Game the World

Origin of the Housing Bubble

2011-11-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

A question that friends of mine could not answer regarding the housing bubble was why weren't the banks in question so avariciously predatory before 2000? The typical answer was that a new generation of bankers had spontaneously decided to throw out decades of best practices in favor of taking short term profits and leaving the mess to be cleaned up after they took their severance packages.Those

Is the Cyberpunk World Coming?

2011-08-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

I have been a fan of Cyberpunk sci-fi since I first read William Gibson's Neuromancer on the advice of a friend back in 1990. Back then all I was into was the cool attitude, lively characters and good suspense. Since then I have come to see more of the philosophy behind the punk with the works of Bruce Sterling and Neal Stephenson.All of the stories involved dystopian futures where the mass of

Blame the Voters

2010-09-17T17:46:00.001-07:00

Heard a new sound bite from Jerry Brown. He claims that he won't raise taxes without voter approval. That's the dodge he used when he was called on the increases in city taxes on Oakland. Nothing heard yet on how hard Brown pushed to get those measures passed. In the same vein, Whitman is still running the Clinton Senate ad. Good call from where I sit, particularly compared with the ads Brown

Imminent Sleight of Hand

2010-06-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

I wrote earlier that ads are running against Meg Whitman for not voting for nearly three decades. I saw the ad again this morning and caught that it was paid for by California Working Families for Jerry Brown. The link above doesn't really have much to it, which is good because it will automatically redirect to the official Jerry Brown for Governor site.The working families site only makes a

Apprenticeships in Life

2010-06-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

Debates about Abby Sunderland's attempt to sail around the world has started debates all around that same planet. Heck, it is starting one even here in my house.There's no argument about who should be paying for the rescue, or at the very least should be looking for a second mortgage to pay the costs. The source of contention is whether the parents were negligent in allowing Abby, and by

No Rest for the Voter

2010-06-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

Just when we thought is was over, commercials are coming on TV for the November gubernatorial election. The one I have seen the most so far has been the one that replays Meg Whitman's wholly non-responsive response to a question about her not voting over the past 28 years. While she was nominally taking responsibility for her record, not giving the reason is going to keep this an issue.My advice

Reflections on a Bumper Sticker

2010-06-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

I passed a car with a bumper sticker calling for the repeal of Prop. 13. First time I had ever seen one like that, probably because almost everyone likes the control on property taxes. It makes it quite easy to be able to count on politicians being bound from jacking up taxes at a moment's notice.Sounds kind of like rent control. I wonder what bumper sticker owner thinks about keeping landlords

This Would Truly be Ironic... I Think

2010-06-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

It is really hard to know what exactly is ironic, but this situation would be if it happens.Imagine: a Category 5 hurricane is barreling down on New Orleans. The damage is expected to be devastating, to say nothing of the oil slick that the storm surge will bring ashore.Then, as the storm hits the site of the Deepwater Explorer fire. The oil slick, coating the surface of the Gulf of Mexico,

My Family History

2010-05-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

There is a Certain Tactical Advantage

2010-05-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

I can see some possibilities for a clandestine uprising in this story out of Saudi Arabia. Imagine a Virtue Cop stepping up to harass a woman, but said woman takes a gun out of her hijab and shoots the cop. Then she drops the gun mob style and disappears into a crowd of similarly concealed women.There is a certain flavorful irony in taking advantage of the rules the state sanctioned thugs are

Bad ass cleric

2010-04-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

Where the Cuts are Felt

2010-02-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

Powerline has an article referencing another poor care scandal in the government run hospitals in England. One part hit on a thought floating in my head:An independent inquiry found that managers at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust stopped providing safe care because they were preoccupied with government targets and cutting costs. ...Out here in California we voted down a series of tax

An Intriguing Thought, But...

