Not Being on Face Book Is Suspicious?

When did sharing drunk pictures, playing Farm-ville, and being "friends" with people you never see  become so normal that people who don't do that are suspicious?

I'm not on Face Book, but maybe having this blog is an exception.

Bringing Back Wild Quail to South Carolina

Garden & Gun has an article about a South Carolina family that is working hard to restore the wild quail population in the low-country. If you like conservation and/or quail hunting, you should read the whole thing.

It’s a fascinating process that attempts to replicate, as closely as possible, the special kind of adult-chick bonding and learning called imprinting. Before chicks even hatch from their eggs, they hear and recognize calls and sounds the hen makes, and this form of communication turns out to be critical for learning how to live as wild birds—including skills such as recognizing and avoiding predators. The novel Tall Timbers approach uses quail eggs collected from wild nests where the parent birds have been killed by predators or have otherwise abandoned the eggs. These eggs are incubated, and for thirty-six hours prior to hatching, recorded calls of parent hen quail are played to the nest, which helps synchronize hatching and begins the critical phase of imprinting. Once the young quail hatch, they are adopted by a parent bird and placed in an outdoor pen for about forty days.

Hopefully, this will be a success and catch on with other property owners.

Bloomberg, Baby Formula, and Boobs

You have to hand it to NYC Mayor Bloomberg. He has solved all of the really tough issues facing New York City, so the only thing left to do is make sure that people don't get too much salt on their food or get big drink servings.

Having resolved those critical needs for New York City, our super-hero has found another issue that must be solved immediately! The New York City Mayor's office is now officially encouraging all women to breast feed to the extent that the hospitals are keeping baby formula under lock and key to discourage moms from using it.

Going into effect on September 3, New York City's mayor will implement his voluntary Latch On NYC initiative in which infant formula will be kept locked away at hospitals to encourage breast-feeding for new mothers.  

Under the new program, reported by the New York Post, mothers who insist on bottle-feeding will still be able to do so, but nurses would have to sign out the baby formula, which would always be on hand for mothers who have difficulty breast-feeding.

Once again, Bloomberg knows better than you do, you idiot. If you stupid moms want to get your hands on the "lazy formula" you'll have to ask a disapproving nurse to sign a little form before you can get it. They'll give it to you, but you'll have to go through an extra little hoop, which is a totally awesome experience while your infant is screaming at the top of his lungs for milk.

Damn, New York City must be paradise. They've solved all of their problems to the extent the Mayor is doing all this? New York City must be the friendliest, most beautiful, problem-free place to live ever. I guess that's why so many people live there.

I know Mayor Bloomberg is doing this for the children. He has probably read all the literature about breast-feeding being better for child development. One question though: what if the boobs are larger than 16 ounces?

[h/t to @Iowahawkblog for the last line]

Illegal Sports Gambling

John Monk has a column about illegal sports betting in South Carolina.

"Sports betting is known as a gateway drug in getting young people hooked into gambling,” said John Kindt, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus and a nationally known gambling expert.

I bet he's totally wrong about that. Anybody want some action on that? On a related note, only about 4 weeks until football starts, or as the bookies call it, the busy season.

Sunday Comics (Chick-fil-A Edition)

This one is mine:

 and this one is from Instapundit:

The Olympic Opening Ceremonies

I thought they were pretty "meh". Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare opening was kind of cool, but it went off the rails into a weird acid trip involving a giant Voldemort, a skit about texting, and then it ended with an old Paul McCartney who was actually a sad, old version of himself.

Speaking of sad, old people: I wasn't the only person who was unimpressed with the opening ceremonies. HRH Queen Elizabeth looked downright grumpy all night. I would have thought that she would have enjoyed being the host to the world, just like her father was in 1948. Coming after her big jubilee, I would have expected her to have been happy to let London shine. However, this was her face the entire night:

Just try to relax and enjoy your evening, ma'am. It's a party.

