For Auld Lang Syne

WELL? START SINGING!

The Thought For Today

"Greed is my creed" - Daffy Duck

The Thought For Today

"Most Texans think Hanukkah is some sort of duck call." - Richard Lewis

THIS IS A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY!

READ! LEARN!

6 Types of Salt and How to Use Them

"Knowing the difference between Kosher and sea salt can make a world of difference in your dishes. Here, six easy-to-find varieties, with tips on when and where to sprinkle them." Things you need to know...

The Day Of The Ninja!

"Prepare for the Annual Day of the Ninja. Forget 'Talk Like a Pirate' Day. This will truly be our chance to show the world what ninja are made of.

Every year, December 5th is the Day of the Ninja. Plague your co-workers with ninja-ness and wear a ninja mask to work! Got the day off? Run wild in the streets, or dress like a ninja at the mall! Just show the world that YOU ARE NINJA!" I couldn't make this stuff up. Go for it. 

You WILL experience the Ninja Burger difference!

You WILL experience the Ninja Burger difference!


Funny...

The Adventures of Dr. McNinja

The Adventures of Dr. McNinja

I give you Dr. McNinja. A Doctor who is part of a family of Irish Ninjas. Very entertaining. Definately dip into the Archives. Updates every Mon, Wed and Fri.

The Thought For Today

"If dogs could talk, perhaps we’d find it just as hard to get along with them as we do people." - Karel Capek

The Hard Truth From Orlando

The Michael Brown case: I did not see how the grand jury could indict the officer. Even if he went to trial, the prosecutor could not win. Just the video of Michael Brown’s violent behavior at the earlier shoplifting incident would create reasonable doubt at a trial and the officer would be acquitted.

I'm telling you now and I would tell the protestors across the country -- they have absolutely no concept of the kind of irrational, erratic, arbitrary, dangerous violence that is prevalent in some neighborhoods. Michael Brown was 18 years old, big, violent, full of himself and belligerently stupid. Any normal civil teenager of any race first would not be threatening store owners and stealing. Any normal civil teenager of any race would have been walking on the sidewalk, but if being a twit-head and walking in the street, when asked by a police officer to get to the sidewalk (however he put it), would’ve said, okay, and moved his butt to the sidewalk. Michael Brown was not raised to comply. He was not raised to recognize anything but his own strength and so he mouths off, goes after the police officer to keep the officer from getting out of his car (and probably knows he’s being sought for the earlier theft), punches the officer, tries to evade and then goes bug-nuts again when told to stop.

And the same culture of violent idiocy that spawned him then burned his part of town, including the store that Michael Brown victimized just before he was confronted by the police. It’s a culture of blind incomprehension clashing with a culture of frustration on the other side.

And I find it ironic that everyone was beating up on law enforcement and the governor about having so many folks on standby – like having them there is going to provoke violence. But then, the predicted (and some would say inevitable) violence, looting and lawlessness breaks out and now they’re upset because the police/law enforcement weren’t standing right there to stop it. They always want it both ways.

When they rioted in Liberty City, it was never rebuilt. Watts was never rebuilt. The #1 rule of criminal thinking is: does not learn from experience. Well, here it is again. SSDD.

 

 

   Florida Cracker

How To Shuck Oysters

File this under, Things You Should Know.

How To Clean Fish

File this under, Things You Should Know.

How To Open Clams

File this under, Things You Should Know.

Overheard in Athens

There are many "over heard" sites. Just run "overheardin" through a search engine and you'll come across quite a few. This one from Athens, Georgia, which centers around college kids, is the funniest. (I wouldn't mind a little translation on the Dublin site, though. And it would be nice to know what a "Sorostitute" is in Athens.)

The Thought For Today

"Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company."  -  Mark Twain

The Art Of War, by Sun Tzu

You've seen it in the stores and you've waited for the movie. Sorry, there is no movie. But don't be disappointed because now you can download it from Project Gutenberg for free. With no charge even. Get a copy for YOUR library and get ready to conquer the world.

The Thought For Today

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell - you see, I have friends in both places." - Mark Twain

Hanttula.com Presents the { Circus of Disemboweled Plush Toys }

Hanttula.com Presents the { Circus of Disemboweled Plush Toys }

It's another Weird Friday and this is. This is. Weird!

HAPPY GUY FAWKES NIGHT!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

Time for the traditional bonfire and fireworks!

Carnivorous Plant Nursery

YEAH! Meat eaters one and all.

