We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
As most people would agree, the main problem with Northern Colorado becoming the 51st state is having to redo all of those flags and coffee mugs and stamps and all the rest. Who needs the aggravation? It seems a simpler solution would be to ask: Could Colorado County Become Part of Wyoming?
At this week’s industry conference on drones, in Washington, D.C., a group of police and fire chiefs gathered to discuss how to increase their use of drones. But they used a different term: “UAS operations.” (UAS stands for “unmanned aircraft system.”)
And, from a very long article covering drones from A to Z, we have:
The Air Force bristles at the very word—drones conjures autonomous flying robots, reinforcing the notion that human beings are not piloting them. The Air Force prefers that they be called Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
This week, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) took over Washington, DC's convention center for its annual Unmanned Systems show.
So now we have UAS, RPA and UVS — and that's just from three articles!
Bird Dog posted an interesting video on 3-D street art the other day. In the comments, MissyW left a link to a very interesting article on the subject, including a how-to video: 3D street art: a question of perspective
One odd thing is that they didn't mention the brilliant idea I had years ago. As I mention in my mocha post, I've never liked coffee in the slightest — but I love its effects. So, my nimble mind thinks, why not buy caffeinated water and make the ice cubes for my ever-present Ginger Ale out of it! Alas, my brilliant plan was shattered like ice because it's too expensive. It was something like $3 just for one regular little bottle.
Finally, I suppose you've heard about the sad plight of the tornado chasers? Between the guys who professionally chase tornadoes for a living and the tornado specialists down at the meteorology center, these are desperate times, indeed: USA having calmest year for tornadoes in over a decade
Personally, I blame The Gore Effect. "More and more violent weather" was one of the core themes of his outburst a few weeks ago, and, well, here we are.
Political News
That Michelle Obama is a real hoot, isn't she? Compare her to, say, Hillary's days in the White House, and how she spent them trying to harm the nation by pushing HillaryCare through. In my book, the proper role of the First Lady is to take some 'harmless' subject like "do more exercise" or "kids eating better" and push that, as well as just getting out there and mingling with the common folk, giving them the feeling that our government really is comprised of actual human beings, not just some remote voice on a news clip. It's the same reason townhall meetings are so appreciated. Actually seeing and interacting with your 'voice in Washington' makes a difference.
Entitled “Songs for a Healthier America,” the record features video cameos (but no singing) of the first lady along with big names like Jordin Sparks, Ashanti, Run DMC, Doug E. Fresh and Monifah.
The 19-track album with song titles like “U R What You Eat” and “Veggie Luv” is being released by the Partnership for a Healthier America, an independent group found in conjunction with Let’s Move.
Naturally, the right-wing bloggers — ever eager to defile her because she's a hated Democrat — are outraged because, as one Townhall blogger put it, rap is "a genre known for its demeaning lyrics towards women and inappropriate language", even though it's obvious this is nothing of the sort.
We have spoken in the past of what a meaningless word 'racism' has become in recent years, but condemning an entire genre of a certain race's style of music actually is being racist, Townhall.
Last Friday, 90% of the Maggie's male readership was forced to admit that Michelle Goddam Obama can do more push-ups than they can. As I noted, you can't fake push-ups; this lady practices what she preaches. There's a fun slideshow here of her in various athletic situations, including busting ass on the track and boogalooing with the best of them.
Another fun post, Doc. Seriously, some marshmallows have caffeine in them? Also, I saw that Townhall post a few days ago about Michelle's rap album and had the exact same thought you did. I also liked the Raptor vid. It's amazing it can lift that kind of ordinance with those small wings and single prop.
I agree about the Raptor. It's amazing it gets airborne. I liked it when the Air Force guy said something like, "We don't pull 9 G's in this baby." It looks like if they pulled 1.5 G's, the wings would snap off. Pretty cool craft, all in all.
Long live the Great State of Northern Colorado! (my parents live there and they HATE Denver politics)
For the record, I managed 8 push-ups after watching the video, so my hat's off to our first lady. Like you said, it's easy to bloviate from your ivory tower, but when you can actually back it up with actions, that's different.
As for the Stay Puff marshmallows, apparently the caffeine-laced 'Gourmet' mallows are off the market, dang it. That sounded interesting.
I also wept aloud when thinking of the poor, neglected tornado and hurricane specialists with nothing to do. Darn that Al Gore! Couldn't he have moved to Europe for a few months so we'd have a normal tornado and hurricane season? The selfishness of some people!
Lotsa fun stuff, Doc. The genetics article was particularly interesting. Like you said, it would be a gas trying to hunt down the 'immortality' gene. Or, conversely, the 'death gene' that does us in.
I also agree 100% on what you said about First Ladies. The treatment of her by the right-wing bloggers has been no different than the way the left wing treated Mrs. Bush. Some piece of shit called Mrs. Obama "bubble-butt" the other day. Bunch of high schoolers.
BTW, that was real interesting what you said to Feebs the other day about the Asiana crash. We going to see that soon?
