...On The Other Hand..

We have just great news like this:
http://www.wunderground.com/news/approach-mass-extinction-climate-change-20130327
 and this:

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/03/23/1766011/ice-breaking-news-2013-arctic-freezing-season-not-what-its-cracked-up-to-be-literally/

I'll write more soon but things have been hectic lately.

Nature bats last.

Happy And Gay

Here's to hoping the Supreme Court decides to not stand astride history hollering "STOP!"

So far it sounds like there may be a little room for optimism.

The Geeks Don't Want No Freaks.

I had this issue back when I was a kid, How come I can still remember these lyrics and somehow still forget why I went to the basement? This could be a Masters thesis.

Crap, wont let me paste. Then I just have to tell you that the link goes to a blog with the 1976 classic "Keep On Trekkin" which is the Mad Magazine Star Trek musical. Far funnier and better for your sanity than this:

What A Show!

That was a hellava show last night, and even if Kid Rock is not your cup of tea he puts on a great show. Seger was awesome, and the Silver Bullet Band was tight. Just a great show in a really nice venue. The critics agree:

If it was a test, the crowd -- not to mention the headliners -- passed with flying colors. Both guys are from suburban Detroit. One grew up creating that old time rock and roll, the other twisted and tweaked it to fit his own vision. Seger may be 67 and Kid Rock is a mere 42, but that 25-year difference barely seemed to faze the sold-out crowd, who cheered lustily throughout the entire evening.

...

During Seger's encore, he invited Kid Rock onstage and the pair performed several of their hits together, including Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" and Seger's "Rock and Roll Never Forgets." Judging by their obvious chemistry and the crowd's wild response, don't be surprised to see Seger squeeze in a full tour with Kid Rock before he hits that self-imposed retirement deadline. 

Just an amazing night of rock and roll.

ETA: this was my first time at Excel Center, much nicer than Target Center and I REAALLLYY want to see a Wild game there.

Rock And Roll Never Forgets

I'm off to St. Paul today for the Bob Seger/Kid Rock concert, should be a blast. I've never seen Seger before and he rarely tours now so I jumped at the chance when tickets were announced. Hope the snow isn't too bad but what the fuck, I'm a Minnesotan - just take some extra time.

Onward Christmas Soldiers

So you thought you were safe and the long nightmare of the War On Christmas was long behind but the great TBogg shows that the war is never over, and Caribou Barbie will lead the charge:

This time to save us from the Godless Heathens and Muslims who profane Our Lord and Savior’s Sacred Birthday with gift-giving that is not limited to giving frankincense, myrrh, and gold (from Kay Jewelers) to the Baby Jesus. And also so she can make a little extra pin money off the rubes because mama needs a new pair of Naughty Monkey fuck-me pumps.

When it comes to slinging snark, TBogg is in a class by himself. I'm sure Super Sarah's book will be piled up in the remainder bins at Sam's Club within a month of publication.

The Harvin Trade - Good Deal For Vikes?

Well the Viking boards I frequent are all over the trade they made today, sending malcontent wide receiver Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks for the Seahawks first round pick (25) this year along with a seventh round pick and a third round pick next year. This is an impressive haul even for a top-tier WR like Percy, who can also return kicks and line up in the backfield. He is a true dynamic playmaker, and he must really have pissed off the team brass for them to give him up - even for a high price. There had to be something besides money involved, and if so Seattle may get more trouble than they bargained for.

I have been a Viking fan since the days of the old Purple People Eaters and they have been giving me indigestion for most of that time. I think the trade was in the team's best interest if Harvin really did not want to play here, might as well get something for him unlike what the Wild did with Gaborik. The rumors are that the Vikes want to use one of their firsts and go after RFA Victor Cruz from the Giants. If that happens The Vikes will be definite winners in the trade.

Idiocracy In Action

This whole sequester mess just makes me sick. I can't believe these GOP goobers still take supply-side economics seriously. I am a Keynesian in economic philosophy, so I stand with Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman against the ignorant austerity policies so enamored by the right. This is exactly the WRONG time to cut government spending because the economy is still far too vulnerable. Spend now while interest rates are ridiculously low then pay it down when the economy picks up - pretty simple actually.

RIP Alvin Lee

Per NPR, Guitarist Alvin Lee from Ten Years After has died. He was one of the great ones and this one was my favorite:

He goes to join that incredible rockin' band in the sky. Rock and roll heaven is the only heaven I want to be in.

Not Quite There Yet

Well we found out the answer tonight whether the Wild could beat the Blackhawks and end their unbeaten streak (NO). The Blackhawks are the best team in the league right now and it showed. They capitalized on every Wild mistake and put them in a hole early. On the bright side, Minnesota right now is where Chicago was a few years ago in regard to rebuilding. There is a lot of young talent on the Wild and in the system that need time to develop. The future for the team is bright.

On another subject altogether, if you are in the northern hemisphere be sure to look for comet PANSTARRS next week after sunset in the west. Start looking around the 8th with binoculars, their wide field makes them ideal for spotting the comet against the twilight sky. Try to find a location with a good view of the western horizon away from city lights.

Can The Wild End The Blackhawk's Streak?

My Minnesota Wild are starting to put together some offense with the addition of the young sniper Zucker and better play on all the forward lines. The most impressive rookie right now however is not a forward, it is nineteen year old defenseman Jonas Brodin from Sweden. Brodin has settled in on the number one pairing with star defenseman Ryan Suter going up against the best opposing lines every night and his poise and calm along with speed and deft passing make us Wild fans think we might just have a young Nicklas Lidstrom on our hands. Let's see what they can do against the best in the league tonight.

And his favorite band is Iron Maiden.

Go Brodin! and Go Wild!

David Frum Proved To Be An Idiot

I read this screed on CNN.com this morning and just shook my head. Frum has the entire peak oil theory wrong - it's not that we are running out of oil, we are running out of CHEAP oil. The key to remember is this equation: EROEI - Energy Returned over Energy Invested. In other words, how much energy does it take to get that barrel of oil out of the ground. The reason oil companies are drilling over a mile underwater and fracking every shale formation in sight is that the easy oil is almost gone. People are foolish to think that something like the Keystone XL pipeline can lower gas prices since oil is priced on a global market, and unless they want to nationalize the oil companies (SOSHULUZM!) oil prices here will reflect the global market. We are on the plateau now, if oil prices were to drop below about $ 70/bbl then the shale oil plays will no longer be profitable. Even if the optimists are right and we can find enough production in this hemisphere to become independent of middle eastern oil it will still not be cheap.

ETA: To read some much smarter people than me on the subject go here: http://www.theoildrum.com/

Welcome!

Welcome to any and all who may read this. I have been a long-time commenter and reader of many political snark blogs, although I lurk more than I comment since so often someone says what I want to better than I could phrase it. I decided to start a blog so I could have a little place to vent about stuff. I really don't care if anyone ever sees it but I welcome comments and debate as long as it's not this:

Now I can't think of to rant about. Well there is the fucking sequester - FUCK YOU TEABAGGERS!

There. Short and sweet.

Talk to you later.


ETA: This blog is a work in progress so the layout may change and I will be adding a lot more links and other goodies.