The JibJab guys are at it again!

Dallas Cowboys
Heroes & Zeroes
Game Fifteen

Dallas Cowboys 17 Washington Redskins 0

This was a game the Cowboys had to win. On the other hand, since the Redskins seemed to be in such disarray, it could easily have been a game Dallas overlooked. Te Redskins are not a very good football team. But they have a talented roster, nonetheless. Add that to the fact that nothing gives them greater pleasure than beating the Cowboys and you have an intriguing match up. Unfortunately for football fans, the game was an ugly display of what happens when one team is playing well and the other is just looking for the end.

This was, by no means, a perfect game for Dallas. I would like to think that their lack of innovation - especially on 4th down plays - was caused more by Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett's unwillingness to show next week's opponent - the Philadelphia Eagles (who will be playing for the division title) - than it was poor execution by the Cowboys (it was probably a little of both). Regardless, at no time last night did I think that Dallas would blow their lead. The Redskins were just too inept.

HEROES

Jason Witten, Tight End -- With the emergence of Miles Austin as the number one receiver, it's sometimes easy to forget the contributions of the best tight end in team history. Amazingly, Witten's 69 yard reception, in the first quarter, was the longest of his illustrious career. His ability to get open, catch the ball and avoid the first tackle is amazing even if you don't realize what a superb blocker he is as well.

Jay Ratliff, Nose Tackle -- Ratliff is considered undersized for his position. Yet he made the Pro-Bowl last year and may very well make it again this year. He has emerged as one of the best in the game and his two sacks last night were a big reason why the Cows pitched a shutout. He has 6 sacks this year, after finishing last year with 7 - unheard of from a nose tackle.

Bradie James, Inside Linebacker -- While he hasn't been mentioned much this year (by me, anyway), James is a solid middle linebacker. He has led the team in tackles for each of the past 5 years and is considered the "quarterback" on defense because he is responsible for play calling. He finished with a season high 10 tackles last night and really kept the Redskins' run game in check.

ZEROES

Roy Williams, Wide Receiver --As I asked last week, how many times can one player be listed in this category? Apparently, more than I thought. To his credit, Williams made a nice touchdown catch in the first quarter. But it wasn't a very difficult one, as Romo threw the ball perfectly. However, he dropped two other passes, including one where he was wide open and the ball was thrown perfectly. I didn't know if he has lost confidence, or not. But until Williams begins to show he can contribute consistently, consideration must be made to replace him as the starter.

Miles Austin, Wide Receiver -- Austin had a very good game last night. But his boneheaded play at the end of the half cost Dallas points, in what was then a 14-point game. Romo also deserves a piece of the blame for throwing over the middle with no timeouts left and 15 seconds on the clock. But Austin still had an opportunity to run out of bounds, which would have given new kicker, Shaun Suisham an opportunity to kick a field goal.

Marion Barber, Running Back -- For the past four years, Barber has been a consistent scoring and short-yardage machine. But this year has been a different story. While he still has a slight chance to gain 1,000 yards (he'll need to gain 159 against the Eagles), his TD production is down from 2 and 3 years ago, and he's been stopped short on a number of crucial 4th down plays. In his defense, it's hard to gain anything when the defense is in your face two yards behind the line of scrimmage. However, in the last four games, he's averaged less than 3.5 yards a carry. Considering the fact that he slowed down near the end of last season as well, it should be obvious that with Tashard Choice on the roster, Barber should have been used more wisely earlier in the year.

Regardless of how boring the game was, the Cowboy defense looked very impressive. I don't care how bad your opponent is, scoring a shutout - in the opponents home field - is not an easy task. The Cowboys D seems to be peaking at the right time. The offense also looks good, I should add. If the Cows had been a little more creative on 4th down (on three occasions), the score could well have been 35-0 instead.

Now they face the Eagles for the division championship. Last year, faced with the opportunity to just make the playoffs, the Cows laid an egg and were demolished by Philly 44-6. This is a very different team. I do think the Cowboys are playing with tremendous emotion and heart right now. Because of the way the NFL playoff schedule works out, it's likely that these two teams will also compete the following week in the Wild-Card round. The winner this week will host that playoff game. So there is a whole lot at stake. It goes without saying that Dallas would prefer to play the Eagles twice at home, than have to face them in the playoffs in Philadelphia.

Next Sunday's Game
Dallas Cowboys ...............20
Philadelphia Eagles..........17

Got this from Don Surber and wanted to post it here:

The 20 dumbest things said about Obamacare

1. SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “My Vote Is Not For Sale Period.”

Rent? Well, that is different.

2. SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “I Would Say To The Senator From Arizona, That I’m In The Dark Almost As Much As He Is. And I’m In The Leadership.”

For some reason, Dick Durbin would be the last guy I would tell anything to.

3. SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (ID-CT): “I Wonder If I Could Ask Unanimous Consent For Just An Additional Moment.”
SEN. AL FRANKEN (D-MN): “In My Capacity As Senator From Minnesota, I Object.”
LIEBERMAN: “Really? OK. Don’t Take It Personally.”

Seriously, Minnesota, you couldn’t just find another 313 votes for Norm Coleman somewhere?

4. SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “I’ll Just Read. This Is From Wikipedia. It May Not Be Accurate.”

To be fair, at least Wikipedia didn’t invent 440 congressional districts.

5. SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “If They Don’t Have Something In It Important To Them Then It Doesn’t Speak Well Of Them.”

The absolutely worst Yogi Berra impressionist ever.

6. April 28, SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (D-PA): “I Will Not Be An Automatic 60th Vote.”
Dec. 14, SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (D-PA): “I Came To This Caucus To Be Your 60th Vote.”

There’s an explanation. You see, in April there were only 59 Democratic senators, so he was the 59th…

7. SEN. ROLAND BURRIS (D-IL): If “It Does Not Have A Public Option In It, I Will Not Vote For It.”

In his native Blagojevichese that means add a few more zeroes to that check.

