tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36004302012-01-02T16:13:35.420-06:00Analysis and comment from Memphis, Tennessee, on media, politics, culture, science, my life and anything else that catches my eye.Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.comBlogger26041100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-32186426580198733512012-01-02T15:41:00.004-06:002012-01-02T16:13:35.429-06:00

Not Resolutions; Just AdviceI first heard about Chris Hardwick's Nerdist podcast from reading Wil Wheaton's blog. Wil and Chris are longtime friends and former roommates. I enjoy the Nerdist 'cast; it's funny, relevant to my interests, and teaches me new things.Chris has been expanding Nerdist Industries with new podcasts, and one is by actor/musician/performer Riki Lindhome interviewing various

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-31732244442577555372011-09-25T15:38:00.003-05:002011-09-25T18:04:39.725-05:00

The Value of Children(This is just dashed off quickly, before I forget the train of thought. I welcome further thoughts that develop or refine the thesis.)Some Americans complain that teachers are underpaid. The classic comparison is teachers and CEOs.I think the reason they are "underpaid" is rooted in America's agricultural past, something we are still reaching back to as though it is a

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-38803456098615757662011-07-14T04:15:00.003-05:002011-07-14T04:48:16.979-05:00

Three YearsIt's been around about three years since the end of "serious", regular blogging here. Time to get back on the horse.This blog has also undergone a name change. No more "Half-Bakered". (Sorry, Jackson....) So, those of you still following at home, make the adjustment in your RSS.I'm switching over to a name I almost went with way back in 2002 when I first set this dump up. I like the

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-5142552210725807172011-07-09T17:24:00.002-05:002011-07-09T17:25:54.874-05:00

More TestingWell, tweaks really, unless you study the page closely. Note the "halfbakered@hollihan.net" addy is going away. Part of the upcoming Google / Google+ integration I'm working toward.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-70195411081296223352011-05-31T13:45:00.004-05:002011-05-31T13:52:06.980-05:00

This is Just a Test.Nothing to see here, just testing the old system to see what still works. Move along.Goodness, has it really been two years? Even more since I did a "real" post?This layout is oooooolllllllddddddd. I need to clean up in here, sweep out the dust bunnies and cat hair. Anyone recommend a good two-column, black-background layout?

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-40651616020652916242009-06-20T12:41:00.003-05:002009-06-20T12:46:08.272-05:00

Fun With MapsGo here. It's an interactive map of the Middle East, the eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, Persia and the old Soviet Asian countries. You match the names to the countries.I did a bit better than I expected, though I missed a good few. I really was at sea in sub-Saharan Africa and the "-stans" of the old Soviet Union.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-63428836858544431992009-06-20T11:51:00.008-05:002009-06-20T12:33:16.455-05:00

I Keep Trying to Tell Y'allWho said this?"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest [our nation] become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."Nope, not some modern day

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-2947947234430792802009-06-08T03:25:00.007-05:002009-06-08T03:54:49.352-05:00

Lordi: Hard Rock HallelujahI think it was Lindsey who first pointed me to this song. Thanks!! Yeah, it's Euro-pop-metal and the band's costumes are uber-cheesy. But damn, does this song hit a major sweet spot for me. It's one of those rare songs I can set on endless repeat and let it roll on. And it's only a three minute song. Oh yeah, pure rock bliss.The band won the 2006 Eurovision contest with

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-9795273401671495782009-01-13T23:53:00.006-06:002009-01-14T02:06:04.843-06:00

The GOP is About to Make Another MistakeTuesday was the 13th of course.It's completely understandable that Republicans would want to expel Kent Williams after his stunt today in snatching the Speaker's chair for himself. The House, and Tennessee government, will be in chaos for months, just as we face the worst budget problem in a generation.But it's a mistake to boot him. The first thing

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-25506369420315988842008-09-11T04:07:00.002-05:002008-09-11T04:10:42.453-05:00

The Audacity of LipstickIt had to be done.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-22436726418224972092008-08-23T19:56:00.002-05:002008-08-23T20:04:08.533-05:00

Human CannonballVia Instapundit comes the following, rare, video of Webb Wilder's Human Cannonball, a taut, tough-as-nails Southern rocker from the Eighties with the style's characteristic satirical edge.I saw Webb Wilder and the BeatNecks live at the first Sloss Furnace KudzuFest in Birmingham, back in the day. They were headlining with Guadalcanal Diary. What a show.The highlight was both bands

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-87960902830428685212008-07-30T19:13:00.002-05:002008-07-30T19:25:14.757-05:00

Advice for BloggersSay Uncle, who blogs from Knoxville mostly on 2nd Amendment issues and Tennessee sippin' whiskey, has a great post filled with plenty of sage advice for bloggers and public relations types. An excerpt:First, automatically sign me up for your newsletter. That’s right. I love getting newsletters I never, ever signed up for. I love it like all other spam. And that’s exactly how I

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-79604865093035285772008-07-30T15:51:00.002-05:002008-07-30T15:59:46.867-05:00

