Nothing changes on New Year's Day

This may come as a shock to anyone who's been noticing the trend in recent posts, but I promise this one will have a nice discussion and pretty pictures. No joke, actual pretty pictures that can make you smile. First, of course, two clear examples why the passage of time in no way inherently indicates progress.

It was the worst of times...

First, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, showing a clear sense of priorities:

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. made judicial pay the sole topic of his second annual report, issued on Sunday, declaring that the failure by Congress to raise federal judges’ salaries in recent years has become a “constitutional crisis” that puts the future of the federal courts in jeopardy.

Just for some background, Patrick Leahy, the incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has already said that he plans to push for a pay raise. Perhaps more importantly, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT PROBLEMS FACING THE GOVERNMENT AT THE MOMENT!!!. Off the top of my head, we've got the executive branch breaking the law with regard to warrantless wiretapping, the legislative branch stripping detainees of their habeas corpus rights, the "revolving door" policy where government officials are allowed to lobby their former colleagues in what is essentially legalized bribery, congressional staffers being lobbied by spouses and other assorted family members, executive branch officers classifying information because it is embarrassing rather than secret, and any number of Abramoff linked figures still in Congress. I'll admit that federal judges probably do deserve more pay, but how about some perspective?

While Roberts may have misplaced priorities, many war supporters are going to be facing a year where their rosy predictions are disproven and their credibility shot with everyone but the mainstream media, who will continue to describe them as "respected pundits". Perhaps no one deserves less respect that Marty Peretz, the owner of The New Republic magazine, which he purchased using his wife's fortune (she's heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune). Marty, an anti-Arab blowhard, has this to say about Iraq at his blog, referred to by other TNR readers as "his padded cell":

The Sunnis Respond: These are the incorrigibles, the irreconcilables, the bitter-enders. BBC tells us that among their slogans were "Saddam is the pride of the nation" and "We sacrifice our blood and soul for you Saddam." It certainly isn't poetry or pretty. In fact, these are ugly thoughts. And, if Saddam is, in fact, the pride of the nation, what a miserable nation it is. Well, the Sunnis of Iraq were content with the tyrant's murderous rule. And, now, they must face Shi'a revenge. Which makes Shi'a Iraq also murderous and grotesque.

If this is indeed the case, then why exactly DID YOU SUPPORT THE FRICKIN WAR, WHEN EVERYONE WITH HALF A BRAIN KNEW THIS WOULD BE THE RESULT!!!

It was the best of times...

Anyway, the new year is a time for idiocy, but also for new hope. My wife and I visited Allerton Park in Monticello, Illinois this past weekend, and took some pictures. Thanks possibly to global warming, the weather was a lovely 50 degrees (10 degrees centigrade), making it an ideal winter day for a hike.


S. and the alpha Fu Dog trying to establish dominance.

Honestly, I'm pretty much convinced that if he came home with us, he'd be Karina's worst nightmare.


That's when I fell for The Leader of the Pack...(by the appropriately named Shangri-Las)


Playing groupie in the garden of the Chinese musicians.