Well, it's new to me

The other day Mookie and I were riding along in the car, and we were discussing the number of nutcase drivers on the road. I conceived the RCI (Rectal/Cranial Insertion) Index to give an idea of just how screwed up and dangerous some of these loons are. I may give updates as we refine the system.

But of course mon'ami

The standard issue French Army Knife.

All it needs is a foot switch so you don't have to put your hands down to use it.

Thanks to INDC Journal for the pointer.

Now all I need is a Porsche and a hooker

Wife Liz headed off to Michigan this morning to deliver a new PC to oldest daughter Robyn. Her laptop went kaput, and one thing you can't live without in college these days is a computer. Since I have the credit card that allows 12 months payment with no interest, we wound up buying it here and have to take it up there. Kinda like that christmas light that wouldn't light on one side.

Of course, that still leaves me with the boy (who's working now, but still job-hunting for a 'real' job) and Mookie. So no dancing around in my underwear for the forseeable future.

XPrize models from Estes

In the comments, John mentioned that Estes is listed as a sponsor of Space Ship One's XPrize attempt. I don't know how much of a sponsor they are, but they are releasing eight flyable model rockets of the various XPrize entrants.

Courtesy of Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe, here's a look at four, and four more. Pretty cool. I'll be getting the complete collection.

Frighteningly good read

I don't know what's scarier in this story about an adventure while exploring a cave, the eerie atmosphere that the guy captures so well or the idea of squeezing through some of the passages in the photos. Either way, set aside some time and read this, it's chilling.

Major thanks to Rich for the pointer.

Where's my rubber ducky?

Jeanne (or however you spell her name) the hurricane came through yesterday and dumped mucho water on our area. This morning I have some minor flooding in the basement. Not too awful bad, but enough to have to take the day off from work to deal with it.

See you this evening after all the fun and excitement is over. Or maybe tomorrow.

For that disturbed someone in your life

How about a subscription to the Unfortunate Animal of the Month Club?

Something dreadful in the mail each month to brighten your life. I encourage you to have them delivered to your office.

They are the very best efforts I produce, mailed Priority Mail, and they will be “wrapped”, like a present from your really, really cool Aunt that you don't have. It may be packed in leaves, wrapped in an odd length of fabric, a placemat, yards and yards and yards of string, joss paper -- you just never know, and it won't be the same twice. There will be a note from the Unfortunate Animal to you, written on god-knows-what, and it's quite likely not to make a great deal of sense, or be written in verse (Unfortunate Animals are very odd creatures, after all); unwrapping it will be an adventure in a different way each time.

Blame J-Walk Blog for this one.

Volcano pictures are worth a thousand words

Mount St. Helens may erupt again.

Last time she did, here's what happened - before and after.

The rest of the photo gallery is here. Thanks to My Pet Jawa for the pointer.

Blogger Bowl '04 - week 3

In the closest game of the week, the Rockets emerged triumphant over Brendoman! That brings my record to 2-1, with two wins in a row. After Sunday's games I had the victory sewn up, and still had Terry "foot in mouth, head up ass" Glenn of Dallas playing on MNF. The Giants' Ron Dayne also scored the big goose-egg for me as he didn't play despite reports that he'd be ready for the game. On the plus side, Bret Favre, Jamaal Lewis and the Baltimore defense had monster games.

And now, for your websurfing pleasure (annoying Victor is just a bonus for me), may I present the Rocket Jones Blogger Bowl cheerleaders, the Hot Jets!!!

Lemur Girl, of... uh, Lemur Girl!
Lynn S., of Reflections in d minor!
Susie, of Practical Penumbra!
Blogoline, of Blogoline's Journal!
Dawn of Dawn Enterprises!
Stevie, of Caught In The XFire!
Margi, of Margi Lowry!
Gir, of Your Moosey Fate!
Tink, of Flitting Here and There!
Sarah, of Trying To Grok!
Helen, of Everyday Stranger!
annika, of annika's journal!
Cindy, of Dusting My Brain!
Mookie, of MookieRiffic!
Denita, of Who Tends The Fires!
Jennifer, of Jennifer's History and Stuff!
Heather, of Angelweave!
Kat, of Mostly Fluff!
Nic, of Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax!
LeeAnn, of The Cheese Stands Alone!
Big Hair, of Left & Right!
Wegglywoo, of On the Beach at the End of the World!

Go visit them, because each one is a unique and excellent read.

Next we come to the trash talking portion of the post. This week is going to be a tough game, because I'm going up against Victor's undefeated Mice of Mischief. I've got a secret weapon, I just hope it's enough.

Fully Realizing the Implications

Probably like most people, I had no true comprehension of what reincarnation really implies, until I read this bit of a story (in the extended entry):

AND it was at the hour of sunset that they came to the foot of the mountain. There was in that place no sign of life,--neither token of water, nor trace of plant, nor shadow of flying bird,--nothing but desolation rising to desolation. And the summit was lost in heaven.

Then the Bodhisattva said to his young companion:--"What you have asked to see will be shown to you. But the place of the Vision is far; and the way is rude. Follow after me, and do not fear: strength will be given you."

Twilight gloomed about them as they climbed. There was no beaten path, nor any mark of former human visitation; and the way was over an endless heaping of tumbled fragments that rolled or turned beneath the foot. Sometimes a mass dislodged would clatter down with hollow echoings;--sometimes the substance trodden would burst like an empty shell. . . . Stars pointed and thrilled;--and the darkness deepened.

"Do not fear, my son," said the Bodhisattva, guiding: "danger there is none, though the way be grim."

Under the stars they climbed,--fast, fast,--mounting by help of power superhuman. High zones of mist they passed; and they saw below them, ever widening as they climbed, a soundless flood of cloud, like the tide of a milky sea.

Hour after hour they climbed;--and forms invisible yielded to their tread with dull soft crashings;--and faint cold fires lighted and died at every breaking.

And once the pilgrim-youth laid hand on a something smooth that was not stone,--and lifted it,--and dimly saw the cheekless gibe of death.

"Linger not thus, my son!" urged the voice of the teacher;--"the summit that we must gain is very far away!"

On through the dark they climbed,--and felt continually beneath them the soft strange breakings,--and saw the icy fires worm and die,--till the rim of the night turned grey, and the stars began to fail, and the east began to bloom.

Yet still they climbed,--fast, fast,--mounting by help of power superhuman. About them now was frigidness of death,--and silence tremendous. . . . A gold flame kindled in the east.

Then first to the pilgrim's gaze the steeps, revealed their nakedness;--and a trembling seized him,--and a ghastly fear. For there was not any ground,--neither beneath him nor about him nor above him,--but a heaping only, monstrous and measureless, of skulls and fragments of skulls and dust of bone,--with a shimmer of shed teeth strown through the drift of it, like the shimmer of scrags of shell in the wrack of a tide.

"Do not fear, my son!" cried the voice of the Bodhisattva;--"only the strong of heart can win to the place of the Vision!"

Behind them the world had vanished. Nothing remained but the clouds beneath, and the sky above, and the heaping of skulls between,--upslanting out of sight.

Then the sun climbed with the climbers; and there was no warmth in the light of him, but coldness sharp as a sword. And the horror of stupendous height, and the nightmare of stupendous depth, and the terror of silence, ever grew and grew, and weighed upon the pilgrim, and held his feet,--so that suddenly all power departed from him, and he moaned like a sleeper in dreams.

"Hasten, hasten, my son!" cried the Bodhisattva: "the day is brief, and the summit is very far away."

But the pilgrim shrieked,--

"I fear! I fear unspeakably!--and the power has departed from me!"

"The power will return, my son," made answer the Bodhisattva . . . . . "Look now below you and above you and about you, and tell me what you see."

"I cannot," cried the pilgrim, trembling and clinging;--"I dare not look beneath! Before me and about me there is nothing but skulls of men."

"And yet, my son," said the Bodhisattva, laughing softly,--"and yet you do not know of what this mountain is made."

The other, shuddering, repeated:--

"I fear!--unutterably I fear! . . . there is nothing but skulls of men!"

"A mountain of skulls it is," responded the Bodhisattva. "But know, my son, that all of them ARE YOUR OWN! Each has at some time been the nest of your dreams and delusions and desires. Not every one of them is the skull of any other being. All,--all without exception,--have been yours, in the billions of your former lives."

