Pajama Pundits

I took this photo yesterday afternoon and intended to post it today with the title: Crowded Nest


This morning, we discovered the nest was no longer crowded, it was empty! I think I managed to get each of the five birds before they left the garage as well as the nest, but I couldn't get very close, and the focus is not the best. They're still cute.


The last youngster to leave the garage was a little easier to get close to. Here he (she?) is guarding a drawer on an old file cabinet.

Alphecca, Weekly Check on the Bias. A look at how the media is talking about guns and the 2nd Amendment

Baldilocks, The Other Devils. Intelligent comments about Michael Jackson.

Classical Values, Science is Elementary, My Dear... "Incendiary gloom and doom" and "plenty of chicken Little"

Davids Medienkritik, A New Media Madness on the Horizon. More gloom and doom.

(Eugene) Volokh, So That's What They Call It. Paralipses and apophasis. (And yeah, I know I'm alphabetically cheating, please don't mention it.)

(Cox and)Forkum, The Schiavo Rift.

Garfield Ridge, U.S. Army Field at RFK Stadium? OK, but I'm not enthusiastic either.

Hog On Ice, Good Morning, Nigeria! ROFL!!

INDC Journal, Empowerment Through Ownership. More ROFL!!

JustOneMinute, Medal Of Honor To Be Awarded Monday. To Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith.

Knowledge Is Power, I've been called obtuse. Ask SondraK a direct question, one sentence only. (FWIW, I've been called much worse than obtuse.)

La Shawn Barber's Corner, Cops and Race/Sex Preferences. Discussion of John Lott's take on the consequences of affirmative action for cops.

Marginal Revolution, The economics of Terri Schiavo? Implications for the future.

Not Exactly Rocket Science, April Fools Day. Not exactly a cake, either.

Outside The Beltway, Stotch on Schiavo. It's OK to not have an opinion.

Pirate's Cove, We're mis-branded. ...fairly littered with Libertarians. hmm...

QandO, Dumbest NRO Article Ever. I have to wonder if a pure Libertarian wouldn't think the Blue Screen of Death a good thing.

Ryne McClaren, Pharm & Faith. Intelligent commentary on pharmacists who balk at filling birth control prescriptions.

Sheila Variations, Go Against the Grain. Oh dear, I guess she's pleased garbageblogging didn't catch on.

Twidget, The GOP's Wittenberg Door. Losing sight of the purpose of political parties.

Unabrewer, Why I'm not a big-L Libertarian. Aww...keep an open mind, more Druids in the party just might help.

Varifrank, Howard's Curse. More intelligent commentary on Michael Jackson.

Wizbang, Miss Mensa. Damn, she's smarter than I am... Good thing looks don't matter.

Xxtreme Right Wing, How to Keep CBS, MSNBC, CNN and ABC off of your TV. Note, this also works for FOX and all home improvement channels, also.

Youngpundit, "Hell No"? Oh It's Hell Alright. "Anyone who thinks the UN is going to save the world is seriously deluded."

Zabblog, Why You Should Shoplift. And why you shouldn't.

My 1L daughter got a summer internship in the same city her 2L husband has one! This is such good news for them. She will be working at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd in Columbia SC.

Congratulations, dear. Hard work and persistence pays off ;-)

Okay, the real name of the recipe is Butterflied Party Franks, but TexasBestGrok may do a Heinlein themed Carnival, and I wanted to be prepared.

1 1/2 lbs. frankfurters 1 (10 oz.) jar cranberry jelly 4 tbsp. prepared mustard or Dijon mustard

Cut each frank crosswise into 4 sections. Cut each section in half lengthwise to make 8 pieces. Split ends of each piece within a 1/4 inch of the center; set aside. Combine jelly and mustard in 2-quart micro-type casserole. Use half- power cycle and cook 4 minutes, or until jelly is melted, stirring after 2 minutes. Add franks, stir to coat. Cover with waxed paper. Use high-cycle and cook 4 minutes, or until hot. Stir and let stand, covered, 3 minutes.

I didn't have cranberry jelly, so I used cranberry honey mustard, and added less Dijon. It was quite tasty!

This comment, posted in this thread at New Sisyphus, I can agree with:

Two points from my perspective worth commenting on: First, Terri was not being kept alive by extraordinary measures. If it were just a question of life support (Respirator, dialysis, IV's with various meds) there would have been much less of an outcry. However, she was being fed through a tube, something done with some frequency for debilitated patients. Had the tube never been inserted, few of us would have requested it for a loved one in such a situation, but once inserted, IMHO, the default position (a conservative position in several meanings of the word)should be to continue such minimal intervention in the context of no written word on what the patient would want. Second, every effort should be made to avoid codifying these kinds of situations in law; legal venues are poor choices for this kind of conflict and using law and the courts to resolve familial hatreds usually leaves everyone, including the law, diminished.

