Speaks for itself.

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Secrets In the Earth

Here's an interesting, newfound puzzle.

My thoughts initially ran between a concrete grave marker for one or two family pets (depending on whether or not Fluff and Coomp were two different pets or two names for the same pet, as sometimes happens in a household) that the kids were allowed to inscribe, or it's a club treasure trove sealed securely years back and perhaps all but forgotten as some or all of the kids moved away. Right or wrong, that's what I passed along to the gent.

Subsequently, I realized that the part that doesn't fit for me is the space in the middle. Now it's looking more like an inscribed foundation for something that was subsequently removed from the base. If the base was poured at one time and then something else grouted/mortared to it later (and there's definitely signs of that), that grout/mortar likely would have remained the weak link. If nothing is found beneath the "marker" then it most likely was just a base for something long gone. Probably something a previous family took with them - a bit of statuary, perhaps a birdbath or a smallish brick barbecue grill, not wanting to bother digging up that base.

I'll be interested to see what, if anything, is beneath it. Since he'd already taken photos he's well-situated to respectfully excavate it and to be able to restore it if it does turn out to be a pet's grave site.

It isn't as if one could reasonably expect the man to just cover it up without at least trying to find out what it's about.

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The Challenge

This first came my way yesterday via one friend and today via a political group, so I thought I'd pass along the Bush-McCain Challenge. A quick quiz to give you a taste of what to expect should we be saddled with President McCain.

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Iron Man Weekend

Almost here for me.

I likely won't get out to see it until sometime Saturday - making a round of several comics shops for Free Comic Book Day to get, among other things, the free Iron Man Heroclix piece - and making a family visit along the way.

All reports thusfar have been positive, though, for this first of a slate of films Marvel's developing under a wonderfully protected $525 million fund they established three years ago, finally beginning to bear fruit.

The movie reportedly cost $150 million for production and $75 million in promotions, so there's a big chunk to overcome up front, but so far it seems poised to take it.

A co-worker saw it last night (they started showing it as early as 9pm Thursday, making me wish I'd checked -- I'd presumed that a midnight showing would be the first) and gave a positive report. I'm sure I'll have something to say about it by late Saturday.

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marriedtothesea.com

Thanks to Darren for tipping me off to married to the sea. Since Tony already ran the one in the bunch that caught my eye early on as I started to work backwards through the archives, I went with the one above, which was one of many to get a good laugh out of me.

As who knows how many Indiana Republicans are going to wade into the Primary next Tuesday to vote for Hillary so that McCain can potentially steamroll her come November... Feh.

Listening to Governor Mitch Daniels chuckle about how some of them might just want to have some fun" found me nearly loathing the man. (It's near the end of a 5 minute interview found here.) I find it difficult to believe it would strike him as so whimsical were it the GOP candidates locked in what's really proving to be a destructive struggle, and Al Franken was advising Democrats to vote for the candidate who has 15 years or more of deep-set demonization (deserved or not) caked on him.

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Well, I did my part

I voted yesterday. While the state fell to Clinton, Obama still picked up almost as many delegates and is still running some 126 ahead. My suspicions remain that a significant number of the 160,000 PA Republicans who switched to Democrat this year did so to help keep Clinton in the race so the internal fighting can continue, and potentially help her win the nomination so they can go vote for McCain in the fall.

It's a simple, but in its way brilliant strategy, as the Clinton supporters' reflex is to deny it, putting forth an argument where they confuse those newly signed up to the voter rolls with the Republicans in Democrats' clothing. The Dems fight among themselves and become gradually more partisan.

At the moment it's all mostly unpleasant, but it's far from over.

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Ye gods! It's April 18th?!

No special significance to the date, at least not that comes to mind. It's simply that I haven't posted anything here since March 13th.

Well, at least my taxes were filed a bit before the deadline. I managed to do one thing right.

Some ups, several downs, and another month plus ripped from my calendar. I really need to be more careful about such things. My calendars aren't as inexhaustible as I would like to believe. Not that I needed a reminder on that front, but on Wednesday night a member of my usual lunchtime work quartet lost his father to protracted illness; I'm expecting that the next time I see him will be at the funeral, probably sometime next week. (Details will likely be coming through sometime today.)

Thanks are overdue to Tammy & Darren for both a kung-fu fighting singing card and a fine, bright red shirt with Alex Ross' dynamic reinterpretation of the "Captain America Lives Again!" cover for Avengers #4.

It's essentially the image shown here, minus the Submariner-in-the-sky foreboding watermark, with the original logo, etc from the 1963 original.

Thanks!

