The Chase Lounge

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-20T22:19:00.002-06:00

Stand by for an important announcement!

2011-11-23T09:37:00.002-06:00

Yep. I be melodramatic and stuff.

jck and I have been talking about trying to get some traffic here. Mass email with invitation to be sent next week.

Attack Watch!

2011-09-14T23:05:00.001-05:00

Check this out!
Then go do your duty and report yourself.
And report me while you're at it.

Rapture Countdown

2011-05-21T15:53:00.003-05:00

HAHA Life Goes On!

Jack Daniels Explains The Deficit

2011-02-12T23:40:00.000-06:00

Finally! The Federal deficit explained in units of measure that I can understand.

Prepare for Goosebumps

2011-01-16T19:57:00.000-06:00

(and possibly tears)

Sorry for the lack of service

2011-01-15T22:50:00.003-06:00

I've been neglecting the place.
The chat room is back on line and I hope to be meeting GHS and Jean here on Wednesday nights for our AI bitch fest. Join us!

Hell on Earth OR, A visit to an Ikea Superstore.

2010-04-25T16:52:00.001-05:00

http://carolinashootersforum.com/showthread.php?t=74204

Read the whole thing. I don't know when I've laughed so hard. Lordy, I feel for the guy....

"Making my way inside, I was greeted by the sight of a children’s "pen" where 20 and 30-somethings could park their whelps while browsing for new pressboard furniture and leopard-print bean bag chairs. There was a small kiosk manned by a couple of 400lb women with garishly painted coffee complexions and ribbon-candy hair who were busy talking about someone's "baby daddy" and it was several minutes before I could break in and ask for directions.

"I need an office chair." I announced. "Where should I go to find your selection?"

"You needs to go to Office World. Just go up da escamalator and follow da path. You cants misses it."

After parsing this sentence a couple of times, I was pretty sure I understood and set off into the depths of the store or, as I was soon convinced, Dante’s 9 circles of hell."

You picked a fine time to lead us, Barack

2010-03-29T20:30:00.003-05:00

Not the best song I've ever heard, but it's got feelin'!!

Best song evah!

2010-03-29T17:59:00.002-05:00

Forgive me Lord. I haven't been praying enough lately....

Ain't livin' easy since you're livin' here in the South?

2010-03-25T18:12:00.001-05:00

Let's hope this holds true

2009-12-30T21:53:00.002-06:00

Nothing to see here

2009-11-30T21:17:00.003-06:00

So Jesse Ventura has a new show on TruTV called "Conspiracy Theory".
I'd make fun, but the LA Times did it for me.

If you walk up to any building and the door is locked, and your first reaction is to shout "IT'S A CONSPIRACY!" you get a TV show.

Musician

2009-11-27T23:01:00.002-06:00

I know she's using high tech props. But this one person fills the stage with music.
I can never get tired of this one.

Hello? Is anybody in there?

2009-10-24T21:05:00.003-05:00

I know reality bites but geeze! You'd think I could find somebody online every now and then. Am I gonna have to start publishing gun porn.....

I wish I could claim these...

2009-08-28T18:43:00.004-05:00

'cause most of them are slap wonderful!

Random Thoughts of the Day:

• I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

• Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize
you're wrong.

• I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to
have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks
when they've invented the lighter?

• Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going
in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going?
But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from
which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or
phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no
one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching
directions on the sidewalk.

• I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was
younger.

• The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This
recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be
ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

• Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't
work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix
the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to
fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just
figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

• There is a great need for sarcasm font.

• Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and
suddenly realize I had no idea what the f*ck was going on when I first saw
it.

• I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes
stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes
shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right
parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond
earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

• The other night I hit a new low at an open bar. I had already hopped on
highway blackout when, inevitably I had to find a bathroom. Eventually I
decided it was probably on the other side of the bar so I tried to walk
over there, but ran into a guy coming the other way. We played that, Both
go left, Both go right game to no avail, so I finally put out my hand to
guide myself past and that's is when I realized, yup, that's a mirror I
just tried to walk through. And the guy on the other side is me. Even cats
can recognize their own image.

• How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

• I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than
take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

• I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your
computer history if you die.

• The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish
a text.

• A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread
of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

• Was learning cursive really necessary?

• Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to
say".

• I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

• Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test
is absolutely petrifying.

• My brother's Municipal League baseball team is named the Stepdads. Seeing
as none of the guys on the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the
name. He explained, "Cuz we beat you, and you hate us." Classy, bro.

• Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I
hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

• How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and
smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

• I love the sense of camaraderie when a n entire line of cars teams up to
prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong,
brothers!

• Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples,
I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I
had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as
in...(10 second collapse)..ummm...Goonies"

• What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each
other?

• While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively
swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

• MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know
how to get out of my neighborhood.

• Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the
person died.

• I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower
first and THEN turn on the water.

• Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and
you can wear them forever.

• I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

• Bad decisions make good stories

• Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile
is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder
BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

• Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

• If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would
probably just be completely invisible.

• Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go
around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly
nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a
problem....

• You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when
you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for
the rest of the day.

• Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want
to have to restart my collection.

• There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going
to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

• I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I
want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did
not make any changes to.

• "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

• I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching
TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will
they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't
watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave
the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

• While watching the Olympics, I find myself cheering equally for China and
USA. No, I am not of Chinese descent, but I am fairly
certain that when Chinese athletes don't win, they are executed.

• I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damnit!),
but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and
goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and
run away?

• I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing
anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

• When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't
already told me but that I have learned from some light
internet stalking.

• I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I
like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

• Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed
for pedophiles...

• As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but
no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

• Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not
know what time it is.

• It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

• I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to
answer when they call.

• I think that if, years down the road when I'm trying to have a kid, I
find out that I'm sterile, most of my disappointment will stem from the
fact that I was not aware of my condition in college.

• Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to
with it.

• Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys
in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but
I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet
away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

• My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would
happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

• It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the
link takes me to a video instead of text.

• I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive
behind obeys the speed limit.

• I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

• I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday
night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

• The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they
had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at
the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then
estimate d that there must be at least four people eating to require such a
large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There's nothing like
being made to feel like a fat bastard before dinner

Ed Montana

2009-08-27T21:06:00.003-05:00

from Amarillo in the great state of Texas is my kinda song writer! Check out his new song "Obamanation".

Not just another beer commercial

2009-08-17T20:50:00.002-05:00

An ex-trucker reminisces

2009-08-03T21:31:00.006-05:00

Back in the Seventies and Eighties I drove a truck for my father's company. Actually I drove several trucks; everything from a homemade mobile crane (we called it a "wrecker") that Pop had made out of a '52 Reo front end and a White rear end; to a '57 Reo that went through various incarnations as either a dump truck or a tractor; to a C700 Ford straight truck; to a W9000 Ford tractor with a 6-71 Detroit and a Fuller Road Ranger 10 speed trans. I got good enough with the Detroit that I could go up through the box without using the clutch, once I got the rig rolling. What you did was to wind the diesel out until the governor cut in (about 2100 rpm); back off just enough to unload the transmission; slip the stick into neutral; let the engine rpms drop back to a point you knew from experience would let the next gear mesh without jerking (usually about 1600); slip the trans into the next higher gear (and you literally had to feel the gears engage with the stick) and accelerate again. While some could, I never got good enough to go back down through the gears without using the clutch; part of the reason being that I knew who would have to R&R the trans if I broke it!

