On The Third Hand
A Proud member of the Brigade of Bellicose WomenThe liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. — Samuel Adams
| On The Third HandA Proud member of the Brigade of Bellicose WomenThe liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. — Samuel Adams |
| Old Articles by week 03 Mar - 09 Mar 24 Feb - 02 Mar 17 Feb - 23 Feb 10 Feb - 16 Feb 03 Feb - 09 Feb 27 Jan - 02 Feb 20 Jan - 26 Jan 13 Jan - 19 Jan 06 Jan - 12 Jan 30 Dec - 05 Jan 23 Dec - 29 Dec 16 Dec - 22 Dec 09 Dec - 15 Dec 02 Dec - 08 Dec 25 Nov - 01 Dec 18 Nov - 24 Nov 11 Nov - 17 Nov 04 Nov - 10 Nov My comments are my opinions. Links are my choice, but do not necessarily reflect my opinion. I often link to articles, sites and blogs with which I disagree. I try to look at all sides, but the fact that I'm human makes it impossible for me to view anything completely objectively. | Warblog ArchivesSaturday, 09 MarchMust Read [permalink]The Muslim Pundit is on a roll today. He was on one yesterday as well. Just click and scroll down. Information theory and Punditry [permalink]Beauty of Gray has a fascinating theory on the link between unpredictable signals in information and in punditry. It contains a good quick overview of information theory for those who don't know what that is. It occurs to me that his theory could be used in psyops communications (probably not what he was thinking about). I'm going to have to think about this for a while. Oh -- if you like his article and mail him to tell him so, tell him a fan of Claude Shannon sent you... Illuminating Excuses [permalink]" Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan said on Saturday the U.S. and Britain wanted arms inspectors back in Iraq to find excuses to launch a fresh attack" He also said we intend to "manufacture a crisis". I think those two comments, plus some others made recently, have a simple translation: "If we let inspectors in, they will find something." Any bookies want to put odds on whether I'm right? Something for the wish list [permalink]I think the Vodka Pundit and many other members of the Blogosphere ™, would dearly love to have this creative application of GPS technology. Cheers, everybody! Geek time [permalink]I'm revamping the site; I should be done by Monday. Whatever I do should not affect the site, as I'm doing it in all in test mode first. However, just in case I do something stupid, I just wanted you to know! Arming the population...[permalink] According to this article in the Washington Post, the Israelis are getting the right idea. According to the article "Police and Interior Ministry officials decided this week to make 60,000 more gun permits available to civilians, particularly reserve army officers and veterans of combat units. Guns also are being issued to firemen and municipal inspectors while they are on duty." If they really want to get serious they should issue permits for anyone who has served in their military. They'd be a lot safer. [Thanks to an alert reader for the heads up on this one] Bellicose Babes and Craven Columnists [permalink]A few bloggers have commented on the NY Times article, by Nicholas D. Kristof, titled 'Chicks With Guns'. Horrifying thought to some liberals, it seems. If women carry guns, rapists and muggers might (gasp) get hurt! Too bad. He also claims: "But it is pointless to try to deny the link between more handguns and increased murder and suicide." It's pretty obvious that he hasn't read this article (and the other studies it links to), which did just that. I was rather interested to see an update to an article I blogged back on January 31. Christie Caywood, organizer of Mt Holyoke's 'Second Amendment Sisters' chapter, did not then own a gun. The latest article didn't say whether or not she now owns one, but at least it seems she's been getting lots of target practice: "...there's also a stack of paper targets with holes from .22, .38 and even machine gun bullets." Good for her! Friday, 08 MarchAddictive darned things [permalink][via Damian Penny] Which Colossal Death Robot Are You? I'm in trouble.