How to Build a Pencil Crossbow

How to Build a Pencil Crossbow


Let the Office Wars begin!

The Thought For Today

“My wife and I tried to breakfast together, but we had to stop or our marriage would have been wrecked.”  ― Winston Churchill

TV Horror Hosts - Part 6

They moved to the net.

TV Horror Hosts - Part 5

A few links from Web Ring.

The Thought For Today

"An intellectual is someone who has found something more interesting than sex." - Edgar Wallace

"Rotting my mind on the Internet so that YOU don't have to."

TV Horror Hosts - Part 3

Part 3 of the series.





Damn I MISS MST3K!

TV Horror Hosts - Part 4

Local flair, but some good stuff.

TV Horror Hosts - Part 2

Part 2 in my series of paying homage to the TV Horror Hosts of years past.

Did you know, the first TV Horror Host was Maila Numi aka Vampira in 1954. Her amazing hourglass figure was more pronounces because she had her lower ribs removed. Her show was cancelled after a year because she wanted to get paid and the TV station (KABC) countered with a demand that they owned the rights to the character.

Vampira probably would have been forgotten if not for Ed Wood and his famous Plan 9 From Outer Space.

TV Horror Hosts - Part 1

After reading an article in the HorrorHound magazine, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic. They ran a short bit on the TV horror hosts of years past. I remember the days long gone when I used to wait anxiously for late Saturday night to flip on Channel 3 in Philadelphia to watch "Saturday Night Dead" hosted by Stella, the giant cleavage femme fatal whose campiness and low cut, skin tight black gowns got all teenage boys cranked up and then she hosted some of the best B films ever made. And before her time, of course, was Dr. Shock. Back in the day when I watched these demented creatures on a console TV which pulled in about 10 or 12 channels from the antenna on the roof.

The video age slowly killed these icons. The early mom and pop video stores of the '80s had great selections of genere film and B films, which were killed by the big box rental places, which are now all closing due to the internet. And I do find the internet to be a great source to find rare gems, but the net can never replace the iconic horror host. Even now, with 200+ channels from my satellite TV and a horror channel (Chiller), none of them have a decent Friday or Saturday night line up of great B horror/SF films with a schlock host. Damn wished they did. I'd put down the computer to watch it.

All that being said, the above link is the first of 4 or 5 places I've found on the web that pay homage to the great TV Horror Hosts of days past.

The Thought For Today

"I've been accused of vulgarity. I say that's bullshit." - Mel Brooks

Chocolate Ammo, Chocolate Guns & More - www.ChocolateWeapons.com

Chocolate Ammo, Chocolate Guns & More - www.ChocolateWeapons.com


I don't need to say a thing...

The Thought For Today

"If love means never having to say you're sorry, then marriage means always having to say everything twice." - Estelle Getty

The Thought For Today

"Don't spend two dollars to dry clean a shirt. Donate it to the Salvation Army instead. They'll clean it and put it on a hanger. Next morning buy it back for seventy-five cents." - Billiam Coronel

Tokyoflash Japan

They're not cheap but if you have a friend that loves watches, this is the place to shop for them. Not quite 'one of a kind' but very close. A few you might have trouble getting through airport security because they don't look like watches.

The Thought For Today

"A team of British engineers have developed a car that runs on human waste. I'll bet that new car smell doesn't last very long." - Jay Leno

The Thought For Today

"Smartness runs in my family. When I went to school I was so smart my teacher was in my class for five years." - Gracie Allen

And Now, the Human Sling-Shot Joyride

Afraid of heights but want to bungee jump? How about the human sling-shot alternative? I'm not sure I'm ready for this thrill-ride myself but if any of you want to try it, I'll try to make your debut. Just keep me posted.

The Thought For Today

"A new survey found that 48 percent of Americans are willing to try out a nude beach for vacation. And my guess is that it's the wrong 48 percent." - Jimmy Fallon

The Thought For Today

"A true friend stabs you in the front." - Oscar Wilde

The Thought For Today

"If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is...and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them." — Jack Handey

Iron Sky

"As World War II comes to an end in 1945, Hans Kammler and other German scientists make a breakthrough in anti-gravity research. From a secret base in the Antarctic, Nazi spaceships are sent to the "dark side" of the Moon to establish the military base "Schwarze Sonne" (Black Sun). Their plan is to build a powerful fleet and return to conquer Earth. The film is set in the year 2018 when their descendants finally return." Wikipedia says it better than I ever could.

