muddysmind.com

Say "Thank You" and mean it

Just a little rant here.
I read a post up on the Wide Island and it got me thinking about something that has been in and out of thought for a few months now.
We don't hear "Thank You" too much any more, at least not in Ohio.

I know it sounds so basic, but it should be an automagic response when your doing business. For instance my local Whole Foods has a great store, clean, well laid out, super friendly people but the one basic thing you don't hear much of is a simple thank you.
Contrast by the Chick-fil-a's in town is a night and day difference in attitude. They welcome you when you enter, are very polite in service and always say thank you when you pay.
If you think about this economy and how badly all business need to not only get new customers but keep their old ones, how much an earnest and simple thank you can go.

Weekend Wrapup

Wow! What a race on Sunday, Mark Webber took it to the house and even slid in a smart@ss comment back to team principle Christian Horner as he took his victory lap.

Tried to get my podcast listening caught up after not listening for a couple days.
Japundit
Marketplace

Also took my daughter out to see my mother take her first hot air balloon ride.
Funny when my dad "Mr. Human Map" gets lost chasing the balloon. *chuckle*

World Cup good enough excuse to cause global warming

So it seems world leaders, actors and socialites who berate the common man for causing "global warming" find it acceptable to cause it themselves so they can fly to the world cup finals and destroy any semblance of order in the airport. Kudos two faced asshats, we already knew you were full of s*** thanks for proving it once again.

Full Story @ FT.com

Chase Bank Reaches Pinnacle of IT Stupidity

Just to prove it's part in the banking crisis was not it's only claim to stupidity Chase Bank has now declared the web browser that even M$ admits is S*** is their choice for "safe" browsing.

Personally this does not surprise me after many years of dealing with Chase IT in person.

CCP proves yet again they are the best MMO company

After years of WoW and EvE I'm happy to be finally off the WoW crack, and hoping to be able to keep paying for EvE as it's such a deep and immerse game, run by the best MMO gaming company in the world.

Not only did I not miss the downtime as I've been working crazy the past few days but I get two bonus gifts, you can't beat that.

Deus Ex is Back Baby!

Ohhhhhh Yeaaaaa!
One of my all time favourite games is making a comeback and I'm pumped.

Pesticides on Fruits and Vegetables

Ever wonder what's hiding on that food your eating?
Check out this list of dirty foods, makes me glad we eat organic as much as possible. I imagine the increased cases of cancer have a little something to do with all the poison we eat and modified foods our bio-engineering companies (aka. the people who think they are smarter than God) are putting on the shelves of the supermarkets.
Pesticides on Fruits and Vegetables: The Dirty Dozen and More

Exist Trace & Japan Files

Oh yea, I love finding new music!
Even more so, new music done by passionate Japanese artists.
I just discovered Exist Trace, High and Mighty Color and Dazzle Vision.
All can be found on JapanFiles for 99¢ a song. (and 320k high quality files, unlike some other crappy sites "cough, Amazon & iTunes")

It's a great way to support an artist w/o putting money in the greedy pockets of the big music companies.

So head on over and support the artists.

VMWare Love

Last week I was doing some training for work and while I was waiting on a very slow module to start up I thought "hey I should get vmware workstation since it's free for employees!". Yes, my brain really does have random non-related things pop into it every day.
Thus I went into our corporate employee benefits and found the info, went and registered on the site, downloaded the software then discovered I needed to log into another internal site to request a license.
That began my adventure, I'll cut it short for you.
I setup access on two different sites for managers... which reset my windows login password unknown to me at that time.
I quickly gave up trying to get a license and continued my training and finished up work.
I had a chat shortly after that with a co-worker who suggested I try the vmware player since it's free for everyone and I don't have to jump through endless hoops for a license.
I now have winders 7 and Ubuntu server 10.04 running in vmware player and love it.
It's a massive plus to be able to see how things will go during install and what problems I might have after.
I have been wanting to upgrade my old gentoo outdated install on my server to ubuntu, this has given me a chance to see what I can expect to encounter, what changes need to be made and so on.
Freaking fantastic.
Now if I could only take this current Ubuntu 9.10 install and mirror it to vmware then do an upgrade to see how it would go, off to research that!

Ubuntu homepage & VMware Virtualization Software for Desktops, Servers & Virtual Machines

WoW and EvE Vacation

It's official, I'm taking a vacation from WoW and EvE.
WoW runs out in a week and EvE in July so I'm checking out the free mmo's in the mean time.
Runes of Magic, Perfect World International
for the moment.
I'll report back once I have my initial impressions.

F1 Spain

I would just like to take this time to thank my Mythtv Box for recording a rerun of Eureka instead of the Grand Prix of Spain this morning..... (insert cursing here).
Now I get to wait till Monday night to watch it, and enjoy my media black out so I don't find out who won or what happened.

Chihiro! No!

One of my favorite artists has gone to crap *cry*.
Chihiro Onitsuka went from a passionate folk-pop singer to some experimental garbage.
After listening to a sample of the songs off her newest CD I was considering purchasing, I'm not.
Leave the odd music to Shiina Ringo at least, she knows how to make it work.

Website

Just found out I have unlimited bandwidth and space... guess it pays to have used the same web host and such for eight years now.

Pondering what to do with it now :)

EvE Forum Funnies

I was browsing the EvE forums today and came across this gem.

"My wife is not a gamer but she at least takes small interest in my favorite hobby and watches me play from time to time - though she can only handle so much EvE as I'm usually flying my Freighter. She does play a mean game of Tetris, but she's completely out of touch with modern gaming.

She knows a few simple things about my computer gaming. She knows that I can speak into my headset and people can hear me (but she doesn't realize this is only if Ventrilo or EvE Voice are active). She knows that my ship is larger than most other ships and that I can carry many smaller ships inside, and that I do this to earn more money.

Being the great wife that she is she will often try to come up with ideas that can help me earn more money. One day I was slowboating to a gate in my Fenrir with a Bestower above me also slowboating. He was right beside me so my wife could see how much I dwarfed him.

She says "That guy should let you carry him so he doesn't need to work so hard. He could pay you to take him!" I said I don't think he's going to be interested in that but before I could say much else she grabs my headset from behind my computer and shouts into it "HEY, SMALLER SPACESHIP, DO YOU WANT MY HUSBAND TO CARRY YOU? HE CAN KEEP YOU SAFE FROM BAD SPACESHIPS!" "

http://www.eveonline.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=1303989

Media = Good, Americans = Bad

"Inside Story On Town Hall Riots: Right-wing Shock Troops Do Corporate America's Dirty Work "

Read this headline today, and sad to say some of the article... so depressing to see this kind of gargabe being passed for a proper news article. So joe blow sees his paycheck shrink each year with new taxes, sees his freedoms being taken away, sees his country turning into a steaming pile of crap for decades and gets fed up. Heads to a town hall meeting and voices his opinion, and they media calls them "Right-wing Shock Troops Do Corporate America's Dirty Work".. are you kidding me?? This is the best they have??
My seven year old son could come up with something better than that.

1. Their playground name calling is just pathetic, I can't even get upset about their asinine name calling because it's so damn sad. What are you 5, 6 years old?
2. Get your facts straight, if you had said this was a piece of fiction I would have no issues, since it is.
3. An American loves his country and wants it to be better, they debate how to do it, come to a consensus and do it. What the media is doing is divisive and destructive.
4. As our founders said many times questioning the government IS American, we cannot grow stronger without debate.

On Vetrens Day..

Thank you All, from all of us here at Muddysmind and our families.

Semper Fi Corporal Skywalker
/salute

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

May you all enjoy this celebration of Jesus birth, death and resurrection.
(yes I know he was most likely born in the spring)

Journalists still don't get it

Veterans Day

We here at muddysmind would like to take this time to thank all of our brave men and women in the armed forces all over the world who answer the call of duty and serve with honor and dignity. Muddy and I firmly believe that without these men and women - past and present - we would NOT have the daily freedoms that we sometimes thank God for but usually take for granted every day.

There is no way Muddy and I could possibly thank each and every individual of our armed forces personally BUT we can take this time to name a few who are - and will forever be - near and dear to our hearts:

- Skywalker - our favorite Marine
- Cwilli - our favorite retired Marine
- Richard - my cousin and a proud member of the United States Air Force

- Skywalker's grandfather
- My own grandfather
- Muddy's great uncle

We love you all and thank you deeply and sincerely. You and your service to our country will never be forgotten.

Why Washington is dooming us all

*click image for full size*

While watching CSPAN today (or rather while having it on in the background while working) I caught a glimpse of what is wrong with Washington D.C. and why those morons are dooming us all.

My head is going to explode!! Glenn I need duct tape now!

Never Forget....

I regret getting this post up so late in the day but I wanted to do something a little different this year. I wanted not only to remember all the victims of that day who were so horribly butchered by unremorseful monsters but I thought this year I would put up a link to a few web sites with some of their pictures as well. Every victim deserves to always be rememberd - and listing their names is indeed a good way to honor them. However, a picture speaks a thousand words.

May God bless all who they left behind to grieve for their loss. May He continue to give them strength, joy, peace and hopefully - closure.

http://www.september11victims.com/september11victims/
victims_list.htm

http://cf.newsday.com/911/victimsearch.cfm?view=photo#results

Christians antisemitic towards Jews? Now I've heard it all....

Ok. So I'm watching CN”Spin's” specials last week they did on what they called “God's Warriors” with Christiane Amanpour. She did three nights with each night being two hours long starting with the Jews and their faith, the next night was islam and their religion then the Christian faith rapping up this documentary/in depth study. There were some criticisms I had about the representation of the Christian part of the study but since that part is not my main criticism – I'll leave that on the back burner.

One of my biggest problems about this whole study (that I actually found pretty interesting) happened during the first night with the Jewish segment. An hour into this two hour segment, a comment was made on the relationship – past and present apparently – between Christians and Jews that not only came from Amanpour herself but from a pastor (Pastor Gary Cristofaro – of whom I've never heard until this tv special). Basically this pastor and his congregation invited a Jewish speaker who was/is raising money to support Jewish settlements in Israel. No. That's not my problem. The problem came when Amanpour said, “some say Jews and evangelical Christians make strange bed fellows especially given the history of antisemitism in the church.”. That comment was then (for some reason I still can't understand) supported by Pastor Cristofaro who stated that “because of this doctrine of a Jew being a “Christ killer”, so much hatred and antisemitism has been propagated throughout the earth.”. I went over and over the myth tv recording of this special to make sure I quoted both Amanpour and pastor Cristofaro correctly. Now, here's my problem...I don't know WHERE they're getting this from! AND this is the second time I've heard this accusation of antisemitism in the past year and a half (the first time was when I visited another “blog” so to speak and on that blog someone had just stated Christians – period)! I wasn't even aware that Christians HAD that reputation in some minds. Seriously, it's pretty hard to shock me. In this day and age where anything goes, I just expect – well – anything. However, when I first heard this comment on another blog, I was as stunned as if a life long friend would have taken me to the top of an 8 story building and then pushed me off. However, now I'm annoyed and offended by this remark.

Now, whether some like it or not, the Bible DOES indeed clearly state that it was the Jews who asked for Jesus death then the Roman soldiers who carried it out. However, we were ALL responsible for the death of Christ. As we are all apart of the human race. That doesn't mean we Christians as a whole look down on the Jews and hate them. Look, there was one specific church that I went to off and on as a kid. I even attended the private school that was started by and taught out of that church. This denominational church was (still is) very evangelical and unfortunately, very judgmental, condemning, self righteous and even arrogant in the “my views are right and your views are wrong” thinking. Trust me. If ANY church that I've attended in my life would have encouraged antisemitism – it would have been this one. As many bad things as I could say about this church (and trust me – I have a list a mile long), I must say that instead I was left with the message that the Jews are God's chosen people. Also that Israel was – and still is promised to them and belongs to them. Not to mention Jesus IS a Jew. Doesn't exactly sound like antisemitism teaching now does it? Besides, it's kind of hard to have antisemitism for a group of people that gave birth to our Savior. Of course, I'm not naïve. I do realize there MUST be some goof ball Christians out there who do look down on the Jews for Christ's crucifixion - but honestly? As far as I know, I've never personally met them. I don't hate nor look down on Jews for asking for Christ's death anymore than I hate the Germans (and I DON'T) for carrying out the evil against millions of Jews through the horrifying and despicable holocaust last century. Besides, if it were not for the Jews, who knows how Christ's crucifixion would have come about. A crucifixion that was need as sacrifice for the redemption of the world.

Idiots and Tech

You know, it is posts like this one, that remind me that most people really know nothing about technology.

There are a couple of flaws in his argument. First, he says the crappy quality comes from "losing the punch." Well, the punch is still there. The problem is that all the flaws in the music are more evident from the increased volume. The other flaw is that that way he is performed his example is with digital sound, most likely off of a CD, a 16-bit sound source. Meaning he is introducing clipping really quickly. Professional studios use either analog or 96-bit or great digital: clipping is a long ways away!

More and more idiocy.

First, Apple embedding your information into a song only you should possess is hardly spyware. In fact, it fails to meet the basic definition of spyware! The supposition that someone would randomly guess a song you own (iTunes records are easily accessible by you, yourself and Apple) and use your e-mail address is extremely low unless they hack Apple's servers. Yeah, good luck on that one. So unless you really are illegally sharing your files, there should be no issues.

As far as inability to tell the difference, I call bravo sierra. Just because some people at Gizmodo can't tell the difference doesn't mean "no one can...." The quality is likely to go un-noticed unless you burn it to CD or DVD and listen to it properly - not off of an ipod which DOES introduce artifacts, one way or another. They actually put that guy's blog on the front page of Yahoo!

HEROES UNAWARE

By Mark A. Wright, HMC(SS)
22 June, 2000

I first saw him on a park bench
I've seen him every day
Sitting in a shady grove
Where my children come to play
Sometimes he feeds the birds and squirrels
Or whittles little toys
Sometimes he just sits and smiles
At the laughing girls and boys
And I never paid him any mind
'Till one day just this year
I noticed that he wore a frown
And on his cheek ... a tear.

Well I asked him why he seemed so down
He looked up, began to say
I lost half my friends 60 years ago today
He told me of the terror
As he fought to reach dry land
By the time the beachhead was secure
Half his friends lay in the sand

That was just in one long day
He fought on for 4 years more
And the 60 years from then to now
Have not dimmed His sights of war

He said they have reunions
Just to keep in touch and share
And for each comrade who has gone on
They leave an empty chair

Well, His park bench has been empty now
About 6 months or so
And if I'd never took the time
Then I never would've known
That sitting on that simple bench
With bread crumbs and little toys
Was a man who gave his all
To guarantee my daily joys

So give thanks to all the men and women
Who're still here or have gone before
And made the highest sacrifice
In both Peace time and in War
Because they bought our freedom
Paid their own blood, sweat, and tears
Then endured the heartache of those empty chairs
For all these years

So please do not ignore them
Or speed by without a care
'Cause you never know
When you might pass by
A hero, unaware

****

To all of our brave men and women in the Armed Forces. Past and present. Without your sacrifice we could not stand. We will never forget - Memorial Day or not - your service and sacrific that ensure our freedoms.

Honestly, there are MANY beautiful and wonderful poems out there. It was very hard to choose which ones to post. However, I received a poem through e-mail about 6 months ago. This particular peom was sent in a letter from a Marine to his father dated March 23, 2003 and although this is something that some may have read many times before, I HAVE to post this (for obvious reasons):

The Marine - by Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps

We all came together,
Both young and old
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.

In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around.

Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.

I give you the right
To talk of your peace.
To stand in your groups,
and protest in our streets.

But still I fight on,
I don't bitch, I don't whine.
I'm just one of the people
Who is doing your time.

I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine.
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U.S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.

Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young.
So they all may have,
The greatest freedom you've won.

Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.

But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom,
You'll stand when the fight's done.

Gas Out On May 15th....

My hubby has been too busy with work to post this, so I shall do it for him. For all who are living in the U.S, I'm REALLY not trying to turn this into a political debate. We all have our views on why prices are the way they are and we feel very pasionately about those views. However, it's really not the point. The point is that we're SICK of this and it's time we take a stand! So without further delay:

In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all internet users are to not go to a gas
station in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in
most places. There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to
fill up. If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take $2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil
companies pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil
industry for at least one day.

If you agree resend this to all your contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th".

Computer Recycling

So I have some electronic waste lying around the house I want to recycle. Most of it no longer works and I like sustainability as much as anyone else.

I am amazed at the number of places that charge fees to recycle! Why would people want to recycle for a fee, when they can just junk it for free?! We will never be more green as long as it is cheaper to not be green.

Must Watch Special Wednesday Night

Exposed: The Climate of Fear
Wednesday May 2nd
7 & 9 PM
CNN Headline News

Who's responsible for global warming and what can be done to fix it? Why would someone be harassed just for raising questions? Glenn Beck takes on the media hype surrounding the global warming debate and asks whether some proposed solutions would do more harm than good.

Don't miss "Exposed: A Climate of Fear," a one-hour Glenn Beck special report, Wednesday at 7 and 9 p.m. ET.

Virginia Tech Tragedy....

We here at 'muddysmind' would like to take this time to express our condolences to all those involved with the horrendous tragedy of this weeks events at Virginia Tech. I wanted to post our condolences earlier in the week when I first heard of this tragedy unfolding - however, Muddy and I have been busy dealing with our own family matters this week as we have been faced with the death of his grandmother. The truth is, unfortunately, this world is full of horrific events that unfold everyday. Which is one of the many reasons why none of us are strangers to the pain and sting of death and the long road to healing and recovery we face ahead.

Our prayers go out to all.

Happy Easter!

Easter. My favorite holiday! What is it about Easter that ranks number one with me? Well, because Easter is in the Spring time (my favorite season), it's all about the symbolism and literalism to me. Basically spring is the time where everything around us wakes up from the winter. A rebirth. Resurrection if you will. A new start. New life. Second chances along with the rebirth.

That's what Easter is all about. Christ conquering and resurrecting from the dead. Giving us a rebirth through Him. Our new start with a new life. Sometimes even giving us a second, third, fourth, four-hundredth chance at a new start/beginning.:-) That's what I love about both Easter and Spring. They way they emphasize and harmonize so well together with that message. Today may all of you find through Christ a rebirth and - if necessary, a new beginning somewhere in your lives.

God Bless.:-)

Global Warming Joke

I get a real kick from all the alarmists out there including this new group of pseudo-scientists that want to blame the pretend impending devastation called 'global warming' on the United States.
I'm assuming they are not real scientists since they are claiming that ocean levels will rise. Now any child in school science class can tell you that is total B.S.
Ice in the oceans melting will do nothing, just as ice melting in your glass does not create anything new. Now some will claim that the ice melting on the mountains then flowing into the rivers and at last into the ocean will raise the sea level.
Again, I call B.S. there as well.
If they think for a second that there is enough ice on the mountain tops to make a difference in the sea levels, their nuts.

Happy Birthday To Me....

....again? Has it been a year already?!

Well, according to my calendar - apparently so. Don't get me wrong, I do realize that most of you couldn't care any less but since it's my husband's website - I've decided to take advantage of the situation.

Well let's see....I've been trying to convince Muddy for two years to take me to the firing range (as it's too cold for hiking) however, he doesn't seem to trust the idea of me handling a gun. I keep telling him the targets would be provided for us and would NOT include he himself stepping in as such. For some reason, though, this does not seem to be much of a comfort to him. Hmmmmm....what to do, what - to - do!

