Mr. Dilettante

• Black Friday

  Number of comments: 0
  Well, I'm back from my Black Friday shopping trip. I went to three stores and still made it back to the house in time to pack for our trip to Madison. I bought a couple of kids toys to give as donations, a couple of cooking items, a gift for' [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 9:54am EST
  by Mrs. D

• Code Green

  Number of comments: 1
  I'm watching the unfolding scandal from the East Anglia CRU carefully, because what we're learning is huge. Charlie Martin, a computer programmer by trade, has taken a look at the notes of "Harry," the computer programmer who had the unfortunate job of trying to turn the climate data into something [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 9:25am EST
  by Mr. D

• Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Week 12

  Number of comments: 1
  
  What's shakin'? Benster is here and we're going to cover the games that you might watch after you've stuffed a whole mess of turkey down your throat.
  
  I'm hoping that they chew it a little first.
  
  Friendly pilgrims, the picking is here. Chew [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 6:30pm EST
  by Benster

• Is the Climate Changing on Climate Change?

  Number of comments: 8
  By now you might have heard about the e-mails and other information from the East Anglia University Climate Research Unit that was hacked and put out on the internet. The MSM has been trying to avoid discussing the matter, with one notable and honorable exception: Declan McCullagh of CBS News. [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 5:44am EST
  by Mr. D

• Because Sometimes Politics Really Are No Darned Good at All

  Number of comments: 1
  We need something more fun. Just hit the link and thank me later.
  
  (H/T: Allahpundit) [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 9:30pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Out of Town Reviews Coming In

  Number of comments: 0
  One of the things we've heard repeatedly since the Obama administration began is that America would regain respect in the world, the respect that apparently had been lost by the Bush administration. And the president already has a Nobel Peace Prize on the mantel.
  
  But how is he doing,' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 9:14pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Lightning Round - 112309

  Number of comments: 14
  Busy weekend and not much time for blogging; perhaps I'll catch up later. In the meantime:
  
  Yes, Harry Reid got his version of Obamacare past a procedural hurdle on Saturday, but now the fun begins. And the fun should be dealing with amendments. The best idea I read: either' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 5:57am EST
  by Mr. D

• Awkward

  Number of comments: 2
  I'm sure there's some sort of logical explanation for this. But we'd better hear it soon. Click the link and read it.
  
  Update: The New York Times is on the story, too. [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 8:43pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Week 11

  Number of comments: 1
  
  "For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fell-ooooooooh, that nobody can deny."
  
  So who would that be, Seabiscuit?
  
  Do you know what tomorrow is, Decrepit?
  
  Saturday, I think. Oh, that's right, it's' [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 7:18pm EST
  by Benster

• Guilty Pleasures Part Fifty-Eight -- Radio Free Fearless Maria

  Number of comments: 3
  
  Hello. This is Fearless Maria. It's almost time for the holidays, but the dumb artists don't seem to have made a lot of music about Thanksgiving.
  
  There are a lot of turkeys in the music business, Maria.
  
  I thought there were turkeys in' [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 7:36pm EST
  by Fearless Maria

• Palin Comes Alive

  Number of comments: 39
  You have to say this much about Sarah Palin -- she might be more of a stimulus package for the economy than anything Obama and his minions have done this year. She's already sold tons of books, given Oprah Winfrey the best rating she's had for a show in years [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:55am EST
  by Mr. D

• Afternoon Delight

  Number of comments: 8
  Some of the things you can learn over your lunch hour:
  
  • Andy McCarthy, who prosecuted the Blind Sheik in the original WTC bombing case back in the 1990s, points out that the President has already given Khalid Sheik Mohammed grounds for a mistrial:
  
  In a meeting [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:14pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Radio Free Dilettante - 111709

  Number of comments: 0
  Last Five:
  
  Osage Stomp, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
  Don't Stand So Close to Me, The Police
  Brass in Pocket, the Pretenders
  You Got Me Walking, Jackie Wilson
  Like a Hurricane, Neil Young
  
  Next Five:
  Gee, Officer Krupke!, Russ Tamblyn/West Side Story Soundtrack
  Whole Lotta Rosie, AC/DC[...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 12:59pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Good News from Your Government

  Number of comments: 4
  You know, we've been too hard on the president and his team. Really, they're doing a hell of a job.
  
