This is true irony. Man gets lost and runs into a map store in New York.
I've been lost, but not so lost that I ran into a storefront.
Usually, I stop the car and get out before I go into a store to ask for directions.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
What goes around, comes around
Good things happen to good people, and bad things return to bite the bad people.
OJ Simpson is currently sitting in a small cell, segregated from the general population. He's been convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery, and a host of other things. He's facing spending the rest of his life in state prison, probably in something close to solitary confinement. Apparently there are enough people in the prison system that would like the notoriety of beating the bejeezus out of Simpson that they have to keep him away from the rest of the prisoners.
Good. Let him try his "I'm a nice guy, look at me" act when he only sees the sun and other human beings for 1 hour a day.
Of course, there are those that think this whole thing is payback for his past legal troubles. And if it is, they can try to prove it. And of course, he'll appeal the conviction, and will drag this out for years. I hope he spends his last dime trying to prove he's been set up.
Putting him away for this doesn't even come close to what he owes society for the death of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman, but it is a start. Of course, the Goldman's seem to be happy about this. And they deserve to be. I hope that with this waste of protein behind bars, they'll be able to find the money he's been hiding since he lost the civil trial in court.
And I hope he spends the rest of his lonely, stinking life looking at the world through a small plexiglass window.
OJ Simpson is currently sitting in a small cell, segregated from the general population. He's been convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery, and a host of other things. He's facing spending the rest of his life in state prison, probably in something close to solitary confinement. Apparently there are enough people in the prison system that would like the notoriety of beating the bejeezus out of Simpson that they have to keep him away from the rest of the prisoners.
Good. Let him try his "I'm a nice guy, look at me" act when he only sees the sun and other human beings for 1 hour a day.
Of course, there are those that think this whole thing is payback for his past legal troubles. And if it is, they can try to prove it. And of course, he'll appeal the conviction, and will drag this out for years. I hope he spends his last dime trying to prove he's been set up.
Putting him away for this doesn't even come close to what he owes society for the death of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman, but it is a start. Of course, the Goldman's seem to be happy about this. And they deserve to be. I hope that with this waste of protein behind bars, they'll be able to find the money he's been hiding since he lost the civil trial in court.
And I hope he spends the rest of his lonely, stinking life looking at the world through a small plexiglass window.
No joy in the hunting ground
Took a little time Saturday afternoon and went bow hunting. I tried out a new state park south of Louisville.
The area I hunted was absolutely gorgeous. Small hills with thick woods, some fields, and creek beds running all through it. There's been no real rain for a while, so the creeks were dry and made for great avenues to move in.
I set up in some woods on the edge of a field, with a knob and a creek bed at my back. I was watching the area under a tall oak as my primary target area, and was sitting under another oak. There were a lot of acorns on the ground for feed, and I figured that was as good a place as any this early in the season.
Unfortunately, the deer had other ideas. I did see a small buck at the other end of the field, either a 4 or 6 point. He was too far away for a bow shot, but if it had been muzzleloader or modern gun season, there'd be venison in the freezer.
Overall, it was a really nice day. The temperature was in the mid 70's, very slight breeze, with sun in the field, but the trees still have enough leaves that I was in deep shade.
Other than the lack of shots at deer, the only hitch in the entire afternoon was when a LARGE flock of blackbirds took up residence in the oak trees I was sitting in . They provided a good cover noise for me to shift around a bit, get some water from my canteen, and pop in a cough drop. Unfortunately, they also shook the limbs of the trees enough to make it rain acorns. For half an hour, I was getting pelted by acorns that were falling 3 stories. No harm done, but it did sting at the time.
I stayed in the woods until sundown, then made my way back to the truck. No deer, but I got a great afternoon alone in the woods.
The area I hunted was absolutely gorgeous. Small hills with thick woods, some fields, and creek beds running all through it. There's been no real rain for a while, so the creeks were dry and made for great avenues to move in.
