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December 31, 2005

Happy New Year 2006

Just wanted to say Happy New Year to everyone.

Here's hoping that we all have a great year, that we're all in good health (including our families), and that we continued to find what we seek within our own lives & help our friends/family find what they seek in theirs.

The Mad Mikey family will be traveling to Scripps Ranch (a whole whopping six miles away) to help some friends of ours drink their liquor and usher in the new year in a festive manner. Hopefully, everyone else here will be having a good time as well.

As I remember the extreme fun I had on the Fourth of July drinking several Mike's Hard Lemonades, I will probably not be indulging/imbibing but will instead have fun at the expense of others at the party that will be drinking; there is nothing more hilarious than to throw calculus problems at people when they hammered...

See you all in 2006!


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December 30, 2005

Reach out and Touch Someone

Just got off the phone from talking to my older brother Scott and thought I'd post something about it.

We hadn't heard from him for several years and my brother was feeling severely guilty about it. 'Don't worry about it - we all get tied up in our own little world of stress and it will preoccupy you always' I basically told him and I meant it. As I'm sure most will agree, there are times when your world gets cluttered with daily dramas that eat up your time and attention; we think I've got to call so-and-so many times in a day or during the week and remember to do it when it's like 11:00 pm in San Diego and they're on the East Coast. It's not a question of whether someone is or isn't on your mind, it's just a matter of the following-through to reach out and call them.

We talked for a while and I'm glad he called since I've been a bum and kept forgetting to call him. I told him of seeing the Blue Angels flying at MCAS MIramar this past October and thinking about our Dad during the whole show.

He's living in Virginia and has been a bit under-the-weather - dealing with health issues. We were able to comisurate about being sick and trying to get along in life while dealing with feeling crappy.

I'll be sending along photos to him of the sister-in-law that he's never met and of the niece that he's never seen.


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December 29, 2005

Don't Drink & Legislate

Sen. Cedillo says, 'This is the year'
Will eighth time be the charm for driver's license bill?

Legislation to grant California driver's licenses to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants will be pushed in 2006 for the eighth year in a row - and this time the iron is hot for success, its author contends.

"The dynamics have changed dramatically, and in our favor," said Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles.

Cedillo said the new bill will be very similar to Senate Bill 60, vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October.

California's political scene has shifted significantly since then, Cedillo said, citing three examples:

  1. All four of Schwarzenegger's government "reform" proposals were defeated in the Nov. 8 special election, prompting the governor to reach out to Democratic leaders.

  2. A shake-up of Schwarzenegger's top-level Cabinet elevated Republicans Fred Aguiar and Dan Dunmoyer, and Democrats Susan Kennedy and Daniel Zingale, all of whom Cedillo says are pragmatic, knowledgeable and not closed-minded on the issue.

  3. Even in conservative districts, voters are becoming less extremist, as evidenced by the recent Orange County election of state Sen. John Campbell, R-Irvine, over Jim Gilchrist to fill a vacant congressional seat, Cedillo said.
Ummm, Gil? You still have to get Governor Schwarzenegger to sign this bill to get it made into law. And the last time I heard from the Governator, he wasn't flinching on his position on this matter.

Besides, even if it was signed into law, it would conflict with Federal law, but I don't think your teeny-tiny brain got that far in thinking this all the way through - even after eight years.

Gil, you do know that mixing perscription drugs and alcohol is a major NO-NO, right?


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Revenge of 'News You Can Use'

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December 27, 2005

New Avatar

Nicely glommed from The Hungarian Barbarian


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Hero's Funeral Protested

For the most part, I am tolerant of people protesting whatever half-baked, psycho is near-n-dear to their hearts.

For the most part and these twerps are the exception:

Hateful Protesters Show Up at Fallen Soldiers Funeral

He died because he was trying to make a difference, and being a soldier was what was making a difference in this time of life.

"You know, I wanted him to go to college first. But he signed up without me knowing. He was a very strong-willed person. I admired him."

Jose Navarro,
Peter Navarro’s father
at the funeral of his son
December 23, 2005

Army Spc. Peter Navarro long ago made peace with the brutal reality of war. On Friday, his friends and family were forced to make peace with it, laying him to rest among a sea of white tombstones at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Navarro, 20, was killed Dec. 13 outside Baghdad in Iraq. The Wildwood resident was among a group of soldiers killed by an explosion while on patrol.

On Friday, the Army presented to Navarro's parents three medals for their son: the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. The commendations only confirmed what the couple already knew - that their son died a hero.

