YOU THERE, LISTENING TO YOUR OWN MUSIC! HANDS UP AGAINST THE WALL, FEET BACK AND SPREAD 'EM!

Here's one that probably reaches across the political divide. The record industry is now suing people for copying THEIR LAWFULLY PURCHASED MUSIC from CD into their computers, notwithstanding that the owner is not sharing, uploading, downloading or giving it to or with any third parties.

In other words, RIAA is taking the position that you can't buy their members' music in one form of medium and consume it in another form.

No matter what these folks have done over the last five years, the sale of physically self-contained music media has tanked. The music we buy is electronic impulses. If we can't copy it from our CD's onto our computer, can we buy it on our computers and not copy it to our MP3 players?

This just has to break bad for all concerned.

IT'S THE OLD "LET ME SEE YOUR P*N!$" TRICK

You gotta read this

Maybe this explains why Maurice Clarett had such a hard time in Columbus. It's looking like a difficult place to Stay outta trouble!

BAD DUTY: HOW TO GO ABOUT IT

I have a friend in another town. Very successful businessman, family, church, civic supporter, country club, all the American Dream trappings. His very smart and attractive wife is a teacher and his three kids, ages about five to about 17 (I'm being purposefully vague here) are all bright and observant.

They are in their 40's and married about 20 years. Two things have happened here at year's end which make his life complicated. First, he's had a true religious conversion and now considers himself "saved." He's really serious about redirecting his life to serve the Lord. The second is a result of the first. He has ended his four year extra-marital affair with a young woman from a nearby city. As nearly as he knows, the woman has accepted the end and is no danger to disclose anything. He has been very careful. He spent gobs of cash creating meeting places and love nests away from his home area. He never said he was in one town when he was in another. He is certain that he was never detected. He has never sent any emails or letters or had flowers delivered (for all you horny husbands out there, this is kind of the big three). He led the league in disposable cell phones. He really believes he was never detected.

But, he now that it is over, feels an undeniable need to tell his wife. His friends have told him he's stupid, that he'll just hurt her more. Moreover, they have told him that, even if she didn't know he was doing someone else, she knew "something" had gone out of their marriage. If he just rededicates himself to the marriage, she'll feel that, too. No, this idiot is bound and determined to tell her:

So that's today's essay question kiddies: If he's gonna tell her, how, exactly, does he tell her and how does he orchestrate it.

Never mind "don't do it." That ship has sailed.

Oh, at the Country Club after church, dining with the kids, is probably not the approved solution.

This guy reads this blog: Help him out!

THIS ADDED AFTER TWO DAYS OF FRUSTRATION--PEOPLE, HE'S GONNA DO IT. GIVE UP THE PREDICTING OUTCOMES AND TELLING HIM NOT TO DO IT AND TELL HIM HOW

AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT ANON POSTING

On many occasions since I have started this 'blog, I have stated that I do not post here or anywhere else as an anon or under any other name.

At a couple of other sites, for technical reasons, I have had to register using my email prefix "rule5draft". (My email is rule5draft@gmail.com). When you see that, it's me. In those environments "UMRBlog" is either not permitted or not available. When you see a registered person posting at a non-blogspot blog as rule5draft, it is me.

I try to remember to manually sign as UMRBlog, but I do forget sometimes.

I still do not post anon or under any name not reserved to me.

HELP ME WITH THIS

Why would anybody want to taunt a tiger?

I mean, it just seems the risk/reward ratio is a little out of whack there.

HEY KID!: YOU WITH THE VIOLIN, WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS

First let me say to all of my friends in the newspaper biz that I probably couldn't put out an error-free newspaper if I only had to do it once a month.

Still, it was disappointing that this little girl's achievement was written up in such a way as to mangle her name inconsistently. It was so bad that a careful reader didn't know either her first name or her last name.

So, Amanda/Miranda Bernard/Barnard--Well done. Keep it up and you'll need a press agent just to get your real name out there.

Why didn't I write about this as soon as the inconsistent article came out? I was waiting for the Bentster--his area of expertise. He's the Howie Kurz of the Basin.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARTIE!