8. SEN. BOB CASEY (D-PA) On Medicare Advantage Cuts: “We’re Not Going To Be Able To Say ‘If You Like What You Have, You Can Keep It’ … And That Basic Commitment That A Lot Of Us Around Here Have Made Will Be Called Into Question.”

And the answer is always the same: Add more zeroes to the check.

9. SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “Yes, We’ve Had To Raise Some Taxes And Fees To Pay For This Bill.”

Hey, someone has to pay for all those zeroes.

10. SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-RI): “They Have Ardent Supporters Who Are Nearly Hysterical At The Very Election Of President Barack Obama: The ‘Birthers,’ The Fanatics, The People Running Around In Rightwing Militias And Aryan Support Groups.”

Way to offer a cogent and rational counterargument.

11. SEN. KENT CONRAD (D-ND) On The CLASS Act: “‘A Ponzi Scheme Of The First Order, The Kind Of Thing That Bernie Madoff Would Have Been Proud Of,’ And He Vowed To Block Its Inclusion In The Senate Bill.”

Which in his native Conradese means add some zeroes to the check.

12. SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “It Will Be On The Internet 72 Hours Before We Take A Vote.”

And as everyone knows, 72 senatorial minutes is the same as 72 hours elsewhere.

13. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): “The Insurance Companies Are Going To Make Out Like Bandits. The Drug Companies Are Going To Make Out Like Bandits… No Question About That. This Is Not A Strong Bill.”

Which explains his vote later for it: Bandits watch out for one another.

14. SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “I Can’t Do The Correct Math.”

Quick, call Barbie. Maybe she can help out the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

15. SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “The Establishment Of Social Security… I Remember Those Days.”
“It is a step consistent with the establishment of Social Security, which finally took the worry away from seniors and their families about what would happen to grandma and grandpa when they stopped working. I remember those days.” (

Social Security passed in 1935. Durbin was born in 1944. The Time Machine was invented in 2237.

16. SEN. TOM HARKIN (D-IA): “I Have Said Many Times That The Two Biggest Winners Under Our Health Care Reform Bill Are Small Businesses And The Self-Employed.”

Well, I suppose you can consider the 111 federal agencies that this act will create “small businesses.”

17. Dec. 5. SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “The American People Don’t Get Weekends Off From This Injustice.”
Dec. 9, SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “I had one senator come to me and said that she hadn’t been home now in two or three weeks and it was not a good situation. … I see no reason to punish everybody this weekend.”

Apparently, not even Harry Reid listens to Harry Reid anymore.

18. SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “The Fact Of The Matter Is, And I Know People Don’t Believe This, But I Can’t Be Bought.”

Technically true since by the time she said that, she was already bought.

19. SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “Just for a second — health care reform, whether you use a ten-year number or when you start in 2010 or start in 2014, wherever you start at, so it is still either $1 trillion or it’s $2.5 trillion, depending on where you start.”

How nice that the Senate put the arithmetically cchallenged in charge of the budget committee.

20. SEN. ROLAND BURRIS (D-IL): “Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Senate.”

I am not sure, was this recited before he said he would not vote for it or after.

Three of the best years of my life were when I lived in the Detroit area. But even in the mid 90's, I rarely ventured into the city itself. I am still amazed by how much worse the place is, just a little over 10 years later.

If you want to see what liberal Utopian ideas do to an American city, then watch this video. I dare you.

Dallas Cowboys
Heroes & Zeroes
Game Fourteen

Dallas Cowboys 24 New Orleans Saints 17

I've been wanting to write a post about the Dallas Cowboys for a few weeks now. However, due to my sudden illness (which, I am so happy to say, seems to be a thing of the past), I've been unable to really put the words on paper (or whatever it's called nowadays).

Then, as if to mock me, the team pulls one of the all-time thrillers and beats the formerly undefeated New Orleans Saints, in the Superdome, no less. So where does that leave my rant?

Ah, if it were that easy...

Prior to this past weekend, I was ready to admit that as much talent as the Cowboys have, the chemistry is just not working. Whether it's coaching - which is my feeling - or simply that these players are just don't talented enough, is something that must be analyzed.

But after Saturday night, I have a new found respect for these Cowboys. I don't buy into what I have heard (on ESPN radio) that New Orleans wasn't "up" for the game. One radio host even commented that "since the Saints have home field pretty much sewn up, they had no real interest in winning."

Pardon my French, but that is horse-hockey. New Orleans has never been in this position before (going undefeated - certainly not after 13 games) and this team is very well aware of what this team means to the city of New Orleans. In addition, since their inception in the league in 1967, they have always looked up at the Cowboys championships and successes, while realizing that only once in team history had they even been to a conference championship game (they lost).

To beat "The Dallas Cowboys" - and I don't think it mattered if Dallas was 8-5, or 0-13 - to show up on national TV, at home, against the Dallas Cowboys, you better believe these Saints were pumped and prepared. When you add in that Saints' head coach, Sean Payton, was formerly an assistant coach of the Cowboys, before he took the New Orleans job, and that the Saints roster includes three former Cowboys, I just don't buy into the idea that the Saints weren't up for the game.

On the other hand, what I witnessed on Saturday night was the maturation of Tony Romo. For the first time, perhaps since he took over as the team's starting quarterback in 2006, I noticed that the famous Romo grin was often replaced with a very serious, "let's get this job done" look. Aside from one errant pass, that was nearly picked up and another that hit Miles Austin in the feet (on a 3rd down play in the 3rd quarter, Romo was brilliant. He was mobile, he was deadly accurate and above all, he had complete control of the team.

As my brother pointed out, and which I think I agree with him, had the 2009 Tony Romo QB'd the 2007 team (as opposed to the 2007 Romo), it's quite possible that it would have been New England against Dallas in the Super Bowl that year.