  I'm being totally serious. And I can prove it. They've been kind enough to provide hard data on the effectiveness of the stimulus package that we can all look [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 5:53pm EST
  by Mr. D

• No Kidding

  Number of comments: 15
  My good friend Brad Carlson notes the Associated Press has gone to great lengths to fact-check Sarah Palin's new book. Glad they care so much. Meanwhile, Brad asks a really pertinent question:
  
  Say, now that you're done with that all-important, vital piece of "fact-checking", I suggest taking on [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 9:30pm EST
  by Mr. D

• New York Minute

  Number of comments: 5
  The Obama administration's decision to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and some (but not all) of his terrorist pals in a federal court in Manhattan certainly has New Yorkers talking. The New York Times, ever concerned with process and procedure, tries to put a positive spin on the idea:
  [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 9:45am EST
  by Mr. D

• Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Week 10 Regularly Scheduled Broadcast

  Number of comments: 1
  
  We now return you to our regularly scheduled programming. And that means it's time to make fun of Decrepit! Yeah, baybee!
  
  Whuh? Huh? Sorry, I must have dozed off. Oh, you're making fun of your old man again, huh?
  
  Yes, Decrepit. It's who' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 7:02pm EST
  by Benster

• The Post Grabs a Steno Pad

  Number of comments: 6
  Our friend Mitch Berg devotes considerable space taking down the phone-it-in column that Dan Balz of the Washington Post wrote about Tim Pawlenty. As always, what Mitch writes is well worth your time.
  
  Here's what's interesting. Mitch surmises that the early column trashing Pawlenty is a sign [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 5:55am EST
  by Mr. D

• Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Week 10 Early Bird Emergency Pick

  Number of comments: 1
  
  So we were going to pick the games tomorrow, but Decrepit reminded me that there was a game scheduled for tonight, involving da Bearz. This is not a drill. This is real. Really real.
  
  Bear Down Chicago da Bearz (+3) vs. San Francisco Singletarys. [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 5:26pm EST
  by Benster

• Presidentin' Is Hard

  Number of comments: 2
  Sheesh.
  
  President Barack Obama won't accept any of the Afghanistan war options before him without changes, a senior administration official said, as concerns soar over the ability of the Afghan government to secure its own country one day.
  
  Uh, Mr. President? It has occurred to you that' [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 5:56am EST
  by Mr. D

• Lighning Round 111109

  Number of comments: 0
  Very quickly:
  
  I don't think the notion that Maj. Hasan was a lone nut is going to hold up to scrutiny. And while it's too late in many respects, a little scrutiny is in order.
  
  Then again, maybe we don't need to scrutinize Maj. Hasan that much.' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 5:59am EST
  by Mr. D

• Obama at Fort Hood

  Number of comments: 11
  We do a lot of Obama bashing around here, but if we're going to be fair, we need to give the man credit where it is due. And today, the President gave an excellent speech honoring the 13 people who were killed at Fort Hood last week. The transcript' [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 5:34pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Home Truth

  Number of comments: 4
  David Warren, writing at Real Clear Politics:
  
  Falsehood has more consequences than the revelation of personal insincerity. What happened at Fort Hood was no kind of "tragedy." It was a criminal act, of the terrorist sort, performed by a man acting upon known Islamist motives. To present the [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 6:06am EST
  by Mr. D

• I'm not in favor of. . .

  Number of comments: 0
  
  firing Mike McCarthy and/or Ted Thompson. Yet. But a few more games like this last one and I might be persuaded. [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 10:32pm EST
  by Mr. D

• New London to New Brighton

  Number of comments: 2
  Every year as part of the Stockyard Days celebration, the City of New Brighton has an antique car run between the town of New London, MN and New Brighton.
  
  There's another New London that has a direct connection to New Brighton -- New London, Connecticut. That New London is' [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 3:25pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Lots of Bad Things Happen on Saturday Night

  Number of comments: 5
  So Nancy Pelosi fought off the gag reflex of her chamber just enough to get the health care bill passed late last night, by a final vote of 220-215. The vote results are here.
  
