It occurs to me that, barring unforeseen involvement by the Good People of the land, America is doomed. It is hypothetically possible that God Himself will intervene, but nations have come and gone before. I hope that it breaks up instead of devolving into one large tyrannical state, because one might be able to find a more-free new country in the remnants of the old Union. Escaping Battlefield America might prove more difficult.
And the alternative to tyranny or breakup, failing true reform, is battle. A civil war in America (a fourth one). Not cool, dudes.
So, uh . . . good luck with that.
********
IF (and that's a mighty big "if") the people with their heads screwed on straight enough to prefer quiet family life to public service decide that public need outweighs familial bliss, they might change things. Get enough reasonable people into high elected office and see how the country could be changed. But who wants to put up with what they are doing to Herman Cain, instead of living peaceably at home while that is still an alternative?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Setting the Stage for Armageddon?
China has an army that could easily march a few million men into Israel. Israel will (if you read it that way) be the location of a battle that will include so many casualties that blood flows as deep as a horse's bridle for 200 miles.
But China has nothing to do with Israel! Why would China figure into the last battle just before the return of Jesus to Earth? They wouldn't, right? It was always some sort of vague "they'll come from the Kings of the North" type of thing. Until now.
China says they'll protect Iran even if it starts World War Three. Iran, of course, is on Israel's short list of "Nations to attack before they wipe us off the map." WWIII here we come.
********
The maths are open for debate(check the comments!). Depending on how you run your made-up numbers, it could be about the right volume of blood to mean everyone left on Earth dying in the same place. That seems . . . perhaps high to me.
But China has nothing to do with Israel! Why would China figure into the last battle just before the return of Jesus to Earth? They wouldn't, right? It was always some sort of vague "they'll come from the Kings of the North" type of thing. Until now.
China says they'll protect Iran even if it starts World War Three. Iran, of course, is on Israel's short list of "Nations to attack before they wipe us off the map." WWIII here we come.
********
The maths are open for debate(check the comments!). Depending on how you run your made-up numbers, it could be about the right volume of blood to mean everyone left on Earth dying in the same place. That seems . . . perhaps high to me.
Machine Guns vs. Clips
How is a machine gun like a clip-on necktie?
They both make a very specific task much easier! Also some people despise them for their looks. Also I like them. When I wrote this, I was wearing a clip-on tie. Not packing a machine gun just now, unfortunately.
Oh, also (and this is stretching the joke) if you don't have a belt when using either one, your friends will think you look silly (rimshot)
They both make a very specific task much easier! Also some people despise them for their looks. Also I like them. When I wrote this, I was wearing a clip-on tie. Not packing a machine gun just now, unfortunately.
Oh, also (and this is stretching the joke) if you don't have a belt when using either one, your friends will think you look silly (rimshot)
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Prediction
If Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate for 2012, Obama wins another term in the Oval Office.
The press would highlight the *ahem* unique aspects of mormonism and play soundbytes of his flipflopping on the issues, and Romney the Mormon Flipflopper would be sunk. The members of the LDS cult in America would probably also take a hit on their reputations, but who cares - they're all just white flyover country hicks anyway.
Laura Ingraham said this morning "A conservative alternative has emerged . . . or has it?" No, it hasn't. Newt is damaged goods. I wouldn't LIKE to vote for him, but maybe I could hold my nose and vote for him if it looked like the polls were predicting a Democrat-controlled congress*. Romney - I just couldn't pull the lever for him. I'd have to stay home, and I would be part of the droves of Conservative Christians who can't vote for Romney, even if it means another term for the Dear Reader.
We'll see how it comes out in the end, whether Herman Cain really can snag the nomination or not. Until his official withdrawal from the primary contest, he's still my boy. Feel free to buy me a bumper sticker:
I was a listener when Herman Cain was a talk show host and he was considering running for the Presidency. It was a calculated move, and he saw the BS coming from a ways off. Now he's realizing that the shitstorm has finally landed on him and his family. We'll see how he takes it. He's been laying low for a while now (read: not attracting headlines in the national press outlets which hate him), but it will surprise me if he drops out of the race. If he does, probably everybody left in the race will be trying to get his endorsement.
********
*The nation was designed to have as little unity in government as possible and still function. Gridlock was built in to the system ("checks and balances") and the system works great. It's harder to have 1930s Germany in the USA, because the whole thing is all bolluxed up for forcing big changes through in a hurry. That's the way it's SUPPOSED to be.
********
Update half a year later, after Cain dropped out and Romney got the nomination: I switched! The vice presidential candidate made the difference, and now I am officiall on both sides of this race. No matter who wins, I won! Or something!
The press would highlight the *ahem* unique aspects of mormonism and play soundbytes of his flipflopping on the issues, and Romney the Mormon Flipflopper would be sunk. The members of the LDS cult in America would probably also take a hit on their reputations, but who cares - they're all just white flyover country hicks anyway.
Laura Ingraham said this morning "A conservative alternative has emerged . . . or has it?" No, it hasn't. Newt is damaged goods. I wouldn't LIKE to vote for him, but maybe I could hold my nose and vote for him if it looked like the polls were predicting a Democrat-controlled congress*. Romney - I just couldn't pull the lever for him. I'd have to stay home, and I would be part of the droves of Conservative Christians who can't vote for Romney, even if it means another term for the Dear Reader.
We'll see how it comes out in the end, whether Herman Cain really can snag the nomination or not. Until his official withdrawal from the primary contest, he's still my boy. Feel free to buy me a bumper sticker:
I was a listener when Herman Cain was a talk show host and he was considering running for the Presidency. It was a calculated move, and he saw the BS coming from a ways off. Now he's realizing that the shitstorm has finally landed on him and his family. We'll see how he takes it. He's been laying low for a while now (read: not attracting headlines in the national press outlets which hate him), but it will surprise me if he drops out of the race. If he does, probably everybody left in the race will be trying to get his endorsement.
********
*The nation was designed to have as little unity in government as possible and still function. Gridlock was built in to the system ("checks and balances") and the system works great. It's harder to have 1930s Germany in the USA, because the whole thing is all bolluxed up for forcing big changes through in a hurry. That's the way it's SUPPOSED to be.
********
Update half a year later, after Cain dropped out and Romney got the nomination: I switched! The vice presidential candidate made the difference, and now I am officiall on both sides of this race. No matter who wins, I won! Or something!
What's The Word?
Hey raise your hand if you know what they call it when the military in a country is also the police force of the country. It is a national shame that we are reduced to this, instead of naming the enemy that declared war on us when I was still a little boy. They are at war with us, but we are not at war with them.
At this rate, who wins the War on Terrah?
They said if I voted for the Republicans the government would try to install a police state and target American citizens in the USA for punishment without trial under military authority . . . and they were right :(
At this rate, who wins the War on Terrah?
They said if I voted for the Republicans the government would try to install a police state and target American citizens in the USA for punishment without trial under military authority . . . and they were right :(
Really, Spellcheck? Really?
I was typing something up for work today and noticed an amusing "feature" of the spell check subroutine: it totally fails.
Fortunately I read lots of books when I was growing up, so I can spell AND think, and this poses no problem for me.
Fortunately I read lots of books when I was growing up, so I can spell AND think, and this poses no problem for me.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Oooooooh, THAT's Why!
When something does not make sense, a good rule of thumb is to follow the money and see where it leads. When you find out which person in power is making money, you can then be pretty sure you can stop asking "why?"
So many people have been totally unable to get their banks to move on short sales and flat out cash purchase offers of underwater home mortgages, I have repeatedly wondered why it should be this way. Why would they want to lose money and not take a short sale vs. a frank loss?
Follow the money. I didn't have all the information - the banks aren't losing money on foreclosures, they are making money hand over fist. That right there also explains why they were having robo-signers rubber stamp so many loans into foreclosure: profit. The bank loses money, but it's only a paper loss, and only until you consider that the taxpayer (read: your mom) turns the losses into profit.
So many people have been totally unable to get their banks to move on short sales and flat out cash purchase offers of underwater home mortgages, I have repeatedly wondered why it should be this way. Why would they want to lose money and not take a short sale vs. a frank loss?
Follow the money. I didn't have all the information - the banks aren't losing money on foreclosures, they are making money hand over fist. That right there also explains why they were having robo-signers rubber stamp so many loans into foreclosure: profit. The bank loses money, but it's only a paper loss, and only until you consider that the taxpayer (read: your mom) turns the losses into profit.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Don't Be a Dummy, Don't Buy an EVIL Camera!
In the beginning, there was film. You either were a hero or you sucked at it and didn't have a camera. Then there was autofocus and automatic exposure and taking photos went from impossible to learn to merely inconvenient. Then there was digital. Taking pictures went straight to "any idiot could do this!" and now your stupid robot phone has a camera. Making photographs is super easy!
