Your Hockey Update

I watched a lot o' hockey last night... but kinda-sorta missed out on the game I really wanted to watch, but did not.  Because of this (Mike Vaccaro, writing in the New York Post):

Now, into the Rangers’ pantheon of forever moments, we add another architect, we add another moment, we add this goal at 12:15 this morning after 114 minutes and 41 seconds of tortured, torturous, terrific hockey, a war of attrition you started to think might take us all the way to Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. face-off for Game 4.

The Rangers-Caps game started a full 30 minutes before the Preds faced off against those Feral Dogs, which was MY marquee game goin' into the evening.  Thangs change, as it's said.  I couldn't leave that Eastern game... it was just too exciting, too fast, too well-played.  The excitement and suspense continued to build all the way into the third overtime when not-so-suddenly it was over, and that's the finest sort of playoff hockey there is.  I'm sure a lot o' asses are draggin' in New Yawk today, but they're happy asses.  Not quite the same in Washington, methinks.

As for the Preds?  They won, and the game was essentially over in the first period.  I did watch piece parts of that game, going back and forth a bit, especially when the Rangers game went to the first and second intermissions, but I stayed with the Rangers-Caps once they went to OT... all of 'em.  That said, the Preds played a statement game last evening from what I saw.  Rinne is back on form, the Preds defense was stifling, and they scored just enough to win.  They're back in this series after the poorest of poor starts.

It remains to be seen if the Blues can do the same sort o' thang against those Kings.  I'm beginning to think they can't, and I'm also beginning to think the Western Conference Final is gonna be a Kings-Preds affair.  Tonight's game in El-Eh will be very revealing.  As I've often said: I have an immediate grasp of the obvious.  It's my best trait.

Heh

The whole Peter Pan crew better watch out, too.

Another Installment of "Brave New World"

My Buddy Ed In Florida sends this along...

16 years old Peter goes to the priest: "Father, I came to confess!"
"No need, I read your blog."

Heh.  Facebook, too, prolly.  Eventually one gets to a point where they don't publish everythang that happens to 'em, but I suppose it takes a while.

―:☺:―

I've had to reboot my router three times today and that's not a good sign.  Another installment of "It's always sumthin'," too.

Today's Happy Hour Soundtrack

Keef... with an homage to Al Green and/or the "Memphis Sound:"

I love the horn charts in this tune... they're subtle, yet so necessary to the success of the song.  Brilliant.

―:☺:―

We took our first beer on the verandah (see below) but called it quits shortly thereafter.  I'm not quite acclimated to the heat yet and find it takes a lot out of us, making paying attention to our reading difficult.  

About which, this: reading Hitchens is hard.  I find I can only take his essays in small doses, usually only three or four at a time, mainly because I'm off to the dictionary at least once per page (about which, again: I'm glad I'm reading on my Kindle, it makes those side trips easy) and off to The Wiki at least once per essay.  The man's encyclopedic knowledge and command of the language is frequently above my pay grade but he IS most interesting, and entertaining, so we'll continue to persevere.  Reading Hitchens is guaranteed to make the ol' "I learn sumthin' every day" cliché come true.

Jes Thinkin'...

... about whether or not we're gonna take today's Happy Hour out on the verandah.  Coz it's not nice outside:

Nearly 90 degrees and a 30-mph wind is kinda-sorta like sitting in front of a blast furnace, or bein' bathed with God's Own Hairdryer... you choose.  I've been out in it already today, what with dropping my rent check off with the friendly folks at Homespot Properties and continuing on over to The Big(ger) City™ for to give baby a bath.  The latter prolly wasn't the best ideer I've had in a while, given all the dust in the air.  The Green Hornet will look like Hell by tomorrow, or even before today is over.

(sigh)  It's always sumthin'.

George Did It!

