I've got a new toy

Last night, I went to a Best Buy here in Appleton and priced out laptop computers. I found one I wanted, but didn't have the time to buy last night. But today, I did....so, after finding the supply of the laptop I wanted was out in both Appleton stores, a quick trip to Green Bay got me what I was looking for, which is this! I got the 1525 model, and we just got things started with it! I am very excited as this is my first laptop. My previous computers were both mid-size tower desktops, both of which served me well. But, after having a company laptop on my trip to Houston, I decided a laptop was the way to go for my next computer.

The temporary buyer's remorse hasn't kicked in, but I imagine it will sometime this evening. But, in the end I think I am going to be happy with this.

I guess it's Merry Christmas to me!!

Happy Holidays

I am posting from my hometown, getting ready to celebrate the holidays, so posting may be light. But, if things go the way I think they might, posts may increase in the very near future. Anyway, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, or if you don't believe in any of that, have a good day.

Factoid heard on TV

Belinda Jensen (aka Badger Bel) just said on KARE11 news that it has snowed 15 of 18 days so far in December in the Twin Cities. By Sunday it sounds like it will be 18 of 21. But hey, it could be worse. Here in the Cities, we've been brushed by these storms. Milwaukee is supposed to get something near a foot, and Madison too I suppose. At this rate, my sister's street (she lives in Madison) will look like a luge or bobsled track by February...again. I wish I had taken a picture of that.

Directionally challenged party

I have hinted at a belief, echoed by many others, that the GOP is at a crossroads. I saw this article, and am interested in what y'all think. I am withholding comment for the moment. But, I think this is an interesting read.

H/T: On the Borderline

No Bluejays in the Bay

*This is definitely a Wisconsin post...bubbler....Tyme machine....dere hey*

Menasha, Wisconsin is a city of 16,000 just south of Appleton. They are known for such things as....well, Mihm's, where a stick of butter on your sandwich is normal (I can't believe they are on the web). They are also known for....well, the best-named race in the country, the Grunski Runski. And, in local prep sports, they are known as....well, bottom feeders. For you Minnesota readers, think of Menasha as the moral equivalent of Bloomington Kennedy...or Irondale. A school with declining population that runs with the big dogs, but struggles to keep up (to the point where Irondale went to a conference with less prestige). So, Menasha was thinking of moving to the Bay Conference, where there were smaller schools. But, Menasha has longtime rivalries with other schools in the area, including the favorite town around here, Neenah. So, they decided to stay in their current conference, the Fox Valley Association.

I am glad they did. When I went to school in Kimberly, we were by far the smallest school in the conference (enrollment of 600). Menasha was twice our size, but we took pride in competing (and in many instances beating) with schools twice, three, or close to four times our size (Neenah, Fond du Lac, Appleton West, and Appleton East all had enrollments over 2000 when I was in high school). In the years following my graduation, Kimberly has more than doubled in enrollment, but they just passed Menasha in size in the past couple of years.

To Menasha, I say this: just because you are smaller than everyone in the conference does not mean you can't compete. Look at Kimberly in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It can be done. Sure, there are disadvantages to being landlocked, but it's not impossible. Props to the school board for ensuring your kids compete against some of the best competition in the state in the FVA. Don't be an Irondale.

By the way, Mihm's is pretty good...if you go, make sure to order light butter. If not, they will put a whole stick on your steak sandwich...I am only exaggerating slightly.

If the Packers were the Union in the Civil War...

...the Confederacy would be alive and well today. The Packers are 5-1 versus teams from the Union, and a robust 0-8 against the South. There are a few reasons that the Packers are where they are. A distinct inability to run the ball and stop the run are the biggest reasons they are 5-9. A lot of Favre lovers will say his trade to the Jets is the reason for this, and not the lack of defense. That is faulty logic. Aaron Rodgers more than acquitted himself this season. Long-term, I think the Packers are going to be fine with Rodgers at QB. The thing is, I am not sure how the Pack is going to improve on defense. Is it a personnel thing, or a scheme thing? Honestly, I am not sure. Granted, there have been a fair number of injuries, but the lack of execution on defense is awful. So, what to do?

One other Packer-related question: Are any of you as scared about that Detroit game on 12/28 as I am?

Midwest collapse

I am no weather expert, but I think a cold front went through.

10:00 am - 36 degrees in Minneapolis, light rain showers
10:00 pm - 3 degrees in Minneapolis, NW winds at around 30 mph

Tomorrow's high in Minneapolis - 0. It's not the heat, it's the humidity.

