I was doing a little news-surfing


when this article reminded me of the funniest thing I'd heard all week.

See, I leave for work about 5:35AM and listen to talk radio (or classic rock), and the morning guy was talking to an insurance industry spokesflack.

He was telling how, and what people should do if they ever need to file a claim.
The topic of the two hurricanes came up, and this guy said, we are only interested in getting the victims the help they need.

The morning guy asked about the expected premium increase, and the spokesflack said "I haven't heard anyone even mention raising rates. It hasn't even crossed anyones mind."


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BWAAAHAAahhhaaahhaaa!

I've been tagged

And the fifth sentence (or line anyway) is:

BAD!

Ok now Here is the 23rd post that it came from.



, , , and no, I won't tag anyone else.

Every time I LOOK at a gas station the price has increased

I know, the two hurricanes did a number on the energy industry.
I was going to post on prices going up more now- a week after Rita than they did right after Kate, wich was a worse storm.

I searched for Gasoline price increase refineries, and didn't get anything up to date. I then tried gasoline price increase refinery damage and finally got this anyway.

The hurricane damage to the oil production and refinery infrastructure in the southern states bordering the Gulf of Mexico – a region responsible for a third of all the petroleum imported and processed in the U.S. – is causing a sharp spike in both gasoline and diesel fuel prices across the country.

However, there remains deep division as to whether these price hikes are a short- or long-term phenomenon.

Nobody knows how long this spike will last. The price of crude is falling, BTW- the excuse now is "the refinery damage". THAT'S why Valaro is having record profits and is offering a stock split.

“Another challenge we face is that the downed pipelines are causing the need to transport gasoline to needed markets by ship [but] under current law, shipping between American ports can only take place on American ships -- and there are currently not enough American ships to move the oil and gasoline to where it’s needed,” the President said. That requirement is being temporarily waived so foreign ships can also help distribute oil and gasoline to where it’s needed, he noted.

While the President characterized the price spikes as temporary, others fear the impact will be felt much longer.

“The devastation of Hurricane Katrina makes us painfully aware of our nation’s vulnerability to oil and gasoline supply disruptions and of the pressing need to become as energy efficient as possible to curb demand and reduce high energy prices,” said Brian Castelli, executive vp & COO of the Alliance to Save Energy, a coalition of business, government, and environmental organizations. “Deploying energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to extend our nation's energy supplies and bring down prices.”

No, Mr. Caselli- the fastest way to extend our energy supplies is to DRILL where YOU ban it, and build the refineries and pipelines that you fight against. Then we can look at Nukes, and your renuable energy.

We've got a little bit of hype over here

See, N'awlins got it'self all flooded out, and the Superdome isn't able to host any NFL games for a while.
So, San Antonio is going to try to show the NFL that it's a big enough dog to have it's own team. They volunteered to host the Saints for their home games. Yep, the San Antonio Saints.
Problem is that Paul Tagliabue pisses all over S.A. when they first asked about hosting a team. Then the Alamo City provided practice facilities for the NFL refugees.
Mr. Tagliabue sent a letter of "thanks" to San Antonio, which ticked alot of sportsfans off.

Last I heard the Saints first San Antonio home game is like 14,000 tickets shy of even beating the local blackout -and not even close to a sellout. But the NFL in all their maganimity is going to show all three games here.

If I were some kind of capitalist, I'd be trying to capitalize on this season in souvenirs. But I don't have the contacts to get something going. SIGGgghhhhh.

I hate to admit it, but Hammas and I agree on one thing

Rap sucks!

While many young Palestinians are embracing hip-hop, not everyone in the Gaza Strip sees rap as a welcome addition.

A recent rally to celebrate the end of Israeli military rule in the Gaza Strip, held amid the rubble of Israel's largest settlement, came to an abrupt end when supporters of the Islamic group Hamas stoned a young rap group on the stage.

And I have to admit that I'm kinda suprized that it took this long for the palestinians to embrace that dehumanising, voilent shouting. I mean it seems like it would be right up their alley, , , not that it's bad growing up treating woman worse than dogs, and settling any disagreement with violence and advocating crime as a way of life depending on if you're a moslem- it's just your religion, or a black ghetto dweller it's just the way you weren't taught how to act.

Help wanted-

Looking for a personal representative in an important position.

This person should be of sound morals, and remember who he's there to represent. The Ideal cadidate must be able to produce a budget and stick with it. The position involves being sure that laws are enforced equally for all, not just those who tend to slip you "bonuses".
The idea that our country must come before "politics-as-usual" will almost assure re-employment (as hard as that is for you to believe). Also for this employer, the term conservative must actually mean something besides a political tagline.

Relocation will be required, since none now in the position need apply again, I've seen what your priorities are. Thank you very much!
The location and associations leave quite a bit to be desired. The physical location uased to be a swamp. The social interactions would probably be best described as petty and vindictive, then there are your political foes...

- - - - - - - - - - -

OK, I'm getting tired of what's going on in DC.
The Republicans may just as well be Democratic lite, just like "Compassionate Conservatism"is a codeword for Liberal Lite.
I want to find someone- no alot of people- who will stand tall and say I want to do what's best for America. The ones up there now are only concerned with the next election. Period.
They've increased the size and cost of federal government in a way that would make Slick Willy, , , ummmm- well,,,, drool over a chunky chick with big hair.

It seems to me that the only thing that differentiates the Democrats and Republicans is their outlook on the war on terrorism. I can't say National defense, because our borders are wide open- and the guy in charge has no plans on doing anything about it.
Spending is out of control, with no end in sight- the leaders say there is nothing to cut.
Bush has never seen a spending plan, no- he's never seen ANY over the top law or spending plan that was worth picking up the veto pen.

PLEASE, let there be someone I can vote for to go up to DC and clean house.
I don't care what party they're from, I want a red blodded conservative that has the idea that "America- my country, right or wrong"- and means it.
Zel Miller(D) are you thinking of making a run?

Ok, it just hit me on the way home,

I didn't need to go through all the trouble and effort of making a new eye in our rope.

I bet if we unroll the winch, we can have a brand new factory-made eye, and an almost brand new rope!

Well, I got the eye made

I wanted to do it right, but didn't have close to the tools or experience to resplice an eye in 1 1/2" sinnet braided rope, with a chaffing sleeve.

I got the inner sinnet (the strong rope) about a foot up inside the standing end (the long side) and couldn't get anymore. I wormed the outer covering overwith stranded #14 wire, since I couldn't even get it started backtracking it's self.

I'd take a picture, but it looks like cr@p, and I don't need OSHA seeing it either- if you know what I mean.

I tested it on a 100cfm Ingersol-Rand Compressor and after the slack worked out it held when I jerked it around, so I guess it's safe to set light poles. I wouldn't use it for hanging 100KVA transformers anymore, though.

I wonder how much this study cost?

If you had any doubts, ya know all those chemicals they use to make new cars?
Well it turns out that they are Hazardous Chemicals.

According to a recent study, that pleasurable scent has been linked to harmful chemicals--volatile organic compound or VOC--which releases chemicals from glues, paints, and vinyl.

The smell inside the cabin of the car can trigger headaches, sore throats, and drowsiness. Japanese manufacturers have been the first to respond by reducing the chemical levels within government guidelines.

Gawd, who wouldda thunk that manufacturing chemicals might not be good for you?

