 
|
This board is closed to new users and new posts. Thank you to all our great mods and users over the years. Details here.
|
|
The Free Talk Live BBS
Profile of voodoo
Show Posts Topics
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
16
General / Strange Doins
« on: October 21, 2010, 12:24:52 PM »
On the hill behind my house there's a game of capture the flag going on. One morning, I'll come out and there'll be a US flag. A week later, it'll be upside down. Then it will be right side up. Then it will disappear for a while, and then it'll be back.
So, this morning, there are two younger guys, both in black (one t-shirt, one hoodie) and cargo shorts that are setting up a shiny new pole. They seem to be fighting the rocky terrain, to get it stable. I've been observing through binocs and taking some pictures.
My first thought was they were going to fly a different flag, hoping against hope it's going to be a black flag.
But, every once in a while I see them hold up something white, about the size and shape of a wifi antenna. It seems to me there's only two reasons they would set a wifi antenna up there. Either some sort of mesh network (that would really only be good at a few houses, mine included), or a remote transmitter.
I've got work to do, so this is an unwelcome distraction, but now I've gotta know.
So, this morning, there are two younger guys, both in black (one t-shirt, one hoodie) and cargo shorts that are setting up a shiny new pole. They seem to be fighting the rocky terrain, to get it stable. I've been observing through binocs and taking some pictures.
My first thought was they were going to fly a different flag, hoping against hope it's going to be a black flag.
But, every once in a while I see them hold up something white, about the size and shape of a wifi antenna. It seems to me there's only two reasons they would set a wifi antenna up there. Either some sort of mesh network (that would really only be good at a few houses, mine included), or a remote transmitter.
I've got work to do, so this is an unwelcome distraction, but now I've gotta know.
17
The Polling Pit / Games of Chance
« on: October 16, 2010, 07:53:32 PM »
No-Reveal Blackjack: standard casino rules, dealer hits soft 17, blackjacks pay 3:2. The dealer never reveals her down card.
Single-Reveal Blackjack: Same rules as No-Reveal Blackjack, but the dealer actually reveals the down card only to the player sitting at third base.
No-Reveal Craps: 3x odds. Shooter throws 1 die and the banker announces the result of the other die shown on a display only he can see.
Dealer-Reveal Craps: Same as No-Reveal Craps, but the dealers verify the number announced by the banker.
Electronic Voting: Election rules are set and enforced by a bureaucrat who also serves as final arbiter. Votes are entered on and counted by a computer running proprietary software.
Secret-Ballot Voting: Same as electronic voting, but votes are written (though not attributable to any voter). Ballots are hand-counted in rooms observable only by apparatchiks chosen by the major political parties.
Single-Reveal Blackjack: Same rules as No-Reveal Blackjack, but the dealer actually reveals the down card only to the player sitting at third base.
No-Reveal Craps: 3x odds. Shooter throws 1 die and the banker announces the result of the other die shown on a display only he can see.
Dealer-Reveal Craps: Same as No-Reveal Craps, but the dealers verify the number announced by the banker.
Electronic Voting: Election rules are set and enforced by a bureaucrat who also serves as final arbiter. Votes are entered on and counted by a computer running proprietary software.
Secret-Ballot Voting: Same as electronic voting, but votes are written (though not attributable to any voter). Ballots are hand-counted in rooms observable only by apparatchiks chosen by the major political parties.
18
General / Handwriting
« on: October 15, 2010, 01:31:19 AM »
As a kid, I worked in the family lumber yard and helped my father and grandfather at the drafting board. It was second nature to me to use an ink pen for invoices and a pencil for everything else, always printing.
In high school, senior comp or some class like that, I was downgraded by the teacher for using a pencil and printing. I was told, "you'll never survive college." Joke's on her, as I went to an engineering school where everyone used a pencil and printed.
But, that was a couple of years ago. It just occurred to me, though, I can't remember the last time I saw a handwritten note (other than from my grandmother) in cursive.
Does anyone write any more (excluding signatures)?
In high school, senior comp or some class like that, I was downgraded by the teacher for using a pencil and printing. I was told, "you'll never survive college." Joke's on her, as I went to an engineering school where everyone used a pencil and printed.
