Sometimes one just needs to get away from the grind. This absence wasn't one of those.

Sometimes personal considerations just pile up and take priority. To a degree, that was the case here.

And sometimes you are just too sick to do anything other than the minimum needed to get through one's daily life. That was the major issue here.

After a long fight against a nasty sinus infection whole trying to work, run an election, and deal with my personal life, I finally feel up to sitting in front of a computer and posting something on the internet. So expect some commentary on recent events to trickle out over the next few hours and days as I get my strength back.

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This is an experiment on my part. I've had guest bloggers before, but they have been like-minded individuals filling in for me. This time I've invited a special guest from the other side of the political aisle -- my wife, Paula AKA the Darling Democrat and the Loyal Opposition.

For those wanting to know the genesis of the post, it comes from a recent conversation we had in which she gave voice to sentiments I found particularly striking and important -- sentiments that I felt ought to be shared with more than me and a few friends. I invited her to write for the blog, and after some hesitation the invitation was accepted. This is her work, and her words, not mine.

A couple of weeks ago, I watched and listened to the coverage of the fourth anniversary of the natural disaster that was Hurricane Katrina. I've waited for our turn, for the retrospectives on the events of September 12 & 13, 2008 -- the natural disaster that we call Hurricane Ike.

I'm still waiting.

I'd like to think that maybe we, the victims of Hurricane Ike, got lost in the tributes and memorials to September 11, 2001. And lest any reader think I am an unfeeling hard-ass, please understand that I sat crying on Thursday night as the surviving family members of the passengers of Flight 93 were honored at the Steelers/Titans game. And yes, on Friday I watched the memorials on cable and cried some more, too.

And while I may be one of those "support the troops, not the wars" liberals that my husband so often complains about, I feel those things in the most sincere way possible -- I lost a loved one in Desert Shield/Storm -- and as I prepare to say good-bye as a friend I love dearly leaves for Iraq or Afghanistan with his reserve unit in January, I cry every time I speak with him, his wife and their two little girls.

So, by now I will guess that you faithful readers of this blog know that the usual blogger around here isn't writing this -- it's me, Paula, the Darling Democrat, Loyal Opposition or whatever else he calls me. I quit reading a long time ago in order to save my sanity and marriage.

But as I was starting to say, we victims or survivors of Ike are waiting for the time late Saturday night or early Sunday morning to mark the first anniversary of when Ike hit our homes and changed our lives forever -- those of us who sat up for long hours through the night watching the coverage from far away from home, hoping for some word about our neighborhoods and towns. I write as someone that loves/loved my stuff -- just ask any one that helped with the clean out of our home . In fact, as we watched the coverage from our evacuation hotel in Austin, I told "The Warden" (my dear pet name for Greg, AKA Rhymes With Right) as much as I love Anderson Cooper, if he had put a microphone in my face and expected me to say that "it was only stuff," he would sure have gotten a rude awakening. I lost mementos from all the periods of my life, and saved so little. We packed up our little car with the wheelchair, the Apolitical Pooch (who really is a liberal, no matter what my husband says), our wedding album, my wedding tiara (which I intend on wearing every day when I get to the nursing home - if not before), a few other precious things, his clothes (he'll have to write about that) and the three of us. As we pulled out of the driveway on the morning of September 11, 2008 after the mandatory evacuation was declared, I looked at my home and knew that it and I would never be the same again.

I'll fast forward to today, otherwise I'll be typing all night and none of us wants that to happen. I feel that our communities were failed by every level of government. FEMA gave help to 17% of those that asked for it -- 17% of the residents of communities that were devastated by the third most destructive hurricane in American history, people who were left living in hotels, church youth rooms, and finally (if they were lucky) other small living spaces. Those that could afford it were paying for two households for much of the last year and those who couldn't ended up bunking with friends and relatives, pitching up tents and or living in campers. We here in the Houston/Galveston area didn't get the $2000 debit cards given to survivors of Hurricane Katrina, either. State and local governments didn't do much better.

In our own neighborhood, we returned in April to a house that was repaired by a contractor that didn't seem to be interested in anything more than money, or know anything more than how to cash his checks. Problems persist in our home, and our insurance company is sending someone out to see why our tile floor is cracking. And we are one of the lucky ones that was well-cared for by our insurance company -- I haven't forgotten those who are still fighting to get their insurance companies to give them full payment for the damages they suffered. Every day I say a blessing that I am back in the space that used to be home (and hopefully will be again someday); and I pray hard for those that who are still waiting, that they get back home as well.

I look to the north and see one of our next door neighbors still living in a FEMA trailer -- one of the few in the neighborhood (it arrived in December but she wasn't given the keys until January) -- as she waits for repairs to her home to finish a year after the storm that threw our lives into turmoil. On the other side of our house the family just walked away after getting some help from FEMA (guess they comprised the 17% in our town) -- they left their home to rot and mildew and mold before it finally was sold at auction in May. That home is one of a number that still stands vacant in our town, drywall torn out and studs standing naked. Our community is still filled with too many of those in campers and in tents, having lived this way through the hot Texas summer, and into a fall where the temperatures are expected to remain in the 90s this next week and beyond.

And having seen four years of coverage about that earlier storm, I compare our situation to that of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. I realize parts of New Orleans , the 9th ward in particular, still stand much as the day it hit. I think that is a sin and I think that they are still are entitled to getting back home to the neighborhoods and homes that they loved as well. Houston opened its arms to thousands of the victims and is still "home" to many of them. I wept as I watched the "cattle call" into the Superdome and remembered how fast we got supplies to the tsunami victims in Thailand even as we saw massive shortcomings in the response to Katrina. However, when President Obama gave them another 6 months of rental assistance and hotels rooms this summer, my head nearly began spinning around like Linda Blair's in the Exorcist.

I think that part of the problem was that our coverage focused on those beautiful beach homes on Galveston Island and the nation thought that if people can build those they can go right ahead and take care of themselves. But many of those were weekend and vacation homes --I challenge you to read the stats on the full-time residents of Galveston, many of whom are quite poor. In the end, those folks got one, yes ONE, Red Cross shelter that closed down a few weeks later with the suggestion that they look to family and friends for shelter or find some other living arrangements. But there were no other arrangements that most could make, for God sake, and large parts of Galveston are still struggling a year later.

