Someone Must Love Me
Because of the hundred-plus spam posts on the site over the last eight hours.
I've turned off HTML commenting in the meantime. Do these guys really think that I have that big of a draw to warrant spamming my site?
« September 2004 | Main | November 2004 »
October 31, 2004
October 29, 2004
Things that bother me
Media reports 300 tons of high explosives missing. 300 tons...that's 600,000 pounds of explosives. And accoridng to estimates, we've already blown up 300,000 tons of other explosives. That's 600,000,000 pounds of explosives or twenty four pounds of explosives per person Iraq.
Anyone know the going rate of explosives these days?
October 28, 2004
No Yasser...
You can't be a member of the pajamadeen.
Update on the Electric Cat
The cat that caused a power outage in my town which was later relived in Fark was caught yesterday and had to be euthanized due to extensive burns and injuries.
BTW, the guy on the right is the absolute best vetrinarian in the state of Indiana.
Priceless
If anything, this video makes me just want to vote for this man even more. ;-)
The Reports of my Evilness are Greatly Exaggerated
As most people know, I'm currently taking a Sociology class which has been quite entertaining since I'm the token conservative. My teacher who tolerates me since I "stir the pot" in class, wrote a lovely paragraph on how I'm ignoring the plight of those who can't help themselves which was an interesting read (especially on how "warped" my views are), but I can't complain since she gave me a A+ on both assignments. :-)
Anyhow, it's become the class joke that I tend to disagree with most of the people in the classroom (last week it was how we're ignoring poverty, this week it was education and socialized medicine). It hasn't bugged me, if anything it's been a comic delight to watch people get completely worked up over how I'm so damn "uncaring". The funniest part was watching people accuse me of the following:
#1. Not knowing what it is like to grow up in a single parent household.
#2. Not knowing what it is like to live on food stamps or on food from a community food bank.
Mom, at this point, you should probably stop laughing. ;-)
So anyhow, tonight as they were going on about socialized medicine, one of the presenters pointed out that I must have really not liked Clinton's 1994 Medical Program since, well, it came from Clinton. Imagine the shock when I said that I had voted for Clinton TWICE. I didn't exactly take the wind out of their sails, but I think a majority of them thought I was full of it.
Anyhow, I'll gladly point out to the readers of this site that I was a full lib all the way through to approximately 1998 when I started to become disgusted with the way the Democratic party behaved. My positions on socialized medicine and taxing the rich changed when I realized how it was unfair for someone who worked harder to have more money taken from them since they were rich.
Classmates and teachers....enjoy! See you next Wednesday after a more and more likely Bush victory!
October 27, 2004
Another New Toy
Since Dell had the $750 off any laptop $1,500 or more, I took the plunge and grabbed the Inspiron 8600 with the 1900 x 1200 screen. As far as the top of my desk goes, I have removed the monitor and keyboard and am now using this machine 100% of the time. Now just need to install something like Doom III on it and see how much it kicks ass with the 16 x 9 widescreen. ;-)
Part Baby - Part Labrador Retriever
So DeAnn is taking Nathan in for his vaccinations at the clinic and things are going well. He's saying "hi" to everyone and had no problems entering the building, taking the elevator, etc.
That is, until he got off the elevator and went into the hallway to the clinic. At that point he came to an immedaite stop, and started pulling back quite strongly on my wife. Even though it had been over six months since we had last visited the place, apperently he has a damn good memory. Eventually the wifey picked him up and things went as well as can be expected for a now scared sh*tless 20 month old.
October 26, 2004
Hometown Fark Madness
A couple of nights ago after a long drive home from Chicago, the norht side of town lost power. In last night's paper we found out why. Power was only lost for about an hour, but it also took down the Internet for most of the town since the substation powers the majority of town and apparently Comcast doesn't believe in backup power.
BTW, the cat survived.
The Talk
Tonight was the night of "the talk" with Tyler. I don't really remember getting an official version of "the talk" when I was eight years old (hell, the only thing I was worried about when I was eight was getting the newest Atari 2600 with "Pitfall"). He came through pretty unscathed, luckily he found one of his science books with all sorts of descriptions which saved me from having to draw.
October 21, 2004
Winning - Even if You Don't Really Win
Drudge linked to a piece about Kerry wanting to avoid the recount errors that Gore faced in 2000. But the statement that caught my eye was this:
Sen. John Kerry, bracing for a potential fight over election results, will not hesitate to declare victory Nov. 2 and defend it, advisers say. He also will be prepared to name a national security team before knowing whether he's secured the presidency.
