Google may be tightly linked the National Security Agency (NSA), otherwise know as the nerds that like reading our e-mail and listening to our phone calls, but their apps are very useful and economical. In the spirit of full disclosure I do own Google stock, and this blog is published using a Google tool. No, not the tool between the chair and the keyboard. I am talking about Blogger.
The real reason I thank Google is their set of Software As a Service (SAS) apps that they provide, supported through advertisement. One of the services is Google Talk with voice service. This service now includes free phone calls to any US phone number. Sorry President Clinton, 1-900 numbers are not included. But what it does include is my wife's phone number. So while I am out of the country, I am still in touch anywhere I can find an open WIFI connection. That has come in handy, not just because of the expense of calling the US from Uruguay. But because of the hassle of figuring out what 12 digit passcode I need to enter after dialing the international trunking number, the country code, and the billing code.
So what if the NSA was able to more easily listen into the phone call than if I had used a calling card. I have no secrets to keep from the government. That does not mean that I am happy to let them eavesdrop whenever they wish. I still make sure that I can send encrypted messages whenever I want. Plus I have an encrypted connection to my server at home anytime I need to share private files with my wife. So let the things that are open remain open, but be ready to encrypt when you you need to.
Enough geek talk. Thank you Google. You have made my life easier.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Obama Care: Year One
Between the French invasion of Libya and Historic Leader's South American vacation tour you might not of noticed any fanfare regarding Free Heath are for ALL. Oh wait, now he says he never said it was going to be free? I guess we haven't got around to reading the bill to find out what's in it.
In any case, there finally IS something to help the Health of the Nation. Researchers have finally made the link between regular sex and better physical health. Not necessarily “regular sex,” but “sex on a regular basis.” You could be having crazy kinky Duncanvillian blogtastic sex for all I care. And you probably are. Perverts.
Engaging in intercourse with your significant other at least once per week provides a number of physiological benefits, such as longevity, pain relief, and, OOPS!, babies! Engaging in weekly intercourse while you’re single, however, can only lead to heartbreak and despair.
So here are the supposed perks of regular sexual activity.
In any case, there finally IS something to help the Health of the Nation. Researchers have finally made the link between regular sex and better physical health. Not necessarily “regular sex,” but “sex on a regular basis.” You could be having crazy kinky Duncanvillian blogtastic sex for all I care. And you probably are. Perverts.
Engaging in intercourse with your significant other at least once per week provides a number of physiological benefits, such as longevity, pain relief, and, OOPS!, babies! Engaging in weekly intercourse while you’re single, however, can only lead to heartbreak and despair.
So here are the supposed perks of regular sexual activity.
- Sex Fights Colds and Flu. Sex can raise the body’s level of the immune-boosting antibody immunoglobin A. If anyone in your office is sneezing, they’re probably frigid.
- Sex is a Beauty Treatment. Studies have shown that people who are having sex like rabbits (four times a week!) look seven to 12 years younger than they really are. Lots of sex raises a woman’s estrogen level, which helps make hair shiny and skin supple. I think the folks at Oil of Oley have been trying to keep this under wraps for years.
- Sex Burns Calories. A whopping four calories a minute, or the equivalent of four in a half hour. Hey Babe, how about some chocolate
- Honey, I Have a Headache. Sex cures headaches. Cancer too.
- Sex Promotes Regular Menstrual Cycles. Yeah, but can it get rid of the menstrual cycle? Oh. Wait.
- Sex Can Prevent Accidents. PEEING accidents. Gross. As women age, the muscles of the pelvic floor are weakened, and these are the same muscles exercised during intercourse. So if you're Speaker Bohner, I'd be getting a new chair at the speakers podium ASAP. There ain't NO way anyone has been near Nancy Pelosi's, uh, legal underpinnings since the mid 70's.
Last Day of Summer
The last day of summer was a celebration in Montevideo. It seemed like half of the city was hanging out on the Rambla drinking mate, people watching, and hanging out with friends.
The Ranbla is the road that runs along the beach. On the beach side of the road there are wide sidewalks and a low wall that makes a great bench.
