Make sure you get your brackets in by noon EDT.

Now we know how the Obama Administration allowed those AIG bonuses to go through: “they knew nothing!” Well, OK then. It’s a shame they didn’t back the Wyden/Snowe amendment, then (might have saved them a bit of embarrassment, eh?). Of course, the amendment made it into the Senate version of the bill, but somehow it evaporated in conference. Funny how that happens. Chris Dodd had an amendment that would have retroactively limited bonuses, too, which the Obama Administration opposed (but now they seem to be trying to throw Dodd under the bus). Wussup with that?

In more important news, the President has filled out his NCAA bracket, though they’re only teasing us with his Final Four picks: Louisville, North Carolina, Memphis and Pittsburgh. Not Syracuse? You’re really on thin ice with me these days, Mr. President. Looks like he’s got us going to the Regional Finals, though:

His full bracket will be revealed on the noon (Eastern) SportsCenter is here.

AIDS is a horrible epidemic in Africa, and a lot of foolish simpletons have been promoting the use of condoms in an attempt to stem the death toll. Everybody’s favorite Hitler Youth Pope has set them straight, though, decreeing that condoms actually make things worse. Well, OK then. Gee, I hope Pope “eggs” Benedict has SU losing in the first round. If he picks up to go all the way, I’m gonna be bummed.

Have a happy hump day.

Actor turned wingnut (and fellow UB alum, though he actually graduated, unlike me) Ron Silver died of esophageal cancer. I think he choked on Republican talking points, which stuck in his craw, festered, and turned cancerous. Say what you want about him, he was pretty good as the unscrupulous campaign director on the West Wing. Major asshole Frank Luntz has a stirring tribute. :barf:

More shocking news over the weekend: the Republicans don’t have a plan to fix the economy, but they still think the Democrats suck.

AIG is taking our money and using it to pay huge bonuses to the people who ran the company into the ground. It’s OK, though, since they’re not auto workers, and most likely deserve it.

Dick Cheney again says Obama’s gonna get us all killed. :yawn: Oh, and he and president dummy shouldn’t get any blame for flushing the economy down the toilet, ‘cuz they were busy fightin’ evil doers and such. Hey Dickie, you can watch some of the people whose lives you destroyed getting evicted from their homes, right there on your teevee. Go fuck yourself, Dick. Oh, and shut the fuck up, ‘kay?

David “squeaky” Frum says attacks on Michael Steele make him sick. Funny, listening to David Frum makes me sick.

Great weekend this weekend. Warm and sunny, with an even warmer and sunnier week ahead. Have a good one.

Sad news this morning (click here to avoid any sports talk)….

After leading by 8 points at halftime, SU finally ran out of gas and lost to Louisville in the Big East Championship game. Too bad.

This was a pretty scary moment:

Fortunately, he turned out to be OK. Now we wait to see where they get seeded for the NCAA tournament. I figure them for a three or (more likely) a four seed.

Also, congratulations to Kevin and the Akron Zips (BTW, Kev, what’s with the kangaroo?) on winning the MAC last night, and earning a trip to the NCAAs for the first time since 1986.

On the lacrosse side, in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Championship game teams, it was SU 14 Johns Hopkins 11.

What the hell, might as well plug my old high school, too, who earned another trip to the NY State Final Four, winning 90 – 61. They’re ranked #1 in the State, and look like they may successfully defend their titles (yeah, they have two tournaments here; first the public schools, and then the “federation” or something that has the NYC Catholic schools in it) again this year.

Will Ferrell as Dubya on HBO last night? Friggin’ excellent (especially that hot Condi, though they neglected to give her the big tooth gap). I gotta teach Granny the Western grip.

In other news…

On Press the Meat today it’s the Chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers Dr. Christina Romer and the House Republican Dick Whip Rep. Eric Cantor. Plus, an economic and political roundtable with asno inmenso David Frum, the BBC’s Chatty Katty Kay, Steve Liesman of Corrupt News Butthole Central, and PBS’s Tavis Smiley.

Faze the Nation has Larry Summers, Tom “my head is flat” Friedman, and Mike “The Reverend” Fletcher (“it’s Feltcher!” “Whatever”) from the WaPost.

On Fux News Sunday, Weaselface Wallace has Austan Goolsbee of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers rethug Bob Corker, Barney Frank, chief economist of Economy.com, Mark Zandi and FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair.

Over at the Goebbels network Larry Summers gets trotted out again, plus there’s Mitch “the prick” McConnell, and at the roundtable it’s George :jerk: Will, Frank Rich, Business Week’s Jim Ellis and Robert Kuttner of the American Prospect.

Later, on 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley has a double-lenght segment with Ben Bernake, and Lesley Stahl has “slow food” advocate Alice Waters.

Have a good one.

Crap, this OT shit is gonna kill me (in beer alone). Sorry about WV, Vernon, but I sure am glad it was only one OT last night. Busy day today here in da ‘Cuse.

First up, the largest St Patrick’s Day Parade (per capita; yeah, I know that doesn’t mean too much) in the country. Then, in lacrosse, #6 Johns Hopkins comes to the Dome to play #2 Syracuse. And, of course, we have the Big East Championship game at Madison Square Garden, as former SU assitant Rick Pitino takes on his old boss, Jim Boeheim. Hard enough to beat Louisville, which has been on a hell of a run though the BE this season, losing only two games (which is pretty amazing, given the competition), but after the last couple of nights, it’s hard to see how these kids can even make it though the first half. Thank goodness the game starts at a more reasonable 7:00 tonight. Crap! Read the teevee guide wrong; it’s at 9:00 again. Well, at least we don’t have to wait for the first game to end.

