December 31, 2006
Cool.
Now I can go get a copy of that
Esquire issue, with Bryan Anderson on the cover. I just couldn't be sure that the
article wasn't a slam on the Armed Forces. But
I no longer care; what an extraordinary young man.
Cassandra's summary reminds me about Project Valor IT. Good thought: that organization has to be part of my spending plan for this coming year: better to read a few books from the library and send the extra to get laptops to injured heroes.
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Happy New Year!
I'm going to try to get to bed at some non-vampire time tonight, so I'll wish you all well on the slim chance that I'm successful. (But happy happy on the East Coast!)
I'll be spending the next few hours with Attila the Hub, watching part of the Marx Brothers Marathon on Turner Classics.
Smart guys. But can anyone tell me why the Marx Brothers named two of their movies after Queen albums?
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According to Harpo's biography, it was to impress Jodie Foster. At least that's what I think it said. Hard to tell with 253-pages of "honk...honk..honk".
Posted by: Darrell at January 01, 2007 08:55 PM (c0hNo)
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Now I Can Die Happy.
Tammy Bruce took me out to breakfast this morning.
Hey, it's okay!—my husband knows all about it.
more...
Posted by: Attila Girl at
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well, she did sit next to you :-)
Posted by: caltechgirl at December 31, 2006 04:42 PM (r0kgl)
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ooo...I so love being part of the Vast Rightwing Conspiracy
We dress
so nice.
(it was fun! thanks, AG)
Posted by: Darleen at December 31, 2006 07:10 PM (x/ea7)
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Wait until I wish you and all your commenters a Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! A prosperous, adventurous one, too!
Posted by: Darrell at December 31, 2006 08:38 PM (AKFZY)
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"I'm clearly the somewhat chesty reincarnation of Emma Peel."
Post proof or retract!
Posted by: John at January 01, 2007 09:50 AM (xeqRv)
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So you need to see a picture of me in full martial-arts getup, wearing the most advanced belt I ever earned in jujitsu? Or something from the range?—with my Glock?
Posted by: Attila Girl at January 01, 2007 02:26 PM (zxOEV)
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December 30, 2006
Jules Crittenden
. . . on Saddam's death:
"drink up."
Or, you know—do whatever it is you do to celebrate.
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"Executed by Vengeful Countrymen"?
Well,
okay, AP.
By the way, how's that search for Jamil Hussein going? I mean, I trust you guys; I really do. Like I trust CBS.
But I would like to point out that what happened to Mussolini sounded a lot more like "vengeance" to me than what happened to Saddam. Though no less deserved.
H/t: Darleen.
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December 29, 2006
How to Keep Yourself From Being Proselytized
Very
practical.
Of course, knowing us we'd have a BVM on one side of the porch and a Buddha on the other, and it would create Much Confusion.
H/t: CalTech Girl.
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An acquaintance of mine got tired of repeated visits
from the local Jehovah's Witnesses women's club,
so he answered the door in his boxers with a can of
beer in his hand and invited them in for a drink.
He hasn't seen them since.
FWIW, Buddha got rid of my Morman infestation.
-Bob
Posted by: Bob at December 29, 2006 03:53 PM (2tBSJ)
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you know, I think buddha might een work better than the Blessed Virgin.
Posted by: caltechgirl at December 29, 2006 04:57 PM (hQNjm)
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1. Pentagram.
2, Dead chicken.
3. Red splatters of various age and size on the floor.
Posted by: Billy Dennis at December 29, 2006 08:39 PM (3ish0)
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Do white lizards attract or repel Mormons?
Did Bob Woodward get an interview with Saddam Hussein as to his views of the war? Maybe he can play it now... Rest, Saddam, rest.
Posted by: Darrell at December 29, 2006 09:01 PM (Grscj)
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What Is It About the End of the Year?
I have a long list of things to do, and yet none of them really sing out to me.
"Oh, duty, duty—
Why hast thou not the visage of a sweetie, or a cutie?"
—Ogden Nash
Of course, I was genuinely under the weather for a few days. But still . . .
Posted by: Attila Girl at
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Speaking of Ogden Nash, he was one of my mother's
favorite poets. Mom used to read poetry to us. One
of her favorites was Nash's "The Seven Spritual Ages of Mrs. Marmaduke Moore". (God knows which god is coming next!)
Come to think of it, she also used to sing to us when we were
young. Something about "sing to your children before they're
old enough to become critics" comes to rememberence.
But that's another story.
-B
Posted by: Bob at December 29, 2006 08:14 PM (2tBSJ)
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December 28, 2006
Bad Idea: RFIDs on American Passports
Good idea: "inadvertantly"
destroying the chip.
Thank you, Wired.
And thank you, Sean Hackbarth.
Posted by: Attila Girl at
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I don't know enough about it to be scared. What information is on the chip that isn't on the pages of the passport itself? Birthday? Check. Height? Weight? Check. (Even fairly accurate.)
But my passport won't expire until 2011, and I like watching privacy nuts get all nutty.
