This is a test to see if emailing posts will allow me
to publish to my blog. I haven't been able to get
Blogger to play nice since yesterday. I assume that
the problem is on their end because I'm also not
receiving comment notifications.

While I'm converting this blog to Wordpress, I've
posted this week's podcast with Jay Bullock on the
BBA.

Guest: Jay Bullock

More rambling than ranting. We were topic light going into this one, but it didn't stop us from having some interesting discussions about a wide variety of issues. Of course, we discussed Iraq because it's the big national story. We also got into stem cell research and some other wild tangents.

Listen here (38 minutes)

Our Metro-belle turned Marine only has a few short days left before boot camp.

Good luck, Ally! We'll see you soon.

Semper Fi

Mary Cheney is pregnant.

But, she's gay. Right?

Will this be a virgin birth?

The Iraq Study Group's report landed with a big, wet, thud today. The report makes a number of recommendations to change US policy in the Iraq war.

Among its 79 recommendations, the group said the United States should reduce political, military or economic support for Iraq if the government in Baghdad cannot make substantial progress.

I guess what they say about opinions is right... They're like assholes: everyone's got one and they all stink. Do they think threatening the new Iraqi government is going to make them hurry up and take charge? Cutting support is supposed to stabilize the country?

The media is spinning this report as the proof that George Bush sucks and Iraq is Vietnam with sand and furry people. I may have some comments on that later, if I get insomnia and decide to actually read the report.

By now you've heard about the explosion at the Falk plant this morning. Patrick has video from the TV. Thankfully, the propane leak that caused the blast was detected early enough for almost everyone to be evacuated safely. There were three fatalities in a disaster that could've been much worse. Ear witnesses claim that the explosion could be heard in Bayview and even Racine! I could easily see the wall of flames and the pillar of black smoke from the freeway on my morning commute.

Let's all wish a speedy recovery to the injured and the Falk Corporation. I'm curious to see whether the company will rebuild or relocate. Coincidentally, in part 2 of last week's podcast with Clint (to be released soon), we discussed the future of the Menomonee Valley. We completely overlooked Falk, because it has been such a long standing landmark in the area.

I've got nothing.

Possible update later.

During yesterday's snow storm I spotted an elderly gentleman trying to free his minivan from a parking lot. I could see that he wasn't too badly stuck and decided to see if I could help and break him free. Since I was on foot, I was in no hurry an I was already covered in snow.

For the next few minutes I tried pushing and directing this guy to help him get back on the road. It became fairly obvious that this person was not a qualified winter driver. When I instructed him to rock the vehicle, he proceeded to lay on the gas an slide sideways. All that he needed to do was back up a foot and use some forward speed to get him over the rut that he'd created by spinning his tires. He wasn't taking the hint, though.

Eventually, the man broke free. To my shock and amazement he turn back toward me! I thought he'd already lost control of his car, but he was doing a U-turn to go back into the parking lot that I'd just got him out of!

The man had said something about how he just wanted to go to the bank. Kelly asked me why someone like this would risk life and limb to be out on a day like yesterday and I guessed, "to cash his social security check?"

Kelly has some banking experience and she immediately said, "today's the first. You nailed it!"

My question to you, dear reader: should I have helped this man? Did I not create a greater hazard by putting an obviously baffled driver back on the slippery roads?

This week we invited Clint back, because I felt like discussing my experiences buying a used car.

We also talked about several recent topics of interest in the news: Michael Richards, Imams on a plane (not a new Samuel L. Jackson movie), sick pay for legislators, Scott Walker's budget battle, and much more. We talked about so much with Clint that I've saved additional material for later!

Listen here. (60 minutes)

Ok, so I made up the headline. But, could someone please explain to me why democrats like Russ Feingold have had their panties in a knot over 9/11 anti-terrorism measures, while completely ignoring the massive security hole that the internet represents? Also, why should the government waste money spying on us when we do it to ourselves?

I don't think I'm imagining that cyber theft has been major problem this year. There were a number of cases where millions of people's personal information was compromised. I'd much prefer to have George Bush and Dick Cheney listening to my reminder calls from Blockbuster than to have my banking information in the hands of some random deviant.

On the other hand, I love the access to all the material on the internet. Celebrities and other public figures are discovering that anything the say or do can and may be made public. Ask Michael Richards. It's probably too much to hope that this leads to a greater sense of responsibility on their part.