Archive for April 2007

What to splash on for that big date

around lunchtime on Friday, the 27th of April 2007 by Chad

Scents that make you attractive

So guys, you have a bit of a problem finding out what scent to put on:

“Some odors inhibited women: cherries, barbecue meat and men’s cologne,” said Hirsch. In a bizarre turn, the biggest turn-on smell for women was a combination of cucumbers and Good-n-Plenty.

This is especially tough because men love cherries and bbq, and are pretty likely to have picked up the scents.  But eau de cuke?  But at least women have it easier.  Just lather up with a slice of cheese pizza…

Men have a less discriminating nose: every smell boosted sexual arousal. Perfumes increased arousal by a mere 3 percent, cheese pizza by 5 percent, and a combination of lavender and pumpkin pie by 40 percent.

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Don’t be “that guy”

mid-morning on Friday, the 27th of April 2007 by Chad

Thanks to Jeremy

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For Someone who lead the CIA

in the early morning on Friday, the 27th of April 2007 by Chad

Tenet only JUST noticed the furor about his comments

A former U.S. spy chief accused President Bush’s administration of ruining his reputation by misusing a “slam dunk” comment he made during a White House meeting ahead of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.Former CIA Director George Tenet told CBS Television’s “60 Minutes” that the administration leaked his comment as opposition to the war grew when no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq.

This whole story came out three, maybe four years ago, and he’s finally responding to it?  What the hell dude, is this how you lead the CIA?

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80072f0d and Exchange ActiveSync

around lunchtime on Thursday, the 26th of April 2007 by Chad

That’s the error code you get when you’re not using a valid certificate with Windows Mobile devices in ActiveSync.

The solution?  Right here…

Takes care of Windows Mobile code signing for corporate applications, Exchange ActiveSync, and deployment of the solution to end users.  It’s just something I’ve whipped up!

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Bumper Sticker Mentality

terribly early in the morning on Thursday, the 26th of April 2007 by Chad

“I support the troops but not the war” is just like saying “I support teachers but not education.” - Michael E. Terry, Colorado Springs

Drove behind one of those “progressive” young ladies coming home the other night. She had one of those bumper stickers saying “Ignorance and prejudice is no way to conduct foreign policy.” Of course this is an obvious slam on the right wing. I counter with “Happy thoughts and drum circles is no way to conduct foreign policy.” Just as descriptive of the left wing in America now isn’t it? Of course it’s irrelevant that to these folks they don’t imagine that there are hordes of professional bureaucrats in federal service whose jobs are to prevent ignorance and prejudice. Who exist for no other reason than to write paper after paper on every single topic about every single other country. Nope, she imagines that Bush sits at his desk, throws darts at some map and calls the generals on his red phone to bomb the hell out of them. I’m starting to think the ignorant fool was inside the car.

But, people who post political stickers on their cars are just as bad as women drivers* on cell phones. The only thing you can do is shake your head at how stupid they are, and hope that they don’t get someone killed.

* Before you start whining, while driving home I counted 14 people talking on their phones while driving. 3 dangerously enough that other cars had to swerve. All were women.
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How To Conduct Interviews

in the early morning on Monday, the 23rd of April 2007 by Chad

Lots of books, websites, and guides and such on how to conduct interviews.  How technical should you get, etc… At the day job we’ve been doing a ton of interviews for contractor positions.  Here’s my thoughts on the process…

Me, I go for the school of thought that as long as people have the normal understanding of the tech aspects, everything else is about personality.  The finer details of the tech stuff can be taught to the right candidate.

So we go through the resumes.  Any that don’t have any experience in what we’re looking for is out.  That left about a dozen highly skilled prospects.  All of whom screwed up on their resumes.  Spelling mistakes, switching between first and third person perspective, bad layouts etc.  C’mon people this stuff is important!

Next, the 5 “winners” get on conference call interviews.  Because a lot of the job is about forcing other groups to do our bidding, nervous guy is off the list.

How do decide on the last 4?  Well, we did it the traditional way and went with our gut feeling on who the best fits were.

But I wanted to take the candidates into a conference room and make them sit in there for about 20-30 minutes.  Just to make them nervous.  Of course we have a camera in the room to see whats going on.  Finally, we open the door, and throw a dummy hand grenade in the corner.  The one who jumps on the grenade to save the others is our new hire!  The rest just aren’t team players…

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Time to re-evaluate U.S. involvement

at around evening time on Sunday, the 22nd of April 2007 by Chad

Every day there are news reports of more deaths.
Why are we still there?

We see images of death and destruction on TV every night.
Why are we still there?

We took this land by force. We occupied it. It causes us nothing but trouble.
Why are we still there?

Many of our children go there but never come back.
Why are we still there?

Murderers, Rapists, Pedophiles and Thugs enjoy celebrity status.
Why are we still there?

Their government is unstable.
Why are we still there?

Many of their people are uncivilized.
Why are we still there?

Their land is subject to natural disasters and we are obliged to come to their aid.
Why are we still there?