Oh well, in the mean time, I'm taking our oldest out to dinner today as a celebration for BOTH of our birthdays. Yes, it just so happens I gave birth to this child six days before my own special, happy day.

Ok....I'm done being an attention whore. You may now return to your regularly scheduled lives.

Pillow Fight League - Coming to America

Just when you think you've heard it all.
The Pillow Fight League arrives.
Based in Canada and news reports suggest coming to America.
Is this something that appeals to anyone other than sex starved men and lesbian women?
I googled for pics from the league and they are, shall we say, some handsome women.

The Pillow Fight League - Fight Like A Girl!

Steelers @ Bengals

Final game of the season and boy was it a tight one, the last game for Bill Cowher as the Steelers head coach.
Long live new coach Mike Tomlin!
Hit the torrent link at the top to get your copy.

Ravens @ Steelers

Finally up, you know where to get it.
Enjoy.

Racisism Ok in Washington if your Black

It kills me that after all the ground work by early American racial equality pioneers and the struggles we have made it through that it's being tossed aside for selective segregation.
If there was a whites only caucus holy crap the media and black leaders would be throwing a massive fit, yet nobody dares say a word about this highly racist group.
America will never be one nation as long as this mindset continues to be accepted.
I imagine MLK and everyone else who gave their lives fighting to bring us together are rolling in their graves.

Mexico arming Illegals with GPS to aid in law-breaking

The more I hear this the more a trench filled with used motor oil set on fire sounds like a good barrier to keep out the criminals.

Oh! I've got it, simple.
M249 SAWs setup every one hundred yards linked to motion sensors, whatever moves on the Mexico side gets sprayed, the same technology used for the Phalanx CIWS would be perfect.

Social Security for illegal aliens

I get the feeling Bush tries to do whatever he can to ruin his presidency.
I don't get his ongoing love affair with criminals who break into our country and steal from us, then demand rights.

Steelers @ Panthers

It's up, you know where to get it.

Micro$oft trying new PR approach

Not that I would accept anything from the evil empire, but a new laptop running Gentoo Linux would be rather nice. ;-P

*UPDATE*
There is an update to this post as well, giving more information on this.
Read it Here

Merry Christmas To All And To All....

....well, you know the rest. Even though Christmas isn't even close to being my favorite holiday (mine being Easter, The fourth of July and Thanksgiving - in that order. Christmas I can pretty much take or leave), I thought I would take a quick second (because that's about all I have right now) and wish you all a very SAFE and happy holidays. May you recieve that which you ask and may God bless you - and others - as you give.

God Bless....

Mexican Soldiers Freelancing for Drug Cartels on US Soil

Who needs a wall?

We do.

Browns @ Steelers

Game is up, enjoy!
Hope to get Carolina game up in a day or so.

Bucs @ Steelers

Week 13 Bucs @ Steelers is up, enjoy.
Browns week 14 is processing now, should be up in the morning.

Steelers @ Ravens

The disgrace that was the game in Baltimore in week 12 is now up on the tracker.

Senator Johnson

So the airwaves are now filled with the talking heads falling over themselves to drone on about Senator Johnson and the possible shift of power. I hate to sound cold but who the hell cares. Any American with an once of gray matter can determine from one day of news that neither side gives a rats ass about the common man. (unless it's for a photo op, campaign op or something to benefit themselves personally)

Don't get me wrong, I wish Senator Johnson a speedy and full recovery.
Aside from that there will be no real shift of power while the donkeys and elephants are in power.

I can only see real positive change happening if those who 'get it' like outgoing Senator Rick Santorum were to be put into power. (en mass) Then will there ever be a change for the positive. Not that politics (or politicians alone) are going to help us, however it will require those who understand the current threat we face along with the knowledge of how to work the system.

This post written while listening to D I G I T A L L Y - I M P O R T E D - Goa & Psychedelic Trance - a voyage out of this world!
Current title: Kri - Trancelloween

Man this jams!

Steelers @ Browns

Sorry this is kind of late getting up, the Steelers @ Browns is done.
Working on the Ratbirds game now.

Iran threatens Europe

Damn that global tempature change!

Going from global warming and the disasters of 2005 to global climate change and the big fat nothing of 2006 I have to say damn those scientists renaming things and screwing this up for us. Now we have to wait another year and hope and pray that some big disaster hits before "W" gets out of office so we an blame more death and destruction on him. How can we whip the mindless masses into a hearty frenzy if the scientists do not cooperate??
What was wrong with global warming anyways?
Even if it gets colder we can still call it that, not like the average American pays attention to it anyways.

Keeping Perspective During The Holiday....

Well, here it is - "Thanksgiving 'Eve'" and things are NOT going as planned. It seems like everything I've planned to do for tommorrow is hitting the skids. I've even chewed out Muddy a few times today for what seemed liked ligitimate reasons - at the time. Of course, there's fault enough to split two ways. So I guess the challenge for me now is to keep in mind what this holiday is *suppossed* to be about. Counting your blessing. With me - it's easy to count my blessings. Unfortunately what's hard is keeping my mind in the present and not dwelling on the future where my mind tends to live a lot. I hate that! I thank God for my kids who I get to stay home with everyday. However, my mind goes to a place where they will someday leave the nest and have families of their own therefore putting mommy as the "not so center" of their world. Which is the way it should evolve to be. I thank God for my grandma (mamaw) who is 82 years old. She's my last surviving grandparent and as fiesty as ever! (and I wouldn't have her any other way). However, my mind tends to drift to a time when she will no longer be here to celebrate these holidays with us anymore. This *could* be her last Thanksgiving with us. (of course as stuborn as she can be, I wouldn't be surprised if that characteristic alone kept her around for another 10 years!). I also think of my father who now lives with our heavenly Father. I can still hear his voice, his laugh, his politically incorrect comments (I loved that about him!), his "jokes" at the Thanksgiving table that sometimes only he would get (and laugh at). I miss him.

I guess the whole point to this *long winded* - whatever - is to just dwell on today. It doesn't really matter what items you bring or don't bring to the holiday table, what matters is the *heart* you bring. Loved ones are not here forever but the time they are here for is NOW and NOW is the time to live.

Saints @ Steelers

First half of the game is up, second half should be up by this evening.

*edit*

Second half is up and seeding, enjoy.

Broncos @ Steelers

1st Half is up, enjoy.
(as always, click the torrent link above to download)

2nd Half is done and up.

Phased Redeployment = Cut & Run

*rolls eyes*

You can quote me on this in the future, feel free as I'm beyond confident that it's true.
"If we pull out of Iraq before the job is done, chaos will reign like we've never seen in recorded history."

How well can you read?

This is weird, but interesting and certainly true.

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was

rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a

rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht

oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit

And lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses

and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn

mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Azanmig huh?

yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Election Day!

Yes! It *is* election day!! Do you know what that means?! It means that after 7pm tonight, muddy and I will no longer have to put up with those 10,12 to 15 a day political phone calls we've been bombarded with!!!! (well, at least not until the next election "season"). Of course, that's what we get for being "unaffiliated" when it comes to a party platform. But hey! No more stupid phone calls!

Oh, Happy Day! Sing along....

Steelers @ Raiders

Well, the first quarter is over & the Steelers (Ben?) looked bad.
On a side note, it's going to be at least friday before I will be able to post the game.

1st Half is up, click the torrent link at the top.
2nd Half is up and seeding, enjoy.

last updated 11/11

Steelers @ Falcons

Sorry for the delay, I was attempting to change the video encoding to x264 as some of the results I have had in testing were outstanding, however it's not fully
working yet. Back to Xvid. ;-)

1st Half is up
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2nd Half is up
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Overtime is up
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Chiefs @ Steelers

1st Half is up
Get it Here

Once again, CBS and DTV jacked me (and millions of fans) around, switching the game between different channels. I still managed to get most of it, only lost the first 3-4 minutes of the first quarter.

2nd Half is up
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Steelers @ Chargers

1st Half is up
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Had an OOPS on this one. Set my box to NBC, game starts and it switches channels to ABC, so I only noticed it near the end of the 1st qtr, so it is a little short, sorry all.

2nd Half is up
Get it Here

Bye Week is busy time

With my Steelers off for their bye week I used that time to upgrade my workstation to Gentoo Linux (was Gentoo before, just an older install) with a new raid 1 setup on two Seagate 160G SATA drives.
Also powered down the mythtv box (used to cap Steelers games) and reconfigured the cooling, since the cpu had cooked in the oven it was. Removed the crappy little 80mm fan on the side of the box and cut two new holes at the top directly over the mobo and installed two 120mm fans. In addition to wiping out the Gentoo install on that and adding a larger hard drive it's a brand new install of Gentoo and mythtv.
Took a little time to get the bugs worked out, but seems to be working solid now.
For all those wondering, the Steelers caps are 100% micro$oft free.

Also note, since the Steelers play late, the 1st half will not be posted until the morning (Monday).

I knew it was only time...

You who are old enough to remember, may recall a time when children in schools were taught, reading, writing and arithmetic.
Then, someone who believed their brain worked on a higher level turned that around and we began 20ish years ago to begin teaching "feelings" and the "I'm ok, your ok, were are all ok" crap.
If I recall around the time the PC (not computer PC but don't hurt any feelings PC) garbage started. This article while not a headline or even super interesting to most, did make one point.
That we very much need to get back to teaching
reading, writing, arithmetic, science and such.
Feelings and political correctness have NO place in school.
It seems Tracey Larson is either a product of this learning system or the founding mindset.

Wrong, it was a failure, because your expectations were it would end up 70 miles straight up and running tests, if I were someone who paid for this, I'd fire Tracey without delay.

My Heart Is Smiling....

I'm going to do some bragging about my youngest. Now, normally, I don't like to talk about my kids on line (I really don't even like revealing their sex or ages). With the world we live in today....I don't think anyone could blame me for that one. However, I just HAVE to share this one:

Early this morning, Muddy took our youngest to the grocery store. Apparently when they walked by the area of flowers, my amazing little one looks up at daddy and says, "Daddy, let's get mommy some flowers.". Now, don't get me wrong. I DO love the flowers. They're beautiful. However, that's not what made me "melt". It's the fact that this kid is not even in school quite yet and already is so very thoughtful and considerate. I am so blessed to have my kids. My heart is *truely* smiling.:-)

Bungles @ Steelers

Holy Crap, what a wretched display by Ben.
FWP looked good and the D was not too shabby, if we can get Colclough off the team that would help.

1st Half is up
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2nd Half is up
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Steelers @ Jaguars

After some delay due to codec versions not playing nice with avidemux I am now finally processing the 1st half of the game, should be available Thursday morning.

1st Half is up
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2nd Half is up
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Extras are up
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Muslims vs. Every Other Religion

Over the past year we have seen some striking examples of the "peaceful" religion that Muslims claim to have.
Draw a few somewhat true cartoons and then all of a sudden, buildings are being burned, entire towns engulfed in chaos and non-Muslims shot and killed who had NOTHING to do with the cartoons.

Now we have the guy with a funny hat give a speech, with some wording that the leaders of the Muslim world did not like, guess what.
Buildings burned, chaos in the streets and a nun shot who had NOTHING to do with it.

Oh and just to shed light on the poor Muslim plight.
Do a search on google images for the words anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and anti-christian, guess which one has the least hits??
As of right now 20060919 09:43 the tally is:
anti-Muslim 347
anti-christian 516
anti-Semitic 4,510

Those poor Muslims nut jobs, I don't know how they deal with the hate mongers. *sniff*
I sure am glad other religions are not as peaceful as the gentle and kind Muslims.

/break

OK now to be serious, let's consider the daily cartoons in newspapers worldwide that for example make fun of Christians. If we went out foaming at the mouth ready to kill on command at the whim of Jerry Farwell as they do for President Tom, the U.S. would be a barren landscape.
If I were a peaceful Muslim I'd be wicked pissed off at the so called leadership that is whipping everyone into a frenzy over something stupid and unimportant.
Where are the peace protests by U.S. Muslims?, where is the outrage at their 'brothers' moronic behavior?

I don't see any news coverage of it, and we all know that Muslims are the media darlings, anything they do in public gets days of press.

The only thing I could find was from the Muslim Public Affairs Council where they condemned the killing of the Nun Somalia.
Read it here

German Military Forgets Armored Vehicles

In what military experts called "the damndest thing they ever did see" the German military this week realized that they forgot their armored vehicles at home, and called back to request they be sent.

In other news, France realized they do have a military and that sadly it's made up of foreigners who only joined to get free cheese and wine.

Political expression or Hate Mongering?

Is this really political expression or hate mongering? It seems since the ACLU is involved it's clearly hate mongering along with a bit of double standard.

Had someone done the same in Clinton's days the whole left would of risen up and crucified this lady, and the aclu would of gone against her. It all depends on who the hate is directed against if the aclu finds it offensive.

Where would the blame fall?

I was just making a comment on a far left site and started thinking.
If Gore had won in 2000 then who would we blame for 9/11??
Considering we had eight years of Clinton before that.
I think Afghanistan would be still under the control of the taliban and the middle east would be minus one more baby milk factory. ;-P

Glenn Beck Torrent Help

Greetings you sick freaks,

If you all want to see the GB torrents continue, I'm going to need help.
I do not have the bandwidth to seed GB anymore, if someone is willing
to seed I'll make the video's and create the torrents and post them to TPB.
Then I'll need to send it to someone else to seed.
If someone is willing to become the seeder (24x7) then I'll keep it going, if not, then sadly it'll become a memory.

A Moment of Silence....

Five years ago today, our lives were turned upside down. Thousands of lives ended while the rest of ours would never be the same. In fact - they changed forever.

We've all moved on. Some holding tighter to our families. Some families have grown bigger since then (I know our has). Yesterday, our pastor touched on something that, because of an article I read about the children born to “9/11 families” after the tragedy, I've been thinking about most of the week myself. With the 5th year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks - how will all the families who lost loved ones on that horrible day handle this anniversary? We all had a moment of silence in church while afterwards, our pastor lifted those families up in prayer.

It's been hard ever since that day to NOT think about the impact this tragedy has had on us. Not only on our personal selves but on our nation and the world. If you're anything like me, you naturally take a moment of silence out of respect to those who lost their lives and lift their surviving loved ones (not to mention America) up in prayer. Let us NOT let this anniversary be any different than the ones before it. Let us take that moment of silence as well as lifting all their loved ones and this nation up in prayer.

May they rest in peace and may justice truly prevail.

....for those interested in reading the article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060908/ap_on_re_us/sept11_turning5

Dolphins @ Steelers

1st Half is ready
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Pre/Post game Extras is ready
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2nd Half is ready.
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Steelers Delayed

Thanks to local NBC morons I need more time to clean up the game and the 1st half will be delayed until tonight.
There will be a bar at the top twice for about a minute or so each time during the first half. It was either leave their scrolling nonsense up or fade it out.

Here we go Steelers! Here we go!

Panthers vs. Steelers

1st Half should be ready in a few hours, 2nd Half by morning.
Changed back to my old setup 480x360 video in Xvid and audio in MP3 format.
Should be easier on the download time at 700MB per half.

1st Half is now up and seeding, click tracker link at the top to grab it, enjoy and please seed!

Thanks.

2nd Half is up and seeding, enjoy.

Quick Thoughts

I was not aware that enforcing our own laws was unconstitutional, then in that case I'm speeding like mad today! w00t!

Someone is not paying attention here. The writer of this piece has obviously been living in a hole or has not met the crazy people I have who hate everything about our country, including the 'neocon nazi terrorist bushy crew' or whatever their new term of the day is.

Steelers @ Eagles *Updated*

1st half is done.
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2nd Half is done and up.
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Vikings @ Steelers 2nd Half

Finally Done!
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The Future of America

If we leave our borders unchecked and the Bush philosophy of handing our country over to illegal immigrants stands, this is the future of America.

We need to be positive that whoever is elected to the Senate and Congress this November is going to leave the status quo and DO something about this. Regardless of party, or lack thereof.

America should open it's arms to all who want to come BE Americans, and to those who want to USE America we should firmly plant our collective foot into their backsides.

KDKA Steelers Game Production Sucks

It may not seem all that big a deal to the average joe, but to me it's huge.
Editing down Steelers games that are covered by KDKA is a nightmare. Unlike normally NFL games that are produced by seasoned network people, pre-season games are covered by both teams local folks.
KDKA seems to me to be the worst.
That being said I'm editing the game and hope to start processing it tonight.

Rejoice!
Vikings @ Steelers 1st Half is now complete and ready for your enjoyment.
Get it Here

Video Update

Savran from the 14th and 15th are now up, enjoy.

*update*
On a side not I'm not at all happy with the way the Steelers/Vikings game recorded.
1st half ended up 1.4G and so I'm re-ripping it to 1G and will re-record it on Wednesday. May end up using that one.

Updates

Bad news.

I had some kind of issue with my drive I record the games/shows on and had to replace it. Just in time for the vikings game. :-)
However everything that was on it is now gone, including Beck and all Steelers news that was not already on my workstation.

Good News.
I will have the Steelers/Vikings game up.

Also PST from the 12th is up, postgame of the Cardinals game, good stuff.
Get it Here

Bill Cowher Interview

The Savran on SportsBeat Bill Cowher interview special is now ready.
A must see for all serious Steelers fans.
Get it Here

Any by popular demand it's in full 640x480 rez encoded in Xvid video and MP3 audio (128k) so you can burn it and play on any DVD player that supports Xvid.

Steelers Video Update

Slowly getting caught up.

PST from the 9th is now up, you can get it Here.

Savan on SportsBeat from the 10th Here

*EDIT 22:20*

PST for the 10th is now up.
Get it Here

Glenn Beck Update

Glenn Beck from the 10th is up here

Glenn Beck from the 11th is up here

Whoops

I created the torrent for the 2nd half of the game and instead of typing 'mv' to move the video and torrent to the share directory I typed 'rm' and deleted it.
Whoops.

It's processing again.

Also I made it 800mb instead of 700mb so the quality should be a bit better. I'll be toying around with different configs this week trying to get you all a better picture.

It's preseason for me as well. :-)

***UPDATE***

2nd half is done, enjoy.
Get It Here

Steelers vs. Cardinals

The game is now underway.

Steelers win the toss and Ben drives them down the field with ease until Marvel misses a block then gives up on the play and Ben gets chased down and sacked.
Jeff attempts a 54 yard field goal just wide left.

Hope Marvel can get it together for the next series.

--------------------------------------------------------

Now the Cards have their first series and get 7.
The D sure seemed to be confused and covering three quality receivers gave them fits.
Get it fixed LeBeau.

Second Series Steelers back in, Batch running the show, makes a good pass to Cedrick then Duce does little to nothing.
Santonio comes in 3rd and 5 makes his first pro catch, a short jumper for the first down.

End 1st Qtr.

Tracker(s) Update

All torrents will go down tonight while I move everything over to a new tracker.
There will be no need to register with anyone, full access to all torrents. (yea)

My tracker here will stop tonight as well as everything will move over.
That means all new torrent files, you will have to grab the new torrents if your in the middle of downloading something. It should pick up where it left off.

**UPDATE**
I have the Month archive of GB for May, June and July up, as well as Aug 7, 8 and 9. All torrents show zero seeds, do not pay attention to that, I AM seeding them.

Also have Savran up for the month, will get PST up this morning.

Glenn Beck: Loses one potential fan

lmao, I get home from work and have this silly message from some person on demonoid.com that does not like Glenn Beck.

