Shots Across the Bow

2003-03-26T11:30:00.000-05:00

new entry to test comments

2002-10-31T21:47:00.000-05:00

Final Entry in this location

Folks, the new domain is active, the carpet is laid, the furniture has arrived, and I'm moving to my new home. I'm leaving Blogspot, AKA the AOL of the blogosphere, taken off my training wheels, and venturing out into the real, well, more real than blogspot, world. I sent out e-mails to those of you who I've corresponded with in the past, giving the new URL, and my new email address. For the rest of you, here is the info:

New URL www.shotsacrossthebow.com/weblog
link Shots Across the Bow
email rhailey-at-shotsacrossthebow.com

Hope to see you at my new digs.
[edit]

2002-10-21T11:17:00.000-04:00

Final Entry in this location

Folks, the new domain is active, the carpet is laid, the furniture has arrived, and I'm moving to my new home. I'm leaving Blogspot, AKA the AOL of the blogosphere, taken off my training wheels, and venturing out into the real, well, more real than blogspot, world. I sent out e-mails to those of you who I've corresponded with in the past, giving the new URL, and my new email address. For the rest of you, here is the info:

New URL www.shotsacrossthebow.com/weblog
link Shots Across the Bow
email rhailey-at-shotsacrossthebow.com

Hope to see you at my new digs.

2002-10-21T00:50:00.000-04:00

It's a dangerous job, even when they aren't shooting at you!

A sailor took a 7 hour swim when he was swept off the flight deck of the USS Constellation by the exhaust of an EA-6B jet.
Life on a carrier is full of risks, particularly when you work on the flight deck. While I was stationed on the Nimitz we had a guy go overboard under similar circumstances. He was a new pilot, and was about to make his first night launch from the flight deck.

Since there is limited room on the flight deck, the planes parked there are often parked with their tails sticking out over the edge. As the pilot was doing his preflight walk around with his plane captain, an enlisted man who "owned" the plane, he came to some safety netting covering a what he thought was a weapons elevator shaft. During earlier daytime flights, he had seen other pilots and plane captains hop over the netting, so he decided to emulate them, and hopped over the netting.

Sadly for him, what he jumped over was the last thing between him and a 65 foot free fall into some very cold, dark water. WE sounded a man overboard, and he was recovered in less than an hour. The only thing hurt was his pride.

2002-10-21T00:37:00.000-04:00

A Fair Settlement
The US Navy has reached agreement with most of those involved in the collison betwen a japanese fishing boat and a surfacing submarine.

The U.S. Navy will pay about $13 million in compensation to the victims of a collision between one of its nuclear submarines and a Japanese fishing boat, Kyodo news agency said Saturday.

Nine people, mostly teenage trainee fishermen, were killed when the Ehime Maru was rammed by the surfacing submarine off the coast of Hawaii on February 9 last year.

It bothers me that they took a year to come up with this settlement. I wonder how much the lawyers are going to get, and how much will actually get to the victims.

2002-10-21T00:24:00.000-04:00

Paging Mr Orwell, Mr. George Orwell
Somebody get this guy a blanket. He missed his nap and is getting a little cranky.

For the last 21 months, we have tried very hard to keep this discussion board open to all left-wing points of view. It was one of our guiding principles, because we believed deeply that talking is better than not talking.

Gee, that's mighty big of you! You have complete freedom to post whatever you wish, as long as it is follows the party line.

But now we have come to the conclusion that the current state of affairs is untenable.

I should think so! Total freedom of speech would be anarchy! Not only should you be on the left, but you have to be on the correct part of the left. NO extremists allowed.

There is a small but outspoken group of liberals who simply are not our friends. Please be aware that I am not singling out Greens, most of whom are capable of participating on this message board in a productive and thought-provoking way. Rather, I am referring to people who are consumed with hatred and contempt for any and all liberals who don't share their exact point of view.

A little self referential, isn't it?

In case you haven't heard, there is a very important election occurring in less than three weeks. The stakes in this election are as high as they have ever been. You are being given a clear choice: Hand over complete control of all three branches of government to the forces of evil - or don't.

Nothing extremist here! Anybody who isn't of the left is evil. There is no hope of common ground, or compromise. It's a good thing Mr Skinner isn't given to hyperbole, or exaggeration...

As the administrator of this message board, I have the opportunity to have an impact on the outcome of this election. As an American, I have a moral obligation to do what I can to stop the conservative juggernaut.

Talk about a bloated sense of self importance!

We still allow all points of view, but we have our limits.

Paging Mr. Orwell, Mr George Orwell....

Whenever you find it necessary to restrict the free exchange of ideas and information, you have conceded that your arguments cannot survive without draconian measures. If you must stifle dissent through censorship, you're already over. Have the good grace to withdraw from the scene, and let somebody else take over. The best part of this whole thing is that he is crying about dissent from within the left itself.

2002-10-18T11:17:00.000-04:00

Hot diggity dog! I finally got my files transferred to the new host, and formatted so MT would take them. The move is almost complete. Once I get the domain name registered, I'll finish the move, and stop posting here. I'll let everybody know when that happens. For now, click here to go to the new place.

2002-10-18T01:42:00.000-04:00

That's what I said!
Yesterday, I posted on the North Korean admission that they had a nuclear weapons program. I proposed that the reason they admitted it was that they had already achieved success. Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so:

It was not clear to U.S. officials whether the North actually has a nuclear capability or whether it is still in development. At a minimum, North Korea apparently is close to joining the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, India and Pakistan as declared nuclear powers. Israel is thought to have hundreds of nuclear warheads but has never confirmed it has a nuclear weapons program.

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld told a Pentagon press conference that he believes the North Koreans not only have a weapons program but have already produced some weapons.

He cited an intelligence report in which the CIA said North Koreans "may have one or two," and added, "I believe they have a small number of nuclear weapons."

And what are we going to do?

Talk.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said North Korea must allow international inspections of their nuclear facilities and must agree to destroy whatever weapons of mass destruction they have.

"Pyongyang's reckless brinkmanship must be met with firm and united resolve by the allies of freedom and democracy," said Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the House International Relations Committee.

Folks, I don't want to rain on anybodies parade here, but if they built the bomb while we told them not to, they aren't going to destroy it just because we, or the Chinese, tell them to. Catch a clue, congressman.

2002-10-18T01:33:00.000-04:00

Did he really say that?
According to this story in the Independent, Philip Roth doesn't like how America has reacted to 9-11. Here are some of his reactions:

To me, New York had become interesting again, because it had once again become a city in crisis, particularly in the weeks that followed, with everybody waiting for the next explosion.
It was a strange time and the first time that New York interested me again since I left the city to go and live in Connecticut in 1993. And I thought, well, this is great, I'll stay, and I did.
It's almost embarrassing, the kitschification of 3,000 people's deaths. Other cities have experienced far worse catastrophes.
One wouldn't dream of slighting these people, it is awful, but we need to keep a sense of proportion about these things. What we've been witnessing since September 11 is an orgy of national narcissism and a gratuitous sense of victimisation that is repellent.

Enough already. Philip Roth finds New York boring, unless it is a city in crisis? It takes the wholesale slaughter of 300 people, and financial losses in the billions to make New York interesting? Talk about your ivory tower! Mr. Roth, I hope east Tennessee never becomes "interesting" to you. You know what's really sad? The fact that a man renowned for his abilities with the English language, famous for his insight into the American character, could be blind enough to say these things. Stick to writing, Philip, cause off the cuff, you're just embarrassing...

2002-10-17T22:29:00.000-04:00

Horsewhipping sounds about right to me
Can you believe this jerk?

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - A witness who says he saw the Washington-area sniper fire with an assault rifle and flee in a cream-colored van gave a phony story, investigators said Thursday in a setback that casts doubt on much of what the public thought it knew about the roving killer.
Prosecutors are investigating the witness, whose name wasn't released, to determine whether he should be charged with filing a false statement.
Fairfax County police Lt. Amy Lubas said the inaccurate account didn't match that of other witnesses to Monday night's killing of an FBI (news - web sites) cyberterrorism analyst in a crowded Virginia parking lot outside a Home Depot. It was the only shooting so far that people actually saw.
Asked if the witness intentionally misled investigators with his description of a cream-colored van and a burned-out rear taillight, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, who is heading the investigation, said simply, "Yes."

I don't know this guy's name, or why he would choose to lie about this, and I don't really care. People are living in fear, and this idiot has the balls to make things worse, as a prank!

I was wrong; horsewhipping is too good for him.

UPDATE:

I wrote last night that the change in methdology of the sniper indicated a lack of professionalism, which tended to argue against his being militarily trained. Now, that is out the window, since the report of the witness has been discredited. It now appears that the sniper held true to form, and fired from a distance of over 100 yards.

2002-10-17T06:48:00.000-04:00

Geting there! It ain't pretty, and I'm having trouble getting my blogger entries imported, but the new home for Shots Across the bow is up and running. I don't have the domain name registered yet, so for now, you'll have to use this addy:
http://64.21.37.2/~rhailey/weblog

I expect the domain name will be active in about a week, and then the addy will be
http://www.shotsacrossthebow.com/weblog

I'll keep posting here until I get everything in order over there.

2002-10-17T01:15:00.000-04:00

First Bigfoot, now Big Bird? Anchorage, Alaska is being visited by a bird the size of a small airplane.

A giant winged creature, like something out of Jurassic Park, has reportedly been sighted several times in Southwest Alaska in recent weeks.

Villagers in Togiak and Manokotak say they have seen a huge bird that's much bigger than anything they have seen before.

A pilot says he spotted the creature while flying passengers to Manokotak last week. He calculated that its wingspan matched the length of a wing on his Cessna 207. That's about 14 feet.

Other people have put the wingspan in a similar range.

reminds me of the Mothman...

2002-10-17T00:50:00.000-04:00

Sniper not a pro
I'm not an expert, but I don't think the DC sniper is a professional, i.e. somebody with extensive training and/or experience. Some of his actions just don't jibe:
He approached within 40 feet of his last target, risking needless exposure. The area is highly populated, making concealment difficult at best. Since he chooses his targets at random, the sniper could easily have picked another target at a more remote location, one where his chances of being seen would be reduced significantly.
If the tarot card was left by the sniper, it would be out of character for a professional, who would maintain his anonymity. He seems to be leading with his ego now, almost daring the police to catch him.

2002-10-17T00:26:00.000-04:00

'Axis of evil' validated!
President Bush took a lot of heat for identifying three nations as comprising an "axis of evil," hearkening back to WWII. His critics said he was overstating his case, that there was no call to lump Iran and North Korea in with Iraq. Indeed, some said that even Iraq did not deserve the designation.

Today, those critics just took a sucker punch to the gut, as North Korea admitted to carrying out a nuclear weapons research program in direct violation of the 1994 agreement.

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a startling revelation, North Korea (news - web sites) has told the United States it has a secret nuclear weapons program in violation of an 1994 agreement with the United States, the White House said Wednesday night.
Spokesman Sean McCormack called the North Korean disclosure a serious infringement of the agreement, under which Pyongyang promised not to develop nuclear weapons.
U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said North Korea told U.S. officials that it was no longer bound by the anti-nuclear agreement.

Chalk one up for the President. Now, what are we going to do about it?

Talk.

McCormack said the United States is consulting with it allies, South Korea (news - web sites) and Japan, and with members of Congress on next steps.

"We seek a peaceful resolution of this situation," McCormack said. "Everyone in the region has a stake in this issue and no peaceful nation wants to see a nuclear-armed North Korea."

"The United States and our allies call on North Korea to comply with its commitments under the nonproliferation treaty and to eliminate its nuclear weapons program in a verifiable manner."

That'll teach 'em!

Here's the scary part:

Until now, the United States' main concern with North Korea has been its sale of ballistic missiles to Syria, Iran and other countries. Now North Korea's nuclear program is added to the mix.

The United States has been suspicious about North Korea's nuclear intentions for some time despite the agreement.

A CIA report in January said that during the second half of last year, North Korea "continued its attempts to procure technology worldwide that could have applications in its nuclear program.F

"We assess that North Korea has produced enough plutonium for at least one, and possibly two, nuclear weapons."

Ballistic missiles and enough Pu for 1 or 2 bombs. If you have the Pu, and you have the delivery vehicle, what's left ain't rocket science folks. N Korea will have a nuclear missile within the year, if they don't already. Something to consider: Why would they admit to a research program, unless they had alredy completed the research?

2002-10-16T18:06:00.000-04:00

If you're on my site now, you'll see some drastic changes. Don't worry, I'm just exporting my files for MT

2002-10-16T01:36:00.000-04:00

Oh happy day! I have my new page working, and am getting Movable Type installed. I actually have it responding right now. The next step will be to move my archives over there, and set up a template. Things are progressing nicely.

2002-10-15T10:28:00.000-04:00

A different perspective
A friend of mine at work brought up an interesting point about the Beltway sniper. While his method of execution leads us to think he must have some military or paramilitary background, we have to remember that any hunter worth his salt with a decent rifle and scope could make the shots the sniper has been making.

2002-10-15T06:43:00.000-04:00

I may not know much about art but this makes me glad I don't! From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Damien Hirst, one of Britain's most celebrated artists, told the BBC last month that the Sept. 11 attacks were "visually stunning" artworks and that the perpetrators "need congratulating." He's sorry for that now.

"You've got to hand it to them on some level," he originally said of the murderers, "because they've achieved something which nobody would have thought possible."

This from a guy who's chief claim to fame is slicing up animals and putting them on display.

Next we hear from Gail Haffern of New Zealand:

Meanwhile, as Hirst was slapping al Qaeda on its collective back, a New Zealand artist named Gail Haffern was telling the Auckland art press that the destruction of the World Trade Center while filled with people was "wonderful .

. . because it was a new idea."

Haffern's only notable achievement is that she holds New Zealand's first- ever doctorate in fine arts. "Being an artist," she says of her reaction to the attacks, "I thought what if this had been a performance piece and Osama bin Laden had declared himself an artist, how would the world have seen it then?" Her answer is a sculptural installation involving representations of the trade towers, surrounded by blocks featuring such "wordplay" as "Pentagone. "

I can't wait to see what she does with the Bali bombing....

Finally we hear from Karlheinz Stockhausen, noted composer:

Stockhausen was speaking to journalists in Hamburg, Germany, a few days after the attacks, and called the destruction "the greatest work of art ever." Stockhausen immediately asked the interviewers not to report what he had said.

The piece further quotes him:

That characters can bring about in one act what we in music cannot dream of, that people practice madly for 10 years, completely fanatically, for a concert and then die. That is the greatest work of art for the whole cosmos."

I'm speechless...

2002-10-15T06:33:00.000-04:00

I've been slumming over at WarbloggerWatch and I ran across the most amusing piece by Philip Shropshire. In it, he challenges warbloggers to send him on an all expense paid trip to Iraq. This is apparently an extension of the tired "chickenhawk" argument, where the extreme left criticizes anybody who supports a war against Iraq if they aren't currently enlisted in the armed forces. He "proves" his own validity by volunteering to go to Iraq, buth then insists on so many restrictions and provision to ensure that nobody takes him seriously. The whole exchange reminds me of Usenet flamewars, where one idiot threatens another idiot with an ass whipping, even though they may be separated by 1000 miles. Easy to brag when you know the chances are good you won't get called on to put up or shut up.

The hilarity really gets going with this bit:

It takes a certain amount of wealth to be a rebel. The upper middle class people who threw their planes into buildings didn’t think like Americans. True, they had wealth and privilege but they didn’t think of themselves as rich because, unlike Americans—the bestest greatest keenest group of folks in the world who wouldn’t dream of killing 1 or 2 million peasants in Guatemala or East Timor—they probably thought I’m not rich unless my people are rich.

Yep, the Sauds are known throughout the world for their generousity. The Royal Family is dedicated to ensuring that their vast wealth is distributed equitably among their people. Of course, the gap between the rich and poor in Saudi Arabia is approximately 100 times the gap in the US, but who's counting? Besides, it's the US's fault that the gap is so wide; after all, we keep insisting on giving the Saudi princes more oil money. The princes just can't give it away fast enough. So, in a remarkable generous move, they spend it all on cars, and palaces, and limos, and trips, distributing that wealth the best way they can. Sadly, most of what they purchase comes from outside the country, so the peasants really don't feel the benefit of this income redistribution, but I'm sure they appreciate the gesture. What wonderful people these wealthy rebels are!

Not content with this howler, Philip continues:

Let's assume for a moment that our country is run by oilman and let us assume that maybe they've concluded that the biggest threat to their Crack-like oil supply is not the Arab countries, but a country that has over 400 nuclear weapons. Now, Sharon has said that he'll retaliate if Saddam attacks Israel with germ warfare. I'm making the assumption that Sharon means nuclear weapons. But what if the US doesn't let him? What if they decide to attack Israel preemptively in order to protect the oil supply?

