Timmer – Page 27 – The Daily Brief

Hmmm, Not what I Expected

20. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

King Edward I
You scored 81 Wisdom, 77 Tactics, 60 Guts, and 53 Ruthlessness!

Or rather, King Edward the Longshanks if you’ve seen Braveheart. You, like Edward, are incredibly smart and shrewd, but you win at any costs…. William Wallace died at his hands after a fierce Scottish rebellion against his reign. Despite his reputation though, Longshanks had the best interests of his people at heart. But God help you if you got on his bad side.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 97% on Unorthodox

You scored higher than 76% on Tactics

You scored higher than 67% on Guts

You scored higher than 78% on Ruthlessness

Link: The Which Historic General Are You Test written by dasnyds on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Via Dave at It Comes In Pints?.

Provocative Quote (051020)

20. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: GWOT

Beautiful Wife heard/read this one recently, she can’t remember where exactly so if you know, please let me know in the comments.

“The only thing Americans are willing to sacrifice for the War On Terror is their military, and they’re already tired of that.”

I’m just going to ask for your thoughts on this.

Listening to Depeche Mode (Playing the Angel)

18. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

This is simple, if you like Depeche Mode, buy Playing the Angel. If you don’t like or have never liked Depeche Mode, this album isn’t going to change your mind because it’s just so Depeche Mode. You really can’t get much more Depeche Mode than Playing the Angel. I can’t tell you it’s their absolute best album yet, it’s going to take about a year’s worth of listening for me to make that decision because there’s just so MUCH here. “Lush and layered” don’t begin to cover it. This is both headphone music and subwoofer music. Purely in the ears it pretty much fills nooks and crannies your listening muscles may not have used in awhile. The subwoofer will invade your chest cavity and get you swaying…you’re not going to be able to stop. And unless you’ve been neutured, this album is going to make you at least a tad horny. This is “boom-chicka bowm-bowm” elevated to high art. But it’s also dark and brooding and bordering on DM’s madness. No, I’m not going to compare it to Violator. This is something else. This seems to be the year when artists I like just decided to be the best themselves they can be. Mixmasters will be dipping into this well for years to come.

Song by song below the fold. I have a definite opinion about what’s going on here, don’t read it if you want to form your own without prejudice.

Newsmap

18. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Site News

This is cool. Don’t forget to to push the “LAUNCH” button.

Yet Another New Apple

17. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

The iProduct.

Yes, I get the irony, but the way my mind works is my favorite thing to laugh at.

Via Cold Fury.

Kinda Puts a Damper on the Whole, “They Cheated” Thing, Doesn’t It?

16. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

The past couple of days of White Sox Baseball, what did ya think?

Firefly Tonight (051014)

14. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

It’s “The Mesage,” one of the episodes that never aired in the original season.

Probably one of the more revealing episodes about Mal you’re going to see.

Mom’s Profile is Up at Pajamas Media

14. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General

About half-way down the page.

Wow…Goldstein looks a lot like Gary Oldman.

You’re Kidding, Right?

14. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Stupidity

Apparently there’s a just a bit of a ruckus (click link for description of the ruckus…I knew someone would ask) over the fact that an ~~Publc Affairs Rep~~ Assistant Secretary of Defense prepped some soldiers for their televised video teleconference with The President.

If you think any member of the Armed Forces is going to be caught unprepared talking to The President of the United States on live television, you’re simply an idiot. The President wanted to give WETHEPEOPLE a briefing on the situation in Iraq and this was a very good format for that. He asks questions, soldiers answer.

Let me ask you a question: If The President was to show up in your office over a Video Teleconference Link and was going to ask you questions on the status of your business dealings, and the answers would be shared with the rest of the freaking world, would you want to be prepared or would you like to just wing it?

Update: Seems I’m not the only one who thinks this is teh stoopid…

MORE: Michelle Malkin has the text of one of the soldiers who blogged his response to the ruckus. I’d link him but I’m thinking the Malkin-lanche shut him down, I can’t get to his site.

Talkin’ ‘Bout, Pop Music (051014)

14. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

For the heck of it I downloaded The Alternative Classical Chillout Album off iTunes earlier this week and it was probably the best six bucks I’ve spent all year…except for maybe when the Charlie’s stand at the BX is having a special…but dont’ let me fall apart at the beginning.

With 15 Alternative Tracks performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra this album will be on my pod for a long time and I’ve already burned the CD for my car.

Some songs just translated extemely well to an orchestral treatment. U2’s “It’s a Beautiful Day” stands out amoung all the tracks but I’m a U2 slutkitty…play U2 and I fall on my back with my paws up and a stupid dazed look on my face. Using the oboe, trumpets, french horns and violins in place of Bono’s vocals gives a lot of “Oh wow, that’s really sweet.” moments.

Of course, I could just be jonesing for some classical music amoungst all the other stuff I listen to every day, but Beethoven doesn’t make me grin like the Philharmonic’s version RHCP’s “Under the Bridge” does either so that leaves me thinking: “Oh crap, elevator music is starting to sound good. Let’s review, high blood pressure, high cholesterol no matter how much I work out, my lower back is going out more often…F*CK!!!…I’ve become my Father.”

Even MORE Ungentlemanly Gloating

12. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General

Eat THAT you left coast apologizer.

Another New iPod is Out

12. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Technology, That's Entertainment!

It’s out. It plays video. It’s bigger than the music only version which means it’s not going to fit any of the accessories I currently own without some rigged up adaptor. So my speakers will be no good before they wear out.

And Jobs has screwed himself again by demanding money from the people who make all those accessories. He learned nothing in the 80s and 90s…nothing.

I won’t buy one until my current one absolutely can’t be fixed because I want a music player…not a video player. Unless of course Suicide Girls (NSFW) decide to do Video Podcasts and then I’ll think about it. And no, I don’t make anything by mentioning Suicide Girls, I’m just a fan.

UPDATE: Of course, if I can burn a DVD of the downloaded videos as easily as I can burn a playlist of tunes to a CD, then we’re talking another thing altogether, but it seems like that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

UPDATE 2: In the comments SteveH points out that while the screen is wider, the Pod itself is not…I looked closer at the specs and…insert Emilie Latella voice here…Nevermind. So…more disk space, color screen, same price. Kinda cool.

General James Cartwright Speech given at the Closing Dinner of the Strategic Space Symposium – 6 Oct 2005

12. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Military

I think the tone has really been set tonight and probably all through the week. We’re here about space, but at the end of the day, we are here about people. And it’s really an honor and privilege to stand here and tell you about the great men and women of Strategic Command, the great men and women of our armed forces.

As a granddad you look at these young men and women and you say, “Where did they come from? How did we do this?” They take whatever you give them, and turn it into something fantastic. They have a sense of pride about a greater whole. Much greater than themselves, and it’s through all of them. It’s not just one or two here or there, the guy that you sneak up to the cameras so he says the right word. You just can grab any one of them, and they just make you so proud, both to be associated with them and that they represent our country and our youth.
More »

Five Years Ago Today

12. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: GWOT

Remember the Cole.

King of The Cotillion Is Up

11. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

Beth went and did it. Go vote for your favorite blogger babe and make damn sure you don’t vote for me. I think Hubris needs the title to keep his webcam business running.

I should have had Beautiful Wife take a bald pic…I really am too sexy for my hair.

I’m a North-Sider But…

11. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

GO WHITE SOX!!!

First Cup of Coffee (051010)

10. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

A group of men who mostly sit around a cabin eating too much all weekend while talking about their lives on a gut level is called a “spiritual retreat.” They’re good for your soul. Find some guys to do this with.

Caught Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit yesterday afternoon. Just go. Your kids will love it and so will you. It’s one of those movies you’ll want to watch over and over again so you may as well just start now. Crackin’ good. There’s plenty of cheese for the hard core fans and no, sigh, you don’t have to see the first three for this one to make sense.

Oh…shoot. Yesterday was National Porn Sunday and I missed it. See, if you go on a spiritual retreat and miss church, you miss the really important stuff. All together now, bowm-chicka-bowm-bowwwwwwwwwwwwwww… ahhhhhhhmennnnnnnn… oh God, oh God, ohhhhhhhhhh Goddddddddddddddddd.

