I first have to figure out how the controllers work
Friday, June 10, 2011
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
4th estate
Let me start by (under)stating that I don't care for Sarah Palin.
But the thing about her that's captured my interest is the fact that she has completely cut out the media ( except FOX for whom she works) and its driving them nuts.
That being said I find the following comment from MSNBC to be appalling:
MARTIN BASHIR:
In fact, the whole thing could be in breach of a federal law because the United States Flag Code establishes important rules for the use and display of the stars and stripes, the flag of the United States. Under standards of respect and etiquette, it's made clear that the flag of the United States should never be used for any advertising purpose whatsoever. Yet that's precisely what Sarah Palin is doing.
We had a president for 8 years who ignored the Constitution, Federal Law, and good judgement, we have a current President who picked up where he left off, and we have a Federal Monetary system that's predictably doomed to fair and the entire time the new media has done nothing but serve as a PR firm and as a subset of the White House communications department but now....NOW....they're going to take a sudden interest in law, order, and ethics ?!
But the thing about her that's captured my interest is the fact that she has completely cut out the media ( except FOX for whom she works) and its driving them nuts.
That being said I find the following comment from MSNBC to be appalling:
MARTIN BASHIR:
In fact, the whole thing could be in breach of a federal law because the United States Flag Code establishes important rules for the use and display of the stars and stripes, the flag of the United States. Under standards of respect and etiquette, it's made clear that the flag of the United States should never be used for any advertising purpose whatsoever. Yet that's precisely what Sarah Palin is doing.
We had a president for 8 years who ignored the Constitution, Federal Law, and good judgement, we have a current President who picked up where he left off, and we have a Federal Monetary system that's predictably doomed to fair and the entire time the new media has done nothing but serve as a PR firm and as a subset of the White House communications department but now....NOW....they're going to take a sudden interest in law, order, and ethics ?!
Friday, April 08, 2011
No chance
I walked downstairs this morning and Sophie was sitting in the kitchen eating a big bowl of ice cream at 7:00 am.
" Sophia ! What are you doing ?!"
Without missing a beat she said, "I'm living the dream".
I had no idea what to say, so I went back upstairs. Now she's got me wondering why I don't eat ice cream for breakfast.
" Sophia ! What are you doing ?!"
Without missing a beat she said, "I'm living the dream".
I had no idea what to say, so I went back upstairs. Now she's got me wondering why I don't eat ice cream for breakfast.
Friday, March 25, 2011
You probably already know this
but the concept is still relatively new to me.
Up until the 1970's the US monetary system was based on a gold standard. The US was supposed to have gold or other precious metals ( Fort Knox et al) representing the amount of money in circulation.
At some point, the people in power decided that was a big pain in the ass, especially when they just wanted to print up some money. So the gold standard was abandoned, and effectively all money ( international currency was based primarily on US dollars) then had an arbitrary value.
For alchemists, who had tried to turn lead and other worthless items into gold since the time of the Egyptian pyramids, this was Christmas, New Years and the 4th of July all rolled up into one.
Moving from the gold standard opened the door for fractal-reserve banking. fractal banking is simply the ability of a bank to lend the same dollar over and over again.
So you deposit $100
Bob borrows $80 from the bank. That $80 makes its way back into the bank either from Bob depositing it, or from whomever he gives it to depositing it.
Mary then comes in and borrows $60 based on the $80 that Bob deposited.
Joe then borrows $40 based on the $60 that Mary deposited.
Tom then borrows $20 based on Joe's $40.
So in the end, the bank has lent out ($20+40+60+80)= $200....but it really only ever took in your $100 deposit. The "other" $100 that it has lend out does not exis, its an imaginary promise on future labor.
Effectively this goes one step past having to actually print worthless money, now you can just make a mark in an accounting column and create imaginary money.
Even the alchemists couldn't have hoped for something that amazing.
So provided that people are willing to keep taking out loans, that most of the people pay at least the minimum payment on interest, and provided that people don't actually show up to the bank asking for the actual cash money that they deposited, then there's virtually no limit on the amount of fake money that the banks can keep conjuring up.
That might explain why new banks are outpacing 7-11s and McDonalds.