I hope you all remembered to send my good friend, Art Tenhouse a truly tasteless birthday card. He turned about 34 today. That's your story, buddy. Stick to it.

THE IOWA POLLCATS

First, let me rapidly concede I have no idea who's going to win in either party's caucuses--none, zero, zip, zilch, nada, stickum.

But I have read a poll or two in my time and I differentiate among the polls on how they qualify the respondents. The questions I want to see are the ones which identify likely caucus-goers. "Did your parents caucus," "Did you caucus in 2004, 2000" "Do you know the name of (fill in party) Chairman?", "Do you know the location of your local caucus?", "Do you know who is going to accompany you to the caucus?" It isn't rocket science but there are a series of questions which have been proven to identify the commitment of a respondent to actually go and do the Round Dance that is a caucus.

The polls that really get my attention, year in and year out, allow for this by either only including the truly likely or by establishing a multiplier for likelihood.

Interestingly, this year the polls that do that uniformly show that Obama is not ahead at all and the Huckabee is not ahead nearly as much the conventional polls suggest. Don't bet the house (unless you have subprime you can't make anyhow) on these shining stars continuing to shine next week.

BUSH-PETRO-SUBPRIME-HEALTHCARE ECONOMY AND CHRISTMAS: GEE, WHO KNEW?

The preliminary numbers suggest the modest increase in holiday retail spending has not kept pace with inflation--AND, that's giving the brick and mortar retailers the benefit of being lumped in with their successful internet cousins. (The Brick and Mortar numbers are going to be much worse).

Let's see: Three dollar gas, otherwise successfully employed guardsmen and reservist deployed and thus finanacially depressed, the bottom out of urban real estate and the National Debt Clock's bearings burned out. Did anybody see anything different coming?

PRETTY MUCH NOTHING SAYS CHRISTMAS.....

.....Like a Bengal Tiger on the loose amongst the citizenry.

A MODEST GIFT AND A CHRISTMAS LESSON

My favorite Uncle gave me one of the best Christmas Gifts I have ever rec'd. I was probably 8 or 9 when he gave me a "crystal set", A small, do-it-yourself, kit which, if properly assembled, became a fairly powerful radio. He was in the Army. The thing probably cost him $1.50.

I had no assembly talent but I was fascinated by the challenge. Quietly, alone in my room, I figured it out and it became a RADIO--a real radio that I built with my own two hands! This led me, over the years, to construct extensive antennae for this simple device. I'm sure my parents wondered why I spent so much time on the roof.

I could get signals from exotic places like St. Louis and Denver and Cincinnati. When the sun spots were just right, I could get a station from Mexico City. That little radio gave me the Browns and Cardinals, sometimes the Indians, Phillies and Tigers. It got me listening to National News, which, in turn, got me to reading two newspapers every day.

There was also a lesson in it. The best Christmas memories are the ones you make yourself, with the help of your loved ones.

CRAWFORD COUNTY--UNCONCEALED WEAPON

If you've ever spent any time around Boscobel and Prairie Du Chien, this story won't surprise you much.

Probably a Packer fan, upset about the Cowboys' home field advantage.

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Crawford Co. Man Arrested for Ax Attack Posted: Dec 21, 2007 12:13 PM Crawford Co. Man Arrested for Ax Attack A 52-year-old Wauzeka man has been arrested after he attacked Crawford County sheriff's deputies with an ax and then barricaded himself in his home. Crawford County Sheriff Jerry Moran and Prairie du Chien Police Chief Mike King say deputies responded to Wauzeka Thursday night for a report of a man acting strangely. When they arrived at the man's home, he had locked the front door. When deputies knocked on the door, the man suddenly appeared at the door, naked, holding a double-bitted ax. The man began to come outside, but then went back inside the house and swung the ax. The ax went through the door, but did not hit any deputies. A special operations team attempted to negotiate with the man for about three hours. Then, the naked man ran screaming out of his home about 7:20 p.m. and charged law enforcement officers. Authorities say the man was shot with a taser and rubber bullets. The man was not injured, nor were any law enforcement personnel. The man was transported to a hospital in Boscobel for treatment. Charges are pending for the incident.

