then watch these instead:
For more, i recommend this, this, and this raw early episode.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
follow up
Notorious has pointed us to some interesting information. But the real question is "who is this Eric Prince?" It's easy to pick on the no-bid Blackwater contracts and such, but who would be genius enough to think this up and twisted enough to really believe in it?
Homeboy hates the gays and the hippies.... but why?
Michigan born, but "Price," you say? Very Machiavellian, right? Plus there's the direct ties to the Devos' of Michigan and Amway International... Could you INVENT (imagine) a more EVIL empire?
Well, turns out he's a ghost and there is no information to be found. I guess he never existed at all! I feel better now.
Homeboy hates the gays and the hippies.... but why?
Michigan born, but "Price," you say? Very Machiavellian, right? Plus there's the direct ties to the Devos' of Michigan and Amway International... Could you INVENT (imagine) a more EVIL empire?
Well, turns out he's a ghost and there is no information to be found. I guess he never existed at all! I feel better now.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
All things automotive fuel
Preface: This is a wholly opinion based entry, constructed from readings, observations and deductions, as well as what I suspect is sound reasoning. Like the media, I’ve decided citations are unnecessary, for that time would be better spent drinking and watching porn.
Gasoline
Rundown: Gasoline is great but there is no better, cleaner or more efficient way to produce it, relying 100% on refining the goo of dead things from millions (or thousands, praise Allah) of years ago that. The oil, though requiring those millions of years to brew (Thousand --Allah), is being used up something in the order of a few centuries. All in all, it represents a definition for bad foresight, but it’s just so damn convenient, like a drunk party girl.
Outlook: There will always be some oil, but I'd prefer to use it for things like plastic bags, glock stocks, rather than lighting it on fire.
Diesel
Rundown: Diesel is like Gasoline’s bigger, older, uglier brother that says improper things around the family during thanksgiving and refuses to let you barrow his Led Zeppelin 2 CD to rip the songs. His only redeeming quality is a god-like strength that allows him to get a lot of work done, even if very little thought or technique is required. Much like your pot-smoking brother, Diesel has a lot of baggage that comes in the form of expensive materials and plumbing to clean up emissions of this un-refined fuel. The Europeans are big into the Diesel and have a lot of experience with it, recognizing early that they could better our state-side gas mileage by some 50%. As of 2007, tough emissions standards (In all modern countries) are preventing most companies from investing the money to develop a new series of Diesels for the US since demand is so low.
Outlook: Take it or leave it. Some people are obsessed with this fuel the same way they’re obsessed with quirky Scandinavian cars and hats with ear flaps, but the fact is, since there's less refining going into making the fuel, more refining is needed when using it. Pay now or pay later.
Ethanol
Rundown: If I lived on a coast I wouldn’t have to hear about ethanol nearly as much. Now ethanol demand is higher than ever and is currently contributing to a hay shortage for animals trapped in the snow. (normally when hey is short, they could feed ‘em corn- but we turned all the corn to fuel so we can drive nascar with out hippie intervention.) Ethanol emissions are similar to traditional hydrocarbons but the theory goes that growing the crop displaces the release of carbon-oxides. In the end, production of corn or other ethanol producing crops will adjust to meet demand, but it is unlikely that the US will be able to grow crop levels significant enough to offset fuel demands. The best thing going for ethanol is the idea that farmers (the kicking-dog of the modern economy) could grow the fuel of the future, is basically a wet dream for politicians.
Outlook: The great white hype will be around forever, likely as ad additive to all traditional gasoline in the 5 to 15% range, used to offset the necessary amount of imported oil. At these levels its presence will be transparent to the end users. Expect E85 cars to be a thing of the mid-west, or perhaps to die forever.
Bio-Diesel
Run-Down: Much like ethanol and Donny, the Bio Diesel (or b-dizzle as I like to call it) is way out of its league. Try as we might, we’re never going to consume enough chicken tenders and Taquitos to produce the excesses of cooking oil that the league of super hippies would require to power a country-sized fleet of late 90’s import diesel Volkswagens. Fact is, even as a produce based (soy, canola, bean sprout, what-EVER) derivative, we still run into the problem of size (of land) to yield (of fuel) ratios.
Outlook: The idea of using food wastes to create fuel is a great idea but it's not a game changer and is way over hyped. Unless we start buying 100lb bags of sugar from Central America for 13 cents to make the stuff (and thus interrupting the political dream of homegrown fuel and further angering the UFCW) expect to find the stuff as an additive to all diesel fuel in small quantities (<15%), and again off-setting the overall demand for ground-drawn oil.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Run down: The benefits of gas electric hybrids in their current form are trumped up fallacies, the likes of which we have not seen since the myth of the female Orgasm (kidding...). The complexity of a car with a two input drive train, duel propulsion sources (gas engine/electric motor) duel energy tanks (gas/battery) and a computer system to manage it all, far negates the minuscule gains in efficiency. These Rube Goldberg devices are going to be a mechanics worst nightmare, combining the worst of two worlds. In fact, by trying to create the perfect balance, It seems the engineers have missed the point completely.
