Weighing In On The Israel-Lebanon Thing

Ken AshfordMiddle EastLeave a Comment

Look, I know it’s complicated.  And I don’t feel compelled to pick a side.  This much I will say. There’s no question that Hezbollah is, or certainly acts like, a terrorist organization, and Israel is justified in defending itself from those attacks. But to my mind, Israel’s response is disproportionate, over-the-top, and reckless.  Two example in the past 24 hours: … Read More

Barack Is Da Bomb

Ken AshfordDemocratsLeave a Comment

Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois, who I predicted one year ago would become President someday, is the most beloved Senator in the country.

Another “Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical” Quote Of The Day

Ken AshfordPersonalLeave a Comment

Here’s the thing.  I’m too frantic trying to remember choreography moves, which is why I can’t remember many of the funny things said during rehearsals.  Be that as it may, some things stand out: "I forgot the part where I scratch my kitty, and that’s why we got thrown off" — Female cast member during choregography rehearsal "I like astroturf, … Read More

My Celebrity Friends

Ken AshfordWeb Recommendations11 Comments

MyHeritage.com is a website that traces family geneology.  But they’ve got a cool new feature which has little to do with geneology. All you do is go here, upload a picture of yourself (a quick and easy free resigistration may be required), and their "face recognition" software kicks back a list of celebrities with similar facial features and structure.  Things … Read More

Dude, That Is So Wrong

Ken AshfordCrimeLeave a Comment

From Missouri: The assault trial of a man accused of shoving a cell phone down a woman’s throat has begun. Prosecutors say 24-year-old Marlon Brando Gill was angry and jealous when he forced the phone into Melinda Abell’s throat in December. But defense attorneys insist the 25-year-old victim swallowed the phone intentionally to prevent Gill from finding out who she’d … Read More

Citizen Diplomacy

Ken AshfordForeign AffairsLeave a Comment

On September 12, 2001, the French newspaper La Monde headlined "We Are All Americans Today", or something like that.  That was certainly the global sentiment.  Everybody was united with us, and we Americans were united. Incredible how five years of Bush policies have not only divided the country, but turned our longstanding friends and allies into rampant America-haters.  It’s really … Read More

Monopoly — Now With Debit Cards

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

Looks like Parker Brothers is phasing out the multi-colored bills from Monopoly.  Sign of the times. It almost makes me want to play again.  That way, when the games end in a tantrum (as they are prone to do), there will be less pieces of paper to pick up.  On the other hand, someone might get hurt by the debit … Read More

Another Do-It-Yourself Project

Ken AshfordRandom Musings1 Comment

Now that you’ve made your  Pepto-Bismol ice cream, perhaps you want to try your hand at making a tampon gun. Full instructions here. Seriously, who thinks of this stuff, and what institution let them loose? RELATED:  Serious do-it-your-selfers might want to try building a fax machine . . . out of salmon tins.

Rape Victim Denied Morning-After Pill

Ken AshfordGodstuff, Health CareLeave a Comment

Look.  If your religion prevents you from doing your job, then either (a) get another job or (b) get another religion.  Here’s what I’m talking about — a story from Lancaster, PA: A Good Samaritan Hospital emergency room doctor refused to give a rape victim a morning-after pill because he said it was against his Mennonite religion. Rebuffed by the … Read More

Ken Jennings Blog

Ken AshfordBlogging, Popular Culture1 Comment

Ken Jennings, the dude who won 74 times in a row on Jeopardy!, netting a total of $2.5 million, has started a blog. Already, he’s created quite a buzz, mostly from a post last week about Jeopardy!: Dear Jeopardy!, Hey, I hope you remember me. It’s been a while since we talked. We were a bit of an item a … Read More

Bush Has A Better Plan

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

The scariest five words in the English language: WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush said Tuesday that a U.S. military program to bolster Iraqi security forces in Baghdad will better address the violence there as he pledged to stand by Iraq’s new democratic government. "Obviously the violence in Baghdad is still terrible," Bush said during a joint White House news conference … Read More

Talk About Bad Omens

Ken AshfordRandom Musings1 Comment

While piloting his private plane, a guy proposes marriage to his girlfriend (with the aid of friends and family on the ground with a tarp).  Before she can answer, the plane crashes. P.S.  She still said "yes".

Gas Prices At An All Time High

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & DeficitLeave a Comment

Just thought you should know: Nationwide gas prices hit an all-time high in the last two weeks, rising nearly 2 cents to just over $3 per gallon, according to a survey released Sunday. The national average for self-serve regular stood at $3.0150 a gallon Friday, up 1.98 cents in the last two weeks, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 … Read More