Wagons West

Great photos of the Dakotas around 1890http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2011/02/23/from-the-archive-frontier-life-in-the-west/2713/.


Cheyenne chiefs about 15 years after reading Custer the riot act

 Deadwood appears to be in full bloom, much advanced from the "camp" days as depicted in the HBO dramatic series which takes place in the late 1870s.  What a great three season run--the creators pulled the plug for their own reasons and should be shot for doing so--I'd like to see Al Swearingen once again greet a new day.

Station Wagons

This guy says that station wagons are done and semi-laments their passing:http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article03091101.aspx.  Great article.
Most every familia Americanas has had at one time or another a station wagon.  As a kid, I recall a '62 or '63 or 60 something Ford Fairlane station wagon, mostly because my dad seemed to cuss at it a lot, which was saying something because he was always mostly unhappy and using a lot of cuss words which I dutifully studied and admired for their nearly always perfect inflection and execution.  The station wagon was later largely replaced by his take on the SUV which was his mounting a real ugly ass camper in the bed of a straight six '67 Chevy pickup truck.  We took one of those Western vacations in it one summer, going to Yellowstone and all that and I rode 99% of the way in the camper, seeing actual hills and mountains as opposed to the flatness of H-town.  Only threw up once in it.  Later, at the urging (constant whining) of Mrs. Bulba, I succumbed to the lure of station wagon chic by buying a used '93 (I think) Volvo station wagon which was fine when it was running but it seemed to always have some sort of Euro engine tweek thing going and it longed for frequent labor stoppages and a correct chablis.  Then, like most of my fellow Red State trash, I opted for the pure SUV route, riding high on the road and making frequent trips to Home Depot.  That was about all she wrote for the station wagon era. 

Go ahead and Drive that Mercury Cruiser right up to the pool--the chicks dig it

The best thing about station wagons were the outstanding ad campaigns devised to extol their virtues--essentially that station wagons meant that anything was possible.  You could live in them, cook in them, sleep (notice I'm being polite here) in them, and haul all sorts of sporting equipment, animals (both living and recently shot), and loads of children large and small and their accouterments while seeing America and searching for clean restrooms.  By the way, please note for the record that we made annual trips to Alabama from Texas to see my mom's family and the restrooms in Louisiana from around 1960 through most of the '70s were about as horrific as I've seen and that includes the toilet scene in "Trainspotters."  But, I digress and Geaux Tigers and it's still a good policy not to have to take a dump in the Pelican State--wait 'til you make it to Hattiesburg.  Anyway, great photos of people experiencing the outdoors, courtesy of their Chevy land yacht, or in this photo, a guy in a suit driving up to his swimming pool--no better way to score babes than that.

NPR Stuff

Things are a little exciting these days over at NPR.  They've lost two Schillers thus far, though Ira Glass and Terri Gross are hanging tight.http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/03/09/134388981/npr-ceo-vivian-schiller-resigns.  Nefarious Republican operatives (are there any other kind?) sort of made things unpleasant for the virtuous types running public radio, stinging Ron Schiller into running smack against the knuckle draggers in flyover country--this happening on Vivian Schiller's watch, who was also instrumental in the ham handed firing of ANALYST Juan Williams.  You may recall that Williams was run by Vivian after expressing concern of flying with Muslims dressed in their "traditional garb" (he did not share any sentiments regarding having to fly with Yankee or Red Sox fans in their traditional garb which is highly distressing to most Americans but that is another story).  Apparently, Schiller and the kind and gentle souls at NPR don't know or don't distinguish between being a REPORTER versus being an ANALYST.  I can believe this because I've frequently heard stuff during a news "report" that was more in the realm of "analyzing" or "commentating," another term that gets a little play now and then.  Anyway, the R's in Congress are having a blast and throwing their weight around about this maybe being the time to finally defund NPR due to a perceived lack of objective reporting and the fact that the United States of America is broke as hell and doesn't need to be shelling out dollars for guys and gals dressed in corduroy and birkenstocks to "report" news items and say nasty things about fat cat Republicans.  A few random thoughts:
1. Ron Schiller had his pants all the way down to his ankles during the sting, not only revealing his disposition toward obviously unenlightened conservatives, but as well as his candid view that NPR did not need government funding.  I agree with his sentiment.  In fact, I think that NPR would thrive without it--it would eliminate the silly pretense that NPR is some kind of objective source of news which it is not and please don't be so tone deaf to believe that it is.  NPR appeals to an audience that is left or center left at best and they would be a lot happier if NPR went whole hog in that direction and more dollars would pour in if they became what Air America never was--an established far flung network with a news mantra somewhere between The New York Times and Mother Jones and with the latest in alternative and world music and ruminations from entertainment scolds like Garrison Keillor.  Dare to be bold, NPR--those neanderthals over at Fox are making a shitload of coin and think of that nice loft you could buy next to that free trade coffee shop and down the block from that guy named "Evan" who wears a beret and has a cat and a Prius and takes a shower every other day to save the planet.
2. Ever listen to "Fresh Air" with Terri Gross?  She's had some great guests over the years and fun every now and then to catch one of her shows.  The funny thing is, that regardless of who she's interviewing it seems like you're bound to hear the question, "So, what was it like growing up in the South as a black man?"  I can swear she asked Vladimir Putin that one time.  Maybe not, but Terri can get a little predictable.


