The Alton Weekly Inquirer! 02-08-08

From the Alton Weekly Inquirer Action EyeWitness NewsCenter On Your Side, in the true-blue state of Illinois.....

The NewsTeam at the AWIAEWNCOYS has finally gotten on the bridge to the 21st Century: a brand-new HP Pavilion dv9000 widescreen laptop, with full wi-fi capability!  So now faithful partner in life, news assistant, and one who just flat-out looks pretty (Nancy) can write to her heart's content, while I get uninterrupted time to bring you the mortal missives you've come to expect every week!  Let's go to press with the first laptop-produced AWI!

The Alton Weekly Inquirer!  News from around the nation, around the world and up your alley! (Up my alley?  Up yours!)

Super Tuesday: It's Really Super!  No, Really!

And following this there was much chortling:  Multiple Choice Mitt won the endorsement of MO-9 Republican Congresscritter and erstwhile Missouri Governor candidate Kenny "no, I'm really moderate" Hulshof, along with Hulshof's strategist and political director.  Outgoing governor Matt Blunt was onboard with MCM's campaign from the beginning.  All the institutional support led MCM to a third place finish in the Missouri primary, two points behind Preacher Mike.  I bet Kenny feels REAL good going into his own primary. (via Fired Up Missouri)  (UPDATE on Thursday:  MCM's suspension of his campaign is an even bigger help!  I never thought I'd thank MCM for anything, but....)

Mittens Romney: Man of Prescience?  Fired Up Missouri also highlights this quote from MCM, overheard at a campaign appearance at Dave and Buster's last week:

"You guys, you're a critical state.  What Missouri says here may have a big statement about what happens in terms of selecting our nominee.  You guys are gonna have an enormous voice in this race, and I want to make sure that you take a look at both Senator McCain and me and decide which way our party ought to head."

Third place, Mitt.  Got the message yet?  (Thursday update:)

When the news broke out, there was a run on popcorn futures:  Focus on the Fundraising Family's James Dobson is shocked, shocked, that the R's would even >consider nominating St. John Of the So-Called Straight Talk Express:

"I am convinced Sen. McCain is not a conservative, and in fact, has gone out of his way to stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are ... I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Yes, stay home, Jimmy D.  Bring some friends too.  Hell, (and I wouldn't say that to a real man of God, just a purported one) have a cookout or something!  We need Colorado!  

Fired-up Democrats in Alaska:  In 2004, the Democratic party caucus drew 250 people in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, according to the Anchorage Daily News.  The caucuses this year drew between 3,700 and 4,500, overwhelming the volunteers running the event, nearly half of the estimated 8600 people statewide who turned out.  (via Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis)

Inside:

Some scary thinking in the hinterlands:  This piece appeared in the Ottawa News Herald, serving a small town approximately 60 miles south of Kansas City.  To say that it is batshit-crazy would be an insult to beat fecal material, but just as they were with Katherine Harris, Wonkette is on it:

Well, now comes another bad idea ... maybe even worse. The Democratic Party actually intends to put a Muslim fundamentalist in the White House. Yes, you read it right. They want to put a man of Muslim origins in the White House.[...]

To elect Barack Obama to the highest office in the land would be nothing less than spitting on the graves of the victims of 9/11.

If Obama wins the nomination, a lot more of this will be headed his way.  His campaign (and us) better be ready.

Friday update: now the new laptop doesn't work.  Already:  I took it to the Collinsville Public Library yesterday to use their wi-fi, and my Internet browser (IE) worked fine there.  Since then, however, it will not open.  Working with the Geek Squad guy, we at least determined that my network was working fine, or appeared to be, but my browser will not open on any webpage.  To say I'm frustrated would be an understatement.  I haven't even had the computer for a week at this point, and already there's a major problem.

Here it is, your moment of Inky:

•  A very grumpy tip jar

  Sorry this edition is so short.  I had hoped to get more material and finish things up last night, but the laptop problem completely vexed me. It still isn't working this morning, and while the Geek Squad guy that worked with me over the phone was very thorough, we weren't able to find the problem.

  I have this, plus my new camera hit the street shortly after the STL Obama rally because the factory-supplied camera strap let go, and now has to go back to the manufacturer for repairs, which may get expensive.

  Plus one of the tailights on my pickup is broken.

  I certainly hope trouble only comes in threes.

  Andy
  Alton IL

  by AAbshier on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 05:58:59 AM PDT

  •  Laptop problems!

    Maybe it's not just me. I pick mine up from the Apple Store this afternoon. They had to replace the logic board. Sorry to hear about your camera. That should be next for me. I had my cordless phone die on me (just as well, because it was on the same frequency as my wireless), then the laptop, then my internet connection, and now my microwave is making funny noises. Electronics hate me. Sounds like you have a similar problem. ;)

    by Floja Roja on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:09:20 AM PDT

    •  Please you folks

      Don't come by my house!  My laptop is creaky, but has worked well this week.  I don't want your cooties to screw it up.  Thank you very much for staying the other side of St. Louis at the closest!

      by annetteboardman on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:14:53 AM PDT

      •  Well I couldn't find you if I wanted to....

        ...so your laptop is safe!

        Andy

        by AAbshier on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:16:05 AM PDT

        •  well, and with the busted taillight

          You'd probably get a ticket.  Best to stay home with the wifey.

          by Mrs Pastor on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:30:28 AM PDT

  •  Lets hope that you do not start a new

    round of threes!!!!!!

    by baffled on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 10:04:50 AM PDT

•  James Dobson is my moral compass

  If he loudly supports it, I assume that it is totally immoral until I've learned more. If he opposes it, I presume it is benign. It's hard to do wrong by guessing that he is. Greed and lies are not values that any family should be saddled with.

  by freelunch on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:02:40 AM PDT

•  John McCain and his curved talk express

  Heading for a winding road near you.

  by Mishima on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:02:41 AM PDT

•  Good morning. Or not.

  Barely slept a wink because Gris-Gris is freaking out over his incision and the little drain thingy the vet put in, and he won't leave it alone, and he actually crawled under the covers and peed on me! He's never peed outside the litterbox since I got him. I wish I could find (a) something to make the incision stop hurting/itching and (b) some kitty Valium. His anxiety made me anxious, which kept me from sleeping.

  

  by Floja Roja on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:05:52 AM PDT

  •  He is such a pretty boy!

    I hope he feels better.  He looks like my new kitty named Dos.

    by mango on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:12:08 AM PDT

    •  Dos?

      Is he a split personality? Or a Gemini? Does he have a brother named Uno? Is his last name Equis?

      Sorry, lame humor in the morning. Blame it on two hours of sleep. ;)

      by Floja Roja on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:18:12 AM PDT

      •  His brother

        is named Uno.  I decided this is an easy way to keep track since the population is booming around here.  I am up to four cats now.

        by mango on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:20:02 AM PDT

      •  I couldn't sleep last night either

        maybe we are moving to a full moon?  Of course it could have had something to do with the chest infection that seems to ahve developed a week after the flu was over.  Both pootie and I are on antibiotics!

        by annetteboardman on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:20:41 AM PDT

        •  {{{{annetteboardman}}}}

          I hope the anti-bugs work well and soon for you and pootie. Get a lot of rest this weekend, 'k?

          by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:01:12 AM PDT

  •  Poor you, poor him

    What was the surgery?  I missed this news.  Pretty kitty.

    My cat has pretty well stopped peeing outside the litter box, but the medicine has been giving her diarrhea.  So I don't want her messy but sitting on the bed, and she is still kept out.  Not a happy cat, but it is only temporary.  She seems to be happier and healthier as well.  Quite noticeable.  I think she probly did have a bladder infection.

    by annetteboardman on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:17:00 AM PDT

    •  He had an infected abcess removed.

      His first trip to the vet in 8 years, and that alone freaked him out badly, and they kept him overnight, which must have been torture for him. He's acting so freaky, I'd love to pump him full of anti-anxiety meds to he could go from being like this:

      

      to this:

      

      by Floja Roja on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:21:48 AM PDT

    •  Will kitty eat yogurt?

      My girl had a reaction to antibiotics a few years back, but she was willing to lap up a little plain (or vanilla) yogurt, and that cleared up the diarrhea issues within a day.

       
      Hope all the kitties are feeling better...

      by Lashe on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 10:30:03 AM PDT

      •  anything milky she loves

        I will try it once we are through with the stuff.  I don't want to run the risk of any interaction that might mean the drugs don't work as well.  

        by annetteboardman on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 11:28:19 AM PDT

        •  According to Miss Kitty's vet at the time

          the yogurt shouldn't affect the efficacy of the antibiotic in any way.

          by Lashe on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 04:44:29 PM PDT

  •  poor Gris-Gris

    and poor you.

    I know how hard it is watching someone you love suffering and not knowing how to help.

    Hope he heals quickly.  :)

    by Debbie in ME on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:40:23 AM PDT

    •  Thanks, Debbie.

      Where's our Dusty pic?

      by Floja Roja on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:53:03 AM PDT

      •  oops, sorry...

        was headed out to an appt.

        here's Dusty
        

        :)

        by Debbie in ME on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:07:20 AM PDT

        •  Awwww.

          I don't think I've seen that one before.

          by Floja Roja on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 11:09:55 AM PDT

  •  How frustrating for you both!

    I hope you can both calm down enough to get through this with your relationship intact.

    When does Gris-Gris get the drain removed?

