Admiral Sir John's Readyroom

An open letter to the United States Senate

2012-01-18T11:21:00.001-05:00

Stardate 66051.1

I am writing to you as a voter in your district. I urge you to vote "no" on cloture for S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act, on Jan. 24th. The PROTECT IP Act is dangerous, ineffective, and short-sighted. It does not deserve floor consideration. I urge my representative to vote "no" on SOPA, the corresponding House bill.

Over coming days you'll be hearing from the many businesses, advocacy organizations, and ordinary Americans who oppose this legislation because of the myriad ways in which it will stifle free speech and innovation. We hope you'll take our concerns to heart and oppose this legislation by voting "no" on cloture.

---

SOPA and PIPA are so badly and broadly written that it would allow the government to censor the Internet in ways used only by totalitarian regimes. Should this pass, the world will be imprisoned by the Great Firewall of America.

This is not opinion. It is truth. SOPA AND PIPA MUST BE STOPPED!

At the end of 2011…

2011-12-31T21:55:00.001-05:00

Stardate 66003.0

Well, here we are, at the end of another year.

Last year, I posted a short look back at 2010. 2011 wasn’t all that much different, though there were a few notable events.

I took a trip to New York City, the first since I was a boy. I also met several of the friends I made through being a fan of Fox News. Overall, I enjoyed it much more than I expected to.

But the New York Subway System has too many stairs for its own good.

We lost some good people and took out some bad ones. Good stuff happened and bad stuff happened.

My computer died and was reborn, my PDA died and I bought a Blackberry to replace it.

Ultimately, I have say it the same way I said it last year. There were some good days, but, for the most part, 2011 sucked as bad as 2010 did.

Here’s hoping 2012 will be better.

Have a Happy New Year, if you can…

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

My baby’s home!

2011-10-14T09:39:00.001-04:00

Stardate 65787.8

Well, my computer has finally come back from being serviced, and it works quite well.

Windows 7 Ultimate (up from Vista Home Premium) is amazing, and runs almost everything even better than it did before.

Of course, there were a couple of hitches, most likely on the part of either UPS (which I used to send the computer out) or FedEx (which was used to send it back).

The lower left corner, at the back, looks like someone dropped it on a hard surface, and the 3.5 inch bays were mounted crookedly (the bottom brackets had been screwed down, but were so bent out of alignment that the tabs on the top of the assembly weren’t in the slots in the bottom of the 5.25 inch bay stack).

As for Windows itself, I’m amazed how quickly it boots. While XP and Vista took as much as two or three minutes from POST to desktop, Windows 7 is up within 30 seconds.

The only major glitch I’ve found so far is in Windows Media Center. While it plays DVDs beautifully (which was the main reason for having it), it won’t play TV. I can’t watch my cable TV through it because I don’t have an IR receiver (actually, I do, but WMC won’t recognize it for TV, despite the fact that it uses it) and I can’t watch Internet TV because it won’t play Flash-based video (the screen goes black, with only the mouse pointer and controls showing, and even blacker when they’re hidden).

But the machine works again, and that’s what’s most important.

Of course, with the new motherboard, I’ll be able to expand the memory. Though the first step is to replace the existing two 2GB cut-rate crap modules with a single 4GB quality memory module. I’ve decided on one from G.Skill, which can be had for around $80 on NewEgg. It’ll be twice as fast as the existing memory, too! If they weren’t so expensive, I’d up it to 8GB modules, for a total of 32GB, but cost will limit me to 4GB modules, for a total of 16GB.

Still, stuff like Lightwave should absolutely fly…

All in all, I’m very happy with the results.

Now I just have to wait for Star Trek Online to go Free to Play…

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

Update on life’s happenings…

2011-09-01T00:52:00.001-04:00

Stardate 65669.0

It’s been a while since I’ve updated this blog, so I figured I ought to let those who follow this, but not Facebook or the Star Trek Photo-Manipulation Archive, know what’s been happening.

As of early July, I am living without a gallbladder. The surgery (officially known as a Cholecystectomy) was anti-climactic, with the sore throat from being intubated for anesthesia hurting more than any of the incisions.

For those interested, here is a video about the procedure I underwent:

A couple of weeks later, my desktop computer blew its motherboard, and I had to send it to Missouri to have it checked out by a friend of mine. Originally, I thought it was the primary hard drive, but it turns out that was fine.

I’ll be switching to an Athlon II dual core-based system (replacing an Intel Core2Duo), but the new motherboard will have more PCI slots and capability of expanding to 32 GB of DDR2 memory, though I’ll probably only go up to 16 GB, as anything more than a 4 GB module gets prohibitively expensive. The board will, however, take even better chips, right up to AMD’s top of the line Phenom II X6 six-core chip, but, based on reviews, a Phenom II X4 quad-core system will be enough for any applications I may need. Still, I may get the six-core system, just for bragging rights, as the performance falloff isn’t all that much.

In the interim, I’ve been using my Dell netbook, which has limited things somewhat.

Oh, and I’m getting a new phone later today.

I would have gone with something Android powered, but I hate the candybar form. Hopefully, in a couple of years, someone will have come up with a flip-form Android.

I’ll have to get it through Amazon Wireless, though, since Sprint no longer offers it directly.

More updates as things happen…

Oh, and I’m now taking 30 units of Lantus per day.

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it!

A Week in the Big Apple

2011-05-25T13:27:00.004-04:00

Stardate 65399.4
I spent this last week (May 13-20, to be exact) in the city of New York.
Here are a few pictures from that trip. (Click to view the full image.)

This is the platform at Buffalo’s Exchange Street station. The place isn’t very big, as you can see…

Business class is in the back half of the café car, which was at the end of the train.

These were the conductors. They were friendly enough.

This was my seat. It was quite comfortable.

I even got my own power outlet, so I was able to keep my netbook charged.

The train stopped in several cities across New York, such as Rochester…

Utica…

…and Amsterdam, on the way to New York.

Non-alcoholic drinks were complimentary…

…but they were short-rounds.

Finally, I reached New York and met up with some friends…

We stayed out in Jamaica, so our use of the Subway was extensive.

Of course, our first stop was Times Square…

And we went back at night…

We also visited Fox News, which occupies several floors of the News Corporation Building…

And while the others wandered the city, I went to go see the new Hayden Planetarium, in the Rose Center for Earth and Space…

Okay, that last one was from the Roosevelt Rotunda, which was seen in the movie Night at the Museum…

Just outside, I met up with another friend, the famous T.J. McCormack, and his wife, Andrea:

Don’t they make a lovely couple? Their little girl, Millie, is just out of frame to the left.

The next day, we met up with T.J. and another friend, Dr. John Tantillo, at a café called the Evergreen, which is located right next to… you guessed it, Fox News.

Tantillo is the one in the hat.

On our last day in the city, we decided to take the Staten Island Ferry:

Which included wonderful views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island:

And we also visited Ground Zero…

And the small museum they’ve set up there…

These were the ones who never came home…

Finally, I headed back to Buffalo, and saw some remarkable things in the Hudson Valley, which was passed after dark on the way in:

It’s easy to see how Anne McCaffrey imagined Benden Weyr based on these formations…

And there were some cool buildings, too:

Sadly, we were delayed outside Buffalo for nearly an hour because one of the earlier trains had struck and killed a high school student who tried to beat it through a crossing…

So that’s it. Not a whole lot of detail, but plenty of memories, most of which never made it through the camera lens (such as our visit to Dangerfield’s Comedy Club or the Huckabee show)…

An apology to those who said, “It doesn’t hurt”…

2011-04-03T19:03:00.001-04:00

Stardate 65257.8

I owe a bunch of folks an apology.

For the longest time, I resisted insulin therapy for my Type II diabetes because I was afraid of giving myself a shot. The very thought of it gave me the shakes.

Yet all of the healthcare people I asked said it didn’t hurt, because the needles were so small and so thin that it’s barely noticeable. Even Dr. Manny Alvarez, of the Fox News Channel’s “Medical A-Team” assured me that insulin shots didn’t hurt.

I guess it just took me a while to convince myself of that. It was probably the dizziness I’ve been feeling shortly after eating that finally did it.

I’m on Lantus, using the SoloStar pen, tipped with BD Nano needles, which make it easier to face the self-injection anxiety. Right now, I’m taking only ten units a day, but I suspect that’ll go up over time.

I won’t say it’s totally painless, but it’s not nearly as bad as thought it would be. The lancets going into my palm hurt more than the shots do…

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

The Guts of a Monitor…

2011-02-20T20:05:00.003-05:00

Stardate 65140.4

My primary monitor has given up the ghost. Apparently, the power stage commonly blows capacitors.

(Insert penis joke here.)

I found a few tutorials on fixing it, but with my fumble fingers, I figured I'd probably make it worse and let the smoke out of it the moment I plugged it back in.

So I scrapped it, following the tutorial as far as it went.

While this monitor was a Hanns G HW173D 17 inch widescreen monitor, the parts are essentially the same on all LCD monitors.

There are only three circuit boards in the entire thing:

* The LCD panel itself has a board to drive it.
* The video input board. (In this case, with both VGA and DVI-I inputs.)
* The power board. (With two bulging capacitors.)

The latter two were attached to an aluminum housing, which was, except for only two screws, TAPED to the light/display assembly.

It's a wonder the thing didn't fall apart earlier...

I then turned my attention to the display itself, finding a series of plastic sheets:

* The LCD display itself
* Several diffuser sheets, either frosted or white.
* A polarization lens (found that out by shining a laser pointer through it).
* An edge-lighting panel.

I also found two 1/8 inch diameter fluorescent tubes.

Obviously, the tubes will be heading to the recycling center, as will the aluminum pieces, and the housing and boards will go to the trash.

I may hang onto the various panels and sheets, though, just for the conversation value.

I'll be getting an ASUS VE208T LED backlit monitor as a replacement, which will give me three more inches.

(Insert penis joke here.)

And Newegg.com is running a deal that includes a free wall-mount kit!

I'll let you know how things turn out.

Does anyone know a good WGA agent? I want to write an episode of GLEE!

2011-02-07T09:05:00.001-05:00

Stardate 65103.6

I'm writing this as both a Facebook note and blog entry because several of my Facebook friends are in the entertainment industry, and several others are avowed Gleeks.

After watching last night's episode of Glee, an idea that's been bouncing around in this empty head of mine came back to the frontal lobes, where it was accessed by a combination of my conscious and subconscious mind to produce one of those dreams that sticks with you.

It would have to be a season 4 episode, as the story takes place in our club members' Senior year...

Major Mike Corrado, who is both an active duty United States Marine and an accomplished singer/songwriter, portrays a USMC recruiter who visits McKinley High in the hopes of finding "A Few Good Men (and Women)". Several members of the football team, including Puck (Mark Salling) and, to a lesser extent, Finn (Cory Monteith) seem interested, while Rachel (Lea Michelle) does all she can to convince them NOT to enlist. Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison), though respectful of the role the military serves to the country, tends to favor Rachel's attitude, while Coach Sylvester (Jane Lynch) is all for seeing as many as possible go into military service, even so far as advocating the reinstatement of the Draft.

Of course, this being a musical, the argument is played out through various protest and patriotic songs, but it is Major Corrado's anthem for the American fighting man and woman, "On My Watch Tonight", which settles it, convincing the naysayers that, while often tasked with duties some find objectionable, the military is needed to protect the liberties we all enjoy.

While it need not be shown, it is likely that Puck does enlist, as do a few other members of the football team.

Unfortunately, without an agent, I'd never be able to submit it...

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

At the end of 2010…

2010-12-31T23:36:00.001-05:00

Stardate 65001.2

They made a movie about this year. Unfortunately, none of it actually happened. No sentient computers, no routine spaceflight. No manned mission to Jupiter.

No, the reality was far more mundane. There was an election, and all that goes with it. Yeah, there was the TEA Party, but when all is said and done, I don’t think the movement will have had the effect its members hoped it had.

There were some good days, but, for the most part, 2010 sucked.

Here’s hoping 2011 is better.

Have a Happy Near Year, if you can…

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

My review of Tron: Legacy

2010-12-22T11:56:00.001-05:00

Stardate 64975.2

I saw Tron: Legacy in 3D yesterday.

I won’t go into the plot, because it’s almost impossible to describe without spoiling it, so I’ll jump directly to my conclusion.

Go see it!

The story is good, the casting fair, but the effects more than make up for the movie’s shortcomings.

It’s an old-fashioned, turn off your brain and have fun movie. If you’re a fan of the original, this is a worthy sequel… and it opens the door for something more.

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

I’m stoked!

2010-12-15T23:48:00.001-05:00

Stardate 64957.4

I’m going to go see Tron: Legacy on Tuesday… in 3D!

I am so stoked…

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

Goodbye, Mom…

2010-11-26T15:55:00.001-05:00

Stardate 64904.5

After a long string of health problems, my mother died today. She suffered a massive stroke several days ago, which left her in little more than a vegetative state, but the wait was mercifully short.

I won’t go into any more detail.

It’s official. I LOVE my netbook!

2010-11-16T17:50:00.001-05:00

Stardate 64877.3

There, I’ve said it. I love this netbook.

Everybody knows that netbooks aren’t really made for gaming, but they can run a few of the older games.

In this case, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Sure, I needed to install it over the home network and had to use a pirated exe, but it works.

And this little mouse I got (which matches the netbook’s color) makes it even better.

All that’s left is to plug the joystick in, which will make a few of the vehicles easier to control.

I just finished over two hours’ worth of gaming, and have about four hours left on the battery!

I love this netbook!

But I still haven’t gotten used to these chicklet keys…

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

Thanks to all who serve, have served and will serve…

2010-11-11T00:15:00.005-05:00

Stardate 64861.6

Yesterday was the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, and today is the 11th Day of the 11th Month. The 11th hour marks the moment, in the year 1918, when the guns feel silent, ending what was then known as the War to End All Wars.

Sadly, that name changed to World War One.

To honor all those who paid the ultimate price, and those who escaped that fate yet were willing to face it, I post the video for “On My Watch Tonight” by Major Mike Corrado, USMC, Active:

As the Marines say, “Semper Fidelis”: May you be “Always Faithful”… and may we always be faithful to you…

Okay…

2010-11-04T11:39:00.002-04:00

Supplemental
In reference to my note to self below, my hypothesis is confirmed. The Prendergast Library does run a separate WiFi network… and it’s apparently unlimited as to data allowance.
Sweet!

Thoughts at the end of my 41st year on Planet Earth…

2010-11-04T02:48:00.001-04:00

Supplemental

Wow! Three in a row, all on the same night…

Now that I have Windows Live Writer on both my Netbook (it came bundled) and my Desktop (had to finally install Vista SP2 to get it), I figured I ought to be a bit more active in updating my blog.

So what have I learned in this 41st year of life?

For one thing, I’ve learned that my beard seems to be too coarse for the average electric razor… or even the average blade. Why it took so long for me to realize it, I’ll never know.

I’ve learned that while it’s not all that stylish on a person like me, a “High & Tight” haircut is very easy to maintain and helps keep a person cool during the hot summer months.

I’ve learned that my mother probably isn’t long for this world, and that she’s come to terms with it. Her condition is, after all, hereditary, and she’s been living with it for 70-some years. Though, as she gets older, it affects her more and more. I’m not sure my father has come to terms with it, though. He knows, intellectually, that it’s just a matter of time, but I suspect he’ll be an emotional wreck when the time comes. As will my sister. Me, I’ll probably take a walk down to Shawbucks or over to Forte and have a beer to shed a few tears into, since I adamantly refuse (with her blessing) to attend her funeral (or any, for that matter).

I’ve learned that my parents’ technophobia knows no bounds. Now that I finally gave my parents a computer… they almost never use it, and when they do, it’s almost exclusively for games. I could have found a second-hand Nintendo system and they’d be just as happy. My dad is starting to learn how to surf the web, though. Maybe I can talk him and Mom into going to computer classes at the local library.

(Ooh… Note to self: Take the netbook to the library and sign up for their WiFi network. I think it’s different than the MyJamestown WiFi that covers downtown.)

I’ve learned that my sister and her family have a nice place. I visited with my father while they were gone (he had agreed to feed their dogs and was also giving me a ride for some reason, so he just combined the two). Still, it is way out in the country and has far too much of a rustic feel to it (despite the leather furnishings and HDTV in the living room). It fits their personality, though. She inherited a love of all things country from my parents. Give me sci-fi any day.

I’ve learned that it is no fun suffering permanent damage to one’s sinuses due to the H1N1 flu.

I’ve learned that I hate living in a gerrymandered district. If we’d been left in NY-29, we’d have a new Republican congressman now, but, instead, we’re stuck with Brian Higgins for another two years. If I wasn’t batshit crazy, I’d run against the bastard myself…

I’ve learned that I’m much too impatient. Not really. I’ve known that all along.

I’ve learned that isn’t not that hard to live without a microwave oven. Still, I’ll be exceedingly happy when I buy a new one next month.

I’ve learned that there’s something about Skype that this desktop absolutely hates. For some reason, it will cause a Blue Screen of Death every time I run it. Good thing it came preinstalled on the Netbook…

I’ve learned that I have some amazing friends. Some I can talk politics with, while others, I definitely can’t. They know which is which.

I’ve learned that one of those friends is the most generous person I have ever known. She has already spent close to $500 dollars for my benefit, including train tickets to New York for a vacation together that we haven’t taken yet. I’d have to say that it’s largely due to her influence that I’m doing as well as I am today.

And I’ve learned many other things, far too numerous to list.

As I face the beginning of my 42nd year, I can’t help wondering if I’ll see the end of it, but then I’ve been wondering that at the start of every year. One of these days, the answer will be “no”… but I’m okay with that. Though some may call it a sad, lonely, worthless existence, I’ve had a fair life so far. Who knows? Maybe something will happen to make it better.

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

You’d think they’d tell us…

2010-11-04T01:16:00.001-04:00

Supplemental

I feel about an inch tall right now. It took me a good four hours to figure out that, in order to access files on my desktop from my new netbook, I needed to enable the Guest account.

Really, could they not have included this little tidbit in the tutorials and step-step instructions?