But, that was a couple of years ago. It just occurred to me, though, I can't remember the last time I saw a handwritten note (other than from my grandmother) in cursive.
Does anyone write any more (excluding signatures)?
20
General / Wes Bertrand Deconstructs Mark and Ian on Voting
« on: October 06, 2010, 03:45:56 PM »
http://completeliberty.libsyn.com/episode-122-challenging-the-voting-meme
A few notes:
AFAIK, this is the first time Mark has said that the vote on the truck was to "table the motion". That means that a "yea" would kick the can further down the calendar, not make it go away. Nice trick: vote now to table it and have to come again to vote against violent extortion (and again, and again), or vote for the violence now. Either way, you are not just legitimizing the system and its violence, but perpetuating the system and giving Mark a convenient canard to use.
Second, it is intellectual dishonesty of the highest order to mention the Mercatus "study" without mentioning the name of the author. That dishonesty is exponentially increased when mentioning the "study" in the same conversation as NH knife and seat belt legislation. Sorens purposefully weighted those things as "freest" (continually having to show up at the polls) and gave the LOWEST weights to legal gaming and prostitution (where you don't have to continually show up at the polls). Through this bias he achieved his objective (NH #1), but still couldn't push NV any lower than mid-pack. But, he ended up with perverse results (Florida??!!?? Really??!!??)
Third, yes, it is very, very, VERY wrong to participate in a poll regarding the murder of a human being. Any notion of "democracy" that holds that there are no limits as to what the majority can do, that recognizes the mere ability to even contemplate murder as legitimate, is worthy only of contempt. Participating in the poll, even to vote against the murder, makes you a party to the murder should it occur and dialogically estops you from physically defending the intended victim from harm.
A few notes:
AFAIK, this is the first time Mark has said that the vote on the truck was to "table the motion". That means that a "yea" would kick the can further down the calendar, not make it go away. Nice trick: vote now to table it and have to come again to vote against violent extortion (and again, and again), or vote for the violence now. Either way, you are not just legitimizing the system and its violence, but perpetuating the system and giving Mark a convenient canard to use.
Second, it is intellectual dishonesty of the highest order to mention the Mercatus "study" without mentioning the name of the author. That dishonesty is exponentially increased when mentioning the "study" in the same conversation as NH knife and seat belt legislation. Sorens purposefully weighted those things as "freest" (continually having to show up at the polls) and gave the LOWEST weights to legal gaming and prostitution (where you don't have to continually show up at the polls). Through this bias he achieved his objective (NH #1), but still couldn't push NV any lower than mid-pack. But, he ended up with perverse results (Florida??!!?? Really??!!??)
Third, yes, it is very, very, VERY wrong to participate in a poll regarding the murder of a human being. Any notion of "democracy" that holds that there are no limits as to what the majority can do, that recognizes the mere ability to even contemplate murder as legitimate, is worthy only of contempt. Participating in the poll, even to vote against the murder, makes you a party to the murder should it occur and dialogically estops you from physically defending the intended victim from harm.
21
General / Libertarians: Evil or Really, Really Evil?
« on: October 05, 2010, 03:23:13 PM »
If you don't pay $75 to the government fire department and they let your house burn to the ground (and set fire to the neighbor's house)? Libertarian wet dream.
Monopolize provision of medians, streetlights, and bus service, extort money from "customers" to pay for your "services", and then squander said money on other things? It's because libertarians don't care about the "common good".
Some powerful mofos, those libertarians.
Edit: Oh, and if you were wondering why the "stimulus" failed so spectacularly, it was because a Joe Biden audit of Joe Biden's summer of spendthriftaculous spending spree shows only .2% fraud, waste, and abuse. Only penny-pinching, miserly, not-caring-about-others, a-holes, like libertarians, could shackle the government with such draconian notions as fraud prevention.
Monopolize provision of medians, streetlights, and bus service, extort money from "customers" to pay for your "services", and then squander said money on other things? It's because libertarians don't care about the "common good".
Some powerful mofos, those libertarians.
Edit: Oh, and if you were wondering why the "stimulus" failed so spectacularly, it was because a Joe Biden audit of Joe Biden's summer of spendthriftaculous spending spree shows only .2% fraud, waste, and abuse. Only penny-pinching, miserly, not-caring-about-others, a-holes, like libertarians, could shackle the government with such draconian notions as fraud prevention.
22
General / Alter or Abolish
« on: September 24, 2010, 11:14:21 AM »Quote
Declaration of Independence (1776): “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…”
Quote
A Pledge to America (GOP, 2010): “Whenever the agenda of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to institute a new governing agenda and set a different course.”
Quote
Daniel Coleman: “Whenever a subpoint of policy within a government agenda becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to organize a committee to change those subpoints of policy and replace them with better subpoints.”
http://www.libertarianstandard.com/2010/09/24/grading-the-pledge-to-america/
I'm going with, "Whenever the 'Take a Number' machine at the DMV malfunctions, it is the right of the people to form an orderly line along the right side of the hallway that does not impede the normal flow of traffic or block any entrances or exits."
23
General / Yeah. So, Dragline...
« on: September 17, 2010, 01:18:43 AM »
this, uh, kinda ruins everything. But, since it was ruined for me, I thought I'd share:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjb3nh9BxOE&feature=channel
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjb3nh9BxOE&feature=channel
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille.
24
General / Some Morning Commutes are Way More Fun Than Others
« on: September 15, 2010, 12:48:28 PM »25
General / An Opportunity to Hear What I Hear
« on: September 09, 2010, 05:33:21 PM »
Anytime a politician or bureaucrat speaks, this is what I hear:
http://thedailywh.at/post/1092703199/scary-stump-speech-of-the-day-minerva-ohio
Ironically, I might go to political meetings if I could be assured of this kind of entertainment.
http://thedailywh.at/post/1092703199/scary-stump-speech-of-the-day-minerva-ohio
Ironically, I might go to political meetings if I could be assured of this kind of entertainment.
26
General / Sorens in his own Lawn Couch Battle
« on: September 09, 2010, 02:24:41 PM »
http://pileusblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/in-which-the-town-comes-for-my-garden/
Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. I see weeds and places for ticks to hide.
Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. I see weeds and places for ticks to hide.
27
General / Sons of Anarchy Season 3 - AKA: the only reason to have a TV
« on: September 07, 2010, 10:13:40 PM »
The hunt for Able. Gemma on the run. Tigger or Bobby gonna die. The fun starts tonight.
Bad: that means we're heading into fall.
Good: the TV still works.
Bad: that means we're heading into fall.
Good: the TV still works.
28
The Polling Pit / Do you believe (ghost edition)?
« on: September 06, 2010, 07:32:25 PM »
I can't stop watching these SyFy pseudo-science shows like Ghost Hunters and Faked or Fiction. They are so fake and contrived, it's comical.
But, I'm curious. Do do you believe in ghosts?
But, I'm curious. Do do you believe in ghosts?
29
General / Texas Target Practice
« on: September 05, 2010, 05:28:50 PM »Quote
Cooper and his wife Candi recently beat a charge of Making a False Report to a Peace Officer in Odessa, Texas, where in Dec. 2008 they tricked local police to raid a fake marijuana grow operation as part of a reality show pitch.
On Thursday, August 26, just two days after Odessa declined to prosecute the charge, officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Barry in a SWAT-style operation outside his home in south Austin. He was charged with Operating an Investigations Company Without a License, a Class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of one year in prison. Offenses in this category are policed by The Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau.
"Police approached me with tires screeching, full body armor and guns drawn," Cooper said Thursday, appearing on the Texas Capitol steps to record a video blog and press statement. "Within minutes I was placed in the back of an unmarked unit and rushed away. I really believed I was going to be shot and it felt more like an abduction than an arrest."
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/activist-filmmaker-barry-cooper-charged-impersonating-private-investigator/
30
General / What a Dick!
« on: August 27, 2010, 01:43:05 PM »
I laughed long and hard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbOCtPncXJk&feature=player_embedded
[youtube=425,350]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbOCtPncXJk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbOCtPncXJk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbOCtPncXJk&feature=player_embedded
[youtube=425,350]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbOCtPncXJk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbOCtPncXJk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube]