| Friday, July 4 2008 |
So may it always be.
I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. -- John Adams
Light fuse. Stand back.
Screw the nannies.
posted by Mr. Lion
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22:59 EST | comments
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| Tuesday, June 10 2008 |
Neener neener.
Well, it looks as though Sprint has stopped beating around the bush, and is openly going after the iPhone with teeth bared.
In my opinion, they're handling it stupidly. The Samsung iPhone clone is not a serious challenge to the iPhone, whose interface and platform are lightyears ahead of the Samsung offering. The only reason it does
anything better is that Sprint's
network is far, far superior to ATT's hacktastic GSM network, and they'd do well to market it as such. Hey, we've got a phone that's
almost as good as the iPhone, and it works on a network that is clearly and demonstrably better, which is quite true. Not, hey, we've got an iPhone killer here! Watch our presentations and bow in awe! ... which is nonsense.
I've been a Sprint customer for many years, as it's the only network and technology capable of allowing a smartphone do what I need it to do (my 1st gen iPhone largely sits in its charger, acting as an expensive alarm clock), and it really makes no sense to me that they
still can't seem to market that to the average joe.
Oh well, I'll probably still get a new Treo from them after I drop my 650 for the eleven billionth time.
posted by Mr. Lion
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01:47 EST | comments
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| Sunday, June 8 2008 |
Good job.
One of my favorite phrases, oft used to describe the utter stupidity of a given parent, is that you need a license to buy a gun, but they'll let any idiot have kids.
Case in point.
A 12-YEAR-OLD girl in Scotland brought up by her parents on a strict vegan diet has been admitted to hospital with a degenerative bone condition said to have left her with the spine of an 80-year-old woman.
Doctors are under pressure to report the couple to police and social workers amid concerns that her health and welfare may have been neglected in pursuit of their dietary beliefs.
The girl, who has been fed on a strict meat and dairy-free diet from birth, is said to have a severe form of rickets and to have suffered a number of fractured bones.
Never so clear was a case for forced sterilization.
posted by Mr. Lion
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18:48 EST | comments
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| Thursday, June 5 2008 |
Nail on head.
By far, the most apt analysis of present day "environmentalism" and global warming/cooling/whateveritisthisweeking hysteria I've read in a long time, can be found here.
Yet on the basis of this speculation, environmental activists, attended by compliant scientists and opportunistic politicians, are advocating radical economic and social regulation. "The largest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy and prosperity," warns Czech President Vaclav Klaus, "is no longer socialism. It is, instead, the ambitious, arrogant, unscrupulous ideology of environmentalism."
Read the whole thing.
posted by Mr. Lion
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20:33 EST | comments
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Perspective.
James might not consider this the end all, be all of ideological tests, but I would-- at least of the painting with the 24" roller variety.
See, if you're anywhere between "neutral and indifferent" and "Well, yeah, that's the most obvious thing in the world and if your child doesn't grow up understanding firearms safety and marksmanship, you're a failure as a parent", well, I'd probably buy you a drink and enjoy the process.
If, however, your reaction were more towards the O'donnel-esque PSH, I'd probably as soon club you over the head with the bottle.
Works for me.
Be sure and check out the rest.
posted by Mr. Lion
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14:00 EST | comments
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| Wednesday, May 28 2008 |
Old meets new.
In my automotive travels, I've come across a lot of enthusiasts and car builders, and among most, they tend to follow two distinct groups. The old school, in which two valves is enough for any man, and the new, in which it's crap if it isn't spinning 9,000 revs through 18 different cam profiles.
I've never completely felt at home in either camp, myself, so I guess I'll have to coin my own: The pseudo-purists. See, I like a Shelby Cobra as much as I like a Carrera GT. Both are insanity on four wheels, both go very fast, and each does it in an entirely different way. One is arguably about soul, and one technology, though for me, I'm happy as a clam driving or working on either.
So it is when I build a car, I try to marry the best new technology with the soul of old. Hence, no flappy paddle gearboxes for me, but I'll take the most advanced fuel injection computer I can get my hands on. It's rare, though, to have an opportunity to get the dichotomy of the old and new showcased quite as well as in the current project I'm involved in, thus:
Yes, that's 50's header wrap next to wiz-bang satellite heat foil on a turbocharged Japanese engine in a British roadster.
Sometimes this stuff is just plain fun.
posted by Mr. Lion
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17:33 EST | comments
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| Sunday, May 11 2008 |
Cute.
Well, it's heartening to know that in the era of eco-tardism run rampant, at least the real car guys behind the scenes still know how to have fun.
Case in point, the window sticker for the FR500S racing Mustang from Ford.
I think my favorite part is the fuel economy blurb.
posted by Mr. Lion
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00:15 EST | comments
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| Friday, May 9 2008 |
Friday Night interrogation.
I dislike these things, I really do. But it's all her fault for finding the really interesting and/or amusing ones, so, whatchagonnado.
1.ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT? I believe my favorite scar, if there is such a thing, is one across my left middle finger. Unintentionally self-inflicted, and a good reminder of what becomes of certain things. Yes, I know that's cryptic. Sue me.
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM? If by room one means bedroom, a few framed drawings from an old and very talented friend.
3. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? Some time in the morning. Figures that I've never been a morning person.
4. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? A vacation, some place warm, with cheap drinks, and mostly naked women. Or completely naked, I'm not picky. Being a guy, however, I'll settle for a beer.
5. WHAT DO YOU MISS? Nothing worth missing.
6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? My Ducati.
7. HOW TALL ARE YOU? 6'4ish.
8. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DAY? Not in the day, not in the night, and nowhere in-between.
9. WHAT’S YOUR WORST FEAR? Running out of gas, altitude and luck, all at the same time.
10. WHAT KIND OF HAIR COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX? Red, or dark, or better still, dark red.
11. WHAT ABOUT EYE COLOR? Blue, green, black, it's all good. I draw the line at orange.
12. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK? Both. Often.
13. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING? Meat.
14. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Maine Lobster with shrooms, asparagus, parsley root and burgundy wine sauce, at Bouley.
15. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME? Rossa Corsa.
16. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH? Not recently.
17. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED? A pocket knife my father gave me. Still have it.
18. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? Yes, but it's on a car.
19. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND? Just about anything Ralph Lauren designed.
20. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU WANT? One that weighs less than 2,000 pounds, has more than 600 horsepower, and absolutely no driver aids or safety provisions. A Shelby Cobra, in a word. Well, that and a few dozen others that are on the short list.
21. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? I plead the 5th Amendment.
22. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE USA? Yup.
23. YOUR WEAKNESSES? Actresses. Old Ferraris. Older Scotch.
24. MET ANYONE FAMOUS? You could say so, yes.
25. FIRST JOB? Picking parts at an auto warehouse part time at the ripe old age of 13.
26. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL? Not that I'm aware of.
27. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOUL MATE? Perhaps, but finding mine would get in the way of pursuing Scotch, Ferraris, and Friends with Benefits, so I'll likely never know.
28. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT? Eating almonds and blackberries.
29. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY? Oh yeah.
30. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? I don't really get complimented, in the traditional sense. It's more a series of being thanked for fixing something as often as not.
31. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? A Lamborghini Muria, delivered by a flock of half naked girls. (What, I'm a guy.)
32. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT? Somewhere between none and zero, at least until medical science figures out a way to hatch them pre-grown to around the age of 12.
33. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Some guy who did some stuff.
34. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TURN OFF WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX? Not owning any thong underwear.
35. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU MISS ABOUT GRADE SCHOOL? A complete lack of responsibility? Yeah, that was sweet.
36. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE? Old Spice EverythingWash™
37. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Well, I can read it, sort of.
38. ANY BAD HABITS? Probably, but if I gave them any mind I'd probably end up being one of those people who forever obsesses about doing everything perfectly, followed closely by becoming a clock tower sniper.
39. ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON? Was. Bought that ticket, took the ride, and hence no more.
40. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I'd at least buy me a beer. With a shot of Mac 18.
41. DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS? I believe I wrote the book on the concept. If not, I probably could.
42. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER? Drive fast and/or break things while listening to Metallica.
43. WHAT’S YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE? End up with a legacy that looks something like what might have happened if Chuck Yeager, James Dean and Humphrey Effing Bogart went on a road trip in a LeMans prototype car.
44. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Anything that involved guns, airplanes, explosions, or killing bad guys. I believe I was the last generation to be raised properly.
45. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE? A lot.
46. WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID? After my time. I recall scribbling several rather involved methods for its execution in high school, though.
47. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE? Taters.
48. DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES? More or less.
49. DO YOU HAVE A COMPUTER IN YOUR ROOM? One occasionally in the bedroom, three or four in the office, more than I care to count in the basement.
50. PLANS FOR TONIGHT? Design cars, watch westerns, and type things, evidently.
51. WHAT’S THE FASTEST YOU’VE EVER GONE IN A CAR? ~205 indicated.
52. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO? Shotguns.
53. LAST THING YOU DRANK? Light blue gatorade. I'm sure it has a named flavor, but I identify them by color more often than not.
54. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT? By the current yard stick, neither.
55. DO YOU HAVE A LOW SELF ESTEEM OR A HIGH SELF ESTEEM? Medium-high, depending on how recently something's blown up in my face.
56. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? I barely had time to read this quiz.
posted by Mr. Lion
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23:24 EST | comments
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