Violation of the Neutral Zone...

Guess this means we're going to start playing nuclear chicken again...hopefully to a lesser extent than it was played in my childhood.

A Russian military exercise involving 70 bombers simulating the launch of missiles lead to 2 bombers violating a zone that caused the launch of American and Canadian fighter planes.

Gosh...who was the supposed target of the hypothetical test missiles?

Iraq...2% Safe for Americans, 98%???

Saw this article on the Center for Media and Democracy from a New York Times article.

Another thing not reported in the mainstream media.

Makes you wonder how much really stayed hidden in the pre-Internet days, doesn't it?

Air Force Tanker Collides with Kyrgyz Airliner on Runway in Kyrgyzstan...Huh?

This didn't make it into the news. This happened on Tuesday.

Did the national media not think this was important enough to report on?

Apparently no one was hurt...but c'mon...this isn't news!!!

It's much more important for us to all hear George tell us that the Dems are bad and the Dems to tell us that George is out of touch. Or for the media to shoehorn in another feel good, puppy dogs and shiny, happy people story instead of real news.

Pfft!

Hey Guys...Milk, It Does a Body Good!

The Wreck of the Goodship USS Macon

This is a shot of the USS Macon in flight in 1935 a few months before it crashed in the Pacific. It was a Navy dirigible in the waning days of such things.

The crash site was recently found and is being explored and photographed by the an oceanic archaeology research team.

These things in their day were up to four times larger than the Goodyear Blimp, which many in my age group are familiar with.

I bet these things were awesome flying through the air.

I Don't Usually Do This...

I don't usually post pictures of myself.

But here's one of me from back in my weightlifting days, many, many moons ago.

The Dover 400 at Dover International Speedway...the Just Us Cupdate

***

Chase Race #2: The Dover 400 at Dover International Speedway

***

The Race Report...All the NASCAR News That's Unfit to Print

***

Jeff Burton has Emotional Win at Dover

***

Roush Racing Has Confirmed that They are in Negotiations to Sell a Stake, Possibly as Large as 50%, of the Operation to a Group Headed by the Owner of the Boston Red Sox

***

Looming Time Off is a Selling Point with him, but He Could be Running Full Time in Cup again by 2008

***

Testing! Testing! Juan Pablo Montoya, Please Report For Testing

***

Nah, This Guy wasn't Emotionally Invested at All in This Race

***

Everham Not Surrendering Despite Kahne's Current Points Position

***

Out of Gas...Matt Kenseth Talks Dover

***

Busch Series May Not Be Busch Series in 2008. Current Contract Ends in 2007

***

If Jeff Gordon Doesn't Get His Way...He Will Call You Names and Say You Don't Play Well With Others...Looks to me like Vickers Did the Right Thing at New Hampshire Considering He Was On His Way to a 5th Place Finish in the Race in Question

***

NASCAR has announced that TV ratings are down for all but two races so far this year...

Well, duh! Hide the races away on cable television when the core market would be more likely to see the races on broadcast and you begin to learn a lesson about availability and popularity.

It's a lesson that the NFL is about to learn as well as they begin to hide games away from their audience in cable television ghettos.

Maximum exposure to the maximum number of viewers is the proper course of action.

***

Complete Finishing Order

 1 Jeff Burton (31)
 2 Carl Edwards (99)
 3 Jeff Gordon (24)
 4 Kurt Busch (2)
 5 Greg Biffle (16)
 6 Martin Truex Jr. (1)
 7 Bobby Labonte (43)
 8 Clint Bowyer (07)
 9 Denny Hamlin (11)
 10 Matt Kenseth (17)
 11 Reed Sorenson (41)
 12 Dave Blaney (22)
 13 Jimmie Johnson (48)
 14 Mark Martin (6)
 15 Dale Jarrett (88)
 16 Elliott Sadler (19)
 17 Jamie McMurray (26)
 18 David Stremme (40)
 19 Ken Schrader (21)
 20 Jeff Green (66)
 21 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
 22 Casey Mears (42)
 23 Tony Raines (96)
 24 Ryan Newman (12)
 25 Kyle Petty (45)
 26 Joe Nemechek (01)
 27 David Gilliland (38)
 28 Michael Waltrip (55)
 29 Brian Vickers (25)
 30 J.J. Yeley (18)
 31 Sterling Marlin (14)
 32 Kevin Harvick (29)
 33 Tony Stewart (20)
 34 Scott Riggs (10)
 35 Stanton Barrett Jr. (61)
 36 Scott Wimmer (4)
 37 Kevin Lepage (49)
 38 Kasey Kahne (9)
 39 Travis Kvapil (32)
 40 Kyle Busch (5)
 41 Robby Gordon (7)
 42 David Ragan (06)
 43 Derrike Cope (74)

***

The Chase for the Just Us Cup-date

In the table above, Purple have been mathematically eliminated. Black did not make the Chase and are out of the playoff.

Place - Driver
Finishing Points
Deduction (DNQ/Prov -5, DNF -5,
Bonus (Pole +5, Most Laps Led +5, Win +5)
TOTAL

Lined out Drivers failed to make the Chase for the Just Us Cup.

