The folks at That Guy With The Glasses wrapped up filming awhile back, and fans of the site have been eagerly awaiting the resulting anniversary film. Well...it's not here yet. It comes in August to the site.
BUT we have been offered a teaser to further wet appetites until it lands. And it does wet the appetite.
Doug Walker and the rest of the folks at TGWTG have done a good job. I can't wait for this to appear on the site.
...Not literally. I can and am waiting.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Christian business means you lie for God.
That is not how things are going.
They are getting bad press. Angry customers. And, now, the Muppets want nothing to do with them. Which means, no Muppet toys...for, I guess, their kid meals.
Well, that is not great. But you can weather that with some adult serious business professionalism, right? I mean, they are a Christian business. They do want to do the right thing.
Muppets want to end a business relationship, and this business just puts out a claim that the Muppets make a dangerous toy. Classy. Sure they don't want to claim Kermit has cooties, and Big Bird is part of a Jewish conspiracy while they're at it?
We can all do better for a meal or a drink than this Chicken Shack, can't we?
The Importance of Being Anglo-Saxon.
We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and he feels that the special relationship is special. The White House didn't fully appreciate the shared history we have.So, Obama can't understand the "Anglo-Saxon heritage?" Wow.
Just putting it out there now, aren't they?
This follows on:
- Obama's foreign thinking
- Obama being anti-colonial
- Obama being unable to handle the presidential duties
- Obama not understanding how America works
- And so on.
We can't call it coded bigotry if they get bored actually coded the slurring.
Now, of course, Romney's people are denying this is their position. As if they've been willing to admit to any of their campaign's undercurrent of racism. Romney and his people just throw it out there and try to back away without getting any grief. They hope to stoke a hate many other conservatives are also playing with, but Mitt Romney seems to think he's somehow not going to be called to account for it.
But that shouldn't surprise us. Mitt Romney struggles to comprehend any heritage of honesty.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
On the tragic events in Aurora, Colorado *UPDATED*
It is never easy for me to talk about visceral scarring
events. I seldom feel equipped to suitably address the topic. But the shootings
last Friday in Aurora, Colorado, unsurprisingly, still haunt most of our thoughts.
Those in Colorado are mourning and recuperating. And people there, and around
the country, are trying to wrap our minds around acts like this.
I can only, on my part, hope for and give my condolence to all those both physically, emotionally, and psychologically harmed. You are in my thoughts, I will try to remember those lost, and I hope we all will act to help now and in the future. Give blood. Be there for those around us that need someone to listen to them, or reaffirm the value of humanity.
One thing I didn’t want to see then, or maybe in many cases just yet, are attempts to turn this tragic crime turned into a bully pulpit for ideologies. There are some serious questions that should come out of any event like this, lessons to learn. But now is not the time. People need to mourn. The police need to investigate. And everyone else needs to take a breath.
Now, I will concede that some worried about gun control raced to jump in the hours after the shootings. But, the Religious Right, bless them, just doubled down with hyperbole and insulting talk, some of that insulting talk for those now dead.
Let’s take a look at the highlights in the most galling statements imaginable, and, maybe, learn how not to respond to tragedy:
The American Family Association made sure to let us all know that we should blame liberal churches and the liberal media for these shooting, along with the ACLU. Apparently, there’s not enough God (They mean Jesus, you non-Christians heathens.). And without having their bible beat in your head, guys like this will go on killing spree. I guess, we should all be ashamed and read out bibles then. …In Colorado! Evangelical central. Like the sleazy con men they are, any tragedy is good for business. Right, sanctimonious asshats?
Then Rick Warren jumped in. Well, he tweeted in, saying, “When students are taught they are no different from animals, they act like it.” Slow clap for Mr. Warren. You managed to look like a real ass here. Then, he deleted the tweet. But we’ve all seen it. Now, what Rick was explaining is, first, no God in school. Second, we teach evolution, which, apparently, leads people to kill. No further comment needed. But, remember this the next time he gets brought on a news show.
Also, Gohmert complained that no one in the theater had a gun to open fire in the dark smoke filled room. He wondered why no one was packing, or acted. This implies that those that survived lacked the courage to stand against the shooter, which plenty of armchair heroes seem to have started doing. If you weren’t there, shut up! It’s all just more “common sense” from the Resident Chamber Fool. I’d bother calling him an idiot, but I do that most days anyways.
From some conservatives, I have been hearing more and more comments and rumors that this killer was unemployed and on “food stamps.” Now, he, apparently recently left a doctorate program, so I have no idea if this is likely, or not. But it is being latched on to. In the wake of more than 10 dead and scores more hospitalized, some want to be sure to tell us guns don’t kill people, the social safety net does. Excuse me…FUCK YOU, YOU ASSHOLES!!! …Sorry, had to be said. This is wretched. Not happy to regularly mock the mythical “Welfare Queen driving a Cadillac,” we know see a new myth. Get ready to likely hear it more in Right Wing media. It’s sickening.
