Friday, October 31, 2003

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Ten technologies that deserve to die

I thought this was pretty interesting... some really common technologies on his list. (msnbc.com)

Thursday, October 23, 2003

A Step Backwards?

This was an interesting article about the end of supersonic flight. The author wonders if humans have peaked, if there's nothing new and exciting, no next step.

Dirtier than usual...

At 61 Wal-Marts last night, 300 people were arrested for being in the country illegally. Hey, this opens up some positions for grocery store workers.

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

Hello, World


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I guess talking about Blogs makes the ads abot Blogs. And some guy named Andrew Sullivan. Who I guess is some author. Who apparently advocates for gay rights and conservatism. Now there's an odd mix. I guess talking about Coyote Urine doesn't help get Coyote Urine ads. Which is good, because who wants Coyote Urine ads?

My friend (and this blog's supposed sole reader) Kevin made what I consider to be a rather astute observation yesterday... Working at a grocery store is supposed to be a transitional job. He's right. If you're making a career out of working at a grocery store, or worse yet, working there part time and demanding benefits, well, that's sort of pathetic. And at the very least, it's also not living up to your potential. Unless you are still in high school, then it's a perfect stepping stone and opportunity to improve your people skills. But if you've been working at a grocery store for 20 years and you're not a manager? Well, your career path is a little screwed up.

Lori Doolittle found another cat last night. Well, kitten actually. Very tiny. Almost fits entirely in the palm of my hand. It was caked in mud and after washing it, we realized also that fleas were biting it to death. No wonder it was crying so much. But it's very small. We drowned most of the fleas and flea shampoo made for kittens will take care of the rest of them tonight. Once cleaned up, it's a very neat looking tiny little cat. It's like a cat, only in miniature. She's instant messaging me right now to say she might have already found it a home.

Sprint PCS sucks

in Los Angeles

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

What the...?

Today, call me really entertained. I've been recently noticing the Google text-ads at the top of each blog on BlogSpot. Lots of ads with topics like Iraq. What's at the top of mine?

Time Warner Internet
First six months only $29.95 month Free modem & installation affiliate
and
Coyote Urine
Save on Home & Garden products! Simply Fast Savings

I know what's triggering "Time Warner".. that's easy. But what's triggering "Coyote Urine"? Sprint PCS?

We went to Gelson's last night because my wife didn't want to cross the picket line. The experience gave me such a knot in my stomach that I felt bad for the rest of the evening. I think it was partially hunger, but mostly it was the fact that we were supporting the strikers by taking our business to a non-striking store. Worse yet, it was a store I didn't like in a mall that I hate. Paseo Colorado. A stupid dumb mall that's always too crowded, only has froo-froo snooty crud stores, a lame movie theater and horrendous attrocious parking.

My wife is also slightly amused (slightly) that I've started using "Baldwin" to describe things that are bad. In our commute in both directions, Baldwin is where the traffic starts to stink. And since all of the Baldwin actors also stink, I've decided that the term "Baldwin" should apply to things that stink, in varying levels from an "Alec" (really bad), to an "Steven" to a "Daniel" to an "the other one" (the least offensive). I know his name, but it's more fun to just refer to him as "the other one." Now some would argue that the one who was in Homicide should get slightly better treatment, but, sorry, he's still a Baldwin. Hunt for Red October was ok, Main Street was pretty good but Fair Game just destroys all cred.

Friday, October 17, 2003

Sprint PCS blows

in Chicago

Unions - polite but sucky.

I told some people protesting near a grocery store today to "Get back to work." One said "Hey..." and another "Yeah, yeah." But no one cursed at me.

It's so lame that they're picketing at the entrances to entire strip malls. I mean, why should you feel persecuted going to Taco Bell? Tonight we're going to have to brave them in order to get money out of the our ATM most likely.

Sprint PCS sucks

in San Fransisco/San Jose/Oakland

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

Unions = Organized Crime

Where I work, if you don't like your job, or you don't like the benefits, you go work somewhere else.

