This is the Edge. You've gone over me.

There has been a breakthrough in quantum teleportation.
Worth a read, even if just for the possibilities.

Commenting on Brexit, one of the people involved referred to Brexit as a Schroedinger situation, where people want to leave and stay at the same time. You don't hear this from US politicians.

What is wrong with the UK?
They just passed stringent censorship laws to make things 'safe' online.
Where are the free speech advocates?
I won't be surprised if some sites refuse to exist in the UK. This is what happened when GDPR hit: you'd see notices about the site not being available in those countries.



RIP

Ric Ocasek, singer from The Cars. (75)
Not a fan, but still...
Eliot Easton, however.....




Dear lefty

• How many republicans does it take to change a light bulb?
• None. Nothing will get done and they'll blame the democrats.
• feel free to switch the parties around

I learned something today: right after Roe v Wade, a congressman introduced a bill to exempt medical personnel from performing abortions if it violated their religion or morals. It passed.  There is a suit pending from a nurse, 'forced' to assist in an abortion. Well, she had the right to walk out, but felt she would make too much of a big deal if she didn't, so she's suing. I guess one of the great things about our system is that anyone can sue anyone for anything (except if excepted by Congress). Prediction: she will win the suit, but damages will be limited because she didn't walk out when she had the chance.

• It's late. Things are quiet. I can hear myself think. 
• I preferred when it was early, loud, and I couldn't hear myself think.

For a guy who has always loved technology, and taking it apart, I sure hate technology. Turns out it's not just me.

I needed to have a conference with 2 family members... no problem... most phones allow you to do this. Not that the phones make it easy... I had to look it up because things don't come with manuals anymore. It's pretty easy to do (after reading how). Like most things, it wasn't obvious and the controls don't appear onscreen until you're in a call.

One ringy dingy, two ringy dingy... Party 2 answers. I call Party 3, who naturally doesn't answer. He calls back and I hit the Magic Merge Button, which hooks us all up. Well, sorta. Party 3 was popping in and out and sounded like he was inside a mariachi band. This is fine if you like Mariachi, but not so much if you like being able to talk. Technology Fail.

Party 2 uses a service where people can call in and be connected. So I do, and for some reason, it worked. My surprise was short-lived, when it simply disconnected. Upon reconnecting, Party 2 said he had to set the call up five times before we could connect (and get disconnected). Party 3 called in and we finally had a chat, because the Mariachi band was on break. When they came back, it kept breaking through the silence on his end. The Mariachi actually spoke more than he did, which was annoying (even if you like Mariachi). His phone connection was absolute crap too.

C'mon, people... it's 2019. Why are we still having so much trouble with ($&@ing cell phones? I joke that it's new technology and they need another 25 years to work out the bugs, but this is really sad. We also pay an absolutely ridiculous amount of money for this 'quality' coverage, compared to other countries.

Whoever said advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic was right. And needs to be shot.




Meanwhile, at my job, I got up and walked to someone else's desk to say hello. I regret that I have no pictures to post. On the positive side, you don't have to look at me (or my pictures). My coworkers all look like Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell. And Oprah, during the 'large years.'

• Opinion: US can slash healthcare costs 75% - interesting.

In my search for news, I spent a few minutes on Fox.
I watched Lindsay Graham go on about how the dems hate Trump. He scapegoated them for everything. Then he did a brief Warhawk speech on how al Queda and Taleban are threatening our security in Afghanistan.

Graham slipped and told two truths: the dems have Trump Derangement Syndrome and the Warhawks are even worse than anyone imagined.

We didn't get where we are because of one party: It's all a choreographed dance. They are at war.. with US.





