Some of you may have noticed a short post a little while back in which I said I had just purchased a new vehicle. The auto in question is, indeed, a brand new pick-up truck type of thing.
I have been getting a considerable amount of crap from people since I started driving around in it. People who pass me on the street seem to react either with admiration or hatred. Please, people, neither is warranted. To those of you who are unduly impressed with my new ride I say that is very sad. To those of you who glare, frown, and flip me off I have a little more to say. Yes, it is a big, huge, fancy, luxury truck. You are wrong, however, that I am personally responsible for destroying the planet.
There are several points of which you must be unaware. First of all this truck has been completely redesigned for 2007. It was built with new materials which are somewhat lighter than even the usual non-metal auto body parts. Secondly it is more aerodynamic than most passenger cars. Then they did things (weird electronic things) to the timing, the fuel injectors, and the transmission to make it much more fuel efficient than a regular pick-up. It has an onboard computer system which interacts with Onstar via satellite to inform me immediately if the vehicle is not operating correctly. This includes inordinately high fuel emissions. Next, the engine is a V-8, but it is a Chevy 327 which is one of the most economical engines ever built. When the driving conditions are right the engine cuts off the fuel supply to half of the cylinders and the truck actually operates a lot of the time on only four cylinders. Lastly, the engine is "alternative fuel ready", which means it can run on ethynol 85 and certain other non-gas fuels without having to take it in for alterations first.
In my area we just got our first shipment of EH85 delivered. That means each and every gallon of fuel I put in it is 85% corn squeezin's and only 15% gasoline. What does your car take?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
What kind of Whacko are you?
Could be some interesting results and follow-up discussion on this one if we all take this quiz on our religious beliefs found right about here.
Don't forget to visit this cool website that Cousin Ted turned us onto a couple of years back. Everything a whacko could want.
You scored as Buddhism.
Your beliefs most closely resemble those of Buddhism. Do more research on Buddhism and possibly consider becoming Buddhist, if you are not already. In Buddhism, there are Four Noble Truths: (1) Life is suffering. (2) All suffering is caused by ignorance of the nature of reality and the craving, attachment, and grasping that result from such ignorance. (3) Suffering can be ended by overcoming ignorance and attachment. (4) The path to the suppression of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right-mindedness, and right contemplation. These eight are usually divided into three categories that base the Buddhist faith: morality, wisdom, and samadhi, or concentration. In Buddhism, there is no hierarchy, nor caste system; the Buddha taught that one's spiritual worth is not based on birth.
Buddhism -----------79%
Paganism -----------67%
Christianity -------63%
Hinduism -----------63%
Satanism -----------54%
atheism ------------50%
agnosticism --------42%
Islam --------------33%
Judaism ------------25%
Your beliefs most closely resemble those of Buddhism. Do more research on Buddhism and possibly consider becoming Buddhist, if you are not already. In Buddhism, there are Four Noble Truths: (1) Life is suffering. (2) All suffering is caused by ignorance of the nature of reality and the craving, attachment, and grasping that result from such ignorance. (3) Suffering can be ended by overcoming ignorance and attachment. (4) The path to the suppression of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right-mindedness, and right contemplation. These eight are usually divided into three categories that base the Buddhist faith: morality, wisdom, and samadhi, or concentration. In Buddhism, there is no hierarchy, nor caste system; the Buddha taught that one's spiritual worth is not based on birth.
Buddhism -----------79%
Paganism -----------67%
Christianity -------63%
Hinduism -----------63%
Satanism -----------54%
atheism ------------50%
agnosticism --------42%
Islam --------------33%
Judaism ------------25%
Friday, April 13, 2007
BUII
Step away from the Blog! Sir, have you had anything to drink tonight?
Why no, occifer, why would you axe such a stupid question?
Sir, I can detect a heavy odor of alcohol from your modem.
Nah, nah, don't misunderestimate me! I never post while I drimk.
Sir, I'll need you to step away from the keyboard and perform a sobriety test.
Shure, you betcha there occifer do-right. Ahm tellin yoo - I can pass one a dem no matter how drunk I am
Yes sir, please grab your mouse and touch the pointer to your blog roll
Like this?? (mouse zooms to sitemeter link)
Sir, you're in no condition to be blogging tonight. I'm afraid I'm going to have to cite you and have your computer impounded.
Fuck you! You nazi bastard!!
Sir, there's no call for that kind of language, You're under arrest. The tow truck will be here for your computer shortly.
Yoo don't unnerstands me! I need to keep my readers informed and entertained. All I had was a few teeny-weeny little glasses
Yes sir, uh exactly how many teeny-weeny little glasses?
242.
I see. Sir, your readers are going to have to do without your wit and wisdom for the time being.
But what will the poor deers do wifout me, Dick Tracy?
I'm sure they'll get along sir. Please get into the car.
Hey occifer, do ya spose that if you drink too much non-alcoholic beer that it makes you a non-alcoholic? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - BARF
I really don't know sir, please don't upchuck in the patrol car.
Why no, occifer, why would you axe such a stupid question?
Sir, I can detect a heavy odor of alcohol from your modem.
Nah, nah, don't misunderestimate me! I never post while I drimk.
Sir, I'll need you to step away from the keyboard and perform a sobriety test.
Shure, you betcha there occifer do-right. Ahm tellin yoo - I can pass one a dem no matter how drunk I am
Yes sir, please grab your mouse and touch the pointer to your blog roll
Like this?? (mouse zooms to sitemeter link)
Sir, you're in no condition to be blogging tonight. I'm afraid I'm going to have to cite you and have your computer impounded.
Fuck you! You nazi bastard!!
Sir, there's no call for that kind of language, You're under arrest. The tow truck will be here for your computer shortly.
Yoo don't unnerstands me! I need to keep my readers informed and entertained. All I had was a few teeny-weeny little glasses
Yes sir, uh exactly how many teeny-weeny little glasses?
242.
I see. Sir, your readers are going to have to do without your wit and wisdom for the time being.
But what will the poor deers do wifout me, Dick Tracy?
I'm sure they'll get along sir. Please get into the car.
Hey occifer, do ya spose that if you drink too much non-alcoholic beer that it makes you a non-alcoholic? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - BARF
I really don't know sir, please don't upchuck in the patrol car.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
From Kona's and Jacq's blogs
50 QUESTIONS
This meme came from Kona's blog. Read it. Blog it. Don't blog it. It's up to you.
1. How tall are you barefoot?
Exactly 6' 0"
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No
3. Do you own a gun? Yes
4. Who's your best friend? I don't understand the question.
5. Do you get nervous before "meeting the parents?" If you don't, you're an over confident ninny.
6. What music are you embarrassed to admit that you listen to? None
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? Happy X-mas / War Is Over
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Mocha's
9. Can you do push-ups? Yes, but I refuse to count.
10. Why does one question always disappear? Uh. Don't really know.
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My earring shaped like a black heart.
12. Do you like painkillers? Yes. Absolutely.
13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex? Money works
14. Do you own a knife? Nah.
15. Do you have A.D.D.? No.
16. Middle Name? Edward
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? WOMEN!(said with exasperation) THAT woman (said with greater exasperation) Where did my balls run off to now?
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought: a CD of the 80's greatest hits for Allanah, a DVD of a Barry Manilow concert for her mother, and 80 dollars worth of gas.
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: Mocha Latte, Cranberry juice, V8
20. What time did you wake up today? About 7.
(Yea, I just noticed question #21 is missing)
22. Current worry? Growing old and becoming the neighborhood crazy cat man
23. Current hate? Not saying, but Bush is not at the top of the list any more.
24. Favorite place to be? Inside a vagina
25. Least favorite place to be? work - duh
26. Where would you like to go? Indiana
27. Do you own slippers? No
28. What shirt are you wearing? black,old navy, long sleeve thermal
29. Do you burn or tan? Tan. I have some Indian blood
30. Favorite colors? purple, blue
31. Would you be a pirate? Did that in a previous life. It was fun but not again.
32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink? 2 months ago
33. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't
34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? A shadow monster who was always just in the corner of my eye.
35. What's in your pockets right now? money, my wallet, some receipts
36. Last thing that made you laugh? I can't remember
37. Best bed sheets as a child? they were all plain.
38. Worst injury you ever had? Broke my elbow
(Yet another question missing)
40. How many tvs do you have in your house? 4 in each house
41. Who is your loudest friend? Again, I don't understand the question
42. Who is your most silent friend? You keep using this weird F word. It is a term used by people who are either too stupid or too lazy to define their relationships. If person 'A' is my "friend" and I am having sexual relations with that person then am I also having sexual relations with person 'B' if I also call that person a "friend"? No. Person 'A' is a lover (possibly other things as well) and person 'B' is quite likely someone with whom I drink beer. Relationships need to be defined in terms more fitting and descriptive.
43. Does someone have a crush on you? No
44. Do you wish on shooting stars? Yeah, when I was 4.
45. What is your favorite book? Too many to name
46. What is your favorite candy? M&M's
47. What song do you want played at your wedding? I'm a guy. We will like any song as long as the bride is there enjoying it.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Elton John's funeral for a Friend, how ironic. Or maybe oh-bla-di, oh-bli-da by The Beatles, also ironic.
49. What were you doing at 12 am last night? sending Jacq a surprise, overnight text message to wish her well in her morning job interview
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? Why is ther a cat sleeping on my head?
This meme came from Kona's blog. Read it. Blog it. Don't blog it. It's up to you.
1. How tall are you barefoot?
Exactly 6' 0"
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No
3. Do you own a gun? Yes
4. Who's your best friend? I don't understand the question.
5. Do you get nervous before "meeting the parents?" If you don't, you're an over confident ninny.
6. What music are you embarrassed to admit that you listen to? None
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? Happy X-mas / War Is Over
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Mocha's
9. Can you do push-ups? Yes, but I refuse to count.
10. Why does one question always disappear? Uh. Don't really know.
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My earring shaped like a black heart.
12. Do you like painkillers? Yes. Absolutely.
13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex? Money works
14. Do you own a knife? Nah.
15. Do you have A.D.D.? No.
16. Middle Name? Edward
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? WOMEN!(said with exasperation) THAT woman (said with greater exasperation) Where did my balls run off to now?
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought: a CD of the 80's greatest hits for Allanah, a DVD of a Barry Manilow concert for her mother, and 80 dollars worth of gas.
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: Mocha Latte, Cranberry juice, V8
20. What time did you wake up today? About 7.
(Yea, I just noticed question #21 is missing)
22. Current worry? Growing old and becoming the neighborhood crazy cat man
23. Current hate? Not saying, but Bush is not at the top of the list any more.
24. Favorite place to be? Inside a vagina
25. Least favorite place to be? work - duh
26. Where would you like to go? Indiana
27. Do you own slippers? No
28. What shirt are you wearing? black,old navy, long sleeve thermal
29. Do you burn or tan? Tan. I have some Indian blood
30. Favorite colors? purple, blue
31. Would you be a pirate? Did that in a previous life. It was fun but not again.
32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink? 2 months ago
33. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't
34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? A shadow monster who was always just in the corner of my eye.
35. What's in your pockets right now? money, my wallet, some receipts
36. Last thing that made you laugh? I can't remember
37. Best bed sheets as a child? they were all plain.
38. Worst injury you ever had? Broke my elbow
(Yet another question missing)
40. How many tvs do you have in your house? 4 in each house
41. Who is your loudest friend? Again, I don't understand the question
42. Who is your most silent friend? You keep using this weird F word. It is a term used by people who are either too stupid or too lazy to define their relationships. If person 'A' is my "friend" and I am having sexual relations with that person then am I also having sexual relations with person 'B' if I also call that person a "friend"? No. Person 'A' is a lover (possibly other things as well) and person 'B' is quite likely someone with whom I drink beer. Relationships need to be defined in terms more fitting and descriptive.
43. Does someone have a crush on you? No
44. Do you wish on shooting stars? Yeah, when I was 4.
45. What is your favorite book? Too many to name
46. What is your favorite candy? M&M's
47. What song do you want played at your wedding? I'm a guy. We will like any song as long as the bride is there enjoying it.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Elton John's funeral for a Friend, how ironic. Or maybe oh-bla-di, oh-bli-da by The Beatles, also ironic.
49. What were you doing at 12 am last night? sending Jacq a surprise, overnight text message to wish her well in her morning job interview
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? Why is ther a cat sleeping on my head?
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Mr. Orwell?
Interesting. Sitemeter tells me that I have had two visits recently from someone at "house.gov" in Washington, DC. They used the search words China and Communism. Welcome to the Space, big brother.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Tips for buying safe pet food
The TODAY Show - NBC
Updated: 11:54 a.m. PT April 3, 2007
In the latest development in the pet food scare, the FDA said that it had not found rat poison in the tainted pet food, but melamine, a chemical commonly used to make plastic cutlery, and also used in fertilizer in Asia.
Hours after the announcement, the nationwide pet food recall, which had involved only so-called wet foods — all manufactured by Menu Foods and sold under a variety of brand names — was expanded to include one brand of dry cat food, Prescription Diet m/d Feline, made by Hills Pet Nutrition
The brand was found to have been made with a batch of wheat gluten shipped to the United States from China that the FDA said was laced with melamine.
Dr. Karen Halligan explains which ingredients pet owners should look out for and avoid, and steps to insure you are buying safe food.
What is wheat gluten?
Gluten is a glycoprotein that's found in wheat, oat and barley. It's used to thicken, and to make gravy in wet food. It may also be used in dry food as part of a protein supplement or a carbohydrate source.
How to pick a good dog food
You want to pick a dog food that conforms to minimal AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards because AAFCO officials strictly regulate pet food.
You want to pick pet foods that have good sources of animal protein. If you look at the ingredient list, it is listed in descending order by amount — just like humans. So the first two or three ingredients should be some type of animal protein — chicken, beef, fish, lamb, beef or turkey. They shouldn't be vegetable, wheat or grain, or animal by-products.
Also, the pet food — can or bag — should have an expiration date. And it should have a phone number and/or Web site, so you can call the company and ask questions. These are the things that are going to be on high-quality pet foods. You also want to look for natural preservatives, like vitamin C or vitamin E, and stay away from chemical preservatives. Ethoxyquine is one that they used years back that was determined to be a carcinogenic, and are no longer using.
Avoid generic-label or store-label brands because the food is probably from bulk suppliers. Don't pick products that have unidentified meat or bone meal. It's got to specify the protein(i.e. chicken, turkey, salmon).
Avoid preservatives that are controversial: BHT, ethoxyquine, BHA and propolyneglycol. Those are things you don't want to see on the label.
Key points
Make sure there are no wheat or wheat gluten products in your pet food, and monitor your pet's behavior to be sure your pet is well.
Avoid these ingredients
Wheat or wheat gluten
BHT
Ethoxyquine
BHA
Propylene glycol
How to pick safe food
Read ingredient labels
Find AAFCO stamp
Check expiration date
Get contact information
Updated: 11:54 a.m. PT April 3, 2007
In the latest development in the pet food scare, the FDA said that it had not found rat poison in the tainted pet food, but melamine, a chemical commonly used to make plastic cutlery, and also used in fertilizer in Asia.
Hours after the announcement, the nationwide pet food recall, which had involved only so-called wet foods — all manufactured by Menu Foods and sold under a variety of brand names — was expanded to include one brand of dry cat food, Prescription Diet m/d Feline, made by Hills Pet Nutrition
The brand was found to have been made with a batch of wheat gluten shipped to the United States from China that the FDA said was laced with melamine.
Dr. Karen Halligan explains which ingredients pet owners should look out for and avoid, and steps to insure you are buying safe food.
What is wheat gluten?
Gluten is a glycoprotein that's found in wheat, oat and barley. It's used to thicken, and to make gravy in wet food. It may also be used in dry food as part of a protein supplement or a carbohydrate source.
How to pick a good dog food
You want to pick a dog food that conforms to minimal AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards because AAFCO officials strictly regulate pet food.
You want to pick pet foods that have good sources of animal protein. If you look at the ingredient list, it is listed in descending order by amount — just like humans. So the first two or three ingredients should be some type of animal protein — chicken, beef, fish, lamb, beef or turkey. They shouldn't be vegetable, wheat or grain, or animal by-products.
Also, the pet food — can or bag — should have an expiration date. And it should have a phone number and/or Web site, so you can call the company and ask questions. These are the things that are going to be on high-quality pet foods. You also want to look for natural preservatives, like vitamin C or vitamin E, and stay away from chemical preservatives. Ethoxyquine is one that they used years back that was determined to be a carcinogenic, and are no longer using.
Avoid generic-label or store-label brands because the food is probably from bulk suppliers. Don't pick products that have unidentified meat or bone meal. It's got to specify the protein(i.e. chicken, turkey, salmon).
Avoid preservatives that are controversial: BHT, ethoxyquine, BHA and propolyneglycol. Those are things you don't want to see on the label.
Key points
Make sure there are no wheat or wheat gluten products in your pet food, and monitor your pet's behavior to be sure your pet is well.
Avoid these ingredients
Wheat or wheat gluten
BHT
Ethoxyquine
BHA
Propylene glycol
How to pick safe food
Read ingredient labels
Find AAFCO stamp
Check expiration date
Get contact information
Monday, April 2, 2007
Not in human food, that's good news, but what exactly do we feed our pets?
Updated: 2:08 p.m. PT April 2, 2007
The U.S. is blocking imports of wheat gluten from a company in China, acting after an investigation implicated the contaminated ingredient in the recent pet-food deaths of cats and dogs.
The Food and Drug Administration took action against wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China, after the U.S. recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food made with the chemically contaminated ingredient. The pet food, tainted with the chemical melamine, apparently has resulted in kidney failure in an unknown number of animals across the country.
Wheat gluten from China has been suspected in the outbreak since the first of multiple recalls was announced in mid-March. Even more pet food could be recalled in the next few days, though there probably has been no contamination of human food, FDA officials said Monday.
The U.S. is blocking imports of wheat gluten from a company in China, acting after an investigation implicated the contaminated ingredient in the recent pet-food deaths of cats and dogs.
The Food and Drug Administration took action against wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China, after the U.S. recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food made with the chemically contaminated ingredient. The pet food, tainted with the chemical melamine, apparently has resulted in kidney failure in an unknown number of animals across the country.
Wheat gluten from China has been suspected in the outbreak since the first of multiple recalls was announced in mid-March. Even more pet food could be recalled in the next few days, though there probably has been no contamination of human food, FDA officials said Monday.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
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