Oh Christmas Tree.....

We've hit that time of the year where I take a look at real life, and keeping up with this blog, and decide that the real world, and everything in it, is more important than coming on here some evenings and 1000 monkeying words.

So with that in mind, it's time for another hiatus.

Enjoy your ChristmaHannaKwanzimas or whatever holiday you choose, or choose not, to celebrate.

Mine's an egg nog.

Post Blow Things Up Because 'Merica Day.

July 4th is my least favorite holiday.

I'm not a fan of fireworks, I find John Philip Sousa marches to be unlistenable (not to mention "Proud to be an American" which I think is the worst song ever) and I tire of people who spend the rest of the year poo-poohing our country acting like it's the greatest place in the world for one day.

All that said, as a military history buff, I love me some Revolutionary War documentaries so it's not all that bad. When those aren't on I can typically be found watching the Tour de France. In fact, I wish our Country had better relations with France (our REAL oldest ally). Because when we paired with them we founded a country and broke free of British rule, and it produced the greatest moments in our Nation's history.

But now, we head into the long, dog, days of Summer and start to turn our attention to my least-favorite American spectacle, the party conventions.

There is nothing ever any good that comes from these. It's an endless parade of the most gormless among us, dressed in their garish worst jumping up and down to speeches given by people who, for the rest of their lives, care less about them.

Our politicians want three things. Money, power and to be re-elected.

And that's pretty much it.

So as the nation turns it's eyes to the political conventions, and as the electorate prepares to nominate the two worst Presidential candidates in a generation, I bid you adieu.

Goodbye, etc.

Enjoy your political season, I'm going to be getting ready for football.

Taking a break: Life gets in the way

Over the past few weeks I've been able to keep  fairly constant with daily posts. Unfortunately life, as it does, gets in the way from time to time.

Based on that I'll be slowing down a little bit in February until I get some more free time in the evenings to blog.

Given what I'm sure is going to be an uneven posting schedule this month might I take a moment and direct you to the following:


My Twitter Feed - Which is where all of the things I'm currently reading/writing end up. Not only do I tweet out when I make a blog post (either on here or on The Public Money) it also updates my links on....

My Pinboard Feed. - Not as in depth as my blog but it is almost like micro-blogging about different things every day.


So, keep up with those and, until we get back on a regular schedule, enjoy the caucuses and all of the assorted bad political commentary that is going to result.

Without guessing on percentages, here's my pick of how things turn out tonight.....


Republican:

1. Ted Cruz - I think he holds on, mainly because almost no one has Trump listed as their "second choice". 

2. Donald Trump - Honestly, #1 and #2 could be reversed.  If that happens then the Cruz campaign could be in a lot of trouble.

3. Marco Rubio - I will leave it to Evan to point out to you why this might be the best position of them all.

4. Ben Carson - Fading fast.

The rest?    Time to close up shop and call it a campaign.


Democrat:

1. Hillary Clinton - In another close one, and her victory speech again reminds Democratic voters of all the reasons they didn't like her in the first place.

2. Bernie Sanders - Comes close enough that everyone starts freaking out and Democrats slowly begin to understand the ballot implications of a Sanders victory.

3. Martin O'Malley - Should drop out immediately after this.

The rest?  Oh, that's right, the Democrats don't have any other 'mainstream' candidates on the ballot. I'm still surprised that Biden didn't jump in here, he could have been the nominee hands down.



If Trump and Sanders pull out wins in their respective races then Katie bar the door.  The panic from the Cruz and Clinton campaigns is going to lead to some pretty comical campaign tactics.

As is Custom: Merry ChrisHannuKwanzamas.

And Happy Festivus to your and yours.

The airing of grievances will resume AFTER the Christmas Holiday.

Until then......

Enjoy some light Christmas Music from Pentatonix.

Oh and.....

Back to real life: Happy Thanksgiving!

After a quick peek above the surface last week it's back to real life for me.

But I did want to take a second to wish my handful of regular readers a Happy Thanksgiving and hopes that you get to get to spend it at home with those you love.

Normally, I'd complete a list of "things I'm thankful for" at this point but those who know me best already know.

I'm also going to be preparing for the beginning of Advent so I'll just throw this out as well....

One of the most overlooked Holidays, the season of Advent is something that I think needs renewed focus, especially during these times.

My plan was to come back to blogging prior to the Houston run-off election but that doesn't seem workable now except in fits and starts.  As an accountant, and with year-end close looming, and a husband, with family things taking precedence, I just don't foresee myself offering up much into the local conversation until after the New Year, and perhaps not even then on a consistent basis.

So I leave you, for now, with wishes for the Happiest of Holiday season for you and your families, regardless of what faith you profess (if any).

So Happy ChrisHannakaKwanzamas to you all.  And Happy Festivus for the rest of us.

Begin the airing of grievances!

