Althouse: The giraffe in the woods.

October 28, 2010

The giraffe in the woods.

Chip Ahoy plays with a photo of mine.

80 comments:

Meade said...: Love it when the Chip circus comes to town!; 10/28/10, 9:05 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/28/10, 9:05 PM
blake said...: Whose woods these are
I cannot see
But he eats from
The acacia tree; 10/28/10, 9:05 PM
Lincolntf said...: Great stuff.; 10/28/10, 9:08 PM
Titus said...: I haven't looked closely at a giraffe lately but I can't remember if they have low hanging balls and hogs.

We are accustomed to hearing about horse hogs, or donkey dicks or cow cocks. But not a peep about giraffe penis. Which is odd because they are such a large animal.; 10/28/10, 9:16 PM
Curtiss said...: It's a Predator giraffe.; 10/28/10, 9:17 PM
traditionalguy said...: Giraffes are so graceful and tall that no football team will ever pick Giraffes as their name. But maybe an NBA team would. Love your work Chip.; 10/28/10, 9:18 PM
Anonymous said...: Just got off the tele-conf. with consultants across the nation working on Democratic party campaigns.

Yes, the election is in the bag (House, 224+; Senate, 54+). We went to a collecting song:

++++++

The GOP is finished.
yes, finished.
The party of the living dead.
yes, dead
and finished.

Reid has won in Nevada.
Boxer has won in California.
Murray has won in Washington.
Feingold has won in Wisconsin.
Alex has won in Illinois.

What is the GOP doing?

The GOP is finished.
yes, finished.
The party of the living dead.
yes, dead
and finished.

What will the GOP do next?

Chorus

It is finished. It is dead.

++++++; 10/28/10, 9:18 PM
EK said...: "Predator giraffe"--that's great...

"Run! Get to the choppa!"; 10/28/10, 9:21 PM
traditionalguy said...: Could we get America's Politico on Mail Fraud charges or something like the FTC's deceptive advertising cease and desist findings?; 10/28/10, 9:23 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/28/10, 9:23 PM
MamaM said...: Versatile
And varied
A different surprise
Pops up
With each of Chip's
Enhancements.; 10/28/10, 9:27 PM
pst314 said...: "There is a giraffe in the woods. For some people, the giraffe is easy to see. Others don't see it at all. Some people say the giraffe is tame. Others say it's vicious and dangerous. Since no one can really be sure who's right, isn't it smart to be as strong as the giraffe? If there is a giraffe...."; 10/28/10, 9:29 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/28/10, 9:34 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/28/10, 9:40 PM
Titus said...: bull balls-is that better?; 10/28/10, 9:43 PM
Titus said...: It is a common sight in Wisconsin to see cows humping.; 10/28/10, 9:44 PM
traditionalguy said...: Sixty Grit...How did you learn so much about Giraffe's tongues anyway? Does your internet name Sixty Grit refer to Giraffe Love fetish? Enquiring minds want to know.; 10/28/10, 9:46 PM
pm317 said...: Ann, no time to do a post on Jon Stewart's 'Dude' last night?; 10/28/10, 9:52 PM
Unknown said...: You don't usually see both of Titus' personalities in the same thread.; 10/28/10, 9:52 PM
Wince said...: Kiss my little giraffe.; 10/28/10, 9:54 PM
pm317 said...: BTW, nicely done, Chip Ahoy.; 10/28/10, 9:55 PM
Misty said...: So cool! Great job Chip!; 10/28/10, 9:55 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Renteria could not buy a hit when we had him as a red sox.; 10/28/10, 9:56 PM
Hector Owen said...: Chip, that's amazing. Beautiful. Thanks!; 10/28/10, 9:59 PM
Titus said...: I don't have any time or interest posting under another name. I am not even sure how to.

I am Titus here me roar...and I am no one else and no one else is me, that was deep.

ARe Meadsy Poo and Althousekins cuddling wuddling on this cold night?; 10/28/10, 10:01 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/28/10, 10:02 PM
Titus said...: althouse, I am trick or treating with my niece and the rare clumbers on State Street tomorrow around 2:00.

