January 2005 - Posts

Saturday, January 29, 2005 4:15 PM

I always though I didn't want to go to a nursing home...

I was wrong!
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Thursday, January 27, 2005 4:14 PM

...used his own blood to write a note on a seat bottom. Using the heart symbol, he wrote "I love my kids" and "I love Leslie."

This guy should be kept alive in Federal Pound Me In the Ass Prison as the resident prison ***. No suicide out for this guy.

Hey... if you want to kill yourself, you selfish ***, eat a shotgun... don't try to take other people with you!
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:13 PM

My home theater PC installation has started.

​​​​Some of you who know me (all zero people that are reading this) know that I was planning on building a home theater PC (HTPC) using MythTV on i've decided to he installation has started, and I've decided to blog my random thoughts during the installation. It's kinda tech-heavy though; more for the geekier of those amongst you.
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Saturday, January 22, 2005 4:11 PM

The First Nonsmoking Nation - WOW

This is a cool (and well-written) article about how
Bhutan is the first country in the world to have effectively banned tobacco.

I think that's pretty cool. But would never work in a country like ours. Just look at how well it works for drugs :)
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Saturday, January 22, 2005 3:11 PM

Do you think cell phones are too small and push-buttony?

Push-buttony? (I don't know... seemed right at the time)

I came across this article through Slashdot.org (a geek news site). Apparently, some geek decided that he wanted a big, honking old-fashioned-looking rotary cell phone! There are lots of pics and descriptions of the construction process there for those who are interested. Get out your propellor hats and give em a spin!

Slashdot article is here
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Thursday, January 20, 2005 4:10 PM

'Giant' 17-pound baby born in Brazil

Can you say "ouch" ?

'Giant' 17-pound baby born in Brazil
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Wednesday, January 12, 2005 3:42 PM

Woo hoo!

​​​​Though this will hopefully never apply to me, I am very excited that the US Supreme Court has changed the law in regards to "mandatory sentencing" on federal crimes. There have been ludicrous sentences handed down for people carrying large amounts of marijuana that have resulted in a heavy pot smoker spending more time in jail than rapists and murderers. Now, the existing sentences are to be considered a "guidline" and not mandatory.

Of course, this is going to tie the courts up for years with appeals of current prisoners.

Link to the Reuters article...
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Friday, January 07, 2005 3:41 PM

US sees growth in CD sales market

The BBC is reporting that
CD sales have increased 2.4% in the US in 2004.


Boy... it's amazing how their sales went down due to "piracy" at the SAME EXACT time as the economy was taking it in the poop-chute. And now, as the economy is recovering (hear me Democrats?), the CD sales are rising. Kinda strange, since "piracy" is supposedly continuing to increase.


By the way, I call it "piracy" in quotes because the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) likens downloading music to raping and pillaging when it is not even really theft. In order for something to be theft, you have to be depriving the rightful owner of that thing. Downloading music is a copyright violation. Not nearly as insidious as the RIAA wants you to think.
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Thursday, January 06, 2005 3:41 PM

I'd put up a shrine to Satan in my yard SO FAST...

Don't worry... that title will make sense in a second...
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Thursday, January 06, 2005 3:40 PM

All kids are treated equally in our schools...

...but we let the cripples burn if there's a fire.

Un-freaking-believable!
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Tuesday, January 04, 2005 3:39 PM

Well, a new year is here...

... and what better thing to do that read a nice wrap-up of last year written by Dave Barry
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Tuesday, January 04, 2005 3:38 PM

Monkeys and Stem Cells = no more Parkinson's

​​​​With all the stem cell related news during the election and considering that our president doesn't support human stem cell research, THIS is really cool. I'm hoping it convinces some people to change their minds. Wonderful things can be done with it.
posted by Tom (Comments Off)