Army Spc. Peter Navarro died a hero but that didn't stop some hateful nuts from protesting his funeral.

On Friday, December 23, 2005, when Specialist Navarro was laid to rest, hate-filled protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka Kansas showed up to picket.

A protestor from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas outside the funeral service of fallen soldier Peter Navarro of Wildwood. (KMOV)

The Westboro Baptist Church showed up to picket the funeral of St. Louis hero, Army Spc. Peter Navarro because "The government is tolerant of homosexuals!"

On Friday morning they chose the funeral of Army Specialist Peter Navarro to make their message heard.

About twenty church members marched in front of St. Claire of Assisi Church in Ellisville Friday morning.

Some of their signs are too graphic to be shown on television, but their point is simple. They say U. S. soldiers are being killed in Iraq because the government is tolerant of homosexuals.

A counter protest staged by a veterans group and other religious leaders shielded the funeral procession so the signs would not offend them.

This is exactly the type of behavior that causes buttmunches like these people to get their asses handed to them.

If Fred Phelps and his Tasmanian Fu*k-Nuggets want to protest about the war, homosexuals, or whatever they deem 'B-A-D' - fine, great, have at it.

But when a protest crosses the line and infringes on the family's grief, that's when I have no problem WHAT-SO-EVER with bikers showing up to stomp their heads into the ground.

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December 26, 2005

Christmas Present Good vs. Bad, Part I

Good: New phone with new phone service cause Cingular sucks massive amounts of ass.

Bad: Entering 98 phone numbers by hand from old phone to new phone.





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December 25, 2005

Hanukkah 2005

Almost forgot to say Happy Hanukkah to everyone that honors it.

With my limited knowledge of Judiasm and Hanukkah, I do believe that tonight is the first of eight nights where a candle on the family menorah and the family celebrates.

Like I said, my knowledge is limited but from the way that Jews celebrate it, it's a great tradition that binds the family together.....it looks like it's got all the joy and happiness of Christmas - but spread over eight days.

Happy Hanukkah!


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Twas the Night Before Christmas

This is something that I heard (in one variation or another) on the radio last night as I was finishing up wrapping presents.

I seem to recall hearing this last year and now, as then, it caused me to get misty-eyed.



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Christmas 2005

Unless something really, really, rediculously interesting comes up, I'll be off-line for Christmas.

I hope that everyone reading this has an enjoyable Christmas filled with joy, love, family & friends, and laughter. May Santa jam a buttload of presents under the tree for you and here's giving you tolerance to deal with those relatives (from out-of-town) that insist on talking politics with you when they're 180 degrees out of sync with your notions of what-is-what.

I myself will be bascially 'chilling out' on Christmas Day and we'll be heading over to the father-in-law's house for dinner. (This I like because we get to trash someone else's house for a change....just kidding).

Merry Christmas and have a great New Year!!

UPDATE: As of around 2:00 pm PST Christmas Eve, Drudge has switched over to more cheerful colors - red & green!


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December 24, 2005

The Present of Life

An incredibly cool ting to do for Christmas:

U.S. Sailor Donates Kidney to Foster Mother

RAHWAY, N.J. -- An ailing woman who has sheltered dozens of foster children over the years received an early Christmas gift from one of them: a donated kidney.

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First Present

My friend Elly dropped by last night right as I got home from dialysis - she brought presents for the family and my present was ultimately cool: a Pilot Serrated knife made by Buck Knives.

I had been without a pocket knife for a while since I lost my last one - most likely at dialysis. This one is beyond cool - very solid construction, the blade is semi-locked in place when folded (no accidental openings) and it's just beyond cool.

Nothing says 'Christmas' like someone getting you something that you'll not only appreciate but use daily.


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December 23, 2005

Irony Alert!

Irony Alert!!

Iraqis March to Denounce Election Results

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Protesters gathered across the country Friday to denounce parliamentary elections that demonstrators called rigged in favor of the main religious Shiite coalition.

In Baghdad, unknown assailants kidnapped a Sudanese diplomat and five other men as they left prayers at a mosque, a spokesman for Sudan's Foreign Ministry said. An Iraqi Foreign Ministry official said he had not heard of the abduction.

As many as 20,000 people demonstrated after noon prayers in southern Baghdad Friday in a protest organized by Sunni Arab groups and attended by representatives of secular Shia parties.

Many Iraqis outside the religious Shiite coalition allege that the elections were unfair to smaller Sunni Arab and secular Shiite groups.

