Personally, if I could be convinced the money was going to actually go to pay for the transition to private accounts, I would be all in favor of rolling back many of the tax cuts, as the economy seems to be much better than it was when the cuts were enacted.

No cause (tax cuts), no effect (better economy). Yet this is no lefty — no, that was typed by a Republican. I think it’s safe to say the Reagan Revolution is over.

More segment-burning from , from Patti (by way of Eric):

Just fer grins (no prizes, just count enlightenment as an added bonus):

1. Prior to 9/11, what person(s) led the only enemy mainland invasion of the US and when?
2. Name the man who has been a governor of Tennesee, Govenor of Texas and President of Texas
3. What Texas Band were one-hit wonders with the tune “I Shot The Law”, and extra points for naming their home base.
4. What do all the following have in common: cow’s tongue, red goblet, flapjack, twisted rib, and horse crippler?
5. First mixed up by Charles Alderton, a Waco Pharmacist. Name that concoction.
6. What ranch once covered 3,050, 000 acres when first established?
7. What is the Texas State Motto?
8. What do the colors of the state flag stand for?
9. Who lives at Toad Hall?
10. Who is the Crown Prince of Luckenbach?

Will post answers by Saturday at my place- Texas Trifles.

My answers guesses below the fold:

Read the rest of this entry »

I never do blog memes. Never. Annoying PITA.

But Eric is good people, so I’m going to humour him (and only him, so don’t get any ideas about tagging me for any more):

Jen, the sweetheart in charge of Lintefiniel Musing, has tagged me to participate in a new meme (she’s also threatened me if I don’t participate, although she’ll deny it if you ask her, so don’t even bother…but keep in mind that she works in law enforcement). Here’s how it works:

(The following is a C&P from the Songstress) Ogre here has created a new meme (not that I needed another one) and has been tracking its progress throughout the blogosphere as sort of an unassigned research project… Fascinating stuff, really [ed: fascinating if you're a web hippy].

How this works: Immediately following there is a list of a bunch of different occupations. You must select at least 5 of them (feel free to select more). You may add more if you like to your list before you pass it on (after you select 5 of the items as it was passed to you). Each one begins with “If I could be…” Of the 5 you selected, you are to finish each phrase with what you would do as a member of that profession.

Once you’re done you get to tag three people you think will actually respond - and would have a good answer. Oh, and by all means, don’t forget to trackback to this post… and to Ogre’s original post so he can keep tracking the progress of his little creation.

If I could be a scientist…
If I could be a farmer…
If I could be a musician…
If I could be a doctor…
If I could be a painter…
If I could be a gardener…
If I could be a missionary…
If I could be a chef…
If I could be an architect…
If I could be a linguist…
If I could be a psychologist…
If I could be a librarian…
If I could be an athlete…
If I could be a lawyer…
If I could be an innkeeper…
If I could be a professor…
If I could be a writer…
If I could be a llama-rider…
If I could be a bonnie pirate…
If I could be a servicemember…
If I could be a photographer…
If I could be a philanthropist…
If I could be a rap artist…
If I could be a child actor…
If I could be a secret agent…
If I could be a comedian/comedienne…

So here are my five:

• If I were a musician…I’d be Lloyd Maines protege’ on the pedal steel, since I’d pretty much have to know how to play a regular guitar if I could play the pedal steel. Lloyd is in my top 5 of Texas Musicians, even if he is Natalie’s daddy. The guy is unparalleled as a producer and a player, and he’s a playa in Texas Music.
• If I could be a chef…I’d open a gourmet hamburger joint. Not foofy gourmet, but catering to the expert gourmet. The hamburger is the pinnacle of American cooking, and it’s waning as a staple food item is distressing. On the menu would be the thin-patty burger and the thick-patty burger, two or three different breads, five ten kinds of cheese, and a gajillion toppings and condiments. Fries would be the old-fashioned, thick-as-your-finger kind, every order fried fresh, with jalapenos and onions. Might have onion rings, might not. A Cuban sandwich would be available, as well, provided I could find a good Cuban bread supplier. We’d do open-face, too, for the carb boys.
• If I could be an athlete…pro tennis player, pro golfing dude, or MLB closer. But back in the 70s-80s, though. Too much pressure today, even for all the difference in money. And I would have retired to life of writing books and articles and occasional teevee appearances. A smarter John McEnroe — like that.
• If I could be a philanthropist…I’d fund universal reading classes starting at the age of 3, with a free book every week, till you get out of high-school. I’d hire super-smart people to make recommendations, but they’d do book reports to me, in person, so I could make sure they weren’t just going through the motions.
• If I could be a secret agent…I’d be a bajillionaire privateer type, sort of an international Batman, or Doc Savage. Wreaking havoc amongst evil-doers, making the world safe for democracy, so everyone could grow up in a capitalistic, democratic republic, like me (since they can’t all be Texans, after all.)

Now I understand that I’m supposed to tag somebody. My blogroll is full of independent mavericks (except for a few web hippies), so I don’t know. I’ll spread it around:

• From the Poker Blogger bunch, who else but the man I used to be, dear young Al Can’t Hang (currently living it up (unencumbered by the spousal unit) in Key West.) He’s a bit of a web hippy, so he might do a dumb meme.
• From the music world, who else but my lovely bride, who’s never done a blog meme in her life.
• From the Big Brain dept., my smarter little blog-brother with the Ph.D., Kevin Whited, of the extraordinarily lightly-updated Publius, TX, since he’s sooooooooo dang busy being on radio shows and blogging about every single word printed in the Houston Chronicle and this will annoy him in return.

Check out the WSJ article about the Barnett Shale play taking place in my backyard over at Oil Field Trash, Part 2.