The more cynical of us might also consider that a system that uses high taxes and available credit to compel people into long term debt ( mortgages, car payments and school loans) would prime the pump and keep the bankers...and for that matter the car, oil, and housing companies fat as hogs. But that sounds too much indentured servitude to be democracy.
Up until the 1970's the US monetary system was based on a gold standard. The US was supposed to have gold or other precious metals ( Fort Knox et al) representing the amount of money in circulation.
At some point, the people in power decided that was a big pain in the ass, especially when they just wanted to print up some money. So the gold standard was abandoned, and effectively all money ( international currency was based primarily on US dollars) then had an arbitrary value.
For alchemists, who had tried to turn lead and other worthless items into gold since the time of the Egyptian pyramids, this was Christmas, New Years and the 4th of July all rolled up into one.
Moving from the gold standard opened the door for fractal-reserve banking. fractal banking is simply the ability of a bank to lend the same dollar over and over again.
So you deposit $100
Bob borrows $80 from the bank. That $80 makes its way back into the bank either from Bob depositing it, or from whomever he gives it to depositing it.
Mary then comes in and borrows $60 based on the $80 that Bob deposited.
Joe then borrows $40 based on the $60 that Mary deposited.
Tom then borrows $20 based on Joe's $40.
So in the end, the bank has lent out ($20+40+60+80)= $200....but it really only ever took in your $100 deposit. The "other" $100 that it has lend out does not exis, its an imaginary promise on future labor.
Effectively this goes one step past having to actually print worthless money, now you can just make a mark in an accounting column and create imaginary money.
Even the alchemists couldn't have hoped for something that amazing.
So provided that people are willing to keep taking out loans, that most of the people pay at least the minimum payment on interest, and provided that people don't actually show up to the bank asking for the actual cash money that they deposited, then there's virtually no limit on the amount of fake money that the banks can keep conjuring up.
That might explain why new banks are outpacing 7-11s and McDonalds.
The more cynical of us might also consider that a system that uses high taxes and available credit to compel people into long term debt ( mortgages, car payments and school loans) would prime the pump and keep the bankers...and for that matter the car, oil, and housing companies fat as hogs. But that sounds too much indentured servitude to be democracy.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
I am not making this stuff up
A woman called me today unhappy about getting a ticket for setting her police alarm off. The fine, for having the police dispatched, respond on site, check everything out, and then write up a report, because she forgot to turn off the alarm (again) is $10.
She opened with, "I think its unfair that you have this new law and you didn't tell anyone about it."
" Well ma'am we did have an article on the front page of the newsletter outlining the ordinance. Did you get a newsletter ?", I asked.
" Yes I got a newsletter and I read the headline where it talked about alarms, but I didn't know it was about false alarms...it didn't say FALSE alarms in the headlines and I only read the headlines. If you want people to know something then you have to put it in the headline, people are too busy these days to be reading all the way down into paragraphs and stuff."
"(sigh) Sorry ma'am, I'll try and do a better job with the newsletter for now on."
" That's right...like three months ago you sent me a personalized letter. The letter was from the town to me and it only dealt with one thing. And it was very, very clear and short. That's the type of thing that you should be doing more of"
" Oh, ok. Can you tell me what the letter was about so I can use that as an example ?", I asked not trying to sound too patronizing.
" Oh hell, how am I supposed to remember what it was about, that was a couple of months ago."
( double sigh)
-- As if it could get any worse, out of curiosity I looked up what we had sent her. I was a warning letter for a previous false alarm indicating that any further false alarms would result in a $10 fine.
She opened with, "I think its unfair that you have this new law and you didn't tell anyone about it."
" Well ma'am we did have an article on the front page of the newsletter outlining the ordinance. Did you get a newsletter ?", I asked.
" Yes I got a newsletter and I read the headline where it talked about alarms, but I didn't know it was about false alarms...it didn't say FALSE alarms in the headlines and I only read the headlines. If you want people to know something then you have to put it in the headline, people are too busy these days to be reading all the way down into paragraphs and stuff."
"(sigh) Sorry ma'am, I'll try and do a better job with the newsletter for now on."
" That's right...like three months ago you sent me a personalized letter. The letter was from the town to me and it only dealt with one thing. And it was very, very clear and short. That's the type of thing that you should be doing more of"
" Oh, ok. Can you tell me what the letter was about so I can use that as an example ?", I asked not trying to sound too patronizing.