2010-02-10T21:48:00.000-08:00

Meg Witman is running for governor of California on the premise that she has been successful at establishing a large corporation efficiently and profitably. I think that she is setting herself for one hell of a culture shock.I would question the capacity for a successful executive to manage a government. My view is that a large corporation starts its slide and loses efficiency in direct

Creepiest Ad From the Super Bowl

2010-02-07T18:42:00.000-08:00

Granted there is a minute plus left, but I don't think this one will be topped:Are there any paranoid fantasies about environmentalism that they didn't use in this commercial? The worst part is that people are supposed to feel good about these scofflaws being punished. *shiver*

Starting the Cycle

2010-02-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

The government is making noises that a sub $250,000 per year tax cut would lead to new jobs being created. How I see it is the cycle working like this:Step 1: Consumers have more money to spend.Step 2: Consumers purchase goods from corporations.Step 3: Corporations have more money.Step 4: Corporations hire more people.Step 5: Return to Step 1.Not too bad on the face of it, but there is one

How to Make a Hockey Stick

2009-12-12T10:17:00.001-08:00

Haven't finished reading this myself, but I plan on following the steps as an exercise in learning statistics.

Poitics by way of the Football Sidelines

2009-10-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

Liberals vote for Head Coaches who will fire them up and lead them to victory.Conservatives want an Equipment Manager who will take care of the gritty stuff so that they don't have to concern themselves with it.

I Thought Government Was All About Popularity

2009-08-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

"It's been a thrill to be part of the best economic news story in America," Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. "Now we are working toward an orderly wind down of this very popular program." Just think about how well they will handle the popularity of affordable health care.

The One Sign You Need

2009-08-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

I might have added Amtrack but the point is made.Charlie Foxtrot

All of This Will Has No Backing

2009-03-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

Kings most commonly, though strong in legions, are but weak in Arguments; as they who have ever accustomed from thir Cradle to use thir will only as thir right hand, thir reason always as thir left. Whence unexpectedly constrained to that kind of combat, they prove but weak and puny Adversaries.Milton, Preface to EikonoklastesVia Quicksilver by Neal StephensonI have been seeing billboards for the

Controlling Health Care

2009-03-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Government says that they just want to control the costs. Too bad you can't do that without controlling the health care. Rationing and deciding who gets what will be inevitable.The cliche says that nothing is more important than your health. So why shouldn't we have to pay for it? I admit that we are absolutely paying more for health care than we did in the past. Then again, wouldn't you

So How’s Your Rainforest?

2009-02-27T19:08:00.000-08:00

I know that most people who believe in government “solutions” to economic problems do so sincerely. I can’t understand the mental gymnastics necessary to believe that, and this thought is intended to point out the contortion. Whenever you hear someone say that we need to raise taxes to get the money necessary to fix the economy, remember that they are using the same logic that would say: we need

My Uninformed Opinion-Oscars Edition

2009-02-23T19:31:00.000-08:00

So here is my rant regarding the Oscars that bugs me every year.One of these years I am going to get into a prize oriented Oscar pool. The basic plan I would go with is that any leading actor/actress that is playing in a biographical film is going to be the front runner.Lets go to the history:Julia Roberts- Erin Brockevich '00Marcia Gay Harden- Pollock '00Jennifer Conally - A Beautiful Mind '

Random Thought

2009-02-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

Few things piss people off more than something good happening to people they don't like.

Save us From the Bad Rich People

2009-01-12T21:43:00.000-08:00

Its all about decentralizing the power.

How’s This for a Media Conspiracy?

2008-11-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

I had a thought about the LA Times sitting on the tape of Senator Obama toasting the one-time spokesman for Hamas. What caught my attention beyond the obvious was that the Times intended to release the tape after the election. This and that slow realization in the media that all may not be on the up and up in Obama land has some bloggers saying that the media will try to regain some credibility

Opening Up With Both Barrels

2008-10-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

Orson Scott Card has put out a column in which he excoriates the media for what he calls a complete lack of honor or honesty:But right now, you are consenting to or actively promoting a big fat lie — that the housing crisis should somehow be blamed on Bush, McCain, and the Republicans. You have trained the American people to blame everything bad — even bad weather — on Bush, and they are

A Consequence of Marrying a Coworker

2008-10-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

I have found that I now have direct deposit:My paycheck is directly deposited with my wife.Thank you, be sure to tip your waitresses.