My Dad built heavy duty truck trailers; the kind you'd haul a bulldozer or backhoe on and he sold them all over the country. One of our biggest dealers was in Woodland, CA and it would take a co-driver and I a week (it took 2 weeks for a single driver) to run out to California with a load of trailers stacked as high as the law allowed, drop the load at the dealer and bobtail home (any of you who have driven a truck tractor without the trailer attached know how much fun 3000 miles of this was!).

The route we took into California involved crossing the Mojave desert (we'd leave North Carolina and time the run so that we crossed the desert at night) and Tehachapi pass. My first trip out I believed all the warning signs about keeping my speed down coming down the pass so I pulled the transmission back down on the "low side" and very nearly burned up the brakes on the rig trying to keep the Detroit from over speeding going down the hill. Once I got to the bottom of the mountain I realized that I'd been played for a sucker, because the hill was not all that bad if you had some common sense and some experience driving. So on the second trip I left the transmission in 10th gear and rode on down the hill. Of course I was running about 20 miles an hour over the posted speed limit of 35 but the wind coming up the canyon blowing against the flat front of that cab over tractor acted like an air brake and kept my speed down without me having to touch the brakes.

When I found this on YouTube the other night, it brought back a lot of memories and I thought I'd share. This is how a 6-71 should be shifted:

For the ladies

2009-08-03T21:26:00.000-05:00

Best Levis commercial?

I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!

2009-07-12T15:10:00.002-05:00

Now this AARP I like!

Congress Votes to Outsource Presidency

2009-07-04T12:38:00.000-05:00

Washington, DC -- June 23, 2009

Congress today announced that the office of President of the United States of America will be outsourced to India as of September 1, 2009.

The move is being made in order to save the President's $500,000 yearly salary, and also a record $750 billion in deficit expenditures and related overhead that his office has incurred during the last 3 months.

It is anticipated that $7 trillion can be saved to the end of the President's term. "We believe this is a wise financial move. The cost savings are huge," stated Congressman Thomas Reynolds (R-WA). "We cannot remain competitive on the world stage with the current level of cash outlay," Reynolds noted.

Obama was informed by email this morning of his termination. Preparations for the job move have been underway for some time.

Gurvinder Singh, a tele-technician for Indus Teleservices, Mumbai India , will assume the office of President as of September 1, 2009. Mr. Singh was born in the United States while his Indian parents were vacationing at Niagara Falls, NY . Thus making him eligible for the position. He will receive a salary of $320 (USD) a month, but no health coverage or other benefits.

It is believed that Mr. Singh will be able to handle his job responsibilities without a support staff. Due to the time difference between the US and India , he will be working primarily at night. "Working nights will allow me to keep my day job at the Dell Computer call center," stated Mr. Singh in an exclusive interview.

"I am excited about this position. I always hoped I would be President."

A Congressional spokesperson noted that while Mr. Singh may not be fully aware of all the issues involved in the office of President, this should not be a problem as Obama had never been familiar with the issues either.

Mr. Singh will rely upon a script tree that will enable him to respond effectively to most topics of concern. Using these canned responses, he can address common concerns without having to understand the underlying issue at all. "We know these scripting tools work," stated the spokesperson.

"Obama has used them successfully for years, with the result that some people actually thought he knew what he was talking about."

Obama will receive health coverage, expenses, and salary until his final day of employment. Following a two-week waiting period, he will be eligible for $140 a week unemployment for 26 weeks. Unfortunately he will not be eligible for Medicaid, as his unemployment benefits will exceed the allowed limit.

Obama has been provided with the outplacement services of Manpower, Inc. to help him write a resume and prepare for his upcoming job transition. According to Manpower, Obama may have difficulties in securing a new position due to a lack of any successful work experience during his lifetime.

A greeter position at WalMart was suggested due to Obama's extensive experience at shaking hands, as well as his special smile.

When Steam was king

2009-06-25T21:57:00.020-05:00

Ken Elder down in Carthage, NC has quite a collection of steam and gasoline engines. Here are a few pix that I shot a couple of years ago at his show.

The first two are called "oil engines" since they ran on kerosene.

International Harvester "Titan"

Hart Parr, forerunner of Oliver

Now we get to the steam engines:

Avery Undermount

Geiser "Peerless" Z3, the biggest engine Geiser made. And they didn't make many of them.

Reeves in front, Nichols & Shepard behind

40-140 Rumley The figures are horsepower ratings. The first number is drawbar horsepower. The second is belt horsepower. And the ratings were figured differently then gasoline horsepower.

J.I. Case

Sawyer-Massey, a Canadian engine

The Westinghouse "upright". A vertical boiler engine.

And just to show that there's nothing new, here's a Lansing 4 wheel drive steam engine.

And last we have an A.D. Baker engine. The Baker engine was one of the most technologically advanced steam engines made.

How guv'ment works

2009-06-25T21:40:00.001-05:00

It is a slow day in the East Texas town of Madisonville. It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt and everybody lives on credit. On this particular day a rich tourist from the East is driving through town. He enters the only hotel in the sleepy town and lays a hundred dollar bill on the desk stating he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.

As soon as the man walks up the stairs, the hotel proprietor takes the hundred dollar bill and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.

The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to pay his debt to the pig farmer.

The pig farmer then takes the $100 and heads off to pay his debt to the supplier of feed and fuel.

The guy at the Farmer's Co-op takes the $100 and runs to pay his debt to the local prostitute who has also been facing hard times and has lately had to offer her "services" on credit.

The hooker runs to the hotel and pays off her debt with the $100 to the hotel proprietor paying for the rooms that she had rented when she brought clients to that establishment. The hotel proprietor then lays the $100 bill back on the counter so the rich traveler will not suspect anything.

At that moment the traveler from the East walks back down the stairs after inspecting the rooms. He picks up the $100 bill and states that the rooms are not satisfactory. Pockets the money and walks out the door and leaves town.

No one earned anything. However the whole town is now out of debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government is conducting business today.

And it came to pass...

2009-06-18T22:24:00.001-05:00

And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of the land called America , having lost their morals, their work initiative, and their will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme Leader that person known as "The One". He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but He hypnotized the people telling them, "I am sent to save you. My lack of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego, and my association with evil doers are of no consequence. For I shall save you with Hope and Change. Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the land that he who preceded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation, and that all he has built must be destroyed."

And the people rejoiced, for even though they knew not what "The One" would do, he had promised that he would bring change, and they proclaimed "Yes We Can".

And "The One" said "We live in the greatest country in the world. Help me change everything about it!"

And the people said, "Hallelujah!! Change is good!"

Then He said, "We are going to tax the rich fat-cats,"---- And the people said "Sock it to them!" "---- and "Redistribute their wealth."

And then He said, "Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody"

And the people said, "Show us the money!"

And Joe the plumber asked, "Are you kidding me? You're going to steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??"

And "The One" ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe's personal records were hacked, publicized, and ridiculed; though no crime could be found.

One lone reporter asked, "That shouldn't be, isn't that Marxist policy?"

And she was banished from the kingdom!

Then a citizen asked, "With no foreign relations experience and having zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with radical terrorists?"

And "The One" said, "Simple. I shall sit with them and talk kindly to them and show them how nice we really are; and they will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!"

And the people said, "Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons into free cars for the people!"

