Blog Surfing

Rainy Sunday morning here in Shreveport.

Let's do a quick blog surf; it's been a while:

Legal Insurrection has a great couple of photos that illustrate the mind set of so many liberals.

I enjoyed George Kelly's post at Da Tech Guy on What Makes America Great.

The Louisiana Educator has several good posts about what is happening in our current legislative session with regard to Common Core issues and all things education.

The Foundry explains how the environmentalists are killing jobs.

Via Pirate's Cove, Kansas passes a sweeping Second Amendment law.

Michelle Malkin is continuing the good fight against PARCC and Common Core.

PJ Tatler reports on a politically incorrect Easter Egg Hunt - with skepticism.

And speaking of Easter, since all I've had for breakfast is a box of Peeps, I better go find something else to eat.  

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Post Yard Work Edition

I'm a slacker: I didn't get my weekly linkage post up this morning.

I have a good excuse.

Sort of.  

I was in a total fog yesterday; I've had insomnia since I was a kid.  I take meds for it and when I went to pick up my prescription refill this week it hadn't been called in.  So I went a couple of nights without it and trust me, as a person who needs eight hours of sleep to function, I was not fit to be around yesterday.  I even had to cancel my plans to go see The Sultans at El Potrillo last night because I just couldn't do it.  

Anyway, I got the meds and slept great last night; so today I got up and pruned four crepe myrtle trees and two sweet olives in the hopeful anticipation of spring.  I hung new outdoor white lights on the deck and mulched all my leaves.  I'm exhausted now, but it's a good tired as opposed to a no-sleep tired.  Mr. SIGIS and I are settled in for the afternoon now, watching LSU baseball.

Around the blogosphere:

At Legal Insurrection, an Obama gif.  And people are offended.  We are a nation of political correctness gone amok.

At Lonely Conservative, Michelle does Aspen.

American Power has a crazed camel story; you don't see that one everyday.

Pirate's Cove has the weekly linkfest.

The Other McCain posts on the Ellen Page coming out thing.  Why is this even a thing?  Why is this news?

Doug Ross reports that John Boehner has challengers for his re-election.

To the eternal question, "If you could spend one hour in conversation with someone, who would it be?", Saberpoint chooses Mark Twain.  I'm not sure I could choose one person.  It would depend on when you ask me, too.  Right now, I'd probably choose Cammie Henry because I'm fascinated with her.  But most days, I'd probably pick my mother.  Other days I might pick Ronald Reagan.  Or Thomas Jefferson.

At Da Tech Guy, apparently our federal government is sending out $500 checks.

Adrienne blogs on our American Royalty.

And finally, Ed Driscoll, who posts on infighting at Washington Post.

For now, that's about it.  I'm back to my obsessive research on Cammie Henry and life at Melrose with the baseball game in the background.

How do you plan to celebrate President's Day?

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Waiting For Baseball Edition

Lazy Saturday; gray, cold, blah.  We had snow in Shreveport yesterday (it still counts as snow even if it didn't stick) and tomorrow we're expecting 65 degrees, sun, and the first Centenary baseball home game.  Welcome to Louisiana where you can have all four seasons of weather in one week.

Catching my eye from around the blogosphere:

Donald Douglas at American Power is having fun watching the Olympics.  I used to enjoy watching the Olympics - some events more than others.  Now I'm crotchety and bitchy and I'm boycotting the Sochi games because I don't believe in killing dogs.  That's not to say anyone who watches condones dog killing; I'm certain nobody approves of that action.  I'm just boycotting.

What in the hell is wrong with all these so called teachers in these teacher-has-sex-with-student stories?  Stacy McCain blogs about yet another one (she looks about 17 herself) in Tacoma.  For the life of me I just don't get it.  There are some sick people out there.

Legal Insurrection's headline "Wendy Davis' Open Carry announcement may cost her any chance of winning" indicates at first glance that there is a fraction of a chance she could win.  Once you read the post, however, I think "fraction" is rather generous.  She's toast.

Lonely Conservative has Obama's pen and phone covered.  Not only could I not listen to the SOTU, I couldn't even make myself read the transcript.  I can't even watch the 22 second clip where O talks about his pen and phone.  His voice grates.

Pirate's Cove reports on the latest Obamacare deadline extension (there have been so many) and the ability to change plans.  There is no possible good outcome to all this, of course.  We are all socialists now.

Adrienne has a little video you need to see from NBC News about Medicare, physical therapy, and the classification of your hospital stay.  I'm somewhat familiar with all this as my mother was in and out of the hospital because of various spills and falls and was then dispatched to rehab a couple of times.  Medicare pays for 100 days of rehab in those cases if you were an overnight inpatient in a hospital for 3 nights.  Now, under Obamacare, you might need to be sure they've classified your hospital stay as inpatient if you need rehab.  Sticky wicket.

Da Tech Guy has a post on that "pivotal experiment" that most of us call Communism, and he explores the perspective of age.  Do you remember the Cold War?  Of course most of us do.  What worries me today is that not nearly enough folks study history.  Really study history, I mean.  Ed Driscoll also chimes in.

