Mildly Didactic

M&M'S

2011-05-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

Until I discovered that M&M'S are named after the company founders (Mars & Murrie), the apostrophe irked me. Thankfully, Wikipedia has relieved that source of annoyance, but I still can't get over the frequent capitalization of the "S" (see the official M&M'S website). Why is the "S" capitalized?

Wookie Steak

2011-05-06T06:41:00.000-07:00

Founds this in the depths of the Internet last night. No comment needed.

Best Article on Taxes, the Deficit, and Spending

2011-04-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is one of the best rants on government spending, withholding, taxes, spending, and related issues that I've read in a long time. Fantastic. It's long, but well worth the read.

One of many hilarious (and sad) paragraphs:

The government almost shut down last week over cutting 38 billion dollars… That may sound like a lot, but comparatively speaking, that’s like a 600 pound man who’s heart is about to explode congratulating himself that he got a hamburger instead of a cheeseburger… for his fifty-seventh meal of the day. Republicans backed off because they didn’t think they could win the PR battle. Let’s see… the Democrats were willing to not pay soldiers, currently fighting three wars, in order to ensure funding for abortion clinics… And you didn’t think you could win that PR fight? Seriously? Have you ever thought about maybe hiring a marketing major? I know a guy….

Read the whole thing here.

Fox News Report: "China Bans Time Travel"

2011-04-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a laugher for the day, an article entitled, "China Bans Time Travel"

It's about a completely absurd decision by the Chinese government to bad movies and TV shows that are about time travel. Just the type of insanity you'd expect from a moderately xenophobic dictatorship.

But that's not what made me laugh out loud. The funniest part of the article is the first line, "It's the basis for some of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time -- The Terminator, Back to the Future, Black Night, just to name a few."

Nevermind that it's a grammatical mess - BLACK KNIGHT?!?!?!

No one... and I mean NO ONE, who has ever made a list of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time has EVER included Black Knight. At least not anyone who was either sober or attempting to be taken seriously.

And then there's the picture used above the article, a screen shot from the movie "Donnie Darko", which does have a possible time travel element in it, but it is really more about paranoid schizophrenia.

How does stuff like this get past an editor? Black Knight? Really?

Wise Words to Live By

2011-04-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

The story below was linked by Instapundit this morning. The original link is HERE. Good words to live by, particularly the last paragraph.

Is Your Jar Full?

When things in your life seem almost to much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar......and the beer.

A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the Professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The Professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "Yes."

The Professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the Professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first", he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

When he had finished, there was a profound silence. Then one of the students raised her hand and with a puzzled expression, inquired what the beer represented.

The Professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."

Two Days Until Australia

2011-03-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

In two days, E and I drop our dachshund at my mom's house and hop a plane for Australia. We're spending three weeks in a small town south of Perth called Mandurah. Her uncle has a vacation house on the bay there, which he has graciously offered to let us stay in as a wedding gift.

While there, I'm going to have a chance to meet her extended family. Her parents met and grew up in Perth, although they haven't lived there in years.

We're heading out to the outback for a couple of days to spend some time on a real working sheep farm, owned by an old friend of the family. E was there several years back, and all she remembers of it was riding motorcycles around, chasing kangaroos. I can't wait.

Anyhow, this is mostly a filler post - I'm sure there will be more to write about soon. The pic here is a shot from our trip to Sydney a couple years ago, on the Hawkesbury River - we're not going near there this time. And no, the sky wasn't really that color, the effect was a weird filter setting on the camera.

Weekly Photograph

2011-02-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

I've been spending a fair amount of time over the last couple of months scanning and editing old pictures from my (and Elizabeth's) childhood. We did this as part of an informal slide-show for the wedding reception, and also just to get some of these old photos archived in a digital format. And then there's been a host of pictures taken at the actual wedding.

As such, I've had pictures on my mind lately. So yesterday I got out the trusty Canon SD1100 point and shoot and looked about the condo for something to take a picture of.

A couple of weeks ago, I had stuck this little koala dude to a lamp in the bedroom. They were part of the wedding favors, many of which ended up clinging to lapels and dresses by the end of the evening. Somehow, it takes on an even funnier vibe in extreme close-up.

Obligatory Wedding Photo

2011-02-23T08:00:00.001-08:00

For lack of a better topic, I'm going to post the obligatory wedding photo today. E and I decided to spend the night before the wedding apart. I went back to our condo, while she spent the night at her parents place in Carlsbad. We got ready on Saturday morning separately. We were doing formal photography before the ceremony, so we arranged to see each other just before that. This picture was taken moments after we were "introduced" in the backyard of my mom's house. Isn't she beautiful?

It was a year ago today...

2011-02-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

It was exactly a year ago today when I made the last post to this blog. A simple post regarding Walmart veggies vs. Whole Foods.

During that year, I managed to land a pretty cool job with a medical device company, only to discover it wasn't a cool as I first thought. Oh, and I got married. That is turning out to be WAY cooler than I ever could have dreamt.

I have to stop using the word "cool". Even in a casual blog like this, it just isn't... cool.

So there you are. I think I'm going to try and update this blog a little more often. And by "more often", I mean more than one post per year. Maybe something on a daily basis.

Cheers,

Walmart Veggies are Better than Whole Foods

2010-02-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

I've never really understood the hate of Walmart. Sure, some of the stuff they sell isn't the best quality, but much of it is just as good, if not better, than products you'll find elsewhere. And you can rarely beat their prices. They bring a lot of low-priced essentials to a lot of families who have to stretch budgets very thin. Not everyone can afford to shop at Nordstroms and Whole Foods.

So imagine the surprise of some culinary snobs when a blind taste-test revealed that organic veggies bought from Walmart tasted better than the grossly over-priced equivalent from Whole Foods.

Despite this test, I just don't see Top Chef taking the contestants to Walmart for their food.

Autism and Vaccines

2010-02-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

The anti-vaccine crowd has been under some pretty heavy pressure of late, mostly due to the recent retraction of an important study published in Lancet in 1998.

Scientific American is doing a good job attacking some of the other studies that attempted to put vaccines in a bad light.

