My mom is cleaning out her house in preparation for the big move to Colorado and the ACLF.
The only shing she had that I really wanted was the drafting table that my dad gave me.
To ship it, she would have been charged the "one room" rate from any mover, so she filled up the load with the rest of a room!
The Boy gets a new bed.
We have a huge desk that is now a table-like entertainment center sort of deal in the bedroom.
We have piles of antique glassware and china.
I have a huge assortment of Dremel attachments and two new Dremel tools.
We have basic wood working tools! Something that was sorely missing from my box.
Thanks Mom!
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29 July 2006
27 July 2006
Dwarf Again
 | Gimli Gloin's son If I were a character in The Lord of the Rings, I would be Gimli, Dwarf, handy with an axe when orcs are about. In the movie, I am played by John Rhys-Davies. Who would you be? Zovakware Lord of the Rings Test with Perseus Web Survey Software |
25 July 2006
Mrs Hillary Clinton
I resented her acting like she had won the presidential election instead of her husband. She's anti-gun. She does seem to get the war though, that's a plus to me.
The thing I cannot stand about her as a senator has very little to do with HER. Considering that she votes a lot like the other senator from NY, I have to believe that this is what NY wants in a senator, that's cool as far as it goes.
What I can't figure out is WHY THE VOTERS OF NEW YORK VOTED FOR SOMEONE WHO JUST MOVED TO NEW YORK MERE DAYS LONGER THAN THE ELIGIBILITY PERIOD????
There were other Democrats that fit the ideology, why not vote for someone from New York?
This is why I am so damn conflicted about 9/11. Three thousand some odd people were killed, but that means three thousand some odd LESS New Yorkers voting. No, there is no conflict, if they needed killin' then it was OUR job to do it, not some third party. I don't think they needed killin', even if I think they were morons for living and working in NYC.
The thing I cannot stand about her as a senator has very little to do with HER. Considering that she votes a lot like the other senator from NY, I have to believe that this is what NY wants in a senator, that's cool as far as it goes.
What I can't figure out is WHY THE VOTERS OF NEW YORK VOTED FOR SOMEONE WHO JUST MOVED TO NEW YORK MERE DAYS LONGER THAN THE ELIGIBILITY PERIOD????
There were other Democrats that fit the ideology, why not vote for someone from New York?
This is why I am so damn conflicted about 9/11. Three thousand some odd people were killed, but that means three thousand some odd LESS New Yorkers voting. No, there is no conflict, if they needed killin' then it was OUR job to do it, not some third party. I don't think they needed killin', even if I think they were morons for living and working in NYC.
Sick Of Defending Bush
How can anyone who knows me think that I like him?
Perhaps because I was VERY anti-Clinton? News flash, I am opposed to all the damn idiots that have discarded our constitutional republic for, whatever what we have now is.
Clinton was merely the first politician on the radar once I had learned enough to have a political opinion. My contempt backdates to FDR (PS that includes Ford and Nixon), but I cannot do anything to prevent the past, so I must focus on the present and hope to reverse the wrongs done then.
I know why I disliked Clinton so strongly, do the people who hate Bush know why they don't like him? Other than he is not Al Gore or John Kerry?
Gun control is unconstitutional, it's plainly stated in the second amendment and my position is backed by the author's notes, the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers, Mr Clinton signed Brady and the AWB.
Mrs Clinton wasn't an elected or appointed official, but she swept in like she was the entire cabinet. I'm not really sure I can blame Bill for this one, but at some time he really should have said something to the effect of, "Honey, you have no official capacity, so stop having press conferences." Mrs Clinton is a topic of a whole other rant really.
And of course, the Lewinsky thing. And I only started caring when someone pointed out this, "Would he have kept his job, or would we have said, 'that's A-OK,' if he had been the CEO of a Fortune 500 company?" Huh? Why, no. Last time I delved into the sexual harassment laws, there was no exemption for the President.
Bush the Younger:
Um, close the border, use troops, shoot them if you have to.
Quit acting like Dad is going to walk in at any moment and take the car keys away! You ran a successful business once, you were a popular Governor, you really did get elected, start acting like you have the brain that you demonstrated you had before late 2000!
Oh yes, another thing: The economy pretty much runs on its own. There is damn little the government can do about it, so taking credit for good times or blame for bad times is more a function of timing than talent. I believe that subsidies hurt business because it prevents the market from sending feedback. I believe that low taxes spur growth because people will want to make more money when they get to keep more of it. And if the president is really responsible for the economy, why don't we worship Dwight Eisenhower like a GOD?
Perhaps because I was VERY anti-Clinton? News flash, I am opposed to all the damn idiots that have discarded our constitutional republic for, whatever what we have now is.
Clinton was merely the first politician on the radar once I had learned enough to have a political opinion. My contempt backdates to FDR (PS that includes Ford and Nixon), but I cannot do anything to prevent the past, so I must focus on the present and hope to reverse the wrongs done then.
I know why I disliked Clinton so strongly, do the people who hate Bush know why they don't like him? Other than he is not Al Gore or John Kerry?
Gun control is unconstitutional, it's plainly stated in the second amendment and my position is backed by the author's notes, the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers, Mr Clinton signed Brady and the AWB.
Mrs Clinton wasn't an elected or appointed official, but she swept in like she was the entire cabinet. I'm not really sure I can blame Bill for this one, but at some time he really should have said something to the effect of, "Honey, you have no official capacity, so stop having press conferences." Mrs Clinton is a topic of a whole other rant really.
And of course, the Lewinsky thing. And I only started caring when someone pointed out this, "Would he have kept his job, or would we have said, 'that's A-OK,' if he had been the CEO of a Fortune 500 company?" Huh? Why, no. Last time I delved into the sexual harassment laws, there was no exemption for the President.
Bush the Younger:
Um, close the border, use troops, shoot them if you have to.
Quit acting like Dad is going to walk in at any moment and take the car keys away! You ran a successful business once, you were a popular Governor, you really did get elected, start acting like you have the brain that you demonstrated you had before late 2000!
Oh yes, another thing: The economy pretty much runs on its own. There is damn little the government can do about it, so taking credit for good times or blame for bad times is more a function of timing than talent. I believe that subsidies hurt business because it prevents the market from sending feedback. I believe that low taxes spur growth because people will want to make more money when they get to keep more of it. And if the president is really responsible for the economy, why don't we worship Dwight Eisenhower like a GOD?
23 July 2006
Mourning
Pam, wife of Skeezer passed on this morning about 5am CDT. Cancer.
She was a very nice person and Skeezer is, of course, devastated.
She was a very nice person and Skeezer is, of course, devastated.
19 July 2006
Middle East Peace Trip
What Condi would be tasked with telling the Israelis if I were President.
"It has become obvious that there will not be peace until one side or the other is eradicated. Since we get along with you Israelis better than we get along with Palestinians, eradicate away."
THAT is how State should support an ally. If we don't, then why call them allies?
"It has become obvious that there will not be peace until one side or the other is eradicated. Since we get along with you Israelis better than we get along with Palestinians, eradicate away."
THAT is how State should support an ally. If we don't, then why call them allies?
How Some Things Work By Dr Thag
CO2! Global warming, yadda yadda yadda.
Guess what? It doesn't work the way the news says.
CO2 absorbs a certain wavelengths of light. That makes the molecule heat up, and that heat is released as longer wavelengths or by transferring it to adjacent molecules. What this means for temperature is that it is transparent to frequencies transmitted by the sun and opaque to the re-emission from earth. That keeps heat from escaping back into space, or at least slows it.
The thing the media screws up is how much light the CO2 is stopping.
Lets say, for simplicity, that a given concentration of CO2 stops 50% of the light from escaping back into space. If we double the concentration how much light is stopped? It's not 100%. It's 75%. Triple it, you'd get 87.5%, quadruple gives 93.75%, five times gives 96.875% and so on. Notice the diminishing return?
The CO2 argument also ignores water. Lots of water up there. And water tends to absorb the same wavelengths as CO2.
Read more about it here!
Guess what? It doesn't work the way the news says.
CO2 absorbs a certain wavelengths of light. That makes the molecule heat up, and that heat is released as longer wavelengths or by transferring it to adjacent molecules. What this means for temperature is that it is transparent to frequencies transmitted by the sun and opaque to the re-emission from earth. That keeps heat from escaping back into space, or at least slows it.
The thing the media screws up is how much light the CO2 is stopping.
Lets say, for simplicity, that a given concentration of CO2 stops 50% of the light from escaping back into space. If we double the concentration how much light is stopped? It's not 100%. It's 75%. Triple it, you'd get 87.5%, quadruple gives 93.75%, five times gives 96.875% and so on. Notice the diminishing return?
The CO2 argument also ignores water. Lots of water up there. And water tends to absorb the same wavelengths as CO2.
Read more about it here!
18 July 2006
Quote Of The Random Interval
"Basically, I figure guns are like gays: They seem a lot more sinister and threatening until you get to know a few; and once you have one in the house, you can get downright defensive about them." -- Teresa Nielsen Hayden
13 July 2006
Kill Them All
There is no room on the planet for Western Civilization and Islam. Since I am a member of Western Civilization, I would rather see Islam go away. Since they behave like this, I see no need to let them live.
Be forewarned, that link has links to the heathen barbarians mutilating PFC Tucker and PFC Menchaca.
I am finished with the belief that we can ever coexist peacefully with these idiots and am coming to the conclusion that anyone who thinks otherwise should be killed and that the killing be considered self defence on my part.
Be forewarned, that link has links to the heathen barbarians mutilating PFC Tucker and PFC Menchaca.
I am finished with the belief that we can ever coexist peacefully with these idiots and am coming to the conclusion that anyone who thinks otherwise should be killed and that the killing be considered self defence on my part.
07 July 2006
DWARF
.....|
.?.h.+#
.....|
If I were a NetHack monster, I would be a dwarf. I enjoy using expensive, high-quality equipment, and I'm not afraid to work hard to get it..?.h.+#
.....|
05 July 2006
By Jingo
From here
Next time you look at the moon, challenge yourself to think of something: there are footprints up there. Footprints, and tire tracks. Also three used cars, and one golf ball.
Why are they there? Because we decided to go to the moon, that's why. What a typically arrogant, unilateral, American conceit! Damn right it was, and that footprint - you know the picture - will still be there, unchanged, a million years from now. In ten million years, it might begin to soften a little around the edges. But in a billion years - a thousand million summers from this one - it will still be there, next to glistening pyramids of gold and aluminum junk decaying under the steady cosmic drizzle of micrometeorite hits.
Next time you look at the moon, challenge yourself to think of something: there are footprints up there. Footprints, and tire tracks. Also three used cars, and one golf ball.
Why are they there? Because we decided to go to the moon, that's why. What a typically arrogant, unilateral, American conceit! Damn right it was, and that footprint - you know the picture - will still be there, unchanged, a million years from now. In ten million years, it might begin to soften a little around the edges. But in a billion years - a thousand million summers from this one - it will still be there, next to glistening pyramids of gold and aluminum junk decaying under the steady cosmic drizzle of micrometeorite hits.
04 July 2006
03 July 2006
Holy Stinking Snot Batman
In my ever continuing quest to convert all of my 3e GURPS characters to 4e standards I have to recreate the racial statistics of some non-human races. Tonight was the Centaur from Fantasy Folk.
Because of the differences in how the various editions handle ST, the Centaur goes from a ST 13 with a split ST Advantage to get a horse body with a ST of 26. With all the other things added on, a 3e Centaur was 55 points.
The new ST rules you buy a ST of 26 and take "Weak Arms" to get that ST 13 in the torso. When I was finished it comes to 143 points! OUCH!
Centaur, Fantasy Folk
143 Points
Attribute Modifiers: ST+16 (Size -10%) [144]; IQ-1 [-20]; HT+2 [20].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: Per+1 [5]; Basic Move+3 [15]; SM+1 (3 hexes).
Advantages: Claws (Hooves) [3]; Damage Resistance 1 (Tough Skin -40%) [2]; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 16) [20]; Extra Legs (4 Legs) [5].
Disadvantages: Low TL -1 [-5]; Overconfidence (12) [-5]; Phobia (Enclosed Spaces) (12) [-15]; Stubbornness [-5]; Weak Arms [-6].
Features: Short Fur on body; Tail.
Because of the differences in how the various editions handle ST, the Centaur goes from a ST 13 with a split ST Advantage to get a horse body with a ST of 26. With all the other things added on, a 3e Centaur was 55 points.
The new ST rules you buy a ST of 26 and take "Weak Arms" to get that ST 13 in the torso. When I was finished it comes to 143 points! OUCH!
Centaur, Fantasy Folk
143 Points
Attribute Modifiers: ST+16 (Size -10%) [144]; IQ-1 [-20]; HT+2 [20].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: Per+1 [5]; Basic Move+3 [15]; SM+1 (3 hexes).
Advantages: Claws (Hooves) [3]; Damage Resistance 1 (Tough Skin -40%) [2]; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 16) [20]; Extra Legs (4 Legs) [5].
Disadvantages: Low TL -1 [-5]; Overconfidence (12) [-5]; Phobia (Enclosed Spaces) (12) [-15]; Stubbornness [-5]; Weak Arms [-6].
Features: Short Fur on body; Tail.
27 June 2006
Go Read Follow The Links Read Them Too
A Terrible Resolve.
And I find that, I too, am a Jacksonian.
I would also add, should we cry havoc and set loose the dogs of war, we will save a pup or two for any who stand in our way at home.
Are you listening Mr Keller?
And I find that, I too, am a Jacksonian.
I would also add, should we cry havoc and set loose the dogs of war, we will save a pup or two for any who stand in our way at home.
Are you listening Mr Keller?
26 June 2006
Excerpt From "The Jacksonian Tradition" By Walter Russell Mead
Jacksonian America has clear ideas about how wars should be fought, how enemies should be treated, and what should happen when the wars are over. It recognizes two kinds of enemies and two kinds of fighting: honorable enemies fight a clean fight and are entitled to be opposed in the same way; dishonorable enemies fight dirty wars and in that case all rules are off.
An honorable enemy is one who declares war before beginning combat; fights according to recognized rules of war, honoring such traditions as the flag of truce; treats civilians in occupied territory with due consideration; and -- a crucial point-- refrains from the mistreatment of prisoners of war. Those who surrender should be treated with generosity. Adversaries who honor the code will benefit from its protections, while those who want a dirty fight will get one.
Read the rest here: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2751/is_1999_Winter/ai_58381618/print
"I'll tell you what war is about; You've got to kill people, and when you've killed enough they stop fighting." Curtis LeMay.
An honorable enemy is one who declares war before beginning combat; fights according to recognized rules of war, honoring such traditions as the flag of truce; treats civilians in occupied territory with due consideration; and -- a crucial point-- refrains from the mistreatment of prisoners of war. Those who surrender should be treated with generosity. Adversaries who honor the code will benefit from its protections, while those who want a dirty fight will get one.
Read the rest here: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2751/is_1999_Winter/ai_58381618/print
"I'll tell you what war is about; You've got to kill people, and when you've killed enough they stop fighting." Curtis LeMay.
25 June 2006
Music To Take The Edge Off
Thag's Anger Songs >:[
"Judgement Day", Son House.
"The Game", Disturbed.
"Die Muthafucker Die", Dope.
"Du Hast", Rammstein (auf Deutsche!)
"Give It Revolution" Suicidal Tendencies.
"How Will I Laugh Tomorrow", Suicidal Tendencies.
"Painkiller", Judas Priest.
"Sing Sing Sing", Benny Goodman and his orchestra.
