Monday, December 27, 2010

It's Cold

Judah Cohen of the NY Times patiently explains to all of dolts out here that it's cold as hell this winter precisely due to global warming:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/opinion/26cohen.html?_r=1&ref=opinion.  Yes, yes, Judah, most everyone understands that driving Fords and Chevys has some sort of effect on the atmosphere.  But, running out a piece like this every time one of the frequent massive cold fronts takes a dump on Paris or New Yawk and you begin sounding like Reichsminister Goebbels explaining that Soviet advances outside of Berlin are intentional ploys on the part of the Fuhrer to trap and once and for all destroy the pesky Rushkies. 
The photo here is not of the expired Joseph Goebbels but rather of Gregory Peck in his finest role as Nazi nutjob Joseph Mengele in "The Boys from Brazil" movie.  Forget all that soppy Atticus Finch stuff--I'll take Peck any day doing his part to spread love and Nationalist Socialism near and far.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Cleopatra Developments

A review of a new book out on Cleopatra, written by Stacy Schiff:http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-stacy-schiff-20101107,0,2749115.story.  The article says Hollywood is going to do a film version with Angelina Jolie reprising the Elizabeth Taylor role.  Hope it's good.  The famous Cleopatra version with Taylor isn't that great of a movie but worth the money to see Elizabeth in prime vamping mode.  Burton played Marc Anthony as a scrawny, pale, drunk Welshman.  Had a great voice, though.
Saw "Rules of the Road" this past Friday, which starred Robert Downey and that Zach Garaffuldududiddis guy with the beard who plays essentially Zach Garaffuldududiddis in each role I've seen him.  Downey deserves a better story, a better script, and a better director than he's getting.  Go see it if you want: some laughs here and there but once you've seen the greatest road movie, "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," this latest treatment of the genre doesn't come close to measuring up.
Watched mostly crappy football--Texas, Baylor, Dallas all sucked wind.  At least Baylor's game was during a glorious fall day, which gave me an excuse at halftime to finally clean out the storage shed, something that Mrs. Bulba has been on my ass about for a good three months now.  Hers is a furtive motive: she didn't want it so much tidied up but rather envisioned space cleared in order to move current furniture out to the shed and newfangled stuff into the house.  Cunning creatures, women, and reading up on Cleopatra would be a good lesson out there for all of you young dudes thinking about throwing in with that hot honey of yours who makes all of those cooing sounds at the right times.  Anyway, the shed has room for a couch and easy chair and I hear there's a couple of items "on hold" at Pottery Barn.  Defeated again.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Olbermann Sent to Time Out

MSNBC has "suspended without pay" its star player, Keith Olbermann because he gave money to a bunch of Democratic Party candidates:http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/05/olbermann-donated-to-three-dems-in-apparent-violation-of-nbc-policy/.  Apparently, MSNBC is still under the impression that there is some gentle soul out there who thinks the network is a sanctuary for objective news coverage and equitable commentary, so they're playing this parlour game until the smoke clears.   I pretty much assumed that Olbermann gave money to Dems and have never been under the impression that he was pretending to be an objective news deliverer, ala the great pretender himself, Dan Rather.  Olbermann, O'Reilly, and all of these guys (that includes you, Rachel Maddow) certainly have convictions but they understand very well their roles to preach to their respective choirs to keep the ad money rolling in.  MSNBC is full of crap (see above) for thinking we somehow don't know it.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Prop. 19 and Other Election Stuff

Proposition 19, the California initiative to legalize possession and cultivation of relatively small amounts of weed for personal use failed yesterday.  Here's a short piece about the measure that appeared before the election: http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/kristof-crouch-soros-and-mcnamara-on-prop-19/27987.  Call me whatever you want (and I've been called lots of things) but I agree with the voices in the article, even arch liberal George Soros--this war we have on pot is nuts.  People want to smoke weed and it's no worse for you than alcohol.  I agree that pot is a gateway drug and a lot of people begin their drug abuse tailspin through pot usage just like I know for a fact that alcohol does the same for many.  But, most pot users--like most alcohol users--do so and live responsibly at the same time, reporting in for work each day and baking delicious brownies at night.  We've got better uses for our tax dollars and police and I have a little spot in my backyard that gets just the right amount of sun and shade.
Lots of Republicans won last night.  You think Obama overreached or what?  I thought he was smarter--a big chunk of the country identifies itself as "conservative"--much more than "liberal," so he maybe should have had one of those best and brightest surrounding him point that little fact out along the way while he was ripping the Republicans a new one.  The R's now have Congress and  I'm not sure they know what they're going to do with it but I do know for sure that John Boehner is going to be lighting up Camels in his office while cheerfully suggesting that Nancy Pelosi can go suck it.  Anyway, I think that despite the big win in Congress, Republicans would make a mistake by thinking it's a mandate of some sort--it was a market correction of the political variety.  I have every confidence that the R's will muddle around and screw up things in fine fashion which should work in the president's favor in a few years.  But, for the moment, he can sneak over to Boehner's office for a smoke.

The day following elections should be reserved for the expeditious removal of political signs from public and private places, along with a ritual peeling off of bumper stickers.  Note: for those of you whose candidates won, you come off as a preening ass by leaving your bumper stickers affixed to the Prius.  If you lost, you appear as the bitter, self righteous ass variety.  Don't be an ass.  In fact, all the world and especially your friends and neighbors would much rather not know your politics at all or get your prayer train emails or see you without makeup.  Speaking of which, I live in an area with a lot of transplants from other parts of the country.  You see them on Saturday or Sunday mornings in public venues (HEB, kids sporting events, etc.) wearing absolutely no make up, the effect of which is typically hideous.  That contrasts with a Texas (or Southern) girl who wouldn't show up to a dawn hanging or 6:30AM 10k with a 105 degree fever without the expert application of makeup and a smart touch up of their hair.  Reminds once again that once you go north of the Red River, it gets a little dicey in the female department.  Hear the pot's better in California, though.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Wayne's Alamo