  Here's how I see the battle shaping up:
  
  The bill now goes' [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 10:14am EST
  by Mr. D

• Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Week 9

  Number of comments: 9
  
  Well, we're back. And we're going doing the things we do.
  
  And what are those things?
  
  Picking some football games and adding a little outrageousness, all at no extra charge. You should know that by now, Decrepit! Unless you've been living under a' [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 6:38pm EST
  by Benster

• Guilty Pleasures Part Fifty-Seven -- She's Not There, But We're Here With the End of the Alphabet!

  Number of comments: 9
  
  Fearless Maria reminded me that it's been a long time since we've done a Guilty Pleasures, so she's joined me this evening to fix that problem.
  
  And so now, please take your seats and make sure that your lap bar is pulled down, and' [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 7:14pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Election Day Elsewhere

  Number of comments: 0
  I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about the races on the Eastern seaboard. It looks like the Republicans won huge in Virginia, took out the odious John Corzine in New Jersey and that the strange special election in NY CD 23 will go to the Democrat.
  
  Of' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:03am EST
  by Mr. D

• The Local Scene -- Victory!

  Number of comments: 2
  We have a new mayor in New Brighton. Dave Jacobsen defeated the longtime incumbent, Steve Larson, by a substantial 57-43% margin. Results are here.
  
  In addition, council member Gina Bauman was re-elected and she will be joined by Char Samuelson, who had served previously on the council before [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:44pm EST
  by Mr. D

• Radio Free Dilettante – Election Day Edition

  Number of comments: 0
  Sometimes I swear this thing reads my mind:
  
  Last Five:
  Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Frank Sinatra
  Innuendo, Queen
  Wake Me Up on Judgment Day, Steve Winwood
  Tell Me Something Good, Rufus and Chaka Khan
  Sin City, AC/DC
  
  Next Five:
  Shapes of Things, The Yardbirds
  We’re Coming [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  by Mr. D

• The Local Scene -- The Empire Strikes Back

  Number of comments: 0
  It would appear that Mayor Larson and his crew are getting a little nervous. Rather than campaign on the merits, they've chosen to take the low road, especially concerning City Council member Gina Bauman. Bauman has provided a long list of outrages at the Enlighten New Brighton blog, and' [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:46am EST
  by Mr. D

• The Local Scene -- The Name on the Plaque, the Road to Hell and the Name on the Ballot

  Number of comments: 1
  I've been writing about Tuesday's elections for the New Brighton city government and now it's time to draw a few conclusions.
  
  The problems that New Brighton face are daunting and largely of the local government's own making. And I think a lot of the problems stem from misguided ambition. [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2009, 4:22pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Week 8

  Number of comments: 4
  
  Sorry we're late, folks, but I was watching my uncle in a play last night. But we know you can't really get the weekend started until you hear from the Benster, so we do have picks.
  
  I know I feel that way, Benster. So, [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2009, 8:07am EDT
  by Benster

• The Local Scene -- The Right Skill Set

  Number of comments: 0
  Another quick thought about the upcoming election in New Brighton.
  
  As voters, we are hiring managers. And a good hiring manager looks for candidates with the proper skill set to do the job.
  
  New Brighton has a difficult task ahead and the Northwest Quadrant is a project that [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 6:01am EDT
  by Mr. D

• The Local Scene -- Something to Remember

  Number of comments: 1
  I'll be returning to the upcoming elections for New Brighton anon, but one thing that you should remember about all the candidates:
  
  No one running is talking about cutting essential services, such as police and fire protection. And it's disingenuous for Mayor Larson to take credit for their performance. [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 6:02am EDT
  by Mr. D

• Truth to Power

  Number of comments: 16
  
  Have you ever had a thought in your mind, but had a difficult time expressing it? Sometimes, if you're lucky, someone else will find the right words. James Taranto, the longtime house blogger/pundit at Opinion Journal, has done that for me today. Let's set [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 9:00pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• The blogger has been very busy, so

  Number of comments: 7
  
  Posting has been pretty light the past few days. I have a few things I'm working on, though, so please stay tuned. A few quick thoughts in the meantime:
  
  
  Must Not See TV -- behold one of the most annoying panels possible (Ed' [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 8:41pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• The Obscene 2% Margin

  Number of comments: 30
  One of the favorite talking points for those who are trying to foist Obama Care on the world is to point out the "obscene profits" that insurance companies make.
  
