NYT, same article, devolving headline.

TIME HEADLINE
09:24 High Turnout in Baghdad Points to Early Success
10:24 Amid Attacks, a Party Atmosphere on Baghdad's Closed Streets
18:26 Insurgent Attacks in Baghdad and Elsewhere Kill at Least 24
20:50 Attacks in Baghdad and Elsewhere Reportedly Kill Several Dozen
For your added enjoyment, this paragraph was removed at some point in the devolvment process:
But if the insurgents wanted to stop people in Baghdad from voting, they failed. If they wanted to cause chaos, they failed. The voters were completely defiant, and there was a feeling that the people of Baghdad, showing a new, positive attitude, had turned a corner.

Give me a break

Seriously, can anybody with an r next to their name get a break. From something I read this morning;

Vice President Dick Cheney's utilitarian hooded parka and boots stood out amid the solemn formality of a ceremony commemorating the liberation of Nazi death camps, raising eyebrows among the fashion-conscious.

It's COLD in Poland, very much so and our Vice President is not exactly a spring chicken. Ugh, I hate this kind of stuff.

Euphoria, or so they call it

The air tastes a little better this morning. I feel as if a great weight has been lifted from me, I feel calm and collected, all at the same time. It's been tough the last year professionally. Last year I was passed by for a promotion and I felt terrible. I was told that I was doing everything that was expected, was needed. I was told that I was an exemplary engineer and I was fed a lot of excuses about why I was stuck being an entry level engineer. Nothing like being patronized to make someone feel good about their career. The year was very busy, very stressful and I allowed my disappointment to wear me down. Watching my peers move forward while I couldn't even get acknowledged for my work and recognized as staff was wrenching. I hesitated to take new responsibilities, wanting to work down to my position, I had already felt that I was working at a level above my position for more than a year. Out of necessity I took the extra responsibilities but it left me very bitter and for that I began to feel ashamed of myself to the point where the situation became completely untenable. Finally in December I broke down and spoke to my supervisor about my concerns. Again I was told how well I was doing, I sat in dismay as I was again condescended to. I was told that I would be promoted in May. Too little, too late, I thought. I couldn't fathom holding on for that long.

This morning I received a formal offer letter working on simulations for the Air Force. It was the best news I have received in a very long time. On Monday I get to announce my departure and begin anew. A fresh start in what I consider an amazing opportunity is something that I can't wait to start. I feel like I know what euphoria feels like.

An apt description

I was reading a column that I regularly follow and noticed something that gave me quite the chuckle. It was a emailbag column filled with questions and the author's response. One of the questions was;

I'm a high school senior who will be a freshman at The College of the Holy Cross next fall. If you could use a single word to describe the coeds at HC, what would it be?

The answer is what made me laugh out loud. Reading the response I could only think, are you sure the kid wasn't asking about Tech?

I can't speak for the kids that are there now, but back in my day, the word would have been "gorging."

At first glance I thought back to the good old days of college. Even more applicable if you look at all the definitions for gorging.

Just read this

Reading an article in the New York Times, I came across the following;

if a new Supreme Court overturns affirmative-action laws, Democrats will need to pursue equality in ways that avoid treating whites and blacks differently

I can't even begin to get my head around that statement. Isn't the whole point of equality not treating people differently? Isn't that what affirmative action is? A way of treat people differently? I thought so.

I wonder.

Does this mean that I'm soon out of a job? Good thing I'm looking elsewhere. I've personally supervised overseas code projects but the coders were Japanese (and you can believe they were not so enthused with having Americans as their boss) but I seriously doubt this "'extinct' within the next few years" business. Here, where I work, there are some old crusty gentleman that dislodging them from their ergonomic chairs would require the force of the Sun's gravitational pull from a hundred miles away. Not only that, but there are so many programmers and India is only a little more popular than California as a place to relocate. I think it's just another example of someone talking about something they know nothing about in order to paint a bleak story. Bad news sells, right?

Is this enough...

...to get you guys to drink Bud? Not enough for me, honestly it seems to me that they've found a way to make Bud taste worse. In the beginning of the article the seemingly obligatory nod,

brew aimed at 20-something crowd

, appears. It makes me feel old. Why? Well I happen to be part of the 20 something crowd, or at least the number I get when I count the years from my birth indicates as much. I feel old because none of this crap that is aimed at people my age appeals to me. Not even a little. I feel like I'm having an identity crisis today.

