The Telegraph says yes and I have read all this in several places.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/johnmccain/3147376/US-presidential-election-John-McCain-scales-back-White-House-campaign.html
It's interesting that McCain was one of the Keating 5 and he himself described it as "the worst mistake of my life".
Monday, October 6, 2008
The Oldest Bible
I think this is great, because this version of the Bible pre-dates a lot of the Roman Catholic (RC) Church's tinkering with the text.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7651105.stm
I was raised RC, but haven't honestly practiced since I was a child. It should have some good date info of when things really happened, which is not mentioned in the story.
Mark your Calendars.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7651105.stm
I was raised RC, but haven't honestly practiced since I was a child. It should have some good date info of when things really happened, which is not mentioned in the story.
Mark your Calendars.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Paul Newman
Yeah, he died last week. It prompted me to watch Cool Hand Luke again. Great movie.
I thought about it and Paul played pretty much every part in every movie he ever did the same way. He was just himself.
From The Hustler to The Color Of Money, he played, cool, mad, happy and sad, the exact same way. And we loved him for that, because he was just being Paul Newman.
He didn't take on a character, the character had to become him. No one ever bitched about it like they do with some actors for one simple reason. We all loved Paul.
God's speed.
I thought about it and Paul played pretty much every part in every movie he ever did the same way. He was just himself.
From The Hustler to The Color Of Money, he played, cool, mad, happy and sad, the exact same way. And we loved him for that, because he was just being Paul Newman.
He didn't take on a character, the character had to become him. No one ever bitched about it like they do with some actors for one simple reason. We all loved Paul.
God's speed.
Dusters FIFTEEN
Norrie exited the airlock and headed to Engineering. Fagan was having trouble controlling the drone while in the environment suit. These were much less bulky than older suits, but still a bit cumbersome. He got the drone out the hatch and headed aft along the Port side of Two.
“Approaching collector 35” He said.
“Great, there is a latch plate just to the left of it.” Dinah said, “Another above it too.”
“Um, I know that.” Fagan told her. “I did prepare somewhat.”
“Fine.” Dinah said, a little perturbed.
Kelly put her hand on Dinah’s shoulder and said “Cool it Dinah, we need to all be focused on this.” She was off mic, so only Dinah heard her.
Dinah just nodded.
Fagan moved the drone just past collector 35 and turned the craft to face the forward end of the ship. He latched onto the plate behind it with the right arm and the one above with the left and pulled the craft as close to the ship as possible.
“All snug here, I’m going to open the hatch and git er’ done.” He reported.
Dinah and Norrie looked at each other, Norrie was grinning and Dinah was shaking her head.
Fagan depressurized the drone and opened the hatch. It couldn’t open quite fully because the left arm of the drone blocked it, which set off an alarm. Fagan silenced that and told the crew it was nothing.
He tethered himself to the drone and wiggled free of the small seat.
The modified controller card was attached to his waist. He had to remove 15 screws to remove a plate which exposed the controller card on the side of the collector. The screws didn’t actually come off the plate; they were still anchored to it when he pulled it open.
“Got it open.” He said. He tethered the plate to his waist and reached in to pull the controller card. There were two latches he pushed up at the same time on the sides of the card to unseat it.
“Ok, the controller out, do I need to keep this? He asked.
Norrie looked at Dinah. “Your call.” She said.
“Fagan, go ahead and bring it back in, an extra spare.” Dinah said.
“You got it.” He told her and tethered the card to his waist.
He unhooked the modified controller card and plopped it into the empty slot and felt it seat into the connector. Fagan set the latches to lock the card in place.
“All right, it’s in. Can you run a diagnostic, but please don’t activate the collector.” He reported. “I’m putting the cover back on now.”
Norrie announced the diagnostic looked good and Dinah monitored the tests on one of her monitors. She confirmed it looked good.
“Now we just have to see if it works.” Norrie said.
Norrie decided to set her controls to the remote station in the Control Room and headed up there.
Fagan tightened all the screws on the plate and crawled back into the drone. “Heading back now.”
He disconnected the two arms and gently guided the drone back to its airlock. He got the drone inside and locked into its base station. He hit button to close the outer hatch and start pressurizing the room.
