Gone, Like Frank Sinatra...
... Like Elvis and his mom. I'll be back tonight. Stay out of trouble in the interim. Feel free to use the comments section of this post to talk about whatever you want. Run amuck for all I care.
30 November 2005
A bin Laden Update
I found this article from yesterday interesting. The basic gist of it is a repeat of what people in the know have been saying for a long time: that we have a great deal of information about the location and condition of Usama bin Laden and his thugs, but that it's not as easy as having the information. Intelligence sector officials can't reveal a great deal of this information for national security and legal reasons, and there are limitations as to how this information can be employed based on the location of bin Laden and his associates. It's all pretty common sensical, but a lot of people don't take the time to think about it; and a lot of politicians exploit the tendency in their constituents not to take the time to think about or research it.
Be aware, ladies and gentlemen. Be aware.
Be aware, ladies and gentlemen. Be aware.
Waffle, Hillary, Waffle!
Watch, as Senator Clinton play the Kerry card!
"I take responsibility for my vote, but President Bush owes me and the American public an explanation as to why the information he gave us was true when my husband took us to war at the drop of a hat in 1998, but was then false when President Bush took us to war after a long lead-up and debate in 2002 and 2003!"
I can, and do, respect a lot of Democrats (Father Time being a great example), and a lot of extreme liberals; but this kind of double talk is simply ridiculous. Senator Clinton is trying to play both sides of the issue, and it just serves as further proof of her complete lack of integrity.
WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday defended her vote to authorize war in Iraq amid growing unease among liberal Democrats who could determine the potential 2008 presidential candidate's future.
"I take responsibility for my vote, and I, along with a majority of Americans, expect the president and his administration to take responsibility for the false assurances, faulty evidence and mismanagement of the war," the New York senator said in a lengthy letter to thousands of people who have written her about the war.
At the same time, she said the United States must "finish what it started" in Iraq.
Clinton and other hawkish Democrats have come under criticism from liberal anti-war activists, many of whom will hold sway over presidential primary contests. The former first lady, who is up for re-election in 2006, would likely be an early front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination should she decide to seek it.
"I take responsibility for my vote, but President Bush owes me and the American public an explanation as to why the information he gave us was true when my husband took us to war at the drop of a hat in 1998, but was then false when President Bush took us to war after a long lead-up and debate in 2002 and 2003!"
I can, and do, respect a lot of Democrats (Father Time being a great example), and a lot of extreme liberals; but this kind of double talk is simply ridiculous. Senator Clinton is trying to play both sides of the issue, and it just serves as further proof of her complete lack of integrity.
Another Day Without Me
Today's going to be an absolute nightmare. I'm coming off of thirty-nine straight hours on call, without a breather, and without a call; that means I didn't get any overtime pay, but basically haven't been able to leave the area since late Monday afternoon. I have what technically amounts to a two hour break between when I'm off call, and when I'm expected for a long day of high maintenance work. That will be followed by my customary three hours at the office this evening. So, to review: thirty-nine straight hours on call without relief, a two hour break, and a ten hour day. This is after two straight nights of around six hours of sleep.
Bollocks.
So, basically, don't expect much (any) posting from me throughout the day; I'll put a couple of things up before I leave, but once I'm gone, the earlist I'll be able to post will be after 17:15 PST. It's gong to be one of those days, folks.
It's going to be one of those days.
Bollocks.
So, basically, don't expect much (any) posting from me throughout the day; I'll put a couple of things up before I leave, but once I'm gone, the earlist I'll be able to post will be after 17:15 PST. It's gong to be one of those days, folks.
It's going to be one of those days.
Fly Report: 30th November 2005
Good morning. It's going to be one of those days.
It's 43° Fahrenheit and mostly cloudy, with likelihood of early evening showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 21° Fahrenheit with snow showers.
The average price of oil is $54.85 (!) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Colossians 3. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
In the world I left behind, wipe their eyes, and then let go. In the world I left behind, shed a tear, and then go.
It's 43° Fahrenheit and mostly cloudy, with likelihood of early evening showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 21° Fahrenheit with snow showers.
The average price of oil is $54.85 (!) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Colossians 3. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
In the world I left behind, wipe their eyes, and then let go. In the world I left behind, shed a tear, and then go.
U2 Quiz Answers
I'm speaking with Sarah Canuck right now, and she's the one person who I thought would be most likely to attempt the quiz. She's gotten several of the answers wrong, so here are the answers. Some of you wankers could have actually won something had you put in twenty minutes of research time, maybe less.
1) Which of the four band members founded the group? The band was founded in the late 1970's by Larry Mullen, Jr., the drummer.
2) In the song "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)", Bono is singing from whose perspective? Bono is singing from the perspective of an angel.
3) This member of the band was the best man at Bono's wedding. Bono's best man was Adam Clayton, the bassist.
4) Name the ambitious tour that followed the release of the 1991 album "Achtung Baby". This tour was called Zoo TV, and it was the pinnacle of rock and roll tours.
5) Which band member has been hiding his thinning hairline since at least 1987? The Edge has had a receding hairline for years, and hides it with hats or bandanas.
6) The title of one of U2's songs is Irish Gaelic. Name the song, and the English translation. The title of this song is "An Cat Dubh", and it means "The Black Cat".
7) Who is U2's career-long manager? Paul McGuinness has managed U2 since they hired him to take over for Adam Clayton in the late 1970's. He's considered the "fifth member" of U2.
8) In the early days of U2's career, they were known for doing something abnormal when they played concerts as a bar band. What was it? The boys only knew a few songs when they first started touring in Europe and America, so they would play those songs, and then start the set over and play the same songs over again.
9) Two of the members of U2 were actually born in England, not Ireland. Who are they? Adam Clayton was born in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, England; David "The Edge" Evans was born in Barking, Essex, England.
10) In the 1980's, U2 released three EPs/albums containing live material, each of which was named for a lyric in one of the songs shared by the studio and live albums. Name at least two of these EPs/albums, and the songs they're named for. The EP "Under a Blood Red Sky" (November 1983) takes its name from one of the lyrics in the song "New Years Day" from the album "War" (March 1983). The EP/single "Wide Awake in America" (May 1985) takes its name from a lyric in the song "Bad", originally released on the album "The Unforgettable Fire" (October 1984). Finally, the full-length album "Rattle and Hum", which accompanied the 1989 film of the same name, takes its name from one of the lines in "Bullet the Blue Sky", from U2's breakthrough 1987 album "The Joshua Tree".
Now, don't you wish you'd done just a bit of research? These questions may have looked daunting, but they weren't very hard. You could have gotten a prize. Just ask Sneaky Pete! It's a cool prize!
Thanks for the interest in my geekiness, though. I really appreciated that!
1) Which of the four band members founded the group? The band was founded in the late 1970's by Larry Mullen, Jr., the drummer.
2) In the song "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)", Bono is singing from whose perspective? Bono is singing from the perspective of an angel.
3) This member of the band was the best man at Bono's wedding. Bono's best man was Adam Clayton, the bassist.
4) Name the ambitious tour that followed the release of the 1991 album "Achtung Baby". This tour was called Zoo TV, and it was the pinnacle of rock and roll tours.
5) Which band member has been hiding his thinning hairline since at least 1987? The Edge has had a receding hairline for years, and hides it with hats or bandanas.
6) The title of one of U2's songs is Irish Gaelic. Name the song, and the English translation. The title of this song is "An Cat Dubh", and it means "The Black Cat".
7) Who is U2's career-long manager? Paul McGuinness has managed U2 since they hired him to take over for Adam Clayton in the late 1970's. He's considered the "fifth member" of U2.
8) In the early days of U2's career, they were known for doing something abnormal when they played concerts as a bar band. What was it? The boys only knew a few songs when they first started touring in Europe and America, so they would play those songs, and then start the set over and play the same songs over again.
9) Two of the members of U2 were actually born in England, not Ireland. Who are they? Adam Clayton was born in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, England; David "The Edge" Evans was born in Barking, Essex, England.
10) In the 1980's, U2 released three EPs/albums containing live material, each of which was named for a lyric in one of the songs shared by the studio and live albums. Name at least two of these EPs/albums, and the songs they're named for. The EP "Under a Blood Red Sky" (November 1983) takes its name from one of the lyrics in the song "New Years Day" from the album "War" (March 1983). The EP/single "Wide Awake in America" (May 1985) takes its name from a lyric in the song "Bad", originally released on the album "The Unforgettable Fire" (October 1984). Finally, the full-length album "Rattle and Hum", which accompanied the 1989 film of the same name, takes its name from one of the lines in "Bullet the Blue Sky", from U2's breakthrough 1987 album "The Joshua Tree".
Now, don't you wish you'd done just a bit of research? These questions may have looked daunting, but they weren't very hard. You could have gotten a prize. Just ask Sneaky Pete! It's a cool prize!
Thanks for the interest in my geekiness, though. I really appreciated that!
29 November 2005
Impromptu U2 Quiz
For lack of any good reason or any motivation to post something else (for the time being, at least), here are a series of U2-related quiz questions. Can you dig it?
1) Which of the four band members founded the group?
2) In the song "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)", Bono is singing from whose perspective?
3) This member of the band was the best man at Bono's wedding.
4) Name the ambitious tour that followed the release of the 1991 album "Achtung Baby".
5) Which band member has been hiding his thinning hairline since at least 1987?
6) The title of one of U2's songs is Irish Gaelic. Name the song, and the English translation.
7) Who is U2's career-long manager?
8) In the early days of U2's career, they were known for doing something abnormal when they played concerts as a bar band. What was it?
9) Two of the members of U2 were actually born in England, not Ireland. Who are they?
10) In the 1980's, U2 released three EPs/albums containing live material, each of which was named for a lyric in one of the songs shared by the studio and live albums. Name at least two of these EPs/albums, and the songs they're named for.
I'll post the answers this evening. You can lie, cheat, steal, whatever, in order to answer them. If anyone can get all of them, they'll win a copy of my archive CD.
1) Which of the four band members founded the group?
2) In the song "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)", Bono is singing from whose perspective?
3) This member of the band was the best man at Bono's wedding.
4) Name the ambitious tour that followed the release of the 1991 album "Achtung Baby".
5) Which band member has been hiding his thinning hairline since at least 1987?
6) The title of one of U2's songs is Irish Gaelic. Name the song, and the English translation.
7) Who is U2's career-long manager?
8) In the early days of U2's career, they were known for doing something abnormal when they played concerts as a bar band. What was it?
9) Two of the members of U2 were actually born in England, not Ireland. Who are they?
10) In the 1980's, U2 released three EPs/albums containing live material, each of which was named for a lyric in one of the songs shared by the studio and live albums. Name at least two of these EPs/albums, and the songs they're named for.
I'll post the answers this evening. You can lie, cheat, steal, whatever, in order to answer them. If anyone can get all of them, they'll win a copy of my archive CD.
Fly Report: 29th November 2005
Good morning.
It's 37° Fahrenheit with a chance of showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 25° Fahrenheit with afternoon snow showers.
The average price of oil is $55.40 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Colossians 2, courtesy of a conversation with M@. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
And I really don't mind sleeping on the floor; but I couldn't sleep after what I saw. I wrote this letter to tell you the way I feel.
It's 37° Fahrenheit with a chance of showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 25° Fahrenheit with afternoon snow showers.
The average price of oil is $55.40 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Colossians 2, courtesy of a conversation with M@. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
And I really don't mind sleeping on the floor; but I couldn't sleep after what I saw. I wrote this letter to tell you the way I feel.
Again With Amazon
I get paid in a couple of days, and I've been pretty well behaved with my money for the last month, so I figured that a responsible purchase on Amazon.com wouldn't kill me. Observe:
The first book, Warfighting, will be sent as a Christmas gift, in spite of my disdain for Christmas. The other two are for me; I've been waiting to get that Bond soundtrack for quite a while, and I'd be getting the U2 DVD eventually. Total cost, less than fifty bucks; I can handle that.
It's good to be Fly.
************************************
ORDER DETAILS
************************************
Subtotal of Items: $48.37
Shipping & Handling: $5.97
Super Saver Discount: -$5.97
-------
Total for this Order: $48.37
Shipping To:
The Fly
Shipping estimate for these items: December 5, 2005
Delivery estimate: December 9, 2005 - December 13, 2005
1 "Warfighting"
U. S. Marine Corps Staff; Paperback; $8.00
1 "Best of Bond James Bond"
Various Artists; Audio CD; $13.99
1 "U2 - Vertigo 2005 - Live From Chicago (Deluxe Edition)"
U2; DVD; $26.38
The first book, Warfighting, will be sent as a Christmas gift, in spite of my disdain for Christmas. The other two are for me; I've been waiting to get that Bond soundtrack for quite a while, and I'd be getting the U2 DVD eventually. Total cost, less than fifty bucks; I can handle that.
