2008-04-29

Norway



Credit : found here.

2008-04-25

Beyond Tacky



Came across this this morning. I don't oppose States' rights to make such plates, if 100% of the money goes to the state. But as a separation of church and state advocate, I cry foul when the money goes towards furthering the Christian agenda.

Florida's specialty license plates require the payment of additional fees, some of which go to causes the plates endorse.

One plate approved in 2004, displaying the motto "Family First," funds Sheridan House, which provides family programs but also sees its purpose as "sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Bible" and "information about the Christian faith."


Looks like they are challenging it though, as we should.

2008-04-24

Can't Park


Can't Park, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

So There is a spot available but the rude boy/girl in the Explorer (left) parked on the line. So I back mine in level (equidistant on both sides) and if he/she had a problem getting in thats their problem heh heh.

But as it turned out I had to leave at 8:30 and when I left the Explorer was still there. :(

2008-04-23

Rickrolled


You Have Been Flick Rolled!, originally uploaded by l0ckergn0me.

Funny graphic found on flickr

2008-04-22

I got seriously Rickrolled

But its not what you expect. I got Rickrolled a while ago, and thought the whole idea was so funny. That song in particular was one of my favorites from my childhood. Last night I was humming the tune and Daniella asks "What song is that?" So I wanted to show her. No problem I pull out my N810, go to You Tube and go to this video. It plays the opening tune and then locks up. huh? que? I go and look and the screen is dead. And thats the last time there was life in my N810. After hours of troubleshooting, and a phone call to Nokia, I am to send it back for repair/replacement. This is incredibly disappointing. I will document the process and publish it here. Tonight I am going to FedEx/Kinkos at Vandy to ship the device to Huntsville, AL. I have never dropped the device, never allowed a drop of water near it, I have treated this device as if it were made of crystal. (out of respect for the device and all its power) And look at how the gadget gods repay me.

Will keep updating here. It goes in a box tonight (2008-04-22) after receiving the N810 on 2008-03-28, It breaks down on 2004-04-21.

Will take extra precaution to document the process.

2008-04-21

I wish I could buy this

Not possible in America. Why?

DRIVING PLEASURE

Looks like a good breakfast


IMG_8437, originally uploaded by Barack Obama.

BIG waffle in a diner.

Allergies


Dogwood Blossoms, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Are at it again.

2008-04-18

Moon becoming full again


evening moon crop, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

I took some moon photos last night but they haven't been uploaded to flickr yet.

This one was from Tuesday.

2008-04-16

Rural House Revisit


Alone 4, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

China


China, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Quit buying shit from China. I mean, come on people. Try this. Go into Wal Mart or Target and try and find something that ISNT made in China. First one who finds something not made in China wins.

1/4000 Semi-Truck


1/4000 Semi-Truck, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Another 1/4000 Exposure - this time at a semi truck going about 80mph. Click on the Original Size to see a reflection of me taking the picture in the tire rim.

2008-04-15

slooooow


slooooow, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

As promised.

2008-04-14

UNACCEPTABLE

at&t - the monopoly that was broken up in 1983 but later has gobbled up company after company and has been allowed to get as big as it was - has internet service that is flat out unacceptable. We use the service, and the only thing the dial tone coming in to the house is used for is the Dish Network receiver dialing out each morning at 3 A.M. Anyway on or about the 5th of April I discover that there is no dialtone. This is the same time that my internet connection is becoming incredibly slow. I place a trouble ticket with them. Leaving aside the pain in the ass voice menus and voice commands I have to deal with in calling their customer service number, I have heard no word from them at all. So I call them again tonight and I get confirmation someone is going to come out and fix the phone line. And after that, I am going to see if that fixes the intertubes. Right now I am so slow I can't upload a .jpg thats 46.7KB. (a screenshot of a speed test I did tonight) Why? because My goddammed upload speed is 2.52kbps. Yep you read that right! 2.52 KBPS

Talk about WTF! My Download speed is 1.32MBPS This is UNACCEPTABLE. I uploaded my flickr photos at work.

When I get a chance I will upload the screenshot showing the pathetic upload test.

at&t had a revenue of $118.9 Billion in 2007 and you would think these assholes would use some of that money to fix their goddammed network. And also hire some goddammed people to talk on the helpdesk instead of this "Please say your account number" .... "I'm sorry I didnt quite understand that. Please say your account number" bullshit!

2008-04-11

JesusFish


JesusFish, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Stuck in traffic this morning I saw one of the many car Jesus Fish emblems that are so copious here in Tennessee. Funny definition of "Truth" these people have. Be sure and see the close-up photo.

2008-04-10

Saw this and thought it was cool

I will never understand...


Irony?, originally uploaded by drmatthew.

...how selfish someone could be to still smoke while pregnant. While walking back from Subway today I saw not one but 2 women who were obviously pregnant and also smoking.

Really sad and they belong in the "People Who do not deserve to have kids" camp. If you are wondering why I included a news clipping, look at the womans hand in the photo. And she "worries about the effect on her unborn child from the sound of jackhammers." LOL!