"We refuse the cheating and forgery in the elections," read one banner among many decrying the elections.

The irony is that this display of electorial 'outrage' would not have been tolerated when Saddam was in power....will anyone who opposed OIF take note of this? Doubtful.


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The Tookie Defense

John Bergstrom nails the 'Tookie is Innocent' coffin shut:


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December 22, 2005

Of Vomit and News

Spent another six hours in Urgent Care last night and almost got admitted for this sinus infection that's kicking my ass. Three-plus weeks of migrain headaches and enough nausea to power a tug boat....just wonderful.

Since I'm not in pain or puking for the moment, here are a few interesting items I've spotted in the news.

Enjoy!


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Christmas at Arlington

Michelle Malkin points the way to a photo that will make you misty eyed. I know I got that way because my father is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Merry Christmas Dad....we miss you.

(Original link to Jake at Freedom Folks)


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December 20, 2005

Weasel Time

H.RES.579

Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for those who celebrate Christmas.

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected.

Whereas Christmas is a national holiday celebrated on December 25; and

Whereas the Framers intended that the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States would prohibit the establishment of religion, not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives --

  1. recognizes the importance of the symbols and traditions of Christmas ;

  2. strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas ; and

  3. expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions.

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Exsqueeze Me?

Mexico Retaliates for Border Wall Plan

MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government, angered by a U.S. proposal to extend a wall along the border to keep out migrants, has struck back with radio ads urging Mexican workers to denounce rights violations in the United States. Facing a growing tide of anti-immigrant sentiment north of the border, the Mexican government is also hiring an American public relations firm to improve its image.

Mexican President Vicente Fox denounced the U.S. measures, passed by the House of Representatives on Friday, as "shameful" and his foreign secretary, Luis Ernesto Derbez, said Monday the wall was "stupid."

Uh-oh - they're going to get Mexicans to 'denounce rights violations' here in the good ole U.S.A.

Hmmm....maybe they could also get those same Mexicans to denounce violations of a nation's sovereign borders.

When I initiially saw the headline I was wondering What - they're going to NOT cross the border to get back at American business? No such luck.

I remember the *cough* threats of Mexicans boycotting businesses here in San Diego right around when Prop 187 was being discussed; the 'word-on-the-street' was that if 187 passed that many, many, MANY Mexicans would not cross the border to do Christmas shopping.

Well....Prop 187 passed and the Mexicans still came to but Christmas stuff for their kids. So much for getting a spine of some sort to fight 'racism' & 'inposing a wall of hate'.

Keep whining Mexico - it makes for interesting headlines.


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December 19, 2005

Random Thoughts

Just thought I'd post something inane to use the new graphic that I've imported from All Free Backgrounds.

Been sick for the last two weeks - got the 'creeping crud' from someone...

Got Christmas stuff all set up in the house....now I just have to populate the bottom of it with presents, i.e., still have to do Christmas shopping and I'm seriously not looking forward to it.

Does anyone know how to get a mini-photo/graphic to 'pop up' when you move your mouse over a segment of text? Go check out Yahoo News to see what I'm talking about....

Going to go to dialysis now - it sucks ass, but it is a method to keep my butt alive.

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News You Can Use

News You Can Use - Part 334, Section 6B, Subsection (iii):

  • I'm a day or two late, but this past weekend marked the 102nd anniversary of the first powered flight by the Wright Brothers in 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

  • This is what happens when you attempt to 'secularize' a Christmas event.

  • Woody Allen admits he sucks.

  • Here's a round-up of some of the more....psycho stories of 2005.

  • This is something that was a long time in coming to the 'fore-front' of public discussion....

  • Here is a harbinger of doom to some on the left-side of the political spectrum...

  • Saddam Hussein starts using 'blame-the-other-guy' tactics in court.

  • Teen smoking is reportedly down, but we're still getting taxed to death here in California to 'help teens not start smoking'....

  • Nevada Senator Harry Reid seems to have forgotten the old axiom of when you point a finger at someone that you're got three pointing back at you....


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Thank a Soldier Week

Bringing this Forward...

Thank a Soldier Week

American soldiers are risking their lives all over the globe defending America's interests and defending the freedoms that many of us take for granted. During Thank a Soldier Week (December 19-25), Townhall.com is encouraging Americans to stop for a moment and give thanks to the men and women risking everything for us.

Do it. Do it now, do it often.

Here's what I wrote just now:

Dear Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, or Guardsman,

I and my family just want to say THANK YOU for all of your service to this nation.