I Have Got to Get This Book

2008-10-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

But I probably won't. This election may already be doing bad things to my blood pressure, and I don't intend to vote for the guy anyway. So I'll refer you to someone who has read it:I've Lost Faith in the Messiah

Let's Not Have a Neo-Deal

2008-10-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

I was always taught that the New Deal was needed to end the Great Depression. Well, so much for the conventional wisdom.So for the love of God lets not have the government "fix" our economy again.

So Who is Watching?

2008-10-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

It would seem that the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating. Clearly there is a need for new ideas. Now I am not one who thinks that Congressional oversight is a panacea. But then, if you are of that type, you should probably be wondering why the Senate hasn’t been keeping its eye on the matter. Perhaps a member of that subcommittee could have lit a fire

Subtle Bias at Microsoft?

2008-10-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

An observation from posting:I use a tablet PC for blogging. Sometimes the handwriting recognition is a little wonky. Those of you who know my handwriting are now saying "Ted, a computer that could read your handwriting would be a contender for the Turing Test." But that's beside the point.Until I programmed in Obama into the dictionary, it kept reading it as Osama.So, Mr. Gates, are there

Learning Through Comedy

2008-10-06T17:56:00.000-07:00

It has struck me the degree to which people view those in the other parts of the political spectrum by mere stereotypes. Not sure you know the stereotypes? Allow Richard Jenni to explain.'Nuff said.

The Company You Keep

2008-10-05T20:40:00.000-07:00

Some people would like to say that Obama's connection to the Weather Underground's Bill Ayers is no big big deal.A simple question for those folks: Would a Republican's past history with David Duke matter?Just trying to show what objectivity would look like.

Debate Storage Locker

2008-10-03T20:28:00.000-07:00

This is where I put articles for those times where end up saying "I read it somewhere"A brief history of lax lending standards. Via InstapunditEven better via Protein Wisdom.Remember, Obama came out of Chicago with no reputation as a reformer.

Wrong TV Plot Line

2008-09-02T20:30:00.000-07:00

This idea hit me over the long weekend when I didn’t want to spend too much time online. With the revelation of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy, this observation has gotten stale. But here it goes anyway.The Sarah Palin Fake Pregnancy rumor made me wonder where the hill they would have come up with that idea. Then I remembered the seen in passing (I swear) season finale to Desperate Housewives last

Not the Valedictorian, I Take It

2008-08-26T22:32:00.000-07:00

Good to know that there wasn't an actual plot to kill Senator Obama. But then again, do you really think that the dude on the right especially is all that much with respect to planning and execution?Dude on right seemed rather familiar to me, and then it hit me:'Nuff said.

More Ammo for the Drug Warriors

2008-01-29T20:42:00.000-08:00

Many people seem to think that the more liberal persuasions would not prosecute the drug war as vigorously as the any-excuse-to-trample-civil-liberties conservatives.I would argue that one would only need to look at this article and remember that it is the liberal persuasions that pushed mandatory car seatbelt and motorcycle helmet laws.Remember: Conservatives think you are too degenerate to

Comedy Can Be Enlightening

2008-01-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

I have been reading Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg. The primary premise being that Fascism is an essentially Socialistic enterprise, and that it is not a fit label for modern Conservatives.But if Fascism was a product of the same thinking that founds much of current Liberal thought, then what about the recieved wisdom that Fascism and Communism are opposite ends of the political spectrum?

Assessment by Relatives and Absolute

2008-01-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been challenged to look at my values and to consider how I assess whether something is good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable. The debate of what is good or bad will certainly not be settled here. Even if one were to debate with a person who agreed to a standard of good and bad, I have found that there is still room for disagreement. That comes from whether the measure of good

In Defense of Stupid Studies

2007-10-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was hanging with friends when the topic got around to the government wasting money on stupid studies. Their gripe was about a study that showed that the rate of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is more common among troops who had done multiple tours in Iraq than those who had done fewer.

Now That I Can Think …

2007-10-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Caffeine is proof that God doesn’t want human sacrifices first thing in the morning.

The Return of a Dirty Word

2007-09-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

The word for today is Responsibility.From Merriam-Webster: Main Entry: re·spon·si·bil·i·ty Pronunciation: ri-"spän(t)-s&-'bi-l&-tEFunction: nounInflected Form(s): plural -ties1 : the quality or state of being responsible : as a : moral, legal, or mental accountabilityOne of the greatest pastimes in the world today is to stick others with it so that you don't have to. We have a real peach of an

Did Tim Taylor Kill the Do-it-Yourselfer?

2007-09-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

Let’s take as our starting point the Popular Mechanics article by Glenn Reynolds about the decline of manual skills in society. He ends the article with point that I had to admit came very close to the mark personally: Most people can do more than they think they can, and it’s often fear of failure as much as lack of skill that keeps people from tackling hands-on tasks. Speaking from

What a Man Wants: Wedding Edition

2007-09-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

Hey all,Long time no write I know but I have been tied up figuratively for more than a couple of weeks.What brings me out of hibernation is this post at Electric Venom about the perception of men that women want them to be able to read their minds. Like every guy, I have felt that way at one point or another. I'm not going to go there right now, but I would like to talk about how a guy,

Hell Reconsidered (or How I Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Gift Registry Shopping)

2007-05-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

Most any guy will tell you that shopping, outside of electronics or power tools, is a hell akin to that scene in Total Recall in which Arnold is pulling out the tracking device that had been placed deep in his sinus passage. Particularly if you are registered at a place like Bed, Bath, and Beyond.That was my thought prior to actually going to BB&B for shopping for items on the registry. First off

The Vacation

2007-04-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

Trish and I took a long weekend in the Napa Valley. We are very seriously considering having the wedding at Mont La Salle. We visited my uncle, a Christian Brother, who lives there, and the grounds just grabbed her.Now we get to sell the invitees on a weekend in Napa as part of the wedding experience. Somehow that has not been a difficult sale.

Shouting From the Rooftop

2007-02-06T22:18:00.000-08:00

You may recall that I ended the last post with a hint that more good news might be coming. It is the type of news that I felt I should share with my family before proclaiming it to the world at large. So now, without further ado:Everyone, say hi to Trish. This the the beautiful lady that just a couple of weeks ago agreed to be my wife. When we first started dating, we wanted to keep our

Game the World - The Rematch

2007-02-02T23:40:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, remember me? It is Winston, Ted, and Gamer, all at once. Game the World is back on the lively list. I'm calling this post the rematch because the world pretty well kicked my ass last time around. In this new incarnation of the site I might get into the personal type of stuff.I didn't do that before because my life wasn't really anything to write home about. Things really hit bottom

Why Geneva

2006-07-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Just had a conversation with a friend (one whom I have been encouraging to blog) who reminded me just what the Geneva Conventions were created for. The Conventions were created to keep war on a somewhat civilized basis.Now here is the rub inherent in Geneva is that it applied only to uniformed soldiers. Since pretty much everyone we've taken from Afganistan and Iraq were out of uniform, they fall

Pondering Vocabulary

2006-07-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

I recall an old anti-war musing that went "What if they threw a war and nobody showed up?" That got me to thinking, and I realized that we need a word to describe what it is when one side showed up but not the other. Granted, it wouldn't be war, it does take two to tango. But it certainly would not be "Peace", despite whatever Western Anti-War protesters like to think. Go tell it to Al-Qaeda and

My Thought on The New York Times

2006-06-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

The New York Times does not have the best interest of the country in its corporate heart. In publishing the bank tracking story, despite pleas from both sides of the aisle, showed that it put its own interests ahead of all others. In effect, they have acted in the semblence of the worst of corporate governance. Something to remember for the progressive defenders of the Grey Lady.

