First Looks category archive

Andy Lubershane (click for larger image):

There about three helicopters buzzing around over the Delaware River this morning. The last time I woke up to this, some fool had driven off the interstate onto the Amtrak railroad line, ruining a lot of commutes.

Updates when the sun comes up.

Addendum:

This may be it.

Why they need three choppers to look at a collision I don’t know.

Addendum-de-dum-dum:

My brother sent me a text saying there is a missing boater on the river.

Addendum-de-la-la:

It was probably the boater. The boat was found just down the hill about a mile upriver from me.

Holy ten to twenty, Batman, we can’t hold them accountable because they are “too privileged to prosecute“!

The number of people receiving jobless benefits declined by 148,000 to 5.8 million in the week ended Oct. 17, the lowest since March 21 and biggest weekly drop since July, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. Initial jobless claims fell by 1,000 to 530,000 in the week ended Oct. 24, from 531,000 the prior week.

Atrios finds a glimmer of hope.

. . . But I like the results:

. . . the Phils defeated the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 105th World Series, 6-1.

Aside: I have a friend in the western, that is, the Yankee side of Connecticut. She text messaged that she’s wearing red to the office today to irritate the Yankees fans.

I’m not a big one for rubbing it in, but, since Yankees fans are at least as irritating as (and much more smug than) Phillies fans, I said, “Go for it.”

To Bishop E. W. Jackson Sr., homosexuality is sin, and he needs to preach about it. That’s why he fears new legislation that puts sexual orientation under hate crimes protection.

“We could find ourselves in a situation where we’re accused of inciting someone,” Jackson said of pastors who oppose homosexuality. “I am categorically opposed to the hate crimes bill.”

Just what type of sermons does he preach that he thinks will incite listeners to violence? Don’t sound like a rather well-know sermon that was given on a mount.

Inquisitorial minds want to know.

Heavy housecleaning.

In which he goes on the Ses-tack.

And he supplements it here.

Noz points out

of course, when it comes to war, the answer to the “is it worth it?” question is often “no”. war is expensive, in terms of money, lives, general risk, and everything. that’s probably why people inclined to military solutions don’t like asking the question. and it’s also why the most warmongering people are the ones least willing to see the world in terms of trade-offs rather than absolutes.

. . . and ginormous Hallowe’en stores, good Lord protect us.

My favorite Hallowe’en costumes of all time were homemade from cardboard boxes.

She came as a grounded outlet; he came as a three-pronged plug.

They kept making a circuit of the dance floor.

Fast forward to the 4:45 mark and skip the snappy banter. Get right to the singing.

October 25, 2009 | Posted by: Frank | Posted in: First Looks | Bookmark this post

In honor of my QVCing daughter, who turns 30 today.

Via La Contessa.

For freedom and equality.

Via Will Bunch.

The Dodgers are going to Los Angeles.

The Phillies are going to the World Series.

The Phillies are hitting.

Read more »

TerranceDC recounts the story of Ian Pearl, whose health insurance company searched desperately for a way to cancel his policy. A nugget:

And their lawsuit revealed what the insurance company executives really thought about their policyholders who actually had the greatest need of medical care and coverage that would give them access to care.

Our (the Pearl family’s–ed.) lawsuit uncovered insurance company documents that confirmed my suspicion that I’m a target of discrimination. The documents revealed Guardian had compiled a “hit list” of its costliest members, including patients with muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, and paralysis. Guardian executives referred to us all as “dogs” and “trainwrecks,” and they debated how and when to dump us from the rolls. Laws prohibited the cancellation of the individual members with serious chronic health problems, so Guardian opted to cancel the plan for all members of this specific health plan in New York, an action that violates federal law.

Karen’s comment to this post tells me that it is time for this announcement.

Some time soon, in no less than two weeks and no more than four, From Pine View Farm World Headquarters will be relocating from Delaware to Virginia Beach, Virginia. During the transition, the site will be off-line, I hope for no more than two days.

More information will be forthcoming as I figure out what it is.

Read more »

The last video rental store within a convenient distance of Pine View Farm World Headquarters is giving up the ghost.

My son is in Afghanistan.

At a Pop Warner practice in Mass, it’s a wonderful thing:

A spat at a Pop Warner football practice has left a father with head injuries, the coach suspended, a community shaken, and the police investigating.

Michael VonKahle, 48, suffered a shattered eye socket, a broken nose, and a concussion in the fight, which took place in a secluded area during the Friday night practice behind Wilmington Town Hall, according to interviews conducted by police. No charges have been filed.

The coach is blaming the parent. The parent is blaming the coach.

Maybe someone should consider stop organizing kids to their eyeteeth and just letting them play with each other.

They could steal stop signs, drive fast, and tp teachers’ yards like I used to do.

Home improvements. Only one bandaid.