Hurry! Right Now! Go Go Go!Hulu is, for some reason probably having to do with its popularity, again streaming Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog for free, today only. Go here. Otherwise you have to pay for iTunes or wait for the DVD.If you are a Joss Whedon fan, or like comic books, you need to see this. Highly recommended. My previous rave is here.Also, more stories may be coming.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-10325974566680653762008-07-30T15:45:00.002-05:002008-07-30T15:51:00.035-05:00

OK, A MooFun with sedation dentistry, via James Lileks. With addlepated photos!Favorite line: Nature may abhor a vacuum, but it loves a gradient.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-60147917510557509902008-07-30T14:24:00.003-05:002008-07-30T18:13:56.743-05:00

You Know It Won't HappenVia BoingBoing, a link to Radley Balko's "A Few Questions for Barack Obama." Read them! Here's one example:In your autobiography, you admit to using marijuana and cocaine in high school and college. Yet you largely support the federal drug war — a change from several years ago when you said you'd be open to decriminalizing marijuana. Would Barack Obama be where he is today

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-67550772156838163242008-07-30T14:03:00.002-05:002008-07-30T14:22:16.836-05:00

Don't Talk to the PoliceThese two videos, a paired lecture to a Virginia law class, have been out there a while now, but there's a recent resurgence of interest in them that makes this a good time to post them here. The professor and the police officer offer compelling reasons why you should never talk to the police without first obtaining counsel, if you are the subject (or potenially will

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-9428518403763914302008-07-30T11:15:00.002-05:002008-07-30T13:44:59.620-05:00

The RAND Research Report and the GWOTThe just-released RAND Research report on "How Terrorist Groups End" is getting a lot of play today for allegedly saying that the way to end Al Qaeda is to stop the War in Iraq. (PDF Download) But read the abstract again:How do terrorist groups end? The evidence since 1968 indicates that terrorist groups rarely cease to exist as a result of winning or losing a

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-49861958659070041752008-07-29T04:35:00.004-05:002008-07-30T11:15:16.845-05:00

Nikki Tinker, Call Your AttorneySometimes, they don't even try. They just throw it right past you and dare you to call them on it. They know you're too busy to pay close attention and they hope their point will be made without your being aware of it.This article from a recent Commercial Appeal is nothing more than a campaign donation to Steve Cohen:All you insomniacs and public policy wonks can

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-45021753583594941562008-07-29T04:19:00.002-05:002008-07-29T04:35:00.760-05:00

It's In The Paper, It Must Be True!Here's an example of some really sloppy thinking and writing that I truly deplore in newspapers:What many locals long suspected is now official. Memphis is one of the least-walkable cities in the nation, according to walkscore.com.Memphis ranked 35th out of 40 big cities on its America's Most Walkable Neighborhoods list released earlier this month. Unswayed by

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-89904160772036816932008-07-29T03:45:00.002-05:002008-07-29T04:19:16.657-05:00

Why Do Europeans Love Obama?Victor Davis Hanson makes some salient points:Let us count the ways:1) Obama’s tax code, support of big government programs and redistribution of income, and subservience to UN directives delight the European masses—especially at a time when their own governments are trying to cut taxes, government, seek closer relations with the US, and ask a petulant, pampered public

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-2703646911989295712008-07-28T04:17:00.003-05:002008-07-28T04:33:19.818-05:00

Test Your News IQThe Pew Research Center has an online questionnaire to test your knowledge of current events. I scored 91%, missing only one question. Maybe it's just me, but the questions seemed almost absurdly simple. Though when you look at how many folks got so many wrong answers, it's a bit disheartening.Or maybe it just shows how many folks don't pay attention to the media? Or maybe it

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-46910215399320999472008-07-26T16:20:00.002-05:002008-07-26T16:40:48.529-05:00

Cinematic GeekgasmsThere have been a handful of movies that have fundamentally altered my perceptions of the world and its future. The earliest one I can remember is, unsurprisingly, 2001: A Space Odyssey.Another is Tron. As with 2001, I forgot I was watching a movie and thought I was seeing a documentary of the future as it was surely going to be ... no, of having been in the future. It was an

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-54498645479290368292008-07-26T14:54:00.003-05:002008-07-28T04:40:40.592-05:00

Another Step to the Strange New FutureWatch this video:Noticed something strange about the woman, right? Well, she's an android. Competely mechanical from toes to head.According to a commenter at BoingBoing (where I found the video) the announcer says, "Even androids can recommend Kincho bug spray."The future is coming and it's going to be weirder than you'll ever want to know. It will be years

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-44407672851731012112008-07-26T13:47:00.002-05:002008-07-26T14:00:57.891-05:00

Why Aren't More Young People Doing This?From Australia:UNIVERSITY students are entering into "sham" marriages in a bid to get financial support to cope with rising tertiary costs.As the Victorian Government moves to pressure Canberra for improvements to support schemes such as Youth Allowance and Austudy, students admit they are resorting to drastic measures in a bid to qualify for government

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-35676527650977826222008-07-26T13:35:00.002-05:002008-07-26T13:47:23.871-05:00

