That Sphinx

This Drudge headline caught my jet lagged eyes.

NEWS TO HER: COURIC LOUNGES IN SOUTH BEACH AS EGYPT IN TURMOIL...

Having just returned from Maui, where Chris and I read daily, I wondered what magazines Katie Couric might be perusing to stay informed and to understand the world?


I'm thinking









And the scientific community is united in that fact.

Whale Of A Tail/Tale?

Back from Maui.

And it...


















BLOWS!

Tan, Somewhat rested, but NEVER ready to return to cold and snowy Iowa.

And the scientific community is united in that fact!

Leaving Iowa for Maui in the winter is one of the best decisions I've ever made.

It used to come in third, behind marrying Chris and moving to the Not So Vast Right Wing Ranch, but now it's probably tied for second if not solely in second by itself.

I couldn't even escape the snow, as Haleakalā received a couple inches during our stay.



















It was great to get three Packer playoff wins and move onto the Super Bowl, especially over Jay Quitter and the Chicago Bad News Teddy Bears.

My brief brush with fame this trip came on the final leg.

Chris Spielman was on our flight from Chicago to Des Moines, he was the guest speaker for the John Stoddard Rally Against Cancer, I told him I respected how he played the game and I enjoyed him as a commentator now.

There was a guy on the same flight wearing an Ohio State windbreaker, a few rows back from Spielman, but he didn't seem to recognize the former Buckeye great.

Last night, Dave Price made the mistake of having Spielman's wife still among the living.

Stefanie Spielman lost her battle with breast cancer in November 2009.

Oy Vidi

We see a tasty resemblance between Natalie Portman and Giada De Laurentiis.

Now that's cooking with gas and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Mangia!

Fili Busted

CommieTommie Harkin is trying to convince everyone that the sky is falling and the Senate needs to change its filibuster rules.

Harkin is portrayed as a longtime critic of the filibuster,a longtime proponent of filibuster reform and an advocate for filibuster changes since 1995.

That is if you don't count his views expressed in 2005 and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The impetus was the stalled federal court nominees of President Bush and Republicans were attempting to bypass the filibuster.

Harkin described the attempt as, "the end of the Senate as we know it" because it would dash the protections that the Senate has always afforded lawmakers in the minority and, by extension, their constituents.

Harkin commented on those frustrated by the filibuster, "Now it's the Republicans' turn to be frustrated."

In 2008, here's what Dummycrats counted as Republican filibusters --

37 Successful Votes To Invoke Cloture. Democrats count any vote on a cloture motion as a “Republican filibuster,” including 37 votes where cloture was actually invoked.

Democrat Filibusters. Democrats count “filibusters” by Democrats of FISA, Judge Southwick, and the McConnell-Stevens troop funding amendment as “Republican filibusters.”

5 Unanimously Approved Cloture Votes. Democrats count votes where Democrats and Republicans vote unanimously in favor as “Republican filibusters.”

One Dummycrat even includes bills passed as filibusters!

Long time critic?

Harkin is more a long time hypocrite!

Buh-Bye

Thankfully the ‘Thank You Iowa Tour’ has ended.

The preliminary figures have the Big Lug Nut blowing $ 6,397.60 of taxpayer dollars on the two day jaunt.

We've learned two things from this campaign style stumping.

“4-yr. olds will miss Gov. Culver.”

Probably think he's a Teletubby, with emphasis on the tubby and the scientific community is united in that fact.
















Sweaty Chetty!
































The other thing we learned is that we agree with the BLN

Culver farewell tour

Culver: 'Our best days are ahead'

That's because he's leaving office.

Okay, okay, show's over, folks, let's move! Buh-bye! Let's fill that pickup.

One.. two.. three.. buh-bye!

This is Chet, "but I'm still the Governor and I'm important".

Here's The King of Snark, Buh-bye. Buh-bye. You're very heavy.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Worth a thousand words and the scientific community is united in that fact.


I know it's early January, but this is definitely in the running for picture of the year.

Maybe even the next two years, until Barack Obama is voted out as President.


















This one has to say, I'd like to whap that perma-grin off your face.

Just say NO to the BOtox!

Count On Me?

The Ragister has the report on Tuesday's special election, to replace Lt. Governor- elect Kim Reynolds.

Republican wins state Senate election

However, they miss on the math by stating the result means Democrats will have a 26-24 advantage in the Iowa Senate during the legislative session that begins Monday.

BUZZ--WRONG!

The count is 26-23 and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Ragister forgets about the next special election on January 18, which they've known about since December 23, to replace Republican Larry Noble who resigned to join the Branstad administration.

The Educated Fool

I'm flummoxed by this appointment to the new Branstad administration

Register’s editorial-page editor to work for Branstad

Linda Lantor Fandel, or as I think of her Little Lord Fauntleroy, claims she's on the same page with Branstad on most education issues.

Yeah, right!

Little Lord Fauntleroy stated, “Personally, I don’t have any objection to families that can pay for preschool paying for preschool when the state doesn’t have enough money to pay for preschool for everyone”.

