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

Santa Claus Blog

Santa Claus Blog

One of Santa's many Blogs.

Rec: Green Tomatoe Pie

Store-bought pastry shell. I pre-bake the bottom so it’s not mushy (think you’re supposed to but since I never see it on the cook shows, who knows?).

Cup of brown sugar.

Stick & ¼ or more of salted butter.
½ cup sliced almonds
Teaspoon of ground cloves
Teaspoon of cinnamon
Three or four REALLY big green, green tomatoes or six or seven tomatillos. You want the greener and the harder the better. The pale green ones don’t have as much taste. The going-to-pink or red ones don’t have the “tang.” Dice the tomatoes up.
Finely shredded cheddar cheese – about ½ cup?

Brown the butter. When it’s really bubbling, add the sugar and cloves and cinnamon. Keep stirring till it’s got a nice even consistency and the sugar is thoroughly melted. Add the tomatoes and cook until they are fork tender. Then stir in the almonds or whatever nuts you prefer. Check your mix while cooking by tasting. Add or subtract at will.

You’ve already browned the bottom pastry layer. Put a layer of the cheddar cheese on it. Pour the mix in the pie. Put another layer of cheese over the mix. Put on the top pastry sheet and bake until browned. Or leave it as an open pie with the nuts on top and bake until it’s bubbling and you haven’t burned the pie crust edge. This will only take a very, very few minutes in the oven.

Done. Let cool a bit and serve. I don’t add salt. Salt is in the butter and the cheese already.

The Thought For The Day

"You can pick out actors by the glazed look that comes into their eyes when the conversation wanders away from themselves." - Michael Wilding

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

This is the tree that sits in my den all year round - as a reminder. There are more important things than shiny new toys.

Federal Budget Stabilizer

YOUR CHALLENGE:

Stabilize the U.S. Debt at 60% of GDP by 2021.

It's no secret that America's finances are unsustainable. So, what can be done about it? The problem has been mounting for a long time and it cannot be fixed overnight, but we need to start addressing it now.
The debt of the United States is rising to unprecedented – and unsustainable – levels. Under reasonable assumptions, the public debt of the U.S. is projected to grow to 91% of GDP by 2025, 149% in 2040 and 415% in 2080. No country can support debt at these levels without huge costs to its standard of living, at a minimum, and most likely a severe crisis. HAVE FUN!

The Thought For Today

“The purpose of Man’s life is to become an abject zombie who serves a purpose he does not know, for reasons he is not to question.” - Ayn Rand

Cool Haunts Link Page

So, I'm watching this really crappy horror flick last night, "Death Tunnel." Typical 5 young girls forced to spend the night in a haunted hospital theme. I watched it because I have an extreme interest in abandoned places, specifically old state hospitals, asylums, sanatoriums, etc. "Death Tunnel" was based on a "true" story involving Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Interesting place. I found the above site looking for some other haunts. There are many out there. Unfortunately, the link on this site for Waverly is dead. Try http://www.therealwaverlyhills.com/ for the official site, and another good one is http://www.prairieghosts.com/waverly_tb.html. I may actually be going to Louisville, KY within the next year and if so, will post pictures of Waverly.

ExtremePumpkins.com - Extreme Pumpkin Carving

ExtremePumpkins.com - Extreme Pumpkin Carving

Beautiful.

Zombie Pumpkins - Get your pumpkins ready

Get the jack-o-lanterns ready with some cool carving patterns from Zombie Pumpkins.


Check out the pumpkin patch at Crumpkin's Pumpkins:

The Thought For Today

"'Tis the night - the night Of the grave's delight, And the warlocks are at their play; Ye think that without The wild winds shout, But no, it is they - it is they." - Arthur Cleveland Coxe

Toronto Department of Zombie Disposal commences operations | Boing Boing Gadgets

Toronto Department of Zombie Disposal commences operations Boing Boing Gadgets


Way cool.

