© Scott Stantis - 12.31.2005

The realm of reality is as vast as cosmic space; it is the knowing mind of sentient beings that is small. Just as long as you do not become egotistic and selfish, you will be ever sated with the spiritual food of nirvana.

-Pao-chih

Here are a couple photos from the first ride on the new year. OK, I rode home from work early Sunday morning, but I am not counting it for 2006, it goes in 2005 as it was part of my work commute on the 31st. My rides, my rules. Anyway, the photos:

Yea, I look a little funny. I believe I was saying "cheeseburger" at the time.

I have to say it was a magnificent day. Denver, the 2nd of January, clear sunny skys, temperatures in the high 50's and spending the day outside biking with your friends. Can you ask for anything more? I think not. Thanks guys.

Reuters - Call it the wrong phrase at the wrong time but "Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job" was named on Thursday as U.S. President George W. Bush's most memorable phrase of 2005.

Paul JJ Payack, president of Global Language Monitor, a nonprofit group that monitors language use, says Bush's statement in support of the then-director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may be remembered for years to come.

"The 'Brownie' quote leads our 2005 list of Bushisms -- memorable phrases or new words coined by the president," Payack said, adding that Bush may be the foremost White House creator of new words, citing such past efforts as "misunderestimate" (to seriously underestimate) and "embetter" (to make emotionally better).

© Stuart Carlson - 2004

© Ben Sargent - 01.19.2006

© Paul Zanetti - 04.23.2005

Paul Zanetti's year in review is available on Daryl Cagle's Pro Cartoonist Index.

In a surprising turn of events, the Colorado Avalanche have found themselves tied with Calgary and Vancouver for first place in the Northwest Division. Granted Calgary has played two fewer games and Vancouver one. Although I haven't watched to many games this year (I am still smarting a bit from the strike/lockout), I have managed to keep my schedule up-to-date on the website, but still, I was caught off guard today by this.

The Avs take a 8 game winning streak to Chicago tonight (they are playing right now.)

© Stuart Carlson - 01.19.2006

From BBC:

The 20th anniversary of the first PC virus falls this month.

It was during the opening weeks of 1986 that the first PC virus, called Brain, was discovered in the wild.

Though it achieved fame because it was the first of its type, the virus was not widespread as it could only travel by hitching a ride on floppy disks swapped between users.

Now 20 years after they first appeared there are more than 150,000 malicious programs in existence.

Read On

The experience of studying Zen is like hiding your body in fire: even if you have iron guts and a brass heart, here they will surely melt and flux.

-Chien-ju

Daryl Cagle has put together a collection of Abramoff cartoons by all the top cartoonists. It is worth checking out.

Just as sharp-bladed grass,
if wrongly held,
wounds the very hand that holds it--
the contemplative life, if wrongly grasped,
drags you down to hell.

-Dhammapada

© Tom Toles - 01.24.2006

© Dana Summers - 01.20.2006

Saturdays home loss to the Red Wings began a five-game homestand for the Avalanche that includes four opponents who are atop their respective divisions, these teams have won five of the last nine Stanley Cups.

© Ed Stein - 01.19.2006

In meditation, don't expect anything. Just sit back and see what happens. Treat the whole thing as an experiment. Take an active interest in the test itself, but don't get distracted by your expectations about the results. For that matter, don't be anxious for any result whatsoever.

-Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Mindfulness in Plain English"

Prickly City by Scott Stantis © 01.30.2006

© Ann Telnaes - 01.30.2006

© Tom Toles - 01.30.2006

The George W. Bush 2006 State Of The Union Drinking Game

By Will Durst

What you need:

1. A group of four taxpayers: including one white guy wearing a Suit. Two people wearing jeans; one in a Work Shirt, the other in a Dark Shirt, and one person wearing Rags. Stitched-together washcloths are nice. Four are grouped around cocktail table within sight of television. Newspapers on floor in front of television.

2. A shot glass per person. Everyone brings their own and places on table. Suit picks one first. Then Work Shirt. Then Dark Shirt. Suit takes last one as well, and Rags gets a Dixie Cup with the top scissored off.

3. Five bucks apiece. Everybody antes.

4. Fondue pot with two packages of Li'l Smokies stewing in barbecue sauce on table. Preferably a sauce from Texas. Surrounded by

5. 100 cocktail toothpicks. The kind with the little American flags wrapped around the top.

6. A large stash of beer. Rags gets the cheapest stuff you can find, like Old Milwaukee Light; Suit gets to drink whatever import he asks for; while the jeans get to pick their favorite domestic brand, but they are required to pay for all the beer and the Li'l Smokies.

Rules of the Game:

1. Whenever George W. uses the phrases: "national security," "tax relief," "activist judges" or "affordable health care," drink two shots of beer.

2. Whenever George W. mentions the tragic events of 9/11, last person to grab a toothpick, stand and salute must drink three shots of beer. If you stab yourself in forehead with the toothpick, drink two more shots.

3. If George W. actually says, "If Al Qaeda is calling you, we want to know why," first person to finish a whole beer gets to toss Li'l Smokies at any of the others until they finish their beer. Use the toothpicks.

4. If George W. makes up a word like "strategerie" or "deteriorize" drink four shots of beer.

5. If George W. speaks of Hamas and repeats his earlier statement that "it's good to see people are demanding honest leadership," the first person to stop laughing gets to drink one shot of beer then pummel Suit with empty shot glass. No head shots.

6. Whenever George W. talks about bipartisanship, the last person to grab his throat in a choking motion has to eat four Li'l Smokies.

7. If either the Vice President Dick Cheney or First Lady Laura Bush are caught napping, last person to sing "Wake Up Little Susie, Wake Up," has to drink three shots of beer.

8. Predict the number of applause breaks. Person closest to correct number may then force the other three to drink that number of shots of beer in whatever ratio they wish.

9. Three shots of beer if he mentions New Orleans. Five shots of beer if he mentions Brownie. Two full beers if he mentions Abramoff.

10. Every time Tom DeLay is shown in the audience, take turns throwing Li'l Smokies at the TV. Suit sits out. First face hit doesn't have to drink two shots of beer. Every time Hillary Clinton is shown in the audience, Suit throws Li'l Smokies at the TV. If he hits her face, everyone else drinks two shots of beer. Use the toothpicks.

11. Whenever George W. quotes the Bible, last person to fall to their knees and cry "Hallelujah!" drinks two shots of beer.

12. Whenever George W. smirks during a standing ovation, take turns drinking shots of beer until the audience sits down. Do it double time if his shoulders shake with silent laughter.

EXTRAS:

· Whoever can correctly identify in advance the person giving the Democratic Response doesn't have to watch it.

· Suit gets to kick Rags hard, once if George W uses a heartfelt story of a pulling yourself up by your bootstraps to illustrate a point, twice if the regulation of large cardboard boxes is mentioned as a security precaution. Rags gets 15 seconds to kick the Suit if Bush reveals the subject of the anecdote is in the audience. Thirty seconds if he or she is sitting next to Harriet Miers. One full minute if she's sitting next to an astronaut.

· Suit takes home $20.

· Leftover beer, Li'l Smokies and fondue pot go home with Rags.

Political Comic Will Durst needs a volunteer to wear the suit.

Catch The Will & Willie Show, weekdays 7- 10:00 a.m. on KQKE. 960 AM, San Francisco or www.quakeradio.com. Will Durst is a political comedian who has performed around the world. He is a familiar pundit on television and radio. See www.willdurst.com for additional information on Will's performance schedule. His two CDs are available at laugh.com. Email Will at willdurst@sbcglobal.net.

©2006 Will Durst.