A Pointer to Obama's Future?Followers of Australian poltics know that former Prime Minister was derided by the Australisan Left as a Bush clone and a warmonger. The Australian Labor Party (roughly their equivalent of our Democratic Party) went mad for years trying unsuccessfully to remove him from office. He was especially hated for his participation on Bush's War on Terror. Everything you've

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-73275812782517605742008-07-26T11:58:00.002-05:002008-07-26T12:47:09.167-05:00

More on Making Main a Street AgainNew-to-me downtown blogger memphis Limelight posts a recap of the Center City Commission open meeting.It makes for interesting reading, so I won't quote much. I do want to highlight a couple of things. First, here's ML's breakdown of keys to successful pedestrian malls: * Mixed activity uses - Maybe * Population of captive users - Yes * Programmed

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-63983373651063882982008-07-25T16:21:00.002-05:002008-07-25T16:24:03.703-05:00

Modus OperandiI took Mike Ramirez' cartoon and reworded it:

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-55087098891931435532008-07-24T00:38:00.003-05:002008-07-24T00:50:33.221-05:00

Don't Fear the ReaperRadio programmers are total idiots. Here's a smokin' live version of Blue Oyster Cult and Don't Fear the Reaper. No data but it looks to be from the past 5 years or so. These guys are still touring regularly, still releasing good albums and still sound great! But you won't hear them on radio, except this and Godzilla, and certainly not the new stuff. They just put out a live

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-86794711642712958022008-07-23T18:10:00.002-05:002008-07-23T18:44:22.510-05:00

The Draft is Coming BackFor years, New York Congressman Charles Rangel has introduced a bill in Congress to reinstate the draft. It's purely political theater. The dimmer bulbs on the Left occasionally discover the bill, don't bother to read any deeper than the summary, and then start hollering about "Bush is bringing back the draft!" I'm sure Rangel giggles every time it happens.But now, Rangel

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-53919802054467515432008-07-23T17:07:00.002-05:002008-07-23T17:20:35.652-05:00

Nashville Ranks Higher Than Memphis ... And That's Good News!Reason magazine lists 35 American cities on various measures of nanny-statism, from most to least repressive. The good news is that Memphis (23) ranks lower than Nashville (29), but we still rank pretty high up there.From the list:This year Shelby County, where Memphis is located, passed an ordinance banning beer sales at strip clubs,

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-11512538910435856272008-07-23T16:42:00.002-05:002008-07-23T16:44:33.935-05:00

Book Promotions of the FutureNo doubt you've already seen book commercials on television, but this is a whole new level of promotion:Best of all, you don't need a book publisher to do it for you and it doesn't have to go on a book promotion tour.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-24872735965796709912008-07-21T01:23:00.002-05:002008-07-21T02:42:39.372-05:00

Non-SequiturMonday's Commercial Appeal runs a story congratulating itself and its editor in chief extolling its writers and photographers for winning industry awards.But Editor-in-Smarm Chris Peck says this:"In a year in which newspapers are having some difficulties on the business side, it's a sign of good health in Memphis that The Commercial Appeal's journalism continues to shine," Peck

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-86240250657358208332008-07-19T11:35:00.006-05:002008-07-21T02:52:57.476-05:00

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along BlogJoss Whedon is the mastermind behind some great television: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly. He has an unmatched talent for creating characters who are complex and fascinating, and for putting them into situations that you want to watch. His dialogue is fast, witty and frequently sparkling. Best of all, Joss knows how to write strong, believable women.But

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-86782736638714631662008-07-17T23:37:00.002-05:002008-07-18T00:03:59.915-05:00

FacebookI just updated myself on Facebook and suddenly got 7 invites. Sheesh. Two were from Argentinian guys; why, I don't know. And one was from a woman in Australia. She looks rather cute but again, I don't know her so down the chute with her invite. Is this kind of blind inviting the norm at Facebook? What's the motivation?If you are going to invite me, please make sure to identify yourself in

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-81698993358225006582008-07-17T17:43:00.003-05:002008-07-17T23:11:31.635-05:00

Wire & LoveTooling around the intertubes today and found some music to share.First, one of my favorite bands from the late Seventies and Eighties: Wire! The first video is a live performance of Map Ref. 41°N 93°W, a favorite. You can read more about Wire and their music here; the link is about the production of their best album by far, 154. (Note: The live performance here is frakked up. The

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-60383604952271516062008-07-17T03:01:00.005-05:002008-07-17T03:50:55.854-05:00

BatmanThe new Batman movie opens tonight and expectations are astronomical for this one:Studio sources tell me that record-breaking advance ticket sales for Warner Bros' Batman: The Dark Knight "continue to grow at a pace unlike any other film in history". Even the number of locations in North America where the comic book caper will be playing -- 4,366 -- is an Industry record. There are also

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-39085362267002693312008-07-16T00:25:00.000-05:002008-07-16T00:52:56.796-05:00

The Civil War in Four Minutes(Update: See below.)Yep, you read that right -- the battles and progress of the Civil War in graphic form in just four minutes. I've been reading a lot on the Civil War the past couple of years -- both from the library and I've found a great local source of books on the era very cheap. As I think I've already noted, the parallels between then and today are