Houston Blogging Vacuum: Suspending my campaign for Lightly Read Blogger of the Year.

Over the past several months I've been churning out more blogging material than usual.  Now that the main election is over that will be coming to an end for a week or so.

Unlike media outlets who have back-ups in place should a reporter get sick, this little blog is a one-man operation.  That man (me) is going to be very, very busy in the real (not political, or Internet) world for a bit.

In lieu of this I'm informing my handful of regular readers that I'm taking a blog vacation. I might try to fit in some Presumptuous Blogging over the next couple weeks but, for at least that long, it will be a lot of silence.  I had a choice of continuing to either blog sports or politics. Sports is more fun and won out.

Given the likelihood that you're going to be viewing this post at the top of the masthead for a while, I figured I'd leave you with something pleasant to look at.

Enjoy the view and remember: What you're reading in the local media (especially as it relates to local politics) is probably not what is going on.

This would be Madrid

A Brief Hiatus: When real life interferes with PoliBlogging

There's so much going on Nationally right now that I'd love to blog about.  From the disturbing (and horrific) Planned Parenthood allegations to the World's new $100 Billion bailout to Iran to high-speed Internet getting labeled the next great human right to budget airline foibles and United's next economy seating arrangement or even ESPN proving once and for all they are full of it I could go whole hog on several issues for months.

This doesn't include what I really focus on, Houston area politics and media.

But the fact is this:

Real life, those things that involve people I care about and share my life with, is way more important than anything going on in politics or media right now.  So I'm taking a brief hiatus.

Maybe I update with some fun stuff from time to time but right now there are other priorities that take precedence over writing words.

Besides, it's Amazon Prime Day and I've got shopping to do.

If you still care to see stuff then I'll be updating the following.

My PinBoard Account

My Twitter Account



Unlike past run-ins with blogger's fatigue I'm not shutting down this blog.  For one, I kind of like this layout and second, I'm running out of names and I really like this domain.

One thing I might do, which I used to enjoy doing greatly, upon my return is to retry link blogs.

Until then have fun, don't believe anything in the Chronicle that has to do with City, County or State politics and keep paying attention to the Mayoral race.

It's a pretty important thing that.


Slainte.

A short break and (by the way) this Texans team has quit.

I'm going to be taking a short blogging break to attend to some stuff in the real world, and to enjoy the Christmas season with family and friends. No, I will not be having a health care "conversation" with them. Sorry Obama, Christmas is about more than your petty politics.


One quick observation before I focus elsewhere: This Texans team has 100% quit. Yes, they're saying the right things after losses, talk about how gutted they are and how frustrating it is, but the performance on the field is that of a team that just doesn't care. Between a flood of penalties and missed assignments lies a deep streak of who gives a f.......?

Sure, it's safe to say that Wade Phillips hasn't quit. He's trying everything to eke out a win or two and prove he deserves the head job. Case Keenum hasn't quit, he wants to be the QB of the future, but the evidence is piling up that he's not up to the job. Ben Tate hasn't quit, he's running for his next contract with another team after all, but the O-line in front of him has shipped it in and the rest of the offense seems to be going through the motions. The defense is a shambles, with only JJ Watt really playing but being nullified by double and triple teams, while everyone else is either a penalty or blown assignment waiting to happen. When things do go right it almost feels if it's done by accident.

I didn't watch all of Sunday's game, I decided my day would be better spent doing other things, and I doubt I'll watch another game this year. When the team has quit on you, then I think it's OK, as a fan, to quit on them.

So to all of you, Texans fans and no, enjoy the Christmas and Holiday season and remember to not let it get to you too badly.


After all, there are plenty more important things in life than football.


Merry Christmas all, if I'm not posting before then.

Time Out

(2007 California Vacation by Flickr user akeg used and altered according to the terms of a creative commons license)


Engines will be at "all stop" until Monday at the earliest as my wife and I leave town in celebration of 11 years of marriage.

Until that time there's plenty of good stuff to read on the sidebar and my twitter account should be buzzing with pictures/updates etc.


Have a great weekend.

Halftime

Time for a 3CB halftime break. I can guarantee you this: Teams will have plenty of time to make adjustments.

Going Dark

I'm going to be travelling to London and Paris for the remainder of November. During that time I don't forsee that the blog will be updated or comments monitored.

During my time away I'm going to enable comment moderation to prevent "those people" (comment spammers and trolls) from making a mess of the place. Comments made during the period of time between Friday, Nov 21st and Saturday, Nov 29th WILL NOT APPEAR on this blog (comments on Thurs, Nov 20th will still post however). If the comments are relevent, I will approve them upon my return.

Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving, (especially my dozen (or so) daily readers) eat too much Turkey and fall asleep on the couch.

Here's a little "mood music" to get you through...



or...(If Adam Sandler is not your style)