August 28, 2008

Convention update

I've always enjoyed Stephen Green's drunkblogging of things political. Tonight, though, he must still be fairly sober, because he's acting a little pissed off:


8:48PM If Colorado isnÂ’t in play, I planned on voting for Bob Barr. But Obama is being so dishonest tonight that IÂ’m tempted to vote for McCain out of spite.

8:47PM Obama just had the gaul to claim that he wonÂ’t challenge McCainÂ’s character. ItÂ’s not HIS fault that McCain is evil.

8:45PM Tough, direct Â… diplomacy! I negotiate in your general direction!

8:44PM “…Strained our oldest alliances.” Like all those right wingers recently elected in France and Germany and Italy who see our side more and more?

8:42PM Did Obama REALLY just accuse McCain of being unwilling to pursue bin Laden? I donÂ’t like McCain. I donÂ’t (yet) plan to vote for McCain. But I would NOT go around impugning John McCainÂ’s manhood.

I told my wife that political conventions have all the honesty of used car salemen
and all the spontaneity of Broadway musicals. She asked, "So how else are people supposed to know what the candidates say?" I responded that I don't care what they say; I pay attention to what they do. Of course, I'm a political junkie and pay attention to these things. She pointed out that most Americans don't pay any attention at all and therefore get easily persuaded by these dog and pony shows. Sadly, she is absolutely correct. Here are the likely responses to convention speeches:

1) He's/She's pretty.

2) Gee, that sounded good. Maybe I can get a free pony, too!

3) Yeah, he/she is going to create 5 million new jobs. [ed. note: this was called vaporware back when I was a programmer]

Fuck, I'm depressed. I expect to be no less depressed watching the GOP bullshit next week.

Update: Via Ken in the comments comes this doozy:


MOOSEBURGERS FOR EVERYONE!

And via Gerard comes little doozy:


"The smart liberals are worried. The dumb ones think they've won."

I've been reading a lot of dumb liberals today.

Final update: From in the tank for Obama land:


For me, the more I think about it, the more this pick is about McCain's contempt for Obama. He really seems to think that Palin is as qualified as Obama to be president.

I know that Andrew isn't really that stupid and it's just his man crush forcing him to say stupid shit like this. The Palin pick might well not work out, but trying to pretend that Obama's 150 days in the Senate followed by 2 years campaigning for president makes him magically qualified to be president isn't wishful thinking, it's absolutely bathshit insane. Then again, this IS Andrew we're talking about.

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This just in

I can barely stand the spectacle our national party conventions are. They're full of completely rehearsed bullshit passed on as the truth and accepted as gospel by one group of people and discarded as ignorant lies by the other half. It's even worse this year, what with the GOP nominating John McCain. Believe me when I tell you that conservatives and libertarians aren't, like Keith Olbermann, soiling themselves in ecstasy over the opportunity to vote for the Maverick.

However. As much as I understand the "our guys are great/your guys suck" mood after each speech is given, I simply cannot fathom the complete disconnect from reality at places like BugFuckCrazy Juice. To hear John Cole tell it, unlike many actual Democrat strategists, the convention has been such a dandy success that the coming "disaster" of the GOP convention will only further cement the Obamamessiah's lead among the electorate. And while I know that Cole is completely in the tank for Obama to the point that he neglects to remove The Chosen One's cock from his mouth while typing, I'm still amazed at what idle drool he assumes is intelligent analysis. In fact, about the only thing he said that makes sense is the fact that the Republican base is not excited about voting for McCain, something so obvious that it probably took Mr. Cole only a month or so to figure out.

Even as someone who plans to vote 3rd party this year, I've got to say that the thought of how unhinged OlberCole would become if their Greek God manages to lose to McCain does make me smile. Watching the ensuing meltdown would almost be worth being forced to live through a McCain presidency. Almost.

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August 27, 2008

Fixing Firefox

Annoyed by those effing Flash content ads loading on seemingly every single webpage? Don't be. Simply add Flashblock to Firefox and voila! No more Flash content. You can, of course, view the content by clicking on it, but you won't be forced to listen to or watch crappy ads by default.

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August 26, 2008

Because I can

Interestingly, some douchebag self-important dickbag judge in NZ has ruled that the names of of accused murderers Nathan Tuiti Reo Mutunga Williams and Daniel Bobby Tumata cannot be published on the web. I think that that is going to prove quite problematic to this judge. I anxiously await his next ruling in which he will declare "the sun shall not rise in the east".

Thanks to Bill Quick for the link.

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Hillary unifies the party

From Neal Boortz comes this preview of Hillary's speech tonight:

more...

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August 25, 2008

My only live blog thoughts for either convention

I had an aunt die from a brain tumor. It was a horrible, awful death that I wouldn't wish on anyone, not even someone as loathsome as I consider Senator Kennedy. Anyway, listening to the tribute given to said senator at the DNC tonight, one thought kept running through my brain: Mary Jo Kopechne was unable to attend.

