tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50103371781050357482024-03-06T00:06:27.074-08:00Acronymization LabsOne facet at a timeMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-19966681337903407132010-06-27T11:26:00.000-07:002010-06-27T11:30:36.976-07:00Peter Donnelly on Statistics<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kLmzxmRcUTo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kLmzxmRcUTo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-48098546698355663592010-04-20T03:09:00.000-07:002010-04-20T03:21:24.500-07:00The Tea Party on Tax Day<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbyFeFhUTmI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbyFeFhUTmI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-53426473722891236602010-04-09T03:06:00.000-07:002010-04-09T03:27:47.006-07:00So Long, And Thanks For All The BugsSomething called <a href="http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html">white-nose syndrome</a> is killing large numbers of bats in the northeastern United States. It's being compared to the disappearance of the bees, since no one understands exactly what is happening. They are calling it "white-nose syndrome" because the dead bats are found with a fungus growing around their noses.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-74550134011302076162010-03-20T03:28:00.000-07:002010-03-20T03:32:43.791-07:00Massive Multiplayer ClassroomsMassive Multiplayer Workplaces?<br /><br /><a href="http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/university-class-swaps-grades-for-experience-points/1394472">Check this out</a>.<br /><br />I was already thinking about the book, "The One Minute Manager", before I got to the end of this story, where that book is directly referenced. This idea looks like a winner to me.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-68292990278288562012010-03-15T03:17:00.000-07:002010-03-15T03:20:34.430-07:00Susan Boyle AgainDuet with Elaine Paige, "I Know Him So Well", from the musical "Chess".<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sF1hIaHKANk&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sF1hIaHKANk&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-44091414791138583822010-02-23T03:45:00.000-08:002010-02-23T03:46:47.869-08:00Olympic Ice DancingBolero<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ru6qjbRghyU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ru6qjbRghyU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-57660578096368931972010-02-18T12:36:00.000-08:002010-02-18T12:37:59.311-08:00Coon Huntin'Jerry Clower.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-AX9QoFhEhI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-AX9QoFhEhI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-83764537826429387352009-11-29T17:36:00.000-08:002009-11-29T17:49:38.700-08:00Fox News Dumbest Anti-Atheist Question of the Month?<object width="500" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hWYXWfLsQ6g&hl=en_US&fs=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hWYXWfLsQ6g&hl=en_US&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-85045803983929208282009-11-11T21:43:00.001-08:002009-11-11T21:47:00.184-08:00Fox News Not Trustworthy?Everybody (all seven of you), if you haven't already, go to Norm's blog and watch <a href="http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2009/11/hannity_uses_gl.html">this clip</a> from Jon Stewart.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-24792367021046546662009-11-02T12:23:00.000-08:002009-11-02T12:27:32.983-08:00Fictional Characters<a target='_blank' title='ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting' href='http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=k0w.jpg'><img src='http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2247/k0w.jpg' border='0'/></a><br /><br />Thanks to Norm (who in turn thanked someone else, but I've got to draw the line somewhere.)Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-873253420607282402009-08-05T04:31:00.000-07:002009-08-05T04:32:45.893-07:00Hat Fail<a href="http://failblog.org/2009/07/24/hat-fail/"><img src="http://failblog.wordpress.com/files/2009/07/fail-owned-hat-fail.jpg" alt="fail owned pwned pictures" title="fail-owned-hat-fail" width="500" height="667" class="mine_4642240" /></a><br />see more <a href="http://failblog.org">Fail Blog</a>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-74907804329938315092009-08-01T08:26:00.000-07:002009-08-01T08:29:24.170-07:00Best. Headline. Evar.<a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2008/06/the_dangers_of_1.html">The Dangers of Auto-Replace</a><br /><br />Conservative groups need to be careful, lest they appear to be idiots.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-78165337400813321912009-07-01T21:30:00.000-07:002009-07-01T21:33:25.455-07:00The Rippy Awards<table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=232234&title=the-rippy-awards-for'>The Rippy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Obitutainment</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:232234' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/?searchterm=jason+jones'>Jason Jones in Iran</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-86716935370024209912009-05-21T02:29:00.000-07:002009-05-21T02:33:06.109-07:00The Big Show<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Most days, I’m pretty well fed up with humanity.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Other days, I am immensely grateful to be part of such a vastly entertaining group.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090521/ap_on_re_us/us_forced_chemo">Case in point.</a></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Executive Summary: a 13-year-old boy has a very treatable type of cancer.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But the first round of chemo made him sicker.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(It’s called “nausea”, and is a common side effect of the chemo.)</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So the family declined treatment on religious grounds.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The boy is a Medicine Man in some kind of native-American-ish cult.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A judge ordered him to undergo chemo.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now he and his mother are fleeing.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For those who don’t know me at all well, I vote Let Him Die.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Darwinism, remember?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Let’s flush some of these substandard genes out of the system.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The funny part to me is that they want to rely on alternative treatments that they discovered on the internet.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Science is bad when it comes to medicine, but good when it comes to technology to use in order to prove that science is bad.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I love it so much that my heart grew three sizes today.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Love love love love.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You just do your thing, Humanity.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I’ll make popcorn.