Lee's Tid Bits

Fun with Obama Math!

2012-02-17T11:02:00.001-08:00

Want to make unemployment look like it is going down? Just reduce the number of Jobs available!

Pallet blocked.

2012-02-16T20:19:00.000-08:00

This morning's merchandising job was to simply move the beds (mattresses) from one side of the building to another.

First order of business was to make room. So several pallets of sporting goods got moved around, along with some booze pallets. More still was wrapped up to head back to the depot for next year's winter seasonal items. Got that done. Next up was moving the beds.

Each of the mattresses are on two pallets, side by side, 48" by 80" and they have to be pulled in such a way that they are a 86" wide load. To add to the difficulty, most of the ways are blocked with pallets of merchandise. So I cleared a route along the back of the Deli cases and informed the co-worker in that area of my intent of using that as a thoroughfare for mattresses.

With my mighty pallet jack in tow I bridged the pallets and cranked them up, up, up till they were pull-able. Then using my acquired knowledge of steering ungainly objects, I set off down the Deli express route! Unfortunately, the very co-worker in whom I had confided, decided to drop a pallet of delicious delicateness in my path. She was suitably chagrined and removed the obstacle. With my course now clear, I was able to reach my destination for the first of several trips. With my mighty pallet jack I hefted the next king-size and headed towards the vennel, only to find two pallets of goods. My formerly chagrined co-worker had not noticed them being dropped off and quickly helped rectify the situation. My trusty fork lift driver, Gina, removed the other impediment. I explained to her my intentions of moving mattoks and she affirmed she would keep said alley clear.

The next trip was surprisingly free of clogging and I felt somewhat relieved. Of course the laws of irony had a good guffaw at my next attempt. I turned the corner just in time to see another driver, Nathan, driving off after dropping a load (pun intended). He heeding my cry (girlish screaming anguish), with a quizzical stare. After my exasperated explanation he took it upon himself to not only de-barrier the path, but with annoyed gusto. Next he took the next two pallets with his conveyance to the far side.

This left one final pallet and all the drivers in the area aware of my plight. I was fairly confident until I turned the corner to spy a pallet sitting dead middle of the means of access and Richard, the receiving driver just out of earshot.

I was not sure if I should laugh or cry...

Timey Wimey

2012-02-11T10:36:00.000-08:00

Back in 1773, Samuel Madden wrote Memoirs of the Twentieth Century. This details life in the late 1990's through legal documents handed to the author via "Guardian Angel". It is, in its way the first backwards time travel story.

Time travel as a plot device, can easily be misused or amazingly effective. The paradoxes and childish "what if" scenarios are very entertaining. Why is this so? I wonder if this plays to humans dislike of change? Or the idea that our choices may not have been good ones.

As I am REALLY happy with my current life, I would not opt at going back in time for fear of changing my current future. Could better futures be out there? by my way of thinking, Not by much. I also think that some of those 'bad choices' that we do not take could be very entertaining, if you could just skip some of the horrid outcomes.

Time travel is a romantic notion that allows us some mental creativeness and zero reality.

Tantamount

2012-02-10T07:21:00.000-08:00

At the TOPS club meeting, last night, there was a talk about motivation. Since August 2010 I have been riding my bike to work, in rain, snow, fog and sunny weather. I ride approx four times a week which is over 40 miles each week. You would think, with my consistency, people would figure out this is my normal.

2012-02-02T16:34:00.001-08:00

The Live Earth debacle did have a couple of positives for me. One Bob Geldof and Two the Artic Monkeys.

answers to quotes

2012-02-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

Napoleon Dynamite
Yeah right. Who's the only one here who knows the illegal ninja moves from the government?

Die Hard
You ask for a miracle, I give you the FBI
Clerks II
I made fun of "Lord of the Rings" so hard, it made some supergeek puke all over the counter. Where do we keep the mop and bucket so I can make Elias clean it up?
The Emperor's New Groove
Let's take a look-see. Hate your hair. Not likely. Yikes. Yikes. Yikes. And, let me guess, you have a great personality.

My Favorite year
Damn you! I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!

Equilibrium
The gun katas. Through analysis of thousands of recorded gunfights, the Cleric has determined that the geometric distribution of antagonists in any gun battle is a statistically predictable element. The gun kata treats the gun as a total weapon, each fluid position representing a maximum kill zone, inflicting maximum damage on the maximum number of opponents while keeping the defender clear of the statistically traditional trajectories of return fire. By the rote mastery of this art, your firing efficiency will rise by no less than 120%. The difference of a 63% increase to lethal proficiency makes the master of the gun katas an adversary not to be taken lightly.
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Want a twinkie, Genghis Khan?

Adventures in Babysitting
Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues.

Full Metal Jacket
Sir, the private believes that any answer he gives will be wrong! And his senior drill instructor will beat him harder if he reverses himself, sir!

Zoolander
Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?

The Matrix
I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species and I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed and the only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You're a plague and we are the cure.
Drunken Master II
Water floats, but also capsizes boats.
The Replacement Killers
Hostage etiquette: kidnapper pays the incidentals.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.
Mystery Men
God's given me a gift. I shovel well. I shovel very well.

50 first Dates
Are you staring at me or her? 'Cause you're starting to freak me out.

Happy Gilmore
I'd like to punch that guy in the face right now. But I can't, you know, because I'd get in trouble. I bet you get a lot of that on "Let's Make A Deal."

2012-01-29T20:18:00.001-08:00

Every candidate should support rational measures to protect and improve our environment, but it makes no sense at all to back expensive programs that divert resources from real needs and are based on alarming but untenable claims of "incontrovertible" evidence.

Dream of the 90s - Portlandia on IFC

2012-01-28T22:30:00.000-08:00

So I spend some time in Portland and it is just a cool city to visit. There is lots to see and do and there is a feeling that just begged to be captured. Sure enough Portlandia does just that.

Then I spend time in Eugene and there really is no way you could ever think of cool. It is more of a mess.

Obama the liar TV Ad.

2012-01-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

Foreign oil imports below 50 percent - do you want to know why? Massive economic downturn.

The impression here is Obama is promoted domestic drilling and refining when he is obstructing it.

Welcome to Obama running for office, lets make up stuff.

America's clean energy industry, 2.7 million jobs and expanding rapidly. What is America's clean energy industry? It stands undefined. Where does he get this 2.7 million jobs figure?

Even FactCheck calls this misleading:

■ The spot uses outdated quotes from groups that said his record on ethics is “unprecedented” and that he “kept a promise to toughen ethics rules.” Those same groups said later that he “has let down millions of Americans who accepted his word” and rated his promise as “broken.”

■ The 30-second TV spot also trumpets a claim of “2.7 million jobs” in “America’s clean-energy industry.” That mostly counts jobs put in place long before Obama took office.

■ Finally, it boasts that U.S. dependence on foreign oil has declined to below 50 percent, as a net share of total demand, for the first time in more than a decade. That’s true, and increasing U.S. oil production is a factor (despite Republican criticisms that Obama is anti-drilling). But economists say the chief factor is reduced oil consumption, brought on by the recent economic recession.

2012-01-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

I find it sadly ironic that it was primarily woman's groups who faught for the right for abortion and now women are opting for abortion so as to terminate female births.

Canada abortion issues. The sentence I find sadly misinformed: "Call it the unintended consequence of Canada's open abortion policy and increasingly multicultural demographic."

Its a Girl! (the three deadliest words in the world)

Never simple.

2012-01-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

It was one of those warm snuggle mornings. The bed was ever so comfortable. I was pondering how long I could stay under the warm layers, in-between cat napping quick dreams.

"The shower is not getting hot" came the klaxon call from the bathroom. My wife has work, I have the day off of work. Well, I had the day off from my job. Work was about to be my day...

I slogged out the door, slipped my work tennies on and proceeded down the half flight of concrete steps that leads to under-the-house. To my dismay there was lots of standing water... a flood. Great...

Living on a hill and having a flooded basement is not something considered. But, there it was, a good six inches of water. Curiously it was still below the access panel to the gas water heater.

First order of business was to get the water out of my basement. My contemplation started with bailing or using a garden hose as a siphon. Slipping on my trusty rubber boots, my brain had devised the next step and a shovel was soon in hand. Heading to the downhill side of the house I started with a hole then a furrow. This effectively destroyed a planter. I got a trickle of water and increased the furrow to match. Then headed inside and connected the tunnels. My mind went back to kindergarten and sand box tunnels of yore. As the water started flowing I had a smile of satisfaction until the grim task of troubleshooting the water heater came.

When we first moved into our house, the water heater was an electric model that sat in the kitchen disguised as a work-space. My pop and I installed a much more affordable gas heater a few years back. This was a direct vent water heater that could be safely vented out a side wall.

The access panel was dry and I was perplexed at why the flame had gone out. I used the igniter and the pilot lit! HUZZAH! Hot water abounds... Then it went out and would not re-light.

There was a note on the side saying that after a flood you need to replace the unit. Great, just what I need a new water heater. How do I find another direct vent? How far would I have to drive to find one. My day was quickly becoming the suck.

Tina boiled some water and got ready for work. Trevor was mopping out the remaining water. I called the smartest plumber on the planet, my Pop. Pop quizzed me about several aspects and finally told me to call the "gas guy" As they are more familiar with current gas water heaters then he was. Avista is our gas utility and I placed an order for someone to come out.

Next up I called my brother-in-law, Doug. Doug is a plumber by trade who was tutored by my Pop. He thought the gas line might have some water or debris and had thoughts on clearing (something the Gas guy would do later). He also cautioned that some units have a fail safe that burns itself out when it overheats. He could not figure out how a flood would make it overheat, but provided the caution.

Tony from Avista arrived and set about checking the water heater. This was not the fail-safe style unit and with out much effort he got the pilot to light and the burner to work! HUZZAH! Hot water abounds... Then As he started putting the screws of the burner back it went out and would not re-light.