It's good to be Fly.
Islamist Terrorists Invade French Casino
007 fan site MI6 is reporting that the villain in the upcoming Bond film will likely be an Islamist terrorist.
Casino Royale is one of the three Fleming novels that I've actually read at the time of this writing. I was wondering how they'd get around the fact that the entire storyline revolves around an early Cold War plotline. In films like Moonraker (one of the other Bond novels I've read), they pretty much circumvent the entire story; the book is about England's first ICBM system, while the movie is about space shuttles and a space station. If they're able to keep some of the basic storyline of Casino Royale, and change Le Chiffre (whose mission is to win money to fund covert Soviet operations in Western Europe) with an Islamist (who would, in theory, be trying to win money to fund terrorism), I'd be extremely impressed. This would be just the kind of storyline that, if employed correctly, could put Daniel Craig in solid standing as the new James Bond.
Or, they could make the storyline politically correct (Le Chiffre could be replaced with a Neo Nazi character, as they did in the film version of The Sum of All Fears), or just completely screw it up like they did with A View to a Kill and Die Another Day, the two worst Bond films ever made in the history of the franchise. Doing so would most likely make Daniel Craig the next George Lazenby, an underrated actor who never got a chance to truly shine as James Bond due to circumstances beyond his control.
I'll keep you posted. So far, even though I'd hoped for Matthew MacFadyen or Jude Law as the next 007, I'm encouraged that Casino Royale may just be the great film we 007 fans need in order to get over the travesty that they subjected us to in 2002.
Daily Telegraph are echoing earlier reports that the villain of the next James Bond film, "Casino Royale", will be a terrorist leader.
With Daniel Craig now confirmed to play James Bond in next year's Casino Royale, I hear the film's producers have come up with a very modern villain for 007 to pit his wits against.
"Barbara Broccoli wants to work an Osama bin Laden-type character into the script," says my source. "In Ian Fleming's book, the main villain is a Russian agent called Le Chiffre. But in the film, they want to replace Le Chiffre with a wealthy Islamic fundamentalist who provides funding for terrorism."
The producers had originally coined the idea for the previous Bond film, Die Another Day.
"The last film was going to feature a baddie called bin Sane," adds my source. "But it was deemed to be too soon after the 9/11 atrocities, so the character was canned."
Casino Royale is one of the three Fleming novels that I've actually read at the time of this writing. I was wondering how they'd get around the fact that the entire storyline revolves around an early Cold War plotline. In films like Moonraker (one of the other Bond novels I've read), they pretty much circumvent the entire story; the book is about England's first ICBM system, while the movie is about space shuttles and a space station. If they're able to keep some of the basic storyline of Casino Royale, and change Le Chiffre (whose mission is to win money to fund covert Soviet operations in Western Europe) with an Islamist (who would, in theory, be trying to win money to fund terrorism), I'd be extremely impressed. This would be just the kind of storyline that, if employed correctly, could put Daniel Craig in solid standing as the new James Bond.
Or, they could make the storyline politically correct (Le Chiffre could be replaced with a Neo Nazi character, as they did in the film version of The Sum of All Fears), or just completely screw it up like they did with A View to a Kill and Die Another Day, the two worst Bond films ever made in the history of the franchise. Doing so would most likely make Daniel Craig the next George Lazenby, an underrated actor who never got a chance to truly shine as James Bond due to circumstances beyond his control.
I'll keep you posted. So far, even though I'd hoped for Matthew MacFadyen or Jude Law as the next 007, I'm encouraged that Casino Royale may just be the great film we 007 fans need in order to get over the travesty that they subjected us to in 2002.
28 November 2005
Utility Loss
Well, I figured out what the problem was with my site referrers listing. Apparently the system was set up for poor art students or something. When bloggers found out about it and started using it, it eventually overloaded the servers, and now they're charging bloggers to use the service. I pay for HaloScan, I'll eventually be paying for Flickr (thanks to The Wife for my initial paid year), and I don't need to pay for a referral tracker. Easy come, easy go. If anyone knows of a similar utility that still runs for free, please let me know.
I had hoped to do my 2600th post when the blog turned one year old, but seeing as how this will be post 2585, and I still have almost eight days, I'm not counting on that one. So, I'm guessing that we'll hit 2600 sometime this week, and then have the one year anniversary next week. Dig?
I had hoped to do my 2600th post when the blog turned one year old, but seeing as how this will be post 2585, and I still have almost eight days, I'm not counting on that one. So, I'm guessing that we'll hit 2600 sometime this week, and then have the one year anniversary next week. Dig?
Counting 'Em Down/News Update
So, here's the score, folks. This is post 2582 for yours truly. Also, Thus Saith the Fly is a mere eight days, counting today, from turning one year old. I will update you more throughout the next couple of weeks.
Who knows? I may even post some news in the meantime!
UPDATE: News isn't terribly impressive today. There are a few stories worth noting, though.
The Spanish government has signed an agreement to supply weapons to Venezuela; as if we didn't have reason enough already to think that the Spaniards are clueless.
Former Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi has accused the interim government of perpetrating abuses as bad as Saddam's. I like Iyad Allawi, I think he's a good guy, but I don't seem to remember seeing any evidence that the interim government is filling mass graves with the bodies of innocent Iraqis, silencing dissent with bullets and plastic shredders, or gassing the Kurdish zone.
And, finally, Denmark will probably be increasing troop deployments to Afghanistan in response to a request from NATO.
Other than that, it's pretty much the same old thing: a vote of no confidence against the Canadian government, crumbling marble at the Supreme Court, the EU flipping out over allegations of secret CIA prisons, and bird flu. Nothing to see here. These aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along.
Who knows? I may even post some news in the meantime!
UPDATE: News isn't terribly impressive today. There are a few stories worth noting, though.
The Spanish government has signed an agreement to supply weapons to Venezuela; as if we didn't have reason enough already to think that the Spaniards are clueless.
Former Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi has accused the interim government of perpetrating abuses as bad as Saddam's. I like Iyad Allawi, I think he's a good guy, but I don't seem to remember seeing any evidence that the interim government is filling mass graves with the bodies of innocent Iraqis, silencing dissent with bullets and plastic shredders, or gassing the Kurdish zone.
And, finally, Denmark will probably be increasing troop deployments to Afghanistan in response to a request from NATO.
Other than that, it's pretty much the same old thing: a vote of no confidence against the Canadian government, crumbling marble at the Supreme Court, the EU flipping out over allegations of secret CIA prisons, and bird flu. Nothing to see here. These aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along.
Fly Report: 28th November 2005
Good morning.
It's 39° Fahrenheit with clouds and nighttime showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 65° Fahrenheit with strong wind and rain.
The average price of oil is $55.58 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Colossians 1, courtesy of a conversation with M@. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
It's falling, it's falling, and outside the buildings are tumbling down. And inside a child on the ground says he'd do it again. And what am I to do? What in the world am I to say? There's nothing else to do. He says he'll change the world someday. I rejoice.
It's 39° Fahrenheit with clouds and nighttime showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 65° Fahrenheit with strong wind and rain.
The average price of oil is $55.58 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Colossians 1, courtesy of a conversation with M@. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
It's falling, it's falling, and outside the buildings are tumbling down. And inside a child on the ground says he'd do it again. And what am I to do? What in the world am I to say? There's nothing else to do. He says he'll change the world someday. I rejoice.
Answering Poosh
This post is in response to the comments left by Poosh to this post.
I'll admit that I've not seen the video, so I'm at a disadvantage. However, if the worst you can come up with a soldier dressed in a Catholic school girl outfit, I'd be willing to venture a guess that there are a lot of former POW's who would trade a month in a Catholic school girl outfit for fifteen minutes of what they endured; what you've described is nothing compared to the humiliation felt by those POW's who were captured by the Vietnamese, or the Japanese, or the Iraqis, or pretty much anyone else Western powers have fought in the last century. I'm not condoning what happened, but I have a hard time condemning it, particularly for elite groups like the Royal Marines.
Are you an expert on the training that the Ministry of Defense provides their personnel? I know a bit about what the Department of Defense here in the States does, and I know that not everyone goes to it; primarily pilots and unconventional warfare operators. I'm under the impression that the American military does a better job of preparing its personnel through the sheer attitude difference. So, it's possible that we're talking past each other, but I'm under the impression that my knowledge of the situation is more extensive than your own (considering that my minor, in which I took almost as many courses as in my major, was Naval Science with a focus on the Marine Corps).
If a recruit kills themself over bullying, then they're not emotionally stable to the degree that they ought to be serving in the military in the first place. Is it tragic? Of course; but it would be more tragic if they did it on the battle field.
What do you expect them to say when someone sticks a microphone in their face? "I don't see this as a problem, these boys are receiving the best training we can give." Of course not. Americans don't want to hear about their troops being "abused" or "bullied", and Europeans want to hear about it even less; Europeans are completely ignorant when it comes to what actually goes into winning wars and making outstanding warriors. I don't think you can disagree when I say that Europe doesn't have the stomach for this sort of thing; so generals, who are politicians as much as anything else, should be expected to offer strong words against it when the opportunity arises.
Maybe. We still know what happens to Western prisoners of war when Arab armies get a hold of them. Debunked or not, Andy McNab's busted teeth and permanent nerve damage have to lend some credibility to his story; and the treatment Americans received at the hands of the Vietnamese is well documented and verified.
I've seen nothing to suggest this. Groups like the Royal Marines or the SAS are obviously comparable to American groups like the Navy SEAL teams, Army Rangers and Green Berets, Marine Corps Force Recon, et cetera. However, I've seen no indication that the average British grunt is somehow superior to the average American grunt.
Like I said, I'm not condoning this kind of thing, particularly for your average grunt. These weren't average grunts, they were Royal Marines. And even if you did have average grunts being "bullied", it would probably make them more effective in combat because it would give them tangible ideas of just what they had to worry about.
And you know what? The Russians made a good fighting force in a lot of cases. The NATO powers had no interest in fighting the Russian army during the Cold War, and even the Royal Marines could probably find better things to do than to pick a fight with the Spetsnaz.
I'm not saying that this is necessarily appropriate training, and it most likely wasn't intended in the way that I'm explaining it; I can admit that. However, one should be expecting rough treatment upon entry into the military of any country. This isn't Cub Scout camp. Should it have happened in this way? Probably not. Is it the issue that people are trying to make it? I really don't think so. If you want to disagree, go right ahead.
As a point, the footage looks to be like a pub-crawl that went wrong. NOTE THE SOLDIER DRESSED AS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL GIRL.
I'll admit that I've not seen the video, so I'm at a disadvantage. However, if the worst you can come up with a soldier dressed in a Catholic school girl outfit, I'd be willing to venture a guess that there are a lot of former POW's who would trade a month in a Catholic school girl outfit for fifteen minutes of what they endured; what you've described is nothing compared to the humiliation felt by those POW's who were captured by the Vietnamese, or the Japanese, or the Iraqis, or pretty much anyone else Western powers have fought in the last century. I'm not condoning what happened, but I have a hard time condemning it, particularly for elite groups like the Royal Marines.
Our troops are trained plenty to deal with capture so you cut that crap - they get PLENTY of preparation.
Are you an expert on the training that the Ministry of Defense provides their personnel? I know a bit about what the Department of Defense here in the States does, and I know that not everyone goes to it; primarily pilots and unconventional warfare operators. I'm under the impression that the American military does a better job of preparing its personnel through the sheer attitude difference. So, it's possible that we're talking past each other, but I'm under the impression that my knowledge of the situation is more extensive than your own (considering that my minor, in which I took almost as many courses as in my major, was Naval Science with a focus on the Marine Corps).
It's NOT that simple. IF there was bullying this is a fucking outrage, it might have escaped your attention that in recent times there have been cases of several recruits and soldiers KILLING THEMSELVES because of bullying.
If a recruit kills themself over bullying, then they're not emotionally stable to the degree that they ought to be serving in the military in the first place. Is it tragic? Of course; but it would be more tragic if they did it on the battle field.