They had a fandango in San Antonio to celebrate a big anniversary for John Wayne's version of the Alamo story, it's 50th anniversary premiere: http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/dgagliasso/2010/11/01/john-waynes-dream-the-alam0-at-fifty/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BigHollywood+%28Big+Hollywood%29&utm_content=FaceBook  Skip the political stuff in the article if you want, the real story is the making of that film and for all its faults, it's a pretty good movie.  Great character actors and no computerized special effects--those are real extras portraying soldados. 
They built an awesome set for the movie out on Happy Shahan's ranch near Bracketville.  I went there once and you really get more of a sense of the Alamo at the ranch than by visiting the real thing.  Out there, you get the dimension and relative remoteness compared to what's left of the compound in San Antonio, which is essentially the famous chapel and the foundations of a few of the blockhouses.  You don't have raspa vendors or tour buses out there, either.  I met Shahan once, and rode around on the ranch with him.  He told me a few stories about the filming of the movie and how much he liked Wayne and the crew.  BTW, Wayne and the cast and crew stayed at the barracks of the old cavalry fort in Bracketville.  If you're in the mood, you can rent those out now.

Left, Right, Left, Right...

An interesting study on why people turn out to be liberal or conservative:http://www.miller-mccune.com/politics/a-new-take-on-political-ideology-24683/.  Maybe, though there are some obvious exceptions to Vigil's thesis.  Anyway, go vote tomorrow and then please remove your hideous yard signs and bumper stickers for your favorite candidates--they've influenced no one but irritated many.  My next door neighbors--a nice, smart retired couple who are uber Democrats not only have political signs but sub signs on the larger signs.  These smaller signs spell out the legal penalty for removing or defacing political signs.  What happened was that during an election a few years ago, I went out to get my paper one Saturday morning and saw their signs were knocked down.  This was the obvious work of teenage boys roving around on a Friday night, bent on tearing up something when mailboxes prove unavailable.  But, nice next door neighbors interpreted it as the work of nefarious Republican operatives (is there any other type?) bent on the reintroduction of back alley abortions and killing old people.  So, if you ever think of knocking over the signs on my block, please be advised to read the smaller signs first.  Especially, if it's Karl Rove out raising Hell and knocking over mailboxes.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Folsom Field Report

Note: the following relates to a just completed trip by Mr. and Mrs. Bulba to Boulder as part of a Baylor Alumni group.  If you did not go to Baylor (and count yourself fortunate in that) you may not find any of the following particularly enlightening or of any sense.  Instead, go out and make a better world or a decent cup of coffee.

Was up at Boulder for the CU game as part of some alumni group thing that I signed the wife and I up for earlier this summer. Though I suspected it would be highly geriatric, I decided to give it a try anyway. Essentially, it was uber-geriatric—average age was probably 70 and largely Waco-centric which translates into some fairly uninteresting conversation opportunities and “a frail outlook on life” as Group Captain Mandrake would say. Most of the men were retired pasty faced banker types and the women were of the flighty, semi-Southern belle variety that only worry their pretty little heads with grandchildren stories and never went in for any backdoor action.




Played golf Friday on a glorious day at the Interlochen Golf Club in Broomfield which is about 8 miles from Boulder. My cart partner, “Earl” was 65 and had played golf most of his adult life. That said, Earl did not understand the concept of shutting the fvck up when someone else was hitting or not walking into their fvcking line when they’re about to hit fvcking ball. He also did not understand that it is not a good idea to stand too close to someone in the process of their taking a practice swing on the tee box. Early in the round, I would mindfully avoid swinging too close to him in recognition maybe of his age and trying to be polite and all but by about hole 8 or so, I was actively attempting to knock the sh1t out of him with each and every practice swing. Chatty about his role as a deacon at his Baptist church, singing in the church choir and grandchildren and other matters of which I did not give a flying fvck, I began the round by being a little deferential in this regard but soon quickly tired of Earl and his dumbsh1t ways and proceeded to smoke at least two cigs on every hole and made sure the beer cart girl stopped to see me in no more than fifteen minute intervals. Though I did not take the Lord Jesus’ name in vain during that span of five fvcking hours, I did work in most of the rest, including “c0cksucking motherfvcker” at least twice. Shot an 82. Still can’t putt for sh1t.



Friday night we attend a dinner arranged for the Baylor group at the hotel. We sit with three other couples who discuss grandchildren, medical procedures, and the “pretty leaves they have on the trees, here.” This is followed by our featured entertainer for the evening, direct from Las Vegas, the magnificent, “Dondino.” Assuming you’re not retarded or addled by syphilitic effects on the brain, you’ll know that Dondino is at best, a third tier Vegas lounge singer appealing to the blue hair set. Ever know that you’re staring straight at three hours of your life that will be stolen and ground into dust and then sh1t on by a scoured calf and deducted from all of the good things that have occurred in your fifty something year walk through the years then you’ll know that hell exists. Yes, I’ll never get it back and whenever images of death camps or Cloth World seep into my mind, I’ll think of this chamber of fvcking horrors. When it was over, I ran, RAN to the bar and screamed for anything, ANYTHING that was wet including black tar heroin if they had it and could mainline it into me NOW. I would even have accepted simply being hit repeatedly over the head with a pool cue. Yes, that bad.



Bus left the hotel for the game at 2pm on Saturday and I’m here to tell you that you haven’t seen slow old people board a bus until you see slow old Baylor people board a bus. I had pre-gamed a little in the hotel bar—but not enough, especially when you’re surrounded by Lottie Mae’s from Waco and MacGregor in their lime green polyester sweater vest things that they darned/stitched/sewed/what-the-fvck-ever’d themselves.



Buses offload at the “official” (means no beer or fun) Baylor tent where a buffet is waiting, along with Judge Starr and Coach Teaff and Ian and the Baylor cheerleaders visibly repelled by having to perform circus tricks in front of this hideous assemblage of old people. You can tell that they would just rather take up whoring or pipefitting or anything than looking out at Lottie Mae yelling into Merl’s ear where the bathroom is located. Starr speaks and we clap in joyous love for our new president who is conversant in New Testament scholarship and identification of body fluids.