WAY MORE PERSONAL THAN USUAL: BROTHERS, SISTERS AND OPPORTUNITIES

It was 26 years ago last month when my sister died a violent and unnecessary death.

I usually get through the anniversary of that sad day all right. Sometimes, especially when Christmas is on a weekend, I even get through the entire season without disabling sadness. Year in and year out, the Saturday before Christmas is the toughest. That is the day our Dad would always take us together to do our Christmas shopping. For reasons I don't completely understand, today is one of the all time toughest Saturdays.

We were only 15 months apart in age. We were the middle two children. We had friends in common. We even did our early years of college at the same university.

Our interests were always far different. She had talent and intellect so obvious and powerful that I could only marvel at its force. She was also cursed with an artist's temperament. It was often my role to calm her down.

An athlete and an artist, she was a magnet for men, some decent, some grifters and some just plain evil. She had a very difficult time telling the difference. Through it all, we could always talk about it. Our conversations, however heavy, would invariably end with us both laughing about some damn fool thing we had done as children.

Then, in a blur, there was the interrupted meeting, the Sangamon County coroner telling me I was needed in Chicago, the sick and desolate drive from Springfield to her home town, the identification, the extraordinary kindness of the two assigned detectives, the courtesy crime scene walk-through, the autopsy, the two motherless children, the terrible, empty funeral and the certainty that I would see the unrelenting pain in our mother’s face as long as she might live.

The details of this ugly chapter are not the point. Time does not "heal all wounds". I promise you, that is a crock. On the bad days, like today, the loss is just as real and just as painful-- in some ways even more so-- as in 1981.

I choose to talk about it today not as therapy for myself. It does not help a damn bit. Instead, I use it as a launch pad to urge you to extend your hand to your siblings and anyone who grew up with you as part of your nuclear family. You never know when your opportunity will be gone. I can tell you that there is not much I wouldn't give to have just a short visit with the other middle sibling who walked through life with me then left it far too soon.

Enjoy your brothers and sisters. Believe me, you do not know what you have until it is gone. Pick up the phone! Take over a six pack! Get the cousins together to play! Connect!

SCHOOL BOARD NAME-CALLING SH!TSTORM

The treatment of Quincy School Board Members in the local blogosphere has been a little rough and that has troubled me. Recently, the way members have been treating each other in the public media has troubled me more. Nobody's view is more noble than the other side's. I am perfectly prepared to believe that all six of the non-comatose members are there because they want to serve the public interest as they see it. The Tort Fund and the Referendum are just handy rallying cries. These folks are going to be hotly contesting things for the foreseeable future. They are performing honorable public service.

But the competing sides in the general public will not start treating the Board as a Whole better until the Board members start treating one another better. Right now, they are the prisoners of their own device. Mr. Mays has made a real effort to restrain his impulsive side. Mr. Bemis' recent letter to the editor was not as dishonest as some Board members made it out to me. Folks, it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable. When you figure it out, the outside forces will have nothing to feed their respective cheerleading points.

Extend Courtesy. You're a legislative body. Legislative bodies can't function without at least understanding the other side's position.

Play nice.

Early edition update: The SEVENTH Board member has now been heard from. Folks, now that we're done taking shots at each other, could we govern for a while?

CONDI ON AGRESSION: WHAT A CONCEPT!

Today Secretary Rice decried the Turks.......military incursion into Sovereign Iraqi territory.

Now that would have been a policy worthy of discussion, say, three years ago and change. Coulda been good input from, say, the National Security Advisor.

SIR LANCE-A-LOT AND PARENTING STYLE

About the "open pants policy"

PITTSFIELD, ILLINOIS: A FRIEND CHARGED AND A NON-EXPERT REACTION

(I have moved this post up to today from July 20. Two Reasons: First, the correct and incorrect --me-- analyses deserve to see the light of day; and , second, it is part of a pattern that I write about in the next para.)