Michelle Obama's "Breakfast in the Classroom" is a friggin fiasco. Even the teachers and teachers unions don't like it. It's authoritarian, disruptive to instruction and messy. The purpose of it being to herd more children onto public assistance and relieve parents of every last parental responsibility just makes it all the more irritating. Now my kid isn't allowed to eat a proper meal in the cafeteria before school because they want to force kids into the program. Then he has to sit and watch welfare kids eat the sloppy breakfasts served, inexplicably, inside the classroom during class time. The program claims it takes 10 minutes. You think kids can be served pancakes and syrup, eat it, and get cleaned up in 10 minutes? The answer is "no", so it eats into class time.
Collectivists never have good intentions - especially when they have an opportunity to get their meathooks into the children.
Just volunteer to monitor the cafeteria for a week and watch the students dump 90% of their breakfast/lunch in the trash. When we have food stamps and food pantries, why can't parents feed their children before school and pack a lunch? Half the fun was trading part of the contents with another student.
On second thought, why don't the liberals just take the babies from the hospital and rear them from that point on? Why bother with parents at all?
You have to admit, we've come a long way since "Eat everything on your plate -- people are starving in China." Nowadays, the spoiled brats turn up their noses at anything they don't care for, and then certain grown-ups back up their actions because it's a Democrat who wants them to eat better.
Pretty biting political commentary there, Doc. Although I did not see one instance of the phrase: "clueless, leftist, cloth-eared bint" nor any bovine references.
BTW, I had a couch one time, a three-cushion job that looked exactly FLOTUS dressed up. I left it out on the curb when I moved with a sign that said "free, you take" and it was still there the next week. Drunks wouldn't sleep on it, too much like the DTs; cats and dogs, they'd raise hackles and cross the street to avoid it; even the garbage truck guys wouldn't get near it. Good thing I moved in the middle of the night, as I usually did back in the day, or I'da been busted for noxious substances or something.
It doesn't have to be "biting commentary" in order to be racist, which was my point. But if you think that's bad, wait'll you see my article on how they've been treating Bo and Sunny. "Completely unhinged" would be one way to put it.
Chemophobia: Bad news sells papers and attracts viewers. Debunking claims doesn't.
Colorado: Well, I have to admit, I like the looks of rectangular states, and adding 8 counties to Wyoming would mess up the symmetry. Oregon has the same problem with the Willamette Valley overwhelming the rest of the state.
Interesting point, Sam. I have some Area 51 links set to the side.
Q: How much money in books and TV specials has Area 51 made over the last four decades scaring people into thinking the government was secretly hiding aliens?
A: $5.2 billion.
Q: How much money have books and TV specials debunking such claims made?
A: $8.56
(Two of Bill Smith's cousins bought a copy of his book "Area 51 Debunked", just to be kind.)
In my book, the proper role for the Presidential spouse is to support their spouse and otherwise stay the heck out of the public eye unless he or she has some reason to command it in their own right. We voted for the President, not their spouse. Spending money on their security is fine, but public appearances, causes, etc. should be done with private money, not public.
Caffeine: why not pop NoDoz? Years ago I ate four of them, under the mistaken impression each was like a cup of coffee. More like four cups of coffee each. I'm lucky my heart didn't explode.
Michelle Obama: I hate her politics, of course, but I've never understood the personal animus. To me she seems like an enviably attractive, healthy woman. So she likes to grow and eat Tuscan kale. So do I.
The reason people pick on Michelle is because she is so hateful toward average people. I don't think she is ugly either. Not a great beauty or fashion leader, but she is what she is. She is however, infuriating, if you pay attention.
You obviously didn't watch the slide show. I didn't see any "infuriated" people in the pics. Of course, my version of "paying attention" is looking at pics of the actual people involved. Others' idea of "paying attention" might mean slavishly buying into what some extremist right-wing blogger has to say on the subject.
"The reason people pick on Michelle is because she is so hateful toward average people."
"She is however, infuriating, if you pay attention."
Those seem pretty clear. And, again, how we value these things depends on who we trust as our sources. I looked at the slide show, composed of "average people", and none of them looked hated or infuriated. Actually, they looked fucking thrilled to be hangin' out with the First Lady. I sure would be. But some ardent right-winger? No, no, no. She's the hated enemy, and they have sworn an allegiance to despise and hate and vilify all enemies at every chance. Ardent lefties are exactly the same way.
They say American politics has become 'polarized' over the last decade.
I don't really mind that the first lady gets involved in some public service but I feel it is expected of her and I don't think it should be. It would be better if we never saw or heard from her. I don't mean that to sound negative simply factual. You don't see the chief of staff's spouse or the spouses of the joint chiefs or any of the various Secretary's of "things" or the congress people, so why the first lady? We didn't vote for her, she shouldn't be making policy or even influencing policy. I would prefer that she was so unknown that we couldn't even pick her out of a lineup.
Drones are a good thing. They are cheaper then man'ed aircraft and more expendable. Why should they get any more of a bad rap then a fighter jet?
Of courrse Obama has a war on guns. Every fascist dictator in history has preceeded his reign of terror with gun confiscation. You cannot subjugate a population the size of ours if we are all armed. This is not something with shades of gray there is only one reason to confiscate guns and this is all the more obvious since our constitution is so explicit that we have the right to keep and bear arms.
Because she's the only one of those you mentioned who's living in the White House.
The question is, did you have the same opinion during the Bush years, when Barbara was pushing for more exercise? Mrs. Reagan and 'Just Say No' to drugs? Now contrast those two and Michelle to Hillary's actions. The right-wingers should be grateful that "kids eating better" is all Michelle is pushing.
I did have the same opinion going all the way back to Jackie Kennedy.
I had a negative opinion of Michelle Obama before she was first lady. After all she and her husband traded political favors with the hospital she worked for and she got 3 times the pay as a result. Not exactly something that leaves a positive image. However since becoming first lady I think her image has been improved by her public exposure.
#14.1.1
GoneWithTheWind
on
2013-09-04 19:27
(Reply)
Are you kidding? She is out there pushing every grain of his agenda. Hard.
I just went back and watched that video of her and Ellen D. doing pushups.
She only did one pushup--that last one.
To be a pushup either your upper arms have to reach parallel with the floor so that you are basically flat from elbow to elbow or some part of your body (preferably your chest) must touch either the ground, or the fist of the person counting for you.
Ellen Degnerate does 20 proper ones.
Michelle O. cheats her way through by short stroking it (there is an analogy to her and her husband's politics and effectiveness).
She is clearly more fit than most women her age, but this is not saying much. She's had a tremendously easy life, and has plenty of time for both doing the exercise, and recovering from it.
Oh, and 25 with upper arms parallel--after doing a personal best last night on deadlifts (5 reps 245 for 3 sets. Not a huge amount of weight, but I can feel it in my upper back and shoulders).
#16
William O. B'Livion
on
2013-09-07 16:11
(Reply)
Well, I said they were just "camp" push-ups, or what you and I might call "girlie" push-ups, and the fact that Ellen went down a bit lower than Michelle is kind of immaterial. The point is that she can do a bunch, which is a piss of a lot more than your normal ivory tower lady can do.
And you don't see anything oxymoronic in your "tremendously easy life" and "exercise" remarks? If she's sitting there sweating her buns off in the exercise room, then that's not an "easy" life. An "easy" life implies lounging about the pool sipping Mai Tais and not doing any exercise.
But thanks for attempting to slime our First Lady, just the same. It's always nice to know your type is out there.
No, I don't see anything oxymoronic about a "tremendously easy life" and "exercise", especially the sort of exercise that gets you to busting out 25 half ass pushups on national TV.
Now, if you want to talk about competing (not winning, just showing up and finishing) in the crossfit games, or any state or national level masters games, that's different. But the sort of fitness she displays is the 3-5 hours a week in a gym kind of fitness.
My mother used to work 8 to 10 hour days in a medical clinic, and then come home and take care of dinner, did the laundry etc. Now, I don't know how many pushups my mom could do at 49, but she was swimming for about 40 minutes a day (most days) during her lunch break. That was all the time she had for exercise once we kids came along. She was in fairly good shape until her late 50s when her Italian Grandmother genes kicked in.
At 72 she still does this several times a week, she just does fewer laps these days.
I work 8+ hour days, exercise in the gym two to three times a week, walk every day at lunch, and (most weeks) do three hours of martial arts a week. Other than injuries, for the last decade I have had a moderately easy life. Heck, even in Baghdad I had a bed and hot showers and warm meals.
But see the key to being "in shape" isn't just the workout, it's the recovery. It's getting a full nights sleep, it's not having to over exert yourself at your job.
And if you think that is "attempting to slime" her, you need to find your meds and get back on them.
You can find buckets of places on the internet that refer to her as a wookie and worse, that constantly criticize her for her dress, her appearance and her demeanor.
You will not find me criticizing anything about her appearance. My only public criticism of her was that those weren't real pushups. Not even the Air Force counts pushups like that. Well, unless they really really want you to pass.
I think that if she weren't such a sourpuss, and didn't have such a chip on her shoulder she'd actually be a moderately attractive woman. This is true of a lot of women BTW.
Of course politically she's clearly on her husband's side of things, which is a completely different issue.
#16.1.1
William O. B'Livion
on
2013-09-07 23:28
(Reply)
"My only public criticism of her was that those weren't real pushups."
Yet somehow it took you seven paragraphs to do so.
"I think that if she weren't such a sourpuss"
The only reason you think she's a sourpuss is because the only pictures of her you ever see are on right-wing political sites, where they always post the worst pic of a female Democrat they can find. There's one of Hillary where she has her teeth bared and looks totally insane -- I bet Hot Air used that pic 200 times during the election.
In that same post I had a link to a slideshow of Michelle in various athletic-related events. Reader 'pbird' had this to say:
"The reason people pick on Michelle is because she is so hateful toward average people. ... She is however, infuriating, if you pay attention."
Yet, darn the luck, when you look at the slideshow, not one person looks hated or infuriated. They look, in fact, thrilled to be in the presence of the First Lady, as any good American would be.
Some right-wing partisan party hack who believes everything Dems do is vile and evil and everything Repubs do in noble and pure? Not so much.
That's why I like posting positive, upbeat articles on Michelle and Bo in the 'Political News' section.