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Choice of President

Received via email from my mother, of all people:


electile dysfunction.jpg

Electile Dysfunction: the inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by either party in the 2008 election year.

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Let's get it on

In honor of this week's Great American Mile High Snoozefest, I give you Dave Barry's column. Excerpt:


But in the end, the focus of this convention will be on Barack Obama, who on Thursday night will receive the nomination in long-overdue recognition of a distinguished career of seeking the nomination. His goal, in his acceptance speech, will be to win over the undecided voters -- the people who are unsure of what he really stands for, or who have received emailed rumors that he is a Muslim, or a socialist, or a vampire, or a lesbian. His goal will be to show, with no disrespect to the Muslim socialist vampire lesbian community, that he is a regular person just like you, except he has Vision and Leadership. After that, he will lay out his specific policies for building a brighter future. Then he will turn into a bat.

No, he won't, although that would make this the most fun convention EVER.

I'm rooting for the bat thing myself, but I've got a perverse sense of humor.

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August 24, 2008

Hacking wifi in an airport

If you don't like paying the ridiculous fee that airport Internet cubes charge you, you might be interested in this little hack. Excerpt:


Without any hope of success I typed http://www.google.com/.jpg into my browser's adress bar, and to my big surprise I saw the page you see when you follow the link right now. The next thing I typed in was: http://www.google.com/?.jpg but that didn't work. But I went on, and found that url's like http://www.google.com/search?.jpg worked like a charm. I found that I could easily visit sites like slashdot, google, or even this weblog, when adding a ?.jpg at the end of the url.

Give it a try, if you're so inclined. The author also mentions a script that automatically appends that ?.jpg to each URL. I'm probably too lazy to do that, but give it a shot and let me know how it works out for you.

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August 22, 2008

Bizarro world news

I wasn't even sure how to categorize this article:


In a press release, Crystal Mangum's manager has announced plans to release a tell-all memoir entitled "The Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story.
...
Were it not for the Duke Lacrosse Case, she likely would be described as a bright, young woman from Durham, North Carolina, who has had a difficult life."

I'm sure that this basket case will get lionized on all the liberal talk shows. The fact that the lacrosse players were exonerated will mean nothing to the hosts, much as it does now. In any event, I hope that the players sue her for the proceeds.

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Quote of the election season

From Megan McArdle:


It should be possible to debate the issues in this election at a level above "My guy's awesome and your guy is a big fat doody-head". But it doesn't seem to be. I find this profoundly depressing.

I've noticed the same thing the last couple of elections.

Update: Actually, John Scalzi has a pretty good comment of his own:


I think the race has tightened because thatÂ’s what often happens around this time, if IÂ’m not wildly mistaken. Do McCainÂ’s ads have anything to do with it? Oh, probably. So does the fact that Obama went on vacation. So does the fact that conservatives have unleashed their poo-flinging monkeys (see: Jerome Corsi), and so does the fact that some liberals have come around to the realization that Obama, does not, in fact, fart cinnamon-scented rainbows.

I kind of wish that I had come up with that particular line, but I suppose that there's a good reason or three that Mr. Scalzi writes for a living and I do not.

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August 21, 2008

Lost your keys?

No problem. Simply hot wire your car.

I still haven't tried the tennis ball key thing yet, so it's unlikely I'll go this route any time in the near future.

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A weekend project worth doing

Build your own Lamborghini. Really.


Thought you couldn't afford a Lambo? Think again. One man designed and built is own Lamborghini frame, documenting the build with plenty of photos along the way. Although it may not have the ridiculous horsepower under the hood, it has the sexy body. Check out the creator's other builds and don't miss the entire photogallery.

Okay, it doesn't have to horses under the hood, but no one's really going to look past the extra cool skin anway.

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August 20, 2008

What she said

For the last few years, I've opined that McCain cannot get elected president. Most of that time, though, I had assumed- wrongly- that Hillary! would be the Democratic nominee. And now with the young, handsome Mr. Hope-ity Change-ity as the opponent, Mr. Maverick Melanoma looked like dead meat, especially since some conservative/liberatarian types (okay, ME) will not be voting for him.

Recently, though, I've started to see cracks in the Obama campaign. Once again, the Democrats look like they might have gone with the pretty choice instead of the smart choice. And while I still won't be voting on the McCainiac ticket, I have to admit that the thought of seeing all the leftists in a catatonic stupor the first Wednesday in November does bring a smile to my face.

Anyway, I'll give Karol Shenin the last word:


The thing they [Democrats] all have in common, and have since, oh 2002, is that they all think the Democrat is going to win and they can't wait to tell me so. They were all completely shellshocked when Bush was re-elected in 2004, obviously, but nothing will compare to the devastation if Obama loses. There is a uniform smirk that they all have these days, almost like "silly Republican friend of a friend, can't you see Obama can't lose?" I mostly nod and smile and tell them that I consider Obama a 4 on a 1-10 scale and McCain a 5 so, y'know, I'll live. Blue states should have smelling salts and anti-depressants on hand if somehow, some way, John McCain pulls this thing off.


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August 19, 2008

I'm way ahead of this curve

It was legal for 18 year olds to drink (beer, anyway) back when I was 18. I've long advocated lowering the drinking age or, barring that, repealing the amendment which gives 18 year olds the right to vote, trying 18-20 year olds as juveniles and increasing the age of registration for selective service to 21. If you can't treat someone like an adult in one little facet of his life, then fuck it: treat him or her like a child. Completely.

Anyway, the Instamonster links to an article which states:


"College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities, including Duke, Dartmouth, and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age to 18 from 21, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus."

Can I get a No Shit from everybody?

Update: Mike and Jeff weigh in on the subject. I'll leave you with some of Jeff's words:


After the Orioles won the World Series in 1983, Storm Davis, a then-20-year-old starting pitcher for the Birds, who played an integral role in BaltimoreÂ’s success, could not partake in the post series champagne and beer celebration.

Mother Against Drunk Driving would likely counter such a seemingly arbitrary and incongruous segregation among teammates by noting that the ritual of celebrating with alcohol “glorifies” drinking, and so should itself be eliminated.

– And at that point, it should become clear that MADD is no longer worried about drunk driving per se, but is rather become a neoprohibitionist organization trafficking in emotional arguments to convince cowardly politicians to force change upon the culture — “change” that has the effect of taking away individual freedom and responsibility, along with the role of parents in teaching young adults how to handle certain freedoms, in exchange for a government run mandate, complete with police powers of the state or municipality, that presumes to usurp those responsibilities by a kind of 3/5 rule on adulthood.

Exchanging white hoods for big buttons and a lot of emotional appeals merely suggests a change in rhetorical strategy from those who seek to build society to match their own personal hobby horses.

Update: Holy fucking shit! Excerpt:


Unfortunately, there is considerable precedent for such pre-emptive measures. In 2005 a Pennsylvania court rejected an appeal from a man whose driver's license was revoked by the state after he told doctors he knocked back more than a six-pack of beer a day. State law requires doctors to report any of a patient's physical or mental impairments if the doctors think it could compromise his ability to drive safely. Keith Emerich hadn't gotten in any legal trouble, related to drinking, driving, or anything else, and his job attendance was as exemplary. Yet a three-judge Commonwealth Court panel said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation was justified in taking away Emerich's license-not because he had driven while intoxicated but because he might.

Hell, I haven't been arrested for being a leather-faced, chainsaw-wielding maniac, but that doesn't mean I couldn't become one. I guess that I should get the chair, pronto. Who knows how many scantily clad Jessica Biels might be in danger.

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August 18, 2008

They're not even trying anymore

To pretend that their "scientific consensus" is anything more than inserting And then a miracle occurs into their work to try and prove that we're melting the planet.

Let me be frank: dickwads like those referred to in this article are setting science back hundreds of years. Maybe their next paper will be on the discovery of the Philosopher's Stone, and it will be published in Ye Olde Timme Alchemy and Sorceries of Transmutation.

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I kind of thought that I'd be a Yugo

But I'll take what I got.

I'm a Chevrolet Corvette!



You're a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You're all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.


Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.


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August 13, 2008

Sure, it's old

But it makes me laugh. Check out the Ultimate Showdown below the fold:

more...

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August 12, 2008

Maybe I'm not all that thirsty right now

Interesting little calculator here, which tells me how much of my favorite drink I would have to consume before the caffeine dose would become lethal.


poisonmug.jpg

You could drink 349.57 cans of Diet Dr Pepper before croaking.

If you didn't know, Diet Cheerwine is one of the top ten caffeinated diet soft drinks on the market. Consequently, I can't drink quite as much:


poison.jpg

It would take 297.97 cans of Diet Cheerwine to put you down.

So now you know. Check out your favorite beverage to see how much it will take to have yoy pushing daisies.

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August 11, 2008

When life hands you a sh*t sandwich

Bill Quick has finally decided to vote for McCain. He's not happy about that decision, either. In fact, I'd say that Bill is the complete opposite of happy. Excerpt:


I have often publicly worried about the threat of some sort of biowar attack against the United States, and also worried about things like airborn Avian Flu. I still worry about such things, and I consider them to be major, even potentially existential threats to the survival of the United States.

Now, from a political point of view, I think a John McCain presidency will be disastrous for the GOP in the long term, and certainly disastrous for conservative principles within the GOP. In fact, I think an Obama presidency, in which things generally proceed from bad to worse, would be better for conservatism in the long run.
...
John McCain is probably not going to do much for anything political I care about - I consider him a moderately left centrist - but he is something else, as well. He is capable of making a decision and sticking to it in the face of public opposition. He is a former navy pilot and commander who made life or death decisions on the fly, and then carried them out. So here is what it comes down to: For the sake of my own safety and survival, who do I want in the White House if Bird Flu starts killing people in San Francisco?


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