The LLama Butchers

May 28, 2008

State Department eying directed assignments

This is on Drudge. The most important jobs State Department employees fill are on the Provincial Reconstruction Teams. Our area had a USAID official who worked out our side of the Tigris and did an outstanding job. I never figured out how he could ride in military vehicles all the time yet never seemed to have a speck of dust on his blazer, tie, dress shirt or the rest of his outfit.

Posted by: LMC at 06:06 AM | Comments (22) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 27, 2008

Bring. It. On.

Vaclav Klaus offers to go toe-to-toe with the Gore-acle over the issue of "global warming". Money quote:

"Like their (communist) predecessors, [the climate alarmists] will be certain that they have the right to sacrifice man and his freedom to make their idea reality."

"In the past, it was in the name of the Marxists or of the proletariat - this time, in the name of the planet."

Klaus grew up in Soviet-dominated Checkoslovakia, a country that for decades suffered under the brutal regime of people who believed they knew better than anyone else and were willing to say it with tanks. I think he can tag a watermelon (green on the outside, red on the inside) when he sees one.

UPDATE: Via Arts & Letters Daily comes a long essay by Freeman Dyson examining environmentalism as a secular religion and all the social, political and economic pitfalls that go with it.

UPDATE DEUX: Oh, and did I say Global Warming? I meant Global Cooling. Or sumfin'. As the Bovina Bloviator notes, the gradual shift in meme from "global warming" to "climate change" gives the command & control crowd ample room to adjust to whatever Ma Nature cares to serve up. Doesn't matter what the weather's doing, it's Bad. And it's All Our Fault.

Posted by: Robert at 09:56 PM | Comments (24) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Steel Robbo's LLama heart

whenever he "flies the friendly skies."


Posted by: LMC at 07:29 PM | Comments (22) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

If Llamas Had Wings, Etc., Etc.

This article about techniques used by airlines to improve fuel efficiency and save money caught my eye:

Drivers have long known that slowing down on the highway means getting more miles to the gallon. Now airlines are trying it, too — adding a few minutes to flights to save millions on fuel.

Southwest Airlines started flying slower about two months ago, and projects it will save $42 million in fuel this year by extending each flight by one to three minutes.

On one Northwest Airlines flight from Paris to Minneapolis earlier this week alone, flying slower saved 162 gallons of fuel, saving the airline $535. It added eight minutes to the flight, extending it to eight hours, 58 minutes.

That meant flying at an average speed of 532 mph, down from the usual 542 mph.

"It's not a dramatic change," said Dave Fuller, director of flight operations at JetBlue, which began flying slower two years ago.

But the savings add up. JetBlue adds an average of just under two minutes to each flight, and saves about $13.6 million a year in jet fuel. Adding just four minutes to its flights to and from Hawaii saves Northwest Airlines $600,000 a year on those flights alone.

United Airlines has invested in flight planning software that helps pilots choose the best routes and speeds. In some cases, that means planes fly at lower speeds. United estimates the software will save it $20 million a year.

The reason the article got my attention is because I am pretty firmly convinced of another technique being used, namely staying at cruising altitude a little bit longer than normal and then using a steeper descent angle to work into the landing circuit. The past couple flights I've been on have seemed to come down unusually hard when starting their initial descent, judging by the twinge in my stomach and by the sound of the air rushing over the wings.

You may laugh, but I'll bet it's true. Makes sense, anyway, and just because I'm phobic doesn't mean it's not happening......

(Speaking of laughter, I can hear the LMC - veteran of the Vomit Comet into Baghdad - guffawing from here.)

Posted by: Robert at 03:38 PM | Comments (25) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Gratuitous Llama-ette Movie Review

Caspian.jpg

The ten year old saw Prince Caspian last week with her class at St. Marie of the Blessed Educational Method and came home full of commentary. She seemed particularly exercised by the failed attack on Miraz's Castle and by the love interest between Caspian and Susan, neither of which was in the original, but which the producers nonetheless apparently deemed necessary to add to the movie (in order, I explained, to sell tickets).

I offered that if the gel were to write up her review, I'd be perfectly happy to post it here. The idea definitely appealed to her, but experience tells me that she probably won't get around to doing the essay. Thus, I give you her general summary:

"Let's put it this way: If you haven't read the book, I think it's a pretty good movie. If you have read the book, you probably won't like it very much."

Fair enough, from what I've read elsewhere. Of course, if she does put her thoughts to paper, I'll be sure to pass them along. I myself probably won't bother with the movie.

Posted by: Robert at 09:33 AM | Comments (19) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Memorial Day Weekend Roundup

I know that it really is not quite proper to view Memorial Day as just another holiday, a chance to go to parties and catch up on the yardwork. Nonetheless, that's pretty much what I found myself doing this weekend:

- Three cookouts on three successive evenings, well beyond Robbo's usual level of social activity. Fortunately, two of them were just with other families and only one was a large party, a form of entertainment which I find increasingly loathesome as I get older.

