Sharkatude: Wisdom of the Common Sense

Tactical Daddy

2008-12-30T21:03:00.002-06:00

Darn, I had this great idea of combining my obsession with tactical gear with becoming a new father. Sadly, somebody already beat me to it! Oh well, I'm glad that I'm not alone in this world of wacky. Check it!

http://www.tacticaldaddy.com/

Sometimes I wonder

2008-11-06T18:52:00.002-06:00

I sometimes wonder if anybody ever reads my blog. Actually, I don't really, because this blog is sort of my place for keeping my thoughts straight. Trolling one night on the internet I stumbled across Military Morons, a site pretty close to Milspec Monkey, all about practical tactical, just what I like!

Making BDUs lighter and cooler

2008-10-09T19:15:00.002-06:00

I found this particular article on the Combat Reform team's website: "Making BDUs lighter and cooler." Now I've always been a big fan of the BDU uniform. I think it's functional, rugged, and good. I know it has its detractors, but what uniform system doesn't? A good article nonetheless.

Mil-Spec Monkey

2008-10-09T18:47:00.002-06:00

One of my favorite websites on the net is Mil-Spec Monkey. I believe the guy shares my love of practical tactical stuff. You can never have enough tactical stuff, whether you are a civilian, in law enforcement, or in the military. Highly recommend the site!

I got my shirt!!!

2008-10-07T16:05:00.003-06:00

I admit that I'm a sucker for good marketing ploys, and getting an Adidas Kellogg Tucan Sam sports t-shirt by sending in a few tokens, was a sure winner in my book. Of course being a lazy ass I could not justify buying and eating eight boxes of delicious breakfast cereal and then waiting six weeks to get my t-shirt. Instead, I bought one box, cut out the token and sent in a check for $8.99 dollars instead. It arrived today, four weeks later!

Fila at Kohl's

2008-10-06T19:02:00.004-06:00

Looking through Sunday's newspaper advertisements, I saw that Kohl's will start to sell Fila sportswear. Now Fila was born in Italy but was snapped up by South Korean investors in January 2007, making it South Korea's largest sportswear company. I think this is a good thing, since I really need another excuse to go to the mall.

I'm a greedy bugger and so are you!

2008-05-28T13:18:00.003-06:00

Quite frankly I'm sick and tired of people blaming Big Oil for the high price of gas and the state of the economy. Quite frankly we are in this mess because we are greedy buggers. I'm quite happy that my oil company is making money, and you want to know why? Because I'm a shareholder, and what's good for the company is good for my dividend. I don't own a million dollars worth of stock, I own less than 10 shares in Big Oil, but that's still enough money for me to buy more stocks in another company. I'm in it for the long haul. All these asshats complaining about the economy are greedy buggers who over-spent their accounts: bought houses that were too big, one too many pairs of shoes, etc. Everybody wants to be satisfied here and now, but nobody is reading the fine print. Well I read the fine print, and instead of buying a $4 dollar latte I bought a $4 dollar share in an electronics company. Everybody can be an investor, even a frugal bastard like myself.

Hell, owning stocks is kind of addictive; watching those suckers go up and down on charts that I have no idea about. Once in a while you get a nice surprise and find that your account is worth a lot of money, and dividends are nice as well. It's also fun to be invited to shareholder's meetings. It's kind of neat to say that you own parts of a company; especially when people are complaining about it. I'm like, screw you too pal, that's my company. You greedy bugger!

Chinese military has Blackhawk helicopters

2008-05-15T13:13:00.002-06:00

I didn't know this, but apparently the Chinese Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA), has Blackhawk helicopters. I saw them responding to the recent earthquake. Interesting...

Robocop is an historian

2008-04-20T13:53:00.002-06:00

Here is an interesting tidbit: Who knew that Peter Weller, the actor who played Robocop, has master's degree in Roman and Renaissance art and is working toward a Ph.D. at Syracuse University? He has also been seen on History Channel documentaries on Roman engineering. Just goes to show you that you really can't judge a man by his bullet proof shell I suppose :)

There's something to be said for the old mall

2008-04-14T11:53:00.002-06:00

I love online shopping. It's fast, convenient, and you can get monster bargains. Still, there are times when propping up the local economy can be beneficial as well. I went to the mall over lunch hour because I needed to find a pair of trail running shoes. Imagine my surprise when I found this pair of New Balance 708 Trail Runner shoes for $39.97! At one of my online stores it cost $74.99. That's a big savings, especially when you look at the box and it says suggested retail price of $50.00 dollars. Nevertheless I got a great bargain, and I'm happy with them. It just goes to show you that local stores can compete with the online craze. Happy shopping!

Stargate SG1 vs. Battlestar Galactica, it's the weapons fool!

2008-04-08T08:24:00.003-06:00

I'm a huge fan of SciFi, yet I've noticed a disturbing trend in weaponology. What is with this fascination for European carbines and submachine guns? The SG 1 team uses the Belgian FN P90 while the Colonial Marines on Battlestar Galactica use the Italian Beretta CX-4 Storm. I don't know which version of the Storm because it comes in 9mm, .40, and .45 calibers. Both of these weapons look very futuristic, so I suppose that is why the producers chose them, but they are not American. Is there no American alternative for future alien battles, or will we continue to be at the mercy of European weapon makers?

Thank God for Renegades

2008-04-07T15:21:00.002-06:00

United States Antarctic Program

2008-04-02T08:33:00.002-06:00

What sane person hasn't wished at some point that they were in Antarctica? I would love to go some day. I like the cold and being out in the snow. Of course if you get stuck you can always take out the trust Field Manual.

Who really should have won Melodifestivalen 2008

2008-03-28T20:36:00.001-06:00

Sibel

or Velvet

Nigella Lawson, baby's got back!

2008-03-20T08:51:00.002-06:00

Apparently the Food Network won't show celebrichef Nigella Lawson below the waist because of her huge ass. Instead they will focus more on her cleavage, tongue and eyes. Hell yeah! Somebody needs to tell Nigella that's there's nothing wrong with a little back. To get the ratings even higher I suggest she tilt back her head and pour cream down her chest while licking her lips. Oh man my dough is rising just thinking about that. As long as she doesn't let herself completely go like Rachael Ray, I'd still do her. Even without the cream.

Check it!

Drunkorexia, oh really?

2008-03-18T09:39:00.002-06:00

Honestly, WTF will they come up with next? I thought Restless Leg Syndrome was a joke, but apparently there's even a foundation for that shit. Check it:

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that is characterized by the irresistible urge to move the legs.