I set up in some woods on the edge of a field, with a knob and a creek bed at my back. I was watching the area under a tall oak as my primary target area, and was sitting under another oak. There were a lot of acorns on the ground for feed, and I figured that was as good a place as any this early in the season.
Unfortunately, the deer had other ideas. I did see a small buck at the other end of the field, either a 4 or 6 point. He was too far away for a bow shot, but if it had been muzzleloader or modern gun season, there'd be venison in the freezer.
Overall, it was a really nice day. The temperature was in the mid 70's, very slight breeze, with sun in the field, but the trees still have enough leaves that I was in deep shade.
Other than the lack of shots at deer, the only hitch in the entire afternoon was when a LARGE flock of blackbirds took up residence in the oak trees I was sitting in . They provided a good cover noise for me to shift around a bit, get some water from my canteen, and pop in a cough drop. Unfortunately, they also shook the limbs of the trees enough to make it rain acorns. For half an hour, I was getting pelted by acorns that were falling 3 stories. No harm done, but it did sting at the time.
I stayed in the woods until sundown, then made my way back to the truck. No deer, but I got a great afternoon alone in the woods.
Sorry for the absence
But I've been dealing with a sick baby. Baby Bear had his first real illness, and I've been busy doing dad stuff. He's still a bit under the weather, but we're getting through it.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Someone needs your thoughts
Tam over at View from the Porch lost her feline companion tonight, and could use your thoughts and prayers. Up your karma and give her some love.
On Coffee
It is by coffee alone that I set my mind in motion.
It is by the juice of the bean that thoughts acquire speed,
The teeth acquire stains,
The stains become a warning.
It is by coffee alone that I set my mind in motion...
Anyone who knows me knows that one of my bad habits is coffee, in all of its forms. I know that the Cafe du Monde is the best place for a cup of coffee after a long night on Bourbon Street. I know what Jula Mocha is, and how best to prepare it. I know that dopio espresso means it's double strong, not double big. I've had cappuccinos brewed by a German waiter in starched white linen, and Turkish coffee boiled by a shepherd on the side of a mountain. I've had coffee boiled, pressed, dripped, and pressure steamed. I like my coffee like I like my women, strong and sweet.
I started drinking coffee at a VERY early age. My Scandinavian aunts gave it to me by the teaspoon full when I was about 6 months old. They started with milk with just a bit of coffee, and gradually worked their way up to straight black Norwegian wake-me-up. The thinking on that side of the family is that if you can take that, you're ready for solid food.
My grandmother used to drink boiled coffee by the gallon every day. This woman was up every morning at 4 to start cooking and baking, and would finish out the day playing cards or watching the late movie, always with a cup of strong, sweet coffee nearby. I think I got my liking for bean juice from her.
My parents were prodigious consumers of coffee, but they drank weak swill. I learned from them that if you can see through it, it's not worth drinking.
I began drinking coffee as an adult after I got out of Basic. I used it at that point purely for the caffeine. The more the merrier. I was taught how to suck on dry coffee grounds in the same manner as you would dip Copenhagen snoose. I also learned how to put Folgers Crystals from an MRE under your eyelid to get the quick jolt of pain and caffeine straight to the bloodstream when you're dead tired and have to stay awake just a bit longer. No, that's not oral cancer or jaundice, that's a serious case of not wanting to conk out.
When I got to Europe in '91, I started to learn about good coffee. My company commander always had a good strong pot of Kronung in his office, and the chow hall always had good coffee. I was introduced to espresso and cappuccino's by a friend who was stationed in Naples, and I've never looked back.
After I got back to the States, I developed a taste for Arbuckle's cowboy coffee in Arizona, and Community Coffee in Louisiana. I discovered Starbucks, which is to coffee what McDonalds is to lunch. No, it's not the best you can get, and a lot of smaller local establishments do it better, but it's the same cup of coffee in Louisville as it is in New York. Louisville has the Java Brewing Company, which has the best product locally. Nothing beats getting beans first thing in the morning when they're still warm from the roaster.
