What's Up people

Clock update - review

So to follow up on the clock: It works great. You have to read the instructions to set it up, but not because it is difficult but the sensor and the clock have to "find" each other so you have to follow the order of batteries, etc.

It takes 5 AA batteries. 3 for the clock, 2 for the wireless sensor that you place outside. The sensor comes with screws you could mount under an easement or porch, it should not be directly impacted by rain or sun.

The wireless sensor and the clock found each other in less than 5 minutes. It took about an hour for the clock to find the Fort Collins, CO clock that is transmitted over radio. You only have to set the time zone you are in, it does the rest.

As far as weather accuracy, it says it will be hot tomorrow. Big shock for Texas.

Final verdict: thumbs up. IT is large enough to mount on a wall and be read in a bedroom. It comes with screws, double side mounting tape AND a stand. Several options, huh?

It has the capacity to add more wireless sensors (why? so you know if your back yard is hotter than your front yard?). Sensor is good for 80 ft, amount of walls it goes through decreases that amount. Company name is La Crosse Technology. Branded by The Weather Channel. $33 out the door.

pic added to demonstrate size and clarity.

Indoor / Outdoor Wireless Weather Station, aka Clock

My new toy, courtesy of overstock.com. It has indoor and outdoor temperature. It has a sensor you put outdoors, to measure to temp. It has barometric monitor to predict the weather. It is way cool, to say the least. It says my indoor humidity is 41, is that good or bad? who knows, it is going in the gym so I know weather to turn the fan on, wear sleeveless, adjust the temp. etc.

I am not endorsing anything, but do people really pay $75 for this? And have you heard of overstock? It is really cool.

More American Idol Highlights; Feist Spoon Remix

I found a good columnist who covers the AI shows well: the Girls and the Boys (zap2it)

My congress column got a lot of hits. Are people just googling "stupid congress"? How are you getting there?

Do you think single-sex education is better? I do...wsj

Who's your bitch now, Roger Clemens? (usatoday)


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Justice League is back on for 2009. (variety)

Do you like Feist? Do you like the Feist "I Feel It All" remix by dude from Spoon?


“I Feel It All (Britt from Spoon Remix)” by Feist at Music Ramen

Stupid Congress

The House of Representatives brushed aside threats of a White House veto today and voted 236 to 182 in favor of an $18 billion tax package that would rescind a tax break for the five biggest oil giants and use the revenue to boost incentives for wind and solar energy and energy efficiency.

The current bill raises $13 billion by eliminating that manufacturers' tax break for the five biggest oil companies -- ExxonMobil Corp., Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips Co., BP Plc. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

"The Administration must strongly oppose" the legislation, said the Office of Management and Budget in its statement of administration policy on Tuesday, "because the bill would use the tax code to target tax increases on a specific industry in a way that will lead to higher energy costs to U.S. consumers and businesses."

Rep. Phil English (R-Penn.) called the bill a "placebo," "energy policy light," and "wrong-headed." He said, "Energy production is the very heart of American manufacturing."

above from washingtonpost

Do you know what these oil companies will do? Drill elsewhere, duh. So much for not relying on foreign oil...

More taxes on US producers will do nothing to lower energy costs; if anything, they will increase them. The Congressional Research Service, Congress' own research arm, has stated these proposals will reduce investments in domestic oil and gas, and will consequently increase imports.

The Facts: These so-called "subsidies" are tax provisions applicable to all US manufacturers and producers. Specifically, the 2004 "American Jobs Creation Act" was enacted to lower the marginal tax rates for U.S. manufacturers and producers, in order to strengthen the American economy and preserve jobs here in the United States. Yet somehow they are described as "subsidies" only for oil companies -- not for other "manufacturers," ranging from farmers, ranchers, and coal and mineral producers, to coffee grinders, movie studios and video game producers.

The pending House energy tax bill would repeal the 2004 legislation in full for only 5 oil and natural gas companies, singling them out for "punishment" and ignoring the fact that on the "record" profits they have made, they have also paid record taxes. In a study published recently in Tax Notes, the three highest effective tax rates for 2004-2006 of some 80 companies surveyed were ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Chevron. These tax rates were some 13 percentage points above the 30% effective tax rate average for all 80 companies.

The Facts: Oil companies are simply being taxed in the same way as all other US manufacturers and producers, and are paying record taxes on their earnings. Increasing tax rates further just on a handful of US companies is not "taking subsidies" away, but rather is simply imposing a windfall profits tax on a few companies, which will only serve to further increase our dependence on foreign energy sources, not reduce it.

Claim: "Congress... [is] working to lower energy costs, improve national security by making us more energy independent, end taxpayer-financed subsidies to big oil companies earning record profits, and combat global warming."

The Facts: Increasing taxes on US producers will do nothing to lower energy costs; if anything it will increase them. The Congressional Research Service, Congress' own research arm, has stated these proposals will reduce investments in domestic oil and gas, and will consequently increase imports. That would not make us more "energy independent."

Girls American idol

I'll post if I feel like it, but the boys were underwhelming and the girls all look alike. There are like 5 blonds or something. I saw Fantastic Four silver Surfer today, and all I could think was Jessica Alba was so much more interesting when she wasn't blonde. there are to many blondes, that's all I got.this is my cat, and she say's what are you looking at, bitch? but the lolcats are funnier:



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American Idol tonight

So I'm driving home today, and my XM47 Ethel plays the Sonic Youth "Superstar" cover. And it rocked.

So I'm watching idol tonight, and the gay kid Danny Noriega sang it (he's gay get used to it). And it didn't rock. But Simon gave him props so see him in the top 12, riding the Sanjaya under 15 kiddie votes.

how it should sound:



And cuz you asked, the original (I love this imeem!):

Kids are getting stupider

Are are teachers teaching the wrong stuff? We all know public schools are focused on teaching the passing of achievement tests, as opposed to, you know, teaching things.

But I don't think this study means it is the end of the world.

In other news, well I don't know I've been working. I think Obama is beating Hilary, and I don't care. Someone released a photo of Obama in Somali dress, and I don't care. I have a similar picture of me from Eritrea and doesn't make me a terrorist, muslim, or whatever? How ignorant are Americans?

I hear this video is funny, it's been around on the interwebs but my favorite blogger posted it, so it must be good: Betty White on Craig Ferguson (ok I just watched it and she's funny. It's not classic good but classic timing, if you know what I mean. Comedians should study her):

Once - Falling Slowly Academy Awards

I called it , yay! And I'm so glad they called Marketa back to give her speech. I don't think that has ever been done! Bad ending to the song (the Oscar song ended weird, which is what I meant) but good performance otherwise. I added the official youtube, since naturally the Academy is attacking any youtube videos:

F***ing Ben Affleck

Jimmy Kimmel's answer to Silverman's F***ing Matt Damon.

Classic stuff - who new Ben had so many famous friends?

Ow

Enough about my toe. This ends badly, to quote deadspin. Needless to say, broken leg, bone showing, and I will never complain about my toe again. ow ow ow. Youtube "Eduardo" if you want to see all the memorials up for the guy.

Oh, and he got a red card. as if.

I Drink Your Milkshake

If you haven't seen the movie, you don't get it. But, see the movie "There Will Be Blood". See it!! (btw, I don't know how long this will stay on youtube)

Happy Sunday

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Bitch is the New Black

SNL is back, bitches. I love Tina Fey

Shark follows Kayak -Thomas P. Peschak

You may have seen this on the interwebs, so here it is:

Here is the link to the story, so you know it is real. I am thinking of ordering the print myself.