I guess drunkorexia is the irresistible urge to drink instead of eating? And since Faux News is covering it, you know it must be something serious. They should just quit calling it drunkorexia and call it by its real name, "being a supermodel."

The wonderful world of medicine

2008-03-17T16:22:00.002-06:00

Yes, doctor, this guy is phucked! For 32 years Shark has managed to avoid any serious health issues, or any frequent pill-popping, but no more! Shark had his blood pressure taken a few weeks ago and the nurse warned him that his blood pressure was a bit high and that he should go and get it checked out. Not being very smart, Shark decided not to heed the advice until finally being worn down by parental and spousal nagging to go see a doctor.

After an examination that included a lot of probing, the doctor prescribed Shark some medicine for hypertension. Shark is thus a pill-popping, medical-establishment-supporting-for-life sucker. Luckily Shark had decided to put money into his flexible spending account this year, so he was able to pay for the doctor's visit and medicine. Even though he has health care insurance, co-pays totally suck. Shark is now a bit poorer, but, we suppose, also a bit healthier. Stay tuned for side effects...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T07:28:00.002-06:00

So it's that time of year again, when people get dressed in green and go out to pubs and make complete fools of themselves. Sounds like an average day at my house, but at least we have an excuse on this day. Yes, it's St. Patrick's Day, and I must admit I have no idea why it's celebrated. I'm also too tired to Google it, so I'm just going to imagine that it has something to do about a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, a leprechaun, a vat of Guinness, potatoes, and an emigration to America. Get your drink on! And stay safe, ya bastards!

NYC bar bans "Danny Boy"

2008-03-07T09:52:00.004-06:00

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/06/danny.boy.ap/index.html

And this ahead of St. Patrick's Day? WTF are they thinking? I don't know jack about Irish culture, but Danny Boy is a very good song. I especially loved the rendition from Miller's Crossing.

Donor made millions on 11 dollars an hour mill job, gives to charity

2008-02-08T13:33:00.000-06:00

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20080113_Donor_built_millions_on__11_an_hour.html

When I first read about this story I was amazed. How can a guy working in a mill become a millionaire? Afterall, even though I work in non-profit, I'm sure I must make more than him a year. The more I read about him however, the more I realized that he didn't really make money from working in the mill as much as he made the money in investing in real estate property; renting them out to tenants. He also invested in the stockmarket and kept his expenses low by not having a family and buying his clothes at thrift shops. Not having a TV or paying for cable also probably helped in keeping costs down.

Now some people criticize him for hoarding all that money, and say that he must not have had a good life since he's not married. What does the guy do for fun as well, considering he doesn't even watch TV or read books? Well, he listens to CDs, hangs out with friends, and now donates to charity, what else can you ask for? Though the article did mention that he drives to the library in his old Isuzu, which I find interesting since he doesn't read books. But since he does read newspapers maybe that's what he reads there.

To me he also sounds like a hopeless romantic, having lost the love of his life at a tender age. I respect him for that. Who here has not been completely in love and been devasted by a loss or a break up? I can understand how some people can never get over such a traumatic experience. In a way that's honorable, more so than running around and sleeping with a lot of people. But who knows, maybe he did that as well, but why criticize a guy, or gal, for not getting married? Critics should cut the guy some slack. At least he's giving some of his fortunate away to charity and to the future children of America. In the end it's what you leave behind that matters, whether it's your children or a swimming pool.

Don't forget the separation of church and state

2008-02-05T11:49:00.000-06:00

Vote it!

I voted!

2008-02-05T11:16:00.001-06:00

Well, for the first time since becoming an American citizen I voted in a presidential primary. I must admit it was a bit anticlimactic, I was expecting huge crowds and balloons, but everything was sane and in order. No balloons, and no clowns either, which is nice, because clowns really freak me out. Honestly, what people hide their faces apart from pedophiles and bank robbers?

Being a real immigrant I also laminated my voting slip which I will show my children and grandchildren when they get older. This will teach them about civic engagement and how people have lost their lives for the freedom to vote and choose. Dammit voting is as American as apple pie and bass fishing! I'll also tell them that I escaped Old Europe to get away from the potato famine and religious persecution.

Anyhow, I'm proud to do my little part in the grand scheme of things. Voting is something that everybody should do, and you definitely should use it before you lose it.

Snow shoveling

2007-12-05T10:58:00.001-06:00

Shit, I'm in the wrong line of work, I should frakking shovel snow for the city.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S274209.shtml?cat=89

Apparently the foreclosure mess is screwing up sidewalk snow removal and people have to shell out:

The city of St. Paul charges $160 an hour, while Minneapolis charges $300 an hour—plus a $103 citation.

Phuck me!

Facebook advertising debacle

2007-12-03T19:24:00.000-06:00

http://blog.wired.com/business/2007/12/advertisers-snu.html

Apparently Facebook thought it would be a good idea to sell-out to advertisers. Now I've got no beef with a company trying to make some money, or even trying to capitalize on their popularity, but I disagree with their stupid scheme of having Facebook members be notified anytime their friends buy something online from the advertisers. Honestly, do you really give a phuck what or where your friend bought a pair of Nikes? It's not like we are in middle school where we wanted to be like everybody else. Grow up people.

Billo to debate Alf on Faux News

2007-11-30T11:27:00.000-06:00

Apparently having run out of guests to insult, Bill O'Reilly will debating imaginary puppets instead. Check it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFk_Mxc-ugc

Celebrity gossip blog

2007-11-28T09:45:00.000-06:00

Forget TMZ or Perez Hilton, Dlisted is where it's at! How come we can never get enough celebrity gossip? I must admit I always made fun of my sister for reading all those US Weekly magazines and People while I was reading The Economist, but now I see who was the wiser. Nobody gives a phuck about Sudan, but the fact that Britney is preggers again is big news.

Getting back to simplicity, the art of writing

2007-11-26T21:46:00.000-06:00

A Mac user friend of mine introduced me to Writeroom, a simple, full-screen writing environment that harks back to the days of typewriters: that Golden Age where writers had nothing between their typewriter and the blank page but their imagination.

Being quite jealous imagine my surprise when I saw that somebody had cloned this software for the PC, called DarkRoom. It has no bells and whistles, not even a spell checker, but who needs that when you have a trusted Webster's Dictionary by your side? In fact this software pushes you to think more clearly as a writer, which is why I love it so. The bonus is that it's free as well, but if you have some pocket change you can PayPal the creator.