Doug Ross has an excellent post on the IRS intimidation scandal.

Reaganite Republican is probably not a Jeb Bush fan given his post of Hyper-Stupid Things Said By Jeb Bush.  (I'm not either, for the record.)

Critical Narrative has a lovely snow picture.  Better him than me; I have nasty rain pictures.  Tomorrow I will have sunshiny-baseball pictures.

The Old Jarhead got a good medical report.  This makes me happy.

Tom Aswell at Forward Now! has a nice interview with John M. Barry who has fallen out with Bobby Jindal.  Barry is involved in a lawsuit against 97 oil and gas companies over the destruction of the state's wetlands.  Jindal decided not to reappoint Barry to the Coastal Restoration Authority but this hasn't stopped Barry from fighting for the wetlands.  I keep telling folks that Jindal is not the savior they think he is.

Louisiana Educator has the results of his Common Core survey.  Not surprised.

On that note, I'm off to do some reading.  I have stacks of books waiting for me, both physical and digital, and I long to get lost in one of them.  Right now I'm engaged in proofreading a friend's next novel and am about halfway through that.  It's very good and I don't really want it to end.  I'll share it with you when it's published.  Soon.

Also stay tuned because in the next couple of weeks there will be an interesting announcement here.  I'm not at liberty to share yet, but check back.

Meanwhile, stay warm and think spring.  Baseball is coming.

(Top Photo credit:  Thinkstock)

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Head Cold Edition

It's a beautiful and sunny outside but still a little cold for my tropical taste and I'm still fighting off a cold, so I'm sitting in the warmth of my big picture window watching the neighborhood and enjoying some homemade vegetable soup.

I spent some time this morning reading Asra Nomani's piece on Daniel Pearl, then ran a few errands, and am now settled in for the afternoon.  (I drove by the Centenary baseball field where it looked like they were practicing and longed to go in and watch, but I resisted the urge.  Two more weeks until the first home game.)

It sounds like a good time for a little linky-love.

Stacy McCain has a lengthy response to Paul Waldman's column in The American Prospect in which Waldman tries to make the case that the Republican party can't help themselves from alienating women.  Read Stacy's reaction.

On a related note, The Lonely Conservative was not offended by Mike Huckabee's comments.

The Reaganite Republican discusses the RINO amnesty plan.  And Michelle Malkin also examines the role of the Chamber of Commerce in this.

American Power takes a look at the new agenda for the Republican Presidential nominating process.

Pirate's Cove examines the latest Obamacare poll.

Da Tech Guy has a guest post by Gary Goldman about the postal workers union and their kerfluffle with Staples.  I don't know much about running a post office but it's easy to see why the post office is losing money.  My local post office building is in decrepit condition and the self-serve machines never, ever work.  I bought stamps at the grocery store today because sometimes you just need stamps; I pay most of my bills electronically.

The Foundry's look at "Obama's Foreign Policy to Nowhere" is blistering.

Since the start of his second term, Mr. Obama has exhibited a pretty clear idea of what he wants to do in the world—and that is to have as little as possible to do with it until he gets out of office. The President’s primary objective appears to be “no more Benghazis”—just ride out the second term, go build a library, and then mimic the line of his first former defense secretary: “Hey, everything was fine when I left!”

Sister Toldjah takes on those who would portray Wendy Davis as a "victim;" she's not.

Fausta has some interesting observations on the preservation of Cuba.

Professor Jacobson has a clever CI round-up and notes the loss of, well, The Professor.

Does Obama want to eradicate capitalism?  Check out Doug Ross

Marxism for Morons over at Wyblog..

My friend Mike was at Huntsville this week for the execution of cop killer Edgar Tamayo.  Be sure to read his post on the dramatic evening.

Adrienne noted the observance of National Handwriting Day this week; she has lovely handwriting!  I've taken to writing letters again to some folks.(That's why I needed stamps).  I have a relative in Mississippi who is actually from Argentina and she writes the most lovely letters ever; I treasure them.  It's a lost art.  Really.

Obi's Sister has a beautiful tribute to her father.

Political Clown Parade notes that our National Airhorn has more than a little hubris.

You know, it's the little things in life that make you happy, sometimes.  One of the (many) sucky things about 2013 was that my favorite local band, Soulfish, broke up.  All good things must end.  While composing this linkfest I got a message from my friend Julia that there will be a quasi-sort of semi-reunion at a local joint tonight with some of the members.  One of those spontaneous deals.  I'm so freakin' excited I can't focus.  I'm fighting off every cold germ in north Louisiana right now and eating ibuprofin at an alarming rate, but I'll be there tonight.

Ah, joy!

It's the little things!

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The 2014 Winter Classic Edition

Happy New Year to you!

Steve and I had a grand time last night:  we met some good friends for dinner at The Anvil Bar and Grill, had a lovely meal, listened to the soulful tunes of Lennice Bolton, then visited and laughed over glasses of wine, champagne, a tasty amaretto freeze, and finally coffee.  We were safely home by 11:30 and off the streets before the drunks turned out of the bars.

