Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Quotes of the Day

But people say, no, Che Guevara was actually a Trotskyite. But what's the difference? The only difference between a Trotskyite and a Stalinist is that Trotsky wanted to spread Stalinism all over the world. Big deal. Okay, Castro wanted to keep Stalinism in Cuba while Che Guevara wanted to spread that curse all over the world.

-- Humberto Fontova

And...

For now, I find being an independent more fun ... The partisanship in this place is out of control. As an independent I’ve got the opportunity to speak out against that.

-- Senator Joe Lieberman

We now return you to your regularly scheduled reality.
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Monday, July 30, 2007

Arrrgh!

For some reason my Traveller blog has been mistakenly identified as a spam blog by some robot.

Yes, I'm whining about it.

So for now I'm going to post the article that I wanted to post on the Traveller blog here:


UMCS VALLEY FORGE

Yes, I've seen the film SILENT RUNNING... No, we don't allow lunatic greenies aboard our ships.

-- Commodore John Weymouth, Commander of Valley Forge Task Force.

Although the Poor Richard class escort carrier could do a fairly good job of supporting their big sisters, the Victorious class light fleet carriers, they still had the tactical disadvantage of being two-gee ships in an otherwise four-gee fleet. The Navy Department decided to replace the Poor Richard with a vessel that could carry the same fighter-group and accelerate at four gees in a thousand displacement-ton hull. Thus was born the Valley Forge class support carrier.

A dispute arose within the Navy Department and the Confederation Senate over the number of Valley Forge support carriers (which some wags referred to as an ultra-light carrier) that were to be built. Four or six? A compromise was eventually reached where the navy would build eight support carriers.

Part of the reason for building eight support carriers was the reorganization of the Main Force or Battle fleets.

The Main Force of the Ursa Major Confederation Navy was originally divided into three battle fleets: The Coreward Fleet based at Eos; The Central Fleet based at Galtswelt; And the Rimward Fleet based at Freya. Each battle fleet was originally centered on a Victorious class light fleet carrier and its group of escorts.

Under the reorganization, the Rimward Fleet at Freya which was closest to the most likely potential belligerent, the Auroran Empire, would have two Victorious class and two Valley Forge class carriers. The Coreward Fleet at Eos, facing the potentially hostile Republic of New Texas, would get one Victorious class and two Valley Forge class carriers. The Central Fleet at Galtswelt would receive the four remaining Valley Forge class carriers. The old Poor Richard class escort carriers would be independently based, one at Freya, two at Galtswelt, and one at Eos, in support of convoy escort or Marine landing forces as required.

Valley Forge-Class Support Carrier

Ship: Valley Forge
Class: Valley Forge
Type: Support Carrier
Architect: UMCN Bureau of Ships
Tech Level: 11

USP
CVS-A7244E2-050000-30000-0 MCr 717.593 1 KTons
Bat Bear 4 2 Crew: 60
Bat 4 2 TL: 11

Cargo: 28, Fuel: 270, EP: 40, Agility: 3
Craft: 1 x 50T Modular Cutter, 1 x 30T Fuel Module, 8 x 15T Kurnass Fighter-Interceptor, 12 x 6T Dagger Attack Fighter
Fuel Treatment: On Board Fuel Purification
Architects Fee: MCr 6.856 Cost in Quantity: MCr 580.474