So Philip finds it conceivable that the US would launch a pre-emptive strike against Israel, to prevent them from launching a counter strike against Iraq, which would attack Israel in response to a pre-emptive strike from the US. I haven't laughed that hard since the first time I heard Abbott and Costello perform "Who's on First?"

Philip continues with this bit of fluff:

I just don't think that force creates longterm peace or stability...

Define "long term peace and stability," Philip, then tell us how disputes may be settled without the application of force.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Force, or the threat of force is the ultimate arbiter of all disputes. It ranges from a parent withholding privileges from a naughty child all the way to full scale war. Even diplomacy is the application of force, albeit implicitly rather than directly.

Peace is not the natural state of man, as any student of human history, or biology for that matter, can tell you. Coexistence involves a balance of power, and that balance is constantly shifting. Every group seeks an advantage, utilizing all available resources to get ahead. Groups which do not do so quickly fall behind, and die out. This is a natural consequence of the evolutionary process, and man is the ultimate result (so far) of this process. To expect the species to abandon the strategy which has proven so successful is like a child wishing for the moon. It ain't gonna happen. And if by some strange chance it does happen, then it will be another species' time to go for the gold. ( My bet would be on dogs. They aren't all that smart, but their evolutionary path has mimicked that of man. No other species of animal has adapted to such a wide range of environments while maintain species integrity.) What pacifists call peace is a temporary condition when all interacting forces are at equilibrium, and the system is at rest. This is also known as stagnation. Not a good thing, evolutioanally speaking. Fortunately, the real definition of peace has more in common with Ambrose Bierce's definition:

In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.

In other words, the game continues, we just put our guns under the table for awhile. However, all diplomacy is bolstered b those guns, even when they are under the table. Come to the game unarmed, and you are guaranteed to walk out a loser.

Philip finishes up with a little gratuitous name calling, but we'll let that slide.

2002-10-15T03:41:00.000-04:00

You heard it here first!
I said here that the Washington sniper was a terrorist. Now it looks like the experts agree:

The recent sniper shootings in the Washington, D.C., area are probably terrorist attacks rather than the work of a traditional "spree killer," according to a local psychologist who specializes in violent behavior.

Dr. Helen Smith, a forensic psychologist and author of the book "The Scarred Heart," earned her doctorate from the University of Tennessee in 1994. She often is called to testify as an expert witness in Juvenile Court proceedings; in "The Scarred Heart," she dedicated a chapter to the 1997 Lillelid murder case in Greene County, and she is currently making a documentary on the slayings.

"This is most likely a terrorist act, that's my take on it," Smith said of the D.C.-area shootings, which began Oct. 2 and have claimed the lives of eight people so far. "It's not typical, it just doesn't really meet any of the profiles we look at."

She goes on:

According to Smith, the real target of the sniper or snipers in the Washington area is the larger community rather than individuals.

"The anger's not toward the victims, it's toward the community," she said. "People use guns because you can step back, make it impersonal. They're probably not even seeing these people as actual people, but as things or objects used to further their goal, whatever their goal is."

My thoughts exactly.

2002-10-13T00:02:00.000-04:00

The move
OK, the first steps are underway. I have a new host, a domain name, and I've downloaded an FTP client. Now, all I have to do is figure out how to get all the parts working together. AS soon as the new site is running, I'll post a link to it here.

2002-10-12T23:59:00.000-04:00

The Good, the Bad, and the UGA
Well, the game is over, and I wish I was eating crow right now, but it was not to be.

The Good
James Banks--Give this young man the ball. Send Clausen home to momma, cause James is money in the bank. He's quick, fast, and can throw the ball. He performed better as a true freshman than Clausen has in his entire career.

Tennessee stuffed the run all afternoon. The defensive line and linebackers never allowed Ga to get their rushing game going.

Cory Larkins showed passion, and some nifty moves on punt and kickoff returns.

Tennessee's rushing game finally seemed to get a spark, despite the mediocre performance of the offensive line.

The Bad

The offensive line couldn't open a hole, unless it was to allow a blitzing linebacker in to harass our quarterback, or a stunting defensive end to block a punt. The failure of this unit to live up to their potential is one of the most glaring problems with this team. Granted, they were handicapped by Randy Sanders and his completely predictable offensive scheme.

The secondary couldn't cover me. 'nuff said.

The Ugly

Everybody in the stadium knew the Vols were going to run. Unfortunately, that included the Dawg defense, who played all afternoon with 7-8 players in the box. They dared the Vols to throw the ball, and Sanders failed to respond. I don't accept the excuse of Clausen's injury for two reasons. First, on the few passes they did try, Leak and Banks were on target for the most part. They certainly performed as well as Clausen has. Second, a coaching staff must be prepared for an injury to key personnel. Tennessee's staf failed to do so. Fulmer pinned the hopes of the entire team on one man's shoulders. Obviously, they couldn't carry the load.

The officiating. It seems strange to me that every team the Vols play is almost flawless as far as penalties go(Scroll down). Tennessee's opponents have been penalized 20 times for an average of under 35 yards per game. That's the least in the SEC by a long shot. LSU's opponents are next on the list with 33 penalties over 5 games for an average of 52 yards per game. That's a significant jump.

The secondary. Yeah, I know I listed them under the bad, but they were really bad.

2002-10-11T08:16:00.000-04:00

You want a lottery? Sure! Why not?

Joe Sullivan tries to tell us why not in the Metro Pulse. Joe writes an article with the thesis that pouring 300 million dollars per year into higher education, funded through a totally voluntary contribution, is a bad thing. He tries really hard, but is doomed to failure by the ridiculous nature of his premise.
The mental gymnastics required to prove such a strange idea lead him into some incredible contortions of logic. Here's one example:

Beyond that, retaining better students has helped in raising admission standards at the University of Georgia to the point where SAT scores of enrollees now average 1210, up from 1161 in 1993. And improving the quality of its student body contributes to improving the quality of a university.

But in Tennessee:

A leading lottery proponent, Sen. Steve Cohen, suggests that any pinch resulting from heightened demand for higher ed can be dealt with by making enrollment more selective. But this is an unacceptable answer. Some form of higher ed should be accessible to anyone who is prepared for it.

So raising the standards is good if you're Georgia, but bad if you're Tennessee? Nice try Joe. But wait, there's more! Joe goes on to say:

While UT would welcome making its student body more select, and other four-year universities might follow its lead in capping their enrollments, that only pushes the added demand down into the community colleges (where poorer qualified students probably belong).

So now he agrees with raising standards. I'm getting whiplash here! First it's good, then bad, then grudgingly good again.

As a brief aside, I think anybody who has to take any basic skills courses is by definition unready for college, and should not be admitted to a four year university. At UT, like most state universities, that equals roughly half the student body. Pathetic.

So why is Joe flopping around like a fish on a hook? The answer is in his opening paragraph.

If you can get past the fact that a lottery is a rip-off that mainly exploits poor people, then you can get to the question of whether lottery revenues can benefit the state sufficiently for the end to justify the means.

Let's deconstruct this little beauty, shall we?

"Rip-off." implies that the Lottery would not deliver what it promises to those who play. Obviously, this is incorrect. The odds of winning are published; the jackpot is calculated based on the level of play, and is also published. Every prize claimed is paid. It isn't a rip-off. Sure, you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than hitting the jackpot, but that doesn't make it a rip-off, just a poor investment. You don't play the lottery to fund your retirement; you play it for the dream.
"Mainly exploits poor people." Nope, mainly exploits greed and laziness. We all want something for nothing. We all want to get the better end of the bargain. A lottery uses that universal desire to draw people into it's game. Somebody who really wants to get ahead may drop a dollar or two on the lottery for fun, but will concentrate his investment in time and effort in areas that have a much greater chance of success. Only the lazy would depend on the lottery to solve all their problems.
So the poor play the lottery with greater frequency that those who are comfortable. Are they coerced into doing so? Nope. Nobody forces them to play, so how are they exploited? Mr. Sullivan is demonstrating a subtle form of elitism here that is endemic on the left. He is reducing the autonomy of the poor folks by refusing to allow them to make their own decisions, and live with the consequences of those decisions. In effect, he is declaring them to be incapable of managing their own funds.
"Whether lottery revenues can benefit the state sufficiently for the end to justify the means." In effect, the lottery is a mean horrible nasty business, but if it pays well enough, maybe it will be worth it. 'nuff said.

Now, his final paragraph:

For the most part, though, the proposed state lottery looks to me like a way to get mostly poor people to pay for the college education's of families that are mostly better off. Voters should reject such an insidious income transfer system.

Once again, the lottery is voluntary. Nobody has to play.

2002-10-11T04:09:00.000-04:00

Pop Quiz

When is a terrorist not a terrorist?

A. When he is a freedom fighter.
B. When you agree with his cause.
C. When labeling him as a terrorist would cause widespread fear and panic.
D. When his motives are unknown.
E. All of the above.

The whack job running around Maryland and Virginia shooting innocent people for reasons unknown is a terrorist, pure and simple, no different than Timothy McVeigh, or the dogs that crashed into the WTC. While his (or her) affiliation is yet to be determined, the sniper's activities does not fit the typical profile of a serial killer, or a mass murderer. These aren't rage killings, carried out sporadically in the heat of passion, nor is it a single orgy of violence, spending itself in a furythat ends with the destruction of the killer, nor is it the planned, almost ritualized actions of the serial killer. These are the actions of a rational individual, planned to maximize the fear, while allowing the killer to continuekilling for as long as possible. He will continue to kill until he is himself gunned down, which won't happen anytime soon, given the random nature of his actions. There are some reports that there are two individuals involved, acting in tandem, which suggests a professional sniper team. So, we have a team of professionals acting to maximize fear and confusion by the random slaughter of innocent people. Sure sounds like terrorism to me. This is a suicide bomber, streamlined and upgraded for American consumption.

So, what can we expect over the next few days? I can think of two possibilities. The team continues to kill until they are caught, or they kill for a little while longer, then quit for awhile, to let the tension build. Once people start to relax, they go back into action, or another team begins in a different region. That's probably my worst fear. Even if these guys are not affiliated with a major terrorist group, even if they are just a couple of crazies, they are providing a detailed blueprint to the real terrorists on how to strike at American targets without reprisals.

2002-10-11T01:41:00.000-04:00

Enough is enough! I'm outta here!

No, I'm not quitting the blog, but I am packing up for better digs. This template error thing is driving me nuts. That, combined with the trouble I'm having getting my homepage set up as an image server has convinced me that the old saying is true: you get what you pay for.

Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to be moving to a new hosting service, and changing from Blogger to Movable Type. Yep, it's time to take off the trainig wheels! I will still be posting here for a while, as I get the new site set up, and I'll let you all know before I make the change.

Here's the part where you can get involved. Tell me what you like and don't like about this site, anything from content to presentation. What features should I add? Since I'm doing a major overhaul, now is the time. All suggestions are welcome. The only restriction is that I won't do nudity unless it's integral to the plot, and then only if it's tastefully done. Or if I'm offered a lot of money.

2002-10-11T01:34:00.000-04:00

And now for sports
All right all you rabid UT Vol fans, you might want to look away for a bit: This is going to get ugly.

I'll start by saying that I am a Volunteer fan, and have been for 20 years or more. I've stuck with them through the bad times, as well as the good. I've cruised with the Vol Navy, sat in the student section when we beat Bama for the first time in 11 years, brought my kids to the Orange and White games, taken my boys to see the whole package, from the Vol walk before the game to the endless tailgate parties afterward. I went to the National championship celebration in Neyland Stadium, and heard the crowd roar for each play on the Jumbotron, just like it was live, instead of taped.
I've watched the Vols all over the country, while I was in the Navy.
I watched the 'Miracle at South Bend' from a ship in San Diego. Some folks wanted to change the channel after the first half, but they couldn't get past me, anymore than Notre Dame could get past our defense during the second half.
I watched a Vol team with a 5th year senior second string quarterback wipe out what was billed to be the best team in the land.
I watched a good Vol team get wiped out by a better Nebraska team. Twice.
I watched us lose to Penn State. Twice.
I've seen them play so far above themselves that it seemed like God Himself must be a Vol fan. I've also seen them play so far beneath their abilities that I had to wonder why they bothered showing up at all.
My car, a white Tracker, is adorned with Vol Magnets and insignia.
I have two vintage 1970 UT helmet lamps that I completely rebuilt.
I'm designing a mural to go on my living room wall that will include Neyland Stadium, the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, the Vol Walk, and Smokey.

But I'm not a fanatic, and I have eyes.

This team has no heart. I know, we just one a 6 overtime game. Doesn't that show they have heart?

Those 6 overtimes remind me of the worst boxing match I ever watched, between Leon Spinks and Randall "Tex" Cobb. Both men were completely out of shape, and neither could hurt the other. The fight turned into two fat men shambling around in the ring, waiting for the other to fall down under the inexorable pull of gravity. Arkansas and Tennessee were like that last Saturday. It didn't come down to who wanted to win the most, but who cared the least.

So, who do I blame, the coaches or the players?

Both.

Will Ofenheusle cried for a week because fans booed during the Rutgers game. Hey Will, y'all allowed the worst rushing team in the Big east to run all over you, while your offensive line, ranked as one of the best in the nation during the preseason, couldn't tear open a hole in a wet paper bag. I think that kind of performance deserves a boo or two. I don't believe in booing poor performance if the effort is there, but when the entire team just lays down and quits, then the gloves come off.

The bottom line is this: the team was not ready to play this season. You can put part of that off on the coaches, and I do, but the players have to bear the brunt of the blame. Like Pat Summit always says, you can't coach intensity; that comes from within the player. Either you have it as a team, or you don't. This team doesn't.

There are individual exceptions of course. Jason Whitten works every minute he is on the field. He blocks well, and catches everything that comes his way. Colquitt has been kicking the leather off the ball this season, which has been the only thing that kept us in the game several times this season. Tony Brown can be counted on not to drop the ball, should Clausen ever look off of Washington. But they are the exceptions, rather than the rule. The team lacks leadership. They certainly don't get any from their quarterback, that aptly nicknamed "Iceman." He melts whenever the heat is on. Nor is there anybody on the defense standing up and taking charge.

All right, enough of this ranting. Maybe they will turn it around this week. AMybe they will pull it all together, and play like we know they can. Maybe Sanders will wake up and remember that to make first downs, you occasionally have to throw the ball vertically, instad of sideways. Maybe Chavis will convince his DBs to play a little less than 20 yards off of their receivers. Maybe the offensive line will gel, and start opening holes for Davis, Housten and the rest. Maybe Fulmer will put Riggs into the game when it still means something. If he can't pass block, that's OK, just put the ball in his hands and let him do what he does best. MAybe CJ leak will present some problems for a defense prepared for a stationary Clausen.

Then again, maybe not.
Georgia 35 Tennessee 17

Y'all feel free to write in and rag the hell out of me if we win. I promise I'll take it like a man, smiling the whole time. I hate Georgia.

2002-10-09T07:12:00.000-04:00

Under construction I've been working on getting my new homepage and image server integrated with this site. So far, it hasn't gone very well, but I think I'm getting closer. I have ftp access to the new sit now, and have copied a few images over, but haven't been able to link to them yet. It would help if I didn't have to sleep occasionally. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Too bad I can't get paid overtime for blogging!

2002-10-03T01:29:00.000-04:00

I'm a little confused So, the New Jersey Supreme Court has decided that it is more important for the Dems to have a viable candidate on the ballot than it is to uphold the current laws.

"Here we have a candidate, he's capable, he's able, he's just changed his mind about running," Associate Justice Jaynee LaVecchia said.

Yet Jaynee voted along with the rest to allow a replacement candidate, even though state law says the deadline for replacing a candidate had passed.

What a can of worms this opens up! If your candidate lags in the polls, replace him a month before the election with someone who stands a better chance.

Democratic lawyer Angelo J. Genova told the court that Torricelli is no longer the party's choice [emphasis mine], and voters should not be forced to check his name and hope a replacement would be selected later.

This is interesting. It doesn't matter what the people said during the primaries; only what the party says now. Pretty arrogant, if you ask me. Yet, the NJSC find it more democratic to junk the people's choice, and allow the party to put their man in. If I lived in New Jersey, I'd be outraged.

2002-10-03T01:20:00.000-04:00

Life and Art merge yet again

I just changed the quote at the top of the page, using a passage from The Lord of the Rings which is currently making the rounds throuh the blogosphere. It's interesting that a story written during the last world war should become such a large part of pop culture as we head into the next world war.