Newsweek says about Iraq, "It's Worse Than You Think"

My suggested subtitle: "Bad News Sells More Magazines".

It's not all sweetness and light, but at the same time it's not all doom and gloom like so many of the current headlines lead you to believe.

Good news and optimistic stories from Iraq, courtesy of Winds of Change.

A minimum of fifteen pieces of Flair

Hood ornaments.

Reminds me of a true story that would be perfect for an Air Force Blue post, except that some things must never be put into writing because there is no karmic statute of limitations. You'd laugh your ass off though, it's a good one.

Thanks to Lynn S. for pointing this one out.

Television of my childhood

I saw a commercial late last night about the Action network showing episodes of the old Irwin Allen series Time Tunnel.

This is another of those series I remember watching with my dad, along with Combat, Bonanza, and The Rifleman (with Chuck Connors, who played baseball for the Dodgers - boo! - but I liked the show anyways).

So the commercial came on, and even though I haven't thought about it in years, memories of the show instantly clicked back into place. Airing in 1966 and only lasting one or two seasons, later shows like Star Trek, Quantum Leap and many others owe thanks to Time Tunnel for inspiration. I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

Enjambment free for your safety and convenience

The Joe Don Baker haiku contest was a rousing success, with forty-six entries received. Despite demands for instant gratification, annika is meditating over the winner from nine carefully chosen and brilliant finalists.

Two of them are mine. Remember when I said I didn't have the talent for poetry? I lied. Or more likely I just don't know my verse from a hole in the ground. No matter, go and read, and see the comments where annika praises me for my total lack of enjambment. That's a good thing. Trust me, I'm a poet and I know about this stuff.

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinaaaahhhhh!!!

Almost a year ago I posted recipes for two kinds of vegetarian enchiladas. I'd had to use salsa verde from a jar and speculated that it would be much tastier with homemade sauce.

Recently I found fresh tomatillos at the grocery store and picked up a pound. What follows is the recipe I used and believe me when I say it's a world of difference from that jar stuff.

Salsa Verde

Ingredients:
1lb Tomatillos
6-8 Anaheim chilies
1/2 cup onion - chopped
2 cloves garlic - minced
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp oregano

Directions:
Remove the husk from the tomatillos and wash. Slice the tomatillos into wedges. In saucepan combine everything and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Pour it into a blender and pulse to desired consistency.

Notes:
This is a 'flavor' sauce and not a 'heat' sauce, so it's pretty mild as is. Replace the chilies one-for-one with jalepeno's for extra zing. I used Anahiems, which seem to be available everywhere, instead of the roasted and peeled New Mexico chilies called for in the original recipe. I also cut back on the broth so as to make a chunkier, thicker sauce.

If you're making this strictly vegetarian, replace the beef broth with vegetable broth.

About Tomatillos - the most common description of their flavor I find is 'lemony', but they remind me of a lighter and less acidic version of regular tomatoes. When you buy them, they'll be wrapped in a loose papery shell which you peel off. Wash them well, because the inside skin is sticky and has a bitter taste before washing. With the husk off, they look like small unripe tomatoes on the outside, while the inside reminds me of a kiwi with white seeds. A little odd, but tasty.

I'm only half-joking about this

Iran is surrounded by our allies (not to mention having a population restless for revolution), and North Korea is, by anyone's definition, massively delusional and capable of anything, which makes them less than ideal for our next target in the War on Terror. Since preemption is the concept of the times, I propose a next step that is both bold and preemptive against a re-emergent threat to US security.

We should invade and conquer France.

France has been self-described as "possibly the world's first Islamic nuclear power." Sounds pretty ominous to me. Their military is better than Iraq's was (barely) although stretched woefully thin around the world. Not to mention badly underequipped. Aircraft carriers don't actually need aircraft you know, because that costs money that could be better spent paying farmers their bribes to stay home and not make trouble subsidies.

Eastern Europe (you know, the 'new' one) would be loudly cheering us on. If Spain fusses, we send three cranky WWII vets with hand grenades into their subway system and change their government. And we keep doing it until they elect one we like.

Belgium would tie itself in knots in EU red tape while it tried to figure out what to do. Face it, nobody does indignation like the French, and no matter how hard they try, the Flems and Walloons place a distant second. We can ignore them.

Britain would stay quietly neutral, but I'll betcha that Maggie Thatcher's smiling face will miraculously appear somewhere as reported in the Weekly World News.

Russia would get the message too. Maybe we could soften the reality of the situation by sending Jimmy Carter over for "discussions and consultations", with tacit approval to jail his cardiganned ass when he becomes too annoying to stand. Hell, I'd nominate Putin for the Nobel Peace Prize for that one.

Now some would argue that NATO wouldn't allow it. My response is: "what are they going to do about it?" If they actually wanted to do anything, like say, fight, they'd have to walk to get to the battle, because Europe's armies depend on US Military airlift capabilities. Commercial airliners? Threaten to drop a few Lufthansa Airbusses into the dirt and watch how quickly their fleets would be grounded for maintenance problems. That's assuming, of course, that they can get union approval for war.

Now, once that's all done and over with, we need to do something in order to show old Europe that we're not all stick and no carrot. Like moving the UN to Paris. And making Kerry our ambassador to the UN.

Like a non-lethal Darwin Award entry

Ignore the politics-related context if it helps, but visit Wizbang and enjoy the funniest story I've read in a long long time.

I don't quite go this far...

... but I also don't have a GMail account.

Thanks to Johno at the Ministry of Minor Perfidy for the pointer to concentrated electronic paranoia.*

*Note that paranoia about something does not automatically mean that you're wrong.

Personally, I think the mouse is a much more elegant solution

Fifty years ago, they were dreaming about home computers...

(in the exended entry)

Thanks to both Silflay Hraka (who also has some kick-ass nursery rhymes) and Curmudgeonly & Skeptical (who may or may not be work safe on any given day).

... and this is what they predicted the future might look like.

To be stealthy, you gotta suck

At least according to a new report released by scientists studying Dinocephalosaurus, a long-necked aquatic reptile that lived in what is now China some 230 million years ago.

"The long neck would allow it to approach prey without the whole body becoming visible," Olivier Rieppel of the Field Museum in Chicago, a co-author of the report, said in a telephone interview.

Which is good (for the Dinocephalosaurus, not the fish), but it may have done even better than that. Ever notice how when you try to catch or swat certain insects, they seem to know and escape at the last second, even if you sneak up on them? Some insects have organs that sense air pressure, like the wave of air that arrives a split second before the rolled up newspaper. Fish have that ability too, and water, being much more dense than air, telegraphs the pressure wave even more noticably (try it in a swimming pool or bathtub, you'll see what I mean). So how did Dinocephalosaurus solve that little problem?

Michael LaBarbera of the University of Chicago, a co-author of the report, said the rib-like bones along the side of the neck may also have played a role in hunting.

Those bones give the neck some stiffness, Rieppel explained. It could flex, but not like a snake.

According to LaBarbera, contraction of the creature's neck muscles could have rapidly straightened the neck and splayed the neck ribs outward.

That would have greatly increased the volume of the throat, allowing the animal to lunge forward in the water at prey. Ordinarily, lunging through water creates a pressure wave that a fish can sense, allowing it to flee. But the researchers said that by suddenly enlarging its throat Dinocephalosaurus could, in effect, suck in and swallow its own pressure wave, giving it the ability to strike without warning.

The original Big Gulp. Nature does some amazing things.

What's wrong with this picture?

The owner of the Florida Panthers professional hockey team will lose an estimated 10 million dollars by shutting down for the entire season. If they played, his losses would be somewhere around 18 million dollars.

How freaking stupid does the NHL players union have to be to not understand that there's a serious problem if the owners are better off financially with a lockout? Oh, they'll lose money all right, but they'll lose less money.

Vultures fighting over a corpse.

Quick!

Jump over to Flying Space Monkey Chronicles and help him reach his goal of a half-million hits by today! Now!!! Note the exclamation points!!!!! Hurry!!!!!!!!!!

Inspired by annika and Victor

I don't have the talent to create poetry beyond the occasional dirty limrick, so I'll link to some twisted stuff instead.

Courtesy of columnist Lincoln Spector:

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Half a gig, half a gig,
Half a gig all spent,
Into the upgrade from hell
Went the department.
All the new features now!
All that they have sent.
Into the upgrade from hell
Went the department.

