Ketchup Chips

Have you fed your welfare victims today?

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:24:57 PST

As Conservatives are told they are heartless about providing benefits to people that won't work, we find out that the unemployment figures are actually ginned up in Obama's favor, but creating a loophole wher millions of Americans can STILL live without working at all.

Disability is the new LAZY MAN's way to play. Disability claims are up almost 20% as people threatented with having to go back to work after disemployment incentives are used up now turn to "back problems" and "mental health issues" as the new way to get paid. In fact over 43% of all claims are related to "mental illness" and a growing number of them come from former white collar workers.

Over 10.5 million people, about 5.3 of the population now are "disabled". Another 7.5 million or another 3.5% are behind bars. 27% are under age 20. 23% are over 65. A furhter 6% of the population is "legitimately disabled" to a degree they can't work. 1% are in the active duty military. 9% are "unemployed". A further 9% do no work because they can't be bothered any more to seek a job. 8% of the population is on welfare.

Want to feel like a one %'er? You should by now.

Just remember that given these figures, 9% of the US population is providing the free ride to all the other classes (with the exception of the military - who deserve every penny they get and more). Even if you remove double counting possibilities (disability victims on welfare) - 28% of the population supports 72%.

As the disability fund is expected to run out of benefits in FOUR YEARS, I would plan on a big fat juicy take hike to pay for all the Obama supporters who can't or won't contribute.

I can only hope this change doesn't happen. I'm running out of charity.

Obama's 2012 Loss - the Math behind the defeat...

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:03:00 PST

If you begin to look at the chance of Obama losing in 2012, the electoral math is daunting.

Let's begin with the 2008 results adjusted for the post-Census re-districting. I think even the most rabid of left leaners would agree that this is a baseline and that the chances that Obama will win MORE electoral votes than he did three years ago is zero. No results, bad job, bad economy with anemic recovery that nobody feels is a recovery. Millions still unemployed, union friends compensated for Solyndra, GM and over 2100 health care "exemptions".

Then we'll begin with what I think are fairly obvious adjustments -- we'll give the Republicans back the electoral votes they lost in Nebraska along with Indiana, North Carolina, and Virginia -- traditionally Republican states that Obama carried last time through a special magic the like of which we are not likely to see again. Not the usual Chicago dead people voting magic, magic none the less.

Let's work from that base of 219 electoral votes and assume that the following states are potential battlegrounds in 2012: Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Florida. We'll throw in Maine and New Jersey as stretch states as well just to be conservative. Sorry for the pun.

This gives the Republican nominee an almost unlimited number of paths to the White House.

Perhaps the most obvious one, in that it resembles the 2000 and 2004 battlegrounds most heavily, is that a Republican could win by just by taking just Florida, Ohio, and Nevada from that list of states.

Or, the Repubicans could just tie it -- and win in a Republican-controlled House -- simply by taking Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin from the rust belt and only Nevada in the West.

Alternatively, they could win without taking a single rust-belt state by winning in Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, and New Hampshire. This outcome seems like a real possibility given Florida's now rabid distate for President Zero, and Nevada's growing dislike of Senator Reid.

Another odd-looking way of doing it would be to take Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, and Oregon, although Ohio looks a little floppy given their propensity of voting for candidates with the most handouts.

In any event, working from this base, Obama has to take 2/3 of the electoral votes in battleground states this time around to get the job done.

And there is not enough Acorn left to plant a tree that big.

Check your email address book folks, or this could happen to you!

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:47:02 PST

If you are going to write me an email in error - you should be prepared for the response. I bet this guy is still trying to figure this out....first - he writes me, thinking I'm someone else:

++++++++++++++++++

Greetings and salutations my long lost climbing buddy. How goes things? So are you a happily married man now?? Family man yet?? What’s up with you and Melissa? Are you still working for Agility? Fill me in on some of the details of the past few years. Tell me a little of what is going on in your neck of the woods in California.

I know it seems I fell off the planet and haven’t written or called since what…2008 or so… I actually went back to school to get my associates degree as well as a few other work related things. School and work have consumed a lot of my time and it is now about to wrap up with my graduating in May. I have also been involved in a program through the CIA (not the spooks but the Culinary Institute of America) and Stephanie (my wife) and hopefully my parents will be coming out for about a week to vineyard hop, eat some good food and hopefully catch up with a long lost climbing buddy and his girlfriend/wife/family. We are planning to be in California arriving April 12, 2012 and leaving midday April 21, 2012. It would be nice if you could join us for a day or two when we first get there before I start my classes at CIA Greystone

I look forward to hearing from you and hope we can get together when we are out there. Take care and write soon!

Ketchup Chips responds with sick pleasure:

Holy smokes long time no talk! Things are going well here, I started a new job in San Francisco at the White Swallow Bathhouse. Unfortunately Melissa and I are no longer together - seems that once we hit California her porn career took off and so did she! She now is doing vids under the stage name Crissy Snow at Raunch Studios. Check her out sometime! Congrats on the CIA stuff, unfortunately as a recovering addict I can't partake and my parole conditions prohibit me from leaving the city. Actually the ankle bracelet kinda keeps me close to the house. And my parole officer.

Anyways do keep in touch - it is great to hear from you, after my little indiscretion with Stephanie i didnt think you would want to stay buds.

You are a class act man!

Deal of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:27:53 PST

I am officially sick of deal of the day sites. What was once a gun slinging, fast reaction combination of e-commerce paint-ball and shopping has now turned into either a way for retailers and junk peddlers to get rid of last years insect-ravaged toaster models - or - a way for bad local restaurants to lure in the masses with 50% deals on cheeseburgers and spa treatments.