Maybe they thought it was obvious… They were wrong. This bruise on my head from banging it against the wall proves it.

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it!

Cutting the Cord… sort of.

2010-11-03T17:37:00.001-04:00

STARDATE 64841.7

Well, I’ve jumped onto another bandwagon, and bought a Netbook. Of course, I couldn’t just use public networks, so I had to buy a wireless router, too.

But it works! I’m typing this on my new Dell 1020 Netbook, or as I call it, LCARS Portable Access Device 78506-0001.

It’ll be nice to be able to do stuff away from the desk, and even nicer to be able to do them away from home.

Now, if I can just get my desktop network configured to allow me to access the netbook and vice-versa…

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

If you don't have the balls to say who you are, don't comment!

2010-10-26T13:04:00.000-04:00

There have been a number of very rude anonymous comments posted here lately. These comments have been deleted.

Until people can learn to either be nice or take responsibility for their rudeness, anonymous comments have been disabled.

That is all.

Gearing up for New York... and my latest example of frustration.

2010-08-02T23:10:00.002-04:00

Stardate 64587.4

Well, the train tickets are bought, so I'm pretty much committed to spending five days in New York City (with two more travel days from and to Jamestown via Buffalo)!

I really must start my musings about this impending journey by thanking Rosealinda, the woman who made it all possible. You see, she's paying the lion's share of things...

It started out as a three-day trip to attend a lecture by David Icke, the British author and conspiracy theorist. As we talked about all the different things to do, those three days grew to five.

And then the cheap flights between Philadelphia and Newark sold out, which raised the price of a round-trip from Erie, PA from $260 to $500!

It was at this point that one of us (I forget who) hit on the idea of the train. Regardless of who it was, it was a very economical alternative, as Amtrak is running a sale: 20% travel within New York State. So, what began as a $260 coach seat on a cramped puddle-jumper is now a $188 business class seat on a spacious (by comparison) Amfleet I train car.

Of course, it takes a lot longer on the train, so the three full and two partial days have become five full days and two travel days.

I don't know which hotel we're staying at yet, but my recommendation is the Hilton Newark Penn Station. The rates are reasonable (certainly in comparison to anything comparable within the Five Boroughs), and the location is perfect. As its name implies, it is literally steps away from Newark's Penn Station and the PATH station contained therein.

Of course, if Rosealinda goes the Priceline route, we may end up with something even more convenient, but I'm not real hopeful.

Anyway, in preparation for the trip, I bought a new blazer, dress shirt, three pairs of underwear and two ties.

And there began my latest exercise in frustration.

As a big guy, my clothing options are rather limited, and I've found that the catalog from King Size Direct has the best prices. I've bought from them before with no problems. Sadly, that was not the case this time.

Somewhere between the first and second packages, they changed their default shipping method from UPS Ground to UPS Basic.

Here's what happened:

The underwear was perfect, because I knew exactly what size to get. Unfortunately, not having a measuring tape handy, I ordered both the blazer and shirt one size too small. So I sent it back, and got dinged $6.50 for return shipping.

And then I waited for the exchange items...

and waited...

and called King Size customer service, at which time I learned that the return had been processed as a refund rather than an exchange because I didn't include my debit card number on the order form, assuming that it would be billed to the same one as the initial order.

So I put in another order, getting dinged about $20 because I was ordering too few items to qualify for the same discount I had before...

and waited...

and checked the UPS tracking, seeing that they had given it to the local post office???

When the hell did they start doing that?

So I waited...

and waited...

and walked over to the post office, where I was told they didn't have it...

Finally, nearly a week after the tracking data said it was delivered, I caught up to the mailman, who informed me that he had left it in the front vestibule, because he couldn't get into the building.

It was at this point where I began saying things that even the most foul-mouthed drill sergeant of legend would be embarrassed to say. As one can easily guess, the majority of my ire was directed at the US Postal Service in general and my postal carrier in particular.

For, you see, the package had been stolen.

So I called King Size's customer service and reported the package stolen. I was immediately bumped up to a supervisor.

I explained what happened, and she immediately processed a replacement order... at no extra charge.

I made it a point to repeatedly tell her that the replacement order should be shipped in a way that would require my signature for delivery. I was assured that I would be required to sign for delivery.

For those of you who work in customer service, here's a bit of advice: Putting the words "Signature Required" in the address does NOT force the delivery person to obtain my signature for delivery!

She also sent the package UPS Basic... which is what caused the need for a replacement package in the first place!

So I waited...

and waited...

and caught up with the mailman and gave him a heads-up that the package would be arriving sometime the following week, and telling him that it was not only acceptable, but preferable, that he leave it at the rental office...

and waited...

and checked the UPS tracking, seeing that it had, once again, been given to the local post office.

So the next morning, at 9:00 sharp, I was sitting on the front steps waiting for my package.

About 11:00, I noticed the mail truck turn down the street toward the rental office.

So I called the manager...

Apparently, the mailman remembered, because it was there!

(Yay!)

This time, the sizes were correct, if still just a bit snug, especially the blazer. I was able to button the top button of the shirt, which was the most important part.

Anyway...

New York is known for its food, and as I watched various shows on Food Network and The Travel Channel, I've been looking up some of the less expensive places, coming up with a list of must-eat places.

So far, I've come up with:

Pommes Frites, on 2nd Avenue, between 7th and 8th, where Authentic Belgian Fries are featured;
The Stumble Inn, also on 2nd Avenue, but way up at the corner of 76th street, with its inside-out cheeseburgers;
S'mac (aka Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese), in the East Village, and the menu is obvious;
Katz's Deli, where the fake orgasm scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed;
Lombardi's, America's first pizzeria;
A Salt and Battery in Manhattan or The Chip Shop in Brooklyn, both known for deep-frying just about anything;

and, of course, the fast-food places that aren't around here, like White Castle, Popeye's and Blimpie.

Of course, that list is subject to change without notice.

And then, there are several friends who are likely to take us out to dinner.

Which brings me back to the blazer, shirt and ties.

The ties...

I had no problem with the ties, since I ordered them from a different company. Ties.com, to be exact.

I bought two.

This one for daytime wear:

and this one for evening wear:

I thought a bit of whimsy was in order, and Rosealinda likes the "blue iris" color. They were reasonably priced, too.

(Oh, and don't be scared by the hairstyle. I'll let it grow out a bit before the trip. I'm only wearing the high & tight for the summer.)

Now if I can just figure out a way not to insult the chef at my friends' favorite restaurants by ordering my steak well-done...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it!

Some advice for those wishing to be New York's next Governor or Senator

2010-06-20T20:35:00.001-04:00

Stardate: 64469.3

I have some advice for those running for the offices of Governor and Senator in the State of New York.

GET YOUR ASS OUT OF THE FIVE BOROUGHS!!!

There is far more to New York than the city of the same name. You need to get out there and see it, and, more importantly, let the people who live there see you.

And I don't mean just fundraisers and photo ops.

Get out there, knock on the doors, shake the hands, kiss the babies, pose for snapshots and TAKE SOME TIME TO LISTEN to the people in Upstate New York.

And here's an easy way to do it.

1. Lease yourself a bus. It doesn't have to be a luxury motor coach. Just a vehicle to get you from point A to point B. Do NOT equip it for long-duration living, because you will NOT be spending much time in it.

2. Take I-87 North to Plattsburgh. Spend a minimum of three days there.

3. Take I-87 South to Albany. Those of you seeking the Governor's chair ought to at least spend a little time in the city where you'll work. Spend a minimum of three days there.

4. Take a day trip to Troy.

5. Take I-90 West. Stop at Rotterdam, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Utica (with a side-trip to Rome) and Syracuse. Spend a minimum of three days in each city.

6. Take I-81 North to Watertown. Spend the weekend there.

7. Return to Syracuse and take I-90 West. Visit Auburn, Rochester (as well as Greece, Irondequoit and Brighton), and Buffalo (and environs). Spend a minimum of one week each in Rochester and Buffalo.

8. Continue on I-90 West. Visit Irving. TAKE TIME TO VISIT THE SENECA LEADERSHIP! Then visit Silver Creek, Dunkirk, Fredonia, Brocton and Westfield.

9. Take NY-394 East to Mayville. Spend a full day in Mayville.

10. Continue east on NY-394 and visit Lakewood, Celoron , Jamestown and Falconer. Spend a minimum of three days in Jamestown.

11. While in Jamestown, come see me. We have a lot to discuss.

12. Take I-86 East and visit Randolph and Salamanca. In Salamanca, TAKE TIME TO MEET WITH THE SENECA.

13. Continue east on I-86, and visit Allegany and Olean. Spend a minimum of three days in Olean.

14. Continue east on I-86, and visit Cuba and Friendship.

15. Take a side trip to Belmont, Wellsville, Andover and Alfred.

16. Rejoin I-86 East at Hornell and Arkport. Spend a day in each.

17. Continue east on I-86 and visit Bath. Spend a day there.

18. Continue east on I-86 and visit Corning. Spend a minimum of three days there. I highly recommend touring the Corning Museum of Glass.

19. Continue east on I-86 and visit Elmira. Spend a week there.

20. Continue east on I-86 and visit Waverly, Nichols, Owego, Apalachin, Endicott and Binghamton. Spend four days in Binghamton.

21. Continue east on I-86 and visit Deposit. Here, I-86 turns back in NY-17.

22. Continue east on NY-17, and visit Hancock, Roscoe and Livingston Manor, continuing on to Liberty, Monticello, Wurtsboro, Bloomingburg, Mechanicstown and Goshen, Chester and Harriman.

23. At this point, you may switch to I-87 South, but I suggest you remain on NY-17 and visit Southfields, Tuxedo Park, Sloatsburg, Hillburn and Suffern.

24. From here, NY-17 turns into NJ-17, so take I-287 South to Nyack.

25. From here, return to the Five Boroughs via Irvington, Dobbs Ferry and Hastings-On-Hudson.

After two weeks in the Five Boroughs, take a week and circumnavigate Long Island.

Repeat as needed.

Too many people don't understand that Upstate is just as important to New York as the city. If you are to have any hope of winning in either September or November, do not forget it.

Don't be a Downstate Dipshit. We've had enough of those.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Jumping to conclusions or "She's from the Middle East, therefore she MUST be sympathetic to terrorists!"

2010-05-17T12:13:00.000-04:00

Stardate 64375.4

Last night, Rima Fakih became the first woman of Arab descent and Muslim faith to win the Miss USA pageant.

I did not watch, but I did see some pictures, and on purely visual data, I agree with the award. The lady is stunningly beautiful.

Thus, it pains me to see so much ugliness being associated with her based on specious, if not completely manufactured, evidence.

The accusations are many: "She is only pretending to follow Christian traditions to set the stage for Islam to slide in and conquer America!" "She's from a family with ties of Hezbollah!" "Her family moved here to become sleeper agents!"

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, as the late Yul Brenner might put it.

When challenged, those spouting this paranoia direct people to a self-styled "expert" on Islam who runs a blog that spouts paranoia, citing "intelligence reports" and "well-known sources", yet does nothing to substantiate the rhetoric she spews.

Perhaps Ms. Fakih's family does have ties to Hezbollah. Many other families have ties to nefarious personages. Does that make such people evil? I should hope not, lest one of my own ancestors, who rode with the Dalton gang in the latter 19th century, taint my family.

Did the families of criminals support everything they did? Some did, but certainly not all.

Who are we to say that Ms. Fakih is such a supporter? Could it not be that her family came to this country to escape Hezbollah's influence? Could they not have come here so that they could practice both Muslim and Christian traditions? Could they not have come here so they could simply be left alone, and not dictated to about how or whom they should worship?

People forget that, before the Syrians and Iranians began backing Hezbollah, back before the Lebanese Civil War, Lebanon was a largely Christian nation. Even today, there is a sizable Christian population there.

It is so easy to read more into something than is really there. Sometimes a pretty girl really is just a pretty girl... who happens to be just a bit different.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Just letting everyone know I'm still alive...

2010-04-07T00:53:00.000-04:00

Stardate 64264.6

Just stopping in to let everyone know I'm still alive.

Right now, I'm working on a new story for my STAR TREK: TALES OF THE MARSHAL MARTZ fan-fiction project, which is tying up most of creative time.

But rest assured, I will be back soon with random thoughts on random subjects...

I swear, my sister and I are the Smothers Brothers...

2010-02-12T12:09:00.002-05:00

Stardate 64118.2

If you're old enough to remember the old Smothers Brothers Variety Hour, you'll remember that Tom (the older of the two) would often tell his brother "Mom always liked you best!"

I have come to understand exactly what he meant by that, because, when it comes to gifts or offers of help or things of that nature, my father likes my sister and her family far more than he does me.

For some years now, whenever I've adopted some new technology, whether it be a DVD player, a cell phone or a computer w/high speed internet, I've always tried to interest my parents in adopting it as well. Often I will offer to give them a perfectly good used unit when I upgrade to something better, but my father will always refuse.

And then, a month or two later, he will gleefully accept a brand-new, top-brand, far more than he would ever need unit from my sister. Often, these brand-name units would have fewer features than the lower-priced ones I offered.

The latest case in point is a computer. For more than a year now, I've been offering him this old emergency system so that he and my mother could finally get online, if for nothing more than web surfing and keeping in touch with the family down south.

A month ago, he found out that, as part of a long-distance bundle from Windstream, he's been paying for DSL service for close to two years. So he called them and had a DSL modem put in.

But not a computer.

This was my big chance! I've got a machine just sitting here, gathering dust. It's PERFECT for him, until he can buy one of his own with a larger hard drive and a little more oomph for stuff like Photoshop. And it's all updated, just plug it in and off you go. And it's FREE! He doesn't even have to give it back when he's done with it.

He still refused.

And then, today, he says that he spoke to my sister, who told him to wait, and not to go out and buy a new computer.

(Frak!)

Whenever my sister tells my father to wait, it means only one thing: she will be buying him a brand-name, brand-new, far more than he would ever need version of the thing I'm trying to give him.

In this case, it will be a Dell computer, even though, when you open it up, all the components inside have the same names and numbers as the components in the lower-priced, no-name computer.

But it's what SHE uses, so my father will smile and thank her profusely and then call me to come hook it up, and then call me again the first time he has a problem with it.

Dad always likes her best!

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it until he proves me wrong.

STARDATE 64502.4 (July 2, 2010)

Okay, he has proven me wrong. Yesterday, after nearly a year of asking, my parents finally accepted this old machine. I'll be setting it up and walking them through the basics tomorrow.

Hopefully, there won't be any problems, though I'll probably spend the first hour or so sitting through updates...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Perhaps the time has come...

2010-01-17T07:21:00.004-05:00

Stardate 64046.4

I've been mulling over what to put here for a few days now, ever since seeing the headline "Japanese Prime Minister Seeks More Equal Relationship With US". Part of that was the desire to find a "better" place for the US bases on Okinawa.

The combination of the two got me thinking.

The United States has military facilities in the following countries: Bahrain, Bulgaria, Columbia, Djibouti, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guam, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. And we have a joint intelligence facility in Australia.

Not one of those countries has a military base on US soil. Only one military facility, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, is jointly operated with a foreign power: Canada. In fact, it's quite common for a Canadian General to command the facility.

Granted, these bases were established either during World War II, the occupation of Europe and Japan or during the Cold War, yet they continue to serve as forward operating bases for US actions overseas.

So why can't our allies establish bases on our soil? We certainly have enough such bases already built. Fort McClellan, for example, still stands and would make an excellent forward/training base for the British SAS.

NAS Brunswick could easily be taken over by the RAF for their Nimrod ASW flights. Of course, they couldn't bring their sandwiches with them (a friend of mine was a ASW specialist aboard Nimrods, and they warned them that, should they ever go down near US waters, to "eat their sandwiches first")...

And Naval Station Ingleside in Texas could be jointly operated by all of NATO's sea forces. Imagine, instead of the USN, there could be a base where Royal Navy, Spanish Armada and even Deutsche Marine vessels would be commonly based.

Fort McPherson could be used by the Israelis to help train forces from all over the world in urban warfare.

It's not like any of these countries would ever be at war with us. And these don't have to be front-line bases. Most of our bases in Europe are relegated to training and support of operations elsewhere.

Some people will read this and say, "but they can already do this stuff on our bases!" This is true. Military units from all over the world visit US facilities for special training.

But the stigma remains. We have bases on their land. For example, Rammstein Air Force Base is a US Air Force base, despite the fact that it also serves as a NATO facility, and has units from multiple countries based there. But it is still a United States air force base.

Now, I will admit that Japan presents a sticky situation. For historical reasons, and due to the fact that the Japanese Constitution forbids them from maintaining an actual military (the country does have a small defense force, but it is strictly confined to Japanese territory, with a few humanitarian exceptions), it would be impractical or unwise to establish purely Japanese military bases, but I could see one or two small training bases jointly operated by the US and Japan on one or more of the smaller Hawai'ian Islands (the chain has 130 islands, after all).

We've been using other nations' lands to base our military for close to sixty-five years now. Don't you think it's time to return the favor?

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Boneless Wings to say goodbye to 2009...

2010-01-01T01:56:00.001-05:00

Stardate 64002.1

2009 is now gone.

Good riddance.

It was a year of bad economy and worse politics. Not to mention a bout with the H1N1 flu and a relapse of symptoms due to a secondary infection.

There were also a few good things that happened. I made some new friends and even had one of them put me on her cell phone plan, allowing me to switch to an essentially unlimited plan (including unlimited data, web and even TV and radio, not to mention a really cool phone) for only $5 more than I was paying Net10 for a basic nothing phone.

So, to say goodbye to 2009, I ordered some boneless wings from the local Pizza Hut, which finally started offering their Wing Street wings. As my sinuses are clogged due to the aforementioned secondary infection, I decided on the "Blazing Hot", which won the blue ribbon at the 2007 Buffalo Wing Festival.

I should have known something was wrong when the driver pulled up with a lit cigarette in his (or was it her? It was hard to tell) hand, stopping in an active traffic lane. Five minutes later than the estimated time.

They did smell good, which I guess is a plus.

Then I took my first bite.

HOLY SHIT!!!

