Friday, April 30, 2004
GLOBAL WARMING ALERT
Today is April 30 and it is snowing in Denver.
Conclusive evidence that the world is getting warmer.
Conclusive evidence that the world is getting warmer.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Friday, April 23, 2004
Pat Tillman
This is one story that gets to me in the most profound way. Former NFL player Pat Tillman died in combat yesterday while serving as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan.
In 2002, He walked away from a $3.6 million offer from the Cardinals to join the Army and turned down an even bigger offer before that from the Rams. By becoming an Army Ranger, he intended to go to where the most dangerous assignments would be.
This man had what popular culture holds dear - money and fame. His life shows what how trivial those things are in the end. He lived and died for duty, loyalty and protecting this country.
God bless Pat Tillman.
In 2002, He walked away from a $3.6 million offer from the Cardinals to join the Army and turned down an even bigger offer before that from the Rams. By becoming an Army Ranger, he intended to go to where the most dangerous assignments would be.
This man had what popular culture holds dear - money and fame. His life shows what how trivial those things are in the end. He lived and died for duty, loyalty and protecting this country.
God bless Pat Tillman.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Real Heroes
This is the kind of story that makes me proud to have been in the finest fighting force in the world. Sergeant Sagredo is "hard corps."
God bless the Marine Corps.
Why are these heroics not reported in U.S. media?
God bless the Marine Corps.
Why are these heroics not reported in U.S. media?
Friday, April 16, 2004
EARTHQUAKE!
A UCLA scientist is predicting a major earthquake will hit Los Angeles before September 5th.
Senator Ted Kennedy immediately called for investigations into how much President Bush knows about earthquakes and demanded a full release of any memo's revealing connections between L.A. earthquakes and Haliburton.
Meanwhile, Presidential hopeful John Kerry said, "I voted for earthquakes before I voted against them. But this election isn't about earthquakes, it's about jobs. My time in Vietnam taught me that earthquakes hurt the economy. And George Bush lost 2..no 3...wait, 10 million jobs because he ignored earthquakes during his administration. I will support earthquakes that create more jobs."
Senator Ted Kennedy immediately called for investigations into how much President Bush knows about earthquakes and demanded a full release of any memo's revealing connections between L.A. earthquakes and Haliburton.
Meanwhile, Presidential hopeful John Kerry said, "I voted for earthquakes before I voted against them. But this election isn't about earthquakes, it's about jobs. My time in Vietnam taught me that earthquakes hurt the economy. And George Bush lost 2..no 3...wait, 10 million jobs because he ignored earthquakes during his administration. I will support earthquakes that create more jobs."
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Blogger?
It's been a week since I've written anything here. I must be reading too much to write. I'm reading opinionjournal.com and hughhewitt.com and overlawyered.com...even a little lileks.com. They pretty much say everything before I get to it.
Oh, then there is the enworld.org message boards, but only go there if you are into roleplaying games (not the dress up as the opposite sex kind, I mean the Dungeons & Dragons kind).
Oh, then there is the enworld.org message boards, but only go there if you are into roleplaying games (not the dress up as the opposite sex kind, I mean the Dungeons & Dragons kind).
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Marines die in Iraq
As a former member of the Marine Corps, stories like the death of up to 12 Marines in Iraq are close to my heart. While I mourn their deaths, I'm grateful for their sacrifice. Their sacrifice shows that they are making and have made America safer.
How? Our enemies are busy engaging our forces overseas. Notice terrorist bullets aren't flying here. Iran is backing the thug in Iraq. That is where their resources are going.
Al Qaeda is trying to infiltrate the Iraqi population. The fact that they are fighting our troops in Iraq means I can sleep safe here at home. Our Marines and Soldiers are in harm's way there to keep us safe here...and it's working.
God bless the Marine Corps.
How? Our enemies are busy engaging our forces overseas. Notice terrorist bullets aren't flying here. Iran is backing the thug in Iraq. That is where their resources are going.
Al Qaeda is trying to infiltrate the Iraqi population. The fact that they are fighting our troops in Iraq means I can sleep safe here at home. Our Marines and Soldiers are in harm's way there to keep us safe here...and it's working.
God bless the Marine Corps.
I'm published! (kind of)
In February, I interviewed science fiction author Mitchell Graham for sffworld.com, a site devoted to science fiction and fantasy.
My article was published on the web site today. If you're interested (and I know you are) you can read it here.
My article was published on the web site today. If you're interested (and I know you are) you can read it here.
Friday, April 02, 2004
Danger around every corner
One of my guilty pleasures is Dear Abby. There is one kind of letter I can't stand though:
Dear Abby,
Yesterday I was walking through the living room and saw the cover was off my box fan. I thought it would be fun to stick my head in the whirling blades. I ended up in the hospital with lacerations from my forehead to my chin.
