Category Archives: Texana

Back to school

Posted on August 26, 2012 | Comments Off on Back to school

G-d’s mercy returns. Mr. B. goes back to middle school tomorrow morning. Now all I have to do is monitor his zeros on the local gradespeed dealie the school system provides. And bat any incoming teacher emails back with an appropriate answer.

The zeros he gets when he doesn’t do the work. Poor grades I can handle. As long as he tries. And his grades rarely are poor, even in math, which he hates but does well in when he does the work. Very well, generally. Had a low A average overall last year, afterall.

But, ah, back to school. Sweet. The peace of the morning returns and the mid-day and the early afternoon. This is parenting the way I like it. Part time. It’s only fair. I pay taxes. Let the schools do their part.

Comments Off on Back to school

Posted in Mr. Boy, Scribbles, Texana

Tagged ,

I’m with Lance

Posted on August 24, 2012 | Comments Off on I’m with Lance

Whatever the anti-doping agency does to Lance Armstrong today, which apparently will be to strip him of his seven Tour De France titles for alleged use of steroids, nobody will be fooled. He won them. That’s obvious.

And while I have no more idea than anyone else whether the charges against him are true, I respect his refusal to play along with an agency that seems not to be governed by normal American rules of judicial procedure.*

Like most people in Austin and elsewhere who revere him, I’m with Lance.

* “USADA’s conduct raises serious questions about whether its real interest in charging Armstrong is to combat doping, or if it is acting according to less noble motives,” such as politics or publicity, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks wrote.

UPDATE:  On Oct. 18, we learn that Nike, Trek and other big name commercial outfits have dropped their contracts with Lance. They say they’re convinced by the quasi-fed agency’s “proof,” though it’s more likely they don’t want to buck the feds.

I’ll still take Lance’s continued denial of using steroids and, anyhow, I don’t care if athletes use steroids and I don’t see how it’s any business of the government, which has far too much involvement in our lives as it is.

Comments Off on I’m with Lance

Posted in Science/Engineering, Scribbles, Texana

Tagged , ,

Tonto means what?

Posted on August 17, 2012 | Comments Off on Tonto means what?

I watched an old episode of the Lone Ranger with Mr. B. a year or so ago. He liked it. Then. Today he’s a cynical 12-year-old who spends twenty minutes combing his hair. I was surprised at how preachy the Lone Ranger was. A goody-two-shoes with six guns.

But it never occurred to me then (and certainly not when I was a kid) that his Indian sidekick Tonto was a fool. He just seemed too stuffy and serious to be real. But that’s what tonto means in Spanish, fool. Now, it’s said that was not what was intended. Well, I would guess not.

Comments Off on Tonto means what?

Posted in Scribbles, Texana

Tagged

Waterloo Trio’s new album

Posted on August 15, 2012 | Comments Off on Waterloo Trio’s new album

My fiddle teacher, James Anderson’s, new album, which you should listen to, track by track, and then buy the whole thing. Yes! Do it. Now. Heh.

Comments Off on Waterloo Trio’s new album

Posted in Music, Scribbles, Texana

Tagged , , , ,

For Romney even means ahead, except when it isn’t even

Posted on August 11, 2012 | Comments Off on For Romney even means ahead, except when it isn’t even

The first part of my headline is the title of an opinion piece by Karl Rove in the WSJ which seems to me to be absolutely correct. Obozo should have run away with the polls by now, if he was going to win, but he hasn’t and apparently can’t.

“Mr. Romney will be on strong ground defending free enterprise as a system that rewards initiative, hard work and sacrifice—and in doing so creates widespread prosperity that he will seek to extend to every corner of the nation…swing voters who’ll make up their minds late [will] decide the election.”

Trouble is, as the Chicago Boyz say, more and more Americans are dependent on the federal government for a check. Initiative, hard work and sacrifice are fast becoming minority practices. Welfare State Socialism is a fait accompli and growing stronger every day.

Thus: “Intrade.com has Obama at 60% odds to be reelected. Other bookmakers are in the same ballpark. It’s possible that these market odds are overly influenced by inaccurate polls. The odds certainly respond to polling data. However, the bookies have a very good record of predicting election results.”

And it gets worse. In the latest Fox News poll, Obozo has an 11-point lead among Independents who make up at least a third of the electorate. Add in the third who are loyal Democrats and we can just about kiss Mittens goodbye. If this sort of thing continues, the game is all but over.

“Cometh the hour, cometh the man. The hour is late, and the man needs to get in the game.” Sez the ever-acerbic conservative Mark Steyn.

UPDATE: And whether enough of these Independents will care about Mr. Ryan as a vice president remains to be seen. He’s certainly smarter than Joey Hairplugs.

MORE:  Dueling polls bring some hope. A new one says Romney has Obozo on Independent voters by 10 points, the same (in this Politico-George Washington University poll) as in May. Obozo has youth by 23 points, despite the high unemployment he’s brought them; Romney has folks over 65 by 6 points. And it’s worth remembering that youth talks but often walks on vote day. Seniors never forget to vote.

AND:  Not two weeks later, a Fox News poll has Romney ahead by one point, meaning within the margin of error. Meaning: even.

Comments Off on For Romney even means ahead, except when it isn’t even

Posted in Obamalot, Obituaries, Scribbles, Texana

Tagged , ,

Randy Travis in better days

Posted on August 9, 2012 | Comments Off on Randy Travis in better days

I’d certainly prefer to remember him this way than via his mug shots.

Comments Off on Randy Travis in better days

Posted in Music, Scribbles, Texana

Tagged ,

The $10,000 college degree

Posted on July 30, 2012 | Comments Off on The $10,000 college degree

Thanks to Gov. Rick Perry’s challenge, the Texas State University System (one of three university systems in Texas ’cause it’s so big) is offering a $10,000 college degree if you can get it in three years and maintain a 3.0 average while doing so. And if you major in biology, chemistry or mathematics.

You have to go to certain campuses, such as Sul-Ross U. in Alpine in West Texas, but Alpine’s beautiful country (well, to a Texas eye, anyhow). Two other systems here also offer $10,000 degrees: UT and A&M. All the degrees are in science, which makes sense in itself. Sorry, no gender studies, etc. Boo-hoo.

Comments Off on The $10,000 college degree

Posted in Science/Engineering, Texana

Tagged , ,