OK OK, THIS is my last test

You Are a "Don't Tread On Me" Libertarian

You distrust the government, are fiercely independent, and don't belong in either party. Religion and politics should never mix, in your opinion... and you feel opressed by both. You don't want the government to cramp your self made style. Or anyone else's for that matter. You're proud to say that you're pro-choice on absolutely everything!

What's Your Political Persuasion?

OK, my last test, I swear

You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace. You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions. You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected. It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional. You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others. While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well. At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything. You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams. You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

What Temperment Are You?

Where in New York should you live?

You Belong in Brooklyn

Down to earth and hard working, you're a true New Yorker. And although you may be turning into a yuppie, you never forget your roots.

Where Should Your Inner New Yorker Live?

How in God's name did they find Natalie Portman's SAT score?

Your SAT Score of 1480 Means:

You Scored Higher Than Howard Stern You Scored Higher Than George W. Bush You Scored Higher Than Al Gore You Scored Higher Than David Duchovny You Scored Higher Than Natalie Portman You Scored Lower Than Bill Gates Your IQ is most likely in the 140-150 range Equivalent ACT score: 33 Schools that Fit Your SAT Score: Deep Springs College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Pomona College Harvey Mudd College

What Does Your SAT Score Mean?

How do you get it so your Logical IQ ISN'T below avg??? >_<

Your IQ Is 130

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Exceptional Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Genius

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

More proof that I am evil

Naturally, the one issue I am somewhat liberal is ethics >:D

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 80% Conservative, 20% Liberal Social Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal Ethics: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

How girly are you?

You Are 36% Girly

You are a pretty hardcore tomboy, and a very free spirit. Gender roles be dammed, you like to do things your way.

How Girly Are You?

Are you a good girl or a bad girl?

You Are a Normal Girl

You are 40% Good and 60% Bad Sure you've pulled some bad girl stunts in your past. But these days, you're (mostly) a good girl.

Are You a Good Girl or a Bad Girl?

I am so apathetic

You Are 47% American

America: You don't love it or want to leave it. But you wouldn't mind giving it an extreme make over. On the 4th of July, you'll fly a freak flag instead... And give Uncle Sam a sucker punch!

How American Are You?

I am on a quiz rampage >_>

You are Agnostic

You're not sure if God exists, and you don't care. For you, there's no true way to figure out the divine. You rather focus on what you can control - your own life. And you tend to resent when others "sell" religion to you.

What's Your Religious Philosophy?

What does your Birthdate mean?

Your Birthdate: April 25

You excel at anything difficult or high tech. In other words, you're a total (brilliant) geek. It's difficult for you to find people worth spending time with. Which is probably why you'll take over the world with your evil robots! Your strength: Your unfailing logic Your weakness: Loving machines more than people Your power color: Tan Your power symbol: Pi Your power month: July

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Scottish Sovereignty?

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/208350

*grins devilishly*

Eighty years ago, the Irish faced the same question of secession from the UK. They went the secession route, and ended up fighting a bloody War for Independence. Residual tension exists to this day. Will Scotland go down the same path?

God, I hope it does. Ripping apart the United Kingdom will be a major victory for the anti-globalists.

Now, when does the Southern US secede? This time, I say we let them go.

View from my apartment

This is the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street in Greenwich Village, three blocks north of Washington Square. I've circled the exact location where Captain Spaulding proclaimed that he "liked New York." I also have drawn an arrow pointing toward the Strand, the crown jewel of Greenwich Village >_>;

Bullocks test

Your World View

Although you make a brave show of being self-sufficient, beneath this you are unhappy and rather mixed up. You do not know what love is, and you are more likely to boast about your conquests in a bar than prove them in a bedroom. You tend to attract the wrong kind of lover. It's hard to imagine you leading a full, happy life. The warmth and give-and-take of love are not for you. Your sex life is ringed with unreality, and you neither understand nor appreciate the opposite sex.

What Is Your World View?

LOL. I am evil.

I still think Emma Watson is sexy

Is that such a crime?!?!?!??!!?! :(

I've found the greatest Mexican carry-out place

I would just like to say that it defeats even Chipotle. And that is an amazing feat. It's on 12th Street between 5th Ave and University Place. Called Big Enchilada.

I LOVE YOU, BIG ENCHILADA!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

Interesting AFD from Mt. Holly

WE WILL ADD LOW CHC/SLGT CHC POPS IN FOR SUN AFTN AS PER THE FCSTD
-22C H5 COLD POOL THE MODELS ARE BRINGING ACRS OUR CWA. THAT POOL IS
COLD ENUF TO BRING FCSTD TT FIELDS INTO THE MID 50S AS WELL AS
GENERATE SOME LOW CAPES AND SFC LI INDICES AS LOW AS -5C. THE FCSTD
7C/KM LAPSE RATE IS NO SLOUCH EITHER. FCSTD SOUNDINGS HAVE THAT
LOADED GUN LOOK THAT WOULD MAKE BON JOVI LYRICAL. FCSTD WIND FIELDS
ARE NOT THAT STRONG BELOW H7, BUT MIGHT HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR SOME
EVAP COOLING THAT WOULD ENHANCE THEM (MAYBE THE FIRST SVR TSRA
OF THE YEAR?). WE WILL KEEP POPS LOW FOR NOW DUE TO THE FCSTD NW SFC
FLOW THAT WILL LESSEN CONVERGENCE PLUS ANY ACCELERATION (OR
DECELERATION BEYOND 6 HOURS) OF THAT STRONG SHORT WAVE WOULD THROW
OFF THE TIMING AS WE/LL NEED THE DAYTIME HEATING WHICH AS OF TDY IS
NEARLY PERFECT. MOS GUID DATASETS MAX TEMPS LOOK PRETTY REASONABLE
AND WILL BE FOLLOWED.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/productviewnat...on=0&max=14

I have no life for looking at Philadelphia AFD's :(

OMG Central Park is beautiful at night!

I've lived in New York for most of my life, and I've never seen the park at night. Mainly because, well, yeah... >_>

I just did it tonight, just for shits and giggles. It's amazing how quiet it is. Quiet and dark. It felt I was a Night Elf walking around Azeroth in WoW. Tomorrow I am totally going up with friends to have lightsabre duels at night.

I am such a nerd v_v

100th post! Also, Australian Prime Minister says US Democrats are helping terrorists

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070427024429.z5eu5xpb&show_article=1

This is amusing. Now it's Australia saying America isn't conservative enough. This on top of the fact that the right-wing Sarkozy, self-described as "Sarkozy the American," appears poised to be elected President of France. Not to mention the recent election of pro-Bush, Christian Democrat (Germany's conservative political party) Andrea Merkel in Germany. Or the upcoming PM elections in the UK between Gordon Brown and David Cameron, two pro-Iraq war candidates. OR the new Conservative, pro-Bush Prime Minister of Canada, Steven Harper. Meanwhile, it appears as though America may just well elect Hillary Clinton, far more liberal than any of these people.

America is full of ass-backward conservatives and nobody likes us. What?

Real ID update

Montana has passed a bill nullifying the "Real ID" bill passed by Congress and signed by Bush in 2005. As of last week, the state of Washington has also passed similar bill. Oregon and Idaho (and maybe California) are also likely to follow suit within the next month.

Under the new law, residents of Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho will no longer be able to a) board airplanes b) open bank accounts or c) enter federal buildings. This should be fun :D

Western secession I say!!!

Sopranos, PAX style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFYN8loUboA

I love doggie clothes

In Manhattan, people like to take their itsy bitsy little dogs out for walks dressed in the cutest outfits. Seriously, it is impossible to find a dog either a) undressed or b) heavier than 10 pounds. SOOOOOOOOO MF'ING CUTE!!!!!!! I LOVE TINY DOGS IN CLOTHES OMFG!!!!!!!!! CUTE ORGY ALERT.