Abby, please tell your readers to make sure they keep covers over fan blades and to never, ever stick your face in a fan.
Signed,
Stuck my face in a fan and now I know better
Dear Stuck,
You are right. After reading your letter I immediately put covers back on all my fans. Hopefully, others can learn from your mishap.
Readers, don't stick forks in power outlets either. You may permanently damage your silverware.
Dear Abby,
Yesterday I was walking through the living room and saw the cover was off my box fan. I thought it would be fun to stick my head in the whirling blades. I ended up in the hospital with lacerations from my forehead to my chin.
Abby, please tell your readers to make sure they keep covers over fan blades and to never, ever stick your face in a fan.
Signed,
Stuck my face in a fan and now I know better
Dear Stuck,
You are right. After reading your letter I immediately put covers back on all my fans. Hopefully, others can learn from your mishap.
Readers, don't stick forks in power outlets either. You may permanently damage your silverware.
Dinner
Tonight I used some left over London Broil to make some French dip sandwiches. Then I caugt myself; can you make French dip out of London Broil? That's like trying to make a rum & Coke with Pepsi. It just can't be done.
That was before I realized, I don't eat French dip sandwiches anymore. I'm still eating Freedom dip sandwiches.
Mmmmm. Freedom London Broil dip sandwiches.
That was before I realized, I don't eat French dip sandwiches anymore. I'm still eating Freedom dip sandwiches.
Mmmmm. Freedom London Broil dip sandwiches.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Less teachers or more taxes?
The local school district, Littleton Public Schools, sent me a nicely designed pamphlet threatening to cut 9% of its teaching staff if voters don't approve a tax increase sure to be on an upcoming ballot.
This is a common tactic by school districts and teachers unions. They offer only two choices, fire teachers and increase class sizes (with the threat of lower tests scores as a result) or increase taxes. School administrators must be the most highly trained and productive workers in the world. Their jobs are never mentioned as possible costs savings. It's amazing since the teachers are the ones in contact with students, yet adminstrators seem to have the most job security in education.
What it really comes down to is that voters wouldn't bat an eye if administrators jobs are threatened. If teachers might get laid off, well that's another story. It's all about money. The voters are much more willing to raise taxes if that is the only alternative to losing teachers.
Here is something strange. The Littleton Public schools is consistently in the top three districts in the Denver Metro area in test scores while have the lowest funding per student in the metro area. It just demonstrates that throwing more money into schools does not relate to quality education. I'll be voting against the coming tax proposal.
Back to test scores, here is a study that found there is no relation between small class sizes and high test scores. What happens is that more teachers need to be hired (not a bad thing for the teachers union) so students are getting more individual attention but its from poorer quality teachers.
This is a common tactic by school districts and teachers unions. They offer only two choices, fire teachers and increase class sizes (with the threat of lower tests scores as a result) or increase taxes. School administrators must be the most highly trained and productive workers in the world. Their jobs are never mentioned as possible costs savings. It's amazing since the teachers are the ones in contact with students, yet adminstrators seem to have the most job security in education.
What it really comes down to is that voters wouldn't bat an eye if administrators jobs are threatened. If teachers might get laid off, well that's another story. It's all about money. The voters are much more willing to raise taxes if that is the only alternative to losing teachers.
Here is something strange. The Littleton Public schools is consistently in the top three districts in the Denver Metro area in test scores while have the lowest funding per student in the metro area. It just demonstrates that throwing more money into schools does not relate to quality education. I'll be voting against the coming tax proposal.
Back to test scores, here is a study that found there is no relation between small class sizes and high test scores. What happens is that more teachers need to be hired (not a bad thing for the teachers union) so students are getting more individual attention but its from poorer quality teachers.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Liberal Radio
Today Liberal AM Radio was launched by a new radio network, Air America Radio.
It may work, but the signs aren't good so far. Their flagship program is hosted by Al Franken. That alone is bad enough, but he felt the need to name his show The O'Franken Factor. If you want to be successful in life, you can't be a follower. By parodying The O'Reilly Factor, Franken is a follower, not a leader. It's easy to criticize. It's harder to stand for something.
I'll be interested to see if there is any substance to the new liberal network.
It may work, but the signs aren't good so far. Their flagship program is hosted by Al Franken. That alone is bad enough, but he felt the need to name his show The O'Franken Factor. If you want to be successful in life, you can't be a follower. By parodying The O'Reilly Factor, Franken is a follower, not a leader. It's easy to criticize. It's harder to stand for something.
I'll be interested to see if there is any substance to the new liberal network.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Reading and writing...
I am still in the process of applying for grad school. It's been a slow process, but you have to have money to go to school.
I've finally settled on a degree - MS in Technical Communications. Well, I've decided that sometime ago. Since I think I express myself clearly in writing and love technology, it seems a good fit for me.
It turns out I have a major trait that is good for developing writing skills. That is, I'm a voracious reader. Last month I interviewed fantasy novelist Mitchell Graham for a web site (I'll put the link to the interview up when it finally gets posted) said he believes the way to learn how to write is to study other readers. Another fantasy novelist, George R.R. Martin, says the same thing.
Then today I was reading a book by Robert Bly, an expert on commercial writing, who said he loved to read as a child. He eventually became a technical writer.
OK, I like to read, (I'm currently reading 5 different books) I like technology. It just dawned on me that I actually had a job as a technical writer while for a year when I worked at Merrill Lynch in a software support position. I really should do more of that.
I've finally settled on a degree - MS in Technical Communications. Well, I've decided that sometime ago. Since I think I express myself clearly in writing and love technology, it seems a good fit for me.
It turns out I have a major trait that is good for developing writing skills. That is, I'm a voracious reader. Last month I interviewed fantasy novelist Mitchell Graham for a web site (I'll put the link to the interview up when it finally gets posted) said he believes the way to learn how to write is to study other readers. Another fantasy novelist, George R.R. Martin, says the same thing.
Then today I was reading a book by Robert Bly, an expert on commercial writing, who said he loved to read as a child. He eventually became a technical writer.
OK, I like to read, (I'm currently reading 5 different books) I like technology. It just dawned on me that I actually had a job as a technical writer while for a year when I worked at Merrill Lynch in a software support position. I really should do more of that.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
We should talk to them..
The naive left claims that we should use diplomacy and negotiate with terrorists. By killing terrorist leaders like Israel did to Ahmed Yassin, the co-founder and "spiritual leader" of Hamas, Israel is "perpetuating the cycle of violence".
One thing I learned in the Marine Corps is that you need to kill people who want to kill you. Sounds harsh, but its true. And Hamas certainly wants to kill Israel. From Hamas' founding charter:
"Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it as it had eliminated its predecessors."
"the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement"
How do you negotiate with people who don't want to negotiate? Islamic terrorists (e.g. Hamas) only want to kill. There is no alternative.
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favour of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion. " -W. R. Inge
One thing I learned in the Marine Corps is that you need to kill people who want to kill you. Sounds harsh, but its true. And Hamas certainly wants to kill Israel. From Hamas' founding charter:
"Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it as it had eliminated its predecessors."
"the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement"
How do you negotiate with people who don't want to negotiate? Islamic terrorists (e.g. Hamas) only want to kill. There is no alternative.
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favour of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion. " -W. R. Inge
Arafat admits he is a terrorist
George Khoury was a 20-year-old economics student at Jerusalem's Hebrew University. Last Friday he was killed after being shot in the head, neck and stomach by al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade terrorists. He had been jogging in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.
Only one problem from al-Aqsa's view. George Khoury was an Arab. He was not a Jew.
Oops.
So Yassir Arafat called George Khoury's father and apologized for the killing. For those of you who might think Arafat is looking for peace, please read that last sentence again. Apologizing for an action takes responsibility. Arafat admitted he is responsible for trying to kill Israelis - in this case, missing and killing an Arab.
In response to their mistake, al-Aqsa immediately blamed Israel for the death by claiming Khoury is now a "martyr." They are killing their own people and labeling their victims heroes for their cause.
Only one problem from al-Aqsa's view. George Khoury was an Arab. He was not a Jew.
Oops.
So Yassir Arafat called George Khoury's father and apologized for the killing. For those of you who might think Arafat is looking for peace, please read that last sentence again. Apologizing for an action takes responsibility. Arafat admitted he is responsible for trying to kill Israelis - in this case, missing and killing an Arab.
In response to their mistake, al-Aqsa immediately blamed Israel for the death by claiming Khoury is now a "martyr." They are killing their own people and labeling their victims heroes for their cause.
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Iraq war protests
Today idiots are protesting a war already won. Rev. Herbert Daughtry said, “It is time to bring our children home and declare this war was unnecessary.”
To say this war was unneccesary is to say Saddaam Hussein should still be in power. Tell the families of hundreds of thousands of massacred Iraqis that this war was unneccessay. There are pictures of our Army personnel excavating mass graves here.
And George W. Bush is the evil one now? Strange that a reverend can't tell the difference between Hussein and President Bush.
To say this war was unneccesary is to say Saddaam Hussein should still be in power. Tell the families of hundreds of thousands of massacred Iraqis that this war was unneccessay. There are pictures of our Army personnel excavating mass graves here.
And George W. Bush is the evil one now? Strange that a reverend can't tell the difference between Hussein and President Bush.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
PETA: "Chickens are human too"
PETA is getting ready to launch its "Holocaust on a plate" campaign which compares the killing of chickens for food to the massacre of 6 million Jews during World War II.
Reuters reports:
The posters, due to be displayed in Stuttgart from Thursday and in 11 European cities at later dates, show pictures of battery hens packed into cages next to historic pictures of emaciated Jewish inmates in Nazi concentration camp bunk beds.
Reuters put this story under its "Oddly Enough" category and titled it German Jews Attack Vegetarian Ad Campaign. The title implies that Reuters thinks it is odd for German Jews to be offended at the ad campaign rather than it being odd PETA would compare chickens to human suffering.
In reality, PETA thinks animals are more important than humans. On February 3, 2003, PETA co-founder Ingrid Newkirk wrote a letter to Yasir Arafat asking him to not to harm animals in suicide bombing attacks. She has absolutely no concern about the children the terrorists are killing as long as they don't hurt donkeys.
You may think the title of this post is a joke. It isn't. PETA is calling for an amendment to the United States Constitution that says:
all mammals, birds, and fish will, henceforth, be defined as "persons" in the eyes of the law
Makes me hungry for some chicken.
Reuters reports:
The posters, due to be displayed in Stuttgart from Thursday and in 11 European cities at later dates, show pictures of battery hens packed into cages next to historic pictures of emaciated Jewish inmates in Nazi concentration camp bunk beds.
Reuters put this story under its "Oddly Enough" category and titled it German Jews Attack Vegetarian Ad Campaign. The title implies that Reuters thinks it is odd for German Jews to be offended at the ad campaign rather than it being odd PETA would compare chickens to human suffering.
In reality, PETA thinks animals are more important than humans. On February 3, 2003, PETA co-founder Ingrid Newkirk wrote a letter to Yasir Arafat asking him to not to harm animals in suicide bombing attacks. She has absolutely no concern about the children the terrorists are killing as long as they don't hurt donkeys.
You may think the title of this post is a joke. It isn't. PETA is calling for an amendment to the United States Constitution that says:
all mammals, birds, and fish will, henceforth, be defined as "persons" in the eyes of the law
Makes me hungry for some chicken.
Al Qaeda 1 - Spain 0
Spain is the first nation to ever be defeated by a terrorist group. A whole country has surrendered to a group of thugs. Jose Zapatero, head of the socialist party recently elected, maintains he will withdraw Spain's troops from Iraq unless the U.S. cedes control of the country to the United Nations. Obviously, he is optimistic of U.N. control because of the its past successes resulting from its demands that amount to "Stop, or we will say "stop" again!"
Al Qaeda is thanking them:
A group claiming to have links with al Qaeda said on Wednesday it was calling a truce in its Spanish operations to see if the new Madrid government would withdraw its troops from Iraq
Other European countries, you can thank Spain for the terrorism coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
Al Qaeda is thanking them:
A group claiming to have links with al Qaeda said on Wednesday it was calling a truce in its Spanish operations to see if the new Madrid government would withdraw its troops from Iraq
Other European countries, you can thank Spain for the terrorism coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
The Passion Continues
"The Passion of The Christ" made another $32 million this weekend making a total gross of $264 million which will put it at 23rd on the all time list. The movie needs only to make another $21 million to become the biggest selling R rated movie ever and break into the top 20 all time. I heard commentary on the radio today expecting the movie to finish at number two or three on the all time list ahead of E.T. or Star Wars.
Looking at the list of top movies of all time you can see another example of Hollywood being out of touch. As of today, not a single one of the top 20 movies of all time are rated R. Yet in the 1990's, 55% of all movies released were rated R. Here's an eye opener. In 2003 258 movies were released on video. 122 of them (47%) were rated R. PG-13 came in second with 88 movies released (34%).
Well, maybe some movie studios are getting smarter. Disney and Walden Media are going to release C.S. Lewis children's classic story "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" in December of 2005.
Looking at the list of top movies of all time you can see another example of Hollywood being out of touch. As of today, not a single one of the top 20 movies of all time are rated R. Yet in the 1990's, 55% of all movies released were rated R. Here's an eye opener. In 2003 258 movies were released on video. 122 of them (47%) were rated R. PG-13 came in second with 88 movies released (34%).
Well, maybe some movie studios are getting smarter. Disney and Walden Media are going to release C.S. Lewis children's classic story "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" in December of 2005.
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