It just plain sucks, and I ain't doing it anymore.

When Ebay switched over from the world's largest garage sale full of snipers, and treasure and bidding wars into the world's largest cheap Chinese good flea market / store, the fun went out of that as well. Ebay Stores suck.

So I don't do that anymore either.

What is left for me is Goodwill - which will soon be ruined by hoarders and vultures trying to pretend in their own limp way that they are American Pickers looking to score a "honey hole" or "flip" that silver plated baby rattle into the "find of a lifetime". I swear it is like dealing with a bunch of Guy Fieri knock offs with worse haircuts and more body odor.

I can still search through Craigslist and fend off the desperate horde of single moms selling baby swings, onesies and broken toys as I continue the elusive search for something of value - and the "something of value" gets harder to find every day.

Barn finds, estate treasures and garage sales are all that is left. It seems that I got to go mobile to get to the good stuff!

Is your Smart Meter Spying on You?

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:29:56 PST

Most of us by now have one these devices on our house - the new-fangled meter that allows the power company to take a reading of our power consumption remotely without having to send a service representative around the neighborhood the write it all down. Innocent as can be right?

Potentially not.

The meter can tell when you use power, what applicances are drawing loads, and by extention, when you are home, what rooms you use the most, what temperature you keep your house at, how many people live there, and on and on. Your TIVO already tracks every show you watch, every commercial you skip or watch - and even every slice of tv you rewind (thank you Janet Jackson). Doesn't feel so innocent any more does it?

Who else would want your data than just ther power company?

Neighborhood “busy bodies” will want to know what their neighbors are doing for the sheer pleasure of knowing, or the greater pleasure of gossiping.

Vengeful ex-spouses, jealous paramours, determined stalkers, and civil litigants may want to know an individual’s whereabouts and activities.

Burglars could use intercepted data to determine when a location is unoccupied, what an occupant is doing,and whether valuable electronics are inside.

A thief gaining access to bi-directional communications or controls could activate or deactivate intrusion alarms to divert police from, or to facilitate unlawful access to, a target.

Vandals could manipulate environmental controls, fire suppression systems, etc., to damage property as an end in itself.

Lastly, market manipulators, extortionists, terrorists, and others with political agendas could use unauthorized access to AMI command and control systems to disrupt the delivery of services to targeted facilities, create widespread blackouts, disrupt load balancing commands, or create fear and panic among the general population.

Insurance companies could petition for the data to reject a claim based on activities within the house. Most policies require you to have someone attend the home at least once in 24 hours. If you are on vacation and Aunt Edna forgets to come by, and the house burns down - the insurance company could deny your claim.

Follow the money

Corporations, utilities, vendors, and third party data brokers will want to position themselves to sell meter data or analytics, just as credit reporting agencies have done. If utilities want to capture this revenue, and/or to prevent others from capturing it, they will need carefully crafted contractual provisions that clearly define who owns the AMI data and what rights the consumer, utility, service provider, or other third parties have to use or transfer it.

Surely the constitution protects me?

Law enforcement will also want on-demand access to your data. In the

U.S.

, law enforcement presently has limited access to meter data to establish ownership of a place involved in criminal activities or to obtain search warrants for facilities suspected of drug production.Otherwise, the prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution limits access to this data without first obtaining a warrant from a judge.

However, because these protections generally do not apply to information revealed to third parties, a California Court of Appeals held that data collected from a specially installed surveillance electricity meter could be obtained by law enforcement without a warrant. Because the metering equipment was outside and did not reveal information about activities within the home, the Court found no constitutional protection.

Sophisticated analysis of metering data might reveal enough about in-home behavior to reverse this outcome. On the other hand, as the use of such technologies becomes more common, consumer expectations may change, thereby placing law enforcement use of meter data outside of Fourth Amendment protections. As a result, data revealed to a utility, billing agency, or other vendor may now be available to law enforcement without a warrant. Utilities and others handling meter data will need to understand what they may, or must, do when law enforcement agencies demand access.

So what am I going to do about it?

Each utility has to be responsible for the data. Each one will provide you with a privacy policy (which you probably round file). Read it - and speak up. If you don't like their privacy rules, they generally have a public overview board that you can squawk to. Lastly - ensure that when you are talking to them ask them to confirm that they are using a breach solution from a professional breach reporting / solution company. You want to be notified when they invetibably and/or accidently expose your data to the world.

And close the fridge and stop watching Mexican wrestling on TeleMundo. Big Brother is watching you....

http://goldsilver.com/video/smart-meters/

Left Wingers and Crybabies in general - the British are coming!

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:11:51 PST

Left leaners and cry babies in general in the US could learn a lesson from this British dolt who successfully sued the police after a justified stop for inflicting him with "post traumatic stress disorder" because of the stress of being legally stopped.

Businessman Robert Whatley, 71, of Usk, took legal action over a 17-minute pursuit for not wearing a seat belt. Mr. Whatley was later found guilty of not wearing a seatbelt, failing to stop for a police officer and having tinted car windows that did not conform to legal requirements. He also admitted having an invalid registration plate and was fined a total of £235 and ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs by Caerphilly magistrates.

Mr. Whatley was stopped in 2009 at the end of the pursuit, after he would not stop for officers and was chased for several miles along country roads between Cwmbran and Usk. Mr. Whatley promptly filed a complaint against the officers and a claim against the police force.

The officers were later cleared in a disciplinary hearing for any wrong-doing and Gwent Police has made no admission of liability.

