From the Interesting Coincidences Department

I would normally have posted this yesterday, but I was away from the 'net just about all day.

We hear from a normally impeachable source (Dr. Science himself, but verified at the AllMusic Guide) that Davy Jones and Michael Nesmith of the 60's made-for-TV rock group "The Monkees" were both born on December 30 (Jones in 1945, and Nesmith in 1942).

Mathematical fact of the day: As those of you who've mastered your probability formulae know, the probability of at least two persons in four (as you remember, there were four members in The Monkees: Jones, Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork) sharing the same birthday is 0.016.

Len on 12.31.05 @ 08:00 PM CST [link] [ | ]

And talk about having more money than sense....

One would think that one would have better things to spend money on than restoring one's hymen: More U.S. women getting 'revirgination' surgery

For her 17th wedding anniversary, Jeanette Yarborough wanted to do something special for her husband. In addition to planning a hotel getaway for the weekend, Yarborough paid a surgeon $5,000 to reattach her hymen, making her appear to be a virgin again.

"It's the ultimate gift for the man who has everything," says Yarborough, 40 years old, a medical assistant from San Antonio.

Hymenoplasty, a controversial medical procedure known mostly for its prevalence in the Middle East and Latin America, is becoming popular in the U.S. Although there are no hard data, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says vaginal surgery, including hymenoplasty, is one of the industry's fastest-growing segments. Gynecologists are marketing hymenoplasty in magazines, local newspapers and online. They report business is booming.

Len on 12.31.05 @ 07:15 PM CST [link] [ | ]

I'm tempted to look in the dictionary, under "unobservant"...

According to this story from Agence France-Presse, apparently it's possible for a woman to be pregnant, and not be aware of it: New mum thought baby was kebab

A WOMAN rushed to hospital with tummy trouble, fearing she had eaten a dodgy kebab, was shocked to give birth instead, a British newspaper reported today.

Helen Smitham, 25, of Distington in northwest England, had no idea she was pregnant when she complained of feeling a bit rough – with an iffy kebab thought to blame.

Her mother rushed her to the nearby West Cumberland Hospital where she gave birth so quickly that doctors did not even have time to tell her she was expecting.

Her baby son Deaton was born on December 24 weighing four pounds and 11 ounces (2.1kg) said The Sun, Britain's biggest-selling daily.

Then again, according to some of my sources, The Sun's credibility is something less than that of The National Enquirer, though probably a bit more (though not much) than that of The Weekly World News...

Len on 12.31.05 @ 07:10 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

I was thinking about the fact that Monica Lewinsky's famous blue dress came from the Gap. That was back in the mid-1990s—rosier days for the company. Can you imagine a White House intern now—a well-off woman from Beverly Hills who considers herself fashion-forward—buying a dress from the Gap? I can't. Maybe Banana Republic.... It's just a sign of how badly things have gone for the brand: They can't even get world leaders to ejaculate on their clothes anymore.
--Seth Stevenson

Len on 12.31.05 @ 06:31 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Year in Review (Meme)

On an inspirational idea from Dr. Abby’s blog - Here is an *Almost Year-in-Review* (since I officially missed the 1st of the year before I became a blogger) using this model:

”It suggests taking your first post from each month of the year, then taking the last section of it and posting it all in a single list…”

So, in a slightly altered form, here is my Year-In-Review List for 2005:

1) Jan: I’ve found a blog voice:

After a serendipitous meeting, some “dead ivy” conversations, and getting an invite to have an Internet Blog Voice…I’m joining Len & Brock here at DBV.
….
So, I hope you like my commentary and thanks to Len & Brock: This will be the start of a beautiful friendship. Blogs....away!!

2) Feb: Responsilbility Month

This being February 1st and all...its the end of my month long "Responsibility Experiment" that had been going on at my house since my New Year's resolution letter had been printed in the Chicago Tribune on January 1, 2005.
…
The final message is that we are a family and we are all in this together and can work and help each other to maintain our lifestyle better than if we all just go it alone. Thanks for the calls and e-mails of encouragement and support from many moms (and even a dad too) who know exactly what I am up against.

3) March: Racist Vixen Vipers

Seems I've been way too kind to the Vixen of Vipertude in only complaining about her obnoxiousness and dyspeptic behavior...appears the Vixen is a racist snake in the grass to boot.

4) April: In Other Local News...

Now here's PROOF that there IS other NEWS happening in the world and locally which is worth reporting on. Even in our own Dennis Hastert Corner (DHC) strange tales abound:

Witchcraft, coercion alleged in lawsuit by Tona Kunz (Daily Herald) tells it all.
….
Well, don't say I never told ya it wasn't WEIRD living here in DHC. And it's NOT an April Fool"s Joke either. LOL

5) May: Orbits...

David Brooks has an interesting muse in today NY Times Op-ed pages: Let’s Make A Deal talking about Bill Frist and the “Nuclear Option” to destroy the Senate fillibuster.
….

And this list goes on…These folks are NOT about “The People’s Business” as expressed by the Majority of Americans -- but their own personal, private agendas and missions.

"Is this what you (WE) want on your (OUR) orbit?"

6) June: More Male Modeling...

The Urge to Win by John Tierney (NY Times) is an interesting follow-up on one aspect of the men’s/women’s issues and debate.

7) July: More Colorado Reunion in Winter Park

More McLauchlan Family Reunion with a couple last photos of the Bee-A-You-Ti-Full Colorado Mountains.

8) August: Willfully Wasting Wifi??

Now here is one that I can really see eye to eye with on a purely intellectual level about whether - by allowing your home Wifi to be broadcast unencrypted into the public realm or street, you ought to be “allowed” to then make a claim against anyone who might be tempted to use IT -- OR this claim that You simply Can't Steal Wifi.

9) Sept: Let the Recriminations Begin...

Government is to blame for the chaos: New Orleans damage, looting might have been less severe if there were better disaster planning, by James Pinkerton (Newsday)
…
If homeland security is to have any meaning, it should focus on all threats to the home front. This week, the homeland securitizers failed, big-time."

10) Oct: 'There's No Place Like Home...'

"...There's no place like home..."

Back from the "Big Apple" and hope to soon have some FAB pictures of the day trip to the Mohonk resort (Up State NY); the views from the Empire State Building; China Town and our Ground Zero visit.

11) Nov: Winning Web Designs...

This was from a while back over at Discourse.net, but caught my attention as a funnie about Webpage designing. These are things that designers fail to include in the Webpage making them *poor* quality (at least according to that author. *wink*)
…
And tho', as an all purpose Techno-Dweeb with minimal HTML skills, I have Absolutely NOTHING to do with how our Webpage looks or functions. (Len RULES!!!)

My only job is to add posts and keep ya'all suitably entertained around here!!! (*smile*) But I thought you might find this *amusing* any-ole-way. So, How does YOUR Webpage stack-up? Hmmmm...? ;-)

12) Dec: Here is What I REALLY Needed to Know...

The tall and the short of why caffeine works…. :-)

* HAPPY NEW YEAR ! *

Karen on 12.31.05 @ 06:52 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Another Year's-End List...

...from Paul Krugman (NY Times): "A Heck of a Job, Bushie":

A year ago, most Americans thought Mr. Bush was honest.

A year ago, we didn't know for sure that almost all the politicians and pundits who thundered, during the Lewinsky affair, that even the president isn't above the law have changed their minds. But now we know when it comes to presidents who break the law, it's O.K. if you're a Republican.

Click on the "more" to read in full (because this is a real GEM) and because it is time to speak-up and vote out these Un-Constitutional Americans, the Faux-Patriots of the Mis-Rule of Law, those who favor Amuptated-Liberties as their Security-of-a-Lifetime, the El-Supremo's of Executive-Powers making all the rules up as they go along.

Karen on 12.30.05 @ 05:23 AM CST [more..] [ | ]

Census Data 2005 Anniversaries...

[The] Following is the daily "Profile America" feature for Friday, Dec. 30 from the U.S. Census Bureau:

Before closing the book on this eventful year, it's worth looking at some of the anniversaries of 2005.

Fifty years ago, the nation's first theme park, Disneyland, opened in Anaheim, California; Bill Halley and the Comets recorded Rock Around The Clock; and the first McDonald's opened.

Seventy-five years ago, the planet Pluto was discovered, and Hostess Twinkies first went on sale.

One hundred years ago, Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity, and noted aviator and movie maker Howard Hughes was born.

A century ago, the average life expectancy for a baby girl was 51 years and for boys, 48. Now, those figures are close to 81 years for girls and 75 for boys.

-- US News Wire.

Karen on 12.30.05 @ 05:07 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Yet Another 2005 List...

Time has done a 10 best TeeVee show list.

[Which I note here as being NONE of the things I EVER watch on TeeVee with the exception of their #7: Colbert Report.]

