August, 2006 archive

This car owner got his money’s worth:

It was the tiny transmitter from the LoJack device in a car stolen Saturday afternoon in Elkton, however, that led to the recovery of 14 more stolen cars and pickup trucks, two motorcycles, several stolen car trailers, three flatbed trailers, a watercraft and trailer, racing dragsters, as well as assorted tools, chainsaws, lawn mowers and other garden equipment.

Chiominto said the vehicles included Chevrolet Camaros, Ford Mustangs, Chevy Tahoes and Dodge pickup trucks.

(snip)

The value of the recovered goods was estimated at between $700,000 and $1 million, Chiominto said.

Summer.

August.

Hot.

Why do so many persons find that surprising?

In other news, here’s a neat story about the heat index.

Personally, I think the heat index ranks right up there with the wind chill factor: Another number to get hysterical television weatherpersons off and make us feel even more miserable than we already are.

Firefox:

The Mozilla Foundation has released an updated version of Firefox following the discovery of multiple security vulnerabilities involving the popular browser software.

The flaws create a means for hackers to conduct cross-site scripting or to otherwise seize control of vulnerable systems.

Opera:

Opera is pushing a vision of a browser that works on any device or operating system platform, including mobile devices and gaming consoles, as part of a push designed to persuade more users to switch from Microsoft’s dominant Internet Explorer web browser.

(snip)

After releasing Opera 9 last month, the Norwegian software developer is working on initial product roadmaps for Opera 10. The firm is soliciting the views of end-users and web developers on the features they would like to see included in the next version of the browser.

Deplorer:

Microsoft has announced plans to offer Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update to customers as soon as the long-awaited browser update becomes available.

IE7 will be distributed via Microsoft’s automatic update service in a bid to offer customers improved protection against security threats. (In other words, they are going to force it on users–ed.)

“Have it your way” even in the art gallery:

British boffins have built a digital picture frame that adapts its image to suit the mood of the viewer. Dubbed ’empathic art’, the interactive image responds visually to eight distinct facial expressions.

Saying it don’t make it so, Donnie boy (emphasis added):

Rumsfeld, who testified alongside Abizaid and Pace, did not comment directly on the prospect of civil war but said Iraq’s future lay in the hands of Iraqis, beginning with a reconciliation process that has yet to get under way.

“Ultimately the sectarian violence is going to be dealt with by Iraqis,” Rumsfeld said.

And under tough questioning by Sen. Hillary Clinton about previous appearances before the committee, he denied that he had ever “painted a rosy picture” of the situation in Iraq.

Hmmmm.

How about these, just to pick a few?

I can’t tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won’t last any longer than that.

I don’t do quagmires.

“Well, the Office of Management and Budget, has come up come up with a number that’s something under $50 billion for the cost. How much of that would be the U.S. burden, and how much would be other countries, is an open question.”

And a whole litany here.

Here’s how Dana Priest described the Clinton-Rumsfeld moment in her chat today:

San Francisco, Calif.: Good day, Ms. Priest, have you seen any of the “grilling” our Secretary of Defense is getting on Capitol Hill today, particularly from Senator Hillary Clinton? Mashup your national security expertise with purely political calculus for a moment, and please tell us if you think the Lamont challenge is figuring into Clinton’s stronger tone with the Secretary.

Rumsfeld responded, “My goodness!” initially to Hillary’s question.

Dana Priest: Yes. This was a riveting moment between Clinton and Rumsfeld. The room was quiet and still. She read through a damning litany of charges–charges which have been substantiated in our newspaper and elsewhere repeatedly so they weren’t off the wall at all. And his comeback was equally as awesome–starting with a quiet My Goodness (read: you’ve certainly overdone it now lady) and an eloquent defense, which included a rewriting of history (the Iraqi Army disbanded itself, “I don’t know who said what about the Taliban” being gone from Afghanistan).

What a moment!

My, the lies do get tiresome after a while.

When I can get a transcript of the question, I’ll append it to this post.

Update, 8/4/2006:

Here’s a link to a transcript of the exchange, in which Rumsfeld actually says, “The idea that the army was disbanded I think is one that’s kind of flying around. My impression is that, to a great extent, that army disbanded itself,” and “I don’t know who said what about where the Taliban had gone, but in fact the Taliban that were running Afghanistan and ruling Afghanistan were replaced. . . . Are there still Taliban around? You bet.” (Follow the links to see the duplicity documented.)

Here’s a link to the Senator’s list of Happy Rummy Remarks. It’s longer than mine, but I don’t have a staff.

(aside) I wonder whether these folks realize that their statements are news and get recorded and written down. Or are they just convinced that, if they repeat the lie often enough, people will believe it.*

*See table 4B, item 2, at the link.

Update, 8/4/2006: Dick Polman’s take on Rosy Rummy.

Apparently some of the Younger Generation* doesn’t know one end of a hammer from a screwdriver:

“They know they’ve got to buy real estate; they know it’s a good investment. But that doesn’t help you when you swing a hammer and hit a pipe in the wall,” says Lou Manfredini, a Chicago hardware store owner who gives do-it-yourself advice on local radio and nationally online and on TV. “Unfortunately, homes don’t come with an instruction manual.”

Contractors say it’s not unusual for them to get frantic calls from young do-it-yourselfers who get in over their heads.

Sometimes, the mistakes are silly.

Michel Hanet, who owns a door replacement business called IDRC in Scottsdale, Ariz., has arrived at homes to find doors hung upside down. He’s also discovered more than one sliding pocket door that won’t open because someone nailed a picture on the wall and into the door.

“The younger generation are more likely the ones that are getting into trouble,” Hanet says. “The baby boomers have the money to do it (not this baby boomer–ed.), so they just call and say ‘I don’t like my doors; just come and replace them.'”

*Anyone more than ten years younger than the person who uses the phrase “younger generation.”

Well, not really. I have some good friends. Some in person, some in electrons over the net.

And some (one) very special friends, but my youngest child moved out today to find his own way in the world.

It’s the first time in 27 years that I haven’t had what the law describes as a “minor child” dependent on me.

I have frequently and readily quoted one of my friends: “My God, I’m ready for the empty nest,” said he.

But I’m not sure I am.

God speed, Second Son.

And First Son (that’s the one who fights for George Bush’s lies, by the way) and your wife (she still hasn’t told me what she sees in you, but that’s a different story). And First and Second Daughters and your husbands (I know what your husbands see in you and I hope they recognize how lucky they are).

And life goes on.

This fellow is a class act.

I would vote against him, but he’s still a class act:

Jonathan Paton, a Republican state legislator in Arizona, is up for re-election. He’s also an Army National Guard officer on his way to Iraq.