Monday, August 31, 2009

California Wildfire Map

Clicky for google maps of the wildfire area.

Strange fire "cloud" formation. Visible from huntington beach.

It's pretty fucking huge.

UPDATE: The cloud formation is called a pyrocumulous cloud. Also, another picture of this particular formation.

UPDATE:

Looks like the fire has made it to the top of Mt. Wilson. Guess we can kiss those antennas goodbye pretty soon... Pic came from this twitter feed. Also, mirror site for the Mt. Wilson tower cam. Refreshes every few minutes.

UPDATE: Wait a minute... Not hearing any reports on this, could it be a controlled burn?

Friday, August 28, 2009

REPUBS TRY TO GIVE BUSH COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE INTERNET!

Oh, no, wait, it was the Democrats trying to give Obama control over the internet, and no one cares.

Think this is just an isolated thing? Think Obama really is CHANGING things after Bush? Read more of these posts here and think again.

Quote of the office

The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.
~Robert Frost

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Great California Garage Sale... no, really.


That's the state of California's graphic, not mine.

FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY! (and Saturday!)

Come on down!

TWO DAYS ONLY! The Great California Garage Sale is on!

Come take advantage of our low low prices!

What do we have?! What DON'T we have?!

Check out our Flickr pool!

TWO DAYS ONLY!

SACRAMENTO!

BE THERE!


*** Please note that no state legislators will be offered for sale, as they are already bought, and paid for. ***

Monday, August 24, 2009

Quote of the kevlar gumdrop

Yes, I cry at happy endings in zombie movies but when the things get difficult I can be as tough as a kevlar gumdrop.
~Brigid

You may not know it, but I'm a big softie. I'll tear up with annoying regularity at so much as an emotional credit card commercial. I'm a serial empathetic. But the few times I've gone to condition orange there is nothing in my mind except the threat, and my swift reaction to the threat. There is nothing but awareness, and preparation. The trick is being able to switch between the two quickly.

The rest of her post is brilliant, and worth your time.

I'm back!

What'd I miss?




A little something to celebrate;

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

"Stop Bitching, Start a Revolution"

No, not THAT revolution, the one from four years ago.


(If you just can't stand it, skip forward to 6:18 for the threats of violence)

Or has everyone already forgotten?

From HotAir

California gets their shit together on traffic school

Good for them.

I bit ago, I got a speeding ticket (second one ever, first was 8 years ago). I took the option of taking traffic school, and was instructed to call the judicial center within 10 days.

I fail.

I called 15 days later, and they assured me they were entirely booked up! But then, they were apparently booked up 5 days ago too. The woman informed me that they were severely booked up, and had to outsource to a private company, and that I could call them.

Cool!

I call the private company, and they assured me they were entirely booked up! But then, they were apparently booked up 5 days ago too.

Well shit.

The guy assured me that in 90 days, the state legislature would approve a bill that would allow them to begin offering online courses, and I could sign up then, and take care of my traffic school at my leisure.

Sweet!

I wait the 90 days, a little uneasily, since my completion date drew 90 days closer as well, and called on the first day when they opened.

The guy told me they didn't get the contract, and that I should call the county court office again. *minor freak-out* "But they were booked up past my completion date 90 days ago!" "...I don't know what to tell you."

I called the court office, and they told me not to worry because a different company got the contract, and they were offering online traffic school right now. Whew. The traffic school costs between $13 and $45.

I was honestly afraid that California would allow me to pay for traffic school, then not give me the means to attend it prior to my completion date. Good for them.

But wait! A bit ago, I got a letter from the court, saying that they will refund me my traffic school fee, and extend my completion date by four months! Well done!

Good job, Orange County courts. Thanks for realizing what a spot you were putting us in.


But I still think it's a dick move to charge me "court fees" that exceed the cost of the ticket. $400 for a basic "exceeding 65" speeding ticket is too fucking much.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Quote of the assault on the poor

[Cash for Clunkers] is an obscene assault on the poor. Families who can only scrape together $3000 for their next kid hauler will now have a hundred and twenty five thousand fewer cars to choose from, and those cars left are now more expensive to maintain because a hundred and twenty five thousand engines have been destroyed.
~PDB

Be sure to read the rest.

