That's my boy!

I have no intention of making a coherent point in this post. I just wanted to write about Campbell.

My son is now officially hilarious. It isn’t really anything specific that he does; he just has the gift of a good sense of humor. I know it seems a bit premature (he’s not quite 10 months old) to crown him the world’s next great comedian, but I can already see the glimmer in his eyes. He has started to do funny things “on command” that can bring a smile to even the most dour face. His “Mimi” (my mom) has been singing the “Hurray for Campbell” song to him almost since birth and he now recognizes it and does the clapping and cheering motions along with the singer (we have all taken up his theme song). He now has begun giving a friendly smile that is entirely different than the excited, open-mouthed version that he has been doing the past 6 months or so. He utilizes this new smile when you call his name or offer a smile of your own. Just a sweet, non-verbal, “I’m glad to see you” grin.

Sarah says he’s just like me, but I hope not. I wonder if all fathers feel this way. I realize that in appearance and some facial expressions there is a definite resemblance, but unlike his father, he is pure and untainted by this horrible world. I guess I can’t prevent him from experiencing real life, but I don’t want him to be me. I’d rather he be like his grandfathers or my grandfather. I wonder if my dad felt this way about me.

I guess all I can do is pray, give it my best and let the Lord handle the rest.

Speaker update

I hate to continue beating this drum, but my normally witty commentary is being squelched by my political frustrations. Consider this a purge that will cleanse this scribe's pallet.

Once again Speaker Nancy Pelosi has proven why party politics are vital in the American federalist system. According to the Washington Times, Pelosi is embroiled in a struggle against the White House and the Pentagon over her access to the coveted Air Force VIP fleet. She is demanding to be given regular access to one of the 3 largest and furthest ranging planes in the fleet. She claims that it is necessary for her to have Presidential-type range and passenger capabilities so that she and her entourage can fly non-stop between DC and the left coast. This may seem reasonable if you did not know that prior to September 11th, the Speaker of the House traveled commercially and post 9/11, the previous Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), utilized a much smaller (and more common) aircraft. Hastert only used the type of jet that Pelosi requested one time (for Congressional business) before the USAF determined this wasn't proper and denied further access.
What frustrates, but doesn't surprise me is that no major media outlets (The Washington Times online is small potatoes) have decided to point out that this "friend of the environment" claims to NEED a plane that guzzles 100's more gallons of AvGas simply so that she doesn't have to actually touch the ground in the heartland to refuel.
Back to my original point. Why does this bolster my belief in party politics and partisanship? Because no matter how reasonable a Democrat seems in comparison to their Republican opponent, their election places Congressional power in the hands of those who are decidedly unreasonable.

Our Thrones Are No Longer Sacred

I will preemptively apologize for what may seem to be my perpetual infatuation with childish bathroom humor. This is, however, more of a cultural update that is indicative of more serious issues.

I am shocked and dismayed that I am forced to bring you these updates on bathroom etiquette and design. I have just read in The Sun that at London's Brixton Prison, as part of an "on-going refurbishment," toilets are being reoriented to face away from Mecca at the cost of thousands in taxpayer pounds (that's twos of thousands of dollars after the exchange). A full quarter of the prison's population is Muslim and apparently it is a longstanding feature of Sharia not to face the holy city while on the can. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself here, but in the past I have been known to sit a little sideways in order to play solitaire while on the toilet; can they not do the same to honor their strongly held religious convictions? As one of the prison guards at Brixton pointed out, if they hadn't committed crimes, they would be free to poop facing any direction they please.

As an afterthought and transition, don't males face opposite directions depending which business they are handling? That makes it tough to face away from Mecca unless.....you sit when you pee. Read this excerpt from John Leo's piece at townhall.com.