HEROES

Tony Romo, Quarterback -- Romo is once again becoming recognized as one of the top QB's in the league. It appears that the December issues that had plagued him in years prior are no longer hampering his game. For the three games this months, his QB rating is over 103 and he has not thrown an interception in a personal best 157 passing attempts. He has shown tremendous maturity and the Saints game showed the country. Marion Barber looked like he was running with purpose again and I should mention the play of right tackle, Doug Free. When Marc Columbo when down a few weeks ago, there were obvious concerns as to whether or not Free would take over. Although he has had a penalty in each of the past four games, he has done a wonderful job filling in.

DeMarcus Ware, Outside Linebacker -- One week ago, there was questions as to whether or not Ware, the teams best defensive player (and one of the top in the whole league) would play again this year, after he was carted off on a stretcher, during the Chargers game. But there he was Saturday night, ready to lead his team out there. Perhaps the injury wasn't so severe, but lesser athletes would have taken the week off to recover, or at least be limited. Wade Phillips didn't start Ware, but made sure he was on the field when it counted. With two sack, both causing Brees fumbles, there is still no doubt as to how much better the Cows are with Ware on the field. But kudos have to go to Anthony Spencer and Victor Butler (who replaced Ware on certain running down). Both played extremely well.

Mike Jenkins, Cornerback -- During his rookie year, Jenkins earned the reputation as a guy afraid of contact. It dogged him during the off-season and when the coaching staff announced that Jenkins would have to beat out Orlando Scandrick for the starting position, he rose to the occasion. Since then, Jenkins has become the Cows best defensive back. It's getting to where opposing teams are preferring to throw to Terrance Newman's side, instead. For what it's worth, Newman isn't done yet. He's never become the perennial all-pro they hoped for when they drafted him. But he has been solid for a number of years.

ZEROES

Roy Williams, Wide Receiver --How many times can one player be listed in this category? Roy started the game off well, catching a 14-yard pass for a first down on the teams second scoring drive. But that was it. Twice in the second half - once in the 3rd quarter and once late in the 4th - Romo threw a strike to Williams that Roy could not hold on to. The first miss was somewhat excusable, because the defender was all over him. But the pass late in the game, on a vital 3rd down play, allowed New Orleans to take the ball over and score to cut the Cowboy lead to 7. It was a brutal miss for a guy who is supposedly the #1 receiver. Well, he isn't, certainly not any longer.

Nick Folk, Kicker -- For weeks I have been worried about Folk. Apparently, he has, what we call, the "yips." It happens to kickers for no apparent reason. The problem seems to be what when you miss a kick, you need to let it go right away and not think about it next time. Unfortunately, prior to the game, he was horribly inaccurate during practice. So when Folk blew the 24-yard kick late in the game, I was more surprised that they set up for a kick, as oppose to tyring to score a TD. Regardless, it was a horrible miss that cost him his job.

Flozell Adams, Tackle -- Flozell is a very good player. But his has a penchant for mind-numbing, bone-headed plays that just make you want to tear your hair out. His facemask penalty late in the 2nd quarter nearly killed any scoring chance they had before the half. Thankfully, Folk still made that kick from 15 yards further back. Also, he got badly beaten on speed rushes a couple of times. Since he is the left tackle, he covers Romo's blind side. Adams MUST eliminate the stupid mistakes.

As far as fallout from the game, the best news for Dallas is that they still control their own playoff destiny. Win on Sunday at Washington (a team that just lost to the Giants 45-12) and then they get the rematch they've been waiting 12 months for - against the Philadelphia Eagles. This time in Dallas. If the Cowboys win both, they will be NFC East champions.

In the mean time, two points must be addressed. Well, one of them has already - Nick Folk was released by the club and they signed former Redskin kicker Shaun Suisam, who used to kick her as well. Suisam had been having a good year (18/21 FG), but he missed twice against Dallas and once against the Saints a week ago. All three misses cost Washington a victory. But hopefully, being back in Dallas will be good for him.

The other issue is what to do with Roy Williams. Already, after his second drop, Romo stoppe looking his way. I have no doubt that Williams is a better than average receiver. But his demeanor and his approach to each play seem to leave a lot to be desired. While I know there are serious financial repercussions about it, Wade could send a very strong message to his team by starting either Patrick Crayton, or Kevin Ogletree (or even Sam Hurd) in place or Roy.

I remember in '92, the season finale against the Bears. Dalas was up 27-0 and cruisin' along. Jimmy Johnson took Emmit Smith out (he already clinched the rushing title) and in his place went Darren Lassic, a former standout from the University of Alabama (rookie). Well, Lassic had not played much and whether it was nerves, or just being in awe of the game, he fumbled.

5 minutes later, the Bears score their first touchdown. Lassic is sent back in with implicit directions to hold on to the ball. But a few plays later, he's hit and he fumbles once again. This time, it was recovered by the Bears' Chris Zorich, who ran it 60 yards for the Bears 2nd touchdown.

Well, that was all Jimmy needed to see. He pulled Lassic out of the game (I thing he decided to let Daryl Johnson run the clock out) and by the next morning (remember this was the last game of the season - although they would go on to win Super 27 that year), Johnson cut Lassic from the team.

And what lesson did it teach the team?Don't screw up because there will always be someone who will take you job. That was the attitude I saw on the Cowboy sidelines Saturday night and I hope to see it from here on out.

Next Sunday's Game
Dallas Cowboys ...............34
Washington Redskins......17

Although I am feeling better, I'm still not completely there yet. Still, I returned to work today and now am trying to overcome exhaustion. I hope to get back to regular blogging very soon. I miss writing very much.

In the mean time, Mark Steyn - once again - hits one out of the park. Enjoy.