And there have been British commanders who have recently voiced how apparently disgusting this is, men who I can only presume know a wee bit more than you given they've lead men into battle personally in some cases and planned operations AND seen them through.
What do you expect them to say when someone sticks a microphone in their face? "I don't see this as a problem, these boys are receiving the best training we can give." Of course not. Americans don't want to hear about their troops being "abused" or "bullied", and Europeans want to hear about it even less; Europeans are completely ignorant when it comes to what actually goes into winning wars and making outstanding warriors. I don't think you can disagree when I say that Europe doesn't have the stomach for this sort of thing; so generals, who are politicians as much as anything else, should be expected to offer strong words against it when the opportunity arises.
And as for Bravo Two Zero, I'm sorry to say because it's a great story, has been subject to a great deal of debunking. And it hurts me more than you to admit that, believe me.
Maybe. We still know what happens to Western prisoners of war when Arab armies get a hold of them. Debunked or not, Andy McNab's busted teeth and permanent nerve damage have to lend some credibility to his story; and the treatment Americans received at the hands of the Vietnamese is well documented and verified.
These men know perfectly what they're up against - remember the British army is probably in terms of skill superior to the US army (though that's of little help given our lack of weapons, armour, boots et al) when it comes down to the skill level of the average grunt vs your average grunt.
I've seen nothing to suggest this. Groups like the Royal Marines or the SAS are obviously comparable to American groups like the Navy SEAL teams, Army Rangers and Green Berets, Marine Corps Force Recon, et cetera. However, I've seen no indication that the average British grunt is somehow superior to the average American grunt.
To suggest that being forced to duel with eachother BY MEN DRESSED IN FANCY DRESS is absurd, sorry.
Like I said, I'm not condoning this kind of thing, particularly for your average grunt. These weren't average grunts, they were Royal Marines. And even if you did have average grunts being "bullied", it would probably make them more effective in combat because it would give them tangible ideas of just what they had to worry about.
This is IF ANYTHING more akin to the sick bullshit seen in the Russian army.
And you know what? The Russians made a good fighting force in a lot of cases. The NATO powers had no interest in fighting the Russian army during the Cold War, and even the Royal Marines could probably find better things to do than to pick a fight with the Spetsnaz.
I'm not saying that this is necessarily appropriate training, and it most likely wasn't intended in the way that I'm explaining it; I can admit that. However, one should be expecting rough treatment upon entry into the military of any country. This isn't Cub Scout camp. Should it have happened in this way? Probably not. Is it the issue that people are trying to make it? I really don't think so. If you want to disagree, go right ahead.
27 November 2005
Lassen Sie den Glocken Ring Heraus
Holy sweet merciful glaven on a cracker, Germans are going to be wetting their hosen with delight. They're making a Knight Rider movie starring the one and only David Hasselhoff.
Ladies and gentlemen, the apocalypse is nigh. Come, gather up what ammunition you can, and flee to the hills with me for one final stand.
Ladies and gentlemen, the apocalypse is nigh. Come, gather up what ammunition you can, and flee to the hills with me for one final stand.
The Fly Goes FM
Okay, for the grand prize: which of the following sketches have I performed live on the radio during my college days?
A) Nightline with Steve Forbes, from SNL
B) VH1 Behind the Music: Blue Oyster Cult (the Cowbell sketch), from SNL
C) Monty Python: The Pope and Michaelangelo
D) All of the above
E) None of the above
I'm waiting. Tick, tock, tick, tock...
A) Nightline with Steve Forbes, from SNL
B) VH1 Behind the Music: Blue Oyster Cult (the Cowbell sketch), from SNL
C) Monty Python: The Pope and Michaelangelo
D) All of the above
E) None of the above
I'm waiting. Tick, tock, tick, tock...
Kissinger, and Related Comedy
Henry Kissinger thinks, and rightly so, that a hasty withdrawal from Iraq would be a massive disaster, and he feels that the Bush Administration should continue to stay the course. I, of course, completely agree with him; things are better in Iraq than the media has tried to portray them, and Iraq was and is a crucial strategic location in the international war against Islamofascist terrorism. Go read the article.
Unfortunately, although I have the utmost respect for Dr. Kissinger, and feel that he is one of the finest American statesmen who ever lived, I can't make any mention of him without also linking to the song lyrics of his eponymous song by Monty Python.
Unfortunately, although I have the utmost respect for Dr. Kissinger, and feel that he is one of the finest American statesmen who ever lived, I can't make any mention of him without also linking to the song lyrics of his eponymous song by Monty Python.
Bullying Gone Awry
Prepare to wet your pants in fear: the Royal Marines bully each other.
So, let's assume that this is true (because we have no reason to believe that it isn't). So what? All this does is remind me of the following monologue from the 1992 film A Few Good Men.
I've served in the military, and once my service was complete I continued a long relationship with the military; basically, I know better than a lot of people what we need in our military personnel. Your average worker bee in America, or the United Kingdom, or anywhere in the Western world doesn't need to know about the things that anyone who's put on the uniform knows. Read Faith of my Fathers by Senator John McCain, or Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab, and you'll see just what our real fighters need to be prepared for.
For those of you who don't know, the Royal Marines aren't quite like American Marines. American Marines are outstanding fighters; Royal Marines are like the top tier of the U.S. Marine Corps. Of British forces that fight, the Royal Marines are the most likely to be captured. This kind of treatment isn't bullying; it's preparation for what could happen if they're actually taken prisoner. Whether people understand that or not, it doesn't matter: these guys need to have an idea of what they're up against, and part of that process is experiencing physical violence.
It's as simple as that.
Britain's Royal Marines faced allegations of brutal bullying after a Sunday newspaper published what it said were images of recruits stripped naked and subjected to violent abuse.
The News of the World said senior defence ministry officials confirmed the authenticity of the fuzzy video, taken in May at Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth, southwest England, home to the elite 42 Commando unit.
"This is the worst thing that I've seen happen -- that's why I filmed it -- but it's the tip of an iceberg," said the newspaper's source, described as a Royal Marine veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The video -- aired later on British news programmes -- purportedly shows a non-commissioned officer in a blue surgeon's outfit leading the abuse.
So, let's assume that this is true (because we have no reason to believe that it isn't). So what? All this does is remind me of the following monologue from the 1992 film A Few Good Men.
Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
- Jack Nicholson as Colonel Nathan R. Jessep
I've served in the military, and once my service was complete I continued a long relationship with the military; basically, I know better than a lot of people what we need in our military personnel. Your average worker bee in America, or the United Kingdom, or anywhere in the Western world doesn't need to know about the things that anyone who's put on the uniform knows. Read Faith of my Fathers by Senator John McCain, or Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab, and you'll see just what our real fighters need to be prepared for.
For those of you who don't know, the Royal Marines aren't quite like American Marines. American Marines are outstanding fighters; Royal Marines are like the top tier of the U.S. Marine Corps. Of British forces that fight, the Royal Marines are the most likely to be captured. This kind of treatment isn't bullying; it's preparation for what could happen if they're actually taken prisoner. Whether people understand that or not, it doesn't matter: these guys need to have an idea of what they're up against, and part of that process is experiencing physical violence.
It's as simple as that.
Fly Report: 27th November 2005
Good morning. Believe.
It's 41° Fahrenheit with a chance of showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 59° Fahrenheit with rain.
The average price of oil is $55.55 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 6. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Let's see colours that have never been seen, let's go to places no one else has been. You're in my mind all of the time, I know that's not enough; well if the sky can crack, there must be some way back to love and only love.
It's 41° Fahrenheit with a chance of showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 59° Fahrenheit with rain.
The average price of oil is $55.55 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 6. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Let's see colours that have never been seen, let's go to places no one else has been. You're in my mind all of the time, I know that's not enough; well if the sky can crack, there must be some way back to love and only love.
26 November 2005
Best of the Best
If you don't know that I'm a big James Bond fan, you haven't been paying enough attention. So, since I'll be out of the house today, I'll leave you with this supplemental question, which you should answer after you've thrown in a vote for the new blurb (see below).
Of the five actors who have played James Bond to date, who's your favorite? The options are:
Sean Connery
George Lazenby
Roger Moore
Timothy Dalton
Pierce Brosnan
Which, of course, brings us to the following reference from hallowed antiquity:
So, who is it? Post it. I'm gone.
Of the five actors who have played James Bond to date, who's your favorite? The options are:
Which, of course, brings us to the following reference from hallowed antiquity:
Milhouse: Can I use your bathroom?
Comic Book Guy: No, you may not. The bathroom is for paying customers only, if you purchase an item you may use the bathroom.
Milhouse: Aw, ok, how about that? *Milhouse points to a framed photo*
CBG: That is a rare photo of Sean Connery signed by Roger Moore, it is worth one hundred and fifty dollars.
Milhouse: Aw, what can I get for 75 cents?
CBG: (sigh) You may purchase this charming Hamburglar adventure. A child has already solved the jumble using crayons. The answer is 'fries'.
So, who is it? Post it. I'm gone.
The Wife Was Right
People who know me in real life, and there are several who read this blog, know for a fact that I don't like being wrong, in large part because I don't like to admit to being wrong. Well, this story is a complete and total confession: The Wife was right, and I was wrong.
Many of you will have noticed regular comments from someone who, despite the protestations of Poosh, is lovely and talented: Michelle. She and I have known each other for several years, and we have a tendency to exchange gifts with each other; I will tell you right now that Michelle raises the bar as far as gift giving goes, so when I sent her something, it has to be precise, perfect, and outstanding.
Several weeks ago (precisely three weeks ago today, if I'm not mistaken), I was chatting with The Wife and mentioned that I needed to figure out something to send Michelle, as I hadn't sent her anything in quite a while. The Wife and I began perusing various things, and after searching fruitlessly for a poster of one of Michelle's favorite bands, the topic eventually came to Overstock.com. For those of you who aren't me or Longhorn Mike, Overstock.com is the company that has the gorgeous German model, Sabine Ehrenfeld, on their commercials. She talks about "The Big O", and about half of the guys in the broadcast radius stop and think about what guys tend to stop and think about on a regular basis. At any rate, when we were looking, I mentioned a couple of criteria to The Wife, and she adeptly found two options. After looking at both, The Wife and I agreed that one was superior to the other, and I ordered it.
Now, as regular readers will remember, I'm accustomed to the "too much information" system used by Amazon.com, where I can track precisely where my shipment is at any given time, when it's expected to ship, where it's expected to ship from, et cetera. Well, Overstock.com is attempting to be a competitor with Amazon; as far as I'm concerned, their prices are great, but their shipping system leaves something to be desired. From the day I ordered, up until this past Wednesday, there was no information about shipping it just said "in process".
Now, I should segway at this point. When I conversed with The Wife originally, she recommended that I have the item sent to my home, then wrap it up myself and send it to Michelle. As Michelle has, on occasion, had things shipped directly to me, I elected to do the same in this case. I checked the "this is a gift" box, and continued with the order. A day or two after that, I talked to Michelle, and asked her if she'd ever done any shopping on Overstock.com. She initially responded with disdain; later, though, she had a look, and seemed more impressed with the site. I figured, "Okay, bullet dodged, good to go." We'll come back to this later.
So I waited, patiently, and then on Wednesday while I was at work, I tried the "Live Chat" option. Now, I'm convinced that the "person" I was talking to was actually a computer, because everything was perfectly spelled and there was at least one line that was flawlessly recreated. The "individual" on the other end of the chat told me that I was still within the window during which the item should have been processed and then shipped, so if it didn't arrive by a certain day, I should check again. That was Wednesday night. On Thursday night, I got an E-Mail while I was at Father Time's place saying that the item had shipped. I figured that it would hopefully arrive either Saturday or Monday.
Well, last night, while I was driving home from work, I got a call from Michelle, asking me if I ever shopped on Overstock.com. I had, of course, mentioned a few weeks ago to her that I had indeed made a purchase, but I had avoided telling her what I'd bought; I merely wanted to put the thought in her mind so that when it arrived, she'd instantly know it was from me. Well, it didn't quite work like that. The package arrived with no mention whatsoever of me, in a gift pouch, with a copy of the Overstock.com returns policy. Michelle's dad figured it was some gimmick to get people to shop there; Michelle responded that they didn't have her name or address or anything. So, figuring that it was me, she called, and I played coy initially, but eventually relented, and that's when she filled me in on the situation.