And, as we are thinking of people who will take tragedy, and make it worse, Westboro Baptist Church (Of God Hates fame.) showed up this weekend to protest. But they were countered nicely. Right Wing of America, you actually may have outclassed the Phelps Family in classlessness. How do you do that? Get a clue! This is how low you went, this is how low you’ve fallen.
But I don’t want to leave it there. Let’s talk about the media, because it has lessons to learn about actually being of service and use at times like this.
If you have been around as long as I have, you’ve seen how the media reacts to these tragedies. Like a dog that’s seen you’ve spilled food on the floor. They know it’s wrong, but they want their bacon. So we’ve got heavy coverage of this event, and aspects surrounding it. There are good ways and bad ways to do this. Charlie Brooker on his series Newswipe covered just how to do this horribly wrong, possibly inspiring copycats or just justifying similar sickening plans for another disturbed person:
And in what I’ve seen of coverage Friday, and this weekend, we’ve gotten pretty much all the mistakes playing out in the media yet again. And the media replied, “I can’t help it, it’s my nature.” On CNN, I see half the screen taken up for minutes on end by the face of this murderer. On ABC I see repeated video of this bastard at an old debate, or some event. We see ongoing coverage. We see the selling of murder and mayhem on a large scale as big news, and exciting.
News people? You aren’t doing us any favors! This is what he wants! He dyed his hair so you’d show it to us, to try and burn himself into our memories. He picked to attack a theater, he chose a major movie release, and he booby trapped him home, all to create a bigger story. He wanted you to cover him big time, and he wanted us to be terrified and think of him when we go to the movies for the rest of our lives. News people? You’re doing everything he wants, and patting yourself on the back for it. You are likely inspiring future copycats, and don’t seem to care.
Okay, I will credit the media that I have seen some coverage of those that survived, making the story somewhat about them. But they love their killers too much, and we don't have to follow suit.
So let’s be sure to move passed and forget this loser and bastard. When I see that the news wants, not just give us some facts, but roll in the slurry of this story, I turn it off. I won’t look at your sponsors, I want help your ratings. To hell with you, news media.
_____________
ADDENDUM:
07/25/12
Just wanted to add a comment on twitter from a Wall Street Journal columnist.
But, as well, I forgot to mention before another part of the media's screwing up on this tragedy. They are calling it the "Batman Murders"...Great. Again, giving this bastard just a bit more immortality.
I can only, on my part, hope for and give my condolence to all those both physically, emotionally, and psychologically harmed. You are in my thoughts, I will try to remember those lost, and I hope we all will act to help now and in the future. Give blood. Be there for those around us that need someone to listen to them, or reaffirm the value of humanity.
Now, I am going to be
a little less thoughtful. So, if you aren’t interested in that now, feel free
to click off to other interests.
One thing I didn’t want to see then, or maybe in many cases just yet, are attempts to turn this tragic crime turned into a bully pulpit for ideologies. There are some serious questions that should come out of any event like this, lessons to learn. But now is not the time. People need to mourn. The police need to investigate. And everyone else needs to take a breath.
Now, I will concede that some worried about gun control raced to jump in the hours after the shootings. But, the Religious Right, bless them, just doubled down with hyperbole and insulting talk, some of that insulting talk for those now dead.
Let’s take a look at the highlights in the most galling statements imaginable, and, maybe, learn how not to respond to tragedy:
The American Family Association made sure to let us all know that we should blame liberal churches and the liberal media for these shooting, along with the ACLU. Apparently, there’s not enough God (They mean Jesus, you non-Christians heathens.). And without having their bible beat in your head, guys like this will go on killing spree. I guess, we should all be ashamed and read out bibles then. …In Colorado! Evangelical central. Like the sleazy con men they are, any tragedy is good for business. Right, sanctimonious asshats?
Then Rick Warren jumped in. Well, he tweeted in, saying, “When students are taught they are no different from animals, they act like it.” Slow clap for Mr. Warren. You managed to look like a real ass here. Then, he deleted the tweet. But we’ve all seen it. Now, what Rick was explaining is, first, no God in school. Second, we teach evolution, which, apparently, leads people to kill. No further comment needed. But, remember this the next time he gets brought on a news show.
Next, we have Louie “Goober” Gohmert,
an actual, no joke here, member of Congress. He looks like an idiot, talks like
an idiot, and has a vote in the House of Representatives. He explained what
happen, as people were murdered. It’s all about the sinister “attacks on
Judeo-Christian beliefs.” He wanted to make this about his imagined persecution
of Christianity, by which he really means his social agenda, instead of those
that were hurt and killed. It’s unbelievable. It’s inconceivable.
Also, Gohmert complained that no one in the theater had a gun to open fire in the dark smoke filled room. He wondered why no one was packing, or acted. This implies that those that survived lacked the courage to stand against the shooter, which plenty of armchair heroes seem to have started doing. If you weren’t there, shut up! It’s all just more “common sense” from the Resident Chamber Fool. I’d bother calling him an idiot, but I do that most days anyways.