Extreme Pug Skydiving

The title says it all. If you check out the comments after watching the video of this skydiving dog you'll see that not everyone thinks it's a good idea. It's a beautiful video though and the music is fabulous, although I think Dr. Dave should have credited it. Stay until the end, where there are additional stills of the pug surfing. I think the pug's name is Bugsy but the credits don't make it really clear.

ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project Blog

ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project Blog

Good Site. Great art. I remember seeing some of these years ago.

The Thought For Today

"According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a secret panel meets every week in Harrisburg, Pa., to go through applications for state vanity license plates to reject any that are considered sleazy or offensive. They wouldn't want anyone with a crude saying on their license plate driving through Intercourse or Blue Ball, Pa." - Jay Leno

Khan Academy

"Over 2,100 videos and 100 self-paced exercises and assessments covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history. Watch. Practice. Learn almost anything for free." "He's NOT dead, Jim."

The Thought For Today

"Surprise me." - Bob Hope, when asked by his wife where he'd like to be buried.

Free Range Graphics

Free Range Graphics

An environmental advertising group who brought you animated videos of Store Wars and The Meatrix among others. Well worth a peek.

The Hard Truth From Orlando

     THE POLICE OFFICER FROM THE FERGUSON SHOOTING SHOULD BE ARRESTED

   Sorry. Don’t agree. We don’t have enough facts. Every time a black man shoots another black man, it’s BFD, business as usual in the black neighborhood. Even their families don’t care enough to come forward and protest if the other guy isn’t prosecuted or if he’s allowed to plead to something ridiculously lenient. If the criminal is African American, anything can be excused in an African American community because somehow “the system” failed him and his.

  But you let it be an officer involved, and it’s all the officer’s fault and the “victim” is somehow maligned. Too many African-Americans openly encourage noncompliance with any form of authority, but they expect authority to protect them on demand.

  Reports are the shooting officer was taken from the scene to the hospital with a broken orbital (eye socket) bone and other serious injuries. The orbital fracture is disputed. The fact that the officer had facial injuries doesn’t appear to be. You can infer he was struck in the face. You can infer that the “victim” of the shooting was anything but a mild-mannered passerby from his earlier convenience store theft and battery of the employee – also white, or at least not African American. Where’s the outrage over that? The only outrage was that it “disparages” the victim’s character rather than establishing a clear example of violent, anti-social behavior occurring within a narrow time-frame of the incident which resulted in his demise.

  The pattern of the bullets is interesting. It doesn’t indicate the guy was shot while standing there with his hands raised. The last shot went through the top of his head, so the shots went into his arm, shoulder and then through his head as he was falling. And they were all on his right side. That indicates he was in a fighting or striking stance, right side forward. And that, coupled with the officer’s reported injuries, tends to support a theory of violence to the officer rather than a hands-raised, compliant “victim.”

  There is a double-standard in the criminal justice system. I knew it when I was a probation officer. African-Americans got tougher sanctions because they had no family support for lesser sanctions. I see it in the juvenile system. White, Spanish and Asian kids get Teen Court and diversion programs because their parents make sure they toe the mark, attend the classes, do the community service work. African-American parents don’t. They won’t make sure their kids attend classes, court – even when costs can be defrayed by community service, they don’t make the kid comply. Instead, they let their kids take criminal probation instead of diversion which could have let their records be expunged. They don’t show up to court half the time when their child is facing criminal charges and the child’s future is on the line. They let their child’s behavior and charges and lack of compliance snowball into a commitment (juvenile prison) sentence, which just greases the skids into adult criminal prison.

  African-Americans say, the system did this, the system did that, the system failed my child. Hockey puck. The parents are the first step in “the system.” And African American parents on the whole consistently refuse to step up to the plate. They want what they perceive privileged “white” folks as having, but they won’t conform behavior or their social norms in order to achieve it. Until the African American community ceases to embrace a culture of failure and violence as their “norm,” we’re going to keep having these incidents.

  ** sidenote: And every time African- Americans protest, they burn their own neighborhoods, loot their own stores, and otherwise prey on their own community. It’s as predictable as the sun rising in the east. I'd like to see that idiocy cured by African-American leaders. NO other ethnic/minority in the US does that kind of stupid stuff over and over again, generation after generation.

 

     Florida Cracker

AE4RV.com :: Original Flash Games and More

AE4RV.com :: Original Flash Games and More

Look Ma, even more brain damage!