Horrors Near Home

The picky niece has a new boyfriend. Good for her, she's tough.
He's black, she's white.
This isn't an issue for anyone except the grandfather, Sergeant Hitler. The patriarch has a bit of a racist streak, amongst others.
To everyone's shock and surprise, the Sergeant really liked the guy. Relief fell upon the masses.  [This is what's called a setup.] Here's a list of stuff we are trying to avoid saying when meeting the boyfriend:

1. So you're the black guy...
2. Niece - Is it true?
3. Hey, we brought a case of grape soda.
4. Are there black Jewish girls?
5. Don't mind him - that's a dunce cap. Really.

• Why do I like Ron Paul? I wind up agreeing with most of what he says.

So I'm sitting there, computing Important Things, then get up to get a soda. When I come back, there's a piece of donut by the computer. I am absolutely sure it was not there when I left. The dog is asleep on the couch. So how did the donut appear? I heard no noise.

Either the donut spontaneously appeared or the dog is a little sneakier than I thought. Hey- where is the dog getting donuts and why isn't she eating them?

• No thanks, I'd rather be Trump's social media manager.

Feel-Good Story of the Week

There's store video of some thug going into a Philly cell phone store and pulling out his gun. The counter guy pulls out his legal concealed gun and shoots the guy. No charges filed (at present).

• Johnson and Johnson has been fined for misleading marketing of opioids in Oklahoma. Johnson and Johnson is reeling from the historic $475 million fine. They claim assault over this most severe wrist-slapping.
• Shuddering from thoughts of a drop in profits, the other pharmaceutical corporations are seeking a cap on damages. No one capped their sales...

Yeah, I tend to miss Popular Stuff. I didn't know Christina Aguilara is a Disney alumnus. Now we have to wonder how long til her inevitable breakdown and what it will look like. Shaving heads has been done, as has drugs, something that looks like multiple personalities, 'outrageous' behavior, being largely nude in public, and countless other stunts.



Heroes of the Stupid

After finding that some people fall for satire online, researchers at Ohio State University are advocating for the flagging of satirical articles so that people do not get confused. They claim falling for satire articles is a "problem for democracy."    Sick society.


Man fights off subway attacker in wild video as bystanders get out their cameras and record. No one helped.





SJW Strikes

[twitter]
"It's official, we have a 4 year old daughter! Waylon is now Willow. Took a LOT of paperwork to make the gender transition.    Child Abuse 101


FB bans Irish girl's account after saying her name is a racial slur.


A college professor was 'retired' from his job for things like social media posts about hitting the president with a baseball bat. This is unprecedented (being fired, not threatening harm to the president).

Condoms in the Workplace

Did you know the web was largely text-only at the beginning? From the command line, you fired up Lynx, a text browser. If there were images in the page, all you saw was [image]. It has been suggested we go back to lynx, if only for reducing the load on our computers. 

In case you're curious, email was handled by programs like elm and pine, also from the command line. No email programs on your computer. No html. No emojis. No wallpaper, no pictures, no viruses.... All monitors were black and white (or green or yellowish). You couldn't see a picture no matter how desperate you were. I would go back to this email in a second, It's still available.


Magecart hackers infect 17,000 sites through misconfigured Amazon S3 buckets.   This is THE CLOUD, people. It's bad enough you don't keep your data in-house, but sending it to THE CLOUD without correctly configuring the highway is pure idiocy. And this is the latest and greatest hack - you just scan for open buckets and hack away.


The City Mayors' Association has voted not to pay any more ransoms when they get infected with ransomware.

That's nice.

The City Mayors' Association hasn't voted on backing up their networks, patching the machines, and training the employees not to click on phishing emails.

This policy will suddenly be recalled. As soon as the next city gets hacked.


Microsoft pushed another Win 10 update, this time including a telemetry file. For those of you not familiar, this is the Designated Spying Section of Win 10. If you turn it off, the spying won't stop entirely.  RECOMMENDATION: use a safe, secure operating system that doesn't spy on you.

•  PRO TIP: if you need some political wisdom, consult Ron Paul, not Ru Paul. Trust me.