2002-10-02T00:19:00.000-04:00

Home again, home again, jiggity jig!

I'm back! Did you miss me?

The seminar was a good one, and the trip wasn't too bad, although I do have a story or two for y'all. Unfortunately, they may have to wait for a bit. I mashed the crap out of my index finger today working in my shop, and since I am a two finger typist, that ccuts my speed in half. So I hope you'll bear with me.

Also, the look of Shots may be changing over the next few days. I store all my images on a homepage from my ISP. They are relocating all their customer pages, and I haven't been able to get ftp access to my files to migrate to the new server, so I may lose some of my images for awhile. Again, bear with me and I'll get it all resolved in a few days..

2002-09-23T09:56:00.000-04:00

Blogger question Blogger is announcing several new services for a premium price. Do we have any reason to expect better performance and support for the premium? I'm still getting the template errors, bad permalinks, etc. If you can't fix what you have, why I should I pay for more stuff that won't work?

If Blogspot Pro and Blogger Pro work more reliably then the free versions, then the upgrade will be worthwhile. Anybody out there using the premium services? Are they any more reliable? Let me know.

2002-09-23T00:35:00.000-04:00

It's always something.
My modem at home just died. Fortunately, it's still under warrantee, but for the next couple of days, I'll be off-line, which is unfortunate because Tuesday morning, I'm off to Chicago for a management seminar. I won't be getting back until late Saturday afternoon, which means I'll miss the Rutgers game. I'm sure it will be a nail biter.

I'll see y'all Sunday.

2002-09-23T00:25:00.000-04:00

The Iceman melteth
Forget the bad calls.
Forget Gator offensive linemen tackling pass rushers.
Forget another phantom touchdown.
Forget stolen playbooks and rookie head coaches.
Forget ESPN pigs and Lee Corso crooning Rocky Top.
Forget the weather forecast.

The reason a low pressure system stalled over Neyland Stadium Saturday afternoon was that the Vols sucked!

Let’s talk about 16 missed tackles in one quarter.
Let’s talk about lining up with 12 men on the field.
Twice.
Let’s talk about an offensive line that couldn’t open a hole in a wet paper bag.
Let’s talk about a starting fullback who couldn’t pick up a blitzing linebacker if his life depended on it.
Let’s talk about a hothouse rose of a quarterback whose game falls to pieces if the wind blows wrong.
Let’s talk about a wide receiver who can run his mouth, but can’t run away from a badly burned safety.
Let’s talk about a defensive secondary that couldn’t cover two receivers with 5 defensive backs.
Let’s talk about an offensive coordinator calling the worst game in SEC history. Since when do you make the fullback your featured running back without moving him to the tailback position?
Let’s talk about a head coach who mortgaged the future of his program on a quarterback who simply can’t get the job done when the chips are down. Anybody remember the names Ratay, Suggs, Matthews? Can anybody name our current backup QB?

On second thought, let’s not talk about it. It’s too sickening.
Bright spots, and there were darned few of them:
The defensive line on the whole played well, rattling Grossman several times. Unfortunately, when your secondary plays 25 yards off of the receivers, the line’s efforts are usually wasted.
Jason Witten was Mr. Reliable, catching everything that came near him, and punishing would be tacklers.
I just saved $200, because I certainly won't be going to the Miami game.

My prediction, UT will lose to Georgia, Miami, and either Bama, South Carolina, or Kentucky, going 8-4 for the season, not including the Motor City Bowl, where, in a preview to next year, they will lose to the perenniel MAC 10 champion, Marshall.

I think I'll root for the Commodores for the rest of the season. They may suck, but they don't quit. They nearly pulled the upset over Ole Miss.

UPDATE: Casey Clausen has just announced that he is switching from football to boxing, where his "hands of stone" will be an asset.

UPDATE again: OVERRATED. The Vols, who were wildly overrated at number 4 are still overrated at number 11. 16 or 17 is more appropriate.

2002-09-19T13:30:00.000-04:00

Also in the pulse

Katie Allison Granju has a new essay in the Metro Pulse that's worth reading.

But as pleased as I am with my work-family balance, I sometimes wonder if by structuring my days primarily around my children's schedules rather than an employer's time clock, I am betraying the sacrifices and hard work of the previous two generations of women who paved the way so that I could pursue a professional life. I mean, did Sandra Day O'Connor, Geraldine Ferraro, and even my own grandmother and mother, highly successful journalists who blazed their own trails, work as hard as they did just so that I wouldn't be too tired after a long day at the office to read bedtime stories to my toddler? I have decided that they did.

Feminism is all about the power to choose. Half a century ago, it is likely that my current stay-at-home status wouldn't have been mine to accept or reject. Instead it simply would have been the way it was.

Now that's a feminism I can agree with. Both choices are validated.

2002-09-19T13:25:00.000-04:00

A little local fisking

I was reading through the August 29 issue of The Metro Pulse, Knoxville's alternative weekly paper, when I came across the latest writings of Massimo Pigliucci. Mr. Pigliucci, a member of the Rationalists of East Tennessee, and a professor at UT, writes a column published in Metro Pulse called Rationally Speaking. A quick read shows that there is no truth in advertising for this column. While the Pulse doesn't maintain an on-line archive, Mr. Pigliucci does, and has granted permission to reproduce his articles, so let the games begin!

First, let's look at his version of utopia:

The world some of us would like to see, and are fighting to help bring about with our actions and writings, is one in which more people will use reason to make their decisions; fundamentalist religion will be seen as silly at best, and profoundly misguided and dangerous at worst; the environment will be thought of a real priority; war will not be possible because of a truly civilized international system of police and tribunals (you know, just like modern societies are an improvement over the law of the jungle?); and human beings will engage not in the search for profit or shallow consumerism but in the pursuit of true happiness and fulfillment.

This is rational? OK, let's start by looking at the contradictions implicit in his utopia. First he elevates modern society over the law of the jungle, while denigrating every relevant aspect of those societies.

Religion? "Profoundly misguided and dangerous," not to mention "silly." Never mind that religion, regardless of the wrongs wrought , has been the single most civilizing influence on mankind. Yes, wars have been fought in the name of god, but hospitals have been built, charities founded, art sponsored, lives cherished in the same name. Religion has had a far more beneficial influence on the developement of man than it has a negative, a fact which is easily demonstrated. Religious thought is the first example of man applying some intrinsic value to life. In addition, the presence of an after life, with it's attendant restrictions on behavior, provided the first curbs on mankinds animal instincts, and provide the foundation for Mr. Pigliucci's "civilization." It may be that we have outgrown the need for religion, that we can approach life with reverence without the need ofr a supernatural presence. Looking at the world today, I don't think that case can be made, but even if it could, it does not in any way lessen the critical role religion played in getting us to this point.

Profit is also a bad thing, which distracts from true happiness and fulfillment. Never mind that the motivation for profit springs directly from our animal heritage, and as such is completely in tune with our evolutionary origins. Never mind that the desire for profit has created more prosperity and a higher standard of living for the entire world, not just the US. Yes, poverty still exists. But is it just coincidence that those countries with the highest poverty rates are also those countries with the most regulated economies? Is it an accident that every experiment in socialist economy wound up bankrupt? Or that North Korea is starving while South Korea is prospering? A rationalist would look for causality with this many coincidences. Mr. Pigliucci doesn't even consider the question.

He also takes to task our current systems of criminal justice and international law, the systems that brought security to a larger portion of the globe than ever before, implying that they are not "truly civilized" and comparing them to the law of the jungle.

Which brings me to the contradiction inherent in most rationalist philosophies. Mr. Pigliucci is a strict evolutionist. He allows for no religion, no moderating influences, no supernatural forces, no higher mode of being. As such, the only ethical system open to him, without engaging in blatant hypocrisy, is the law of the jungle. The only indicator of success in the evolutionary scheme is the ability of the organism to pass on its genetic code. Any ethical system that compromises that success will die out and be replaced by one that improves the chances for success. Over several million years of evolution, the "law of the jungle" has proven to be the most effective ethical system. Remember that through evolution, we too are the end result of the law of the jungle, and holding ourselves apart from it, in the absence of some other operative force, is sheer hubris.

If we look honestly at our global society today, we see, in fact, that the law of the jungle, regardless of what thin veneers of “civilization” we may have enacted, rules us. The ultimate arbiter of conflict continues to be the application of force, up to and including physical violence. Whether that force is carried out by an individual, or the collective will of the people is immaterial. We still live in a world where might makes right. Unless of course you subscribe to a supernatural system of absolutes. Which, of course, is silly, and might even be dangerous.

I won't hold Mr. Pigliucci's failure to provide any specifics against him. He may have done so elsewhere, and that wasn't the thrust of this article. I'll just note that it is easy to say you are for a "truly civilized international system of police and tribunals." The devil is in the details. What is "truly civilized?" Is there a base package of values, some core of ethics upon which all nations would voluntarily agree? If so, what is the basis for those ethics? Could a body organized around those ethical principles use force to compel compliance from those who have a different set of core values? If so, aren't we back to the law of the jungle, supplemented with the rule of the herd?

Just as an example, Muslim culture directly incorporates religion into their political structure. Mr. Pigliucci would view this as "silly at best, and profoundly misguided and dangerous at worst." Would his international tribunal system force Muslims to renounce or modify their beliefs? Would they be allowed to use violence to do so?

Moving a little further in his article we find this:

To make it even worse, now we have a president who was not elected democratically (hey, I thought that happened only in Third World countries!), who keeps showing a callous disrespect for the environment and an equally abominable close tie to big business, and of whom (for some reason) most people keep approving because he has “character” (by which they must mean that he is able to lie about his past better than Clinton did).

A rationalist? Not by this passage.

First, President Bush was elected in accordance with the laws of our nation, as has every president before him. He is not the first to win the electoral vote while losing the popular vote, nor will he be the last. This in no way illegitimizes his presidency, or means that he was elected undemocratically. The character slur at the end is totally without foundation, and stands as a vacuous attack on a man he doesn't like. What lies about his past has Bush told, and how were they more successful than Clinton's? Both were elected in spite of their pasts. Apparently they were equally successful. Maybe President Bush is seen to have more character because he appears to have learned from his mistakes. While Clinton carried his lying, womanizing ways with him into the White House, President Bush left his wild oats behind him.

Next comes this howler:

Let’s not forget that the Soviet Union and the Berlin wall crumbled in front of our eyes after having been apparently unfaltering symbols of oppression for decades. Equally surprisingly, Nelson Mandela went from political prisoner to head of state in South Africa, and the Milosovic government in the former Yugoslavia disappeared. These things don’t happen if we leave the field entirely to conservative and regressive forces.

Hmmm. Who was President in 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released? And in 1991 when he was elected President of the ANC? And who challenged the Soviet Union to remove the Wall, and who was President when it came down? And who's policies, widely opposed by the left, contributed directly to the economic collapse of the Soviet Union? Why, it was none other than the demon himself, Ronald Reagan. To claim these events as victories of the left is sheer balderdash, unless you want to claim Reagan as a fellow liberal. Or maybe you want to claim that these things happened in spite of Reagan and the Republicans, that when President Reagan said, "Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this Wall!" he didn't really mean it. Maybe the fuss kicked up by Tip O'Neill and the Democrats in the Congress trying to prevent the President from carrying out his agenda was all a smoke screen, designed to sow confusion among the American people. Maybe Reagan was a tool of the left all along.

In a pigs eye!

Mr. Pigliucci does not present a rational argument anywhere in this article, preferring instead to rely upon personal attack, unfounded accusation, and a rather embarrassing mistatement of recent national and international history.

But he does type well...

2002-09-19T03:26:00.000-04:00

A Musical Note
Since Lionel Hampton died a few days ago, tonight I pulled out an old movie from my collection, A Song is Born, which featured Hampton, along with many jazz legends, including Benny Goodman, Mel Powell, Tommy Dorsey, and Louis Armstrong. The movie itself is a little lame, but the music, mostly in the first half, makes all of Danny Kaye's stumbling and stammering worthwhile.

I also listened to Hampton's set on Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall concert. A lot of musicians achieve competence through sheer hard work, perserverence, and dedication. Others achieve fame through luck, good marketing, or having the right sound for the times. But only a rare few are born to play. Lionel Hampton was one, as was Charlie Parker, Goodman, Miles Davis, among others. They take their music to a new level, not so much playing their instruments as speaking through them. It's the difference between playing music and being a musician.

2002-09-16T03:46:00.000-04:00

New additions I've just added a few new links to the list on your left. First up is the Home page for the 172 Detachment 1 group, currently operating in Afghanistan in Enduring Freedom. Yep, they have a page, and a blog on the page. Check 'em out and give them your support.

Next up are two Tennessee bloggers, Say Uncle, and William Burton Welcome to the fray, folks!

2002-09-16T03:16:00.000-04:00

Wobbly? Like hell!
I was working out at the gym on Saturday and was listening to Pres. Bush and his press conference with the Italian Prime minister. Not only did he challenge the relevance of the UN, he compared that organization to the League of Nations! This after verbally bitch slapping the General Assembly with their own complacency. Their lack of reaction to his challenge only shows the depths of their decadence. Think about it for a minute. Bush detailed how Iraq is flouting 16 different UN resolutions, and the concensus of the General Assembly so far has been to suggest, you got it, another resolution. I'm sure Saddam is losing sleep over that prosepect.

"Oh no! The UN is going to pass another resolution! I had better let those inspectors back in right away!"

Yeah, right.

I know this may not be a popular course of action with liberals, and maybe even some conervatives, but all the President is saying is that the UN must act to enforce it's resolutions or those resolutions become irrelevant, as does the UN itself. This is not a radical position to take. Every parent knows that if you set a rule for a child, you must enforce that rule consistently, otherwise not only will the kid disobey that rule, he will begin to break all the rules. Enforcement of the rules entails the use of force, and that force must be administered appropriately. Like I was saying below, diplopmacy is powerless without a credible force to back it up. The UN is rapidly squandering whatever credibility it once had by failing to enforce its dictates appropriately. Isn't it ironic that the UN is spending far more energy trying to prevent the US from enforcing the resolutions against Iraq than in trying to get Iraq to comply?

Listening to the President speak before the UN, and again on Saturday, I was struck by the impression that he is laying the ground work for a US withdrawal from the UN.

2002-09-12T04:28:00.000-04:00

It's called a double standard. You might want to look into it. OK. Find the logical flaw in this argument:

Lawyers for Natallie Evans and Lorraine Hadley filed papers in the court as the first step to challenging a law that says both parties must consent to the storage and use of frozen embryos. The women argue the law violates their human rights because they are now infertile...Muiris Lyons, the women's lawyer, said the case would affect everyone in Britain undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.

"The law as it stands gives their respective former partners a complete veto. They say that is unfair and discriminatory," said Lyons....Lyons said lawyers would argue that if Evans and Hadley had become pregnant naturally and the embryos were in their bodies, their partners would have no say at all.

So, according to Lyons, it's OK if the mother gets a complete veto, but not the father.

I'm not a lawyer. but the reasoning seems a little fishy to me. First, the whole argument for giving the mother unqualified control over the destiny of her fetus is the fact that it is in her body, or as some put it, "My body; my choice." If the embryo isn't in her body, that reasoning no longer applies. The fact is that they didn't become pregnant naturally, the embryos have never implanted in their uterus, so why should they have any more say in the outcome than the fathers? It follows that if both have an equal say, and they can't reach an agreement, then the embryos should not be implanted.

2002-09-12T02:33:00.000-04:00

A Different Perspective
I watched some of the coverage this morning after I got home from work. I've read a lot of the blogs covering the coverage, including those that say we're carrying on too much about it. Apparently some folks see this as a healing catharsis, a way of gaining a little closure and moving on, while others see it as picking at a scab, rather than letting it heal. I see it a little bit differently. I see a people standing together, mourning our dead, saluting our heroes, and saying to the world "NEVER AGAIN!" We are commemorating an event that, God willing, will remain unique in American History. We remind ourselves that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and complacency leads to tragedy. We remind ourselves that Evil does exist in the world, and it can't be appeased or ignored. There are people who are opposed to our very existence, and will use any means at their disposal to hurt us. The history of man is a bloody tangle of war and destruction, and the last few decades of relative peace and stability is the exception, rather than the rule. We forgot that for awhile, getting lost in a morass of moral relativism and wishful thinking. We said to the world, "Can't we all just get along?"

The answer was,"No."