But this divide and conquer crap that the unions are pulling (only strike at one store so that they have to cave! then we can force the others to accept the same deal!) is pure b.s.

I'm all too happy to cross the picket-line. Even if the losers park grocery carts up against my car while I'm in the store.

Uh, guys? Out here in the real world, we have to contribute to our employer paid health care. If you want to know who's ripping you off, don't look at your employer, look at your union.

Not to mention stupid union rules which makes it more cost-effective for grocery stores to overhire and keep everyone at part-time.

And I used to think that more rail lines were a great idea. But now I'm starting to favor more lanes on the freeway -- a freeway lane can't go on strike.

I honestly don't know why the MTA is not considered a public service, like the police and fire and forbidden from striking (ha! thanks LASO). The people most hurt by these strikes are those closest to the poverty line, trying to make a living and keep their family fed. The MTA currently pays $500 PER MECHANIC PER MONTH in health care costs and are ready to go up to $600, but apparently that's not enough.

And don't even get me started on the LASO "sick-out." Yeah, you press on your eyeball until it turns pink and then go see your doctor to get a doctor's note to stay home sick. Is it any wonder the health care costs are getting so great the employers cannot afford to keep paying for your health care?


UNIONS = ORGANIZED CRIME

GET BACK TO WORK!


Recreating Iraq's marshlands

In 1991 Saddam Hussein ordered all the marshes in Iraq be drained and the water diverted to deny Shiite Muslims a hiding place. Now that the war is over, the marshes are being refilled. This is a pretty neat story. (msnbc)

Friday, October 10, 2003

Common Sense has prevailed

They're not going to sue him afterall.

What the...?

They're suing the kid who showed people how to use the shift key to prevent the new CDs' copy protection from being activated.

Tuesday, October 07, 2003

Shift key breaks CD copy locks

Yep, hold down the shift-key when inserting a CD with copy-protection and AutoRun won't run and software won't be installed on your computer that prevents you from accessing the music on your CD's. (If installed, it lets you have limited access to a second set of files that contain the music but can't be copied.) (news.com)

Change...

Now that Blogger is giving us the ability to use titles, I'm going to take advantage of that. So things are going to look different for awhile until I get everything adjusted just right...
In Germany, a kindergarten for men
A bar allows you to drop off your husband while you go shopping. He gets a nametag, two beers and other things to keep him entertained. You get a receipt that you hand back in when you pick up your husband. Reminds me of how we track kids in the nursery at my church. (msnbc.com)

Beyond...
I've lately started reading other people's blogs. I figure, maybe someone reads mine. If so, they're probably pretty boring. I seem to lack the angst of so many other blogs. I think that most of the ones I stumble onto belong to girls, mostly 10 years younger than myself. I like this one. I like the design. I like the cool effects used on links. Very impressed. If I someday steal some of those tricks, like the color-swoosh when you move across a link, don't say I didn't warn you. http://www.ratbite.net/index.htm

Monday, October 06, 2003

Redneck Funnies
Hey, I didn't make 'em up, I didn't collect 'em. I just received the email with the link... (raywei.net)

Friday, October 03, 2003

Sprint PCS sucks in Memphis... (epinions.com)
Reruns...

Old classics that arrive in my inbox every year or so. I still re-read them and I still chuckle at quite a few of them...

===========================
DID YOU EVER STOP AND WONDER....

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these pink dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there... I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta it's bum."

Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the car pool lane?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't point to their bum when they ask where the bathroom is?

Why does your Obstetrician, Gynaecologist leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs! Why can Goofy talk and Pluto cannot?

What do you call male ballerinas?

Can blind people see their dreams? Do they dream?

If Wiley E. Coyote from the Road Runner had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? Stop singing and read on . . . . . . . . . .

Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?

Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's on the outside of your ass?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

===========================
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in.

I've learned that one good turn gets most of the blankets.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just jackasses.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it.

I've learned that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more screwed up than you think.

I've learned to not sweat the petty things, and not pet the sweaty things.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities.

I've learned that 99% of the time when something isn't working in your house, one of your kids did it.

I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away. And the real pains in the ass are permanent.