This being a slow Friday and all

and the topic du jour of the week being the new Google Satellite service, I thought everyone might get a kick out of this:

Google Sightseeing

via: Lifehacker

Morning Quickie (because they really are great!)

UND Fighting Sioux smoked the Gophers last night in what was never really a game. Parise played great while the Gophers never really seemed to turn it on. They will now face defending champions Denver University (killed CC 6-2, all power play goals) on Saturday. Should be a great game, and if you're a true Badger fan, it's go DU all the way (rather, go Gwozdecky!)

The Crew seeks to remain undefeated as they take on the Flatland Cubbies this afternoon at 1:20. (Why does the Urinal print the times in EST? Why not central time? Just because they think like east coast leftists, does that mean they have to use eastern time?) It's a matchup between arguably the best Brewers spring pitcher in Capuano and the most overhyped pitcher in recent memory, Kerry Wood.

In "News of the 'Shaw" Waukesha School Board Slimeball Roger Danielsen has resigned. My View of the World has more, with audio!

Announcement

I have been invited to post over at the Badger Blog Alliance which has recently undergone a format change. They have decided to try the Corner-style format and go with a more free flowing style, with plenty of posters. Luckily I was one of "the chosen" and will be cross posting some here and there, but will still be posting plenty here, don't worry.

Anyway, check it out it should make for an interesting read.

More Churchill!

I'm not black, but if I claim to be on an application and you question it, then you sir are a NAZI! This according to Ward Churchill's lawyer. Now I have seen enough movies/shows to know that you want your lawyer to be the voice of reason, the guy who settles the situation, not enflames it. This is a theory Churchil obviously doesn't agree with. In public discussions he prefers the slash and burn tactic, and it seems he likes that in a law-dog too.

A University of Colorado faculty committee is investigating whether professor
Ward Churchill should be fired over allegations he plagiarized others' work, and
that he falsely claimed to be an American Indian to give his work more
credibility.
"Do you wish to employ the Nazi standard for racial purity? Do
you wish to employ the standard adopted by the United States government for
determining Japanese ancestry in order to qualify for internment?" attorney
David Lane asked in a letter dated Monday to acting chancellor Philip DiStefano.

I think I speak for everyone when I say "Go away you freaking scumbag!"

A question posed to the Urinal

Why?

In an editorial today the Urinal writers, in all their emminent wisdom, decided that they would be dissatisfied with 38 of 41 Milwaukee Police Captains being white men. Not underqualified white men, just white men. I am puzzled.

Keep in mind that 21 of the 41 people appointed to captain by Jones were white
men. By the jury's logic, the 17 who sued should have been promoted. That means
that 38 of the 41 appointees would have been white men. That's a result that
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says he would find unsatisfactory. So would we.

Personally I want the absolute best people we can find. If that means we have 41 hispanic female ninjas as captians, 41 Hightowers or 41 midgets with the reflexes of a cat and the speed of a mongoose then so be it. As long as we have the best people in every position of law enforcement that we can possibly find then why would the Urinal have a problem?

This argument makes absolutely no sense. Say that we have 41 black Captains and Chief Haggerty wanted to "diversify" the force. However, the only people that apply for the promotion to captain are white male hacks who routinely skirt the law and have a terrible record? In the interest of diversity, would the Journal really want those men promoted to Captain?

Seems to me that in the interest of tax payers we should be looking for the absolute best and most qualified candidates to promote up the ranks of the MPD, and not just people who fit the color/gender preferred by the Urinal editorial board.

Quick Sports Round-Up

Just a few quick notes:

It seems that because of injury and durability problems, Erasamus James may fall to the Packers at 24 according to Mel Kiper Jr Draft Expert. If this is a likely scenario then I would doubt the Pack making a move to trade up because James would give them that speed rusher to take pressure off of Kabeer and allow the linebackers to play more traditional defense instead of scheming unusual blitzes and forcing Barnett into pass coverage.

The Packers need someone to complement end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and James would do just that. He can play the run and pass equally well

Additionally, the Swing Kings are in first place tied atop the division with the Cincinnati Reds. While I doubt the Reds can keep up this pace it seems obvious this is the year the Crew will go undefeated...okay fine, a .500 year and a JJ Hardy Rookie of the Year would be great too.