At first he didn’t notice the small cracks starting to form in the hatch’s windows. The cracks quickly got bigger on the two large concave view ports.
“What the hell?” He said, then realized he had not re-pressurized the drone. “Shit!” He shouted.
The two large windows imploded at the same time, sharp shards of the polymer window shredded his suit and cut into his body. His right arm was decapitated totally and his right leg was cut badly.
After the half second it took the drone to implode, it exploded and all of the debris shot outward.
“Approaching collector 35” He said.
“Great, there is a latch plate just to the left of it.” Dinah said, “Another above it too.”
“Um, I know that.” Fagan told her. “I did prepare somewhat.”
“Fine.” Dinah said, a little perturbed.
Kelly put her hand on Dinah’s shoulder and said “Cool it Dinah, we need to all be focused on this.” She was off mic, so only Dinah heard her.
Dinah just nodded.
Fagan moved the drone just past collector 35 and turned the craft to face the forward end of the ship. He latched onto the plate behind it with the right arm and the one above with the left and pulled the craft as close to the ship as possible.
“All snug here, I’m going to open the hatch and git er’ done.” He reported.
Dinah and Norrie looked at each other, Norrie was grinning and Dinah was shaking her head.
Fagan depressurized the drone and opened the hatch. It couldn’t open quite fully because the left arm of the drone blocked it, which set off an alarm. Fagan silenced that and told the crew it was nothing.
He tethered himself to the drone and wiggled free of the small seat.
The modified controller card was attached to his waist. He had to remove 15 screws to remove a plate which exposed the controller card on the side of the collector. The screws didn’t actually come off the plate; they were still anchored to it when he pulled it open.
“Got it open.” He said. He tethered the plate to his waist and reached in to pull the controller card. There were two latches he pushed up at the same time on the sides of the card to unseat it.
“Ok, the controller out, do I need to keep this? He asked.
Norrie looked at Dinah. “Your call.” She said.
“Fagan, go ahead and bring it back in, an extra spare.” Dinah said.
“You got it.” He told her and tethered the card to his waist.
He unhooked the modified controller card and plopped it into the empty slot and felt it seat into the connector. Fagan set the latches to lock the card in place.
“All right, it’s in. Can you run a diagnostic, but please don’t activate the collector.” He reported. “I’m putting the cover back on now.”
Norrie announced the diagnostic looked good and Dinah monitored the tests on one of her monitors. She confirmed it looked good.
“Now we just have to see if it works.” Norrie said.
Norrie decided to set her controls to the remote station in the Control Room and headed up there.
Fagan tightened all the screws on the plate and crawled back into the drone. “Heading back now.”
He disconnected the two arms and gently guided the drone back to its airlock. He got the drone inside and locked into its base station. He hit button to close the outer hatch and start pressurizing the room.
At first he didn’t notice the small cracks starting to form in the hatch’s windows. The cracks quickly got bigger on the two large concave view ports.
“What the hell?” He said, then realized he had not re-pressurized the drone. “Shit!” He shouted.
The two large windows imploded at the same time, sharp shards of the polymer window shredded his suit and cut into his body. His right arm was decapitated totally and his right leg was cut badly.
After the half second it took the drone to implode, it exploded and all of the debris shot outward.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Four Tet
I have no idea what this video is, but I do love the music.
Oh, the song is called "As Serious As Your Life".
Oh, the song is called "As Serious As Your Life".
How To Destroy A Pickup Truck
Stick with this...
http://alanderson78.blogspot.com/
http://view.break.com/581790 - Watch more free videos
That is too funny, a loose propane tank.
http://alanderson78.blogspot.com/
http://view.break.com/581790 - Watch more free videos
That is too funny, a loose propane tank.
I Love The Oddbox
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_7649000/7649524.stm
Not really much I can say here, just watch the whole thing.
Not really much I can say here, just watch the whole thing.
Dusters FOURTEEN
Fagan and Norrie went through hours of configurations of the test collector before they hit the one that matched up to the original scenario. Dinah had come and gone twice while they worked on it.