Then "The One" said, "I shall give 95% of you lower taxes."

And one, lone voice said, "But 40% of us don't pay ANY taxes."

So "The One" said, "Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!"

And the people said, "Hallelujah!! Show us the money!"

Then "The One" said, "I shall tax your Capital Gains when you sell your homes!"

And the people yawned and the already slumping housing market fully collapsed.

And He said, "I shall mandate employer-funded health care for EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage, and lower the white collar wage. And I shall also give every person unlimited healthcare and medicine and even transportation to the free clinics."

And the people said, "Give me some of that!"

Then he said, "I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas."

And the people said, "Where's my rebate check?"

Then "The One" said, "I shall bankrupt the coal industry, and perhaps even the oil industry (Cap & Trade/Carbon Tax) and though electricity rates will skyrocket, we shall soon build wind farms and solar power stations and drive green cars that I shall mandate in Detroit!"

And the people said, "Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don't care for that part about higher electric rates."

So "The One" said, "Not to worry. If your rebate ($10/week) isn't enough to cover your extra expenses ($3,000/year), we shall bail you out. Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over!" "Only the fat cats will have to pay."

Then He said, "Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted. Let's grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches, free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed housing..."

And the people said, "Hallelujah!!" And they made him King!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers; though they sold much less of their products. Others simply gave up and went out of business, and the economy sank like unto a rock dropped from a cliff. The banking industry was destroyed. Manufacturing slowed to a crawl. And more of the people were without a means of support.

So "The One" again blamed the prior administration, extended unemployment benefits to a year, bailed out his favorite banks, and then took over the banks and auto industries. "The One" said, "I am the "The One" - The Messiah - and I'm here to save you! We shall just print more money so the government will have enough!" "Surely one trillion dollars will make everyone happy." And immediately the Fed complied and the money presses roared.

And China reconsidered their one trillion dollars of loans to the US ,, and threatened to call in their debts. Other foreign trading partners said unto "The One", "Wait a minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have to pay more.. for everything.. as your dollar becomes worth less."

And the people said, "Wait a minute.. That is unfair!!"

And the world said, "Neither are these other idiotic programs you have embraced. Lo, you have become a Socialist state and a second-rate power. What factories are not owned by your government are owned by us. Now you shall play by our rules!"

And "The One" said "Americans are arrogant, divisive, and derisive!" "We will listen."

And the people cried out, "Alas, alas!! What have we done?"

But yea verily, it was too late. The people eventually set upon "The One" and spat upon him and stoned him, and his name was dung. But the once mighty nation was no more; and the once proud people were without sustenance or shelter or hope. And the Change that "The One" had given them was as like unto a poison that had destroyed them from within, and like a whirlwind that consumed all that they had built.

And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish, "Give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!"

But it was too late, and the once-glorious "Home of the Brave and Land of the Free" was no more..

Down in the Valley

2009-06-07T15:06:00.026-05:00

If you can call 8400 feet of altitude "down". I guess it's all relative...

Just got back to Carolina from a week in Colorado. Meant to get down to Santa Fe and meet up with Pauls, Labrat and Stingray but it didn't happen. I had a case of the "tired" the first of the week and we ended up sticking close to the ranch for the duration.

Anyway, a few pix:

Coming up Hard Scrabble canyon into the Valley you start to see the Sandre de Cristos in the distance.

And then you drop down into the Valley:

You come to Silver Cliff first and then Westcliffe. The towns run together and you really can't tell where one stops and the other starts unless you see the signs. Silver Cliff was the original mining town. Then the Denver & Rio Grande bought cheap land outside the town and established Westcliffe. Gradually all the business migrated to the rail head as the railroad had known they would. When the mines played out, Westcliffe became the dominate town and is now the county seat of Custer County.

And this is how the Sangre de Cristos (Blood of Christ) got their name. When the sun is just about to rise over the Wet Mountains, the Sangres turn pink.

And sometimes when the clouds are just right you get this kind of sunrise:

And conversely, this kind of sunset:

There has been enough rain in the Valley this spring so that the wild flowers are spectacular!

Now the last two aren't from this trip, but they show the Sangres in the winter.

First is Spread Eagle Peak:

And then Gibbs Peak:

Not a bad view out the back door, huh?

Gothenburg, Reflections

2009-05-10T11:34:00.015-05:00

Back in the US....back in the US....back in the USA!

Other than having to leave the hotel for the airport at 0-dark-30 (4:45am CET but made somewhat easier since I got a ride in a Volvo stretch limo!!!) the flights home were uneventful. The flight from G'burg to Munich took about 1.5 hours. I had a 3 hour layover in Munich; which was ample even considering that I had to go through German Immigration (interestingly the Germans stamped my passport each way while the Swedes did not at all). The flight to Charlotte took about 10 hours and fortunately I didn't have any trouble getting through US Immigration and Customs. Then I had a 2 hour drive to get to the house so Don was a tired puppy when he got home.

I am still amazed at the level of service that one gets on a trans-Atlantic flight; or the connecting flight from Munich to Gothenburg for that matter. Alcohol is free on the trans-Atlantic flights and Lufthansa does a very good job of making sure that you have what you want. The meals and snacks served were far superior to what the American public has come to expect on domestic flights as well. Even the "snack" served on the Munich to Gothenburg flight was a very nice sandwich as opposed to a tiny bag of some kind of high carb mix (Lufthansa give you this in preparation for the first round of drinks right after they get to cruising altitude on the trans-Atlantic flights) like we get in the states. My flight 10 years ago on KLM was the same way (we won't go into the disaster that the return flight on Northwest was). And the domestic airlines wonder why they are losing money...

Here are some final pix from the trip. And perhaps not what you'd think I'd be taking pix of. But I am an engineer and new/different things interest me so...

First are a couple of shots of the shower in the hotel room (there was a tub as well). Notice that the "shower curtain" is a curved piece of glass that pivots on the wall. You pull it out for use and push it back out of the way when you are through with the shower.

Standing in front of the spray from the nozzle you don't get a much water on the floor outside the "curtain" as I would have expected. You certainly could if you were messing around, but I didn't have any trouble with it.

Another interesting thing was the control valve for the water, both in the shower and the tub. If I ever build a house I'm going to try and source these. They may be available in the states but I've never seen them before.

The control knob on the left regulates the mount of water coming from the showerhead/faucet.

The control on the right regulates the temperature of the water. There is a preset temperature, but by pushing the red button you can turn the knob and set the temperature to your liking. Once that is done, all you do is turn the water on and off via the left control knob. There is no constant fiddling with the hot and cold controls to get the temperature right. I love it!

And one last thought related to our "airport security" (I guess I can tell this now that I'm home...): while I'd taken my prescription sunglasses with me, I grabbed a pair of clip-on sunglasses out of the console in the truck just in case something happened to the prescription pair. I had both pair in my carry-on backpack. Remember that...

Imagine my surprise when, after going thought security in Charlotte and again in Germany on the way over, I found a live .40 S&W hollow point round in the clip-on sunglasses case! I guess that it slipped into the case when I cleared the chamber as I was changing from hollow points to FMJ rounds in the XD40 and dumped the round into the console for loading back into the clip later. Aside from scaring the hell out of me, now I had the problem of what to do with the round. I'm not going to tell you how I solved the problem but someone, at some point in time, is in for a surprise (there was a piece of sculpture just down the Avenue from the hotel depicting a revolver with the barrel tied into a knot. It was titled "Nonviolence". King Gustav Adolph must be spinning in his grave...).

