Thebastidge

I suppose I should update this

2011-08-31T05:38:00.000-07:00

I've been dragged into the "Hello Kitty of Blogging" as Morgan puts it. I can get to that from most anywhere in Afghanistan, and on my phone, but actually composing a post for blogger takes a computer interface to be comfortable for me, and it's so heavily filtered here, it's been difficult to get round to it.

The mainstream media makes me sick

2011-05-29T02:01:00.001-07:00

Both AP and Reuters online today are reporting that Zelaya has returned to Honduras "ending a two-year strain in international relations" due to the "coup". Zelaya attempted to stay in power beyond his constitutionally mandated term limit. His removal from office was ordered by the Honduran Supreme Court. The military folllowed the court's orders and isolated him from power and then let him

The Smallest Minority: Our Economic Titanic

2011-03-23T23:36:00.000-07:00

The Smallest Minority: Our Economic Titanic: "This is a harsh-your-mellow post of the Über-variety. You are forewarned. Every generation has its Chicken-Littles, foretelling gloom..."

I'm feeling pretty good...

2011-03-12T01:47:00.001-08:00

Psychologists/psychiatrists never solve anything for anybody. The only thing that will take you from unhappy to happy is changing your circumstances. The first step to that may be recognizing your own behaviour and reactions. Another person can hold that mirror up for you, be they friend, mentor, boss, chaplain, or doctor. But until you take responsibility, take control, and change reality to

Reboot Firefly

2011-02-24T05:16:00.001-08:00

There's some buzz on twitter and facebook and various blogs about Nathan Fillian's (probably throw-away) comment about wishing he could buy the rights to Firefly and start it up again on his own. The perfect opportunity for synergy would be to get Bill Whittle's Declaration Entertainment involved. This is precisely the kind of subversive program we all instinctively love. (And you could throw a

Risk Management

2011-02-14T04:30:00.001-08:00

I continually train myself. I find opportunities to learn new stuff as I am able, even when it's not directly applicable to my current job. In aid of this, I've been reading this: http://emergency.cdc.gov/cerc/CERConline/index.html I'm going to quote a bit and paraphrase a bit and mixc it all up: Hazard is the seriousness of a risk from a technical perspective. Outrage is the

My Letter to the BATFE0-I-E-I-O

2011-02-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

I understand you are studying a ruling on sporting purposes for shotguns.I believe it is very important to interpret this ruling very widely, to include any sport, organized or unorganized that individuals may lawfully engage in. "Plinking" is a sport every bit as much as frisbee golf or any other activity that people may engage in for fun, education, exercise, enjoyment of nature and being

I am TJIC

2011-01-23T11:07:00.001-08:00

I've been out of comms for a few days, long enough to miss all this broo-haha. http://borepatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-am-tjic.htmlhttp://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2011/01/cradle-and-grave-of-liberty.html http://twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com/2011/01/freedom-of-speech.html I'd go so far as to say the police officers who comitted this crime should have been shot.

What's wrong with this picture?

2011-01-18T22:47:00.000-08:00

OK, first of all, I appreciate that the NRA and sponsors make these deals available to me. Second of all, I'mna hotlink these images, because, after all, it's their advertising, and it was hotlinked in my email, so I don't think they're gonna mind. But the main meat of this post, is WTF were they thinking? This is a training tool for teaching people how to shoot, and what does their picture show?

Bastards.

2011-01-17T08:42:00.001-08:00

I had to turn off anonymous comments.

FOB-Hopping

2011-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ii should be outta here in a day or so, and off to the next installation.

Fwd: SNNW Festival 2011

2011-01-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

Sent from my iPhoneBegin forwarded message:From: SNNW Date: January 10, 2011 2:44:56 AM GMT+04:30To: larry.good@gmail.comSubject: SNNW Festival 20114th Annual Sean-nós Northwest Festival February 19-20, 2011 - Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA (tentive schedule) Workshops: Saturday, February 19, 2011 1:00pm Registration 1:30-3:00pm Workshop 1 1. Sean-nós Song:

Blogspammers

2011-01-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

I hope they choke to death on a syphillitic cock. Seriously.Sent from my iPhone

Bookmarked

2010-12-29T03:39:00.000-08:00

One of those classy, erudite, intelligent, sassy chicks who say f*&k a lot, as the group on Facebook has it.

