Darn factional strife. It comes from having so many splitters about.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Internet
It gives us free and unrestricted access to the greatest art, the deepest thinking, the most subtle scientific insights ever devised by the mind of Man. And to what use do we put it?
Darn factional strife. It comes from having so many splitters about.
Darn factional strife. It comes from having so many splitters about.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A third of a century
That's how long it's been since The Beatles* had their last pubic performance.
* Go ask your parents, kids.
* Go ask your parents, kids.
A public service announcement
Suppose you were to fry up a mess of bacon, because bacon. You'd have some hot bacon fat when you were done. Rather than let it go to waste, suppose you looked in your fridge for something to fry in it to make it bacony (because bacon). Suppose you found a bag of baby carrots.
Well if you fry them until they're nice and browned, they'll get all soft and fried and bacony. Pretty good, really.
Well if you fry them until they're nice and browned, they'll get all soft and fried and bacony. Pretty good, really.
Quote of the day, arrogant but insightful bastard edition
I have to confess that I don't like Edward Abby much. OK, OK, I don't like him at all. It's more than that he was a dirty commie (well, kinda) - for reasons I don't want to go into, I have an actual personal grudge against him.*
And so it's a bit annoying that I find a quote from him that I 100% agree with:
* Really, and don't ask.
And so it's a bit annoying that I find a quote from him that I 100% agree with:
The tank, the B-52, the fighter-bomber, the state-controlled police and military are the weapons of dictatorship. The rifle is the weapon of democracy. Not for nothing was the revolver called an "equalizer." Egalite implies liberte. And always will. Let us hope our weapons are never needed — but do not forget what the common people of this nation knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny."Final defense". Damn. Even a dirty commie (sort of) is spot on. At least on this.
* Really, and don't ask.
Tornado siren in Roswell GA
Blowing right now. I-75 in Cherokee county got hit pretty hard, with over turned cars and semis.
Almost makes me miss the snow in Yankeeland.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
UPDATE 30 January 2013 13:50: At least one dead, storms still going on. Ugly.
Almost makes me miss the snow in Yankeeland.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
UPDATE 30 January 2013 13:50: At least one dead, storms still going on. Ugly.
A gun control "compromise"
Use of scare quotes is intentional to highlight that I use the term in the unapproved, political manner, not in the Correct™ manner. The Correct™ manner is that gun owners give up less than gun banners would like. The manner that I use it is that gun owners give up something that they like and gun banners also give up something that they like.
You know, compromise.
It seems that a movement is gathering steam on Capitol Hill to require background checks for all gun sales. The NRA* (spit) and GOP (spit) are looking to climb in bed with the Democrats (spit spit) to screw gun owners (again). Well, OK then. How's this:
1. Universal background checks for all firearms purchases.
2. A current valid Concealed Carry license is considered to completely satisfy the requirement for a background check. After all, they did a background check and finger printed you, right? Why do you need another one? This will be at gun shows, for private transactions, and everywhere - just take a scan of the CCW card and you've covered yourself. Simples. Sure, this puts the onus on the government to revoke a CCW if the holder commits a felony, etc. Shut up and do your damn jobs, bureaucrats.
3. All States are required to recognize CCW licenses granted by all other States for out of State visitors, just as they are required to recognize drivers granted by all other States for out of State visitors. To discourage malicious prosecution, CCW holders prosecuted by a different State will be (upon acquittal) granted treble Attorney fees.
4. If you have a valid CCW, you can buy a gun in any of the 50 States or US Territories. If you remain in that State longer than 15 days you are subject to all pertinent State laws (e.g. "Safe" storage, etc.). But if you're at your Uncle's funeral in Worcester, you should be able to buy (and carry) a heater to protect yourself. Interstate Commerce Clause FTW.
5. There will be no requirement for any background check for transfers between family members (including First Cousins - if you can't marry them "because they're family" then you can give them a gun "because they're family").
6. Any State requiring any sort of firearm registration will lose all Federal Highway funds. If we can do it for the drinking age, we can do it for gun registration. Yeah it's big government anti-federalist nanny state abuse. It's my kind of big government anti-federalist nanny state abuse. Suck it, Progs.
Now I don't much like this idea, but it has the distinct advantage of giving us something that we like in the compromise (use of CCW for validation, universal recognition, incentives against stupid prosecution, hands off the family, no registration).