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-52736029660351239392008-07-15T23:52:00.002-05:002008-07-16T00:04:11.824-05:00

More on the Obama Effect on Wall Street and the EconomyIn a recent post, I noted the decline of the stock market even as Obama's poll numbers have been rising.Today's MSN Money has a column looking at the same thing and projecting some into the future. It's not pretty:Investors this summer have been placing their bets on an Obama presidency, and for the most part that hasn't been good for the

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-29135691557633898492008-07-15T12:24:00.002-05:002008-07-15T12:38:12.930-05:00

A Novel Approach to Tropical Deforestation and PollutionVia Jerry Pournelle comes a link to a story in the LA TImes about the Vatican's new "solution" to balancing their pollution output by building new forests. Inside the story, where you might miss it, is this incredible bit:The good news is that stopping that destruction -- by purchasing the land outright or paying landowners and others to

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-87625271903381052782008-07-14T20:26:00.002-05:002008-07-14T20:30:02.735-05:00

You Have to WonderVia Paul Ryburn's blog, I spotted this:There’s going to be an Obama meetup this coming Sunday, July 20 in Midtown. Let me start right off with the most important detail of this event: THERE WILL BE A KEG.Because worship at the Church of Obama requires you to be really, really drunk.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-37771107690572668552008-07-14T20:09:00.002-05:002008-07-14T20:26:12.958-05:00

Midtown Redevelopment NewsA couple of Midtown blogs have some welcome news about redevelopment in Midtown.First, Fertile Ground has news and photos about renovations being done to the Chicago Pizza Factory building on Madison:Jerry Carruthers decided he was sick of the Chicago Pizza Factory building sitting empty. He's got two guys gutting the inside and fixing up the outside. "We're even gonna

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-88055898183575488432008-07-14T19:57:00.002-05:002008-07-14T20:08:56.893-05:00

Newspaper BellwetherThe Tribune Co. has had two flagship employees -- Chicago Tribune editor Ann Marie Lipinski and Los Angeles Times publisher David Hiller -- resign this week in the wake of further, sharp cuts in jobs:Tribune Co. is cutting costs to offset declines in advertising and circulation revenue that have sharpened this year for most newspapers in the United States.Hiller, who stepped

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-71432939772785489162008-07-14T15:51:00.002-05:002008-07-14T16:37:05.855-05:00

Danger: Science!Longtime readers know that Mr. Mike is a bit of a science geek. I also love to share my enthusiasm for the scientific method, empiricism, inquiry, and odd bits of knowledge.Imagine my joy to discover some professors at the University of Nottingham, England, have made a series of short videos explaining, in very graphic ways, the various properties of the elements of the periodic

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-74612584270661712412008-07-13T14:33:00.002-05:002008-07-13T15:00:35.345-05:00

Gotta Love the OComedian Bernie Mac did a little show before an Obama fund-raising crowd and earned some heckles for his sexist jokes, off-color language and general crudity.Obama was, as is usual for a politician, made to come out and straighten out Bernie Mac. Here's what he said:"We can't afford to be divided by race. We can't afford to be divided by region or by class and we can't afford to

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-65709630966678400372008-07-13T13:24:00.000-05:002008-07-13T13:25:46.335-05:00

Why the Second Amendment is So Important

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-17443272226970283762008-07-13T00:00:00.002-05:002008-07-13T00:10:31.299-05:00

How Newspapers View Their DeclineFrom the Instapundit comes the following reader letter, with a revealing look at how at least one newspaper sees itself in the current media world, and its explanations for what's going on:My son recently interviewed for a job with a newspaper that is a part of one of the large chains. What he learned from the interview, which lasted 80 minutes with both the

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-58860310452484639962008-07-12T23:41:00.003-05:002008-07-13T00:00:08.745-05:00

I Know Lots of Stuff!I belong to a trivia team (The Fighting Cacti in the Memphis Trivia League) that survived the semi-finals (just barely!) and made it to the finals tonight. We got off to a fair start but thought we were tanking badly in the second round. We missed at least one question in every section of the 5-part round.We had the same experience in the semi-finals, thinking we were doing

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-5652127332031963872008-07-12T00:46:00.004-05:002008-07-13T00:55:46.788-05:00

Caturday!

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-57273162723747434212008-07-10T19:27:00.001-05:002008-07-10T19:29:56.104-05:00

The Voter and the Parties

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-24227805145903041052008-07-10T16:45:00.001-05:002008-07-10T16:47:32.475-05:00

The Small Revenges Are the BestVia ZGeek:Today on the way home, I had a cool bus ride. I was sitting in the back of the bus pretending not to see the old lady standing next to me. When I noticed a lady get on the bus with her young child. She was dressed in what I can only call "filthy hippy" and pushing an empty pram while she dragged her child on to the bus.What I then witnessed was a rare

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-9073444376686319732008-07-10T14:39:00.002-05:002008-07-10T14:47:43.315-05:00