The debate over bottled water and the environment

2007-08-16T13:36:00.000-06:00

So I've been following this new environmental trend on several blogs, especially the debate over the usage and reliance on bottled water versus tap water. I'm all for using tap water, I believe that bottled water is wasteful and unnecessary in areas that have access to clean tap water. Not all areas have great tap water, but I'm fortunate enough to live in one, so I use tap water for my consumption. I use a Sigg water bottle which has probably saved about 300 water bottles so far. I urge everybody to get a reusable water bottle or canteen, whether it be Nalgene or Sigg, or some alternative. In the meantime you can read more about bottled and tap water here:

http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/2007/08/its_time_to_get_off_the_bottle.php

The end of Bear Grylls

2007-07-23T12:39:00.000-06:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/23/ngrylls123.xml

Like many people I don't believe everything I see on television, but there are times when your heart just sinks, and learning that Bear Grylls staged some important moments in his show Man vs. Wild is saddening. I knew that he did some wacky stuff like jumping into flowing rivers when he didn't need to, or that he took unnecessary risks, but that he went so far as to have other people do the work for him is a big let-down. Furthermore, I knew he had a camera team with him, but I thought that they all stayed out in the wilderness together, not that they were all back in a cozy motel.

I suppose I should have listened to my gut instinct when I saw the first couple of episodes, it told me that what he's doing is just plain mad, like wringing water out of elephant dung and jumping into a bog. I shook my head at times when I saw some of the things he suggested, and real survival experts all agree that unless you are some Olympic athlete, you shouldn't attempt what Bear does because the energy expended to gain ration is warped.

A truly sad day indeed.

Muscle Milk

2007-07-16T12:10:00.000-06:00

I've recently started to drink CytoSport's Muscle Milk, a kind of high protein dietary supplement that is great for people who work out and are carb conscious. I must admit it's not half bad, a tastier and leaner version of Slimfast. I don't think it's suppose to be a meal supplement like Slimfast, but it does seem to give you a little boost after a work out, or at least it feels like it. I guess that's my product endorsement for the day. It works wonders after a treacherous hike through the wilderness.

Errrmm

2007-07-12T14:56:00.001-06:00

Wow, I just realized that I have not posted on this blog for quite some time. I do apologize to all the people who read this blog, or rather one person, I did not intentionally mean to let you down. I've just been super busy with going to Las Vegas and holding a conference in my hometown. Lots of work and it keeps me busier than hell. I shall resume my ranting soon my dear friend. In the mean time, you can think about cold beer on a hot day.

Bear Grylls vs. Survivorman

2007-06-14T12:59:00.000-06:00

Granted there is nothing I enjoy more than a good survival show and the two giants in the business are Britain’s Bear Grylls and Canada’s Les Stroud aka. Survivorman. You can catch Bear on the Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild and Les on the Science Channel’s Survivorman. Both are excellent programs and may save your life one day. I enjoy watching Bear Grylls for his absolute craziness and high tempo, running down mountains, climbing water falls, jumping into freezing lakes, and eating rotting carcasses in Africa. In fact he takes far more risks than Les, but then again he does have his own camera and expedition crew with him; whereas Les carries all his own camera equipment and is effectively alone in the wilderness. I respect Les a heck of a lot for doing that because he has to hike back and forth, expending energy, just to get enough film to make his show.

I think both of these gentlemen are excellent explorers with great survival skills, and I hope that they will continue to thrill and entertain us with what I consider a real “reality show.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRKpnkX99z0

Pvt. Murphy

2007-06-08T13:48:00.000-06:00

I love this guy:

http://www.pvtmurphy.com/

No I don't want to be your friend!

2007-06-06T11:34:00.001-06:00

I'm sorry but I really don't want to be your friend, especially since you can't seem to make up your mind of who you really are! Is your name Shane or Autumn? Yet another lame attempt to make me a Myspace pal. We all know how this goes, pretty soon they will be asking you to visit their website to see them topless or something like that. Of course you have to pay for that, or they will ask you for money some other way.

Gawker

2007-06-06T09:19:00.000-06:00

I love the Gawker. This post was brilliant:

Condé Nast Cafeteria Lays Down The Kielbasa

With the arrival of the Google Cafeteria and the New York Times new cafeteria soon to open, the glory of the Gehry-designed Condé Nast cafeteria—lauded as the apotheosis of workplace cuisine when it opened—has softened like so many spears of overcooked asparagus. The latest report, by The Amateur Gourmet, does little to rescue the fading institution's prospects. Last week the cafeteria was featuring stodgy Polish peasant food: kielbasa, pierogi, cabbage. Has the Prague Spring come to the Vogue Summer?

Has Anna Wintour been reduced to eating pierogi like some sort of Wrocław cobbler? Does Graydon Carter arrive at his Waverly Inn still reeling from the after effects of a foot-long kielbasa? Probably.

But not all is lost. Continuing the cafeteria's tradition of quirky crazy designer desserts, the only redeeming offering was a creme-filled cupcake. Quoth Amateur Gourmet: "The cupcake was a green color--was it pistachio? Or lime? It was hard to tell but one thing I know is that it was one of the best cupcakes I've ever eaten."

God I love a clean barracks!

2007-06-01T09:54:00.000-06:00

Pentagon says "nyet" to YouTube, Myspace, blogging

2007-05-16T12:25:00.000-06:00

I stumbled across this wonderful soldier blog today, Fight To Survive. I've always been fascinated with soldiers and the military life, especially what soldiers are feeling and thinking. Soldiers are more than just mindless robots as some imagine them to be, they are people as any other, with thoughts and feelings who have a damn hellish job to do. Ever since reading Colby Buzzell's blog and book "My War," I've been hooked on reading soldier blogs. I can understand that the Pentagon must ensure operational security, but most of the blogs I've read would not violate operational security any more than reading books and journals from Vietnam or World War II. In fact you can pick up books about US infantry tactics from World War II, and even the Ranger Handbook and some of the methods and tactics there are still used today.

I think that censoring soldiers' blogs and sites is wrong, especially ones that do not violate any operational security. Morale is getting kind of low, and soldiers do need an outlet to vent sometimes, and I think these sites give them that outlet. Watching funny videos on YouTube and catching up with your family on MySpace is also good for the lads on their days off. Still, it's a bit ironic that the Army has its own official YouTube and FlickR accounts, but they won't allow the individual soldier to use them now.

Prince Harry to Iraq, yes, no, maybe??? No...