I felt like I'd bitten into a fusion reactor at 120% rated power. And it just got hotter from there. Each bite was like licking the surface of the Sun.

To my body's credit, the endorphins flowed quickly, and the pain faded.

Next time, I'll stick to mild... or maybe spicy Asian... or Cajun.

Or maybe I'll just switch to Dominos.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Nothing to see here...

2009-11-14T19:38:00.002-05:00

STARDATE: SUPPLEMENTAL
Just stopping in for a moment to see if mobile blogging works. No real content, just testing... Move along.

The Christian Right, the Liberal Left, EMpower.com and a Purple Dinosaur

2009-11-12T18:19:00.000-05:00

Stardate 63867.0

Yesterday, I got into an argument on Facebook about the merits of a "family-friendly" editing service called EMpower.com, which I contend is just another substitute for parenting. EMpower takes movies and TV shows and removes all of the "morally questionable material", making them safe for family viewing. Of course, this often removes the plot as well, and shortens a standard two-hour blockbuster to approximately twelve minutes.

Needless to say, that friend did not remain one. Anyone so willing to let someone talk them into using a parent substitute like that is someone I don't want to know.

But that got me thinking, and a while later, I had a conversation about it with a friend of mine, who reminded me of the cartoons we watched when we were young. Think about it. Shows like GI Joe and the original Transformers showed outright combat and even cold-blooded murder.

And then we considered the cartoons our parents watched. I mean, if you closely watch a Road Runner cartoon, you'll realize that it's incredibly violent! And Tom & Jerry is no better. That cat and mouse have done stuff to each other that, if produced for TV today, would have protesters marching on the studios.

And when we go back another generation, we find things like The Three Stooges and Little Rascals. Shows in which assault and battery were common occurrences! And the sex scandals... Look up Fatty Arbuckle, and you'll see stuff that makes today's porn industry look tame.

Of course, one can't discuss children's television without touching on PBS. Since its creation in 1970, it has been a bright beacon of "safe" shows, free of the violence endemic of commercial TV, focusing instead on pure education. Any American over 40 knows exactly what I mean when I say the words "Sesame Street" or ask the question "Won't you be my neighbor?"

That's not to say that they didn't deal with sensitive subjects. Fred Rogers often answered viewer questions about some of the trials of growing up, such as divorce and death.

Which brings me to the Purple Dinosaur. Anyone who has never heard of this threat to humanity should consider themselves exceedingly lucky. In 1992, Barney & Friends premiered nationwide on PBS. In its seven years of production, the show has shown itself to be the ultimate in Politically-Correct, Liberal Indoctrination of the pre-K set. There was no conflict and no education. The entire show was all about feeling good and being politically correct. It's hard to believe that Disney teen stars Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato once appeared on this abomination.

The real danger of the purple thing was that the political correctness it espoused spread quickly as the children grew up and their parents started believing the bullshit. The result was things like the Parents Television Council, the V-chip and the runaway ACLU we know today. And EMpower. And yet just as many conservatives as liberals ate it up.

Christian Conservative censorship in the name of "family values" meets Liberal political correctness in the name of "self-esteem" in the form of a Purple Dinosaur... and together they run amok.

It's the Barneyfication of America, and it must be stopped, lest we all be doomed.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

A reminder: The Declaration of Independence is a HISTORICAL document, not a LEGAL one.

2009-10-20T01:00:00.002-04:00

Stardate 63803.2

I was watching Fox News' Strategy Room webcast yesterday, and Eric Bolling, the host of the 3 o'clock hour asked Democratic Strategist Bob Beckel where in the Constitution the government was given the right to provide universal health care.

Beckel replied with the words "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness".

Umm... Mr. Beckel, those words are not in the Constitution of the United States. They are in the Declaration of Independence, a document that, for all its historical significance, has no legal standing, having been superseded by the Constitution.

The thing is, both the left and the right use the Declaration of Independence to justify their various positions. Those on the right use the words "endowed by their Creator" to justify their Taliban-like religious imposition, while the left use the words "Pursuit of Happiness" to justify all sorts of social engineering.

Personally, I think the left comes out ahead on this one, much as I hate to say it. At least there's language in the Constitution itself that could be used to justify their position, whereas there are ZERO references to God or any other deity in the Constitution.

That language? It's in the Preamble. Specifically, the words "Promote the General Welfare", which is one of the goals the founding fathers listed for the new United States of America.

True, the Preamble has no more legal standing than the Declaration of Independence... but it's at least part of the Constitution.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

A whole new world... of talk radio.

2009-09-24T14:25:00.006-04:00

Stardate 63733.6

I have discovered a new voice in the wilderness of talk radio. Well, I can't say it's a new voice, since he's had his show for a while now, but I'm a fairly new listener.

The voice belongs to a man named T.J. McCormack. Depending on whom or when one asks, he's a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, husband, father, recovering alcoholic or conservative talk radio host.

It is as the last that I know him. I first encountered him when he was a guest on Fox News' Strategy Room webcast. I thought I'd recognized him from somewhere, but it wasn't until much later that I realized I'd seen him on an old episode of An Evening at the Improv dating from sometime in the 90's... or was it the late 80's?

No matter. Shortly after seeing him on Strategy Room, I discovered his Internet radio show, The World of T.J. McCormack.

So what makes this show so different?

For one thing, T.J. is not your standard talking head. He doesn't toe the conservative line the way people like Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh do. He's pro-gay marriage, for example.

For another, he books guests that one might not expect, and gives them much more time than they would have elsewhere. Just today, he brought back Dr. Robert Melillo, author of the book Disconnected Kids and one of the founders of the Brain Balance Centers, along with his business partner, William Fowler. Both men had been on his show two days prior. And, on both shows, they were given nearly a full hour, almost completely bumping another guest on Tuesday.

But the thing that makes the show most appealing is that it's totally interactive. Since LA Talk Radio uses Skype as their phone system, T.J. is able to monitor a chatroom that we, the fans, have established, and often replies and comments in real time. Indeed, he's also held a conference call with those of us who frequent the chatroom to continue the discussion, and the idea of making such conference calls a regular occurrence has been brought up.

Love him or hate him, the one thing that makes T.J. McCormack so easy and fun to listen to is a very simple fact: He's real.

You can hear The World of T.J. McCormack on LA Talk Radio from 10 AM - Noon Eastern (7 - 9 AM Pacific, 1400 - 1600 UTC) weekdays. If you are interested in joining the chatroom fun, please leave a comment. T.J. also has a personal website at http://www.tjstalking.com, as well as a presence on Facebook.

Hmm... I did a bit of radio, way back when. I wonder if I could guest-host... Probably better if I didn't. ;)

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Dr. Ablow, to Sensitivity Training... STAT!

2009-08-21T08:30:00.006-04:00

Stardate 63639.8

I am calling out Dr. Kieth Ablow.

During his last "Hump Day House Call" on Fox News' "Strategy Room" webcast, the host, Harris Faulkner, read the following email:

As a child, I was put on forced diet after forced diet, none of which did anything other than make me miserable.

When I hit 18, I made a vow to myself to never let anyone put me through that kind of misery again.

Unfortunately, most of the medical community seems to think its their duty to badger me into that very thing. I have to tell every healthcare worker I encounter about that vow.

How do I get people to just stop talking about my weight?

The first words out of his mouth were, "Perhaps he should lose some weight."

Wow, Doc... Are you always this insensitive? The guy wanted to know how to stop people from badgering him to lose weight, not have you join in!

He then went on to assume that the emailer was using food as a substitute for the affection he never received. Wrong again, Doc!

Let me tell you who wrote that email. I wrote it. And no, I do not want to lose weight.

Yet, almost universally, people assume that I do want to lose weight. Why? Are you all so size-ist that you simply assume that all fat people automatically want to be thin? Are you so bigoted that you think it's your moral responsibility to tell us that we shouldn't be ourselves???

Nor do I use food as a substitute for anything. Food is fuel. What's it to you or anyone else if I eat a bit more than average? It doesn't automatically mean that I wasn't held enough as a child or didn't have any friends.

The only part he got right was that he could do an entire show just on me.

Dr. Ablow, you didn't help me last Wednesday. You simply reinforced the bigotry I see every day.

You need to report back to sensitivity training, STAT!

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

A tummyache and hyperglycemia: A day at the Taste of Jamestown

2009-08-08T17:45:00.021-04:00

Stardate 63605.3

If you check the archives of this blog, you'll see an entry posted on August 1, 2008, entitled "A Cheap Lunch, but not what I'd hoped..."

While better than it was last year, this year's "Taste of Jamestown" still wasn't what I'd hoped. Instead of seven participants, there were nine.

But I got pictures, this time!

This is Third Street, between Main (behind me) and Pine Streets. This was Friday, which was a nice day.

There was a bit of live music. This particular band was called the Kokomo Time Band. They were okay, but nothing to write any more about.

Instead of cash, the Taste of Jamestown used tickets, costing $.50 each. The most expensive stuff was $4.00 (8 tickets) and the least expensive was fifty cents (1 ticket).

Can you believe this cost me $2.50? The Gatorade was more expensive than the Beef on Wick!
It was good, though...

Liscandro's Restaurant was one of only two places based downtown which participated. Their menu included chocolate-chip cookies, hot dogs, rigatoni and Eggplant Parmesan. As none of that appealed to me, I avoided it.

Cooper's Cybercafe was the other downtown-based participant. In fact, you can see their regular location in the background, with the yellow trim. Their regular menu is pretty good, but the offerings they put forth for the Taste of Jamestown weren't. They had two wraps, one chicken salad with cranberries (called a Saluki - they name all their sandwiches after dog breeds), the other pulled pork (which they called a Puli). They also had Butternut Squash Soup.

I avoided this booth, too.

Of course, there were the franchise joints, as well. There was Pizza Hut, who had plain cheese and pepperoni pizzas, as well as their Chicken Alfredo. Good, but pretty standard franchise fare.

And Friendly's, who sold only their "Sundae to go" prepackaged ice cream. I could have gotten the same stuff for less at any grocery store...

Elegant Edibles is a local catering company. They had some good stuff. I bought the Beef on Wick from them. They also had chocolate-covered strawberries and chicken kebabs.

Gotta have dessert, of course, and Tastee Corners provided most of it. They had frozen, chocolate-covered bananas, fruit kebabs, ice cream sandwiches and freeze-pops. They were also the only ones serving coffee.

The widest variety of foods was available from these last two booths.
Gametime Sports Bar & Grill is located in one of the local bowling alleys, and has a rather extensive menu, not just traditional bar food. Their offerings included a very good Sirloin Tips (perfectly well-done, completely cooked and tender) or Chicken in Bourbon sauce over rice, seafood stuffed mushrooms, crab-stuffed haddock (which was NOT good) and something called Lisa's Chicken, which, since it included black olives, I avoided like the plague.

But it was Sandee's Bakery that had the best stuff. As you can see in the picture, they had Italian Sausage, which was outstanding! They also offered meat pies in both beef and pork, barbecued pork and meatballs in marinara sauce.

While Friday was nice, it rained Saturday... which made live music problematic, at best.

Anyway, the food was pretty good (except the fish) and it was bigger than last year, but it still left much to be desired.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

What we all have to look forward to, if the Dems get their way...

2009-07-24T06:45:00.005-04:00

Stardate 63563.0

I went to the oncologist on Wednesday. The appointment lasted all of three minutes: Just long enough for him to tell me that there was no indication of lieukemia or anything else cancerous to explain my elevated white blood cell count, which I've had for a bit more than a year now.

Oh, and he wants to see me again in six months.

To get to that three-minute appointment required a bus ride of approximately one hour, each way.

All this because Dr. Sood is the only oncologist in all of Chautauqua County, New York who accepts Medicaid patients.

The talking heads on the various news channels keep holding up Medicare as the example of a "public option" in the various health care bills making their way through Congress.

Would that it were so.

Personally, I would much rather be on Medicare than Medicaid any day. With Medicare, I could see a specialist who has his practice where I, and the majority of people in the county, live, rather than have to travel to the other end of the county. I could even get a stylish pair of glasses without having to pay out-of-pocket for them.

But the true public option will not be modeled after Medicare. Instead, it will more likely be pattered after Medicaid, where care, if available at all, requires inordinate amounts of travel because most doctors simply don't accept it. Indeed, that is the case in most single-payer systems around the world, where doctors are nothing more than civil servants, losing money on every patient they see.

If the Dems get their way, my story will become everyone's story.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

This is way beyond simple anxiety...

2009-06-28T10:18:00.004-04:00

Stardate 63492.2

I had a strange dream last night. I dreamed that I was visiting a hospital for diabetic education, where the entire session was dominated by an argument (a rather vociferous one, in fact) over why I wouldn't accept using a needle-based insulin delivery system.

That, in itself, wasn't what made the dream strange. The fact that said educator was Father Jonathan Morris (often seen on Fox News Channel and their weekday Strategy Room webcast) was. Add to that the fact that, in the dream, he was not his usual serene, soft-spoken self, and it's stranger still. Of course, me not being Catholic makes it even stranger...

Strange elements aside, the dream wasn't all that far off the mark. I've already informed my doctor that a needle-based insulin delivery system, be it a syringe or pen, is not an option. I don't care how thin the needle is, or whether it's coated in Teflon. It's still a needle, and I still need to jab it into myself and hold it there long enough to either push a plunger or trigger an automatic one. And it's that step, jab and hold steady, that I simply cannot do.

I mean, even the thought of jabbing a needle into myself is enough to give me an anxiety attack.

But there is an alternative: a jet injector system. Instead of a needle, a jet injector uses a stream of compressed air or inert gas to carry the insulin through the skin without breaking it. It's the real equivalent of Star Trek's hypospray.

There's just one thing wrong: My insurance won't pay for it.

Therefore, until that changes, insulin therapy is off the table, and NOTHING, not even a dream with Fr. Jonathan as the main character (which leaves me wondering why it wasn't Natale Del Conte, instead, since I'd have enjoyed it much more), will change that.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

My review of STAR TREK

2009-05-08T23:36:00.005-04:00

Stardate 63354.1

Last night, I walked ten miles (round trip) to the local cineplex to see the movie STAR TREK. Physically, that was a mistake never to be repeated anytime soon, but it was worth it.

On the way out, I stopped at Burger King, planning to buy one of the glasses, and ended up buying all four when I noticed they were on sale for $6.99 with the purchase of an Extra Value Meal. How could I pass up a deal like that?

Anyway, on to the movie. I won't give away any major spoilers, but the reader should proceed beyond here at one's own discretion.

Okay... So what's the same?

Not much. Spock is probably the only element that came through unchanged. "Spock Prime" (as he's listed in the credits) that is, played by Leonard Nimoy. He is the same Spock we grew up with.

Other than that, the only thing that remains unchanged are the names. Oh, and the fact that Kirk grew up in Riverside, Iowa.

So what's different? Like I said above, just about everything. This is definitely NOT the Star Trek we grew up on! So let's go character by character...

James T. Kirk: To put it simply, he's an asshole. A likable one, but an asshole nonetheless.
Spock: As portrayed by Zachary Quinto, this Spock is the most similar character to the one seen in classic Star Trek. He does have a few buttons that can be pushed, though. And there's something between him and Uhura...
Dr. Leonard McCoy: The "country doctor" is played way down, while McCoy's irascible side is highlighted. In fact, this version is almost a combination of McCoy and the character of Gary Mitchell (from "Where No Man Has Gone Before").
Nyota Uhura: Zoe Saldana turns in an outstanding performance. She's just as competent as Nichelle Nichols' Uhura, but has a better opportunity to show her range. Especially with the relationship between her and Spock...
Montgomery Scott: This guy is a real hoot! He's the ultimate grease monkey, exiled for doing something right out of one of my own fan-fiction stories...
Hikaru Sulu: As portrayed by John Cho, this Sulu is not the veteran pilot we saw in classic Trek. This Sulu is borderline incompetent, though he does have his moments.
Pavel Andreivich Chekov: This is another bit of comic relief. The Russian accent is even thicker than what Walter Koenig used, and he also personifies the fact that this is a much younger Star Trek, with the ages of nearly all of the characters revised a decade or more downward. (Though only to 17 in Chekov's case...)
Captain Christopher Pike: Really, the only competent one of the bunch, but I'm sorry to say that the character is a bit flat.
Amanda Grayson and Ambassador Sarek: Well-done, and worthy of Jane Wyatt and Mark Lenard, we don't really see either of these characters enough to make any judgments. The movie's plot cuts most of the dynamic that would have been there short.

As for the look of the Enterprise, that can be summed up as follows: Exterior by Airbus, Bridge by Apple, and Engineering/Shuttlebay by Dow Chemical.

All this said, I enjoyed the movie. In voicing my reservations over the last two years or so, I always maintained that the movie's saving grace would a kick-ass story, and I was right.

I will give away two big spoilers though...

The biggest laugh line of the movie was from Kirk, whom Spock had just marooned on the planet Delta Vega, where Spock Prime encounters him. In response to Spock Prime's line (quoting himself from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) "I have been, and always shall be, your friend," Kirk replies, "Bullshit!"

Oh, and that scene of Kirk in bed with Uhura? That's not Uhura. It's her Academy roommate, an Orion.

That's my take on it, and I'm sticking to it.

Abandoning the Republican Party.

2009-04-30T20:31:00.005-04:00

Stardate 63331.8

With Arlen Specter's move to the Democratic Party, the conservative wing of the Republican Party has driven out another moderate.

Yes, Specter is more of a liberal than moderate, but the sentiment is the same.

A while ago, in an interview on Fox News' Strategy Room webcast, Republican Chairman Michael Steele stated, in the same breath, that a) there was a moderate wing of the Republican Party and b) they weren't really welcome, since there was no way the far-right's ideals were ever going to be compromised, and that the Republican Party was the nation's conservative party.

I wasn't real happy to hear that, not just because that was the answer to the question I emailed in. I felt betrayed by Mr. Steele. I was under the impression that he had been elected on a platform of reversing the trend toward ever-more radical conservatism. And the Republican party is not the conservative party. The Conservative Party is the conservative party. The Republican Party I knew before the George W. Bush administration was one that had a wide range of members.