Friday Headlines (Party Edition)

Friday Headlines:

1. Chicago is having a good old fashioned viewpoint discrimination party with the whole Chick-Fil-A deal.

2. Craig James hosted a party at SMU and forgot to pay the hookers. Luckily, he didn't kill any of them.

3. The Olympic party starts today in London. Time to brush up on your knowledge of sports that you don’t care about. 

This post is brought to you by Clint Eastwood's Dance Academy.

USDA Advocates "Meatless Mondays"

Yesterday, the USDA released a newsletter encouraging agency employees not to eat meat on Mondays.

Pointing to the United Nations as their informational authority, the USDA’s newsletter said that going meatless is good for the environment because “animal agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gases and climate change.

Wait, what? Is global warming climate change now a primary focus of the USDA?

I thought the USDA was the government agency that was supposed to help farmers. This is the opposite. The USDA encouraging it's employees to avoid meat is like the DOT encouraging it's employees not to use bridges or tunnels.

Once again, this is your tax money at work. Whenever I hear a politician ask me for more tax money, it's always for police, firefighters, teachers, or roads. Whenever I hear about my tax money being actually spent, it's always on stuff like this.

I'm Confused

Who allowed the Canadians to have submarines, eh?

Gun Control Totally Eliminates Shooting Deaths

Oh wait, did I say gun control totally eliminates shooting deaths? Sorry, I meant to say that gun control doesn't do a damn thing to stop criminals from shooting people. My bad, I get those two confused all the time.

In Chicago, where they have some of the toughest gun laws in the entire nation, 6 people were shot in a 15 minute period, and a 17 year old boy was killed. I'm sure the citizens of Chicago are relieved that they have gun control to prevent things like that from happening. Unfortunately, bad people do bad things. No public policy or law is going to change that.

[h/t Insty]

Optimal Siege Tactics for Cinderella's Castle

Here is your mission, should you choose to accept it: Take down Cinderella's Castle in Disney's Magic Kingdom. However, there is also another objective:

Secondary Objective: While in Fantasyland we will have the opportunity to take down the menace of all parents everywhere. The "It's a Small World" ride will be within our reach. Our secondary objective is to eliminate the ride with extreme prejudice. This isn't a capture mission like the castle, but one of complete annihilation. Expect heavy casualties as their adorable repetitiveness burns into your skulls like white phosphorous in the jungle. Our sacrifices will be great, but our suffering is in the name of protecting others.

It's surprisingly detailed. Read the whole thing for an interesting time-suck.

Prepare to Deploy to the TeaCup Ride!

No Alcohol on Folly Beach?

Will someone please explain to me why we should not be able to drink beer on the beach in America?

Seriously, Folly Beach. This is a weapons-grade-stupid idea.

You're going to lose tourism dollars, and the local stores on the island will suffer. I guess the economy is so good that the Folly Beach stores, restaurants, and hotels don't want business from college students or any people looking to have a good time with a few beers.

I can tell you for darn sure, you won't see me down on Folly.

Penn State Delenda Est

Here is intelligent commentary about the Penn State penalties from Clay Travis, who know a great deal about college football.

Here is stupid commentary from Brad Warthen, someone who knows absolutely nothing about college football.

For me it comes down to this: Penn State covered up the rape of young boys so they could allow their coach to climb the all-time wins list. It's that simple.

If I was in charge of the NCAA I'd have sowed salt in the field.

1,300 Cases of Corona Stolen

I know it's hot out there...

However, stealing 1,300 cases of Corona just isn't smart. Think about all the limes that you're going to need to steal now. Whoever did this, please return the beer to me, and I'll handle returning it to the proper authorities. Hey, sometimes a little beer falls of the back of the truck, though.

The ACC, Notre Dame, and Wishful Thinking

Despite what I have said in these pages before, people just don't want to listen to me. That's fine. If you ACC folks want to keep sticking your fingers in your ears and going: lalalalalala, I can't hear you... well, what are you going to do, right?

Another "expert" is saying that Notre Dame will be joining the ACC.

Even if you are Notre Dame, there can come a time when the brand needs to be extended. That’s the appeal the ACC offers.

