8.15.2007
Speaking of what the eff happened...
"Once you got to Iraq and took it over, took down Saddam Hussein's government, then what are you going to put in its place? That's a very volatile part of the world, and if you take down the central government of Iraq, you could very easily end up seeing pieces of Iraq fly off: part of it, the Syrians would like to have to the west, part of it -- eastern Iraq -- the Iranians would like to claim, they fought over it for eight years. In the north you've got the Kurds, and if the Kurds spin loose and join with the Kurds in Turkey, then you threaten the territorial integrity of Turkey. It's a quagmire if you go that far and try to take over Iraq."
Feingold? Gore? Dean? Kerry? Powell? Clark? All wrong.
Find out here.
8.14.2007
OMFG! I didn't know there was a video! OMFG!
36%!
The Look
Could this be why Turd Blossom is running for the hills?
I, for one, welcome our new squirrel overlords.
You can run but you can't hide Turd Blossom
AT&T - bad.
AT&T's Secret NSA Room
For those too lazy to read the article, basically it talks about a class action lawsuit against AT&T which alleges the company has set up a way to physically monitor all IP based communications that travel through their hubs. That means all internet and telephone traffic. For anyone aware of the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program this is a crucial (and illegal) part of creating a system capable of monitoring and parsing every bit of information sent through telecoms for whatever purposes the government deems appropriate. This is Big Brother stuff and before I am dismissed as a paranoid conspiracy theorist, remember that the system is already in place, we just don't know how it is being used.
If you use AT&T switch and write a letter to them explaining why. (Yeesh, trying to find an address or email address is next to impossible. I'll keep searching but if anyone has this info put it in the comments.)
If you aren't using AT&T send them a letter saying you won't be using them and explain why; send one to Apple as well.
8.10.2007
8.09.2007
New Comic

That's comedy gold, people!
8.04.2007
Bill richardson
8.03.2007
Political fanboy
Seriously, Jen Capps and Patty Mallan, wtf?
My mind is blown. Will write more about this development later.
[Later] So I'm in Chicago for the YearlyKos convention, randomly wandering downtown looking for a restaurant or bar to get something to eat. This group of people walk past me. As the last person in the group is walking by I glance over at her. Have you ever noticed those times when your brain just kind of shuts down because it just can't compute. I realized it was Jen Capps about the same time she recognized me and we both just kind of stopped and stood there. It was even more strange because just a week or two earlier I had run into her twice in one day, after not seeing her for more than a year (we currently work in adjacent buildings).
You're probably saying, "so what, people run into someone they know all the time." Well, yeah, I guess so, but it is rare made even more rare by the distances involved. I want to talk about this some more but right now I need to get ready for work.
Oh, and Patty was in the group too. Not sure how but we walked right past each other. Wonder what she's up to these days.
8.02.2007
Yearlykos
A couple pictures of morning over Lake Michigan.
7.30.2007
Gay marriage legalized
7.28.2007
Speaking of soccer
Anyway, congrats to the Iraqis and good luck, I hope you kick some Saudi ass (that's an interesting matchup).
Also, check out Drew Carey saying all the things I want to say to the unenlightened on Letterman:
Well, well
7.26.2007
These guys...
Seated proselytizer: Jesus walked through walls without using the door, and when Jesus touches you, he is inside you and you become like Jesus. So, if you do something to me, I don't need the police. I can just come to your house, because I can get in without keys.
--1 train
Overheard by: thaler
Mexican preacher: Statistics show one in one person will die.
--Times Square
Overheard by: soccerking3t
Religious nut: You have to accept God! His holy grace! His saving grace! He's got all kinds of grace!
--Grand Central
Bible-thumper: There's no way if you wrap citric acid, cola, and carbonation in aluminum foil and stick in in the fridge for a million years it's ever going to evolve into a Coke!
--Tompkins Square Park
Preacher: The best thing you can have on your resume when you die is not that you went to Harvard, not that you have a Ph.D., but that you have eternal life.
--Staten Island Ferry
Overheard by: God requires a resume?
via Overheard in New York, Jul 25, 2007
...need to see this picture.

(picture yoinked from here)
Hey illegal immigrants, screw picking grapes...
So True.
Hoochie: Let me tell you, there is a huge difference between a generally good party and a generally good party with naked girls.
--St. Mark's & 2nd Ave
Overheard by: Steve
via Overheard in New York, Jul 25, 2007
7.24.2007
Best ads ever
7.20.2007
Ray Hudson is, in fact, insanely awesome
My favorite on that list:
Here you see him, trickier than a monkey up a monkey tree.
Hudson, 19:09 1st
Seriously, WTF? But I can't help laughing.
7.18.2007
Darfur and water troubles
I am aware that the situation in Darfur is terrible. However, I am completely ignorant of the reasons behind the conflict. According to this BBC report it's water. Are there other conflicts that foreshadow the looming problem? Kashmir? Nepal? Congo? Las Vegas (there should be a second link here but I can't find it, where was I reading that)?
7.17.2007
Those stories about women's colleges are true, aren't they?
Student #1: Jess, come here. I need your help.
Student #2: I am not touching your cooter again.
Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts
via Overheard Everywhere, Jul 16, 2007
7.16.2007
Mr. Lee the Cat Photographer
Kind of cool
7.15.2007
Just found this
VegDC. Who's up for checking out Java Green. Speaking of vegetarians I've been on the mailing list for this Meetup group for a long time but have never gone, anyone interested in going to one of their events with me?
Sound like LNSers to me...
For Those Who Think It Tragic That White Birthrates Are Dropping
Old frat boy #1: Yeah, dude, I really need to get my stuff together. I've already graduated college and I still live like I'm in college.
Old frat boy #2: Yeah, don't mess around and end up like Mike* -- he's about to have a second kid. Both of them were mistakes.
Old frat boy #1: Yeah, I always make the girls I have sex with stand on their heads after. I'm so glad that urban legend is true.
Old frat boy #2: Haha, yeah, I always make the girls I hook up with do post-coital jumping jacks.
Metrobus
Washington, DC
Overheard by: Tyler
via Overheard Everywhere, Jul 14, 2007
City Paper cover story of Late Night Shots (LNS), only read this if you are prepared to be thoroughly disgusted, pissed off and possibly homocidal.
Wonkette laughing at these morons since June 2006.
7.13.2007
Out of Africa
So I just finished watching Out of Africa again. I last saw it when it came out in theaters (it was in Manassas, so it may have been at the dollar theater a year after it was released) and this is what I remember from the first time:
I didn't really understand the plot or follow the story line (I think I might have even fallen asleep at times).
Africa was/is beautiful
The cinematography was awesome (yes, I noticed that at the tender age of 15 (or 16), it was one of the reasons I think my parents took me to see it)
The plane scene was incredible, I think that is when I decided I love flying (maybe I just liked it before?).
Here is what I know now:
Meryl Streep was not “hawt” but strong, independent women are hot.
Any guy that doesn't have a man-crush on Robert Redford is either psychotically oppressively gay or dead inside or just doesn't like blonds.
Best line of the movie:
Hans (Streep's husband, Klaus Maria Brandauer): “You could have asked, Dennis.”
Dennis (Streep's lover, Robert Redford): “I did. She said yes.”
The British/Spanish/Dutch/Germans/Italians/French (aw, hell, Europeans)/Americans fucked it all up for the rest of us (meaning future generations of those nationalities and the people they “colonized”).
Dennis (Redford) came the closest I've seen in a while to expressing my reservations about marriage. (Paraphrase: Would I love you less with or without a piece of paper)
Karen (Streep) came the closest I've seen in a while to expressing the argument against my reservations. (Paraphrase: No, but at least you would have acknowledged that you have a reason/obligation to be here with me (there is more to it than that, but it's a start)).
I yearn for a true frontier.
Europeans/Americans mistook technology, bureaucracy and strict social mores for civilization.
Africa was/is beautiful
The cinematography was incredible.
The plane scene was awesome.
Coffee can be grown at high altitudes.
I have actually had this happen...more than once
Blonde salesgirl on phone with IT: My computer is not working.
IT guy: Did you plug everything in right?
Blonde salesgirl: Yes! Of course! The light is on, but nothing's happening. [IT guy goes to her office, bends over, presses power button and walks out.] But the light was on!
IT guy: That's your screen. The computer is the big box on the floor.
Office, Meilleur Street
Montreal
Canadia
Overheard by: ID-10-T
via Overheard in the Office, Jul 12, 2007
7.12.2007
Well, Republicans, are you proud?
1) The power of the internet
2) The myth of the weak Democrats
3) The truth that the Democrats have been and continue to be the party of the lower and middle classes while the Republics have been and continue to be the party of the rich
4) Democrats are for education, Republics are for money
5) Democrats think long-term, Republics are short timers
Yet Another Example
7.11.2007
F*** Yeah I Am!
You are an Eco-Avenger, also known as an environmentalist or tree hugger. You believe in saving the planet from the clutches of air-fouling, oil-drilling, earth-raping conservative fossil fools.
Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com
Awww yeah, shake it little otter [BARRY WHITE VOICE]
Otters RULZZ!
7.10.2007
OH!! SHNAP!!
UPDATE: Couple links for you, Michael Moore's site, an anecdotal story about audience reaction in Texas, Texas people! In the comments from the audience reaction piece I found these links, One Care Now and Health Care For All, which are specific to California but might be a good model for the rest of the country. Finally, House Resolution 676, introduced by John Conyers, there don't seem to be any bills introduced in the Seanate.
7.06.2007
7.04.2007
7.03.2007
7.01.2007
6.27.2007
Da da da daaah, Da da daaaah... Da da da daaah... Da da DA DA DA...!
6.22.2007
Bush is an asshat!
Read the last line (the trash line, not the God line, although...) and tell me you don't want to kick him in the teeth.
Update [06/27/07]: Seriously, no one wants to kick him in the teeth? Do I have to do everything around here?
6.15.2007
Putting Manassas on the map
When the Hudson Brothers Won the Nobel Gay Prize
World History teacher: The Nazis imprisoned more people than just the Jews -- handicapped people, homosexuals--
Bimbette, interrupting: --They had homos back then? I thought they didn't invent that until, like, the '70s.
Osbourn High School
Manassas, Virginia
Overheard by: This is the last time I take a class that isn't Honors
via Overheard Everywhere, Jun 15, 2007
6.12.2007
6.05.2007
Happened to me just the other day.
Happens to Everyone Eventually
Woman #1: I fell down the stairs yesterday.
Woman #2: Oh my god! Me, too! What happened?
Woman #1: I don't know. I just fell.
Woman #2: I guess I'm a little better than you -- a possum was chasing me.
Target
Virginia
via Overheard Everywhere, Jun 4, 2007
6.04.2007
5.31.2007
Tick bite!
Actually this is the "bullseye" rash from the tick bite that sent me to the emergency room. Apparently, getting a rash like this from a tick bite and a raging headache, fever and joint pains means things are not going to just work themselves out. There were a couple of firsts that were a result of this.
1) First time I've been in a hospital as a patient (not counting being born; ironically, I went to the hospital in which I was born).
2) First time I've ever had an IV.
Woohoo!
So, they didn't tell me exactly what I have yet but the drug they gave me, Doxycycline is used to treat sinusitis, syphilis, chlamydia, acne, anthrax, malaria, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (which I think I've had before), and my personal favorite, elephantitis.
5.30.2007
5.27.2007
5.26.2007
Harry who?
Movie website
Fun
Some background about the movie and about the book, here's stuff about the author including his website and an interview, some stuff about the religious aspects, comparisons to Narnia, some of the controversy, some articles by Pullman and then there is this asshole.
5.25.2007
You will never defeat me! Maybe not, but I will impale you.
Here are the unicorns I kept.
The awesomeness of Cold War unicorns is beyond words.
I've got a bad feeling about this.

Thirty years ago this weekend. Thank you George Lucas for making it ok to be a geek (too bad you're a pompous jackass). Star Wars Memorial Day Weekend movie marathon anyone?
Time magazine review
Washington Post review
Uh, guys?
With the addition on Juan Pablo Angel it's looking like NY Red Bulls may finally be living up to the hopes and expectations of the MLS executives. They are 5-1-2 with 6 shutouts. Take a look at these highlights. I'm kind of ok with this development, the DC-NY rivalry, in my mind, was always the one with the potential to be the most intense in MLS... except that NY has always sucked. Maybe now DC can welcome them to the elite of MLS which currently has a membership of one (suck it LA).
5.23.2007
Champions League Final Today
AC Milan-Liverpool: A replay of the 2005 'Miracle In Istanbul'
This could be a snoozefest as both teams try not to make a mistake. But I think it is more likely to be a barnburner, 3-2 Milan.
UEFA
ESPN
BBC
La Gazzetta
UPDATE: OMFG! I just put it together, my parents are in Italy RIGHT NOW!! They better be watching it somewhere!!! ARRRGGGHHH!!! so jealous!
The trials of working in IT
Project manager: We need to get the turnover rate for the past 12 months.
Database admin: I have that. I can give you the turnover for the past year.
Project manager: Great! We'll also need it for the previous 12 months.
Database admin: I'm confused -- isn't the past 12 months the previous 12 months?
Project manager: Yes.
1055 Lenox Park Boulevard
Atlanta, Georgia
Overheard by: Iga
via Overheard in the Office, May 21, 2007
5.20.2007
5.18.2007
New tool
Oh God, I'm laughing so hard my sides hurt.
Welcome new "liberals"
And by "liberals" I mean people that are now saying some of the exact same things we have been saying for years (namely that the Shrub will destroy America, through stupidity, vindictiveness, corruption and incompetency) and who at the time(s) we said those things called us traitors and worse. And by welcome I mean STFU and sit in the corner for a while and just watch and listen and maybe you'll learn something about being a decent human being... but I'm not hopeful.
5.17.2007
Here's my analogy of the situation in Iraq
The Repubs are saying, "we have to keep punching it until all the bees are dead."
The Repubs are also saying "The Democrats want us to drop the nest and run away."
The Democrats are saying, "But, we can't just keep holding this damn thing and we'll never be able to kill all the bees."
What we, the people are saying (or should be saying) is, "Crap, this was really stupid. Hey kid, come here and hold this until the bees quiet down, but, uh, first put on that beesuit and, uh, here's a smoker (smoke knocks bees out, it’s true). Only use the smoker on the bees that are on the suit and, uh, hey, all you people standing around, grab that hose, spray the kid down every once in a while. We'll be standing over here with this can of RAID to help you out. And once the bees calm down a little, set the nest down and take a couple steps back and we'll all come up with a plan to deal with the bees at that time. Oh and by the way, we're really sorry about all this, one of the bees stung us earlier and we might have overreacted a little."
P.S. Sorry, got bees on the brain.
Evolutionary thought experiment
There are two main reasons why the answer is sort of. First, evolution is a game of pressure, both positive and negative. Being able to produce more flowers would be positive pressure for the non-nectar producers, but because the robot bees would still service all of the flowers equally there is no negative pressure on the nectar producers. This would result in what I call passive evolution, the non-nectar producers have an advantage but it's only in the numbers game. This would probably result in nectar producing becoming a recessive trait (this is a massive generalization, I don't think anyone knows if genes can change their dominant-recessiveness and if they can how it occurs).
The second reason is the mechanics of nectar production. The most likely scenario is that multiple genes are involved, but for argument's sake let us say that there is just one. The first question is, is there already a recessive non-nectar gene? Possible but not very likely, there would be incredible negative pressure on that gene. Any plants unfortunate to exhibit the trait would only reproduce through randomness (drunk bees bumping into the flowers after visiting the nectar producing neighbors) or bee attraction via other stimuli (bees being attracted by flower color and not by the more powerful nectar attraction). So, recessive gene possible but unlikely due to the huge positive pressure of nectar producers and the huge negative pressure of non-nectar producers. The second question to ask regarding the mechanics of nectar production is, if there is not already a recessive non-nectar gene how likely is it that a mutation would create one? Not too likely. First, we've already made the unlikely assumption that only one gene is involved, then we have to make the equally unlikely assumption that one mutation would turn off nectar production.
So, what we have is, if non-nectar producers exist they will have very slight advantage which may eventually result in their dominance, if they don't currently exist they may come about randomly and eventually become dominant.
Which brings us to the real point of this whole convoluted rambling: evolution is crazy complicated. People who say they don't believe in it have no fucking clue what they are talking about, they don't believe in it because it is too complicated for them to understand. The majority of people who believe in it simply believe in it, they don't really understand it. Some people such as myself (I was studying to be a geneticist or evolutionary biologist in college) see that most people don't understand and see some of the mistakes people make but only a very small minority really have a good grasp on it. I mean, I know I said some things above about which an evolutionary biologist would say "You're right but not for the reason you think," or "you're wrong about this assumption." And the final kicker is that even those who really know what they are talking about would readily admit that there is a lot that they still don't understand.
5.16.2007
Cage of Steel "Death" Match
Two will enter but only, uh, two will come out.
5.14.2007
5.11.2007
BWAHAHAHAHAHA II
5.09.2007
Impressive, no?
Bill Richardson is the most qualified candidate out there. Unfortunately, I think he is too tight with the “inside the beltway” crowd and too cozy with the corporations. But I think I need to do that research again to make sure.
Latest VoteVets ad
This ad is being played in districts and states of Republicans who are close to breaking ranks with Preznit Pissypants and his immoral, criminal war. Amazingly, John Warner (VA-Sen) is one of the targets, maybe us Virginians should give him a call, (202) 224-2023, and let him know we will welcome his rejection of the Idiot-in-Chief and his return to sanity.
5.08.2007
This is how I fill my day.
There is now a computer installed permanently in the main conference room to be used for presentations. This will eliminate the need to connect a laptop for each presentation. How do you use it? Follow these easy steps:
- Turn on the power to the media system (blue arrow in picture below)

- Select the computer as the source (green arrow in picture above)
- Get out the wireless keyboard and mouse located in the first cabinet closest to the door
- Moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard should wake up the computer and send signals to the screen. If the screen remains blank:
- Verify that the screen is on, the light on the lower right corner of the screen should be green
- Verify that the computer is on, the computer is located under the conference table and there should be a green light near the middle of the face plate.
- Verify that the wireless keyboard and mouse are working:
- Log in as you normally would:
- Username: lastname firstinitial
- Password: your normal password
- Log on to: NA
- If the computer is locked by another user you will need to find that user or me or call the helpdesk (202-530-4890) to unlock the computer (alternative method: manually turning off and restarting the computer)
- If this is the first time you have used the computer it may be very slow for the first 5-10 minutes as the computer creates your local computer profile.
- When you are finished be sure to shut down or restart the computer.
- Be sure to return the wireless keyboard and mouse to the cabinet.
5.07.2007
Iraqi Blogs
I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Don’t have time to actually visit any of the blogs right now and don’t really know if this is legitimate yet (in other words, not some right wing propaganda) but will check it out this evening. In the meantime, if you have the time, check some of them out and let me know if they look real and if there is some way for Americans to directly engage Iraqis.
5.05.2007
For Fu#$%s sake people, it's spelled LOSE not LOOSE
5.03.2007
5.02.2007
John Edwards just became my top choice.
He has done and said just about everything I want to hear from my next president. More detail on why we need to draft Gore and why Edwards would be the best second choice later.
To thine ownself be true and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then lose a game
The All Shakespeare Starting XI
This is awesome, combining 4 of my favorite things: soccer, Shakespeare, literary analysis and in the combination of those three, extreme geekitude.
5.01.2007
To save the world we had to seal the portals
Must be a Nationals fan
Girl: That's totally the last time I'm getting pregnant. It takes all the fun out of drinking!
RFK Stadium Metro Station
Washington, DC
via Overheard Everywhere, May 1, 2007
































