Random Bits of Randomness

Ron Paul within striking distance of Obama, has Manilow support

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:55:00 -0700

via digitaljournal.com

Lola and Mandy support Ron Paul

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Conversation with Miley

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 12:14:00 -0700

Me: But was the Jay-Z song on?

Miley: How many times do I have to tell you... The Jay-Z song was on... the Jay-Z song was on... the Jay-Z song was on!

Me: But what about the Britney song?

Miley: Oh geesh... What do I have to write a song or something?

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New Google Announcement

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:14:00 -0700

Google has recently announced that the next Nexus phone will not only include Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which they introduced in last year's Nexus S, but that it will include Alternating Field Communication (AFC). The new Nexus will combine Near Field Communication and Alternating Field Communication to form the Near Field Layer (NFL). Unfortunately, it's not yet determined if NFL will work this year.

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J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:19:00 -0800

The story goes that in 2007 when AJ. Smith of the Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer after a 14-2 season, he called LT into his office. LT was already concerned with AJ's decision making ability after losing his good friend Brees the year before & Smith wanted to reassure him. He told LT that if he listened to him, he would guarantee him a Super Bowl.

This year, AJ released LT.

Prior to this season, I always found the story slightly encouraging as a Chargers fan... I just didn't realize he meant with the Jets.

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Arizona Tragedy

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:47:36 -0800

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4491733/an-american-tragedy/

This is a must watch video. We must be ever vigilant to not permit government to exploit the death of innocents. Judge Napolitano gets it exactly right and states it better than I ever could.

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College Football Playoffs

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 11:14:00 -0800

On this day of College Bowl games, I find myself sitting here wishing more than ever for a college football playoff. In my perfect world, here's how I see it working, loosely modeled from the NFL playoff structure.

I propose a playoff consisting of 14 teams played across 4 weeks.

The NCAA Division I conferences with at least 10 members get automatic seeds in the playoffs for their conference champion. For 2010 that would have been 9 conferences, Big East, C-USA, Big Ten, ACC, MAC, SEC, Sun Belt, Big 12, Pac-10.

So, for seeding in 2010, the top 9 places go to the 9 conference winners in order of BCS standing with the remaining 5 wild card seeds going to the highest rated BCS teams that are not conference champions.

Initial week of playoffs would be ordered as follows with the team matchups using 2010 seedings:

week 1 - Wildcard Round

A: 1 Bye (Auburn)

B: 2 Bye (Oregon)

C: 3 vs 14 (Wisconsin vs Michigan State)

D: 4 vs 13 (Oklahoma vs Arkansas)

E: 5 vs 12 (Virginia Tech vs Ohio State)

F: 6 vs 11 (UCF vs Stanford)

G: 7 vs 10 (Connecticut vs TCU)

H: 8 vs 9 (Miami of Ohio vs FIU)

week 2 - Quarter Finals

1: A vs H

2: B vs G

3: C vs F

4: D vs E

week 3 - Semi Finals

A: 1 vs 4

B: 2 vs 3

Week 4 Championship

1: A vs B

For 2010, the seeding works out as such:

1: SEC: Auburn

2: Pac-10: Oregon

3: Big Ten: Wisconson

4: Big 12: Oklahoma

5: ACC: Virginia Tech

6: C-USA: UCF

7:Big East: Connecticut

8: MAC: Miami of Ohio

9: SunBelt: FIU

10: Mtn West: TCU

11: Pac-10: Stanford

12: Big Ten: Ohio State

13: SEC: Arkansas

14: Big Ten: Michigan State

Just missed the playoffs:

15: WAC: Boise State

16: SEC: LSU

17: Big 12: Missouri

18: Big 12: Oklahoma State

19: WAC: Nevada

20: SEC: Alabama

We would get to see some interesting matchups and teams with less BCS/AP/Coaches Poll juice would get a chance to compete with the big boys. Some might note that there are only two conferences missing from the automatic seed, the WAC and Mtn West. I would prefer to see 2 extra wild card spots than to guarantee a small conference a seed. The WAC and Mtn West could also merge to guarantee themselves an automatic seed and still provide for 4 wild card spots.

You could also get rid of the two bye games by making it a 16 game playoff, but I like the idea of rewarding 1 and 2 with a little bonus. Then again, maybe 1 and 2 would rather play the game for additional revenue. Regardless, I'd be ok either way.

I know I'd watch nearly every one of these games and care a lot more during the entire college football season.

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TSA Nudie X-Ray Machines are Untested and Unsafe

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 07:21:05 -0800

This is an excellent article from the Seattle Times which outlines just how ridiculous it is that the TSA's claims these things are safe.

Basic premise... the machines are untested, radiation is bad and the agencies the TSA claims have approved the devices have done no such thing.

It's a must read.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013733774_scanners22.html

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No More Fear

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:42:10 -0800

Tim Bray wrote an excellent article regarding the fear based approach to airport security post 9/11. He explains what we really did to strengthen our security and that the rest is all unnecessary. I agree with his assessment completely. It's worth the quick read.

http://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/201x/2010/12/29/My-Country

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Is the Central Bank Unnecessary?

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:04:00 -0800

This is a terrific discussion regarding the Central Bank and the Federal Reserve. A must watch.

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Angry Birds Peace Treaty

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 06:33:00 -0800

I don't get this, but I'm sure my wife will find it hilarious.

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The TSA Violates our Health and 4th Amendment Rights for THIS???

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:22:34 -0800

http://gizmodo.com/5712481/fool-the-tsas-scanners-with-pancakes

These dangerous backscatter machines apparently don't even work.

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Pain be Damned

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:06:19 -0800

For those who didn't know, I suffer from Gout, a terribly painful attack where crystals form as needles in your joints. For most people Gout forms usually in the big toe and, while intensely painful is generally a localized problem. Gout for me is a much more widespread issue. It affects my entire foot, ankles, knees and sometimes occurs in both feet at the same time. When an attack is left untreated, the pain can persist for several weeks and during that time, I am unable to walk for a good portion of that time. There are only a few medicines that can actually treat a Gout attack, and specifically for me, there is only one combination of two medicines (Colchicine and Indomethacin) that reliably works.

And guess what... The US government is taking away my pain relief and damning me to be bed ridden for weeks at a time.

Even though there have been generic forms Colchicine on the market for decades, the FDA has ordered a halt to all companies selling generics in order to give the exclusive right to sell to a single company (URL Pharma). That company, once granted the exclusivity, raised the price of a bottle from $9 to $485. As such, my insurance company now refuses to pay for the medicine.

Do you wonder, much as I did, how the FDA gets away with granting exclusivity over a drug to a company, even one who did not discover the medicine?

Apparently a Bush era law permits the FDA to sell exclusive rights for a drug to the highest bidder in order to pay for further testing on that drug.

I hope I never have another Gout attack... or better yet, I hope the generics are still available in Belize!

-- A special thanks goes out to G.W. and his buddies at URL Pharma.

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Bah Humbug

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:12:18 -0800

Tesla apparently doesn't think much of her sweaty papa's singing during the Southwell Family's Early Christmas.

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Concealing Tyranny

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 07:37:00 -0800

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/10/battle-between-cops-cameras_n_795295.html

If you can't defend your actions, the next best thing is to keep the reports of your bad behavior from getting out. That's the theory behind our emerging police state in the USA. We have a first amendment for a reason.

You can either fight tyranny via transparency or violence. When you take away transparency as an option, guess what is left.

The outlook isn't good.

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Ron Paul Defends Wikileaks from the House Floor

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 07:25:12 -0800

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Beauty

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 06:53:48 -0800

I just love this picture of my daughter Tesla. My wife is an amazing photographer, but to be honest, it is pretty easy to take a good picture of such a beauty.

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We live in a police state

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:45:14 -0800

http://gothamist.com/2010/12/08/this_is_what_you_get_for_picking_up.php

And people wonder why I would ever consider leaving the USA...

We are losing our country to tyranny and I'm feeling a bigger sense of hopelessness each and every day. What will it take before people finally stand up and fight back???

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Michigan Sucks

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:42:03 -0800

I just thought I'd get it out there just how much I hate the snow and cold. I mean, look at what it has done to my poor dog!

Two more weeks and we move on to our next road trip destination.

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Horse of course

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:32:52 -0800

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Tesla's Pirate Face

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:06:13 -0800

Tesla has acquired a very cute pirate face whenever you go in for a kiss.

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