There Will Always Be An England

Having peeked at the Olympic opening ceremonie in London, I will hazard that if the Brits last a thousand years men will still say, this was their weirdest hour:

The noisy, busy, witty, dizzying production somehow managed to feature a flock of sheep (plus a busy sheepdog), the Sex Pistols, Lord Voldemort, the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a suggestion that the Olympic rings were forged by British foundries during the Industrial Revolution, the seminal Partridge Family reference from “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” a group of people dressed like so many members of Sgt. Pepper’s band, some rustic hovels tended by rustic peasants, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and, in a paean to the National Health Service, a zany bunch of dancing nurses and bouncing sick children on huge hospital beds.

People who do this sort of thing will revel in a comparison of the 2008 Beijing "Power Rising" ceremony and the 2012 "Power Fading" response from the West: From the Times in 2008:

Any Olympic opening is a propaganda exercise, but Friday night’s blockbuster show demonstrated the broader public relations challenge facing the Communist Party as China becomes richer and more powerful. The party wants to inspire national pride within China, and bolster its own legitimacy in the process, even as leaders want to reassure the world that a rising China poses no danger.

That has not been an easy sales pitch during the tumultuous Olympics prelude, in which violent Tibetan protests and a devastating earthquake revealed the dark and light sides of Chinese nationalism.

But for one night, at least, the party succeeded wildly after a week dominated by news of polluted skies, sporadic protests and a sweeping security clampdown. Across Beijing, the public rejoiced. People painted red Chinese flags on their cheeks and shouted, “Go China!” long after the four-hour opening had concluded.

“For a lot of foreigners, the only image of China comes from old movies that make us look poor and pathetic,” said Ci Lei, 29, who watched the pageantry on a large-screen television at an upscale downtown bar. “Now look at us. We showed the world we can build new subways and beautiful modern buildings. The Olympics will redefine the way people see us.”

Comments

[Captain Hate]

Ouch hit. DO NOT CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF DEFEAT!!! There is a gasket out there waiting for you to discover it that will hold the eeeeeeevil H2O at bay.

[Sara]

I have been watching all kinds of events all day long. Everything from swimming, rowing, boxing, fencing, soccer, cycling, archery (US Silver) etc. You can spend your time complaining about those who are trying to cover considerable expenses or you can sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best athletes in the world compete.

I was very disappointed at how political the opening ceremonies were and what a mish mash of nothing they seemed to be, but as of today, it is competition and that's what the Olympics are all about. Ignore NBC's ignorance and just enjoy watching the best of the best. Just about every venue is available to watch online plus CNBC, NBC, and MSNBC.

[cathyf]

I tune into sporting events to see sports not feel good BS stories. They have gotten so bad that at the last few Olympics it seemed to be more BS stories and less sports coverage.

One Olympics years back we tuned in one evening and watched for 3 hours prime time. During that time there was human interest story after human interest story, and commercial after commercial. They showed the last part of one event and another event in its entirety -- about 4 minutes total of the 3 hours. And then there was the extended interview with Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith -- at first it was funny but after awhile just excruciating -- that woman is so stupid it was like a conversation with an alzheimers patient. It seemed like hours but the interview was probably more like 25 minutes -- in the context of 4 minutes of sports...

[hit and run]

DoT:
that wasn't directed to you. Or at least it wasn't about you.

I'm sure that deep down, in places I don't talk about at parties, I knew that DoT.

I've grown a little sensitive to comments that don't give a clear indication to what or whom they refer - whether it is me or someone else at issue. And a little impatient as well. And frustrated.

I have always made it a point to specify the person to whom I was referring by name, then put their quote in italics. Even if I am the next person to comment after theirs. Sometimes I get lazy and don't, but I try.

I like clarity. Because I'm a simple, simple man who likes keeping things simple. And predictable. And well-ordered.

[Captain Hate]

Melanie Griffith is such a dimwit that I can't even contemplate finding her attractive. Having work done on her knockers in the middle of filming a big budget film might be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of. She should've never found work after that.

[narciso]

Was that in the film version of Bonfire, a butchering of such an insightful book that it might as well be 'Movie Crimes'

[Captain Hate]

Yes narc, it was in the middle of that, after being in other scenes, where she had the fun-bags super-sized.