But then, people who make their living behind a camera pretty much all have these big huge ugly loud noisy heavy big cameras with lenses that can be switched out. Your point-and-shoot is little and tiny and zooms from gnatsass to acrosstheGrandCanyon, weighs nothing, and is quiet. But the professionals obviously fail to think this is Good Enough. If you were to ask a professional photographer why their big DSLR is better than your point and shoot you would come away with a vague impression of complicatedness, but a quick conversation only taught you one thing:
That guy has some badass lenses and I want in! Plus for some reason or other he has to put the camera right up to his face, how stupid is that? Everybody knows how much easier it is to just look at the back of the camera, duh. Don't you wish you could buy a camera with cool interchangeable lenses but it's not all huge and loud and junk? Well good news! They make those now, and you don't even have to smash the stupid camera up to your face to take a picture! They even have a cool name: EVIL cameras. How awesome would that be, right?
********
EVIL sums up the main advantages and disadvantages of this type of thing, all in one swell foop.* Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens. There is no way to make an optical viewfinder on these cameras, because they are not that kind of camera. Your 15 year-old point and shoot might have a button to switch between the viewfinder and the rear-panel LCD, but bulky, loud DSLRs used by professionals barely got this capability in the last couple of years. Why?
Because of magic. They used a mirror to show the photographer exactly what is going on in his shot, plus some measurements that only happen when the mirror is down to measure the exposure adjustments. Then you push the button and the mirror goes CLACK and the shutter goes CLACK and you have an image recorded. The image plays back on the LCD and it looks different from what you saw looking in the viewfinder. This is a mystery. To the uninitiated, it makes no sense. Why, given the option, would you not rather look at an LCD that shows what you are going to get when you take the picture? Who cares if you aren't looking through the optics with your eyeball? If you don't, then an EVIL camera might be for you. But you are missing out. Interchangeable lenses have the capacity for greatness, but they are only half the system. The other half of the EVIL camera is the dumbed-down part. If you like automatic transmissions in your cars, pay with the EZ-pass on your keychain, and like compact fluorescent bulbs - AND you want to be able to change out your camera lenses, then the EVIL is perfect for you. If you want to make pictures that are as good as possible and don't mind a steep-ish learning curve, then do yourself a favor and get an entry level DSLR from Nikon or Canon.**
The fact of the matter is, for most people, image quality is going to be about the same, regardless of what kind of camera they buy. You will snap photos of Johnny opening his presents, look at them on screen and print 0.024% of them on a kiosk at Wal-Mart. For these people, the camera on their phone is approaching, if not already past Good Enough for Everything. Truth.
********
*Piers Anthony does NOT know when a trilogy is supposed to stop.
**as good as possible, and not require the film to be developed. If you want the absolute best no-compromises image quality then digital sucks compared to medium-format film. The learning curve for DSLR cameras is less-steep than it used to be. The first DSLRs were SLR film cameras with digital guts and they would tell you your picture was bad but not help you fix it. New cameras come with magic digital brains and take perfect photos every time, because some of the best engineers in the world lost sleep over how to make it happen for the last two decades.
But then, people who make their living behind a camera pretty much all have these big huge ugly loud noisy heavy big cameras with lenses that can be switched out. Your point-and-shoot is little and tiny and zooms from gnatsass to acrosstheGrandCanyon, weighs nothing, and is quiet. But the professionals obviously fail to think this is Good Enough. If you were to ask a professional photographer why their big DSLR is better than your point and shoot you would come away with a vague impression of complicatedness, but a quick conversation only taught you one thing:
That guy has some badass lenses and I want in! Plus for some reason or other he has to put the camera right up to his face, how stupid is that? Everybody knows how much easier it is to just look at the back of the camera, duh. Don't you wish you could buy a camera with cool interchangeable lenses but it's not all huge and loud and junk? Well good news! They make those now, and you don't even have to smash the stupid camera up to your face to take a picture! They even have a cool name: EVIL cameras. How awesome would that be, right?
********
EVIL sums up the main advantages and disadvantages of this type of thing, all in one swell foop.* Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens. There is no way to make an optical viewfinder on these cameras, because they are not that kind of camera. Your 15 year-old point and shoot might have a button to switch between the viewfinder and the rear-panel LCD, but bulky, loud DSLRs used by professionals barely got this capability in the last couple of years. Why?
Because of magic. They used a mirror to show the photographer exactly what is going on in his shot, plus some measurements that only happen when the mirror is down to measure the exposure adjustments. Then you push the button and the mirror goes CLACK and the shutter goes CLACK and you have an image recorded. The image plays back on the LCD and it looks different from what you saw looking in the viewfinder. This is a mystery. To the uninitiated, it makes no sense. Why, given the option, would you not rather look at an LCD that shows what you are going to get when you take the picture? Who cares if you aren't looking through the optics with your eyeball? If you don't, then an EVIL camera might be for you. But you are missing out. Interchangeable lenses have the capacity for greatness, but they are only half the system. The other half of the EVIL camera is the dumbed-down part. If you like automatic transmissions in your cars, pay with the EZ-pass on your keychain, and like compact fluorescent bulbs - AND you want to be able to change out your camera lenses, then the EVIL is perfect for you. If you want to make pictures that are as good as possible and don't mind a steep-ish learning curve, then do yourself a favor and get an entry level DSLR from Nikon or Canon.**
The fact of the matter is, for most people, image quality is going to be about the same, regardless of what kind of camera they buy. You will snap photos of Johnny opening his presents, look at them on screen and print 0.024% of them on a kiosk at Wal-Mart. For these people, the camera on their phone is approaching, if not already past Good Enough for Everything. Truth.
********
*Piers Anthony does NOT know when a trilogy is supposed to stop.
**as good as possible, and not require the film to be developed. If you want the absolute best no-compromises image quality then digital sucks compared to medium-format film. The learning curve for DSLR cameras is less-steep than it used to be. The first DSLRs were SLR film cameras with digital guts and they would tell you your picture was bad but not help you fix it. New cameras come with magic digital brains and take perfect photos every time, because some of the best engineers in the world lost sleep over how to make it happen for the last two decades.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Oh Right, Blame the Children
There would be more t0 read here, lately, but I have been sucked in. My Darling Wife and the older half of the Zoo have got me playing through Zelda the Ocarina of Time for their amusement. The N64 may be long-obsolete but you can NOT argue with the quality of the gampelay on some of the older games (Contra, anyone?).
Anyway, playing the game straight through takes 40 hours or so, and we're at it an hour or two at a time, taking significant breaks for reading the walkthrough book in between steps of the game. This is something like an 80 hour-long movie for my family. It's fun, but it's killing the time I would normally spend keeping up with current events and making snarky comments thereon. So now you know why. The choice is you or them, and they win.
Yes, I guess that means I just called you a loser.
Anyway, playing the game straight through takes 40 hours or so, and we're at it an hour or two at a time, taking significant breaks for reading the walkthrough book in between steps of the game. This is something like an 80 hour-long movie for my family. It's fun, but it's killing the time I would normally spend keeping up with current events and making snarky comments thereon. So now you know why. The choice is you or them, and they win.
Yes, I guess that means I just called you a loser.
Friday, November 25, 2011
I Never Thought I Would Live to See the Day!
There is a scene in one Star Trek movie* where one guy says to another that he never thought he would see the day when a murder was committed on earth(!). That version of Earth may have been modeled after this place.
Coll, a Scottish island (population: 200) has had the first official Crime in - well, since anyone can remember. A public bathroom** was slightly damaged. They had to call the next island over to send a policeman, because they don't have one on Coll. To someone who grew up in urban and suburban Metropolis, this is . . . different. I guess it's nice to know places like this still exist, anyway.
********
In related news, if you want to have a bit of a robbing spree I know this place where there are no cops. You have to bring your own getaway boat though, because the ferry to Coll doesn't run every day.
********
*not being a Trekkie (Trekker?) I couldn't tell you which movie, or who the people were supposed to be
**in a city of 200 people they need a public bathroom?
Coll, a Scottish island (population: 200) has had the first official Crime in - well, since anyone can remember. A public bathroom** was slightly damaged. They had to call the next island over to send a policeman, because they don't have one on Coll. To someone who grew up in urban and suburban Metropolis, this is . . . different. I guess it's nice to know places like this still exist, anyway.
********
In related news, if you want to have a bit of a robbing spree I know this place where there are no cops. You have to bring your own getaway boat though, because the ferry to Coll doesn't run every day.