Wife and I sneak the fvck out of the Baylor tent in hopes of finding beer. You won’t believe this but there isn’t a bar or equivalent George’s tent around the Folsom Field environs selling anything containing alcohol. I’m reduced to begging CU tailgating types with mixed results—they look at me with a mixture of contempt and pity but acquiesce less I begin singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” or holding up a “John 3:16” sign.



Enter Folsom Field. Had attended CSU contests where Coors’ products are readily available and assumed the same at CU where the temperance league never had much luck. Negative. No. Fvck No. As was explained to me by the patient concessions staff over my screaming, alcohol sales are prohibited at Big 12 events which is I’m sure due to some dumbass insistence from Baylor types at league meetings. Now you know why the Buffs are leaving for the Pac Whatever and saying adios to Ames, Iowa and Waco and overall  rampant Big 12 ass-hatery. I’m more than crushed at the prospects of a dead and buried buzz and more hours with the Baylor Family sin anything to fortify my soul. I thought about Jesus on the cross and being forsaken and all and Ben Franklin’s proclamation that God wants us to be happy, so that is why we have beer and almost started crying. Now, the only thing I had going was cussing a lot.

Ralphie, the CU mascot enters the field, tear-assing up and down the gridiron while five or six student wranglers hold on for dear life.  Outstanding display, said to be the greatest in college football mascotetry.  Certainly an improvement over the masked Red Raider mascot of T-Tech holding her pretend pistol salute in the sky.  Would have only been better if Ralphie would have taken out several Baylor blue hairs while his wranglers tossed Fat Tire Brewery products to Section 102, aisle 39, seats 21 and 22.


Exciting game—you’ve read about it so I won’t bore you. Dumbass penalties on Baylor almost deep sixed what should have been more of a decisive outcome. I’m standing up most of the game, jumping around, screaming, cussing (a lot), and generally making up for all of the Lottie Mae’s and Vernon’s looking around with their mouths open. We win. Contrary to my expectations, I didn’t get hit by a AA battery once by the CU faithful.



Two buses are waiting; one going back to the hotel for those staying the night and the other going to the airport in Denver for a flight back. As would be expected, our bus going to the hotel leaves with a couple that should have been on the other bus. A thoroughly fvcked up, ignorant expedition through the back streets around Folsom ensues as large bus is attempting to find/catch up with the other large bus. Another precious hour of life is lost in this process while the effects of expanded prostate glands kick in. Not happy. I urinate in the hotel parking lot in protest.



Sic ‘em.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Queenan on Carter

Carter and Pal
Joe Queenan speaks on behalf of most/much/many/plenty of us when he implores former President Jimmy to be quiet and go away:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704631504575532314072376630.html.  God, I can't stand the guy--he's the at the same time a boring, tiring, arrogant, irritating shit head--you know, the one who sat in the first row and asked a goddamn question as the bell rang, prompting an obligatory session of pontificating from some jackass never been professor and making you late for your next class.  I respect anyone who has run and held the office of the presidency but Carter's insistence that what matters to him and what he has decided is right and best should trump all other national considerations and makes a sitting president's and State Department's job highly difficult.  For that, I'd like to see a coordinated air strike on the offices of the Carter Center in order to save the world from the Jimmy menace.

Fall Update

Fall is here, and with it comes the official "Decorative Gourds Season," no less at my house where Mrs. Bulba always has various gourd objects lying around which I think infers that we've grown and harvested them and are now enjoying the bounty of fine gourds offering up wonderous gourd products which we can share with family and friends and maybe hobos* who show up at our house for a square meal.  This guy has a little something to say about it:http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2009/10/20nissan.html
Decorative gourds such as those that Mrs. Bulba places on areas where I like to set my drink.
*Yes, I know that no one says "hobos" anymore, or "bums" in deference to "homeless people" which was established in order to eliminate the practice of calling a spade a spade.  Anyway, whatever as they say.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

NCAA Tackle Football Report

Sooner faithful at the Cotton Bowl
My God, I looked up (or down--I forget) and we're less than a week short of half the damn season gone already.  I've been to a college game every Saturday, thus far, save for the weekend I was in and around San Diego and ended up watching a shitload of college games all at one time in a sports bar in Mission Beach filled with USC fans who were the fat variety of Trojan fans versus the hot chick model of USC fans you were maybe hoping to see.  Timing is everything.  Anyway, took in the annual Red River Hatefest between Texas and Oklahoma this last weekend at the Cotton Bowl.  It was apparently the Sooners' turn to win as Texas did everything they could to behave stupidly, throwing away one opportunity after another in favor of costly penalties.  They must have been distracted by the approximate 75,000 very attractive female supporters of both schools that were walking unceasingly up and down the aisles to the restroom or wherever women go during sporting events--all I know is that their efforts are much appreciated by the guys sitting along the aisles.  Will be going back to the Cotton Bowl for another snot-slinger featuring the Tech versus the Baptists this Saturday.  Probably not as raucous unless the Baylor faithful get a little too hopped up on corn dogs and Shiner at the State Fair.  Happens sometimes.  Meanwhile, enjoy the finest in college football buffoonery, SEC style:http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2010/10/4/1729557/the-alphabetical-week-6-tennessee-vs-lsu-college-football-recap

Monday, October 4, 2010

Tony Curtis, RIP

Yes, Tony did get to know Marilyn fairly well
Had a few great turns (notably "Sweet Smell of Success")  but a real movie star and one of the last of a breed that once ruled Hollywood.  Tony Junod with a wrap:http://www.esquire.com/the-side/feature/tony-curtis-death-093010.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Obama Declares Fox "Destructive"

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/28/obama-fox-news-is-destructive-to-america/?hpt=T2.  Rolling Stone interviewed President Obama and he says that Fox News is "destructive" and not in "America's best long term interests" or something to that effect.  Didn't see anything about Rolling Stone asking him what he thought about MSNBC, CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, New York Times, Los Angeles Examiner, Chicago Tribune, etc., etc.  I guess any reasonable, well educated person would conclude that those news sources are without bias or at least with the correct bias.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Dien Bien Phu Revisited