Memphis Blogger MeetupI got an email from the Rustmeister, a blogger I've seen many times commenting on Say Uncle, who I think lives in Memphis. He alerted me to a blogger meetup coming later this month.From Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease:Okay, now to the details, because I know that’s what you’re all dying to know:July 19, 2008East End Grill in Bartlett (map at site - HWY 64 location)2pm -

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-4426837054818331352008-07-10T13:47:00.002-05:002008-07-10T14:02:38.557-05:00

More Like This PleaseA story in today's Commercial Appeal that's good news for our local music scene:Shooting begins July 18 on "$5 Cover," a 15-episode -- or "webisode" -- online program funded by MTV that will be made available to viewers later this year via personal computers, cell phones, iPods and other digital devices that offer an alternative to watching films on TV or in movie

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-10805104853199881322008-07-09T06:30:00.000-05:002008-07-09T06:06:32.939-05:00

Gamerz DepotSome friends of mine have started a game store, called Gamerz Depot. It's in Olive Branch, off Highway 178.Here is my best friend Mark Havener, who is the wage slave manning the counter. You can see some of the many tables they have for board game, card game and tabletop wargaming play. And a lot of merch on stock, too. Mostly Flames of War, AT-43, UFS and Wings of War, but they also

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-72525253222937451502008-07-09T06:06:00.002-05:002008-07-09T06:12:18.155-05:00

Obama's EffectCheck out this graph of performance by the Dow Jones Industrial Average from May to July of this year:And then check out this chart of Barack Obama's polling performance, same period:Coincidence or warning?

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-20845402673226489032008-07-08T15:07:00.004-05:002008-07-08T16:49:01.999-05:00

Graphics DumpSince I'm putting up graphics, I might as well dump the others in my blog folder.No doubt you've noted the appearance of Che posters in the offices of Obama supporters. Here, in his official campaign office in Houston:And here in the chambers of an Ohio judge:Here are some other "Che" posters:With all the outrage peddlers out there, why do you never see this image, given how apropos

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-29088950770311263672008-07-08T14:50:00.002-05:002008-07-08T15:07:26.462-05:00

It's Not Racist When They Do ItYou tell me. Do you see the racism in the Virginia bumpersticker?Here are some hints on what to look for. (Read up here and here.)It seems a blatant, if somewhat innocent, use of a racist image to me. Certainly others have gotten into trouble for less.But not a word of protest I've seen. Hmmmmmm.... I guess it's only residual racism, subconsciously absorbed from the

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-41457534622758961462008-07-05T16:14:00.002-05:002008-07-08T14:49:48.578-05:00

The Numbers, They Do Not LieVia the Unc, we learn that Congress' job approval ratings are the lowest in modern history! Single digit, in fact. And it only took two years -- one half a presidential election cycle -- to get there.What happened? Well, it might be the switch to the Pelosi-led Democratic majority. It might also be the utter sell-out by the Republican leadership to the altar of Mammon

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-58408835825390815222008-07-04T00:49:00.001-05:002008-07-04T00:51:32.864-05:00

Conversational Exchange of the DayManny: I thought you were, actually. Gay, I mean.Bernard: So did I for a bit. Then I found out about the prohibitive standard of hygiene. And all that DANCING!From Black Books.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-29007781860734731582008-06-30T14:55:00.004-05:002008-06-30T15:05:49.329-05:00

The Slow Decline ProgressesNews from California has to come as a horrid shock to newspaper folks across the nation: The Orange County Register is outsourcing copy-editing to a firm in India.Now, the Commercial Appeal here in Memphis has already announced that Scripps (their corporate owner) is outsourcing advertising layout and design to another Indian firm. This, however, is a whole new level.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-1890050450443304492008-06-10T15:15:00.002-05:002008-06-10T15:22:52.736-05:00

The Forgotten AnniversaryUsually, television news and the newspapers are sure to have stories on the various anniversaries of political, historical and cultural events. It's easy to write reviews of past events; just contact a few of the principals to get some current quotes and you're good to go.So, it's rather surprising to me that a major anniversary -- a tenth -- has been passing all year

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-6147713231324680252008-06-10T14:47:00.002-05:002008-06-10T14:52:18.698-05:00

Not As Dumb As I FearedYou paid attention during 100% of high school! 85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!Do you deserve your high school diploma?Create a QuizWhew! I feel a bit better now. It's not that hard, really. Some of the questions do require careful reading, though.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-23816951857814706372008-06-06T16:33:00.002-05:002008-06-06T16:38:28.529-05:00

What Those T-Shirts Should SayStory here.Glamorising a wealthy doctor who used his privileged background to gain entry into "forbidden" parts of society and his knowledge of medicine and the human body to make sure his personal victims died? No thanks. He was a brutal and repulsive killer.BTW, "Che" was Argentinian slang (at the time) for "Hey, you!"

