My time management skills have... Ok, I don't have any time management skills. That's why I'm behind on here. I do have a bunch of things to post so I'll try and get them up a bit at a time. Of course, since hardly anyone actually follows this blog it's not like there's a crushing immediacy to get updates on.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Stunning photo: Earth and Jupiter in the same shot
From DVICE | Stunning photo: Earth and Jupiter in the same shot - "Sometimes the planets line up in such a way that you can see Earth and Jupiter in the same wide-angle shot. That is, if you were aboard the Mars Global Surveyor on May 22, 2003. When the Mars Orbiter Camera snapped this unique view, Earth was 86 million miles away, and Jupiter was 600 million miles away."
The picture is stunning. You don't get a scale of how big Jupiter is till you see it dworfing Earth from 600 million miles.
The picture is stunning. You don't get a scale of how big Jupiter is till you see it dworfing Earth from 600 million miles.
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Thursday, October 15, 2009
21 (mostly) sexy female stormtroopers (NSFW)
21 (mostly) sexy female stormtroopers (NSFW) - "Today's gallery, the seventh of our 31 specials for the 31 days of Halloween, proves that sometimes the best Star Wars stormtroopers are the ones who only remember to wear part of their costumes."
From SCI FI Wire comes a little bit of eye candy for all you guys and gals who like anything with "sexy females" in its title. Go ye and drool.
From SCI FI Wire comes a little bit of eye candy for all you guys and gals who like anything with "sexy females" in its title. Go ye and drool.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
More fun with North Korea
Two interesting articles on North Korea this week.
North Korea fires missiles and declares "no sail" zone | Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:32am EDT | SEOUL (Reuters) - "North Korea has fired five short-range missiles off its east coast and declared a "no sail" zone in the area from October 10-20, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a government source as saying on Monday."
U.S. hails cooperation on North Korea, sees new steps | By Chris Buckley Chris Buckley – Wed Oct 14, 2:37 am ET | BEIJING (Reuters) – "North Korea's neighbors and the United States are coordinating closely to draw the isolated state back to nuclear disarmament talks and reviewing possible next steps, a senior U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday."
Go read these two articles then tell me they aren't contradictory. I dare ya.
North Korea fires missiles and declares "no sail" zone | Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:32am EDT | SEOUL (Reuters) - "North Korea has fired five short-range missiles off its east coast and declared a "no sail" zone in the area from October 10-20, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a government source as saying on Monday."
U.S. hails cooperation on North Korea, sees new steps | By Chris Buckley Chris Buckley – Wed Oct 14, 2:37 am ET | BEIJING (Reuters) – "North Korea's neighbors and the United States are coordinating closely to draw the isolated state back to nuclear disarmament talks and reviewing possible next steps, a senior U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday."
Go read these two articles then tell me they aren't contradictory. I dare ya.
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Obama vows to end restrictions on gays in military
Obama vows to end restrictions on gays in military | By Caren Bohan and Nancy Waitz Caren Bohan And Nancy Waitz – Sat Oct 10, 10:53 pm ET - WASHINGTON (Reuters) – "President Barack Obama, speaking on the eve of a major gay-rights march, told gay supporters on Saturday he would fight for their causes and renewed a pledge to end restrictions on their service in the U.S. military."
While I am all for equality, this isn't going to happen unless the Military buys into it. Having spent 40 years growing up, working and living with the Military, things aren't going to change overnight. The gay community may have felt that the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy was a baby step, but I can tell you now it was a massively huge step for the armed forces. It will take allot of work to get things smoothed out. I anticipate decades.
While I am all for equality, this isn't going to happen unless the Military buys into it. Having spent 40 years growing up, working and living with the Military, things aren't going to change overnight. The gay community may have felt that the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy was a baby step, but I can tell you now it was a massively huge step for the armed forces. It will take allot of work to get things smoothed out. I anticipate decades.
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Monday, October 05, 2009
Rio wins 2016 Games
Rio wins 2016 Games as IOC rebuffs Obama | By Paul Radford and Stuart Grudgings Paul Radford And Stuart Grudgings – Fri Oct 2, 4:57 pm ET | COPENHAGEN/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – "Rio de Janeiro won a resounding vote on Friday to stage the first Olympics in South America in 2016, rebuffing U.S. President Barack Obama, who had personally lobbied for his adopted hometown Chicago."
Gasps greet Chicago's ouster from Games bid | By Ben Klayman Ben Klayman – Fri Oct 2, 3:09 pm ET | CHICAGO (Reuters) – "Gasps and tears greeted the announcement on Friday that Chicago had lost its bid to host the 2016 Summer Games, as the city went from favorite to also-ran in the multibillion-dollar Olympics sweepstakes."
I find this reaction slightly puzzling. Did they honestly think that Chicago had any chance of winning this bid? Anyone who knows international sports and the IOC knew that Chicago was never even a blip on the radar for 2016. That has been evident for a long time. It is also why I was amused when President Obama jumped into the whole thing. Why associate you name with something that was obviously never going to happen? The first lady I can understand. Oprah had to back the city, of course. But the three of them are insignificant to the IOC.
Hell, if all the billionaires in the US backed the city it still wouldn't have had a snowballs chance on Mercury. The kind of money and "favors" that are involved with choosing a city for the Olympics are on a scale the makes them look like paupers. Then there's the political back-room stuff. Chicago, and, by extension, the US, currently doesn't have the standing in the IOC's world to give the selection committee a moments consideration.
Now don't get me wrong. I am not happy with the situation. Merit is only a small fraction of what's taken into account for picking a city. But this is the way it's been for the modern games. It's just confusing that many people don't see what is directly in front of them.
Gasps greet Chicago's ouster from Games bid | By Ben Klayman Ben Klayman – Fri Oct 2, 3:09 pm ET | CHICAGO (Reuters) – "Gasps and tears greeted the announcement on Friday that Chicago had lost its bid to host the 2016 Summer Games, as the city went from favorite to also-ran in the multibillion-dollar Olympics sweepstakes."
I find this reaction slightly puzzling. Did they honestly think that Chicago had any chance of winning this bid? Anyone who knows international sports and the IOC knew that Chicago was never even a blip on the radar for 2016. That has been evident for a long time. It is also why I was amused when President Obama jumped into the whole thing. Why associate you name with something that was obviously never going to happen? The first lady I can understand. Oprah had to back the city, of course. But the three of them are insignificant to the IOC.
Hell, if all the billionaires in the US backed the city it still wouldn't have had a snowballs chance on Mercury. The kind of money and "favors" that are involved with choosing a city for the Olympics are on a scale the makes them look like paupers. Then there's the political back-room stuff. Chicago, and, by extension, the US, currently doesn't have the standing in the IOC's world to give the selection committee a moments consideration.
Now don't get me wrong. I am not happy with the situation. Merit is only a small fraction of what's taken into account for picking a city. But this is the way it's been for the modern games. It's just confusing that many people don't see what is directly in front of them.
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Sunday, October 04, 2009
University of Florida Has Zombie Attack Plan In Place
University of Florida Has Zombie Attack Plan In Place | October 2, 2009 by Michael Hickerson | Category: Bizarre News - "The University of Florida may have a sales pitch a lot of other universities in the same state and around the country don’t have.
Should the zombie apocalypse occur, they have a plan to deal with it."
Unfortunately the page is now 404. I don't know if it was a gag or what but if they ever did have a plan they could post you know it'll draw in more applicants than they even dream possible.
Should the zombie apocalypse occur, they have a plan to deal with it."
Unfortunately the page is now 404. I don't know if it was a gag or what but if they ever did have a plan they could post you know it'll draw in more applicants than they even dream possible.
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Sunday, September 13, 2009
Lesbian GI Seeks Asylum in Canada
Lesbian GI Seeks Asylum in Canada September 10, 2009 | Agence France-Presse - "A lesbian who deserted the U.S. military has requested asylum in Canada, claiming she faced harassment and death threats from fellow Soldiers over her sexual orientation, media said Wednesday.
Pvt. Bethany Smith, 21, claimed she had asked the U.S. military for a discharge after being outed by another Soldier who spotted her walking hand in hand with a woman at a mall."
I have no idea what the rules are between the US and Canada but I hope she gets out. The main reason she's running north of the border is that the Army wants to defer her case so they can send her to Afghanistan. However, it also occurred to me that a soldier could fake being gay for the sole purpose of not being deployed to the combat zones.
In the first Gulf War there was a huge increase of pregnancies of which a goodly portion were specifically to get out of combat service. Will we see a new trend of an increase in gay soldiers being discharged?
Just something to ponder.
Pvt. Bethany Smith, 21, claimed she had asked the U.S. military for a discharge after being outed by another Soldier who spotted her walking hand in hand with a woman at a mall."
I have no idea what the rules are between the US and Canada but I hope she gets out. The main reason she's running north of the border is that the Army wants to defer her case so they can send her to Afghanistan. However, it also occurred to me that a soldier could fake being gay for the sole purpose of not being deployed to the combat zones.
In the first Gulf War there was a huge increase of pregnancies of which a goodly portion were specifically to get out of combat service. Will we see a new trend of an increase in gay soldiers being discharged?
Just something to ponder.
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