Outlook: If there is a god, consumer hybrids will go the way of the Do-do, Crystal clear pepsi, and my transformers lunch box. A reasonable development would include electric or hydraulic-based hybrid system with regeneration used in commercial and industrial applications such as garbage trucks and UPS and mail vehicles, for these are the duty cycles required to see real benefits from such systems.
Hydrogen
As of now there exists no commercially viable method of cleanly producing mass quantities of hydrogen, nor is storage of hydrogen with energy density equivalent to gasoline even remotely possible. None of this of course would matter should oil run up to about $200/barrel. The promise of a near-term hydrogen future is a lie.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Rundown: Hydrogen fuel cells are unreliable beyond a few thousand hours of use and require super expensive platinum as a catalyst. The dominant automotive technology, PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells are delicate and require highly pure hydrogen, operable only within the temperature range of water (0 – 100 Celsius) Worse, the often neglected, NASA pioneered Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC) which is better suited to the demands of an automobile, has been virtually wiped out by the empty PEM promises of a Canadian company (Ballard Fuel Cells) in the early 90s. Fuel cells continue to be expensive because while they’re “hand assembled by PhDs” materials ain't cheap either, such as DOW’s proprietary Nafion (a necessary piece of EVERY PEM fuel cell) trademark for which has yet to expire.
Outlook: Hold your breath, I dare you.
Hydrogen ICE (Internal Combustion Engine)
Rundown: When BMW announced the release of their duel fuel (hydrogen/gasoline) burning 7-series, they were pretty up front about it being a segue way technology. This way, without an outright commitment to a costly technology, the Germans can simultaneously spur the development of infant hydrogen infrastructure, test public demand for a “clean” vehicle and basically dip their tow into the hydrogen ocean. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen, cars with an abundance of technology and redundant systems are complex and costly. Not to mention that this tuned-down 12 (or was it 10?) cylinder engine only pumps out some 250ish horses. Worst of all, no one is paying attention to the fact that some 99.999999% of the hydrogen used will come from reformed natural gas (a heating fuel already in high price and demand- thanks Russia). So not only are we starting with a hydrocarbon, but we’re then reforming it (energy intensive with CO-based emissions) compressing and liquefying it (energy intensive AGAIN) and then burning it in a combustion engine with a thermally-based Carnot efficiency limit of some 40%. This is the fuel equivalent of burning $100 bills to clean out your chimney,
Outlook: Like banging a fat chick when times are rough, let us never speak of this perhaps necessary evil again, no matter how enjoyable or un-enjoyable it is.
The Electric Car
Rundown: The red-headed step child of the auto industry, the electric car is the greatest idea that nobody wants. Or at least that no one admits to wanting. Grid-charged battery storage is the most efficient way to transfer and use energy, even when considering the impact of coal power plants. Plus is takes two problems (car pollution and power generation pollution) and puts them into one basket (if all local commuting is done with electric cars, the majority of vehicle pollution AND all energy generation pollution can both be cleaned up by funding new ways to generate electricity... But darn it, I can’t think of any clean energy ideas with this stupid wind blowing in my face and this relentless sun pounding my forehead. I need a drink) With this method we have no oil, no anti-freeze, no gas, no catalytic converter (full of toxic emissions it collected) no transmission fluid, and probably no power steering fluid to deal with, and did I mention my company’s batteries are easily recyclable? Of course, electricity is hard to store in large quantities just like anything else (again, energy densities aren’t even close to gasoline) but the point is, if you can make it to work and back, and maybe to the gentleman’s club afterward, you’ll be good for 80% of your driving, you typical American, you. Besides, since most families have two or three cars anyway, you (and I) can still keep the 400hp GTO.
Outlook: In the tomorrow land, bank on seeing a nice mix of pure electric cars, and something like the volt below:
GM Volt
This is the greatest idea that most of us have known about all along: Pure electric to run short commutes with and gas or diesel engine to charge the batteries on longer drives. Not as simple as a pure electric car, but still very elegant, requiring only one drive train. This is backyard technology and I’ve often talked about doing the same with the Fiat- all electric with a small weed whacker engine or something for heat or extra electricity or added noise should I bore of the silent and clean operation.
The point is, until there is a tangible economic cost associated with pollution (read: carbon tax, sharp spike in the price of oil, more war in the middle east, etc) it will be impossible to displace the existing cheap and convenient hydrocarbon establishment.
Gasoline
Rundown: Gasoline is great but there is no better, cleaner or more efficient way to produce it, relying 100% on refining the goo of dead things from millions (or thousands, praise Allah) of years ago that. The oil, though requiring those millions of years to brew (Thousand --Allah), is being used up something in the order of a few centuries. All in all, it represents a definition for bad foresight, but it’s just so damn convenient, like a drunk party girl.