And the truth is that if I had followed The Wife's guidance, it wouldn't have happened. It's an interesting story now, and Michelle and I will probably laugh about it for years to come, but it would have been avoided if I'd just had it sent to me, and then mailed it to Michelle myself.
Wife, you were right, I was wrong. I bow down to your superior wisdom, and I vow to pretty much always follow your advice from now on. I am Obi-Wan Kenobi to your Qui-Gon Jinn.
Hey, wait a second, Qui-Gon Jinn? Sweet merciful glaven, that cheeky bearded bastard...
Many of you will have noticed regular comments from someone who, despite the protestations of Poosh, is lovely and talented: Michelle. She and I have known each other for several years, and we have a tendency to exchange gifts with each other; I will tell you right now that Michelle raises the bar as far as gift giving goes, so when I sent her something, it has to be precise, perfect, and outstanding.
Several weeks ago (precisely three weeks ago today, if I'm not mistaken), I was chatting with The Wife and mentioned that I needed to figure out something to send Michelle, as I hadn't sent her anything in quite a while. The Wife and I began perusing various things, and after searching fruitlessly for a poster of one of Michelle's favorite bands, the topic eventually came to Overstock.com. For those of you who aren't me or Longhorn Mike, Overstock.com is the company that has the gorgeous German model, Sabine Ehrenfeld, on their commercials. She talks about "The Big O", and about half of the guys in the broadcast radius stop and think about what guys tend to stop and think about on a regular basis. At any rate, when we were looking, I mentioned a couple of criteria to The Wife, and she adeptly found two options. After looking at both, The Wife and I agreed that one was superior to the other, and I ordered it.
Now, as regular readers will remember, I'm accustomed to the "too much information" system used by Amazon.com, where I can track precisely where my shipment is at any given time, when it's expected to ship, where it's expected to ship from, et cetera. Well, Overstock.com is attempting to be a competitor with Amazon; as far as I'm concerned, their prices are great, but their shipping system leaves something to be desired. From the day I ordered, up until this past Wednesday, there was no information about shipping it just said "in process".
Now, I should segway at this point. When I conversed with The Wife originally, she recommended that I have the item sent to my home, then wrap it up myself and send it to Michelle. As Michelle has, on occasion, had things shipped directly to me, I elected to do the same in this case. I checked the "this is a gift" box, and continued with the order. A day or two after that, I talked to Michelle, and asked her if she'd ever done any shopping on Overstock.com. She initially responded with disdain; later, though, she had a look, and seemed more impressed with the site. I figured, "Okay, bullet dodged, good to go." We'll come back to this later.
So I waited, patiently, and then on Wednesday while I was at work, I tried the "Live Chat" option. Now, I'm convinced that the "person" I was talking to was actually a computer, because everything was perfectly spelled and there was at least one line that was flawlessly recreated. The "individual" on the other end of the chat told me that I was still within the window during which the item should have been processed and then shipped, so if it didn't arrive by a certain day, I should check again. That was Wednesday night. On Thursday night, I got an E-Mail while I was at Father Time's place saying that the item had shipped. I figured that it would hopefully arrive either Saturday or Monday.
Well, last night, while I was driving home from work, I got a call from Michelle, asking me if I ever shopped on Overstock.com. I had, of course, mentioned a few weeks ago to her that I had indeed made a purchase, but I had avoided telling her what I'd bought; I merely wanted to put the thought in her mind so that when it arrived, she'd instantly know it was from me. Well, it didn't quite work like that. The package arrived with no mention whatsoever of me, in a gift pouch, with a copy of the Overstock.com returns policy. Michelle's dad figured it was some gimmick to get people to shop there; Michelle responded that they didn't have her name or address or anything. So, figuring that it was me, she called, and I played coy initially, but eventually relented, and that's when she filled me in on the situation.
And the truth is that if I had followed The Wife's guidance, it wouldn't have happened. It's an interesting story now, and Michelle and I will probably laugh about it for years to come, but it would have been avoided if I'd just had it sent to me, and then mailed it to Michelle myself.
Wife, you were right, I was wrong. I bow down to your superior wisdom, and I vow to pretty much always follow your advice from now on. I am Obi-Wan Kenobi to your Qui-Gon Jinn.
Hey, wait a second, Qui-Gon Jinn? Sweet merciful glaven, that cheeky bearded bastard...
Fly Report: 26th November 2005
Good morning. Shoot to kill. Also, please vote on the "Changing the Blurb" post.
It's 45° Fahrenheit with light rain and moderate wind in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 35° Fahrenheit with snow showers.
The average price of oil is $55.55* per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame), but requires blue/red glasses (which I do not have) in order to get the complete effect.
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 5. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Sweet the sin, bitter the taste in my mouth. I see seven towers, but I only see one way out. You got to cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice...
* One of the four indexes that I use to compute the price of oil is not reported at this time on the Bloomberg site. It's generally one of the two entries that carries the highest price, so this calculation may be off, and if it is, it's probably lower than the actual price.
It's 45° Fahrenheit with light rain and moderate wind in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 35° Fahrenheit with snow showers.
The average price of oil is $55.55* per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame), but requires blue/red glasses (which I do not have) in order to get the complete effect.
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 5. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Sweet the sin, bitter the taste in my mouth. I see seven towers, but I only see one way out. You got to cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice...
* One of the four indexes that I use to compute the price of oil is not reported at this time on the Bloomberg site. It's generally one of the two entries that carries the highest price, so this calculation may be off, and if it is, it's probably lower than the actual price.
The eHarmony Debacle
Most of you have probably heard of eHarmony.com, a website designed to match singles. They allow you to take their personality profile test free of charge. I decided to do it this evening while I was sitting down at work, and once I finished with the testing, this is what it told me:
So basically, I'm out of luck. I can give them credit for professional integrity, but it's still extremely frustrating that if I wanted to use it to try and find my soul mate, I'd be pretty much out of luck. On the very small bright side, it told me the following things about myself.
I will generally not act impulsively. As a result, others around me may perceive a slowness of thought or action. This results not from slow thinking, but from complete analysis of the situation before acting.
I prefer to wait until I'm sure of my ground before acting. This might mean after several visits to a new place, or after a few meetings with a new person, I will feel more open to risk or share trust.
I prefer not to seek quick personal relationships, but rather build relationships slowly. Once my relationships are formed, they tend to be lasting.
I tend to think before you act. As a result, the things I do will be purposeful and deliberate.
I function best in an environment relatively free of conflict or hostility. When tension mounts, I may become silent; and if tension continues, I may withdraw or avoid the situation altogether.
I usually communicate with others in a reserved, diplomatic and congenial fashion. I am a careful and analytic listener who will generally not offer ideas or opinions unless asked.
I may be a steadying influence because of my restrained and unassuming way. I usually wait to be asked your opinion rather than offering an opinion.
When asked about my opinions, I may not share my ideas or opinions openly with those asking. I remain rather self-contained in social situations. Some may perceive me as aloof, but it's really caution.
Because I may not call attention to my own accomplishments, I may benefit from others giving recognition to me occasionally. Constant recognition may make me feel uncomfortable.
I am skilled at being diplomatic with people in all settings.
I am optimistic and tend to make others feel good about themselves.
I am socially poised and people-oriented.
I generally take pride in being a strong community member.
I have an excellent sense of humor and tend to see humor in events spontaneously.
I tend to be an objective, careful evaluator of situations.
I am skilled at finding "win-win" solutions when conflicts arise.
I tend to set and maintain very high standards for yourself.
I tend to have very high values.
I tend to enjoy life and share that enjoyment with others.
I am usually enthusiastic about activities and planning.
Some of it's accurate, some of it's not. It bums me out that I'm apparently unmatchable through their system. I sort of thought that some of the answers I gave for their questions might make me seem surly or disagreeable, which can be the case in some situations; however, most of the people who post on here who actually know me would probably indicate that generally, I'm pretty agreeable with most people. I guess it's a mystery, but it's a mystery that will save me the forty dollar membership fee that eHarmony charges.
I guess I'll just have to go about finding a wife the old fashioned way: Internet Relay Chat.
eHarmony is based upon a complex matching system developed through extensive research with married couples. One of the requirements for successful matching is that participants to fall within certain defined profiles. If we find that we will not be able to match a user using these profiles, we feel it is only fair to inform them early in the process.
We are so convinced of the importance of creating compatible matches to help people establish happy, lasting relationships that we sometimes choose not to provide service rather than risk an uncertain match.
Unfortunately, we are not able to make our profiles work for you. Our matching model could not accurately predict with whom you would be best matched. This occurs for about 20% of potential users, so 1 in 5 people simply will not benefit from our service. We hope that you understand, and we regret our inability to provide service for you at this time.
So basically, I'm out of luck. I can give them credit for professional integrity, but it's still extremely frustrating that if I wanted to use it to try and find my soul mate, I'd be pretty much out of luck. On the very small bright side, it told me the following things about myself.
Some of it's accurate, some of it's not. It bums me out that I'm apparently unmatchable through their system. I sort of thought that some of the answers I gave for their questions might make me seem surly or disagreeable, which can be the case in some situations; however, most of the people who post on here who actually know me would probably indicate that generally, I'm pretty agreeable with most people. I guess it's a mystery, but it's a mystery that will save me the forty dollar membership fee that eHarmony charges.
I guess I'll just have to go about finding a wife the old fashioned way: Internet Relay Chat.
25 November 2005
Changing the Blurb
Those of you who have been around for quite a while know that things here at TSTF don't change very often. For example, the blurb right below the title has been the same since the blog started. (I've even been criticized for it!) The photograph to your right has only been changed once, the profile has been updated, as opposed to changed, once or twice. Well, I'm thinking it may be time to change the blurb, particularly when you consider that I'm doing very little political or philosophical commentary these days. The current blurb reads:
I'll almost certainly go with something from the extensive catalogue of U2 lyrics. Here are a few options. The first one comes from the Zooropa album, 1993, and it's from the song that Johnny Cash performed with U2, titled The Wanderer.
The second option is from the song that lends its name to this blog, The Fly, from the 1991 album Achtung Baby; for the record, rock reached its peak at the release of Achtung Baby, and it hasn't been as good since.
A third option comes from the 1987 album The Joshua Tree, regarded incorrectly by many as U2's greatest work. The song? I Trip Through Your Wires.
The fourth and final suggestion is from U2's latest album; or rather, it's a B-Side from the deluxe edition of U2's latest album. From How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the blurb candidate comes from Fast Cars.
If you have an alternate suggestion I will, of course, entertain it. Suggestions and/or votes are greatly appreciated. Give me your input.
The Fly provides political, national defense, philosophical, and personal commentary. If anyone actually read it, it would be the cure for ignorance in our generation.
I'll almost certainly go with something from the extensive catalogue of U2 lyrics. Here are a few options. The first one comes from the Zooropa album, 1993, and it's from the song that Johnny Cash performed with U2, titled The Wanderer.
I went out there, in search of experience; to taste and to touch, and to feel as much, as a man can before he repents.
The second option is from the song that lends its name to this blog, The Fly, from the 1991 album Achtung Baby; for the record, rock reached its peak at the release of Achtung Baby, and it hasn't been as good since.
A man will rise, a man will fall, from the sheer face of love, like a Fly on a wall. It's no secret at all.
A third option comes from the 1987 album The Joshua Tree, regarded incorrectly by many as U2's greatest work. The song? I Trip Through Your Wires.
Angel, angel or devil? I was thirsty, and you wet my lips. You, I'm waiting for you. You, you set my desire, I trip through your wires.
The fourth and final suggestion is from U2's latest album; or rather, it's a B-Side from the deluxe edition of U2's latest album. From How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the blurb candidate comes from Fast Cars.
Don't you worry 'bout your mind; you should worry about the day, that the pain it goes away. You know, I miss mine sometimes.
If you have an alternate suggestion I will, of course, entertain it. Suggestions and/or votes are greatly appreciated. Give me your input.
Thanksgiving Sketches
One of these is an incomplete recreation from memory; the other is quoted from a transcript. First...
And the second, from Weekend Update, is here:
I hope everyone made it safely through the holiday. I also hope that everyone is staying away from the crowds today. I'll be spending most of my day watching Spike TV's Thanksgiving Bondathon, and then working for a few hours tonight. Stay out of trouble, and I'll try to post something worth reading.
Caller: Ladies' Man, I hate Thanksgiving! I can't stand spending time with my family.
Leon Phelps: Well caller, that is not good. *starts crying* Thanksgiving, and family, are so important! Because you're a family, and family is so important!