This morning we are settling in for the 2014 Winter Classic - an annual tradition for us.  I know I should be watching LSU vs. Iowa (especially since Steve is from Iowa and I'm an LSU fan), but the allure of an outdoor hockey game with snow in the forecast is too much for me.  I must watch.
The first Winter Classic was just magical.  Sidney Crosby's ear to ear smile of pure joy as he skated across that outdoor rink, snow falling and blurring the lines on the ice, well, it was awesome. While it is actually a regulation game, the players just seem to be having so much fun!

So, the corned beef is in the oven, the black eyed peas are simmering, and the cabbage is waiting to be addressed.

Since it's been ages since I did a linkfest, and this isn't likely to be a busy news day, let's peruse the blogs and see who is talking about what on this first day of the New Year.

Doug Ross has an excellent guest post by Brian Kelly on New Jersey's "Justifiable Need" law:

Think about that for a second. So in order to show you need to carry a weapon for self-defense, which is a basic human right, guaranteed by the constitution, you have to first suffer an attack. So in the case of the recent Short Hills Mall Shooting, now that the victim is dead at the hands of violent criminals, he might meet the ‘justifiable need’ which doesn’t do him or his grieving family any good now. 

It is tantamount to the government claiming you have no justifiable need to carry an umbrella because it isn’t currently raining. Ask yourself why do we as law abiding citizens have to wait until we are raped, beaten and killed before the State can see fit to grant us a right to self-defense which is a basic human right dating back to caveman times?

It is indeed scary.  Is it constitutional?

Wyblog adds his two cents on the same topic.

Legal Insurrection hopefully ends the Melissa Harris-Perry mess.  Except that as long as she's still on the air her nonsense will continue.

The Foundry posts on the anticipated new hot leftist issue for 2014:

Do a Google News search for “income inequality” and it will remove any doubt that this is already the political issue of 2014. 

The left has been gearing up for months. The liberal Center for American Progress launched a new center devoted to the subject, and President Obama has been making it a centerpiece of his speeches. 

Get ready to hear about “fairness”—because some people make more money than others, and this isn’t fair. How can you sit by and watch this happen? What is the government going to do about it?

Read the whole thing for what you need to know about this issue.

William Teach at Pirate's Cove is having a little fun with the ice-bound ship story.  He also weighs in on the contraception mandate ruling.

At Flopping Aces:  Dr. John's Law:

Whatever Obama says is a lie. The opposite is the truth. That includes the entire incompetent administration because he owns everything they do and has fired exactly no one for anything. 

Read the whole thing because there's some good stuff there that a lot of us have been thinking but not many have had the balls to say.

Dan from Squirrel Hill (H/T: Flopping Aces) has a list of fifty (only fifty?) of Obama's lies and corrupt practices.

Critical Narrative also has a list.

Da Tech Guy posts on his blogging success and how to actually make a living as a full time blogger.

Donald Douglas is advocating unplugging a bit more often in the new year, something I've already done (as evidenced by my blog stats this past year).  I've spent a lot of time in 2013 reading and concentrating on implementing the mandatory Common Core standards in my classroom which has left little time for blogging and the research it entails.  While I hope to resurrect this blog in 2014, I will also continue to read voraciously.  It's what I do.

Althouse (and Meade) discuss the idea of a marijuana economy.

Smitty at The Other McCain discusses the central problem with Obamacare:

Progressivism is an old man, stricken with Alzheimer’s, on the cusp of dementia, that cannot grasp the reality of his time having passed. ObamaCare’s swath of economic destruction is going to continue to claim victims. As the year drags on, the employer mandate is going to loom, the Democrats are going to lie, and the codpiece media is going to protect them. Wash, rinse, repeat. That old man isn’t going to the retirement home easily.

Read the whole thing.

Reaganite Republican exposes Karl Rove.

Fishersville Mike has perspective on the end of the light bulb as we know it.

Michelle Malkin has a beautiful article on the tragic story of Jahi McMath:

I want to thank Naila Winkfield and the McMath family for not “letting go” so easily. Their plight is every parent’s worst nightmare. Their fight reaches beyond ideology, race, and class. The united front of the family and the public testaments of their faith in God are gifts. The Instagram image of Naila clasping her daughter’s hand at her hospital bedside — the hope, the desperation, the abiding love — is universal.

It's just a tragic story - no doubt.

Adrienne has food porn (and a birthday!)

Lonely Conservative posts on whether or not Apple is working with the NSA.

Paco has a letter to Obama.

The always eloquent Ed Driscoll laments on the politicization of well, almost everything, by the left:

In recent years, I normally expect CNN’s annual ratcheting downward of the cultural bar to occur on New Year’s Eve, when anchor Anderson Cooper and co-host, the “comedienne” Kathy Griffin collide in their Weimaresque annualtrain wreck. But between Cooper recently discussing his famous 89 year old mother’s enjoyment of  cunnilingus, Griffin asking another CNN host “Have you ever spooned with Candy Crowley?”, and now one of the network’s commentators politicizing family snapshots, the bar was lowered by the Time-Warner-HBO-owned network even before 2014 has been ushered in.