I wondered where our Goob of a President was after our Hurricane Ike. No doubt the proud resident of Texas was consulting with his designer about the color scheme of his million dollar mansion in the toniest part of Dallas and working on his presidential library even though he doesn't read. Where were Senators Cornyn and Hutchinson? She was working on plans for seeking the seat of governor of the then blighted Texas. What he was doing, well, obviously, not much. Congressman Lampson was getting ready to leave DC because the polls showed he was about to be voted out of office. Galveston Island did get a "special visit" from Bush 41 and Clinton. Yee-Haw good buddies! But no telethons, no national fundraising campaigns, and precious little help compared to how another devastated city was treated three years before.

Let's fast forward to 2009. Our new Congressman, Pete Olsen, must be too busy meeting up with his buddies in DC, and President Obama still seems to just think that the only hurricane that devastated lives was that girl called Katrina. Hey Barack, there was a guy called Ike that still has victims and survivors that your "Yes We Can" administration ought to help, but so far we've seen little more than "No We Can't". This woman who voted for you and believed in your message is still waiting to see you recognize the Gulf Coast region in a place called Texas in a way comparable to the recognition accorded the Gulf Coast region of Louisiana.

And thus ends the first installment of spousal guest blogging. I've opened comments on this one, and hope that folks will exhibit class and tact if they choose to comment. You can email as well, and I'll pass the messages on to her. There are currently no plans for posts from the Apolitical Pooch.

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You may have noticed “radio silence” around here for the past week. Well, the reason is simple – we got back into the house last Friday, and I’ve been quite busy moving things from our temporary refuge in the Clear Lake area of Houston back into our home in Seabrook. Our recovery from Hurricane Ike is still far from over – but this is the biggest step on the road to recovery, some 7 ½ months after the storm wiped us out.

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The union can simply forge the signatures and make itself the representative of the workers.

An Ohio union organizer has been fired after he was caught forging documents to deduct money from public employees' wages to pay for political activity, the Service Employees International Union said yesterday.

Becky Williams, president of the SEIU District 1199, said she thinks this is an isolated incident, but the union is continuing to investigate.

"There's not another organizer or group of members that were affected," she said.

The organizer, whom Williams declined to identify, had forged about 40 "PAC cards," which are documents that allow the union to deduct about $14 per month from employee wages to pay for the union's political activity.

Now in this case it was merely stealing a few bucks from employees – but imagine if a few unscrupulous folks simply forge the signatures of enough workers to get the union declared the official bargaining unit at a particular workplace. Will workers even know that they have been signed up for a union without their knowledge – or will a simple declaration that “we’ve got a majority” from the union be sufficient to entrench the union as the representative – with any attempt by the employer to help the workers undo the fraud labeled as an “unfair labor practice”?

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Yes, NY Governor David Paterson is black. So what? Does that mean he ought to have the automatic support of African-Americans in New York?

In a sign of just how far Mr. PatersonÂ’s fortunes have fallen, the governor now faces growing doubts from a group that has been among his most loyal: black elected officials, clergy members and voters.

It is a remarkable turnaround for a man whose ascension to the governorÂ’s office just over a year ago set off a swell of pride and joy in black communities. Mr. Paterson became New YorkÂ’s first black governor and, along with Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, is one of only two in the country.

Now set aside the question of the tendency of blacks to support Democrats, and issues of racial pride. Why does Paterson deserve the support of black elected officials, clergy, and voters? What has he done to earn that support other than take office after the fall of his predecessor in a sex scandal? Has he done anything to significantly improve the lives of African-Americans in the state – or of New Yorkers in general, which should be the more important criteria? Shouldn’t competence and accomplishment be the basis for support rather than skin color and heritage?

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Rush Limbaugh made the following statement.

So [Barack Obama has] moved on to health care. This is highly visible, it's news leading, gets a great focus, plus it has the great liberal lion Teddy Kennedy pushing it. Before it's all over it will be called the Ted Kennedy Memorial Health Care Bill.

Democrats and other liberals are outraged.

Let's examine this statement really quickly.

First, Senator Kennedy has been an advocate of socialized/nationalized medicine for a couple of decades now. He remains so in what are undoubtedly his last days, as he battles a very serious form of cancer that is likely to take his life sooner rather than later. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging those facts, is there?

Secondly, it has long been a strategy employed ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE to name a piece of legislation in such a way as to make a vote against it seem wrong rather than principled. For example, the renewal of the Voting Rights Act had the names of several prominent civil rights leader attached to it, including that of Rosa Parks. It doesn't matter that the reauthorization was seriously flawed because it used 1964 election data rather than 2004 election data to determine the existence of racial discrimination today -- how do you justify a vote against legislation honoring Rosa Parks? Similarly, names like the Freedom of Choice Act, Employee Free Choice Act, and USA PATRIOT Act are intentionally designed to make a vote against a piece of legislation difficult. Why wouldn't supporters of whatever legislation ultimately emerges on healthcare name it after Ted Kennedy? They would be utterly foolish if they didn't -- especially if Kennedy has taken a turn for the worse or passed on when the legislation reaches the floor.

What you really had then was a fair comment on the strategy likely to be used to get this legislation through Congress when the time comes for it to be voted upon.

So where is the problem in what Limbaugh said? I don't see one -- well, except for one. That is that the comment can be twisted into making fun of Kennedy's medical issue and impending death. Limbaugh does neither -- but that doesn't stop folks from claiming that he has done so. Indeed, one liberal I know was absolutely outraged by the Limbaugh comment, as presented by liberal commentators/"journalists", until hearing the actual comment -- which is why the media is not placing the phrase "Ted Kennedy Memorial Health Care Bill" in context. After all, the media still remains in the tank for Obama.

I'm curious, though -- would it be possible to pass the Mary Jo Kopechne Anti-Drunk Driving and Bridge Safety Act at the same time as the health care bill?

H/T NewsBusters (twice), Radio Equalizer, STACLU

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I've wanted to say something that may be a bit controversial ever since I turned the news on yesterday afternoon and saw the horrors taking place in India.

