CNN.com - Canada troops battle 10-foot Afghan marijuana plants
Best line from this article:
"A couple of brown plants on the edges of some of those forests did catch on fire. But a section of soldiers that was downwind from that had some ill effects and decided that was probably not the right course of action," Hiller said dryly.
Slashdot.org had a link to an article about a vest that can hug you: New vest offers wearer a portable hug.
I don't know how to tell these engineers this, but that is not a hug. Hugs involve the extra morale boast of noting that an actual human will let you get close enough to touch them with at least your arms. Not "five air bladders [in] what looks like a puffy winter vest." By that logic, those water wing things that kids wear are mini hugs:)
A mini hug
The weather up here is great. It is just right again. I am so happy to be able to experience fall again. It is cool and all of the leaves are changing and falling. Football just is not the same when it is 80 degrees out. Tailgating is better in the cool weather. Halloween is better in the cold. To top it off, this Friday the forcast is for possible snow, a high of 38 and low of 29. I almost cried I was so happy! I love it. Now I need to toughen up, the south made me a wuss in the cold. Here are some fun Michigan things to that I got in an email:
-If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Michigan .
-If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights each year because Pellston is the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in Michigan.
-If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you might live in Michigan .
-If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the year, you might live in Michigan.
-If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, you might live in Michigan.
-If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, you might live in Michigan.
-If you have worn shorts and a coat at the same time, you might live in Michigan.
-If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, you might live in Michigan .
-If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Michigan.
- Part 2 - You know you're a true MICHIGANIAN when............
1. "Vacation" means going up north on I-75.
2. You measure distance in hours.
3. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.
4. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.
6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events.
7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.
9. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
10. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
11. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.
12. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.
13. Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.
14. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.
15. Down South to you means Ohio
16. A brat is something you eat.
17. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole barn.
18. You go out to fish fry every Friday.
19. Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.
20. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.
21. You find zero degrees "a little chilly."
22 You drink pop and bake with soda.
23. Your doctor tells you to drink Vernors and you know it's not medicine.
24. You know what a Yooper is.
25. You think owning a Honda is Un-American.
26. You know that UP is a place, not a direction.
27. You know it's possible to live in a thumb.
28. You understand that when visiting Detroit, the best thing to wear is a Kevlar vest.
I cried a little in Target today. They already have Christmas decorations out for purchase:( All I can say is: Bah Hum Bug. Sue and I (ok, mostly Sue) just put out Halloween decorations this weekend!
I think my depression reached its peak when I noted the fact that the Halloween decorations and the Christmas decorations are both for sale at the same time at Target. One holiday at a time please. I know they all help you get me to buy useless crap, but still. Pace yourself people!
I was perusing the news and I finally found something to write about. As I now work in one of the most liberal cities in the country (a huge change from my last job), Ann Arbor, MI, I found this article on CNN very amusing and fun: Marijuana may stave off Alzheimer's Ann Arbor is known for the Hash bash and as I have just learned while researching this that "Ann Arbor has very lenient laws regarding the possession of marijuana - a $25 fine and a simple civil infraction rather than a misdemeanor or felony." I wasn't even drug tested pre job because the city doesn't believe in it. Not that I am a frequent smoker, I don't think that people should be sent to prison for Marijuana smoking. So all you smokers out there, here is another good reason to continue the fun. Who knew THC prevented acetylcholine from breaking down. I guess that all of the Amsterdam people will be clear as a bell when they are old.
I've been an unstoppable programming machine the last two days, even ignoring the fact that I accidentally deleted a day's worth of work yesterday. By the way, when you are getting rid of a folder of older code that you no longer need, be sure you have the older folder selected before you do a delete. Or, at least make sure you have not disabled the recycle bin. Or even, and I know this one is just plain crazy, read what the delete prompt actually says before you hit yes.
I came to a another realization yesterday. I mentioned eariler this week that I don't seem to be able to concentrate for long periods at all lately. But after the last few days I realize my problem is not that I have not been able to focus. The problem was I just didn't have enough to do. I need 8 hours of actual work to do or I tend to wander around the interweb a lot. These last two days I have been working 12 hours a day because...wait for it...yes...I'm SO close...DON'T STOP WITH YOUR SEXY ELLIPSES...YES....I had work to do!
And not that crappy, "write a spec for this product work, e-mail it to everyone, and get sign-off from all the major parties" bull shit work. Actual down to the bare metal, "I don't need no stinking OS to help me link functions, I LoadLibrary and GetProcAddress biatch" coding! Fuck ya. Bring that shit on!