Have a good one.

Hey, didn’t we just have one of these last month?

I know nobody out there but me cares, but last night SU beat #3 ranked UCONN 127-117 in 6 OTs in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals. It was the second longest game in NCAA history, clocking at 3 hours and 46 minutes, and wasn’t over until almost 1:30 this morning. That’s about all I’ve got.

Sad news this morning: Trip will be raised by a single mom, as the shotgun wedding between Levi and Bristol has been called off. Gee, what a surprise; I really though they had a future.

Speaking of surprises, the Goebbels network actually debunked charges by wingnut tools Judicial Watch that Nancy Pelosi is always flitting around the world on military aircraft. Of course, these idiots never let facts get in the way of their talking points (especially when it comes from the “liberal media”).

Have I somehow missed the reasons why Meghan McCain has gotten her 15 minutes of fame (most recently appearing on Rachel Maddow’s show). I mean, who gives a crap what this chick has to say? It’s not like she had a litter of babies or married Brad Pitt or something.

So, looks like everybody’s favorite billionaire, Bernie Madoff, will be pleading guilty in Federal court today. They say he may go directly to jail, without passing GO. A shame they have to persecute the poor man, with their silly anti-free market rules and regulations and such. At least he’ll get a nice safe place to retire, unlike most of his “investors.” Personally, I think they ought to toss him over Niagara Falls without a barrel; if he lives, he’s free to go. Hell, if this guy can do it, so can my man Bernie. He might want to check out today’s Woot first, though (I seriously want one).

My laptop is behaving badly this morning, so I don’t have time for much. Poor thing is getting old; must be over four years old now, which is about 64 in computer years. Plus, it’s been through a lot. The culprit this morning appears to be the Foxmarks syncronizer for IE. Since I never use IE (except at work, where it’s the “officially supported” web browser, so I have to at least make sure my stuff works in it), I reckon I can do without it.

More rain today, then up into the 50’s before plunging into the teens later on (just in time for my new gloves and Elmer Fudd hat, which should be showing up on my porch some time today). This, combined with what seems to be constant fatigue the last few days, seems guaranteed to get me sick. I can feel a sore throat coming on. Guess I better start hitting up the oil of oregano.

See ya.

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Sam :omg: Donaldson, whose hair is just as black at 75 as it was at 35. 🙄

Not a lot going on this morning, I don’t think. St. John McCain says he doesn’t want Obama to fail. Gee, that’s big of ya, John. Used to be that kinda went without saying, but I reckon now that the dittoheads are running the GOP (maybe they ought to change that to BFP), I guess everybody’s gotta get on the record. Just watched a fascinating story on the lo-cal news. Turns out, people aren’t paying with checks as much as they used to, and are using debit and credit cards instead. Talk about breaking news.

Got an invitation to join a new local Meetup group to “meet with local fans of the nationally syndicated talk show host, Glenn Beck.” I can’t think of anything more enlightening than wasting spending time with a group full of Glenn Beck fans. It would totally be worthwhile. Too bad I’m busy whenever it is they’re meeting.

I think this loss of an hour caught up to me this morning. I’m fwiggin’ tired.

I’m not a churchgoer (other than weddings and funerals, I haven’t been since I was a kid), and I reckon that’s a good thing, ‘cuz church seems to be a pretty dangerous place these days. I don’t know what this guy’s story is, but I can’t help but think it’s all part of the hatred fomented by the Limpricks and savage Weiners (not to mention the Falwells and Pat Roberts) out there. “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.” Hey, I guess I actually did get a little something out of church, after all. Too bad so few of the Kristians out there don’t seem to have been paying attention.

So, looks like the octomom is shopping her birth tape around for seven figures (I know this, because it the single most important thing going on in the world). Really? Somebody would pay to see that? You’d have to pay me to watch that. If that’s something you want to see, just turn on Animal Planet and sooner or later you’ll find a Great Dane or something giving birth to a litter of pups. Same thrill, I would think (and a lot cheaper).

“Save Rocky, the Snakehead Fish” t-shirts will be available soon. I don’t know if they’ll keep Rocky out of the frying pan, but Rocky’s dad says the money will be going to benefit animal rescue groups. I see no reason why the DEC feels compelled to execute a ten year old pet fish that lives in a 200 gallon aquarium. Certainly, they could look the other way or give him a special permit or something. This is the same DEC, you may recall, that tranquilized a poor harmless little black bear to death last May. Bastids.

Friend-o-swift boaters T. Boone Pickens (who also worked to get Bush selected over Al Gore, and who admitted to voting for John McCain and the “Drill Baby, Drill” party on Bill Maher this week) says it’s not about Political Parties. Glad to hear it, Boonie, and, while I’m on board with the whole wind thing, I have to say “fuck you very much” for eight years of Bush – that, thank goodness, didn’t turn into 8 – 16 years of McCain/Palin.

Lots of rain around here over the weekend. Walking on it, the ground feels as though you’re walking around on a big wet sponge, and there’s lots of flooding all over the place. If it would stay in the 50’s, I wouldn’t mind so much, but 38 degrees and rain just plain sucks. I’d rather have snow. Especially since I just ordered new Gore-Tex^® gloves and an Elmer Fudd (or maybe Floyd R. Turbo) hat. By the time they get here, it’ll be too warm to wera ’em. Now I’ll have to try not to lose them before next winter.

Oh well, time to be a happy idiot, and struggle for the legal tender. Have a happy Monday.