From some conservatives, I have been hearing more and more comments and rumors that this killer was unemployed and on “food stamps.” Now, he, apparently recently left a doctorate program, so I have no idea if this is likely, or not. But it is being latched on to. In the wake of more than 10 dead and scores more hospitalized, some want to be sure to tell us guns don’t kill people, the social safety net does. Excuse me…FUCK YOU, YOU ASSHOLES!!! …Sorry, had to be said. This is wretched. Not happy to regularly mock the mythical “Welfare Queen driving a Cadillac,” we know see a new myth. Get ready to likely hear it more in Right Wing media. It’s sickening.
And, as we are thinking of people who will take tragedy, and make it worse, Westboro Baptist Church (Of God Hates fame.) showed up this weekend to protest. But they were countered nicely. Right Wing of America, you actually may have outclassed the Phelps Family in classlessness. How do you do that? Get a clue! This is how low you went, this is how low you’ve fallen.
But I don’t want to leave it there. Let’s talk about the media, because it has lessons to learn about actually being of service and use at times like this.
If you have been around as long as I have, you’ve seen how the media reacts to these tragedies. Like a dog that’s seen you’ve spilled food on the floor. They know it’s wrong, but they want their bacon. So we’ve got heavy coverage of this event, and aspects surrounding it. There are good ways and bad ways to do this. Charlie Brooker on his series Newswipe covered just how to do this horribly wrong, possibly inspiring copycats or just justifying similar sickening plans for another disturbed person:
And in what I’ve seen of coverage Friday, and this weekend, we’ve gotten pretty much all the mistakes playing out in the media yet again. And the media replied, “I can’t help it, it’s my nature.” On CNN, I see half the screen taken up for minutes on end by the face of this murderer. On ABC I see repeated video of this bastard at an old debate, or some event. We see ongoing coverage. We see the selling of murder and mayhem on a large scale as big news, and exciting.
News people? You aren’t doing us any favors! This is what he wants! He dyed his hair so you’d show it to us, to try and burn himself into our memories. He picked to attack a theater, he chose a major movie release, and he booby trapped him home, all to create a bigger story. He wanted you to cover him big time, and he wanted us to be terrified and think of him when we go to the movies for the rest of our lives. News people? You’re doing everything he wants, and patting yourself on the back for it. You are likely inspiring future copycats, and don’t seem to care.
Okay, I will credit the media that I have seen some coverage of those that survived, making the story somewhat about them. But they love their killers too much, and we don't have to follow suit.
So let’s be sure to move passed and forget this loser and bastard. When I see that the news wants, not just give us some facts, but roll in the slurry of this story, I turn it off. I won’t look at your sponsors, I want help your ratings. To hell with you, news media.
Instead, let’s remember those that did not survive that night.
And let’s remember those that acted to save lives. Like Jarell Brooks,
who was shot in the leg (and survived) helping get a mother with 2 kids out of
the theater. These are the people who we need to keep in our thoughts. Just let
the law have the bastard.
_____________
ADDENDUM:
07/25/12
Just wanted to add a comment on twitter from a Wall Street Journal columnist.
"..."Sorry. I'm not going to quote him. In essence he questioned whether the men killed or shot in Aurora protecting girlfriends actually had girlfriends that were worth the effort...I...how does this occur to someone?
But, as well, I forgot to mention before another part of the media's screwing up on this tragedy. They are calling it the "Batman Murders"...Great. Again, giving this bastard just a bit more immortality.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Eating principally. OR You are what you eat.
I previously noted the decision by one fast food joint, Chick-fil-a, to spend put it's money behind groups opposing gay marriage. At a minimum that should make those of us that really do support of marriage equality question why we would wish to eat there.
Now, when it comes to a supermarket or clothing store, where a certain store can be the only real option, I can understand the uncomfortable compromise. But for fast food? That is a choice made.
I don't know, possibly, one could miss the quiet donations to hate? We should find it far harder to miss when the president of the chicken shack goes out to the media to make clear that:
They put cash into anti-gay campaigns
They are making it clear that from the top that gay marriage is arrogantly risking smiting from above.
Not really that friendly. Now, the business will say, "Not that we don't want your business and we don't like you!!!" But this business and it's owners are making it clear, they are making it an issue that they are an anti-gay Christians, in support of a Right Wing agenda. They can be proud of this. They can use this to bring in new customers. And they expect a lot of liberals will still walk in the door and spend their money.
But will you? If you are going to eat greasy fast food, can't you find a better option?
And this doesn't have to stop there. ThinkProgress has listed out some of the more notable businesses that are engaged in Right Wing politics, like Chick-fil-a. Ones like White Castle, Marriot Hotels, Charles Schwab, The LA Lakers, and Brawny (part of Kock Industries, along with Dixie, Georgia Pacific, Angel Soft, etc.).
Many businesses take your money, and pay their CEO's huge bonuses. ...They also invest in the Right Wing of this country.
Can you live without some of these corporations?
Might want to consider that.
Now, when it comes to a supermarket or clothing store, where a certain store can be the only real option, I can understand the uncomfortable compromise. But for fast food? That is a choice made.
