Author Archives: Joel

It used to have pride of place in my study, in a little glass case that showed it off like some expensive crystal figure. I remember thinking often what a lousy job of mixing it represented; it was soft, porous … Continue reading →

So yesterday the visits to this little backwater blog suddenly went, by my modest standards, through the roof. It seems my comments concerning a certain pro-military song were not appreciated by another blogger, one who apparently enjoys a lot more … Continue reading →

Several months ago I posted a rant on the subject of that “wolves, sheepdogs and sheep” analogy police apologists love to fantasize about. It’s a subject I bloviate about from time to time, and having done so last July I … Continue reading →

H.R. 3962 would require health insurers to sell coverage on a guaranteed issue, mostly community-rated basis and attempt to improve the quality of the risk pool by requiring most people to have health coverage. Individuals who failed either to meet … Continue reading →

The front wall took M a while to finish, but he did a beautiful job – especially considering he’d never stuck two blocks together before building it. S came over and helped lay the foundation row, but M was on … Continue reading →

Ever heard of Robert Peel? He’s not a household name in America. The Right Honorable Sir Robert Peel was a big thing in British politics of the mid-19th century, which would logically make him completely irrelevant to anything in 21st … Continue reading →

Yeah, the clown collar’s back. Fritz’s ear is fine, but he’s got a new sore on his front leg.He’s done this before: He gets this nervous thing where he just licks and licks one place on his leg until it’s … Continue reading →

A couple of evenings ago, M told me I should check out Oleg Volk’s live journal site because he had decorated a couple of already-very-decorative photos with captions I’d identify with. I’ve spent some time on his regular site – … Continue reading →

Yes, I know this is silly. I often pride myself on my serious nature, while sometimes embracing the silliest things you can imagine. One of the silliest things I can imagine is being a fanboy for a failed TV series, … Continue reading →

This was directed to my attention by someone I’ll let remain nameless, because in other matters I respect his opinion. I’ve got the reach and the teeth of a killin’ machine,With a need to bleed you when the light goes … Continue reading →

After I threw off the tactical blankets and rose from my tactical bed, I petted the tactical dogs, put on my tactical battle uniform, tucked into my tactical oatmeal and coffee and fired up my tactical computer. Checking out View … Continue reading →

W has been doing a lot of research into the mysteries of battery charging cycles (who knew there were several?) and the workings of our Ferrari-wannabe charge controller and inverter. As a result we went two nights (though, granted, not … Continue reading →

All Animals Are Equal, But Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others. Chicago aldermen with their noses out of joint Friday demanded to know why they are searched along with the masses at the city’s central headquarters for administrative hearings. … Continue reading →

“And our credo, ‘Sic gorgiamus allos subiectatos nunc’ — ‘We gladly feast on those who would subdue us’. Not just pretty words.” – Morticia Addams

…but then…well, you know the rest. In certain online circles, he goes by the nym Penguinsscareme. There’s actually a serious story behind that, which doesn’t stop the teasing. Let’s just call him PSM. We’ve never actually met, though we’ve come … Continue reading →

If it’s real, it’s even funnier. Read the letter below – supposedly a missive from Ahnold’s office to the california assembly about a bill spending money on San Francisco, which Ahnold has decided to veto. (The bill, not the city.) … Continue reading →

…in which Skilled Professionals flood the Gulch and do skillful things with the power system… Didn’t happen yesterday. We wondered, upon rising, whether they’d show up at all. W had a series of telephone calls in which the Skilled Professionals … Continue reading →

Swallow all eating and drinking materials before starting either video at this link. TUAK management is not responsible for the safety of your monitor or keyboard. What I learned from these videos: * You’re 14 times more likely to survive … Continue reading →

“Well, you know…other than to the people I murdered.” Sales of Walt’s Gulch having fallen to 0, I have elected to serialize it on the Survival Podcast Forum. You can read it for free here.

I woke up at about 1:15 this morning, looked outside, and… Aw, crap. Well, it was bound to happen.Yep; it hasn’t so much as flurried before now, and we get four to six inches depending on where you sink the … Continue reading →