"Seasons In The Abyss", Slayer.
"Just One Fix", Ministry.
"I Don't Wanna Be Me", Type O Negative.
"Head Like A Hole", Nine Inch Nails.
"Teen Angst", Cracker.
"Dr Mabuse, 13th Life Mix", Propaganda.
"Last Cup of Sorrow", Faith No More.
"Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell", ZZ Top.
"Judgement Day", Son House.
"The Game", Disturbed.
"Die Muthafucker Die", Dope.
"Du Hast", Rammstein (auf Deutsche!)
"Give It Revolution" Suicidal Tendencies.
"How Will I Laugh Tomorrow", Suicidal Tendencies.
"Painkiller", Judas Priest.
"Sing Sing Sing", Benny Goodman and his orchestra.
"Seasons In The Abyss", Slayer.
"Just One Fix", Ministry.
"I Don't Wanna Be Me", Type O Negative.
"Head Like A Hole", Nine Inch Nails.
"Teen Angst", Cracker.
"Dr Mabuse, 13th Life Mix", Propaganda.
"Last Cup of Sorrow", Faith No More.
"Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell", ZZ Top.
22 June 2006
Can We Take Off The Gloves Now
I just found out the condition the bodies of PFC Tucker and PFC Menchaca were found in.
I reiterate my position that treating partisans like troops is a mistake and summary execution after brutal interrogation is the proper and legal method.
When they want to be treated like troops again they can start acting like troops.
I also think that we start using the Curtis LeMay definition of precision bombing again. Besides, fire missions on a four digit coordinate set is much easier.
This war lasts as long as we want it to. That is a defining point of asymetrical warfare. The big guy defines the fight and stays only as long as he wants. The other side counts on the big guy getting fed up and leaving. It also counts on us never using the full power at our disposal.
The LeMay method worked in Germany. The LeMay method work in the island hopping campaign. It will work again.
All we have to do is say, "We tried to minimize civilian casualties, but the targets are simply too integrated with the civilians to discriminate clearly between them." The obvious part of that statement is we will no longer attempt to minimize damage when prosecuting targets. Noncombatants figure it out very quickly.
And I don't give a shit about "them". I care about "us". And if killing all of "them" saves even one "us" so be it. I am brutal and unforgiving.
And I still think we have a job to finish.
For SGT Adam Plumondore.
I reiterate my position that treating partisans like troops is a mistake and summary execution after brutal interrogation is the proper and legal method.
When they want to be treated like troops again they can start acting like troops.
I also think that we start using the Curtis LeMay definition of precision bombing again. Besides, fire missions on a four digit coordinate set is much easier.
This war lasts as long as we want it to. That is a defining point of asymetrical warfare. The big guy defines the fight and stays only as long as he wants. The other side counts on the big guy getting fed up and leaving. It also counts on us never using the full power at our disposal.
The LeMay method worked in Germany. The LeMay method work in the island hopping campaign. It will work again.
All we have to do is say, "We tried to minimize civilian casualties, but the targets are simply too integrated with the civilians to discriminate clearly between them." The obvious part of that statement is we will no longer attempt to minimize damage when prosecuting targets. Noncombatants figure it out very quickly.
And I don't give a shit about "them". I care about "us". And if killing all of "them" saves even one "us" so be it. I am brutal and unforgiving.
And I still think we have a job to finish.
For SGT Adam Plumondore.
16 June 2006
And Just In Case You Forgot (And Lots Of You Seem To Have)
Nazi is a derogatory shortening of Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or National Socialist German Worker's Party.
Note the SOCIALIST part of that before you go bragging about your political beliefs.
Communism is also a form of Socialism.
Socialism as a whole has had governments MURDER HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE try to remember that when you tell me about how great the program you are selling is.
And if you had asked where a mass muder of Jews was most likely to occur, the poll would have answered, "The most anti-semetic nation on the earth, the USA," not Germany, so don't tell me "It can't happen here."
Note the SOCIALIST part of that before you go bragging about your political beliefs.
Communism is also a form of Socialism.
Socialism as a whole has had governments MURDER HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE try to remember that when you tell me about how great the program you are selling is.
And if you had asked where a mass muder of Jews was most likely to occur, the poll would have answered, "The most anti-semetic nation on the earth, the USA," not Germany, so don't tell me "It can't happen here."
Enviro Law Rant
Why do I think that global warming is either not real, or not caused by Man?
Al Gore believes that both are true. http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/harris061206.htm
Actually I lean toward the not caused by Man, especially since Mars, Jupiter and Saturn all show signs of warming. Our sun is a variable star, and it is making more output than ever recorded lately.
I am not saying we should return to the days of 8 mpg land yachts, that gives too much power to OPEC. And the pollution caused by that is real.
I am saying that last time(s) we tried to legislate the fixes without understanding the causes we spent a lot of money for no measurable effect.
The AIR pump, mandated on all cars sold in the USA after 1976, injects air into the exhaust stream to make the catalytic converter work better; better catalytic converter design and fuel injected engines made this a teat on a boar.
Catalytic converters themselves! Platinum is used for making jewelry, plating to stop corrosion and as a catalyst in the production of acids. Oh, and in catalytic converters. What they really do is cause a reaction in the exhaust gasses that changes those gasses into something that the EPA doesn't care about. And many of those compounds react with air, water and sunlight to make acids. Acid rain anyone?
R-134; actually developed as a prototype technology demonstration to prove that you could make a refrigerant without CFC. It was not intended to be a direct replacement of R-12 (real freon). Once a non-CFC gas was available at all, the government moved up the no-CFC mandate day by fifteen years and required that R-134 be used instead of R-12 in new cars from that day on. R-134 is not compatible with the older R-12, and it doesn't work as well. DuPont maintains that a non-CFC, direct R-12 replacement gas is possible and could be made cheaply, but the law mandates that only R-12 or R-134 be used in older units and only R-134 in newer units. And if a better refrigerant is developed? Why would it be, the company making it is legislated out of marketing it, so why bother developing it?
And the hole in the ozone layer in Antarctica closed on its own too soon to have been helped by reduced CFC emissions from the US and Europe. And total CFC emissions have not dropped yet because places like Mexico, Pakistan, India and China are still making as much or more as we used. And people wonder why the economy took a hit... Gee, Einstein, we just made it illegal to do some things here until we come up with an enviro-happy way to do it. Things that we still need done. We can still get them done in China. Once we export the expertise to do the job and the people who used to do it here find new jobs while we develop the enviro-happy process, we wont have people locally who can do the job once the new process is ready! DUH!
But, by and large, Congress is populated by lawyers. Congress is not populated by engineers, scientists or economists. And some wonder why they get it wrong so consistently.
Al Gore believes that both are true. http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/harris061206.htm
Actually I lean toward the not caused by Man, especially since Mars, Jupiter and Saturn all show signs of warming. Our sun is a variable star, and it is making more output than ever recorded lately.
I am not saying we should return to the days of 8 mpg land yachts, that gives too much power to OPEC. And the pollution caused by that is real.
I am saying that last time(s) we tried to legislate the fixes without understanding the causes we spent a lot of money for no measurable effect.
The AIR pump, mandated on all cars sold in the USA after 1976, injects air into the exhaust stream to make the catalytic converter work better; better catalytic converter design and fuel injected engines made this a teat on a boar.
Catalytic converters themselves! Platinum is used for making jewelry, plating to stop corrosion and as a catalyst in the production of acids. Oh, and in catalytic converters. What they really do is cause a reaction in the exhaust gasses that changes those gasses into something that the EPA doesn't care about. And many of those compounds react with air, water and sunlight to make acids. Acid rain anyone?