Midwest Swing

There is an interesting article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the Midwest, and particularly states like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, being the GOP's best chance to pick up voters and electoral votes going forward. Of course, none of these states has gone to the Republican candidate since 1988 (Minnesota since 1972), but from a demographic standpoint, there may be something to this. This part of the country is overwhelmingly white (save Detroit and Milwaukee) and rural (save the Twin Cities and the other two). These are demographics that are generally amenable to the GOP these days. The GOP could pretty easily get more voters in this part of the country.

The problem with the article is that it assumes a static level of support (or non-support) in the GOP amongst ethnic and racial minorities. If the GOP wants to survive long-term, they need to get serious about getting their message out to this newer audience. Of course, it would serve them better to start being believeable about fiscal responsibility again. But I digress. Here are the facts: America is getting less white. America is getting less Christian. As America becomes less homogeneous, it behooves the GOP to recognize this and start tailoring their platform accordingly. This does not mean they have to junk their values. Less government interference is a good thing. Less dependence on government is a good thing. Government living within its means is a good thing. This is a message that could have more universal appeal. There is nothing that says that all minorities have to be subservient to the Democratic party forever. But, if the GOP doesn't get serious about reaching out to all voters, the assumption in the article will remain true, and the GOP will be doomed....after all, Michigan, Iowa, and Minnesota are probably going to each lose one electoral vote after the 2010 census, and Wisconsin and Michigan lost one in 2000. Hitching your hopes to the South and Midwest won't win you that many more elections.

Worth the heart attack that immediately follows

This is incredible! Cheese wrapped in bacon! Can it legally get better than that?!!!

That is all.

H/T: Lance via BBA

I bet Helen Thomas is pissed....

...because she didn't think of this first. There have been a lot of things a lot of people would like to have done to W due to his shenanigans in the White House, but I bet nary a soul thought about throwing shoes at him.

The opposite of taking a knee

Last Friday, I posted about taking a knee. Tonight is a little different. We are celebrating a friend's birthday by eating here. I have never been there, but have been by there in the Foshay. Good God is it swanky! Full report later on....

UPDATE: If you haven't been to Manny's, I highly recommend it. I also highly recommend making sure your finances are in order before going. I dropped a lot of dough there last night, but it was pretty much worth it. The steak I ate (10 oz filet mignon) was amazing. We also had hash browns, loaded mashed potatoes (cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives...I skipped these), and sauteed mushrooms (which were wonderful...that I ate these will come as a shock to some). For dessert, we had this huge brownie with caramel, ice cream, nuts, and of course chocolate syrup. The presentation was amazing. The cuts of meat were rolled out to the table for our inspection prior to our ordering, which was cool. Overall, it's definitely not a place to eat at very often unless you have gobs of cash, but once a year or so, it is worth it.

Also, if you haven't seen the remodel of the Foshay Tower, you need to see it. They did a fabulous job making that into a hotel. It is definitely swanky, and definitely classy...classier than I am used to anyway.

Pass the Christmas dutchie, Bryan Adams

From The Stencil, possibly one of most severely messed-up things in the early days of MTV. A video with Bryan Adams and Pee-Wee Herman (pre-stroke) wishing for a "Reggae Christmas." Click the link, and watch the magic happen. Oh, have a bucket nearby.

Why do I link to The Stencil? Because Caps digs up some really messed-up music-type stuff, that's why.

More links

I added two links to the roll...

1. Truth v. the Machine: My brother (Mr. D) is doing more of his political blogging over there now. This is a good chance for him to get more people reading his stuff. Another conservative blog, this came from the ashes of Kennedy (as in Mark Kennedy) v. the Machine.

2. Badger Blog Alliance: They linked to me, so I link to them. Another group blog of conservative Wisconsin bloggers. It's a nice way to keep up with things back in my home state. Mostly political, but with room for other things (like people complaining about what is looking to be the second consecutive really really snowy winter over there).

As always, recommendations for additional blogs will be taken and considered.

Express Lane Sports - 10 items or less...

Actually, a few less than 10.

1. In the biggest shock since sunrise, CC Sabathia has decided to sign with the New York Yankees. While the Brewers made an offer that would be great for a lot of pitchers, you had to know CC was going to get a better offer. 7 years, $161 million. CC would have been crazy not to take it. Pitchers don't normally get 7-year deals. I appreciate what CC did in Milwaukee, and I am happy I got to see him pitch once as a Brewer, a gem against the Nationals. Bottom line: If he wasn't going to stay in Milwaukee, I am glad he is back in the AL. I just wish there was a salary cap and floor in baseball so that teams like the Brewers would have had a shot.