On an average walk around Uruguay I have seen one in 10 to 20 people with a thermos under their arm, and a mate cup in their hands. There is also an over the shoulder mate kit bag, usually made of leather, that I have seen frequently.
Drinking mate is also a social event. People will not only drink mate in groups, they will pass the cup around to all of their friends.
On the last day of summer there was not only the standard beach events, pickup games of soccer, volleyball, and frisbee, but there were carnival rides, face painting, and other country fair like activities.
In one park I saw two inventive kids sliding down the hill on cardboard. That reminds me that people are still skiing in Idaho. Soon it will be hiking season again.
As the locals were saying goodbye to summer, I was happily thinking this is not the end of summer 2011, but just the beginning of spring in the north. I am looking forward to months of great weather in Boise.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
ID 4 (TX)
So the voter ID bill is being debated on the floor of the Texas House (you can view it live right here). The incredible shrinking Dem caucus will be offering up thousands, if not tens of thousands, of amendments, points-of-order, and temper tantrums in a vain attempt to stall the measure or at least until they can flee to that safe haven of Rockford, Illinois. OMG Road Trip!
Republican supporters of voter ID, including the Republican Hispanic Conference, claim that the legislation will prevent voter fraud and that ago old tradition of keep the polls open in Houston and El Paso long enough to "catch up" in those rare closely contested elections. Democrat opponents of the bill say that the legislation will target the “elderly,” known as “voting by dead people,” and disenfranchise "minority voters" aslo know as "illegal aliens."
You have to show an ID in order to check out a library book, turn on utilities, and, OMG file for unemployment insurance and "benefits", I don't see what the big deal is. Unless you're engaged in voter fraud? Me thinks they doth protest too much!
Republican supporters of voter ID, including the Republican Hispanic Conference, claim that the legislation will prevent voter fraud and that ago old tradition of keep the polls open in Houston and El Paso long enough to "catch up" in those rare closely contested elections. Democrat opponents of the bill say that the legislation will target the “elderly,” known as “voting by dead people,” and disenfranchise "minority voters" aslo know as "illegal aliens."
You have to show an ID in order to check out a library book, turn on utilities, and, OMG file for unemployment insurance and "benefits", I don't see what the big deal is. Unless you're engaged in voter fraud? Me thinks they doth protest too much!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Hotel California
I have heard the Eagle's song
My Uruguayan holiday
Should not last that long
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Montevideo is Safe
Montevideo is so amazingly safe. Tonight I was walking back from a restaurant where I was having a mucho grande cerveza with a friend when I saw something I have never seen in any US city.
On the corner of a small street, in bad light, there was a guy counting his money. He was not looking around, or checking his back. None of his friends were near by protecting him. Just one guy concentrating on how much money he had, while being oblivious to the world.
That is until I tried to get a picture of him. The initial flash caught him off guard. He was rightly suspicious of a mutant tall guy speaking a strange language and wanting to take his picture. But it took a bright light to wake him up to the fact that there might be other people around.
Based on this and other observations, Montevideo is considered a safe place by the people who live here.
On the corner of a small street, in bad light, there was a guy counting his money. He was not looking around, or checking his back. None of his friends were near by protecting him. Just one guy concentrating on how much money he had, while being oblivious to the world.
That is until I tried to get a picture of him. The initial flash caught him off guard. He was rightly suspicious of a mutant tall guy speaking a strange language and wanting to take his picture. But it took a bright light to wake him up to the fact that there might be other people around.
Based on this and other observations, Montevideo is considered a safe place by the people who live here.
Buses in Uruguy
The passengers were from all walks of life and social classes. Everyone was patient and courteous. Much better than flying Southwest out of Vegas.
The countryside is rolling hills covered with farms of green produce. It reminds me a little of Iowa. The roads are as good as in the US, even with passing lanes and good signage.
If you are traveling in Uruguay I highly recommend taking the bus.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Saint Patrick's Day?
Tonight I ate at a little riverside restaurant in Colonia del Sacramento. Here the bartender brings the gin and tonic to your table and pours the drink right in front of you. That way you know you are getting a good amount of gin with your tonic.
Beefeater is not the best gin, but it tasted fine with the warm temperatures, light breeze, and a view of the Silver River.
The river is the border of Uruguay and Argentina. Several times a day there is a fast ferry and a slow ferry that links Buenos Aries and Colonia del Sacramento. This is a fast and convenient way to get out of the city and enjoy the quiet solitude of Colonia.
From Montevideo there is a bus that takes about three hours to get to Colonia. Montevideo is my next destination.
For dinner I had the national meal. Parrilla is a variety plate of barbecued cuts of meat. It was almost too much for me. Of the cuts of meat, my favorite was the sausage. The round cut in the middle was chicken. There is a set of short ribs under the sausage. The salsa served with the plate was flavorful but not too spicy. Unlike their northern Mexican com padres, they do not like spicy food.
TGIF
I believe there is an old Irish proverb that states that if St Patrick's Day falls on a Thursday, you're honor bound to take Friday off. And what better way to do that then to spend the day on the lake! TGIF!!!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Think Pink: A Chain of Tools
Now I know today is St Patty's day, but seeing as I am not Catholic, Irish, and, for the moment, decidedly sober, I will leave the holiday posts to those of you who fit the bill. You know who you are. Given the gravity of the news as of late, I thought we'd look at something our favorite Sheriff is doing to curb drunk driving in the Grand Canyon State.
In Phoenix once convicted of drunk driving you must do the time...in pink That's right, convicted drunk drivers must wear over sized pink t-shirts and PINK UNDERWEAR while performing their community service—grave digging (I thought grave digging was only considered to be community service in Chicago...or was that voter registration. I forget). This begs the question which is worse: burying those sad sacks who died drownding in boxed wine, or wearing pink panties while doing so? Toss-up.
In Phoenix once convicted of drunk driving you must do the time...in pink That's right, convicted drunk drivers must wear over sized pink t-shirts and PINK UNDERWEAR while performing their community service—grave digging (I thought grave digging was only considered to be community service in Chicago...or was that voter registration. I forget). This begs the question which is worse: burying those sad sacks who died drownding in boxed wine, or wearing pink panties while doing so? Toss-up.
Sheriff Joe said he hopes this will be a deterrent to potential drunk drivers. “Maybe this will warn people—knock it off, don’t drink and drive,” Arpaio said. “You’ll end up in pink underwear on the chain gang.” The men’s shirts read “Clean(ing) and Sober” on the front, and “These Are Not Talking Points” on the back.
Arizona has one of the toughest DUI laws in the country. Aside from increased fines and jail time, it mandates ignition-interlock devices for first-time offenders. Imagine having to blow into a breathalyzer on your dashboard before starting your car. It’s almost as pathetic as having to do that before logging on to Amazon.com on or placing that 3:00 AM phone call.
Cheers!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Blame It On Rio
Wow!I think one of the most important things a man can do, even when it pains him, is to stand up and recognize someone with whom he has profound disagreements and admit when they were right. Alright, I'm saying it. Hillary Clinton was correct. It's 3 AM. There's a phone ringing in the white house. And Historic Leader's off to Rio!!
Runin' from that White House, Barry, time to head for paradise
Air Force One's a waitin', I suppose it's very nice
With a lurch to the left, flip the bird to the right
Catch that plane to avoid the test
You know you're somethin' special and they say you dress the best
His name is Barry and his head's stuck beneath the sand
Just like an ostrich, Barry. You haven't got a plan
And when crisis looms you're always on the lam
Oh Barry, Barry, play golf (because you can)
That's right. With an unprecedented crisis in Japan (only one of our biggest allies and trading partners), no budget at home, and the middle east sliding into a region wide civil war Historic Leader has seen fit to take the family down to Rio for his first State Visit to Brazil. Now, I could let this slide if there was some urgent reason for going. Like dealing with any of the three crisis mentioned above, for instance. But, no, Barry is going all the way to Brazil to...wait for it...wait for it...give a speech in Rio's famed Cinelandia Square. (*Spoiler Alert* The speech will be about Barak Obama).
The Obamas will also visit the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mt. Corcodavo. No word if he plans to have the monument updated in his likeness.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Cover Girl
It's been a busy weekend: the mid east going up in flames, earthquakes, tsunamis, and Godzilla wrecking havoc in Japan, and our domestic press wringing their hands on "what this means" for Historic Leader (who clearly won't let crisis on both sides of the globe interrupt his golf game). I see how it's certainly understandable how you might have missed a new release from the bourgeoning Al Qaeda publishing industry. That, or you were all out drinking. Lushes.
Al-Shamikha ("The Majestic Woman" for those of you who slept through Islam sensitivity training) “offers home and beauty tips alongside testimonials from the wives of suicide bombers and female jihadists.” I'm not kidding. We can only assume it will be like Cosmopolitan with out the nudity.
Al-Shamikha ("The Majestic Woman" for those of you who slept through Islam sensitivity training) “offers home and beauty tips alongside testimonials from the wives of suicide bombers and female jihadists.” I'm not kidding. We can only assume it will be like Cosmopolitan with out the nudity.
Al Qaeda also launched an English electronic version of the magazine called Inspire geared towards recruiting American Muslims with such articles as "How to Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom" by the the AQ Chef. Please. Martha Stewart already did that in 2003.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Trial By Jury
The day started out so well. I had a great workout. I was able to side step two totally pointless meetings with lesser clients, and schlep their followup on two of my minions who, for some sick and inexplicable reason, live for long drawn out meetings that are destined to go nowhere.
It wasn't to last. As I sorted though the mail, there it was, mocking me with it's false congratulatory salutations: "Congratulations, Citizen, you have been selected for jury duty." Oh, ya...right. Great. Thanks. I'm sorry I don't have any confetti.
The letter that comes with a summons is always a lot of laughs. I love the line, "State law makes your service as convenient as possible for the majority of our citizens." *cough* Yes, the retired, unemployed, and the unemployable have nothing particular to do with their time, so, ya, it works great for them. However, those of us who do own businesses, have employees--any of you out there who do employ people know what a "joy" that is--and have deadlines/responsibilities it's a real pain in the ass.
Yes, yes, I know. Trial by jury is one of those noble institutions enshrined in the constitution,a sign of a free people, bla bla bla. It's one of those good things that, like health food, is good for you is but about as palatable as milk toast.
I used to be engaged to an lawyer, so, naturally, I have a healthy contempt for attorneys in general. Especially trial lawyers. The prospect of being stuck in a whole nest of them isn't a pleasant one indeed.
Still, it could be worse. A note from the county clerk for jury duty is no where as annoying as a happy gram from the IRS.
It wasn't to last. As I sorted though the mail, there it was, mocking me with it's false congratulatory salutations: "Congratulations, Citizen, you have been selected for jury duty." Oh, ya...right. Great. Thanks. I'm sorry I don't have any confetti.
The letter that comes with a summons is always a lot of laughs. I love the line, "State law makes your service as convenient as possible for the majority of our citizens." *cough* Yes, the retired, unemployed, and the unemployable have nothing particular to do with their time, so, ya, it works great for them. However, those of us who do own businesses, have employees--any of you out there who do employ people know what a "joy" that is--and have deadlines/responsibilities it's a real pain in the ass.
Yes, yes, I know. Trial by jury is one of those noble institutions enshrined in the constitution,a sign of a free people, bla bla bla. It's one of those good things that, like health food, is good for you is but about as palatable as milk toast.
I used to be engaged to an lawyer, so, naturally, I have a healthy contempt for attorneys in general. Especially trial lawyers. The prospect of being stuck in a whole nest of them isn't a pleasant one indeed.
Still, it could be worse. A note from the county clerk for jury duty is no where as annoying as a happy gram from the IRS.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Check 'em At The Curb
I like to think that I'm not searching for something to be lighthearted about as I crawl out from under my throbbing post Fat Tuesday's hangover of doom (thank you Patty O'Brien's), but how could you not get a chuckel at this headline.
The toddler is just fine so don’t get all upset. I’ll tell you what’s upsetting. Opening up the overhead bin to find a toddler there drinking apple juice out of a sippy cup. In fact, the MSY concourse B it's crawling with toddlers. OMG It's just like the pink elephants on parade sequence from Dumbo!?!
Anyway. Natalie Williamson was traveling with her 17-month-old son Riley and her now clearly estranged husband from Fiji to Sydney, Australia. According to Riley’s mother, one of the flight attendants, who has since been fired, picked up the toddler, placed him in the overhead bin, and shut the door. All I can think is that he didn’t fit under the seat in front of Williamson so naturally he had to be put in the bin.
While the airline is not denying the incident took place, it claims that it was Williamson’s husband, not the accused flight attendant, who put Riley up in the bin to play peek-a-boo. (Oh come on. Like you’ve never wanted to do that before.) The flight attendant merely joined in the fun. I mean, assuming the toddler’s secure for takeoff, I don’t see what the big deal is.
However Williamson, who says Riley was locked in the bin for about 10 seconds in complete darkness, claims that her son now suffers from severe anxiety and withdrawal. Because of ten seconds? Please. I’ve been locked in the full body scanner longer than that.
<File outrageous lawsuit here>
BTW if any of you happen to have Larry Hagman's liver donor list, let me know. I think I'm gonna need it!
The toddler is just fine so don’t get all upset. I’ll tell you what’s upsetting. Opening up the overhead bin to find a toddler there drinking apple juice out of a sippy cup. In fact, the MSY concourse B it's crawling with toddlers. OMG It's just like the pink elephants on parade sequence from Dumbo!?!
Anyway. Natalie Williamson was traveling with her 17-month-old son Riley and her now clearly estranged husband from Fiji to Sydney, Australia. According to Riley’s mother, one of the flight attendants, who has since been fired, picked up the toddler, placed him in the overhead bin, and shut the door. All I can think is that he didn’t fit under the seat in front of Williamson so naturally he had to be put in the bin.
While the airline is not denying the incident took place, it claims that it was Williamson’s husband, not the accused flight attendant, who put Riley up in the bin to play peek-a-boo. (Oh come on. Like you’ve never wanted to do that before.) The flight attendant merely joined in the fun. I mean, assuming the toddler’s secure for takeoff, I don’t see what the big deal is.
However Williamson, who says Riley was locked in the bin for about 10 seconds in complete darkness, claims that her son now suffers from severe anxiety and withdrawal. Because of ten seconds? Please. I’ve been locked in the full body scanner longer than that.
<File outrageous lawsuit here>
BTW if any of you happen to have Larry Hagman's liver donor list, let me know. I think I'm gonna need it!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
2012: The Anti-Choice
In case you've been living under a rock for the past two years, you might not know today is the big day. Well, not the big day, but the first big day out of a lot of other days in campaign 2012. The first big crop of candidates have declared that they're NOT running for the White House this go round.
Indeed, the networks have been all a twitter about the great GOP Exodus. That is to say, two candidates who have said repeatedly they're not running and one more you'd never heard of unless you live in North Dakota. Clearly this proves beyond the shadow of a doubt the great political prowess of our dear Historic Leader and the great inevitability that he alone can unite and transform a nation. Uh Right. I'll take what's behind the curtain, Monty.
Maybe we're going about this all wrong. Perhaps the best way to bring the nation together in this day and age isn't to look for a white night to lead us to the shining city on the hill. Maybe the best thing for us to do is to elect the one candidate we all can hate the most.
To that end, I give you Ron Paul.
No, really. It's not the liquor talking. Hear me out on this.
It's clear that no one, including me, is all hot and bothered for anyone who might want the job. In fact, I can't think of a time when the public has ever felt so uninspired by everyone. Weren't we all just suckered into Change We Can Believe In?
Now think about President Paul. Don't' worry, I'll wait until your spasm passes. Feeling better? Good! Can you think of any candidate out there guaranteed to throw both parties into collective fits? I'll bet the Honeymoon doesn't make it past the Inaugural Address. When he moves to abolish the Federal Reserve, return to the Gold Standard, and the rest of his 1000 points of crazy the two warring sides will have no choice but to ban together to stop the lunacy. Paul's craziness is such a haphazard and bizzare checkerboard of the ideological spectrum that neither party will have the upper hand.
There is another bright point to all of this. Both parties will be so busy trying to keep Paul in check that they won't have the time or the energy to dream up new and creative ways to blow the national piggy bank. They'd also be too preoccupied to meddle in our affairs as citizens. What bliss! I can't think of a better recipe to tell our elected representatives to buzz off.
Indeed, the networks have been all a twitter about the great GOP Exodus. That is to say, two candidates who have said repeatedly they're not running and one more you'd never heard of unless you live in North Dakota. Clearly this proves beyond the shadow of a doubt the great political prowess of our dear Historic Leader and the great inevitability that he alone can unite and transform a nation. Uh Right. I'll take what's behind the curtain, Monty.
Maybe we're going about this all wrong. Perhaps the best way to bring the nation together in this day and age isn't to look for a white night to lead us to the shining city on the hill. Maybe the best thing for us to do is to elect the one candidate we all can hate the most.
To that end, I give you Ron Paul.
No, really. It's not the liquor talking. Hear me out on this.
It's clear that no one, including me, is all hot and bothered for anyone who might want the job. In fact, I can't think of a time when the public has ever felt so uninspired by everyone. Weren't we all just suckered into Change We Can Believe In?
Now think about President Paul. Don't' worry, I'll wait until your spasm passes. Feeling better? Good! Can you think of any candidate out there guaranteed to throw both parties into collective fits? I'll bet the Honeymoon doesn't make it past the Inaugural Address. When he moves to abolish the Federal Reserve, return to the Gold Standard, and the rest of his 1000 points of crazy the two warring sides will have no choice but to ban together to stop the lunacy. Paul's craziness is such a haphazard and bizzare checkerboard of the ideological spectrum that neither party will have the upper hand.
There is another bright point to all of this. Both parties will be so busy trying to keep Paul in check that they won't have the time or the energy to dream up new and creative ways to blow the national piggy bank. They'd also be too preoccupied to meddle in our affairs as citizens. What bliss! I can't think of a better recipe to tell our elected representatives to buzz off.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Schaden Pigeon
Now you know I'd rather walk on my lips than take a little pleasure in John Edward's continued legal woes...but, he's just hired former White House counsel Greg Craig to represent him in his possible probable grand jury indictment. For those of you who were too drunk to remember the late 90's (and by those of you, I mean all of you) Greg Craig was the point man who defended then President Clinton in his post-pizza-depends-on-your-definition-of-sex fling with Monica Lewinski.
Edwards is facing indictment over charges that his campaign donors paid Rielle Hunter hush money out of his campaign funds. The court is also looking for the alleged sex tape of Edwards and Hunter. Ewww I don't know what Human Rights Watch is doing in these post GW Bush days, but perhaps they could do the world a service and make sure that tape is destroyed. The prospect of having to see Rielle and John perform "Son of a Mill Worker" makes waterboarding sound downright fun.
We now also know who leaked the story to the National Enquirer. A woman named...Pigeon O'Brien (and, yes, she looks EXACTLY liked you'd picture her). Seems that ol' Pieg knew Rielle when she went by the name Lisa Druck (what is it with Libs and names) in the 80's. The two reconnected at a party in 2004 where a star struck Rielle told Pigeon that she was dating a man named "John" from "North Carolina." Now, I always assume my friends are dating presidential candidates unless they tell me otherwise, so I can see how she got 2 + 2 = the Breck Girl. Needless to say her phone started ringing off the hook.
Pigeon puts it best:
Edwards is facing indictment over charges that his campaign donors paid Rielle Hunter hush money out of his campaign funds. The court is also looking for the alleged sex tape of Edwards and Hunter. Ewww I don't know what Human Rights Watch is doing in these post GW Bush days, but perhaps they could do the world a service and make sure that tape is destroyed. The prospect of having to see Rielle and John perform "Son of a Mill Worker" makes waterboarding sound downright fun.
We now also know who leaked the story to the National Enquirer. A woman named...Pigeon O'Brien (and, yes, she looks EXACTLY liked you'd picture her). Seems that ol' Pieg knew Rielle when she went by the name Lisa Druck (what is it with Libs and names) in the 80's. The two reconnected at a party in 2004 where a star struck Rielle told Pigeon that she was dating a man named "John" from "North Carolina." Now, I always assume my friends are dating presidential candidates unless they tell me otherwise, so I can see how she got 2 + 2 = the Breck Girl. Needless to say her phone started ringing off the hook.
Pigeon puts it best:
"The trickle of calls began to swell. My phone rang a lot. It became a daily issue, hiding what I knew. I was a lobster in a pot at full boil, without knowing how the water got so hot."Clearly the stress was so great she took the check from the National Enquirer. Two lessons here. One: trust no one. Two: NEVER confide your innermost personal secrets to a publicist who has a name that suggests ratting you out.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
May the Islamic Caliphate Be Forever Dead
Today, March 3rd, in 1924 the Islamic Caliphate in what is now Turkey, ended. The world owes a debt of gratitude to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first President of Turkey. He was the revolutionary statesman that created the country of Turkey as a secular state out of the ashes of the Caliphate after WW1. This set back the goals of radical Muslims by proving that Muslims can be prosperous and western without losing their culture. Secular Turkey also created a buffer zone between the radical Muslims and the west. Without which Europe would be Islamic today.
There are many economic, and human rights issues that I do not agree with Mustafa Kemal about. The important thing is what he got right. Radical Muslims that want to kill everyone, including themselves can be overcome by the right leader. And in so doing, that leader can make the world a better, more peaceful place.
This is important to note when today the Muslim world is rioting against their governments. These riots are primarily caused by the rising cost of food worldwide. The wildfires in Russia and droughts throught Asia and Europe has caused the price of wheat and other staple foods to increase dramatically. In fact Russia has stopped exporting wheat.
The price of food was just the tipping point. All of these riots are organized by the opportunistic Muslim Brotherhood, an international organization that has as it’s stated goal to create a new Islamic Caliphate. The Caliphate by definition, in the Koran, is a religious state with the worst possible set of rules for everyone except the rulers. Husbands are commanded to beat their wives, everyone has to follow the will of the Mufti on pain of death, and petty crimes are punished with grisly amputations and stonings. This is not the type of world that I want to live in, and I thank Mustafa Kemal Atatürk that I did not have to grow up in such a world. I pray that there is another leader in the Muslim world that can do a similar thing for Egypt, Libya, and the rest of the Muslim countries that overthrow their leadership.
May the Islamic Caliphate be forever dead. Thank you
Annie Git Yer Gun
Yet another reason why we *heart* Florida. From a marketing standpoint, I think this campaign is brilliant. Can you think of any better way to ensure free wall to wall media coverage to get your message out than tweaking weak tea crybaby hand wringing media types?
"If you like deer heads mounted on the wall, you probably like trucks. And if you like trucks you probably like guns." Translation: OMG Armed Tea Partiers. We're all gonna DIE!!!!!Ready yourself for a delightfully heavy handed overreaction from Sec Napalitoano in Five...Four..Three...
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Just Say Any Crazy Thing You Like
You know it’s going to be one of “those days” when you wake up to find the dishwasher stuck and the Phelp’s family gloating on TV (hold your nose, my friends, this, sadly, isn’t a parody). The Supreme Court just held in an 8 – 1 ruling (Justice Alito was the lone dissenter) that the Westboro Baptist Church is free to continue protesting military funerals.
For those of you lucky enough not to be acquainted with the Phelp’s family or their so called “church” of crazy, they’re the whack jobs who have been protesting military funerals (and just about everything else you can think of) with the big “God Hates Fags” signs. In the 90’s they protested at funerals of AIDS victims claiming the deaths was God’s judgment against sin (i.e. homosexuality, promiscuity, having sex in positions other than the missionary take your pick) For the past few years they’ve been protesting military funerals under the guise that the death of our soldiers is some form of divine retribution against American hairdressers. Seriously.
I must admit that I’m torn on this one. I agree with Chief Justice Roberts intellectually. I’d be the world’s biggest hypocrite if I were to say otherwise. But…*ugh* I wish I could.
There is no other way to say it: the Westboro “Baptist Church” is vile. I feel physically ill at the notion that the constitution, created by men of reason in the age of enlightenment, a document crafted to stand sentinel over a free people safeguarding their right to lead orderly productive lives free from interference of king or state, should be used to prop up the Phep’s brand of spited bigotry. However, we don’t get to cherry pick. Just like the Klan, the NAZI’s or Code Pink, the right of free speech is extended to all. To restrict it would do far greater harm than the Pheps’ of the world could ever dream of doing. For now, we’re going to be stuck listening to a lot of gloating. In the meantime NOTE TO EVERYONE: Ignore these losers! It’s the only way they’re ever going to go away.
Nekkid Twister, R.I.P.
It would appear the party has come to an end on Cedar Ridge Drive in Duncanville, TX. This Dallas suburb is the unlikely home to the Cherry Pit, a local swingers club. Personally, I must admit I have a soft spot in my heart for naked twister but, neighborhood complaints have brought about a city ordinance banning businesses that promote live sex acts.
Props to the AP for that line. They're normally not that funny on purpose.
The concerns about traffic and the effects on property value are legitimate. One of the reasons why we zone areas residential or commercial is to avoid this problem. For some reason, I don't think that is the push for the city ordinance.
What we do in our own bedrooms, living rooms, and sometimes the hot tub is no ones business but our own. Frankly, I don't even want to know what goes on next door. But that's another story.
No doubt this will go to court and the attorneys for both the city of Duncanvile and the swingers of Cedar Ridge will be enriched. Personally, I like a no cost solution. Just put a sign on the door reading "Si non oscillas, noli tintinnar." [for those of you who slept though Latin I & II "don't ring if you don't swing."]
Props to the AP for that line. They're normally not that funny on purpose.
The concerns about traffic and the effects on property value are legitimate. One of the reasons why we zone areas residential or commercial is to avoid this problem. For some reason, I don't think that is the push for the city ordinance.
What we do in our own bedrooms, living rooms, and sometimes the hot tub is no ones business but our own. Frankly, I don't even want to know what goes on next door. But that's another story.
No doubt this will go to court and the attorneys for both the city of Duncanvile and the swingers of Cedar Ridge will be enriched. Personally, I like a no cost solution. Just put a sign on the door reading "Si non oscillas, noli tintinnar." [for those of you who slept though Latin I & II "don't ring if you don't swing."]
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
California Dreamin'
Ah, memories. It's fun to go back to those carefree days when we believed there such things as hope, change, and shovel ready jobs. In that bygone era (you know, like six months ago) President Obama toured Solyndra, Inc, one of the new extra fab shovel-ready-stimulus-funded wet dreams that would fix the economy, save the planet, and make the kids do their homework before spending all night on facebook.
The Bamster touted the $535 Million spent created 3,000 construction job that built the factory as well as the 1,000 "long term new jobs" that would surely follow. But, alas, it wasn't to be. Two months prior to Historic Leader’s visit, PricewaterhouseCoopers issued a report on Solyndra's IPO cast doubt on the ventures viability because, well, they weren't making any money. Bummer. Since then Solyndra has announced that it will shut down its old plant, lay off 200 permanent and temporary works, and mothball any ideas of expansion. But don't worry, the $535 Million taxpayers sunk into the company did create 3,000 temporary construction jobs. Math wasn't my best subject but I think that comes around to about 180,000 per job.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not summarily opposed to energy diversification, and there are many promising green technologies out there. Heck, I invest in a few of them. The problem here, as with the stimulus in general, is the notion that throwing money at a problem solves it (see education *ugh*). If President Obama (and more than a few in the GOP Congressional caucus who seem to be addicted to corporate welfare) are really serious about creating jobs and opening up new technologies they would focus on fostering an environment pro to business development (i.e. get some regulatory certainty, cut red tape, remove new mandates on small business and quit scaring the bejesus out of everyone). Until then, we will have to wait until Congressional over site discovers just how much money flushed down the proverbial drain via TARP and the Stimulus. My advice, invest in Gray Goose. We're going to need it.
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