Category Archives: Scribbles

The capacitor peddlers

Posted on November 22, 2007 | Comments Off on The capacitor peddlers

Silicon Valley Redneck thinks Austin’s mysterious electric energy breakthrough company, EEStor, doesn’t smell like roses. "Snake-oil," he calls it, marshalling some numbers based on the firm’s very few pronouncements, to show why. The recent, unexplained departure of Mort Topfer, the former Dell vice-chairman from EEStor’s board, suggests SVR could be onto something. That their Web domain is for rent/sale is also not encouraging.

MORE: Things looked a little rosier back in January when Technology Review did this piece. 

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Posted in Science/Engineering, Scribbles, Texana

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Life is like dodgeball

Posted on November 21, 2007 | Comments Off on Life is like dodgeball

No kidding. And that’s just one of the fifty rules kids won’t learn in school, according to author Charles Sykes. They do waste an inordinate amount of time trying to keep the playground at Mr. B.’s school safe for everyone’s self-esteem. Sticking out your tongue, for instance, is a reportable offense. Too bad the real world doesn’t operate that way. I like this one because it’s so true: "Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them."

Via Cobb, who takes his Scout son target-shooting. Now that’s good training. 

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The Clinton News Network

Posted on November 16, 2007 | Comments Off on The Clinton News Network

The unacknowledged anti-war activist who just happened to show up at CNN’s Dem "debate":

"Activists have just as much right to ask questions as anyone else. It’s just that when their activist backgrounds are known but not disclosed, the false impression is created that they might as well be ordinary Americans selected at random. Why, they’re just plain folks like you sitting at home!"

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What privacy?

Posted on November 15, 2007 | Comments Off on What privacy?

Politicians like Ron Paul pretend they can help you keep your privacy if you vote for them. Flapdoodle. The IRS and the credit card companies already have all the details anyone needs to know about you–names, addresses, social security numbers, etc. Get over it.

Via Cobb 

UPDATE: Paul has his own currency, without even being president. Well, it’s not his. But his face is on it. 

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Adios, Norman

Posted on November 10, 2007 | Comments Off on Adios, Norman

I always thought loudmouth, pugnacious Mailer was a bore, and that was even before my beautiful but alcoholic and suicidal aunt told me she thought he was a genius. His "The Naked and the Dead" war novel was, uh, pretty awful. Like something a staff officer would cobble together about the combat he never saw. This piece sums NM up much better than I can, or would even want to. Adios, Norman. Now go fade to well-deserved obscurity.

Via Roger L. Simon 

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Everyone’s wicked stepmother

Posted on November 10, 2007 | Comments Off on Everyone’s wicked stepmother

It never occurred to me to believe the MSM notion that Hillarity could be elected president. Nominated? Sure, but not elected. Seems she’s out there busy proving it already:

"…people began to giggle. At Mrs. Clinton, a woman who has never inspired much mirth. Suddenly they were remembering the different accents she has spoken with when in different parts of the country, and the weird laugh she has used on talk shows. A few days ago new poll numbers came out–neck and neck with Barack Obama in Iowa, her lead slipping in New Hampshire. There is a sense that Sen. Obama is rising, a sense for the first time in this election cycle that Mrs. Clinton just may be in a fight, a real one, one she could actually lose."

Well, now, be that as it may. If you want to see another presidential candidate go down in flames, nominate Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama. The Dems are hopeless for 2008. Not that I’m troubled…

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What American Accent Do You Have?

Posted on November 8, 2007 | Comments Off on What American Accent Do You Have?

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Southern, I get, which is not a surprise to me. As these quizes making the rounds go, this one is interesting. Try it here. 

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