Vaccines are a cornerstone of modern medicine. Before vaccines (and antibiotics), the leading causes of death in the world were almost entirely infectious diseases. You didn't get old enough to get cancer - because you were busy dying of Smallpox.

Entire categories of disease were eradicated with the invention of vaccines. The people who faked data, and by doing so convinced millions of people to not vaccinate their kids, are criminals. Simply taking away their medical licenses is not enough. They should be in jail.

Australia begins Blowing up Rabbits

2010-02-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

I have a better idea though, seeing as dynamite isn't particularly safe or good for the local environment. They could just start breeding hordes of Dachshunds. Kobi would be more than happy to begin work next week.

Federal Reserve Admits Losing $9 Trillion

2009-12-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

Old news, but I hadn't seen this video: http://www.wimp.com/reservelosing/

No private company would get away running things like the Federal Reserve does.

Is this a joke?

2009-12-12T21:30:00.000-08:00

My taxes are paying for $1.1 billion in retention bonuses for AIG employees!?!?!
Aren't these the same employees that got AIG into the mess it's in?

AIG Pays Bonuses With Fed Endorsement, Feinberg Says

Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Kenneth Feinberg, the government’s paymaster for bailed-out companies, will allow insurer American International Group Inc. to pay retention bonuses to executives after U.S. regulators emphasized the need to keep the staff...

Employees getting the retention awards were 'deemed' by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Treasury and AIG itself to be particularly critical to AIG’s long-term financial success...

Read the rest of the article here.

When Somebody's Doing Sex to Me!!!

2009-11-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

Are you at least going to treat me to dinner and a movie?

Those Crazy Australians

2009-11-24T15:32:00.001-08:00

Heh.

Universal Health Care

2009-11-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

Until a few years ago, I couldn't imagine why anyone would be opposed to universal health care. Although the idealistic part of me still likes the concept of universal health care, I now wonder why anyone would support Obama's universal health care plan. My reasons are numerous, but here are three of the most salient:

Don't we already have government-run universal health care programs? What the hell is Medicaid and Medicare? Do we want to give even more power to a government running an already flawed system (the Government Accountability Office lists Medicare as a "high-risk" government program in need of reform - see here)? On a related note, did you know that most insurance companies use Medicaid rates to set their reimbursement rates? Do you know what this means? The government already has a large impact on private insurance.

The (sad) fact of the matter is, many Americans don't want health insurance (see this excellent video). Many Americans who claim they can't afford health insurance really just don't think it's important. If I ate out more, had an i-phone (see the true cost of an i-phone), or was a member of a gym, I probably couldn't "afford" health insurance either. But I make health insurance a priority. Others are more willing to gamble with their health care. They opt to eat out more instead of paying for health insurance coverage ...and many times, this works out beautifully for them. It's only when they have a medical crisis that the lack of health insurance comes back to haunt them.

According to this ABC News report, Obama's plan is going to raise taxes for both the upper-class and the middle-class. Even if it were to only raise taxes for the upper-class, why doesn't anybody realize that the upper-class is the one who runs businesses that provide you and I with jobs? I work for a company entirely funded by wealthy investors. If these investors are made to pay more of their "fair share" (a term I find laughable...what exactly is a "fair share"...doesn't the upper class already pay a much, much higher percent in taxes than the rest of us?), I may find myself out of a job.

Update: It's getting worse! Read this CNN Money article ...make sure to look at the readers comments.

Aliens and Universal Health Care

2009-11-04T07:05:00.001-08:00

I sat down last night to watch the pilot for the remake of the 80's sci-fi show "V". I remember watching it as a middle-school and early high-school kid, so I was curious to see what they could do with modern effects and (hopefully) better writing.

But it wasn't the aliens and special effects (of which there were few) that immediately struck me as I was watching. It was the political allegory. A charming race of aliens appear suddenly and usher in a new era on Earth. They are good looking, eloquent in staged speeches, don't take unvetted questions, and use phrases like "hope" and "change". We know nothing about them, yet most of the country is taken in by the rhetoric.

Sound familiar?

Heck, at one point, during a staged interview, the aliens even offer to provide "universal health care". And yes, they used that exact phrase.

Imagine my surprise when I woke up and saw THIS ARTICLE linked from Instapundit. It seems I wasn't the only one to find the parallelism more than a bit creepy. Of course, it's likely all just something of a coincidence. The show was probably written, produced, and scheduled for airing before the current White House was in place. Or maybe the script was reworked a bit. Maybe.

IRS Received $303 Billion Interest-Free Loan

2009-11-02T13:40:00.000-08:00

The IRS just released numbers regarding 2008 taxes. The numbers reveal that it issued 110 million refunds for a total of $303 billion. That’s not a typo - $303 billion! It has always baffled me how the government gets away with this. In essence, they had a $303 billion interest-free loan from all of us.

2009 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
Cumulative through the weeks ending 10/17/08 and 10/16/09
Individual Income Tax Returns	2008		2009
Total Receipts	153,650,000		141,376,000
Total Processed	152,759,000		140,718,000

E-filing Receipts:
TOTAL	89,853,000		94,980,000
Tax Professionals	62,932,000		62,786,000
Self-prepared	26,921,000		32,193,000

Web Usage:
Visits to IRS.gov	323,463,010		266,631,821

Total Refunds:
Number	106,200,000		110,071,000
Amount	$251.827	Billion	$303.069	Billion
Average refund	$2,371		$2,753

Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	66,240,000		72,717,000
Amount	$179.708	Billion	$217.915	Billion
Average refund	$2,713		$2,997

Hitler Defends Pete Carroll

2009-09-24T11:01:00.001-07:00

This is the funniest parody of the classic Hitler meltdown scene.

"This is nothing. You should have seen him during the Freedom Bowl back in '92" haha. Yeah Adolph... I was there for that. It was almost as bad a spending a weekend in the Dachau concentration camp. Almost.

I haven't laughed this hard after a loss in years.

Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin

2009-09-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

THIS is a great article that deals with one of the biggest myths regarding exercise. There are lots of reasons to stay active - weight loss is not one of them.