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-76455078517178025982008-06-03T23:49:00.002-05:002008-06-03T23:51:58.781-05:00

Bill Clinton Gets DesperateOh, come on. Like you haven't seen Blazing Saddles.You know it's coming.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-56541011754591848392008-05-30T13:06:00.002-05:002008-05-30T13:19:52.876-05:00

Quote of the DayAn intriguing comparison of Civil War generals Joseph E. Johnston and John Bell Hood with today's presidential candidates includes the following quote, from famous boxer Billy Conn:What's the use of being Irish if you can't be thick?Thick, of course, is British slang for stupid or dim-witted. Yep, that's me to a T.Read the post linked above. Ever since the run-up to the Second

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-50157950237309451742008-05-28T23:19:00.002-05:002008-05-28T23:25:40.320-05:00

A Question on the Democratic ConventionFor those of you who still sometimes come by, I have a question.What is the rule for how delegates to the Democratic Convention in Denver this year are held to the candidate they are pledged to? In other words, are delegates held to their candidate until the candidate themself releases them, or is there some releasing mechanism like, say after the first or

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-8408475937126579832008-04-03T19:50:00.004-05:002008-04-03T20:47:39.439-05:00

MidSouthConI went to the MidSouthCon last weekend. I had a pretty good time, too, though I think I set my expectations a tad too high. I didn't have a plan for events (especially all the programming tracks) and let myself drift around too much. I missed or wasted a lot of opportunities that way. Below are some photos I took. I wasn't really thinking photos, so I just snapped pics when it occured

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-33969072885855813982008-04-03T14:46:00.003-05:002008-04-03T15:19:12.224-05:00

Homeless Guy Returns!In February of 2007 a homeless guy took up residence on the front steps of the antique store on the corner. (Monroe and Avalon) He showed up anywhere from early in the morning to around 10AM and stayed in that spot until dark. He never went anywhere else, nor talked much to anyone. Once in a while, he'd yell at traffic. But mostly, he just sat there all day. For a while, he

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-76728417139871003452008-04-03T00:40:00.002-05:002008-04-03T00:43:02.256-05:00

Your Monty Python of the Daysee more crazy cat pics

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-6114414045023174112008-03-20T09:46:00.002-05:002008-03-20T10:19:45.762-05:00

Random PhotobloggingJust some pictures I've taken lately.First, Bennie asleep on the bedroom floor in a spot of sunlight. This came out better than I expected, but still not quite what I was hoping for.Riding the bus one rainy Saturday.There's a stray that a couple of my neighbors take care of. She lives outside and claims the whole building as her territory. She and Bennie do not get along at

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-22270561098318871652008-03-06T23:46:00.000-06:002008-03-06T23:47:07.914-06:00

Testing... Testing... Testing....Is this thing on?

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-33388857525027698712007-12-24T18:05:00.000-06:002007-12-24T18:24:07.897-06:00

Christmas Eve PhotobloggingFor the first time in ... well, ever, I bought some Christmas lights and strung them up in the bedroom window. Here's the street view:And here's the bedroom view. Sorry for the darkness, I'm still learning how to set film "speed." Ho! Ho! Ho!And here's Miss Bennie sleeping on her bed recliner. My neighbor Danny gave it to me and I put it up on these shelves next to the

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-86341630880165173262007-11-26T00:02:00.000-06:002007-11-26T00:26:12.976-06:00

Thanksgiving Sunday PhotobloggingA couple of shots of Bennie enjoying the heat. Bow down before the one you serve! That's Bear-Bear on the sofa behind her. She used to drag Bear-Bear around the apartment when she was a kitten and Bear-Bear was nearly as big as she was. Nowadays, she barely acknowledges Bear-Bear. Fickle feline friendships.A closer shot with some cropping. Believe it or not, she

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-88378354577222736972007-11-08T00:19:00.000-06:002007-11-08T00:40:32.121-06:00

PhotobloggingI bought a new digital camera recently, so I'll occasionally photoblog stuff. I know: it's sad.First, me. Mike needz brainz!!Bennie on the living room carpet. She's my 7 year old tabby.Bennie on the desk, hanging out while I work.Bennie naps as Mr. Jefferson watches over her.A box of gaming dice.I'll probably... no, certainly be posting more pictures.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-65551546948370290212007-11-06T00:40:00.000-06:002007-11-08T00:42:43.019-06:00

Chris Davis is Still My BitchI'm changing the tag line under the blog name, so I just wanted to archive the old one in a post. Chris Davis is still my bitch.Satisfied now, mother?

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-16950477725122217982007-10-28T10:42:00.000-05:002007-10-28T10:44:05.398-05:00

I'm a Feminist! You Are 84% FeministYou are a total feminist. This doesn't mean you're a man hater (in fact, you may be a man).You just think that men and women should be treated equally. It's a simple idea but somehow complicated for the world to put into action.Are You a Feminist?[Note: This post was deleted and reposted to remove some comment spam.]

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-30136536498873457072007-08-06T00:33:00.000-05:002007-08-06T00:39:19.069-05:00

Now That's a Debate!Of course, the mayoral race will come with some debates and they pretty much promise to be dull and surprise-free affairs. How I wish they could be like this one, from England's Alan Partridge. [WARNING: The last minute or so is not work safe. Language and male posterior nudity.]Never heard of Alan Partridge until Lileks mentioned him, so thanks for that!