Dear lefty

• How do we achieve world peace?
• Boom boom. Just enough boom boom so there's little time to do anything else, but you still want more.
• this offer not valid on any day of the week ending in Y. Priests and Boy Scout leaders not eligible. If you sell counterfeit NFL jerseys, ICE will break down your door and deport you.

Fine Florida Finesse

A Florida woman was arrested after ruining $2,000 worth of ice cream by spitting, picking her nose, and urinating into containers.

This is not some 15 year old looking for net cred (she's well past 30). At least the police are catching these idiots. Next up: sneeze guards on ice cream freezers.

A Palm Beach, Florida, principal has been removed after questioning the factual existence of the Holocaust, to protect Holocaust deniers from having to hear propaganda forced on them.

A Florida woman was charged with a felony after her daughter was filmed licking tongue depressor in a medical center.

• Stevie Wonder told London fans he's getting a kidney transplant in a few months. A donor has been found. Good luck, Stevie. 
• In unrelated news, a Cleveland man scored backstage passes for life to Stevie Wonder concerts, plus an all expenses paid vacation with Stevie.

Why do I love our Hyundai?
Aside from many other reasons, it has held together through an uncountable number of people hitting it. It was happening at least monthly. It was personal. Fortunately the accidents stopped.

Until today, of course.
Wife shops at Costco, which I can't stand due to crowds and incontinent, entitled old people. One of these incompetent grannies backed right into our parked car, then jumped out, screaming, and demanded the police be called (she probably couldn't operate a phone, no less a car). Yes, it's personal.

Costco, you're on notice.
You owe us for every ding caused by these aged oafs. You owe us for grief suffered from the dings and grief suffered because of these antedeluvians clogging up the incredibly wide aisles. They leave their carts in the middle and walk off.  I wonder if they ever find their way back. Old people are a treasure, except your old people. You need to modify your client base or set up special shopping hours for them only (so they can run into each other and scream).

To make the experience complete, Costco didn't have Raisin Bran. What kind of insane asylum is out of Raisin Bran? The last actual insane asylum I visited had Raisin Bran in the kitchen. Just not Costco.



We don't mess with genetic engineering on humans, but we're having a blast with fruits. These exist:

pluot - plum crossed with apricot
apriplu - apricot crossed with plum

This is the same principle as greenish blue and bluish green. Partly sunny and partly cloudy. Slightly pregnant.




The year was 1968. Apollo 8 launched and orbited the Moon. While around the dark side, where communications don't work, astronauts saw a light; one suggesting it looked like a campfire.

In the capsules is a recorder, which takes down all audio. Upon return, the audio was transcribed, then classified, of course. Recently the transcription was declassified, and the discussion about the light was read for the first time.

Apollo 11 saw something similar and managed a photograph. It's pretty convincing. Even NASA's Denial Squad Guy fully admitted they saw it and didn't try to poo-poo it.  The non-NASA Denial Squad tried too, but were debunked.

There is still no answer (available) as to what they saw.




Ever wonder what happens when priests get caught molesting children?
Opus Bono steps in with help, money, shelter, defense.... and they're well-funded.

Everybody deserves legal representation, but these people sicken me.
If there is a hell....




SJW Stuff

A Virginia man was arrested after burning a flag in the parking lot of a Walmart. The sheriff acknowledged the person's right to burn a flag, but arrested him for 'doing it in a public place with the intent of intimidating others.'

That charge is still a speech charge. When does burning a flag count as intimidating others? Having large, threatening-looking men at polling places is intimidation. If this shining example of a sheriff wanted to 'teach him a lesson' he might have considered something around a disturbance on someone else's property. It's Walmart's parking lot, not his. He should have burned the flag on his own property. But we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, plus the police there don't like flag burners, so they have to lob any charge that might stick.

NOW We're Important

It's tough being libertarian.  Most people look at me like I have three heads (although I suspect they'd look at me that way regardless of political orientation).

It's particularly tough at work, where the Democratic National Committee meets.  Ok, it's not officially the DNC but two people who worked for Obama congregate with all their amateur strategists and plan for the election.  It's upsetting.  I have a little sign that says OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 - because you didn't learn the first time.  It points in that direction.

I've been paying attention to the polls, which I don't generally do.  By all accounts, this race is close.  In fact, the race is so close that libertarians are starting to matter.   And how, you ask, do I know libertarians matter?  Because we're being bashed openly in the press.  Normally we're ignored; now we're being ridiculed.

When libertarians come up, the parties of Greed argue back and forth about who gets stolen from by libertarian votes.

In my state (Pennsylvania), the republican party is very busy with dirty tricks, trying to keep Gary Johnson off the ballot.  They hired private investigators and misrepresented themselves.  Fortunately liberty prevailed and Mr. Johnson is on the ballot.  We can also write-in Ron Paul.

If we don't matter, why are the republicans trying so desperately to remove our candidate?  Oddly enough, the democrats either haven't done anything or haven't been caught yet.

It sure is nice to matter, for once.

In fact, we libertarians should be actively courted.  [evil laughter]


Don't vote for the lesser of two evils.  Vote for someone who represents your ideals.  A vote for the lesser of two evils is a vote wasted.

Who's Running this Cathouse Anyway?

The Season of Politics is upon us.  We're about to be mowed down by advertising.  The Republican Liar Convention survived the weather and the Democratic Liar Convention survived the president.  Ron Paul got screwed, as one would expect, and no one knows who Gary Johnson is.

In essence, we're screwed.

This is also no surprise.  Since we're all inside this luxurious handbasket on its way downhill, we should at least be amused.

Cue Joe Biden:

No surprise, for the third time.  It's Good Old Joe, sitting at a diner with some bikers.  He is in very close proximity to the lone female biker, as opposed to the two male bikers.  As if this weren't jolly enough, it all happened in Seaman, Ohio.

As if this weren't enough to tickle the old funny bone for the day, I came across his boss, President Obama, having difficulty with an iPhone.  The headline should have read Head iHole Can't Use iPhone.

DEMOCRAT PLANNERS TAKE NOTE:

You know me - I'm a Ron Paul kinda guy.  I wouldn't give you a handful of rocks for a republican or democrat.  But it certainly is amusing to note that perhaps the democratic candidate and his second-in-command should switch place.  I think most reasonably sane people would rather have someone who can handle a biker chick running the country than a guy who can't grok an iPhone.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

My esteemed coworkers and I arrived at work this morning to discover a new parking policy.  I smiled when I read it, knowing that the natives would soon be restless, sharpening their pitchforks and lighting their torches.  The natives never disappoint.  In short order, I could hear the drums beating and smell the lighter fluid.

Out to lunch with a friend, I explained the whole parking brouhaha, including the pitchforks.  

He looked at me and said, "So there's a new parking policy that states people should not park in places where parking is not allowed."

"Yes," I assured him, "you understand."

He replied, "And people are outraged."

"Exactly."

"Ok," he said, and we went to another topic.

This (sad) Week in Review

Munich nymphomaniac claims second victim in 36 hour marathon.  Ok, the story smells a bit but the wording is hysterical.  It's worth the price of admission (free).  And when you're done there, click here for a very thoughtful response from Salon.  The lady has a point.

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

Who is Dania Suarez?  She is the 24 year old woman at the center of the Secret Service prostitution problem.  She wants you to know that she's not a prostitute - she simply requested a little present of $800. Apparently they have a decent class of prostitutes in Colombia, as this one has implants.

Readers, let me be clear:  so long as tax dollars weren't used to pay for Professionals and there were no secrets spilled, why should I care what the Secret Service does on its off time?  They do a great job and deserve to blow off steam.  In addition, the government doesn't have any right to tell anyone what they can and can't do with their body.

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

Why is the controlled mass media lying about the massive attendance at Ron Paul gatherings?  I'll bet it's related to the vote totals....

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

Psssssst.... the re-education camps are being readied.  You know.... for terrorists.  And American citizens.

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

Senator Rand Paul wants to abolish the TSA.  His brightest idea ever.

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

The absolute winner of any article I've read this week would have to be this one...  

When Microsoft wants things done right, they rely on linux.   M$ bought Skype and recently upgraded their servers to a specialized hardened linux.

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

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

I have seen a couple of news items about state treasuries having tons of money and items that are unclaimed by residents.  Today I searched for the Pennsylvania State Treasury and located a number of items were waiting for me to claim them, some from many years ago.  Do a search for your state's treasury and unclaimed items.  Maybe there's something waiting for you.

This Week in Porn?

Frankly, I feel kind of left out.  Because most of us don't live in New York City, we're unable to take advantage (so to speak) of Bree Olson's Boob Bus.  Run in conjunction with Pornhub, the Bus made stops around New York City and gave out free breast exams.  Rick Santorum's panties are twisted so hard, he's singing soprano.

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

In related news, candidate Romney turns out to be just like his pal Santorum on porn, asking supporters to rally against adult entertainment on the web.  Of course you won't read that from mainstream media in the US, which is run by approximately five people.

The only sensible candidate remains Ron Paul... a candidate who you can be proud to vote for, for once.  A vote for Obama or Romney is a wasted vote for the Greater Evil.

========================

On Monday, President Giveaway went Full Hypocrite, announcing plans to impose sanctions on foreign governments that use modern technology to tackle anti-government protesters.  And then there were the Free Speech Zones....

Speaking of Giveaways, Government Motors will be opening six hundred new dealerships!  In China.
And GM will be producing Cadillacs there.  Great investment, Mr. President.

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

Mob beats man unconscious on his front porch - `Now that's justice for Trayvon'.

Does this mean Florida can dispense with the trial?

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

In an incredible instance of irony, a congresscritter was groped by the TSA during a patdown.  Well, you and your kind voted for it; it's only fair that you reap the rewards.

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

The NSA swears is doesn't do domestic interception.  The NSA lies.  Read about this from a female geek who is almost as crazy as this blog's owner.  They stand right up in front of the august body we know as Congress and lie to them (and us).

Hermetically-Sealed Pet Behavior

My wife called me at work today.  This is not particularly abnormal, other than when she's calling every fifteen minutes and driving me nuts (further).  By about the third call, she asked if I wanted to know what my furry child had gotten into this time.

I said I'd bite.

To set the background properly, my mother has a thing about leftovers.  They go into their own hermetically-sealed container.  The next time, they get heated up and if there is still some left over, they get put into their own, slightly smaller hermetically-sealed container.

She apparently freezes long rolls.  She gave some to my wife the other night.  They were individually wrapped, then placed into their hermetically-sealed bag, for placement in the freezer.  My wife put them on the table.  My furry child ate them.  All.  After unwrapping each one.

I suppose we should consider ourselves fortunate that he left us the wrappers.  I had a friend with a pair of Samoyeds who were like goats: they had to be x-rayed after eating aluminum foil and pantyhose.

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

In local news, a lady came home to discover her neighbor sitting on her couch.  Watching porn.  In her panties.  At least he had the decency to leave her panties there when she politely requested he leave.

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

Remember When Deer Attack?  This is part two.  While a family was away on vacation, a deer crashed into their window.  This is worse than when the trees started killing skiiers!

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

While his rivals attracted hundreds, 5,000 people showed up to see Ron Paul in Illinois.  They had to change the venue to hold the additional people.   Yet somehow, the votes don't seem to register at the polls.  Wonder why....

Ron Paul beat Obama in a Rasmussen poll the other day.  You probably didn't hear about it.

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

It was only a matter of time until South Park took on the Toilet Security Agency....

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

Santorum pledges to vigorously crack down on internet porn.  It turns out he is also against sex with his wife and pledges to eliminate handguns, black people and everything except vanilla ice cream.

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

Jersey Shore could be wiped out by 2030.  Unfortunately they're talking about the shore, not the show. Get out your wallets, as we get ready to subsidize the rich people who bought shore property.  Again.

Why You Shouldn't Speak in Paragraphs

My wife answered the door last night.  It was my brother.

brother: I hope I didn't interrupt anything.
wife: No, we're done and I have pictures for you...
brother: ummm..... no thanks.
wife: but your mom sent pictures for you.
brother:  OH.

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

Why is it that forecasters can accurately predict the price gas is going to rise to at a certain time in the future but never when it is going to go back down?

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

Rick Santorum knows the private agenda of Satan, who has his sights set on the USA.

The only thing more amusing and sad is that people are voting for him.

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

There was a march on the White House yesterday.  You didn't hear about it because it was military in support of Ron Paul.  Four hundred military, in fact.  Go ahead, say Ron Paul's foreign policy is weak; even the military knows he's correct.

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

Are you refusing to be body-scanned by the TSA?  That's suspicious behavior, son...

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

Today in musical news:  Wolfgang's Vault is featuring 1983 footage of Joe Cocker singing `A White Shade of Pale'.  The Vault is a tremendous musical destination on the web.  Sign up for a free membership and see/listen to incredible classic rock content.

Fun News from the World of Music

From the Unlikely Suspects department, did you know that Hulk Hogan almost played bass for Metallica?

George Harrison's son, Dhani, discovered what sounds like a sketch for a lead on the original Here Comes the Sun tracks.  He is shown with Sir George Martin and his son.

For reasons upon which I would rather not speculate, Ozzy Osbourne is giving away a free colonoscopy.

Since it's borderline illegal for the mainstream media to mention Ron Paul, here's a bit from non-mainstream media about celebrity endorsements. [hint: he's got them]  The question remains what to do with off-center endorsees like Snoop Dog (or worse, Gene Simmons)


I just discovered Brad Pitt is roughly my age.  Yet he continues to be very good-looking.

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

Bevilacqua and Paterno took the easy way out.
Discuss.

Should We Continue Business as Usual?

OBAMA APPOINTS MONSANTO'S VICE PRESIDENT AS SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE COMMISSIONER AT THE FDA

Considering the fact that Monsanto just bought Blackwater, we may soon be the United States of Monsanto (by force?).  Again, it's incestuous.  Look at the appointees and long-term government employees.


Homeland Security Monitoring All Journalists & Social Media Users.  And they'll be saving the data, in case they can get you for something later on.

You got it, folks.  Big Sister will be keeping all of your social media data and it's perfectly legal.


Airport Screeners to Be Monitored for Radiation

Your memory doesn't have to be too good to recall Big Sister saying how the xray machines at airports represented absolutely no threat to the operators or victims forced to walk through them.  The xray machines that were strangely ready to go into all airports as soon as Big Sister mentioned them....


Hundreds Threaten Suicide At Microsoft Supplier Plant In China

Define `extreme cruelty'.  
At first I thought they were being forced to use Windows (I'd threaten suicide too).  No, they were demanding a wage increase.  Foxconn and China may have something to teach us after all....  and it will no doubt show up in your Xbox purchase.


Ron Paul News

CNN’s Ron Paul Reporter Admits Bias: “Worried” About Paul’s Success

You mean they're not fair and balanced, like Fox?

Does the Establishment Media Fear Ron Paul?

Is it mostly rainy in England?


Ron Paul won second place in New Hampshire.  This is his second finish in second place.  Remember that when you hear that he's not electable.  Remember that Paul's positions have been consistent over his time in office; they have not waivered or flip-flopped.  You know exactly where he stands on any issue, regardless of how you feel about it.  Try that with any other establishment politician.

Obama is a grave disappointment but not a shock.  He is simply Bush in a darker shade.  The fact is that Ron Paul does not represent the establishment, like the others.  All of these clowns are establishment pawns, ready to do the bidding of their corporate masters at our expense.   This is why the mainstream media barely mentions his name - they're terrified.  All sorts of groups are terrified and I see that as a good thing.  Voting for anyone else in the false republican/democrat paradigm is a wasted vote.