The Problem in a Nutshell

2006-06-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons that I took the lay-off from the site was that I was getting bored with the tone of debate. It is one thing to say that someone is wrong, a whole 'nother to say that someone is evil.While this comment at Balloon Juice doesn't actually use the word evil, it does go to the personalization of political discourse. Please, can someone liberal please step up and debate in such a way

Implications Not Thought Through

2006-06-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

At least that's what I thought when I saw this new style of door flyers.Sure, let's block the view of the peep holes for burglars. Also, can you imagine the damage that the glue might end up doing? Finally, it would seem to be rather labor intensive to get the folds and placement just right.Link via Dave Barry

A Bad Day for Security

2006-06-23T17:35:00.001-07:00

Someone's head had better roll in response to the case of three men dressed as clowns breaking into a Minuteman III missile facility in North Dakota. There must have been guards somewhere, but there certainly aren't any in that picture. The name of one of the men: Greg Boertje-Obed, makes me think that Jedi mind tricks may have been used. That fact will have to wait until trial to be determined.

A Bad Day for Security

2006-06-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

Too Unusual for Justice

2006-06-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Following on the heals of the child molester found too short for prison comes a case where the defendant is too old to get a jury of her peers:A 79-year-old woman set to be tried on charges that she fatally shot her 85-year-old ex-beau is being deprived of her constitutional right to a fair trial, her attorney said.[snip]Driskell is nearly a decade older than the legal age for exemption as a

Forget Vinegar and Baking Soda

2006-06-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

Take a gander at the Extreme Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment. (Requires QuickTime). The video demonstrates not only the amazing combination of Diet Coke and Menthos but also that of two guys and way too much time on their hands. Makes me wonder how much they shelled out for all of the Coke and Mentos.

US/Italy Tie

2006-06-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

Just finished watching the Italy vs United States Cup Game.Count me in with everyone else, the referee sucked big time. Interesting thing about that guy, he had been suspended before after complaints from fellow referees. Let's hope it happens again.

Update to Saw This One Coming

2006-06-15T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hooters pained by champagne reportGood to see that someone with at least peripheral responsibility in the Katrina aid mess stepping up to do the right thing. I'd like to see that lawyer who took $1,000 make the donation of such funds.Insert lawyer joke here.

One Terrorist Game

2006-06-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Instapundit.com offers a multiply updated post that includes a commentary on how, as Glenn puts it, "Terrorism is an information war disguised as a military operation." He then quotes from an economist report on how terrorists and the media feed off each other:It's a macabre example of win-win in what economists call a "common-interest game," say Bruno S. Frey of the University of Zurich and

Saw This One Coming

2006-06-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you can recall the hurry to get emergency funds to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Well, time to reap what was sown, namely hundreds of cases of fraud.The GAO uncovered records showing that $1,000 from a FEMA debit card went to a Houston divorce lawyer; $600 was spent in a strip club and $400 was spent on "adult erotica products," all of which auditors concluded were "not necessary to

Bust Your Diet in Style

2006-06-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't want haute fast food? Just be warned that while you are biting down on your food, you're going to be feeling another bite elsewhere:A Kobe beef hot dog ($14) pairs well with fries topped with Asiago cheese and truffle oil ($4.50).And who said that in the future there would only be McDonald's?

I Sincerely Apologize

2006-06-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

For posting this. I liked that song, only to see it desecrated. Hell, I probably could have done better down at karaoke.Forgive me for sharing the pain, but it was too much to bear on my own.

Color Me Confused

2006-06-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

The premise behind this contest is to provethat a much-publicized prescription for defeating aging by biogerontologist Aubrey de Grey was "so wrong that it was unworthy of learned debate."So some people are going to use learned debate to prove something is unworthy thereof? Sounds a bit self-defeating to me.Link via Instapundit.

