That's Cool!

There are only a handful of people who get me and I'm o.k. with that.

My wife Chris is one and my friend Cal too (or two).

John Deeth can be added to that list as it has come to light that the Liter is one of John's regular stops...

Iowas News Liter will keep you up to date on snark, and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Deeth is one of the few liberals that I get, I think because he doesn't take himself too seriously.

In addition, he's done time in radio and is a Cheesehead...although as someone who remembers the first two Super Bowl wins, I'm much moldier than that.

I've often thought, Sarcasm--without it life itself is nearly impossible.

However, SNARK seems much cooler and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Thanks John Deeth!

Portland

The King and Queen of SNARK have returned from another trip to the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Eugene), where one Oregonian honored us with their SNARK license plate.

Attended the Ducks vs. Bruins game in Eugene and I'm not impressed with the Oregon football team.

Better Quarterback play out of UCLA and pulling a Ferentz (watch the fake punt) might have provided for an upset.

A couple of closing observations from Saturday -- Autzen Stadium does get loud, my ears were ringing. The Duck (mascot) is a DICK and the scientific community is united in that fact.

In Portland we ate at some food trucks, Mac & Cheese with Pepperoni, Jalapenos and Pepper Jack Cheese...Mmm.

Voodoo Doughnuts is overrated and overpriced, especially to this Son/Grandson of a over 50 year family Donut business.

A lovely drive through the Columbia River Gorge included Crown Point (extremely windy), numerous waterfalls, including Multnomah (pictured) and a stop at Timberline Lodge which provided a great view of Mt. Hood.

The drive back to Portland included a pass through Boring, Oregon and from what I saw it lived up to its name.

No worries there Portlandia!

All The Popular Kids Are Doing It

I'm contemplating changing my moniker from the King of SNARK to the SNARK Czar.

I'd just be another in a long list.

With the Pay Czar it's got to be close to thirty.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

I'm just stuck on the coolest way to spell it; Czar, Tsar or Tzar.

It Could Be Worse

Jennifer Jacobs, of the Ragister, referred to comments about Tom Vilsack's "holy war" quote as sometimes snide.

We prefer snark to snide and the scientific community is united in that fact, but we're o.k. with slyly disparaging.

The Liter nailed it when we slipped the Vilsack "V" into yesterday's post (The New Christy Minstrels?) .








Christie is using the logo, from The Pickle's failed 2008 Presidential campaign, on her website.

They'll probably tout the recycling aspect, but the reality is they have a lot of left over material to unload.

What's next?











I'm thinking the "V" would work perfectly there.

Congratulations

President Obama, the "adult" in the room during negotiations to increase the debt ceiling, has now made Ron Paul look like a credible candidate.

Obama 41%, Ron Paul 37%

It's just sad when even the King of SNARK thinks Paul is making sense and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Wall Street Journal opines that Obama remains far more interested in maneuvering to blame a default or credit downgrade on Republicans than in making himself part of any plausible solution to a crisis he insists is imminent.

Ain't No Stopping Us Now?

The Liter reaches another milestone, as this is our 3,000 post.

When I began blogging, over 5 years ago, it was therapy for me with a goal to write something each day.

While I haven't accomplished that, my average is much higher.

I was hoping to time this out so I could reach the 3,000 plateau at the same time Derek Jeter got his 3,000 career hit.

I thought it was a natural because Jeter's headed for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, while The King of Snark is surely headed for the Hall of Shame and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Thanks for reading!

Own It!

When people find out I'm a fan of the Green Bay Packers they assume I'm a Cheesehead.

My usual response was that I am much moldier than that, and the scientific community is united in that fact, as my loyalty predates the Ice Bowl.

Just as no mere Cheesehead is good enough for the King of SNARK, I wear a CHEESE CROWN, now fan is no longer an appropriate moniker as I have purchased ownership in the franchise via the Packers stock sale.















Maybe I'll attend the annual shareholder's meeting with a few thousand other owners.