By that time I'm sure Wolfe was in a coma.

[JM Hanes]

rse:

Thanks for the recommendation! I thought An Instance at the Fingerpost sounded familiar, and then recognized the cover when I checked it out on Amazon. Lo & behold, I found a copy in the middle of Pending Stack #17 -- pending being a euphemism for "about to fall over," which is generally what it takes to get my attention. I've managed to extract it, and I'm happy to report that it now sits on top of SSW Pile #1.

hit:

Alas, what I really need around here is a extra pair of brains, if you've got some spares lying about.

[hit and run]

I'm not sure if JOM is loading frustratingly slow for anyone else -- but it's been painful. Looking at the status bar at the bottom of the window, it looks like sitemeter might be the issue.

Waiting for s20.sitemeter.com...

Notably: I currently can't log in to sitemeter for my blog.

I think something's hinky on sitemeter's end.

[hit and run]

JMH:
Alas, what I really need around here is a extra pair of brains, if you've got some spares lying about.

You are more than welcome to any brain cells I haven't already killed or put on life support!

They're a dying breed...

[Captain Hate]

It's brutally slow for me too hit.

[narciso]

I don't think so, hit, but then I use Firefox.

[Janet]

More liberal fascism - NYC Councillor Trying To Get Chick-Fil-A Kicked Out Of New York City…

and another nitwit weighs in - "D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray said Friday he would not support an expansion of Chick-fil-A in the District, referring to it as “hate chicken"

I went to Chick-fil-A again today & it was crowded. Gonna put on a few pounds for the cause! My daughter is traveling to Georgia & they stopped at a Chick-fil-A too to support the cause & she said it was really crowded.

[rse]

Frau- I so enjoy Master Shardlake that I order from Amazon UK so I can read 6 months earlier.

Haven't read fiction much in last year but the train was leaving the station and it was most important to catch it.

One of the great gifts in my life was to have the career and kids and read extensively on the beach and then start pulling it all together again. I have been known to sit on the walkover reading hayek and sipping wine waiting for the sunset.

It is painful to read all these deliberate plans to take that away from bright minds.

Not so fast.

[RichatUF]

Good grief narciso, if that is the best defense on offer (and I'd like to see that desperately-seeking-an-A+ effort distilled to a bumbersticker), it's time to move on.

Suppose you are going to get a burrito for lunch and can either go to Chipotle or Qdoba. Suppose also that I have implanted a chip in your brain such that if you decide to go to Qdoba, chemicals are released into your brain that change your mind and you instead decide to go to Chipotle. Suppose finally that you get up, decide to go to Chipotle, and eat your burrito in peace without my chip ever being activated. You are clearly responsible for going to Chipotle, but you could not have done otherwise.

Facepalm...at least I won't have to worry about getting to sleep tonight.

[Stephanie]

It's slow for me, too.

So far the gymnastics has been interesting... I won't blow the results for those left coasters, but wow...

[Rick Ballard]

There is a gasket wax ring out there waiting for you to discover it...

Plus a tube of silicone for the perimeter of the base.

[jimmyk]

NYC Councillor Trying To Get Chick-Fil-A Kicked Out Of New York City…

I guess they don't serve super-size sugary drinks, because Bloomberg actually opposed this effort.

[Janet]

from Jack Cashill on Facebook -
"Our forefathers risked their lives and sacred honor to advance the cause of free speech and religious liberty. You just have to eat a little chicken."

Chick-fil-A restaurant locator

[Captain Hate]

Wax ring? Oooooooh that leak....

[RichatUF]

Slow here as well. Good to read you in the comments JM Hanes. Hope your place is coming along.

[Janet]

Hey Stephanie...post that Newest Ford Car picture from FB. That is pretty funny.

[JM Hanes]

Totally O/T but reprising my own textile theme: Has Jay Carney had a sartorial upgrade? I don't really pay enough attention to do a before and after, but this suit looks better tailored than anything I remember him wearing, with a little silk thrown in for good measure -- although not enough to out sheen his boss, of course.

Not that I expect anybody much cares about what he's wearing, per se, it's the idea that he might actually have gotten a raise….

