And in other news today...

As of this writing and from the San Diego Union Tribune’s website (with 92% of precincts reporting):

Stress-free Denver Omelettes coming up… The free-range chicken initiative (Prop. 2) passes in a landslide 63%-37%.

Parental notification prior to an abortion (Sarah’s Law – Prop. 4): solid at 53%-47%.

Simple affirmation that men marry women and visa versa (Prop. 8): steady at 52%-48%. The pro same-sex marriage set has no one but themselves to blame for passage of this amendment. We may have more on this later but we regretted that this had to become a constitutional amendment but what we witnessed as judicial and bureaucratic overreach motivated many to vote for this proposition. Polling trends had indicated that same-sex marriages were becoming more and more accepted and here in California acceptance of same-sex marriages had surpassed non-acceptance with an ever-widening gap. Plain and simple: they blew it.

The renewable energy propositions, 7 and 10, both solidly spanked but redistricting, Prop. 11 is a statistical dead-heat with “Yes” ahead by 85,000 votes.

Citywide:
The booze ban on the beach (Prop. D) looks like its going to succeed 55-45. Ridiculous.

Jan Goldsmith crushes Mike Aguirre for City Attorney 59-41. This is a good thing.

Our girl, April Boling, looks like she may be headed to defeat in our local city council race to Marti Emerald, 51-49.

Quote of the Day

Juan Williams on Fox News this evening:

"I cannot imagine another nation on the planet whose people have been so maligned and oppressed that would have one of their own…. their own son... elected to be its leader"

As the sun slowly sets over the most non-descript day of the week..

There’s not a lot going on this evenings so…. how about some football?

The college football BCS poll is out and indeed Texas Tech lept all the way to #2 behind Alabama and just in front of Penn St.
Here’s the Top 10:

1. Alabama
2. Texas Tech
3. Penn St.
4. Texas
5. Florida
6. Oklahoma
7. USC
8. Utah
9. Oklahoma St.
10. Boise St.

USC actually drops two spots after its 56-0 drubbing of Washington. A lot has to happen for USC to get back into this thing and this speaks to having one bad half up in Corvalis earlier in the year, playing in a conference that is having a horrible year and then not getting any strength of schedule help… thanks Virginia… thanks Notre Dame.

Florida coach Urban Meyer was asked why he called two timeouts with under a minute remaining in the Gators’ 49-10 blowout of Georgia. “(Emanuel)Moody was running the ball real hard and I wanted to get him a couple of more carries. He deserved it.” And then when asked if he was trying to rub it in, Meyer responded: “No. Just trying to win the ballgame”.

We like Meyer. We believe he’s got quite a bit of “evil” in him… Florida Gators-vintage Stever Spurrier-like “evil”. A thirty-nine point whacking of an arch-rival and top-10 foe “evil”. An “evil” that inspires hilarious videos like this (please be patient as it may take a moment to load but it is one of the funniest things we’ve seen in a while.) No, Georgia coach Mark Richt did not enjoy his Halloween weekend.

And regarding the Southern Cal and Florida programs, here's what we had to say prior to last season:

"If trends continue as they have, we are looking forward to a nice little silent rivalry between USC and Florida in years to come. One can sense that since Meyer took over in Gainesville, the two programs have been eyeing each other, seeing what the other is up to. The locales, the coaches, the talent pools in which they reside… its all there. Stay tuned."

If USC can figure out how to win on the road in conference, we're going to get this epic matchup in the BCS title game sooner than later.

More great matchups abound this weekend as #1 Alabama goes to Death Valley to take on #16 LSU, USC is at home against #21 Cal, #8 Utah takes on #12 TCU on Thursday and in the prime time Saturday night, Texas Tech tries on its #2 ranking against the #9 ranked ‘Pokes of Oklahoma St.

Election Day

Greetings, our fellow Americans! It’s the best day on the calendar! A day in which the fate of our country and respective states and cities is placed in our hands for deciding.

With that said, anyone for a national holiday on general election day? Maybe some football on television to go along with going to the polls and barbequing and getting likker’d-up…. not necessarily in that order…

Seriously, this is a day we should not take for granted as many that went before us paid with their lives that we may exercise this privilege on the first Tuesday of November.