I remember that the nuns at school used to teach us that fighting never solved anything. Tell that to the slaves freed during the War Betwee the States. Or to the American Indians. Or to the Carthaginians, if you can find any. The use of force has solved every major question throughout history. We pretend to be civilized now, and tell ourselves that we solve our problems with diplomacy rather than armies, but diplomacy doesn't mean a tinker's damn without the army to back it up. Just as an example, let's look at Iraq. They have violated the agreements which ended the Gulf War, and have faced no repercussions from the international community or the UN. Hussein knows that the UN will not act, and therefore he ignores their 'diplomacy.' He makes the right noises, but does nothing. The only diplomacy a rogue will accept comes at the end of a rifle barrel, and only if he thinks you have the will to pull the trigger.
Of course, the nuns also told us that it takes two to make a fight. Wrong again, Sister. Or partially right, at best. It's true that you need two sides to make a fight, but if one side refuses to fight, that doesn't eliminate the fight; it just makes it a lot shorter, and grants the aggressor an easy victory. Look at WWII. Had the Allies not fought back, would the world be a better place now?

Bottom line is there comes a time when war is necessary. Now is such a time. We can wait longer, let our enemies grow stronger, let them hit us again, let them strike at our citizens, our families, our children, but why? Hussein has declared war on the US, and never rescinded that declaration. We have evidence that he is seeking the capability to inflict great harm to our nation. Do we have to wait until another 3000 people die before we act?

I don't think so. You don't let a rabid dog bite your kids before putting him down.

2002-09-11T07:24:00.000-04:00

America, What a Country!

They were a young couple in their mid twenties, just starting out. He worked in construction, or maybe as an auto body mechanic. He had close-cropped hair, and wore a Smith and Wesson muscle shirt. She was plump, but not overly so, and was on her lunch break from the Dollar Store. They both had the harried look of a couple for whom income almost precisely matched expenses, leaving precious little margin for error. He made 10 dollars an hour or so, and she chipped in 6, and they were making it, not living high and fancy, but there was a nice double wide that would be theirs after another 236 payments, and the requisite pick up truck out in the parking lot with 85,000 miles on it that he had bought back when he was still single. You could see that the day was coming soon when the pick up would be traded in for a minivan, or a used SUV if he had a good year. Just getting by and dreaming of the days when they would do more than get by, and might even get a little ahead. There was a bass boat with his name on it, as well as some new living room furniture to replace the hand me downs they got as a gift from her parents when they got married.

They had decided to eat out for lunch today, maybe to celebrate a promotion, or to enjoy some time together, or maybe because she was too busy or tired to cook. He brought their daughter, a cute little girl about 5 years old with him to see Mommy. They had come to the local buffet, because the food was good, and cheap. With an ease born of experience they traded off watching the little girl as plates were filled; she watched the little girl while he got his salad, then she got her daughter’s food. Then while they ate, she went back for her food. Dad got their daughter for the second round, and so on. They talked all through lunch, sharing their days and laughing with their daughter.

The buffet was impressive, steam and refrigerator tables loaded with food. There was fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy (it’s required by law that all buffets serve fried chicken). There was lasagna, taco salads, grilled chicken breasts, pork cutlets, baked fish, fried okra, lima beans, spinach, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, sweet potato wedges, several relishes, pizza, spaghetti, sandwich fixins’, a full salad bar with spring onions, lettuce spinach, tomatoes, sliced, or cherry, diced ham and turkey, shredded cheese, real crumbled bacon, several dressings. Off to the side was the dessert bar, with puddings, gelatins, cakes, pies, and ice cream. He made three trips and she made two, and the little girl made four (two to the dessert bar).

The price for this magnificent feast for three?

Under $18.00 including tip.

Think about that for a minute. For basically one hour’s labor, this blue-collar family was able to eat a meal rivaling Bacchanalian banquets. What a country!

At the same restaurant, there was a girl named Amy waiting tables. She was a pretty little thing, in her early twenties, and sporting a gaudy engagement/wedding ring. She was well dressed, with expensive jewelry, and there was an innocence to her expression that told she had never had to struggle for anything. She had a nice smile as she greeted her customers, and rushed to fill their drink glasses while they headed to the buffet. She carried a little of that smile with her as she worked, like she had a small secret she found amusing. Around 2:30, her husband showed up in their new Audi with their son, a 5-year-old tyke just out of pre-school. Her husband was neatly attired in slacks and a dress shirt, tie pulled loose at the neck as he led his little boy towards the back of the restaurant. He said hello to his wife as she moved to hug him, then stopped at the barely perceptible shake of his head. He wasn’t one for public displays of affection; it just didn’t fit his image.

The little boy pulled up a chair to one of the tables in the back, crossed his legs on the seat, and began coloring as his dad said goodbye and went out to the car, straightening his tie as he headed back to the office. Amy gave her son a quick hug and went back to waiting tables. The little boys eyes followed her hungrily as she moved around the restaurant, refilling drinks, seating new customers and bussing tables. Every now and then, she would look over at her boy, and when their eyes met, his face lit up with a huge grin. Eventually her shift would end, and she would take her little boy home to the suburb, make dinner, then plop down in front of the TV for a few hours of mindless entertainment before going to bed. Her husband would stay at work late, working to pay for the Audi, the house, the second car they planned on getting soon, and to put money away for his son’s college fund. The little boy would play video games in his room until bedtime, then come downstairs to kiss his mommy goodnight, and go to bed. Tomorrow, the story would play out again, and again, as Daddy got ahead, and Mommy got her pin money, and the little boy got...what?

What a country!

2002-09-11T01:48:00.000-04:00

A prediction There will be no terrorist attack on American soil today, although there might be one on one of our embassies in Europe or Asia. BAsic strategy says you attack while your target is not looking.

We're looking.

Also, when you're a mosquito biting a bear, it's a bad idea to wake the bear. The US has not slipped back into complacency yet. An attack now would ensure the destruction of the Middle East

2002-09-11T01:42:00.000-04:00

A new addition Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the latest addition to my links, The Talking Dog, who growls from his den in Brooklyn NYC.

2002-09-08T16:19:00.000-04:00

An Explanation I haven't been blogging much lately, but I have a really good excuse. One of my regular readers suggested that I write a book.

So I am.

I don't know if it will go anywhere or not, but I didn't know whether this blog would go anywhere or not either. I'm not going to quit blogging entirely, but I am going to blog less, maybe three times a week or so, just to keep you up to date on everything. Between work, keeping house, chasing kids, wood turning and building furniture, I'm running out of time to eat and sleep, much less blog. Of course, if anything major happens in the world or in my life, you can be sure I'll write about it here. There is an immediacy to blogging that you don't get while writing a longer project.

Anyway, wish me luck, and I'll let you know how it goes.

2002-09-03T05:54:00.000-04:00

With apologies to Lennon and McCartney

Tennessee Tourons* (to the tune of Eleanor Rigby)

Ah, look at all the silly people
Ah, look at all the silly people

Gatlinburg tourist looks up the road to see how long this nightmare goes on
All hope is gone
Trapped on the highway, hearing the cries of the kids in the back, "Are we there?"
"No, we're not there."

All the silly tourons
Where do they all come from ?
All the silly tourons
Where do they all belong ?

Gatlinburg locals feeding their dreams from the cash that the tourons will spend
Let it never end
Creeping down back roads, avoiding the traffic that always slows down to a stall
Laughs at them all!

All the silly tourons
Where do they all come from?
All the silly tourons
Where do they all belong?

Gatlinburg tourist swears that he never will come back to this place again
It drives him insane
Gatlinburg local grins as pockets the cash that the touron left here
Y'all come back, ya hear?

All the angry tourons
Headed for home on Sunday
All the angry tourons
Stuck in the traffic again.

**Touron is a portmanteau word combining tourist with moron.

This song was inspired by watching a line of traffic that stretched for about 5 miles on Hwy 66 headed into Sevierville on Friday, and a similar line of traffic that stretched for 2 miles headed out of Seveirville on Monday.

2002-08-31T23:25:00.000-04:00

From the mail bag
HELP

Since September 11, 2001, Americans have come together as never before in our generation. We have banded together to overcome tremendous adversity. We have weathered direct attacks on our own soil, wars
overseas, corporate scandal, layoffs, unemployment, stock price plunges, droughts, fires, and a myriad of economic and physical disasters both great and small. But now, we must come together once again to overcome
our greatest challenge yet.

Hundreds of Major League Baseball players in our very own nation are living at, just below, or in most cases far above the seven-figure salary level. And as if that weren't bad enough they could be deprived of their life giving pay for several months, possibly longer, as a result of the upcoming strike situation.

But you can help! For only $20,835 a month, about $694.50 a day (that's less than the cost of a large screen projection TV) you can help a MLB player remain economically viable during his time of need. This
contribution by no means solves the problem as it barely covers the annual minimum salary, but it's a start, and every little bit will help! Although $700 may not seem like a lot of money to you, to a baseball player it could mean the difference between spending the strike golfing in Florida or on a Mediterranean cruise. For you, $700 is nothing more than a month's rent, half a mortgage payment, or a month of medical insurance, but to a baseball player, $700 will partially replace his daily salary. Your commitment of less than $700 a day will enable a player to buy that home entertainment center, trade in the year-old Lexus for a new Ferrari, or enjoy a weekend in Rio.

HOW WILL I KNOW I'M HELPING?
Each month, you will receive a complete financial report on the player you sponsor. Detailed information about his stocks, bonds, 401(k), real estate, and other investment holdings will be mailed to your home. Plus, upon signing up for this program, you will receive an unsigned photo of
the player lounging during the strike on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean (for a signed photo, please include an additional $150). Put the photo on your refrigerator to remind you of other peoples' suffering.

HOW WILL HE KNOW I'M HELPING?
Your MLB player will be told that he has a SPECIAL FRIEND who just wants to help in a time of need. Although the player won't know your name, he will be able to make collect calls to your home via a special operator in case additional funds are needed for unforeseen expenses.

YES, I WANT TO HELP!
I would like to sponsor a striking MLB player. My preference is checked below:
[ ] Infielder
[ ] Outfielder
[ ] Starting Pitcher
[ ] Ace Pitcher
[ ] Middle Reliever
[ ] Entire team (Please call our 900 number to ask for the cost of a specific team - $10 per minute)
[ ] Alex Rodriguez (Higher cost: $60,000 per day)

[ ]Please charge the account listed below $694.50 per day for the player for the duration of the strike.
[ ] Please send me a picture of the player I have sponsored, along with an Alex Rodriguez 2001 Income Statement and my very own Donald Fehr MLB
Bobblehead.

Your Name: _______________________
Telephone Number:___________________
Account Number: ___________________
Exp.Date:_______
[ ] MasterCard
[ ] Visa
[ ] American Express
Alternate card (when the primary card exceeds its credit limit):
Account Number: ___________________ Exp.Date:_______
[ ] MasterCard
[ ] Visa
[ ] American Express
[ ] Discover

Signature: _________________________________________________________
Notary Public: _____________________________________________________

Mail completed form to MLB Players Union or call 1-900-F%*&-THE-FANS now to enroll by phone ($10 per minute).

Disclaimer: Sponsors are not permitted to contact the player they have sponsored, either in person or by other means including, but not limited to, telephone calls, letters, e-mail, or third parties. (Contributions are not tax-deductible)

2002-08-30T03:37:00.000-04:00

Another new blog to watch! Welcome to The Sabertooth Journal, a free marketeer and libertarian (with a small l) from LA (must be as lonely as the Maytag repairman).

2002-08-29T23:07:00.000-04:00

Fair enough
DON'T ARGUE WITH CHILDREN

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human
because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it
was physically impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".

The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".

2002-08-28T05:16:00.000-04:00

Perspective There was a terrible car accident on the freeway, and a young man lay pinned in the wreckage. Blood was pouring from dozens of deep cuts, one eye was swollen shut, and his breathing was labored as he fought to stay alive. As the rescue squad was working to free his broken body from the wreckage, the paramedics kept talking to him, trying to keep him alert.
"Don't worry, son, we'll have you out of there in no time," the paramedic said.
The young man moaned softly, but didn't respond.
Trying desperately to get the young man's atention, the paramedic began asking him questions, where did he live, where did he work, what football team did he like, but the young man didn't answer, just moaned quietly. Finally, the paramedic asked him "Are you married? We can notify your wife."
At this the young man looked at the paramedic with his good eye and said "Nope, I'm not married. This is the worst fix I've ever been in."

2002-08-28T05:01:00.000-04:00

Hard times with the hard drive
I went to the computer store today to pick up the two computers I just got for my two college boys. The owner of the place helped me out of a tremendous jam, so I gicve him all of my business.

It started 3 years ago. I had ordered a rent to own computer from another shop to give to the kids as a Christmas present. I had paid for several upgrades to the standard model, and the owner told me that he would have it ready on Dec 22. That day rolled around and I went to pick up the computer and bring it home. When I got to the store, the fellow asked me if I had brought all the upgrades back. I was more than a little confused, and asked him what he was talking about. He said he had gotten the system back, but not the upgrades, and he wanted those back as well.

Even more confused, I told him that I wasn't bringing anything back, that I was picking up a system I had ordered three weeks before. We talked back and forth for several minutes, while he wrapped his mind around the fact that I hadn't returned a computer, that he had never delivered the computer, and that I was there to pick up a computer. Unfortunately, the computer I was there to pick up did not exist. He had somehow lost track of the order, and never built the system. He apologized, and told me it would take several days, because he was closing for the holidays, but he could have the system ready shortly before New Years. I told him what he could do with his system and walked out the door.

So there I was, the day before Christmas eve, and my big present did not exist. I was not in a good mood as I drove up the street. I knew of another computer dealer nearby, and I went there, just on the off chance he could help me out. I wlaked into the shop and a man came up to me and asked what I needed. I explained my situation to him, and he took charge instantly. He told me he usually only rented out used systems, and he didn't have any available, but if I wanted, he would put a new system on a rental contract for me. He told me he would have it ready first thing in the morning, but to get there before noon, since he was closing early for the holidays.

He was as good as his word, and I picked up a system that was better than the one I had ordered the first time, and for a bit less money. Renting to own is a little more expensive than financing, but that extra expense is offset by the fact that the computer is under warranty as long as it is under contract.

Anyway, I was very pleased with the product and the service, and over the last couple of years, I've bought two more computers from him. Each time, he's made me a very good deal, and provided great equipment and good service. So, when I decided to buy computers for the boys, naturally I went back to him. I ordered two basic units, 950 MHz, 40G hard drives, 256M RAM, and 15 inch monitors. He gave me an excellent price, so I upgraded to DVD-ROM and a CD RW on each. I also had him install a graphics card in one, since one of my sons had bought his own and installed it in the family machine.

I went to pick up the computers this afternoon, and faced a few, minor difficulties.

First, the graphics card that had arrived was faulty, and he had to order a new one. This wasn't a big deal, since I wasn't going to ship that particular computer out until this weekend. But then, as I looked over the machines, I found that one only had 128M of RAM instead of 256M. I pointed it out to the bright young man helping me out, and he apologized and installed the correct amount of RAM. He re-booted, and I started checking out different screens, and I noticed something very peculiar. When I opened any screen that had a significant amount of white on it, the monitor looked like it had a gaping hole running vertically through the middle of the screen. It was almost as if the creen itself were being ripped in two. I had visions of Steven Jobs pulling himself through the tear and out of the monitor screen, a la Videodrome and wreaking havok on all Windows machines and those who use them.

I pointed out this rather minor flaw to the bright young man, and he wiggled a few cables, made a few magic passes over the monitor with his hands, but the problem remained. The tech guy came over and told him to swap out the monitor, which cleared up the problem. I checked out the system for a couple minutes, when I noticed a new minor technical problem.

White smoke was pouring out of the back of the monitor.

Assuming that this was a bad thing, I alerted the bright young man, who by now was feeling less than bright, and probably not quite so young. He shut off the monitor, disconnected it, and swapped it out for a third one, which at this time appears to be working fine. The second system performed flawlessly, and is now in son number one's dorm room. I will pick up the other system tomorrow, and ship it off to son number two.

Even with all the troubles with this particular purchase, I'm still comfortable using this dealer. First, I saved about $600 off of full retail. Second, they cheerfully made everything right before I walked out of the store, and third, I know that if I have any future problems, they back up their equipment with a full warranty for one year. Anybody can have a run of bad luck; what distinguishes a good business from the rest is how they handle it when things do not go well.

2002-08-28T00:13:00.000-04:00

First things first
I've got some fun and games planned for this evening's posts, but first I have to get something a little more serious out of the way.

Why is it that the same folks who castigated the CIA/FBI/government in general for failing to anticipate and prevent 9/11 are the same folks saying we shouldn't take pre-emptive action against Saddam Hussein?