Study: Abstinence-Only Lunch Programs Ineffective At Combating Teen Obesity

2009-08-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

This tongue-in-cheek "Onion" article ironically is more accurate (and less harmful) than a lot of the vitriol the media releases. A few excerpts:

"You can't just tell kids not to eat....As children grow and their bodies begin to develop, they're going to have certain metabolic urges that are impossible to suppress."

"Some as old as 17 still believed they could catch high blood pressure from their very first Snickers bar."

"Although these students were repeatedly warned about the evils of eating and made to take fasting pledges, the abstinence-only program did little to curb their overall appetite for food."

The article touches on some of my core beliefs, which happen to be shared by researchers and clinicians in the eating disorders and obesity fields:

1) Restrictive diets and diets that eliminate foods don't work. Period. End of story.

2) We need to stop moralizing our food. Food isn't good or evil. True, your body isn't going to react well to subsisting solely on McDonald's Big Macs, but your body also isn't going to react well to subsisting solely on kidney beans ...or to subsisting solely on heads of lettuce. The key is eating a reasonably balanced diet.

3) We need to stop viewing food as if it's poison. Last time I checked, food was pretty high on our list of biological requirements, right up there with air and water.

Granted, this is an "Onion" article, and thus not meant to be taken seriously, but still...

Breaking News - Snuggies are Available for Dogs

2009-08-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

Finally! Given that snuggies are all the rage in fashion now days, it's about time a doggy-version is released. Now your four-legged friend can look like a creepy cult member too. Unfortunately, the blood color, seems to have been discontinued.

Obama as the Joker.

2009-08-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

Oh boy... here we go! When you loose the respect of the Los Angeles artistic freeway poster crowd, you're on your way down. heh.

Great Britian and George Orwell

2009-08-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

Contrary to the current belief's of many English government types, George Orwell's 1984 was not an instruction manual. Seriously, if Orwell had written about a PROGRAM LIKE THIS, it would have been laughed off as completely impossible. Alas, it is no longer fiction - it's actually happening.

I just wonder when/if the English will stand up and say, "ENOUGH!". I fear they won't. In my time there, I found WAY too many people who would say things like, "Well, if you don't do any thing wrong, you don't have to worry, right?" I fear that reactions such as those will be all too common - and England will slip in to a "Benign Dictatorship" - if there is such a thing.

It's happening. It's not fantasy. It's not fiction. It's real.

"Do it fast" and Health Care reform

2009-08-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Expect to see A LOT more of this type of thing as this abomination of a bill goes forward. We're getting really close to torches, pitchforks, and riots. Heck, if I were Specter in this video, I would have been more than a little nervous - that audience is REALLY, REALLY mad, and he doesn't seem to even understand WHY. Amazing.

LINK FOR MORE INFO HERE.

Gates and the Right to be Rude to a Cop

2009-07-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

Last night Elizabeth and I were talking about the Gates case. Aside from the issues of race relations and racial profiling, there is another important issue that this case brings up.

Should cops be able to arrest you for being rude to them? Although I'm generally pro-police, the answer to this is unequivocally "NO". You have a right to be a jerk to a cop, as long as you aren't threatening. We as a society walk a fine line between civil rights and security. When security is not being threatened, civil rights MUST be maintained. This entire argument is fleshed out in great detail HERE IN THIS Reason.com article.

THIS ARTICLE on Forbes is a little longer and filled with lots of legalese, but it outlines in great detail why the arrest was probably a violation of the First Amendment.

Sex Toys for Dogs!

2009-07-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

er... um... er... honestly, I'm speechless.

There's Been a Lot of Anti-Obama Junk on this Blog...

2009-07-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

Let's lighten things up a little and explore the slightly more absurd for a while. As all of my regular readers are will aware, I've been designing some artwork for sale on Zazzle.com.

In my short time on Zazzle, I've run across a wide range of utter crap. Stuff that people spent 3.4 seconds designing, and even less making sure it looks good on the product they are tying to sell. So I decided to mock them. Yes, it's childish, it's mean, it's totally juvenile - but it's funny and I enjoy it. And so "You Suck at Zazzle" was born.

Enjoy. I do.

Santa Cruz City Council Meeting and Drugs

2009-07-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

Oh boy... this is absolutely hilarious. This woman makes her case for solving all of California's crop/farming/food issues. It's three minutes of the most incoherent, rambling, non-nonsensical gibberish you'll ever hear. I bet the city counselors understood and agreed with all of it... haha.

Warning, watching the video will make you dumber. A lot dumber.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Mark Steyn on Obama and Racism

2009-07-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of Mark Steyn and his writing. He's got a singular wit and sense of humor that you just don't find in many political editorialists. HERE Mark weighs in on the Obama/Massachusetts cop controversy. A worthy read.

I thought Hirohito surrendered to Michael Jackson on the Battlestar Galactica

2009-07-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyday, this idiot does or says something stupid. And I though we got rid of the idiot President... Hey Barack, Hirohito WASN'T THERE for the Japanese surrender ceremony.

And while were on the topic... why do you make it sound like our victory over the Japanese in WWII was a bad thing? It's almost as if you sound ashamed and wouldn't want a repeat of that result.

On behalf of all the Americans, Australians, and other Allied Forces who fought against the Japanese (including my Grandfather) - Fuck you, you ignorant jerk.

Horrifying

2009-07-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

Obama and the government are "going to tell doctors" how to do their jobs.

This is terrifying. Truly, truly terrifying.

More reading on the issue of Procedures and medicine HERE. Worth the time to check it out.

Creeping Totalitarianism

2009-07-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

Stuff LIKE THIS just creeps me out. There is SO much potential for abuse. The government is NOT your friend. There is no rational reason for them to do this type of thing.

And don't give me that "if you haven't done anything wrong, you don't have anything to worry about" bullshit. The government has NO right to monitor the movement of innocent people who are just going about their business in a public place. None. Ever.