We now are stuck with the worst possible outcome: watching a woman whose current vacant state allows people to freely project their own fears and fantasies into her, die of dehydration before our eyes.

It is mainly the part I've made bold above that most concerns me. I'm equally angry and disgusted with Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers.

What to eat? It's so seldom there are viable choices in this household, but today both my husband and I felt like cooking.

Ribs?



Or Chicken Enchiladas?

Iowahawk reveals his roots with strikingly poignant poetry, Redneck Haiku Redux. I am linking to this for two of my very special friends - one who loves haiku and one who 'loves' rednecks. I wonder which one will be more pleased?

Just one sample, you'll have to go there for the rest:

WINTER DANCE Whirling, spinning, free S-10 skates playful circles On parking lot ice

That one was my favorite because... well, it wasn't an S-10, but it sure was fun!

Frank J. and Sarah K. are getting married. I'm so surprised!!

You gotta check out the ring. Gorgeous!

The first, at 11:09 pm Monday (local time at epicenter, 10:09 am, CST)measured 8.7. The second, measured 6.0.

See map here.

Kevin at Wizbang links to an AP story which says these are described as aftershocks of the devastating Dec. 26 quake.

Helluva an aftershock, if you ask me.

UPDATE: Check The Irish Trojan's Blog and Punditguy for more info. (via Instapundit)

Silflay Hraka has a comprehensive post on the earthquakes.

UPDATE: Hundreds May be Dead in Indonesia Quake

Ready, Aim, Click!

Though it's not the main point of POST TRAVEL LAUGH, Varifrank says:

The toughest part of being a blogger 'in the world' is the one unwritten rule is that you can't really blog about what you do for a living beyond the most generic things. Most importantly, you cannot talk about who you are working for. It just makes sense, but on the other hand it is utter hell to be sitting in the middle of one of the biggest stories there is and NOT be able to talk about it.

Well, it's not like I'm sitting on anything even close to the biggest story ever, but a friend gave me some news today that I can't blog about... yet. I will blog about it just as soon as I hear it from another source.

But I sympathize... me fingers are itching!

Now, click on over to Varifrank and read the rest of his post!

The thing that really bothers me is the idea of starving her to death. That's cruel and inhuman and unnecessary, regardless of any other circumstances.

I'm late in blogging about it, but of course I'm taking Patterico's Free Speech Pledge. It's a no-brainer, since I never had any intention of shutting up just because the government (or anyone else) tells me to. That would be un-American!

The Coming War on Blogs predicts that the mainstream media will come after blogs. I don't disagree, but I predict it will backfire. There's too little difference in my posting about a candidate on my blog and putting a sign in my yard. They are both public statements of my opinion, my preference. What kind of paperwork might be required to post that sign? Will I need a traffic counter installed in front of my house to determine its value to the candidate?

How will libel law or campaign finance reform handle blog posts that disfavor a candidate? In this last election, I made few posts in favor of Bush, but many expressing my dislike and distrust of Kerry. Would the result be to turn our politics even more negative than they are now?

For an idea of why I was, er... AM distrustful of Kerry, read Kerry Loves the Mainstream Media.

Thanks to Sisu for the links and inspiration to finally post my disgust for attempts to limit our First Amendment rights.

So many yummies this week... I probably gained five pounds compiling them!

Eggcellent Eggs from BOBO BLOGGER, in honor of the Easter Holiday and Easter Egg Hunts.

More help for Easter from booklore. First, an Orange Glaze for Ham, and second, a primer on boiling eggs, and what to do with them afterwards.

Today in the Kitchen at Meanderings, the menu features Creamy Chicken Cacciatore. ummmm... YUM!

The aussie wife tells how to make Basic Pizza Dough, with instructions I can sympathize with, like "Knead the dough for about 3 minutes or until you get bored."

Over at the Geezer's Corner, there are pictures and a lesson on easy stir fry. Be sure to read to the very bottom for a tip on cleaning cast iron cooking utensils.

Food for The Thomas offers an old-fashioned recipe: Grandma Hop's Sugar Cookies. One reason I never make sugar cookies is the dough usually has to be rolled out and cut, but this one is for drop cookies.

Crockpot Shrimp Creole from Shawn at Everything And/But Nothing sounds so good, I may have to buy a crockpot!

Christina at Feisty Repartee will be responsible for another inch or so on my waistline with Caramel Cake to Die For! All I'll need to buy is the Amaretto.

Let me add Blue Curacao to my shopping list. I'll need it for Caltechgirl's first recipe in her Tar Heel Twofer, Toast of the Town - "The Chapel Hill". The second recipe is for "Tar Heel Pie", which could easily be subtitled "and yet another inch to the waistline."

I'm not even halfway through the submissions, and I've already thrown away my tape measure!

Chris Byrne - The AnarchAngel at The AnarchAngel presents Recipes for REAL men, volume One, Recipe one: More Beef Than Stew

Duck Fudge from VARepublicMan at the Flaming Duck is an Old Time Fudge Recipe. He says, "This is real fudge; not that marshmallow "fantasy fudge" stuff. I have always wanted to learn to make real fudge and I think I can teach you how to do it. Everyone says making fudge is hard. Don't listen to them. It's just precise; not hard. And when you know why it works, the how is easy." I second his recommendation for using a digital candy thermometer.

From Conservative Friends, Drew submits Easy Pot Roast. I like easy, especially when it tastes good.

Rest, Fluids, and a Honkin' Thick Steak. Elisson, of Blog d'Elisson says, "Sometimes when you're feeling a mite puny, the best fix is a juicy, thick beefsteak...with a Cognac-peppercorn sauce. And some nice white asparagus on the side."

Dave of AZ Perspective and Junk presents an old school time favorite, Taco Tangles.

BJ at Quite Early One Morning offers a meal, A Yummy Spring Dinner that won't take long to prepare, but will look (and taste) like it did.

From Absinthe and Cookies, Ith sends a recipe for Drop Scones. This would be wonderful served with a thick Glaswegian accent.

David is in the kitchen at Third World County making Mac n Cheese. No one will confuse this dish with that stuff that comes in a box!

Butterfinger Cookies. Crunchy YUM! via Random Thoughts From Marybeth.

Game for some Sauce? (or Vice/Versa) from Peter of Down For Repairs. He says, "While Elk, Caribou and Venison are very tasty, they can be "gamey" tasting to some. The following recipe is an excellent cure-all for that. (It's also good on your favorite sizzler as well!) The best part is the simplicity of it!"

Cream Cheese Dip, a decidedly not low-fat recipe from Dave at Daily Pundit, with variations on the theme.

Tom at Pooklekufr: the Kafir Constitutionalist presents The Pooklekufr Sandwich of Death. "Guaranteed to either kill you or make you stronger!"

On a lighter, less deadly, note, Prochein Amy sends a recipe for Tomato and Bread Salad with Tomato Carpaccio.

Curried Tree Bisque - without a doubt, the cutest submission this week! From triticale-the wheat/rye guy

Karen, of Let's Play Restaurant! sends a recipe for Fried Egg Sandwich, in what I'm calling the Southwestern Style, since she's dressing it with Easy Picco de Gallo.

Inside Allan's Mind is a tasty recipe for Cheddar-Beer Spread.

Tinker of The Secret Life of Shoes submits a recipe for a yummy Key Lime Cake, with photo. I'd walk a mile for that cake, but perhaps not in heels!

Squeaking in under the wire, is Punctilious of Blog o'Ram with a Heritage Recipe: Tater Tot Casserole. I remember my Mom making a similar dish.

My contribution this week is Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup, from my youngest daughter who is going to be a much better cook than I ever was.

Food for Thought from Bev of bebere.com: Figs from Thistles, Just desserts for a way too busy for her own good girl.

And with that thought, the 32nd Carnival of the Recipes comes to an end. Be sure to check out the other food and non-food offerings of all the submitters. I would have finished this post hours ago if I hadn't got sidetracked reading the fantastic blogs represented above.

UPDATE: I do love Kevin, yes I do! Help me prove it, click on over to Techno Gypsy and get the details on his Singapore Fried Rice recipe.

UPDATE: How could I forget? The 33rd Carnival of the Recipes will be hosted by TexasBestGrok.

Whether they are finches, wrens, or house sparrows, they are as cute as can be. The babies hatched about a week ago, but Mama would get agitated if I tried to get close enough to get a photo. They've grown so much now, that she has found another place to sleep, so now my camera and I can visit.

With mouths shut, it's difficult to distinguish one from the rest.

I'm fairly ignorant about bird species, but I'm tickled that this one has decided to nest in the "nuts & bolts" bin on the worktable (obviously not in regular use!) in our garage.

Comments added to my old Typepad blog after Chris of Powerblogs.com did the magnificent import:

Some Democrats exiled themselves in 2000, and as ex-pats (I mean that literally) wailed and moaned about something being stolen from them. They tried to take it back in 2004 and this time the results were definitive - even the most virulent Bush haters grudgingly acknowledge he might, just might have actually won the popular vote this time.

Now they are banished and have managed to elevate Howard Dean, a candidate they couldn't even manage to nominate, to president of a fanciful Government in Exile.

Damn them. If Karl Rove was truly as evil and brilliant as the looniest conspiracists among them believe, he would have created these loons had they not already existed. Perhaps the grain of truth that resides in the best conspiracy theories is that he has plotted to amplify their voices.

The Democratic Party is doomed unless, until, it finds something to represent other than hatred of the other side.