    I prescribe the wine of your choice for your symptoms, FR, and am sending healing thoughts to Gris-Gris and hugs to both of you.

    by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:48:07 AM PDT

    •  The drain comes out Monday

      if he doesn't manage to pull it out before then. I don't want to take him back sooner because he hates the vet trips so much, I want him to have time to settle back in.

      by Floja Roja on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:52:20 AM PDT

      •  Sounds like a loooong weekend.

        More {{{{FR}}}} and gentle scritches for Gris-Gris.

        by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:57:50 AM PDT

•  Andy, re: your browser

  Go into Network Connections and double click on the wireless connection (you are running wireless from home as well?)

  Click on Refresh Networks List and then make sure the laptop is not still pointing to the Library wireless network, but to YOUR wireless network.  
  Open your wireless location if so, and voila!  The internet is at your fingertips once again.

  by funluvn1 on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:08:33 AM PDT

  •  I bet that's it

    I had the same thing happen to me when I took my laptop someplace other than my house.

    by donnamarie on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:28:05 AM PDT

  •  That sounds really good!

    I'm always so panicked when the mysterious wireless stuff fails to work that I forget to do the List stuff. Thanks be for my geeky daughter who always rescues me.

    by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:35:51 AM PDT

  •  Already tried it....

    ...the computer shows it as connected to my LAN here in the house.  But still the Internet won't open.

    Andy

    by AAbshier on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:50:26 AM PDT

    •  Rats!!

      Call HP.

      by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:55:04 AM PDT

      •  I'm sure that's what you wanted to hear

        right? :O

        by tj iowa on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:01:58 AM PDT

•  The New Republican Mantra

  "Say Anthing (but the Truth)"

  Coming soon to an Op-Ed page near you.

  by Ex Con on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:10:06 AM PDT

•  Even pure red Idaho

  is on a roll. Thanks to getting fired up we just might be able to reclaim the First District for the House, and put a man of integrity (Larry LaRocco) in the Senate.

  by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:15:10 AM PDT

•  Thank you for my Inky fix, Andy.

  She always makes me feel better. Maybe a good snuggle with Her Highness would do the same for you?

  Have you talked to HP about the laptop's suckiness?

  by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:24:23 AM PDT

  •  she greets me in the morning....

    ...by laying on my chest and purring very loudly.  Usually bunting goes with it, and since she drools a bit that gets a bit messy!

    Andy
    Alton IL

    by AAbshier on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:25:49 AM PDT

    •  What's bunting, Andy?

      Is that when they take their paws and knead you?

      by donnamarie on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:29:06 AM PDT

      •  No, that's when they head-butt you...

        ...which they also do on inanimate objects for scent-marking.

        Andy

        by AAbshier on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:30:53 AM PDT

        •  Okay, Thanks Andy

          Then what do you call the paw-kneading thing?  And why do the pooties do that?

          by donnamarie on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:55:23 AM PDT

          •  They knead the love! n/t

            by JeffW on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:01:05 AM PDT

    •  Ah...

      I luvz me some cat drool first thing in the morning. A natural pre-rinse for the daily shower.

      by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:31:03 AM PDT

•  Morning!

  Sorry about the laptop, Andy, I hope it's nothing seriously expensive. I hate when machines won't cooperate! Especially when you can't fix them the old-fashioned way--by whacking them really hard. Grrrrrr.

  Here's Tallulah, sitting on my lap and ignoring our candidates. If they want her vote, they'd better show up at the door with a case of Fancy Feast and a heated cat bed.

  

  I hope everyone has a better day later on...if not, drinks are on me :)

  by lulu57 on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:33:09 AM PDT

  •  If she was media, McCain would provide both!

    He really sucks up to them, which is why so many of them fluff him rather than cover him.

    Andy

    by AAbshier on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:34:03 AM PDT

•  Okay...

  Who voted for Tweety in the poll?

  I know it wasn't Tallulah!

  

  by lulu57 on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:42:16 AM PDT

  •  Bwaaahahaha!

    

    Good one!!

    by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:53:01 AM PDT

  •  That's one of my favs, lulu n/t

    by donnamarie on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 06:55:59 AM PDT

•  The "math"...

  ...John McCain > George W. B*sh, and

  John McCain = Yosemite Sam.

  Ever notice that all the Republican candidates seem to be avatars in real life of Warner Brother cartoon characters?

  by JeffW on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:03:34 AM PDT

  •  Now that you mention it... n/t

    by lamzdotes on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:05:47 AM PDT

•  Not much to report

  I just feel bad that Doc has had such a bad run of luck. I'm just gonna hide out until he gets things fixed up!

  It was fun while the laptop was working. I was on the third floor on the computer. He was in the living room on the first floor. We were IMing each other! Awwhhh.

  We'll get it worked out. Life is full of lots little annoyances.

  {{{{Doc}}}}

  by SnoKat on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:30:55 AM PDT