Brent Nyitray
Fairlington Blade
Let the mutherfuker burn!
jnc4p
Kevin S. Willis
Michigoose
lmsinca
markinaustin
Arcanaut
novahockey
quarterback
ScottC
yellojktIn March of this year, Steve Gibson on Security Now (with Leo Laporte) discussed the anatomy of the Stuxnet worm. This is a lengthy commitment to listen to (over an hour–might skip the news at the top of the show), but Stuxnet was a virus (weaponized malware), designed by the Israeli’s to disrupt the Iranian nuclear program by reprogramming the industrial controllers on the centrifuges being used to enrich uranium for their “nuclear plant” (wink-wink, nudge-nudge). To do this would have involved the Israelis breaking into more than one American company, and purposely infecting more than one vendor who sold to, or vendors who sold to vendors who sold to, Iran.
That it worked is amazing and scary. Here is a lower quality MP3 version for folks who can’t do the video.
Anybody here remember Pianosaurus, the band from the late 80s that played everything on nothing but toy instruments? My favorite was always Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Toystore.
Don’t rent out your place out on AirBnB. Not unless you want it trashed. Because AirBnB will want you to take down your blog post complaining that your apartment trashed, but will refer to their ToS if you want them to do anything to help assist you with the criminals they sent to your apartment or house.
Nostalgic for time spent watching HBO’s Video Jukebox before the debut of MTV? Well, here ya go: Robert Palmer’s video for Johnny and Mary. I can’t get to YouTube, so I’m just hoping that’s the right one.
There are ghost writers for Twitter accounts for people who aren’t that particularly well known? How do I get a job like that?
It’s the end of the world as we know it! R.E.M. retires. What will the Furry, Happy Monsters do?
Remembering Braniff Airlines. Rest in peace, Big Orange!
Five million books spend more time talking about Texas than Tennessee. Or California. Put in any terms you want, and find out that “betwixt” and “thou” were more popular words, in books, in 1800 than in 2000. “Thou” much more than “betwixt”.
This post brought to you by you rebels out there. You know who you are. — KW
I know I harp on the middle class and jobs, probably too much for some of you, but without a thriving middle class I don’t think American business succeeds in the long run. Not to mention the misery of lost wages. Here’s a chart linking education to wages. Wow, even that Master’s Degree may not protect you in the future. I better have my daughter revisit that PhD scholarship.
CHART: Only Advanced Degree-Holders Saw Wage Gains In Last Decade The only group of Americans whose average wages increased over the last decade were the 3 percent with advanced college degrees (other than a master’s degree), according to data released by the Census Bureau. The 1.5 percent of Americans with an M.D., J.D., or M.B.A. saw wage gains of about 5 percent, while the 1.5 percent with a Ph.D saw gains of slightly more than 5 percent. Among those with a four-year college or master’s degree — more than a quarter of the American workforce — average wages dropped by about 7 percent, and wages dropped even more for those who haven’t completed college:
lmsinca……..click on chart link for a visual
Having seen and heard this suddenly famous video class-warfare rant by Elizabeth Warren several times, I boldly predict that, in addition to the ideological reaction she will provoke, she will turn off many, primarily men, with her persona, her voice, her body language. I’ve seen her and heard her in person, but on the stump she is going to be quite unappealing and indeed repellant to many.—QB
Senators are grilling Google over where certain things come up in search results. “You’re cooking the books!” Of course, it’s (a) mostly nonsense and (b) not really the frickin’ senate’s business, in my humble opinion, even if they knew what they were talking about when it comes to post-19th century technology, which they mostly do not appear to.
Franken railed against him, “We are trying to have hearing here about whether you favor your own stuff, and you admittedly don’t know the answer.”
I mean, called me crazy, but I would kind of expect Google to favor their own stuff. On their search engine, which they make available to the general public. For free. With no promises to never promote themselves in any way. Good grief. — KW
Filed under: Uncategorized |
All Things in Moderation 
Okie, since I can't watch it can you give me an overall impression when it's over, the debate that is?
LikeLike
And I think we probably need to about double our contributors list or hope to attract enough people publicly to keep it going during lulls. We're all busy so we need quantity as well as quality.
LikeLike
I'll try.Overall [extreme left] so far:Perry maintains lead for R nomination. Romney comes out with some new positions (LOL in itself regardless of substance) setting himself off from others, but things that probably will not help him in getting the R nom but would help in general. Huntsman is maintaining the lead for the left preference for R candidate if R candidate wins the WH. Johnson does not have a good debut, comes off as pretty extreme. Cain, Gingrich, Santorum remain marginal.
LikeLike
Is that Gary Johnson? This is his first debate right? And no Bachman?
LikeLike
I think Perry is the nominee, barely loses to Obama in the national, three senate seats flip Republican. 2010 is about the first election I've called correctly, so let's seemif I can maintain my streak. Although I called Obama in 2008 , that was only after the debates. Picked neither nominee (Hillary vs. Fred Thompson or Guliani–not sure I could have been more wrong).
LikeLike
BTW, I'm with you, I miss sue and I'll be glad when she and michi are both done with their projects.
LikeLike
Don't say that about Johnson. I like Johnson. I'll have to investigate what he said.
LikeLike
I think Johnson is who NoVA likes also, if I remember correctly. This is his first debate right?
LikeLike
lms, yes on Gary Johnson, and it's his first inclusion in debate. kevin, why do you like him? (Not a gotcha question BTW)And I too will be glad when sue and michi finish their tasks, not only because I miss their comments but also just for them living their lives.
LikeLike
Romney is *really* trying to draw a distinction between himself and Perry on SS.
LikeLike
I think that SS debate between the two is what everyone was watching for tonight.Ditto re both sue and michi.
LikeLike
I don't think this commentary will be nearly snarky enough to satisfy qb.qb, can we have a mulligan? There was sue's unfortunate but unavoidable scheduling issue, and lms and power issues.
LikeLike
Okie, just saw your post re vacation from plumline…………LMAO.Doesn't look like they're too interested in the debate.And BTW, I love Liam Neeson.QB went off again above re EW. We're going to have to figure out something to do about that. Of course I have to admit that Sarah Palin sort of sets my hair follicles on fire.
LikeLike
kevin, I can't go with Johnson's "Fair Tax" and I understand it's his main pitch. Am I wrong about that? I prefer a progressive tax code. See: "class warfare."
LikeLike
"set my hair follicles on fire." ROFLMAO. I'll get back when I catch my breath.
LikeLike
Sorry, I missed the debate, too. T-ball game.Very sad about REM. Met my husband at one of their shows back in '89. They provided the soundtrack to my college years and tons of great memories.I totally love EW. What is it about female politicians that make them so polarizing?
LikeLike
There's been a lot of talk re the tax code and how to fix it. My problem is even though I know it needs to be changed I'm pretty sure, based upon experience, that it won't bring in any more revenue and the final result will be less than desirous to the middle and working class. The same way I don't trust politicians on womens health care I don't trust them on the tax code.There are good ideas out there, but I don't know much about the "fair" tax. Simon Johnson has some good ideas but the way Congress picks and chooses, we probably won't end up with anything "fair". And if it is, then the carve outs will begin.
LikeLike
Evening, scat. T-Ball is much more important! What is the news about REM? I'm obviously a generation older than you but really liked and listened to REM.I'm still looking for more about "fair tax" but have been checking for a while. I didn't save any links, lms, sorry, but it is completely flat.I am foremost in favor of taxing ALL income as same, i.e., do away with capital gains rate.
LikeLike
And who is it on PL who advocates a surcharge on all trades? I really like this idea but it has no legs that I know of.
LikeLike
According to the post-debate R focus groups showing on fox, Romney made big gains tonight.
LikeLike
Went off? Just my honest response to seeing her in that video. Not everyone who is smart is a good political candidate. The left will love her, and her rather shrill delivery will not bother most on her side. But she is shrill in delivery. Lots of men (and some women) are going to feel like they are being browbeaten by a petulant PTA busybody.Gary Johnson is lacking in charisma. He's not going to be a factor. Perry fumbled some scripted statements like his attack on Romney for flipflopping. Perry seems to be the frontrunner still, but I will be surprised if the illegal immigration issue doesn't start hurting him.I thought Romney was the clear "winner" in this one (didn't see the whole thing but most).You can flame the Rs as much as you want afaiac.
LikeLike
Okie, re hair follicles, you know what I mean though right? And at least we got one chuckle in tonight.I was thinking about the power outage today while we were living through it in 90+ degrees and high humidity. When we go camping we totally live without electricity, none of the campgrounds we enjoy have hookups. We can run the generator for a bit or use the backup batteries for light or whatever, but no TV, no computers or radio (our choice), just a little music usually with a battery operated mini-boom box and actual CD's. Generally, I put my cell phone in a drawer, turned off, and just check messages.When we're at home though, we're miserable without all the conveniences. We took the dogs for a walk but it was hotter than Hades so came home and went for a swim, which was nice, but otherwise we were bored and hot.
LikeLike
Was there some sort of debate tonight?
LikeLike
When I saw nine on stage, I was sure one was you, Troll.
LikeLike
qb, I was just teasing you re EW. That's political reality baby. The same way you feel about EW, I feel about SP. Possibly if we sat down and had a real conversation with either of them we might feel differently. I think Liz Warren will be great for the party and her embrace of the middle class is refreshing considering the way the last decade has gone.
LikeLike
QB, I also thought she sounded shrill, along with angry. Not my cuppa tea, but it didn't sound like nails on a chalkboard or anything. Is there going to be a real primary in MA, or will the field be more or less clear for her?
LikeLike
qb, WHAT LMS SAID! (Sorry, but sometimes I do love shrieking.)
LikeLike
troll and qb, why transparently divert from the R debate?
LikeLike
I was the one on the end, pretending to cough but really saying "bullshit" whenever Romney spoke.
LikeLike
lms,My point about EW is just that — she's probably pleasant to sit down for coffee with. But when she's out on the stump, doing a campaign speech or extemporaneous address like this one, she just doesn't translate well. So, don't compare her to Bachmann or Palin. Compare her to Hillary or Diane Feinstein or even Boxer. Not her melieu.I'm not saying she can't win. It's Taxachusetts, after all. But her style is a negative.
LikeLike
I was joking, okie. As all know, I don't beleive Obama loses, so it's really just sn exercise in, well, I'm not sure what it's an exercise in. I'm interested in why all the Democrat leaning posters on here are intersected though, if it's above and beyond the "comedic" factor. If I've screwed up the flow here, sorry, I thought there was a debate thread down below?
LikeLike
Okie: REM announced yesterday they were calling itna day. Thirty years is enough for them, I suppose.And lmsinca is right about your vacation comments at the PL. Seriously LOL.Ugggghhhhhhh……the fair tax. FairTax bumperstickers are more common around here than Jesus fishes. It also seems to be the only issue my congressman wants to talk about.
LikeLike
We are just sneaky like that?I think the story of this debate is not terribly complicated. Romney cleaned his clock, and the rest were window dressing.I like what some of the others contribute at times, but nine on stage? Gimme a break.Perry was incredibly tin eared when he said you don't have a heart if you oppose in-state tuition for illegals. Incredibly stupid. He just called 90% of the party heartless.
LikeLike
qb, did you happen to notice that the gals you think translate well happen to be R's and the ones who don't, according to you, happen to be D's, lol, talk about transparent.Also, re Warren, she's just now getting her feet wet so I would expect some improvement over the next few months. Not that I don't already think she's great.
LikeLike
troll, I'm not getting your humor in your 9:15PM comment. Sorry, but I'm sometimes dense. Are you asking a qustion about "all the Democrat leaning posters on her are intersection. . . ." Can you clarify?
LikeLike
No, lms, I guess i wasn't clear. I meant, since you don't like Bachmann or Palin (or _____), compare her to some Ds like Hillary.Now, Hillary kind of grates on me, but these other women have a smidge of gravitas (can't believe I just said that), whereas EW sounds to me like what I said. This doesn't seem that controversial to me.
LikeLike
Who said "sneaky like that" and where? I'm at a loss here.scat, wow, I'm sorry about REM. But maybe better that than going past your prime and embarasing yurself. Dunno.
LikeLike
Sorry okie, "intersection" should have been "interested." I'm not a fan of the modern political "debate," and think there's little to no value in them, regardless of which party is conducting them. I consider myself pretty politically knowledgeable and never watched more than five minutes of any debate (aside from The 'Cudas)in the last ten years. I'm just curious as to the interest some have in their political opponents debate, aside from the comedic factor is all.
LikeLike
troll, speaking for myself, the comedic factor is NUMERO UNO. Seriously, it gives me some kind of rough indicator of where the opposition's rhetoric and leanings are.
LikeLike
lol, Okie, I was answering the question about diverting the discussion from the debate when I said we are sneaky like that. Guess we should address our answers. Bachmann just basically said Perry lied about the being lobbied by the cancer victim on Hannity.
LikeLike
So hey this is part of an exchange over there with okie and BM (now that's funny), if he only knew how hard what we're trying to do is.Meanwhile, if you can't take the heat, make a NEW blog where everyone loves each other and nobody has to read things that make them think.
