January 21, 2013

At the Ice Cold Café...

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... we see the Wisconsin Capitol building reflected on the glassy clear and oh-so-thick ice of Lake Mendota, where hearty men fish and full-blooded dogs romp, while timid souls linger on the shoreline and fret about safety. It's America, baby! It's Wisconsin! There is room for the bold individualists and the hand-wringing collectivists. All contribute to the molten mush of human thought here in this moment we were made for. God bless Madison, Wisconsin, and God bless the United States of America.

ADDED: The full-blooded God dog:

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The hearty men:


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Closer:

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86 comments:

Anonymous said...

God Bless Althousia!

purplepenquin said...

"There is room for the bold individualists and the hand-wringing collectivists"

Just to clear it up, is it only "hand-wringing" when labor decides to organize, or does that label also apply when capital organizes as a group in order to form a corporation?

Shouting Thomas said...

God bless my Gibson J-200!

Damned greatest guitar ever made!

edutcher said...

I assume the cold we're expecting here has already hit there.

Ann Althouse said...

while timid souls linger on the shoreline and fret about safety

Does this include faithful wives with videocams?

Tim said...

Today's the day Obama is celebrating his second term?

Pffft.

I'm re-watching the NFC Championship Game on NFL Rewind.

Yes, I know how the story ends.

So too with Obama's sure-to-be-disastrous second term.

At least the Niners came back to win.

America coming back to win?

By no means a certainty.

That depends upon the stupid, the weak, the envious, the craven and the dependent becoming smarter, stronger, confident, bolder and independent.

I would not bet on that, at all.

Back to my game...

pm317 said...

edutcher said...
----------

haha.. good one.
She thought she was going after all the critics and shaming them.

tiger said...

For the past few years, with the Winters being so mild, I know people who after the first blast of cold weather and subsequent warm-up think that 'Winter is over!'

I heard this just last week!

Well, it's Winter in Wisconsin and considering I can remember getting snow the first week of May, I'd say we've got a few more weeks/months to go.

chickelit said...

we see the Wisconsin Capitol building reflected on the glassy clear and oh-so-thick ice of Lake Mendota, where hearty men fish and full-blooded dogs romp,..

I enlarged it to full original size and didn't see anyone out there. Just something white that might be garage mahal's styrofoam beer cooler. BTW, was whoever took the shot standing on shore?

Ann Althouse said...

edutcher, pm317 ... Your inability to see that I would engage in self-deprecating humor is really sad. Why do you read this blog? Get some humor glasses.

Sorun said...

A headline you'll never see: "Three hearty men drown after falling through ice."

Meade said...

This is the moment of Wisconsin's historically coldest average winter temperatures. We are made for this moment and we will sneeze it together. This is our moment to turn away from outworn football programs and harness new defensive linemen and secondary - a moment that will define a new generation of badgers, packers, and dairy cows. This is the moment - this is the time - when we came together, drilled holes in the ice, and fished for compliments.

pm317 said...

Why do you read this blog?

OK, no more Amazon portal stuff from you!

Just kidding..

You were the one yesterday chiding all those other commenters with a phrase like "get a grip people" instead of explaining what happened. I was waiting for you to post the pic with the brave fishing people..

Anonymous said...

America is not built on fear.... Who just now said that?

Strelnikov said...

Yes, but if you ask the "hand-wringing collectivists" they'd tell you they'd stop the "bold individualists" from doing so - for their own good, of course.

Ann Althouse said...

Ever hear about the men who slipped in the shower, bumped their heads and died that way?

Anonymous said...

For the good of canines all over this country, and for the love of God, stay off the ice!!

Sorun said...

Link: What to do if you fall through the ice.

yashu said...

Hymn to Zeus (from Aeschylus's Agamemnon):

Zeus, whoever he may be— if by this name it pleases him to be invoked, by this name I call to him— as I weigh all things in the balance, I have nothing to compare save “Zeus,” if in truth I must cast aside this vain burden from my heart.

He who once was mighty, swelling with insolence for every fight, he shall not even be named as having ever existed; and he who arose later, he has met his overthrower and is past and gone. But whoever willingly sings a victory song for Zeus, he shall gain wisdom altogether.