When I was going to college, I grew a pretty bad caffeine monkey on my back. I was drinking a pot of coffee every morning before work, drinking another while I was at work, hitting Starbucks on the way to school, and hitting it again on the way home.
Lately, I've cut way back on my consumption. I normally make coffee at home maybe two times a week, and have cut back to one cup of coffee a day at work. I treat myself at either Starbucks or the JBC once every week or so.
Coffee to me is one of life's pleasures. I drink coffee more for the enjoyment of it, rather than for the caffeine hit. Nothing feels better on a cold morning than a warm earthenware mug in my hands. Nothing wakes me up faster than the smell of a fresh pot of coffee.
It is by the juice of the bean that thoughts acquire speed,
The teeth acquire stains,
The stains become a warning.
It is by coffee alone that I set my mind in motion...
Anyone who knows me knows that one of my bad habits is coffee, in all of its forms. I know that the Cafe du Monde is the best place for a cup of coffee after a long night on Bourbon Street. I know what Jula Mocha is, and how best to prepare it. I know that dopio espresso means it's double strong, not double big. I've had cappuccinos brewed by a German waiter in starched white linen, and Turkish coffee boiled by a shepherd on the side of a mountain. I've had coffee boiled, pressed, dripped, and pressure steamed. I like my coffee like I like my women, strong and sweet.
I started drinking coffee at a VERY early age. My Scandinavian aunts gave it to me by the teaspoon full when I was about 6 months old. They started with milk with just a bit of coffee, and gradually worked their way up to straight black Norwegian wake-me-up. The thinking on that side of the family is that if you can take that, you're ready for solid food.
My grandmother used to drink boiled coffee by the gallon every day. This woman was up every morning at 4 to start cooking and baking, and would finish out the day playing cards or watching the late movie, always with a cup of strong, sweet coffee nearby. I think I got my liking for bean juice from her.
My parents were prodigious consumers of coffee, but they drank weak swill. I learned from them that if you can see through it, it's not worth drinking.
I began drinking coffee as an adult after I got out of Basic. I used it at that point purely for the caffeine. The more the merrier. I was taught how to suck on dry coffee grounds in the same manner as you would dip Copenhagen snoose. I also learned how to put Folgers Crystals from an MRE under your eyelid to get the quick jolt of pain and caffeine straight to the bloodstream when you're dead tired and have to stay awake just a bit longer. No, that's not oral cancer or jaundice, that's a serious case of not wanting to conk out.
When I got to Europe in '91, I started to learn about good coffee. My company commander always had a good strong pot of Kronung in his office, and the chow hall always had good coffee. I was introduced to espresso and cappuccino's by a friend who was stationed in Naples, and I've never looked back.
After I got back to the States, I developed a taste for Arbuckle's cowboy coffee in Arizona, and Community Coffee in Louisiana. I discovered Starbucks, which is to coffee what McDonalds is to lunch. No, it's not the best you can get, and a lot of smaller local establishments do it better, but it's the same cup of coffee in Louisville as it is in New York. Louisville has the Java Brewing Company, which has the best product locally. Nothing beats getting beans first thing in the morning when they're still warm from the roaster.
When I was going to college, I grew a pretty bad caffeine monkey on my back. I was drinking a pot of coffee every morning before work, drinking another while I was at work, hitting Starbucks on the way to school, and hitting it again on the way home.
Lately, I've cut way back on my consumption. I normally make coffee at home maybe two times a week, and have cut back to one cup of coffee a day at work. I treat myself at either Starbucks or the JBC once every week or so.
Coffee to me is one of life's pleasures. I drink coffee more for the enjoyment of it, rather than for the caffeine hit. Nothing feels better on a cold morning than a warm earthenware mug in my hands. Nothing wakes me up faster than the smell of a fresh pot of coffee.
Musings on the coming financial armageddon
OK, so the Congress voted down the recovery bill as it was originally constructed. The market fell 777 points, and the sky should be coming down any time now. Zombies will be walking the streets in the near future, and dogs and cats are starting to live together.
