Friday, May 05, 2006
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Savant
I'm trying to remember the last time that I could draw a panorama of Rome from memory... Hrm... nothing comes to mind.
The Forecast
R and I are going to India in July. New Delhi for 10 days. Today's forecast: High of 103 and widespread dust. Imagining that this link will be oudated soon, I've put the image to the right.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Exploring Online Video
You can see:
Russian Freerunners, Quardruplets Laughing, And Juggling to the Beatles (really quite amazing) all in Google's Top 100
Videos of cats acting dumb are always good, too: One, Two
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Day Off
I spent the morning sleeping until 10am. Then walked to the office to pick up a letter that I was supposed to draft an initial response to that I'd left there. Then sat on the deck and answered the letter. Then I read through the latest issue of macworld, which is like a 112 page glossy Apple advertisement delivered to your doorstep. A lame magazine, but it did teach me that buying a Macbook Pro isn't really worth it yet. That $11 subscription saved me $2,888!
The next magazine of nerdery that turned to was wired. This month's issue features Al Gore and his green ways as well as a very comprehensive guide to Online Video, which isn't online yet. I'd like to sit down and visit every one of these sites to see what it's all about, but who has the time? The next best thing is going to have to be to start typing the ones I find interesting in and linking back to them later. Heregoes:
- blinkx.tv - Something about speech recog?
democracy - Video RSS Aggregator
fireant.tv - Another non-OS democracy
Google video - Been there, done that... if by that you mean 0.05% of the content
ifilm.com - The original. Article warns against it's turn towards Movie Trailers and bad music videos
newsgrounds.com - Flash video
publidomaintorrents.com - Old, old movies downloadable w/bittorrent
revver.com - earn money for spreading stupid videos
subMedia - Culture jamming. Bring blackspots.
undergoundfilm.org - Something worthwhile?
VlogMap.org - Video blogs by location
YouTube.com - Everything under the sun
Animation
Broken Saints
Eatpes.com
fat-pie.com
homestarrunner - Go Strong Bad, Go.
Ill Clan
Russian Flash?
MINDistortion.net
Odd Todd
Oooh Bitey!
It's JerryTime!
roosterteeth.com
This Spartan Life
Weebl's Stuff
Art Fart
DavidLynch.com - Duh
DVblog
Public Address Network
Diaries
Josh Leo's Vlog
Michael Verdi
pouringdown
RyanEdit
Welcome to Amyville
Video Nation
Viviendo con Fallas
The Richard Show
Super Secret Dance Society
Minnesota Stories
One America Committee
Crooks and Liars
c-span
Ask a Ninja
Lynchland
Ravi Jain's DriveTime
64mm Vlog
Documentary
Annenberg Media
Fez
The History Channel
Independent Television News Archive
Internet Archive
National Archives on Google Video
MIT world
Nature Video Database
TheWeblogProject
How-To
Freevlog
French Maid TV
Starvin' With Louis
Switch
hak.5
Humor (ha)
Drinking With Bob
Human Dog Productions
Comedy Central's Motherload
Channel 101
RooftopComedy
Tall Guy, Short Guy
Tiki Bar TV
Trio
White Guy Eats Foreign Foods
Music
Bedazzled.tv
Infinite Sound
Lo-Fi Saint Louis
Rock n Roll TV
Punkcast.com
New/Talk
the 1 up show
Amazon Fishbowl
BBC News
commandN
Diggnation
Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone
Mobuzz TV
Rocketboom
WireImage Hollywood Podcast
shralp!
VOD cars
Whew! Now it's time to go visit some of this crap!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Delhi Driving
R and I are going to India in July for ten days.
We weren't planning on renting a car and certainly aren't after seeing this video
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
This is Too Amusing
Ridiculous
"I come in the name of Go... Repeat after me, bitch! I Come in the Name of JESUS."
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Molt Be Blog
70 hrs at the office last week = not much Molt Be Blog.... Will he update after deadline Apr 30th? Only Time will tell.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Too much
I've been working too much to keep up with entering things in here, sadly. Things are supposed to slow down on May 1st, though. Promises, promises.
In the news:
Tom Cruise is Going to Eat Holmes' Placenta - Gross. Or maybe not [UPDATE]
Two Duke Students were Arrested on Rape, Kidnapping and sexual offense charges - Finally.
