The Alton Weekly Inquirer! 04-11-08

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

Our Top Story Today:  There is no top story today, for reasons I'll explain in the tip jar.  Let's go to press!

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

If this show doesn't work, may I suggest Cain and Abel and Ted and Alice?  Yet another new theatre, the Sight and Sound Theatre, is going up in the entirely too wholesome town of Branson, Missouri.  The new showplace will feature a stage over 300 feet long and four stories tall, in order to present the faith-based smash that wowed Strasburg, Pennsylvania, Noah--The Musical. The big, big show features a cast of over 50 "professional actors" and a whole boatload (nyuk, nyuk) of trained animals, lights, music, song (!) and dance (!!). It's $49.00 a pop for adults ($46.55 if you bring a group of 15.) for a 2 1/2 hour show; bring a pillow, but no sharp objects--you may want your eyeballs and/or your eardrums for future use.

(It could be worse--the Anita Bryant Theatre could still be running.  The upstanding Christian singer skedaddled from Branson, leaving behind unpaid bills and unpaid employees.  Heh.)

Speaking of Branson, Shoji Tabuchi, in his 28th year there, has still not changed his haircut:

Shoji-san, grade school in Japan was decades ago.  You can get a different haircut.  No, really.  That's his wife on the left and daughter on the right working the it's-Branson-so-we-must-be-wholesome look.  (I could have shown the trio in their it's-Branson-so-we-must-be-patriotic attire, but I will spare you.  You're welcome.)

The 527's are already starting on Obama, as reported by the So-Called Austin Mayor:

Ominous voice: "Barack Obama says he has game. But during a 1999 a pick-up game, eyewitnesses -- Obama's own teammates -- saw him miss a routine layup."

Man's voice: "The ball just rolled around the hoop... and popped out! So how can Obama possibly lead the nation?"

Second man's voice: "Barack had the lane to himself -- nobody was on him -- and he missed. And this guy is supposed to protect my children at 3 a.m.?"

Former Arkansas governor: "This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen"

Ominous voice: "Barack Obama's claims he's ready to play ball and to lead the country. But those who know him best say:

'Rejected!'

Yes, it's the Fast Break Veterans for Truth, staying on top of the important issues, so that we don't have to.

Neither rain, nor snow, nor gloom of night, nor.....turkeys?  In Madison, Wisconsin (does Pastor Dan know about this?) between 5 and 10 turkeys have been pestering local letter carriers, either by pecking at them or using the sharp spurs on their feet. Postal workers have been countering with water pistols and with sticks.  Lest you think the threat from gobblers is overstated, let's review this bit of classic footage:

I may miss Florida, but here's one reason I'm happy to live in Illinois:  The new Progress Illinois blog (well worth a bookmark) reports that my state, in contast to some others that are ramping up the nativist rhetoric, is ahead of most others on progressive legislation governing immigrant's rights, including particpation of all children in the state's All Kids health insurance program, regardless of their actual status.  Though Rod "goodhair of the north" Blagojevich and the Lege have driven me crazy more than once, credit where credit is due here!

Obama becoming the nominee may come down to Rahm Emanuel.  Your queasiness may vary:  Progress Illinois also has an interesting post up, linking to a Newsweek article that speculates that the Democrat from Chicago (Rahm, that is) may hold a key to ending the Obama-Clinton deadlock.  He has a foot in both camps, being close friends with David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, and James Carville and Patti Solis Doyle on Clinton's side.  Rahm is the only officially neutral Illinois Congressman, and it appears he's trying to avoid the role of kingmaker:

"I have a sneaking suspicion it's over after North Carolina and Indiana [May 6]," says Emanuel. "It will be clear by then who the presumptive nominee is."

I'm sure he'll get it, and we'll get it, but the question is, will Clinton get it?  If he plays a large role in ending this thing peacably, I might even forgive him for stuffing Tammy Duckworth's losing candidacy down our throats last cycle, blowing money that could have won us a few more close races elsewhere.  Make the right choice, Rahmbo.

 

Your moment of Inky:

What's the news in your world this week?

•  Tip jar after a rough night

  I know I'm late with this week's edition, but there's a reason for it.  Nancy came down with some severe abdominal cramping and pain last night, to the point where we had to go to the emergency room.  While she has had problems like this before, last night was the most severe bout I had seen.  Fortunately St. Anthony's was able to get her in quickly, and a very kind nurse took care of us all night.  The doctor that saw us was okay, at best, but at least the news was good; it was an outbreak of inflammatory bowel disease.   By the time we got everything done, including filling our prescriptions, it was after 2 AM.

  We're both off work today, so I'll be here to look after her.  Send some nice thoughts her way.

  

  Andy

  by AAbshier on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:22:47 AM PDT

  •  Get Well Soon Nancy

    

    My one trip to the emergancy room was when I was 19, also for severe abdominal cramps & pain.  Mine turned out to be caused by gallstones.

    by Debbie in ME on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:26:18 AM PDT

  •  such a beautiful flower!

    and the Hibiscus's nice, too

    by voila on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:28:39 AM PDT

  •  Aw, Nancy, I hope they get

    this figured out soon and that you feel better.

    Seems like forever.

    Kisses.  Hugs.  (And if Andy's not looking, that other thing you're feeling would be a subtle grope.)

    Get better!

    by Marc in KS on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:33:59 AM PDT

    •  subtle?

      heh.

      by voila on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:34:50 AM PDT

      •  I am, ma'am (or sir, as the case may be),

        nothing if not subtle.

        I could have been a pickpocket, except nothing in a pocket was of interest to me.

        by Marc in KS on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:35:50 AM PDT

  •  Sending healing thoughts and

    

    Feel better soon, Nancy.

    by lamzdotes on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:39:05 AM PDT

  •  Feel better, Nancy

    Hope the pain is under control and healing has commenced.

    You too, Andy. I noticed at least one of those prescriptions was for you. ;-)

    And speaking of noticing, this is the third time you've used that third tag. Is three your lucky number?

    by sardonyx on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:39:15 AM PDT

  •  Thoughts, prayers, and karma going

    out to you Nancy, and you, too, Andy

    by Texas Blue Dot on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:43:03 AM PDT

  •  Feel better soon, Nancy!

    I'm glad they figured out what it was, anyway! Hugs!

    by virgomusic on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:47:09 AM PDT

  •  Hope she feels better soon (eom)

    by KMuniz on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:52:51 AM PDT

  •  feel better nancy!

    i've actually been to the emergency room four times...once about 20 years ago...they thought it was my appendix...long story short it wasn't LOL (course i wasn't LOL at the time)but good thing they thought it was cause i ahd a cyst on my ovary that was about to burst...second time was after a drunk driver knocked me into a taffic light pole so hard i knocked the power in the area back on...third time was in indy...had walking pneumonia and literally coughing so much i couldn't breathe so roomie called an ambulance...and most recent was here in pa...was working one of my night jobs and tried to catch a falling glass to prevent it from crashing...hand caught up to glass JUST as it shelf and now i have a scar that makes people think i tried to slit my wrists LOL
    overall i've been lucky to have relatively fast "service" and good docs but i know that's not always the case

    by Spedwybabs on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 09:04:10 AM PDT

•  I remember that episode!

  WKRP was awesome!  (Of course, I was younger and stupider, but I loved it.)

  Happy weekend, Andy.

  by Marc in KS on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:34:54 AM PDT

•  Get well wishes to Nancy.

  Inky is still so cute and so tired.  
  The 2 states Rahm mentioned leads me to believe---Obama.
  Branson---part of the problem, not part ......
  Blago's goodhair style has not changed a wisp since 1982.
  Why are turkeys so crabby?
  And from news you can't use from morning paper---local woman has made it into the Guinness book of world records for her ladybug collection----she is the proud owner of 2050 ladybug items.  Her house is just crawling with ladybugs---red and black all over the place.  She is proud.

  by dotster on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:50:34 AM PDT

•  {{{{{{Nancy}}}}}}

  Healing thoughts sent your way from Bill and I.  

  by Common Sense Mainer on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:51:33 AM PDT

•  Thanks

  for the WKRP clip Andy. I always post that clip on my personal blog every thanksgiving. Easily one of the best scenes from a sitcom ever...

  Have a Happy Friday everyone, and a fantastic weekend! The wife and I are going to see 'Jersey Boys' in Chicago this weekend, I'll let you all know how it is.

  by KMuniz on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:52:28 AM PDT

  •  my fave

    tv turkeys were the friends episode when joey gets the uncooked turkey stuck on this head and the west wing episode where cj's office is invaded by the turkeys vieing to get pardoned lol

    by Spedwybabs on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 09:07:35 AM PDT

    •  West Wing

      always had good thanksgiving eps. 'Indians in the Lobby' was an underapprecaited gem.

      by KMuniz on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 09:34:36 AM PDT

•  car crap

  McDoc and I had a Murphy's Law kinda day yesterday... my car has some kind of fuel line problem -- once in awhile the accelerator shudders and poops out. So far, pulling over and turning the engine off for several seconds takes care of it... temporarily.

  It happened again yesterday, so I took it to Midas, and they said it was something only the dealer could fix, and it was too late in the day to go there.

  McDoc and I had some errands to run, and we stopped for a bite to eat. When we came out of the restaurant, we had a FLAT TIRE! AND it was raining! Fortunately, McDoc is my knight in shining armor and was able to put on the spare. But the accelerator pooped out again on the way home.

  I had to take him to work at 5 am this morning, and I was pretty nervous about whether the car would decide to quit again. It didn't, thank FSM, and the dealer is looking at it as we speak. Fingers crossed that the repair won't eat up all of our tax refund...

  And as soon as the dealer's done, it's off to the tire store, to see if the warranty will cover whatever it is that happened to this 5-month-old tire.

  On the bright side, no hospital visits were involved!

  by virgomusic on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 06:59:01 AM PDT

  •  Those car bills can add up, though....

