OPINIONS, PLEASE

Real cream in your coffee.

Love/hate/never had?

Posted by: Harvey at 01:13 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I'M FEELING CATTY

Ribbed for her pleasure.

I'm just glad MY wife doesn't embarrass me in public with piss-poor fashion choices.

Posted by: Harvey at 05:31 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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COURTESY LINK

Right Wing News posted a Rightosphere temperature check, in which I participated.

There are no surprises, and I voted with the majority on all answers.

Actually, I take it back, there was one surprise - the percentage of respondents who don't believe that Obama was born in Hawaii (27.3%)

I love a good conspiracy theory as much as the next guy, but I can't believe that after all this time, no one has been able to bribe some low-level State of Hawaii records-flunkie to pull the certificate.

Where's the National Enquirer when you really need them?

Posted by: Harvey at 07:41 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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MEME!

Amanda of Sleeping in Sydney tagged me with this about 6 months ago, and I'm finally getting around to it (rules modified for my convenience)

The rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Tell 7 5 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 3 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag.

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1) My laptop (IBM Thinkpad T30) has both a TrackPoint finger control and a touchpad. I use a wireless USB wheelmouse.

2) I tried growing catnip indoors over the winter. Worked pretty well for about 3 months until I left the door to my room open and the cats ate everything right down to the roots. I'm growing it outdoors now until next winter.

3) Remember the cat-paddling video?:

Amber has the same reaction. I'm in no position to judge someone else's pleasure preferences, though.

4) I hate reality TV shows. The endless in-show recaps, the over-extended pauses before someone answers a question or reveals a choice, the hyper-dramatic music, and the way they cut to contestants verbally describing their reactions to "surprises" when we JUST saw them bugging their eyes and dropping their jaws. Oh, and the clumsy product placements. The only one I don't hate is Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, mostly because it's not elimination-style, and the people he screams obscenities at are desperately deserving of having obscenities screamed at them.

5) I believe that Unskippable is an acceptable substitute for Mystery Science Theater 3000.

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Next victims:

Blogson GEBIV of There's One, Only!

Hapkido of Crunch Time

Hetero life-partner Graumagus of Frizzen Sparks

Posted by: Harvey at 12:16 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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IS WATERBOARDING TORTURE?

It doesn't matter, because the Geneva Convention's prisoner of war protections don't apply to non-uniformed combatants.

When it comes to terrorists, it's open season.

Posted by: Harvey at 02:17 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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IF OBAMA HATES TEA BAGS, HE'S *REALLY* GONNA HATE THIS

Obama hating on tea parties:

Fuck Obama Day (right sidebar)

via Friction & Harmony

Hey... he did it first:

And second.

Posted by: Harvey at 07:38 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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WHY I LOVE THE INTERNET

Bloggranddaughter Mrs. Who of House of Zathras complained of being out of toilet paper.

On a whim, I Googled "virtual toilet paper".

Found this.

I tell ya, we live in an age of miracles. Celebrate it.

Posted by: Harvey at 10:32 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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THEY'RE CHILDREN, NOT BILLBOARDS

Great pictures of the Oklahoma City Tea Party posted by bloggranddaughter Rave of Quid Nunc.

However, there were two pictures that bugged me. Little kids carrying signs.

As much as I love the tea parties, I find the use of children as props a little distasteful. I didn't like the anti-war yahoos doing it, and I don't like it from folks on the right.

Don't get me wrong. By all means, take the kids, show them what "free speech" and "peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for the redress of grievances" means in practice.

But don't give them signs to hold with messages that they're too young to understand.

Just give them a nice flag or colorful balloon, slather them with sunscreen, and have a fun day, instead.

Posted by: Harvey at 02:09 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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MARRIAGE!

Blogson Johnny-Oh! of Closet Extremist announces his impending marriage May 9th.

I haven't met "Sweetie" (which I believe is short for Sweetevnia, indicating the possibility that she's a Russian mail-order bride), but I know she's got herself a good man - once she's got him properly trained in the fine art of "yes, dear".

Johnny, feel free to borrow Love Notes as needed.

Congratulations.

Posted by: Harvey at 06:38 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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THUMB TYPING TUTOR

I was curious what a good typing speed is for two thumbs on a full-qwerty phone keyboard, because I figured it'd be WAY slower than 10-finger.

Apparently not.

These guys are doing 35-70.

Huh.

Anyway, if you want to learn how to touch-type on your phone keyboard, here's a nice tutorial that promises to get you up to speed in 2 weeks, assuming you can already touch-type on a normal keyboard.

Posted by: Harvey at 07:44 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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COOL CANS

Physics Geek links a video that demonstrates how you can quickly cool a can of carbonated beverage by using a can of expensive compressed air that you should really save for cleaning your computer. You'll also need to drill a hole in a tupperware container, use up some electrical tape, and I hope you have a pair of gloves handy.

Feh.

This is a lot cheaper & requires fewer tools. Forgot where I found it, but I've tested it successfully:

Big mixing bowl, enough water to cover the can, lots of ice, lots of ordinary table salt.

Combine & stir for 2 minutes.

Heat transfer rate is greatly increased by increasing the relative velocity of the cooling medium.

By the way, you might want to wait 20 seconds before opening the can.

Why 20 seconds? Because that's all the longer it takes for a can of soda to settle, no matter how vigorously you shake it. I've tested this one, too. (Credit: Penn & Teller's "How to Play in Traffic").

Please note that the 20 second rule does NOT apply to bottled soda.

Posted by: Harvey at 06:32 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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10 YEARS ALREADY?

For the 120th time, roses on the 9th.

You'd think she'd be getting tired of them by now.

Posted by: Harvey at 11:26 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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THEY COUNT FUNNY

Help me out with this.

The last numbered Windows program was 3

Then Win 95 - that's 4

Win 98 - that's 5

Win ME - that's 6

Win 2K - that's 7

Win XP - that's 8

Vista - that's 9

And yet the next version of Windows is called Windows 7, not Windows 10

WTF?

Posted by: Harvey at 10:22 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT

Squeez-Bacon

[Hat tip: Lynn of Violins & Starships]

Posted by: Harvey at 07:58 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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ADVICE FOR AN IDENTITY CRISIS

Bloggranddaughter Rave of Quid Nunc is contemplating:

A) A blog name change

B) Blogging her attempt at weight loss as a form of motivation

First, my standard disclaimer:

Rave - it's YOUR blog, and you can do whatever the hell you want to with it. Consider other people's opinions for what you think they're worth, but it's YOUR decision. Your blog is a reflection and extension of YOU, and its sole purpose is to bring you happiness. It is of use to you only so long as it fulfills this mission.

Now, my opinion, to be taken with a grain of salt.

A blog name is the name you give yourself, and so long as it reflects the essence of you, there's no reason to change it. I've only changed my blog name once - from Bad Money to Bad Example, and although the catalyst was changing my blogging software and site host, the fact is I was liberating myself, because Bad Money was a conceptually limiting title. It was perfect when I started, because my blog mostly revolved around graffiti currency. Over time, who I was expanded and evolved quite a bit, and a more broad-based, conceptually-encompassing title was appropriate.

In your case, you're considering changing your blog name from something broad to something narrow. In a sense, this might be good, because it reflects your desire to narrow your focus on a particular goal. However, I fear that over time you might find that this has a chilling effect on your desire to blog about anything EXCEPT weight loss, making your blog less useful to you in the long run.

My suggestion is not to change your blog name, but to change your tagline.

Or in your case, add one.

Because a blog name says who you are. A tagline says what you're trying to do. In my case "Bad Example: A celebration of things kids shouldn't try at home".

So consider changing your banner image to say "Quid Nunc: One Fat Chick on a Mission" or "Quid Nunc: Gee, I Hope I Don't Lose My Boobs Over This". If you want to really emphasize how important your weight loss project is, go ahead and make the tagline font larger than your blog name font. Then put all your weight-loss-related posts in a single category with a link to that category in your sidebar.

But a blog name change?... I don't think it's appropriate. You are so much more than just a weight loss program. You are a whole person. A wonderful, delightful person. Please don't change the person when all you're really doing is just changing the person's direction.

Having said that, however, I say again: it's your blog - do what you want. If you think a name change is the way to go, I will support you completely and cheerfully update your link.

Posted by: Harvey at 07:53 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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WHAT IF IT WERE BUSH?

I read this story in the Washington Post, and couldn't help noticing that nobody picked up on it. Obama recently had an "online townhall meeting". Five of the people he chose "randomly" to ask him their softball, ass-kissing questions were Obama fans with a paper-trail of support:

They included: a member of the pro-Obama Service Employees International Union, a member of the Democratic National Committee who campaigned for Obama among Hispanics during the primary; a former Democratic candidate for Virginia state delegate who endorsed Obama last fall in an op-ed in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star; and a Virginia businessman who was a donor to Obama's campaign in 2008.

If Bush had packed an audience with such ham-handed disregard for veracity, don't you think the MSM magpies would STILL be talking about it?

Posted by: Harvey at 06:22 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Global-Warming Cultists? Screw 'Em... Celebrate Human Achievement Hour - UPDATED 3-28-09

(cross-posted from IMAO)

The neo-cavemen of the "10²² tons of rock is TOTALLY fragile" movement want you to turn your lights out between 8:30 and 9:30pm tonight.

To which I respond with a heartfelt "bite me".

I'm going to celebrate Human Achievement Hour, instead.

In response to which I'm sure the 21st century hippie losers will snivel "Oh yeah? What's there to celebrate? What have human beings ever achieved?"

Got 3 minutes?:

Personally, I'm going to celebrate by taking a minute to appreciate the taken-for-granted miracles of human civilization that surround me:

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* This stupid blog post? Yeah, I'm writing words... with LIGHT! Even Gandalf never pulled that one off.

* Sure, the elves had that freaky little "vision pool" going on, but my 40-inch plasma flatscreen does the same damn thing, except in hi-def.

* The computer I'm writing this on (with LIGHT!) contains exactly zero natural or organic materials. I'll bet that stupid hippie Steve Jobs cries himself to sleep every night just thinking about that.

* If I jump in my SUV right now, I can be 60 miles away from here an hour later. Basically it's just really slow teleportation.

* If wolves could do that, I'd stop hunting them from airplanes just out of respect.

* I'm gonna play a CD. Look! I'm making music... with LIGHT!

* My cell phone... actually, I'm gonna turn that off because you're busy reading, and having it pop off with "It's Raining Men" right now would probably annoy the crap out of you.

* SIT! my domesticated dog, son of wolves who weren't hunted from airplanes.

* Twitter... is just self-indulgent twaddle. The hippies can shut that down if they want. Of course, if they did, they might get bored and do stuff that leaves big, carbony footprints. You know, like work or bathing.

* Zo - totally not a slave anymore.

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How are YOU gonna celebrate?

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PS - Regarding the last Earth Hour post... I wasn't able to rework the Earth Hour video with appropriately ominous background music, because I still don't have video skills or software. However, if you have some time to kill, you can do a manual mashup that I thought worked pretty well.

Load up the Earth Hour video, pause it at the 30 second mark, and mute the sound (click the speaker icon to the right of the time stamp).

Download this mp3 of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from WFMU's Beware of the Blog. Fire it up and pause at zero seconds.

Start the music then the video as near simultaneously as you can, and watch the Earth Hour video.

How's that?

UPDATE 3-28-09:

Krig the Viking suggests another excellent mashup:

Pause the Earth Hour video at 26 seconds, and start Holst's "Mars: The Bringer of War" (at 0 seconds).

It's like these old, dead, music guys knew this was coming.

Posted by: Harvey at 12:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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FRIZZEN SPARKS (v3.0)

Hetero life-partner and Frizzen Family patriarch Graumagus of Frizzen Sparks is back.

Put away your shotguns, he's not a zombie. He just smells like one.

Update your blogrolls, though, because he ditched the .com address for a .org one.

As Grau likes to say, "less dot commie, more dot orgy".

Posted by: Harvey at 12:42 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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IT'S A BOY!

Long overdue on this one, and I have only myself to blame.

Somewhere around a millionty-billionty years ago, Blogson Contagion of Miasmatic Review conned some poor sucker into starting a blog, and he turned out to be an excellent writer, a prolific poster, and a worthy member of the Bad Example Family. It's [way past] time to celebrate the arrival of

Petey of Petey's Powderhorn

Let's take a look in the baby carriage...

Hmmm... not there...

... must've gotten out and walked to the liquor store to pick up a bottle of scotch. Kids grow up so fast these days.

Anyway, since he's got about 80,000 posts up already, we'll just have to skim for some highlights:

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Obligatory sucky first post - well, it contains blood and cannibalism, so I'd have to say that it doesn't suck very much. How disappointing is that? However, he makes up for it by calling his fourth post his first post and it's filled to the brim with suck, thus managing to follow the rules and break them at the same time. A+ for creativity.

Some thoughts on gun control - love that picture.

"One of these days I am going to end up biting my lips off" - still struggling to control his craving for human flesh.

This only SOUNDS dirty - Petey's got wood 'cuz he likes a good paddlin'.

Puppy!

St. Patrick's Day - Lots of entertainment here.

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Anyway, Petey, you can pick up a Bad Example Family logo from this post, and you may, if you wish, blogroll the rest of the Bad Example Family using the handy blogrolling javascript, although neither is a requirement.

Membership in the Bad Example Clan is also an option, if you're so inclined to jump through the requisite hoops, but is not mandatory.

And as Contagion's boy, you're also a member of the Frizzen Sparks Family, who's blogroll code is thus:

<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="http://rpc.blogrolling.com/display.php?r=f08d8a4aa90fa6bc7a26e6d29c6850fb"></script>

Meanwhile you can look forward - with either anticipation or dread - to occasional visits and comments from me.

Welcome home.

Posted by: Harvey at 12:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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BLOGROLL UPDATED - (post updated 3-27-09)

I updated the Bad Example Family blogroll. There were a few links that needed changing, but the big difference is that I went through and took out everyone who hasn't posted in the last six months. If you need to find one of them, they're now listed under the Milk Carton Kids blogroll.

Two discoveries - Alex of Alex in Wonderland is posting again. Johnny-Oh of Closet Extremist is not, although he dropped a couple comments recently. I'll give him another week to post some blah-blah-I've-been-really-busy thing before putting him on the missing list.

Anyway, let me know if I bollixed up something in the process.

Oh, and hetero life-partner and co-blogfather of many of my spawn Graumagus of Frizzen Sparks is rumored to be coming back on line very soon. Details to follow when I get 'em.

Finally, Contagion of Miasmatic Review had a blogson over a year ago that - regretfully - I never acknowleged. Petey of Petey's Powderhorn is now on the Family Blogroll.

My apologies for dropping the ball on this. Proper birth announcement to follow soon.

UPDATE 3-27-09: Looks like Johnny-Oh of Closet Extremist will stay off the Milk Carton Kids list for another 6 months. Little smartass.

Posted by: Harvey at 10:12 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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