Great article by Robert Messenger laying out what went down at the famous battle-- the heroes, villains, folly, bravery, and what it all means and doesn't mean.  Best piece I've ever read about it:http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/theirs-do-and-die?nopager=1

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Good Stuff

A young Eugene Sledge
The WSJ lists five of the best of WWII first person accounts:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703466704575489831012445628.html?KEYWORDS=QUARTERED+SAFE.  I've read two of them: Fraser's "Quartered Safe Out Here" and E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed."  Outstanding books, both of them.  Fraser is a superior writer (see the Flashman series), so his is very, very well done.  Sledge is an interesting story due to the fact that he was sort of a smart, sensitive type who got thrown into the maelstrom of the Pacific island fighting against the Japanese and he kept quite meticulous notes between the lines of his bible and later wrote it all down years later when he was leading the life of a quite biology professor.  Haven't read the others listed though Von Lauck's "Panzer Commander" looks eerily similar to the last on the list.

Blue Pill News

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ianmcowie/100007666/why-supermarket-viagra-might-be-a-bad-idea/.  They are apparently selling Viagra over the counter in Europia--if they ever do that here they'll have to build a separate section for it at HEB.  Interesting that the article points out the side effects of the blue pill as men are now going to the doctor more and/or paying greater attention to their health which could and probably very well is enhancing their life expectency in addition to the quality of their erection experience.  This also, of course, probably means a boomlet for headache pill manufacturers.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Noonan Explains the Tea Party

Peggy Noonan writes a decent piece, giving her take on the Tea Party and what she thinks is going on with the conservative side of the electorate (no, she doesn't say anything about them being racists or insisting that the earth is flat):http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703440604575496221482123504.html

Sharia in the U.S.

Great piece by a Pakistani born lawyer on life as a Muslim woman and how our system is enabling feudal style "justice" under sharia: http://www.guernicamag.com/features/2030/zakaria_9_15_10/

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Fidel Goes to a Donk, er, Dolphin Show

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/09/fidel-cuban-model-doesnt-even-work-for-us-anymore/62602/.  A sort of remarkable and very odd write up by Atlantic Monthly on a recent visit with Castro in Havana.  Notable items were:
1. Castro says the Cuban model doesn't work for Cuba.  Now he tells us--what a joker that Fidel is with his revolutions and missile crisis capers and Bay of Pigs stuff and all that. 
2. He likes dolphins a lot and enjoys the local dolphin show which is closed on Mondays except when Fidel wants to see a good dolphin show on a Monday.  Then, the workers all "voluntarily" show up.
3. He knows a good Persian rug when he sees it.
4. He seems to have recovered from his digestive troubles to enjoy red (of course) wine.
5. Che Guevarra's daughter works at the dolphin show.  I guess that's better than the Bautista era show where she would have worked.
Castro ponders his love for Flipper
6. Fidel sometimes pretends that he is Ernest Hemingway, lounging nude while throwing down daiquiris and regaling visiting Harvard grad students with tales of downing the "big five" in Africa and sharing a safari tent with Ava Gardner and a stunning Nubian princess on the plains of the Serengeti.  Allegedly.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Emily Goes to a Nudist Camp

Nude Day at the offices of Wing Attack Plan R
Intrepid Slate reporter Emily Yoffe visits a nudist camp and tells all about it:http://www.slate.com/id/2266049/.  I'm glad that Emily did this and not me.  If you think you're into nudity, visit the men's locker room at the Jewish Community Center in Austin and it will cure you--the term "chamber of horrors" comes to mind.  Nothing like seeing an old guy standing buck nekkid in front of the mirrors drying his pubes with the hair blower.  Or, two of them having a non-descript conversation about the stock market or latest outrage committed by BusHitler--again, without draping as they say in the massage bidness.  Anyway, there's a damn good reason for clothes and a healthy percentage of our population need never forget that.

Rev. Nutt Calls the Faithful to Prayuh

"Give me an amen, crackers!"
Brilliance from EDSBS after the Ole Miss melt down:http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/9/7/1674922/the-right-reverend-nutt-calls-a#storyjump

Varadarajan on Quran Burning

Varadarajan weighs in on the nut job who intends to barbecue a stack of qurans/korans:http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-07/terry-jones-burn-the-koran-pastor-wrecks-free-speech-debate/.  I pretty much agree with him.  The only other point concerning this is why are not more Muslims embarrassed by this?  That generals, politicians, Christian ministers, etc. are all pleading for the idiot pastor to stop this because it will incite the followers of a religion to commit murder over burned books, just like they do when their prophet is depicted in a cartoon.  Similar pleas and measures do not have to go out for the sake of other religions when bibles or flags are burned or Jews murdered --again, it's this conversion by the sword Islamic deal which the world must tread lightly around.  Again, would enjoy--for once--seeing "moderate" Muslims in the United States and other regions renounce violence above an occasional whisper or candle lighting at a Unitarian peace conference.  Still waiting.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Czarist Gold?

Some think that the mother lode of czarist gold sits in a Siberian lake:http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,715373,00.html.  I'll believe it when I see a photo of a shirtless Vladimir Putin with a hunting rifle slung over his chest straddling a big o' pile of gold bars.  Then, maybe.