We have the PA Primary coming up next Tuesday, but aside from noting that Obama continues to have my support and, as we've discussed the candidates at some length here at the ranch, he'll be getting more than my vote out the Nortons. It likely won't be enough to bridge the final point gap between Obama and the tic-like entrenchment Clinton has among the unsteadily aged and the barely-closeted KKK contingent here in the Keystone State, but it's our part to do.

I am concerned that there has been some word that some (many?) of those who were newly-registered - March 24th was the cut-off - may find that when they show up to vote, even with ID, that they're names aren't in place. While not immediately rushing to accuse it on political games I've gotten too many reports of how worthless many provisional voting forms turn out to be - pulled into the shadows and essentially shredded - to feel good about that.

I'd like to say a few things about the farce ABC put on earlier this week, the supposed Democratic debate that far too much of was given over to moronic non-issues, but I'm running short on time this morning. So, I'll simply note that ABC has fallen short yet again, forgetting that a news program should exist to inform, not to pander to the concerns of morons, and to also note that George Stephanopoulos should've just been issued a satanic imp costume, complete with a plastic pitchfork so he could have danced, capered and physically poked at the candidates in a fashion befitting the dignity and significance of many of his questions. While probably not his lowest moment, the "does Reverend Wright love America as much as you do?" question was definitely reaching deep towards the bottom of the barrel.

The frightening thing is that George is probably more in touch with what passes for minds among some of the potential voters who are easily swayed by the degree to which someone is willing to enthusiastically wrap himself in the flag. That Clinton jumped on the bandwagon in any attempt to gain an edge, and made statements that suggested she will either be a hypocrite or would continue some of the current administration's stand-office foreign policy by refusing to meet with even some world leaders apparently because they've said mean things (and so, I suppose, would tar her by association) -- all of it made it more certain that Obama gets my vote on the 22nd, and should Clinton be the eventual nominee come November she'll only get my vote in another of the seemingly endless parade of lesser of two evils ballots, as I could not possibly endorse McCain.

A busy enough day ahead, if plans stay on track I'll be heading to Crypt Leak and Abbygal's tomorrow (Edit: When Microbes Attack! Our hostess has been hobbled once again by the invisible enemy, not Dick Cheney, and so plans are tentatively pushed to Sunday) for a relaxing afternoon/evening. For now, though, it's off into this sunny day.

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...and she'll take the low road

It's been another too-busy day, but I have to take a few moments to note a quote from Hillary Clinton I heard this morning.

"That was his choice, Steve" she said in an interview with Steve Inskeep. "There was no rule or requirement that he take his name off the ballot. His supporters ran a very aggressive campaign to try to get people to vote uncommitted."

Oh, right, Hill. I'm sure "uncommitted" really drew something like the same vote an actual name would have... in primaries where the electorate was already told their delegates wouldn't count. Winsies for you.

I could barely believe it.

The voice sounded right, but I thought maybe my mind had wandered and I was actually hearing some Clinton campaign aid/spokesperson talking too much off the cuff. But, no, it was the candidate herself.

I understand the unwillingness to believe that her presumed frontrunner status has become part of the past, and being surrounded by supporters can only make that more difficult to accept. However, clinging to a sham move like this only reminds me of every poor sport I've ever played a game with, looking for any petty technicality to in order to win.

Much of any respect I may have had for her was at least momentarily swept away. I can only hope she has or will come to regret it -- in the thoughtful process of reflection, I mean, and not simply the calculated maneuvering of a politician.

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Saturday Into Sunday

Yesterday there was some weather about...

...and while it briefly looked as if my Saturday plans over at Abbygal & Crypt Leak's place might be washed away like Piglet, we mostly lucked out and plans were un-canceled, save for Eric G. having exited the plans the night before (though we didn't know until going for 5 on Saturday due to some communications problems) as he headed West to help his parents out with imminent flooding from heavier rains than we ended up getting.

Good conversation, snacking flowing into eating and back into snacking, and time spent as A-Gal (mostly her, because they were her characters and it was more entertaining this way rather than having us fumble around through unfamiliar mechanics) moved her character along through the challenges of being stranded on an island.

..which is considerably more dramatic of a presentation than what we actually went through, as since with other Sims games much of the activity is making sure one's characters keep clean, fed, toileted, rested and generally happy while trying to build up skills and accomplish various goals.

Hugging chimps to raise your spirits and in hopes of gaining allies who'll help you gather supplies, identifying plants by trying to eat them, trying to build a shelter (and keep it in good repair), cook some food without burning the place down (hint: Don't try to cook either inside or immediately next to home), and magically store and retrieve collected items from one's nether regions.... it's a full-time job!

Jason - whose morning and afternoon had been mostly spent cleaning out his father's fish tank, safely reintroducing the fish and then assiduously scrubbing the stank off himself so he wouldn't have to bring rice balls to complete the picture - arrived closer to 6, bringing ice cream and root beer for eventual dessert. He'd bought his PS-3 over, but we never got around to that.

In the end, C.L., Jason and I stayed up much later than we should have (something made easier with the Daylight Saving Time leap as 1:59 AM yielded instantly to 3AM) -- A-Gal having had enough sense to go to sleep when she became tired, apparently remembering that she might actually want to accomplish something Sunday rather than sleep in -- skipping through the cable channels.

Today was off to an expected late start for me, but I already have chickens seasoned and roasting on the rotisserie, and a pot of sliced potatoes cooking (they'll become garlic cheddar mashed potatoes) and a start to some other chores. Aside from a brief run out I'll be mostly sticking to home today -- much more than enough to do, though some of it includes workplace work (calculations and reports) I brought home with me. I'm expecting this to be another difficult week, with more demands than time will allow.

Time to check on those potatoes...

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Just to clarify...

Under George W. Bush, we are the evil empire. Not that we really needed the reminder. (Edit: Some related expansions to the post.)

Isn't there a Fox tv show in this somewhere? Suspects Say The Craziest Things?

Along similar lines (passed along via email by Dwight Williams) we see that related issues are matters of a political battle in court, and so of some at least momentary scrutiny, up in Canada. Court discussions are underway concerning a government's responsibility (and, so, one presumes culpability) with respect to conditions in Afghani prisons when they turn prisoners over to Afghanistan officials. Up for argument will be whether or not they are under any obligation to gain real assurances that the prisoners won't be tortured.

Aside from any basic notions of decency and what each nations claims to be what they stand for, officials should remember that if one has power over anyone's life and fate then he has moral and ethical responsibilities to those people. If one isn't up to that responsibility then he has no business being in office.

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Who's On Top?

Well, now that the possibility of a joint ticket is on the table - however premature each understandably feels it to be - hopefully it'll mark a generally more civil tone from here on out. One way or another they're going to be pulling for the same win come November. Sure, it could get nasty and then they could just pretend it didn't mean anything afterwards, but that's also one of the reasons I lost much of the respect I once had for Senator McCain.

I did find it amusing that Hillary found it worthwhile to note that Ohio had made it clear who should be on the top of such a ticket, as it immediately raises the question of whether or not the run of, eleven or twelve states that Barach won should all be considered subordinate to the will of Ohio.

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So... We Actually Count This Year

After yesterday's primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island the Democratic race is still up for grabs. On the 8th (this Saturday) the Democrats have a primary in Wyoming, then on the 11th both parties have on in Mississippi. After that it's on to here -- Pennsylvania. The GOP race is sewn up as McCain has his requisite delegates and Huckabee has dropped out of the race, so the GOP can now all fall in line and watch the Clinton and Obama campaigns for specific weaknesses in whichever one finally takes the nomination.

So, I'm expecting the primary focus to be shifting here to PA now, where at last look Clinton was still seen as strong though I know that the Obama campaign has been making headway. This race could go the distance and still easily find itself being decided by the superdelegates, since the eventual nominee still needs around 500 more delegates than each currently is being assigned. The current count seems to change from place to place because some spots are already counting superdelegates who've "pledged" their votes to a candidate, while others aren't since those votes can only be cast at the convention itself; until then even the pledged ones are just promises, and, well, this is politics. Besides, early-pledging superdelegates may find themselves re-thinking their vote after they see how their own constituencies vote.

Looking down the row, here are the Democratic primaries ahead of us and the number of delegates (not counting local superdelegates, just the voters) each will contribute:

March 8 Wyoming 12
March 11 Mississippi 33
April 22 Pennsylvania 158
May 6 Indiana 72
North Carolina 115
May 13 West Virginia 28
May 20 Kentucky 51
Oregon 52
June 3 Montana 16
South Dakota 15

So, barring some significant sweeps or a completely unexpected concession, this easily could go all the way to the party's convention, August 25-28 in Denver, Co.

What I'll be watching for will be signs of how the GOP machine attempts to influence the Democratic race. My expectation is that they (as I do) see Hillary Clinton as the easier opponent to defeat if for no other reason than GOP voters will come out to vote against her who otherwise might not feel compelled to bother voting. Some fifteen years of active demonization have some responding reflexively to her as the Antichrist. To a lesser degree, as one friend more or less put it, I think Republican strategists are more worried about being potentially characterized as racist than they are about a misogynist label.

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