January 30, 2009

Friday Ark #228

We'll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and....?

Visit all the boarders, Link to the Ark and check back for updates through Sunday afternoon!

You can board the Friday Ark by submitting your post here, leaving a comment or a trackback to this post or emailing fridayark AT themodulator.org.

You can find previous editions at the not quite up to date Arkives page.

Cats

January 28, 2009

Bill Gates Explains Why You Want A MacIntosh

Switch now!

Via 9to5 Mac.

Posted by Steve on January 28, 2009

January 27, 2009

Television Viewers Likely to Be Subjected to More Hours of Inanity

MSNBC reports that the us senate has voted unanimously to subject television viewers to 4 more months of increasingly tiresome announcements about and explanations of the upcoming analog to digital television transition:

The Senate on Monday voted unanimously to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12.
......

The Nielsen Co. estimates that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.

And the national IQ will rise dramatically if this happens.

Apparently these same TV sets have been dark for the past two years. Otherwise their owners, if they really cared, would be prepared. There is nothing in the article that suggests that there is a shortage of converters in stores.

But, really, it is some kind of national emergency:

"Delaying the upcoming DTV switch is the right thing to do," said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., author of the bill to push back the deadline. "I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time."
Dear jay, the "nation" is ready. Some folks suffer from extreme inertia; the vast majority of households are ready for the transition.

Are you concerned that all the coupons requested did not get sent out?

The NTIA had nearly 2.6 million coupon requests on a waiting list as of last Wednesday.
First, did you give the NTIA more money so they could send out the rest of the coupons...not mentioned in the article. Second, even if you wait for the backlog of coupons to be sent out what about the other 4 million households that may not be ready? They've been bombarded with "public service announcements," how to connect your converter stories and seemingly more news coverage than the Illinois governor. Exactly what is it that makes you think 4 more months is going to change their behavior?

Get it over with. Help out the obama administration by forcing a little economic activity. Let the transition happen and folks that really care will buy their converter boxes.

Posted by Steve on January 27, 2009

January 25, 2009

Space Station Tour

"It's a really big space station we got."

Check it out:

Via Greg Laden.

Posted by Steve on January 25, 2009

January 24, 2009

Iguana Droppings

Well, lots of iguanas have dropped from trees in Florida:

The coldblooded reptiles go into a deep sleep when the temperature falls into the 40s. Experts say their bodies basically shut off and they lose their grip on the tree.

Via Bryan.

Posted by Steve on January 24, 2009

January 23, 2009

Friday Ark #227

We'll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and....?

Visit all the boarders, Link to the Ark and check back for updates through Sunday afternoon!

You can board the Friday Ark by submitting your post here, leaving a comment or a trackback to this post or emailing fridayark AT themodulator.org.

You can find previous editions at the not quite up to date Arkives page.

Cats

Birds

Other Vertebrates

January 22, 2009

It's A Huge Picnic Party and...

...you are invited to I and the Bird #92 at the Marvelous in Nature!

Plenty of bathing, seeds, nuts, worms and berries for your enjoyment and, yes, lots of feathered folk.

Posted by Steve on January 22, 2009

January 21, 2009

Utter Nonsense

Kip found some...

Posted by Steve on January 21, 2009

January 20, 2009

Refreshing

Whitehouse.Gov has been updated (11:17 PDT but probably much earlier).

Posted by Steve on January 20, 2009

Congratulations president obama

Unlike any inauguration I have experienced, there have been many, I am moved and excited with optimism.

I wish the new president, the United States and the rest of the world well!

Posted by Steve on January 20, 2009 | Comments (1)

January 19, 2009

Will Everything Really Be On the Table?

pelosi says everything should be on the table:

Obama announced last week that he would convene a "fiscal responsibility summit" in February to focus on long-term problems with the economy and the skyrocketing costs of benefit programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

"I support what he wants to do, to have a summit of that kind," Pelosi said Sunday. "We will have our own initiatives in the Congress to work with him on that."

Pelosi said everything should be on the table, including benefit cuts.

"The only thing we didn't want to put on the table is eliminating Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid," she said.

Of course, benefit cuts would run counter to the incoming administrations desire to increase spending:
"Our overall focus is going to be on increasing spending," Summers said in a broadcast interview. "Beyond that, there's going to be a substantial tax cut for the American people."
We will know that real change may have come when the defense budget is on the cutting table taking some serious 12 figure whacks!

Via Corrente.

Posted by Steve on January 19, 2009

January 18, 2009

The bush Years...

...according to the Onion...

As to what Teresa calls the greatest achievement of the bush years, well, we'll see.

Posted by Steve on January 18, 2009

January 17, 2009

Buy Your Roquefort While You Can

Despite what Cookie Jill says, this kind of crap is not unique to the bush administration:

Less than a week before it leaves office, the Bush administration has sparked anger across the Atlantic by tripling the import duty rate on roquefort cheese to 300%, a move which the US hopes will "shut down trade" in the sheep's milk product by making it prohibitively expensive.
It is a thing of governments and various rent seekers looking for unearned treasure.

In a free country, a free world, there are no tarriffs. Individuals and groups of individuals voluntarily trade goods and services without the interference of third parties unless force or fraud have been used in the transaction

Posted by Steve on January 17, 2009

January 16, 2009

Friday Ark #226

We'll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and....?