- Lots of time in the yard - we had some new grass laid in last week which has transformed the side yard beyond all description and I spent much of the weekend fiddling with the sprinkler (chuckling to myself all the while that "watering in the sod" is one of those expressions that sounds dirty but really isn't), plus putting the finishing touches on the new landscaping with brick pavers round the edges. Inspired by the new cleanliness of the area, I also cleared out a lot of overgrown brush nearby, actually getting the Llama-ettes to help me drag branches back to the woods without a squawk. Indeed, I got so far down my to-do list that yesterday morning I found myself tackling the poison ivy that's trying to establish itself in the beds round the east side of Orgle Manor. Feel the burn, baybee!

- Lots of time in the garden, too: I haven't written much about it this year, but the garden is coming along just fine. How nice (and unusual!) it is to feel that as of Memorial Day, I'm still ahead of the game. The columbine is in full bloom, as are many of last year's foxglove. The peonies and roses, too. (I was very bad about not cutting back the roses this year, but at least I got out and fed them this weekend.) The iris didn't do so well, as we had a lot of rain just when they were opening up. Plus, it's about time that I dug them up and divided them. (Anybody want some?) On the other hand, I put in some phlox this spring which is coming up fast, as is the butterfly weed (it goes without saying that the butterfly bush known as "Kong" is going great guns, as are the Konglings that I put into whiskey barrels). And wonder of wonders, the hollyhock, almost wiped out by a groundhog last year, somehow survived and is well on its way to blooming this year. Perhaps I'll take some pics.

For some reason, I'm rayther tired this morning!

Posted by: Robert at 08:58 AM | Comments (18) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 26, 2008

Hope Everyone Had a Great Weekend

Caught a shot of this little guy earlier today.

Butterfly.JPG

Sweet.

Posted by: Gary at 07:47 PM | Comments (19) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Memorial Day

Keep the fallen and their families in your prayers.

Posted by: LMC at 07:17 AM | Comments (18) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 25, 2008

When your kid hates his name . . .

The Future ROTC Scholarship Recipient demands he now be called Optimus Prime


click to comment.

Posted by: LMC at 09:11 AM | Comments (22) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 24, 2008

Oh, Thank You So Much Senator Obama

...NOT.

Great. Apparently, the Illinois Senator will be giving the commencement address at Wesleyan University tomorrow. So?

Well, that means that the Glorious People's Soviet of Middletown will be crawling with security (especially now that SWMNBN may have put the fear of assassination in the Secret Service). This of course means (to paraphrase Inigo Montoya) "Traffic...galoooooore".

So I'm going to have to take the less scenic and slightly longer trip to the other end of the state so I can open up the cottage for the season tomorrow morning.

Grrr. But it's on his head that I'm going to have to burn more gas going the round-about way through Hartford in my Suburban Tactical Assault Vehicle (aka minivan).

Posted by: Gary at 06:25 PM | Comments (22) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Gratuitous Poetry Posting

The ten year old Llama-ette brought home her creative writing portfolio from St. Marie of the Blessed Educational Method. Heretofore she has been known as the mathematical one in the family, but evidently she has some real literary ability as well. A sample:

WHEN I

When I went to Maine,
Blue waves came to me.

When I look at them,
They are so pretty.

When I go to bed,
I can hear them.

When I wake up,
They still wash on land.

When I sit down,
They still wash.

When I hear about them,
I remember.

I must say that I certainly couldn't summon up that kind of imagery when I was her age.

She also has a humourous side:

[Llama-ette] my sister

Had a blister.

It was very red

On her head.

Bella, my pet
Likes the sunset.
She is very nice
To the mice.

Posted by: Robert at 10:14 AM | Comments (22) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

"Sex and the Sissy"

by Robbo's old love, Peggy Noonan, in yesterday's Journal Online. Read it.

Posted by: LMC at 07:44 AM | Comments (19) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 23, 2008

Gratuitous Fledermaus Posting

I had thought that the high point of my encounter with Nature today was the half hour or so I spent watching a vixen and her four pups frolicking at the edge of the woods behind Orgle Manor this afternoon.

But noooooooooh......

You see, earlier this evening, as I was watching Grosse Point Blank (Minnie Driver.....mmmmmmmm.......) I heard a bang and a series of squeeks that suggested a mouse had somehow got itself trapped in the HVAC. "Eh," I said to myself, "Self, it'll sort itself out."

So I watched the rest of the moovie. Howsomever, when I later came out of Robbo's Former Fortress of Solitude after checking the Tasty Bits (TM) Mail Sack, I noticed the cats staking out the backside of the tee vee. On closer observation, I saw a small bat slinking around on the carpet behind and under it.

Well, not being one to let the grass or invasive small mammal population expand under his hooves, I hastily went upstairs, grabbed the library fireplace tongs and came back down to expel the creature. Suffice to say, mission accomplished. When last seen, it was getting itself together amidst the ivy surrounding the bird feeder out back.

