The Mind of IrishWalsh

Absolutely Disgusting

2007-09-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

When did voting, especially by our elected officials become so trivial?

A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote in a national election. -Bill Vaughan

Badass Marine

2007-08-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

Ahh so that's how it all happens.

2007-08-10T11:38:00.001-07:00

Everything you ever wanted to know about sex.

Best one liner ever.

2007-08-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

Daddy Like....

2007-08-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

This just in. No new news to report. Giuliani still bending the other candidates over a barrel.

Gallup Poll

Not News Worthy

2007-06-25T06:20:00.001-07:00

24 Non-Dead Children Found in Iraq

Wait, what? Yep. Hardly a peep in the news about it.

The media turns largely a blind eye to US and Iraqi army victories.....

While Iraqi authorities turn a blind eye to intentional starvation of children...

The caretaker in charge of the institution and two female employees were captured and handed over to Iraqi authorities, but have since disappeared.

"I don't know Mohamad, they were here a second a go, hehe hehe hehe, no clue where they went, hehe hehe hehe. They must have hehe hehe, er escaped or something."

Rudy's 12 Commitments

2007-06-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

I've heard people around me say that Rudy Giuliani has yet to lay out exactly where he stands on issues. I don't think those people have been listening to well, but in any case he recently put it in writing. This is Rudy's 12 commitments to the people of the US should he win the White House.

I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists' War on Us.
I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders, and identify every non-citizen in our nation.
I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending.
I will cut taxes and reform the tax code.
I will impose accountability on Washington.
I will lead America towards energy independence.
I will give Americans more control over, and access to, healthcare with affordable and portable free-market solutions.
I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions, and protect the quality of life for our children.
I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.
I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents.
I will expand America's involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.

There ya have it. Rudy on the record...again.

No, I am not dead.

2007-06-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. My wife and I have just gotten back from a 9 day trip to Ireland which was amazing. In addition we have managed to get our financing in order to buy our first business so blogging time is a luxury I just don't have.

I will however leave you with a great Rolling Rock commercial. I particularly love the horse. Well, love in a platonic sort of way, not that there is anything wrong with loving horses...er...well, roll tape!

Blogger, I love you...when I'm not hating you.

2007-04-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

Trying to tweak the template and it got all screwy.

So, pardon our mess.

See what 50 years will do

2007-04-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.

1956 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show Jack.

2006 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1956 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.

2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Jason won't be still in class, disrupts other students.

1956 - Jason sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal. Sits still in class.

2006 - Jason given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jason has a disability.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his Dad gives him a whipping.

1956 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.

2006 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by state psychologist that she remembers being abused herself and their Dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to school.

1956 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking dock.

2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.

1956 : Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.

2006 : Pedro's cause is taken up by state democratic party. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he can't speak English.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed

1956 - Ants die.

2006 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary, hugs him to comfort him.

1956 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison.

h/t ebaumsworld

If only I had wicked Photoshop Skillz

2007-04-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

This is a hilarious Fark.com Photoshop Thread...today's subject, this Hillary "Vampirella" Clinton picture. Tee hee, she looks like a squawking goose.

A dream come true...

2007-04-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

I would be hard pressed to think of two people who I would rather see throttle one another to death then these two. So this video is nearly as good as it gets.

My newest obsession

2007-04-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a couple friends of ours I have become deeply entrenched into my newest addiction. It's called Geocaching and before I go further may I just say:

Hi, my name is IrishWalsh, and I am a Geocacher.
Crowd: Hi Irish!

For those of you who have never heard of geocaching the short explanation is that it's the use of a multi-billion dollar network of military satellites to find Tupperware in the woods.

The long explanation is thus: Fellow geocachers the world over have placed "treasure" troves or caches out all around the planet for other geocachers to find. They then go to www.geocaching.com and submit the cache. Once it is approved as not being near main bridges/railroads/airports or anything else it might scare someone, it's available for the cachers to find it based on it's two 7 digit coordinates using a GPS receiver. Caches vary from an ammo box or Tupperware container full of little dollar store trinkets or odd souvenirs for treasure, which you can take as long as you also leave something. Other caches called "micro" caches can be as small as a 35mm film canister with just a tiny log book for you to sign to say you found it. After you make the find you log your visit on the geocaching website and get credit for it. Some people/teams have thousands and thousands of finds to their credit. The cache's treasure won't make you rich but the real treasure is the find and credit for the find. I have discovered so many parks I never knew existed while caching. It's also a great way to lose weight because some of them require pretty decent hikes to get to, or between them.

Where are all of these caches? Well, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that one is within 5 miles of where you are right now, probably much closer. If your in a metro area there will likely be hundreds. If your in Antarctica there are even some hidden for you, as well as one in the mouth of a volcano. Some require scuba gear, repelling ropes, or an ATV to get to.

The game is basically free to play after you buy a GPSr (which entry level units run about $70-120. Mine (pictured) was about $150 as I wanted more memory for storage). If you really take to it and want to support the game you can start hiding your own caches or creating fun themed multi-staged caches.

Some people start little trinkets called 'Travel Bugs" which have a serial number on them and once dropped in a cache people pick them up, log it, move it to another cache and log the drop. Over time some of the bugs accumulate tens of thousands of miles of travel. I've seen one that has been around the globe 3+ times. I can't wait until our trip to Ireland in May to hit some of them on the tiny mountain trails in the Ring of Kerry overlooking the rocky cliffs on the Atlantic Ocean. I already have 2 travel bugs that are coming along for the ride and plan to take a few more.

Swing over to Geocaching.com and put in your zip code on the main page, I bet you will be blown away by what you see. There are also great tutorials on that site, as well as a Geocaching for Dummys, and Idiots Guide to Geocaching books. You really don't need the books. Do the tutorials, borrow someone's GPS if you don't have one and go teach yourself the tricks.

Linky See Linky Do

2007-04-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

Jeremie over at the Corn Beltway Boys has an exceptional post up about how he, as a pro-lifer, supports Rudy Giuliani.

Definitely worth a read.

I'm Famous and Stuff

2007-04-07T05:27:00.000-07:00

Me and Rudy, we roll hard and go way back. (Far right side of the pic)

David Yepsen on Rudy Giuliani's Chances in Iowa

2007-04-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

Des Moines Register reporter David Yepsen was apparently also in attendance at Giuliani's rally and has some things to say about Rudy's chances here in Iowa, despite the rumblings of him not being "conservative enough" for Iowans.

For months now, conventional wisdom has said Giuliani would fade as Republicans learn of his liberal positions or divorces. That hasn't happened, and it raises the possibility that many social conservatives are looking at other things or character traits as they choose a candidate to back in 2008.

The nation is at war. We are selecting the first new president after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and those two facts change the issues that are foremost in voters' minds. Also, after their losses in 2006, Republicans are growing worried about holding onto the White House in 2008, which may make them a bit more pragmatic.

(Even in past campaigns, Republican activists have never selected the most conservative candidates in a race as their caucus choice, just as Democrats have never chosen the most liberal ones from their field.)

Yepsen is dead on here. Iowans aren't as much of a fuddy duddy Bible thumping group as people portray them to be and evidence of that can be found in past caucuses and final election results. Iowa has long been a multi colored red/blue state, like Rudy Giuliani. We are told each election that candidates aren't liberal enough for Iowa, or aren't conservative enough but the fringe elements can't draw enough support in caucuses. (I am remembering the 2...yes 2, people at my 04 caucus who came to support Kucinich and just wouldn't budge.) Howard Dean was even to liberal for Iowans as we all remember, despite early polls.

"I want to assure you we will be back in Iowa," he said. "I'm going to run in Iowa the way I ran in New York City. I know you think New York City and Iowa are very different," but running for mayor of New York City and running in an Iowa caucus campaign are "very similar."

"You run every day," he said. "I walked the streets, did 93 town-hall meetings. I had people come up to me and tell me, 'Mayor, you're doing a great job. Or, Mayor, you stink...'

"I'm used to that. I like that. I love doing it, and I love people. We're going to win the caucus and surprise everybody."

He may win. But it should no longer be a surprise.

In my humble opinion as a life long Iowan who has usually hovered around the middle zone politically: Rudy Giuliani was made for Iowa and Iowa will prove to be made for Rudy in the caucuses. BUT! And this is the important part that Yepsen has already mentioned...he has to put in the time here. No skipping Iowa in favor of places like New Hampshire like some candidates do. If he spends time one on one with Iowans the state is his to lose.

More Rudy Rally Talk

2007-04-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

Jeremie over at the Corn Beltway Boys did an in depth analysis of the Rudy Rally as he was also in attendance. I would agree with his points, including the folding chair debacle. You can see it here.

Also, bumped into Polk County GOP Chairman, and fellow blogger Ted Sporer. It's always good to meet up with someone who's blog you read from time to time and see them in the flesh. I snapped this picture entitled "bald is beautiful". Man, I look like I have more chins then a Chinese phone book, despite the weight loss.

Rudy Rally

2007-04-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

I volunteered at the Rudy Giuliani Rally today, and I think everything went very well. Their turnout was pretty impressive for such short notice and we managed to keep what few protesters (well not protesters, just really just people with their own agenda to push) out of the big show.

Rudy was as usual a great speaker coming straight from the heart rather than the spit shined and sample tested, plastic politicians we are so used to seeing blow through Iowa. He made some great points that struck home with me. His views on terrorism, the Death Tax, and government fueling capitalism rather than fueling itself to name a few. It's already apparent that one of Rudy's strong points he will be running on is bi-partisanship, which this country desperately needs. When Democrats wake up with a hatred hangover after the Bush era ends they will realize it's time to suck it up and get back to doing what's best for the country. Here are a couple of videos that I took with my little Casio Exilim (sux0rz) from my vantage point about 10 feet away.

The Death Tax and Spending

-------

Bi-partisanship

What Would We Do Without Ya!

2007-03-31T06:36:00.000-07:00

Good news, a member of the anti-war Hollywood left has actually put their money where their mouth and supported a troop. Alec Baldwin will be paying for the college tuition for a soldier.

However, one of his people apparently failed to mention to him that the government already has this nifty thing called the G.I. Bill, giving her #37,000 for, you guessed it...college tuition.

Still no word on when he will be moving to Canada.

Heather, Sunshine...Thank You.

2007-03-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Well I have told you all before about the two weight loss pools I have been participating in since mid September. The second and possibly final one just finished up. I knew I couldn't win this one, much less win it with the gusto of the first. However I knew that whether I won the pool or not, I would still win, because the pool gave me the drive to stick to my weight loss goals. I had gained a boatload of weight since High School and it was time for a change, a big one. So here are my before and after pics from the start of the first pool until this morning. No jokes about me needing some sun, I'm Irish if I even walk past a window I burn! Or hairy back jokes, fat guys are supposed to have hairy backs it's like...man law or something.

Ahm gonna eat ya! Dead sexy! Get in mah belly!

I started losing weight when I hit 270lbs and joined the Deep End of the Pool at 262, one week later. I have finished up at 227.5, a 42.5 lb loss. My total cholesterol has dropped an insane 75 points, without medication! I would however like to drop another 20 before I call it good enough, so time will tell how that goes.

To Heather and Sunshine who ran these pools I want to give a sincere thanks. Without the drive of that weekly weigh in and competition hovering over my head, I would have stopped long ago. You two have added years and quality to my life, and I thank you for that.

To remember a family's loss.

2007-03-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

A senseless loss of an exceptional and intelligent seventeen year old, who had an amazing future ahead of her. The loss of Courtney Wagner should be remembered by all who knew her, and live as a reminder to truly live each day as it may be our last, and love those around us as it might be theirs.

Courtney's last action of her life was to pass life on to five others who needed what she had to give.* Just as I believe she would have wanted.

To the Wagners: You have the condolences and best wishes of the entire Walsh family.

Dubya reminds us that he is human.

2007-03-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you folks, I'll be here all week. Tip your waitress!

More of same ol same ol...

2007-03-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

Edited to add links I forgot the first time:

Unless you have been living under a rock lately you have likely heard about Al Gore's carbon footprint and energy usage in his gi-normous homes of his is about 20 times that of the average American home. The homes of the people he is blaming for destroying the Earth as we know it with their fancy pants high on the hog ways.

The only thing average about Al Gore is his blatant hypocrisy among his fellow far left wing and that has never been more evident then last week when he refused to cut his electricity useage to fall into line with his own demands put forth in his "movie". Senator James Inhofe showed Gore a slide from his movie and asked Gore to take a "Personal Energy Ethics Pledge" and cut his carbon footprint as asked in his "Inconvenient Truth" during a hearing on Global Warming.

Al Gore's response? Nope.

Never underestimate the left's hypocrisy, and the lengths they will go to defend it.

Besides, why should Al Gore follow suit with what he expects of the rest of us? This gas bag global warming alarmist is making him a boatload of cash off of our paranoia.

Vilsack Finds Himself a Suga-momma

2007-03-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

In case you blinked and missed it, our retarded warm body former Governor (the one before the one we have now) Tom Vilsack briefly thought he had enough street cred to actually pull off a Presidential campaign. He failed to drum up enough cash to get past February 07. Didn't see that one coming didja? Now he is spending what last fragment of honor and credibility he has left, and giving Hillary Clinton his endorsement. This has nothing, NOTHING I tell you to do with Hillary paying off Tommy the Pooh's campaign debt for him. Nothing. So don't even think it.

Hillary might however demand a refund when she realizes that a Tom Vilsack recommendation is only as good as the felons he returned voting rights to. Criminals for Hillary!

Giuliani on Tax Reform

2007-03-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have heard a couple people mention to me that we don't really know where Rudy Giuliani stands, and what his true platform is. To that I say...it's March of 07, chill a bit. I know where Rudy stands on most issues after my own research, but his platform is now starting to emerge as he receives more and more press. If you missed it, he was interviewed by CNBC's Larry Kudlow and the Mayor's true beliefs on taxes were discussed.

What I feel makes Rudy different when he speaks about what he wants to do with taxes as opposed to someone like say John Edwards, is that he had total control and has done what he says he wants to keep doing and it worked. He isn't speaking from "theory" or empty promises, this is tried and true stuff here. He had control over the largest micro economy in the country, cut taxes and it was beneficial. He cut welfare, and it was beneficial. He cut government staffing numbers, and it was beneficial. He isn't just talking about hypothetical, but actual practiced and performed plans.