I know they say diplomacy is subtle and complicated, but it seems to me that if a guy kicks me in the butt once, then tells me he fully intends to do it again as soon as he thinks he can get away with it, my approach to him is not going to be complicated, or at all subtle. But that's just me.

Hussein has said time and again that he wants to bring down America. He has worked openly and secretively against our interests, and the interests of our allies. It is eminently clear that as soon as he can acquire NBC weapons, he will use them. He has already used chemical weapons against his own people; do we really think he will feel any compunctions against using them on us or our allies?

2002-08-26T00:35:00.000-04:00

It's quiet around here. Too quiet.
Well, the back-to-school festivities are over. Both boys are settling in, and ready for their first day of classes tomorrow. The rest of the kids have their first week behind them, and are beginning to settle in to the routine.

With any luck, this means that for the next couple of weekends, I won't have to go anywhere, and I can catch up on my household chores.

Yippee....

2002-08-22T08:16:00.000-04:00

Bright college days

Again.

Today, I get to help my oldest son move into his dorm room. Fortunately, this trip is a lot shorter than the last one, since he is staying in state. You know, every time I take one of my kids to college, I get the urge to finish my own degree. I finished up my sophomore year in just 13 years, and I'm hoping to knock off my junior year in 7.

Wish me luck...

2002-08-21T07:02:00.000-04:00

Life is a beach
At long last, I'm ready to resume, and with luck conclude, the tale of our vacation in Florida.

How We Contributed to the Cuban Relief Project, or Wilson Gets a Friend

Monday morning came early (disappointing Sunday, who had hoped they were past the whole "hair trigger charlie' thing) and I went to get my hair cut. Not to worry, friends and neighbors, I didn't do anything radical. The flowing mane you see still exists; it's just been pruned back a bit in the interests of personal hygiene and public safety.

Anyway, while I was gone, my mom went out beach shopping and came back with about a half dozen kites, and several beach balls of various sizes. The kids decided to inflate the largest one and take it out onto the beach to play. They took turns blowing into the little nozzle thing on the end, and after about 15 minutes the ball stopped looking like a limp multicolored baggie and began to assume a roughly spherical shape. They were getting a little tired of huffing and puffing, and if I had been there, I would have reminded them that I brought a portable air compressor along just for blowing up rafts, footballs, volleyballs, beach balls, inner tubes, artificial feminine companions, and whatnot, but since I wasn't there, they had to do it the old fashioned way, with lung power and copious quantities of drool.

Why is it that a child cannot blow into a nozzle without drooling all over it? Is it a genetic thing or a developmental one? All I know is every time I get handed one of these things to seal the valve, I have to wipe a half pint of spit off of it first.

Once the ball was inflated they took it to the beach to play. My brother went along to keep an eye on the kids and keep them out of trouble. Well, the kids started kicking the beach ball around, tossing it back and forth, and playing like kids will do, while my brother stretched out and took it easy for awhile. There was a medium strong breeze coming from inland blowing out to sea, andit wasn't too long before the inevitable occurred. One kick was a bit too high, and the wind caught the beach ball and sent it sailing out into the ocean. The kids started to chase it, but the ball was light and the wind was strong, and there wasn't anything they could do. They called my brother, who saw at once that the ball was beyond retreival, and he called them back in to the beach. They sat quietly and watched as the ball moved out to sea, bobbing gently over the waves. We were certain tha our ball was lost forever, never to be seen again.

We were wrong.

Later that week, watching the local news, we saw our beach ball again. It had been commandeered by Cuban exiles who had used it, along with 3 cardboard boxes, 2 long pieces of twine, and several rolls of duct tape into a raft capable of carrying 14 people, 7 iguanas, 2 dogs, and 12 boxes of cigars.

Just doing our bit for democracy, ladies and gentlemen.

Evolution in action

That night, as we were returning from a family dinner, I saw a strange critter crawling on the side of the road. The best way I can describe it is it looked like a possum wearing a suit of armor or a king sized roly-poly. For y'all that aren't familiar with the roly-poly, it's a little bug that lives under rocks and logs and stuff that rolls up into a tight little ball when you touch it. It stays that way for several minutes, then, when it thinks the coast is clear, it unrolls and proceeds about it's roly-poly business. Of course, that's when you touch it again, causing the cycle to start all over again. This torture of a helpless insect provides countless hours of amusement for redneck kids all throug the south.

Only this critter couldn't be a roly poly because it was way too big, and there weren't any nuclear plants within miles. We decided it must have been an armadillo, because we'd heard that they were becoming very common in Florida and other southern states, including west Tennessee. As near as I can tell, the armadillo is proof that evolution ain't all that bright.

Here we have a critter based on a possum. The way I figure it, the possum has to be the worst road-crossing animal that there is. Cats, dogs, squirrels, rabbits, skunks, groundhogs, and other animals manage to cross the road all the time. Sure, every now and then one of the weaker ones fails to make it all the way across, but you don't see nearly as many dead rabbits as you do possums. We even made a joke about it:

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To show the possum it could be done!

So, nature has a problem. The possum is just too slow to make it across a highway, and keeps getting suished beneath the tires of an SUV loaded with kids coming back from a soccer game. Now a smart person would decide that maybe the possum needs to be a little smarter, or a lot faster in order to avoid oncoming traffic. But no, evolution decides to go in a differetn direction altogether. Nature gave the possum a suit of armor, so that it could stand against the oncoming vehicle and do valient battle with it. Nature even equipped the improved possum with an agressive nature, causing it to leap up at the approach of a car, to better engage the enemy. Once she made these modifications, nature decided the new, improved possum needed a new name, one which befit it's new weaponry. She called it "armadillo", from the latin for " little warrior" and sent it out to do battle.

Sadly, nature didn't take physics into account, and the 10 pound armadillo continued to get creamed by the two ton cars it challenged. In time, the meaning of "armadillo" changed to "Critter most likely to be found squashed by the roadside."

Kite? Nope! Advanced Performance Aeronautic Aerobatic Device
By Wednesday, the wind was really picking up. There were two tropical depressions, one on either side of florida, and the result was a constant 20-25 mph wind
Playing volleyball was out of the question as the team with the wind at their backs would win every match, so we looked for other pursuits. Remember when I said my mom had bought several kites? Well, the kids pulled out those bad boys and had a blast. The kites were the standard Gayla delta kites we all flew when we were kids. With the wind we had launching them was a piece of cake. Let out a little string and away the kite went.

Now I don't know about you, but to me, kite flying is exciting for about 30 seconds. You launch it, pay out your string, and there you are. The kite floats in the air and you watch it. It's like watching paint dry without the suspense.

So, I went out and bought a stunt kite. The one I bought was a low rent model, not much sturdier than the delta kites. I should have known better. The control harness was woefully inadequate for the winds we had, and would suddenly and irreversably snap to one side or the other, sending my kite into a death spiral that continued until it plowed into the sand. This happened several times, and I was beginning to get frustrated, but I'm nothing if not stubborn and I continud to try and fly it until the harness finally gave way completely. My longest flight was 2 minutes. At least I was never bored.

A lesser man might have conceded defeat at this point, giving in to the elements, and retreating to battle on another day. Not me, brother. I went back to the store and explained my problem to the clerk, who was most helpful.

"What you need," he said in a conspiratorial whisper," is the XJ-27 model APAAD. That's the ticket for this weather."

"Tell me more," I said, intrigued.

"Well," he said, "I can't show this model to just anybody, you understand. The technology is too advanced, and if it fell into the wrong hands, well, you know."

"Come on,"I said. "It's just a kite."

"Just a kite?" he said. "Just a kite? Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Go to a toy store if you're looking for 'just a kite!' The XJ-27 is an Advanced Performance Aeronautic Aerobatic Device. Here, let me show you."

He reached behind the counter, and unlocked a small case, and brought out a plastic tube. He opened the tube, and went to work, assembling the XJ-27 APAAD. When he finished, he had a miniature hang glider about 4 feet across. The material was a colorful nylon, held in place by miniature bungee straps, and the control lines were braided cords similar to those used on parachutes.

"This," he said, "is the XJ-27. It'll fly in 5 to 30 mph winds; do loops, stalls, figure eights, dives, and will hover sideways. The control lines are 250 lb test; the struts are
a reinforced carbon composite material. They're held in place by soft rubber sleeves which are designed to breakaway on impact to protect the structural integrity of the unit in the event you crash it. This model can be launched solo, or with a partner. Just a kite? I don't think so."

My eyes had glazed over, looking at this wonderful APAAD. Even in the shop, it looked like it was flying, ready to soar on the winds, to take on whatever challenges the weather and I could throw at it. I had to have it.

We negotiated the financing, and when my credit check came back denied, he directed me to a nearby plasma bank, where I quickly and painlessly acquired the funds I needed. I had my kite.

I took it back to the beach and assembled it. Even on the ground, I could feel it quiver as the wind filled the nylon. It wanted to fly; it was a creature of the air. I laid the kite on it's face and paid out the line. Gripping both handles tightly, I gave them a sharp tug to initate a solo launch. BAsed on my experience with a delta kite, the nose should have lifted, caught the wind, and sailed into the air.

Nothing. The XJ-27 skidded a few inches through the sand and stopped. I tried again.

Nothing.

The sun was beating down on the back of my neck as I stopped to consider why the XJ-27 was land bound. My kids were staring, looking around the beach to make sure nobody else could se their dad, unable to launch a kite. I tried again.

Nothing.

My youngest son offered to hand launch the kite for me. I snarled something unintelligible, and he backed cautiously away. After fighting the other kite for several hours, I was not about to be defeated by this one. I would make it fly. I tried again.

Still nothing.

It's said that a good definition of insanity is to try the same thing but expect different results. By that definition, I spent the next twenty five minutes certifiable. Eventually it dawned on me that i simply was not going to work like I tought, and that I was going to have to change something. I decided for variaty to lay the kite on it's back instead of it's front. I tried again.

The XJ-27 leapt into the air like the Space Shuttle at liftoff, streaking into the sky until it was almost straight overhead. I knew then why the control lines were so stout; the tug of the kite pulled me two steps down the beach before I got my balance. I stabilized the kite, then decided to try a loop. I pulled back gently on one of the handles, and the kite began to lean in that direction. I puled a little more, and the XJ-27 performed a slow,graceful roll to the right. The wind made a roaring noise through the airfoils , a noise that got louder as the kite cut into the wind. I rolled in the opposite direction to unwind the strings. Then I tried a snap roll. I pulled back on the right handle sharply; the XJ-27 responded immediately, plunging into a series of right hand loops, reeling off three of them before I could respond. I quickly let out the right line and stabilized the kite, only to snap into a tight left roll, again to unwrap the lines.

One loop, two loops, three lo....oops.

I ran out of sky. The XJ-27 did a full speed nose dive into a sand dune. I just knew I had destroyed it, and as I walked over to the wreckage, I began wishing I had bought the insurance policy the salesman had offered. I got over to where the XJ-27 lay, and surveyed the damage.

I looked again.

Nothing.

Cool!

To make a long story short (way too late for that) this kite performed like a champ. I was diving, looping, hovering, spinning, and figure-eighting like a pro in no time. I let the kids take turns flying it, and we all had a blast. No matter how many times we face planted it, all we had to do was slip the composite struts back into the rubber sleeves, and back into the sky it went. The winds held for the rest of our vacation, so we got plenty of use out of the kite. It's stored safely in my closet now, dreaming of the open sky, and just waiting for a gentle breeze to fly again.

Kite? Nope! Bread bag!
My mom had a little bit different approach. She watched us all flying our kites, and decided she would make her own kite. She took the bag from a loaf of bread, tied a string to the open end, a tail to the other end, and launched it. Like the F-4, her kite proved that given enough thrust, anything will fly. The bread bag opened up, filled with air, and shot into the sky. Of course, she couldn't do fancy tricks like mine, but then again, she didn't have to sell her plasma to afford it either.

2002-08-20T06:51:00.000-04:00

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Shipping and handling fees are in addition to the stated price and total $50.95 for each bottle and $17.95 for the flowbee. In the event of a return, all items must be returned in their original packaging with all paper work intact. Call the warehouse to get a Return number, which must be posted on all readable surfaces of the box. Items labelled improperly will be discarded immediately and the sender billed for improper return procedure. All details of this offer subject to change without noticce. So there!

2002-08-19T22:57:00.000-04:00

Life imitates Art You've seen those Visa check card commercials where the celebrity can't cash a check without an ID? Well here is a true story which is even funnier than the "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon" one, courtesy of Katie Allison Granju

2002-08-19T22:40:00.000-04:00

On the other hand Remembr how all your teachers used to tell you that cussing was a sign of a weak vocabulary? Courtesy of Troy Kinnaird comes this gem from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

October 24, 1840

What a pity we cannot curse and swear in good society! Cannot the stinging dialect of the sailors be domesticated? It is the best rhetoric, and for a hundred occasions those forbidden words are the only good ones...

So true..

2002-08-19T21:44:00.000-04:00

New sites linked Grouchy Old Cripple in Atlanta and Campc.com have joined the list of links to your left.

2002-08-19T19:46:00.000-04:00

Understatement of the year contender A woman was accidentally set on fire while delivering her baby. Caroline Mackersey, general manager of communications for the Waitemata District Health Board had this to say:

It must have been extremely distressing. It's been extremely distressing for staff.

Distressing? You lit a woman on fire in the middle of delivering her baby and 'distressing' is the best you can come up with?

2002-08-19T19:27:00.000-04:00

A real blue light special Attention K-Mart shoppers! You are all under arrest!

"We went to use the restroom at Kmart and to buy a Scrunchi (hair band), and when we came back to our car, cops were coming in (the parking lot) and they tied our hands," said Brandi Ratliff, 18, who said she was a straight-A student at Waller High School and never had any problems with the law.

Ratliff said that even though she and two friends told police they had just come out of the Kmart, all three were arrested and spent the night in jail.

"It was traumatic," said a tearful Ratliff on Sunday morning after her parents drove from Stafford to pay her $300 bail at the downtown city jail. "It was sick where they were holding us. A prostitute was fighting with another woman. The food they served was food you would serve to a dog, not a human."

Ratliff and her two friends, Kris Karsteter, 21, and Kyesa Scott, 18, all had pink marks on their wrists from where they said police had tied plastic handcuffs too tightly.

Maybe the cops suspected them of being in league with Martha Stewart?

2002-08-19T19:22:00.000-04:00

Crime doesn't pay! Especially when you try to rip off a judo club:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Florida judo club members beat and doused an alleged carjacker with gasoline then handed over the grimacing, moaning 20-year-old to police officers.

Tyrone Jermaine Hogan, of Los Angeles, held his ribs Sunday and winced in pain as TV news crews recorded his arrest.

"The boys are punching him in the face and I wanted to go around for a choke, to choke him out, but I didn't want to risk getting punched in the head, so I started pounding him from the back," said Christina Baldacci, a Florida International University judo club member.

Of course, Tyrone will likely sue the judo club for his injuries. And win.

Sigh.

2002-08-18T23:29:00.000-04:00

Another light week on tap I'm afraid. I do apologize, but the real world is very demanding right now. I hadn't even finished telling you about my last road trip when I took another one this weekend to Massachusetts to take my son to college. He is starting 2 years early, after his sophomore year in high school, so we've had a hectic few weeks getting everything together, but we finally made it, and delivered him safe and sound. We just got back about an hour ago, after covering 2000 miles in three days.

Next, we get to take another of my oldest son to college this Thursday. Luckily, he is going to stay in state, so the driving will not be as involved. Then, I can relax and catch up with you folks until the end of September, when I will be going to Chicago for a training seminar. I won;t leave you high and dry, though. I will post when possible, starting with this little gem I found in my mail tonight:

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-three students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.

Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and moms freely brushed away tears.

This class would not pray during the commencements ----- not by choice but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.

The speeches were nice, but they were routine.......until the final speech! He received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then he delivered his speech ... an astounding--SNEEZE!

The rest of the students rose immediately to their feet, and in unison they said, "GOD BLESS YOU."

The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a Unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.

Isn't this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your friends......and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!

No matter which side of the debate you are on, you have to admire the ingenuity of this young man and his classmates.

Y'all take care...

2002-08-14T19:38:00.000-04:00

And now for something completely different This is an e-mail from a regular reader:

On September 11 I called the Navy’s mobilization office and asked if I could return to active duty. Sadly the answer was no, they didn’t have a pressing need for 46 year old guys with my eclectic skill set (combat logistics, search and rescue, and information systems management). Had I read and spoken Arabic, or known Osama bin Laden’s ATM code, it would have been a different story. I had no illusions of me parachuting into Kabul with a knife clenched in my teeth and photos of Osama and Mullah Omar in my pocket, but I had hoped to do something, even if it only freed up somebody Stateside to go overseas.