Goodnight America; it was fun while it lasted.

Read the whole thing.

Sister Toldjah updates on the new Obamacare taxes set to hit in 2014.

Weasel Zippers:  74% of convicted felons vote democrat.

Pat Dollard posts on inconsistencies in the NYTimes piece on Benghazi.

And now, I must sign off; it's time for the Winter Classic and the joy of the outdoor rink!

Mother's Day Link Fest

What else are you going to do on Mother's Day but sift through the blogosphere and see what everyone is talking about?

Donald Douglas is enjoying a Newcastle (and apparently some nacho Doritoes) while linking to a bizzaro beer label story.  I, myself, am enjoying a Samuel Adams Latitutde 48 IPA.  No Doritoes.

Ed Driscoll is also on a beer theme and I hope he's not drinking ... through his ear.

Sticking with the bizarre for a moment, Saberpoint has the story of "Naked Pope Girl."

The Daley Gator is foreseeing Jay Carney's next job (which may come sooner than Carney actually intended if he continues to stick to the "stylistic changes" line on the Benghazi talking points.)

The Lonely Conservative is neither star-struck nor falling for that "North Star" malarkey.

Doug Ross has the damming Benghazi timeline and comes to some chilling conclusions.

Legal Insurrection has the latest on "IRS Targets the Tea Party" story.  Like Benghazi, it's getting stinkier and stinkier.

Bungalow Bill suspects all those IRS agents are just playing on Facebook, anyway.

You want to live to be 100?  Here's your "to do" list, courtesy of Troglopundit.

Over at Pirate's Cove we have...cow memes?

The Foundry reports on the Louisiana Supreme Court's upholding a lower court ruling invalidating Governor Bobby Jindal's school voucher program.

Sister Toldjah has a feel-good story (and video) of the installation of the spire on One World Trade Center.

Oh, and by the way, today isn't "Mother's Day," it's "Parent 1" Day.  See Wyblog.

My friend Nico has been posting about his recent family trip to Holland; Nico is the son of Holocaust survivors and grew up in Holland.  His posts are fascinating.

The blogosphere lost a bright light last week and Mind Numbed Robot pays tribute.

Dan Riehl reports that local authorities in Virginia have plenty of questions about the Boston Bomber's burial there.

That's going to wrap it up for this linky-love-fest.  I'm off to celebrate Mother's Day.  By doing yard work.  Yeah, well.

SIGIS Links

Things around the web I found interesting today:

A Cop's Watch introduces you to PFC Chesty IX,  the newest Marine.

Legal Insurrection on why it is a waste of time to read Politico anymore.

Ann Althouse has some interesting observations from Meet the Press.

The Foundry on Obama's address to Planned Parenthood.  I didn't actually realize that Obama is the first sitting president to address this organization that is responsible for 1 in 4 abortions, but I'm not surprised.

Babalu blog reports on the Cuban prison system; I don't think that was on Beyonce and Jay Z's itinerary.

Doug Ross wants Marco Rubio to know that amnesty is not the answer.  Michelle Malkin also schools Rubio on why the Gang of 8 proposal can't work.

Right on the Left Coast looks at one of the two major companies competing for your Common Core testing dollars.

The Other McCain has an interesting post on Syria - much shorter than the 1,400 word NYT article he references.

Libertarian Republican reports that Sir Winston Churchill will be featured on a new bank note.

Adrienne has a nifty recipe for Spam & Egg breakfast special!  Oh and I liked the Rep. Trey Gowdy video clip on Benghazi; I happened to catch him on Fox this morning also, and I hope he continues on with his push to uncover Benghazi.

Yankee Phil has just blown my diet:  Twinkies are coming back!  I actually like the banana flavored ones.

Fausta points out that the border between Mexico and the United States is not the only immigration problem we should be concerned about.

If you're not keeping up with the Gosnell trial, Pundette is doing the dirty work for you.  It's awful.

Critical Narrative reports on America's growing underground economy.

And finally, here is four minutes of Phil Robertson talking about the importance of family and his new book.


(Photo:  Melrose Plantation, March 2013)

Random Roundup Monday

In an attempt to get back to blogging about politics, and to refocus, I decided to cruise some of my old haunts and see what they're talking about.

I present the Random Roundup:

Pirate's Cove, always one of my favorites, notes that the Obama administration has unfrozen some $500 million for the Palestinian Authority.  Someone please tell me why we are giving money to a terrorist group?

Must see!  The Daley Gator has video of the Sergio Garcia shot he made yesterday one handed, backwards, FROM UP IN A TREE!  Woah now!  You've gotta see this.  Amazing.

The Reaganite Republican has a picture of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee and I've got to say, as much of a Jeep lover as I am, I don't like it.

Legal Insurrection notes the collapse of the 7-round magazine limit in NY and the strategy behind it.

Bob Belvedere discusses the difference between conservatives and republicans.

If you've been following the Amanda Knox story, Saberpoint has a post you may find interesting.

Fishersville Mike is following the Cyprus bailout banking mess, as is Wyblog while Doug Ross hints at an "unimaginable solution."