Edgar Allen Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, eyes too bleary,
Over messages most eerie, errors that would not compute-
Windows, and I now must sum up, would not run or even come up,
Not a desktop would it drum up; operating system mute.
Cryptic message on my screen and in all else Windows was mute.
OS sick and most acute.

Ernest Lawrence Thayer

It looked extremely rocky for the Mudville Corp. that day;
The office suite was sour and Paint's colors all were gray.
So when Cooney needed tech support, and got that old dial tone,
He hoped that mighty Casey would be answering the phone.

But first came a recording, and he knew just what to do;
He listened to that little voice, and then pressed number Two.
That little voice returned again, and told him of his fate,
But Cooney knew just what to do and so he pressed the Eight.

Those are mere snippets, there's lots more to enjoy. In fact, click on the little "past articles" link on that page, and be prepared to laugh out loud at computer geekdom's version of Dave Barry. I especially loved his Shakespearian version of Customer Support - The Tragedy of DSL.

Uh Huh!

Check out Google!

Another example of the Internet Community in action

While this is not even close to the scope of the CBS story, this one's been going on quite a bit longer. A group of collectors over on the alt.binaries.pictures.eroctica.vintage newsgroup have been having a grand ol' time for several years, trading old postcards and scanning girlie magazines from way back when. I visit occasionally, and contribute once in a blue moon, and you've seen some of their work here on Rocket Jones in various pinups and book covers. There's some real historical knowledge there, as well as a few inevitable trolls and nitwits.

So anyways, a while back someone got curious about a specific series of photographs taken at a location that's come to be known as the "spider pool". There's a picture (safe for work) in the extended entry, along with the rest of the story.

What you see here is the best known picture that gives the spider pool it's name. The one here is reduced in size by 2/3 for the bandwidth impaired, if you're so inclined I'll tell you where to get the original in a moment.

There are a lot of pictures, and a lot of versions of the same pictures on the net, that were taken around the Spider Pool. At least one of the models has been identified, and various clues such as hair style and such give a time frame of late 40's to mid 50's.

The group got to wondering, just where exactly was the Spider Pool located?

Some educated guesses were made (like I said, there's serious knowledge among these folks), and as the group batted around ideas and dissected clues in the photographs like the topography in the background, a general consensus was reached about the vicinity of the Spider Pool. Someone got hold of a topographic map, and eventually a road that seemed to fit the evidence was tracked down. Unfortunately, that lead didn't pan out - it's not disproved, just 'not likely' at this time. So the search continues. It's very possible that the Spider Pool doesn't even exist any more.

This kind of historical sleuthing fascinates me. I'm not involved at all other than as a spectator (and this post now), but I'm enjoying the discussion and discovery process as it goes on. Various leads are being followed besides the terrain and neighborhood clues, including a search for the models themselves or possibly someone who remembers the actual place. The title of the picture above suggests that it may have originally come from a magazine called Exotique.

And now, thanks to a nice lady named debi, there's a blog dedicated to the mystery of the Spider Pool and the search for it. Check it out, but be aware that a lot of the photos there contain nudity.

Any Southern Californians out there wanna take a swing at identifying the locale?

The presence of rats automatically lend a certain elan

Victor knows how to hijack a comments section.

After annika blows off her Poetry Wednesday, Victor jumps in and declares Joe Don Baker Haiku day in her stead.

I contributed, you should too. Rumor has it there's prizes and everything. Woot!

I hate when this happens

There you are on a beautiful spring day, having a picnic. Fresh air, good food, great company, and then...

(in the extended entry)

Darn, her fried chicken was pretty tasty too.

India launches satellite dedicated to education

India has placed EDUSAT into orbit. The satellite has twelve transponders dedicated to educational programming, and will provide coverage to India's vast rural areas.

Using their Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F01 - they need serious help naming their rockets), they sucessfully boosted the satellite into orbit on Monday.

From a statement released by the Minister for Human Resource Development:

''The very fact that a dedicated satellite has been put in space for educational purposes symbolises a national resolve to spread learning across the length and breadth of this country."

Congrats India!

Another Icon passes

It's a sad day for us Cult Cinema buffs. Film maker Russ Meyer has passed away at age 82. Best known for his trademark well-endowed female leads and plenty of nudity, his movies stand up to the cheesy test of time and are still lots of fun to watch.

Thanks Russ, I'll watch something in your honor this week.

Five questions for bloggers

From Spot On, via Dean Esmay:

1. Why did you start a blog?

2. Do you have a blogmother/blogfather?

3. Has it helped/hurt/had no effect on your professional life?

4. Do your 'real world' friends know that you blog?

5. Do you have a blog crush?

Leave your answers here in the comments, go to Karol's place and leave 'em in there, or post them to your place with a trackback. I'm easy.

Health news and the joke it triggered in my mind

Walking may protect elderly men from dementia.

Elderly men who are sedentary or walk less than a quarter of a mile per day are nearly twice as likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's disease compared to men who walk more than two miles per day.

Anyway, the headline made me think of this joke (in the extended entry because of indelicate language):

A man takes his wife in to see the doctor, and they're discussing the test results afterwards.

"Well," says the doctor, "I've narrowed it down. Your wife either has AIDS or Alzheimers."

The guy looks puzzled and asks, "So what do I do now?"

The doctor says, "Go for a long drive this weekend, and drop her off about 10 miles outside of town. If she makes it back home, don't fuck her."

I'm still partial to MaryAnn myself

Most of us remember her as Ginger from Gilligan's Island, but Tina Louise has had a decent career in Hollywood (translation: she hasn't starved for lack of acting roles, though there are rumors of a porn movie or two in her filmography).

Of course, it helps to look this good in a toga (in the extended entry).

Hello, God? I need a favor...

Please smite that stupid asshole Jimmy Swaggart.

There's good news too

Indonesia is the largest Islamic nation in the world, and they've just held peaceful democratic elections. Thanks to Simon for pointing that out.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, there's another bunch of good news that you just don't hear about. Thanks to Winds of Change for this one.

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinaaaahhhhh!!!!

Last night I experimented with a Thai-inspired vegetable dish. Yuck!!!!

You should thank me for not posting the recipe.

Reduced to tears, and my sides hurt too

This is the funniest thing I've read in a long long time, if you follow politics via blogs. Oh lord, don't miss the comments, they're the best part!

Thanks to Q and O for pointing this one out.

Ripple Fire*

Victor jumps into the cheerleader wars with both feet by introducing the Hot Rats. To be honest, the first thing I thought of was Frank Zappa (Rat Tomago was an instrumental piece of his), then this month's cover to Mad Magazine (issue #446, scroll down and click it to see), and only then did the "awwww, so cute" moment hit me. I dig a rat named Leather though. Good juju.

Kalashnikov Vodka. The only way it'll be available in California is if there's less than 10 shots in a bottle.

Q and O transmogrifies itself into a portal for all things neolibertarianistic. Adjust your blogrolls and hang on for a wild ride. If these guys aren't already a daily read for you, then you're really missing out on something special.

I've been getting to Captain's Quarters via Q and O for quite a while now, it's time to add him to my blogroll.

Also new to the blogroll is Interested Participant. Apparently I've been on his blogroll for quite some time, but I'm a lazy and unobservant bastard (just ask my wife).

InstaPundit finally got the word and is now providing a PDA-friendly version. Yay!

Imagine keeping a secret for over 50 years. That's what this rancher did, quietly letting archeologists work in a canyon on his land that contained the remnants of an ancient Amerind civilization.

Yoni sent a nice email asking for a link and a mention for his blog, where the focus is college basketball. All you SportsBlog junkies can also add his site to your daily visit list.

No link here, just because. Madonna calls for world peace, french kisses Pope. Rumor has it that Britney is pissed because she was upstaged again.

*Ripple Fire is a term used by the military when several rockets are fired sequentially in a short period of time.

It's "Be Kind to Monitors Week"

Please, make sure you put down the beverage before going here. Warning: may be unfunny to the Rather humor impaired.

I'd do the happy dance, but...

... that's what I have cheerleaders for! This week the Rockets emerged victorious in their Blogger Bowl matchup against Vehement Spittle, evening my record at 1-1.