R-134; actually developed as a prototype technology demonstration to prove that you could make a refrigerant without CFC. It was not intended to be a direct replacement of R-12 (real freon). Once a non-CFC gas was available at all, the government moved up the no-CFC mandate day by fifteen years and required that R-134 be used instead of R-12 in new cars from that day on. R-134 is not compatible with the older R-12, and it doesn't work as well. DuPont maintains that a non-CFC, direct R-12 replacement gas is possible and could be made cheaply, but the law mandates that only R-12 or R-134 be used in older units and only R-134 in newer units. And if a better refrigerant is developed? Why would it be, the company making it is legislated out of marketing it, so why bother developing it?
And the hole in the ozone layer in Antarctica closed on its own too soon to have been helped by reduced CFC emissions from the US and Europe. And total CFC emissions have not dropped yet because places like Mexico, Pakistan, India and China are still making as much or more as we used. And people wonder why the economy took a hit... Gee, Einstein, we just made it illegal to do some things here until we come up with an enviro-happy way to do it. Things that we still need done. We can still get them done in China. Once we export the expertise to do the job and the people who used to do it here find new jobs while we develop the enviro-happy process, we wont have people locally who can do the job once the new process is ready! DUH!
But, by and large, Congress is populated by lawyers. Congress is not populated by engineers, scientists or economists. And some wonder why they get it wrong so consistently.
14 June 2006
One More Damn Thing
Lost the primary cooling fan on the Biscayne.
That would explain why it was running a little hot. It's not running at all when I am stopped or going slow and is an obstruction when at speed.
Remember fans that worked as long as the engine ran? Me too.
That would explain why it was running a little hot. It's not running at all when I am stopped or going slow and is an obstruction when at speed.
Remember fans that worked as long as the engine ran? Me too.
08 June 2006
Good And Bad
Good! Got the mortgage reinstatement check to our lawyer and he got it to their lawyer. He says that it should be automatic as what they sent us constitutes an offer, that we accepted and paid.
Bad! Mom is selling her house in Las Cruces and moving to an ACLF in Denver. This gets her in the same city as my sister, who earns the "good kid" title for all time for being the "go to" girl on helping Mom out. All Mom had talked about for a long time before retiring was a little house in the desert and a cactus garden.
Bad! Every conversation with Mom has been about her estate. First it was what did we plan on doing with it, then it was did I think my marriage was solid enough that it wouldn't just be taken in a divorce. She's all over the map and it's kinda scary.
And my sister really deserves the lion's share of the inheritance. She's really always been the attentive child with the relationship with Mom. If Mom splits it 50-50, it really is screwing Sis.
Another bad thing is she is treating me like I was 16 again, where you could tell I was lieing because my lips were moving. You might turn over a new leaf and go straight, but you are never forgiven by your parents. Yes, Mom, I used to lie a lot. No, Mom, I don't any more. I discovered that it wasn't worth it, but when you treat me like I never changed, it makes me wonder why I bothered changing.
Bad! Mom is selling her house in Las Cruces and moving to an ACLF in Denver. This gets her in the same city as my sister, who earns the "good kid" title for all time for being the "go to" girl on helping Mom out. All Mom had talked about for a long time before retiring was a little house in the desert and a cactus garden.
Bad! Every conversation with Mom has been about her estate. First it was what did we plan on doing with it, then it was did I think my marriage was solid enough that it wouldn't just be taken in a divorce. She's all over the map and it's kinda scary.
And my sister really deserves the lion's share of the inheritance. She's really always been the attentive child with the relationship with Mom. If Mom splits it 50-50, it really is screwing Sis.
Another bad thing is she is treating me like I was 16 again, where you could tell I was lieing because my lips were moving. You might turn over a new leaf and go straight, but you are never forgiven by your parents. Yes, Mom, I used to lie a lot. No, Mom, I don't any more. I discovered that it wasn't worth it, but when you treat me like I never changed, it makes me wonder why I bothered changing.
Wrenching For Fun And Profit
The Lovely Harvey's car threw codes last week and started running rough. Corvette John's scan tool told us it was "Random Misfiring". Gee, how uninformative.
We figured the first place to look was the spark plugs and wires.
Wow, what a mess. Today was the very first spark plug change EVER done to the car. It has 123,251 miles on it. Holy stinking spit!
Three of the plug boots popped off the wires when I twisted them off the plug. All of the plugs had badly eroded electrodes and bridges.
The short test drive went well. Hopefully it will run like new tomorrow when Harvey takes it to work.
We figured the first place to look was the spark plugs and wires.
Wow, what a mess. Today was the very first spark plug change EVER done to the car. It has 123,251 miles on it. Holy stinking spit!
Three of the plug boots popped off the wires when I twisted them off the plug. All of the plugs had badly eroded electrodes and bridges.
The short test drive went well. Hopefully it will run like new tomorrow when Harvey takes it to work.
Update: Once more into the breach!
Plugs and wires weren't it. It is better, but still sputters above 45.
Got a coil. Hope that is it because it's cheap and easy.
If that doesn't cure it, we need an optispark. Which is not cheap or easy.
Plugs and wires weren't it. It is better, but still sputters above 45.
Got a coil. Hope that is it because it's cheap and easy.
If that doesn't cure it, we need an optispark. Which is not cheap or easy.
02 June 2006
The Dragon Is Slain
At least the laptop works...
I am in the process of reformatting the new hard drive because, while it worked by itself, it would not boot when the old IDE drives were connected.
I am thinking that it is a configuration binding issue and that reinstalling XP will fix things if I format and install with the old drives present.
If this doesn't fix things, I will be forced to take the old drives to someone with a DVD burner and copy my data over the old fashioned way.
Update:
I am in the process of reformatting the new hard drive because, while it worked by itself, it would not boot when the old IDE drives were connected.
I am thinking that it is a configuration binding issue and that reinstalling XP will fix things if I format and install with the old drives present.
If this doesn't fix things, I will be forced to take the old drives to someone with a DVD burner and copy my data over the old fashioned way.
Update:
For the record, XP Home sucks.
When you install the OS, every drive you intend to run had better be hooked up or it brain farts. At least if there are boot sectors on any of those drives. It can account for them if they are present when you partition and install, but not later.
It was trying to assign drive letter G: to my boot hard drive. XP can't do that.
I also messed up repartitioning and reinstalling the OS. I grabbed the XP Pro disks for the laptop. I got all the way to "Enter the CD Key" before I caught my error.
I am a bit surprised by what I am NOT installing. Most of Office is not installed now. Open Office 2.0 is my preferred suite. Only Outlook 2000 is on now.
iTunes had a hiccough when I moved the music files from the old C drive to the current C.
IL-2 4.05m moved painlessly from the old drive to the new without needing a reinstall.
When you install the OS, every drive you intend to run had better be hooked up or it brain farts. At least if there are boot sectors on any of those drives. It can account for them if they are present when you partition and install, but not later.
It was trying to assign drive letter G: to my boot hard drive. XP can't do that.
I also messed up repartitioning and reinstalling the OS. I grabbed the XP Pro disks for the laptop. I got all the way to "Enter the CD Key" before I caught my error.
I am a bit surprised by what I am NOT installing. Most of Office is not installed now. Open Office 2.0 is my preferred suite. Only Outlook 2000 is on now.
iTunes had a hiccough when I moved the music files from the old C drive to the current C.
IL-2 4.05m moved painlessly from the old drive to the new without needing a reinstall.
01 June 2006
Grappling With The Beast
The long awaited upgrade has begun!
The 250gig SATA drive is formatting with Windows XP SP2 (upgrade) now. And some called me mad for saving the old 98 CD. MAD! Well, who's laughing maniacally now? BWAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Corvette John stopped over during the mechanical process of swapping hardware and getting the BIOS set up. He held the calming 3 Cell Mag Lite, just to calm me down if I messed something up... Luckily, no clue had to be forcibily applied.
The 250gig SATA drive is formatting with Windows XP SP2 (upgrade) now. And some called me mad for saving the old 98 CD. MAD! Well, who's laughing maniacally now? BWAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Corvette John stopped over during the mechanical process of swapping hardware and getting the BIOS set up. He held the calming 3 Cell Mag Lite, just to calm me down if I messed something up... Luckily, no clue had to be forcibily applied.
