Monthly Archives: October 2009

The Real Deal

That’s the name of Mr. B.’s "newspaper," a two- to three-page stapled collection of brief items, generally about favorite video games, bloopers at recess or clandestine food fights in the cafeteria. Some kids sell lemonade. Mr. B., being the child of two ink-stained wretches, is venturing into journalism.

I worry about possible angry administrators or even parents if some of his items wind up embarrassing another child. Mrs. Charm says I’m making too much of it. Mr. B. wants to sell his papers for twenty-five cents each at recess. He’s got visions of more than a hundred potential dollars. I demur, figuring the school will not like him doing that. Mrs. C., well, you know. It’s certainly not at this level, but I worry that the consequences could be similar. So far I’m losing. So we shall see what we see.

White House Photo of The Day

whitehousepod.jpg

Caption says the "reporters" are studying the inscriptions on the shovels for the ceremonial dirt-turning for a memorial tree for fallen American troops. You know, while Barry dithers about whether they need reinforcements or not. This is what the legacy media does these days instead of asking hard questions. Bush quietly met with the survivors of the fallen. Barry turns their deaths into a photo op and a tree-planting. Frankly I think he prefers them fallen. The fallen don’t talk back.

Via Mudville Gazette.

Surveillance pumpkin

Perfect. Just what we need to keep an eye on the little buggers Saturday night. Now all we have to do is draw more than the usual three or four. Takes numbers to get confident for mischief, you know.

Via Instapundit.

I Have Lived A Thousand Years

Livia Bitton-Jackson’s 1999 young-adult book is not the first Holocaust memoir I’ve read, but it may be the most memorable. Not an easy read, of course, none of them are. I had to put it down several times and go off and do something else to forestall being consumed by anger and tears.

Especially affecting is the fact that she was only thirteen when her Czechoslovakian family was humiliated by the invading Hungarians, turned over to the SS and shipped to Auschwitz. Only the infamous Dr. Mengele saved her from the gas, telling her at "selection" to lie that she was sixteen, because she was tall for her age and he was struck by her blond hair and blue-green eyes. He’d apparently never seen a Jew who looked Aryan.

All the pertinent details of the experience are revealed, slowly in dramatic fashion. The recreated scenes and dialogue (and telescoped events) are more historical fiction than unadulterated fact. Which is not to question their truth, however. In the end, her story of strength and survival in the face of so much cruelty and heartbreak is inspiring. Some of us really can survive almost anything. Of course, she was left with much to work through: "My friends, my family, all those achingly dear to me, my entire world, rose up in smoke, vanished."

The book’s dedication is especially touching: "…to the children in Israel who, unsung and unacclaimed, risk their lives every day just by traveling to school…the only guarantee that a Holocaust will never happen again."

That, and the fact that they are protected by the IDF.

Barry’s war on the coal industry

Sometimes it really looks like Obamlot is out to destroy the economy and much else. Or maybe they mean well but are just too stupid to figure it out. Where, for instance, do they think the electricity comes from? Pssst, guys, it’s not in the wall. It’s mostly from coal. What do they think people will do without ample electricity? Start an insurrection, probably. They sure ain’t gonna freeze in the dark while Michele and Barry party and play golf.

Cornwall Cows

Cornwall cows.jpg

Or, as who should say, Longhorns’ Bevo in serious need of a haircut. Via Still Muttering.

The notorious Soupy Sales

Absent from all the Soupy obits I have seen is the most famous episode known among us (then) adolescents back in the days of his show. He is said to have been fired for holding up his hand, palm inward, to the camera, with the index, middle and ring fingers showing.

He lowered the index finger saying that it was for his producer, then the ring finger saying it was for his director. The middle finger, which he left standing in the classic configuration, he said was for the sponsor. I have no idea whether the story was true, but being high adolescent humor, of course, it circulated like wildfire among us at the time. It made the man a myth in our hearts.