 2 Carl Edwards (99)
Finish - 45
TOTAL -45

 3 Jeff Gordon (24)
Finish - 40
Pole - 5
TOTAL - 45

 4 Kurt Busch (2)
Finish - 35
TOTAL - 35

 5 Greg Biffle (16)
Finish - 30
TOTAL - 30

 13 Jimmie Johnson (48)
Finish - 25
TOTAL - 25

 14 Mark Martin (6)
Finish - 20
TOTAL - 20

 15 Dale Jarrett (88)

 16 Elliott Sadler (19)

 17 Jamie McMurray (26)

 19 Ken Schrader (21)

 21 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
Finish - 15
TOTAL - 15

 28 Michael Waltrip (55)

 32 Kevin Harvick (29)
Finish - 10
DNF - -5
TOTAL - 5

 38 Kasey Kahne (9)
Finish - 5
DNF - -5
TOTAL - 0

***
Next Up:

====================
Chase Race #3: Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway
====================
Chase Race #2: The Dover 400 at Dover International Speedway
====================
Chase Race #1: Sylvania 300 at Loudon, New Hampshire - Winner - Kevin Harvick
====================

And now...the Citgo - 7-Eleven Split Makes Sense

The announcement was made weeks ago that Southland - 7-Eleven wouldn't be using Citgo-branded product anymore.

Put 7-Eleven launching its own gas division and Citgo's Venezuelan connection together and the picture becomes clearer.

For Cadi

Since I love her, I'm bumping this up to the top of the stack, one more time.

Grandma Really Likes Your New Mixer

Making Pancakes


Watch Video

With muchas gracias to Gordon Keith for pointing the way and to CompFused for sharing with the 'net at large.

This is the Kind of Fight They Need to Be Having All the Time in Washington

The Fox News Sunday Clinton Interview

Part 1 of the Ambush-iview



Part 2 of the Ambush-iview



Part 3 of the Ambush-iview



It's probably good that this was done. It's a clearing of the air if nothing else..., of course, the neo-cons are going to try and shred him for this.

***

Keith Olbermann



Wow! Olbermann has certainly grown up as a broadcaster since his SportsCenter days.

Depending on the players, the upcoming 2008 Presidential Elections are going to be ugly.

Good.

We don't need two flavors of the same guy or one party, the Democrats, to spend the entire election walking on egg shells as they have seemed to in 2000 and 2004. The moral high ground isn't the province of any one party. And ceding that ground is a guaranteed loss in any election.

We need politicians, on both sides, who are willing to stand on their own beliefs and ideas as opposed to party dogma. And who aren't afraid to go for it.

It would make it a lot easier to be proud of our leaders, whichever party they come from.

But I think Clinton may be correct about the politics of fear being the driving factor in upcoming elections.

***

And then, especially for Craig...



***

One more piece for the puzzle, Rudi Guiliani defends Clinton's anti-terrorism efforts in this article.

John Wayne Just Wouldn't Understand

I support English being made the official language of the United States.

I have written to my congressional delegation...have you?

When the Saints Go Marching In...

I'm betting on a magical football evening tonight as the Saints face the Falcons in the Superdome.

But none of us should be under any illusions about what is going to happen long term. Unless the Saints can come up with a way to make money in New Orleans, long term, then this team is going to end up somewhere else.

Shame there isn't enough local money that could be used to buy the franchise, in the same way that the city and citizens of Green Bay, Wisconsin own the Green Bay Packers. That is the only way that cities and fans have to insure that their sports franchises which become linked to their cities stay in their cities.

Russian Back To School Street Advertising

Why this would need to be in English on a Russian street is beyond me? Do they have a large group of English-speakers that they have to cater to?

Shows that knowing English and understanding the nuances are two very different things.

Again, snagged courtesy of English Russia.

They Look So Happy...

Looks like the groom got his ass kicked the night before and the best man looks so very, very happy to be there.

Ah yes...Russian weddings...this one comes to us via English Russia, a great cultural site that just got a shot in the arm via Yahoo's Daily Wire.

Let me be one of the first to say...

наилучшие пожелания на вашем венчании

For those who don't read Russian, this is supposed to say, "Best wishes on your wedding," but for all I know it could say, "The rabbit is busy smoking a cigar with a cowboy."

Evil lives in East St. Louis...

...for now, if the note about the possibility of her being given the death penalty is right.

I'm sure she is or was deranged. I'm sure she can't have done this while in her right mind. I'm sure there were a plethora of reasons and conditions which contributed to this.

But this was an evil, evil act.

I know, I know...way to bring the room down there, buddy.

Sorry, this one made my brain smoke a bit and ruined my first cup of coffee vibe this bright and shiny Sunday Texas morning. I needed to put it up here.

Wow!

I know. I know. I say wow a lot. Watch the video.

Armless Guy plays Tom Petty's Last Dance with Mary Jane...with his feet.

Found this via Gordon Keith.

Possibly One of the Funniest Posts I've Ever Read...

Via The Superficial:

More than a month after getting married, Pamela Anderson has announced on her official website that she and Kid Rock have slept together, saying:

"Not pregnant yet. But we have consummated the marriage!"

Which is sort of like a shark saying: "I have a lot of teeth and I bite things." Pamela could've made the same statement during the reception and it still would've been accurate.

The only way these two didn't have sex before, during, and after the wedding is if Kid Rock's penis fell off. And even then I'd just assume he used the stub. Or scar tissue. Whatever, I'm not a doctor.

========

Funny...very funny.

There are some pics of Mr. and Mrs. Kid Rock at Superficial's site. Check them out.

Show some love to the funny folks on that site.

