Sigfried and Roy finish their run

The story about Sigfried and Roy's final show in Las Vegas caught my attention in today's newspaper. Apparently, the illusionists got together for a final Vegas show with Roy Horn appearing in a skeletal metal mask to hide his face, which had disfigured when it was gnawed upon like a rawhide by a Bengal tiger. The duo illusionists with the questionable sexuality took the stage for a final show -- and they brought the tiger that ate half of Roy.

I had read that during that fateful performance in Oct. 2003, that much of the audience stayed in their seats after the attack. Presumably, they either thought that the attack was schtick or that they had paid for a 90-minute show and were damn-well going to get another 45 minutes of entertainment -- mauling or not. I don't know if those 2003 attendees were given rain checks for this weekends performance but I hope not.

During an aftershow party, the duo had a rather interesting comment regarding their ill-fated previous show. Keep in mind that during the 2003 attack, the tiger sank its teeth into Horn's neck, dragging him offstage. Roy was partially paralyzed, suffered a damaged neck artery and crushed windpipe.

The pair said that they believe Montecore (the man-eating tiger) sensed that Horn was having a mini-stroke and was dragging him to safety, rather than attacking him.

Animal experts and the rest of the world have disputed that theory.

I guess if everyone is pissed off it must be good

A wise man once told me -- actually I'm pretty sure that it was a TV show that I was watching -- that if a deal makes both parties upset it must be a pretty good deal. Maybe that goes for the budget that President Obama is trying to pass. Well my friends who are above the $250K marker are going to be pissed (I'm not crying though) and now it appears that our rural neighbors are miffed as well.

I'm not anti-farmer, and I have nothing against the people who live in rural areas. In fact I sincerely realize that there is a need for people to grow vegetables and fruits without dangerous chemicals that grow cancer inside us. I also recognize that there are legitimate subsidies that the government (local and federal) provide to independent farmers so that they can be competitive financially. That said we're looking for a serious shift in the way things are done in Washington (and around the nation) for that matter. So, the elimination of rubber stamp subsidies for farmers to not grow certain crops and subsidizing insurance is going to come to an end.

Members of both parties are mad that the gravy train is coming to an end. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that farmers should be thinking about developing other sources of income (read green fuels like solar and wind power) rather than direct payments from the federal government.

"I have real concerns about this administration's position on eliminating direct payments to our producers, which would be detrimental to their livelihoods," said Rep. Frank Lucas, Oklahoma.

Lucas, for those who want to bash the dems as being the only party in favor of subsidies, was voted into office as a member of Lincoln's party.