Chairman Mao and other Labor Day Thoughts

They had great fun during the Cultural Revolution (the same one that Jane Fonda thought was such a swell idea):http://www.literaryreview.co.uk/mirsky_09_10.html.  I don't find any of this really very much of a surprise--it does, however, give me some small sense of satisfaction to know that for maybe a very brief moment it may cause some discomfort for the "Blame America First" crowd who are always on board with the latest Marxist lunatic parading around under the guise of a "people's paradise" or something equally ridiculous (see Chavez, Hugo and Penn, Sean et al).  Anyway, a fun read for a Mon--err, Tuesday.
Random Labor Day weekend items:
Chairman Mao declares war against the imperialist lackeys at Wing Attack Plan R
1. Played golf.  Yesterday, my cart partner was Mr. Retired Guy Who Doesn't Find it Necessary to Shower in the Morning.  Helluva guy, that guy--just stay upwind of him.  Hit the ball pretty well, though I couldn't drop any putts and otherwise engaged in some wildly imaginative scenarios involving me and the very attractive cart girl whenever she stopped by.  I'm pretty sure she wasn't doing the same.
2. Attended Baylor's home opener on Saturday (Bulba daughter #2 is a freshman there).  Decent crowd (about 43,000 with 50,000 capacity) and seems like that Ken Starr guy is shaking things up there--alumni and students seem a lot more energized and involved.  For the record, AT&T service SUCKS in Waco--resorted to asking people to make calls for us.  And, I don't think Apple or AT&T really give a shit about problems there or elsewhere.
3. Bulba Daughter #2 and one of her new friends followed us back to Austin.  That went fine until about 3:30AM on Monday morning when they called to come get them from the UT KA house or wherever.  They get credit for not driving that late after some illicit drinking (don't think they had much) but dad's loss of sleep didn't exactly make him a happy camper at that hour.  For those of you with kids not yet teens, rejoice and appreciate what you have and what you will soon kiss goodbye.
4. Attended a surprise birthday party last night for one of the guys I know from the golf club and was chatting with a woman in her late thirties who declared to me pretty much right off the bat that she ditched her husband because "he wasn't much fun" followed shortly thereafter by "he just wasn't that good."  Fortunately, Mrs. Bulba was nearby or I would have had a pretty good time exploring that statement with her in greater detail--"Okay, what's 'good' for you, mam?"  Sort of caught me off guard--just wasn't expecting that at 7PM after only one beer on a Monday night.  As they say in the Scouts: Be Prepared.  Or, at least try to be "good."

Friday, September 3, 2010

LA Times on Andrew Breitbart

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-breitbart-20100826,0,2362984,print.story.  Interesting guy--the villain in the Sherrod firing thingy--and not afraid to come across as bombastic in his effort to swim against the tide. 

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Lombardi

Some interesting photos of the late Vince Lombardi:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1009/vince.lombardi.rare.photos/content.1.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=Sbin.  As a kid, I watched Lombardi's Packers rip the hearts out of all of us who were pulling for the Cowboys ( the Oilers were my team but the Cowboys were in the NFL, so there was no real disloyalty in my feeble mind).  Later, I read Jerry Kramer's account of that famous 1967 championship season, "Instant Replay" which is devoted in large part to the character of Lombardi and how his players alternately cursed and worshipped him.  And, in the past several years, I've been to Lambeau Field in Green Bay a couple of times and walked beneath the statue of Vince clad in a marble overcoat.  Pretty neat franchise, Green Bay--owned by the fans who pass season tickets to relatives via their wills and work the turnstiles and all that.  The only problem with Green Bay is this thing called, winter.  It happens there.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Hump Day: Don't Worry...Be Happy Edition

A study says that happy people tend to be extroverts, engaged, and making over $75 large a year:http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/01/money-and-happiness-over-75k-doesnt-matter/?hpt=C2.  Also, Dems and R's tend to be equally happy but those with very strong political views such as "Greens" and "Libertarians" tend to be unhappy.  That sort of mirrors what Franklin said--that "there is no happiness to be found among zealots."  Heartily agree with this sentiment and I find those always on point for both ends of the political spectrum a bore and damn tiring.  Though I do find myself voting mostly for candidates from one party, I'd be damned embarrassed to be a "registered" voter of either and couldn't stand a minute around the party convention types--I would sooner embrace Islam and crystal meth.

Some other random thoughts:
1. I've noticed that every female driver between the ages of 18 to 28 or so is either engaged in the act of texting or at least is reading a text--in all kinds of traffic, including on the interstate.  Speak to your daughters about this.  It will do zero good but at least you will have done it.
2. Saw "Get Low" with Duvall, Murray, and Spacek this past Saturday.  So-so.  Worth it to watch Duvall and Murray but the story didn't develop like it could have and should have. 
3. So far, I give empty nesting high marks and endorse the practice.  Freshman daughter will return on Saturday evening along with three of her new found coed friends, so we'll suspend the practice of dad walking naked from the laundry room back to the master bedroom (the wife will be grateful for this).
4. Football season is here, more particularly, the college variety which is the better game.  Hard to explain that statement when obviously the best players are in the professional ranks.  It's just better in the sense that the players are mostly all strongly committed as are the schools and alumni and t-shirt alumni, and the game itself is just more interesting to watch than what shows up on Sundays.  Anyway, it's back after about 8 long months of exile and the nation rejoices.
5. Going on a dove hunt tomorrow--a customer thing--and will probably repeat last year's performance of not firing a single shot while mostly tracking down the truck driving around the ranch that has all of the iced down beer.
6. I "liked" Texas Tribune on Facebook for the sole reason of posting a question asking why they bill themselves as "nonpartisan" when they are nonpartisan in the sense that the New York Times or National Review are nonpartisan--they're not.  Got a lot of snotty responses from their largely hipster and humorless reading audience to the tune that I just don't get it.  You know, I don't get a lot of things but on this, I do.  The TT, the NYT, and their enthusiastic reading audience are both smart and fascinatingly tone deaf--they'll look at you with a quizzical gaze of wonderment if you even mention that there's some bias there--always amuses me.  Same thing with the Austin American Statesman and other rags that pretty much report whatever the NYT or AP sends them, and they do that dutifully and in a spirit of earnest Christian labor in order to pass on the gospel to the faithful.  Whenever some apostate questions something, they're labeled a reactionary or just a poor soul needing enlightenment and direction.  Funny stuff.
7. I never want to go to: Russia, China, or India.  Call me whatever you want or just plain unadventurous but I'm almost 53 and I like having a nice place to take a shit.  I don't have a problem with outhouses when I'm hunting or even having to squat over a downed mesquite log if there is an imminent situation but I really don't want to pay to visit a country where having a clean, comfortable place to take a dump is an issue.  All that said, taking a leak outside is one of life's great pleasures, especially if you're hosing down a fire ant bed or the fence of the neighbor you don't like.  John Wayne once pissed into Ward Bond's whiskey flask to the immense enjoyment of John Ford.  Ford was so inspired that he cast both in "The Searchers" and the greatest western of all time resulted--urination can be so inspirational.  We'll devote a future post to urinals and piss troughs and to the larger world of male urination--let me know if there's something you want me to include.
"I like being around happy people and the offices of Wing Attack Plan R: their bathroom is so nice."
8.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