2. It was a couple of days ago, but Kevin McHale fired Randy Wittman as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and replaced him with...Kevin McHale. Or something like that (Glen Taylor probably had something to do with this). I forgot where I read it, but this line was great: "I think it is appropriate for McHale to be the new Wolves coach. That is appropriate punishment for him, to make him coach the team he built." McHale was a terrible GM, on the level of Larry Harris (former Milwaukee Bucks GM). The only reason he kept his job as long as he did is because he is a Minnesotan...either that, or he has the goods on Glen Taylor.

3. The Packers are 5-8 and are likely done for the year. Meanwhile, the Jets and Brett Favre are in the thick of things in the AFC East. Does this make the Favre trade bad? No. It is not Aaron Rodgers' fault the Packers are 5-8. It is the fault of a defense that can't stop the run and an offense that is too one-dimensional (pass-happy). Favre is going to net the Packers at least a 2nd-round pick, and as Packers fans know, Tradedown Ted will parlay that into 15 7th-round picks. Besides, the Jets improved on defense as well, so that has something to do with their improvement. And I defend Rodgers despite hating the pick in 2005. Pass me some crow, Rodgers isn't that bad.

4. The BCS gave us Oklahoma and Florida for the championship game. That is probably correct, even though Texas has legitimate beef. I am not a fan of the BCS and want a playoff system for college football. But what really bugs me is how much the Big 12 and SEC are so much better than everyone else. I think there is a post coming up on a theory I have as to why the Big Ten has been sliding of late. Anyway, the Big Ten sent two sacrificial lam....I mean, two teams to the BCS again. Meanwhile, the Gophers return to the scene of the crime of 2006 (Insight Bowl) to play Rock Chalk Jayhawk. And, Bucky Badger has a really interesting matchup with Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.

5. The Bucks lost last night in Phoenix. That is nothing new. They have lost 21 in a row in Phoenix to their sister expansion team. I was 11 the last time the Bucks beat the Suns in Arizona. That is pathetic. I hope John Hammond and Scott Skiles get the Bucks to a point where they can beat the Suns. But hey, we have one thing they don't have....a title. Sure it was in 1971, but still...

Just another day in Fibland

Anyone who pays any attention to Illinois politics knows that palms generally need to be greased for anything to get done. The center of this is usually Chicago, but the palm-greasing happens plenty in Springfield too. So now comes current governor, Rod Blagojevich, who allegedly put President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat up for sale, with the out that he would take the seat himself. He actually said, "I'm not giving this seat up for nothing."

No one should be surprised that this happened. However, if the allegations are true, I am surprised at how blatant he was in auctioning off Obama's Senate seat.

Of course, there is nothing new about corruption in the Illinois governor's office. And, it's bipartisan to boot! Democratic governor Blagojevich followed up Republican governor George Ryan, who is currently doing time for handing out state contracts to his buddies.

If I lived in Illinois, my vote for any office would be based on who doesn't tell me they are going to clean things up. Because, you pretty much know it's crap. You gotta love Illinois.

200

This is the 200th post in the short history of Stinger Nation. I just want to thank anyone and everyone who has read this little 'ol blog so far. I have to say I am a little surprised at myself for hanging with this. There were definitely times I have been discouraged, and other times when I just didn't have anything to write about. I have almost shut this place down a few times. But I gotta say that seeing more comments on posts has encouraged me to keep this going. Going forward, it will probably be more of the same. I still haven't decided on a direction for this place, but then again maybe lack of direction makes things more interesting. Really, I still haven't "learned" how to write blog-style. But that's alright.

Anyway, thanks again to everyone who reads my scribblings. I enjoy writing them, hopefully you will continue to enjoy (or at least tolerate) reading them.

Link update

So I added Boots On to the blogroll and removed the Wisconsin Sports Bar. One of the Boots On bloggers came over and commented, so their reward is a link from me. They are pretty conservative, and are based in New Brighton. It's about time a good blogger came out of New Brighton. Lord knows there are some stunningly average blogs that come from there.

I got rid of the Wisconsin Sports Bar link because the site closed down. That's too bad, because it was a good place for fans of Wisconsin sports to catch up on things.

I will probably add some more blogs to the roll. As always, I am open to suggestions from you.

Taking a knee

So I decided to take a knee and not do anything tonight. After going to Indiana and Wisconsin on consecutive weekends, I figured I needed a break. So, what do I do on a Friday night hanging at the apartment?