Of course, such a "compromise" would never be portrayed as a Compromise™ because it requires gun banners to actually, you know, compromise. As such, there's no political upside for such as the NRA (spit), the GOP (spit), or the Democrats (spit spit). And it is therefore instructive as to which institutions are on our side in this Cold Civil War.
* The NRA denies this, sort of. Whether you believe them is dependent on whether you believe them, I guess. Me, I'll believe them when they say that they're scoring any vote on universal background checks.
UPDATE 9 February 2013 22:58: Welcome visitors from IMAO, and thanks for the kind words, Harvey. While you're here, there's a lot more on gun control, freedom, and general statist pricks. Plus some range reports. Feel free to look around and scratch where it itches. We're not very formal here.
You know, compromise.
It seems that a movement is gathering steam on Capitol Hill to require background checks for all gun sales. The NRA* (spit) and GOP (spit) are looking to climb in bed with the Democrats (spit spit) to screw gun owners (again). Well, OK then. How's this:
1. Universal background checks for all firearms purchases.
2. A current valid Concealed Carry license is considered to completely satisfy the requirement for a background check. After all, they did a background check and finger printed you, right? Why do you need another one? This will be at gun shows, for private transactions, and everywhere - just take a scan of the CCW card and you've covered yourself. Simples. Sure, this puts the onus on the government to revoke a CCW if the holder commits a felony, etc. Shut up and do your damn jobs, bureaucrats.
3. All States are required to recognize CCW licenses granted by all other States for out of State visitors, just as they are required to recognize drivers granted by all other States for out of State visitors. To discourage malicious prosecution, CCW holders prosecuted by a different State will be (upon acquittal) granted treble Attorney fees.
4. If you have a valid CCW, you can buy a gun in any of the 50 States or US Territories. If you remain in that State longer than 15 days you are subject to all pertinent State laws (e.g. "Safe" storage, etc.). But if you're at your Uncle's funeral in Worcester, you should be able to buy (and carry) a heater to protect yourself. Interstate Commerce Clause FTW.
5. There will be no requirement for any background check for transfers between family members (including First Cousins - if you can't marry them "because they're family" then you can give them a gun "because they're family").
6. Any State requiring any sort of firearm registration will lose all Federal Highway funds. If we can do it for the drinking age, we can do it for gun registration. Yeah it's big government anti-federalist nanny state abuse. It's my kind of big government anti-federalist nanny state abuse. Suck it, Progs.
Now I don't much like this idea, but it has the distinct advantage of giving us something that we like in the compromise (use of CCW for validation, universal recognition, incentives against stupid prosecution, hands off the family, no registration).
Of course, such a "compromise" would never be portrayed as a Compromise™ because it requires gun banners to actually, you know, compromise. As such, there's no political upside for such as the NRA (spit), the GOP (spit), or the Democrats (spit spit). And it is therefore instructive as to which institutions are on our side in this Cold Civil War.
* The NRA denies this, sort of. Whether you believe them is dependent on whether you believe them, I guess. Me, I'll believe them when they say that they're scoring any vote on universal background checks.
UPDATE 9 February 2013 22:58: Welcome visitors from IMAO, and thanks for the kind words, Harvey. While you're here, there's a lot more on gun control, freedom, and general statist pricks. Plus some range reports. Feel free to look around and scratch where it itches. We're not very formal here.
White House petition for Obama to go skeet shooting with Congresswoman Blackburn
Asking President Obama to invite Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn to Camp David to go skeet shooting?
And a bleg to any Tennessee readers who are in her district (TN-7). She won't accept email from people not in her district:
Tennessee Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn has an idea — if the president is a skeet-shooting fan, why not host a bipartisan group of lawmakers at Camp David, and kill two birds (pun alert!) with one stone? It would provide an opportunity for some positive PR in terms of both across-the-aisle outreach and quelling Second-Amendment enthusiasts’ fears that Obama might be an anti-gun zealot? And if the “fact” that the president enjoys skeet shooting really is so very trivial to the overall gun debate we’re having, why did he bother mentioning it at all?The White House says that they'll consider anything that gets 100,000 signatures. I've, err, created just such a petition. So get petitioning.
And a bleg to any Tennessee readers who are in her district (TN-7). She won't accept email from people not in her district:
I am very interested in hearing your views on issues of importance to you. Due to the large volume of US Mail, email and faxes I receive, I am only able to accept messages from residents of the 7th Congressional District of Tennessee. Congressional courtesy dictates that Representatives be given the opportunity to assist their own constituents.Can someone in TN-7 let her know about the petition?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Doris Day - Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
Doris Day is a guilty pleasure, and this is perhaps her greatest song ever. And it's a simply smashing rumba, which if you've never learned it I'm sure that your Captain can help you out. Certainly all of my Gentlemen Readers should be able to do a credible rumba because their Lady Friends will simply swoon when they do. Not sure what more of a recommendation you need.
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps (Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farrés, translated from the Spanish by Joe Davis)
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps (Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farrés, translated from the Spanish by Joe Davis)
You won't admit you love meAnd to answer my overly-curious readers, yes I can do a quite credible rumba. Especially to this.
And so how am I ever to know?
You always tell me
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps
A million times I've asked you,
And then I ask you over again
You only answer
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps
If you can't make your mind up
We'll never get started
And I don't wanna wind up
Being parted, broken-hearted
So if you really love me
Say yes, but if you don't dear, confess
And please don't tell me
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps
If you can't make your mind up
We'll never get started
And I don't wanna wind up
Being parted, broken-hearted
So if you really love me
Say yes, but if you don't dear, confess
And please don't tell me
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps
Well that's not good
The Jeep's drive train is giving off a peculiar odor - sort of the "you let all the magic smoke out" odor that you get from classic English motor cars. That can't be good.
Sigh. I didn't really want that Garand anyway.
Sigh. I didn't really want that Garand anyway.
What the hell?
Helicopters firing machine guns over Miami?
Holy cow, black helicopters and machine guns over I-95. If ten years ago you had told me this would be happening, I would have hand folded a tin foil hat for you.
And it's gun owners who are crazies? Anyone at the Miami PD even think about what this looks like?
Miami-Dade police sent out a warning Monday that multiple police agencies would be providing support for a joint military training exercise somewhere over Miami and elsewhere in the county. The exercise will include the use of military helicopters.But fear not, Citizen. All is under control. Just your Department of Homeland Security. Nothing to worry about.
When and where will this happen? Police didn’t say.
Holy cow, black helicopters and machine guns over I-95. If ten years ago you had told me this would be happening, I would have hand folded a tin foil hat for you.
And it's gun owners who are crazies? Anyone at the Miami PD even think about what this looks like?
Gun Control advocates: standing athwart the march of history and yelling "stop"
The Left likes to think of themselves as the "Vanguard of History", having seen the future predicted with high levels of accuracy and (surprise!) it all confirms Progressive Dogma. Gun Control is one of the policies that they're entirely convinced will ultimately prevail, through the march of progress.
As with many things, they're not anywhere near as smart as they think they are:
This explains the anti-gun propaganda campaign. The reason that the gun banners rely on emotion and misrepresentation (conflating military assault rifles with modern sporting rifles) is because they simply can't get to 10% on their own by logical, intellectual persuasion.
Me, I don't think it matters. I think we've reached the tipping point, actually some time ago. The lack of support for new gun control legislation has been clear in polling for several years. The tide is running and fixing to swamp the gun banners.
They may try to ram their dogma down an unwilling country's throat anyway, as they did with Obamacare. All this would do is further erode the sense that government has any legitimacy. Progressives are finding that they're at the end of the Progressive Experiment, in no small part because of that lack of legitimacy.
So what comes next? Who can tell? But it will not look like what we see today, a Progressive dream of central control by an educated elite. And it won't have new gun control.
As with many things, they're not anywhere near as smart as they think they are:
What does it take for an idea to spread from one to many? For a minority opinion to become the majority belief? According to a new study by scientists at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the answer is 10%. Once 10% of a population is committed to an idea, it’s inevitable that it will eventually become the prevailing opinion of the entire group. The key is to remain committed.We've very likely passed the 10% point - meaning that 10% of the country are committed gun owners. Probably half of the country are gun owners, and so the only question is what percent of these count as "committed". The recent panic buying of firearms and ammunition suggest that this is non-negligible. The recent increase in NRA membership is another.
The research was done by scientists at RPI’s Social Cognitive Networks Academic Research Center (SCNARC), and published in the journal Physical Review E. Here’s the abstract:
We show how the prevailing majority opinion in a population can be rapidly reversed by a small fraction p of randomly distributed committed agents who consistently proselytize the opposing opinion and are immune to influence. Specifically, we show that when the committed fraction grows beyond a critical value pc=10%, there is a dramatic decrease in the time Tc taken for the entire population to adopt the committed opinion.
This explains the anti-gun propaganda campaign. The reason that the gun banners rely on emotion and misrepresentation (conflating military assault rifles with modern sporting rifles) is because they simply can't get to 10% on their own by logical, intellectual persuasion.
Me, I don't think it matters. I think we've reached the tipping point, actually some time ago. The lack of support for new gun control legislation has been clear in polling for several years. The tide is running and fixing to swamp the gun banners.
They may try to ram their dogma down an unwilling country's throat anyway, as they did with Obamacare. All this would do is further erode the sense that government has any legitimacy. Progressives are finding that they're at the end of the Progressive Experiment, in no small part because of that lack of legitimacy.
So what comes next? Who can tell? But it will not look like what we see today, a Progressive dream of central control by an educated elite. And it won't have new gun control.
Massachusetts: No, we won't share mental health info with the FBI gun check system
Rick emails to point out the big middle finger that Massachusetts is giving to the national background check system:
Quite an interesting data point. You'd almost think that this is all a complex problem that foils simplistic solutions.
That last bit is simply wrong - gun owners have absolutely no political stroke in Massachusetts. But the point is a good one - the Legislature simply refuses to change the law prohibiting cooperation with the FBI.WASHINGTON — Despite its reputation as a state with strong gun-control laws, Massachusetts for more than a decade has not provided mental health records to an FBI database for gun background checks, the result of a 43-year-old state law prohibiting such sharing.Massachusetts has submitted just one mental health record to the federal database since 1999 — apparently as a test — at the same time that the FBI has processed 1.6 million background checks of Bay State residents who seek to buy guns from federally licensed dealers. The situation has sparked concerns that firearms could fall into the hands of the mentally ill.Governor Deval Patrick has twice tried unsuccessfully to get legislative approval for the sharing of mental health data. Both attempts failed to gain traction in the state Legislature amid opposition from gun-rights activists.
Quite an interesting data point. You'd almost think that this is all a complex problem that foils simplistic solutions.
Monday, January 28, 2013
So you think you had a rough day
Watch this and reconsider.
I have to confess that it must be dusty in here right now.
I have to confess that it must be dusty in here right now.
Don't screw around with Pinkie Pie
Srlsy, she'll mess you up good.
Via #2 Son who knows everything about Skyrim.
My name is Pinkie Pie (Hello!)If you see Pinkie Pie coming at you with a Pinkie Pie sword, run and don't look back. Run like the wind.
and I am here to say (How ya doin'?)
I'm gonna make you smile
and I will brighten up your day
It doesn't matter now (What's up?)
if you are sad or blue (Howdy!)
'cause cheering up my friends is just
what Pinkie's here to do
'Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile (Yes I do)
it fills my heart with sunshine all the while (Yes it does)
'cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile
from these happy friends of mine
I like to see you grin (Awesome!)
I love to see you beam (Rock on!)
the corners of your mouth turned up
is always Pinkie's dream (Hoof-Bump!)
But if you're kind of worried
and your face has made a frown
I'll work real hard and do my best
to turn that sad frown upside down
'Cause I love to make you grin, grin, grin (Yes I do)
busted out from ear to ear, let it begin
just give me a joyful grin, grin, grin
and you fill me with good cheer
It's true, some days are dark and lonely
and maybe you feel sad
but Pinkie will be there to show you that it isn't that bad
There's one thing that makes me happy
and makes my whole life worthwhile
and that's when I talk to my friends and get them to smile
I really am so happy
your smile fills me with glee
I give a smile, I get a smile
and that's so special to me
'Cause I love to see you beam, beam, beam (Yes I do)
tell me, what more can I say to make you see that I do?
it makes me happy when you beam, beam, beam
yes, it always makes my day
Come on everypony smile, smile, smile!
fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine
all I really need's a smile, smile, smile
from these happy friends of mine!
Come on everypony smile, smile, smile!
fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine
all I really need's a smile, smile, smile
from these happy friends of mine!
Yes a perfect gift for me
is a smile as wide as a mile
to make me happy as can be
smile, smile, smile, smile, smile!
Come on and smile!
come on and smile!
Via #2 Son who knows everything about Skyrim.
What goes on at the Christmas Party stays at the Christmas Party
Well, at least until Youtube gets on the Intarwebz.
Rainbow Banned Episode by SuperUbuntu
The back story: Rainbow was a British children's story aired from 1972 to 1992. This non-aired "adult" version was shown at the 1979 Christmas Party. Of course it's full of innuendo. Of course it made it to the Internet.
Posted not just for the amusement value (safe for work, unless you work at a very strict place) but as a reminder that three people can keep a secret if two are dead.
Rainbow Banned Episode by SuperUbuntu
The back story: Rainbow was a British children's story aired from 1972 to 1992. This non-aired "adult" version was shown at the 1979 Christmas Party. Of course it's full of innuendo. Of course it made it to the Internet.
Posted not just for the amusement value (safe for work, unless you work at a very strict place) but as a reminder that three people can keep a secret if two are dead.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
What I learned to do today
How to cut up a rabbit. Two, exactly. It's not that different from cutting up a chicken, really. The thighs come off just like a chicken's. The forelegs are different from the wings - closer to the chicken thighs than to the wings, really. There's no breast meat to deal with (to speak of, anyway), but the loin (down pretty much the entire backbone) is like nothing I've ever done. I mangled the first one, but got the other three more or less intact.
Recipe later, after dinner. It looks pretty damn good, but you'll have to wait until we've eaten.
Recipe later, after dinner. It looks pretty damn good, but you'll have to wait until we've eaten.
Global Warming: A picture says a thousand words
Suppose you were to go to the Fed.Gov's website, download the historical temperature for the US lower 48 states dating back to 1895? Suppose you were to plot the monthly average high and low of all of this data covering 118 years? With all of this "Global Warming" that we're hearing about, you'd expect to see this in the plot.
Well, you'd expect wrong:
The blue bars show the high-low range for each month since 1895 (CONUS only). The red line is a 12 month weighted average of the blue ranges. The absolute highest range reported was July 1936, and the absolute lowest reported was January 1979 (green circles).
What this says is that the trend is essentially indistinguishable over almost 120 years. Quite frankly, this agrees with what the Fed.Gov itself says - 0.8°F over the course of the 20th Century. It agrees, of course, because it's the exact same data set.
Now here's the kicker: we're told that essentially all of this comes from greenhouse gas warming, mostly due to increased carbon dioxide. CO2 is plotted here in black - it's basically an exponential growth curve. You might even call it a hockey stick.
So here's the part that I don't get: there's been almost no change in temperature in 120 years, while CO2 concentration has increased by a third. So why all the talk about catastrophe if we don't do something RIGHT NOW DAMNIT? I'm struggling to understand the urgency.
Actually, that's a lie. I'm pretty sure that I understand the urgency of the folks pushing expensive, intrusive government schemes. I think I understand that just fine.
Well, you'd expect wrong:
The blue bars show the high-low range for each month since 1895 (CONUS only). The red line is a 12 month weighted average of the blue ranges. The absolute highest range reported was July 1936, and the absolute lowest reported was January 1979 (green circles).
What this says is that the trend is essentially indistinguishable over almost 120 years. Quite frankly, this agrees with what the Fed.Gov itself says - 0.8°F over the course of the 20th Century. It agrees, of course, because it's the exact same data set.
Now here's the kicker: we're told that essentially all of this comes from greenhouse gas warming, mostly due to increased carbon dioxide. CO2 is plotted here in black - it's basically an exponential growth curve. You might even call it a hockey stick.
So here's the part that I don't get: there's been almost no change in temperature in 120 years, while CO2 concentration has increased by a third. So why all the talk about catastrophe if we don't do something RIGHT NOW DAMNIT? I'm struggling to understand the urgency.
Actually, that's a lie. I'm pretty sure that I understand the urgency of the folks pushing expensive, intrusive government schemes. I think I understand that just fine.
Rabbit. It's what's for dinner
I'm making braised rabbit in red wine with bacon, pearl onions, and chanterelles. Stunningly, I find that I'm out of bacon (how did that happen?). Also out of red wine (How did that happen? [you very well know. - Ed.]).
Off to the store, I guess.
Off to the store, I guess.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in G
I am quite powerless when obliged to compose for an instrument I cannot bear.Mozart needs no introduction other than perhaps a notice that today is his birthday. One peculiarity about his was that while he wrote some splendid flute music, he positively detested the instrument. Perhaps it's a testament to his unmatched genius that he could make an instrument that he didn't like sound like this.
- Mozart, in a letter to his father
Bootnote: While he did say that in his letter, the idea that Mozart hated the flute is disputed.
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