The U.N. and the Internet? What he said. I’m sorry, any organization that isn’t smart enough to hide something as damning as “oil for food” isn’t qualified to run the internet.

Wait-a-Minute (051007) Part II

07. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: GWOT

With all the attention on the New York City Subway today, I sure hope Chicago and other cities with subways are looking at their own stuff. Can anyone say “classic misdirection?”

Wait-a-Minute (051007)

07. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

Holding the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger…

You’re telling me the kid who sang The Superbowl is Gay on the internet actually has a contract with MTV?

New sign of the upcoming apocolypse.

The Showbiz Show With David Spade

06. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

I think he may have found his calling. Doing smarmy Hollywood Gossip with Dennis Miller-like commentary on the side. On Comedy Central after The Daily Show. Would be better on HBO without all the bleeps but definitely worth watching and come on, Leno and Letterman need to hang it up.

Check local listings.

Camp Katrina

06. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Site News

Some of the National Guard folks who have rotated through New Orleans and other areas hit by Hurricane Katrina have been blogging.

Check them out.

Senate Approves Detainee Treatment Rules

06. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: GWOT

I’m all for this:

The Republican-majority Senate followed the lead of maverick Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., voting 90-9 to add the anti-torture language to a $440 billion military spending bill that President Bush has threatened to veto if the anti-torture language is included. All but nine of the Senate’s 55 Republicans joined 43 Democrats and one independent in supporting the measure.

Yeah, I know, we’re dealing with terrorists who don’t think or act like we do, so…blah-blah-blah. That’s the point. We’re Americans and we don’t do that shit. We’re better than that.

To me this is an absolute no-brainer and the fact that the President has threatened to veto this completely blows my image of him. He may not be perfect, but I’ve always believed him to be a man of some honor and character.

Cruel and unusual punishment was one of those things that we gave the finger to England for a couple hundred years ago. And we’ve got a sitting President who won’t sign a bill banning our own use of it?

What the hell are we fighting for again? What ideals are we trying to spread? Come ON!

If we change who we are for these chucklefuck terrorists then they win. Leave the black ops bullshit to the operators ‘k? Everyday Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen should know exactly what’s expected of them when they’re holding prisoners.

Why I Love the Marines

05. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Iraq: The Good, Iraq: The Ugly

Link requires registration.

Ya gotta love this guy.

Burghardt was wounded.

But with two new young Marines in his ordnance disposal unit – and the insurgent attackers undoubtedly looking on – “I didn’t want them to see the team leader carried away on a stretcher,” he said.

So after the Nebraskans tended to wounds that reached from his boot tops to the small of his back, Burghardt rose to his feet and reached back with a one-finger salute for his attackers.

“I was angry,” Burghardt said.

…

As for Burghardt, he said he wanted to send a message to the insurgents who failed to kill him.

“I knew there was somebody disappointed out there.”

Via Ravenwood who got it from The Smallest Minority who got it from…my local newspapaer?

Sadie Hawkins At the Cotillion

05. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

The gals from The Cotillion are having a Babe Contest. I might enter just on the grounds of general silliness.

SCOTUS Nomination

04. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Politics

All I can say is that anyone who can piss off both those on the far right and those on the far left is okay in my book.

UFC On Spike

03. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

Tonight on Spike. Ultimate Fight Night Live. Five hours of Ultimate Fighting.

You Can’t Stop the Signal

01. October 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Ain't That America?, That's Entertainment!

We saw Serenity this afternoon.

You don’t want to miss this. I’m not going to gush all over it. It deserves much more respect than that. There was a good story. There was intelligent dialouge. There were characters that you care about. If you weren’t a fan of Firefly then you don’t care quite as much, but I think you’ll still care. There was a LOT of action. The action made sense in context with the story. There is a depth here that is missing so much today.

This movie has love.

All the things that movies are missing these days.

My family and I laughed, and we cried, and we nodded grim-faced. There’s joy and sadness and resolution and retribution. There are “Big Damn Heroes.”

If I said anything else I’d start spoiling and nobody likes a spoiler.

But this is a movie that requires as much attention as we can give it. Hollywood wants to know why we’re not going to the movies. Give us more of this and less of the crap without any heart.

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