" Oh hell, how am I supposed to remember what it was about, that was a couple of months ago."
( double sigh)
-- As if it could get any worse, out of curiosity I looked up what we had sent her. I was a warning letter for a previous false alarm indicating that any further false alarms would result in a $10 fine.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
idioms
"greatest thing since sliced bread" - seriously ? at one time this was a problem ?
"he's such a good friend he's like brother from another mother" - our Dad's a dick and our mothers are whores.
---------------------
I'm so used to writing everything in 140 characters, this post seems exhausting. It probably feels the same to read but for another reason.
"he's such a good friend he's like brother from another mother" - our Dad's a dick and our mothers are whores.
---------------------
I'm so used to writing everything in 140 characters, this post seems exhausting. It probably feels the same to read but for another reason.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Lazy Sunday morning
For reason unknown to me I just reread Slaughterhouse Five.
For this particular time in history, I'm not sure if it was the best or the worst thing for me to read.
Also....people.....PLEASE.....its BOWS of holly. Bowels of holly would be something completely different.
For this particular time in history, I'm not sure if it was the best or the worst thing for me to read.
Also....people.....PLEASE.....its BOWS of holly. Bowels of holly would be something completely different.
Friday, December 10, 2010
three questions
We're actually suppose to believe that the Prince and Camilla accidentally drove into a full on riot ?
And we're supposed to believe that their secure, bulletproof limo was busted up by a balloon with paint in it ?
Are we such suckers that they're not even trying anymore ?
And we're supposed to believe that their secure, bulletproof limo was busted up by a balloon with paint in it ?
Are we such suckers that they're not even trying anymore ?
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Passing notes
My youngest daughter has some separation anxiety in the morning. She leaves for the bus in tears each morning bumming out herself and her mother.
In an attempt to provide her some sense of control, I suggested that maybe she could try putting on a happy face and trying to control her emotions for her mother's sake.
" It's hard'" sniff sniff, " but I'll try Daddy."
This morning she woke up, had breakfast, got dressed then locked herself in the bathroom.
My wife knocked on the door, " honey why are you locking yourself in the bathroom ?"
" I can let you see me or hear me upset"
" Well this isn't going to work. I want to say goodbye to you."
"If you want to talk to me Mommy then slip me a note under the door. Its for your own good."
Sure enough they passed notes back and forth through the door crack until the bus came. I'm not sure if I'm making it better or worse.
In an attempt to provide her some sense of control, I suggested that maybe she could try putting on a happy face and trying to control her emotions for her mother's sake.
" It's hard'" sniff sniff, " but I'll try Daddy."
This morning she woke up, had breakfast, got dressed then locked herself in the bathroom.
My wife knocked on the door, " honey why are you locking yourself in the bathroom ?"
" I can let you see me or hear me upset"
" Well this isn't going to work. I want to say goodbye to you."
"If you want to talk to me Mommy then slip me a note under the door. Its for your own good."
Sure enough they passed notes back and forth through the door crack until the bus came. I'm not sure if I'm making it better or worse.
Friday, November 19, 2010
funny stuff my daughter says
Me: Hey kids, hang on a sec I want to run in here and get a bottle of wine.
8 year old: Keep your eye on the prize, keep moving old man.
8 year old: When I grow up I want to be Irish.
Me: Irish ? What Irish ?
8 year old: Because I want a farm and animals and stuff
Me: Do you mean Amish ?
8 year old: (annoyed sigh) Amish....Irish....whatever.
8 year old: I want to get married, but just for the wedding.
Me: Well you'll need a husband
8 year old: I suppose, but it doesn't mean I have to like him.
Me: Don't you want kids ?
8 year old: KIDS ?! What needs that pain.
Me: Having babies doesn't hurt. That's just a rumor.
8 year old: I'm not talking about THAT ! I mean just having to hear all the whining.
8 year old: When I have a farm I'm going to be friends with all of the animals
Me: Well I wouldn't get too friendly
8 year old: Why ?
Me: Well if you have a farm, sooner or later your going to have to eat something or sell something.
8 year old: Well that's going to be awkward.
Me: Well that's how it is.
( long pause while she's thinking)
8 year old: OK. I got it.
Me: what's that ?
