Author: David

Over-educated Curmudgeon, Bit-Bucket Tuner and Budding Brewmeister.
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Ann Coulter Pwns Juan Williams

And a LEGAL immigrant shames the Tuscon City Council for considering suing the State of Arizona over its recent law enjoining its own law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws.

h.t. Hot Air

Update: Peggy Noonan (yes, she’s still worth reading every now and then, despite having her head clogged by Beltway clannishness almost as badly as most of the politicians she accuses of living in the Beltway echo chamber) has this to say about the “feddle gummint’s” absolute failure to do anything meaningful about border control:

Why does the federal government do this? Because so many within it are stupid and unimaginative and don’t trust the American people. Which of course the American people have noticed.

Well, duh, Peggy. This statement could apply equally well to almost ANYTHING the “feddle gummint” does, though, so why just single out border control? (*heh* I was talking with a National Guard guy earlier this week about his take on why certain procedures are in place, and we agreed that they key was that the best way of doing things was likely known but was always taken off the table in favor of procedures that would exacerbate problems, be the least efficient or take the most time, money and personnel. It’s just the nature of bureaucrats to make certain it is so… )

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Words I Wish “Feddle Gummint” Officials Lived By

All of ’em have to take this oath, but few, it seems, mean anything by it when they do.

I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

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WePad

Apart from the chuckles (if not outright guffaws–puppy-training pad?) the name inspires, this looks like what the iPad ought to have been in order to appeal to anyone who wanted something other than a large format, less capable iPod Touch:

Yeh, my German’s way, way out of date, but I caught enough to spur my interest.

More…

And

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdz_TX2qDZQ&feature=player_embedded

OK, so all the loan phrases imparted a lot of info on top of what little German I caught, but it does look intriguing. Price point’s apparently a slight tad over the iPad, but it answers nearly all the objections I had to the iPad, so that’s a Very Good Thing. Can it gain traction in the US? Well, it’s not even for sale here, so there’s no way to tell yet. And, of course, there’s the Apple “mystique” that appeals to those with more taste for sizzle than for steak, and there are more lobotomized Americans that fit that characterization than I find comfortable to contemplate, so that’s another barrier. Still, I’d kind of like to get my hands on one…

And

The WePad is a Google Android tablet with 11.6 inch touch screen display, 1.66GHz Intel Atom processor, 16GB of flash storage, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1, and 1.3 megapixel camera starting at $611 and will have another model with a 3G-32GB version that will be available for $774 USD. The We-Pad launch date according to the company is August 2010.

Other notable features include memory card reader, two USB sockets, audio output, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, stereo speakers and Flash and Adobe AIR support. Additionally, the WePad will also come touting HDMI out as well as a Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator for 1080p video playback.

Add the fact that multitasking is a part of the mix, and that’s LOTS more usability than the iPad!

*heh* I’d probably use it as a entertainment room “surf tablet” and media controller, for the most part, or as a notebook replacement (which would call for an easily added–via USB–wireless keyboard and mouse), and most of the add-on mobile capabilities would be something I’d probably not need. But that’s just me. Yeh, a convertable multi-touch tablet/netbook would probably suit me better, anyway, but still… nice to know that–if these videos are any indication at all–somebody has built a more sensible and more capable iPad-like device at a competitive price point.

Oh, and back on the videos now, I liked the presenter’s shirt cuffs and the nice, cool 54 degrees Fahrenheit day in Hamburg. *heh*

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Mini-Reprieve From “The Day Eaten By Locusts”

Well, today looked as though it were scheduled to be devoured by locusts, but rain has washed out some auto mechanicking (more brake work: do NOT do while raining, even if using synthetic brake fluids–just don’t :-)) and yard work. Oh, the rain’s let up, now and bright skies have at least dried up the driveway, so some car work’s possible, but yard work? Not when the ground’s this wet. Sweet.

Now for a sharp left turn into wonderland. Have you tasted any of this ambrosial concoction?

Oh! Heavens that’s good! 100% fat by calorie count (and a teeny smidge is a few calories indeed), but so’re margarine and butter. This stuff is seriously good stuff! Bacon. In a creamy good spread. Oh. My. OK, maybe I’ll get some of this instead, but I’ll not do it twice if it’s not as good as the original:

A grateful tip o’ the tam to Son&Heir for introducing me to BACONNAISE!

Hmmm, I wonder how it’d be as a base for fried locust dip?

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Little Foxes

Song of Solomon 2:15

Yeh, my grape vines were under attack today, as it were. Foxes, locusts, whatever. Whole day eaten up with little tasks that expanded to more than fill the day.

Tomorrow? Looks like my “to do weather” is still snowed under.

Write your own post. 🙂

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What Do You Have Planned for Earth Day?

In honor of this enviro-weenie day I propose that folks who’ve not entirely submitted their minds to daily Progressive Lobotomies by the Mass MEdia Podpeople Hivemind

1. Turn AC on full blast
2. Pour 2-cycle oil in your 4-cycle mowers and spew smoke
3. Turn on ALL electronics
4. Turn on–and leave on–all the incandescent lights in your houses.
5. Moon at least one greenie.

OK, maybe not the last, but I want to.

I cannot express how disgusted I am with what has become of what was once conservation, and so I advocate that this day be given over to conspicuous over-consumption and ridicule of all that contemporary enviro-nazis stand for (yes, I use the word “nazi” to refer to them for very sound reasons. Examine the German Socialist Democrat Party and draw the parallels for yourself; you can do your own googling).