I don't know, possibly, one could miss the quiet donations to hate? We should find it far harder to miss when the president of the chicken shack goes out to the media to make clear that:
...
...Dan Cathy, president of the popular fast food chain Chick-fil-A, has done just that, saying on a radio show that “we’re inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage. And I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude that thinks we have the audacity to redefine what marriage is all about.”
Following backlash after those remarks, Cathy then told the Baptist Press in an article posted July 16 that he is “guilty as charged” and is very “supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit.”
...Okay, let's see.
They put cash into anti-gay campaigns
They are making it clear that from the top that gay marriage is arrogantly risking smiting from above.
Not really that friendly. Now, the business will say, "Not that we don't want your business and we don't like you!!!" But this business and it's owners are making it clear, they are making it an issue that they are an anti-gay Christians, in support of a Right Wing agenda. They can be proud of this. They can use this to bring in new customers. And they expect a lot of liberals will still walk in the door and spend their money.
But will you? If you are going to eat greasy fast food, can't you find a better option?
And this doesn't have to stop there. ThinkProgress has listed out some of the more notable businesses that are engaged in Right Wing politics, like Chick-fil-a. Ones like White Castle, Marriot Hotels, Charles Schwab, The LA Lakers, and Brawny (part of Kock Industries, along with Dixie, Georgia Pacific, Angel Soft, etc.).
Many businesses take your money, and pay their CEO's huge bonuses. ...They also invest in the Right Wing of this country.
Can you live without some of these corporations?
Might want to consider that.
Spate of kiddie supernatural horror toons.
Went to a theater last week, and noticed a couple of promos for supernatiral horror type films. Animated ones. Geared to kids. Eh. If it's done right, it can enjoyably engage adults and kids alike.
ParaNorman, was one of them. It actually looks like it could be fun overall. A little fun, a little creepy. I think I'm looking forward to seeing it. It involves Norman, an odd horror inclined kid, who can see and speak to dead people all around him. Then one day, he's given a ghostly warning of a undead threat to his town he needs to stop. ...
The other is Hotel Transylvania. This one is not as enamoring. I just saw the image of the vampire hotel owner (It's about a secret hotel for monsters that accidentally has a human guest. Eh,) in the theater promo and just internally growned. He just looks wrong, by which I mean he looks like SO MANY dad characters (He's a dad character.) in this type of animation. And, can't he look a bit...ghoulish, and be a Everyone else works, imagewise, but the vamp, ugh. And I now know he's voiced by Adam Sandler...ugh. Maybe I will be proven to be wrong in my initial reactions.
All this does make me want to go and see Monster House, to see how good it is.
Probably ought to see Coraline, finally, to.
ParaNorman, was one of them. It actually looks like it could be fun overall. A little fun, a little creepy. I think I'm looking forward to seeing it. It involves Norman, an odd horror inclined kid, who can see and speak to dead people all around him. Then one day, he's given a ghostly warning of a undead threat to his town he needs to stop. ...
The other is Hotel Transylvania. This one is not as enamoring. I just saw the image of the vampire hotel owner (It's about a secret hotel for monsters that accidentally has a human guest. Eh,) in the theater promo and just internally growned. He just looks wrong, by which I mean he looks like SO MANY dad characters (He's a dad character.) in this type of animation. And, can't he look a bit...ghoulish, and be a Everyone else works, imagewise, but the vamp, ugh. And I now know he's voiced by Adam Sandler...ugh. Maybe I will be proven to be wrong in my initial reactions.
All this does make me want to go and see Monster House, to see how good it is.
Probably ought to see Coraline, finally, to.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
An Atheist President?
S.E. Cupp, on her MSNBC show made a point, as an atheist, to say she couldn't and people shouldn't welcome an atheist to the presidency. The idea of a president not beholden to some idea of a supernatural higher power is somehow dangerous...I don't know if she's just this dumb, has this great a level of cognitive dissonance, or is just that blindly loyal to her right wing roots.
But, it's an accepted fact, that we each have problems with "others."
And current Gallup polling holds there are still some issues.
... While more than nine in 10 Americans would vote for a presidential candidate who is black, a woman, Catholic, Hispanic, or Jewish, significantly smaller percentages would vote for one who is an atheist (54%) or Muslim (58%). Americans' willingness to vote for a Mormon (80%) or gay or lesbian (68%) candidate falls between these two extremes. ...
It isn't surprising, as people often are uncomfortable with groups outside there own assumed peer group. But it is nice to see all groups are in fact improving, in the polling. From the 1950's and today, woman have gone from 54% support to 95%, blacks have gone from 38% to 96%, Jews have gone from 63% to 91%, and Catholics have gone from 67% to 94%.