Chase Race #1: Sylvania 300 at Loudon, New Hampshire

***

Chase Race #1: Sylvania 300 at Loudon, New Hampshire

***

The Race Report...All the NASCAR News That's Unfit to Print

***

Harvick Dominates at New Hampshire

***

Chevrolet Clinches This Year's Manufacturer's Championship

***

Mark Martin's '07 Truck Series Contract Precludes Him from Running the Full Cup Series Next Year in Another Car

***

Margolis Breaks Down the Contenders After New Hampshire

***

NASCAR and RCR Deny Allegations of Cheating

***

Denny Hamlin, Easy Going, He's Just Here to Race...in the Top 10...Every Week...and He's in the Chase...and He's a Rookie

***

Coast Guard Sponsorship Leaving RCR's Busch Program...the Potentially Championship RCR Busch Program...When Was the Last Time You Heard of a Potential Champion Losing a Sponsor the Following Year

***

The Johnson/Gordon Apologists and the Tony Stewart's of the NASCAR World Want to Change the Points System...Of Course They Do...They Didn't Win Last Week

***

Johnson's Chances Damaged at New Hampshire

***



Terry Labonte's Last Ride coming up at Texas Motor Speedway. Thanks for the memories.

***

Under the old pre-Chase points system, the places would be as follows:

1) #17-Matt Kenseth 3924
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson 3774 -150
31) #29-Kevin Harvick 3671 -253
4) #11-Denny Hamlin 3513 -411
5) #24-Jeff Gordon 3491 -433
6) #20-Tony Stewart 3473 -451
7) #5-Kyle Busch 3473 -451
8) #31-Jeff Burton 3473 -451
9) #6-Mark Martin 3471 -453
10) #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3462 -464
11) #9-Kasey Kahne 3434 -490

Complete Finishing Order

 1 Kevin Harvick (29)
 2 Tony Stewart (20)
 3 Jeff Gordon (24)
 4 Denny Hamlin (11)
 5 Brian Vickers (25)
 6 Elliott Sadler (19)
 7 Jeff Burton (31)
 8 J.J. Yeley (18)
 9 Dave Blaney (22)
 10 Matt Kenseth (17)
 11 Mark Martin (6)
 12 Ryan Newman (12)
 13 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
 14 Greg Biffle (16)
 15 Robby Gordon (7)
 16 Kasey Kahne (9)
 17 Reed Sorenson (41)
 18 Carl Edwards (99)
 19 Kurt Busch (2)
 20 David Stremme (40)
 21 Casey Mears (42)
 22 Martin Truex Jr. (1)
 23 Michael Waltrip (55)
 24 Clint Bowyer (07)
 25 Sterling Marlin (14)
 26 Tony Raines (96)
 27 Travis Kvapil (32)
 28 Dale Jarrett (88)
 29 Jamie McMurray (26)
 30 Kevin Lepage (49)
 31 Scott Wimmer (4)
 32 Joe Nemechek (01)
 33 Ken Schrader (21)
 34 Chad Chaffin (61)
 35 Scott Riggs (10)
 36 David Gilliland (38)
 37 Kyle Petty (45)
 38 Kyle Busch (5)
 39 Jimmie Johnson (48)
 40 Bobby Labonte (43)
 41 Ted Christopher (27)
 42 Morgan Shepherd (89)
 43 Jeff Green (66)

***

The Chase for the Just Us Cup-date

In the table above, Purple have been mathematically eliminated. Black did not make the Chase and are out of the playoff.

Place - Driver
Finishing Points
Deduction (DNQ/Prov -5, DNF -5,
Bonus (Pole +5, Most Laps Led +5, Win +5)
TOTAL

1 Kevin Harvick (29)
Finish - 45
Most Laps Lead - 5
Pole - 5
Win - 5
TOTAL - 60

3 Jeff Gordon (24)
Finish - 40
TOTAL - 40

 6 Elliott Sadler (19)
 
11 Mark Martin (6)
Finish - 35
TOTAL - 35

13 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
Finish - 30
TOTAL - 30

14 Greg Biffle (16)
Finish - 25
TOTAL - 25

16 Kasey Kahne (9)
Finish - 20
TOTAL - 20

18 Carl Edwards (99)
Finish - 15
TOTAL - 15

19 Kurt Busch (2)
Finish - 10
TOTAL - 10

23 Michael Waltrip (55)

28 Dale Jarrett (88)

29 Jamie McMurray (26)

33 Ken Schrader (21)

39 Jimmie Johnson (48)
Finish - 5
TOTAL - 5

***
Next Up:

====================
Chase Race #2: The Dover 400 at Dover International Speedway
====================
Chase Race #1: Sylvania 300 at Loudon, New Hampshire - Winner - Kevin Harvick
====================

Bait and Switch...The Dubai Ports Surprise

Remember 6-months ago, when the public got up in arms about a Dubai company taking over operation of U.S. ports. The cry died down when the Dubai company promised to divest itself of the port operations within 6-months.

Well, I was listening to NPR this morning and...

Guess what?

Guess who is currently running the ports in question?

The company name may not be the same, but it is the same company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dubai company.

They continue to promise that the sale is coming. But there are also recent news stories stating that they are expanding their worldwide ports operation division.

But it seems to me that all the reasons for us to all get upset by this deal have been cowed down by this promise and the fact that we assumed after our elected officials told us we were safe that the Dubai company wouldn't be taking over the ports...

Well...surprise.

Watch your elected officials! This is a lie via omission.

With Congressional elections coming, failure to follow through on this could bite the Administration in the ass, even though the Dems in Congress failed to follow up same as the Reps.