So while we are hoping for a box of chocolates… a little exit poll oversampling in this one… a little Bradley effect in that one… we leave you with a quote from fellow theocrat, Ohioan@Heart:

Tomorrow, no matter who wins, I will support my President-elect. I will hope and pray that he makes good choices, for my children and yours, for all our futures. May the next President be blessed with good health and wisdom. May God truly bless them.

And May God Bless America

Amen, to that.

Going Galt? (UPDATED)

hmmmmm…..

"You think that it hasn't already started to become a trend? Please don't forget that the very people who are saying these sort of things are *not* the sort that just talks. These are the folks who are action-oriented, start businesses and create jobs. They are not the sort to spout off and create "manifestos" and issue propaganda statements, they take action.

I do technology consulting in a high demand field and I have the ability to raise or lower my income, depending on how hard I feel like working. I am setup perfectly to react to the Obama/John Galt issue. I have read Atlas Shrugged and I am already *executing* a plan to work much less next year. Notice that I did not say that I was considering, or talking about, or thinking of. I have already shed customers and lined up a few reliable ones for the next year (and perhaps the one after that) to enable this plan.

I had initially targeted 2009 as an expansion year, hiring new people and growing the business. Now, maybe not so much.

See ya' on the other side."

More here from InstaGlen and as about as timely a book review as you’ll ever get here from KT.

(UPDATE #1): In the comments we were reminded of an "exit" tax referenced in the subject link enacted by Congress and signed into law this past summer on any high net-worth individuals who wish to leave the country. It struck us as we now have, in effect, two exit taxes: One for "exiting" this country's borders and one for "exiting" the mortal realm.

"If the thunder don't get ya, then the lightning will."

- Jerry Garcia

You will be pleased to know that the gentleman pictured keeps Jane Fonda up at night

Erica Jong and her literary who’s-who circle of friends, isn’t quite ready to put this one on ice.

"My friends Ken Follett and Susan Cheever are extremely worried. Naomi Wolf calls me every day. Yesterday, Jane Fonda sent me an email to tell me that she cried all night and can't cure her ailing back for all the stress that has reduces her to a bundle of nerves."

Considering a few sleepless nights Senator McCain probably spent, himself, at the time while Jane was cavorting around Vietnam we only think it fair that perhaps a few more sleepless nights for Ms. Fonda are in order.

On a more serious note: Our thoughts and prayers to Barack Obama and his family for the loss of Obama's grandmother who passed away today at age 86.

H/T: Hot Air

Picture and commenter caption of the Day

...courtesy Awful Announcing



"Tayshaun Prince dresses in his most elaborate Halloween costume to date: "Kwame Brown - 2012""- G Anon

Laker fans are much appreciative of you, G Anon.

2008 General Election Guide Pt.I

We realize many of you have gone absentee or voted at the polls already but in the interest of providing to our consumers and continuing our “Life of Service”, BwD proudly rolls out its 2008 general election guide. We will start with the state-wide propositions and considering the state of the economy, the state’s budget deficit and the looming federal debt crisis, many of these propositions didn’t require much deliberation as we are operating under the mantra of “no more new debt”. Onward:


Prop. 1 High Speed Rail Bonds

You in a big hurry to get to Fresno?

Lot’s of big numbers being thrown around with respect to the ultimate burden on the taxpayers: $20 billion, $40 billion…

We have a one word response to this state-run railroad request: AMTRAK

Well, one more: No.

All aboard! Next Stop…. Prop 2.


Prop. 2 Standards for Confining Farm Animals (aka The free-range chicken statute)

Promising stress-free Denver omelettes. We had no idea this was an issue. We figure no one knows more than chicken farmers how to best raise their chickens and thus increase the yield of eggs. And since we also figure that a stressed chicken is not going to lay many eggs, the farmers may have this one figured-out already.

No on Prop. 2


Prop. 3 The Children’s Hospital Bond Act

The most dreaded phrase in ballot initiatives/propositions: “Its for the children”… at a cost of over $2 billion over 30 years. Sorry, kids.

