It's that time of year again...

Dixie Classic Fair time. We went yesterday, straight from the oldest's school letout. We saw the frisbee dogs show, the pig races, the diving and swimming pig, the Border Collie exhibition, the duck races, and, of course, the main event of the day.

demolition derby
noun
A contest in which drivers crash old cars into each other until only one is left running.

As Answers.com notes, there is a "dwindling supply" of "traditionally used junked full-size American sedans, especially those from the 1960s and 70s, which were larger, heavier, and had more robust frames than later full-size vehicles."

So last night, there was a special class of vehicles: minivans. Yep, the suburban soccer Mom vehicle of choice.

(Personally, I'd like to watch a few gas-guzzling, pretentious-as-hell Hummers get trashed.)

Stunned

If you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.

- William J. Bennett, former U.S. education secretary under President Ronald Reagan and director of drug policy under George H.W. Bush, on his syndicated talk radio show yesterday

Clear away the Jews! Our own people has genius enough - we need no Hebrews. If we were to put in their place intelligences drawn from the great body of our people, then we should have recovered the bridge which leads to the community of the people.

- Adolph Hitler, in a speech given in Munich, Germany on April 27, 1923


If X people were done away with, then society would improve in Y way.

It matters not, Mr. Bennett, if the statement is followed with a declaration that such an action"would be an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do". The premise that society can be bettered by ridding ourselves of one race is itself reprehensible. Still.

progress
verb
1. To advance; proceed.
2. To advance toward a higher or better stage; improve steadily.

I find

This post

germane
adjective
Being both pertinent and fitting.

Last leg...

If I survive, I'd be surprised. All I'm saying is I don't want to die, but I might. Better wear a pair of my good shoes to bed tonight. If I don't make it, someone's gotta wear a really big, churchlady hat to my funeral. It'll cheer me up. Thanks.

Sickly:
1. Affected with disease or ill health.
2. I think I'm dying.

What can I say? I love America.

I bought this sweater today. In brown, black, brick red, and the blue seen here. I did it for my country. I stimulated the economy. In four different colors.

patriot
noun
One who loves, supports, and/or defends one's country.

Note that the definition doesn't require one to feel the same sentiments toward a country's elected officials. Lucky that.

In my defense, I really need sweaters.

Let F=P and L=R (or W)

My youngest has some speech articulation errors typical for his age. For example, all F sounds in middle or ending positions are pronounced as P. So he eats "wapples" for breakfast and if I climb so much as a stepstool, he reminds me to "Be carepul!"

His other primary error is replacing L sounds, especially in the initial position or consonant blends, with W or R. This means that everytime a Laurie Berkner song comes to an end, he says enthusiastically, "Time to crap, Momma!"

plaudit
noun
1. An expression of warm approval: acclaim, acclamation, applause.
2. Approval expressed by clapping: applause, hand, ovation.

He just loves "Waurie".

Only US$2,457.00 (plus shipping)

fallalery
noun
The act of dressing showily or gaudily.

therapeutic

My oldest son decompressed from school today with some spirited puddle-stomping. This put him in such a fine frame that he held my hand and skipped across a parking lot this evening, completely unselfconsciously, lost in the moment.

boon
adjective
1. Convivial; jolly.
2. Archaic Favorable.
noun
1. A benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request.
2. A timely blessing or benefit.

Buy some matches, Guv'nor?

My youngest started attending preschool two mornings a week recently. I took the handbook sent home by his teacher to heart, especially the part that said it was best to send your child dressed in playclothes, as art projects were frequent and messy, mud was not a reason to forego outdoor recess, and the school wished not to be responsible for mishap coming to a good outfit.

My youngest's playclothes consist mostly of hand-me-downs from his older brother, who was/is notoriously hard on clothes. Luckily, I'm a master of stain removal and can mend or patch almost any rip.

Standing amongst his classmates, though, whose mothers have clearly not taken that part of the handbook to heart, my youngest looks a bit like a

tatterdemalion
noun
A person wearing ragged or tattered clothing; a ragamuffin.
adjective
Ragged; tattered.