********
*not being a Trekkie (Trekker?) I couldn't tell you which movie, or who the people were supposed to be
**in a city of 200 people they need a public bathroom?
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
In Egypt, the people protested that their country's head was a tyrant. He resigned and a new Prime Minister is in power. He has been given more power than previous officeholders by the military forces of Egypt. He is also old enough to have one foot in the grave just on account of his age.
The protesters in the streets of Egypt don't like him. They say he is the new boss, same as the old boss.
No, there's nothing bad could come from this, nothing at all!
The protesters in the streets of Egypt don't like him. They say he is the new boss, same as the old boss.
No, there's nothing bad could come from this, nothing at all!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody
For a change, a made-up holiday I can get behind. I hope you spend it with people you love. Have a good 'un.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Quote of the Day 11/24/2011
"You're going to take away my Christmas and you're going to poison my water?"
The other day on the local radio show "Let's Get Healthy" they were talking about a baby step just successfully made by Fluoride Free Austin - an annual disclosure by the city that city water is poisonous. Then they mentioned on the show that the city is spending $1M/year to fluoridate the water supply. This, when the local tradition "Trail of Lights" 'holiday' lighting display is off the budget because they can't afford $330k to fund the display.
Austin is stupid.
The other day on the local radio show "Let's Get Healthy" they were talking about a baby step just successfully made by Fluoride Free Austin - an annual disclosure by the city that city water is poisonous. Then they mentioned on the show that the city is spending $1M/year to fluoridate the water supply. This, when the local tradition "Trail of Lights" 'holiday' lighting display is off the budget because they can't afford $330k to fund the display.
Austin is stupid.
Newt Gingrich Kills Self, Film at 11
Dear Newt,
It was nice having you show up for yet another bid at the Presidential nomination. Too bad you forgot that we melted the switchboard when McCain tried to get your idea passed in Congress a few years back. We are very glad you showed your pro-amnesty colors before we wasted our primary ballots on you, so
Thanks,
The People who Actually Vote
P.S. we're still mad at you for cheating on your wife.
It was nice having you show up for yet another bid at the Presidential nomination. Too bad you forgot that we melted the switchboard when McCain tried to get your idea passed in Congress a few years back. We are very glad you showed your pro-amnesty colors before we wasted our primary ballots on you, so
Thanks,
The People who Actually Vote
P.S. we're still mad at you for cheating on your wife.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Follow the Money . . . Qui Bono?
Who wins, in the USA's government, or the "they" elite in the USA, if the drug wars in Mexico continue? I read this story, alleging that the government of the USA may be the primary supplier (by orders of magnitude greater than civilian sources) of arms to the drug cartels. My first thought was, "Why?" and then I realized the obvious next question . . .
Follow the money! Who stands to benefit? Arms manufacturies? Am I cynical enough to buy that line? Can it really be a sign of such gross incompetence from on high in my government?
Ugly, ugly questions my friends.
Hat tip: Sipsey Street Irregulars
Follow the money! Who stands to benefit? Arms manufacturies? Am I cynical enough to buy that line? Can it really be a sign of such gross incompetence from on high in my government?
Ugly, ugly questions my friends.
Hat tip: Sipsey Street Irregulars
Nothing to Report Here
I don't want to talk about the news because it's huge and bad, totally predictable, and not changing any time soon. The world economy is about to tank, hard core, and it will be "unexpectedly" all the way.
On a positive note LB got a little remote controlled helicopter and flew it around the shop during breaks today and that's about as much fun as one can reasonably be expected to have at work.
What, they don't crash airplanes into the floor and ceiling at your office?
On a positive note LB got a little remote controlled helicopter and flew it around the shop during breaks today and that's about as much fun as one can reasonably be expected to have at work.
What, they don't crash airplanes into the floor and ceiling at your office?
Monday, November 21, 2011
You're Welcome!
To the people who sent me an e-mail with the subject line "Thanks!" I respond as follows:
You're welcome for whatever it was, but I didn't read your message because like h-e-double-toothpicks am I going to click on an e-mail with a one-word subject line. Have a nice day.
You're welcome for whatever it was, but I didn't read your message because like h-e-double-toothpicks am I going to click on an e-mail with a one-word subject line. Have a nice day.
Syria? Who Cares, There is Football to be Watched!
For those not paying attention, Syria is still at war with . . . (drumroll) . . . Syria. There is an internal struggle for power, with Asad and his well-connected elite (and the military) on one hand, and everybody that doesn't like him on the other hand. It is still a toss-up at this point, so the smart money is hedging both sides (ahem). If you have no idea what I'm on about, click here for a worthy summary of the mess that is ongoing in Syria.
Chantix Causes Madness at Work!
Actual, genuine madness edition.
One of our men at work wanted to quit smoking, so he took his filthy habit to a Doctor and got a scrip for Chantix. He started taking the pills and as usual totally failed to read the warning labels. You know, the warning labels that say you might just go koo-koo? Yeah . . . .
Well, he stopped sleeping and started slipping. Repeated reports of 2-4 hours/night of sleep. He is an oddball normally, and most of us thought he was just being a little more odd than usual. Even his wife thought he was just being a slightly stranger version of his normal self. Looking back he laughed and agreed with the quote of the day (see below). He eventually started tripping out for real, hallucinating, pulling guns at inappropriate times, quitting working, having dreams his hands were falling off, etc. Then a good friend lead a mini-intervention and he went and told his doctor where to stuff the drugs. Back to normal.
Quote of the day: "You know, you were right, he was losing it. He went to the doctor to quit smoking and they put him on crazy pills." -Me, earlier today, talking to one of the folks at work who had thought our man was losing his marbles without knowing why.
Oh, and by the way, good job speeding THAT one through the approval process, FDA! Way to pick a harmless drug with no side-effects to fast-track. The silver lining is that a trial lawyer is going to be that much richer when the class-action suit against the maker of Chantix is won, because my boy is about to join the class.
One of our men at work wanted to quit smoking, so he took his filthy habit to a Doctor and got a scrip for Chantix. He started taking the pills and as usual totally failed to read the warning labels. You know, the warning labels that say you might just go koo-koo? Yeah . . . .
Well, he stopped sleeping and started slipping. Repeated reports of 2-4 hours/night of sleep. He is an oddball normally, and most of us thought he was just being a little more odd than usual. Even his wife thought he was just being a slightly stranger version of his normal self. Looking back he laughed and agreed with the quote of the day (see below). He eventually started tripping out for real, hallucinating, pulling guns at inappropriate times, quitting working, having dreams his hands were falling off, etc. Then a good friend lead a mini-intervention and he went and told his doctor where to stuff the drugs. Back to normal.
Quote of the day: "You know, you were right, he was losing it. He went to the doctor to quit smoking and they put him on crazy pills." -Me, earlier today, talking to one of the folks at work who had thought our man was losing his marbles without knowing why.
Oh, and by the way, good job speeding THAT one through the approval process, FDA! Way to pick a harmless drug with no side-effects to fast-track. The silver lining is that a trial lawyer is going to be that much richer when the class-action suit against the maker of Chantix is won, because my boy is about to join the class.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
End of 2012, End of The World!
I finally realized why the Mayan calendar stops at 2012: the world is going to burn up! No, seriously, follow me here. You know how your calendar has 13 or 15 months on it, just so you can have plenty of time to get another one and still know what day it is next Tuesday? They didn't stop the calendar at 2012 because of that, although it is a pretty long overrun for any calendar*. No, they stopped the calendar at 2012 because the Kyoto Protocol is set to expire at the end of 2012. Currently, with the world cooling for the past decade, it is dubious that enough political will exists to renew or strengthen the protocol.
So that's it. Global warming will kill us all, started by the hot air that will be coming from the mouths of insider-traders and politicians (but I repeat myself) who will be protesting the end of the Kyoto Protocol. My take on the whole thing:
Good riddance to bad rubbish!
********
*The little known fact is that the Mayan economy was largely built on calendar publication. They sold one to everybody which is how they got to be such a large and wealthy empire. The collapse of the Mayan civilization began when their customers figured out there would never (in their lifetimes) be a need to purchase a second calendar. Once everybody had one for every room in their house, plus one at the office and a small one for the car, plus a pocket version (laminated to protect it from sweatybalz) sales plummeted and the civilization just fell apart. True story.**
**or not
So that's it. Global warming will kill us all, started by the hot air that will be coming from the mouths of insider-traders and politicians (but I repeat myself) who will be protesting the end of the Kyoto Protocol. My take on the whole thing:
Good riddance to bad rubbish!
********
*The little known fact is that the Mayan economy was largely built on calendar publication. They sold one to everybody which is how they got to be such a large and wealthy empire. The collapse of the Mayan civilization began when their customers figured out there would never (in their lifetimes) be a need to purchase a second calendar. Once everybody had one for every room in their house, plus one at the office and a small one for the car, plus a pocket version (laminated to protect it from sweatybalz) sales plummeted and the civilization just fell apart. True story.**
**or not
Are You...
Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? I know I sure am! I tig we hab duh flew. It's not bad but apparently it's contagious.
In related news, I'm staying home from church with the Zoo today, 3/4 of them are sick too. As I'm typing we got the quote of the day:
"No #4, don't sit on the cat!" -Me, just now. His response was "it dog." and I told him again, "No, it's a cat." And a very tolerant one at that. He proceded to pull its tail and chase it halfway around the room, before losing interest.
Update: and #2 and #3 just spent a minute arguing about whether they are or are not hard-headed. Them's my boys.
In related news, I'm staying home from church with the Zoo today, 3/4 of them are sick too. As I'm typing we got the quote of the day:
"No #4, don't sit on the cat!" -Me, just now. His response was "it dog." and I told him again, "No, it's a cat." And a very tolerant one at that. He proceded to pull its tail and chase it halfway around the room, before losing interest.
Update: and #2 and #3 just spent a minute arguing about whether they are or are not hard-headed. Them's my boys.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
It's Not Corruption When WE Do It!
The FBI was actively trying to incite violence in groups that they didn't like, so they could crush the groups by force. Like at Waco and Ruby Ridge. Seriously. Keyword: PATCON, coming soon to the list of stories the alphabet news nework ignores entirely.
Friday, November 18, 2011
A Word of Caution!
Choose your news sources carefully.
Life's Little Mysteries caught my eye asking how Majic Johnson has survived for two decades now after having been O-fishully diagnosed HIV-positive. My immediate knee-jerk response of course is that
HIV is the bogeyman, and does not cause AIDs, which is either a myth or not what you think it is, depending on how you define it.
...and you don't die from HIV, you die from the drugs they give you to treat the disease you are supposed to have.
You think I'm mad? An heretic? You like to read? I read pretty fast, and I just blew two hours
Starting here
Got me to here
and here
Which leads to here, there, and there.
which, if you will follow the bouncing ball, will cast doubt on everything you might propose to refute the red, bold text in this post.
Life's Little Mysteries caught my eye asking how Majic Johnson has survived for two decades now after having been O-fishully diagnosed HIV-positive. My immediate knee-jerk response of course is that
HIV is the bogeyman, and does not cause AIDs, which is either a myth or not what you think it is, depending on how you define it.
...and you don't die from HIV, you die from the drugs they give you to treat the disease you are supposed to have.
You think I'm mad? An heretic? You like to read? I read pretty fast, and I just blew two hours
Starting here
Got me to here
and here
Which leads to here, there, and there.
which, if you will follow the bouncing ball, will cast doubt on everything you might propose to refute the red, bold text in this post.
An Unrelated Twist on Decoupled Economies, USA vs. China
"...[I]n the event of a confrontation with the United States, China’s entire supply chain and overseas investments are helpless hostages."
This is something I (and probably a lot of us) had not previously considered. China is becoming the manufacturer of all things for all nations, but they are not a country rich in natural resources. So they are not only a leading exporter of finished goods, they are an importer of raw material and (as in the linked story) energy. If China were to start some sh*t and get the USA involved, the USA and other nations would possibly be able to take steps to completely cripple the Chinese economy, causing domestic revolt in China, by preventing access to key resources in foreign nations where China gets their stuff to make your stuff.
So if China acts up, China loses almost automatically*? Wow.
Hat tip: Instapundit
*assuming competent response by the other players on the world stage, that is!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
For the Sake of Clarity
On the day when the people behind California's "Proposition 8" queer marriage amendment were recognized by the Court in California as having standing to sue to uphold that law, a brief discourse on the real question at hand: the English language. Words mean things.
Marriage: A man and a woman agree in the sight of godnevrybody to stay together for EVAR. The State recognizes their union and treats them more like family than like strangers. This has been the case since the beginning, when the first man married the first woman. Marriage is, by definition, between a man and his wife. Not and his dog, and not and his [deleted]-buddy. Marriage is not what it is called when you paint yourself purple with yellow polka-dots.
But people who had a bad relationship with their daddy and were subjected to government "education" are a little fuzzy on this. They want to be married, but they want to abuse themselves the one with the other in a way their bodies were not designed to be used. AND they want to call themselves "married." So there is a fuss over the term and the governmental reaction to the people to whom the term applies.
If you say your boyfriend and you deserve the same marriage rights as everyone else, I happily agree. However, there is a semantic difference. I, recognizing that words mean things and that "marry" means man+woman=family, and am happy to recognize your marriages . . . to women. You have the right just like every other MAN to marry a WOMAN. You do not have the right to call yourself "married" because you have painted yourself purple with yellow polka-dots. Just because you intend to stay purple your whole life, this does not mean you can be "married" because of your purpleness. Just because you intend to stay together for the rest of your lives, does not mean you can be "married" because of your buggery with your boyfriend. It is not possible for two men to be married, any more than it is possible for a man and the moon to make children together.
What you "feel" the word means is irrelevant. Words mean things, and two dudes does not make a married couple, regardless of how much you think you love and are committed to each other. Even if the State says so, you are still not "married."
But it is only the radicals who are fighting in the courts. Most of the queers you don't know you know just want to live their lives without economic disadvantage. A State-recognized Civil Union, with all the benefits attendant to marriage, would please most of them just fine. There is only one problem: the State has no business in this business. Unless we as a people are willing to state that queers are the equal of straights, morally, and that being together for sex and being together for family making are just as good as each other, the State has no business saying people of the same sex can be in recognized civil unions. Keep reading. Unless we as a people are willing to state that queers are morally inferior, and that family making is a worthy cause to support, the State also has no business in the marriage business.
Hold on there.
Yes, I just said the State should not give married persons special recognition and/or benefits. Not until there is an official recognition that marriage is superior for society than not-marriage.
Marriage is between a man and a woman. If they follow most of the worlds' traditions, it is one man and one woman, promising God and each other they will stay together until one of them dies. Taxes and real-estate deeds don't enter into the picture at ALL.
********
This, obviously, was directed at men wanting to be married to men. Change the sexes and the same arguments hold for wymyn also. And yes, there IS something wrong with it.
Marriage: A man and a woman agree in the sight of godnevrybody to stay together for EVAR. The State recognizes their union and treats them more like family than like strangers. This has been the case since the beginning, when the first man married the first woman. Marriage is, by definition, between a man and his wife. Not and his dog, and not and his [deleted]-buddy. Marriage is not what it is called when you paint yourself purple with yellow polka-dots.
But people who had a bad relationship with their daddy and were subjected to government "education" are a little fuzzy on this. They want to be married, but they want to abuse themselves the one with the other in a way their bodies were not designed to be used. AND they want to call themselves "married." So there is a fuss over the term and the governmental reaction to the people to whom the term applies.
If you say your boyfriend and you deserve the same marriage rights as everyone else, I happily agree. However, there is a semantic difference. I, recognizing that words mean things and that "marry" means man+woman=family, and am happy to recognize your marriages . . . to women. You have the right just like every other MAN to marry a WOMAN. You do not have the right to call yourself "married" because you have painted yourself purple with yellow polka-dots. Just because you intend to stay purple your whole life, this does not mean you can be "married" because of your purpleness. Just because you intend to stay together for the rest of your lives, does not mean you can be "married" because of your buggery with your boyfriend. It is not possible for two men to be married, any more than it is possible for a man and the moon to make children together.
What you "feel" the word means is irrelevant. Words mean things, and two dudes does not make a married couple, regardless of how much you think you love and are committed to each other. Even if the State says so, you are still not "married."
But it is only the radicals who are fighting in the courts. Most of the queers you don't know you know just want to live their lives without economic disadvantage. A State-recognized Civil Union, with all the benefits attendant to marriage, would please most of them just fine. There is only one problem: the State has no business in this business. Unless we as a people are willing to state that queers are the equal of straights, morally, and that being together for sex and being together for family making are just as good as each other, the State has no business saying people of the same sex can be in recognized civil unions. Keep reading. Unless we as a people are willing to state that queers are morally inferior, and that family making is a worthy cause to support, the State also has no business in the marriage business.
Hold on there.
Yes, I just said the State should not give married persons special recognition and/or benefits. Not until there is an official recognition that marriage is superior for society than not-marriage.
Marriage is between a man and a woman. If they follow most of the worlds' traditions, it is one man and one woman, promising God and each other they will stay together until one of them dies. Taxes and real-estate deeds don't enter into the picture at ALL.
********
This, obviously, was directed at men wanting to be married to men. Change the sexes and the same arguments hold for wymyn also. And yes, there IS something wrong with it.
Success = Failure
They wanted to get the people of New York behind them, so the #OccupyFail protesters decided to shut down the subway, the Staten Island Ferry, and one of the bridges. This will definitely get the people of New York behind them. But the people of New York will be getting behind them in order to kick them in their behonkis.
Mess with peoples' commute and see how much sympathy they have with your cause. Whoever thought this idea up was an idiot, grade-A dumb. But this is fine with me. The sooner the people of New York get stirred up against the #OccuTards, the sooner the political leadership will realize what side their bread is buttered on, and then the smelly hippies will be sent packing.
Mess with peoples' commute and see how much sympathy they have with your cause. Whoever thought this idea up was an idiot, grade-A dumb. But this is fine with me. The sooner the people of New York get stirred up against the #OccuTards, the sooner the political leadership will realize what side their bread is buttered on, and then the smelly hippies will be sent packing.
Missed You Yesterday!
I excuse myself by saying that you are a figment of my imagination, whereas I am pretty sure my family is not. We stayed up late awesoming together and then I didn't feel good so I went to bed vs. my usual staying up till 01:00 checking the news.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Smiling: Better Than Rage at the Fates!
I had a problem in the Hot Rod, where it wouldn't take gas even as slow as the pump would dispense fuel. Barely-squeeze the handle for 5 seconds and then it kicks off. Squeeze again. Takes 10 minutes to fill up half a tank. I fixed that. First fill-up after the fix was tonight. I pulled in to the filling station behind a pickup truck and guess what problem his truck has.
It's Not Corruption When WE Do It!
Number of cases of polio, in the whole world, in the last 5 years: zero
Number of countries where polio exists in the wild: zero
Number of countries where polio is in a lab freezer: two (USA & Russia)
Number of drugs required to treat polio: zero
Number of drugs not proven to work against polio, just awarded by the Obama administration a $433M no-bid contract to purchase: one
Controlling shareholder in the company making the drug: billionaire Ron Perelman, huge Obama donor
Nothing to report here, move along citizen! Look, football is on!
********
In soviet Russia, there was not a classless society. There were two classes: the politically-connected party members and the workers. But it could never happen here.
Number of countries where polio exists in the wild: zero
Number of countries where polio is in a lab freezer: two (USA & Russia)
Number of drugs required to treat polio: zero
Number of drugs not proven to work against polio, just awarded by the Obama administration a $433M no-bid contract to purchase: one
Controlling shareholder in the company making the drug: billionaire Ron Perelman, huge Obama donor
Nothing to report here, move along citizen! Look, football is on!
********
In soviet Russia, there was not a classless society. There were two classes: the politically-connected party members and the workers. But it could never happen here.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Another Fine Example
Capital Metro, Austin's 'public transit' agency can't turn a profit to save its life. They also have a reputation for sucking in general, and making things worse whenever they get a choice. Today I heard another story on the news that serves to illustrate the way they have earned their reputation for being a loser of an organization:
They are upgrading the radios on their buses. Fine, good, great, they are upgrading them. Why? Because "they have reached the end of their useful life." Okay, fine, so they're old. They are outdated and limited, surely. All the new radios are digital because you can fit more channels on a system, without having to do stupid things at the Dispatch station. Sure, so new digital radios, great. So then the next logical step is to put digital signs in at bus stops.
Hold on there.
You know, digital signs instead of a sheet of aluminum with a decal on it. So people can know in advance that their bus will be full. After all, running buses at a per-rider LOSS tends to increase the revenues so greatly that we can afford all kinds of money putting in digital signs! Of course, sheer genius! Brilliant! This will lead directly to increased profits!
If you are shaking your head, we are on the same page.
They are upgrading the radios on their buses. Fine, good, great, they are upgrading them. Why? Because "they have reached the end of their useful life." Okay, fine, so they're old. They are outdated and limited, surely. All the new radios are digital because you can fit more channels on a system, without having to do stupid things at the Dispatch station. Sure, so new digital radios, great. So then the next logical step is to put digital signs in at bus stops.
Hold on there.
You know, digital signs instead of a sheet of aluminum with a decal on it. So people can know in advance that their bus will be full. After all, running buses at a per-rider LOSS tends to increase the revenues so greatly that we can afford all kinds of money putting in digital signs! Of course, sheer genius! Brilliant! This will lead directly to increased profits!
If you are shaking your head, we are on the same page.
Israel Grows A Pair?
Alternate headline: Israel suspects Obama is as much their ally as he seems to be
Having shown himself friendly to the current tyrannical regime in the islamic republic of Iran, and cool at best toward our ally Israel, it is entirely possible that Israel is afraid that notifying the USA of an incipient attack would be the same thing as telling Iran directly that the attack is coming. Would YOU trust the current White House information sieve to keep it on the hush for a day or three? For an hour?
So. Israel is reportedly refusing to tell The Obama in advance when they launch the upcoming strike on the peaceful adherents to the religion of peace. Oh, and the radio news says they may go at Iran as soon as before this Christmas. Some say by next summer. At any rate, Israel is apparently getting ready to launch their third pre-emptive strike against a neighbor which is working up the capability to wipe Israel off the face of the planet.
Well it is setting the USA up for a huge, horrible bad call. Fortunately it's an election year and public opinion polling may force President Obama to make the right call and support our friends. It would not be out of character for President Obama to denounce the attack after the fact, and even to go so far as to un-friend Israel. It would be a very bad idea but not very surprising if he refused to allow further arms sales to Israel and cut off foreign aid. If Obama starts talking about taking or allowing military action against Israel, you will know that Very Bad Things are on the way.
Let me make a few very-nearly-unqualified statements: I am for Israel. I am against those nations which are against Israel. I acknowledge Israel has a right to exist as a nation, and the Jews have a right to life. "Now let me be clear:" I support Israel taking pre-emptive military action against nations which seek to destroy him.
Including the USA. God forbid it should come to that.
********
In related news, Unexpectedly (surprise!) Iran - and let me tell you I was shocked, shocked to hear this, Iran has been working on a nuclear weapon project. Who knew, right? I mean, they kept insisting that they wanted nuclear power for peaceful electricity generation! What an unforeseen turn of events this is!
********
P.S. How is Leon Panetta the Secretary of Defense? SRSLY? There's more retreads in this administration boy, I tell you what!
Having shown himself friendly to the current tyrannical regime in the islamic republic of Iran, and cool at best toward our ally Israel, it is entirely possible that Israel is afraid that notifying the USA of an incipient attack would be the same thing as telling Iran directly that the attack is coming. Would YOU trust the current White House information sieve to keep it on the hush for a day or three? For an hour?
So. Israel is reportedly refusing to tell The Obama in advance when they launch the upcoming strike on the peaceful adherents to the religion of peace. Oh, and the radio news says they may go at Iran as soon as before this Christmas. Some say by next summer. At any rate, Israel is apparently getting ready to launch their third pre-emptive strike against a neighbor which is working up the capability to wipe Israel off the face of the planet.
Well it is setting the USA up for a huge, horrible bad call. Fortunately it's an election year and public opinion polling may force President Obama to make the right call and support our friends. It would not be out of character for President Obama to denounce the attack after the fact, and even to go so far as to un-friend Israel. It would be a very bad idea but not very surprising if he refused to allow further arms sales to Israel and cut off foreign aid. If Obama starts talking about taking or allowing military action against Israel, you will know that Very Bad Things are on the way.
Let me make a few very-nearly-unqualified statements: I am for Israel. I am against those nations which are against Israel. I acknowledge Israel has a right to exist as a nation, and the Jews have a right to life. "Now let me be clear:" I support Israel taking pre-emptive military action against nations which seek to destroy him.
Including the USA. God forbid it should come to that.
********
In related news, Unexpectedly (surprise!) Iran - and let me tell you I was shocked, shocked to hear this, Iran has been working on a nuclear weapon project. Who knew, right? I mean, they kept insisting that they wanted nuclear power for peaceful electricity generation! What an unforeseen turn of events this is!
********
P.S. How is Leon Panetta the Secretary of Defense? SRSLY? There's more retreads in this administration boy, I tell you what!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Heard It Again. Not Cool.
I thought I Had been waking just before dawn recently because it is the same time I used to awaken before daylight saving time ended. Maybe not. Today at 06:20 according to the clock that runs way-fast on my nightstand, I was again awakened by the sound of the islamic call to pray to a made-up god. It was very faintly heard, quieter in my bedroom than a loud breath, but I sleep light. It is unknowable if the two of my four children who also woke up were awoken by this.
If it keeps up, I'll see if I can track down the source and ask them (nicely) to turn it down. We'll see. One thing for sure: if they keep waking me up, I won't be praying to their god!
