Mostly Boring

The Hurricane

2008-09-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

Or several as the case may be. Perhaps it's just the three year anniversary of Katrina but there seem to be more hurricanes lately. Or as I said, it's just that we are more aware of them right now. I was in Baton Rouge the week before Gustav and everyone there was very interested in staying safe -- be it holed up on high ground or getting the hell out of dodge. I guess that some of us are capable of learning from history.

Though with Gustav's miss I wonder how many will take Ike seriously...

You always learn something new

2008-06-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight I learned two things:

1. Everclear does a pretty decent show -- even if it was a free show. Entertaining, and like I said, free.
2. Stella (the beer) and asparagus does not a good urinal experience make.

And with that.....

The Cure

2008-06-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

Saw The Cure live the other day and I have to say, they can bring it. Robert Smith was not feeling well but he sucked it up and did the entire show. Not many of the new kids today would do that but he's a pro and that's why they are still packing auditoriums. It was fun to see the 40 somethings in their loafers and polo shirts next to the young goths and both having the same good time (aside from a few askance glances that seemed to say "wow, that's not me man" from both sides) everyone got along just fine.

In fact, the dude behind us, a 45 year old businessman brought his teenage daughter and her friends and they all knew the words and sang with great gusto. I have to think that this was one of the few times in their current lives that they do the same thing together and both enjoy it. Nice to see actually.

Big changes

2007-11-15T12:10:00.001-08:00

My small company just got bought today by a big company. I wonder how this will end......

another one

2007-11-01T21:00:00.001-07:00

Easier to Run. Linkin Park.

A ton of great stuff: Easier to Run, Faint, Breaking the Habit, and In the End. I suppose if I had to pick one it would be Easier to Run and hence it ends up on the list. Awesome.

What kind of Liberal are you.

2007-10-28T08:09:00.001-07:00

My Liberal Identity:

You are a Peace Patroller, also known as an anti-war liberal or neo-hippie. You believe in putting an end to American imperial conquest, stopping wars that have already been lost, and supporting our troops by bringing them home.

Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com

A 5 year leads us

2007-10-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

Holy effing crap. I just caught bits of the presser than our glorious leader gave today and in particular, the answers to David Gregory strike me as being less well though out than what I get from my 5 year old. Seriously. We are being lead by a stupid stupid fucking man.

I am too depressed to continue. I will go wake up my afore mentioned 5 year old and have a far more intelligent discussion....

Added one more

2007-10-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

Sober by Tool. They have a ton of awesome stuff (in fact the entire AEnima CD absolutely rocks). Schism from Lateralus gets high marks as well.

Sober, however, was the first most of us heard from Tool and perhaps for that reason has a special place in my collection. In addition, and this is really what counts, is that it could be biographical for most of us -- on either side of the coin as is were.

Islamic jihadists....not so much

2007-10-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

CNN reports today that the vast majority of "terrorism cases" as pitched by the administration turn out to be anything but. Of the 510 cases marketed as terrorism, 158 were actually prosecuted as such and only four were ultimately convicted. Pretty damn impressive....

I suppose I'm not surprised because we've always known that to this administration the illusion of competence and progress has always usurped actual competence.

Drunk people

2007-10-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

I noticed something tonight. People who are really drunk have similar fine motor control that is similar to that of my two year old. In fact, I think my two year old has better fine motor control -- I say this because I was watching her try and button a shirt and it looked like watching drunk roommates from college. Except my daughter is far cuter.

Music Favorites

2007-09-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

Going through my iPod right now and trying to determine, out of the 5000+ songs I have, which are the best. Or more accurately, which music I want on my new(ish) Nano. I've got 5000+ songs and room for 150+/- on the new player. Obviously somethings going to give.

Setting my rankings for some songs and sorting these to the top and playing some others at the same time. I've got seven songs set to 5 stars right now. They are:

Alive, Pearl Jam
Alive Alone, The Chemical Brothers
Angel, Massive Attack
Communion, Killing Joke
How Soon is Now, The Smiths
Knights of Cydonia, Muse

Of these the top three are Alive, Angel and How Soon is Now. The reasons? Varied but essentially I love the way they make me feel -- from the total jam that is Alive (loved it from the very first time I heard it way back when), to the emotional trip that is Angel and how I think of people I've been close to during this song, to the best of my best How Soon is Now. Takes me to difficult places I've been that Morrissey captures so perfectly and the guitar of Johnny Marr is perhaps the best ever.

I'm sure there is at least one from Korn, Bauhaus, The Cure, Green Day, Joy Division, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Pink Floyd and Red Hot Chili Peppers that I've just not quite found or decided on yet.

My point is two fold: First, it's hard ranking songs and Second, I've got a ton of music on my iPod. A third point, if I may, is that this was triggered by a CD I just received from a friend and it has made me reconsider my music and why I listen. So Thanks and thanks.

Dog walking

2007-07-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

One of those times when you just need a camera. Saw a kid walking his dog today in our neighborhood, wearing his Michael Vick jersey.

Some stories just write themselves...

The Smiths

2007-07-23T08:57:00.001-07:00

Getting back into listening to these guys a bit more lately. Something about my life right now seems to need the sad crooning and melodic guitar of this great band. I think what triggered it was hearing How Soon is Now a couple of weeks ago -- everyone's all time favorite Smiths song even if you don't admit it to anyone.

Not having actively listened to these guys since, well, the early 90s I suppose, I had forgotten just how good their entire inventory is, not just the hits but everything. Not really any weakness anywhere.

Shame they won't ever get back together. A while back we were at a Violent Femmes show (yes, they are still a group) and someone asked, "Who would you stand in line to see?". I answered The Smiths and that's about it (pending the afterlife enabled reunion of Joy Division at least).

So who would you stand in line to see?

Tour de France

2007-07-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

I'd like to blame my lack of posting on watching the tour, it's a lie but I'd like to nonetheless. The Chicken (Rasmussen) is looking good; though I've not yet seen today's stage results. I was looking at Evans until he dropped 90 seconds yesterday. It's really Rasmussen's to lose at this point.

Check out www.podiumcafe.com for some really good analysis.

Tucker is an.....ass

2007-03-05T20:54:00.001-08:00

Sent to MSNBC.

Tucker,

Seriously, you need to actually pay attention to the world around you before commenting on, well, anything it seems. During your March 5th show you discussed the scandal at Walter Reed either said or agreed with your guests that this shows that the VA and the government in general should not be involved in providing health care. Clearly your mind is firmly set in this matter.

However, if you'd please pay attention you'd know that 1) Walter Reed is run by the Dept of the Army and not the VA and 2) the Bush administration privatized a great deal of the operations at Walter Reed in early 2006. Please watch and learn at this link: javascript:playerPopUp('http://www.crooksandliars.com/Media/Play/14893/1/TSR-WalterReed-Privitization.wmv/','340','300')

If you don't have time to watch the story, I'll paraphrase. The administration outsourced this to an ex Haliburton exec and this company, IAP Worldwide Services, can't do much of anything correctly. Recall that they couldn't send any ice to New Orleans after Katrina. Though to be fair, in this administration the best way to get promoted or receive more contracts is to fail.

Tucker, next time, read the news before you go on the air. It will do wonders for your credibility.

Senator Graham, please stop.

2007-03-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen too many comments regarding the way too smug by half appearance on Meet the Press by Senator Graham yesterday. This guy is good but he's still nothing more than a mindless shill for the President. Dude needs to wake up and smell the coffee I think.

Sent to his office this morning:

Dear Senator Graham,

I do not live in South Carolina, and in truth have been there only once for just a few minutes, but I had to pass this along. I watched your performance yesterday on Meet the Press and was, well, appalled. Do you actually believe the stuff you say or do you say it in order to continue to carry the water for this failed administration and it's failed policy in Iraq.

I would hope, and you've always seemed, that you are smart than how you sounded yesterday. The sooner that we all recognize that the war in Iraq is a mistake the sooner we can bring our troops home. While I do feel a certain amount of sympathy for the Iraqi's, there is nothing we can do at this late date to make the situation over there better for them. I have to add that if you want to improve the lives of suffering people, take a look at Darfur and send a few dollars that way -- bigger bang for your buck.

Anyway, I just wanted to pass my comments on and while I realize you've a great deal invested personally in this war please, stand up and do what's right for our troops and for America.

Ah, censorship

2007-03-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

Sent to the Kansas Board of Power after this article was pulled by a judge. Loves me my Google cache.

I read this morning that your lawyers had successfully convinced a judge to force the Pitch and the KC Star to remove the report that you'd, well, lied about upgrades to three power plants.

Wouldn't it have been better to actually have done the upgrades to the plants?

Besides, the articles have made the cache of Google and are there for all to see. Not to mention, this heavy handed legal approach has forced far more eyes on your failure to protect the environment than had you just let the newspaper print the stories.

Censorship just does not work.

Library Thing

2007-03-02T21:56:00.000-08:00

This is really freakin' cool. Interesting how many books I have in my library that no one else seems to have. Must be the Political Science coursework.....

Starting to really hate HP

2007-02-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

Sent to HP. I'm holding my breath....

Wow. I recently purchased a 5610 and while this is a capable machine, I was shocked to learn I cannot use the replacement print cartridge #57. I am forced to use the smaller replacement cartridge #22 and therefore my per page cost has increased dramatically.

Why did HP decide to basically steal from their customers by not making the #57 cartridge work with the 5610. I realize that profits are lagging but still.

Not that it matters but as I sit here typing on my HP laptop (or perhaps it's my spare HP laptop or my HP desktop) and looking at my 19" HP monitor I have to wonder just how many more HP products I will purchase. I have 3 HP printers and I'm pretty sure that's the limit (of the # of HP printers I own not to mention my patience).

So that's it, I won't be purchasing any more HP until your company decides to treat consumers in a respectable manner. We are not stupid and we figure this kind of shady "stuff" out and believe me, it will affect your bottom line more than if you'd have done the right thing from the start. And yes, my letter won't change your behavior one bit which is really more than a bit sad.

So Long HP. Good luck with all that.

If not Clinton, then Carter

2007-02-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

This is simply amazing, Minority leader Boehner has just placed the blame for the Iraq war firmly at the feet of Jimmy Carter. He actually says, "America did not start this war". There is a hint of blame left with Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton and only Bush II was able to finally grow the pair of brass ones to take the fight to the terrorists in Iraq. You know, the guys who've been attacking us since 1979.

The breathtaking audacity of this claim is truly stunning and I suppose goes a long ways to explaining why we are in the pile of shit today that we are.

Kids and Hyenas

2007-02-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

Random thought here but does anyone else think that kids are a bit like hyenas and we parents a bit like the lion. Case in point, a couple of lions will kill a, say, wildebeest and while eating said lunch will suddenly find themselves put upon by a pack roaming hyenas and eventually chased off the kill. The hyenas then gleefully finish off lunch while the helpless lions watch. Now compare this to when the human equivalent of the lion, the parent, goes to the pantry and rather than killing a wildebeest, grabs a bad of chips and sits down to enjoy them. Suddenly the parent will find themselves put upon by a roaming pack of children and rather quickly the parent will be chased off the kill, or in this case the bag of chips, and will be forced to watch the children/hyenas devour the chips/wildebeest. Much like the lions, the parents are powerless to stop this.

I don't know, just a thought.

Why there will be no impeachment

2007-02-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

It occurred to me today while reading about another set of lies by the Bush Administration (no link required -- they are everywhere) that the reason we'll not see this Congress impeach the impeachable one is due entirely to the impeachment of Clinton.

When an overly eager Congress impeached Clinton for lying about the Lewinski affair public opinion did not follow their lead. In fact, Clinton was able to ride this to all time personal approval highs which were mirrored by record low approval ratings for Congress. I think by every definition, the gambit by the House leadership failed.

There lies the rub. The American public, this close after Clinton, will not support the time and effort it takes to impeach -- no doubt encouraged by the right wing noise machine. The argument will be made, perhaps correctly, that better effort can and should be spent figuring a way out of the morass we are in rather than "looking back" to see how we got in this mess.

So I guess this is something else we can blame on Clinton. Typical.

Sean Hannity is a

2007-01-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

Wow, watching Sean discuss Iran with General Wes Clark was just plain embarrassing. The guy, Hannity, has absolutely no clue how the world works and was schooled in International Diplomacy by Clark. Seems Sean just wants to go straight into Iran because Ahmadinejad is a madman who cannot be reasoned with. And for some reason Hannity kept bringing up the fact that Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust and for that very reason, cannot be talked to. I mean, its one thing to believe that Israel is an important ally and another to, well, go off the edge like Hannity.

It was good to see Clark patiently explain to Sean that the international world can be a scary place but really, we need to talk to our enemies before we invade -- you know, like Iraq.

I've always thought Hannity was an ass and this just confirms that.

It's good to be the king.

2007-01-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

This is possibly the funniest thing I've seen all year (ok, so it's only January but still).

Joe Liberman sucks donkey *&^%

2006-08-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

Dear DSCC,

I was shocked to read this morning that Joe Lieberman is going to campaign with Republican House members today at the Groton sub base.

It's time for the DSCC to take a stand and let Mr. Lieberman know that he's got to get out. Take away his senority in the Senate, have Senators Reid, Schumer, Clinton and the Big Dog himself put the hammer down on Joe. He lost, get over it, become a lobbyist. Seriously, this is threatening our chance to take over the House this fall and that will just not do.

I know you are all chummy friends but with friends like Joe, who needs Republicans.

Blow that sucka up

2006-08-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I'm surprised, indeed, I really am not surprised anymore when our government blows something so far out of proportion as to be fiction. I mean, this group has been doing this since day one.

However, the London bombing plot seems to have taken things to an ever higher place on the crying wolf chart. Binary explosions, as the article discusses, are really more at home in the movies than in reality. But then again, this group has their collective heads so far up their collective asses perhaps movies are actually more real than reality.

Dear Senator Roberts

2006-06-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

Sent 6/23/06.

Dear Senator Roberts, I read a disturbing article today in the National Review Online by Byron York which indicates that, in essence, Phase II of the Intelligence Committee's review of Pre War Intelligence is dead. According to this article, the primary reason for this is your insistence that pre war statements by the Legislative Branch be included.

I ask, why? The Legislative Branch, indeed, even the Clinton Administration, is not who took us to war in Iraq. That alone belongs to the current Administration. Statements by others have no bearing on this fact, nor do they impact the quality and USE of the pre war intelligence.

Senator Roberts, as one of your fellow Kansans I urge you to stop playing politics with this critical report. The United States must ensure that mistakes like this war in Iraq are never made again and this power resides in your hands.

Now I would have liked to include something to the effect that by holding up the inquiry he's basically being Bush's bitch and to grow a pair of real balls and get this moving. However, since he's the chairman of the Intelligence committee I figure that if I say that Gitmo here I come.

Police state here we come

2006-06-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

I'm sure others with more legal understanding will fully analyze this decision but I have to point out, we're fucked. The Right Wing got what they wanted with Roberts and Alito and now it's time to pay that bill. The problem is that we all have to pay up and I for one am not happy.

And so much for that crap about respecting previous decisions of the court. Pretty much lied during their confirmation hearings. Though that appears nothing new for the right side of the court -- yes I'm talking about you judge pervert, er, Thomas.

Welcome to the new 21st century America, where individual freedoms must give way to Government intrusion and corporate profits. Have fun.

Cheney, Hannity and the wingnuts

2006-06-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

VP Dick "go eff yourself" Cheney was on the Sean Hannity show today, and don't ask why I was listening, long story. Anyway, Sean asked Dick about Murtha* and Iraq and Dick's answer was telling. In part he said, the "cut and run" crowd, which includes Murtha, don't understand, "what we are trying to accomplish" in Iraq. I got thinking, just exactly what are we trying to accomplish over there?

Sure there are the public reasons the Administration has given us for being in Iraq: find WMDs, overthrow Saddam, bring democracy to Iraq, bring democracy to the region, etc. However, these are, at their heart, bullshit. OK, the NeoCons who started this thing may have had the lofty, if not a bit naive, goal of turning Iraq into a Democracy and hopefully use this to spread Democracy out into the region.

However, does anyone with more than about two years of undergraduate Political Science actually think this could work? I mean, I took one Middle East Poli Sci class 20 years ago and even I knew that the various religious sects would be unable to coexist. One class, 20 years ago.

So the question remains, what does Dick think we are trying to accomplish over there? After everything else is peeled away you are left with two items: oil and military bases.

If that is indeed the case why can’t the Democrats find a better way, hell, any way, to frame this debate as such. Push back on the GWOT, the fight them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here crap, the democracy fantasy. Why not push the meme that you don’t fight terrorism and terrorists like a conventional enemy. Just keep pushing that story. Then tie that into why it’s a bad idea to stay in Iraq for the long term – they don’t freakin’ want us there. Adopt Murtha’s over the horizon approach and get everyone to agree that this is the best approach. I haven’t seen recent poll numbers but my gut tells me this would fly. We need something.

We are getting killed by the wingnuts because in part we don’t have a good story. Perhaps Reid and Pelosi are working on something in the background and perhaps they will roll in out this summer, god I hope so.

*And how the fuck do these chickenhawks get away with impugning the reputation of a retired and decorated Marine like Murtha. Why the fuck do we let them get away with this. Every time a Democrat is on Russert or Tweety or anywhere ask that question, “how can these people, who never served, who used five deferments, question his patriotism”.

Lewis Black. Now that's funny

2006-06-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Saw the last half of Lewis Black, Red White and Screwed last night on TV. I think I wet myself. This guy is really funny. I mean, I always liked his bits on The Daily Show but on HBO, where he can really let loose, is something that cannot be missed.

I'm going to have to watch this again just so I can share some of the better bits. To be honest, I was laughing too hard to make any notes. That's good though, right?

God I love Microsoft

2006-06-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

My day job has me dealing with Microsoft, or their software at least, on a regular basis, and I have to tell you, I don't care for this all that much. No sir, not at all. Thus far, on this Tuesday, this patch Tuesday, they've released 8 critical patches (and counting) plus a number of important ones.

Seriously.

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way Internet Explorer handles exceptional conditions. As a result, system memory may be corrupted in such a way that an attacker could execute arbitrary code if a user visited a specially crafted Web site. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system.

There is a remote code execution vulnerability in the way that Windows handles ART images. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted ART image that could potentially allow remote code execution if a user visited a Web site or viewed a specially crafted e-mail message. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system.

There is a remote code execution vulnerability in JScript. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing specially crafted JScript that could potentially allow remote code execution if a user visited a Web site or viewed a specially crafted e-mail message. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system.

You get the idea.

Sure I understand that software is a complex thing and hackers are always looking for an angle but still, one has to think that this is extreme. Compare this to the Mac OS or Linux or any flavor of Unix and yeah, the code is weak.

Countdown 1, O'Reilly 0

2006-06-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

Ouch. Olbermann lets Bill have it with both barrels. Good stuff.

Gore on Today

2006-05-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

Gore is good. Couric and actually not too irritating. Good to see he's getting the positive spin and news from the MSM. Of course, the right is going bonkers (ha ha).

That ole Faux News

2006-05-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Last night, and frankly I don't even know which show as I just happened across the bit, Faux news made a big deal about the Dixie Chick's new album and the fact it was only 38th on the country playlist. Guess they missed this little gem. Wankers.

Stephen Colbert rules

2006-05-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

Sent to Countdown.

Dear Countdown,

Please forward a copy of this to your esteemed guest, Dana Milbank who I watched last night (May 1, 2006) on Countdown. In response to his segment on Stephen Colbert's appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner this weekend I would say, "deal with it". For some reason, to be covered below, Mr. Milbank (who is usually dead on) said that Colbert was not funny and past his prime. Personally, I thought he killed.

The reason Mr. Milbank, and indeed the majority of the American press establishment, thinks that Colbert was not funny is that he was far too accurate in his use of irony and sarcasm. The press could not laugh at Mr. Colbert for to do so would have been to admit their own complicity in this administrations war on a free press. To laugh at Mr. Colbert would have meant laughing at their own fawning stupidity in the face of continued and blatant lying by the administration.

So enough about the poor unfortunate (last night anyway) Mr. Milbank and more about the talented and courageous Mr. Olbermann. Thank you Keith, if I may be so familiar, for doing what you are doing. You speak truth to power and I for one appreciate this greatly.

Good read

2006-04-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

I just finished Jeffrey Eugenides' book Middlesex. A very good read. His choice to use first person narrative for the book, which includes a tremendously interesting history lesson had to be a great challenge to write but is a great please to read.

I'd put this on the recommended reading list.

I hate commercials

2006-04-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

I hate commercials. That's a pretty standard statement but I really do hate them. For instance, Flomax, the new male piss drug warns about decreased semen. So my 6 year old prompty asks, "daddy, what's semen?". How to explain this to a 6 year old and why fuck do these drug companies do this. I had to deflect an explanation to the same 6 year old about what a greater than 4 hour erection is during the NFL playoffs. So my question to the drug companies is this, do you watch these commercials with your kids? Seriously, I hate them (the commercials and the drug companies as well).

As an aside, the marketing genius that created the name Flomax for a piss drug. Brilliant. Fuckers.

It's only a leak if I say it is.

2006-04-11T03:16:00.000-07:00

So let me get this straight. The President, by his very nature, is above the law and can do pretty much whatever he wants (minus the ole blowjob).

Lying about intelligence -- check
Outing a CIA operative -- check
Leaking secret documents -- check
Spying on Americans -- check

And the list goes on. Seriously, it is starting to look more like a monarchy around here every day. All hail King George.

F1 fun

2006-04-01T21:56:00.000-08:00

Wow. Did Button just absolutely explode or what. Looked like a blast furnace coming out the back of his Honda. I just have to wonder what it would have taken to just coast slowly across the finish line. Of course, I've not strapped a rocket to may back before so maybe discretion is indeed the better part of valor.

Live from China

2006-03-28T05:20:00.000-08:00

Beijing was one of the most exciting, interesting, and rich cities I've ever visited. We did a full three day tour and caught the highlights. The best part was the local guide who provided not only a very extensive history but also an interesting look into the life of a normal person in China. We are not so different our two countries and the people of both want pretty much the same thing -- freedom to pursue their interests and a better life for themselves and their children. Let's hope we can all get that.

Busy as always

2006-03-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

Trying to get ready to leave the country (not for good, sorry) so haven't had time for updates. Hoping to leave tomorrow AM but the freak spring snowstorm we are having here in KC makes the likelihood in some doubt. Would hate to miss our International connection and have to spend the night in Newark. Of course, would hate to miss a day of touring Beijing even more.

Just a quick thought before I leave, is Disintegration by the Cure one of the seminal CDs of the 80s or what. Extremely strong from start to finish -- it captures the hopelessness of that decade perfectly. Extends the angst driven music of Joy Division and Bauhaus without taking away from that earlier era. Can't believe they went on to release that atrocious Kiss Me thing. Argh.

Dear AOL

2006-02-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

I always knew there was something slightly slimy, slightly icky about AOL. Ever since I first received those sign up discs back in the early 90s (format a:\ and you'd have a perfectly good disk). The derision heaped upon AOL (AOHell) users who couldn't manage to get a "real" ISP.

Well, it has turned out that it was indeed all true. The hairbrained idea to tax email will either turn out to be a huge flop or fundamentally change the Internet forever. Perhaps the Internet will eventually evolve away from the free world of ideas that we have today but I'm pretty sure the Internet envisioned by AOL is far far away from good. Sign up. Don't let it happen.

Forida

2006-02-27T15:49:00.000-08:00

I was in Florida last week and discovered, quite by accident I assure you the Sarasota HQ for Katherine Harris. Even though I just drove by the strip mall (she don't spend much on rent I can assure you) the whole incident left me rather uneasy. Wonder why.

It's the small things

2006-02-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

I know there are a lot of big, BIG things going on right now, the UAE controlling our ports (and the preznit threatening a veto), the NSA spying, Cheney shooting people..... However, sometimes it the small things that get our attention. Like almost getting run down at lunch by a great big honking SUV. Why is it always the biggest SUVs that don't yield to pedestrians? I know that's a rhetorical question but still. You never get hit by a Prius or a Civic or even a small SUV like a Rav4. No, it's the great big fuckers that try and kill you.

Says a lot about the people who buy these doesn't it.

I've got it.

2006-02-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

Here's what happened (and I almost certainly positive about this -- mostly). VP and buds were out a shootin' some birds and drinkin' some whiskey when Dickie dear, in a incoherent inhibriated state, dropped his nice ole Italian shotgun and being Dick and all, the safety was off. Upon impacting the ground the nice ole Italian shotguns goes and shoots Whittington its ownself. See, Dickie wasn't even involved in the shooting, it was the shotguns fault.

Seriously, does anything else make as much sense as this story? Occams razor and all.

Poor Scotty

2006-02-13T11:49:00.000-08:00

Just wanted poor Scotty get reamed by the press during his daily briefing and two thoughts came to mind. First, did that guy sell his soul or what. Just imagine the conversations between Scotty and Karl...."you want me to say what? If you didn't have those pictures of me with that goat I'd tell you where to stick it...". Ah, good times.

The second thing I noticed is can this Administration do nothing right? Seriously, the VP shoots a guy and the White House doesn't know all the details until the next day. Even better, they let a civilian break the story to the press. My kids could put on a better show and the oldest is just barely in school. Seriously, these guys give a whole new meaning to "the gang that couldn't shoot straight".... whoops, did I just say that. Sorry, really.

I love world records

2006-02-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

This is pretty darn cool. I love this high technology breaking barriers thing. The idea to to something strange and hard 'just because'. Like when Mallory was asked why he wants to climb Everest, "because its there".

Imus. A dick.

2006-02-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

Sent to imus@msnbc.com. Short and sweet.

You sir, have a great deal of gall to critizice those who spoke at Ms. King's funeral. These people, her friends, knew how she'd want to be remembered -- do you? I doubt it. Do us all a favor and talk about things you actually might know something about. Your trolling for ratings and mad props from the people will get you neither.

Close but no cigar

2006-02-05T19:11:00.000-08:00

Seattle just didn't have it tonight. The breaks when the Steeler's way and they made the big plays when they had to. Of course, if Seattle could throw a big pass without holding or even kick a long field goal the story might have been different.

Which does bring up a good point. Just how hard is it to actually kick a field goal? We saw a number of missed field goals, which though long, were certainly makable (think Indy). I'm wondering if in a world of 6 billion, it's possible to find 30 guys who can reliably kick.

Halftime thoughts

2006-02-05T17:08:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a good defense game to really put you to sleep (especially after a couple of beers). Still, I think that Seattle pretty much blew the first half. They had field position, could move the ball, defense played great, yet they only put up 3 points. Uh oh. going to be a long 2nd half.

This is very very funny

2006-01-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

Stuff like this just gets me <> there because its, you know, both funny and sad because it's just so true. This is the speach he'd give if he didn't have speach writers.

I still love the originial SNL skit that penned Strategery.

The AJR is stupid as well.

2006-01-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

This just chaps my hide.

So much I sent this to their Editor. Notice, no "bad" language as I don't want to offend their delicate sensibilities. Stupid fuckers.

The recent article by Rem Rieder, "Howl", shows clearly that the AJR, and really the entire MSM just don't get it. For years the Left has let the media and Right dictate the terms of media coverage, which talking points get repeated ad nauseum, which talking heads get air time, etc. Now that the Left, the real grassroots progressive Left has an outlet, Blogs and in a large sense the Internet, they (we) are finally in a position to call out the MSM when Republican talking points are simply repeated as fact.

Finally.

Yet in this column, Rem blindly repeats the very same disproved talking points. I quote,

"Technically that isn't correct. Abramoff didn't make any personal donations to Democrats. But he did direct his Indian tribe clients to give money to both parties, albeit far more to the Republicans. It's a distinction without a difference.".

You'll need to have Rem polish up on his Abramoff history. A simple Google search will show that his direction to "his" Indian tribes was to direct less money to the Democrats and more to the Republicans. Hardly a distinction without a difference. Indeed, it's a distinction that makes all the difference and the continued lack of the media, yourselves included, means that we on the left will continue to call this out every opportunity -- perhaps even using words that some might find offensive.

Deal with it I think is the message.

You go Senator

2006-01-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

Here Here. Finally in one document we see what is wrong with the Bush presidency. Well, some of what's wrong at least. It's a start and one that I support wholeheartedly.

General Ripper I presume

2006-01-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

Attaturk reminded me of the link between our very own General Hayden and the ever lovable General Jack D. Ripper.

President Merkin Muffley: General Turgidson, I find this very difficult to understand. I was under the impression that I was the only one in authority to order the use of nuclear weapons.
General "Buck" Turgidson: That's right, sir, you are the only person authorized to do so. And although I, uh, hate to judge before all the facts are in, it's beginning to look like, uh, General Ripper exceeded his authority.

Though this isn't quite right now is it? Unlike President Muffley, the current resident of the White House new exactly what was going on (at least as far as he can).

How about

President Merkin Muffley: But this is absolute madness, Ambassador! Why should you *build* such a thing?
Ambassador de Sadesky: There were those of us who fought against it, but in the end we could not keep up with the expense involved in the arms race, the space race, and the peace race. At the same time our people grumbled for more nylons and washing machines. Our doomsday scheme cost us just a small fraction of what we had been spending on defense in a single year. The deciding factor was when we learned that your country was working along similar lines, and we were afraid of a doomsday gap.
President Merkin Muffley: This is preposterous. I've never approved of anything like that.
Ambassador de Sadesky: Our source was the New York Times.

Nope, New York Times couldn't break a story if it was handed to them on a silver platter these days.

Hmmm.

General "Buck" Turgidson: Mr. President, we are rapidly approaching a moment of truth both for ourselves as human beings and for the life of our nation. Now, truth is not always a pleasant thing. But it is necessary now to make a choice, to choose between two admittedly regrettable, but nevertheless *distinguishable*, postwar environments: one where you got twenty million people killed, and the other where you got a hundred and fifty million people killed.
President Merkin Muffley: You're talking about mass murder, General, not war!
General "Buck" Turgidson: Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks.

Gentlemen, we have a winner. 10 to 20 million killed. You think this was their planning for Iraq?

Letter to Washington Post

2006-01-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

I read with some bitter amusement your recent interview between Jim Brady and Hugh Hewitt regarding the article by Deborah Howell, the comments and subsequent removal of the comment feature on washingtonpost.com. I have to ask, why does the Washington Post, once a great beacon of the Press, feel the overwhelming need to be a tool of the Bush White House.

I'm no stark raving liberal (your words) -- I live in Kansas after all, but I still find it shameful that you are so intimidated by a little free discussion that you felt the need to capitulate. Show a little backbone. After all, the comments posted were mild compared to what passes for discourse on some of the right wing blogs (ever read comments on Free Republic?).

I ask you to grow a little backbone and try performing the job you were once known for, reporting the news.

Yep, I sent this. Not like it will do any good but hey, gotta try.

Note to Dems

2006-01-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

This pretty much covers it.

The Rude Pundit has said it before and he'll say it again: Democrats need to think of themselves as an organized resistance, an insurgency against a dictatorial government, an uprising with popular support among the citizens of the United States.

Between his writing, Kos, firedoglake, this from Stoller, and the rest of the Blogosphere the "establishment" Dems in DC could learn a thing or two. Alas, will they?

This is sad

2006-01-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

Sad indeed. I can't help but think that if Fox had actually put the show on a night that, I don't know, people actually watched TV they'd have more than 4 million viewers. The random scheduling, the interference from Baseball games, the total and complete lack of marketing. Gee, wonder why we don't have ratings.

And Arrested Development is not the only smart show to have these problems. While the networks give a ton of attention to crap shows like Earl (or whatever the hell it's called) the smart shows get nada. I don't think I've ever seen a bigger bunch of stupid smart people as network execs.

James Webb trying at least

2006-01-19T08:01:00.000-08:00

This is good. However I can't help but think that in a few days it will be lost and forgotten. The current crop of republicans have no stomach for things like truth and honor. The old timers still know what these words mean, old timers like James Webb. He says,

A young American now serving in Iraq might rightly wonder whether his or her service will be deliberately misconstrued 20 years from now, in the next rendition of politically motivated spinmeisters who never had the courage to step forward and put their own lives on the line.

It's a shame really. But then we've known that for about 7 years now. Perhaps the shame is on us.

Where was I

2006-01-18T06:52:00.000-08:00

Ah yes, a week in that lovely land NorCal and then trying to catch up will do that to a person. Where was I indeed.

Listening to all of the conservative Pols talk about Jack I can't help but get the feeling that these guys are just dumber than a bag of hammers. Can't they come up with a better set of talking points than "...a year ago most people around Congress couldn't tell you who Jack Abramoff was...". Other than the milquetoast press, a bunch of conservative bloggers, partisian shrills, and a ton of really stupid people, no one buys this. Oh wait, they are pretty smart. Damn.

I did particularly like when George Clooney accepted his Golden Globe and thanked Jack. Not particularly sublte but funny nonetheless. I like Ang Lee's acceptance speach, not to mention most of his movies (Hulk was a bit, what, over the top perhaps). Brokeback Mountain was a moving film that required Lee's deft touch. I liked the way he just let the film move along at it's own pace. Though I have to admit that the several groups of asshats talking during the movie made it a bit tough to watch. I guess that's what you get for living in KC. Bastards.

Recess appointments

2006-01-06T06:19:00.000-08:00

Kevin makes a great point. What exactly is the reason for these appointments? I can see perhaps two reasons. First, Dear Leader doesn't want an honest and open airing of these candidates qualifications. Perhaps because they don't have any. Of course, lack of qualifications will hardly keep you from getting confirmed (see Brown, Michael) but still, it could prove embarrasing to the White House. Second, he does it BECAUSE HE CAN. It's all about absolute Presidential power. The belief that the rules don't apply to this crowd. We see this in NSA spying, lying about Iraq (and just about everything else) and in his treatment of the press. I'm doing this BECAUSE I CAN. Makes sense.

Jesus

2006-01-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

Pun intended. This is freakin' ridiculous. I can see (kinda, not really) bitching about a show AFTER YOU'VE SEEN IT but to go bug ass crazy before the show has even aired is just whacked. Oh wait, this makes sense because those bitching are just plain whacked themselves. Par for the course for the AFA I guess.

Still. Drives me crazy.

Catch up

2006-01-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

No way I can possibly catch up to everything that has been going on over the last few days. No way at all. Where to start? Abramoff? NSA Spying? The odd Andrea Mitchell question about Christiane Amanpour? Ariel Sharon? Texas Longhorns?

Abramoff. He will take some of his fellow scum down with him but no where near the amount that should go. Ney is already as good as done. I'm curious about the fate of Delay though -- he'll make the decision to just up and quit Congress here in a few or he'll win reelection (it's tough to keep a good bug man down). Other staffers and likely a couple of additional seats for the Dems in November. That's it. If the Dems had a larger pair, we'd see about 60 seats change hands but I don't see that happening. If we had our very own "Ginginch" running the show 60 seats is the number. Bummer.

NSA spying. Again, this will play out without much real effect. The White House is turning this into "a deep legal question" that will then be used to confuse the American public. Regardless of what spying occured and what laws were broken they'll pretty much skate.

Last note here. I have to admit to being rather sick of all the hype this USC team was getting. Especially the "how would they do against the 10 best of the last 25 years". Trust me, they would have gotten killed by the top 5. My 95 Huskers -- would have Killed Them. The 01 Canes -- Killed. It's a shame really that ESPN in particular and sports in general got caught up in this. I can't help but think it affected the players from both sides. Bummer.

Go Huskers

2005-12-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

Just a quick comment on the game last night (The Game -- come on, who are you kidding). I thought the Huskers played just okay. They had some very good moments, as in when they consistently gave the ball to Ross and some not so good moments, as in when their DBs decide to not turn around and look for the ball. Why is this so difficult. The receiver turns around and picks up the ball, the DB should then do the same. Yet all year our DBs just run with the guy and have the ball either caught for a TD or hit them in the back of the helmet. I mean, I had a freakin' heart attack everytime they went long.

Kudos though to Bowman for that very nice INT in the End Zone.

Obviously Nebraska is not all the way back (and just as obvious is that Michigan needs some work as well). It was a good victory though and the national stage against a nationally known opponent was great.

What price gold

2005-12-27T09:52:00.000-08:00

Anyone who thinks unfettered capitalism is a good thing for the environment should read this article in the New York Times. Not a pretty picture yet a picture that I can see happening here in the States in a few years. The company in question, Freeport-McMoRan, brings out all of the stock answers to environmental questions. Yet we see that these answers tend to be lies,

...the rivers upstream and the wetlands inundated with waste were now "unsuitable for aquatic life".

Nice. Read the whole article.

Don't mess with this Judge

2005-12-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

Atrios tells us that the judge in the Dover ID case is now looking to see if members (sorry, ex-members) of the School Board lied.

I personally find this just about as funny as it gets.

Shameful?

2005-12-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love this. The Prez claims it's Shameful that someone had the audacity, the temerity even, to disclose to the New York Times that he spys on Americans without proper authority. Shameful I tell you.

It was a shameful act for someone to disclose this during a time of war.

I don't know why exactly this surprises anyone -- that the Administration would turn the argument around like this. Never mind that what we did was against the law, you should have never said anything. It's like the little boy who does wrong and then gets mad when he's ratted out. That pretty much sums it up I guess, the little boy was ratted out.

Now I'm scared

2005-12-20T07:08:00.000-08:00

If what Kevin is saying is close to the mark we have just entered that Brave New World where nothing we say or write to another is truly confidential.

Lots of people have suggested that the NSA program has something to do with Echelon, a massive project that vacuums up communications of all kinds from all over the globe. The problem is that Echelon has been around for a long time and no one has ever complained about it before — so whatever this new program is, it's something more than vanilla Echelon. What's more, it's something disturbing enough that a few weeks after 9/11 the administration apparently felt that even Republicans in Congress wouldn't approve of it. What kind of program is so intrusive that even Republicans, even with 9/11 still freshly in mind, wouldn't have supported it?

I'm going to increase my key size in PGP I think. Even then, will my communications be truly safe from Big Brother?

Not slowing down

2005-12-19T10:56:00.000-08:00

Doesn't look like the uproar over the spying scandal (we need a really catchy name for this) is slowing down. Bush hisself has been all over TV selling the concept to what I gather are mixed reviews. Even the big man himself, Tim Russert, was on MSNBC this morning wondering out loud why the FISA court wouldn't work for the administration. You know you are in trouble if Russert starts questioning why.

The funny part is that I've not really heard any of the usual right wing talking heads go out on a limb and defend this. Certainly they are but not to the extent they normally would for any other Bush crisis. Perhaps it's because this is so unbelievably hard to defend!

Where's the Outrage

2005-12-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

After purusing Slashdot a bit today I was surprised at the "oh well" attitude over there (not entirely mind you but more than I expected) with regards to the Big Brother news of the day. Me, I'm not at all comfortable with the Government looking at my electronic communications just whenever they feel the need. Regardless of whether I've done something wrong there has always existed in this country a right to not have the Feds randomly looking over your shoulder. Got a court order? Well that changes the equation a bit but absent that -- stay out.

And yes, I know (I haven't watched TV yet but I know) that the talking heads will be bleating their story, "we are in a time of war, this is a special circumstance, if you've done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear, etc". All of which are, in a word, bogus. Fundamentally, absent a judge saying Yes, I say, stay out.

Oh my

2005-12-16T08:16:00.000-08:00

Just when I think I can't possibly be surprised by anything this government does they go and make a lier out of me. I can't wait to hear the talking heads spin this one.

From the article,

The previously undisclosed decision to permit some eavesdropping inside the country without court approval represents a major shift in American intelligence-gathering practices, particularly for the National Security Agency, whose mission is to spy on communications abroad. As a result, some officials familiar with the continuing operation have questioned whether the surveillance has stretched, if not crossed, constitutional limits on legal searches.

Seriously. Since when is it OK to spy on Americans in America? Those 40 Senators concerned about civil liberties put at risk by the Patriot Act should definitely take a close look at this one.

Novak gets it right (for once)

2005-12-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

Novak finally gets to the heart of the Plame affair in this article. It all comes down to, "what did the President know and when did he know it".

"I'm confident the president knows who the source is," Novak told a luncheon audience at the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh on Tuesday. "I'd be amazed if he doesn't."
"So I say, 'Don't bug me. Don't bug Bob Woodward. Bug the president as to whether he should reveal who the source is.' "

Nixon was impeached for covering up the Watergate break in, should we expect less in the Plame coverup? And yes I know, this is wishful thinking....

Damn it's cold

2005-12-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

I just can't get used to this continual cold. And yes I realize that 30F is not really all that cold. It does, however, feel that way to someone who has spent the last several winters in the much warmer climate of NorCal. So I sit here right next too, actually more on top of, a space heater trying to get some work done. I suppose it doesn't help that I'm sitting in an unfinished basement with little or no heat......does anyone have the number of a contractor to remedy this situation? Hands are cold, feet are cold. Coffee is hot. Hmmmm coffee.

So it begins

2005-12-12T12:41:00.000-08:00

Hello there. Going to try this blogging thing (again) and perhaps it will stick this time. What's changed from last time you ask. Excellent question, I've moved from the West Coast to the great heartland of America and feel a bit like a fish out of water. Hopefully the connection I create here (or perhaps just the simple act of venting) will help this feeling of misplacement.

Don't get me wrong, Kansas is a great place to raise a family. Nice people and all -- it's just a majority of them are really messed up politically.

My goal here is, as I mentioned, to mainly vent about crap that irritates me. Another, less offensive way to put this is I plan to provide elevated discourse about that which I perceive to be wrong.

Good luck is all that I can say -- to myself as well as any readers that may come this way.