Carnival of Bauer #5

aka The Carnival of the Cougar.

Joel Surnow and Howard Gordon of "24" on Rush

In case you don't read Blogs4Bauer the producers of 24 were on the Rush Limbaugh show. Interesting interview.

24 Annoyances

I really like 24. Nothing gets the heart going like dead terrorists and the people who'll stop at nothing to make them that way. That said there are a few things that just annoy me.

Little things like the total lack of physical security at CTU. I mean this is supposed to be a top knotch facility and they keep getting infiltrated and blown up or gased. Doesn't make sense.

Same with the lack of deep background checks. Seems like a lot of the people who work there shouldn't. I know it's just a TV show but still!

One thing that drives me nuts (not a far trip) is the clock. At the beginning of each episode there is this:



Ok - 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Then why does the clock that is shown during the show have the wrong time?



Shouldn't that be 21:06 rather than 09:06?

Something else that jumped out this week. When Jack is interrogating the German wench he racks the slide on the Glock pistol and puts it to her head.



A few seconds later the slide is back. Look closely at the barrel end of the gun and you'll see barrel and guide rod. Shouldn't be there.



Fire the prop guy. And whoever tracks continuity.

More on 24 at Blogs4Bauer.

Update:

From the comments - it does look like a double feed of blanks.

Good catch!

Two guys and a Sawzall

Since we had to wait for the furnace guy Thing1 and I decided to remove a wall











Now I get to build a new one :-)

Ahh Heat!

Took some time off from work as both Thing1 and Thing2 are off on spring break this week. Went to the Volo Auto Musuem on Monday (if you like muscle cars it's worth the visit) and came home to a chilly house. The burner would come on and then go off. Called the HVAC company and was told I'd have to wait till today. Thankfully we had a fireplace to sit in front of. The house got down to 56 so it wasn't terrible.

The tech shows up at 8:15 (nice when you're window is from 8 till 12) and decides it's the controller. And off he goes to get one. 45 minutes later he's back and puts in the new controller. Same problem. Remarkably there were no four letter words. He calls the office and consults. Check the gas valve. Decides it's bad and replaces it. Same problem. Starts checking voltages all over the place and everything seems ok. Decides to jumper out a flu pressure sensor and the furnace stays running. Yea!!! It was tripping out so fast that he didnt see it on a digital volt meter. Way back when we used to use analog meters on sensors just for situations like this.

So we have heat. Ahh heat. Time to remove a wall...

I always wondered about Zed

And Chris Muir was nice enough to fill in the details


The last week of Day by Day has been excellent. If you don't read Day by Day - well why not?

Carnival of Cordite special double edition!!!

Part One is a retrospective of 52 weeks of the Carnival of Cordite:

Part Two is all the newest content from the past two weeks:

Carnival of Bauer - Week #4

AKA the Carnival of Life. Is Tony really dead? Why were there no deaths? Inquiring minds want to know!

For my fellow carnivores

Tam has some interesting thoughts.

I'm Number 1!

First one to vote this morning at my polling place! Ok - not a huge deal but it's nice to be #1 once in a while.

This election we were supposed to have our choice of paper or touchscreen voting. Being a geek I wanted to use the touchscreen but I guess 6:00am is too early... It wasn't working.

XP on a Intel based Mac?

Looks like it's been done. Personally I'd rather have OS/X on my Athlon 64...

Happy St. Patricks Day!

From a list I'm on.

--

Two Irishmen, Patrick & Michael, were adrift in a lifeboat following a dramatic escape from a burning freighter. While rummaging through the boat's provisions, Patrick stumbled across an old lamp. Secretly hoping that a genie would appear, he rubbed the lamp vigorously. To the amazement of Patrick, a genie came forth. This particular genie, however, stated that he could only deliver one wish, not the standard three.

Without giving much thought to the matter, Patrick blurted out, "Make the entire ocean into Guinness Beer!" The genie clapped his hands with a deafening crash, and immediately the entire sea turned into the finest brew ever sampled by mortals.

Simultaneously, the genie vanished.

Only the gentle lapping of Guinness on the hull broke the stillness as the two men considered their circumstances.

Michael looked disgustedly at Patrick whose wish had been granted. After a long, tension-filled moment, he spoke:

"Nice going Patrick! Now we're going to have to pee in the boat."

--

Please drink responsibly.

Carnival of Bauer - Week 3

AKA The Carnival of Tony's Not Dead™!!!

Not me (yet)

Via email today -

My new favorite shirt

Smash has it here. Scroll down past the heading - OPERATION PROUD BANNER.

Eye Protection

I always have it on in the shop or on the range. Just the hardware store or Wal-Mart cheapos. I think for range wear I'm getting a pair of Sawfly Deluxes. Be sure to watch the video.

If they work in Iraq...

Memories of high school

We had a SWTP box that one of the math teachers bought. It was so much fun. Lots of toggle switches to manipulate just to get it to boot.

I really liked writing Assembly code...

ASSEMBLER is a language. Any language that can take a half-dozen keystrokes and compile it down to one byte of code is all right in my books. Though for the REAL programmer, assembler is a waste of time. Why use a compiler when you can code directly into memory through a front panel.

More here.

Ipso Facto is back

Still waiting on the vertical cartoon syndication...

If you can't wait - go and visit!

This could make pruning fun

Kind of like a Jaws of Destruction.

Personal Bladeserver

Tyan has one.

8 Opterons, 8 GigE, 4 SATA drives, 10 fans on the back. It could probably heat a small office. Hmmm - I have a small office at home...

Chalk art

Some very cool pictures.

A use for the Beatles

I was never much of a fan but Chris Bliss is. Google Video Player required.

Carnival of Cordite #51

At the Countertop Chronicles.

Marines get a new toy

Yet another reason to not get in a firefight with the U.S. Marines - the M32.

Six 40mm grenades in 3 seconds? I wonder when the accuracy contests will start?

A civilian version would be nice!

iPod in Vending Machines?

I guess I need to fly more often. This was seen in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson intl. Airport

Floppy Raid

70 KB/Sec! Can't wait for the zip array.

I'll think I'll stick with my RAID10 arrays. 5.5TB in 6U is so much more useful.

Carnival of Bauer #2

This week only - The Carnival of Edgar in memory of Edgar Stiles

XP Boots on a MacBook Pro

I'm surprised it took this long. It seems so simple.

Movies and Kids

I like action movies. You know the kind where stuff gets blown up. These movies can be violent, bloody, and full of adult language. The wife isn't much of a fan of them (anymore) but Thing1 is. We've been going to see them together since I felt he was old enough - that was around age 14 or so depending on content.

Once thing that has bothered both of us was the number of kids that were at these movies. By kids I mean those aged 4, 5, or even younger. I'm not sure when we first noticed it but I think it was at We Were Soldiers. There were several very young kids there - with dad. This was a bloody movie and totally inappropriate for kids. I've seen it several times since then as has Thing1. I used to think we were the only ones bothered by this till Thing1 brought this to my attention.

While it's good to see other parents getting upset I have to wonder whats going through the mind(s) of the parents who allow their kids to see these movies? Even now with Thing2, at age 14, I still see any questionable movies before I allow her to. If I don't think it's appropriate she doesn't see it. The only real time we've had a issue was with Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ. While I think ever Christian should see this movie I felt at that time (2004) that she wasn't ready for it. I'm still not sure. We may watch it together before Easter. At least at home I can skip a few of the parts that she shouldn't see.

As for those who take little kids to R rated movies - please stop. Hire a baby sitter. Wait for the DVD release. Just don't take the little ones along where they don't belong.

Unique Lego Creations

I'm a big fan of Legos. Fun for kids of all ages. TechEBlog has some some of the better creations I've seen in a while.

Nice thing about buying Legos is the support you're showing for the Dane's and their fight for free speech.

Some meetings are a waste of time

But I've never been to one like this.

Wheelchairs For Iraqi Children

Another dispatch from Michael Yon. What is interesting about this one is that is was written by another writer in Iraq and, according to Michael

"The journalist required anonymity; major news outlets tend to censor their workers."

I'm amazed that any major news outlet would not want this story published.

Oh wait - it shows the U.S. Military and the Americans that support them in a good light. Silly me!

The Day After

The Oscars.

After watching Walk the Line (excellent movie - highly recommended) the wife wanted to watch the Academy awards. We'd already been treated to George Clooney's explanation as to why Hollyweird is so much better and more enlightened that the rest of us during a ice cream break that I wasn't expecting much. I was right but not in the way I expected. No political jokes from Jon (I'm really not this boring) Stewart, no political speeches from the award recipients. Just lots of thank you's to the right people. Very strange.

Ann Althouse's view of the Oscars was most interesting as she picked up on a number of things I didn't. It's a good view for people like me that didn't watch and let her suffer through. Be sure to read her morning after thoughts as well.

Did I like any of it? Sure - Jennifer Garner. Salma Hayek. Reese Witherspoon. Rachel Weisz. All looked beautiful. Alot of the other female stars looked like they hadn't eaten in a few weeks. Not sure what Hollyweird sees in skin and bones. Lots of pictures available at Yahoo.

As for awards - I havn't seen any of the nominated movies so I can't comment on them. I have Crash in my netflix queue so we'll see. The other movies - no real desire to see any of them. Best actor - I shocked that Joaquin Phoenix didn't win. Not surprised but shocked. He gets into character with such depth that he's just amazing. Maybe if Johnny Cash had been gay??? Best actress - Reese. She was impressive. Her range from movies like Legally Blonde to Walk the Line shows a lot of promise for her career. The rest - didn't see them.

I'm bummed I missed the penguins!

School Jokes

Thing1 (currently a sophomore majoring in elementary education) sent this along.

YOU MIGHT BE (or have been) A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE IF.....


1. You believe the playground should be equipped with a Ritalin salt lick.
   
2. You want to slap the next person who says, "Must be nice to work 8 to 3:20 and have summers free.
   
3. You can tell if it's a full moon without looking outside.
   
4. You believe "shallow gene pool" should have its own check box on a report card.
   
5. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today."
   
6. When out in public, you feel the urge to snap your fingers at children you do not know and correct their behavior.
   
7. You have no social life between August and June.
   
8. Marking all A's on report cards would make your life SO easy.
   
9. You think people should be required to get a government permit before being allowed to reproduce.
   
10. You wonder how some parents ever MANAGED to reproduce.
    
11. You laugh uncontrollably when people refer to the staff room as the "lounge."
    
12. You encourage an obnoxious parent to check into charter schools or home schooling.
    
13. You can't have children because there's no name you could give a child that wouldn't bring on high blood pressure the moment you heard it.
    
14. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
    
15. You know you are in for a major project when a parent says, "I have a great idea I'd like to discuss. I think it would be such fun."
    
16. Meeting a child's parent instantly answers the question, "Why is this kid like this?"
    

Sometimes it hurts to be nice

We're in the midst of another remodel. Kitchen (wallpaper, paint, and lighting), dining room (moving a wall, wood floor, paint), and living room (other side of the moving wall, paint, and carpet). We had this old Lazy Boy sleeper sofa that we didn't really want anymore. The wife asked at church if they knew anyone who could use it.

Sure enough there was a family who had just transistioned from a homeless shelter to an apartment and could use it. They came over and picked it up on Saturday. In the process of moving the couch out the new door I had put it last year got scuffed. No big deal as I was going to wet sand it again when the weather got nice and give it another coat of paint. On closer inspection the door is dented! Not deep and not across any of the detail lines but it is dented. To say the least the wife is a bit upset.

Spring isn't far away, even with the 3 inches of new snow yesterday, so it looks like wet sanding, bondo, and paint to start the year.

I havn't used bondo since car #1. I wonder if I still have my scrapers...

Live Blogging the Oscars

Not me!

A couple of different views here and here.

As for my house - Walk the Line.

Pat Tillman

Football player, Army Ranger. Genuine hero.

His death in Afghanistan is now a criminal investigation.

Carnival of Cordite #50

Available for your reading pleasure at Anarchangel.

Church or Gun Show?

The Conservative UAW guy has the details.

Personally - aren't situations like this what Saturday service was created for?

Torture

The next time you hear someone whining about the 'torture' at Gitmo or by some at Abu Gihrab have them take a look at Michael J. Totten's report from Kurdistan. Thats real torture.

Note - I'm not saying that abuse of prisoners is ok in any way, shape, or form but to call what happened at either Gitmo or Abu Gihrab torture is taking away from what happened under Saddam.

Have some time to waste?

Try this.

Polite people

I was heading up the stairs from one computer room to my office. Ahead of me was one of my co-workers that was headed to the same floor as I. As my coworker reached the door, she paused and held the door open for me! I can't think of the last time a female held the door for me. It was pretty cool!

I was raised to always hold the door for females. Didn't matter on their age or relationship to me it was expected of me. Over the years I've usually gotten a smile or a thank you. A few times however, I was, umm, advised that not all women expect to be treated as being incapable of opening a door for themselves and that I should refrain from treating all women as such.

I always thought I was just being polite...

Todays Funny

I was talking to my brother last night and he told me about an email he had gotten. I realize these are common but we have an unusual last name. Outside of my brothers and sisters I've only ever come across our last name one other time. That made this even funnier.

From: barister serina junaida barister serina junaida <barister_serina@yahoo.fr>
To: XXXXXX@hotmail.com
Subject: Attn:xxxxx Be Kin To Mark XXXXX
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 07:33:09 +0100 (CET)

Attn: XXXXXXX

I am Barister SERINA JUNAIDA. A solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr.Mark XXXXXXXX a national of your country, who used to work with Shell-development Company in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in Asia . Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2000, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Jalan Mushi abdulah road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposit were lodged. Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account valued at about $3.5 million (THREE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS). They issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account valued at $3.5 Million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.60% to me and 40% to you. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by my email and send to me your Telephone and Fax numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction.

Best regards,
Barister SERINA JUNAIDA.

Carnival of Jack - #1

Over at Blogs 4 Bauer