$4 Trillion... and Counting

2009-07-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

The Federal Government is spending more money than it did in WWII. Actually, it has been for a while, but take a look at THIS GRAPH. The numbers are getting insane. Glenn Reynolds calls it "looting". That's not strong enough for me. I think these assholes know that this will destroy the value of the dollar and is completely unsustainable. They are trying to create a financial crisis. Once there is a proper crisis, they can cram through whatever legislation they want.

I think this spending is treason.

Yeah, that's a strong statement - not one that I'd make lightly.

The Federal Gov. is not spending TWICE what it did as near back as 2000. Does anyone think we didn't have enough government then? This is a massive payoff to the well connected and politically influential.

Can We Call Obama a Communist Yet?

2009-07-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

As sure as the sun rises in the East - the new Obamacare plan has a section which essentially makes private insurance illegal.

Oh.

My.

God.

We are so screwed.

More on Health Care and Free Markets HERE.

The Hidden Cost of Nationalized Health Care

2009-07-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

This is a great article by Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit). He's spot on with this. Innovation is largely a capitalist enterprise. As soon as the politicians get a hold on your health care, it's inevitable that health decisions will become political.

"Fashionable" with large, boisterous (think breast cancer) advocacy groups will get the lion's share of research and development dollars. Less "popular" diseases (think chronic renal failure) will fall by the wayside.

Sale Made on Zazzle

2009-07-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Another Zazzle thing... someone bought 20 of these stickers last night. I have a series of these with different animals. Thanks to whoever bought them!

Camouflage Eagle Silhouette by evrose
Browse more Camouflage Stickers

Today's Best Award on Zazzle

2009-07-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got notice that one of my Dragons won a "Today's Best Award". Yippie. What does that really mean? It simply means that someone at Zazzle thought that my design was really cool and deserved to be featured on the front page of the site for a day. Pretty cool - it's always nice to be noticed. Here's the design:

Blue and Gold Metal Dragon by Dragon_Keeper
More Blue T-Shirts

The Future of Obamacare

2009-07-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ah Medicare - the current Government run health care program. Isn't it FANTASTIC?!?

Sadly, this "opting out" will become the norm if Obama's plan comes to fruition. Lot's of senior doctors will simply retire or move on to non-clinical careers. I predict the supply of doctors in America will be hit - hard. And there's a shortage already.

Reliving the Walkman

2009-06-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

HERE IS A STORY of a kid who traded in his iPod for a Walkman for a week. I had a Walkman a lot like that way back. Then one Christmas in the late 80's, I got a DISCMAN and thought I had died and gone to high-technology heaven.

It's really cool to see how far this stuff has come in one short generation. Makes me anxious to see what things will be like in another 20 years.

Gain Weight, Live Longer

2009-06-27T15:55:00.001-07:00

THIS is an interesting study regarding weight and life-span. Don't be afraid to have that extra donut.

There's another blogger/nutritionist who's been saying the SAME THING for a while now.

Bottom line: Everything in moderation and don't sweat a couple pounds here or there.

Surprise - Most People Happy with Their Health Care

2009-06-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

Even the uninsured.

But you wouldn't know it from listening to the politicians.

New Store on Zazzle

2009-06-25T21:27:00.000-07:00

If you look to the right column, there is a new widget. I've opened a print on demand store at the website Zazzle. The home page is HERE.

You upload art and designs to them and they sell t-shirts, greeting cards, coffee mugs, stickers, and a whole bunch of other stuff. There is, of course, a commission given to the artist (me).

So check out the shop and see if there is anything you like. The store navigation is a little quirky... basically look at the different designs on the right column. Some of the Product Lines on the right have multiple designs under the title, while others only have one design on multiple products.

Anyhow, I'll be posting link to some of my favorite designs from time to time. Today I'll start with a "Motivational" design I thought up while I was sitting on the couch.

The text says: Exercise - Sometimes you just need the proper motivation.

Exercise - Proper Motivation by evrose
Shop for a tshirt on Zazzle

Great Minds Think Alike

2009-06-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

Instapundit and I had the same thought today regarding the death of Michael Jackson. While his (or any) death is tragic and certainly newsworthy - it comes at a rather, ahem, inopportune time.

Congress is on the brink of several votes that could change the face of America - Cap and Trade and the socialization/destruction of the best health care system in the history of civilization. Not to mention a brewing revolution in Iran and a beligerant North Korea threatening to launch missles at or near Hawaii.

And we're now going to talk about Michael for the next week or so.

If I were a conspiracy type guy - and I'm not - I'd think Obama had MJ knocked off to cause the distraction. Just kidding. I hope.

ObamaCare... ugh...

2009-06-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's not like I've been a big supporter of Obama from the beginning. In fact, you could say I really can't stand his policies. But THIS is insane. He'll impose crappy health care on all of us, but wouldn't ever subject HIS family to that plan. What a fucking hippocrite.

Every single one of those jerks in Washington needs to go. Democrat, Republican, whatever... we need to get out a big can of Politician Raid and clean house. Alas, it won't happen... sigh...

The Battle of Kuger - Lion vs. Water Buffalo

2009-06-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

By far the best wild animal hunting video I've ever seen. Well worth the 8 minutes to watch. Africa is a dangerous place... even for the lions.

Top Reason Not to Hide Money in a Mattress...

2009-06-10T10:18:00.001-07:00

It might get thrown away.

Oops.

Obama Lied... The Economy Died

2009-06-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

I'm series thinking of making myself an "Obama Lied, The Economy Died" bumper sticker. This guy is amazing... and not "amazing" in the traditional positive sense... more like "amazing" in the "holy crap, I'm terrified" sense.

Orwell was spot on in 1984 with his Newspeak. Obama seems to have read that book not as a warning, but rather a manual. War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Job Loss is Job Gain.

San Francisco and the Homeless

2009-06-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

If this doesn't explain why I can't stand the people in San Fransico, nothing will. Here's a guy who tries to WORK so he can improve his life, and the wonderful, progressive, liberal, nanny-state government slams him down. They honestly would rather he be given a welfare check handout than see him support himself.

Amazing.

Cruchberries Aren't Real Berries?!?!?! WHAT?

2009-06-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

Say it isn't so!!!!