And while numbers for atheists and others is far behind this, it is changing. Atheist had 18% support in the 1950's and now it is at 54%. ...It's a start. And as women saw, over the decades this can change (Granted, women have yet to see one of their subgroup elected to the presidency. But Hillary could've done it.). Also, for gays they've seen support, starting in the 1970's, go from 26% to 68%. Society is changing, regardless of how conservatives bleat about the horror of inclusiveness of "them" that they irrationally fear.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Watching Friday the 13th the right way...By watching the TV series! *UPDATED*
Ah. Friday the 13th is here again. Has it already been a year?
Well, I would have liked to enjoyed the day more...did not happen.
But, I do have Friday the 13th: The Series (Hey, it isn't the Nightmare on Elm Street show.), and that is the finest way to honor a silly numeric day based superstition that is more and more being forgotten by society.
But this show is fun. It is one of the many late 80's/early 90's shows that were all over syndicated TV (Remember syndicated TV? Independent TV stations? ...Oh, god. I may just be so old...) At the time there was a fun spate of shows. B5. Highlander. Time Trax. War of the Worlds. The Untouchables. Star Trek: The Next Generation. And more. Never knew what you would find late at night on TV. Good times.
And Friday the 13th was one of the various attempts to create shows based on movies. Instead of a summer camp with a psycho killer, we get a curio shop, 2 young people and a wise old guy, and a mission to hunt down cursed items that all seem to be out to corrupt people and get massive numbers of people slaughtered. From creepy dolls to magic coins to deadly boxing gloves to vampiric cross, the show had fun playing with a variety of threats and adventures.
So tonight, I think I'll give the pilot a watch, The Inheritance. In it the two young cousins, Mickey and Jack find that they've inherited an old shop from their dead uncle. But they find it is not so much a chance for a quick buck, but, instead, they've inherited a curse, which consumed their corrupt uncle.
Luckily some of the show is on YouTube.
Here's Inheritance, if you're interested.
Here's the series normal intro.
______________
ADDENDUM:
Oh, well. Just for an excuse to talk about the post tomorrow...Other syndicated shows of the day: Poltergeist: The Legacy, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Xena: Warrior Princess, new Twilight Zone, Renegade, Deep Space Nine, Vanishing Son, Psi Factor, Forever Knight, new Outer Limits, Robocop, Tek War, Team Knight Rider, and Space Rangers (not syndicated...but, man, it should have been.).
Well, I would have liked to enjoyed the day more...did not happen.
But this show is fun. It is one of the many late 80's/early 90's shows that were all over syndicated TV (Remember syndicated TV? Independent TV stations? ...Oh, god. I may just be so old...) At the time there was a fun spate of shows. B5. Highlander. Time Trax. War of the Worlds. The Untouchables. Star Trek: The Next Generation. And more. Never knew what you would find late at night on TV. Good times.
And Friday the 13th was one of the various attempts to create shows based on movies. Instead of a summer camp with a psycho killer, we get a curio shop, 2 young people and a wise old guy, and a mission to hunt down cursed items that all seem to be out to corrupt people and get massive numbers of people slaughtered. From creepy dolls to magic coins to deadly boxing gloves to vampiric cross, the show had fun playing with a variety of threats and adventures.
So tonight, I think I'll give the pilot a watch, The Inheritance. In it the two young cousins, Mickey and Jack find that they've inherited an old shop from their dead uncle. But they find it is not so much a chance for a quick buck, but, instead, they've inherited a curse, which consumed their corrupt uncle.
Luckily some of the show is on YouTube.
Here's Inheritance, if you're interested.
Here's the series normal intro.
______________
ADDENDUM:
Oh, well. Just for an excuse to talk about the post tomorrow...Other syndicated shows of the day: Poltergeist: The Legacy, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Xena: Warrior Princess, new Twilight Zone, Renegade, Deep Space Nine, Vanishing Son, Psi Factor, Forever Knight, new Outer Limits, Robocop, Tek War, Team Knight Rider, and Space Rangers (not syndicated...but, man, it should have been.).
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Dredd: Judgement is coming.
Then I saw some pictures of the set, and a normal looking truck being used as one of the future vehicles. And I was worried. Despite the issues of the Stallone Judge Dredd movie, it got the look of the city and technology right. This one looked to be going more modern. Which makes sense to save money in one place to spend it better (One hopes.) elsewhere.
I have seen the new trailer out for the movie. And hope comes from Dredd. Rather Dredd 3D. 2D, 3D, all I know is I will see this movie. It looks great. The vehicle tech is toned down from much of what started in 2000 A.D. (The scifi anthology comic Dredd comes out of.). But who cares? The modified judge costumes look to work to great effect. The nondomed Mega City 1 works for me. Having Judge Anderson, the psychic judge, works. The judge's trusty sidearm is looking good. And Karl Urban, from the little I see, is Dredd.
I am looking forward to this movie.
Here is a clip from the movie, it showcases what looks like the 3D effect, and the intense violence the movie is going to have (So, you've been warned.).
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Remembering Nikola Tesla
It's Nikola Tesla's birthday today.One of history's geniuses, he seems to get put aside mostly, forgotten behind the Edison juggernaut and other notables. It is sad as he had a genius worth being more widely remembered. And, yes, he has a certain notoriety. But it's as something of a mad scientist. But this is mostly myth glommed on than it is reality. Still, a fascination with electricity will do that. (One stormy kite flight has stuck with Benjamin Franklin through history.)