After much thought and anguish, I considered the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command. They were hiring at their entry level - Ordinary Seaman. It was a huge pay cut (over 50%) but it meant that I would actually go overseas aboard Navy support ships, such as Oilers or Ammo Ships or Combat Stores Ships. I won’t be on the tip of the spear, but I’ll be the gun bearer for those that are. So next week I am reporting to Virginia Beach for my physical and in processing. Shortly after that I will be assigned to a ship, preferably one in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, or Persian Gulf. This is, looked at logically, the stupidest decision of my life, yet I have no regrets at making it. As Dirty Harry says, a man’s got to know his limitations. As John Wayne says, a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. At any rate, I still feel bound by the oath of enlistment first taken in 1975 despite having been a civilian for five years.

I will no longer be reading you daily, and making my inane or inflammatory comments on your sites, or pestering you with e-mail. Whenever I can find an internet café, whether it be in Singapore, Australia, or the UAE, I’ll try to catch up on what you’re writing, debating, and just plain arguing about.

So thanks again. If for no other reason, for helping me keep my frustration manageable for the past eleven months.

Fair winds and following seas, shipmate.

2002-08-13T15:16:00.000-04:00

How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Pt 2

I guess I ought to take the time to describe our layout at the beach. We had 19 people spread between a duplex, a cottage and a lighthouse. The cottage and lighthouse were right on the beach, and the duplex was just across the road from the beach. There was a small boardwalk about 60 yards long reaching from the cottage over the dunes down to the beach proper. The dunes were covered in scrub brush and sea oats, anchoring that portion of the coastline against wind and rain erosion. The beach itself was about 10 yards wide at high tide, and about 35 yards wide at low tide, depending on the wind and how the sand piled up. When we first got there, there were two ridges built up by storms and the tides, first a soft slope about 10 yards from the edge of the beach, and the other about 20 yards from the first. This second ridge was about a foot and a half high, making for some interesting games of volleyball and Frisbee. Later in the week, this second ridge disappeared, which allowed the high tides to come much higher up the beach.

Truth in Advertising

Now, y’all know that I usually work the night shift, and since I’m usually asleep during the daytime, I was expecting to sleep in the next morning.

Didn’t happen.

7:30 AM I was wide awake and ready to go. I wandered through the house checking on the bodies scattered everywhere, but nobody else even showed signs of waking up. Nobody was stirring I the other houses either, so I showered, ate breakfast, wandered the beach, and generally enjoyed the quiet morning. I got all the grocery shopping done by noon, and went to get a haircut. After checking 4 or 5 barbershops, all closed, I remembered that it was Sunday, and all the shops would be closed. That still confuses me sometimes. The bars are open, but not the barbers? I guess God doesn’t mind if you drink on Sunday, but you’d better not get your hair cut….

Anyway, before we left Tennessee, I bought a volleyball set from WalMart, figuring we would all like to play. The set was advertised as “EZ assembly—Goes together in minutes!”

Right.

They neglected to specify how many minutes. I was out there trying to string together the net and poles for an hour and a half. There were color coded hooks, and tripod guide wires, and non-sliding slider, and anchor stakes and pole stakes, not to mention the pole caps. Add in a 20 mph breeze, blazing sun, and 10 impatient kids waiting to play and you have the perfect recipe for what the Chinese call “interesting times.”

Now, I had only meant to be out for about 45 minutes, so I hadn’t bothered with sunscreen. Bad mistake. By the time I finished the “EZ” assembly, I could already feel the skin beginning to tighten on my back and shoulders. I was headed back to the house for sunscreen when I heard a loud “Oh no!” from behind me, followed by laughter. The kids and some of the adults had started playing, and I was only about 10 steps away when my sister tried to spike the ball through the net, rather than over it. To ensure success, she preceded the spike with a left-handed tug on the net itself, reducing the height from the regulation 8 feet to a more manageable 3.5 feet. Of course, the net collapsed, pulling two of the three stakes on one side out of the sand. I kept on walking and let them fix it.

Oh, the Pain!

I’ve been burned before; the worst was while snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, Hawaii. I was wearing a shirt then, so figured I was protected against sunburn. Unfortunately, I had chosen a white shirt, reasoning that the lighter color would reflect more of the light. What I hadn’t counted on was something every girl knows from the time she first enters puberty. White shirts become fairly transparent when they get wet. It was the worst sunburn of my life, reaching from my shoulders to my ankles. I knew I was in trouble when I started hurting the instant I stepped out of the water. One of my buddies had a big jar of pure aloe gel, and he spread it thickly on my back. As soon as it was absorbed, he put on more. He kept this up until the skin on my back couldn’t absorb anymore, then gave me what was left of the bottle, and told me to keep it moist. I got back to the ship, and stood directly underneath an AC duct for 45 minutes. The aloe really worked. As long as I kept my back coated, the pain was bearable. If I let it dry out, the pain was immense. But after only two days, the burn was faded, and the pain was gone. The skin peeled, but not as deeply as it would have, leaving some tan behind, protecting me from future stupidity.

So, I knew what to do to take care of my burn. I slathered aloe all over it until it stopped absorbing into the skin, then put on SPF45 sunblock for the next two days. By then, my sunburn was gone, and I had a nice base tan. The kids saw how well the aloe worked for me, and they used it when they got their sunburns. I can’t recommend it strongly enough.

Well, by the time I got back from putting on my aloe and sunscreen, they had repaired the net and a spirited game was underway. We modified the rules so the young ones could enjoy the game (unlimited hits, carries were allowed, three serve attempts from as close to the net as you wanted, etc.) and a good time was had by all. The score was tied at eleventeen apiece when my dad came out to warn us about a weather bulletin he had seen on TV.

There was a large thunderstorm headed our way, with lots of lightening and high winds. We looked to the west, and we could see the storm building just to our south. My brother decided that the storm was going to pass to the south of us, so we should continue our game. I lived in Florida while going through Nuclear Power School, so I knew better. While the storm was centered to our south, as it projected out over the ocean, the bulk kept pressing closer and closer to us. Then, once the storm hit the off shore winds, it swirled, made a u-turn and came right back at us. Fortunately, I had been watching for just that, so we dropped the net and hit the houses before the storm really cut loose. It was about dinner time now anyway, so we all went to our houses to make dinner.

Yes! We Have No Crab Claws!

Shortly after we finished fixing food for the kids, my mom called to invite us out to her favorite restaurant for crab claws; no kids allowed. Naturally, we all accepted and went to The Surf. What we didn’t know was that on Sundays, the Surf had a special on lobsters: $5.00 each. The place was packed, and since half of their tables were outside, and there was a storm going on, they were short on seating as well. We located a table with a group of similar size, and they told us they would give us their table when they left. Secure in the knowledge that we had a table, we wandered around the bar, enjoying the sea breeze, and the music, since the storm had finally passed.

When the people at the table were ready to go, some friends of theirs showed up and asked them for the table. The people at the table were in an awkward position, and it looked like we were going to be aced out of our spot, but the new folks were very friendly, and when some high top tables opened up, they took them instead, allowing us to sit at the dinner tables. We all ordered crab claws, only to find out that the restaurant no longer carried crab claws. Bummer.

So, we all ordered lobster and seafood and shrimp and pasta, except for my brother in law, who ordered a burnt hamburger and fries. Some people, you just can’t reach. Anyway, the food was good, the hour was late, and it was time for bed again. The restaurant was only a block and a half from our houses, so I walked back, enjoying the night, while the rest of the family piled into the van.

Once back at the house, I pulled out my camcorder, to get it ready for the beach the next day. I had brought along some of our old home movies as well, and we finished up the night watching the kids when they were little. Looking at those tapes, it was hard to believe that two of them would be headed for college in just two weeks. That’s why we were there, to savor this last summer together, before the kids begin to scatter to lead their own lives.

2002-08-12T14:59:00.000-04:00

How I Spent My Summer Vacation Yes, I’m back from the beach, and it was a blast! 8 days and seven nights of sun, sand, waves, Frisbee, volleyball, and football. And of course I’m going to share it all with you, my faithful readers.

We Start Our Journey
I started running errands as soon as I got off work Friday morning, so we would be ready to go bright and early Saturday morning. I paid bills, bought groceries and supplies, got the oil changed on my car, and so on, and finally got home around 1:00PM. I crashed for a few hours, then got up to take care of the rest of the preparations. The kids and I had already packed, so all we needed to do was load up the van as soon as Betty (my ex) got home. She got there around 8:00 and we loaded up, then collapsed, only to have my brother call. He wanted us to come over and help him move my parent’s dock out.

My parents live on Douglas Lake, which has the distinction of having one of the largest seasonal changes in depth of any lake in the South. The difference between summer and winter pool depth is somewhere between 30 and 40 feet, and TVA begins lowering the lake shortly after July 4th. In order to keep using the dock we have to move it out about every 2 days, otherwise it gets grounded.

Well, my brother had neglected to move it for several days, and the dock was on the edge of being completely stuck, so we gathered together all our friends and relations, and headed out to move it through the Tennessee red clay back into the water.

At 10:00PM.

In the dark.

The fishermen weren’t impressed.

After we moved the dock, and had it tied down, I went back up to the house, and fixed the AC belt on the van, then went to sleep. We were planning on leaving around 6:00AM, and I wanted at least some sleep before the drive. My brother planned on sleeping just a couple of hours, and leaving around 4:00AM. He wanted to be the first one on the beach, and was willing to pay any price to do it. My son was eager to get there, so he road with his uncle, along with two of his cousins.
We got up the next morning at 0 dark 30 and were on the road by 6:00AM. We took two cars so we would have room for ourselves and our stuff, and headed off through the pre dawn twilight through the Smoky Mountains on our way to Sunny Florida. Driving through the mountains was a little irritating because I had some idiot tailgating me the entire way.

I stopped at the first rest area and told Betty to cut it out.

Richard Hailey, Stock Car Superstar!

I hung in tight on the bumper in front of me. I was in the lead draft and had to protect my position. If I got hung out on the outside, I would get shuffled all the way to the back of the pack and have a ton of ground to make up. Another driver pulled up on my right, and tried to cut in, but I closed the gap denying him the position. He got trapped in slower traffic and fell back out of contention.

Rookies!

I carefully watched the inside line, waiting to make my move. When I saw the conditions were right, I ducked out of the draft and hit the gas and shot past three cars making a bid for the lead. Unfortunately, I was coming up fast on some lapped traffic, and had to cut sharply back into line, short of the lead, but I had improved my position by several cars.

What a rush! My hands gripped the steering wheel with a newfound intensity as I guided my car through the turns and straight-aways. The drivers around me were all strangers; we didn’t know anything about each other, except that fate had thrown us together for a few hours. Yet, we weren’t complete strangers. We had been forged together by speed, gas fumes, and the smell of burning rubber. We held each other’s lives in our hands, each of us forced to trust the others not to make a stupid mistake that could cost us our lives. When you’re in a situation like that, you get to know a lot about a person, even if you never speak directly. A nod can say more than a 10-minute Shakespearean soliloquy. We were brothers, even if only for a short while.

A NASCAR driving school? Heck no! It was I-95 South through Georgia, but by the time I got through to Florida, I was ready to take on Talladega Super Speedway!

The Arrival

Finally, we arrived at our exit off I 95 to Amelia Island. At least, some of us did. We had two different maps, one form mapquest and one from Rand McNally. The maps gave different routes from I-95 to the island. I hadn’t noticed that, so when Betty peeled off an exit early, I was caught by surprise. Of course, she figured I had missed the exit, and I figured that she would get back on the interstate, or continue following her map. I pulled over for a few minutes, and when she didn’t show up, I went on following my map, trusting that we would meet up at the registration desk.

No such luck.

I went on to the house, and met up with my parents, and my sister and her family, but still no van. I waited for about 15 minutes, then went looking for her, retracing what her steps would have been if she followed her map. I went back to the registration house, but no Betty. I drove across the island, but no Betty. I was about to leave the island and head back to the interstate, when I heard a horn behind me. It was Betty. She hadn’t wanted to go into the registration office without me, so she had pulled into a parking lot, and waited for me to drive by, knowing that I would come looking eventually.

So we were all in Florida, safe and sound. Well, not exactly. My younger brother (Remember him? He was the one that was leaving really early so he could be the first one on the beach.) He still wasn’t there. Turns out that he slept in and didn’t leave until a little after 9:00AM. So much for being the first on the beach! While we were waiting on him, we all went out onto the beach, and splashed in the waves. It was high tide and there was a wicked undertow from an offshore storm that nearly knocked me off my feet when the water was only knee deep. The kids loved it. My brother finally showed up around 6:00, and we decided to get some dinner.

We were tired from the drive, and instead of shopping for groceries and cooking a meal, we went out for a traditional Florida dinner of pulled pork barbeque, ribs, slaw, and hushpuppies. OK, so it wasn’t traditional. But it was good. We lazed around for an hour or so, and then it was time for bed. We had a busy day planned for tomorrow.

To be continued….

2002-08-10T22:31:00.000-04:00

I'm Back! And boy, was that a good vacation! Of course, I'll spill all the details in a bit, but first I'll have to collect my thoughts. For now, I'll just have to say it was a great time, and couldn't have been any better.

Well, if I had been joined by Jennifer Connelly or Janine Turner, that would have made it better. But it was still pretty good. I won't have to make anything up, that's for sure.

2002-08-02T00:36:00.000-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building! And so have I. I'm leaving for a well deserved vacation tomorrow and if all goes well, I'll be having too much fun to even think about blogging. ON the other hand, if you find long drawn out posts here about the minutia of everyday life, you'll know that my vacation pretty much sucks. SO here's hoping for a quiet week on blogger. Y'all take care, and I'll tell you all about it when I get back.

Even if I have to make up some stuff to make it interesting.

2002-08-01T02:36:00.000-04:00

And they call us pirates? According to this FoxNews story, record labels haven't been paying in to the AFTRA pension fund:

At the same hearing, music industry lawyer Don Engel, called the record companies' accounting practices "intentionally fraudulent" and compared them to WorldCom and Enron. Only, the record companies have been doing this since Elvis Presley wore tight pants. They've just never been questioned about it.

Jordan, by the way, testified that even though "This Is How We Do It" sold 2 million copies, his record company says he's never broken even with them or turned a profit.

I've never advocated theft in my life. But I think I'll start downloading more music and mailing a few bucks to the artists, including the writers. Let the publishers eat cake.

2002-08-01T02:17:00.000-04:00

Cloning, abortion, and legal identity Steve asked some interesting questions in the comments on the Raelian cloning story, and I'm replying here to get a little more room. First, my challenge:

The Raelians successfully create a clone and keep it alive throughout a normal gestation. Then, prior to birth, they pith the clone, removing all higher brain functions. Since this is done prior to birth, under current law there would be no murder, as a person is not a person until his head passes through the birth canal.They then allow the clone to be born, keep it alive for ten to fifteen years, then transplant the original person's brain into the cloned body.

Since the clone never had it's own identity, and it's DNA is identical to the donor, we have a situation which is analogous to an autologous blood transfusion.

Is this a problem?

If so, at what point does the system break down?

His response:

Rich, what's the cloning analog to passing through the birth canal (here we have the cloned embryo in a fetus, but suppose we use some kind of, oh, "mock womb" which would seem likely for large scale production of clones)? And where does that leave those born by c-section? Further, in your scenario the cloned body has, in effect been aborted - what justification is there for reversing its staus once you cram another personality into it?

First, I was using current technology, since we apparently have a clone growing right now, if the Raelians are to be believed. In this case, standard precedents apply, and identity occurs upon live birth, specifically, with the passage of the head from the mother's body. This is derived from the practice of dilation and extraction, where the fetus is turned in the womb, extracted feet first until the shouldres are free. Then the skull is punctured and the brain destroyed. At this point, the destroyed fetus is completely extracted. In the case of a c-section, it follows that when the fetus's head is removed from the incision, identity is assigned.

Using a mock womb introduces a new aspect to the problem, but by extension, we can argue that when the skull is decanted the clone, or any in-vitro fetus, would be assigned an identity.

As for the final question, while the fetus was aborted, the tissues remain viable. We already harvest fetal tissues for transplantation; it is merely a question of degree. If it is OK to take some cells, isn't it OK to take an organ? If we can take an organ, why not several organs? What is the difference between taking cells and culturing them to increase their usefulness and taking the cloned fetus and allowing it to grow, to increase it's usefulness? The question of identity is easily handled. Identity is centered in the brain, and therefore transfers with the brain. There is no reversal of status; the cloned body never had any status to reverse. The original maintains his identity. It would be more accurate to say that the original had a whole body transplant, instead of a brain transplant.