Zombie Reporting Center

Zombie Reporting Center


Here's what you've been waiting for. A clearing house for everything zombie or as they like to be known as, the living impaired. Books, movies, comics, conventions and just about anything else you can think of.

The Thought For Today

"For as children tremble and fear everything in the blind darkness, so we in the light sometimes fear what is no more to be feared than the things children in the dark hold in terror and imagine will come true." - Titus Lucretius Carus

The Thought For Today

"Bring forth the raisins and the nuts- Tonight All-Hallows' Specter struts Along the moonlit way." - John Kendrick Bangs

Ghost Singles

"The best dating site for dead singles." Go for it!

Illegal Alien Adult Costume - Costumes

Yup, you've seen it in the news and here's where you can get it. Hell, I think that it's funny, but then, no one's chasing me.

Rue Morgue

Tanned, rested....and ready to retire. Too bad I have to wait a few, 10 years, until I can collect a pension. Either way, back from a week at the beach. A week without mutants, crime scenes, and Musikfest (see last weeks post). Also, a week without a cell phone (oops, left it, I mean forgot it, at home, and sans computer and the internet. Damn, a week without the net, I can see Eric shudder as he reads that.

Since I had no electronic media (my PSP DOES NOT count!!! playing the Family Guy video game is rather mind numbing) I finally had a chance t catch up on reading print media. Books and magazines. Speaking of magazines, I got caught up on a few past issues of Rue Morgue magazine. Check the link above. It is a decent mag for horror fans. Much better than just the gore-zines. More in-depth articles, interviews, and columns not just on current movies, but oldies as well. Also, they cover books, graphic novels, video games, and music.

Rue Morgue is a Canadian publication and can probably be found in the "big box" book stores. Their web site is decent. Check out Rue Morgue Radio when you're there. Good stuff.

DEATH BROS.

DEATH BROS.

"CHUCK & RALPH were weird & wild when they were alive. Now they're ghosts & nothing can stop them from having a hell of an afterlife." Well it's Weird Friday again and...I don't know what to say about this Site. Really. Really, really. Go. Enjoy. Laugh.

The Thought For Today

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." - Marie Curie

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

REMEMBER...

The Thought For Today

"We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality." - Albert Einstein

Numbers According to the Movies

Here is one way to teach your kid numbers. Now we need one for the alphabet.

FreeRice

FreeRice

Interesting and cool. And worth repeating. Add it to your Favorites list. It DID make my head hurt after Level 49. Share a little.

The Thought For Today

"When I study philosophical works I feel I am swallowing something which I don't have in my mouth." - Albert Einstein

The Thought For Today

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead." - Oscar Wilde

TRASH PALACE

A good place to find the long forgotten or perhaps a new treasure. A nice collection of stuff you won't be able to find just anywhere. Perhaps one of the best yet I've found.

The Thought For Today

"You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity...no we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball." - Albert Einstein

Urban Legends Reference Pages

Urban Legends Reference Pages

Those cute stories and pictures that your friends send in the Email? This is the place to find out if they're real or just urban legends. You can also sign up for the newsletter get the latest on new stories as they come out. "She put her what in the microwave to dry it? Oh my god!"

The Thought For Today

"Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live." - Socrates

Lifestreams

Check out The Edge for the latest on where we're going in our digital lives. The future is nearly here, and it's not what we thought it would be. (Is it ever?)

Don't jump....as tempting as it is...

Empornium and PureTNA gone...

End of an era.

The Thought For Today

"I am among those who think that science has great beauty. A scientist in his laboratory is not only a technician: he is also a child placed before natural phenomena which impress him like a fairy tale." - Marie Curie

The Thought For Today

"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere."
- Carl Sagan

How To Pass A Drug Test

And from Gizmodo we have...

RIDE, SALLY, RIDE!

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-050813a.html


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

 

Who Has Your Back 2013 (Which companies help protect your data from the government.)

Important news from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. I support them and perhaps you should too.

Browser Tracking

Speaking of mind control....