-7-
The Colbert Report
(Comedy Central)

By rights, this spinoff of Stephen Colbert's supercilious Daily Show correspondent character should have have one good week in it, two, tops. But sharp writing and Colbert's wholehearted inhabiting of his blowhard alter ego showed that there's as much potential in mocking cable opinion shows as in the news itself. Like The Daily Show, the show is uneven -- between the pair, you've got 14 minutes of solid comedy every night -- but it's worth catching for Colbert's nightly editorial, "The Wørd," in which his bluster is counterpointed by commentary from the on-screen graphics. This is a worthy second half to a media-savvy Daily Double.

[And Note to Len: It IS one of the best shows on TeeVee and worth a look-see. ;-) ]

Karen on 12.30.05 @ 05:01 AM CST [link] [ | ]

I am Not Nearly good enough with Photoshop...

...to create these FAB effects from the contest called The Invisible World:

The Invisible Glass



Invisible Sailing

Click on the link above to see many more of these GEMS. [And perhaps create your own FUN in Photoshop.]



Karen on 12.30.05 @ 04:56 AM CST [link] [ | ]

More Lists...

Still puttering through digg.com and found this list of the 25 Most Interesting Webcams of 2005.

[Of course there is a "Panda Cam." :-)]



Karen on 12.30.05 @ 04:46 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Boo- Hoooey!!

This article from the Chicago Tribune tells it all:

First Marshall Field's, now The Berghoff.

Chicago will lose another commercial and cultural icon when the 107-year-old Berghoff Restaurant, a Loop landmark, serves its last schnitzel on Feb. 28.

Herman Berghoff, the 70-year-old grandson of the restaurant's founder, and his wife, Jan Berghoff, 68, are retiring. Herman Berghoff, who's been working at the German-style restaurant since 1952, owns the building at 17 W. Adams St. and will lease it to his daughter Carlyn Berghoff's catering company.

She plans to reopen the bar this spring under a slightly different name but convert the elegant dining room to a private banquet hall, thus ending the reign of one of Chicago's oldest and most fattening restaurants.

"It's hard to believe," said Rich Melman, founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a Chicago-based restaurant company, who recalls first eating at The Berghoff 45 years ago. "I feel such a personal loss for Chicago. It's like losing the Cubs or something."

Can't count how many times over so many years I've enjoyed their Sauerbraten and their own Berghoff's Draft Beer.

Boo-Hooey. :-(

Karen on 12.29.05 @ 02:30 PM CST [link] [ | ]

More Constitutional Worries Ahead...

A good piece about the trouble with this entire bAdmin views of the “Executive Powers”, the dismissive attitude of Constitutional Values, and the Alito nomination:

…So what does explain Alito's nomination, given that by any plausible account McConnell would have been a more distinguished nominee with easier prospects of confirmation? The answer, I suggest, is the belief by insiders in the Bush Administration that he would be better on the one issue they REALLY care about, which is the aggrandizement of Executive power. The events of the past two weeks, following the disclosures about literally unwarranted wiretapping and data-mining by the National Security Agency, bring into sharp focus the intent by the Administration, led by Dick Cheney, to assert almost unlimited executive powers linked to the "Commander-in-Chief" Clause of Article II of the Constitution.
…
To be sure, if the Administration has the commitment to Executive branch aggrandizement that I am describing, one might think that an even better nominee would have been Fourth Circuit Judge Michael Luttig. But Luttig is in fact too visible; he has written too many opinions that allow easy identification of his views with those of Justice Thomas. To this extent, Alito is more the "stealth" nominee. The Third Circuit simply doesn't have the array of relevant opinions on national security issues, not least because the Administration explicitly places as many such cases as possible in the conservative-dominated Northern District of Virginia and then the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, secure in the knowledge that it will rarely lose. But it is wildly unlikely that the justice-pickers were indifferent to Judge Alito's likely proclivities.

This makes it essential, obviously, that every member of the Senate Judiciary Committee grill Judge Alito on his views of Article II, the Commander-in-Chief Clause, and, for that matter, the Oath of Office, given that University of Minnesota Law Professor Michael Stokes Paulsen reads the Oath to license the President basically to do whatever he wishes so long as there is a good faith belief that it is "defense" of the Constitution. Quoting Lincoln, Paulsen argues that just as one can amputate a limb in order to save the life of a person, so can a President in effect ignore any given part of the Constitution, including, of course, any of the protections of the Bill of Rights, in order to save the Nation. To put it mildly, this theory of the "amputated Constitution" should give us all pause.

Had Alito been nominated two years ago, many of these questions might have sounded "academic." In the aftermath of the disclosure of memos written within the Department of Justice justifying the President's "inherent" right to torture and then, more recently, of Bush's own public claims to almost limitless executive authority following the NSA disclosures, there is nothing at all academic about them. They go to the heart of whether we can maintain ourselves as a constitutional republic…”

Judge Alito and Executive Power by Sandy Levinson (via Daily Kos).

Update: Here is yet another good piece on the problematic *logic* that informs the idiots in favor of Suspending the Constitution tilted to a view of Supreme Executive Powers during a time of War; from Larry Johnson (No Quarter):

Do you think that John Yoo, the guy who authored the Department of Justice memo justifiying torture, believes that pedophilia is okay as long as the President believes it is necessary to save the nation? That my friends, as absurd as it sounds, is the thrust of the logic underpining the arguments Woo and his buddies are making. Their assault on the traditional conservative view that the power of Federal Government should be limited is truly frightening. In the name of saving the nation they insist that international accords against torture and inhumane treatment no longer apply. They are also on board for holding American citizens in prison indefinitely without a chance to confront their accusers in court. If it is done in the name of "national security" it is okay.

It is too bad that the term "fascism" is such a hot button term, because it is a word that appears to accurately define Yoo's views on Presidential supremacy. I guess we are resigned to labeling him a neo-conservative imperialist, because he believes that the President's status as the Commander in Chief grants an inherent manifest destiny to wield unbridled power.
...
It would help if we could put the threat of terrorism in a proper historical perspective rather than create a fantasy land of fear. While there is no denying that the radical Muslims would like to cause us great harm, they do not have an air force with long range bombers nor do they have an armada of aircraft carriers. They also do not have submarines armed with submarine launched ballistic missiles. Their ability to attack us is greatly constrained. Even if they get their hands on one or two nuclear devices, they face significant obstacles delivering them. Let's not ignore this threat, but neither should we surrender our civil rights to it just because we're afraid.

Yet, night after night we are confronted with some thick headed TV reporters and pundits who repeat the nonsense that because the threat is new spying is justified. Enough already! We can accept the fact that terrorism is a threat that must be taken seriously but it should not be employed as an excuse to pursue any activity that is cloaked in the aura of "security". If we use the fear of terrorism to excuse torture and permanent imprisonment then we are only a hop-skip-and-a-jump to making sex with children okay as long as the President believes it will keep us safe from Osama.

Karen on 12.29.05 @ 10:18 AM CST [link] [ | ]

That 'Abused Wife' Syndrome...

...all over again with Child-In-Chief merely dusting of his litany of faux concerns to begin *listening* to the country in it's Plans for Political Recovery...

"...The idea, one senior official said, was like fighting with a spouse: "You need to give voice to their concern. That doesn't necessarily solve the division and the difference, but it drains the disagreement of some of its animosity if you feel you've been heard."
...
Despite the gain in polls, some advisers see trouble ahead. Bush's top aides are telling friends they are burned out. Andrew H. Card Jr., already the longest-serving White House chief of staff in a half-century, is among those thought to be looking to leave. Rove's fate is uncertain, as he appears likely to remain under investigation in the CIA leak case, people close to the inquiry said.

Some are concerned that although Bush has changed his approach, he has not changed himself. He has been reluctant to look outside his inner circle for advice, and even some closest to Bush call that a mistake because aides have given up trying to get him to do things they know he would reject.

So, CIC will continue to wheedle, cajole, prevaricate, and smooze his way back to a few percentage points increase in the polls from the battered American public that just wants someone to tell them: "It will all be alright, honey. Trust in me."

Karen on 12.29.05 @ 09:48 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Congrats to Go Around...

Though I sent an appropriate e-mail, I am remiss in posting about the birth of Dan & Paige Froomkin's welcome new addition to their family: Max Fitzgerald Froomkin.

Congrats to go around for the Frookmin Clan. (And here's hoping for Uncle Mikey to post a nice picture of baby Max...we love pictures!)

But Michael Froomkin has posted another GEM about blog Disclaimers and it is worth a Laugh today.

%-)

Karen on 12.29.05 @ 09:33 AM CST [link] [ | ]

I may not DO Lists...

...but I found a few good lists this week:

From Popular Mechanics these Top 50 inventions listed in chronological order by year.

And for all you Techno-Wizards and Geek-Wannabe's, this PC World's list of 50 Best Gadgets.

[All via digg.com]

:-D

Karen on 12.29.05 @ 09:00 AM CST [link] [ | ]

You'll All be Pleased to Learn...