No on Prop. 3

Man, this is easy.


Prop. 4 Parental notification prior to aborting a minor’s pregnancy. (aka Sarah’s Law)

An initiative that appears to be so rational and reasonable would explain why it has failed in its 2 previous ballot efforts here in California.

Yes on Prop. 4


Prop. 5 Non-violent drug offenses rehabilitation.

$1 billion/year. Sorry, no more new debt.

No on Prop. 5


Prop. 6 Police and Law Enforcement funding

Nearly $1 bil/year increasing each year to adjust for inflation.

No on Prop. 6


Prop. 7 Renewable Energy Generation

Mandates of utilities the amount of renewable energy required to generate power (40% by 2020 and 50% by 2025). If you’ve hung out here for any amount of time, you know we don’t do mandates. Once renewable energy technologies start paying for themselves, the utilities driven by economic self-interest (or "greed", whichever you prefer) will be busting down the door to implement them. Penalties for non-compliance will, of course, be passed along to the consumer.

Besides, they robo-called us while we were putting this together. Grounds for dismissal.

No on 7


Prop. 8 Traditional marriage constitutional amendment

Man, all those big numbers had our head spinning. OK, you know where we stand on this one so we won’t waste a lot of time. Two take-aways from the whole Prop. 8 campaign: For a state that will print official paperwork in every language under the sun but deny breeders use of the old marriage license certificate strikes us as ironic as this was supposed to be about non-discrimination and tolerance. Also, the California Teachers Association has poured well over $1 million into efforts to defeat this measure. Gee, we didn’t realize that the teachers had a horse in this race.

Yes on 8


Prop. 9 Criminal Justice System. Victim’s Rights. Parole. Initiative Constitutional Amendment Statute

Right out of the blocks the voter information guide explains that back in 1982, California voters approved Prop. 8, known as, “Victim’s Bill of Rights”. OK, then. Reading more, it appears to be mostly administrative tweaking with respect to notifications, restitution and parole hearings. And in the “Argument in Favor of Proposition 9”, a lot of ALL CAPS were used. We hate that. Its like we’re being yelled at. Bottom line: They did not make a very compelling case.

No on 9


Prop. 10 Alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy

$10 billion more in long-term debt to subsidize the purchase of high fuel economy and alternative fuel vehicles including natural gas vehicles. Alternative energy solutions are not yet ready to be economically competitive across the board so we see no reason to increase the state’s debt to pursue them, especially when it also means lining the pockets of natural gas magnate, T. Boone Pickens who backed the funding to get this onto the ballot.

No on 10


Prop. 11 Redistricting

When a similar measure was on the ballot a couple of years ago, there was an ad running in opposition to it that claimed the committee that would re-draw the districts would be made up of (cue scary voice) “retired liberal judges”. The ad was so over-the-top ridiculous, we figured it had to be funded by a liberal group that was pretty pleased with the way the state assembly and senate districts are drawn-up, currently.

Look, it doesn’t matter who’s on this committee. It could be this guyfor all we care – it couldn’t get any more gooned-up than having it left in the hands of the very people whose political livelihood is tied to how the districts are drawn up as is the case currently in Sacramento.

Yes on 11


Prop. 12 Veteran’s Bond Act

We struggled with this bond that would provide home and farm loan assistance to California veterans to the tune of $ 900 million but we opted for consistency. When this state gets its economic house in order, put this one at the top of the wish-list and we will gladly reconsider. Until that time, everyone is in the same boat.

No on 12


There you have it. We may try to get to the San Diego City propositions later but no promises.

The divisiveness that gets one (or three) sent to "time-out".

The cotton candy candidate makes some roster cuts as “only the worshiper will get front-row seats to history."

B-Daddy has more, here.

Some random mid-afternoon Saturday football thoughts

What was our first clue that Georgia’s place kicker might just hook a very make-able 37 yard field goal in the first quarter against Florida (and then a 25-yarder just before halftime)? His jersey number is 57.