The results of his work stand well for him: Induction Motor. Tesla Coils. Alternating Current. Wireless radio. Remote controls.
Not a bad a result.
Get to know the fellow.
And, sometime, get to know the more fantastical view of him.
Meet Thomas Midgley
Was watching an old episode of QI tonight, and saw this again. Definitely worth sharing and giving people a bit of a history lesson.
Meet Mr. Thomas Midgley, American inventor. Particularly of 2 items we all know too well.
Heck of a way to go. A good lesson though about never being too sure of your big ideas, can't always see the troubles ahead.
Meet Mr. Thomas Midgley, American inventor. Particularly of 2 items we all know too well.
Heck of a way to go. A good lesson though about never being too sure of your big ideas, can't always see the troubles ahead.
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Those Accomplishments of Obama
 |
| Ken Cedeno / Bloomberg News |
The PCTC Blog has done an excellent job of laying out the many ways President Obama has set things right in government and begun aiding the righting of the economy.
Some of the president's actions included in this:
1. Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5
...
9. Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVS http://bit.ly/eCNrD6
...
25. Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu
...
45. Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
...
51. Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj
...
84. Signed and pushed through ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw
...
103. Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt
...
137. Provisions in theACAhave already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The increase in 2011 was 4%, which is very low compared to the average 12% annual inflation rate during previous 40 years. http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh
...
144. Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM
...
179. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF
...
Be sure to take a look and take note for when you next talk or joust with family and friends about just what the president has gotten done. A lot has been done and attempted, and we should all be better informed on what has gone on, and why we need to push forward.
Difference of ideas and results: Obama & Romney
And as we go into this election it is informative on what we have to decide on now.
Today, on the road, trailing Obama, Mitt Romney has continued his claim that President Obama has not acted to grow jobs across the country. It is trying to bolster a sense that the president isn't doing the job and can't do the job. (That is an undercurrent to Romney's remarks that I see, the idea that Obama just can't handle being president. Question is, does he say that to try and not sound hostile, or to imply something of Obama's capacities.)
But what is Romney going to do different? What we see so far is that he continues to welcome the old friends, allies, and advisers of President Bush. He's a man of a like background to Bush, and of a like education. There are no signs of a new approach, just more of the same from the last decade. So what George Bush helped usher in is instructive on what likely Romney can offer.
Political Carnival has taken the Bikini Graph and extended it to now. This nicely reminds us how far President Obama has ushered us in four years.
 |
| From http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/tag/bikini-graph/ and modified by me. |
I did a little, unnecessary, modifying. The side marked A is the period of Bush style policy. The side marked B is the period of Obama style policy.
When Romney says Obama is not doing enough, it is false. It is taking time, and conservatives are working quite hard to stifle progress, but things are moving forward. In turn, the policies we are likely to see under Romney, the Bush style ones, show promise no boost to employment. Remember, many industry saw record profits under Bush, it was a good time for CEO's. For the rest of us...it was shit.
And that's what Romney is liable to drop us in again.
Cheap chicken can only taste so good.
Cheap chicken can only taste so good. A clearer conscious with a meal promises much more.
And there are many reasons to be troubled by fast food. Factory farming. Shoddy ingredients. Filthy eating conditions. All of these can be good reasons. But today, we talk about social conscious.
Namely, Chick-fil-a. It has been a proud religious conservative business. They won't open on Sundays. They often pump in religious music. They have it codified that they're required to "glorify God" and have a positive effect on customers (Way to fail there with all the fried food.).
And all that is fine. To each his own. I prefer not eating there. But plenty do.
Still, when they go out of there way to invest in attacking the rights of others...they deserve to get called out for their intolerance. Hell, they have the American Family Association lauding them, that is pretty damning.
This picture was put up on Tumblr:
They are active in funding the fight against marriage equality, to start.
People like me are up for critiquing many internal policies of companies, like Chick-fil-a. But they really do deserve to loose a lot business, as I know their are plenty of liberals and forward thinkers frequent this place.
Let's make this a bad fiscal quarter for them.
And, take a look at places you frequent, to decide if they're are supporting anything that is a genuine problem to your conscious.
And there are many reasons to be troubled by fast food. Factory farming. Shoddy ingredients. Filthy eating conditions. All of these can be good reasons. But today, we talk about social conscious.
Namely, Chick-fil-a. It has been a proud religious conservative business. They won't open on Sundays. They often pump in religious music. They have it codified that they're required to "glorify God" and have a positive effect on customers (Way to fail there with all the fried food.).
And all that is fine. To each his own. I prefer not eating there. But plenty do.
Still, when they go out of there way to invest in attacking the rights of others...they deserve to get called out for their intolerance. Hell, they have the American Family Association lauding them, that is pretty damning.
This picture was put up on Tumblr:
They are active in funding the fight against marriage equality, to start.
People like me are up for critiquing many internal policies of companies, like Chick-fil-a. But they really do deserve to loose a lot business, as I know their are plenty of liberals and forward thinkers frequent this place.
Let's make this a bad fiscal quarter for them.
And, take a look at places you frequent, to decide if they're are supporting anything that is a genuine problem to your conscious.
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
Those Guys With the Anniversary and the Quest To
Online reviewers are always a useful source of insight and humor...but every once in a while, when the moon is full and hearts are filled with impure thoughts, bigger, madder, projects arise.
That Guy With The Glasses is producing another event film for their anniversary. We've had a brawl, an invasion, a knightly adventure, and, now, it's time to flee...
That Guy With The Glasses Anniversary Year 4 Event
It once again brings together a number of the sites reviewer to face the sort of doom only the Nostalgia Critic's plans can bring. Should be fun to watch on their site, when it is released this...Summerish.
ACROSS THE OCEAN, in England, another brave band (many from That Guy With The Glasses) of hearty of body, but light of mind, adventures are making another putting another misadventure to film...or digital...
NERD QUEST!!!
This quest is being lead by MikeJ (at @TheOnlyMikeJ). Now, Nerd Quest has finished it's principle filming today. Before and behind the camera, Ashens, Diamanda Hagan, Film Brain, Guru Larry, Happy Harry, Jill Bearup, MasakoX, MikeJ, Rick Bush, and Welshy, among others have been hardly at work.
They've been putting out short bits to give brief glimpse of the fun filming the adventure.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Hopefully, further filming and editing will be done long, and we'll see what maddness they have wrought.
That Guy With The Glasses is producing another event film for their anniversary. We've had a brawl, an invasion, a knightly adventure, and, now, it's time to flee...
That Guy With The Glasses Anniversary Year 4 Event
It once again brings together a number of the sites reviewer to face the sort of doom only the Nostalgia Critic's plans can bring. Should be fun to watch on their site, when it is released this...Summerish.
ACROSS THE OCEAN, in England, another brave band (many from That Guy With The Glasses) of hearty of body, but light of mind, adventures are making another putting another misadventure to film...or digital...
NERD QUEST!!!
This quest is being lead by MikeJ (at @TheOnlyMikeJ). Now, Nerd Quest has finished it's principle filming today. Before and behind the camera, Ashens, Diamanda Hagan, Film Brain, Guru Larry, Happy Harry, Jill Bearup, MasakoX, MikeJ, Rick Bush, and Welshy, among others have been hardly at work.
They've been putting out short bits to give brief glimpse of the fun filming the adventure.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Hopefully, further filming and editing will be done long, and we'll see what maddness they have wrought.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
GOP still can't get over Health Care Reform - Congress and Gubernatorial Edition
Following the last post, let's also consider the thoughtful repose that conservatives across the country have entered in this ACA world.
Oh, that's right, they're all flailing around, kicking everything while holding their breaths.
How refreshing.
The governors are out, and trying to out petulant each other.
Think Progress has a map up showing states...sorry, governors who have either wavering on whether they will use the new system, or have just declared, "I don't want it! I don't want it! I don't want it!"
10 GOP governors have already announced that they would prefer to sit back and not look out for their state's citizens.
This means no added funds in 2014 to assist poorer Americans, in these states. It means millions of Americans being denied access to coverage. How many in my state? How many in yours?
Some of these governors...Scott Walker. Rick Scott. Sam Brownback. Nikki Haley, Bobby Jindal. Familiar names, I'm sure. They are the up and coming party leaders...waiting to see if Romney will win and take care of this issue for them. IN the mean time they play for time, talking of their alternative that sounds as real and appealing as the promised items on the back of an old cereal books or comic book.
But we should also note that the White House has come out to say, whether these states like it or not, the feds will be setting up insurance exchanges in their states. We will see where this leads.
And then there's Congress. Congressional GOP have only one thing to say these days:
The GOP leader in the Senate has been clear that he is intent in working to dismantle reform. And when asked about those that will be hurt by this, he really has nothing of substance to say more than shrug. It's just not an issue for him, or the GOP. But as he's said, his priority is preventing Obama from being reelected. His interests are bigger than the well-being of millions. A man with real priorities.
In the House, Cantor raced to announce the GOP would be voting to repeal ACA in the week to come. Speaker Boehner, when asked about the people with preexisting conditions getting protections, said, "No." His plan is to drop them into a high risk pool in each state, and move on. Sure Boehner's not worried about the outcome of these pools, he's gut the money and clout to never end up in one. Real compassion.
Congressional GOP leaders have no real plan. Some Republicans, as I noted before, don't want to repeal it all, seeing the problems that will come. But the leaders are working for a higher power. A higher paying power, that is.
Now, GOP has been desperate to try and spin the reform as a TAX!!! Evil, foreign, sexy, not welcomed at the golf club tax. It's the new fun and lazy spin for pundits, loons, and wannabe loons.