What does this tell you about Kerry? From just this story alone, it seems Kerry and his team are going to do whatever it takes to take the presidency. Even if it means claiming a false victory. The only reason I can think he is going to do this would be to discourage voters in later time zones from voting for Bush and possibly pull undecided voters over to "the winning team".
November 3rd is going to be an ugly, ugly day.
In a surprising turn of events...
The Yankees have been awarded the ALCS title.
October 20, 2004
A Rod
If this is truly his running style....
Oh hell, I can't say anything more than that....
October 19, 2004
Great Ways to Kill Your Political Site
I've bitch-slapped TalkLeft before for various reasons but I think they have finally done it. You see, the person who runs talk left has released a new policy where she is allowing people with dissenting opinions to post only four times a day. Go over that amount or just tick her off enough and she'll ban you. Which is 100% in her right to do so, since it is her website and she can put what she pleases on there.
However, the site has been a place where people can debate certain issues that aren't exactly clear who's side they are on or even on issues that both sides can agree upon. I haven't been named as one of the offenders, but since I usually have to put in my two cents on various topics; I'm quite sure I'll go over the four "right-minded" posts just today.
Queensryche Out of Ideas - Pulls a Mr. Roboto Tour
I've always been a big QR fan, ever since I used to walk to school with "Eyes of a Stranger" blaring on my headphones. I've been lucky to see them several times and actually meet them after a show (of which this was the only picture anyone in the band actually smiled).
I've also let it be known before that I thought Chris DeGarmo was the absolute heart and soul of this band and it's music. If you pick up their latest studio release, it's clear which songs Chris came in to write and which ones he had nothing to do with.
But now QR is on tour again, doing another tour of America; this time with "actors, props, and a play" based on their 1988 multi-platinum concept album "Operation:Mindcrime". When I first read about this (which was today, based on hearing a few songs from Tribe on my playlist and wondering what they were doing), the only thing that went through my mind was a quote from Tommy Shaw regarding the "Kilroy Was Here" tour for Styx in 1983.
Some background on that tour. Styx was riding the coattails of one of their most popular albums and released "Kilroy" and planned a huge world tour. But what Dennis DeYoung planned for THEIR tour involved "actors, props, and a play" based on their multi-platinum concept album. Sound familiar?
Anyhow, getting back to the quote from Tommy Shaw. He was on Behind the Music and was talking about the total abject failure this tour was because of not only the cost, but how pissed off their fanbase was to be forced to listen to 20 minutes of theater. To top things off, the last show of the tour took place during a huge festival in Dallas and Styx was the last act of the night. The crowd was ready for a great show and Tommy Shaw, knowing he had to go out and do 20 minutes of "Shakespeare-lite" thought "I have to go out on stage and say 'But Kilroy, what about the children'. I thought 'I'm gonna die in Texas'." Apparently the play went on and for twenty minutes the crowd booed while Dennis DeYoung lived out his theater ego trip. This was punctuated at the end by a long line of cars leaving the stadium during the Styx show. So I hope for QRs sake the tour does well, but obviously history is NOT on their side.
Oh, and now QR is planning on Operation:Mindcrime II. In the last story (spolier alert for those of you frozen in carbonite since 1988) Sister Mary was killed and the police arrested their "suspect" who was setup by evil guy who was the real murderer. Unless they are planning an entire concept album around a "trial/catching the guy/getting raped in prison by some guy named Bubba", I think the story itself really can't play out anymore than what it has.
Oh well, back to work. Nice way to spend my lunch writing about this on the wifey's birthday. :-)
Update: After a chat with Derek I will say that only one example doesn't exactly show a history of failure. Right now, I can't think of too many "concept album" tours that did the whole "actors, props, and a play" thingy besides the Styx tour. While the reviews are somewhat glowing about the shows, glowing reviews ≠ profits. Neither do "uber-fan" reviews on the message boards compared to guys who only go to the show after saying "Hey, Queensryche is in town".
Media Bias...Once Again
This time with the (thankfully freed) journalist John Martinkus who was abducted on Saturday by a group of Iraqi insurgents.