What Classic Movie Are You?

I suspect this is skewed to the darkside, but maybe that's just me. Anyway, answer the quiz to see which classic movie represents your true nature.

The Thought For The Day

"The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position." - Leo Buscaglia

Encyclopedia Astronautica

Encyclopedia Astronautica

THE source for space information, past, present and future.

Space Toys NASA Store from Apollo to the Space Shuttle. NASA Space Toys for all ages.

Space Toys NASA Store from Apollo to the Space Shuttle. NASA Space Toys for all ages.

Another very cool Site. Where else can you buy a space suit and rent or buy a full sized Space Shuttle? Perfect for the front yard. Just remember - if you have to ask "how much", you CAN'T afford it.

Ugobe / Pleo

Here's what happened when he disappeared for a while: http://www.robotsrule.com/pleo/2009/10/inside-story-behind-pleos-rise-fall-and.htmlUgobe / Pleo

He's back! Forget those robotic dogs - now you can have your very own robotic dinosaur. Much smarter than the dogs are. He's even trainable. Hmmmmmm - those noisy neighbors. I wonder how big he'll get. Plenty of videos at YouTube.

Why Superman Can't Save Your Fall

Superman makes it looks easy, but unless you're Supergirl you'll just turn into mush in his arms. And I don't mean that in a good way. Tess again, from the ooey gooey bits of her website on ways to die. Also, the real reason why Lois and Supes will never Become One.

The Thought For Today

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway

Sacrificing without Digesting

And now, on a related note for yesterday's posts, this is Tess Gerritsen again on human sacrifice. It still exists today, only now it isn't sanctioned by any government or society. In this regard I suppose it's similar to slavery -- witness the recent brouhaha over the forced servitude (i.e., slavery) of children and adolescents in China. Well, at least I haven't heard of anything similar regarding human sacrifice lately, but it's early days in the new century.

Molds On Food: Are They Dangerous?

Molds On Food: Are They Dangerous?


Hmmmmmmm? There's a chart at the bottom.

The Thought For Today

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." - Robert Fulghum

The Thought For Today

"In Massachusetts, Republicans are upset over a new tax hike on dogs. It was slipped into a bill at the last minute by Democrats. Democrats claim they're only going to be taxing dogs that make over $250,000 a year, though." - Jay Leno

Things You Never Knew Existed : Gag gifts, novelties and toys : Welcome!

Things You Never Knew Existed : Gag gifts, novelties and toys : Welcome!

Okay, you knew that SOME of them existed. Still, there's a lot of fun stuff here and Xmas is getting closer.

Roswell Revisited

So was this guy nuts or what? Deathbed affidavits are thought to be true because what do you have to lose? I'm not sure that's accurate, because one's family can lose. The living still have something to lose in a lot of cases. But I have to admit, what did this guy have to lose by telling the truth? That still doesn't mean he saw a flying saucer, of course. But maybe he saw something he wasn't supposed to see...

The Thought For Today

There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed a desire to become a "great" writer.When asked to define "great", he said: "I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, wail, howl in pain, desperation and anger!" He now works for Microsoft writing error messages...

The Thought For Today

"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." - Thomas Edison

The Thought For Today

"May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country!" - Daniel Webster

Brass Pocket Sundial Compasses

The ultimate pocket watch. Solar powered and never needs batteries.

The Thought For Today

"As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will; he will be sure to repent it." - Socrates

The Thought For Today

"Why do Jewish divorces cost so much? They're worth it." - Henny Youngman

The Lighter Side : Collectibles, t-shirts, and other inexpensive gifts ideas : Welcome!

The Lighter Side : Collectibles, t-shirts, and other inexpensive gifts ideas : Welcome!



And on the same note...

The Thought For Today

'You scratch my back, and I'll suck blood out of yours' - that is the insect motto." - Dave Barry

Beam Me Up - Science & Science Fiction news: Isaac Asimov interview on Youtube

Beam Me Up - Science & Science Fiction news: Isaac Asimov interview on Youtube


About an hour, but well worth the time.

Beam Me Up - Science & Science Fiction news: Ten Things You Didn't Know About the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

Beam Me Up - Science & Science Fiction news: Ten Things You Didn't Know About the Apollo 11 Moon Landing


Interesting stuff...