Visit all the boarders, Link to the Ark and check back for updates through Sunday afternoon!

You can board the Friday Ark by submitting your post here, leaving a comment or a trackback to this post or emailing fridayark AT themodulator.org.

You can find previous editions at the not quite up to date Arkives page.

Cats

Birds

Other Vertebrates

Dogs

Invertebrates

In Memoriam

Didn't Make It

Exceptions (inclusion not guaranteed)

  • x

Extra, Extra: All Ark boarders are invited to shout out at the Friday Ark Frapper Map.

Cat folks: remember to submit your links to:

Birders: I and the Bird: A Blog Carnival for Bird Lovers is published every 2 weeks.

For the spineless: Circus of the Spineless. A monthly celebration of Insects, Arachnids, Molluscs, Crustaceans, Worms and most anything else that wiggles.

Dog folks: remember to submit your links to:

  • The Canine Carnival hosted by Pamibe last year is on hiatus an looking for a new sponsor
  • The Carnival of the Dogs hosted by Mickey's Musings has been out of operation since July 2007

For other current carnivals check out The Blog Carnival and The TTLB Uber Carnival

Posted by Steve on January 16, 2009 | Comments (6)

January 15, 2009

A Bit of Pot Porn...

In this Gallery of Medical Marijuana that is part of the ad campaign for The Business of Pot that will be airing January 22 on CNBC.

I don't know what CNBC's slant will be but in a free country there would be no drug war.

Via Boing Boing which I credit with the Pot Porn label.

Posted by Steve on January 15, 2009 | Comments (1)

January 14, 2009

The Truth About Government Contracting

The White House Fence

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in DC: One is from New York , another is fromTennessee and the third, is from Florida .

All three go with a White House official to examine the fence.

The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well," he says, "I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me."

The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me."

The New York contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, "$2,700."

The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"

The New York contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence."

"Done!" replies the government official.

Via email found in a junk mail folder.

Posted by Steve on January 14, 2009

January 13, 2009

Admit It!

You've wanted to do this:

Via Orin Kerr at the Volokh Conspiracy.

Posted by Steve on January 13, 2009

January 12, 2009

To The Dead: Thanks,....

....but, no thanks!

nassaudeadmap.jpg

Well, maybe in the first 10-20 rows of section B1 or the inside 5-6 seats of the first 10-20 rows of Sections A1 or C1.

Their tour prices are way to high for me this year....

You can see from the above seating chart where the less costly expensive seats are located.

Posted by Steve on January 12, 2009 | Comments (1)

January 9, 2009

Friday Ark #225

We'll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and....?

Visit all the boarders, Link to the Ark and check back for updates through Sunday afternoon!

You can board the Friday Ark by submitting your post here, leaving a comment or a trackback to this post or emailing fridayark AT themodulator.org.

You can find previous editions at the not quite up to date Arkives page.

Cats

Birds

Other Vertebrates

Dogs

Invertebrates

Exceptions (inclusion not guaranteed)

Extra, Extra: All Ark boarders are invited to shout out at the Friday Ark Frapper Map.

Cat folks: remember to submit your links to:

Birders: I and the Bird: A Blog Carnival for Bird Lovers is published every 2 weeks.

For the spineless: Circus of the Spineless. A monthly celebration of Insects, Arachnids, Molluscs, Crustaceans, Worms and most anything else that wiggles.

Dog folks: remember to submit your links to:

  • The Canine Carnival hosted by Pamibe last year is on hiatus
  • The Carnival of the Dogs hosted by Mickey's Musings
    • has been out of operation since July 2007

For other current carnivals check out The Blog Carnival and The TTLB Uber Carnival

Posted by Steve on January 9, 2009 | Comments (2)

January 8, 2009

The Ten Most Popular Birding Regions of 2009

Fly over to I and the Bird #91 for Vagabirding Travel Magazine's Annual Birding Awards for 2008 as presented by From the Faraway, Nearby.

Be prepared to spend some time on this inexpensive, enjoyable trip.

Posted by Steve on January 8, 2009

January 2, 2009

Friday Ark #224

We'll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and....?

Visit all the boarders, Link to the Ark and check back for updates through Sunday afternoon!

You can board the Friday Ark by submitting your post here, leaving a comment or a trackback to this post or emailing fridayark AT themodulator.org.

You can find previous editions at the not quite up to date Arkives page.

Cats

Dogs

Birds

Invertebrates

Other Vertebrates

In Memoriam

Didn't Make It

  • x

Exceptions (inclusion not guaranteed)

  • x

Extra, Extra: All Ark boarders are invited to shout out at the Friday Ark Frapper Map.

Cat folks: remember to submit your links to:

Birders: I and the Bird: A Blog Carnival for Bird Lovers is published every 2 weeks.

For the spineless: Circus of the Spineless. A monthly celebration of Insects, Arachnids, Molluscs, Crustaceans, Worms and most anything else that wiggles.

Dog folks: remember to submit your links to:

  • The Canine Carnival hosted by Pamibe
  • The Carnival of the Dogs hosted by Mickey's Musings
    • has been out of operation since July 2007

For other current carnivals check out The Blog Carnival and The TTLB Uber Carnival

Posted by Steve on January 2, 2009 | Comments (5)