were weather, it would be –, because –."

Texas recently subtracted the "Everyday Math" textbook for third graders.

Only ran a quick search but I didn't see whether this textbook is used in Alexandria.

Is your computer playing random classical music?

Then you'd better read this.

Be Green Like Al

Thanks for the Songs!

I would like to extend thanks to the anonymous benefactor responsible for giving me 50 free songs from EMusic. They showed up in my account with no explanation and EMusic never answered my email asking why. So, thanks!

Park to Check Out

The Weekend section of the Washington ComPost featured a bunch of unheralded local parks. We went to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens a few months ago. It is a shame it is in such a terrible neighborhood in NE DC because it is a great park for hiking and nature-watching:







The one park in the article we haven't been to yet is the Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. The Post's article had many favorable testimonials about it from visitors.

The Madman of Iran

The second that Iranian President Ahmadinejad sets foot in the US he should be immediately arrested and either tried or sent to Gitmo for his role in the kidnapping of American diplomats at our embassy in Iran.

How Did I Miss This?

Internet search guru Tara Calashain has a new book out:
Information Trapping: Real-Time Research on the Web.

Political Progress in Iraq

I've been waiting for someone to finally bring this information to light. Over the last few weeks there has been much hand wringing from the Democrats and their dinosaur media accomplices that there has been no progress on the political front in Iraq.

They use to complain that there was no military progress but since that is clearly not the case they've had to move on to the Plan B bitching. There hasn't been the grand reconciliation that most of us would like to see but how realistic is that over the short term? Let's focus on the areas where there has been progress.

From the White House:

· FACT: On August 26, Iraqi leaders took an important step towards reaching agreement on de-Ba'athification, a provincial powers law, a draft oil law, detainee issues, and developing a long-term relationship with the United States. As Ambassador Ryan Crocker said August 27: "The statement released by the five leaders yesterday is a positive and encouraging message that the government is making all efforts to achieve benefits for Iraqi people. I'm optimistic. I can see there is progress."

· FACT: The Iraqi Council of Representatives completed about 60 pieces of legislation in its most recent session, including a $41 billion budget that includes $10 billion for reconstruction and capital investment.

· FACT: Iraqis are in some cases reaching interim solutions to problems like oil distribution and de-Ba'athification as negotiation over legislation continues:

o Oil money is being distributed to the Iraq people even though the proposed oil law is still being negotiated, with $2.116 billion in oil money allocated for FY07 and $848 million obliged.

o The government of Iraq has contacted thousands of members of the former Iraqi army and offered them retirement, return to the military, or public sector employment.

· FACT: Our commanders report that Iraqi Security Forces are growing in number, becoming more capable, and assuming more responsibility. Currently there are about 140 Iraqi Army, National Police, and Special Operations Forces battalions in the fight, with about 95 capable of taking the lead in operations. As Gen. Petraeus said: "The Iraqi army has, in general, done quite well in the face of some really serious challenges. In certain areas it really is very heartening to see what it has done."

3 Surgeons

Recieved via email:

Three Arkansas surgeons were playing golf together and discussing surgeries they had performed. One of them said, "I'm the best Surgeon in Arkansas . In my favorite case, a concert pianist lost seven fingers in an accident. I reattached them, and 8 months later he performed a private concert for the Queen of England .

The second surgeon said. "That's nothing. A young man lost an arm and both legs in an accident, I reattached them, and 2 years later he won a gold medal in track and field events in the Olympics.

"The third surgeon said, "You guys are amateurs. Several years ago a woman, who must have been high on SOMEthing, rode a horse head-on into a train traveling 80 miles an hour. All I had left to work with was the woman's blonde hair and what was left of the rear end of the horse. I was able to put them together and now she's running for President.

eMusic Now Offers Audio Books

eMusic is branching out. They now offer audio books for $9.99 a month for 1 book, or $19.99 for two. An odd price system. Usually stores discount the price per item at the second tier to get you to buy more stuff. And with the number of books on CD and on MP3 from local libraries the price seems a bit steep. Maybe that is because they will have more newer titles. But as yet they don't have Laura Ingraham's New York Times Best Seller Power to the People.