StarShipSofa -

http://www.starshipsofa.com/

From their Home Page: "Take a voyage on the Science Fiction podcast StarShipSofa if you dare? Travel into the deepest realms of the classic Sci-fi and science fiction world. Calling at such science fiction destinations as Philip K Dick, Alfred Bester, John Brunner and all the other great Sci Fi writers out there. Then, from science fiction and Sci Fi we travel anywhere our imagination and our podcast take us. All wrapped up and inspired by the great Ronnie Corbett. Intrigued? Want to find out more about our science fiction podcast?. Then travel on the greatest science fiction and Sci Fi ride of your life, the StarShipSofa podcast.... If it's classic science fiction... or sci fi trivia listen no further - science fiction never listened so good!"

SF Signal - A Science Fiction Blog

SF Signal - A Science Fiction Blog

An interesting Blog concerning all Science Fiction and Fantasy news.

The Thought For Today

"A human being is a part of the whole called by us 'Universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest. - A kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." - Albert Einstein

The Hard Truth From Orlando

Missouri principal wows crowd, angers atheists with guarded 'God' references -- June 4, 2014

Increasingly, I think our Founding Fathers got it wrong in one respect. It shouldn't be freedom OF religion. It should be freedom FROM religion. Of course, they couldn't know that everything they fought for would be undermined almost as soon as it was written.

It would be different if people really respected other people's beliefs, but while the majority who espouse one belief or another say they do respect, their actions plainly show that they don't . So what we have are members of various organized belief groups who insist on ramming their personal credo into the face of everyone else while protesting that they have a right to believe as they do.

Well, yes. They have a right to believe whatever. The difference is, their right to believe appears to contain a simultaneous belief that they have a right to insist everyone else has to hear what they believe -- particularly when it's a group held socially captive for non-religious activities, school graduations, sports competitions, government assemblies -- heck, business meetings.

The original version of the Pledge of Allegiance did not contain the words "Under God." That was a calculated, political addition during the Cold War 1950's to show the world that the U.S. wasn't like the "godless" Communists. The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a socialist, and the pledge was meant to be all encompassing of what the United State stands for, an ideal of intellect and equality -- not an inherently divisive religious affirmation.

I wonder how Principal Kevin Lowery would feel if he were obliged to attend a monthly assembly of school principals to collect his pay check and then be obliged to sit and listen for an hour while Islamists, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Atheists or Satanists expounded on their private, personal religious views before he could collect his check. He'd be offended. He'd feel excluded. He'd feel trampled on.

But like most puffed-up, self-righteous Bible-thumpers, he won't see any correlation between that scenario and the one he just orchestrated at a Missouri high-school graduation. After all, his is the only REAL religion. Just ask him. He'll tell you. He has a personal line to God to which you're not privy unless you believe like he does. And then he's probably the only one who can hear that "still small voice." But rest assured, he'll "interpret" any messages for you because that voice that only he can hear told him he could.

"And just in case you’re interested, during my moment of silence, I gave thanks to God for these great students, their parents, their teachers and for this community.”

And of course, he is firmly convinced I give a tinker's damn what HE did during HIS moment of silence. I don't. I only give a damn when he and others of his ilk suck up my time with their arrogance. Puffed up jackass.

The school board needs to make him review and re-sign his oath to defend the Constitution and obey all laws. You know, that piece of paper all people who work for the taxpayers have to sign when they work in the government. I think the Principal has forgotten what it says.

 

   Florida Cracker

 

TSA Complaints: Home

TSA Complaints: Home


Enjoy your right to complain.  And no guarantee that if you do complain, you won't end up on the No Fly list. Just the opposite.

The Thought For Today

“Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.” - Steven Weinberg

The Thought For Today

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading” -  Lao Tzu

Used Body Armor

That's right folks, for Weird Friday we have a FINE selection of used body armor for all occasions. Most NOT bullet proof but there are some. Just look for the most expensive items. But all handy if you are going through a messy divorce.

Cannibalism Among the Ancients

Here is another creepy biological fact post from Tess Gerritsen. This one suggests that cannibalism may have been a ritual among the Neanderthals. I wonder what those guys in the Geico commercials would think?

Candwich

Yes, boys and girls, it does exist. And most of the reviews aren't bad.





http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38268129/ns/today-foodwine/

The Hard Truth From Orlando

You know, I'm somewhat torn about the murder trial going on in Minnesota of the 65-year-old who is accused of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of a pair of teenagers who broke into his home. The prosecution says the man lay in wait for the pair after they'd broken into his house (and others) several times to steal to support their drug habits. The prosecution alleges that because he lay in wait and because he made sure to kill them both with a final shot to the head, he exceeded the right of protecting one's home and elevated it to what amounts to an execution.