31 May 2006
Times To Test Mens Souls
Hired a lawyer to hold my hand filing the paper we need to file to get the mortgage reinstated.
It's pretty simple, but I didn't know what was called what. Dan filed a notice of appearance so that GMAC's lawyers can't say we defaulted.
He managed to get the Offices of Daniel Stern to actually speak to him. That might have been worth the retainer all by itself!
This is causing all sorts of tension at home, but we should be good real soon.
It's pretty simple, but I didn't know what was called what. Dan filed a notice of appearance so that GMAC's lawyers can't say we defaulted.
He managed to get the Offices of Daniel Stern to actually speak to him. That might have been worth the retainer all by itself!
This is causing all sorts of tension at home, but we should be good real soon.
30 May 2006
Fucking M$
I am trying so damn hard to go legit. Why can't they just make it easy?
This damned Windows Genuine Advantage BS really pisses me off. Yes, I know that the copy of XP Pro "corporate" I am using has been compromised. Yes, I know that the license that I recieved has expired. You honestly don't need to tell me every ten seconds by opening a bubble pop-up.
I'll toss a clue out there for you M$, there are two reasons people pirate software: 1) Because it's WAY overpriced. 2) Just to see if they can get around whatever anti-piracy crap there is. Just ask Ubisoft, they got hit with both 1 and 2.
M$ is definitely guilty of overpricing. Just look at the price difference between Home and Pro. Then try and find out what makes Pro so much more expensive... My brand new legit copy of XP Home was bought after much soul searching and I really couldn't find a good reason to drop the extra $100 .
And because they are the big boy, they walk around with a target tattooed to their chest. I can't help but point out that Win98 was exceedingly easy to install on multiple machines, and M$ did not go out of business. And M$ became a GIGANTIC corporation with the childishly easy to copy DOS and Windows 3.11.
It's an old story, they are counting every single instance of piracy as a lost sale. Not the correct paradigm. There are a good many people that if you magically made it impossible to steal an M$ OS would not buy it.
My suggestion to M$ is to lower the price, that encourages people to just buy the damn thing. I'll even bet that if it was $40 for Home and $60 for Pro, they would see a large enough increase in sales volume to make up for the reduced price. The second suggestion I have is to make no attempt to prevent piracy. And the reason I suggest this method is: PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR LINUX!!!! Linux is out there FOR FREE but people will still call up NewEgg, or Staples or Best Buy and drop their hard earned on it.
I will admit my original reason for buying a legit copy was because the version I am running currently was not going to survive major hardware changes (new motherboard), but why couldn't this shit waitTHREE MORE FUCKING DAYS FOR THE GODDAMN HARD DRIVE TO GET HERE????
So now I must do the "build a completely new machine" thing with a blank drive and new motherboard. Joy of joys.
Please excuse my use of the Franch Language.
Oh, and Windows Genuine Advantage?
The only advantage I can see to having a legitimate copy is getting the stupid bubble to stop popping up.
I bought my legit copy of XP before this cutesy little trick.
My next upgrade will be enough machine to run my games with an emulator on Linux.
Congratulations M$! You really created a future customer with this.
This damned Windows Genuine Advantage BS really pisses me off. Yes, I know that the copy of XP Pro "corporate" I am using has been compromised. Yes, I know that the license that I recieved has expired. You honestly don't need to tell me every ten seconds by opening a bubble pop-up.
I'll toss a clue out there for you M$, there are two reasons people pirate software: 1) Because it's WAY overpriced. 2) Just to see if they can get around whatever anti-piracy crap there is. Just ask Ubisoft, they got hit with both 1 and 2.
M$ is definitely guilty of overpricing. Just look at the price difference between Home and Pro. Then try and find out what makes Pro so much more expensive... My brand new legit copy of XP Home was bought after much soul searching and I really couldn't find a good reason to drop the extra $100 .
And because they are the big boy, they walk around with a target tattooed to their chest. I can't help but point out that Win98 was exceedingly easy to install on multiple machines, and M$ did not go out of business. And M$ became a GIGANTIC corporation with the childishly easy to copy DOS and Windows 3.11.
It's an old story, they are counting every single instance of piracy as a lost sale. Not the correct paradigm. There are a good many people that if you magically made it impossible to steal an M$ OS would not buy it.
My suggestion to M$ is to lower the price, that encourages people to just buy the damn thing. I'll even bet that if it was $40 for Home and $60 for Pro, they would see a large enough increase in sales volume to make up for the reduced price. The second suggestion I have is to make no attempt to prevent piracy. And the reason I suggest this method is: PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR LINUX!!!! Linux is out there FOR FREE but people will still call up NewEgg, or Staples or Best Buy and drop their hard earned on it.
I will admit my original reason for buying a legit copy was because the version I am running currently was not going to survive major hardware changes (new motherboard), but why couldn't this shit waitTHREE MORE FUCKING DAYS FOR THE GODDAMN HARD DRIVE TO GET HERE????
So now I must do the "build a completely new machine" thing with a blank drive and new motherboard. Joy of joys.
Please excuse my use of the Franch Language.
Oh, and Windows Genuine Advantage?
The only advantage I can see to having a legitimate copy is getting the stupid bubble to stop popping up.
I bought my legit copy of XP before this cutesy little trick.
My next upgrade will be enough machine to run my games with an emulator on Linux.
Congratulations M$! You really created a future customer with this.
29 May 2006
On The Cross
I have clashed with some over Freedom of Religion is not freedom from religion topic before.
Most of the time I have to conceed the other side's point. Putting the Ten Commandments outside a court house is the State chosing a religion.
State funding of a memorial to fallen soldiers that happens to be in the shape of a huge cross, isn't. Motive is everything in a criminal case, why not here?
The big ass cross is in San Diego.
The Fort Rosecrans National Cemetary is as big as Arlington.
I am fed up with this irrational need to irradicate any symbol that resembles a religious one.
Us veterans put that cross there to honor the fallen. Making the federal government pay for the upkeep of a memorial to the dead of its wars is the proper thing to do. The current fiasco stems from a rule that federal funds cannot be used to maintain property that the federal government doesn't own. They didn't always own it. Nor did they always own Arlington.
It is not symbolic of Christian Glory. It is a memorial to the troops who are no longer with us. If this were just a Christian thing, there would not be Jewish, Muslim or Buddist graves there. Just like Arlington, the individual grave is consecrated by the appropriate holy figure. But most of them are Christian graves.
Fucking Moonbats, learn what a thing is for before going off. I am willing to bet that not a single one of these morons bothered to find out WHY that cross is up there. All they know is Federal Land and Religious Symbol.
I wonder if the problem is really that there is a religious symbol on the hill, or if that cross simply reminds these spinless oxygen thieves that there are better people than them who gave everything for some really nebulous ideals.
I know the above is a rambling mess, but I get angry and emotional around this topic on Memorial Day.
Most of the time I have to conceed the other side's point. Putting the Ten Commandments outside a court house is the State chosing a religion.
State funding of a memorial to fallen soldiers that happens to be in the shape of a huge cross, isn't. Motive is everything in a criminal case, why not here?
The big ass cross is in San Diego.
The Fort Rosecrans National Cemetary is as big as Arlington.
I am fed up with this irrational need to irradicate any symbol that resembles a religious one.
Us veterans put that cross there to honor the fallen. Making the federal government pay for the upkeep of a memorial to the dead of its wars is the proper thing to do. The current fiasco stems from a rule that federal funds cannot be used to maintain property that the federal government doesn't own. They didn't always own it. Nor did they always own Arlington.
It is not symbolic of Christian Glory. It is a memorial to the troops who are no longer with us. If this were just a Christian thing, there would not be Jewish, Muslim or Buddist graves there. Just like Arlington, the individual grave is consecrated by the appropriate holy figure. But most of them are Christian graves.