Here's my advice on how to get through this:
Here's my advice on how to get through this:
- Keep your head and your money in the game. The people who made money during the Great Depression were the ones who kept their money in the market. Don't cash out your 401k and keep the money in your mattress. You only lose money if you cash out too early.
- Don't switch jobs anytime soon. Noone knows at the moment how this is going to shake out, but I think it's safe to say that if layoffs happen, the new guy is probably the first to go.
- Don't plan on buying a new house or car anytime soon. Unless you can almost pay cash for the darned thing, odds are the bank is going to charge an enormous amount to borrow if they'll lend to you at all. Get cozy in your home, and keep doing the maintenance on your car.
- Pay down your debt as much as you can. If the worst happens, the less debt you have the better.
- Stock up on canned food and shotguns. I'm just saying.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Negative Political Ads
I was introduced to Kentucky politics in 2002. It stuck me how quickly and how deeply negative the various campaigns became. I had been exposed to negative campaigning before, but this was something else. The ads became extremely personal and nasty very early in the campaign. It didn't seem to be the desperate act of failing campaigns because campaigns that were comfortably ahead in the polls were just as bad.
I decided very early that I wouldn't listen to negative campaign ads. I may watch them for the entertainment value, but I refuse to take any of their assertions into consideration when I'm deciding how to vote.
In 2004 and 2006, I tried to figure out which party was the most negative, or who seemed to throw the first mudball. I gave up in both endeavors. Both major parties shamelessly sling mud at each other, and neither seems to go nastier or earlier than the other.
Here's the deal, folks: Convince me to vote the way you want me to by describing what's good about your candidate or your cause. Tell me what good is going to come from your victory, not what evil will come from your defeat. Don't waste your money and breath telling me how your opponent tortures baby goats under a full moon. Tell me how you are going to enforce the laws, secure the country, keep your meathooks off of the majority of my money, and how you're going to be a good steward of the money that I do pay in taxes.
Negative ads don't convince me to not vote for the other guy, the lead me to believe that you don't deserve my vote.
I decided very early that I wouldn't listen to negative campaign ads. I may watch them for the entertainment value, but I refuse to take any of their assertions into consideration when I'm deciding how to vote.
In 2004 and 2006, I tried to figure out which party was the most negative, or who seemed to throw the first mudball. I gave up in both endeavors. Both major parties shamelessly sling mud at each other, and neither seems to go nastier or earlier than the other.
Here's the deal, folks: Convince me to vote the way you want me to by describing what's good about your candidate or your cause. Tell me what good is going to come from your victory, not what evil will come from your defeat. Don't waste your money and breath telling me how your opponent tortures baby goats under a full moon. Tell me how you are going to enforce the laws, secure the country, keep your meathooks off of the majority of my money, and how you're going to be a good steward of the money that I do pay in taxes.
Negative ads don't convince me to not vote for the other guy, the lead me to believe that you don't deserve my vote.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Bailout
OK, folks. We've got two choices:
1. We let the market flow freely, with a high probability that huge chunks of it will bottom out due to very poor investing on the part of the "smart people". The economy will probably go into a tailspin for at least a couple of years, and things will get much worse before they get better.
2. The federal government steps in, buys up all of that bad debt, and keeps us out of of a deep recession. All of the "smart people" get to keep their high paying jobs, and probably come out of all this at least as rich as they are now. We will probably go into a recession anyhow, but in the short term it won't be as bad as it could have been. Our national deficit goes up at least another trillion dollars or two. Our children, grand children, and great-grandchildren will be paying for this.
Personally, I don't see a good choice here. I believe in free markets, but I don't want to see the economy circle the drain for a decade because of greed and bad judgement. But I also don't want the government to continue its habit of keeping the terminally stupid in the black.
1. We let the market flow freely, with a high probability that huge chunks of it will bottom out due to very poor investing on the part of the "smart people". The economy will probably go into a tailspin for at least a couple of years, and things will get much worse before they get better.
2. The federal government steps in, buys up all of that bad debt, and keeps us out of of a deep recession. All of the "smart people" get to keep their high paying jobs, and probably come out of all this at least as rich as they are now. We will probably go into a recession anyhow, but in the short term it won't be as bad as it could have been. Our national deficit goes up at least another trillion dollars or two. Our children, grand children, and great-grandchildren will be paying for this.
Personally, I don't see a good choice here. I believe in free markets, but I don't want to see the economy circle the drain for a decade because of greed and bad judgement. But I also don't want the government to continue its habit of keeping the terminally stupid in the black.
Teething Baby, Sleepless Daddy
And Mommy.
Baby Bear appears to be very close to having his first tooth. He was very cranky last night, and woke up last night very snarfly and fussy. We thought he might have caught my cold, so the Irish Woman took him into the doctor this morning. Doctor ruled out a cold, and found the lump in his gums.
Soon, he'll have his first ankle biting implement. Until then, I'm a zombie shuffling through my day.
Baby Bear appears to be very close to having his first tooth. He was very cranky last night, and woke up last night very snarfly and fussy. We thought he might have caught my cold, so the Irish Woman took him into the doctor this morning. Doctor ruled out a cold, and found the lump in his gums.
Soon, he'll have his first ankle biting implement. Until then, I'm a zombie shuffling through my day.
Monday, September 22, 2008
My Weekend
Well, this weekend was a toss-up.
Woke up Saturday morning, and felt like dirt warmed over. The Irish Woman "convinced" me to go to the doctor. $15 for the doctor and $75 for the anti-biotics and antihystamines later, I went back to bed and slept through most of the rest of the day.
Had to drive through the Ryder Cup traffic to get to the doctor. Must send a thank you card to the city fathers for the crowd in my front yard.
Sunday was a better day. Woke up too late to go to church, but did go to Knob Creek in the afternoon. The muzzleloader still put 3 rounds in a 10 inch circle at 100 yards, but I had a hell of a time with the Mosin. I had to aim at the dirt three feet in front of the target in order to graze the top. If I aimed center mass, I was hitting the hill behind the target.
When I got home and cleaned the Mosin, I figured out why. I recently removed the LER scope and mount that I had on it and returned to iron sites. I put the leaf spring on the rear site in upside down, and that was forcing the rear site up about an inch too high. High rear site forced a much higher than expected point of impact. I corrected the error and the site looks like it's supposed to. Should have caught that when I put it in the first time.
Got to spend some time with Junior Bear and Baby Bear. Also caught the first quarter of the Dallas/Green Bay game.
Overall, the weekend was a wash. Lost most of Saturday to either the doctor's office or sleep, but had a pretty good Sunday.
Woke up Saturday morning, and felt like dirt warmed over. The Irish Woman "convinced" me to go to the doctor. $15 for the doctor and $75 for the anti-biotics and antihystamines later, I went back to bed and slept through most of the rest of the day.
Had to drive through the Ryder Cup traffic to get to the doctor. Must send a thank you card to the city fathers for the crowd in my front yard.
Sunday was a better day. Woke up too late to go to church, but did go to Knob Creek in the afternoon. The muzzleloader still put 3 rounds in a 10 inch circle at 100 yards, but I had a hell of a time with the Mosin. I had to aim at the dirt three feet in front of the target in order to graze the top. If I aimed center mass, I was hitting the hill behind the target.
When I got home and cleaned the Mosin, I figured out why. I recently removed the LER scope and mount that I had on it and returned to iron sites. I put the leaf spring on the rear site in upside down, and that was forcing the rear site up about an inch too high. High rear site forced a much higher than expected point of impact. I corrected the error and the site looks like it's supposed to. Should have caught that when I put it in the first time.
Got to spend some time with Junior Bear and Baby Bear. Also caught the first quarter of the Dallas/Green Bay game.
Overall, the weekend was a wash. Lost most of Saturday to either the doctor's office or sleep, but had a pretty good Sunday.
Blackfive for the funny!
H/T to Blackfive for a good laugh on a Monday morning.
Reminds me of when the CNN and AP reporters had to go through winter training at Wildflicken at the same time we did so they could cover military units in Bosnia.
