Doo, doo, doo . . .

. . . Looking' out my back door

Snow is not rare in Virginia, but it is rather uncommon in Hampton Roads. We had a bit of a snowstorm last night, and it's still snowing pretty heavily at 10:45 this morning.

This is only the second snow accumulation we have seen since we moved here in 2002, and that was only a light dusting.

Immoderate moderator . . .

. . . put in his place.

When you MODERATE a debate, you need to be neutral.

Not a hard concept to grasp.

For some.

Not so much for others.

CNN senior political analyst David Gergen had to be reminded of this fact Monday as he moderated a debate between the two candidates for Massachusetts's open Senate seat. He asked Republican candidate Scott Brown whether he'd be willing to "sit in Teddy Kennedy's seat and [say] I'm going to be the person who's going to block it [liberal health care policy] for another 15 years."

But Brown, refusing to take for granted Gergen's blatantly left-wing premises, responded instead: "Well, with all due respect it's not the Kennedys' seat, and it's not the Democrats' seat, it's the people's seat."

When someone is that stupid, it's great fun to watch them have their ass handed to them on a silver platter. (I know, disturbing mental image - sorry . . . kind of.)

I should also remark that when one uses the phrase "with all due respect," the real meaning is that none is really due.

I've been trying to moderate (heh) my political opinions lately, but some issues just deserve a comment. Besides, issues rammed through by a supermajority have serious consequences, and Scott Brown can break that unfortunate situation.

Dingy Harry . . .

. . . apologizes.

No, not for being a total asshat, but for the following statement during the campaign:

WASHINGTON – Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid apologized on Saturday for saying Barack Obama should seek — and could win — the White House because Obama was a "light skinned" African-American "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

Very sensitive, Harry.

Mrs. B . . .

. . . can see.

In September, Mrs. B had her annual eye test. The Optometrist did some tests, and advised her to see an Ophthalmologist to be evaluated for cataracts. The exam showed some cataracts, but they were apparently "mild" enough that immediate surgery wasn't necessary.

After being fitted for new glasses, her vision kept deteriorating, so in November, we went back to the Ophthalmologist. The cataracts had advanced rather rapidly, and the best vision she could obtain was 20/40.

On 30 DEC, she had outpatient surgery on her right eye. Yep. Outpatient surgery. Cut a slit in the eyeball, liquefy and suck out the lens, then insert an artificial lens. Thirty minutes and done. She went home with an eye patch and several comments about pirates and parrots.

The next day, we were back for a post-op checkup. When the MD removed her eye patch, she looked at me and said "I can see you as clear as a bell."

She has a little difficulty right now because one eye sees very well, and the other does not. That will be fixed on 29 JAN when the left eye is done. Technology is amazing, innit?

Demonstration below if you're interested.

Liar, liar . . .

. . . pants on fire.

January 2008: Obama said that his approach to health care talks would involve "bringing all parties together, and broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are."

January 2009: President Barack Obama pushed congressional leaders to fast-track health care legislation behind closed doors.

Joe Wilson was right.

Then, there's the "Cornhusker Kickback" and the "Louisiana Purchase."

There will be hell to pay in the mid-term elections.

Off to a . . .

. . . flying stop!

Today was to be my first day back at work in the new year. If the whole new year is like this, I'm staying home!

Since we intend to spend the next three years in Italy, and I'm neither hunting nor shooting much any more, I decided to unload (pun intended) a part of my arsenal. I went to a gun show on Saturday, took advantage of the "gun show loophole" (which is a silly misnomer, by the way) and sold a rifle that I had owned for quite a while. I got a good price.

Fast forward to today. As I was driving to a medical appointment, my car engine started missing. Then it REALLY started missing. Then it died. Steam was pouring from the engine compartment. I pulled into a turn lane, called Mrs. B. to come pick me up, called road service, called the doctors office to report in late, then waited for the tow. A few minutes later, a very nice lady police officer parked behind me with lights flashing because traffic was very heavy.

This afternoon, the garage called. Most of what I made on the rifle sale went right under the hood of my Corvette. A coolant hose burst, and several others were ready to go. This, two weeks after I changed all of the radiator hoses.

That was the bad part.

The really bad part is that all I'm doing is fixing it up for the next owner. When we set sail for Naples in the spring, the 'Vette is going on the sales block.

There was no good part.

We're expecting a fairly large tax refund this year. I'm almost afraid to take it for fear that another gremlin is waiting in the weeds.

Almost, that is.

I will accept the refund and take my chances.

Tomorrow is another day.

To the nines?

. . . Perhaps not

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was recently named the worst-dressed man of the year by the British edition of GQ magazine. No mean feat, since his primary competition was French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British comedian Russell Brand, and "Beautiful Leader" Kim Jong-il.

This in the land of Saville Row, bespoke suits and genteel living? Perhaps he should have taken a clue from . . .