Next time your significant other wants a new car, tell them "No, I'm concerned about your health."

If the Govimment wants to know where Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi is

why not ask Iowa Hawk?

As a matter of fact, he has him as a contributing writer.

Right now he's giving the lowdown on their ongoing efforts of recruiting.

Case in point: after taking in the nards in Tel Afar last week, let's just say the martyr recruiting has gone a little slow. And speaking of 'a little slow,' can we talk about this latest busload of asswipes from Damascus? Jeez, I thought the Saudis were stupid, but these Syrians take the fucking baclava. Send one of these choads on a simple martydom operation against a Bagdhad collaborator elementary school, and they're like, "Durrrr, a thousand pardons effendi, I got lost! Doyyyy, can I have a martyrdom car with OnStar?" Then you end up having to print out MapQuest directions for them, which totally chews up printer cartridges, and they end up smeared along some desert freeway because they mistook the detonator button for cruise control.

Just between us, it was almost a relief when Team Satan and their Iraqi puppets greased a couple hundred of my lovable losers last week. 'Thinning the herd,' if you know what I mean, and I suppose it probably raised our average insurgent IQ ten points. To 67, maybe.

Go have a read about the inner workings of our terrorist adversaries.

The ghost of Kingfish Louie speaks from the ruins of Katrina

I don't know if I'd call this huspah, cajonies or just plain greed.

I don't know if you've heard about the LA Congressional Delegation wanting $40,000,000.00 -Billion- to rebuild the levies of N'awlins.

That's like 10 times the annual budget of the Corps of Engineers.

And it's not just Dems with their hands out- either.

Louisiana's congressional delegation has requested $40 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, about 10 times the annual Corps budget for the entire nation, or 16 times the amount the Corps has said it would need to protect New Orleans from a Category 5 hurricane.

Louisiana Sens. David Vitter (R) and Mary Landrieu (D) tucked the request into their $250 billion Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and Economic Recovery Act, the state's opening salvo in the scramble for federal dollars.

Yep, and just to be sure the money doesn't go where it's supposed to go:

The bill, unveiled last week, would create a powerful "Pelican Commission" controlled by Louisiana residents that would decide which Corps projects to fund, and ordered the commission to consider several controversial navigation projects that have nothing to do with flood protection. The Corps section of the Louisiana bill, which was supported by the entire state delegation, was based on recommendations from a "working group" dominated by lobbyists for ports, shipping firms, energy companies and other corporate interests

That is all, you may now go throw up.

I was just over at Texas Blogs

And seeing the blogs listed in San Antonio, I understand why they keep voting for the leaders they do.

agonist
B and B
Et Cetrea, And so on
Express-News watch
Just Another Blog
Newshog
Rhetoric and Rhythm
They won't find a place on my blogroll because we're on the opposite side of the aisle- not that they're as bad as Koz, Atrios or the D.U. It's just that people like to be comfortable with those they hang with. I guess that makes me some kind of prejudiced (your Latin word here)phobe.

These two didn't do much for me.
Dagneys Rant
Rosco Ellis

And I don't golf
Texas Golf

I try not to help pay for the money wasted by the pols in S.A. or Bexar county; the Montero was bought in San Marcos, and I made sure that the house wasn't in Bexar co.

So much for the polite British reserve

We've all heard of the British "stiff upper lip" and all, ta-ta...

We also understand that when we have a problem on or near the sea, that the Coast Guard is there to help.

Apparently this British couple didn't get the hint.

LONDON (AFP) - An elderly couple stranded by the rising tide off the British coast stunned coastguards by not only refusing to be rescued, but hurling abuse at a helicopter crew who attempted to winch them to safety, officials said.

The unnamed pair were spotted being forced to shelter in a cove on cliffs after the tide came in at St Anne's Head, in Pembrokeshire, north Wales, cutting them off.

A worried passer-by telephoned the local coastguard who dispatched a lifeboat, only to be told in blunt terms that the couple wanted to "sit it out" and wait for the tide to go in again.

But with the weather becoming increasingly stormy as Thursday afternoon went on, officials decided to send a helicopter team from a Royal Air Force base in distant Devon, southwest England.

The crew sent down a winch, only to be greeted by a volley of abuse from the man, who insisted the couple wanted to be left alone.

Since Sunday's a time for religion

(at least for MY religion)
I thought I'd give you this:

Two eskimos, a big one and a little one, go to their local Alaskan convent with a question. The big one nudges the little one and says, "Go ahead, knock on the door, knock on the door."

The Mother Superior answers the door. Again, the big eskimo nudges the little one and says, "Go ahead, ask her the question, ask her the question."

The little eskimo timidly says, "May we speak with the midget nun that lives here please?"

The Mother Superior answers, "There are no midget nuns living here."

The big eskimo starts nudging the little one again and says, "Go ahead, ask her the other question, ask her the other question."

The little eskimo asks in a quavering voice, "Well, are there any midget nuns in Alaska?"

The Mother Superior responds uncertainly, "Why no, I don't believe so."

With this the big eskimo falls down and rolls on the ground, clutching his belly as he laughs uncontrollably. "See", he says to the little eskimo, "I told you you screwed a penguin!"


(And yes, I know there are no penguins in the Arctic. There are also NO Eskimos in the Atntarctic, so the little one couldn't "do the deed" in real life- it's a JOKE!!!)

I wonder what got to her?

Rhianna is on a rant about the speech she wishes "W" would give.

Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.

The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.

It gets better from there.
Sounds good to me. Maybe she's got some kind of future in politics?

I'm getting tired of not being able to upload anything here

I'm stuck with a 26K dial-up (part of the wonders of Tx country living), and am looking at satellite broadband.

It looks like a choice between Directway and Wild Blue.

It looks like Wild Blue is some kind of startup company.

WildBlue Communications is the first satellite communications company to offer a satellite Internet system utilizing newer space age technology based on KA-band satellite services. WildBlue Communications hopes to see nothing but blues skies ahead -- dotted with the company's satellites. The development-stage satellite system operator, formerly known as iSky, is targeting consumers, home offices, and small businesses in North America. It plans to use Ka-band geosynchronous satellites to deliver broadband Internet services combined with DBS (direct broadcast satellite) satellite TV services from EchoStar and DIRECTV.

It sounds like they know what they're talking about, but I'm wondering if as they just got done Beta testing- how reliable is it? SBC just put a repeater up at the top of the hill, and it's slowed down this dial-up even more, I can't even get into some sites I was able too two weeks ago.

At least I know why the installation is almost $150 less than their competitors.

Wildblue is a new Satellite Internet system that has tremendously fast upload and download speeds with a much smaller (and less expensive) dish. How can it do this? Because the Wildblue satellite Inernet system uses a faster (KA Band) frequency that traditional satellite providers (KU Band). A faster frequency means that you’re able to force more information through the same size pipe.

The downside is:

If there is a downside to Ka-band satellite internet, it is because its frequencies are so concentrated, its spectrum must be broken up into spot beams with a greatly reduced footprint. This will require Wildblue to provide additional uplink centers to accomodate additional loads that can be imposed by 2-way satellite communications.

This is where I'm kinda concerned. The way it looks is that I'm on the western side of the coverage area (for service, anyway)[I'm about under the N in Hondo]. Does the spot beam kinda fizz out at the edge, or is it a sharp cutoff? Maybe they only allow service well inside the beams coverage area?

And If I get it, I'll be paying $50/mo for broadband. Which is better than the $10/mo I'm paying ev1 for dial-up (it wasn't too bad at 56K, but this 26K is a killer).

OOPS

I guess this could be filed under "Hammas disarming itself" or "As ye sow, so shall you reap".


JERUSALEM -- A truck carrying a group of armed men and makeshift weapons exploded Friday during a Hamas rally in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 19 people and wounding more than 80, according to hospital officials and witnesses.

Hamas, formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, accused Israel of firing missiles at the vehicle from an unmanned aircraft, but witnesses said the explosion did not leave the telltale crater of a missile strike.

Palestinian security officials said they believed mishandled homemade explosives in the truck may have ignited, sending shrapnel slicing through a dense crowd of several thousand onlookers gathered in the Jabaliya refugee camp north of Gaza City.

And- yes there were casualties. As with most palestinian bombings the majority of the casualties were childeren.

And - No, I don't feel any sympathy for them. It seemes there were no "innocent" hurt, the way I understand, all palos are brainwashed from birth to hate Jews.

Just another random hurricane generated thought

Houston has about a quarter of the energy "conversion" factories in America.

anyone want to guess about how much of AlGores internet goes through there, too? I don't know, just tossing it out to y'all. I just know that my already slow dial-up was REALLY slow last night, and it's not much better this morning.

I've heard about the Rita evacuation

And everyone seems to want to credit Kate and the bad example N'awlins set.

Maybe it wasn't THAT so much -as that in Texas we have plans, and actually USE THEM instead of studiusly ignoring them.

Also it helps to have adults in charge.


(UPDATE Sept. 23 9:22)
I guess some people wouldn't agree that it went well, especially those that had people in the evacuation, or were there themselves.

Granted, alot of things need to be changed. The roads could have been reversed alot sooner- but that takes coordination from all affected jurisdictions.
As far as communications go- I don't know. Who's responsibility is it that a PRIVATE cellphone company be able to field an astrinomical increase in calls in an unpredictable timeframe? I'd hate to get the FEDS involved any more deeply than they are already.

Also, plans are just plans. You have to take some wild @ss guesses sometimes. You can't just pull a "practice" evacuation of the entire gulf coast to see how things work.

The powers that be will have an after action briefing and see what and how they can do better next time.

And I garontee you that next time what they fixed this time won't have ANY bearing on the problems that will come up during the next one.

HEY, at least the cities DID evacuate- not like a certain "special" city that I'll not mention.

And speaking of voting

Over here in Texas we have a gubernatorial election comming up in November.
If anyone's in Texas and listens to any kind of talk radio, they've been lectured by One Tough Grandma for going on a month now, already. I hear her ads about once or twice an ad break. It's getting so when I hear "And now, a conservative moment, , ," I turn off the radio or change the channel.

Well Caroll, after listening to your incessant carping about how badly Rick Perry is doing, you HAVE decided me on who to vote for!

Congratulations, it's this guy. We have buffoons up in D.C., may as well have a genuine comic in charge of Texas.

If I were a one issue voter, I would vote for this guy

Even for President!
He just introduced some needed revising of our "automatic citzen-by-birth" policy.

Yes, Rep. Tancredo (R-Co) introduced Reducing Immigration to a Genuinely Healthy Total (RIGHT) Act of 2005 (Introduced in House) HR 3700 IH

The interesting part is summed up in the Table of contents:

TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. Limitation on automatic birthright citizenship.

Sec. 202. Requirement for immigrants to provide affidavit of allegiance to the United States.

Sec. 203. Requirement of affidavit of support for employment-based immigrants.

Sec. 204. Making voting in foreign election a basis for automatic loss of citizenship.

Sec. 205. Treating illegal presence in the United States as not demonstrating good moral character.

That's right- in full Section 201 says:

SEC. 201. LIMITATION ON AUTOMATIC BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to an individual born after the date of the enactment of this Act, the individual shall not be a national or citizen at birth under section 301 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401) unless at least one of the individual's parents is, at the time of birth, a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. (bold->ME)

I don't know his voting record, but I know he's been on the right side of the illegals thing for quite a while.


H/T Digger

Sorry, you enviro-wiennies- it's NOT global warming

We all know that the environmental movement, and their Liberal enablers will(have) blambed these two gulf coast hurricanes on GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE.

Ummm, sorry guys. The head of the Nationa Hurricane Center says it's a continuation of actual weather cycles!


WASHINGTON (AFP) - The current cycle of heavy hurricanes blowing across the Atlantic Ocean probably will continue for another 10 to 20 years as a result of natural weather patterns not global warming, the head of the
National Hurricane Center told the US Congress.

"We believe this heightened period of hurricane activity will continue ... as tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic is cyclical," Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, said at a congressional hearing.

Another three to six tropical storms, which could turn into hurricanes, are expected to strike before the end of 2005, making a total of 18 to 21 for the year, Mayfield said.

He dismissed the possibility that global warming could be playing a major role in the growing number of tropical storms.

If you weren't born here could you pass this test?

I have top admit, if there were more than one answer with the number 4xx in one question, I might not have gotten 100 on THIS test.





(UPDATE Sept. 22) Mrs. Trainwreck- the Brit got 70%.

Here's something to take your mind off of what's in the gulf

OK, we have the Dems piling on Chief Justice to-be Roberts.
There is another opening on the Supreme Court.

Ok, since we couldn't even get Martin Luther King through, if he were a conservative,
Why not rerun this guy?



I mean he DID lend his name to what the Liberals are doing to ANY appointment Bush makes.


(This image is probably under copyright protection- you know where I got it)

Here's a letter I got from my SeaBee newsletter

It's mostly about what the Navy is doing in and around N'awlins and the gulf coast.
It has(in the first half) things you probably hadn't heard from the Legacy Media.



Admirals,

I made a day trip to the Gulf Coast this weekend to visit with and thank our Sailors for the extraordinary work they are doing in the recovery and relief effort. I spent time in at the Seabee base in Gulfport, NSA New Orleans and NAS/JRB New Orleans, as well as aboard HARRY S TRUMAN, BATAAN, TORTUGA and IWO JIMA.

It was at once both a grim and an incredibly uplifting experience. Some of my impressions.

First, the pictures on TV don't even begin to do justice to the scope of the devastation. I saw whole neighborhoods completely obliterated; the only evidence they ever existed at all being the faint outline of cement blocks that once formed the foundations of houses.

I saw massive casino barges in Biloxi thrown hundreds of yards inland, wooded areas so shredded they looked from the air like a spilled box of toothpicks, and much of New Orleans still a tepid, festering lake. There were very few people on the streets that weren't military or emergency workers.

Comparing it to a war zone is not at all a stretch.

Things are starting to turn around. The JTF has really taken shape, becoming more efficient and more organized every day. Communications across the region have improved dramatically. Dewatering efforts are proceeding ahead of the projected pace. And currently rescue teams are finding fewer and fewer people in need of immediate help.

The Navy's contribution to this success has been critical. I don't need to tell you that. We've been there since practically before the storm made landfall -- BATAAN chased it in weathering 12-14 foot seas and began flying SAR missions within hours of the storm's departure -- and we are still there making a difference.

Joe Kilkenny is doing a bang-up job as the JFMCC. He's got a plan, and he is executing it with great effectiveness.

The Seabees are repairing infrastructure and clearing debris at such a pace they have actually inspired local citizens to feel more optimistic about the future.

