Enough Snow Already

OK, I am done with the snow removal du jour. So maybe now I'll hike into town and watch "The Revenant" to see what sort of hardships other real men endure? Naah. I'll be watching NFL Championship Football! And rooting hard for the Cardinals since I have an Ariens snowblower.

And speaking of my snowblower, I had a Donald Trump epiphany this morning. I bought the snowblower last winter, we had plenty of snow, and it is the Greatest Toy Ever, although I say that as a non-owner of a huge chainsaw. When I am out there with that thing roaring I am the King of Snow. Well, a guy running a giant plow down an Interstate at fifty MPH in a blinding storm is the King. Call me a prince. Hmm, but do I really outrank the guys with the riding snowblowers? OK, I am the Duke of Snow.

Moving on, this morning I could not get my Greatest Toy Ever started. It was gassed up and ready to go but... to start it one must adjust the choke to open (not closed), the electrical switch to on (not off) and the fuel line to open (not closed). Three binary settings, only eight possibilities, even an idiot could do this, right? Especially having done it many times only ten months ago.

Maybe! But I would like to blame my difficulties on an absence of idiots. The on/off switch, which when I was a kid would have been labelled (get ready) "On/Off", in fact included only a pictorial aid. One choice was indicated by an unlocked padlock and an upraised hand, palm forward. I took the hand to mean "Stop" and the padlock to mean "Unlocked". Mixed messages! The other possible setting was a locked padlock and a picture I still can't make out. And as a final hint, there was a larger graphic indicating that all the dials had two positions and to run the machine they all had to be turned to the correct position, although what that position might be was left unclear. Not helpful!

After fifteen dark moments during which my life, or at least a snow shovel, my lower back and a bottle of Advil, passed before my eyes, I figured out that "unlocked padlock" meant "Off". I mean, duh. The Greatest Toy Ever started up and away I went, the Duke of Snow unchained! Oh, I love the smell of engine exhaust in the morning. It smells like... Actually, I have no sense of smell. At all. Got sprayed by a skunk once and didn't even realize it, although when I got back to camp my friends were quick to give me the news. Kind of a digression.

But my Donald Trump epiphany was this. I get globalization and international marketing and a more globally oriented America. But seriously, are "On" and "Off" that hard for people to grasp, even non-English speakers? What is with these useless padlock graphics that make no sense? And how many snowblowers are we selling to Mexico or Venezuela anyway?

Let's make America great again by finding the ON button and labeling it sensibly. Yeah.

Comments

[James D.]

I don't have a dog in the fight, but how in Earth is that not a catch and fumble?

[Dave (in MA)]

Talib pulled Gronk backwards while the pass was in the air.

[Threadkiller]

I had no idea that the Highlander goon, also the guard in Shawshank, is the voice of Mr. Crabs in SpongeBob.

[Threadkiller]

GRONK

[Threadkiller]

Double post...

[Miss Marple]

Trying for relevance, the Dixie Chicks resurface:

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/6851738/dixie-chicks-natalie-maines-ted-cruz-comments?utm_source=twitter

[James D.]

From Kevin Williamson at NR today:

Thomas Aquinas cautioned against “homo unius libri,” a warning that would not get very far with the typical Trump voter stuck sniggering over “homo.” (They’d snigger over “snigger,” too, for similar reasons)

Pure class right there.

[glasater]

lyle, I read " Can You Forgive Her" years ago but dang if I can remember much of it.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430227/donald-trump-supporters-establishment-books

Kevin Williamson strikes again!

"Forgive me for turning to one other aspect of the question, which is that the candidacy of Donald Trump is something that could not happen in a nation that could read."
-------------

Hey Kevin, I can read. I just am not going to spend money on your book, you jerk.

[cheerleader]

Won't it be nice to be able to buy things "Made in the U.S.A." that actually work. I bought a no-stick frying pan not long ago, and within less than a week the handle was flopping around because it hadn't been attached right. I never want to get on an airplane built in China.

[James D.]

TK @ 6:18

He was also the longtime voice of Lex Luthor on the 90s Superman and Justice League animated shows. And recently, he plays the evil General Eiling on The Flash.

[Porchlight]

You were right about the offensive line, TC.

[Threadkiller]

Not one intentional surfacing call

[Thomas Collins]

It's been a problem much of the year, Porchlight.

[lyle]

Gronk!!

[Thomas Collins]

Two point conversion time.

[Beasts of England]

Wow!

[Marlene]

WOO HOO!

[Threadkiller]

Quite a career, James.

[Porchlight]

Here we go!

[glasater]

Geez Gronk is a huge guy!

[Thomas Collins]

C'mon, Brady. Run it in.

[henry]

Ah, this is like pro basketball... The last 12 seconds are sort of interesting... but will take ten minutes with all the commercials

[Threadkiller]

PEYTON MANNING!!

[cheerleader]

My Trump post for the evening: in an interview he said that one of his greatest pleasures is just to be able to get into a car and drive. But he hates that it now takes 5 minutes of pressing buttons on a computer to get the seat to move back where before it could be mechanically pushed back in a second.

[Thomas Collins]

Congrats to the Broncos and their fans.

[Threadkiller]

PEYTON MANNING!!!!!

[Jack is on his Back!]

Ballgame!

[glasater]

I'm kinda sorry Denver won. It will be the most boring Super Bowl with them in it.

[lyle]

Don't cry, Nancy.

[daddy]

Wow.

How come no time expired on that last play and runback?

Denver wins.

That has to be supremely satisfying to Peyton Manning.

Looking forward to the interaction between him and Tom Brady in about 10 seconds.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/some-migrants-in-germany-want-to-go-home-1453672274

They are as we thought.

Article is behind the paywall.

[lyle]

Clock doesn't run in point after plays, daddy.

[Dave (in MA)]

lyle :)

[daddy]

That post game mid field meeting was excellent. Good job both QB's.

[The Infamous Ignatz]

Has Giselle nuked the offensive line yet?

[daddy]

Thanks, Lyle. I probably knew that about a billion brain cells ago:)

[cheerleader]

James D the good news is that the enemy can't hit the target when they don't have a clue what the target is.

There's a funny series of videos on youtube called "You can't stump the Trump"

[James D.]

Denver's defense is amazing, but I don't see how they beat either Arizona or Carolina with that offense.

[Dave (in MA)]

I can't decide whether to root for Manning the rest of the way or one of the NFC teams who've never won the SB.

[boatbuilder, Esq., Lord of All He Surveys]

Porch you were right about TC being right about the O line. Congrats Denver.

[Cecil Turner]

That one picked up dramatically in the second half. Super D by Denver. Great finish. Fun to watch.

[Porchlight]

Pats are a monster team, but for some reason can't get it done at Mile High.

Congrats to Manning and the Broncos.

[lyle]

I really, really don't like Scam Newton. Go Cards. And I agree with James, Denver's O is pretty lackluster.

[Dave (in MA)]

boatbuilder you were right about Porch being righ-

Never mind.

[Porchlight]

Brady and Belichick took it like men and Manning has always been sportsmanlike. Agree, very nice midfield meeting.

[Cecil Turner]

I don't see how they beat either Arizona or Carolina with that offense.

Me neither, but then I didn't expect them to advance. And I think the conventional wisdom is still that the best D beats the best O in something like 2/3 or so of the SB games where they're matched.

[lyle]

Very entertaining game. Hope the next one is as well.

[henry]

Ack, Joe Buck. Sound off. A Nick Lowe cd is handy... play ball!

[daddy]

Kevin Williamson is certainly being niggardly to his opponents.

And an asshole to boot.

[anonamom]

Root for our Panthers Dave (in MA)!!

Maybe that Mile High is what does them in. Framingham is pretty close to sea level.
Husband had a heck of the first three days in Telluride a few weeks ago. Didn't keep him off the slopes, but shortened his day considerably.

[henry]

True daddy. Trump on Twitter said "never bet against Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots." So he has that going for him.

[Rocco]

Congratulations to the Denver Bronco's and her fans. That's a hell of a defense!

[Porchlight]

I would also like to commend our JOM Patriots fans for being great sports.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Manning must have used a lot of his wife's HGH.

Suck it, Simmons.

[lyle]

I think you're missing a key word in your 6:49, anonomom. :)

[lyle]

Thanks for the inspiration, henry @ 6:44. Just threw on some Rockpile.

[boatbuilder, Esq., Lord of All He Surveys]

Just for public consumption, Porch. Privately we are absolutely certain WE GOT JOBBED BY THE REFS!!! ;-)

[derwill]

It continues to boggle my mind why Kevin Williamson and his ilk cling to the notion that snottily denigrating Trump's supporters as stupid, illiterate hicks over and over again will result in a changing of their minds. If it didn't work four months ago, it "sure as heck ain't gonna" work now.

This really is an amazing election season. Not only is nothing working out the way conventional wisdom has always told us it is supposed to, but a good number of people seem to be publicly losing their minds.

If it weren't so important, it almost makes me want Trump to go all the way to the WH, just for the sheer entertainment of it. The inaugural address alone would be something for the ages. And Mrs. Trump's inaugural ball gown? I bet the boys of JOM would enjoy that, ahem, spectacle.

[daddy]

Root for our Panthers Dave (in MA)!!

I don't know Anonamom, there's just something off-putting about Cam Newton that just makes me unable to pull the lever root for him. He seems like a smarmy know it all and I don't think he's very well liked among his colleagues.

But when I look at Carson Palmer, he just's a loud mouth with bad hair, and what's he ever done but bluster, bluster, bluster and blow smoke up our ass?

I can't root for either one of 'em, so screw it, I'm joining the entire staff of National Review and pulling for Johnny Manzell, and if you don't also you're all racist bigots who can't read shit:)

[Miss Marple]

new york values Retweeted
Donald J. Trump ‏@realDonaldTrump 11 May 2015 Manhattan, NY

They had no definitive proof against Tom Brady or #patriots. If Hillary doesn't have to produce Emails, why should Tom? Very unfair!

[henry]

the inaugural dress alone

Dang Derwill. Now I'm tempted to support Trump. :)

[boatbuilder, Esq., Lord of All He Surveys]

derwill--It's certainly changing my mind...about Kevin Williamson. The man has issues.

[Miss Marple]

daddy,

You made me laugh out loud with you post at 7:00.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

I amend my comment about Simmons:

https://mobile.twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/691404081093455873

Condolences to JOM Patriots fans.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2015/09/16/what-peyton-manning-did-for-my-friend-who-is-dying-of-breast-cancer/72283084/

[The Infamous Ignatz]

I will humbly note I predicted a few weeks ago, based on the way they began playing with the Giants game they should have lost, that New England was too banged up to make it to the Super Bowl.
Not sure it was just injuries either. They just looked tired or lackluster for several weeks.

[henry]

So far, the Panthers look ready to run away with the Super Bowl trophy.

[boatbuilder, Esq., Lord of All He Surveys]

Some guy on Simmons twitter feed says "The NFL changed the point-after rule to keep the Pats out of the Super Bowl!" Heh.

[Truthbetold]

Are there any fans of Ethanol here?

Donald Trump in Iowa: I Love Ethanol

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/11/13/donald-trump-iowa-love-ethanol/

[narciso]

yes, Clancy Brown, also the sadistic guard in Shawshank,

[narciso]

over at Patterico, they have gone over Macho Grande, almost as bad the O'Donnell interlude,

there are some folks as obsessed as you, TK over peripheral issues,

[daddy]

Iggy,

Your 11:21 on the other thread is great.

Clarice,

Please put "Get Iggy a slot at American Thinker" on your "to-do" list.

[henry]

Tbt, ethanol has better uses than burning it for fuel.

[Truthbetold]

Do you disagree with Trumps promise to increase the level of ethanol at the pumps?

[narciso]

re ethanol, they reference it, in that Marvel series, Peggy Carter, where one of the characters offers some to Haley Atwell, apparently it's been around since 1908

[narciso]

yes, they aren't doing cruz any favors, maybe they don't intend to, last time they panicked over Gingrich, and through the full Top Men panoply,
they did stall the advance,

[Truthbetold]

Do you believe it should be in our gasoline?

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Carolina starting off like they did against Seattle.

[henry]

Tbt, increasing ethanol at the pumps is not good for engines . Too much in gas pumps instead of my liquor cabinet as is.

Also note: tit for tat was last thread. Read up on core wars (Turing Omnibus has a non technical description) and make your Axelrod paid comments interesting this thread.

[Truthbetold]

Henry

Do you believe we should be putting ANY ethanol in gasoline?

[Beasts of England]

While there ain't no way I would have said anything nice about Cam while he was in college, I certainly can now. He's a heck of a talent and, from what I can tell, a very decent guy off the field.

[DrJ]

make your Axelrod paid comments interesting this thread.

Unpossible. From another Ph.D.

[glasater]

My good friend's fancy Beamer's engine got very sick sipping on ethanol laced premium fuel.

It makes absolutely no sense using corn to make fuel and the farmers in Iowa know it..

[anonamom]

I love ethanol too.
in me, not in my car or boat.

[henry]

DrJ. Agreed.

[Buckeye]

While in Edmonton the local paper had a feature on Ted Ginn Jr. and the outstanding season he has had with the Panthers.

He credited Cam, of course Ginn has always been humble.

[Truthbetold]

What does that say about some one who wants to increase it?

[narciso]

besides the plot in the stories,

[Meum ex petrol.]

What's the best oxygenator?

[Buckeye]

"Clarice,

Please put "Get Iggy a slot at American Thinker" on your "to-do" list."

Second that motion.

[Miss Marple]

I don't think Trump cares one way or the other about ethanol. He used support of it to get the governor's attack on Cruz, which is ruthless but I am ok with it because that is the type of fighting I want to see in order to win.

Ethanol won't be removed any time soon, nor will it be increased. However, right now it is the law.

Yes, it's bad for engines. I don't think it's a good idea, but it was instituted when we were afraid that oil would be cut off during the wars in the Middle East.

[henry]

It says they are patronizing Iowa campaign funders. Like every other candidate in history with the odd exception of Cruz. As in it says as much as eating a corn dog at the state fair.

[narciso]

much like adam gadahn actually,

http://rightwingnews.com/top-news/so-if-the-first-white-british-youth-to-join-isis-in-syria-poor-and-oppressed-actually/

[Beasts of England]

Oxygen?

[Truthbetold]

Miss Marple

So by your way of thinking once the government institutes something it can not be rolled back?

[narciso]

or the cow made out of butter,

[daddy]

daddy,

You made me laugh out loud with you post at 7:00.

Thank you, Miss Marple,

Then my work here is done for the moment and it's Dog Walk time:)

Never did finish catch-up BTW, but what else is new.

Go, Johnny Manzell!

[Dave (in MA)]

The guys on the local radio postgame show on the station that doesn't carry the Pats game are putting most of the blame on Brady, even Brady worshipper Fred Smerlas. The first caller had a crazy tinfoil theory about the game being rigged 'case Manning is the best story.

[henry]

Yes, pro wrestling = pro football. Except the first has better writers. ::eye roll::