April 10, 2007
Big Brother is On Campus, and Watching You!
On 10 December 2006, there was an off-campus shooting involving a University of Washington student. Read about it HERE.
Now the UW administration is considering "extending" the Student Code of Conduct, which raises an interesting question of legality.
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The shooting has prompted the UW to look further into the proposal for an extended Student Code of Conduct — a consideration that has been ongoing for months — which would apply to students living off as well as on campus. |
Well, that's all fine and dandy, but I forsee just a few minor problems.
1. Since when does the off-campus private life of an adult (defined as being over the age of 18) become the business of the University's administration?
2. Which parts of the current Student Code of Conduct, when applied off-campus, are clearly un-constitutional?
I'd be willing to bet that UW would dearly love to say "no student shall have in their possession at any time any firearm". Of course, they'd dress it all up in beaurocrat language, with clauses, sub-clauses, and other such folderol.
In fact, I'll be willing to put up Big Money - $0.25 American - that they'll try just that.
Any takers?
Posted by ward at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2007
A Minor Tale Of Two Houses
OK, let's start the Old Wierd Ward Quizzes.
I will, from time to time, post a little quiz. If you guess right, you get to puff yourself up, and admire yourself in the mirror. If you're wrong, no one will ever know - unless you beat your breast and shout "mea culpa!"
Here's the first one, a tale of two houses, shamelessly lifted from Kim duToit:
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HOUSE # 1: A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house all heated by gas. In ONE MONTH ALONE this mansion consumes more energy than the average American household in an ENTIRE YEAR. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400.00 per month. In natural gas alone (which last time we checked was a fossil fuel), this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not in a northern or Midwestern “snow belt,” either. It’s in the temperate South. HOUSE # 2: Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university, this house incorporates every “green” feature current home construction can provide. The house contains only 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat pumps, which draw ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F) heats the house in winter and cools it in summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas, and it consumes 25% of the electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Flowers and shrubs native to the area blend the property into the surrounding rural landscape. |
Give up?
HOUSE # 1 (20-room energy guzzling mansion) is outside Nashville, Tennessee. It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist (and Oscar-winning filmmaker) Al Gore.
HOUSE # 2 (model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas. Also known as “the Texas White House,” it is the private residence of the (endlessly vilified) President of the United States, George W. Bush.
Posted by ward at 09:58 PM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2007
Terrorists by All Means - Legal or Criminal
Remember the "Flying Imams"?
Now those suckwads are making noises about suing the folks that notified the aircraft crew and law enforcement about their weird behavior.
THIS COLUMN explains my attitude very well. Read the whole thing.
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Dear Muslim Terrorist Plotter/Planner/Funder/Enabler/Apologist, You do not know me. But I am on the lookout for you. You are my enemy. And I am yours. I am John Doe. |
I will add, personally, "I don't like you one little bit. And I'm running out of patience..."
Posted by ward at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2007
Who Is The Hero?
Justin Timberlake. Britney Spears. Bruce Crandall.
Which one of the above hit the front pages of any major newspaper on the same day for this:
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Major Crandall's daring acts of bravery and courage in the face of an overwhelming and determined enemy are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. |
Click the link HERE, read the whole thing.
The area I live in has a major military presence - there's Navy and Marines all over the place. Yet, the Florida Times-Union absolutely buried this story, as did the NY Times, the LA Times, and all the rest.
If I weren't a compulsive newspaper front-to-back reader, I would never have known about it.
Pfui.
I think I'm going to start harassing any and all MSM (MainStreamMedia) outlets that annoy me.
Sigh. It's going to be a loooong life....
Posted by ward at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)
February 02, 2007
More on Freedom of Speech for Soldiers
Mr. Arkin has responded (HERE) to some of the criticism left in the comments to his article (HERE).