So I did my best to respond.

Holy smoke I love the internet.
You meet all kinds of people here, it's fantastic. :-P

Watch Commericals or go to Jail

Not really, yet.
Seems advertisers are hacked that we don't want to watch their stupid commercials.
Really, how many people watch TV (outside of the Superbowl) for the commercials?
I don't know anyone.
So the fact that crappywood (my pet name for hollywood) and it's pundits are pushing for, of all things making it a law you have to watch commercials, seems a bit like socialism than capitalism.

Really this speaks volumes about the sad, sad condition our country is in, doesn't it?

As a proud long time MythTV user I happily skip ads, I also skip them live, I get enough lies at work all day I don't need them being pumped into my house.

Looking for translator (JP->EN)

Since I can't purchase Zoids Fuzors on DVD here in the U.S I'm looking for someone to translate the raw's for me. I will sub them and host them on my tracker and such.
Anyone interested can email me muddysmind at gmail dot com.

Tracker Updates

Glenn Beck from the 3rd and 4th are now up on the new tracker.

Also.

Since the folks who run the new tracker decided to halt all new registrations I've put the past few days Steelers news updates on my site while they sort themselves out. Email me at muddysmind at gmail dot com for the link.
Those of you who have pm'd me on the forums will be getting a pm back with the link.

Classic 'Busy' Work

I'm sorry, but I laughed out loud when I read this. This is a perfect example of 'busy' work, it's worded so you have to read it slowly and/or a few times so you think, wow Rep. Thomas sure worked hard on this. Not.
Fire this loser for wasting tax payer money and our time.

Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act

Seriously, we have so very much going on in the world and in our country. Do we really need to spend time making laws on a federal level that ought to be dealt with on a local level?
Reason number one why all members of the House and Senate need to go bye-bye and let us start fresh. Wasting time.

Since we have many on the far left wanting to talk about imperialism, here you go. How about we take the three on each side and boot them out now?
Just a thought.

Glenn Beck Torrents

Two new torrents posted for Glenn Beck to the new tracker.
7/31 and 8/01 shows, 8/02 to be posted tonight as well.

Enjoy you sick freak!

Video Updates

Check the new tracker for the most recent Steelers news clips.
Updated tonight current as of last night.

Enjoy
and

Here we go Steelers! Here we go!

Also added may archive for Glenn Beck.

Hurricane Season Update

So Hurricane season is in it's prime, how many have hit the U.S.?

Well I did a quick google news search and found something interesting below.

If you look at the image above, the word hurricane turned up 409 articles on Tropical Storm Chris?
What?
So it's not even a hurricane, yet the word 'Hurricane' is all over it.

Then just below that 205 articles on the Miami Hurricane college football teams newest problems.

So there is no real news of a Hurricane this season, only tropical storms that are not hurricanes and may never be and some young kids who can't stay out of trouble.

OK, well then I guess I'll have to cancel my subscription to Hurricane Disasters Monthly.
I can only assume the global warming freaks are hacked about this, good thing it's hot or they would have nothing to toot their horns about.

*Editors Note*
The sarcasm in this article is in no way a wish for any hurricane to strike any place, we do not wish anyone harm. (except terrorists who want to kill free people)

Even Google knows Hezbollah does not want peace

I had an idea, so I gave it a whirl.

It was more revealing than I thought it would be.

I did a search for the exact phrase 'Hezbollah wants peace' on google news and guess what, zero articles had that phrase in the past few weeks. Zero, nobody not even the far left is claiming Hezbollah wants peace.
Shocked?
I am a little, I thought there had to be someone, some brainwashed site somewhere that believed that.
Now take the same phrase and swap Hezbollah for Israel, that brought up 26 articles. That seemed a little low, however it's not as if I was conducting some scientific experiment, just seeing what's out there.

So for those who claim Israel wants to destroy all the Arabs, Lebanese and Palestinians around them, maybe logic (and reality) would argue different.

Just my two cents.

Updates, updates, updates

New logo, and more changes to the site.
Moved the links so people quit asking me where the tracker is. (geezz)
Also will be putting up more Steelers camp news today.
Beck updates as well.

Photo Update

I added a photo gallery for the Washington D.C. holiday and also have been adding to the miscellaneous gallery.
Enjoy.

Mr. Muddy Goes To Washington Part 3

	AR-7 U.S.S. Hector

Mr. Muddy Goes To Washington Part 2

Korean War Memorial

I honestly did not know there was a Korean War Memorial until I was seeing what all there was on google maps to check out. It was well done I thought.
With a wall of faces from the many different countries, a simple and elegant fountain with the number of captured, wounded and missing. Also as you walked down the path into the memorial all the countries that were involved are listed as well a mock up of a typical squad marching in a simple garden.

Mr. Muddy Goes To Washington Part 1

Left vs Right: Shut Up Already

I'm so sick of the wingers vs. the nut jobs that I want to whip out a M-249 and mow them all down. Liberals, Progressives, Conservatives, Patriots and on and on. How about this grand new concept??

AMERICANS!

Dammit, we're always bitching and fighting like snot nose brats on the playground, I for one am sick of it.

I have a suggestion, ban all political parties, and also outlaw political organizations, clubs and weblogs. :-P

Force Americans to be Americans, have civil discussions, share ideas and omg, hold on, get the hell along!! with each other.

I realize this is impossible, but I just want to be on record that our current hate fest is really getting tiresome.

Mooseboy and I got along swell playing Madden (when he wasn't running fake punts every 4th down, hehe, sorry had to rib you there) and I'm sure we can at the very least agree we love our country and want it to prosper and be the best. (I really hope we can agree on that at least).
How this happens can be worked out later, how about we all agree on this one thing, America is our country, we love our country and want it to grow and prosper.

Can we at least start there?

(sorry International readers, not really meant for you all this time)

The History of the Middle East...

This is a must watch short video.

Mexico not willing to pay for their own

Seems one hospital in Dallas has had enough of Illegal immigrants (and others from outside their county) not paying up. So they have taken the only course of action they can. Bill their legal land of residence. Then the real non-surprise, Mexico played the race card. Yikes, did not see that coming. (rolls eyes)
So I guess if America send millions over to mexico the would gladly give us free housing, medical care and whatever else we demanded.

I applaud their effort even though they won't see one cent. (or peso) It's a courageous gesture on their part, now if they can just stand up to the insurance companies.

Full Story @ The Washington Times

Happy Birthday America!

The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies

In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

* For protecting them by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
* For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
* For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
* For depriving us in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
* For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
* For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
* For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
* For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren.

* We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.
We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.
* We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence.

They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare.

That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown,

and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved;

and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce,

and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

The signers of the Declaration represented the new states as follows:

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Bin Laden tape praises al-Zarqawi as great 'knight'

An audio message posted Friday on an Islamic Web site purports to be the voice of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, grieving over the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and taunting President Bush.

Al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian who masterminded hundreds of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings in Iraq, was killed June 7 in an U.S. airstrike north of Baghdad. He was al Qaeda's leader in Iraq.

On the tape, bin Laden addresses President Bush directly and demands that the U.S. return al-Zarqawi's body to his family in Jordan.

Full Story @ CNN.com

Hello?, Bashar al-Assad can you come out to play?

The IDF said the flyover, carried out by four planes flying in a low-altitude pattern, was a part of an overall IDF operation aimed at pressuring the Syrian leadership to expel Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Mashaal from Damascus.

According to Israel, Mashaal has been calling the shots out of the Syrian capital and orchestrated the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

Syria responded by saying that its air defenses opened fire on the warplanes, forcing them to flee.

Full Story @ Jerusalem Post

Oh come on Israel, sonic boom fly overs are so last decade, try something new for a change. I suggest a fly by at low speed with a crop duster, however fill it with urine. You could also do parachute drops of bacon all over the country, see how many muslims you could get to eat pork. :-P
That would get Assad's attention. -Ed

And Now For Something Completely Different....

I was shown this earlier today and laughed my butt off! Some of you may have seen this before but it's still fun - IMO. This will take a few minutes of your time (in ways, it seems to go on forever) but *I* think it's worth it.:-) Have fun and remember....Just Keep Pressing! :-)

http://www.subliminalmessages.com/175_commercial_lender.htm

Let your hatred and stupidity shine

President Jad (the Iranian nut job) had the pleasure of doing an interview with Spiegal recently and holy crap is my reaction while reading it.

I thought it was an interview with the typical American socialist nut job, but no, it was Pres Jad.
This freak is so far deep down his rabbit hole of hatred and self delusion that repeated statements by the interviewer (a German citizen) that they (the German people) killed six million Jews during WWII were scoffed at.
He says he could give a crap that the German people were outraged by his claim the holocaust never happened, he's confused as to how it's an issue.

Uh.. what the!?!

Oh yea baby, it gets better.

Full Story @ SPIEGEL ONLINE

He then goes on to say "We don't want to confirm or deny the Holocaust. We oppose every type of crime (unless you are the ones doing it) against any people. But we want to know whether this crime actually took place or not. If it did, then those who bear the responsibility for it have to be punished, and not the Palestinians. (dude, what the hell are you smoking??) Why isn't research into a deed that occurred 60 years ago permitted? (HAHAHAHA!!) After all, other historical occurrences, some of which lie several thousand years in the past, are open to research, and even the governments support this."

WOW!

Someone get this guy a gun so he can kill himself now, before it's too late.

Glenn Beck Update

Missing show from the 19th is now up.

A Memorial Silence

Join with us this day to remember,
The Fallen.
Our brothers and friends,
one moment of silence to reflect.

Tracker on the way back up

Just an FYI to everyone, the tracker will be back up in a few hours.
Also I lost the 18th and 19th shows. I'm recording the Sunday repeat in hopes it's one of those I lost.
If you have the raw files I'll edit and post them, otherwise they are gone.

Thanks.

Tracker Down

Just an FYI to everyone who uses the tracker my box crashed hard last night (the kind where you smell burning electronics) and until I figure out what is wrong the tracker will be down.

Beck Update

Due to some screwy things with my Myth box the 19:00 showing of Glenn was not recorded, so I grabbed the 21:00 recording which is currently processing.
However my connection to CNNHN had some digital jitter in it, I'm also going to record the midnight showing to see if it's better.
If not then I'll publish the 21:00 showing in the AM.

Nite all

Tonight's Beck Delayed

Quick note before bed.
Had a wicked day at work, got home late and just now processing the video.
Will have it up in the AM.

Keep watching Beck!

Big Thank You

It's been long overdue, as I look back over the list of those that have supported us over the year.

Thank you all very much!

Beck's first show

Eh, if you know Beck at all it seemed to me to be more Flap Jackson in the morning than Beck. However since it's his first day I'll wait for a bit before giving it a more through judgement. :-)

Here's wishing Glenn and crew the best of luck with the show.

btw.. for the uninformed.

Glenn Beck is on CNN Headline News M-F at 19:00, 21:00 and midnight.

Also..

The torrents may change a bit, trying to lower the file size to 300MB from 350MB.
You need to either PM me on the glenn beck insiders forum or my forum for the user/pass.

GLENN BECK IN 3 Hours!!

Ok kids, get your Mythtv boxes (and tivos for you non-geeks) ready to record Glenn Becks new show at 19:00EST.

I'm hoping to put out torrents of the shows for those interested.

Muddysmind Calls for Federal Investigation

Muddysmind.com has learned that Starbucks may be price gouging, joining the Oil companies on the Federal governments new "you make to much money" (aka. pre-socialism) Hit-list.
Four plus dollars for a horrible cup of coffee is a brilliant move to say the least, then convincing the masses that it tastes good was the cherry on top.

Full Story @ newratings.com

Just Curious....

Well, in a few weeks, Muddy and I will be sitting down with our eldest to have a talk abut "the birds and the bees". Oh My! Yep - it be that time.:-)

I'll be honest (and maybe I'm not a normal parent) but this whole "sex talk" isn't bothering nor embarrassing me in the least. For the past few months, Muddy and I have been tossing around exactly what we're going to say and how to say it. After all, a child's attention span isn't the greatest in the world - especially with a long winded mother like me.:-)

We both even talked about who had the talk with us. My mom sat down with me and told me the basics about where babies come from and what girls/women go through. However, she neglected to teach me about protection and birth control. Unfortunately, we went to a church at the time that irresponsibly taught the parents that if you teach a child about protection then they'll just be encouraged to have sex even more. So, all of this has got me curious. Who told you guys about "the birds and the beezzz"? Was it something your parents taught you or did your friends fill you in? Maybe it was both?

To busy to make coffee in the morning?

Don't have time to make coffee in the morning?
Still need your caffeine buzz?

Then the Shock Soap is for you.

(I gotta try this)

Check it out @ ThinkGeek

Quick Gas Price Blurb

I've been hearing President Bush bash the Oil companies for uh.. "making money" the old fashioned way, by earning it. Our Senators and Congressmen are calling for an investigation into the oil companies, if this is not the most obvious case of the pot calling the kettle black I don't know what is.

If you look at the real picture, NOT the final dollar amount. You will see the drug companies, banks, and even the dollar store! make more (or the same) profit per dollar than oil companies.

Yes, I said it. The oil companies from the pure numbers I've been reading and hearing are NOT raping us, however the great George Bush and the never at fault government ARE taking us to the Bank, back home, then back to the bank again, and again.

Talk about price gouging? Try this on for size more than half the price of your gas is taxes. WHERE is all this money going?? I'm not seeing anything are you?

If the blowhards in Washington really gave a *** they would cut taxes on fuel and give us an immediate and real solution.

Passing the blame somewhere else may be what they are good at, however it's not a solution and in the end only pisses us off.

For the amount of tax each state slaps on us check out Gasoline tax information

The Federal Gas Tax is 18.4 cpg.

Note: For the record, we should ditch gas powered cars and move on to waters powered, however that's a whole different post. -Ed

Mexico seeking old broke down 737's

It seems Mexico has finally found a way to employ all the Illegal "workers" they have so generously been pouring over the boarder to us in the past few decades.
Gudalajara is their new home and the grand public library is their new job. The design competition has a most interesting submission using the hollow bodies of used Boeing 727 and 737 airliners.

So you have to give them props for taking recycling to the next level. :-)

Full Story @ Memepunks

Beck is almost here! w00t!

CNN's Headline News channel has revamped its schedule to bring controversial talk show host Glenn Beck into the fold, it was reported in Atlanta.

Beck will anchor his own show seven nights a week at 7 p.m. EDT starting May 8, the Atlanta-based network announced Monday, The Hollywood Reporter said Tuesday. The show will be repeated at 9 p.m. EDT.

Full Story @ Reality TV World

Finally a reason to watch CNNHN besides Robin. Beck might just take CNN past Fox.

United 93

September 11th was a day I will not forget, working at UUNet/Worldcom in the network operations room we monitored the entire world. That day all we could do was stare into the television someone had brought in on a cart. Those down T1's in Dallas or the customer having trouble with their credit card authorizations in Miami seemed another world away.

As we watched the second plane plow into the trade centers all I could think was "no way in hell is this an accident, we're under attack". How correct I was.

Now if we think we are ready, comes the film United93. A non-glamorous and non-Hollywood type film. With no special effects and with some people such as Ben Sliney playing themselves, it looks as though it was done the right way.
With all families involved giving their blessing it sends the message that this is not your typical Hollywood trash, I encourage all that can handle it to go see it.

Watch the Trailer @ Apple - Trailers - United 93

Oh My, How Dare They Build a Big House?!

I've been seeing a lot of articles lately about "McMansions." At first it sounds horrible, they build these huge houses on these tiny lots in the middle of the city. Oh God the humanity.

How dare these people tear down perfectly hideous and tiny houses design to live 2 parents and a child in he post WW2-era, with their own money, in the middle of the city, where they can use mass transit much more easily, and not clog the freeways with their gas guzzling vehicles on their way to work. How dare these people build houses sometimes located in such a way that they can walk or bike to work!

In all seriousness, yeah in some cases people go a bit overboard and excercise poor taste. But hey, news flash, it is their property and their money. If they want a gi-normous house, go for it! Especially given that they usually tear down a virtually unlivable house and functionally obsolete house that few people want to live in.

We complain about urban sprawl, oh God these people won't live in the city and it is causiing smog and they clog the freeways and blah blah blah. Now people are trying to move back to the city, and when they do that people complain because they build bigger houses.

What I really don't understand is why politicians oppose this since i t means increased property values and thus, property taxes.

It's more class envy.

I couldn't afford one of these houses. Nor could my parents. So what?

Not to mention, that I've seen some of these so called "McMansions" and frankly, as we say here in the south "they ain't that big!"

Hockey

I love to watch hockey. It's been even more fun since my hometown has actually gotten a team again. However, I must say this: There is something wrong when more than half of the teams in the league are in the playoffs.

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of wild cards, where a team that maybe was a great team but was in a tougher division can get in and have a shot, and in baseball I must add, to some great success.

However, 16 of 30 teams? Why even call it a playoff, why not just call it, I don't know, the regular season?

NCAA basketball tournament starts with what, 64 teams? That isn't an eighth, much less half of the NCAA schools. Baseball is what, 8 of 28? 1 per division and a wild card in each league. Not bad.

But 16 of 30!

And No, I'm not talking about thi sbecause the Thrashers didn't make it. I wwasn't surprised they didn't. They did have a good run at it though.

Happy Easter....

I love spring! I always have. There's just something about watching everything come back to life again after a long, gray and dreary winter. The smell of fresh cut grass, the smell of rain in the air (though I can do without the severe thunderstorms and tornado watches and warnings but hey....), seeing the familiar colours of the world around me reborn. This rebirth is a very literal sence in many ways.

Today, on Easter, we Christians celebrate the death and *resurection* of Christ. The day when "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace (that brought us peace) was upon Him. And by His stripes we are healed.". (Isaiah 53:5)

He conquered sin and death and lives for ever more! That "whoever...." (I don't read any exceptions there) "....believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

May God pour out His mercy, blessings and grace upon you all.

Happy Easter!

Forgive Tax Cheats

Found this site tonight and thought what a great Idea this is. Getting 30% of my pay back each check, nice.

Check it out.

Read More @ ForgiveTaxChears.com

Sky On Bonds

Is there anyone with any doubt that Barry Bonds played/plays juiced? If you do have such doubts, please allow me to sell you some ocean front real-estate in Laos.

Lets be honest. Barry Bonds is not helping his team anymore. If he broke Aaron's record this year it probably wouldn't affect the Giant's place is the standings. The NL west is going to be the worst division in baseball again and the Giants are probably going to place 1st or second: with or without Barry. And with the absurd number of intentional walks he'll draw this year, his deteriorating defensive skills, and the less than positive media attention (not to mention his bawling on ESPN) I can't imagine anything other than ego driving him to continue to play (with denial being Alou's drive to put him in the line-up.)

In fact, how did he get the MVP award last year? I'm still scratching my head over that one.

Does anyone notice the injury plagued seasons of all these players under suspicion of being on 'roids? Palmeiro, McGuire, Bonds, Caminitti (who had the gonads to stand up and admit his mistake, as a result he paid a price, but not one imposed by the media - he died of a heart attack in 2004 related either to his alcoholism, his cocaine abuse or his steroid use.) Even Jose Canseco.

Let's go outside of baseball. Florence Griffith Joyner. Lyle Alzado.

