Some people are really feeling the pressure now.  The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is due to start its braking procedure very shortly.

Since most Mars missions end in failure, I know everyone involved on the team knows most of the world is watching, waiting, to see if someone screwed up a decimal point.

Best of luck though!

What is better.

The Classic Hills Have Eyes or The New Hills Have Eyes.

I know the older version creeped the hell outta me.  Can the newer version do the same?  If you’ve seen the new version, let me know what you think…

via Grouchy Old Cripple

THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT “North Dakota News”

This text is from a county emergency manager out in the western part of North Dakota state after the recent snow storm.

WEATHER BULLETIN

Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from a Historic event— may I even say a “Weather Event” of “Biblical Proportions” — with a historic blizzard of up to 44 inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10’s of thousands.

FYI:

George Bush did not come….

FEMA did nothing….

No one howled for the government…

No one blamed the government

No one even uttered an expletive on TV…

Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit

Our Mayor’s did not blame Bush or anyone else

Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else either

CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snow storm nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards…..

No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House….

No one looted…

Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something

Nobody expected the government to do anything either

No Larry King, No Bill O’Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Matthews and No Geraldo Rivera

No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found

… and …
We just melted the snow for water

Sent out caravans of SUV’s to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars

The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn’t ask for a penny

Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families

Families took in the stranded people - total strangers!

We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Colemanlanterns.

We put on an extra layers of clothes because up here it is “Work or Die”

We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for ’sittin at home’ checks.

Even though a Category “5″ blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early…we know it can happen and how to deal with it.

You are the seventh Doctor! Warm and friendly to
those around you, your manner can take a dark
turn at times. Those who cross your path have
significant reason to fear, as your morality
is a bit more liquid then might make some
comfortable. However, you are not human, and
behind those clever eyes a new scheme is
brewing. The responsibility of protecting the
universe lies on your shoulders. How can you
help it if no one understands?

Which Doctor (from Doctor Who) Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hey Brisco fans! 

Warner Bros. wants help in choosing the DVD packaging for their upcoming DVD release of “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr”.  CLICK HERE… and you can VOTE for your favorite DVD packaging!

Both pieces of artwork have been approved by Warner Bros, Carlton Cuse, and Bruce Campbell. Please note that the set hasn’t been officially announced yet… but rumors have tentatively set the release date for sometime in the Summer for 2006.

The voting will only be active until March 17th…

“Brokeback Mountain took home the Oscar for best original score.”

Is that a gay lovin’ joke?

It’s open trackback day… So work on your masterpiece of blogdom, and then link and trackback to this page.

I promise to send at least a few readers your way! Well, I guarantee I’ll look. And I promise a keelhauling to anyone who doesn’t. If I can find ‘em!

Check this out… (wmv, worksafe) or get other formats here.

It’s a live action Simpsons’ intro… and it ain’t half bad! Based in England. So for all those who thought Springfield was in the midwest somewhere, you’re off by a coupla thousand miles.

I’ve ranted before about how old and stale the Simpsons have become.  And way to left wing preachy about so much.  Debate rages on just when the shark actually was jumped.  But it was a long time ago…

Now, if we can just get a live action Futurama opening, then I’ll be one happy meatbag.

Must be seen to be believed…

On How to spot a pedophile.

Ever see a guy at work or school who sends off creepy vibes, and you say to yourself “man, I know that guy rapes children”? Some mental health doctors claim that there’s no way to tell a pedophile apart from anyone else just by looks alone. Wrong. I scoured the FBI’s most wanted list and found some examples that confirmed my theory.

See how good you are.  If you score pretty low, well, you might want to have someone else choose your babysitter next time.

Man Pleads Guilty To Fathering Baby With Daughter

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A Spartanburg County man is heading to prison after admitting to having a baby with his 16-year-old biological daughter, authorities said.Timothy Gossett pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

But oh, that’s not the funny part.

Gossett told deputies he didn’t think the victim was his daughter because she didn’t look like his other kids.

However, the assisted solicitor said Gossett’s name is listed on the victim’s birth certificate.

I can see the conversation now…

“Are you one of my kids?”

“I dunno, not sure who my daddy is…”

“That’s good enough.  Get in the back of the truck…”

Unconscious jogger identified through iPod

Various San Francisco-based news outlets reported this week that police identified an unconscious jogger, who was an apparent hit-run-victim, by contacting Apple Computer and getting information from the iPod she was carrying.

Good call.  Pretty stupid of the woman not to carry any ID.  It’s people like that who are going to make mandatory RFID implants a reality.  But then the author of this particular story goes off on a privacy tangent…

But we couldn’t help but wonder under what circumstances Apple releases such information. Did the police have to get a warrant? What if my iPod was left behind at a crime scene? Would I be considered a suspect or linked to the case in any way?

So… the woman is hit by a car.  Family, friends, and neighbors are all worried and upset.  The police make a completely reasonable request to Apple, who complies with potentially life saving information.
But oh no, how horrible it is that the company helped out in this instance!  No company should ever comply with the police no matter what is happening.

Bah… kudos to the cops on this one.  Rasberry to the article author…

I’m looking at picking up a new car here in a few months once its released.

The Toyota FJ cruiser, based a lot on the old FJ40. You know, the Jeep that isn’t really a Jeep. You just think it is until you get close enough…
For kicks, I’ve opened up a Toyota FJ forum site for people who want to chat about it. Hit http://www.toyota-fj.com to join in!
Side note: I’ve owned a real Jeep. A CJ-5. Chrysler can not make a real Jeep. If you have a Wrangler, you are actually driving a Chrysler Wrangler. The real Jeeps were discontinued in the early 80’s. How do you know if you have a real Jeep? A very simple test: Do you have carpet? What about any plastic on your dashboard? If so, you do not have a real Jeep.

Anyways, if any of my blogger buddies wants to help out and provide a link to the site, I’d appreciate it!

Update:  Sure the conversation here is fast and furious about the merits of one 4×4 vs another.  Take it over here!