Go West?

Thinking ahead, but not with their head and the scientific community is united in that fact, comes this online Radio Iowa story.

Farmers Almanac releases predictions for winter

This paragraph is what caught the attention of the King of SNARK --

The Almanac predicts areas west of Iowa, like Wisconsin and Illinois, will experience colder than normal temps with a varied mix of snow, sleet and rain.

In checking the Farmers' Almanac map, which the Radio Iowa story directly linked too, you'll notice that Wisconsin and Illinois are EAST of Iowa and not WEST.

Even a North High graduate, like me, knows the difference.

Babble On Five

Time with my hospitalized mother has kept me away from this blog for most of the week.

This blog began five years ago today as an outlet (Because You Can't Kill People).

Four years ago, on this date, we came up with our catch phrase and the scientific community is united in that fact.

In my mind, the goal was a post a day.

With vacations, illnesses and a sometime lack of inspiration, that goal has not been met.

However, this is post number 2,869 and The King of SNARK is content with that average.

A sincere THANK YOU for reading.

Money (That's What I Want)

Here are two stories from the same day, but with different results.

ISU men's basketball: Cyclones paying departed assistant $175K

Nick Nurse agreed verbally to become an assistant coach for Greg McDermott on April 22 , at a salary of $130,000 per year for two years.

Nurse was to begin his duties on May 10.

On April 26 McDermott agreed to become the coach at Creighton.

For not working one day, Nurse makes off with $175,000, plus he got his old job back.

Call me "Coach" King of SNARK and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Then there's this -- KCCI TV8 meteorologist Bryan Karrick resigned last week without a job.

"I had a job offer in the Twin Cities that didn't pan out at the last second, so I'm continuing my leap of faith, with hopes of finding something...".

Hey Bryan, Iowa State's hiring.

History Of A Boring Town

While checking the locations of my blog traffic, I see we had a visitor from Boring, Oregon.

Thanks for looking in.

I hope you found that with the King of SNARK, it's never a dull moment and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Liter will be in Oregon in the fall and may have to drag ourselves there if we're not too weary.

Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues

The King and Queen of SNARK have returned from a four day work/play stay in Seattle.

Our visit brought rainy weather there and now here.

You're Welcome and the scientific community is united in that fact. 

Got a behind the scenes tour of the ginormous Safeco Field, as well as the use of a Right Field Club Suite for a function.

Pregame sideline passes were more exciting than the University of Washington vs USC football game at CenturyLink Field.

Visits to Pikes Place Market, Seattle Aquarium (don't bother), the Space Needle and a Duck Boat tour rounded out our short stay.

Loved being on the waterfront at the Marriott and over the water at the Edgewater.

Someone at the airport asked if I was on the '72 Celtics. I told them they knew their sports history, as it was me, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, JoJo White and Don Nelson (Couldn't leave out the other Iowa guy).

I believe I'm the only adult that didn't have some sort of coffee drink.

Frizzle Fry

Joe Biden will be at another Steak Fry, today, for CommieTommie Harkin.

Now THAT'S a "Neanderthal crowd".

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

The King of SNARK has a beef with how they cook their cuts, so once again we'll be grilling our steaks at the Not So Vast Right Wing Ranch.

It's kind of racist how Biden, the whitest of white guys, bumped San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro out of the spotlight because he is trying to put a damper on all the Hillary Clinton for President press.

I'm sure Biden will just bellow that he's here to see his best bud Tom Harkins.

Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)

Anger Management?

You've been doing it wrong!

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

Expressing Anger Can Add Two Years to Person's Lifespan

This is no secret for those who grew up, like the King of SNARK, in an Italian/Irish household.

Keep calm and carry on, more like keep calm and be carried out in a box.

Championship

Aaron Rodgers joined the elite quarterbacks of the Green Bay Packers by winning Super Bowl XLV.