Does Caulton Tudor even watch college football?

Newsflash Caulton, but the ACC isn't exactly the best "brand name" in the world right now. Also, Notre Dame is recruiting just fine, thank you very much.

You think Notre Dame wants to lose all the traditional rivalries they have across the country and be forced to play NC State and Duke every year? By joining the ACC, Notre Dame would have to give up a big portion of their schedule, they would lose the NBC television contract, and they wouldn't have that special status of being an independent. There's a lot to be said for controlling your own destiny.

The ACC would benefit greatly, but Notre Dame...not so much. Keep wishing, ACC.

Read

more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/07/23/2364823/notre-dame-an-acc-are-a-fit-for.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

And the Idiots Just Keep on Comin': Five Points Bomb Scare

First Colorado, now we have some knuckle-head in the Rite-Aid in Five Points who says he has a bomb. Don't people have better things to do? Maybe someone with an evil gun will shoot the bomber.

Once again, I bet you a wooden nickel that this is just someone who wants attention.

Hey, if you want attention, start a blog and just post pictures of cute kittens and puppies every day. You'll get an amazing amount of traffic.

12 Dead in Colorado

This is just tragic and sick. No commentary from me today.

Being Anti-Big Government Isn't Anti-Community

I didn't want to totally ignore the "You didn't build that..." line from Obama a few days ago. If you've been living in a cave for the last week or so, check the link.

The thing about that line (and the thought behind it) is that it totally discounts two important ideas.

1. It discounts the idea of risk in starting your own business venture and risk is pretty much the name of the game. If you're thinking about leaving a big company to go out on your own and start your own business, it's risky. If you're successful, you stand to make more money, and maybe you can employ a few folks down the line. However, if you fail (and most businesses fail) you lose everything. If you sign any loans personally, you're on the hook for that. If you put your house up for collateral for a business loan (hey, the banks don't just give money away anymore) you stand to lose your house. The bottom line is that it's risky to start your own business.

2. It discounts the fact that firefighters, road builders, police, and teachers are paid for by you, the individual. The government didn't just show up with magic money and provide all the road, fire service, and police protection for you free of charge. The individual people voted for their elected officials who levied taxes, and then paid for all that. It's already been paid for by the citizens who pay taxes - small business owners. So don't expect me to say "THANKS!" to a firefighter, teacher, road builder, or teacher for simply doing their job. I'm paying them for it.

Also, trying to shrink the behemoth federal government and all of it's problems is not the same thing as being against working together as a community. That's also what is insidious about this line. Obama is conflating the idea of working together as a community to do things, and owing your federal government some kind of extra credit for your business success. It's not the same thing. Katrina Trinko has an excellent column about this. Read the whole thing here, but this is the salient point, and it's my personal strain of thought. As usual, someone else puts my own line of thinking more eloquently than I can.

The conservative argument is for freedom, not for all-around individualism. In fact, there’s a case to be made that communities are stronger under smaller government, when voluntary associations and cooperation are especially crucial for getting projects done and ensuring that all in the community (such as the poor and sick) are taken care of.

Exactly bang on. Related thoughts from Ann Althouse.

Lawyer Dog on Bacon

49 Yards of Beauty (Shaw to Ellington)

For no particular reason other than: just because it's beautiful. It was almost a dropped pass, but not quite. In any event, I would like to see this play a few more times in 2012. If the offensive line can give our receivers time to get downfield...we will.

Everyone Can Calm Down Now

Thanks to the legislature that loves to spend your money, the SC Arts Commission is back in business...doing whatever it is they do. You know...um....making sure children get enough art in their diet or something.

By the way, if any of you have even heard of the SC Arts Commission before it got vetoed, let me know. In the spirit of the arts, I've dropped some art on you below the jump (for free).

Wednesday is Over; Battle on Thursday

I have a contested hearing tomorrow in family court. Tomorrow morning, we turn the Nimitz into the wind.

Michael Roth's Blog

If you're a Gamecock fan or just interested in reading about life in the minor leagues, I encourage you to check out Michael Roth's new blog, and it's the latest addition to my side-links.

There is always a level of discomfort when uncertainty lies ahead, but once I inked the contract, I knew that, at least for the foreseeable future, I would continue to wear spikes and baseball pants, rather than a suit and tie. I would be able to “live the dream,” as they say. 

Michael Roth has always been a funny and smart guy, so I'm looking forward to his insights on the minor leagues and life in general. Here's hoping that he continues to live the dream for years to come. Welcome to the blogosphere, Michael!

Bryce Harper vs. Ozzie Guillen (Pine Tar)

If you missed it, last week, Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper was accused of having pine tar too far up his bat by Miami manager Ozzie Guillen. In his next at-bat, Harper used a different bat and maybe seemed to point it at Ozzie in a playful manner as if to say "You want to look at this bat, too?"

Ozzie (being insane) took exception to that, and blew up. Here's the video.

I love that Ozzie calls Harper "unprofessional". If anyone is an expert on acting unprofessional, it's Ozzie, so he's at least qualified to talk about it. Personally, I think the 19 year old kid handled the incident with more maturity that Ozzie, but that's not very surprising, since Ozzie Guillen has the maturity level of a 12 year old.

Rifle Shooting Tips

From a former US Army Ranger, no less. It's pretty safe to say that he knows what he's talking about.

Fifty Years of Music, Rated

If you're interested in that sort of thing, Brad has a list of the top pop songs for the last fifty years and rates them. Even if you don't agree with his ratings, I think you'll agree that they don't make 'em like they used to.

Businesswoman Fails to Give Credit to Government

It's a wonderful small business success story in the lowcountry.

She employs 11 people in Mount Pleasant, another 11 sales representatives across the country and 16 more at a site in Indonesia. The 85 factory workers who stitch together are contractors.  

Some of her local employees do market research as well, working months ahead for next year’s fashions. 

She’s always looking for talented people to add to her work force, saying if she finds the right person, she would create a job for them. 

This lady is so ungrateful, right? Nowhere does she give anyone else any credit for her business success. As much as Castillo is smart to spot trends and works hard to grow her own little business, we all know who should really get the credit for her business succeeding.

New Miss South Carolina Crowned

Miss Laurens County is the new Miss South Carolina. Any girl who wears boots with her ball gown is certainly living the Permanent Press lifestyle.

Saturday: No College Football Yet

Until then, try to stay calm. The next six weeks are where time slows down to the point where it almost stops. In France, it's Bastille Day. I think they celebrate that by giving up something for a little while, right?

Only six more weeks to go, Charlie Brown.

Columbia DUI Lawyer Markets With Wristbands

Targeted marketing.

Wristbands have been placed on wrists at New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia and Red Hot Tomatoes and Sharky’s in Five Points. “I thought it was a unique opportunity to get my name out there,” Cromer said. “I just thought it was innovative. There's nothing wrong with using a sense of humor if you can.”

It's probably going to work.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/07/13/2351505/on-the-scene-columbia-dui-lawyer.html#storylink=cpy

Shark Attacks Redfish Video

Amazing video of a shark attacking a fish [Courtesy Garden and Gun.] I think this is why my wife doesn't like swimming in murky water.

Ray Tanner Named AD

DEVELOPING STORY: Per Twitter, Ray Tanner will be announced as the new Athletics Director for USC.

Columbia Police Switching to FN Pistols

The City of Columbia Police Department will be switching their regular sidearm. The're dropping the.45 caliber Sig Sauer and picking up a 9mm FN.

First of all, I'm not going to get into the 9mm vs. .45 debate. They're both fine. With modern ammunition, both are highly lethal when shot accurately. With proper training, both can be shot accurately. So just stop.

“FN provides not only a superior weapon but a superior price and, I’m happy to say, a superior work force,” Benjamin said. “I am hoping this turns into a real opportunity for FN to break into other law enforcement markets in the United States.”

That's the real reason the deal was done, and I agree with Mayor Benjamin. FN has a production facility here in Richland County, and maybe they'll grow and expand. that only helps Columbia and South Carolina. Maybe another police department will see this and make a similar move.

Also, I think the Columbia Police Department is getting a good deal. I did some quick math and it seems like the City is getting each pistol, holster and belt for a little over $300.00. I applaud the Mayor and the City of Columbia on this move.

Full disclosure, I own an FN 9mm myself, and it's spectacular.

Tree Rings and Climate Change

You know how the folks who keep pushing the global warming theory like to scream that "The science is settled! Stop being a denier!"? I think I figured out why they are saying that. They don't want anyone performing any scientific research that might prove them wrong. And that's understandable, no one wants to be proven wrong. 

Nevertheless, some brave scientists have continued to conduct studies and be all scientific and stuff. The nerve of those people.

The latest study of tree rings by some German scientists have revealed that it was warmer in Roman times than it is now, and the earth has been cooling for the last 2,000 years. It sounds like science itself is starting to be a science denier.

How did the Romans grow grapes in northern England? Perhaps because it was warmer than we thought. A study suggests the Britain of 2,000 years ago experienced a lengthy period of hotter summers than today. German researchers used data from tree rings – a key indicator of past climate – to claim the world has been on a ‘long-term cooling trend’ for two millennia until the global warming of the twentieth century. 

So over the last 2,000 years, the earth has generally cooled down. Excuse me if I don't go into a tizzy about the earth warming up a little over the last 50 years.

Frankly, it sounds like we were due for a little break from the cooling trend.

Cooking With a Cast Iron Skillet

The cast iron skillet is a great tool to have in your kitchen, and every Southerner ought to have one. Here's everything you need to know about cooking with one and caring for it.

Mrs. Permanent Press already knows all this, and that's one of the reasons I married her.

That's Some Clown Defense, Bro

Whenever you feel like you're having a bad day, just enjoy the fact that your screwups aren't on national television for everyone to see. Bryce Harper is going to be a great player, but everyone has a bad day.

I could watch this all day.

Access Does Not Mean Free

Apparently, Governor Haley vetoed some spending. Among the spending she vetoed was spending for the SC Arts Commission.

Of course, the folks who like to spend our tax money were quick to criticize:

“It is disappointing that she would put a target on the Arts Commission and the Sea Grants Consortium,” he said. “It’s been proven over and over that having access to the arts helps attract industry to South Carolina... [House Minority Leader Harry Ott]

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/07/07/2344499/haley-issues-budget-vetoes.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

Having access to the arts? What the hell is he talking about?

I'm so tired of people using the word "access" incorrectly. Access is the freedom or ability to make use of something. It doesn't mean that you get to force someone to pay for it. I have the "access" to purchase a handgun, but the State of South Carolina isn't denying me access just because they won't buy me a sweet Colt Gold Cup.

Stop saying "access" when you mean subsidy. The Planned Parenthood crowd always talks about "access" to birth-control. Everyone has access to birth-control, you idiots. Most of us just buy it, and don't expect it for free.

Everyone has access to the arts. Art is all around you. I'm sure that the SC Arts Commission really thinks what they are doing is a good thing. I'm sure they have good intentions. But stop saying that people don't have "access" to things, when what you really mean is I want this thing for free.

Just say what you mean. And quit acting so damn entitled to my tax money. It's not a god-given right to have a stupid arts commission, and it's certainly not a core function of our state government.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/07/07/2344499/haley-issues-budget-vetoes.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/07/09/2347583/arts-groups-plan-rally-against.html#storylink=cpy

Deliverance: Released Forty Years Ago

Do know what's gonna be here? Right here? A lake. As far as the eyes can see. Hundreds of feet deep. HUNDREDS of feet deep. Did you ever look out over a lake and think of somethin' buried underneath it? Buried underneath it. Well man, that's just about as buried as you can get.

