Hillary has lost me

Hillary is off my list.

"I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time, so that when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to make that downpayment on their first home," she said.

Say this much - instead of sucking up to voters with a wink-wink-nudge and entitlements she's all right up front about buying votes.

The New York senator did not offer any estimate of the total cost of such a program or how she would pay for it. Approximately 4 million babies are born each year in the United States.

Assuming a constant birthrate of 4 million babies times $5,000 = $20,000,000,000. Every year. Forever.

The word needs more of these

Behold! The motorized pogo stick!





Video at the link. And yes, it's described as a ridden hopping robot but ... poh I knew a pogo stick when I see one.

Via.

GM vs UAW

The GM - UAW fracaas puts me in mind off an RPG game I played with my son.

One card would let you attack your opponent and kill him dead, dead dead. The only catch was that for every hit point you took from your opponent one was subtracted from you.

Excellent card for a two-player game, if somewhat lacking in good form. Not so good if you took down your opponent and then had to face the other players in the game with from a fatally weakened position.

Like a cross between Knights of the Round Table and the Jesse James gang

Because it's good to totally dominate your space and hear the lamentations of their women ...

America, you’ve voted, and the results are in! Drumroll, please. This year’s oh-so proud winners are:

Icons:
Orville Redenbacher
Chick-Fil-A Cows

Slogans:
The Few. The Proud. The Marines—US Marine Corps
DING! You are now free to move about the country!—Southwest Airlines

Can’t wait to see you again next year!

Even if it is just a piddly online contest.

What cops would like the public to know

What cops would like the public to know

Every traffic stop could end in gunfire, but we have to be polite and professional until that time.

So what you're really saying is when you pull the trigger .. and for an undefined time after .. it's ok to be unprofessional?

Yes it’s true, cops usually don’t give other cops tickets. Think of it as an employee discount, perk or benefit. Other Cops are family and you wouldn’t give your brother a ticket if you were a cop either.

I don't have a brother. Let me imagine that I do .. mmm .. mom loved you best .. took my cookie .. stole my girlfriend ... ok yes I would give the bastard a ticket.


Kidding aside I was, for eight years, part of a family that drew members from across the country. We were so cool that guys would immigrate just to join. A cross between the Jesse James gang and the Knights of the Round Table, with plenty of nice guys, guys that meant nothing to me, some real butt heads and a sprinkling of dysfunctional weirdos. Just like a real family.

Once in a while it was in my power to give a fellow Marine a break - be it failing to notice breaking barracks regulations or a sloppy uniform or whatever. It was never a good idea; absent rules and regulations there is no order and without order you don't have Marines you have an armed mob.

What kind of policing can you have when the folks who are in charge of enforcement don't have to obey the rules?

The Eagles

As if, living in Wisconsin, I needed a reason to cheer for the Packers and who ever is playing against the Eagles . . .

In a New Orleans park, NRA celebrants erected an enormous pyramid on which were inscribed the names of more than 7,000 people and businesses who had taken the pledge; on top of the pyramid was a nine-foot eagle made of blue lights, while red and white bulbs spelled out "We Do Our Part." In Philadelphia, citizens were soon cheering for a new professional football team whose name was inspired by the general's icon: the Philadelphia Eagles. In Roanoke, North Carolina, "Shanghai Mickey" offered Blue Eagle tattoos for a mere 50 cents. In Atlantic City, beauty contestants had the Blue Eagle stamped on their thighs.

That is the NRA as in National Recovery Act. Who names a team after legislation? Who keeps it decades after the legislation was struck down by the Supreme Court?

Via.

Non-News - Scouts follow training and common sense

Via TJIC: Scouts follow training and common sense, flim at 11:00.

Eight Scouts, ages 11 to 14, and their three adult leaders emerged unharmed from the dense forest Monday morning after an intense overnight search by 28 rescuers and nine dogs.

Rescuers who were not, as it turns out, were not needed. They rescued themselves.