[AliceH]

--I've been feasting on Charles Bronson movies on youtube. --

The Munich Olympics murders were the beginning of several steps that took me to Youtube to watch Raid on Entebbe today - which, to my surprise, had not only Bronson in the cast but also John Saxon, James Wood, Peter Finch, Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, Yaphet Kotto, Robert Loggia, Allan Arbus... more. Not a "good" movie, but I really enjoyed it.

[hit and run]

Janet:
I went to Chick-fil-A again today & it was crowded. Gonna put on a few pounds for the cause!

You are so awesome. I started this week convinced I would frequent Chick Fil A frequently.

Then mrs hit and run's air conditioning in her car went out*. That's not exactly a good thing in central Texas.

::screeeeeeeech:: on the budget.

Anyway, we have eight francishes here that would be considered not considerably out of my way to and from work. I'm still planning on visiting each of them.

-----------------
*Have I mentioned recently that Threadkiller is my favorite?

[RichatUF]

Must be date night.

[sbwaters]

Ig: "Are you doing OK now?"

Yes, Ig. Much better. Kind of you to ask. Cautiously but laproscopically removed gallbladder that had caused ulcers to plug the bile duct.

Ulcers gone. Bile duct working. No sepsis. I'm down about a bowling ball in weight and the better for it. Feeling good.

Again, your remembery is fine and thanks for asking.

[Captain Hate]

Glad to hear you're doing well, sbw; but it sounds like it was a rough haul.

[Jim Eagle]

JMH,

He needs a rhetorical upgrade.

If he was British, they'd call him a "twit". He is a perfect illustration of how low journalism has sunk in its corrupt capacity to enable and propaganda miesters for a criminal enterprise.

[hit and run]

sbw -- so glad to hear your update. Thanks Ig for remembering.

In my own minor, minor, insignificant health update: the mole I had removed this week turned out to be nothing more than a little flesh I no longer possess. In 2009 I had a slight scare with carcinoma, but nothing serious and nothing since . . . now including this latest mole. Yay.

[Sara]

I told the kids that I wanted to be sure to have a Chick-fil-A meal on August 1st, the national support them day. So son says, we don't have any out here, they are only in the Midwest and South. Oh, says I. So 3 hours later, I drew the short straw and had to take him to work. He is at a new location, so he was directing me, turn left, go straight, etc. and finally he says, "Stop, let me out here." Here turned out to be directly in front of our non-existent Chick-Fil-A, just a few blocks from my house.

I normally do not like chicken at all, but for the cause, I shall buy a chicken sandwich and some waffle fries and pat myself on the back for such a noble act. :)

[Ignatz]

Glad you're doing better SBW. Sepsis is way bad, so glad you avoided it.

Hit, I'm surprised that with your nose out of joint like it is you didn't remove your own mole and do the biopsy with little Hit's junior lab tech microscope.

[Captain Hate]

August 1 is support Chick-fil-A day? I'll be there.

[narciso]

That did seem to be a harrowing turn of events, SBW, glad you're feeling better,

http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/19138255/mass-firms-joint-venture-wins-energy-grant?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Clarice]

Sbw, glad it went well.
Bite your tongue, iggy--a bit more beer and he'll be repairing the toilet AND removing the mole with that chain saw of his.

[narciso]

No, Probably the laser from Goldfinger, with or without shark mounts,

[hit and run]

Rick:
There is a gasket wax ring out there waiting for you to discover it...

Plus a tube of silicone for the perimeter of the base.

It's all in the upper tank. It's frustrating as hell. mrs hit and run has acknowledged that we might as well replace the whole toilet.

In which case I am prepared to launch a full-scale assault on that [bleeeeeep]ing existing toilet with my bare hands. Oh, I could take any number of tools with me on the offensive, but I can't imagine anything but my own flesh striking that porcelain.

My hands may need bandages afterwards, but . . . sobeit.

[Jim Eagle]

AC Milan beat Chelsea 1-0 in Miami tonight. But we had 57,780 in attendance and 3 great Mexican waves:)

Now back in the hotel, drinking wine and watching the Olympics. And my wife, the discerning Mrs. JiB just noted that Bob Costas is a boring and tedious and shows no passion or dynamics. Never seen him before. So, there!

[RichatUF]

sbw-

Glad it went well.

[Ralph L]

If you don't like pickles, you have to ask for No Pickle, cuz you'll never remove all the vile juice from the bun. Try the lemon pie, which is so good they raised the price 50 cents. Their not-quite-ice cream is good, too, not plastic like McD's.