When Truth is Inconvenient

Ayaan Hirsi Ali says out loud what a lot of people don't want to hear, that there is a difference in civilizations and the Western one is clearly better, especially if you're a woman:http://www.bigquestionsonline.com/columns/susan-jacoby/multiculturalism-and-its-discontents

Monday, August 23, 2010

LPGA Round Up

Mean Dina
Actually, I saw a link to this on Kevin Robbins' blog--it's a piece on the recent Safeway Classic in Oregon: http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2010/08/canzano_lpga_golfers_short_fus.html.  All I can say is for Dina Ammaccapane to call your office--a PR disaster for her and really, for the LPGA which already is struggling.  So, Dina doesn't want a short guy carrying her "75 pound" bag and didn't even give him a chance to do it--what gives?  And, just what the hell do you have in that bag, anyway?  I guess if Dina had to carry her own damn bag, she'd figure out some things she didn't need in that thing.  When you carry your own clubs in very hot weather and over a hilly course, you certainly do without a lot of stuff in the interest of weight--I know I do.  That said, I do occasionally find stuff in my walking bag that I wonder how it got there--five hundred pesos the other day (went to Zihuatanejo last October), one (1) 12 gauge shotgun shell (I have absolutely no clue on this one), and a six pack of AA batteries (again, no idea).  I once found my wife's curling iron in my bag but that was from a trip where she stuck a bunch of her gear in my golf bag for the plane trip home and the curling iron ended up staying in there for my next round of golf.  Happily, I didn't have to use it.

News from Mordor

No, not really.  But, a fascinating interview in FP of Patrick Chovanec on his experiences travelling in the Hermit Kingdom:http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/16/a_tourist_in_pyongyang?page=full.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Golf and Other Silliness

Still perturbed at the whole backasswardness of golf and its stupid goddamn rules and overall idiotic way of going about things as evidenced in its full show-your-ass glory at last week's PGA Championship.  A course designed by a lunatic, a rules official who didn't have the goddamn common sense to announce to the idiots standing in what turned out to be a sand trap that they were standing ass deep in the thing (thereby alerting Dustin Johnson that his ball was in a goddamn sand trap when he thought it was simply sitting where some fat guy had just taken a nap), Dustin Johnson grounding his club (on that piece of shit course with 37,000+ sand traps you just should assume that a ball resting on a crap lie is a sand trap), and a dumb ass caddie who didn't have the sense to do what he's paid to do in saving his player.  And, finally, the rules of golf in almost their whole reeking entirety, written by deranged Scots addled by years of dedicated alcoholism and livestock predation.  Perfect drive bombed down the center of the fairway that rolls into a divot?  Tough shit, dude--can't move it even though it is clearly in GROUND UNDER REPAIR.  Anyway, it's an annoying game.  The two takeaways from the PGA are that if you were thinking of taking up golf you have now fortunately regained clarity and will instead get into something more sensible like skydiving or cross dressing, and, that if you do currently play the game you'll never, ever want to get near that tricked up piece of Wisconsin ridiculousness called Whistling Straits.   Not even if Miss Wisconsin is riding buck nekkid in your cart (allegedly pictured below).

After flying back Saturday, unpacked and drove to the course to get in nine holes (had to attend a wedding that evening).  The clubhouse asked if I would play with a couple of guests and it was my pleasure, though I announced to them on the first tee that I would only be able to play the front nine due to having to attend a "goddamn wedding" that night.  A hole later, when exchanging "what do you do's?" with them, "Sam" informed me that he was the new pastor at Great Hills Baptist Church.  "I guess you go to a lot of goddamn weddings, yourself, right Sam?"  Not really, but almost. 

Moved Bulba daughter #2 into my old Alma mater yesterday.  Time flies and life does indeed come full circle at times.  Empty nesters, Mrs. Bulba and I now.  Missing knowing that she's not in the house, even if in her room sleeping or Facebooking or whatever.  Just not there and it is an empty feeling.  We'll get over it but it's a little tough.  Guess we'll have to get around to finally installing those ceiling mirrors in the master.  Or, play more golf.

Bill Millin, RIP

The bagpiper immortalized in "The Longest Day" is dead:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/world/europe/20millin.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries.  What a story.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Huguette, Part Deux

Huguette at 15
Another fascinating glimpse at the 104 year old heiress that we posted here a few months back:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38719231/ns/business/.  Hope she's well and has included a codicil in her will mentioning a reward for my continued good wishes.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Great Wall


Attended a Jack Johnson concert last night. Now, I didn't have a clue who Jack Johnson was or what kind of music he played. I just knew that the tickets were free, and that I was going to sit outside, hear some live music and enjoy a beverage or two on a school night. Not a bad deal.

Now, I could go on at length about the fact that the beer selection was awful and what you could get cost 12 bucks a pop. But I won't. As I said before, the tickets were free, so I didn't mind so much digging deep. Besides, a rare bit of cloud cover had dampened the evening blast furnace, and those of you who just spent the last thirty or so days "enjoying" 100+ degree days, well, you understand just how pleasant "90 in the shade" can feel. Toss in several thousand women dressed for such weather and a good spot to enjoy the show/scenery - now you've got a solid foundation for a good evening.

Music was good, too - Mr. Johnson is a talented guy. Put him in the "music/cd/concert that chicks enjoy - a lot - yet is tolerable for the average guy" genre (remember that - might just save your ass next birthday/anniversary/"insert generic gift-giving holiday here").

