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Yay, end of the week! Boo, working on Sunday. But I think I’ve got plenty of stuff to do for those four hours. Tomorrow may be some attempt at getting the last of my car things squared away, perhaps with success, perhaps with failure. Also need to mail off something I should have done once I arrived, and to think about what I may want to do with additional funds entering my bank account at some point. Most likely, the answer is “Spend them on necessary things, and try not to flinch too hard when they’re expensive things, too.” Eventually I might make it to being able to buy some consumer electronics and portable entertainment devices, but that could still be a ways off. Have to update some of my book collection first.
Before the news begins, for those who own a Nintendo Wii and did not buy it recently, Nintendo is offering a Wiimote jacket for all those people who bought Wiimotes without them and would like jackets for all their remotes. Which might also help with the projectile remote problem.
Starting off with something that ended differently than usual, federal marshals ended a stand-off with two persons barricaded in their home by posing as supporters of their cause and then arresting them when they were invited inside. No guns fired, no dead bodies. As I said, a different end. Kudos for using the brains instead of the bullets.
A strong lack of brains was demonstrated in Beckley, West Virginia, where a student was charged with bringing a weapon to school, despite no weapon being found on a campus search. The charge was based on evidence that at one point he had likely brought a weapon to the school. I thought that we required proof beyond a reasonable doubt... oh, wait, this is a school. Almost none of that “rights” stuff applies. Unless you can prove that he did it for a particular time, you’ve got no business charging him. I’m charging the administrator that did this with speeding and reckless driving, based on the evidence that everyone is likely to do one or both of those things sometime in their past. And I don’t have to prove it, under that logic. Similar brainlessness comes from Senator Larry Craig, who has decided he's staying in his Senate seat after all, despite a judge denying his request to retract his guilty plea. More ammunition for people who want to think of the GOP as the Gay Oppression Party, whose members are so repressed that they’ll deny a brief admission of the truth. Or leave out certain details, in the vein of Blackwater, reporting less killed persons that actually occurred. Or continue to assert that the United States doesn't torture people, despite indications even within the Justice Department that the authorization to torture people was given. He still insists it’s all legal, and in a very twisted way, because of Justice opinions issued, he might be right. Unless international laws and treaties in which the United States is a signatory to contradict that reasoning, of course.
Senator Byrd is trying to prevent his colleagues from exercising a collective brainlessness with regard to Iran, saying the Senate is "sleep-walking" itself into another quagmire in Iran. I’m obviously not alone in the belief that the opinion of the people and their representatives is being manipulated again. Soon, we will have always been at war with Iran, since they caused 11 September. The World Socialist Web Site also characterizes remarks made by the outgoing chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff saying that the war in Iraq cannot be ended by the American people voting and that the populace should focus its attention on how to fight the war, not whether or not it should be fought as as flagrantly anti-democratic. Which it is, and which is a true statement, if looked at in the light that the American populace actually does not hold any control at all over the policy of the nation, short of armed insurrection and overthrow of the government. As a representative republic, the persons that are elected to public office are the ones that hold the official power on whether to engage or refrain from war. Those representatives that ignore the will of their constituents do so at their own peril, if they wish to seek re-election. As far as I know, there is no democratic method by which the people of a zone can recall or fire their elected representative and appoint another while that representative is in office, which gives a representative six years in the upper legislative house, four years in the executive office of the president, or two years as a member of the lower legislative house with which to have free reign before needing to worry about actually paying attention to their people. The people cannot vote to end the war short of dismantling the government and putting up one of their own where they do have that power. The tactic that should work within the frame of our system, electing new representatives and giving them a mandate to change things, has failed in its purpose in the eyes of those who hoped for its success. That sucks. Having that reality then rubbed in their face was probably not the wisest thing to do.
Last out of this big political section are two things that make me scream “Stupid, stupid rat creatures!” The runner-up is Michelle Malkin, who comments in response to Senator Obama's decision to forego flag-pin patriotism for the real thing with a redesigned seal of the President of the United States that she says more accurately reflects the Senator’s position. Because of its intent, the crude editing is not really important. But yes, this proves that rather than being willing to contest someone on the grounds of their ideas and beliefs, Malkin et al. would rather contest them on not having even the minimum required flare on their uniforms. Is it any wonder, then, that they were suckered by shallow appearances twice around in the last general presidential elections? And that they’re posing for a poster claiming that education isn't complete without their points of view. I’d prefer an education where people who make stupid comments about whether or not wearing a flag pin is a sign of true patriotism, that a candidate’s names are similar to the names of persons the United States looks down upon, and all the material about their view being the only objective one are soundly mocked for their narrow viewpoint, inability to present something even resembling a reasonable argument, and are used as examples of what critical thinking (the thing schools are supposed to teach) is not.
Our winner, however, for the SSRC’s Quiche of Shame tonight is Ann Coulter, who is quoted in an interview with the New York Observer as advocating for the repeal of the nineteenth amendment to the United States Constitution underneath the guise that “if we took away women’s right to vote, we’d never have to worry about another Democrat president.” That’s right. In her feverish desire to never be plagued by the thought that a party with a different viewpoint should obtain the highest executive office in the United States, she’s willing to sacrifice her ability to vote in the elections. Which, if a party that has a low opinion of women as it is (like the Republicans or the Dominionists) were to run candidates, she’d have no ability to tell them to go back to hell where they belong. Or to stop any sort of laws they’re up for implementing, like making women the property of their husbands and brothers and requiring them to be accompanied and “modestly dressed” at all times. Sounds like Islam now, but that’s just as easily Christian history and the desire of the neo-medievalists. In her zeal to ensure her favored point of view is permanently dominant, she’s willing to risk that she’ll be permanently and legally dominated by the very people she put in office. As Bender put it, “The use of words expressing something other than their literal intention” (bonus points if you remembered to sing it).
The Happiness Project offers ten tips on how to ask a panelist a question. So we’ll step up to the microphone and deliver the usual rundown of stuff happening in this country and around the world - Iraq is buying $100 million USD worth of weaponry from China to equip its police force. The government in Iraq said that they were buying from China because the United States couldn’t provide the guns and was too slow on the delivery. I’m sure there’s a joke here, but it’s gone unaccounted for. To help American soldiers to make up lost ground and time due to military service, the Army is offering college credit for the training courses that NCOs take. Thus, a master sergeant or sergeant major could have a bachelor’s degree by the time they retire from service. Under what category would such a degree fall, though?
To assist the troops in the Middle East and remind them that there are sacred cultural treasures and artifacts in the area, a new deck of playing cards is being distributed to soldiers in the war zone. Taking the same idea as the “Most Wanted” deck that came out a few years ago, this one is about preserving what is already there and avoiding more damage.
A truly interesting thing is a museum in Vermont dedicated solely to the service of African-Americans in World War Two. Doesn’t get that many visitors, but that doesn’t mean that the person who opened it is giving up on it any time soon. Who is giving up, though is the administrator of NASA, saying China will have a first manned mission on the moon before the United States places another manned mission there.
Those on Medicare who make more should pay more in premiums and deductibles, says Senator Ensign. It’s a start to making sure that the program stays financially solvent. Running budget surpluses would be another good one, so that we can both pay down debt and save money in the trust funds.
The Cool Stuff Department’s been busy. They’ve had a look at a reproduction of the Mona Lisa constructed entirely from recycled Japanese train tickets layered on each other. Additionally, ThinkGeek has a line of Doctor Who-type toys, including a webcam housed in a Dalek (or the remote-controlled Dalek, if you like), a TARDIS-shaped four port USB hub, and a sonic screwdriver. All of those together could create quite the neat desktop. And then, to catch some episodes of Doctor Who in style, the T4-N wearable monitor. 640x480 resolution in a pair of glasses and audio from the earbuds mounted in the frame. Going from gadgets to pixels, Ironic Sans decided to hide an image inside an image - by changing the histogram such that it created a silhouette image. Having proven it can be done, one of the readers then went one step further and generated a real image that had the same histogram. All things that have graphic readouts are potential places for art, I guess.
A Cool Medical Thing is a report that the ingredient that makes chili peppers hot may help to create a local anesthetic that doesn't cause numbness or paralysis, while still blocking pain. The ingredient itself was known as a painkiller for some time, but this combination into an anesthetic is apparently novel.
Tonight’s Parting Shot, however, returns to politics with something that’s effective and funny. Taking the idea that Bill’O wants to be able to say “Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta”, Ill Doctrine has produced Bill O'Reilly's debut rap single. Go and watch and laugh. Maybe it will help you. Maybe not. Either way, I’m overdue for bed and must sleep.
Before the news begins, for those who own a Nintendo Wii and did not buy it recently, Nintendo is offering a Wiimote jacket for all those people who bought Wiimotes without them and would like jackets for all their remotes. Which might also help with the projectile remote problem.
Starting off with something that ended differently than usual, federal marshals ended a stand-off with two persons barricaded in their home by posing as supporters of their cause and then arresting them when they were invited inside. No guns fired, no dead bodies. As I said, a different end. Kudos for using the brains instead of the bullets.
A strong lack of brains was demonstrated in Beckley, West Virginia, where a student was charged with bringing a weapon to school, despite no weapon being found on a campus search. The charge was based on evidence that at one point he had likely brought a weapon to the school. I thought that we required proof beyond a reasonable doubt... oh, wait, this is a school. Almost none of that “rights” stuff applies. Unless you can prove that he did it for a particular time, you’ve got no business charging him. I’m charging the administrator that did this with speeding and reckless driving, based on the evidence that everyone is likely to do one or both of those things sometime in their past. And I don’t have to prove it, under that logic. Similar brainlessness comes from Senator Larry Craig, who has decided he's staying in his Senate seat after all, despite a judge denying his request to retract his guilty plea. More ammunition for people who want to think of the GOP as the Gay Oppression Party, whose members are so repressed that they’ll deny a brief admission of the truth. Or leave out certain details, in the vein of Blackwater, reporting less killed persons that actually occurred. Or continue to assert that the United States doesn't torture people, despite indications even within the Justice Department that the authorization to torture people was given. He still insists it’s all legal, and in a very twisted way, because of Justice opinions issued, he might be right. Unless international laws and treaties in which the United States is a signatory to contradict that reasoning, of course.
Senator Byrd is trying to prevent his colleagues from exercising a collective brainlessness with regard to Iran, saying the Senate is "sleep-walking" itself into another quagmire in Iran. I’m obviously not alone in the belief that the opinion of the people and their representatives is being manipulated again. Soon, we will have always been at war with Iran, since they caused 11 September. The World Socialist Web Site also characterizes remarks made by the outgoing chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff saying that the war in Iraq cannot be ended by the American people voting and that the populace should focus its attention on how to fight the war, not whether or not it should be fought as as flagrantly anti-democratic. Which it is, and which is a true statement, if looked at in the light that the American populace actually does not hold any control at all over the policy of the nation, short of armed insurrection and overthrow of the government. As a representative republic, the persons that are elected to public office are the ones that hold the official power on whether to engage or refrain from war. Those representatives that ignore the will of their constituents do so at their own peril, if they wish to seek re-election. As far as I know, there is no democratic method by which the people of a zone can recall or fire their elected representative and appoint another while that representative is in office, which gives a representative six years in the upper legislative house, four years in the executive office of the president, or two years as a member of the lower legislative house with which to have free reign before needing to worry about actually paying attention to their people. The people cannot vote to end the war short of dismantling the government and putting up one of their own where they do have that power. The tactic that should work within the frame of our system, electing new representatives and giving them a mandate to change things, has failed in its purpose in the eyes of those who hoped for its success. That sucks. Having that reality then rubbed in their face was probably not the wisest thing to do.
Last out of this big political section are two things that make me scream “Stupid, stupid rat creatures!” The runner-up is Michelle Malkin, who comments in response to Senator Obama's decision to forego flag-pin patriotism for the real thing with a redesigned seal of the President of the United States that she says more accurately reflects the Senator’s position. Because of its intent, the crude editing is not really important. But yes, this proves that rather than being willing to contest someone on the grounds of their ideas and beliefs, Malkin et al. would rather contest them on not having even the minimum required flare on their uniforms. Is it any wonder, then, that they were suckered by shallow appearances twice around in the last general presidential elections? And that they’re posing for a poster claiming that education isn't complete without their points of view. I’d prefer an education where people who make stupid comments about whether or not wearing a flag pin is a sign of true patriotism, that a candidate’s names are similar to the names of persons the United States looks down upon, and all the material about their view being the only objective one are soundly mocked for their narrow viewpoint, inability to present something even resembling a reasonable argument, and are used as examples of what critical thinking (the thing schools are supposed to teach) is not.
Our winner, however, for the SSRC’s Quiche of Shame tonight is Ann Coulter, who is quoted in an interview with the New York Observer as advocating for the repeal of the nineteenth amendment to the United States Constitution underneath the guise that “if we took away women’s right to vote, we’d never have to worry about another Democrat president.” That’s right. In her feverish desire to never be plagued by the thought that a party with a different viewpoint should obtain the highest executive office in the United States, she’s willing to sacrifice her ability to vote in the elections. Which, if a party that has a low opinion of women as it is (like the Republicans or the Dominionists) were to run candidates, she’d have no ability to tell them to go back to hell where they belong. Or to stop any sort of laws they’re up for implementing, like making women the property of their husbands and brothers and requiring them to be accompanied and “modestly dressed” at all times. Sounds like Islam now, but that’s just as easily Christian history and the desire of the neo-medievalists. In her zeal to ensure her favored point of view is permanently dominant, she’s willing to risk that she’ll be permanently and legally dominated by the very people she put in office. As Bender put it, “The use of words expressing something other than their literal intention” (bonus points if you remembered to sing it).
The Happiness Project offers ten tips on how to ask a panelist a question. So we’ll step up to the microphone and deliver the usual rundown of stuff happening in this country and around the world - Iraq is buying $100 million USD worth of weaponry from China to equip its police force. The government in Iraq said that they were buying from China because the United States couldn’t provide the guns and was too slow on the delivery. I’m sure there’s a joke here, but it’s gone unaccounted for. To help American soldiers to make up lost ground and time due to military service, the Army is offering college credit for the training courses that NCOs take. Thus, a master sergeant or sergeant major could have a bachelor’s degree by the time they retire from service. Under what category would such a degree fall, though?
To assist the troops in the Middle East and remind them that there are sacred cultural treasures and artifacts in the area, a new deck of playing cards is being distributed to soldiers in the war zone. Taking the same idea as the “Most Wanted” deck that came out a few years ago, this one is about preserving what is already there and avoiding more damage.
A truly interesting thing is a museum in Vermont dedicated solely to the service of African-Americans in World War Two. Doesn’t get that many visitors, but that doesn’t mean that the person who opened it is giving up on it any time soon. Who is giving up, though is the administrator of NASA, saying China will have a first manned mission on the moon before the United States places another manned mission there.
Those on Medicare who make more should pay more in premiums and deductibles, says Senator Ensign. It’s a start to making sure that the program stays financially solvent. Running budget surpluses would be another good one, so that we can both pay down debt and save money in the trust funds.
The Cool Stuff Department’s been busy. They’ve had a look at a reproduction of the Mona Lisa constructed entirely from recycled Japanese train tickets layered on each other. Additionally, ThinkGeek has a line of Doctor Who-type toys, including a webcam housed in a Dalek (or the remote-controlled Dalek, if you like), a TARDIS-shaped four port USB hub, and a sonic screwdriver. All of those together could create quite the neat desktop. And then, to catch some episodes of Doctor Who in style, the T4-N wearable monitor. 640x480 resolution in a pair of glasses and audio from the earbuds mounted in the frame. Going from gadgets to pixels, Ironic Sans decided to hide an image inside an image - by changing the histogram such that it created a silhouette image. Having proven it can be done, one of the readers then went one step further and generated a real image that had the same histogram. All things that have graphic readouts are potential places for art, I guess.
A Cool Medical Thing is a report that the ingredient that makes chili peppers hot may help to create a local anesthetic that doesn't cause numbness or paralysis, while still blocking pain. The ingredient itself was known as a painkiller for some time, but this combination into an anesthetic is apparently novel.
Tonight’s Parting Shot, however, returns to politics with something that’s effective and funny. Taking the idea that Bill’O wants to be able to say “Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta”, Ill Doctrine has produced Bill O'Reilly's debut rap single. Go and watch and laugh. Maybe it will help you. Maybe not. Either way, I’m overdue for bed and must sleep.