Fucking Moonbats, learn what a thing is for before going off. I am willing to bet that not a single one of these morons bothered to find out WHY that cross is up there. All they know is Federal Land and Religious Symbol.
I wonder if the problem is really that there is a religious symbol on the hill, or if that cross simply reminds these spinless oxygen thieves that there are better people than them who gave everything for some really nebulous ideals.
I know the above is a rambling mess, but I get angry and emotional around this topic on Memorial Day.
28 May 2006
Memorial Day
It's not about Grandma.
It's about me mates who didn't make it.
And here is my annual posting of this poem. In New Zealand they only quote the "They shall not grow old" stanza, raise a glass, drink, and say, "Lest we forget!"
For The FallenWith proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Laurance Binyon
26 May 2006
Think On This
I think, legally and morally, that if someone is threatening your life, you are correct in killing them first. By the way, in most US states, the law agrees with me and juries some states where it is illegal too.
Compare this to Islam vs the US. A very vocal group of Moslems not only says they want us dead, but say that they intend to make us dead. So, there is nothing wrong with killing them!
"But what about the majority of Moslems who don't wish us any ill at all Mr McThag?" I recommend that they start putting some distance, physically and mentally, between you and the people who say that they want all us Americans dead. Time for them to stand up and be counted as our friends, or at least insist that the terrorists do not represent them.
The situation we have now is akin to some belligerent fool waving a knife in my face with all of his buddies standing behind him at a distance whispering, "Stab him!" I hesitate to shoot him because I worry that the crowd will rush me, but I think I might have to kill knife boy or he will kill me. It certainly appears that I am going to have to kill the entire crowd to be safe, even if the guy with the cutlery is slowly cooling at my feet. What would help the situation immeasurably would be for the crowd to start saying, "Go ahead and shoot him, he can't threaten any of us when he's dead."
Compare this to Islam vs the US. A very vocal group of Moslems not only says they want us dead, but say that they intend to make us dead. So, there is nothing wrong with killing them!
"But what about the majority of Moslems who don't wish us any ill at all Mr McThag?" I recommend that they start putting some distance, physically and mentally, between you and the people who say that they want all us Americans dead. Time for them to stand up and be counted as our friends, or at least insist that the terrorists do not represent them.
The situation we have now is akin to some belligerent fool waving a knife in my face with all of his buddies standing behind him at a distance whispering, "Stab him!" I hesitate to shoot him because I worry that the crowd will rush me, but I think I might have to kill knife boy or he will kill me. It certainly appears that I am going to have to kill the entire crowd to be safe, even if the guy with the cutlery is slowly cooling at my feet. What would help the situation immeasurably would be for the crowd to start saying, "Go ahead and shoot him, he can't threaten any of us when he's dead."
Teflon™ Concepts
There are a lot of things that my mind cannot accept. My thoughts slide off these concepts like they were made of teflon.
One example is being dead if there is no afterlife. The idea of just ceasing causes my mind to recoil away from it. To not even be aware that there is no longer a you. It staggers me.
One example is being dead if there is no afterlife. The idea of just ceasing causes my mind to recoil away from it. To not even be aware that there is no longer a you. It staggers me.
25 May 2006
A Hmmmmmm...
I was reading where Kim Du Toit feels that changing moral values leads to no morals and the end of society. He makes a good case, but...
There's always a but.
His case hinges on the disposal of one value leading to the disposal of the next and so on. He cites Ptolemy Egypt and Imperial Rome and compares them to modern gay marriage and co-habitation.
Like I said before, he makes a good case. But I differ with him. The values he is mourning in todays society are all derived from the WASP ideal. I have offered my admiration for that ideal before myself, but unlike he, I don't feel that the things he is talking about lead to the downfall of America.
My moral philosophy is "Do as you will, harm none." Most of the WASP framework fits into that ideal, so I tend not to conflict with it much. But I feel that we can have a whole lot of sex with a whole lot of different people and not hurt anyone. Letting two men have sex doesn't advocate theft, murder, arson, rape or child molestation.
I have substituted a different set of morals that retains a large chunk of the WASP one. I believe Kim's mistake is in assuming that morals are an all or nothing proposition. And to an extent, he is right. If I am a Christian, then the entire package is a take it or leave it deal. You can't covet your neighbor's wife and steal and still be a Christian. But you can believe in the sanctity of marriage and think stealing is wrong without being Christian.
The danger, of course, of substituting one set of moral values for another in a society is accidently omitting the one thing that was keeping things tied together.
I fear that Congress is doing far more to unglue American society than the changing moral values brought by accepting that homosexuals can have meaningful relationships as strong as marriages.
There's always a but.
His case hinges on the disposal of one value leading to the disposal of the next and so on. He cites Ptolemy Egypt and Imperial Rome and compares them to modern gay marriage and co-habitation.
Like I said before, he makes a good case. But I differ with him. The values he is mourning in todays society are all derived from the WASP ideal. I have offered my admiration for that ideal before myself, but unlike he, I don't feel that the things he is talking about lead to the downfall of America.
My moral philosophy is "Do as you will, harm none." Most of the WASP framework fits into that ideal, so I tend not to conflict with it much. But I feel that we can have a whole lot of sex with a whole lot of different people and not hurt anyone. Letting two men have sex doesn't advocate theft, murder, arson, rape or child molestation.
I have substituted a different set of morals that retains a large chunk of the WASP one. I believe Kim's mistake is in assuming that morals are an all or nothing proposition. And to an extent, he is right. If I am a Christian, then the entire package is a take it or leave it deal. You can't covet your neighbor's wife and steal and still be a Christian. But you can believe in the sanctity of marriage and think stealing is wrong without being Christian.
The danger, of course, of substituting one set of moral values for another in a society is accidently omitting the one thing that was keeping things tied together.
I fear that Congress is doing far more to unglue American society than the changing moral values brought by accepting that homosexuals can have meaningful relationships as strong as marriages.
22 May 2006
What Bloomberg Is Missing
The Laws and ordinances of the State, County, City and associated Burroughs of New York, and New York City do not in any way apply to South Carolina.
Federal laws apply to both.
South Carolina's laws, likewise do not apply to New York.
Which brings us to this. If I sell a gun in complete compliance with SC laws IN SOUTH CAROLINA it is completely legal, even if that customer would be barred from owning a gun in NYC.
Another example of jurisdictional limitations. To purchase a handgun in Iowa, one is required to obtain an pistol purchase permit from the local sheriff. That permit is not required to purchase a handgun in Florida (ask me how I know). What this means is; although I do not have an Iowa pistol purchase permit, it is perfectly legal for me to buy a handgun in Florida, because I live in Florida! My Florida residency makes it illegal to buy a handgun in Iowa regardless of permit because of FEDERAL restrictions.
Federal laws apply to both.
South Carolina's laws, likewise do not apply to New York.
Which brings us to this. If I sell a gun in complete compliance with SC laws IN SOUTH CAROLINA it is completely legal, even if that customer would be barred from owning a gun in NYC.
Another example of jurisdictional limitations. To purchase a handgun in Iowa, one is required to obtain an pistol purchase permit from the local sheriff. That permit is not required to purchase a handgun in Florida (ask me how I know). What this means is; although I do not have an Iowa pistol purchase permit, it is perfectly legal for me to buy a handgun in Florida, because I live in Florida! My Florida residency makes it illegal to buy a handgun in Iowa regardless of permit because of FEDERAL restrictions.
20 May 2006
Mortgage Reinstatement
Here it is for all to see.
The Law Offices of David J Stern, PA sent us the following:
$5,210.53 in secured funds not later than June 8, 2006. So we need real money before then, so checks to assist need to clear before like June 1.
The break down is:
To the Bank:
$2,600.56 For the mortgage payments.
$91.72 Late charges
$45.00 Property Inspections
$110.00 BPO
To the Lawyer:
$325.00 Title Search/Exam
$75.00 Title Update (Estimate)
$255.00 Clerk Filing Fee
$500.00 Service of Process (Estimate)
$1,200.00 Attorney Fees
$8.25 Service/Mail Req'd by Law
The Law Offices of David J Stern, PA sent us the following:
$5,210.53 in secured funds not later than June 8, 2006. So we need real money before then, so checks to assist need to clear before like June 1.
The break down is:
To the Bank:
$2,600.56 For the mortgage payments.
$91.72 Late charges
$45.00 Property Inspections
$110.00 BPO
To the Lawyer:
$325.00 Title Search/Exam
$75.00 Title Update (Estimate)
$255.00 Clerk Filing Fee
$500.00 Service of Process (Estimate)
$1,200.00 Attorney Fees
$8.25 Service/Mail Req'd by Law
Update:
FuzzyGeff has come through!
He's sent us what we were short (assuming the mail doesn't lose it) and we will be able to get reinstated.
We will, of course accept any additional monies anyone should wish to send us.
FuzzyGeff has come through!
He's sent us what we were short (assuming the mail doesn't lose it) and we will be able to get reinstated.
We will, of course accept any additional monies anyone should wish to send us.
17 May 2006
Stupid Book-Keeping Error
Our mortgage is in foreclosure.
We made a mistake. Compounded it and made more. Our fault.
Going to try and get it reinstated, but I fear that we will not be given enough time to accumulate the requisite funds.
Harvey gets two education reimbursment checks and her annual bonus between now and the end of July. If anyone can loan us the money, lemme know. Loan will be repaid as the aforementioned checks arrive.
Thanks
Thag, hat in hand.
We made a mistake. Compounded it and made more. Our fault.
Going to try and get it reinstated, but I fear that we will not be given enough time to accumulate the requisite funds.
Harvey gets two education reimbursment checks and her annual bonus between now and the end of July. If anyone can loan us the money, lemme know. Loan will be repaid as the aforementioned checks arrive.
Thanks
Thag, hat in hand.
16 May 2006
I Feel So DIRTY
I have actually PAID for a Microsoft operating system. The shame.
Damn MS for finally implementing an effective method of forcing users to actually buy a legitimate copy for each machine.
This is not the first copy I have owned legitimately, just the first one I've had to buy. I have two copies of Win98 and a copy of 98SE Upgrade that were given to me. The two laptops and The Boy's desktop all came with a form of XP. Pro on the laptops and Home on the Compaq.
As soon as the VA check gets here, I will be getting a new 250gig SATA hard drive, installing my motherboard, and installing Windows XP Home. I would have preferred Pro, but it's $129 for OEM at NewEgg. The XP Home Upgrade Retail was normally $100, but Best Buy had it on sale for $50. Retail is better than OEM if you want to make radical changes to your hardware without buying the OS again. The pirated copy of XP I am running is Pro, and I am not using the features that differentiates Pro from Home, so why spend the extra funds?
My upgrade is moving right along. My old motherboard's AGP slot is 2x/4x. My favorite flight sim has developed a stutter. So, I figured it was time to upgrade to a motherboard with a 4x/8x AGP slot. So, I bought the board. Little did I know that changing things like the motherboard, cpu or the boot hard drive caused XP to bail. Since MS has instituted some changes to make pirated copies hard to install fresh, I figured I should get legal.
Upgrade stage one:
1. Replaced PNY GeForce FX 5200 (128mb) video card with PNY GeForce 6200 (128mb). Dead fan on the 5200. Might be fixable, but I can't find a fan that will work for less than the price of the new card.
2. Replaced the 350w power supply with a 450w with dual fans. Improved air flow got a 5^C drop in CPU temp!
3. Added two 80mm case fans, one in front, one in back. Got another 7^C drop in CPU temp.
4. Delete 512 PC2100 RAM stick and replace with 1024 PC3200, joining the other PC3200 512 (I had upgrade in sight even a year ago).
5. Disable onboard Realtek AC97 and install Sound Blaster Audigy SE.
6. New Motherboard, going from a 266MHz FSB to 400, going from 4x AGP to 8x, change from 4 IDE to 2 SATA (with RAID onboard) and 4 IDE get two more USB 2.0 slots, change from PCI to Onboard LAN (may stay with the PCI for speed reasons), change from PC2100 to PC3200 RAM.
7. Add a SATA 250gig hard drive.
8. Add a dual layer DVD burner.
9. Add a second SATA 250gig hard drive and activate the RAID 1. Constant back-up!
10. Delete 80gig IDE hard drive and put it in the iMac.
Upgrade stage two:
1. New motherboard (again). Change from Socket A (462) to Socket 939. Change from 2x184 pin PC3200 slots (2gig max) to 4x184 pin PC3200 slots (4gig max).
2. New CPU. Right now that is an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice (2.0 GHz) to supplant my AMD Athlon XP 2200+ (1.8 GHz). While 1.8 to 2.0 doesn't seem like a huge increase, the changes in bus speed and going from 32 to 64 bit cores are supposed to make it seem more like 4.0GHz by comparison.
3. (Optional) since this upgrade is longer term than Stage One, it might be a good idea to change to a PCIe 16x video card. There isn't a huge price difference between AGP 8x and PCIe 16x motherboards and PCIe 16x cards are about $150. But I just bought a video card, dammit!
4. 19" LCD monitor. BOO YAH!
One of the nice things about how I am doing this is I will have lots of left over parts. I am thinking that what I should do is get a case and make Bev a new machine. The Boy can have a better video card and maybe a better monitor. Or slap The Boy's processor (AMD Athlon XP 2400+) into the Stage 1 board and change to a desktop case and he gets a general upgrade. That might require another OS purchase though.
I do so love polishing cannon balls.
Damn MS for finally implementing an effective method of forcing users to actually buy a legitimate copy for each machine.
This is not the first copy I have owned legitimately, just the first one I've had to buy. I have two copies of Win98 and a copy of 98SE Upgrade that were given to me. The two laptops and The Boy's desktop all came with a form of XP. Pro on the laptops and Home on the Compaq.
As soon as the VA check gets here, I will be getting a new 250gig SATA hard drive, installing my motherboard, and installing Windows XP Home. I would have preferred Pro, but it's $129 for OEM at NewEgg. The XP Home Upgrade Retail was normally $100, but Best Buy had it on sale for $50. Retail is better than OEM if you want to make radical changes to your hardware without buying the OS again. The pirated copy of XP I am running is Pro, and I am not using the features that differentiates Pro from Home, so why spend the extra funds?
My upgrade is moving right along. My old motherboard's AGP slot is 2x/4x. My favorite flight sim has developed a stutter. So, I figured it was time to upgrade to a motherboard with a 4x/8x AGP slot. So, I bought the board. Little did I know that changing things like the motherboard, cpu or the boot hard drive caused XP to bail. Since MS has instituted some changes to make pirated copies hard to install fresh, I figured I should get legal.
Upgrade stage one:
1. Replaced PNY GeForce FX 5200 (128mb) video card with PNY GeForce 6200 (128mb). Dead fan on the 5200. Might be fixable, but I can't find a fan that will work for less than the price of the new card.
2. Replaced the 350w power supply with a 450w with dual fans. Improved air flow got a 5^C drop in CPU temp!
3. Added two 80mm case fans, one in front, one in back. Got another 7^C drop in CPU temp.
4. Delete 512 PC2100 RAM stick and replace with 1024 PC3200, joining the other PC3200 512 (I had upgrade in sight even a year ago).
5. Disable onboard Realtek AC97 and install Sound Blaster Audigy SE.
6. New Motherboard, going from a 266MHz FSB to 400, going from 4x AGP to 8x, change from 4 IDE to 2 SATA (with RAID onboard) and 4 IDE get two more USB 2.0 slots, change from PCI to Onboard LAN (may stay with the PCI for speed reasons), change from PC2100 to PC3200 RAM.
7. Add a SATA 250gig hard drive.
8. Add a dual layer DVD burner.
9. Add a second SATA 250gig hard drive and activate the RAID 1. Constant back-up!
10. Delete 80gig IDE hard drive and put it in the iMac.
Upgrade stage two:
1. New motherboard (again). Change from Socket A (462) to Socket 939. Change from 2x184 pin PC3200 slots (2gig max) to 4x184 pin PC3200 slots (4gig max).
2. New CPU. Right now that is an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice (2.0 GHz) to supplant my AMD Athlon XP 2200+ (1.8 GHz). While 1.8 to 2.0 doesn't seem like a huge increase, the changes in bus speed and going from 32 to 64 bit cores are supposed to make it seem more like 4.0GHz by comparison.
3. (Optional) since this upgrade is longer term than Stage One, it might be a good idea to change to a PCIe 16x video card. There isn't a huge price difference between AGP 8x and PCIe 16x motherboards and PCIe 16x cards are about $150. But I just bought a video card, dammit!
4. 19" LCD monitor. BOO YAH!
One of the nice things about how I am doing this is I will have lots of left over parts. I am thinking that what I should do is get a case and make Bev a new machine. The Boy can have a better video card and maybe a better monitor. Or slap The Boy's processor (AMD Athlon XP 2400+) into the Stage 1 board and change to a desktop case and he gets a general upgrade. That might require another OS purchase though.
I do so love polishing cannon balls.
12 May 2006
But Oh So Politely
Today's thought is Political Correctness.
A method of robbing one side of the ability to say what they mean without being rude.
A quote from a TV show (Babylon 5) sums it up, "If you cannot mean what you say, you cannot say what you mean."
I love how one side has taken control of the very language. Being Progressive sounds so good doesn't it? You're on the side of "progress"! Think that a Progressive could sell what they are shilling if they had to say Socialist or Communist everytime they currently say Progressive.
Progressive has a double meaning for taxes. When people hear "progressive" tax rates, they don't think, "rates get progressively higher as your income rises." And we were very carefully prepared to not think that way by how the rates were presented.
PC has led to some other demons. Why is it that calling someone a WOP is just a mild insult and CENSORED still unthinkable? In the early 19teens calling an Italian immigrant a WOP would get you a knife in the ribs. Why did that insult fade but CENSORED remains fighting words? Almost as if someone had an interest in keeping that term current.
And there is nothing special about any specific word. You find someone who hates blacks, and you prevent him from saying, "CENSORED" he can heap enough hate and scorn on "Sir" there is no doubt that he means "YOU FILTHY CENSORED". Aren't tones and inflection fun?
So, since there is no real escape from bigots and bigotry, why attempt to channel the discourse a certain way? What purpose does it serve to retain one word as the insult when those who would use it can be insulting without using it?
And how many correct terms have we blown through for persons of Negroid descent? Colored. Black. African-American. And how many of those have also developed into the functional equivalent of the dreaded N-word? And African-American is particularly amusing to me, an Afrikaaner who moves here would, technically, be more of an African-American than a black person born and raised in Detroit.
I know this is rambling and disjointed. I understand that blacks, unlike Italians cannot hide where their ancestors hail from. But here's an observation I have made; Most everyone I have ever heard say something disparaging about blacks is angry about affirmative action or some related program. And that seems to have more to do with anger at the government and transference than racism.
A method of robbing one side of the ability to say what they mean without being rude.
A quote from a TV show (Babylon 5) sums it up, "If you cannot mean what you say, you cannot say what you mean."
I love how one side has taken control of the very language. Being Progressive sounds so good doesn't it? You're on the side of "progress"! Think that a Progressive could sell what they are shilling if they had to say Socialist or Communist everytime they currently say Progressive.
Progressive has a double meaning for taxes. When people hear "progressive" tax rates, they don't think, "rates get progressively higher as your income rises." And we were very carefully prepared to not think that way by how the rates were presented.
PC has led to some other demons. Why is it that calling someone a WOP is just a mild insult and CENSORED still unthinkable? In the early 19teens calling an Italian immigrant a WOP would get you a knife in the ribs. Why did that insult fade but CENSORED remains fighting words? Almost as if someone had an interest in keeping that term current.
And there is nothing special about any specific word. You find someone who hates blacks, and you prevent him from saying, "CENSORED" he can heap enough hate and scorn on "Sir" there is no doubt that he means "YOU FILTHY CENSORED". Aren't tones and inflection fun?
So, since there is no real escape from bigots and bigotry, why attempt to channel the discourse a certain way? What purpose does it serve to retain one word as the insult when those who would use it can be insulting without using it?
And how many correct terms have we blown through for persons of Negroid descent? Colored. Black. African-American. And how many of those have also developed into the functional equivalent of the dreaded N-word? And African-American is particularly amusing to me, an Afrikaaner who moves here would, technically, be more of an African-American than a black person born and raised in Detroit.
I know this is rambling and disjointed. I understand that blacks, unlike Italians cannot hide where their ancestors hail from. But here's an observation I have made; Most everyone I have ever heard say something disparaging about blacks is angry about affirmative action or some related program. And that seems to have more to do with anger at the government and transference than racism.
09 May 2006
Speaking Of Military Funerals
Get a copy of "Gardens of Stone".
One of the very few movies to get some small details right about the Army.
One of my favorite parts is when one character, a medal of honor winner, hears the honor guard of his friend cracking wise. He gets right in the face of the wisecracker and yells, "Shut the fuck up!" and stands there, daring the guy to do something. Bear in mind this is in formation. The lieutenant in charge of the formation turns around to see what the heck is going on and the MoH holder looks him in the eye and says, "What are you looking at?" The LT brings his sword to present arms immeadiately, the MoH recipient returns the salute.
What did they get right? One, the LT saluted with his sword. Two, you win the MoH officers salute you and you return their salute (this is opposite of normal.
One of the very few movies to get some small details right about the Army.
One of my favorite parts is when one character, a medal of honor winner, hears the honor guard of his friend cracking wise. He gets right in the face of the wisecracker and yells, "Shut the fuck up!" and stands there, daring the guy to do something. Bear in mind this is in formation. The lieutenant in charge of the formation turns around to see what the heck is going on and the MoH holder looks him in the eye and says, "What are you looking at?" The LT brings his sword to present arms immeadiately, the MoH recipient returns the salute.
What did they get right? One, the LT saluted with his sword. Two, you win the MoH officers salute you and you return their salute (this is opposite of normal.
Barely Suppressed Rage
After watching some footage of the protesters being drowned out by the rumble of Harleys I was reminded of a thought.
Gods I want people like Phelps to just drop dead.
So, I have a proposal. Just make the invited guests of a funeral not responsible for their behavior. Temporary insanity brought on by grief? It could work.
Phelps is brave because he knows that there is nothing the mourners can really do. Until he finds a mourner who doesn't care about the consequences as long as Fred dies. Only going to take a few times before the fun wears off for the protestors. And I, for one, PRAY that I am on the jury that is charged with determining guilt of the counter-protester. "I'd love to convict him, but he violated rules #1 and #2. He was being careless, and Darwin was watching."
For the curious, those are Niven's Laws. #1 Do not piss off people with guns. #2 Do not stand near people violating rule #1.
Gods I want people like Phelps to just drop dead.
So, I have a proposal. Just make the invited guests of a funeral not responsible for their behavior. Temporary insanity brought on by grief? It could work.
Phelps is brave because he knows that there is nothing the mourners can really do. Until he finds a mourner who doesn't care about the consequences as long as Fred dies. Only going to take a few times before the fun wears off for the protestors. And I, for one, PRAY that I am on the jury that is charged with determining guilt of the counter-protester. "I'd love to convict him, but he violated rules #1 and #2. He was being careless, and Darwin was watching."
For the curious, those are Niven's Laws. #1 Do not piss off people with guns. #2 Do not stand near people violating rule #1.
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