Tom McMahon

World View: Islam

2013-04-19T07:16:14-05:00

Tom McMahon

James Rowen on the Deadly 1970 Bombing in Madison, Wisconsin

2013-04-16T23:41:03-05:00

Tom McMahon

The Total Wimpification of Pattonville High School's Pirate Pete

2013-04-16T14:25:16-05:00

Tom McMahon

Evidently This Was Too Subtle for Facebook

2013-04-12T21:24:51-05:00

Tom McMahon

Send Google a Message: Praise God Not Caesar!

2013-03-31T10:40:48-05:00

Tom McMahon

Send Google a Message: Praise Jesus Not Caesar!

2013-03-31T08:49:03-05:00

Tom McMahon

Is GE Trying to Keep Their Employees From Dumping Their GE Stock in Their 401k Plans?

2013-03-10T12:55:36-05:00

For a week now their employee 401k web site has been unavailable. Smells fishy ...

How to Get Rid of Those Pretentious Google Doodles in Google Chrome

2013-03-09T13:19:45-06:00

Install the AdBlock (not AdBlock Plus) extension
General Tab > Check this box: I'm an advanced user, show me advanced options.
Filter Lists Tab > I unchecked all these boxes
Customize Tab > Under Manually edit your filters add this line: https://www.google.com/logos/

That's it! The regular Google logo will appear, but on the days when there's a Doodle, the area above the search box will be blank.

Two Class Reunions in the Past Two Weekends

2012-10-16T08:35:12-05:00

I've been to two class reunions in the past two weekends -- one for my high school, the other for my jr high (we moved). While there are a number of reasons for classmates not to attend -- money, distance, job, etc -- the classmates who DO attend are the optimists, the Undefeated, the really glad to see ya kind of people. We're 58 years old now, so we're proud/worried/befuddled by our young adult "kids", juggling the needs of the dwindling number of living parents, some divorced, some re-married, some still married to our high school sweethearts, some still working, but many retired. As I've joked, by now we've forgotten who we didn't like in high school. And it doesn't seem to matter if you didn't know someone that well "way back when" -- the common class bond washes away the need for pretense or formality. Everyone is ready to have a good time (and we did) and by now everyone is old enough to have a good story to tell. The "In Memoriam" poster board has more names than last time, and reminds everyone not to take Life for granted, and so we all get together. While I saw many of my high school classmates 5 years ago, I hadn't seen most of my jr high classmates since the last day of 8th grade, the day Bobby Kennedy was shot. Yeah, the years fly by. So here's a toast to all my classmates, and to hoping next time I'll have time to see all those pictures of your grandkids!

I Discover My Facebook Friends Jessica McBride and James Wigderson Are Supporters of the Murderous Irish Republican Army

2012-09-24T13:31:23-05:00

I didn't know this until yesterday, of course. It all started out with Jessica McBride, Journalism Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, posting a photo album on Facebook titled "Little Irish dancers with my IRA bodhran!" with a bunch of pictures of her kid and some other kid banging on an Irish drum (bodhran). The following exchange ensued:

Jesse Back What is the diff between an IRA bodhran and a regular bodhran?

Tom McMahon Made by murderous terrorists?

Jessica McBride Irish freedom fighters!

Jessica McBride @Jesse no difference. But I got this from a Native American friend of mine who was gifted it by a member of the IRA.

Tom McMahon Really, Jessica, you support these terrorists?

Paul Bird-Dog Strnad uh oh.....I'm running for cover >>>>>>

Jessica McBride lol

Jessica McBride I support Irish freedom.

Jessica McBride They don't want British rule; neither did America, remember?

Jesse Back Are you sure that the people of Northern Ireland don't want to remain in the UK?

Jessica McBride Some of them do

Tom McMahon I support Irish freedom. <<< No, you support terrorists.

Jessica McBride Were the American revolutionaries terrorists?

Jesse Back Logistics and transportation of the era made it almost impossible to commit terrorist acts in the modern definition. You could make a case that both sides committed atrocities at various times during the First War of Independence. But, and I don't know the answer, are you sure that the people living in Northern Ireland want to leave the UK? And, if they don't, what is your opinion on what should happen?

Tom McMahon The IRA were a murderous bunch of terrorist thug.

Domingo Leguizamon Hurray for the Irish and Basque freedom fighters!