In somewhat shocking news, foxsports.com has the Crew at #19 in their Power Rankings, just 5 spots behind ChiTown and a spot above The Stros.

To be honest, it's great to see them playing well in PNC Park, where they were atrocious last year, and to see them putting up runs. I hope this carries over into Miller Park where the balls should be flying out for Carlos Lee!

Next game is Friday at Wrigley.

For those that don't know, the Frozen Four starts tomorrow, with an all WCHA final four. I would like to take this opportunity to say stick it to all you snooty east coasters...looks like the power shift is complete and Western Hockey is it!

I know families for both three of the four teams but I will definitely be rooting for whoever wins the Denver - CC game to beat whoever comes out of the UND - Gopher game. Sorry everyone, but you know how I feel about the Gophers, and UND ain't much better. I do wish all the players luck and hope for some great games.

In somewhat surprising news, Tyler Hirsch will be back on the ice which is a relief for me, and means I no longer need to feel guilty for hosting his video.

In other news, the Masters is supposed to start tomorrow, but with a 90% chance of rain in Augusta it might get postponed til later in the day or delayed til Friday, we shall see. As it is, my pick is Paddy Harrington, but I will be rooting for Lefty. (The Masters.org site has live video from the practice tees, something pretty cool you might want to check out).

Why Burmaster is wrong

sickening...

Urinal: Conceal carry bad because good people go bad

Forgive me, but the people at the Urinal get dumber and dumber...dare I say stupider...by the day. Their moronic logic is summed up well by Owen over at Boots and Sabers.

I ask the editors, how, exactly, would a law permitting concealed carry have
aided Ratzmann’s effort to slaughter his fellow church-goers? It seem that
he managed it just fine without concealed carry.

In reading the article further, it seems that not only their logic was flawed, but their examples of "failed" conceal and carry were as well.

Neither is the Atlanta courtroom shooting much of an advertisement for
concealed-carry. After all, alleged perpetrator Brian Nichols overcame armed and
trained officers to pursue his rampage. Armed judges or prosecutors - which the
gun lobby is advocating - wouldn't have stood much of a chance.

What the Urinal fails to mention is that the "trained officer" was a 5 foot nothin 55 year old grandma in a small room with an extremely large and athletic younger man. As a matter of fact Mr. Pimentel, your average armed judge/prosecutor would have stood a MUCH better chance. We all know in Milwaukee how fantastically well trained and professional the deputies staffing the court house are.

The arguments against conceal carry are so ridiculous they defies logic, but since you can't win an argument with someone who denies reason and common sense, this is a lost cause. Does Mr. Pimentel really believe that allowing citizens to go through hours and hours of training and certification will cause more gun violence? Will the average street thug who "strap" to protect himself during a drug deal really al of a sudden care about law and order and go get himself a permit for that stolen weapon? When is the last time you heard an armed robber lament the lack of a conceal carry law? "If only Wisconsin allowed me to carry a concealed weapon legally, I would break the law and rob that damn bank!"

O. Ricardo will always hate guns, just like he will always hate gun people who have "probably watched too many Westerns."

What a smug and arrogant ass.

First Full Day

I'm struggling a bit to get back into the swing of things so bear with me.

It seems that the fine citizens of Milwaukee will never stop paying for the wide and twisted legacy of Jeffrey Dahmer. As everyone remembers Dahmer killed 14 men in Milwaukee in 1991, and it is believed 5 of those victims were killed after 2 MPD officers encountered Dahmer with one of his victims but let him go. Well, that situation led to then Police Chief Philip Arreola to fire the officers, who were then reinstated. This whole ordeal led to strained relationships all around City Hall and Arreola left (for Washington's greener pastures) in 1996....

Which brings us to Art Jones. The most miserable excuse for a Police Chief the city has seen. The guy not only constantly prodded and fought with his force, he was a petty and vindictive man who made silly uniform changes (leather jacket incident anyone?) just to stick it to officers who didn't agree with him.

Well, now Jones has screwed us again! Who do you think will be paying for that 2.2 million dollars? Mr. Jones? Any of the commissioners? No, we will be stuck with the bill because Mr. Jones is either afraid of or hates white people. Fantastic! How does a knob like this get that job...political correctness. (Sorry Eugene, but it was true in this case).