Sailors from TORTUGA are going door-to-door looking for and rescuing the house-bound.

Helicopter aircrews from TRUMAN and BATAAN are still delivering food and water and other basic necessities.

SHREVEPORT Sailors are cleaning up the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse.

In fact, just about all our ships pierside are housing and feeding and caring for people in need.

Then there's IWO JIMA, who put up POTUS overnight on Sun. Pierside at the Riverwalk, IWO has become a command center, hospital, airport, hotel and restaurant all rolled into one.

I ran into VADM Thad Allen in the p-way. Thad, as you may know, is the senior federal officer on scene, running the whole show. He said, "Mike, you should consider renaming this ship The City of New Orleans." That says it all.

I couldn't help but sneak a smile, having just given a speech up in Newport about the power of naval forces to win hearts and minds by serving as "cities at sea." I used our contributions to the international effort in the wake of last December's tsunami as my prime example in that speech. How little did I realize we'd be doing that sort of work on our own soil so soon.

It just goes to show you how very unpredictable this world really is. But, as I made sure to tell the Sailors I talked to, it also goes to show you how very flexible and adaptable naval forces really are.


If you want a picture of the future of sea basing, consider the image of BATAAN, a Mexican amphibious ship and a Dutch frigate anchored offshore sending boatloads of supplies to the beach ... or HST anchored not far off and the only things flying off her flight deck are helicopters ... or Mexican and U.S. Sailors, side by side, combing the beach and clearing debris ... or a JTF -- with significant civil and non-governmental agencies represented -- headquartered aboard a U.S. Navy ship, led by a two-star Army general reporting to a three-star admiral in the Coast Guard, who is also headquartered aboard that same ship.

Perhaps the most moving thing I did Saturday was visit with a group of ombudsmen in Gulfport.

Many of them had lost everything. They were hurting, barely getting by on their own, and yet here they were at the FFSC looking for ways to help other Navy families. You could see the desperation and the hope on their faces, hear it in their cracking voices. Tough on the heart, to be sure, and yet somehow good for it at the same time.

I was humbled just to be in the room with them. You want to talk about courage? These ladies had it to spare.

There are, we estimate, about 10,000 Sailors affected by the hurricane in some form or fashion. There may be more. I pledged to those ombudsmen our Navy's full support in getting them and the families they represent back up on their feet. We have a lot of work to do to return their lives to some sense of normalcy, but we need to make it the highest of priorities.

It is most certainly mine I can assure you. And I know I can rely on your support.

Again, truly an unforgettable day. In the face of unspeakable disaster and suffering, our Sailors have stood tall and helped provide relief to thousands. They are not alone, of course. It's a total team effort, involving city, state and other federal agencies, not to mention our sister services, allies and relief organizations. But they have accorded themselves well as part of that team and reflected nothing but the very best back on each and every one of the rest of us.

At NAS New Orleans I came across a bunch of Seabees working feverishly on the wooden platform for what was going to be a temporary dining facility. It was a contract job, but the contractor was having problems rounding up the necessary manpower and resources. The Seabees didn't ask permission, didn't wait for orders. They simply rolled up their sleeves and went to work.

"Hey, they needed help," one said. "And we know how to do this stuff."

We do, indeed, know how to do this stuff, and we are doing it exceptionally well. Standing amongst them, I was never more proud to call myself an American Sailor.



Regards,

Mike

Here are some hurricane truths from my mailbox

Things I have learned from watching the news on TV during the last eight
days:

The hurricane only hit black family's property

New Orleans was devastated and no other city was affected by the hurricane.

Mississippi is reported to have a tree blown down.

New Orleans has no white people.

The hurricane blew a limb off a tree in the yard of an Alabama resident.

When you are hungry after a hurricane steal a big screen TV.

The hurricane did 23 billion dollars in improvements to New Orleans: now the
city is welfare, looters and gang free and they are in your city.

White folks don't make good news stories.

Don't give thanks to the thousands that came to help rescue you, instead
bitch because the government hasn't given you a debit card yet.

Only black family members got separated in the hurricane rescue efforts.

Ignore warnings to evacuate and the white folks will come get you and give
you money for being stupid.

Damn, I feel so sorry for all those black folks.

The only way it could have been worse was to be white.

I don't think I've mentioned how much I hate digging at schools

We're doing electrical upgrades in some elementary schools. They have usually got brand new asphalt down, and don't even want a backhoe on it- but conduit needs to be put in.
You'd think that these college graduates would say, "Hey! they still have to dig holes, lets wait on repaving"-you'd be wrong.

I'm over at one school who had temporary classrooms where we're digging- through hard clay and buried calichie. I found a bundle(8-1" Plastic) of conduit where there wasn't supposed to be any, 2 2 1/2" PVC conduits, about 10-12 circuits (30-36 wires) of #2 direct buried wire, 3 sets of phone cables, and I broke a water line. I KNOW I'm going to cross a gas line that CPS didn't mark, and I don't know what else.

I thought I was done with school.

, , , And under the "Where were these teachers when I was in school" files

Comes another one from Diggers Realm.
I'd have bit the bullet and let these teachers have their way with me. Gotta save the rest of the class, and all- ya know.

I know it's sexist as h*ll, and I know that adults taking advantage of those younger shouldn't happen, , , but guys being guys. . .

Here's something for you wing-wipers out there







via Stranger Dangers

All right! All of you F*cking morons pull over

Get on the shoulder of the road and throw your car keys as far as you can into the tall grass. You people have no business behind the wheel of a 3,000 pound vehicle.

I don't know what the hell is going on down here in San Antonio. It's like they opened the nuthouse doors and gave all the inmates keys. In addition to a huge amount of traffic (for reasons unknown to me), it seems like vereyone is on a telephone-paying absolutely NO attention to what they're doing, OR driving in the fast lane doing 55MPH- pacing the ones in the two right lanes.

Something is going on this week. Last Sat. there were cops all over the interstate, and the dogs are starting to mark their territory. I'm starting to see more vertical surfaces marked in gang graffity even on the north (better) side of San Antonio.

HMMMmmmmm, but then again- they are letting the N'awlins people out, and they probably bought/stole alot of cars, too.

Houston, we have a problem

again.

We took the Oilers away and sent them to Tenn. where they became the Titans (and kicked @ss).
We gave Houston a brand new stadium, AND a brand new team- with a new name.

I'm watching the Steelers walking all over the Oilers Texans (like everyone else they've played) [it's 20-0 at the half].

New stadium, new team, new name- and they're STILL fielding the Oilers.

OTOH- they do have a nice logo.

I'm listening to FoxNews in the background

I haven't bothered to turn around, but it sounds like the babe-ish Kiran Chetry is doing the usual "be nice to everyone exept consrevative" MSM thing.

They're talking about N'awlins, and praising the holdouts survivors who stayed in spite of their ability to leave. Here they are, praising awed at the ability of these morons to live in 3rd world conditions by their own choice- instead of calling them a bunch of dumb-@sses.

Yes, it is Kiran.
Now it looks like we'll have to pre-position all the rescue forces in Fla, because of the way Ray Nagin fell on his ass there is a tropical depression heading toward the gulf, and we can't expect local goverments to actually PREPARE for a hurricane any more.

Is it just my computer

and 26K link that can't find Cold Fury, and hasn't been able to for almost a week?

Yet another scam warning
(It's like I'm turning into the Nat'l Enquirere)


I'd previously posted a serious warning to you wimmen about an ongoing SCAM that affected you, now it's the guys turn, , ,

"This is very serious"

Police warn all male clubbers, party-goers and unsuspecting bar regulars to be more alert and cautious when accepting a drink offer from a girl.
There is a date rape drug going around called "beer" and it appears in liquid form. The drug is being used by female sexual predators at parties to convince male victims to have sex with them. "Beer" is available virtually anywhere. All girls have to do is persuade a guy
to consume a few units of "beer" and simply ask him home for no-strings-attached sex. Men are rendered helpless against such attacks.

After several "beers" men will often succumb to performing sex acts on horrific looking women who they would never normally be attracted to.
Men often wake up after having "beer" with only hazy memories of what happened to them the night before, just a vague
feeling that something bad occurred. At other times these unfortunate men might be conned into a familiar scam known as "a relationship" - apparently men
are easier victims for this scam after the "beer" has been administered and they have already been sexually attacked.

Forward this to every male you know..........
However, if you fall victim to this insidious drug and the predatory women administering it, there are male support groups
where you can discuss the details of your shocking encounter in an open manner with a bunch of similarly-affected guys.

For your nearest support group just look up 'Bars'in the yellow pages.

Ok, Blogger won't take you to a live link

So you'll have to go to the original site of the Aggie Clock Project to see the latest technology in timekeeping.

A fairytail


A man takes the day off work and
decides to go out golfing.
He is on the second hole when he
notices a frog sitting next to
the green.

He thinks nothing of it and is
about to shoot when he
hears, Ribbit 9 Iron."

The man looks around and doesn't
see anyone. Again, he
hears, "Ribbit 9 Iron." He looks
at the frog and decides to
prove the frog wrong, puts the
club away, and grabs a 9 iron.

Boom!

He hits it 10 inches from the
cup. He is shocked. He says
to the frog, "Wow that's amazing.

You must be a lucky frog, eh?

The frog replies, "Ribbit Lucky frog."
The man decides to take the frog
with him to the next hole.

"What do you think frog?" the
man asks. "Ribbit 3 wood."

The guy takes out a 3 wood and,
Boom! Hole in one. The
man is befuddled and doesn't know
what to say. By the end
of the day, the man golfed the
best game of golf in his life and
asks the frog, "OK where to next?"
The frog replies, "Ribbit Las Vegas.


They go to Las Vegas
and the guy says, "OK frog, now
what?" The frog says, "Ribbit Roulette." Upon
approaching the roulette table, The man
asks, "What do you think I should
bet?" The frog replies, "Ribbit
$3000, black 6."

Now, this is a
million-to-one shot to win, but
after the golf game the man
figures what the heck.

Boom! Tons of cash comes sliding back across the table.

The man takes his winnings and
buys the best room in the
hotel. He sits the frog down and
says, "Frog, I don't know how to repay you.
You've won me all this money and
I am forever grateful."

The frog replies,

"Ribbit Kiss Me."
He figures why not,
since after all the frog did for
him, he deserves it. With a
kiss, the frog turns into a
gorgeous 15-year-old girl.

"And that,
your honor, is how the girl
ended up in my room. So help me God
or my name is not William Jefferson Clinton."

Some of y'all seemed not aware of what a dangle-digger was
It's also called a boom-digger




It has a boom height of 45" and a lift rating of around 4,000 pounds.


I'll be riding this tommorrow. . .

It's a power digger
I'll be watching a 24" auger bit grind through 4' of rock- should get about 6 holes done in 8 hours- if I'm lucky.

Well, I guess that hazardous soup wasn't as bad as we were told

If it were anywhere near as bad as untreated sewage, gasoline,all the higher hydrocarbons from the refineries, the chemicals from the docks, etc. that we heard was in the water- and the EPA cared; N'awlins would have had to at least hose down before anyone came back.

But the way I understand, the EPA isn't saying a thing about anything that went on in the Big Easy. If it were St. Bernards Parish (mostly white) that got that water- people wouldn't be able to use it for years.
BUT N'awlins is 'special' it's pumped dry and ready to reoccupy. No decontamination mentioned.

George Bush must REALLY hate blacks. Think of all the hazards he is willing to visit on those people.

(we won't mention the Mayor, or the Governess who might make some kind of a mention of the poison- if they actually CARED about those people.) I wonder who will stand up for them. Jesse? Al Sharpton? Calypso Louie?

Awww h*ll, they're just black democratic votes- not like we actually ought to CARE about them, right?

Sorry, suffering from TMI
or too little- actually.

We somehow had a sinnet rope eye on the 'dangle digger'go south on us the other day.
I *KNOW* there is a way to splice it, but can't remember how- I've used them (the repaired ropes)before.

The way I remember them doing it was to unbraid the rope and collect the strands into six parts.
Six stiff wires are threaded through the bight to the end, the yarns are attached to the wires and pulled back and made (tied) into three pairs.

What I can't remember is *HOW* they replaced the chafing (protective woven) cover. If it was pulled through, too- or sewn to the bight of the other?

None of the internet is much of a help. I either get the boy scout knot sub-web or referred to
Ashley's Book of Knots, Thanks, have it, looked there first; they didn't have factory made chafing sheaths on their ropes back then.

Well, I'm finally home

Looks like TxD.O.T. has some kind of union safety B.S. working.

They have I-10 west at the I-37 interchange closed down from 4 lanes to one.
They're doing roadwork.
Want to know why FOUR driving lanes and an acceleration lane are choked down to one lane?

Go ahead, ask!

Hey Kurt, why does TxDOT have THREE QUARTERS of the driving suface closed off?

Because they're working on the F*cking GUARDRAILS on the right shoulder!

What strange dogs

I'm sitting here blog-surfing and eating in-the-shell peanuts.
The dogs want some (of course).

The Black one shells hers-REALLY, but the white one eats his whole.

Just updating my blogroll

I'm adding- in no particular order (except that it's how I found them):

A Texan abroad, she's in France, so she needs your condolences.

Lobo Walk

Say Anything

Six MeatBuffet

Utterly Boring

As with anyone generally, I feel comfortable with those of like mind. Y'all know which side I fall down on, so you know what is probably in store if you click on them.

That is all.

Have a good night and let your significant other know you care for them.

Alright, I'm trying to stay away from Katie,

BUT,

You read something and you start wondering, , ,

By Peter Grier | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

WASHINGTON – Rhode Island has more than 100 evacuees in Navy housing. Ohio has 20 in Red Cross shelters, plus almost 2,000 staying with relatives or friends. California has 807 families in hotels, while Massachusetts is putting up some 200 individuals at an old military base on Cape Cod.

States on the edge of the devastated area have larger numbers, of course, with 50,000 in Arkansas and 200,000 in Texan shelters and homes.


Two weeks after it blew through the US Gulf Coast, it's clear that hurricane Katrina has resulted in the largest displacement of Americans in 150 years - if not the largest ever. The scale is monumental. It's as if the entire Dust Bowl migration occurred in 14 days, or the dislocations caused by the Civil War took place on fast-forward.

Many evacuees are putting down roots in new areas and say they'll never return. Others face months of a temporary existence before they can go home. Whatever they do, the nation may never be the same, as a smaller New Orleans rises up from its ruins, and bits of Creole culture are seeded from East coast to West.

What will these people turn into? How will they be remembered 50 years from now?
We have the "Okies"- hard working poor folks displaced by the Dust Bowl
We have the "Carpet Baggers"thievess who came to scam the southerners after the Civil War
We have the "Pikers"- with their questionable ethics spreading throughout the west after the Civil War
We have the "Chinee"- who built the western part of the continental Railroad under virtual slave conditions.

So given the fact that most of the population of N'awlens was brought up on graft, corruption and kick-backs- just to get a good job(if they worked)- how are they going to have us remember them by?
What are we going to call out next , , , ummmm, , , historical blip?

Reporting to you for England

I got off the phone with father-in-law Trainwreck. Over in the UK they're not exactly sure how widespread the Katy damage is. I told him the physical damage was probably as large or larger than the entire UK. The death toll isn't what it was guestimated to be, but we won't know for a while.

Their take on it is that the state and local govt' fell on it's @ss and FEMA is doing what it's normally done. They can't understand why we're not putting as much resources into recovering bodies as we are saving lives, though. I told him it's a matter of priorities, save the living first- then worry about the dead.

Even our government is kinda stretched thin because of the size of the problem. He tries to understand, and even though he's been here still has trouble realizing just how BIG America is.

This just in. . .

From Garfield Ridge

Via CNN where else?
That ALGore has airlifted 2 planeloads of refugees from N'awlines.

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- Al Gore helped airlift some 270 Katrina evacuees on two private charters from New Orleans, acting at the urging of a doctor who saved the life of the former vice president's son.

Gore criticized the Bush administration's slow response to Katrina in a speech Friday in San Francisco, but refused to be interviewed about the mercy missions he financed and flew on September 3 and 4.

However, Dr. Anderson Spickard, who is Gore's personal physician and accompanied him on the flights, said: "Gore told me he wanted to do this because like all of us he wanted to seize the opportunity to do what one guy can do, given the assets that he has."

An account of the flights was posted this week on a Democratic Party Web page (AHEMMM ->me)

-snip-
"The situation was dire and becoming worse by the minute -- food and water running out, no power, 4 feet of water surrounding the hospital and ... corpses outside," Simon wrote.

Gore responded immediately, telephoning Kline and agreeing to underwrite the $50,000 each for the two flights,

-snip-
Most critically, Gore worked to cut through government red tape, personally calling Gov. Phil Bredesen to get Tennessee's support and U.S. Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta to secure landing rights in New Orleans.

I'm kinda curious here, was sombody hearding these corpses around so that in a city the size of San Antonio, everyone had to wade around less than 300 152 of them?
I thought that everything was under water, How can airliners land in standing water? AND political(D) favoritism is still alive and well when it comes to the Big Easy- I see.
Also, I'm not surprised, it being CNN and all, that NO mention was made that a DEMOCRATIC governess refused to let the Red Cross distribute needed supplies.

HEY Grandpa!


What's for supper?







Well, I just took the brisket out that was thinking about it's rub all night long. . .



Wrapped it nice and good, stuck it in the oven, and it'll be done at around 4PM with Cottage fries and Succotash.




(UPDATE 4:10PM)


It's done!

Indeed?

According to Dean Esmay I could put down some kind of College degree I never earned, since nobody checks out a resume anyway. Stupid me, I never thought that I could get away with something like that. I always thought that "hey, there are records they can check- they'll know I'm lying".

I guess not. Maybe my next resume update will include a VoTech degree, and I can build on that!
Pretty soon I can be the next Ward Churchill- except that I don't clam a bogus Indian heritage (guess that goes along with the non-check on the education), and I'm not a flaming anti-American hatemonger.

I dunno, if I overstuff pad my resume, and get into the kind of company I want- they WOULD check, not like say the US Govt', Baush and Lomb, Veritas software or some other fly-by-night company who just assumes that what you put down, you have.
Sure I padded my resume, if you don't your cutting yourself out of some good jobs; besides most employers KNOW you expanded on your experience or education a little- that's a given.

What I find so surprising is that nobody even makes a call to the college and asks "Hey, we have this guy person that says he graduated from y'all- can you find any records on him? Thanks, there's a $2000 debit card thank-you in the mail for your trouble."
I can lie all over my resume (for a high profile job) and I'd get less scrutiny than I do running a $120,000 power auger.

From the mailbox

I just couldn't resist sharing this one:


There's always one.
This has got to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired.
This is a true story from the Word Perfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say
the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the Word Perfect organization for "Termination without Cause". Actual dialogue of a
former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations!):

Operator: "Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?"
Caller: "Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect."
Operator: "What sort of trouble??"
Caller: "Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away."
Operator: "Went away?"
Caller: "They disappeared."
Operator: "Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?"
Caller: "Nothing."
Operator: "Nothing??"
Caller: "It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type."
Operator: "Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??"
Caller: "How do I tell?"
Operator: "Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??"
Caller: "What's a sea-prompt?"
Operator: "Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?"
Caller: "There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type."
Operator: "Does your monitor have a power indicator??"
Caller: "What's a monitor?"
Operator: "It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??"
Caller: "I don't know."
Operator: "Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??"
Caller: "Yes, I think so."
Operator: "Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: "Yes, it is."
Operator: "When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??"
Caller: "No."
Operator: "Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable."
Caller: "Okay, here it is."
Operator: "Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer."
Caller: "I can't reach."
Operator: "Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??"
Caller: "No."
Operator: "Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over??"
Caller: "Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark."
Operator: "Dark??"
Caller: "Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window."
Operator: "Well, turn on the office light then."
Caller: "I can't."
Operator: "No? Why not??"
Caller: "Because there's a power failure."
Operator: "A power... A power failure? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??"
Caller: "Well, yes, I keep them in the closet."
Operator: "Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from."
Caller: "Really? Is it that bad?"
Operator: "Yes, I'm afraid it is."
Caller: "Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??"
Operator: "Tell them you're too f*%king stupid to own a computer."

Ok, I don't know were to go with this Hydrogen powered bike

I saw this bike in my LAST Popular Mechanics (I moved in April, and this is the first one I've seen since, AND they made sure it was in it's special cover letting me know that I wasn't going to get another) and I wanted to know a little more, so I "YAHOO'D" it (I'm not a Lib, so I don't google any more than I have to).

I searched for ENV Hydrogen power and found a page about it.

Like I said, I'm not sure which way to go. If you don't know about Hydrogen supplies, it sounds pretty good:

Fuel Cell Technology Facts

* Fuel cells provide point of consumption power generation, removing the costs and power losses associated with the transmission and distribution of electricity.
* Fuel cells can be built incrementally to match demand and are equally efficient at both small and larger scale.
* Fuel cells have higher energy conversion efficiencies than most other technologies: 45-55% of energy converted to electricity.
* Fuel cells are capable of generating heat as well as power: in this combined heat and power mode (CHP mode), energy conversion efficiencies exceed 90%.
* Fuel cells have dynamic load-following characteristics and can be built modularly for added reliability. They have none of the intermittency issues affecting wind and solar technologies.
* Fuel cells are easy to maintain as they have no moving parts.
* Fuel cells produce zero emissions if hydrogen is used as a feedstock, and significantly reduced emissions if hydrogen is produced from reformation of hydrocarbon feedstocks.
* Fuel cells are modular. Effectively, you can keep adding to the sandwich up to an optimal configuration. At this point other stacks can simply be bolted on – and on and on! A fuel cell the size of a toaster could power a typical domestic UK home.
* The USA wants to see hydrogen fuel cell cars on US roads by 2015 and has pledged to spend more than $1.5 bn (£900m) over five years to help develop the technology.