Mongo called to remind us that Nebraska was playing Oklahoma today. There are some things that the BCS and the rise of super conferences hath wrought to which we may never fully adjust and Oklahoma and Nebraska not playing in a driving sleet later in November to determine who goes to the Orange Bowl is one of those.

This spot was going to be reserved for signaling the combined annual turning of the leaves and Michigan St.’s second half of the season collapses. Denied! After getting whacked by Ohio St., 45-7 two weeks ago, Michigan St. beats Michigan last week and pulls out a last-second victory against Wisconsin, 25-24, earlier today to go 8-2. If they get by Purdue next week, they have a shot at the Big 10 title against Penn St. on November 22. Nice work, Sparty.

The last team USC wanted to see on the schedule was the Washington Huskies. Nothing like coming off a stumbling, lackluster effort out in the desert last week against Arizona and then turning around to play a 43 point underdog. USC’s strength of schedule took another hit today with Virginia giving away a game they had won against Miami.

The voter guide… its coming. We promise. But first we (or B-Daddy) may try to post his picks using a unique scoring system that takes all that cumbersome studying and informing that is so vital to a viable democracy completely out of the equation. Yaaaay!

Getting our BCS hate on.

Well, we’re at that point in the college football season where we alternate between rubbing our hands with glee at the prospects of a BCS meltdown and crying in our beer …over the prospects of a BCS meltdown. The chances of a 3-team pile-up at the end of the season remains high with 3 undefeated teams (Texas, Alabama and Penn St.) sitting atop the BCS rankings. One-loss (to Texas) Oklahoma is #4 and sitting at #5 is USC also with one loss and which is probably out of the running altogether regardless of what happens to the other 3 teams by virtue of their weak strength of schedule and the gap between them and the leaders.

The most straight forward path to this meltdown is if the top 3 teams win out which means one of them, most likely Penn St., is going to get screwed out of the BCS title game. And how does a rematch of Penn St. and Oregon St. from earlier this year in the Rose Bowl grab ya? Even worse (better?) would be if either Texas or Alabama stumble once down the stretch in the regular season but still win their respective conference championship game. You then have the distinct possibility of two one-loss teams playing for the BCS title while an undefeated Penn St., suffering from a relatively weak strength of schedule flies out to Pasadena instead of Miami. There will be considerable effort, though, in the human polls to overcome the computer rankings to get JoePa into the BCS title game.
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The Big 12 is the best conference in football… or is it? The conventional wisdom has held that the SEC has played the best ball the last few years but that the Big 12 this year has equaled or even surpassed the SEC in its level of play. Indeed, 4 of the top 9 spots in the BCS rankings are Big 12 schools and it seems there is a huge match up every week (this week its undefeated Texas vs. an undefeated Texas Tech in Lubbock), but here’s what bothers us about this conference: It looks like the old WAC. It looks like your big brother’s PAC-10. Turn on a Big 12 game this year and it bears a striking resemblance to some of those BYU-San Diego St. shootouts of the 90s. Where’s the D?

We’re sorry, but when the quarterback completion percentages in that conference start looking like the scores on our fluids and thermo exams from Seminary, there is a problem. Colt McCoy (pictured) may be a hell of a quarterback and may very well win the Heisman but an 82% completion percentage? And check out some of the others: Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) 71%, Chase Daniel (Missouri) 77%, Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) 68%….. shoot, even the Nebraska quarterback is completing 70% of his passes.

The vast majority of the offenses in the Big 12 are some variation of the spread and its obvious that the defenses have not yet adjusted. It looks as if there are 1 or 2 extra receivers in the pattern on pass plays as often there is nary a defender in the same zip code as the man with the ball downfield heading towards the end zone. Its ironic that the defenses should be this at a loss to defend these spread attacks as they face them every day in practice.

Don’t get us wrong… we’ve loved these high scoring affairs in the Big 12 this year. It’s a far cry from the Oklahoma wishbone vs. the Nebraska Power I for the Oranges that we grew up with but the horrible play of the defenses in that conference does not have us yet ready to hand them the “best conference” crown.

P.S. Don't count out either Georgia or Florida, both with one loss, as they square off today in a virtual BCS elimination game at the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville.