New Nerdy Stuff

Good afternoon everyone,

I think I have finally found a good way to display math equations on this blog. Please let me know if you can see this as an equation, or just ML crap:

`int_(0)^(1)(x^2+2x)dx`

`sqrt(2pitheta)`

*update-

so it appears that I can't see this equation stuff on my home computer either, and that's because IE requires a special plug in to read the java crap that makes it into an equation. I have been looking for some quick and easy way to do math equations in HTML, but there does not appear to be one. Damn. Time to keep looking, for a better way... and not just have only certain browsers be able to see it.

Four Fifteen and Counting...

Good afternoon everyone,

It’s another spring day here in Salt Lake City. That means it’s snowing, and two days ago it was almost 70. Not to mention that, but the drive to school was a little choked up by protestors. That is going to launch the huge rant I have below. But first, a couple of cool movie tid-bits:

• Gostbusters 3 is now in full swing to start shooting, with the original cast.
  

• Sin City 2 is gaining momentum, with more actors in talks to take on the roles. But there still looks to be a 2010 release date.
  
• The second Halloween from Rob Zombie is in full production, and there have been some stills released, and the look awesome.

And, well here we go; my Political Pissings, as promised:

Like I said before, I do not want to turn this blog into a huge political rant, but these people just piss me off. They are protesting large government spending, and unsustainable deficits in the government budget, and “tax hikes”. Sounds like a reasonable thing to protest right?

Well, no. the truth of the matter is, yes, no one wants higher taxes, every one wants a financially stable government and yada yada yada… but the problem here is that these protests are being organized and fueled by people with no solutions to the problem. All they are doing is whining and complaining. And to add to the absurdity, most of the protestors are middle class working Americans who are actually going to benefit from the new President’s tax plans and tax reform, much of it already rolling in the stimulus package… that they are also protesting.

And when I say they do not have a solution, I mean a practical solution. The Republicans shit bricks when they saw the new budget. Well, what would a rational person do when something like that comes along? Come up with an alternative!

Did they? Short answer: Yes, Long answer: No. yes they did propose a new budget, but it was not that much different than the current budget. In fact, it was almost the same thing but with the deficit stretched out into 5 years or more, instead of just 4. And the biggest difference was the “alternative budget” called for re-instating Bush’s tax plan and undoing the stimulus package. The only point it served was to politically “butt heads”.

Now ask yourself, what did all that rant above have to do with the protestors? The answer to that is simple: things have to change. And they do not like the changes. They are being rallied by people who want to use this to gain political momentum, no matter what the issue is.

My justification for this is simple. It all comes down to taxes, and their increase. First, lets have a little history lesson. Did anyone protest Regan when he doubled the national debt? Was there a protest of this magnitude when Bush sr. had to raise taxes (breaking a campaign promise) to pay for all of Regan’s crap? Did any one protest on this scale when Bush jr. repeatedly raised the ceiling on government spending, and doubled our national debt again? Did any one protest on this magnitude when Bush signed a tax code into law that 450 economists (10 of those Nobel Prize recipients) told him not to? No.

Do any of them give credit to Clinton, who at the end of his term, had a surplus of cash, made the largest ever payments on the national debt, and had us on track to pay it off by this year? No. You will never hear about that on any “conservative”* radio show.

This is nothing but a bunch of Republicans, sore about loosing the election, and not willing to face the tough choices that are ahead, and doing nothing about resolving the problem. So go ahead folks, stamp you feet and cry. Or deal with the problems that face our nation like a big kid; and if you don’t like it, offer a different path. Don’t make a mockery of one of the most famous acts of rebellion in America’s history. And when asked about what we should do instead, don’t give the standard Reganomics crap we have been hearing from you for 20+ years. Sure it sounds good in principle, but the fact of the matter is, it does not work. Those tax practices have forced the consumer recession we are in, and those business practices have caused the corporate irresponsibility that have necessitated the bailouts. So, if you have something better, put it out there. Trust me, people will follow. And be sure to use your inside voice.

*I felt that a little explanation was due here. When one hears “conservative” values, the things that come up are: Free market, stable economy, low taxes and smaller government. That set of goals is not just true to the Right, but the Left as well. If you ask any rational liberal what they want the country to be, they will give you that very same list. It’s not the Ends they argue over; it’s the Means. Those radio shows (you know what ones I am talking about) steryotype the other side to the point where it’s just flat not true. The Left is no more socialist, hippie, controlling environmental lunatics than the Right is bible thumping homophobic racist corporate scammers. It goes both ways.

Thank you for reading through my rant. It felt good to vent. I will update when the semester lets out, and hopefully about a more light hearted subject.

Good night all.

T

Four Six

Good afternoon everyone.