They had to drop magnet 35 to ½ power then wait 2 seconds and kill magnet 17 to recreate the same condition that had delivered them to their current location.
The only concern was what other random problems might interdict in their effort when they try this for real. Norrie headed off to modify the controller card for their test collector so they could remotely control the individual magnets and recreate the incident.
“This should take an hour, let Dinah and the rest know.” As she left.
Fagan went to tell Dinah.
“We think we have it down.” He told her, as he walked into the Control Room. “Norrie is making the modifications to the collector control card and we should be able to get started soon.”
“We have to do a manual modification to collector 35.” He said flatly.
“Who’s going out?” Dinah asked from her chair.
“I’ll do it.” He said.
“I would rather Norrie do it.” She said.
Kelley was in the back of the control room with the Navigator. “Me too.” She said.
Dinah looked over at Kelley, and she stepped towards the seated Copilot.
Fagan objected; “I can do it Kelley, I feel fine and with Dinah and you driving the ship, I need something to do. You need Norrie in engineering.” He pleaded. “I can do this, I’ve done dozens of space walks.”
“Your call Kelley, you’re in charge I suppose.” She turned back to her console.
Kelly walked up to Fagan, “Watch your ass; I know you can do this, but we are a long way from home and no one is coming to save us.” She planted a finger in his chest as she finished the sentence.
She went back to finish with the Navigator. Dinah chuckled next to him, “Go get-em tiger.”
Fagan smiled and gave her a quick thumbs up, spun on his heels, saluted and over animatedly marched out of the Control Room. Dinah was still laughing. Kelly and Opoku smiled for a second.
AT the portal airlock, Fagan sunk into the maintenance drone’s chair. “This was built for a smaller man.” He said as he crammed into the seat and strapped in. “Ok a child?”
“It didn’t have you in mind when they designed it Fagan.” Norrie said. “They didn’t have anyone in mind, it’s supposed to be a drone.”
She reached in and hit the button to close the hatch. The drone had two large arms and several smaller ones to handle finer tasks. She waved at Fagan as the hatch swung down and sealed itself.
She walked past the rigged controller card to the communications panel and donned a headset. “Start the preflight checks please.” She said.
“Already running, you…” He quipped. Seals are good, pressure is fine, power looks great, life support is nominal, check check check and check.” He said.
Laughing Norrie said, “Ok, test the arms please. Try to be a bit professional.”
“Me? Professional? When have I ever?” He began testing the large arms first, though he shouldn’t need them except to latch onto the ship. He took each through a “range of motion” maneuver and docked each when complete. He did the same for the three smaller arms then stowed them as well.
“Looks good Eng, let’s get the party started.” He said.
Norrie called up to the Control Room, “We are ready, all stop please.” She asked.
They felt the small burn to stop the ship in space. They had been drifting towards Saturn, but way slower than they needed to be moving.
They had to drop magnet 35 to ½ power then wait 2 seconds and kill magnet 17 to recreate the same condition that had delivered them to their current location.
The only concern was what other random problems might interdict in their effort when they try this for real. Norrie headed off to modify the controller card for their test collector so they could remotely control the individual magnets and recreate the incident.
“This should take an hour, let Dinah and the rest know.” As she left.
Fagan went to tell Dinah.
“We think we have it down.” He told her, as he walked into the Control Room. “Norrie is making the modifications to the collector control card and we should be able to get started soon.”
“We have to do a manual modification to collector 35.” He said flatly.
“Who’s going out?” Dinah asked from her chair.
“I’ll do it.” He said.
“I would rather Norrie do it.” She said.
Kelley was in the back of the control room with the Navigator. “Me too.” She said.
Dinah looked over at Kelley, and she stepped towards the seated Copilot.
Fagan objected; “I can do it Kelley, I feel fine and with Dinah and you driving the ship, I need something to do. You need Norrie in engineering.” He pleaded. “I can do this, I’ve done dozens of space walks.”
“Your call Kelley, you’re in charge I suppose.” She turned back to her console.
Kelly walked up to Fagan, “Watch your ass; I know you can do this, but we are a long way from home and no one is coming to save us.” She planted a finger in his chest as she finished the sentence.
