Thorny issues

Texas Photo Radar

For a few months last year I managed some houses for a guy in San Diego who got sucked into the overheated Phoenix real estate market at its height. He bought the houses sight-unseen because an unprincipled salesman told him he couldn't lose.
He lost.
Today I spent almost 5 hours at one of those houses - empty and on the market for months - cleaning up the landscaping which had become so overgrown and weed-infested that the HOA and the neighbors were complaining. That included pruning a very large Palo Verde tree. Several years ago a new hybrid was introduced, the Museum Palo Verde, which doesn't have the long, mean thorns of the native version. This was not a Museum Palo Verde! Besides getting dehydrated (I'm a slow learner) I am all scratched up. And the bottom of my shoes are filled with thorns.

I feel genuinely sorry for Barak Obama. I watched his press conference this afternoon and I thought he did an excellent job in a difficult situation. He answered questions in a straightforward way, but what struck me was his transparency. I don't agree with many (most?) of his political views and policies, but I was impressed with his directness. I'm not sure he's much of a politician, using that term in its pejorative sense. IMHO that sets him apart from Hillary Clinton.
I also heard an assessment on NPR of Rev. Wright's recent public comments by Juan Williams. I respect Williams as an objective and insightful analyst. He does work for NPR and for one of the networks - can't remember which one.
I can't get it to play on my computer, but here's the link to his comments:
NPR - Juan Williams
He took serious issue with Wright's description of liberation theology as the theology of the Black Church. Williams, who is Black, said that when most Blacks go to their churches on a Sunday morning they hear a sermon from The Book, not liberation theology.

I've decided Roger Clemens is just not very bright. He filed a defamation suit against his ex-trainer. By definition a defamation suit argues that "the defendant has ruined my reputation by knowingly saying bad things that aren't true." The first step in any defense against a defamation suit is showing that the plaintiff is a bum, something that a 10-year extra-marital affair with a country western star that started with that star was still a minor will probably accomplish. Note: when contacted by the press she said she couldn't take issue with the charge.
How much do you suppose Clemens is paying his lawyers who guided him into this suit?

This is funny:
Mom Simulator

I think Mother's Day is coming up. Anybody know the date?