I'm not a lawyer, or a biologist, but it certainly seems to me that the above scenario is simply a logical extension of current laws and precedents. In fact, I would go as far as to say that any other scenario would require a break with established precedents.

2002-07-31T14:22:00.000-04:00

The cat is out of the Bag! Major media is now noticing the efforts of bloggers to "fact check their asses" Check out this report in U.S.News

Keep an eye on bloggers. The main arena for media criticism is not going to be books, columns, or panel discussions, and it certainly won't be journalism schools. It will be the Internet.

2002-07-30T00:40:00.000-04:00

Attack of the Clones Hey it started out as science fiction; it's only fitting that a group seemingly from a bad science fiction novel provides us with our first cloned human.

A Korean woman is reportedly pregnant with an embryo cloned by Clonaid, a U.S. biotechnology company, according to an announcement by the company on Tuesday.
The firm's spokesman, Kwak Gi-hwa, said, "Scientists from the U.S. headquarters and Korea implanted about a month ago a cloned embryo into a surrogate mother in her 20s."
Speaking at a press conference in Daegu, Mr. Kwak said only the firm's U.S. headquarters knew whether the embryo is a clone of a Korean person.
Clonaid was founded in 1997 by the Raelian Movement, an international religious organization that preaches that life on Earth was created through genetic engineering by extraterrestrials.

Where's L. Ron when you need him?

2002-07-30T00:33:00.000-04:00

A non violent Palestinian Protest? Palestinians in Nablus are ignoring the Israeli imposed curfew to go about business as normal.

NABLUS, West Bank (AP) - Thousands of Palestinians defied the Israeli army's around-the-clock curfew Monday for the second straight day, and took to the streets of Nablus as shops and banks opened to accommodate them.

The army, which has imposed the curfew in most West Bank cities and towns for the past 40 days, remained in armored vehicles ringing the city. But troops did not enter Nablus and made no moves to drive residents off the streets and back into their homes.

Civil disobedience; what a concept!

2002-07-30T00:28:00.000-04:00

Capturing a moment Several times during the bash, I got an idea from one of the other folks, and quickly jotted it down on my PDA. I don't know how it is for the rest of you, but inspiration is as fickle as a player's heart. When an idea comes along, if you don't pay it enough attention, it will leave you for somebody who will pay attention to it. Jotting it down gives you a little breathing space, but only a little. You still have to develop it, even if only in your head, until you are ready to write it down.

2002-07-30T00:14:00.000-04:00

The Blogger's Ball At last!
After my emergency auto service, I headed out to Knoxville to meet up with the other denizens of the blog zone. I got to Barley's about 15 minutes late, and ran into Bjorn Knoxley and Brehd Patchley at the hostess desk. Bjorn (or was it Brehd?) recognized me right of as I walked up, and introduced me to his partner and their two lovely companions. While we were standing there waiting for the hostess, SKBubba appeared from nowhere (I think he was protecting his anonymity by disguising himself as a barstool until he was sure no members of the K2K hit squad were in attendence) and introduced himself and his lovely wife. Introductions were exchanged, while a roguish looking fellow signalled us from the bar, none other than Troy Kinnaird The hostess arrived and while she was getting us a table, we were joined by Justin Bollinger, and Meathead.

Our hostess finally got our table ready, and we all went to sit down and begin putting faces and names together. About 15 minutes after we sat down, I spotted Glenn Reynolds and his wife wandering aimlessly through the restaurant, looking for us. I flagged them down, made some introductions, and our party was complete. Katie Granju was planning to come, but at the last minute, real life intruded and she couldn't be there. (Maybe I should have loaned her my lawn mower)

Conversation ranged widely, covering Monty Python, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy the movie Amalie (tried to rent it yesterday, but it was out) , blogging, politics, duct tape, k2k baiting, parody and satire, and life in general. We consumed much beer, pizza and hummus and if I didn't exactly break my diet, I sure bent the heck out of it.

After a couple of hours of laughter and good food, the attendees began drifting off to other engagements. It was Friday after all. At one point, there were four of us left, all single, young, fairly good looking guys, out on the town on a Friday night, discussing which comet appeared when. (Was Halley's in the '90s? No, that was Hale-Bopp. Are you sure?) To protect their reputations, I won't identify the other participants in that conversation.

Shortly after that, we called it a night, and headed out, vowing to do this again soon. To those who couldn't attend this time, we hope to see you next time. To make sure everybody can get to this one, I'm starting the planning earlier, so everybody pencil in September 14th for the next get together.

2002-07-29T00:37:00.000-04:00

Necessity is the Mother of Invention or What They Don’t Teach You in Auto Shop

Friday was the big bash for Knoxville bloggers. (More on that in a minute) I got off work Friday morning and headed home under cloudy, drizzly skies. On my way, I stopped and ran some errands, so I would have my evening free for the festivities. In the course of this running around, a light rain began to fall, so I turned on my headlights.

You can sense what is coming next, can’t you?

By the time I got home, tired, grumpy, and ready for a few hours of sleep, the rain had ended; the sun was out; and it looked to be a beautiful day. I went inside, put up the groceries, washed the dishes, fed the cat to the dog, er, and the dog, then went to sleep.

I woke up several hours later, took my shower, dressed for dinner, and went out to my car. I turned the key and nothing. I got that falling elevator feeling in my stomach, and checked the switch for the headlights.

Yep. I’d left them on.

So here it was, 20 minutes before the gathering, and I had a dead battery. I drive a Tracker, with a manual tranny, so I figured I’d try to pop start it. The only problem was I was parked facing the wrong way, and would have to do it in reverse.

Hey, I’ve done it before, although never with a battery this dead. I knew since the battery was completely dead, I’d only get one shot at it, so I went through my usual pre start ritual, turned on the ignition, pushed in the clutch, put it in reverse, and released the parking brake. I coasted down my driveway, picking up speed, and when I got near the bottom, popped the clutch. The car lurched, the engine turned, coughed, and died.

Oh, yippee.

My mind raced as I tried to think about what I could do. Now like any good Tennessee redneck, I have several abandoned cars in my yard as lawn ornaments, but of course, their batteries had long since been scavenged for other vehicles. I had a battery charger in the garage that I bought for the lawn mower, but that would take hours to…wait a minute. The lawn mower! It has a battery! This could work! After all, the engine in a Tracker isn’t much bigger than a lawn mower engine. I went to the barn, fired up the lawn mower, and rode it down to my car. I hooked up the jumper cables, got in the Tracker, and turned the key. The motor ground very slowly for a second, then spun once and started. Victory was mine!

2002-07-29T00:04:00.000-04:00

From my e-mail
An American Airlines flight en route from Los Angeles to JFK airport in New York City was diverted to Kansas City yesterday when a passenger was noticed attempting to light a fuse protruding from his rectum. Flight Attendant Bunny Haggarty said she noticed the man seated in an aisle seat leaning forward and holding a cigarette lighter behind his legs.

"I thought he was just trying to light a fart," said Haggarty. Then I saw this string-like thing hanging from his ass, and I got scared." Haggarty immediately called for assistance, and several male passengers subdued the man before he was able to light the fuse.

After landing in Kansas City, authorities discovered that the man's intestines were stuffed with military grade C4 explosive. FBI agents stated that it would have been a complete catastrophe if the passenger had succeeded in lighting the fuse. The passenger, Mohammed Bin Ali El Batout Nabeel Sin Abba Rahim Mansour Ali Baba, age 25, was carrying fourteen passports from various countries throughout the middle east.

Asked why he had stuffed himself full of plastic explosives, Ali Baba stated, "I was planning to blow the chit out of the plane. I wanted to kill all the Americans and Jews to show that we are a peace loving pipple."

Airport security agents in Los Angeles remembered seeing Ali Baba as he boarded American flight 90. They were a bit concerned because his name would not fit on the front of the ticket; he was wearing a checkered tablecloth as a hat; he looked like he was ready to kill someone; he was reading an Al Qaeda training manual; and he was wearing a "Kill Americans" T-shirt. However, according to Federal Airport Security
standards, individuals cannot be profiled for additional security simply because they are young, Middle-Eastern men.

The security supervisor, Leroy Jackson, said he also was somewhat concerned with the way Ali Baba walked. "Hell, man, the guy waddled like he had a stick of dynamite up his ass!" stated Jackson. "Had I not been on the phone with my probation officer, I might have checked this guy out some more. But we want and need complete diversity in our passenger screening. Plus, we think the flight crews on those planes pose more of a threat to safety than one raghead with an exploding
ass. That's why you can always find one of them pilots in bare feet waiting for his shoes to be X-rayed. I love seeing the look on their faces when we make them do that," he guffawed. Jackson added, "I just hope they don't give those pilots guns, 'cause they might want to even the score."

Federal officials are referring to this latest terrorist weapon as a "butt bomb." Security experts believe this could be even more difficult to detect than the primitive "shoe bomb" used by terrorist Richard Reid.

"We have asked the FAA to demand that passengers provide evidence they are not carrying any explosive material in their intestines prior to a flight's departure," said one federal official.

But a spokesman for the FAA replied, "We are not going to take any crap from anyone."

2002-07-28T13:15:00.000-04:00

A Country Boy can Survive Nine of 'em, in fact!

The miners surprised medical personnel who had prepared to treat them for symptoms of hypothermia or the bends, an excruciating condition caused by sudden changes in pressure. Decompression chambers, ambulances and 18 helicopters were at the scene 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

For days the men had been described as a tough breed. Air was pumped into the chamber at a temperature of more than 100 degrees to warm them before anyone at the surface knew they were alive.

Never give up, even when it looks hopeless.

2002-07-27T03:37:00.000-04:00

A dark day for lovelorn rednecks It is with great sorrow that I have to report to you the demise of Hillary's House of Hillbilly Love (and Bait Shop) It seems they got caught up in a multi-state federal task force targeting asian massage parlors fronting for prostitution. In the latest move in the war on terror, federal agents descended on several massage parlors over 5 states, rousting the girls and arresting the owners. Federal agent Ferd Dickley had this to say:

These women are a drain on the resources of our great nation. They sap the wills and the wallets of our young men, and that gives strength and comfort to our enemies. We believe that this operation struck a deadly blow against terrorists everywhere.

The operation took four years of continuous observation and investigation, as well as undercover activities to document the illegal activities.

"These are some very slick operators," Dickley said. "We were aware of the establishments for quite some time, but thought they were legitimate therapeutic centers. Heck, I even went to one a time or two when my back was acting up. I noticed that the therapists seemed awfully friendly, but didn't think anything of it at the time. But we kept getting reports of prostitution from the public, and decided to investigate. We were shocked to find that the rumors were true, and that prostitution was taking place. We were so shocked, we couldn't believe it at first, and had to investigate again, several times a month over a four year period. But at last, we had enough evidence to put these people where they belong."

Sadly, our friend Hillary and her girls were caught up in this sweep as well.

"I don't see why they had to come and bother us," Hillary said. "Hell, all my girls are home-grown, red-blooded daughters of the United States. We're not a security risk. We just provide a needed service to lonely guys. Where's the crime in that?"

But the law is the law, and Hillary's has been shut down. Law enforcement officials confiscated all property on the premises, right down to the last nightcrawler in the bait shop.

Oh, the humanity!

2002-07-25T18:04:00.000-04:00

The blogfest--finalized! OK, folks, I've had three responses, two for Friday and one for Saturday, so Friday it is! We'll meet at Barleys in the Old City around 6 PM. Remember, friends and family members are welcome, as well as any area readers who want to meet the people responsible for these pages. I'll be easy to spot: just look for the guy with all the hair!

2002-07-25T02:12:00.000-04:00

Nothing funny about this I knew this was coming:

A New York City lawyer has filed suit against the four big fast-food corporations, saying their fatty foods are responsible for his client’s obesity and related health problems.

Samuel Hirsch filed his lawsuit Wednesday at a New York state court in the Bronx, alleging that McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and KFC Corporation are irresponsible and deceptive in the posting of their nutritional information, that they need to offer healthier options on their menus, and that they create a de facto addiction in their consumers, particularly the poor and children.

Pretty smart lawyer. He's got this issue linked to racism, class warfare, and thrown "protect the children" in there to boot.

What an ass.

Look folks, as a formerly fat person (305lbs) I can testify that Ronald McDonald never held a gun to my head, forcing me to eat a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Dave Thomas never tied me up and force fed me Frostys and french fries. The Burger King did not order me to the rqack unless I consumed a Double Whopper with Cheese, and an extra-large order of fries.

I made those choices. I could have ordered a salad, or gone to Subway, or made my own lunch. I chose not to and the predictable result was my responsibility, not Long John Silver's.

The lead plaintiff in this case had this to say:

The lead plaintiff, 56-year-old maintenance supervisor Caesar Barber, ate at fast-food restaurants four or five times a week and blames his fatty diet for his obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol and the two heart attacks he has suffered.

"I trace it all back to the high fat, grease and salt, all back to McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King – there was no fast food I didn't eat, and I ate it more often than not because I was single, it was quick and I’m not a very good cook," Barber said in an interview with Foxnews.com.

And that is Burger King's fault? Please!

2002-07-24T23:20:00.000-04:00

The Knoxville Blogger bash is on! We're planning to meet at Barleys in the Old City at 6 PM on Friday. Let me know if this is going to be a problem for anyone, and we can adjust as needed. Looking forward to meeting everybody! Friends, spouses, etc are welcome.

UPDATE I've had a request to move from friday to Saturday, which works just as well for me. If there are any problems, leave a comment or send an e-mail and we'll work it out.

2002-07-24T07:29:00.000-04:00

Put these folks in charge of Homeland Security!
My ex-wife is applying for a new job. She responded to an ad and called the place up, and was interviewed over the phone. Afterwards, the man who interviewed her asked her to come down for a second interview. This interview lasted for about 20 minutes, then he asked her to come back and interview again with another member of his management staff. She did so, and then was asked to come back one more time to interview with the general manager. Following that interview, she was told that they were going to check her references, and then get back to her about her work schedule.

I worked one job cleaning up weapons grade plutonium. The area was also used for the long term storage and disposal of chemical weapons. I had access to some of the deadliest substances known to man, and I was hired sight unseen after one phone interview.

So, where is she applying, that takes such a thorough interview and review process? Oak Rdge National Labs, perhaps? The Spallation Neutron Source project, maybe? Nope, nothing so inconsequential. She's applying to be a server at O'Charley's restaurant.

It just doesn't make any sense. She's slinging hash, not guarding the President!

I guess it's just one more question about restaurants to add to the list:

Why do I have to wait 15 minutes for a table when I've made reservations?
What's the difference between reservations and 'call ahead' seating? Isn't a reservation just calling ahead even more?
Why do they invariably place the smoking section upwind of the non smoking section?
Why are the dinner plates cold but the salad plates are hot?
Why do they keep the lights so low in fancy restaurants? What are they trying to hide?
A hamburger is $4.95. Strip off the bun and throw the salad ina bowl on the side and now it is a ground sirloin steak and costs $9.95. Is it really worth $5.00 to pretend you're eating a steak?
Why would you pay for the privilege of making your own food? A salad bar is bad enough, but there are restaurants now which specialize in letting you cook your own food! Oh joy! I never get to do that at home. Next thing you know, we'll be paying to do our dishes too!
Why does your server come and check on you only when you're mouth is full?
Is it too much to ask to fill my glass with water, instead of seeing just how much ice you can cram into a finite space?
What's with this whole 'server' thing anyway? What's wrong with 'waiter' and 'waitress'? Although it's true that I'm usually the one doing the waiting...
How can a tip be mandatory, no matter how many are in your group?

We have a lot of restaurants in Knoxville. The last census showed that per capita we have more restaurants than we do flush toilets, a fact which is frightening in its implications. We have multiple copies of all the major chains and fast food franchises, as well as a stunning array of locals and independants. You can get any type of food you want, from Cajun to Indian, from Greek to Italian, from Kosher to haute cuisine, from steak and potatoes to a vegan feast (now there's an oxymoron for you). While mediocrity reigns supreme, in a group this large, there are always some exceptional places.
A few highlights from today:

A hamburger at Litton's in Fountain City
Any steak at Ye Old Steak House on Chapman Highway
Fondue dining at The Melting Pot
The Bountiful Breakfast at the Burning Bush in Gatlinburg
A gyro from the Time Out deli on Kingston Pike
Any sandwich from Harold's Deli downtown
Petros!
The tiramisu from Romano's Maccaroni Grill

And yesterday:

Thanksgiving dinner at Helma's in East Knoxville
The pewter plates at the Old Rathskeller in Western Plaza
The rack of lamb at the Half Shell
The prime rib from The Regas

My dad always says you can't make money with a restaurant. In that case, there are a lot of folks not making money in Knoxville.