Mr. Whatley, who claimed "post-traumatic stress disorder" as a result of the incident he created, has already received more than £8,000 from the force after claiming for damage to his Range Rover.

BBC Wales says the payment is in excess of £20,000. Police said they decided to settle on financial grounds. Contesting the matter further would have incurred substantial legal costs if the case had gone to court”

Liberal Bias in the Media The Victory Continues!

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:03:10 PST

A New Jersey teachers union chief whose salary tops $300,000 is under fire for saying in a recent interview that "life's not always fair" while arguing against vouchers to send poor students to private schools.

New Jersey Education Association Executive Director Vincent Giordano made the comment on the local "New Jersey Capitol Report" program over the weekend. During the interview, he was challenged by the host on why low-income families should not have the same options as other families when their child is in a failing school.

"Those parents should have exactly the same options and they do. We don't say that you can't take your kid out of the public school. We would argue not and we would say 'let's work more closely and more harmoniously,'" Giordano said.

When told some families cannot afford to finance the shift to private school without government help, Giordano said: "Well, you know, life's not always fair and I'm sorry about that."

This was reported in a blog. Romney's comment that he doesn't worry about the poor because there is a safety net for them in this country - front page news for weeks.

Don't buy it people. Don't buy what they are selling....

Michelle - the Obama family has a problem.

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:01:41 PST

Okay Michelle, this conversation isn't going to be easy, but I think it is time that we put a little fiscal responsibility into the Obama household. After getting denied that car loan because of our credit situation - we have got to do something. So here are the numbers.

Last year as a family we made $108,500. Pretty good - all of those community organizing events that I put on are starting to pay off. But here's where it gets scary Michelle - together, the 4 of us SPENT $191,100 for the year.

Holy crap. I mean really? Holy crap! That amount of $82,600 we overspent put our total debit at $713,550 for a family. Holy crap, that's all I can say.

Now, I know that you are a good housekeeper and all, and the coupon clipping has really helped out but that total was only $1,925. I mean, it isn't a drop in the bucket.

Now, I can try and get more Black Panthers to intimidate voters and all - heck I might even ask my rich uncle to donate some money for an advance on the new book I'm writing. But heckfire Michelle, we have got to get the spending under control around here, or we're going to be in big trouble. Dang it - we ARE in big trouble. Earning 15 or 20% more by taking money from my rich relatives isn't going to make a lot of difference.

And no, Michelle just stopping the "discretionary spending" isn't going to help. That's pocket change. I mean it's good and all, but that isn't going to get this under control.

We've got to get to the meat of this and cut off the things that we signed up for that we have to pay every month - I mean, less giving to our poor neighbors who won't work, no more paying for your niece's 5th baby, and stopping sending money to that guy in Idaho so he won't make any more Obama Chia-pets. We just don't have the money for it any more, and giving all these hangers on a "hand up" has turned into a "hand out". Enough is enough Michelle - we're cutting all these losers off right now.

Okay, okay, stop the crying - it isn't all your fault. We both spent our way into this, and there is no spending our way out of it. Your lazy relatives will be motivated to find work once we stop giving them handouts, and my rich uncle says he has enough money to start a new business or two if we stop taking from him, so everyone will get taken care of.

Michelle - sometimes a real man has got to do what a real man has got to do. It may be tough now, but it's the best for all our futures.

Whats that?

No, you can't give your brother money so that he will like you again. Are you even listening to me?

Fercrisakes!

Stratocaster 0001 - the first Strat?

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:55:21 PST

David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame has a Fender Stratocaster #0001, which has been well documented and photographed. In close examination by a number of experts, they believe that it is actually a 1954 model from the first year of manufacture. Some have contended that it is a Frankenstrat put together of old parts (1957 neck and 1957 body) but the pickups appear to be original 1954 and so do the tuners.

Although stamped with the #0001 serial number, it’s not the first ever-made Stratocaster. The unusual color and the gold hardware indicate that it might be a showpiece made for a special occasion or for an employee - perhaps an "unveiling".

Other researchers indicate that it was the first Stratocaster to have a serial number via a neck plate, and that there were most certainly other Strats produced ahead of Gilmour's. There is talk of a 1953 "prototype" as well as the original "body contour design" model given to musician Bill Carlson for testing. There are also pictures of what appear to be a Stratocaster with a Tele neck that Leo Fender used as a test bed during the Stratocaster development.

The neck is signed “TG 6.54”, referring to Taddeo Gomez June 1954 and the body has a handwritten signature “Mary 9.28.54”, referring to Mary (this could very well be Mary Lemus, a Fender factory employee. Mary began work at Fender in 1954 as an assembler, eventually becoming a final assembly supervisor) signing off on it September 28. 1954.

According to Guitarist journalist David Mead, who examined the guitar for an article in 1995, the ash body is indeed white although it might appear to be aged Olympic White, pale green or even blue-ish on some pictures. The guitar features an anodized gold 8 hole 1-ply pickguard, custom gold plated tremolo system and output jack and Kluson Deluxe tuners. The pickups appear to be original 1954 Fenders with a 3-way pickup switch (the 5-way switch didn’t surface until the mid 70’s).

First Strat? Probably not. Worth enough to buy a mansion? Undoubtedly.

Obama State of the Union Executive Version

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:18:40 PST

My fellow Americans I'm doing a great job. If you don't think I'm doing a great job you're blocking progress. So I'll just go around you. (Wait for applause)

I'm just like Abraham Lincoln who didn't cry over spilled milk. (Wait for laughter)

Even though I'm doing a great job the country is a mess. Rich people messed it up, but it's easy to fix.