They have more than 1000 religious sects which we do not understand.
Why are we still there?

Their cultures, foods and diverse ways of life are unfathomable to most ordinary Americans.
Why are we still there?

They cannot secure their borders.
Why are we still there?

They are billions of dollars in debt and it will cost billions more to rebuild.
Why are we still there?

It is now quite clear!

WE MUST PULL OUT OF CALIFORNIA!

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Bad Habits

in the early morning on Sunday, the 22nd of April 2007 by Chad

Now, it’s not picked on Koreans that shoot people, it’s NASA scientists…

Let’s compare guns with pit bulls.  Lots of really stupid people like and own pitbulls.  Lots more people own guns.  I can go put a gun in the front yard and it isn’t going to go crazy and run down the street after the little 6 year old girl and maul her to death.

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Diamond Commerical in the Real World!

in the early evening on Saturday, the 21st of April 2007 by Tina

Ok you have seen/heard the commericals for engagement rings. We have a local one where they talk about 2 carat being the current size. There are the diamond is forever, and Kiss begins with K(ay). And all the other overpriced jewelry pushing commerials.. well I have the reality version.

the oversized diamond shows over the shadow silhouette of a woman. she comments on the virtues of her man buying her this rock. The shadow goes away to show a woman in a neck brace, and bruises. (the woman who stays with her man only cause he bought her a huge rock is stated in the low whisper as the commerical fades.)

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Pistol Bleg

just before lunchtime on Monday, the 16th of April 2007 by Chad

OK… I’ve got a few options I’m looking at.  Pros/cons from those in the know please!

Walther P99Sig P2022 or Sig P229.   Maybe the new Springfield Armory EMP.

I really like the ergonomics of the Walther, but finding the DA/SA action is almost impossible.  I also have never shot incredibly well with it.  Have never shot the Sigs or the EMP.

With standard semiauto pistols, I have always shot best with an HK Tactical in .45 but that is a little out of my price range.  Also its a bit large for what I’m looking for.  Maybe if it came in single stack but I still shot well with it…

Now, since it will be a while before I can shell out any cash I have some time to ponder.  I’m hoping the local rental range lets me try out the Sigs, but I know it will be a while before anyone has the EMP.

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My Burden

just before lunchtime on Sunday, the 15th of April 2007 by Chad

Let’s just say, I wrote almost $11,000 worth of checks to the gummint yesterday… OMFG that is painful.  But still better than giving away that much money in an interest free loan over the past year!

Anyone else either giving or getting an obscene amount of money?

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Back in the old days

just before lunchtime on Sunday, the 15th of April 2007 by Chad

What a bunch of wussies the baby boomers have turned everyone into.

1. Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.1956 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack’s rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show Jack.

2006 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Read the rest over at ARMAVIRUMQUE

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My First Law of Snowblowers

terribly early in the morning on Friday, the 13th of April 2007 by Chad

You buy one and every scheduled winter storm wimps out afterwards.

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Mine’s bigger

just before lunchtime on Tuesday, the 10th of April 2007 by Jason

was talking to my pal and former co-worker Skippy the other night. Turns out he’s out in San Cupertino, CA working for a small company called Apple computer. They’ve got him writing hardware interfaces for ipods, iphones, etc. He was bragging “right now I’m working on the wireless drivers between the ipod and some shoes, so to test my software I get to go jogging.”

Not to be outdone I told him, “I’m now working at Cisco in their Internet Operating System group. When we make a change, we just test it by publishing the new IOS to the world and seeing in the internet is still up”

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Matrimonial Bliss

in the early morning on Monday, the 9th of April 2007 by Chad

Ok, the local radio station has this thing in the morning where people can write in their “problems” and the callers will comment on it. Always a source of amusement, kinda like reading Dear Abby.

So, the caller this morning faced this problem: He is getting married. He would like his best friend to be his Best Man at the wedding. The fiance HATES the best man, because he is a “guy’s guy”, drinking beer, belching, making fun of uptight feminist women. The fiance is obviously an uptight feminist woman, because she is refusing to let him be the best man.

The groom is caught in the middle, because the best friend has always been there for him, and the best man doesn’t hate the wife-to-be at all. The groom’s “politics” is apparently halfway between the wife and the best friend. The poor groom is apparently going along with every little thing the bride wants, except he feels (rightfully) that the bride can pick her maid of honor, and he gets to pick the best man.

So what is he to do? Post your thoughts in the comments, but here is my take…
(more…)

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From an email making the rounds

in the early morning on Saturday, the 7th of April 2007 by Chad

Look over the descriptions of the following two houses, and see if you can tell which one belongs to an environmentalist.

HOUSE # 1:
A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house all heated by gas. In ONE MONTH ALONE this mansion consumes more energy than the average American household in an ENTIRE YEAR. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400.00 per month. In natural gas alone (which last time we checked was a fossil fuel), this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not in a northern or Midwestern snow belt,” either. It’s in the temperate South.

HOUSE # 2:
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university, this house incorporates every green” feature current home construction can provide.  The house contains only 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat pumps, which draw ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F) heats the house in winter and cools it in summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas, and it consumes 25% of the electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Flowers and shrubs native to the area blend the property into the surrounding rural landscape.

And now the answers…

HOUSE # 1 (20-room energy guzzling mansion) is outside Nashville, Tennessee.  It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist (and filmmaker) Al Gore.

HOUSE # 2 (model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas. Also known as the Texas White House,” it is the private residence of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

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Islamic States of America

around lunchtime on Friday, the 6th of April 2007 by Chad

via The Jacksonian Party

Consider the bill that Rep. John Conyers wants to pass: Resolution Regarding Religious Intolerance. And what is the basis for this bill? Well, Rep. Conyers tries to do some nice window dressing and say that it applies to all religions, but he has decided that Congress should show especial attitude towards ONE religion. And that religion is? From the text of that Resolution we get the following:

Whereas believers of all religions, including the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, should be treated with respect and dignity;

Whereas the word Islam comes from the Arabic root word meaning peace” and submission”;

Whereas there are an estimated 7,000,000 Muslims in America, from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, forming an integral part of the social fabric of America;

Whereas the Quran is the holy book for Muslims who recite passages from it in prayer and learn valuable lessons about peace, humanity and spirituality;

Whereas it should never be official policy of the United States Government to disparage the Quran, Islam, or any religion in any way, shape, or form;

Now here is a very, very interesting bit of work, isn’t it? Do we remember that bit on the 30 Years’ War? 15-20% of Europe dead? Yes, a nasty, nasty affair about the establishment of various sects of Christianity and how they viewed the Divine and what was or was not accepted practice, all leading to some of the longest most brutal killing, rapine and outright slaughter of people. All from the varigated followers of ‘The Prince of Peace’. So do excuse me if a religion that has “peace” in its central conceptual sphere and yet has problems adhering to it do not get any special recognition for having same in their sphere. Perhaps we could judge individuals on their actions, not on their religious affiliation?

Funny how those on the left aren’t screaming and hollering about a religion being specifically promoted in law.

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Climate Change

in the early morning on Friday, the 6th of April 2007 by Chad

Here’s my take on the subject and all… You have several different groups of people.

  • Those that categorically reject any climate change.   Very very small group.
  • Those that admit climate change, but see purely natural change such as the higher sunspot activity and other natural cycles as the only cause.  Another pretty small group of people.
  • Those that admit climate change as being caused by both naturally occuring phenomena and manmade activity.  Typically they’ll believe that the manmade change is smaller than natural activity.  Me personally? I’d fall into this group mostly, as I have found these people to be the most enlightened, not dogmatic.
  • Those that believe that man is the cause of all evil in the world, including climate change.  An interesting group: they’ll have the idiotic bumper sticker “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism” but then demand in blogs and letters to the editor that “THERE IS NO MORE DEBATE, CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL” against anyone with differing views.  I have another term for these types, assholes.  They’re the same ones who seem to think that in the face of all evidence, scientists are not human and therefore infallible.  As long as it agrees with their sacred views.

Anyways, pollution in all forms should be reduced as much as possible for its own sake.  This makes sense.  I personally feel that pebble bed reactors are a major answer to the problem.  The whole nuclear waste “scare” is a bogey man rooted in politics of power.  There are several valid methods to dispose of the relatively small amount of waste generated.  It is politics that prevent either from being used.

But when groups that just crave power demand things from you in the name of a disputed “science” you have to take things with a grain of salt.  And when those who claim to “speak truth to power” (another idiotic saying) are among the worst offenders…

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Religious Warfare

in the early morning on Friday, the 6th of April 2007 by Chad

Nah, not the normal kind.

I posted over a year ago about the new Toyota FJ Cruiser.  I never ended up with one, instead getting the Honda Ridgeline truck (which is the best truck I’ve ever driven) but you should see the war going on between those who think the Jeep Wrangler is like the bestest vehicle ever made and those that disagree.  There’s already a coupla hundred comments.

Me?  Any jeep with a plastic dashboard (i.e., those made by Chrysler) just ain’t a Jeep.  But thats just me.

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Think of the children!

just before lunchtime on Tuesday, the 3rd of April 2007 by Chad

Belgium to impose tax on barbequing to fight global warming

BRUSSELS, April 3 (RIA Novosti) - The government of Belgium’s French-speaking region of Wallonia, which has a population of about 4 million, has approved a tax on barbequing, local media reported.Experts said that between 50 and 100 grams of CO2, a so-called greenhouse gas, is emitted during barbequing. Beginning June 2007, residents of Wallonia will have to pay 20 euros for a grilling session.

The local authorities plan to monitor compliance with the new tax legislation from helicopters, whose thermal sensors will detect burning grills.

Scientists believe CO2 emissions are a major cause of global warming.

OK… lemme see.  I bbq, and let a few tens of grams of CO2 into the air.  To fight me, they’re going to fly helicopters day and night to catch us scofflaws.  Of course these helicopters are fueled with dreams and good intentions, which qualifies as zero emissions.

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