This just serves to point out that the American public has been fed a line by our Guv'ment in regard to air traffic security. The whole thing is basically a scam, as we are concentrating on things that probably aren't going to be tried again (shoe bombs, explosives in liquids) while what we really need to be doing is what Israel is doing: profiling. I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Left now. But there will come a time when we're going to wish that we hadn't been so PC, mark my words...

Gothenburg, Day 7

2009-05-08T11:18:00.012-05:00

6:18pm CET: Everyone seems to leaves work early on Friday so we were turned loose at 3:30. I'm trying to get packed and ready to fly out at 0-dark-30 in the morning. Can you say "Don's going to crash and burn when he gets home" boys and girls? I knew you could....

As I promised yesterday here are the pix I took from the church grounds up on the hill:

The water front.

Ferry coming into port. She's swinging around to back
into the dock. I think this is one of the ones that
goes across to Denmark.

Gothenburg used to be a major ship building facility,
but as my Swedish friends say "Not so much any more."
It is still a major port, as you see a lot of truck
traffic hauling containers.

Gothenburg, Day 6

2009-05-06T23:00:00.002-05:00

6:00 am CET: cloudy again this morning and it looks like it rained during the night. Typical "Gothenburg weather" according to the Swedes.

I'm supposed to tour the Volvo truck plant this morning. Don't know if they will allow cameras in the plant, but I'll try and get some pix if possible.

Update: didn't get any pix at the truck plant but we went up to a church high above the city after work and I got a bunch from there. I'll post them tomorrow because I left the card reader at work....

Gothenburg, Day 5

2009-05-06T12:59:00.022-05:00

Up earlier then the last two days this morning, since my colleague needed to be in the office an hour earlier today. Meetings most of the day but this afternoon several of us went to the Volvo Museum and looked around a bit. It's a neat place with a bunch of concept vehicles in it.

The office.

Some of the vehicles in the museum:

Kinda looks like a Chrysler Airflow...

P1800ES, the sport wagon version of the P1800

Simon Templar's (The Saint) P1800

Concept vehicles

Concept vehicle for the C30

Concept vehicle for the XC90

A look at the truck gallery from above

Yes Volvo made tractors too

The Titan, one of the longest produced of Volvo's truck models

European cab-over tractors. And after seeing some of the windy, narrow streets in Gothenburg I can understand why they use cab-overs.

Latest version of the FH16

Interior of the cab-over

Gothenburg, Day 4

2009-05-05T00:06:00.009-05:00

7:06 CET and it's a rainy day in G'borg. I'm taking the camera to the office but I don't know if I'll be able to get decent pix. More later.

Update: here's a shot of the skyline from the hotel window.

A word about breakfasts: the term "Continental breakfast" as used by US hotels/motels for what they serve as a "free" breakfast is about as far removed from reality (at least what I've experienced in Sweden) as is The One's grasp of basic economics....

The breakfast buffet in the hotel consists of:
hard boiled eggs; soft boiled eggs; bacon (undercooked to US standards); scrambled eggs (and I'm not sure what they do to them but they are unlike any scrambled eggs that I've ever seen...and not in a good way); fruit (apples, bananas, sliced melon, prunes, grapes); several different kinds of rolls and two or three loaves of bread that you slice yourself; sliced turkey; sliced ham; liver pate; sliced tomatoes; sliced cucumbers; sliced red pepper; brie; cheese; tureens of yogart that you ladle into a bowl and then (if desired) anoint with various things (muesli, bran flakes, corn flakes, nuts, dried apricots); coffee (strong!!); various kinds of tea and juices (apple, grapefruit, orange, tomato).

In short, you can hurt yourself if you have a mind to!

Update: The rain stopped and the sun came out. Here are a few shots that I got on the way back to the hotel. And no I wasn't driving...

The BASF building. Or as I've always heard it called, the "Lipstick" building.

The mall (Nordstan Shopping mall). It's supposed to be the largest in Sweden. Most of what you're seeing is parking deck. The mall itself is not that big compared to almost any American mall.

The Hotel Royal near the city Central Station.

And now let me scare the hell out of you. The numbers in the picture are Kronor/liter....which works out to $5.12/gal. for diesel and $5.57/gal for gasoline at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 7.97305 SEK.

Dinner tonight was Wasa crackers w/liver paste and Wasa crackers w/Laughing Cow cheese and an apple. This was after I stumbled onto an Aussie pub (The Dancing Dingo, owned by an Aussie) whilst on walkabout and had a glass of something that I've forgotten the name of (Edit: Spitfire), but it was good beer! Also some good conversation with the barkeep whilst I was drinking it.

Gothenburg, Day 3

2009-05-04T13:26:00.008-05:00

No pix today, but I'm taking the camera to the office tomorrow.

General observations:

1) No one makes eye contact over here. It's unreal. And if they do make eye contact and you speak like you would at home (the South), they look at you like you're crazy.

2) Almost everyone wears black or dark clothing. I've seen a few tan jackets but the sports team jackets or colorful windbreakers that people wear in the States are missing. And don't even think about a warmup suit...

3) Lots of people on bicycles.

4) Beer is EXPENSIVE!!! I just paid $8.11 (64 SEK) for a pint o' Guinness!

5) Food is expensive!! I paid $20.16 (159
SEK) for a burger and fries to go with the Guinness. Fortunately the burger was very good and the place had malt vinegar for the fries (or chips since it was a British pub) but geeze!

Edit: this may have been because the pub is next to a fairly expensive hotel, as I've since had another burger, just as good or better, for 119 SEK down in the old part of town. In fact my whole meal last night (200 gram burger and a pint of beer) only cost 173 SEK ($22.45).

6) Of course part of that could be the 25% sales tax on food...

7) And part of the reason for the 25% sales tax is that Sweden is (let's hear it boys and girls) a Socialist country. Cradle to grave health care....except if they are out of the needed medicine....in which case....you wait.

Why do I point out 4, 5, 6 & 7? Because at the rate we've hurtling down that road, the day of the $20 burger ain't that far off! See

8) Lots of Volvos on the streets. Probably has something to do with having the national headquarters of Volvo Car, Volvo Truck Corp., Volvo Bus and Volvo Parts in town...

9) Lots of Toyota diesel cars on the streets. Especially taxis. Little things about the size of a Yaris.

10) While the Swedes are courteous drivers, for the most part, I'm glad I'm using company transportation from the hotel to the office and back!

Photo Blogging from Gothenburg Sweden, Day 2

2009-05-03T01:59:00.008-05:00

9:00 am CET Sunday morning in Sweden. I'm headed out with the camera to get some pix. To quote from a web site, Gothenburg is: "Splendidly set at the Göta Älv river´s outlet to the Atlantic."

The city shield

Statue of Poseidon at the North end of Kungsportsavenuen (”The Avenue”) boulevard with the Gothenburg Art Museum behind.

The Lorensberg Theater just down the Avenue from the statue.

Apartments along the Avenue

They're everywhere!! Also Subway, BurgerKing and 7/11.