Thanks a lot Dahmer, now not only is serial murder and cannibalism tops on the list when people think of Milwaukee, you've indirectly cost us millions in a reverse-discrimination suit.

I'm Back

After a much needed and deserved break, I am back into the land of Beer and Cheese. I have also gotten all caught up on work (shows how important I am that it takes one morning to catch up on over a week of work) and am really glad to see that my humble page actually thrived while I was away, and now that I am back will undoubtedly sink back into the abyss that is anonymity. (Kidding, obviously I know that the Hirsch video was in high demand, and I happened to be a supplier).

Speaking of Mr. Hirsch, we no longer need to feel bad about hosting the video of his outburst, as he has been cleared to play this weekend in the Frozen Four. He also talked about why he was absent from the team here. I will only be happy if nobody wins it, but it is pretty nice to see 4 WCHA teams make the finals.

My trip was fantastic, I won't go into details but I did get to see the Crew play during the days I was in AZ, and got to see some quality women's hockey while I was in Denver. Barcelona (Scottsdale night club) was fantastic as always and the ladies in both Denver and Scottsdale remain incredible. All in all a great time.

I'll get caught up on news and events today and hopefully have more tomorrow if not tonight.

Rigging Elections Redux

The former weapons inspector famous for his pro-Saddam stance and (his solicitation of teenagers for sex) before the Iraq War has accused the Bush administration of rigging the Iraq vote against the Shi'ia. Ritter claims "well-placed sources" within Iraq have informed him that the Shia'ia really received 56% of the vote, not the 47% reported. In the process Mr. Ritter not only accuses the US of fixing the election, he also manages to compare President Bush's administration to not only Hitler, but Stalin and Saddam as well. Surely a leftists triple play that will excite nutters everywhere.

In Iraq, democracy was hijacked by the Americans...The lowering of the Shi'a
vote re-engineered the post-election political landscape in Iraq dramatically.
The goal of the U.S., in doing this, is either to guarantee the adoption of the
U.S.-drafted interim constitution, or make sure that there are not enough votes
to adopt any Shi'a re-write. If the U.S.-drafted Iraqi constitution prevails,
the Bush administration would be comfortable with the secular nature of any
Iraqi government it produces. If it fails, then the Bush administration would
much rather continue to occupy Iraq under the current U.S.-written laws, than
allow for the creation of a pro-Iranian theocracy. In any event, the Shi'a stand
to lose...But in any case, the American 'cooking' of the Iraqi election is, in
the end, a defeat for democracy and the potential of democracy to effect real
and meaningful change in the Middle East. The sad fact is that it is not so much
that the people of the Middle East are incapable of democracy, but rather the
United States is incapable of allowing genuine democracy to exist in the Middle
East.

I am sure many of you will remember his willingness to run around the talk show circuit spewing his anit-American bile and it seems it has paid off for him (maybe even as much as he allegedly got from Saddam). He is now writing for the extreme-left AlterNet.org and revving up like minded leftists all over DU.

This is just his latest in a series of articles pandering to the ultra anti-American left wing. In addition to accusing the United States of tampering with the Iraqi election, he also says we are going to bomb Iran in June. In making his claims he failed to mention any source, other than fellow anti-American peacenik Sy Hersh.

I don't mean to brag...

but check out today's traffic! The one-two college sports combo brought in the bulk...



All in all, it's a heck of a nice way to go on vacation. FYI there will be light blogging tomorrow followed by a lull as I "binge on booze and broads" as my barber Bob (no kidding, I know the alliteration might be hard to believe but it's true) so elloquently put it. I also might drop by the Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash as I will be in Denver that weekend.

Anyway, thanks a lot everyone, and if you're looking for the Tyler Hirsch video just scroll down.

More Medical Ethics (engineering your children)

There is something just wrong about this story.

A Commons Science and Technology Committee report said more decisions about fertility treatment should be made by patients and their doctors.

The MPs also called for the regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, to be disbanded.

And they said "taboo" research, such as implanting human cells into animals, should be considered, with regulation.

I have terrible Island of Dr. Moreau visions reading that, but wait thre's more...

And it said there was no "compelling evidence" to prohibit couples undergoing IVF being able to choose to have a girl or boy if that was what they felt was necessary to "balance out" their family.