Which is all about The One's new campaign slogan.  From Hot Air:

Of course, that’s not the direction this video takes.  It takes over three minutes looking backward, including the first minute of what took place before Obama took office.  After a brief shot at Republicans who “tried to tear this President down” — by, er, opposing his policies, which didn’t seem to bother Democrats while George W. Bush was in office — we get a couple of minutes of ball-spiking over the deaths of Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki.  When does the video get to the “Forward” part?  Er … when there are 50 seconds left in the video, and even then, it doesn’t offer any specific policy goals — just platitudes:

What follows the above is a seven-plus minute Obama campaign video, which I did NOT watch.  There are some things in life I take on faith, like Mr. Morrissey's description of the video.  Watching The One before I've finished my first cup is a bridge too far. 

Possibly Racist

That (racist) all depends on yer orientation, though.

Seriously?

Yup.  What ELSE does he have to run on?

While we're on about Obama... just in case ya missed it, here's a link to Mark Steyn's take on the dog-eat-dog world that is American politics, wherein he deploys EVERY doggie joke and cliché known to man and invents a few of his own. His piece... which is the best I've read... otta be the last word on this subject.

Aren't ALL Movies Like This?

Yup.  Thangs are much better with s'plosions.  And lasers.  And a synth soundtrack.  Alternate title: "Why I don't watch."

From the Usual Saturday Source.

Update, in the spirit of full disclosure:  I watched "The Iron Lady" the other night (gotta love PPV), so I'm not down on ALL movies.  Meryl Streep was spectacular, the screen play was lacking.  "Lacking" is being very kind... "sucks" would be more descriptive but a lot less literary.  "The Iron Lady" is to Lady Thatcher's life as Big Bird is to ornithology.  I was seriously disappointed in this movie... but what's new about that?

Winning the West

Let's hear it for the homers...

Two interesting things: NM and Florida were the only states with split outcomes; out of over 3,500 votes Florida went 38%-38% for the Blues and Preds, 15% for the Kings and 9% for the Feral Dogs.  There were only 40 votes in my hockey hotbed home when I voted and the state was gray.  I just looked at the map again... there are now all of 41 votes and the balance tipped to the Preds, turning NM gold.  Go figure, especially since I voted for the Blues.  The rest of the US?  Homers, everyone... except for those states without a dog in the hunt.  Also note that Feral Dog fans are pretty loyal, even when the rest of the world gives 'em the proverbial snowball's chance in The Hot Place.

I dunno how long this poll will be up, but you can take it here.  The poll is pretty interesting if'n you're a fan, in that you can vote on each semi-final series and who's gonna win the East, too.

Plane Pr0n and Other Stuff

From the Usual USAF Source:

First C-17 Retires: T-1, the Air Force's prototype C-17 transport, retired to the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, ending a 21-year testing career at Edwards AFB, Calif. The airplane arrived in Dayton on April 25. "This aircraft will serve as the representative C-17 airframe in the museum's collection, allowing us to share with the public more of the story of the demanding airlift missions facing today's Air Force," said museum director John Hudson. McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) workers essentially fabricated T-1 by hand to support a five-year developmental test and evaluation program, according to museum officials. Successively rebuilt, the aircraft exceeded its design life by four times while supporting various test programs since its maiden flight in September 1991. In addition to test support, the aircraft sidelined as a film star, appearing in a bunch of Hollywood films during its service life. After decommissioning, T-1 is slated to join the museum's outdoor airpark this summer, said the officials. (Dayton report by Sarah Swan)

The interesting thing about this aircraft, to me, is the fact it's a movie star.  If you click the pic on the right you can see the names of the five movies (and one music video) the aircraft "starred" in, one of which is yet to be released. 

―:☺:―

We broke the seal on the air conditioning yesterday.  Two consecutive days of record breaking heat raised our indoor temperature into the mid-80s and that was it for me.  I only ran the AC for a couple o' hours though, seein' as how it cooled down into the 70s once the sun went down.

"So, Buck... how hot WAS it?" you ask?  This hot:

That was Wednesday; yesterday it only got up to 92, which was still the record high for April 26th.  But it was hot enough, Gentle Reader... so much so that we kicked off gin & tonic season, as well.  And yeah: it was a dry heat.  This morning it's a refreshing... brisk, even... 57 degrees outside as we speak.  I have the windows open and the house is cooling down quite nicely.

―:☺:―

And then there's this...

Just until the investigation is over, Colonel.  Until then it's bid'niz as usual.

Quotable

This:

The people who must never have power are the humorless. To impossible certainties of rectitude they ally tedium and uniformity. Since an essential element of the American idea is its variety, I have tried to celebrate things that are amusing for their own sake, or ridiculous but revealing, or simply of intrinsic interest. All of the above might apply to the subject of my little essay on the art and science of the blowjob, for example, while not quite saving me from the most instantly misinterpreted of all my articles, concerning the humor deficit as registered by gender. Still, I like to believe that these small-scale ventures, too, make some contribution to a conversation without limits or proscriptions: the sin qua non of the sort of society that knows to keep the solemn and the pious at bay.

That's from the preface to Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens, which is Hitch's last published work and my current read. Apropos of the reference above, here's Hitchens' blowjob piece, which is both irreverent and truthful, not to mention literary and quite interesting.  The outraged reaction to Hitchens' piece on the feminist blogs was just as entertaining (if not more so) than the essay.  I tried to find one of the funnier examples of "outrage" but was unsuccessful in my googling (I know I read it on some blog like "Feministing" or the like).  You'll just have to take my word for it.

And we've digressed.  As usual.  The point is: keep the humorless at bay.  And NEVER fail to mock them when you have the opportunity.

Yeah

Me?  I'm tired of all the tired old rhetoric about tired old policies.  Actually, I'm tired of The One, period.  I've been that way for about three years now.

I Know the Feeling

Inside: Happ y Birthda y

Stolen from the Shoebox blog and I'm sure they don't mind... free advertising for one of their cards that's "in stores now!"

Too Much Choice

I'm just in from runnin' the day's errands which included buyin' toothpaste and that's the post title subject.  Like this:

I swear to The Deity At Hand... there HAD to be a dozen different varieties of Crest and I didn't even look at the Colgate and other brands.  This makes me wonder about toothpaste sales (as in: do they REALLY sell enough of each formula to make it worthwhile?) while wonderin' if it ain't all just the same stuff, re-badged.  It really wasn't all THAT long ago when you had just one variety of Crest, Colgate, Ipana, yadda, yadda, to choose from.

Speakin' of Ipana... I always bugged my Mom to buy Ipana when I was a kid.  Mainly outta fraternal solidarity:

You don't KNOW how much grief I got as a kid because of that damned commercial.

―:☺:―

It's warm outside, Gentle Reader.  No... make that HOT:

Tomorrow will be worse, or better... depending on your POV.  We're keeping our windows shut tight today to preserve the coolness in the Great Indoors.  We also don't wanna break the seal on the AC until we absolutely MUST.  That might could be tomorrow.

Fading Fast With No Hope for the Immediate Future

My traffic is nose-diving and I'm pretty sure I know why... it's the playoffs and I'm simply obsessed with hockey right now.  Most people are NOT so obsessed, unfortunately, so they do what any rational reader would do when confronted with the same ol', same ol' they don't wanna read: they stop.  I tend to do the same with the purely political blogs, as in "yeah, I know Obama is an idiot, what else ya got?"  So I suppose turnabout is fair play.  That said, we DO try and mix thangs up a bit, given that we have an almost immediate grasp of the obvious... which is one of our better traits.  To no avail, apparently:

Yeah... the trend does NOT look good.

That said... it's back to the world's fastest sport.  Chicago went out last night, soundly beaten by those Feral Dogs... in Chicago!... who managed to win their first-ever playoff series since they quit bein' Jets and began new lives as desert-dwelling roadrunner chasers.  That's about it, though, as I have a feeling they'll go out in the second round.  Mike Smith has been absolutely stellar in goal but I think Rinne is better.  The Preds have a better defense corps, too, and no lack of scoring firepower.  The series WILL be interesting, assuming you like goalie duels, which I do.  I predict Nashville in six.

Methinks the other semi-final in the West is harder to predict.  Like Phoenix and Nashville, both the Kings and the Blues have exceptional goalies.  Both teams can score.  Both teams have better than adequate defenses.  I really have NO idea who'll win this one, but I'm leaning towards the Blues.

And the East?  Who cares?

So... the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Stanley Cup champions are out of the playoffs, and the 2011 champions might could be eliminated tomorrow night.  Let's hear it for parity!  Or not, depending on your point of view.

The Best Sentence I've Heard or Read Lately

With apologies to blog-bud Morgan, because the title of this post was blatantly ripped off from a regularly recurring feature on his blog.  Morgan's BSIHoRL is almost always political, my one-time effort has to do with hockey (of course!).  I'm lifting it from an article in the Montreal Gazette, which was all about which team you might want to support after your team is eliminated in the playoffs (or fail to MAKE the playoffs in the Habs' case and at least one other case I can think of.  Andy.).  About which, this:

If your appreciation of hockey transcends loyalty to the hometown team, however, this is – hit it, Andy Williams – the most wonderful time of the year. The best players on the best teams are playing their best hockey, and appreciation of excellence can help salve the wounds inflicted by too many disappointing nights at the Bell Centre.

That ain't the BSIHoRL but it DOES describe why I continue to watch hockey long after the Beloved Wings have cleaned out their lockers.  The linked article goes on to describe the teams remaining in the playoffs and why Habs fans might consider rooting for 'em.  Which brings us to the subject at hand... a pithy description of New Joisey Debbils hockey:

Cautionary note: Devils still play Jacques Lemaire hockey, which is to the world’s fastest sport what necrophilia is to the world’s most pleasurable activity.

Which is why I haven't been bothered to watch one single game of the Panthers-Debbils series.  I hate, HATE, HATE the trap.  I've hated it since 1995 and I ain't about to stop now.  Necrophilia, indeed. 

So... best sentence aside, who AM I supporting now that the Wings are on the golf course?  It's still too early to tell but the safest answer would be "ANYONE but Nashville."  Or the Debbils.

Want

One thang I noticed this weekend: the bikes are out in FORCE now that the WX is predictably nice.  I've been noticing the bikes for a couple o' few weeks now... it's a personal Rite O' Spring for me.  Up until this year I'd be right out there with 'em but for various and sundry reasons I got rid o' Miss Zukiko last summer.  I'm beginning to think that was a mistake.  From an old post:

I think I'll keep my leathers.  You may think I'm weird, but I just MIGHT buy a Can-Am Spyder RS.  I didn't quit riding Miss Zukiko because I don't LIKE riding, I quit riding her because I don't have enough breath to horse her around and the sporting riding position is just too damned hard on my old bod, specifically my wrists and (what's left of) my forearms.  The Spyder has a reverse gear, yanno?  And wouldn't I look cool on one?  Much better than those geezers on Gold Wing trikes, methinks.

That's an excerpt from the post about selling my love into (light, loving) bondage.   My leathers are still hanging in the closet and I've begun thinkin' about a new moto.  But I don't think it's gonna be one of those Can-Ams... it might could be one of these:

Yeah.  In blue, just like that.  I could see myself on one of those, easily, but I'll have to sell El Casa Móvil De Pennington first.  I suppose I should get on that (no pun, of course).

Plane Pr0n

From the Usual USAF Source...

Air Frame: An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska, flies over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. (Air Force photo by SSgt. Christopher Boitz) (Click on image above to reach wallpaper version.)

That photo must have been taken in the Fall, eh?  That's some beautiful foliage below the Lawn Dart.

Schadenfreude Я Us

I know it's not good form and it's also cold, cold comfort... but it REALLY felt good watching the Sharks... the Wings' playoff nemesis these last two years... and the Flightless Birds get eliminated last night and just now, respectively.  It makes your first-round exit easier to take when your hated rivals go out in the first round as well.

So, now it's on to today's second game.  Lordy, I just LOVE this time o' year!