We'll do it with their money. Put a bill on my desk and I'll sign it in the morning. (Wait for applause)

I bless you, and I bless the United States of America.

Obama's Bold Keystone XL Leadership Vision

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:37:33 PST

I wonder if votes had anything to do with it?

It would seem that the Dems have written off "working class" America in their bid for stealing, sorry winning, the 2012 election. At this point, the strategests are deciding who they can count, who the can count on, and who they can count out. Here is who the Democrats have decided to pander to and who they have decided to ignore:

1. If you work or are unemployed (non-union). Your vote was already anti-Obama. You now don't count, and have been placed in the adversary column. Sorry, all decisions from this point are against you.

2. If you work and are unionized. Obama is counting on you already and has some big promises coming. Don't worry about the Keystone veto costing jobs - there are better things that have been given to your union leaders to make up for that. Boeing plant closure, recess labor board appointments, etc. etc. The union bosses are taking care of their, ooops I mean your interests as we speak.

3. Bi-Coastal Elites - for you, the gravy train is coming, Obama needs not only your support, but the money and noise that a left wing media led parade would engender. Since there are so few of you, then the payoff will be outstanding. No new taxes, etc. etc. This is going to be a great year for you!

4. Greenie Weenies - You scare Obama with your Protest and Occupy pooping on police car tactics, but since the Democrats have written off the soap-using rest of working America, you folks will do well. First gift? Cancellation of the Keystone project, already proved to have zero environmental impact. Of course - sending the oil to China so they can continue to beat us in manufaturing, growth and desfense spending may have a long term effect - but hey, Bush lied, spotted owls died. Get your requests for environmentally friendly Solyndra projects lined up - because the check book is open for business - fake green business that is!

5. Democratic base (those indigent, poor and over 35) - you like the handouts and the entitlements and the freebies. I mean who wouldn't? (Other than those that have some respect for themselves!) - so good news, he ain't be changin' nothin' for you all. You are in the bag and he knows it. Nothing better, but certainly nothing worse. What they haven't told you is that given the debt situation and the likely loss of the senate, the entitlements are probably about over with. Shoulda sold that vote when you could!

6. Democratic base under 35 - Here's how this will work. Obama knows that he can't trick you hip elites into believing things have actually gotten better, so he is going to rekindle "Hope and Change Part II", and is counting on you and your friends to be swayed not by the power of his experience and output, but by the insipid media inspired cheering session that will become the 2012 campaign. Obama sings with Lady Gaga, Obama with no shirt, Michelle cares about fat kids, corporations are bad etc. etc. . This time he really needs you. So close your eyes, groove to the music and vote Obama. On the other hand, you probably don't realize how good the incentives are going to be for your votes, for it is you, along with the bi-coastal elites that are the swing votes in this election. Better get to negotiating!

7. Business - you suck. You get nothing. And don't ask.

There you have it - the 7 major spheres of influence being contested this year. Where do you fit, or more importantly, what value on the free market does your vote have?

Why I left Canada - Pizza, Taxes and Socialism

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:23:01 PST

KC went shopping with the mother in law from Canada today. At the grocery store she saw the prices and fainted. After reviving her she stated that categorically every food item in the US was at least 1/2 the price it was in Canada. Milk at a grocery in the US? $1.88. In Canada? $4.99.

So I decided to do a little investigatin' and a lot of calculatin' and some assumpteratin'.

Western Pizza in good old Regina (hold the beaver jokes) Saskatchewan, Canada (pop 185,000) charges an astonishing, mind bending, delirious price of $51.95 for an 18 inch all-dressed pizza. In addition to that - they have the rock-hard, diamond encrusted, brass coated stones to charge a $5.00 delivery charge for AAANNNYYYY pizza - not just the largest one. This makes the cost of an 18" pizza a mind numbing $56.95. Add in the generous gov't taxes to fund the working poor's adventures in life and you are out $65.50 for a pie. A 14" "large"? That will set you back $35.95 with delivery. Over $40 with taxes. Want to see the evidence?

In the good ole' USA (capitalistic, exploit the working man USA) the same pizza would cost $21.00 at Bill's Pizza in Prescott Arizona (pop 90,000 if you count the sheep!) and you would get free delivery. For the record, the closest homes in Prescott are further from the pizza store than the farthest in Regina. And the taxes are 7%. Total cost? $22.47.

A 14" pizza, with everything, delivered in Phoenix regularly costs under $14.00. $15 with taxes.
And don't think I forgot about tipping - despite the fact Canadians never tip a delivery guy - I just negated it from both sides of the equation.

Here's where it gets good. My personal tax rate in the US is 20% lower than it is in Canada. Ergo to purchase that pie in Canada would cost me an additional 15-20% in gross pay to get the job done. Using an 18% rounding I come up with $77.29 in equivalent earnings to buy that Western Pizza dough-sicle. Lastly the US dollar is worth about 3% more than Canada, meaning all things being equal - that pie cost my Canuck bretheren about $74.97 in US funds.

Give or take - that pie is 343% more expensive in the Great White North.

Who wants a slice of that "free" health care? I'll get it with extra cheese for ya.

Part II - KC writes Western Pizza corporate head office with his cogent analysis.....

Great Indian Rock Singers

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:01:52 PST

Gobi West

Bindi Lauper

Papadam and the Ants

Siouxsie and the Bhajees

Raita Coolidge

Raita Said Fred

Tikka That

Jalfraizee goes to Bollywood

Emerson Lake and Pilau

Pat Bhunatar

Chapati Labelle

Sisters of Methi

Aloo Rolls

Ketchup Chips Pops Blogger Balloons

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:52:47 PST

This lady said her blogs were about dance, movies and she liked sex....

This lady said she was into Horses, Fashion and Food. I combined them for her.......

This guy said he had a phobia about insect bites. I think he may be a little freaked after my reply:

This lady writes a blog about interior decor and admonished us plebes to be more adventurous with color selection. I'm hoping this note served to shut her up.....

This guy insisted he was the Edison of India and could invent anything. Let's see him try and top this!

New Indian Super Car - the Avanti

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:53:57 PST

At the New Delhi Auto Expo this week, Pune-based automotive and interior design firm DC Design unveiled India’s first homegrown supercar, the Avanti.

Perhaps a testament to India’s notoriously crowded and poorly maintained roads, the $56,000 two-seater aims for relatively modest performance from its 240 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine built by Ford. Nevertheless, the company claims it will reach a limited top speed of 155 mph. Built on a space-frame chassis, the mid-engine Avanti is about the size of a Chevrolet Corvette, and comes with a six-speed manual transmission. DC hopes to sell 300-400 units in its first year and exports are being considered.

DC Design describes the car as “a stunner in more ways than one and a smile inducer and big name basher made in India.”

As Paul Harvey said "And now, the rest of the story!"

In proving ground tests, the prototype of the Avanti was involved in a collision with a street vendor's tiffin supply cart, seriously damaging the vehicle and spreading chicken vindaloo across the test site.The test pilot for some of the first test runs of the new vehicle was the world renowned driver and great Indian rally pilot Sriminamnasimsimaramalama Shrinigarpunedelhibomanwalla, who got the car up to a top speed of 100 goats before the unfortunate collision occured.

SS was quoted as saying "by the many arms of Vishnu, I swear that my driving was not to blame for the mash-up".

The repaired Avanti will be appearing in the new Bollywood film "Women with Mustaches, Men with Red Coats" as the vehicle of choice for the Indian James Bond, the fictional Super Spy
J.P Pandaramandurumbollywallabimbimettiboingboing, replacing the Tata Nano previously used by the dashing international man of mystery as he chased skirts and the 6th level of Dharmic conciousness across the globe.

DC Design also announced that plans are underway for a light truck version of the model, with the potential market name of "Distributed Load Vehicle" and that marketing tie-ins with India's largest fast food chain "Intestines on a Stick" were nearly concluded.

When asked for about production costs for the new Avanti, a DC design spokesperson declined to release the proprietary information, but indicated that they have reduced labor costs to a point whereby the salary inputs into the vehicle were "less than what it would take to feed a family of 4. 4 mice that is!"

Hybrids have worse fuel economy than many other cars on the road

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:54:15 PST

A Honda customer is taking the road less traveled to sue the Japanese auto maker for allegedly making false mileage claims about her 2006 Civic Hybrid.

Heather Peters is set to appear in court Jan. 3rd, 2012 in Torrance, Calif., the home of American Honda Motor, to argue that her vehicle never delivered the 50 mpg touted by the auto maker in a sales brochure.

Peters said that her car never delivered "more than 41 or 42 mpg on its very best day," adding that the mileage normally came in around the high 30s.

All of this for a car with a $7,000 premium in its price tag and a $7,500 greenie weenie rebate paid for by you and I the taxpayer. Total cost of this vehicle today without rebate?

$26,000.

A bit pricey for a weed- whacker you say? The contention of the green goblins was that you would "make up the difference" in the overpriced, over-subsidized, uncomfortable, unsafe vehicles by recouping money on fuel. Of course - the economics of that fall apart when fuel is less than $3.50 per gallon.

Let's read some more of what Ms. Peters has to say about her hybrid. She said she became really "ticked off" last year when Honda performed a software update to prevent vehicle batteries from deteriorating too quickly. The car's mileage suffered as a result of the battery fix, Peters said, dropping to the high 20s per gallon, which eventually forced her to take legal matters into her own hands.

Peters, a former corporate defense attorney, is urging other disgruntled Honda customers to opt out of a class action lawsuit over the mileage claims, and seek a larger payout in small claims court.

She launched a website "Don'tSettleWithHonda.org" with the intention of taking her legal fight viral.

Peters said claimants could be awarded up to $10,000 in small claims court, as opposed to the $200 in cash and a rebate of $500 to $1,000 toward a new Honda vehicle that will be awarded in the class action settlement.

"Class actions are great for little cases, but not for cases like this where Honda's false advertising is costing already cash-strapped families more every day at the gas pump," Peters said.

Peters estimates that if other customers follow her lead, the automaker could be forced to pay $2 billion for its questionable fuel-efficiency claims - all of which were backed, endorsed and certified by (wait for it!) - the government agency responsible for all false claims of greenness - the EPA!

So let's take the high road and give the Hybrid Civic a 34 MPG COMBINED city/highway rate since she mentions both high 20's and low 30's - we'll split the difference. We'll analyze what the difference is between a wind-up mobile and a real car if you are thinking with your head, and not with your tiny greenie weenie. Surely no non-hybrid car could approach the EPA ratings of these expensive, uncomfortable, poor performing and dangerous little cars? Let's take a look:

Jetta TDI Diesel

Diesel engines get better mpg generally speaking, but they are still a tough sell in North America. The 1970s brought several underpowered, smelly, smoke-belching diesels to American shores, and the buying public hasn't forgotten them. It's too bad, because clean diesel technology powers the sleek Jetta to a muscular 41 mpg on the highway with a very respectable 34 mpg for combined highway and city driving.

Wow - the Jetta is at least as good as the pie-brid.

