Please post your Off-Topic and General Interest items here.
About Bill Quick
I am a small-l libertarian with conservative leanings on most issues, except on many traditionally conservative social issues, where my stance would be regarded as hopelessly liberal by most social conservatives. My primary concern is to increase individual liberty as much as possible in the face of statist efforts to restrict it from both the right and the left. If I had to sum up my beliefs as concisely as possible, I would say, "Stay out of my wallet and my bedroom," "your liberty stops at my nose," and "don't tread on me." I will believe that things are taking a turn for the better in America when married gays are able to, and do, maintain large arsenals of automatic weapons, and tax collectors are, and do, not.
Somebody tell Al Gore there’s about 8-10″ of Global Warming he needs to come shovel out of my driveway.
Bill, I don’t know where it’s coming from, but the last two days Eset has been finding JS/Iframe.AS Trojan on connection to DP’s front page. Obviously one of the JS apps but I don’t know which one.
I got a Google notification that the site contained content from avnaturalhealth.osa.pl (or something like that), which is a known distributor of malware. That might be the source of the trojan.
Might also be the source of Bill’s Fake Alert infection.
Bill, what do you, as an author, think of this: Apple’s mind-bogglingly greedy and evil license agreement?
Apple can do what it wants. But I wouldn’t touch that software with your ten foot pole. Anyway, anybody who writes textbooks under those conditions, without knowing whether the states will permit them to be used in the first place, is, well, nuts.
test test test test
[code]BBCodeXtra :: Add-ons for Firefox[/code]
underline [u]underline[/u] strike
strikeunderlineJust gotta find the right codes, but looks good.
underline This one works in preview.
RWS the htmlXtra codes for DP. Lets see if the custom works 104th.
At least for an editor.
Thanks, Genes.
You’re welcome and I thank you for mentioning it since it never occurred to me that such a useful addon existed.
One vote for Newt in Florida–by me–in early voting.
Governor Purdue (D-NC) has decided not to run for re-election. Link via WRAL.
OK, Bill.
I’m done. Count me among the ranks of “there is no way in Hell I’m going to eat this shit sandwich if that’s on the menu in November.”
Mittens just crossed my final line.
Umm, Bill. Maybe it’s a virus or sumthin’, but as I scroll down the page I keep seeing this guy smiling and winking at me. He’s everywhere!
Is this something I should be concerned about? Do you think I might start seeing different faces? Should I look forward to waving and mooning?
Help please, Obi-Wan Bill.
Tis I behind that winking mug. You, too, can display your handsome or beautiful features on your comments at Daily Pundit now as well. Simply log into your profile, look near the bottom, and you will find means whereby you can upload a suitable picture that represents you, and you alone.
And remember: On the internet, nobody knows if you are a dog.
To re-size images you can use RealWorld Graphics free Photo Resize just change the number in the .exe to the size you want (300(std avatar), 600, etc). Add to context menu and you can just right click the image you want.
Pay no attention to the Man Behind The Smile N’ Wink on the right -
It’s simply a slight delusion of your otherwise-rational mind; nothing to worry about -
Obi-Wan’s temporarily busy on another channel, he’ll be with you as soon as possible, m’kay?
Ugh. I said immediately following the SC primary that Newt was benefiting from the bandwagon effect. I also cautioned about reading too much into the polls taken after this ass-whipping of Romney. And now the polls have swung the other way.
I do think if Florida’s primary had been within a few days of South Carolina’s, that Newt would have clubbed Romney like a baby seal and Gingrich would have earned some extra momentum. Now, though, it appears as though Mitt will win Florida and go on to win a bunch on Super Tuesday, especially since Newt is not eligible for Virginia’s ballot.
We’re headed for Shit Sandwich II: the Less Appetizing Sequel. Excellent. At this point, I’m hoping for Godzilla to rise up out of the Potomac and burn Capitol Hill into radioactive rubble.
There’s nothing quite like replacing the PVC pipe at the top of the pump at 2am. And then having to re do the joint to the tank twice. Once because the end of the pipe had a hairline crack not noticed until the pump was turned on. The second time someone couldn’t wait for the adhesive to set completely.
Oakland Taco Truck Owner Shot, Shoots Gunman In Attempted Robbery
What surprised me is that the piece I heard on the radio had audio of a comment from some guy that mentioned something about Second Amendment rights and self-defense (in a positive way), but it seems that was omitted from the linked KCBS audio clip.
