What's the statute of limitations on blame? The war on terror and the current economic situations are to be blamed on Bush. The Obama team is going to blame as much on him as they can. No surprise. That's the way the game is played. But for how long?

Example: The stock market just finished it's worst January since EVER and an equally dismal February. While the economic situation can be blamed on many things, the stock market is an indicator of the future. And it's continued free fall does NOT bode well for The One. If investors truly believed his solutions were viable, wouldn't we see a return of capitol? An uptick (or at lease a flatline) of the consumer confidence level would show that Mr. And Ms. America have some confidence that the Obama-Reid-Pelosoi Plan will work. But that's not happening.

So now that the Donk's plan is in effect, for how much longer will Bush be blamed? My guess is about 2o minutes less than the recession lasts. As soon as there's an upturn, the Donks can claim “Mission Accomplished.” Fair enough. I predict another year or so. According to most measures the recession's been around for just over a yars. The average US recession lasts 1.5 years with a mean of about 2 years. So if we'd done NOTHING this one has about 6 -12 months left to run.

On the terrorism front – how long until the next attack on US soil CAN'T be blamed on W? I think the time limit on this one is MUCH shorter. The blame game for 9/11 is split with the Donks blaming W and the Elphs blaming Clinton. Personally I'm about 20/80 on that one. Here's the deal – we'd all been relatively safe up until then. NOW we kinda know it's out there. Ignoring an amorphous threat when you think your safe is one thing. Ignoring it when you've already been punched in the nose is quite another. We now have a Homeland Security official who used the word “terror*” a grand total on 0 times in her first major policy pronouncement.. She referred to hurricanes three times! In Hertford, Hereford, and Hampshire, hurricanes hardly ever happen. So in THIS case I'm thinking the torch has already been passed and The One gets NO further grace period on the terrorist front.

Here's my updated top 4 or 5.  Hope I don't jinx anybody since OU lost to Texas the day after I suggested they probably weren't even top 10 worthy.

North Carolina and Duke are the class of the bunch.  No surprise.

I have U Conn as my #3 esp after thier coach's outburst at his presser last week.

Memphis is still impressive and getting stronger but have probably played the weakest schedule of the bunch.

My #5 is Pitt.  The other beast of the east.

 So who comes out of the west?  Gonzaga.  My #10

And the Buckeyes?  Same as last time.  They need to finish in the top 4 of the Big 1(1)0 tourney and will probably be a 1 and done.  Bracketology has them as high as a #9 seed but I just don't see it.  11 or 12 at best.

it's right around the corner.  Here's my take on the top 5 & the Buckeyes.

North Carolina, Pitt, Duke, U Conn and Memphis. 

That's right, no Oklahoma.  Sorry - just not convinced yet. 

 As for OSU: they need a good run in the Big T(elev)en Tourney to secure an at large bid.  Final four.  Once in the dance they MIGHT win one game IF they get a good geographic and style matchup.  Otherwise they loose in the first round.  Just not enough horses. 

side note:  looking like absent a complete meltdown the BlueJackets might make the NHL post season.  Need to kick it up a notch to see a win though

This is the most abused toy of 2009?  And I mean that in a GOOD way!

Sorry about the absence of postings of late. The so called Stimulus package, the Pakastani hostage situation, the hijacking of the Census.....all have called out for a post. But sadly I've been dealing with some “issues.” They ere not yet resolved and won't be for some months but for the time being I can get back to writing.

The V-Day weekend has been passed quite nicely. Dinner with the inlaws and friends at the Elevator. Hadn't been there since it's “Clock” incarnation back in the 80's. Then off to the Riffe Center for the the Columbus JAG / Ballet Met combined performance. Then up to the Arena Disctrict to hear Mark Cullison's band Capitol Sound at the Park Street Tavern. Saturday evening saw us heading to Olde Town East for a nice party which brings me to topic. The host is a sweet pretty young divorcee. The apartment was VERY well decorated. The food and beverage was well matched to the party. Quite a mix of guests, attractive, smart and interesting. Now the downside. There were essentially four rooms from front to back. The “Living Room” up front provided a nice sofa and a couple of chairs. And a nice flatscreen TV complete with karaoke machine. The “Dining Room” was lovely – brick and wood, with the only seating a piano bench. The kitchen was well appointed with two bar stools. And the back room office with a desk chair. Three dozen people with seating space for a dozen at best. No place for a group to sit and chat. In order to interact one had to stand. I glommed on to a bar stool and staked out what came to be referred to as the OGC (Old Guy's Corner.) I attempted several forays into the mix but due to volume, size (I'm 6'2” and was wearing boots so most people were talking into my shoulder or elbow) and comfort I was unable to maintain almost any social interaction.

Mood:  down

posting has been slow and will continue to lag for the next few days....life is taking one of its ugly if not unexpected turns......I have a few opinion posts brewing and simmering, but wanna get a few things OUTTA my brain before I commit other thoughts to pixels.

thx for understand.....

Mood:  not sure

Hundreds of TV channels catering to almost every whim and fetish. Every sport imaginable. Courtroom channels. Cop show channels. Reality show channels. And yet NONE are broadcasting a bit of Americana that so defines the decade and manifests itself in my cultural memory.

Friday nights. I won't go into ALL the details but from September through mid-November in Central Ohio they were sacred. Our ritual was the same. Many elements are for another time, but after the HS football game we had a rotating schedule. Four familys would take turns hosting so the kids (players, band members, cheerleaders) would always know where to meet after the game. More on the rotation in another post too. But we'd adjurn to our house, or the Lovelesses, of the Pfiels, or occasionally the Lewis's. Pizza and soda and a rehash of the game and when the parents talk turned to the boring stuff we'd head to the TV room. Before the local news came on and gave us our rival's scores, we watched Love, American Style. Then the scores. Then Fritz the NightOwl's Chiller Theater. Usually fell asleep half way through the first movie.   And for some reason that keeps stabbing into my head.  All of it.  At once.  And more.

I'm feeling REALLY maudlin right now. I gotta go change my mood.

And the lovely Desdemona painted it!