To Clarify, God Called Her To Run - But Didn't Neccessarily Call Her To Win

Poor MN sixth congressional district GOP candidate Michele Bachmann. Typer in her name in the search box at Youtube.com and you'll find all kinds of video of her espousing crazy thoughts and theories:

- She doesn't believe in global warming.

- She claims there is "a controversy among scientists whether evolution is a fact or not" and then also claims that "hundreds and hundreds" of scientists believe that God created the world in six days in creationism in intelligent design.

- She believes the US should not remove the "nuclear response" option when dealing with Iran.

- She claims that it is God's will that she run for Congress, that He made His calling clear. At this same event the pastor personally endorsed Bachmann, leading to a complaint being filed with the IRS because churches can't campaign for candidates. All of this led to Bachmann getting the bronze in Monday's edition of Keith Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World."

The good news for Bachmann is that she is a lock to pick up the Flat Earth Society's endorsement in the sixth district.

Update: I just realized that the pastor who endorses Bachmann sounds just like Foghorn Leghorn.

So Exactly How Much Talent Does It Take To Knock Off Holy Cross In A Big Game?

I was watching the Sioux play the Badgers on CSTV tonight (Sioux won in OT 3-2) and one of the announcers was commenting on the "heart and soul" that Sioux teams tend to carry. This reminded me of last season's WCHA Final Five, when a TV commentator was talking about how Sioux teams carry themselves like champions. Others have tossed around words like "character" when it comes to the Sioux hockey program.

I bring this up in contrast to some college hockey programs, where all you hear about is "their talent." Such programs have yet to top UND in the number of national and WCHA championships won; but I trust I can hear their fans tell me about their talent this season over and over again. Which brings to mind last season: I was told repeatedly that the Gophers had the best freshman class in the country. They flashed a stat on CSTV tonight - Freshman points last season: Minnesota = 114, North Dakota = 196. Hmmmm, maybe it is like Alan Fine says: character counts.

New Podcast Up

Show #10 is up and available for listening. It was a show I had some of the most fun doing.

No Lectures on My Coffee Intake, Thank You

I had a physical last week and all the tests came out "pretty good" (so sez the Doc.) The one bone he had to pick with me was my booze intake. Supposedly, you are only supposed to have two drinks a day, maximum. And you can't carry them over, i.e. if you don't drink Monday or Tuesday that doesn't mean you are entitled to six drinks on Hump Day.

I truly wonder: Why the hell hasn't the booze lobby gotten to the AMA yet? (AMA = American Mormon Association?) Doctors will prescribe you any and every pill they can, but you pour some OTC depressants into your system and somehow that's verboten.

Anyway, here's my top ten (silent) responses to the doctor's Two-Drink Maximum Rule:

1) Two beers? Yeah, then you stop briefly to order the pizza.

2) I hope you're talking brands, not twelve-ouncers.

3) But what if I'm not sleepy enough after two?

4) I'm Finnish.

5) I'm a writer.

6) I'm a Finnish writer.

7) Then why is it called a two-drink minimum?

8) But after two, I always feel like four, five and maybe six if tomorrow doesn't look too imposing.

9) I don't throw good jarts until after at least two.

10) Wait - we're supposed to mean it when we say: "Let's have a couple of beers"?

(Thanks to Carin for #3.)

College Hockey Has Started!

In honor of another college hockey season starting, here's linkage to audio of the Evil Empire's season crashing to a resounding thud of a finale last March.

Hey Punto: Pull Your Head Out - It Gets You There Slower!

Nothing has been more baffling in those three Twins games I've watched this year then to see Nick Punto slide head-first into first. From Charley Walters' column on Thursday:

Twins third baseman Nick Punto said he isn't sure his head-first dives as a base runner get him to first base sooner.

"It's just a habit," he said. "If I time it some day, I'll let you know."

First base is the only one you are allowed to overrun. As my buddy Bjerk points out - if sliding head first works so well why don't sprinters do the same thing at the finish line?

RIP Peter Norman

Peter Norman, the Australian sprinter who shared the medals podium with Tommie Smith and John Carlos while they gave their black power salutes at the 1968 Olympics, died Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 64.

A few years ago I read that Norman also participated in the protest - he wore a human rights badge on his shirt in support of Smith and Carlos.

Rumor

Any truth to the rumor that once Mark Foley gets out of rehab he is considering joining the priesthood?

Separated at Birth?

Nothing says Saturday Night Fun for me like getting a "Separated at Birth?" submission published at Fraters Libertas.

David Broder: Three Dead-on Sentences

The country thought Bush was a pleasant, down-to-earth guy who would not rock the boat. Instead, swayed by some inner impulse or the influence of Dick Cheney, he has proved to be lawless and reckless. He started a war he cannot finish, drove the government into debt and repeatedly defied the Constitution.

GOP = "Got Other Priorities"

The incomparable Joan Didion on Dick Cheney.

Thanks to Chris from Incoming Signals for the link.

Good Times

I deejayed Friday night at the opening for Poster Offensive 3 along with my friends Ben and Justin. Ryan, who used to own Let It Be Records, also joined us. It was nice to meet him - for years I worked downtown at a crappy corporate job and his store was just a block away and I escaped there many a time to flip through CDs and LPs as much-needed therapy.

For me, the experience Friday night was everything I could hope for: great tunes, beautiful posters, lots of good friends in attendance, hot chicks dressed hotly in abound, multiple kegs of beer (and when those were running out, a gal was cool enough to score us deejays a secret stash of Red Stripe.)

I also got to drop a Godfather II reference as originally I followed Ryan in the deejaying rotation, but at some point Justin took my spot. I vocally complained about "being treated like Fredo" and "being passed over." But I guess that's they way Pop wanted it.

Here are the songs I played (we were shooting for political/topical songs), not in the order I played 'em though:

The O'Jays - For the Love of Money
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message
Little Steven - Fear
Hüsker Dü - Turn on the News
Run-DMC - Hard Times
The Stooges - 1969
The Who - The Seeker
Prince - Sign O' the Times
Pete Townshend - Give Blood
Bryan Ferry - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
Graham Parker - Protection
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
The Yardbirds - You're a Better Man Than I
War - Why Can't We Be Friends?
The Alarm - The Stand
Black Flag - Rise Above
The Kinks - Where Have All the Good Times Gone

A Nice Blast of Honesty

Governor Pawlenty's winning-the-primary announcement was just on MPR and he said something about "aside from the military, what has government ever run well?"

Obviously Timmy was referring to his own work. Just what has he done for us in the past four years?

Bluth For Senate?

Mark Kennedy + glasses = Buster Bluth!

What We Learned In Last Friday's MPR Senatorial Candidates Debate

Audio is here.

Klobuchar - One tough cookie. She killed. The line about repealing Dubya's tax cuts on the wealthiest one percent would only result in the loss of the purchase of some yacht sails was genius. As was the line about Kennedy's plans being "all foam and no beer."

Fitzgerald - This guy knows his stuff. He also killed. His lack of 'Mats or Huskers references is totally forgiven as there were time restrictions on speaking time. (Full disclosure: only candidate to comment on this blog - here and here.)

Kennedy - He wuvs his Mommy and Daddy. His Mommy and Daddy wuv him also. Isn't it sweet? But does Marky still wuv our president?