    ...I'm very glad our two cars are reliable.  Nancy just had some regular planned maintenance done, though, and that cost us $600.00.  But we don't have to fight deal with the medical insurance system on that one.

    Andy
    Alton IL

    by AAbshier on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 07:02:26 AM PDT

•  City of West Lafayette trapping cats

  The City of West Lafayette is trapping cats at my apartment complex.  One of them wore a pink collar and two of the five caught were domesticated.  It turns out that our neighbors to the north were complaining about the strays...never mind that they let their unfixed cats out at night and cats will be cats.  And sick, skinny six-month-old semi-ferals in heat do not show up from nowhere.  

  by Yamaneko2 on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 08:04:12 AM PDT

  •  And how is the sweet kitten you rescued?

    I'm sorry to hear that there are still problems.

    by lamzdotes on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 08:21:35 AM PDT

    •  Thanks for asking!

      As I write, we're visiting my mother.  She and the other cat (who may be her aunt) are chasing each other.

      By the way, I saw one of Bandit's old posse this evening.  I call her Lily for reference purposes, and this is the first time that she ever meowed at me.  She's apparently pregnant.  

      by Yamaneko2 on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 07:12:32 PM PDT

      •  It's good to hear that Bandit is doing well,

        but I'm sad to hear that her old posse is apparently increasing. I guess it's to be expected, but it's sad nevertheless to think of more feral kittens having to live on the street.

        Please give Bandit some skritches for me. Bless you, Yameneko2, for rescuing her.

        by lamzdotes on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 07:55:40 PM PDT

•  re: sight and sound theater

  whoa didn't know they were building a second one...talk about tour bus central...a friend of mine works in their ticket office and she said they averaqe 8 buses a DAY...they are a huge draw
  oh and actually the Noah show is pretty cool...their new one "In The Beginning" is ok too

  by Spedwybabs on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 08:59:20 AM PDT

•  Jon Stewart on regulation

  Ran across this at MinnPost* this morning, and it was too accurate to pass by:

  It's all sort of ironic, when you think about it. When you fly, YOU are inspected quite thoroughly, whereas the plane itself is, perhaps, occasionally vacuumed. See, with this administration, if a passenger blows up a plane, it's a 'failure in the war on terror,' but if the plane just blows up on its own, it's 'the market self-regulating.'

  - Jon Stewart

   

  Hope Nancy's feeling better!! Abdominal pain, in all it's many forms, sucks. (ER visit for a kidney stone a few years back. ohmaheffengawd that hurt.)

  Ooooh, Inky so cute!!

   
  Westboro Baptist Hatred Alert:

  A few days ago, three college students died in a house fire in Stout, WI. Yesterday, the assholes fuckheads sick motherfuckers bastards from Westboro Baptist (Phelps family) picketed the campus, claiming that the three died for "Minnesota and Wisconsin's sins".
   
  This has been an alert from the sick mofo warning system.
   

    * Where many of the laid off and forcibly retired StarTribune employees have gone - you know, the people who were their GOOD writers, who know how to investigate and report. MinnPost only does a major update once a day (11am central), but it's solid work.

  by Lashe on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 09:13:18 AM PDT

  •  :::shudder::: phelps family :::shudder:::

    I refuse to think of that obscene bunch as a "church." I'm positive that there's a special circle of Hell reserved for them and their ilk.

    Great sig line, Lashe. I wish Mr. Truman were still leading the battle.

    by lamzdotes on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 10:21:59 AM PDT

•  So, I got a summons for jury duty...

  ...to start last Friday (April 4). Third time I've been called, and it was a charm. I was the second person in the first 12, and our panel was called right after we got to the jury room and saw the video.

  Anyway, the judge gets to me, reads that I'm a civil engineer that works for the City of Chicago, and asks me what I do: I reply that I'm a Traffic Engineer IV with the Traffic Management Authority. He asks if it was the old Bureau of Street Traffic, and I reply that we were part of what was BST after it had been transferred to Public Works, and we had been reformed into Dept. of Transportation. The judge asks if I know this person, and that person, and I reply yes, they were coworkers of mine, one them being one of my old bosses. Then he mentions that one of the witnesses is a traffic engineer from TMA, and asks me if I know him. I reply, "Yes, Your Honor. He's my supervisor".
  None of the lawyers (plaintiff, two defendants) says boo. They ask their questions, and they move on. Late afternoon comes, and the first 24 potential jurors have been interviewed (yes, we had a lunch break), and three of the remaining five are likewise quizzed, one woman being dismissed because she has a pending court case. And finally, the judge calls out 12 names, has `em raise their right hands, and swears them in as a jury.

  Did I mention that the third time was a charm? My name was the second one the judge called out. I had to call my boss to let him know I was on a jury, but I couldn't tell him I was going to be on the jury in the case he was testifying in. He learned that Tuesday, and did a double-take when he say me in the jury box! We finished up by Wednesday afternoon: the plantiff got something, but not the big money her lawyer asked for in his closing statement.

  I wonder if this would been better as a diary?

  by JeffW on Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 10:54:36 AM PDT