If you see us, just realize I will not acknowledge and pretend not to see you. Just my way of saying I love you. I hope you understand. I am very dl, as you know.; 10/28/10, 10:04 PM
Titus said...: OMG, the Sound of Music kids are on Oprah.; 10/28/10, 10:07 PM
Wince said...: Titus said...
I don't have any time or interest posting under another name. I am not even sure how to.

Really?

As I recall, Titus used to post under a revolving set of self-descriptive names like "TitusLovesDogs," etc.

I remeber thinking: does he have to create a new account for each one?; 10/28/10, 10:22 PM
AST said...: I've always wondered why there were no giraffes in America like there were elephants and rhinos. Now we know they were here all along!; 10/28/10, 10:24 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: things are not what they seem..

Reminds me the other day there was a forum about the upcoming election on CSPAN and during question time someone got up and said (paraphrasing)
that the "nastiness" of this election, the personal animosity had never been this bad.

I first thought, were have I heard this before?.. and then I thought.. that's very impressive for a 200 plus year old democracy.

Since coming here my bs detector has much improved, if I say so myself.; 10/28/10, 10:27 PM
Clyde said...: @ edutcher

I dunno... The two posts by America's Politico and Titus were only two minutes apart, and Titus' post was fairly lengthy. Unless he had it ready to copy-and-paste, that would have been a really fast quick-change act, worthy of Clark Kent-Superman. I might have to reconsider the likelihood of AP and Titus being one and the same.; 10/28/10, 10:30 PM
Titus said...: Truth be told, I had to constantly post titus.... names because I always forget my password.

I am not, nor have I ever been the poster American whatever.

I am sorry I am just not that into politics.; 10/28/10, 10:34 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Now there is a thought..

The idea of Titus as Superman..

Presupposing that the alleged promiscuity among homosexuals is do to a tireless search for Superman ;); 10/28/10, 10:38 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/28/10, 10:40 PM
MamaM said...: If you haven't seen the 2010 winner of Artprize, Cavalry, American Officers, 1921 it's worth a look.

Using an 2H pencil and a sheet of paper 39 feet long and 12 feet tall, the artist, Chris LaPorte created a gigantic drawing of a 1921 group photo of WWI Cavalry soldiers. His description, "E PLURIBUS UNUM...Of many one," further down in the link is also finely done.

Another example of an artist using skills and imagination to enhance a different artist's work and take it in a new direction. The result: a work most likely beyond the imagination of the person taking the original photo and the men in uniform seated for the picture.; 10/28/10, 10:41 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Now I'm seeing giraffes everywhere.; 10/28/10, 10:58 PM
Peter Hoh said...: AP: 224+ in the House, 54+ in the Senate.

Well, we know where he stands on Prop 19.; 10/28/10, 11:02 PM
David said...: Peter Hoh.

Do not be taken in by the Republican pre-election victory lap?.The damn fools are all over the news assuming victory and trumpeting their plans. Very Bad Karma. Never, ever assume that you will win until the contest is over. Bad, bad Karma.; 10/28/10, 11:09 PM
Meade said...: "It is a common sight in Wisconsin to see cows humping."

No, it's true! Here in Wisconsin, cows are always humping over the moon.
Little giraffes are all out of sorts,
And vikings run away with our quarterbacks.; 10/28/10, 11:13 PM
Titus said...: Fellow, republicans, just confirmed my flight to Bengaluru, with a one week stop in Paris.

Heading out November 30. Returning April 30, with a one week stop in Dubai. During my stay in India we will be going to Bangkok, Nepal and some other brownie countries. Will miss you terribly.

I chose "Kosher" for my meals.; 10/28/10, 11:15 PM
Peter Hoh said...: And the Badgers run away with the Ax.

