February 2004 Archives

Just got done watching the Academy Awards - to be honest, Leslie watched and I occasionally popped in because I have zero attention span for long thank you speeches - and have a few comments. One, the Lord of the Rings trilogy earned everything they got and kudos for them. Anything Lost in Translation earned was also well deserved. Now to my major gripe of the night.

Sean Penn? The same guy who was married to and made movies with Madonna? (Sidenote: being in a movie with Madonna should hereby ban you from ever receiving an award for anything) The same guy who has gone to Iraq twice just to badmouth our country and troops? Examples here and here; a sample of criticism here and here. In any case, I am in agreement with a lot more vehement people that this guy is a symbol of how entertainers mistake their job for activism. As much as I am against our original reason to go into Iraq, we have troops on the ground there and I would never go to a foreign land and criticize my country and its armed forces in such a manner. He won the Oscar for political reasons alone I surmise. Having thoroughly enjoyed Bill Murray and Johnny Depp's roles (Depp at least has attempted to apologize for his verbal errors) and always knowing Ben Kingsley to do a fantastic job, there were far more talented and deserving recipients of the best actor award.

In any case, one thing I really enjoyed was the "Tigershack" American Express commercial. If you haven't caught it, here is a writeup and here is the commercial itself.

We went out to the movies the other night and saw Miracle. I have to tell you, that was one heck of a fun, optimistic, inspirational movie. I wholeheartedly recommend you go watch it. Now, I have to tell you, maybe its the anti-Semitism it is spawning or the rude, condescending, holier-than-thou crowds we ran into and probably some of the horrible press its bringing up, but I really think we saw a more positive movie than everyone standing and waiting to watch Passion of the Christ. Seriously, isn't religion supposed to be a positive experience of overcoming the wretchedness and filth in the world and not a paean to masochistic whipping scenes? Granted, I have not seen the movie but, if one of you has, could you pass along a more glowing review? Just so I can get another perspective.

Sometime today Tom and the rest of the advance team head out to Kuwait. I've had a lot of time to talk to him this week and he's got a positive attitude and I'm just gonna hope for the best that he and the rest of the unit do their jobs and make it back home. A few prayers here and there probably won't hurt either.

I've tried to scan and upload some of the Galva News articles online and may have to go back to the drawing board and try to make the files smaller. But I am working on it. Thus far, the traffic increase isn't anywhere near what I feared so that's good news.

As for other news, I start at Aristocrat Technologies on Monday. Yes, I am finally gainfully employed and not just scratching for the odd contract like I have for the past months and isn't THAT a relief? This is the company that bought out Casino Data Systems so its kind of like going back to some of the same faces. Should be fun.

Too bad I read this story on people's negative views about their work environment. I don't care myself, I'm just happy to have something to do.

Hmm...weekend wrap-up. The Bartman Ball did get blown up. Story and footage here. A strange article about gamers and the importance of gameplay over plot. A live actual sighting of a Michigan wolverine and why that is odd. And for any English-firsters out there, a story on the decline of English speakers across the world. Guess we all need to pick up the pace and crack the books.

Yahoo and ESPN have stories about the cursed baseball about to be destroyed in Chicago tomorrow. The Chicago Tribune does too but you can't have my account info. Page 2 of ESPN has a tongue-in-cheek interview with the ball in question (so does the Trib btw).

Um, let's see...I have our Grand Canyon pics up here. I still need to edit the pages and such (Photoshop can do some really silly things if you aren't paying attention) but go ahead and take a look anyway.

Our idiot roundup has a school suspending a kid for bringing the SI swimsuit issue to school and reacting like he was packing an Uzi. Two morons in Detriot decided vandalizing a statue to Joe Louis with white paint would convince us that racism is a good thing. Their lawyer argues it was an act of political activism.

This one I agree with. The "Got Milk?" ads have been ruled as violating the free speech of dairy farmers who have been forced to pay for them. I never thought the ads did that good of a job and I'm frankly tired of all the knock-offs of the campaign.