Baltimore's defense came up big, Brett Favre, Isaac Bruce and Jamaal Lewis all had solid games, and for the second week in a row everyone on the roster (including the bench) scored points.

The score might have been closer, but my worthy opponent failed to start a wide receiver for some reason, perhaps he was distracted by the Hot Jets cheerleaders? I know I would be.

The best cheerleading squad in all of fantasy football:
Blogoline, of Blogoline's Journal!
Big Hair, of Left & Right!
Wegglywoo, of On the Beach at the End of the World!
Margi, of Margi Lowry!
Gir, of Your Moosey Fate!
Tink, of Flitting Here and There!
Sarah, of Trying To Grok!
Helen, of Everyday Stranger!
annika, of annika's journal!
Cindy, of Dusting My Brain!
Lemur Girl, of... uh, Lemur Girl!
Lynn S., of Reflections in d minor!
Susie, of Practical Penumbra!
Mookie, of MookieRiffic!
Denita, of Who Tends The Fires!
Jennifer, of Jennifer's History and Stuff!
Heather, of Angelweave!
Kat, of Mostly Fluff!
Nic, of Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax!
LeeAnn, of The Cheese Stands Alone!
Dawn of Dawn Enterprises!
Stevie, of Caught In The XFire!

Next week I'm up against Brendoman.com, who has a formidable team. I have a tip for him though: No matter how proud you are of it, naming your team after Soy Sauce is wussy, m'kay?

But save the sauce, it'll go good with your ass when I hand it to you next week. On a plate.

Free, to a good home

The weather is turning cool in the evenings, so it's time to start thinking about the gardens again. This fall I want to get rid of my last rose, but it's just too beautiful to just dig up and throw away. Here's a picture showing the blooms. She's a climbing rose, and as long as you keep snipping the spent blooms she keeps going with waves of buds through to late summer. I prune her back hard every fall, and by the next summer she's climbed her way back up the trellis and reaches 8'-12' feet tall. She's touchy about black spot, like most roses, but a weekly spray of orthonex keeps her looking great.

If someone in the metro DC area wants this rose, I'd be happy to give her to you. I'll prune her back and deliver bare root sometime before November so you can get her settled in before frost. The sooner the better.

One way or another, she's outta here because I need to clear the spot she's in, and I don't have a good place to transplant her to. Here's your chance to pick up a showstopper of a climber. Let me know in the comments or email me, either way, because I'd really like to find her a good home.

Covered like a Jimmy Hat

Just in case it ever comes up, my pimp name is:

You can get your own personal pimp name here. Props to Matt Pimp Daddy M. Silk for the holla.

Miss Hockey

Or is that Miss Hockey?

(in the extended entry)

Something you didn't know about me

I was Vice President of the Junior Anarchist Club in high school.

I almost forgot...

Happy Birthday to Pixy Misa, head honcho of all things Munuviana. I hope you have/had a wonderful day.

Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day!

You thought I was kidding? Aarrrrrrgh.

Seems right somehow

Salt and pepper.
Peanut Butter and jelly.
Ham and eggs.
Pirate and rocket launcher, natch.

So's this

Aye matey!

(in the extended entry)

Buried treasure found just in time for Talk Like A Pirate Day

How about a complete Jimi Hendrix concert filmed in 1968 in Stockholm, Sweden?

That meets my definition of buried treasure.

Sidebar stuff - Rocketry Related

Some changes been happening over on the right column the last few whiles. Some new folks added (Yay!), including a section for online rocketry vendors I trust. Look under "Cream of the Crop" and believe me, you can't go wrong with these three guys. Of course there are others I patronize, but these three are tops.

In fact, because I'm such a linking fool, here they are in the main column too:
Pratt Hobbies
Vertical Force Rocketry
Magnum Rockets, Hobbies & More

There's also a new link to the NowHybrids site, which is the place to learn all about hybrid rocket motors. Nitrous, baby! That's right, I pass gas for fun.

Also, it's been there a while, but John Coker's Intro to Rocketry is an outstanding place to become familiar with my hobby. Like I say:

So I suppose a goodnight grope is out of the question?

Thanks (I think) to Glenn (this link not safe for work) for pointing out this site. WWJD = Who Would Jesus Date?

Dating to Save People from Hell (this link is safe for work).

Be especially sure to check out the 10 dating tips.

We haven't had a BDSM post in a while

These lyrics always struck me as more than a little kinky:

PUPPET MAN
Fifth Dimension

Baby, baby you know it's true
I'm a puppet just for you
I'll do anything you say
I won't have it any other way
Take my heart and take my soul
Giving you complete control
If you wanna see me do my thing
Pull my string, pull my string
Puppet man, puppet man

Baby, baby I'm your sweet pet
Just your personal marionette
Wind me up and let me go
don't you know I'm a one-man show
Raise your finger and I'll perform
I'll cracker Jack till the crack of dawn
If you wanna see me do my thing
Pull my string
Puppet man, puppet man

Baby, baby I'm more than you need
Satisfaction guaranteed
Any time you feel uptight
I'm at your service
Morning, noon and night
Do what you want me to
I'm a puppet just for you
If you wanna see me do my thing
Pull my string
Puppet man, puppet man

Dodging bullets from Ivan

Hurricane Ivan reached our little corner of the world this afternoon and evening and immediately started raising hell. Literally dozens of tornadoes spawned off and tore through the area, and at one point the weatherman was warning folks to just assume that every cloud rotation on the radar was on the ground.

At least one was referred to as the "Dale City" tornado, which is where we live. It passed within a mile of us, to the east. Liz had the kids ready to go to the basement on her say-so. Me? I was napping on the couch, I assume she would've woke me up too. Then again, maybe she upped my insurance recently without telling me...

Round two of Ivan is almost upon us. Happy happy, joy joy.

Misery loves company

Japanese baseball players have voted to strike despite last-minute attempts to negotiate a settlement. The players want to postpone for one year the merging of two teams in the Pacific Division, which would result in an imbalance between the divisions (the other division would have six teams). Also, approximately 100 players and front office workers would lose their jobs. Owners maintain that the Kintetsu Buffaloes are losing $36 million a year and need to be merged with the Orix Blue Wave.

This is probably the most polite strike I've ever heard of. Both the player union rep and the owners have come out and apologized to the fans, and the league commisioner has stepped down for not being able to avert the strike.

Oh yeah, the strike only affects weekend games. All baseball during the week will continue on schedule.

No such thing as "Case Closed"

Cannibal, yes. Murderer? Maybe not. Desperate people go to extreme lengths to survive, and Alfred Packer always insisted that he only killed one man in his expedition of six, and that it was in self-defense.

Now a museum curator has used archeology and advanced forensics science to show that Packer may have been telling the truth 130 years ago.

Update: According to the first link above:

The University of Colorado at Boulder named their student cafeteria The Alfred Packer Memorial Grill, apparently as a derisive statement about the food served there.

Now I want BBQ for lunch...

File under: "Wish I had thought of that"

Thanks to Triticale for the link to this writeup about MicroSoft Forger. Talk about being responsive to the needs of today's user...

Hummers are for sissies

Now this is a truck for real men. According to the company, it's the largest production pickup truck available. According to owners, there's no correlation between the size of the vehicle and the size of their penis.

Actual rocket content? Could it be?

Yep, I'd kind of gotten away from it for a while, but look for some real rocketry related posts coming up.

NFL Fashion Show

Frinklin provides a fun look at the best and worst looking NFL uniforms. Don't miss the link to his college rundown too.

Raise Hell Johnny, wherever you are

Johnny Ramone succumbs to cancer. Damn.

Ready, Set, Slut

To be honest, a lot of guys wish more women would take this advice. To be brutally honest, the ladies have got more sense than we do (dammit).

Women's Hockey

Welcome to the premier site of women's hockey on the web! I am pleased to introduce the new home of the women's hockey web pages at www.whockey.com.

Just in case you're going through early withdrawal pangs.

Gonna miss you sweetie!

Mookie has decided to hang up the ol' blog jammies. Trust me, she's not kidding when she claims to be short of time to do everything. She just had to drop Algebra III/Trig at school because there wasn't enough hours in the evening to do the homework after Statistics and Physics, plus she's doing the full Drama curriculum and what amounts to Drafting 101 and Carpentry 101.

