That's nice, but. . .

Big story in the paper today explaining that GE is really going to push compact fluorescents. Australia is apparently moving to ban incandescent bulbs altogether, and GE is expecting a global sweep of this movement.

I like compact fluorescents, but they are not dimmable. We have dimmer switches and X-10 controls on virtually every light in the house, and compact fluorescents will not work.

So, until the whiz kids at GE can create a dimmable fluorescent, the greenhouse emissions will have to continue at Chez Scott.

St. James Court Art Show poster

Nope, this is not a preview of this year's poster. This is one of my two losing entries from 2005, but I like it enough that I thought I'd share. I have a poster-sized one in my bedroom.

And another thing. . .

Why are so many (especially Democrats, of all people) so intent on having Hillary say that she made a mistake by voting for Iraq? I have heard countless people say they like her ideas and policies, but that they cannot support her until they hear her say her vote was a mistake. Somehow they seem to think she is dishonoring our troops by not saying her vote was an error. Folks, you're being simplistic and juvenile.

Hillary's vote was not a mistake according to the majority of this country who supported the Iraq war back in the days when we wanted some sort of vengeance for 9-11. We did, admit it.
Bush and Co. deliberately sold us a bill of goods to get the war they wanted and Congress--Hillary included--voted based on Bush's assertions. Not a mistake, just a product of deliberate misinformation, courtesy of the most veracity-challenged group of politicians in memory. These people make Nixon look good.

These people who vilify Hillary Clinton for refusing to repudiate a vote that was correct based on the lies told to Congress and the country need to instead vent their frustration at the current administration. This administration lied to Congress and the people of the United States, and have continued to do so for years. These are impeachable offenses, and it's about time we as a citizenry demanded this.

The "mistake" would be to let Bush, Cheney, et al., get away with all this subterfuge and malfeasance. That would truly dishonor our veterans and our citizenry.

Spare me, please.

Well, another local family is preparing to sue the LMPD for wrongful death after a family member died, despite the fact that:

• the man was standing naked in the middle of an intersecting behaving in a belligerent manner.
• the man did not follow officers orders.
• the officers were cleared of wrongdoing after an appropriate inquiry.
• the medical examiner ruled that the man's death was not caused by the Taser, but rather from another condition altogether.

Yeah, let's sue. I am so tired of those in our populace who see a family member's death as a chance to hit the financial jackpot. There is another local case in which a young man with no criminal history ran from police who were trying to stop him for driving erratically. Again, this man had no record of any kind, yet he stupidly ran from police and was struck and killed by the police cruiser when he ran into the road. The family demands to know why they chased him in the car rather than on foot, completely ignoring the obvious question of why the young man ran. They ignore this question because it places the onus of responsibility on his own actions, and not those of the police.

Yet another case involves a man who stole from a local grocery store, led police on a high-speed chase into another state, and then was shot and killed after officers were erroneously relayed an incorrect nature of his crime. Again, the family is playing the civil suit lottery, and again, they ignore the fact the if he had not stolen, had not fled at high speed, etc., he would most likely still be alive.

Instead of folks attempting to profit from the deaths of loved ones who die while breaking the law or ignoring officers' attempts at peacekeeping, I wish people would go back to playing the Powerball in an effort to get rich quick.

I think we found him.

DUI Georgia Style

Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a bar in Savannah, Georgia. After last call the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing. After what seemed an eternity and trying his keys on five different vehicles, the man managed to find his car which he fell into. He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off.
Finally he started the car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a fine, dry summer night) -- flicked the blinkers on, then off a couple of times, honked the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little and then remained still for a few more minutes as some more of the other patron vehicles left.
At last, the parking lot empty, he pulled out of the parking lot and started to drive slowly down the road. The police officer, having patiently waited all this time, now started up the patrol car, put on the flashing lights, and promptly pulled the man over and carried out a breathalyzer test. To his amazement the breathalyzer indicated no evidence of the man having consumed any alcohol at all!
Dumbfounded, the officer said, "I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyzer equipment must be broken."
"I doubt it." said the truly proud Redneck. "Tonight I'm the designated decoy."

The power of illusion!

This is pretty freakin' hilarious, especially if you've ever seen David Blane or Criss Angel on television. A really terrific parody!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPB9tq7f_1k

We've got plenty of reserves!