Today, it seems that one's fiscal stance is immaterial to being considered a Republican. Instead, one needs to be fanatically pro-life and anti-gay marriage, and anyone who is less is considered a Republican In Name Only. Indeed, K.T. McFarland, who served in a number of Republican administrations, was called that not long ago.

For that reason, I find myself on the verge of leaving the Republican Party, after less than a year of membership. Indeed, I have found a party that more closely parallels my own political beliefs. That party is the Modern Whig Party.

I especially like their "Two and Out" policy. Any official elected from the Modern Whig Party serves two and only two terms, regardless of the office.

I joined the Republican Party because of what the Press was doing to Sarah Palin. I'm leaving it because of what it's doing to those of us who aren't that far to the right...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

The Five Tenets of Conservatism

2009-03-28T16:49:00.005-04:00

Stardate 63241.0

Every so often, I get into an argument with a bunch of right-wing conservatives who staunchly believe that anyone who doesn't believe in their religious-based social agenda isn't really a conservative.

Well, I have news for you. Not every conservative is religious. And not every conservative is in lockstep on issues like abortion, gay marriage or stem cell research.

Let me tell you the five tenets of conservatism, which we are in lockstep about:

1. Small government.

The last several weeks has seen a growth of government never before seen in our nation's history. The plans of the Obama Administration will put government in control of far too much of the day-to-day life of the average American, and will strip us of many of our civil liberties including some granted to us by the Constitution. We are agreed that this must be opposed.

We must identify and elect new representatives who will vote against such government growth and return this nation to a minimalist government. As Thomas Paine wrote, "The government which governs best is the government that governs least."

2. Fiscal responsibility

The last eight years saw spending run amok, but that pales in comparison to the spending of the Obama Administration. With the stroke of a pen, President Obama has committed to increasing this nation's spending to a level higher than all of his predecessors combined. What's worse, he has no plan on how to pay for such unchecked spending. He talks of raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, but fails to realize that higher taxes equate to lower revenues. What's more, it will stifle job creation and economic expansion. We are agreed that this must be opposed.

We must identify and elect new representatives who will vote to control spending and do away with useless programs that do nothing but waste money. Representatives who will cut taxes to spur economic growth and balance the Federal Budget.

3. A strong national defense

The attacks of 9-11-2001, as well as those against the USS Cole and our embassies in Africa, indicate the continued need for a strong national defense and intelligence community. To do this, we must allocate money not only to update the time-worn weapons systems our men and women in uniform are using, but to support those very men and women, as well as their families. In past decades, our enlisted people made so little that in many states they qualified for Food Stamp benefits. Yet the Obama Administration is cutting defense spending while sending troops to Afghanistan, and canceling a number of new weapons systems that would make our military more effective. We are agreed that this must be opposed.

We must identify and elect new representatives who will support and fund our military forces to the fullest and reverse the cuts in manpower and effectiveness that past administrations have undertaken. The past two decades has shown that, while the Cold War may be over, there is still need for a strong, well-equipped military.

4. Free-Market Capitalism

The current financial crisis and the accompanying economic recession is being used by the Obama Administration as justification for the implementation of socialist doctrine and the introduction of policies specifically designed to undermine the free market. Union-friendly measures, such as the wrongly-named "Employee Free Choice Act" will drive more companies into financial trouble, at which time the government will either acquire a significant stake or provide financial bailouts, thereby preventing the bankruptcy reorganizations needed for these companies to recover. We have already seen this in the financial and automotive industries. "Too big or important to fail" is a misplaced rallying cry. We are agreed that this must be opposed.

We must identify and elect new representatives who will say no to bailouts. Representatives who will not allow labor unions and other special interest groups dictate policy and will allow the free market to function with minimal interference. Where regulation is required, such as workplace safety and consumer protection, they should focus not on new regulation, but on enforcement of existing law.

5. Secure Borders

The violence in Mexico that has crossed our southern border should be reason enough to improve border security, yet the Obama Administration and the Democratic majority in Congress are dominated by people who would rather grant amnesty to illegal immigrants and oppose any measures to stop the flood of illegal entry both from the south and north. Neither do they accept the fact that terrorists can use the same open borders to sneak into this nation to undertake attacks. Indeed, the Obama Administration is proposing that some terrorists currently detained at Guantanamo Bay be released into the general population, with government benefits! We are agreed that this must be opposed.

We must identify and elect new representatives who will authorize and fund programs to secure our borders. Representatives who will treat illegal aliens as what they are, law-breakers. Representatives who will treat terrorists as the military problem they are, rather than as a law enforcement problem, so that nothing like 9-11 can ever happen again.

You will note that nowhere in these five tenets is morality mentioned. Neither is religion. These tenets can be upheld just as well by atheists as they can by pious Christians. Yet there are too many in the conservative movement who are unwilling to concede this point. In addition, they place social issues such as abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage in equal or even superior import.

Perhaps now that I have shown what we do agree on, the things that divide us can be seen for the irrelevancies they are.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

My Nights as Darth Vader, a/k/a Adventures in CPAP

2009-03-23T19:18:00.008-04:00

Stardate 63227.6

I suffer from what's known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a condition in which the soft tissues of the upper airway collapse, causing interruptions in breathing. The brain, sensing a lack of oxygen, wakes up just long enough to restart breathing. In people like me, who require treatment to prevent hypoxia, this happens several times every hour during sleep, all of which are completely unknown to the conscious mind.

The result of this frequent "micro-waking" is that I am unable to stay asleep long enough to reach stage 3 and 4, or "deep", sleep. As one might imagine, this leaves me somewhat less than rested at waking. It also results in more frequently remembered dreams, but that is anecdotal rather than clinical.

The most common treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), other than changes in lifestyle and sleeping posture, is Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) therapy, which "splints" the airway open with a pressurized airflow. There are four main parts of a CPAP setup: The machine itself, which delivers the airflow at a prescribed pressure, a humidifier to prevent the various nasal and throat membranes from drying out, tubing to get the air from the machine to the humidifier and from the humidifier to the mask, and the mask to deliver the air to my body.

I first tried the therapy about four years ago, using a nasal mask like this:

I lasted about two weeks on it. The problem was the rubber piece on the end of it. Simply put, it sounded like a jet engine perched at the end of my nose. There was a bit of claustrophobia, as well, which is not something I normally suffer from. The fact that I suffer from nasal allergies and post-nasal drip, and thus often end up breathing through my mouth didn't help matters.

So I stopped using it, though the idea of trying a different mask did cross my mind from time to time, and I did discuss it with my doctor, yet nothing ever came of it.

Then I changed doctors, and my new doctor insisted that I try again. I insisted on a full-face mask as a condition of doing so. Last week, I was fitted for one like this:

The image here shows it being worn improperly. The bottom actually fits under the chin.

So far, this mask is far more comfortable than the nasal mask, yet I find myself taking it off after only a few hours, at which point I fall back asleep for several more hours.

I suspect there are two things keeping me from wearing the mask all night:

First, the pressure is likely set too high. Full-face masks do not require the same amount of airflow as nasal masks do.

Second, I'm simply not used to wearing it. I suspect, as I get used to it, I'll leave it on longer.

Fortunately, the new mask is far, far quieter than the old one, so I no longer have the jet engine perched at the end of my nose. Nor do I sound like Darth Vader. I do feel like him, though, with the breath mask covering my face like it does...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

You're welcome to your religion, just like you're welcome to your spleen...

2009-03-11T10:50:00.004-04:00

Stardate 63193.8

...and you should keep both of them to yourself. I mean, who, except a surgeon, has any business looking at your spleen?

I say this because there seems to be an increasing effort to force religious-based morality into the realm of legal issues.

The recent Proposition 8 brawl in California is a prime example.

What business is it of anyone who dictate who a person falls in love with and marries? So long as all parties are CONSENTING ADULTS, neither the government nor anyone else should have anything to say about it.

Has it ever occurred to you that the very people who offend you by staging gay pride parades are equally offended by the very presence of churches? Certainly, not all are, but there are some.

Just think about it. Every argument that can be made against an alternative lifestyle can also be made against a mainstream lifestyle.

For the record, I am not gay. Nor am I bi, poly or any of the several other types of involved in the human condition. But that is because I say so.

Too many people are relying on their religion to define what is and is not "proper", despite a myriad of historical data that shows lifestyles other than what is "proper" have been lived throughout human history.

More and more, people are on a crusade to limit themselves and others based on religion. I say the time has come to stop relying on myth and legend to define one's morality, and just start thinking. Put the book back on the shelf, tell the reverend to get a real job, and THINK for yourself.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

So far, so good...

2009-03-06T20:06:00.002-05:00

Stardate: Supplemental

I don't want to jinx myself, but it looks like CyberPower PC has lived up to their warranty.

Of course, there are a couple of things that make me think that they just sent me a new machine, rather than actually fix the one I sent to them:

The fan speed control knob wiggles, as if it's not attached properly,
The internal wiring appears to be routed differently,
The side panel fan wire was coiled (I had uncoiled it on the first machine so that I could take the panel off and get to the guts),
And the DVD burner seems a lot louder...

But, except for a single bluescreen that was most likely the result of some strange website code, the system has been remarkably stable.

Of course, I've also switched from IE to Firefox, which might have something to do with it...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

The Rest of the Story

2009-02-28T22:11:00.007-05:00

Stardate 63162.5

One of America's most recognizable voices has been silenced this night.

When I was a boy, I'd sit with my grandparents after lunch and listen to WJTN, one of the AM radio stations here in Jamestown. The news would be at noon, and then a most distinctive voice would take over. It was a syndicated show called "The Rest of the Story".

One of the things that made this particular commentator memorable was that he would always read the page numbers on his script, one or two pages per segment, but never more than that.

Even after my grandfather died and I grew into adulthood, I would often visit my grandmother for a light lunch and to listen to that distinctive voice on the radio.

He retired some years later, and my grandmother died soon after, though the two events are not related.

But every time I think of sitting at that old kitchen table, the voice of Paul Harvey is part of those memories.

Paul Harvey died today. He was 90.

And now you know "The Rest of the Story".

Rest well, Paul Havey... Good day!

Friends, Government... and Robin Hood

2009-02-26T23:01:00.004-05:00

Stardate 63157.1

One of my Facebook friends, Rosealinda, did a very good deed for me this evening, and I'd like to publicly thank her.

I'd posted an update saying that I'd almost forgotten that my cable rates had gone up. She commented, and I replied and we went back and forth a bit about how, with the purchase of a new monitor and TV caputure card for my new computer, my finances would be a bit tight and buying minutes for my phone (I like to keep my balance above 300 minutes) would cut into my available cash.

A minute or so later, I get an IM from her, asking how one might add minutes to my phone. We talked a bit about my carrier and Cricket, another carrier that provides low-cost unlimited cellular service (which, sadly, isn't available in this area), and again, she asked about buying minutes for my phone, and whether it could be done online.

I told her not to bother, and that I would buy a 150 minute card instead of a 300 minute card, which I'd planned to buy.

At this point, she asked about PayPal. Again, I told her not to bother.

She made it abundantly clear that she would not take no for an answer...

So I pointed her to my carrier's website, thinking she'd see the rates and decide not to spring for them after all, or spring for the minimum.

A few seconds later, my phone played a snippet of Rush's "Armor and Sword", indicating an incoming SMS message. (I have the opening riff from AC/DC's "Back in Black" as my ringtone.)

350 minutes added...

It's not quite Omaha Steaks territory, but for a guy like me, it's a chunk of change.

Still, it was a very nice gesture. Very Robin Hood, in a way...

Which brings me to the second and third parts of this post's title.

The Democrats, especially their mouthpiece, President Obama, have returned to their misleading propaganda of "tax the rich to pay for programs for the poor".

On the face of it, it's very Robin Hood... but there's a significant difference.

Robin Hood didn't steal from merchants and traders, the businessmen of his time. He knew they worked for their money, and provided jobs for others.

No, Robin Hood took from the political elite of his time, the nobility and clergy. The ones who owned the land, levied taxes and decided policy without consulting those who would be affected.

Today, they'd be known as Congressmen and Senators.

And this is where their self-styled comparison breaks down. Mr. Obama, unlike Robin Hood, is taking not only from the rich, but from the middle class (and don't believe his rhetoric for a second, because he will expand his tax hikes to the middle class)... and gives it to the political elite! Ostensibly, it'll end up with the poor, but with every new spending bill comes a deluge of earmarks for things that would have absolutely zero chance of seeing the light of day if put forward as a separate bill. It's graft, corruption and cronyism at its finest, and business as usual in Washington, DC.

I can't help but think that Robin Hood would take great delight in stealing from Congress. He would think it fitting justice.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Conspiracy Theory and the Strategic Oil Reserve...

2009-02-23T21:59:00.004-05:00

Stardate 63148.8

Unless you've been living on another planet for the last several months, you'll know that the price of oil has been dropping, closing today at $38.44/barrel.

One of the hosts of Fox Business Network's Happy Hour show, Eric Bolling, has been pleading with President Obama to refill the Strategic Oil Reserve now, while oil prices are low, so that we won't get caught in a crisis as bad, or worse than, what we experienced last summer.

Earlier this evening, I was thinking about that, having missed the day's "Street Meat" segment... when a bit of Conspiracy Theory hit me.

Maybe President Obama wants another oil crisis.

He's obviously not a fan of the oil industry, and he has been pushing alternative energy, both for the electrical grid and for cars.

Such a crisis would be the best possible scenario for him. With oil back at $140/barrel, and gas prices flirting with $5/gallon, he can raise taxes on fuel and use the money to fund development of alternative energies... or rather Public Service Announcements advocating such development. Most of the money will likely go to the bloated social programs that have been implimented by the recent "Porkulus" act.

As fuel prices go up, so will the impetus for the development of alternative energy production methods... which are more expensive than oil and coal.

Oh, yes, Obama hates coal, too, despite what he says. Being a liberal Democrat, he's in thrall to the environmental lobby (who are more interested in the politics of destroying the American Industrial base than they are about the environment, but that's another post).

Anyway, back to the more expensive energy production methods. Since these methods are more expensive, the utility taxes would bring in more money. The new windmills and solar farms would be built by, you guessed it, public works, which means AFSCME. And since wind and solar farms require far more maintenance than more traditional power plants (search YouTube for "shredded windmill" for details), it means that much more work for public-sector union people.

As for cars, I see the scenario something like this: Electric cars like the upcoming Chevy Volt will be heavily subsidized, thereby making them comparable to gas-fueled cars in initial price. Then, as they gain a foothold, new taxes are implimented on the purchase of gas-fueled vehicles, pushing them out of the market for the average car buyer. Fewer gas-powered cars, the less need for gas stations, so all those folks are out of a job. Less demand on the oil companies, though refining will always be needed to produce such things as plastics and asphalt. More jobs lost.

While this is going on, taxes on electricity (now being produced by wind and solar farms, and thus more expensive) are slowly raised.

Of course, new technologies never run the way they should, so we'll likely have a great deal of servicing required on these new, electric cars. Especially in places like the Northeast, where winter weather is not kind to most batteries.

In the end, we have expensive power being fed into expensive to maintain vehicles, gas taxes that make gas-powered cars too expensive to run, thereby locking drivers into using cars that are too expensive to maintain.

At this point, with the nation's transportation system breaking down because nobody can afford to drive, the government steps in and nationalizes not only the auto industry but the power generation facilities, thereby bringing socialist control to the nation's power and transportation grids. Everyone will then receive a golf cart that can only be driven 20 miles at 5 miles per hour.

Obama and his elites, of course, will still be chauffeured around in gasoline-powered Cadillac limousines.

Like I said, this is conspracy theory... but what if Obama does want an oil crisis, for some reason...?

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Sometimes, you have to hit rock bottom before you can recover... but the Democrats can't understand that.

2009-02-20T16:52:00.004-05:00

Stardate 63140.0

I wonder where the Democrats got the idea that one can solve the problems caused by massive spending of money one doesn't have by spending even more money one doesn't have.

Those who work with recovering addicts often say that one needs to hit rock bottom before true recovery can begin. Yet this nation's current government is not only preventing the economy from hitting rock bottom, but is actively preventing its recovery! It's like somebody giving a cocaine addict a kilo of the stuff and saying, "Here, snort this."

To their credit, not one Republican Congressman voted for this massive "Porkuzilla" act, and only three GOP senators committed political suicide.

Still, I wonder what would have happened if there had been no stimulus act, no Auto Industry bailout, and no TARP. Would the electronic run on the banks that Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D - PA) described really have brought down the entire planet's financial system?

I think not. There have been runs on banks before, and there will be runs on banks in the future. The world keeps turning. Stocks go up, stocks go down, as do the prices of homes.

I suspect it wouldn't have been pretty, but a short, severe recession is far more easily recovered from than a slightly shallower, yet artifically prolonged, one.

And I'm not even going to start the rant about all the pork in this thing, nor about the idea that this is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to spending... Those will be topics for future posts, once someone has actually had the time to identify such things.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Bad Luck Box

2009-02-13T01:13:00.005-05:00

Stardate 63119.0

Well, I finally got my new computer... and nine days later, I'm sending it back for servicing.

The thing must have defective parts. There's just no other way to describe it.

Here's the situation:

Right out of the box, the thing booted up fine and ran for about 18 hours. I was able to transfer my personal files and install some older apps like Office 2003.

After 18 hours, however, the thing threw up a Blue Screen of Death and I had to restart it... at which time it threw up another BSoD. So I restarted again, and it came up. I installed a couple more apps, like the Adobe CS3 bundle and one game, SPORE.

They worked fine... for about another 18 hours.

Yup, you guessed it. A BSoD.

About this time I noticed that the bluescreens were accompanied by temperature spikes in the CPU. Nothing serious, mind you, since the temperature limit on the Intel Core 2 Duo is around 80 degrees C, and the spikes were at 41 at the most.

Anyway, this pattern continued for eight days. On the ninth, it got much, much worse.

Instead of a bluescreen every 18 hours, I was getting them every five minutes. That's FIVE MINUTES. Most of the time, I couldn't do ANYTHING without a bluescreen coming up, and there were so many on boot that the machine was essentially useless.