Bush's New Cheif of Staff thinks that a Lame Duck can be Saved by a Staff Shakeup - Nope.
And People Took Caring-About-Thing-That-Don't-Affect-Them to a New Level by Protesting Gay Couples' Being Allowed to Roll Eggs Across a Lawn - Sad.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Google Calendar
Google Calendar released today. You can import other calendars, share yours with others, all through your google account.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Monday, April 10, 2006
Vote for a Quarter
My friend S writes:
I have a colleague at work who has submitted two designs that have been selected by the US Mint as possible designs for the Washington State Quarter (there are 3 final designs to vote on).
The Governor is going to have final say, but public opinion counts, so click on the link below and vote (as often as you would like).
If you are looking for a little insight...#2 is lovely and a perfectly acceptable choice, but check out #3 and see the subject line for the one that I am pulling for... save the whales, people.
http://www.governor.wa.gov/quarter/
The Governor is going to have final say, but public opinion counts, so click on the link below and vote (as often as you would like).
If you are looking for a little insight...#2 is lovely and a perfectly acceptable choice, but check out #3 and see the subject line for the one that I am pulling for... save the whales, people.
http://www.governor.wa.gov/quarter/
Please vote for #2 or #3! I went for #3... as did 67% of everybody else.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Reminder
Just a note to self that I need to buy plane tickets to Miami for May 19th through 21st.... that's soon!
Bush Lies!
Liberals rejoice! The end is nigh for these dirtbags in the Whitehouse and the Senate. Delay resigns and Bush and his press secretary get caught in bold face lies. They'll spin their way out of this by Wednesday next week at lunchtime, but it's nice to see them squirm a bit now and then.
(soon to be ex)-President Bush in September, 2003 [lies in bold]:
"I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take appropriate action."
From the NYT:
For months, Mr. Bush and his top aides have campaigned against leaks of classified information as a danger to the nation and as criminal acts. A Washington Post report on secret overseas jails run by the C.I.A. and a New York Times report on domestic eavesdropping by the National Security Agency have led to criminal investigations, and scores of intelligence officers have been ordered to take polygraph tests.
In that context, the report that the president was himself approving a leak may do serious political damage, said Mr. Shenkman, who has a blog on presidential politics. "It does give the public such a powerful example of hypocrisy that I think it might linger for a while," he said.
In that context, the report that the president was himself approving a leak may do serious political damage, said Mr. Shenkman, who has a blog on presidential politics. "It does give the public such a powerful example of hypocrisy that I think it might linger for a while," he said.
McClellan Lies!
From CNN.com:
Scott McClellan argued Friday that the president staunchly opposes releasing classified information that could affect U.S. security. And he pointed out that the president reserves the right to declassify material.
Looking at the specific 2003 case, McClellan said, "Because of the public debate that was going on and some of the wild accusations that were flying around at the time, we felt it was very much in the public interest that what information could be declassified be declassified, and that's exactly what we did."
But the court documents show that Bush approved the release of the information 10 days before the White House said the information was declassified.
The information was released on July 8, 2003, according to the documents.
On July 18 of that year, McClellan told reporters "this information was just, as of today, officially declassified."
Looking at the specific 2003 case, McClellan said, "Because of the public debate that was going on and some of the wild accusations that were flying around at the time, we felt it was very much in the public interest that what information could be declassified be declassified, and that's exactly what we did."
But the court documents show that Bush approved the release of the information 10 days before the White House said the information was declassified.
The information was released on July 8, 2003, according to the documents.
On July 18 of that year, McClellan told reporters "this information was just, as of today, officially declassified."
Another gem from McClellan: "There is a difference between providing declassified information to the public when it's in the public interest and leaking classified information that involved sensitive national intelligence regarding our security."
More good news! Because these "Disclosures Are Called Unrelated To Plame Case" (or so says Libby's lawyer) that means that they're unrelated to the old "ongoing investigation" saw the and Administration should be able to allow itself to talk this issue to death. That is, unless the President asks the DOJ to start an investigation of himself.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
...
Just got back from work at 11:30pm. Booooo.
Reviewing the Washington Post. Yay!
