Category Archives: Scribbles

White House Photo of The Day

Posted on October 29, 2009 | Comments Off on White House Photo of The Day

whitehousepod.jpg

Caption says the "reporters" are studying the inscriptions on the shovels for the ceremonial dirt-turning for a memorial tree for fallen American troops. You know, while Barry dithers about whether they need reinforcements or not. This is what the legacy media does these days instead of asking hard questions. Bush quietly met with the survivors of the fallen. Barry turns their deaths into a photo op and a tree-planting. Frankly I think he prefers them fallen. The fallen don’t talk back.

Via Mudville Gazette.

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Posted in Afghanistan, Iraq, Obamalot, Obituaries, Scribbles, The War, Troops

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The notorious Soupy Sales

Posted on October 27, 2009 | 4 comments

Absent from all the Soupy obits I have seen is the most famous episode known among us (then) adolescents back in the days of his show. He is said to have been fired for holding up his hand, palm inward, to the camera, with the index, middle and ring fingers showing.

He lowered the index finger saying that it was for his producer, then the ring finger saying it was for his director. The middle finger, which he left standing in the classic configuration, he said was for the sponsor. I have no idea whether the story was true, but being high adolescent humor, of course, it circulated like wildfire among us at the time. It made the man a myth in our hearts.

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Celebrating the digital camera

Posted on October 25, 2009 | Comments Off on Celebrating the digital camera

And, not incidentally, the people who use its many varieties. Pictures by Rick Lee of Charleston, WVA.

Via Instapundit.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Library, Science/Engineering, Scribbles

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Sarah’s first endorsement

Posted on October 23, 2009 | Comments Off on Sarah’s first endorsement

It’s not a Republican. She’s backing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman for congress from New York. Rogue, indeed. But when the NY Republicans nominate a RINO liberal, and the national party poohbahs are studiously ignoring her and touting Romney, Huckabee and the other usual retreads, she had to do something stunning. Looks like a good start.

Via Instapundit.

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Posted in Scribbles

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DOOM’s legacy

Posted on October 21, 2009 | Comments Off on DOOM’s legacy

It informed the operation of many of today’s computer games. Did it need a story? Nah. It was fine the way it was. Fourteen years later I still remember trying to jump over those chasms at the end of one episode to avoid the water below while the monsters shoot fireballs at me. And all via the keyboard. Not a single mouse click. Quake was better. Halo is better still. So is Half-Life. But only because of DOOM. And their stories are beside the point.

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Posted in Library, Rancho Roly Poly, Scribbles

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On The Saco

Posted on October 20, 2009 | Comments Off on On The Saco

bierstadt-on-the-saco.jpg

Most modern, academic artists, the ones who get the grants and the publicity, couldn’t draw a real cow if their life depended on it. Let alone a real tree. Their work is junk. This is not. And we need more of this natural art of real human experience.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Library, Scribbles

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The 2009 Orionid Meteor Shower

Posted on October 20, 2009 | Comments Off on The 2009 Orionid Meteor Shower

The worst thing about meteor showers is the best time to see them often is right before dawn. So, unless you can afford to stay up all night, you need to get up early Wednesday to see the Orionids–a stream of debris from Halley’s Comet falling through the atmosphere. Where to look? Overhead.

The next-to-worst thing about meteor showers is that the skies are often cloudy. So you go back to bed. Then, the astronomers who predict the next one will be the best in a long time are often wrong. They’re predicting the Orionids this year will be the best in a while. Dozens an hour. But, once again, if they’re wrong, you can always go back to bed. And, if they’re not and the skies are clear, enjoy the show.

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Posted in Science/Engineering, Scribbles, Space, Weather/Climate

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