I'm a Navy veteran and I know that having someone take the time to simply say 'thank you' means a lot to me and to you.

We hope that this finds you in pleasant spirits - especially since you cannot be with your family for Christmas.

God Bless, take care, be safe, and never EVER forget that the American people are behind you 100%!!


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December 18, 2005

Sharon Falls Ill

PM recovers from mild stroke, saying 'Time to move forward (kadima)'

While recovering from a mild stroke on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon joked with his medical and office staff, telling them that they "are not rid of him yet." He added in a bit of self-humor that he thought he should take a few days off. Using a double entendre on the name of his new political party Kadima (forward in Hebrew), he quipped that he felt fine, and that the time had arrived to move forward.

Here's hoping that Prime Minister Sharon has a speedy recovery.

UPDATE: It's nice to see that some people are also thinking 'nice thoughts' for the prime minister....I've changed my mind: let's give the Palestinians a state of their own!....screw them. When they start acting like a civlized people deserving of a state of their own, then we'll talk. Until then, let them live like semi-civilized chimps in a zoo.


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Post Christmas Pary Report

We had a Christmas party last night.

Almost all of the invited guests showed up and that's good considering that I made the invitation calls just five days in advance.

My wife put out a spread of food that was quite frankly too much.

A group of us and guests went Christmas carolling at a retirement home in downtown La Jolla. Even if we didn't sing that great, the people that came out of their rooms were all wearing smiles.

Our guests had a great time - I say great because we had one couple leave to go to a San Diego Gulls hockey game and returned later. Additionally, most people stayed until 4:00 am - I had gone to bed around midnight cause I wasn't feeling too hot.

I was a sucess because everyone was drinking and having a great time chatting with our other guests; everyone was invited to a New Year's bash that the Mad Mikey family was going to attend.....my wife told some of the guests about the long process of my trying to get a kidney transplant (I usually don't spout off about my medical problems to everyone I meet....too much to tell and I don't like 'whining' about it. But the end result is that three of our guests are going to make initial inquires about being possible donors.

The only ones who didn't enjoy the party were my cats: they hid under our bed all night.

My wife also made some new business contacts - mostly mutual friends of some of the guests that are looking for some sort of insurance. Still: networking is networking.

So today, the entire family is going into 'lazy bum' mode. We'll mostly sit around and veg out - the wife and kid are going to snuggy up our bed and watch a DVD on my notebook. Hell, even the cats are going into 'lazy bum' mose.

And me? I'll probably get all propped up in my 'comfy chair' and watch some Sci Fi Channel or maybe something on the History Channel - stuff that the rest of the family consider 'boring'....


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December 16, 2005

A Non-Issue in his Mind

Spotted this over at La Shawn Barber's blog this morning:

Morgan Freeman: Black History Month is "ridiculous"

It’s a little early for Black History Month, but I thought I’d share. I don’t really like actor Morgan Freeman, but I wouldn’t mind having a cup of coffee with him as long as he’s saying things like this:

"I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history..."

The notion of a special month for black history may be hurting rather than helping efforts for racial equality, Freeman believes. When Wallace wonders whether racist attitudes may be harder to eradicate without the education that Black History Month provides, Freeman retorts: "How are we going to get rid of racism? Stop talking about it!" (SOURCE)

Yeah, right. I wish it were so, Mr. Freeman. But the "civil rights" hustle industry isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Its race-baiters workers aren't about to give it up and get real jobs. They'll make sure we all keep talking about it. An honest day's work (for a change) would do their souls good, but hey, race baiters have to pay the bills, too, don't they?

Also see What Black History Month means to me.
Note: I forgot to link to the source earlier.
Addendum: I take it back! I liked Freeman in Glory and on The Electric Company kids' show.

I myself have always loved Morgan Freeman's performances and as La Shawn says: Morgan in right. Race isn't an issue for the most part unless you bring it into the conversation under other than contextual circumstances.

Personally, I've never really batted an eye one way or the other when 'Black History Month' is upon us. If anything, I've always learned something 'new' about black history that I didn't know before; I walk away feeling better that I learned something and I integrate it into my vocabulary and how I accord myself in life.

Morgan's statement(s) are indicative of someone striving to treat everyone he meets as an equal. What he said cannot be made any simpler: you don't refer to people as 'that black person so-and-so' or 'that white chick blah-blah-blah - you call them by name, not by their ethnic background.