Better sleep

2010-12-14T23:48:00.001-08:00

So last night I tried putting the carpet on the bed, and it actually worked. It was still kinda lumpy where the carpet would sort of bubble up where the mattress had a depression from an elbow or sitting, but once I laid down on it, it was much smoother with my eweight more evenly distributed. I didn't wake up with red rings on my ribs from the mattress springs this morning, and I actually got

I'm in Kandahar- limited Internet

2010-12-14T02:56:00.001-08:00

I can't actually read blogs here in Kandahar, so I am cut off from a good deal of my daily Internet entertainment and missing the references to interesting things around the Web. I can email an update to my personal blog or to Facebook, but can't read either, so forgive the formatting if it's messed up. I may get commercial Internet for my iPhone and laptop, but I haven't had a chance to look

Rambling...

2010-12-11T01:31:00.000-08:00

Found this piece by John Stossel over at at Morgan's place.I first ran into this concept about ten years ago. As I recall, it takes an average of 17 years in calendar time, and over a man-year in personal effort to get clear title to untitled land in Mexico, even if your family has lived on it undisputed for as many generations as anyone can recall. And you probably spend an entire year's income

On Wikileaks

2010-12-06T22:23:00.000-08:00

This one is very simple.Julian Assange has the absolute right to say anything he wants to say, as publicly as he can get people to pay attention.What he does not have the right to, is other people's intellectual property. The information he is publishing does not belong to him. He is a thief, or at best, a fence knowingly dealing in stolen goods.The piece of shit who passed the information to him

Congrats...

2010-12-06T07:58:00.001-08:00

... on becoming a Citizen...

Not again?

2010-12-03T00:05:00.000-08:00

Got up at oh-gawd-oh-dark hundred this morning. Seriously, 3 am should be illegal. Why would I do soemthing so clearly stupid, the gentle reader may ask.I went to climb a mountain in Afghanistan.The idea has been bouncing around the "office" for a couple weeks now. The fun and edcuational value of climbing Mohman Ghar Mountain, that is. I was kinda iffy on it, and thought perhaps work

Freedom of Association

2010-11-30T04:14:00.001-08:00

It means free not to associate as well. It's an inescapable conclusion: Tears and Role-Play: Not to mention, Schadenfreude.

Burn it all down...

2010-11-24T04:36:00.001-08:00

Outrageous Proposals

Too insecure to back down...

2010-11-24T03:44:00.001-08:00

In comments on Facebook, to some of my former AF KorLing friends: Actually, DRPK and ROK have shot missiles and artillery past each other, have had naval skirmishes, the North Koreans even sank a South Korean vessel not too long ago. But putting artillery on a civilian target is a clear escalation. The fact that they actually exchanged artillery fire is another big deal- they usually end up doing

Well now...

2010-11-24T02:55:00.001-08:00

It's not every day I get linked by http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/ Colour me tickled.

Well, maybe....

2010-11-20T01:25:00.001-08:00

http://www.atomicnerds.com/?p=4123 It's hard to argue against the premise convincingly. Doesn't really alter much on how one should behave.

The wealth of my people

2010-11-15T01:28:00.001-08:00

I'm led once again, to contemplate the wealth of my people. But not in the terms tha tmost of you will consider wealth. I'm not talking about money, or retirement accounts, or even about flashy shiny stuff.I'm talking about simple things. Having doors that shut behind you while you're taking a crap. Having a shelf to put things on, a stool to sit on. Living close to nature sucks. Being rich

Got my copy of Monster Hunter Vendetta...

2010-10-31T04:01:00.001-07:00

... via MPS yesterday. Despite the 12-hour duty day, I managed to gethalf-way through it last night, before I was politely asked to turnout the lights in the tent.

Still waiting...

2010-10-27T04:19:00.001-07:00

Got word a few days ago that I'd be shipping out from Kabul toKandahar tomorrow morning, but then some team members had medicalissues. So that's delayed a bit. We'll see if my team lead can getback from Dubai with his teeth in good order.

How you like dem apples?

2010-10-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

I can't disagree with Morgan. Personally, I cheated my way to a college degree. I took about 30-some CLEP Tests (free while I was on active duty), a few college courses here and there, more or less buffet-style as I was interested or needed to fill in a couple requirements, and then took the rest of my undergrad at Western Governor's University where all credit is assessment-based rather than

Yeah...

2010-10-21T03:25:00.001-07:00

So is Bagram. And Kabul.

Fugly

2010-10-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

Qatar is just as ugly as Iraq, Jordan, or Kuwait.Sent from my iPhone

Scheduled departure date...

2010-09-29T09:28:00.001-07:00

... is October 10th. These things tend to slip a bit, and I'm stillnot sure which site I'll actually be deploying to.But I'm starting to get my shtuff together for leaving.-- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater inpractice than in theory...

Deploying again...

2010-09-23T09:24:00.001-07:00

Got my offer letter for a gig in Afghanistan this morning. I'll bedeploying again as an IT Mercenary in a couple-three weeks.-- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater inpractice than in theory...

Well done, lads...

2010-09-17T16:25:00.001-07:00

http://blog.usni.org/2010/09/10/the-magellan-star/

When is it not creepy...

2010-09-16T11:16:00.001-07:00

...for a bunch of old guys to stand around openly admiring a 14-yearold girl's form?When she can outshoot them:http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-is-how-you-shoot-smoke-n-hope.html

Trust, and the wealth of nations...

2010-09-13T09:44:00.001-07:00

It's a pretty good book. You can get it from the Amazon lin at Tam's:http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/But on to my point, here's a vivid illustration. While I was inBaghdad, we had limited options on where we could take exams tocertifiy our geek-fu. There was one test center in the IZ, which wasadmininstered by one of the technical contractor companies, mainly sotheir own people could

Never Forget

2010-09-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

Individual liberty and human worth is incompatible with Islam.

Worthy Cause

2010-09-09T11:16:00.001-07:00

http://thecluemeter.blogspot.com/2010/09/and-now-word-from-our-sponsor.html-- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater inpractice than in theory...

Overheard outside a summer school program...

2010-08-10T10:55:00.001-07:00

"It must be true love. How else could I be pregnant after only datinghim for a few weeks?"

Guess who's got my vote?

2010-07-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

Questions by Columbian staff writer Kathie Durbin:Describe briefly your vision for the nation’s energy future and the region’s. What new energy sources should the federal government promote/subsidize? Do you believe it’s possible for the U.S. to wean itself from fossil fuels? Regarding the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, what steps, if any, would you support to hold BP accountable,

Re: Link-a-licious

2010-07-16T14:09:00.001-07:00

Samizdata> Ave!>>> Business problems diagnosed>> Coyote writes for Forbes>> How's that healthcare working out?>> Modern Primitives>>> http://www.papadeltabravo.com/blog/?p=1140>> Crazy?>>> Rove's biggest msitake>> They all look alike>> http://coldfury.com/?p=26110>> http://coldfury.com/?p=26121>> http://coldfury.com/?p=26101>> Advances in air travel

Oooo-rah

2010-07-09T09:38:00.001-07:00

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_Mattis-- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater inpractice than in theory...

The Brady Campaign Sucks

2010-07-08T11:33:00.001-07:00

The Brady campagn doesn't meet Better Business Burea Standards. Go figure.Hat tip to the ladies:http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/http://www.twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com/-- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater inpractice than in theory...