Libertarian Republican notes an unintended consequence of the federal bullet buying surge.

Paco has questions about Joe Biden's travel expenses.

And that about covers it for now.  I'll do some more poking and exploring tomorrow.  I've got to pace myself, you know.

Surveying the political blogs it seems that things are still pretty much the same.  That's not a bad thing or a good thing necessarily, but I do wonder, is anybody listening?  I mean, does anybody really care if the Obama girls are vacationing in the Bahamas or what nonsense Bloomberg is up to this week?  I guess we have to just keep shouting into the void and hope somehow we make a difference.

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: Father's Day 2012 Edition

It's a lazy Father's Day at Chez SIGIS.  I've done some mundane things around the house and then went with Steve to get a case for his tablet.  We ran a few other terribly exciting errands where I bought a new melon baller, a mouse pad, and a patriotic pinwheel and he bought some candy and a bottle of water.  We lead exciting lives.

Now we're flipping back and forth between the U.S. Open and the Rangers game.  I'm watching the weather trying to figure out if I'm going to be able to grill these hamburgers I've got for supper.

I've been unable to read the blogs much this weekend; Steve had to talk me down off the ledge after Friday's amnesty drop but I'm okay now.  My blood pressure is back in normal range.

Via The Lonely Conservative, David Plouffe insists Obamnesty isn't political.  Heh!  Okay.  Doug Powers notes that just last year Obama himself insisted he didn't have the authority to do this.

Via Paco, Eric Holder's number may be up.

Saberpoint has a nice tribute to Stacy McCain who is still in hiding and covering the Kimberlin story.

Guess what Obama did today for Father's Day?  Left the kids at home and went to play golf, of course.  Redstate.

Doug Ross has given Romney a handy list of ten Executive Orders he should write once he's elected.

American Power remembers Rodney King who was found in the bottom of his swimming pool today.

The Pirate's Cove has his Father's Day linkfest (on which I'm not mentioned, but it's okay) and also some silly campaign games.

Pundette has her traditional Father's Day post.

The Foundry list five devastating effects ObamaCare will have on young adults.

Political Junkie Mom highlights Victor Davis Hanson's column this week which asks "Are We in Revolutionary Times?"

Political Clown Parade reports on the dismantling of the relationship between the U.S. and America thanks to Obama and also has one of her classic PhotoShop illustrations!

On that note, I'm going to take my chances and fire up the grill.  Burgers with sharp cheddar cheese and Steve's favorite:  Zapp's Voodoo potato chips for dinner.

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Thermostat Drop Edition

My AC guy just left after repairing my unit which quit working yesterday.  It was working yesterday morning; Steve and I left in the afternoon, went to the American Legion for a couple of beers on the lake, returned home and it was 85 degrees inside.  

I put in an SOS to my AC guy who showed up at 8:30 this morning and replaced the capacitor which is apparently lots better than having to replace a compressor.  I'm very grateful for chilled air right now.  It's going to be almost 100 today and it had hit 90 in the house before Ron finished the AC job.   How did people survive before air conditioning?!

So, while the dogs and I sit real still and enjoy the 20 degree drop in temperature, I'm surfing the blogs.

The New Yorker imagines an Obama second term - horrors.  The Pirate's Cove dissects and analyzes the article so you don't have to subject yourself to it.  (H/T:  Memeorandum).

The Daley Gator reports that the Paulbots are really, really upset about Rand Paul's endorsement of Romney.

Speaking of endorsements, is anyone surprised that Castro's daughter endorsed Obama?  Read American Power's post (with video).

Professor Jacobson OWNS the Elizabeth Warren coverage; he's been all over this story.

The Camp of the Saints reports on another blogger targeted because of his Kimberlin reporting.

Anyone contemplating voting third party in November should note Wyblog's post concerning five words every conservative should fear.  Smitty concurs:  "Let's play crayons with the Constitution...".

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wreck in a "smart car"?  See Doug Ross.

Pecan Corner has discovered that there is life after a computer dies, and it's not so bad!  I concur; I've completed a lot more projects, have a cleaner house, and have read more books since I lightened up on my blogging.  

Let's check the thermostat. 

Okay - we've dropped from 90 to 83 while I've been surfing.  Let's keep going for a few more degrees.

Maggie's Notebook shares Judge Andrew Napolitano's outrage over drones spying on private citizens.

The Rio Norte Line shares the wonders of universal health care which will be our future unless SCOTUS come through.

Ace reports on the Eric Holder contempt vote in the House.

Ed Morrissey reports that while Obama will still likely keep his hold on the Jewish vote, support is evaporating there.

Jed Babbin has an important article over at American Spectator on the leaks coming from the Obama White House.

Okay, it's time for me to get back to work around here.  The thermostat has dropped to 81 so I think I can get back to my baseboard scrubbing without having a heat stroke.

Memorial Day Links 2012

It's been a memorable Memorial Day around SIGIS.

After talking about it and not doing anything about it for several years, Steve and I finally joined the Lowe-McFarlane American Legion Post 14 today.  We were headed out that way today for their "casting of the wreath" Memorial Day ceremony anyway, so we gathered our paperwork and went a little early and signed up.