Released in 1972, Deliverance, is a movie that punches you in the face. Remembered mostly for the grisly rape scene, and the banjo music, it has much more than that. Friendship, survival, ethics, civilization vs. nature, and on, and on...

One of South Carolina's celebrated sons, James Dickey comes at you in the book with all he's got, and the movie rings true.

Here's a great article interviewing Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox forty years later. 


Read the whole thing.

You don't beat the river.

One Year Blog Anniversary!

One year ago today, I started this little ol' blog. I mostly did it because my wife said I needed an outlet for my thoughts. When I first started, I didn't really think that it would be much more than a digital journal for my own thoughts. If you haven't been reading my blog since the beginning, you have a lot of reading to do, so you better get started.

However, something funny happened along the way: I started to get some traffic here and there. Since the blog started last year, I've had over 25,000 page-views, and I'm averaging between 80 - 120 page-views each day. Every once in awhile, I get a spike when another blog picks up some content from me, but mostly, I think it's pretty steady.

Together, we've seen USC football players look pudgy, learned from other people's mistakes, and had a few laughs at Clemson's expense.

My numbers are piddly compared to "serious bloggers" but they're real and they're spectacular. Twitter has been pretty big, and I get linked from FaceBook on occasion, even though I'm holding out against the FaceBook Mafia. Some days I have time to blog, some days I don't. Thanks for sticking with me.

This has all been better than I could have hoped, so if you've been reading my blog at all, I want to take a post to say: Thank you! Extra thanks to anyone who has linked or shared my blog with another.

I've learned a ton about HTML code, found other blogs that I like, made a few friends along the way, and I've developed a bit of my own thoughts. If the next year of blogging is halfway as good as the first, I'll be overjoyed. In the last few months, the e-mails coming in for ideas on blog posts have started to ramp up, and even though I don't take all of them and turn them into posts, I do read them all. So keep them coming!

I'll try to keep up with this as long as I can, but for now, thanks to all of you who come here!

Clemson Hostage Situtation Resolved

For you Clemson fans out there, the past week has been a nail-biter, with the hostage standoff between Dabo Swinney and Nkemdiche. It's now over.

The hostage crisis began in early July, when Nkemdiche laid out his demand to have Clemson offer a teammate in early July in order to "lock up" his commitment to Clemson. After much controversy and diplomacy, the strike team was called in. The hostage taker was captured, water-boarded, and is now no longer a threat. The New York Times has the story:

“Of course I would want to play with him,” Nkemdiche said of Carter. “But if it doesn’t work out, I’ll still go to Clemson.”

Crisis averted, Clemson. Just be prepared for the BeastMode invasion on 11/24.

Your BCS Football Team as Drug

Once again, the brain-trust over at EDSBS reveal their true genius by figuring out what drug every major college football team would be. I highly recommend giving the whole thing a read. It covers the main conferences. Here are South Carolina, Clemson, and a few of my other favorites:

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gas-huffing. Hard to explain the appeal to non-devotees. Headaches, vomiting, delusions. Users are loyal beyond all reason.

Saturday Open Post

Like Barack Obama, this thread is a blank screen onto which you can project your hopes and dreams.

Hope that went well for you.

How to Handle a Mountain Lion in Your Office

I think that most people would be happy to be in an office because that means they would be employed. In any event, here are the tips. My favorite part:

If it’s not attacking, “Don’t start macing it. People think they can walk up to an animal and gently deal with it. You can’t. Just get away from it.”

Good idea. Don't antagonize a wild animal. As always, Permanent Press is always here to help in situations where wild animals are loose. Mountain lions in the office, tigers in the bathroom...you know...whatever.

Top Five for Fried Chicken in Columbia, SC

Apparently, someone important [probably a Southerner] decided to make today “National Fried Chicken Day”. Only in America, right? In honor of the best way to eat chicken, here are the top five places to get fried chicken in Columbia, SC:

1. Bernie’s Restaurant: If you live in Columbia, you owe it to yourself to go to Bernie’s for fried chicken at some point. The “3 piece special” is the standard order, and it’s always perfectly crispy and delicious. Being over by Williams-Brice, there’s always a good crowd during the fall over at Bernie’s, but they keep the line moving. It’s the best fried chicken in Columbia. If you say otherwise, it will be pistols at dawn.