The lady basketball players at my alma mater beat Duke. Yay.
Tom Delay, like the snake he is, resigns. Double Yay.
His soul, unfortunately, will live on. Boooo.
A jury decides its a good idea to allow Moussaoui to become a martyr. Nothing says "stop killing" like more killing. Boooo.
Away messages tell people what you're doing while you're away. Duh.
and finally Congress has to deal with the issue that doesn't break along party lines (immigration) and its non-partisan nature is the biggest news since Katrina. Duh?
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Blog Neglect
in the Google Toolbar. It's handy. I'm lazy. Enough said.I'll blame work for taking up most of my time and not allowing me to sit around writing about what I think.... probably because I only have time to think about settlement distributions, loadfiles and queries (if that's not sad...).
R and I went to visit the GPs out in CO for four days last week. It was gorgeous. The lakes are still frozen over and allow for plenty of snowball fights and picture taking. My mom, brother and sister were all out there as well, so plenty of family time was spent. This was quite a nice change from the work, work, work all the time that's been going on here in DC. With R on a different schedule that has her leaving pretty early and working most weekends we don't see eachother during the day very much.
There is a cat on my lap. I think she purposely start to slide off onto the floor when she's falling asleep so that I'll pull her back up and pet her a bit when she's about to slip. Crafty bastard.
Big news is that R and I are going to New Delhi in July to put our tax return to good use. Won't Bush be pissed when he learns that we're spending the money we saved due to his tax cuts on an Italian airline to fly to a foreign country. "Trickle-down" my ass. HA!
On Wednesday night we went to the 930 club to see Editors and StellaStar. Both were excellent.
This evening we went to the Spring Stock party at a store in Georgetown that sells Thai and Indonesian furniture, hand woven hats, artsy purses and hand-made jewelry, among other thigs. One of our neighbors is friends with the owner and we all went out after meeting at the store to have dinner.
Now I'm back home, very sleepy and sorry that I can't write any more. Maybe tomorrow I'll actually pick a topic and really write about it. Doubtful... but it could happen.
Tomorrow night we're off to see She Wants Revenge at the Black Cat. I've never heard their music, but am assured that if I like good music, I'll like this show. The pressure is unbearable. Of course, based on this review of their album by Pitchfork... I might be dissappointed in another Interpol/Joy Division copy cat like the Killers/Bravery/Editors/etc. Then again, those bands aren't shabby and can certainly play and sing better than I.
To bed!
R and J engaged in a snowball fight. R hits. Runs.Friday, March 31, 2006
Mac Peeps Only
Own a Wacintosh? Download Desktop Manager, which will let you have multiple desktops... like in OS/2. Remember of OS/2? Good stuff.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
So that's what the volume dial is for!
I knew this crazy click wheel did something: Apple puts limits on iPod levels
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Duh
This article in the post points out what we already knew but couldn't put into words... unless it was the words we use when talking to anyone and everyone we don't work with about our jobs.
Our No. 1 pet peeve at work? Condescending tones, whether from a manager or a peer, according to an office etiquette survey for Randstad USA.
One third of the 1,444 working adults surveyed also pull their hair out over public reprimands, micromanaging and loud talkers.
One third of the 1,444 working adults surveyed also pull their hair out over public reprimands, micromanaging and loud talkers.
I'm definitely part of that 33%.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
In Secret Unit's 'Black Room,' a Grim Portrait of U.S. Abuse
In Secret Unit's 'Black Room,' a Grim Portrait of U.S. Abuse - New York Times
Another great way to create more terrorists.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Greg's Day Off
Finally have a real day off with not even an hour of work (have only had 5 of those since Feb 1 including today). The following is what I did with the day.
I woke up around 9:27 (roughly) and puttered around a bit. I had a cup of coffee and some oatmeal and put it a move, "The Smartest Guys in the Room", a documetary about the rise and fall of Enron. I found the film informative, but cheesy. They could have used more Ken Burns photograph panning and less obvious stock footage and lame music. I'd still recommend seeing just to get a look at the people behind the scandal, but to actually get a really good idea of what happened I'll probably need to read a book... but I have enough of those lying around the house unread already.
