I'll know what I'll be thinking about all day today...

How to eloquently, cogently and concisely tell the RNC how to shove up it their @ss.

I got one of those "census document" questionnaires yesterday. What a bunch of loaded junk. "Liberal Democrat" this, "liberal Democrat" that. Some of these questions are just impossible to answer without an accompanying slap to the face of the questioner.

UPDATE: Here's an example.

Will you join the Republican National Committee by making a contribution today?

• Yes, I support the RNC and am enclosing my most generous contribution of: (multiple choice amounts).
• Yes, I support the RNC, but am unable to participate at this time. However, I have enclosed $11 to cover the cost of tabulating my survey.
• No, I favor electing liberal Democrats over the next ten years.

Unbelievable. They try to disguise this as a survey and still try to figure out a way to trick you out of $11. Are people really this stupid?

There should have been one more option:

• Not only no, but hell no. You bunch of thugs are doing just fine collaborating with your Democrat friends to infringe on my freedom without me giving you any help.

Interesting

I installed G00gl3 analytics yesterday just for kicks.

Thought y'all might like to know that among readers of this blog, non IE-users (Firefox and Safari combined) outnumber IE users.

So far, anyway. Maybe the IE users will get out this weekend.

Something I just learned today

There is a Pipedia: a wiki for pipes.

And the universe is a green dragon

My friend Brer made a huge score of action figures today.

I knew there'd be a lot of them, but wow. Yesterday the Fed-Ex man drove up and started unloading boxes on the front porch. The first three were out and I thought, "Okay, that should be about it." Then another was hauled out. Then another. And another. In all six boxes, each 30"x13"x16", were piled up on the top step. The Fed-Ex man asked me what was in them, and I told him.

"Are you opening a store?" he asked.

I had a ready answer.

"No, we just play with them."

You may not be interested in collectible action figures; odds are you are not. But you may still enjoy reading his account of this staggering acquisition.

Yeah, sure, whatever...

UPDATE: I must give credit where credit is due. Mr. Cuellar did sign the Congressional Amicus Brief, which in legal terms, probably has more weight than the letter, anyway.

[original post below]

On January 23 I sent an email to my so-called representative urging him to sign onto the letter written by Rep. Virgil Goode regarding the amicus brief filed against the Second Amendment by the Bush DOJ.

I finally got a reply.

Thank you for contacting my office about Second Amendment issues. I understand and appreciate your point of view on this topic, and I value this opportunity to respond to you.

I have always supported the Second Amendment right of citizens to bear arms in a safe and responsible manner. Gun ownership is part of our nation's heritage. While I support reasonable gun laws designed to protect public safety, gun owners and dealers should never be singled out for politically motivated attacks. In order to preserve the rights of gun owners, I have worked closely with and been endorsed by organizations such as the National Rifle Association. As the legislative year continues, you can be sure that I will keep your views on this issue in mind, and that I will act to create laws that are consistent with our basic Constitutional rights.

Blah blah blahdee blahdee blah. And his magic recitation of the impotent NRA cantrip doesn't impress me either. Since there's no mention of him signing the letter, I must assume he's not going to do it. Like I said, he's only my so-called representative because he doesn't represent me. I would say that he's lost my vote, but that wouldn't be true. I've never voted for him.

Saved by a pellet gun

I had to work in alleys today, most of which curved and looped around and had intersections where you have to know which way to go or you get kind of lost. I already know this route well, so that's not a problem for me anymore. But I say this to point out that all the houses are not completely lined up on the alley, they kind of zig-zag.

A dog with the potential to cause serious harm broke its chain, busted through the back fence and came at me. I had my hook in its face, backing away when I heard POP!...POP!...POP! It yelped a couple of times and ran back to its yard.

Two houses down was a man standing on the edge of his backyard, furiously pumping a pellet gun. So I said, "Thanks, dude! Nice shootin'!"

Well, I feel kind of stupid

I've been reading so much about Stupor Tuesday on the blogs lately that I forgot Texas doesn't have its primary until March. I knew something was amiss when I pulled up to the polling place and no one was there. Heh.

Look closely...

Look very closely...

Things are not always what they seem.

And if you have a pipe, then of course you'll also need a lighter.



Dark Roasted Blend has an article on miniature spy guns, most of them antique, and as usual with DRB, lots and lots of pictures.

I'm somewhat disturbed by the pipe. The discoloration on the stem appears to be oxidation which would be caused by someone actually carrying it around in his mouth. "Shot by his own pipe" would be a stupid way to die.

