Applications for concealed-weapon permits up 87% in El Paso County

“Actually, I wish it was a higher number, because I know from experience that offenders in the jail system tell me they avoid crimes against people because they know there is a very high concealed-carry rate,” Sheriff Maketa said.

Isn’t it great that our Sheriff actually GETS IT?  Even better, the criminals even seem to get it.  Why doesn’t the anti-gun lobby get it?  Maybe the do and have other, more sinister reasons for wanting to disarm law abiding citizens.

You know what that means…

Gov. Spitzer apologizes to family, public - CNN.com

A source with knowledge of the investigation tells CNN that Spitzer is “under investigation” for allegedly meeting with a prostitute in a Washington hotel.

“I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public, to whom I promised better,” he said.

Right now the Republicans are calling on him to quit.  Seems to be a pattern:  anyone caught violating the public’s trust like that, the Republicans will call for immediate resignation.  Especially when it is their own.

So why the silence from the Democratic party?  Are they having an internal debate over whether or not morality and ethics apply to their own?

So now we all know DST doesn’t work.  But I’m going to put on my crank hat for now and say…

The government done stole an hour from me!

Sure they’ll give it back in 8 months.  But that’s like people who pay too much in taxes during the year just to get money back in April.  You gave the government a free loan of your money, and in this case, I’m not getting any interest back on the hour they took from me for 8 months out of the year.  I’d expect like an extra 5 minutes, but doubt that’s gonna happen.

Since I had to get up early this morning because of that waste Daylight “Savings” Time, I was a little delirious from lack of sleep.  So my mind went to politics.  Basically I think it’s pretty mad to consider that any government supports more than a million people.  The Federalism system tries to take care of that except that the power-mad tries to force their laws on the entire country at once and idiotic politicians who think they have to actually earn their paycheck by passing laws help them.

Steve Den Beste comes in and saves the day for me…

A lot of people hate the American “winner take all” system. They hate the two party system. These are the people who think we should use things like “instant runoff voting”, because it gives people holding fringe opinions more of an opportunity to make a difference.

While his article is very short and doesn’t go into the detail of the USS Clueless days, it’s still a gem, showing how the Democrats are a victim of their own victimhoods.

Thanks to our Cajun friends!

OK for my real job I do a lot of computer security type stuff.  One of the security mailing lists I’m on recently had the argument on allowing MP3 and other music formats on office computers.

The argument broke into a few different camps quickly.

The first group took the “it’s the companies computers and they can do whatever they want to…” line.  That’s technically true, but it’s like saying “it’s the doctor’s needles, he can inject you with whatever he wants to.”  Besides, this argument is about security, not business productivity, except where a security decision affects the productivity.

Next comes the group that says if music makes the employees happier, then they’ll work harder and be more productive, so allow it.  Sounds like a positive effect except for a few counter arguments:  copyright of the music and again, it is a business decision to make.  The business decision has to come down to HR in case someone is offended by someone else’s music and how disagreements are handled, maybe everyone is required to use headphones that are non-audible to others.  As for the copyright issue, it’s not like the company needs to set up a server for streaming music or anything.  Simply require no music is to be stored on company machines, that it has to come in on CD format.  That should effectively remove any responsibility from the company.

Others talked about using up all the internet bandwidth using streaming music.  That’s an operations issue though.  The ops group would have to make a decision that streaming music bandwidth interfered with business requirements to either throttle or block streaming media, or increase the available bandwidth.

Finally one voice of reason.  This is a security issue, and therefore the only question is:  can the various types of media pose a security risk?  And if one type of media player has security risks, shouldn’t that individual player be blocked and leave everything else alone?  A warning to management is required about the copyright issues, but then it goes to the legal department to make a decision.

People who have been injured while walking and texting on their cell phones may be in luck.

A study conducted by 118 118, a phone directory service, found that one in 10 people has been hurt while focusing on their cell phone instead of where they were walking, ITN reports.

The test lampposts will be given a trial run in London’s East End on Brick Lane. If the trial is successful it will be rolled out in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

The survey found that almost two thirds of respondents lost peripheral vision while texting, and more than a quarter wanted lines on the pavement to create routes for texters to walk while using their phones.

The study claims that 68,000 people were injured in the U.K. last year while chatting or texting on their cell phone, Infomatics reports.

Now, I recommend giant spikes instead of padding on the poles.  Within a few weeks I’m sure the problem will be solved.

What’s most pathetic for humanity is that a subset of people want lines on the pavement for them to blindly follow.  All I can think of is all the Looney Tunes moments where the line was redrawn straight into a wall or off a cliff.