Caller: Ladies' Man, are you okay?
Leon Phelps: *calms down* Yeah, you just reminded me of a memory of Thanksgiving past, where I shot my brother. He was being very uncool, so I shot him with one of the three guns I always take to Thanksgiving dinner. He did not die, but he now has just one arm.
And the second, from Weekend Update, is here:
"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning people not to overeat on Thanksgiving because it can make you drowsy at the wheel. Well, that's bad news for me, you know, 'cause after Thanksgiving dinner I usually like to drive around a while, until I sober up."
- Norm MacDonald, 1994
I hope everyone made it safely through the holiday. I also hope that everyone is staying away from the crowds today. I'll be spending most of my day watching Spike TV's Thanksgiving Bondathon, and then working for a few hours tonight. Stay out of trouble, and I'll try to post something worth reading.
Fly Report: 25th November 2005
Good morning. Well, sort of. It's friggin' cold.
It's 45° Fahrenheit with light rain and moderate wind in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 45° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $56.36 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 4. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
One day I'll die, the choice will not be mine. Will it be too late? You can't fight fate.
It's 45° Fahrenheit with light rain and moderate wind in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 45° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $56.36 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 4. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
One day I'll die, the choice will not be mine. Will it be too late? You can't fight fate.
'Tis The Season
All you regulars know that I'm not a fan of Christmas. However, I'm over at Father Time's for Thanksgiving, and he showed me this video clip. Go have a look; trust me.
Also, for those of you reading this in the States, Spike TV is having the a Thanksgiving weekend marathon of Bond movies. Be there or be a filthy, dirty hippy.
Also, for those of you reading this in the States, Spike TV is having the a Thanksgiving weekend marathon of Bond movies. Be there or be a filthy, dirty hippy.
24 November 2005
A Great American Quote
On this Thanksgiving Day, I could quote something by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Samuel Clemens, or any number of other great American statesmen, writers, and leaders. Instead, I'm going to quote something a bit more popular, a bit more modern, and a bit more tangible.
Have a great Thanksgiving, folks. Thank God for the United States of America, the greatest nation on God's green Earth.
"This country is safe again, Superman, thanks to you."
"No, sir. Don't thank me, Warden. We're all part of the same team. Good night."
Have a great Thanksgiving, folks. Thank God for the United States of America, the greatest nation on God's green Earth.
Fly Report: 24th November 2005
Good morning. It's friggin' Thanksgiving, so nobody's reading this.
It's 34° Fahrenheit with light rain and moderate wind in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 41° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $56.6 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 3. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
A man makes a picture, a moving picture. Through the light projected he can see himself up close. A man captures colour, a man likes to stare. He turns his money into light to look for her.
It's 34° Fahrenheit with light rain and moderate wind in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 41° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $56.6 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 3. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
A man makes a picture, a moving picture. Through the light projected he can see himself up close. A man captures colour, a man likes to stare. He turns his money into light to look for her.
23 November 2005
I Like Merkel
It's going to be things like this that will quickly and conclusively cause Angela Merkel to be seen as better that Gerhard Schroeder. It's that simple: she's better than Gerhard Schroeder was. It's about time.
Now Hiring?
You can imagine my mixed feelings at seeing this story.
So, let's review. People who can read Arabic or Korean: crucial to national security. People who can trace the development of warfare from the dawn of time to present, understand the principles of war and their application to modern warfare, understand the legal stipulations of the Geneva Conventions and the U.N. Charter: not crucial to national security.
Wankers.
The CIA has launched a crash program to clear a backlog of job applicants and hire recruits who can speak Arabic, Korean and other languages critical to national security priorities.
As recently as five months ago, CIA applicants with sought-after skills such as fluency in Arabic or Korean faced long delays in hiring if they had relatives living overseas, CIA Director Porter Goss says.
To fill the shortage of experts in key languages and meet a presidential order for a 50% increase in analysts and overseas operatives, Goss started an end-to-end overhaul of the recruiting system.
Today, security issues that once took 18 months to overcome are being handled in a matter of weeks, according to Betsy Davis, the agency's No. 2 recruiting official.
Last year, the commission created to investigate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks criticized the agency's lack of language experts and the delays in obtaining security clearances.
CIA security officers have long worried that job candidates with foreign ties could leak sensitive information. That meant those candidates would have to endure long waits as the agency investigated their families and friends.
So, let's review. People who can read Arabic or Korean: crucial to national security. People who can trace the development of warfare from the dawn of time to present, understand the principles of war and their application to modern warfare, understand the legal stipulations of the Geneva Conventions and the U.N. Charter: not crucial to national security.
Wankers.
Answering Father Time
In these comments, Father Time posited the following questions:
If you're asking if I hold a double standard based on my politics, then no, I don't. I don't have a love for Nixon, but I think Ford was a reasonably good president, and Reagan was one of the best we've had. Even so, if others disagree with their policies, and want to say so, that's fine with me. Like I said, Clinton's sort of a special case, because for eight years he was a complete and total mockery of the presidency, and I think he deserves what he gets.
If anything, I think it's worse to make insulting remarks about a sitting president. The jokes that I've heard about President Bush over the last five years have been literally attrocious, things have been taken completely out of context, and he's been criticized unjustly. If you disagree with a policy and you can elaborate on why you disagree with a policy, that's one thing; if you're trying to justify your position by smearing and attempting to marginalize a sitting president, that's quite another. So, that's my position on that.
I'm not big on the holidays to begin with (well, Thanksgiving, not Christmas); I'd recommend as "holiday reading" anything you'd normally read, such as How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill, Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein, Warfighting by the U.S. Marine Corps staff (you'd like that one, Father Time, it's directly applicable to business), or perhaps something by Patrick F. McManus. Other than that, I highly recommend Crissmus and Exmas by C.S. Lewis, written in the style of Herodotus.
What about all you folks out there? What do you read for the holidays? Give Father Time your suggestions.
BTW, my original statement includes Reagan, Ford, and Nixon. Do you suppose you could Fly by them without using the phrase, "by comparison with Carter and LBJ....."?
If you're asking if I hold a double standard based on my politics, then no, I don't. I don't have a love for Nixon, but I think Ford was a reasonably good president, and Reagan was one of the best we've had. Even so, if others disagree with their policies, and want to say so, that's fine with me. Like I said, Clinton's sort of a special case, because for eight years he was a complete and total mockery of the presidency, and I think he deserves what he gets.
If anything, I think it's worse to make insulting remarks about a sitting president. The jokes that I've heard about President Bush over the last five years have been literally attrocious, things have been taken completely out of context, and he's been criticized unjustly. If you disagree with a policy and you can elaborate on why you disagree with a policy, that's one thing; if you're trying to justify your position by smearing and attempting to marginalize a sitting president, that's quite another. So, that's my position on that.
Incidentally, Charles Dickens is boring me. I'm switching back to my George Will baseball book. What do you recommend for holiday season reading?
I'm not big on the holidays to begin with (well, Thanksgiving, not Christmas); I'd recommend as "holiday reading" anything you'd normally read, such as How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill, Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein, Warfighting by the U.S. Marine Corps staff (you'd like that one, Father Time, it's directly applicable to business), or perhaps something by Patrick F. McManus. Other than that, I highly recommend Crissmus and Exmas by C.S. Lewis, written in the style of Herodotus.
What about all you folks out there? What do you read for the holidays? Give Father Time your suggestions.
Fly Report: 23rd November 2005
Good morning. Well, sort of. It's friggin' cold.
It's 52° Fahrenheit with light rain in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 46° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $56.39 (?) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.71 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 2. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
And, see the bird with a leaf in her mouth, after the flood all the colours came out.
It's 52° Fahrenheit with light rain in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 46° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $56.39 (?) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.71 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 2. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
And, see the bird with a leaf in her mouth, after the flood all the colours came out.
22 November 2005
Pop, Track 7
I'm already gone... To Metropolis to hang out with April and possibly Swill. I'll see you folks later.
Clinton Jokes
I got this joke forwarded to me from The Wife.
I laughed, so I'll see her that joke, and raise her this one from hallowed antiquity...
The Clintons: is there any joke that doesn't apply to them? If you'd like to read one more, the eyerocker's got a great one.
Hillary Clinton was spending the morning at a primary school in Ithaca, New York to talk to the children about her job as a US Senator. After her talk, she offered question time. One little boy put up his hand, and the Senator asked him what his name was. "Kenneth."
"And what is your question, Kenneth?"
"I have three questions. First, whatever happened to your medical health care plan? Second, why would you run for President after your husband shamed the
office? And third, whatever happened to all the stuff you and President Clinton took when you left the White House?"
Just then the bell rang for recess. Hillary Clinton informed the kids that they would continue after recess. When they resumed, Hillary said, "Okay, where were we? Oh, that's right, question time. Who has a question?" A different little boy raised his hand; the esteemed Senator from New York pointed him out and asked him what his name was. "Gary."
"And what is your question?"
"I have five questions. First, whatever happened to your medical health care plan?
Second, why would you run for President after your husband shamed the office? Third, whatever happened to all the stuff you and President Clinton took when you left the White House? Fourth, why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early? And fifth, what happened to Kenneth?"
I laughed, so I'll see her that joke, and raise her this one from hallowed antiquity...
"This weekend, veteran news anchorman David Brinkley apologized to Bill Clinton for an election night commentary in which he called the president, quote, 'boring and uncreative.' Admitted Brinkley: 'There was certainly nothing uncreative about the way you moved Vince Foster's body.' [mixed and mild reaction from the crowd] ... President's a murderer, you didn't know that?"
- Norm MacDonald, 1996
The Clintons: is there any joke that doesn't apply to them? If you'd like to read one more, the eyerocker's got a great one.
The Barbarian Speaks
From Agricola, chapter XXX, by Tacitus:
For what it's worth, the rousing speech didn't do much; he and his barbarian buddies were absolutely smoten by Agricola's legions. It wasn't even a close fight.
“Whenever I consider the origin of this war and the necessities of our position, I have a sure confidence that this day, and this union of yours, will be the beginning of freedom to the whole of Britain. To all of us slavery is a thing unknown; there are no lands beyond us, and even the sea is not safe, menaced as we are by a Roman fleet. And thus in war and battle, in which the brave find glory, even the coward will find safety. Former contests, in which, with varying fortune, the Romans were resisted, still left in us a last hope of succour, inasmuch as being the most renowned nation of Britain, dwelling in the very heart of the country, and out of sight of the shores of the conquered, we could keep even our eyes unpolluted by the contagion of slavery. To us who dwell on the uttermost confines of the earth and of freedom, this remote sanctuary of Britain’s glory has up to this time been a defence. Now, however, the furthest limits of Britain are thrown open, and the unknown always passes for the marvellous. But there are no tribes beyond us, nothing indeed but waves and rocks, and the yet more terrible Romans, from whose oppression escape is vainly sought by obedience and submission. Robbers of the world, having by their universal plunder exhausted the land, they rifle the deep. If the enemy be rich, they are rapacious; if he be poor, they lust for dominion; neither the east nor the west has been able to satisfy them. Alone among men they covet with equal eagerness poverty and riches. To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a solitude and call it peace.
- Calgacus, Pictish chieftain, ca. 74 AD
For what it's worth, the rousing speech didn't do much; he and his barbarian buddies were absolutely smoten by Agricola's legions. It wasn't even a close fight.
Fly Report: 22nd November 2005
Good morning. Play it. Play the TDG! Play it now, or I'll call you all infidels and wankers!
It's 39° Fahrenheit and and fair in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 45° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $56.74 (?) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 1. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
And if, and if the night runs over; and if the day won't last; and if your way should falter along that stony pass, it's just a moment, this time will pass.
It's 39° Fahrenheit and and fair in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 45° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $56.74 (?) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Ephesians 1. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
And if, and if the night runs over; and if the day won't last; and if your way should falter along that stony pass, it's just a moment, this time will pass.
21 November 2005
The Next Book
Well, as some of you may have noted from the previous post, I've finished reading the book of Judges. I'm now taking suggestions as to what I should read next. Here's a list, possibly incomplete, of what I've read so far this year.
Job
Romans
Daniel
James
Judges
Jonah
Nahum
Ecclesiastes
Hebrews
April has suggested that I read Ephesians or Phillipians. I'm opposed to neither, though I've been thinking for a while that I ought to reread Corinthians. I've also got a strong desire to read something by one of the major prophets, though it's probably time for me to read something from the New Testament again. What do y'all think?