By the way, you cheeseheads want that quarterback back?; 10/28/10, 11:17 PM
Meade said...: Eh, not so much.; 10/28/10, 11:19 PM
MamaM said...: Following Titus' imaginative inquiry, a special link for Peter Hoh, on tall tails and Giraffe penis in Lego Land.; 10/28/10, 11:21 PM
Kirk Parker said...: What Curtiss said--but doesn't that make it more than a little creepy? What's that bionic giraffe going to do to us???; 10/28/10, 11:22 PM
Peter Hoh said...: David, I'd love it if the Althouse would set up a post just for prognostication.

I've got a little action going with AP. He says the Dems keep the House. I say the GOP takes it. I'd like to put $20 on the outcome, but I don't trust AP to pay up if I win.

For anybody else who likes this sort of thing, there's a wonky post over at Freakonomics, the Blog, with various predictions. Be sure to read Justin Wolfers' contribution.

Wolfers is betting on the Democrats. Why? Because no one else is. Sure, it's a long shot, but if the Dems pull it off, he's a certified genius for making the prediction. And if he's wrong? So what -- nobody holds these pundits accountable.; 10/28/10, 11:32 PM
HKatz said...: Makes me think of Jumanji. Only more peaceful (though still a little eerie).; 10/28/10, 11:56 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: The idea of the GOP taking the house is not a total loss for Obama. Since he's not on the ballot he can run against them when he will be in 2012.

If I were sure the GOP would stop the run away spending and even try and chip away at Obamacare, I would feel much more optimistic.

Rush has been sounding the alarm already. The GOP will likely NOT stand up to Obama.

Noodle backbone cowards.; 10/29/10, 12:05 AM
Ralph L said...: Jeez, Titus, did you ditch your lucrative career to become a kept man?; 10/29/10, 12:26 AM
Peter Hoh said...: Lem writes: If I were sure the GOP would stop the run away spending . . .

Yeah, I feel your pain.

Part of the problem is that the House leadership will be made up of the guys who were a rung below the House leadership the last time the GOP had the House. It's like getting a promotion because they fired your boss, only there's an intermediate step in which the flunkies from the other party get to be in charge.

So long as the House rewards failure, failure is what we're going to get.

Jonathan Chait explains why the GOP won't actually cut spending:

The loop begins with Republicans gaining power on the basis of promising to cut unspecified programs, or perhaps programs accounting for a tiny proportion of the federal budget. That is the stage of the cycle we are currently in. Then Republicans obtain power and have to confront the fact that most spending programs are popular, and so they must choose between destroying their own popularity by taking on programs like Medicare, or failing to materially cut spending. So they settle on tax cuts instead of spending cuts. Then eventually their supporters conclude that they have been betrayed by their leaders, and cast about for new leaders with the willpower to really cut spending this time.; 10/29/10, 12:43 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Thanks for showing this, but giraffes are like so yesterday. Now I'm into brown bears. Would like to see a little thank you card I whipped out today for a real-life thing? It's very scribbly and simple.; 10/29/10, 1:39 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I watched Time Out (2001).. again.

I Didnt realize I had seen it when I add it to the queue..

Now that I'm unemployed the film seemed more poignant.. the main character more sympathetic.; 10/29/10, 1:45 AM
blake said...: Do not be taken in by the Republican pre-election victory lap?.The damn fools are all over the news assuming victory and trumpeting their plans. Very Bad Karma. Never, ever assume that you will win until the contest is over. Bad, bad Karma.

How is bad karma?

Tempting fate, sure.

Inviting Nemesis' attention, if you want to get Greek about it.

But what's Karma got to do with anything?; 10/29/10, 2:00 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: I have a dromedary
It lives in my garage
My parents do not know it's there
It's wearing camelflage.

Jack Prelutsky; 10/29/10, 7:53 AM
Lincolntf said...: I can't get a link to work, but Gateway Pundit has a great vid of a MoveOn clown choking a GOP supporter. Classic.; 10/29/10, 8:00 AM
RobertL said...: Was that the Predator?; 10/29/10, 8:04 AM
john said...: Local campaign sign:

"Gabriel Giffords voted to take away your Medicare"

Limbaugh earlier this week: Evil Dems want to do away with our home mortgage interest deduction.