This day we should all offer thanks to and for President George W. Bush and the policies and procedures put in place since 9/11 which have prevented this nation from suffering a major terrorist attack on our soil over the last 7 years. For all the snide comments about terror alert color codes, claims that information about threats has been leaked for political purposes, and abuse heaped upon Bush and his subordinates over Gitmo, interrogation techniques, and other issues related to the War on Terror, we have seen nothing like Mumbai or Bali, Madrid or London. We Americans do not find ourselves living like the Israelis live, on a constant state of heightened alert with acts of terrorism committed daily in our midst. And while some -- perhaps many -- might not like to admit it, this has been in large part due to the policies and practices put in place by this administration.

I don't care if you never voted for George W. Bush, nor do I care if you voted for Obama rather than McCain three weeks ago -- have the integrity to acknowledge the judgment that history will ultimately make about the forty-third president of the United States, namely that he kept this nation safe from its enemies at the cost of his own popularity and reputation by making hard and unpopular decisions. That, my friends, is statesmanship.

MORE AT A Blog For All, Fausta's Blog, Atlas Shrugs, Gateway Pundit, Jawa Report, Wizbang, Hot Air

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I don't know that I will ever look at Thanksgiving quite the same way again, given the events of Thanksgiving morning, 2006. As dire as the beginning of that post sounds, the reality was worse -- I didn't disclose at the time that the emergency room doctor told me that a delay of an hour getting her to the emergency room would have likely resulted in her death. As a result, I will always have something to be thankful for at Thanksgiving.

And if I were inclined to forget, this local story with national implications would have brought everything back to me -- because Mrs. Bush appears to have had the same problem, though not as severe, that my Paula did two years ago.

And so may I offer thanks this day that I still have my Paula by my side this day -- and that the Bush family matriarch is on the road to recovery from a serious illness. And as I did two years ago, I would like to offer thanks for the dedicated medical professionals who will be on the job caring for the sick this day,

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It is Thanksgiving Day here in the United States. I'll be honest, it has been a difficult year, one that is hard to look back upon without feeling downright depressed. But through the haze of unpleasantness, I find some things to be thankful for.

1) In March we lost my wife's dear mother, at the age of 82. And yet I find something for which I can be thankful -- two weeks before her death we were able to have a last visit with her, during which we celebrated her birthday. It had been several years since my wife's health had permitted such a trip, but everything aligned in such a way that she was able to have that final time with her mother -- and I find that to be something for which I am thankful.

2) In July, my darling wife became very ill, and was hospitalized. In the next five days she had two emergency surgeries related to a systemic infection that was attacking multiple areas of her body. For all we hear about our nation having a "broken health care system," I saw no evidence of the sorts of dysfunctions some folks describe. And most importantly, my wife made a complete recovery from the illness and surgery with no significant complications. For those things I am thankful.

3) On September 11, 2008 we received word that our home was in a mandatory evacuation zone due to the predicted arrival of Hurricane Ike. Predictions included an 18-20 foot storm surge in our town when the storm made landfall 30-50 miles to the south, which would have meant that the water level would have been over the top of the roof of our house. In the final hours before making landfall, Ike turned to the north, bringing the eye in directly over our town and limiting the storm surge to 12 to 13 feet. The result was that our house took "only 2 1/2 feet of water. While we have been out of our house for 2 1/2 months, and expect to be out for another 2 months, we are thankful that our home can be repaired, that insurance money will be sufficient to complete the job, and that (despite the lost possessions) our house will be sufficiently like what we left that morning to still qualify as "home". Construction begins Monday -- another thing for which we are thankful.

And so my friends, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving -- and urge you to find something to be thankful for, even in the midst of whatever dark moments you may have faced over the last 12 months.

UPDATE: One more thing for which to be thankful -- a sign that the area in which I live is recovering. One of the most beloved restaurants in Kemah, T-Bone Tom's, reopened yesterday and will be open today. Those of us who live in the area know that it, not the chain restaurants on the Kemah Boardwalk, is a major part of the heart and soul of the area. Word is that the Hoagie Ranch will be back in operation soon as well, meaning that my other favorite local culinary experience will be back, too.

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It begins Monday, folks, and I urge you to take advantage of the opportunity to vote before election day at one of the many early voting sites in the area.

An unprecedented half-million Harris County voters are expected to cast early ballots for the presidential race and other offices during the two-week early voting period, an increase sparked in part by political parties and candidates urging supporters to vote before Election Day.

In response to the forecast of a record-high early vote that starts Monday in Texas, county officials have added extra polling stations and voting booths and new auxiliary equipment to keep waiting lines as short as possible.

The most interesting change is the addition of a card reader that will enable the poll workers to swipe your drivers’ license to get your identifying information more quickly – though a license is still not required to vote.

And I’d like to add a special note to all the voters of Seabrook’s Precinct 333 – as you may know, Evelyn Meador Library has been our polling place for years, but it is one of the many beloved casualties of Hurricane Ike last month. I was informed on Wednesday that our polling place this year will be Bay Elementary School – but be aware that we are voting in the back gymnasium, which is most easily accessed by entering the school grounds by way of city hall rather than off of Highway 146. We’ll be there for our usual hours – but I know that many of you (like me) are out of your homes. I’d therefore like to encourage you to take advantage of early voting if it is more convenient for you, especially if you are temporarily residing outside of the precinct. Not only do we have the presidential election, but Seabrook’s own Pete Olson is going to need all our votes in his effort to unseat Nick Lampson and put CD22 in the GOP column where it belongs. Add to that the importance of reelecting John Cornyn to the US Senate and Mike Jackson to the Texas Senate, as well as all the county and judicial races that are on the ballot, and a solidly conservative precinct like ours needs a strong turnout to ensure that we have the sort of government we believe in for the county, state, and nation. And yes, Democrats are welcome to come out and vote, too (that means you, Janet and Paula and the rest of you) – after all, events of the last few weeks have made it ever so clear how important it is that we make our voices heard.

A complete list of Harris County early voting locations and hours can be found here.

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Well, the storm has passed, but the devastation continues.

The house is uninhabitable, and so my Darling Democrat, the Apolitical Pooch, and I are living at our church for the time being.

I will be headed back to school Friday after 2 weeks off, and the kids return Monday. It should be interesting to see how folks survived and how this changes school life for us all.