I recommend Barry not wear any shades this year, the future isn't looking bright for him. Even if he surpasses the Babe (Who would probably still be up on Aaron if he hadn't started his career as a pitcher and didn't play half of his career in the dead ball era) or even Aaron, he'll be remembered for years as a cheat (and by the way, MLB circulated a memo in 1991 stating that players should not use performance enhancing drugs or prescription drugs for which they do not hold a prescription, so it was cheating.) Hopefully for all time.

The Guys' Rules

**I usually don't post my e-mails (obviously) but I recieved this one this morning and thought it too good to not post. Besides, I think you guys will get a kick out of it.**

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys' side of the story. (I must admit, it's pretty good.) We always hear"the rules"from the female point of view... Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Men ARE NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Happy New Years....Er, I Mean "April Fool's Day"!

There have been very few times in my life (mostly as a child) when I actually *liked* "April Fool's Day". I always thought how stupid it was (not to mention mean) that one day out of the year was used to serve the *stupidest* pranks to poor unsuspecting people. Of course, there was that one time when one of my cousins walked to a neighbors house and called my uncle in a disguised voice convincing him he had just won the lottery. Another cousin who was also in on the joke (as were the rest of us because it wasn't *that* hard to figure out) let it go on long enough to see my uncle get the keys to his van and head towards the door before finally letting him in on the prank. It was a mean one (considering their financial situation and considering I put myself in my uncle's shoes and realized that I wouldn't want it done to me) but even *I* had to admit that one was a little funny (considering how gullible my uncle is - or at least *was* at the time).

I've often thought to myself - where *did* this stupid "tradition" come from? Well, a few years ago, curiosity killed the cat and I finally looked up it's origin (or at least it's close enough). Enjoy:

Full Article @ April Fools' Day: Origin and History

God Bless the "Patriot Guard Riders"!

You guys have got to check these guys out! I first heard of them about a week ago on Fox news (I believe it was Fox and Friends. Yes, that "evil" news channel). It's people like these who give me a new hope in America and gives me a renewal in the spirit of pride and patriotism. Reading through their site - I just wanted to hug each and every one of them. Here's the link to their site along with their mission statement:

http://www.patriotguard.org/

Also, if you follow this link:

http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/
forumid/26/postid/41812/view/topic/Default.aspx

it will take you to a letter written by a soldier whose in Iraq he also has a link to his *own* website. It's worth a good look!

We have a Leprechaun on the Loose

Video featured @ YouTube

Jackie Mason on Starbucks

Starbucks is the best example of a phony status symbol that means nothing, but people will still pay 10 times as much for because there are French words all over the place.

You want coffee in a coffee shop, that's 60 cents. But at Starbucks, Cafe Latte: $3.50. Cafe Cremier: $4.50. Cafe Suisse: $9.50. For each French word, another four dollars.

Why does a little cream in coffee make it worth $3.50? Go into any coffee shop; they'll give you all the cream you want until you're blue in the face. Forty million people are walking around in coffee shops with jars of cream: "Here's all the cream you want!" And it's still 60 cents. You know why?

Because it's called "coffee."

If it's Cafe Latte -- $4.50. You want cinnamon in your coffee? Ask for cinnamon in a coffee shop; they'll give you all the cinnamon you want. Do they ask you for more money because it's cinnamon? It's the same price for cinnamon in your coffee as for coffee without cinnamon -- 60 cents, that's it. But not in Starbucks. Over there, it's Cinnamonnier - $9.50.

You want a refill in a regular coffee shop, they'll give you all the refills you want until you drop dead. You can come in when you're 27 and keep drinking coffee until you're 98. And they'll start begging you: "Here, you want more coffee, you want more, you want more?" Do you know that you can't get a refill at Starbucks? A refill is a dollar fifty. Two refills, $4.50. Three refills, $19.50.

So, for four cups of coffee - $350.

And it's burnt coffee.

Read the rest @ goodasgold.com

This was TO true to pass up, and funny. -Ed

p.s. Thanks for the link Skywalker

Tis a thing of beauty

Nothing like homemade hand tossed pie using all organic ingredients.
This looked (and tasted) too good not to share with my friends.

Enjoy!

I would of also taken a pic of Mrs. Muddys pie but it has (yuck!) rice cheese on it.
Not something I'm proud of.

Xgl - Pushing Linux to the Top

Just discovered this last night, Xgl for Linux will make Mac's and Winders look like garbage, it's a perfect blend of function and aesthetics.

I have made the demonstration video available here.

Visit the main site of NOVELL:Xgl

Bush lied, people died?

I recently interviewed General Georges Sada, who served as the second-highest ranked general in the Iraqi Air Force. A two-star general, he wrote a recently published book called "Saddam's Secrets: How an Iraqi General Defied and Survived Saddam Hussein." Here are some sound bites from that interview:

Elder: General, as you know, the president has been accused of lying about the intelligence, fabricating it, cherry-picking it, that he wanted to go to war, he really didn't believe that Saddam had WMD. It was all a big smokescreen. When you hear people accuse the president of lying about WMD, of misleading the country and the world, your reaction, Gen. Georges Sada, is what?

Sada: Let me tell you. I am really surprised how people are speaking like this and their soldiers are still in the battle. You see, a soldier when he is in battle, he wants to feel that all his nation are backing him and they are with him. And now I tell you I feel very sorry when I see some people in this country, their soldiers are in the battle, and they are discussing political things making that soldier to feel that he is there in the wrong place. That's one. Second, if there was something right had been done in this country, it was the best decision taken in the proper time, to go and liberate Iraq from an evil dictatorship who only God knows what he was going to do in the region, and maybe even to America, because that man was possessing the weapons of mass destruction and then he was with very evil intentions towards all the West, especially America.

Full article @ Townhall.com

This is a very interesting read that Mrs. Muddy and Skywalker have pointed out. -Ed

Why 85%? 2 reasons: #1 they know no one will go this slow. #2 Because of #1, they can write lots and lots of revenue increasing tickets.

Yes, that's right, speed limits are all about revenue. I'm not opposed to revenue. It's needed byt he government. But frankly, the speed limits are moronic. The only place where a speed limit might actually be useful, is in a completely residential area such as a subdivision or something similar. Oh yes, and school zones, since in some areas, kids still walk to school. Outside of kids walking to school, I really can't personally see a reason for school zones though. I won't say there isn't since I may simply be missing one and some school bus driver might pop on and say there is a legitimate reason.

There have been numerous studies that say the safest drivers on the road are the ones whoa re int he left hand lane driving at least 10 mph over the speed limit and the least safe are the ones driving the speed limit or less.

Anyhow, here is the reason for this:
Meditation On The Speed Limit

It was done by some college students at Georgia State University for Campus Movie Fest. No I am not a student there. No I do not know any of these students.

The premise: a student was tired of getting tickets for going with the flow of traffic on I-285 here in Atlanta. So he decided to show just what would happen in everyone had to go the speed limit. Enjoy.

Stop Democracy

Found this site while searching news and it's refreshing to see some Americans get it.
I admit in the past have said "our democracy" and yet knew it's a republic, whoops. This might help me to remember. :-P

"Our legal form of government is a Constitutional Republic. Through media manipulation and the constant chant of “our democracy” from either deceitful or ignorant politicians, the majority of the American people don't even understand that not only is America not a democracy, they don't know the difference."

Full Text @ Help stop the spread of democracy!

United Arab Emirates surpasses America on the world gluttony scale

The Palm Islands, also referred to as The Palm Dubai and The Palms, are the three largest man-made islands in the world, which are being built on the coast of the emirate of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its concept was announced in May 2002 and the three resort islands are expected to maintain Dubai's position as a premium tourist destination. The Palm Islands is also the self-declared 'Eighth Wonder of the World'.

The Palm Islands [Dubai] - Property Development - TEN Real Estate [UAE]

Holy Cash Overflow Batman! It seems someone has money burning a hole in their pockets. :-P -Ed

New ad released in the Middle East

Brought to you by :

Militant Islam

Note: This is simply something funny I found while reading fark.com, I did not make these nor claim so. I do believe that every human wants freedom, some however have vastly different opinions on what freedom is. -Ed

Democrats Can't Hackett

Feb 14, 2006

Dismembered Republicans in shock!

Full Story @ Rolling Stone

Handling of Accident Creates Tension Between White House Staffs

New York Times
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 — When the White House press secretary,...

*YAWN*

In other news I had a massive crap today, you know the kind that hits you right as your hitting the freeway in rush hour traffic. Man your praying all the way home, "Oh please don't let me crap my pants before I get home", yea it was an (as I have trademarked) Assplosion!

Yikes my toilet probably thinks I hate it or something, the way I was abusing it.

New Photo Album Added

Finally got around to adding a few pics from our trip to the U.S.A.F. Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Had to go twice because I forgot to charge the batteries for the camera. Also took the tripod the second trip which helped with getting cleaner pics.

Enjoy.

If your in Ohio check out the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

The Super Bowl Commeth

Everyone get your terrible towels out and wave them like never before..

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!


HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!


HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!

I wish I could make this stuff up

A protestor demonstrates in front of the French Embassy, over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, in London February 3, 2006. The cartoons, which are due to be re-published in French newspapers on Saturday





Seriously, I wish I could make up stuff this funny. How in the hell do you hold out ANY hope of living peacefully with brilliant folks like this???

They have no morality, no sensibility, no brain functionality but kill the white man. It's almost like they are being brain washed in the Mosques... *shock* NOOO! That would Never happen.(rolls eyes) -Ed

Sane Muslims stand up and be heard

All the sane, competent and intelligent Muslims stand up for your faith and give us hope that the Muslim religion is not a bunch of nut jobs.

ONE freakin' cartoon and (it seems) the entire Muslim community is going to pop off and start bombing everyone they can find.

How many times over just the past few years have Christians endured flagrant attacks on God, Jesus and ourselves. Yet I don't remember anyone starting WW3 over it. Just because some asshat God hating liberal wants to put a crucifix in a jar of urine does not mean I'm going to kill him. (just clarifies he is nuts) You are free to voice your opinion and hatred no matter how wrong you are.

So enough of this stupid rage, outrage and fury over one cartoon (which given your reaction might not of been far off). Grow up, grab yourself a chill pill and enjoy life man.

You know, this whole over reaction thing reminds me of what a very insecure man would do if he thought some guy was checking out his girl. Get all shitty and try to pick a fight with him.

Insecurity and easy access to weapons makes for a BAD combination.

Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
I'm no longer 33....
But I'm still crazy as can be.:-D

Yes, I've decided to sing my own birthday wishes this year. So, pick your poison and raise your glass (just don't stick me with the tab.:-P ) in celebration of my 34th year....or whatever other reason you can conjure up.

BTW...in case *anyone* would like to buy me a present, our garrage would look MUCH better with a dirt bike in it.:-)

Racism OK if it's against Whitey

NAACP chairman compares GOP to Nazis

Civil rights activist and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond delivered a blistering partisan speech at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina last night, equating the Republican Party with the Nazi Party and characterizing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her predecessor, Colin Powell, as "tokens."

"The Republican Party would have the American flag and the swastika flying side by side," he charged.

Calling President Bush a liar, Bond told the audience at the historically black institution that this White House's lies are more serious than the lies of his predecessor's because Clinton's lies didn't kill people.

Full Story @ WorldNetDaily.com

Nobody (except us) will stand up and call this fool a racist, it's sickening. People do far, far less and get politically, emotionally and socially hung, this guy will walk away with an "attaboy". -Ed

How about you answer the question asked

So there I am, watching El Presidente during his press conference this morning.
He reminded me why I hate politicians (donkeys and elephants), they have trouble answering the question asked. Instead they like to change the question then answer a totally different question.

As my radio hero Mr. Beck would say, "ANSWER THE FRICKIN QUESTION!!"

Now I understand some questions cannot be directly answered as the asshat liberal media likes to ask some of the most ignorant things.

However at least be honest enough to ask them to rephrase or say "I cannot answer that" or whatever. You can't change the question then answer it yourself, it's pointless for others to show up if your going to Q&A by your self!

Mr. Bush if you want to truly be "different" and have the respect of your people then be the beacon, be the one we look up too instead of a typical politician.

Read along with Muddy

Ever thought that you knew about our constitution, have you even read it?

How about understanding it?

Read along with Muddy and discover what the federalists and anti-federalists thought about the constitution, how it applied to daily life and how those who signed it defended it.

Download the book from Project Gutenberg

We're driving the Bus to Detroit!

My Steelers are going to Super Bowl XL and will be sending the Bus off to retirement in style, with one for the thumb!

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!

Here we go Steelers!, Here we go!

Helping Out Our Fellow Man

A new year means new beginings but for some it means a bad start and/or finish to an already bad year. Bad things happen all the time. From the tsunami in Asia last year to the earthquake in Pakistan three months ago to the hurricane in New Orleans to the roof collapse in a German Ice skating rink just days ago to the West Virginia mine collapse. Our fellow man needs a helping hand everywhere you turn. With so many horrifying events happening throughout the world everyday, it can get a little overwhelming as to where to start first. I ask everyone to not only say a continuous prayer for ALL of these people and their loved ones but to also give to their local Red Cross. No matter where you are in the world. Donate blood and/or as much or little money as you can. It doesn't have to be alot. A little CAN go a long way.

Happy - And SAFE - New Year!

Just wanted to take the time (while I had it) to wish everyone a very safe and happy new year. We've all had our debates through the years. Some of you I've agreed with - some of you...I've wanted to knock up side the head! :-) But all of us have had a hand in making it interresting food for thought. So everyone have fun and BE SAFE!!! Give those keys to someone else or just stay 'till the morning so we can ALL *continue* to have those "interresting" debates.:-) I'm serious now so - don't MAKE me hurt you people.

How not to stop illegal immigration

Some things in life are far to dumb to be made up. This is one of them. -Ed

Ignorant Statement of the Hour

"Corporate adoption of Linux desktops is hindered by the inability to run Windows applications." -Information Week

Uh.., if you could run windoze apps then it would be WINDOZE you morons! For the love of pete will you clueless children stop this nonsense and stick to your low brow OS and leave the real OS to the men. Your ignorant statement makes as much sense as "I'm hindered in buying a dvd player by the inability of it to play VHS tapes."

(I need duct tape, my head is going to explode!)

Liberal concerns addressed

From: The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC

Dear Concerned Citizen:

Thank you for your recent letter criticizing our treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The administration takes these matters seriously, and your opinion was heard loud and clear here in Washington.

You'll be pleased to learn that, thanks to the concerns of citizens like you, we are creating the Terrorist Retraining Program, to be called the "Liberals Accept Responsibility for Killers" program, or LARK for short. In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, we have decided to place one terrorist under your personal care. Your detainee has been selected and scheduled for transportation to your residence next Monday. Ali Mohammed Ahmed bin Mahmud is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you personally demanded in your letter of admonishment. We will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that your standards of care for Ahmed are commensurate with those you so strongly recommended in your letter.

Although Ahmed is sociopathic and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his "attitudinal problem" will help him overcome this character flaw. Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences.

Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up, unless you feel that this might offend him.

Ahmed will not wish to interact with your wife or daughters since he views females as a subhuman form of property. ?This is a particularly sensitive subject for him. He has been known to show violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the dress code that he considers appropriate, but I'm sure that over time they will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the bhurka. Just remind them that it is all part of respecting his culture and his religious beliefs.

Thanks again for your letter. We truly appreciate it when folks like you inform us of the proper way to do our job. Take good care of Ahmed and good luck!

Cordially,
Don Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense

Yet another example socialism is not better than capitolism

Yahoo! News Photo

While researching Christmas

I found this gem.

Dionysius Exiguus

Dionysius Exiguus, a monk from Russia who died about 544, was asked by Pope John I to set out the dates for Easter from the years 527 to 626. It seems that the Pope was keen to produce some order in the celebration of Easter. Dionysius decided to begin with what he considered to be the year of Jesus' birth. He chose the year in which Rome had been founded and determined, from the evidence known to him, that Jesus had been born 753 years later.

He was almost certainly acquainted with a suggestion by Hippolytus (170–236) that the date of Jesus' birth was December 25, but the trouble was that Hippolytus had not backed up this claim with sound arguments. Dionysius, however, had just the argument:

* His contemporaries claimed that God created the earth on March 25.
* It was inconceivable that the son of God could have been in any way imperfect.
* Therefore Jesus must have been conceived on March 25.
* This meant that he must have been born nine months later—December 25.

(Dionysius also concluded that, as a perfect being, Jesus could not have lived an incomplete life so he must have died on March 25 as well!)

Full Article @ westarinstitute.org

Happy Thanksgiving

Just a bit late but better than never.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable day, I know mine was rememberable. :-)

Thanksgiving

Ward breaks Record!

Hines Ward is now the receiving leader breaking the previous Steelers mark set by John Stallworth (HOF). Ward jumped passed John Stallworth when he caught his 538th career pass. It's my guess and assumption that Hines will also make the HOF here in Canton, OH. Maybe one day I'll get to witness him being inducted, that would be huge.

Daily Thoughts

After listening to the news while working today I have some thoughts.

1. Nuke Iran now, get it over with as it won't be any easier in the future.

2. Find who leaked the intel about the secret prisons and eliminate them, asshats who leak black ops info are traitors and need to go bye bye .

3. Washington (Rep & Dem alike) STFU and do your job. Which by the way does not include acting like a bunch of spoiled brats.

4. India, how about that water supply? I think if I open a water desalinization facility now, in about ten years I'll be a very rich man.

5. Someone has got to share the secret with Barbara Boxer that less (makeup) is more, holy crap I thought that was Tammy Faye Baker when I glanced up to the screen.

6. Last but not least, Hey France, do you need us to send over the L.A.P.D. to put the smack down on that uprising?

An Ode To 10 Years....

10 years ago today,
We said our "I do's"
In the usual way.
Infront of God, family,
witnesses and friends
We promised to love each other
to the very end.
And today, as I look back now,
At all the good and bad,
At all the up's and down's
I have to ask one question
In the face of all that I believe in...
Someone please tell me -
What in hell were we thinkin'?!

Love,

Your Adoring Wife :-D

Steelers Vid Update

Check the Forums.

Naruto Episode 4

Meh, it was ok.

After 152 episodes of subs it's been "troublesome" adjusting to the new voices and the way they say things.

Believe it! (lol)

New Logo

Ok, after waiting on my famous artist sister to help out, I did it myself.
What do you think of the new logo? Made a poll on it, vote.

Glock

Among the many things my friends and I talk about, our handguns are among them. And while we all disagree on various things, one thing we all can agree is that we love our Glocks. Some of us prefer the full-size, some the sub-compact (I prefer the compact which is the middle size.) We mostly can agree on the .40 and .45 ACP calibers - I own a .45 ACP, the Glock 30. And we also can agree that it is without a doubt, the most reliable handgun in the world. I personally have never seen one jam. Nor do I personally know anyone who has (though, I'm told the can, but usually it is a feed problem.)

This leads me to wonder, why the heck isn't the US military using them? I mean really, the 9mm Beretta has been a disaster. It's unreliable and it has no stopping power (and yes, I have fired it.) And, chances are, if you have fired one, then you've had it "bite" you. In fact, it's such a horrid weapon, that special operations units have gone BACK to the Colt 1911, though a slightly modified version. Even MEU(SOC)'s are using the 1911 again.

Seriously, why are we continuing to use the Beretta, which sucks, and not using a Glock 22 or a Glock 21? It can't be cost, since the Glock is comparable.

Too Bizzare

Ok, just when you think you've seen it all, Boing Boing has posted today a bit on a parasite that replaced a fish's tongue (because it drains all of it's blood, the tongue that is and the latches on to the stub).

Freaky pics as well. A must see.

Full Story @ Boing Boing

Naruto Announcement

Ok boys and girls.

I will no longer post/write about Naruto episodes here, if you want to ask something Email Me.
Do not ask if I'm putting up episodes, just check the tracker.

(remove the "nospam" from the email addy before sending)

Naruto Episode 3

For those who were not able to watch Naruto Ep3 tonight (or live in another country) the english dub will be up in a bit.

It was interesting how Ino called Saske her "boy", that one had me cracking up.

I'll update once it's up.

*UPDATE*

It's up.

Two days in a row? It must be God.

Again tonight, working late and in search for a quality cup O' joe.
Walk into my favorite Caribou Coffee up north and see my favorite crew working.
After chatting it up a bit I ask for one of their tasty looking raspberry and chocolate pastries. They tell me they can't sell them to me because they are expiring that night and have to be thrown out. So instead they gave me, all three!
Then in my usual smart ass way I said "how about a free cup O' joe to go with these beauties", they said sure why not. w00t!
Man I tell you what, two great nights of free (quality) coffee and eats, life is good.

Stauff's to the rescue

So there I was, driving around late at night in search of food. My first attempt was Timmy Ho's to get a bowl of veggie soup, of which they had none. Next up was Panzera Pizza, who promptly locked his door and flipped the "closed" sign upon seeing me walk up to the door. (dirtbag) At last I ended up at Stauff's, Columbus's premier coffee roaster/house. Knowing they were also closing I did not hold out hope. I walked into an empty store and asked if they had any coffee left. The wonderful ladies said, they still had some left but could not charge me as they had already closed out their register.I thought I was rejected again, but it was not to be. They told me that they could give me the coffee, so not to pass up on their charity I inquired how much for a muffin, it was free as well.
God works in mysterious ways, and Stauff's rocks!

New Photo Gallery

Click HERE to view the new muddysmind.com photo gallery. I'm moving my pics from deviantart back to here, so enjoy.

Steelers 34 vs Titans 7 !!

Willie Parker has the Burg excited and what a day he had.

Steeler fans around the world will get to see Willie work magic as I'm processing the 1st half now, should be ready in 2-3 hours.

*UPDATE* 1st Half is complete and ready.

*UPDATE* 2nd Half is up and ready.

Naruto Episodes 1 & 2

Processing episode 1 now, will start 2 once it's done.

I'm also looking for folks to help seed it if anyone is interested leave a message here.

Happy Naruto viewing!

- Muddy

*note* users who are not familiar with xvid or ogg vorbis should make sure their systems can play these formats. I have a windows codec install for xvid under the downloads section. Those who choose good over evil and use Linux like me just use mplayer. (also a winders version of mplayer under downloads)

*UPDATE*
Episode 1 is up and ready

*UPDATE*
Episode 2 is up and ready

To enable windows to play the sound in these files go HERE, the Xvid video codec plugin is under downloads on the right side of my main page.

Proof Linux Rocks! and Winblows Sucks

Just a funny page I found, enjoy.

Operating System Sucks-Rules-O-Meter

Priceless Quote

While reading through fark tonight I came across this gem from SchlingFo.
(speaking on the recent unrelenting price increases of gas/oil)

"Price gouging" is to "supply and demand" as "looting" is to "finding".

Naruto Hitting U.S. Airwaves

Well, my favorite anime is coming, and not in a good way. After watching All 150 episodes of Naruto in it's native Japanese subtitled in english I will find it a challenge to accept the new dubbed english version.

Sometimes an anime can pull off the transition, however the voice acting in Naruto is out of this world, I really doubt American's dubbing it can do it justice.

I guess we will wait and see.

I'm considering making .ogm rips (I will make them for myself at least) and putting them on the tracker, if anyone would be interested in hosting them that would take a huge load off my already tapped bandwidth.

In case your a naruto fan and don't already know about narutofan.com it's a must have for your bookmarks.

Oh, on a side note, I'm getting close to being done with all 25 episodes of FullMetal Alchemist if anyone is interested in having those up on the tracker.

Twisted Views

While spending my usual fist minutes after waking up browsing news.google.com, I came across this disturbing piece by Mr. Oliphant of the Boston Globe.

In it he says the following :

"The question -- now that President Bush has an opportunity that no president has had since Richard Nixon broke true-blue conservative hearts some 34 years ago -- is whether there is a conservative doctrine that can guide the Supreme Court and bring the country along politically in its wake. If there is, the stakes for Rehnquist's successor, and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's as well -- not to mention the country -- are huge."

Now, my understanding from reading over the founding documents is that the Supreme Court shall be responsible for hearing cases, not dictating political doctrine, adhering to, adding to, producing or taking any part in political activity whether conservative or liberal.

So where does Mr. Oliphant get his twisted view of our Supreme Count from?
Again and again uneducated, unprepared and ignorant people are somehow given full
access to our nations press, perpetrating lies and half truths.

However such activity is protected, as is my right to correct them.

Full Story @ The Boston Globe

For your reading pleasure I give you article III from the U.S. Constitution.

Article. III.

Section. 1. The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section. 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; — to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; — to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; — to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; — to Controversies between two or more States; — between a State and Citizens of another State [Modified by Amendment XI]; — between Citizens of different States; — between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

The State of American Government

How many Americans have ever read the Declaration of Independence?
I wonder if the common man would see the things that I do.

The multitude of our brothers and sisters who have over the centuries given
their lives for our freedom. Would they recognize what we call the government today?
Intriguing is one of the many points listed that caused a people to stand up and physically fight
their leaders was something we accept today.

*For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent

How many times has the government raised taxes, whether fuel, "sin", sales or otherwise without
any vote.
Another point was brought to light recently when the so called Supreme Court decided they should make laws. This was also something that our forefathers stood up against.

*For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments.

Their arrogance was quite obvious when the Court decided if someone wants to build a resort, Hotel or other "public" establishment they could kick people off their land and bulldoze their homes.
That was never part of the law, however it is their bastardized version of it, and now law.

I do not claim that Mr. Bush is sole responsible for the shell of a government that we currently have presiding over us. However he is but heir to it. A slow, meticulous and dangerous mutation has occurred right under our noses.

It is time to educate our country, make known our grievances to our representatives and pray that God has mercy on us.

Transcript of Declaration of Independence (1776)

Steelers vs. Panthers

Steeler fans around the world rejoice.
The 1st half of the Steelers at the Panthers is now ready.
As usual I did the game in two pieces to fit on two 700mb CD-R's.

2nd Half should be ready in a couple hours.

Remember to seed! (at the very least for 24 hours)

*edit*
2nd half is now up and ready.

Problem solved : Bad Memory

If your box starts to lock up at unexplainable times, programs dump for unknown reasons.
Run Memtest86 and do it for more than five minutes like I had at first.

After several weeks of random lockups and programs crashing for no clear reason.
I ran Memtest again last night, and behold after nineteen minutes it started to spew errors like a baby rejecting formula.

I yanked the memory, setup an RMA and pulled memory from another box, now I'm back in business.

Remember kids, if it's random errors and not heat related, it's probably memory.

Thanks to Newegg.com for the online RMA process, worked out good for me, sending back the bad sticks today.

Tracker down for Maint

Installing new tracker, so all torrents are down for a little bit.

Ok, maybe I have it fixed, give it a whirl.

Captcha

In an effort to eliminate our incredible spam problem, I've added a CAPTCHA to the comment system. I realize that this is a pain, but it's just 6 numbers you have to type in, so please bear with us.

*Muddy's Note*
It's not working, please be patient while Skywalker gets off his duff and figures it out. :-)

...And From Neal's Nuze Today

I got this from Neal's Nuze today:

"EVERYONE AGREES"

Yeah ... as the NBC reporter said .... "everyone agrees."

Baseball

Steroid scandals aside, this season has been interesting. You have the AL where the Yankees may very well not make the playoffs for the first time in years (No complaint here!) You have the NL West where for the first time ever, the entire division may finish with sub .500 winning percentages. The AL West has a heck of a pennant race going on. The Royals have been one of the losingest teams to ever play the game. And then the NL East where my Braves, against all odds, are in first place, in a division where most likely every team is going to finish with a winning record.

What do I mean by against all odds? I can think of one sportswriter who picked them to win it. His words, "I picked em to lose last year and I lost. We go through this every year with them, and every year they find a way to win it." At one point over a third of the 25 man roster was rookies. They've been injury plagued, particularly in the first half. The 2nd game of the season (that I was at) was a 15 strike-out performance by John Smoltz - and he took the loss!

Alas, soon the season will be over and my Falcons and Yellow Jackets both face tough schedules. Particularly the Yellow Jackets who face one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA!

Hey New Orleans, RUN!!!

Katrina now a cat 5 and growing stronger.

You can no longer discount this storm, New Orleans residents and surrounding areas need to get up and run.

How to tell you your fat, let me count the ways

But a New Hampshire woman who was sternly lectured by her doctor about being obese has taken her hurt feelings to a new level - filing an official complaint against him with state health authorities.

The New Hampshire case, while rare, highlights an increasing problem in the fight against obesity - how does a doctor sensitively tell a patient that he or she is overweight?

The patient - whose name was not released - was upset after Dr. Terry Bennett, a Harvard-educated family practitioner in Rochester, N.H., told her she was obese and her weight was contributing to her diabetes and other health problems.

New York Daily News

*Note* I'm going out on a limb here and saying she's a flaming liberal. ;-)

Tracker Fixed and should be stable

I hope anyways.

Steeler fans enjoy, and remember, keep your torrents running after the download.
It allows us ALL to to enjoy our team.

Eagles vs. Steelers

Ok, what little I have from the game is up now. (1st qtr and about half of 2nd qtr)

I left it at the full 640x480 resolution I captured it in, however the normal games may not be so big, or I may opt to break them down into quarters at 700MB each so you can put one game on 4 cd's.
Or one DVD.

Either way they are going to be big unless I drop the quality which I don't think anyone wants. :-)

*Edited 09:45*
Ops, I just deleted the game, I'll re-process it and post it back tonight. :-/

*edit 21:00*
Game is backup ready for download. (remember it's only the 1st and most of the 2nd quarters.)

Eagles at Steelers Pre-season

Well we won, some good plays some bad.
Hines is back and all, yea.

It's the pre-season for me as well. Trying to move the game file to my workstation to edit out the ads, and lost it.
Oops. Now I know how to tar up the file without overwriting it. :-(
I have the first quarter and some of the second though.

I'll get it up when I can, been one hell of a day here. (in a bad way)

U.S. Govt. Sleeping with Microsoft

My.. my.. my.., the big bad U.S. Government who so aggressively attacked Micro$oft is now starting to push for "Micro$oft" only websites??

Beginning with the Copyright Office, which is funny if you think about it.
If you create or invent something and want to copyright it, you can't unless you bow down to corporate America and Micro$oft.

I realize this may seem like nothing to most of you, but it just gets under my skin.

If you want to voice your opinion on this as I do write a letter to the following:
Copyright GC/ I&R
P.O. Box 70400
Southwest Station
Washington, DC 20024-0400

by August 22nd that is. :-)

For the skinny on this check out copyright.gov

Just thought I would post something positive, and stir the pot at the same time. If you get a chance check out the website of my favorite cartoonist; John Rule.

http://oneimage.org/Images/index.htm

SCUM

All I can say is this:
These people are scum.

Read the story at Yahoo! News

For further reading:
God (Allegedly) Hates Fags

Humorous Ben Franklin Snippet

In my first voyage from Boston, being becalm'd off Block Island, our people set about catching cod, and hauled up a great many.
Hitherto I had stuck to my resolution of not eating animal food, and on this occasion consider'd, with my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, or ever could do us any injury that might justify the slaughter.
All this seemed very reasonable.
But I had formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well.
I balanc'd some time between principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then I thought I, "If you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you."
So I din'd upon cod very heartily, and continued to eat with other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet.

A bit of background, Ben Franklin was in his late teens *I believe* at this time and was a vegetarian for a few years when this happened. I found this funny while reading his autobiography today.

Blink and you really do 'miss it'

Parts of the brain are temporarily "switched off" when we blink, scientists have found.

The team from University College London found the brain shut down parts of the visual system for each blink.

Writing in Current Biology, they said this was the case even if light was still entering the eyes.

The researchers said this could explain why people do not notice their own blinking, as it gave us an "uninterrupted view of the world".

Full Story @ BBC NEWS

Read this and tell me your not self conscious for a little bit about blinking. :-)

2004 Steelers Video

Finally got around to posting the 2004 Steelers Team Review video.
Should play on any media player that can handle ogg and xvid.

If not use the link on the right to download mplayer for winders.

Cheers!

NASCAR The Monopoly?

Now Jerry Bonkowski thinks NASCAR has a monopoly - Kentucky Speedway agrees and has filed an anti-trust suit. Why? Because they own 12 tracks and hold 19 of 36 races on those 12 tracks.

I fail to see how this is a monopoly. Think about it. You have NASCAR, they have a product, NASCAR stock car racing. There are other companies providing similar products. They all distribute their product in different ways, NASCAR chooses to distribute theirs just over 50% through their own distributorships and 50% through customer distributorships.

Now, let's compare this to another industry: home computers.

For years, Dell and Gateway only sold computers over the phone and through the internet. Did they lose customers this way? Sure did, that's why they now sell computers at retail. But did anyone complain? Nope. It's their product and they can distribute it anyway they want. Dell and Gateway did 100% not 50% through their own distributors.

Now, NASCAR can only run so many races, and certain racetracks have an overwhelming popularity, there their are 2 races their every year. If you're a NASCAR fan in an area without a race, will this make you happy? No. Not really. But is NASCAR going to make every happy? No. That's why you have other stock car racing organiations and other forms of racing such as Formula 1, Formula SAe, Formula D, NHRA, AI and AIX, et cetera.

Maybe instead, NASCAR should rotate from year to year, the races at less popular tracks. But then, that's only if they want to, a court shouldn't have any say in it, and if they do, it'll be just as much of a travesty as Kelo v. New London.

U.S. Army Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer - Crazy Man

Seems a terrorist had a bead on U.S. Army Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, shot him. Pfc. Tschiderer gets up makes his way to where the terrorist is hiding and arrests him!

That is crazy, I would of shot the sob myself. Guess I need to work on my compassion. :-)

Full Story @ Jackson's Junction

Who Can Be a hero?

Among my duties at work, I have one that involves me reading citations for medals. A few weeks ago, I found one that still sits in the back of my mind daily. It is short, not as detailed as more recent ones, but certain things stick out about it.

Navy Cross
Becker, Vernon P.
Trumpeter, U.S. Marine Corps
Date of Action: September 15, 1918

Citation:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Trumpeter Vernon P. Becker, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism near Thiaucourt, France, on September 15, 1918. Trumpeter Becker displayed exceptional devotion to duty and coolness in action in carrying messages under trying barrages and machine-gun fire. He was wounded severely while doing his duty.

Reagan and Lincoln

Reagan and Lincoln. The two people, each in their own ways, who have inspired me throughout my life the most. Frequently, I search for inspiration and wisdom from their words.

I thought I would post some repositories of quotes and speeches by them:

Reagan
Lincoln

I also leave you with these words that have helped many through many days of stress, worry and difficulty:

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. - Abraham Lincoln

But more so:

As I looked out a moment ago from the Reichstag, that embodiment of German unity, I noticed words crudely spray-painted upon the wall, perhaps by a young Berliner: "This wall will fall. Beliefs become reality." Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom. - Ronald Reagan

Happy Bastille Day

(see, we do care)

Terry Bowden and Black Coaches

It seems Terry Bowden thinks there are not enough black NCAA football coaches.

What does he suggest to solve this problem? Affirmative action of course!

Apparently, 53% of the athletes being black, 25% of assistant coaches being black and only 3% of head coaches being black (for 117 schools in Division 1-A this is), automatically means discrimination. Apparently, there isn't a "level playing field."

Here is my questions: How many black athletes apply as assistant coaches? How many black assistant coaches subsequently apply to be head coaches? And most importantly, how many white coaches beat out more qualified black coaches?

These are the questions that should be asked when determining discrimination. Not how many are currently serving in these positions.

A good example of a similar situation:
When I was in high school I worked at a Chick-Fil-A and we were very close to a predominantly black part of town, yet we had only 2 (of about 30) black employees. Was this racism on anyone's part? No, we simply did not attract a lot of black applicants. But the McDonald's next door did. They were 100% black employees, with a white owner. By the time I left, the number of black applicants was up as was the number of black employees, including the General Manager being black.

I've got an idea for a level playing field: how about we hire people based on there qualifications and accomplishments, not based on their race. If that isn't level, then I don't know what is.

As for encouraging black atheletes to apply to be coaches, I have a better idea:
How about we encourage them to do what they want to do! If they don't know, then say to them "You know, I think you might make a good coach." But even then, only if you believe that.

I say that last part, because we should not be encouraging people to do something just to do it. We should encourage directed people in the direction they want to go, and undirected people either in a direction we think they would be good at, or in the direction of someone who can give them direction.

So there Terry, how do you like that playing field?

New Poll

Since I was talking politics today I figured I'd make a new poll, fill it out and let's see what we have.

After you do go take this political test, you may be surprised what you are. :-)

World's Smallest Political Quiz

A View from the Middle

I feel lately that I'm a small book trapped between two massive bookends who don't realize there is something between them.

After reading yet another hate filled series of writings (mostly the comments) at talkleft I realized something. The far left talks about their hatred of Christians and Republicans, and wants all of them to die. How is this American?
How can you call yourself an American when you don't want freedom and liberty for ALL ??

My God, how did a country created to rid ourselves of big government, oppression from the church of England and freedom end up with Big Government, oppression from the religion of Liberalism/Socialism and shrinking freedoms?

How different really are the far left and right? If you think about it. One part of the far right (KKK) wants to wipe out all people of color and Jews, part of the far left wants to wipe out people who claim Jesus is God and the far right.
How are the different?
It's funny if you break them down, they are the same kind human. The sick kind.

Ok, I'm done. Neither side is going to listen to reason any ways. After all they are just book holders. (The good stuff is in the middle) ;-)

Smith and Wesson Model 500

I just went down to the range and fired 2 weapons. The first was a revolver, the Smith and Wesson Model 500, a .50 Magnum weapon. All I can say is wow.

It is every bit as big and mean as it looks, and it has the single biggest kick of any weapon I have ever fired - and I've fired many.

You should also keep in mind that I own and carry a Glock 30 which is a medium sized semi-automatic .45 ACP pistol. I'm used to some pretty big ammo. But this thing absolutely blew me away with the power. The round itself is about 2 inches long.

If you're wondering how I did with the 5 rounds I had, all 5 were in the center of the chest ont he target sillouhette from about 15 yards away.

The other weapon, was a Springfield Armory 1911/9mm. For a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, I'd say it was pretty fair. But 9mm pistols never really impress me and always seem weak. I would definitely rather fire it than the Beretta 9mm that the Marine Corps and Police Departments across the country issue. Much lighter frame than I am used to on any weapon and the first 3 rounds I fired missed center of mass by 2-3 inches, but the other rounds all hit center of mass.

A note on Interrogation and Torture

It's been an incredibly boring day today. I've been so bored that I was going insane. Now I see why sensory deprivation is so effective. Bored is bad enough, but not being able to see, hear, smell, taste or feel anything! Who needs random beatings, broken glass in your urethra, or live electricity around your genitals? Sensory deprivation, now that's an effective technique.

Suspension Design

Was wondering if anyone could recommend a good book or website about car suspension design. It is one of the many topics I'll teaching myself in my down time while I'm here in California.

Skywalker's Keys To Ending African Poverty

Being that this is the current media orgasm, I thought I'd chime in. Since this will likely be a quite lengthy editorial, I'll just hope you know to click the Read More link.

1. End foreign aid to African governments.

What you may ask? Solve poverty by not giving the countries money?! Yup. Damn right. The majority of these governments are corrupt. They take the money we give them and feed themselves with it.

So, stop feeding the beast! Give the money to private organizations such as the International Red Cross/Crescent societies or who ever else is out there to make sure these people get food and medicine.

2. Find a way for it to be beneficial for large companies to set up shop in Africa.

Such as factories, or energy companies. Or infrastructure companies.

This has an immediate benefit: jobs. They are scarce in Africa because there really isn't much basic infrastructure. Without jobs, you can't have an economy. This leads to my next point.

3. Ensure an infrastructure is built.

This means power plants, power lines, telephone system, roads. The basic necessities for a modern industrial nation.

4. Forgive current debt.

But don't forgive costs of previous 4 points, treat them as a loan. Infusion of cash is a great short term growth operation. At least Keynes thought so. Not that I'm the biggest Keynesian.

On the other hand, if you just give people money, they'll take it for granted. Treat it like the Marshall Plan. It worked for Europe, which at the time really wasn't much better off than Africa is now.

5. Educate the people.

All this will do no good if the people don't have basic skills of a 6th grader. Many Africans already understand this in ways many Americans don't, but short term necessity prevents them from attaining it.

6. Only agree to help a nation that will allow for free elections and some sort of representative government.

You can lead a horse to water, but you damn sure can't make it drink. Same principle really. We can dump 100% GDP into Africa, and it would be to waste if the same dictators ran it. They would simply continue to run it into the ground and rape it. You simply can not have economic growth without economic freedom. Even China has figured that one out, for all it's social and intellectual controls. I guarantee that at its height, the Soviet's had more economic freedom than most of Africa has right now.

7. Take Action.

Puttings on awareness events such as concerts and all is wonderful. But if you're Paul McCartney or whoever else is involved in the "Live 8" events, I know damned well you're worth quite a pile. More than I am with my livable E-3 salary. If everyone who is involved in that event doesn't donate a large amount of money to the cause and take some of the time they'd otherwise spend in their Riviera vacation homes and go hand out food, then they are in my mind hypocrites. I can't go to Africa to hand out food. I have no money to give. But if I were Paul McCartney I could. I don't know if he is taking action, but I'd bet not.

-

Is any of this going to be done? No. They're just going to increase foreign aid to the corrupt governments. People will continue to die, and as it was so eloquently put in "Hotel Rwanda" people around the world will say "My, that's terrible" and go on eating their dinner (not just Americans, apathy isn't an American disease despite what the Europeans seem to believe.)

Is this the best solution? Maybe, maybe not. I'm not an economist, or a city planner, or even a business man. But I'm a reasonably intelligent person, with a good sense of history and just basic common sense. I can see what the problem is and it's 90% that the people in charge are the wrong people. Most of them put themselves in charge and that doesn't help either.

Bottom line, we can help, but we can't do it all. The African peoples have the lions share of responsibilities. We can only donate a finite amount of time and money to the cause and pray it isn't all for not.

4th of July 2005

(photo by Muddy)
From all of us at Muddysmind to all of our American brothers and sisters worldwide may God bless you on this joyous anniversary.

Prez on Tonight

Just an FYI
20:00 hours tonight President Bush will hold a news conference.

Zoids Genesis Review

Ok, it's not a real review as I have no idea what they were saying. I still don't understand Japanese, after 138 episodes of Naruto. :-P
I picked up the raw rip of the 1st ever episode of Zoids Genesis yesterday. (you can get it from SaiyMan.Net)
It's not too bad, although the main guy (or child) is quite young. He appears to be younger than Van was in CC.
I took a dozen screens for those that have not yet seen it. I'll post them up later today.
The main Zoid (the Murasame Liger)seems to have been hidden in the bottom of a lake (oh, kinda reminds me of the backdraft groups finding of the Beserk Fury) and found by Lugi. He and his family bring it to the surface just in time for some bio-dino type zoids to attack. His family tries to fight them off but they fail and he and the Liger join forces to defeat the attackers. Not a real clever plot or story as it's been done in Zoids and elsewhere before. But who really cares, its Zoids!

I'm looking for a fansub so I know what the heck they are saying, if anyone finds one let me know. Thanks.
(click on image)

E-Bay

I would just like to say that I am now, more than ever, convinced that e-bay is the poo.

Petition of Mindless Fools

You have to see this, it's the saddest, yet funniest thing I've seen in a while.Petition to Impeach George W. Bush

All these mindless twits signing a petition to impeach dubbah. Oh the waste of good soldiers we have had when these fools would of been much better cover for our guys to shoot from behind.
Hell, the best one in their "list" is the crying about the Patriot Act that both sides wrote, agreed and voted into law!
How about voting out the losers that wrote the bill instead of bitching about the supposed misuse of it by a third party.
If you go on holiday and your kids decide to open up your pool to the public and people at random take dumps in the pool while swimming you don't come home and want to fire the lifeguard when it was your kids who created the situation in the first place? (unless your a mindless tool who signed this petition).
Ok, I'm done venting.

Mark Felt

I'm of the opinion that Mark Felt was a pretentious jerk. Hero? Hardly. A man with no honor or integrity I'd say.

The liberal press is painting this man as a saint. But look at the facts: he attempted to undermine our judicial system. You say, well he couldn't go to his superiors at the FBI, they were owned by Nixon. That may be true. But, there were people at the Justice Department who were not crooked and there was 535 senators and congressman most of whom would have loved to fry Nixon. Then, if all else failed he could have gone to the press and said it for all the world to see instead of hiding for 30 years like a little baby. Even now, his family made him because they thought they could cash in on it! The lack of honor just continues!

Was Nixon guilty? Yes indeed! There is no doubt left on that matter. But by the laws of the United States he was owed due process, something that Mark Felt de facto denied him.

I'm all for blowing the whistle on people, but do it like a man and to the right people.

Black Friday

I have some very sad news for all my fellow Steelers fans.

During my ongoing attempt to setup raid0 with two sata drives in my linux box I accidently wiped out my ide drive that held all my torrents. Every single game, the Big Ben interview on Letterman and the preseason games, all gone. Forever.

Sadly I also lost all Naruto episodes, my entire music collection that I've been ripping from CD to ogg as well as some other files that are irreplaceable.

Let this be a warning to all Linux users that "rm -rf" should be used with EXTREME CARE!

Don't use it when your fighting the flu and utterly tired.

The tracker will remain down until the preseason starts and I have those games ready.

No end in sight

by Slimmons May 16, 2005

About a thousand Marines wake up in Afghanistan every day still. Things are quiet here except for the occasional IED and Taliban cell we come across in the mountains. We feed and clothe children and we distribute humanitarian aid supplies and medicine. We build schools and hospitals and we dig wells. We also set up a semi-puppet government we build in our own self-centered image. This government cannot yet stand on its own and so we stay, and we stay.

Most people here appreciate the money and effort the US puts in here to stabilize a free democracy who will fight the poppy growers (think heroin addicts) and the guys who think we're all evil and should die (the same guys who marginalize and ruin women and destroy the concept of human rights).

Most people like us.

More people wave to us here than would wave to a Marine convoy rolling down the highway back home.

Anyway...fare thee well, boys...Ricky and Nick - you will be missed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

A huge THANK YOU to Slimmons for allowing me to publish his photo and subsequent text. Please stop by his deviant art page for some more fantastic pics from Afghanistan. HERE

Happy Birthday to me!

I love having my birthday on the 13th because every few years it falls on Friday the 13th and all sorts of great things happen to me.

Such as the last time it was on a Friday someone ordered this goofy guy with a goalies mask to chase me around a lake, it was such a good time.

Just for the record I'm still 20 however this is the 13th anniversary of my 20th birthday. :-)

Illegal Aliens to March on Washington 3pm Today!

Just heard on the radio from a Washington D.C. staffer that today approximately 1000 illegal aliens will march on the upper Senate lawn demanding equal rights and open boarders!!!

Why the heck is NOBODY in Washington doing anything about this!?! The INS will not touch them, not a single person in Congress and/or the Senate will even admit this is happening.

Someone in our government stand up and do what's right or get another job, your pathetic existence is worth nothing if you don't protect our country as you swore upon taking office.

Call your representatives in Washington now!

Straight Dope on the Pope

Well, for the past few weeks, one of the top stories dominating the news has been the passing of pope John Paul II and the now newly elected pope Benedict XVII. Now, before I go into with what I'm going to say, let me start out by saying this: I believe we are all made by the hand of God. I believe we all have a preordained destiny designed by God. I believe that while down here on earth, we make our choices of whether or not we actually *want* anything to even do with God by choosing to accept Him or reject Him.

Now, as far as the pope himself goes, he also has a destiny designed by God. But, is the pope the 'vicar of Christ'? Is he the 'Holy Father'? Is he infallible when he reads and interprets scripture? No. No. And - no.

The pope is no 'vicar of Christ'. He is no substitute nor is he a continuation of Christ. However, the Holy Spirit *is* Christ. He is the comforter and the mediator on our behalf to Christ. Which is the reason why don't need any man for a job that the Holy Spirit can clearly handle on His own.

The pope is no 'Holy Father' either. The only ones who are Holy are God the Father, God the Son, and God the *Holy* Spirit. I also believe that God's Word is Holy as well. Besides, Rev. 15:4 clearly states that only the Lord is Holy. In Isaiah 42:8 God says "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.".

Now, as for the "infallible" part. Without trying to sound disrespectful or flippant....do they really expect me to believe that a whole group of about one hundred *fallible* men get together in a conclave to elect another fallible man into the position of pope where he suddenly becomes *in*fallible when interpreting scripture? Ok, I just read what I wrote
and I must say, that idea sounds just as ridiculous reading it as it did when I wrote it. Maybe they believe that the Holy Spirit comes over the pope and makes this happen? Ok, let's go with that. Let's say that the Spirit does *indeed* make the pope infallible when reading scripture. Well then, why doesn't the Spirit do the same for me, Muddy, Skywalker, Cwilli or any other Christian out there? The answer is that the Holy Spirit *doesn't* do that because NO ONE IS INFALLIBLE! The Bible clearly states that - ALL have sinned (Romans 3:23) - so no one is perfect in anything. Besides, I believe we receive convictions from the Holy Spirit for at least 3 reasons: 1) to convict us when we do wrong. 2) To convict our heart and spirit to take action in certain ways and areas within our lives and/or the lives of others. 3) To convict us when reading the scriptures of how to interpret and apply God's Word to our lives. So basically, if the pope were indeed infallible with scripture, we wouldn't need the Spirit, Himself, to tell us as individuals how to interpret them for our own lives because we would have the pope to do it for us.

I could go on and on but I've carried on more than I care to anyway and this is MUCH longer than I anticipated. Sorry. Well, now that I've *completely* blasphemed against the Roman Catholic Church (though, I'm pretty certain I can live with that fact), I'll rap it up by saying that John Paul II did very well seem to be "the people's pope" in the way that he reached out to people in such a way that (according to the Catholic Church) had really never been done before. As for me, I never wished him any ill will nor do I wish the new pope the same, nor am I the judge
of their hearts - only God can be. I just find it interesting that the Roman Catholics fashion the position of the pope in the way to copy who they believed Peter the apostle to be (in their belief - the first pope).....however, ironically, Peter was quite the opposite. I leave you with Peter's quote to a man by the name Cornelius ....."And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man." Acts 10:25-26

Who Said?

Just curious if anyone can guess this without doing a google search to find out..

Who said "If freedom is short of weapons, we must compensate with willpower"

I'll wait a few days to see if you all need a hint. :-)

Oil Prices Drop Sharply As Gas Plummets

Oil futures prices fell more than $1 a barrel Thursday afternoon, following the lead of gasoline futures, and brokers said there appeared to be further momentum lower.

"It's collapsing," said Ed Silliere, a broker at Energy Merchant Intermarket Futures in New York. "The market was extremely overbought."

Light, sweet crude for May delivery dropped $1.45 to $54.40 a barrel in afternoon trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange. After an early decline of nearly 8 cents, gasoline futures recovered some lost ground and were down 4 cents to $1.62.

Full Story @ Yahoo! News

Maybe people will realize that the record high gas prices are not a result of Oil production but greedy CEO's.

Skywalker Breaks One Thousand....

....comments that is. What's so significant about that you ask? Well.....ok, you got me there. I guess there's nothing *truly* significant about it except for the fact that he's the only one who's pulled it off so far. It just goes to show: When a man has a lot on/in his mind, he has much to say.:-)

One a side note, I would have Muddy send him a prize for this if I didn't think it would take him 6 months to mail the darn thing.:-P *wink, wink*

Would you hire this company?

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500
employees and has the following statistics:

29 have been accused of spousal abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is?

Give up yet?

It's the 535 members of the United States Congress.
The same group of Idiots that crank out hundreds of new laws each year
designed to keep the rest of us in line.

The Face of Evil

nuff said...

Funny One Liners

1. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't.

2.. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

3.. I Work Hard Because Millions On Welfare Depend on Me!

4.. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

5.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

6.. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

7.. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me

8.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

9.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

10.. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are missing.

11.. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

12. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.

13.. God must love stupid people; He made so many.

14.. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

15.. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

16.. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

17.. Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it!

18.. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.

19.. Procrastinate Now!

20.. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?

21... A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

22.. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance

23.. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

24..They call it PMS because MadCow Disease was already taken.

25..He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead.

26..A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.

27..Ham and eggs. A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

28.. The trouble with life is there's no background music.

29.. The original point and click interface was a Smith and Wesson.

30.. I smile! because I don't know what the hell is going on.

Back From Boston

Greetings all,

It's good to be back, Boston's roads suck.
That was the most obvious thing that I brought back with me.
How you can have roads that make no sense at all and people
somehow find their way, it's beyond me. Guess I'm more used to the "go here turn left then down a ways then right" kind of directions. In Boston it was more like "go here pay a toll, then go down a ways and pay another toll, then under the leaking tunnel (pray you don't die when it caves in) then up to a exit which sorta veers to the right but go left by making a U-Turn, then over the bridge but don't go all the way over make sure to veer to the right through the intersection of 5 other roads, then park on your right in the brick building (THEY WERE ALL FREAKING BRICK!), leave your car there get on the MBTA and pay then get off at the green line follow that to the bridge where it ends go over the bridge down the stairs to the 2nd light post.. it leads to the entrance over the wharf."
I tried, I really really tried to get to the U.S.S. Constitution to take a billion pics however I ended up driving in multiple cities (I think, I really am not sure where the hell I was) through roundabouts and the most confusing intersections I've ever seen. That town is so jacked up it's amazing people don't give up and move.
I must confess I failed by trusting mapquest and the website for the Constitution to guide me there. Next time I'm renting a stinkin' car with GPS in it.
I have a bunch of pics and short video's I've already started to post them on my deviantart page, too many to duplicate here. Click the link on the right if you want to see them.

New Art

New artwork posted to my deviantart page.

(click images to view larger image)

Global Warming reality check

While I have not yet decided if I believe the so called global warming alarmists, I do tend to lean on the "their full of crap" side. I was reading this article listed below where it said "Worldwide seal levels could rise by 100 centimeters by 2400 which in turn would have major consequences for many parts of the world." Now I started thinking.. the south pole is solid ice... no land to speak of. The north pole is mostly land. So it got me thinking that if you put some ice cubes in a glass of water and it melts, your mass remains the same. Thus if the ice caps melt, why would the sea level rise? Do the ice caps not already sit in the same water they would melt into??

Now if speaking of ice/snow sitting in some mountains I seriously doubt that volume would be enough to change the level of our oceans enough to notice.

Seems some folks forget basic science when it comes to pushing their agenda.

Full Story @ Earth Times

New poll also created to go along with this.

Moment of Silence for Spain

Launching a national day of mourning, Spaniards lit candles, laid down flowers as hundreds of church bells rang out to mark the instant when a string of terrorist bombs exploded a year ago Friday, killing 191 people and wounding more than 1,500.

At rail stations targeted in the country's worst-ever terrorist attack, people cried as memories of the blasts returned and left notes that tried to put pain into words.

A moment of silence here as well, terror knows no boundry as America's 9/11 and Spain's 3/11 prove.

Oh the Japanese

While browsing the fabulous pages over at Engrish.com I found two pics that I could not help but post.
This first one proves that not everyone has a firm grasp of the English language.

The next shows the Japanese can be very direct, no guess work as to where in this hotel you go potty. :-)

How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury Be a Star in Today's World?

As I begin to write this, I "slug" it, as we writers say, which means I put a heading on top of the document to identify it. This heading is "eonlineFINAL," and it gives me a shiver to write it. I have been doing this column for so long that I cannot even recall when I started.

Lew Harris, who founded this great site, asked me to do it maybe seven or eight years ago, and I loved writing this column so much for so long I came to believe it would never end.

But again, all things must pass, and my column for E! Online must pass. In a way, it is actually the perfect time for it to pass. Lew, whom I have known forever, was impressed that I knew so many stars at Morton's on Monday nights.

He could not get over it, in fact. So, he said I should write a column about the stars I saw at Morton's and what they had to say.

Full Read @ Monday Night at Morton's

This is a very good read if you have the time for all three pages ;-)

New Seat Belts

Actually, I could use this seat belt for muddy when *I'm* the one driving and *he's* in the passenger seat.:-)

Primetime Dogs, huh?

R U 404 On Office Slang?

I was crop dusting at work the other day and when I got to my email I discovered a link to this great site, check it out.

OfficeSlang.com - Funny Office Slang

No! Don't Americanize Naruto!

Cartoon Network today announced several major acquisitions for their venerable Toonami action-animation block. Fan-favorite Naruto will join the block in the third quarter of 2005, while One Piece will move to Toonami in May. Toonami original IGPX will expand into a full series from Production IG. The Batman will see a Toonami airing beginning April 2, ShoPro acquisition Zatch Bell will start in March, and nosehair-fighting anime Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is coming in the fourth quarter.

Teen Titans will air 17 new episodes in the coming year, Justice League Unlimited has 23 new episodes on the block, and Duel Masters will return with 26 new episodes. D.I.C.E. and Dragonball GT will both also continue with new episodes.

I just know my new favorite anime Naruto is going to get haX0rd up by some asshat in the U.S. and they will ruin a freakin' awesome show. Leave it alone you slugs! Dangit!
Already finding the new episodes on bit-torrent has become "troublesome" as my favorite character Shikamaru would say ;-)

Irony in Disdain

I'm not sure how many of you out there are Rammstein fans, I for one think they rock.
However, that being said I found some Irony today in the music video for the song Amerika off their latest release.
I may be wrong here, as they sing in German and I speak very little German. The impression I get is they are saying the song how "Amerika" is trying to make the world like us. Yet the examples they use are for the most part from other countries. One such example is some African tribesmen sitting around watching tv eating pizza. Then another showing Santa in the desert with some kids on his lap.. yet another import from Europe. The best part being they are playing electric guitars and Metal music.. both American. Ain't Irony grand?

Tracker Update

Just a quick update the tracker is back up after a short downtime late last night.
Also please leave the torrent running after your download is done for a week or so if at all possible. Thanks.

RIAA sues the dead

Death is no obstacle to feeling the long arm of the Recording Industry Ass. of America.

Lawyers representing several record companies have filed suit against an 83 year-old woman who died in December, claiming that she made more than 700 songs available on the internet.

"I believe that if music companies are going to set examples they need to do it to appropriate people and not dead people," Robin Chianumba told AP. "I am pretty sure she is not going to leave Greenwood Memorial Park to attend the hearing."

Gertrude Walton, who lived in Beckley, West Virginia hated computers, too, her daughter adds. An RIAA spokesperson said that it would try and dismiss the case.

Full Story @ The Register

My favorite part is the RIAA saying "that it would try and dismiss the case" (rolls eyes)

One more year of this garbage

I signed back up for one more year of hosting.
So DF you can stop holding your breath, I'm not going anywhere for one more year.

:-P

As for the rest of you.
God Bless and may your coffee always be fresh and never bitter.

Muddy

p.s. hey DF I'm drinking your country right now... uh.. never mind.

Tracker Update/Steelers Games

After noticing a few days ago that everyone is leaching and virtually nobody is sharing the games they download from me the Steelers games have halted. It's dense to think my crappy connection can feed 40-50 people all the time. Someone needs to step up and share the bandwidth load or it's lights out forever for the games.

:-P

Numb

I don't know if Ben's thumb is hurt or not but he played like poo 85% of the game.
Our run game was ineffective and our D decided to take it easy today or something else besides shutting down the opposing offense.

Now we'll be far down the draft order and won't get jack for a pick.

Thanks everyone for the biggest letdown season ever.

15-1 and getting beat AGAIN at home in the AFCC game.
This has got to be the 2nd worst day of my life as a Steeler fan, of course the superbowl Neil O'Donnell was paid off to throw away will always be the 1st.
I really don't understand Cowher's in ability to win AT HOME!, the AFCC game... it eludes me.
How do you put the smack down on a team in week 8 and 10 weeks later get your ass handed to you by them, how??

As for Skywalkers Falcons... I feel you pain bro, I feel you pain.

The Big Dance is Today

The Pittsburgh Steelers hope Ben Roethlisberger is the missing piece to help them avoid another AFC Championship Game loss when they host the Patriots in a showdown between the teams with the NFL's best records.

The contest is a rematch of the AFC Championship Game following the 2001 season, when New England went into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers 24-17. The Patriots then stunned the St. Louis Rams 20-17 to win their first of two Super Bowl titles in three years.

Jets Hand Steelers Win

To prove the point that Defense does win games, the Pittsburgh Steelers "D" poured it on and kept the Jets offense to only 3 points.
Big Ben looked like confused little kid Ben for most of the game. I think it's something about those Jets that gets to him. Perhaps he has a fear of green?
The Jets came into this game claiming how they were going to pound the Steelers into nothing and move on to the AFC Championship game... someone should of told their kicker Doug Brien to have such confidence.
After missing the game winning field goal in the final minutes of the game and then the winning field goal in overtime he really needs a hug. (or fired)
I know the stadium in Pittsburgh is not kind to kickers but missing TWO winning kicks is not acceptable.

I'm back from training

I'm back from my trip and it was so beautiful I did not want to come back home.

I took off from Port Columbus International Airport on Monday and just got back late last night. Flying out of rainy Columbus was interesting as it was my first commercial flight. (I've been up in a Grumman Tiger before this) I must say that the Embraer 135 jet I flew back and forth on was essentially a school bus with wings. :-/

We flew into RDU (Raleigh/Durham) and grabbed our trendy PT Cruiser and off we went. Residing during the week at the palatial Residence Inn. I was a bit put out by the fact the desk clerk explicitly said no loud parties during our stay. I mean.. why did I bring all my dj equipment and lighting equipment if we could not party? (j/k)

Ok back to reality. The place was real nice.
I'll be posting up many pics from the trip in the next few days so stay tuned.

I was thinking..

That I am very tired. Getting up before the sun rises is utter crap.
*yawn*

Oh well... we do what we must to support our families.

Watching Steelers Games How-to

Ok I'll take care of all the questions from everyone in one shot.

Here we go.

1. get a bit torrent client, I like Azureus myself but use what you are comfortable with.

2. download the .torrent file from my tracker for the games you want.

3. wait... wait.. wait and wait some more (if you want a faster download purchase me a T1).

4. (for winders users) download the Koepi XviD plugin and after it's done installing double click the avi file and watch the game. (for smart linux users :-D) use Mplayer to watch the games

5. Have some kindness and Leave the games up (on the bit torrent client) for at least a few days so others can enjoy them.

New Photo Series

Happy New Year Everyone!

I have a new photo series called "Christmas Ice" since we had a nice thick layer of ice for Christmas.

Happy New Year Everyone!

*click on the images to proceed to deviantART for the full size image

Tracker back online

Good news Steeler Fans.

My tracker is back online. Just an fyi any Black Sheep Squadron fans out there I also have the History Channels Story of the Black Sheep on the tracker.

Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas!

From all of us here at Muddysmind.com to all of you, we wish you a Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas!

(image from Glenn Beck)

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

New DeviantArt

Tracker Down, Along with My Workstation

Sad news kids, My Linux Box died... at this time it's either the Mobo or the PS.
I'll update when it's back up.

Steelers at Jaguars Ready

Steelers at Jags game is now done and posted to the tracker.

Enjoy.

Here We Go Steelers! Here We Go!

The victory this evening allowed the Steelers to clinch the AFC North title.

The first half was a defensive struggle as Ben Roethlisberger was held to 24 yards passing, completing only 3 of 11 throws.

Chad Pennington also had a rough start. He had passes intercepted by James Farrior and Troy Polamalu in the first half.

The second half belonged to Bettis.

Full Story @Post-Gazette.com

Redskins vs. Steelers

Video is now posted. I changed the audio to 96k from the standard 128k this time. Trying to get more space for video. Will be working on the Steelers vs. Jaguars next.

Steelers vs. Skins & Jags

For my brothers and sisters in the Steeler Nation I am currently working on the Skins and Jags games. However I won't get the Jets game, sad to say.
I'll update once they previously mentioned games are ready.

Free Credit Report Thanks 2 the Gubment

Good news for you all now under the terms of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, passed last year, and amid growing concerns over privacy and disclosure of sensitive financial data, the three leading credit reporting agencies must provide consumers with a free summary once a year (gee only once?) of all credit information on file for that person.

Those agencies--Equifax, Experian and TransUnion--have launched AnnualCreditReport.com to streamline the process of obtaining reports. For security reasons, people can only access the Web site directly, not through a referred link.

Consumers using the site fill out an online form with a Social Security number, followed by answers to several personal questions, such as the balance on a certain credit card, meant to verify the respondent's identity.

Get The Skinny Here

New DeviantArt

NFL = No Family League

I used to love watching my beloved Steelers with my kids. However after last years stupid bowl and the recent Monday Night Football lead in with some ugly hooker stripping for T.O. (In addition to the mass quantities of tasteless beer commercials) it's worthy of a R rating.
Guess we'll stick to backyard football, no bare backed whores or "wardrobe malfunctions" there.

Nice work ABC/Disney, Fox and CBS... you guys sure know how to fsck up a good thing.

It's too bad you can't sit down to a football game anymore with your kids.

Office Dares

This was way to funny to pass up, thanks for the Laugh John.

ONE-POINT OFFICE DARES

1) Run one lap around the office at top speed.

2) Ignore the first five people who say 'good morning' to you.

3) Phone someone in the office you barely know, leave your name and say,
"Just called to say I can't talk right now. Bye."

4) To signal the end of a conversation, clamp your hands over your ears
and Grimace.

5) Walk sideways to the photocopier.

6) While riding in an elevator, gasp dramatically every time the doors
open.

THREE-POINT DARES

1) Say to your boss, "I like your style" and shoot him with
double-barreled fingers.

2) Babble incoherently at a fellow employee then ask, "Did you get all
that, I don't want to have to repeat it".

3) Page yourself over the intercom (do not disguise your voice).

4) Kneel in front of the water cooler and drink directly from the nozzle
(there must be a 'non-player within sight).

5) Shout random numbers while someone is counting.

FIVE-POINT DARES

1) At the end of a meeting, suggest that, for once, it would be nice to
conclude with the singing of the national anthem (extra points if you
actually launch into it yourself).

2) Walk into a very busy person's office and while they watch you with
growing irritation, turn the light switch on/off 10 times.

3) For an hour, refer to everyone you speak to as "Bob".

4) After every sentence, say 'Mon' in a really bad Jamaican accent. As
in "The report's on your desk, Mon". Keep this up for one hour.

5) While an office mate is out, move their chair into the elevator.

6) In a meeting or crowded situation, slap your forehead repeatedly and
mutter, "Shut up, darn it, all of you just shut up!".

7) At lunchtime, get down on your knees and announce, "As God as my
witness, I'll never go hungry again".

8) In a colleague's diary, write in 10am: "See how I look in
tights". (Extra points if it is a male, even more if he is your boss)

9) Carry your keyboard over to your colleague and ask "You wanna
trade?".

10) Repeat the following conversation 10 times to the same person:
"Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, it's gone now".

12) Come to work in army fatigues and when asked why, say, ! "I can't
talk about it".

13) Posing as a maitre d', call a colleague and tell him he's won a
lunch for four at a local restaurant. Let him go.

14) Speak with an accent (French, German, Porky Pig, etc) during a very
important conference call.

15) Find the vacuum and start vacuuming around your desk.

16) Hang a two-foot long piece of toilet roll from the back of your
pants and act genuinely surprised when someone points it out.

17) Present meeting attendees with a cup of coffee and biscuit, smashing
each biscuit with your fist.

18) During the course of a meeting, slowly edge your chair towards the
door.

19) Arrange toy figures on the table to represent each meeting attendee,
move them according to the movements of their real-life counterparts.

And if that wasn't enough for you...

:)

How to keep a healthy level of insanity:

1) At lunchtime, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a
hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.

2) Tell your children over dinner. "Due to the economy, we are going to
have to let one of you go."

3) Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries
with that.

4) Put your trash bin on your desk and label it IN."

5) Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten
over his or her caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.

6) Finish all your sentences with "In accordance with the prophecy."

7) Dont use any punctuation

! 8) Use, too...much; punctuation!

9) As often as possible, skip rather than walk.

10) Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer.

11) Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."

12) Sing along at the opera.

13) Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.

14) Put mosquito netting around your work area. Play a tape of jungle
sounds all day.

15) Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party
because you're not in the mood.

16) Have your co-workers address you by your wrestling name.

17) When the money comes out of the ATM, scream "I Won! I Won! 3rd time
this week!!!"

18) When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot yelling,
Run for your lives, they're loose!"

And the final way to keep a healthy level of insanity....

19) Send this to everyone in your address book, even if they sent it to
you or have asked you not to send them stuff like this.

Fair Tax? Maybe? Perhaps? Even Hopefully?

The president is talking about tax reform as one of his top agenda items for the next 4 years. My congressman tells me they're going to try to pass the Fair Tax bill "after the election" (this was in April.) They have the votes.

Is the president talking about the Fair Tax? He calls his plan for tax reform "revenue neutral." The press is thinking he means he's not going to cut taxes with the reform. To me this sounds more and more like the Fair Tax. In fact, it's the only major tax reform bill currently sitting in congress (Senate and House) that I know about.

I'd like to hear what people think about the idea because I frankly can't see any downside. It'll help the poor. It'll help the middle class. It'll tax currently untaxed money (crime money, black market money.) It will remove the corporate tax burden freeing up profits for jobs - not to mention free up conformance costs which are astronomical (has anyone heard how tall GM's tax return was last year?) It'll cause lower prices through competitive pressures. Everyone has more money because nothing is taken out of their checks. Sorry,

I fail to see any major problems. It's fair: if you are truly poor you won't pay taxes unless you buy something you probably can't afford like a brand new car or a big screen tv. Government costs go down.

I'm not saying it's perfect, no form of taxation is, but it's better than our current system where 10% pay 50% of the taxes before they even get to touch it.

Underour current system, a millionaire who makes $15k a year on a small business that he runs in his retirement as a hobby, would get money back where as a person making 200k might have to pay out of pocket. Under this system, that millionaire would pay taxes.

Honest News?

I was book marking news sites on my laptop today and google'd for "honest news" seeking other news sources.
I think the word honest has changed in recent years and nobody told me.
The first page of "honest" news source contained, Al Jazeera, Progressive-News.com, World Socialist Web Site and others that were to say the least, disturbing.

Voices of Iraq

Silenced for 24 years under Saddam's regime and denied attention by the international media, the people of Iraq are not well understood at this tumultuous time in their history.

Meet the people of Iraq as they struggle with years of turmoil and strive to build a civil society. Hear in their own words their feelings about Saddam Hussein, the multinational invasion of their country, the presence of American troops and their hopes for what may lie ahead for Iraq.

Full Story @ Voices of Iraq

New Poll, Does the two party system help or hurt?

After finding myself outside the two mainstream parties these days I believe it's time we seriously look at either allowing ALL parties to be involved in all political races or ban political parties altogether.
Imagine if we had NO political parties, *gasp!* you'd have to actually know what those running stood for and they would in turn have to say "something" of value.
Imagine if Bush and Kerry had no parties and they were on even ground with Michael Peroutka, Michael Badnarik, Ralph Nader and the others. Holy Crap!, those two would have to stand up and say something of value besides "my opponent is a dumb ass" speeches we hear everyday, or Kerry's famous "I have a plan to fix that" yet no plan has ever surfaced.
I thought this a perfect time to see what the people think. Since we'll never know what the two candidates honestly think.

New Pic

New Pics

Just a few pics from our most recent trip to the A.F.M. in Dayton.
(click on image to go see the full version at my deviantArt page)

Mrs. Muddy discovers old name on Voter Registry

A couple of weeks ago, I recieved a call from a family friend (thanks skywalker) who informed me of democrats in Ohio who were going around registering dead people to vote. Now, although this did take me aback for a moment, I thought later that, sadly, this is nothing new. However, I decided to check out a few dearly departed people I know...er...knew...whatever. Well, thank God, my list so far is short in that area so that part didn't take me too long. I'm happy to report that no one I know has come back from the beyond just to place their vote.

Site Found @ ElectionOhio

If they did....I wouldn't know whether to be more freaked out or completely impressed at the miracle....but, on with my story. You see, although, I didn't find any names from the "dead men voters society" registry list, I did find a name that was equally curious to me. My sister's. No, she's not dead but, I *did* find her registerd under her *maden* name. A name she hasn't had since 1995. A name she has changed *twice* already on her voters registration card (don't know why....I don't think she ever bothers using it but....), once when she got married in '95 to her first husband and then once again a year and a half ago when she married for the 2nd time. She never even bothered changing back to her maden name after her *first* marriage ended. That fact along with the others that a) She didn't even vote in the *last* presidential election and b) she now lives in England (and doesn't bother - though I could be wrong - with voting 'absentee' ) was more than enough to raise my red flag. Could this be a simple mistake like my sister suggested? Yes. However, with all the voters fraud going on these days (and with this presidential race being so tight), I decided not to take any chances so I got right on the phone to the Board of Elections.

Well, after listening to 10 minutes worth of "...all of our operators are busy, please stand by for the next avaliable volunteer..." and singing down to 44 bottles of "99 bottles of beer on the wall"....I *finally* spoke to a real live person! Whoo hooo! I could barely contain my excitement! I spoke to a dear, sweet older woman who was more than willing to help. She informed me that according to their (Board of Election) records that my sister hasn't voted since 1988 (I don't think that's acuarate, myself since the address that's listed under her name wasn't even in existence until after 1992...but that was beside the point). Well, after hearing that my dear sis hasn't voted for quite a long while, I pretty much assumed from there that it would be very difficult for someone to vote for her without *alot* of convincing identification. I decided to ask anyway just for confirmation. Just as I suspected, someone would have to (as this lovely woman put it) "know how to break into Fort Knox to get past the voting officials in order to vote.". She also told me that, yes, this indeed was a mistake and put my sister - along with her maiden name on "stand by" to be removed from the voters registry. After I thanked her and told her how relieved I was that my sister was not a victim of fraud, she told me to not feel silly for calling (I assured her I didn't) because that's what they're there for....that's their job. She added ".. with everything going on these days, it's much better to be safe than sorry.". She then informed me that she would put a "red flag" beside her name as well.....just in case.:-)

If anyone would like to check (at least here in Ohio) the registery list for any names go to:

http://www.electionohio.com/boe.asp

...you can find your county from there.

They Still Want It Both Ways

I realized today that Democrats are complaining about outsourcing. What is outsourcing? Companies realize that they can send certain jobs overseas to make more money. This is stupid if you're making a profit already, but if you're taking losses (like the Tech sector was not to long ago) it's a typical thing. The upside tothis is that once a company makes a profit it can create more jobs locally. Problem is that this takes time.

Basically it is the destroy to create principle.

But look who we have complaining about it: the Democrats, the modern free trade pioneers! This is the party who brought us NAFTA. Something I'm perfectly okay with by the way.

So now they're s aying "We're still for free trade, we're just against outsourcing!" What a crock.

Black Sheep Squadron

Just an FYI to the Black Sheep Squadron and/or Pappy Boyington fans like myself out there.

I was finally able to get the "Black Sheep Squadron" true story recorded and it's up on my bit torrent tracker now. Recorded in Xvid with 192kbps MP3 Audio. File will fit on a 700MB cd-rom.

I am finally able to see Pappy on the small screen again. ;-)

SPAM

I'd just like to whine for a moment about the 300+ e-mails I get a day. I get about 2 or 3 legitimate e-mails per months, yet I recieve about 9000 a month total. this is way out of hand. I will sometimes get 50 from the same spammer a day!

But here is the really funny part: the majority of my e-mails are no longer spam. They are 419 scams!

That's right folks, I get more e-mails from tu-muhmekah in Nigeria wanting to get me 10 million dollars simply in exchange for my bank account number, than I do from someone offering me free pornography or, shall we say, an enlargement pill that I assure you all I have no need for.

This is out of hand.many of them I've been able to use the "Please click here to unsubscribe" thing to great success. Allegedly that's something they use to confirm your e-mail address, but frankly, all they have to do it not get a bounced e-mail to do that, not to mention that US law requires them to put that there. But I'm noticing more and more of them don't even have that anymore.

I'm getting sick of it frankly, because I'm spending 10 minutes a day deleting emails!

Nation's Liberals Suffering From Outrage Fatigue

San Francisco's Arthur Flauman is one liberal who has chosen to take a hiatus from his seething rage over Bush Administration policies.

"Every day, my friends send me e-mails exposing Bush's corrupt environmental policies," said Flauman, a member of both the Green Party and the Sierra Club. "I used to spend close to an hour following all the links, and I'd be shocked and outraged by the irreversible damage being done to our land. At some point, though, I got annoyed with the demanding tone of the e-mails. The Clear Skies Initiative is bogus, but I'm not going to forward a six-page e-mail to all my friends—especially one written by a man who signs his name 'Leaf.' Now, if a message's subject line contains the word 'Bush,' it goes straight into the trash."

Neas found that many survey participants who attended protests against the war in Iraq in 2003 could barely summon the energy to read newspaper articles about the subject in 2004.

Portland, OR resident Suzanne Marshal compared herself to an addict, needing increasingly large doses of perceived injustices to achieve a state of anger.