But that's not the story that shows any bias. It's the post on the Radio Free USA site that is most damning. Here's the link:
Saturday around 2 p.m or so, John was picked up about 500m from our hotel compound. He turned out of the front gate, took the first right -- as most of us do -- and a car stopped in front of him and a tailing car pulled in behind him. Four men with pistols jumped out and three of them managed to force their way into the car, putting guns to the heads of John, his driver and his translator. They then took him to western Baghdad, held him overnight and interrogated him.
We're not sure what all happened during his captivity, but he was able to persuade his captors that he was an Australian and a friend to the resistance and not to the Americans. It appears, by the kidnappers' statements and questions, that they were nationalists and not jihadis, lucky for John. Also, he was lucky for not being American, because the kidnappers said if he had been, they'd have killed him quickly. They had tracked him for three days, they said, and proved it by asking him why he had gone to the Green Zone and to the Palestine on two separate days. This was how they were able to pick him up so easily.While it could have been a ruse to the captors, further into the post we get this lovely little piece.
...He had a pedigree of lefty, anti-war reporter. And he fell in with a (more or less) kind-hearted bunch who were just doing their job as national resistance fighters.I'm glad John Martinkus is free, but I'm sure that this won't stop his biased reporting of what is happening in Iraq.
Who Wins?
While only one candidate will win the presidency, the real winners of this election cycle are the media.
Begging for a Caption Contest
The story behind Karl Rove becoming a speed bump for Air Force One can be found here.
All the stops have come out
Don't know if everyone remembers about the story of Ashley Faulkner whose mom died on September 11th. Ashley went to a rally for the president and the president spent a few minutes with Ashley comforting her about her mom's passing.
Well, now they have a website putting it into a bit more detail.
October 18, 2004
October Surprise?
Via Instapundit
Well, it wouldn't be THAT much of a surprise but it definitely would make the whole "Getting the UN blessing" look like less and less of a good idea.
Someone Please
End this @#$*&^@# Red Sox/Yankees game....
Update: It's official, the announcers are completely out of material. The current topic of discussion are concession sales over the past week.
Update II: I'm sure it's been blogged before, but did someone throw up a jelly sandwich all over the Boston batting helmets?
Update III: Sorry Derek, but I'm glad it finally over.
Update IV: Talk about good timing, Fox switches over the Astros game just in time for the 9th inning win.
At this point
I would almost take back Cade McClown as our starting QB as opposed to Jonathan Quinn. Two weeks of prep and he overthrows receivers on most of the routes. Quinn might know the offense, but this doesn't mean he's a good quarterback.
I think Lovie will keep him in for another two weeks, then start Hutchison when we start getting into the tough part of our schedule once again.
October 16, 2004
Team America
I have a new favorite theme song.... America, @#$% Yeah!
And it will be a cold day in hell before any child under 17 in my house gets to watch this movie.
October 15, 2004
PowerLine Nails It
It's not looking good for Kerry with only a couple of weeks until election day.
Also, Wizbang is reporting that Bush is now up 48-44 in the Zogby/alReuters poll.
Update: And here's even a better way to piss of anyone who might be thinking of voting for you.
Kerry cancels visit to West Virginia church
By WSAZ NewsChannel 3
WSAZ-TVHuntington, WVUSA - A visit to West Virginia by Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry has been put on hold.
Kerry was scheduled to attended services at the Apostolic Christ Cathedral in Guyandotte on Sunday.
West Virginia Senators Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller were to attend with Kerry.
The church pastor, Reverend E. S. Harper, said they were not welcome if they planned to discuss politics during the service.
The Kerry campaign says the church issue did not affect the decision to cancel the trip.
Flu Shot
Here's a picture of people waiting overnight, outside, in the cold, waiting for the flu shot.
I don't think anyone in this pic is young enough to qualify for a Darwin Award.
SmartFilter Oddities
Apparently this site is so offensive that blocking it from the work environment only serves the greater good.
ERROR
Access Denied by SmartFilterThe following error was encountered:
Access Denied by SmartFilter: Forbidden, this page (http://wohlgemuth.megacity.org/pics/work/page1.htm) is categorized as: Profanity.
Now, what the #!%# is with that? :-)
And yes, these are pictures of my new desk in my office. Enjoy.