Former NPR Prez, Vivian Schiller

 3. There's not a lot of gals named, "Vivian Schiller" in flyover country.  Reminds me of former head NOW-gal, Eleanor Schmeal.  Not sure that a very large conference room of talented screenwriters could come up with names that perfect to head these organizations--it might not hurt the folks at NPR and NOW and a few other groups to maybe get out a little more often.   Eat some barbecue.  Hire a guy named, "Randy" or "Sonny" from Lubbock or Fort Smith.  Go all day without once having "angst." Shoot a gun.  Learn to throw not like a girl.  Couldn't hurt.
Update: http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/09/surprise-new-npr-interim-ceo-a-democratic-political-contributor/#ixzz1G8bt2qaA

Kennedy and the 109

An interesting and (I thought) balanced piece on President Kennedy's service aboard the PT-109http://www.historynet.com/pt-109-disaster.htm/print/.  Essentially, Kennedy could have avoided combat via his old man's connections but he wanted (and got) something in the Pacific Theater.  As a commanding officer, he was a loose cannon and the 109 was cut in two by a Japanese destroyer and Kennedy and his men were left adrift in dangerous waters.  Then, to his credit, he successfully and bravely looked out for them until they were rescued.  I thought the article summed it all up pretty well--both the blemishes and the bright spots.  Then, you read the follow up letters and you'd think what was written was either a puff piece or on the other hand, evil muckracking yellow journalism.  Do people read anymore?  I wonder.

Legendary cocksman and future President Kennedy aboard the PT-109

Saw "Cedar Rapids" this weekend.  Generally okay--some laughs but wait for it on HBO or Cinemax or whatever when you're not surfing for something less idiotic than was on the previous station.  It's hard, but give it a try.  Did watch "A Serious Man," an effort by the Coen Brothers that I had completely missed.  It's a heavily Jewcentric effort and not for everyone but I found it fascinating.  I'm thinking it was probably the Coens dredging up some memories and characters from childhood to go with a story about a wound too tight college physics professor and his family in the mid sixties.  They nailed the period pretty good--the houses, cars, etc. are dead on.  Also, "F Troop" on the television.  In black and white, of course.  We had black and white at my house then--the old man was convinced that color TV was a passing fad.  He missed on that one.  He also had a dismal record in buying cars--each was more awful than the last--and had certifiably rotten luck when it came to hunting and fishing and we did a lot of it together, so I know.  But, like President Kennedy, he made it back from the Pacific War alive, and that was saying something.  Lots of young guys with piss and vinegar and cut out to be future presidents did not.

Oscars, etc.