So I reinstalled Windows (Vista Home Premium 64bit), knowing that any bad drivers would be replaced by the fresh install, so that if it were a software issue, that would take care of it.

Uh-uh.

The machine booted up to the desktop, but the moment I tried doing anything with it...

You guessed it. ANOTHER bluescreen.

In the space of about four hours, there were at least thirty of the damned things, and they weren't at all consistent:

MEMORY MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION
INTERRUPT EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
INTERNAL POWER ERROR (this one really scared me)
DRIVER IRQ NOT LESS OR EQUAL (this one was common)
CACHE MANAGER (this was the most common after the fresh install)
PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA (this was also common)

Bluescreens even interrupted CHKDSK four times!

At this point, I was convinced it was a hardware error, and I had ended up with what a friend of mine called a "Bad Luck Box". His first guess was bad memory, but he also admitted that it could be something with the motherboard or processor, since the machine was running quite cool, and frequent bluescreens such as the above list are usually indicative of overheating.

To their credit, CyberPower PC is living up to their limited warranty, and are paying the shipping costs to return the machine for servicing. Unfortunately, since I didn't buy it from them, they can't do anything more than service, since the place I did buy it from has a strict "no refunds" policy on complete computer systems (though if I had bought it in parts, I could have gotten one).

Hopefully, I'll get a machine that works at the end of all this. If not this particular model, something even better...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

More on the subject of the Religious Right...

2009-02-05T18:06:00.004-05:00

Stardate 63099.0

I got involved in another argument with a Christian Fundamentalist today. Thing is, it wasn't even my argument. But it was about a subject I feel strongly about, so I added my two cents.

The problem was gay marriage.

Personally, I don't care if a guy wants to marry a woman, another guy or a goat. So long as both are consenting adults, I think they should have the right to marry.

But all these fundamentalists point to a single line in a novel written by committee as justification to deny an entire segment of humanity their basic human rights just because they happen to be attracted to a member of their own gender.

Whatever happened to tolerance? Whatever happened to understanding? Whatever happened to being Christian?

I was raised an Evangelical Christian, which is the exact denomination that dominates the Religious Right in America (I was even baptized into my local evangelical congregation), and what they're preaching is NOT what I learned growing up. When did this religion of peace and 'good news' become a haven for bigotry?

Is it any wonder I've renounced organized religion?

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Conservative Atheists... and other marginalized Republicans/Conservatives/Conservative-Libertarians

2009-01-31T22:26:00.004-05:00

Stardate 63085.8

In my last post, I railed a bit about how the religious right (especially the Evangelical Christian movement) has essentially usurped control of the Republican Party, and are increasingly marginalizing people like me.

I quickly discovered that I am not alone. One of my Facebook friends, who goes by the moniker Moxie, has started a group there called Conservative Atheists.

It's small at the moment, with only 23 members, but we have high hopes.

We're even looking into forming a Political Action Committee (PAC) to advance the idea of non-religious candidates in the Republican Party and general opposition to the influence of religious groups in politics.

Let me make one thing clear up front: We are not anti-faith. Conservative Atheists and Agnostics, unlike their liberal counterparts, readily recognize the importance of faith to those who hold it important. Some, like myself, may be against organized religion, but that's based on things like the rampant hypocrisy inherent in such organizations.

Nor are we opposed to traditionally conservative values. We merely base them on something other than religion.

Hopefully, as more people realize just how those like me and Moxie are being marginalized by our own political compatriots, more people may join us in breaking the stranglehold the religious right has on both the Republican Party and the wider Conservative movement.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Atheists, Agnostics, Free-thinkers and other Moderates need not apply...

2009-01-25T20:21:00.005-05:00

Stardate 63069.2

I got into another political argument today, but not with a liberal the way most of them are. This time, it was with a couple of Christian conservatives.

I admit, I brought it on myself by posting the idea that I might form a group on Facebook called "Dump the Religious Right".

If you saw my post entitled "A bit of Monday-morning quarterbacking", you'll remember that I believe John McCain lost the presidential election because he was dragged to the right by the religious conservatives. I still believe that.

And I believe that, if she to have any hope in 2012, Sarah Palin will have to put her strongest religious beliefs in a box, for I believe that twenty-first century politics is no place for eighteenth-century religion.

Now, that doesn't mean I'm one of those atheists who believe we should take "In God We Trust" off our money and public buildings. Like it or not, that is the nation's motto, and it should remain, but for historical, not religious reasons.

Yet there are those who think that is the absolute wrong way, and believe only by MORE religious strangulation can the Republican party return to the majority. They blame President Obama's victory on those within the Republican party who dragged it to the left. Those they know as RINOs: Republicans In Name Only.

Just as the Democrats consider people like Joe Liebermann to be political apostates, those on the religious right consider people like me not only political, but social apostates. They consider my very indifference in issues like abortion and stem cell research to be a personal insult. Indeed, many look at me as if I were a mass-murderer.

WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!! It is that very intolerance of anything even approaching moderation that caused the backlash against the Republican Party.

And the only way to end that backlash is to get back to the kind of party Ronald Reagan led: Fiscally conservative, strong on national defense, in support of small government, and CENTRIST on damn near everything else.

If we don't, we're going to be stuck with neo-Communists like Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi for generations to come.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

It's been forty years...

2009-01-25T02:49:00.005-05:00

Stardate 63067.2

The last time a person from Upstate New York sat in the United States Senate was 1968, when Republican Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller appointed Congressman Charles E. Godell (father of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell) to fill the seat left vacant by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.

I had not yet been born when that happened, still having a few months' worth of pre-natal growing to do, and have no memory of Senator Goodell's time in office. But, in doing a bit of research, I'd learned that Goodell, though something of a conservative in the US House of Representatives, became something of a liberal in the Senate, even introducing a measure calling for the impeachment of Richard Nixon.

Personally, I can forgive him that, his being a hometown boy, and all. Were I old enough at the time, I'd probably have supported such a measure.

But that's unimportant to this post.

On Friday, January 23, Governor David Patterson appointed Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, from the state's 20th District, to fill the seat left by Hillary Clinton's appointment and confirmation to the post of Secretary of State.

This is important for several reasons.

First, she is a Blue Dog Democrat, and has been very outspoken about fiscal responsibility.

Second, she's considered moderate or even conservative on a number of issues. She is a staunch supporter of gun rights, even receiving a 100% favorable rating from the National Rifle Association. She opposes granting amnesty or non-emergency benefits to illegal immigrants, and has even criticized the H-2A visa system as the wrong way to provide workers for farm jobs. And, she supports making English the nation's official language.

Of course, being a Democrat, she is quite liberal on other issues, such as same-sex marriage, abortion and stem-cell research. Which is fine by me, since, as a moderate (dare we say liberal?) Republican, I tend to support such issues as well, though not to the same extreme.

But what makes Ms. Gillibrand's appointment a matter for celebration by millions of New Yorkers who live outside the Five Boroughs and Long Island is where her district lies. New York's 20th Congressional District lies in the Hudson Valley, along the state's eastern border, stretching as far north as mid-Vermont and as far south as mid-Connecticut, as well as "inland" from the border to the south of Albany. Indeed, the district effectively surrounds the state capitol on three sides.

That's right. Kirsten Gilliband is from upstate New York.

Let us hope that she will resist the pressures of her party and represent US, for the first time in forty years.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

An open letter to Barack Obama

2009-01-18T03:31:00.006-05:00

Stardate 63048.1

Mr. Obama:

On Tuesday, at the stroke of noon in Washington, you will be sworn in as the forty-fourth President of the United States.

You have my congratulations.

I must disclose the fact that, up until just a few hours ago, I was going to say that I would never address you or refer to you as such. But I find that I cannot deny you that courtesy despite the fact that I neither voted for you nor consider you the right person for the job.

Frankly, Sir, you frighten me in ways that I have not known since I was a young boy, growing up in a rust-belt city that was plunged into economic ruin by policies very much like those you espouse. I fear that you will actually implement the policies of then President Carter which drove interest rates to double digits and created rampant inflation.

Not to mention policies that put my father out of work for a year, plunging my family into poverty that we have never fully recovered from.

I fear that you will move forward with establishing a socialized health care system similar in form to the British National Health System, which is considered by most in Britain to be the worst bureaucratic quagmire in that nation's history. In this, I urge you to look to your former opponent for the correct way to go, and open health insurance policies to out-of-state buyers. It is the free market, not government-run programs, which drive prices down and quality up.

I fear that you will develop the same type of tunnel vision that former President Clinton did, and concentrate on one part of the Middle East while ignoring the growing threats against us in the wider region. While I will grant that the rise of the Taliban and Al Qaeda were largely the result of policies from the Reagan and Bush, Sr. administrations, it was President Clinton's lack of decisive action which allowed the tragedy of 9/11/2001 to happen.

I fear you will perpetuate the racism that has been instilled in post-civil rights movement minorities by continuing policies like Affirmative Action. You had an excellent opportunity to display true post-racialism, yet you squandered it. Because you have, I fear I will not live to see the day when the words "I am black" have no more meaning than the words "I have blue eyes," and terms like hyphenated-Americans are but a distant memory; a time when "separate but equal is wrong" applies to everyone as it should.

I fear you will not adequately fund our space program, leaving us in the same position we were in during the late 1970's, with no manned American presence in space at all. Such a policy would be a travesty, and would only accelerate the fall of this nation from its once unequaled position as the leader in innovation and invention.

I fear you will reduce the size of our military and intelligence forces, leaving this nation woefully unprepared to defend itself. It is only with a well-trained, well-funded military of overwhelming strength, and the willingness to use it, that one can even contemplate opening dialogue with those who wish nothing more than to see our eradication.

I fear these things based upon your own words and your own actions. As a United States Senator, you have consistently supported ideas that are dangerous to this country. I fear, more than anything else, that, despite your current outreach to all segments of the American political spectrum, you will revert to form.

That said, I do commend you for several of your policies, such as the search for alternatives to abortion while keeping that procedure (given that it is performed only during the first trimester) legal and your support of stem cell research.

Change is a laudable concept, so long as it is not change back to the failed policies of previous administrations. I see a bright future for this nation. However, should you pursue the policies you espouse, that future will not come to pass within my lifetime, if at all.

As a Republican, I shall endeavor to ensure that you do not serve for more than four years.

But I will not mimic those who disagreed with President Bush. I shall, should we ever meet, address you as "Mr. President" and, in conversation and writings, I shall refer to you as "President Obama".

However much it pains me to do so.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Deflation is happening. Mr. Higgins, please don't screw it up.

2009-01-15T19:24:00.005-05:00

Stardate 63041.7

This is sort of an open letter to my Congressman, Brian Higgins of New York's 27th District, but I'm sure it's equally applicable to your own Congressman...

The last couple of times I went to my local Wal-Mart Supercenter for groceries, I noticed that prices on a lot of things have dropped. Of note on my last visit were a gallon of milk for $1.99 and Maruchan Instant Lunch ramen cups for 38¢ each. I bought one of the former (I usually buy milk by the half-gallon) and an entire 24-unit case of the latter. I also bought some stuff that I normally wouldn't have bought, so ended up spending about $10 more than usual.

But that ten dollars has allowed me to stretch my groceries from a week and a half to two weeks, and leaves me enough in my EBT account to do the exact same thing again.

That is, if this deflation doesn't suddenly turn into hyper-inflation. If it does, it will be partially your fault, Mr. Higgins. I say that because you have been consistently voting in favor of the deluge of bailouts that have come before Congress.

We are rapidly approaching the point where there simply won't be any money to pay for these bailouts. No tax revenue (you've bled the American taxpayers dry), no loans from China (they've finally realized that the USA is a very bad investment risk) which leaves only one alternative: print more money.

There's just one thing wrong with printing more money. Every dollar printed that isn't offset by the destruction of a dollar bill or coin reduces the buying power of that dollar and every other dollar. Thus, each dollar buys a little less, which leads to inflation.

And every bailout you vote in favor of, Mr. Higgins, brings us that much closer to the tipping point.

So please, Mr. Higgins, let a little more deflation happen before prices stabilize. Don't screw it up with more bailouts.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

(Oh, and that undead hard drive of mine... has finally died for good. RIP...)

Life Imitates Art... Imitates Life...

2009-01-13T03:16:00.006-05:00

Stardate 63034.4

If you've watched any first-run syndicated television, you've undoubtedly heard of a show called Legend of the Seeker. It's from the same folks that brought us Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.

At the beginning of each episode, there's a title which reads Based on "The Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind. Having read a number of these books (there are ten, plus a short story prequel - I'm currently on number six), I am convinced that title should read Extremely Loosely Based... But I digress a bit.

By the third book, we are introduced to a character named Jagang, who leads something called The Imperial Order, which has conquered the vast territory known as the Old World.

He did it with what, on the surface, would seem to be kindness: It is not just good karma, but one's sacred duty to help others.

Like I said, on the surface, this seems a laudable goal. However, the form that it takes is anything but. In the territory controlled by the Imperial order, society is divided into two basic parts: a tiny ruling elite and everyone else. There is no such thing as a Middle Class. Even those who do work are desperately poor because the very thought of making a living for oneself is considered an anathema against society. All work is divided equally, so that no one company can have an advantage over any other, and labor groups are the absolute arbiters on almost all work, save that of building Emperor Jagang's new palace... a palace the size of Manhattan.

Such a society inevitably evolved into an entitlement mentality, in which everyone relied on the government to take money from those who worked and give it to those who didn't... whether it was needed or not. As a result, productivity dropped and the poverty of the general population deepened, while the ruling elite (those who knew who to schmooze) became an aristocracy.

I'm sure most would recognize the old Soviet Union as the pattern Mr. Goodkind used for the Imperial Order. Unfortunately, far too few see our own society beginning to adopt that same pattern.

This country has had entitlement programs for decades. Indeed, I am alive today largely due to several such programs. My psychological lack of a traditional work ethic makes me ill-suited to life without them. But there is one thing you will never hear come out of my mouth in relation to any entitlement: "It is mine by right."

If I believed that, I would not be writing this blog in the hope that, someday, I might earn the not so coveted title of Pundit and be invited to contribute to some more widely-read publication, such as Town Hall or National Review. Nor would I be a member of the Republican Party. Of course, having attended the School of Hard Knocks, rather than an accredited university, one of the main qualifications for the title is conspicuously absent.

If I believed that, I would be one of those people living in South Chicago who actually believe that, with the snap of his fingers, Barack Obama will pay off all their bills and give them a life of luxury... and will still support him, even after he proves he can't do that, just because he has that little D next to his name. Everyone knows that, so long as people who have that little D next to their names are in power, the entitlements will keep flowing.

But I don't believe that. I know that, likely in the not-too-distant future, I will be confronted with a choice I have made before: adopt that traditional work ethic or die.

I hate to say it, but my personality is such that, given that choice, I will most likely choose death. Better to spare myself and others the slow poison of working at a job I hate than subject anyone to the bitter man I would become. I grew up with such a man, and I would not force that on anyone. And, since I have no children, no wife, no significant other (which, in itself is another posting entirely), I don't have to.

But that is a discussion for another time. Back to the Imperial Order, and the entitlement mentality. Our own government has embarked on that slippery slope. In providing bailouts to the financial and automotive industry, they are propping up businesses that should be allowed to merge or outright fail, much as the Imperial Order does by dividing any work equally among all companies in a sector. Thus, they have shown corporate America that the entitlements offered to the poor and disabled are available to them, as well. What so many miss in that equation is the simple truth that what works for individuals fails miserably when applied to corporate entities, and the very application of such an equation is likely to doom us all.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

WHO wants a bailout???

2009-01-07T17:32:00.004-05:00

Stardate 63019.4

If you've been reading my last several posts, you'll know that I'm against the rash of bailouts that industries across America have requested from Congress.

And now the porn industry wants one.

The PORN Industry???

What the... no, that's too easy.

If there's ANY industry that does not need a bailout, it's the porn industry. I mean, come on. Sorry, that's too easy a pun, too. But think about it. Everybody likes sex, and the porn industry capitalized on that. The porn industry essentially secured the place of the VCR in American life. And the Internet. The porn industry, more than any other, has monetized the World Wide Web.

And now they want a bailout???

Screw that.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Let the Deluge Begin...

2009-01-04T12:48:00.004-05:00

Stardate 63010.8

Eric Bolling got it right again.

He predicted, some time ago, that the US steel industry would be the next to ask for a bailout from the Federal Government.

News reports dated as early as January 2 show that the steel industry will be asking for as much as $1 Trillion in bailout funds from the incoming Obama administration.

Not only that, but they're hoping for a 'buy American' provision in any public works initiated by the Obama stimulus plan.

My prediction is that they will get it. Not because they need it or can use it to re-structure the industry, but because their workers are unionized. The USWA is calling the shots on this one.

That's right. Another mega-union is saying "jump!" and the Democrats in Washington are answering, "Yes, Master!"

Boeing will probably be next. It's one of those 'National Security' companies that has been hamstrung by union legacy costs.

Of course, there are five governors (Democrats all) who are already lobbying the Obama transition team and Congressional leaders for a Trillion-dollar bailout for their states (Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Ohio).

Five states, I hasten to add, whose budgets have been turned into quicksand by AFSCME, the largest public-sector mega-union in the country.

By the way, AFSCME's website opens with a celebration of Barack Obama's victory and impending presidency, saying "A change has come. Hope is here."

If anyone wants to bet these states won't get their bailout, they're making a sucker bet.

They will get it, specifically because of another mega-union.

And y'know, I bet if you look closely at AFSCME and USWA, you'll find just as much shady dealing as has been found in the UAW. Maybe even a golf course or two.

(And don't get me started about how Chrysler and the UAW had the unmitigated gall to actually thank America for their bailout...)

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

A truly WTF moment...

2008-12-28T04:11:00.002-05:00

Stardate: Too tired (and freaked out) to care...

I just had a true "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" moment.

A bit over a week ago, my tertiary (what was my secondary before the old computer died) hard drive suffered a write-back error and apparently died. Windows reported that the data it was trying to write to it had been lost, at which time both Windows and the system BIOS stopped recognizing it.