Zeus, who sets mortals on the path to understanding, Zeus, who has established as a fixed law that “wisdom comes by suffering.” But even as trouble, bringing memory of pain, drips over the mind in sleep, so wisdom comes to men, whether they want it or not. Harsh, it seems to me, is the grace of gods enthroned upon their awful seats.

Patrick said...

Nice looking guitar, Thomas. Doesn't Emmylou play a customized version of that? More of a Martin guy myself, although my skills don't (yet) justify the one I really want.

Patrick said...

Ah, she does. It's right there in the link.

Anonymous said...

It appears the handwringing collectivists are the conservatives here, funny that.

chickelit said...

Ann Althouse said...
Ever hear about the men who slipped in the shower, bumped their heads and died that way?

I'll bet it looked pretty compromising since there was more than one.

Lyle said...

That dog is one tough sucker to go out in that cold.

chickelit said...

yashu quoted...
Hymn to Zeus (from Aeschylus's Agamemnon)

Zeus was known to take the form of swan so he's not in danger of drowning. In fact, swans were sighted on that lake. All you Ledas better beware!

Strelnikov said...

"Ever hear about the men who slipped in the shower, bumped their heads and died that way?"

My general impression is that men in general need a lot more showers, not fewer, despite the obvious an compelling risk of injury.

The version of the joke I like best: Did you ever have one of those orgasms that was so intense that your knees become weak so that you fall, striking your head on the shower door, and they don't find your body for days?

jacksonjay said...

I say "conserve" the resources of the Madison Fire Department and keep that dog off the ice! God knows you won't let him suffer the consequences of courage!

Anonymous said...

Today is a wonderful day in more ways than one, my daughter is home from Afghanistan, back on American soil, God Bless the USA.

Original Mike said...

"For the good of canines all over this country, and for the love of God, stay off the ice!!"

You're not from Wisconsin.

chickelit said...

Hey, that is good news, Inga!

ricpic said...

Let's Pretend

God bless the collectivists, may they squish freedom good;
Who knows, they may even let dissenters live, knock wood.

Anonymous said...

Oh really? I'm not from Wisconsin? I've been here since I've been three years old, I most definitely am from Wisconsin.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Chickie, she's in Oceanside as we speak, how's the weather? She'll be home on leave for two weeks on the 2nd!

Dust Bunny Queen said...

More of a Martin guy myself, although my skills don't (yet) justify the one I really want.

I recently sold my original owner 1965 Martin D-18 I was very sad to have to let it go. I had so much history with that guitar, but since I don't play as much or perform anymore, I couldn't justify having such and expensive instrument.

I bought a Breedlove Passport 200/sb. Same dreadnought body style. I like it.It is good enough for plunking around and I don't have to be worried about kicking around with a guitar worth thousands of dollars.

Original Mike said...

"This is the moment of Wisconsin's historically coldest average winter temperatures."

Years ago about this time a friend of mine, a California native who was spending his first winter in Wisconsin, came into the lab one morning and eagerly announced that the average temperature had bottomed out and was beginning to go back up. "The end of winter is in sight", he proclaimed. We natives just chuckled; "You bet, Bruce. Almost over."

chickelit said...

@Inga: 81F right now. We've been mired in the 70's all week. It gets back into the 40's at night.

Original Mike said...

Don't know, Inga. I think you've outed yourself. "Stay off the ice"? No full-blooded Wisconsin native would give that advice.

Freeman Hunt said...

A cougar could have jumped out of that tree and eaten the dog.

traditionalguy said...

This is skiing weather. Or is that communal hot tubing weather.

Orthopaedic Surgeons at ski resort towns love the month of February.

Tom Brady won his first big playoff game in blowing snow eleven years ago. And he started the "tuck Rule" that day to help the Patriots win it.

Now it's all about Rayvenge time.

Anonymous said...

I live on a lake in Waukesha County. We are on the ice all winter, we fish through ice, we skate on it, we respect it.

Rabel said...

Checked the Madison weather and - Good God - it's 5 degrees!

Go inside! Huddle together for warmth! Set the furniture on fire! Get in bed and under the covers with the dogs!

What's wrong with you people up there?

Anonymous said...

Chickie,
Oh wow, I told her its good she couldn't come home this week as the wind chill is dipping into the minuses here.

bagoh20 said...

Congrats Inga, On getting your daughter and our soldier home.

Anonymous said...

Also Chickie, her cat's fur has gotten thick because I keep the thermostat turned down at night, it's cold! So when she takes her back to Oceanside, her cat will shed like mad! Ha! Payback for me keeping her for this past year and vacuuming the furniture daily.

Ann Althouse said...

@Rabel. We are inside today. I took those pictures on Saturday, when the temps were in the high 30s in the afternoon when we were there.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Baggy!

jacksonjay said...

It makes sense now! All those people they rescue here in Texas are from Wisconsin!

Anonymous said...

And OM, I was being sarcastic about staying off the ice;).

Meade said...

"A cougar could have jumped out of that tree and eaten the dog."

No cougars in Dane County. The timber wolves keep them away.

Anonymous said...

Meade, we have had cougars in SE and SC Wisconsin.

Shouting Thomas said...

Patrick, they don't make you audition to play that Martin D35. All you got to do is plunk down your money!

Patrick said...

I tried telling that to my wife, Thomas. Didn't work!

Original Mike said...

I'd reply, Inga, but I don't want to be accussed of stalking.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Kiss was made for that moment

Anonymous said...

OM, you don't remind me of the stalker type:)

Meade said...

Correction.

Original Mike said...

I walked to work today. Brisk, nothing more.

SayAahh said...

No Country For Young Men

Is it just me or does Michelle's new 'do remind anyone else of Anton Chigurh?

Anonymous said...

I am more of a Martin guy too. My wife always said no, so when she said no to our marriage, I got a new D28.

But I have always loved that Gibson since I saw George Harrison play his in "The Concert for Bangladesh"

Great news Inga!

Anonymous said...

Madison:

The only place people will lecture you about safety before they blindly step off the curb in front of your moving car.

Anonymous said...
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edutcher said...

If we're showing a God dog, it ought to be one of those conquistadors' ponies.

(the Comanche word for horse translates to God dog)

Ann Althouse said...

edutcher, pm317 ... Your inability to see that I would engage in self-deprecating humor is really sad. Why do you read this blog? Get some humor glasses.

Oh, come on, Ann, I was just teasing a little.

AlanKH said...

I'm celebrating Inauguration Day by listening to some appropriate mood music - the Montagues and Capulets march from Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet."

Anonymous said...

Yes, good news Mick!

rhhardin said...

God bless my Gibson J-200!

Goya G-10. Though I haven't played it in decades.

I gave it up for the lute (handmade by Ernst Stieber, Tubingen).

Tune your G string down to an F# and you have a lute tuning.

Patrick said...

Today is a wonderful day in more ways than one, my daughter is home from Afghanistan, back on American soil, God Bless the USA.

Fantastic, Inga. Is this permanent, or just a leave? Godspeed to her.

Patrick said...

If I had a ton of money, I'd blow an awful lot of it on guitars. Until I get the D-35, I'll continue banging away on the cheapo I've got. But still, when I go test drive the nicer ones at the shop, I do get these pangs...

rhhardin said...

Ears and wind.

Anonymous said...

Patrick its permanent for now, it depends on the CLR she is attached to, if it's one that deploys in 9 months from now she may have to deploy again. I'm hoping she won't ever have to deploy again.

She was on her two weeks R&R last September for one of my other daughter's wedding.

Aridog said...

Inga said...

Patrick its permanent for now, it depends on the CLR [Combat Logistics Regiment]she is attached to, if it's one that deploys in 9 months from now she may have to deploy again...

Here's hoping she can remain stateside. For her sake, her family's sake, and for the sake of those who she may be able to train. Experienced training cadre are very important. Major emphasis on that.

However, Corpsmen (and women) are apparently in short supply for deployment with Marines and Seals. HM-1 Darrel Enos was KIA in Afghanistan last summer....on his 5th deployment. He was shot dead by the Afghans he was training. It is harder every day to be a winner in that Pashtun shit-hole.