2.  Zesto’s Their trademark may be the big soft-serve ice cream cone over the building, but make no mistake – they do some serious fried chicken here. (They also own Rosewood Dairy Bar, which is excellent.)

3. Yesterday’s. Their fried chicken is topped with white gravy, but I eat it so fast, I don’t ever let it get soggy. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

4. Bojangles. It’s a national chain, but they have some awesome chicken. What I really like about theirs is the spicy rub that goes under the skin.

5. Chick-fil-A. Yeah, it’s not really “fried chicken”, but it’s so good that it deserves to be in here. I recommend the Jackie Bradley, Jr. combo. Go the one in Five Points and ask for that.

If you're looking for the top places to get fried chicken in Columbia, SC, you could do much worse than these places. I ranked both Bojangles and Chick-fil-A down because they weren't local places. If you have problem with that, start your own list, bro.

Disagree with any of this? Have I left out anywhere that deserves to be ranked higher?

Cayce Fire Mystery Solved

The intrepid investigative journalists over at Brad's place figured out how the Cayce fire started.

Happy Fourth of July

Seen on Twitter:

Independence Day:  America's original "conference realignment."

Enjoy your holiday.

Stephen Garcia: Warrior for Peace

In our latest episode of the soap opera that is Stephen Garica's life, we find our intrepid hero in the great white north of Montreal, Canada. He's been signed by a CFL team, but suddenly, tragedy struck our hero. An injury!

On Wednesday, the team signed a fourth quarterback, Stephen Garcia, immediately placing him on the one-game injured list. Garcia injured two fingers getting off the bus and flashing a peace sign, according to the organization.

I'm not really into flashing the "peace sign", but I just tried it out a few times here at my desk. I'm no athlete, but I feel ok (for now). I'll keep you updated if I start to feel an injury coming on.

Only Stephen Garcia.

[H/T Logan A.]

DOJ Says No to SC Voter ID Law (Again)

Lawyer, sea kayaker, and world traveler, Ashley Kutz, brings this article to my attention:

“I remain unable to conclude that the State of South Carolina has carried its burden of showing that the submitted change in Section 5 of Act R54 neither has a discriminatory purpose nor will have a discriminatory effect,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Perez wrote in a letter Friday to an attorney representing South Carolina in its lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder."

I guess that South Carolina will have to go before the three-judge panel. See you in Court, boys. Maybe we should claim that it's valid under the taxing power. I hear that's all the rage now.

Gamecock Football 2012: First Impressions

Last summer, I accurately predicted that the South Carolina Gamecocks would go 11-1.  Specifically, I predicted that the Gamecocks would lose to Mississippi State and beat Auburn, so that washed out. Other than that, I ran the table with my picks.(Suck it, Phil Steele) This year, probably towards the latter part of August, I’m going to give my overall season prediction for 2012.

This year, in addition to my general preview, I’ve decided to up the stakes and give a Friday prediction against the spread for each Carolina game (and maybe a few others), just for fun. However, I don’t recommend that you use my college football picks for anything other than fun.

For now, I’m going to look at the 2012 schedule for the Gamecocks and let that marinate a little. My first impression is that the month of October is pretty much going to decide the team’s fate.

10/6    Georgia

10/13  @LSU

10/20  @Florida

10/27  Tennessee

Wow. That’s a brutal stretch. The boys will have to battle.

Also, my (probably only) road trip game this year will be a trip down to Baton Rouge with Mrs. Permanent Press. We’re looking forward to some seeing some LSU friends and getting the inside scoop on the best food, drink, and atmosphere that a tailgate at Tiger Stadium has to offer.

Origin of the word "Bacon"

Time for some learnin' here at Permanent Press.

Here's everything you wanted to know about bacon, but were afraid to ask.