There was Mookie-Music coming from my stereo speakers

To quote Piper Laurie from Carrie: "... and I liked it!"

she said she found someone who's gonna hold her hand
she said she found someone who's gonna understand
she don't need nobody to be her man
she don't need nobody to be her man

she has a girlfriend now
she has a girlfriend now
she has a girlfriend now she said
"guys don't do no more for me"
-- Reel Big Fish

Fire Engines

In "Ted's Universe", Fire Engines would be about twice as big, have 4-foot wide tracks instead of wheels and a big honkin' snowplow blade on front. If you can't hear the sirens over your freakin' stereo, then they'll either move you themselves or go right over the top. I'd pay money to see that.

Taking a step into policy-land (since I'm fantasizing here), if you do get injured while being "displaced" by an emergency vehicle, then emergency help would be sent - AFTER - the original call is handled. If you're too stupid to get out of the way of a hootin' and screamin' behemoth bearing down on you, then it shouldn't be a priority to save your miserable contribution to the gene pool.

No, I'm not in a bad mood. Why do you ask?

Remember that 3 Stooges bit where Moe would knock Larry and Curly's heads together?

I watched the World Cup finals last night between Canada and Finland, and between the first and second period they interviewed the head of the players union and the owners representative.

Millionaires arguing with millionaires over who gets a nickel extra before they collectively destroy the league. At least the owner's guy had the decency to acknowlege that this was going to hurt people like concessionaires and ushers, rink workers and back office personnel (the scalpers! who's thinking about the poor scalpers?!?!? ... sorry). When that was mentioned to the player's rep his response was basically "the owners are trying to screw the players". Self-centered bastards. Not that I'm sympathetic to the owners either. Both sides refuse to budge, and I'm so frustrated that I just want to knock heads and pound some perspective into their thick skulls.

Here's an idea: top salary = $4M a year, minimum salary = $1M a year. Teams have salary cap and salary floor (minimum required). Owners guaranteed a profit. Ticket prices are reduced and capped. Extra money; $1M a year to player pension fund (increase if it's already more), and increase advertising and youth hockey outreach programs. Hey, get the NASCAR people in there to pump some life back into hockey.

Silly? You bet. I'm no expert, I don't even play one on the internet. I'm just a pissed off fan.

O Canada!

The Finns played 'em tough, but Canada wins the World Cup of Hockey, 3-2. Great game.

Mmmmmmmmm redux

Apricot preserves on whole-wheat Ritz crackers. Yowza!

Ritz cracker blogging, how low can you go?

T-Mobile

I'll never own any of their products or use their services, just because their commercials insult my intelligence and piss me off.

Getting older is a bad rap

I said "Yo,"
I said "Yo,"
I said "Yo, yo, yo!"
You be getting' older -
Who be gettin' older?
YOU be getting' older!
What?
What?

Even though she's back in Michigan at school, she's grounded.

Blogger Bowl 2004 - Week 1

Wow, week 1 is over and annika whooped me like a red-headed step child! It should have been closer, but realistically I needed Bret Favre to have a career game to pull it out. And who'd've thought Jamaal Lewis would end up with only 59 lousy yards against the Browns, eh?

On the plus side, I didn't suffer the worst drubbing of the week (administered by Victor) and I still have the best damn cheerleading squad going.

Let's hear it for the Hot Jets!!!

annika, of annika's journal! (yes, that annika. It shows her good taste, my good sportsmanship, and you're just jealous because I've got cheerleaders. Neener neener.
Cindy, of Squipper!
Lemur Girl, of... uh, Lemur Girl!
Lynn S., of Reflections in d minor!
Susie, of Practical Penumbra!
Mookie, of MookieRiffic!
Denita, of Who Tends The Fires!
Jennifer, of Jennifer's History and Stuff!
Heather, of Angelweave!
Kat, of Mostly Fluff!
Nic, of Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax!
LeeAnn, of The Cheese Stands Alone!
Dawn of Dawn Enterprises!
Stevie, of Caught In The XFire!
Emma, of Miss Apropos! (have faith, she'll be back)
Margi, of Margi Lowry! (the artist formerly known as Emma)
Gir, of Your Moosey Fate!
Tink, of Flitting Here and There!
Sarah, of Trying To Grok!
Blogoline, of Blogoline's Journal!
Big Hair, of Left & Right!
Wegglywoo, of On the Beach at the End of the World!
Helen, of Everyday Stranger!

Looking ahead to next week, when I face Vehement Spittle. He was about as pathetic ineffective as I was this week, so I'm looking for a hard fought and competitive matchup next week.

HA! I'm gonna stomp him like roaches fleeing a burning dumpster! You're going DOWN slobber-boy!!!

Who am I missing? - updated

A while back I talked about PDA-compatible blogging (part one and two), and some folks took the idea and ran with it. Here's a list of those blogs that I download and read daily:

Off Wing Opinion
Flying Space Monkey Chronicles
Simon World
DFMoore
Chris Hall's Spacecraft
Jennifer's History and Stuff

Anyone else? If you're wondering about daily hits, well the download itself doesn't count, but I find that I visit most of these sites in the evenings to follow up on interesting links that I found while reading the PDA version.

If your site, or one you know of, offers a PDA version, let me know in the comments. Thanks muchly.

Everyone knows someone they could send these too

Electronic greeting cards, with a little twist (of the knife).

Another Space News Resource

The Spacearium isn't updated as often as Space.com, but it's still a pretty cool place to find information about all things space.

And since I'm recylcling links today, here's a massive link collection about life, the universe, and everything.

More fun fonts because fonts are fun!

Kat's Fun Fonts!

Here's an old post of mine with more font links.

Talk to me, people - Hockey Whoopass Jamboree update

I'm getting lots of suggestions from folks about the Jamboree and what to do if the NHL tanks the season. I think Victor suggested the ECHL first, and because I'm most familiar with it and it has the largest spread of teams I thought that was a good idea. But other good suggestions have come up. So we'll hash it out in the comments, which way to we go with this (assuming the bastards NHL doesn't pull its collective head out).

1. ECHL

2. AHL (anyone remember the Baltimore Skipjacks? *sniff* I loved those guys)

3. Derek's Rec League

Also, welcome to Matt Navarre of Bad State of Gruntledness (Dallas Stars) and Wendy from Adventures of MomLady (Philadelphia Flyers) to the Jamboree.

The other players are:

VegasBaby - Calgary Flames
Derek - Colorado Avalanche
Catt - Pittsburg Penguins
Jenn - Colorado Avalanche
Heather - St Louis Blues
Dr Funk - Ottawa Senators
GEBIV - Buffalo Sabres
Victor - Washington Capitals
Helen - Dallas Stars
Daniel - Atlanta Thrashers
Gir - Calgary Flames
Pogo - Calgary Flames
Cindy - Montreal Canadiens
Frinklin - Vancouver Canucks
RP - New York Rangers
Tricia - Atlanta Thrashers
Nic - Washington Capitals
Kin - Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Ted (yours truly) - San Jose Sharks

Wanna play? It's easy, click here for details.

Mmmmmmm

Those new butter & garlic Ritz crackers? Yowza!

Birthday Present

Maybe I'm just easy to please. I had fond memories of an early Ralph Bakshi animated movie called Wizards, and when it was recently released Mookie got it for me for my birthday.

Like I said, maybe I'm just easy to please, because I thought it held up well. Nobody would ever mistake this for great cinema, and what some people consider weaknesses I found to be strengths. You'll recognize some similarity of style with Bakshi's later Lord of the Rings, and it's somewhat reminiscent of Vaughn Bode's Cheech Wizard comics.

Wizards features some stunningly creative graphics to tell the story. In fact, the biggest disappointment are the conventionally animated portions, because it's pretty damn poor. Not that the story is any great shakes either. There are some funny bits though.

One of my favorites is when Elenor is being held by the fairies, and the fairies are pissed. A monster shows up and starts to raise hell.

Guard: "Uh, Miss? You'd better do something about that thing."

Elenor: "It'd be better if you release me and we all just run away."

I'm not going to talk about the plot, except to say that it's not as bad as some claim.

My suggestion, if you see this, is to just go with the flow. Appreciate the movie for what it is, and don't expect too much. It helps to be easy to please, I guess.

Peace.

I feel their pain

Remember when I posted the link about these guys? A group of radio control hobbyists who built a scale B-52; 300+ pounds, 27 foot wingspan, 8 working miniature jet engines. So very impressive.

It crashed. Before, during, and after video and pictures here.

Hockey World Cup - Canada vs Finland

Canada over Czech Republic, 4-3 in OT. What a game!!!!

Combined Forces

That's the title of the latest release from local independent rap artists DJ Ragz and Headrush. I was gifted a copy of the CD and it's in heavy rotation during my daily commute. Old school yet innovative, if you get a chance to pick this up*, I recommend it.

*I don't see it in the 'store' yet at the linked site, but they do have the earlier Blind Opticz disk.

Today

I'm not "getting over it". I'm not "moving on".

I drive past the Pentagon each and every work day. People I worked with have had to take the anthrax antidote. My mail at work had to be irradiated before I could open it.

The uncertainty and fear of that unforgettable day are gone. Even if I don't know specific faces, I know in a general way who the enemies are. I also understand that they want to hurt my family, and the more brutal the method the better in their eyes.

I mourn every innocent life lost, and I celebrate every terrorist death, although none of them can die slowly enough to satisfy me. I also rejoice in the fact that for every victim murdered, for every soldier that makes the ultimate sacrifice, many many more of them have died. They may be many, with new volunteers recruited every day, but attrition is on our side.

We are winning.

I'm going to spend today with my wife and kids. We're going to do ordinary things. Not because we want to go back to the obliviousness of the pre-9/11 world, but because we refuse to let those bastards take even a single day of our lives away from us. That's part of winning too.

A different kind of countdown

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

Happy Ending

They're beginning to think they can salvage most of the Genesis mission.

ECHL anyone?

It's not looking good for the NHL season as the owners and players broke off talks once again. The CBA expires on the 15th, so if they don't get it done right now, the season is impacted.

As per several suggestions (sadly, they were probably meant as a joke at the time), here's the website to the ECHL. There are plenty of teams there to choose from (left sidebar), should anyone want to go to Hockey Whoopass Jamboree Plan 9 (you knew it had to be Plan 9, this is Rocket Jones after all).

And since I'm the original eternal optimist, welcome to yet another Calgary Flames fan who's joined in the Jamboree. Say hello to VegasBaby!

She joins these hockey fans already playing banging their heads against the wall:

Derek - Colorado Avalanche
Catt - Pittsburg Penguins
Jenn - Colorado Avalanche
Heather - St Louis Blues
Dr Funk - Ottawa Senators
GEBIV - Buffalo Sabres
Victor - Washington Capitals
Helen - Dallas Stars
Daniel - Atlanta Thrashers
Gir - Calgary Flames
Pogo - Calgary Flames
Cindy - Montreal Canadiens
Frinklin - Vancouver Canucks
RP - New York Rangers
Tricia - Atlanta Thrashers
Nic - Washington Capitals
Kin - Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Ted (yours truly) - San Jose Sharks

Wanna play? It's easy, click here for details.

Quotable

"It is high time the mainstream media be held to at least the minimum standards expected of competent bloggers, isn't it?"

Dean Esmay, in the comments over at Q&O.

Unclear on the concept

We've got the one, Mookie, still at home, but our son is back from the Navy and temporarily staying with us. Oldest daughter is home from college for the weekend, so for the first time in quite a while we've got a full house again.

I'm really looking forward to experiencing this 'empty nest syndrome' that I keep hearing about.

UN Election Monitors in Florida - Response received

Back in July, Stephen at Hold the Mayo wrote about the story where some nitwits in Florida (don't blame me, I voted for Gore and Buchannan) wrote the UN and asked for international election monitors to ensure a fair election.

I agreed with Stephen that this was enough to warrant a letter to my Congressmen. Today I got a response from Representative Tom Davis, VA 11th. Here's a couple of excerpts:

Under no circumstances do I believe we require international observers to validate our elections. America, while not perfect, has long maintained the lead in freedom and democracy. Furthermore, I am outraged at the notion that other members feel we require foreign nationals to conduct fair elections.

I have personally gained an invaluable understanding of foreign governments by serving as an international observer during their elections. Nonetheless, the spirit in which international observers were called for in this instance was cynical and uncalled for; and I do not support it.

Besides, even the best intentioned election monitors can be duped and made to look foolish. Isn't that right, President Carter?

A different kind of countdown

You do realize that these are top posted each day, don't you? You need to scroll down to see the new stuff, but you knew that already. Right?

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

Fresh Frozen Meat

Say hello to Derek, a Colorado Avalanche fan, and latest member of the Hockey Whoopass Jamboree. Woot!

Ya know, y'all ought to be linking to each other (me included). I've got to do some sidebar maintenance soon.

So now, the Jamboree players are:
Catt - Pittsburg Penguins
Jenn - Colorado Avalanche
Heather - St Louis Blues
Dr Funk - Ottawa Senators
GEBIV - Buffalo Sabres
Victor - Washington Capitals
Helen - Dallas Stars
Daniel - Atlanta Thrashers
Gir - Calgary Flames
Pogo - Calgary Flames
Cindy - Montreal Canadiens
Frinklin - Vancouver Canucks
RP - New York Rangers
Tricia - Atlanta Thrashers
Nic - Washington Capitals
Kin - Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Ted (yours truly) - San Jose Sharks

Wanna play? It's easy, click here for details.

Nog Watch* - breaking news

According to intrepid cub reporter Anonymous Kyle, he received a hand-delivered note announcing the "possibility" of cleaning of the "refrigrator" [sic] tomorrow.

Breathlessly, Kyle continues:

the nog is in jeopardy...

*Wondering what the hell I'm blathering on about? Read the beginning of the saga here, and continuing episodes here and here (and many many more besides).

Fighting Ignorance Since 1973

(It's taking longer than we thought)

That's the banner for Straight Dope, a wonderfully fun and funny page chock full of everything you ever wanted to know but probably never thought to ask.

Thanks to Blogslut for pointing this site out to me.

Another vulnerable point of attack

Spammers + Hackers = Uh oh.

New Worm Travels by IM

Paul Roberts, IDG News Service

A new version of the worm that spread from infected Microsoft Web servers in June has been identified and is using instant messages and infected Web sites in Russia, Uruguay, and the United States to spread itself, according to one security company.

Researchers at PivX Solutions of Newport Beach, California, have intercepted new malicious code closely resembling that from widespread attacks in June attributed to a worm named "Scob" or "Download.ject." The new attacks use mass-distributed instant messages to lure Internet users to Web sites that distribute malicious code similar to Download.ject, says Thor Larholm, senior security researcher at PivX.

This wave of attacks works similarly, routing victims to Web sites with code that takes advantage of vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook. Though Microsoft has patched those vulnerabilities, the attackers are attempting to exploit unpatched systems. Two patches from 2003, MS03-025 and MS03-040M, address the flaws used by the new worm, Larholm says.

How It Slithers

First detected on June 24, the Scob attacks were attributed to a Russian hacking group known as the "HangUP team." The virus used a recently patched buffer overflow vulnerability in Microsoft's implementation of Secure Sockets Layer to compromise vulnerable Windows 2000 systems running Internet Information Server Version 5 Web servers. Companies that used IIS Version 5 and failed to apply a recent security software patch, MS04-011, were vulnerable.

The June attacks also used two vulnerabilities in Windows and Internet Explorer to silently run the malicious code distributed from the IIS servers on machines that visited the compromised sites. The malware redirected victims to Web sites controlled by the hackers, and downloaded a Trojan horse program that captured keystrokes and personal data.

The newer attacks begin with instant messages sent to people using America Online's AOL Instant Messenger or ICQ instant messaging program. The messages invite recipients to click on a link to a Web page, with pitches such as "Check out my new home page!" The messages could appear to be sent from strangers or from regular IM correspondents, or "buddies," Larholm says.
Once victims click on the link, they are taken to one of a handful of attack Web pages hosted on servers in Uruguay, Russia, and the United States. There, a Trojan horse program is downloaded.
Greedy Worms?

In addition to opening a "back door" on the victim's computer through which additional malicious programs can enter, the new attacks change the victim's Web browser home page or Outlook e-mail search page to Web sites featuring adult content, Larholm says.

PivX is still analyzing the attacks to see if malicious code is placed on victims' machines. However, many of the files used by the new worm and the way the attacks occur point to the same group that launched the Scob attacks in June, Larholm says.