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These men and women are not fighting for money with little regard for the nation. The situation might be much worse than that: Evidently, far too many in uniform believe that they are the one true nation. They hide behind the constitution and the flag and then spew an anti-Democrat, anti-liberal, anti-journalism, anti-dissent, and anti-citizen message that reflects a certain contempt for the American people. |
Mr. Arkin might consider that most people who are in the military already are "True Believers". And that they do believe that they are standing between their beloved home and the forces of evil and darkness.
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What I've heard ever since my article "The Troops Also Need to Support the American People" was published on Tuesday are a lot of people telling ME to shut up and be grateful for the sacrifices others are making. |
Mr. Arkin, you might want to consider this: There are a whole bunch of folks out there who don't agree with you, especially with the notion that an honest opinion that doesn't agree with yours does not automatically make someone "anti-" anything.
Mr. Arkin, you are not the final arbiter of opinion. And just like any other American, our soldiers are entitled to their opinions. For you to say "I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people." is highly inappropriate.
I'd like to remind you that American soldiers are also "American people". And for you to suggest that military commanders dictate to their subordinates what they should approve or disapprove of smacks mightily of "thought police".
A final thought: I don't want you to "shut up". I want you to continue to be what you so obviously are. Go ahead and trot your opinions out there - and be prepared to have some of your readers disagree with you. Even if they are active-service military people. After all, dissent and debate are the American Way.
If that makes me "arrogant" and "intolerant", so be it.
And, by the way... Where were YOU in '72?
Posted by ward at 09:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 22, 2007
A Little More on Invective
She Who Must Be Obeyed has laid a little of what she's pleased to call "Linkie Luv" on me at her site, and also a little bit to my friend John Dominik at his site.
The whole schemozzle started HERE, then John weighed in HERE whereupon my Sweetie laid THIS out for public consumption.
Flowers? Dinner (at a nice joint)? Chocolate?
Sure - nada problema. That's already budgeted anyway.
Jewlery? May or may not fit the budget, but I'll try....
And, Sweetheart, when the next telemarketer calls, I'll try to make sure that you are not forced to listen to me verbally dismember the cretin...
--
Posted by ward at 06:13 PM | Comments (1)
January 18, 2007
A Great Thought
I know, I've been falling down on the job. I haven't posted in fourteen forevers, and all six of my regular readers have fallen into the deepest, darkest despair.
Well, I'm baaaaaack!
And here it is, my thoughts that will save mankind, bring peace to the world, and provide unlimited, FREE beer to me and my closest friends.
Chickie, my twelve-year-old daughter, made this point while I was driving her home from her dance classes (Tap and Ballet) tonight.
"Daddy, how come Creedence Clearwater Revival sounds so much like Huey Lewis and The News"?
Ummmmm....
The essence of Rock 'n Roll music is very simple.
The best Rock 'n Roll makes you tap your foot, sing along with band (off key, of course), and dance like a retard.
And.... that's it - The Essence of Rock 'n Roll.
Posted by ward at 09:04 PM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2006
On Civilization
I'm not a great philosopher - but I don't need to be.
There are other people out there to do the heavy lifting for me.
I've seen, at various times, third-world pest-holes, and been mightily glad that I don't live in such a place.
Kim du Toit, HERE, put in two quotes that summarizes why true civilization is a much better deal than barbarism. If you're not completely lazy, you'll follow the links to read the entire essays, HERE and HERE.
The Distillation of Civilization is this snippet from Mrs. du Toit:
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There is something to be said about a life of happiness, the simple joys of sharing your daily bread. But there is also something equally interesting and important about a life with a safety net. The simple things are handled. We get to focus on greatness. |
For all of us in the First World - the "simple things", like garbage collection and disposal, putting food on the table, turning on the lights at the flick of a switch, these "simple things" that we take for granted are actually hard-won necessities that really do allow us to "focus on greatness".
The "simple things" came to us through the sweat and tears, and all to often, the blood of our predecessors. I mention the "blood" on purpose. Think of all the wars and famines that raged through Europe in the past. And our own Civil War, and the struggles and friction that we've had since then.
And from those wars, and that friction, our predecessors managed to build a country in which Catholic and Jew and Muslim and Protestant, White and Brown and Black, Asian and European, all manage to live together WITHOUT trying to kill each other.
Instead, we live together, work together, and worship as we choose. We cooperate.
It's been a long hard road, as our predecessors will tell us at every opportunity. And, so far, we've listened and tried to build on their works.
The results are there for all to see. The results are obvious.
These ideas and ideals are not bounded by borders or geography. They are not limited by the edicts of man. For the edicts of man are small beer indeed compared to the power of ideas.
Here in America we build things. We build ideas, and put 'em up for all to see. Those ideas are tested. They are battered and knocked around. If they stand the test of time, they survive and grow. This Test is not static - it is dynamic, with many shifts and viewpoints brought to bear.
And I sure as Hell do NOT want to live in a Third-world shithole. I like it here in America just fine, Thank You!
Instead of focussing on survival, I get to focus on greatness.
Even if I'm not real good at "great".
Posted by ward at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)
October 29, 2006
Anything into Oil
I posted about THIS about a year ago. Read the whole update article. Then get after your local big industries and politicians to get rolling on this - especially as regards sewage treatment, landfills and agricultural waste.
It looks like the full-sized pilot plant that deals with turkey guts has been optimized for what it's supposed to deal with, and almost all of the little bugs have been swatted.
Presuming it works as expected, in about twenty years, we'll be able to do the following:
1. Tell the assorted Islamic states with large oil deposits to go pound sand.
2. Clean up a large chunk of our industrial base at a profit.
3. Make recycling of almost everything a profitable enterprise.
Of course, there's a certain type of politician out there that will scream about the dislocations in the economy of some of the oil-exporting countries, and try to regulate these things out of existence. That type of politician will be standing in front of a moving freight train, holding up his/her hand, commanding the train to stop.
Note: I put this into the "Society" category because of the changes in our society that this technological development will force. Just imagine, NOT being dependent on other countries for our energy needs?
Posted by ward at 09:32 AM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2006
MSM (MainStreamMedia) and Me
I see that Air America has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
That's a shame, because the more that differing viewpoints are available, the better.
I spend a certain amount of time in a car, about 1 hour a day, either listening to music, or listening to talk radio. I listen to Hannity, and Limbaugh, and Boortz. I would love to listen to ... who?
Why would I love to listen to "them"?
Because they aren't Hannity/Boortz/Limbaugh. I want that differing viewpoint.
I hear "conservative" talk-show hosts, and their callers, hammering the Democrats. I don't hear "liberal" talk-show hosts, and their callers hammering the Republicans.
I've listened, a little bit, to streaming audio of some of the "liberal" crew getting down on the Republicans - but I wasn't impressed, because it wasn't a big enough sample.
On the gripping hand, the "major" media outlets, the ABC/NBC/CBS/CNN crowd have been steadily losing market share to Fox, and to the Web.
And why might that be? Especially the "Web" part?
Try this search at Google: north korea nuke
More than 9 million results.
Now try: gerry studds
Yahoo is/was big, Google is best, and I, the consumer, can pick and choose, and do my own research - which really irks the MSM (MainStreamMedia). They want to be the gatekeepers, the deciders of "All The News That's Fit To Print". But now, they're not. And it really drives 'em wild that with minimal effort, I (the consumer) can get all kinds of information that is NOT filtered by the MSM (MainStreamMedia) - from any and all sides of any argument.
Ain't it cool?
Posted by ward at 06:41 PM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2006
Tipping the Waiter/Waitress
Just today, I stopped into a Cracker Barrel for lunch. The food was OK, but I really enjoyed that lunch.
So, why would Old Wierd Ward write about his "dining experience" at a monster chain restaurant.
Why else? I, my friends, am gonna rant.
And why, pray tell, is OWW going to rant? Check out FairTip.Org. Then check out this nonsense. Then come back here for the flame. Take your time - I'll wait.
If I see a restaurant that has a "mandatory gratuity", I will do the following:
1. Not go in the door.
2. Spit on the so-called "welcome mat".
3. Picket the joint to warn other members of the public that they're about to get ripped off.
Now, then, you bozos, listen up, and listen good.
A "tip" is a bonus from me, the customer, rendered to you, the waiter/waitress, based upon the perceived quality of service I receive when I happen to wander into your greasy spoon.
Here's OWW's Rules of Tipping:
0% - or 2 cents: My coffee cup got empty and stayed that way. The food was cold when it arrived. You were more interested in your cell phone than your customer.
5%: My coffee cup got empty and stayed that way. The food was cold when it arrived. You weren't interested in fixing the problem - "I'll get the manager for you" doesn't make me happy.
10%: I had to ask for a "warmer-upper" on the coffee, but you didn't make rude faces. The food was OK when it arrived. You smiled and said "yessir" at least once.
15%: I didn't have to ask for a thing. Food was at least warm when it arrived. You smiled at least once at my crappy jokes about the weather. I had to ask for mustard to put on my gourmet hamburger. But the burger really was gourmet quality.
20%: If my coffee cup got below 1/2 full, you refilled it. You were unobtrusive, but you were there - I noticed you were there, but you still anticipated my desires without me saying a word. Definitely superior service.
25%: PFM. "Pure Flaming Magic". Your took my order, then disappeared. I never saw you, but everything just magically appeared. My coffee cup magically refilled itself. My "gourmet burger" was perfect in all respects (right down to the lettuce being crispy without being damp), including two varieties of mustard. The very best of service, and you get the very best tip.
"Mandatory Gratuity"? Not a chance in Hell.
Posted by ward at 09:18 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2006
CAIR and "Islamic Fascists"
So, CAIR doesn't like the Prez using the words "Islamic Fascists".
Personally, I think Bush is making a very careful distinction here, one that I agree with.
Any reasoning person can make the distinction between "Islam" and "Islamic Fascist".
Just like any reasoning person knows the difference between "Italian" and "Fascist" or "German" and "Nazi" or "Spaniard" and "Inquisition".
CAIR, we do know the difference between "Islam" and "Islamic Fascist".
Now, it is time, and past time, for you to step up. Are you Americans, or not?
MY allegiance is not to a religion. I don't care if my neigbors are Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, Wiccan, Jain, Jew, or Baptist.
MY allegiance is to the United States of America. Where everyone worships, or not, as they choose. MY government doesn't care, except that YOU are free to worship as you choose.
So, what say you, members of CAIR?
Posted by ward at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
Listening...
So, here I am, dealing with "comment spam".
It's made slightly more bearable by listening to some decent music.
Blood, Sweat and Tears. The Rolling Stones (back when Mick could actually sing). Kansas. Moody Blues. Boston. Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Simon and Garfunkle. Santana. CCR. Van Zandt. TJB. And, for a little variety, Parkening, E. Power Biggs, and a few of the Big Band crowd.
And...for the RIAA, I paid for it all, at various times, you miserable lawyerly pukes!
Posted by ward at 09:00 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2006
Fear and the Fear of Fear
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Fear of George Bu$H Fear of Walmart |
Me? I used to be afraid of my darling ex-wife's ever-changing cast of lawyers.
That is, until my divorce family law practitioner informed me that while at a Bar Association function she (My lawyer) had heard that more than one of the Ex's former lawyers had taken the unusual step of "firing the client". Not for being "wrong", as in wanting more than the law allowed, or in being "difficult", as in being stubborn about being "wrong". Nope, the Ex was "fired" by 2 or 3 different law firms for being a complete PITA - to her own lawyers!
I swear upon my honor as an Old White Guy that it's true!