The MPs also said that decisions about whether to allow embryos to be checked for genetic conditions, or to see if they are a match for a sick sibling - should be taken out of the hands of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

Instead, patients and their doctors should decide if it should be used in their case, under the auspices of a local ethics committee, the report said.

Pick your child's traits. Genetic engineering, Gattica (I love that movie!) The study actually uses the term chimera (human/animal genetic monstrosity) and suggests the only limits should be scientific and the will of individual scientists.

This is one of those situations that just pop out as being "wrong." There are plenty of reasons for this (think Aldous Huxley's Brave New World because as Judge Smails says "the world needs ditch diggers...") but reason is secondary to the fact that this is just plain wrong. If we begin with boy/girl we all know it won't end there. We will start allowing parents to pick any number of genetically malleable traits.

From there it is not difficult to imagine a shortage of labor. Take for instance unskilled labor, such as a general manufacturer. Eventually no parent is going to "build" their child without some special skill that will greatly benefit them in their adult life. As such there will be no one left to take the low-level labor jobs. Once this shortage becomes apparent, government will have to act. Since we already have (theoretically) decades of genetic engineering behind us, we won't hesitate to "create' government peoples with no special skills to perform the labor....boom that drug-addled Huxley's vision of a Brave New World is realized as privileged individuals are created as such and "others" are created to dig the ditches...

I'm just saying, it seems genetic engineering is the slippriest of all slippery slopes.

The Great Flu Shortage...the aftermath

The story led the news for a few weeks last year, and it was used as a political tool by the left to try and knock President Bush during the election.

Remeber this ad?

If you’re an elderly man or woman. If you’re a young child. If you’re a pregnant woman – George Bush and the Republicans have this to say on health care: don’t get sick.


That’s what they said, confronted with a flu vaccine shortage of their making. Don’t get sick.

They relied on foreign workers to make the vaccine. A company with a bad track record.

Now we're about 50 million vaccines short. 50 million.

If they can’t even deal with the flu vaccine, how are they going to deal with bio terror vaccines?

I mean, George Bush and the Republicans are so busy kow-towing to drug companies, so busy giving them billions, helping them price gouge, pumping up their profits…so busy selling us out, they can’t even get vaccines to keep pregnant woman safe from the flu.

4 more years? They haven’t earned it. Not even close.

It’s time for a new direction. John Kerry for president.”

John Kerry: I'm John Kerry, I’m running for president, and I approved this ad.

Announcer: Paid for by Kerry-Edwards 2004 Inc. and the Democratic National Committee.”

Well, it seems there was no flu shortage after all. Think Mr. Kerry will apologize, think he'll even address the issue? Do you honestly think anyone will address the issue?

More than 16 million healthy adults who received flu shots in the 2003-04 flu season stepped aside this season to let the limited supply of vaccine go to those Americans who needed it most, health care officials said Tuesday.

And yet, at season's end, 4.5 million doses went unsold.

Don't hold your breath on that Kerry apology.

Hardball Times: Five Questions for Milwaukee Brewers

Nice little write up offering hope and reality for fans of the Crew.

J.J. Hardy is the most likely of the three to make an impact in the major
leagues this season. Hardy held had an excellent offensive season in Double-A
while only 21, and was hitting well in Triple-A last season before suffering a
labrum injury in retribution for the Richie Sexson trade. While there's no
reason to doubt Hardy's ability to make contact, his success will depend on
whether he can import his outstanding walk from 2003 and whether the solid power
he's displayed in the minor leagues will carry over despite his shoulder
problems. If Hardy shows no lingering effects from the injury, his offensive
projection is comfortably above average for a major league shortstop. On top of
that, Hardy has drawn rave reviews for his defense, so his margin for error with
the bat is a little greater.

But if everyone lives up to expectations, Brady Clark manages to repeat his
2004, Geoff Jenkins stays healthy, Russ Branyan reaches base often enough to be
productive, the Brewers aren't affected by their lack of depth, and the bullpen
finds itself performing capably, they've got a reasonable if distant shot at
making the playoffs. In any event, they've got a good chance of breaking
the elusive .500 threshold.