It seems every three years or so, I learn something disappointing about a public official for whom I have admiration. I guess I have two choices. I can either start distrusting all public officials or get better at analyzing character. Still, we either believe in redemption or we don't. I do. I hope The Director can take his medicine and still have the remainder of his life be successful, productive and satisfying. I don't back away from the proposition I wrote months ago. I have seen him do much to admire over the years.

Those of you had this right may now pile on.


The former county sheriff of Pike County and the former Director of the Department of Corrections has been charged with accepting kickbacks and some other bad stuff. There are co-defendants and I know them as well.

I hold out every hope and believe that Donnie Snyder is innocent of these charges.

First, I know the other guys involved. I can easily see them doing a lot of bad stuff in Donnie's name without his ever knowing about it. Second, I've never known Donnie to be particularly concerned about accumulating wealth for himself. Third, he just comes from a damn good family and I don't believe this apple fell very far from the tree.

Now, let me be clear, Donnie did a lot of really bad political and labor crap when he was director. I'm still suing the department for things that happened on Donnie's watch. But those weren't crimes. They were just shitty, republican deals (by the way, they have now been replaced with shitty democrat deals.).

Yes, I know about the airplane deal, too. Loose call but motivated by love of family, not greed.

In other words, Donnie did some good things as Director, mixed in with some really shitty things but I'll be surprised if anybody can show he's a crook. The other two guys, well, I'll bet the government won't have any trouble showing they were into something. Of course, then they might flip on Donnie but you still have to follow the money. I am believing and hoping that you can't follow any of it to Donnie's personal wealth.

I've always forgiven Don Snyder the butt republicans he hangs with because he's otherwise such a fine human being. I usually root for justice. I hope rooting for Donnie is the same thing.

Godspeed, my friend. There's one democrat out here pulling for you.

WALKING TO AN IMPROVEMENT

The Cubs walked 500 times last year. Cubs' opponents walked 573 times.

Good News: This is an improvement of the differential by about 100 runs.

Bad News: This means that the Cubs started the season about 15 runs behind before anybody ever hit a ball.

Pie will make it worse. Fukudome will make it better. Theriot (wherever he plays) will improve it. Dempster starting will probably improve it. Cedeno, if he plays, will make it much worse.

Best guess? About the same differential next year.

PETTITE......

.........Didn't inhale.

GOOD NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS NOT NAMED HUCKABEE

Ed Rollins signed on with Huckabee today. Wait about a week and listen for the sound of wheels falling off.

MITCHELL REPORT......SOMEBODY GOT PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO....

......Go to the bookstore and talk to dirtbags.

If I were prosecuting, I don't think I'd charge anybody but Ryan Franklin from the cheesy tabloid crap that is sold as a "Report".

Although the John Rocker stuff was interesting. Whooda thunk it? Nice Boy like Johnny.

NFL ASSORTED

It is now clear, is it not, that the NFL is a mere training ground for SEC coaches.

You may be surprised, devoted Bear fan that The Basin is, that your bloghost is no big fan of Mike Ditka. As player and coach, I never thought he fully appreciated or utilized his gifts and believed he lacked self-control in several respects.

Still, what happened with his "Old Player" support fund and the nasty publicity he got was completely undeserved. Here was a guy trying to help. So the start-up overhead was high and he probably hired the wrong administrative firm. Where others were sitting on their hands, Ditka jumped up and did something. Should he have taken some tips from, say, Joe Garagiola or John Havlicek? Sure. Could he have had better bean-counters? Sure. But he damn sure didn't deserve to get roasted. This is a perfect case of muck-raking emphasizing the "perfect being the enemy of the good.." Coach, you're still not my favorite guy, but you got hosed on this one. God Bless you for trying.

WHO'DA THUNK IT? MICHAEL VICK'S GIFT TO THE RAZORPIGGIES

Wow! Bobby Petrino wants out of Atlanta. Atlanta wants Bobby Petrino out of Atlanta and the piggies were oh-so-happy to give Bobby a place to land. Again, Fichigan took its time and lost out.

Special note to Springdale refugees. Bobby loves to pass the ball.