And the first person to say "Gospel of John" gets smoten, Fly style.
UPDATE: Well, after all the advice, I decided to have a look at Ruth. When I saw that it was four chapters, and only a couple of pages long, I decided to just read it all in one sitting. I think that tomorrow I'm going to follow April's advice and read Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. Also, next time I come into contact with Anachronism, I'm going to beat him senseless.
April has suggested that I read Ephesians or Phillipians. I'm opposed to neither, though I've been thinking for a while that I ought to reread Corinthians. I've also got a strong desire to read something by one of the major prophets, though it's probably time for me to read something from the New Testament again. What do y'all think?
And the first person to say "Gospel of John" gets smoten, Fly style.
UPDATE: Well, after all the advice, I decided to have a look at Ruth. When I saw that it was four chapters, and only a couple of pages long, I decided to just read it all in one sitting. I think that tomorrow I'm going to follow April's advice and read Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. Also, next time I come into contact with Anachronism, I'm going to beat him senseless.
Fly Report: 21 November 2005
Good morning. Play the TDG, folks. Play it! Play it now!
It's 50° Fahrenheit and and mostly cloudy in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 45° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $55.78 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is undetermined at the time of this posting, as Judges does not have twenty-two chapters. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Oh, the deeper I spin; oh, the hunter will sin for your ivory skin. Took a drive in the bitter rain, to a place where the wind calls your name, under the trees the river laughing at you and me. Hallelujah, heavens wide rows; the doors you open I just can't close.
It's 50° Fahrenheit and and mostly cloudy in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 45° Fahrenheit and sunshine.
The average price of oil is $55.78 per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is undetermined at the time of this posting, as Judges does not have twenty-two chapters. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Oh, the deeper I spin; oh, the hunter will sin for your ivory skin. Took a drive in the bitter rain, to a place where the wind calls your name, under the trees the river laughing at you and me. Hallelujah, heavens wide rows; the doors you open I just can't close.
Grayson Moorhead Securities
One of my favorite old sketches from Saturday Night Live were the Grayson Moorhead Securities commercials. Part one...
And part two...
Ahhh, memories of a simpler time...
[SUPER: "Grayson Moorhead Securities. A Tradition of Excellence."]
Narrator: On Wall Street, trendy investment fads have come and gone over the years, but not at Grayson Moorhead, where we've always stuck to the basic principles set forth by Arthur Grayson nearly 80 years ago.
Arthur Grayson: Our clients must be our first priority.
[SUPER: "The Tradition Endures"]
We will take our client's money and invest it. Part of the profit we will keep for ourselves; the rest we will give to the client.
[SUPER: "A Tradition of Security"]
We will make a list of our clients, and how much money each of them has given us to invest. We will keep this list in a safe place. If we have time, we will make a copy of the list, in case something happens to the first list.
[SUPER: "A Tradition of Listening"]
Listen to your client. It's the only way to know what he's saying.
[SUPER: "A Tradition of Trust"]
If a client is talking, and you're not listening, and he notices, and he accuses you of not listening, just say, "Sure, I've been listening, I've heard every word you've said." If he then says, "Alright, tell me what I've been talking about." Just say, "You've been talking about your investments. Which stocks to buy and so on." That way the client will think you've been listening, even though you haven't.
[SUPER: "A Tradition of Integrity"]
We will invest only in white-owned businesses.
Narrator: Not all of Arthur Grayson's principles are followed today, but at Grayson Moorhead we still believe in the basics.
Arthur Grayson: Don't leave the client's money lying around. Keep it in a safe place. For example: where we keep the list.
And part two...
Narrator: To Arthur Grayson, there was no substitute for knowing the market.
Arthur Grayson: Clients will rely on us for market expertise. If the day ever comes when a client knows more about the market than we do, copy him. Do what he does.
[SUPER: "Writing Brokers' Names on Slips of Paper"]
Once a year, we will write each broker's name on a slip of paper and then place the slips in a hat. Each broker will then draw a slip of paper from the hat. He will buy a gift for the broker whose name he his drawn. He will be that broker's Secret Santa.
[SUPER: "Drawing Again"]
If a broker draws his own name from the hat, he will draw again.
[SUPER: "Taking Special Care"]
We must take special care of the list with each client's name and the amount of money he has invested. If we were to lose that list, we would be ruined.
[SUPER: "If My Wife Calls"]
If my wife calls while I'm in shagging my secretary, tell her I'm at a board meeting. That way I'll be able to continue shagging my secretary without my wife knowing about it.
[SUPER: "the tradition continues..."]
If my wife were to find out about me and my secretary, that would be bad. As bad as losing the list.
Ahhh, memories of a simpler time...
20 November 2005
Tactical Decision Game #4
While conducting field operations, you receive word from your battalion commander that a terrorist cell has overrun an abandoned Soviet ballistic missile site held by the Dobhabhistani Territorial Guard. You are approximately five kilometers from the installation, and the Dobhabhistani government has formally requested American assistance. Because of your proximity, your platoon has been tasked with retaking the installation.
Satellite imagery indicates approximately thirty terrorists in and around the installation. Reports from two Territorial Guardsmen who witnessed the incident and were able to escape indicate that the terrorist cell is armed with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Their report also indicates that the terrorists may have several sharpshooters, possibly armed with old Mosin Nagant rifles. The battalion intelligence officer has transmitted satellite imagery to your position.
You are commanding a standard infantry platoon of forty Marines. Your platoon is composed of three squads, each of which is composed of three fire teams. Your men are armed with M-16A4 assault rifles; each fire team and squad leader also has an M203 grenade launcher. Each fire team (nine of them) also has an M249 light machine gun. You also have an attached sniper team (two snipers and two spotters) and a weapons detachment of two M60 machine guns (two gunners and two assistants). A small detachment from the Dobhabhistani company you have been training with will also accompany you and observe the operation from a safe distance. Due to your distance from headquarters and the sensitivity of the installation, you will not have outside fire support.
Your objective is to detain or neutralize the terrorists and secure the missile complex. Intelligence indicates that the two areas of enemy concentration are in the control station on the southwest corner of the facility, and the barracks in the southeast corner. The ballistic missiles and their warheads should be secure, but you're advised to practice extreme caution when sweeping the silos.
What now, Lieutenant? Submit a solution containing a scheme of maneuver, orders for subordinates, placement directions for sniper and machine gun teams, and any other relevant instructions/rationales. For more information about tactical decision games, visit the The Marine Corps Gazette; for more information about the weapon systems involved, visit Global Security.
Housekeeping Issues
A couple of things.
First, this will be my 2553rd post. Thus Saith the Fly turns one year old in a few weeks, so I will be trying my best to hit 2600 by the time that happens. I'll keep everyone posted; maybe we'll do a celebratory TDG or something to celebrate.
Second, if anyone has any clue how my referrers list got reset, please let me know. I'm displeased, as a couple of my referrers were up into quadruple digits.
Third, I spent a great deal of time this afternoon uploading pictures from my Yahoo Photos account (which I won't be linking to, as it can be used to trace back to me) onto my Flickr account. So far I've gotten most of the pictures I took on my trips to Europe in 2003 and 2004 uploaded into individual categories, and a few pictures of me into another category. If you're bored and like looking at pictures, go have a look.
Right then. I'm going home now. I'll post a new TDG tonight.
First, this will be my 2553rd post. Thus Saith the Fly turns one year old in a few weeks, so I will be trying my best to hit 2600 by the time that happens. I'll keep everyone posted; maybe we'll do a celebratory TDG or something to celebrate.
Second, if anyone has any clue how my referrers list got reset, please let me know. I'm displeased, as a couple of my referrers were up into quadruple digits.
Third, I spent a great deal of time this afternoon uploading pictures from my Yahoo Photos account (which I won't be linking to, as it can be used to trace back to me) onto my Flickr account. So far I've gotten most of the pictures I took on my trips to Europe in 2003 and 2004 uploaded into individual categories, and a few pictures of me into another category. If you're bored and like looking at pictures, go have a look.
Right then. I'm going home now. I'll post a new TDG tonight.
Those Hallowed Classics
I was looking up an old LucasArts game, and although I haven't yet found any real webpages about it (leading me to believe that I may have it spelled incorrectly in my search string), I did come across this writeup in 1up.com's list of the Essential 50 Games. It's about a game called Myst that I played when I was in middle school.
Go ahead and have a look at the whole list. Any thoughts? I haven't played most of the games on there, but I've played a few, and they're all classics that seriously influenced electronic gaming. How about you folks? What are some of the games that you either loved as a kid, or think changed the genre?
Go ahead and have a look at the whole list. Any thoughts? I haven't played most of the games on there, but I've played a few, and they're all classics that seriously influenced electronic gaming. How about you folks? What are some of the games that you either loved as a kid, or think changed the genre?
Wherein the Fly Rants Aimlessly
Every year, Coca Cola does a new Christmas commercial in which polar bears, generally at least one adult and one adolescent, enjoy the taste of Coca Cola while somehow wishing a merry Christmas to those folks who watch television. Now, I really don't care for Coca Cola, and I'd rather drink just about anything else, so I have no vested interest in the company.
That having been said, I'm a bit disgruntled at this year's commercial. Why? Because this year's commercial features penguins. Why does this leave me disgruntled? Because penguins live at the South Pole, while polar bears live at the North Pole. I realize this is the pettiest issue I've ever whined about, but it bugs me, and this is my blog, so I can whine about anything I want.
If it had been me directing the commercial, I would have replaced the penguins with a handful of Santa's elves. Then, I would have had the bears mauling and/or eating said elves. Then, just for good measure, I would have added a brief scene with a battalion of Santa's elite Clausistani Republican Guard, seeking unholy vengeance on a group of terrified polar bears, wielding Kalashnikov rifles, torches, and battle axes.
Yeah...
That having been said, I'm a bit disgruntled at this year's commercial. Why? Because this year's commercial features penguins. Why does this leave me disgruntled? Because penguins live at the South Pole, while polar bears live at the North Pole. I realize this is the pettiest issue I've ever whined about, but it bugs me, and this is my blog, so I can whine about anything I want.
If it had been me directing the commercial, I would have replaced the penguins with a handful of Santa's elves. Then, I would have had the bears mauling and/or eating said elves. Then, just for good measure, I would have added a brief scene with a battalion of Santa's elite Clausistani Republican Guard, seeking unholy vengeance on a group of terrified polar bears, wielding Kalashnikov rifles, torches, and battle axes.
Yeah...
Fly Report: 20th November 2005
Good morning.
It's 50° Fahrenheit and with partial clouds in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 43° Fahrenheit with sun.
The average price of oil is $55.34 (!) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Judges 21. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Yeah we'll shine like stars in the summer night; we'll shine like stars, it'll be alright.
It's 50° Fahrenheit and with partial clouds in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 43° Fahrenheit with sun.
The average price of oil is $55.34 (!) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Judges 21. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Yeah we'll shine like stars in the summer night; we'll shine like stars, it'll be alright.
Promises Forged from Pain
I've wanted to post this, and I don't know whether it's the right time, or whether it will ever be the right time; but I'm going to do it anyway.
The promises are there; but sometimes the situation remains a case of witnessing the exhumation of something wonderful that passed. Sometimes it remains a case of doing only that which is best for them, and them alone. Sometimes they don't come back, and they don't rebuild; they move on.
Even so, the promises remain; in spite of the pain, in spite of the work you do to take your pieces and rebuild something new, and in spite of the slow disappearance of any trace of hope for resurrection of that exhumed love, you endure, and you let that promise stand. If you call, I will answer. If you fall, I'll pick you up. If you lose your way, I will point you home.
I think it's getting to the point where I can be myself again; it's getting to the point where we have almost made amends. I think it's the getting to the point that is the hardest part. And if you call, I will answer. And if you fall, I'll pick you up. And if you court this disaster, I'll point you home; I'll point you home.
You think I only think about you when we're both in the same room; I'm only here to witness the remains of love exhumed. You think we're here to play the game of who loves more than who. And if you call, I will answer. And if you fall, I'll pick you up. And if you court this disaster...
You think it's only fair to do what's best for you, and you alone; it's only fair to do the same to me when you're not home. I think it's time to make this something that is more than only fair. So if you call, I will answer. And if you fall, I'll pick you up. And if you court this disaster, I'll point you home...