Outlook: There will always be some oil, but I'd prefer to use it for things like plastic bags, glock stocks, rather than lighting it on fire.
Diesel
Rundown: Diesel is like Gasoline’s bigger, older, uglier brother that says improper things around the family during thanksgiving and refuses to let you barrow his Led Zeppelin 2 CD to rip the songs. His only redeeming quality is a god-like strength that allows him to get a lot of work done, even if very little thought or technique is required. Much like your pot-smoking brother, Diesel has a lot of baggage that comes in the form of expensive materials and plumbing to clean up emissions of this un-refined fuel. The Europeans are big into the Diesel and have a lot of experience with it, recognizing early that they could better our state-side gas mileage by some 50%. As of 2007, tough emissions standards (In all modern countries) are preventing most companies from investing the money to develop a new series of Diesels for the US since demand is so low.
Outlook: Take it or leave it. Some people are obsessed with this fuel the same way they’re obsessed with quirky Scandinavian cars and hats with ear flaps, but the fact is, since there's less refining going into making the fuel, more refining is needed when using it. Pay now or pay later.
Ethanol
Rundown: If I lived on a coast I wouldn’t have to hear about ethanol nearly as much. Now ethanol demand is higher than ever and is currently contributing to a hay shortage for animals trapped in the snow. (normally when hey is short, they could feed ‘em corn- but we turned all the corn to fuel so we can drive nascar with out hippie intervention.) Ethanol emissions are similar to traditional hydrocarbons but the theory goes that growing the crop displaces the release of carbon-oxides. In the end, production of corn or other ethanol producing crops will adjust to meet demand, but it is unlikely that the US will be able to grow crop levels significant enough to offset fuel demands. The best thing going for ethanol is the idea that farmers (the kicking-dog of the modern economy) could grow the fuel of the future, is basically a wet dream for politicians.
Outlook: The great white hype will be around forever, likely as ad additive to all traditional gasoline in the 5 to 15% range, used to offset the necessary amount of imported oil. At these levels its presence will be transparent to the end users. Expect E85 cars to be a thing of the mid-west, or perhaps to die forever.
Bio-Diesel
Run-Down: Much like ethanol and Donny, the Bio Diesel (or b-dizzle as I like to call it) is way out of its league. Try as we might, we’re never going to consume enough chicken tenders and Taquitos to produce the excesses of cooking oil that the league of super hippies would require to power a country-sized fleet of late 90’s import diesel Volkswagens. Fact is, even as a produce based (soy, canola, bean sprout, what-EVER) derivative, we still run into the problem of size (of land) to yield (of fuel) ratios.
Outlook: The idea of using food wastes to create fuel is a great idea but it's not a game changer and is way over hyped. Unless we start buying 100lb bags of sugar from Central America for 13 cents to make the stuff (and thus interrupting the political dream of homegrown fuel and further angering the UFCW) expect to find the stuff as an additive to all diesel fuel in small quantities (<15%), and again off-setting the overall demand for ground-drawn oil.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Run down: The benefits of gas electric hybrids in their current form are trumped up fallacies, the likes of which we have not seen since the myth of the female Orgasm (kidding...). The complexity of a car with a two input drive train, duel propulsion sources (gas engine/electric motor) duel energy tanks (gas/battery) and a computer system to manage it all, far negates the minuscule gains in efficiency. These Rube Goldberg devices are going to be a mechanics worst nightmare, combining the worst of two worlds. In fact, by trying to create the perfect balance, It seems the engineers have missed the point completely.
Outlook: If there is a god, consumer hybrids will go the way of the Do-do, Crystal clear pepsi, and my transformers lunch box. A reasonable development would include electric or hydraulic-based hybrid system with regeneration used in commercial and industrial applications such as garbage trucks and UPS and mail vehicles, for these are the duty cycles required to see real benefits from such systems.
Hydrogen
As of now there exists no commercially viable method of cleanly producing mass quantities of hydrogen, nor is storage of hydrogen with energy density equivalent to gasoline even remotely possible. None of this of course would matter should oil run up to about $200/barrel. The promise of a near-term hydrogen future is a lie.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Rundown: Hydrogen fuel cells are unreliable beyond a few thousand hours of use and require super expensive platinum as a catalyst. The dominant automotive technology, PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells are delicate and require highly pure hydrogen, operable only within the temperature range of water (0 – 100 Celsius) Worse, the often neglected, NASA pioneered Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC) which is better suited to the demands of an automobile, has been virtually wiped out by the empty PEM promises of a Canadian company (Ballard Fuel Cells) in the early 90s. Fuel cells continue to be expensive because while they’re “hand assembled by PhDs” materials ain't cheap either, such as DOW’s proprietary Nafion (a necessary piece of EVERY PEM fuel cell) trademark for which has yet to expire.
Outlook: Hold your breath, I dare you.
Hydrogen ICE (Internal Combustion Engine)
Rundown: When BMW announced the release of their duel fuel (hydrogen/gasoline) burning 7-series, they were pretty up front about it being a segue way technology. This way, without an outright commitment to a costly technology, the Germans can simultaneously spur the development of infant hydrogen infrastructure, test public demand for a “clean” vehicle and basically dip their tow into the hydrogen ocean. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen, cars with an abundance of technology and redundant systems are complex and costly. Not to mention that this tuned-down 12 (or was it 10?) cylinder engine only pumps out some 250ish horses. Worst of all, no one is paying attention to the fact that some 99.999999% of the hydrogen used will come from reformed natural gas (a heating fuel already in high price and demand- thanks Russia). So not only are we starting with a hydrocarbon, but we’re then reforming it (energy intensive with CO-based emissions) compressing and liquefying it (energy intensive AGAIN) and then burning it in a combustion engine with a thermally-based Carnot efficiency limit of some 40%. This is the fuel equivalent of burning $100 bills to clean out your chimney,
Outlook: Like banging a fat chick when times are rough, let us never speak of this perhaps necessary evil again, no matter how enjoyable or un-enjoyable it is.
The Electric Car
Rundown: The red-headed step child of the auto industry, the electric car is the greatest idea that nobody wants. Or at least that no one admits to wanting. Grid-charged battery storage is the most efficient way to transfer and use energy, even when considering the impact of coal power plants. Plus is takes two problems (car pollution and power generation pollution) and puts them into one basket (if all local commuting is done with electric cars, the majority of vehicle pollution AND all energy generation pollution can both be cleaned up by funding new ways to generate electricity... But darn it, I can’t think of any clean energy ideas with this stupid wind blowing in my face and this relentless sun pounding my forehead. I need a drink) With this method we have no oil, no anti-freeze, no gas, no catalytic converter (full of toxic emissions it collected) no transmission fluid, and probably no power steering fluid to deal with, and did I mention my company’s batteries are easily recyclable? Of course, electricity is hard to store in large quantities just like anything else (again, energy densities aren’t even close to gasoline) but the point is, if you can make it to work and back, and maybe to the gentleman’s club afterward, you’ll be good for 80% of your driving, you typical American, you. Besides, since most families have two or three cars anyway, you (and I) can still keep the 400hp GTO.
Outlook: In the tomorrow land, bank on seeing a nice mix of pure electric cars, and something like the volt below:
GM Volt
This is the greatest idea that most of us have known about all along: Pure electric to run short commutes with and gas or diesel engine to charge the batteries on longer drives. Not as simple as a pure electric car, but still very elegant, requiring only one drive train. This is backyard technology and I’ve often talked about doing the same with the Fiat- all electric with a small weed whacker engine or something for heat or extra electricity or added noise should I bore of the silent and clean operation.
The point is, until there is a tangible economic cost associated with pollution (read: carbon tax, sharp spike in the price of oil, more war in the middle east, etc) it will be impossible to displace the existing cheap and convenient hydrocarbon establishment.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
nostalgia (subtitle: tastes like burning)
I have a book under my bed that will hold something like 100 CDs. It's filled with computer discs; mostly burned media from college and old cracked computer programs such as AOE2 and WIN 98. Now that I've taken a semester off and officially resigned from formula car, (a result of my typical work day requiring 13-14 hours of my life) my weekends are actually pretty open. And since I'm in the middle of a paycheck-drought that comes with starting any new job, I've been catching up on my book-keeping. I've uncovered some pretty interesting stuff.
The first interesting archaeological find was my original MP3 collection, backed up onto two standard (not even the 700meg version) CDs. Those discs, burned in the first half of 1999 don't really compare to the 8739 songs composing 39.57 gigs on the imac right now... It's pretty amazing to think about those few precious songs that were listened to again and again in that cramped dorm room, often interrupted by a CD or two to break the monotony. Of course today, I've not yet even listened to half of the songs polluting my hard drive.
I found another sics that simply said "pics" and had material ranging from life in the dorms to a series of images from Sep 11.
Just another anonymous interviewee for the lode...
Kids today think they're tough. Rat-soup eatin muther fuckers.
And finally, I've included this because it makes me happy.
Remember when we tried to recreate this picture with just guys and we'd be standing on a snow bank with strategically placed discs? Yeah, the logistics, perhaps for good reason, never worked out on that one.
I also found all my photos from my "The Lode" days. Any one remember when the drag show came to tech? And we all pre-drank and then sneeked flasks into the show? And then we made out with those hot chicks who said they were only in town to see the show? (damn, even the drag-queens were unusually ugly at tech)
After reviewing the data, that drag show attracted a LOT of chicks (or alleged chicks) to the audience. It should have been a lot easier to scam some hoes there... but there's always that question in the back of your head.
