The Lamont Victory

Ken AshfordElection 2006, IraqLeave a Comment

It wasn’t so much a Lamont victory as a Lieberman loss.  I’m sure the political blogosphere will have a lot of post-game analysis about why Lieberman lost.  Much of it will no doubt suggest that Lamont won only because of the blogs (even the mainstream media has reported that angle).  The "bloggers did it" meme is silly.  They may have … Read More

Liveblogging The WFDD “Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical” Interview

Ken AshfordLocal Interest, Personal, Popular Culture7 Comments

Background here. 9:50 am:  Jamie (Director) talks about the "curiousity factor" of the show.  Compares DDD with "American Pie" and "Something About Mary".  Avoids the word "particularly", which he has a hard time saying.  Um, Arthur Miller? 9:52 am:  Heather ("Debbie") mentions her dry, deadpan sense of humor.  Yup. 9:53 am:  Yeah, Jamie.  Of course you didn’t have reservations about … Read More

The Science Behind Mel Gibson’s Malibu Meltdown

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

Last Mel Gibson post, I swear. This isn’t exactly news to any who has been drunk before, but it’s nice to see it confirmed: Was this alcohol-fueled soliloquy an ugly insight into Mr. Gibson’s character — in other words, in vino veritas? Or was it just the tequila talking? *** “We all have things that we might think or feel … Read More

July Was The Second Hottest Recorded July In U.S. History

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

From the NOAA: August 7, 2006 — The continental United States suffered through its second-hottest July on record because of a blistering heat wave from California to Washington, D.C. The heat wave broke more than 2,300 daily temperature records for the month and eclipsed more than 50 records for the highest temperatures in any July, according to the NOAA National … Read More

Don’t Let The Bedbugs Bite

Ken AshfordHealth CareLeave a Comment

They’re making a comeback: Absent from the U.S. for so long that some thought they were a myth, bedbugs are back. Include me as one of those who thought they were fictional. Entomologists and pest control professionals are reporting a dramatic increase in infestations throughout the country, and no one knows exactly why. *** Bedbugs are tiny brownish, flattened insects … Read More

Reconciling Evangelicalism And Science

Ken AshfordGodstuff, Science & TechnologyLeave a Comment

You have to click through Salon’s annoying "ad", but this article is very worthwhile.  It’s an interview with Francis Collins, the former head of the Human Genome Project (which attempts to map the DNA of humans). A man of science and a former atheist, Collins discusses his religious views.  He seems to sit comfortably within both realms, although to do … Read More

Bush Needs A Civics Lesson

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

Today he said: "Which gives me confidence about the future in Iraq, by the way. You know, I hear people say, Well, civil war this, civil war that. The Iraqi people decided against civil war when they went to the ballot box." What does "going to the ballat box" have to do with whether or not there is a civil … Read More

All Eyes On Connecticut

Ken AshfordElection 2006Leave a Comment

I’ve been following the CT primaries closely, and despite an apparent surge from the incumbent this weekend, it looks like progressive newcomer Ned Lamont is going to the Dem primary over former VP candidate and Bush appeaser Joe Lieberman. The punditry on this issue is overwhelming, so I can add little to the mix.  Clearly, Joe Lieberman is the first … Read More

Shorter Pat Boone

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

"Mel Gibson is not an anti-Semite, because he loves Christ and Christ was a Jew." Pat goes on to explain that it really was the alcohol talking, likening Mel’s outburst to someone with Tourette’s syndrome. Yeah, right.