Do I think the pair of idiots had it coming? I think if you break into someone's house, you're begging to get hurt. Doing it more than once, especially the same house, you're increasing your odds dramatically of getting caught or worse. In this case, it proved to be worse.

Breaking into someone's house to steal, vandalize, or just for a kick is not "a mistake." It's a choice of criminality. I found it interesting that the grandfather of the male victim, Brady, referred to his grandson's criminal acts as "a mistake." It kind of shows where grandpa's mentality is -- and why his grandson wouldn't think breaking into houses with his girlfriend (or whatever she was) to support a drug habit was a big deal.

It's probably the arrogance of the homeowner that has prosecutors and other law enforcement seeking criminal penalties for deliberately killing this pair of dirtbags. There would be no question of a justifiable shooting if not for the final and very considered shot to the cranium of both burglars. And it's that arrogance, more than the final shots, that will convict him.

I like to ask myself, if I were in his shoes, having been burglarized more than once by the same knuckleheads, would I have been waiting with a gun in the basement? For sure. I'd probably have made it easy for them to get in, too. And I would've shot them like the crazy little animals they were. I would not have made that final kill shot to the head if I knew I'd already gotten in a couple of good injuries. Frankly, if I wanted them dead at that point, I'd just go hide in a corner until they stopped breathing and pretend I thought I heard a third and maybe a fourth person moving around and was afraid to call or come out.

Mind you, that would also be an act of homicide, but kind of tough to prosecute.

On the other hand, dead men tell no tales. When you have a living victim, it turns into a "he said/she said" and probable civil cases that will wreck you as surely as the initial criminal act. When you are the sole survivor, you can spin that story however you like within the forensic evidence. Your best option if you're going to use lethal force is to make sure that it's lethally done so that yours is the only voice heard. The homeowner did that; he just didn't do it smart.

Maybe it doesn’t say much about me as a human being, but my sympathy for those "kids" is zero, because whatever happens with the shooter, you won't see those teenage deadbeats committing crimes anymore -- and the community will probably never recognize what a relief it is that they're gone.

 

 

   Florida Cracker 


UPDATE:  http://news.yahoo.com/minnesota-man-convicted-premeditated-murder-205233923.html

Life with no parole. But there will be an appeal in part because:  "Judge Douglas Anderson excluded evidence about the teens' histories from the trial, including court documents that showed Brady had broken into Smith's house and garage before. Brady and Kifer were also linked to another burglary; stolen prescription drugs were found in the car they were driving." Innocents?

CBC.ca - Arts - Photo Essay - Coming Attractions

CBC.ca - Arts - Photo Essay - Coming Attractions

Improving the modern movie experience. I can't figure which is my favorite - #1 or #2.

Purple Rain? No, Purple Snow!

Yes, that's right, purple snow. Is it caused by climate change? I'm not clear on that, but here's the story.

The Thought For The Day

When you get to be President, there are the honours, the 21-gun salutes, all those things. You have to remember it isn't for you. It's for the Presidency. - Harry S. Truman

Maps Of 17 Years Of UFO Sightings

Via Slate Magazine: "In the past 17 years, the Davenport, Wash.-based National UFO Reporting Center has collected more than 30,000 reports of UFO sightings through its hotline and Web site. The following three maps visualize that rich history." So, which one did YOU come from?

National UFO Reporting Center

National UFO Reporting Center

An interesting Site. And, yes, we know that you're not REALLY from around here.

The Thought For Today

"If there were no God, there would be no Atheists." - GK Chesterton

Name the Film Quiz

A British film site, MovieMail, has some nifty quizzes for you film buffs. I like this particular quiz because it's not for the casual film-goer. You really need to know your movies, including foreign films, to figure out which movies these stills go with. Test your movie knowledge!

eclectech : pointless but fun : flash animations

eclectech : pointless but fun : flash animations

Some more fun stuff. Check out the Penguin Song.

Cosmetic Database

Interresting. Check out what cosmetics and personal care products are killing you.

The Thought For Today

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert Heinlein

Girl Genius

Enjoyable stuff. Go, read, laugh.

Dance Dance Party Revolution Movie Titles

Okay, it's not really Dance Dance Party Revolution, but it looks as if ought to be. So what is this video good for other than dancing? How about speed reading? See how many movie titles you can read, then watch it again to see if they're really there!

Life as a real CSI - and you thought Entomology was useless

Ok, here it goes, since I've been nagged to death to post. and speaking of death, here is something that could fall into the category of the Thought for the Day. As it goes, a word of advise is that if you find that you are going to pass on while preparing to go fishing, leave the live bait behind. Such is the case of "Uncle Pete." By using forensic Entomology, as generalized in the above link, I estimated "Pete" had been preparing to go fishing, sitting in his car in a closed, detached garage for about 3 weeks.
The big question should be, "How do you know 'Pete' was going fishing?" Well....in the car, next to "Pete" sat a lunch box cooler. Along with food stuffs, was some containers of live shrimp bait. Naturally, after 3 weeks, the bait was less than live.
The next question should be, "Why leave the bait home if I'm going to die?" Well....there is the matter of bouquet. Three weeks for a former person is one thing, but for former aquatic life......I'll leave to the imagination.

Rec: Haggis With Neeps And Tatties

An easier version for Burn's Night Supper...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/haggiswithneepsandta_90856

The Thought For Today

"When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white man came, an Indian said simply, "Ours"

The Thought For The Day

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is
a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left
to irresponsible action." – George Washington

The Hard Truth From Orlando

SHOT FOR TEXTING AT THE MOVIES

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/justice/florida-movie-theater-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Frankly, I’m surprised someone hasn’t been shot before over cell phones, texting and stupidity in the movie theatres. And of course, they’re playing “Hearts & Flowers” over the fact that the dead dumbass was texting “his little daughter.” Um. He has a three-year-old daughter who reads text messages? Wow. So she has HER own phone, too, at three years of age? Or were they babysitting by video instead of leaving her with a living human being? And of course, this ill-mannered twit doesn’t know the polite thing is to make any phone calls or texts from the lobby, not the theatre seat, or was he just so important he can’t be bothered?

One report also said that the couple were talking loudly and otherwise being pretty obnoxious – which behavior usually means that they’ll continue this behavior right into the feature presentation and screw the experience for all the other paying customers. A normal couple would’ve gotten the message when someone asked them to stop texting, talking and be quiet. But not this pair of entitled yuppie jerk-offs.

And I can almost guarantee that little blonde wife of the victim was the instigator. Oh, you better call the baby, let her know we’re all right. Oh, honey, blah-blah-blah – and then argue with the man behind them so that hubby thinks she’s threatened and has to stand up for her. Sorry. It’s almost reminiscent of the airport security guy who got his neck broken by the more harassed than belligerent husband because his puffed-up entitled wife started a fight over her ill-trained child running past security. Hubby got acquitted, but wife’s behavior was finally addressed publically.

People are saying, oh, a retired cop did this; policemen and guns, ooh, can’t trust them. And as I said before, I’m just surprised someone hasn’t been shot before. That’s the trouble with ANYONE and a gun. The impulse to put down a mouthy jackass can escalate quickly into a lethal reaction. And in this case, it did.

Remember when going to the movies was almost like going to church with popcorn? You paid, you went and were quiet in a room full of strangers, all of whom were also expected to be quiet. Maybe a whispered comment, but by and large, you shut up and watched the movie or an usher ushered your antisocial self OUT and you did not get your money back.

Then we got VCRs and home theatres and everybody acted like they were in their own living room for the show, yelping, running up and down the aisle to the lobby, the bathroom. The kids were no longer trained to shut up and sit down – or taken out of the theatre if they became disruptive. You were conscious of the people around you and polite, saying, excuse me, if you had walk past other people in their seats. And then we got cell phones and that was the nearly the end of movie going for most people. You now see every jackass in the place with his or her feet propped up on the seat ahead of him/her, yakking, calling people on the phone, commenting on every scene and actor – usually not even in a whisper – and mouthing off if someone asks them to keep it down.

That’s why I pick senior citizen morning matinees if I go to theatres for a movie anymore. That’s why I really don’t want to carry a weapon. It’s not the theatres. It’s not even the cost. It’s the ill-mannered crap heads who inflict themselves on other paying customers, oblivious of possible consequences. And the urge to drill courtesy into their pointed craniums with a steel-jacketed projectile might become overwhelming…and besides, I’d miss seeing the movie.

 

 

   Florida Cracker

The Thought For Today

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.
- Mark Twain