NOW SIT, INGVAR
Young women in Sweden, Germany and Australia have a new cause: They want men to sit down while urinating. This demand comes partly from concerns about hygiene -- avoiding the splash factor -- but, as Jasper Gerard reports in the English magazine The Spectator, "more crucially because a man standing up to urinate is deemed to be triumphing in his masculinity, and by extension, degrading women." One argument is that if women can't do it, then men shouldn't either. Another is that standing upright while relieving oneself is "a nasty macho gesture," suggestive of male violence.
A feminist group at Stockholm University is campaigning to ban all urinals from campus, and one Swedish elementary school has already removed them. In Australia, an Internet survey shows that 17 percent of those polled think men ought to sit, while 70 percent believe they should be allowed to stand. Some Swedish women are pressuring their men to take a stand, so to speak. Yola, a 25-year-old Swedish trainee psychiatrist, says she dumps boyfriends who insist on standing. "What else can I do?," said her new boyfriend, Ingvar, who sits.

I highlighted the parts that baffle me in this one. Stand-peeing is "suggestive of male violence?" I thought it is just more fun because aiming at floaties has many similarities to playing video games (see The Coaches post about the Nintendo Wii). My wife made a great observation about Ingvar and others like him. If he can be cowed by his girlfriend into sitting to pee, he probably already sits to pee. Of course, this simply proves the feminist's point that standing is an inherently macho act; one with which my wife has no problem.

Identify these quotes: Part 1 of 2

I like writing about curious news stories (see http://coloradogaws.blogspot.com/2007/01/re-posting-is-like-re-gifting-but-with.html). I am also politically minded and follow national politics closely, however, I have no intention of becoming a political blogger. Unfortunately, it is common for political issues to intrude upon the freak-show current events on which I like to comment. For those of you who keep an eye on the rarified air inside the beltway, this might be a tedious rehash. See if you can identify (or make a wild guess at) the national politician quoted.

“…I love this quote. It’s from Mahatma Gandhi. He ran a gas station down in St Louis for a couple of years.”

“You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin Donuts if you don’t have a slight Indian accent.”

"I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either.”

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man."

"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great,"

"My old mom told me, 'Robert, you can't go to heaven if you hate anybody.' We practice that. There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time. I'm going to use that word. We just need to work together to make our country a better country, and I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much."

If you know (or can guess) 3 of the 6 identities of the quoted speakers, you spend too much time watching the news; 4 of 6 means you listen to too much talk radio; 6 of 6 means you are freakishly addicted to internet news. See part 2 for the answers http://coloradogaws.blogspot.com/2007/02/identify-these-quotes-part-2-of-2.html

Identify these quotes: Part 2 of 2 (the answers)

If you haven't read Part 1 of this post duo, hit it first.

“…I love this quote. It’s from Mahatma Gandhi. He ran a gas station down in St Louis for a couple of years.” Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) 2004 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Mq8kOXV_E&mode=related&search=)Speaking at Democratic event

“You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin Donuts if you don’t have a slight Indian accent.” Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) 2006
Expressing his commitment to the growing South Asian population in Deleware.

"I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either.” Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) 2002
Comment at Senator Strom Thurmond’s birthday party

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man." Sen. Biden 2006
When asked to comment about fellow perspective Presidential candidate Barack Obama

"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great," Senatorial candidate George Allen (R-VA) 2006
Pointing out opponent Jim Webb’s representative S.R. Sidarth at a rally (macaca being an obscure French slur meaning monkey)

"My old mom told me, 'Robert, you can't go to heaven if you hate anybody.' We practice that. There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time. I'm going to use that word. We just need to work together to make our country a better country, and I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much." Sen. (and former Klansman) Robert Byrd (D-WV) 2001
Comment (ironically) made to explain his past segregationist political positions and history with the Klan

I personally think these statements run the gamut from kind of funny (Clinton) to pretty much offensive to people of all races (Biden 2007), but there is an important distinction. All those with a ‘D’ after their name suffered no repercussions and very little media scrutiny for their statements, while Lott lost his leadership position and Webb’s gaff was on the front page of the Washington Post for 4 days straight and received at least 10 times that much total ink in the Post during the 2006 campaign (which likely lost him the election). How can a pass be given for use of the N word by a former Klansman and segregationist (regardless of its context) on a major news outlet and yet the PRIVATE comments for Thurmond (also a reformed segregationist) at the 100 year olds birthday party finishes Lott’s political career.