Need a job?

The state of California is STILL FUCKING HIRING!

That's right folks! Neither budget, nor cuts, nor executive hiring freezes can stop this legislature from spending.

It's almost heroic.

These guys need a thrashing about the head to break them from whatever spell they're under. Who the fuck do these guys think they are?

Republicans and Democrats alike.

Like we can even tell the difference between unchallenged Democrats from gerrymandered districts, and go-along-to-get-along Republicans who are happy with the status quo, and actually work to maintain it.

Ugh. Just nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

More genius from The Onion


U.S. Government Stages Fake Coup To Wipe Out National Debt

HI-larious.

*sigh of relief*

Wow! Am I the only one who was really worried that we'd only have people with white skin and dark brown skin determining legal precedent? I'm so happy that we now have someone with light brown skin determining legal precedent. We all know how much skin color has to do with previous legal decisions and judicial interpretations.

I only hope that one day we can add to the supreme court a wise Filipino, Pacific Islander, Chinese man, Chinese woman, Chinese male single parent, Chinese male transsexual single parent, Chinese male metrosexual adopted parent with children from a previous marriage, Balding Chinese male violinist, overweight Chinese male Mexican restauranteur with one leg, triathlete Chinese newscaster pet owner cancer survivor, etc etc etc...

This just in: LA Fitness has a "no weapons" policy, even for CCW holders

I just got off the phone with LA Fitness corporate, and member services assured me that they had a no weapons policy (on page 3 of the agreement), and that there are no exemptions for concealed carry weapons permit holders.

This means three things;

1. The murdering bastard who did this signed up for a membership; which means he intentionally violated the rules of his membership. (they should revoke his membership!)

2. If you had a CCW permit and were on your way to your latin dance class, LA Fitness required you leave your gun in the car, instead of your gym bag.

3. If you were scared by the recent shooting at an LA Fitness, and you want to start legally carrying to your local LA Fitness, you can't. Because you already signed your membership agreement, which precludes you from doing just that.

I wonder if LA Fitness accepts liability for your safety, since it won't let legally permitted individuals carry in their gym. I'm guessing they don't.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Far Cry 2 Crazy Maps

Was searching youtube for some Far Cry 2 videos, since it is what is currently absorbing my free time, and saw a video called "Far Cry 2 Crazy Maps." I knew the map editor was easy to use, and allowed your created maps to be put online and played, so I figured it might be interesting to really see the limits of the editor pushed.

I was somewhat prepared for the impressive maps, I was not prepared for the awesome music.

So, this video gets posted, not for the music, or for the video, but for both of them combined.


direct link

Somehow, this video reminds me of this one.

Sick in America - John Stossel

I'm getting one of those quit-your-job-and-volunteer-to-work-for-John-Stossel feelings again.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6

Ca. Offshore oil vote leaves bad taste in legislators' mouths -- record expunged!



The vote is below, I've made the anomalies bold.

Interesting note; this vote seems unsurprisingly along party lines, so why expunge it? There were only two who crossed party lines. Were they just afraid of the Republican voters that didn't want this, and the Democrat voters who did? Were they just honestly confused with what their constituents really wanted to do?

An odd move, worthy of some thought.

YES (28)
Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia
Joel Anderson, R-Alpine
Juan Arambula, independent-Fresno
Bill Berryhill, R-Modesto
Tom Berryhill, R-Ceres
Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo
Charles Calderon, D-Whittier
Connie Conway, R-Tulare
Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley
Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine
Mike Duvall, R-Yorba Linda
Bill Emmerson, R-Redlands
Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield
Ted Gaines, R-Roseville
Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad
Danny Gilmore, R-Hanford
Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills
Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore
Stephen Knight, R-Palmdale
Dan Logue, R-Linda
Jeff Miller, R-Corona
Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert
Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks
Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber
Jim Silva, R-Huntington Beach (thank you, sir!)
Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita
Van Tran, R-Costa Mesa
Mike Villines, R-Clovis

NO (43)
Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco
Jim Beall, D-San Jose
Robert Blumenfield, D-Woodland Hills
Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica
Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo
Anna Marie Caballero, D-Salinas
Wilmer Amina Carter, D-Rialto
Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata
Joe Coto, D-San Jose
Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate
Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles
Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park
Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa
Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles
Paul Fong, D-Sunnyvale
Felipe Fuentes, D-Sylmar
Warren Furutani, D-Gardena
Cathleen Galgiani, D-Livingston
Mary Hayashi, D-Castro Valley
Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo
Alyson Huber, D-El Dorado Hills
Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael
Dave Jones, D-Sacramento
Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank
Ted Lieu, D-Torrance
Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach
Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco
Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia
William Monning, D-Santa Cruz
Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara
John Perez, D-Los Angeles
Manuel Perez, D-Coachella
Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena
Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City
Mary Salas, D-Chula Vista
Lori Saldana, D-San Diego
Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley
Audra Strickland, R-Thousand Oaks
Sandréwanson, D-Alameda
Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch
Norma Torres, D-Pomona
Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont
Mariko Yamana, D-Davis

NOT VOTING (8)
Karen Bass, D-Baldwin Vista
Marty Block, D-San Diego
Mike Davis, D-Los Angeles
Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego
Isadore Hall, D-Compton
Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point
Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina
Jose Solorio, D-Anaheim

DNC ad urges phoning GOP to call off the "mobs"

DNC ad opposing right wing extremist "mobs" being coordinated by the villainous GOP.

This has been said before, and is worth saying again;
Poor Lefties; they've been playing on astroturf so long that they don't know grassroots even when fed a mouthful of divot.
~Tam

I attended a Tea Party, and would take the day off work to attend a town hall on health care if Boxer had the balls to hold one. (I'm not holding my breath)

I would not attend because the GOP faxed me my action items, and that was on it. I would not attend because the GOP promised me cash and prizes if I attended. I would not attend because the GOP chartered a bus, drove it to my house, picked me up, dropped me off, and provided me with pre-made signs and a short list of slogans to chant.

I would do it because I think it needs to be done.

The GOP organizing grassroots? HA! The GOP might as well change it's name to the Grand ANCIENT Party. The way they've done things is the way they always want to do things. They're big, and old, and slow. In fact, I can count the amount of times I've been impressed with the GOP on one hand.

If you still don't believe these people aren't coordinated by the machinations of the notorious GOP, just fucking ask them. They'll probably tear the GOP up as much as a democrat would. Ask them what they think of how the GOP is running the party, and whether or not they think the GOP will have its act together by the next election. I'll bet money at least 75% would reply negatively. If it were a gentleman's bet, I'd go as high as 90%.

These people are pissed. They're pissed because you pissed them off. If you still don't see that, and you honestly think that getting people to call the GOP is going to stop these people from being pissed off, then you're just as slow as the GOP.


Honestly, I think the bloggers, facebookers, and myspacers are leading this charge, and the GOP is trying to take the credit.

I joined a teaparty group on facebook, and they send me updates of events they're planning. There have been quite a few I couldn't give two shits about, but there is one coming up that I'm seriously considering.

That's the difference. They don't require I show up. They don't tell me to get angry. They just pick the topic, see if people show interest, and run with it.

It's like these right wing radio show hosts riling people up. The left acts like if these guys started complaining about the end slices of bread, we would too. They're wrong. They're just trying to find out what we care about, and then they give us information updates, and try to help us coordinate.

That's why they call it grassroots. The outrage comes from the bottom up. Not because someone cut all the grass, and dumped the bag on someone.

If the people didn't care, nothing would happen.

Well guess what? Conservatives are pissed. They're not going to just shrug, fix their kids' lunch, and go to work like they have before. They're pissed. You've been poking and poking for years, and now that the hornet's nest is past its threshold, you're freaking out. "Where'd all these hornets come from?! It couldn't have been my poking! I've been doing it for years! This must by the machinations of some third party!"