So, there's one more patch for the crazy quilt of American midterm election season.

I just hope the major networks pick up the NPR story and shove it back into the face of the government and the public so that a public eye falls on the ports again.

Pete Rose Let's His Balls Apologize for Him...

Pete Rose signed some balls a few years ago for some collectors that said "I'm sorry I bet on baseball" in block letters. The collector who had them died a few weeks ago and the balls are coming up on an auction in a few days.

Pete Rose, always one to take a shot at making more money, is going to start selling new "I'm sorry" balls on his website.

The auction for the original "I'm sorry" balls are available here.

Sometimes Man Needs to Leave God and Nature to Do Their Own Thing

A Indian zoo program to attempt a new breed of lion failed over the last few years. The zookeepers bred Asiatic Lions with recovered African circus animals. The resulting animals have weak immune systems and hind legs. They, also, have half to a quarter of the lifespan of the normal Asiatics or African Lions from which their gene stock came.

Good to read that the zoos are taking care of their aging populations rather than euthanizing them.

The Undefeated...

Alabama ............... 3-0 
Arizona State ......... 3-0 
Auburn ................ 3-0 
Boise State ........... 3-0 
Boston College ........ 3-0 
Florida ............... 3-0 
Georgia ............... 3-0 
Houston ............... 3-0 
Iowa .................. 3-0 
Kansas State .......... 3-0 
Louisville ........... 3-0 
Michigan .............. 3-0 
Michigan State ........ 3-0 
Missouri .............. 3-0 
Navy .................. 3-0 
Ohio State ............ 3-0 
Oklahoma State ........ 3-0 
Oregon ................ 3-0 
Purdue ............... 3-0 
Rutgers ............... 3-0 
South Florida ......... 3-0 
TCU ................... 3-0 
Texas A&M ............. 3-0 
UCLA .................. 2-0 
USC ................... 2-0 
Virginia Tech ........ 3-0 
Wake Forest ........... 3-0 
West Virginia ......... 3-0 
Wisconsin ............. 3-0 

I've always hated the way the college polls do things. It eliminates the opportunity of Cinderella to rise from the pack and challenge the Powers That Be like happens most every March in basketball.

So here in alphabetic order are the undefeated teams...on the third week of the NCAA Football season, no one should be rated ahead of these teams in the major college polls. Strength of schedule is a stat designed to hold the non-elite schools down and, if that is such a big factor, then, those aforementioned Powers That Be should break Division 1A in such a way that only those elite schools compete against one another...and take all the "sucker" matches off the table.

Show of hands...did anyone really need to see my 'Horns lay the wood to the Rice Owls like they did last week? I know I didn't. I'm a big fan and I didn't even watch the game.

Popeye vs. E. Coli

Beware that fresh bagged spinach from the grocery...there may be more in there than you expect.

An Uncomfortable Partnership...

...that I was surprised lasted as long as it did.

"The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism," Powell, a retired general who is also a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote in his letter.

Powell said Bush's bill, by redefining the kind of treatment the Geneva Conventions allow, "would add to those doubts. Furthermore, it would put our own troops at risk."

Considering what those bastards would do to our boys if they get captured...and considering that this is an undeclared war not being fought against nation-states that can be held to something like the Geneva Convention, but instead against irregular, state-sponsored, but not directly state-oriented, movements, it makes the whole concept of what to do with the prisoners a miasma.

I think that tying the hands of the military, in instances where those they face don't have their hands tied as well, is stupid.

SIDENOTE: And yes, on the Taliban gathering at the funeral in Afghanistan the other day, the military should have smoked that ass.

This Department of Defense aerial photograph shows a formation of about 100 suspected Taliban fighters in its sights in July 2006, which the US military decided not to attack because they were in a cemetery and likely burying their dead, a US military official said. The image was first aired by NBC News which said military officers were frustrated at not being given permission to attack because of rules of engagement barring attacks in cemeteries.(AFP/DOD)

Rest in Peace, Governor

"Laura and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Governor Ann Richards of Texas. Ann loved Texas, and Texans loved her. As a public servant she earned respect and admiration. Ann became a national role model, and her charm, wit and candor brought a refreshing vitality to public life. We extend our sympathies to Ann's family and friends. Texas has lost one of its great daughters."
-- President George W. Bush

The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway

***

The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway

***

The Race Report...All the NASCAR News That's Unfit to Print

***

Harvick Wins at Richmond

***

Tony Stewart Out of Chase

***

Mark Martin Begins to Waffle on Retirement

***

Catch Them if You Can...Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick Caught Fire at the Right Time...and Can Jimmie Johnson Reignite

***

In Richmond, Blaney Finishes 4th and Schrader Finishes 7th...Neither Get Interviewed in the Post Race...Mucho Disrespect

***

Jeff Burton Riding the High Tide at RCR

***

NASCAR Buys CASCAR, That's the Canadian Association for Stock Car Racing

***

Toyota Power is Coming!

***

Kasey Kahne into the Chase

***

Drivers in the Chase Profiled

***

Schrader's Team Grabs Pit Crew Win in Richmond

#21-Ken Schrader's pit crew claimed the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge win in Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400, becoming the 13th Nextel Cup team of the season to capture the weekly competition.
The pit crew win, which helped lift Schrader to a season-best seventh-place finish, was the result of the #21 U.S. Air Force/Little Debbie/Motorcraft Ford Fusion spending the least amount of time on Richmond International Raceway's pit road - 418.964 seconds.
"They've been solid all year," said Schrader of the #21 pit crew. "Enthusiasm is a very infectious disease. The better the car has been running the better they've been in getting us in and out of the pits. I'm glad this happened because they certainly deserve to be recognized."
Schrader's over-the-wall crew consists of: Chuck White (jackman), Brandon Pegram (front-tire carrier), Mike "Andretti" Smith (front-tire changer), Dwayne Doucette (rear-tire carrier), Chris McMullen (rear-tire changer), Jimmy Watts (gasman), James Rhoades (catch can) and Mike Hartman (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Gary Smith and crew chief is Michael "Fatback" McSwain.
The program awards $10,500 per week to the pit crew of the car spending the least amount of time on pit road. In addition, a bonus of $105,000 will be awarded to the pit crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule.
The crews of Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch lead the season standings with four Checkers/Rally's Drive-Thru Challenge wins. Tony Stewart's and Clint Bowyer's crews are tied for second with three wins each. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR

***

Complete Finishing Order

 1 Kevin Harvick (29)
 2 Kyle Busch (5)
 3 Kasey Kahne (9)
 4 Dave Blaney (22)
 5 Mark Martin (6)
 6 Greg Biffle (16)
 7 Ken Schrader (21)
 8 Matt Kenseth (17)
 9 Jeff Burton (31)
 10 Scott Riggs (10)
 11 Casey Mears (42)
 12 Clint Bowyer (07)
 13 J.J. Yeley (18)
 14 Reed Sorenson (41)
 15 Denny Hamlin (11)
 16 Elliott Sadler (19)
 17 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
 18 Tony Stewart (20)
 19 Robby Gordon (7)
 20 Ryan Newman (12)
 21 Dale Jarrett (88)
 22 Bobby Labonte (43)
 23 Jimmie Johnson (48)
 24 Brian Vickers (25)
 25 Jamie McMurray (26)
 26 David Stremme (40)
 27 Kurt Busch (2)
 28 Travis Kvapil (32)
 29 Scott Wimmer (4)
 30 Sterling Marlin (14)
 31 Jeff Gordon (24)
 32 Joe Nemechek (01)
 33 Kevin Lepage (49)
 34 Kyle Petty (45)
 35 Carl Edwards (99)
 36 David Gilliland (38)
 37 Kenny Wallace (178)
 38 Chad Chaffin (61)
 39 Tony Raines (96)
 40 Martin Truex Jr. (1)
 41 Jeff Green (66)
 42 Chad Blount (34)
 43 Morgan Shepherd (89)

***

The Just Us Cup-date

In the table above, Purple have been mathematically eliminated. Black did not make the Chase and are out of the playoff.

Place - Driver
Finishing Points
Deduction (DNQ/Prov -5, DNF -5,
Bonus (Pole +5, Most Laps Led +5, Win +5)
TOTAL

 1 Kevin Harvick (29)
Finish - 70
Win - 5
TOTAL - 75

 3 Kasey Kahne (9)
Finish - 65
TOTAL - 65

 5 Mark Martin (6)
Finish - 60
TOTAL - 60

 6 Greg Biffle (16)
Finish - 55
TOTAL - 55

 7 Ken Schrader (21)
Finish - 50
TOTAL - 50

 16 Elliott Sadler (19)
Finish - 45
TOTAL - 45

 17 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
Finish - 40
TOTAL - 40

 21 Dale Jarrett (88)
Finish - 35
TOTAL - 35

 23 Jimmie Johnson (48)
Finish - 30
TOTAL - 30

 25 Jamie McMurray (26)
Finish - 25
TOTAL - 25

 27 Kurt Busch (2)
Finish - 20
TOTAL - 20

 31 Jeff Gordon (24)
Finish - 15
TOTAL - 15

 35 Carl Edwards (99)
Finish - 10
TOTAL - 10

DNQ Michael Waltrip (55)
Finish - 0
DNQ/Prov - -5
DNF - -5
TOTAL - -10

Kyle Busch lead the most laps at Richmond. Denny Hamlin won the pole.

***
Points Going Into the Chase:

1 Jimmie Johnson 48 Lowes Captain America 1300
2 Kevin Harvick 29 GM Goodwrench/Reeses John Ellison 1220
3 Jeff Gordon 24 DuPont Craig Cline 1115
4 Kasey Kahne 9 Dodge Dealers Cadi Reid 1105
5 Mark Martin 6 AAA/Penzoil Jerry Hood 1090
6 Dale Earnhardt Jr 8 Budweiser Stephanie Cline 1085
7 Greg Biffle 16 Subway/National Guard Jerry Hood 955
8 Carl Edwards 99 Office Depot Mark Anderson 925
9 Kurt Busch 2 Miller Lite Nancy Cline 910
10 Elliot Sadler 19 Dodge> Chris Dinges 815
11 Jamie McMurray 26 Crown Royal/Irwin Cadi Reid 800
12 Dale Jarrett 88 UPS Darla Kinney 720
13 Ken Schrader 21 Little Debbie/Air Force/Motorcraft Mark Anderson 605
14 Michael Waltrip 55 NAPA Cadi Reid 375

***
Next Up:

====================
Chase Race #1: Sylvania 300 at Loudon, New Hampshire
====================

Comic Book Deviants...a Reason...#14

Beware the Attack of the Giant Drippy Penis Man!!!

The Surgeon General recommends having that rampant case of genital warts treated before it gets out of control...and attacks someone.

Somewhere, after reading the comic where this image appeared, a preteen boy awakens in the middle of the night with an erection...and he is very afraid.

Cue the dramatic music and fade to black.

The Evolution of Underwear...or Morality...Depending on How You Are Bent...

Shouldn't the 1970's underwear be crotchless?

Damien...

Is that you Damien?

This is Animal Cruelty...

I wonder if he/she, I think its a she, is embarassed in front of the other dogs?

You realize...if this dog had the necessary parts...she'd be flipping her owner off right now.

7,000

Thanks for visiting and helping push my unique visitor total to 7,000.

Thanks,
Mark "Puff" Anderson
The King of Cheese

The Little Giant Girl...

This is pretty cool. I'd like to see something like this live and in person. I bet it would fire the girls' circuits.

On the morning of Sunday 7th May the little girl giant woke up at Horseguards Parade in London, took a shower from the time-traveling elephant and wandered off to play in the park

I was turned onto this by Yowie Pad.

Happy Tubercular Saturday...

This was taken from the World Wide Words newsletter.

XDR-TB
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This abbreviation has been in use only since March, when it was introduced into medical language by the US Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

It appeared again this week as the result of what one newspaper called "an unprecedented warning" by the WHO.

XDR-TB expands to "extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis" (though some reports have "extreme drug-resistant") and refers to cases that are unresponsive to almost all the drugs available to treat them. The International World AIDS Conference in Toronto in August heard of a group of cases in rural KwaZulu-Natal among patients also infected with HIV; a significant number of XDR-TB cases have been reported worldwide, not associated with Aids.

It's a development of the situation that arose more than a decade ago when MDR-TB ("multi-drug resistant tuberculosis") emerged, a form resistant to the two first-line treatment drugs.

Experts fear that we may soon see an untreatable form of TB, a return to the time before streptomycin was discovered in 1946.

* Daily Telegraph, 7 Sep. 2006: The combination of Aids and XDR-TB found in a quarter of patients in Natal carries a mortality rate of 100 per cent.

* New York Times, 5 Sep 2006: Dr. Mario C. Raviglione, who directs
the World Health Organization's tuberculosis program, said in an
interview that "nobody at the moment can be considered an expert" about the XDR-TB problem. But he said that the XDR-TB situation is "extremely scary."

***

So...while governments are looking at Avian flus and viruses and diseases born of other species, we humans are germinating the next threat in our own bodies.

Shame that the Department of Health and Human Services doesn't spend money like NASA does...well they do, but their results just aren't as spectacular.

Pinocchio Converts to Islam

I don't have a problem with the books being translated.

I have a problem with the insertion of altered text.

Click here for the full story.

Ran across this via the LJ of friend, Physician.

Brad Pitt Descends from Mount Olympus

Pitt announced that he and Angelina Jolie won't get married until all people can get married. Looks like he's trying to claim a little moral high ground in a secular society.

Well...social activism has its place in the American social fabric.

But...

Shouldn't he and Angelina stop having babies out of wedlock?

Personally, I could care less if gay people get married or he and she pump out babies like squirrels in a pecan orchard. I just don't care.

It's not my cross to bear. It's not my place to judge.

But then, if I have to listen to the media go all smoochy, smoochy, smoochy on his ass about how great he is and how he's taking a stand...well...then...in the words of Elvis Presley, "clean up your own backyard."

Moral high ground, seems to me, to require that the person casting stones should be without his own sin, be it secular, moral, or religious.

And if we are looking to Hollywood for moral leadership...well...we really are in a world of shit.

Looks like the Man from Y.O.W.I.E. hit on the same story I did, with similar thoughts.

SONY HD 500 at California Speedway...Just Us Cupdate

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SONY HD 500 at California Speedway

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The Race Report...All the NASCAR News That's Unfit to Print

***

Kahne Wins in Cali

***

One race...725,000 Plus Possible Ways Different Drivers Could Qualify For the Chase...Way too Much to Think About

***

Commercial Breakdown from the Cali Race

Sony HD 500 Race and Commercial Breakdown of 09-03-06
Total number of commercials: 151
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 81
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 7:54 P.M.
End time to record race/commercial periods: 11:58 P.M.
Total minutes: 244
Minutes of race broadcast: 171
Minutes of commercials: 73

***

Burton, Martin, and Edwards Firmly Seated on the Bubble. It's Going to Burst Beneath One or More of Them

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California RaceFlash

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Burton, Harvick, and Boyer...RCR...Right Drivers, Right Place, Right Time

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Lee Spencer Talks Increased Rewards for Winning the Pole and For Wins

***

Kahne Positioned to Race His Way Into the Chase

***

Complete Finishing Order

 1 Kasey Kahne (9)
 2 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
 3 Clint Bowyer (07)
 4 Carl Edwards (99)
 5 Jeff Gordon (24)
 6 Denny Hamlin (11)
 7 Matt Kenseth (17)
 8 Kyle Busch (5)
 9 Tony Stewart (20)
 10 Dale Jarrett (88)
 11 Jimmie Johnson (48)
 12 Mark Martin (6)
 13 Elliott Sadler (19)
 14 Casey Mears (42)
 15 Kevin Harvick (29)
 16 Jeff Burton (31)
 17 Scott Riggs (10)
 18 Martin Truex Jr. (1)
 19 J.J. Yeley (18)
 20 Jamie McMurray (26)
 21 Reed Sorenson (41)
 22 Jeff Green (66)
 23 Ken Schrader (21)
 24 Greg Biffle (16)
 25 Joe Nemechek (01)
 26 Bobby Labonte (43)
 27 Kurt Busch (2)
 28 Dave Blaney (22)
 29 Sterling Marlin (14)
 30 Scott Wimmer (4)
 31 Michael Waltrip (55)
 32 David Gilliland (38)
 33 Ryan Newman (12)
 34 Travis Kvapil (32)
 35 Kyle Petty (45)
 36 David Stremme (40)
 37 Tony Raines (96)
 38 Kevin Lepage (49)
 39 Kenny Wallace (178)
 40 Terry Labonte (44)
 41 Brian Vickers (25)
 42 Bill Elliott (100)
 43 Robby Gordon (7)

***

The Just Us Cup-date

In the table above, Green are locked into the show. Purple have been mathematically eliminated. Gold are on the bubble.

Place - Driver
Finishing Points
Deduction (DNQ/Prov -5, DNF -5,
Bonus (Pole +5, Most Laps Led +5, Win +5)
TOTAL

 1 Kasey Kahne (9)
Finish - 70
Win - 5
Most Laps Lead - 5
TOTAL - 80

 2 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
Finish - 65
TOTAL - 65 

 4 Carl Edwards (99)
Finish - 60
TOTAL - 60 

 5 Jeff Gordon (24)
Finish - 55
TOTAL - 55 

 10 Dale Jarrett (88)
Finish - 50
TOTAL - 50 

 11 Jimmie Johnson (48)
Finish - 45
TOTAL - 45 

 12 Mark Martin (6)
Finish - 40
TOTAL - 40 

 13 Elliott Sadler (19)
Finish - 35
TOTAL - 35 

 15 Kevin Harvick (29)
Finish - 30
TOTAL - 30 

 20 Jamie McMurray (26)
Finish - 25
TOTAL - 25 

 23 Ken Schrader (21)
Finish - 20
TOTAL - 20 

 24 Greg Biffle (16)
Finish - 15
TOTAL - 15 

 27 Kurt Busch (2)
Finish - 10
Pole - 5
TOTAL - 15 

 31 Michael Waltrip (55)
Finish - 5
TOTAL - 5 

***
Next Up:
The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway

***

My New Favorite T-Shirt Design - 09/06/2006

Purchase it here.

Greatness.

Have You Kissed Your Dog Today?

This comes to us via Ask Yahoo's Question of the Day...

Are dogs' mouths really cleaner than humans'?
Jenna
Glendale, California

Dear Jenna:
All dogs lick themselves. Some eat their own feces. Humans (most of 'em, anyway) do not. So how in the world can the mouth of a canine be cleaner than that of a person? Simple -- it can't.
According to ABC News, this is basically an urban legend. However, unlike the one about the psycho killer with the hook, this story has a grain of truth. Although the mouth of a typical dog is full of bacteria, it's "species specific." So, if a dog were to lick a person, most of the germs wouldn't transfer. "Bottom line -- you're more likely to get a serious illness from kissing a person than kissing a dog."

The myth may have stemmed from the way pups lick their wounds. A dog's tongue gets rid of dead tissue so wounds heal faster. Perhaps folks concluded that dog saliva is "healthy." Hardly the case, but you shouldn't be afraid of licks. They might be gross, but they're not dangerous.

So, yes, your best friend's breath may smell like he's been eating dead skunk ass all day, but he loves you.

Give him a smooch...he'll wag his tail...Go on...Krypto is waiting.

MLB Banner Day

Seven shutouts in one night...

First time in 34 years...

8th time ever.

Pretty cool.

Rape in Pakistan

Legal via fiat.

Pakistani law as currently written requires that for prosecution of rape to go forward there must be four witnesses.

Considering the type of crime we are talking about here, that means that 99% of these crimes would be unprosecutable.

And the kicker...if the victim brings charges and the charge cannot be proven under Pakistani law...then, she can be charged with adultery under Pakistani law, which has some harsh, harsh elements to it.

So, the Musharef government introduces a bill to change it.

And a large cadre of Islamic lawmakers threaten to walk out, destabilize the government, and force by-elections calling the secular government's continued existence into question. The forcing of by-elections is based on a percentage of lawmakers refusing to continue on in their positions...and apparently this faction has enough people in their pocket to force it.

I love this...

Steve Erwin...Rest In Peace.

An Australian mother characterized it exactly right in my opinion.

From our children's perspectives, this is like JFK or Princess Diana's passing.

She's right. He was a fixture of many young lives.

A brave, crazy, very smart person who loved the wildlife that he worked with and wanted to show it all to the world.

His kind only really comes around once in a generation.

My pre-cable generation had Marlin Perkins and Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. The show still continues with Perkins long-time assistant, Jim Fowler, in the host role. It appears on Animal Planet today.

My kids had Steve Erwin's Crocodile Hunter.

He'll be missed.

2:50AM, A Loaded Gun, and Two Ounces of Pot

No, they were just out for a ride. Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket...

Sigh.

I guess he thought that being a National Football Champion for last year gave him some leeway...sigh.

And Ohio State (USA Today's #1) coming into Austin to play the Longhorns (USA Today's #2) this weekend...in prime time on ABC.

Damned fools picked a great time to go and do something stupid.

If it is after 2AM, and you are in a car with a loaded gun and drugs...you're up to no good.

Just my thoughts...but maybe I'm getting old.

Wow! That's Manly...If It Were 1976 Maybe...

Tom Welling, who plays Smallville's Clark Kent, in a pic that someone should have told him not to take.

Caption should read something like "Yeah, now that you ask, I did absolutely love Travolta's look in Saturday Night Fever."

Very Leif Garret. Very Shaun Cassidy. Very wouldn't have gotten the Smallville job if the execs had seen this one first.

Pencil thin mustache even...ugh.

Did someone think "Hey, let's put together as many bad 70's elements as we can and see if he'll go for it?"

Well, he did and here's the proof...unless this is photoshopped???

Personally, I hope it is. Welling has seemed like a good kid in interviews and in the way that he attacks his roles as an actor.

This makes me go "Damn, what was he thinking?"

Maybe it is fake...here's a shot of Welling looking like Welling....instead of like Travolta's younger, swishier brother.

Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway...the Just Us Cupdate

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Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway

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The Race Report...All the NASCAR News That's Unfit to Print

***

Kenseth Repeats as Winner at Bristol Night Race

***

The New York Times reports:

PENSKE’S PLAN Roger Penske, who owns teams in the Indy Racing League and Nascar, said Saturday that he was working on a plan that would allow his I.R.L. driver Sam Hornish Jr. to race in some Nascar second-tier Busch Series and lower-level ARCA events next season. That would be in addition to a full I.R.L. schedule for Hornish, who won the Indianapolis 500 this year.
“Sam has talked about running some Busch or ARCA races, and we’re looking at a potential program,’’ Penske said before the Sharpie 500. “We haven’t put all the pieces together.”
Although Penske used an ARCA, Busch and Nextel Cup program to develop the driver Ryan Newman before promoting him to the Cup series full-time, Penske said it was too early to say if Hornish would move up to compete in the Cup series by 2008

And from the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram disagrees:

Reports that Indianapolis 500 champion Sam Hornish Jr. would be running races in the NASCAR Busch and ARCA Series next year in addition to his Indy Racing League schedule are premature. "There's no confirmation," Team Penske director of marketing and communications Chris Schwartz said. "They're considering a plan that would allow Sam to run some Busch and ARCA events next year. The details of that plan are tentative. Some people are thinking that this is something more than it really is"

***
Bristol Race Flash

***

Outside Looking In Drivers

***

Complete Finishing Order


 1 Matt Kenseth (17)
 2 Kyle Busch (5)
 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
 4 Scott Riggs (10)
 5 Jeff Gordon (24)
 6 Denny Hamlin (11)
 7 Carl Edwards (99)
 8 Ryan Newman (12)
 9 Jeff Burton (31)
 10 Jimmie Johnson (48)
 11 Kevin Harvick (29)
 12 Kasey Kahne (9)
 13 Ken Schrader (21)
 14 Dave Blaney (22)
 15 Dale Jarrett (88)
 16 Michael Waltrip (55)
 17 Casey Mears (42)
 18 Martin Truex Jr. (1)
 19 Greg Biffle (16)
 20 Travis Kvapil (32)
 21 Kevin Lepage (49)
 22 Tony Stewart (20)
 23 Bobby Labonte (43)
 24 Jeff Green (66)
 25 Tony Raines (96)
 26 Joe Nemechek (01)
 27 Robby Gordon (7)
 28 Mark Martin (6)
 29 Jamie McMurray (26)
 30 Kenny Wallace (178)
 31 J.J. Yeley (18)
 32 Sterling Marlin (14)
 33 Brian Vickers (25)
 34 Kyle Petty (45)
 35 David Stremme (40)
 36 Reed Sorenson (41)
 37 Kurt Busch (2)
 38 Clint Bowyer (07)
 39 Elliott Sadler (19)
 40 David Gilliland (38)
 41 Carl Long (34)
 42 Scott Wimmer (4)
 43 Derrike Cope (74)


***

The Just Us Cup-date

In the table above, Green are locked into the show. Purple have been mathematically eliminated. Gold is over 400 out and if the Chase started today, they would be eliminated.

Place - Driver
Finishing Points
Deduction (DNQ/Prov -5, DNF -5,
Bonus (Pole +5, Most Laps Led +5, Win +5)
TOTAL

 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)
Finish - 70
DNQ/Prov - -5
TOTAL - 65

 5 Jeff Gordon (24)
Finish - 65
TOTAL - 65

 7 Carl Edwards (99)
Finish - 60
TOTAL - 60

 10 Jimmie Johnson (48)
Finish - 55
TOTAL - 55

 11 Kevin Harvick (29)
Finish - 50
TOTAL - 50

 12 Kasey Kahne (9)
Finish - 45
TOTAL - 45

 13 Ken Schrader (21)
Finish - 40
TOTAL - 40

 15 Dale Jarrett (88)
Finish - 35
TOTAL - 35

 16 Michael Waltrip (55)
Finish - 30
TOTAL - 30

 19 Greg Biffle (16)
Finish - 25
TOTAL - 25

 28 Mark Martin (6)
Finish - 20
TOTAL - 20

 29 Jamie McMurray (26)
Finish - 15
TOTAL - 15

 37 Kurt Busch (2)
Finish - 10
Pole - 5
TOTAL - 15

 39 Elliott Sadler (19)
Finish - 5
DNF - -5
TOTAL - 5

Weird week. Without the Top 35 in points get in rule, Jr. would have missed the race. He was 44th based on speed in qualifying. And then, Kurt Busch wins the Pole, but finishes 37th. Back to front and front to back.

***
Next Up:
SONY HD 500 at California Speedway
***