Race wars

2010-07-01T10:54:00.001-07:00

When the census taker came to my house, I told them that two people live there full time and nowhere else, and that this is the only information I was willing to give. They attempted to guilt me into further, but I told them "Good Day." I had not further comment or time to give them.So now my employer, a public school system, recently nudged me about not having filled out therir race

Yes-man wanted

2010-06-29T16:36:00.001-07:00

Yes man wanted.

Kiken, Kitsui, Kitanai

2010-06-29T13:05:00.001-07:00

In Japan, there used to be a lot of immigrant workers doing the jobsthat were Dangerous, Difficult, and Dirty.Not so much any more. Hard times call for stepping up to theunpleasant aspects of life. Reality-based, you might say.I'm filling out paperwork for a job possibility in Afghanistan. Twoout of three, pretty much.-- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater inpractice than

Yippie-ki-yi-aeeee

2010-06-23T16:05:00.001-07:00

Incompetent and AmateurMorals and the Servile MindCato is often worth readinghttp://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=2083Word Spill

Ride'em cowboy...

2010-06-17T15:31:00.001-07:00

... it's a link round-up:The big evil.Liars in blue.Government caused the problems.DisarmamentLike a really BIG banana republic

Personal notes and updates

2010-06-17T15:30:00.001-07:00

I've largely been quiet lately on the blog, both because I've had l; little of actual content to say, and because I've frittered away time and energy on Facebook posts, where far more people actually read what I say for some reason.I've also been involved in a lot of personal shit of little real note to anyone not in my close personal circle: tonsil surgery, in combination with

A two-fer

2010-06-17T11:32:00.001-07:00

http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2010/06/things-i-am-tired-of-hearing.htmlhttp://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2010/06/did-obama-save-bp.html

Let's clone this guy out west here...

2010-06-16T12:22:00.001-07:00

http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/16/video-christie-talks-about-real-change-in-new-jersey/

I'm Irish...

2010-06-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

... so it's ok to cry. I won't cry for pain, or myself.But tell me a story of self-sacrifice and love, and I'll leak saltwater.Today, another warrior has stepped into the clearing at the end of the path. Words are inadequate to praise the man, a boon companion, a brother. Tonight I've been celebrating you, Josh. See you in Valhalla, brother.Josh Hernandez: "Deport Pedro!". We loved you, brother.

Head for the hills...

2010-06-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Somebody in government is reading James Wesley Rawles and Mathew Bracken:http://www.jpfo.org/articles-assd02/sniper-detect.htmAnd in other news:http://borepatch.blogspot.com/2010/05/liberal-crackup.htmlBut lest you be encouraged by that resistance to the liberal machinery:http://www.two--four.net/weblog.php?id=P4940(By way of: http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2010/06/

Mostly missing the point

2010-06-02T11:28:00.001-07:00

http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/109701/placing-the-blame-as-students-are-buried-in-debt?mod=edu-collegeprepEverything in the article is relatively even-handed and I was even somewhat sympathetic, until we get to the real crux of the problem:"She recently received a raise and now makes $22 an hour working for a photographer. It's the highest salary she's earned since graduating

Ponderous thoughts to ponder

2010-06-02T10:37:00.001-07:00

Do I buy some jackboots and join the fascists in their race to wreckthe economy, or do I go John Galt and opt out of the cash economy asmuch as possible? It's a strategy question, really:http://blogs.forbes.com/digitalrules/2010/06/the-millionaire-cop-next-door/

Join me today...

2010-06-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

... in making today's top search term: "Google execs are a bunch of communist twats."

Fwd: Road rage = desk duty

2010-04-16T16:20:00.001-07:00

If you or I did that, we would be in jail immediately, and they would have already tossed our household belongings to confiscate anything from pointy sticks on up. I'd be out of a job without even a chance to prove myself innocent, since I work for a school district. On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 4:00 PM, {Friend's email redacted} wrote: Seems the guy in the car needed a video camera strapped to

My proposal for studying Global Warming

2010-04-15T10:51:00.001-07:00

Step 1: Get the space program back online, mainly by funding X-Prize type research for companies that meet measurable performance targets. Step 2: Get a lunar colony going Step 3: Use the lunar colony as a staging base for Mars exploration Step 4: Terraform Mars. We'll learn plenty from that, with no danger to any living ecosystems, to know whether we're doing good or ill with policies

All politics are local...

