Sorority hearththrob John Mayer seems to be a Ron Paul supporter. I suppose he’ll make inroads in new arenas now Some friends of mine used to play with him many years ago at open mics here in Atlanta.
If only he could get Merle Haggard, he’d be set.
December, 2007
31
Dec 07
Toil and trouble
Since the internet was down most of the day, I decide to do some more stuff around the house. I take advantage of a short break in the rainfall to apply some quick drying concrete to some areas between the driveway and the foundation. I find that it really does dry in 10 minutes or less. Happily I’m able to finish before then. That does not seem to solve all of my basement moisture problem.
Since it started raining shortly after the cement was dry, I opt to install outlets in the basement. For some reason, all but one of the junction boxes do not match the descriptions in any of my wiring books. The ones that does does not seem to be connected to the circuit box in any findable way. Being a coward when it comes to live electricity, I opt not to install the outlet in that box.
Happily, while looking for further junction boxes, I come across a working outlet set up to the furnace! I count the day a win.
29
Dec 07
A late Christmas present from the War Nerd
He has a very interesting article on the War of the Triple Alliance. RTWT.
28
Dec 07
Your Friday links
As the implications of the Bhutto assassination are too scary to think about, here’s some links for you.
- Via ZenPundit, check out this time lapse mural
- Jack Nicholson on Politics, he usually doesn’t talk about it, and judging from the statements in this interview, he knows very little. It’s nice when that happens.
27
Dec 07
Civil Rights at work
This is a good thing
NRA seeks hundreds whose guns were seized after Katrina
The National Rifle Association has hired private investigators to find hundreds of people whose firearms were seized by city police in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, according to court papers filed this week.The NRA is trying to locate gun owners for a federal lawsuit that the lobbying group filed against Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley over the city’s seizure of firearms after the August 29, 2005, hurricane.
In the lawsuit, the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation claim the city violated gun owners’ constitutional right to bear arms and left them “at the mercy of roving gangs, home invaders, and other criminals” after Katrina.
It’s nice they’re doing it for everyone, not just their members.
25
Dec 07
Merry Christmas 2007
A Merry Christmas to all. I don’t think I’ve posted this image before.
And of course, it’s just not Christmas without this…
Update: It’s snowing! Actually it’s sleeting, but I think I’ll take what I can get.
24
Dec 07
The Christmas meme
Soob (using a Christmas picture I used a while back) has tagged me with the Christmas meme, here we go…
- Wrapping or gift bags? – An even mix of both
- Real or artificial tree? – Real, no question, it’s just not Christmas without a fire hazard somewhere
- When do you put up the tree? – Actually I haven’t had a tree in years. I do have a Festivus pole.
- When do you take the tree down? – It used to be new years day, not it’s not that relevant
- Do you like egg nog? – a little bit on Christmas Eve and Day
- Favorite gift received as a child? – Probably an erector set. That was a long time ago though.
- Do you have a nativity scene? – Hah, no.
- Worst Christmas gift you ever received? – There are no bad gifts, but “Poisonous Plans, the book” comes closest. The Hustler trading card set I got one year was probably the most inappropriate. Fortunately I was advised to open that early.
- Mail or email Christmas cards? – Neither. I ‘ve never sent those out
- Favorite Christmas Movie? – The Wild Strawberries, I don’t know why, but it gives everything a sense of contrast.
- When do you start shopping for Christmas? – Usually the last day I can get free shipping on things.
- Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? – Corn pudding and broccoli casserole, by a substantial margin
- Clear lights or colored on the tree? – Colored
- Favorite Christmas song(s)? – This one – also the Tom Lehrer Christmas Carol and Sorriest Christmas by the Diggers
- Travel at Christmas or stay home? – I usually travel about 20 miles to be with family.
- Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? – Probably, but I choose not to.
- Angel on the tree top or a star? – Star
- Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? – Morning
- Most annoying thing about this time of year? – Hearing baby boom generation pundits talk about a “War on Christmas” because the holiday isn’t exactly how they remember it when they were twelve.
- Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? – Invisible!
- What do you leave for Santa? – A copy of Atlas Shrugged
- Least favorite holiday song? – No idea
- Favorite ornament? – One that doesn’t fall
- Family tradition? – The weird round robin phone calls with distant relatives. And the togetherness.
- Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services? – Every Christmas actually.
I think everyone else has been tagged.
24
Dec 07
Monday links
- Fertility rate in US on upswing
- This post on Ron Paul from Col. Lang, featuring the lovely line “citadels of exalted brooding”. I saw the interview he mentions as well and got the same impression; namely that Russert was trying to rapid fire the questions enough to get him to trip up and say something that could be easily misinterpreted. It’s not like Paul is hiding what he believes, or that it’s not controversial in his version. Lame. A bit reminiscent of Ace in the Hole.
- This Matt Yglesias post on the same interview
- This is a nice web app
24
Dec 07
This is an insightful post
From an Econolog post about raising children
Laugh if you like, but I want to give me kids a better life than I had. I don’t want them to be bullied or mocked by teachers or other kids. Since adult life is far more civilized than childhood, sheltering your kids is not “delaying the inevitable”; it’s skipping pointless suffering.
That strikes a chord with me. People have been much nicer in adulthood than in school. Civilization begins with voluntary association I suppose. If I were feeling hyperbolic, I would say that the only thing forced association in the form of mandatory schooling prepares you for is prison, but that’s not accurate. It’s certainly not the only thing anyway.
21
Dec 07
Quote of the morning
From Despair.com
When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it’s really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you’re pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it’s death by meteor.