October 14, 2004
Maybe we should have a First/Second Wives Debate
If the Bush Cheney campaign is smart, they will completely pounce all over Elizabeth Edwards' response to Dick and Lynn Cheney's comments about the debate last night and how their daughter was mentioned. From what I'm guessing, the campaign is setting up Kerry/Edwards for a large bitchslap on this issue. Here's what it is about:
WHAT KERRY SAID: "And I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was, she's being who she was born as."
DICK CHENEY TO NBC AFFILIATE WHO: "I would have said Sen. Kerry was out of line to bring my daughter into it. I thought it was totally inappropriate."
LYNNE CHENEY AT POST-DEBATE RALLY: "The only thing I could conclude is that this is not a good man. This is not a good man. And, of course, I'm speaking as a mom. And a pretty indignant one. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick."
ELIZABETH EDWARDS ON ABC RADIO: "She's overreacted to this and treated it as if it's shameful to have this discussion. I think that's a very sad state of affairs… I think that it indicates a certain degree of shame with respect to her daughter's sexual preferences… It makes me really sad that that's Lynne's response."
Jees, with Edwards' husband making predictions that the lame will walk and the blind will see in a Kerry administration only points to how nutty this family and this campaign are.
IMHO, it was a cheap shot by Kerry to bring up his daughter, but I "almost" understand why he did it. I don't know if Mary Cheney has come out as a vehement supporter of Gay Marriage, but I'm guessing she would have been quiet while dad is running for office. But that wasn't the question asked by Schieffer. The question was whether either side thought being gay was a genetic issue or a choice. I still think it was a cheap thing for Kerry to do.
Call Me Crazy
But Drudge's current "World Exclusive" has that forged memo feeling to it. Link to the PDF file on the site.
Looking at the form, you would expect more from a word processor than what's on this page. Several parts of the text have slightly different alignments. To me, it looks like someone cut/paste this together and faxed it over to Matt.
Maybe I'm crazy, but this could be the left's version of Rather-Gate...or at least their poor attempts at it.
Update: He's changed the pdf to a .jpg file.
October 13, 2004
When will it end?
Via LGF:
John Kerry has been interviewed by several publications covering his prowess in hunting. John uses an approach not used by most hunters...
In July, he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that “I go out with my trusty 12-gauge double-barrel, crawl around on my stomach.�
I'm not a deer hunter, but almost everyone out here in Indiana is. No one goes crawling around on their bellies. The only reason you would want to do that would be to get deer ticks and to make lots of noise. Also, a double barrel shotgun is a close-range weapon. Deer are pretty smart and can usual sense hunters well outside the kill radius of a double-barrel shotgun. Especially those crawling around in the leaves covered with ticks and deer poop.
But wait, what was the biggest deer he shot?
“Probably an 8-pointer,� Kerry replied, “something like that. Nothing terribly big.� Actually, an 8-pointer would be a rather large kill to most hunters — the kill of a lifetime in fact.
"Probably" an 8-pointer? If I ask any hunter what the largest deer they shot, 99 times out of 100 they can tell me not only how many points; but where and when it was shot. Why? Because it's seared into their memories when they had to lug the damn thing out of the woods.
Hey John, I heard there was good deer hunting just outside Lambert Field up in Green Bay. Might want to head up there....
Free Speech?
Not in Canada...
October 12, 2004
You know a new class is going to be bad
When you have to read and write about a Marxist sociologist and how he has impacted the profession.
Day By Day
Day by Day returns December 1st....
October 6, 2004
@Work Dumbasses
Here's a great way to get yourself added to my sh*tlist.
1. E-Mail me demanding that I explain a report you created, from customer and group that I've never spoken to nor even heard of.
2. Don't give me the actual report, just demand I explain your final numbers at the end of your report.
3. Copy the customer on your correspondence.
4. Start asking more questions and get agitated when I give you clear repsonses that you have difficulty understanding.
Other than that, it's a beautiful day here in Indiana! :-)
October 5, 2004
Good Timing
I'm a volcano geek. Mount St. Helens blew when I was nine years old, and the vulcanologist who died during the 1980 eruption grew up in my hometown.
That being said, thanks to the Internet and a WebCam, I can be there and watch the eruption roll out without spending thousands on plane tickets. St. Helens just threw out a large steam eruption which looks to be much larger than what we've seen in the past week.
Enjoy.
http://wohlgemuth.megacity.org/pics/sthelens/page1.htm
Update: CBS News is offering a live video feed. Warning, it's a Windows Media file.