It still boggles me that while I strive to treat people equally on every basis that there are still some that work to push a distinction into your face at every waking moment. It's the hypocrisy that boggles me: on one hand, there are groups that beg, scream, plead, and demand that they be treated 'just like everyone else' and yet they also want to be singled out for that very distinction like it's some sort of special label that entitles them to special treatment.


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Red Herring Panic

I saw this over at Michelle Malkin's blog - a story about the White House authorizing what boils down to illegal wiretaps/phonetaps.

I thought to myself Uh-ohhh - the barking moonbats will be screaming about this for months. and then thought Have to wait and see what this is all about after the dust settles as there is always a 'jump to conclusions' when some big story like this breaks.

I then went over to Drudge Report to see if it had been updated and found this:

As I initially suspected, this 'story' isn't really anything earth-shattering - it's just a warm-up teaser for another 'tell-all' book.

Leave it to the NYT to shill for another author that will attempt to push another 'police state' theory-gone-true....yet another reason that:

  1. More and more people are getting tired of the same 'Bush Lied - People Died' mantra coming from the supposed 'neutral' media.

  2. Newspapers are losing readers for crap exactly like this.

  3. Internet news is becoming more and more sought after - if not for the 'neutral' bias that people hope to find in the news media, then for the sheer fact that people are seeking confirmation on the credibility of stories such as this.

  4. People are becoming tired of biased media.
The surprising thing is that Drudge ran with the initial story as it was vomited out by the NYT. It's surprising because Drudge goes through some sort of confirmation process to avoid crap like this.

Hmmm....maybe he's not feeling good today. At least he's big enough to fess up to the mistake/error and put the real reason(s) behind the initial story out for the public to see instead of pulling some sort of 'fake, but accurate' crap like CBS News did.


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December 15, 2005

M*A*S*H Trivia

For some reason, I've been watching re-runs of M*A*S*H on the Hallmark Channel every night.

This morning, I was checking out some acting credits on IMDB about the show and found some interesting trivia:

  • Jamie Farr and Alan Alda were the only two cast members to actually serve in the U.S. Army - Alda was a gunnery officer in Korea after the 1953 Armistice and Farr was stationed in Japan during the Korean War.

  • Alan Alda's contract stated that there had to be one surgery scene for each episode filmed.

  • After the news of Col. Blake's death shocked the world, the very next night on "The Carol Burnett Show" (1967), the opening shot was of "Henry Blake" in a smoking raft, waving his arms, hollering, "I'm OK!" I'm OK!"

  • Frank Burns had three middle names during his time on the show: W., Marion and D.

  • Frank Burns' nickname "Ferret Face" came from his brother; he mentioned it to Hawkeye and Trapper John once, during a rare drinking binge, and they never forgot it. (Even BJ's first words to Burns when they met were "What say, Ferret Face?")

  • Colonel Potter was a cavalry officer during the first world war.

    (Actually, he was an enlisted man during WWI - when his character was introduced, he showed Radar his Good Conduct Medal and pointed out that only enlisted men could get them.)

  • McLean Stevenson, who played Lt. Col. Henry Blake, died of a heart attack on 15 February 1996. The next day, 16 February, Roger Bowen, who played Lt. Col. Henry Blake in the movie, died of the same cause.

  • While he never played an instrument in any episode, one of Major Burns' prized possessions was a white award Bible he won for playing organ.


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December 14, 2005

Blog Housekeeping

I've updated/modified the 'Links' section over on the right-hand side - mostly removing links that are dead (my definition of dead is no update in over two months).

If anyone comes across a dead/inactive link, let me know. If I've de-linked you and you feel that your site is still 'operational', drop me a line and I'll put it back up.

SIDE NOTE: I've only purposefully de-linked one person because they were IMO acting like an ass-hatted clown and that was Maria; she was (and still is I suppose) suffering from BDS and the 'sheer horror' that happened in New Orleans and wasn't keen on allowing anyone to contradict her. Hey - her blog, her perogative.....but it's intellecutally dishonest IMO.

Also, if anyone thinks that there's a link that should be included, let me know again; I'll check it out and see if it's something IMHO that deserves a link.....it's not like I've got people flooding my e-mail with recommendations you know....


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Iraqi Elections

One of the infamous chants that the anti-war/anti-Bush/anti-intelligence crowd likes to use is 'This is what democracy looks like!'.

Bullshit.

THIS is what democracy looks like.

And so does this - and how about this?

I'm no expert on the definition of 'democracy', but it would appear that these are pretty decent examples that refute the 'spread of imperialism' that the United States is supposedly subjecting the Iraqi people to....


