Monthly Archives: September 2006

A Grand Fan

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SWMBO and I are embarking on some much needed household improvements, primarily fresh paint, and new carpet through the bottom and mid-levels of our three level townhouse. That we’ve managed to squeeze 10 years out of the crummy carpet that was here when we bought the place is either a tribute to our frugalness or convincing proof that nothing shames us anymore. In any event, we’re getting the contractors lined up.

Step one was to order a ceiling fan; it will grace the mid-level at the point where it opens up into the family room on the lower level. We selected this Casablanca 52-inch hummer, with blades finished in something called “relic”, which befits our respective ages, I suppose. The neat thing about this fan is the remote control, which controls the fan in all speeds, and also lets one reverse the blades remotely. This should keep me out of traction by eliminating falls from ladders to work the blade reverse switch manually. Gotta love that.

-k-

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Best Two-Faced Political Stance of the Week

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That award goes to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), who voted for a bill he believed to be unconstitutional.

So, he has it both ways, like any other politician; he was against it, until he voted for it. As Cato@Liberty said in the cited post:

too many people seem to think that the Constitution will somehow automatically check the government when it goes too far. Not so. The Constitution cannot enforce itself.

And, speaking of oaths and so forth, the Senate’s Oath of Office:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

That oath is found here.

Maybe Arlen could check that out sometime.

-k-

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Best Political Oratory of the Week

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If we’re not there yet, we’re certainly close:

What has changed in the last five years that our Government is so inept and our people so terrified that we must do what no bomb or attack could ever do by taking away the very freedoms that define America? Why would we allow the terrorists to win by doing to ourselves what they could never do, and abandon the principles for which so many Americans today and through our history have fought and sacrificed?

-k-

h/t: U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy

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Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson

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It looks as though Frank Robinson’s tenure as manager of the Washington Nationals is coming to an end.

I just hope that if all this is true, that National’s ownership gives him a chance to go out with dignity, and to honor him at one of their few remaining games. Because, to Washingtonians, Frank Robinson is the Washington Nationals.

-k-

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Shades of Reading Past

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It’s been ages since I’ve brought a program listing home for perusal. My Ruby project is lumbering along, and I’ve got to devise a particularly involved (for me, at least) data structure to hold all the information the script needs.

I’ve struggled with this for a day or two, and as I look at the Ruby tools, I have decided that if the data is properly structured, the script practically writes itself. I may be hopelessly naive for saying that, but it seems right to me.

And now to my chair, with listing and highlighter in tow.

-k-

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How to Win at Football

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Score a few touchdowns. Just ask the Washington Redskins, victorious for the first time this season 31-15. The first time this season, including preseason. I know it was against the Houston Texans, but still, they won.

Being an AFC West guy in an NFC East world, it means little to me. But, come tomorrow, the airwaves will be full of “the Redskins are back” kind of talk.

Don’t make Super Bowl plans yet, guys.

-k-

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Porktoberfest

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That’s what I had for dinner last night, at the local Famous Dave’s. SWMBO, I, and another couple we hadn’t seen in quite a little while met for an early dinner.

Mmmm.. A perfectly sauced smoked pork cutlet, served with St. Louis style ribs, baked beans, drunken apples, and corn on the cob. All washed down with a few Bud Longnecks.

Good food .. good beer .. good friends. A nice evening made nicer by the fact it was their turn to buy.

-k-

Famous Daves has another special item called “The Pig Dipper”. Bacon, plus two other varieties of pork, on a bun, served with dipping sauce. Wish my workplace was close to one of these places.

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Happy OneWebDay

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The web is probably a lot of little weblets, each mutually accessible. As a unit, it becomes THE WEB. And, it is a wonderful thing; not life changing, but as a whole, another tool that can be used for good or not-so-good.

The web is merely a loosely organized batch of wires. These wires are the tool. Like all the tools in the existence of humankind, their use is up to us.

May we all, of whatever moral/ethical/religious/favorite_flavor_of_ice_cream persuasion, use this tool for some good. Let’s start right now.

-k-

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Welcome Home, Atlantis

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Space shuttle Atlantis is safely back on terra firma. Those night landings are spectacular, especially so after a nearly perfect mission.

Once again, NASA TV was awesome; they had pictures of the heads-up display from the flight deck, without the overhead of the talking heads on the major networks. That heads-up display reminds me of a video game, at which I was consistently terrible.

Welcome home; I give thanks for a safe and successful mission.

-k-

h/t: NASA, for the picture.

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