Now that I've got that aside,

You know what's NOT irritating?

I AM TWENTY ONE YEARS OLD!!!!!! HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TAKE THAT, UNDERAGERS!!!! I AM NOT ONE OF YOU ANY LONGER!!! HAHAHAHAHA I PWN!!!!

:D :D :D :D :D

You know what's irritating?

That my former employer who fired me (America Reads) is still sending me e-mails as if I still work for them. The latest is entitled "Ending your workyear for America Reads." Yeah, I never really ended it as it was ended for me.

You have NOOOOO idea how utterly tempting it is for me to write them back and tell them that I now have a job in line that pays 3x their hourly salary. Bah!

For those who have never been to New York

To my knowledge this is the only pic that encompasses the entire New York skyline:



EDIT: Actually on second thought it only covers the northern half of the skyline. Just looks large because it includes Midtown + the Upper East Side (most skyline pics do not include the UES). But still my favourite pic of the skyline.

Places I could never live

I could never live in these cities, since they don't get enough snow. I'd go crazy without snow (because I'm totally sane as it is):

Richmond
Raleigh
Charlotte
Atlanta
Nashville
Louisville
Oklahoma City
Memphis
Seattle
Portland

and international cities:

Dublin (sad to say)
Cork (even sadder to say)
London
Paris
Beijing
Tokyo

I didn't include cities that don't stand any chance at all of getting snow, because the torture wouldn't be so bad. But living in a place that only gets a few inches of snow a year would just be a tease.

But I could live in any of the following:

Toronto
Calgary
Winnepeg
Anchorage
Fairbanks
Moscow
Berlin
Stockholm
Coppenhagen
Montreal
Ottawa
Minneapolis
Denver
Buffalo
Boston (if it weren't for the Sawx fans, at least)
Salt Lake City
Chicago
Cleveland
Milwaukee
Barrow, Alaska (google it hehehehehe)

I have no idea what the point to this blog entry is :(

Palm trees are cool

Seriously, I can drive around California all day and not grow bored simply because I love looking at the palm trees. They're so weird!

Paaaaaaaaalm treeeeeeeees wooooo I am totally not high right now.

OMFG! The Libertarians are running a physics professor!

YEAH!!!! His name is George Phillies. He has a Ph. D in Physics and has a list of publications here:

http://users.wpi.edu/~phillies/gp.html

He's also written science fiction. Now he's running for President as a Libertarian. I'm in love <3

Things I want to do while in Europe

1. See the skyscraper in London that loosely resembles a penis
2. Take the Chunnel
3. Drive on the Autobahn
4. See Mr Bean
5. Drive one of those shitty little compact cars those Europeans like to drive
6. Drive on the wrong side of the road in Ireland and England
7. Drive on the Autobahn
8. See if people actually walk around grocery stores with assault rifles strapped around their backs in Switzerland, as wikipedia says
9. See if I can stomach Irish food for five months straight
10. See if I can stomach English food for three days while in London (I sincerely doubt it)
11. Drive on the Autobahn
12. Wear a cowboy hat and guage reactions
13. Go to Amsterdam... hehehehehe...
14. Drive on the Autobahn
15. Re-construct the Berlin Wall, just for the hell of it
16. Eat real Belgian Waffles
17. Go to Athens and take as many pics as possible to make all my Greekophilic friends jealous
18. Did I mention that I wanted to drive the Autobahn?

I've got my plane tickets

Flight #1 (British Airways) leaves New York for London at 7:30pm on May 11th. Gets in at 6:30am, where Aunt Mary picks me up. She's going to show me around Europe ^_^ (she's retired and rich, so she has the time and money >_>) Then on May 31st, Aer Lingus takes me from London to Cork, where my OTHER Aunt Mary (I have three Aunt Mary's <_<) picks me up. I stay with her for the next several months. Flight #3 then takes me back to New York from Cork via London on October 29. All for $760! That's not bad for such a convoluted itinerary, I say.

Man, a month ago I thought I'd never be one of those losers who got excited over buying plane tickets to Europe :( I'm such a geek.

Most overpriced cities in America

According to Forbes magazine:

1 Seattle
2 Bergen-Passaic, N.J.
3 Miami
4 Portland, Ore.
5 Middlesex, N.J.
6 San Jose, Calif.
7 San Francisco
8 Chicago
9 New York
10 Jersey City, N.J.

Yeah!!! We're only ninth!!! While (according to Forbes) NY has the highest cost o living, it's somewhat worth it since job growth and salaries are high. From this study, it looks like everyone finally realized the west coast is a cultural wasteland and gave up on it. Anyway, I need to start saving up the $2 million it will cost me to buy a two-bedroom apartment in New York. Sigh.

IT IS HOT AS A MOFO OUTSIDE

GOOD LORD! 83 degrees! I'm dying over here!

Thankfully we'll be back near freezing two days from now. Isn't April lovely?

My Maddox stickers came in yesterday

...and I have stuck them on my laptop. The best $4 I have ever spent, certainly:

An incredible article in the LA Times

http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.25995/pub_detail.asp

Now there's a guy I can agree with. Pretty much dismantles the anti-gun argument.

New headphones!

SOOOOOOOOOOO lovely. Now I get to hear Matthew's, Leland's, and McGill's ever so sexy voices over Ventrillo when playing CS in crystal-clear sound. Lucky me.

Edit: I would also like to add that the bass on these headphones is phenomenal. I never thought it'd be possible for a pair of headphones to turn me on, but I was wrong!

Man, it would be supercool to live in Kansas

Just imagine: only you and the praries for miles and miles. Every morning you wake up and look out your window. You see nothing but a brown flatness. You drive to work on a highway with no turns, hills, or cars for miles and miles. The only signs of humanity you see along the way are the mileposts along the side of the road.

You get home and turn on the radio only to find Tornado Warnings being played over and over again with an eerily scratchy reception. You scramble to board up your house, but in the end you know you're a gonner either way if the tornado hits you.

Ah, but the tornado misses a half mile to your west. Or north. Or maybe east. Who knows or cares? It's Kansas.

A point by point rebuttal of Tom Plate's anti-gun propoganda

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Most days, it is not at all hard to feel proud to be an American. But on days such as this, it is very difficult.

The pain that the parents of the slain students feel hits deep into everyone's hearts. At the University of California, Los Angeles, students are talking about little else. It is not that they feel especially vulnerable because they are students at a major university, as is Virginia Tech, but because they are (to be blunt) citizens of High Noon America.

"High Noon" is a famous film. The 1952 Western told the story of a town marshal (played by the superstar actor Gary Cooper) who is forced to eliminate a gang of killers by himself. They are eventually gunned down.

So in other words, one isolated incident that occured 100 years ago should be the basis of public policy today?

The use of guns is often the American technique of choice for all kinds of conflict resolution. Our famous Constitution, about which many of us are generally so proud, enshrines -- along with the right to freedom of speech, press, religion and assembly -- the right to own guns. That's an apples and oranges list if there ever was one.

Apples and oranges how? Just because one asserts an opinion, such as this one, doesn't make it true. Facts to back up the argument, or an explanation at least.

Regardless, Thomas Jefferson would disagree: "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." In other words, the 2nd Amendment is the safeguard that protects the other nine. Once again, apples and oranges how?

Not all of us are so proud and triumphant about the gun-guarantee clause. The right to free speech, press, religion and assembly and so on seem to be working well, but the gun part, not so much.