The Thought For Today

"Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind." - Leonardo da Vinci

The Ultimate (Free) Virus Protection Guide

Thank you Gizmodo! (Personally I use Zone Alarm Free and am QUITE happy with it.)

The Hard Truth From Orlando

                            NAACP: The Ostrich Organization

The NAACP President Bill Gary has filed a formal complaint against Brevard Public Schools. That's just so productive.

Brevard County Schools have come under fire from the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) because of statistics that show black students make up a disproportionate number of disciplinary suspensions compared to the actual black students numbers in the school population. Golly, since when is that news to the NAACP? Black citizens also make up a disproportionate number of the prison population compared to the population at large. Black men and women make up a disproportionate number of persons under legal supervision compared to the demographics of the general community as well. Black men and women are disproportionately represented in the national poverty statistics, too. Why is that?

Are black students being singled out, or does their own behavior and lack of family cohesion and social integration automatically make them incapable of complying with academic rules and regulations -- heck, with normal codes of behavior outside of their insular black neighborhoods? Is this more of that "well, they're black, we have to make allowances for that" logic that somehow implies black kids can't help how they act because of their color?

 It's too easy to blame "the system" for all their failures, when all any student has to do is come to school, be on time, keep their mouth shut, leave the other students alone, and do the work. The schools have bent over backwards to get counseling, guidance, special needs teachers, lunch programs, tutoring, medical assistance, clothing assistance, for students with a myriad of personal problems and family situations. The schools can't make up for crappy parents who can't be bothered to make sure their kids are dressed, fed and to school on time. The schools can't make up for parents who refuse to acknowledge that their own misbehavior is reflected in their children's anti-social dysfunction and failure to apply. The schools can't allow a belligerent, dangerous, disruptive child to continually take away the opportunities and safety of other students all in the name of "tolerance."

And I don't want to hear about "we're poor, we ain't got" clothes or food. Almost every school now has breakfast programs, lunch programs, take-home food programs for children, clothes closets for the needy. But the kids have to show up on time and be ready to participate. Poverty is not an excuse for lousy, disrespectful, non-compliant behavior. The color of your skin is not an excuse to act stupid, mean or lazy. But that's the message most of these kids have received in their community and from their parents. They can't behave in school, they can't find a decent paying job because they can't finish school, they walk the walk their parents did -- with the same results. And their children, born in poverty to parents with the same poor self-discipline and set of excuses, will do the same. Education is the way out -- if the student can put his head down, shut up, and work.

If the NAACP wants to see the problem with their youths, just come to the juvenile courthouse and watch how many of black children come before a judge on CRIMINAL charges and no parent can be bothered to show up. They can come watch how many black children are entirely on their own, even in a house with adults, and no one is supervising them -- much less attending the child's basic needs, even with every scrap of tax-payer funded and not-for-profit subsidy that can be thrown their way. Come watch how many black parents stand beside their child and excuse even the most egregious, vicious actions and turn a blind eye to their child's predictable slide into the prison system, or worse still, a quick trip to the morgue. I think they'll find the demographic of crappy black parenting rather disproportionate to the general crappy parent population as well.

There used to be rampant, in-your-face institutional discrimination. Every agency is hyper-vigilant of it and fighting to correct discrepancies. Now I think it's just a case of the self-fulfilling prophecy. Maybe the black communities embrace failure because it's so much easier than trying to integrate into regular non-black society. It's been observed before and it will again, if the black community insists on being counted separately, then they will be counted last. Maybe the NAACP needs to fund its own program for students who can't toe the mark in public schools. Let's see how critical they are of "the system" when these kids are their problem instead of the schools system's. Maybe they'll begin to recognize that it's the black community's culture of embracing failure and blaming others that's the real issue.

 

 

     Florida Cracker

How Prepared Are You if Disaster Strikes? - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com

How Prepared Are You if Disaster Strikes? - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com


Well worth taking.