And remember when i met that woman from Calumet and she asked me to take some pictures of her for a music CD cover? She insisted on paying me as well as giving me a copy of her CD which was, to this day, the WORST music i have ever heard. I kind of want to die just thinking about it. That CD was included free with the purchase of the caddy.
Keep in mind she designed all aspects of this shoot- I just made the clicks
Speaking of the caddy... If any object can, that car truly embodies the care-free, over the top days of college/past. Neary a conversation of the "long ago" comes up where someone doesn't bring up the caddy.
What can i say?
Likewise, there were the absurd Photo assignments. Like the rock-climbing club.
Remember when Scott got tough after high school?
Do you know how you get those awesome shots way up in the air? You take you camera gear and you climb that god damned wall.
And remember the "driving with a cell phone" assignment? Never mind the fact that there was only about 10 cell phones in Houghton at the time. (I of course had two of them) So how do you take a picture that demonstrates driving and cell-ing?
Dan the Man. The open road seen on his glasses seen on the mirror. Deep.
Two things to note about these pictures: 1) Wildman HATES cell phones and talking in general. This is, in come bizarr-O way, why he made the best candidate. 2) everything of interest in these photos (The car, the glasses, the phone and the monkey) were mine. P-I-M-P.
I always described the inside of the Caddy as "two recliners and a love seat." How did I NOT get more action back then?
And carnival... oh carnival.
another UN-STAGED photo for The Lode. Oh Dave.
And then that chick set herself on fire for me. (note: all donations go to red cross. i-RON-eee)
Finally, i present my only documented data that proves chicks dig cameras (and possible guys behind them) I encountered this chick around 2am of all nighter while shooting the crowd and she immediately put her face in the camera and stood on the button. She looks bent over because the camera was hanging around my neck and i was in the middle of a conversation with someone else- i think she was a friend of the person i knew. Three things are obvious to me now: She was wicked drunk, she loved to be in front of the camera and I was a fool.
Sigh. That's enough for one day. Some pictures i omitted for time: A picture of Mully taking a picture of girls dancing on our bar. (very surreal) Later, i would test that bar for integrity. Also, a picture of Lee's Hardcore-metal-godhead-little girl-dating-roommate. Also a picture of The Scotts and Katie. (mmf action at it's best)
.
.
.
Edit: Oh Your Gods! I was reviewing the pics of that drunk chick and i just realized: in the second to last picture, one can clearly see the white Mr. T who I believe i had just been talking to previously. His photo can be seen here
.
.
.
Edit: Upon further review, I think that's Sarah and some dude who ISN'T the white Mr. T in the background of that picture, but just looks like him from the chin down. I'm leaving the picture up there anyway.
The first interesting archaeological find was my original MP3 collection, backed up onto two standard (not even the 700meg version) CDs. Those discs, burned in the first half of 1999 don't really compare to the 8739 songs composing 39.57 gigs on the imac right now... It's pretty amazing to think about those few precious songs that were listened to again and again in that cramped dorm room, often interrupted by a CD or two to break the monotony. Of course today, I've not yet even listened to half of the songs polluting my hard drive.
I found another sics that simply said "pics" and had material ranging from life in the dorms to a series of images from Sep 11.
Just another anonymous interviewee for the lode...
Kids today think they're tough. Rat-soup eatin muther fuckers.
And finally, I've included this because it makes me happy.
Remember when we tried to recreate this picture with just guys and we'd be standing on a snow bank with strategically placed discs? Yeah, the logistics, perhaps for good reason, never worked out on that one.
I also found all my photos from my "The Lode" days. Any one remember when the drag show came to tech? And we all pre-drank and then sneeked flasks into the show? And then we made out with those hot chicks who said they were only in town to see the show? (damn, even the drag-queens were unusually ugly at tech)
After reviewing the data, that drag show attracted a LOT of chicks (or alleged chicks) to the audience. It should have been a lot easier to scam some hoes there... but there's always that question in the back of your head.
And remember when i met that woman from Calumet and she asked me to take some pictures of her for a music CD cover? She insisted on paying me as well as giving me a copy of her CD which was, to this day, the WORST music i have ever heard. I kind of want to die just thinking about it. That CD was included free with the purchase of the caddy.
Keep in mind she designed all aspects of this shoot- I just made the clicks
Speaking of the caddy... If any object can, that car truly embodies the care-free, over the top days of college/past. Neary a conversation of the "long ago" comes up where someone doesn't bring up the caddy.
What can i say?
Likewise, there were the absurd Photo assignments. Like the rock-climbing club.
Remember when Scott got tough after high school?
Do you know how you get those awesome shots way up in the air? You take you camera gear and you climb that god damned wall.
And remember the "driving with a cell phone" assignment? Never mind the fact that there was only about 10 cell phones in Houghton at the time. (I of course had two of them) So how do you take a picture that demonstrates driving and cell-ing?
Dan the Man. The open road seen on his glasses seen on the mirror. Deep.
Two things to note about these pictures: 1) Wildman HATES cell phones and talking in general. This is, in come bizarr-O way, why he made the best candidate. 2) everything of interest in these photos (The car, the glasses, the phone and the monkey) were mine. P-I-M-P.
I always described the inside of the Caddy as "two recliners and a love seat." How did I NOT get more action back then?
And carnival... oh carnival.
another UN-STAGED photo for The Lode. Oh Dave.
And then that chick set herself on fire for me. (note: all donations go to red cross. i-RON-eee)
Finally, i present my only documented data that proves chicks dig cameras (and possible guys behind them) I encountered this chick around 2am of all nighter while shooting the crowd and she immediately put her face in the camera and stood on the button. She looks bent over because the camera was hanging around my neck and i was in the middle of a conversation with someone else- i think she was a friend of the person i knew. Three things are obvious to me now: She was wicked drunk, she loved to be in front of the camera and I was a fool.
Sigh. That's enough for one day. Some pictures i omitted for time: A picture of Mully taking a picture of girls dancing on our bar. (very surreal) Later, i would test that bar for integrity. Also, a picture of Lee's Hardcore-metal-godhead-little girl-dating-roommate. Also a picture of The Scotts and Katie. (mmf action at it's best)
.
.
.
Edit: Oh Your Gods! I was reviewing the pics of that drunk chick and i just realized: in the second to last picture, one can clearly see the white Mr. T who I believe i had just been talking to previously. His photo can be seen here
.
.
.
Edit: Upon further review, I think that's Sarah and some dude who ISN'T the white Mr. T in the background of that picture, but just looks like him from the chin down. I'm leaving the picture up there anyway.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
yo mamma
HOW TO ARGUE EFFECTIVELY against CHESTOCRATES
by the great Sophist
I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win any argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me. You can win arguments too. Simply follow these rules:
*Drink Liquor
Suppose you are at a party and some hotshot intellectual is expounding on the economy of Peru, a subject you know nothing about. If you're drinking some health-fanatic drink like grapefruit juice, you'll hang back, afraid to display your ignorance, while the hotshot enthralls your date. But if you drink several large martinis, you'll discover you have STRONG VIEWS about the Peruvian economy. You'll be a WEALTH of information. You'll argue forcefully, offering searing insights and possibly upsetting furniture. People will be impressed. Some may leave the room.
*Make Things Up.
Suppose, in the Peruvian economy argument, you are trying to prove that Peruvians are underpaid, a position you base solely on the fact that YOU are underpaid, and you'll be damned if you're going let a bunch of Peruvians be better off. DON'T say: "I think Peruvians are underpaid." Say instead: "The average Peruvian's salary in 1981 dollars adjusted for the revised tax base is $1452.81 per annum, which is $836.07 before mean gross poverty level." NOTE: Always make up exact figures.
If an opponent asks you where you got your information, make THAT up too. Say: "This information comes from Dr. Hovel T. Moon's study for the Buford Commission published on May 9, 1982. Didn't you read it?" Say this in the same tone of voice you would use to say, "You left your soiled underwear in my bathroom."
*Use Meaningless By Weighty-Sounding Words and Phrases.
Memorize this list:
- Let me put it this way
- In terms of
- Vis-a-vis
- Per se
- As it were
- Qua
- So to speak
You should also memorize some Latin abbreviations such as "Q.E.D.", "e.g.", and "i.e." These are all short for "I speak Latin, and you don't."
Here's how you use these words and phrases. Suppose you want to say, "Peruvians would like to order appetizers more often, but they don't have enough money." You never win arguments talking like that. But you WILL win if you say, "Let me put it this way: In terms of appetizers, vis-a-vis Peruvians qua Peruvians, they would like to order them more often, so to speak, but they do not have enough money per se, as it were. Q.E.D." Only a fool would challenge a statement like that.
*Use Snappy and Irrelevant Comebacks.
You need an arsenal of all-purpose irrelevant phrases to fire back at your opponents when they make valid points. They best are:
- You're begging the question.
- You're bing defensive.
- Don't compare apples to oranges.
- What are your parameters?
This last one is especially valuable. Nobody (other than engineers and policy wonks) has the vaguest idea what "parameters" means. Don't forget the classic: YOU'RE BEING LINEAR.
Here's how you use your combacks:
You say: As Abraham Lincoln said in 1873...
Your opponent says: Lincoln died in 1865.
You say: You're begging the question.
You say: Liberians, like most Asians...
Your opponent says: Liberia is in Africa
You say: You're being defensive.
*Compare Your Opponent to Adolf Hitler.
This is your heavy artillery, for when your opponent is obviously right and you are spectacularyly wrong. Bring Hitler up subtly. Say, "That sounds something suspiciously like something Adolf Hitler would say," or "You certainly do remind me of Adolf Hitler."
So that's it. You now know how to out-argue anybody. Don't try to pull any of this on people who generally carry weapons.
by the great Sophist
I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win any argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me. You can win arguments too. Simply follow these rules:
*Drink Liquor
Suppose you are at a party and some hotshot intellectual is expounding on the economy of Peru, a subject you know nothing about. If you're drinking some health-fanatic drink like grapefruit juice, you'll hang back, afraid to display your ignorance, while the hotshot enthralls your date. But if you drink several large martinis, you'll discover you have STRONG VIEWS about the Peruvian economy. You'll be a WEALTH of information. You'll argue forcefully, offering searing insights and possibly upsetting furniture. People will be impressed. Some may leave the room.
*Make Things Up.
Suppose, in the Peruvian economy argument, you are trying to prove that Peruvians are underpaid, a position you base solely on the fact that YOU are underpaid, and you'll be damned if you're going let a bunch of Peruvians be better off. DON'T say: "I think Peruvians are underpaid." Say instead: "The average Peruvian's salary in 1981 dollars adjusted for the revised tax base is $1452.81 per annum, which is $836.07 before mean gross poverty level." NOTE: Always make up exact figures.
If an opponent asks you where you got your information, make THAT up too. Say: "This information comes from Dr. Hovel T. Moon's study for the Buford Commission published on May 9, 1982. Didn't you read it?" Say this in the same tone of voice you would use to say, "You left your soiled underwear in my bathroom."
*Use Meaningless By Weighty-Sounding Words and Phrases.
Memorize this list:
- Let me put it this way
- In terms of
- Vis-a-vis
- Per se
- As it were
- Qua
- So to speak
You should also memorize some Latin abbreviations such as "Q.E.D.", "e.g.", and "i.e." These are all short for "I speak Latin, and you don't."
Here's how you use these words and phrases. Suppose you want to say, "Peruvians would like to order appetizers more often, but they don't have enough money." You never win arguments talking like that. But you WILL win if you say, "Let me put it this way: In terms of appetizers, vis-a-vis Peruvians qua Peruvians, they would like to order them more often, so to speak, but they do not have enough money per se, as it were. Q.E.D." Only a fool would challenge a statement like that.
*Use Snappy and Irrelevant Comebacks.
You need an arsenal of all-purpose irrelevant phrases to fire back at your opponents when they make valid points. They best are:
- You're begging the question.
- You're bing defensive.
- Don't compare apples to oranges.
- What are your parameters?
This last one is especially valuable. Nobody (other than engineers and policy wonks) has the vaguest idea what "parameters" means. Don't forget the classic: YOU'RE BEING LINEAR.
Here's how you use your combacks:
You say: As Abraham Lincoln said in 1873...
Your opponent says: Lincoln died in 1865.
You say: You're begging the question.
You say: Liberians, like most Asians...
Your opponent says: Liberia is in Africa
You say: You're being defensive.
*Compare Your Opponent to Adolf Hitler.
This is your heavy artillery, for when your opponent is obviously right and you are spectacularyly wrong. Bring Hitler up subtly. Say, "That sounds something suspiciously like something Adolf Hitler would say," or "You certainly do remind me of Adolf Hitler."
So that's it. You now know how to out-argue anybody. Don't try to pull any of this on people who generally carry weapons.
wadi chu zay?
yesterday at work someone commented on a shotty effort by noting "it's not like we're building Fiats here."
i don't think anyone goes here anymore.
(i bit his ears off)
i don't think anyone goes here anymore.
(i bit his ears off)
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
first day recap
Step zero: wake up at 6am, drive north for 40 miles, 8am arrive at work.
I can see clearly now that locating my primary forces in a more northerly position will be key to my world dominance. Or morning commute. I can't remember.Step one: First things first: Safety meeting.
It is highly important to not put tongues, fingers and penises into certain machines. Turns out we get a free set of Redwing Steal Toe shoes each year. All large tow pinching objects as well as various deserving asses better watch out.Step two: Team meeting.
In a group of 6, I'm not the only new guy. Also, it's strange to be around so many people who are generally interested in their work.Step three: Group meeting
Turns out we got the new GM account, but those bastards over at the competition are still barking up our heels. Stay tight men!Step four: I have a cube, phone and computer
Another laptop? I'm going to build a fort with my computersStep five: We go out for a Team lunch.