Looking down a side street from the Avenue

Articulated city buses

Articulated electric trolleys

Update: 6 pm. It's drizzling rain. I went out around 4 to walk around and get something to eat (Subway) and I'm glad I'm back in the room now. Having a hard time staying awake (jet lag) but I'm trying to so that I'll hopefully sleep tonight. I'm actually looking forward to work tomorrow so I'm with people that I know. I've been in Condition Yellow and Orange every time I've been out today and it's wearing me out.

Best Ford commercial evah!

2009-04-30T23:59:00.002-05:00

http://www.richhumor.com/wp-filez/PerhapstheBestFordCommercia.wmv

While my Uke gently weeps

2009-04-30T18:02:00.000-05:00

Hate your high school class?

2009-04-27T22:08:00.001-05:00

Then hire a stripper to take your place at the reunion!

A Lesson for our time

2009-04-23T18:32:00.003-05:00

I'd love to put this on E3G but I cribbed it off another board and don't have an author for it.

A lesson for 2009 about How Our Government is Operating

Young Barney Frank, clever and bright, bought a donkey from a farmer for $100.
The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day.
The next day the farmer drove up and said,
"Sorry Barney Frank, but I have some bad news, the donkey died."
Barney Frank replied, "Well, then just give me my money back."
The farmer said, "I can't do that. I went and spent the money already."
Barney Frank said, "OK, then, just bring me the dead donkey."
The farmer asked, "What are you going to do with a dead donkey?
Barney Frank said, "I'm going to raffle him off."
The farmer said "You can't raffle off a dead donkey!"
Barney Frank said, "Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead."
A month later, the farmer met up with Barney Frank and asked,
"What happened with that dead donkey?"
Barney Frank boasted, "I raffled him off! -- I sold 500 tickets at
two dollars a piece and made a nice profit of $898.00."
The farmer said, "Didn't anyone complain?'
Barney Frank said, "Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back."
The farmer shook his head in amazement, and walked away.
A year later, Barney Frank comes running into the farmer's yard,
out of breath and looking frightened.
"You must help me hide!" cries Barney Frank.
The farmer asks, "Why? What's wrong?"
Barney Frank explained, "I went all over the village, hiring people
to sell raffle tickets for the same dead donkey, and then those
people hired other people to go to other villages and
sell raffle tickets for the same dead donkey, and now there are
thousands of raffles taking place all over the kingdom.
Millions of people and pension funds bought my raffle tickets,
but the donkey started to stink and everybody found out it
was dead, so now they want their raffle ticket money back!"
The farmer suggested, "Just pay back the money, Barney Frank."
"I can't!" Barney Frank moaned. "I spent it all on bonuses for
my raffle salespeople, and private jets, and huge mansions,
and an opulent lifestyle to which we, in the raffle ticket business,
have become accustomed. Not only that, I borrowed against my raffle ticket
earnings 35 fold, so now I OWE 35 TIMES the money I actually earned!"
The farmer thought a moment, then smiled.
"Don't worry, Barney Frank. I know what to do."
Barney Frank asked, "What can possibly be done?"
The farmer answered, "Your raffle operation is the
biggest business in all the land. It's too big to fail.
The King will bail you out,
for the good of all his loyal subjects.
And with that, Barney Frank beseeched the King
for billions of dollars to create the R.T.R.P.
(Raffle Ticket Relief Program) to buy back
all the worthless raffle tickets.
Everybody thought that would be the end of it,
but it turns out the King didn't have enough
money to bail out the Raffle ticket holders, so he
issued official "Raffle Bonds" to borrow money
from other lands.
Everybody thought THAT would be the end of it,
except when the rulers of other lands figured out
their lent money was being spent on dead donkey
raffle tickets, they stopped lending it. So the King
decided to just print the money to buy back the
dead donkey raffle tickets.
Everybody thought THAT would be the end of it,
until it turns out that printing money causes each
individual dollar to be worth much less, so prices
for goods and services rose enormously throughout
the kingdom. The King decided to issue a new
paper currency denominated at 1/10th the face value
of the old dollars, and forced everyone to exchange
their old money for new money so prices would
come down to normal again.
Everybody thought THAT would be the end of it,
until the same thing happened with the new currency,
so the people rose up and toppled the King with
torches and pitchforks, and installed a new ruling
government with a new currency backed by gold.
And THEN they all lived happily ever after.
The End.

Best Burnout Evah!

2009-04-21T18:44:00.001-05:00

And you ain't him!

2009-03-27T21:18:00.007-05:00

So I said to him, "Barak, I know Abe Lincoln, and you ain't him."

Something has "flung a cravin' on me"!

2009-03-27T20:20:00.003-05:00

Lordy, I could use a burger about now...

Cincinnati Tea Party

2009-03-16T09:15:00.004-05:00

We had lots of fun in Cincinnati on Sunday, with the largest yet Tea Party protest.

See the Facebook group's pictures here.

See my personal photos of the event here.

EDIT: Moved my pics to Flickr, because KodakGallery isn't all that good for something like this.

Then see how it was covered in the media:

WCPO said they felt "threatened".

WLWT reported it a little more even-handedly.

This was the most polite and well-mannered group of 4,000 or so people I have ever seen, yet WPCO said they were run off. Could it have been because they came in and focused on the ONE Obama supporter? She was the only person who was pacing back and forth and chanting. Apparently, some of the protesters said some angry words to the reporter when he would not turn around and cover the actual protest, so he felt "threatened".

And all you've got to do to join...

2009-02-22T10:30:00.002-06:00

You have got to check out Michele Malkin's blog. She's all over the porkulus package; complete with accompanying songs.

Michele's column

And down at the bottom of the page who do I find but an old friend: Arlo. Now I know he rewrote Tom Paxton's "I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler" while Bush was still in office. But you know what? I don't give a rat's ass! This.......this my friends, is the theme song of the revolution! This thing needs to be played on every radio station in the land! It needs to be played on every car radio! It needs to be burned to CD and sent to every stinkin' Congress critter who voted for this abomination!

You know if they get one copy of the song they can pretty much ignore it. But if they get two copies; they may think they were sent by right wingers and they still might ignore it. But if they get three copies..........can you imagine your favorite Congress critter getting three copies of this song? They may think it's an organization. And if they get 50 copies? If they get 50 copies they may think it's a movement. And that's what it is: the I'm Changing My Name to Fannie Mae Movement. And all you have to do to join is make copies of this song and send it to your Congress critters.

With feelin'...

Friends and Neighbors we so need to do this. Thank God Arlo's still here when we need him.

Other ways to burgle your kid’s money.

2009-02-20T13:03:00.003-06:00

Well it seems that I might make too much money (really??) and don’t pay a high enough mortgage (much less than 31% of AGI) to qualify for the “perks” included in the Generational Theft Act of 2009. And I really wanna get in on the pilfering! So I’ve come up with a few ideas of my own to steal from my kid:

1. Wait till she’s at school and break her piggy-bank. Spend money on cigarettes and booze.

2. Close out her College Savings Coverdell account. It’s down to almost worthless anyway.

3. Cash in on those Savings Bonds she got when she was Born/1st Communion/whatever. Daddy wants golf clubs.

4. Her allowance? Ha! What allowance?

5. No more free-loading. I was mowing lawns by the time I was her age. I'll make her pay for the gas, too.

6. Start charging her “Gift Tax”. For everything.

I have a question...

2009-02-11T10:29:00.002-06:00

...about the "Stimulus" package.

The Government is giving money to businesses and people to "stimulate" the Economy, right?

So where do they get the money to give out?