Half of them lost their voice from bitching about how cold they were, and the other half got treated as heat casualties when they wore 16 layers, including their bear suits, during the 1 mile walk from the chow hall to the training area.
Reminds me of when the CNN and AP reporters had to go through winter training at Wildflicken at the same time we did so they could cover military units in Bosnia.
Half of them lost their voice from bitching about how cold they were, and the other half got treated as heat casualties when they wore 16 layers, including their bear suits, during the 1 mile walk from the chow hall to the training area.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Not a good day
Woke up this morning feeling pretty low. My allergies had kicked me right between the twins.
A long shower. two Aleve, a Claritin, and a cup of coffee later, I at least felt human. Spending time feeding Baby Bear and listening to him growl between mouthfuls helped my attitude.
Had to drive through the traffic for the Ryder Cup. Took 45 minutes to drive the 5 minutes to the freeway.
Got Junior Bear and Girlie Bear over to a friend's house for the day. Still no school, we'll find out on Sunday night if they go back on Monday.
Because of traffic, didn't get to the office until almost 9 AM, so I had to park in the remote lot. The long walk gave me a lot of time to think about why I came to work at all.
Got to the top of the stairs in our building, and the smell of rotten eggs greeted me. Luckily for me, everyone else can smell it too. Either a pipe has broken somewhere, or someone shipped something they shouldn't have.
I've spent the morning doing small work and drinking more coffee. Hopefully the afternoon will go well.
This weekend should be OK. I'm working a fund raiser for Girlie Bear's PTA tomorrow morning, and I'm planning on going to the range on Sunday after church.
A long shower. two Aleve, a Claritin, and a cup of coffee later, I at least felt human. Spending time feeding Baby Bear and listening to him growl between mouthfuls helped my attitude.
Had to drive through the traffic for the Ryder Cup. Took 45 minutes to drive the 5 minutes to the freeway.
Got Junior Bear and Girlie Bear over to a friend's house for the day. Still no school, we'll find out on Sunday night if they go back on Monday.
Because of traffic, didn't get to the office until almost 9 AM, so I had to park in the remote lot. The long walk gave me a lot of time to think about why I came to work at all.
Got to the top of the stairs in our building, and the smell of rotten eggs greeted me. Luckily for me, everyone else can smell it too. Either a pipe has broken somewhere, or someone shipped something they shouldn't have.
I've spent the morning doing small work and drinking more coffee. Hopefully the afternoon will go well.
This weekend should be OK. I'm working a fund raiser for Girlie Bear's PTA tomorrow morning, and I'm planning on going to the range on Sunday after church.
Better wash that foot before you insert it!
The Canadian agricultural minister apparently doesn't know that you don't make jokes about people dieing.
Dude, please remember that everything you say will be held against you. Don't joke about people dieing from food poisoning, and for the love of God don't hope that one of the casualties is one of your opponents.
Dude, please remember that everything you say will be held against you. Don't joke about people dieing from food poisoning, and for the love of God don't hope that one of the casualties is one of your opponents.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Hypocracy at work
Saw a good post by Phil over at Random Nuclear Strikes.
Politicians from both parties resisted regulation of the financial markets, for whatever reasons. Now that the market has had the carpet pulled out from under it, and we're paying to keep the lights on in institutions that are deemed critical, the roaches are scattering.
My only real beef with this whole process is the fact that these government rescues always seem to include some really nice golden parachutes for the executives of these companies. If you've run your business into the ground so bad that the government is stepping in and buying you out, why do you still make more money that some small countries?
Politicians from both parties resisted regulation of the financial markets, for whatever reasons. Now that the market has had the carpet pulled out from under it, and we're paying to keep the lights on in institutions that are deemed critical, the roaches are scattering.
My only real beef with this whole process is the fact that these government rescues always seem to include some really nice golden parachutes for the executives of these companies. If you've run your business into the ground so bad that the government is stepping in and buying you out, why do you still make more money that some small countries?
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