2010-04-13T11:06:00.001-07:00

Corollary: All economics are personal.

Fwd: Friday Night?

2010-03-05T10:17:00.001-08:00

I can't help it. My very first thought EVERY time I see TGIF, is "Tactical Ground Intercept Facility". even after all these years.

a decaying rose, by any other name, stinks the same

2010-02-24T11:00:00.001-08:00

I read a few years ago, about a study (no links right now, blogging from my phone) that was looking into whther ethnic or made-up names had a negatvie impact on career prospects, and by extension, life success. The rather obvious conclusion was that, yes, it has a negative impact, with legitimate ethnic names (Miguel, Olga, Hitomi, for example) being less problematic than obviously made-up "

Dumbing Down

2010-02-22T16:29:00.001-08:00

Via http://www.peekinthewell.net/blog/, We have: http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/ Hie thee hence and despair. Or get pissed off. I know which one I'm inclined to do.

Good to know...

2010-02-10T10:44:00.001-08:00

http://blog.joehuffman.org/2010/02/08/ACulturalIssue.aspx

Oh yeah.. Audi?

2010-02-10T09:16:00.001-08:00

Go fuck yerself with a Green™ dildo.

The UN re-introduces slavery to Haiti

2010-02-10T08:53:00.001-08:00

So, I see from yesterday's news that the United Nations is threatening to cut off aid to any hospital which charges for service. Oh, that's good. Wouldn't want doctors and nurses to profit from their labour. Wouldn't want Haiti to actually rebuild a sustainable infrastructure. No- then the UN would lose its rationale to control things. Much better to sell them all back into slavery.

The ADD President

2010-01-29T09:41:00.001-08:00

Presented without comment: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Has-Obama-become-bored-with-being-president_-82978332.html H/T House of Eratosthenes

Precisely

2010-01-15T09:25:00.001-08:00

This is why I will never own a car with OnStar technology: http://www.atomicnerds.com/?p=3155#more-3155-- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater in practice than in theory...

Lessons reinforced

2010-01-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

Lessons that are being refreshed by Gavin De Becker's book "Fear Less": It may seem a paradox, but the mind that is open to the possibility and reality of danger being present all around us experiences less fear than those who fail to recognize this truth. The cognitive dissonance of denial causes constant stress.Risk is omnipresent and unavoidable, but risk is not automatic disaster.

Vital Lessons

2010-01-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

So while home for Christmas from Job Corps, my little sister (just 20 now) got a jury summons.I talked with her about it a little bit, and she contacted both the jury office and her supervisors at Job Corps, who immediately gave her this advice on responsibility and the duties of a citizen:"Try to get out of it if you can."I've been a bit speechless about it ever since.

Hiatus explained

2009-12-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. My only excuses are triesomely predictable: finishing the term's final papers, the consumerist season, obligatory family and friend-oriented gathering (not nearly as tedious as a brief blurb makes them sound, by any means) work at the 'educational facility' picks up greatly during the holiday weeks when occupancy of the classrooms are low, and personal

Preach it, brother

2009-12-03T15:02:00.001-08:00

http://www.atomicnerds.com/?p=3029#comments Some of it figured out quick, because my family simply didn't have the resources to coddle me and protect me from consequences. but some it took too long, because too many people are accepting of bullshit stupidity. -- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater in practice than in theory...

Mas Cerveza, no problema

2009-12-02T13:55:00.001-08:00

Traveling and fun with languages.-- The difference between theory and practice, is much greater in practice than in theory...

Hie thee hence

2009-11-30T10:45:00.000-08:00

Lex has a couple pointers for the uninitiated into Islam and "The Narrative".

Bad Ideas are fair game

2009-11-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

More commentary on the Islam-is-evil meme:Roberta says again: "I prefer to judge people one at a time, harshly. The whole group thing, it leads to reservations and far, far worse."Judging people one at a time is fine. Judging ideas is also fine. When large numbers of people profess an idea, it is useful and worthwhile to generalize ideology to that group of people. As long as the predictive

Slave of Allah (SWT)

2009-11-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

Via a commenter at Neptunus Lex:The UBF's calling card

Is Islam really EEEEvul?

2009-11-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

Bobbi and D.W. certainly don't like to think so, but I suspect that is more because of their own good nature and desire to get along than accuracy on their part. Og is certainly on the opposite side of that fence, as am I. Though it shouldn't be necessary, the standard disclaimer applies: I am NOT advocating deportation, incarceration, persecution, muzzling, teasing, poking, pricking, or

WTF?

2009-11-10T10:34:00.001-08:00

Monster.com has really Eff'd up their website since the last time I used it (a few months ago). I just wasted 15 minutes trying to update a search agent and was completely unable to do it. They better get their shit together. It doesn't take long to lose a website's customer base when you make it hard to navigate.

This is a load of crap

2009-11-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry, but this is a load of crapWith all due respect to the author, Western Civilization didn't begin with the teachings of Christ. In fact, many of us don't give a crap about Jesus of Nazareth at all.The fact that another con man came along so much later and handed out "revelations" again doesn't reset things back to zero. Islam builds upon Judaism and Christianity. If anything, giving benefit

About the shit head in TX

2009-11-07T23:27:00.001-08:00

The shit head who murdered his fellow soldiers, that is:Hasan is just another failed Muslim. Another precious boy-child who never grew to be a man because his culture didn't require him or equip him to do so.His frustration with his own failing has now been externalized. Islam isn't the cause of his actions, it's merely the deciding factor. It gave him a framework which justifies violence when he

Ayup.

2009-11-07T22:05:00.000-08:00

http://madrocketsci.blogspot.com/2008/02/and-i-carry-concealed.html

The good thing about bread lines...

2009-11-05T16:29:00.001-08:00

... is they get you out to meet the neighbors.{Stolen from commenter Rob, with gratitude}h/t to Tam

Day One

2009-10-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

Oh-dark-thirty this a-yem witnessed the beginning of a fresh campaign against the shadowy organization known only as "the Bambi Brigade".Unfortunately, the enemy was able to successfully manouver to avoid engagement. While on foot patrol, 3 indigenous females were encountered at close range, almost certain partisans of Bambi, however; with no weapons visible, we did not engage.Total casualties

Tasty, tasty, bambi...

2009-10-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm off this evening to try and stock up the larder. Got my new pea shooter sighted in a couple weeks ago, and hopefully I'll see something with at least 3 points legal to shoot at.Not feeling super well, with a cough and bit of a cold I've been fighting off with massive intake of vitamins, echinacea and other miracle drugs all week. I guess if I don't see anything tomorrow, I'll be home in

Obama deserves a Heisman too...

2009-10-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Sadly, the racist bastards at ESPN didn't put his name in the running, so you'll have to write him in. He's CLEARLY eligible. Go here and vote now, vote often!It's for the children.

Why not?

2009-10-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

After reading Jeff over at Alphecca, I'm wondering why Obama didn't get the Physics prize too. I mean, those other guys aren't nearly as handsome and articulate (in front of a teleprompter) as he is. And besides, Obama isn't Bush.

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!

2009-10-09T08:52:00.001-07:00

Obama won was awarded a Nobel peace Prize. Could you make that shit ANY less meaningless?I don't think so.Arafat, Obama, Gore, Carter.

'Stylishly designating efforts to solve national ills as "wars" ...

2009-10-08T11:01:00.001-07:00

...doesn't convert them into something appropriate for the employment of military forces. ' Origins of American Military Coup This equation of "moral equivalence of war" is a Fascist hangover. Jonah Goldberg talks about it at length in his book "Liberal Fascism". Just like the author postulates in his notional letter from prison, there is a danger of combining too many power centers,

Hundreds of billions of stars dollars...

2009-10-08T09:36:00.001-07:00

I attended a WebEx seminar by Cisco Systems yesterday. Cisco has a huge stake in marketing network equipment to the public sector, but I never knew they had a team dedicated to teaching public schools how to get grant money from the Federal Gov. The "money quote" {ahem}: "There's hundreds of billions of dollars in grant funding available, all you have to do is apply for it.." People, a quick

I'm glad Rio got it

2009-10-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Olympics is not a blessing to be courted; it's a White Elephant.I mean, I'm sorry for the people of Brazil, whether they realize it or not. Screw Chicago, I don't really care that it would have cost them so much, but I know it would spill over into the Fed giving them "stimulus" money to prep for it; it would be the perfect excuse for Obama to funnel money back to his peeps. Not with my money

Aye, and it were a guid day...

2009-10-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

It occured to me, 'bout late afternoon in the pee-em, as I wheeled down the freeway, in very light traffic, canine life partner riding shotgun in the old pickup. It's a good day.The westering sun was warming the air just enough that the autumn chill was a welcome refreshment with the windows rolled down, the dog's paw and chin on my lap a nicely warmer spot, even on a day warm enough for

"Payday"

2009-10-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

Went to the local grocery store for lunch, to grab something quick from the deli counter, and get a money order for a purchase I made on Gunbroker.com this morning (just trying to stimulate the economy, honest.)The service desk? Fuhgedaboudit. As my colleague pointed out when I got back to work, it's "payday" for wlefare recipients.Not sure exactly how you get a paycheck without a job. But it

Welcome back

2009-09-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Kim and Connie.

Just... LOL

2009-09-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

The not-so-subtle message here is that vegetarianism is revolution is sex; you too can fight the power and score hot naked rebel chicks by, er, eating tofu. Yeah. Forget all that whining about the objectification of women, one just like Lydia will serve herself up on a platter if you just strike the right clenched-fist poses and munch your beansprouts; we promise. (Well, it sort of has to read

WTF moment

2009-09-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

My new roomie (a close friend of several year's acquaintence) is a very intelligent, fairly thoughtful guy. However, during a discussion of politics the other evening, over a couple of beers, I was flabbergasted at his ignorance of some issues. To give him credit, he's exploring things with a fairly open mind in our discussions, not very opinionated about it, but questioning my stance (mostly in

Uranium

2009-09-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

It's practically coming out of our ears, but despite how important global warming is, nuclear power is just too dangerous. Better to just go back to the stone age and stop being a pestilence upon the Earth, unnatural creaures that we are.blech.

The tax that wasn't a tax and other fairy tales.

2009-09-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

Obama tries to redefine taxes in an interview with George Stephanopolous. And on YouTube.A market cost is a tax, but something you're compelled to pay (by government and the law, eventually resulting in a gun at your head if you refuse) is not a tax.riiiiiight.

"The precautionary principle...

2009-09-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

... is based on the belief that there is no down side to taking action. "This is precisely the phrase I've been looking for in many conversations I have had in the past. It captures exactly what I want to say, from my initial sense of "somethign is wrong about that idea but I can't put my finger on it" all the way through the evolution into my current full-blown opposition to nearly everything

Not just for Black kids

2009-09-17T16:10:00.001-07:00

http://fredoneverything.net/ColorOfEducation.html This ties right in with other reading I've been doing on education. The system is the problem; burn it down. H/T http://www.jerrypournelle.com/

Yep

2009-09-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Cobb's got something to say. Fits right in with what I've been reading from John Taylor Gatto and my own observations.

This is pretty cool

2009-09-14T16:01:00.000-07:00

New shooter updateI actually had some similar problems the other day at the range with my mom, her room mate, and said room mate's daughter (who has been staying with me for a few months, so was also my room mate.)Mom's roomie is a lefty with right eye dominance. Now, I'm no expert fire arms instructor, and not a lefty to boot, but I am also cross-eye dominant. So I could sympathize. I explained