People and Businesses, right?

Then why can't they just not take so damn much in the first place?

Obey The O!

2009-01-22T22:49:00.001-06:00

Iowahawk makes my day. Again.

Obey!

Isn't it nice to know...

2009-01-21T08:44:00.002-06:00

...that we are so graced with collectible items of The One? Toymakers, and even Comics are getting into the act.

Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?

2009-01-17T15:00:00.001-06:00

According to my daughter’s 5th Grade text book, the definition of a free market economy is “the people, not the government, decide what will be produced”.
Is Congress dumber than a 5th grader?

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T12:25:00.001-06:00

and may the resolution breaking begin!

But seriously, I pray it's a good one.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T14:31:00.001-06:00

...and Happy Holidays!

Hope Santa brought you whatever it is that you wanted.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T11:52:00.001-06:00

A toast to those who cannot be home with friends and family.

Jersey City Councilman Wizzing on the Public

2008-11-11T11:19:00.003-06:00

We knew our government was pissing on us.

It just wasn't THIS literal before.

Quote of the Day...

2008-11-06T23:07:00.002-06:00

..week, month, whatever.

This one is from Thomas Edison.
Taken from a Museum near Berkshire, Mass.

Some funny

2008-11-04T17:59:00.002-06:00

How to turn a Ticket into an Arrest.

THE TOP 10 Reasons TO Vote for McCain!

2008-11-03T09:22:00.006-06:00

Some of you may or may not remember THIS post back in January. Well, I’ve updated it a little to:

THE TOP 10 Reasons TO Vote for McCain!
10. He’s not a Socialist.
9. He’s not a Communist.
8. McCain will only take a little of your hard-earned money instead of all of it.
7. Whether you like McCain or not, The Gipper would have voted for him.
6. Jo’Bama or McCalin isn’t that tough of a choice to make.
5. Terrorists fear John. I heard he once killed one with his bare hands.
4. Wait, that was Fred. Nevermind.
3. Don would have made THIS SIGN for nothing.
2. McCain really isn’t THAT old. Noah was like 500 years old when he built the Ark.
1. I still want to WIN the war.

They Must Be Getting Desperate

2008-11-01T16:23:00.004-05:00

Had my McCain/Palin sign stolen out of my front yard last night. They didn't take the Dole or the McCrory signs, just the McCain/Palin. Got my neighbor's as well.

When something like this comes to rural America I can only think of one thing: they're getting desperate.

But I think the new, handmade sign will make more of a statement then the one I bought.

Best Fortune Cookie

2008-10-29T15:17:00.002-05:00

Found this little gem in my dessert today:

Fine. I'll raise.

2008-10-28T22:12:00.003-05:00

Scared now?

Just a little something

2008-10-27T15:41:00.001-05:00

To get my ugly mug off the top of the page.

I call

2008-10-27T01:54:00.002-05:00

Meh. Before.

2008-10-22T20:21:00.002-05:00

Your turn, buddy.

Protest Warrior Store Liquidation

2008-10-22T14:10:00.002-05:00

Not sure why, but the guys over at ProtestWarrior.com are closing the store.

Go buy something!!

The book order has been placed

2008-10-19T23:30:00.002-05:00

In a unilateral exertion of my executive power, I rounded up the amount to $130.
A few pledges haven't cleared yet. As soon as they do, I'll have a frakkin' math post.
Then I'm going back to being a beer tender.

A quandary

2008-10-19T13:52:00.004-05:00

I just got an email from Bill and he's willing to provide the books at cost. So the total, including shipping, is only $125. So we have about $345 extra bucks.
(I should have mentioned earlier that Paypal charges a 3.2% transaction fee, so our total is a bit less than $470)
So, refunds?
Or take kulak's idea and donate the balance to Soldiers' Angels or some other group?
Just let me know.

Mr. Paules' Classroom - $470.00

2008-10-18T21:21:00.009-05:00

Mark William Paules is a high school teacher.
That's his day job.
But he is, first and foremost, a patriot.
In a rare attempt to combine these two avocations, he made this appeal

"I need 20 copies of "Silent America" for my classroom. The school is broke, but I think we can raise the money right on a thread if you're willing. How about a pledge week for Mr. Paules' classroom?"

To that end, we have started the MPC ("Mr Paules' Classroom") pledge drive.
Please use the paypal button on the left sidebar to donate. To keep things on the up and up, I will note all donations in comments to this post. If you wish to remain anonymous, please say so in the "description" field of your donation. If you make a donation and don't see it noted in the comments please let me know. daddyquatro_at_gmail_dot com.

Can we do it!
Yes we can!

For rufus

2008-10-11T01:20:00.002-05:00

"What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play"

Join the Piranha Party!

2008-10-07T15:10:00.003-05:00

...or else.

UPDATE:
Here's their logo:
Wear it with pride, you pygocentrus nattereri!

Who knew a national anthem could rawk?

2008-08-09T23:45:00.003-05:00

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Update.
Oh holy crap!
This REALLY RAWKS!

I'm an Eagles fan, but....

2008-08-07T10:59:00.001-05:00

Brett Favre with the J-E-T-S.

Brillant!

2008-08-02T22:35:00.001-05:00

Hat Tip. Lan Astaslem.

Anyone remember this one?

2008-08-02T21:13:00.002-05:00

Crank it UP!
I love the scat, three minutes in.
And the cat at 3:50 is a bonus.

Help the poor! Buy more yachts and helicopters and buildings that need networks and servers that work!

2008-07-02T20:07:00.002-05:00

The article below was a fwd to me from someone who shall remain nameless because she would kill me if I put her name here. Anyway, it had me steaming and pulling out what little hair I have left. Thought I’d share. Try to make it to the end in one piece. My response is below the article.