So what's my beef? Well, have you ever noticed the almost primal urge that proportionally challenged women have to stand up and "dance" at outdoor concerts? Worse yet, that they seem to travel in packs of five or six, and act as a group? I mean, one strum on the guy's guitar last night and suddenly many folks on the lawn knew exactly what it feels like to be Tony Romo on any given Sunday. Fortunately for Mr. Romo, however, that acreage of ass he's staring at when he barks out signals isn't involved in a "sexy dance" as the missus laughingly called it last night. Nor is it blocking his view of a show he paid to see.

Happened to me last night - right from the get go. Incredulous, I looked around to see if we were the only ones so fortunate. All around were people just like me, sitting on a blanket holding lukewarm-overpriced-bad beer in the hands, shaking their heads and clearly thinking "I paid 50 bucks to watch this shit?"

Turkish Delight

Think you know Turkey?  Think again and a brilliant article by Claire Berlinski will tell you why:http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/articles/2010-JulyAugust/full-Berlinski-JA-2010.html.  Her analysis is largely applicable to the entire middle eastern world and I learned that in spades during the short time I spent there.  Biggest lesson?  Over here, when we make some type of agreement or deal in business or otherwise, it's typically intended to benefit both parties.  "I'll buy this product from you.  You'll get money and I'll get the benefit of the product."  Not there.  No, it's more of a process of one of the parties in the agreement screwing the other--there's not the expectation of a mutually beneficial outcome that assumes both parties will walk away satisfied and/or it will be a building block for a long term relationship.  And, Berlinski's right when she says that Americans are out of their element when trying to accomplish things in that setting.  Unless or until we have negotiators who firmly understand how that part of the world thinks, we'll continue to flail about and wonder at the end of the day why the hell our wallet is so much lighter.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

On Chas

Prince Charles is apparently a fan of coffee enemas:http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2010/jul/23/deconstructing-prince-charles/.  I'm shocked, SHOCKED to hear of this.  Glad that Elizabeth is still hanging until William is old enough to drive the royal Land Rover.
Yes, I did choose this image.  He's obviously looking forward to his next cup of Folger's.
Mrs. Bulba has gone completely nuts over "The Tudors" series depicting Henry VIII's reign and devotion to the bone dance--she even took several of the DVDs to Colorado during our recent vacay.  All in all, they appear to be well done though I've only peeked at them between trips to the kitchen and bathroom.  I am fairly excited about HBO's upcoming series on prohibition era organized crime, which looks tasty in the same vein as "Deadwood," one of the best things that ever hit television viewing.  May have to subscribe in order to add more to the billion or so dollars a week that we send to Time Warner.  Now, there's a racket.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Driving on the Left Side

James Ledbetter thinks that though corporate bigwigs are increasingly Democrats, things are not that much different:http://www.slate.com/id/2263788.  At least, I think that is his conclusion.  Maybe I should read more stuff from James Ledbetter to understand him.

Back from travels, namely to Colorado and some R&R in Crested Butte.  Hiked, rode bikes, fly fished and wandered up and down Elk Avenue following Mrs. Bulba and the Bulba daughters around.  Also, rode horses up and down Snodgrass Mountain which is not my preferred activity but Bulba Daughter #2 is a horse nut so there you have it.  My horse was named, "Duncan," and he got me up and down the damn thing without throwing me or deciding to hurl himself and me off a cliff or something.  All in all, a pretty good ride though Duncan did exhibit a fair amount of passive aggressive behavior, occasionally bumping me into an aspen tree or snatching some food when I wasn't paying attention--I'm pretty sure he does that to amuse himself during his daily grind of hauling idiot tourists up and down a damn mountain--I really can't blame him.  If you were a gelding, you'd have to think of new ways to have fun, too.
Pretty place, Crested Butte.  Had only seen it in the winter before, after sliding up and down Monarch Pass in a death race through snow and ice in order to get there to ski and have hot chocolate and throw another log on the fire.  Weather was obscenely gorgeous and the air was nothing short of delicious--a cruel and awful thing if you're a Texan and know each passing day of the vacation that you're one day closer to returning to the beat down of solid 100 degree plus days.  
Spent the last day of vacation in Fort Collins where Bulba Daughter #1 attends school.  Nothing funner than to push a cart through Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Wal-Mart to provision her in the necessary accoutrements for apartment (actually, an old house) living. 
The credit card got a pretty good workout this month and a cortisone shot is probably in order.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Tiger Mike

Don't like your boss and/or job?  Be thankful: you could have worked for Tiger Mike:http://networkedblogs.com/6yCmw

White People Studies: Thursday Morning Edition


Here's a thoughtful analysis of white people in their environment--this time the subspecies that employs dreadlocks for still unexplained reasons:http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2010/07/white_people_with_dreads_a_field_guide.php?page=1.  Perhaps, one day we'll understand.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Take a look...

...this is what treason looks like, the little piece of shit called Pfc. Bradley Manning.  What has been learned thus far is that in addition to leaking highly classified military information to WikiLeaks (an organization comprised of the worst types of elitist "We know what's best for you" asshats), Manning was/is the annoying twerp who was kicked around growing up because he was an annoying twerp and got "The Man" back by throwing in with the closest leftist/intellectual/anti-American group he could find to establish himself as a "true hero" to mankind.  Yeah, great, Bradley you pathetic excuse for a human f*****g being.  Reports have already emerged regarding the information that Manning supplied to WikiLeaks in the name of a greater good happens to contain the names of scores of Afghans and Iraqis (and their families) who have in some way assisted coalition efforts and will now have the privilege of dying slowly at the hands of the Taliban and other Muslim thugs.  When these people are tortured to death, the effects on coalition forces translate into more deaths and less effectiveness for those unenlightened dullards in our armed forces who didn't have the good sense to subscribe to Mother Jones and are only necessary consequences in the path of righteousness provided by the gentle souls of WikiLeaks.  Great job, all.  And, Wiki and Julian and your gang of well dressed hipsters: you have risen to the same level of greatness as Hitler and Stalin and Pol Pot and every other jackshit who thought they knew better than anyone else in the path to righteousness.  If there is enlightenment in all of this it's that fascism is not on the right anymore--it's pointing somewhere else.http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/28/afghanistan.wikileaks.suspect/index.html?hpt=C2

Hermit Kingdom Update

Haven't posted anything about the 24 hour party that is North Korea, so here you go:http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/07/24/robert-fulford-north-korea-an-antique-nightmare/.  Whatever his faults, at least our dear leader President Obama didn't issue a white cloth to clean his framed photograph each day to all citizens (only "Silver" level and above DNC members do that).  Also read recently that some experts think that the North doesn't really have the capability to do much in terms of laying seige to South Korea--that they're using rusting equipment and aging technology when it comes to their military.  Also, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been stomping around the DMZ so that has do doubt scared the shit out of the commies; when she gets that stare of hers going men tend to want to sort of drift away somewhere to drink and scratch.  Ask Bill.

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Wit and Wisdom of Oliver Stone

A hundred bucks says you never hear about this on MSNBC:http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2010/07/25/oliver-stone-criticizes-jewish-dominated-media-wants-to-put-hitler-in-context/

Saw a preview of Stone's sequel to "Wall Street" yesterday.  No interest in seeing more of his "capitalism is bad" mantra on film--would almost rather sit through "Eat, Pray, Love" which falls somewhere in the same category as "Eyes Plucked Out by Red Headed Vultures" or slow castration while viewing "The Princess Diaries" (I actually saw "Princess" when it came out with my then young  daughters and recall the actual physical pain that occurred while viewing--far worse than a prostate exam).  No, Stone is a real dirt bag and living proof of the gutless nature of Hollywood in that no one has the courage to call him out for his outright loathsome nature and his fondness for thug regimes, France, and servicing Noam Chomsky whenever possible.  A real goon, Stone--latest is he wants to nationalize oil companies in the United States which will no doubt play big with the MSNBC crowd but not so much with rational parts of the electorate.
On another film note, I read the final installment of the last interview with Dennis Hopper in the current edition of "Interview" magazine.  Now, there's a thespian to miss in the dear departed Mr. Hopper.  Here's a few tidbits from the filming of "Apocalypse Now" where Hopper played the crazed photographer in one of his finest roles:
Marlon Brando was indeed, a fat, lazy, selfish ass.  He couldn't bring himself to actually read Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" or report to the set anywhere near in shape for the role.
Coppola used actual corpses in many of the scenes.  Martin Sheen found out the hard way during one scene on the river patrol boat when he accidentally touched what he thought was a dummy and discovered the difference.
Most of the extras were actual ex-Special Forces soldiers or then current Filipino commandos and the training leading up to filming was said to be brutal.  Hopper went through it as he was originally cast as a Green Beret.  Nice call by Coppola on the role switch.
Other great stuff in the interview including his work on "Blue Velvet" and "Hoosiers" and others.

Weekend Round Up

Watched the season premiere of "Mad Men" last night.  Like "Breaking Bad," I've decided to begin religiously following the series.  Oh, I've watched it here and there but never consistently, but it's television worth viewing as they say and a worthy alternative to the usual "Housewives of Wherever" or tennis or gay men doing home improvement projects that we usually get around our house.  The ad stuff is great and reminds one of this:http://www.thebigmoney.com/slideshow/why-don-t-we-do-it-road 

Played customer golf on Friday afternoon with customers who had minimal bullshit capabilities on a course outside of town that was designed by monkeys suffering from food pellet deficiency.  I'm not a golf snob by any means, but some people should not be allowed anywhere near a designated property with a bulldozer or even a dull rake.  Continuity?  No sir!  Just random mounds, tricked up fairways and greens, and no idea of where it all leads.  It would, however, make a splendid gunnery range for the Air Force.

More golf on Saturday at my club this time and I'm pretty sure that I hit every tree on the course in a remarkable display of "pruning by Titleist."  They should have made an instructional video of my just under four hours of on course butchery of twigs, limbs, branches, and even an assault on a few trunks.  Ghastly.

Went back that evening for the monthly "wine dinner" they hold where the club invites a local wine wholesaler who features wines from a certain country or region that are pared with a three course meal that usually isn't bad.  An opportunity to meet new people and the usual country club drill and all and an occasion to throw back five or six glasses of wine and head back home to fool around or pass out or both.  This month was Germany and I assumed a pretty good time for some nice German whites which the country is know for that will, of course, be served chilled to match the upper nineties heat outside, etc.  No.  Instead, the wine merchant, "Mary" who has/had been drilling "Ted" the handsome bartender listened to Ted's wonderful advice that the membership overwhelmingly favors red wines and so she then searched and actually found (and served) some German reds.  Horrible and there is damn good reason the square heads produce white wines and it's because reds out of there have all of the charm of Red Army rapists.   Disappointing but I have to say the overall awfulness didn't prevent me from guzzling them down which says I'm either opportunistic, a drunk, or conditioned to not turn down drinks.  Pathetic.

At the urging of Daughter #2, went with her to see "Inception" yesterday afternoon (she had already seen it and liked it immensely).  I like intelligent movies, or more accurately, movies that are written above a second grade education which are sort of rare which this movie clearly represents.  That said, I didn't really care for it--lot's of effort and the payoff just isn't there.  Call me a dullard.  After all, I did eagerly drink down about four glasses of German reds.

Back to Mad Men.  They do a pretty good job with the look, feel, and attitudes of the bidness world of the sixties.  Hell, even some of the stuff reminds me of what I was around in the 80's when I got out of college.  Smoking at desks and in cars and pretty much everywhere?  Check.  Female secretaries typing out letters?  Check.  Lots of drinking at all times of the day?  Sort of check--never saw a lot of that, but it was around.  Anyway, I'll be following the exploits of Don Draper and his merry crew and waiting for the return of the happy and wholesome story of meth production in Breaking Bad.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Webb off the Reservation

Wonder what the odds are of when Webb becomes independent or, a ghastly Republican?  This may hasten the move: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703724104575379630952309408.html?mod=e2fb.  He's always been a little on the iconoclastic side and one thing that scares the short pants off both parties is a fellow member that cannot always be counted upon.  Webb's that guy.