... But I'm warning you, don't ever do those crazy, messed up things that you do. If you ever do, I promise you, I'll be the first to crucify you. Now it's time to prove that you've come back here to rebuild.
The promises are there; but sometimes the situation remains a case of witnessing the exhumation of something wonderful that passed. Sometimes it remains a case of doing only that which is best for them, and them alone. Sometimes they don't come back, and they don't rebuild; they move on.
Even so, the promises remain; in spite of the pain, in spite of the work you do to take your pieces and rebuild something new, and in spite of the slow disappearance of any trace of hope for resurrection of that exhumed love, you endure, and you let that promise stand. If you call, I will answer. If you fall, I'll pick you up. If you lose your way, I will point you home.
19 November 2005
Fly Report: 19th November 2005
Good morning.
It's 45° Fahrenheit and with a chance of showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 40° Fahrenheit with sun.
The average price of oil is $55.34 (!) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Judges 20. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
And if you look, you look through me; and when you talk, you talk at me; and when I touch you, you don't feel a thing.
It's 45° Fahrenheit and with a chance of showers in Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 40° Fahrenheit with sun.
The average price of oil is $55.34 (!) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Judges 20. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
And if you look, you look through me; and when you talk, you talk at me; and when I touch you, you don't feel a thing.
Walk the Line
This afternoon I went to see Walk the Line, starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash. I could go into extreme detail on it, but I'll give you a few bullets and let you see it for yourself.
This is a good movie, and it's worth seeing at least once, particularly if you have any interest whatsoever in Johnny Cash.
The acting is outstanding. Joaquin Phoenix was a perfect choice as Johnny Cash, and there were several times during the film that when I looked at him, I didn't see Commodus from Gladiator; I saw Johnny Cash. I have no clue whatsoever about June Carter Cash, but Reese Witherspoon's performance is amazing.
The movie's got a lot of scenes of Johnny Cash being a lunatic and a drug addict, and it gets a little bit tiresome, but my guess is that was a large part of Johnny Cash's life, and a large part of the reason why his story, and the story of his eventual marriage to June Carter, was so amazing. Johnny Cash's early life (pre-1970) is portrayed for what it was: an outpouring of talent, punctuated by a series of stupid mistakes that ruined his life until those who really cared about him forced him to clean his life up.
At its base, this film is about a man who loved God, and who was found by God when he had fallen from grace. It's about a man who was redeemed not because of any inherent virtue he had, but through the love of God, and the love of a woman who was God's instrument.
I'm not going to say that this is a must-see film that everyone who's reading this should go out and see immediately; you should have done that with The Island. This is, however, a movie that's worth seeing if you have the opportunity, particularly if you have an interest in Johnny Cash.
I remember my own experience with Johnny Cash. When I'd first qualified as a DJ at the college radio station, I took a few time slots during the weeks preceding the actual beginning of the 2003/2004 school year. I was on the air on 12th September when Johnny Cash died. For the better part of two hours I tried to find anything I could in the archives and recurrent room by Johnny Cash; this is pretty much useless when you spin records at a station that prides itself on being "independent", even though it's financed by the state. Finally, as I was about to give up, I was on AIM with my friend John in Tennessee, and he reminded me (because I'd had no clue) that the last song on the U2 album Zooropa is sung by Johnny Cash instead of Bono. It's called The Wanderer, and I got to play it that day.
So, there you have it. Now, I'm going to go relax on my Friday off. Keep it real, folks.
I'm not going to say that this is a must-see film that everyone who's reading this should go out and see immediately; you should have done that with The Island. This is, however, a movie that's worth seeing if you have the opportunity, particularly if you have an interest in Johnny Cash.
I remember my own experience with Johnny Cash. When I'd first qualified as a DJ at the college radio station, I took a few time slots during the weeks preceding the actual beginning of the 2003/2004 school year. I was on the air on 12th September when Johnny Cash died. For the better part of two hours I tried to find anything I could in the archives and recurrent room by Johnny Cash; this is pretty much useless when you spin records at a station that prides itself on being "independent", even though it's financed by the state. Finally, as I was about to give up, I was on AIM with my friend John in Tennessee, and he reminded me (because I'd had no clue) that the last song on the U2 album Zooropa is sung by Johnny Cash instead of Bono. It's called The Wanderer, and I got to play it that day.
I went out there, in search of experience; to taste and to touch, and to feel as much, as a man can before he repents.
So, there you have it. Now, I'm going to go relax on my Friday off. Keep it real, folks.
18 November 2005
HaloScan Issues?
Hey folks. Apparently Father Time has had some difficulty (pronounced "di-fickle-tee") operating HaloScan in the last couple of hours on my blog. Has anyone else had this issue? I came home from seeing "Walk the Line" and had no problem with it. Father Time, if you're reading this, hopefully this effective reset of the page should help you out.
The Vatican Gets Nutty
As if I didn't already have enough reasons to completely ignore what the Holy See has to say, here's one more. When the chumps at the Vatican agree with Lee and Drumwaster, you know there's bad things going down.
Father Time Comments on Gun Control
I had this E-Mailed to me by Father Time, and I had to share it with you folks immediately.
Now, I'm not sure about the math, but then again, I'm a historian. I think when you compensate for the troop rotations and the total number of American service personnel who have cycled through the country, the math probably adds up.
Questions?
If you consider that there have been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theater of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000. The rate in Washington D.C.(among others) is 80.6 per 100,000. That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in our nation's capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq.
Conclusion: We should immediately pull out of Washington.
Now, I'm not sure about the math, but then again, I'm a historian. I think when you compensate for the troop rotations and the total number of American service personnel who have cycled through the country, the math probably adds up.
Questions?
Fly Report: 18th November 2005
Good morning.
It's 37° Fahrenheit and partly cloudy Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 35° Fahrenheit and mostly sunny.
The average price of oil is $55.14 (!) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Judges 19. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Johnny take a walk with your sister the moon, let her pale light in to fill up your room. You've been living underground, eating from a can; you've been running away from what you don't understand, love.
It's 37° Fahrenheit and partly cloudy Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 35° Fahrenheit and mostly sunny.
The average price of oil is $55.14 (!) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Judges 19. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Johnny take a walk with your sister the moon, let her pale light in to fill up your room. You've been living underground, eating from a can; you've been running away from what you don't understand, love.
Missile Defense Revisited
Remember the ballistic missile defense system we don't need, even though all of those Russian nukes are still intact, and even though the Chinese, North Koreans, and Iranians are all developing ballistic missile technology? And remember how all of those scientists said that it could never work, that the sheer physics of the system were impossible, and not worth the money that it would take from social programs? Well, not only has it worked in various tests in the past (which I've covered, but don't have the time or inclination to link to right now), but the Navy has successfully destroyed a multi-stage missile. This is an important milestone, because when a multi-stage missile separates, the targeting system has to be able to distinguish between the discarded lift stage, and the second stage (which contains the actual warhead).
So, basically, it works, and all of those pacifist scientists, for all their good intentions, were incorrect about the feasibility of the system. Whether or not the system is needed is, I suppose, up for continued debate; I, myself, am not completely sold on the necessity of the system, but I think that a need exists, and I have no problem seeing a system implemented, particularly on the Pacific Rim (which would be the most likely area to see danger from the nations with the technology in question).
Any thoughts? Do we need it? Is it worth continuing to develop? Post it up, folks.
So, basically, it works, and all of those pacifist scientists, for all their good intentions, were incorrect about the feasibility of the system. Whether or not the system is needed is, I suppose, up for continued debate; I, myself, am not completely sold on the necessity of the system, but I think that a need exists, and I have no problem seeing a system implemented, particularly on the Pacific Rim (which would be the most likely area to see danger from the nations with the technology in question).
Any thoughts? Do we need it? Is it worth continuing to develop? Post it up, folks.
The Quest for the Perfect Photograph
My own story about the Rosetta Stone involves a bunch of Asian folks. You see, at the end of July 2004 I took a weekend trip to London. The first place I went the morning after arriving was to the British Museum, and since I don't care about the garbage that some American Indians or the Chinese gave to the Brits for display purposes. I went straight to the section on the Ancient Near East, and followed on to the wicked sweet stuff from Greece and Rome.
The first room they have in the Ancient Near East section was the Egyptian room, and in addition to a massive sculpture of Rameses II (the Charlton Heston of Egyptian Pharoahs, to Akhenaton's Pauly Shore), the central piece is the Rosetta Stone. Now, it's extremely difficult to get a good picture of the Rosetta Stone. "Why?", you ask? Is it the reflective glass and museum lighting? Is it the texture and surface of the stone itself? No; it's all of the Japanese tourists, crowding around the thing and snapping twenty pictures apiece.
The picture you see there is the only one I took of the Rosetta Stone. Like a sniper, my skills as both a rifleman and a photographer are finely honed. I got my equipment ready, sighted in, and then waited, patiently, with precise breathing, until there was a break in the throng of Asian tourists. Then, like the expert marksman that I am, I triggered my camera with the precision usually reserved for NASA machinists and captured the image you see here today.
Special thanks once again to The Wife, who has encouraged me to post more pictures on my Flickr account.
17 November 2005
Because I Can
I've made a point, several times, of putting stuff on my blog just because I could. I'm going to do it again. For your reading entertainment, an egotistical reworking of the lyrics to "The Spy Who Loved Me" by Carly Simon.
And now, back to your regularly scheduled good blogging stuff. I'm going to play with Jack for a while!
Nobody does it better
Makes you feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as me
Baby, I'm the best
You weren't lookin' but somehow I found you
You tried to hide from my love light
But like heaven above you the spy who loved you
Is keepin' all your secrets safe tonight
And nobody does it better
Though sometimes you wish someone could
Nobody does it quite the way I do
Why'd I have to be so good?
The way that I hold you whenever I hold you
There's some kind of magic inside me
That keeps you from runnin', I'll just keep it comin'
How'd I learn to do the things I do?
And nobody does it better
Makes you feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as me
Baby, baby, darlin' I'm the best
Baby I'm the best
Baby I'm the best
'Cause baby, I'm the best
Darling, I'm the best
Darling, I'm the best
'Cause baby, I'm the best...
And now, back to your regularly scheduled good blogging stuff. I'm going to play with Jack for a while!
Censorship in Video Games
When I was looking for that cartoon about urine and Qurans yesterday, I came upon this link, which was the second-listed website for Filibuster Cartoons on Google. I had no clue.
What do you think? I'm not sure you can justify Nintendo's policies as "censorship". Actually, it would be refreshing if more companies practiced some self-control. I remember when the only charges that could be leveled at video games were that they were addicting, or "rotted your brain", or some other such nonsense. I don't think anyone can disagree at this point that there are absolutely video games out there these days that promote things they shouldn't.
Don't get me wrong; I love a good game of Halo or Ghost Recon, but I also understand that those games are for adults. As far as I'm concerned, Nintendo had a good policy: market games to kids, and clean them up so that they're either values-good, or at the very least values-neutral. It would be nice if more companies bet on positive family values as a marketing strategy like Nintendo did. Nintendo games were classics that I still play as ROMs.
So, yeah. Any thoughts or comments? And is it really "censorship" if you do it to yourself? I think the word "censorship" carries a pretty negative connotation; but I'll stop babbling. Tell me what you think.
What do you think? I'm not sure you can justify Nintendo's policies as "censorship". Actually, it would be refreshing if more companies practiced some self-control. I remember when the only charges that could be leveled at video games were that they were addicting, or "rotted your brain", or some other such nonsense. I don't think anyone can disagree at this point that there are absolutely video games out there these days that promote things they shouldn't.
Don't get me wrong; I love a good game of Halo or Ghost Recon, but I also understand that those games are for adults. As far as I'm concerned, Nintendo had a good policy: market games to kids, and clean them up so that they're either values-good, or at the very least values-neutral. It would be nice if more companies bet on positive family values as a marketing strategy like Nintendo did. Nintendo games were classics that I still play as ROMs.
So, yeah. Any thoughts or comments? And is it really "censorship" if you do it to yourself? I think the word "censorship" carries a pretty negative connotation; but I'll stop babbling. Tell me what you think.
Introducing Jack
Who's seen this picture so far, before you folks got to see it?
April was online when I was E-Mailing it home, and since The Wife A) loves animals more than people and B) gave me my paid Flickr account as a gift, they got to see the picture before you, and I waited until I had confirmation that The Wife had seen it before I posted it.