Five metric tonnes of hulking, steam powered robo-meat, you are the pin-up boy for death robot technology. Although you are in fact a war golem, you know how to use a minigun, and you can benchpress small settlements. Relatively new to the colossal death robot scene, you were first pencilled by comic legend Joe Maduriera in 1998. Sensitive, stylish, and yet still massive, if you were female and not made of iron I would probably propose to you. I just hope this guy doesn't check his referrers! No steel in that spine [permalink]I don't consider myself a conservative, but I'll weigh in on the Steel Tariff BS plan anyway. I will just say that I no longer consider our President a conservative, compassionate or otherwise. He's getting jumped on by conservatives, libertarians, moderates, and liberals for this one. He deserves every word -- and more of the same for textile tariffs. I haven't blogged about this, because it is not my field, and there are others who have taken on steel and textile protectionism much better than I could. The anti-globalisation bunch should be backing the president's administration. They're doing exactly what that group wants. Destroying free trade. [links via Nick Denton and most of the rest of the Blogosphere™.] Alright alright. [permalink]I couldn't resist the gun test: Seems I'm a Dragunov Sniper Rifle. Khorosho... Social Security [permalink]Megan McArdle has written an excellent explanation of why privatization of Social Security is a good idea. This one is a must-read for any American. Wouldn't hurt the rest of you to read it either... Thursday, 07 MarchStephanie... [permalink]Is at it again. "Everybody is all riled up because that boring Nightline show might get taken off the air and replaced by David Letterman who might get replaced by Howard Stern. Cookie Roberts is supposed to be quitting because of it like anybody would miss her, whoever she even is." Yeah, I know he offends some, but I think she's damned funny. Wishful Thinking? [permalink]My reaction to the latest 'nuclear fusion' announcement was to roll my eyes and sigh. I was born in Missouri -- the "show me" state. It would be wonderful, if true, but I doubt it works. Beauty of Gray has a good layman's explanation, if you are interested. I'll believe it when I see it independently confirmed. Teary Eyed [permalink]From laughing. I really do like The Onion. Wednesday, 06 MarchSome dreams [permalink]Are nightmares. I hope that one never comes true, but I share that fear -- and not just for her city or just for this country. [link via the VodkaPundit] Terrible Toons [permalink]Everybody's talkinbout... that Ted Rall cartoon. The NY Times pulled it from their feed but, for some unknown reason, felt obliged to mention that he "was a 1995 winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for cartooning and 1996 Pulitzer Prize finalist." How nice. That information will surely increase respect for those two awards. Back in the good old days, I read a lot of underground comics and anti-this-and-that political cartoons. I've never seen cartoons as consistently badly-done as Rall's. He is neither funny nor clever... and if he's trying to do satire, he's failing miserably. I'm sure the next Rall editorial will mention 'censorship' and this cartoon. I doubt he knows what censorship is. Most of the rad-left and rad-right don't. Censorship is when the government forbids. If your readers say 'that's a crock', it isn't censorship, even if they get you pulled. It's simply an example of the free market in action. In short, Teddy baby, we ain't buying -- and we are letting your sponsers know that. [I think most of the blogosphere has been on this -- just thought I'd add my two cents] Blogrolling [permalink]Yes, I'm still here. I've been a bit disinclined to blog because of a combination of trying to find (and customize) a usable blogging program and a touch of the stomach flu that's been going around. Don't worry -- I won't post gratuitous gory details on the flu. I've added more blogs. The ones with asterisks are the latest additions. I've added a couple more categories too; Army Reserve is for personal journals that I like (and that do some political blogging), and the Thailand blogs are just because I can. Khun Sumida of Khaosan Road posts great pictures; since I used to live in Thailand (though not Bangkok), I like looking at them. Acerbic Press, one of the new blogs, may give Happy Fun Pundit and the Bunion a run for their money. Humor writing is much harder than it looks; I admire anyone who can do it steadily. I may have to start a 'Morale Corps' section for these guys. Akatsukami-san at Rat's Nest makes his own contribution to morale with a hot brie pasta recipe, which sounds wonderful. I'm not too sure about the claim of edible brussel sprouts, though. He writes about anything that interests him and I always find his blog a good read, especially when he says nice things about an article of mine -- I'm still blushing. [Obligatory disclosure] Both the Rat's Nest and Acerbic Press were started by members of the forum here... after they joined. Sorry guys, we didn't mean to corrupt you, honest we didn't! ;-) Sunday, 03 MarUnderstanding America [permalink]My next door neighbor is barbecuing chicken. It smells sublime. I have an urge to go ask if there's a spare piece. If I did so, I'd probably get one. It would be a bit spicy... the husband (cooking in the American tradition of who does the 'outdoor' cooking) next door is originally from Mexico. His English isn't the best, but he's an American now. My neighbor on the other side plays the most beautiful Spanish Classical guitar I've ever heard -- just sitting out on his porch picking away. He doesn't speak great English either; he's originally from Cuba. He's an American too. I went to a local flea market the other day. I needed a pair of cheap sunglasses -- and got them (I need cheap ones because I tend to sit on sunglasses.). While I was there, I decided to wander a bit. Americans like to window shop, even when we aren't buying. The market was once mostly people selling used items. It's only open Friday through Sunday. Three days. It's now rather like a mall. There are more stores selling new items than those selling used. It's still cheaper than the normal store; the various vendors only sell three days a week, but the booths are very much cheaper than a regular storefront. The entrepreneurs there will bargain -- something most 'real' stores won't do. That's American too. The market has a lot of booths selling food. I passed German, French, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and a place that sold NY-style pretzels and hotdogs. I didn't walk the whole market -- it's too big -- you can't get it in just one visit. Just like America. I checked out a booth selling hot sauces. In the slot for the very hottest sat bottles labeled "911 Revenge". Even in retail we don't forget. More Americana. I stopped by a 'used and rare' bookseller who trades with other booksellers worldwide, just to see if he'd got anything new from overseas. He had no new stuff this time, but we had a pleasant chat about some non-US authors. I suppose someone somewhere might care that he's black. I don't. He's American. I've often tried to define America to friends abroad who have never been here. "What is it like?", they ask. Good question. I've never been able to answer that. America is like everywhere else -- but not really. It's like nowhere else -- but not exactly. I'm giving up. America can't be explained. It can't be "got" by a visitor. It has to be lived in and lived with. It's a scent in the air, a shuttle-trail in the sky, a strut in the walk, a feeling in the heart, a lift of the chin and a bow of the head. It's not always good, and it's not always bad. It is what it is... but I can't describe it. I can just barely understand it. It's no wonder the rest of the world doesn't get us. Blogging blogging [permalink]
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