Doesn’t fit the narrative.
FDA Using “Interstate Commerce” to Regulate Your Stem Cells as A “Drug”
A Colorado facility is using a treatment for joint pain that involves removing a patient’s own stem cells from their blood and reinserting them into the joint. But, since the equipment they use to do this comes from outside Colorado, the FDA claims they can regulate the process, because it now involves “interstate commerce,” and can hence classify your own stem cells as a “drug.”
From Slashdot, where the story posting comments: “Quick: Name five activities with no possible plausible effect on interstate commerce.” Usually /. is chock-full of libbies, but, on this story, someone Gets It.
Not worth a full post so I’ll put it in OT: I came across the Shrine of the Mall Ninja recently. Screamingly funny. JSB and others knowledgeable about firearms maintenance and customization will find a few gems on that page.
Oops. Posted this in another thread in error.
Finally…someone sent me a “ha-ha” that I actually LOVED…..
http://capoliticalnews.com/2011/09/21/video-the-government-can-tim-hawkins/
Many, many thanks, SteveF – the legend of The Shrine Of The Mall Ninja shall, indeed, live forever…
References to low-cost, low value stuff like “…Lorcins…and Jennings for backups…” as “…only the best…” are rich fodder, indeed. Also, the “…modified Shrikes…” mounted on “modified” golf carts.
My absolute favorite from the Comments thread:
Truly, truly – I haven’t laughed that hard in eons.
Sort of makes you wonder: Did the people who made this wacky movie maybe draw some inspiration from The Mall Ninjas?…
The best line I saw was “If your plan A is to take multiple shots of .308 to the back, you really need a plan B.”
Is Fat Albert touring eastern Europe?
The Swarm
Weird. The Mall Ninja came up out of the blue over on E-P.com in the past couple of days, too.
Something in the air?
What do you call a problem so easy to solve that only a schmuck couldn’t do it?
Answer: A typical Gubmint “program” – right?
Re Dragon NaturallySpeaking. OK, I’m sold. I got it a few days ago and installed yesterday. My wife was unable to use it (I think it wasn’t her accent so much as her constant variations in pronouncing English words) so it’s mine now. After training yesterday (training both the software and myself, that is) today I dictated a short story and parts of a couple of chapters of a non-fiction book. Accuracy on the short story was good (with proper names being the major source of inaccuracy). Accuracy for the non-fiction book was so-so, but that’s because it’s a martial arts training book and many of the terms are Englishized Chinese. However, the corrections won’t be much worse than normal — my typing accuracy is better than the dictated text, but I always make a lot of minor changes, so the relative increase in changes isn’t that great.
As for controlling my desktop, meh. I can hit PgDn or select a window much faster with mouse or keyboard than the software responds.
My next experiment is to get a digital voice recorder and dictate while driving, exercising, or buying groceries, then see how well that goes into the system. If I can put that dead time to use I’ll be happy.
If you use Windows and enter any sizable amount of text, this is highly recommended.
It’s always been my assumption that NaturallySpeaking requires a quiet room so there are no extraneous voices picked up. Your next experiment will be an acid test, especially buying groceries with other conversations going on. Also, what are the odds you’ll be reported/detained/questioned for using the voice recorder in public?
Lorenzo, all it needs is a good noise-canceling mike headset, and it can handle a fair amount of noise. I use it while listening to the oldies rock station on the mighty Advents.
Steve, it learns, so its accuracy will improve somewhat over time.
It worked ok this evening with the 4-y-o watching TV and chattering away off and on. Of course, my voice is a bit deeper than a 4-year-old girl’s or Strawberry Shortcake’s. Might not work so well with multiple similar voices competing.
Reported? Couldn’t tell you. Detained or questioned? Pretty fucking low. That’s one of my lines in the sand. If a grocery store manager wants to kick me out, fine; it’s private property. If a pig wants to detain me, I will resist with any force necessary, which should suffice.
The question was: What do you call a problem so easy to solve that only a schmuck couldn’t do it?
Warning: This one is sick, so if you don’t want to be disgusted, don’t read any further.
You have been warned.
Answer: A putz-le
Thanks JSB for your response, which was good.
I may be hiding out for a few days.
The hit teams are going out even as we speak.
The number one reason many of us old farts will keep our paper books.
Well, dead-tree journaljism still has its uses, too -
Housebreaking the dog with a computer just doesn’t work too well, and lining your birdcage with an old laptop isn’t very functional either.