I'm going to try to start blogging soon. In the mean time, please click one of the two buttons in the side column if you feel the urge.

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It has been an exciting few days.

After getting her sutures out on Thursday, there was a problem with one of her incisions, and so we spent much of the morning on Friday waiting to get in with the doctor to see if anything further needs to be done. It doesn't -- and this is not an unusual thing with this type of surgery. It just adds to the healing time. Friday aftern0on was spent on various household tasks.

Saturday the A/C went out again -- that meant a three-day stay in a hotel until we could get someone to fix it for us. And proving that I've hit middle age, I pulled a muscle in my back trying to carry too much into the hotel at once so I didn't have to go back out in the nearly 100 degree heat. That kept me done for most of the time at the hotel. The only good thing is that the repair guy admitted he missed the real problem earlier this summer and comped the repair job as a matter of good will.

Yesterday I spent trying to get used to my new glasses -- progressive bifocals. Middle age is officially here, I guess.

So I'm back.

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You may have noticed I've been sporadic in my blogging in the last few days. My Darling Democrat and I have each been facing some physical ailments which have needed to come first. In addition, we have been dealing with another situation that has had to be dealt with. More later.

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It strikes me that he is missing an essential element in this plan.

With less than six months to go before he would be sworn in as the nationÂ’s 44th president, Sen. Barack Obama has directed his aides to begin planning for the transition.

"Barack is well aware of the complexity and the organizational challenge involved in the transition process and he has tasked s small group to begin thinking through the process,” a senior campaign adviser said. “Barack has made his expectations clear about what he wants from such a process, how he wants it to move forward, and the establishment and execution of his timeline is proceeding apace.”

Yo, Barry Hussein -- aren't you forgetting something?

You know -- the formality of winning the election.

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Paula's second surgery is underway.

Prayers are, of course welcome.

UPDATE -- 15:30: Gee, that was quick! Doctor says everything went smoothly and she should be feeling much better almost immediately with the abscess in her jaw gone.

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Well, she's looking good and feeling better after last night's surgery.

However.

Remember that dental problem from Monday, and the fact that it had started to swell and become otherwise difficult? They did a CT of the head and neck, and it appears that some of the infection that we have been dealing with migrated to her jaw from the site of the other infection, and there is a thumb-sized abscess that has formed (apparently) away from the teeth themselves. The solution? More surgery!

So the upshot is that my Darling Democrat will be going under the knife again tomorrow, at a time yet to be determined.

As before, your continued prayers are requested. And as mentioned before, please feel free to click the Paypal link (or the Amazon one), if the spirit moves you -- we started with a $1500 deductible and have blown right through that, so even with what the insurance covers I imagine our share of the bill increasing like the cost of a tank of super-unleaded for a Hummer.

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Initial Post -- 05:00: Last night, shortly after I posted my two early VERY early posts while trying to wind down after a stressful day, I got a phone call from my Darling Democrat at the hospital.

Yeah -- and "after midnight" phone call. She had just gotten done with a visit from hospital personnel telling her that there would be surgery connected with some of the test results from earlier int he day.

It appears to be an exploratory thing, connected with the underlying cause of this infection. It could well be a cyst or an abscess -- it just isn't clear from the pictures they have taken, hence the need to actually go in and remove whatever it is. However, another possibility is a tumor, though that is highly speculative (and I'm now told highly unlikely) and whether it would be benign or malignant is unknown. She asked me to come to her early -- and so that is my plan. I'll have the trusty laptop with me -- but I don't know if the hospital is set up for wi-fi.

Suffice it to say that this is something unexpected for both of us, and I am definitely going to put her first. When I know more and can access the site, I'll update everyone on things -- and it will stay at the top of the site all day, hence the posting time of 23:59 PM, even though I'm writing this first part of the post some 19 hours earlier. Check back for the updates.

And as I said yesterday, your prayers are requested -- and at this point of uncertainty, even begged for until we know more. And yes, if the spirit moves you to click the Paypal link (or the Amazon one), we'll also be appreciative -- but that is secondary to the prayers for health and comfort at this time.

More later.

Update -- 08:00: Surgery will be later today, not first thing in the morning like we had initially thought -- probably in the afternoon, depending upon the surgeon's schedule. Paula is feverish, which leads the doctor to believe that the issue is will be no more than a deep infection, not anything more serious. Unfortunately, she is having swelling in the face related to the dental problem from Monday -- how the two situations are connected (if at all) is speculative at this point.

Update -- 13:00: Surgery will be in the next two or three hours, depending on when the surgeon gets done with his earlier surgeries. Best guess? Around 16:00 this afternoon.

Update -- 18:30: Due to another patient's surgery taking much longer than expected, surgery will be delayed another couuple of hours -- starting between 20:00 and 21:00.

Update -- 21:30: Well, she's in the OR at last -- they've told me to expect to see the surgeon in an hour. Prayers appreciated.

Update -- 23:15: Well, she is back in her room after teh removal of some infected tissue and an abscess that seems to have been at the root of the problem. All is well, and I'm headed home.

Posted by: Greg at 05:59 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Several weeks ago, my Darling Democrat was diagnosed with an infection and treated with antibiotics. After a second unsuccessful round of antibiotics ended two weeks ago, she was started on something more powerful and told that a failure to improve in while on the third round of antibiotics would result in her being hospitalized -- and last week there was enough progress to justify keeping her out of the hospital. Unfortunately, the continued treatment with antibiotics failed to bring about any more progress to this antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, and she was hospitalized this morning.

And before anyone asks -- yes, there is a possibility that this is related to what we thought was an unrelated dental problem that I mentioned earlier. One of the specialists has ordered tests to rule that in or out -- and that may or may not change the course of treatment.

Your prayers are requested, and anyone who feels the urge to click the Paypal link (or the Amazon one) would also be appreciated.

Needless to say, I may be less prolific than usual -- call it having my priorities in order.

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Tuesday night, the A/C went out, and we took refuge at a hotel with glitchy wi-fi. We were fortunate to get the A/C fixed by late Wednesday, but stayed teh extra night since the room was paid for and the house needed to cool down (the thermostat read 91 degrees when the technician finally got the unit working again).

Well, as i was bringing the luggage to the car, I felt a twinge in the abdomen. A pit stop a little later led me to suspect another kidney stone like the one back around my birthday. A visit to the doctor confirmed that -- so now I am simply waiting it out.

I should be posting, depending upon how I feel through the course of the day.

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I recently came across a really good site about the Internet, Web Design, Programming and other related technical stuff. It is really great for someone like me who struggles with the technical end of blogging, because it offers custom designed web sites for individuals and small business owners.

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I've been gone a while here, and I want to offer an explanation.

As I've mentioned a couple of times recently, my mother-in-law has bee seriously ill for some time. We made that hellacious trip through Pittsburgh to visit her and mark her 82nd birthday about three weeks ago. We also made arrangements for her to enter a local nursing home.

Over the next ten days, she declined, passing away on March 7. On March 10, my wife and I traveled east again, to bury her mother. That was followed by several days of packing up her home and driving a U-Haul back to Texas. We arrived home about 24 hours ago.

There are many things I could say about my mother-in-law. A lot of guys do not have the blessing that I did, of a woman who accepted me as her own and who never scrimped in the love that she showed me. Indeed, I used to look forward to getting on the cell phone many afternoons after school, just to talk to her for a few minutes and see how she was doing. And I thank God daily for the greatest gift my mother-in-law gave me, the gift of my wife, who she raised alone after losing her husband four decades ago when my wife was very young. Frankly, I am going to miss her very much, though not nearly as much as my wife does.

Anyway, that is why I've not been posting here lately. I'll get back into the stream of things here shortly -- just give me time.

Posted by: Greg at 09:53 AM | Comments (28) | Add Comment
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A family crisis has arisen.

Blogging will be "catch as catch can" for the next several days, depending upon events during that time.

I'll offer more of an explanation at a future date -- I'm just not ready to say more at this time.

In the mean time, be welcoming to my guest blogger.

Posted by: Greg at 03:29 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I mentioned the other day that my wife and I had an ugly incident in the airport in Pittsburgh while we were traveling last week. I indicated that I would have more to say about the matter in the days to come. Well, here it is at last.

On Monday, February 25, 2008, my wife and I were returning to Houston after visiting my wifeÂ’s hometown, where we were seeing to her mother, who is seriously ill and expected to pass away soon. It was a difficult time.

Because my wife, Paula, uses a wheelchair, we needed to access the private screening lane at approximately 10:00 a.m. As instructed by the TSA staff member at the podium at the head of the line, we placed our personal property on the lower shelf of the metal table so that I could push Paula down to the private screening room and then return to place these items on the x-ray belt. It was important to stay with these items because they included a wallet with approximately $100 in it, a personal laptop computer, a cellular phone, my wifeÂ’s purse and a carry-on bag containing a number of collector coins and some jewelry that PaulaÂ’s mother wished her to have, as well as both of our medications. We were carrying these latter items in the carry-on bag out of concern that they would disappear from checked baggage.

We first encountered the screener named Monique at this time. She was carrying a number of gray plastic crates to place in position for travelers to use. I told Monique that I did not want these items going through screening without me because of the valuables inside the bag, and that the previous TSA employee had told us that we could place the items there. Monique told us that we could not do so. When I reiterated my first statement, Monique said, "You're going to do it my way" and began to move the items to the x-ray conveyor and push the items through the x-ray without my permission. I was upset because this meant these items would have to sit at the end of the x-ray unattended until I could get my wife to the private screening room and then pass through the line myself.

During this time, Monique passed by PaulaÂ’s wheelchair several times, striking her in the back with the gray bins each time she passed. We at first assumed this was an accident but came to believe that this was intentional because of the repeated act of striking her in the back as she passed.

At this point Monique insisted Paula move her wheelchair. It is a motorized wheelchair, but no battery was connected because we considered the difficulty of traveling with them to outweigh the benefits. Paula could not move her wheelchair by herself because of her disability, so I needed to move the wheelchair for her to the screening room. Monique was angered by this, and was upset that my wife could not get out of her way fast enough to suit her or reach the screening room unattended. We were disturbed when we reached the private screening room and discovered it would be Monique who was to conduct PaulaÂ’s screening. According to Paula, Monique repeatedly kicked and hit her chair when she asked her to stop because the jarring of the chair caused her great pain due to chronic pain associated with her disability. Paula further states that another female screener was in the room when Monique conducted her screening and became so visibly upset by Monique actions and verbal abuse that the female screener left the room.

After screening was completed, Monique informed Paula that she needed to conduct a bag search on the bag containing the coins, jewelry, and medication. Monique was angry that Paula did not have the bag to the small padlock on the bag and continued to be very rude and abrupt. During the search, MoniqueÂ’s rudeness continued in my presence, and inquired why we were carrying certain of the items. I stated, "Lady I don't know what your problem is," to which Monique responded, "I'm no lady." In reply, I said, "No you're not, but I'm not going to say what I think you are". At that point, Monique aggressively responded "You want to start calling names? You want to start calling names?" Her manner was unprofessional and of such an aggressive, confrontational nature, that I believed Monique was trying to provoke a fight in order to have me arrested. I would also like to state that I do not believe it was her business to ask why we had medication, coins and jewelry in our carry-on luggage.

Monique summoned a man named Ron, and Paula and I indicated that we wanted to file a complaint. Ron started to hand us two sheets of paper, but then gave us only one. The form Paula was given by Ron did not have a place to include our names and contact information, which left us concerned about follow through. Paula completed the form we were given in detail, and I then turned the information in at the podium, though I do not remember the name of the woman to whom it was given. We then headed to the gate for our flight.

After arriving at the gate, I went to one of the magazine stands to get a soda for Paula so that she could take her medication due to the pain caused by MoniqueÂ’s jarring of the wheelchair and her back. A female TSA employee, who turned out to be the same woman who left the private screening room, approached me. She expressed her concern over the way Paula was treated and was aware that we were not provided with the Customer Service Representative's name and telephone number. She provided us with the Customer Service number and contact information. She stated that she had taken her break and followed us because the treatment we had received was not right, and that Monique constantly treats passengers this way but is never disciplined because someone seems to be either covering for her or afraid to take action, despite the fact that Monique is often rude and or brutal with passengers. She related that there have been past incidents that involved physical altercations with passengers, and no action taken, and she asked us to please follow up on our complaint, which was already our intent. She was quite concerned with having her anonymity concerned, however, because of the lack of action against Monique and fear that she would face retaliation (including possible termination) for assisting us in this way. I view her actions as being in the highest spirit of professionalism and to be commended rather than punished.

I have since been in contact with the Pittsburgh Customer Service Representative, and have initiated a complaint process through her, as well as with my elected representatives in Washington, DC.

I'll be the first to concede that airport security is important. That said, such treatment is not necessary, and is clearly an abuse of authority. I'll keep you folks posted on the outcome of the process I have initiated as it moves along.

OPEN TRACKBACKING AT The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary's Thoughts, third world county, McCain Blogs, The World According to Carl, Shadowscope, Blue Star Chronicles, The Pink Flamingo, Celebrity Smack, Leaning Straight Up, Cao's Blog, Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker, CORSARI D'ITALIA, Adeline and Hazel, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Posted by: Greg at 01:45 PM | Comments (213) | Add Comment
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Turning 45 is traumatic.

Turning 45 while visiting a seriously ill family member is even more traumatic.

Traveling home by plane under such circumstances with a muscle spasm that won't quit in your lower back is even worse.

But the worst thing about the day was discovering that my favorite blog read of the day, Captain's Quarters, is going into permanent hiatus as Ed Morrissey goes to work for Michelle Malkin at her Hot Air blog.

I'm sure that I'll get plenty of wonderful posts from Ed at the new digs, but I'll miss CQ. Good luck to all involved.

Posted by: Greg at 12:09 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A family issue has taken me out of town for a few days. That has been the reason for the limited blogging. We are back, the situation is under control and in God's hands. Normal blogging will resume in the next day or two -- and will include at least one post about our dealings with TSA screeners in a major metropolitan airport.

Posted by: Greg at 03:25 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I suppose this could have something to do with it.

More than a dozen people at North Shore High School have tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis after a student was diagnosed with the infectious disease last month, Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services officials said Tuesday.

Nineteen out of 150 students and faculty tested had a positive skin test result, indicating they were exposed to TB, said HCPHES spokeswoman Sandy Kachur. Those tested were considered to have had prolonged contact with a teen diagnosed with the disease in December, Kachur said.

As a result, I expect a bit of a freak-out from some of my students today. After all, while we are on the 9-10 campus rather than the 11-12 campus where this is taking place, many of my students have siblings on the other campus. Many more have friends there. And while the odds are quite small that any of our students have the illness, the fact that one out of every eight folks tested have had a positive skin test will likely alarm many of the kids and their parents.

Posted by: Greg at 10:31 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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So many folks have their thoughts, prayers, and memories up on their website.

I have only one that concerns me this day -- that from Thanksgiving 2006.

For those of you who read me at the time, you probably remember the trauma that was last Thanksgiving.

For those of you who did not, I share my post from the evening of November 23, 2006 -- and the updates that followed.

This Thanksgiving has not been one of turkey and trimmings -- this morning as I prepared "Big Bird" for the oven, my dear wife began vomiting blood. She is now resting somewhat comfortably in ICU with some sort of GI bleed.

I ask the prayers of any and all readers -- friend and foe -- for Paula's complete and speedy recovery. And I ask, too, for a prayer or two of thanksgiving that there are dedicated medical professionals available this day -- one which most of us take for granted as a day off for feasting and football -- to aid in her recovery.

And may God send his richest blessings down on each and every one of you who reads these words and responds to them, as I especially give thanks this day for the greatest worldly blessings he has given me -- my beloved.

I didn't share the information at the time, but the situation was, in fact, more dire than I let on. I was told by the folks at the hospital that a delay of even one hour of getting her to the hospital would have probably resulted in Paula's death from blood loss. When you consider the six units of blood she got in the first 36 hours in the hospital, you know how low she really was.

What am I thankful for this year? That I still have the woman I love with me. Nothing else really matters.

Posted by: Greg at 05:59 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Though I still suggest that appropriate charges be brought against the sponsors of the amendment and those who voted for it.

A proposal to cut off money for military operations in Iraq fell far short in the Senate this afternoon, a day after Democrats lost their best chance of changing the course of the war.

Legislation sponsored by Senators Russell D. Feingold, the Wisconsin Democrat who has been one of the fiercest critics of the Bush administration’s war policy, and Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic majority leader, received only 28 “yes” votes, 32 fewer than needed to cut off a Republican filibuster.

“A majority of the House and a majority of the Senate want to change the direction of the war in Iraq,” Mr. Reid said in a meeting with reporters beforehand. “We have voted accordingly on more than one occasion, in fact on many occasions. But the House having done their job, they come to the Senate and the Senate Republicans, the vast majority of them will not allow us to change the direction of the war in Iraq.”

The vote on the Feingold-Reid measure was entirely expected; in May, the Senate rejected a similar proposal by the two lawmakers by a similar margin.

However Reid's attempt to abandon American troops in the field of battle can only be deemed to b giving aid and comfort to the enemy in time of war, not "chang[ing] the direction of the war in Iraq."

I reiterate yesterday's observation.

I think that sponsoring of such legislation could legitimately be considered a violation of Article III, Section 3 of the US Constitution, and the provisions of Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 would seem to allow charges to be brought against Reid and Feingold for that violation, as that particular offense is specifically exempted from the immunity of legislators under the "Speech or Debate" clause.

Reid, Feingold, and those who voted in favor of the amendment ought to be charged and tried immediately.

Posted by: Greg at 10:00 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I've mentioned in the past that my wife is a former church pastor, with a theological degree from the oldest seminary in the United States.

So when our pastor decided to get away for the weekend, he asked my wife to fill in as guest-preacher.

And, as luck would have it, she developed a cough that turned into full-blown bronchitis and on Friday was put on bed-rest by the doctor. That meant no preaching for her.

A quick call to our associate pastor resulted in the suggestion that I fill-in for her in the pulpit, since I have four years of seminary education myself.

That's why Friday was a slow posting day -- I was writing a sermon, something I haven't done since my wife had her own church and I filled in for her when she had laryngitis. Its been over ten years.

And so this morning was the big day -- with my darling wife listening in via cell phone (she has never heard me preach before).

By all accounts, it went well.

If you are interested, I've posted the text below. I departed from it a little bit, but not significantly. Sorry -- no podcast.
more...

Posted by: Greg at 07:37 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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As the welts start to grow on both feet and legs, I just want to share that bit of information with you. Stepped in a hidden mound in the back yard while mowing this morning.

Indeed, I've long since come to the conclusion that the fire ant is proof that Satan may have had a hand in creating the world. After all, I find it difficult to believe that a loving and just God would have created fire ants.

Posted by: Greg at 06:32 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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It Must Suck To Have To Repay A Bribe

After all, the only reason this pardon happened is because Tony rodham lobbied his sister and brother-in-law to make it happen.

A lawyer for the brother of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said he's confident he can avoid a trial next week and settle a lawsuit that accuses Tony Rodham of failing to repay debts to a Tennessee carnival operator.

That should be a relief to Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign since the case could have revived stories about how her brothers accepted money from people pardoned by her husband, President Bill Clinton.

Rodham is accused of failing to repay $107,000 plus interest to the bankrupt estate of Edgar Allen Gregory Jr. and his wife, Vonna Jo, both of whom received a presidential pardon in 2000.

* * *

The Gregorys received pardons for a bank fraud conviction from President Clinton about two years after Rodham became a paid consultant to United Shows of America, a carnival business the couple owned.

Rodham has said he talked to his brother-in-law, who was then president, about a pardon for the Gregorys, but he said Clinton made the decision to grant clemency on the merits of their case.

Ed Gregory died in 2004, but the Gregorys have said in the past that the money they gave Rodham had nothing to do with the pardon request. They loaned Rodham $107,000 between May 2000 and February 2002, the lawsuit says. Collins said Rodham also was paid for consulting services, but he did not know the amount.

After Clinton left office, the Republican-controlled House Committee on Government Reform found that United Shows paid Rodham $240,000 for undocumented consulting services and that President Clinton was interested in the pardons solely because of his contacts with Rodham.

Unspecified consulting fees and a loan that was never repaid -- sounds like a bribe to me, under the circumstances, since it looks like the only service provided was lobbying Bill Clinton.

This would be similar to the deal that Hillary Clinton's other brother, Hugh Rodham, made with Denise Rich to get a pardon for her husband Marc Rich.

Just imagine the bribery business opportunities open to the Rodham brothers if Hillary wins the White House in 2008.

Posted by: Greg at 01:21 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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And this time I really don't mind making that admission, given the survey in question..

tÂ’s a question that often prompts a boastful answer or a bashful one: How many sex partners have you had?

Now the federal government says it has authoritative statistics, documenting that men are far more likely to play the field than women.

A new nationwide survey, using high-tech methods to solicit candid answers on sexual activity and illegal drug use, finds that 29 percent of American men report having 15 or more female sexual partners in a lifetime, while only 9 percent of women report having sex with 15 or more men.

In this age of AIDS, I am surprised that the numbers are still this high. But I wonder -- are all those guys sleeping with the same women, to get the 3-1 breakdown?

Posted by: Greg at 12:39 AM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
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I wonder -- will Speaker Nancy continue to stand by her man?

Sources tell CBS News that authorities are seeking an indictment against Congressman William Jefferson, D-La., on more than a dozen counts involving public corruption.

Jefferson has been the subject of a ongoing probe in which FBI agents allegedly found more than $90,000 in cash in his freezer in August 2005.

CBS News correspondent Bob Orr reports that the Justice Department is expected to unveil the charges later today.

This was the latest development in the 16-month international investigation of Jefferson, who allegedly accepted $100,000 from a telecommunications businessman, $90,000 of which was later recovered from a freezer in the congressman's Louisiana home.

Remember -- this is the same Louisiana Democrat who commandeered rescue craft to help him remove evidence "personal property" from his New Orleans home following Katrina.

More as this develops.

UPDATE: And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a 94-page indictment with 16 charges that could bring up to 235 years in prison for the corrupt Louisiana Democrat (but I repeat myself).

Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted Monday on federal charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes and money-laundering in a long-running bribery investigation into business deals he tried to broker in Africa.

The indictment handed up in federal court in Alexandria., Va., Monday is 94 pages long and lists 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 235 years, according to a Justice Department official who has seen the document.

Among the charges listed in the indictment, said the official, are racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money-laundering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The text of the indictment can be viewed here.

Oh, and here is this little tidbit about the consequences of this indictment for Jefferson.

Although the indictment will no doubt raise political pressures on him to step down, he does not face any official sanctions in Congress as a result of the indictment alone, according to House rules. But should he be convicted, Jefferson could face disciplinary action including being excluded from votes if he receives a prison sentence longer than two years.

I'm curious -- will Democrats insist he receive be subject to the same sort of limits that Tom DeLay was following his indictment for violations of a law that does not even exist in Texas? Will he lose any committee assignments? Or will they continue to hold him to their bosom as one of their own?

UPDATE II: I knew it -- Speaker Nancy stands by her man.

The charges in the indictment against Congressman Jefferson are extremely serious. While Mr. Jefferson, just as any other citizen, must be considered innocent until proven guilty, if these charges are proven true, they constitute an egregious and unacceptable abuse of public trust and power.

Matt Margolis notes the double standard Speaker Nancy applies when it comes to Democrats accused of corruption.

So, Democrats are given the benefit of the doubt--they are considered innocent until proven guilty--while Republicans like Tom DeLay, who was the victim of a politically motivated indictment, are immediately part of a "culture of corruption."

But then again, as one local Democrat blogger points out, hypocrisy on the part of Democrats isn't so bad because they don't claim to have any moral values.

More At Stop the ACLU, Michelle Malkin,
Bright and Early, AJ Strata,
QandO, Hang Right Politics, Dave In Texas, Leaning Straight Up, Pirate's Cove

Posted by: Greg at 06:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Looks like your boy-toy is going to need a bit of cash to pay back the American people for some lawbreaking by his campaign.

John Kerry spent $1.4 million more than federal rules allowed during his 2004 presidential bid, primarily on customizing two campaign planes, according to a draft audit by the Federal Election Commission.