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Fun with Audacity

Since I'm not in school for the moment, I'm taking advantage of the 'free time' to indulge in a little......silliness. Part of that 'silliness' is messing around with sound files using Audacity.

Check out Howard Dean as I imagine his voice in a surrealistic nightmare: Howie the Monster (MP3 file format)...


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December 13, 2005

Tookie Time

Convicted killer Williams put to death in Calif.

SAN FRANCISCO - Convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams, the Crips gang co-founder whose case stirred a national debate about capital punishment versus the possibility of redemption, was executed Tuesday morning.

Williams, 51, died at 12:35 a.m. after receiving a lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison, officials said. Before the execution, he was "complacent, quiet and thoughtful," Corrections Department spokeswoman Terry Thornton said.

I was thinking that he'd try to pull some sort of 'death chamber rebellion' to show that he's a 'remade man' and that he's fighting for his life. Apparently, he went into chill mode and faced his execution like a man.

Of course, now this 'man' is DEAD. And as I said to a friend via e-mail this afternoon:

We watched FoxNews last night for what I called 'Tookie Time' - 12:01 am and it ended 34 minutes later with one scumbag removed from the gene pool on this planet.

Do I shed any tears? Only for the victims that weren't given a chance to plea for clemency....

So.....I won't say 'rest in peace Tookie' - not now. Instead, I'll instead be touting this execution as proof-positive that there is some amount of justice in the world. And I'll be wishing Tookie an eternity of anguish in Hell as he becomes Satans 'fluffer' and has pineapples shoved up his ass - sideways - until the end of time.

Tookie is dead. He deserved it. His execution will be a harbinger of things-to-come for those that decide that they're gonna take another person's life without a geniune reason: murder someone and you will die.

Any questions?

Michelle Malkin has a huge round-up about 'Tookie Time' - check it out.

UPDATE: The 'Save Tookie' lemmings are going to continue to prove Tookie was innocent much like O.J. Simpson was going to find the 'real killers'. I wonder if they'll keep going even if the money dries up.....?

UPDATE II: Zoombie has some intersesting photos along with on-hand information/insight about the Tookie lemmings that protested outside of San Quentin last night.


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December 11, 2005

RIP Richard Pryor

Pioneering Comedian Richard Pryor Dies

LOS ANGELES - Richard Pryor startled audiences with his foul-mouthed routines, but his universal and frequently personal insights propelled him into one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

The pioneering comedian, whose audacious style influenced generations of standup artists, died Saturday of a heart attack at age 65, said his business manager, Karen Finch. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous system.

"By expressing his heart, anger and joy, Richard Pryor took comedy to its highest form," Steve Martin said.

A series of hit comedies and concert films in the '70s and '80s helped make Pryor one of Hollywood's highest paid stars, and he was one of the first black performers with enough leverage to cut his own deals. In 1983, he signed a $40 million, five-year contract with Columbia Pictures.

His films included "Stir Crazy," "Silver Streak," "Which Way Is Up?" and "Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip."

My wife and I still quote Richard Pryor when he talked about seeing a dense gazelle being taken down by a cheetah while on a safari in Africa:
Cheetah!

What'd you say?!

Cheetah!

Say What?

CHEE-TAH!!!

Rest in Peace Richard - like most gifted people who brought humor and laughter to millions and enjoyed doing it, you will be missed.


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TIck Tock, Tick Tock

Still waiting for Governor Schwarzenegger to make a decision on Stanley 'Tookie" Williams plea for clemency.

I'm wondering if the governor will take the pleas for 'clemency' from the four victims murdered wtih a shotgun made to Tookie into account.

And here's something that can be classified 'from the mouths of babes': the other night I was listening to The John & Ken Show on KFI 640 from Los Angeles and they were talking about Tookie. My kid listened to this stuff for a few minutes and asked me about it. I explained what I knew about the case and what was happening now with Tookie's asking for clemency.

My daughter got a thoughtful look on her face and said: 'Well, he killed some people and has to pay for it. It's not right to kill people and he deserves his punishment' Like I said - a wisdom years ahead of her time.

And before anyone spouts off about my 'polluting' her mind with conservative 'garbage', I'll tell you this: I always - always preface anything I tell my kid with the fact that I'm telling her my opinion versus the fact(s) of a situation. My wife and I work overtime to ensure that she knows what-is-what as opposed to what we think about any specific situation. This is probably the one thing that worries me about raising a child in this day & age: making sure that she can think for herself instead of simply parroting what is blathered about in the media.