Posted by: Sean Hackbarth at December 28, 2006 10:23 PM (QJ5cf)
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well considering that anyone with a reader could get enough info to steal your identity (name, address, SSN, Birthday) as they pass you in the airport, yeah, not so good.
Hammer time.
Of course, I don't even have one right now.
Posted by: caltechgirl at December 28, 2006 10:53 PM (hQNjm)
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It's one thing that the person who checks your passport knows you're American: it's worse when anyone you pass on the street might know that too, if they are carrying the right equipment.
After all, we aren't that popular in some quarters.
Posted by: Attila Girl at December 28, 2006 11:55 PM (zxOEV)
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You can just keep your passport in a (conductive) metal sleeve--a Faraday Cage(Gauss Cage). I bet there would be a market for a LMA passport 'wallet', featuring the avatar of our fearless leader. Store that in a LMA metal cigarette-type case, and you will be all set for any eventuality. Supplies limited by demand, of course. Forget the hammer. No profit in that.
Posted by: Darrell at December 29, 2006 10:58 AM (ZYQoU)
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Ah, to have been rich enough when I was young, or to have enough time now that I'm no longer poor, to ever have required a passport....
Posted by: TheManTheMyth at December 29, 2006 11:55 AM (Gvo/q)
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Attila. Miss. Attila. Shaken, not stirred.
Posted by: Attila Girl at December 29, 2006 01:42 PM (zxOEV)
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I might be in the market for a LMA 'everyday' wallet, too, now that credit card companies are using RFID chips. http://www.difrwear.com/products.shtml
It's great that thief can steal my credit info at 50 paces now. Thanks AE, Visa and MasterCard!!!
Something like in that link. Only in the LMA brand-- with a higher price, of course. If AG has a talk with Q, maybe she can come up with a line of products that can protect against EMPs, too. I suggest using MuShield-- http://www.mushield.com/sample_kits.html
technology for that. I wouldn't want my electronic crap damaged in the case of a nuclear attack. Where would I get my tunes or my porn?
MI6 girl, really? I would have pictured you a Bond villain or Bond Girl with that first name and all. Lots of possibilities there.
Posted by: Darrell at December 29, 2006 08:49 PM (Grscj)
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My SS number on the chip: not cool. The rest could probably be found about me with a few Google searches.
Posted by: Sean Hackbarth at December 29, 2006 10:35 PM (QJ5cf)
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Clarity is Good.
Kate Kershner puts in writing the
requirements any sane person would have of his/her parents during a holiday visit in
Production Rider for Kate Kershner's Holiday Visit Home Tour:
Probably best to avoid politics, books of a high-minded literary nature, foreign films, and music that doesn't have words. TALENT feels stupid when these are discussed and accidentally lies about her knowledge of them, which makes TALENT feel bad and drink more.
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Maid in Japan
We're buying
more Japanese cars than domestic ones these days in the Golden State. Apparently, one of the factors involved is a change in fleet sales, but still . . .
People who want us to buy American should get American manufacturers to make better cars. Ford is doing better, but GM's taken a big dive in the past 6-8 years. Not that I'm bitter because my love affair with Saturn went sour, mind you.
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GM is doing a heck of a lot better than Ford. Compare actual sales figures for each quarter in the last year, as well as GM's extremely competitive new products being launched. Not sure what caused your Saturn love affair to go sour, but have you seen the new Saturn Sky? Wow that thing is HOT. I loved my Saturn until I totaled it, and I love my Grand Prix now. Sorry, Ford, but GM has the "Way Forward".
Posted by: Anne at December 29, 2006 07:35 AM (FU77D)
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I think GM chickened out when they dropped the idea of Saturn as a separate business unit and integrated it in with all the rest of their stuff. It's always easy to come up with "economies of scale"; the diseconomies of scale are usually ignored until it's too late.
Posted by: david foster at December 29, 2006 08:33 AM (/Z304)
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Also, of course, "Japanese brand" does not necessarily mean "made in Japan," given that Toyota and Honda both have multiple assembly plants in the US...
Posted by: david foster at December 29, 2006 08:36 AM (/Z304)
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As regards " Made in Japan"-- it's interesting the percentage of components in a "Made in USA" car is less than 50% American
Posted by: bob handwerk at December 29, 2006 01:34 PM (j642x)
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Go back to the original article: the distinction is becoming ever-more-cosmetic by the year.
Posted by: Attila Girl at December 29, 2006 01:44 PM (zxOEV)
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I drive a good old fashioned, red blooded, patriotic, all American Toyota Corolla. And I will as long as the UAW runs the Detroit companies.
Posted by: Bill at December 29, 2006 02:10 PM (TOW58)
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Most reliable car I ever had was a Mazda 626, despite its Japanese nameplate built in Flat Rock, Michigan by a UAW crew from 65 percent domestic components. Nothing on it failed in six years; I'd have it today were it not for a marauding deer on an Oklahoma backroad.
Posted by: CGHill at December 30, 2006 09:25 AM (Z/965)
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I hate those marauding deer: ONe worked my Saturn over pretty good several years ago. On a FREEWAY.
Posted by: Attila Girl at December 30, 2006 11:18 AM (zxOEV)
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Let's Get Busy Exploiting Gerald Ford's Death!
Crittenden
reports on two examples, including an egregious one from Bob Woodward.
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It's a Beautiful Day.
The high winds have subsided, and the sky is blue, with fluffy white clouds. I'm thinking this would be a great time to start
drilling ANWR.
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ENVIRONMENTALIST: But even if we do open up ANWR for drilling, it won't affect oil supplies for fives years.
NORMAL GUY: So if we hadn't listened to you five years ago when this topic came up for discussion, we'd have the oil now. Thanks a lot, doofus.
Posted by: John at December 29, 2006 01:01 PM (UHFyY)
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John Edwards
. . . has
announced for 2008, 2012, and 2016. Scott Ott:
“Americans are looking for a candidate with experience running for president,” said an unnamed campaign spokesman. “In 2018, when John Edwards is 65, he’ll have spent 16 years seeking the office and have four campaigns under his belt. We think that will position him well for victory in 2020.”
H/t: Insty.
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December 27, 2006
So, I Have This Friend.
You know the one. This morning, she had an egg, over easy, and bacon. And most of a standard-size waffle.
For dinner, she had two toaster waffles. I'm not kidding.
Is it possible she's slightly addicted to carbohydrates?
Should I shun her?
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No, offer her half your Twinkie.
Mmmm....Twinkies!
Posted by: Sean Hackbarth at December 27, 2006 10:37 PM (QJ5cf)
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That brings up an interesting point. What the Hell did they do to a Twinkie? They are nothing like the Twinkies of old, the kind they used to sell in the 60s and 70s. I had a 'modern' version about a month ago and I wouldn't use the filling as caulk. There's a special place in Hell for the person who messed with perfection.
Eggo waffles are still yummy. Your friend has good taste. Treasure her.
Posted by: Darrell at December 28, 2006 09:20 AM (gYyMl)
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Surviving.
There are lots of
rules. But the big rule is this: respect the forces of nature. Nature is very big. You are very small. Act accordingly.
Via Simon at Classical Values.
Posted by: Attila Girl at
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Some people think that there is no place on Earth where it is too dangerous to travel anymore. Those people are wrong. From parts of every major city to areas dominated by weather concerns and isolation, things can kill you. Stop watching those indie films where 20-something-year-old idiots travel the world with a digital videocam and a sack of weed. Be prepared. Study your route and your destination. Assume the worst will happen. Stock up with more than you think you will ever need.
If you can travel for hours without seeing another Soul or any sign of civilization, you are in one of those danger zones. Maybe amateur GPS units should indicate those areas as red zones. Pro units too. An occasional skull and crossbones would be a nice touch, as well.
Oh. And rent "Wolf Creek" before you go. Watch it.
Posted by: Darrell at December 27, 2006 08:44 PM (ohaAk)
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Attila the Hub read
Deep Survival a while back, as background for a story he's working on, but he found it tremendously interesting on its own—almost spiritual. If I understand his summary correctly, there are always bad decisions that can be made, but the main determinant in whether people succombed to false reasoning under stress was whether they
wanted to survive: whether they had something to live for.
I think that's why the Kim story bothers people: he had a family, and he should have pulled it together and done some clear thinking on their behalf, even if he was inclined to be reckless on his own.
Posted by: Attila Girl at December 28, 2006 07:40 AM (zxOEV)
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You can't draw on anything you don't already have. Some people should stay on the tour bus.
Posted by: Darrell at December 28, 2006 09:11 AM (gYyMl)
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Although coming across as a cold blooded bastard, the Rivrdog analysis makes sense and excellent points were made. But hey, people can still face harm just by making the wrong turn in many [well mapped] inner-cities.
Posted by: Dalsan at December 28, 2006 10:00 AM (0ajew)
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Well, that's why it makes sense to stay aware of your surroundings. A the H and I made a wrong turn in Seattle on our honeymoon almost ten years ago. We were on foot.
"Let's not turn around," he muttered. "Let's turn at the next street and backtrack that way."
So we managed to get back on track without announcing that we were tourists by turning around right then and there. That increased our odds of surviving.
Posted by: Attila Girl at December 28, 2006 01:44 PM (zxOEV)
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Goodbye, Gerald Ford.
I was so young when you
occupied the White House. But I do know that I thought you were amazingly bland. Very boring.
And in retrospect I see that the country needed that blandness. Desperately.
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Too bad President Ford never me a free market he could trust. From "Whip Inflation Now" to other wage and price controls, he had the true heart and soul of a Democrat. Worst of all he helped put Jimmy (the Peanut) Carter into the White House. We are still payng for that mistake. Good thing the bunnies took the law into their own paws to correct that error.
Posted by: Darrell at December 29, 2006 11:22 AM (ZYQoU)
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"Interesting . . .
to see an advocacy group impeached by its own grading system."
Insty links some fun facts about the Brady Campaign's "successes."
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