Which reminded me of another, lighter remark made by one of the other violinlab subscribers—almost all of whom are well over forty and live, literally, all around the world. He (or she) might have been from Argentina, or was it Oz? It was in response to a new forum member’s complaint about something or other of the thousand-and-one things to keep in mind while simultaneously trying to pick out the correct notes and bow with beautiful intonation: “Oh, it gets easier with time. Lots of time.”

The National Weather Service, whose Internet radar images always seem to go down on these occasions when they’re needed, lost them again right on schedule. Our tax dollars at work. At least they recorded a healthy five three inches of rain at their official downtown gauge (more than five inches out at the airport east of town). Got almost three here at the rancho, northwest of downtown.

But temporary relief may be forthcoming, if the forecasted rain tonight through tomorrow night falls in sufficient quantity. It will wash the juniper pollen out of the air, at least for a day or so.

“The Lone Star State had 10,629,300 non-farm jobs as of November, a gain of 451,100 jobs since the same month in 2006, an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by The Business Journals’ On Numbers shows.

“Louisiana was a distant second in the number of non-farm jobs added during that five-year span, with 57,000.”

Read. It. All.

“One of the impediments to commerce in Texas has always been the distances involved and the remote aspect of some areas of the state…Oil field gate guarding is a recent addition to the oil fields of Texas.  I can find little reference to it prior to 2006…[T]his job is not for everybody.  Just so happens it fits me and Miss Kathy like a worn pair of Lucchese Ropers.”

Worth a look. Enjoy.

“America, and especially the Republican party, has long favored elevating governors to the presidency. Governors are, after all, the presidents of single states. They have nearly the exact same duties and functions (including even maintaining and controlling the state national guards). They have similar executive powers and set the agendas for their respective legislatures. In the case of border states such as Texas, they even require some foreign policy making duties.”

So does Mike Flynn, editor of Breitbart’s Big Government:

“This isn’t simply an endorsement against Gingrich and Romney; it is an endorsement FOR Rick Perry. Perry is the longest serving governor in Texas history, a state with a long-standing tradition of voting incumbents out of office [true!]. He has successfully managed budget shortfalls without taking the easy path of tax hikes. General Revenue spending, accounting for population and inflation, is lower now then when he took office. He has cut taxes by billions. He has rejected federal dollars when he thought the feds where overstepping their authority….”

I still prefer Newt, because of his proven record (as Speaker of the House) of balancing the federal budget and dismantling the welfare state, and that he’s the most likely one not to defer to Obumbles in debate, but to clean his clock.

But I have to admit that Aggie Rick also appeals (as he does to most Texans) and it would be fun to watch the liberal media (especially the NYTimes) have a nervous breakdown over another president from Texas—and the first real one (i.e. born here) since LBJ. So it’s good to see these prominent members of the conservative blogosphere endorse him.

Gig ‘Em!

Via Instapundit.

It’s the usual, predictable misinterpretation. Watch it for yourself at the link. You’ll notice, unless you’re the hysterical type, that he doesn’t, in fact, say that he’s opposed to gays serving in the military.

He only says that if they can do that, as controversial as it is to some people, why cannot Christmas be mentioned in the public schools? I agree, except that, uh, it is mentioned, at least here in Austin, Rick’s hometown. They just call Christmas vacation Winter Break, and I don’t have a problem with that. I wouldn’t like to see manger scenes at school. That would be going too far.

But when Rick drags in the idea that kids, of whatever religion (but Christian by implication), should be praying in schools, well, that’s where our governor-for-life crosses my line. But here again he isn’t specific. We can assume he means organized prayer, but he doesn’t say that. Way too tricky, Rick.

Now Mr. B. has something extra to look forward to on his Boy Scout troop’s Hill Country camping trip this weekend: a camp fire for the first time this year. The rains most likely have been sufficient to lift the burn bans imposed in most parts of Texas this year.