If the commissioners approve the staff findings at a meeting Thursday, KerryÂ’s campaign could have to repay the overspending to the U.S. Treasury, since his unsuccessful general election campaign was funded by tax dollars.

In order to receive the public funds, Kerry, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, and his running mate, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, agreed to spend $74.6 million or less on their general election campaign against President Bush.

Of course, Kerry aides object.

Marc Elias, a lawyer for Kerry-Edwards, says the campaign stayed within the limits and accused the commission’s auditors of taking “an unsupportably aggressive view of the law.”

Yeah -- we wouldn't want to aggressively enforce teh law against a Democrat, would we.

By the way, when it comes right down to it, he either over-spent or he didn't. What do the numbers say? Exactly what the auditors claim. Maybe Kerry just wants them to use fuzzy math.

But then again, he's just a gigolo, everybody knows...

Posted by: Greg at 12:52 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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You may notice that I've added a new blogroll on my site -- one devoted to fighting cancer. That issue is a very important one to me right now, given that my uncle will undergo cancer surgery beginning at 7:30 this morning, the time I've set for this post to appear on my site.

The originator of the blogroll, G.M. Roper (a fellow Munuvian) explains the goal this way.

Cancer is no respecter of race, religion, social status, income or profession. It is an insidious disease that robs people of a quality of life and too often, of life itself. This blog has one purpose, and one purpose only, to enroll as many bloggers in An Army Of Bloggers as possible and to encourage them to make an annual contribution to fighting cancer. The Rules for membership are simple, put the logo and blogroll on your blog, send a donation to a cancer program of any kind and post about it. It would be helpful if you write in the "memo field" of your check the following "Donated By The Army Of Bloggers." Help spread the word, help beat this s.o.b. into the ground. If you are a blogger, join the blogroll and make a donation. Leave a comment too if you would be so kind as to whom you donated to. Please leave the address and name of the charity in your comment (you don't need to name the amount). Please, if everyone helps this disease can eventually be whipped.

This Blog and accompanying Blogroll is dedicated Pamela Roper Clark, my beloved sister who passed away in 1990 from ovarian cancer. By putting the power of the blogosphere to work, we hope to make a citizens push to conquer this dread disease.

Who do I plan on supporting? The Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, which is a research partnership between Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. It is where my uncle is being treated, and where, with the help of the dedicated medical team and the grace of God, he will beat this disease.

To join, please information, please visit this link. Also contact G.M. Roper for inclusion.

Posted by: Greg at 01:30 AM | Comments (25) | Add Comment
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I donÂ’t usually post stories like this here. IÂ’ll make an exception for this one.

A horrible accident. That's how investigators are describing a Saginaw fire that killed six people, including five children.

The fire started at around 2:30 this morning in the home at the corner of Waller and South Michigan on the city's west side.

One person, 33 year old Tanesha Watkins was rescued and is in fair condition at Covenant Healthcare.

Her husband, Samuel Watkins, 36, died in the fire, along with his stepchildren. They have been identified as Adam Dupuis, 13, daughters Majesty Price, 8, Destiny Price, 5, Essence Price, 3, and Chad Skinner, 1. His birthday was yesterday.

Here's what happened. Samuel Watkins was cooking in the kitchen when the fire started. Tanesha Watkins awoke when one of her daughters got up to go to the bathroom.

Tanesha smelled the smoke and went to look for the fire. She went to the basement, and was trapped as the flames spread.

She was rescued by two Saginaw County sheriff's deputies, who were waved down by the stepfather.

Saginaw Police Fire Investigator Jason Ball explains what the stepfather did next.
"From what we've learned, there was a fire in the kitchen. The father was made aware of the fire, ran outside, sought help from a sheriff's deputy who was on a traffic stop nearby. The sheriff's deputy reported that he observed the 36-year-old stepfather run into the house, through a wall of smoke and flames, to try to make it to the upstairs where the children and his wife were sleeping."

Such a tragedy is hard to wrap your head around. In this case, these people were the family of one of my fellow teachers. IÂ’d ask that you keep this entire family in prayer at this horrific time, that they may know GodÂ’s love in the midst of their sorrrow, and be comforted with the assurance that those who have died are wrapped in the arms of a loving God. Especially, please pray for Tanesha Watkins as she recovers from her injuries and from the devastation of losing her husband and children in one cruel blow.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.

Posted by: Greg at 12:19 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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That is about where my temperature is today.

That's why I'm not blogging.

Think positive thoughts my way, in the hope the fever will break and I can come back.

Posted by: Greg at 11:00 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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UPDATED AGAIN -- Since PayPal won' work, let's try Amazon! Or you can use the PayPal link in the right column, which is working. Or you can just go directly to PayPal.com and use it to send to rhymeswithright@gmail.com.

UPDATED TO FIX THE BUTTON

You guys know my darling wife had a pair of serious hospitalizations last year. She has also had some additional medical issues arise in the last few weeks, and over night she was hospitalized again. Frankly, medical bills are creating a difficulty for us at this time.

I've been trying to monetize the blog lately to cover some of these expenses, but this latest hospitalization just makes things a little more difficult.

If you are so inclined, please click the link below. Any amount will be appreciated and acknowledged.

Now back to the hospital.

Posted by: Greg at 05:59 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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I'll update this as appropriate and possible.

3/28/07 -- 0600 Central Time: My darling wife is still hospitalized for tests as they attempt to see what is causing the symptoms for which she was admitted. Depending upon the results of tests, she could be home today or could need surgery -- or anything in between.

3/29/07 -- 0600 Central Time: Brought her home last night, after getting the doctor to concede that one more night at the hospital waiting for one last blood test really wasn't necessary -- treatment would still be antibiotics at home after discharge, which would simply be delayed by 14 hours until he came in to check the results. So I got her home in time for American Idol, and she has been resting comfortably. The long and the short of it is that she had a virus that caused the vomiting, and it continued after she developed a low-grade allergic reaction to the first antibiotic they gave her, adding yet another to the list of antibiotics she can't take. All other test results fairly normal except one, and that has to be followed up with the GP because it will likely cause a medication change for her.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and kindness.

Posted by: Greg at 05:58 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Are they not the most annoying thing on television today?

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