The post was chartered in 1919 just six days after Congress granted the American Legion a national charter.  The post is housed on 11 acres on a beautiful point on Cross Lake and is very active in numerous service organizations.  I went ahead and signed up for the Auxiliary, too.

We got our paperwork done and then were given a tour of the facility.  There's a huge meeting room with a beautiful view of the lake and a "grand ballroom" upstairs with an even prettier view of the lake.  There's a fishing pier, lots of historical artifacts, a lounge with an outdoor patio, an RV park, a kids playground, a boat pier, and lots of really nice people.

The wreath ceremony was held on the point where a nice breeze kept the heat tolerable:

The ceremony included he tolling of the bell and a reading of the names of the fallen.

A few boats gathered at the point to participate.

Then the wreath was cast on the waters...

After the ceremony we adjourned to the lounge for a little while before heading home for smoked brisket and fresh veggies from our Coushatta trip this week.

The Shreveport Times has a nice photo gallery of the wreath ceremony.

A quick round-up of Memorial Day posts:

Goldfish and Clowns:

You see, my father was a soldier. He did not set out in life to be one, but the world dictated otherwise back in the satanic onyx days of the early 1940s, and so a soldier he became. He fought long and well in a different kind of battlefield than the soldiers slogging through the mud below. He was huddled in his radio operator’s station aboard a freezing B-29 over Japan, focused on the task at hand while thinking about the young bride waiting for him back home again in Indiana. 

 The Daley Gator has videos.

Legal Insurrection is remembering Lt. Roslyn Schulte.

Ed Driscoll points out that not everyone is moved by thoughts of the fallen on Memorial Day and cites the rhetoric of MSNBC's Chris Hayes as an example.

Pundette looks at some Medal of Honor citations.

Paco links to Rep. Alan West's remarks.

Pirate's Cove has the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Philadelphia.

Politicaljunkie Mom posts the now iconic photo of a grieving fiance and also shares the photographer's remarks.

Sippican Cottage has a beautiful post.

And, of course, Michelle Malkin has a link-filled lovely post.

Tomorrow the three day weekend is over and many will stow their flags in a closet until the next holiday - July 4, perhaps.  Meanwhile, brave Americans will continue to fight for our freedoms and serve with honor.

Never forget.

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: St. Patrick's Day 2012 Edition

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Mr. SIGIS and I are loafing about today and taking it easy.  I ran errands this morning and went by my mother's then came home and cooked corned beef, cabbage, and roasted vegetables for dinner.  No green beer but we have plenty of non-green beer.

Some random links:

It seems that the whole world is playing Draw Something.  I've finally succumbed and downloaded the game (SIGIS Pat) but I'm terrible at it.  The first word I tried was "picnic" and let me just say, that didn't go well.  I'm not very imaginative and way too literal.  I haven't yet had the nerve to challenge my son-in-law to play; he's an architect and his drawings come with a detail and accuracy I can only dream of.  Oh, the joys of idle time!

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, Pecan Corner has a wonderful looking recipe for Irish Soda Bread.  When I get off this low carb diet I'm going to try it!

Bride of Rove doesn't hold back her disdain of Panetta:

So. My husband sold the golf cart and boat stuff to buy an M16. Because … Really? Every household should have one. Actually what he said was, he believes that “when Obama gets re-elected the assault on the ability of US citezens to own guns will begin in earnest and you are an idiot if you don’t stock up now”.
Noted.
But why an M16?
Husband: Because they are cool.
Me: Why isn’t it in the gun safe?
Husband: Because the gun safe is full.
Next purchase? A second gun safe, I guess. Hopefully he’ll get bored with this and buy another boat. Hopefully. At least I know Panetta won’t be stopping over anytime for dinner … because he’s afraid of guns. And we have them.

She reports that Mr. Bride of Rove fully expects Obama to be re-elected and for an assault on gun rights to begin.  The NRA is concerned about that, too.

Elsewhere, Obama condoms?  Seriously?

Pirate's Cove reports on the contraception mandate.

Goldfish and Clowns argues for more civility in discourse.

Zilla needs your prayers and your help.

Doug Powers attempts to reconcile how ending tax subsidies to oil companies will lower gas prices.  In related news, Paco reports on the EPA misery index.

Louisiana Educator updates Jindal's education reform package which is quickly making its way through to the House floor.  The Hayride has a massive aggregation of links on the subject.  The Hayride also quotes Senator Mary Landrieu in what must be the biggest face palm statement of the month given her role in the ObamaCare mess:

"The Governor is advancing one of the most far-reaching education reform packages of the last two decades.  Many individuals and respected organizations favor the thrust of what these proposals seek to accomplish. However, ample public debate is wise and necessary. Oftentimes, policy measures that are muscled through without reflection and discussion are dismantled later.  

“If the goal here is true, systemic and long-lasting reform, not only does the Legislature need to buy in, but so do citizens in every parish and every region of our state. A good reform package will survive a thorough review, because it will survive on its merits."

Irony in action.