"The code is different enough to be something of its own, but unique enough to be related," he says. "And as with the Scob attacks, this is all about money--in this case, driving ad revenue for specific people."

PivX has informed antivirus companies of the new malicious code, Larholm says.

Counting coup

Chalk up another Blogger Bowl 2004 preseason victory for Rocket Jones!

annika has joined the Hot Jets cheerleaders. Yay!!! "But wait," you might say, "isn't she your opponent this week?"

To which I reply: Don't be such a girly-man.

You can take the boy out of California, but you can't take the California out of the boy.

So now, the Hot Jets number twenty something strong. Go Hot Jets!!!
Big Hair, of Left & Right!
Wegglywoo, of On the Beach at the End of the World!
Helen, of Everyday Stranger!
Cindy, of Squipper!
Lemur Girl, of... uh, Lemur Girl!
Lynn S., of Reflections in d minor!
Susie, of Practical Penumbra!
Mookie, of MookieRiffic!
Denita, of Who Tends The Fires!
Jennifer, of Jennifer's History and Stuff!
Heather, of Angelweave!
Kat, of Mostly Fluff!
Nic, of Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax!
Gir, of Your Moosey Fate!
Tink, of Flitting Here and There!
Sarah, of Trying To Grok!
Blogoline, of Blogoline's Journal!
LeeAnn, of The Cheese Stands Alone!
Dawn of Caterwauling she's moved!
Stevie, of Caught In The XFire!
Emma, of Miss Apropos!

A different kind of countdown

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

A day of some note

Some notable things that happened on September 8th.

1565 - 1st permanent settlement in US forms (St Augustine, Florida)
1755 - Battle at Lake George: English army beats France
1760 - French army gives Montreal to Gen Jeffrey Amherst
1892 - 1st appearance of "Pledge of Allegiance" (Youth's Companion)
1920 - US Air Mail service begins (NYC to SF)
1921 - 1st Miss America crowned (Margaret Gorman of Washington DC)
1930 - 1st appearance of comic strip "Blondie"
1930 - Richard Drew creates Scotch tape
1944 - 1st V-2 rockets land in London & Antwerp
1945 - Hideki Tojo, Japanese PM during most of WW II, attempts suicide rather than face war crimes tribunal. Attempt fails, later he is hanged
1952 - Ernest Hemmingway's "Old Man & Sea" published
1959 - Ted of Rocket Jones enters the world. Mom slaps doctor.
1963 - Braves Warren Spahn ties Christy Mathewson with 13 20-win seasons
1965 - KC A's Bert Campaneris plays all 9 positions in a game
1966 - "Star Trek" premieres on NBC-TV
1966 - "That Girl" starring Marlo Thomas premieres on ABC-TV
1974 - Pres Gerald Ford pardons former Pres R Nixon of all federal crimes

Famous birthdays on September 8 ...

1157 - Richard I, [Richard the Lion Hearted], King of England (1189-99)
1897 - Jimmie Rodgers, Mendoza Mississippi, country singer/singing brakeman
1915 - Frank Cady, actor (Mr Drucker-Green Acres)
1922 - Lyndon LaRouche, American presidental candidate (1980)
1922 - Sid Caesar, Yonkers NY, comedian (Your Show of Shows)
1925 - Peter Sellers, England, actor (not now, Kato, Bobo, Pink Panther)
1932 - Patsy Cline, Winchester Va, country singer (Crazy)
1945 - Jose Feliciano, musician
1945 - Rogie Vachon, Quebec, NHL goalie (Canadiens, Kings, Vezina-1968)
1945 - Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Calif, rocker (Grateful Dead, Grass Roots)
1946 - Dean Daughtry, rock keyboardist (Atlanta Rhythm Section)
1956 - Maurice Cheeks, NBA guard (NY Knicks, Phila '76ers)
1971 - Cristy Thom, LA Ca, playmate (Feb, 1991)
1978 - Marco Sturm, Dingolfing GER, NHL forward (Sharks, Team Germany 1998)
1981 - Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Bethlehem PA, actor (Randy-Home Improvement)

Famous deaths on September 8 ...

0394 - Arbogast, French general, commits suicide
0701 - Sergius I, Syrian/Italian Pope (687-701), dies
0780 - Leo IV de Chazaar, Byzantine Emperor (775-80), dies
1100 - Clement III, [Wibert van Ravenna], 1st anti-pope (1084-1100), dies
1895 - Adam Opel, German manufacturer (motorcars), dies at 58
1914 - William E Darwin, British son of Charles Darwin, dies at 74
1933 - Faisal I ibn Hussein ibn Ali, 1st king of Iraq/Syria, dies at 50
1935 - Carl Austin Weiss, murderer of Sen Huey Long, shot down
1935 - Huey P Long, (Sen-La) assassinated at Baton Rouge Capitol building
1949 - Richard Strauss, German composer (Also sprach Zarathustra), dies at 85
1951 - Jurgen Stroop, Nazi commander of Warsaw Ghetto, executed
1962 - Hermann Standiger, German chemist (Nobel 1953), dies at 84
1974 - Robert Cox, last surviving member of Keystone Kops, dies at 79
1977 - Zero [Samuel J] Mostel, US actor (Fiddler on the Roof), dies at 62
1980 - Bruce Dooland, cricketer (prolific leggie for Notts), dies
1981 - Hediki Joekawa, Japans physicist (Nobel 1949) at 74
1981 - Roy Wilkins, longtime executive director of NAACP, dies at 80
1983 - Antonin Magne, French bicylist (won Tour de France 1931, 34), dies

For some odd reason, an unusually high number of poets and composers died on this date.

Check your birthday here. Link thanks to the Meatriarch.

Dang!

Chute didn't deploy. Nice hole in the desert though.

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket

Genesis comes home today.

The returning craft will be snagged out of mid-air by one of two helicopters flown by stunt pilot crews. Why not military? Well, this recovery required a six-year commitment to training, so they went civilian.

America's first 'spy' satellites used the same method of data transfer. They would take pictures over the interesting parts of the world from orbit, then as they passed over the US a small capsule containing the film would be ejected. Military aircrews would snag the capsules in mid-air and then the film would be developed. This was, of course, Top Secret stuff.

When new Air Force generals joined the program, they would be given a briefing of the flight profile of the intelligence missions. Every time, they would object that the recovery plan was nonsense and impossible. It amused the intelligence director to inform the aviation 'experts' that not only was it possible, but that it had already been done on a regular basis. The exact number of successes and failures is still classified, but best guess estimates say they got it right hundreds of times.

Good luck today, guys. Bring home a piece of the sun to have for our very own.

Age is a measurement, Old is a state of mind

Thanks to the Ministry of Minor Perfidy, here's a few facts about this year's incoming college freshman class:

Desi Arnaz, Orson Welles, Roy Orbison, Ted Bundy, Ayatollah Khomeini, and Cary Grant have always been dead.

“Heeeere’s Johnny!” is a scary greeting from Jack Nicholson, not a warm welcome from Ed McMahon.

Mike Tyson has always been a contender.

There have always been night games at Wrigley Field.

We have always been mapping the human genome.

Politicians have always used rock music for theme songs.

Rogaine has always been available for the follicularly challenged.

The Ineffective Scary-Looking Weapon Ban

Publicola, SayUncle, Jeff at Alphecca and many more are following this closely. Whether you're pro or anti-gun, the fact is that all the numbers show that the so-called "assault weapon ban" has had absolutely no impact on crime numbers.

I'll be contacting my state senators this week (they know who I am) to let them know that I expect them to let this useless piece of legislation expire quietly.

Want to reduce crime? Start targeting criminals, not law-abiding citizens.

A different kind of countdown

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

Snucked up on me when I twern't lookin'

The lovely annika (she of the unused Caps key) has reminded me that this weekend is the start of our fantasy football season. She's trash talkin' like a true Raiders fan, and I was delighted to return the favor in her comments. She's also fielding a formidable team, although she's already suffering a personnel crisis or two.

But the Rockets aren't going to be pushovers! Here's my starting lineup for week 1:

QB - Brett Favre (Green Bay)
RB - Jamal Lewis (Baltimore)
RB - TJ Duckett (Atlanta)
TE - Randy McMichael (Miami)
WR - Jerry Porter (Oakland)
WR - Jerry Rice (Oakland)
WR - Isaac Bruce (St. Louis)
K - Mike Vanderjagt (Indianapolis)
Defense - Baltimore

And the bench is deep too. I noticed a lot of activity on the waiver wire (after the fact, I don't think I've visited in a couple of weeks), and I wonder if some of these folks aren't out-thinking themselves.