And scientifically it is probably a good idea, BUT if you know how you get the hydrogen you look at several other points.

1. Hydrogen is dangerous- more dangerous than natural gas. Does the name Hindenburg ring a bell? ( OK, now that I have the MSM required scare the chit-out-of-you done) There really isn't ALL that much there, so I can't see much of a problem.
2. The thing is, that Hydrogen power sounds kinda like "Free energy"- if you don't know where it comes from. (I'm not sure I NEED to go into this, since if you're reading this on a computer you should know your basic science. BUT) You get Hydrogen from water! Yes, it's the "H" in H2O. To separatete the "H" from the "O" you simply boil it with electricity! WOW, the wonders of science. The problem comes with the next point.
3. The cost of producing Hydrogen. On a large scale it could be cost prohibitiveve, since it takes more energy to split the water moleculeses than it (the fuel cell) can produce. It also makes your electric meter spin like a top.
4. Range. From the article, it seems limited- like the battery powered vehicles. 100 Mi. at 5oMPH? Tim Taylors lawn mower could beat that.

So, Like I said- how do we want to play this?

(UPDATE 2:53PM) AS Aelfheld reminded me- Yahoo is responsible for assisting the Chicoms to send a reporter to prison.

Guess my new search engine will be Ask Jeeves.

I guess BusHitler Chimpy McHalburton is just as inept as his critics say

I mean wasn't the delay in helpin NO, just the excuse he was using to KILL black folk?
That's what you'd believe if you really listened to the left. Seems the massive body count isn't going to be as bad as predicted.

Bush is soooo inept that he can't even give the LEFT their massive dead bodies.

Hey, lets not vote for him next time!




(Yes, I KNOW he's not eligable again, just play along. maybe they't shut up.)

Man, I've got to keep better track of my hours

I thought I was almost close to 40 hours last week. Turns out I had 16 hours O.T.

Also, that $3.00/gal gas has dropped to between $2.80 and $2.70/gal. Now all those morons who couldn't afford gas are on the roads again- and all heading west. I can't remember the last time I saw I-10 west so busy.


I'll note that as gas prices are dropping, they're not dropping as fast as they went up.
I also remember that at this time last year I was paying $1.35/ gal. which is STILL less than half of the best price you can find today.

Well, it happened on "W"s watch

I can't find it on the web- yet, but we're being invaded by the Mexican army today.
They're pre-running their invasion rout bringing needed relief supplies to San Antonio.




more later- I'm running late

(UPDATE 9:20PM ) Looks like they're heading up to the Big D.
They have their flag flying and water purification machinery for the refugees- since ya know OUR water isn't fit to drink.

Sorry, I just can't take this PC B.S. about letting the MEXICAN Army in here for a "humanitarian" mission. I'm sure there serious (in a way), but O just can't take this thing seriously.

The Mexican Army.
I didn't know there was enough of their people affected that Bush would need allow them to supplement more of our tax dollars.

The Mexican Army.
And they didn't even stop to savor their LAST military victory in San Antonio.

The Mexican Army.
When will Mexico City start paying the freight on their citizens up here, you know instead of hurricane relief some TAXPAYER relief?

Who says we never got anything good from Canada?

I'm watching reruns of Tripping the Rift now.

Is it me or did they intentionally make "Six" look like a young Raquel Welch? And the time delay,,,, ummm sway is eye grabbing even for animation.

More joblogging I'm afraid

Ok, is it job-blogging, joblogging or job blogging? Not sure if there's a consensus yet.

So far I've got 15 hours of overtime this week. We're working on the west side of S.A. so the boss let me take the haul truck home. Works for me, saves me an hour drive each way and saves about 6 gallons of gas. I dropped my tailgate and been driving around 65 MPH. I filled up today and a quick division job gave me 20MPG, about a 3MPG change fopr the better.
I'll still be glad when I can afford to get my 17 at 75MPH.


How. . . ODD, I was going to make a comment about my High Voltage direct buried cable NOT turning out to be Water Moccasins- BUT I keep getting a code 403 access denied over at Mostly Cajun

(UPDATE )- Aaaaiiiiieeeeeee dat coonass done got hisself fixed, he be right whar he done been at all along.

Ok, since we have so many here, I'm trying to get the thang about that coonass talk don ya KNOW!?

OH Man!






Ya leave your seat for ONE second to get a beer and look what happens.

Good-bye little buddy

Gilligan is no longer a castaway.

I wonder how BusHitler is going to explain killing a lake?

I just got back a little while ago and haven't had alot of time to look, but isn't N'awlins being pumped dry into lake Ponchitran?
I was listening to my new morning radio station KLUP 930AM, since I'm tired of the armchair Quarterbacking from the other talk stations.

Bill Bennett had a caller in the field of environmental remediation explaining the toxicity of the water in N'awlins. Basically it would be classified as a "Superfund Site"- if anyone remembers those. They're pumping that chemical and biological soup into an EPA protected lake
(it's not that they have much of a choice between swamps or the Mississippi)., and the EPA will be going apesh*t later.

Someone will have to answer for it. Anyone want to guess who'll be the target?

He(the caller) also said that everything the water touched will have to be treated like it was hazardous waste- boards, bricks, glass, rocks, etc, , ,

Given this thought, and the fact that the Big Easy is sinking between 1/2 and 3 inches per year- the question is "Why -aside from sentiment- should N'awlins be rebuilt in the same place?"
There will have to be some city there because of the river traffic. The city should be built on a less exposed area.


Tell the people who'll be getting FEMA money to rebuild that if you go to Neo New Oreans, they'll get an extra "something" the ones that rebuild on the old site get current value and a certified letter saying they forgo any further government money NEXT time they're flooded out.

Just a little push for some on my blogroll

I hate to do it, but if some of y'all don't start posting, I'll be making room on my blogroll for someone with new material.

A productive Labor Day

I worked through lunch and still only got out at 3:30- so it's an 8 1/2 hour day.
I got 6 holes drilled, because I finally remembered the right way to drill in rock. You have to back-up into the hole so you can use the entire weight of the truck and auger.

I ran into some f*cked-up fragmented rock in my second hole. Broke a lot of the rock teeth, ground down the other ones and wore a good size gouge in my pilot bit.
I'm down to less than a quarter of a box of rock teeth now.
I can weld the gouges and re-hardface the bit flutes, but it's been so long- I can't remember what kind of rods to tell my boss to get. I know 6011 rods are too soft, so it looks like I'll have to ask the welding supply store.

The joys of playing in the dirt.

Jenni brought some friends back from the shelter today

I Assume that our DFW guests are at the Convention Center and at Reunion Arena.
She and Barry went down to see what they could do.

We started at Reunion Arena where the Salvation Army had finally cut off donations because there was such a volume of stuff. After quickly realizing there were plenty of volunteers there, we headed over to the convention center.

As soon as we walked up to the volunteer entrance Barry was immediately ushered inside and I was made to wait in line. We had our cell phones on us so we knew we could keep track of each other and it was all good. As it turned out, they were getting ready to organize the showers and they needed men to help out with the male showers. They had portable showers set up outside the arena for the men and the volunteer guys were helping everyone get in and out of there and assisting however they were needed. Once they let the girls in, I helped fold towels and get everything set up for the women to shower. The women's showers were on the second floor of the arena. By the time the women started getting up there to shower, there were so many volunteers up there that I decided to head back downstairs to see how else I could help.

She also gives a wonderful haircare tip. Isn't she wonderful, volunteers all day and gives fashion tips at night.

Happy Labor Day!

I'm off to labor for about 8 hours.
Gotta do what I can to keep Valero's profit margins up, ya know.

This item does NOT come from Scrappelface


Really!

I know how you'd think it would, , ,


EFFORTS by Hollywood actor Sean Penn to aid New Orleans victims stranded by Hurricane Katrina foundered badly overnight, when the boat he was piloting to launch a rescue attempt sprang a leak.

Mr Penn had planned to rescue children waylaid by Katrina's flood waters, but apparently forgot to plug a hole in the bottom of the vessel, which began taking water within seconds of its launch.

The actor, known for his political activism, was seen wearing what appeared to be a white flak jacket and frantically bailing water out of the sinking vessel with a red plastic cup.

When the boat's motor failed to start, those aboard were forced to use paddles to propel themselves down the flooded New Orleans street.

But it actually comes from The Herald Sun, a real newspaper.

Jenni has an update on Katrina relief up in DFW

She wanted to help and ended up at one of the shelters on DFW.
She lets you know what's going on in one of the shelters up there.


After talking to my friend about her experiences volunteering yesterday, I was determined to head down there last night. All the stress energy in my body had to have an outlet and helping was the only thing I could think to do. I once again got B situated and headed downtown to try to help out. I got down to Reunion Arena only to be told that they "closed" at 9. Um, okay, whatever that means. I later found out that they actually locked up the arena at night so the volunteers were heading home. I was referred to the convention center because it has the overflow housing. So I headed that way and found a completely disorganized and chaotic volunteer operation. I quickly made friends with another stong person and we jumped in with both feet and started trying to help out. It was getting to be bedtime, so we helped carry the smelliest stankiest stuff I've ever smelled back with the people to the cot area. (I tell you right now with all sincerity that is the absolute worst smell I've ever smelled in my life. Take a street wino and mutiply it by 20, no kidding.) Then we found out that they were out of blankets and bedding so we asked if some couldn't be brought over from Reunion Arena. People had been dropping stuff off all day long and there were literally mounds of things like clothes, shoes, baby stuff, bottled water, food. Anyway, no one had the number to the people over there and blah blah blah so my new friend Chris and I went over there to see if there was bedding. After we figured out where the bedding lived, we saw there was quite a bit there and we should get it back over to the convention center.

You're a good hearted woman Jenni, keep up the good work.



And as an aside to J Ma: I didn't respond to one of your commentators injecting her liberal anti-Bush kant into your blog because it's your blog, and you try to keep politics out. I respect that, and being as I'm not a Lib- I don't feel it's my right to inflict my opinions where they're not asked for.

OH?!?

This is the first I've heard about this.

I'm sure we'll be seeing what Kuwait did splashed all over the MSM.
IF they can get away from the lawlessness in N'awlins.

Now, something on the lighter side



Al, Bill & Hill go to Heaven



God addresses Al first. "Al, what do you believe in?"

Al replies, "Well, I believe I won that election, but that it was your will that I did not serve. And I've come to understand that now."
God thinks for a second and says, "Okay, very good. Come and sit at my left."


God then addresses Bill. "Bill, what do you believe in?"

Bill replies, "I believe in forgiveness. I've sinned, but I've never held a grudge
against my fellow man, and I hope no grudges are held against me."
God thinks for a second and says, "You are forgiven, my son. Come and sit at my right."


God then addresses Hillary. "Hillary, what do you believe in?"

"I believe you're in my chair."

Houston, you may have a problem


I was watching my 24" auger bit try to grind itself through 4 feet of rock yesterday, and my mind started to pop up with things about these evacuees. Your mind wanders alot when it takes about 3 hours to make a 4 foot deep hole.

Last I heard, Texas was looking at around 250,000 residents of LA. I know Houston, San Antonio and DFW are looking at somewhere around 100,000 combined, mostly from N'awlins.

I know the neighborhoods of the Astrodome and KellyUSA- which is the first part of the problems. They are both on the seedier part of town, I don't know where DFW is putting them, but I doubt they'll be in a rich area.

• I can see ALOT of gang violence and crime as the locals and the new ones determine their pecking order.
• What about schools? That's ALOT of kids to farm around even for big cities like they are. OK, Texas isn't the top of the list for education cred, but I'm sure there will be quite a few new students repeating a grade when the teachers find out how, , , , , limited their learning is. The upper classes will be graduating from Texas schools, that's football, B.ball, cheerleading, band etc- and nobody brought or can afford to buy what they need.
• Cars? Sooner or later they'll(adults) be wanting to be able to go places on their own. They'll be getting vehicles, and when demand increases, so do prices, parts and accessories, too- Mother's, ya hear that?
• Jobs? Most of the displaced are actually working class people who will be looking for a job to help get themselves back on their feet as soon as they can- good on them! The problem is that they aren't from the most prosperous state, and would most likely be willing to take what is offered- paywise. This could bring them into conflict with another group of
  wage anchors will work for pretty much anything.
• Who are these people, actually? Are they really who they say they are? Alot of them could use this event to get a new identity, forget old obligations and criminal records. NO, I'm not saying the majority- but some will, it's human nature.
• The tremendous increase in demands on social services from health to crisis intervention, child care, basic necessities.
• Housing. Most of the normal and honest people will want to get out of the human warehouses as soon as they can, what will that do to the housing/ rental market?

There are plenty of others that I thought of and forgot, I've slept since then.

I hope someone in charge is thinking about this, and not going to be surprised when the inevitable happens. But seeing some of the response from various Govt' branches, I'm not getting my hopes up.
Oh, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and the rest of the self appointed "Black Leadership", you need to step up and tell YOUR people (since 65% of LA N'awlins is black) to start acting like civilized adults.

Man, am I glad I'm not driving on I-35 today

I said in an earlier post that people seemed to be saving gas and driving a little better. Well today they made up for everything they didn't do this week.

I was coming back to park the auger truck, and saw I-35 southbound at a standstill. I got finished and locked the gate and I-35 North was at a standstill.

I went to get some overpriced gas and saw the two right lanes and an exit ramp blocked by someone who just refused to believe that two solid objects could not occupy the same space at the same time. I'm not sure what happened on I-35S, but I saw alot of flashing lights before I headed down to I-10.

I-10 goes through South San Antonio, and I guess the folks can't afford the gas like the more affluent on the north side, there was alot less traffic- and better mannered again.

I hope everyone will be enjoying their Labor Day.

I have to admit that there is a bright side to overpriced gas

I'm on my way to work again today, and in a way I look forward to the drive.
Since the tremendous price increase this last week, the roads have (pretty much)lost their moronic drivers.
I don't know if the price is forcing them to drive more responsibly, or they just can't afford to get in my way. I've decreased my speed- spending alot of time in the right hand lanes, and do to the decreased traffic problems spend about the same time in transit- about 45 min each way.

Being the evil, selfish, mean spirited conservative that I am; if I could afford it, I wouldn't mind gas staying up there. But I can't afford it and neither can most others, and so I look forward to it coming down as soon as possible.