If it keeps up, I'll see if I can track down the source and ask them (nicely) to turn it down. We'll see. One thing for sure: if they keep waking me up, I won't be praying to their god!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Can This Be Put To Bed Now?
Which is more credible?
Candidate 1: A man who was a giant of Capitalism for 40 years, but only ever turned into a monster for three years while he was the head of the (highly political) National Restaurant Association during the 1990s when sex harassment claims were a popular way for gold digging women to get paid to go away, then he turned back into a decent man again after he left.
Candidates 2 & 3: A woman who took a sex harassment settlement in the 1990s and then went on to make similar allegations at her next job, paired up with a woman who is in financial trouble, twice bankrupt, had 9 jobs in 17 years, filed and lost a paternity suit, etc., currently supported/represented by a lawyer who hates everything this man stands for
Well, if you trust voice analysis software that is reported as 95% effective telling a liar from a truth-teller, you will have to say Cain is more credible. Unless of course you watch the network news because you never heard of this story.
Candidate 1: A man who was a giant of Capitalism for 40 years, but only ever turned into a monster for three years while he was the head of the (highly political) National Restaurant Association during the 1990s when sex harassment claims were a popular way for gold digging women to get paid to go away, then he turned back into a decent man again after he left.
Candidates 2 & 3: A woman who took a sex harassment settlement in the 1990s and then went on to make similar allegations at her next job, paired up with a woman who is in financial trouble, twice bankrupt, had 9 jobs in 17 years, filed and lost a paternity suit, etc., currently supported/represented by a lawyer who hates everything this man stands for
Well, if you trust voice analysis software that is reported as 95% effective telling a liar from a truth-teller, you will have to say Cain is more credible. Unless of course you watch the network news because you never heard of this story.
Good News! The Decline May Be Over!
The moral decline, that is. In the near future, we as a nation may be reacting against the idealism-to-Lord of the Flies progression we see demonstrated by the "progressives" living out their progressive fantasy in the #Occupy camps. It is just possible we can swing the other way and restore traditional values and morals, as a society, in the training of our youth.
Then, of course, we will only have to survive two, maybe three more GENERATIONS of this pernicious doctrine which has already been trained into the populace and we'll be all set! Forty, Sixty years, TOPS and we will be back in the realm of countries that do things which make sense, vs. the countries that do things to make people feel good! Right on, we're nearly there already!
It makes me wonder again where I will take my family when the United States breaks up. And hope it will not be soon, because being an international refugee must be easier when the children are already up-and-out!
:(
Then, of course, we will only have to survive two, maybe three more GENERATIONS of this pernicious doctrine which has already been trained into the populace and we'll be all set! Forty, Sixty years, TOPS and we will be back in the realm of countries that do things which make sense, vs. the countries that do things to make people feel good! Right on, we're nearly there already!
It makes me wonder again where I will take my family when the United States breaks up. And hope it will not be soon, because being an international refugee must be easier when the children are already up-and-out!
:(
What's the Worst That Could Happen?
Iraq is lookin' to buy a few more F-16 warplanes. And they're going to be building an islamist government, right next door to Israel. Surely nothing bad will come of this!
President Obama is lookin' to sign a new trans-Pacific free trade zone. He says it will increase US exports and increase jobs. The problem is the same as with all the other so-called free trade zones: it's not FAIR trade when you have FREE trade with someone who can pollute as much as they like and pay employees as little as they like, competing against regulation-bound, minimum-waged USA companies. The exports will be the jobs that are created, as MORE companies try to get maximum value for their production dollars.
President Obama is lookin' to sign a new trans-Pacific free trade zone. He says it will increase US exports and increase jobs. The problem is the same as with all the other so-called free trade zones: it's not FAIR trade when you have FREE trade with someone who can pollute as much as they like and pay employees as little as they like, competing against regulation-bound, minimum-waged USA companies. The exports will be the jobs that are created, as MORE companies try to get maximum value for their production dollars.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Quote of the Day 11/11/2011
As I was leaving for the day, at lunch time, I walked past 4 guys on the deck outside the break room. One of them asked where I was going . . .
"I gotta kids' party to go to - envy me!". . aaaaaaand then there were 5 guys laughing.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Let's Hope He Just Accidentally Oops His Whole Campaign
If you didn't see it, you have to see this.
Oops. Oops? Seriously? Oops after you flub a softball you lobbed to yourself? Now we know why he refused to debate gubernatorial campaign opponents. Here's hoping this is the equivalent of Howard Dean's "wuAAAAAAaugh!!!" moment.
Note: when running for President, try to get enough sleep that you don't sound like you're drunk when giving speeches, or miss lines you wrote for yourself and had memorized. Or, as we say at work:
"Dude! Total FAIL!"
Oops. Oops? Seriously? Oops after you flub a softball you lobbed to yourself? Now we know why he refused to debate gubernatorial campaign opponents. Here's hoping this is the equivalent of Howard Dean's "wuAAAAAAaugh!!!" moment.
Note: when running for President, try to get enough sleep that you don't sound like you're drunk when giving speeches, or miss lines you wrote for yourself and had memorized. Or, as we say at work:
"Dude! Total FAIL!"
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Honey is Not Clear!
No, this is not a post about my Darling Wife's communication skills. It is about honey. You know, the stuff bees make in the clover field across the county from your house? Yeah, it's fake. The FDA says the clear brown syrup in the bear-shaped bottle isn't even honey . . . and it came from China . . . and it has poison in it. No, really.
When honey is fresh off the combs, it is dirty. Proper beekeepers filter out the chunks of bees and bits of honeycomb, slap a label on the jar and sell their honey as-is. Janky cheaty companies with national distribution networks sell an end product that has been heated to kill the sugary goodness, and filtered so there is no pollen left. You know what honey is when you cook it and filter out all the pollen? High fructose corn syrup in a beary cute bottle, that's what.
Do yourself a favor: if you eat honey, go to a small local market and find a jar marked "raw honey" with a point of origin within a hundred miles of your location, and not distributed by a national organization. If it is like what I eat on my breakfast toast, it will be opaque. It will be grainy. The color will be possibly so light-blonde as to approach white. It will not be, necessarily, liquid. It will also be good for your allergies and diebeetus, unlike the stuff in the supermarket. Plus it will taste better. Try it.
Hat tip: Instapundit
When honey is fresh off the combs, it is dirty. Proper beekeepers filter out the chunks of bees and bits of honeycomb, slap a label on the jar and sell their honey as-is. Janky cheaty companies with national distribution networks sell an end product that has been heated to kill the sugary goodness, and filtered so there is no pollen left. You know what honey is when you cook it and filter out all the pollen? High fructose corn syrup in a beary cute bottle, that's what.
Do yourself a favor: if you eat honey, go to a small local market and find a jar marked "raw honey" with a point of origin within a hundred miles of your location, and not distributed by a national organization. If it is like what I eat on my breakfast toast, it will be opaque. It will be grainy. The color will be possibly so light-blonde as to approach white. It will not be, necessarily, liquid. It will also be good for your allergies and diebeetus, unlike the stuff in the supermarket. Plus it will taste better. Try it.
Hat tip: Instapundit
Nefarious Plot Goes Awry, Film at 11!
Today, in case you missed it, was the first time the Emergency Alert System was tested. The test was reportedly only partially successful. Some stations carried it late, some not at all, and some people freaked out a little, even though this has been in the works for at least a few weeks.
There are those who have ascribed ill intentions to the national government for trying to "take over" all broadcast media in the country all at once. They are going to use it for good now, for evil later, doing supposedly allsortabad things with your airwaves. Okay, maybe, but you know what? This test partially failing means we needed to do this test. What, I ask you, is the point of an Emergency Alert System when some stations skip the Alerting during an actual broadcast?
Yes, Big Brother will eventually use the EAS to tell all the hicks in flyover country to turn in their guns. But before that, we are likely to never need it, sure. I actually have trouble imagining something that could merit activation of the system for real, nationwide. War? A nuclear attack? That stuff would be general knowledge before they dusted off the EAS microphone.
But hey, if we're going to have a potentially-useful system in place anyway, why not test to see if it works?
There are those who have ascribed ill intentions to the national government for trying to "take over" all broadcast media in the country all at once. They are going to use it for good now, for evil later, doing supposedly allsortabad things with your airwaves. Okay, maybe, but you know what? This test partially failing means we needed to do this test. What, I ask you, is the point of an Emergency Alert System when some stations skip the Alerting during an actual broadcast?
Yes, Big Brother will eventually use the EAS to tell all the hicks in flyover country to turn in their guns. But before that, we are likely to never need it, sure. I actually have trouble imagining something that could merit activation of the system for real, nationwide. War? A nuclear attack? That stuff would be general knowledge before they dusted off the EAS microphone.
But hey, if we're going to have a potentially-useful system in place anyway, why not test to see if it works?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
To Mock, or To Weep?
"Man, I'll kick that turkey in the teeth." -Me, about this story.
Is it a humorous example of City Folk behavior, or a horrible sign of impending societal collapse? A group of turkeys in a suburban setting is defending a vacant lot . . . chasing people away. Even intrepid "journalists" are sent running to the car.
Hat tip: Uncle
Is it a humorous example of City Folk behavior, or a horrible sign of impending societal collapse? A group of turkeys in a suburban setting is defending a vacant lot . . . chasing people away. Even intrepid "journalists" are sent running to the car.
Hat tip: Uncle
*sniff* Smells Like Trouble Brewing
When the police rally to publicly support fellow officers who openly break the law on a regular basis, and then they make fun of the people of their city who are down on their luck . . . what does that say about the future hope of stability and prosperity in the town? What if that town is New York City?
In Paris in 1820, were they expecting burning barricades a couple decades later?
In Paris in 1820, were they expecting burning barricades a couple decades later?
Quote of the Day 11/08/2011
"They could have picked a less-credible woman to pull out of the woodwork, but they would have had to try." -Me, today, re Ms. Buy-a-lick
Mr. Cain did exactly the right thing*. This is now a classic he-said/she-said and I am fairly certain one of the two sayers is way more credible than the other.
QOTD #2:
"Well, he says his wife said she doesn't believe it, that's good enough for me!" -Me, today, re: Cain talking too much during today's speech
On the way in to work this morning, I was listening to the local call-in talk show, and one female caller said Bialek instantly lost all credibility when she showed up with Gloria Allred as her lawyer. A few minutes later, I switched over to the national call-in talk show, and the hostess was saying she was in a bar when the Bialek announcement was being read by a smiling "victim." She said TWO women in the bar were shaking their heads at the whole thing and one said "why does she keep talking about her boyfriend?" Then the midday talk show guy said a fresh poll puts popular interest in this story way, way below anything else.
The people see right through this. There is an OBVIOUS push for women to come forward and claim Cain did whatever, and nobody is giving them any credence. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't think this is a politically-motivated hatchet job being played out. Then tell me you believe all the "accusations" including the ones supposedly behind confidentiality agreements with no names, faces, or specific alleged actions.
Shame on the "journalists" covering this story so eagerly. Your double-standard is showing.
********
*Assuming he is the one telling the truth, that is.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Bank Closures as a Sign of Impending Greek Exit from Euro
Once again I learned something while reading Mish. Greece is, of course, going to leave the Euro zone soon. What I hadn't thought about was the very likely preliminary step of freezing bank deposits just before it happens:
Your country is part of a currency that holds value pretty well
Your country is about to leave that currency
Your new currency will be worth less
You want maximum value for your money, so
You pull your cash out of the bank denominated in the old, more valuable currency
So does everyone else
The banks have maybe 5% of their "deposits" in cash on hand
The banks cannot pay out the deposits everyone wants cashed out
The bank closes, totally bankrupt
This happens at every bank
The banking system collapses
The nation grinds to a halt
This takes maybe a week, start to finish
With a now totally-defunct banking system, there is no way to stay in the old currency
To prevent this very ugly kind of withdrawl from the Euro, bank deposits must be frozen. When that happens, stand by.
But of course, America's economy is decoupled from Europe's! No worries, here!
Your country is part of a currency that holds value pretty well
Your country is about to leave that currency
Your new currency will be worth less
You want maximum value for your money, so
You pull your cash out of the bank denominated in the old, more valuable currency
So does everyone else
The banks have maybe 5% of their "deposits" in cash on hand
The banks cannot pay out the deposits everyone wants cashed out
The bank closes, totally bankrupt
This happens at every bank
The banking system collapses
The nation grinds to a halt
This takes maybe a week, start to finish
With a now totally-defunct banking system, there is no way to stay in the old currency
To prevent this very ugly kind of withdrawl from the Euro, bank deposits must be frozen. When that happens, stand by.
But of course, America's economy is decoupled from Europe's! No worries, here!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Chevy Volt Has Higher Carbon Footprint Than Anticipated
TWO garages have caught fire in homes equipped with charging stations for Chevrolet Volt electric/hybrid cars. Carbon footprint: about the size of your garage if you're lucky, the size of your house if not.
Expect to see more of these stories. When you draw lots of current (as when an electric car is being recharged), wires get hot. Old wires running too hot inside old walls not built to current code may just decide to catch on fire. If you get a charging station put in your house, I strongly advise you to have an electrician install a "home run" with wire larger than is required by your local building code. This means paying A LOT more for wire, as well as the installation of conduit and a circuit breaker - in addition to the cost of the charging station itself. I am guessing the cost would be lower, however, than the re-purchase of everything that burned in these poor peoples' garages.
You've been warned.
Hat tip: Instapundit
Expect to see more of these stories. When you draw lots of current (as when an electric car is being recharged), wires get hot. Old wires running too hot inside old walls not built to current code may just decide to catch on fire. If you get a charging station put in your house, I strongly advise you to have an electrician install a "home run" with wire larger than is required by your local building code. This means paying A LOT more for wire, as well as the installation of conduit and a circuit breaker - in addition to the cost of the charging station itself. I am guessing the cost would be lower, however, than the re-purchase of everything that burned in these poor peoples' garages.
You've been warned.
Hat tip: Instapundit
Daylight Savings: Still Lame
There is no compelling argument for it. Therefore, Congress should not make a law and force the changing of clocks at gunpoint. That is all.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
PayPal Sucks, Problem Solved Edition
They had sent the funds to an old account. Once I got to an actual human at paypal, it was fixed in a couple of minutes. I had to think faster than their phone robot to get to a human. Good luck getting into your account with NO clue what information you used to sign up for the account!
Hint for getting past automated phone robots: this worked for me. While the robot was asking for the last four digits of some number I presumably used to know, I pressed zero to get to an Operator and it waited until I hadn't entered the rest of a number. Voice prompts it is, then. I said "agent" and waited a second - the machine kept talking. I said "representative" and waited again, then said "operator" and the machine paused. It started talking again and I said "operator" again a few times, interrupting the machine each time, until it changed tracks and asked a different question. This time to get off the question it was asking, I had to repeatedly say "agent." If I didn't know this tune it would be hard to dance, but thanks God I'm up on things.
Hint for getting past automated phone robots: this worked for me. While the robot was asking for the last four digits of some number I presumably used to know, I pressed zero to get to an Operator and it waited until I hadn't entered the rest of a number. Voice prompts it is, then. I said "agent" and waited a second - the machine kept talking. I said "representative" and waited again, then said "operator" and the machine paused. It started talking again and I said "operator" again a few times, interrupting the machine each time, until it changed tracks and asked a different question. This time to get off the question it was asking, I had to repeatedly say "agent." If I didn't know this tune it would be hard to dance, but thanks God I'm up on things.
Friday, November 4, 2011
PayPal Sucks
Step 1: Don't sell stuff very often
Step 2: Sell something on eBay from one verified eBay user to another verified eBay user
Step 3: Buyer pays
Step 4: Shipped the same day
Step 5: Buyer gets product
Step 6: PayPal holds funds just in case there is a dispute. Waiting for a + feedback, 21 DAYS to pass, or a delivery confirmation
Step 7: USPS marks status delivered
Step TWO WEEKS later: STILL no funds. Paypal sends "your funds are available" email and . . . STILL no funds.
You SUCK for this, PayPal.
Step 2: Sell something on eBay from one verified eBay user to another verified eBay user
Step 3: Buyer pays
Step 4: Shipped the same day
Step 5: Buyer gets product
Step 6: PayPal holds funds just in case there is a dispute. Waiting for a + feedback, 21 DAYS to pass, or a delivery confirmation
Step 7: USPS marks status delivered
Step TWO WEEKS later: STILL no funds. Paypal sends "your funds are available" email and . . . STILL no funds.
You SUCK for this, PayPal.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
You Can Fight City Hall . . .
. . . but you WILL lose if the University of Texas brings a copyright infringement suit against you!
Today in the shop we had a particular piece of exercise equipment to market for resale. It came from UT and had not just the name but the oh-so-well-protected UT Longhorn logo on the sides. We had purchased it from the University, so we were pretty sure the sale would be recognized as legit by the UT legal staff. So we whistled past the graveyard a bit.
Talking about the possibility of winning in court against the University I was heard to say, among other things:
"We'll see who has deeper lawyer pockets. . . oh, wait . . . ."
"I'm pretty sure they could buy us with one day's worth of legal fees."