In any case, here (once again) is what I'm hoping the governor will say to Tookie:


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December 08, 2005

Odds-N-Ends

Couple of things that I have been mulling about today:

  • Want to see something that will make your heart swell with pride? Check out these 'Get Well' cards that a Brownie troop in Texas put together for a wounded OIF verteran in Walter Reed Hospital.

  • Smash isn't messing around when he issues a call to arms. I plan on following through this afternoon when I get home from work (the boss isn't too keen on this type of stuff happening here at work even though he understands why).

  • Finals are over and I managed to stave-off a heart attack during the last exam.

  • I have an HTML coding problem that I've trying to figure out: check out the Yahoo News page. You see how when you do a 'rollover' on a story link that a mini pop-up window appears?

    How can I get that to work here? That is: when you 'mouseover' a link, you get a picture to pop up?

    I know (and verified) how to make one picture turn into another picture - check out my photo over on the right - but what about getting a link to do the same thing?


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December 07, 2005

Never Forget

Photos from U.S. Naval Historical Archives

Sixty-four years ago, on December 7th, 1941, the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on American air & naval forces in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Over 2,400 American soldiers, sailors, Marines, and civilians were killed - just under 1,200 were wounded.

The American public seathed with an anger the likes of which had never been seen before. They swore to strike back at the Japanese, to make them pay - pay dearly - to never, ever forget who they had provoked and who would crush their nation.

As with most wounds, time has eased the pain that those survivors still feel. The Japanese learned from their mistake and have paid for their error in judgement. They've become one of our closest allies since 1945. But they'll never forget just who crushed them in just three years & nine months after being attacked.

The Japanese people, while they don't like to talk about it, haven't forgotten what happened 64 years ago. Neither have the remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack.

And neither should you.


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December 06, 2005

Wait Till the Cows Come Home

Theron and Townsend plan a wedding

Hot Hollywood couple Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend are planning to wed the day it becomes legal for gays and lesbians to wed across America.

The longtime couple are tired of being asked about their marriage plans so they've come up with a novel line to keep the press happy.

Theron tells US news show Extra: "We came up with a new idea that we said that we would get married the day that gays and lesbians can get married - when that right is given to them.

"We've decided that we're gonna use that in a positive way, so the day that law gets passed then we'll get married."

Charlize is gonna be waiting a long time I think. But that's okay - she can occupy her time like she usually does these days.

But, I have a couple of phrases to impart to Charlize about waiting for gay marriage to become law here in the United States: common-law spouse and palimony.


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Dean's Message of Doom

Dean: US Won't Win in Iraq

(SAN ANTONIO) -- Saying the "idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong," Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean predicted today that the Democratic Party will come together on a proposal to withdraw National Guard and Reserve troops immediately, and all US forces within two years.

"I've seen this before in my life. This is the same situation we had in Vietnam. Everybody then kept saying, 'just another year, just stay the course, we'll have a victory.' Well, we didn't have a victory, and this policy cost the lives of an additional 25,000 troops because we were too stubborn to recognize what was happening."

And the Dems keep scratching their heads as to why they're always loosing elections....

UPDATE: Thought I'd drop a message to Dean on the DNC website. Here's what I said:

Read More of "Dean's Message of Doom"

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Final Exams Update

Well, today is the day that I have all of my final exams.

At 11:30am, it's Physics 160 - Stellar Astrophysics where I'll be turning in my paper on radio telescopes and doing my PowerPoint presentation. The paper and the presentation are ready.....that's the easy part of today.

At 2:30pm, the final for ECE 102 - Intro to Analog Electronic Circuits starts. This is the one that I'm sort of dreading as:

  1. The material is challenging and there's a ton to be covered,
  2. The professor is IMO a jerk, and
  3. The professor is still a jerk.
It's not that I have an 'attitude' about this class - just the professor. Maybe this guy will indeed perform as others who've taken his classes before: he'll make the final exam easier than expected and grade on a gracious scale. I hope so....

And after this day ends, all I really have to worry about is getting ready for Christmas.


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December 05, 2005

Filner is Squeaky Clean?

Got wind of this just this morning and thought I'd take 10 minutes out of my cramming for finals to showcase this South Bay scumbag:

Lawmaker keeps wife on payroll

U.S. Rep. Bob Filner has paid at least $505,000 in campaign funds to his wife for political consulting services since 1995. For the past five years she has run her unregistered business out of their condominium in Washington, D.C.

