a ramekin of morons

Now that the US population is nearing 300 million, it doesn't surprise me that a large number of people can be gathered for almost any protest. So, the one protesting RFID at a Dallas Wal-Mart did not surprise me. It seems that some idiot uneducated dolt found an RFID tag on a laser printer, and decided that The Guvvermint was preparing to begin electronic sweeps of our neighborhoods, trying to find what Stuff we have inside our A-Man's-Home-Is-His-Castle (lipstick, razors, and now -- gasp! -- laser printers). Truly, the world must be nearing The End!

Update: if these morons uneducated dolts want something serious to picket about, here's something (assuming it's true!): Government Tracking You with Secret Code in Color Printers

Great Southwest International Airport

The continuing (laughable) attempts by American Airlines to lure Southwest away from Love Field prompted me to investigate the early history of DFW International Airport. Turns out it was originally prairie land at the intersection of three cities (Irving, Grapevine and Euless). There was an earlier airport nearby, called the Great Southwest International Airport. I'd heard that the Wright Amendment was the result of both Fort Worth and Dallas agreeing to give up their own airports, but hadn't heard the other details.

Unrelated: once a decade, on average, something destined to Change Mankind Forever makes its way to the retail shelves. The latest contribution just has to be Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners, which I discovered after spotting A Coupon in the newspaper. I only bring out the Crock Pot about once a quarter, and would use it more often if the cleanup weren't such a pain. Now, perhaps that problem's been resolved with this Spiffy New Wonder Product.

autumn in Dallas

According to The Map, not a single leaf has changed color in Texas yet, while most of Idaho, Utah and western Colorado are already "past peak". Looks like most of the New England is in peak season .. if it weren't for all the rain, I'd bet every hotel in the area's At Capacity. 

Today's forecast is for 88F and sunshine. The TeeVee WeatherBoy™ said we're in a mild drought (17 inches of rain this year, when we're due 27 inches by this time). Looks like the leaves won't be changing anytime soon.

realtime blood donation

Carter Bloodcare - 1 gallon donor 

I got an email about 3pm today, reminding me that enough time has passed and I can donate another unit of blood. The email contained a nice "To make an appointment at your neighborhood donor center, please click on the following link.", so .. I tried it. Hmm .. it says there are appointments available today, the next one being at 3:30. Well, why push it? Let's pick the 4pm one and then mosey thataway. What are the odds the system is realtime?

Well, it worked. They finished the "mini-physical" and I was dripping blood in record time; I was done by 4:45 and had caught up on some reading (I commonly HotSync my PDA before donating blood, so I'll have something to read in case Oprah's not on). Today's numbers? Iron (hemoglobin) 14.4 | BP 110/72 | Pulse 80 | Temp 98.5F ... I'll wait a few days and call for the cholesterol score.

Was there a downside to the web scheduling? Only that it doesn't work with the Firefox browser (well, everything worked until I pressed [Submit] at which point it chortled at me .. I had to fire up Internet Explorer instead). Maybe the same people who designed this website did the one for FEMA?

I came home, and (following the instructions to Have A Nice Dinner) sucked down a bowl of Jewish Penicillin Chicken Soup.

About the only improvement I can think of deals with the actual blood donation; why can't they take my blood online? Is there no one developing a USB Blood Sucker?

ticking off AA

Where can I get one of these Crony Jobs?

what I learned from this site: there are choice government careers for the taking, with no experience necessary!

Unrelated: Set Love Free: Southwest Airlines' site about The Wright Amendment, to Repeal the Restrictions on Dallas Love Field

what I learned from this site: the definition of a fortress hub. Data item: American Airlines controls 84% (EIGHTY FOUR) of the traffic at DFW Airport.

What Southwest should do, to really tick off American Airlines, is introduce a bill that would force THEM to use only the fortress hubs in other cities. What's good for the gander, must be good for the goose, (w)right?

meme du juor

10 Years Ago:
shopping for my first home (had leased the first one in
Dallas, after moving from Torrance)

5 Years Ago:
transitioning from working pre-sales in the telco market,
to running a large internal webserver

1 Year Ago:
enjoying freedom of not working (RIF'd after 14.5 years at one company)

Yesterday:
snapping digital photos of "A.P." while he and another guy
installed some neighborhood signs

5 Snacks I Enjoy:
black plums;
tomato-and-basil potato chips;
cashew nuts;
turkey jerky;
grilled Dodger Dog

5 Songs I Know All the Words To:
original Star Trek theme;
60 Minutes theme;
Batman theme;
Law & Order theme;
CBS Sunday Morning theme

5 Things I’d Do with 100 Million Dollars:
donate a big chunk to the "Get A Clue, America!" program;
put it all on Red-11 on a Las Vegas roulette wheel;
build an animal shelter named "Beta's Wonderland";
bury it in the backyard;
buy an election

5 Places I’d Run Away To:
Boise ID;
Minot ND;
Nome AK;
Santa Fe NM;
Crawford TX Hanalei HI

5 Things I’d Never Wear:
Leather pants;
a tattoo;
hoop earrings;
tongue stud;
reverse Mohawk haircut

5 Favorite TV Shows:
Law & Order: Criminal Intent;
The Daily Show (with Jon Stewart);
Rocky & Bullwinkle;
The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour;
The History of Hedgehogs (BBC documentary)

5 Biggest Joys:
None. I have no joy in life.

5 Favorite Toys:
Palm Tungsten T (PDA);
Silly Putty;
BMW 330Ci;
Red Swingline Stapler (ala Office Space);
Spam (the board game)

Governor Beatty said whaaaat?

After Mary (not a Bob) pointed me to Bulworth (1998) starring Warren Beatty, I decided that I must see it, so today I did. It'll be amusing when Beatty beats Schwarzenegger in the 2006 election and becomes the real Governor of California; will he tell the truth, as the Bulworth character did in the movie? Unlikely, since elected politicians undergo a mandatory lobotomy soon after taking the oath of office.

It only distantly reminded me of Woody Allen's Bananas (1971), a movie which changed my life. It's why I still wear my pants outside my trousers (queue British cymbal).