This machine is the thing a football player runs into with his shoulder and it measures his blocking/tackling power. It is missing the padded dummy, and the striking surface is a steel cylinder. We were talking about testing it, and Guido said to NP: "I'm gonna let you run into the steel pole by yourself first"
Today in the shop we had a particular piece of exercise equipment to market for resale. It came from UT and had not just the name but the oh-so-well-protected UT Longhorn logo on the sides. We had purchased it from the University, so we were pretty sure the sale would be recognized as legit by the UT legal staff. So we whistled past the graveyard a bit.
Talking about the possibility of winning in court against the University I was heard to say, among other things:
"We'll see who has deeper lawyer pockets. . . oh, wait . . . ."
"I'm pretty sure they could buy us with one day's worth of legal fees."
This machine is the thing a football player runs into with his shoulder and it measures his blocking/tackling power. It is missing the padded dummy, and the striking surface is a steel cylinder. We were talking about testing it, and Guido said to NP: "I'm gonna let you run into the steel pole by yourself first"
Madness at Work!
Smashies edition
Sometimes at work, something that looks like it is worth money, actually ends up being worth negative money by the time someone gets through looking up its value. Then it gets put on a shelf to go to be recycled, and the guys in recycling see it looks like money so they send it up to be looked up. Then it is looked up.
And then what?
And then it repeats!
And then what?
Then it repeats!
So today, a piece of marginally-valuable scrap came through in a pile of marginally-valuable things of the same type. LB dropped one by accident and it broke. It still looked like it was worth money. The thing to do is put it on a recycle cart, but then it would come right back again. The solution: time to "oops" it with a hammer.
As LB was oopsing the now-junky junk, management came around the corner and there was a deer-in-the-headlights moment, but it was already seen. I walked into the room at this point and started laughing out loud.
So LB hit it with a hammer on the floor a couple of times in front of t3h b0ss. Then because that's what you can do in this particular "different kind of" small company, I stole it with my foot and JUMPED up and down on it. Then it was well-and-truly oopsed and headed for the recycle rack. My laughing got louder, and I was not the only one laughing by the time I landed.
I had been on my way out to the warehouse to help freight buddy with a freight shipment question, so I kept walking out the door, laughing my head off. Having exited the more-civilized air conditioned space, I laughed louder. Way 'way down at the end of an aisle of pallet racking, Clipboard Buddy #1 and Clipboard Buddy #2 were walking around with clipboards and they heard me bellowing laughter and turned around. They gave me a look like I was losing my marbles, which was of course hilarious so I started laughing harder.
God only knows what they were thinking, but as they walked out of sight around the corner, Clipboard Buddies #1 and #2 heard me shouting laughing about as loud as my laugher could go. My laugh was all the way up to eleven.
I walked back inside after I had helped Freight Buddy, and one of my co-workers said they had heard me laughing all the way inside, two rooms past the door to the warehouse.
Now THAT was the most fun I've had all week. Even better than playing peek-a-boo! with my one year-old hiding behind Mommy. Small company, big fun!
Sometimes at work, something that looks like it is worth money, actually ends up being worth negative money by the time someone gets through looking up its value. Then it gets put on a shelf to go to be recycled, and the guys in recycling see it looks like money so they send it up to be looked up. Then it is looked up.
And then what?
And then it repeats!
And then what?
Then it repeats!
So today, a piece of marginally-valuable scrap came through in a pile of marginally-valuable things of the same type. LB dropped one by accident and it broke. It still looked like it was worth money. The thing to do is put it on a recycle cart, but then it would come right back again. The solution: time to "oops" it with a hammer.
As LB was oopsing the now-junky junk, management came around the corner and there was a deer-in-the-headlights moment, but it was already seen. I walked into the room at this point and started laughing out loud.
So LB hit it with a hammer on the floor a couple of times in front of t3h b0ss. Then because that's what you can do in this particular "different kind of" small company, I stole it with my foot and JUMPED up and down on it. Then it was well-and-truly oopsed and headed for the recycle rack. My laughing got louder, and I was not the only one laughing by the time I landed.
I had been on my way out to the warehouse to help freight buddy with a freight shipment question, so I kept walking out the door, laughing my head off. Having exited the more-civilized air conditioned space, I laughed louder. Way 'way down at the end of an aisle of pallet racking, Clipboard Buddy #1 and Clipboard Buddy #2 were walking around with clipboards and they heard me bellowing laughter and turned around. They gave me a look like I was losing my marbles, which was of course hilarious so I started laughing harder.
God only knows what they were thinking, but as they walked out of sight around the corner, Clipboard Buddies #1 and #2 heard me shouting laughing about as loud as my laugher could go. My laugh was all the way up to eleven.
I walked back inside after I had helped Freight Buddy, and one of my co-workers said they had heard me laughing all the way inside, two rooms past the door to the warehouse.
Now THAT was the most fun I've had all week. Even better than playing peek-a-boo! with my one year-old hiding behind Mommy. Small company, big fun!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Herman Cain and Troublesome Wymyn
Until you come up with something more substantial than un-named sources supposedly hiding behind confidentiality agreements, this is a non-story. If the story turns out to be some hag got her thong in a twist because she can't take a complement, this is a non-story. If the story turns out to be a mis-interpreted well-intentioned non-sexual ANYTHING took place, then Cain comes out the winner and Politico is (again) the Loser here.
If the supposedly offeeeeeeended female(s) involved took money in exchange for shutting up and going away, I hope they are forced to give up 100% of the money they received, if they come out from behind their confidentiality agreements. If they don't, the story is 100% dead and you can know for certain that the only reason any "news" agency reports on it is because they are terrified that Cain will actually win the White House. Need I remind you how President "Slick Willy" Bill Clinton got that nickname? Gee, I wonder which side of the political aisle the alphabet networks prefer.
I think we've all seen how little it takes to get a sexual harassment case brought up for serious consideration. Prove it is all I've got to say.
If the supposedly offeeeeeeended female(s) involved took money in exchange for shutting up and going away, I hope they are forced to give up 100% of the money they received, if they come out from behind their confidentiality agreements. If they don't, the story is 100% dead and you can know for certain that the only reason any "news" agency reports on it is because they are terrified that Cain will actually win the White House. Need I remind you how President "Slick Willy" Bill Clinton got that nickname? Gee, I wonder which side of the political aisle the alphabet networks prefer.
I think we've all seen how little it takes to get a sexual harassment case brought up for serious consideration. Prove it is all I've got to say.
Bucking The Trend
Going to bed before 01:30 for the first time in a while.
In related news, we just bought another 3lbs. can of coffee grounds and it doesn't even matter what the stuff costs.
In related news, we just bought another 3lbs. can of coffee grounds and it doesn't even matter what the stuff costs.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Finally, Some Genuine "Unexpectedly" Economic News!
The stage was almost set for a bail-out to dig Greece deeper into its hole of debt and everyone would pretend the problem was solved for another week or two worth of stock trading days. The deal was contingent on Greece following through on an austerity package which would require only giving everyone in Greece nine free cupcakes at taxpayer expense instead of ten. The Greeks, being Greek, have been rioting over the proposed too-small-to-solve-the problem cuts in government services and benefits.
The Prime Minister actually got me. I didn't see one coming for the first time in a while! He decided to punt and put the austerity measures to the People of Greece in a special election. Then he dismissed the top brass in the Greek military. My first thought was that he probably fears a coup d'etat, but he could also be planning one. Either way, the stock traders didn't like this news at ALL. So we'll see: either the deal is on and the Greek economy is sunk less quickly as part of the Euro zone, or the deal will be voted down and Greece will have rather more of a "hard default" than had been anticipated, and get kicked out of the Euro. They would likely pick up the Drachma again, which would immediately be worthless. Their unsustainable government would be forced to shrink, and the Greek economy would be sunk more quickly than otherwise.
Then Portugal, Spain and Italy will hold hands and hope together that nothing bad happens for long enough that their economies will recover . . . somehow . . . .
The Prime Minister actually got me. I didn't see one coming for the first time in a while! He decided to punt and put the austerity measures to the People of Greece in a special election. Then he dismissed the top brass in the Greek military. My first thought was that he probably fears a coup d'etat, but he could also be planning one. Either way, the stock traders didn't like this news at ALL. So we'll see: either the deal is on and the Greek economy is sunk less quickly as part of the Euro zone, or the deal will be voted down and Greece will have rather more of a "hard default" than had been anticipated, and get kicked out of the Euro. They would likely pick up the Drachma again, which would immediately be worthless. Their unsustainable government would be forced to shrink, and the Greek economy would be sunk more quickly than otherwise.
Then Portugal, Spain and Italy will hold hands and hope together that nothing bad happens for long enough that their economies will recover . . . somehow . . . .
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