2007-05-16T10:17:00.000-06:00

So is he going to Iraq or isn't he? Why can't the MOD make up its mind whether or not to send young Prince Harry to war? He's a soldier for Pete's sake, not a buffoon unwilling to accept his share of the burden. The man wants to lead his men into battle, as rightly he should. We should be proud that young men like Prince Harry are willing to defend their country, quite literally. It's dangerous over there for EVERYBODY, not just royals. If they go out of their way to kidnap lowly American soldiers, it will not be much different with Prince Harry. Of course the MOD in all their wisdom, if they decide to send Prince Harry over there, will probably embed reporters with him, tell them what unit he will be assigned to and what province. The insurgents would only have to pick up a newspaper to know where he will be.

I say if they change their mind and send Prince Harry over there, they should keep it quiet and send him over there with another unit and not tell anybody about it. Still, he should be deployed with his unit, and they should treat him like every other officer. Otherwise they should strip all military titles and uniforms from royalty, they don't deserve to wear them.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/16/iraq.harry.ap/index.html

Forget American Idol, Estonia's SUPERSTAARI is where it's at, yo!

2007-05-11T08:14:00.000-06:00

Dvids

2007-05-10T16:48:00.000-06:00

Thanks to R. Lee Ermey's show Mail Call on the History Channel, I was introduced to Dvids. Dvids stands for Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System, and is run by the US Army, so you'll get an unbiased, objective view of the War on Terror from the troops on the ground. I highly recommend logging on and taking a look at the stories compiled by the armed forces public affairs personnel.

http://www.dvidshub.net/

R. Lee Ermey motivational figure!

2007-05-10T09:25:00.000-06:00

I think I might have found the perfect motivational tool. I shall have to order one immediately. With the assistance of R. Lee Ermey I will be properly motivated to get my sorry ass into shape, as well as improve my performance at work. No doubt my cubicle mates will be overjoyed at hearing Gunny yelling, "Put some gas into it, numbnuts. You move slower than old people %*^*!"

One figure coming right up!
http://www.rleeermey.com/motivationalfigure.php

Women in the IDF

2007-05-09T20:38:00.000-06:00

From the philes...

Got asthma? Sign up now!

2007-05-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry but some of these kids should have known what they signed up for. Are today's kids just so damned gullible? And what about the parents? Nobody forces your kid to sign on the dotted line. You have to know that when your child joins the Army they will be lied to, shot at, and may be forced to kill people. It's the military, not the Boy Scouts. If you want to travel and see the world you can join the Peace Corps. You can also try to work very hard in school and get scholarships or do AmeriCorps service to get financial grants. If my child wants to join the military I will support them, but I will also let them know honestly what they are getting themselves into so that they will know all the facts. Talk to former soldiers, to veterans, and don't rely on anything that the recruiter says, in making an informed decision. If my child wants to talk to a recruiter I'm going to go with him or her, along with my wife who was in the National Guard. My whole family-in-law has been in the military as well, so they know what they are talking about.

The military is not bad, it's just people don't really know what the military's primary mission is, which is to fight and win wars. Some people are actually made for military life, they like the discipline, the rigidness, and the sense of belonging. Others do not, and are not made for the military, and consequently they will be making a mistake, a personal one, and wasting the military's time. Parents should protect their children from predatory recruiters, and young Americans themselves should not fool themselves into thinking that the military will be their sugar daddy giving them education and lots of money. As Dick Cheney said, "The reason to have a military is to be prepared to fight and win wars.... It's not a social welfare agency, it's not a jobs program."

Sweden the best place to be a mom!

2007-05-09T10:05:00.000-06:00

According to Save the Children, Sweden is the best place in the world to be a mom. I'm not surprised, Sweden is very progressive, even allowing dads to take an entire year off to care for a child. Not bad at all. Countries on the top of the list include:

1 Sweden
2 Iceland
2 Norway
4 New Zealand
4 Australia
4 Denmark
7 Finland
8 Belgium
9 Spain
10 Germany

And you don't want to be a mom in any of these countries:

131 Djibouti
132 Burkina Faso
133 Ethiopia
134 Eritrea
135 Angola
136 Guinea-Bissau
137 Chad
138 Yemen
139 Sierra Leone
140 Niger

What I find most interesting is that the United States is not scoring very high on the list, taking the 26th place.

Getting in shape sucks

2007-05-08T16:49:00.000-06:00

So I've been trying real hard lately to get in shape, but I'm finding it difficult. It's not like I'm really fat or anything, it's just that I think I'm just plain lazy. With no DI to motivate me, I keep blowing it all off, and this despite the fact that I had a very detailed work plan.

I was going to do 36 push-ups, 60 sit-ups, and run 1.5 miles every day. Instead I find myself sitting on the couch when I get home from work watching TV. This is no frakking way to live. I'm at a loss for how to properly motivate myself. Any suggestions?

Canadian Forces tribute redux

2007-05-06T18:47:00.000-06:00

As the old Billy Ray Cyrus song goes, "all gave some, some gave all."

Blackwater Redux

2007-05-02T09:55:00.001-06:00

Before You Enlist

2007-05-02T09:30:00.001-06:00

The Stephanie Miller

2007-04-30T09:04:00.000-06:00

So Stephanie Miller has been filling in on MSNBC for Don Imus. I wish she would find a permanent seat on MSNBC because she's not only attractive, she's smart and funny as well. She makes me want to be a liberal progressive.

Veto that funding bill Mr. President

2007-04-30T07:20:00.000-06:00

The President should veto the funding bill that Congress will present to him in a few days. Though I wish nothing more than to see the troops come home, this bill will not bring the troops home, and will futher endanger the lives of the troops on the ground. It is quite clear that the President is committed to Iraq, and that he will not be pulling troops out of there. This attempt of Congress to meddle in foreign diplomacy is reckless and dangerous, and it echoes the debacle in Somalia when President Clinton refused to allow commanders on the ground AC-130 Spectre gunships and Bradley armored fighting vehicles. A lot of people died needlessly in Somalia because of a lack of resolve from civilian planners and politicians. By withholding essential equipment, or the procurement of such equipment - like this spending bill will do - Congress is in effect making the US armed forces in Iraq less capable. Men and women on the ground will pay for this in blood. In comparison when Canadian Forces operate in Afghanistan, they have a massive amount of equipment and are well-funded, everything from tanks to armored personnel carriers and artillery.

You can't fight a war without the proper men and equipment, and though it is noble of Congress to want to bring the troops home, cutting off their funding will not bring them home, especially since the President is totally committed to continuing the war in Iraq. The troops lives will now be in limbo, either you completely withdraw the troops from Iraq or you must totally fund and grant them the equipment that they will need to win the war (though the war in unwinnable because there is no clearly defined end goal). The President is not going to pull the troops out, so a passing of this bill will make another Blackhawk Down scenario.

Why I'll vote for Bill Richardson for President!

2007-04-28T21:42:00.000-06:00

(Bill call me)

I truly hope Bill Richardson becomes the next President of the United States. Here's why:

1) Bill Richardson knows about illegal immigration, that's because he's been the frakking governor of New Mexico.

2) Bill Richardson knows about alternative energy sources because he's been the frakking Secretary of Energy.

3) Bill Richardson knows about politics in Washington because he's been a frakking US Congressman.

4) Bill Richardson knows about foreign diplomacy and how to actually talk to other countries without bombing them because he's been the frakking US ambassador to the United Nations. He also speaks French.

5) Bill Richardson knows about race issues because he's half hispanic.

6) Bill Richardson, has been married to the same woman for 33 years, and is a stable family man, unlike Giuliani.

7) Bill Richardson just seems like a nice guy and does not seem to be the kind of politician that would compromise his beliefs to gain votes, or flip-flop on issues.

8) Bill Richardson banned cock fights in New Mexico, so he should have no problems with the US Senate.

9) Bill Richardson recently joined California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire to create the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, a joint strategy to fight global warming. Anybody who is not afraid of the Terminator is A-okay.

10) Bill Richardson is not Hillary Clinton.

Move over Molly Sandén

2007-04-27T23:54:00.000-06:00

A few months ago I wrote about the amazing Swedish talent Molly Sandén, the 2006 Junior Eurovision Song Contest entry for Sweden. It seems that talent runs in the family as is demonstrated by her 11 year old sister Mimmi Sandén.

I find it amazing that she's singing in English as well, not her native language. Shit, when I was 11 I was probably still wearing diapers. The Sandén family is truly blessed, and I think there's one more sister. That would be one helluva a trio!

Coast Guard strikes again

2007-04-24T07:32:00.000-06:00

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/drugs.coastguard.reut/index.html

Unbelievable, 20 tons of cocaine worth $600 million dollars, that's $30 million dollars per short ton. 40,000 pounds, or $15,000 dollars per pound!

N-Word for the White Guy

2007-04-19T12:41:00.000-06:00

WAR IS A RACKET!

2007-04-18T13:09:00.000-06:00

But don't take my word for it, after all, what would I know about war? Well how about it coming from Major General Smedley D. Butler, USMC (Retired)?

http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/print.asp?ID=6021

Putin's Russia

2007-04-15T22:36:00.000-06:00

WTF Putin? I thought you had a hold on this democracy thing and now I hear that people are protesting on the streets of Moscow? Whatever happened to the good old days when politicians could just throw people into the sea?

Turkey to block "insulting" websites and the EU

2007-04-15T09:57:00.000-06:00

Turkey has for many years tried to join the EU, but their treatment of the Kurds and political repression has often prevented it from becoming a member. Indeed Turkey is quite different from the rest of Europe, if it is actually part of Europe at all, which is a matter of great debate between geographers and politicians. Needless to say Turkey's decision to block "insulting" websites is akin to China's censorship policies. If Turkey really wants to become a member of the EU, such actions must stop. Freedom of speech is one of the hallmarks of good democracy, and should not be curtailed. Still, Germany (a founding member of the EU) prohibits the display of Nazi symbols and Nazi paraphernalia, which is in its extreme form, a sort of "speech."

I don't agree with Nazism, nor do I agree with censorship. A free state should always allow its citizens to communicate openly and frequently, even if what they talk about is offensive to the state. Russia would do well to heed that lesson as well.

And back in the 90's there was Tina Cousins

2007-04-14T21:49:00.000-06:00

Indeed, like the song says, "where are you now?"

American Soldier Tribute

2007-04-14T21:39:00.000-06:00

Okay, so there are some British soldiers in there as well for good measure.

Safari snorkel

2007-04-13T09:34:00.000-06:00

I think if you are going to have an SUV you need to outfit it with a snorkel. Unfortunately they tend to be a bit expensive, but they look awesome, and you will definitely get a leg-up on those 4WD wannabees.

http://www.arbusa.com/snorkels.php

My mom's new ride

2007-04-12T14:41:00.000-06:00

Okay, I admit it, I'm half-European so I like kombis. In Sweden we call a stationwagon a kombi. I like vehicles I can stuff things into, like SUVs, but since having an SUV in Europe is economic suicide, most people drive a kombi instead. In fact some kombis have more room than your standard SUV, and they are more fuel efficient, and are lightning fast. Jealousy is my middle name. My mom is much cooler than me now, and she can get all her golf bags in the car now. Still, I have 4WD and ground clearance, so I don't always have to drive on a road hahaha.

Used books

2007-04-11T12:48:00.000-06:00

Today during my lunch hour (yes I belong to a wonderful organization that actually gives their employees a whole hour for lunch!) I visited the Old Book Barn. Now I love books, and I love used book stores. I guess treasure hunting is in my nature, and I'm quite frugal in mindset, so finding good deals makes me happy. There are books that I've found at used book stores that cost me .50 cents or $2 dollars that can be sold on the internet for $80 dollars or so because they are out of print. Not that I would ever sell them because they belong to the Library of Sharkdom. I love how books are timeless, how they can seemingly transcend the barriers of time. Knowledge, ideas, and dreams contained in books are wonderful. I don't think any book should be banned, no matter how insensitive or vulgar its content. Nobody is forcing you to read the filth after all.

I also enjoy looking at old books to see how layouts and fonts have changed over time, and the old drawings that used to be in books. Nowadays there are more pictures, but in the old days there were more diagrams and drawings which are fascinating. About the only thing that I do not like about old books is that old book smell, which sometimes smells like mold. Other than that, I could find myself in a used book store all day.

Murtha likes his submarines

2007-04-10T13:43:00.000-06:00

Visiting Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., says that he wants the US to increase the building of Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines from one a year to two.

Costing almost $3 billion dollars a piece, these subs will ensure that the US maintains domination of the undersea world. Apparently in this world where National Guard and Reserve troops are short-changed with lack of equipment and training, the hawkish democrat feels that these submarines will keep the Chinese at bay. Never mind that $3 billion dollars could ensure that the frontline troops got body armor or reinforced Humvees for Afghanistan and Iraq, or that a war with China will be economic suicide for both the US and China; it's important that defense workers in Groton have jobs.

Now don't get me wrong. Nobody loves submarines more than I do, but why spend this outrageous amount of money for attack subs when our most likely enemy will be in the littoral environment? We'd do good to buy or build the equivalent of Swedish Gotland-class submarines instead.

These submarines are so sophisticated and ultra quiet that the US Navy itself leased one for targeting and stalking practice. Sure they don't have all the capabilities of the Virginia-class, but they are lethal in the environment the US Navy would most likely find itself in the War on Terror, close to coast lines and shore. We need to maintain our advantage in weapons technology, I can understand that, but at the same time if we are truly interested in winning the War on Terror, we need to invest in equipment and training that will realistically maximize our combat effectiveness. Good boots and body armor for ground-pounders and small attack crafts for the new Riverine Squadron will probably prevent more terrorist attacks than a Virginia-class sub ever will. I highly doubt a war with China is in the immediate future, after all, if we are griping about the price of gas, imagine how much we'd gripe if all the goods we got from China would skyrocket in price?

The real reason the British sailors were taken hostage

2007-04-09T21:49:00.001-06:00

Chasing life

2007-04-09T08:30:00.000-06:00

This is an offshoot from a post I did on Bowl's blog. I've been thinking long and hard about what the meaning of life is and what I am truly striving for. I've not really come up with a good idea of what I want from life. Why do I work? To make money. Why do I want money? To buy stuff. Why do I want stuff? To make me happy? Does stuff really make me happy though? When I think about it, spending time with friends and family is what makes me happy, and I really don't have to spend money on that other than paying for transportation to get there and maybe for meals at restaurants, etc. Other than that I really don't know what else I'm striving for. The irony is that I have to spend time working, thereby spending less time with friends and family, in order to make money so that I can afford to spend time with friends and family. I sometimes wish we lived in a small village where all of us could spend time together and if we were hungry we could go hunt or gather for food, and we were not bogged down chasing the industrialized, commercialized "American Dream." Let me ask you this question? What are you striving for, what is your ultimate dream or goal?

CIA's got nothing on Walmart

2007-04-04T09:46:00.000-06:00

Do we have a new player in the intelligence biz? Forget the CIA, FBI, or NSA, let's just turn the spooks at Walmart Security loose instead! I'm sure they'd have the War on Terror wrapped up in no time, and with a cost-saving rollback too.

Guest authoring

2007-04-03T18:34:00.000-06:00

One of the greatest things about the internet is meeting new and exciting people. It's really icing on the top when those people trust you enough to allow you to be a moderator or guest author on their site, one of the ultimate forms of respect in the cyberworld. I am particularly grateful to abowlofstupid and Kang for allowing me to guest author on their blogs. I am humbled and honored to be part of their excellent sites. A big thanks!

Day three under boiler order

2007-04-01T15:02:00.000-06:00

Yes, we are still under boiler order here, but I do have a leg up on my neighbors. I have a 5-gallon Cambro to put my boiled water into. No self-respecting disaster responder would find him or herself without one.

Things we take for granted

2007-03-31T11:48:00.000-06:00

We are day two into a boiler order. Apparently the city cut into a water main and we have to boil all our water until they can test the quality. I suppose you never really realize how important clean water is, it's something all living organisms must have, and we certainly take it for granted that the water that comes out of a tap is clean and drinkable.

The boiler order has given me a greater appreciation for the plight of people in the Third World that do no have access to clean water. We've got kids complaining that they don't have a Play Station 3 here, but in Africa they don't even have clean water! Just washing your hands or brushing your teeth has become problematic. You also get a little paranoid, is the water coming out of my tap really bad?

Clean water is essential, and I can't wait until I can once again drink it from the tap or take a clean shower.

Battlestar Galactica: A New Crew In Town music video

2007-03-30T19:20:00.000-06:00

This is frakking brilliant! Well done! Bravo!

Microsoft 1978

2007-03-29T14:44:00.000-06:00

The Ideal Woman

2007-03-28T21:07:00.000-06:00

How to Write a Novel

2007-03-27T12:34:00.000-06:00

http://secretgeek.net/nonwriter.asp

Thank you SecretGeek.Net for posting that one!

Army PR campaign

2007-03-24T22:07:00.000-06:00

Looks like the US Army is in the midst of a media campaign, sharing videos on YouTube, and photos on Flickr. For the full story click here.

Army desertions spike

2007-03-23T19:53:00.000-06:00

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/23/news/army.php

It would appear that the US Army gave the wrong figures when it released how many soldiers deserted its ranks last year. Apparently the Army failed to report that 853 soldiers had not reported for duty, that's almost a whole battalion! The Army tried to downplay that desertion was not always due to wartime factors, but could be for a number of reasons like "personal, family or financial problems." Very interesting indeed.

You tired few...

2007-03-21T19:31:00.000-06:00

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2007/d20070321ngr.pdf

That's the list of Reserve and National Guard units that were recently called upon to provide augmentation to active duty units. When you think that each one of those soldiers, sailors, and airmen have families back home it really hits you. These part time soldiers will now be full-time warriors, lives will be disrupted, children's birth dates will be missed, some will have to go into debt due to pay cuts because active duty doesn't pay as much as their civilian jobs. Still, these guys and gals are serving their country, which is more than what some politicians of ours are doing.

Apple's new iRack

2007-03-19T20:12:00.001-06:00

Swedish Army desert camouflage

2007-03-19T19:55:00.000-06:00

The Swedish Army's unique zig-zag camouflage pattern is also available in a desert camouflage variety. I personally think it looks pretty cool, though I am partial to digital disruptive patterns myself.

This is Sparta!

2007-03-13T15:15:00.000-06:00

Okay my testosterone level just jumped like 100% after watching this trailer. Now I've got to go see the movie. Of course it's not historically accurate, but who really cares?

Americans in debt

2007-03-13T12:59:00.000-06:00

I heard on the news today that 41% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and few people are putting money away for savings. Even 19% of households making $100,000 dollars a year are doing the same. $100,000 dollars seems like a fortune to me, but what do I know?

Lack of budgeting and planning is one of the main reasons why people are feeling the pinch, especially when it comes to the little expenses like eating out or buying that cup of coffee in the morning. People are eating out more and more, and that Big Mac meal will set you back about $5 bucks a day, the same with the coffee, and some snacks. You can eat much cheaper if you just plan a little, but few of us do, myself included. I'm going to try to cut back on eating out so much to see if I'll save a few pennies. I'll let you know what happens.

General Pace calls gays "immoral"

2007-03-13T07:42:00.000-06:00

Marine Corps General Peter Pace is in trouble because he uttered these words: "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts."

Now gay and lesbian advocacy groups are up in arms wanting the general to apologize for his remarks. I guess my trouble with this is, why? Why should he apologize? Is anybody surprised that a Marine general finds homosexuals an affront? Honestly people, you could see this coming a mile away. And since when should freedom of speech be curtailed and censored? The general was obviously stating a personal opinion, hence the "I believe." For those saying this is hate speech I don't believe it meets that threshold. If he had said "let's kill all the gays," that would have been another matter, but he didn't. Homosexuals don't agree with a lot of things, and they have their opinions, but how come if we don't agree with them we are always the hate mongers? They accuse us of being biased and insensitive, yet at times they are the ones who cannot take an opinion or belief other than their own.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate gays, I couldn't care less where you stick it, it's none of my business. I do however think it's sad that they are going after this Marine general, because even if he does apologize, do you honestly believe that it is a sincere apology? And if this catches enough momentum no doubt he'll apologize for his "insensitive remarks," maybe attend a gay group gala and take a diversity class, but his underlying beliefs will probably not be changed.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/13/pace.gays.ap/index.html

For the families of Marines... Semper Fi

2007-03-08T21:20:00.000-06:00

Japanese tourists

2007-03-08T19:15:00.000-06:00

For their seeming lack of multiculturalism and diversity in Japan, Japanese tourists are everywhere, and Japanese people love to travel and meet new people. I don't think I've been to a single country where I did not see at least one Japanese tourist meandering down the street. What I love about meeting Japanese are their impeccable manners and the respect they pay to their hosts. They never complain and they always like everything you give them to eat: so you could give them Swedish surströmming and they would nod their heads in agreement, that indeed this is the best thing since sliced sushi.

People don't think anymore

2007-03-08T12:20:00.000-06:00

I've long since given up on people. People are just plain stupid, myself and cyber peeps not included of course, at least we think before we disagree with each other. The following story illustrates the stupidity of people. Apparently the ACLU of New Jersey is suing "the Newark public school district, saying a school's decision to hold its graduation ceremonies in a Baptist church violated a Muslim student's religious freedom." Now I'm all for the separation of church and state, the freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, etc. What really gets my blood boiling is the fact that none of the members of the public school district thought that this might be a bad idea. You can imagine the uproar if the graduation had been held in a mosque or a synagogue? And why not have the graduation in a school auditorium or a civic center? But no, let's see if we can't offend a few more people, especially since we had been warned a year before that it was inappropriate.

"The ACLU-NJ said it first complained about a West Side High School graduation at New Hope Baptist Church in 2005, but agreed not to sue when the district's legal director made assurances that the school district would avoid holding a graduation at a religious location again.

But in 2006, graduation was again held at New Hope. And the principal at the time even told graduating students that they would get two additional tickets for family and friends to go to the graduation, provided they also attended a separate religious baccalaureate ceremony for the class at a Roman Catholic church, according to the civil liberties group."

Perhaps what gets me the most is the fact that the public school district will now have to spend thousands of dollars defending itself in court, the lawyer fees will take money away from buying school books or childrens' education, etc. I guess I'm a bit upset at the NJ ACLU for suing as well, but they did tell the school district that they would sue if they held another graduation at a church, so I'll let it slide this time.

Is it too much to ask for people to have some wisdom of the common sense?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/08/church.graduation.suit.ap/index.html

Navy in Review 2006

2007-03-08T08:28:00.000-06:00

My apologies for not posting this link sooner after the New Year, I've just been too busy. I do love a good Navy fix however.

http://www.navy.mil/media/OtherMedia/YearInReview2006/

Saucy astronaut emails

2007-03-07T09:29:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the Houston Chronicle for digging up the emails!

http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/07/03/06/astromail.pdf

The Hamdog

2007-03-05T10:26:00.000-06:00

For those of you who live in Central Illinois no doubt you are familiar with the culinary delight called The Horseshoe sandwich, an open-faced sandwich made up of thick-sliced, toasted sourdough bread, with a couple of hamburger patties or ham added, which is then topped with french fries and smothered with a “secret” cheese sauce.

Though it was invented in Springfield, Illinois, there are a few restaurants in Decatur, Illinois that serves this heart attack widow maker. Of course Decatur, Georgia, not to be outdone by northerners, have created their own weapon of mass consumption, bringing us to a culinary mutually assured food coma. A big thanks to The Bullshit Observer for bringing the Hamdog to my attention. You take "a hot dog wrapped in a beef patty that is deep fried, covered with bacon, chili, cheese and onions, and served with fries on a hoagie bun topped with a fried egg." God bless America!

Gonzales to Congress, I'm too busy to bother myself with you...

2007-03-04T13:54:00.000-06:00

From Robert Novak in the Union Leader, the article at: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Robert+D.+Novak%3A+Another+Hillary+defector&articleId=65463a14-f0a4-4663-9f46-1d5189c56100

PROBING GONZALES

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has indicated he is too busy to answer letters from Democratic congressional leaders about his firing seven U.S. attorneys involved in probes of public corruption, though a lower-level Justice Department official rejected their proposals.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, House Democratic Caucus chairman, had written Gonzales two letters suggesting that he name Carol Lam, fired as U.S. attorney in San Diego, as an outside counsel to continue her pursuit of the Duke Cunningham case. Asked by Melissa Charbonneau of the Christian Broadcasting Network about this column’s report that Gonzales did not respond, Gonzales said: “I think that the American people lose if I spend all my time worrying about congressional requests for information, if I spend all my time responding to subpoenas.”

Richard A. Hertling, the acting Justice Department lobbyist, responded Wednesday, 22 days after Emanuel’s letter. He contended “the Justice Department would not ever seek the resignation of a U.S. attorney if doing so would jeopardize a public corruption case” and rejected naming Lam as a special prosecutor.

Sugar Rush is frakking brilliant!

2007-03-03T23:40:00.000-06:00

Sandi Thom

2007-03-01T09:58:00.000-06:00

A fresh face, a new talent...

Watching the world

2007-02-27T17:30:00.000-06:00

I love traveling the world, seeing other people and cultures, how things work. Since I can't always afford to travel I do the next best thing, I journey to places vicariously through various mediums; whether it be through internet TV or people simply sharing photos online. Dare to explore...

The Jesus Tomb

2007-02-26T11:50:00.000-06:00

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/02/26/jesus.sburial.ap/index.html

If there is one thing I love it's controversy. I'm definitely going to catch this documentary. Let's add some butter in the pan.

More on Prince Harry

2007-02-22T09:13:00.000-06:00

Thank goodness there is other news besides Anna Nicole Smith, like a prince going off to war. Now if the media is so concerned about Prince Harry and his safety, why do they constantly let out information like this?

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23386452-details/SAS+to+guard+Harry+in+Iraq/article.do

Prince Harry will be guarded by SAS troops, Prince Harry will be assigned this mission, Prince Harry will do this, Prince Harry will be stationed here, etc. The MOD needs to stop sharing information with the media about where Prince Harry is going, and about other security concerns. No wonder he's going to become a bullet magnet, the media has practically put him in the gallery.

My new Bates boots!

2007-02-21T17:41:00.000-06:00

I blithely took ownership of a pair of Bates Stingray Side-zip Duty Work Boots today, and I can attest that these are some of the best, most comfortable footwear I’ve ever worn. They were on sale on Sportsmansguide.com for $39.97, and since these babies usually retail on the internet for $90 bucks or so, I had to strike while the iron was hot. Deals like these are simply fabulous darling.

Volunteer firefighters

2007-02-21T14:16:00.000-06:00

I have a deep respect for firefighters, they rush in when others rush out. I admire volunteer firefighters especially because they don't even get paid for what they do; and they put their lives on hold, and sometimes they lay down their lives, so others may live. They also have a great sense of humor. I love this picture I found. You guys do know that there is a house ON FIRE behind you?!!! ahhahahaha

Fighting crime the Swedish way + The Case of the Crashed Ferrari

2007-02-21T09:14:00.001-06:00

Step 1: Arrest police officers and not criminals
Step 2: Give lenient sentences to criminals who actually commit crimes
Step 3: Victims are usually to blame for criminals committing crime against them

Sweden has one of the more "progressive" criminal justice systems in the world. Stories that inmates can watch cable TV and have PlayStations are not unheard of, and what is perhaps most shocking is that police actually pay attention and arrest people who do not place the proper garbage in the right recycling bins! Criminals are becoming more and more violent in society and police tactics remain unchanged, it’s not unusual for criminals to go in and out of jail because there is no real punishment, and sentences are light compared to American incarceration. Swedes believe strongly in rehabilitation, and we can all see how well that works by the number of people who get rearrested. According to The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet - Brå), “[T]he statistics show that the proportion of those convicted of offences that reoffend has varied a little from year to year. An average of 22 per cent of those convicted for offences between 1991 and 2000 reoffended within a year of the initial conviction. The proportion reoffending within a three year follow-up period was approximately one-third (an average of 35 per cent). This means that in slightly over half of the cases of recidivism noted within a three-year period, the first reoffence occurs within a year of the initial conviction.”

Police officers are also arrested quite frequently for just doing their jobs, like shooting an armed robber, or like the following story illustrates, for trying to prevent a speeder from killing an innocent person.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/helsingborg/story/0,2789,1005459,00.html

Apparently IT consultant Bo-Göran Sederlin was on his way to some conference in his modest Ferrari 360 Modena when he saw another Ferrari. As these things go, they just had to race and in almost a cliché they sped past an unmarked police car. The unmarked police car took off in pursuit, but since it didn't have any blue lights according to Sederlin, he thought it was a carjacker (honestly how many carjackers are there in Sweden?), but if you are driving a Ferrari I guess I can understand that. Trying to get away from the police Sederlin put the pedal to the metal and hit 300 km/h, almost 190 mph, he also drove on the wrong side of the road. The police set up road blocks but Sederlin managed to avoid them. Honestly people, if you see a phucking road block you gotta figure out that it’s the police after you! After all, this isn’t Baghdad streets we are talking about.

After a few more kilometers of pursuit the police man decided to put a stop to the car chase by ramming the Ferrari, something which police in America do all the time. I don’t blame him, Sederlin could have killed somebody with his reckless driving, and if he was so worried about carjackers he should have called the police. Don’t tell me that there isn’t a Swede without a cell phone! So the car gets slammed into the railing and the pursuit ends. Instead of thanking him as a hero for ending the pursuit, the district attorney arrests the police officer for reckless driving!!! Of course Sederlin got charged as well, but why anybody wants to be a cop in Sweden is beyond me, especially if you can get arrested for just doing your job.

Wonder Washer

2007-02-20T19:12:00.000-06:00

I would like to give an accolade to the Wonder Washer. Always being in search for a money saving device, I was quite astonished that something I saw on TV could actually work, and quite well at that. Sure it requires a lot more work (read wringing) than putting a few quarters into a laundry-o-matic, but it is well-worth the investment for any college student or poor apartment tenant who wants to save a few bucks. It's actually quite fun too watching the clothes sloshing around in the bucket as well, so kids will be easily entertained, or child-like 30 year olds like myself. I highly endorse this product, and using Tide Coldwater makes my undies smell really good, not that I smell my undies, but if I did, they'd smell pretty good. Just don't forget to wash them a few times and rinse them out between washes. Happy washing peeps!

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/wonder_washer.html

Driving on the Iraqi beltway

2007-02-19T22:04:00.000-06:00

If only my daily commute was this easy... But you can see how effective our campaign of "winning hearts and minds" is, the Iraqis are very hospitable in moving over.

Dancing at the cafe - Bande a Part (AKA Band of Outsiders)

2007-02-19T20:24:00.000-06:00

Thanks to MisterSix for digging this classic up on YouTube. Why is everything so much better in French?

Prince Harry to Iraq

2007-02-19T19:52:00.000-06:00

So Prince Harry is going to Iraq and everybody is up in arms that he will become a "bullet magnet." I've got a clue for everybody, ANY British soldier in Iraq is a bullet magnet! Come on people. I for one think Prince Harry is showing leadership, and is trying to be a good officer after minor scandals that he missed training with his troops, etc.

I also don't understand why everybody is up in arms about him going to fight in Iraq. People are saying, "oh he can't go fight because he's a royal," or "what's going to happen if he dies?" etc. I'm sorry but back in the day kings and emperors went off to war and nobody said, "oh he's too cute to go fight, or what about the monarchy?" Gustav Adolphus fought like hell and he wasn't a prince, but a friggin' king! Good on you Harry!