Helen Crump

From her Wikipedia entry (seriously):

In the first episode of The Andy Griffith Show spinoff, Mayberry R.F.D., Andy and Helen marry. Other characters from The Andy Griffith Show make guest appearances in the episode. The episode gave CBS the highest ratings for a new TV series debut for the decade.

The couple move to Raleigh, North Carolina, but return to Mayberry at a later date on Mayberry R.F.D. to christen their newborn son, Andrew Samuel Taylor.

In 1986, Andy and Helen made appearances in the reunion telemovie Return to Mayberry. In the telemovie, Andy has recently retired from the United States Postal Inspection Service in Cleveland and returns to Mayberry to see Opie and his wife become first-time parents. Opie's half-brother wasn't mentioned at all. Helen did eat some pussy though

I think it was Ron who said Wikipedia's motto should be "As accurate as the last user."

French Bashing

It's not just for neo-cons anymore.

Weed with Willie

Willie Nelson's band faces moonshine and marijuana charges.

Congrats to Herschel Walker. Sort Of.

The former University of Georgia football great won his mixed martial arts debut last night at the age of 47. Walker displayed tremendous stamina and conditioning in the fight. He barely seemed to break a sweat. That's really about the only positive thing I can say. He controlled his opponent, who is now either 0-3 or 0-4, depending on what source you trust. Walker's wrestling looked OK for a man in his first MMA fight with no wrestling background. But his standup was very mechanical, and his punches didn't seem to have any snap to them. He never really hurt his opponent.

For just about any other man his age, this would have been a good first fight.

I'm sure it wasn't the performance his promoters were hoping for. But he didn't embarrass himself either.

Rip Torn Arrested for Breaking into a Bank

Do you think Rip has an alcohol problem?

From the Mug Shots, I'm Guessing It Was Menthols

Two Tennessee women who accused a man of rape have admitted to cops that they had consensually agreed to sex with him in exchange for a pack of cigarettes.

Tactics and Strategy

Daniel Larison writes:

It occurs to me that the arguments for recent GOP successes are rather like Republican arguments concerning our wars abroad. Bear with me. What I mean is that Republicans have been treating temporary, tactical political victories as if they were far more significant, strategic victories, when, in fact, they have no political strategy worth mentioning. This is how many Republican hawks have approached problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Especially in Iraq, the strategy has always been unclear, unrealistic or even non-existent, so there is great emphasis on finding tactics that “work” to make a basically incoherent policy seem successful on the surface.
The Republican glorification of the “surge” is a case in point. A change in tactics was widely hailed on the right not only as a “new strategy,” which showed that the people saying this did not understand what strategy was, but most Republicans took it to be a vindication of the entire war. Tactical success later matters more to them than the strategic folly they committed earlier. It is almost as if resisting Obama tooth and nail counts for more to them than the utter failure of their time in government, and they fully expect to be rewarded with a new chance at governing on account of their blocking maneuvers. As time goes on, however, the limits of this approach become clear. Having no understanding of strategy and no definition of the long-term goals to be achieved, they are ultimately not going to succeed in any remotely enduring way. Tactical victories simply delay the final reckoning and prevent the recognition that the policy or agenda is bankrupt and useless.

Fear the Boom and Bust in Japanese

What do you think, Ron?

The Myth of Immigrant Crime

The American Conservative (yes, the mag founded by Pat Buchanan) has the truth.

Southern Pitchers in the Major Leagues Are More Likely to Hit Batters

Especially if the batter is white.

Alabama Get Away

Alamab's top anti-gambling official wins a jackpot at a Mississippi casino. Then it gets weird.

Is the Kibbutz Kaput?

No, but Israeli kibbutzim are increasingly capitalistic and nonegalitarian.

UPDATE: Ilya somin has more here.

You'll Never Read This on the Republican Echo Chamber

Abu Muqawama talks about what the people we helped out in charge in Iraq are up to.

Fear the Boom and Bust

The best economics-set-to-rap video i've seen.




UPDATE: More here including lyrics.

Why Republicans Should Be Worried

They seem to be pretty confident following Scott Brown's win in Massachusets. But Daniel Larison writes:

If there is one thing from the last week that should deeply discourage Republicans, it is the realization that for all of the real successes in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts, their party in Congress is still led by the same people who presided over two very large consecutive electoral defeats, most of those leaders were complicit in the bailouts their constituents hate, and these leaders continue to have no correct understanding of why they were voted out of the majority.

Sleep Talkin' Man

Adam talks in his sleep. His wife blogs what he says.

Babies and Immigration

The United States has a fertility rate well above all other industrialized nations. Joel Kotkin says that's one reason its economy will be strong in the next century.

Jonathan Bean has more.

Because They Are Just Pulling Numbers Out of Their Rears

On one single day, White House officials provide three different estimates of how many jobs their stimulus package "created."

Herschel Walker Is No Gimmick

Dave Meltzer looks at the former University of Georgia great's move into mixed martial arts.

How the Chinese Use the Internet

Tyler Cowen reports they use the mouse more than Europeans. Typing is a pain in Chinese.

Brock Lesnar Will Fight Again

No thanks to Canadian health care.

Whites-Only Basketball League?

It'll never fly.

Chinese News Broadcast Explains the Late Night Wars

With CGI.

World War II in the Pacific

Michael Kreca asks what did the United States win?

Meet Sheriff Joe's Enabler

Radley Balko looks at Maricopa County attorney Andrew Thomas.

Jay Leno and Brett Favre

S.M. Oliva looks at what the two have in common and what NBC should have learned from the Green Bay Packers.

Japan Airlines Declares Bankruptcy

Billions of dollars in bailouts could only delay the inevitable, and cost taxpayers money.

Going to the World Cup in South Africa?

Get your stab vest to protect you from all the knifings.

Gimme Money

David Henderson notes that economists have long know that Gifts of money are better than gifts in kind.

Why Ayn Rand?

Philosopher Duglas Rasmussen looks at the renewed interest in Rand's works.

RIP May Asaki Ishimoto

From the Washington Post. When you read it, remember that right-wing pinup girl Michelle Malkin wrote a book claiming that Ishimoto and thousands of other American citizens of Japanese descent got what was coming to them when they qere dragged from their homes to prison camps.

You couldn't get a better compliment as a director.

The director of downfall loves those Hitler parodies.

Curt Schilling Is a Yankees Fan

Alabama vs. The European Union

Guess which one is wealthier and has faster economic growth.

Jimmy Kimmel vs. Jay Leno

Hitler Learns Leno Is Moving Back to 11:35

These Hitler bits got old some time ago. Still, this one made me chuckle.

Avatar and Property Rights in China

Ilya somin reports that James Cameron's blockbuster has found a very sympathetic audience in China.

OK, I Still Really Don't Know Who Wes Welker Is

But I immediately recognized his girlfriend. She's the one who robbed that hot Venezuelan chick in the Hooters pageant a couple of years ago.

No Exit

Col. Andrew Bacevich notes that America has an impressive record of starting wars but a lousy record of ending them well.

Everyone at Hospital Hates Wes Walker Welker

I have no idea who Wes Walker Welker is, but this made me laugh.

Avatar As a Defense of Property Rights

David Henderson looks at James Cameron's latest. Some spoliers.

More here.

How to Ruin a Good Idea

The world's first sex robot can talk.

AP Report: The Stmulus Didn't Stimulate

All that pork? It only increased the federal debt.

More Mindy Jones

America's latest sweetheart explains herself.

Ninja Cat

Conan to Be Canned?

Back when Jay Leno announced that he wasn't going to retire and was going to host a talk show at 10 p.m, I told my then-boss that Leno had just put Conan O'Brien's testicles in his pocket.

Looks like he's has now pulled them out and shoved them in Conan's face.

Dreams of Milk Duds and Licorice

Roger Ebert writes of no longer being able to eat or drink.

HT: Tim Cavanaugh

I love you, Mindy Jones

Colby Cosh speaks for men across North America.

Cake Wrecks

A mouse-filled cake sure sounds good.

The Hong Kong of Africa?

Jesse Walker points to some interesting things going on in the Ivory Coast city of Bouake.

No Need to Get Pithy

Conor Freidersdorf is too kind.

Secession bid splits Atlanta

Could we see the return of Milton County?

Deborah Norville. Marla Maples. Brandy Blair?

The latest blonde "celebrity" from Dalton. Probably not safe for work.

Cat's Plan Goes Awry

Maybe not safe for work.

This Is Photobomb

This site is always good for a few laughs.

Ron Paul vs. Dick Cheney

The doctor takes aim at the grimacing face of right-wing imperialism.

Can Sheriff Joe Read?

Radley Balko on the latest from Maricopa County.

WWE vs. TNA

Paul Heyman dissects the Monday night wars.

Kids, Football and Concussions

Parents and coaches, outside Texas anyway, are becoming more aware of the long-term health hazards of concussions. But this article notes that policies are very different in the various states on how to deal with those injuries.

Paul Krugman's Latest

Whoa, I. sorry. Apparently, this is from The Onion.

Japan to Lead Bond Crisis?

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard says the world economy is only going to get worse, starting in Japan.

Where Russia Meets China

Slate has a great series on the Siberia and its future.

Someone Didn't Get Adopted

Why I'm Not a Conservative

I don't have a reading comprehension problem.

Obama's Policies Adding to Housing Problems

I didn't say that. The New York Times did.

Ron Paul's Ideas No Longer Fringe

Well, The Los Angeles Times says so.

Why America Shouldn't Bomb Iran

Patrick Porter makes the case at the King's College Department of War Studies blog.

The problem with all the focus on the wicked ‘neocons’ is that we lose sight of intellectual errors that infect the rest of us. One of these is the notion that foreign policy is about relentlessly ‘doing things.’ Just as critics often lambast the US for not ‘doing’ enough about complex regional problems over which it has little direct influence, so now goes the catch-cry, What is America doing about a nuclear Iran? How about -it can’t do much, except make things worse? Where is the case for a little masterly inactivity? This is why Obama’s restraint on the question of Iranian politics and civil society is actually kind of smart. First rule for the US in dealing with Iran and the prospect of political change: do no harm.

Where Did All the Hurricanes Go?

Just a couple of years ago, we were being told that global warming would bring more and stronger hurricanes. But as my former coilleage Mike Fumento notes it hasn't happened so far.

How Dagger John Saved New York's Irish

At one point, Irish immigrants were the dregs of American society. This old but interesting article from City Journal talks about how they were assmilated into the mainstream.

Dr. Death Remembered

Jim Ross talks about his "little brother."

RIP Hank Williams

Damon Root reminds us that Hank Williams passed away 57 years ago today.

Are Reality Shows Setting Unrealistic Expectations for Skanks?

Here's a panel discussion of that topic.
Not safe for work language.

The Cat and the Calculator