More TSA stupidity

Here’s Patrick Smith’s latest. It covers the recent TSA Code Bravo, freeze! bravado that turns adults into kindergarteners and tattle-tales. How marvelous that they all follow the pied pipers of doom–well, almost all.

… TSA doesn’t really have the authority to make anybody remain motionless. TSA guards do not have law enforcement power — much as the agency has done a good job at fooling people into believing otherwise. Screeners are now called “officers” and they wear blue shirts with badges. Not by accident, the badges look exactly like the kind worn by police. —Patrick Smith, salon.com

The theater of the absurd continues unabated.

Morans

CraziesWhilst perusing one of my favorite news and current events sites I came across this. I find 1.(a) particularly interesting. In future, will a presidential candidate be required to provide a viewing to prove that he is, indeed, circumcised? How presidential is that?

Given the reluctance of a large proportion of the population to accept a paper certificate as proof of being born in der Homeland, I’m thinking that it won’t be long before a Penis Eligibility Committee™ will be required under law to view the dubious member’s candidate candidate’s member.

I could go on and on, but what’s the point?

 

Earth Hour stupidity

Earth Hour mandates sitting in the dark. At night.

Why?

The northern hemisphere, of which I am an inhabitant, gets enough mandated darkness during the winter months. Does anyone really believe that sitting in the dark for an hour will do anything except contribute to a warm fuzzy feeling for the accomplishment of absolutely nothing meaningful?

Partygoers at last year’s worldwide event who didn’t want to sit in the dark at home were confronted by LED lanterns and flashlights, and could sit in the dark outside with others–if the LEDs were extinguished. Those in the less civilized parts of the world without access to modern amenities continued to participate by sitting in the dark. They must be commended for their diligence.

Does anyone think they dimmed their firepits?

Earth Hour.

What a concept.

Gfeller Casemakers Moleskine leather cover

Gfeller notebook cover

Update March 15, 2021: A very nice antique-leather look has developed. I continue to enjoy the appearance of the covers immensely.

Update March 20, 2016: Five years later, I can report that the Gfeller covers, both large and small, are nicely aged and are performing just as reliably as when first purchased. I still can’t recommend the Gfeller covers enough.

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Update: I liked my small Gfeller cover so much I bought one for my larger Moleskine. Furthermore, two-and-a-half years later, both of Gfeller’s leather Molskine covers have aged nicely and look fantastic. I can’t recommend these enough.

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If you’re a fan of Moleskine notebooks, you’ll be a huge fan of these Gfeller leather covers. Here’s a link to a review better than I could ever write. All I can say is that I now have mine, and I’m thinking of ordering another for the large Moleskine. If you want to see true craftsmanship, watch their video.

I’ve got mine (NC.SNH) on the soft-covered Moleskine and it fits just fine, although it’s made for the hard-cover Moleskine. Added bonus: with the soft-cover Moleskine, I can slide a pen under the cover and still use the elastic to keep it closed.

If you’re outside the U.S., you’ll have to order by email/PayPal, or order by phone and pay by credit card. Don’t be in a hurry to get it. It takes time. Mine took a month–but considering the quality of the product, who cares how long it takes?

Looking for a live feed from Egypt?

Here’s a link to al Jazeera’s live English feed.

You’re sure to find actual facts and much more relevance by watching their feed. Oh, and it’s uninterrupted by commercial breaks. Furthermore, the feed has actual commentators that make sense and are knowledgeable about the country and its current situation.

You won’t find that on the challenged U.S. domestic networks. CNN prefers to break to commercials to sell nothing in particular and promote their American feeds. I guess if it there’s no Tea Partier screaming from a resort balcony in Egypt, there won’t be much relevant coverage in CNN’s effort to continue to kiss U.S. government ass. If the best CNN can come up with is a commentator who has been in Egypt last year, I don’t hold out much hope for the remainder of the day’s coverage by them.

Tanks and APCs are rolling through the streets, demonstrators are on their way to the interior ministry and many tens of thousands throughout Egypt’s cities are demonstrating and rioting.

CNN makes no mention of Mubarak’s 30-year dictatorship. How strange. I wonder if CNN will show images of Egyptian troops who have been called out to quell the demonstrators shaking hands with them instead.

The stupidity never ceases to amaze me. CNN is continuing to stream completely unreadable tweets. Jesus, is there no end to ignorance and stupidity of this network? Are they not aware that none of the tweets are actually from Egypt? The internet and wireless phone system has been completely and entirely shut down in Egypt.

CNN continues to capitalize on the situation by showing yet more commercials. Good for them. A money-making opportunity shouldn’t be squandered on actual events happening in the Middle East that are critical to U.S. interests.

A CNN commentator continues to call it a peaceful protest.

>>> uncontrollable laughter <<<

Perhaps CNN could throw up some tweets about the gunfire coming from around key government buildings in the capital. Which begs the question, does anyone at CNN knows what city is the capital?

Now al Jazeera is highlighting that Mubarak may no longer be in control. CNN? Your reaction to that? Knock knock. Hello? Are you awake? Is anyone there?

CNN, in its constant quest for broadcast integrity, continues to show an Egyptian State TV feed. Morons, all of them.

I watched in embarrassment as stuttering, stumbling, fumbling and bumbling White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs tried to explain to Americans corporate media reporters shills what the hell is going on in Egypt. Obviously, he wasn’t watching al Jazeera. Let’s hope he wasn’t getting his information from American media.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s military chief has cut short his visit to the U.S. I think he’s a tad late with that.

The 20$ trick

20$ trickNo, not that kind of trick.

Have you heard about it? Supposedly, when you check in to a Vega$ hotel

  • you present your credit card wrapped in a twenty;
  • you then ask if there are upgrades available;
  • if there are, you get the upgrade and the clerk will keep the twenty;
  • if not, you get your twenty back.

Apparently, it also works for car rental upgrades.

If you try it, and it works, let me know in the comments.

Here’s the site.

There’s a FAQ too.

Riding farther, seeing more