LikeLike
Okie, I understand the comedic factor, just wondering if there is any motivation(s) aside from, or in additiotion to, the comedic factor.
LikeLike
lms, I haven't been over there for a while, but maybe I should check it out.
LikeLike
I should not feed the troll.
LikeLike
I went over earlier and horsed around for a while with BM and Liam, and Bernie.It was pretty much useless time.I'm sure MsJS thought I was being childish. Which is true. : )
LikeLike
troll, aside from comedic factor, I am *always* (R or D) looking at basic value stances (vis-a-vis specific issues).
LikeLike
lmsinca: let me roll my eyes and say "really? He really thinks we don't like his posts because he's too smart for us?"
LikeLike
Okie, fair enough. Did you discern anything that might have been different than what you already thought?
LikeLike
And don't worry I'll delete my comment above in a little while. He doesn't have a clue though. I still think it's a good idea for some of us to show up there anyway, whether because we still enjoy it on some level or because of Greg and others who aren't here that we still might want to converse with. Let them think what they want though.Troll, I agree with Okie, although I've missed every debate so far, I do like to understand the issues and their stands. I generally wait to watch until the field is narrowed. I was going to watch tonight to keep okie company. But there is the comedic value also.
LikeLike
troll, I am old and it's already significantly past my bedtime and I have a huge public event to manage tomorrow. Is this worth revisiting this weekend? If so, I will participate.Night all.
LikeLike
SCat, he seems to believe he's smarter than everyone the world over. He's got some competition at Plumline though for that belief.
LikeLike
Good night okie. Tomorrow's Friday……….
LikeLike
G'night okie, hope your event tomorrow goes flawlessly.Lms, serious question, do you think that you've ever learned something from a debate that you didn't already know? And for arguments sake, let's narrow it down to a Democratic debate, where I'm assuming you would know a lot about the obvious serious contenders.
LikeLike
lmsinca: LOL! Yes, he does.And I agree with you about still dropping in over at the PL. I still check in regularly, although I don't always post.Anyway, g'night all.
LikeLike
McWing, I think what we learn from the debates come from the answers to unexpected questions. Sometimes you get a glimmer of the man or woman behind the political mirror. We can all pretty much determine ahead of time what their policy and or solutions might be, but to me there's more to a candidate than the party line. It's not personality, it's inherent intelligence and thoughtfulness for me.
LikeLike
Night Scat. Manana
LikeLike
What is this, the Waltons?Night all!
LikeLike
"And to bed."
LikeLike
Jeeze, I hate being the only one on the West Coast, it's only 9:00. I guess I'll work on a post or something for tomorrow.
LikeLike
Just a note for anyone who reads this tonight or in the morning, I noticed a lot of our posts from today and yesterday didn't have labels. We may wish we'd done more labeling a few months from now when we search our archives so try to add those in.And it looks like scott's working on a morning thread, fantastic.
LikeLike
yes labels goodYou should call yourself the West Coast Bureau or something official.
LikeLike
Johnson's Fair Tax: I'm not really a fan of it, per se, but I don't think it would ever happen, even if Johnson were elected, which will also never happen. I'm not even sure how dedicated Johnson is to it, he just needs something to differentiate himself positively with the conservative base.
LikeLike
"And I agree with you about still dropping in over at the PL."For those of you who can. Harumph.
LikeLike
"Meanwhile, if you can't take the heat, make a NEW blog where everyone loves each other and nobody has to read things that make them think."Like yelling at each other and calling people names and invoking Nazis "makes people think". I'm going to dip into discourteous language, but that's so stupid it's brain-dead. The whole idea that anger and offense provokes thoughtfulness is so ass backwards . . . And which one is harder? Maintaining a friendly dialog and trying to understand what the other person is saying and asking for clarification, or bloviating about your esteemed opinion of their foolishness for having their position and . . . ugh! I mean, I understand the fun of fisticuffs, but pretending it's "deep thought" or is anything bug the blog-commenter equivalent of amateur-professional wrestling is . . . I need to stop. I love everybody! Now, no more thinking. Sheesh.
LikeLike
"Bachmann just basically said Perry lied about the being lobbied by the cancer victim on Hannity."I think Bachmann is self-destructing. Too bad, as she had my vote because she is right on light bulbs.Freeeeddooommmmmm!!! For light bulbs.
LikeLike