No air was getting to the flame... A direct draft Gas water heater has an air intake and exhaust nested inside one another they start and stop at the top of the tank. It was perplexing. Tony took out the burner again and we saw the reflection of standing water UNDER the burner below a plate. This corresponded with the air intake pipes that run down the backside of the unit.

Now with a battle plan I sent Tony Avista on his way. Headed to lowes to buy a small water pump (the kind powered by a drill. and some hose. Pumped out the water then used sponge and paper towels until the bottom was all but dry.

This time the flame burned happily and began the task of heating my water. Which I just now tested and... dare I say it? HUZZAH! Hot water abounds!

The best the GOP has to offer?

2012-01-11T20:15:00.001-08:00

I am thinking that its hold your nose and vote time. At least any of them will be a huge improvement!

Fr. Barron comments on Why I Loved to Listen to Christopher Hitchens

2012-01-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

Work discussion...

2011-12-30T09:44:00.000-08:00

Some variation of this discussion happens every so often. This is a compilation that is not too far from an actual conversation"

Member: Why are you so expensive? I can buy this same set across town for half the price.

Sales: Really, that is a huge value. They have this exact model with the same warranty?

Member: Yup, I have the flyer right here.

Sales: (reading over the flyer). Well they are a bit different, our set is a Samsung and this flyer shows a Colby. Further, our Samsung has true high definition resolution at 1080progressive lines this Colby is a 720.

Member: What does that mean?

Sales: The resolution is the number of lines the set uses to make a picture. The higher the number the sharper the image. Think of thread counts in sheets, the higher the count the better the quality. Also, this Colby has a 60hz refresh rate, while our Samsung is 240hz. That refers to the number of times the TV redraws the image. The higher the rate the more fluid the motion.

Member: So the higher number is better?

Sales: More-so on larger sets. Anything over 37 inch diagonal you want a higher refresh rate. For a 46" set like this 240hz is highly desirable. Especially for action films and sports or video games.

Member: I don't play video games, so that really is not that important.

Sales: Do you watch football?

Member: Yeah, all the time.

Sales: A higher refresh rate would be better for football. I see here that the Colby is not LED back-lit.

Member: The Samsung says it is LCD and LED, so which is it?

Sales: Both sets are LCD or liquid crystal displays. Like an old 35mm slide they need light behind them for you to see the picture. An LCD does not produce its own light. A standard LCD, like the Colby, has some light bulbs behind the screen across the back. Those produce light and heat, so the sets are thicker to allow for cooling.

Sales (cont.): The Samsung has LED or Light Emitting Diodes, to light the screen. They look similer to those old light bright crystals, but they are solid state and only produce light. So you get a brighter picture and a thinner set that uses less electricity.

Member: I see, but why are your prices for a 46" set so much higher...

Sales: ...........................Gosh, I don't know, you should go buy the cheaper one.....

Printering

2011-12-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, in a job with Dell, far, far away. I purchased an Epson Photo Stylus RX500 printer. It was an excellent Photo printer with a device for scanning film negatives and slides. This Christmas it stopped printing and threw up an obtuse error. I did quite a bit of reading on various Epson forums and discovered that there was an ink-flow counter. After it reaches a certain amount of prints the system requires maintenance.

This does not take into consideration that the printer had been cleaned out the year before. Further, the forums suggested that you need to remove a component and use a specific device to re-set the counter. This draconian methodology might be great for the bottom line, it is annoying to those of us who then decide that maybe Epson is not wanting my patronage...

In the back of my mind this seems entirely too improbable. Consider, Epson sells thousands and thousands of printers. Even so they are number 3 after HP and Canon (I would argue that Canon makes the best printers). So some engineer decides that a counter would be needed to insure the working of the printer and there is some kind of kit that can be purchase to clean up the printer and replace the various wore down bits. This would be targeted at those authorized Epson repair shops. A search shows three on the West coast, my older printer is not even in the look up page.

Who would drive hours to a major city or ship a thirty pound package with pre-paid return postage when you can head to Costco and purchase a new printer for less? Maybe that is the goal, to sell new printers. I can see Epson not being a brand to return too...

Anyways, yesterday I found an obscure thread at www.fixyourownprinter.com that had some good information.

HOLD all following buttons: Power, Load/Eject, Stop, B&W, Color. RELEASE BUTTONS. After this printer turns on, you'll see "Init eeprom" on printer screen. Press Color button to clear protection counter. Hit the power button and restart it.

This did the trick and my printer is back in service. Still the printer is plagued with some problems, like no drivers for windows Vista (which Tina has on her computer).

Working the solutions.

2011-12-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

My job is sales. I approach our members (customers) and ask to assist them. Sometimes it is pointing them in the right direction or researching a product we use-to-could sell. Mostly, I am answering questions about electronics and computers. I have skills in translating tech-speak to plain English. Further, I can successfully drill down to what the person wants instead of what they ask for.

Case in point:
A couple came in looking for the "Smart Blu ray players" Samsung uses the "Smart" name so I took them to the specific Blu-ray player. They started asking a series of questions that made me back up from the specific to the general. They wanted to drop cable TV and get the shows they like from the Network websites.

The "smart TV's" will not do this. While you can look at websites viewing streaming content requires additional, unsupported browser based software (read: Java, Flash, Divx etc.).

So the "Guy at Sear", fed them a line of BS. I suggested they buy a VGA cable and plug it into the back of the TV. Of course, they did not like the idea of a cable running across the floor. I wondered, out loud, if their home PC was capable of WiDi (wireless display). The age of the 'clunker PC' made mooted the idea.

Which brought me around to the solution. To do exactly what they wanted to do, they would need a Laptop computer, a WiDi box for the Television. On the downside, they came in looking for a $100.00 DVD player and left with a $450.00 Laptop and $50.00 WiDi box.

On the plus side, now they can do exactly what they wanted.

Here is the fun part. In discussing various options, a few other members came to listen. One of them asked if I was the person they should talk to about tech stuff. The folks I sold the lap-top too emphatically stated I was "The One". Over the next 15min, I sold three more laptops, a Tablet PC and two Televisions.

You have to Love non-commission sales at Costco. Our return policy is such that our buyers only bring in quality goods and sales is more interested in matching folks up to tech in order to achieve zero returns.

Near the end of the sales spree, one of the members asked if I get tired of all the stupid questions. I never consider them stupid, rather they are a way to provide solutions to specific problems.

Yeah, love my job.

Routine

2011-12-17T08:40:00.000-08:00

I find that I wake up with tight muscles during my work week. I do a few sets of sit ups and push ups to get the blood flowing, then hit the shower (sometimes the shower is first). During the first cup of coffee I am feeling pretty good. By the time I ride my bike into work I am alert, awake and ready to tackle the day.

Today my shoulders are tight and there is a muscle\tendon on the outer right side of my lower right leg that feels pulled or strained or something. At certain angles and taking certain steps I can definitively feel pain.

My head cold is trailing off with just a little congestion. I really notice the lack of strength during this cold. I felt fatigue after four hours of moving pallets and stacking Televisions.

I deduced a time-line, I believe I caught this germ around our open house, last Saturday. I had some tummy issues Sunday, but dismissed that as indigestion. By Monday night I was having post nasal drip and the sore throat. Nyquil night was begun. I like Alka seltzer cold, as it masks my symptoms well. After five hours of stocking, I noted we had enough coverage for me to head home sick, which I did.

I spent the rest of Tuesday, most of Wednesday asleep. I woke long enough on Wednesday to assess and call in sick to work. The Second time this year (arrgh!). By Thursday Morning I had slept 40 hours or so and was feeling pretty good.

I made it through my Thursday morning okay, but I was not my usual self. Friday I was better, however I headed south to work on my Brother-in-Laws computer and that took its toll.

My head was muddled enough that reading brought on a pretty good headache. The three hour car drive did not help matters. Still, after a good nap I felt up enough to go skating.

Again, I got fatigued way too fast. Today we are driving up to Portlandia to get my daughter from the airport.

I plan on resting most of the trip and bring along some meds.

Costco

2011-12-10T09:00:00.001-08:00

This is what I love about working for a Company like Costco. We have this return policy that states the following:

We will refund your membership fee in full at any time if you are dissatisfied.
We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund.
The following must be returned within 90 days of purchase for a refund: televisions, projectors, computers, cameras, camcorders, touch screen tablets, MP3 players and cellular phones.

Early on I asked a manager the following. I purchase some eggs. Six years later I decide to return the eggs for a refund. What happens? "You get a full refund," was his reply.

Weirdnessering.

2011-12-09T09:36:00.001-08:00

Last evening (Thursday). We had our weekly TOPS meeting. Tina had a later dentist appointment and that left me to my own devices to get to said meeting. I abhor having two vehicles at the same location as it seems wasteful. So my choice was to walk. As walking seems so damn slow, I opted to run.

This availed me of the park walking\bike path. About a mile into the run I had thought to stop and walk a bit, as I had not been running for a month or so. As with any good run, my mind had gone off on its own and when it snapped back, I realized I had gone well past my "stopping point" I shrugged and kept running.

This is when the weirdness kept into my thoughts. I realized I had no idea about how far I could run. My breathing is steady, my pace is mechanical and the degree of difficulty in maintaining was nil. This was just breathing more then walking.

My thoughts crossed out to the distance thinking of what lies beyond. Could I run all the way to the coast? Could I make it over the Cascades? Is the Canadian boarder attainable (given overnight sleep)?

I thought of ancient civilization that locomotion was THE travel option. It was humbling and exhilarating.

Sandusky

2011-12-07T17:47:00.001-08:00

You cannot escape the news around ex-Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

The sex abuse charges are horrific for sure. However, when this kind of news comes out I am reminded of the McMartin Preschool case. While the media pandered to basic instinct, the trial ended in dismissal and acquittal. After seven years and 15 million dollars.

Do I feel Mr. Sandusky is innocent? Nope... Do I suspect he is gulity? Nope... If I was a jurist he would be innocent until proven guilty. As an unwilling voyeur, I just pray that justice will prevail.

MMO Part 3: High Level

2011-12-02T13:47:00.001-08:00

MMO Part 2: Expansions

2011-12-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

MMO Part 1: Crawling Through the MUD

2011-12-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

To get rid of income inequality

2011-11-27T08:23:00.001-08:00

To get rid of income inequality, the simplest thing is for the IRS to take in the entire paycheck, every pay period of everyone who is working, average it out over the entire population, calculate and take out the taxes and mail the balance to each and every individual working or not.

As to the Big, Bad Corporations, have the IRS collect all the income corporations make, deduct what is determined by President Obama to be fair income for a corporation and mail the check to the CEO.

Inequality.

2011-11-22T12:47:00.001-08:00

"Next time a liberal tells you they're upset about "income inequality", 1st, tell them you agree. 2nd, Suggest that they go to their human resources dept. and ask for their salary and the lowest earner in their company's salary to be averaged... for "fairness". If they agree, which they will, bc liberals ALWAYS practice what they preach--then, tell them you don't want to stop at "income inequality"--tell them to start a lobbying group where they tackle social inequities such as: "automobile inequality", "television inequality", "sneaker inequality", "hair weave inequality" ~Vanessa Jean-Louis.

Working hard.

2011-11-17T19:32:00.001-08:00

I love my job. It is hard work, early in the AM bike ride. A five hour physical work out of moving pallets and hand stacking items with a few electronic hook ups and cleaning thrown in for good measure.

Next working with various Costco Members, answering questions on electronics, resolving issues with same. Occasionally loading up something heavy onto a cart or into a car. It is a blast.

The managers tend to leave me on my own. Other then some direction on what new change they want implemented or some new merchandising set up. For the most part I know what needs to be done or have a list my supervisor has left and I go, go, go.

It turns out that managers really like not having to manage someone... Further, there is an art to seeing something that needs to be done prior to being told (which makes no sense to my way of thinking).

When you hear someone say, "Don't worry about that, Lee is here"

I love my job.

Some fundamental questions on same-sex attraction

2011-11-14T19:39:00.001-08:00

Some fundamental questions on same-sex attraction
Daniel Avila
Posted: 10/28/2011
More than once I have heard from or about Catholics upset with the Church for its insistence that sexual relations be limited to marriage between husband and wife. Does not this moral rule force people with same-sex attraction into lives of loneliness? If they are born that way, then why should they be punished by a restriction that does not account for their pre-existing condition? God wants everyone to be happy, and for persons with same-sex attraction is not their happiness to be found in the fulfillment of that attraction? Some seek to change the Church’s teaching on marriage or have left the Church because of it. They believe either that God through the Church ignores the needs of people or that the Church misunderstands what God desires.

That is, if God causes same-sex attraction, and yet commands that it not be satisfied, then this is divine cruelty. Or, if God causes same-sex attraction, then it must be the divine will that those with the attraction should act on it and it is the Church that is being cruel in its teaching or at the very least tragically mistaken about what God wants. In either case, the belief that the Church is wrong on this issue starts from a faulty premise. God does not cause same-sex attraction.

The best natural evidence of what God causes and wants for us is our genetic code. Science has isolated certain genetic combinations that are typical to human creation and development. The most basic and the first genetic expression is that which occurs at our conception, when at the same time our individual human life begins our sexual identity as male or female begins. That which is genetically encoded, for believers, points to a codifier, and communicates through its design the codifier’s intent. Interpreting from a spiritual perspective the genetic code which supplies our sexual difference, we have to conclude that God wants us to be male or female.

No one has found a “gay gene.” Identical twins are always, of course, the same sex, providing further proof of male and female genes. If there was a gay gene, then when one twin exhibits same-sex attraction, his or her identical sibling should too. But that is not the case. The incidence of finding identical twins with identical same-sex attraction is relatively rare and certainly not anywhere near one hundred percent. Something other than the hardwiring found in the genetic code must explain the variance.

So what causes the inclination to same-sex attraction if it appears early and involuntarily and “who,” if anyone, is responsible? In determining the answer to the “what” question, the most widely accepted scientific hypothesis points to random imbalances in maternal hormone levels and identifies their disruptive prenatal effects on fetal development as the likely and major cause.

The most recent and most comprehensive discussion of this research is found in a book published earlier this year by a scientist who also happens to be a gay-rights advocate. Even though it discounts other environmental factors that other scientists believe also may play a role, Simon LeVay’s publication, “Gay, Straight and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Attraction” is worth the read.

LeVay is not interested in the “who” question and describes same-sex attraction as just a variation among other human inclinations. Catholics do not have the luxury of being materialists. We look for ultimate explanations that transcend the strictly physical world and that stretch beyond our limited ability to mold and reshape reality as we know it. Disruptive imbalances in nature that thwart encoded processes point to supernatural actors who, unlike God, do not have the good of persons at heart.

In other words, the scientific evidence of how same-sex attraction most likely may be created provides a credible basis for a spiritual explanation that indicts the devil. Any time natural disasters occur, we as people of faith look back to Scripture’s account of those angels who rebelled and fell from grace. In their anger against God, these malcontents prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. They continue to do all they can to mar, distort and destroy God’s handiwork.

Therefore, whenever natural causes disturb otherwise typical biological development, leading to the personally unchosen beginnings of same-sex attraction, the ultimate responsibility, on a theological level, is and should be imputed to the evil one, not God. Applying this aspect of Catholic belief to interpret the scientific data makes more sense because it does not place God in the awkward position of blessing two mutually incompatible realities—sexual difference and same-sex attraction.

If in fact this analysis of causation and culpability is correct, then it opens new perspectives on the Church’s teaching in this area. Being born with an inclination which originates in a manner outside of one’s control is not sufficient proof that the condition is caused by God or that its satisfaction meets God’s purpose. Furthermore, a proper understanding of who is really at fault should deepen our compassion towards those who experience same-sex attraction and inform our response to the question of loneliness. Ultimately, an accurate attribution of responsibility for same-sex attraction frees us to consider more fully the urgent question of why sexual difference matters so much to God. These matters will be addressed in my next column.

Daniel Avila formerly served the Catholic Bishops in Massachusetts and now lives and works in the Washington, D.C., area.

IPCC written by kids...?

2011-11-07T06:57:00.001-08:00

link to read.

“We’ve been told that [the IPCC] is a responsible business man in a three-piece suit, but it turns out it’s a sloppily dressed teenager -- a spoiled brat that can’t be trusted,
”

A Trip Thru Liberalville

2011-11-06T06:49:00.000-08:00

"High Tech Lynching"

2011-11-06T06:24:00.000-08:00

Herman Cain's Gauntlet

2011-11-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

By Cal Thomas

When it comes to sex, the media apply different standards to Republicans and Democrats.

Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton allegedly trolled for women, using state troopers as his procurers. As president, Clinton engaged in oral sex with Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office. He lied about it under oath and was impeached, though later acquitted by the U.S. Senate. Other sexual accusations tainted Clinton, including one that he raped one Juanita Broaddrick. That "everybody lies about sex" and "it was just sex" and didn't affect his public responsibilities, were just two of the exculpatory statements from Clinton's Democratic defenders. James Carville slimed Paula Jones, one of Clinton's accusers, by saying you never know what you'll find "when you drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park."

Many other Democrats in modern times have been caught with their pants down -- JFK, John Edwards. Some paid a political price. Most did not because their policies were favored by the liberal media, which gave them cover.

Now it is Herman Cain's turn and the rules have suddenly changed. Cain stands accused of sexually harassing two women more than a decade ago when he headed the National Restaurant Association. Many in the media wolf pack have already judged him guilty because he updated his initial statement denying the allegations. And yet The Washington Post, in association with Politico.com -- which broke the "story" -- routinely updates its online pages when new information comes to light.

Is Cain, a relative media novice, expected to have instant and total recall of events that may or may not have happened more than 10 years ago?

The way this works is, if you can't give the media immediate and detailed answers to their questions, they "raise new questions" and then when you do provide them additional information they say you should have provided it before and must be covering something up, prompting even more questions.

One cannot say what, if any, political motives the anonymous female accusers might have, or even if they helped bring these charges to Politico. So much of this is subjective. What is known is that a charge of sexual harassment is not proof that sexual harassment occurred.

This story also has a noxious odor of racism about it. Historically, perhaps the worst stereotype directed at African-American men is that they are oversexed and constantly on the prowl for female conquests.

Cain's candidacy has unnerved the Washington political establishment. I have just finished his book "This is Herman Cain!: My Journey to the White House." In it, I learned that Cain is a self-made man who achieved success without government and without self-loathing. He is the enemy of big government, and of Democrats' "can't do" condescending attitude toward minorities. Cain exudes a positive and optimistic spirit.

Were Cain to become president, this "CEO of self" would threaten the political and economic prison liberal Democrats have built to keep disenfranchised minorities down and voting for Democrats for fear their government programs will end. Cain has a better way and he writes about it in his inspiring personal story, which is the embodiment of the American Dream.

This is why Cain is being excoriated by the liberal left. Even some in the Republican establishment wish he would just go away. There will be more on this as reporters and tabloids throw money at Cain's accusers, seeking to get them to talk in violation of their termination agreements.

If you're wondering why more qualified people don't run for office, consider what is being done to Herman Cain. People don't want every mistake or bad decision they've made trumpeted from the rooftops and so they avoid politics to the nation's detriment.

Cain may ultimately triumph over these allegations. On Monday Cain recorded his biggest fundraising day ever, netting $400,000. Still, the best defense is a good offense and what would be best for Cain is for him to get all the facts out, immediately, before his enemies do it for him.

Obama Changes Fundamental Answer: "I Think We Are Better Off" Than We We...

2011-11-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

I guess it depends on what you mean by "Better"....