EARTH TO MITT--DEFENDING MARRIAGE, ONE TEENAGER AT A TIME

Well, kiddies, one benefit of having an Iowa station as our local ABC affiliate it that we get to see the Iowa political advertisements.

I see where Mitt is defending marriage. I don't think Mitt likes marriage more than Rudy because Rudy's done it three times as often as Mitt, but I digress...

At first, I was having trouble telling exactly was Mitt was defending marriage FROM. Was it the dreaded Romosexuals? Was it internet porn? I just really couldn't tell.

Now it's clear....He's defending marriage from bassackwards procreation. He says ya gotta get married before ya have children. That's good policy but very bad biology. "Oops" has been happening for a long time. Leaving aside the notion of whether it's ALWAYS a good idea for any two people who happen to make a baby to immediately get married....my real question is this:

"What the Hell does the Presidency of the United States have to do with whether young people decide to marry one another or not?"

NOTE: I did not say the "Government" of the United States. Our welfare and medicare laws can have some impact on that decision. Our child support collection enforcement can have an impact ont he welfare of children. But can you imagine: "ooh, I've got no job, no skills, no diploma, neither of us can balance a checkbook or read a contract but President Mitt says we've gotta get married before this baby comes. Quick, get a note from your mother and let's get married! It's the patriotic thing to do. God Bless America!"

Mitt may be a nice fella but nobody should get elected on this kind of silliness.

I'M WAITING FOR, NOT "ON", A FINAL GRAMMARIAN'S OPINION

Over the weekend, I heard a number of educated commentators, local and Regional, say somebody
(say, the city administration or the rank and file State Legislators) is "waiting on" someone else (Commission or Legislative leadership) to take such and such an action.

When I was in High School, several semesters ago, I was taught you never, I mean never, said "Waiting on".....it was always "waiting for" Almost nothing was regarded as more ignorant.

So, I ask you: Has "waiting on" become accepted usage for anything but table service, or is it still ignorant?

OK, my neighbor happens to be the grammar police and I could just ask him. That's no fun. He'll just give me the right answer (he's always right). I want to hear from all the smart folks in the blogospher.

Yeah, soft topic but give me a break. There are about three great things I can't ethically write about and I'm tired of writing about national politics.

Grammar Police Deputies, Ya'll come.

THE SPORTING NEWS GETS IT RIGHT........

...........Heisman Voters, not so much.

Tee Ball might be the Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man" but the best freaking football player in the nation this year (Last Year, Too.) Was DMac!

Thank you, Sporting News.

VERSACE OUT--WHO'S IN?

Dick Versace had made a reasonable start at his run. Who's next?

Assuming our friend, John Sullivan meant what he said the first time, beats me. I've already heard some noise for a Macomb area democrat.

Don't believe for minute that this district is 55% or 57% Repub. Go ask Doug Stephens how closely it's really divided. He was about three votes per precinct from defeating the Sitting minority leader of the House.

I only know Dick slightly. We spoke at the same benefit dinner many years ago and then worked as auctioneer's helpers at a golf outing for the same charity a few years later. I hope his personal issue is not too challenging and he does well. I do know there were a lot of folks in the 18th excited about him.

Just as it did with Chuck Scholz, life sometimes interferes with politics.

SUBPRIME CRASHEES: THE ONE THING THEY DON'T SAY WHEN THEY TELL THEIR STORIES......

.........."When I showed this agreement to my lawyer, he told me it was safe"

So, Bubba, as your payments go up from $850/mo. to $2500/mo. and the deficiencies pile up, and even when the foreclosure auction takes place and your wife is reminded that 125% of FMV was probably not the right amount to borrow, just smile and know you beat the system.

By God, you didn't pay any damn lawyer $150 or so to review these documents and tell you that you were taking your family over a future cliff. Attaboy, you don't need no stinking lawyers.

For your next trick, how about you take out your own appendix?

RAHM DOES STAND-UP

Say what you will about Rahm Emanuel (and he does frustrate me sometimes), he's not slow and he's not scared.

Cheney gave this grand interview to "Politico" stating that some of the senior guys in Congress (Murtha, Dingell) couldn't stand up to Speaker Pelosi, that they didn't have "Big Sticks".

When told of of Cheney's words, Rahm (who was not the target of these remarks) shot back:

“Some of us were surprised that the president didn’t have a bigger stick when he could have stood up to Dick Cheney.”


May not be the the way we like to see gov't run, but it was quick, perceptive and funny.

WHO COULD SUE LACEY UNDERALL?

OK, you've got "good guy" Pat Quinn, the beautiful and talented Lacey Underall, a "Caddyshack" theme, a "support the troops" commitment and the breathtaking facility at the Oak Brook Marriott. What could go wrong?

read on

The road to hell is often paved with good intentions.

EVERYTHING HAS A QUINCY CONNECTION!

Bear with me, I haven't gone completely C&P, but click here

HABEAS CORPUS? YOU REMEMBER HABEAS CORPUS? NO? WELL, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME

Whoo Boy!

BCS CHUCKLEHAIDS: OHIO STATE VS. OKLAHOMA

If you peel back the layers, Georgia and Virginia Tech eliminate themselves. USC and LSU are fine teams but, why should two loss teams go in front of a Major Conference one loss team?

Answer: It shouldn't..........and this from a fan who believes the SEC is clearly the best conference in NCCAAF.

NON-POLITICAL AND PERSONAL: WORDS OF A MENTOR

Many years ago I had a mentor and role model, a silver haired elderly southern lawyer who taught me much of value. As a student, I left gobs to be desired. Some of my mentor's lessons are only now sinking in.

The Mentor and I were trying to put together a deal with a group from Texas. We needed another player with a special skill. I volunteered; "I can bring in Joe Smith from Chicago, he's a good friend!"

Patiently, my Mentor fixed his gaze on me. "Close yo' ahs," he said. I did as I was told. He instructed me to; "See the faces of each of your close frainds, one at a tahm." When I told him I had done so, he asked me to count them and hold just the total number of them in my mind. I told him I had a number in my mind (To show you how foolish I was in my mid-twenties, the number was "twelve"). "Divahde it bah two" he said, not particularly patiently or kindly; "If yo' lucky, at any gi'n tahm, ya got about haif as many good frainds as yo' thank!"

I thought this was a rather cynical view but I pursued the lesson; "OK, if that's true, how do I tell the phony half from the real half?" His eyes grew sad and I realized I was about to get the voice of experience. Slowly, his eyes even watering a little, he said; "Son, If yo' jess lissen, they ALWAYS tell ya!"

So here's to my long dead mentor and friend. His face and his words flashed into my consciousness yesterday, when somebody (thank God not a lawyer!) I had considered a friend for years--someone I have defended from countless personal attacks based upon some of his personal quirks and habits--Told me, by his conduct, loud and clear, "This relationship that you thought was one of trust and friendship--ha! It is convenient for me to exploit it now, so I will. You're disposable, Good-bye."

My mentor's wisdom having been proven again, a few thoughts linger:

1. I expect crap like this in politics, where flipping is almost a norm. I don't expect it outside of politics;

2. Good-bye, yourself, butt;

3. I would rather trust and get scorched one time than not build relationships based upon trust at all;

4. Holding grudges is bad for the soul. I won't do that.

5. Distinct from holding grudges, a false friend does not get a second round of trust. Pleasant conversation, cordial greetings, sure, but no trust;

6. What does not kill me only makes me stronger;

NOTE: the details of this particular betrayal are not important. The essential point is that is a shared human experience. Unless you live by yourself in a cave, it will happen to you, probably already has. Avarice, Ambition, Lust, Whatever, will become more important to somebody than the friendship you extend to him/her. I shared a bit about this one to help you prepare for your next one......and maybe a little bit because I know the false friend reads this blog and I want him to know exactly where he stands.

WEEKEND UPDATE: The FF has contacted me and suggested we not see each other for a while. What a concept! Like I was gonna call to cook out or shoot pool anytime soon. "I made a serious mistake" somehow didn't creep into the discussion.

NOT A BAD APPROACH

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