New Reaction At Last

Check it out here. Government incompetence/assault on freedom at its finest.

Read This

My Bad, Your Fault.

AMEN, BECK!






Yeah, not really big enough for a Reaction, but still...

The Force Isn't So Strong With This One...

While I love Star Wars with a passion, I must admit that at times Luke isn't the brightest lightsaber in the Temple, as evidenced here.

The end is kinda dumb, so quit out after the pic of Han in front of the bunker. Aside from that, enjoy.

Politics Has Gone To The Dogs

Ain't that the truth.

Picture is from I HAS A HOTDOG!

Sorry, Mr. Gore

Check out This Article on global warming.

Turns out that Al Gore might be wrong after all; there has been no net global warming in 10 years. And before anyone says anything, take a look at the links in the article and the charts on those links. Yep, net global temperature is down about 0.3 degrees Celsius since 1998! Yet for some reason the politicians claim that if we don't do something to stop it soon, we'll be doomed...

Yeah, this wasn't really big enough for it's own spot in the Reactions blog, so I just put it here.

And PLEASE check out The Raptors!

The Raptors

Okay, In Honor of the Oscars, I'm launching my own Movie Awards series, creatively titled The Raptors!

You can check out The Official Site for details and to nominate a movie for any or all of the categories.

Cool Lightsaber Video

Check this out.



I think that the choreography is excellent, but the sfx could've used a bit more work...

And, once again, my desire to make a Star Wars Fan Film has been reborn...

Indy 4 Trailer

Watch and enjoy!

The Boss and the Judge

Sunlight scorched the canyon floor as the Boss and the Judge met. Bitter rivals that they were, everyone around knew it wouldn’t be pretty. Words were exchanged; shoves were traded back and forth. Cooler heads managed to intervene before the situation could escalate further. After some debate, it was decided that the pair would settle their differences in the usual way.

Paint gleamed in the bright light as the crowd pushed the Boss and the Judge to the line. The Boss’s smile stretched ear to ear as he came to a stop. He had the horsepower to win this and he knew it. He reached over and slid the key into the ignition. A moment later, the loud rumble of his 429 echoed off the canyon walls.

The Judge’s lips didn’t form a smile, but rather a satisfied smirk. He knew that the Boss had the horsepower to win, but he had the torque and the gearing. Soon the echo of his Ram Air 455 joined the Boss’ 429 in thundering off the limestone. Oh, the Judge almost forgot; he also had his secret weapon. He had The Humbler. The Judge leaned down under the dash and pulled a small switch. Immediately, his rumbling changed to a deep, throaty growl. A few blips of the throttle, and the growl became a bellowing roar.

The Boss’ smile began to falter. No one had told him that the Judge had The Humbler. Now he was nervous. He knew what The Humber did for the Judge’s performance. A moment ago, he was sure he could win. Now, he wasn’t so sure. He glanced over at the Judge. The Judge didn’t look back; his eyes remained fixed down the asphalt ribbon ahead of them. The Boss turned away from the Judge and began revving is own engine. Twin roars shook the canyon walls; some of the onlookers winced and covered their ears.

A girl emerged from the crowd, her long brown hair whipping around in the heat-stirred wind. Stopping before the feuding pair, she unwrapped a scarf from around her neck and held it aloft. A hush fell over the crowd, broken almost instantly by the Boss’ bellow and the Judge’s roar. Wheels strained against their brakes, tach needles hovered just above their sweet spots. All eyes locked on the scarf. For a long moment it hung there, whipping back and forth over the girl’s head. Then she released it, and the canyon came alive with the scream of big-block V8s, and the Boss and the Judge raced off in a cloud of exhaust and burnt rubber.

----------

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This was written originally as an assignment for my Advanced Writing course in school, but I didn't like how it had turned out, so I turned in another story (my original idea) instead. I'll post that one as soon as I get a grade back on it. And just so there's no confusion, "The Boss" is a 1969 Boss 429 Mustang, and "The Judge" is a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge.

Only in America...

...do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of The store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

...do people order Double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

...do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

... do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

...do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

...do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

...do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

History of the Slayers.

You know, there are a lot of wackos out there. You know the type, the nutjobs who live in trailers and wear tinfoil hats, who claim that the government is brainwashing us through our cellphones and faked the moon landings and that they're hiding the UFO that crashed in Roswell inside Area 51.

Well, guess what. Those "nutjobs" are right.

Sort of, anyway.

It wasn't a UFO landing that drove the military into high gear, it was a group of vampires. Five of them appeared in the desert, out of nowhere. The military was woefully unprepared. Fifty-four soldiers were killed in less than three hours. The only thing that saved the rest of the company was the early dawn. Those "little green men" the nurses reported seeingwere actually the shriveled corpses of vampires that had been exposed to the sun's ultraviolet light.

Three weeks later, on July 22, 1947, the United States Government founded the Paranormal Research, Investigation, and Management Agency. It was tasked with monitering and interviening in any reported signs of paranormal activities.

In other words, when monsters showed up, it was the agency's job to take them out.

Of course, the agents didn't particuarly appreciate their agency's name forming the acronym PRIMA, as it made for some not-very-flattering nicknames, so the agents took to calling themselves "the slayers."

And so, for the past sixty years, The Slayers have been secretly protecting the unsuspecting United States from the likes of vampires, werewolves, zombies and other deranged paranormal monsters.


Of course, none of this much mattered to me at that point. I had more pressing concerns on my mind, like the werewolf that thought I'd make a good snack. I'd asked him to come in quietly, but he decided to stay belligerent. A trio of silver hollowpoints changed his attitude rather quickly. Unfortunately for me, that just made his girlfriend angry. And everyone knows that werewolves are like Hulk; you really won't like them when they're angry. She tried to take a chunk out of my face; fortunately, she was a bit intoxicated on garlic fumes, so she missed. Still took the rest of my clip to bring her down, though.

Dang, I love this job.

My name is Eli Thatcher, and I'm a Slayer.

At the Dentist

I just got back from the dentist's office. Had to get two little cavities filled. Nothing I really could have done to prevent them; the doc says that they were way in the back (which was true) and that they were in spots that are darn near impossible to reach with a brush or floss anyway.

I could describe what I'm feeling right now, but I think that Bill Cosby can do it far better than I possibly could, particularly about what happens when they stick you with novocaine:



So I have to read King Lear for Western Civ, and I brought the book with me to the dentist's office. We wind up having a brief discussion about Shakespeare before he goes to stick me. Right when he goes to stick me with the mother of all needles, he says "Be nor afraid, I mean you no harm." To which I reply; "Yeah, right. It'd be a bit more convincing if you weren't holding that giant harpoon. Now I just have to wait for that mother of all needles to wear off, and I'll be able to feel my face again

Shakespeare and.... Queen?

Got a new profile pic. It's a black 1969 Mustang Fastback. Beautiful car. Too bad, they don't make 'em like that anymore.

Finished reading Shakespeare's Richard III for my Western Civilization class. A great piece of classical literature. However, in my opinion, the title needs a little work. One could actually substitute in the title of one of Queen's most famous songs. Another One Bites the Dust would work as this play's title perfectly.

Speaking of Queen, here's an interesting music video I found on YouTube:




That was random, I know.

This video is cool, too:



I know, I am very obsessed with Star Wars. And Hamlet. Incidentally, the very last clip from that trailer is from the soliloquy I had to memorize for Mr. Drake. On another topic, does anyone know the title of the song from that video.

Hmm... Can't really think of anything else to write right now. So, enjoy this lolcats picture:

Okay, never mind. Blogger isn't cooperating, so I can't upload the picture. You can check it out here.

Anyway, I leave you (for now) with another trailer by the guys that did the Star Wars/Hamlet thing.:

New Post for a New Year

Again, a very happy new year to everyone. I hope everyone had a very pleasant holiday season.

Hopefully, this post will actually have a bit of substance to it. However, I apologize in advance if I start rambling.

I made a few minor revisions to my profile. I really wanted to get a different picture, but I couldn't find one I liked better than my '70 Eliminator. Man, it's really hard to find decent pictures of Atoll Blue 1970 Pontiac GTO Judges!

I have had this odd obsession with Hamlet as of late. It might have had something to do with the fact that I've been reading Shakespeare over break for the last couple of weeks, but none of those plays are Hamlet. I had to read Hamlet for school a few years back, even going so far as to have to memorize a soliloquy as part of an assignment for Mr. Drake.

Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;
And now I'll do't. And so he goes to heaven;
And so am I revenged. That would be scann'd:
A villain kills my father; and for that,
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
O, this is hire and salary, not revenge.
He took my father grossly, full of bread;
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May;
And how his audit stands who knows save heaven?
But in our circumstance and course of thought,
'Tis heavy with him: and am I then revenged,
To take him in the purging of his soul,
When he is fit and season'd for his passage?
No!
Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent:
When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,
Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed;
At gaming, swearing, or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in't;
Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven,
And that his soul may be as damn'd and black
As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays:
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.

That's from Act III Scene 3.

Anyone remember Tupperware parties? Well, there's a new version of them out there: Tazer parties. I'm not making this up, and no, I'm not still drinking eggnog (or anything else for that matter). Seems kinda bizarre to me, but if it'll educate people about Tazers and help women to defend themsevles, then whaever; I've got no problem with it.

Here's another headline that grabbed my attention: Boy Defends Mother with Lightsaber. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently, some kid in England used his toy lightsaber to defend his mom when a guy started beating her up. I guess the Force really was with this kid. (Sorry. Couldn't resist)

HAPPY 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone

And have a Happy New Year too.

Do You Expect Me to Talk?

Thanks to nerdjedi for sending me this pic.

007 ROCKS! Even if he is teaching high school physics...

Funny Pic

Dis picture iz me...



'cept I iz not ah kitteh.

New Reaction

Check it out here.

For some reason, my computer does not like CNN.com. Every time I log on, five to ten minutes later my system crashes. The strange part is, it only happens when I go to CNN.com. No other site, no other program. Wierd...

Congress Close to Raising Fuel Economy Standards

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Congress is finalizing a deal that would raise the fuel economy standards for most U.S. cars and trucks for the first time in more than 30 years.

But the bill also contains several significant loopholes that would allow auto companies to get around the new limits.

The centerpiece of the bill is a requirement that would raise the corporate average fuel economy standard, known as CAFE, from 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 22.2 mpg for trucks to 35 mpg fleet-wide by 2020.

The Senate passed the mandate in June, but the House has not yet voted. Congressional aides familiar with the negotiations said House leaders are hoping to work out final language this week and vote next week.

Large "work trucks" like the Dodge Ram, the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado would be exempt from the 35 mpg standard, according to sources involved in the negotiations.

Automakers will get credits to count against their fleet-wide average for selling "flex fuel" cars that are able to use alternative fuels or gasoline. Although U.S. manufacturers have built millions of flex fuel cars, ethanol is actually used in only about 1.5 percent of them, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Most continue to run on gasoline, the group found. Ethanol is not widely available to car owners.

Despite these loopholes, backers of the bill say it brings a significant change that will benefit consumers. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Select Committee on Global Warming, said in an interview that the higher standard "will be a huge victory. It won't be something, however, that will stop us in the years ahead continuing to look at ways to continue upon that further."

House Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell, D-Michigan, who has been a key negotiator on the compromise bill and defender of auto industry interests, is pushing for some significant changes to the Senate version.

In an interview Wednesday with a Detroit television station, Dingell said he's supportive of the new standard, but stressed "we've got to do it in a way that doesn't destroy our industry or manufacturing."

Dingell would like to include a provision that would build in job protections for U.S. autoworkers, requiring U.S. auto companies to continue to manufacture a certain percentage of their vehicles in the United States.

Dingell also wants to create separate standards for car and truck fleets.

"We have to address the Senate bill to make sure we don't combine light trucks and automobiles in a way that will destroy them," he said.

According to a recent analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit environmental group, if the 35 mpg limit was implemented, it would translate into a savings for consumers of $25 billion at the pump in 2020.

The bill will also include a requirement to increase the production of biofuels like ethanol to 36 billion gallons by 2022. According to the Department of Energy, the United States produced 4 billion gallons of biofuels in 2005.

"Our goal is over the next 10 to 15 years [to] see a revolution that results in a dramatic increase in SUVs and automobiles that can use these new fuels and the number of Americans that can use them," Markey said, "so that we can back out more millions of barrels of oil that come from OPEC every day."

Congressional Republicans point out the proposal will do nothing to lower gas prices in the short term.

On the surface, this proposal seems like a great idea, it is (unfortunately) another result of the knuckleheads in Washington trying to fix something they don't understand.

Now don't get me wrong; I think that cutting down on fossil fuel consumption is a great idea. It will definitely cut down on pollution and, while I don't think it's as big a crisis as Al Gore does, global warming is an issue that needs to be addressed and corrected soon.

Unfortunately, while the proposal looks good on paper, It will do virtually nothing to limit greenhouse gas output. there are a number of issues. First and foremost is the fact that the standard will not affect the millions of cars already on the road. My '98 Honda won't suddenly be putting out 35mpg when this bill passes, it's not physically possible. New cars make up a small fraction of the cars on the road today, and while the standard will begin to have an affect down the road, nothing significant will happen for years (something the article points out).

Second, the fact that the automakers can get credits for creating flex-fuel and hybrid vehicles that will lower their individual fleets. I see major exploitation of this taking place; all an automaker has to do is engineer all of its cars to run on ethanol and they've effectively gotten around the ban.

Another problem is that ethanol is not the be-all end-all savior that Washington thinks it is. First off, it takes more energy to convert corn into ethanol than ethanol actually puts out, and the energy used for the conversion usually comes from a conventionally (fossil-fuel) powered source. Second, cars that run on biofuel don't get better mileage than cars that run on gasoline; some cars even perform worse. Third, it's expensive; costing nearly as much as standard diesel fuel (which due to new diesel standards is now more expensive than regular gas). Forth, biofuel production is cutting into the growth of grain that is normally used for food. Lastly, despite the plethora of flex-fuel vehicles, ethanol is not widely available; there are just over 1400 gas stations nationwide that supply ethanol. Most of these are located in the Midwest; Illinois has 500 stations and Minnesota has 300, but most states have less than 20 and nine have no ethanol fueling stations.

Finally, raising the fuel economy limits do nothing if we as Americans do not curb our consumption of gasoline. Even with gas over $3.00 a gallon, we're still buying gas-guzzling SUVs. Doing something like imposing a gas tax, even if it's just $.10 or $.15 a gallon, will drastically cut down on consumption.

On paper, this proposal looks like a brilliant idea that is sure to cut down on pollution, but unfortunately it's yet another example of our (not-so) good-hearted politicians in Washington trying to come up with a solution when they don't even understand the problem. If Congress really wants to make a difference, it should start educating itself on the issues before tackling them.