Billionaires up, America down
By Holly Sklar, McClatchy-Tribune News ServiceSunday, October 21, 2007
When it comes to producing billionaires, America is doing great.Until 2005, multimillionaires could still make the Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans. In 2006, the Forbes 400 went billionaires only.
This year, you'd need a Forbes 482 to fit all the billionaires.
A billion dollars is a lot of dough. Queen Elizabeth II, British monarch for five decades, would have to add $400 million to her $600 million fortune to reach $1 billion. And she'd need another $300 million to reach the Forbes 400 minimum of $1.3 billion. The average Forbes 400 member has $3.8 billion.When the Forbes 400 began in 1982, it was dominated by oil and manufacturing fortunes. Today, says Forbes, "Wall Street is king."Nearly half the 45 new members, says Forbes, "made their fortunes in hedge funds and private equity. Money manager John Paulson joins the list after pocketing more than $1 billion short-selling subprime credit this summer."The 25th anniversary of the Forbes 400 isn't party time for America.We have a record 482 billionaires — and record foreclosures.We have a record 482 billionaires — and a record 47 million people without any health insurance.Since 2000, we have added 184 billionaires — and 5 million more people living below the poverty line.The official poverty threshold for one person was a ridiculously low $10,294 in 2006. That won't get you two pounds of caviar ($9,800) and 25 cigars ($730) on the Forbes Cost of Living Extremely Well Index. The $20,614 family-of-four poverty threshold is lower than the cost of three months of home flower arrangements ($24,525).Wealth is being redistributed from poorer to richer.Between 1983 and 2004, the average wealth of the top 1 percent of households grew by 78 percent, reports Edward Wolff, professor of economics at New York University. The bottom 40 percent lost 59 percent.In 2004, one out of six households had zero or negative net worth. Nearly one out of three households had less than $10,000 in net worth, including home equity. That's before the mortgage crisis hit.In 1982, when the Forbes 400 had just 13 billionaires, the highest paid CEO made $108 million and the average full-time worker made $34,199, adjusted for inflation in $2006. Last year, the highest paid hedge fund manager hauled in $1.7 billion, the highest paid CEO made $647 million, and the average worker made $34,861, with vanishing health and pension coverage.The Forbes 400 is even more of a rich men's club than when it began. The number of women has dropped from 75 in 1982 to 39 today.The 400 richest Americans have a conservatively estimated $1.54 trillion in combined wealth. That amount is more than 11 percent of our $13.8 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — the total annual value of goods and services produced by our nation of 303 million people. In 1982, Forbes 400 wealth measured less than 3 percent of U.S. GDP.And the rich, notes Fortune magazine, "give away a smaller share of their income than the rest of us."Thanks to mega-tax cuts, the rich can afford more mega-yachts, accessorized with helicopters and mini-submarines. Meanwhile, the infrastructure of bridges, levees, mass transit, parks and other public assets inherited from earlier generations of taxpayers crumbles from neglect, and the holes in the safety net are growing.The top 1 percent of households — average income $1.5 million — will save a collective $79.5 billion on their 2008 taxes, reports Citizens for Tax Justice. That's more than the combined budgets of the Transportation Department, Small Business Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety Commission.Tax cuts will save the top 1 percent a projected $715 billion between 2001 and 2010. And cost us $715 billion in mounting national debt plus interest.The children and grandchildren of today's underpaid workers will pay for the partying of today's plutocrats and their retinue of lobbyists.It's time for Congress to roll back tax cuts for the wealthy and close the loophole letting billionaire hedge fund speculators pay taxes at a lower rate than their secretaries.Inequality has roared back to 1920s levels. It was bad for our nation then. It's bad for our nation now.Holly Sklar is co-author of "A Just Minimum Wage: Good for Workers, Business and Our Future" and "Raise the Floor: Wages and Policies That Work for All of Us."

MY RESPONSE:
The above article disregards basic economics. The author pokes fun at the billionaires that buy yachts and helicopters, yet ignores the fact that those yachts and helicopters are built by regular "Joe's" like me.She cites the foreclosure rates, but fails to mention the cause: people spending beyond their means. I don't own a $400,000 home because I know damn well that I can't afford one. But some day I will - as long as billionaires keep buying yachts and helicopters and building offices that need networks and servers that work.
Oh and by the way - Washington keeps 28% of my salary. Before I even see it. Wouldn't that money be put to better use if I spent it on a yacht rather than on some stupid Government project that never even gets off the ground?
Healthcare - oh, boy. Since WHEN is this considered some basic human right or something? I have health insurance because I have a job. My employer is nice enough to offer it, and pay a part of it - but they don't have to. I pay $400 a month for it, too. Even though I'm not sick enough to cost that much. Why is it so expensive? Because people without a job fall down and go boom, too. And hospitals cannot refuse to treat them. Who pays for it? I DO!!! I'm not saying that I mind all that much - I'm all for helping people in need - but I don't want the Government in charge of it. It would only cost more!
Investments - What is an investment? It's a bet. A gamble. That's it. Anyone can buy. There's no secret club you have to join. You just need the start-up capitol, and be willing to risk it. Fine, raise taxes on investors. Who will it hurt? ME!!! I have EARNED the money that I invest. And I have therefore EARNED the money I gain by investing it into companies that employ people who build yachts and helicopters and buildings that need networks and servers that work.

I wonder how much Holly Sklar made off her stupid book? I sure hope she spends it on yachts or helicopters or buildings that need networks and servers that work.

Cell Phone Poll

2008-06-19T22:54:00.002-05:00

Got a call today from a nice lady about a poll from these guys: – on my cell phone. Maybe Verizon sold my number? Anyway - Mostly questions about the Presidential Candidates. Learned more about McCain in the process. He’s pro-Life?? Really? Never would have guessed it.

Favorite questions:

Is McCain too old? He’s 71. Reagan was 70.

Will you consider race when you vote? Not at all.

Do you think Blacks and Whites should be allowed to live together? YES! They already do. Duh!

If you could vote AGAINST a candidate, would you? In other words, I could check “NO” for both!

Many Americans believe it is time for a Three-Party system of government. Do you agree? Well this is silly. There are as many parties as anyone could come up with. They just aren’t as popular. I’d form the AMERICAN BEER DRINKER’S PARTY, but that one’s taken. Whoa! Seems that The Whig Party is still in operation! Against tax, pro-Tariff. Want to base the value of the American dollar on wampum or something. Very confusing. Seems that there is no Ronald Reagan Party yet. That must change. I’ll get to work on that soon.

Disclaimer: McCain’s statements as of late about drilling for oil on our own shores has me re-considering my opinion of the guy. Oh, and sorry – I’m not really forming the Ronald Reagan Party. Too much to live up to.

OK, I'm done now.

2008-05-28T00:30:00.001-05:00

Viva, Selena!

J Lo, You don't hold a candle

2008-05-28T00:10:00.002-05:00

I don't understand a single word

2008-05-27T23:51:00.002-05:00

But I know an entertainer when I see one.

Selena at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. 1995

Note to self:

2008-05-26T17:47:00.001-05:00

Avoid Montgomery!

Noah in 2008 (via Dougman)

2008-05-16T21:10:00.002-05:00

In the year 2008, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States , and said, 'Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me.

Build another Ark and save of every living thing along with a few good humans'

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, 'You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.'

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark.

'Noah!' He roared, 'I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark ?'

'Forgive me, Lord,' begged Noah, 'but things have changed. I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.

Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.

Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!

When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me.

They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew.

Immigration and Naturalization are checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work.

The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.

To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, 'You mean you're not going to destroy the world?'

'No,' said the Lord.'The government has beat me to it.'

AMEN !!!

Thanks Dougman!

A PAID free POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENT

2008-05-12T20:54:00.007-05:00

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D- ILL)

My fellow Identity-Americans:

As your future President I want to thank my supporters, for their ... support.

Your mindless support of me, despite my complete lack of any legislative achievement, my pastor's relations with Louis Farrakhan and Libyan dictator Moamar Quadafi, or my blatantly leftist voting record while I present myself as some sort of bi-partisan agent of change.

I also like how my supporters claim my youthful drug use and criminal behavior somehow qualifies me for the Presidency after 8 years of claiming Bush's youthful drinking disqualifies him. Your hypocrisy is a beacon of hope shining over a sea of political posing.

I would also like to thank the Kennedy's for coming out in support of me. There's a lot of glamor behind the Kennedy name, even though JFK started the Vietnam War, his brother Robert illegally wiretapped Martin Luther King, Jr. and Teddy killed a female employee he was having an extra marital affair with who was pregnant with his child. And I'm not going anywhere near the cousins, both literally and figuratively.

And I'd like to thank Oprah Winfrey for her support. Her love of meaningless empty platitudes will be the force that propels me to the White House.

Americans should vote for me, not because of my lack of experience or achievement, but because I make people feel good. Voting for me causes some white folk to feel relieved of their imagined, racist guilt.