All these years, I've suffered under the delusion that they were REAL! Damn Capt'n, I really hate that guy for lying to me for my entire life. What a jerk. I'm never buying any of his "flavored cereal shaped berry balls" ever again.

Acutally, although I've had a life-long love affair with Capt'n Crunch, I've always found the Crunchberry version to rate a 9.8 on the 1 - 10 scale of Total Nastiness. So I guess I'm not going to have to change my cereal eating patterns.

Next up: Grape Nuts. Neither Grape flavored, nor are they nuts.

The Medicine of Maggots

2009-06-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

They've been using maggots for centuries to "cure" various problems. Most of these uses have been of relative little value. But there are some legit uses for these little critters.

HERE'S an interesting article on some of the research and the latest developments in the world of maggot therapy.

Yummy.

Wal-Mart is Hiring!

2009-06-04T11:21:00.001-07:00

In the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in a long, long time, the much hated (yet somehow imensely successful) Wal-Mart is HIRING.

Go figure. They must be doing something right.

Now... here's where the anti-Wal-Mart, anti-capitalist, cave-dwelling liberal barbarians all ump up and down yelling things like, "Yeah, but they aren't "living wage" jobs!", "But they don't have good health benefits", "But those jobs aren't green"... and other silly nonsense.

Dude... they're jobs, and right now, the economy can use ANY of those it can find.

Jon Stewart Gets a History Lesson

2009-05-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

OUCH.

It's a long video, but it really hits that smug little bastard pretty hard. Stewart tries to argue that Truman was a "war criminal" for dropping the two bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He then promptly gets a verbal beat-down for his lack of knowledge of the facts. Highly entertaining if you're a history buff, pretty boring of you aren't. heh.

Susan Boyle - Well, I Sure Didn't See THAT Coming!

2009-04-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to an amazing YouTube video of a woman trying out for an English show called "Britain's Got Talent". One of the judges is Simon Cowell of "American Idol" fame.

The audition stars out looking like it's going to be a female Scottish version of William Hung... and it rapidly turns in to something quite different.

They have disabled the embedding for this video, so you'll have to go to YouTube to see it... but trust me, it's worth it.

WOW. Just wow.

Interesting Instapundit Links

2009-04-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

These are a couple of interesting posts from Glen Reynolds.

The first is a graph the past and projected Federal Debt going back to the Bush years, and forward to the Obama Administration. For eight years, I heard TONS of criticism about the massive spending Bush was running up. Now Obama has stepped in a managed to outpace even the irresponsible spending of GWB. I didn't think that was possible... sigh...

SCARY GRAPHS

The second post is a great link to a post by a favorite history author of mine. He has some - ehem - radical ideas for dealing with the pirate resurgance. His methods of dealing with the threat largely mimic what Jefferson attempted (somewhat successfully) during the Barbary Wars of the 18th Century. The ideas - although seeminly harsh by todays more "enlightened" standards - would almost certainly work today. Alas, these policies will never be enacted.

FIGHTING PIRATES, ARGH!

Edible Pictures - Foodgawker

2009-04-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I could actually make any of the stuff on THIS site, but the pictures look absolutely delicious. Easily the best looking food on the internet.

Extreme Sheepherding

2009-04-02T19:31:00.001-07:00

It doesn't really matter if this is real or fake (I suspect the latter) - it's just a great video.

Great Moments in Higher Education

2009-03-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry, you're not accepted to UCSD. Just kidding, you're IN. But not really, that last message was a MISTAKE.

Oops. If this happened at a private company, someone (or many people) would loose their jobs. Why do I get the feeling no one will be fired over this?

California to Ban Black Cars

2009-03-26T16:11:00.001-07:00

Please tell me this is a joke. Please. Someone. Anyone.

Why do California legislators hate black cars? White, yellow, and brown cars are fine, but can't have any black ones! Freakin' racist bastards.

If this weren't serious, I would think it was a stupid parody of government ineptitude. Sadly, it's no joke.

This is so outrageous that I can only begin to imagine what Martin Luther King, Jr. would have to say about this blatantly racist attack on cars of color. Were he to stand in Sacramento and give his famous speech, would it look like this?:

As we drive, we must make the pledge that we shall always use the fast lane. We cannot pull illegal u-turns. There are those who are asking the devotees of automotive civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as cars of color are the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our SUVs, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain parking in the truck-stops of the highways and the parking structures of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the colored car's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our newly purchased midnight-black Mini's are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "Parking For White Cars Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a black Jeep in San Diego cannot get on the I-5 and a black BMW in San Jose believes it has no freeways on which to merge. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow impound lots. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Richmond, go back to South San Francisco, go back to Oakland, go back to Watts, go back to Compton, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all light duty cars and trucks are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the brown hills of the East Bay the sons of formerly black car owners and the pickup trucks of former slave owners will be able to get their oil changed together at the Jiffy Lube of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of California, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom, justice and pitch black asphalt.

I have a dream that my little Jeep Liberty will one day drive in a nation where it is will not be judged by the color of its paint job but by the content of it's towing capacity.

I have a dream today.

Now HERE'S a Bailout Idea I'm On Board With

2009-03-25T07:04:00.001-07:00

It's about time someone started agitating for THIS idea.

I Bet You Didn't Think a Car Review Could Be Funny, eh?

2009-03-18T13:27:00.001-07:00

THIS has got to be the best review of a car I've ever read. Hilarious from beginning to end. Too bad it's a review of a fictional car.

I think there might be something darker at work here. The more I think about the Truckster, and the impact it had on the Griswold family, the more I think it had some sort of malevolent presence that, while more subtle than that displayed by the killer car in Christine, was no less real. Perhaps the better example would be the Ring of Power that Frodo carries in The Lord of the Rings. Like the Ring, the Truckster was a talisman of doom that brought ill fortune and slowly but inexorably put its bearer under its twisted influence.

"Vacation" was a great movie - a classic of the 80's, no doubt.

When your house is on fire, you don't water the lawn

2009-03-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

It's likely the greatest political non-sequitur in the history of the country (world?).

Another Dead Newspaper

2009-03-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

Can't say I'm sorry to see them go. I haven't read an actual newspaper for the sake of news in years...

Anyone want to start a countdown until they ask the Government for a bailout? Too big to fail... blah blah blah.

New Kindle!!!

2009-03-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I got a used Kindle (first edition) from a local retired guy who wanted to upgrade to the new Kindle 2.

I got it for an insanely good price. So much so that I almost feel bad that the guy didn't really know what it was worth. But, it's not my fault that he didn't see what they were going for on ebay. heh.

I've read a bit on it for the last few nights, and I have say - this thing ROCKS. It's totally unlike reading on a computer. The e-ink technology makes it like reading a paper book. Unless you've seen one in person, it's hard to describe how cool it is.

It has a free wireless connection to the internet. Not great for browsing, but you actually can check your yahoo! mail with it.

The SD card slot makes it stupid easy to load documents and books. You can also download them from the Amazon store instantly. Prices are okay, but not great for most content. I haven't bought anything yet as I have a large collection of e-books that can be converted to text files and read on the Kindle.

Anyhow, this isn't meant to be a comprehensive review. Those can be found in many places online. I just wanted to blog a little about how cool this thing is. I almost can't wait for my first plane trip with it - the ability to travel with a small library with me is just too cool.

Obama's Problem in a Nutshell

2009-03-07T17:38:00.000-08:00

"There isn't much in his plan to stir the national soul. It's about 'sacrifice' now so that we can live for a future of small electric cars and windmills."

Read the ARTICLE.

What Does One Trillion Dollars Look Like?

2009-03-06T12:41:00.001-08:00

It looks like ONE BIG ASS pile of cash.

Obama Rude to British Prime Minister

2009-03-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

Oh boy, I thought Obama was supposed to fix troubled international relations. I guess not.

I blame Bush.

Hanson meets Smashing Pumpkins - No Really, I'm Serious

2009-02-25T12:11:00.000-08:00

There is a really, really, REALLY odd musical Supergroup in the making. Someone introduced members of Hanson, the Smashing Pumpkins, Cheap Trick, and Fountains of Wayne - then said, "Hey guys, you should form a group!"

Maybe the name of their first song could be "I want you to want me to take Stacy's mom and M'Bob her tonight, tonight".

(Yes, I just manage to make a song title from parts or all of four songs by each of those original bands. I rock.)

The result? Tinted Windows.

And yes, I agree with the reviewer. The end of the world can't be far off. Although, I have to say, they didn't sound all that bad... hum...

Los Angeles is in Desperate Need of a John Galt.

2009-02-25T10:19:00.000-08:00

This is a depressing look at the deterioration of Los Angeles. This once proud and wonderful city is sliding downhill. 20% of it's citizens are on some form of government assistance, and all the mayor does is preen for the cameras.

I went to college in LA, and lived there for several years. I've always had something of a love/hate relationship with the city, but it's most certainly sad to see it become so dysfunctional.

More on the Mayor HERE.

Ch-ch-ch-changes! Part II

2009-02-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

Er... well, not so much.

Of course, I wasn't a huge fan of Bush, but O did run on the concept of "Change", didn't he? heh.

Good Question About Tax Deductions

2009-02-20T07:27:00.001-08:00

I'd say the answer is "Absolutely"!

Obama Takes the Right Stand on the Fairness Doctrine

2009-02-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

I'm on record for not being a big fan of the new President (to say the least). But he's on the right side of this issue at least.

It reminds me of the old saying about a broken clock still being right twice a day.

The Real Weight of the "Stimulus Package"

2009-02-18T05:52:00.001-08:00

More than an Iowa Class Battleship.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

2009-01-22T08:40:00.001-08:00

What's the famous line from "Won't Get Fooled Again", by The Who?

Meet the New Boss... Same as the Old Boss.

"I don't think he really means it. And that gives me hope!"

Heh.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Changefest '09 - Obama's Inaugural Speech

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

How to Make a Headboard

2009-01-08T19:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, the "How to Make a Headboard" article is doing quite well on Helium in the last few days. It's on the first page of a Google search for the term. So, in an effort to up it's Google link-juice, I'll post it to the blog here with a link.

Besides, it's a fun project - easy, cheap, and it looks great. Here's the first paragraph.

When you look at your bedroom, is the first thought that enters your mind "Blah"? Does your bedroom still have somewhat of a college dorm feel? One of the easiest and cheapest ways to give your bedroom an upgraded look is to add a headboard to your bed. Rather than buying a pricey headboard (or a cheap, but hideous headboard), you can make an extremely inexpensive one that looks professional and only takes minutes to put together. After doing so, you'll be thrilled with how good it looks and you'll realize how bad your bedroom looked before!

Click HERE to read the entire article.

Nigerian 419 Scam!

2009-01-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

It must be my lucky day! I just found a Nigerian 419 scam in my spam box. I'm soooo excited - I've never gotten one of these before. It's like Christmas in January.

Here's the text of the scam letter. I'm cutting and pasting it as I got it. For those how don't know what these are, read the link above - and ALWAYS remember that these people are CRIMINALS. I mock them whenever possible, but unfortunately, they do occasionally trick someone in to giving them money.

NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES reply to their messages. And if you do send them a snarky "piss off" message, which again, you should NEVER DO - for the love of all that is good in the world, DO NOT DO IT FROM YOUR REGULAR EMAIL ADDRESS.

And it should (but often doesn't) go without saying that you don't give them any important numbers, like your SSN, credit cards, bank accounts, address, birthdates, or anything. Just don't do it. Ever. Nothing good will come from it. Nothing.

