Beware the Calgary Testicle Kicking Woman. She'll kick you in the 'nads so hard your ball will end up in your abdomen.
Presumably she could have a fine career in the NFL or a soccer league.
h/t Hot Air Headlines.
Friday, October 30, 2009
New, Effective and CHEAP Treatment For Snoring
It involves a periodic injection of sodium tetradecyl into the roof of the mouth.
Some patients would need the injection several times per year, other patients could get by with a single annual injection. Studies indicate it is effective in 70% of cases.
So, if you have a snoring problem (or a spouse or partner does) and have been despairing about ever getting rid of it, mention this article to your doctor.
Some patients would need the injection several times per year, other patients could get by with a single annual injection. Studies indicate it is effective in 70% of cases.
So, if you have a snoring problem (or a spouse or partner does) and have been despairing about ever getting rid of it, mention this article to your doctor.
Catching Criminals - - Via Driver's License Photos
Sophisticated face-recognition software has resulted in at least one criminal, a murderer, being arrested after moving to another state and acquiring a new driver's license.
Yes, it's Orwellian, but it's one of those cases where many people will be willing to surrender a little bit of freedom/privacy in the name of safety/lower crime.
What do you think, friends? Should government be searching the DMV photo databases, which comprises mostly law-abiding citizens, to search for criminals?
Yes, it's Orwellian, but it's one of those cases where many people will be willing to surrender a little bit of freedom/privacy in the name of safety/lower crime.
What do you think, friends? Should government be searching the DMV photo databases, which comprises mostly law-abiding citizens, to search for criminals?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Apologies...
...for the lack of posting so far today, our home internet connection was down. Luckily Time Warner was able to get someone out just after noon, and things are back up and running. It's getting on toward my bedtime, so I might not be able to post before then; if so, I'll be posting from work tonight.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Only Thing To Do When Fighting Two Wars...
...is to cut defense spending, says a Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Higher levels of defense spending, which would allow for both higher troop levels and weapons modernization, will take a backseat to more pressing national economic problems, he said, with creating jobs as the first priority.
After that, the next priority will be paying for the expensive economic stimulus measures that have been and will be enacted, Reed said.
But don't call him unpatriotic.
update: Looks like they'll cut the US defense budget and give the money to the Taliban.
Can't make this stuff up, folks.
Higher levels of defense spending, which would allow for both higher troop levels and weapons modernization, will take a backseat to more pressing national economic problems, he said, with creating jobs as the first priority.
After that, the next priority will be paying for the expensive economic stimulus measures that have been and will be enacted, Reed said.
But don't call him unpatriotic.
update: Looks like they'll cut the US defense budget and give the money to the Taliban.
Can't make this stuff up, folks.
An Old Ship Heading For The Scrapyard
She was USS Saipan (LHA-2), an amphibious assault ship that I served aboard back in the 1980's.
Was it that long ago? It seems like just yesterday. All of the ships I served on, though, are no longer in service, with the exception of USS Nassau (LHA-4), the sister ship of the Saipan. Some have been scrapped, some were sold to other countries; maybe one or two remain in mothballs.
Anyway, here's a pic of the Saipan as I remember her:
I still remember the cinnamon rolls on the Saipan and the Nassau, they were gooey and delicious. The ships were supposed to be too big to be affected by heavy seas, thus the mess decks had cafeteria tables instead of tables bolted to the deck; it was quickly discovered that the ships rolled enough to cause the unsecured tables to slide across the decks in heavy seas, so the tables were all secured during those periods and the sailors ate chow on the deck itself, sitting cross-legged like Indians.
The ships were comfortable and pleasant for the first and last days of a cruise, when the Marines weren't embarked. *laughs* When the Marines were onboard they seemed to have little else to do than stand in lines: to get haircuts, to buy sodas from the geedunk machines, to play video games down in the game room, to eat, to go on liberty. I swear, the soda machines would be filled up twice a day, and emptied within minutes each time by the thirsty Marines.
Good times, they were. Fun days.
Was it that long ago? It seems like just yesterday. All of the ships I served on, though, are no longer in service, with the exception of USS Nassau (LHA-4), the sister ship of the Saipan. Some have been scrapped, some were sold to other countries; maybe one or two remain in mothballs.
Anyway, here's a pic of the Saipan as I remember her:
I still remember the cinnamon rolls on the Saipan and the Nassau, they were gooey and delicious. The ships were supposed to be too big to be affected by heavy seas, thus the mess decks had cafeteria tables instead of tables bolted to the deck; it was quickly discovered that the ships rolled enough to cause the unsecured tables to slide across the decks in heavy seas, so the tables were all secured during those periods and the sailors ate chow on the deck itself, sitting cross-legged like Indians.
The ships were comfortable and pleasant for the first and last days of a cruise, when the Marines weren't embarked. *laughs* When the Marines were onboard they seemed to have little else to do than stand in lines: to get haircuts, to buy sodas from the geedunk machines, to play video games down in the game room, to eat, to go on liberty. I swear, the soda machines would be filled up twice a day, and emptied within minutes each time by the thirsty Marines.
Good times, they were. Fun days.
Levi Johnston: I've Got Dirt On Palin
But he's hiding it, for now, and will reveal it at the proper time (when the Democrats need it most to smear Palin).
If it's even the truth at all; after all, It profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world; but for Wales?
If it's even the truth at all; after all, It profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world; but for Wales?
UK Soldiers Fighting Taliban With Inadequate Ammo
A survey of more than 50 servicemen who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan concluded that the 5.56mm calibre rounds used by British soldiers 'tailed off' after 300 metres yet half of all Helmand firefights are fought between 300 and 900 metres.
Sounds as if they're fighting the war with assault rifles when it seems obvious that they need battle rifles.
Sounds as if they're fighting the war with assault rifles when it seems obvious that they need battle rifles.
Canadian Hiker Killed By...Coyotes
You were expecting grizzly bears?
It's getting pretty tough in the woods when even the coyotes are having a go at you.
It's getting pretty tough in the woods when even the coyotes are having a go at you.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Shackleton's Whisky
Left behind in 1907 during Shackleton's failed attempt to reach the South Pole, it was found under the floorboards of the hut built by the expedition.
After all these decades, it's unlikely to be drinkable, especially if the corks have deteriorated. According to the article it's considered an artifact and not supposed to be taken from Antarctica, but where there's a will there's a way, as the saying goes.
h/t Ace of Spades HQ.
After all these decades, it's unlikely to be drinkable, especially if the corks have deteriorated. According to the article it's considered an artifact and not supposed to be taken from Antarctica, but where there's a will there's a way, as the saying goes.
h/t Ace of Spades HQ.
The Cloud of Budgies
Boulia, in western Queensland, Australia, has been invaded by huge flocks of budgerigars:
Closer up, they are quite beautiful:
Once upon a time flocks of Passenger Pigeons must have looked like that.
Closer up, they are quite beautiful:
Once upon a time flocks of Passenger Pigeons must have looked like that.
No Big Macs In Reykjavik
The economic crash in Iceland, combined with the high cost of importing the ingredients for McDonald's products, has made the cost of keeping the 3 McDonald's locations in Iceland prohibitively expensive.
Most foodstuffs in Iceland have to be imported, and thus are expensive.
Most foodstuffs in Iceland have to be imported, and thus are expensive.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Volcano Blog: 3 Cascades Volcanoes Share Magma Chamber?
Story.
The theory is that volcanoes Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier share the same magma pool, and could theoretically erupt simultaneously.
It's a theory I share, based on behavior of other volcanoes around the world, most recently being the eruption of 3 volcanoes in the same vicinity in Alaska: Redoubt, Cleveland, and Okmok. In 1902, during the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Pelee in Martinique, the Soufriere volcano in nearby St. Vincent also erupted.
The theory is that volcanoes Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier share the same magma pool, and could theoretically erupt simultaneously.
It's a theory I share, based on behavior of other volcanoes around the world, most recently being the eruption of 3 volcanoes in the same vicinity in Alaska: Redoubt, Cleveland, and Okmok. In 1902, during the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Pelee in Martinique, the Soufriere volcano in nearby St. Vincent also erupted.
Zombie Assaulted
A man awaiting food was attacked by another man who accused him of being a zombie:
A man was ordering food (Ed.- brains?) when he was approached by another man who called him a zombie, then hit him in the eye. When the victim tried to call police on his cell phone, the man punched him again, breaking his nose.
A man was ordering food (Ed.- brains?) when he was approached by another man who called him a zombie, then hit him in the eye. When the victim tried to call police on his cell phone, the man punched him again, breaking his nose.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday On The Blue Ridge Parkway
Something of a photo essay; Sara and I went up to do some photography of the fall leaves on the Blue Ridge Parkway; we entered off of I-26 on the south side of Asheville, and headed north, leaving the parkway at NC 80; along the way we passed Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain in the eastern half of the US.
Because we went during the early morning, the sun was bright and washed out much of the colors of the sky and the foliage.
There were a fair number of people on the Parkway, most of them armed with cameras:
When we came down off the mountains we were in the town of Pleasant Garden, NC; we ate some barbecue at Smokey Que's, where they have an unusual BBQ cooker out near the road in addition to the ones in the kitchen:
Here's the restaurant itself:
When we arrived several of the local police were inside the restaurant, just finishing up a meal. After they left one porky corporal lingered outside talking to an elderly gentleman, as I watched I noticed that the corporal had a habit of resting his hand on his sidearm, as if he were expecting every moment to engage in a gunfight. No pic, I didn't think to carry the camera inside the restaurant with me, but I have to think that the corporal is going to one day find himself in a world of hurt if he doesn't learn to keep his hand off his pistol unless he's about to draw it. Being from a mountain town in NC, maybe his boss only lets him have one cartridge, kept in his shirt pocket.
As for the barbecue it was pretty good; the restaurant offers about 5 different sauces you can top it with. Accompanying the 'cue was corn fritters and french fries, along with the usual hush puppies; these pups were of the spherical variety, and if you've read my 'cue reviews before, you know that I have a low opinion of ball-shaped hush puppies, and these were simply confirmed my prejudices.
We got back to Charlotte around 3:30. All in all, a pretty nice little trip.
Because we went during the early morning, the sun was bright and washed out much of the colors of the sky and the foliage.
There were a fair number of people on the Parkway, most of them armed with cameras:
When we came down off the mountains we were in the town of Pleasant Garden, NC; we ate some barbecue at Smokey Que's, where they have an unusual BBQ cooker out near the road in addition to the ones in the kitchen:
Here's the restaurant itself:
When we arrived several of the local police were inside the restaurant, just finishing up a meal. After they left one porky corporal lingered outside talking to an elderly gentleman, as I watched I noticed that the corporal had a habit of resting his hand on his sidearm, as if he were expecting every moment to engage in a gunfight. No pic, I didn't think to carry the camera inside the restaurant with me, but I have to think that the corporal is going to one day find himself in a world of hurt if he doesn't learn to keep his hand off his pistol unless he's about to draw it. Being from a mountain town in NC, maybe his boss only lets him have one cartridge, kept in his shirt pocket.
As for the barbecue it was pretty good; the restaurant offers about 5 different sauces you can top it with. Accompanying the 'cue was corn fritters and french fries, along with the usual hush puppies; these pups were of the spherical variety, and if you've read my 'cue reviews before, you know that I have a low opinion of ball-shaped hush puppies, and these were simply confirmed my prejudices.
We got back to Charlotte around 3:30. All in all, a pretty nice little trip.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
UK: Immigration Policy Done For Sake of Social Engineering
Specifically, numbers of immigrants were allowed into UK in order to foster a more multicultural society.
Seems to me that such a fundamental change to a country's demographic makeup should at least be approved by the voters. The decision to allow immigration for social engineering doesn't appear to have met that standard.
Seems to me that such a fundamental change to a country's demographic makeup should at least be approved by the voters. The decision to allow immigration for social engineering doesn't appear to have met that standard.
Pic of Hoodah Thunkit
Since I refer to Hoodah Thunkit a lot, I thought I'd provide a little more information on her. She's a 55-year-old widow living at 14 Bog Lane, Midgehole, West Yorkshire, England. Here's her pic:
Hoodah's late husband Reg Thunkit, died in a tragic auto-erotic asphyxiation accident. Here's a pic of the late Reg:
Hoodah's late husband Reg Thunkit, died in a tragic auto-erotic asphyxiation accident. Here's a pic of the late Reg:
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