Lem and Peter Hoh are correct: Neither the Repubs nor the Tea Party seem to be interested in even discussing this except by accusing the Dems of wanting to take away our God-given entitlements.; 10/29/10, 8:05 AM
MadisonMan said...: Limbaugh earlier this week: Evil Dems want to do away with our home mortgage interest deduction.

I don't think that would be a bad idea...but I question the timing as the housing market struggles to recover. I think losing the interest deduction would stop a lot of people from buying houses -- not that that's a bad thing. But it would be better to axe the deduction during a boom, not a bust.; 10/29/10, 8:26 AM
Lincolntf said...: Why on earth would we remove the mortgage deduction? It would accomplish exactly two things, making every homeowner in the nation poorer and making every Government Agency richer.
Why people insist on shoveling even more cash into the Government furnace is beyond me.; 10/29/10, 8:33 AM
Anonymous said...: If you want to take a flier, Peter, there's always Intrade.com. Except that no one there is offering the same sucker bet as America's Pollyanna.; 10/29/10, 8:39 AM
john said...: The MID is a subsidy. Like most subsidies, it moves money from the pockets of poorer people (who may not itemize their deductions) into the pockets of the real estate industry (you only think it is going into your pocket).

The MID encourages borrowing on homes, thus serves to inflate the price of this borrowing. The MID encourages greated indebtedness and loss of home equity through equity loan interest deductions. That factor alone probably accounts for a majority (or significant minority) of the home foreclosures in the last 5 years.

The MID encourages rent seeking, in fact it demands it. By "allowing" us to purchase a more expensive home, we have already handed over this "deduction" to our banks, mortgage companies, and title firms.

Canadains, who do not have a MID, average 75% home equity. US is 45%. So much for "making every homeowner poorer".; 10/29/10, 8:51 AM
Peter Hoh said...: Lincoln, the mortgage interest deduction ends up giving a tax break to homeowners, leaving a heavier burden on those who rent.

Does that strike you as fair?

The flip side is that we want to encourage people who do certain things by giving them tax breaks. We view home ownership as a good thing, and this is one of the vehicles used to encourage it.

As with all things, over time, people learn how to game the system.

I believe that there's some sense that encouraging home ownership got us into this mess, though I suspect that the zero down payment loans had more to do with that than the interest deduction.; 10/29/10, 8:57 AM
Lincolntf said...: Yes, I do believe it is fair for homeowners (who already pay the freaking property tax that renters don't, duh) to be able to deduct their mortgage payments from their income taxes.
And the fact that this deduction exists does not mean that others have to "pay more". It means the Government has to spend less.; 10/29/10, 9:01 AM
Sofa King said...: There may be a giraffe in the woods but there are chickens in the trees.; 10/29/10, 9:06 AM
Shanna said...: White house photog's favorite shots...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101028/pl_yblog_upshot/white-house-photographer-picks-his-favorite-obama-shots

It's on Yahoo front page.; 10/29/10, 9:17 AM
Lincolntf said...: I went to Yahoo and didn't see the Obama story/pics.

Oh well, unless there's a pic of "President Healthcare" with a butt hanging out of his mouth, I don't really need to see any more photos of him.; 10/29/10, 9:25 AM
MadisonMan said...: I wasn't advocating just a removal of the deduction. I'd rather see a wholesale revamp that included it. How about a flat tax and abolishing the IRS Bureacracy? And the Dept. of Education. And . . .; 10/29/10, 9:26 AM
blake said...: Hey! MadisonMan's become a tea partier!; 10/29/10, 9:53 AM
Lincolntf said...: blake said...

The wave is picking up all sorts of flotsam these days. Welcome to the rational world, MM.; 10/29/10, 10:20 AM
MadisonMan said...: I haven't changed my views one iota with respect to this over the past ten years.