It's settled; climate circus was a fairy tale (JWR)

The best summation of the UN climate circus in Denmark comes from Andrew Bolt of Australia's Herald Sun: "Nothing is real in Copenhagen – not the temperature record, not the predictions, not the agenda, not the 'solution'."

Just so. Reuters, for example, carried a moving account of the speech by Ian Fry, lead negotiator for Tuvalu, the beleaguered Pacific island nation soon to be under water because of a planet-devastating combination of your SUV and unsustainable bovine flatulence from Vermont farms. "The fate of my country rests in your hands," Fry told the meeting. "I make this as a strong and impassioned plea ... I woke this morning and I was crying and that was not easy for a grown man to admit," he continued, "his voice choking with emotion," in the Reuters reporter's words. Who could fail to be moved?

"My country, 'tis of thee

Sweet land near rising sea

Of thee I choke!"

Alas, nowhere in this emotionally harrowing dispatch was there room to mention that Ian Fry's country is not Tuvalu but Australia, where he lives relatively safe from rising sea levels given that he's a hundred miles inland. A career doom-monger, he's resided in Queanbeyan, New South Wales for over a decade while working his way, in the revealing phrase of his neighbor Michelle Ormay, to being "very high up in climate change." As to whether the emotion-choked lachrymose pleader has ever lived in "his" endangered country of Tuvalu, his wife told Samantha Maiden of The Australian that she would "rather not comment." Like his fellow Copenhagen delegate Brad Pitt, Ian Fry is an actor: He's not a Tuvaluan, but he plays one on the world stage.

Whether he's an Aussie or a Tuvaluan, Fry's future king is Welsh, since under the British Commonwealth's environmentally responsible king-share program, the Prince of Wales is simultaneously heir to the thrones of Britain, Australian, Tuvalu and a bunch of other countries. His Royal Highness was also in Copenhagen last week, telling delegates that there were now only seven years left to save the planet. Prince Charles is so famously concerned about the environment that he's known as the Green Prince. Just for the record, his annual carbon footprint is 2,601 tons. The carbon footprint of an average Briton (i.e., all those wasteful, consumerist, environmentally unsustainable deadbeats) is 11 tons. To get him to Copenhagen to deliver his speech, His Highness was flown in by one of the Royal Air Force's fleet of VIP jets from the Royal Squadron. Total carbon emissions: 6.4 tons. In other words, the Green Prince used up seven months' of an average Brit's annual carbon footprint on one short flight to give one mediocre speech of alarmist boilerplate.

But relax, it's all cool, because he offsets! According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Prince will be investing in exciting new green initiatives. "Investing" as in "using your own money", you mean? Not exactly. Apparently, it will be taxpayers' money. So he'll "offset" the cost of using up seven months of an average peasant's carbon footprint on one flight by taking the peasant's money and tossing it down some sinkhole. No wonder he feels so virtuous. Oh, don't worry, though. He does have to pay a personal penalty for the sin of flying by private jet: Seventy pounds. Which is the cost of about six new trees, or rather less than the bill for parking at Heathrow would have been.

So just to recap: The Prince of Wales, a man who has never drawn his own curtains, ramps up a carbon footprint of 2,601 tons while telling us that western capitalist excess is destroying the planet. Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, the railroad engineer who heads the International Panel on Climate Change and has demanded that "hefty aviation taxes should be introduced to deter people from flying," flew 443,226 miles on "IPCC business" in the year and a half before the Copenhagen summit. And Al Gore is a carbon billionaire: He makes more money buying offsets from himself than his dad did from investing in Occidental Petroleum.

All of the above are, as that ersatz Tuvaluan delegate's neighbor would say, "very high up in climate change". But what about all the non-high-ups? Not just the low-level toadies like Associated Press "science" reporter Seth Borenstein, who dutifully pooh-poohed the idea that the leaked Climategate e-mails were of any significance and for his pains was rewarded by having to stand in line with thousands of other no-name warm-mongers for seven hours in the freezing streets of Copenhagen. All because the IPCC accredited 45,000 delegates to a space that accommodates 15,000 – but don't worry, when it comes to recalibrating the planet's climate, I'm sure they'll run the numbers more carefully.

But forget Borenstein and other hangers-on. Even making allowances for the stupidity of youthful idealism, the protesters in the streets of Copenhagen seem especially obtuse. Far from sticking it to the Man, they're cheerleading for the biggest Man of all: they're supporting a new globalized feudalism in which Prince Charles, Prince Al, Prince Rajendra and others "very high up in climate change" jet around the world at public expense telling the rest of us we need to stay put. A British parliamentarian recently proposed that everyone be issued with an annual "carbon allowance" that would be drawn down every time he booked a flight, or filled up his car, or bought a washer and dryer instead of beating his laundry on the rocks down by the river with the village women every week. You think the Prince of Wales or any other member of the new global elite will be subject to that "allowance"?

If you're young and you fall for this, you're a sap. Indeed, you're oozing so much sap the settled scientists should be measuring your tree rings. Remember that story a couple of weeks ago about how Danish prostitutes were offering free sex to Copenhagen delegates for the duration of the conference? I initially assumed it was just an amusing marketing cash-in by savvy Nordic strumpets. But no, the local "sex workers' union" Sexarbejdernes Interesseorganisation was responding to the municipal government's campaign to discourage attendees from partaking of prostitutes. The City of Copenhagen distributed cards to every hotel room showing a lady of the evening at a seedy street corner over the slogan "BE SUSTAINABLE: Don't Buy Sex."

"Be sustainable"? Prostitution happens to be legal in Copenhagen, and the "sex workers" were understandably peeved at being lumped into the same category of planet-wreckers as Big Oil, car manufacturers, travel agents and other notorious pariahs. So Big Sex decided they weren't going to take it lying down. Yet, in an odd way, that municipal postcard gets to the heart of what's going on: Government can – and will – use a "sustainable" environment as a pretext for anything that tickles its fancy. All ambitious projects – Communism, the new Caliphate – have global ambitions, but, when the globe itself is the cover for those ambitions, freeborn citizens should beware. Nico Little, a Canadian lefty at the Rabble Web site, distilled the logic into a single headline:

"Hookers Are Killing Polar Bears And Now You Can't Water Your Lawn."

