Has this ever happened?

The Onion Radio News (from today, 90 seconds):
http://www.theonion.com/audio/christian-weightlifter-bends-iron-bar-to-demonstra,18675/

I've seen Onion stories play out later in real life, but never the other way 'round.

In Praise of the Unintelligible

I love to listening to unintelligible things -- a lot.

Sometimes, with Chinese television running in the background, I'm lulled by the sing-songiness of words I do not know, and delighted when it's punctuated with an occasional borrowed English phrase or notable name.

It works for wailing saxophone and screaming electric guitars too. Likewise speaking in tongues and those songs that cry out from the deserts of the middle east.

I love them all. Oh: And the Bushes! It's always fun to listen to one of the Bushes at the podium, talking to the press. Dubya's good, but his Dad can be deliciously cryptic.

Typically, attempting to grok this nonsense is its own reward. I feel no need to transcribe it. Meaning can almost always be felt. But now I come to the coup de grâce. It's perhaps the greatest snippet of unintelligible jabber EVAR!! (I just might make it my ringtone)

I could listen to it again and again and again.

(and, sadly, have)

I present: a few seconds of Miley Cyrus tripping her head off from salvia on the occassion of her 18th birthday (while, of course, being video'd by a "good friend" for the all the interwebs to see).

And here's my first attempt at a transcription:

Wha did the ...

What did they make me do?

Ahr rehleh wuh da know that.

Al mon de be a ahgo fit.

They got a little de make me just sue.

If I give ya vuhduh vuhduh den,

they don't know the interneg all day.

Oh we ayo item.

I don't wanna go lah wha lah.

(at first listen this seemed completely unintelligible, but upon re-re-reflection ... it might just be a letigious warning to her companion with the vid phone)

!! Yay for Augmented Reality !!

On Earmarks (bears repeating)

Tom Coburn and Barack Obama put forward legislation ... over four years ago. It was the "Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006" and it focused on transparency (rather than an outright ban).

I have no doubt there are Tea Party folk and many others who would support an outright ban on earmarks. They may even gain traction among legislators as this issue hits their plate (very early in the next Congress, I hope and expect). But I have come to the conclusion that banning something is almost always the worst idea (like squeezing a water balloon) ... the money's gotta flow somewhere. Chances are it'll just move to someplace less accountable.

So ... Transparency, transparency, transparency -- that's the proper mantra. Anyone who supports putting all proposed legislation on the web for the public to see at least 72 hours prior to the first vote, well ... they have my support and my vote.

And there should be severe penalties for anyone voting on legislation that has not been treated in this fashion.