...this tid-bit of some interesting "snooze."

"Snooze, You Win

According to new studies, nothing tunes up mind and body like a good nap. But there's an art to catching the right kind of z's
...
So what makes a power nap effective? Think of it as an investment with the greatest return in the least amount of time, a kind of super-efficient sleep that fits nicely in a high-pressure schedule: say, between business meetings or in the minutes before a game.

Napping in general benefits heart functioning, hormonal maintenance, and cell repair, says Dr. Sara Mednick, a scientist at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies who is at the forefront of napping research.

A power nap, says Mednick, simply maximizes these benefits by getting the sleeper into and out of rejuvenative sleep as fast as possible.
...
Here's how the power nap works: Sleep comes in five stages that recur cyclically throughout a typical night, and a power nap seeks to include just the first two of them. The initial stage features the sinking into sleep as electrical brain activity, eye and jaw-muscle movement, and respiration slow. The second is a light but restful sleep in which the body gets ready -- lowering temperature, relaxing muscles further -- for the entry into the deep and dreamless "slow-wave sleep," or SWS, that occurs in stages three and four. Stage five, of course, is REM, when the eyes twitch and dreaming becomes intense.

The five stages repeat every 90 to 120 minutes. Stage one can last up to 10 minutes, stage two until the 20th minute. Extenuating circumstances, like manning the controls of a jet, aside, experts believe that the optimal power nap should roughly coincide with the first 20 minutes in order to give you full access to stage two's restorative benefits. In addition to generally improving alertness and stamina, stage two is marked by a certain electrical signals in the nervous system that seem to solidify the connection between neurons involved in muscle memory. "It's like a welding machine," says Mednick.

"When you wake up, your neurons perform the same function as before, but now faster and with more accuracy," making the 20-minute nap indispensible to the hard-working athlete looking to straighten out his putter or baseline shot.

Mednick's most recent research also shows that power naps can lift productivity and mood, lower stress, and improve memory and learning. In fact, Mednick has found through MRIs of nappers that brain activity stays high throughout the day with a nap; without one, it declines as the day wears on. Tell that to the boss next time he finds you passed out at your desk.

There is, however, a pitfall in all this sleeping around. You have to carefully time the duration of your nap in order to avoid waking in slow-wave sleep. This can produce what's known as sleep inertia. That's when the limbs feel like concrete, the eyes can't focus, the speech is slurred, the mind is sluggish. Sleep inertia can ruin your day. You must keep the nap to 20 minutes or slightly less, and if you need the extra sleep, wait until the 50-minute mark. This will safely keep you on the power side of your nap.

Getting The Perfect Nap

Everyone, no matter how high-strung, has the capacity to nap. But the conditions need to be right. Dr. Sara Mednick, who will publish a book on napping in the spring (tentatively titled Take Back the Nap!, Workman Publishing) has some helpful hints:

1 The first consideration is psychological: Recognize that you're not being lazy; napping will make you more productive and more alert after you wake up.

2 Try to nap in the morning or just after lunch; human circadian rhythms make late afternoons a more likely time to fall into deep (slow-wave) sleep, which will leave you groggy.

3 Avoid consuming large quantities of caffeine as well as foods that are heavy in fat and sugar, which meddle with a person's ability to fall asleep.

4 Instead, in the hour or two before your nap time, eat foods high in calcium and protein, which promote sleep.

5 Find a clean, quiet place where passersby and phones won't disturb you.

6 Try to darken your nap zone, or wear an eyeshade. Darkness stimulates melatonin, the sleep- inducing hormone.

7 Remember that body temperature drops when you fall asleep. Raise the room temperature or use a blanket.

8 Once you are relaxed and in position to fall asleep, set your alarm for the desired duration (see below).

How Long Is A Good Nap?

THE NANO-NAP: 10 to 20 seconds - Sleep studies haven't yet concluded whether there are benefits to these brief intervals, like when you nod off on someone's shoulder on the train.

THE MICRO-NAP: two to five minutes - Shown to be surprisingly effective at shedding sleepiness.

THE MINI-NAP: five to 20 minutes - Increases alertness, stamina, motor learning, and motor performance.

THE ORIGINAL POWER NAP: 20 minutes - Includes the benefits of the micro and the mini, but additionally improves muscle memory and clears the brain of useless built-up information, which helps with long-term memory (remembering facts, events, and names).

THE LAZY MAN'S NAP: 50 to 90 minutes - Includes slow-wave plus REM sleep; good for improving perceptual processing; also when the system is flooded with human growth hormone, great for repairing bones and muscles.

-- Christopher Ketcham (hat tip to Digg.com)

Or as I like to call my Power naps -- Short naps = SNAPS.

Karen on 12.29.05 @ 08:53 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

George, Prince of Wales, Prince Regent: Ah, Dr. Johnson! Damn cold day!
Dr. Samuel Johnson: Indeed it is, sir -- but a very fine one, for I celebrated last night the encyclopaedic implementation of my pre-meditated orchestration of demotic Anglo-Saxon.
George: [nods, grinning, then speaks] Nope -- didn't catch any of that.
Johnson: Well, I simply observed, sir, that I'm felicitous, since, during the course of the penultimate solar sojourn, I terminated my uninterrupted categorisation of the vocabulary of our post-Norman tongue.
George: Well, I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds damn saucy, you lucky thing! I know some fairly liberal-minded girls, but I've never penultimated any of them in a solar sojourn, or, for that matter, been given any Norman tongue!
--Blackadder The Third

Len on 12.29.05 @ 06:16 AM CST [link] [ | ]

From the Files of "Haven't Tried This One...Yet"

One of Those CRAZEE folks over at Google wanted to have some FUN and see what an eighth of a ton (250 pounds) of Silly Putty would be like to *play with*:

The article is a fun description of the Silly Putty-esque Escapade that followed.

[Hat Tip to Digg.com]

:-)

Haven't tried that one yet. Though the family story is told about my eldest brother who got his *egg* of Silly Putty back when the stuff first appeared in 1957.

He had so much fun squishing and forming and bouncing the fabulous-goop that he refused to part with it or put it back in its egg container. Clutching it tightly in his hand, he even took it to bed with him.

One of the properties of this amazing polymer is its ability to "flow" when warmed up...as my brother found out.

Grasped tightly in his *hot* little hand, the Silly Putty melted and flowed right out his hand sticking the side of his head, his hair and hand to his pillowcase. The next morning my mother had to cut all his hair off the side of his head to free him from the Silly Putty. (And that pillowcase and glop of Silly Putty was consigned to the trash never to be seen again.)

But it still FUN stuff. Tho' I don't think I'll be Bulk ordering 250 pounds of it any time soon. *teehee*

Karen on 12.28.05 @ 07:52 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Amazon's Price-Drop Policy

For all the Amazon shoppers out there, here is a good tid-bit of a little advertised policy by Amazon to meet price-drops if the price of a purchase goes down within 30 days of your purchase.

Via Digg.com: Amazon's policy:

"Did you know that if the price on something you buy drops, within 30 days of your purchase date, Amazon.com will credit you the difference if you ask for it? It’s a not-advertised price drop policy that most people don’t know about and it’s saved me tons of money over the last few years."

So Amazon Shoppers, check your purchases and take advantage of this program [before they re-write the rules.]

:-D

Karen on 12.28.05 @ 07:29 AM CST [link] [ | ]

The New Holiday Sport...

Mike Musgrove (WaPo) introduces us to a potential New Holiday Sport in this article: The Computer Geeks Who Saved Christmas:

Home for the Holidays Often Means Work for Tech Professionals

"...For many folks like them, having a family reputation for tech savviness means that going home for the holidays has become the time for connecting printers and figuring out why mom's e-mail software stopped working a few weeks back. As computers have found a place in nearly everyone's home, the annual computer checkup has become almost as much of a tradition as dad putting together the new bicycle or sister-in-law getting dragged into the kitchen to make gravy or eggnog.

"It used to be that grandma wanted you to put in a new light bulb in some hard-to-reach place," said Maschal, who works for a local Web company, though in a non-techie capacity. "Now you have to come over to take spyware off her hard drive."
...
In families blessed with more than one alpha geek, fixing a computer is a matter of pride. When antivirus expert David Perry finds himself at home with his computer science PhD brother and his computer engineer brother-in-law, it can turn into a bit of a showdown. Correctly diagnosing the family computer's ailments becomes "the geek holiday sport" he said..."

Hmm, should this be a new reality based TeeVee Show? GEEK SURVIVAL SHOW-DOWN.

But what would the *winner*deserve? A Year's Free Holiday from fixing other family member's computer problems? But then again... to win, they would have to be the BEST (and we all know "only the BEST" is good enough for family and friends.)

;-)

Karen on 12.28.05 @ 07:20 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Was Good Advice EVER taken in this bAdmin?