Another theory on the Tunguska Event

The Tunguska Event was a massive explosion that occurred near the Podkamennaya (Lower Stony) Tunguska River in what is now Krasnoyarsk Krai of Russia, at around 7:17 a.m. on June 30, 1908 Julian (July 13 on Gregorian calendar). [Snatched from Wikipedia because I'm too lazy to write my own explanation]. It has been variously blamed on a meteoroid or a comet. The meteoroid proponents point out the problems with the comet theory, and the comet proponents point out the problems with the meteoroid theory. The cause of the explosion has never been conclusively explained.

Here's a new theory that it was the cause was geophysical in origin, rather than extra-terrestrial. A combination of tectonic forces and atmospheric conditions.

Interesting, long and technical, but worth reading if you're a strange phenomena buff.

No more free speech at Cato

The Cato Institute, a so-called "libertarian think-tank" has canned adjunct scholar Dom Armentano.

Why? Because he wrote an op-ed discussing the implications to our lives and our government if it were to be publicly proven that UFOs do exist.

The most astonishing news story of all time would be the confirmation of intelligent extraterrestrial life. Such a discovery would have multi-faceted social, religious, scientific and economic ramifications that can only be described as out-of-this-world. As an example, try to imagine the price of crude oil or the gyrations of the stock market just one day after such a revelation. The existence of off-the-planet intelligence could change what most people believe about almost everything.

Yet in some ways an even more significant story, perhaps even more significant than the discovery of extraterrestrial life itself, would be the revelation that certain elements of the U.S. government may have known about — and covered up — that discovery (even from elected officials without a “need to know”) for more than 50 years.

Now, that story, a deliberate half-century of deception to cover an inconvenient truth, likely would shake this nation to its very political foundations. That outrageous disclosure could change almost everything, too.

Yet outrageous as it may seem, many who have studied the UFO phenomenon now conclude that starting with Roswell in July 1947, elements of the U.S. government may have systematically lied to the American people (and to elected officials) concerning the actual nature of the UFO phenomenon. The evidence for that deception is substantial and is to be found in thoroughly documented books, dozens of declassified “top secret” documents, and many sworn testimonials from key military-intelligence community insiders.

He didn't say UFOs were full of little green men. In fact, the opinion he proffered was this:

Heavily censored information, billion-dollar “black budgets” and super-secret “black projects “ (UFOs are likely a very black project) ultimately make open government and representative democracy a joke and a sham.

The above sentence, possibly excepting the parenthetical remark, should be something that everyone except big-government statists can agree with. But what does Cato Executive Vice President David Boaz say?

“I won’t deny that this latest op-ed played a role in our decision. Some day we may look back and wish we’d listened to you. But for now this strikes us as not an issue that we want to have as part of Cato’s research agenda.”

No research into black budgets? What's up, Cato?

Lazy day

Didn't really do much of anything today. Posted a couple of things over at The Briar Files and pre-composed another one for tomorrow.

I should be having a fairly easy week as far as the job goes this coming week. Here's hoping I get off early most of the time so I can get some more pipe work done.

I plan on going through several cheap pipes this week and posting pictures of everything I have available. I have a bunch that are already cleaned and ready to go from years ago that I never tried to sell.

Also there should be a more less daily post on my own collection, and I intend to start watching eBay more assertively with real intent to purchase. So if things are slow here, it's only because I'm enjoying myself.

I'm a mutant

Or, all blue-eyed people are related:

People with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor, according to new research.

A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. The mutation occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. Before then, there were no blue eyes.

"Originally, we all had brown eyes," said Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.

The mutation affected the so-called OCA2 gene, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to our hair, eyes and skin.

"A genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch,' which literally 'turned off' the ability to produce brown eyes," Eiberg said.

The genetic switch is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 and rather than completely turning off the gene, the switch limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris. In effect, the turned-down switch diluted brown eyes to blue.

Philip K. Dick predicts the future...

Details at Conservative Scalawag.

Cthulhu clock

Also interesting interpretations of child and adolescent Cthulhu, and some other Lovecraftian artwork at thebiscuitboy's deviantart site.

via Under Vhoorl's Shadow

Retro Parody

TekTak of the MoxArgon Group has written an amusing parody to the tune of Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes."

There's a sentence I never thought I'd write, but any excuse to say "Mott the Hoople."

Well, what do you know?

I agree with Ann Coulter.

(Yes, I was referring to Guiliani at the time, but the principle remains the same).

Saturday Vintage Gun Ad (1962): Ithaca

Another Ithaca ad. Click for a larger, readable version.

I get the feeling that the guy on the right has heard this story before.

Revisiting the album meme

In what I think is the first time I've ever influenced a meme, from One Monkey's Typewriter (go there for directions).



I'll try this again tomorrow. Right now I'm tired, and I have a mandatory overtime day tomorrow.

70 Even

If I counted right. I don't feel like doing any real blogging today, so here's a meme I stole from El Capitan. Someone made up this list of movies. Boldface the ones you've seen.

Rocky Horror Picture Show
Grease
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
Boondock Saints
Fight Club
Starsky and Hutch
Neverending Story
Blazing Saddles
Universal Soldier
Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Along Came Polly
Deep Impact
King Pin
Never Been Kissed
Meet The Parents
Meet the Fockers
Eight Crazy Nights
Joe Dirt
King Kong (1933)
King Kong (1976)
King Kong (2005)
A Cinderella Story
The Terminal
The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Passport to Paris
Dumb & Dumber
Dumber & Dumberer
Final Destination
Final Destination 2
Final Destination 3
Halloween
The Ring
The Ring 2
Surviving X-Mas
Flubber (but I've seen "The Absent-Minded Professor [two versions] and "Son of Flubber")
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (but I would like to see it)
Practical Magic
Chicago
Ghost Ship
From Hell
Hellboy
Secret Window
I Am Sam
The Whole Nine Yards
The Whole Ten Yards
The Day After Tomorrow
Child’s Play (stupid...I don't know why I wasted my time...oh yeah, now I remember, it's because I have a secret fantasy of destroying every stinking ventriloquist dummy on the planet, and this movie fueled my rage)
Seed of Chucky
Bride of Chucky
Ten Things I Hate About You
Just Married
Gothika
Nightmare on Elm Street
Sixteen Candles
Remember the Titans
Coach Carter
The Grudge
The Grudge 2
The Mask (I really like this movie)
Son Of The Mask (this one is stupid)
Bad Boys
Bad Boys 2
Joy Ride
Lucky Number Slevin
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Twelve
Bourne Identity
Bourne Supremacy
Lone Star
Bedazzled
Predator
Predator II (lame)
The Fog
Ice Age
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
Curious George
Independence Day
Cujo
A Bronx Tale
Darkness Falls
Christine
ET
Children of the Corn
My Boss’s Daughter
Maid in Manhattan
War of the Worlds (1953) (I read the book)
War of the Worlds (2005)
Rush Hour (who told Chris Tucker he was funny?)
Rush Hour 2
Best Bet
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
She’s All That
Calendar Girls
Sideways
Mars Attacks!
Event Horizon
Ever After
The Wizard of Oz
Forrest Gump (bits of it, here and there...never the whole thing at once)
Big Trouble in Little China
The Terminator
The Terminator 2
The Terminator 3
X-Men
X-2
X-3
Spider-Man
Spider-Man 2
Sky High (actually pretty cool for a kid's movie)
Jeepers Creepers
Jeepers Creepers 2
Catch Me If You Can
The Little Mermaid
Freaky Friday (original and more than one remake...let us forget that the L.L. version ever happened)
Reign of Fire
The Skulls
Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions 2
The Hot Chick
Shrek
Shrek 2
Shrek 3
Swimfan
Miracle on 34th Street (original and remake)
Old School
The Notebook
K-PAX
Krippendorf’s Tribe
A Walk to Remember
Ice Castles
Boogeyman
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Baseketball
Hostel
Waiting for Guffman
House of 1000 Corpses
Devil’s Rejects
Elf
Highlander
Mothman Prophecies
American History X
Three
The Jacket
Kung Fu Hustle
Shaolin Soccer
Night Watch
Monsters, Inc.
Titanic
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Shaun Of the Dead
Willard
High Tension
Club Dread
Hulk
Dawn Of the Dead
Hook
Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
28 days later
Orgazmo
Phantasm
Waterworld (both lame and stupid)
Kill Bill, Volume 1
Kill Bill, Volume 2
Mortal Kombat
Wolf Creek
Kingdom of Heaven
The Hills Have Eyes
I Spit on Your Grave, AKA The Day of the Woman
The Last House on the Left
Re-Animator
Army of Darkness
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage, AKA The Ewok Adventure
Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
The Matrix
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Animatrix
Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Team America: World Police
Red Dragon
Silence of the Lambs
Hannibal

Back in the 90s I was a regular plasma donor. I saw several of these movies while hooked up to a centrifuge. But I'm glad I saw "She's All That" and "Ten Things," because it made "Not Another Teen Movie" a lot funnier.

I tried to watch the first "Kill Bill" once, but it was boring. It had about as much of a plot as a porn movie, but with violence as the raison d'etre instead of sex. So who cares? I gave up on it after about an hour.

I've never seen "King Kong" because giant monster animals movies just don't do anything for me. I've always thought every Godzilla movie I ever tried to watch was stupid, too.

The pucker factor

Oddee has photos of some of the World's Most Dangerous Airports. Although "airport" may be a somewhat loose usage of the term for some of them.