[Captain Hate]

The fresh squeezed lemonade is very good and not outrageously priced when you consider that supermarket price for lemons in the age of the JEF.

[hit and run]

Ralph:
If you don't like pickles, you have to ask for No Pickle

I'm no James Taranto, but if I was, I would label that as ... News of the Tautological

[Ralph L]

Carney has at least dropped his figleaf of objectivity for direct payment (and lucrative gigs hereafter), unlike the rest of the press who shill for free.

[Belle]

Sara, go for breakfast. The sausage biscuit is really good.

[Danube of Thought]

Seems to me that the human interest pap has mercifully subsided of late. Four or five Olympiads ago it was simply unbearable, and almost always excruciatingly maudlin. I remember realizing that if I had somehow been an Olympic athlete they would almost certainly have discovered some trivial event in my past and made it into a mawkish soap opera drama. Blech.

[Sara]

What an absolute pig this POS is:

Kathy Griffin: 17-Year-Old Willow Palin a Dirty Wh**e, Future Porn Star

[Sara]

Thanks Belle. I just looked up their menu online and the chicken salad sandwich looks good. Anyone know if tastes as good as the picture looks?

[Clarice]

Probably pics of you at 2 y.o. in a little sailor suit, saluting, DoT.

Frankly that maudlin coverage is what dissuaded me from continuing to pursue what most certainly would have been a sterling Olympic career.

[Ralph L]

The point being they put nasty pickles on their nice fried chicken and don't warn you. They're also in the chicken salad, but not enough to ruin it.

[DrJ]

Then mrs hit and run's air conditioning in her car went out*. That's not exactly a good thing in central Texas.

Wimps. I lived in Phoenix for the better part of a decade without air conditioning in my car.

:)

sbw, pleased to hear that you recovered well!

[narciso]

Well that's good to know. Russell Brand, is another slimy nazgul, (is there any other kind) and FX employs him along Louis CK.

[hit and run]

Ralph:
The point being they put nasty pickles on their nice fried chicken and don't warn you

To quote Kyle from South Park, "You bastards!"

[Clarice]

Niters. bigfurhat did a very funny cartoon for tomorow's column I know you guys will appreciate it

I like the pickles, Ralph.

Instapundit notes on FB that Rahm campaigned for 2 guys who opposed gay marriage so his attacks on C-F-A seem, how do you say, hypocritical....

As fir Kathy Griffin--she's one of those low talent comediennes (likeRoseanne) who keep going because their highly offensive remarks get coverage, Ignore her. Ignore Rosie and Roseanne..Let em end up in a flophouse eating cat food or something.

[Ralph L]

I see Greensboro and Winston are just loaded with them, and our 3 are within 2 miles of each other on the western edge of the county. I guess they think the people commuting to Chapel Hill won't eat there for dietary reasons (and now political ones), and those of us in the middle can't afford to.

[Gus]

I hate to say it, and to actually feel this way, BUT.

I couldn't care less about the Olympics. My Mother was from Britain, and that opening ceremony was so SCHMALTZY, I wanted to vomit.

[JM Hanes]

JiB:

Someone, whose name I can't remember, once commented that considering the fact that Jay Carney had been a professional journalist, you'd think he'd be a better liar.

[Belle]

@Sara: only if you like sweet pickles in your chicken salad. My husband likes their Asian Salad with strips of fried chicken. The main thing here in Atlanta, their staff is amazingly the opposite of your typical fast food staff. Takes one by surprise, actually, they are so efficient and customer service oriented. Thank you for wanting to support them.

[Clarice]

You.d think, jmh. XOXO

[narciso]

More like the Giant Queen Slug, from classic Futurama, I mean when even the Green Party says you're too strange for their party nomin ation,

[Frau Sicherheitsnadel]

I have visions of hit going at his commode like Fawlty went after his small auto with a sapling--with similar appropriate dialogue.

[hit and run]

DrJ:
Wimps. I lived in Phoenix for the better part of a decade without air conditioning in my car.

My appeal to me driving my Civic from Yellowstone to Oklahoma without air conditioning in 1991 met with silence.

Understandably. First, my drive to Oklahoma was to a prior girlfriend. And second, she'll be driving with both her sister and her mom back to NC.

