Collage Blogging

A little bit of this, a little bit of that...today we are doing fractured fragments...

One of the first bits of software, right after the anti-virus goodness, that I load on a new WinPC is Roxio CD/DVD Creator - unlike the various & lesser varieties of CD/DVD burning software, Roxio has a delightfully simple user interface, and can handle projects ranging from basic to complex without blinking. Nero is only installed as a cruel practical joke. Regarding burning a *legally acquired* movie for backup purposes under fair use, recall that most DVD's implement one or more forms of crippleware (aka DRM, Digital Rights Management) that is designed to defeat such efforts - software workarounds exist, but the annoyance factor is significant.

Isaiah Washington over on Grey's Anatomy allegedly either used the word "Fag" or called his gay co-star T.R. Knight a fag. For an awful lot of us, "fag" is at the same level as "nigger" or "wetback" are for others - if it's called across the room in an unfamiliar voice, that extra special "oh, this is gonna get ugly and is my health insurance premium paid up?" tingle goes down the spine as visions of bashings go dancing across our memories - and that dance, once commenced, even the winners lose. But I think peremptory "end of career" moments are a bit...overenthusiastic...for a few misplaced words and a clumsy/clueless apology.

Don't you just hate it when the liberal city council types go into elitist "mommy knows best" mode? This time they are trying to ram a hideously expensive waterfront tunnel down our collective throats and throwing an advisory vote where somehow there's "just not enough room on the ballot" for the cost numbers...

Last weekend an all-night restaurant got shot up (5 injured) by a known loon, resulting in pro-gun-control squealing. Oddly, nobody has gotten around to asking.. ".gee...what if some of the staff or patrons had been armed?" or "what was a known nut case/felon with anger issues doing running around loose in the first place?"

In another news, Microsoft got caught paying off bloggers to modify Wiki entries in their favor. Naughty, naughty. Be careful installing Norton 2007...it doesn't like Counterspy, and can force you to re-install Thunderbird.

Our President gave a speech last night - mostly good, and offensive mainly what it missed...pardoning a couple of Border Patrol agents convicted of doing their jobs. Pardon, reinstatement, with full back pay sounds about just to me based on what I've heard of the situation.

Ethanol is great, especially for Iowa corn farmers...but what about Waste Vegetable Oil, even cheaper and better that biodiesel? I *so* want a converted 5-banger Benz that's WVO friendly...something just charming about being *paid* to haul my fuel away.

That is all.