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-2564910076535439612009-05-19T11:44:00.000-07:002009-05-19T11:46:56.161-07:00Den of Uniquity<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Here’s something for the “I want to be unique, just like everyone else” crowd: <a href="http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2007/7/where-all-boys-end-up-nowadays">Where all boys end up nowadays</a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">If everyone runs in the same direction, it’s called a stampede, and you are still part of the herd.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Take that, Austin, Jaydin, Jordan, Brendan.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Et al.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-5165436995997649642009-05-19T10:54:00.000-07:002009-05-19T10:57:32.649-07:00Recommendations and Caveats 3<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">TV Show:</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">24: Season 7</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Okay, so Tony Almeida is back.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yes, he died in Season 5, but that is easily overcome when ratings are on the line.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The day starts out with Jack appearing before a Senate committee to answer for all his crimes against humanity, but then of course he must dash off to save the world yet again.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A key subtext to the entire season is the debate between lawfulness, represented by some by-the-book FBI agents, and pragmatism, as demonstrated by Jack and Chloe.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We have a new President, Allison Taylor, whom I liked (although not as much as David Palmer).</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And the President has a daughter, which brings us to-</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Caveat</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">:</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Olivia Taylor</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dumb Chicks must be part of some Hollywood formula of which I am unaware.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Maybe that’s why they are having such trouble with the Harry Potter movies.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They probably refer to it as “The Hermione Granger Dilemma”.)</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At any rate, if Olivia Taylor and Kim Bauer ever actually met, the edifices of order would simply collapse to dust.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Instaspontaneously.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The two hour finale aired last night, and the entire season is available on DVD today.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-52716896887043785352009-05-15T18:49:00.000-07:002009-05-15T18:50:03.899-07:00The Plane Ate My Luggage<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/90l_AQMMRsc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/90l_AQMMRsc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-21316993430248237632009-05-14T23:33:00.000-07:002009-05-15T07:44:07.265-07:00Leave Nothing But Footprints<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_odd_geyser_goons">2 Yellowstone workers fired after watering geyser</a><br /><br /></span><blockquote style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two seasonal Yellowstone National Park concession workers have been fired after a live webcam caught them urinating into the Old Faithful geyser.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Shocked, I am.</span><br /><br /></span><blockquote style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Xanterra Parks & Resorts general manager Jim McCaleb says the former concession workers were hired at the Old Faithful Inn and that such incidents were rare.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">When I worked at Yellowstone, it was called the IPOF (I Peed in Old Faithful) Club. We even had IPOF t-shirts. And I wouldn't describe such incidents as "rare", although I admit we didn't have to contend with a live webcam back then.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Although I never made it all the way out to Old Faithful (the ground feels really weird out there, like you might fall through), I did manage to get into some trouble. I still have the summons. Did you know that any crime you commit in a national park is automatically a federal offense? Even public intox?</span><br /></span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-90386529844546739652009-05-10T17:51:00.000-07:002009-05-10T17:56:07.095-07:00Recommendations and Caveats 2<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Comic:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Louis CK</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Caveat:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Louis CK</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">He’s not for everyone.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TG4f9zR5yzY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TG4f9zR5yzY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">TV Show: The World Series of Poker</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">This is a fairly recent discovery for me, considering that I enjoy poker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Poker is actually fun to watch.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Caveat:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Norman Chad</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Norm is one of the two announcers on the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And he’s really annoying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don’t like his voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don’t like his lame, self-deprecating jokes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But for me at least, the poker is entertaining enough to overcome that and end up as a slight positive.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Movie: </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Arial; color:black"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sps6C9u7ras">Koyaanisqatsi</a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">I finally got around to watching that this weekend, thanks in large part to the fact that you can watch the whole thing at YouTube (click the link to watch).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s about an hour and a half long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Inspirational and depressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Visually perhaps the most stunning movie I’ve ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The moonrise scene is my favorite.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Caveat: Original music by Philip Glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I won’t be rushing out to buy the soundtrack. If that name sounds vaguely familiar to fans of the TV show Frasier, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doctor_Is_Out">here’s why</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-80283117156256172832009-05-10T04:47:00.000-07:002009-05-10T04:55:59.106-07:00Postal Rate Increase<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I just read </span></span><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090509/ap_on_re_us/us_postal_rates"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">this</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> article on the postal rate increase that goes into effect Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pre-emptive disclaimer: I work for the post office.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This story points out that the post office does not receive taxpayer assistance.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then it makes this comment about one of the ways the post office is trying to cut costs:</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote></blockquote><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: black; "></span></span><blockquote><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Postmaster General John Potter</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">has asked Congress for permission to reduce mail delivery to five days-a-week.</span></span></span></span></blockquote><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; "></span></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">First, somebody tell me why we have to ask Congress for anything, given that we don’t get any funding from them.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Second.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I don’t remember if I read this in a news story or an internal memo (if this part disappears later, you’ll have your answer), but the day of the week they want to do away with is Tuesday, which is typically the slowest day of the week for us.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Picture letter carriers getting Sunday and Tuesday off.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now picture them coming on to work on Monday.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hard to do, yes?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now, whenever we raise our rates by two cents or so, there is inevitably talk of getting rid of our monopoly on first class mail.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(I haven’t seen anything yet this time, but if you look at the comments in the news story I linked to </span></span><a href="http://acronymizationlabs.blogspot.com/2009/04/dissin-post-office.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, you’ll see a bunch of people calling for this exact thing, after reading the tragic tale of how we misdelivered one letter.)</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So I’m going to pre-emptively take those people on, too.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have given this idea a lot of thought, while on break, visiting with coworkers, or just daydreaming at my desk.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I simply don’t believe that UPS or Fedex can do it for less than a dollar.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For that matter, I don’t see how they could afford the start-up infrastructure.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I know they have an existing infrastructure, but they would need more.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">More machines, more people, more trucks.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lots more.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A quick check of Wikipedia indicates that we employ about twice as many people as UPS and three times as many as Fedex.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So imagine that the floodgates were opened, and these two companies started competing for first-class mail business.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Three companies would then employ enough drivers to go to every house every day.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Since the total mail volume would be about the same, how long do you suppose this arrangement would last?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Further suppose that UPS or Fedex wins the “postal war”.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How long do you suppose they would continue delivering to Podunk, Alaska?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oh well.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Screw the Podunkians.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There aren’t very many of them, so who cares?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And to give you an idea of the magnitude of the mail, when postal workers </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._postal_strike_of_1970"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">went on strike</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> years ago, the national guard was called in to handle the mail, but they couldn’t do it.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(I said, with a hint of pride.)</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, feel free to whine about the postal rate increase in the comments.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Or tell the story of the really important postcard we lost just because we don’t like you.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Believe me, with 700 million pieces of mail each day, we don’t have time not to like you.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And if you want to find out how relatively exciting </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">your</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> job is, ask me what </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> do sometime.</span></span></span></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-6654702365668554512009-05-09T01:51:00.000-07:002009-05-09T01:58:22.000-07:00Recommendations and Caveats<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">These are not necessarily favorites. Just things I enjoy that I feel like sharing with you all.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">TV Show:</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Boston Legal</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Caveat:</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It’s a wee bit over the top.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Caveat #2:</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It contains William Shatner.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Shatner really pulls off the role of Denny Crane, an aging yet undefeated legendary defense attorney.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And James Spader as Alan Shore is at the top of his game.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Candace Bergen is outstanding as well.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After watching my first episode, I thought it was too ludicrous.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By the second, I thought it was just ludicrous enough.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It’s off the air now, but available on DVD.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Movie: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Caveat: Cast Interviews</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is one of my all-time favorite films.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Written by Tom Stoppard, it catalogues the adventures of two minor characters from Hamlet.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You should definitely buy the DVD and watch the interviews with the cast and Mr. Stoppard.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I say that because I did, and I want to spread the pain around.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Truly awful.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But the film is still awesome.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Heck, I even liked Richard Dreyfuss in it.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gary Oldman and Tim Roth also star, and are just perfect.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Caveat #2: Maybe they are </span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1122775/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">undead</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> now.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Snack Food: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I realize this isn’t exactly a groundbreaking revelation, but only Haagen-Dazs improves the Chocolate/Peanut Butter combo.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Caveat: 4 out of 5 nutritionists surveyed cliam that Reese’s and Mountain Dew should not comprise your entire diet.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But your dentist sends you Christmas </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Birthday cards.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How cool is that?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Books: Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This series, especially the earlier ones, are a bit dated, but still pretty damned good.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I recently reread most of them (something I tend to do every few years, which is why I keep them around), and enjoyed them again.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Caveat:</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There is a lot of locker-room-style male-bonding going on.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This was particularly noticeable in The Sum of All Fears.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lots of references to “big brass ones”.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It can get tedious.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The series is recommended anyway.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There is no reason to read beyond Executive Orders, unless watching the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead interviews wasn’t tedious enough.</span></span></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-27284371726525469352009-05-07T23:42:00.000-07:002009-05-08T01:14:19.743-07:00Some Stuff You Might Not Know About Gambling For A Living<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Professional blackjack players have an average advantage of about 1.5%, according to the books I’ve read.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And yet, even with that edge, at most 1.6% of the time, you reach an all-time high.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The rest of the time (over 98%) your bankroll is lower than it was at some point in the past.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Meaning, most of the time it seems like you’re losing.</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For a given size of bankroll, and a given percentage advantage, there exists an optimal-sized bet amount.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bet lower than this, and you won’t be making as much money as you could be making.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bet higher than this, and your risk of ruin increases.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In fact, if you exceed this by too much, your risk of ruin becomes 100%.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To see how this might work, start with an imaginary bankroll of, say, $100.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Flip a coin twenty times, betting 50% of your bankroll on each outcome.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Remember to adjust the bet size for each flip.)</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This would seem to be an even-money proposition, yet your bankroll will trend downward.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For a given size bankroll, a given precentage advantage, and a given bet size, your risk of ruin can be calculated.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(No, I’m not going to show you how here.)</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Imagine a poker player with a $10,000 bankroll playing a $20-$40 Holdem game.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Imagine his edge yields, on average, $40 per hour.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Interestingly, if he takes $40 per hour out of his bankroll as his pay (you know, to eat and pay the bills and such), his risk of ruin is 100%.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Depending on the size of his bankroll, this may take a long time, but it WILL happen.)</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So that’s what professional gamblers have to cope with.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(The way they do that is by taking a smaller amount out of their bankroll, and if they do experience a large downturn, finding another game with lower stakes.)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sources:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Professional Blackjack, by Stanford Wong</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Mathematics of Poker, by Bill Chen</span></span></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-7808371797944993192009-04-16T17:13:00.000-07:002009-04-17T15:43:34.016-07:00Susan Boyle<span style=";" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You've all probably seen this already. I don't care. Here it is again.</span></span></span><div face="arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div face="arial"><span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent</span></span></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You go, girl!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I like watching Simon's face change when she starts singing.<br /><br />Never before have I purchased an album from a contestant on one of these shows. I think that will soon change.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></div></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-42064636062005864212009-04-15T19:24:00.000-07:002009-04-15T19:26:49.402-07:00Tea Party<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This rambles a bit. You have been warned.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There’s something called a Tea Party Movement happening in the US.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My understanding from reading a bit about it is that it is comprised of people who think we need to go back to Bush’s policies in order to get out of the recession that was caused by Bush’s policies.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The organizers behind it are “conservatives”, such as Fox News.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(I used quotation marks because I don’t think today’s “conservatives” have any understanding of conservatism.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But I digress.) </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And speaking of digressions: I wonder what the present value would be of all the tea we tossed into the harbor, lo these many years ago.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Just wondering.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Good tea is pricey, after all. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But this Tea Party thing concerns me in another way.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I don’t know if people have noticed or not, but President Obama, the times I’ve seen him, has not been playing the blame game.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He has bent over backwards to not blame his predecessor (George W. Bush, for those who may have forgotten) for the ills faced by our country.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Even as he spent the first 10 minutes in office reversing all those executive orders. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The word is Class, and it’s something that has been noticeably absent from politics for, um, a while. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But the GOP, instead of praising, or even acknowledging it, is instead moving to capitalize on it.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Get it?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Capitalize?)</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It seems that the Tea Movement is the first step in shifting the blame onto Obama, by taking advantage of the fact that he doesn’t seem to want to play dirty. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now, for the intelligent in this country, such as myself, this is not a credible threat.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I see through it, thus it has no effect. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But what we keep underestimating is the vast sea of genetic curiosities who are, believe it or not, actually registered to vote.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They’re out there, folks.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They are the reason I bemoan the anti-poker legislation this country has passed.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Those were good times.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All in with 6-2 offsuit.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Really.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But now they are being whipped into a frenzy, with talk of revolution.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The GOP leadership (by which I mean Rush Limbaugh) is behind it.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Which, in my book, constitutes evidence that their ideology is unsound.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Rational presentation of their case has stopped working, so now they have to do this.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At no point does it enter their minds that some of their ideas might actually be wrong.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And the longer-view prospects are dim. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Should they succeed, class (remember class?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is an article about class) will be forever removed from the political arena, because it just doesn’t work.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So think about that.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And if you know some of the aforementioned curiosities who cannot think, just start a cult and invite them all in.</span></span></p></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010337178105035748.post-88659506930038689102009-04-14T22:27:00.000-07:002009-04-14T22:38:11.419-07:00Dissin’ the Post Office<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It must have been a pretty slow news day in Modesto, CA. <br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The headline reads, “</span></span><a href="http://www.modbee.com/featured/story/665465.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Couple’s Tax Documents Certifiably Lost</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">”, by Jeff Jardine.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Basically a couple had sent their tax stuff to their tricky accountant, and the package was instead delivered to the IRS in Fresno. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Several things: </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(39, 39, 39); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I love the mean, ‘unamused’ look the couple gave for the picture.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Perfect indignation for someone so very wronged. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Their tax documents, according to the story, are not lost, as the headline proclaims.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Their location is known. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was awestruck by the coincidence that their tax documents were mistakenly delivered to the IRS.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps the mail clerk was merely clairvoyant, and expedited delivery to the final destination.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Or perhaps the couple in question accidentally put the IRS label on the envelope.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Choose for yourself which scenario is more likely. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I’m a postal employee, so perhaps my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt, but the US Postal Service processes about 700 million pieces of mail each day.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Why is it that when one gets lost (or misdirected), it is newsworthy?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All the people I know at the post office are hardworking and conscientious.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And sometimes make an error (most often resulting in delay rather than misdelivery). </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The writer mentions at the end that the couple will send their copies either UPS or FedEx.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They’re willing to spend more money on a company that, in their eyes, has a less than 1/700 million chance of “losing” their package.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(39, 39, 39); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dave and Ann Milhous, I salute your acumen.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(39, 39, 39); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is.... aggressive: </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(39, 39, 39); "><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nor has she gotten an explanation from the post office about how their information wound up in Fresno which, if my AAA road map isn't outdated, is still due south of Modesto. San Jose is due west. </span></span></blockquote></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(39, 39, 39); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What kind of explanation would satisfy them?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Do they think that one of us, in the process of delivering it to the wrong destination, thought to scribble down the reason for doing so?</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have encountered many such people in my time, “demanding” an explanation, when there is no way of knowing.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">However, I refer the reader to Number 2, above.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(39, 39, 39); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And Mr. Jardine's smart-alecki-ness seems unwarranted as well. Does he think we sort the mail by the direction it's heading?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(39, 39, 39); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">While not the subject of my rant, I am amused that they think anyone at the IRS has the time to stop what they are doing at this time of year, and go sort through what must be a mountain of post looking for a package with a specific return address.</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That borders on delusional.</span></span></span></span><br /></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02735809861526744418noreply@blogger.com0