7/17/2006
7/16/2006
6/17/2006
Inequality in America | The rich, the poor and the growing gap between them | Economist.com
Ryan Howard, first baseman for the Phillies,...
Ryan Howard, first baseman for the Phillies, leads the major leagues in opposite field homeruns. Why then to opposing teams continue to overshift to the right side of the infield? The purpose of an infield shift is to encourage the batter to try and hit the opposite way - a single is better than a homerun. In this case it appears that the opposition is encouraging Ryan Howard to hit oppostie field homeruns - and it is working very wellL 23 homruns - 14 to the opposite field. Last night Tampa Bay tried playing four outfielders - no infielders on the left side of the infield. So what did Howard do? He ripped a single to right despite the overshift.
3/03/2006
43194. Orwell, George. The Columbia World of Quotations. 1996
QUOTATION: Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
ATTRIBUTION: George Orwell (1903–1950), British author. Winston Smith, in 1984, pt. 1, ch. 7 (1949).
Writing in his diary."
2/17/2006
Reform Video Franchising Now
2/16/2006
Vietnam latest news - Thanh Nien Daily
Amen
The first revolt of the American colonists against their British rulers was immortalized by Ralph Waldo Emerson as "the shot heard round the world." Vice President Dick Cheney's hunting accident has now become the shot heard round the Beltway.The accidental shooting of Harry Whittington, while he was on a hunting trip with Dick Cheney, has nothing to do with government policy or the Vice President's official duties but the mainstream media have gone ballistic over it nevertheless.
2/15/2006
Spray-On Solar-Power Cells! Cool.
The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the first solar cells able to harness the sun's invisible, infrared rays. The breakthrough has led theorists to predict that plastic solar cells could one day become five times more efficient than current solar cell technology.
I want one of these!
2/14/2006
Comfort for the White House Press Corp
"For patients with psychological concern about the size of the penis - particularly if it is normal size - there is little point in offering them surgery because it makes no difference," he added.
He said men often requested another bout of surgery because of their dissatisfaction.
The study said rather than having surgery the men should be referred for psychological counselling.
Wealth envy
New hybrid from Ford - could be revolutionary
Ford is developing a new form of automotive propulsion, and the implications for the American Auto Industry are huge. The Hydraulic Hybrid could be the greatest innovation since the internal combustion engine itself, and Ford is on the inside track with its F-150 Hybrid. New Tech Spy Has learned details about the system that are simply amazing and could put Ford in a commanding position in the fiercely competitive full size pickup market.
2/12/2006
More trouble on the border
Border Violence Alarms Chertoff. "There has been an over-100 percent increase in the last fiscal year in border violence aimed at our Border Patrol agents..."
H/t: Grim's Hall:
German Eatery Bans Babies
"Dogs would be welcome, it said, but 'here, children are not allowed in the evening.'
Via Lucianne
Rise in Violence Along Border With Mexico
H/t: Michelle Malkin
'Vigilante killings' in Guatemala
"The human rights ombudsman's office says there has been a big rise in executions in recent years and wants an urgent meeting with the government."
H/T: Florida Cracker
2/11/2006
The 10 Commandments for Muslims
NetFlix: I note this same pattern with my account
Manuel Villanueva realizes he has been getting a pretty good deal since he signed up for Netflix Inc.'s online DVD rental service 2-1/2 years ago, but he still feels shortchanged.
That's because the $17.99 monthly fee that he pays to rent up to three DVDs at a time would amount to an even bigger bargain if the company didn't penalize him for returning his movies so quickly.
Netflix typically sends about 13 movies a month to Villanueva's home in Warren, Michigan -- down from the 18 to 22 DVDs he once received before the company's automated system identified him as a heavy renter and began delaying his shipments to protect its profits.
The same Netflix formula also shoves Villanueva to the back of the line for the most-wanted DVDs, so the service can send those popular flicks to new subscribers and infrequent renters."
Read the whole thing.
Global Warming: Fact or Fiction?
"A nasty little spat has arisen as a result of NASA's leading climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen, director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), speaking out on the Bush Administration's reluctance to begin imposing carbon dioxide restrictions to help slow global warming."
The end of an era - telegrams
2/10/2006
Can anyone say Photon Torpedo?
Our ability to generate such fireballs in a simple systematic manner may lead to techniques for synthesizing fireballs from solid materials,' explains Jerby. He even hopes that the lab-generated fireballs could be used in practical applications such as coating, deposition, combustion and energy production.
Mugabe rejects Kelo - reverse emminent domain?
H/T: Florida Cracker
Time to buy that new HDTV
"President and CEO Gary Shapiro in response to President George Bush signing into law legislation setting February 17, 2009 as the date U.S. broadcasters must end transmitting analog television signals. This act establishes a hard date for the final step in the nation’s transition to digital television (DTV). Shapiro issued the statement while attending the bill signing ceremony at the White House:"
Another stupid criminal
Authorities were seeking Thursday a burglar who allegedly took the time to make coffee, cook and eat meals, take showers, pick out a change of clothes, watch television and check his e-mail while inside three rural Washington County homes this month.
Are you a fatty?
Feminist Reprise: Screwed By Southwest
2/09/2006
Paid E-Mail one more time
More on this story here.
Do you subscribe to NetFlix?
"What goes on behind their walls is so secret, its Southern California location is kept from the public. In this exclusive, News 8 shows you what it takes to be number one in the DVD rental business."
2/08/2006
Still looking for a few good men

Finally an answer for Mark Twain
Oh puhlease - not another one.
Really fantastic photos of China
Do the Romulans know that we have a "disrupter"?
2/02/2006
How to Know When Unsubscribing Isn't Safe
1/23/2006
Stats about all US cities
When to buy
Kelo again: Camden trial to test eminent domain
1/21/2006
Hamas and the media war
For Hamas PR agent, I nominate this guy.
Was Kelo mentioned in the Alito Hearings?
Update: Game over.