I cannot afford that drive not to be completely cooooool in every way.

[hit and run]

I'll film the whole thing, Frau.

The royalties on youtube should allow me to retire early

[Stephanie]

I order extra pickles and put mayo on mine. Waffle fries and a large lemonade. I've got about 20 free sandwich coupons left over from a golf tournament a few weeks ago. Only good at that one store, though, or I'd send em out to you newbies.

Janet, I'd post it, but my image html is a fail lately. But I'll LUN it just for you.

LUN

[Captain Hate]

Four or five Olympiads ago it was simply unbearable, and almost always excruciatingly maudlin. I remember realizing that if I had somehow been an Olympic athlete they would almost certainly have discovered some trivial event in my past and made it into a mawkish soap opera drama. Blech.

Dick Enberg always seemed to be used to narrate the weepers.

[Ralph L]

I thought the chicken salad was a little bland, but they may leave the salt out for those on low-salt diets. It ain't like my mother used to make, but who's is?

[Frau Sicherheitsnadel]

"Let em end up in a flophouse eating cat food or something.
and sharing dentures, Clarice!

[Sara]

Belle: Love sweet pickles, so think I'll give the Chicken Salad Sandwich a try. If I don't like it, I have 4 hungry dogs who will and I can still feel good about supporting the business.

[narciso]

OT, in the 'what could possibly go wrong here' segment, that occurs to me in this column, among other details, suggests that
Prince Ahmed, who is possibly the mosr viciously anti American of the top officials, is not because he got a college degree from the U Redlands;

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304830704577492450467667154.html?KEYWORDS=ELLEN+KNICKMEYER

[Frau Sicherheitsnadel]

Redlands? He should have gone to a party school.

[hit and run]

Ralph:
I guess they think the people commuting to Chapel Hill won't eat there for dietary reasons (and now political ones), and those of us in the middle can't afford to.

Google tells me there are two Chick Fil A's in Burlington. One off of University and one off of Huffman Mill.

[AliceH]

Closest CFA to me is over 70 miles. I'll just be eating waffle fries with y'all in spirit.

[(Another) Barbara]

Here's what it's like living in the Twilight Time Zone. My Mister just said to me: "Oh, good! Only five minutes more and I can go watch how Phelps does in the 400."

It's 5:55 p.m. Saturday in Hawaii, 11:55 p.m. in New York, and Sunday morning is breaking in London.

I just smiled, and sent him off to his man cave to watch.

[Sara]

Oh my. There is bad and then there is destroy and never allow to be published:

[Stephanie]

The lead story on the local news was how everyone is jacked at the Olympic coverage cause they already know the results from their twitter streams and facebook and are stuck waiting to see it til NBC decides to show it (particularly the high profile events).

If you follow an athlete, and I do follow some, they are tweeting just after competing and people are OK with that instant result. They are not happy with having to wait til prime time to see how it went down- what's the point said one guy being interviewed. Phelps tweeted today that he was not 'happy with his results.' Well, duh. Apolo Ono hasn't tweeted anything about his results, yet. ;)

[(Another) Barbara]

And not only do we get the Olympic events almost a day late, the closest Chick-a-fil is 2,500 miles from me.

On the other hand, Armageddon will be 24-hours delayed in Hawaii.

[JM Hanes]

Jeez, we're not just financing Obama's campaign, we're buying his core voters. Here's Wednesday's news in Executive Orders:

Locked in a tough re-election battle with Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama aimed to energize his core supporters – African American voters – by delivering a rousing speech and unveiling a new executive order at the Urban League’s annual convention in New Orleans Wednesday night.

The president told the largely African American crowd of roughly 3,700 people that the executive order will seek to improve educational achievement for African Americans at all levels “so every child has greater access to a complete and competitive education from the time they’re born to the time, all through the time they get a career” the president said to cheers.

An administration official tells NBC News the order will create a new White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans that will “work across Federal agencies and with partners and communities nationwide to produce a more effective continuum of education programs for African American students.”

I just had to bold that slightly garbled version of the promise he's been making since he started running for office -- because he's actually upped the ante. The 2008 boilerplate plate was that "every child in America" can look forward to "the best education this country has to offer from the day that child is born to the day that child graduates from college." Somebody must have told him about how many recent college grads out there are unemployed.... But I digress!