8 year old: I'm just going to have to lie to the chickens.
8 year old: Keep your eye on the prize, keep moving old man.
8 year old: When I grow up I want to be Irish.
Me: Irish ? What Irish ?
8 year old: Because I want a farm and animals and stuff
Me: Do you mean Amish ?
8 year old: (annoyed sigh) Amish....Irish....whatever.
8 year old: I want to get married, but just for the wedding.
Me: Well you'll need a husband
8 year old: I suppose, but it doesn't mean I have to like him.
Me: Don't you want kids ?
8 year old: KIDS ?! What needs that pain.
Me: Having babies doesn't hurt. That's just a rumor.
8 year old: I'm not talking about THAT ! I mean just having to hear all the whining.
8 year old: When I have a farm I'm going to be friends with all of the animals
Me: Well I wouldn't get too friendly
8 year old: Why ?
Me: Well if you have a farm, sooner or later your going to have to eat something or sell something.
8 year old: Well that's going to be awkward.
Me: Well that's how it is.
( long pause while she's thinking)
8 year old: OK. I got it.
Me: what's that ?
8 year old: I'm just going to have to lie to the chickens.
Friday, October 15, 2010
OK, I admit...its me
After 9 straight days of people completely losing their shit in my presence, I'm going to go ahead and concede that its my fault.
I don't know why, or how, or what I'm doing, but pretty much every day for about two weeks somebody has started screaming or crying and/or threatened to kick my ass.
And no matter how nice I try to be it only makes me more of a hostility magnet.
I'm going to try whistling this all day and see if that helps.
I don't know why, or how, or what I'm doing, but pretty much every day for about two weeks somebody has started screaming or crying and/or threatened to kick my ass.
And no matter how nice I try to be it only makes me more of a hostility magnet.
I'm going to try whistling this all day and see if that helps.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
The UCI is great
The UCI is going to regulate rider's agents.
After this maybe they can go after the big littering problem in Compton.
After this maybe they can go after the big littering problem in Compton.
Monday, October 04, 2010
recommended add to the reading list
Emergency: This book will save your life : by Neil
Neil Strauss chronicles his evolution from a city boy who's greatest survival skill is ordering room service to someone who can survive for three days in the wilderness with nothing but a knife. The book is a candid look at fragility of our social structure and an evaluation of modern man. If you like Fight Club, you'll enjoy this book.
Neil Strauss chronicles his evolution from a city boy who's greatest survival skill is ordering room service to someone who can survive for three days in the wilderness with nothing but a knife. The book is a candid look at fragility of our social structure and an evaluation of modern man. If you like Fight Club, you'll enjoy this book.
Monday, September 27, 2010
One year
Yesterday marked the one year anniversary when I gave up on being fit.
I was overtrained, overworked, overcooked.
I didn't make a conscious effort to go totally into the tank. I had planned on taking one month off, but true to two laws of physics;
* An object at rest, stays at rest...etc etc
* and I've never done anything in moderation
one month turned into one year.
The results.....
* 26.5 lbs weight gain
* all new shirts because "fitted shirt" actually means fitted and I now have a much fatter neck.
* two inches in the waistline, at least, resulting in one popped button (so far) and one new belt.
There are also a slew of side effects such as soreness, not being able to touch my toes, and the like...the worst of which is no longer being able to dunk on the house front hoop and reminded of it daily by my 10 year old son.
So we'll see if we can turn the boat around. I'm not hopeful, but I'm definitely not hopeless. To those ends...
Day 1.
I was overtrained, overworked, overcooked.
I didn't make a conscious effort to go totally into the tank. I had planned on taking one month off, but true to two laws of physics;
* An object at rest, stays at rest...etc etc
* and I've never done anything in moderation
one month turned into one year.
The results.....
* 26.5 lbs weight gain
* all new shirts because "fitted shirt" actually means fitted and I now have a much fatter neck.
* two inches in the waistline, at least, resulting in one popped button (so far) and one new belt.
There are also a slew of side effects such as soreness, not being able to touch my toes, and the like...the worst of which is no longer being able to dunk on the house front hoop and reminded of it daily by my 10 year old son.
So we'll see if we can turn the boat around. I'm not hopeful, but I'm definitely not hopeless. To those ends...
Day 1.
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