Jessica McBride watch Michael Collins

Jessica McBride It's interesting the double standard you have for the Irish vs. American revolutionaries

Jesse Back I've taken no judgemental position on either. But, do you know whether or not the majority of people in Northern Ireland want to leave the UK?

Jesse Back It seems that most don't and those that do aren't in a hurry.
http://www.politics.ie/forum/northern-ireland/134962-support-united-ireland-northern-ireland-continues-fall.html
http://sluggerotoole.com/2012/06/11/united-ireland-a-complete-non-starter-under-current-circumstances/
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/-Only-seven-percent-of-Northern-Irish-voters-want-a-United-Ireland-this-year-
158548095.html
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Support-for-a-united-Ireland-at-an-all-time-low-says-survey-124061454.html
Support for a United Ireland in Northern Ireland continues to fall
www.politics.ie

Tom McMahon Jessica, it's interesting the double standard you have for the Irish vs. Al-Qaeda terrorists. Or do you support them both?

Jessica McBride Of course not. Did u support the american revolutiin?

Jessica McBride Revolution

Jesse Back No Surrender! Mom was a first generation Irish descent American, family name Herron. I don't know much about her at all but I know she was an Episcopalian. I guess that makes me half Orange. I know the German and Scottish parts of my heritage very well. Not too informed on the Irish. But the Scots were Irish first so I hope you'll consider us cousins.

Tom McMahon Jessica, your equating the murderous Irish Republican Army to our Founding Fathers is disgusting beyond belief.

Jessica McBride I think your accusing me of supporting Al Qaeda because I support Irish freedom in their own homeland is disgusting beyond belief.

Tom McMahon Jessica, you're supporting terrorism.

Jessica McBride blah blah blah!

Jessica McBride the Irish have a right to kick the British out of their own damn county!

Doreen MH Wigderson OMG - really? All this over two girls enjoying an Irish Drum? Get a life...

Tom McMahon the Irish have a right to kick the British out of their own damn county! <<< The last I checked, Ireland was an independent country, free of British Rule.

Tom McMahon So Doreen, are you an IRA supporter too?

Doreen MH Wigderson What I see here is someone like yourself trying to make something more out of something than it is. I am an American. My family has been here on this land since the 1600's. And that is my daughter in that picture having fun dancing with her friend with a drum. Get a life-asshole.

Tom McMahon Unless I hear otherwise, I'll take that as a "Yes"

Doreen MH Wigderson Tom McMahon Sometimes two kids play with a drum and it is what it is. I don't owe you an answer or explanation.

James Wigderson Tom, give me a break. We're seriously - seriously - going to get into a discussion of the IRA over two little girls playing with a bodhrán? I've been posting on Irish Independence every year on St Patrick's Day, and this is what bothers you? Two girls playing on a drum? Psst. Tom. I have a secret stash of U2 music at home, and I've seen the Commitments 20 times. I watch the Quiet Man every St Patrick's Day. I eat and drink at Irish bars, and my favorite beer is Harp. You better alert Homeland Security on my Irish ass.

Jessica McBride LMFAO!!!!

Tom McMahon The kids have nothing to do with this, I hope. The fact that James Wigderson, Doreen MH Wigderson, and Jessica McBride are supporters of the terrorist Irish Republican Army is the issue. And I didn't bring it up, Jessica did ...

James Wigderson She brought it up? She mentioned the kids are playing with a drum. When you see someone driving a Volkswagen, do you call them a Nazi? By the way, Tom McMahon supports Unionist terrorism against Catholics in Ireland.

Jessica McBride In fairness, I did say it was an IRA drum. haha.

Tom McMahon James Wigderson, your statement is not true. I demand a retraction and an apology.

*********

After all this Jessica McBride posts some hundred-year-old poster from the Irish Revolution, which sparks this blessedly shorter conversation:

Jessica McBride For Tom McMahon James Wigderson Doreen MH Wigderson

Tom McMahon Jessica McBride is a supporter of the murderous thugs of the Irish Republican Army. Shame on her.

James Wigderson Tom McMahon is a supporter of the murderous Unionist terrorists. Shame on him.

Jessica McBride lol

Tom McMahon James Wigderson, your statement is not true. I demand a retraction and an apology.

Jessica McBride Tiocfaidh ár lá!!