Mini Cooper

The Cooper delivers good fuel efficiency, along with a cool factor, though the luster has worn off a bit since its release. Very good highway numbers (37 mpg) bring the Mini's combined mpg to a robust 32.

Wow - I can look cool, and get the same mileage as the pie-brid?

Chevy Cobalt

A surprise for Americans is that they have such a versatile gas-sipper in their own backyard. The Cobalt uses a large overdrive gear and direct injection to achieve 37 mpg on the highway, which more than offsets its middling 25 in the city for a great 32 mpg average.

American made? And still as efficient as a hybrid? For $10,000 less????

Ford Focus

Another American-born entry quietly delivers solid numbers by virtue of its gaudy 34 on the highway. The low city number of 24 prevents this from being a standout pick, but 29 mpg combined makes it worth consideration.

Wow - 10% more gas than the hybrid - over the course of a year it will cost me an extra $100 bucks or so to have a cool car with comfort and power - not to mention the $10,000 savings?

Nissan Versa

There's not a "2" in sight on this miser's stat sheet. A superior 30 in the city (that's just three less than the tiny Dumb for Fortwo) yields a combined 32 mpg. City dwellers often suffer in the mpg category, but the Versa spreads the wealth for outstanding surface street driving and an adequate highway number of 34 mpg.

Larger trunk space, better handling, no batteries, seats 4 comfortably, priced some $15,000 cheaper than the hybrid Civic and has BETTER mileage? Given this range of choices, calling your vehicle a "Smart Car" can't make up for the fact you are a dumb consumer. Hang your heads in shame.

Next on Ketchup Chips - the Great Battery Bailout, or when the value of used hybrids falls to zero in the next two years.

I love your blog - vote for mine!

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:06:05 PST

Okay - just to put a point on automated responses this weekend - people like my blog on blogger, vote for it, and then shamelessly ask me to vote for their blogs of which I have never read. I usually use the opportunity to dis them. Silly foreigners. I offer these for your amusement:

How do you like your Chevy Volt?

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:06:21 PST

Recently I got a survey about what I thought of the Chevy Volt. I'm sure someone in GM/OBAMA marketing isn't going to be happy with this response:

Democrats by the Numbers - 14 to 0 for the Dishonesty Party

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:06:43 PST

A total of four Democratic officials and political operatives have now pleaded guilty to voter fraud-related felony charges in an alleged scheme to steal a New York election.

The latest guilty pleas expose the ease with which political insiders can apparently manipulate the electoral system and throw an election their way, by the forging of signatures of unsuspecting voters that are then cast as real votes.

"The phrase they use is: 'making sure they vote the right way,'" said a source close to the case, which is unfolding in Troy, N.Y. "It is not just a Democratic thing. ... It is criminal."

Former Troy Democratic City Clerk William McInerney, Democratic Councilman John Brown, and Democratic political operatives Anthony Renna and Anthony DeFiglio have entered guilty pleas in the case, in which numerous signatures were allegedly forged on absentee ballots in the 2009 Working Families Party primary, the political party that was associated with the now-defunct community group, ACORN.

The four have pleaded guilty to one count of various charges, ranging from forgery to falsifying business records, and criminal possession of a forged instrument.

"Getting at the truth has always been the primary goal of this investigation," Special Prosecutor Trey Smith said in a statement, while also thanking New York State Police efforts to "bring those responsible for the voting fraud to justice."

Numerous voters told news agencies that they were stunned that their signatures were faked on absentee ballot applications and ballots, which were cast as real votes for Democratic candidates in their names in the 2009 primary election.

Brian Suozzo's absentee ballot application claimed that he was "at home recovering from medical procedure," which he told us was not true. "Someone took my signature and voted with it and I feel extremely violated," Suozzo said when Fox News first broke the story nationally in 2009. "The whole thing seems dirty to me."

Jessica Boomhower's absentee ballot application falsely claimed that she was in Boston.

"I can't believe they thought they would get away with this," she told reporters. "I didn't get to cast my vote on my own. They're corrupt. They stole from me. I am sure this goes on a lot in politics, but it's very rare that they do get caught."

Two of the ballot applications claimed that the voters were unavailable, because they were supposedly on a "bus trip to casino."

Smith, at one point during the two-year long investigation, even obtained court orders to take DNA samples from five of the seven Democratic members of the Troy City Council. The goal was to try and compare the samples to any DNA evidence found on the absentee ballot envelopes.

No Republicans were implicated in the alleged conspiracy, but one political operative claimed that such voter fraud occurs "on both sides of the aisle."

In November 2009, Democratic operative Anthony DeFiglio told New York State police investigators that faking absentee ballots was a commonplace and accepted practice in political circles, all intended to swing an election.

"This is an on-going scheme and it occurs on both sides of the aisle," he told police. "The people who are targeted live in low-income housing and there is a sense that they are a lot less likely to ask any questions." He said that "it was common knowledge that these people were never going to receive an absentee ballot. This is a political strategy to get control of a third party line."

DeFiglio claimed that "the reason that this came to light in this election, was the sheer number of absentee ballots that went out to the Working Families Party. ... To political insiders in the county, what appears as a huge conspiracy to non-political persons is really a normal political tactic."

Troy City Council President and Democrat Clem Campana pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges including falsifying business records and illegal voting.

When Fox News asked him about the case last year, Democrat Campana was adamant that he did nothing wrong. "No one tried to steal any election," he claimed. "I did nothing wrong, I don't know if anyone did, and if they did, they should be held accountable for it."

Democratic City Councilman Michael LoPorto and Democratic County Elections Commissioner Edward McDonough were indicted earlier this year and they face trial on the felony charges next month. LoPorto also denied the allegations when Fox News questioned him last year.

"Did you do anything wrong?" Fox News asked.

He answered, "No."

"Did you try to steal an election?"

"No."

"Did you forge any ballots?"

"No," said LoPorto.

"They did steal an election," claimed Bob Mirch, the pugnacious former Republican Majority Leader of the Rensselaer County legislature, who first discovered the alleged fraud and started the investigation. For his efforts in trying to expose what happened, Mirch says he was voted out of office after serving 16 years and was replaced by a Democrat.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," he said about voter fraud. "This case in Troy shows that the Democratic political insiders had this scheme down pat. Two years ago the public didn't believe me, but they know it now."

The case in Troy echoes a similar election fraud investigation that is now ongoing in Indiana.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak, in South Bend, is currently investigating allegations that numerous signatures on 2008 Democratic Presidential primary petitions for then candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, were faked. There are claims that so many signatures were fraudulent, that the Obama campaign may not have actually obtained enough legitimate signatures to have legally qualified for the ballot. And just like the New York voters in Troy who told news agencies that they never signed absentee ballots, voters in South Bend and Mishawaka told us that their signatures were forged too.

No Christmas for Naughty America this year

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:07:03 PST

In a suprising twist from the usual Obama Muslim tradition of decorating the national Christmas tree with ornaments of Chairman Mao, pictures of drag queens and pictures of himself on Mount Rushmore, the White House seems to be content to remove all notions of Christmas from the national agenda.

The official White House holiday card makes no mention of the word ‘Christmas’ and instead focused on Bo the First Dog based on the demands of the First Family.

“From our family to yours, may your holidays shine with the light of the season,” read the inside of the card, featuring the presidential seal.

The front of the card features Bo the First Dog lounging by a fireplace. Holiday greenery is draped over the fireplace mantle. Holiday presents are placed on a table underneath a poinsettia – instead of a Christmas tree. There is no Christmas greeting.

Los Angeles-based artist Mark Matuszak told the LA Times that he was asked to create the card by the
White House social secretary. The White House lists a sanitized version of Mr. Matuszak's resume as a "deginer, illustrator, artist and "concept designer", although no mention or evidence of any of his previous works can be be found - other than the current postal card issued by the White House.

“They wanted to do an inside shot, something home related,” Matuszak told the newspaper. He said one of the ideas was to focus on the Obama’s family dog. “So we thought, let’s put Bo in front of a fireplace.”

Traditionally President's have focussed their Christmas message on traditional values such as family, faith, freedom and goodwill. The Hope and Change crew have eschewed those notions to one that saniztizes the notion of a Christmas and replaces them with Muslim symbols and perspectives such as beasts bowing before fire and "trees of blood" as in the table decoriations.

Former President Bush had a history of including Bible passages on the White House Christmas Cards.
For his final Christmas in office, the president sent a greeting card that included a verse from the Gospel of Matthew.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” the card read.

How to defeat Obama - Part II of II

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:09:58 PST

Note to Newt - if you fall into the trap that has been set by the "ad hominem" crowd - you won't be able to go up against the facade of personal charm that the Media has built for Mr. Obama. You need to say exactly these things:

Mr. President, the people that you assosciate with are bad people. People such as Frank Marshall, Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright have earned no right to influence any President.It is too late to distance yourself from them - you should have seen what influences they would have on anyone's character and run away at the time. It is too late now, and your association with these people speak volumes about your character as a man, as a human being, and as an American. Shame on you, and shame on us for letting the media and the Democratic party believe that form mattered more than substance.

Sir I can speak for 20 minutes without a teleprompter about what I believe in - you cannot. I therefore infer that what you say is not what you believe, but rather what you want us to hear, and that your words are intended to mislead. You will not be given any more chances to mislead us.

You haven't done anyting prior to becoming President that indicates you should have been given the most important job in the world, and your record as President is both shameful and embarrasing. We, as Americans, pledge to do better.

You have apoligized for this country - the greatest and most benevolent country that has every existed, and you have shamed those of us that believe in the greatness of America.You have made us weaker in the eyes of those around the world that seek to do us harm, and you have almost certainly guaranteed that our children will have to again take up arms to defend us from external agression. People have fought and died to deliver the benefits that you apologize for, and Sir, almost any citizen in any other country of the world would walk across a desert barefoot to be here. Any many do. Please stop disrespecting all of us.

Your economic policies, delivered during a time of world-wide financial crisis have been based on buying votes and rewarding your political cronies at Solyndra and Big Unions and others. You have abandoned us for your own ego needs when we needed you most. You have made our lives tougher, more dangerous, more difficult and less enjoyable, while you take two jumbo jets to go on vacation 100 miles from your house. You should be ashamed of yourself. Actually, don't worry about it - we will all feel the shame collectively for you.

Sir - I am making these arguments against your record, against your experience, and yes, against your character and your ethics. I believe now, as I believed 5 years ago that you are wrong for this country and you do not have what it takes to be President. We have all been proven right. Not because you are African American - but because your character and experience are weak.
Sir, with no due respect you are not worthy of our votes, and you will not fool us again.

Arguing against Obama - when Ad Hominem is justified. Part 1 of 2

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:07:19 PST

In this age of political correctness, it has been made diffucult (and purposefully so!) to organize a cogent discussion around the merits of political candidates given that on their face, you are attacking the person, their experience, their ideas and often their very legitimacy as a candidate or speaker.

Since the 1950's institutes of higher learning have advocated that we place ourselves into camps that identify with their makeup more than with their own moral judgements. For example people say they are Latino, or African American, or female, or gay or disabled or any other number of identifiers before they identify themselves as a unique, thoughtful, moral, enterprising human being - and you have to ask yourself why. In a perverse way - Martin Luther King would be shocked that in this day and age we still, and forcefully so, still - judge people by the "color of their skin" rather than the content of their character.

How does it work? Easy. By banding into identifiable groups, any attack on the REASONING of the individual is turned into an attack on the group, and that attack is condemned as whatever "ist" you want it to be.

I think Barack Obama's policies are ineffiective, ill-conceinved and poorly implemented.
Response - "you are a racist".

I think that marriage should be between a man and a woman because I believe that children brought up in a male/female environment do better in the real world.
Response - "you are a homophobe"

I think the rule of law should be enforced, and that people breaking laws should be sanctioned for their actions.
Response - "you are an anti-Latino racist".

These arguments of logic at their core are deemed to be "ad hominem" attacks against an individual, but incorrectly so. Doug Watson is his 2008 book Informal Logic: A Pragmatic Approach. Cambridge University Press discussed at length that if the premise of the argument IS based on their personal makeup, beliefs experiences, characteristics etc. - then an "ad hominem" attack is justified.

And what of it my friends? Aha - within the next article lies the keys to defeating one Barack Hussein Barry Sotaero Obama in 2012. Stay tuned.

It's a Drag - How Drag Slicks Work

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:05:01 PST

Slick distorts during launch to maintain traction

You see them on only the most powerful of cars, and only on the strip. These massive meaty mound of round rubber are what powers NHRA cars to 330 MPH, without flying apart all the while looking cool.

The first drag racing slick was developed by a company called M&H Tires (Marvin & Harry Tires) in the early 1950s. It was the only company in the world that produced and sold original drag racing tires. Later, competitors stole or reverse-engineered molds, and began making their own tires.

Drag racing slicks vary in size, from slicks used on motorcycles to very wide ones used on Top Fuel Dragsters. For "closed wheel" cars, often the car must be modified merely to account for the size of the slick, raising the body on the rear springs for the height of narrower slicks, and/or replacing the rear wheel housings with very wide "tubs" and narrowing the rear axles to allow room for the wider varieties of tires.

Open wheel dragsters are freed from any such constraint, and can go to enormous tire sizes. Some use very low pressures to maximize the tread contact area, producing the typical sidewall appearance which leads to their being termed "wrinklewall" slicks. A Goodyear tech checks the pressure of each tire of a top fueler on the line to ensure no disasters. Inner tubes are typically used, to ensure that the air does not suddenly leak catastrophically as the tyre deforms under the stress of launching. While Goodyear has the majority of the pro market locked up, other manufacturers such as Hoosier and Mickey Thompson (M/T) are seen regularly.

"Wrinklewall" slicks are now specifically designed for the special requirements of drag racing, being constructed in such a way as to allow the sidewall to be twisted by the torque applied at launch, softening the initial start and thus reducing the chances of "breaking traction", or "smoking" the tires. As speed builds, the centrifugal force

Slicks get "taller" as they rotate faster, making the car faster

generated by the tyre's rotation "unwraps" the sidewall, returning the energy to the car's acceleration. Additionally, it causes the tyres to expand radially, increasing their diameter (i.e. - the tire gets "taller) and effectively creating a higher gear ratio, allowing a higher top speed with the same transmission and/or rear end gearing.

There are some really neat high speed pictures out there capturing the tires as they "distort" during a run - at some points they form a semi-circle, and at other points almost a 3 leaf clover effect is seen.

Slicks get roasted during the burnout. A good thing.

Typically the track is sprayed during preparation with SVT (a glue used to promote adhesion) and during the "burnout" the racer lays down a track of fresh, hot, sticky rubber for which to launch from. There is no problem creating the power to run down the track - the real skill is in managing the tires and clutch packages to deliver the power to the wheels in a manner that won't cause the slicks to break loose and "smoke".

Pretty basic piece of gear, but without slicks, there would be no real drag racing.

[edit]

Bacon - tis the Season

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:26:00 PST

I don't usually endorse the web location of people trying to sell things, but this is about bacon,
and bacon cannot be ignored for any reason.

http://uncrate.com/search/bacon/

The Flaming Volts - Not a Punk Band

noreply@blogger.com (Ketchup Chips) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:20:54 PST

The NHTSA sat on the news of the Volt fires for six months.

Why? I dunno, let me think of a few reasons for a gov't to put it's people in danger while promoting a green (Solyndra!) agenda:

The federal government still owns about a third of GM.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is part of the federal government.
GM and the federal government have invested billions of dollars in the Volt.
The federal government further underwrites each Volt by giving purchasers a $7,500 tax credit.
The federal government is the single largest customer of the Volt.

When apprised of these issues - the writers at the Detroit Free Press said that these types of comments are the results of "entrenched Republicans" or "global warming deniers".

You have to be a gullible in-the-tank-for-Obama editorial writer for the Detroit Free Press not to have suspicions about the why's and whyfor's of these investments. One writer compared the "investment" in green technology to NASA. "Where would we be without the often battered investment we made in NASA?" he asks poignantly, just as the gov't abandons NASA for the efficiency of private, for profit enterprise, blithely ignoring the fact that the gov't "investment" in NASA in the late 50's was PURELY MILITARY, DEFENSIVE and STRATEGIC.

I guess when you are green, you pretty well remove yourself from reality.

Unless of course, you are on fire.