I think NOT. But here is some more Good Advice from Robert Kuttner (Boston Globe):

What Bush could learn from Lincoln

"...Lincoln's priority, always, was to preserve the Union and to reduce the sectional and ideological bitterness. As Goodwin brilliantly shows, he did so by the force of his personality and the generosity of his spirit. Lincoln had an unerring sense of when public opinion was ready for partial, then full abolition of slavery, and he would not move until he felt he had the people behind him. He governed by listening and persuading.

By contrast, Bush's entire presidency is about eking out narrow victories, not about building national consensus. Even when he prevails, Bush wins by manipulation and stealth. His legacy is deepened division and bitterness.

Bush is said to live in a bubble. His tiny inner circle protects him from realities that might upset him or challenge his dimly informed certitudes. Lincoln, by contrast, had the confidence to reach out to critics and seek out widely divergent viewpoints..."

Good Advice sure to go unheeded by our Child-In-Chief.

And as far as thinking this bAdmin is ever going to ...reach out to critics and seek out widely divergent viewpoints... Ha Ha Ha Ha Haaaaa! Phu-leeease.

If there is any *seeking* to find *divergent viewpoints* by this Administration, it is to *reach out* and throttle them senseless, encase their feets in bricks of cement and toss them overboard to discuss these positions with that other famous Commander-In-Chief -- Davy Jones. [You can find Davy right next to his *locker.*]

Divergent Viewpoints are Nevah to see the Light of Day in this "We Make Our Own Reality" Based community in the White House. Bleh!

Karen on 12.28.05 @ 06:58 AM CST [link] [ | ]

More about that 21st Century need for Enlightenment II

The New Yorker had this wonderful drawing of the cross-exam of scientist for I.D. -Michael Behe - by attorney -Eric Rothschild. [And we all KNOW how that turned out as a reaffirmation of the First Enlightenment and Principles of Scientific Inquiry.]

But via Huffington Blog is this other *reaffirmation* of both the *First* and the *New Enlightenment* on the meaning of the Holidays:

"...The recent debate about whether it is appropriate to say “merry Christmas” or “happy holidays” is yet another argument made by thoughtless religious people. It is yet another means to create a debate about the nature of Christmas in America. Those who advocate saying “merry Christmas” to a Jew or a Muslim are inconsiderate, thoughtless, and are advocating the superiority of their religious beliefs. Many of these people believe that the Founding Fathers were religious Christians.

They were not.

Most of them were Deists and abhorred the very teachings of Christian fundamentalists. A Deist is one who believes in the existence of a God or a supreme being but denies revealed religion, basing his belief on the light of nature and reason. Christmas was not even a national holiday until 1885.

It is amazing to me how much American religious tradition has regressed since the “age of enlightenment.” That was the period in which both the American and French Revolutions occurred.

It was a time in which the power of centralized religion was rejected.

It is also a period in which many social movements began to advance the cause of humanity here on earth. Hopefully, the rest of the 21st century will bring upon us a rebirth of the enlightenment period in the spirit of our Founding Fathers.

And when our Supreme Court Justices try to interpret the meaning of “freedom of religion” as written into the Bill of Rights, they will think about the intent and beliefs of those who were the writers of our Constitution. They were in the main Deists who rejected the dictates of organized religion."

Karen on 12.28.05 @ 06:45 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

[Reproduced in its totality because it's a damn important message. I know that none of our readers would be this stupid, but are you sure that your kids are following your good example?]

The story I’m about to tell you is absolutely real - and should not be repeated by anyone under ANY circumstances. I still can’t believe it happened this afternoon, and I hope I never hear it happen again. Identity Theft is real, and what you’re about to read will astound you.

We hit the mall this afternoon, hoping to upgrade a few gifts and catch some day-after-Christmas sales. One store was offering 50% off, and (as you can imagine) the line was quite long. I stood in line, playing games on my new cell phone, waiting for Ponzi to collect a few goodies and to checkout. Now, I’m typically oblivious to conversations that happen around me, but I couldn’t help but to catch one that was taking place between the girl behind me and someone on the other end of her phone line. This is where the nightmarish tale of information privacy truly begins.

The woman states that she needs her sibling to transfer funds ($300) between one bank account and another, but not to warn "Dad" because he might get upset if he knows why this small sum was being transfered. No big deal - I'm sure this happens all the time. I continue playing my puzzle game, happy that she's not my daughter and "managing" my finances behind my back. And then it happens (and mind you, I'm paraphrasing - but all of the following personal information was shared quite audibly for anybody to hear):

"My bank account number is [BLEEP]."

I was floored. She recited her entire bank account number to the other person, as if it was nothing more than a phone number. It gets worse.

"Then you'll need my Social Securty number, which is [BLEEP]."

My jaw dropped. I stopped playing my game, and actually felt myself compelled to turn around and inform her of the grave mistake she was making. But it gets worse.

"Then you'll need my password, which is [BLEEP]."

She did. She recited not only her bank account number, not only her Social Securty number, but the password to access this account. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. THIS REALLY HAPPENED THIS AFTERNOON! Had I, or anybody else around me, been nefarious, this would have been a dream come true. I should have stopped her when she first announced her bank account to anyone within earshot, but the girl's cavalier attitude implied immaturity (and would likely have prompted more than a nasty glance in my direction). Oh my goodness, folks - this was stupidity cubed.

You teach your kids not to accept candy from strangers. You teach friends never to click on links that come from unwarranted "PayPal" emails. You scan your computers for spyware religiously. For goodness sake, shout this story from top of the mountain so that all can hear. You NEVER share your Social Security number, you NEVER share your passwords, and you NEVER share your bank account information. And if you really need to share this data, you DON'T DO IT IN PUBLIC! Identity theft is real, and any one of these pieces of data could lead any thief to an endless goldmine. Anybody can be a victim - your finances could be comprimised in a snap. Fraud is everywhere, and it's not just online. Teach your kids to be responsible with information, please!

And she thought her father would freak over transfering $300 between bank accounts?!
--Chris Pirillo

Len on 12.27.05 @ 08:33 AM CST [link] [ | ]

High-O Silver...?

Silver Undie-Pants...

"Stinky underwear could soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Thanks to the invention of what manufacturers claim are the first "pong-proof pants", all student digs and walkers' rucksacks will stay smelling fresh.

Tiny fragments of silver woven into the North Face briefs help stop bacteria multiplying.

This means they can be worn again and again without getting smelly.

Courtesy of Sky News.

But me thinks I posted on this before -- way back in FEB at this link

This March issue of Scientific American had this hygenic hilarity by Phil Scott (who it is reported showers daily in NYC) about the difficulties of staying clean, healthy and fresh in Outer Space.

While stating "NASA ranks comfort well below safety and health"...the International Space Station (ISS) has a ways to go before it resembles the crew of the Star Trek Enterprise who "might shower off with sound waves and don fresh uniforms coutesy of the ships replicators." The ISS has, according to Marsha Ivins, a shuttle veteran, "it's own odor, like 12 years in a sock closet." Euhhhh!

Aside from hand washing clothes with soap and using a "water-bag system and air drying" for real astronauts, high tech hygiene of the future may include "T-Shirts woven with silver thread. The metal inhibits bacterial growth...with results (though anecdotal) promising" as these garments were encrusted with body salts but did not smell. NASA is also testing silver laced bedding, blankets and other items.

:-D

Karen on 12.26.05 @ 07:13 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Just Getting Ready...

For 2006:

Courtesy of Booman Tribune

;-)


Karen on 12.26.05 @ 07:09 PM CST [link] [ | ]

TOO Cute...

...Not to Postie. [Even if it ain't Cat Blogging Friday. ;-) ]

This was in our Sunday Parade Magazine:

A Snow Manx:

Karen on 12.26.05 @ 06:18 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Virent Ova! Viret Perna!!

For Christmas, my wife got me a copy of Green Eggs and Ham in Latin.



Here's a sample:

Sum "Picerna" nominatus.
Famulari nunc paratus.

Est Picerna submolestus,
Nec decorus, nec modestus.

Daps plecebit hodierna!
Virent ova! Viret perna!

Dapem tuam vix probabo.
Tuos cibos non gustabo.
Non mi placent, O Picerna.
Virent ova! Viret perna!!

Brock on 12.26.05 @ 12:01 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

IRONIC TIMES
MAN OF THE YEAR
Dick Cheney
From trying to convince Congress to legalize torture to defending the President's right to spy on his fellow citizens to questioning the patriotism of administration critics, nobody represented the freedom-loving American spirit better than Vice President Dick Cheney, our Man of the Year for 2005.
--Ironic Times [Dec. 26, 2005-Jan. 1, 2006 edition]

Len on 12.26.05 @ 07:40 AM CST [link] [ | ]

It's a special Christmas.... my favorite kind....

i.e., one of those years where Christmas falls on a Sunday.

That's because I was raised Catholic. For Catholics, Christmas is one of the "holy days of obligation", on which the faithful are required to attend Mass regardless of what day of the week the day falls on. Growing up, I hated having to go to church on Sunday, and I never particularly liked it when a holy day required me to go during the week (however, at least when I was attending Catholic school we got holy days off, which mitigated it a bit). I really hated it when a holy day fell on Saturday or Monday--having to attend Mass two days in a row was pure torture (I note that, at least according to Wikipedia in the U.S. the Catholic bishops have eased up on that obligation for the holy days of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1), the Feast of the Assumption (August 15), and All Saints Day (November 1)--for these days, if the holy day falls on Saturday or Monday the duty to attend Mass is abrogated. That's still not true for Christmas, however).

But when Christmas falls on a Sunday? Great! Only one Mass to attend. It still sucked, but not as bad as having to attend two Masses on consecutive days (thank what powers that be that even the pre-Vatican II Church wasn't so sadistic as to require you to attend two Masses that day).

Anyway, for our Catholic friends, enjoy your two-for-one Christmas special. ;-) For the rest of you--if you're a Christmas celebrant, Merry Christmas. For our Jewish friends, have a happy Hanukkah (for you Gentiles: Hanukkah starts tonight at sunset). To those of you that celebrate Kwanzaa, enjoy that holiday starting tomorrow. And for the rest of you, Happy Holidays. Drive safely, drink safely, and do them on different days.

Len on 12.25.05 @ 11:33 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

It's not that I don't like Christmas. I do. I like Christmas a great deal. It's just that I'm a twisted, bitter cynic who believes that humanity is going downhill faster than Pavarotti on a greased toboggan, and that you can't erase the life-sucking misery of the last eleven months with four weeks of candy canes, garland, and insipid music echoing in your brain until you're compelled to play nosebleed-inducing speed metal to drive the opening verse of "Winter Wonderland" from your head.
--A.J. Axline

Len on 12.25.05 @ 10:58 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Jest Fer Fun...

...try this Cute Holiday webpage:

Pimp My Nutcraker



[Hat Tip to Driftglass. :-D ]

Karen on 12.25.05 @ 06:47 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Ho, Ho, Ho...

...and a Merry Christmas to ALL.

We had another wonderful family party last night to celebrate the season and as a birthday party for my niece - Angela - who was born on Christmas Eve.

Here is a picture of my family, and more party pics are below the fold.

Lauren, Karen, Lindsey, Charlie, Cory

Posting will be sparse as so many family celebrations to enjoy, and loads of holiday cooking yet to feast on.

Hope all our readers have a cheery holiday with your loved ones and friends. All my best to you and yours.

:-)

Karen on 12.25.05 @ 05:16 AM CST [more..] [ | ]

It's Christmas Eve, and in honor of the holiday....

What better way to mark the holiday than showing a collection of some of the most....uh.... interesting Christmas themed comic book covers (and one splash page) ever conceived (as featured in the awesome superdickery.com archive of stupid comic covers).

My personal favorite:

A few more below the fold...

Len on 12.24.05 @ 08:31 PM CST [more..] [ | ]

And speaking of Baseball Prospectus....

As the hot stove league is in full swing, the BP authors are exercising a bit of creativity in finding things to write about. This month features a couple of (IMHO) inspired articles (unfortunately, BP is a subscription website, and unless you're a BP subscriber you may not be able to view these).

Back in early December, Jim Baker took a look at the pro careers of Heisman Trophy winners versus the pro careers of Golden Spikes winners:

They're giving out the Heisman Trophy tomorrow, as they are wont to do at this time of year. Not everyone is aware that baseball has an equivalent award for its collegiate stars. Obviously, it's one that suffers from being in the long shadow of the much older football award. The Heisman began life in 1935, while the Golden Spikes didn't come along until 1978.

Since everyone has Heisman fever, I thought it would be interesting to compare the winners of each award by year and see how they fared as professionals. While these awards were never meant to be predictors of professional performance, that doesn't mean we can't use them as such, what with free speech and all. Here, in chronological order, is my assessment of which of the collegiate winners won the post-award battle.

...

The final tally: Football 15, Baseball 11. We lose...but it’s early yet.

And yesterday Baker put together what he calls The All-Cheated-on-Their-Birthday Gifts Team:

Someone had to do it and you had to figure it was going to be me. What is that, you ask? Why, line up the all-born-on-Christmas Team, of course! What follows are the best players at each position who were born on December 25, Christmas day. You have to figure that any day with three Hall of Famers to its credit has got itself a pretty good team regardless of who else fills out the roster. At the very least, they could certainly take on the All-Boxing Day team which features Ozzie Smith and Carlton Fisk.

In case you're wondering, the all-born-on-Christmas team is:

• Catcher: Quincy Trouppe, a pretty damn good player, all told, who unfortunately spent most of his career outside of the Majors (i.e., in the Negro Leagues and the Mexican League), thanks to the color bar.
• First Base: Walter Holke, a native St. Louisan who was unique in that he was one of the few ballplayers who was better offensively during the Dead Ball Era (i.e., pre-1920) than afterwards.
• Second Base: Nellie Fox, the Hall of Famer who spent most of his career (1947-65) on the South Side of Chicago playing for the White Sox (1950-63).
• Third Base: Jim Doyle. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of third basemen who were Christmas babies, and of them all Doyle is probably the best. Unfortunately, you can argue sample size anomalies, since Doyle had only a cup of coffee with the Reds in 1910 (7 games, 13 AB) before going to Chicago and the Northsiders (i.e., the Cubs for you non-baseball fans) for a full season (130 games, 472 AB) in 1911. Doyle died of appendicitis before he could play in 1912.
• Shortstop: Joe Quinn. A dearth of shortstops born on Christmas forced Baker to reach back to Quinn (it's a pity that Ozzie Smith, who was born on Boxing Day, delayed his entry into the world for a day...), who in fact played second base for most of his career (his career includes 135 games at short, about half of which came with the 1889 Boston Beaneaters). At least Quinn (an Australian native) does have a St. Louis connection: he played a number of seasons for the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association (a very early major league)/National League and the St. Louis Cardinals, and he died in Creve Coeur (a St. Louis suburb) in 1940. Another dubious distinction: Quinn was the player/manager (and arguably the MVP) of the 1899 Cleveland Spiders. If the '99 Spiders (season record: 20-134) weren't the worst team in the history of Major League Baseball, it's hard to come up with another candidate.
• Outfielders: Jo-Jo Moore, Ben Chapman, and Rickey "the Man of Steal" Henderson (for some reason, the three best outfielders born on Christmas Day all played left field).
• Pitcher: Pud Galvin. The interesting thing about Galvin's career (well, the thing that immediately leaps to my mind) is that he reached the big leagues (with the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National Association) roughly a year before George Armstrong Custer got into that little disagreement with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse along the banks of the Little Bighorn River in Montana....

Len on 12.24.05 @ 11:51 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Because I can't resist this kind of thing....

I'll follow Brock with "the bleme of four":

Four jobs you've had in your life: Hotel laundryman, electrical helper, lawyer (actually, plenty of jobs within that general category, but I won't bore y'all), and "professional computer geek" (as I like to put it...)

Four movies you could watch over and over: The trouble is keeping it down to four; pretty much any movie I own falls into this category--not only could I watch them over and over, but I do, regularly. But probably my favorites in that bunch are: Citizen Kane (my choice for Greatest Movie Of All Time, and my favorite by a large margin), Patton, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (I prefer the original "unenhanced" theatrical release, which I have on VHS tape, but I also own the "enhanced" version on DVD, because I'm a fucking idiot).

Four places you've lived: Well, y'all know where I live now, so I won't bother with that one. Other places I've lived: St. Louis, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; Subic Bay, Philippines; and Springfield/Franconia, Virginia (the mailing address was "Alexandria", but I lived several miles outside the city limits of Alexandria, proper).

Four TV shows you love to watch: Tough one, because I don't watch much TV at all (the only reason I even subscribe to basic cable is to get cable broadband Internet access), and what shows I do watch tend to be "brain drain" or background noise. But if you insist (in no particular order): Iron Chef, MXC/Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, Stargate SG-1, and baseball games (St. Louis Cardinals games when they get picked up for national coverage on the Fox Saturday game of the week, or are broadcast by WGN or one of the Turner Empire stations when the Cards are playing the Cubs or Braves, or Memphis Redbirds games when the local cable outlet here broadcasts a select number of Redbirds home games).

Four places you've been on vacation: Montana (Little Bighorn National Battlefield/Billings), San Francisco, Bronx/NYC/Cooperstown, NY (my second ex was doing an NIH summer institute at Fordham, and we parlayed that into a bit of touristing while she was there--hey, it was a vacation for me), CT/RI/MA (Groton/New London/Mystic Seaport; Newport, and Boston).

Four websites you visit daily: Difficult to answer for two reasons--first, I take regular "days off" the net, so there are days I don't visit any websites, and secondly on the days I do visit websites I do tend to visit many more than four (pretty much all the sites in the "Len's extended blogroll" iframe get visited daily--or as close to daily as I visit websites). But to name four (non-blogs, just because) that come to mind: The Hardball Times, Baseball Prospectus (I finally broke down and paid for a subscription, so I want to make sure I get my money's worth), STL Today (the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website, because I am a St. Louisan in exile, after all), and Slate are all pretty sure to get a visit from me on any given day, if I visit any websites at all.

Four of your favorite foods: (in no particular order) "Barbecued" (i.e., grilled and basted with barbecue sauce) pork steaks (a St. Louis specialty...), lasagna, sushi, lamb vindaloo (when done right...)

Four places you'd rather be: This assumes "ideal circumstances" (i.e., being liberated from the necessity of being shackled to honest work to make my livelihood)--St. Louis, Toronto, London, or a privately owned (by me, of course) tropical island which features broadband Internet connectivity, a gourmet coffee outlet, a world class public library, and guaranteed 30 minute pizza delivery.

Len on 12.24.05 @ 11:00 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

Scientology, how about that? You hold on to the tin cans and then this guy asks you a bunch of questions, and if you pay enough money you get to join the master race. How's that for a religion?
--Frank Zappa

Len on 12.24.05 @ 10:03 AM CST [link] [ | ]

2005- Year in Rewind...

I don't do Year-End Reviews (especially as I can nevah remember how I got from there to here any way...Ha ha ha.)

But Dan Froomkin (WaPo) has this GEM of the Highlights from 2005: Froomkin's Year in Review.

A few samples:

"* February 18: The Scandal That Keeps on Giving

The story of the phony White House reporter who called himself Jeff Gannon just gets curiouser and curiouser every day -- and shows no sign of abating.

* March 30: An Accident or a Policy?

It is flatly un-American for people to be hauled out of a public event with the president of the United States because of, say, a political bumper sticker on their car.

But is it too much to ask the White House to say so?

Apparently.

* June 10: The Increasingly Unpopular President

When President Bush says "polls go up, and polls go down," he's about half right."

Click on the link above to give it a full read through. :-)

Karen on 12.24.05 @ 08:04 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Just in the St. Nick of Time...

...Elf Name Generator:

Your Elf Name Is...

Holly Eggnog Breath

Courtesy of Blogthings.

:-)


All you little Xmas Elves...Go Get your Official Elf Name on the List (so ya can be sure to help Santa Tonight!!)

Karen on 12.24.05 @ 07:11 AM CST [link] [ | ]

There is no such thing as a 'Minor Infringment'...

...of Constitutional Rights.

Here is good run down of the situation concerning the "Warrant-less Domestic Survelliance" undertaken by Our Government in this CBS News article: Wiretap Debate Should Go To Courts:

"...First, we were told the program only targeted calls that had some international connection. This was supposed to give us some solace about the lack of legislative or judicial oversight for the secret spy program because the express limitation indicated that the eavesdropping efforts would be targeting domestic calls to and from Tora Bora, for example, and not calls from Toledo to Tucson. Even with this limitation the president's directive is constitutionally suspect. But, politically the "international" focus on warrant-less eavesdropping at least allowed White House operatives to say with straight faces that this wasn't some willy-nilly, spy-on-your-neighbor program.

Next, we learned from Tuesday's New York Times that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the name of conducting its war on terror, has "conducted numerous surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations that involved, at least indirectly, groups active in causes as diverse as the environment, animal cruelty and poverty relief." The FBI isn't the NSA, of course, but the story makes you wonder. If the FBI in the name of fighting terrorism could end up eavesdropping on the Vegan Community project (as the Times reported) why wouldn't the NSA, in the name of fighting terrorism, end up eavesdropping on, say, the ACLU, especially if it didn't have to get a warrant from a judge to do so?

And, sure enough, next came word, again from the Times, that the NSA has been unable to limit its surveillance to communications that have some international context -- purely domestic eavesdropping has occurred as well without a warrant. According to the paper's report, "technical glitches" at the NSA caused its computers to believe that targets of electronic eavesdropping were outside of the United States when in fact they were not. So that call from Toledo to Tucson that wasn't supposed to be monitored by the feds without a warrant may have been monitored after all. And so much for the we're-not-spying-on-our-neighbors argument..."

And Crooks & Liars has this video of the droll lies Child-In-Chief has told repeatedly in speeches to the American people covering all types of wiretaps (whether foreign/domestic, under FISA or the Patriot Act, ALL wiretaps conducted by the government.) CIC says these NEED a court order and judicial oversight.

Yet, CIC now argues this kind of Survelliance (in violation of the FISA laws and the 4th Amendment of our Constitution) is his inherent RIGHT by virtue of his Office as President.

One commentator on CNN remarked that "It's not that the President says he's above the law...but that he says he IS the Law."

I do hope this amnesiac electorate and MSM follow this story through to the end. It's time for everyone to realize how utterly disdainful of our Constitution and American Values this CIC has been and always will be.

UPDATE: Here is yet another good compilation of the issues from various sources, MSM and commentators with their *takes* on the illegality of the secret wiretap program authorized by CIC: from Media Matters.

Karen on 12.24.05 @ 06:55 AM CST [link] [ | ]

I don't think these would go over too well at the office.

Following an adverstisement at BoingBoing, I found a site selling ergonomic mousepads in the form of women's torsos. (Safe for work, although someone might look at you funny.)

Brock on 12.23.05 @ 07:24 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Sucker for blogmemes

(Should that be "blemes?")

Via Kevin Drum, the meme of fours:

Four jobs you've had in your life: Grocery sacker, bookstore schlub, pizza delivery driver, computer geek.

Four movies you could watch over and over: The Big Lebowski, Young Frankenstein, The Fisher King (which I saw five times in the theatre), and Brain Candy (which must be one of the most underrated comedies ever).

Four places you've lived: I'm afraid I've only lived three places. Moscow, TN; Memphis, TN; and Rochester, NY. I guess I could split Memphis into two sections to make four: Midtown and the UofM area.

Four TV shows you love to watch: The Simpsons, King of the Hill, House, and Arrested Development.

Four places you've been on vacation: That's a tough one. I'm not sure whether my yearly visit with the in-laws counts as vacation or not. So I'll try to think of other places I've been on vacation. Washington, DC; New York City; Charleston, SC. And I'll add San Antonio, TX, even though my travel there is work-related, because it's so much fun.

Four websites you visit daily: Marginal Revolution, for a dose of mostly sane libertarianism; The Poor Man, for some fun wingnut bashing; BoingBoing, to see the latest in the weird and wonderful; and my latest favorite mix of liberalism, feminism, economics, libertarian-hatin', and schnauzerblogging, BattlePanda.

Four of your favorite foods: Sushi, fried tofu, amberjack, and my wife's tomato and tortilla soup.

Four places you'd rather be: Another tough one, assuming you mean places I'd like to live. Seattle struck me as a very livable city when I visited. I really like Memphis. It's a big enough city to have almost all the amenties I want, bug not so big that it's overwhelming (like NYC).

Brock on 12.23.05 @ 07:07 PM CST [link] [ | ]

First of the Family Holiday Party's

The first of the family holiday parties was last night. [Though - from the Chicago suburban traffic jams - everyone and their grandmother was on the roads last night! ;-) ]

So below the fold are a few cheery holiday pictures of part of the Fam McLauchlan.

:-)

Karen on 12.23.05 @ 02:47 PM CST [more..] [ | ]

Evolution inaction?

Len on 12.23.05 @ 02:03 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Fun with holiday lyrics....

Today, a classic:

Deck Us All With Boston Charlie
by Walt Kelly

Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an' Kalamazoo!
Nora's freezin' on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!

Don't we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don't love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!

Bark us all bow-wows of folly,
Polly wolly cracker 'n' too-da-loo!
Donkey Bonny brays a carol,
Antelope Cantaloupe, 'lope with you!

Hunky Dory's pop is lolly gaggin' on the wagon,
Willy, folly go through!
Chollie's collie barks at Barrow,
Harum scarum five alarm bung-a-loo!

Dunk us all in bowls of barley,
Hinky dinky dink an' polly voo!
Chilly Filly's name is Chollie,
Chollie Filly's jolly chilly view halloo!

Bark us all bow-wows of folly,
Double-bubble, toyland trouble! Woof, woof, woof!
Tizzy seas on melon collie!
Dibble-dabble, scribble-scrabble! Goof, goof, goof!

Len on 12.23.05 @ 09:20 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Learn from experience? Not in the Pentagon....

As Fred Kaplan points out:

Do the Pentagon chiefs pay any attention to the lessons they say they've learned? Judging from reports coming out of the Defense Department's current budget and policy reviews, the answer can only be: No.

One lesson of the Iraq war, accepted by nearly everyone now, is that the U.S. military, especially the Army, doesn't have enough troops to occupy a country for very long while fighting off insurgents and trying to establish order.

...

And yet, according to a story by Tom Bowman in the Dec. 21 Baltimore Sun, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is planning to cut the Army's forces by 34,000 troops. That would entail eliminating one active-duty brigade and six National Guard brigades. (The latter aren't trivial; nearly half the U.S. combat units in Iraq come from the National Guard.)

Budget pressures are forcing Rumsfeld to cut Pentagon spending by $32 billion over the next five years. But why is he taking his biggest whacks against the tokens of combat power—boots on the ground—that are, by his own admission, most vital? The Sun reports:

The manpower cuts stem from a decision by top Army leaders to sacrifice troop strength in order to provide money for new weapons systems and other new equipment, said defense officials, who requested anonymity.

We don't have enough troops (and can't bring ourselves to spend enough money properly to equip the ones we do have), but we can cut back on badly needed manpower in order to buy more shiny new toys....

Actually, what's worse is that defense spending has been seriously skewed for a while:

The problem isn't entirely with the Army brass. It's with the whole back-scratching collusion that the three services—Army, Navy, and Air Force—devised decades ago to stave off their natural tendencies toward explosive internecine rivalry.

Trace the military budget back a quarter-century. You will find that each and every year, no matter what kinds of threats we were or weren't facing, the money has been divvied up in the same way—35 percent to the Air Force, 35 percent to the Navy, and 30 percent to the Army. In no year, at least since the mid-1980s, has this formula varied by more than 1 percent. (The figures do not include costs related to the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, which come out of budget supplementals.)

Far more than the other services, the Army spends a huge share of its budget—about 40 percent—on personnel. If the Army were to sacrifice its new high-priced weapons (for instance, the elaborate $150 billion Future Combat Systems program) to preserve or expand manpower, it wouldn't have much of a procurement account left.

Nearly all the big-ticket items belong to the Air Force and the Navy. These services aren't experiencing much of a manpower crunch. (Few pilots or sea crews are being killed in Iraq or Afghanistan now.) And, because of the budget-divvying accord, they can't be called on to slash their planes, ships, or submarines to keep the Army flush with soldiers. [emphasis supplied --LRC]

Not only that, we can't find enough common sense in Washington to shitcan a program that doesn't work (and probably never will), in order to free up some badly needed cash:

How about Bush's much-cherished, but utterly unworkable, missile-defense program (fully funded by Congress at $8.8 billion): What would be wrong with transferring, say, $5 billion of that sum to buy extra armor for the troops or fund more tangible homeland security efforts?

With leadership like this, who needs enemies?

Len on 12.23.05 @ 07:57 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?
--Robert Browning

Meet "Snowzilla", the 16-plus foot snowman who's the newest celebrity in Anchorage, Alaska:

Len on 12.23.05 @ 07:42 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

I get reminders of fundamentalism's dark magical thinking every day. And it is always the little unexpected ones that slap me hardest with the reality that these people are in the grip of their mass delusion 24 hours a day. A couple of weeks ago I loaned my brother my old truck until he could get his engine rebuilt. A week later he retuned it with much sincere thanks and a smile. On the vent window of my truck is a 4-inch decal, a silhouette of two square dancers (my father-in-law, who gave me the truck, was a square dancer.) When I climbed into it the next day I noticed that the square dancers were covered over both inside and outside the glass with two layers of duct tape. After all, we cannot be riding around in trucks with demonic emblems blasting out invisible rays of Satan's "Power of the air," can we?
--Joe Bageant

Len on 12.23.05 @ 07:09 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Isn't that cheating?

To hear the AP tell the tale, it's twice as easy to hook this rainbow trout, since it has two mouths:

Double mouthed rainbow trout caught in Holmes Lake, NE, in December of 2005.

Sorry for the small picture. If this doesn't provide you with your minimum daily requirement of pictures of two mouthed fish, Google Images comes to the rescue:


This one was caught in Utah in April of 2004


while we steal this one from a sidebar item in a post in what appears to be a fishing website back in November of 2004.

None of the reports indicate how close any of these fish were to operating nuclear reactors when they were caught. :-)

Len on 12.22.05 @ 04:58 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Just in time for Hanukkah....

Dress up your bear in menorah wear:

Len on 12.22.05 @ 01:39 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Memphis Bloggers Bash, December 21, 2005

As mentioned in my brief live entry from the bash itself, we all collected and had a great time, as always.

Let's see if I can recreate the roll. Keep in mind that incipient senility for me is, as always, just about 20 minutes away, so if there's anyone I left out, it's nothing personal. Leave a comment, and I'll add your name multo quick pronto (ditto for correcting misspellings):

• First and foremost, the "industriously quirky" Mike Hollihan, who for his confessed unsociability has nonetheless managed to be the organizational genius behind most of the Memphis bashes for the last soon-to-be two years now
• "The Factotem": a brilliantly cobbled together stand-in for DBV's very own Karen McLauchlan. For a while it looked like Karen might be able to make it to the bash (she had been travelling on family business for a bit, and could spare a short diversion to Memphis) but unfortunately last-minute holiday plans scotched that idea. Based on a suggestion by Mike along with a memory of my days in active Sherlockianism, Karen put together "The Factotem" so she could be with us in spirit, if not in person.
• Mark Havener, Mike's wargaming nemesis and model rocketeer extraordinaire
• Derek "autoegocrat" Haire, who announced the imminent resurrection of The River City Mud Company/Bugle (i.e., his return to solo blogging)
• Eric Janssen, also of Quixtar Blog and Plug In (the Commercial Appeal's tech oriented blog), who shared with us his enthusiasm for Wikipedia
• Chris Lawrence, in town for the holidays while on winter break from his position as a visiting professor at the Political Science department at Duke
• Newcomer Markus Seaberry, "aspiring writer,actor, spoken-word artist/developing (I hope) rapper" as he describes himself on his blog
• Rachel "Pulp Faction" Drinkard (a/k/a, "the other Rachel", so as not to confuse her with Rachel "and the City" Hurley, who was a no-show last night)
• Long time Bash absentee Jon Sparks, who was a late arrival since he had to make a mandatory appearance at the Commercial Appeal's holiday party that evening (still, it was very good to catch up again with Jon)
• Bret Weaver, who is, in addition to being a local blogger, a staff member of the University of Memphis's Daily Helmsman
• Paul Ryburn, another newcomer. I didn't know it at the time (because, unfortunately, I didn't get any time to talk with Paul), but Paul is also the proprietor of Memphis Wallpaper, a wonderful site where you can snatch a number of great pictures of Memphis to use as desktop wallpaper for your computer (my computer at work is made more interesting by the occasional use of Paul's pictures of AutoZone Park and the Arcade Restaurant as wallpaper, and I see there are a few more pictures I'll have to borrow soon. Thanks, Paul!).
• Chris "The Pesky Fly" Davis
• E.J. Friedman, of Cherry Blossom Special and Scenestars, who entertained us with his TiVo capture of the Boondocks Christmas show, as well imparting upon those of us present the deep, dark secrets of the infamous goatse.cx website
• Last, and most certainly least, was yours truly, Guardian of The Factotem and Occasional Comedy Relief

And what would a Bloggers Bash be without pictures? On the front page here we'll only tease you with one picture:


Mr. Mike Meets The Factotem

The rest of the pictures below the fold....

All in all, once again, a dignified insurrection fully worthy of:

The Art Schroeder Memorial Synopsis™

A great time was had by all, and nobody was arrested.

Len on 12.22.05 @ 11:06 AM CST [more..] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

As [U.S. District Judge John E.] Jones makes clear [in his decision in the Dover, PA "intelligent design" case], the Dover case is lousy with evidence of explicit religious motivation on the part of local ID proponents. But is ID, by virtue of being unscientific, wholly and inherently religious—or is there, contrary to the judge's dualism, a third category? The answer is inadvertently sprinkled throughout his opinion. Statements by ID leaders "reveal ID's religious, philosophical, and cultural content," he writes. A strategy document developed by the "Center for Renewal of Science and Culture" is full of "cultural and religious goals, as opposed to scientific ones." Proponents of ID fear "evolution's threat to culture and society," and the Dover board's collaborators have "demonstrably religious, cultural, and legal missions." Cultural, cultural, cultural. Not scientific, not necessarily religious, but cultural.

Is the pseudo-science of creationism ultimately being driven by religion? Or is this brand of religion, in turn, being driven by cultural anxieties? Is it possible to open a conversation with these folks and their kids, not in biology class but in, say, social studies?

According to Jones, the founder of the ID movement has written that evolution contradicts "every word in the Bible." Every word? You mean, including the part about not killing or stealing? No wonder so many people cling to creationism. And no wonder scientists and judges can't make it go away.
--William Saletan

Len on 12.22.05 @ 08:26 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Apologists for Law-Breakers...

Our Apologists for the Criminal Law-Breaking, Constitution bAdmin have been Bizee. Today, old Babbling Brooks takes a stab at "defending" CIC for his violations of FISA and Constitutional Protections. (Click on the "more" button to read this cock-and-bull fairy tail.)

But had to send him this note:

What kind of a FUCKED UP argument for violating the U.S. Constitution and Federal LAWS and STATUTES do you think you're making today? You certainly must remember that document (THE U.S. CONSTITUTION) Bush swore an Oath of Office to uphold with his special Bible and Prayer. And all the "faithfully execute the laws" tid-bit.

And BTW I'd just LOVE to know what law school on Constitutional LAW you attended...your bio is a bit sketchy on that minor detail.

You write: "This has had a cumulative effect on your psychology..."

The *cumulative effect* must be that ya end up a POWER HUNGRY, DICTATORIAL, EXTRA-CONSTITUTIONAL NIGHTMARE of a Commander-In-Chief who THINKS NO LAWS apply to YOU.

So go sign up for Law School 101 before you contend that these legal processes and procedures are just too cumbersome for poor ole King Georgie to follow.

and as Bryan (at Why Now) has been pointing out the horrible position this puts the actual NSA folks in:

"...Those now working as members of the National Security Agency have been placed in a terrible position by the man who supposed to be their leader.

If you are a Master Sergeant with 18 years of service you are faced with obeying an unlawful order or losing your retirement two years away. You can be charged with disobeying a direct order if you refuse to participate. You can be charged with illegal wiretapping if you do participate. The operation is classified, so you can't seek assistance from the Staff Judge Advocate [military lawyer], or anyone else. You are not protected by the "whistleblower statute", because you work for an intelligence agency. You can't resign, because your family doesn't have "friends" in the power structure to "fix it" for you. Your leader has screwed you over because of his hubris, his arrogance. He doesn't understand "duty", and has no conception of "honor", and couldn't care less about your life, family, or future.

That's why I'm more angry than those who only upset about the illegal spying on Americans. I'm angry for those who are spied upon and those who are forced to do the spying. That's why this embodiment of scum should be impeached, indicted, and sent to prison."

So - a POX on David Brooks and his faux argument for allowing the CIC to ignore our Civil Liberties in the name of fake security.

Karen on 12.22.05 @ 07:40 AM CST [more..] [ | ]

Hola from the bash!

This won't be a long post (since I'm working off my Palm PDA), but I've managed to connect here at Quetzal, and we're having our accustomed grand old time. Those of you in the local area who didn't make it can eat your hearts out.

Next time you'll know better. :-)

Len on 12.21.05 @ 08:09 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Slow blogging recently....

Basically, I spent most of the weekend (Saturday 'til Monday evening) entertaining a friend who was visiting. Now that that's over with, I've been trying (with marginal success) to catch up on online activity, as well as enjoying my vacation this week.

I know this is way too late and about ten dollars too short, but hope to be seeing a few people at the Bash tonight:

And hopefully I'll be coming up to speed again in the next few days.

Len on 12.21.05 @ 06:21 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

The Ford Falcon holds the proud title of Slowest Car Ever Built. In certain areas of the country you can go to a stoplight and find Falcon drivers who pressed down on their accelerators in 1963 and are still waiting for their cars to move.
--Dave Barry

Len on 12.21.05 @ 11:30 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Christmas EVIL...

Now WHO would be so Cruel and Horrible [and Stupid] to cause the death of a baby Penguin by stealing it from a zoo?

Yahoo News is reporting this:

"A baby penguin thought to have been snatched from a zoo as a quirky festive gift is unlikely to survive until Christmas Day, his keeper warned Tuesday.

Toga, a three-month old jackass penguin, was stolen from Amazon World on the Isle of Wight in southern England on Saturday.

Zoo manager Kath Bright said the bird, who was taken from a compound where he lived with his parents and four other penguins, would probably die of malnutrition if not urgently returned.

"Toga is very, very vulnerable. The penguin is still being fed by his parents and we don't believe it could survive more than five days," she told The Associated Press.

"The bird has already been missing for around three days and is likely to be severely dehydrated. If he isn't returned before Thursday he is likely to become so ill that even intensive care treatment won't save him."

Fooey on the Lacking-In-Christmas-Spirit Thief. Return the penguin before it dies at your hand - you evil and clumsy OAF.

Karen on 12.21.05 @ 06:25 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Back to the 'Rule of Law'

Bryan, at Why Now, has this great run down of the concerns from Senator Jay Rockefeller's when *notified* of these surveillance activities outside of FISA by our very own "King Georgie."

And this most cogent of statements:

"...The backers of "King George" claim that the only limits on the power of the President are elections or impeachment. If that is their view, the solution is obvious: Impeach the arrogant son-of-a-bitch..."

What's it gonna take to get rid of this SOB? Again - wouldn't it be so NICE to invoke the "Rule of Law" and use that to impeach this law-breaking imperialist President and his evil empire cohorts? [Plus the federal statute calls for a 5-year prison term and $$ fines for violations of FISA.]

Could we be so LUCKY that this extra-Constitutional Nightmare of an bAdminstration has finally been caught red-handed with its hand filtching from the Dictatorial-Power Cookie Jar (yet once more) and has gone TOO FAR in ignoring U.S. Laws in trumpeting "Presidential Perogatives" to violate Citizen's Rights?

Oh, let's hope for a good ole fashioned investigation and some of that long lost Congressional oversight - followed by a touch of Legalistic oversight as well. Time to hold the law-breakers accountable.

;-)

Karen on 12.21.05 @ 06:08 AM CST [link] [ | ]

A Christmas Card I DON'T want to get this year...

...in my mailbox:

"Santa Claus points a handgun at a masked terrorist on a Christmas card that John Michael Snyder, public affairs director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, sends this year to a number of recipients.

Named Dean of gun lobbyists by The Washington Post and The New York Times, Snyder includes the president and members of Congress as addressees.

The card wishes recipients a Christmas of peace and joy and a New Year of triumph over terrorism.

The card presents Santa guarding a group of small children from a bomb-harnessed suicide killer. The bomber appears ready to cast a stick of dynamite at an image of the Infant Jesus beneath a decorated Christmas tree.

Snyder thinks the original drawing conveys a definitive holiday message in keeping with these difficult times..."

Click on this link to view the *charming* Hol-y-Day Card.

Courtesy of US News Wire.

Karen on 12.21.05 @ 05:11 AM CST [link] [ | ]

Why we do it....

The Top 10 Reasons to Work in IT:

10- I love living the Revenge of the Nerds

9- It's a nice way to avoid the social and personal stresses that go with upward mobility

8- It's the satisfaction - every time I finish the re-install and reboot cycle I feel I've learnt something new and contributed in a meaningful way to my colleagues, my community, and my culture.

7- Between the heat, the darkness, the double doors, and the noise, working in the data center is like returning to the womb every day.

6- I'm hoping to use the contacts I make working on the help desk to break into top management and show all those pretty party people who ignored me in high school who I really am.

5- I just love working with new technology - new challenges, new patches, new racks to install everyday.

4- I love having that pager on my belt - it makes me feel, you know, manly.

3- "Down, not Across" - IT just makes sense

2- I love the travel - in my last job I spent six weeks training people in Lahore, now I'm looking forward to visiting Poland.

And the number one reason for for working in IT?

1- It's the babes! stupid.

Len on 12.20.05 @ 07:49 PM CST [link] [ | ]

And from the Weird Bonuses Department:

If you thought the salaries paid to major league baseball players were ridiculous, then get a load of Roy Oswalt's bonus for winning Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series:

By the third inning of the Houston Astros' pennant-clinching victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, Roy Oswalt was dreaming about a bulldozer.

The right-hander remembered what Astros owner Drayton McLane promised him in the clubhouse before the game - win and you'll get that all-purpose tractor you've always wanted.

Oswalt came through, allowing one run in seven innings in the Game 6 victory that sent Houston to its first World Series two months ago.

On Monday, McLane fulfilled his part of the bargain, presenting Oswalt with a shiny, new Caterpillar D6N XL - with a giant red bow on top of the cab.

A picture of the 'dozer (complete with bow):



Len on 12.20.05 @ 07:43 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Who's been *Naughty* and *Nice*

Well, well a Large Lump of COAL in the Thomas More Center Hol-y-Day Stocking!

They are part of the complete LOSERS in the decision from Judge Jones in the [UN] Intelligent Design legal case.

Click on this link to give it a read through.

An early Christmas treat for those *nice* Science Geeks.


Fa La La La La...La La La....LAAAAAAA!!

Karen on 12.20.05 @ 07:08 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Holiday Yuk o'the Day:

A little boy wrote to Santa Claus, "Please send me a baby sister." Santa Claus wrote back and said, "Okay. Send me your mother!"

Len on 12.20.05 @ 04:39 PM CST [link] [ | ]

Thought for the Day:

Len on 12.20.05 @ 08:33 AM CST [link] [