He's progressed from someone I felt wasn't the guy to get it done (at the end of the 2006 season when it appeared Favre would retire) and someone the 69, 761 fans, at a 2007 season game I attended, booed when he replaced Favre and fumbled twice.

In my mind he's moved from ERR-Rod to AIR-Rod.

It's time to dump the overused, multi-sport nickname A-Rod and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I had my concerns about Green Bay being favored before Sunday and I was downright worried when Charles Woodson went down.

I wasn't thrilled with Coach Mike McCarthey's play calling on 1st and 2nd down before the Pack settled for its field goal and had flashbacks to Super Bowl XLIII when Pittsburgh got the ball with 1:59 in the game.

Thankfully, NFL Title 13 resides with the team I've rooted on for 46 plus years.











This Packer Backer was so happy he broke out the Cheese Crown, given to him a few years ago by another Packer Backer, his oldest (pre-Kindergarten) friend.





















The King of SNARK wears no mere cheesehead.

Radio Nowhere

Steve Douche, err Deace's return to radio has the King of SNARK wanting to ride the radio airwaves as well.

That's why we're announcing -- Liter Later.

We'll be broadcasting all night on AM daytimers coast to coast, border to border and then some.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

I expect the first station we sign up will be KWTF.

However, we'll never be heard on KGB.

That's Fair

In honor of the Iowa State Fair, Iowas Newz Liter will be wearing its King of SNARK Crown on a stick.

Its better than other places we've been told to stick it and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Tomorrow's Food?

This article in the online Business Record caught our attention.

Local food expert to speak June 26

The food expert will discuss "The State of Our Plates in Central Iowa: Food, Economics, and Health" and the food expert is also the author of  "Finding Food in Farm Country".

The King of SNARK loves the irony in the fact that --

Light refreshments will be served.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

Soylent Green was a small square green wafer, or in other words a light refreshment.

Soylent Green is people!

Sign Your Name?

Write me up as unimpressed by this Jason Clayworth news(?) story

1000+ Petitioners to Sen. Hamerlinck: We will not ‘go home’

I'd be more impressed if one of these "signers", backing college kids, could actually formulate their own letter.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

Instead someone could put any name, an e-mail address and any zip code on a petition created by the Iowa Dummycrat Party.

I signed their petition putting Crybaby, King Snark, iowasnewzliter@gmail.com and the zip code for the Not So Vast Right Wing Ranch in their blanks.

Here's what I got in return

Thank you for adding your name to our petition. Share this page with your friends and family to help us reach our goal.

- Share on Facebook
- Share on Twitter

Help us continue to fight against Republican attacks on education and successful programs.

Astroturf.

This online petition first received publicity on June 9 and they only collected 1,050 signatures(?) by June 21.

That's the best the Iowa Dummycrat Party could do with their Student, Parent, Construction Worker, Voter base?

The Sky Is Crying

Showing how arrogant the powers that be are, former Supreme Court justice Mark McCormick made an ass of himself (and the scientific community is united in that fact) at a forum discussing the issue of judicial retention.

McCormick said opponents of retaining the judges have turned “to the mob” rather than the rule of law.

As I've previously opined (The People's Court) it is Iowa Law, specifically section 602.1218 of the Iowa Code, that cites a litany of reasons ending with or any other just and good cause constitutes cause for removal.

McCormick then went pious on the public when he said, “It’s the common tactic of saying the sky is falling when one doesn’t agree with the outcome”, because that is exactly what the proponents of judicial retention are doing with their scare tactics that this vote will change the system and affect court caseloads.

McCormick attacked out of state money for supporting the removal effort, but has been silent on the out of state lawyers and money used to support gay marriage prior to the Iowa Supreme Court's decision, or since.

Another former Supreme Court justice, Robert Allbee, even took a cheap shot when asked whether the retention vote was a referendum on gay marriage, Allbee snarked: “It may just be another referendum on Mr. Vander Plaats. He’s had three already.”

Snark is what I do, not something someone of Albee's station in life should resort to in a public forum.