As some of you know, I am now the father to a beautiful 12 year old daughter. And I know the whole dating thing will be coming up in a few years. So I’m putting all the boys on notice now with this little package of rules someone sent me in email. Because I think they cover all the bases…

Rule One:
If you pull into my driveway and honk you’d better be delivering a package, because you’re sure not picking anything up.
Rule Two:
You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter’s body, I will remove them..
Rule Three:
I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don’t take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.
Rule Four:
I’m sure you’ve been told that in today’s world, sex without utilizing a ‘Barrier method’ of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.
Rule Five:
It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: ‘early.’
Rule Six:
I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule Seven:
As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge . Instead of just standing there, why don’t you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?
Rule Eight:
The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual themes are to be avoided; movies which feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
Rule Nine:
Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule Ten:
Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi . When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

Gary Gygax passed away, aged sixty-nine. Or as my husband put it “he failed his final saving throw”.

Chad says:
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=7&id=49631
Matt says:
OK… many issues with this little blurb.
Chad says:
i know
Chad says:
tron, the next generation
Matt says:
(1)  Tron is very outdated now… and does NOT need a sequel.  (2)  Pirates of the Caribbean 4?  It jumped the shark in the first 5 minutes of Part 2… and hasn’t been worth watching since.  (3)  National Treasure 3… annoying in itself… and the ONLY redeeming quality in the 1st film was Sean Bean… and he never returned for part 2… so what makes them think that Part 3 will be worth watching?
Chad says:
Pirates of the Caribbean 4: the search for more cash…

This is from the global warming convention that the media is not talking about. The convention of experts who do not believe in the man made global warming theory.

The former meteorologist of Oregon (he was summarily dismissed from his post for defying the governor of his state by speaking out against the global warming religion) has spent his newly freed time investigating weather stations around the country. Specifically the temperature gages.

What he has found is amazing. Thermometers placed in the middle of asphalt parking logs. Ones placed on roofs. One placed right next to the exhaust of a commercial building’s air conditioner. In fact of the over 500 thermometers that his group has investigated, only 4% are within 1 degree of a true reading. At the same time 69% of the thermometers were placed in locations that added four degrees or more to the “true” temperature. Hmmm. Maybe this would account for some of the global warming temperature readings. Maybe I should take my thermometer outside and place it in my car on a hot sunny day. Imagine how my reading can help the Global Warming cause.

A dedicated Teamsters union worker was attending a convention in Las Vegas and decided to check out the local brothels. When he got to the first one, he asked the Madam, “Is this a union house?”
“No,” she replied, “I’m sorry it isn’t.”
“Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?”
“The house gets $80 and the girls get $20,” she answered.

Offended at such unfair dealings, the union man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable, hopefully unionized shop. His search continued until finally he reached a brothel where the Madam responded, “Why yes sir, this is a union house. We observe all union rules.”

The man asked, “And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?”
“The girls get $80 and the house gets $20.”
“That’s more like it!” the union man said.
He handed the Madam $100, looked around the room, and pointed to a stunningly attractive blonde.
“I’d like her,” he said.

“I’m sure you would, sir,” said the Madam.. Then she gestured to a 92-year old woman in the corner, “but Ethel here has 67 years seniority and according to union rules, she’s next.”

One of my favorite reads, Promethean Antagonist

Just the other day I heard it again, this time from a very respectable and well-educated person (slightly left of center); the stale mantra that there really is no “good” or “bad” side in the pages of history. Even “Hitler was acting for what he felt was best for ‘his people’.” This insight, he explained, was gleaned from his studies at an American liberal arts college (he stressed the fact that it hadn’t occurred to him before this “higher education” epiphany).
This “perspective,” so commonly inculcated upon college students, is something I can honestly say I’ve grown sick of. It manifests in academia and pop culture in a thousand guises and forums.

Happens all too often.  People are so easy to sway via propaganda.  Especially smart people when they think they’re being “clever.”

The Register is running a SciFi movie quote poll for your favorite.  Some classics are shown below:

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. (Ripley - Aliens)

You’ve gotta tell them! Soylent Green is people! (Detective Thorn - Soylent Green)

Flash, Flash, I love you! But we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth! (Dale Arden - Flash Gordon)

Yes, you have a great body. May I use it? (Benson - Saturn 3)

Bomb, this is Lt. Doolittle. You are not to detonate in the bomb bay. I repeat, you are NOT to detonate in the bomb bay! (Dark Star)

I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die. (Roy Batty - Blade Runner)

Go vote for your favorite.  Out of about 40 different quotes.  My favorite?

Negative, I am a meat popsicle. (Korben Dallas - The Fifth Element)

I happen to like:  Phlogiston

Something so darn steampunk about words like that.