Full Story @ The Onion

Pissin' Match

I'm watching this so called "debate" tonight and it's a total pissing match. All I hear from these two is "you suck we don't", "you lied we're demi-god's" and "You have no plan and we're plans-r-us".

The funny part is they seemed to know more about each other than themselves.

Someone wake me when this is over.

*update* found a good article over at SignOnSanDiego.com

< ---- begin clip ---- >
Democrat John Edwards and Vice President Dick Cheney stretched the findings of U.S. intelligence to their own ends Tuesday night in tangling over Saddam Hussein's alleged ties to al-Qaeda.

Edwards said the connection between Saddam and the terrorist network was minimal or nonexistent; Cheney asserted Saddam's Iraq "had an established relationship with al-Qaeda."

Both statements mask what intelligence sources have said. The contacts were limited and sketchy, mostly Iraqi intelligence agents and al-Qaeda operatives, and did not amount to state sponsorship of al-Qaeda or any link to the Sept. 11 attacks, U.S. intelligence officials have said.
< ---- end clip ---- >

Just goes to prove my point that both parties are full of crap and we need ALL candidates involved.

FOUR VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO DEBATE IN OHIO

Unscripted Debate Offers Voters a Rare Opportunity to Hear Issues Not Discussed in the Exclusive, Two-Party Controlled Debates

A rare debate among four vice presidential candidates - from the Libertarian, Constitution and Green parties, as well as Ralph Nader’s independent ticket - will take place on Tuesday, October 5, at the John Patrick Theatre at Baldwin Wallace College in Cleveland, Ohio, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Debate organizers say the debate between Richard Campagna, Chuck Baldwin, Patricia LaMarche and Peter Camejo will offer voters a stark contrast to the watered-down and scripted banter expected from the Edwards-Cheney debate taking place the same day in the same city.

The debate is unusual not only because so many diverse viewpoints will be represented, but also because of its format. All questions for the candidates will come from Baldwin College students. Following the hour and a half long debate, there will be an intermission and then the debate participants and audience will watch a live broadcast of the staged, exclusive “debate” between Edwards and Cheney. At approximately 10:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the Edwards-Cheney exchange, the four vice presidential candidates gathered at Baldwin Wallace College will offer their rebuttals.

The four vice presidential candidates have joined together in unprecedented solidarity to advance a common interest of democratizing the American political system and giving voters the choices that they demand and deserve. A recent Zogby poll found that over 40% of all Americans would like to see David Cobb, Michael Badnarik, Michael Peroutka and Ralph Nader participate in the televised presidential debates.

The Baldwin-Wallace Student Government is the sponsor of the vice presidential debate. “Baldwin Wallace students are proud to sponsor an event of this caliber which gives voters an opportunity to hear all voices - the essence of a true democracy. We’re excited to share this experience with our students, local community and with the entire nation as well.” said Chris Glassburn, Senator at Baldwin-Wallace.

New Photos

New photos uploaded to my deviantart page, check them out.

Debate or Soapbox?

Last night was two fools standing on their perspective soapboxes saying the same crap that has been said since day one. Heck, there was not even an entertainment value to it. *yawn*

The only note worthy thing of the whole debate was before it.
The manicure heard round the world. hehe..

Yup, you heard right. John "prissy" Kerry went and had his grrly side pampered.
uh.. yea... right before coming out and being a "big strong man".. I think he was under the impression he was going to be on "America's Top Model" not the debate.

It naturally went with his spray on tan, his botox injections and whatever else he has done to himself to look more Hollywood.

I thought having a member of the liberal media moderate helped Kerry. I'm not sure if those watching noticed but I think Kerry's voice dropped an octave and he was leaning forward a slight bit. Very clever if you ask me, he clearly did not think up this by himself. Bush on the other hand look irritated, at times I could see in his eyes he wanted to jump over the podium and choke the poo out of Kerry.

I will be ripping it and making it available to those who request it. Audio or Video.

Worst Pick-Up Line Ever

I almost came to tears over this, was taking my weekly read through Fark.com and came across this gem.

"Baby did you fart, 'cause you blow me away!" because nothing says "hot date" like a reference to gas

I'm stooping to a new low

I can't take this B.S. anymore I have to call it like I see it.

John Kerry is a world class AssHat and is trying to lose this race.

Skywalker and I agree the Clintons are making sure he loses (albeit in a close race) so Hillary can run against a Republican (and not the incumbent Democrat) in 2008.

Muddy's Bread Recipe

Ok, since lots of people like my bread here and DF has had some trouble.
I'm gonna hook you all up.
First this is intended to be made in a bread machine (dough only).

Use organic ingredients where possible.

Makes a single 1 1 /2 lb. Loaf

Whole Wheat Flour 3 Cups
Wheat Gluten 1 1 /2 tbsp
Yeast 1 1 /8 tsp (or I use a well rounded tsp)
Sea Salt 3/4 tsp
Honey or Maple Syrup 4 tbsp (if using honey Orange Clover Honey rocks!)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or your choice of oil) 1 1 /2 tbsp
water (filtered) 1 3/8 cup

Slap this stuff in the bread machine and put it on dough mode.

Preheat oven to 350 and butter up a bread loaf pan (I use glass) pull dough out of bread machine and toss is between your hands to get it into an oblong shape. (make sure you cover hands in flour to prevent sticking)
Drop it in the pan. Bake for 15 minutes then pull out cover with aluminum foil or another bread pan upside down and bake for 25 minutes more.

Pop it out and wait 5-10 minutes cut off a slice lightly butter and enjoy some kick butt bread. w00t!

*note add your recipes to the comments and share the love. :-)

New Poll

New Poll up and it's a question I've often wondered about.

What is most important when Voting in November?

People vote for many different reasons, I've listed I believe the most popular.
I know many who vote party, which I think is rather blind and ignorant. However voting for "anyone but Bush" would tip the scale as slightly more blind and ignorant.
There are more choices in this election than two.
In fact there are 15 candidates this November without counting the independents.
Politics1.com has the full list for those interested.

Fuel Survey

I was just wondering why people chose what they chose on the automotive fuel survey. Please just post why you answered the way that you did. Argumentitive and offtopic posts will be deleted as such.

Reflections

New piece for my deviantArt page has been posted. I was trying to capture the reflections in the human eye, I'd say it turned out ok.

I was looking at this...

and said to myself, "Holy Crap that thing is huge!"

That is all.

A Moment of Silence

This September 11th Muddysmind.com will remember our fallen brothers and sisters with a moment of silence.

Please post only a period (.) as your moment of silence.

Anyone who posts anything other than a period will be banned.

Are you really Liberal/Conservative?

Taking note from Cwilli over at Politically Retarded I took the quiz and it says I'm a Libertarian. Who knew?
Give it a shot, takes about one minute.

World's Smallest Political Quiz

What's wrong with this picture?

A buddy of mine had me check out a listing for an expensive house in Danville, CA.
Now it's not the house that was so interesting but the 3rd picture down, something is not quite right and the photographer should have noticed. :-)

Enjoy!

Click Here

Almost to tears..

Reading stupid computer user stories on 3rd shift has become a daily must do.

Today's almost brought me to tears.

Once I overheard the guy in the tech support cubicle next to mine patiently explain:

* Tech Support: "No, sir...clicking on 'Remember Password' will NOT help you remember your password."

Just For My Friend DF :-)

I've moved the "Muddy's Pages" up the right side to the top for DF since he can't scroll.
Hope that helps you find the forums man, let me know if you have any other problems navigating my site. ;-)

Off Topic Comments

I would like to ask that off-topic posts please be placed into the rather under used forums. They're there for just such a purpose.

Articles of Christian doctrine

Ahhh...refreshing.

I was hoping to find someday the writings of Martin Luther, and I have.
This is some very good stuff here, if you get the chance to read do so.
I only had time for a wee bit of reading but what I took in was excellent.

The Smalcald Articles, Martin Luther (1537) in HTML

His boldness I did not fully understand however reading this sentence, "That the Mass in the Papacy must be the greatest and most horrible abomination, as it directly and powerfully conflicts with this chief article, and yet above and before all other popish idolatries it has been the chief and most specious."

I understand more the hatred the so called church had held against him.

Microsoft Proves Marketing Can Sell Anything

Microsoft proving once again the old theory that you can sell anything if your marketing is good enough. Microsoft also proves that the American public at large is dumb. You remember saying “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”.
I think the modern version is "Buy a person a Microsoft product; you will have to buy the next version, and next, and next and pay for yearly license fees. Show a person the beauty and power of Linux and grow the community and never buy software again."

Yea baby, Tux rules.

I get a chuckle from M$ and their Marketing machine. "We're going to leave holes in your OS for a year while we work on this new service pack 2". Then... "SP2 has been delayed several months, oh.. btw there are 5,681 new holes and security flaws we discovered.. but that'll be fixed in the next service pack as well". The part we've all been waiting for, "SP2 is here.!" and they all rejoiced, but wait. "SP2 uh... causes more problems than it fixed".

hahahaha..

Report: SP2 Problems Impact 10 Percent of Windows XP PCs

On a softer note.

Since I'm a little sick of everyone arguing in circles, I've decided to start posting a few of my more varieties articles: computer stuff!

I've been working on setting up my IPCOP box for use with a wireless network (amazingly, not a simple feat. I'll post a howto on that soon enough, though I may end up abandoning ipcop as a distribution and go to a customized Gentoo box as my router/firewall.

Milestone

We did it, 5000+ comments now and still going strong.

That does not include the multitude that my filters deleted.

Happy surfing everyone.

Observation

Has anyone aside from Skywalker and myself noticed that the group screaming loudest for us to leave Iraq and for general "peace and love" are the ONLY group willing to physically assault people and throw things to get their way? Almost sounds like spoiled brats eh? I blame all those touchy feeley asshats in the 60's and 70's who said spanking children was evil so we have multiple generations now raised without discipline and running amok with no morals, self respect or honor.
Time to put the P (unishment) back in Parenting.

The Canadian Snowbirds

Yet another new pic for my deviantArt page, check it out here.

Kiki's Fire Part I

Leadership Traits

JJ DID TIE BUCKLE is an acronym every Marine knows. These days it is something I use to judge a person's leadership capability.

Here is the meaning:

Marine Corps Leadership Traits

Judgement
The ability to weigh facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions.

Justice
Giving reward and punishment according to merits of the case in question. The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.

Dependability
The certainty of proper performance of duty.

Initiative
Taking action in the absence of orders.

Decisiveness
Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in clear, forceful manner.

Tact
The ability to deal with others without creating offense.

Integrity
Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles; includes the qualities of truthfulness and honesty.

Endurance
The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress and hardship.

Bearing
Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearence and personal conduct at all times.

Unselfishness
Avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.

Courage
The mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a man to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.

Knowledge
Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Marines.

Loyalty
The quality of faithfulness to country, the Corps, the unit, to one's seniors, subordinates and peers.

Enthusiasm
The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of dut

Just a thought

I have no problem with protestors....unless they disrupt normal city functions then i thnk they are out of line and should be arrested for disturbing the peace. Why? When they disrupt traffic and normal functions, then it costs otherwise innocent people time and money.

Boston: The city officials and DNC put protestors in a cage. That's sweet of them. Very few were arrested, they recieved basically no covereage.

Atlanta: The Libertarian National Convention recieved no protestors. Why? Probably because the media barely acknowledges the existence of 3rd parties.

New York: The protestors (like anywhere else) have to apply for demonstration permits. No big deal to me as it somewhat ensures that they do not disrupt the city. Some protestors are refusing to do this. Anarchists are planning violence. More of them have been arreested in the week before the convention for violent and disruptive behaviour than were arrested throughout the entire DNC. They have allr ecieved massive coverage for their causes thus far.

Boston & New York: Police investigate protestors prior to them actually protesting to attempt to prevent violence. I have no problem with this so long as they had credible information that the investigated people may commit violence. Otherwise, I say leave them alone.

My only prayer is that the anarchists do not turn NYC into the Seattle of the WTO summit. Sea Island during the G-8 summit, that would be much more tolerable (though I don't understand what the heck people were protesting for the G-8 summit.)

Freedom of Speech

I'm sick and tired of the attacks on the so-called "527" groups. If they want to say something, that is their right under our constitution. McCain Feingold prevents certain people and groups from running ads mentioning the names of a candidate 60 day prior to an election. How the heck is that reforming campaign funding? That's what the bill supposedly did, but I don't see it.

It is all a huge attack on Free Speech and the ACLU should be up in arms about it. Especially since this is just just the type of speech the government wanted protected: political speech.

Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled aarguing, web browsing and whatever else the people who read this site do.

Linux Funnies

Found this jewl on the following site - http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/

I was calling to sign up with a new DSL provider. When the guy asked what operating system I was using, I said, "Linux." I was put on hold for five minutes, and then a supervisor came back and told me, "You can't use Linux to connect to the Internet. It's a hacker tool, anyway." I almost fell out of my chair.

Breaking Point

I cannot express in mere words how sick, and very, very tired I am of this election, the election process, John "proud to be a war criminal" Kerry and George "I only care about rich folk" Bush. I want someone to make it all go away.

And If I hear one more news story about the damn Vietnam war I'm gonna loose my freaking mind!

This was the straw that broke my camel's back. (in case you care)

"Hours after Benjamin Ginsberg quit the Bush-Cheney campaign, Vietnam veteran and Kerry presidential campaign official Max Cleland showed up at the gates of Bush's retreat in Crawford, Texas, to demand the president stop his attacks on veterans."

Hello Cleland, *knock, knock* is anyone home in there!?! Bush is NOT attacking veterans, the swift boat fellows are attacking a "War Criminal"!! Kerry, if he represents ALL Veterans then your some sad, sad people.
Get over it, stop crying and I need your address so I can send you a clue because it's obvious your severely lacking any.

I must confess, the more this mindlessness carries on the more I realize my understanding of God's mercy and patience is so very, very minute.
It really makes me think He's the craziest one of us all, what were you thinking man? Going thirty years through the emotional stress and strain. The trials, the torture the beatings. Then to top it off you forgive the morons who killed you. I dare say your clinically insane.

*pause*

Maybe, just maybe those who we lock up as insane. Know you the best. ;-)

Almost a loss for Words

I'm doing some work this morning and listening to the news. They were on discussing the Swift Boat Ads and had of course two lackeys one from the Elephants and one from the Donkeys. The reporter that was holding the discussion said that if Kerry was as upset with the swift boat ads why was he not upset with the moveon.org ads and the negative press coming from F911, the hilarious response from the democrat pundit was "well we're talking about truth vs. lies here" . Meaning that F911 was 100% truth and the swift boat ads were 100% lies.

BWWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

I think I about spit out my water I was drinking, omg that guy was one poor misguided fool.

Just A Question

Who would you rather have your photo taken with? The woman who won the Olympic Marathon or the woman who knew she was to be the last to finish, but kept running to the finish line anyways?

Who would your ather have your photo with? The Iraqi soccer team which doesn't care that they no longer live under a dictator and would be in Athens either way, or the Afghan woman who finish who sprint heat 3 seconds behind the person who finished ahead of her but who didn't care what she placed because she had never had a chance to compete before?

How about the woman who medalled in judo, or the Afghan woman whose olympic experience ended in 42 seconds as she lost her judo match?

On a side note, why are countries like greece allowed to have teams which are mostly non-Grecian?! Most of their baseball team is American college students!

Please keep politics out of the discussion.

M$ funds "Independant" Study, Determines they are Cheaper than Free?

Ok, I read this and said to myself, this is too stupid to pass up. M$ (aka. Microsoft Corp.) funds an "independent" study to determine what OS (operating system, that stuff your computer needs to work) would best suit Newham's (London, UK) needs. The bold face lie they came up with "Microsoft is more secure than the open source alternative" was far to much for me to take. Seeing as how a problem found in OSS (open source software or Linux, FreeBSD etc..) gets fixed in a few days, M$ takes months if not years to fix simple problems. Oh man this is sure some secure crap there fellas, I wanna smack someone over this. Give me a round trip to England kids. I just want to grab those responsible for making decisions and say "Have you lost your bloody mind!?!"
Ok, I'm done ranting. Thanks.

Full Story @The Register

If your chased by a Bear, Buy a Beer!

"We noticed a bear sleeping on the common lawn and wondered what was going on until we discovered that there were a lot of beer cans lying around," said Lisa Broxson, a worker at the Baker Lake Resort, 80 miles (129 km) northeast of Seattle.

Full Story @Reuters

I'm so stressed, can we cuddle?

Hahaha.. just when I thought I had heard it all. Now those trendy New Yorkers are all cuddling and showing just how sensitive they are.

[sarcasm]Awwww... how cute.[/sarcasm]

Give me a break man, this is nothing but a front for perverts and freaks. Nobody in their right mind would lay down and "cuddle" with a bunch of unknown people.
It's quite funny though.
Read the story if you would like a laugh. I almost came to tears reading it myself.

Full Story @ Sky News

Why I stopped Watching CNN

click image to enlarge

New Ammo for Liberals

Upon seeing this headline "800,000 Floridians Urged to Flee Charley" today, I pondered.
How will the liberals link this to Bush?, Oh I'm on the edge of my seat waiting on this one.
Liberals, "It's obvious that Mr. Bush has used secret government technology to cause this hurricane to interrupt John Kerry's campaigning and sway the vote."

*muddy chuckles to himself*

Those Nutty libs.

Carlyle Group : An Enigma Immersed In Suspicion

I have been given an opportunity to do some reading these past few days. After this week I fully understand and realize no matter what happens this November. We're screwed.

We either get Mr. Backboneless Kerry King of Flip-Flops or Sir One Step Forward Two Steps Back Bush.

*Sigh*

The article I just wrapped up reading did not help me either. It only raised more questions that were lingering in the back of my mind. Thanks.

I knew from other articles and such that Halibrton was a shady kind of company, that I did not trust as far as I could throw them. Now the Carlyle Group (which I have heard of but knew little about) makes me think Haliburton may not be so bad.

As Dan Briody states clearly in this interview that this is a Capitalist society and it's ok for people to use their experience and such to make money. I'm all for making money. However there does have to be a line, and it looks like Caryle may have not only crossed it but picked it up and folded it neatly and tucked it away. Only those involved can truly set the record straight, so we'll more than likely never know.

Story @ Guerrilla News Network

New Pic!

New art pic has been posted up on deviantArt.

deviantART: Oh Happy Day by ~muddysmind

Canada calls out Kerry

I thought this was interesting how other countries take such an interest in the politics of the U.S. when so many in our own country do not.

Full Story @ TheStar.comt

Learn about the White House

During my endless surfing session tonight I came across some informative and interesting spots on the whitehouse.gov web site.

First is the White House Interactive site that allows every day Joe's like us ask those in the know questions whether silly or serious.
White House Interactive

Next is a spot to sign up for emails letting you know what the President and his Cabinet are doing so you can keep up to date on what the [sarcasm] evil empire [/sarcasm] is up to.
White House E-Mail Updates

Last is a very cool set of videos that give you a tour of the White House without fighting D.C. traffic.
Life in the White House Videos

Linux vs. Mac on the desktop

Looks like Linux is moving up the charts, in 5-10 years Windoze will be a distant memory, yea!

Full Story @ Infoworld

New Wallpapers! Bubbles for Everyone

I have two new wallpapers up, on my deviant art page.

Check them out and let me know what you think.

Muddy Displays Mad Sammich SkiLLz

Wow, this thing was fantastic. Makes me want to make another. :-)

Yet another new logo

I'm obsessive. So it would appear.

How is this one?
I like the simple clean look myself.