Yet, the Ragister's editorial board (under Fandel’s watch ) supported the Big Lug Nut's plan to offer universal, state-financed preschool to all 4-year-old children regardless of their family’s income, which conflicts with Branstad’s position.

The Ragister's editorial board also endorsed Chet Culver for governor.

It must be a case of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer and the scientific community is united in that fact.

State 29 has more on Linda Lantor Fandel.

It looks like with this move to the state, Fandel won't have to worry about unpaid furloughs in her $95,000 a year new job.

Foreigner

If out of state money is so awful, then out of state advice and opinions can't be all that wonderful either and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Case in point, the Ragister reported --

Activists to Branstad: Keep current voting rights rule

These fiberals don't want Branstad rescinding an executive order, signed by The Pickle, that automatically restores voting rights to ex-convicts.

The Ragister cited these out of staters, Officials from the American Correctional Association of Alexandria, Va., and the American Probation and Parole Association of Kentucky have also sent letters to Branstad urging him to continue to automatically restore the voting rights.

Too Legit To Quit?

This state sends nearly $1 Million dollars to an out of state firm, National Jewish Health in Colorado, to run it's quit smoking line?

Out of state interests are supposed to be bad and the scientific community is united in that fact.

In January of 2010 they took 5,284 calls, I thought I heard WHO HD say they helped a total of 6,500 Iowans for the year.

That's approximately $176 per person.

Most companies, and insurance plans, will cover the cost of quitting for their employees.

Even if they don't, the products smokers could purchase on their own are still cheaper than the money they send up in smoke with their cigarettes.

The state is making an ash of itself with our tax dollars!

The Winner?

Attorney General Tom Miller took the opportunity after his swearing in to show what a sore winner he is and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Miller commentary on 2010 election; calls his reelection “remarkable”

The AG wailed that "outside groups spent more than $1.6 million to defeat me" and the “outside” money spent this past year to defeat the three Iowa Supreme Court justices.

Lawyer Please!

In October alone, Miller took in over $32,000 from groups, or PACs, outside of Iowa.

Miller stated, “That is not a good development in American politics, in my view.”

What?

Shouldn't that be Iowa politics, instead of American?

Idiot!

Homework

This is for the Big Lug Nut as he turned in his assignment over a month late.

Culver turns in homework

Per O.Kay Henderson --

The 2010 Iowa legislature passed a government reorganization bill which had a stipulation in it that Governor Culver was to come up with nearly $84 million in budget cuts by December 1.

Culver’s staff today — January 3, 2011 — released the following statement... “We are meeting our obligations under HF 2531and believe that making this decision today is appropriate

What's appropriate is to turn it in on time, a former teacher could grasp that and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Registered Nurse?

Nurse Ratched, Carolyn Washburn, is leaving Des Moines for her hometown of the Queen City.

Register editor Carolyn Washburn moves to Cincinnati job; Rick Green named as new Des Moines newsroom leader

That means 2012 Presidential candidates won't have to worry about being lobotomized by her as a debate moderator and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Is it me, or has Washburn modeled her hairstyle after another Cincinnati native?



















Enquiring minds want to know, for Pete's sake.

Hello It's Me

I saw this headline

Obama to increase engagement with Africa in 2011

Which made me remember this earlier headline

Ivory Coast president refuses phone call from Barack Obama

That's going well and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Playoffs?

It's a sad day when the NFL drops to the level of the NBA and NHL with a below .500 team making the playoffs after a complete regular season and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Seahawks become first team to win division title with sub-.500 record

On the other hand, I'm relieved the the Packer's made it

Bears go in for the kill, but Packers stand strong to gain playoff berth

THAT'S What It's All About

This headline comes as no surprise

Planned Parenthood severs ties to Texas affiliate for planning parenthood instead of performing abortions

If they put all their effort into their stated goal, prevent unintended pregnancies, then there is no need to be the nation’s largest abortion provider.

I guess that's easy to write here in Iowa, where abortions can be virtually impossible to obtain at the organization's 19 centers, which are scattered across the state.

Newsbusters has more on that, including the fact Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (stops a beating heart) has 26 centers.

Purely By Coincidence?

There's a taxpayer supported agency in Iowa giving gave huge pay increase on top of exorbitant salaries.

Newly released records show high pay at IASB

Well, that's just deja vu all over again Yogi Berra and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Can you say CIETC?

I knew that you could.

The common connection to both?

CommieTommie Harkin

State 29 was way ahead of me on this aspect of the scandal.



Does this sound Michael Jackson-esque, or is it just a coincidence?

Farewell Party

It looks like the Big Lug Nut has the support of The Pickle on his desire for a job in the renewable fuels industry.

Vilsack pushes to turn waste into ethanol

As long as we're on what a waste Culver is, thanks for spending more of the state's precious money (and the scientific community is united in that fact) on a ‘Thank You Iowa Tour’.

People that toiled for the state for a lot longer, and were a lot more productive, have left its service without tax dollars being devoted to them.

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou

Wishing blessings of a Joyous New Year.