This’ll mess with your head

OK.  If you’re straight. you can appreciate the boobs or the man’s ass, depending on your preference.  Gay - same thing.  Bi?  You’re the only people that won’t have a minor disconnect here.

Image after the jump.  NOT safe for work in any way.

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That guy/girl has a nice ass/rack.

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Posted by JimK at 04:22 PM on May 23, 2007
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Categories: Humor,  Other
Tags: weird nude body art

Jerry Falwell dies

Jerry Falwell, 73, died today.  By no means do I mean to celebrate his death, but I have to be honest - his influence on the culture will not be missed by me.  His influence on politics is, at the price of a man’s life, thankfully over.  I’ll never respect his politics, nor will I respect his need to denigrate and verbally assault others in order to elevate his “followers”...and himself.  Still, he did his thing and it seems he built a hell of a family...50 years of marriage, kids that stayed to work with him...that’s something.  And he inadvertently helped to solidify parody law in America, so we should backhandedly thank him for that.

Posted by JimK at 02:50 PM on May 15, 2007
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Categories: News,  Politics,  Other
Tags: Jerry Falwell

More thoughts on privacy, public records and accessibility of data

Dig if you will, a picture: It’s an idyllic Saturday in spring, a typical suburban stripmall anchored by a mega-sized grocery store.  Two vehicles arrive near each other and park.  Out of one hops a 40-something Soccer mom and her two kids, her “Kerry 04” sticker gleaming in the sun right next to the one that says “Hillary 08.” She opens the side panel to her minivan and out pop two beautiful children, somewhere between 6 and 9 years old.

Out of the other hops Joe Citizen, who has a permit to carry his gun.  He’s also 40-something, has been around guns his whole life, has taken classes, practices regularly and follows all common sense safety precautions as well as all laws pertaining to his firearm.  No one can see his gun at any time.  In fact, SoccerMom has no idea if Joe has it with him.  What she does know is that Joe is in a bitter custody battle with his wife, and that anything she can do to help her friend Jane would be obviously justified.  It doesn’t matter than jane drinks and Jane is the one that cheated on Joe.  Jane is her friend and friends help each other.

It just so happens that in this morning’s paper, Joe’s name was on a list of concealed carry permit holders in her state.  A plan develops in Soccermom’s mind, and she walks to a pay phone outside the store to dial 911.

“Oh my God there’s a man with a gun in the grocery store!  He’s threatening people with it!  You’ve got to come quickly!” Eventually it’s discovered that Joe did nothing wrong, but before his name can be cleared and retractions printed in the media, his wife uses the incident to wrangle custody away from him.

All because true conservatives thought it a great idea to publish permit holders in the paper to make the information easily accessible to all.

Scenario two:

Mike and Steve were in love.  They decided to move to Massachusetts, a state that recognizes their right to be emotionally and legally bound as simply as a straight couple, and they got married.  Unfortunately for them, the Boston Globe publishes a list of all gay marriages on the front page of the paper so as to easily identify who is getting “gay married.”

Mike is a lawyer, and a damned good one.  He applies for a job with a law firm.  He’s infinitely qualified.  He’s perfect for the job.  But the hiring partner is a conservative Christian, and not only does he believe as a matter of religious faith that homosexuality is a sin, he knows his clients will be uncomfortable with a gay attorney.

Mike is not in any way a stereotype.  He could never pass for gay on TV, where ridiculous flamboyancy is exchanged for reality.  He’s just a regular guy who looks like any other guy, gay or straight.  he doesn’t talk about being gay to clients, he isn’t an activist, he’s not even associated with any gay causes or websites via a Google search!  The only way anyone would know Mike was gay is if Mike told them...or they read it in the Boston Globe.

What’s wrong with publishing lists like this?  After all...CCW permits and marriage certificates are public record, right?  Why make it difficult for the bigots (or worse) to procure the information?  It should be splashed across the sides of buses.

Right, Andrew?

Posted by JimK at 02:51 PM on May 10, 2007
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Categories: News,  Politics,  Guns - 2nd Amendment,  Other
Tags: Andrew Sullivan firearms guns civil rights

Suicide by chainsaw

Now that’s one determined guy.

A MAN in the German city of Cologne fatally stabbed his elderly father before cutting off his own head with an electric chainsaw, police said yesterday.

German precision engineering makes it possible.  I’d be curious to know what brand he used.  I bet it was a Dolmar or a Stihl.  Even though I think they’re both Japanese now.  Hey, the Japanese know a thing or two about chopping off heads too.  Maybe it was a Makita!

Posted by JimK at 01:01 PM on May 09, 2007
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Categories: News,  International Events,  Other
Tags: weird news

Random shopping/cooking post

I found the following a bit of a comment on why brick & mortar is ultimately doomed.  It will take a long time, mainly due to Wal-Mart’s power.  But brick & mortar will die.

I’ve been looking for more cast iron pans.  I have a great old one that is seasoned just right.  About 20 years old now, i think, but it’s 8” and I have to do mushrooms like 6 at a time in it.  I want a grill pan and a 12” skillet...so i hit bed Bath & Beyond and they have no Lodge cookware.

No.  Lodge.  Iron.  It was all Emeril’s branded iron, and it was rough.  The casts looked cheap and awful.  No amount of seasoning would smooth that out.  Plus they were $29.99 a pop for the 12” pans.  No.  The 10” square grill pans were also $29.99.

Amazon has the Lodge Logic 12” pre-seasoned skillet for $18.58 with free shipping.  If you want to finish it yourself with peanut oil and the oven, you can get the unseasoned for $15.25.  The 10" square grill pan is $19.99 at Amazon with free shipping.

Let me recap: These two pans - inferior versions, I might add, would cost me $63.57 with tax at the only place around here that has a decent cookware selection.  At Amazon, I paid $44.56 plus I got two hot handle holders.

Amazon beats brick & mortar, at least in this case.

Posted by JimK at 10:34 PM on April 03, 2007
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Categories: Shopping,  Other
Tags: lodge iron pans online shopping

Bargain hunter - PQI 4GB CompactFlash Memory Card

I own this PQI 4GB CF card and it’s very very reliable and very fast.  I use it in the Nikon D70 and it is faster than the camera can write.  Real-world transfer speeds compare with a Sandisk Ultra II.  Supermediastore is selling it right now for $45.99 and free ground shipping.

They also have the 8GB version for $113.99.  I’ve only seen one other brand cheaper than this, and that’s Transcend, but the last time I bought a Transcend card it was slow and got hot in any device.  PQI has been pretty good to me so far.  No affiliation, just a great deal if you’re in the market for a larger card.  BTW, I’ve been buying media and memory from Supermediastore for years and never had any problems, in case you’ve never heard of them.  Well, one problem.  They still use shipping peanuts and those things get EVERYWHERE.  Other than that I love the place.  :)

Posted by JimK at 02:42 PM on February 20, 2007
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Categories: Shopping,  Other,  Technobabble (Technology)
Tags: bargains cf memory PQI

An open letter to various and sundry peoples and things

Don’t even read it, you’re going to hate me and think I’m talking about you.  Which I probably am.

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Dear Old Man Winter,

You're a real ass, you know that? Is the wind really necessary?


Dear People Who Shovel In The Middle Of A Snow Storm,

What are you, fucking idiots? When it snows and then freezing rains, DON'T SHOVEL DURING THE RAIN PART! You're just giving the freezing rain access to the sidewalk where it can become an ice hockey rink. Wait for the rain to stop and all that ice will come right up thanks to the snow underneath it. How long have you people lived in the Northeast and you need me to tell you this?


Dear Dixie Chicks,

You realize that half the albums never came out of the shrink wrap, right? And the "Academy" gave you a fistful of "Thanks for yelling at Bush" awards, right? Good. Just checking.


Dear Guy Who Invented truck testicles,

Cancer. Hope ya get it.


Dear Radical Feminists,

I'm speaking to you that believe in female supremacy, not regular women who understand that equality is the goal. You are much, much more obsessed with your vagina than we men are. I just wanted you to know that. You're also unable to discern between men not wanting to lose control and/or leadership roles with men not willing to give those roles to women. It's not about your vagina - it's about losing power, period. No, not that period. Fuck, is everything about your vag? Lastly, when you sling hate and vitriol at all men, you are equally as guilty as men who sling it at women. Turning yourself into an evil parody of a misogynist is never, ever going to get you anywhere. It is, in point of fact, counter-productive to your goal, unless your goal is to be a perpetual victim.


Dear Japan,

WHAT THE FUCK?



Why would she stop the whole song dead for a breakdown and sing "Udon is salty?" WHY? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? AND WHERE ARE ALL THE PANDAS?


Dear Crippled Children,

God hates you. You're all broken because your mommies didn't love Him enough. True story!


Love,
me.


Man, that snow thing is gonna be controversial. The rest of these are obviously fine. *cough*

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Posted by JimK at 08:22 PM on February 15, 2007
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Categories: Other,  Personal,  Things To Ponder

For the Jack Bauer fan in your life

If I didn’t already have a messenger bag I’d be tempted.

Posted by JimK at 09:53 AM on December 18, 2006
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Categories: Shopping,  Television,  24,  Other
Tags: 24 Jack Bauer messenger bag

You’ll put your eye out!

I had some of these!

In the spirit of the holidays, Radar presents the most dangerous toys of all time, those treasured playthings that drew blood, chewed digits, took out eyes, and, in one case, actually irradiated. To keep things interesting, we excluded BB guns, slingshots, throwing stars, and anything else actually intended to inflict harm. Below, our toy box from hell.

I had lawn darts, the old spiky kind.  My cousin had the Sky Dancers and I frickin’ loved launching them.  I had variations on the Fright Factory, and I don’t know where I got it, but it was the old electric deep fryer kind.  I also had the Battlestar Galactica Viper with hot, hot missle launching action.  I also had the old Mattel Ovion, Imperious Leader, Daggit, Adama, Apollo, the Cylon...I had the whole Battlestar Galactica line.

Does this mean I have to turn in my Star Wars original trilogy cool kid card?

Posted by JimK at 10:48 PM on December 13, 2006
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Categories: Other,  Personal
Tags: dangerous toys nostalgia

Vehicle survival kit

The James Kim thing has me thinking - what would I want in my car if that happened to me?  Feel free to add your thoughts to this list.  Let’s create a truly useful emergency car kit.

First of all, you need a water-tight plastic box in which to keep your kit (or at least parts of it).  Otterbox makes the best watertight boxes in the world, but they’re small, good for keeping different things separate.  A larger Pelican case may be what you need to keep the whole kit together.  Others say use a medium to large duffel bag, which of course is a lot cheaper and can be purchased nearly anywhere.  Next - the items to put in the kit.

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- Water - The Red Cross says that tap water that is treated can be stored for six moths, and unopened bottled water for a year.
- Waterproof matches - obvious.
- Rope - any kind, but something strong and waterproof wouldn’t hurt.
- LED flashlight - specifically an LED one, so the battery will last forever.  Here’s a well-reviewed hand-crank model.  This one has a siren and a cell charger, but the charger only works for Nokia phones.  If you are at all handy, you could easily strip that connector and stick one for your phone on there.
- Flares - for signaling, obviously, but also to start a fire if nothing else.
- Knife - preferably one with a strong point for puncturing (say, a window, or the gas tank to get to the fuel) and a serrated section for sawing at things like seatbelt straps.  Also useful for ripping out the seat coverings and padding for use as blankets or fuel for a fire.
- First aid kit - cheap as hell.  Every grocery store or corner market sells ‘em.  Buy one for every car and three for your house.
- Multitool - A Leatherman Wave would be an excellent glove-box addition to any car.  Million uses, way better than a Swiss Army knife.  At $69.85, that might be pricy for some, a good second choice would be the Leatherman Kick at $25.99.
- Thermal blanket - those reflective kind.  More than one.
- Emergency car battery charger - I have one of those little ones that plug in to the lighter socket.  Not great, but it might do in a pinch and you don’t have to worry about it losing a charge like the big heavy ones.
-Toilet paper - hey, you’ll be damn glad of it if you need it, you dig?
-Tarp - a fairly large tarp can be used for so many things - a shelter, ground cover, dragging an injured person, an outer wrap to add another layer of waterproof covering to you or your group...yeah, I’m thinking a tarp is a super-cheap, super-useful addition.
- Duct tape - have you ever, in your life, known a situation that couldn’t be improved by having a roll of duct tape?
- MREs are the obvious answer to the food dilemma.  For $40 you could have self-heating food for one for near a week or food for two for a few days.  Stuff lasts forever.  At 70 degrees MREs last for 8.3 years.  At 60 degrees it’s over 10 years.  Even at 100 degrees, they last 22 months.  Get some, throw ‘em in the trunk and forget about it until you need them.
- Food bars - Mainstay is the one that comes to mind.  They make a 3500 calorie bar pack that lasts for five years.  That’s easily two plus days worth of high-calorie energy, more if you ration it.  Ten of them would take up as much room as a shoebox and feed you and/or a group for many days.

If you plan to road trip, bring some regular food, sandwiches or something.  Even if you don’t use it then, you can eat it when you get where you are going.  Always bring extra water if you plan to drive anywhere that is out of easy walking distance to civilization.  If you have a special condition that requires medicine you are going to want to consider that.  It couldn’t hurt to put together a small supply consisting of a few days worth of your medications and bring them along on any road trip.  If you don’t use them, well...great.  bring them home and call it a successful trip.

I’m thinking cell phone now - how do I make it work for me in a no-coverage area?

- Wire.  Anything conductive.  If need be I’d strip it out of the car, but it would be nice to have a roll of say, 16-gauge speaker wire..  You can make one hell of an antenna out of that.  Climb a tree, attach it to your cell and hope that some tower somewhere at least picks up a ping if not a signal.  100 feet is $20 at Radio Shack.
- Some kind of charger for your cell.  Sidewinder makes a hand-crank model with many different adapters for most cell phones, and it has a little LED light too.  A solar charger might be a viable choice, but much more expensive.
- One of those disposable cell phone batteries would be useful.  In fact as a general rule if there is one compatible with your phone you should pick one up and toss it in the glove box.  Check out Cellboost for all kinds of batteries for all sorts of devices.  The one for my phone is $8.  Cheap at twice the price if you really needed it.

So...what else can you think of that could be inexpensive, easy to buy or make, easy to store and could be extremely useful in an emergency involving you and your car?

*UPDATE*
Important item suggested by others

- A whistle.  Very good idea!  I feel dumb for not having thought of it.  Cheap and very, very useful.
- Hatchet or small axe.  Pretty obvious how that would be useful.

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Posted by JimK at 07:12 PM on December 06, 2006
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Categories: Other,  Personal,  Technobabble (Technology)
Tags: survival disaster car survival kit