Turns out my boss and coworkers are way into forced induction cars, AWD cars and cars that combine the best of those worlds. To give perspective, in an hour lunch car talk session, not once did muscle cars come up.Step alpha: Lay in bed and watch cartoonish but timeless space scenes of The Last Star Fighter.
insert several steps here. In the end i didn't get out of the office until about 6pm. I could have left earlier but got caught up with my boss talking about electric RC cars (1/8th v 1/10th scale) , li-po battery packs and what brand of brushless motor is best.
Kodan Officer: She won't answer the helm! We're locked into the moon's gravitational pull. What do we do?
[sound of Lord Kril's eyepiece swinging over left eye]
Lord Kril: We die.
Friday, January 05, 2007
friggin sweet
i used to watch these two British chumps when i was a younger lad- kind of like a precursor to Myth Busters. Here's a great episode about combustion engines.
The rest can be found here.
The rest can be found here.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
oh your gods
1) how have i not seen this?
2) how do I get the girls in the previous link into a porn? (I'll see YOU in 2008)
2) how do I get the girls in the previous link into a porn? (I'll see YOU in 2008)
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
time to update my AA skills
i was prepared to be enslaved by the chimps or ants, but not the super intelligent birds.
C'est la vie
C'est la vie
consumption based recreation
As of late, there seems to be a bit of social thinking done along the lines of consumption-based recreation. The theory goes a little something like this: in faster-paced and more consumption oriented societies (such as ours) recreation becomes an extension of ones lifestyle. In this way, one would likely feel the need to "super size and Too Faster Too Furiouser" their free time. This is why your typical whoever can't have a good time unless they're going 70 mph on a jet boat circling their island cottage with their expensive sunglasses and their novelty light up jester hat, whilst every waking moment of their weekend needs to be spent not enjoying the smells of this or that but instead cramming as much activity as impossible.
This is where it gets interesting. As the middle class goes the way of the dodo and dual downdraft side carbs, the masses will no longer, overall, be able to afford the in your face, plastic trinket vacations and recreations of yore. This means an adjustment of sorts will be required for the reality (you can only afford to go sit on a beach and think about rocks) to catch up with the fantasy (jet truck melt down). The europeans, as you may or may not know, value free time and general chillaxin a little more than your typical yankee doodle and already, (again, overall) spend more time sitting on beaches than trying to amateur-pilot this or that. This could be because their economy down turned years ago, their values were never quite as consumption oriented, or even because their beaches are mostly topless/nude and their people mostly not obese slobs (sorry- i could be getting a bit preachy here).
But seriously folks... Nude wheel barrel races? Why would you do that? And who would take a picture? And why would someone publish that on the internet? And link to it?
(sometimes there are no answers)
This is where it gets interesting. As the middle class goes the way of the dodo and dual downdraft side carbs, the masses will no longer, overall, be able to afford the in your face, plastic trinket vacations and recreations of yore. This means an adjustment of sorts will be required for the reality (you can only afford to go sit on a beach and think about rocks) to catch up with the fantasy (jet truck melt down). The europeans, as you may or may not know, value free time and general chillaxin a little more than your typical yankee doodle and already, (again, overall) spend more time sitting on beaches than trying to amateur-pilot this or that. This could be because their economy down turned years ago, their values were never quite as consumption oriented, or even because their beaches are mostly topless/nude and their people mostly not obese slobs (sorry- i could be getting a bit preachy here).
But seriously folks... Nude wheel barrel races? Why would you do that? And who would take a picture? And why would someone publish that on the internet? And link to it?
(sometimes there are no answers)
Monday, January 01, 2007
It begins anew
it is 007 and not even worth commenting on the relentless march of time. One week to go before starting the new job. I'm in search of an apartment and as ridiculous as it may sound to some of you, i'm actually looking at places in the "nice part" of metro Detroit.
on a related note, apparently Detroit does not get snow anymore. This could be useful if i decide to pull the trigger on one of those 400hp/400tq '06 GTOs that my friendly local pontiac dealer let me test drive last week. It's an odd feeling knowing in that car that at any speed, in any gear and at any RPM, you can hit the gas and instantly feel like you're falling face-first off a building. In the end, it's mostly just a day dream though, since follow through would likely end up with me dead, in prison, broke, or some combination of the three.
I recommend buying this car to anyone. The 2002 always had terrific handling and in this instance, the original low output single-carb engine was replaced with an EFI, moderate-power version. As well, the "standard for the era" 4-speed was swapped for a 5-speed. No sir, no problem getting chicks to bang or gear-heads to drool with this black beauty. (my birthday is in August). Regardless, any used, running bimmer will fetch a couple grand simply because of their stupid levels of reliability. I'd figure this to grab 8 to 10k.
All this recent time off work has allowed be to reconnect with my training. I feel my power growing stronger everyday.
"I'm sorry you didn't get the Derelicte campaign, Hanzel"
"you can dere-lick my balls, el capitan"
Yeah, this year is gonna be pretty sweet. I can feel it.
("dude, are you being serious or sarcastic?"
"I don't even know anymore")
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