Who Feeds on Whom?

2006-06-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Perry de Haviland writes Libertarian Democrats? for Samizdata about the idea floated at the Daily Kos that one could be a libertarian on the left side of the American political aisle. The idea is that the corporation has to be counted with the government and the criminal as a threat to individual liberty. Perry points out that the problem with that is that corporate power only becomes corosive

What They Can Do With Their Money

2006-04-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

A quick thought on what the oil companies can do with their record profits. Kick a few bribes at the EPA to fast-track a few refineries. Hell, the agribusinesses should do the same to start up a bunch of stills for ethanol. I've heard that an ethanol distiller has purchased a brewery in the Northeast. How difficult would it be to push this more nationwide?

Was it Boredom?

2006-04-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Or perhaps it is simply a matter of having a sense of humor? A high court judge in England implanted a code in his ruling over the plagirism case regarding the DaVinci Code.Evidently it is a lightly hidden ciphertext that in turn is a substitution code. At least one of the lawyers is promising to break the cypher.

Backhanded Insanity Defense

2006-04-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

Let it be resolved that Zacarias Moussaoui is crazier than your average loon. First he undoes everything that his defense team had been working on for years by admitting he knew everything about 9/11 ahead of time, and then he claims that his defense team was out to get him,Zerkin had asked Moussaoui whether he believes his defense team is in a conspiracy to kill him.Moussaoui responded that the

Tech for Terrorism

2006-04-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

In light of Iran's enrichment of power plant grade uranium, I will acknowledge that it is not the same as saying that Iran has the bomb.That is, they don't have a nuclear device to pass on to those who would wish to do our country harm. What I am concerned about is the use of this material in dirty bombs. Is there some way of tracking where a given sample of uranium had been refined?

Political Tacking

2006-04-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

There is a certain course a candidate for the Presidency has to take on the way to the Office. Name, hard to the wing in the primaries and hard again to the center for the general election. Captain's Quarters has compiled the signs of John McCain, infamous Maverick of the Republican Party, taking the turn right-ward.One of the quotes cited has McCain on the Daily Show conceding that he is headed

The Patriotism of Crushing Dissent

2006-03-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

From Instapundit.com we get to see what crushing of dissent really looks like. Thank Castro for this example.The attacks intensified after a speech by Castro last July in which he denounced opposition activists as U.S. government lackeys and praised supporters who two weeks earlier disrupted a dissident protest in Havana. "The people, angrier than before over such shameless acts of treason,

How Was This Supposed to Work?

2006-03-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a cautionary tale of a couple who earned attention from the Department of Homeland Security because they made a larger than usual payment on their credit card.File this one under "Doesn't the DHS have better things to be doing?"Link via Ciggy's Smokehouse

At Least They Aren't The Wiggy Ones

2006-02-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

Despite there being some blowhards in the government over the Mohammed cartoons, I think that the UAE has been one of the more level headed of the Arab nations. No riots reported, no burning of embassies. Maybe we can trust these folks.

Sorta Liveblogging the Opening Ceremony

2006-02-10T21:13:00.000-08:00

9:15 Western: That "beating heart" had some serious rhythm problems.Were the cows really necessary?I think I may start laughing any moment.OK, the lady with the Italian flag is kind of hot.Enter the figurehead president.9:20 The kid singing the Italian anthem clearly doesn't have stage fright. Lord knows that having the whole world watching you could certainly cause it.Things had better pick up,

Somebody Had to Say It

2006-02-08T11:26:00.000-08:00

Even if it is satire. Purportedly from the mouth of Simpsons creator Matt Groening:The controversy over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper has led the producers of The Simpsons to reconsider his appearance in a forthcoming episode. The offending cartoons included a picture of the founder of Islam wearing a turban, and have been slammed by Muslims for being blasphemous and

Shoulda Gotten a Haircut

2006-02-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

EVELYN KRISTO/Valley PressNone of the volunteers at yesterday's med supply unloading knew that the newspaper was going to be there, with a camera. That's me in the back, not looking nearly as ratty as I did.