I must confess to being astonished. I didn't think that lawyers ever fired a client, as long as billable hours were in the offing...
Anyway, now the only things I'm afraid of is the IRS, my girl-children (Hey, I'm a guy. I'm always afraid of what they'll come up with next!), and whether or not the next thunderstorm is going to trash my PC when I'm not looking.
Oh, I almost forgot.
I'm afraid of the empty state of the beer shelf in my refrigerator.
Posted by ward at 06:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 08, 2006
Civilized? Or Not?
D'you really, Really, REALLY want to piss American people off?
Threaten their children. Or other people's children. Any child.
Go ahead - and see what happens. There's a visceral... something that happens in any normal person. A baring of fangs, and the hands curl into claws, and the defense of The Child is in full Protective Mode, and God Himself won't save you if you so much as raise a finger to anyone's child.
A college psych instructor tried it HERE, got flamed AND outed, and gave it up as a lost cause HERE.
To show what a wingnut this person is, go to THIS ARTICLE, written in defense of another moonbat named Ward Churchill.
Frisch, in my opinion, is at the very least worthy of investigation under Federal law for:
1. Using interstate commerce (the Internet) to make terroristic threats.
2. Using interstate commerce (the Internet) to incite other persons to commit crimes.
We've recently had some difficulties with someone in the neighborhood about the interactions between one of OUR children, and one of THEIR children. That was upsetting enough. There were NO repeat NO threats of or about the children on either side. Nontheless, there are hard feelings there. Mrs. OWW and I are not happy about any of it. BUT, we do not feel that our children have been or are threatened. And I'm confident that the other party, while not happy with us, does not feel that THEIR child has been threatened.
Of course, OWW is civilized. OWW doesn't threaten children. OWW's neighbors are civilized, and regardless of how pissed at OWW they might be, they do not threaten children.
So... is Frisch civilized?
I think not.
Posted by ward at 06:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 03, 2006
Daylight Savings Time
I'm whupped.
It's Monday night, and I'm short on sleep.
My two youngest are now sleeping the sleep of the young and innocent.
Me? I'm wired. I won't crash out for at least another hour, and I'll feel like Fido's butt when the alarm goes off.
Two days from now, I'll be just fine, but for now, trust me, you don't want to know.
Posted by ward at 09:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 20, 2006
Good Neighbors
This one's about Charley and Sharon, my neighbors.
Almost two years back, Mrs. OWW had some serious health issues that involved many tests, an ambulance ride, and a 5-day hospital stay.
Charley and Sharon dropped what they were doing, came to where Mrs. OWW and I were, picked up our children, drove on of our cars from that place back to our house, and took care of the kids until I was able to pick them up, some six hours later. They also fed our ferocious dog, took in the mail, and let the other neighbors know that all was well in hand.
More recently, in the past week, they have:
1. Lent us a car ("For as long as you need - don't worry about it!")
2. Charley gave me a clue as to what might be wrong with the Yellow Beast (2003 VUE), which pointed the mechanic in the right direction
3. And today, Charley gave me a lift of 50 miles, one way, to pick up said Yellow Beast from the Saturn dealer that performed the warranty work
Our other neighbors do the same sorts of things - mind our kids when we need it, help out here and there, and do all the sorts of things that "neighbors" do.
And of course, we help them out as we can when they need it.
This co-operative sort of thing is part of the way that we are here in America.
Charley and Sharon are of one sect of Christians, Eric and Lisa another, and Robbie and Merrilee still another, and then there's Family OWW - still another. But... we still get along, and help each other out at every opportunity.
When the Yellow Beast was having difficulty whilst I was doing a test drive, yet another of our neighbors, of yet another Christian sect, and of another color from mine to boot, stopped to offer a hand.
This is one of the great strengths of this shared idea that we call America.
E Pluribus Unum.
"From Many, One"
Neighbors, helping each other, without even thinking about it.
Ain't it cool?
Posted by ward at 10:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 13, 2006
Hunting, Guns, and Safety
So, the Vice President shot someone.
"Oh, horrors! D'you see what evil those nasty guns do?"
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Despite all the safety tips and training, hunting accidents are an unfortunate part of the sport. In Texas, there were 30 accidents and two hunting deaths last year, according to the state Parks and Wildlife Department. National figures kept by the International Hunter Education Association show 744 shooting accidents, with 74 deaths, in 2002, the last year for which figures were available. Twenty-six accidents involving quail hunting were reported. |
You should keep in mind that any time there is a weapon anywhere near you, you always assume:
1. The person carrying the weapon doesn't know you're there.
2. The person carrying the weapon doesn't know his butt from a hole in the ground.
3. The weapon is loaded.
4. The weapon is loaded.
5. The weapon is loaded.
That being said, the VP did indeed screw the pooch. "Be sure of what you're shooting at" is the Big Rule for a hunter.
There's no doubt in my mind that Mr. Cheney feels like squashed-under-foot dog poop. And Mr. Whittington is thinking very hard about rules 1 through 5.
Posted by ward at 10:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 06, 2006
Islam and Cartoons
First of all, let me set you straight about two things:
1. Those cartoons aren't very good. Granted, that's a subjective judgment - but it's shared by a whole bunch of folks.
2. I don't care what religion you follow. So long as you don't try to shove your religion down my throat, I. Don't. Care.
Now, let's cut to the chase here.
The Danish newspaper that commissioned those cartoons was clearly making a statement. Mostly, in my opinion, that statement was, "Let's push the envelope here, and provoke a response, if we can."
The was six months ago.
But now, after a couple of the Euro MSM (MainStreamMedia) outlets finally picked up on it, the "Arab street" is having clawing, spitting kittens.
Why?
Because an obscure Danish newspaper published these cartoons? Or because a couple of MSM (MainStreamMedia) French papers finally removed the digit from the orifice?
Which brings me back to the point that I really want to make.
In America, we have a thing called the First Amendment, which states
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. |
Now, let's point our gimlet gaze upon the US MSM (MainStreamMedia) - who have been "exercising restraint" in not publishing those cartoons.
I actually do believe that they have been "exercising restraint" - for all the wrong reasons.
The US MSM (MainStreamMedia) is afraid that they're going to antagonize their story sources for "blood and guts" in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Pakistan. They're afraid that if they annoy the "Arab street", they won't get any more juicy stories about kidnappings and decapitations.
That's why. It's a very simple reason, and is about as wrong-headed as you can get.
So much for the First Amendment.
Posted by ward at 10:38 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2005
Definition of "Holidays"
Holidays. Happy Holidays.
Did you know that the word "Holiday" is a derivative/corruption of "Holy Day"?
"Happy Holidays", indeed!
Merry Christmas, y'all!
Posted by ward at 10:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 06, 2005
Second Amendment
The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads:
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Amendment II |
Of course, I'm not exactly a "gun nut" - although I personally own, and regularly fire, more than zero and less than fifty firearms of one sort or another.
My definition of "arms" is rather elastic. Just last month, I demonstrated to a lady who really dislikes firearms just what you can do to a fair-sized pumpkin with:
1. An ordinary dull letter opener.
2. A rolled-up "slick" magazine, both as a club and, when jabbed and twisted, as a face remover.
3. A #2 pencil.
4. A car/house/padlock key.
5. A garden rake.
6. A broom stick.
7. An empty bottle of olive oil, unbroken and broken.
8. A scrap piece of 2 X 4.
9. A screwdriver.
10. A tack hammer.
All in an action timeframe of less than one minute.
There are no "dangerous weapons" - there are dangerous people.
And yes, it was rather messy. So's life itsownself.
Posted by ward at 08:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 03, 2005
"Holiday Tree" in Georgia?
From the GTU (Georgia Times-Union) comes this AP (Associated Press) story: