Author Archives: Joel

First, from Zincavage … I’m reasonably sure I don’t want to know what that thing’s been eating. And this, from Kevin, the perfect fusion of luck and skill at the perfect time. I can’t drive like that, and carefully avoid … Continue reading →

Yeah, this is just what I needed to cheer me up. The final benefit of Drone Diplomacy: drones make it possible to apply coercion at the individual or small group level in a way that a blunt instrument like a … Continue reading →

Sometimes I go through a spate of not sleeping well. I’m afraid I’m headed into one of those now. It’s probably just age, and if the problems you have come from growing old, you have no problems worth the bother … Continue reading →

…I exist, and I find it nauseating. Okay, so yesterday I went out to collect firewood, right? And there’s this big dead tree halfway down one of the wash embankments that’s been mocking me. And I had all sorts of … Continue reading →

I have a family member who was in the navy, back in the ‘sixties. They put him in one of those big missile submarines that submerged off the coast of Scotland and didn’t see the light of day again for … Continue reading →

If you go on Twitter and say, ‘I’m going to destroy America and dig up Marilyn Monroe,’ I suppose you’d better mean that. Leigh Van Bryan, 26, was handcuffed and kept under armed guard in a cell with Mexican drug … Continue reading →

…that one may be taking things a little far. No, seriously. It’s exactly what it looks like, and you just have to go see for yourself.

Via Claire, I saw this morning a rather long article on the extremely high rate of incarceration that Americans have grown used to. The article goes off in too many directions to fisk here with any degree of thoroughness, and … Continue reading →

It’s for playing in, of course!

What the hell, I’ve got nothin’ going on upstairs today. I used to play this song a lot, back around twelve years ago when my marriage was breaking up. As with much of Orbison, I label it “Music to Brood … Continue reading →

I’ve been struggling my way through The First Circle, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Oy. Maybe I just need to go ahead and accept the fact that I’m not intellectual enough for these guys. In examining Libertarianism, years ago, I dutifully slogged … Continue reading →

Allegedly it still works. It’s a 4000-watt Trace inverter, that somebody just chucked out after an upgrade. Yeah, prices have come ‘way down and all, but do you know what these things USED to cost? I’ve got to do some … Continue reading →

Conversations you don’t hear every day… “Are we talking about the penguin that just defecated on the floor?” state Senate President David Williams (R-Burkesville) asked. “Actually, senator, I believe that’s your desk,” Stine replied.

You be the judge. I’m not proclaiming that Ian is actually Ezra Pound. But look at some facts. *Pound was committed to an asylum for being an “intellectual crackpot.” Ian could be mistaken for an intellectual, if the light was … Continue reading →

Arkansas: Passenger Gets $1 After Excessive Cop Tasering The judge found payment in full of Kirby’s $167 in medical bills covered his actual damages. The judge also ordered the city of Barling to revise its unconstitutional taser policy that allowed … Continue reading →

Y’know what I hate? I hate stupid. I’ve never owned a Glock. No special reason, I’ve just used 1911s as my main carry guns for so long that that’s the way my hand curls. On those rare occasions when somebody’s … Continue reading →

“There is something so grotesquely hypocritical about the Romney campaign,” [Gingrich] said. Heeheehee…

Not surprising, just interesting… However, yesterday, a new theory surfaced that indicates Megaupload’s demise had less to do with piracy than previously thought. This theory stems from a 2011 article detailing Megaupload’s upcoming Megabox music store and DIY artist distribution … Continue reading →

Sorry: Yesterday was just thick with clouds until late afternoon. Reminded me of my unlamented childhood in my unmissed home state. I had no ‘tricity, so I had no ‘pooter. These things happen. Still, there were a couple of things … Continue reading →