In any event, I've absolutely positively got the best cheerleaders in the league, bar none. So let's hear it for the Hot Jets!
Lynn S., of Reflections in d minor!
Susie, of Practical Penumbra!
Mookie, of MookieRiffic!
Denita, of Who Tends The Fires!
Jennifer, of Jennifer's History and Stuff!
Cindy, of Squipper!
Lemur Girl, of... uh, Lemur Girl!
Heather, of Angelweave!
Kat, of Mostly Fluff!
Nic, of Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax!
Helen, of Everyday Stranger!
Gir, of Your Moosey Fate!
Tink, of Flitting Here and There!
Sarah, of Trying To Grok!
Blogoline, of Blogoline's Journal!
LeeAnn, of The Cheese Stands Alone!
Dawn of Caterwauling!
Big Hair, of Left & Right!
Wegglywoo, of On the Beach at the End of the World!
Stevie, of Caught In The XFire!
Emma, of Miss Apropos!

annika dear, you are about to be soundly spanked!

New tagline, over on the right

Previous taglines are all stashed over at the Tagline Archive.

Hockey Whoopass Jamboree update

Everybody, give a great big Hanson-Hello to two more players in the second annual Inter-Munuvian Hockey Whoopass Jamboree!

Welcome aboard to:
Catt - Pittsburg Penguins
Jenn - Colorado Avalanche

The roster is filling out nicely.
Heather - St Louis Blues
Dr Funk - Ottawa Senators
GEBIV - Buffalo Sabres
Victor - Washington Capitals
Helen - Dallas Stars
Daniel - Atlanta Thrashers
Gir - Calgary Flames
Pogo - Calgary Flames
Cindy - Montreal Canadiens
Frinklin - Vancouver Canucks
RP - New York Rangers
Tricia - Atlanta Thrashers
Nic - Washington Capitals
Kin - Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Ted (yours truly) - San Jose Sharks

Wanna play? It's easy, click here for details.

I'm working up a format for the sidebar so that everyone can just stop by Rocket Jones and see at a glance who their next game is against. This outta make it easy for everyone and my hit counter should tick over nicely too.

A different kind of countdown

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

Rocket Jones is in da house!

Last week I was interviewed for a television program (all right, it wasn't a major program, but it's on the TV, so hush). This week, thanks to Steve the Llama Butcher, an actual honest-to-goodness Rocket Jones question on political blogging is asked of Wonkette (sorry, no link), and, no doubt impaled upon the devastating insight therein, she writhed and squirmed like a bug on a pin before snarking her way to safety, hiding behind a humorous retort.

I have arrived.

A different kind of countdown

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

A different kind of countdown

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

Second Annual Inter-Munuvian Hockey Whoopass Jamboree

For those who're having trouble finding team logos to put on your page, here's a place where you can find small versions that will work for you. You might also try Googling your team name under the "images" tab and see what comes up.

Here's who's playing so far:
Heather - St Louis Blues
Dr Funk - Ottawa Senators
GEBIV - Buffalo Sabres
Victor - Washington Capitals
Helen - Dallas Stars
Daniel - Atlanta Thrashers
Gir - Calgary Flames
Pogo - Calgary Flames
Cindy - Montreal Canadiens or New York Rangers or New York Islanders (not sure yet)
Frinklin - Vancouver Canucks
RP - New York Rangers
Tricia - Atlanta Thrashers
Nic - Washington Capitals
Kin - Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Ted (yours truly) - San Jose Sharks

Wanna play? It's easy, click here for details.

Taking a moment

Here's hoping that President Clinton has successful heart bypass surgury and a swift recovery. May he have a long life spent annoying the hell out of me.

Also, my thoughts and prayers are with the children and victims of the hostage situation in Russia. I'm sickened and disgusted by the actions of the terrorists, and my heart is hardened towards the cause of their independence and the people who support them.

Likewise, to the people of Nepal, who watched as twelve of their citizens were butchered by cowards hiding behind a false religion. You have my sympathies, and my respect for the manner in which you've steadfastly refused to be influenced by barbarism.

A different kind of countdown

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

A different kind of countdown

I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements that I'll be posting in the days leading up to 9/11. The Allies then knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally. We need to remember that today.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

Print is dead

Not really, but more and more, you can find almost everything on the 'net. For instance, there's this list of sites where you can read free Science Fiction online. Pretty cool, eh?

Thanks to Professor Hall for the pointer.

(I'm waiting for the updates to the Virginia Tech Sounding Rocket Program website too!)

A Smidgen of Culinary History

Here's a nifty post about General Tso's chicken, the ubiquitous dish (my personal favorite) that's available at every Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. Meet the General's relatives - yes, he was real - and you'll be surprised at what they say about the recipe that bears his name.

Thanks to Simon and his Asia by Blog link-o-rama.

Any idea why?

In my research and testing (oooo, sounds official, doesn't it?) about PDA-friendly blogging*, I noticed that many sites - especially some of the 'biggies' - don't offer XML syndication. I think it comes standard with most blogging software now, which means it was intentionally removed.

I'm not an expert on this stuff, which is why I'm studying it. The main effect (I think) of not offering syndication is that aggregators can't include your site in their news-gathering functions.

So why not have it there?

*This is a hint on where my thoughts are headed with this whole line of research. I may end up writing my own aggregator if I can't find one that does what I think I want it to.

A different kind of countdown

Last year I did a series of daily posts leading up to 9/11, each including a political cartoon on the subject. You can see the entire set here.

This year, I'll be doing something a little different, in that I've collected a bunch of World War II era magazine advertisements. The gung-ho sentiments are pretty in-your-face and America wasn't entirely united in their wartime stance. Still, the Allies knew that they were in for a fight and they weren't going to quit until they'd won unconditionally.

Each of these posts will be time stamped to stay at the top of the page for the day, so scroll on down for other new posts.

I hope you enjoy these (in the extended entry).

Hockey fix

Canada just handed Slovakia their ass in the World Cup, 5-1.

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinaaahhhh!!!

There are all kinds of recipes out there for "Crunch Salad", and this is one of them.

Crunch Salad

1 Cucumber, sliced lengthwise and cut into 1/2" pieces
2-3 stalks celery, cut into 1" lengths
1 Green pepper, coarsely chopped
1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
handful of chow mein noodles
handful of shredded cheese

Wash, peel if you want (I don't), chop and toss together in a bowl. Top with your dressing of choice.

This is one of those dishes where there's really no set way to make it. Got radishes? Toss 'em in. Want mushrooms, go for it. If you don't have chow mein noodles, crumble some Ritz or saltines into the salad instead. Instead of cheese, add some toasted sesame seeds, shelled sunflower seeds and mandarin orange slices and top with a light vinegarette. Whatever you like is the best way.

I like this salad as a quick and easy light dinner on hot summer days.

Well, isn't that special

President Bush says we can't win the War on Terror and the Kerry campaign immediately jumps all over it like dingos on a crippled sheep. And they should've, because it was an incredibly stupid thing to say.

You. Just. Don't. Say. Things. Like. That.

No matter how much truth there is to it, and don't think for a second that he was wrong, because he wasn't. We can't win this war in a conventional sense. There won't be a peace treaty signed and POW's returned and victory parades, because it's a different kind of war. To Muslim radicals, it's not even really a war, it's a form of worship.

Admittedly biased, I think President Bush was speaking plainly, without nuance. I also think a lot of Americans will think about it and quietly agree without the defeatist hand-wringing we're currently hearing from certain quarters. It also gave Kerry something to be tougher on than the President, and that was an unexpected gift that he immediately siezed upon.

I read a science fiction book once (Star Trek?) where the last ragged remnants of terrorist organizations all gathered together for something or other. What stuck with me was the alternate history presented, where terrorist attacks had become more and more brutal and bloody until finally the entire world became disgusted and realized that there were limits to protest. Terrorism died out not because there were no more causes, but because it became unpopular and the results were opposite intended.

They weren't defeated, they became obsolete, but it took a lot of time and lives.

I really wish I hadn't remembered that book.

Too cool

A sequel to Clerks is on the way.