My Good Deed for the Week

2006-02-06T13:16:00.000-08:00

Just got back from helping to unload medical supplies for the local Red Cross chapter. A local supply company made a donation of $110,000 worth of products just before the end of the year. Let me tell you, that it a lot of latex gloves, bandages, and blood pressure cuffs. Especially when you don't have a forklift or a convenient loading dock.

Compare and Contrast

2006-02-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

Observe the difference in reactions and protests in response to the Danish Mohammed cartoons as opposed to Christian affrontery. Death threats and boycotts of entire nations vs. a few pickets and media talk.Compare that with the (putatively artistic) provocation with what can no longer be considered an uproar. The Western World at least has a sense of humor (make sure you have one when you click

Definintely Not the Hands-Free Model

2006-02-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest and greatest in cell phone development: bone induction speakers. The idea is that the bones of your head carry the sound to your eardrums rather than through the air. Just be sure to remember to hang up after the conversation, or else you really will be hearing voices in your head.Personally, I have enough issues with voices without inviting anyone else, thank you very

So I'm Not the Only One

2006-02-01T12:27:00.000-08:00

Citizen Smash has his reaction to the State of the Union. I'll cut to the chase:*yawn*I agree. Politics these days is boring. Both sides are out for party gain, and there is no philosophy being debated. I've heard all of the names being thrown around, and let me tell you, the bloom is off the rose.Wake me up when Individualism vs. Statism starts up again.

My (Sorta) Liveblog of the SOTU

2006-01-31T18:46:00.000-08:00

Damn I wish Bush was a conservative. Much as I like the emphasis on new power technologies, I still cringe when he talks about federal funding for it. Nothing like involving the federal government in a project to slow it down.6:50 (Pacific) Like we can hold off the impending crisis in the Middle East until 2025, Bush's proposed date of energy independence.6:53 Uh oh, there's the "compassionate"

Condescension At Work

2006-01-30T17:31:00.000-08:00

That is just about the only way to describe it. Via this editorial, we get this wonderful little exchange:In response, I began to read verbatim quotes form Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other Iranian rulers about their lethal intentions toward the U.S., their genocidal plans for Israel, their hostility toward “Anglo-Saxon civilization.” Professor Amirahmadi objected that scholars and

Gaming Hurricanes

2006-01-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

Hurricane Pam was a storm that never hit land, yet should have taught lessons in preparation for Hurricane Katrina. Its projections included extensive flooding and massive casualties in New Orleans in as little as a Category 3 storm.This part struck me:A month before Katrina hit, state and federal officials working on the Pam exercise estimated that government plans to evacuate people from New

Don't Ask Where He Got His Numbers

2006-01-23T21:40:00.000-08:00

How does one go about quantifying a bad day? Evidently, if you are an english health psychologist, you make up a laughable formula and try to pass it off as scientific.On paper, the formula looks like this: W + (D-d) x TQ———————————M x NA The variables are (W)eather, (D)ebt, (d) monthly salary, (T)ime since Christmas, time since failure to (Q)uit a bad habit, low (M)otivational levels and (NA),

Battlestar WTF

2006-01-20T21:21:00.000-08:00

Did anybody else detect something of a real world political bent to tonights episode of Battlestar Galactica? The peace-with-the-Cylons movement, with the overtones that humanity deserved what they got, seems to be begging comparisons. The writers wouldn't be playing around like that, would they?