God I'm a nerd. Self-love rambling like this raise the interesting question of how the hell did I ever get an actual woman to stay around me long enough to realize how awesome I am in bed? Or even let me hang out at second base long enough to let me figure out how to be good in bed in the first place? It is a mystry for the ages...
I just cannot seem to get together enough thought and time to create blogs lately. Come to think of it, I don't seem to be able to concentrate for long periods at all lately. Today was the first day in a while where I turned off my computer at the end of the day and thought, "I fucking showed that code who is boss today!" And of course I then worked 12 hours just to make up for some of my slower days.
I think it's my sleep. Or more correctly my lack there of. With Sue working nights, I'm like a cranky 3-year old that has been up way past bed time. I know that I'm tired. I know I should go to bed. But I stay up andwander around the internet or late night TV. Just because sleep seems like time when I'm doing things less fun than I could be doing otherwise. That debatable by the way. Have you seen the shit that on TV at one in the morning? Although I am thinking of getting a muscle shocker of some kind. I can't decide if I want to shock my abs, ass, or just strap it right to my forehead.
I am crabby and unable to concentrate at all right now. Did any of this make sense? Who knows. Might as well ask me to calc the first hundred digits of pi and eat a pie at the same time. Just not possible:)
Anyone have a topic they would like me to ramble on about? I have a lot of time on my hands all alone. And I'm not the WoW junkie I once was, so that can't cover it all. I don't care what. Personal, political, philosophy, mocking, news, whatever. I'm in. I'll commit. I'm a comment slut. Wait, where did that last one come from?
From YouTube - Small Talk
I can't decide if this is safe for work or not. On the one hand, nothing sexual actually occurs and no clothes are removed at any time. On the other hand, I could imagine some weird stares if someone walked in while you were watching it... Your call.
Sue's at work right now.
I'm bored.
Really bored.
But not tired.
Damn it, this sucks.
Entertain me computer!
Bah...
I was in San Diego this week for work, and I have to tell you that I am sorely tempted to pack all my stuff up and migrate to this city. Nice does not begin to describe this place. The weather has lived up the reputation while I have been here; ever day is sunny and 80. The bay is beautiful. We were staying in the valley, which is an interesting blend of beautiful scenery and fantastic, tasteful looking housing (even when you only get to view it from a car driving through it). Last night I had probably the best prime rib and best merlot I have ever had in my life in a restaurant directly on the bay. Did I mention I get paid to do this? :)
Kirk Cameron...what the heck are you thinking?
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/
Listening to these two prattle on really makes me wonder how the human race even survived this long. Each of the three videos annoy me in different ways (at least the first few minutes anyways. I couldn't make it all the way through any of them):
1) Ah, the classic neo-conservative fear tactic: "You and all your family members, friends, and coworkers are all going to burn in hell unless you do what we say is the ONE TRUE FAITH!"
2) Summary: "Hi, I'm Kirk Cameron. I'm an actor with no background in science, but I can claim with 100% certainity why intellegent design is right and evolution is completely wrong." Just STFU and get back to doing what you do best: sappy, over the top sitcoms.
3)I think this one may in fact be the worst of them all. Summary: "Logic and reason prevent you from believing. If you are using them in your life, then you are clearly living in sin and you are going to die". I don't think I even need a punch line for this one, do I?
I have no problem with faith. Really, I don't. I think its greater that you can look at something and see something higher. That part I'm fine with. Its this whole "My god is the right one and everyone else is going to Hell if they don't follow the exact rules my God laid out. Your life would be just perfect if only you see that" bull that I immediately rejcet.
Sigh...Where's that bottle of 151 again?? I need to get intoxicated to get the taste of this out of my mouth.
Good way to start your Monday morning (SFW):
http://www.jonathancoulton.com/lyrics/code-monkey
Today in the news there was a very sad story, Steve Irwin, the Croc Hunter, was killed. At least he died doing what he loved, doing animal conservationism. I was a big fan of the Croc hunter as many people know. I wanted to go to Australia to his zoo! I know that many people made fun of him over the past years ecspecially because he wasn't afraid to show his children animals close up but screw them. He was a cool guy and he would be an awesome dad. I will miss his fun shows on crocs and other animals...
What is our world coming to when this drivel is listed as one of the top stories on the front page of CNN?
Jessica Simpson's voice cracks during 'Today' act
Holy crap I don't care. I DON'T CARE! YOU HEAR ME BOOBS IN CHARGE OF CNN NEWS?!?! YOU HAVE OFFENDED ME WITH THIS USELESS DRIVEL FOR THE LAST TIME! I SMITE YOU! I SMITE YOU ALL!
A good old friend of mine from high school sent me the link below via myspace (funny how I just whined about how much myspace sucks Wednesday and here I am getting blog inspiration from it. Such is the way this crazy life works).
The Advertising Slogan Generator
Enter your first name in the box on this page and hit submit. Mine came out as:
"It Needn't Be Hell With Eric."
I've been lazy writing posts lately. No, its true. Don't try to deny it. What about that post from yesterday you say? A prime example of my laziness. I wrote that almost 4 months ago and was too lazy to finish editing it until about 2 weeks ago. Then I was just too chicken to post it for a while there.
I know all you readers (all 4 of you) depend on me for funny commentary on the news and I know I've let you down. I'll try to do better. Really!
Ok, so here is another thought I know I have shared with a few of you but I thought I would expound in blog form:
How the fuck did a site as ugly as myspace.com become the end-all/be-all of social networking sites? Seriously! Most of these sites look like a 12 year old put them togeth... Look, that's not the point. The point is that they are ugly. And I swear the interface of myspace was deliberately designed to create these ugly web pages. Lets start with the fact that in order to change your page layout, you place the CSS/HTML to modify your page in one of your "interests" field. No templates to choose from. No special field to accept your page altering HTML. Just a note that reads, "put it anywhere. Its not like we care if your page looks like a team of retarded badgers got together and tried to imagine what color combinations would cause your eyes to actually explode out of your head while simultaneously trying to see how many videos of guys getting hit in the nuts one IE window can display at the same time. Just keep getting the girls to post a steady stream of soft-porn images of themselves and the guys to make comments that assure everyone that they will never get laid and we have a gold mine." (example 1, example 2....you get the idea.)
I have a myspace page. Its solely so people I have not talked to in ten years can send me a message saying we should get together. Which I will probably ignore due to either disliking the person to begin with or because I forget about it for a month or so and now it's too awkward to call.
Perhaps this is just another sign that I am getting old. Bah. I SAY BAH! And turn down that crap you call music! Darn kids...
WARNING: This post is the cynic in me talking more than anything. It’s probably going to piss you off by the time you get to the end. Please take a few seconds and breathe before you write a comment.
So I was reading this article by some pompous software engineer about how the mythical programming man-month is a complete joke (he's right FYI), when I came across his claim that the statement "All men are created equal" in the Declaration of Independence was derived from an older proverb: "All men are created equal but by practice grow apart"
I never knew this. And the fact that I didn’t leads me to a completely new rambling:
I’m torn between liberal and conservative in a lot of ways. On the one hand, I’m a big social liberal. Gun control (to a point), abortion (to a point), environmental protections, free speech, gay rights – I’m for them all. But…
Sometimes I think that some of the other liberal ideals are driving us towards are society of completely brain dead drones. Schools are a good example of what I'm talking about: We try so hard to make sure no one feels “dumb” or “slower” than the other students. We don’t reward personal accomplishment; we hide it in the name of keeping everything “fair”. We tell everyone they’re “special” without having to do anything.
Some people have to try harder to accomplish the same thing. So? Why is that such a horrible secret that we now hide it our children?
More than anything else, the conservative idea that we need to take personal responsibility for our actions rings true with me. I think that is a large part the problems our society faces these days stem from the fact that no one takes any responsibly for the things they do. It’s always "someone else’s fault". We are all a victim of something (parents, society, the government, whatever). You know what I mean:
“I'm an alcoholic because my father was an alcoholic”
“I abuse my children because I was abused as a child”
Bull shit. You do those things because you choose to do those things. Take the first one: Don’t give me this shit that you're an alcoholic because your father was an alcoholic. You drink because you want to drink. Ever time I hear someone say that alcoholism is a disease I want to whack them upside the head with a beer bottle. To me, alcoholism is when you (key word here) make the choice every day to drink instead of making the more difficult choice of dealing with whatever problem you are drowning with alcohol. That’s the problem with this idea that you are not at fault. You suddenly feel no guilt for taking the easy choice and continuing your poor habit.
And yes, I see some of my habits as this same choice. I don't deny it, but I don't blame anyone else either. I know my bad habits are my own. And I'm ok with that.
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