Friday, January 30, 2009

Whistling past the graveyard

File this under "The people have a right to know (things they didn't want to know in the recent election about Barack Obama's campaign donors)."

Anti-Gay Marriage Donors Fear Increased Threats After California Judge's Disclosure Ruling.

Just because this is the most actively and vehemently protested law - that the people endorsed by voting it into law - in California history doesn't mean those bold, vociferous protesters will, you know, do anything with this information.

They probably just want to send out thank-you cards or something.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Mad enough yet?

Obama is.
President Barack Obama fed a swelling populist revolt against Wall Street bonuses, calling it “shameful” that banks doled out $18.4 billion as taxpayers bail out companies and the U.S. remains mired in a recession.
Why, the nerve!

The bonuses are “the height of irresponsibility,” Obama said today before meeting Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House. Firms need to “show some restraint and show some discipline,” Obama said.

Irresponsible, indeed!
The president joined politicians such as Senator Christopher Dodd, who today called for using “every possible legal means to get the money back.” The bonus pool for 2008 by New York City financial companies was the sixth-largest ever amid record losses in the securities industry, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a report yesterday.

Whoa..... Get the money back? You mean they're doing that with, wait - whose money? The money for which you dudes wrote special laws in less than a week so you could give create it for them a mere four months ago?

Man. If you can't trust bankers to not bungle the money, who can you trust?

PS People who live in populist-led revolts should be careful about throwing populist-led revolts around.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Illustration in which Algore and SteveB try to frighten me

An imaginary alley in Key West:


I can assure you that it was a balmy 76 when we left after New Years' and the water temperature was a bearable 73.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Tech glossary

One for my buddy Aaron via Urban Dictionary:

RDF

Short for reality-distortion field. An expression used to describe the persuasive ability of managers like Steve Jobs (the term originated at Apple in the 1980s to describe his peculiar charisma). Those close to these managers become passionately committed to possibly insane projects, without regard to the practicality of their implementation or competitive forces in the marketpace.

[example:] Steve Jobs is extremely demanding of all those around him and has a very low tolerance for anything but excellence. Because he can be shockingly blunt in his dealings with others, he is often portrayed as abusive, but this is dead wrong. He simply demands/expects great things from everyone around him. I honestly believe he can't understand why anyone would want to waste their time doing anything less than great.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

'DYFS has their reasons and they normally don’t release any information, so we kind of have to go on faith with them'

Do you think naming kids Adolf Hitler Campbell and JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell is enough reason to remove the kids from their home and write a warrant for the father?

Do you think there's more to the case?

We let what happen to the FLDS kids go down - is Child Protective Services becoming more heavy handed?

My answers until more is known - no, no, and not necessarily; we're just getting wind of it in the popular press. Go read some of the news about CPS social workers' intrusions on Home School Legal Defense Fund's site, for starters.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Rock the vote!

I know he's not Merikan, but, hypothetically, do you think he voted for Barack? I'm sure he has an Obama tshirt his friends think is cool.

"Prince Harry Apologizes Over Racist Comments [again]."

Friday, January 9, 2009

Hey, kids! Sorry for the extended radio silence. I've been in

Hey, kids! Sorry for the extended radio silence. I've been in Key West snorkeling and soaking up the sun busy getting ready for the new year.

Let me make it up to you with a little New Year's review with Uncle Jay!