Jessica McBride Tom McMahon, you should change your name to remove the Mc.

Jessica McBride I have no idea why but I find this argument hilarious.

Jessica McBride I'd say it's the British who are terrorists Tom since they are the ones who invaded Ireland in the first place. So stop supporting terrorism.

Jessica then makes this post:

Tom McMahon is a terrorist sympathizer.

Which produces this bit of incredible hypocrisy:

Tom McMahon Jessica McBride, your statement is not true. I demand a retraction and an apology.

Jessica McBride Ok, I retract it and apologize. You support the British crusade against the freedom of the Irish peoples.

Jessica McBride Btw chill out! It was a joke!

Tj Flynn As a boring American/Irish/Catholic type, I never really considered any other position than of *course* one Ireland, British go home -- which in essence I still believe. Then I met a friend born in England who had a schoolmate seriously injured by a bomb planted during the troubles in the past decades. I wish people would stop hurting each other. And, yes, that the British went home. But especially stop hurting each other.

Jessica McBride I agree with you TJ

********

Jessica continues in yet another odd post:

Tom McMahon is not a terrorist sympathizer. But he must really, really like the British.

By this point the comments are losing steam:

Peter DiGaudio Well, at least he didn't return Churchill's bust.

Sam Hagedorn knowing Tom I think he preferred Mrs. Churchill's bust.

Fred Dooley I think he prefers Chuch's Fried Chicken.

Paul Bird-Dog Strnad Fish n chips?

Jessica McBride with vinegar not ketchup

********

Jessica then makes one of her trademark incomprehensible posts:

Loons.

The comment thread is really weak on this one:

Jessica McBride go ahead Doreen MH Wigderson. I triple double dog dare you with a cherry on top.

Doreen MH Wigderson Are you referring to Tom McMahon? The man who puts words in people's mouths but wants an apology? The man who thinks that everyone is an Irish Republican Army supporter because you think it's incredibly stupid that he comments crap like that about two little girls dancing to a drum?

Jessica McBride No, I was referring to the guy who videotapes people in McDonald's with a camcorder secreted in a plastic bag. That guy

Doreen MH Wigderson Oh that guy

Doreen MH Wigderson He's a loon too

Jessica McBride Note to self: Don't dare Doreen MH Wigderson anything. She will do it

Jessica McBride haha

Jessica McBride dying of laughter

Jessica McBride Yeah, that guy. The guy who peers in windshields in McDonald's parking lots.

Jessica McBride Robert DeNiro in Meet the Parents. That guy.

Doreen MH Wigderson Oh! That guy ;-)

Jessica McBride Loons one and all. But not Tom McMahon. I never said he's a loon. Or he will demand another apology and retraction.

Jessica McBride Major Strasser:
We have a complete dossier on you: Richard Blaine, American, age 37. Cannot return to his country. The reason is a little vague. We also know what you did in Paris, Mr. Blaine, and also we know why you left Paris.(hands the dossier to Rick) Major Strasser:Don’t worry, we are not going to broadcast it.Rick: (reading) Are my eyes really brown?

Finally, James Wigderson, columnist for the Waukesha Freeman, weighs in:

Seriously, someone sees my daughter playing with a bodhrán and accuses my wife and I of being IRA sympathizers and then demands an apology when I answer in kind? They can go to hell.

And the comments hit rock bottom, highlighted by the charming Mrs. Wigderson:

Tom Strini Yeah, it's kind of like calling union members socialists. Outrageous.

Brian Fojtik So many buttinski idiots in the world.

Peter DiGaudio What is a bodhran?

James Wigderson An Irish drum.

Peter DiGaudio Thank you.

J Gravelle would tell them to kiss his Blarney Stones...

J Gravelle (...prob'ly needs to 'splain that he's the first mutt in his branch of the Gallagher family tree...)

Doreen MH Wigderson These are the conservatives that I simply cannot stand. Asshole.

Dawn Molly Wellinger Dewane Sometimes people astound me with their idiocy -- he deserved whatever you said, James -- and probably more.

Jessica McBride lol. Sorry. I am still laughing at the lunacy.

Jessica McBride I was accused in the same thread of being an al Qaeda sympathizer lol

Mary Jean Kelly Sounds like a stupid ne'er do well to me. I would loved to have heard the comments my pal James made to such a dumb ass.

