The Tailgunner

Sammy

Nick — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:24:52 -0800

The fact that I couldn’t rally anyone to go see this with me turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I scored a single front row seat last minute (for half price, no less) for the performance last night, and it was a blast! I wish I could see it again!

Matt Tiabbi does it again

Nick — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:25:55 -0800

Matt Tiabbi’s new article in Rolling Stone just makes me want to puke. How on earth is this kind of shit possible in my country?

I can’t even excerpt the article here like I normally would. You just have to read the whole thing. And be prepared to be VERY angry.

Costco.com open to all

Nick — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:55:09 -0800

Well, they say you learn something every day, and I did today. Costco.com is open to the general public. You do not need a membership to order from their web site. Who knew?

Their first family portrait

Nick — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:26:56 -0800

Bonnie is still being a bit of a grump about the new family addition, but so far so good.

Bonnie’s getting a brother!

Nick — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:22:47 -0800

So, after working for over a year to adopt a brother for Bonnie, it’s finally happening! And honestly, I had basically given up!

But last week the BRAT rep who did my home visit many moons ago contacted me about Jordan, a 2 year old male looking for a good home. I went to visit him on Saturday, and he’s absolutely adorable.

The only real issue is that he’s completely deaf, which promises to be a bit of a challenge, but what the heck. There were a few people interested ahead of me, but the BRAT folks though it would be best for him to be with another dog, given his disability

Anyway, the approval came through today, and I pick Jordan up on Thursday! I’m now the proud papa of a special needs pooch! (I wonder if there is any government money to which I’m entitled. :-)

Cholesterol is your friend

Nick — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:31:37 -0800

It’s an antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, etc. Why they keep prescribing statins is beyond me.

Barack Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Nick — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:40:00 -0800

Some say it’s too soon, but I say pish posh.

I, for one, am eagerly awaiting my Nobel Certificate of Participation! I’ve already got the wall space picked out and everything!

Obama’s Checklist

Nick — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:14:55 -0800

Best SNL cold open in a while. :)

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/obama-address/1163263/

(Sadly, I can’t embed the video)

When the French think we’re being pussies…..

Nick — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:01:26 -0800

you know we’re blowing it. Charles Krauthammer has nailed it once again:

Don't take it from me. Take it from Sarkozy, who could not conceal his astonishment at Obama's naivete. On Sept. 24, Obama ostentatiously presided over the Security Council. With 14 heads of state (or government) at the table, with an American president at the chair for the first time ever, with every news camera in the world trained on the meeting, it would garner unprecedented worldwide attention.

Unknown to the world, Obama had in his pocket explosive revelations about an illegal uranium enrichment facility that the Iranians had been hiding near Qom. The French and the British were urging him to use this most dramatic of settings to stun the world with the revelation and to call for immediate action.

Obama refused. Not only did he say nothing about it, but, reports Le Monde, Sarkozy was forced to scrap the Qom section of his speech. Obama held the news until a day later -- in Pittsburgh. I've got nothing against Pittsburgh (site of the G-20 summit), but a stacked-with-world-leaders Security Council chamber it is not.

Why forgo the opportunity? Because Obama wanted the Security Council meeting to be about his own dream of a nuclear-free world. The president, reports the New York Times citing "White House officials," did not want to "dilute" his disarmament resolution "by diverting to Iran."

We all new Obama was inexperienced, but I for one was at least hoping that once he was fully briefed, he’d man up and do the right thing on the world stage. I was sorely wrong. I mean, he won’t even take 5 minutes to talk to the General on the ground in Afghanistan more than once in 70 days, but he’s got time to fly off half way around the world to lobby for hosting the Olympics in Chicago. Cause, you know, that’s important.

I think I’m going to be sick.

If an Anti-Semite says you’re a racist…..

Nick — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:26:04 -0800

Does it count?

Where not to sleep off a hangover

Nick — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:38:22 -0800

Now, I’m not saying that I’ve never overindulged whilst enjoying some fine music at the various music festivals I’ve attended over the years. Those of you that have received drunken texts late into the night (and early into the following morning) know much better. But this takes the flippin’ cake!

According to this story, a drunken 19 year old French festivalgoer decided to interrupt his walk home with a bit of a nap, he chose to do so smack dab in the middle of a high speed railway track. Fair enough. We’ve all been there.

However, he was so intoxicated that he didn’t even budge when a train flew right on over him! From the story (emphasis added):

The driver saw the body lying on the tracks and slammed on the brakes, but was only able to stop a few hundred meters further on.

"It was his unconscious state that saved him really, as he lay there completely still like a dead body," said a spokesman for the local police force, adding that the clearance under the train is only around 20 centimeters.

The police had to actually come and roust him!

Roused by police and fire fighters who attended the scene, the young man gave a one-fingered salute before rolling over and going back to sleep.

He was subsequently transferred to a nearby hospital where police say he is still recovering from his alcohol binge.

"He's not really aware of what happened," said the police spokesman.

Oddly, I have to say I have a bit of new found respect for the French. Well, at least the festival going teens. :-)

The Audacity of Hos

Nick — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:54:43 -0800

Even John is embarrassed to have been scooped by two kids with a $5 camera. :-)

Congressman Diane Watson loves Castro

Nick — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:34:09 -0800

Wait a minute. She’s a Democrat from California? I’m shocked! Shocked I tell you!

The game must go on…

Nick — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:47:13 -0800

I challenge you not to be amazed and uplifted by this story. Oh, and you will cry.

I like to think that I’m a good, strong person. But I just could not forgive like these people have. It’s an amazing tribute to Ed Thomas that the community and family have reacted in such an amazing, positive way.

Ed Thomas – RIP

Reagan speaks out against Socialized Medicine

Nick — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:57:48 -0800

In 1961, Ronald Reagan spoke out against Socialized Medicine as proposed by the Democrats. This is from an LP sent out by the American Medical Association.

Good arguments then that apply well to today’s debate.