Non-Violence vs. the Shameless

2006-01-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

From Winds of Change.NET: Our Darkening Sky: Iran and the War, we get this thought regarding nonviolent protest in Iran: Let's get real. Whatever they may think of the mullahs, the Iranian people, and such civil society as they have built in the shadows, have no stomach to seriously oppose them. The mullahs have proven that they are quite willing to kill, with their Basij hitler youth corps and

On the Right Course

2006-01-19T13:44:00.000-08:00

During the whole Terri Schiavo mess, I came down on the side of spousal rights. That is why the case of Haleigh Poutre, the eleven year-old abuse victim who was diagnosed as being in a vegetative state. Lacking any responsible care giver, Haleigh has become a ward of the state, and the state had decided to discontinue life support.Suddenly, it was looking like Terri Schiavo all over again. What

I Gotta Try This

2006-01-18T12:09:00.000-08:00

You can guess that I am up for just about any type of game, particularly the potable variety. That's why I'd have to try The 24 Drinking Game.Jack says “You have got to trust me”, take 1 shot– if the emphasis is on “got”, i.e. “You have GOT to trust me”, take an extra shotJack doesn’t have time to explain, take 1 shotJack doesn’t have time for this, take 1 shotJack says “You’ve got to do it”,

Wal-Mart Vineyards

2006-01-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

Link via Balloon Juice.I can just picture the racks of Wal-Mart Wine™ under the smiley face logo. I wonder: screw top or box? Gay Orbit offers a list of possible names, although I would add Pinot Greasyo.

Prison isn't Enough

2006-01-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

I have to agree with John Cole on the matter of Clarence Ray Allen not being the case that anti death penalty activists wish to rally around. The man organized murders from behind bars. The man is an argument for the death penalty, no matter how old he is.

Yet More for the Storage Locker

2006-01-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

Coverage of NSA's Echelon Program from the 1990's

More on Iran and the UN Security Council

2006-01-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

Jeff Goldstein links to other posts regarding the politics of the UN taking action against the Iranian nuclear program. The big issues seem to be the threats of vetoes from Russia and China, both of whom are deeply invested in the Mullah regime.I would think that Russia might have a great deal to lose, perhaps as much as the US does, if Iran gets the bomb. IIRC, the Chechan Muslim separatists

Gross Chic

2006-01-11T15:16:00.000-08:00

I'd think that there are better uses for latex than to make clothing and accessories that look like human skin.As one of the commenters said:I think I saw this in Silence of the Lambs.

Definition of an Empty Threat

2006-01-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

Old Europe is finally showing some life in response to Iran's nuclear provocations. Sadly, all they are promising to do is to take the matter to the UN Security Council.Color me not impressed. The path that is being proposed here is one that will give the mullahs years to perfect their processes and products. Even if the UN is able to shut down Iran's nuclear ambitions, there will still be more

Philosophy is Where ID Belongs

2006-01-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

Take a look at my blog and you can tell that I have no respect for Intelligent Design as a scientific theory. I do believe, however, that it makes for some very interesting philosophical discussion. Therefore, I am coming out against the latest ACLU action to remove ID from public school philosophy classes. Evidently the ACLU would have problems with any type of comparitive religion being taught

An ID Shot at Legitimacy

2006-01-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

I went looking for answers to a question that occurred to me while I was outside smoking a cigar. Namely: What purpose do mass extinction events serve in an intelligently designed world?Googling for answers proved fruitless. If any of you out there know of any, please leave a link in the comments.What I did find was a site proposing that there are testable predictions in Intelligent Design that

Very Good News from Sago

2006-01-09T12:03:00.000-08:00

The extent to which Randy McCloy Jr., the sole survivor pulled from the Sago Mine explosion, had suffered brain damage due to his ordeal seems to be lessening with each day. He is moving extremities in response to pain and his brain stem appears intact.Hopefully, his forebrain also remained in good health. If it has, then there is a good chance that it will be Randy that awakens, as opposed to a

A Bit of Humor for Your Day

2006-01-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

Easily one of the best Blonde Jokes that I have ever come across. Enjoy.

5 Days Must Be Some Sort of Record

2006-01-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

If Pat Robertson had a New Year's Resolution not to say stupid things, then he has certainly blown it already.On today's 700 Club, Rev. Pat Robertson blamed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharons recent stroke on God's "enmity against those who 'divide my land,'" an implicit reference to recent steps the Prime Minister has taken to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.Pardon me if I'm