This was Thursday's EO News:

President Barack Obama is backing a controversial campaign by progressives to regulate schools’ disciplinary actions so that members of major racial and ethnic groups are penalized at equal rates, regardless of individuals’ behavior.

His July 26 executive order established a government panel to promote “a positive school climate that does not rely on methods that result in disparate use of disciplinary tools.”

It's the brazenness of the corruption that still manages to astonish me.

[Ralph L]

The locator says there's one in Elon for the college kids to get fat, but I've never been. The other two are right at the interstate and always mobbed at lunch. I see they do have a lot in the Triangle, but there's a big gap (right now).

[daddy]

Maddening.

DEMOCRATS BACKPEDAL AS CHINA READIES $15.1 BILLION CANADIAN OIL DEAL

"with China's state-run oil company CNOOC poised to cut a $15.1 billion deal--the largest ever foreign acquisition for a Chinese company--with Canadian oil company Nexen, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) are in full backpedal mode."

[narciso]

Well the 'Canadian Menace' is subtle in it's viciousness, daddy, that's why there must be
eternal vigilance.

[Sara]

I heard earlier tonight that the woman who lost her 6 year old in the Aurora shooting and was recovering from her own wounds, has miscarried. So another innocent victim.

[Account Deleted]

Will there be dancing nurses under Obamacare?

[Mark Folkestad]

Frau, thanks for bringing up John Cleese's masterpiece role, Basil Fawlty. I loved that show for many reasons, not the least of which was the odd little hotel, which reminded me of the even quainter little hotel my mother and I got stuck in for one night when our reservations got mucked up as to the starting day of our stay. That oddball lodging was run by a dour, wee bit of a Scot, who adamantly refused to accept our AmEx traveler's checks. I sat on the luggage in the lobby while Mom scoured the neighborhood for a business open late that would cash enough traveler's checks for the night's lodging. There wasn't a straight long stretch of hall or stairs anywhere in the damned little place, and for our room, we had to climb up two steps to the door, and then down four steps on the other side, and and the room itself had two levels, one foot different. I think the little hotel's only real claim to fame was that it was only a block away from where Judy Garland offed herself.

H&R, you can do anything you want with your nose and your safety pins, but please be on the conventional side if you and your family come up to Alaska to visit. Any piercing gives me the creeps. Oh, and keep your cotton-picking hands off my plumbing when you visit!

My favorite niece stopped by my apartment this evening. She brought a jar of her picked northern pike, made with my German sister-in-law's recipe from the homeland. If any of you like pickled herring, you would like pickled pike even more.

Lots of luck watching the Olympics. I've given up on watching the events. Besides, my cousin turned up at my door when his wife finally had enough of him, and he seems to think my TV is his, and he doesn't like sports. If I haven't made my move to Alaska in a couple of months, I just may have to kill him to ensure my ability to watch NFL games.

[daddy]

"Oh, yes, by all means, JMH, invite hit and his chain saw to dinner,"

Think that's bad, look what Hit & Run did to the moon.

[Clarice]

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/07/wile_e_coyote_joins_obama_campaign_team.html

And here's bigfurhat's masterpiece:http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/assets/Eat%20More%20Crow.png

[pagar]

Great Pieces, Clarice!

[Voldemort Delenda Est ! Sandy Daze]

Thank you, Clarice, for today's "pieces" all of the Pieces before and (hopefully) all of the Pieces yet to come. Thank you for all of your work.
~~
We like CFA; in fact there is probably nothing at CFA we do not like. The various char-grilled chicken salads are at the top of our list, the gallon of lemonade (diet or regular) is a bargain--it is the real McCoy, not an instant "mix" of some sort.

Some of the CFAs, I have heard, will be holding a father-daughter date night this coming week. Our local says they are not doing so, but that the one in the Mall is. I told them Mall-Schmall, they are the best. It is true, for me at least CFA reflects the best quality of any fast-food place I have ever been at.

I also understand the LGBT types are planning a "kiss-in" outside of CFAs on Friday. I don't think such an action will occur here, in Southeast Virginia, but will drop by to show my support FOR CFA, should such be necessary.

Disgusting, these cretins whose tolerance only exists for those who think just as they do.

