respublica

Blue and white by night

Our weather made a u-turn during the night erasing mid-seventy degree temperatures and bringing air which only made it to the high twenties.  It also brought a day long seige of sleet or freezing rain which is now at least a half inch thick.  Later tonight the snow arrives.

What we see from our backroom window:

Christmas trees in blue and white stand in the yard and a red lamp relects against the glass.

Same scene, but outdoors, minus the red lamp.

Speaker's along for an evening walk in the snow.  He loves the snow, he even loves sleet which looks like snow.  Made a couple snow angels.  Sweet.  Winter.  But, it's still November.  At least for a couple more hours.

Social engineering in San Diego

The San Diego City Council voted 5-3 to ban an attempt by Wal Mart to locate a store in their city. 

Speaking for the council majority, Tony Young said: "I have a vision for San Diego and that vision is about walkable, livable communities, not big, mega-structures that inhibit people's lives." Huh?

Commenting for the minority who voted against a ban, Kevin Faulconer said, "Quite simply, I do not think it is the role of the San Diego City Council to dictate where families should buy their groceries."

The Mayor, Jerry Sanders, also against the ban on Wal Mart promises to veto the ban if the councils reaffirms it on their second vote in January.  "What the Council did tonight was social engineering, not good public policy," a mayor's spokesman said.

City after city attempts to keep Wal Mart from operating within their city limits and yet shoppers continue to flock to that store, often built just outside major city limits, giving their sales tax money to suburbs.  This is the 21st century, folks.  Wal Mart is a major tax revenue provider, popular with millions of Americans.  Time to get off this anti-Wal Mart stand. 

Tavels with Obama

Obama is making every minute count this week, congress must not be in session.

Wednesday he met with rapper, Ludacris obstensibly to talk about "empowering youth". 

On Friday he will be at Rick Warren's Saddleback church in support of AIDs Day and will take his third AIDs test.  This visit is not without controversy as many evangelicals (or so they're called by the media) have been protesting his church visit because of his pro-abortion stand.

On Friday he will be a guest of Jay Leno.

Next week he will make his first visit to New Hampshire.  Many have noticed his neglect of that important primary state and are now pleased as punch he will be there.

There is also a meeting in New York City for a children's charity.

According to Hotline, Hillary Clinton may be considering not running for president in the face of a massive national love affair with Barack Obama.  "

FNC's Cameron: "The chairman of Iowa's Democratic party told Fox News that Mrs. Clinton has not been adequately laying the groundwork for her campaign and that first in the nation caucus goers are being told she may not run because of growing buzz over Illinois Freshman Senator Barack Obama's expected candidacy."

Interim IA Dem Chair Rob Tully: "She's been quiet and, you know, there's a question that we all hear is that she may not get in this if Barack Obama gets in. I have never seen a reaction other than Bill Clinton in terms of the excitement that people have to meet Barack Obama. Some people just wanted to touch him" ("Special Report," 11/29)."

Best? Or most often played?

ASCAP, The American Society of Composers, Artists and Producers, has released their list of the top 25 Christmas (holiday) songs most often played.

Again, these are the 25 songs most often performed, played or heard on radio, tv, and in malls and other stores from Thanksgiving until Christmas. 

Number one is The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire) sung by Nat King Cole.

Warm to cold-leaves to ice to snow

It has been in the mid-seventies around here for a week now.  But, that is about to change sometime during the evening when we are expecting showers and thunderstorms then a temperature plunge into the thirties.  Tomorrow we are told to expect rain changing to ice changing to snow.  And even colder temps.  Everyone around the St. Louis area has been scrambling today to get outside stuff done and get winter equipment primed and ready.

We have had painters here all week painting the outside of our windows and today they had to be way up high.  As always, click to enlarge for better detail.

The guy on the left was an acrobat and had the trickiest part of the job.

One painter, who looked like he was taking a break was actually bracing the ladder with his feet so the man way up there would be somewhat steady.

Then comes the late afternoon and St. Louis being St. Louis, the weather people go all out to warn warn warn everyone in the viewing area about our impending winter storm.  St. Louis, being St. Louis, often sees its weather reports wrong, but we're prepared in spite of our doubt.

At Concordia Seminary all the snow blowers have been brought out of hibernation, gassed and oiled and stand ready to go.

Snow shovels are lined up at the ready also.

25 tons of salt and/or ice melt was delivered today and dispersed to various storage areas around the campus.

KSDK Channel 5 has this amusing weather synopsis on its website which just about says it all about winter weather forecasts hereabouts:  "The timing of this forecast may change a bit as it becomes more apparent as to exactly what will happen! Significant winter weather appears to be likely during the day Thursday into Thursday night, so prepare accordingly."  All we can say is, "hahahahah"

Today's squirrel news...

...comes to you from Two Rivers Wisconsin where a squirrel fell down a chimney and landed on the burning logs in the fireplace. 

Firefighters were called to catch the squirrel which somehow escaped the fire and began running around the house.  Firefighters in turn called someone from the Wisconsin Wildlife group who treated the animal for bloody paws and then released it into someone else's backyard.

There's seemingly no end to squirrel meets man stories.  Come to my backyard and you'll see no end to squirrels.

Top Chicago law firms for women

Two Harvard law students studied Chicago law firms in order to determine which are most comfortable for women lawyers as well as the firms in which women lawyers can move up the ladder.  And, they also found that Chicago has the best law firm in the entire country for women, Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal.

Chicago law firms, graded on their comfort level for female lawyers. Overall score out of 100; percentage of partners who are women:

1) Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal 90; 25%
2) Sidley Austin Brown & Wood 81; 19%
3) Foley & Lardner 80; 21%
4) Jenner & Block 79; 19%
5) Jones Day 78; 19%
6) McDermott Will & Emery 76; 27%
7) Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw 76; 19%
8) Katten Muchin Rosenman 75; 20%
9)< Kirkland & Ellis 73; 20%
10) DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary 70; 21%
11) Winston & Strawn 69; 21%
12) Baker & McKenzie 66; 13%
13) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom 59; 21%

Zwoooosh

Nike's new juice golf ball gets tested.  Several black and white videos showing what happens when the juice ball hits various breakable objects.  The dimple pattern in this new golf ball has been designed for more carry and distance, supposedly great for low to mid-level skills players who need more speed and distance.

Ha.  Play responsibly

What does your birthdate say about you?

Your Birthdate: August 29

You have the mind of an artist, even if you haven't developed the talent yet. Expressive and aware, you enjoy finding new ways to share your feelings. You often feel like you don't fit in - especially in traditional environments. You have big dreams. The problem is putting those dreams into action. Your strength: Your vivid imagination Your weakness: Fear of failure Your power color: Coral Your power symbol: Oval Your power month: November

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

The Pasta Sauce Caper

A Perryville, Missouri couple exchanged a $600 camcorder for a more expensive one at the Ellisville Best Buy store last Wednesday.  When they got it home they discovered that they had just paid $1600 for a jar of Classico spaghetti sauce.  Surely they deserved at least a jar of Newman's Own for that price.

Officials with Best Buy "are dubious" that any switch was made at their end.  Police are investigating.