It’s starting to look like a GOP-sponsored reduction of troops in Iraq might happen before long, despite all the heavy rhetoric to the contrary.  But since they’ve just spent the last several years decrying any mention of such an idea as defeatist, Bush supporters will need to come up with some new terminology.  What kind?  Take the poll.

Watching the World Cup game between Portugal and the Netherlands tonight with some friends, and we had an idea for a way to make soccer even more exciting.

Ten guys on each team have nothing to do with their hands all game long, right?  So let’s give every player two small balloons filled with either water or (possibly, depending on local preferences) beer.

No one can replace their balloons, but every player is allowed to throw either or both balloons anytime they want during a match.  So there’s some strategy involved.

Guy breaks in on goal, and you can’t quite get back to defend him?  Might be time for a balloon.  Or maybe you’re coming in on goal, and there’s just one man to beat.  SLOOOSH!  GOOOOOOOOOOAL!

Or, then again, maybe you’re just not that into the game.  In which case, hey, two beers.

Soccer Plus will clearly need some workshopping on the collegiate level.  If anybody tries this, let me know how it goes.

This happened much earlier this week.  But let’s never forget this.

Pretty soon, he’ll be running for president.

Let’s not ever forget this.

In the last week, Prisoner of Trebekistan
has picked up two incredibly kind new blurbs from people I’m sure you’ve
heard of, and we’re getting feedback from buyers from major retail
stores that is just amazingly positive.  And I’m not even scratching
the surface of the good news. 

I mention this for two reasons: (a) to brag like a howler monkey in
mating season, and (b) because, curiously, I find that

Since the eyes of the world are on Germany, what with this whole incredibly riveting World Cup and all, this was sent in by a reader who wondered if pudus can speak German.

If by "speak," one means look up with a mildly-quizzical expression when spoken to, and then go on about the business of chewing on leaves, then ja, ausgezeichnet.

I have about a half-dozen things I want to post, but a full day ahead.  More shortly.

PS –no, these aren’t actually pudus in the pic.  But I bet they speak German just as well.