For all intents and purposes, the drive had died, presumably be shaking itself to death due to the fact that it's not mounted as securely as I'd wanted because it's a 3.5 inch drive and the only open bays were 5.25 inch.

But today, at about 3AM, something truly bizarre happened.

My apartment suffered a brown-out, which reset my digital cable TV converter and my computer. For a few seconds, the computer refused to turn on, and my heart froze with the thought that ANOTHER computer had given up the ghost, and I would be computer-less for the entire month of January, until I could finish raising the funds for a new one (or break down and buy a cheap laptop/netbook and start saving all over again).

But then I remembered that many computer power supplies have a sort of built-in circuit breaker designed to trip in such cases (though they don't always work, of course). So, I cycled the switch on the back of the computer (on the power supply itself) and then the computer turned on as normal.

But it seemed a bit slow coming up, so I brought up Windows Explorer as soon as it would come up, fearing that I had lost a second hard drive.

But what do my wondering eyes should appear but an F: drive! I didn't even notice it showing up in the BIOS check.

IT'S ALIVE!!!

I'm not sure if this is my opinion. I actually expect the thing to die on me again before I can install it into the new computer (until I get a 1TB SATA drive)...

More outrage about the UAW...

2008-12-27T10:51:00.004-05:00

Stardate 62990.8

Yesterday, I read a rather interesting bit of news on FoxNews.com about the $33 million resort owned by the United Auto Workers.

A resort that includes a $6 million, professionally-designed golf course.

And they're losing money on it.

No wonder they don't want to play ball. They need to keep up their Country Club!

A country club, I hasten to add, that probably 90% of UAW members will never use, and half of whom don't even know exists!

Do you really think some shmoe working at the Tonawanda Engine Plant would make a pilgrimage to this place just because it's a UAW golf course? Hell, no! There are plenty of courses right here in Western New York that guy could play at (or so I'm told by acquaintances who golf), many of them professionally-designed, and much less expensive.

Let's face reality here. Sure, this place holds labor conferences and educational seminars on subjects near and dear to liberals' hearts, but that's a sideline. The main reason this place exists is for the corporate level guys (you know, the ones who stand behind the UAW lecterns, wearing the UAW logo-embroidered shirts and blazers) to take their pet politicians and other VIPs out for a private round of golf now and then in an effort to maintain and expand their own political influence, which has become far more important to the union bigwigs than what they should be doing, which is working for their members.

What's next? An item in the UAW budget for hookers and blow?

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

As if GM wasn't getting enough from the Feds... or rather, as if the UAW wasn't getting enough...

2008-12-24T22:28:00.006-05:00

Stardate 62983.9

As if they weren't already giving billions upon billions (and you know it will be, regardless of what they say now) to General Motors, today the Treasury Department announced that it was allowing GMAC to become a bank holding company, thereby giving it access to even more of the 700 billion TARP fund.

Please tell me I am not the only person who thinks this is an apocalyptically bad idea!

This is just another way of paying the UAW for supporting the Democrats in the last election. They've done it before, and they'll do it again.

What's next? Declare school systems bank holding companies so the NEA can get their hands on our money? Or trucking companies so the Teamsters can get some? While I feel for the rank and file, it's the "corporate" level of these unions that have been nothing but trouble for the American economy for decades.

Give me a break! Better yet, let's break some of these unions that have stopped caring about their members in favor of caring about how many politicians they can buy. And while we're at it, let's get rid of some of these politicians. 2010 will be here sooner than anyone thinks. It's time to start looking for some new, honest blood to fill the seats in Washington that so desperately need it.

Here's a quick prediction, referring back to Eric Bolling's open letter to the Big Three automakers: Ford is still in the running for a guaranteed purchase by Mr. Bolling by refusing money from the bailout package being offered by the White House. I predict they will soon take themselves out of the running by following GM's lead in having their financial arm declared a bank holding company. I still say Mr. Bolling's next car will be a Subaru... or maybe a BMW. He is a Wall Street guy, after all.

Me? I'll be getting a pair of New Balance walking shoes. I can't afford anything else...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

A few thoughts, early on Christmas Eve...

2008-12-24T03:19:00.006-05:00

Stardate 62981.7

It doesn't feel much like Christmas.

In fact, it hasn't for quite a few years. Ever since my grandmother died, my family has sort of drifted apart, especially my sister and I.

Oh, we still talk from time to time, when we happen to run into each other, but neither of us goes to any length to talk to each other. I haven't attended any family functions for many a year, mostly due to my rather extreme dislike of my brother-in-law's sense of humor.

Don't get me wrong. I love them all. Travis is a great guy, and he and Misty have raised, by all accounts, a good kid in my nephew, Caleb. It's just that he has a habit of finding the thing that annoys a person most and then forcing them to experience it. For me, that's twangy country music.

I can stand the newer stuff. Shania Twain, Billy Ray Cyrus, even Kenny Rogers is fine with me. It's the old-style that I can't handle. You know what I'm talking about. The stuff that made people like Hank Williams, Sr., Patsy Kline and Loretta Lynn famous. The stuff that makes anyone under 45 want to stick nine inch nails through their tympanic membranes.

And the worst part about it is that it's the same stuff I was force-fed as a child. My parents absolutely eat it up, as does my sister.

She found the perfect guy in Travis, since he pretty much lives the whole "country" lifestyle: horses, native American art; the whole nine yards. Every time I visited their house, it was like stepping into the Cartwright place from an old Bonanza episode.

I hated it.

Of course, I'm sure they'd hate my idea of the perfect home, which is something akin to that Trek-themed flat in London that sold not too long ago for more than $3 million.

I do still get presents from my parents. This year, they gave me a few kitchen gadgets, mostly from late-night infomercials. So far, the most useful (a whole two times) is the Magic Bullet blender. I will admit, it works as advertised. They also got me one of those GT Xpress electric grill thingys. I haven't tried that, yet, due to the fact that I don't have any fresh food available. That'll have to wait until next week.

They also gave me one of those convertible whisk/tong thingys... which took a chunk out of my little finger when I found the catch that was holding it together, under tension from the spring near the end. Not at the end, just far enough away to grab my little finger almost dead-center of the pad, that part that contains one's fingerprints, and rip out a chunk about half the diameter of a standard eraser.

Of course, this year, I've been more or less actively avoiding Christmas. I haven't been listening to my Trans-Siberian Orchestra or Mannheim Steamroller CDs, nor have I been watching any of the TV specials. I will be watching the Doctor Who Christmas Special, however, since I'm as big a Whovian as I am a Trekkie.

I guess it's mostly due to the fact that I'll be spending that particular day alone (again), but it just doesn't feel like Christmas anymore.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Racism and the continuing double-standard

2008-12-17T11:21:00.006-05:00

Stardate 62963.5

I am a regular viewer of Fox News' STRATEGY ROOM webcast, and a frequent email contributor.

Today, during a discussion about the "No cake for little Hitler" news story, Harris Faulkner (the host of the 9-10:30 block on this particular day) read the following, which I had emailed in:

Subject: I am NOT defending white
supremacists, but...

Ms. Faulkner:

This "baby Hitler" story brings to light the continuing
double-standard in American culture.

If a minority family did something like this (with
anti-white racist leaders), there would be no story.

And it's a repeating pattern. Minorities are
allowed to be racist in complete silence, but the moment a white person shows even a glimmer of racism, the screams for crucifixion are deafening.

Now, I admit that this particular email was a bit vague as to my intent, but one would think that we have grown as a culture and a species enough that it would be clear the average person that the intent was to decry racism, regardless of the source.
Sadly, several of the panelists proved that we have not. They jumped to the exact opposite conclusion, one going so far as to call me reprehensible for defending white racism.
To her credit, Ms. Faulkner did thank me for the email. I believe she did draw the intended conclusion.
Racism is wrong: that held by minorities no less than that held by whites. Yet American culture does not see anti-white racism as wrong.
Why? Racism is racism. A black man spouting racist epithets should be condemned just as much as a white man doing so. Or a latino. Or an Asian. Or a Native American.
Yet it is only a white racist who is seen as reprehensible.
If it is wrong for one ethnic group to be racist, it MUST be just as wrong for ANY ethnic group to be racist.
The double-standard must end.
That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Thank you, Mr. Bolling!

2008-12-15T16:28:00.003-05:00

Stardate 62958.5

Just a quick note to say thanks to Fox Business Network's (and Strategy Room host) Eric Bolling for mentioning this blog on today's Strategy Room.

Unfortunately, he didn't give the URL, but at least I know he actually read the last entry...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Unions, greed and the Auto Bailout

2008-12-13T15:22:00.006-05:00

Stardate 62953.0

Well, the auto bailout has died in Congress (thank you, Senators!), but now the White House is pledging to keep the US auto industry afloat...

When the hell did George W. Bush become a Democrat???

I mean, yeah, he's cut taxes and done a lot of other things out of the Republican playbook, but just about everything he's done in the last couple of months has been right out of the Democratic playbook!

And yet liberals still consider him evil incarnate...

But I digress.

A few days ago, Fox Business Reporter Eric Bolling posted an open letter to the US Auto Industry and the United Auto Workers union.

You can find it at http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/09/bolling_automakers/
and his follow-up at http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/12/bolling_promise1/

I grew up in a union household. For over 30 years, my father was a member of a Fireman & Oilers' local. During that time, there was one strike that lasted two weeks. Very rarely did the bigwigs from the Fireman & Oilers' Union get involved, and never higher than the regional level, most often after the fact. As a result, all negotiations between the union and the company were done at the local level.

We had good healthcare, my father brought home decent wages, and my parents are living on my father's decent pension (recent losses in the stocks funding it nothwithstanding). Their current health plan is better than most, at a lower cost.

The UAW could learn from my father and his union.

Mr. Bolling is right when he says it's the UAW's fault, more than any, for the current state of the US Auto Industry. He is also right to call for the breaking of the UAW.

But only at the top levels. Leave the locals alone.

Western New York has a number of auto plants represented by the UAW. Throughout my life, there have been disputes, lockouts and strikes, yet most of the workers' complaints were about how the heads of the UAW were dictating settlement terms.

Given the opportunity, most of the locals would have accepted the terms offered by the Big Three, thereby avoiding the disputes and strikes.

The UAW blames the greed of the Big Three for the troubles the industry is currently experiencing. Sure, there is some of that, but they should look in the mirror if they want to see real greed.

If I had the money, I'd join Mr. Bolling's pledge. Sadly, I think his next car will be a Subaru.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Congratulations!

2008-11-16T19:31:00.003-05:00

Stardate 62879.5

Well, he was a week late, but my mate in Wales' wife finally gave birth to a 7 lb, 15 oz baby boy at 9:45 (British Standard Time) this morning.

Paul, the proud daddy, reports that mother and son are doing fine, though the birth was by emergency C-section.

Congrats, Mate!

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Time for some Monday-morning quarterbacking...

2008-11-09T03:43:00.004-05:00

Stardate 62858.5

Well, as expected, the Republicans lost the election, and we are now stuck with Mr. Obama for the next four years.

So why did it happen? There are several reasons:

1. Coherency. Senator McCain should have picked one message and stuck to it.
2. Gaffes. If you're planning to run a campaign in which one distances oneself from a sitting president, one should not be perceived as agreeing with said president. Senator McCain's "I voted with President Bush 90% of the time" line was gold for the Obama campaign, and they exploited it.
3. He didn't play to his strength. This relates to #1. McCain needed to stick with what worked.
4. Over-handling. It is the candidate who sets the tone of the campaign, not the staffers. McCain forgot that, and let himself be handled too much.

So what does the Republican party need to do to regain its rightful place in American politics?

Here's my advice, as a new moderate (dare we say liberal?) Republican:

First and foremost, Stop pandering to the Religious Right. They need us far more than we need them. It's not like there are many places for them to go, since the only other major party on the right side of the spectrum are the Conservatives, and in Presidential politics, I have yet to see a Republican candidate who is not also running on the Conservative ticket. The Religious Right has usurped control of the Republican Party, and they've dragged us to the far right. It's time to take our party back from them.

Second, Understand that pro-Choice is not the same as pro-Abortion. The party's stance on a woman's right to choose is alienating a huge voter block; one which we must reclaim in order to have any hope in the coming years. One must realize that the vast majority of those who are pro-Choice will never have an abortion. They merely demand that the option be available should they ever have need for it. Senator Obama capitalized on this by playing up abortion alternatives, such as contraception and adoption. If we are to have any hope with women, we must do the same. Instead of having a platform of "ban abortion", we should have one of "give women other options, and shut up about abortion." Additionally, we're going to have to give up the abstinance-only idea when it comes to sex education. Preaching abstinence to horny teenagers is like trying to draw pictures in a pond. You just can't do it. They're going to experiment, like it or not.

Third, Stop opposing gay rights. This doesn't mean one should advocate for them. I mean we should just shut up and let them be themselves. If they want to get married, let them. Same with adoption. They're people. Treat them accordingly. Just shut up.

Fourth, understand that social welfare programs are needed by some, but work best when administered at the local level. This has been lost over the decades since the New Deal. Instead of pumping money into the economy with gigantic bailout packages, we should simply provide block grants to state and county level social services and let them distribute the money. Propping up businesses is not a good use of taxpayer money.

Fifth, we need to educate the public on the reality of the global ecology. Al Gore has singlehandedly made this a partisan issue, and there are a multitude of liberal university types who advocate draconian policies while ignoring the reality of just what they will, and more importantly, will not do. We need to make two things clear: 1. Even if we do adopt these draconian measures, there are a number of countries (including China, India and Mexico) who will not, thereby negating any good we could do; 2. Mankind's contribution to global climate change is minimal, at best. Perhaps 5%, if that much.

Sixth, and most importantly, we must reclaim the center. One of the reasons Ronald Reagan was so wildly popular was that he knew how to appeal to a wide audience: something that his successors in the Republican Party have not been able to do. I believe we must look at our policies and abandon those which alienate the segments of the American population we need in order to win. That does not mean we should abandon our core principles. It merely means we shouldn't be so adamant about them. Instead or overturning Roe v. Wade, let's find how far the average woman is willing to compromise, and meet her there. Instead of trying to ban gay marriage, take the word marriage out of government language altogether and make them all civil unions. Leave marriage to the church, where it belongs. Return to compassionate conservatism, knowing that there are some people who cannot survive without help from the government.

Of course, there are certain things we must remain adamant about: a strong national defense, low taxes (on EVERYBODY, not just certain segments) and spending control are the top three. Personally, I would include a few "niche" issues, such as support for manned space exploration, but that's just me.

Sarah Palin was an excellent choice by the McCain campaign. If she wants to have a chance in 2012, she should take the above advice, else we'll be stuck with four more years of Mr. Obama.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Welcome back to 1976...

2008-11-05T14:45:00.003-05:00

Stardate 62848.8

Well, the American people have spoken, and the ultra-liberal Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States.

In my opinion, it was racism that elected him. Black racism, that is. Over 90% of the black vote went to him, despite the fact that polls showed people don't trust him.

I certainly don't trust him, though I'll probably benefit from his policies. Of course, while people like me benefit, American business will essentially die, and this financial crisis will become the Second Great Depression.

Hopefully, the Republican party can re-take Congress in 2010 and Obama will be ousted in 2012.

There are simply too many parallels with the Carter Administration.

Welcome back to 1976.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

For those wondering just what a Nottingham class CKE is...

2008-10-31T01:21:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62833.4

For those of you wondering what that starship I mention over on the right looks like, here it is:

Nottingham class

HULL DATA:
Class Name - Nottingham class
Type - Large Exploratory Cruiser (CKE)
Overall Length - 538.65 meters
Overall Width - 419.25 meters
Overall Draft - 93.5 meters
Displacement - 3,195,000 metric tons (standard)

COMPUTER SYSTEMS:
Control Computer Type - M18 Duotronic VI w/ARCC
Interface - LCARS
Memory - Isolinear with Biomnemonic Gelpack Nodes
Navigation Computer Type - Coridan RAV/ISHAK Mod 5 Warp Guidance

TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT DATA:
Runabouts - 2
Shuttlecraft –
Delta Flyer class Supershuttle - 2
Type 16 Shuttlepod - 10
Type 6 Personnel Shuttle - 5
Type 20 Personnel Shuttle - 8
Type 10 Cargo Shuttle - 2
Work Bees - 8
Gryphon class Fighters - 10
Arrow class Executive Barge - 1

SHIP’S COMPLIMENT:
Officers - 157
Enlisted - 473
Dependents/Passengers - Up to 1000
Standard Compliment - 1630
Maximum Compliment - 5000

PERFORMANCE:
Maximum Attainable Velocity - Warp Factor 9.92
Maximum Cruising Velocity - Warp Factor 9.2
Standard Cruising Velocity - Warp Factor 8.0
Cruising Range - 12-15 years

ENGINES AND POWER DATA:
Power Unit Type - Matter/Antimatter Reactor Assembly

Warp Engine Type - Chiokis CK-105b System
Number - 2

Impulse Drive Type - Chiokis FIG-7
Number - 2
Placement - Primary Hull

Tractor Beam Type - FTBB
Number - 3

OFFENSIVE SYSTEMS:
Beam Weapon Type - Type XII Phaser Strip
Number - 11 Firing Arc - Omnidirectional
Maximum Emitter Strength - 8.0 MW

Missile Weapon Type - Mk 90 (Type VIII) Photon Torpedo
Number - 3 Firing Arc - 2f/1a
Warhead Yield - Variable

Missile Weapon Type - Type X Quantum Torpedo
Number - 3 Firing Arc - 2f/1a
Warhead Yield - Variable

Fire Control System - CETIS Mk V with Type 225 TACAR

DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS:

Deflector Shield Type – CIDSS

Primary Forcefield Type - FSQ-7
Cloaking Device Type - None

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR: Ganymede Fleet Yards, Jupiter/40 Eridani Fleet Yards, Vulcan (USS Sarek only)

Launched on Stardate 51853.3, the USS Marshal Martz is the second ship of the class, and is one of two ships deployed on the ambitious "Long Way Home" deep-range exploration project.

