Firefox: It's the cat's meow

You know how sometimes we do things out of inertia? And we rarely consider another way to do the same thing? One of the best things that's happened to my computer and internet usage is Firefox.

Internet Explorer is ponderous and limited, but I never knew that until I downloaded Firefox. It's quick, easy and does many, many more things than IE and does them better.

Just click on the button on the right to see for yourself.

Sister Helen Prejean 

A True Hero

I am very fortunate for many things, among them being able to be retired and live in such a wonderful city as Madison, with all that it offers.

Tonight it offered a lecture as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series at the University of Wisconsin. The series is run by students. Next month, Rev. Al Sharpton is scheduled, and in April Robert Siegel, the former editor of The Onion will appear. Last year they had Robert Novak followed by Michael Moore.

Speaking tonight was Sister Helen Prejean, the epitome of inspirations. Sister Prejean is the author of Dead Man Walking which was on the New York Times bestseller list for 31 weeks and made into a movie starring Susan Sarandon, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1995.

Sister Prejean is a staunch advocate of abolishing the death penalty. This stance grows from firsthand experiences with inmates killed by the state. She has written powerfully about providing dignity for all, particularly those who have committed the most heinous of crimes. But dignity is also due to the families of victims as well as the condemned.

She also talks about how antiseptic the killing actually is, to the point of swabbing alcohol on the condemned before inserting the needles that will kill him. And she talks about the living. Indeed she has founded "Survive," a victim's advocacy group in New Orleans.

Her newest book, The Death of Innocents, An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions,
takes her experience and her beliefs to those wrongfully accused, tried and executed.

William Faulkner said that the only thing worth writing about is conflict of the heart. Her writing reflects that.

Tonight was an evening of reflection, learning, and deep, deep sadness at our society's cruelty.

Packer vs. Vikings

One thing about us 'sconnies' (Wisconsinites), we take our football and our taunts seriously. When something involves both, it deserves billboards, as witnessed by the following three billboards located near the airport in Madison (Aberg Ave. for you cheeseheads).

Clincking on a picture will enlarge it, thereby making it suitable for your desktop, your memories, or even as bathroom wallpaper.

Squirting an Official 

Ramming a Meter Maid 

Priceless 

The Peking Acrobat

Kate MacMahan, my sister, Sue, her daughter Ann, and I went to the Peking Acrobats at Madison's new Overture Center. I was too close to get good shots of most of their routines, so suffice it to say that they were incredible. But rather than ramble on about this terrific show, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. (Clicking on a picture will enlarge it.)

The opening scene of the Peking Acrobats. 

Those of us seated near the front expressed concern at this stunt. 

We were instructed not to try this at home. 

This is how dogs in Peking play ball. 

The Big Finale 

Peking Acrobat Apprentices 

Peking Acrobat Apprentices with Clown 

Goodbye Sammy; We Knew Ye All too Well

Another happy day in Cubdom; it looks as though Sammy Sosa will be traded to the Orioles. I'm reminded of a story from the 80's regarding the Phillies who traded Von Hayes. Upon being asked how he felt about it, Lenny Dykstra is reported to have said, "Great trade! Who'd we get?"

To me, Sosa wore out his welcome a long time ago. When there were rumors about his going to the Yankees four years ago I was hoping they were true.

Why?

Sosa is not a team player; he's for Sosa. Take a look at virtually any of his quotes and you will find that the first person pronoun is employed liberally. He costs the team more runs in baserunning blunders, poor defensive play, and silly at-bats then he provided through the long ball. Worse, he's a huge distraction in the clubhouse with his loud salsa music. So much so that when he skipped out on the last game of the season last year, one of the players, Mark Prior it is rumored, smashed his boom box to bits.

A more detailed analysis may be found at: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=1979666

Oddly enough, coupled with the loss of Moises Alou through free agency, I think the Cubs will be a better team. Of course, I realize that I have been saying that for 40 years or so. The coming of spring brings out the hopeless romantic in me.