How is it not working? 220 years going and we're still sovereign and free. In fact, we're freer than we were at the time of the Constitution's writing - slavery has been abolished. You think John Brown would have been able to storm Harpers Ferry without guns? What about Bloody Kansas? The liberty of the slaves grew from the barrel of a gun. Without the 2nd Amendment, we may still not have the 13th.

Let me explain. Some misguided people will focus on the fact that the 23-year-old student who killed his classmates and others at Virginia Tech was ethnically Korean. This is one of those observations that's 99.99 percent irrelevant. What are we to make of the fact that he is Korean? Ban Ki-moon is also Korean! Our brilliant new United Nations secretary general has not only never fired a gun, it looks like he may have just put together a peace formula for civil war-wracked Sudan -- a formula that escaped his predecessor.

What does this have to do with anything? Who is blaming Koreans? What?

This is a well-known argumentative tactic, used to over-generalize and stereotype your opponent's position to a point that it simply looks ridiculous when it really is not. Sophism at its worst.

So let's just disregard all the hoopla about the race of the student responsible for the slayings. These students were not killed by a Korean, they were killed by a 9 mm handgun and a .22-caliber handgun.

And terrorists didn't kill 3,000 in the World Trade Center; the planes did? I call BS here.

In the nineties, the Los Angeles Times courageously endorsed an all-but-complete ban on privately owned guns, in an effort to greatly reduce their availability. By the time the series of editorials had concluded, the newspaper had received more angry letters and fiery faxes from the well-armed U.S. gun lobby than on any other issue during my privileged six-year tenure as the newspaper's editorial page editor.

But the paper, by the way, also received more supportive letters than on any other issue about which it editorialized during that era. The common sense of ordinary citizens told them that whatever Americans were and are good for, carrying around guns like costume jewelry was not on our Mature List of Notable Cultural Accomplishments.

So in other words, gun-control is a divisive issue. Kind of like abortion. And legislating abortion is such a great idea, right?

"Guns don't kill people," goes the gun lobby's absurd mantra. Far fewer guns in America would logically result in far fewer deaths from people pulling the trigger. The probability of the Virginia Tech gun massacre happening would have been greatly reduced if guns weren't so easily available to ordinary citizens.

Not half as absurd as saying that the guy holding the gun doesn't kill people. In any case, you know what also would have greatly reduced the probability of a Virginia Tech massacre happening? Giving students and teachers guns to defend themselves against wackjobs such as Cho.

Foreigners sometimes believe that celebrities in America are more often the targets of gun violence than the rest of us. Not true. Celebrity shootings just make better news stories, so perhaps they seem common. They're not. All of us are targets because with so many guns swishing around our culture, no one is immune -- not even us non-celebrities.

When the great pop composer and legendary member of the Beatles John Lennon was shot in 1980 in New York, many in the foreign press tabbed it a war on celebrities. Now, some in the media will declare a war on students or some-such. This is all misplaced. The correct target of our concern needs to be guns. America has more than it can possibly handle. How many can our society handle? My opinion is: as close to zero as possible.

Once again, he blames guns without any facts to support his argument. I could just as easily blame the flying spaghetti monster. Further, nobody is going to declare a "war on students." That is absurd speculation; nothing more.

Last month, I was robbed at 10 in the evening in the alley behind my home. As I was carrying groceries inside, a man with a gun approached me where my car was parked. The gun he carried featured one of those red-dot laser beams, which he pointed right at my head.

Because I'm anything but a James Bond type, I quickly complied with all of his requests. Perhaps because of my rapid response (it is called surrender), he chose not to shoot me; but he just as easily could have. What was to stop him?

If you had a gun, then you could have stopped him.

This occurred in Beverly Hills, a low-crime area dotted with upscale boutiques, restaurants and businesses -- a city best known perhaps for its glamour and celebrity sightings.

Doesn't relate to the topic at hand what-so-ever.

Oh, and police tell me the armed robber definitely was not Korean. Not that I would have known one way or the other: Basically the only thing I saw or can remember was the gun, with the red dot, pointed right at my head.

He was probably black or Mexican. But once again, this has nothing to do with anything.

A near-death experience does focus the mind. We need to get rid of our guns.

Here he admits that his entire crusade is based on one single incident that happened to him. NEWSFLASH: We aren't all Tom Plate. In fact, my research has revealed that 99.999999984753242 percent of the world population are, in fact, NOT Tom Plate. Citing one incident that happened to you hardly is enough to support a change in public policy that would drastically alter the lives of tens of millions of rural Americans. Try again, with some statistics next time. Oh right, you have none.

My last word is this: People such as Tom Plate have no problem banning guns since it is convenient for them. But planes also can be used as killing divices, as can knives and even forks. Should we ban those too? Plate would say no, but only because banning those things would be too much of an inconvenience for him personally. But what about the inconvenience placed on millions of rural Americans who rely on guns to FEED themselves? Or the thousands more who collect antique rifles, such as myself? Surely the government would be willing to re-imburse me? They're only worth collectively over $12,000, not to mention the sentimental value attached to such antiques that have been passed along from one generation to the next. He does not address this.

Secondly, Plate assumes that the crime rates in other countries (where they have banned guns) are lower than America's. That may be true in some cases, but certainly not all. Look at Britain! The home break-in rate is twice as high as in America! Also interesting that 53% of British burglaries occur when the home-owner is at home. Compare this figure to 13% in America. Gee, I wonder why.
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/10/31/do3102.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2004/10/31/ixopinion.html)
Overall crime in Britain is also higher than in America, and you are six times as likely to be assaulted in London as you are in New York. (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,647991,00.html)

Plate is just yet another elitest idiot.

Original article here:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/18/commentary.plate/index.html

It's all about da SAWX and da YANKS

Nuff said.

Round one is tonight at 7:05.

Facts about Ireland

Because I'm just so psyched :P

1. Average rainfall in Dublin is only 29 inches per year - half that of New York, but comparable to London, Manchester, or Seattle.

2. Average home price in Ireland is 270,000 euros, or about $400,000USD, making the Irish real-estate market the second most expensive in the world (after Japan).

3. Ireland is the second wealthiest nation in the world per-capita, trailing only Luxembourg (which shouldn't even count, since it's just a city with 200k people). The US is third.

4. Ireland's economy is the fastest growing in Europe, with the EU's lowest taxes.

5. Abortion is banned within the Republic of Ireland as well as the UK's Northern Ireland, although abortion throughout the rest of the UK is still much more restricted than in the US.

6. A grandson of an Irish national born outside Ireland is automatically an Irish citizen, while a child born within Ireland to immigrant parents is NOT a citien.

7. The President of Ireland is called An Taoiseach (pronounced tee-sach).

8. The Republic of Ireland remained neutral during World War II, mainly due to strained tensions with Britain.

9. Ireland was one of the four members of the United Kingdom along with England, Scotland, and Wales from 1800 to 1921, when most of the island (except the Northermost counties) seceded in a violent War of Independence.

10. Many western portions of Ireland still speak only Irish, and the Irish language is still the official language of the Republic of Ireland (although most speak English instead). 60,000 Irish citizens only speak Irish and 1.2 million speak Irish fluently as a second language.

11. Bono sucks. Nobody in Ireland actually likes him.

12. Ireland is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as a currency, having replaced the Irish Pound in 1999.

13. Only 4 million live in Ireland, but 70 million worldwide trace their roots back to Ireland, including 40 million Americans and 10 million New Yorkers (metro).

14. Every single US President since Gerald Ford had some amount of Irish ancestry.

15. In 1972, 12 unarmed Catholic Civil Rights Activists in Northern Ireland were shot dead by the British military. The IRA gained prominance in the aftermath of the massacre, kick-starting the "Troubles."

And with that, I think I should hold my tongue and end this post ;)

The funniest car in New York

http://nyfunnycar.ytmnd.com/

Going to Ireland for the summer

Since I have nothing better to do until I start working in November, I've decided to go to THE MOTHER COUNTRY for the summer :O And by summer, I mean May through October. According to Irish citizenship laws, if a child's parent(s) were born in Ireland, then the child is also a citizen (most Americans find this weird, but it's standard in Europe). Dad was born in Ireland and, although he left at the age of two, that still makes me a citizen. Yay loopholes :D That's nice, since I can stay there and work for as long as I want, without a visa or anything.

The moral of the story is that my great aunt (with whom I will be staying) has no internet access, so I won't be able to update this blog often. So sad. Anywho, enjoy the updates while they last.


EDIT:
On second thought, since I plan on getting some sort of job over there I'll probably just end up paying for internet access. She lives in Cork so broadband is definitely available.

My professor has his own wiki page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Meineck

He teaches an elective Greek comedy class that I decided to take. The funny thing is that I'd bet money he made the page himself. He is so incredibly arrogant it's hilarious. Plus he's Celtic with the red hair and everything. Most of my classmates hate him, but I love the man.

He staged a competition where everyone in the class was to bring in the most offensive comedy they could possibly find. Most everyone did the usual: South Park, Family Guy, etc. Ooh riskay! I did better - brought in a video of lesbians engaged in sexual behavior. It's a normal porn video for about two minutes, but then a random person runs onto the set and drops a bucket full of shit on the two of them. I won! LOL He said he was glad he worked at NYU because if he was anywhere else he'd have been fired ;)

A friend of mine let me borrow the video, and it's on a tape. I'll see if I can find a copy online and get it uploaded :D

Boycotting Fox News

Yep, not flipping to their channel anymore. Not even looking at their webpage. Why? Because yesterday after the VA Tech shootings, they brought on that asshole Jack Thompson, whom they termed a "school-shootings expert," to explane how violent videogames were responsible for the shootings, effectively politicising the situation.

Any self-respecting nerd has heard of Jack Thompson. He's gained infamy for his crusades against violent videogames, especially the Grand Theft Auto series. He was at the forefront campaigning against GTA when a glitch was found that allowed players to view a picture vaguely resembling a pixilated breast (oh no, it's not the family-friendly videogame I thought it was!), encouraging the government to censor the game. So basically he's a jackass.

I'll let you watch the entire interview for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weG7A4lTGtg

Some school shootings expert all right.

GRAWR I LOATHE JACK THOMPSON!!! >_<

Va Tech Shootings

Generally these sorts of national tragedies make angry above all else, so I try to keep comments to a minimum. But some amount of reflection is appropriate, in my opinion.

I got out of classes at 3pm. Being the guy I am, the first thing I did upon arriving home was to check the Drudge Report for updates on the Nor'easter. But the headline on Drudge had nothing to do with Northeastern extreme weather - it read "VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE" (and still does).

33 dead for what? Because some kid got dumped by his girlfriend? The way he lined people up to kill them one by one... makes me want to vomit. It takes a sick, twisted, and evil thing to commit such acts. I don't even consider the murderer a human.

Also, I have decided to boycot Fox News. But more on that tomorrow; too tired and pissed off at the moment.

Nor'easter stalled over New York

8.11 inches recorded in Central Park so far - the second rainiest storm in New York's history. And the storm has decided to park right over us for the day, so expect another couple inches. New Jersey has declared a state of emergency and closed all schools, calling this the worst storm to hit the state in over 120 years.

Ah, weather!

THE WORST IS YET TO COME

964mb low over NYC tomorrow morning. For a layman, that is equivalent approx. to a Catagory 2 Hurricane (the same strength as Hurricane Katrina as it smashed New Orleans). Remember those 100mph gusts I forcasted? Expect those tomorrow morning. Already approaching 8 inches of rain, but we could very well see 10 or 11 inches before all is said and done - smashing the old record of about 8.5 inches.

Unfortunately it's going to be hard for me to get pics. Water is pouring the lobby (three or four inches deep) and they aren't letting anyone leave at the moment. Will try to snap some shots from my window up here on the Fifth floor. I went out for a walk a bit earlier - there's a few inches of water on most surfaces, with puddles knee-deep in dips in the ground. I'm sure it's worse just by the river. There's also an insane amount of thunder right now (my first thunderstorm since moving here last September!). Montana never got T-storms like this. In fact, there's not a place out West that gets T-storms like New York. Arizona's monsoon season has nothing on us.

Voluntary evacuation issued for Lower Manhattan and Southern Long Island

And naturally I am going nowhere. ;)

Observations in NYC

7.21" of rain (expecting another 1-2")
Sustained wins 46mph gusting to 72mph (approaching hurricane force)
High tide is at 7:30pm, 4-5 feet above normal

Low pressure centered off the North Carolina coast at 977mb and dropping. GFS shows it at 964 (Catagory 2 Hurricane force, about as powerful as Katrina over New Orleans) as it passes over New York!!!

UPDATE: Rainfall in NYC now the 4th highest amount all time in a 24 hour period! Before all is said and done we might be able to make a run at the all time record! Rain has never been so exciting.

SECOND UPDATE: 79mph sustained winds recorded on Long Island's South Shore. The hurricane conditions have begun.

Pictures from Nor'easter '07

Collingswood, New Jersey


Huntingdon, New York


Babylon, New York


Brooklyn, New York

(no, I didn't take these pictures)

More to come as the situation worsens...

Evacuations?

Governor Spitzer is now talking evacuations for coastal areas, including low-lying neighborhoods in NYC (such as mine) and the South Shore of Long Island. Already there's an inch of water that's flooded Fifth Avenue here with a shitload more to come. Worst flooding since 1992, if not worse.

Oh dear..............

UPDATE: 40mph sustained winds with 64mph gusts recorded at JFK International Airport. Tropical Storm force winds already. Expect winds to be twice that before the day is out! So basically Catagory 1 Hurricane force winds. Water has already breached the sea-walls on the East River.

TAX DAY!!!

TAX DAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!! OMFG WTF WTF WTF OMG MASS PANICK MASS OMFG OH MY FUCKING GOD TAX DAY NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOLY SHIT TAX DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

Ahhh! They put an ad at the top of my blog!

"Make a donation today
yada yada yada"

Bahhhhhhhhh!!! An outrage >_>

The world according to America

Click to enlarge.

New York to London for $12... yes, $12

http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2007/04/13/ryanair-transatlantic.html

Damn, and I thought I was good when I found a local travel agency on Third Ave selling tickets for $80.

Anyway, just yet another reason why all Americans should just submit to their New York overlords and move here. It now costs $12 to fly from NY to Europe, while at the same costing over $1000 to fly from Los Angeles to Europe. LA phails at life yet again. Let's give California back to the Mexicans. Except that we get to keep San Francisco (because I like it) and Fortuna (because dad lives there). Also we get to keep highway 101, so I can drive between Fortuna and San Francisco without a passport. That's be cool. Also, we get to keep San Mateo County, so I can fly into SFO without a passport. But Mexico can have everything else. While we're at it, let's give Mexico the entire Southern United States too. The South wanted to leave 140 years ago, so I say we let them leave.

Yes, I just went from trans-atlantic airfare to a Civil War rant. I am so hot right now.

UPDATE: After reading the article more carefully, I've realized that they're also going to run cheap flights from NY to Dublin as well. Here I come Ireland, you sexy beast! ALL HAIL THE MOTHERLAND!!!