Just a bit of in-character background...

Oh, yeah...

2008-10-27T21:31:00.002-04:00

Supplemental

I forgot to mention this, but it bears mentioning.

After the debate, I talked with Dan Humiston for a few minutes, asking what I could do to help him in his "final week push".

As part of that conversation, he actually remembered the masthead of this blog!

Admittedly, he mistakenly called me a "future starship captain", but it was interesting to learn that he'd actually taken a bit of time to take an interest in me as a (hopefully) future constituent.

Perhaps, if he is elected, he could request a few hundred dollars in an earmark so I could get a new computer... (Just kidding!)

I'm still behind Dan Humiston, but...

2008-10-27T21:12:00.003-04:00

Stardate 62824.7

I went to a congressional debate this evening, and came away with several observations.

First, it was a very genteel debate, and, from the way the candidates treated each other, a very genteel campaign. Indeed, Budd Schroeder, the Conservative party candidate, opened his remarks by saying that, unlike most candidates running for high office, all three of the men running for New York's 27th Congressional District seat actually like each other.

I was actually rather surprised that my question was the first one read, but I must say I was quite impressed by all three responses. Congressman Brian Higgins, contrary to my expectations, actually explained himself to my satisfaction. Republican Dan Humiston, whom I am supporting for the seat, was a bit vague on specifics, but his contention that we need to rebuild the population of this area echoed my own beliefs. But it was Mr. Schroeder's answer that really impressed me. He put it in plain language and gave his answer from the point of view of a regular working guy.

That said, I believe there needs to be far more outreach than there has been. It seems those of us on the low end of the economic scale tend to be overlooked far too often.

I was impressed by all three candidates, and, if Mr. Humiston hadn't been running, Mr. Schroeder's presentation would have locked up my vote.

Still, after hearing all three men, I am reassured that, no matter who wins, my voice, and that of my neighbors, will be heard in Washington.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

RIP: My computer.

2008-10-24T04:02:00.003-04:00

Stardate 62814.5

That's right. My computer died.

Actually, I suspect it was just the power supply, but idiot me wrote off the CPU and scrapped the thing before realizing that.

Fortunately, the hard drives were intact, so I didn't lose any data.

UNfortunately, they're pretty much useless, and will likely be formatted in the next few days. I did manage to transfer my personal data to the boot drive of the computer I'm using (a POS second-hand system bought at a local computer repair shop), so it won't be a total loss.

And thus begins six to eight months of saving for a minimal gamer system, which is the closest currently available to what I had before. I'm looking at around $750 minimum, with $900 more likely.

Until then, I'm on a computer with NO gaming capability, NO advanced graphics editing, NO 3D animation capability and little in the way of anything else. So, I'm pretty much stuck with mp3's, downloaded videos and writing... which isn't necessarily the downside it seems. It'll motivate me to get back to all those stories I've been neglecting.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Politics and video games...

2008-10-16T03:35:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62792.6

As you probably know by now (unless you haven't been reading this blog), I am a Republican, and will be unreservedly voting for John McCain in a couple of weeks.

More than that, I am an unrepentant Fox News Channel junkie. Brit Hume is my God of News, though Sean Hannity belongs somewhere around the third or fourth level of Hell, and Bill O'Reilly is somewhere in Purgatory.

I say this so that one may consider the source.
(Specifically: http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html … b0c12f2749 about one minute in.)

Barack Obama has bought advertising in video games, including Guitar Hero III, using the various consoles' online update features to embed the ads in the games, much as various other companies do.

Now, I'm not a console gamer, so I've never seen this type of ad in a video game. However, if I were, I wouldn't be happy about it.I don't know about anyone else, but one of the reasons I play games is to take a break from the world, including advertising. Especially political ads. I don't like any of the ads I've seen, regardless of who they're for. And, as a Republican living in an area that is smothered in Democratic Party apparatchik (to the point where the county's Republican Party has literally shut down for this election cycle, despite the fact that where I live is a traditionally conservative area), I get inundated with Obama ads every time I look out the window, since the local party office is literally right down the street from my apartment.

I'm sure there are some Democrats living in areas where the Republican Party is concentrating their efforts who feel the same way when they look out on a sea of McCain signs, so this is not really a partisan issue.

Now I do realize that a lot of adults do play these games (I'm a prime example, as I will turn 40 the day after this year's election), and such types of advertising is effective, but are video games really the place for political ads?We're talking about electing the leader of the free world here, not deciding which soft drink to buy. A billboard in Madden 08 or Grand Turismo does not give one the kind of information needed to make an informed choice.

Let me set something straight. I have nothing against Democrats. On the local level, I've voted for several as recently as last year. They have a lot of good ideas on a lot of subjects. Unfortunately, on the subjects that are really important to me, they have what I consider the wrong ideas.

And I believe that using video games for political advertising is one such wrong idea.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Maybe not so abandoned after all.

2008-10-13T20:43:00.005-04:00

Stardate 62786.3

In my last post, I complained about how the Republican Party had essentially given up on Chautauqua County.

Fortunately, not every Republican has. I met one today who actually took the time to come to me rather than just give me the standard "we want your money and your vote" form letter that so many politicans seem to send out.

His name is Dan Humiston. He owns a chain of tanning salons here in Western New York (Tanning Bed, Inc.) and he's running for Congress.

I'd like to say he's a slam-dunk for winning the seat, but I can't tell such a whopper with a straight face. He's up against Brian Higgins, who represents New York's 27th District. The district covers all of Chautauqua County and the southern half of Erie County, including two-thirds of the city of Buffalo... one of the most liberal places in New York State.

Still, I certainly won't fault the guy for trying. Granted, I only spent a few minutes talking to him, but I plan to attend an upcoming town hall debate he'll be attending at the Jackson Center here in Jamestown. I'd rather go to the one being held out in Fluvanna, but I don't have any transportation. Perhaps some kind soul will read this and offer me a lift.

Getting back to what I was saying, he seemed to genuinely share my frustration at being a lonely red voter in what has rapidly become a sea of liberal blue. As we were standing in front of my building, I pointed out the locations of several Obama/Biden signs, as well as the location of the city's Democtratic headquarters, as well as the fact that, so far, I had seen not one sign for any Republican.

Of course, me being something of a shut-in does complicate things, but there are a number of places I go where one would expect to see at least one sign supporting a Republican.

But I digress. Dan Humiston seems to be a nice guy, and reading over his position statements at his website, I'm fairly convinced that he's the kind of guy this area needs in Washington. In fact, I would compare him to Stan Lundine, a Democrat, who represented the Southern Tier (what is now the 29th District plus Chautauqua County) through most of the 70's and 80's. Stan was an outstanding congressman, and while I didn't agree with everything he did, I could never say he didn't work for the people who live here.

Should he manage to win, I'll be happy to say the same of Dan Humiston.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

I feel so abandoned...

2008-10-12T02:39:00.003-04:00

Stardate 62781.5

That pretty much sums up my political feelings right now.

It seems the Republican Party has completely written off Chautauqua County, New York.

There is not a single office, ad or even yard sign for any Republican candidate, from John McCain himself to those running for City Court judge. Brian Higgins is pretty much guaranteed re-election because of the 2000 gerrymandering that took the county away from the rest of the Southern Tier and gave it to Buffalo (a Democratic stronghold with more than enough population to completely nullify this county), and our State Assemblyman, William Parment, is running unopposed, despite the fact that he's been in Albany since Methusela was in kindergarten.

I can't even get a response from the state party office. It's like I'm sending emails down a black hole.

I fear for this area, because if history is any guide, the next four years will be absolute hell.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

My review of SPORE

2008-09-16T01:42:00.005-04:00

Stardate 62710.2

If you haven't heard of the videogame Spore, you've probably been living somewhere where TV, radio, newspapers and even the Internet are completely unknown.

Spore is the newest release from Maxis Games, best-known for the various Sim-whatever titles.

And Spore fits right in with that long heritage.

If, like me, you're old enough to remember the days of the original Sim City, you'll also remember that Maxis came out with several other sim games, way back when 8-bit graphics were state of the art and nobody had ever heard of 3d rendering or surround sound.

One of those games was called Sim Earth, and it was sort of a species simulator. More accurately, it was a civilization simulator, but in a very different vein than the Sid Meyer type of civilization. Then again, it is a lot like Sid Meyer's game... but not quite as "turn-based". In fact, it's not turn-based at all.

Now, I have to say that I'm writing this review based on an incomplete game. I've just started playing the "Galactic Empire" part, and I've found myself rather lost when it comes to some of the finer points.

That's what I get for not reading the manual...

Anyway, Spore takes that old 8-bit Sim Earth and brings it into the twenty-first century. If you'd never played the old game, you'd swear that the two titles were from completely different companies. (Well, yeah, they are, sort of, since Maxis was bought by Electronic Arts some years ago...)

There are five distinct stages in the game. You begin as a nearly single-celled organism, swimming around in a 2D landscape made up of crystals, bubbles, pieces of meat-like substance (don't ask me what it is, that's just what some of the walkthrough guides say), various plants and... the competition. You can choose to be a herbivore (AKA vegetarian), carnivore (meatitarian) or omnivore. Of course, becoming an omnivore is a rather dicey proposition, since in this stage, how much of what you eat can push you over the edge into either of the extremes.

Of course, you don't stay a nearly single-celled organism. You evolve. You do this by eating stuff, and then seeking a mating partner (of your own species), which then takes you to the creature creator, where you can add whatever characteristics you've found along the way, such as cilia to help you turn faster, those little water jet things to make you go faster, and even a proboscis, which is the only specifically omnivorous feeding method in that part of the game (though there is a workaround that most people use).

Now, swimming around in the primordial muck is all well and good, but eventually you get so big and complex that there's really only one thing to do: grow legs and take a stroll on dry land, which brings us to the end of the 2-dimensional world and...

The "creature" segment, where you're a non-sentient animal, making your way across whichever continent you climbed onto, encountering other animals along the way, which can be either befriended or eradicated. And it's not as easy as that sounds. Sure, there are any number of species that practically beg to be slaughtered, but there are a few that literally stomp you into the ground. (If you've ever encountered that thing that looks like a gray walking forest, you'll know what I mean...)

And you don't have to fight them. You can befriend them with games of "Monkey See, Monkey Do" using such things as singing, dancing, and posing. Of course, not all creatures are easy to impress, and some simply overwhelm your best efforts with sheer numbers.

Oh, and you're still evolving. There are skeletons all over the place, which contain new abilities, from different kinds of mouths to wings to hands and feet of several different types, which yield different abilities, all in the process of clawing your way up to sentience. Your long trip through evolution is over!

Which brings us to the third stage: the Tribe! That's right, you've been chosen chief and have to lead a small tribe in the process of either befriending or eradicating several neighboring tribes... of different species. (Think of Neandertals and early Homo Sapiens.) And, while you're doing that, you have to gather food, domesticate animals (Oh, yeah... in this game, everything lays eggs, including you.) and develop the arts of fishing, using weapons (only three, though) and playing music (again, only three)... and rudimentary medicine, if you're so inclined. It can get a bit frustrating when you're dealing with a tribe that likes the sound of maracas when the only musicians you have play the didgeridoo. Of course, there's always that one tribe that wants to fight no matter what...

Which brings us to stage four, Civilization! You've become THE dominant species of the planet, but have fractioned into nations. Now you have to unify the planet. Like in the tribal stage, you can go about it in a number of ways, but be warned: how you played the tribal stage will impose constraints on what kind of society you end up with, and thus what kind of tactics you can use. Personally, I've been somewhat aggressive, which gives me a military/scientific culture. Your mileage may vary.

Once you have the planet under your absolute control, it's time to head out into the galaxy.

And that's where I have to end this review, since I've just embarked on that stage. I'll write more when I've had a chance to play it for a while.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

I resisted it for 21 years...

2008-09-04T18:14:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62679.3

The day I first registered to vote, in 1986, I vowed to myself never to join a political party.

But after hearing some of the crap that's been thrown at Governor Sarah Palin, I can no longer stand on the sidelines.

I have decided to join the Republican Party.

Now I don't agree with everything the party stands for. I'm a definite supporter of reproductive rights, for instance, but there is enough that I do agree with that it feels like a proper fit.

Of course, that doesn't mean I won't vote for Democrats. I still like them at the local level.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Well, this is interesting.

2008-09-04T14:26:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62678.8

As I stated in an earlier post, I frequent a site called Answerbag.

I've just been informed that I've been placed in the Penalty Box for insulting another user. But that's not what I did. All I did was berate him for his blatantly false, liberal partisan rants. Then he posted a question insulting ME, which is a definite no-no.

So why the hell am I the one in the Penalty Box?

Clearly, they value a hateful, vitriol-spouting liberal more than someone who actually asks and answers serious questions.

Fuck them. I'm out of there.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Blogger is not cooperating...

2008-08-31T23:48:00.003-04:00

Stardate 62668.9

I was going to post an entry about the laser light show that the local arena had as part of the "Light the Lakes" show, but Blogger didn't cooperate.

Too bad. The pictures were pretty good, if a bit blurry...

It does make me wonder, though. If the city can afford to put on a fireworks show and local businesses can afford to put on laser light shows for Labor Day, why won't they do anything for the Fourth of July?

That's my opinon, and I'm sticking to it.

When I say "well-done" I mean "burn it"!

2008-08-17T13:01:00.007-04:00

Stardate 62629.4

Every so often, I'll take a look around the Internet, seeking out articles about how some chef makes a production number about how he absolutely refuses to cook a steak beyond medium. I do this because I, like many others, prefer my steak to be well-done.

A lot of these chefs consider themselves artists. They liken food to portaiture, and themselves to masters because they've spent a couple of years in some culinary school learning to be snobs.

Thing is, not even the Masters made their money from selling museum pieces. They made their money from taking commissions and painting what their patrons wanted painted, no matter how much it pained them to do so.

So how can a chef think himself so high and mighty that he can dictate how I get my steak. If they want to produce a museum piece, they're at liberty to do so, hang it in a museum and let people go "ooh" and "aah" over it for the rest of time. But they'll never make a cent from it.

I say, so long as I'm paying you to cook my steak, you'll damn well cook it to order!

Fortunately, most chefs, even the snobbiest of them, understand the words burn it, so that's the term I use.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

World Peace, Penn & Teller style

2008-08-16T06:55:00.009-04:00

Stardate 62625.9

Thursday night's episode of Showtime's Penn & Teller: Bullshit dealt with the subject of world peace. They examined such groups as Code Pink and ANSWER, as well as one on the other side of the issue, Move America Forward.

And their conclusions were spot on.

True universal world peace, as envisioned by anti-war groups, is a utopian fantasy, and is contrary to human nature.

Peace cannot be established by wearing pink t-shirts or marches on Washington or staging love-ins like those conducted by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Such things are nothing more than "feel good" exercises. Nor can peace be established by war.

However, war is sometimes necessary. While it does not establish peace, it is very effective at creating the conditions upon which peace can be established. It does this by convincing the other side to stop fighting and adopt attitudes more conductive to the foundations upon which real peace is built, at which point we stop fighting and the war ends.

The United States did not invade Iraq just to invade Iraq, nor was it just for oil (though I do readily agree that oil was part of it). More than anything, we invaded Iraq to remove a government that was unwilling to adopt attitudes conductive to the foundations upon which real peace is built and install one that was... which is exactly what we did in both Germany and Japan. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

So what are the foundations upon which real peace is built?

The show also talked to a guy from the Cato Institute in Washington, who laid out three basic foundations required for lasting peace:

1. Mutual Respect. One would assume this is a given, but there are those out there who simply find it impossible to respect anyone who does not live the exact same way they do. Religious radicals, such as Islamic terrorists, are a prime example of this.

2. Open Discourse. In it's history, the United States has been involved in twelve full-blown wars. But there has never been a time when the United States has been unwilling to negotiate with the enemy in those wars. Even today, the United States is willing to talk with their adversaries, though we do insist upon conditions for doing so. It is the enemies who refuse to establish those conditions, and, by extension, refuse to talk with us.

3. Socio-economic Interdependence. In simpler terms, free trade. That's right. One of the basic foundations of lasting peace is money. Peace isn't free. It must be paid for in some way, whether that be lives or goods.

Interestingly enough, the various peace groups are all in favor of the first two legs of the tripod, but vehemently opposed to the third.

And thus the tripod topples.

Several of Europe's governments call themselves socialist, but even they realize that the third leg of peace is required. The radical socialists who lead and influence these various peace groups do not. Furthermore, they pathologically refuse to even consider the concept. They're the ones with their fingers in their ears, shouting at the top of their lungs, calling anyone who even tries to express an opinion they don't agree with everything from a robber baron to a Nazi.

You do remember that Nazi is an abbreviation of National Socialist, right?

Which brings me back to Europe, and away from Penn & Teller, who pretty much ended their show at this point.

Many Europeans, I daresay most, don't like the United States at the moment, and more than a few don't care for Americans. But very few will say they actually hate America.

Why is this?

Three words: The Marshall Plan

After World War II, America systematically rebuilt the economies of Europe and created the tightest, most inextricable socio-economic interdependency in human history. We did the same with Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, and we've made extensive progress in doing so with China.

And there has been no armed conflict amongst these nations for a longer period than in any time in human history.

Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly holds the opinion that we are currently engaged in World War III against a number of countries in the Middle East. Some of it, in Iraq and Afghanistan, is hot, while it is cold in the rest of the region. But a world war it is.

I happen to agree with Mr. O'Reilly, though I will leave it to history to give this conflict it's name, should historians decide to call it a world war.

Eventually, this war, too, will end. It will end either with a Vietnam-like defeat and the fall of the region to chaos and economic ruin, or it will end with a World War II-like victory and a long process of reconstruction. In parts of Iraq, the latter has already taken place, and the reconstruction has begun.

But the peace groups refuse to believe it. Indeed, they can't believe that economics has any way of contributing to peace.

My point is that there will need to be some sort of Marshall Plan for the Middle East. Something that will create just as tight a socio-economic interdependency as what we have with Eruope and the Far East. One that will make the Middle East just as dependent upon us as we are upon them. The Oil trade has established one side of that equation. Reconstruction must establish the other side, else there will be future conflicts in that area that will make the current war look like a boring debate.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

I need a (literal) social worker.

