Thanksgiving

Americans are prone to bitching about trivialities (nothing on TV, traffic, being overweight while stuffing their faces with another helping of pumpkin pie) when there are almost 3 billion people - that's a three with nine zeros behind it - living on less than a dollar a day. So without getting sappy, I wanted to jot down a few things I'm thankful for. In no particular order:

• at almost 40 I can still eat a whole box of cookies in one sitting and not gain a pound;
• at almost 40 eating a whole box of cookies in one sitting gives me a stomach ache because I really shouldn't do that;
• I still have some hair left;
• I have a good job;
• I've not gotten myself fired - yet;
• my dogs and cats (even though they chase women away);
• my dogs and cats (because they chase women away);
• this really amazing technology that didn't exist when I was a kid;
• the roof over my head and the land under my feet;
• the wisdom of our Founding Fathers;
• I was born in America;
• I'm free;
• I'm not hungry;
• I'm healthy;
• my daughter;
• mom and dad;
• my brothers and new sister-in-law (good job John);
• the rest of my crazy but entertaining family;
• friends who find my personality defects to be assets instead of liabilities (most of the time anyway).

That's not all I'm thankful for, but that's all I'm saying. Time to go eat some Tofurkey.

I'm a Guy...

...at least according to the GenderAnalyzer:

We think http://www.dividingbyzero.us/ is written by a man (85%).

Good to know. Feeling more masculine already. And just to be sure, I tried Jess's blog:

We think http://www.blindcavefish.com/ is written by a woman (79%).

2 for 2. I guess that means it's completely accurate. Statistics say so!

Dewde has long hair. I figured for sure he'd show up as all feminine and girly, but no! He's more of a man than I am!

We have strong indicators that http://www.dewde.com/ is written by a man (93%).

He must be cheating. 2 for 3. Punk.

Gun Free Zones are Target Rich Zones

Well here's a shocker:

The other statistic that emerged from a study of active killers is that they almost exclusively seek out "gun free" zones for their attacks. In most states, concealed handguns are prohibited at schools and on college campuses even for those with permits. Many malls and workplaces also place signs at their entrances prohibiting firearms on the premises. Now tacticians believe the signs themselves may be an invitation to the active killers.

Cowardly murders would actively seek unarmed victims? Who would have thought?

[ Hat tip: Instapundit ]

Quote of the Day

Muttered by yours truly: "Paying for wifi is likely to be a thing of the past - kind of like heterosexuality and freedom."

Don't Blow It, Barack

America is going to have her first black (or African American, if you prefer) president. Given that only about 12% of America is black this means a lot of non-black people didn't seem to see President Elect Obama's skin color as a problem. For that I'm quite proud.

Mr. Obama is inheriting a high-risk recession that's been over 30 years in the making, starting with the Community Reinvestment Act passed by President Carter in the 1970s. I don't think there's much Obama can do to make it better, but there is a lot he can do to make it worse.

What worries me the most about this is that America's first black president might pull a Hoover/FDR and drive us into a brutal long-term depression. He could achieve this by implementing more government control over the free market (the same kind of control that caused this mess), raising taxes on the people that drive the economy, and putting protectionist trade barriers in place. And if America's first black president makes a mess into a disaster, I don't like the idea that some people might attribute this to the color of his skin instead of the wisdom (or lack thereof) of his policies.

So here's to Mr. Obama giving freedom a chance.

Note to Self: Rule Number One

Came across this:

I done this literally thousands of times in the last fifteen years, but this times things were a little different. I grabbed the slide getting ready to push the takedown pins and pulled the trigger……BANG!!!!! Apparently I DID pipe a round an hour prior. My shooting bud attributes it to force of habit, but why the hell didn’t I check the chamber before pulling the trigger? Should that be force of habit too?

Not only did I set off a .45 in my garage, but I passed right through my left hand……Yep….I fucking shot myself point blank....

So this is a note to myself:

All guns are always loaded. That's Rule Number One. It's going to save my life or the lives of those around me by sticking to it.

Triumph vs. the GOP

Triumph on Global Warming | Viral | SPIKE.com

I'm Famous!

Okay, so not really. The Opinion Journal's Best of the Web Today is one of my regular reads. I've emailed with the author, James Taranto, from time to time.

Mr. Taranto likes to find silly headlines and pick on them. So yesterday I spotted one that would be perfect for his article (the headline under "You Only Live Twice"), and he used it. Better yet, he gave me thanks for the find!

I'm not saying which one I am, but I'm there, and it's pretty neat.

Election Prognostication

I predict that there will be great relief nationwide as there will be no more campaigning and political commercials, at least until March 2009, when politicians start running for the 2012 presidential race.

Dead Men Voting

If I had to guess, the vital-sign-challenged heavily favor the Democratic party.

Just a guess...