Joe Queenan wrote this piece prior to the annual Oscars shindig where acting types congratulate each other for careers spent playing pretend for a living.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704409004576146331571019642.html  Well, that's not entirely fair, but I liked Queenan's piece when he wrote it, probably because I pretty much agreed with everything he said which establishes me as some type of lackey or something.  Anyway, Queenan thought/thinks that last night's big winner, "The King's Speech" is a swell "Masterpiece Theater" caliber vehicle suitable for Sunday night viewing on your local PBS pledge drive station but it doesn't stack up to the entertainment offered in either "The Fighter" or "True Grit."  Agreed--saw all of them and the thought that occurred to me was that this is going to play out in the same way that it did when "Shakespeare in Love" won best picture over a field that included "Saving Private Ryan."  I've seen the former exactly once--in the theater--and it was nice and English and all but nothing compared to the latter which I've probably watched a dozen times and I'm guessing I'm not the only one in that category.  I've read that the Academy voters are compelled through guilt or feelings of inferiority or something to do with Ambien or whatever to give greater consideration to British productions--we're talking about idiots here--and maybe that's right but nevertheless disappointing when they miss the boat on outstanding stuff that's sitting right in front of them. 
In the meantime, can't wait to see "True Grit" again.
What else?  Let's see--took in "The Chieftains" this past Friday night.  Was prepared to be thoroughly underwhelmed and early indications that evening seemed to confirm that prediction.  The venue was the Riverbend Center which is an auditorium constucted on the grounds of Riverbend Church to host secular events and such--essentially a damn good idea by the Baptists to churn bucks out of the heathen community.  Problem is that the strongest thing you can buy at the goddamn Riverbend Center is coffee and bottled water and I had not properly pre-gamed for that reality when Mrs. Bulba and I showed up at the door.  Interesting crowd we soon discovered, heavily nerd-centric with lots of guys and gals who probably still own their first slide rule.  Dreadful opening "act" featuring a young songstress who moaned out navel gazing lyrics highly suitable for sipping free trade coffee while handing out "Hands Off Cuba!" leaflets.  Five (5) songs of this and it was mercifully time for The Chieftains, or what is left of them (I think they're down to two of the original Chieftains) as they are accompanied by four or five other demi-Chiefs.  I thought maybe they'd dutifully hammer out an hour of some of their new stuff with a few old standards mixed in and call it an evening--these boys are getting up there in age, after all.  No, instead it was a damn fine evening of entertainment which included some fine Irish dancing, great, great side musicians from Nashville, etc., a fine looking Irish babe who could really sing, and even a 30 piece drum and bagpipe corps.  In other words, an effort that Garrison Keilor could only wish he could produce.  A good time was had by all and we were out of there by 10:30 and I was drinking Laphroig by 10:45.

Top Talk

Hope they play forever: http://tracesoftexas.com/myblog/?p=142.

Bias in Academia?

You're shittin' me, right? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/science/08tier.html?_r=4&src=me&ref=homepage.  Apparently, the NYT discovers something.  Pigs fly.

Just returned from the annual all male, though still largely heterosexual ski conclave, with this year's version in Park City, Utah.  No one was maimed or killed which was a success in itself.  Yours truly did get clipped not by an idiot snowboarder but by some fellow geriatric type which resulted in the privilege of eating about fifty yards of snow on one of the endless runs off of the King Con lift line.  Always interesting to note the various fleeting thoughts as you're sliding down the mountain--mine were largely in the areas of "this doesn't feel all that terrible" and "maybe drinking all that scotch wasn't such a bad idea after all." 
It's a trip that the wives are ecstatic that they're not included on and that's saying something in that they are usually highly pissed when we're having fun with them not around.  No, they much enjoy not being around men bent on eating as much bacon as possible, skiing up and down the mountain on a continuous loop between 9am and 4pm, and afterwards eating mounds of animal protein and throwing down single malt scotch products and then screaming curse words at one another over cards.  Noteworthy, is that I have not yet mentioned the other principal pursuits of the trip which include manufacturing a poisonous amount of natural gas and the ensuing strain on both the internal plumbing of the unfortunate owners of the rented condominium and the public works department of Park City, itself.  They're glad we're out of town.
We'll do it again next year.