No one is perfect:  I disagree with Paul on abortion (he's against it).  He's a Conservative Christian.  We make the strangest bedfellows, yet I think he's our only hope.  He will uphold the constitution and he's the only one who will.  Bush and Obama continued the dismantling of our sacred document, right by right, chipping away with the aid of an impotent and corrupt Congress.  Romney is another lapdog who will continue the game.  Newt bends whichever way the wind blows (not to mention his failed Contract with America) and Santorum is religiously addled, among other things.

In Iowa, Paul owned the thirty and under vote.  Independents changed their registration to republican so they could vote for him.  He raises huge amounts of money and has serious internet support, which you will not hear about in the media.


Don't vote for the lesser of evils: vote for our country and our rights.

Don't Steal - The Government Hates Competition

Top Argentine official commits suicide at summit

Hey Congress - why can't we get that kind of commitment in the US?

OK Senator Releases New Report on Wasteful Government Spending in 2011

Read this.  It will make you mad.  Then we'll discuss the black budget.

Local Cops Ready for War With Homeland Security-Funded Military Weapons

You paid for the tank that's going to run you over.


Ron Paul: Consistently Pro-life and Pro-liberty

See - he isn't perfect.


U.S. Asks Journals to Censor Articles on Bird Flu Virus

We don't want the terrorists to steal our ideas!

Why We Dumped Fox News (and... )

Whoever described television as a vast wasteland seriously understated the issue.

We're a broadcast tv family, first because we couldn't afford the rapidly rising costs associated with premium television; second because there wasn't much more happening there than broadcast tv.

After a year or two without cable/dish, we have come to a number of sad conclusions. 

1. There is little to nothing of value on broadcast tv
2. Broadcast networks don't care and run infomercials to prove it
3. Public tv is the only ray of hope left
4. If you want to watch anything other than reality shows, you're screwed
5. You will not escape with anything approaching information from the news
6. There is not one original idea in television

I was all set to be happy, not paying for dish programming.  What I discovered is that the quality of broadcast programming is horrendous, almost as if the networks are just biding their time until everyone just gives up on watching it.

In addition, the switch to digital was way overhyped and not in our best interest.  What else could we expect from the FCC and our friends in D.C.?  The signal strength is dismal, it requires additional equipment to function, and the weather has a negative effect on the picture.  There is no fuzziness - it simply stops working.

THIS IS NEWS?

We always hear about liberal (or conservative) bias in news.  Fox News is known for its conservative bias.  In spite of this, we became a Fox family, largely as my wife tends to watch it a lot (note: we're libertarians and there is simply no news available with a libertarian bias).  Since it's local news, they tend to add in all sorts of local angles, spending way too much time on Things That Are Not News.

When Americans Idle got popular, they used to feature all sorts of stories about it.  Why this qualifies as news is completely beyond me.  Since X Factor is starting up, there are all sorts of stories about it.  In fact, Fox News has become little more than a commercial for X Factor, along with other reality shows that come on after the news.  It's bad enough we're inundated with an insane amount of inane commercials for the shows; now we have to deal with them in the guise of news.

To add insult to injury, Fox News is now all about social networking.  Quite frankly, if I were interested in what's happening on Twitter or Faceyspaces, I'd look there; not my nightly news.  Of precisely what news value is Faceyspaces Friend of the day?  During the recent, ridiculously overhyped hurricane Irene, the news kept going to their `social media center' to tell us what people were saying online.  Even when there is no severe weather, the anchors seem to spend a frightening amount of time glued to their cell phones and laptops, frequently while speaking.

Whatever happened to reporting the news?

My wife finally awoke to this nonsense (or got tired of hearing me point it out) and declared we were switching news stations.  The first night, our local CBS news seemed to spend most of its on-air time on sports, plus a bit of weather.  And a lot of Dancing with the Stars.

We're not getting much world news.  We're getting nothing of value (yes, lefty, that's the idea).  There is still a news blockade on the mention of Ron Paul.  We hear nothing about the protests on Wall Street.  We do get to hear about Brad Pitt's relationship with Jen Aniston.

Bread and circuses.

Our ABC affiliate featured local stories of virtually no import.  Plus stories on reality tv.

My wife and I looked at each other in stunned silence.  The others were almost as bad as Fox News in their own ways.  Television is clearly not the place to go for anything resembling news (regardless of your preferred bias).

I know public television has some nightly news shows.  They're next on the viewing list.  After that, I'm going to continue my video news blackout and get my news from the `net, where there are infinite amounts of bias and sources to be had.  Perhaps back to shortwave a bit too.

Where do you go for a dose of something that looks like truth?

Some Panty-Twisting News

This blog's perennial favorite inadvertent comic, Michele Bachmann, has just graced headlines with yet another whopper: she claims that Hurricane Irene is "God's warning to lawmakers to limit the size of government."

I guess we have to give her credit for not claiming this is God's warning over doing abortions.  When the Passion of the Christ came out, certain Christians claimed abortions were responsible for earthquakes in Mexico.

It is borderline hysterical to hear good old Michele make this stuff up, even when she technically hasn't made it up (and claims it was just a joke).  The whole reduce the size of government thing really belongs to this blog's perennial favorite presidential candidate, Ron Paul.  She just added the God bit, as she is wont to do.  Come to think of it, Rick Perry has `appropriated' a number of Paul's platforms too.

What is not borderline hysterical is that there are apparently legions of drooling followers who believe this verbal excrement.

Speaking of excrement, why should anybody care that Lady Gaga apparently dressed like a man at a recent appearance.  I certainly don't care.  I wouldn't even know about it if it hadn't appeared as a headline on a few allegedly serious news sites I read.

Beyonce is pregnant.   
I didn't do it.

Paris Hilton is over.
Good for us.

Consider my panties in a knot.

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More amusing than panty-twisting is President Giveaway apparently trying to bring back the nostalgic days of Jeb Bush and Billy Carter, infamous presidential siblings (and human failures).  The president's aunt was arrested and flagged for deporation but somehow wound up being granted asylum a while back.  The other night, a Kenyan illegal immigrant was arrested for DUI and demanded the White House be called.  His name was Onyango Obama, the president's uncle.

Speaking of Vladimir Putin, do we ever get to see President Giveaway riding a Harley?

It's Not Easy Being Libertarian

While I was at work today, it occurred to me that the libertarian party should pay me.  I am pretty much the lone libertarian among three-hundred democrats.  No matter how much I speak up for my people, I am shouted down by coworkers, including a constable and someone who is probably going to run for office soon.

Yet I stand up for the abuse, time after time (like Mac users at work).

Today's point of boast is Ron Paul's near win in Iowa. 
What?
You mean you haven't heard about it?
Shocking.

Well, not so much shocking as what is technically known as a news blackout.  Ron Paul came within two hundred votes of beating the winner, Michelle Bachmann.  But instead of reporting this simple fact, the controlled media chose to say that someone else won or to report news about Rick Perry running.

Another pair of shockers:

1. Michelle Bachmann is running
2. people actually voted for Bachmann

This is a sick universe.

Ron Paul Announces

Ron Paul (R-TX) will announce tomorrow that he will run for president in 2012.

This is great news for us libertarians, republicans, democrats, and undeclareds.  Dr. Paul is the only candidate who states up front what he will do and does it.  Known as Dr. No for his votes against government expansion, he is in his twelfth term in the House of Representatives.

While I do not agree with Paul's position on abortion (he's against it but says it should be a state issue), I find myself agreeing with most other things that come from his mouth.   I never thought I'd see the day that I would vote for a conservative Christian, but here we are.

Don't vote for him because I said so - investigate the candidate and make your own decision.