I'll probably have a Jack story to type up later today. Go ahead, post and tell me that's not the most adorable thing you've ever seen. I double dog dare you!
Fly Report: 17th November 2005
Good morning.
It's 41° Fahrenheit and partly cloudy Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 34° Fahrenheit with morning snow.
The average price of oil is $56.99 (?) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Judges 17 because Fly slacked off again yesterday; as penance, I'll read the next chapter as well. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien, but still very little progress.
Still the gunman rules and widows pay. A scarlet coat, now a black beret. They thought that blood and sacrifice could out of death bring forth a life.
It's 41° Fahrenheit and partly cloudy Kirkwall. In Cody, the forecast calls for a high of 34° Fahrenheit with morning snow.
The average price of oil is $56.99 (?) per barrel. The exchange rate is $1.72 for £1, or £0.58 for $1.
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is: (Cool)/(Lame)
Today's scripture reading is Judges 17 because Fly slacked off again yesterday; as penance, I'll read the next chapter as well. The Fly is currently reading The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien, but still very little progress.
Still the gunman rules and widows pay. A scarlet coat, now a black beret. They thought that blood and sacrifice could out of death bring forth a life.
The Impossible Repayment
Quoth the Pontiff:
G'night, folks.
What can I give back to God for the blessings he poured out on me? What can I give back to God for the blessings he poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation that is a toast to God, for to fufill the promise I made to Him from the heart!
- Pontifex Maximus
G'night, folks.
16 November 2005
The Fly Goes Redneck
Just a few blocks off of the [Generic University] campus is a Christian co-op that occupies an old fraternity house. A couple of years ago, less than two months before I went to England, I took a girl to their barn dance (I kept calling it a drunken barn dance, but there was no actual alcohol involved) on our first date. One of the highlights of the evening was when I handed my jacket to my date and mounted (get your minds out of the gutter, people) the mechanical bull. You can see Young Nathan there in the background.
Now, although there were engineering students at the house, these guys had neither the time, nor the money, nor the inclination to rent an actual mechanical bull. So what's the next best thing? Four stout wooden poles erected, with cross-beams connecting them to form two individual units. From those units, four sturdy ropes were fastened, and then fastened to a barrel, upon which a saddle blanket was tied. Finally, another rope or cable was attached, to give an individual the capability of bucking the barrel.
Did the Fly stay on for eight seconds? Hardly. I hit the protective hay after less than the eight seconds. Laughs were had, but I'll be damned if my date didn't look at me with a brighter glint in her eye, and a little more respect after that one
Say it with me now: I am the Fly, and I rule.
Old and New
I was looking up an old political cartoon that I'd intended to post a month or two ago, and finally found it here. That led me to remember the outstanding work that Cox and Forkum do regularly, so I went to check out what they've been up to lately, and found this gem.
If you can tell me, specifically, what it represents and why it's funny, and your name isn't Anachronism or Sneaky Pete, I might just send you a copy of the archive CD. Do you dare accept my challenge?
If you can tell me, specifically, what it represents and why it's funny, and your name isn't Anachronism or Sneaky Pete, I might just send you a copy of the archive CD. Do you dare accept my challenge?
Tactically Loaded
Part of my goal for today is to spend some time cleaning out my room. I don't know when or where I'm moving yet, but I know that it's coming, and it's better to be prepared ahead of time. By tactically staging things in my room, I can quickly move them when it comes time to load up a truck or a U-Haul or whatever. The hangup, of course, becomes what to keep, and what to preemptively unload. There are a few items in particular that I'm considering getting rid of.
For example, during an outing with April a few years ago, I picked up my very own didgeridoo from a little shop in Metropolis. On the one hand, displayed correctly it could nicely compliment my little Africanesque statuette and my carved Hawaiian mask. On the other hand, I am a white guy whose ethnic background is German, English, Scottish, and Irish, and a didgeridoo is a four-foot-long wooden tube that serves as a musical instrument for indigenous Australians. So far, I'm unconvinced whether I should ditch it, sell it, or keep it and maybe even try to learn how to play the thing correctly. For the record, me dancing is kind of like sticking a fork in the microwave, it's like sparks and a lot of pain; the amount of coordination required to successfully implement circular breathing in order to play a didgeridoo. Decisions, decisions.
I also have one of those little electric globes, that you turn on and it shoots lightning from a central ball out to the clear plastic globe. I wanted one my entire chldhood, and I finally got one, again around 2003; that must have been my year for impulse purchases. Does it stay, or does it go? I haven't the foggiest idea; I know for a fact, though, that I'm keeping the two lava lamps, because women love lava lamps. Right?
I'll certainly be able to throw away enough paper to have saved at least one tree; as far as I'm concerned, though, that tree had it coming. My bulletin board, which may or may not accompany me (they're dork, but highly versatile), will endure extensive cleaning. The pictures from the scavenger hunt from the cruise I took with my family in 1998? Gone like a bad habit. The old [Generic University] athletic event tickets that predate my presence at that institution? Toast. The hologram that came with my video copy of Independence Day that depicts the White House being destroyed? Saved until a Democratic victory... Or maybe trashed.
Then there are practical items that will be difficult to toss out, if it's possible at all. The machete; the entrenching tool; the dashboard hula girl (that could go with the aforementioned Hawaiian mask) that won't fit on my dashboard. Practical, tactical, maybe worth saving; unlike the crummy Bushnell telescope my folks bought me when I was in high school. That thing couldn't stay solid on its tripod without three rolls of duct tape and a cubic foot of super glue. Also, half of the lenses don't work. If I ever get really serious about astronomy, it will be worth investing in a piece of equipment that wasn't doomed to near-complete failure the minute it was pulled from its box.
And the posters! Right now I have five actual posters on my walls, only one of which will make it in the move. I also have some promotional flats for various albums that I haven't torn down in years; anyone coming into my room would think that I'm a fan of Sarah McLachlan, and that I own the soundtrack to Cruel Intentions. Ahhh, 2000, the year I did the majority of the decoration on this room. That's right, folks. Say it with me. Repeat after Hank Hill: "That boy ain't right."
On a brighter note, at some point today I'll have a picture of the puppy scanned. Since he's small, and doesn't yet retain much heat, he has a tendency to come up to people in order to get shelter and share warmth. Last night when I was taking care of something for him, he wanted to do this, so I grabbed a towel, wrapped him up in that, and held him in my arms while he slept for about fifteen minutes. I'm still not out of my month-long funk yet (four weeks today, actually), but that helped. And like I said, when I was stopping the world and melting with you, it's getting better, day by day.
Is this enough stream of Fly consciousness for you? Oh, by the way, I was thinking of changing the reader at the top of the page from "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here... " to "Asalaamu alaikum, wankers!" Any opinions on that one?
For example, during an outing with April a few years ago, I picked up my very own didgeridoo from a little shop in Metropolis. On the one hand, displayed correctly it could nicely compliment my little Africanesque statuette and my carved Hawaiian mask. On the other hand, I am a white guy whose ethnic background is German, English, Scottish, and Irish, and a didgeridoo is a four-foot-long wooden tube that serves as a musical instrument for indigenous Australians. So far, I'm unconvinced whether I should ditch it, sell it, or keep it and maybe even try to learn how to play the thing correctly. For the record, me dancing is kind of like sticking a fork in the microwave, it's like sparks and a lot of pain; the amount of coordination required to successfully implement circular breathing in order to play a didgeridoo. Decisions, decisions.
I also have one of those little electric globes, that you turn on and it shoots lightning from a central ball out to the clear plastic globe. I wanted one my entire chldhood, and I finally got one, again around 2003; that must have been my year for impulse purchases. Does it stay, or does it go? I haven't the foggiest idea; I know for a fact, though, that I'm keeping the two lava lamps, because women love lava lamps. Right?
I'll certainly be able to throw away enough paper to have saved at least one tree; as far as I'm concerned, though, that tree had it coming. My bulletin board, which may or may not accompany me (they're dork, but highly versatile), will endure extensive cleaning. The pictures from the scavenger hunt from the cruise I took with my family in 1998? Gone like a bad habit. The old [Generic University] athletic event tickets that predate my presence at that institution? Toast. The hologram that came with my video copy of Independence Day that depicts the White House being destroyed? Saved until a Democratic victory... Or maybe trashed.
Then there are practical items that will be difficult to toss out, if it's possible at all. The machete; the entrenching tool; the dashboard hula girl (that could go with the aforementioned Hawaiian mask) that won't fit on my dashboard. Practical, tactical, maybe worth saving; unlike the crummy Bushnell telescope my folks bought me when I was in high school. That thing couldn't stay solid on its tripod without three rolls of duct tape and a cubic foot of super glue. Also, half of the lenses don't work. If I ever get really serious about astronomy, it will be worth investing in a piece of equipment that wasn't doomed to near-complete failure the minute it was pulled from its box.
And the posters! Right now I have five actual posters on my walls, only one of which will make it in the move. I also have some promotional flats for various albums that I haven't torn down in years; anyone coming into my room would think that I'm a fan of Sarah McLachlan, and that I own the soundtrack to Cruel Intentions. Ahhh, 2000, the year I did the majority of the decoration on this room. That's right, folks. Say it with me. Repeat after Hank Hill: "That boy ain't right."
On a brighter note, at some point today I'll have a picture of the puppy scanned. Since he's small, and doesn't yet retain much heat, he has a tendency to come up to people in order to get shelter and share warmth. Last night when I was taking care of something for him, he wanted to do this, so I grabbed a towel, wrapped him up in that, and held him in my arms while he slept for about fifteen minutes. I'm still not out of my month-long funk yet (four weeks today, actually), but that helped. And like I said, when I was stopping the world and melting with you, it's getting better, day by day.
Is this enough stream of Fly consciousness for you? Oh, by the way, I was thinking of changing the reader at the top of the page from "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here... " to "Asalaamu alaikum, wankers!" Any opinions on that one?
About Me
- Name: The Fly
- Location: Van Diemen's Station, Old Dominion
The Fly is a twenty-seven year old curmudgeon. He's a devout Anglican, a dedicated conservative, a renaissance man in combat boots, and an unlikely connoisseur of feminine pulchritude. His writings are a cure for ignorance and boredom in a troubled world.
Previous Posts
- Last Call
- Wherein The Fly Thrives in Chaos and Uncertainty
- Fly Report: 04th December 2009
- Great Challenges of The Fly's Generation
- Fly Report: 03rd December 2009
- Wherein The Fly is Fired Up
- Fly Report: 02nd December 2009
- Driving Around in a Circle
- Fly Report: 01st December 2009
- Beer Run: November 2009
Archives
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- Pontifex Maximus on "The Fly"
Daily Sites
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Phase I Fitness Plan
| - | Yomping |
| Week 1 | 35 mins x 25 lbs |
| Week 2 | 35 mins x 25 lbs |
| Week 3 | 35 mins x 30 lbs |
| Week 4 | 40 mins x 30 lbs |
| Week 5 | 40 mins x 35 lbs |
| Week 6 | 40 mins x 35 lbs |
| Week 7 | 45 mins x 40 lbs |
| Week 8 | 45 mins x 40 lbs |
| Week 9 | 45 mins x 45 lbs |
| - | Swimming |
| Week 1 | 25 mins x4 |
| Week 2 | 25 mins x4 |
| Week 3 | 30 mins x4 |
| Week 4 | 30 mins x4 |
| Week 5 | 35 mins x4 |
| Week 6 | 35 mins x4 |
| Week 7 | 40 mins x4 |
| Week 8 | 40 mins x4 |
| Week 9 | 45 mins x4 |
| - | Push-Ups |
| Week 1 | 3x15 x3 days |
| Week 2 | 4x20 x3 days |
| Week 3 | 4x25 x3 days |
| Week 4 | 4x25 x3 days |
| Week 5 | 5x25 x3 days |
| Week 6 | 5x25 x3 days |
| Week 7 | 5x30 x3 days |
| Week 8 | 5x30 x3 days |
| Week 9 | 5x30 x3 days |
| - | Sit-Ups |
| Week 1 | 3x15 x3 days |
| Week 2 | 4x20 x3 days |
| Week 3 | 4x25 x3 days |
| Week 4 | 4x25 x3 days |
| Week 5 | 5x25 x3 days |
| Week 6 | 5x25 x3 days |
| Week 7 | 5x30 x3 days |
| Week 8 | 5x30 x3 days |
| Week 9 | 5x30 x3 days |
| - | Pull-Ups |
| - | N/A |
Stats