Detailed Description

HULL: 1,000 tons standard, 14,000 cubic meters, Dispersed Structure Configuration
CREW: Pilot, Navigator, 8 Engineers, Medic, 6 Gunners, 29 Flight Crew, 14 Other Crew
ENGINEERING: Jump-2, 4G Manuever, Power plant-4, 40 EP, Agility 3
AVIONICS: Bridge, Model/5fib Computer
ARMAMENT: 2 Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 2 Batteries (Factor-3)
DEFENCES: 8 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 4 Batteries (Factor-5)
CRAFT: 50 ton Modular Cutter (Crew of 1, Cost of MCr 30), 30 ton Fuel Module (Cost of MCr 2), 8 x 15 ton Kurnass Fighter-Interceptors (Crew of 2, Sold Separately), 12 x 6 ton Dagger Attack Fighters (Crew of 1, Sold Separately)
FUEL: 270 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 30 tons of additional fuel), No Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant
MISCELLANEOUS: 30 Staterooms, 28 Tons Cargo
COST: MCr 692.448 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 6.856), MCr 548.474 in Quantity, plus MCr 32.000 of Carried Support Craft
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 120 Weeks Singly, 96 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS: The Valley Forge class support carrier (sometimes called an ultra-light carrier) was constructed to replace the Poor Richard class escort carrier in the role of supporting main fleet operations. There is additional accomodation for a task force commander and 13 support staff

A total of eight units were constructed. Valley Forge, Ticonderoga, Cowpens, and Bunker Hill were built at Galtswelt. Waterloo, Blenheim, Salamanca, and Agincourt were built at Freya.
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Thursday, July 26, 2007

Thought for the Day

I really don't have a problem with older women and cleavage, I just have a problem with self-appointed political deities like Hillary. And no, I won't show that photo of Hillary.

I'll show someone else instead.



And I'm still waiting for the bright and shiny future.
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Think Of It As Idiocy In Action

Some politicians are being stupid:

A backlash quickly emerged after the Telluride Town Council adopted a resolution last week calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

"It’s huge, unbelievable,” said Telluride Mayor John Pryor. “Ski groups are canceling for the winter. Hundreds of people are bailing. The (town) Web site is flooded with people saying they’re canceling their vacations here.”

Or to put it another way, it never pays to piss off the people who pay your bills.

HT to Tim Blair
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Quote of the Day

There’s nothing like living under actual socialism to drive up support for capitalism.

-- Carroll Andrew Morse

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Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Thought for the Day

Most Lefties couldn't identify the broad side of a barn even if they were standing in plain view of it.

Not yet... right?


Many years ago when I was working in contract security a woman asked me where the main post office was in downtown Minneapolis. I pointed directly to the immense limestone building with the words UNITED STATES POST OFFICE in enormous letters chiseled in stone about a block away at the end of the street.

She said she couldn't see it.

I'm not kidding.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

So Anyway...



Some people wonder why I'm an atheist.

Really.

There's this fellow who maintains an archive of bad album covers.

Go there at your own risk.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled reality.
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Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Quotes of the Day


Mikhail Kalashnikov and Eugene Stoner.

"I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence."

-- Mikhail Kalashnikov

"Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer... I always wanted to construct agriculture machinery."

-- Ibid.

"During the Vietnam war, American Soldiers would throw away their M-16s to grab AK-47s and bullets for it from dead Vietnamese soldiers, I hear American Soldiers in Iraq use it quite often."

-- Ibid.



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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

OH NO!

Not Lileks!

A collection of photoshopped images has appeared on Hugh Hewitt's townhall site; including this one:



My heart has to bleed for him.

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Monday, July 09, 2007

A Message...

I have a message for all those who believe in anthropogenic global warming:

WE LIVE IN A DYNAMIC UNIVERSE! GET OVER IT!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled (nonstatic) reality.
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Saturday, July 07, 2007

Meanwhile in the Blogosphere

Rachel Lucas is having fun with a meme, let's look at the revised questions (My answers in italics):


I threatened to make the questions on that meme more interesting, at least to myself. I'd much rather learn about people's flaws, dirty secrets, and psychological problems than their favorite stupid color or what stupid kind of ice cream they like, wouldn't you? Here:

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? WHAT INSULTING NICKNAMES WERE YOU CALLED IN CHILDHOOD?

I decline to answer that question.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? WHEN YOU CRY, DO YOU LOOK UGLY, OR DOES IT GIVE YOU A BEAUTIFUL SAD GLOW?

How should I know?

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? ARE YOU FORGETTING HOW TO WRITE BECAUSE YOU SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON THE COMPUTER?

Yes.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? DO YOU THINK VEGETARIANS ARE INSANE? (BECAUSE THEY ARE.)

Yes.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS? DO YOU LIKE KIDS? IF SO, WHY? WHY, IN THE NAME OF GOD?

No.

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? IF YOU WERE A DOG, WOULD YOU LICK YOURSELF JUST BECAUSE YOU COULD? DON'T TRY TO DENY IT.

How kharmically fucked up do I have to be in order to come back as a dog?

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? ARE YOU AS FRIGHTENED OF CLOWNS AS YOU SHOULD BE IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU?

No.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? IF YOU COULD BE EITHER VERY BEAUTIFUL OR VERY SMART, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

Smart is beautiful.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD YOU REQUIRE TO HAVE INTIMATE RELATIONS WITH MICHAEL MOORE OR ROSIE O'DONNELL (DEPENDING ON YOUR SEXUAL PREFERENCE BUT DOES THAT REALLY MATTER WITH THESE TWO)?

I would eat a gun before I do either of them.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CUSS WORD?

Bloody.

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? IF YOU'RE A MAN, HAVE YOU EVER CAUGHT YOUR JUNK IN YOUR ZIPPER? HOW BAD DID IT HURT? IF YOU'RE A WOMAN, HOW GLAD ARE YOU THAT YOU'RE NOT A MAN?

Yes. I won't describe it.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO GROW OLD OR DIE TRAGICALLY YOUNG?

I once said that in ten years I would either be dead or in charge of the all-night firing squad. That was about twenty years ago.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? DESCRIBE YOUR MOST RECENT NIGHTMARE.

I'm standing in a wheat field watching Minuteman ICBM's climb into the sky.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? DO YOU WISH THAT, INSTEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DEBATES, THEY INSTEAD HAD TO BOX EACH OTHER, BECAUSE THEN THERE'D NEVER EVER BE ANOTHER DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

I'd favor a duel with pistols.

RED OR PINK? ABBA: THE BLONDE OR THE BRUNETTE?

Frida.

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? WHAT DISEASE DO YOU MOST FEAR CONTRACTING?

Socialist Cooties.

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? WHO DO YOU MISS THE LEAST?

Why should I try to remember who I don't miss?

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? ON A SCALE OF 1-10, HOW MUCH DO YOU HATE SHOPPING FOR NEW CLOTHES (10 BEING SO MUCH YOU'D RATHER CLEAN THE CAT BOX WITH YOUR BARE HANDS).

Five. I usually spend more on books than I do on clothes.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE BEFORE THE LAST TIME YOU THREW UP?

Stuff from the Old Country Buffet.

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? NAME FIVE "CLASSIC" POPULAR SONGS YOU HOPE YOU NEVER HEAR AGAIN AS LONG AS YOU LIVE.

I'd rather not. In general its anything in the whiny commie-prop mode from the late sixties and early seventies.

IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? IF YOU WERE A DOG, WHICH BREED WOULD YOU BE?

Again, how kharmically fucked up do I have to be in order to come back as a dog?

FAVORITE SMELLS? FAVORITE BODILY FUNCTION? (COUGH, SNEEZE, BELCH, POOP, FART, YAWN, ETC)

Why?

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU HAD A HUGE FIGHT WITH, WHAT WAS THE FIGHT ABOUT, AND WHO WON?

Ex-landlady, a barking moonbat troofer. Victory in such arguments is not possible.

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? AS WE ALL KNOW, PRO FOOTBALL IS THE ONLY SPORT WORTH CARING ABOUT. IN LIGHT OF THAT FACT, WHO IS THE BEST NFL QUARTERBACK OF THE LAST 10 YEARS? BEST RUNNING BACK? BEST WIDE RECEIVER? BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER? BIGGEST PRIMA DONNA? WHINIEST BITCH?