I'm out for now.  Time for a beer refill and maybe I'll make it green.

Soggy Sunday Loose Thoughts and Links

We've been under a long, soaking rain for the past couple of days which has actually been nice given that we had a terrible drought last summer from which we still haven't fully recovered.  I'm roasting a chicken for dinner, the dogs are curled up sleeping inside, and Mr. SIGIS is watching "Storage Wars" and spring training baseball.

Back in September I bought a Dell Streak and have spent the ensuing months tweaking, adjusting and experimenting with it trying to convince myself that it's just as good as an iPad.  Even though Android has lots of apps in their Marketplace, I've not been as happy with them as with the apps on my iPhone.  However, I use the tablet primarily as a reader and so when I finally found the Pulse app, my affection for my Streak has improved.  The larger screen of the tablet makes reading my favorite blogs and sites much easier than on the iPhone.

Pulse enables me to read a variety of periodicals and it gives me the option to select sites from my Google reader to put into the feed.  My Streak and I are getting along better now and while it's not exactly an iPad, it'll do for what I want it for.  Anyway, that's what I've been playing with this morning: updating my Google reader subscriptions and adding them to Pulse.

Some links from my blog surfing:

Don Surber ponders the viability of Rick Santorum:

Santorum has no money and no organization. He’s about as much an heir to Ronald Reagan’s political legacy as Ron Reagan Jr. is. As a candidate, the original Reagan was more than just a good-looking guy with an upbeat outlook and optimistic message for America. Ronald Reagan was a CEO. Over the years, he had proved himself to people inside and outside politics, enough so that when he ran for president in 1980, he had an organization.

What does Santorum have? He can barely put together a partial slate of delegates.

I'm guessing Don is going for Mitt Romney, then.  It's just dismal.  I'm sick of the Republicans eating their own throughout this campaign and have been disheartened about it for some time now.  I'm really tired of picking the lesser of two evils when I vote.  I want to vote for someone I'm excited about.  Meh.

William Teach is sure to get some liberal women fired up with this one:

For all their talking of empowerment and being their own woman, liberal women sure do seem to like being treated as incapable of using their own thoughts and taking care of themselves, and instead expect to be treated as morons and a voting block, taken care of by a man, or, well, if we’re talking liberal men, a metrosexual.

He is, of course, referring to Team Obama's strategy to appeal to women as a voter block as reported by the New York Times today.  Just don't call them "babe."

Speaking of liberals, Professor Jacobson has a new bumper sticker photo.

Bread Upon the Waters reports on a prayer vigil being organized by Team Obama for the purpose of shaping public opinion on the ObamaCare law prior to the Supreme Court consideration of the case:

This inquiring mind wants to know: Will open displays of the cross and other religious symbols be permitted in the public square at Obama's event, unlike the religious symbols at Georgetown that were covered as a condition of Obama speaking there?....

....Sadly, in the eyes of this administration, prayers and acknowledgements of the Divine are political tools.

Slightly hypocritical, I'd say.

Bride of Rove is preparing for the worst:

Think of it like the Zombie Apocalypse. My husband has been selling off things like the golf cart and boat parts and other toys so he can buy guns because, he says, they only way to stop stupid is with bullets. We hope it doesn’t come to that, but, honestly? It’s already at the gates and spreading. I did my part and bought a case of Spam and a huge bag of rice. I think we’re good. Because if and when Obama wins in November? The economy is only going to get worse. On the up side, I think Obama may be planning to start World War III this summer via Israel and Iran so … well … applying distopian survival theory, we could crawl our way out of this after all, if we survive it.

It's a depressing post but one you should probably read.  Mr. Bride of Rove is simply convinced that Obama will win in November.   If he does you can only blame the Republicans for leaving us with this sorry field of candidates.  I'm going to buy a case of Spam, too, I guess.  A truckload.  Because, BoR is right - if Obama wins, we're done for.  For more on this, see Doug Ross.

On the local front, in Jindal watch, C.B. Forgotston laments the decline of the first amendment in Louisiana as he reports on the firing by Jindal of a state employee for expressing her views in legislative testimony.  American Press has an editorial today about the firing:

On Tuesday, Martha Manuel, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs, testified before the House Appropriations Committee that the governor’s plan to shift her offices to the state Department of Health and Hospitals would not be in the best interest of elderly residents.
She said Jindal never consulted her about his plan and only learned about it when she saw the office’s budget had been moved in the governor’s budget proposal.

By Wednesday morning, Manuel was unemployed, unceremoniously fired via a phone call from Tammy Woods, Jindal’s community programs director.  Asked later that day about the termination, Jindal said he had decided to go in a different direction.  Bottom line: Manuel, who was appointed to the position by Jindal in February, 2011 and made $88,587, is out of a job.

All appointees like Manuel serve at the pleasure of the governor. It’s always been that way in Louisiana and always will be. But her ouster on the eve of the legislative session’s opening sends a chilling message — dissenting opinions by Jindal’s department heads and undersecretaries will not be tolerated.

This is interesting and we'll probably be hearing more about this in the days to come.  I suspect there is more there.