Filner has properly reported the payments to his wife's business, called Campaign Resources, on his campaign statements. He also has filed annual financial disclosure reports stating that his wife earns an undisclosed salary as a "self-employed consultant."

However, the District of Columbia government has no record of Campaign Resources existing as a business, and directory assistance has no phone listing for that name.

With no public records linking Jane Filner to her company, Bob Filner's constituents have no way of knowing that some of his campaign contributions are finding their way into his household's income.

Asked to prove the existence of his wife's business, Filner's campaign provided faxed copies of a blank check from an account at SunTrust bank and a sheet of Campaign Resources letterhead with an outdated address and phone number.

It is illegal to spend campaign funds for personal use, but it is not illegal to use them to pay family members who provide "bona fide services" at fair-market value. Still, election watchdogs question the way the Filners set up their arrangement.

Okay, one question that pops into my mind: WTF!?!

This is the kind of crap that initially steered prosecutors to Randy 'Duke' Cunningham and his taking of bribes; not so much this 'mystery' consulting firm, but the whole stink of the situation.

Filner has got a metric ton of explaining to do and quite possibly be brought up on charges of improper campaign financial dealings, especially since he's the type of jerk to jump up and down if this were pinned to a Republican representative.


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December 03, 2005

Stealing Their Thunder

Our anti-victory friends from CODEPINK are at it again. They've resumed their monthly protests outside Balboa Naval Hospital, in an effort to demoralize the local military community.

Once again, we will steal their thunder.

WHO: San Diego Protest Warrior, and anyone else who wants to come.

WHAT: A demonstration of gratitude and support for our military.

WHEN: Sunday, December 4 -- 11:30am - 1:30pm

WHERE: Corner of Park Blvd. & Presidents Way, Balboa Park (plenty of parking available)

HOW: With flags and signs expressing our appreciation and gratitude for our military and their families.

WHY: Because they want us to fail, and we are committed to victory.

Any San Diegans that would like to join us are more than welcome! And even though I'll be really, really, ridiculously busy prepping for final exams next week, I'll be there.

See you there!

UPDATE: The operation went as planned. We arrived early and claimed first one, then two corners.

CodePink arrived late (as usual) and proceeded to stand and gawk at us as if they didn't know what to make of SDPW stealing their thunder.....which they didn't.

Read More of "Stealing Their Thunder"

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Crab Nebula

Thought I'd put up a new photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope of the Crab Nebula since it's chock-full-of-geekiness....and since I'm working (or will be shortly) on a paper about radio telescopes and the prospect of creating an antenna for a VLBI array that will make HST pale in comparison.

Of course - this is what looks good on paper mind you....


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December 02, 2005

Christmas Party

I heard something similar on the radio this morning as I drove into work.

I'm sure this has been recycled numerous times since it's original inception, but it's still funny as it really does indeed reflect the psychosis brought on by trying to be politically correct in this day & age.

It's also another positive affirmation in my desire to get a degree in engineering and to not work in such positions as this one.

December 1 Memo

FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
DATE: December 1
RE: Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will be held on December 23rd at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue. There will be lots of spiked eggnog and a small band will play traditional carols...feel free to sing-along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus to light the Christmas tree.

Exchanging gifts among employees can be done at this time. Please remember to keep gifts to the agreed $10 limit.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

December 2 Memo

FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
DATE: December 2
RE: Christmas Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday and often coincides with Christmas (although not this year). However, from now on we're calling this party our Holiday Party. The same policy also applies to employees who are celebrating Kwanzaa at this time. There will be no tree or Christmas carols sung.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

Read More of "Christmas Party"

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December 01, 2005

Entry 800

This is my 800th entry on this blog.

That's it.

I just wanted to post about my posting my 800th entry.

You can go about your business.....

.....well, since you are still reading this, I have a question: I have a silly project that I'd like to blog about but I'm in need of someone that can Photoshop someting really, really, ridiculously good-looking.

If you can help me out, please contact me. It won't earn money and it's just for my amusement, but the help would be appreciated.


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About Me

Who is Mikey?
Mikey playing with digital camera

Mikey is a forty-something U.S. Navy veteran that is currently taking a break from being a full-time student at UC San Diego studying electrical engineering.

He's also a husband, a father, a former Independent/Democrat and is currently dealing with dialysis and getting on the national kidney transplant list.

The words written here are his opinions and his observations on the stupid things in life. If you do not like them or do not agree with them: tough squishies. In America, you're entitled to Freedom of Speech not Freedom to Not Be Offended.

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