  Not really:
  
  In the health care debate, Democrats and their allies have gone after insurance companies as rapacious [...]
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  Posted: October 25, 2009, 10:04pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• Real Czars of Genius

  Number of comments: 4
  So tell me if you didn't see this one coming down Pennsylvania Avenue:
  
  Even before the Obama administration formally tightened executive compensation at bailed-out companies, the prospect of pay cuts had led some top employees to depart.
  
  And now that Kenneth Feinberg has broke out the terrible' [...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2009, 10:39am EDT
  by Mr. D

• Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Week 7

  Number of comments: 2
  
  Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends.
  
  Are you really going to quote Emerson Lake & Palmer lyrics, Ben?
  
  Apparently, Decrepit. Might I remind you that, even though we tied last week, I would have beaten you if that Ravens [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 7:08pm EDT
  by Benster

• Let's Hear It for the MSM

  Number of comments: 2
  We talked about ABC correspondent Jake Tapper's challenge to Robert Gibbs about Fox News the other day, engendering a lively response. Well, apparently the White House decided to up the ante today. They offered "Pay Czar" Ken Feinberg for a press availability to the White House press pool.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 9:33pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• Traveling

  Number of comments: 3
  A few years ago, when I was a student at Beloit College, a friend prophesied about his future. John Ed said he would meet a waitress named Trixie at a rest stop and they would travel together in a vehicle he dubbed the Cancer Winnebago. My friend Sue and I [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 9:36am EDT
  by Mrs. D

• Stealing a meme from Mitch

  Number of comments: 1
  You don't really steal a meme, you just reuse it.
  
  The instructions:
  
  Pick an artist or band, and then answer the questions using nothing but song titles from their discography.
  
  Mitch answered the questions using The Who. Over in his comments, I used The Clash.' [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 9:17pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• Radio Free Dilettante – 102109

  Number of comments: 0
  Feel free to supply the narrative:
  
  Last Five:
  Get the Funk Out Ma Face, Brothers Johnson
  Get Ready, The Temptations
  Get Down Tonight, KC and the Sunshine Band
  Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin
  Sing a Song, Earth Wind & Fire
  
  Next Five:
  I'm So Glad, Cream
  Emotional Rescue, Rolling' [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 2:11pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• The Local Scene -- Candidate Forum Notes

  Number of comments: 0
  I will be writing more on the important campaigns for mayor and city council in New Brighton in the coming days, but for now I wanted to share a few impressions of what we saw last night at City Hall at the League of Women Voters forum:
  
  Officially, the [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 9:30pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• Jake Tapper Asks a Good Question. Here's a Followup.

  Number of comments: 23
  From today's White House press briefing:
  
  Tapper: It’s escaped none of our notice that the White House has decided in the last few weeks to declare one of our sister organizations “not a news organization” and to tell the rest of us not to treat them like a [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 12:28pm EDT
  by Mr. D

• Lighning Round 101909

  Number of comments: 0
  There are some people who suspect that Barack Obama doesn't like to fight. That's not true, but the people he chooses to fight are sometimes pretty interesting.
  Don't know if anyone really pays much attention to those weekend presidential radio addresses, but it's pretty clear that the insurance companies [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 5:55am EDT
  by Mr. D

• The Local Scene Part 2.5 -- See For Yourself

  Number of comments: 0
  While I have more to say about the elections in New Brighton in the coming days, I would prefer that you not just take my word for it when it comes to this election, because the stakes are very high. It's far better that you see the candidates yourself to [...]
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  Posted: October 18, 2009, 10:18am EDT
  by Mr. D

• Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Week 6

  Number of comments: 1
  
  Howdy, this is Benster and Decrepit.
  
  Pardon me?
  
  I'm sorry. Benster and D. Well Dad, you've been kicking my butt every week lately, but don't forget -- I've got a curse named after me!
  
  Too bad it seems to be affecting your [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 6:48pm EDT
  by Benster