I got an email forward from Earl Stuckey concerning where to buy gas so as not to give money to Middle Eastern companies who would funnel it to those who want us dead. I agree that on an individual level that is a solid plan. Though, as with any forward you all send, I ran it past Snopes to see what would come up. I didn't get a write-up on that exact email but on a very similar one. Basically, do what you can but don't expect the market to do with your money what you want it to.

After yesterday's wealth of bad news and worse ideas, I decided to follow up with as much light info as possible.

ESPN has a story on the Ali v. Ali commercial that I hope you've had a chance to see. If only more advertisers (Budweiser, Quiznos - are you listening?) had the concept of inspiring and respecting their viewers was the positive way to go. Even so, this is a nice piece of work for a short ad from a shoe company.

This story is about the Top 10 Strangest toys. Some are truly disturbing.

Here we have an example of where the problems lie in: a) the name of your town, b) the motto used to celebrate the town, and c) prudes with their minds in the gutter.

They say the old ways are sometimes the best. When it comes to medicine, let's just hope I'm unconscious if this ever becomes a part of my treatment regimen.

I don't know if you visit Yahoo, but their main page was advertising their dating service and had this ridiculous picture of a girl named Erin. This was pretty much standard for the past few weeks. Something Awful had a couple entries for budding young artists with too much time and Photoshop to put in their own creations on this theme. Before I link them: these are for the most part offensive, as are most of the ads and links on the site. I don't condone most of them and many are of obscure cultural references. Do NOT go if you don't want to see off-color humor. Do NOT blame me if you go and are offended. You were warned. If you are still going, the galleries are here and here.

I have one political story, but its the most level-headed one I think I've posted all year. Remember Sen. Bob Kerrey? Ran for president a few years back? I was pulling for him but it never came to pass. Anyway, he has written an editorial for the Boston Globe attempting to get past the whole debate over Kerry and Bush's Vietnam records. I think, whichever side of this you are on, you should take a look at it.

Sorry, its mostly a political rant day.

A memo put out by the Bush campaign states: "President Bush provides steady leadership in these times of historic change....He has an optimistic vision and agenda that will move America forward toward greater prosperity, greater security, greater freedom and greater compassion." I'm sorry, I haven't seen a single one of those action points come up lately. I have an open request on the message board if you actually have a plausible answer to any of that.

In other administration news, you already know that if you disagree with the current administration you are immediately labelled unpatriotic and possibly a traitor (or check the article here, here, and here) . However, if you are an educator and part of the NEA, you are now part of a terrorist organization. So says the Secretary of Education.

On the other side of the spectrum is Ralph Nader. Seriously, this guy can't admit that the primary reason George W. Bush is president is him (the Supreme Court coming in a close second). I'm trying to be optimistic and take him at his word, but there's a whole lot of history saying something else.

Our last bit of erosion of the Constitution comes from our neighboring governor Schwarezenegger who wants to make it so foreign-born sons of Nazis can run for president. Oh wait, he doesn't want it for himself. My bad. Orrin Hatch is assisting.

Slate has a story on poor Colin Powell. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.

Lastly, if you saw George Bush on an Alabama airfield in the 70's, you can make some money.

Turns out that your average electric razor and blow dryer may be causing brain damage. Don't believe me? The story is here and a link to the research is at the bottom of the article.

Also, more on the distortion of science story from the other day.

I don't know if you've been following the story out of the University of Colorado but I figure anyone who gets up and rips into a player charging another player with rape is a reprehensible human being who needs to be standing on corner with a sign before he gets his next meal. Coach Barnett, get off my planet please. Rick Reilly's original story on Katie Hnida is very well written as well. And you wonder how student athletes become punks. Now you have the proof in the acts of their coach.

Evil Ned sent this along with the comment, "When the King of Cambodia is more socially progressive that a US President, we might have a problem here." And seriously, whether or not you agree with the idea of gay marriage, you've got to ask yourself what type of country are we really be led to become lately?

The story originally starts here, with PETA wanting the town of Slaughterville to change its name to Veggieville. I kid you not. Anyway, the town voted against such ridiculousness (the town is named after a family, not an action anyway), thus hopefully saving other towns similar attacks of stupidity.

Wondered what the Internet actually is? This article details one view which I find to be about accurate.

I'd like to point out that the family of 1LT Chris Dougherty have started a Yahoo group for those from the Galva area who have family and friends already stationed or on their way to the Middle East. Sign up if you are amongst that group of people.

From Slate, a story on the problems on getting armored Humvees to Iraq and Afghanistan. Memo to the administration: Seriously, quit overpaying Halliburton for a moment and fix this problem.

The RIAA is being sued for exterior and racketeering by those who consider their methods to be similar to mob protection rackets. I doubt the suit will go far but its nice to see recognition of the trend. If all businesses sued people who didn't buy their product because it was garbage, we'd have a lot more lawsuits than we do today.

An article on how the president has become a reluctant peacenik of his own devising. And one that accuses the administration of tweaking scientific data to meet its agenda.

Over the weekend I'll try to get some of our Grand Canyon trip pictures up. In the meantime, I have a few of Tom and the unit from the Galva News on the new Photo Gallery database I'm trying to get up and running.

In following with yesterday's story about Hindus planning to beat people up who commemorate Valentine's Day, this story is a similar announcement for Muslims to ignore the holiday as well. Since when did expressing warm feelings become a call to trample over other societies? Wait, it hasn't. They're just paranoid.

In what is a more appropriate way to express your religion, there is a story about NASCAR and how it has had to deal with religious expression in their sport. I think they've done a decent job of it overall. Too bad its all going to get politicized starting this weekend.

Here's hoping that - at the least - this idiot gets a nice lifetime sentence at Ft. Leavenworth. Personally, I'm all for finding him guilty and finding the nearest tree, but that's just me.

Speaking of military issues, I was ignoring this whole Bush and the Air Guard thing, but then he started making it an attack on the Guard itself, not his possible dereliction of duty. That's just wrong. When you are being accused of something, be man (or woman) enough to take the heat without putting someone else in the cross-hairs. I figure most of you have enough moral fiber to understand that position. That's why our parents should be proud of us. That said, Slate has a take on the whole issue.

I find it strange that I am reading Andrew Sullivan and actually agree with some of his posts lately. It would be nice to think that after this election is over, we can stop bickering long enough to work on the problems we all agree on. Dare to dream

We took an informal poll around the apartment and found out we like grilled cheese sandwiches. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF PEOPLE LIKE CHEESE SANDWICHES! Actually, I know some of you don't, but its funny to see these TV shows, magazines and websites try to convince people that just because their viewers/readers/visitors agree with a politically slanted, leading question quiz, that makes it reality. And I'm not just bashing on one side of a political argument, its everyone in the process. Seriously, have any of you actually been asked to fill out a Pew or Harris survey? I'd like to know, because they aren't knocking on my door.

Well, as you may know, our guy Wes Clark dropped out of the race. Which is a shame. So now I'm hoping someone is smart enough to give him a cabinet post or something.

I don't know what's wrong with American Airlines. First, they let a pilot try to badger people into religion, then they kick off some nuns. Who's running that airline? Ralph Reed?

In two varying examples of religion getting in the way of laws and common decency, some pharmacists for Eckerd were fired for not distributing "morning after" drugs to a rape victim. And, as you celebrate Valentine's Day, remind yourself that you are participating in an act some radical Hindus feel is destroying their culture, and they plan to fight back. Just wait until they start hearing rap music.

Doonesbury has a way of saying things a tad more explosive than I would have concerning the Iraq war, but figured I'd share it anyway.

Oh, this is probably off your radar, but the original Star Wars trilogy is finally coming out on DVD later this year, but not in the form you think. Apparently, neckless wonder George Lucas wants his fluffy 1997 remakes better than the originals. There is a site and an online petition if you are interesting in voicing your likely ignored opinion. Not that I didn't sign it myself, mine. Link is on the image below.

You've probably heard this one about the pilot who told all the Christians on his flight to raise their hands, called all the non-Christians crazy, which then led people to grab their phones thinking they weren't coming off that plane in anything resembling a proper landing. Look, if you have to try to convert people, don't insult them, ostracize them, or make them fear for their lives in this realm. You can't get a convert with a gun to their head.

Speaking of violence and conversion, Al Qaeda has started using our lowest common denominator of culture - rap "music" - to get violent psychopaths to sign up with militant extremists and start blowing up Western civilization. I'll wait for the P. Diddy remix that should come out before Christmas.

Time Magazine and AOL have put out an online Q-and-A guide that you can use to determine who you actually want to vote for as president. Yeah, I know, its competent yet funded by AOL. Go figure.

If you don't want to be bothered by politics (and you visit this site?), go play this online game where you have to pick a Dictator or TV sitcom character (I don't know, I didn't make it) and see if you can stump the program.

Remember how we're treating our incoming foreign visitors like criminals at the door? Notice how they have nearly all been at least hospitable about the program, realizing our genuine fears? Too bad we can't do the same when we go overseas.

I'm not gonna say much about Bush's Meet the Press interview except to give you: a) the transcript, b) a liberal take on it, c) a libertarian-to-conservative-ish take on it, and d) conservative notes on it (and yet another from that perspective). Not a blockbuster performance.

And now, beer as seen through an optical microscope.

First we have a girl who was already told once to change jobs for her school work study. So she gets a job hosting at Hooters. She doesn't wear a skimpy outfit and her father is okay with her being there. Now she has found that she won't get credit for it, thanks to her school board. And don't ever get me started on my opinion of most school boards.

Next, we have a second grader busted for saying "hell." Read the article and you'll see she was trying to do the right thing. These are the lessons we teach our kids today. Do what we say. WAIT! That's all wrong, you're going to be punished.

Its not all bad news in education though. In Georgia, you can still say the word "evolution" in school without being labelled a crackpot, liberal idealist. Well, they'll still label you, but you can say the word. Reactionary, Dark Ages freaks. That's a joke, mind.

Before it gets archived, you can read the article, "Ten Technologies That Refused to Die" and nod your head through it much like I did.

And if you happen to have a bar code/magnetic strip on your driver's license, head here to find out what personal information is on it. I'd be really interested to know what's on your's. Not the data itself silly, just what kind.

Updated some stuff on the Galva Guard page. Still need to scan those Galva News articles though.

I haven't done a Boondocks in awhile. I think its time.

Admittedly, I enjoy a sporting event free of political attacks; however when CBS decided to not air a MoveOn.org ad during the Super Bowl and still bombard us with two anti-smoking ads and one anti-drug one (and don't forget the "pot smokers are terrorists" one from last year), that isn't exactly a politics-free zone. Apparently, not just anyone who coughs up a couple million dollars has the right to free speech on the family-friendly CBS network. In any case, the ad is here if you haven't seen it yet.

Business 2.0 magazine has a story on the "101 Dumbest Moments in Business" from last year. It was a good laugh for me. Enjoy.

Speaking of 2.0, you've probably already seen this, but its already making me add another category to my mental "types of people too stupid to have children" list. Other stupid people: the "father's rights" groups complaining about this line of clothing. Its called a sense of humor. Look into it.

On the Support page I have a write-up on Mozilla as a browser of choice. Kuro5hin has a similar article in favor of Firebird.

Oh, and now the quote of the week. When asking exiting voters about the electability of the various Democratic candidates, a pollster got the following reaction:"I don't care who wins" the Democratic primary, said Judy Donovan of Tucson, Ariz. "I'd get my dog to run. I'm not kidding. I would get Mickey Mouse in there. Anybody but Bush."

Oh, and since I've been fairly open about who I've been against thus far, I may as well advertise my slightly-hopeless-cause candidate of choice: Wesley Clark. Though, after a narrow win and a trio of second place finishes, its not all bleak news. I've been trolling his site for weeks and I just love this: an open request for people to drop Dean and move over to the Clark camp. Heck, maybe it will even work.