We've had a fair number of creatures invade Orgle Manor, but I believe this is our first bat. Ironic that it should be in the basement, what? Ut-bay, on't-tay ell-tay he-they issus-May: She's quite terrified of bats.

Posted by: Robert at 10:56 PM | Comments (30) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Heading to the airport?

This is for anyone flying soon. Robbo, pay particular attention to the scene at 2:45


Posted by: LMC at 08:30 PM | Comments (20) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Fly Old Glory this weekend

IMG_8778


for every Soldier, Sailor, Marine, and Airman who left the battlefield on a hero flight, lying on a litter, covered in our flag. May they rest in peace and the memory of their sacrifices never be forgotten.

Posted by: LMC at 07:14 AM | Comments (24) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Duty, Honor, Country

Douglas MacArthur's farewell address to the cadets of West Point.

Posted by: LMC at 07:03 AM | Comments (20) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 22, 2008

Indy IV - Thumbs Up - - **NOW WITH HOWDY DOODY UPDATE***

Just came back from "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". Let me say I went in veeeeerrrry skeptical.

Was pleasantly surprised. Even the presence of Shia LaPoof (or whatever his name is) exceeded expectations.

But honestly, if I were to put my finger on a major factor for this one and the original being my favorites of the franchise:

Karen Allen.jpg
Karen Allen

She's just got "it". Robbo and I got into it a while back over the "Indy girls" and I stand by my position. She has by far the best chemistry with Harrison Ford and really adds value to whatever scene she's in. Sorry Robbo, you can keep your blonde hussy.

"You Have Chosen....Poorly" Yips! from Robbo:

The allure of Karen Allen continues to escape me. She has ordinary looks. She has no grace. (And don't say she has some grace - either one has grace or one does not.) Just doesn't light my pilot-light. Whatever "it" is, I just don't especially want it.

No, all in all I'm sticking mit my Austrian Fräulein:

Elsa.gif

"Ja, I can make Robbo as giddy as der schoolboy."

Posted by: Gary at 08:23 PM | Comments (33) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Love the Forest. Don't Care Much For That Particular Tree, However.

The cabbie bringing me home to Orgle Manor this afternoon was listening to All Things Considered on NPR. As we tooled up the G-W Parkway, there was a long puff-piece on how the eeeeeevil of sexism is behind the sinking of the campaign of She Who Must Not Be Named and how angry many womyn are about it all. Pat Shroeder was on, breathily gushing about the ultimate glass ceiling and all the rest of it and golly, how wonderful it would have been for her to be able to live long enough to see the first president wearing a pantsuit and pearls.

Feh.

I just want to make a point of clarification here. I wouldn't rayther cut my own tongue out than vote for SWMNBN because she's a woman. I'd rayther cut my own tongue out than vote for SWMNBN simply because she's....SWMNBN.

Thankyew.

Oh, and by the way, seeing as SWMNBN is about to tank anyway, has she ever considered a new career in entertainment? I think there are some possibilities:


Posted by: Robert at 07:50 PM | Comments (24) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

If Llamas Had Wings

Just so you know, I had a perfectly beastly flight back into Dee Cee this afternoon. Not only did we seem to get routed all the way to Richmond before we turned around and came back north, we also hit some air-pockets the likes of which I have not experienced in quite some time.

Then, to cap it all off, we got hit by a gust of cross-wind just as we were touching down, causing the plane to bank about fifteen degrees and to hit extremely hard on just one wheel. Lest you think I'm just being a whiney boy, the entire cabin gasped collectively.

Ladies and gentlemen, I really do hate flying.

UPDATE: Very properly man-slapped by the LMC in the comments. Thanks, dude. You're money.

Posted by: Robert at 07:33 PM | Comments (24) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Reaping What You Sow

Newsweek's Jonathan Alter on the continuing fight by SWMNBN:

"Clinton has continued with one claim that could have a pernicious effect on the Democrats' chances in November. While she knows that the nomination is determined by delegates, Hillary insists on saying at every opportunity that she is winning the popular vote. And she has now taken to touting the new HBO movie "Recount," which chronicles the Florida fiasco of eight years ago. Everyone can agree that the primary calendar needs reform. But popular-vote pandering is poison for Democrats. For a party scarred by the experience of 2000, when Al Gore received 500,000 more popular votes than George W. Bush but lost the presidency, this argument is sure to make it harder to unite and put bitter feelings aside."
How rich would it be if she went so far as to litigate the status of the FLORIDA vote count and it went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court?

Oh man, you just can't make this up. Way to go, Al.

Posted by: Gary at 01:55 PM | Comments (21) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

<< Page 99 >>

Processing 0.01, elapsed 0.4091 seconds.
37 queries taking 0.4014 seconds, 59 records returned.
Page size 109 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.