No need for logic

Sometimes I think I'm living in crazy world. That's it, there's no way around it. Only in crazy world would statements logically clear and full of sense be pushed aside by pure irrationality. Reading a news item today, I can only think to myself, "it's about time".

Arizona has become the first state to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote

I think right on, then I come to agreement with the next point.

a measure that supporters say is intended to prevent voter fraud

Well, duh! In my mind I can't imagine how this measure is unreasonable. I voted for it. Why would anyone be opposed to showing Id? Often one needs Id to purchase something with a credit card, surely voting is more important than an impulse buy from Circuit City, right? Apparently, I'm missing something,

A civil-rights group and Democratic legislators recently had urged the Department of Justice to reject the law. They argued the changes will erect barriers that will hinder minorities' participation in elections and hamper grassroots voter registration drives.

Ok, so this means what? If people have to prove they're eligble to vote in order to register they won't and if minorities have to prove they're citizens they won't vote, after proving their eligibility when registering?

Huh? As I look in the mirror a question has crossed my mind; wait, aren't I a minority? Last time I checked in the big corporate group of recognized minorities, I was. And they never subtract from that list, it only grows larger. Anyway I happen to be one of those minorities and I remember when I went voting I had my license out, hoping that they would check it. Did I miss a memo that I should be offended, and refuse, when asked to prove my identity to my government?

I swear, crazy world. Of course, if my arguments were ever noticed by democrats they'd probably say that I'm not Hispanic enough. Seriously, this has happened before.

Taking my medicine

In the past I've said some nice things about Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and what happens when you say something nice about a Democrat? They do something stupid like vote against the nomination of Condoleezza Rice for Secretary of State.

All this nonsense the last few days has really boggled my mind. The worst offenders of course being Boxer, Kennedy and "Sheets" Byrd. But I expect that kind of irresponsible behavior from them. I was genuinely taken aback by Bayh's vote. Some might say that it is because he's running for President in 2008, but Hillary Clinton voted to affirm.

Rush agrees with me

predicting the metamorphosis of Bush into 'evil genius' from 'stupid idiot'. Well, maybe I got the idea from him describing the media treatment of Reagan.

Um, well.....

The NBA, it's FAN-tastic. I just had to post this. It is actually something that I would've never thought of, ever.

Still looks like a fat slob to me

Michael Moore gets a makeover.

"Red Sea"

Foreign correspondent visits strange land, and reports on his discoveries. Again, they don't get it. Read as much as you can before you puke. In a nutshell: stoopid bigot conservative voters can't get past their gay-hating to vote for their own economic interests. Dangit, can't we see that they're just trying to help us? I at least have to give him credit for trying (he tries to be fair), but the fact that he treats this as if he were going to China is just too much.

Nuge moves to Red State

and not just any state, but Texas. Maybe it's because the meat's redder in Texas. Or Michael Moore's fat blob of a body was crowding too much of Michigan. At any rate, his next door neighbor is George W. Bush. How cool is that?

Judges are lawyers too...

Two guys get arrested for telling lawyer jokes. Well, more like for disorderly conduct but the headline says otherwise. Courtisy of slashdot.

Re: Sometimes

There is a such thing as justice. What's wrong when one's current Playmate girlfriend beats down an ex that's been talking trash? Nothing, that's what I say.

Too far?

If there is any example needed to justify tort reform, something illustrating the outrageousness of today's legal system, I nominate this. Most understandingly, Don King is upset upon hearing himself portrayed and talked about in that manner but I saw that episode of SportsCentury and have heard of King's past antics. It was based on real life events and Mr. King certainly hasn't led a life free of controversy. Being outspoken like he is and having a sordid past, Don King (unfortunately for himself) has removed himself from the normal guidelines that the sports media considers for victimhood. Although I agree that the segment was harsh, the tough thing is that it wasn't false and the tough words were simply opinions and the amount being asked for is so over the top it just can't be taken seriously.

The Lone Gunmen

This is slightly insane. Not sure why I never made this connection as I think I watched the pilot episode linked above. The Lone Gunmen is/was an X-files spinoff. The pilot aired in March 2001. Part of the plot is the thwarting of a conspiracy to crash a 727 into the World Trade Center. Not that a piece of fiction makes me think that the real government should have been able to predict the event occurring in reality. However, the show kind of takes the wind out of the sails of the "who could have predicted this" argument. I'm also a little surprised that it took me this long to come across any reference to this coincidence.