Write that down. And next time the Prince of Wales, Al Gore, Dr. Pachauri or the delegation from Tuvalu give an "impassioned" speech, keep it handy as a useful précis.

Damn, I wish I had his talent!

This is an outstanding, but quick, understanding of the situation facing Israel today...

The Palestinians Tell the World their Strategy: Why Make Peace with Israel When We Can Get Everything from You Instead
Barry Rubin

If you want to understand what's really going on in the alleged Israel-Palestinian peace process-beyond the babble that progress is being made, it's all Israel's fault, and everyone is working hard on it-here's what you need to know.

For the present, the Palestinian leadership isn't interested in pursuing negotiations with Israel because it has a different strategy: get everything it wants from others without making any concessions.

First, the Palestinian Authority (PA) came very close to obtaining a European Union (EU) resolution which made it sound like the Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem is an accomplished fact. The rejection of the Swedish-sponsored proposal by more moderate European states staved this off, along with a U.S. reminder that this kind of issue was supposed to be resolved by a negotiated agreement between the PA and Israel.

Nevertheless, the PA no doubt drew hope-albeit erroneously so--from this experience that with a little more time the EU will back its position completely and give it a state on a silver platter.

The other front is the UN. On December 15, a meeting of the Fatah leadership will discuss and probably endorse a plan to seek UN recognition of their state, with no preconditions.

In the words of one Council member, Munib Masri:

"We will ask the UN Security Council to endorse a two-state solution with east Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, to compensate Palestinian refugees and affirm their right to return to their homeland."

There is a very interesting phrase at the end of that statement. Masri was referring to the Palestinian demand that all refugees and their descendants can go live in Israel if they want, a formula for massive violence, chaos, and civil war in Israel. Of course, that's precisely what the PA wants--and will never get. The idea is that the "two-state solution" it is thinking about is merely a transitional step toward wiping Israel off the map, the real goal and the reason why there isn't any peace.

By defining Israel as the Palestinian homeland, or at least a part of it, Masri shows the two-state solution is not a serious Palestinian goal. If it were, a West Bank-Gaza Strip-east Jerusalem state would be defined as the homeland.

Of course, he adds:

"If Israel remains steadfast in building settlements, then we will seek a one-state solution that is based on a timetable."

Masri and others in the PA don't give any credit for Israel's settlement freeze. Like all Israeli concessions, it is pocketed and then denounced as insufficient, certainly not as warranting any reciprocal Palestinian gesture.

What Masri himself represents is the friends-of-Yasir-Arafat faction which still dominates both Fatah and the PA. This is the mainstream of both institutions and the base on which PA leader Mahmoud Abbas depends to stay in power.

The attractiveness of unilateralism is understandable. Why make a deal with Israel that might require recognizing it as a Jewish state, taking a bit less territory on the West Bank or having to swap some pieces of land with Israel, providing Israel with security guarantees, giving up the dream of total victory and Israel's elimination, and accepting limits on your military forces when you can just demand, and possibly get, everything you want from the United States, Europe, the UN, or the international community in general?

This is also an ideal strategy in domestic terms since any concessions are unpopular. If Fatah and the PA want to make up with Hamas, avoiding any concessions is vital. And if they don't want Hamas to make political capital out of their "treasonous moderation" the same point applies.

Of course, that means the conflict will continue, people will die, Palestinians will continue to be (or at least will be perceived as) suffering, and everything can be blamed on Israeli intransigence. There would be no peace and no Palestinian state, but that better suits the PA's current strategy and again would largely be blamed on Israel.

Is it really so hard to understand that this is what is really happening? The PA is not desperately eager for a deal. The construction of apartments is not the roadblock. The PA and Fatah have very good reasons from their standpoint for not wanting to make peace with Israel.

Nevertheless, the illusion is maintained: If only one more concession is made to the Palestinians. If they are only reassured and flattered. If they are only promised east Jerusalem as their capital. If Israel freezes construction on West Bank settlements. And stops finishing up 3000 apartments. And stops any building in Jerusalem. And does this or that action and give such and such a concession then the kingdom of peace will be upon us.

And when this strategy fails over and over again--as it did throughout the 1990s, instead of learning the lesson there will be found one more fault of Israel which explains why things didn't work out.

Of course, this also means that the rest of the world is functioning as enablers--to use the current term for those who help someone maintain a harmful addiction--permitting the continued illusion that there is some solution other than either the status quo or a fair, negotiated deal.

Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal.

I'm really not trying to sound like a right-wing demagogue and I'm also not following any conservative/Republican Party talking points. But I can not for the life of me understand how anybody can possibly still believe the following...

...that the science is settled that global warming/climate change is caused my anything man-made. Seriously, the latest news is that this is the warmest decade in 1300 years. Well, let's say that's true. Were there CO2 polluting cars 1300 years ago? Were there Hi-Def televisions?

...that no one noticed how much CO2 was wasted by all those private jets and limos in Copenhagen?

...that anyone in the free world actually believes that the nut-job in Iran (whatever the fuck his name is) and his compadre in Venezuela really give a rat's ass about climate change?

...that anyone really should give a damn that Tiger Woods prefers white women?

...that anti-Zionism is anything but closeted (and even then, not so much anymore) anti-semitism?

...that Jews have a mysterious cabal where they collude to plan and destroy the freedom of other people (I heard that one on the radio today, and it wasn't even the 100th time)?

...that any political party in power wants to share power with minority party?

...the President and his handlers DO NOT care about his poll numbers?

...that anyone really gives a damn what the ladies from The View think?

...that Michelle Obama is a fashion icon

...that the government will be more efficient in dispensing health care?

...that President Obama deserves the B+he gave himself?

...that Wade Phillips will be coaching the Dallas Cowboys next season?

and finally...

...that Harry Reid is not a joke?

THIS is why I love Sarah Palin...



H/T Zip

I apologize for being away for the past few weeks, but as most of you know I have been out of commission due to health issues. It wasn't easy finishing this weeks list, but I love doing these, so I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. For the record, "Stranger" was the winning song last time, which took me by surprise, as it was probably the least well known song of the list. As always, thank you for voting.

Ten Great Songs From One Great Year

The ELO Sound

Worldwide, the Electric Light Orchestra has had a huge following. However, while successful in America, much of their popularity really centered around the years between 1976-1981. Furthermore, none of their singles ever topped the American charts (their highest reaching single, “Don’t Bring Me Down”, peaked at #4 in 1979).

Still, Jeff Lynne made a huge impact in American rock and roll. As a writer and producer, his influence and sound was heard everywhere. Whether it was Olivia Newton-John’s success on “Xanadu”, or Tom Petty’s comeback in the late 1980’s, it seemed that ELO was back in the mainstream, just not as “ELO.”

To prove my point, listen to these ten songs I’ve chosen and you will hear what I mean. Every one of them could have been included on any Electric Light Orchestra album. Amazingly, as a producer and writer, Lynne finally topped the American charts with George Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set On You.”

Slipping Away – Dave Edmunds

Edmunds was never well known in the States, but had a cult following in Britain. His first US hit, “I Hear You Knocking” reached #4 in 1970 and was really the last he was heard from in America. In Britain, he collaborated with Nick Lowe (“Cruel To Be Kind”) to form the band Rockpile. However, with the advent of MTV, he managed another American chart hit in 1983 with “Slipping Away”, which really could have passed for an ELO hit.

Handle With Care – Traveling Wibury’s

The Traveling Wilbury’s came together during a dinner meal one night at the home of Bob Dylan. Joining Dylan were Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and George Harrison. Tom Petty’s involvement happened by chance because as Harrison had left his guitar at Petty's house. From that chance encounter, the song, “Handle With Care” was created and a supergroup was formed. Roy Orbison's death on December 6, 1988, precluded further collaborations with the original lineup. In tribute to Orbison, during the music video for "End of the Line", when Orbison sings, his photo is shown followed by a shot of his guitar in a rocking chair.

This Is Love – George Harrison

Taken from Cloud Nine, George Harrison's comeback album, this song - more than any other, really could be an ELO song. The guitars, the strings, the whirlwind, Jeff Lynne's background vocal and the entire style of song is pure ELO. This was the song that gave me the idea for the entire list.

One Way Love – Agnetha

Agnetha Fältskogis was one of the founding members of the hugely successful group Abba. From 1973 to 1981, her band ruled the European charts like none other since The Beatles. While other bandmates had success post-Abba (Anni-Frid Lyngstad, or Frida, hit the chart in ’83 with “I Know There’s Something Going On” and Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson hit big with the production of “Chess”), Agnetha remained tied to her homeland in Sweden. However, she did collaborate wit Jeff Lynne for a British hit in 1983. Once again, it could well have been on any ELO album, especially Xanadu or Discovery.

Into the Great White Open – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Following the success of his solo comeback album, Full Moon Fever (also produced by Lynne), Petty brought his band back together to record a new record in 1999. The result was a successful album and top ten single, “Into the Great Wide Open.” The song, and video, tell the tale of a young man who rises from nowhere to stardom overnight, only to fall again after his moment in the sun ends. This was one of the best collaborations of Jeff Lynne’s influence with Tom Petty’s storytelling produced.

Free As a Bird – The Beatles

The three surviving Beatles (at the time) originally intended to record some incidental background music (as a trio) for the Beatles Anthology project, but also wanted to record new songs. The Beatles had always agreed that if one of them did not agree with something the idea would be vetoed, so the only way they could reunite musically as The Beatles was if Lennon could be on the recording. McCartney then asked Ono if she had any unreleased recordings by Lennon, so she sent him cassette tapes of four songs, including “Free as a Bird.”

Real Love – The Beatles

Another song Yoko Ono gave Paul McCartney was “Real Love.” Like “Free as a Bird”, both were turned over to Jeff Lynne to produce because Lynne and George Harrison were great friends, and Lynne idolized John Lennon. Both recordings, which became the final top 40 hits for the Fab Four, are clearly Jeff Lynne productions and again, could fit on any number of ELO records.

The World Tonight – Paul McCartney

Following his work with The Beatles and George Harrison, Paul McCartney also turned to Jeff Lynne for production assistance on his next album, Flaming Pie. While unlike Tom Petty’s recordings, Lynne did not co-write any of McCartney’s songs on the LP, his influence was clearly apparent – especially on the single, “The World Tonight.” The song peaked at #23 in Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.

You Got It – Roy Orbison

By the late ‘80s, Roy Orbison well deserved his place in rock and roll history. As a ‘50s and ‘60s icon, he topped the charts with huge hits, like “”Only the Lonely,” “Crying” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.” But he continued to write and record for many years to follow. Orbison's career was fully revived in 1987. He released an album of his re-recorded hits titled In Dreams: The Greatest Hits. A song he recorded named "Life Fades Away" was featured in the film Less Than Zero. He and k. d. lang performed a duet of "Crying" and released it on the soundtrack to Hiding Out, winning a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. The following year, he began collaboration with Jeff Lynne on a new album. However, that took a back seat to the Traveling Wilbury’s project, which gave Orbison a whole new generation a fans. Following the release of the Wilbury’s first LP, Orbison and Lynne then released the Mystery Girl LP, featuring the title track written by Orbison, Lynne and Petty. This was yet another ELO song recorded by another singer. This time, Jeff Lynne’s product went to #9.

Learning To Fly – Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Taken from the album Into The Great Wide Open, this song turned out to be one of Tom Petty’s most popular hits – going to number one on Billboards Album Rock Charts. Written by both Petty and Jeff Lynne, it would be the last single the two collaborated on and is one of the more recognizable ELO-style recordings.

Bonus Track

Do Ya – The Move

“Do Ya” was released as the third single from the Electric Light Orchestra’s 1975 LP, A New World Record. However, it was also the only ELO song that was also recorded by Jeff Lynne’s previous band, The Move. In fact, the drum solo, in the middle of the ELO recording, is actually Bev Bevan’s solo taken live while a member of The Move. This recording of “Do Ya” is pretty basic and raw, but it gives you a good insight to the origins of ELO.

I Wish

...I was a liberal so everything Obama/Pelosi/Reid said were as true as unicorns.

...that my headaches were done with and only a blip in the road to a life of better health.

...Al Gore were arrested for fraud.

...Chris Matthews would get on medication.

...I wish every politician - whether they be Democrat, Republican or whatever - be forced to wear a lie detector on their body at all times.

...I wish Ronald Reagan were still President. Regardless of the Cold War, I knew I had a President who gave a damn about me and my country.

...I wish no one gave a damn what color the women Tiger Woods messed around with are.

...I wish the Dallas Cowboys would win a playoff game.

...I wish the Texas Rangers would also.

...I wish I didn't fall for women who end up hurting me.

...I wish I could stay home and write all day and not have to stand on my feel 6 hours a day to make a living.

...I wish my original heart worked as advertised.

...I wish I never lifted those musical instruments when I was 20 years old.

...I wish my dad was still around.

...I wish the Arab countries did not control the world's oil supply.

...I wish my kids were happier.

...The Obama election really ushered in a post-racial era, instead of setting race-relations back 100 years.

...I wish newspapers reported the news regardless of ideology. News networks, also.

...I wish people would realize that when the Muslims get angry that the Swiss have banned Minarets, they would realize that churches and synagogues have been banned from Islamic countries for generations.

...there was a limit to how much political correctness we had to endure.

...I wish top 40 music didn't suck so much.

...I wish global warming was actually true, so that it would be 80 degrees today, and not 8.

...I wish more people read Thomas Sowell and Dennis Prager. The world would be far better for it.

...I wish I spent more time with my brother.

...I wish I didn't care so much about certain things.

...I understood why some things only happen to me.

Okay, here's an update...

1. Glee is my new favorite show. I've been watching all season, but the finale was terrific and left me wanting more. Since I was never a High School Musical fan, I wasn't sure I'd be into this show. But the writing, the acting and the music combined to make this the best new show I've seen in years.

2. I'm feeling considerable better. The doctor has me on a number of different medicines to get my blood pressures back to normal. Unfortunately, one of the meds - Carvedilol - makes me feel woozy (more than normal). The doctor said the side effects should alleviate in a day or two, and I've already had moments of feeling 100%. But those moments have yet to last very long. However, I am beginning to see a correlation between the density of the migraines with my intake of Vicodin. Can my "wonder drug" - one that I've taken for 9 years sans side effects finally coming back to haunt me?

3. Sometimes, we don't see what's staring us straight in the face. I thought I could handle to oddity of a certain relationship. But I guess it takes two to commit to making it work. I did what I could, but I was apparently alone in that task. I think I knew it all along. I just didn't want to know the truth. Well, the truth is it's over and I know that it's for the best long term. In the meanwhile, it hurts like hell.

But, onward and upward, they say. I deserve better and you never what, or who is just around the corner.

4. I have purposely stayed away from politics for the past couple of weeks and apparently, I haven't missed all that much. Let's see, the "Safe School Czar" is embroiled in "Fistgate", Global Warming is now a proven hoax to just about everyone not named Al Gore and the media seems completely satisfied ignoring the first two stories in order to bring us the latest from Tiger Woods and his myriad of floozies.

The more things change....

5. Harry Reid is an idiot.

6. As much as it pains me to say it, my ex-wife was the one who was most there for me while I was sick. I often gave her much of the blame for our divorce (knowing that it does take two to tango). But even though she had to deal with the children and a whole sort of other issues, she never hung up on me and was there to talk when I needed her. I may not wish to be married to her any longer, but I am eternally grateful for her ability to still care about me.

7. Don't ever quote me on #6.

8. Boy, the Cowboys laid a giant egg Sunday (pun intended). Personally,I do not see how they can overcome their monster schedule and still win the East. If they do - and they have suprised me before - then they deserve the division championship. If they don't, then Coach Mike Shanahan is starting to sound awfully nice around Big D.

9. Unless you are a New Orleans Saints fan, no team was luckier than the Texas Longhorns this past weekend. I still believe Colt McCoy is going to win the Heisman Trophy, but boy oh boy, he barely got that chance. Nebraska played a hell of a game and Texas should be thanking G-d right now. But how do you suppose TCU felt at that moment? Here is a school that hasn't held a candle to the "horns for a zillion years, finally sniffing the top two....and once again, the Longhorns take it away in the last second.

It's got to be tough to be a Horned Frog. But I'm rooting for you!

10. Here is another new funny site I've come across. Similar to people of Walmart, this one is called People of Public Transit. Enjoy...

When my heart is in doubt, I always turn to the
late Dan Fogelberg to express my real feelings...

Lonely In Love
Dan Fogelberg 
Video from You Tube

Some say that love is its own
Love is its own reward
But I can't help but believe
There's got to be more.

A man needs a woman
To have and to hold
To love him in body
As well as in soul
I need your desire
Where did the fire go?

I keep trying to sleep
But sleep won't be mine tonight
There's so much sorrow inside
And baby, I don't know why.

I give you your freedom
I give you my love
I give all I have every time that we touch
I don't know, baby,
Maybe I give too much

Now I'm lonely in love
Why must I be lonely in love
I'm so lonely in love
Baby why must I be lonely
Why must I be lonely in love.
I know that love carries no
She carries no guarantees
But still I can't seem to
Find a reason that I can believe in

You said to be patient
And give you some room
You said you had changes
You need to work through
But the longer I wait
The farther I feel from you.

Now I'm lonely in love
Why must I be lonely in love
I'm so lonely in love
Baby why must I be lonely
Why must I be lonely in love.

Now I'm lonely in love
Why must I be lonely in love
I'm so lonely in love
Baby why must I be lonely
Why must I be lonely in love.
Baby, you're my one and only
Why do you keep me lonely in love.

©1987 Epic Records

I'm home from the hospital and getting back to the daily grind. Thank all 0f you who called, texted and emailed. I can't tell you how much your prayers and thoughts meant to me. The hospital is a very lonely place and since it is located in the South Side of town (an hour from my home), it was impractical for anyone to visit me.

I originally went into the ER because I was experiencing dizziness, dehydration, high blood pressure and confusion (more than normal!). After a few hours, the ER doctors contacted my regular docs at the University of Chicago, who requested that I be transferred there. I can't say I really enjoyed the ambulance ride there - I was all bundled and confined, and after 20 minutes I became increasingly uncomfortable. But I guess it's better than being rushed there in a coma again.

The next day (Thursday), they did a whole battery of tests, including a CT scan, numerous blood tests and an echocardiogram. Also, they kept me on an IV drip of fluids. Because I was still not feeling well, they decided to keep me there one more night. As a heart transplant recipient, the doctors take no chances with me and their attitude (and mine) is to err on the side of caution.

But on Friday, I was started on a new medication because my blood pressure was still elevated. Within an hour of taking it, I developed the first of a number of migraine headaches. I have a history of migraines, but obviously the deduced that it was caused by the meds. So they decided against repeating that drug and went to work trying to figure how best to treat my hyper-tension. Of course, this meant another night (at least) in the hospital.

Saturday was a slow day and although my headaches were still prevalent, they only treated the symptoms and kept me on IV fluids. On Sunday, the headaches got worse. They were so bad, that I couldn't watch most of the Cowboys -Giants game. It was a good thing, too. Undoubtedly, it would only have raised my blood pressure if I had.

Later that day, the doctors tried yet another blood pressure drug. However, although it brought down my pressure, the migraine got much worse. Without a doubt, it was the most painful headache I have ever experienced. Besides the lights driving me up a wall, my legs and neck felt like they were in fire. The then gave me Dilauded, which is a morphine derivative. But even that wore off after a short time (and only took the edge off). At that point, the doctors decided that in order to rule out anything horrible (like meningitis, or a bleed in my brain), they were going to to do a lumbar puncture (otherwise known as a spinal tap). This scared the daylights out of me, but I gave permission because the pain was so debilitating.

At this point, they also decided to give me a new pain medication called Fioricet, which is tylenol plus a barbiturate, plus caffeine. Well, within 30 minutes, the headache got much better and the pain in my legs eased considerably. They gave me Ambien to sleep, but it took a few hours before I was able to close my eyes (I'm assuming the caffeine was the cause).

This morning, I was awoken at 5am (like every other morning) to have my weight taken and have my blood drawn (I seriously feel like a pin cushion). An hour later, the came back because apparently the blood they drew coagulated. But I fell back asleep for another hour or two. At 9, after breakfast and another blood draw, I fell back asleep and slept deeper than I had since I arrived there. The doctor (along with the entire cardiology crew) showed up at 12 and woke me up. At that time, I was feeling 100% better. So she said I could go home and that they would write up the discharge papers.

All I really wanted to do was take a shower and take all the stickers (that had been on me to monitor my heart) off. But being rather hairy, that was almost as painful as the headaches! Even though the doc said I was free to go, it then still took over 5 hours to get all the paperwork done. Finally, at 6, I was brought downstairs to the discharge lounge. The problem there was that the nurse who took me down had no idea where it was. We ended up walking around the hospital (well, she walked - I was in a wheelchair) for over 30 minutes. Finally, we found it. However, my ex, who was picking me up, called to tell me she had to take one of my twin boys to the ER at Children's hospital (he's okay - he just has a virus) and therefore could not get me for at least another hour or so.

Well, the lady in the discharge lounge was very upset that it took them so long to discharge me in the first place. I would say she just didn't want to have to wait past her shift (the lounge closes at 8), but she was very nice and caring (everyone at UC was). Anyway, she went to the Admissions office and convinced them to pay for me to take a cab to Children's Hospital (where I would meet my ex, who was now stuck at the ER for at least another hour or two. The cab fare, had I had to pay it, came to $30. So I was extremely thankful.

I finally got to Children's Hospital around 8:30 and I didn't have to wait too long for him to be finally diagnosed and released. So we drove back to my kids' house, dropped them off and my ex took me to the original hospital (which was in Skokie - 30 minutes north) to get my car, which I left there when I went to that ER last Wednesday.

Of course, it snowed in Chicago over the weekend and of course, it took a while to defrost my car. Then, I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up all the nice new drugs the doctor prescribed. I could have gotten them at UC, but it would have been a pain to transfer the scripts next month when I need refills.

By the time I came home, it was after 11. I hadn't eaten anything since noon, nor had I taken any of my meds - including the blood pressure meds I am supposed to take 4 times a day. Thankfully, I do not have a headache. But my back is very sore and because I left last Wednesday not thinking I would be gone a week, I left myself a nice little mess, to boot.

But thank G-d the doctors at UC are so competent and caring. They have saved my life more than once and I trust them completely. Today was a real drag and exhausting. But now I'm back in my own bed and ready to get on with whatever it is I get on with.

Again, thank you to all who cared, called and wondered. Hopefully, I'll be back to blogging again very soon.