Well, it seems central Athens has a few burning buildings, along with other cities. That should give the Germans and the EU full confidence that the Greek politicians will, in fact, follow through on promised austerity cuts and policies.
Not.
The Sling Point Firearms Gun Bunnies: bringing Rule Five and 2A together, like G0d intended.
It’s a blitzkreig here in Michigan already.
Mittens is blowing major bucks with saturation TV ads already nearly two weeks ahead of our primary. This is where he grew up and where his dad was perhaps our best governor in the past 100 years. It’s looking like pure panic.
Michigan delegates are allocated in an unusual way; mostly by congressional district (two at large) so the results could be very interesting.
Posted in honor of all those who shout at brick walls all day long.
You may hate his music, think he’s over-rated and probably spoiled, but the Valentine’s day news that Justin Bieber did the right thing and got married could yet make a Belieber out of you.
Darrell Issa takes big step towards charging Holder with contempt of Congress.
Welcome back from your “undisclosed location”, YKW – or did one of the hit-teams get too close to you, and you decided to “go public” again?
BTW – on the Issa vs. Holder thing: When Issa stops waving his hands in the air and actually issues a citation, it might get a modicum of interest – if he ever does. If, then (as I would expect), Holder continues to drag and slip and slide and delay, Issa actually backs the citation up with anything other than more hand-waving and spouting, we’ll see…
What’s the last time anyone in a current Administration was actually cited for contempt of Congress, and what was the outcome at that time?
Meanwhile, a) Holder’s already clearly demonstrated that he has little other than contempt for Issa, any other part of Congress (or anyone else) that might try to come after him, and the so-far moderately risible efforts to get past his stonewalling on Fast And Furious, and b) the closer we get to election-time, the less likely it is that any of this is going to have any effect on Holder, Li’l Obambam or even Issa, since all the electioneering hoopla is going to bury it all even deeper.
JSB, those hit-teams turned out to be easy to deal with. Whenever one approached, I told them one of my jokes. Then I finished them off while they were vomiting.
I like to think Darrell Issa is just working himself up to it. Besides there’s the timing thing. Don’t want to climax too soon. These may be foolish thoughts, but one has to keep something to hope for.
Hey Bill, is this you?
Obama losing financial backing of big S.F. donor
I mean SF could stand for San Francisco or it could stand for science fiction. Either way, it fits.
But then if he loses all of nothing that’s not losing much, and would it make sense to call someone who gave nothing a big donor? I better take a look see.
OK, it’s an article about why you don’t want to buy any clothing with the Esprit label ever. Suzy Buell is a big influence buyer from the Obama administration. She donates millions. Claims here she personally got the Keystone pipeline shut down.
But she’s a very nice lady with a big heart. She says she wishes voters without big checkbooks could get the same attention she does. I think she could have that wish come true if she just changed her attitude a bit. You donate your money, and if the guy you gave it to wins, that’s it. You got everything you can rightly ask for. But she donates with her name boldly attached to the money, because she thinks that her money rightly buys influence too. Obviously, killing the Keystone pipeline is a lot of influence, but she’s in a snit because it’s not enough purchased power for her. The government is not moving ahead fast enough in implementing Al Gore’s plan, so that’s it. “If I don’t get a heck of a lot more influence, then no more money for you. I successfully killed tens of thousands of jobs for the little people with the Keystone pipeline derailment, but I could kill so many more little people jobs if I had the kind of influence I expect to buy for my money – oh, and by the way, I wish the little people could do what I can, I have such a big heart.”
It could stand for Smelly Feet, given Bill’s obsession with buying socks to cover them up.
(Scathing, I tell you.)
Thinking about these cases where, under federal law, we are seeing these cases where school children are having their home made lunches taken from them and are being forced to purchase a lunch made in the school – is this requirement to purchase the school lunch constitutionally “justified” by the commerce clause?
To put it another way, are we seeing, in miniature, in some way, the establishment of “required to buy” in school lunches? Is there some strategy afoot?
Not saying it’s so, just asking.
Hmmm….
It must be nice to lie like a dog and not get called on it.
As Jeff Goldstein would put it: up is down, black is white and Joanie actually hates Chachi.
True The Vote is crowdsourcing data entry tasks to find fraud in the Walker recall petitions. It took me about 10 minutes to enter one pages worth, and it felt good to actually do something for a good guy.
Sign up is here: http://www.ttvverify.com/volunteer/?source=TTV if you are interested.