So with that warning in mind, here's the message. Enjoy.
________________________________________________

Now that we have found you, let us work hand in hand to actualize this deal. A family member of yours ( or perhaps just a person having the same last name with you died 1997 in Taiwanese airliner crashed Taipei,Taiwan leaving behind an estate/capital of (USD12.5 Million with interest accrued till date) in the Bank of East Asia Ltd,Singapore where I work as an External auditor.
Till date nobody has come forward as an heir or put up an application for the claim (funds).
Please for more details visit this website for comprehensive details about Taiwanese airliner crashed tragedy
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9802/16/taiwan.crash.update2/
Recently during the bank's private search for a relative to the deceased who could claim the said funds, your name and contact was among our findings that matched the surname of the deceased whose name is withheld for security reasons. He died intestate with no Will or Next of kin to this funds. To maintain the level of security required for the completion of this transaction, I have intentionally left out the final detailed information which i will give you as this transaction progress and your seriousness is affirmed.
I urge you to come forward since I can provide you with the details you will need to claim the estate/capital and also work with you till the final remittance of the funds to the account you will nominate for us, at the end of this transaction the $12,500,000.00 will now be shared between us as follows.$5,000,000.00 for you and $7,500,000.00 for me and my colleagues that will do all the crucial part in the Bank to ensure that all legal procedures are followed as regards the claim and making sure the claim is released to you promptly with no time wasted.
To affirm your willingness and cooperation to this once in a life time opportunity please reply only to my private email changk24@hotmail.com

I do expect your prompt response.

Yours Sincerely,

Chang Kee

ELIGIBILITY

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please get in touch with me by my email Also you are advised to send me your full name,telephone/fax number, mailing address,age and occupation based on trust and honesty and as soon as i get that i shall send to you further detailed information regarding the procedure on how we can both claim this funds and seal this deal of a lifetime

________________________________________

Hey Chang Kee, if that is your real name, suck my *#@(&#!!!!

Bomb Threat in Aspen

2009-01-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and I spent the day in downtown Aspen, just as THIS was unfolding. We got back to Basalt hours before the evacuation and didn't know it had happened until this morning.

Yikes.

The Role of the Government in the Current Economic Crisis

2008-12-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

I've got to stop looking at this stuff. It's bad for my blood pressure.

2008: Year of the Nanny State

2008-12-21T10:50:00.001-08:00

I, for one, welcome our new giant blue inflatable ape overlords.

But this is just depressing:

Epidemic Pedophilia?

2008-12-20T14:33:00.001-08:00

I didn't notice this particular phenomenon while I was living in England, but it's a disturbing trend.

Some People Shouldn't Be Allowed To Reproduce

2008-12-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Honestly, what the f@ck is wrong with these people?

Here's the really creepy part:

"They need to accept a name. A name's a name. The kid isn't going to grow up and do what (Hitler) did," he said.

Yeah dude, sure thing. You're still an idiot.

Another gem of wisdom from this neuron-challenged dipstick:

Heath Campbell, who is 35, said in an interview Tuesday that people should look forward, not back, and accept change.

Really, what's a little genocide and mass murder? It's no big deal. I just don't see what all the fuss is about. I mean is attempting to wipe out entire ethnic populations, starting the most destructive conflict in the history of mankind, and directly and indirectly causing the deaths of tens of millions of people really something to get worked up over? Naaahhhh...

To paraphrase the Elwood Brothers, "I hate New Jersey Nazis."

"Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana, poet.

Association of Colonoscopy and Death From Colorectal Cancer: A New Study

2008-12-16T18:11:00.001-08:00

Oh great, you mean I DIDN'T need to have that gigantic tube rammed up my butt? Now you tell me!

Wait, I'm only 35... oh right, that was me ramming the giant tube up someone else's butt.

Either way, can we get a definitive answer on this issue please? Giant tube or no giant tube? These are key questions for men that require non-crappy answers.

Fed Funds Rate Set to Zero

2008-12-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

Zero is the new 4%.

It's hard to tell if this is a good thing, or a sign of the coming Apocalypse. Or maybe a bit of both.

One thing's for sure: Money will never be cheaper to borrow than it is now. Ever. Of course, it would be nice if banks actually HAD any money to loan... but hey, you can't have it all, right?

Margarine Is Now Legal In Missouri (Finally!)

2008-12-16T17:52:00.000-08:00

Good to know the hard-working government of Missouri is taking rapid action to fix this travesty of law. Way to go guys, you've jumped right on that issue without delay.

How to Protect Your Dog from Snakebites

2008-12-16T12:17:00.000-08:00

New article! Enjoy:

Curiosity gets the cat, but it gets the dog too. Every year, all-too-curious dogs are bitten by venomous snakes. My miniature dachshund decided to investigate a rattlesnake several years ago on Mother's Day in a small mountain town an hour from the closest veterinarian. After an extremely costly antivenin injection and an overnight stay in an animal hospital, she was back to her normal mischievous self, but the experience is not one I wish to repeat. With a few simple steps, you can protect your dog from snakebites.

Read the entire article HERE.

A Modest Economic Proposal

2008-12-14T20:04:00.001-08:00

In the original Jonathan Swift version of "A Modest Proposal", Swift puts forth the idea of eating children. Not something the average person is likely to get on board with.

But here's a "Modest Proposal" that isn't such a radical notion. Merit pay for politicians. I've been saying (to anyone who'll listen - it's often a short list) for years that government should be run more like a business.

Interesting ideas here. Some of them could even have a positive impact - which means they have no chance of becoming reality.

How to Make Your Own Headboard

2008-12-13T17:14:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and I recently had the idea to make our own headboard. We were watching a show on HGTV and got an idea for a design. A trip to Home Depot and about 30 minutes worth of work later, we had a professional looking headboard for a fraction of the cost of buying one already made.

More pictures and an article on how to make this yourself are upcoming.

Yummy Bacon!

2008-12-12T21:31:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh... I think I'm gonna barf.

Atlas is Shrugging

2008-12-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

Great article HERE on the economy, election, and job losses. I can think of anything to add.

(via Instapundit)

This Post Is To Push The Pic Of The Psycopath Down The Blog

2008-12-12T09:03:00.001-08:00

I can't stand logging on to my own blog and seeing a pic of that psycopath Che on the top of the post list. I also have nothing else interesting to blog right now - so I'm going to fall back pic taken from www.icanhascheezburger.com.

Enjoy.

I've Never Understood This Obsession Either

2008-12-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

Killer Chic

How to Become a Cardiologist

2008-12-11T16:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I have little desire to become a cardiologist at this point in my career. At one time it was on my list of things to be. Too many impossible-to-read EKGs later, I was done with that idea. (I'm old school with the ECG/EKG issue. Must be my Germanic roots. Kardiogram! Kardiogram!)

Anyhow, here's a recent rant/article on becoming a cardiologist. Help bump it up with some Google-juice and give it a link in you like it. Thanks.

The path to becoming a cardiologist is a long road. It takes many years of training and plenty of focus to become a cardiologist. Cardiologists are highly specialized doctors who focus on the medical treatment of the heart. Although it is difficult and takes a long time to become a cardiologist, it can ultimately be a very rewarding career. This article will outline some of the basic steps you will need to take in becoming a cardiologist.

Read the entire article HERE.

The same article is published on Associated Content HERE.

The Next Hot Location For Buying Real Estate

2008-12-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the real estate bubble has burst and prices are falling all over the place. That makes it a good time to buy up some property on the cheap. If you know where to look.

I'm not sure, but something tells me THIS may be a good investment. It's a bit out of the way, and the school system isn't that great - but there aren't a lot of noisy neighbors, and you have some amazing views.

F-18 Crashes in to San Diego Neighborhood

2008-12-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

THIS just happened a short while ago. Tragic. It's about 10 miles from where I am now. According to Google Maps, that street is in a straight line west of the MCAS Miramar runway.

The pilot got out okay... let's just hope everyone on the ground made it.

See a map HERE.

UPDATE: Bad News. There were at least two fatalities.

The Chocolate is Dead! Long Live the Chocolate!

2008-12-08T11:57:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I somehow managed to drop my LG Chocolate in the toilet - and in the process, provide conclusive evidence that it is not waterproof.

I liked the Chocolate. It was small and simple to use. I never really used it as a music phone though, so many of the features were never well explored. My one big criticism of it was the annoying habit of hitting one of the touch sensitive buttons on the front with your cheek as you talked. Otherwise, it was a solid phone.

It's replacement is the new Motorola Adventure V750. After calling Verizon (with my girlfriend's phone) and giving them my sob story about a urine soaked Chocolate, they offered to upgrade me for free. Actually, it was a bit more complicated than that - I had to upgrade my grandma's phone on the family share plan, and then switch the phone lines. If I had gotten the Moto for my line directly, it would have been $50. Not bad considering my old phone was only a year old.

I like the new Motorola so far. It's a touch bigger than the old Chocolate. It's a flip phone, and looks like a buff Razr. In fact, it's a "ruggedized" phone - meaning it's technically waterproof (although I don't plan on testing this). The screen is HUGE and very bright. It doesn't do music as well as the Chocolate, although it does have a player, there is no SD card slot. Since I don't use my phone for music, this shouldn't be an issue.

Anyhow, I'll likely do a more detailed review of the new phone in a month or two, once I've had a chance to use it a bit more.

Proposition 8 Backlash

2008-12-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

I'm a straight, white man in my mid-30's and I'm a supporter of gay marriage. Or rather, it's always been my stance that the government shouldn't have anything to do with marriage. I don't care who you marry, and nor should the bureaucrats and politicians in an office at a shiny white capitol building.

Having said that, the response by a certain element of the gay community to the passing of Prop 8, has been - shall we say - disappointing. Look, I get that you're angry. I get that it's discrimination. I supported and voted for your cause. But fighting a war against religion IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOU!

The gay community needs to continue this struggle, but they need to do it in a way that makes main-stream Americans sympathetic to their cause. Like it or not, most Americans have some religious convictions of some type. Attacking religion is a loosing strategy. You're providing political ammunition to the pro-Prop 8 people who claim your ideas are dangerous to society. It's a foolish claim, but why HELP their arguments by behaving badly?

And why the focus on Mormons? Why not Mosques and inner city black churches? The religious black community contributed FAR more votes in favor of Prop 8 than the Mormons.

Kobi Cam

2008-12-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and I have occasionally wondered what Kobi (her dachshund) does when we aren't home. Does she just sleep? Does she stare at the door, waiting anxiously for our return? Does she make long distance phone calls to Taiwan on Skype?

For a while we thought about rigging a webcam in the condo so we can track her movements when she's alone. Now, some genius has come up with an even better idea. Mount the camera to the dog's collar. It's a first ~~person~~ dog point-of-view.

It would be pretty cool to see a day in the life of Kobi from six inches off the ground.

How is Hepatitis A Spread?

2008-12-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

OK, so blogging has been a little light this last week. Sort of a blogcation if you will. Not much time today either, so I'll post a link to an article I've recently written for Helium. This one is on Hepatitis A and how it is spread. Enjoy.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection which targets the liver. When the virus infects a person, it causes damage to the liver. Hepatitis A infections can cause significant illness, but generally only in the short term. Typical hepatitis A infections last between one and two months. Unlike many of the other hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A is spread via contaminated water and food.

Read the whole thing HERE.

Some People Just Don't Get It

2008-11-28T15:08:00.000-08:00

I ran across THIS article on Black Friday shopping today. As I was reading the typical sob stories, something about it jumped out at me. Here it is:

"I have never slept here before to save a few bucks, but with the economy so bad I thought that even a few dollars helps," said Analita Garcia of Falls Church, Va., who arrived at a local Best Buy store at 7 a.m. Thursday with 10 family members.

She bought a Dynax LCD 32-inch TV for $400, slashed from $500, along with an iPod and several DVDs.

"This year a lot of people I know won't be getting Christmas presents. I have to pay the rent and bills, and I have two little ones at home to think of," Garcia added

iPods? several DVDs? A 32-inch LCD TV? What the heck does your shopping list have on it during UP years?

Hey Analita, here's a newsflash... are you ready? Here it comes...

YOU DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT CRAP!!!

If you have rent to pay and kids to take care of, don't buy frivolous junk. No one ever died from a lack of DVDs. You can save a heck of a lot of money if you stay home and play with your kids. Whatever TV you have right now is fine. Heck, even if you don't have a TV, you aren't really missing anything.

How about saving some of your money and just living with what you've already got? Nawwww... that's no fun.