It is possible that Inga's daughter knew him since both were in country at the same approximate time.

It boils down to this...critical skill specialties will become in even shorter supply as the military cuts back in the combat specialties...and "medic" or "hospital corpsman" ARE combat specialties. I give considerable credit to Inga's daughter for staying in this long.

Patrick said...

permanent..for now

Ha! From what (little) I know, it must be the military. Glad she's safe.

Penny said...

Inga, I am SO happy for you! Please give your daughter a hug from all of us for her service to our great nation and its people.

bagoh20 said...

Left wing / right wing?

Are there really people who think we are better when we punish either success or misfortune?

No, there are very few of either sort. It's just all the crap we pile onto those good concepts of encouraging success and helping the unfortunate. It how lazily we define those things and how bad our aim at the targets of freedom and compassion.

I looked at photos of the inauguration today and couldn't help but be moved by the emotion displayed, and how much pride there was in the faces of those watching. Although I don't feel that today, I have at other times, and I know I would if I was of the mindset that voted for him, but I am not.

I then imagined how those people felt at the times when I was feeling that pride, and I suppose it was the same feeling I have today. Deep disappointment that people could believe such things as they do and act or make important decision on such.

We both feel these things, and some terrible things in the past have made people feel pride or disappointment, so feelings are dangerously unreliable. I'll respect the feelings for what they are, and nothing more.

The facts matter, and when they show something truly to be proud of I'll share them, but they still will just be feelings.

Now, don't get me wrong - I love emotion, and enjoy mine immensely when they are good, but I try my best to save them for after the decision. Now is the time. Then was not.

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Petunia said...

Wouldn't "hardy" men be more accurate?

Anonymous said...

Aridog, she was a Corps school Instructor from 2007 to 2011. When the Corps School moved from GL to San Antonio, she attached to the Marines. She entered the Navy in 2002.

While she was in Afghanistan she became a FMF Corpsman and now proudly wears that warfare device( pin). She also won a Navy Commendation Medal.

bagoh20 said...

I love my Martin. I loved my Ovation before, and thought she was the greatest, and then my eye wandered, and one night I took home a new Martin, and soon after my Ovation moved in with a younger dude. It's all good.

Anonymous said...

Thankyou Penny! I will give her huge hugs.

Penny said...

For you Martin Guitar fans...

What seems like a lifetime ago now, I had the privilege of getting a very personal and private tour of their factory from a great man who helped me get started in my own career, and then moved on to CF Martin for his dream job.

The craftsmanship, the pride in work, the patience in wanting to show a young girl exactly how they do what they do when they make the finest guitar in the land.

I remember more than I probably should about this after all these years, but the thing that lingers longest in my mind is the smell .. the smell of fine wood being worked to perfection.

Shouting Thomas said...

Folks, Martins are great. I own a D28. I've barely played the D28 since I bought the Gibson J-200.

You can't play those great country bass runs on a D28. The J-200 has a huge bass voice.

bagoh20 said...

" the smell of fine wood being worked to perfection."

We are still talking about guitars here, right?

OK, then yes, I love the smell of my Martin. I stick my nose in hole every time I pick her up, and I just love it. I think she does too.

Penny said...

"Get some humor glasses."

Hell yeah, Althouse. Right after I get done collecting from the commenters for your AVIATOR glasses.

This was supposed to be a surprise, but now is as good a time as any to tell you we are sending you on a round-the-world PLANE trip!

Be BOLD, young lady! And take plenty of pictures from, say... 40,000 feet up?

Aridog said...

Inga said ...

While she was in Afghanistan she became a FMF Corpsman ...

For those unfamiliar with the award, it is a significant accomplishment. It cannot be awarded by Navy officers, only US Marine Corps General Officers may award the FMF Badge to "Fleet Marine force Warefare Specialists" who meets all USMC qualification criteria.

kentuckyliz said...

Good news, Inga! Saluting and thanking.

Anonymous said...

If I owned a J-200 and a Gretsch Country Club (in green) I would die happy.

Ok, throw in a Morgan Plus 4 and a Vincent Black Shadow

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