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-20714529382337766992007-08-05T14:35:00.000-05:002007-08-05T16:34:27.225-05:00

Lazy Sunday, the MusicalWhy, yes, I am being lazy today and posting a bunch of YouTube links to some favorite songs or interesting music videos, instead of commenting on the knifing that John Ryder gave to the Shelby County Republican Party last week. Sucks to be them; glad to be me. Let's get to it!First, from the Seventies, great glam-rock band Mott the Hoople and The Golden Age of Rock and

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-43274986003733770652007-08-04T22:15:00.000-05:002007-08-04T22:57:34.703-05:00

Look For the Good in Others and They'll See the Good in YouAgain, aimless drifting around YouTube turned up a video for one of my all-time, Top Ten favorite songs, Look For the Good in Others and They'll See the Good in You by New Zealand band The Chills. This video is from the late Eighties and features one of the band's best line-ups. I got to see them here in Memphis around 1990, when they

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-68447242426396253152007-08-01T17:12:00.000-05:002007-08-01T17:41:00.147-05:00

Random Web Comment of the Dayi love this song it reminds me when me and my boyfriend first met this song was on weve been together 3 mnths on sunday xSigh... teenagers.From the comments to a video posted to YouTube. (Poison by Alice Cooper, if you must know. Don't laugh!)INSTANT UPDATE: While digging up Alice, I ran across the video to Elected, from the mid-Seventies. Gotta love the YouTube. And

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-72069384309702874402007-07-30T21:59:00.000-05:002007-07-30T22:10:55.716-05:00

Faces to NamesEarlier tonight, I was at a meeting here in Midtown and got to talking with a guy named Roy. I mentioned my name and starting to say, "I'm with Main Street-- " when he jumped in with, "Half-Bakered!" Turns out he is The Gates of Memphis!Small world here in Midtown, indeed. We seem to be infested with bloggers. I was in Otherlands a month or so ago and as I was walking out, there was

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-58808267707426937682007-07-30T21:47:00.001-05:002007-07-30T21:56:46.574-05:00

Better News Than the Paper!Lots and lots of news about closing and opening businesses in this thread on the Goner Records board. Seems there's a flurry of activity in my little area of Midtown of late.The info about "Hung" of Pho Hoa Binh is amusing to me, as on my block (right around the corner!) it's widely assumed he's the big drug kingpin for the crack dealers in the area. I've heard this

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-91601123069234272992007-07-30T16:56:00.001-05:002007-07-30T17:03:59.925-05:00

Neologism of the DayFrenemy: A conflation of friend and enemy. Derived from the Sun Tzu maxim: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Implies a false veneer of friendship over a watchful, distrusting actuality.First heard: Kyle XY. (More on Kyle XY another day.)

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-64746161265322219162007-07-30T11:29:00.000-05:002007-07-30T11:30:20.000-05:00

The Counter-Majoritarian Difficulty Via Instapundit, comes an intructory essay on a legal and constitutional principle called The Counter-Majoritarian Difficulty. Basically, it's the idea that courts (and especially the Supreme Court) are and operate as anti-majority anomalies within a constitutional system. It's a very short essay but it launches a lot of deep thinking on a vital issue.One

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-49299921291748221202007-07-29T19:15:00.000-05:002007-07-29T19:16:06.119-05:00

Lincoln: Conservative, Radical, RevolutionaryVery absorbing essay from James Livingston on Lincoln the Revolutionary. He argues that Lincoln's strictly conservative reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as regards the proposition that "all men are created equal" and that slavery is guaranteed in those states that already have it, came to a clash in his belief that

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-70878848380450856822007-07-28T22:50:00.000-05:002007-07-29T01:34:38.844-05:00

Fun With Numbers: Memphis Mayor's Race DepartmentFOX13 just released their own poll on the Memphis mayor's race but it is, as the two previous Commercial Appeal polls were, generally useless.If you look at the only piece of hard data on the poll, it's a +/- 7% margin of error (MoE). Such a large error margin is usually not a good sign, so I called Yacoubian Market Research, the folks hired to

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-31089644176135251862007-07-28T22:43:00.000-05:002007-07-28T22:50:07.423-05:00

Political Self-ImageInteresting numbers in this Rasmussen Report poll. It provides some insight into how Democrats and Republicans veiw themselves and makes plain some voter confusion.Rasmussen found that 61% of Republicans found "conservative" a positive term of description. That rose to 74% for "like Reagan. That seems to show a clear self-identification among Republicans, and some clarity of

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-76986076376311894142007-07-28T17:32:00.000-05:002007-07-28T17:32:27.431-05:00

Why I Hate RegistrationHaving to register with a website so they can prevent spam comments is understandable, but when the folks making you register then turn around and use their database to spam you, well, that's a circle of hell I hope these marketers get well acquainted with.It's been annoying in recent weeks to have Memphis Flyer spam showing up in my mailbox unasked for. For folks who love

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-61819764194353550212007-07-28T17:13:00.000-05:002007-07-28T17:17:28.515-05:00

Minimum Wage, Maximum FUDSince I've been on hiatus, the minimum wage hike has been in the news. I only have a couple of comments on it by this point, so I'll peg them to this Commercial Appeal editorial from local activist Rebekah Jordan.She conveniently uses some distorted numbers, for one:According to the Economic Policy Institute, about 153,000 Tennesseans will directly benefit from the raise,

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-90430458418033932852007-07-28T16:44:00.000-05:002007-07-28T16:45:00.748-05:00

The Presumption of Guilt?LeftWingCracker falls into a common trap in this post about Michael Vick, the NFL player who is indicted for running a pit bull fighting ring.He says:The first thing you have to do is remember that, like all defendants, Michael Vick is innocent until PROVEN guilty by a jury of his peers. Then, go read the indictment, and THEN tell me that. OK, it's only an indictment...

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-20418470666022798872007-07-25T14:40:00.000-05:002007-07-25T14:41:10.299-05:00

Coolest Picture You'll See TodayHanging the moon in the sky.Link via Instapundit.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-23093010466099085442007-07-24T12:22:00.000-05:002007-07-24T12:22:53.188-05:00

Herenton Confirms Public PerceptionsMayor Herenton is widely cast as someone who stays within the safe walls of his hard-to-access office downtown and his home in a gated community out east. His antipathy for the media is sometimes put away for limited interviews in controlled circumstances, usually in response to some high-profile situation involving City government.And in this Commercial Appeal

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-63220671986238112812007-07-21T22:42:00.000-05:002007-07-21T22:48:02.753-05:00

Your Shin Chan for TodayShin Chan's parents are having a paper blow-dart competition and are trying to decide who goes first:Mom: I defer. After all, I'm using to waiting for you.Dad: So ... we're playing by bedroom rules, are we?

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-47942157880926844672007-07-19T12:08:00.000-05:002007-07-19T12:10:51.876-05:00

Headline, Meet StoryThe "new" Commercial Appeal has long had a problem with information-free headlines, but this, I think, is a new one: the headline contradicts the story!Price tag may scuttle Liberty Bowl rehab dreams it says boldy at the top. That's why I clicked. Has something come up that will force either a new stadium to be built, or will we just have to make do with the current one for

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-90535842685629384242007-07-18T16:19:00.000-05:002007-07-18T16:22:25.831-05:00

Separated at Birth?Phyllis Diller and Bill Buckley:Diller image via James Lileks.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-24690966952599272452007-07-18T15:12:00.000-05:002007-07-18T15:15:36.963-05:00

Magic TrickFound this picture online and the caption came to me immediately:And now, with just the power of my mind, I will make this bulb glow! Wait for it ... wait for it ... wait for it ....

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-23021004242170246502007-07-16T22:47:00.000-05:002007-07-17T10:48:43.533-05:00

Main Street Journal Presents: July Dutch Treat LuncheonWhen: Saturday, July 21; 11:30 AM - 12:45Where: The Butcher Shop, Cordova (Germantown Parkway & Walnut Grove)July Theme: The Role of New Media (Internet & Blogging) in Memphis Politics July Panel:Cameron Harper (Anchor and blogger, ABC24 and CW30)Richard Thompson (former Commercial Appeal reporter and media blogger at Mediaverse-Memphis)

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-35794839124513838842007-07-15T13:12:00.000-05:002007-07-15T13:15:20.005-05:00

Thought for the DayMost people who smugly criticize America from abroad are European. If they angrily criticize America for what it did to their country, they're from South America or the Middle East. If they laugh at how much money they make off stupid Americans, they're from Asia.From a fascinating discussion on high fructose corn syrup on Slashdot.

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-81341855011360869562007-06-20T14:40:00.000-05:002007-06-20T15:05:27.557-05:00

Adventures With MATA: In & OutRegular readers know that Mr. Mike doesn't own a car. It's nothing legal. I have a valid driver's license and all. It's just that I made conscious decision about 15 years ago do do without. (Hah! All you middle-class liberal enviromentalists with your recycling and carbon credits can bite my bus pass!) Trying to get around courtesy of MATA can often be an adventure

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-47636962905837425292007-06-19T11:57:00.000-05:002007-06-19T12:13:34.676-05:00

Welcome to Our Downtown OverlordsThanks to Paul Ryburn for the mention! And welcome to the folks swinging by from there.I ran into him yesterday at Otherlands. I've only recently discovered the place as somewhere fairly close by with large tables good for gaming and a quiet atmosphere. Prices are coffeeshop ridiculous -- $1.69 for a 20 oz. Coke -- but it's nice enough.The board game Paul's

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600430.post-73203207438763648332007-06-19T11:07:00.000-05:002007-06-19T11:25:28.504-05:00

Dr. Johnson: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!Richard Thompson of Mediaverse Memphis has a good round up of stories and links on Dr. Carol Johnson's sudden departure from the Memphis City School system here.It's important to remember, I think, that she wasn't just plucked out of thin air. Like a lottery winner, she had to buy a ticket. She put her name into consideration some months ago. Some

Michael Roy Hollihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15275044959782899550noreply@blogger.com0