What is going on with Modern Conservatives

It seems as if modern conservatives are getting exponentially crazier with time.

Paul Krugman explains what is going on:

My first thought was that OWS must have the right really rattled. And there’s probably something to that. But actually, this is the way the right goes after everyone who stands in their way: accuse them of everything, no matter how implausible or contradictory the accusations are. Progressives are atheistic socialists who want to impose Sharia law. Class warfare is evil; also, John Kerry is too rich. And so on.

The key to understanding this, I’d suggest, is that movement conservatism has become a closed, inward-looking universe in which you get points not by sounding reasonable to uncommitted outsiders — although there are a few designated pundits who play that role professionally — but by outdoing your fellow movement members in zeal. [...]

Many members of the commentariat don’t want to face up to the fact that this is what American politics has become; they cling to the notion that there are gentlemanly elder statesmen on the right who would come to the fore if only Obama said the right words. But the fact is that nobody on that side of the political spectrum wants to or can make deals with the Islamic atheist anti-military warmonger in the White House.

Yes, I know; liberals pounced on some misspelled Tea Party signs and a few with Nazi and other racist symbols. But what we should remember is that Republican craziness extends to their “serious” presidential candidates; witness the candidates stand on religion, Mr. Obama’s birth place, etc.

msnbc video: Bashir: Gov. Rick Perry not quite Forrest Gump

msnbc video: Bashir: Gov. Rick Perry not quite …, posted with vodpod

I’m Melting…er Dissolving…

I know; the line is from the Wizard of Oz. Melt…dissolve…her time as “flavor of the month” is all but over. Though Mr. Romney and Mr. Cain appear to be trading the lead in the polls, Mr. Romney is attacking Mr. Perry so we know where the real competition is.

Purple Spandex, Neutrinos and other topics

Workout notes
Yoga class followed by a 4 mile run. The run: 1.2 easy, 2.16 miles in 20:37 (two faster .5 mile segments: 4:20, 4:06, and one .25 mile segment), then a walk jog back. I though about doing 4 x .5 mile, but I didn’t want to push myself today as I have a challenging weekend coming up.

Neutrinos
You may have heard about the “faster than light” neutrinos. Well, the physics community appears to be skeptical, to say the least. This doesn’t remind me of the “cold fusion” fiasco but, well, we’ll see. I am skeptical too, though I don’t have the scientific credentials to make a judgment based on scientific merits. My basis: well established results are rarely overturned…and I mean RARELY.

Football
Pity I have some grading to do this weekend; otherwise I’d be tempted to watch the Rams play the Saints. Given that the Saints beat the Colts 62-7 and the Rams lost to the Cowboys 34-7, well, I’d have a morbid curiosity to see if the Saints could hit 60 again. Who knows…

Illinois Football
Well, now that Illinois has belly flopped, the fans are starting to blow them off:

“My teachers were still nice to me,” Scheelhaase said Monday after practice on the Memorial Stadium turf. “I still had a seat in class. People were sitting around me and talking to me. I didn’t feel any differently. In my mind, everyone knows we can bounce back. If they don’t, then they’ll see.”

Illinois (6-2 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten Conference) plays at No. 21 Penn State (7-1, 4-0) Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC), but the Illini heard few questions from the media about JoePa, Linebacker U. or play-action passing.

They were asked more about confidence in the locker room and among the Illini’s worried fan base. After playing Penn State, the Illini face tough home games against Michigan and Wisconsin.

“I’m not paying any attention” to the mood on the street, coach Ron Zook said. “I’ve got my own issues. I can’t worry about that stuff now. It’s hard to insulate (the players). They’re out there. It is what it is. What can I do about it?”[...]

“It was new to have people on the bandwagon,” Scheelhaase said. “It was cool. It was nice. Maybe it was too nice. You never know.

“We’re not too worried about what other people are saying. We’re used to having kind of an empty bandwagon. It’s a little lighter to pull. It’s not that bad.”

As an Illinois fan, this is music to my ears, because the team plays better when it appears that their fans have deserted them; they do better with a “it is us against the world” attitude. They don’t handle support very well.

So if you are an Illinois football player, quit reading NOW.

I expect the team to rally and to play very well against Penn State; in fact I am predicting an upset.

Purple Spandex:

Well, this is in honor of someone at my yoga class (one of my favorite MILFs)

No, this isn’t her; this model is about 25 years younger but probably can’t run as fast.

Herman Cain’s Pro Smoking Political Ad

40 seconds into it:

Hey, at least President Obama is embarrassed about his inability to quit smoking….

(note: Herman Cain once fought smoking bans as a lobbyist for the restaurant industry)

Herman Cain: if you like cigarette smoke….

Quad Cities Half Marathon 2011 Photos

Details of my race are here. Short version: I power walked a 2:22, which is my fastest time since 2003. It is true that in 2002 I walked the full marathon in 4:44 so I have slowed some over the last 9 years or so.

I can’t say “racewalked” as my right knee was bent while in the support phase (where the leg is in contact with the ground) and for a racewalk to be legal, the knee can’t be bent in that phase. It is ok (and desirable) to bend the knee when moving the leg forward.

All of my photos are here.

My right knee (the one with the 2010 operation) is leading here.

I am close to 10K here and trying my best to stay ahead of as many runners as I can.

My left knee is fine, though I am making other form errors here (bent forward from the waist, arm swing across my body, etc.)

You can see my right leg in the support phase; the knee is bent. That would have drawn a “red card” from a race walking judge at a judged walk. But there was no racewalking division at this race.

Crossing the finish line.

Yes, I enjoyed myself. I am at about mile 5 here. (8 km).

This Poster Makes a Point