From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE...
While we were all fixated on nuclear options, evil judges and car bombs, a miracle happened right under our noses. From Kossack `Plane Crazy'...
"The short synopsis is that 9 weeks ago we went from "Some concern but we'll watch it" to "60% chance your baby will not develop lungs and will not be able to breath when he's born. If he can, then there's a 20% chance he'll have horrible physical deformities and severe lung problems." Then the news got bad, it went to finally 90-some-percent chance the baby would die.
We agonized over continuing to carry a baby who would certainly die. We decided to continue. We're both 41 and this is our one and only chance to have a kid and we thought that as long as there's just that small percent we'd give him that chance.
After an exciting weekend of contractions, no contractions, contractions again, I am pleased to announce a Super Mega Double Whammo Cheer for
Nathaniel James. (Updated pic here.)
Born at 29 weeks and 2 days...2lbs 13oz...13.25 inches long
He just keeps getting stronger and stronger and is completely off any assisted breathing. He's gaining weight and fussing up a storm...and surprising the hell out of everyone including the professionals."
In my book, that's the story of the week. Congratulations to you, Plane Crazy, your wife, and the new kid on the blog. Cheers and Jeers starts in There's Moreville... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Super Mega Double Gong!!]
Cheers and Jeers for Thursday, May 26, 2005...
Note: In yesterday's "Paper/Scissors/Rock" poll, C&J chose paper. If you chose scissors, you win. If you chose rock, please present your arm for a wet two-finger wrist slap.
By the Numbers:
Days `til Memorial Day: 4
Days `til Summer: 26
Amount of money in Americans' savings accounts: $4 trillion+
Amount in checking accounts: $1 trillion
Amount invested in stocks/mutual funds: $10 trillion
(Source: Forbes via The Week magazine)
Estimated cost of worker absenteeism in the 48 hours after the release of `Star Wars III': $627 million
(Source: Time)
Your Puppy Pic of the Day "Leave me alone...in my world it's Saturday morning already."
CHEERS to TV worth watching. Tonight at 9 on A&E: a documentary called 'Bearing Witness'. It's about 5 women journalists who risked their hides to report on the war in Iraq and other conflicts. And hopefully we'll get to see them sneak up on Geraldo and give him a king-size wedgie.
JEERS to bats on the bench. Priscilla "Keep That Water Away From Me" Owen got confirmed by the Senate yesterday. Al Franken pointed out yesterday that she'd like to repeal zoning laws, thus paving the way for porn shops to spring up next to churches. And I think I'll build my first one in Colorado Springs.
CHEERS to Helen Thomas. The ol' gal ripped into White House press manipulator Scott McClellan for saying this week that we were in Afghanistan and Iraq "by invitation." So that's why all the bunker busters we dropped had "RSVP" on `em.
JEERS to "the gulag of our time." That's how Amnesty International describes the prison at Guantanamo Bay in its annual report. The human rights group also condemned the Bushies for playing games with language to justify abuse and torture. Why they chose to bring the 2004 election campaign into this I have no idea.
CHEERS to the Washington Post. In today's must-read, the paper uses its lead editorial to explain to Laura Bush why endorsing a rigged, dissent-stifling election in Egypt is mighty dumb: "Only a forceful intervention from the White House could induce Egypt's dictator to hold an election that is close to free and fair. Instead he---and the Egyptian people---have heard from Laura Bush that his mockery of democracy is worthy of applause." Paging Condi Rice! Cleanup on Aisle 6!
CHEERS to sweet libation. 75 years ago, in 1930, the Supreme Court ruled that buying liquor does not violate the Constitution. Afterward they reached for the flasks strapped to their shins and toasted their fine work. Cheers!
JEERS to the universal language of hate. I don't speak a lick of Spanish, but I know exactly what this anti-gay ad in a Spanish newspaper says. Hey, Señores, perhaps you can help me translate a couple words from my language: "Up Yours."
JEERS to Tippity Tappity Kaboom! A 36 year-old German genius emptied "several cans" of insect spray in his apartment, closed his windows, then sat down at his computer, whereupon a spark from said PC caused an explosion that gutted the place. Next time try a flyswatter, Dumkopf.
CHEERS to activist Danes. 16 years ago today, Denmark became the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage. Crazy sinners---don't they know these relationships rarely last more than 46 years?
CHEERS to our new digs. We laid the foundation last fall, and now our new office complex is finally open for business. Why, hello down there!
C&J Flashback: May 26, 2004...
JEERS to bad legislation gone badder. Prescription prices are going up so fast, those Medicare prescription cards could end up being darn near worthless. Let's see the suck-up AARP wriggle out of this one.
JEERS to Lynne Cheney. At Wisconsin Republican Convention, she pulls this zinger from the depths of her black soul: "These three years have provided a textbook case of outstanding leadership at the head of our government." Sure, a textbook called `One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'
And just one more...
CHEERS to Extreme Gravity Defiance. The new Kingda Ka rollercoaster (Six Flags, New Jersey) is the world's tallest and fastest, launching you 456 feet into the air at 128 mph...in 3.5 seconds. Take a ride on it here. Looks fun. You go first.
Floor's open. What are you cheering and jeering about today?
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Today's Shameless Testimonial:
"I believe we can do better and we owe it to the United States of America, the U.S. State Department, our soldiers overseas, our children and our grandchildren to do better than Bill in Portland Maine."
Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)
5/25/05
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