The Thought For Today

"We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free." - Ronald Reagan

The Thought For Today

" When you cry havoc, the dogs of war bite everyone." - Anon

The Hard Truth From Orlando

CUT THEM LOOSE

A 15-year-old Puerto Rican girl, Enidris Siurano Rodriguez, attending school at Damascus High in Montgomery County, Maryland, is protesting the US policies regarding Puerto Rico by refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance -- or to recite the pledge, obviously. She was been admonished by a teacher, told she was essentially unpatriotic, so she contacted the ACLU, was apologized to by the principal of the school, and now there's a firestorm of support by various Latin artists and others supporting her protest.

Her refusal to stand for the Pledge, while irritating to many Americans, is supported by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The bigger question, and I don't think she's entirely wrong, is -- WHAT IS the real status of Puerto Rico to the United States of America? Puerto Ricans were granted citizenship in 1917, which establishes mostly equal protection under the laws of the United States, but Puerto Rico is still a territory and not a state, so the citizens do not have the right to vote, so they're not really, completely citizens. Ms. Rodriguez, therefore, has the right, under the Constitution, to refuse to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

However, her inelegant reasoning, per the article, makes little sense. She doesn't feel that a government so far away from the island should be able to dictate its internal policies. I haven't checked a map, but I'm pretty sure Hawaii is farther away from the mainland of the United States than Puerto Rico. Hawaii seems to be thriving under US auspices as a state and most of its residents don't seem to currently be unhappy with statehood. Alaska, too, is divided from the main body of the US by another country -- so distance is not the real issue.

It's the half-measures. They're citizens without the right to vote. They're the remnants of an antiquated and unequal colonial political system, culture, language and people whose primary identity has been overlaid by others, but who have not been vigorously assimilated. Puerto Rico as a 51st state would have to become English-speaking, as English is the official language of the United States. Puerto Ricans would not be able to have their own passports; they'd have to have U.S. passports. They would be required to fulfill ALL of the duties of citizens of the United States and they would also be entitled to all of the benefits accorded US citizens for which they are not currently eligible.

On the other hand, cutting Puerto Rico loose as an independent nation might be a better option. That would shut the door on a lot of the illegal activity flooding through our nation under half-citizen benefits by treating Puerto Ricans as citizens of their own country. They can keep their own language, culture and autonomy without the imposition of a familiar but still alien government. We full citizens can shut the door on the flood of back-door immigration and illegal criminal trade that is part and parcel of the current policies regarding our half-citizens. It would simply make us safer as a nation to restrict the open access Puerto Rico currently enjoys.

This will create something of a dilemma for the current generations of Puerto Ricans. They'll have to choose citizenship -- or those currently holding citizenship can hold dual citizenship, while those born after Puerto Rico becomes a nation will be treated as Puerto Rican citizens, with no prior claim to US citizenship.

And either solution will put an end to the peculiar tax-code for Puerto Ricans and the collection of federal funds by and federal payments to persons who are not entitled to vote for the very government that levies those taxes. It seems to me our founding fathers went to war over the very issue of taxation without representation...

It's time to resolve this. Bring 'em in, or cut 'em loose and let Ms. Rodriguez make her choice of where her allegiances lie. There are enough people around the world who want to be U.S. citizens that we don't need to hold someone as reluctant as she obviously is hostage to a political system long past its expiration date.

 

 

     Florida Cracker

andrewfarago: The Lost Marvel Team-Up: Spider-Man and Planned Parenthood!

andrewfarago: The Lost Marvel Team-Up: Spider-Man and Planned Parenthood!

It's a nice lazy Sunday morning and you've read the papers. What to do next? How about grabbing another cup of coffee and a bagel and read a Spider-Man comic from the '70s? And not just any comic. One done with Planned Parenthood. That's right, it's never too late to learn the basics with Spider-Man.

The Thought For Today

"A bad habit never disappears miraculously; it's an undo-it-yourself project." - Abigail Van Buren

Strange Stuff From Nick

I'm really not sure what to say about this. It SEEMS sadly believable.

Some light reading...

The Thought For Today

We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." - Winston Churchill

To The Survivors Of Tax Day

I hope that everyone had a pleasant Tax Day. I finally got mine done last Thursday (Online as usual) and got a bit of good news. I DON'T OWE ANYTHING! Wow, that means that I get to keep all my internal organs for ANOTHER year! Thanks Uncle Sam!


(And a P.S.: Avoid Turbo Tax FREE. Even though it seems simple enough, if you hit the wrong button, as I did, you'll end up paying big. Rated 1 out of 10, just because it IS in English. Otherwise I would give it a 0.)

The Thought For Today

"When the solution is simple, God is answering." - Albert Einstein

SF Signal: Leonard Nimoy Explains the Origins of the Vulcan Salute

SF Signal: Leonard Nimoy Explains the Origins of the Vulcan Salute


An interesting bit of history...

"The Most Brilliant Sci-Fi Mind on Any Planet: Philip K. Dick" 1975 Rolling Stone Article by Paul Williams - Boing Boing

"The Most Brilliant Sci-Fi Mind on Any Planet: Philip K. Dick" 1975 Rolling Stone Article by Paul Williams - Boing Boing


The article is old and Phil is long (1928-1982) dead, but it's still interesting reading.

A Weapon Better than Bullets?

Here is another great idea from Tess Gerritsen. She doesn't suggest this would be a good biological weapon for us to master, but I don't see why not. We would have to change the military uniforms of course; lots of Velcro required. On the other hand, maybe we should spend the developmental money on a mechanical version. Yet again, going the biological route would mean the enemy would have to kill you to disarm you. Hmmm, obviously a lot to ponder here.

Obama Is Setting Us Up

Not sure that I agree 100% with Nick on this, but...

The Thought For Today

"True love comes quietly without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked." - Erich Segal

The Inmates Are Running The Asylum

Those Stupid Assholes are at it AGAIN!

The Thought For Today

“Never do business with a religious son-of-a-bitch. His word ain't worth a shit -- not with the Good Lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal.” -  William S Burroughs

Free Classic Arcade Games

Six of them to be exact.

ICED

You too can be an illegal alien, and not just in AZ/AL.

RPS - 25

RPS - 25

If you find the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors confusing, DO NOT GO HERE! In this new version, there are 25 different hand signals giving 300 possible outcomes. Just looking at the chart makes my head hurt, so if you're a glutton for punishment, enjoy.

The Emulator Zone - Playstation 2 Emulators

The Emulator Zone - Playstation 2 Emulators

For anyone who likes the PS2 games but can't really afford a console, here are some free emulators. Now you can play those games that you found at the garage sale on your computer. And while you're there, check out the other game and computer emulators.

HAPPY DARWIN DAY!

http://io9.com/5983794/happy-darwin-day-you-damn-dirty-ape+cousins

Mahjongg on the Net

For those of you who may not be familiar with the Netives gaming site, it's pretty nifty. The site is free and includes Spider Solitaire (a personal favorite), Marbles, MarbleDrop, Wordsmith PairUp, Gems and, of course, Mahjongg. These games generally depend more on strategy than timing. I haven't played all the games on the site, but most of them are not bang, bang shoot-'em ups. Aren't there enough of those out there already? No need for them at this site!

The Thought For Today

"War is a game that is played with a smile. If you can't smile, grin. If you can't grin, keep out of the way 'til you can." - Winston Churchill

STAR SONATA : Space MMORPG : Unlimited Free Play

STAR SONATA : Space MMORPG : Unlimited Free Play


Space adventure and unlimited free play. Free. Yup, that's what caught my eye.

TrackMania

A free racing download: "TrackMania Nations Forever offers a new complete "Forever" version of the Stadium environment, a complete solo mode and 65 brand new, progressively difficult tracks..."

In case you didn't see it the first time....

Elitist Hypocrisy gone horribly awry...

365 days of free games | GamesRadar

365 days of free games GamesRadar


What can I say. They're not Quake or WoW but they are free and with that many of them, there's sure to be a few goodies.

Deano Sez: Gotta have this...

Save some $, forget the 50-inch flat screen....get one of these, you got hi-def on your monitor...

The Thought For The Day

"I used to think that I was stupid, and then I met philosophers." - Terry Pratchett

The Thought For Today

"Sex without love is merely healthy exercise." - Robert Heinlein

The Thought For Today

"An unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

The Hard Truth From Orlando

GUN LEGISLATION

I’m former military. I have worked with law enforcement all my career. I support the 2^nd Amendment. I support “Stand Your Ground” legislation and responsible gun ownership. I don’t believe that every American should own a gun any more than I believe that every American has to own a house, drive a car or go to church.

I am vehemently anti-assault type weapons for private ownership and/or access to the multi-round, extended magazines. These weapons and ammo accessories have nothing to do with home protection, hunting or any other legitimate civilian purpose. It’s time we acknowledge that allowing these types of weapons to be sold, exchanged, or bartered by any Joe Snuffy the Ragman has little to do with personal ownership rights or safety and everything to do with profiteering by gun manufacturers at the expense of the American public, under a spurious claim of protection by our Constitution.

This Sandy Hook nightmare is just the latest example of the damage done by these weapons being readily accessible to mentally damaged individuals with no oversight, no regulation – and the only real consequences for those unfortunate enough to be on the front sights of the barrel end.

The knucklehead politician from Texas proposed that the Sandy Hook massacre wouldn’t have happened, or would’ve been mitigated, if the principal of the school had had her own assault weapon with which to defend herself and her school. What century does this twit live in? He’s apparently an idiot with no real sense of community or civic responsibility.

I’ve lived in countries were firearms were few and far between. The sense of community was astonishing because everyone felt they could stop and help without being worried about someone else misconstruing their intent and shooting them. Americans don’t come out to help someone being victimized because they don’t know if the other guy is armed. Americans don’t step up because they risk more than a punch in the eye. Americans live in isolated little “forts” and prepare for an apocalyptic future that is self-generated because of the promotion of violence by a paranoid gun-culture, sponsored by the weapons manufacturers’ burgeoning profits camouflaged by the façade of the NRA’s massive propaganda and lobbying machine that purports to protect the right to bear arms.

I propose that the NRA address its public perception of being pro-violence, anti-community and deal with the very real challenge of limiting weapons access by unsuitable, irresponsible and dangerous individuals -- citizens or not. This organization has demonstrated its lobbying power to systematically defeat every gun control measure for decades. Now, maybe it can lobby for better protection for American citizens who want to live free without having to send their kids to school in Kevlar vests or establishing bunkers for every mall, theatre and public building.

It’s long past time for American taxpayers to demand reasonable, rational gun-control legislation and tell the NRA to back off or be prepared foot the bill for the victims of their ill-conceived and self-serving anti-gun control policies. We need to recognize that the 2^nd Amendment has morphed from a civil right to bear arms into any modern mental defective’s license to kill. Grow up, America!

 

 

   Florida Cracker

The Thought For The Day

"To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle"  —  George Orwell

The Thought For Today

"Music is well said to be the speech of angels." - Thomas Carlyle

The Thought For The Day

"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all"  - Noam Chomski

Rec: Pumpkin Pie

Buy one at the store. It's so much easier that way. They'll already be impressed by the dinner.

The Thought For Today

"It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." - Carl Sagan

It's time again...the Ultimate Holiday Card!

The censored version. You can find the uncensored version over at Google Images.

To Thomas Atkins - Rudyard Kipling, Book, etext

To Thomas Atkins - Rudyard Kipling, Book, etext

Love his work.

Tommy - Rudyard Kipling, Book, etext

Tommy - Rudyard Kipling, Book, etext

For all the folks who wear a uniform.

The Thought For Today

"Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans." - Jacques Yves Cousteau

The Thought For Today

"I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way." - Franklin P. Adams