I’m sitting here writing this between classes.

I know I haven’t published almost anything in the past weeks, but nothing interesting has happened. Except for Denver. And I’m still working on the second installment of that, so expect more soon. Just not today.

Nothing much on my mind either. The only thing that I have been doing other than work and school is following a lot of politics. I’m not going to turn this thing into any sort of political rant or anything, just wanted to let you know what’s been occupying a lot of my attention lately.

I think I should stop following politics as much. It’s terribly addicting. I’m going to be cooking news articles in a spoon in a public men’s room soon at this rate.

The weather is pretty nice.

Maybe it’s time I got outside a little and beefed up the photo page.

T

4 Days In The Mile High City, Part I

Good evening everyone.

Yeah, I’m just sitting and relaxing here at home after a day of travel. So, yeah, From Russia with Love and I just got back from Denver. It was a really nice place. Granted, there is not a lot to attract tourists to Denver, but it’s a fun city. We arrived on Monday, and went right to the hotel to shrug off some jet lag. Then we met up with Dr. MookieLove and went to The Rock Bottom Brewery for a bite to eat. Great food. After that; we went for a walk downtown. Here are some of the sights:

Dr. MookieLove practices his art

This MilkShake brings every one to the yard.

Interesting. Anyway, the next day it was off to the Denver Aquarium. We took a walk from the hotel (about 3 miles each way) and saw some more of the city. Here are sights from the walk:

And the aquarium:

The Wild Yellow Pages, in their natural habitat.

And a piranha with a bite taken out. I thought it was too funny.

After that it was back to downtown to party it up. Great night life in the Lower Downtown area. Every corner had some kind of brewery and restaurant, and in between were bars and clubs, with the occasional dentists office, or some such thing. No pictures from that night though. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera...

Stay tuned folks! Part II is coming soon!

T

Um... Uh... Yeah!

I have nothing new to say as of yet.

Life takes its course, and unfortunately, most of the time, it's not he scenic route.

I will have more later. Unless you want to hear about endless homework and work?

No?

Ok. I'll be back soon!

T

Back Again- And Returning With Updates.

Good evening every one,

Once again- it’s been a while since I’ve been online long enough to do anything but check the ol’ email. And it’s not because of a lack of interest or anything. That would be the last thing that would keep me off the blog. Trust me, it’s one of my saving graces. I just have not had much time for anything.

If all keeps on track like it has been thus far this semester, I will be (if not already) down to my “weekly posts”. Just simply because life’s little complications have their way of inhibiting fun…

So, then, now that I have some time to blog, what’s new? You ask.

Not much. School has not been that “fun” since the Cloud Chamber thing. Now, it’s just the math behind it. Yup, I gots’ homework out the eyeballs again… I hope they make some sort of pill for that… kinda gross.

Work is just work. And that’s that. Nothing for better or for worse; and no news is good news.

From Russia with Love and her friends took a road trip to L.A., so I have some “extra” free time the next couple of days. What will I do with it? Probably nothing. I would have liked to have gone to L.A. too, but I could not get the school and work schedules to cooperate.

Well, that was about three and change paragraphs about nothing. Here is something of substance: another Book Rant!

Watchmen I knew nothing of this comic when I picked up a copy. I am not one who is terribly interested in comics, as they usually bore the hell out of me. But I heard some people talking in the physics library about it, the new movie of it coming out, and I was in the bookstore and saw a book called Philosophy and the Watchmen. So I thought “Uncle! I give up! I have to find out what this is all about!”



And I’m happy I did. The book was amazing. Even for a comic book (graphic novel to be exact), and the story was exciting, the characters deep (once again, for a comic book I was surprised), and it was just a great read all around. It even had a twisted sense of humor. Just fantastic. Pick up a copy. Read it, look at every pane of animation, and notice all the clues, pretty good drawing and, well, it’s just a hell of a ride. Really.

And now a cartoon update (come on folks, you know me, what kind of pod person would you think I became if I did not mention this):

Futurama! New DVD today! It’s called Into The Wild Green Yonder. It might be the last outing of our future friends, so enjoy folks!



(yes, at this time I also realized I had become somewhat of a pod person for not mentioning Frisky Dingo season 2, but it’s annother story, and an acquired taste. Ask Dr. MookieLove)

That should do it for me tonight folks. I hope I was atl least somewhat entertaining. I will keep this up as much as time permits, but no promises. Like I said- I’m probably going to go on that weekly stretch that I have a tendency to do.

T

Sight and Quote

Today I saw a homeless man standing on the steps of the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

He was surrounded by pigeons, and they were perching on his hands and shoulders.

There was traffic, pedestrians and business as usual. But for that moment; he was their center.


"When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen:
Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly. "
~ Edward Teller