First, I watched a documentary on my favorite album of all time...when I was 13. I loved Hysteria from Def Leppard. While I was starting to listen to some alternative music, and I had just discovered Yo! MTV Raps, I still liked my hair metal. There was a time in the 90s when I denounced that stuff, but watching that documentary made me appreciate what a well-crafted album Hysteria is. There are a lot of solid songs on that album. Say what you want about hair metal, but they knew how to make hits.

As I type this, I am trying to get into the Minnesota Wild by sitting through a game. They are playing the Vancouver Canucks, and are down a goal early in the 3rd. I think it's just a matter of time before I become a Wild fan. It will happen as soon as I set foot in the Xcel Energy Center. And hey, the Wild are owned by a Sconnie, so they have that going for them.

By the way, HD rules.

Not a lot of love here

Has anyone noticed what The Onion has been doing to President Bush in the past few issues? Here's the most recent example. He also passed a 3-pound kidney stone. If I didn't know better, I would think they don't care for Bush much at The Onion.

No supermajority for you!

GOP senator Saxby Chambliss won the runoff election in Georgia, so the Democrats can't get to 60 seats in the Senate....the filibuster lives. And, it is looking more likely that Norm Coleman will win by the tiniest of margins here in Minnesota, so the worst-case scenario for the GOP will not come to pass. That said, they still need to get their act together. I am thinking about what I think they need to do, and will probably post my thoughts on it as things proceed.

But, I am happy about this because I believe one-party rule is a bad thing, regardless of party. I think our government works best when there is a check on the worst impulses of a political party. We came really close to not having that.

UPDATE: Charlie Sykes had the same headline for his post about the Chambliss win (along with thousands of others, I am sure). But I beat him to it. Sykes 544,861,098, Stinger 1.

Everything is great in Neenah, WI 3

This is getting to be as regular as my rants. Anyway, if you happen to have a rooster in your possession, you may want to consider moving to Menasha. Neenah wants to ban them.

Here are links to one and two.

Three things to worry about...wow.

Stinger rant #4

Guess what kids, it's time for another rant...this time, the subject of my ire are the McDonalds commercials that advertise cappucino sales at McDonalds restaurants. There are two I have seen. One has men, the other has women. Each starts with the two people speaking in a condescending tone about how McDonalds is now serving lattes. One then says, "that's...well, that's fantastic." Then they list off things they don't have to deal with anymore. The one I see more often has the two women. Here's how it goes:

"I don't have to listen to jazz all day long."
"I can read gossip magazines."
"I don't know how to speak French."
"I don't know where Paraguay is."

OK, what the hell is wrong with listening to jazz, not reading gossip magazines, and knowing how to speak French?!! It seems like the one woman is almost proud to not know where Paraguay is!!

Here it is, folks...IT IS NOT A BADGE OF HONOR TO BE STUPID!!!! You should not be proud to be ignorant!! Knowing things and listening to good music like jazz is not equivalent to being a coffee snob!!!

I hate how stupidity is celebrated in this country. These McDonalds commercials are a prime example of this.

As for me, I want to go to Common Roots cafe and discuss the political situation in Bangladesh with someone. Why? Because this is how I am going to protest the celebration of ignorance in those McDonalds commercials.

Here's the one with the dudes. This one is almost as bad.

Birthdays today

Someone has a birthday today. Oh yeah, so does this guy. Hope it's a good one!

Down to 7?

The 2010 census is coming, and with the continued exodus of people from the Midwest and Northeast to the South and West, it is possible that Minnesota will lose a seat in Congress by 2012. If this happens, the upcoming redrawing of districts will be incredibly contentious. The article I linked to seems to think the 2nd or 6th will lose voters to shrinking urban districts (4th and 5th). To me, it is probably high time to put Minneapolis and St. Paul in one district. I know there is a belief that Minneapolis and St. Paul should anchor separate districts amongst some, but frankly both Minneapolis and St. Paul are shrinking, and are very similar politically. But, I know that basically removes a "safe" seat from the Democrats, so that won't happen. Since we are likely not going the Iowa route (independent commission does redistricting with a mandate of competitive seats...Iowa may lose a district too), I know we are likely going to protect as many incumbents as possible. That means Minneapolis and St. Paul will likely remain in different districts. This also means that the odd person out will probably be either Michelle Bachmann or Erik Paulsen. I don't think the burbs should have to suffer for the inner cities and outstate Minnesota not growing, but I imagine they will.

This is going to be painful. I have a feeling a court will end up resolving this.