The Brewers have what it takes and are finally moving in the right
direction, but they're going to need a lot more hard work and at least a little
luck to become a perennial contender. Their strategy of developing outstanding
young talent, finding decent fill-ins at the major league level, and stocking
the organization with quality coaching and managerial staff should soon pay
dividends, if it isn't already.

I'm skeptical, as Mr. Meeghan spends most of the article breaking down the Crew, then says they have an outside playoff shot?

Why do I always let them do this to me...

Olbermann and I agree

Well, for once me and this pompus, in-over-his-head talking head on the least watched network in news finally agree on something, namely Bonds. He has been pretty spot on with the whole steroid thing, and his take on Bond's latest pout-fest is pretty much the same as mine.

There are two facts to consider here. If Barry Bonds really has been juiced
all this time — what are his options? To keep doing it until he gets caught? To
suddenly stop and turn back into your average 40-year old ballplayer and never
get to pass Hank Aaron’s record? Or is a third one more appealing? To ‘have’
to retire due to the bad knee, or the ‘malicious’ media coverage. To pass up the
chance at Aaron’s record (and, oh by the way, to pass up ever having to be
tested for steroids again) and go out in a blaze of martyrdom?
Some of Bonds’ other remarks in Scottsdale suggested as much. “You wanted me to jump off the bridge,” he said to no one in particular, “and I finally jumped. You wanted to bring me down and you have brought me and my family down. You have finally done it, all of you. So now, go pick on a different person. I am done.”
There is one other option here, a little less melodramatic, but even more conspiratorial.
It should be noted that under the new steroid-testing program, a player on
baseball’s disabled list — say, a guy rehabilitating a knee injury — is not
required to be tested for the drug use. If, say, a particular player had been
using steroids all these years and needed to let the steroids clear out of his
system, the absolute best place for him to be right now — would be on a pair of
crutches.

Tyler Hirsch Video

Well, I finally got it uploaded onto the net, and I'll offer it for download here (click post title). I honestly don't think it is anything for people to complain about, but if the story takes a turn for the worse I will be taking this down.



For the story on what happened see my previous posts here and here

French bid au revoir to 35-hour workweek (MSNBC)

I am shocked, shocked! that such a socialist ideal failed. In other news, the latest Jean Claude van Damme vehicle has had its release date pushed back a month.

The diversion continues

I am sitting here sifting through my RSS feeds from the day and transferring a bunch of Buffet onto my Dell DJ20 in preparation for my innaugural post-college Spring Break and came across this gem.

Orioles pitcher Eric DuBose was arrested and charged with driving under the influence early Monday morning in Sarasota, Fla., before making a start later that day at the team's minor league complex. He was released on $500 bond.

The report states DuBose informed Clark he had "a couple" drinks at the Cafe Gardens and Daquiri Deck in Sarasota. When instructed to recite the alphabet, DuBose allegedly said, "I'm from Alabama, and they have a different alphabet."

That is stupendous!

nod to Baseball Musings

Have some Wisco Cheese

to go with that Frisco whine Mr. Bonds.

In what can only be described as fantastically amusing, Barry Bonds is complaining that the media is treating him poorly. His entire career has been one long brooding feud against the media, now they won't play nice, and Barry is going to take his ball and go home.

Personally, I think Barry is afraid to play without the juice and wants a year to bulk up without needles and creams.

A dejected Barry Bonds said Tuesday that there's a chance he might not
return this season because of multiple knee surgeries.

"Right now
I'm just going to try to rehab myself to get back to, I don't know, hopefully
next season, hopefully the middle of the season. I don't know. Right now I'm
just going to take things slow. I feel bad for the guys[Giants teammates]
because I want to be out there for them," he said Tuesday after meeting with San
Francisco Giants trainer Stan Conte for 1½ hours.

"You guys [the media] wanted to hurt me bad enough, you finally got
there. "You wanted me to jump off the bridge, I finally have jumped. You
wanted the bring me down, you've finally brought me and my family down. Finally
done it. From everybody, all of you. So now go pick a different person. I'm
done. Do the best I can, that's about it."

I just can't figure out why this guy isn't beloved by America...must be racism.



(I know, I know this is supposed to be politics. Honestly, I just don't have anything to say about Terry Schiavo so I am trying to steer clear of the whole mess til I get back...consider this the shallow end of the Wisconsin blogosphere for the next few days)