I say things that sound meaningful, but don't really mean anything because Americans are tired of things having meaning. If things have meaning, then that means you have to think about them.

Americans are tired of thinking.

It's time to shut down the brain, and open up the heart.

So when you go to vote in the primaries, remember don't think, just do.

And do it for me.

YES WE CAN!

Text from GHS (I changed the last line)
Picture from "the internet"
If you own that picture, please let me know. One should always acknowledge genius.

Like, Wow!

2008-05-02T21:58:00.000-05:00

A sad story finally comes to an end.

2008-04-28T08:53:00.002-05:00

After being MIA for four years, Keith "Matt" Maupin has been returned to his parents, and to an outpouring of support on a scale that's just incredible.

http://www.wlwt.com/video/16019349/index.html

Matt Maupin was declared to have been killed in a video in 2004, but it was of such poor quality that the military could not verify the identity of the victim. His parents never gave up hope until his remains were found and identified by DNA analysis.

This is one example of how real supporters of our troops show it.

US Troops Kill Kids WARNING GRAPHIC WARCRIME

2008-04-19T23:39:00.001-05:00

How it should be done.

2008-04-16T22:59:00.001-05:00

The Cactus Cuties.

For GHS :Part 2

2008-04-10T00:23:00.003-05:00

The purest Male voice in country music EVAR! Ignore the Asian hieroglyphs.
"He'll Have to Go" is not only a great song: It's a great lullaby (if you can fake a decent tenor)

For GHS

2008-04-09T23:50:00.002-05:00

The purest female voice in Country Music EVAR! This audio doesn't do her justice. Keep in mind; there were no fancy recording studios. You didn't get to record multiple tracks and cut and splice what sounded good. No one "re-mixed" your voice. You sang it live, with the musicians, and it was imprinted on the vinyl.

Study Says Daylight Saving Time May Waste Energy, Increase Pollution

2008-03-24T11:46:00.000-05:00

Lifted from: http://www.goodcleantech.com
Posted By: Steven Volynets

Earlier this month we all had to do what I cynically refer to as the obligatory clock walk. That's when all the clocks and watches around the house had to be sprung one hour forward for the daylight saving time (DTS).
Yet, scrambling to advance time and catch more sunlight - a practice that was originally established to reduce the country's electricity usage - may actually cost us 1.21 gigawatts of power. The figure came by way of a UC Santa Barbara study of the state of Indiana, where DTS has only been observed for the past few years.
According to Gizmodo, the study concluded that an added hour may have reduced the need for extra lighting. However, air-conditioning in the summer and heating in the fall were used more than they would with less daylight. This cost Indiana residents roughly $8.6 million more in energy bills annually with the additional $5.3 million per year in "increased pollution costs". Go figure!

In Search of Mike

2008-03-20T14:57:00.001-05:00

OK so in the spirit of silly, and with April 1 looming, this from the Otto Vault.

I cannot say who. (there may still be some need for protection.) But I can say, circa 1970, high school.

I'm quite sure it would be impossible for this chemistry to occur today. And even then, only in Minnesota.

Utterly real, and unrehearsed.

The Greatest Country Song EVAR

2008-03-17T20:52:00.001-05:00

This one's for Betty (Wink)

2008-03-16T19:08:00.000-05:00

2nd runner up

2008-03-16T01:36:00.001-05:00

Another live version with actual songs, actually being sung, by actual people.

Greatest Song EVAR!

2008-03-15T23:01:00.002-05:00

At least in the Pop category

I like this version, because it's obviously live. He's actually singing the actual words into an actual microphone.

This is my nominee for best pop song EVAR!
You got a better one? Let me know.

Alison Krauss and Yo Yo ma

2008-03-10T01:41:00.001-05:00

Because I'm shameless

2008-03-04T01:19:00.001-06:00

My second video

Quote of the day.

2008-02-26T08:14:00.002-06:00

Picked up another link at Conservative Grapevine. Dave Barry has got to be one of the funniest people I have ever read, and this article has a great one:

I was a fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I was practically a member of Congress.

Kinda makes one think of Mark Twain. Mr. Barry is actually referring to a fairly serious issue, but he still makes it funny.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

2008-02-25T10:58:00.002-06:00

Man clings to girlfriend's car in fight Sun Feb 24, 8:12 AM ET (-AP)
HAVERSTRAW, N.Y. - A man fighting with his girlfriend clung to a car roof and punched her through the window as she drove more than a mile on a busy road, hitting several other cars, police said.
Both were hurt in the brawl Saturday and were arrested, police Sgt. Manfredo Figueroa said.
The man, William Kremer, apparently jumped onto the car and held on as girlfriend Stacey Sperrazza wove along Route 202 with the car's air bag inflated, police said. She eventually stopped the car and hit him with it, police said.
Sperrazza, 37, of Stony Point, was arrested on a felony charge of reckless endangerment. Kremer, 42, of Haverstraw, was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge.
No telephone numbers could be found for the two. Police had no immediate information early Sunday on whether they had lawyers.
He was treated for a foot injury, she for eye and head wounds, police said.

Under the weather

2008-02-22T17:24:00.004-06:00

That being my current state, my inner geek wondered where that came from. Aren't we always "under" the weather? Since the opposite would be "over" the weather (and I'm a bit delirious) I thought of three definitions.

Over the weather - Literally. as in a plane.
Over the weather - as in "the boss of". I think the Gorbical has that job.
Over the weather - as in sick of, "I am so over this weather!"

As with most idioms, this one is hard to track down. The best sounding answer I found here.

Moreover, the deck they were under was likely "the weather deck", meaning the most exposed deck on the ship, usually the foredeck (over the seamen's quarters at the front end of the ship) or the quarterdeck
(where the helm was located, high for a good view). Either way, if you needed to be sick, you wouldn't want to "toss your cookies" where the wind could toss them back in your face, nor would anyone with you want you to do so. You'd be firmly told to "under the weather" to be sick.

I'll leave you with that lovely mental image.

A bit of Religious Humor:

2008-02-14T12:52:00.002-06:00

I was visiting with a Mormon friend of mine the other day, when there was a knock at his door. Standing there was a very friendly man about my age, with his 6-year-old son in tow. He and his family were new to the area, and they were visiting local members of the Church, and giving out homemade cookies.
After the man left, my friend and I were devouring the cookies when I asked him, “Hey, if I eat these Mormon Cookies, do I become one?”

He responded, “No, you don’t. But if I ate a Catholic Cookie, would I become Catholic?”

“Yes!” I replied. “That’s the whole point!”

Virgin birth.

2008-02-08T11:34:00.000-06:00

Well, this is certainly an interesting little story.

It definitely will make one sit up and take notice.

Mitt calls it Quits

2008-02-07T14:08:00.001-06:00

Mitt Romney dropped out of the primaries @ CPAC today.
So now who the heck am I gonna vote for?
I'd sit this one out, except I hate doing that.
Haven't given Ron Paul enough thought. Maybe I'll look into that...

UPDATE:

Nevermind. Ron Paul supporters are crazy, apparently.

We hold these truths

2008-02-06T22:34:00.001-06:00

Fun with Homonyms

2008-02-06T17:08:00.000-06:00

My curious Daughter was going through my wallet today, when she found my Metro Card.

“What’s this for Dad?”

“It’s for the subway, in New York City” I said.

“’Eat Fresh?’” she asked.

I laughed and said, “No dear, not that Subway.”