The thunder is rumbling across the sky and the world outside my door is gray and inundated with water.  Tornado watches and flash flood warnings are all out.  The chicken is about roasted so I'm off to tend to that.  Enjoy your Sunday.

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Perfect Weekend Edition

The camellias are starting to bloom but it's clear that mine have suffered from the drought last summer.  I spent a little time this afternoon pruning dead wood from my camellia bush and now I'm hoping it makes a comeback this summer.

But when the camellias start to bloom I know spring is not too far behind.

Mr. SIGIS and I had a busy Saturday and a lazy Sunday which is just about a perfect weekend.

Saturday I hit up a couple of estate sales early in the day then we headed over to Minden for the kickoff of Mardi Gras with their German Fasching celebration.  We had a grand time catching beads and watching the infamous Milly Rose dancing in Main Street along with the parade (video below).

My shopping treasures this weekend include this pretty jadeite vase (left).  I also picked up an old "depression era" green water bottle.  I remember we always had one of these in our refrigerator when I was growing up and it just reminded me of my childhood so I bought it.  I also bought an old Kosmos Brenner brass oil lamp.  And finally, Milly gave me a beautiful depression glass pink serving tray which I adore.  So as far as treasures go, it was a great weekend!

Today we've moved at a slower pace.  I did some much needed housework, went to my mom's and took care of her, then Steve and I took the rest of the day off.  We sat on the deck in the sun, drank a beer, and watched the dogs play and visited with our neighbor for a bit.

I'm disgusted with the Republican race right now.  Like Pundette, though, I'm "bitterly clinging" to Rick Santorum as long as I can.  Deep inside I'm just enraged at the ignorant establishment at the head of the Republican party who has put us right back in the same mess we were facing in 2008.  I can't even verbalize just yet how pissed off I am at the state of things.

Elsewhere:

The Other McCain is still filing great "on the road" coverage of the campaign - this time from Florida.

Speaking of the bone-headed Republican establishment, Sister Toldjah wonders if they're out to get Allen West.

Legal Insurrection points out the "scorched earth" tactics of the Romney campaign.  It's not pretty, folks.  Not a bit.

Saberpoint likes Santorum and calls the Republican fisticuffs between Newt and Mittens "vicious, self-destructive, personal and bitter."

American Power thinks Sarah Palin is endorsing Newt (video at the link).  I'm actually surprised; I'd have thought her to be more of a Santorum kind of gal.

Doug Ross checks out Occuy DC (with photos). 

Wyblog posts on the mandatory contraceptive edict.

Herman Cain has endorsed Newt.

Global warming is out; Cycle 25 is IN.

Be sure to check out The State of Our Disunion at Political Clown Parade.

Mark Levin is very concerned about Romney's character.

Dan Riehl has analysis of Levin's comments.

All in all, this campaign has gone somewhere very ugly.  It doesn't do any good to think about what could have been at this point but there's a lot of that going on inside my head.  It does seem as if Mitt and Newt are eating each other alive and quite possibly Rick Santorum will be the last man standing.

Oh well.  Much will be made of the Florida primary and let the chips fall where they may.  ABO in 2012.

Here's Milly Rose dancing in the streets:

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Good Friends, Good Times Edition

We're lounging around today just watching football and snacking on football-watching-food;  the Saints are having a tough time with the 49ers.  The second half just started.  Mr. SIGIS yells at the TV a lot when we watch sports.  The World Series nearly did him in.

We went to Hangar 2 on base last night; it was a light crowd (holiday weekend) so our DJ friend, Larry, played lots of Jerry Jeff Walker for us in anticipation of our February date to see him.  It's a nice bar, Hangar 2, and one of those places where we have good friends and have good times.  That's our "bar-guard," Joy, pictured left.  She makes a mean beef Thai salad! 

That said, we were home early and I got up this morning, hit a couple of estate sales, then went to my mom's.  The rest of the day has been fairly lazy. 

Let's look at some links:

We'll start off with my currently featured blog, Andy's Place.  I can't explain why but his latest video made me laugh until I nearly cried.  Goofy as shit!  I loved it so much I even made Mr. SIGIS watch it and he laughed too. 

Doug Ross has Obama's new campaign poster.

Legal Insurrection's Saturday Night Card game is up.

American Power has video of Liz Cheney blasting Obama's defense cuts.

Smitty has a little video of John Wayne on liberals.  Stacy McCain thinks it's time for Rick Perry to get out of the race.

Fuzzy is on a rant and reminds us all to keep our focus.

Pirate's Cove has a bleak outlook for all those green ventures.

Althouse celebrates 8 years.

Bride of Rove is reading Steyn's After America has has thoughts.

Reaganite Republican ponders the consequences of a third-party run.

Pundette explains Stephanopoulous's strange obsession with contraceptives at the NH debate.

Ed Driscoll has a totally depressing post about a world with no bookstores or video stores. 

Sarah continues to live with a black cloud above her but manages to make it hilarious all the same.

And that's a wrap.  The Saints are stressing me out.  Here's a little Jerry Jeff Walker for you: love this song: