November 30, 2005
Day After Tomorrow Scenario Real?
New Scientist Breaking News - Failing ocean current raises fears of mini ice age
The dramatic finding comes from a study of ocean circulation in the North Atlantic, which found a 30% reduction in the warm currents that carry water north from the Gulf Stream.
Just like the Europeans, they want to keep the ice age all to themselves.
Sorry, guys. If (when?) it happens, it'll be a hemispheric thing.
Doesn't a 30% reduction in current imply a 30% reduction in ocean-transported heat? Shouldn't there be an effect from losing that much energy? So is Europe seeing an early or harsh winter?
1992 and 1998? Well, can't blame that on the present Bush.
November 27, 2005
Would Have Been a Good Read
This: The Standard - China's Business Newspaper looked like a good article on bird flu in Indonesia.
Unfortunately, the Hong Kong Standard is running crappy software on their server so all you get is this:
ODBC driver does not support the requested properties.
/content_type1.asp, line 8
When will they learn?
UPDATE: (8:10AM 11-28-05) It's fixed now. Read and enjoy.
November 25, 2005
November 24, 2005
Parade Blues
Just had the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on, but turned it off. I can hardly imagine why any high school band today would want to be in this parade. The main reason for being in the parade is the TV exposure they would get, but that is a thing of the past.
Today, parade "coverage" consists entirely of a few passing glimpses of floats, interminable sequences of self-absorbed talking heads who are the titular "correspondents" covering the parade, and long shots of lip-synced performances by faded celebrities desparately hoping to get their names back in the spotlight for a few more minutes.
Behind the talking heads, you can see band after band going by unacknowledged while the commenters go on with their inane chatter. Aunt Mary is watching in Sioux City? Tough break, the Sioux City Mudhen band passed by while the commenters were complimenting each other's hair styles. Maybe next year.
November 23, 2005
Treasures in the Closet
We found this picture while cleaning out a closet. It was brought to this closet from another closet in another city, and had been there for who knows how long.
It is printed on old style paper, possibly in a silver process. It is at least 60 years old, and probably much, much older.
November 22, 2005
Back on Your Hands and Knees
... coffee break is over: Court rules state school finance system unconstitutional
So the two specials that resulted in such crap legislation as the "Defend Marriage Amendment" which may have, as a side effect, outlawed all marriage in Texas, and which did absolutely nothing about school finance, are going to be rerun in the spring. Good job, morons.
The court voted 7-1 that Texas school funding is unconstitutional.
Here's an example of the state's finest legal minds at work trying to influence the judges:
That's the way to make friends on the court, tell the to keep their noses out of your business. If Texas wants to ruin their school system, it's nobody's business but theirs.
I think I may just live in the world's largest insane asylum. Outside of California.
November 21, 2005
And Here's More Good News for Sony
There's a blog for boycotting Sony products: The Sony Boycott Blog
These guys are idiots. It's like, some people steal cars, so we're going to put a boot on all cars. To prevent theft, don't you know.
Effing morons. Antagonize and alienate your customer base, you know, the ones with the money? The ones whose money buys your whores and nose candy? Really smart move, Sony.
Sony Woes Continue
Chron.com | Texas sues Sony over spyware on music CDs
$100,000 per violation times "thousands of violations". I can hear the AG licking his lips from here.
This is on the Houston Chronicle site, which has been redesigned. The site loads so slowly, I have to assume the purpose of the redesign is to get people to go back to reading dead tree news while they wait for the website to load.
So, way to go Sony! And way to go Chronicle!
When They Looked Back, They Said This Was the Beginning
of the end: GM to Cut 30,000 Jobs, Close 9 Plants
Recession coming? (Hint: yes)
November 18, 2005
Great Quote of the Day
"One thing is for sure, in the aftermath and devastation of Hurricane Katrina we can truly dispel the notions of the X Files and right wing militias that FEMA was secretly trying to take over the country and the world. What a crock of hilarious shit. These people couldn't take control over their own orgasm."
Lying Congressmen on the Take
HoustonChronicle.com - In casino dispute, lawmakers backed tribes that paid them
"Just a coincidence" that the letters opposing Indian casino expansion in Louisiana were either closely preceded by, or closely followed by big donations from the lobbyists opposing the new casino.
Yeah, right.
Crooks.
Ah, Peaceful Islam
Saudi Teacher Sentenced to 750 Lashes
Al-Harbi was convicted of questioning and ridiculing Islam, discussing the Bible and defending Jews, judicial officials said Thursday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
November 16, 2005
Schutze Poop
Jim Schutze of the Dallas Observer, whose writing I normally enjoy, steps in the poop with dallasobserver.com | News & Features | Schutze | Mapesgate | 2005-11-10.
The apparent thesis here is that we are supposed to love Mary Mapes, the CBS producer who brought down CBS news, Dan Rather, and herself with forged documents in a blatantly partisan attempt to swing the election, because she likes dogs.
And, oh yes, because Mary Mapes says the documents aren't fake. That makes how many (leaving out the MoveOn and Democrat Underground moonbats)? Let's see. Ah. One. One person who believes the documents aren't fakes. That would be a good beginning if it weren't instead a bad end.
And the picture that accompanies the article doesn't look like someone who likes dogs, it looks more like a cornered pit bull.
I guess left wing idealism is a really bright light. It must be, to have blinded so many otherwise seemingly sensible people.
November 11, 2005
November 09, 2005
Music Industry Greed
Way to go, SONY: Techworld.com - Sony faces police investigation into DRM code
November 05, 2005
November 04, 2005
A new age of unreason
Intelligent Design is discussed in New Statesman - A new age of unreason.
If the ID folks want to go to their churches and say "they can talk about evolution all they want, WE know what really happened", that's just peachy. But when they drag their superstitious baloney into the public schools and call it "science", they've gone too far.
You can believe any sort of myth-based tripe you want, but don't stick it my face and call it "science", because it isn't. And I really don't care how many credentialed imbeciles you can drag up to parrot your crap. Evolution is established science, as any dog, horse, or cow breeder can attest. Intelligent design is religious myth.
"Darwin said it, I believe it, and that settles it."