M.A.W.B. Squad

Gee, I Look Foolish: Don't Do This

You know how it is when you're late for a meeting?  Then, all during your long drive the people in front of you in the left lane just won't get out of your way?  When you finally get an opening, you're ready to just kick it down and leave everyone in the dust?

So, yeah, that happened to me yesterday.  I took the opportunity to pass the last car in front of me by going around them in the right lane.  I was headed towards 80 in a 65.

Then he flashed his pretty red and blue lights at me in his back window.

Oops!  Why hello officer! (I swear those plates didn't say tax exempt on them.)

Apparently it was my day to be blessed.  He didn't stop me. 

Now I'm asking myself if I maybe should have bought a lottery ticket.

Apple: They Really Are Geniuses!

If you remember my tale of woe with the hard drive in Crash and Burn, I'm pleased to report there's a happy ending. I was looking at paying megabucks to send the crashed drive off to have the data recovered. 

Then, the Apple Store called yesterday.  They'd installed my new drive, done some voodoo to get my old drive up, and transferred all my e-mails, drawings, quotes, spreadsheets, contracts, photos......to the new drive.  All under warranty.  It's a good thing they told me on the phone or I just might have kissed the Genius.

I was doing the Happy Dance all day.

Hopefuly I've learned my lesson for good so if I lose another drive, everything will already be on backups.

Serenity: Bloggers Loved It

As everyone knows by now, bloggers were invited to a preview of Serenity on Tuesday night, which somehow escaped my notice prior to the event. (Not that I'm complaining. A rigorous course of anti-depressants should eventually dull the pain.  It's my own fault, I guess, for not keeping up with the big dog blogs.)

The good news is that overall most bloggers loved it.  The Instafather himself gave a good review, decided to order the series Firefly, and provides even more links to reviews.  Pretty heady stuff from the Vodkapundit:

I haven't seen a character-driven action picture this much fun since the last Indiana Jones movie, or maybe since the first Die Hard. Only instead of one or two heroes to cheer for, you get nine. And Chiwetel Ejiofor's "Operative" character is the best bad guy since Darth Vader. And I don't mean the whiny, petulent Vader from "Revenge of the Sith." I'm talking about "Empire Strikes Back" full bad-ass mode. And with just a touch of "Jedi" for good measure.

Locally, Powerline attended a preview with Captain Ed in attendance. (If any other locals attended, please drop a note in the comments. I can't even keep up with the MOB, with like 80+ sites now.)

Hopefully, the word gets out and we have a bona fide hit on our hands.  I can't imagine being introduced to this cast and not loving them. (Note though, many have said the story is not kid friendly.) I'm also thankful that I've been able to avoid major spoilers, except for one major plot point.

Hmmm.  Midnight showings tonight in Eden Prarie, Lakeville, MOA, Oakdale, Southdale, and White Bear.  Anyone up for a movie after Keegan's?

Cool Science Pics

Here

Prager: The Left and Hysteria

A Dennis Prager must read:

Other examples abound. America neglects its poor, beats up its gays, oppresses its women, fouls its environment, ignores its children's educations, denies blacks their votes, and invades other countries for corporate profits: These are common accusations of the Left.

No event is free of leftist hysteria. On the third day after Katrina, civil rights activist Randall Robinson reported that blacks in New Orleans were resorting to cannibalism. Indeed, most of the news media coverage bordered on the hysterical. Not to mention the hysterical predictions of 10,000-plus dead in New Orleans.

None of this is to deny that the Right also gets hysterical. Some right-wing reactions to immigration and Terry Schiavo provide such examples.

But the irony in all of this is that the Left sees itself as the side that thinks intellectually and non-emotionally. And that is hysterical.

E-Mail from Iraq: Anti-War Protestors Take Note!

Beth at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy received an e-mail from a Marine in Iraq, which says in part:

The trick here is to convince the bad guys they have been beat. The idiots at the peace rallies are what’s really hurting since the stated goals of the insurgents is to break down public support for the war in the US.

Take note peace protestors.  The troops say you are giving aid and comfort to the enemy trying to kill them. If you really support the troops you will support Victory.

Update Sept 29:  Beth provides a link to add an "I Am Pro-Victory" image to your blog.  I can't think of a better cause to promote. I've added it to the sidebar.

They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa!

In twenty-one different versions.

The first one is the one I remember:

Remember when you ran away and I got on my knees and begged
you not to leave because I'd go berserk?? Well...
You left me anyhow and then the days got worse and worse and now you see
I've gone completely out of my mind.. And..
They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa
To the funny farm. Where life is beautiful all the time
and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white
coats and they're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!!!                    

You thought it was a joke and so you laughed, you laughed
when I had said that loosing you would make me flip my lid.. RIGHT???
I know you laughed, I heard you laugh, you laughed you laughed and
laughed and then you left, but now you know I'm utterly mad... And..

ALERT! Firefly! ALERT

Tonight at 10 EST, 9 Central time, the SciFi channel is showing Inside Serenity.  I just discovered it, but the wonderful PiC already has the DVR set to record it.  No wonder I love that guy!

Speaking of Serenity, here's a Time interview with Joss Wedon, (of Buffy, Angel, and writer and director of Serenity).  Also short pieces with Summer Glau (River), Alan Tudyk (Wash), and everybody's favorite Captain Nathan Fillion.

Remember, the movie premieres on Friday, Sept. 30.  They've written the script so you don't have to have seen the Firefly series as an introduction.  Everyone is signed for a three movie deal if the first one is successful.  One can never have enough good SciFi, so give this one a chance.

The real goal, in my mind, is to bring the series back to TV.  You just can't develop characters and storylines in movies the way you can in weekly series.  (Imagine 24 made as feature films.  They'd be just another action flick.)

Meanwhile, Rew  Jeff and I and going to join the Browncoats and go all fan-boy/girl on you.  You can stop the madness by supporting Serenity.

Listen to the Firefly theme here.

Update:  Couldn't resist adding this:

Demi and Ashton Make It Legal

So, it's big celebrity gossip that Demi Moore married Ashton Kutcher this weekend.  I actually think Bruce Willis is hotter in that bad-boy kind of way, but if she wants Ashton, more power to her.  The age thing, Demi 42 and Ashton 27, doesn't phase faze me in the least.  I sure wouldn't want to try to keep a Hollywood marriage together, but marriage in general...it's a good thing.

Update:  Thank to Aelfheld for pointing out the phase/faze confusion. That's right!  The age difference does not shoot me with an energy weapon.

Al-Jazeera Reporter Convicted in Spain

Spain convicted Eddin Barakat Yarkas and sentenced him to 27 years in prison for his connection to the 09/11 plot.  In total, 18 people were convicted including an Al-Jazeera reporter:

"Tayseer Alouni, 50, was found guilty by Spain's High Court of collaborating with a terrorist group but acquitted of being a member of al Qaeda.....................Alouni, a Syrian with Spanish citizenship, had told the court he delivered $4,000 to Yarkas but said he was doing a favour for an acquaintance."

Iraq the Model wonders if the Al-Qaeda collusion goes higher up the Al-Jazeera ladder.