I'll say this: The wave that sweeps in Tea Partiers will just as quickly sweep them back out in 2 to 6 years when their votes reveal their actual thoughts.; 10/29/10, 10:28 AM
Lincolntf said...: Wrong, MM. Their real thoughts are what this country is electing them for. The Tea Party has forced the Republican Party to literally throw their bums out. We won't get all of them this year, but we'll get a lot of them. Meanwhile the Dems will do all they can to keep their bums in office. The people in this country know that the career pols have lied to them about everything from Fannie Mae to Healthcare to Government Motors. Unless the Dems have the courage to remove their corrupt and bloated leaders, they have no chance to rebound.; 10/29/10, 10:36 AM
MadisonMan said...: Well, I disagree. I think they will be corrupted by DC.

I've been wrong before -- on occasion -- and perhaps I'll be wrong with this, but I don't see the Tea Party Republicans doing anything to address the size of Government, except complaining about it when they run for (re-)election.; 10/29/10, 10:39 AM
blake said...: MadMan--

Well, that's why the Tea Party itself needs to be an ongoing force, working against the statists in both parties.

It can't be a one-off or you're right, it'll fail and we'll get a rerun of Bush II: Republicans voting in a bunch of new expenditures and intrusive programs.

We'll know it's on the right track when the Dems start acting like Big Gov't is a bad thing as opposed to a panacea.; 10/29/10, 10:52 AM
jungatheart said...: omg, Chip that is absolutely, insanely CUTE.

~concocts methods to become Chip's friend~

Also, I double-dog dare you to make a Sasquatch in Prof's pic. :); 10/29/10, 11:02 AM
john said...: I hate to agree with MM, but so far he has a good take on the Tea Party. If their only agenda is to throw the bums out (including Obama in 2012), cut taxes, and repeal Obamacare, then they haven't really considered that the government, in most other respects, requires governing.

Governing requires a whole different skill set than politicking (to wit - Obama, who has never had to do it - yet).

Tea partiers have not shown any evidence that they will be prepared to tackle the thornier issues related to entitlements, because they won't get within 10 miles of balancing the budget otherwise.

Oh, balancing the budget: is that on the TP to-do list?; 10/29/10, 11:54 AM
Lincolntf said...: "Oh, balancing the budget: is that on the TP to-do list?"

Yes, but we are aware of the Constitutional limitations that exist. If we have just the House, we'll need to go very slowly. If we get both the House and the Senate, a meaningful "freeze" on Gov't spending growth is a real possibility. We'll have to see exactly how many seats we win and how many Dems cross the aisle to work with the Repubs before we know what vehicles/methods are available to us.; 10/29/10, 12:32 PM
Anonymous said...: Very cool, Chip!b; 10/29/10, 1:13 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Lincoln, yes, renters don't pay property taxes -- at least not directly. In Minnesota, at least, taxes on rental property are set at a higher rate than taxes on an owner-occupied dwelling. Those taxes are passed on to the renters.

Homeowners get to deduct the mortgage interest and property taxes on their federal income tax returns. I'm not an accountant, but I'm pretty sure that renters don't get any breaks like that.

I'd be happy with a flatter, simpler tax structure, with deductions for dependents only, but I'm not going to hold my breath. There are too many special interests too tied to the current system. The last presidential candidate promoting a flat tax was Steve Forbes. Remember how far that got him?

Re. the Tea Party sweeping the bums out: No, the Tea Party is going to put the old bums in power. Boehner, et al, are not going to cede power to the so-called Tea Party candidates.

Now, it might be that Boehner, et al, are going to be serious about cutting spending this time. It's also possible that Lucy will let Charlie Brown kick the football.; 10/29/10, 3:25 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Lincoln, there's no constitutional limit restraining the House from cutting spending -- including entitlement spending and passing a balanced budget. Yes, the House and the Senate need to come to terms, and the president needs to sign it, but none of that prevents the House from doing what the Tea Party demands.

The problem is that you can't balance the budget without cutting entitlements and the military. I don't see the Tea Party or the GOP actually doing those things.

But it will be fun listening to them whine about the need to cut spending when they are running for re-election in 2012.; 10/29/10, 3:31 PM