Sat, 30 May 2009
Today's topic for discussion is:
| I believe I've posted this before, but these instructions on how to make iced tea are internet gold. |
Cubeling, or Flanlet?
| Gelatinous Cubes, as we know, are a necessity for any dungeon master who wishes to spend more time scheming than cleaning. These mysterious creatures are distributed to customers through division (a la starfish), but researchers have not only discovered cubelings, but found them in the most unusual of places: the ocean floor. |
Fri, 29 May 2009
Today's topic for discussion is:
Thu, 28 May 2009
Required Reading
Certain Speculation has all but called out "Soapbox" Cynthia Tucker for being a hack regarding rapper T.I. and his ongoing legal issues. Part I. Part II.
The opening statements set the tone: Cynthia Tucker has a Pulitzer Prize, so I admit that gives her a certain amount of credibility.
Having a Pulitzer Prize and actually knowing what she is talking about would give her even more.
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The Smoky Room
Regarding the recent burbling news of more detailed info regarding our post-9/11 prison system, and of President Obama's downplaying of such news, I'm reminded of one of Bill Hicks' classic routines. This time, however, I think this is exactly what has happened: "I have this feeling whoever's elected president, no matter what their promises were...When you win, you go into this smoky room...And this little screen comes down, and a big guy with a cigar takes a puff, and he says 'roll the film'... And it's shots from: 7 years of interrogations run by operatives and allied contractors of the prior administration; shots from Islamist camps throughout the world; all from angles you've never seen before, and showing things you've never heard of. Then the film cuts off, the screen goes up, and the big man says to the new president: 'Any questions?'"
Amidst the noise and whining from the Left, recall that we actually have a conflict to wage. It isn't really worth launching an internal shadow war, at least until we've cleaned up our existing messes. |
Today's topic for discussion is:
Thu, 21 May 2009
A Missing Link
| I heard about the discovery (classification, really) of the proto-hominid fossil, but I didn't realize (a) the fossil has been in circulation, in two parts, since the 80's, and (b) the fossil includes not only a complete skeleton, but a fleshcast, including digestive tract. The full report (with links to full-size images) is over here.
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Today's topic for discussion is:
The Future is Here. (Part [n] of an ongoing series)
Presenting: PediSedate, a combination headset/anesthesia delivery device for use with kids, who may be scared of anesthetic procedures. Plug the audio into an audio jack (the site mentions Gameboy by name), plug the 'snorkel' into the gas, and away you go.
Setting aside the obvious use of the clipart as photoshop fodder, I'm guessing this technology will be standard on airlines, and optional on SUVs/minivans, within five years. |
Tue, 19 May 2009
State of Denial
Apparently, some Reagan appointee named Richard Posner has figured out which way the wind is blowing, and has described an "...intellectual deterioration of the once-vital conservative movement in the United States." Frankly, this essay reads very much like someone is blaming Dr. Frankenstein's monster for it's own existence. |
Today's topic for discussion is:
| Somewhere in this page of an armory's website, amidst the various aftermarket AR-15 parts, you may find Tactical Bacon. You're welcome. :-) |
Pointing Fingers
The current debate over 'who knew what' about waterboarding -- and whatever else our recently departed faction was doing -- might present a risky opportunity to hang both problem factions out to dry, at once. In accordance with their inheiritance strategy, Democratic leadership of this decade would allow the Bush administration to do anything it wanted, with expectations of eventually reaping electoral benefits (starting w/ 2006 elections, as it turned out). The strongest argument certain Republicans have been using is "you were ok with it," and that argument is really an implicit confession. Expose both factions, and watch them wither.
One other aspect I haven't seen mentioned, is the lack of practical perspective: what the hell is a minority congressional party going to do about the problem in 2002? The topic wouldn't even make a subcommittee agenda until 2007, and wouldn't receive the benefit of actual numbers (much less any chance of White House cooperation), until this year. |
Who Shall Bake the Bread?
| This week presents the high irony of Atlanta (anywhere in Georgia, for that matter) hosting a large-scale biotech conference. Bonus: Daschle, Frist, Rove, and Dean will be debating "healthcare reform", either today or Wednesday. |
Sat, 09 May 2009
Death to Boutiques
It looks like Mitzi and Romano's four shops and EcoBella are all closing down in the next week or two. I suppose the new economy is finally catching up to the local boutiques, and I hope these stores are replaced with something useful. I have my doubts, however; the first two closures were replaced with chains (Paper Source and Half-Moon Outfitters).
Down the street, it isn't much better, as several of the boutiques on Charles Allen and Highland have flipped over the past 6 months or so.
My morbid curiosity, however, centers on who/what is moving into the corner 'slice' location formerly occupied by Lulu Blue. The new occupant is called "The Green Pomegranate", and the windows are currently masked to hide progress. |
Fat Tire coming to Georgia
The headline speaks for itself. New Belgium Brewing greased whichever palm was necessary to distribute Fat Tire in Georgia. I look forward to trying it, as this was a beer I heard about, and didn't try, during one of my western trips. |
Today's topic for discussion is:
Fri, 08 May 2009
In Which I Twit...
So, I opened up a twitter account (flyingtilapia) a few months ago. The site has enough outages to not be confused with a reliable service, and frankly, that's how web services should be -- half-assed, run on duct tape, baling wire, and divine grace.
After this initial 'play with the new toy' period, I've determined that it's better to have one twitter account for each circle one is involved in. In my case, I'd rather not spam international queues with Atlanta updates, and vice-versa.
My initial impression is that twitter's model is inside out; more on that later (aka "one more topic I'll never get around to fully explaining"). |
Today's topic for discussion is:
Thu, 07 May 2009
Today's topic for discussion is:
| Favorite crawly thing: roly-polys, centipedes, or millipedes? |
Braves Musings
We're past game 25, so here are a few random notes on the home team (stats as of May 6):
- Rookie Jordan Schafer is the NL's strikeout leader (38!), yet the Braves are tied for 5rd lowest team strikeout total (166). I find this very promising for the remainder of the season.
- The Braves are batting par for the league, at .256.
- Last month, I left a post on Rowland's Office, to the effect of "Peter Moylan will be alright, once fully recovered from surgery. Blaine Boyer should be alright, if we don't run him out of town first." Well, Moylan is starting to rack up scoreless innings, and we traded Boyer to the Cardinals, where he's...racking up scoreless innings.
- Jeff Francoeur is back, and he's anchoring the lineup, .282 and a team-leading 17 RBI.
- Garret Anderson is in the lineup again, here's hoping for a good season.
- It seems the leaden horseshoe is still in play: In 6 starts, Jair Jurrjens has a 1.89 ERA and a 2-2 record.
- The Kudzu offense has returned: 9 team stolen base attempts in 27 games, by far the lowest total in the NL. We're second in the league with 24 ground-ball double plays.
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Fri, 01 May 2009
Today's topic for discussion is:
| Have you hugged a commie today? |
A Revolting Development
I got my hands on the newly rebranded AJC today, and honestly, I was nauseated. Once I gather a coherent opinion, I'll post a review.
Suffice to say, the largest content block in this 'new' AJC was the four-page Obituaries section. |