The Scouts and their leaders "did just what they were supposed to do, they hunkered down," said Rodney Jones, assistant scoutmaster of Troop 217, from Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Scouts awoke at 7:30 a.m. Monday and started packing up, Jones said. One of the leaders spotted a power line, which the group followed to a cabin. There they encountered a meter reader for the local power utility, who took them to the Cruso Fire Department, the search effort's headquarters, said fire department spokeswoman Charity Sharp.

In the immortal words of The Scott Miller

To all you "crunchy granola suites" out there, when you're having a meadow party and you have your kegs but no one can build a fire because it's raining, who can?
This scout can.

When you're drowning after diving into the town duck pond drunk as a skunk, who can save you?
This scout can.

When you're moving home from college and you're trying to tie down your Morrisey poster so it won't fly off your parents' car, who can?
This scout can.

When it does fly off your car and causes a huge accident, who can treat the wounds of your soon to be accusers?
This scout can.

Who can out-smoke, out-drink, out-cuss and then (and only then) out-argue you about the worthiness of The Boy Scouts?
This scout can.

Carnival of Space - Week 21

Carnival of Space - Week 21 is up at Why Homeschool.

My favorite is the Cynic's post

The Space Cynics getting tired of "announcements" of great things space agencies intend to do that are 20+ years from now (and somehow never seem to materialize...) in their post Anyone Can Take a Reservation.

Cross Posted to The Daily Brief.

Health Care for Nothin'

I do loves me some health care filk

I want my, I want my, I want my docs for free.

Now look at that Clinton, that's the way you do it
You play the class war on the ol' tv
That ain't campaignin', that's the way you do it
Health care for nothin' and your docs for free
Now that ain't campaignin', that's the way you do it
Lemme tell ya that gal ain't dumb
Maybe look righteous waggin' a finger
Sure to get a vote from some bum.

We gotta worry 'bout Middle East countries
Immigration and trade treaties
We gotta balance the fed'ral budget
And that don't play on soundbite tv.

See the little Clinton with the earrings and the makeup
Yeah buddy that ain't her own dough
Givin' away other people's money
Always makes for a real good show.

We gotta worry 'bout Middle East countries
Immigration and trade treaties
We gotta balance the fed'ral budget
And that don't play on soundbite tv.

I shoulda learned to play th' Class War
I shoulda learned to court them bums
Look at that mama, she gonna promise free insurance
Votes? That's gonna get some.
And she's up there, whats that? Socialist noises?
Bangin' on the wealthy like Noam Chomsky
That ain't campaignin', that's the way you do it
Health care for nothin' and your docs for free.

We gotta worry 'bout Middle East countries
Immigration and trade treaties
We gotta balance the fed'ral budget
And that don't play on soundbite tv.

Now that ain't campaignin', that's the way you do it
You play the class war on the ol' tv
That ain't campaignin', that's the way you do it
Health care for nothin' and your docs for free
Health care for nothin' and docs for free.

Via.

To Fly Free in Space

Just .. wow. From APOD of course.

Proud Legions

We can lose the game not only because of the nature of our enemies, but because of our own. We understand we cannot ignore the competition, and realize with frustration that we cannot end it by putting the competitor out of business with a bang, but we will not willingly face that fact that we may walk along the chasm, beset by tigers, for many years to come. . . . If free nations want a certain kind of world, they will have to fight for it, with courage, money, diplomacy--and legions. -- T. R. Fehrenbach

A copy of T.R. Fehrenbach's 'Proud Legions' is here.

Man vs Kzin

From 'The Ringworld Engineers'

The Man-Kzin wars were long over when Louis Wu was born. Men won them all. The kzinti have always had a tendency to attack before they are quite ready. Civilization on Canyon is a legacy of the Third Man-Kzin War, when the human world Wunderland developed a taste for esoteric weapons.

Which is not to say that it was a cakewalk for the grunts fighting the wars, just that they won.

Click here and play 'spot the carnivore'!

Worm Food

It begins ...

Scientists on Tuesday investigated a deep crater created by a meteorite strike in southeastern Peru that left 200 villagers sick from powerful fumes emanating from the crash site.

If we start hearing stories of funny new red plants and improbably large worms eating people, horses and etc. this winter in the Andes we are all in a world of hurt.