2002-07-22T23:20:00.000-04:00

Those sneaky bastards! In an amazing show of journalistic ability, the Metro Pulse has uncovered a secret plot to transport lots of nasty nuclear stuff through Knoxville.

The Associated Press reports that an energy consortium is thinking of establishing a billion-dollar uranium enrichment plant near Erwin, Tenn., and reveals that a TVA contract already has 33 metric tons of blended uranium coming out of Erwin to fuel the Brown's Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama. How does all that hot stuff get from Northeast Tennessee to Brown's Ferry without being shipped through Knoxville? Uh, well...the risk is minimal, you know, minimal.

From the TVA website, January 15, 2002:

“At the same time, it determined that 33 metric tons of the original 200 did not meet the specifications necessary to convert it directly into low-enriched uranium that could be used by the commercial sector as reactor fuel.”
Enter TVA and the BLEU Team.
“TVA signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with DOE in 1998 to pursue a program to use the out-of-specification 33 metric tons of highly enriched uranium,” Robert says. “DOE and our team worked together to solve the technical, commercial and environmental problems associated with using this uranium.”
TVA completed an environmental review and in 2001 TVA and DOE signed an Interagency Agreement. Then the BLEU program was initiated.

From the NFS website dated March 28, 2001 (yes, over a year ago):

A new project to supply fuel for multiple TVA nuclear plant units will have Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS) playing a significant role. The effort to convert surplus highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) for commercial power reactor fuel points to the company’s importance in nuclear materials management.
"By converting surplus nuclear material left over from the Cold War, NFS is playing a key role in turning what could have become a burdensome and costly waste into a vital resource for the TVA and its customers," said NFS President Dwight Ferguson. "America is rediscovering the value of nuclear power in the midst of an energy crisis. HEU-to-LEU conversion can help fuel the U.S. economy and reduce a Cold War legacy.”

And finally, from the Elizabethton Star:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission published notice Monday in the Federal Register of its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment regarding the blend-down of 33 metric tons of bomb-grade uranium into low-enriched reactor fuel at Nuclear Fuel Services Inc. of Erwin.
The fuel would be used to power reactors at Tennessee Valley Authority's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama

Hmmmm. TVA, NFS, Framatone, and the EPA have all issued press releases on this deal over the course of two years. But because a MP staffer read the AP wire and saw the story for the first time, it is a revelation?

Please!

As for the snappy little ending there, perhaps a little research would tell the MP just how minimal the risk truly is. Then instead of trying to frighten people with non-existent boogeymen, they could try actually informing them for a change.

It's just a thought.

2002-07-22T22:50:00.000-04:00

It's racism, pure and simple Echoing a complaint first lodged by Damon Wayans, Anthony Clark of Yes, Dear has complained about being scheduled against the popular Whose Line is it Anyway?

QWell, yeah," he said. "I think it's pretty rotten when we have to be scheduled against another comedy show built around white people. I mean, where's the diversity, man?

When asked about his feelings on the matter, Drew Carey responded, "Who's Anthony Clark?"

2002-07-22T07:06:00.000-04:00

Decisions I met a woman tonight; her name was xxxxx. I was driving in to work, and I saw her hitching on a winding, mountain road. I was getting close to work, but I stopped and pulled over for her anyway, since the road was narrow, and not a very safe place to walk. She thanked me for stopping, and said it was scary walking out there. I asked her where she was going, and she said "Over the hill."

She looked sad, and gave me her name, and I gave her mine as I drove. She needed to talk, and told me she had just gotten into a fight with her ex-husband, the one that used to beat on her. I said something lame, like "That's not good," trying to project sympathy for this stranger in my car, sensing that she needed to connect with another person, even if for a short moment.

She asked me if I drank, and I said no, which disappointed her. "I could really use a cold one," she sighed. Her house was just over the hill, like she said, and we were there within minutes of her getting into my car. I pulled into her driveway, and she started to get out, then hesitated. She looked back at me, wanting to ask me to come in for a minute, wanting some sign from me that I would say yes.

If this were a letter from Penthouse, I would have given her that sign, and we would have gone into her house and had passionate sex all night long. If this were some heartwarming little Internet story, I would have gone in and we would have talked, fallen deeply in love, gotten married and lived happily ever after. If this were some Hollywood movie, I would have gone inside and been cut to ribbons as she turned into a psycho stalker. But this is the real world, and I have bills to pay, and groceries to buy. So I sat there, and she thanked me for the ride, and got out. I said something else lame, like "Take Care" and watched her as she went inside.

I drove on to work, wondering about the choices we face. Who do we help, and what price do we pay when we refuse? I said a short prayer for her as I drove off, asking God to help her find some peace tonight. I wish I could have done more.

2002-07-22T05:52:00.000-04:00

Paging Dr Howard, Dr Fine, Dr. Howard! My puter is ailing, and is in the hospital for corrective surgery. The CD burner has an acute case of amnesia, having forgotten that it is a burner. It is convinced that it is a lowly CD-Rom drive, and nothing I did could change it's mind. So now it lies in the CPU ICU undergoing a peripheral transplant with a BIOS bypass. Wish us luck.

To compound the anxiety, my sons' computer is also on the sick list, requiring the computer equivalent of a heart transplant. Their power supply failed, making their computer into a large expensive paperweight/doorstop. It too is in the hospital. Obviously, posting will be light until the patients recover.

2002-07-18T06:20:00.000-04:00

America's answer to the Swiss Army Knife I have a Swiss Army knife. It was given to me by my kids on a Christmas a long time ago. It's a useful little gadget, with hundreds of uses squeezed into a compact package. You have to admire those Swiss; thier ingenuity is unmatched.

Except by us.

We have developed a much simpler tool with far greater applicability that anything the Swiss ever envisioned. My Swiss Army knife is showing it's age. The toothpick and tweezers are long gone, the red plasitc sides have fallen off, and the spring on the scissors no longer springs. The wear and tear of daily use has taken it's toll. This is where the innovative nature of our American version truly shines. There are no moving parts to wear out or break off. This simple object can be used in virtually any field of endeavor: automaotive repair, medical therapy, safety engineering, construction, competitive sports, even in applied social sciences.

What is this miracle of American ingenuity?

Duct tape, of course!

One milllion and one uses, maybe more. Think about it; two guys using duct tape and a hammer can transform a twisted hunk of metal into a race winning car on the Nascar Winston Cup series, and do it in under 6 minutes Let's see you try that with a Swiss Army knife! Duct tape is not limited to structural repairs, but can also be used to make mechanical repairs. My Navy buddy's old Cougar XR-7 had it's passing gear held together with duct tape. I used duct tape once for an emergency repair on my car. My lower radiator hose had sprung a leak, so I bought a small roll of duct tape. I wrapped the leaky section of the hose with about three layers of tape, and off I went, good for another 3000-4000 miles.

But it isn't just for cars. Duct tape can work wonders on old, worn out furniture. If the fabric on your couch cushion splits, don't throw it away. Simply apply a layer of duct tape, and enjoy your couch for years to come.

But Rich, isn't that tacky?

In the hands of lesser men, sure, but I'm going to teach you how to make an invisible repair. First, remove the cushion. Then, turn the liner inside out. Repair the rip with an appropriate width of duct tape. Ensure the fabric completely covers the tape. Turn the liner right side out, and re-stuff. Walla! An invisible repair.

Duct tape should be carried in every first aid kit. In a pinch, it can be used as a bandage, a sling, or even a tourniquet.

Duct tape should be carried by all law enforcement oficers, to be used as handcuffs. A couple turns around the wrists, and the perp isn't going anywhere. It also makes a wonderful gag for those foul mouthed miscreants who won't shut up.

But all of these uses are self evident. I want to look at some of the more esoteric uses of duct tape. For example:

Window pane replacement (commonly seen in your better trailer parks)
Christmas tree decorations (no more of those annoying little hanger things)
Pet hair remover (from your clothes, furniture, and from your pet)
Do-it-yourself wiffle ball
Replacement for your door matAn industrial strength no-pest strip
Muffle for child's brass/woodwind instrument (essential for maintaining parental hearing. And sanity)
A better mousetrap
A better kitten trap
Hair removal system (who needs Epilady?)
Child safety restraint system (already legal in most southern states)

And the list goes on. Yes, duct tape is a wonderful thing. I remember an old TV show called MacGuyver, about a do-gooder who could improvise all kinds of neat stuff using his Swiss Army knife, some string he had in his pocket, a broken pencil stub with no eraser, two nickels, and a piece of chewing gum. The show was cancelled after a few seasons. Had he traded in his knife for a good roll of duct tape, he'd still be catching bad guys.

2002-07-17T07:39:00.000-04:00

It's that time again! Time for the Second East Tn Blogger's bash! I've sent out an e-mail to those of you who have given me one, placed comments strategically on other blogs, and am posting here, hoping to catch anyone I've missed. I'm aiming for the weekend of the 27th, but that is flexible, depending on everybodies schedule. Leave a comment here, or send me an e-mail of you're interested, and we'll figure out when and where we will meet. If you're not an East TN blogger, but happen to be passing through during the get-together, you're more than welcome to drop in and say hello.

2002-07-16T06:10:00.000-04:00

Waiting in the wings? From FoxNews:

According to the U.S.-China Security Review Commission appointed by Congress in October 2000, the Chinese government has taken advantage of American friendliness to become a bigger threat than ever.

"It needs to be corrected, particularly today as China grows in economic and military strength, and the United States plays a very substantial role in contributing to that rise in military and economic strength," said C. Richard D'Amato, chairman of the U.S.-China Security Review Commission.

And more:

"We are concerned when we see constant rhetorical attacks on the United States, constant warnings to the United States, that if push comes to shove, China is perfectly happy to fight a war against us, and then to see a strategic doctrine from the Chinese military that lays out the ways in which they propose to win that war. That's very bothersome. You'd have to be an idiot not to take that seriously," said Michael Ledeen, vice chairman of the panel.

China's biggest limitation is her inability to move troops. In a defensive war, she has all the advantages, but she lacks the ability to project her power...at least, for now.

2002-07-16T05:58:00.000-04:00

20 years for a traitor Seems a little light to me:

John Walker Lindh, the young convert to Islam who left California and fought alongside the Taliban, pleaded guilty to two felonies Monday in a surprise deal that spares him life in prison and ensures his cooperation with terrorism investigators.
Lindh faces a maximum of 20 years in prison under the agreement struck between prosecutors and defense lawyers after a weekend of negotiations that ended after midnight — just hours before he was set to appear for court hearing.

I still think we should have allowed Afghanistan to extradite him, and let their justice system pronounce judgment. After all, his offences were aimed primarily at that country.

2002-07-16T05:52:00.000-04:00

Does this bother anyone else? From the Reuters report:

In addition, Bush would ask Congress to grant him the power to reorganize federal agencies in response to future crises. "The terrorist threat to America takes many forms, has many places to hide, and is often invisible," Bush warned.

Kinda broad, isn't it? Fortunately, I don't think Congress will let him get away with a power grab of this magnitude. Think about it this way: how would you respond if it were Clinton asking for this kind of power? Bush won't be president forever, and while you may or may not trust him with this kind of power, it is a dead certainty that eventually, we will have a president who cannot be trusted with this kind of power. Think Nixon, as another example.

2002-07-14T18:07:00.000-04:00

How I spent my weekend

2002-07-13T00:38:00.000-04:00

Tennessee's Tax battles are reviewed in this article from The American Prowler:

But the story is not over. "They'll be back," says Valentine, and it seems the next chapter will be especially poisonous, largely due to acrimony surrounding the death of State Representative Keith Westmoreland.

The trouble began when Westmoreland, a pro-tax legislator, was arrested in Florida for indecent exposure. According to authorities, Westmoreland has flashed his privates at some girls at a swimming pool, and for his trouble he was deeply ridiculed by Valentine and Gill. Sadly, Westmoreland shot himself. Suddenly the talk show hosts found themselves in crosshairs of a different sort.

"One local commentator said I'd gone beyond the pale by calling him a pervert," says Valentine.

Typical 'unbiased reporting' in Tennessee. Don't blame the pervert, blame the guy who pointed it out.

Yeeesh.

2002-07-12T03:25:00.000-04:00

New post in And So It Goes, The Loves of My Life: Love on the Rocks

The year flew by, and then I went to join her at college. This caused some conflict at home, because my parents were worried that I had chosen my college just to be close to Lisa. My dad accused me of cheating him out the chance to visit colleges with me. I felt guilty over that, but I wanted to be with Lisa, so I didn't back down, and when fall rolled around, I went to join the love of my life.

College was great! I enjoyed the classes; the campus was wonderful, I joined a frat, and I had Lisa. But things were starting to unravel.

2002-07-12T00:17:00.000-04:00

A Maxi-mini blog fest? This site is pushing an intimite meeting of bloggers on a global scale. I've signed up. Any other East Tn bloggers interested?

2002-07-12T00:11:00.000-04:00

That's a good question! Andrew Sullivan posts a good response to the critics of President Bush's policy towards Iraq:

Here's a simple test for the best liberal columnist in the country: if he were president and he were responsible for the security of American citizens, and if he had had a wake-up call like 9/11, how long would he sit around before he acted to prevent something far, far worse? And if that meant a difficult but necessary war against Saddam, on what grounds should a responsible president punt?

Succinctly put. Any takers?

2002-07-11T06:11:00.000-04:00

Time to rant a bit I was up early this afternoon, and caught a little of the local sports talk show on the radio. They were discussing the Augusta Country Club, and how there are no female members. Apparently some of the women's groups are trying to compel Augusta to admit female members. The first caller I heard said that it was a private club, and they could do whatever they wanted. The next caller compared Augusta National to the Taliban. The sad and scary thing was that he was serious. He honestly believes that a stuffy old group of men keeping their club private was the moral equivalent to stuffing women in burkas and stripping them of all their rights and dignity.

Folks, we've gone too far. Already, the government can tell us who to associate with, who we have to rent houses to, who we have to hire, who we can't fire, where our kids go to school, what they have to study there, what they aren't allowed to think while there, and so on. Yes, I know it's for a good cause, to combat racism and sexism and prejudice and bad body odor and what have you, but I think the cure is worse than the disease.

Let's look at this rationally for a change. I can't join Augusta. Chances are, you can't join Augusta. (If you can, how about loaning me a few bucks until next Thursday?)Even if I suddenly won the lottery tomorrow, and could afford a membership, I couldn't get in. They don't want me. Is this discrimination, or merely good taste on their part? Y'all read this blog; I'll let you judge. But it's their club; they get to make that choice. My mother's father played the course at Augusta as a guest. He was from a monied family in Memphis, and could afford the dues, but he couldn't be a member. His money wasn't old enough, I guess. His sister in law's husband, on the other hand, was a member. I guess his money must have smelled better.

All of this just goes to point out that Augusta is extremely choosy about who they admit to their club. But when does being picky about the people you associate with become prejudice? Is a policy that explicitly excludes women prejudiced? Or is it an attemot to maintain an atmosphere the members have built over the years, a heritage of sorts? I remember a women's college several years ago that was forced to open it's admissions to men for financial reasons. There was tremendous wailing and gnashing of teeth from the feminists, who moaned the loss of a unique resource for women. They said that women were losing a precious place, where they could learn and grow as women, withot the distracting presence of men. The students at the college shaved their heads, and held long vigils in protest of the college's decision. How is Augusta any different? Shouldn't men have the right to associate in a place free from the distracting presence of women without being accused of being chauvanists, or sexist pigs? Why is it that when women wish to exclude men, they are honored as revolutionaries, but when men want to exclude women, they are derided as repressive chauvanists?

It couldn't be a double standard, could it?

2002-07-11T05:48:00.000-04:00

New post in Battle of the Bulge The Rush is On! I tour a new gym.

2002-07-11T05:35:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the newest Knoxville Blog! The Twelfth Parsec, a new tag team blog by Gray Hat & Dr. Heinrich Faust promises to be very interesting. In the first posts, they deconstruct a defense of post modernism, slam the Bush administration for pollution in the Smokies, and defend Gerhard Schroeder's attacks on Amercan business. Something tells me these two fall somewhat to my left on the political spectrum. But then again, who doesn't?

Check 'em out.

2002-07-10T01:52:00.000-04:00

Too good to pass up This quote from Jay Nordlinger in NRO:

How much money would you pay to see the makers of The Last Temptation of Christ make a similar film about the Prophet Muhammad? How long would they be alive? An hour? An hour and fifteen minutes?

Found via Andrew Sullivan