Who cares? I haven't watched a football game since the Vikings lost the Super Bowl for the fourth time.


HAIR COLOR? BALD MEN ARE VERY SEXY. DISCUSS.

I'm bald.

EYE COLOR? THE INVENTION OF THE PILL IS A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO BELIEVE IN GOD. DISCUSS.

Being in control of all aspects of your life is nice...

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? DO YOU HAVE PERFECT VISION? IF SO, RACHEL LUCAS ENVIES YOU WITH THE FIRE OF A THOUSAND GALAXIES.

No.

FAVORITE FOOD? FOOD YOU FIND SO REPUGNANT THAT YOU SIMPLY CANNOT BELIEVE OTHER PEOPLE PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTHS?

Green Beans.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? WHEN YOU GO TO THE MOVIES AND THE JERK BEHIND YOU KICKS YOUR SEAT CONSTANTLY, DO YOU IGNORE/MOVE OR DO YOU CHALLENGE THEM TO FISTICUFFS?

I move.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED THAT MADE YOU GET ON YOUR KNEES AFTERWARDS AND BEG GOD TO GIVE YOU THE LAST TWO HOURS OF YOUR LIFE BACK?

Iron Eagle II.

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? DO YOU EVER PUT CLOTHES ON YOUR PETS?

I have no pets.

SUMMER OR WINTER? BEER, WINE, OR LIQUOR?

Diet Cola.

HUGS OR KISSES? FALL ASLEEP OR CUDDLE?

I decline to answer that question.

FAVORITE DESSERT? FAVORITE FOOD THAT YOU KNOW WILL KILL YOU EVENTUALLY BUT YOU DON'T CARE BECAUSE IT IS JUST SO FREAKING DELICIOUS?

Chocolate marshmallow ice cream.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SO DISGUSTED BY A BOOK'S ENDING THAT YOU VIOLENTLY DESTROYED THE BOOK?

No. But I did literally throw my copy of MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA by S.M. Stirling across the room at about page 17.

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? DO YOU HAVE P0RN ON YOUR COMPUTER? DON'T LIE.

Yes.

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? TRUE OR FALSE: "REALITY" T.V. IS THE BEST REASON FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO HATE AMERICA.

I'm supposed to care about some dumbfuck who can't use a channel selector?

FAVORITE SOUND? FAVORITE DRUNKEN SLATTERN: PARIS, LINDSEY, OR BRITNEY?

I'm supposed to give a fuck?

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? MOST DESERVING OF CHUCK-NORRIS-STYLE ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE THROAT: AL GORE OR JESSE JACKSON?

The Goracle. Think in terms of effects.

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? WHAT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME YOU GOT DRUNK? 'FESS UP.

I was at home, I went to bed.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? IF YOU COULD HAVE MAD SKILLZ IN DANCING OR IN SINGING, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WOULD IT BE FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL SATISFACTION OR TO IMPRESS OTHER PEOPLE AND POSSIBLY GET SOME ACTION?

I sing, and no one is impressed with it.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN? IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WOULD YOU USE IT FOR GOOD OR EVIL?

To cause death at a thought. Since I would freely use this power on socialists, islamists, and other such trash it would have to be for good.

WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? IF YOU NEVER SEE ANOTHER Q&A MEME AGAIN, WILL IT BE TOO SOON?

Yes.

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Friday, July 06, 2007

Quote of the Day

It's basic politeness to say good bye to a friend. And to make sure he's not playing an instrument that can go supercritical and take out half the spaceport.

-- Florence Ambrose, Engineer.

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Wednesday, July 04, 2007

In Other News


There's been another sighting of Islamic Rage Boy.

The kid needs to calm down. Perhaps a visit by a couple of large Sicilian gentlemen with baseball bats would help.
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Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Quote of the Day



From Xerxes99 at Fark.com as a caption to this photograph:

Nothing more beautiful in the world if you ask me...Especially when you get to witness trembling Japanese tourists taking pictures of it.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled reality.
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