Hamburger Flavored chips wtf?!?


Hamburger Flavored chips wtf?!?, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Some odd shit in East TN

I hate Microsoft

Reason # ???? why I hate Microsoft. The retarded "updates" they keep pushing. I realize I can set the PC to not automatically install updates but I think I have it set to the middle setting not the top setting still this shit automatically restarts my machine while I am trying to scrobble tracks (the last.fm plugin only works about 4% of the time). No prompting, Microsoft just thinks it is necessary to shut down the PC at will. Which of course is bullshit.

2008-04-09

'Get out of here, atheists!' by PZ Myers, Pharyngula - RichardDawkins.net

'Get out of here, atheists!' by PZ Myers, Pharyngula - RichardDawkins.net

Reposted article Shows how Atheists are unwelcome even in today's cosmopolitan society.

The governor of Illinois has been playing some games with state money, shuffling a million dollars to benefit a Baptist church, and an atheist dared to testify to the legislature against this. The response from one legislator was unsurprising: she shrieked at the atheist to get out.

Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) interrupted atheist activist Rob Sherman during his testimony Wednesday afternoon before the House State Government Administration Committee in Springfield and told him, "What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous . . . it's dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!

"This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God," Davis said. "Get out of that seat . . . You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon."

Disbelief in religion means you have "no right" to speak to members of government? Wow. And note the "D" after her name — she's a member of the party most (but definitely not all!) American atheists lean towards.

There's more on this exchange: it looks like Sherman kept his cool, while Davis spewed her hate.

Listen to the audio!
[on the website]

People who do not deserve to have kids #4081 & #4082

link

I will republish here in case the content goes away.


YORK, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A 2-year-old girl died after being beaten with a video game controller by her mother's boyfriend, police said Tuesday.


Darisabel Baez died Monday. Her mother's boyfriend said he beat the 2-year-old but didn't explain why, police said.

Darisabel Baez's mother overheard the beating Sunday but did nothing until she realized the girl was unconscious, police said. The girl was pronounced dead late Monday at Hershey Medical Center, police Lt. Ron Camacho said.

Homicide was added to the list of charges against Harve L. Johnson on Tuesday; he was already in jail on counts including aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.

The girl's mother, Neida E. Baez, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

It was clear from the bruises and other injuries on the little girl's body that Sunday was not the first time she had been abused, Dauphin County coroner Graham Hetrick told WGAL-TV. He said it was one of the worst cases of child abuse he has ever seen.

Baez, 19, called for an ambulance Sunday and said Johnson had brought the unconscious child to her, limp and wet from an attempt to revive her in a bathtub, a police affidavit said.

Johnson, 26, acknowledged beating the girl with a video game controller but did not say why, police said. Baez said that Johnson had abused the girl in the past and that she heard the girl scream after Johnson beat her Sunday, according to the affidavit.

Detective Dana Ward said Baez was charged because she did not intervene or try to get help for Darisabel.

Johnson and Baez remained in custody Tuesday. His bail was set at $200,000; hers was $25,000.

Through police, family members declined requests for interviews Tuesday. Court officials said they did not know whether Johnson and Baez had lawyers to speak for them.

2008-04-07

Religious nutbag of the day

I came across this in my RSS reader tonight while chilling on the couch with my N810 and just had to blog about it.

story is copied here just incase it doesn't get cached.



Page last updated at 00:51 GMT, Tuesday, 8 April 2008 01:51 UK

Hundreds leave Texan sect ranch
Members of the sect stand outside Fort Concho, where the people removed are being housed
The women and children are being housed in an old frontier fort.

Authorities in Texas have removed more than 400 children and 130 women from a compound belonging to a polygamist sect as part of a child abuse inquiry.

They moved in on Friday after a teenage girl phoned to say she had been abused at the ranch in Eldorado County.

Women and girls in long dresses with their hair pinned up in braids could be seen leaving the ranch voluntarily.

State troopers were still holding an unknown number of men inside as they searched the 1,700-acre compound.

It is still unclear whether the girl who sparked the search has been found. Those removed are being housed at Fort Concho, an old frontier fort.

The sprawling ranch is located about 160 miles (260km) north-west of the Texan town of San Antonio and includes large housing units, a medical facility and a temple. It is not known how many people live there.

It is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a breakaway branch of Mormonism.

The sect's prophet is Warren Jeffs, a self-confessed polygamist who was jailed last year for being an accomplice to the rape of a 14-year-old girl who married her cousin.

Church built at the FLDS's compound in Texas (2005)
Sect members believe men must have at least three wives to get to heaven

Authorities have kept the ranch under surveillance since it was bought by the sect five years ago.

The 16-year-old who phoned said she had been sexually and physically abused.

She also said she had given birth at the age of 15 to a child fathered by her 50-year-old husband.

It is illegal in Texas for girls under 16 to get married.

One person was arrested at the ranch for obstructing the search.

"For the most part, residents at the ranch have been cooperative," said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety.

Authorities describe it as the largest child welfare operation in the history of the state.


Officials have been authorised to remove computer hard drives, CDs, DVDs and photos.

Picture of Warren Jeffs taken after his arrest by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Warren Jeffs led the breakaway Mormon sect from 2002

Jeffs was convicted after he forced a 14-year-old girl to marry her cousin.

The self-proclaimed prophet is currently awaiting trial in Arizona on charges of being an accomplice to four counts of incest and sexual conduct with a minor stemming from two arranged marriages.

His 10,000-strong sect, which dominates the towns of Colorado City in Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, split from the mainstream Mormon church more than a century ago.

Members believe a man must marry at least three wives in order to ascend to heaven. Women are meanwhile taught that their path to heaven depends on being subservient to their husband.

Polygamy is illegal in the US, but the authorities have reportedly been reluctant to confront the FLDS for fear of sparking a tragedy similar to the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas, which led to the deaths of about 80 members.

2008-04-04

Another Obama smear campaign


IMG_6696, originally uploaded by Barack Obama.

I was reading just now (I dont even have the link) where someone said Obama, when after having been asked about his awful bowling skills, said he would tear up the bowling alley in the white house and install a basketball court. And what people should have taken as a lighthearted joke - and it probably was - is being twisted into some kind of reality. I am sure the right-wing blogosphere is buzzing with it. And of course you are going to get a segment of the population who really are going to believe he would demolish the bowling alley in the White House. I am not sure myself, but I believe there already is a basketball court somewhere on the White House Property. But middle America, "Red-meat" America is going to look at it and frown on his choice of words..

...sigh

Lethargic

Made the mistake of eating a big ass lunch (left overs from last night)and now am tired as hell. I am seriously about to pass out.

Internet Posse Busts 'The Claw,' Canada's Dumbest Car Thief

Internet Posse Busts 'The Claw,' Canada's Dumbest Car Thief

Priceless

The original thread

2008-04-03

People who do not deserve to have kids #4,080

CNN Video

WTFF!

N810 criticisms

Let me first start out by saying this is a WONDERFUL device and I am so glad I bought one. Before I get into the criticisms, I would also like to point out, that I am a pedantic frequent complainer.

The first usual complaints I have run in line with the rest of the community that has bought one of these.

1) The top row keys are a bit hard to hit properly.
2) The keys themselves are small but I have gotten used to using them.
3) The battery life is a bit short however I have tried to remedy this by buying the BP-5L and using the original one as a spare.

4) The routing in the map is for an additional charge. The map is great but this kind of sucks.

5) The car mount... WTF? Thats all I have to say.

Now into the nit picking:

6) On the map you can't use the format you want. Like using decimal instead of dms.

7) You can't choose the format of clock you want. I like 24 hour format. Apparently you have to change your locale from UK english to German or something which is incredibly stupid.

8) The Email client. WTF!>? I mean, I set it up, I even set up a dummy forwarding account from GMail and yes it does work but I constantly see "connecting" at the bottom. It is seriously bogged down. I don't know if thats because of a bug, or what, because I haven't really read through the forums yet.

9) The internal space could be a little more than what it is. If the thing is using a Micro SDHC - Why can't they use that solid state tech and put a bit more memory like my iPod Nano? I like the expandability of having a micro SDHC and I as of yet haven't bought an additional one.

I don't really have any other complaints at this time. I realise its a new product and the kinks haven't really been worked out yet. Again, I am glad I bought it.

2008-04-01

Charging


Charging, originally uploaded by Chris1051.

Uploaded a few photos of the Nokia N810 unboxing. There will be more to come.

And this happens yet again :(

Link

Incredible



A Clackamas County, Ore., couple are facing second degree manslaughter and criminal mistreatment charges after their 15-month-old daughter died from what the state medical examiner said were easily cured illnesses.

The infant girl, Ava Worthington, died March 2 from bacterial bronchial pneumonia and an infection, both of which could have been cured with common antibiotics, the medical examiner said.

But police say that instead of going to a doctor, 28-year-old Carl Worthington and his wife, Raylene, 25, opted to pray for their daughter.

The two surrendered to police at Calackamas County Jail Friday night. Bail was set at $250,000 apiece, and they were released hours later after each posted $25,000 bond, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office spokesman Det. Jim Strovink said.

They are scheduled to appear in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Monday.

A reporter from ABC News affiliate KATU-TV in Portland, Ore., went to the Worthington's home before they turned themselves in, but the couple declined to comment.

The Worthingtons are members of the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, that has a history of shunning medical care in favor of faith healing.

A decade ago the church received national attention after KATU reported that the state medical examiner believed approximately 20 children whose parents belonged to the church, had died from untreated illnesses that were curable.


Where is God? Why didn't God heal the poor innocent child?

Lets re-read something:

the state medical examiner believed approximately 20 children whose parents belonged to the church, had died from untreated illnesses that were curable.

Are you kidding me? So my question is, if God exists, why didn't he save at least one of these poor innocent children? Why would he make them suffer so?