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The Donnybrook
Sunday, February 28, 2010
 
International...


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Air Force Identity Crisis...


Fighter pilots still run the USAF, to the detriment of the USAF and the nation.
The role of the Air Force has changed dramatically in the last two decades, and the rate of change is accelerating. But the Air Force, which used to brag about not being bogged down by tradition, clings to the fighter-pilot era desperately. The fighter pilot officers that run the Air Force want to pretend that the rise of UAV's (often called drones, a misnomer) is a temporary condition and that fighters and bombers are still the future. They are wrong. While we will always have use for piloted aircraft and the talented individuals why fly them, there is unlikely to be much air-to-air combat in the coming decade or more. The entry costs are too high for poor nations, and the risks are great for those few who have fighter aircraft. We need more emphasis on the threats we ACTUALLY face from the USAF, not more of the same. I heartily applaud the pushing that Secretary of Defense Gates did to get the USAF to field more UAV's and for ending the F-22 program. But Gates will be gone in a year or so and longer term change is needed if the Air Force is to remain a viable separate, independent force. And when you go to the same bullpen (fighter pilots), you generally get the same results.
KFH, baby!

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Saturday, February 27, 2010
 
More Credit Where It's Due...

Paterson may not be a savvy politician and wouldn't have been Governor without Spitzer's downfall, but still...
Saturday Night Live will miss Paterson more than New Yorker's will, but he made some hard budget choices that were necessary and NY is the better off for it. But if he's forced to resign before his term ends 10 months from now, who will step up to lead New York in the tough budget choices that have to be made.
New York would be better off keeping Paterson around to take the blame for the impending cuts that will, of course, be unpopular. Voters like the term "spending cuts" - they just hate actual spending cuts.

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Wal-Mart Uses its Economic Clout to Force Better Environmental Practices in China

For the sake of balance, I think Wal-Mart should get credit for the good it does when it does well.
It's fair game to note that Wal-Mart comes late to this game, but their arrival is welcome. In that way this is similar to the integration of the military that Truman forced. Once the military took the bit, it became a model of integration and our all-volunteer force is among the finest, most-capable and professional forces in the world. Imagine the scale of the positive environmental impact that this can have if Wal-Mart enforces this standard for it's Chinese suppliers. It could be huge, and China is one of the worst environmental offenders in the world.

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Friday, February 26, 2010
 
The Chance for A Cold-Weather Super Bowl Just Improved

With AZ opting not to bid for the Super Bowl after next...

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He pitched a perfect game for the Phillies...

...then promptly became a cantankerous old prick...

Jim Bunning, a Republican from Kentucky, is single-handedly blocking Senate action needed to prevent an estimated 1.2 million American workers from prematurely losing their unemployment benefits next month.

As Democratic senators asked again and again for unanimous consent for a vote on a 30-day extension Thursday night, Bunning refused to go along.

And when Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) begged him to drop his objection, Politico reports, Bunning replied: "Tough shit."
As if that weren't bad enough, check out Bunning's other big gripe about being required to do his job as a U.S. Senator...

"I have missed the Kentucky-South Carolina game that started at 9:00," he said, "and it's the only redeeming chance we had to beat South Carolina since they're the only team that has beat Kentucky this year.
The good news: This will be #14's last year in the Senate.

The bad news: His successor might be an even bigger tool than he is...

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Thursday, February 25, 2010
 
My birthday is in two months...

...and if you guys wanna pass the hat around and get me a present, here's a perfect idea.



Or maybe you don't feel my contributions to this world are worth $4000!!!

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Instant karma is a bitch...

When you wear uniforms that are this hideous...



...you deserve to lose to team that hasn't beaten you at home in a decade and fall to 3-10 in the ACC.

In case you're wondering, UNC was wearing these "special" uniforms to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Jordan brand. Not Michael Jordan himself, but his BRAND.

Fuck the Tar Heels...

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010
 
A small request...

If you've ever been banned from this website, please stop trying to log back in and comment again.

Stop making me waste my time blocking your comments and kindly fuck off...

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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
 
Whose death would immediately interrupt network televison at any time of day?

Here's the list I've come up with...

Any former President or Vice President
Oprah Winfrey
Michael Jordan
Tiger Woods
Osama bin Laden
Walter Cronkite
Paul McCartney
Steven Spielberg
Robert DeNiro
Al Pacino
Jack Nicholson
Madonna
Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen

Who else is big enough to bring the television world to a halt?

P.S. On a somewhat related note, what celebrity death(s) would bring your day to a screeching halt? I had one last year with Harry Kalas and two years ago with George Carlin, but I can't think of anyone currently living that could shut my day down...

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Scott Brown's teabagger honeymoon officially ends...

He voted with the Democrats to invoke cloture on the jobs bill and the teabaggers are pissed.

It's gonna be a tough couple of years for Mr. Cosmo...

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Enough already, you friggin idiots...

After months of bitching and moaning about the Democrats' health care plan being "too long", Republicans are now complaining that President Obama's health care proposal is "too short".

That's an intelligent argument...

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Sunday, February 21, 2010
 
Team USA takes the first step on the road to silver...

I say silver because I honestly don't believe any hockey team in the Olympics can top Team Canada. That squad is friggin' stacked!

However, one area where we have the rest of the world beat is uniforms. Team USA's sweaters are the shiznit.



It's good to get a win against Switzerland in the first game, but the big game comes Sunday night against Team Canada. I hate to say it, but that one could get ugly for the red, white and blue...

UPDATE: So much for my knowledge of Olympic hockey. USA 5, Canada 3. WOO HOO!!!!!!

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Friday, February 19, 2010
 
She Left Me for Jesus...

..he might be a Commie, or worse yet a Jew.

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IF there is a Compromise Health Care Bill...

Abortion will be the last sticking point. I hate how this one issue has been the thorn in the side of what little is left of pragmatic politics. The parties will meet in the middle on costs, they will fight over the tax on high-end insurance plans and the Dems, following Obama, will let this go. IF "it" passes, the left will hate it as much as the entire GOP and Tea-bagger bunch. And both will scream long and loud. Still a long-shot, methinks. But I would rather see a bill pass than not, and if it pisses of the partisans on both sides, it ain't all bad.

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The Ticking Demographic Bomb Will Force the GOP to Change - Over Time...

•"The numbers don't lie," said Whit Ayres, a GOP consultant. "If Republicans don't do better among Hispanics, we're not going to be talking about how to get Florida back in the Republican column, we're going to be talking about how not to lose Texas."
Embracing the "fortress America" angry, anti-immigrant Tea (Bagger) Party line is not going to help in the longer term. The GOP is laying down with dogs by embracing the angry populist momentum of old white men. They should expect to get some fleas. I don't mean in 2010. The Democrats have about a 50% chance of losing the House and a 25% chance of losing the Senate in 2010. But in the longer term, they will have a harder time threading together 270 electoral votes in Presidential elections if they keep up the anti-immigrant theme. Please, GOP....nominate Caribou Barbie!

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MLB Team Salaries...
Team2008 payroll2009 payroll
Yankees$209,081,577$201,449,189
Mets$137,793,376$149,373,987
Cubs$118,345,833$134,809,000
Red Sox$133,390,035$121,745,999
Tigers$137,685,196$115,085,145
Angels$119,216,333$113,709,000
Phillies$98,269,880$113,004,046
Astros$88,930,414$102,996,414
Dodgers$118,588,536$100,414,592
Mariners$117,666,482$98,904,166
Braves$102,365,683$96,726,166
White Sox$121,189,332$96,068,500
Giants$76,594,500$82,616,450
Indians$78,970,066$81,579,166
Blue Jays$97,793,900$80,538,300
Brewers$80,937,499$80,182,502
Cardinals$99,624,449$77,605,109
Rockies$68,655,500$75,201,000
Reds$74,117,695$73,558,500
Diamondbacks$66,202,712$73,516,666
Royals$58,245,500$70,519,333
Rangers$67,712,326$68,178,798
Orioles$67,196,246$67,101,666
Twins$56,932,766$65,299,266
Rays$43,820,597$63,313,034
Athletics$47,967,126$62,310,000
Nationals$54,961,000$60,328,000
Pirates$48,689,783$48,693,000
Padres$73,677,616$43,734,200
Marlins$21,811,500$36,834,000

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How long before this charcoal briquette becomes a darling of the conservative movement?

Joe the Plumber got his 15 minutes of fame among the moronic right, why not this dead asshole?

AUSTIN, Texas - A man apparently upset with the Internal Revenue Service set fire to his home, got into a small plane and crashed it Thursday into a multistory office building, authorities said.

At least two people were injured and a third was unaccounted for. The crash caused a fire and sent black smoke billowing from the seven-story Echelon Building.

Officials told The Associated Press that authorities were trying to determine if the pilot intentionally targeted nearby office space of the IRS. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.
Oh, and will anyone dare call this an act of terrorism, since the perpetrator was not a Muslim?

We'll see...

UPDATE: Conservatives at the CPAC conference are having a laugh over this incident. That's comforting...

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A change of pace...

"Big Sky Country" by Chris Whitley


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Roy Halladay throwing strikes and Charlie Manuel scratching his nuts...

The Phillies are already in mid-season form!!!


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Thursday, February 18, 2010
 
Republican Senate candidate mocks Obama for using Teleprompter...while reading from a Teleprompter...

...and the sheep he's speaking to at the Conservative Political Action Conference love it.


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Wednesday, February 17, 2010
 
When the winter sports doldrums get me down...

It makes me happy to see that the Phillies' pitchers and catchers report to spring training today.

It's also good to see Roy Halladay getting in on the action early...


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Tuesday, February 16, 2010
 
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN): "Congress needs to be fixed, so I'm quitting..."

Way to be a part of the solution, dick...

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Friday, February 12, 2010
 
It Begins March 5th...

The six weeks or so before the 2010 draft will mark the first uncapped and unfloored(?) salary season since 1993 in the NFL. This should mean an interesting and, hopefully, unpredictable off-season. The uncapped year comes with over 200 less free agents than in the CBA were still in play and teams fear having to "undo" big contracts that extend beyond 2010 because if there is a salary-cap-like provision in a new CBA, teams that were too extravagant would face unhappy choices as they adjusted to the post-lockout rules...

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Did The Book Of Revelations foresee Sarah Palin?

Sharpedo over at The Stinging Nettle has the answer. Maybe that was pentagram scribbled on her hand!!!

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Thursday, February 11, 2010
 
Green Shoots?

With a trio of House Republican retirement announcements over the past 10 days....Republicans will have to defend 18 open seats and Democrats 13. And while the political environment has Charlie Cook and others calling for about 20 Dem seats lost in the House (which I think the Democratic leadership would be happy with as of now), Republicans would rather not have to deal with open seats. Modern political history suggests that open seats are far more likely to switch parties than those in which the incumbent is running for reelection -- meaning that any vacant seat has at least the potential to become competitive...

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Tired of the Term "Swagger"...

Not only is it overused, it glorifies asshole-ness. Swagger is more than the projected confidence with which a great team or individual athlete carries themselves; it's the no-class "In your face" attitude which used to be relegated to the realm of Pro "Wrestling" and Roller Derby. Now it is considered a virtue. Fuck that. It reminds me of the phrase, also used too much in sports, "showcase my talent." Not "lead a team to victory" - no, that would be a distraction from the showcase of "my talent." Again, fuck that. Did you ever see greats like Barry Sanders or Jerry Rice pulling the sort of shit that T.O./Chad Johnson do? I doubt it. Those athletes had real class, something that Ray Lewis, Romanowski, Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield,Charles Haley, Reggie White, Joe Klecko, Ty Cobb, Bill Lambier, Dennis Rodman, Rasheed Wallace, Bobby Knight, Bill Parcells, Adolph Rupp, - NEVER HAD. You name some others or quibble with my list of no-class (however talented they may have been....that is not the point. this is not a sports hall of fame forum, just a place to recognize that some sports figures, even revered ones, were shits of human beings) athletes...

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Loving this...


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It's just a hunch that I have...

...but if you've ever gone to a restaurant and addressed your server by saying "I want the (menu item)" or "Bring me the (menu item)", you might be a bit of an asshole.

It's possible...

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Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

Marc Theissen, one of Dubya's former speechwriters thinks President Obama is hurting the fight on terrorism by (wait for it) killing too many terrorists.

I'm serious...

"Today, the Obama administration is no longer attempting to capture men like these alive; it is simply killing them. This may be satisfying, but it comes at a price. With every drone strike that vaporizes a senior al Qaeda leader, actionable intelligence is vaporized along with him. Dead terrorists can't tell you their plans to strike America."
It's hard to believe that people like this helped to run this country into the ground...

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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
 
Statistics that leave me scratching my head...

Records as starting QB in NFL playoff games:

Donovan McNabb: 9-7
Peyton Manning: 9-9


Wow...

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Caribou Barbie writes crib notes on her hand, Fox News rejoices...

I only wish I were exaggerating...

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Saturday, February 6, 2010
 
It's A Put-On

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Post-Super Bowl (Predictions/Questions)
  • No new labor deal before the current CBA expires;
  • T.O. brings his cancerous presence to yet another team who will end up regretting signing him;
  • Many of the moves (trades, draft choices, cuts, etc.) will be driven by the lack of a salary floor more than the lack of a cap;
  • "Who takes Tebow?" will be the biggest story leading up to the draft this year, but only after Vick either stays or goes.
  • If there is no stadium in LA soon and the Rams move - where would they go?
  • Why does Jacksonville still have a team? How do you continue with only 40K people in the stands each week? They are the Montreal Expos of the NFL sans the inevitable move...
  • The more we learn about this me-first, chuckle-headed scum the more there will be to dislike. I could never like this guy when he played, despite his obvious talent, he is a childish joke.

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Friday, February 5, 2010
 
Badass guitar work x 2...

"Highly Strung" by Orianthi and Steve Vai


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Super Bowl prediction time!!!

This year, give me your predictions for the final score and the MVP.

New Orleans Saints 35
Indianapolis Colts 31

MVP: Drew Brees

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Thursday, February 4, 2010
 
Explain this one to me, you brilliant Republicans...

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) has placed a hold on ALL of President Obama's nominations currently pending in the Senate because he may lose a couple of earmarks for projects in his home shithole state. I thought Republicans didn't like earmarks.

How can a sane person justify this kind of legislative shit-fit? Are there any sane Republicans left???

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The NFL makes a big mistake...

Ugh. Just read it...

The North Texas Super Bowl Committee and the NFL unveiled the logo for Super Bowl XLV on Thursday morning, displaying Cowboys Stadium in the background with the Vince Lombardi Trophy sitting on top of the Roman numerals for the game.

There is a new logo for every Super Bowl, but starting with the 2011 Super Bowl, the theme of the logo will basically remain the same. The only differences from year to year are the stadium backdrop and the Roman numerals for the game.
How does this decision suck? Let me count the ways:

1. The Super Bowl is only played in 7 or 8 cities around the country, so the Super Bowl logo will look basically the same every time the game is in Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, Phoenix, etc...

2. No open-air, cold weather stadium will ever host the Super Bowl, so those teams in those cities (Green Bay, Philly, New York) will never have their stadiums memorialized in the logo.

3. Let's say the Eagles win the Super Bowl next year. Do they really want Cowgirls Stadium to be included in the logo for the game?

4. While some Super Bowl logos have been hideous, many have been gorgeous. That's a part of the creative process that's being eliminated with this decision.

5. Look at this dopey thing!!!


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Wednesday, February 3, 2010
 
Before Long, NFL Owners Will Have to Prove It...

Comments by the Ravens owner (likely to get him fined by his fellow owners) underscore the fact that the NFL's contention that some clubs are losing money is still unsubstantiated. At some point, the owners are likely to have to go "open kimono" with their financials to prove these claims or lose ground to the players in the revenue dispute that drives the coming lockout. I tend to believe the owners to the extent that I can think of a few teams who likely would be operating at a loss without revenue sharing from both network deals and things like sky-boxes. For example, Jacksonville, Detroit, KC, ...any others come to mind?

• According to sources involved in the process, the league, in its proposal to players, would like to trim the portion of revenues going to player costs by 18 percent. "We think the end game there may be to meet in the middle and to negotiate it down to 9 (percent)," the union official said.
That would mean players go from getting 60% to getting 51% of revenues. That will be a hard sell to players until they have missed a few paychecks - maybe a full year. But the other revenue issues are how revenues are defined/verified (51% of what, exactly.?.) and how those revenues are shared among owners.
This fight is not just between owners and players; its between small and big market owners; it's between rookies taken in the top half of the first round (their huge contracts)...
• "There's an agreement in principle (between the NFL and NFLPA) that rookies are paid too much," the league official said.
...and the rest of the active (and retired) players. We need these little forest fires every now and then to keep the excess of both players and owners in check.

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Chris Johnson's 2,000 Yards...

• Tennessee gave Johnson the ball 36 times, including plenty of carries on fourth down and clear passing situations.
Is a lot like Michael Strahan's 22nd sack when Favre laid down for him. Like Kobe shooting too much to get his point totals up a few years back. Cheap pursuit of records cheapens the records themselves.

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Super Bowl halftime show: Will it be as predictable as I'm guessing?

The Who is playing the Super Bowl halftime show this year. Presumably, because it's 1975.

Last year, I thought Bruce Springsteen's set list would be predictable, and with the exception of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", I was right.

This year, The Who seems like they have even less room to move when putting their 4-song set list together.

To start off a week of Super Bowl predicitions, I'll put my money on the following for their halftime set list:

Pinball Wizard
Baba O'Reilly
Squeeze Box
Won't Get Fooled Again


Oh, and one piece of advice for the people who make these decisions: For Super Bowl XLV in Dallas (yuck!), if you insist on having a halftime act that was at its most relevant two or three decades ago, get Van Halen in there. Thanks!

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Tuesday, February 2, 2010
 
Common sense from the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. military...

...concerning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

"No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."

--Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
What a horrible policy...

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Republicans think the darndest things!

Check out some of the results of a new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of 2,000 self-identified Republicans...

• 39% of Republicans want President Obama to be impeached.

• 63% think Obama is a socialist.

• Only 42% believe Obama was born in the United States.

• 21% think ACORN stole the 2008 election -- that is, that Obama didn't actually win it, and isn't legitimately the president, with 55% saying they are "not sure."

• 53% think Sarah Palin is more qualified than Obama to be president.

• 23% want to secede from the United States.

• 73% think gay people should not be allowed to teach in public schools.

• 31% want contraception to be outlawed.
It's hard to believe that a party with those views could find itself in a staggering majority on Capitol Hill, even if the minority party is afraid of its own shadow...

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Monday, February 1, 2010
 
A Smaller Version of the 2006 Kansas School Board That Mandated Teaching Creationism...

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The Numbers Say it All...

"...Sarah Palin's political group, Sarah PAC, spent more money buying copies of her memoir than it donated to candidates seeking federal office."
C'mon GOP, I dare you to nominate her! Who else ya got? Mitt? Tim? Mike? Bobby? You got nothing for 2012, no matter how well you do in 2010.

In the meantime, it would do Dems well to quit whining and pretending that forcing an unpopular agenda will help things. Who do you want setting the agenda in 2013-2017? Better a limited Dem than a GOP Prez.

Tell me why I'm wrong, Brian!

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