Well, it ain't.

The sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll realize that this isn't going to just go away if you ignore it.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

BUSH ADMIN REQUESTS CITIZENS REPORT THOSE SPEAKING AGAINST HIS POLICIES!

Oh, no, wait, it was the Obama Administration, and no one cares.

Think this is just an isolated thing? Think Obama really is CHANGING things after Bush? Read more of these posts here and think again.

BUSH ADMIN SUPPORTS HOSTILE MIDDLE EASTERN REGIME AS WORLD CONDEMNS

Oh, no, wait, it was the Obama Administration, and no one cares.

Well... Maybe not "no one." But who cares about them. They're really far away, and they don't even have representation that can vote for the health care bill!

I'm confused then, which one was Bush again? Oh yeah! He opposed the hostile middle eastern regime, and unseated it, then finished what he started (despite opposition at home and abroad) by ensuring Iraq had an opportunity to develop its own form democracy to shine like "a beacon of democracy" surrounded by people who hate us because their governments need a scapegoat. How did that whole thing go again? Oh yeah, they have their own functioning democracy with only instructive support elements left behind. Mission accomplished, I guess.

Wait a minute... You don't suppose Iranian people felt emboldened by... and maybe they hoped that we... nahhhh...

Think this is just an isolated thing? Think Obama really is CHANGING things after Bush? Read more of these posts here and think again.

Monday, August 03, 2009

Teehee!

Cash for "Clunkers"

Watch as this old junky "clunker" is destroyed in the governmentally required fashion.


You know, somehow that looked like a pretty new car. BUT! The government says it's a "clunker" and they know better than I.

Who is it that complains about our waste and excess again?

Is this not a perfect symbol of decadence?

The destruction of a perfectly good car so we can buy new ones?

Our tax dollars at work.

Well, at least we're helping out the auto companies. Who owns those again?

I think I'm going to become a cabbage salesman

I just have to follow these legislators to their town hall meetings on health care.

At a dollar a head, I'll be a millionaire by the end of August recess!


To tell the truth, I'm not so much tickled by these people opposing something I oppose too, as I am excited just to see people taking their legislators to task, and reminding them of just who they work for.

Quote of the Clunkers

You might have had some unpleasant experiences at car dealerships, but I doubt any of them robbed you at gunpoint, as the Democrat Congress just did. Even more of your tax money will be appropriated to help destroy the clunkers, which aren't even being broken down for spare parts. Downturns in the free market may reduce the value of assets, but only through the magic of government can the value of a useful asset be reduced to less than zero.
~Doctor Zero

The rest is a good read too.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

FCC sticks its big fat nose into a private company's business decision

Techcrunch: FCC Takes On Apple And AT&T Over Google Voice Rejection
The Federal Communications Commission is looking into Apple’s rejection of Google Voice, and has sent letters to AT&T, Apple, and Google to find out what’s going on.

I think Apple's rejection of Google Voice was a foolish power play that they would soon regret and reverse.

But I do NOT think that the federal government has any business getting involved.

So, to help out these companies, I'm going to post a cheat-sheet for the answers to these probing questions for the FCC:

Answers for the FCC Letter to Apple, Google, and AT&T:
1. FUCK YOU
2. None of your goddamned business.
3. Shouldn't you be thinking up new swear words to ban?
4. Someone just wrote "dick" on an antenna, shouldn't you be fining the antenna?
5. Perhaps you can tell us why we made this decision? OH NO WAIT! You weren't at our board meeting or our shareholders' meeting!
6. Frak you, G-man.

Quote of the theft

Theft is murder by inches. I trade my life for the money I use to buy the stuff that people would steal. That stuff literally is my life measured in hours at work, in cars repaired and in my line of work, these are often measurable in sweat and sometimes blood! Stealing that stuff is no different than enslaving me to work for you. It's no different than stealing part of my life.
~Mike