She went back to finish with the Navigator. Dinah chuckled next to him, “Go get-em tiger.”
Fagan smiled and gave her a quick thumbs up, spun on his heels, saluted and over animatedly marched out of the Control Room. Dinah was still laughing. Kelly and Opoku smiled for a second.
AT the portal airlock, Fagan sunk into the maintenance drone’s chair. “This was built for a smaller man.” He said as he crammed into the seat and strapped in. “Ok a child?”
“It didn’t have you in mind when they designed it Fagan.” Norrie said. “They didn’t have anyone in mind, it’s supposed to be a drone.”
She reached in and hit the button to close the hatch. The drone had two large arms and several smaller ones to handle finer tasks. She waved at Fagan as the hatch swung down and sealed itself.
She walked past the rigged controller card to the communications panel and donned a headset. “Start the preflight checks please.” She said.
“Already running, you…” He quipped. Seals are good, pressure is fine, power looks great, life support is nominal, check check check and check.” He said.
Laughing Norrie said, “Ok, test the arms please. Try to be a bit professional.”
“Me? Professional? When have I ever?” He began testing the large arms first, though he shouldn’t need them except to latch onto the ship. He took each through a “range of motion” maneuver and docked each when complete. He did the same for the three smaller arms then stowed them as well.
“Looks good Eng, let’s get the party started.” He said.
Norrie called up to the Control Room, “We are ready, all stop please.” She asked.
They felt the small burn to stop the ship in space. They had been drifting towards Saturn, but way slower than they needed to be moving.
Economy 101
This a great way to understand what's happening and how things work in the financial markets.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/globalpoolofmoney/images/2008/10/podcast10.03.mp3
I love the This American Life program.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/globalpoolofmoney/images/2008/10/podcast10.03.mp3
I love the This American Life program.
Friday, October 3, 2008
What's 6 Billion??
Ah, no big deal. Like we need to hear closer to a Trillion before our ears twitch. Maybe this will reduce our deficit!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7652064.stm
I know I am holding my breath....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7652064.stm
I know I am holding my breath....
Kids Are Kooky
This one is just damn scary!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7649876.stm
What would possess a child to do that?? That little animal should be fed to the Crock.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7649876.stm
What would possess a child to do that?? That little animal should be fed to the Crock.
They Passed The Damn Thing!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7651060.stm
The first thing I did when I heard was, apologize to my son. I apologized for the 11 Trillion dollar (plus) that he will have to deal with and pay for, for the rest of his life.
No one seems to be considering how much this will “grow the Government”? Bill number 1424.
No one seems to mind that either.
I did a little math and if we strung out one dollar bills end to end, our National Debt would be 107.6 Billion miles long (I think). That is enough to reach to Alpha Centauri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri and back twice, with about 7 Billion miles to spare.
That is George Bush's legacy. Well done sir.
Oh, as a follow-up, the Dow is still tanking even after it was passed; http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/markets/usmarkets/snapshot.asp?symbol=US%26DJI WTF???
So did Nasdaq ans The S&P. Well done to Congress too, A-holes
The first thing I did when I heard was, apologize to my son. I apologized for the 11 Trillion dollar (plus) that he will have to deal with and pay for, for the rest of his life.
No one seems to be considering how much this will “grow the Government”? Bill number 1424.
No one seems to mind that either.
I did a little math and if we strung out one dollar bills end to end, our National Debt would be 107.6 Billion miles long (I think). That is enough to reach to Alpha Centauri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri and back twice, with about 7 Billion miles to spare.
That is George Bush's legacy. Well done sir.
Oh, as a follow-up, the Dow is still tanking even after it was passed; http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/markets/usmarkets/snapshot.asp?symbol=US%26DJI WTF???
So did Nasdaq ans The S&P. Well done to Congress too, A-holes
US Unemployment At The End Of August 2008
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/ in percentage of population.
Looks great eh? Michigan and Rhode Island are screwed. I wonder why they are voting Democratic and McCain has given up on Michigan all together??
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/whos-ahead/key-states/map.html (I know the NYT is liberal)
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Choi Jin-sil; Dead
This is sad, she was so pretty and hugely talented. She was a huge star in South Korea.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7648156.stm
Nothing dirty here; http://gallery.asianfanatics.net/index.php?act=thumbs&aid=400
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7648156.stm
Nothing dirty here; http://gallery.asianfanatics.net/index.php?act=thumbs&aid=400
Friendly Fires
These guys are pretty good. They remind me of someone, but I can't think of who. Help me out? Maybe the Talking Heads and Broken Social Scene, a bit? Some funk too, pretty cool.
Paris (good tune!)
Jump In The Pool
On Board
Their CD is just titled with the band's name, released from XL Recordings. Just 3 guys from St Albans in the UK. Check them out! http://www.myspace.com/friendlyfires
Paris (good tune!)
Jump In The Pool
On Board
Their CD is just titled with the band's name, released from XL Recordings. Just 3 guys from St Albans in the UK. Check them out! http://www.myspace.com/friendlyfires
H.R.1424 (The Bailout)
The US Senate passed this Bailout Bill number HR 1424 last night and the Dow still dropped today, about 400 points or 3.22%. Hmm, I don't think it's working, do you? I don't think it's going to work either.
And who's idea was Title 5?? See below;
http://thomas.loc.gov/ (search for Bill number "H.R. 1424" and pick the one on the bottom which was passed yesterday. Sorry, the site doesn't give out good links because it's a query).
Section 502 states "shall include compensation for services performed in the United States by actors, production personnel, directors, and producers". Um has everyone lost their minds here?? Are we subsidizing the movie industry??
My head spun around when I read Section 503. We are giving a tax break to people who make "CERTAIN WOODEN ARROW SHAFTS". This was intoduced by Oregon Sens. Gordon Smith, a Republican, and Ron Wyden, a Democrat. Again, has the Senate gone mad??
I am not making this up, it's the real text of the bailout bill, number HR 1424!
And who's idea was Title 5?? See below;
http://thomas.loc.gov/ (search for Bill number "H.R. 1424" and pick the one on the bottom which was passed yesterday. Sorry, the site doesn't give out good links because it's a query).
Section 502 states "shall include compensation for services performed in the United States by actors, production personnel, directors, and producers". Um has everyone lost their minds here?? Are we subsidizing the movie industry??
My head spun around when I read Section 503. We are giving a tax break to people who make "CERTAIN WOODEN ARROW SHAFTS". This was intoduced by Oregon Sens. Gordon Smith, a Republican, and Ron Wyden, a Democrat. Again, has the Senate gone mad??
I am not making this up, it's the real text of the bailout bill, number HR 1424!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bail Out
The US Senate just passed a "bail-out" package for George Bush and his buddies. I am baffled. I guess I can only URGE YOU to contact your representatives in the House http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#md and tell them to vote this down.
Let the markets correct, which is the very thing that triggered this "crisis". The speculators have inflated the markets, so now they are deflating them. Take a deep breath and deal with it. For once the rich people in the US are losing their invested dollars, let it finish. Let it finish.
Let the markets correct, which is the very thing that triggered this "crisis". The speculators have inflated the markets, so now they are deflating them. Take a deep breath and deal with it. For once the rich people in the US are losing their invested dollars, let it finish. Let it finish.
Who's Your President?
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/
CNN, who I think leans a little to the Republicans, has Obama up by 40 votes right now (a 7 percent lead). Not much elbow room.
I can't wait for the next debates. Poor John looks so tired, I think people will not vote just to give him a chance at retirement. If he wins it will kill him, then we get Palin?? Um, No...
CNN, who I think leans a little to the Republicans, has Obama up by 40 votes right now (a 7 percent lead). Not much elbow room.
I can't wait for the next debates. Poor John looks so tired, I think people will not vote just to give him a chance at retirement. If he wins it will kill him, then we get Palin?? Um, No...
Hows Your Sun?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7646789.stm
Strange, last week I read the Sun was in a period of decreased activity and then this? I don't think the Sun is very predictable. What a bastard.
Strange, last week I read the Sun was in a period of decreased activity and then this? I don't think the Sun is very predictable. What a bastard.
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