2008-08-14T09:57:00.003-04:00

Stardate 62620.8

Those of you who have read through this entire blog know that I suffer from what is called Social Anxiety Disorder. It's not just introvetedness. An introvert will occasionally seek out socialization for its own sake.

I do not. Ever. Under any circumstances.

If I seek out a social situation, there will always be some other reason for it, whether it be to get groceries, pay the bills or see something interesting downtown. Otherwise, I won't leave my apartment.

That's been the case for about the last year and a half, ever since my former best friend went ballistic over something that didn't happen. (Don't ask me, I won't talk about it!)

Which leads me to the title of this post. I need somebody to literally drag me out of here and force me to socialize. I need a social worker. Literally. Not someone who will provide "social services" (I already have one of those), but someone whose job it is to socialize and see to it that others do so as well. Sort of like the bar hostesses one finds in the Far East, only not limited to the bars. Just somebody to call me up and say, "Hey, I've got these tickets. Do you want to go?" And then not take no for an answer.

I need somebody to make me their special project. Someone who personifies the song "There's Life Outside Your Apartment" from Avenue Q.

I miss that.

A cheap lunch, but not what I'd hoped...

2008-08-01T21:07:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62586.5

Today was the annual Taste of Jamestown, which formed the first day of the Lucy's Birthday Weekend, one of two annual (but not semi-annual, since both take place in the summer) celebrations of Lucille Ball, the city's most famous of the several people who were born here, moved away and became famous... in that order.

You've doubtless heard about similar "Taste of" celebrations in other cities, where most of the city's finest restaurants turn out to let everyone taste their creations at a discount.

This wasn't one of those.

There were seven participants. Three of them were franchises: Pizza Hut, Friendly's and Radisson Hotels (which recently bought the local Holiday Inn). The rest was filled out by a catering company that specialized in desserts, a local pizzeria known for its Buffalo wings, and two of the oldest family-run greasy spoons. Not one of them, with the exception of the Radisson, is actually located anywhere near downtown.

And not one of the restaurants that are located there participated.

I was really looking forward to sampling sushi from Forte, or Anthony's famous gorgonzola chicken salad. I would have even settled for some tacos from Taco Hut.

Apparently, they were too "important" to take part.

On the upside, the wings from Honest John's were good, as was the pizza soup from the Radisson. The City Chicken (which was actually pork) from Sandee's Bakery was different, but not really what I'd go out of my way to order. The ice cream from Friendly's was good, though I wish they'd had more flavors available.

Oh well. There's always next year...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

It's a good thing I don't buy real stocks...

2008-07-30T13:59:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62580.2

I've got a profile on the Virtual Stock Exchange, which has performed exactly opposite the market.

I don't know how, but I seem to have a knack for picking exactly the WRONG thing to do. The moment I buy a stock, it goes down. When I short sell, it goes up. Even the ETF's are that way. Lately, I've been following the oil and gasoline ETF's, to no avail. Just when I decided that the trend was heading down and shorted them, they start going up again...

Sigh...

Deafening silence...

2008-07-20T20:06:00.003-04:00

Stardate 62553.5

I'm starting to wonder if anybody is reading this. I'm sure some of my posts would bring forth howls of protest from Obama supporters, at the very least...

But nature had other plans...

2008-07-13T10:06:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62533.2

Well, I was going to head down and get some pictures of the PsychoBuells Stunt Riding Team, but I don't think they'll be doing any shows today.

It's raining... quite hard.

That's my opinion, but I won't stick to it if the rain lets up... but it didn't.

Hazy days... and the tire smoke isn't helping.

2008-07-13T02:39:00.013-04:00

Stardate 62532.4

This weekend marks the 5th annual "Thunder In the Streets" motorcycle rally here in Jamestown. I thought I'd share some pictures...

Most of the visiting bikes were parked along Third Street, where they also held the performances of the Psychobuells stunt team.

(Oh, pay no mind to the dates on these pictures. That's what I get for taking the batteries out of my digital camera.)

Of course, there were the requisite interesting bikes...

Including this death-inspired bike and trailer combo.

(Yes, that is a coffin...)

And the occasional "rice rockets"...

As well as some interesting paint jobs.

And even a stuffed animal or two...

Yes, I did see the stunt show, but I didn't get any good pictures from it. I have some video, but it's from the night show, and is a bit dark and grainy. I'll take more tomorrow.

No opinion this time, but I'm still sticking to it.

Mazal Tov!

2008-07-06T18:19:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62515.0

I just learned that a friend of mine and his wife are expecting a little bundle of joy. I don't know when the little guy (yeah, it's a boy) is due, but from the ultrasound he posted, he seems to be coming along nicely.

EDIT: The due date is November 5... which is MY birthday.

And that's not my opinion, but I am sticking to it.

Whatever happened to...

2008-07-05T14:23:00.005-04:00

Stardate 62511.8

Whatever happened to having respect for the office of the President of the United States? I was always taught to respect the office, even if you hate the person holding it.

These days, it seems like everyone and his brother is hurling insults and worse at President Bush, not caring that it denegrates the office as much as the man in it.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

I just don't understand Democrats...

2008-07-05T01:09:00.005-04:00

Stardate 62510.3

I got into another argument with a Democrat today. I just don't understand why they insist that Barak Obama will be so good for this country.

Sure, he gives good speeches. He'll probably go down in history as one of this country's finest orators. But his policies are ludicrous, at best. I mean, he's pulling them right out of the Carter administration! Yes, that Carter, probably the most inept president of the 20th century.

And there are so many parallels. We have a hated president in office, an economy that's not quite in recession, but heading that way, and the only thing we're hearing from the left is "change".

I truly fear for this nation.

Welcome to 1976... again.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

So cute, it's sick...

2008-07-03T21:55:00.003-04:00

Stardate 62507.2

I just finished watching this week's America's Got Talent, where I saw a little boy from Atlanta audition. He was five, mixed-race and autistic. And he completely blew the audience, not to mention Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff completely away. But not really with any talent. I mean, I could sing that well when I was that age, but you'd never have seen my parents even think of entering me in such a talent competition, no matter how big the prize was.

He did it by being cute. It's the kind of cute that we see every so often on TV, with people like Emmanuel Lewis or Shirley Temple movies. Now, I'll admit, Ms. Temple did have talent, but Mr. Lewis just didn't do much for me, and if the character he played had been real, he'd have probably gotten smacked for most of the stuff he did.

Now I'm not saying the kid on AGT doesn't have potential. Give him a few years, and he'll probably be ready for Broadway, but not yet. He won't get by on cute forever, and playing it up now will only do him a disservice.

I mean, if he were any sweeter, he'd have put me into a diabetic coma...

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

The quest for a British-style beer, or "Why are American beers so sour?"

2008-07-02T21:33:00.009-04:00

Stardate 62504.4

I'm sitting here drinking a Sam Adams Summer Ale, which I bought at the local Wal-Mart yesterday in the hopes that it would have a taste closer to British-style beers than anything else I've tasted since returning from a trip to Wales last year.

Sadly, I must report that it does not. In fact, the addition of lemon zest to what, I suspect, was already a bad beer only makes it even more sour than all of the American beers I've tasted.

On my trip, I stayed at a pub called The Bertie in Trehafod. It's an independent pub, so there was a number of beers available during my visit, from Brains, Marsden's, Strongbow and two versions of Guinness to bottles of Budweiser. And they all tasted absolutely wonderful. Even the Budweiser... which was bottled in London, under license from Anheiser-Busch.

They all had the classic bite that says "beer", but it was nowhere as pronounced as it is in American brews. The British beers were, to put it succinctly, smoother. Even a can of Brains Bitter which spent three days on a shelf followed by 30 hours in a suitcase and two weeks in my refrigerator tasted better than anything produced by any American brewery I've ever heard of.

And ever since drinking that lone can of Brains I was able to bring back (due to weight constraints on my luggage), I have been on a quest to find anything produced in the United States of America that even approaches the same taste. I regret to report that the quest continues.

I've read the reviews, the comparisons, the debates on message boards, and I've tried all of the types and even some of the brands that people swear up and down "taste just like"... And not a one of them does. They all have the grain-grain-HOPS taste that screams "American Beer".

So far, I've only found three that even come close, and they're all British imports. The import version of Guinness is passable, especially the Pub Draught cans, but it's so expensive that it's just not worth the money to buy on a regular basis, were I inclined to do so. There's also a honey cream ale called Boddington's Pub Ale that is quite good in comparison, but I've only found it available in 4-pack cans, and it's usually as expensive as Guinness, and thus just as out of reach for casual drinking. And the closest I've yet found to what the beer tasted like over there is a non-alcoholic beer from Guinness called Kaliber.

But I have yet to find an American beer that even comes close.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Jed Bartlett and David Palmer - Two Democrats I wouldn't mind actually seeing in the White House

2008-07-02T12:42:00.006-04:00

Stardate 62503.9

I just read on foxnews.com that actor Dennis Haysbert believes that his portrayal of US President David Palmer opened Americans' eyes to the possibility of a black president, and thus helped Brack Obama's campaign.

And he has a point. Mr. Haysbert is an outstanding actor, and he did a wonderful job in his portrayal of President Palmer, who, in the continuity of the television series 24, was the first back President of the United States... a Democrat.

Which got me thinking.

Has anyone else noticed that there has not been a single Republican president portrayed as "the good guy" in any TV or movie in recent years? Whenever a Republican president has been seen, he's (never a she) portrayed as either scheming with some sort of anti-freedom, neo-totalitarian agenda or as a complete incompetent. In short, pretty much how Hollywood sees President Bush.

But it's Hollywood's idea of a Democratic President that has me thinking. Two recent examples immediately come to mind: the above-mentioned David Palmer and Jed Bartlett, whom actor Martin Sheen portrayed on the series The West Wing.

Hollywood has the reputation of being filled with liberals who are so far to the left that they believe people like Barak Obama and Nancy Pelosi are woefully reactionary... yet the presidents being written and portrayed in the stuff coming out of Hollywood are... dare I say it, conservative? They're strong on national security! Indeed, many of the stories have them ordering military strikes and dealing with crises in ways one would expect a Republican to use. Democratic presidents in Hollywood movies and TV shows are overwhelmingly in the mold of people like past Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Senator Joe Lieberman.

In short, the kind of people whom Hollywood reviles for political apostasy.

You don't see Hollywood show presidents like Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton. The first was afflicted with a hopeless case of tunnel vision due to his inexperience in foreign relations and the latter was a womanizing hillbilly who was having his strings pulled by the People's Republic of China. Oh, no. That would be too liberal for Hollywood storytelling, though too conservative for Hollywood voters.

See the hypocrisy here?

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

"He couldn't get laid in a brothel..."

2008-07-01T22:10:00.005-04:00

Stardate 62501.7

That pretty much describes my lack of a love/sex life perfectly. I've met a lot of people online who tell me that I'm attractive, but I've yet to meet more than one person in my offline life who had that opinion (and she was bigger than I am!).

I have no problems meeting women. Indeed, women seem to find me endlessly easy to talk to, and I tend to befriend women almost subconsciously.

It's getting beyond friendship that I find impossible.

I don't know what it is. It may simply be my personality, much of which is hobbled by a fairly major social phobia and mild borderline personality disorder, or it may be something more. I mean, I've even had women with the reputation of "she'll shag anything with a pulse, and then some" give me the old let's just be friends line... and I simply can't afford a "professional".

This one's not my opinion. It's the plain truth, and I'm sticking to it.

By the way...

2008-07-01T18:01:00.000-04:00

Supplemental

If you're wondering where I'm getting the stardate, I'm using the Stardate widget from Yahoo!, with 1984 as the starting year...

A few pictures from last year's vacation...

2008-07-01T17:21:00.003-04:00

Stardate 62501.2

I promised a fellow denizen of Answerbag that I'd post a few pictures of my trip to Wales last year, so here they are...

This was the view out the window of my room at the Bertie, a pub/bed & breakfast in the village of Trehaford. This was one of the few times when it wasn't raining...

This is one of those things you never expect to see. My mate Paul and I were heading up to the nearby Rhondda Heritage Park to take the tour, but took a wrong turn and ended up in the village's soccer field instead, where I noticed this small waterfall coming out of the side of the cliff.

This is the Ford Ka. If gas prices keep going up in the US, I suspect we'll start seeing them here. The first time I saw one of these, I thought it was the screwiest car I'd ever seen. The thing looks like an egg that someone had dented and slapped four wheels on...

And what's a visit to Britain without a castle? This is Caerphilly Castle, that Cromwell and his forces tried to blow up during the English Civil War.

They weren't quite successful...

I'll post more later.

Something to chew on...

2008-07-01T14:22:00.004-04:00

Stardate 62500.9

I'm a member over on Answerbag, and I occasionally run across a question, answer or comment that gets me thinking.

One such question prompted me to post the following answer:

It's a sad fact of politics in the Information Age that people accept the labels put on candidates for office (and the holders thereof) rather then learning about the person. It's more and more common to hear people say "I'm a Republican" or "I'm a Democrat" or "I'm a liberal" or "I'm a conservative" rather than "I believe in...", and too many people are basing their choices solely on these labels, even if the candidate's views don't coincide with those who identify with that label.

In the current presidential race, two more labels have come to light (especially among Democrats), both of which have become the same type of all-emcompassing reason for support/opposition as the political labels: "I'm black" and "I'm a woman". And, like the political reasons, neither should be considered sufficient reason to support or oppose any candidate.

That's why I advocate the abolition of political parties. Let's find out who the candidates *are*, not what parties they belong to.

Most people label me a conservative, and, for the most part, I accept that label. But I make it a point to learn about the positions the candidates have, not just accept that they're in lockstep with the traditional views of their parties. That's why I refuse to join any political party. I prefer to keep my options open.

As I stated in my initial post, I'm extremely conservative when it comes to matters of national security. That, more than anything else, is why I'm supporting John McCain. Over the last thirty years or so, the Democrats have shown themselves incapable (sometimes deliberately) of being strong on national defense. They seem to think that they can keep our country safe by singing "Kumbaya" with those who would sooner see us dead and our homes in ruins. They seem to have forgotten the words of Theodore Roosevelt: "Speak softly, but carry a Big Stick."

The Democrats keep forgetting the stick. Too many of them are so concerned with growing carrots that they've forgotten that not everyone likes carrots and that the stick is occasionally needed.

But that's not the only reason I like John McCain. I like him because there are many issues on which he is liberal. In his time in the U.S. Senate, he has broken with his party on a great many issues, most of them social in nature, and has allied himself with the Democrats on nearly all of them. If I didn't like that, I'd be supporting Ron Paul or Mike Huckabee.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Hi, there!

2008-07-01T13:05:00.002-04:00

Stardate 62500.7

Well, here I am, joining the sheeple in another aspect of life in the twenty-first century. First was chatrooms, then message boards, then Myspace (that didn't last long), then a cell phone and now a blog.

While this isn't my first blog, it is the first one located on a dedicated blog site. Of course, that doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things...

I guess I should start with a bit of self-description.

When I was in a particularly lyric mood, I described myself as follows:

I am a man whose heart has been broken
too many times to repair,
I am a boy whose dreams have been shattered
but nobody seems to care.
Most people only look at the outside
and say that's all there is to see.
I'm looking for someone who'll make the effort
to see the real me.

Of course, that doesn't really tell you the mundane details:

Age: 39
Gender: Male (as if the photo to the right isn't clear enough)
Location: Jamestown, New York (one of the most boring places on the planet)

I'm not a rich man. Indeed, I'm quite far from it, being unemployable due to a combination of psychological disabilities that makes it nearly impossible to function in many social situations. Still, I have a comfortable (if meager) living.

Politically, I'm a John McCain-style conservative/Joe Lieberman-style liberal. What that means is that my politics are all over the place, depending on the issue.

When it comes to national security and law enforcement issues, you won't find many more conservative than I am. I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, capital punishment and believe that the only way to prevent Iraq from being a far bigger mess is to keep the troops there. Conversely, I am an equally staunch supporter of a woman's reproductive rights and believe that most social programs, when properly applied, are more beneficial than detrimental. Of course, there are exceptions. I don't support socialized medicine. I have enough friends in countries with such programs to know that such a program would likely collapse under its own bureaucracy. The United States is simply too big for a single National Health System. I believe the Massachusetts-style insurance program is a far better option.

But that's enough politics for the moment. You can be sure I'll be posting entries about that as the presidential campaign develops over the summer.

When it comes to religion, I'm jaded, at best. While I was raised an Evangelical Christian, I've seen too much hypocrisy that it has completely turned me off to any belief in faith or religion. While I appreciate the ideals of religion, I don't need dogma or ritual to tell me what kind of person to be.

Socially, I tend to be a wallflower. I'm a very private person and rarely, make that exceedingly rarely, attend social functions or even leave my apartment except to keep an appointment or buy groceries. Of course, much of that is due to the fact that I'm a rather... portly individual.

Okay, I'm fat. Really fat. Fat enough that I usually need a seat belt extender in nearly every vehicle I ride in (though I'm not quite so fat that I have to buy two airline seats).

But I'm okay with that. I've come to terms with it and I accept myself for who I am. Unfortunately, others seem to think that they have the right to berate me for it. I'm constantly getting "suggestions" to lose weight or be more active or some combination of the two, not knowing or caring that I have a thyroid condition and arthritis that makes such things difficult at best. So I have just one thing to say to anyone reading this blog with that opinion:

SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

I am who I am, and anyone who doesn't accept that can go fuck themselves.

Of course, there is one situation where I tend to really open up, and that's when I assume my Starfleet personna. While I haven't been to one in several years, I have been known to go to the occasional Star Trek/Science Fiction convention, especially Shore Leave, in Baltimore. I'm thinking of going back next year. I'll let you know if I do or not. Mostly, my fandom activities are in the field of fan fiction and CGI. I'll be posting about that, too.

So that's me in a nutshell: a lonely, socially inept Trekkie who lives alone (not completely by choice) and is facing life with more years behind him than in front.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Let the games begin!