Steven Maehl No wonder Iran wants to wipe Ireland off the planet.They won't stop plahing them damn drums. Oh wait...

*******

A bright, sunny Sunday. Sometimes you forget just how thin that veneer of civilization really is.

Why There Has Never Been a Woman President

2012-08-08T19:54:40-05:00

It's very simple, really. A woman (or a man) has to be at least 35 years of age. But as everyone knows from watching TV, science has proven that women over 40 suffer from mood swings, hot flashes, fits of anger, irritability, and a whole range of maladies simply unknown to men. So to be elected a woman would need to run when she's exactly 35 years old, serve 4 years, and leave office when she's 39. And that's why there's never been a woman President ....

What Is Really Bugging the Class of 1972?

2012-07-22T20:52:06-05:00

What really bugs us that we're not admitting to ourselves: It's not that we're in our late fifties now. We've adjusted to that. It's not the aches and pains, the diminished capabilities, we've gotten used to those gradually. For some of us it's really not the cancer, or the heart problems, or the other major medical conditions we've been fortunate enough to pull through -- we're grateful for the second chance. It's not the classmates whom we have lost -- we'll all be seeing them soon enough. And even those who have lost a husband or a wife, or God Forbid, a child or grandchild, and are muddling through with as much Grace and Joy and Dignity that they can muster -- God Bless Them All. But that's not what's bugging us. What's really bugging us, and that we cannot admit even to ourselves, is that all of the gorgeous Babe Teachers of our Youth are now in their Seventies. Our Memory has not been sold like J Geils' Centerfold, it's just been fully depreciated like a rusting 1972 AMC Gremlin. And that's what bugs us ...

How to Kick Shirley S. Abrahamson Off of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2012 Without a Recall

2011-08-25T21:57:34-05:00

Shirley S. Abrahamson was born December 17, 1933, so on her next birthday she will be 78 years old. So all Gov Walker and the Wisconsin State Legislature need to do is set the Judicial Retirement Age to 78. Pretty simple, eh?

Wisconsin State Constitution, Article VII, Section 24, part 2: "Unless assigned temporary service under subsection (3), no person may serve as a supreme court justice or judge of a court of record beyond the July 31 following the date on which such person attains that age, of not less than 70 years, which the legislature shall prescribe by law"

Old Shirley turns 78 on December 17, 2011, so her last day on the Court would be July 31, 2012.

David Prosser turns 78 on December 24, 2020, so under the new retirement age of 78 he would have to leave the Court on July 31, 2021. But that's when his current term ends anyway.

The rest of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices, with their birth dates and when their terms end. I'll let you do the math:

N. Patrick Crooks (born May 16, 1938)[2016]
Patience D. Roggensack (July 7, 1940) [2013]
Ann Walsh Bradley (born July 5, 1950)[2015]
Annete K Ziegler (born March 16, 1964) [2017]
Michael J Gableman (born September 18, 1966)[2018]

Please forward this to all the Wisconsin Republicans you know. Thanks!

Only A Russian Could Have Made A Great Western Like The Magnificent Seven

2011-05-04T09:31:06-05:00

Although he did a great job of keeping it secret, actor Yul Brynner was born in Vladivostok, Russia. From his son Rock Brynner's Empire and Odyssey: The Brynners in Far East Russia and Beyond :

No American film was ever so treasured and respected during the Soviet era, and that affection remains today. The Magnificent Seven became a national obsession in the USSR; people thronged to see the movie again and again. It was especially popular with teenage boys who, like Vladimir Putin, are today in their fifties and could recite every line of dialogue: after the first year, Soviet authorities prohibited children under sixteen from seeing The Magnificent Seven, reportedly because so many boys started shaving their heads. It was already a secular rite of passage for fathers to take their sons to see the film, and thanks to DVDs, that continues today. By now, The Magnificent Seven is more a part of the cultural heritage in Russia than it is in the United States. Recently, a renowned actor in the Moscow theater spoke to me with tears in his eyes, insisting that "only a Russian could have made a great western like The Magnificent Seven."

Belvidere, Illinois: The Jim Gang Memorial Bypass, Formerly the James Gang Memorial Bypass

2011-05-03T13:01:06-05:00

Why they changed it:

And by the way, Jim Gang was the father of world-famous architect Jeanne Gang.