NYC Office of Emergency Management issues warning

NYC OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFERS EMERGENCY INFORMATION IN ADVANCE OF IMPENDING NOR’EASTER

A powerful, and potentially dangerous, coastal storm may impact New York City this weekend. While the exact track and intensity of the storm is uncertain at this time, heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding may occur from early Sunday morning through Monday. The New York City Office of Emergency Management is monitoring the storm with the National Weather Service to ensure the City can prepare for and respond to this situation.

Nor’easters are intense storms that can cause heavy rain, oversized waves, beach erosion and structural damage. Coastal flooding can occur when sea water is pushed inland by high winds.

“New York City may be hit by a serious nor’easter this weekend,” said OEM Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno. “All New Yorkers, especially those living in coastal areas, should take steps to prepare themselves and their families for this storm.”

OEM OFFERS THE FOLLOWING TIPS FOR NEW YORKERS TO PREPARE:

In advance of the storm:

Keep a battery operated radio to ensure you are able to hear weather and emergency updates
Stay tuned to television and radio news broadcasts for updated information as the storm develops
Secure outdoor objects such as lawn furniture or garbage cans that could blow away and cause damage or injury
Know the safest route from your home or place of business to safe, high ground should you have to evacuate in a hurry
Have your Go Bag and Emergency Supply Kit ready to go in the event of evacuation or loss of power. (Information on Go Bags and Emergency Supply Kits can be found at OEM’s website: www.nyc.gov/oem)
During a powerful storm OEM strongly urges New Yorkers to remain indoors. If you must go out:

Never touch or go near down power lines, even if you think they are safe
When outside, remember floods are deceptive. Try to avoid flooded areas, and don't attempt to walk across stretches of flood waters more than knee deep
Do NOT drive through flooded areas. Parts of the road may already be washed out, and you could become stranded or trapped
Additionally, if you are a resident of the following low lying, coastal areas, you should be sure to heed all storm warnings:

Bronx: Edgewater Park, Silver Beach, Locust Point, Classon Point, Throgs Neck
Brooklyn: Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay
Manhattan: Financial District, entire FDR Drive vicinity, Lower East Side, East Village
Queens: Rockaway, Broad Channel, Howard Beach and West Hamilton Beach, Whitestone
Staten Island: New Dorp Beach, Oakwood Beach, Foxwood Beach, Great Kills and Tottenville
-30-

CONTACT: Andrew Troisi (718)-422-4888


Uh oh, my neighborhood is listed >__>

I've never seen the OEM issue such a statement for a rainstorm before. If NYC becomes the next New Orleans, I'll be sure to take pictures ;)

Historic April Nor'easter this Sunday

Here's my forecast in a nutshell for coastal areas (including NYC and the other Northeast corridor cities):

4-6 inches of rain with up to 1 inch per hour at the storm's height (local amounts near 8 inches possible)
40-60mph winds with gusts up to 100mph along the immediate coast (Delmarva, Jersey Shore, Eastern LI, Cape Cod)
3-5 foot storm surge along the immediate coast (same areas)

For inland areas:

6 inches to 3 feet of snow 30+ miles North and West of major cities, with highest accumulations accross Upstate NY, Central PA, and Northern New England.
20-40mph winds

Just for perspective's sake, New York City will recieve more rain on Sunday than Seattle recieves, on average, from April through September (half the year!).

Have fun!!! :D

MONTANA NULLIFIES FEDERAL LAW!!!

In a move unprecidented since the Civil War, the Montana legislature has voted (with bi-partisan support) to nullify and ignore federal law that would implement a quasi-national ID. The proposed "Real ID" would require states to tighten standards for acquiring a drivers license. Under the act, a birth cirtificate, finger prints, a social security number, and other forms of identification must be submitted in order to recieve a drivers license. This information would then be stored in the license itself, essentially establishing a National ID system similar to those in Europe. Republican Congressman Sensenbrenner proposed the bill in an effort to fight illegal immigration, and Bush has supported the bill. But if Bush and Sensenbrenner were actually concerned about illegal immigration, why do they continue to leave the borders wide open, with scant attention from the National Guard? Oh right, becuase they like the cheap labour.

In any event, the Montana House approved the measure 82 to 18, with only a handful of Democrats opposing the nullification of federal law. Senator Jesse Laslovich of Anaconda has said, "This is unconstitutional. We cannot do this. The state doesn't have the power to nullify a federal law. Period."

The thing is that if the law itself is unconstitutional (a National ID is a flagrant violation of the 4th Amendment if there ever was one), the state can do whatever it pleases to fight the law, as far as I am concerned. Checks and balances, anyone? When the Real ID Act goes into effect in 2009, Montanans will no longer be able to save money in banks, travel on airplanes, or enter federal buildings and landmarks.

The states of New Hampshire, Maine, Washington, New Mexico, and California are also likely to pass similar protests. So if you live in any of those states, enjoy your right to fly on an airplane while you still can!

Could we see a repeat of the South Carolina Nullification Crisis under Jackson? I hope so.

You know you're from New York if (and my reactions):

You say "the city" and expect everyone to know that this means Manhattan.
-True

You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building.
-Never been to the Statue of Liberty; been up the ESB once when I was very young.

You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park at 3:30 on the Friday before a long weekend, but can�t find Wisconsin on a map.
-Not true! I can find WIsconsin on a map >:( Anyway, everyone knows you take the Downtown A or C down to 42nd Street then transfer to the 1, 2, or 3. Take one of those down to South Ferry. Bada bing!

Hookers and the homeless are invisible.
-True

The subway makes sense.
-Too much sense

You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
-Damn aight

You've considered stabbing someone just for saying "The Big Apple".
-SO FUCKING TRUE

The most frequently used part of your car is the horn.
-True, and it pisses off the Montanans so much

You call an 8' x 10' plot of patchy grass a yard.
-Yes

You consider Westchester "upstate".
-Hell, I consider Riverdale "upstate"

You think Central Park is "nature."
-True

You see nothing odd about the speed of an auctioneer's speaking.
-Maybe it's a tad fast?

You're paying $1,200 for a studio the size of a walk-in closet and you think it's a "steal."
I'd consider $1,500 a steal for that

You've been to New Jersey twice and got hopelessly lost both times.
-Aunt lives in Dunellen, so unfortunately I've had to venture into the place more than twice. Got lost many a time, however.

You pay more each month to park your car than most people in the U.S. pay in rent.
-If I had a car in New York, yes

You haven't seen more than twelve stars in the night sky since you went away to camp as a kid.
-Not since I've been back in Montana anyway

You go to dinner at 9 and head out to the clubs when most Americans are heading to bed.
-I'm the biggest nerd ever, and even I do this

Your closet is filled with black clothes.
-Yes

You haven't heard the sound of true absolute silence since the 80s, and when you did, it terrified you.
-I've heard it in Montana

You pay $5 without blinking for a beer that cost the bar 28 cents.
-True

You take fashion seriously.
-I suppose?

Being truly alone makes you nervous.
-Lived alone in Montana for two years; adjusted fine

You have 27 different menus next to your telephone.
-More than that

Going to Brooklyn is considered a "road trip."
-Yes

America west of the Hudson is still theoretical to you.
-Basically, yes

You've gotten jaywalking down to an art form.
-YES!!!! :D :D :D

You take a taxi to get to your health club to exercise.
-My excercise consists solely of walking to and fro

Your idea of personal space is no one actually standing on your toes.
-True

$50 worth of groceries fit in one paper bag.
-Damn right

You have a minimum of five "worst cab ride ever" stories.
-Only two. Three if you count the Supershuttle to LaGuardia

You don't notice sirens anymore.
-True, although my Californian/British roommates notice them. Keeps them up all night :D I love watching them suffer

You live in a building with a larger population than most American towns.
-600 people in my building, so yes maybe?

Your doorman is Russian, your grocer is Korean your deli man is Israeli, your building super is Italian, your laundry guy is Chinese, your favorite bartender is Irish, your favorite diner owner is Greek, the watchseller on your corner is Senegalese, your last cabbie was Pakistani, your newsstand guy is Indian and your favorite falafel guy is Egyptian.
-Basically, yes

You're suspicious of strangers who are actually nice to you.
-Why wouldn't I be?

You secretly envy cabbies for their driving skills.
-I admit this openly

You think $7.00 to cross a bridge is a fair price.
-True

Your door has more than three locks.
-Two locks

Your favorite movie has DeNiro in it.
-South Park doesn't have DeNiro :(

You consider eye contact an act of overt aggression.
-When people on the street/subway make eye contact with me, I do get freaked out. So yes

You run when you see a flashing "Do Not Walk" sign at the intersection.
-No need to run in this case; it almost always flashes long enough to cross leasurely. Any real New Yorker knows this.

You're 35 years old and don't have a driver's license.
-20 and yes I have one

You ride in a subway car with no air conditioning just because there are seats available.
-Hell no!

You're willing to take in strange people as roommates simply to help pay the rent.
-Yes

There is no North and South. It's uptown or downtown.
-Exactly

When you're away from home, you miss "real" pizza and "real" bagels.
-Why wouldn't I?

You know the differences between all the different Ray's Pizzas.
-Yes. The one on Broadway and 55th is always missing Pepperoni

You're not in the least bit interested in going to Times Square on New Year's Eve.
-True

Your internal clock is permanently set to know when Alternate Side of the Street parking regulations are in effect.
-Don't have a car in the city

You know what a bodega is.
-A deli with flowers at the front

You know how to fold the New York Times in half, vertically, so that you can read it on the subway or bus without knocking off other passenger's hats.
-I, like all real New Yorkers, read the Post instead

Someone bumps into you, and you check for your wallet.....
-All the time

You cringe at hearing people pronounce Houston St. like the city in Texas
-I do

Film crews on your block annoy you, not excite you.
-SO MOTHERFUCKING TRUE! Will Smith was filming one of his liberal propoganda flicks around the Village last year, and it was annoying as all fuckout.

I am so jaded :(

You know you're from California if

1. Your coworker has 8 piercings and none are visible.

2 You make over $300,000 and still can't afford a house.

3. You take a bus and are shocked at two people carrying on a conversation in English.

4. Your child's 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Flower.

5. You can't remember ... is pot illegal?

6. You've been to a baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor.

7. You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.

8. You can't remember . . is pot illegal?

9. A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.

10. Gas costs $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the U.S.

11. Unlike back home, the guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney really IS George Clooney.

12. Your car insurance costs as much as your house payment.

13. You can't remember .. .is pot illegal?

14. It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH."

15. You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cells or pagers.

16. It's barely sprinkling rain outside, so you leave for work an hour early to avoid all the weather-related accidents.

17. HEY!!!! Is pot illegal????

18. Both you AND your dog have therapists, psychics, personal trainers and cosmetic surgeons.

19. The Terminator is your governor.

20. Anywhere else, if you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're in California illegally, they want to give you one.

:D

Cup of Noodles just saved my life

I noticed today that on my Cup of Noodles container contained a list of directions for heating the stuff. Step 2 was as follows:

2. Fill cup to inside line with boiling water from kettle or microwave

Then a few lines under that was the following:

Caution: Product is hot. Please handle with care.

Holy shit, thanks Cup of Noodles! I would have NEVER GUESSED that pouring boiling water into a cup of noodles would make the product hot! OMG <3 Cup of Noodles 4ever n ever.


Sometimes I get the feeling I am inhabiting a world consisting of 99% morons, with the other 1% being me, my readers, and Rudy Giuliani.

Don Imus fired

Absolutely astonishing. Simply astonishing.

I have nothing else to say.

Actually, on second thought, I do.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, as stated earlier, is are hypocritical douchebags. You know we live in a fucked up society when a guy who refers to Jews as "bloodsucking" or another guy who degrades my city as "hymietown" is able to get someone fired for making racially insensitive remarks. The fact that CBS met with these two assclowns and allow said assclowns to dictate company policy regarding Imus's employment is astonishing.

What about the hordes of rappers who repeatedly refer to blacks as niggers and women as prostitutes among other things? Really, what they say is no different than what Imus said on a regular basis (his "nappy-headed hos" comment only sparked controversy for its racial implications... he regularly said worse of gays, Jews, and others with little public outcry). The only difference was that the comments were coming from an old white guy in a cowboy hat rather than a black kid in a music video. The argument that blacks should be able to joke about other blacks is inherently stupid - if a community cannot respect themselves, how can they expect other communities to respect them?

But even if you are an old white guy in a cowboy hat, you're allowed to make fun of the disprivileged, as long as the disprivileged group in question are not black. Just last year Don Imus pulled a Sharpton and used the phrase "thieving Jews" to describe book publishers Simon and Schuster! But nobody gave a shit, since it's ok to make fun of Jews! Don't make fun of blacks and you're golden :D

Absolutely fucking amazing.

How to be a Patriotic American

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvsADU2OOWM

It would be funnier if it weren't so true....

Al Sharpton is a hypocritical douche

Al Sharpton is calling for shock-jock Don Imus to be fired for calling the mostly-black Rutgers women's basketball team a bunch of "nappy-headed hoes." Apparently the phrase "nappy-headed" is a derogatory term used to describe the quality of African American hair (didn't realize this until recently). Of course it was offensive, of course it was racist, and of course it was Don Imus. He's been saying offensive things for years now - decades even. But even he has apologized for the remark.

But upon what moral podium may Sharpton talk from? Before Sharpton gained national prominance, he had long been a controversial figure here in New York. In 1991, a Hasidic Jew accidentally hit and killed Gavin Cato, a black man, with his car, causing anti-Semetic riots to erupt around town. At Cato's funeral, Sharpton denounced the "diamond merchants" (Jews) with the "blood of innocent babies on their hands" (a jab at the Jewish religion's support for abortion rights). He never apologized for those remarks. Nor did Jesse Jackson, who suggested that New York rename itself "Hymie town" (hymie is an old derogatory term for Jews). Soon after, a young Jewish student was surrounded and stabbed to death by a group shouting "kill the Jew!" And the silence from both Sharpton and Jackson was deafening.

Then four years earlier, 15 year-old black female Tawana Brawley claimed to be raped by a bunch of white guys up in Poughkeepsie. As it turns out she was lying (interesting how history repeats itself... Duke case anyone?) and her case was thrown out. Sharpton accused prosecutor Steve Pagones of raping the girl, and when the case was thrown out, Sharpton dared Pagones to sue him if he was so sure Brawley was lying. Pagones did sue and easily won over $300,000. Even after all that, Sharpton has refused to apologize and maintains Brawley's innocence.

Not to mention Sharpton's rallies against whites moving into Harlem, specifically a Jewish store owner moving in - a "white interloper" according to Sharpton. Or the time when he demeaned the "bloodsucking Jews" of New York. Or the time when he threatened to "burn the building down" (refering to the same store mentioned earlier). Soon after, a group of blacks took Sharpton's advice and actually did burn down the building, but not after shooting and killing four of the workers in the store.

So Al, please shut the fuck up. Yes, Imus is an idiot and probably a racist, but he pales in comparison to you.

Oh yes, and one more thing! Several Democratic members of the Black Caucus in Congress are calling on the FCC to investigate Imus for his comments. Are these not the same people opposing an amendment banning flag-burning on the ground of free speech? Ahem.

What an incredibly asinine situation all around.

What English-speaking country are you?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatenglishspeakingcountryareyouquiz/

You Belong in the UK

Blimey! A little proper, a little saucy. You're so witty and charming... No one notices your curry breath

What English Speaking Country Are You?

What the fuck?

How NYC are you?

http://www.blogthings.com/hownycareyouquiz/

You Are 84% NYC

Congratulations, you are truly a New Yorker. You've seen it all, and you're more than a little cynical.

How NYC Are You?

Alright, I sort of lied on the 27 menues question. I only have 27 menues if you combine mine with my roommates'. Then we have about 35 combined.

How Californian are you?

http://www.blogthings.com/howcaliforniaareyouquiz/

My results:

You Are 4% California

You are a bogus Californian. Go back to the East Coast.

How California Are You?

Thank God.

Damn I am good

Could I be right about this being the coldest April on record? A couple weeks ago I forecasted the coldest April on record, with an average high of 49. So far, we are 7 degrees colder than average, with an average temperature of 42 (and an average high of 45). We're only 1 degree warmer than the coldest April on record, back in 1874, and there is no forecasted end in sight to the April chill. I think my forecast could actually verify.

Take that, global warming! ;)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&refer=canada&sid=aeVc8hq.DMng

Elizabeth Edwards afraid of "rabid Republican" neighbor

Have you ever had a neighbor who would protect his property with the barrel of a gun? Chances are, if you have never lived in Montana, you have not had such a neighbor. Well, there's at least one exception: John and Elizabeth Edwards. Apparently they own property next to Monty Johnson, a "rabid Republican" (according to Elizabeth) who last year took out a gun in an effort to chase away government workers investigating a right-of-way issue on his property.

"I wouldn't be nice to him, anyway," says Ms Edwards. Oh no! That would be the worst thing. I wonder what she'd make of me? For nearly two years I lived in a remote shack 15 miles outside Missoula, Montana while I was attending UM. In my heydey I had 11 guns in my house - one for each room, plus a few antique rifles on display in the foyer. If some developer wanted to build a development behind my house forcing me to allow right-of-way, frankly I'd tell him to fuck off with the flash of my sexy M40 (currently sitting with mom in Montana; can't own assult rifles in New York State). Call me a "rabid Republican" if you must, but I would merely be defending my Constitutional right to excercise jurisdiction over my own property. The entire point of the Second Amendment is to provide a means of protection of the other inalienable rights, including the right to own property (as well as the right to free speech, free association, etc). God forbid Mr Johnson use his weapon as it was intended to be used.

I also find it very funny that Ms Edwards, wife of the supposed crusador for the poor and downtrodden, has demeaned Johnson's property as "slummy." Need he remind her that he was there first? Unfortunately, he did need to remind her and he did: he has lived on the property his entire life (the Edwards moved there in 2003) and bluntly states, "I have a budget. I have to live within my means. I don't have millions of dollars to fix the place." He says he's now planning on moving out, due to exploding property values and because "I don't want to live somewhere where someone's always complaining about me." He has yet to move, however, and is currently proudly displaying his Rudy '08 signs 100 feet from Edwards' driveway.

For this, I salute you Mr Monty Johnson. You win my Great American Hero Award for April 2007. Congratulations! John Edwards blows.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/112/story/79067.html

New York International Auto Show

I love cars. I've heard that a sexy automobile triggers the same part of a man's brain as a sexy lady, and I'd believe it. So naturally I had to make a trip up to the automobile brothel... err, the NY Int'l Auto Show. It's been ages since I've been to a decent car show - they don't have any good ones out West.

I think the only bad thing about car shows are the huge amounts of white trash they attract. I've never seen so much white trash in New York in my life. Oh well, I suppose I admire the Southern obsession with cars, to an extent. A nice car is a beautiful thing.

Pics:

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/omgitsjackwtf/NY%20Intl%20Autoshow/

I love New Yorkers

I had to take care of some business up on 45th street tonight. The weather was nice and brisk, so I decided to walk rather than take the train. I overheard the following tidbits while walking there and back:

"I think he has a nice personality generally, but he has an annoying voice. I just don't think I could have sex with him."

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck."

"Damn, that is one fine piece of ass right there."

"His face just looked like a penis. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yes, but do you think you could fit his entire face into your mouth, though?"
"Shut the fuck up."

"It's a pedestrian revolution! YAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" (just sorta random - this person was not actually conversing with anyone)

"Are you fucking retarded? Why would you move to Jersey?!?!?!?!?!?!"
"Because your mom."

And people say we're rude. Pffft.

NYU voted #1 "dream school" in Princeton Review survey

For the fourth year in a row, my school (NYU) has been voted the #1 college that high school seniors would most like to attend, if admissions and cost were not obstacles. Harvard was #2 (ha HA), Stanford was third (the only non-Northeastern school in the top five), Princeton fourth, and Columbia 5th. Can I get a w00t w00t?

*insert link to Princeton Review article when I'm arsed to do so*

Darfur hawks piss me off

Today at NYU there was a reasonably sizable protest down at Washington Square. Specifically, they were protesting both America's lack of military intervention in Darfur.

On my way to class this morning they were chanting "Out of Iraq, Into Darfur." Excuse me? Talk about jumping from one shitty situation into another. For anyone who doesn't know (many Euro-liberals seem to fancy telling me that most of my fellow Americans are under the impression that the world consists solely of America and Iraq) in Darfur the Janjaweed, a militia with the support of the Sudanese government, are killing thousands of various Sudanese minority groups.

Now don't get me wrong, in an ideal world it would be great to overthrow the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed, but as Iraq SHOULD have taught us, we don't live in an ideal world. The US military is simply not equipped to successfully intervene in a foreign civil war. How hard is that to understand? Vietnam, Iraq, and now Darfur.... Idiots.

Congrats to the UK

I'm normally very skeptical of governments in general, but even I have to admit that the British government managed the Iranian hostage situation masterfully. Hell, even Bush managed to do the right things: 1) he shut up and 2) he, along with the UK, vastly increased American Naval presense in the Persian Gulf during the conflict. Shutting up was important for obvious reasons. The military buildup is what I think intimidated the Iranians into freeing the hostages.

Neither the UK nor the US had to make a single concession. The US is still holding five Iranians, the British didn't have to apologize, etc. Iran was the one making all the concessions - because they knew if they didn't they'd be blown off the face of the earth. In fact, according to Sky News (Fox News affiliate in the UK... I know, not the best source) the soldiers were spying on Iran all along, so Iran was right. LOL. Iran has been owned by the West.

Now I wonder how the war-hawks will respond. Fact is that Iran, as much as they sabre-rattle, will never go nuclear, simply because they realize that going nuclear would result in them getting blown off the earth. The threat of force is far more powerful than force itself.

By the way, it's snowing outside!!! :D :D :D Kind of heavy, too.

Marquette NWS meteorologist late for work today

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
523 AM EDT THU APR 5 2007.

DISCUSSION...UPPER AIR PATTERN CONSISTS OF A 500 MB CLOSED LOW OVER NORTHERN LAKE HURON AND THIS CLOSED 500 MB LOW SLOWLY MOVES EAST THROUGH THE PERIOD.

NOT GOING TO WRITE TOO MUCH THIS MORNING AS DO NOT HAVE TIME SINCE STARTED THE SHIFT OFF A BIT LATE AS CAR WAS STUCK COMING TO WORK ON THE ROAD COMING TO THE OFFICE. ALSO DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME TO WRITE TO GET PRODUCTS OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

:D

NYC hands out 5 million condoms in March

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-bc-ny-nyccondom0404apr04,0,4203728.story?track=rss

How many of these five million condoms are actually going to people who couldn't afford a whopping dollar (more or less) to buy a condom from the private sector? Something tells me the answer to that query would be zero. Show me one person who seriously wants to use condoms but cannot afford to buy them, and I'll eat my shoe.

It's 1am and I'm too tired to keep thinking about such a stupid idea. Need sleep....

For my favourite airline <3

I'm somewhat of a frequent flyer, making the 12 hour, $700 treck from New York to Montana a couple times a year. And since Delta is the only major airline that serves most towns in Montana, I fly with them. Here are some suitable phrases I think Delta stands for:

Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport
Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive
Don't Expect to Leave on Time, Asshole
Do Expect Large Turbulance Amounts
Departing Even Later Than Anticipated
Doesn't Everything Lead To Atlanta?
Does Every Little Thing Awfully
Don't Expect Luxurious Treatment Aboard
Do Expect Lame-ass transfers at Atlanta

More as they come to mind.

Cold air moving in - coldest April on record?

I think we have a chance of this happening. February was one of the coldest on record for the tri-state area. I believe the 2nd coldest ever for Central Park. March was also below average. We're almost certain to be well below average for April (forcasting a high of 39 on Easter, for example). Coldest on record, though? Hard to say. Right now I'll say it'll be one of the five coldest on record for NYC. In any case, I don't think we'll break 70 the entire month. Might break 60 here and there, though. Average high temp will be 49, low will be 35. On the record!

Snow flurries for Easter as well. Maybe up to an inch if we're lucky, giving us a white Valentine's Day, a white St Patrick's Day, and a white Easter. Too bad Christmas was green.

Also, where is this global warming? I've been looking for it. :(

Why does it not let me leave comments on the post below?

Does it let anyone else leave comments? Stupidly annoying. Oh well, if you can't comment on the post below but wish to, leave a comment here. *sigh*

Stupid blogger.

Now that I've returned to sanity, a tidbit on state quarters

Today the Washington State Quarter was released, marking the 42nd state quarter to be issued:

Within a handful of weeks, I can look forward to this quarter invading my wallets and my pockets. And as always, NYU's washing machines will pitch a tizzy due to the new quarter's slightly different weight. Man I hate state quarters.

But let's look at the design. A fish, a mountain, and some evergreens. Gee, I wonder what other state has those things. Let's see... Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, Alaska, and Hawaii.

You are one of the most unique states in the country, and this is what you have to show for it? I can think of tons of ideas that would make for a better Washington state quarter. How's about a portrait of Bill Gates on the coin's front, the Windows logo on the back, with the words "In DOS we trust" inscribed on the front. That would be so sweet.

Or how's about this: a picture of a delightfully delicious Venti Java Chip Frappuccino on the front, with the Starbucks logo on the back. Speaking of which, just thinking about such a thing makes me hungry. BRB, gonna go make a run to the local Starbucks and put more money into my Seattle overlords' pockets.

*runs to Starbucks*

*sees four hobos in Washington Square*

*trips over a midgit on Broadway*

*laughs at the "frozen Democrats" outside Starbucks*

*stands on line for a mere five minutes despite the fact that 20 people are ahead of me*

*recieves his Frap and stumbles back*

OK, back. And I didn't drink it all on the way back! Still have half left, in fact.

What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, I remember. I experienced the most professional servicing from a Vietnamese prostitute over in Alphabit City the other day. They grow them well in 'Nam.

Oh wait, now I remember. I was talking about state quarters, NOT Vietnamese prostitutes.

Since Washington is statistically the least religious state in America, another cool idea for its state quarter would be to change the slogan to "In God we DON'T trust." They can have the Darwin fishie with cute little legs on the front, with a map of Canada + Washington (what Canada would look like after Washington secedes to join Canada) on the back. Maybe somewhere within this map they can have a mini picture of that Lenin statue they have in Seattle, and have "In COMMIES we trust" just below it. I'd disagree with the communist tidbit, but the Darwinian front would make the scientist in me smile.

Or how's about a ratty old house with a hippy bus parked in the driveway (why is it that you park on a driveway and drive on a parkway? That question confounds me to this day). Washington is full of aging, past-their-prime hippies with ratty houses and hippy buses. On the back can be a flower with the slogan "FLOWER POWER."

*remembers that George Washington's portrait is on the front of all state quarters, so the fronts cannot legally be changed according to US Mint regulations*

*doesn't care*

You know who has the best state quarter? Indiana. Take a look:

If this quarter doesn't kick ass, I don't know what does. Nothing is more unique to Indiana than Indy racing. I mean, it's hundreds of miles of barren flatland, with a faceless who-gives-a-shit city slap bang in the middle and a gawdawful dump (Gary) in the state's North. The fact that the state was able to pinpoint the only good, unique thing about this otherwise generic fly-over state is worthy of applause. Indycar racing is wonderful for one reason: it's racing, but it's NOT Nascar. It's Nascar's main competition. It's Nascar without the Southern rednecks. It's Nascar without the suck. I live for the Indianapolis 500 (actually, I've never taken the time to watch it before, but nevermind that little technicality). Idaho, your state quarter comes out next. Take note of Indiana. If you put "famous potatoes" on your quarter, I'm going to have to prank-call some local pizzerias in protest. I could call in with a thick Southern accent and ask for grits on my pizza, and demand that anyone other than a black guy make it. That'd teach Idaho a lesson for sure.

if these ten things were women id totally bang them!!!

1. alabama - sweet home alabama yee haw!!!! i love the south. the accent is so hot. and dont get me started on those burning crosses. they make me HOT!!!!! literally and figuratively ROTFLMAOLOL southerners are the only true americans.

2. hillary clinton - omg champion of all thats right in the world. she will lead us into a one world communist revolution, just what we need. damn cappies.

3. the british empire - bring back the british empire! because ireland sucks. so does ghandi. so does america. especially that hole they call NOO YAWK LOL soon youll all be colonies again, peons.

4. macintosh - windows sux. cool people use macs. havent you ever seen the commercials? only capitalist bastards use windows. look at bill gates mister cappie bastard himself.

5. dunken donuts - because starbucks sux and is too expensive.

6. the boston red sox - YANKEES SUCKS LOL. srsly who likes them anyway? round up all yankees fans and send them back to canada. matsuzaka is the next babe ruth, youve heard it hear first.

7. intelligent design - its intelligent, nuff said LOL! no really tho i feel that evolution is a satanic conspiracy and thats what i believe and u have you respect that. in fact, what we really need is to put jesus's face on all our currency instead of those damn scientific presidents. i love you jesus.

8. car insurance rates in nyc - nice and affordable averaging 3000 per year. i definitely have that kind of money to burn. <3 payin for car insurance

9. summer weather - because snow SUX!!! what sucks more than having to take 5 extra minutes to drive into work in the morning? i dunno because that sucks harder than the libertarian party LOLROFLCRAFT!!!!

10. the government - governments in general are just so fine. especially big ones. what we need now is more patriot acts, more iraq wars, more taxes, more welfare, and especially a one world government. libertarians are so stupid.

thank you so much for reading this. i am forever indebted to your kickassness.

Jackie has a job!!!!!!!!!

Only one more month of school in my life evar!!! Starting in November, I will be working on a missile guidance project for Honeywell, a multinational aerospace company (my favourite <3) in NJ. Got the offer last Friday (although I didn't actually check my messeges to see the offer until Sunday x_x), negotiated a signing bonus and accepted today.

From now on, I will only respond to "His Majesty, Supreme Rocket Scientist Jack." Grovel, peons!

(obviously I was joking with the above comment, for those of you with no sarcasm detector)