Sometimes

The funniest things happen. Oddly enough, I think this is the funniest thing and at the same time I'm a little jealous of Cleveland Browns QB Jeff Garcia.

High Tech Bush

A stab to the heart of those who want to think of President Bush as a knuckle draging savage.

Attack Car

An alternative to the SYNus (see below) for those who believe that the best defense is a strong offense.

Not Quite...

An armored car but this is just about right for me.

Valhalla Kittens

mmmmmm...yeah. I'm nonplussed.

Ford Concept Car

If you've ever wanted to drive around in an armored car, the Ford SYNus may be for you.

Check this out

for all your old computer nostalgia. The first computer my family owned was this one - I cut my computing teeth on it, playing Pirates! and this cool game called Lemonade Stand. It made this weird farting noise when it booted up, and had to have a floppy (5 1/4") in order to boot up. This was the cutting edge computer that populated my taxpayer-funded classrooms in Okinawa during elementary school. Also check out the old computer ads, found via The Corner.

Hey Engicon

I really really really really really hate you. I heard you went yesterday, too....bastard. It's raining here! All the reports have the conditions as "variable" or "loose granular". What the heck is "loose granular"? I can't wait to get in some good riding in a few days when I head out there.....

"Living Wage"

Will they ever learn? The "acting governor" (thanks to the perfectly timed resignation of corrupt elected governor McGreevey) is proposing raising the minimum wage in Jersey. Cue the requisite sob stories. These stories are dripping in emotional calls for helping children and other tricks of the journalistic trade that anger me to no end. I'm beginning to hate journalists almost as much as I hate trial lawyers - at least the lawyers know they are scumbags and everyone hates them, so they aren't imbued with this sense of self-importance that journalists have.

Anyway, the arguments against a minimum wage are simple, and you're an idiot if you can't figure out why a minimum wage increase is a bad idea. If all I have to do to allow people like poor Ms. (or is it Mrs.? Who knows) Conley to make ends meet is mandate a wage on those mean ol' employers then why don't I make skyrocketing rents in Jersey cheaper by just naming a price? Why stop there? We don't want kids starving, so let's make food cheaper by legislating it. Oh, but then sooopermarkets can't pay their employees the minimum wage we just mandated. Crap, what do we do? Oh well, by this point the journalists don't care and we can bask in the adulation for our "compassion". There are so many holes in the argument for a minimum wage I want to drop it in the ocean. It's just another case of elected officials becoming the government fairy godmother and waving their magic price wand about.

I can't wait to leave this state and move back west. NJ government makes things expensive by overregulating (gas, property) and then proposes to fix things by regulating more (wages).

Continuing his tradition

of meeting with our enemies. Picture here. Just think, all it would take is for the Democrats to have done some hardcore cheating in Ohio, and he would be President. Boy, I bet those meetings sure put the fear into these tinpot dictators.

Screwed by Old People Yet Again

Sooooo, my first attempt at being politically active is shot down by my (Republican) State Senator. Well, actually one of his "Constituent Services" minions. Here's the story. I decided to find out if there were any attempts to bring self service gas stations into New Jersey. I wrote an email to my state legislator:

I recently relocated to New Jersey from New Mexico and one of the odd things I discovered about this state is that self service at the gas station is outlawed. I discovered this the hard way when a recent trip to the gas station took 30 minutes when it normally would have taken half the time. I did a little research and discovered the origins of this law to be an archaic need to have a "professional" perform this duty for safety reasons. Is there any reason why this law should still stand? Why are the drivers of NJ forced to subsidize useless work? Is there a study supporting the existence of this law? If there is, can you please direct me to it? Also, if there is a study and this law provides a net benefit, then why is it not law in other states? (Other than OR, where I have also experienced this frustration.) Finally, I am certain that I am not the only person frustrated by this law, so are there any plans in the future to repeal it?

Here's the reply:

Thank you for your email. The issue of self service at gas stations has been before the Senate for the past two sessions. Due to the overwhelming majority of residents in the State such as the elderly, disabled, etc. this measure did not receive the support it needed to even come out of committee. The reasons given by the individuals and groups opposing this bill had nothing to do with the argument in your email. At least for the present and the foreseeable future, there probably will not be self service in New Jersey.

Now this blew me away. Evidently it's because the majority of New Jerseyans LIKE this law because they are either elderly, or disabled, or both! The obvious reply to this was given by me:

I'm sorry, but maybe I'm misunderstanding. Are the overwhelming majority of citizens in NJ elderly and disabled?
Also, if this measure passed, what would keep stations from operating some pumps as full service? If the overwhelming majority of NJ favors the current law, then it seems to me that gas stations would naturally operate some pumps as self and some as full serve - everybody wins.
Could you direct me to information regarding this measure? Information such as who the sponsors were, what the bill's content was, who were the primary opponents and what were their arguments. Is this issue wildly unpopular, as you imply? Or is a vocal minority the driving force behind its death in committee?

To which the rather terse reply was:

Yes you are misunderstanding. A large portion of the population of New Jersey are senior citizens who are adamant about not having self-service gas stations in New Jersey. There has been no support from any group or groups as to this proposal. There were 2 bills, both by Senator Gerald Cardinale. The bill in the 2000-2001 sessions was S1259. The bill for the 2002-2003 sessions was S1088. He was the only sponsor and the bills never left committee. You can obtain copies of the bills by either calling the bill room at the State House at 1-800-792-8630 or 292-4840 or logging on to the New Jersey State Legislature Web Site: www.njleg.state.nj.us

Evidently, I don't understand that the "overwhelming majority" of New Jerseyans are indeed elderly and disabled. Although she does qualify it in this message by changing "overwhelming majority" to "a large portion". Right now, the real devils in keeping this idiotic law are the lobbyists for the elderly (or elderly lobbyists, or both?) and disabled, as well as plain ol' inertia. NJ has lower gas prices than the nation as a whole anyway because all the refineries are in this state, so we pay less transportation cost. This serves to hide the the fact that we could be getting really cheap gas - more importantly, however, gas station owners wouldn't have this additional regulation on their back. Any gas stop in NJ and you can see that the business is different because of this law - nobody goes in for coffee or a snack so this is reducing business in that regard.

Old people - not content to stick me with the bill for SocSec, now I have this problem to deal with. I'm currently contacting the bill's sponsor to see what's goin' on. Keep everyone posted.

Re: Fat City

Fat City

According to this graphic from Men's Fitness Magazine, I moved from being surrounded by some of the fittest cities (Albuquerque, Tucson, Denver, CO Springs) to being surrounded by some of the fattest cities (NYC, Philly). What can I say? They love their cheesesteaks and pizza here. Just about everything is served with a stick of melted butter it seems.

More Stinginess

To me, all the liberal carping about American stinginess is just another example of the failure of liberal thought. The most common complaint out there is that the United States did not give enough or reacted too slowly to the Tsunami in Asia. All of these complainers pin blame squarely on the government and ignore the private donations of private citizens from the United States. This is the failure of liberal thought, it's always the government's responsibility to do anything. What liberals forget is that ours is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That means personal responsibility. That means when people in our country watch the news and they notice something horrific happen somewhere in the world, they respond and always do so more than appropriately. This counts as a contribution from this country and is the most genuine and generous response.

Ann Coulter's latest column takes on the typical liberal nonsense about American stinginess with facts and debunks the ludicrous theories used to come to conclusions like that. A good read and informative.

Something wicked this way comes

Who wants to bet that before long they'll start inserting words like "abrupt climate change" and later "global warming" into stories like this?

My feelings

exactly. Except I don't even care if I don't get my !@#$% money back - I'll be happy just to quit paying my !@#$% money into this piece of !@#$% Ponzi scheme.

Good Column

by Mark Steyn, on American "stinginess" post tsunami.

Further proof

why dogs are better than cats. Can you imagine a story in which a cat rescues a person?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year guys. Nic and I spent it in Times Square which was quite an experience, we even got on TV for Dick Clark's special (watch the crazy guy in a gray beanie with silvery hair, that's me). Lots of fun and not a drop of alcohol involved. I also got to talk with a semi-crazy guy in Times Square for about an hour about politics - he was convinced that corporations ruled the world, in particular oil corporations that controlled Bush. Dude was a bit misguided and he wouldn't shut up and listen so I told him to tune into WABC from 12-6 (Rush and Sean) and he left to bother someone else.

What a year! Good luck in the coming year to everyone.