Thursday, April 19, 2012

The Internet Smells Of Ozone And Tastes Like Mildew

So I've been having some internet connection problems, especially during bad weather. It's odd, because storms haven't caused much disruption in the past, but the periods of internet outage were growing longer and longer. I did what I could, then called the provider, who assured me that everything was OK on his end. I was plugging and unplugging every cable, and let the cord from the antenna to the power drop to the floor by accident. Water dropped out. Apparently the antenna had weathered through and water got into the line, shutting down internet. When it dried, everything came back.

One of the reasons I delayed getting help is that we are having the very same problem at work, and we have a similar system. Guess I'd better go make a phone call...



If you happen to be lost in a giant supercomputer, cut a cat5 vine for a refreshing drink.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Crop Duster

I could totally see him mouthing "Rat-tat-tat".

Saw a crop duster on my way to work the other morning. He was working both sides of the highway, and that was as high as he would get, probably to keep motorists from driving off the road while squishing themselves down in their seats. Personally, I roll up the windows as fast as
I can and shut off the vents while speeding up. Those pesticides are bad business.
Nevertheless, it's fun to watch. That strip of green at the bottom of the photo is the field he was spraying, and he had just leveled off after climbing up out of it, and I mean out of it. I would swear that this part of Texas is pancake flat, but there are spots low enough to hide a plane for ten seconds or so.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Remember When...

...winning the war meant the issue was settled? Yeah, me neither.

Some thoughts on the thirty year anniversary of the Falklands War.
  • It was a big waste of life and treasure. If the Argentines had kept up gentle but steady pressure, with face saving compromises, the Falklands would be theirs by now. The same applies to Spain in regards to Gibraltar. The United States is making the same error in regards to Cuba. No, there is no territorial claim, but isolating Cuba is the best thing that could ever happen to the government there. (Paranoid Chris thinks pinko commies in the State Dept. play a role in the embargo because they want a socialist workers paradise reservation somewhere where the culture isn't based on potatoes.)
  • Nationalism really gets the people going. It's too bad the left can only see American nationalism. If any other government starts a war to bolster popularity at home, it's seen as a legitimate complaint.
  • Argentina should take a long look at itself and ask why the Kelpies don't want to cross over.
  • Ever since the longbow, the British make their equipment the hero. Everyone knows the Harrier won the war.
  • I think more lives have been lost and more territory has exchanged hands on the assumption that "They won't fight" and "Our fighting spirit renders us bulletproof". In regards to the Falklands conflict though, sheer toughness won the day.
  • Speaking of British character, that has to be the only country in the world in which sinking an enemy combatant in the middle of losing your own ships left, right and center is considered by some to be a war crime.
  • The Nobel continues it's slide into irrelevancy. What ever happened to self determination, Bishop Tutu?
  • What is it with the left that protests the ruling junta and thousands of missing people, then demands that a population submit to the same ruling junta?