Semper Fi - vote early and vote often

From Mike the Marine

Dear Marine Corps Family,

"The Few. The Proud. The Marines." is more than just a slogan. These three sentences represent who we are, epitomizing the challenge of becoming (The Few), and the reward of being (The Proud), one of the elite (The Marines). Suffice it to say, Few slogans convey such a Proud tradition.

Our tagline has been a foundation in the Marine Corps for over thirty years. Now we have the opportunity to immortalize these words into America's civilian culture as well. "The Few. The Proud." has been nominated BEST SLOGAN for the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame. The Marine Corps joins a list of 26 other brands that will compete for entry based on total number of votes received online at http://advertising.yahoo.com/advertisingweek_07/slogan_poll.html

Whether you are one of the few and the proud, or simply one of the faithful to those who bear the title United States Marine, we ask that you browse to the URL: http://advertising.yahoo.com/advertisingweek_07/slogan_poll.html to vote for the slogan that has meant so much to so many. If you have Internet access in more than one location, you can vote more than once, so remember to vote from home, work, the library, and anywhere else you can find a computer!

With a dedicated constituency of active, former, and civilian members of the Marine Corps, strength of message, and patriotic nature of our institution, we are confident a concentrated effort will deliver "The Few. The Proud." into the hall of fame, establishing it in its rightful place among elite American brands.

We thank you for your support!

Marine Corps Recruiting Command
(703) 784-9433
MCRC Advertising Department
3280 Russell Rd, Quantico, Va 22134

Ah - go on - click that link. You know you want to.

Happiness is a squeaky analog connection tone.

Happiness is a squeaky analog connection tone.

Via.

Health Care

Clinton's new gambit on healthcare

Washington - In a presidential primary season dominated by the Iraq war, the No. 1 domestic issue roars onto center stage Monday as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) of New York unveils her proposal for healthcare reform

You want the same government that brought you the IRS, the DMV, Iraq, Monica, the response to Hurricane Katrina, Iran-Contra, trickle-down economics, Watergate, the Gulf of Tonkin, Abscam .. to run your health care?

It surpasses my poor understanding - if we don't trust them to run a war, we rail at the DMV and the IRS but .. give them health care and it will all just work out?

Pass.

Reality, meet the Poli-Sci Major

Woman's brother signs up for Annapolis, goes into vapor-lock when she finds out it's part of the military.

Soon that pride turned to anger and fear: after my mom dropped him off at Annapolis, she came home with an acute sense of grief. The only thing she could talk about was how to get him out. In addition to missing his presence at home, she was scared by the extent to which her son had suddenly become the property of the U.S. Navy.


It all ended well at least.

My brother ended up liking Annapolis and he has decided to stay.

Imagine that - finding out that there are things bigger than one's self and worthy of a modest amount of dedication

While it has been difficult for me to accept that I have a brother in the military,

It's one step removed from bi-lateral frostbite or discovering lice on your kid's head. The horror.

I must allow him to pursue whatever path he is drawn toward,

Mighty big of you, Sis.

and he has admitted to me that he feels called to being there. However, for anyone else out there considering a career in the academy, let it be known: the U.S. Naval Academy is not an elite college; it is first and foremost a branch of the U.S. military.

Define College
an institution of higher education created to educate and grant degrees; often a part of a university

You'd have to be a Poli-Sci major not to have known exactly which part of United States Naval Academy did not mean 'military'.

The author a Barnard College senior majoring in political science.

Via.

Mark Cuban bought a Mac

He's happy with it.

Im not an Apple fanboy, but I love me some MacBook

With just a few minor complaints

The 2nd problem is the lack of the right mouse click. I know its a Mac thing to only have one button, but its a hassle. Sure there are work arounds, none of which are quick and easy for a longtime PC user.

For the love of God, man. Get a two-button mouse and just ... plug it in. It's that easy.

To all who shall see these presents, greeting

To all who shall see these presents, greeting: Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of ...

You know the rest. Congratulations to Sergeant First Class Reece Gordon - the finest SSG SFC it is my pleasure to know.

He's a hell of a good son as well.

Doesn't look old enough for three up, two down, does he?

Fun, lack of.

There is no getting around the fact that cops, sergeants and proxy servers spoil your fun.