I recently finished reading Benjamin Kunkel's book, Indecision, which I've come to learn is something very hip to have done. I'll have to thank mom for giving it to me for Christmas. I wonder if it's also hip to be given hip books by your mom. I imagine not.
I'm still trudging through the end of Trawler, by Redomond O'Hanlon. It's a book that I heard about more than a year ago when I saw Mr. O'Hanlon on the daily show. O'Hanlon is an adventure author and this one takes him on a fishing trawler in the nothern Atlantic. Sleep-deprivation is the basic theme of the book and the haphazard surroundings and fatigue of the author lends to the book itself being an exhausting read. It's a smart, funny book, but has taken me far too long to get through.
Where was I? After watching half of the Enron movie, I realized that I needed to leave to make the appointment I'd set to have my hair cut at 12:45. I scooted over the the bank to get cash for tip (feeling mildly guilty for using Citibank after just hearing that they'd been partially complicit in the whole Enron debacle), and then scooted the rest of the way up to Georgette Klinger to see my friend Kate who works there.
On my way back from the "Salon" (so lame) I ran into a bunch of traffic on Mass. Ave. It looked like there was a protest march up ahead, so I turned around and took an alternate that put me on the other side of the march. I was finally able to figure out what it was for just now: Today is the third anniversary of the Iraq invasion and 300 people gathered outside the Naval Observatory, Cheney's pad, to protest. Here's an article. How sad that I forgot and was out consuming things? How sad that there were only 300 people to protest? I like to think I would have been right there along side them if I'd known about this. These protesters need some marketing and fast.... or even just advertising. With a 66% dissapproval rating, the market is definitely already there.
Upon arriving home, I got some food and watched the end of the Enron movie.
Feeling fat and sedentary, I decided to watch an episode of "Long Way Round", which had arrived from Netflix on Friday. "Long Way Round" is a documentary that follows Ewan McGregor and his friend Charlie Boorman as they ride their motorcycles from London East, across all of the European and Asian continents, fly to Alaska and then cross the North American continent. I've now seen the first two episdoes, think it's fantastic and would recommend it to anyone. Even R find it amusing, and she hates motorcycles and driving in general.
Post-documentary episode, I went to the gym and ran two miles. Then I sat in the Sauna for a little.
After arriving home I puttered around on the internet and found this Retro Phone Handsetat Think Geek. It's awesome. You should buy one.
After R arrived home from work, we watched "The Cuckoo", a Finnish film that arrived almost a week ago and we're just getting around to seeing it. I'd recommend it as well.
Having written my day down, it seems like I watched a lot of movies and didn't do very much. That's ok, though. I've been working too much and deserved a day on the couch. Tomorrow... same thing. Brilliant!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
St. Patty's Hai Ku
With brilliant five seven form
Please see words below
The pictures tell it
One couple of drunken cats
Green hats make cats sad.
*no kittens/cats/felines were harmed in the taking of these photos. Some owners were scratched while they slept, but this is normal.
OK Go singer arrested
OK Go singer arrested. Good band. Good story. I must have been working hard this week to only find out about this on a Thursday. OK Go opened for Rufus Wainwright when we saw him on Halloween, 2005. 'Twas a good show.
LibTIFF - TIFF Library and Utilities
LibTIFF - TIFF Library and Utilities... you know, for Kids! (this is just boring work stuff for me... no need for you to look at it.)
Reminder: Walker, Brokeback Ranger
Watch this when at home... thatvideosite.com :: Walker, Brokeback Ranger
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Exciting Links for Boring Days
This list is where I found this video and these pictures and a whole bunch of other stuff.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
A Senate Maverick Acts to Force an Issue
Amen! A Senate Maverick Acts to Force an Issue
FISA courts will allow a warrant up to 72 hours after a name is requested for filtering by the NSA.
A warrant for a wiretap issued by the FISA courst is completely secret. Not even the wife of the judge listens in on the briefings if they're being conducted in his living room, which they often are.
Why? Why, why, why, why, why would the president need to circumvent these courts? That's the question they're not answering. Gonzales and everyone else will go up in front of Congressional hearings to argue over the legality of wiretapping without even a secret warrant, but I have yet to hear a coherent, worthwhile explanation as to why such an action would be necessary. Hook it up.
Monday, March 13, 2006
A break
Finally got some time off of work after working Saturday and Sunday and have a moment to do something different. That's manifested itself in running outside in this fantastic weather that we're having in DC, catching up on reading the magazines that are piling up (why did I ever subscribe to the New Yorker?), and cruising around on the internet. I'm currently watching a Frontline episode on the Iraqi insurgency. Ridiculous. I recommend this to everyone. American news media has not been covering the Iraq situation to any extent. I think I'm pretty well read but still learned a lot from watching the show.
The other picture there is for My Name Is Earl fans. That's a picture from a recent episode that shows Earl Hickey's return address! How awesome that we now know where he lives. Of course, there's no state on the postcard, but it does say Camden, USA and they do go to Frostberg University in the episode, which is in Maryland. There's a Camden in Maryland, too... and the drive to Frostburg takes "all night". Interesting clues... if you're into that sort of thing. Ok. Must reserve non-work time for things other than blogging.... like using Google Earth's Measuring tool to figure out how far I've run. And if you like Google Earth, check out Google Mars... nerd.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Red rain could prove that aliens have landed
The Observer | World | Red rain could prove that aliens have landed
But is this rain intelligent? I'll believe it when I'm bowing to its overlord... or if it starts to rain purple... that would definitely be convincing.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Where to download music legally
I'm really glad I found this Guardian Guide to where to download music legally. Lots of free songs from lesser knowns in non-DRM'd mp3 and Ogg Vorbis formats.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
A bit of BitTorrent bother
Slashdot points to This article at the BBC that answers readers comments on a newsnight story concerning bit torrent. If you're a bit torrent user, it's an interesting read. If you're not, it's just nerdy drivel.
Liar Liar Liar
Video shows Bush Katrina warning. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Bush is a big liar.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
New Crap
Apple announced their new stuff today. An upgraded Mac mini and an iPod boombox. Lame, lame, lame. There's not even an iPod doc in the top of the mini... which would have been excellent... The audio/video out is pretty cool. and should work with the cord I have for the iPod doc if I ever get one of these.
The iPod boombox seems a bit pricey at $349... espeically when the Bose iPod Dock can be found for $216... and they traditionally have much better sound. Thinksecret hinted that there were capabilites of this apple boom box (iPod "Hi-Fi") that would be unique and beyond current third part docking systems... oh well. I'll continue pumping it through the TV for now.
Friday, February 24, 2006
BIG FAT LIAR
The only Iraqi battalion capable of fighting without U.S. support has been downgraded to a level requiring them to fight with American troops backing them up, the Pentagon said Friday.
The battalion, made up of 700 to 800 Iraqi Army soldiers, has repeatedly been offered by the U.S. as an example of the growing independence of the Iraqi military.
The competence of the Iraqi military has been cited as a key factor in when U.S. troops will be able to return home.
President Bush in a speech in a Speech to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on November 30, 2005.The battalion, made up of 700 to 800 Iraqi Army soldiers, has repeatedly been offered by the U.S. as an example of the growing independence of the Iraqi military.
The competence of the Iraqi military has been cited as a key factor in when U.S. troops will be able to return home.
[transcript]
At this time last year there were only a handful of Iraqi battalions ready for combat. Now there are over 120 Iraqi army and police combat battalions in the fight against the terrorists, typically comprised of between 350 and 800 Iraqi forces.
Of these, about 80 Iraqi battalions are fighting side by side with coalition forces, and about 40 others are taking the lead in the fight. Most of these 40 battalions are controlling their own battlespace, conducting their own operations against the terrorists with some coalition support, and they're helping to turn the tide of the struggle in freedom's favor.
Of these, about 80 Iraqi battalions are fighting side by side with coalition forces, and about 40 others are taking the lead in the fight. Most of these 40 battalions are controlling their own battlespace, conducting their own operations against the terrorists with some coalition support, and they're helping to turn the tide of the struggle in freedom's favor.
And this story: U.S. planning to release intelligence on Iraq from early 2003 is just for kicks... How could so many people have been so scared of something dreamed up by Cheney, Wolfowitz, Pearl and friends?
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Unipage Unifier
Another Slashdot item: Unipage.org - Home of the Unipage format and the Unipage Unifier
It's an alternative to pumping webpages into PDFs. It retains javascript, flash, etc. Pretty amazing. Don't know if it works for macs.
Oscars? Anyone?
Plot Summary for Ultraviolet (2006)
Set in the late 21st century, a subculture of humans have emerged who have been modified genetically by a vampire-like disease (Hemophagia), giving them enhanced speed, incredible stamina and acute intelligence, and as they are set apart from "normal" and "healthy" humans, the world is pushed to the brink of worldwide civil war (a war between humans and hemophages) aimed at the destruction of the "diseased" population. In the middle of this crossed-fire is - an infected woman - Ultraviolet (played by Milla Jovovich), who finds herself protecting a nine-year-old boy who has been marked for death by the human government as he is believed to be a threat to humans.
Friday, February 17, 2006
You know you're a big shot when...
People apologize for "all that you've been through" after you shoot them in the face, neck and chest: CNN.com - Man shot by Cheney: 'Accidents do and will happen' - Feb 17, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Australian TV shows more Abu Ghraib images - Feb 15, 2006
Australian TV shows more Abu Ghraib images
Harper's magazine has had articles on this for years as well. And it's not rogue soldiers.... these things are being done often and committed by large numbers.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Update 22: White House Finds Humor in Hunting Mishap - Forbes.com
This is going to be so embarrasing when whittongton dies:
Hunter shot by Cheney has 'minor heart attack'
Monday, February 13, 2006
CNN.com - U.N. draft: Acts 'amounting to torture' at Guantanamo - Feb 13, 2006
CNN.com - U.N. draft: Acts 'amounting to torture' at Guantanamo - Feb 13, 2006
It would appear that we've become the terrorists. Listen to me. "Become." ha! As though we haven't been bullying the whole world since the end of WWII. What's new?
Just remember, torture relies on terror. We're no better than the terrorists if we keep this up. What ideals will we be fighting for if we give them all up to win?
Post Column on Heatlh Care Savings Accounts
Ownership Society Redux: I knew these things benefitted the wealthy somehow. Wonder when Bush will come up with something that doesn't...
The Washington Post Can See Future Jon Stewart Quotes
Interesting... this post article from tomorrow quotes tonight's upcoming Daily Show and Letterman show. Unfair that Washington Post Staff Writer Mark Leibovich gets to see the Daily Show before me! I need to get a job at the Post. If not to get paid for typing, then to get quicker access to my favorite shows. After Cheney's Shooting Incident, Time to Unload: "On 'The Daily Show' last night, Jon Stewart, speaking as a 'concerned parent,' urged viewers never to let their children go on hunting trips with the vice president. 'I can't emphasize this enough,' Stewart said. 'I don't care what kind of lucrative contracts they're trying to land, or energy regulation they're trying to get lifted. It's just not worth it.'
Likewise, David Letterman's Top 10 list was devoted to 'Dick Cheney's excuses,' which included that he 'thought the guy was trying to go gay cowboy on me.'"
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Hrmm ... Maybe Syria isn't "next"
US prepares military blitz against Iran's nuclear sites
Of course, this story is just meant to get people's attention... The US military probably has blitz plans for all of the current non-nuclear countries on earth just in case they ever get close. Ridiculous.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Holy Sh*t! Snow! What to do we do?
Whole foods was chock full of people with lines running down all the aisles and shopping carts filled with granola and Odwalla hand squeezed juices
I braved the lines to obtain cat food, croissants and some Tropicana Orange/Pineapple juice (the stuff is delicious).
After WF I went next door to stock up on razors for the snowstorm... not really... but I did buy that new Gillette Fusion with five blades. Too bad that Gillette is still synonymous with vivisection for me. They shave bunnies and cover them in Edge shaving gel (or at least they used to). This new razor has 5 blades. Overkill, you say? Yes. Apparently, these smaller, thinner blades "reduce irritation and increase comfort." I'd like to see them reduce irritation without increasing comfort. It would seem difficult.
R and I joined a gym last weekend, which may be why I haven't typed much in ye old blog in a while. We went there an hour after breakfast and I huffed and puffed through two and half miles on the treadmill.
We came home from the gym and caught up on the Lost episode that we missed last week, as well as a few episodes of the Daily Show and Colbert Report.
After that, we went and walked around the neighborhood, as it started to snow. That's where I snapped the non-razor related photos to the right.
Not too much going on here otherwise. Listening to the testimony of Attny General Gonzalez at Congressional hearing re: wiretapping earlier this week was frustrating as hell. The guy was spinning things left and right. Basically trying to convince everyone that what was going on was legal and that it was necessary, but not answering as to why it was so necessary not to go through a secret FISA court. Ridiculous. Cheney did the same thing the next night on the New Hour with Jim Lehrer. Then the whole thwarted terrorist attack on LA three years ago was announced on Thursday or Friday. They're not even faking that the announcement of an attack thwarted was political. The logic behind the announcement is just as dangerous as it is political: Cheney stressed in his interview that public knowledge of the NSA's (Isn't it funny that the spell checker's first suggestion for "NSA's" was "Nazis"?) domestic wiretapping program was bad for national security... I can't imagine that revealing a thwarted terrorist attack is great for national security either. Given the total lack of details surrounding this supposed attack plan, I have to wonder if it was ever even very close to happening and not just something made up by Cheney et al. to try to get people to back the NSA program.
I'm not against listening in on people who are calling Al Qaida, but I am against there being no checks on the NSA for doing so (like a secret court, for example).
Monday, February 06, 2006
Well Planned Spontaneity
This rioting sounds like a well organized Bush press conference. An interesting description of another riot in the Cartoon Crisis: Rioting with well-planned spontaneity
Sunday, February 05, 2006
The Adventures of Dr. McNinja
Also amusing... but probably very nerdily so... The Adventures of Dr. McNinja
This link and the last found through the magic that is del.icio.us. Behold.
Amusing Exercise
This is amusing.
My answer [you should really click the link before reading]:
Measure the length of one of the dildos (metric or standard measurement... equal opportunity and all that). Multiply the length of one by 100 to get the total length of all the dildos.
Next, think of another length (i.e. the distance from your house to France).
Create a scale using your dildos by dividing the distance from your house to France by the total length of all the dildos.
Finally, lay the dildos out in a long line and say that that length in dildos represents the distance from your house to France on a scale of one dildo equals 45km or some such number. Everyone will be impressed at how much easier it is to visualize the distance to France when they think of it in terms of dildos. Trust me.
I realized after entering this that my math is a bit off... but you get the idea.
See the Cartoons
If you haven't been following this story about anger over 12 sketches, originally published in September, depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad, Wikipedia has some text on the subject as well as the original images.
Let's just hope I don't get a fatwah issued on me for linking to this.
I definitely understand why muslims would be angry over something like this, especially when large numbers of muslims live in countries with little separation between church and state and little religious freedom. At the same time, I can only see violence resulting from outrage over a cartoon as complete and total fanatacism at a level that I will never be able to respect.
Killing someone for blasphemy seems like such an absurd concept to Americans and Europeans and I suppose this lack of respect and understanding may be what escalates a situtation like this into violence.
Or not... I'm just rambling.
Ironic that things are now being blown up because of a cartoon depicting the prophet as a blower-up of things.
Who Knew?
That Google had all of these Search Features? I new about the Definition function, but there's a bunch of other stuff it can do.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Friday, February 03, 2006
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Picasa Update
Google's Picasa is now available in 25 languages, now how about a flipping OS X version?!? I'm sick of iPhoto! It's crappy!
My, what a lack of updates
What with a quick trip to Brooklyn this past weekend for merriment, getting back late on Sunday, working on Monday, and being sick all day yesterday there haven't been many updates to ye old blog. In my illness I also managed to miss the rhetoric-fest that is Bush's State of the Union address. Here's a link to the Full Transcipt for me to have read to my later by the macintosh (if I'm feeling too lazy to read it, that is).
Gotta work. Need food. Have Dayquil, Zicam, Oddwalla Citrus C-Monster kicking in. ick.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Bush: 'No doubt' NSA surveillance is legal
CNN.com - Bush: 'No doubt' NSA surveillance is legal - Jan 26, 2006
Check out this quote:
Bush told a White House news conference that the domestic spying program 'is designed to protect civil liberties' and declared that 'it's necessary.'
War is peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. And we're only spying on you to protect your right to not be spied upon.
the power of nicotine
I heard about this hostage situation on my 7AM npr news summary... good to see that it's been resolved:Last hostage in Exeter bank standoff freed, suspect in custody
A sheriff's SWAT team ended a 10 1/2-hour bank siege early Thursday by grabbing the final hostage when the gunman sent her to the front door to retrieve a pack of cigarettes, authorities said.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Sad Idiot
Bush started up the anti-anti-NSA wiretap spin machine in Kansas yesterday. I listened to the NPR 5 minute news podcast this morning on the way to work and giggled at this little gem that Bush said about Samuel Alito at some point during his Kansas appearance:
"[Samuel Alito] is a very, very smart and capable man. He is uh... He... I mean, when you talk to Sam Alito, you think, 'Smart. Judge.'"
How deeply profound, this guy. It could be a lot worse. Sam Alito could be a guy who lifts cans and has an IQ of 45. Then when you talked to Sam Alito, you would think, "dumb can lifter." If only the Senate didn't just have to vote him in, anyway. Why bother with wasting my tax dollars on a confirmation charade? Why not spend them on replacing the $12.7 million that was cut from the federal student loan program.
One last thing:
It's a sad day when a news headline reads, "Bush to Take Unscripted Audience Questions." Have we actually come to the point where this is something that is so out of the ordinary that it counts as news? Sad, sad, sad.
That's all I've got. I'm definitely getting into this whole podcast things. It almost makes me wish I had a longer commute.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Hrmm...
From what this Guardian article/USAid reports, it sounds like Iraq is turning into what Afghanistan used to be. Official US agency paints dire picture of 'out-of-control' Iraq
Friday, January 20, 2006
Bin Laden: Attacks on U.S. Being Prepared
Bin Laden: Attacks on U.S. Being Prepared
The voice of Osama bin Laden was heard for the first time in more than a year Thursday, saying new attacks in the United States were being prepared but offering a "long-term" truce if U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan. The tape quieted speculation that his long silence meant he was dead.
Addressing the American public on an audiotape delivered to the al-Jazeera television network, the al Qaeda leader noted antiwar sentiment in the United States and said that a withdrawal would allow the opposing sides in the conflicts to "enjoy security and stability.
The Bush administration quickly rejected bin Laden's offer. 'We do not negotiate with terrorists. We put them out of business,' said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. Vice President Cheney told Fox News Channel: 'It sounds to me like it's some kind of ploy. This is not an organization that's ever going to sit down and sign a truce. I think you have to destroy them.'
Addressing the American public on an audiotape delivered to the al-Jazeera television network, the al Qaeda leader noted antiwar sentiment in the United States and said that a withdrawal would allow the opposing sides in the conflicts to "enjoy security and stability.
The Bush administration quickly rejected bin Laden's offer. 'We do not negotiate with terrorists. We put them out of business,' said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. Vice President Cheney told Fox News Channel: 'It sounds to me like it's some kind of ploy. This is not an organization that's ever going to sit down and sign a truce. I think you have to destroy them.'
Ugh. I can't say I don't agree with the Govt. on this one. You can't go killing 3,000 innocent people and expect a truce... Then again, we've killed at least 30,000 innocent Iraqis in Bush's little "war for reasons yet to be determined", so we should watch what we say in the area of not agreeing to truces. Remember: Iraq - NOT the war on terror. That's an important thing to note.
On the tape, bin Laden depicts inevitable U.S. defeat. 'Don't let your strength and modern arms fool you. They win a few battles but lose the war. Patience and steadfastness are much better. We were patient in fighting the Soviet Union with simple weapons for 10 years,' he said, referring to the 1980s war in Afghanistan, 'and we bled their economy and now they are nothing. In that there is a lesson for you.'
Should we point out that the US helped in this war against the Soviet Union with our "strength and modern arms"?
U.S. intelligence analysts have judged the tape to be authentic, an intelligence official said. Bin Laden speaks in a low voice; the sound quality is generally poor."
Someone should really just buy Osama better recording equipment. He needs a producer. Like Pharrell. Or that crazy haired "wall of sound" guy.
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