2011-10-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Best Confirms Global Temperature Standstill

They pour over the data to convince skeptics that the overall planet has been on a warming trend. This also shows that the warming has stalled or stopped or something not going up over the last 10 years.

If this was not enough there is this A skeptical physicist ends up confirming climate data.

Which turns out to be a poor snow job. Because, the other shoe dropped: Scientist who said climate change sceptics had been proved wrong accused of hiding truth by colleagu.

Meanwhile in the scientific world the actual discussion is on mans contribution and if we should become Amish (or buy carbon offsets from Al Gore).

Oakland Police provoked?

2011-10-30T06:51:00.001-07:00

Mother Jones reporter says Oakland police were provoked.

Rep. Paul Ryan Blames Obama for Dividing America

2011-10-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

Paul Ryan just has so many good things to say. I wish he was running for President. This interview hits so many good points.

Occupy Madison loses permit - News - The Daily Cardinal - University of Wisconsin-Madison

2011-10-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

Occupy Madison loses permit - News - The Daily Cardinal - University of Wisconsin-Madison

Good lord, how can this be supported by anyone?

Mitt Romney

2011-10-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

Flip Flop

I am not wanting Mitt to get the nominee for President. I can see myself voting for him over the current disaster that is Obama. Over the last few months I keep seeing him change position on various items. At first I assumed we had some out of context reporting from our dear old MSM.

Having Cain getting higher in the poles is nice, as I like his policies and overall attitude. I am also glad that John Huntsman is trailing by a good margin. I am not sure why he is considered a Republican at all (other then he registered that way?)

Another election season is about to open!

Diana's Blog

2011-10-27T07:20:00.001-07:00

Diana's Blog about being in Japan as a student.

Picture to follow

2011-10-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

Robert, Robert and Lee. Robbie, Robert and Lee. Shoo, Bobert and Lee. Shoo, Robert and Lee. When you have two friends for 44plus years and you have consistently been in contact, things like turning 50 are important. Tina tried to get Robert and Shoo to come for my fiftieth. Robert, unfortunately couldn't make it. I jumped at the chance to surprise Robert this weekend. Robert has arranged with Shoo to surprise him on Shoo's 50th.

I got the call from Andrew, Roberts eldest, about the event. We have an airline that does commuter hops to LAX from Medford. They do not fly on Friday, so I got Thursday flight out at 2:30PM with a Return from LAX flying out at 5:30AM.

Tina drove me to my Pops house on Wednesday after work. We visited and ate, Pop is learning to play electric Organ. I followed him around with his routine, Walking, Sherries restaurant etc., then a ride to the airport.

The flight was uncomfortable as I chose my seat poorly. The flight dropped me at the maze of LAX and the walk to the street and Budget rent-a-car shuttle was a long one, augmented by the scaffolds and partitions set up for a re-modelling. The car was rented, GPS was set and I was driving in that mystically fairy land known as El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula.

Traffic is horrid and my trusty Garmin tried its best to avoid numerous freeway blockages by shunting me to various freeways then, surface streets. I got to tour Norwalk and Compton on my surface street route to Brea. I got quickly disgusted with the sheer amount of commercials on the Radio broadcast (really, twenty minutes of each hour?) So the XM came in handy, once I eliminated bulk of the stations down.

Two hours and thirty minutes later I was so happy I live in Oregon and badly in need of head ache meds. My sis-in-law was gracious enough to give me food and medication. We chatted, walked the dog, watched some tube and I slept soundly. Next morning was some small bagels, then another treat of So-Cal traffix. This time I was Garmin'd to the toll freeways. This was really cool. Not only do you drive over 10 mph, but you get a better sense of the sheer amount of undeveloped land. I made good time and soon arrived at Shoo's domicile.

Due to the painters not finishing last Wednesday most of his houses furnishings where piled into the living room. It only added to the fun that only a chaotic atmosphere can bring. Shoo took me on a tour of Laguna and then Costa Mesa where we snapped pictures of my old neighborhood and my old house. It was unoccupied and the construction guys there let me inside for a few pictures.

We had a nosh at Togo's, played some WOW and relaxed in the jacuzzi prior to heading out for family dinner at a Vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant. Shoo was not feeling all that great so he bowed out early. Leaving his daughter Val and I the opportunity to watch the Ducks blank the Sharks.

Next morning, Saturday, was Roberts surprise. I had a few hours to kill so I headed to Irvine Spectrum and looked at the sights. Then headed off to the local Costco to spy on them.

Robert's daughter Hailey, had me hide in various spots as she enjoyed her Dad NOT seeing me. Finally I got to step out from the shadows. Robert was surprised and happy to see me. We went to a favorite family restaurant, joked and got back in time for the festivities. Andrew had set up linked X-boxes and we did some Halo followed by poker, then more Halo.

Just a pretty good set of downtime with Pizza and spaghetti. As midnight approached I was more and more worried that if I slept I might miss my wake up call and not make my flight. Seeing as I was open seating getting to the airport early was paramount.

So I headed straight there and waiting for the employees to arrive. The flight back was much shorter, due to my sleeping through most of it.

What a whirlwind! It is good to be home.

Loss of a Mom

2011-10-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

My Mom has been in a care facility for the last few years. Alzheimer's is very hard on loved ones.

In August she had a fairly bad fall and we feared the worse. Her head injury was treated but not surgically. That may or may not have hastened her demise today.

Recently there has been a joyous occasion, a wedding of my Nephew and his beautiful bride. My mother was in a pretty good condition and the care facility brought her to join in the festivities. I had a very nice visit and she recognized me, introducing me as "Her Baby" for the first time, in a long time.

When she had her fall, I was in Canada and not sure how I would make it back before she died. As I waited for a phone call, I had lots of thoughts about Mother and that last memory stood out as a good last one to hold onto. I had placated myself with the possibility that good memory would be my last one. She seemingly recovered and appeared to be on the mend, even regaining words to the songs she used to hum.

This Friday I got word that she had collapsed and the prognosis was not good. The care providers gave her a week. I had the option to head South to say goodbye. I wrestled with my August nice memory and haunting thoughts of the last time I saw my Grandmother. Something that I wish I could have un-seen. I decided to keep myself a little distant. We went on an outing to Crater lake on Saturday with Connor. Something he requested to do prior to winter closing the area. I went to a going away party for a manager at work. Although, I felt odd and detached from the festivities. I left early and had a run home. Neither night had me sleeping well. Sunday we missed Mass due to a schedule change we had not heard about.

I had spoken to my Pop, who graciously gave me the option to come down or not. I sent an e-mail to my two oldest friends explaining the situation. They responded in kind, that being there was important and I should re-consider. This struck me hard as I went to work Sunday, I actually felt a pressure above my heart as I kept busy and my mind off events. I spoke to a few people, including management, who immediately suggested I take some time off to do what was needed. I thanked them for their support and went about my work day. I had a few well-ups of emotion but nothing I could not work around. As the end of shift came around I realized that I had left my wife out of the equation.

It only shows how compromised I was emotionally that I thought I was going to have to go through this alone. My wife had a wonderful relationship with my Mom and equal rights to be there. I called and asked if she wanted to go down and without hesitation she affirmed. Which sent me relief as it exposed my wrongful thinking. I asked her to come get me and told Management that I had to leave.

Now I felt an urgency to head south, we hastily packed overnights and headed down the ninety minute drive. My Pop and my sister Nancy were with mom. We talked and cried and watched the care staff, who had genuine affection for my Mom. Dad had spent the last few nights as had some of my siblings. He constantly gazed at her and saw to her comfort. He was jovial, sad, pragmatic and emotional. As it got later, everyone needed rest. Tina and I headed to Pops house as Nancy and Pop spent the night with Mom.

I gave her a kiss goodbye and told her that I loved her.

The next morning we got two calls. The first call said she was not doing well and the second was she had passed. I broke down sobbing, Tina was there.

We headed over and Mom had been washed up and lie in the bed. Looking peaceful and asleep.

Early that morning, while her breathing was labored. My Pop, holder her hand, leaned over and told her it was time to leave. She died, with the love of her life gently holding her hand and a large outpouring of love which filled the room from her last few days. The attendance remarked how amazingly peaceful her passing was, of the likes they rarely see.

All things come to an end. My Mom's passing was a beautiful example that matched her beautiful life among us.

Get into the BOX!

2011-09-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

Test build successful! On to the next phase!

The motherboard is attached to the case using stand-offs. These are little brass fixtures that screw into the appropriate case holes to match the board mounting holes. You can eyeball it pretty easily. If you really want to be sure a template is a good choice.

Next up you want to mount the power supply. Mine goes fan down on the bottom of the case (which is very common now).

My power supply is modular. So you only need to use the cables you want. The rest you store in a bag for later.

Next up are the drives. For the DVD you remove a panel from the front of the tower and slide it into place. This tower is tool-less so it has some handy knobs that lock the drives down.

DVD in place! Next the hard drive.

This case comes with some rails that snap onto each side of a standard drive. Then you just slide it into position.

Finally the motherboard. Start with the back plate which labels all your various ports. It just snaps into place. Next you place the board slide it towards the back and secure using the mounting screws into the a fore mentioned stand-offs.

Using the back panel and some small black zip-ties you work the various cables through the channels to the proper position. Less spaghetti cables mean better cooling. I start by running power to everything, then data connectors to everything else. Including the case cables for the on off buttons and front panel USB and audio ports. Next I systematically secure the cables.

Any add-on cards, like a graphics card requires removal of a back panel (usually a screw, or you might have to bend-snap it off) and securing it into the socket.

Now you attach keyboard, mouse and monitor. Plug in the power supply, hit the power supply on switch (if it has one). Then push the start button.

TECH SUPERSTITION! NEVER close up the side panels prior to starting up your system for the first time. In fact, leave them off till after you install the OS.

Note how clean of cables this case is? It is a work of art.

Here it is running!

Next up, Installing the OS. This is something I may not blog about... Not sure yet. Its a lot of looking at this:

-fini-

Building a computer.

2011-09-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Lets say you want to make this metal box into a computer... Further you have all the other parts as well.

First thing is to set up everything and do a test build. You start by putting the processor into the motherboard.

The insertion is minor thanks to the zero insertion force style socket. First you open the mouse trap looking device, line up the slots on the processor with the socket and being careful not to touch the pins on the bottom or the metal on the top, you drop it into place.

The sound made while closing is not unlike fingernails on a chalk board. It sounds like your destroying the pins and is very disconcerting. Next you either apply some conductive paste and put the heat-sink fan into place.

It has four pins that push through and lock into place, you should make sure you plug in the fan to the appropriate place on the board. This now becomes a nice handle for maneuvering your board.

Next up install the RAM. Pretty easy and a little tricky. This is one time you MUST consult your manual to find the placement. This becomes simple if you have four matching sticks of RAM.

The packaging your board came in is perfect for a test build. I next installed the graphics card, hooked up my monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Finally run the various power supply cords to their various sockets. In this case we have the main power the secondary power and Graphics card additional power.

Next you start the system up by gaping two little pins on the motherboard (RTFM).

If you have good components this is what you will see.

TADA!

Now we know everything works. Time to install the stuff.

My new Obelisk

2011-09-28T17:26:00.001-07:00

My old computer died. I tried to revive it, but the parts are out of stock and problematic to find.

After perusing Toms Hardware guide, I got a battle plan of what I wanted in a system. I checked out the usual vendors and was not happy with what I saw .vs. what I wanted. Even Costco had some nice towers but too much $$ for too little power.

As I was pricing a system at New Egg when I came across a DIY system that was 90% exactly what I wanted.This little beauty was just perfect!

Here is my system out of the shipping box. Big black tower in the back. Motherboard, power supply and processor in front. In the foreground the Hard drive and RAM. I salvaged my DVD drive and Graphics card from my old system before recycling it responsibly.

Towers are very important consideration. Airflow, accessibility and aesthetics all come into play. The only complaint is the metal is a thinner gauge then I would like. There is a lot of quality in the product. The inside was painted to match. Both side panels have thumb screws for easy access. All the cables are clearly labeled and plenty long enough for any motherboard. The front, back and top fans are large powerful and quite, bonus for the pretty blue lights in the front fan. If you need additional cooling you can add three more without any problem. The front panel has two USB, Headset and mic and eSATA. Which is pretty standard. You have huge add on potential for additional drives and devices. I am considering a card reader.

The Motherboard is excellent! It has the current intel chipsets, can handle two graphics cards and up to an i7 Intel processor. No downside at all! Everything is clearly marked and well laid out. The tech support is difficult to understand due to the accent. However, the e-mail support works well, it just takes longer.

Intel i5 2500k is a great chip for gamers. It is inexpensive and benchmarks above several i7 cousins. It comes with a nice heat-sink fan and a manual that is good for something...

Hard drives above 500 gigabyte are more then enough. 1-Terabyte is cheap enough, so... why not? I like Seagate for no particular reason.

RAM can be tricky. Matching the speed to your system build takes a little bit of research. G.Skills have good RAM at a good price. These are dual channel DDR3 1600. They have a built on heat sink and offer a lifetime warranty.

Finally the power supply. You need to have enough power to run everything and more. Most manufactured PC's short you in this area. Dell, HP, Acer, all barely squeak by with the minimum required levels.

This beast is by corsair, it also has the advantage of being modular. You only plug in the cables you need for your system. Sweet!

Dear ELIZABETH WARREN

2011-09-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

Because factory owners pay NO EXCISE TAXES for the support of the roads that carry their materials, raw or finished, and NO PROPERTY TAXES for the support of the schools that (mis)educate its work force, and NO CORPORATE INCOME TAXES for the support of the armed forces that keep the factory safe… Oh… you mean they DO pay all those taxes and more?

Government Spending Doesn't Create Jobs

2011-09-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

Rex Murphy: The media’s love affair with a disastrous president

2011-09-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

Source Materical

As the bad economic news continues to emanate from the United States — with a double-dip recession now all but certain — a reckoning is overdue. American journalism will have to look back at the period starting with Barack Obama’s rise, his assumption of the presidency and his conduct in it to the present, and ask itself how it came to cast aside so many of its vital functions. In the main, the establishment American media abandoned its critical faculties during the Obama campaign — and it hasn’t reclaimed them since.

Much of the Obama coverage was orchestrated sychophancy. They glided past his pretensions — when did a presidential candidate before “address the world” from the Brandenberg Gate in Berlin? They ignored his arrogance — “You’re likeable enough, Hillary.” And they averted their eyes from his every gaffe — such as the admission that he didn’t speak “Austrian.”

The media walked right past the decades-long association of Obama with the weird and racist pastor Jeremiah Wright. In the midst of the brief stormlet over the issue, one CNN host — inexplicably — decided that CNN was going to be a “Wright-free zone.” He could have hung out a sign: “No bad news about Obama here.”

The media trashed Hillary. They burned Republicans. They ransacked Sarah Palin and her family. But Obama, the cool, the detached, the oracular Obama — he strolled to the presidency.

Palin, in particular, stands out as Obama’s opposite in the media’s eyes. As much as they genuflected to the one, they felt the need to turn rottweiler toward the other. If Obama was sacred , classy, intellectual and cosmopolitan, why then Palin must be malevolent, trashy, dumb and pure backwoods-ignorant.

Every doubt they hid from themselves about Obama, every potential embarrassment they tucked under the blanket of their superior sensibilities, they furiously over-compensated for by their remorseless hounding of Palin — from utterly trivial e-mails, to blogger Andrew Sullivan’s weird speculations about Palin’s womb, musings that put the Obama “Birther” fantasies into a realm near sanity. (We are now seeing an echo of that — with a new book promoting all sorts of unconfirmed gossip about Palin, including her alleged sexual dalliance with a basketball star.)

As a result, the press gave the great American republic an untried, unknown and, it is becoming more and more frighteningly clear, incompetent figure as President. Under Obama, America’s foreign policies are a mixture of confusion and costly impotence. It is increasingly bypassed or derided; the great approach to the Muslim world, symbolized by the Cairo speech, is in tatters. Its debt and deficits are a weight on the entire global economy. And the office of presidency is less and less a symbol of strength.

To the degree the press neglected its function as watchdog and turned cupbearer to a Styrofoam demigod, it is a partner in the flaws and failures of what is turning out to be one of the most miserable performances in the modern history of the American presidency.

Thanks, Smokey!

2011-09-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Okay this is one of those videos that I was embarrassed when I laughed.

Devil's Dictionary, Obama Edition

2011-09-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

Original

The Devil's Dictionary, Obama Speech Edition

Abraham Lincoln: Not the founder of the Republican Party.

Basic protection(s): Any regulation(s) that Barack Obama believes will reduce the ability of financial, medical, or fossil fuel companies to earn a profit, especially any regulation based on the Progressive view that individual Americans are too stupid to be allowed to make our own decisions in the most important areas of our daily lives. Also, any regulation that strengthens the power of unions.

Different theory: Economic policy views supported by history, evidence, and research by Barack Obama's own (former) top economic advisor, but not supported by Barack Obama.

Doing nothing: If referencing a Republican-controlled chamber of Congress, not giving the president at least 90% of what he wants even while passing legislation. Not applicable to a Democrat-controlled chamber of Congress, even if not passing any legislation.

Fair shake: The additional amount of money the government can extract from society's most successful by turning success into a vice and lack of success into a virtue; similar to shakedown.

Fair share: More than you pay in taxes now, especially if you are in the top 1% of earners who already pay more in income taxes than the bottom 95% of taxpayers and who pay nearly twice as much as a share of taxes than they earn as a share of national income.

Fairness: A never-reached situation in which the "rich" are paying their Fair share and Warren Buffett is happy.

Help: Buy one group of Americans' votes with money earned by those who pay most federal income taxes by giving the latter group a Fair shake.

Jolt: A policy dramatic enough to increase Barack Obama's poll numbers. A cola I drank in college.

Listen to every new proposal: Tailor a bill based on "suggestions" from the head of the AFL-CIO, SEIU, or AFSCME; Suggestions from Republicans responded to with "I won."

Most fortunate: Hardest working, smartest, most entrepreneurial, most responsible for job creation, paying more than others in taxes, or being part of any other such category so deserving of income confiscation, over-regulation, union domination, or any other punishment the Obama Administration can implement over Republican opposition which is based on Rigid ideas.

Nothing controversial: Highly controversial.

Paid for: Funded by increasing Fairness. Spending increases andFair Shakes implemented now with the net deficit theoretically funded by a promise of spending reductions later.

Payroll tax cut: A temporary benefit to some working Americans and businesses to be Paid for by creating a permanent penalty on other working Americans and businesses.

Political crisis: See "Urgent time for our country."

Right now: When to pass a "jobs bill," in which there is Nothing controversial, because we are in an Urgent time for our country.

Rigid idea: A position based on reading the plain text of the Constitution and thus not worthy of serious consideration, especially if it impedes Fairness or the implementation of Basic protections.

Sincerely believe: If referring to a Democrat, believe sincerely. If referring to a Republican, must be stupid or crazy to believe.

Tax loopholes; tax breaks: Advantages in the tax code that go to companies or people who do not share President Obama's goal ofFairness and who do not contribute enough to Democratic campaigns and thus must be shifted to the favor of those who do.

Urgent time for our country: A period during which Barack Obama's poll numbers are falling, causing him to fear that he will lose re-election and therefore that oceans may start to rise again.

Round the World Trip - in under 2 minutes "Tongue Twister"

2011-09-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

The Nike MAG

2011-09-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

2011-09-07T17:07:00.001-07:00

It’s now disrespectful to refuse to disagree with Obama?

Mugged by Mythology | The Weekly Standard

2011-09-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

Mugged by Mythology | The Weekly Standard

Madeon - Pop Culture (Dance Video)

2011-09-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

One of the better dance video's.

Best laid plans, get screwed up...

2011-09-03T09:14:00.001-07:00

My computers motherboard fried. I calculated over what to do and opted to get a replacement motherboard. Actually two generations higher then the previous, with some of the overheating issues resolved. Along with some nifty chipset updates.

I also decided to jump into Windows 7, so I ordered a new HD and got the upgrade.

Today was my first day off and I was very excited to get into my system. I had a few issues with the rear IO panel changes. I bought a metal nibbler and made some crude adjustments. Then I found the front IO panel interface cable was different as well. Argh! Who changes a CABLE interface?

So I got online with the motherboard folks and they directed me to the original manufacturers parts department. I need the Front IO board, The rear board and two cables. I got the part numbers and found the much needed cable was out of stock.

The representative did some digging and found a replacement part that will work (fingers cross). So I ordered up the parts and now I am waiting. Knowing in the back of my mind this whole thing might just blow up in my face.

U.Va. is all in on Climategate cover-up | The Examiner | Op Eds | Washington Examiner

2011-08-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

U.Va. is all in on Climategate cover-up | The Examiner | Op Eds | Washington Examiner

learnering.

2011-08-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

I love my job. Every day I have members (customers) asking questions around something they want to be able to do with a computer. More times then not I can offer them solutions they have not considered. Most times this results in a sale now, sometimes a sale later. Always, it results in another conversation with the same member at a later time.

While keeping up with the latest hardware requires a bit of investigation, keeping up with accessories can be daunting. I haunt the various new tech websites and magazines. Still something new will slip by me in a disconcerting manner. The Knowledge base builds upon itself in an interesting manner. Knowing what something can do makes learning what something new will do a quick understanding.

One of those things that snuck by me is WiDi (or Wireless Display). Most televisions can be hooked up to a computer. The picture quality will depend upon the resolution of the graphic card there within. Given that you have adequate hardware, you can then have a super-sized monitor for your entertainment needs.

This requires a cable, tethering you to the TV, which can be annoying and problematic. Enter WiDi!

With a box hooked up to your monitor and the capacity on your PC you only need to be in the same room to broadcast sans wire. So you plop your laptop onto the coffee table and start the slide show! or Hulu up lost episodes of "lost" or something.

You can even hook this up to a projector for a presentation. It is just a cool idea.

EDITORIAL: Obama: Stop selling pickup trucks - Washington Times

2011-08-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

EDITORIAL: Obama: Stop selling pickup trucks - Washington Times

Brad Paisley - Remind Me (Duet With Carrie Underwood)

2011-08-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

wheels.

2011-08-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Second time on my new wheels, two of them broke.

Book stores

2011-08-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

So Borders Books is closing down their storefronts. It is a sad time to their remaining customers and those who sat inside, reading books and never purchasing.

I recall an outcry from the populace when the big book stores started displacing the mom and pop stores of yesteryear. There was even a Tom Hanks movie about this very issue. They had a sales model that did not keep up with the times. You can read many analysts reasons for the giant going under.

My mind goes to the "whats next" arena. Amazon and other online stores are starting to find governments interference causing a change in the way they do business. E-readers are taking a toll from the printed page as well.

Mount Thielsen

2011-08-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

One of the surprising things about Roseburg is the elevation. It just seems higher then 500 feet. Douglas County goes from the ocean to the High Cascades. The highest point is Mount Thielsen at 9,184 feet. I climbed it at 50 years old.

When I lost my weight, I started looking for challenges. Recapturing youth? Sure... why not? Ego? Okay... Things I always wanted to do? All of the above, plus plenty more upon reflection.

Turning 50 has been a bit of tumult. There is some disbelief that a half century has passed. Then again, I am really happy with my life. I am just in such a good place with good people that turning 50 is much more sweet then bitter.

Anyway - Last year I was thinking of climbing Mt. Thielsen for my 50th. With the start of summer and all the planning and being included in plans, I kind of shunted that goal to the side. In the back of my mind I kept thinking of ways to get up there.

So my birthday came and Tina, true to form, planned a number of fun things. My co-workers were very gracious in accolades. I had a fun outing at a karaoke bar, and a nice dinner out with my in-laws. It was all a pleasant time. I was actually having some down time from visitors, etc., when someone pulled into my driveway early Saturday morning. The sound on our street plays tricks, and I had thought it was the neighbors. Tina's out-loud wondering of who could that be, prompted me to investigate.

There is a context of your day-to-day life. When something so totally unbelievable occurs, your mind can reel in flashes of justifications and possibilities. I would categorize this as mental shock. Which is what I experienced as my childhood friend Robert Shoemaker (Shoo) was standing in my doorway, with his teenage son Kenrick.

Shoo lives in southern California. Due to the wonders of the internet we keep in touch regularly. His showing up on my doorstep was so beyond anything, I was just stunned and surprised . Tina had been planning this for a year. Which is all the more remarkable as she is usually less then able to keep surprises.

The three of us sallied forth to Mt. Thielsen. This is just under a two-hour drive to the Trail Head near Diamond Lake. The hike is an uphill trek for about three miles. You go through wondrous forest with some snowy patches. The trail vanished at one point, but was unerringly found again by Shoo's preternatural ability to find such. The peak was slowly moving closer and closer. I was able to keep pace with Kenrick, which I was quite pleased with due to my fitness level, as he is a sporto in wrestling and football.

With about two miles left the terrain changed. There was loose dirt with foot-sized rocks on a pseudo trail, cutting back and forth above the treeline. Each step would be either a good step up or a slide back. You quickly learn to plant your foot and ease the pressure in anticipation. At this point I began to outdistance Kenrick. We would pause at times and gather back together. It was slow going at a lung-busting elevation. Shoo's tenacity was remarkable. He stated that he was concerned about making the climb, only to note his progress toward the peak and then double down on willpower.

The next section was loose rock over rock. As luck would have it, a young Swiss gentleman by the name of Allen was not far ahead, providing a visual reference for the climb. It was a hands and feet climb, the last hundred feet or so. Kenrick and I got to the top, Shoo was close behind us.

The views are spectacular. There were geological curiosities to ponder and quite a sense of accomplishment.

Currently I am in my own personal feeling of grace.

Turning 50

2011-07-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

It was a fun birthday. Even though I am not really a Birth-day kind of guy.

Tina arranged, via Facebook, a karaoke outing with with my work crew b-day eve, Keeka and Kirby in tow as well. It was a pretty good turn out. I did not choose the best songs to sing. Two of them being way out of my range. I did save my best (Soul Man) for my last tune.

I worked early the next morning and large amounts of caffeine buoyed my, already flying high spirits. I received a happy birthday from everyone (was even sung the Swedish Birthday Song). There was some honest disbelief that I had hit the half century mark, with a caveat being a wish they had similar energy and fitness level when they reached this number of solar orbits.

The Happy Birthday part was expected, the latter was not. That kind of accolade made my day, multiple times over.

Impressionist Jim Meskimen Does Shakespeare in Celebrity Voices

2011-07-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

Wisdumb

2011-07-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Be careful presenting facts to a liberal for it's guaranteed to enrage him.

Summer's Eve Hail to the V: "The V" Extended Cut

2011-07-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Never before have I seen a commercial like this... for this...

Raise Taxes?

2011-07-11T19:01:00.001-07:00

Obama didn't raise taxes in a lame duck session when he had 59 Democrats in the Senate and almost 260 in the House.

Scratch an atheist, find a Fundamentalist.

2011-07-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/zac-alstin-notes-a-basic-principle/

Zac Alstin Notes a Basic Principle. Namely, he recognizes that when you scratch an atheist, particularly a New Atheist, you will typically find a passionately religious (albeit flatfootedly moralistic and literalistic) Fundamentalist.
I can’t tell you how often I have gotten mail from people who tell me they don’t believe in God and then almost instantly reveal that they are furious with him. Sometimes they are furious with him for not existing, but much more often they are furious with him for not doing something they badly wanted him to do.

That’s not stuff for mockery by the way. Because many and many a time the something God was supposed to do was “save my daughter from death by cancer” or “keep my wife from committing suicide” or many other variations of the tragedies with which the world abounds. Many “atheists” are just broken-hearted people who can’t stand the thought that a good God would allow to happen the shock that shattered their world. For such folk, prayer and love, far more than logic-chopping argumentation is necessary thing. Many an “unbeliever” has felt the walls of ice melt between them and the Joy of Man’s Desiring after a wrenching, cleansing, gasping cry of pain and gush of tears after years of frozen rage. Seldom has that happened because somebody hammered them with an apologetics syllogism about papal infallibility. They needed healing, not a sound defeat in a debate.

That said, there are also any number of callow youth whose problem is not some dark wound, but simply that they are callow youth who have read some dim dumb thing that Richard Dawkins wrote or clicked on a diatribe by Christopher Hitchens and decided they are the intellectual heroes who will make them feel superior to their high school sophomore class. These people too cannot be converted by argument because nobody can be converted by argument. Nobody can be converted by your winning smile or my clever words or his watertight philosophical proof. These things can be prelude to conversion and rational human beings can come to acknowledge things by the light of natural reason. But only the Holy Spirit can do the heavy lifting of opening a human heart and mind to the light of divine truth.

That means that the first thing a gung ho evangelical atheist needs is prayer, not argument. The prayer is not so much for conversion as for de-conversion. Because a realio trulio confirmed atheist already has a deep religious belief. What he needs is not faith (he has that: faith in the three pound piece of meat behind his eyes). Nope, what he needs is right faith: in God and not himself, his brilliance, his rationality, his pride. And no mortal power can disabuse him of that wrongly ordered faith. Only God can.

Of course, not all atheists are of the gung ho militant variety. Some are atheists because, well, they were just raised outside any living encounter with actual faith. Indeed, I have known a number of atheists who range from curious to wistful about faith in Christ, as though it would be nice to believe if they could, but for whatever reason the inner “click” hasn’t happened to make the life of living faith in Christ real to them. Once again, prayer is the first thing, since only God and convert. At the same time, such atheists are often quite open to having a real conversation about the Faith. Such folk are often treated with profound contempt by the shallow noisy atheist Fundamentalists who have a script and are stickin’ to it. The contempt is due to the fact that these “Christ curious” atheists actually want to use their intellects instead of merely worshipping them.

But for the dyed-in-the-wool atheist of the New Atheist Speaker’s Bureau, the use of the intellect is strictly forbidden. Slogans and pre-fab sound bites are the key. The same clever lines get repeated again and again in a sort of atheist liturgy that drinks repeatedly from the same stale water. The same prophets (Dennett, Harris, Hitchens and Dawkins) are read from like the four gospels. Slogans about flying spaghetti monsters get repeated like antiphons at Mass. The same two arguments about “the Problem of Evil” and “How the Laws of Nature Prove There is No Legislator” get trotted out, oblivious to the fact that St. Thomas answered them both. In addition, we hear the same fallacies again and again in the liturgy of Padded arguments: religion is for suckers, Noah never lived, why can’t women be priests, Catholics sin, some miracles are fake so all are, the Pope is not photogenic, I am smarter than you, Galileo, six day creationism, SCIENCE!, etc.

It’s all as liturgical as a kabuki or a Mass—and as predictable. Only the New Atheist seems to be oblivious to how much he owes the religion he is attacking. Indeed, even his blasphemies depend for their power on the God he blasphemes, which is why he spends all his time Not Believing in the God of the Bible and very little time blaspheming Thor or Odin.

Swamp Ass PSA starring Nathan Fillion

2011-07-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

Five Ways Obama Tanked Employment

2011-07-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

President Obama’s defenders are taking to the airwaves to rebut the charge that his actions have caused the dire employment figure we see today. The rebuttals mirror those the President is making, and they sure don’t lack in audacity.

Some of the president’s enablers, for example, continue to claim that the unemployment rate is the fault of George W. Bush (even though it has been steadily rising two and a half years after Mr. Bush left office). Others say it is the structural result of deindustrialization. A third excuse making the rounds asserts that stalled talks over raising the debt ceiling have caused uncertainty and made businesses not hire.

Let’s quickly review the record. Here are five ways that President Obama’s actions have directly contributed to Friday’s dismal jobs report, which included a rise in unemployment to 9.2%, the news that only 18,000 jobs had been created in June in a country of 300 million people, that wages have declined and that 250,000 people left the job market entirely.

Stimulus package—The nearly $1 trillion boondoggle failed to stimulate, as we all now know, but made government grow beyond its means. Most of the stimulus bill was filled with the usual government pork or repeating failed policies of the past such as “shovel-ready” projects. Very few provisions were pro-growth and worked to encourage companies to create new, permanent jobs. Some provisions, such as increased unemployment benefits, unfortunately increase the duration of unemployment. The bottom line is that the stimulus bill was based on the flawed economic assumption that governments can spend their way back to prosperity and growth. The government stimulus bill did not create jobs; instead it filled job creators with fears of future tax hikes or more borrowing, and thus future artificially high interest rates.
Obamacare—It took the Administration and the Democratic-held Congress a year and half to ram this piece of legislation down the throat of the American people, time that could have been spent fixing the employment picture. Worse yet, Obamacare imposes vast and expansive new regulations and made labor costs uncertain. Many businesses have said that they are not going to hire permanent workers until they understand exactly how much Obamacare is going to cost their business and raise employment expenses. Other businesses are not sure how the new Obamacare regulations impacts their bottom line, which means they are going to sit tight instead of expanding.
Frank-Dodd Financial Bill—The heavy-handed Dodd-Frank financial regulation bill not only placed needless burdens on small as well as large financial institutions, but has deterred investment by imposing ill-defined restrictions on those who want to invest in the economy. And it did so without addressing the real causes of the financial crisis.
Environmental Protection Agency regulation—Unable to get Congress to pass Cap and Trade, with its skyrocketing electric rates, the Obama EPA is skinning the cat another way—mandating costly regulation. The EPA is implementing a lineup of electric-industry regulations, including the already in-force, but-as-yet-unspecified new CO2 rules, that promise higher rates, less reliability, and a sketchy future business environment. It’s no great surprise that firms haven’t turned up the throttle on hiring and expansion.
Regulatory Assault on Employers—The Administration’s enforcement agencies view employers as lawbreakers who need to be brought in line. Within the Department of Labor the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Wage and Hour Division (WHD) have ramped up enforcement spending while cutting back programs that help employers understand and comply with the law. Obama’s Solicitor of Labor emphasizes the Labor Department’s focus on litigation against employers. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is twisting the law into pretzels to facilitate union organizing, going so far as to file charges against Boeing for creating jobs in a non-union state. Obama’s message to employers has been clear: “We suspect you are breaking the law and we will get you.” Small wonder they are not hiring.

Original Source via the Foundry.

time line for the Doctor

2011-07-09T15:42:00.001-07:00

Research and design by the Online Dating Site

Worse Than The Church Abuse Scandals?

2011-07-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

According to a major study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education, the most in-depth investigation to date, nearly 10 percent of U.S. public school students have been targeted with unwanted sexual attention by school employees in an adult/minor context.

Titled, "Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature," the report says the mistreatment of students ranges from sexual comments to rape.

In fact, says the studies author, Carol Shakeshaft, professor of educational administration at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, New York, the scope of the school sex problem appears to far exceed the clergy abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church.

Comparing the incidence of sexual misconduct in schools with the Catholic Church scandal, Shakeshift notes that a study by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops concluded that 10,667 young people were sexually mistreated by priests between 1950 and 2002.

In contrast, the extrapolates from a national survey conducted for the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation in 2000 that roughly 290,000 students experienced some sort of physical sexual abuse by a public school employee between 1991 and 2000.

The figures suggest "the physical sexual abuse of students in schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests," said Shakshaft, according to Education Week.

Indeed, more than 4.5 million students are subject to sexual misconduct by an employee of a school sometime between kindergarden and 12th grade, says the report.

Sources:

- Carol Shakeshaft, "Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature," June 2004,http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf

- Laurie Goodstein, "Scandals in the Church: The Overview; Abuse Scandals has been Ended, Top Bishop Says," New York Times, Feb 28, 2004,http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/28/us/scandals-in-the-church-the-overview-abuse-scandal-has-been-ended-top-bishop-says.html?pagewanted=all

- Caroline Hendrie, "Sexual Abuse By Educators Is Scrutinized, "Education Week, March 10, 2004,http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2004/03/10/26abuse.h23.html

And something has especially gone seriously wrong with our society when we now have an epidemic of female teachers sexually abusing their (minor) students...

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=39783

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=168525

Top Ten Ways Democrats Can Re-"Appropriate" July Fourth

2011-07-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

10. Include a disclaimer on celebration notices warning that displays of patriotism might endanger children's welfare.

9. Have the EPA require that celebrations use only fireworks that are environmentally friendly and greenhouse gas neutral.

8. Include a ritual apology to Great Britain after all readings of the Declaration of Independence.

7. Have the National Endowment for the Arts fund naked interpretive dance troupes at July Fourth parades. Also, drum circles.

6. Burn slave-owning Founders in effigy.

5. Have the NLRB require that all parade volunteers be unionized.

4. Serve soy chai lattes at July Fourth parades.

3. A free bong hits booth at every parade.

2. Require that children have a permission slip to attend signed by . . . their school principal.

And the Number 1 way that Democrats could re-appropriate the Fourth of July is

1. Actually love their country and talk about it without always saying "I love America, but [issue probably having to do with their relationship with their fathers]."

(stolen frm Ace of Spades)

Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Mr. President

2011-07-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

No majik involved.

2011-06-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

At my work we sell laptop computers. All of our systems have a nifty recovery system, where you can re-set a computer to factory install (So it is just like it would be out of the box).

Setting up a PC for home use can seem scary to a neophyte. It is all about reading and answering questions with a toll free number by your side if the questions raise more questions.

Yesterday we had a member (customer) return a system, claiming that it had not been factory reset. At first glance this appeared to be the case so I took the system to a work area and began the process.

I noticed the restore option was not there. This means someone installed the OS from a disc or deleted the hard drive partition with the recovery information. You can take any given hard drive and divide it up into smaller drives (virtually). This gives you a semi-protected place for important stuff that will avoid most software issues.

Because this brand was not one of the usual ones I deal with, I decided to check the bios. Only to find it had been password protected. Further inspection showed that the computer had an admin account that was disabled and a password protected user account, that the member had no idea what the password was.

Of course the member blamed this on the computer and the staff who had reset it to factory conditions.

Computers are such magical devices that some people assume all things are possible. Further the human ego is such that admission of critical error that might put one in trouble is prevaricated upon.

So I have a good idea what happened, based upon what I observed, yet that is all beside the point. This laptop is unfixable with the tools I have at werk.

Nanny State

2011-06-25T10:12:00.001-07:00

Uninvited and damaging government intervention, stemming from a misguided desire to protect.

Ultimate Dog Teaser

2011-06-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

This got funnier the more I thought about it.

Lets do the same thing again and expect a different result!

2011-06-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

Who actually thinks this is a good idea?

I would think the authors of this report do not... I could be way wrong...

Weinermandius

2011-06-21T20:07:00.001-07:00

I read a hyperlink from a Twitter sage
Who said: "A vast and trunkless dick of stone
Stands in an archive. Near it on the page,
Half sunk, a shattered screencap lies, whose tone
And wrinkled pecs and leer of middle age
Tell that its subject kept that poontang rapt
Who yet discuss, in coed Facebook throngs,
The man who chased them and his hand that fapped.
And on the EXIF these words appear:
`My name is Weinermandius, Dong of Dongs:
Look on my junk, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal bulge, manscaped and bare,
The lonely intertubes stretch far away."

Lets fund illegal alien advocates!

2011-06-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Cecilia Munoz, La Raza’s senior vice president and lobbyist, joined the Obama administration as director of intergovernmental affairs in 2009. Since then, Judicial Watch reports, federal funding being poured into the organization has more than doubled: READ MORE.

Update Weiner gets a job offer

2011-06-17T06:42:00.001-07:00

Has to be read...

Tony Weiner exit.

2011-06-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

A short time ago I blogged about the NY representative with an attempt at satire in the title. Today I found he resigned his position. I would like to state, had I known he would have taken my posting so personally, I would have titled it more straightforward.

Anyways... I openly commented on his departure and a liberal friend responded that he was being harangued for his actions. I countered that President Clinton did not forswear his position, with much more grave indiscretions.

Her response was quite telling. As it was Weiners denial and attempt to blame others that was at the crux of the issue. Not his pervy indiscretions. I ponder if he had come out and exclaimed it was, indeed, his own photos sent out to the nubile twitter fans, he would have kept his job, nay, been glorified by the left for his bold honesty...

Should he have resigned? Yeah, I think so. But, he should have owned up and resigned from the beginning. At this point it is just sycophantic toadying.

Summer stuffering...

2011-06-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

There is stuff that needs doing around the house. Always is...

That's the thing with houses. You always have stuff to do. Whee!

I got some railroad ties to help de-grass the lawn slope on the North side. We also need to move some stuff from Diana's room. We would use the patio, but that has become a problem. The roof of the patio is leaking. So I got some nasty black tar stuff to seal the roof, so we can clean up the mess so we can move the stuff.

This black satanic mess is going to cost you clothing and shoes, not to mention any equipment needed to apply. I am not sure how it got on various locations upon my body. I am thinking it hid and jumped at times. In my mind the job should have gone pretty quickly. It was cloudy so I climbed up and began. The sun broke out of the clouds about the time I was covered in so much junk I could not apply sun-screen. Also climbing up and down the ladder was not an easy option either, as Connor was happily using said ladder to observe my work.

Finally the bucket was well short of the 300 square foot roof. Even short of the 250 square foot promised. so I had to clean up and drive out to get another bucket. Finally finished, I started the chore of using petrol as a cleaner for the sticky mess that I had become. It seems I had carefully spilled blotches all over the greater Pacific North West. I got my hands pretty well then arms then legs and finally feet. I jumped into the shower with a bottle of dawn to clean off the gas smell.

Then I found several large black area's on the back of my legs and eyelid.... Ugh! Another round of gas followed by a shower later and I thought I was cleaned.

I went through the backyard and pulled up piles of tar grass and spread some dirt on other tar messes. During this I got a bunch on my nice shorts... Not even sure why I wore them...

Tina found a few more spots and cold cream actually worked. That stuff is just scary...

So now the patio should be rain proofed...

Petition to Apply Affirmative Action to Basketball Team

2011-06-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

Gotta love how Collage kids think...

Bump in the Road

2011-06-13T21:19:00.000-07:00

US Is in Even Worse Shape Financially Than Greece: Gross - CNBC

2011-06-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

US Is in Even Worse Shape Financially Than Greece: Gross - CNBC

Exclusive: The Fed's $600 Billion Stealth Bailout Of Foreign Banks Continues At The Expense Of The Domestic Economy, Or Explaining Where All The QE2 Money Went

2011-06-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Exclusive: The Fed's $600 Billion Stealth Bailout Of Foreign Banks Continues At The Expense Of The Domestic Economy, Or Explaining Where All The QE2 Money Went

Well this is a fine How do you do...

Malthus and other predictions.

2011-06-11T23:12:00.000-07:00

Recently the end of the world forecast did not occur. Curiously there was some angst that it might. Of course this was followed by ridicule and a new date for the end to um... begin.

I was thinking about The Population Bomb's' opening lines the authors state that nothing can prevent famines in which hundreds of millions of people will die during the 1970s (amended to 1970s and 80s in later editions),

There was the coming ice age, back in the 70's as well.

Peak Oil has been one false prediction after another.

And Man Made Global warming has had its own set of doomsday clocks.

So how many of these world shattering predictions have to come and go before we take them in the context they deserve? Skeptical.

Pedophile Weiner.

2011-06-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

Patterico has gone after the NY Representative more then any other entity I have seen. While it should be viewed in the correct context, it is very damming.

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

At a minimum this is a creepy icky guy, who represents the people of New Yorks Ninth District.

Nobody

2011-06-09T20:26:00.001-07:00

Nobody can say we aren't progressive, hip, postmodern, ironic and extremely stylish as we kill ourselves.

Huge Number of Businesses to Drop Health Insurance, Thanks to Obamacare | The Foundry

2011-06-08T19:17:00.000-07:00

Huge Number of Businesses to Drop Health Insurance, Thanks to Obamacare | The Foundry

I suppose, that having individuals pick up insurance on their own, instead of it being a job benefit would provide for more of a marketplace...

Still, this mess-ed up bill is just getting more and more horrendous.

Salon Abortion Story Conflicts with Original | NewsBusters.org

2011-06-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

Salon Abortion Story Conflicts with Original | NewsBusters.org

Weiner

2011-06-07T07:58:00.000-07:00

In case you are wondering (from having read or watched various news outlets). Rep. Anthony Weiner is a Democrat...

The Other Lottery: Are Philanthropists Backing the Best Charter Schools? | Andrew J. Coulson | Cato Institute: Policy Analysis

2011-06-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Other Lottery: Are Philanthropists Backing the Best Charter Schools? | Andrew J. Coulson | Cato Institute: Policy Analysis

LOL | David Mitchell's Soapbox

2011-06-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

Questioning

2011-06-05T07:42:00.001-07:00

Unemployment is up. Gas prices are up. Food prices are up. Home prices are down. And debt is exploding.

Exactly how is that a record that anyone on either side of the aisle can feel good about?

Newsweek ??science?? Editor??

2011-05-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, talk about misinformed...

The tornadoes = global warming argument reminds me of something we read over and over during the past several winters of severe cold and snow: "Weather is not climate."

The zealot AGW cult chanted this phrase as if it were The Mantra Against Facts, every time someone pointed out that climatologist's models did not predict the cold weather we've been getting (until AFTER we started getting it).

As soon as a weather related tragedy strikes they hypocritically ignore what they said and started bleating, "IT'S CLIMATE CHANGE!! IT'S CLIMATE CHANGE!!"

Example:

Even those who deny the existence of global climate change are having trouble dismissing the evidence of the last year. In the U.S. alone, nearly 1,000 tornadoes have ripped across the heartland, killing more than 500 people and inflicting $9 billion in damage. The Midwest suffered the wettest April in 116 years, forcing the Mississippi to flood thousands of square miles, even as drought-plagued Texas suffered the driest month in a century. Worldwide, the litany of weather’s extremes has reached biblical proportions. The 2010 heat wave in Russia killed an estimated 15,000 people. Floods in Australia and Pakistan killed 2,000 and left large swaths of each country under water. A months-long drought in China has devastated millions of acres of farmland. And the temperature keeps rising: 2010 was the hottest year on earth since weather records began.

From these and other extreme-weather events, one lesson is sinking in with terrifying certainty. The stable climate of the last 12,000 years is gone.

The climate has been stable for the last 12,000 years? Yeah, that Little Ice Age between the 16th and 19th centuries was the picture of stability.

And though this has been a very active tornado season, it's hardly biblical as well as likely caused by this year's La Niña according to a majority of meteorologists on both sides of the global warming debate.

Alas, science really isn't important to this "science editor" who also seemed to miss an obvious point with her hyperventilation "The Midwest suffered the wettest April in 116 years." That means 116 years ago, when there was far less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the planet was a bit cooler, the Midwest suffered a wetter April.

Example:

Picture California a few decades from now, a place so hot and arid the state's trademark orange and lemon trees have been replaced with olive trees that can handle the new climate. Alternating floods and droughts have made it impossible for the reservoirs to capture enough drinking water. The picturesque Highway 1, sections of which are already periodically being washed out by storm surges and mudslides, will have to be rerouted inland, possibly through a mountain.

So in just a few decades, all the orange and lemon trees in my state will be gone, there won't be enough drinking water, and much of the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway will be kaput.

That's going to wreak havoc with property values.

Example:

Because of the CO2 that has already been emitted, we're on track for an additional 5 degrees of warming...New York, which is looking at an average temperature increase of up to 3 degrees Fahrenheit by 2020, is planning to paint 3 million square feet of roofs white, to reflect sunlight and thus reduce urban heat-island effects.

So, it took 155 years for temperatures to rise 1.37 degrees Fahrenheit. If we continued at this pace it would take 565 years for us to rise another five degrees.

Yet this so-called "science editor" claimed New York could see its temperatures increase by as much as three degrees in only nineteen years.

Which is why Newsweek should be ashamed of itself for allowing such nonsense to be published.
If only the folks associated with this publication possessed such a thing called shame.

Liberals no longer disdain the patriot act?

2011-05-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

Long read but makes the point

The patriot act was renewed with only the smallest of whimper, from the same media that sited Bush as the incarnation of Mao Zadung.

One can only conclude that it was the color of George Bushes skin! Damn Racist media!

Climate Scientists Subverted Peer Review | Patrick J. Michaels | Cato Institute: Commentary

2011-05-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

Climate Scientists Subverted Peer Review | Patrick J. Michaels | Cato Institute: Commentary

From 2009. Peer review is crucial to a climatologists work being validated.

Unless said review only disproves what your getting funding for proving...

Indirect Solar Forcing of Climate by Galactic Cosmic Rays: An Observational Estimate

2011-05-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

Indirect Solar Forcing of Climate by Galactic Cosmic Rays: An Observational Estimate

By Roy Spenser, Ph. D.

Stimulus Cost 1 Mil Private Jobs? - Investors.com

2011-05-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

Stimulus Cost 1 Mil Private Jobs? - Investors.com