I wonder if we were to extrapolate all that they want or believe to its natural end where would they be. They need, they want conservatives to be a natural brake on their movement. Left unrestrained, they'd turn this world into hell.

~~~

[Jim Eagle]

Clarice,

Great Pieces. Bravo!

But lets not forget the rules:

In Chuck Amuck: The Life and Times Of An Animated Cartoonist,[11] it is claimed that Chuck Jones and the artists behind the Road Runner and Wile E. cartoons adhered to some simple but strict rules:

1. The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going "meep, meep."

2. No outside force can harm the Coyote — only his own ineptitude or the failure of Acme products. Trains and trucks were the exception from time to time.

3. The Coyote could stop anytime — if he were not a fanatic. (Repeat: "A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim." — George Santayana).

4. No dialogue ever, except "meep, meep" and yowling in pain.

5. The Road Runner must stay on the road — for no other reason than that he's a roadrunner.

6. All action must be confined to the natural environment of the two characters — the southwest American desert.

7. All tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from the Acme Corporation.

8. Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote's greatest enemy.

9. The Coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures.

10. The audience's sympathy must remain with the Coyote.

11. The Coyote is not allowed to catch or eat the Road Runner. (The robot that the Coyote created in The Solid Tin Coyote caught the Road Runner so this does not break this rule. The Coyote does catch the Road Runner in Soup or Sonic but is too small to eat him.)

Now we don't want the JEF to be so humiliated he becomes super-sympatico to the general voting public, do we? This is the danger we face from a compliant media and unknowing public.

[rse]

Loved the "Look Squirrel" Moments Clarice. Yes this admin has many of those.

JMH-your link is so much worse than it looks. For one the Lumina Foundation has basically been put in charge of reforming the nature of higher ed. When I hear of an entity and I am not familiar with them I usually check the composition of their Board looking for familiar names. No familiar names but the Board members did believe it was important to wear ceremonial costumes and headgear.

Secondly, excellence is a defined term having to do with desired values, attitudes, and dispositions.

http://www.invisibleserfscollar.com/birth-to-career-finally-and-quietly-creating-the-soviet-mindset-but-here-in-the-usa/

is a story I wrote picking up on this new cradle to career push. The woman speaking at the conference had previously been at the Annie Casey Foundation which has been leading the charge to have the government intervene in child rearing to the point of home monitoring visits.

Lastly, I had seen the positive school climate in these NCLB waivers. It mandates PBIS and these other Positive Psychology programs in the classroom. Behaviors towards others becomes a big focus of the school. Quite advantageous if social and emotional learning was always the real focus of the implementation. Which I was not kidding about.

So now if you are not a Race to the Top state and you have not gotten an NCLB waiver, you are still bound to adopt until disabilities rulings and civil right rulings being pushed by this Administration.

I wrote today's title yesterday and the lead but that's an additional reminder of just what is under attack. Before finishing I wanted to think through one more time just what Obama was funding and promoting on this point via the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. They and Joyce are specifically thanked in the book I am finishing up. And the mental model was piloted in Chicago and Elgin and Lake Forest during the relevant periods in the 90s.

[centralcal]

Good morning. "Eat More Crow!" - love it, Clarice.

I see JOM is quite buggy loading - still.

A couple of years ago ChikFilA opened in Fresno. A lotta hoopla in local news, groupies (did you know they have hard core groupies?) traveled from So. Cal and other places and spent the night in the parking lot before their early AM grand opening.

I waited a few weeks for the madness to die down before trying them out. The line was still quite long. Never hearing of them before, I had no idea what to order and picked some generic chicken sandwich from the menu. Wasn't awful by any means, but boring and I have never been back. I blame ME for not researching their menu on line before buying lunch.

Anyway, I will go back again (after researching their menu) just cuz and like Hit always tells us - "that's just how I roll!"

[pagar]

"Left unrestrained, they'd turn this world into hell."

Sandy, IMO that is their aim. If the leftists have their way the US would be a fourth world country looking up to Cuba.
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rse, thanks for all your efforts to bring some sanity back to a part of America the leftists hope to destroy (our education system)

[Clarice]

Thanks.

[AliceH]

At WUWT just now - "UPDATE: 7/29/2012 A press release will be issued at ~12PM Noon, PDT today."