But this is not what the Romney camp seems to want. As the party moves to call reform, taxation. Team Romney wants to go back to calling it a mandate, as Romney called it that when he put this plan into action in Massachusetts. This may not please many powers in the GOP. So, it may partly explain why now Romney wants to not talk anymore about Health Care at all, calling a ceasefire.
No surprise. Talking about this, allows people to learn about the facts, and like those facts. Talking about this gets people talking about Romney's record, and gets people asking Mitt uncomfortable questions. Talking about health care reform is to talk major presidential policy, and Romney is trying to avoid that.
It is clear that the more people really learn, they of this reform. It's just a matter of getting people informed. And as the last few years have shown. The tool for that is not the media. It's us.
Oh, that's right, they're all flailing around, kicking everything while holding their breaths.How refreshing.
The governors are out, and trying to out petulant each other.
Think Progress has a map up showing states...sorry, governors who have either wavering on whether they will use the new system, or have just declared, "I don't want it! I don't want it! I don't want it!"
10 GOP governors have already announced that they would prefer to sit back and not look out for their state's citizens.
This means no added funds in 2014 to assist poorer Americans, in these states. It means millions of Americans being denied access to coverage. How many in my state? How many in yours?
Some of these governors...Scott Walker. Rick Scott. Sam Brownback. Nikki Haley, Bobby Jindal. Familiar names, I'm sure. They are the up and coming party leaders...waiting to see if Romney will win and take care of this issue for them. IN the mean time they play for time, talking of their alternative that sounds as real and appealing as the promised items on the back of an old cereal books or comic book.
But we should also note that the White House has come out to say, whether these states like it or not, the feds will be setting up insurance exchanges in their states. We will see where this leads.
"We...Must...Repeal...Obamacare......Brains!..."
The GOP leader in the Senate has been clear that he is intent in working to dismantle reform. And when asked about those that will be hurt by this, he really has nothing of substance to say more than shrug. It's just not an issue for him, or the GOP. But as he's said, his priority is preventing Obama from being reelected. His interests are bigger than the well-being of millions. A man with real priorities.
In the House, Cantor raced to announce the GOP would be voting to repeal ACA in the week to come. Speaker Boehner, when asked about the people with preexisting conditions getting protections, said, "No." His plan is to drop them into a high risk pool in each state, and move on. Sure Boehner's not worried about the outcome of these pools, he's gut the money and clout to never end up in one. Real compassion.
Congressional GOP leaders have no real plan. Some Republicans, as I noted before, don't want to repeal it all, seeing the problems that will come. But the leaders are working for a higher power. A higher paying power, that is.
But this is not what the Romney camp seems to want. As the party moves to call reform, taxation. Team Romney wants to go back to calling it a mandate, as Romney called it that when he put this plan into action in Massachusetts. This may not please many powers in the GOP. So, it may partly explain why now Romney wants to not talk anymore about Health Care at all, calling a ceasefire.
No surprise. Talking about this, allows people to learn about the facts, and like those facts. Talking about this gets people talking about Romney's record, and gets people asking Mitt uncomfortable questions. Talking about health care reform is to talk major presidential policy, and Romney is trying to avoid that.
It is clear that the more people really learn, they of this reform. It's just a matter of getting people informed. And as the last few years have shown. The tool for that is not the media. It's us.
GOP still can't get over Health Care Reform - Court Edition *UPDATED*
Since then, what I expected has come to fruition as Justice Roberts has become a popular new conspiracy theory. For some on the left Roberts is playing a crafty game. He's trying to come off as "moderate" now (Though, I seem to remember his previous decisions which would make me doubt that.) to curb outrage at future rulings. Others think he's trying to use his ruling to set up dominoes for future machinations. OR, he came to have doubts about the constitutional validity of striking the law down. I don't know. Don't care. We need to have thoughtful judges, who have no interest in politics and political friends, named to the court. Beyond that, we are stuck with who's on the bench now.
But where liberals are suspicious (reasonable suspicion) of motives, conservatives have gone full tilt. Savage, on the radio, decided that Roberts was mentally off kilter as he agreed partially with the liberals on the court. Roberts deals with epilepsy, and takes medication, so that's why he acted this way. And then that he then went on to right a multi page ruling. Pathetic. But beyond Savage, Beck is printing shirts calling Roberts a coward. Others call him a traitor...for not agreeing with their ill informed opinions.
Then when Roberts came to his conservative colleagues to get them to join him in going after the Commerce Clause, which they all want to do, they refused. They would not stand with him on a common goal, while not getting to fully strike down the law. They instead did their own pissy dissent, in which they ignored Robert's points and ignored the existence of the majority position.
It is just sad to see. Conservatives have done some masterful work to all but break the Supreme Court. But when you see their efforts in Congress, you can see how much they have practiced dismantling this republic.
But they don't want to acknowledge this work.
____
ADDENDUM:
7/3/2012 -
I added a link that I missed on the Supreme Court info leaks in the post.
Also, I came across another indication that the number of leaks of information from the court are growing. Another source came out to counter some of the previous source. Congrats, SCOTUS, you are now officially just like the Executive and Legislative branch.
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