Merlin's Musings

Everyday carry. . . .

2012-02-15T13:49:00.000-05:00

. . . . tool ring?

Courtesy of the Discovery Channel, we learn about a titanium and steel "tool ring kit" that weighs in at a meager 2 ounces.

Say hello to my lightweight friend

It includes a prybar, tweezers, common and Phillips tip screwdrivers, and a capsule lighter.

I could either put that on my keyring in my pocket, or hang it from the keyring clip in the front pocket of my backpack. Yeah, it's $45 or so, but it looks fairly usable.

Well there's your problem, Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington

2012-02-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

The Cincinnati Enquirer has a blog post up about Kentucky legislators signing on to a brief in opposition to the constitutionality of the ACA.

I don't this lawmaker quite gets it.

Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, said the Republican lawmakers opposition to the reform could strike a blow at a health care law that benefits many in Kentucky, including families who can now keep their children on their workplace insurance plans until they reach 26 years old.

“It kind of makes me crazy when Kentucky legislators in particular rail against the federal government and what it does,” Stein said. “Don’t thy [sic] recognize that we’re not a donor state to the federal government? We receive. We get lots of money back, more than the taxes we send in. And until folks realize that, I don’t believe we can have an intelligent debate about it.”

(emphasis mine)

Yes, they do recognize that Kentucky is a recipient state. That means that we have effectively robbed other states to line our coffers. The Federal government is overspending revenues, which means we go more and more into debt every single day.

But because we are a recipient state, it's okay? Because we're doing better than the other guy, it's okay? Because other states have fewer funds to support their own residents, it's okay?

Well guess what, Senator Stein. I DON'T think it's okay that Kentucky is a recipient state. I DON'T think it's okay that because of programs like the ACA, the Federal government is spending money faster than it can rake it in. Something's got to give. We either get our fiscal house in order, or we'll soon see the local coal industry crater because it will be cheaper for everyone to burn their paper currency for heat.

The future of the Kentucky energy economy?

A closer look at Santorum

2012-02-14T08:51:00.003-05:00

Ramesh Ponnuru thinks Santorum is Romney's toughest primary challenger by far.

Unlike Perry, Santorum is articulate. Unlike Cain, he has political experience and knowledge of public policy. Unlike Gingrich, he has a personal life that seems to be above reproach. Romney has no advantage over Santorum in any of these respects.

Romney has cited his victory in a statewide election in a blue state to make the case that he can appeal beyond the party’s base. That’s something neither Perry nor Cain nor Gingrich could say. Santorum, on the other hand, won statewide in Pennsylvania (BEESPA), which hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 24 years. And he did it twice.

Please read the whole thing. I know that a number of people are put off by Santorum's strong social conservative streak, and worry that he will try to regulate the bedroom from Washington, D.C. Personally, I don't think that's a valid concern. Granted, I tend to agree with him in general on those issues at a personal level, but I don't think it's any business of fed.gov.

I think Santorum is the better all-around conservative candidate, and will display better fiscal discipline than Romney.

But you know the nice thing about elections? We all get to make our own choice, and there's this wonderful thing called the secret ballot.

All I ask is that you show up and vote your conscience.

Attempted murder

2012-02-14T08:36:00.001-05:00

25 to life?

(from Facebook)

One venti Blonde, please

2012-02-14T08:22:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhh, the sweet taste of personal freedom

I participated in the Starbuck's Buycott this morning on the way into the office. Only $2.25, but it's the point the counts right?

Oh, and as for the NGVAC and their lovely little Open Letter to Starbucks?

First, saying your letter is from the "faith community" is disingenuous, bordering on outright deceitful. I consider myself part of the faith community, and your letter in no way represents me.

Second, I find the logical disconnect quite amusing and ironic. First, you praise Starbucks for standing up on the same-sex marriage front, advocating for a group of people to have the same rights as everyone else, and for the government to keep its nose out of their business. In other words, you laud them for advocating for individual freedoms across the board. Then, you excoriate Starbucks for not restricting the rights of another group of people.

I would have a lot more respect for your organization¹ if you would at least present a coherent and consistent message. Either individual liberty is important, or the government and organizations should be able to run roughshod over whatever group it chooses whenever it wants.

¹Granted, since we're starting at zero respect, any increase at all would be "a lot more", and the percentage increase itself would be mathematically impossible to calculate, but I doubt you understand that concept either.

Hair Club for Vikings and Dwarves

2012-02-14T06:04:00.001-05:00

Are you a less-than-hirsute dwarf? Do all of your friends laugh at you because you can't carry three meals worth of crumbs in your beard?

Do all the Viking longships pick you last, because they're embarrassed to look at you? Do the women have longer chin hairs than you do?

Well never fear, there is a solution!!

Introducing the Hair Club for Vikings and Dwarves

Working to your own demise

2012-02-14T05:49:00.003-05:00

I am currently reading "In the Grip of Grace" by Max Lucado. The book is a study of God's grace as revealed in the book of Romans. Lucado has identified three personalities that reject God's grace, and try to do thing their own way: the Hedonist, the Judgmentalist, and the Legalist.

Chapter 3 is about Godless Living, and includes a section titled "We Lose Our Standard." Lucado quotes Dostoevsky: "If God is dead, then everything is justifiable."

Members of the Occupy movement and the Progressive movement would have us believe that corporations are evil and the root of all the world's problems. At the same time, they rail against the Church, and God, and His teachings, claiming there is no place for Him in our society.

I would argue that corporations are NOT evil. Rather, the rejection of God has allowed for the acceptance of the hedonistic, judgmental, and legalistic lifestyles. The behavior of some corporations (which are nothing more than an association of people) is a direct result of that. The answer is not to do it again, only harder, by piling on more regulations and more punishment.

Instead, a return to first principles is what is required. A fundamental shift of the mindset of this country is needed. If individuals would take care of themselves first, and their neighbors second, this bloated monstrosity we currently have in Washington, D.C. would no longer be needed. Then comes the hard part: killing the monster.

But that's a discussion for another day.

The week my life changed

2012-02-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

A beautiful Tuesday morning, and I was sitting in the exam room at the clinic, my left foot in a walking boot, unable to put any pressure on my big toe at all. The joint was inflamed, tender, and sore. It had a bright red color that screamed infection, and it was warm enough I could have toasted a marshmallow over it. I had a pretty good idea what the diagnosis would be, and the doctor didn't disappoint. 37 years young and I have gout.

This is probably the most painful physical affliction I have ever had. I don't think I would wish this on my worst enemy. I spent a week in a walking boot when I had to move, or laying on the couch with my foot propped up when I didn't. I was taking ibuprofen like it was candy, and it barely touched the pain. A round of corticosteroids finally got the inflammation under control, and I can finally wear regular shoes again.

Naturally, I got the lecture from the doctor about lifestyle changes. I need to lose weight (5' 6" short, I clocked in north of 200 lbs on their scale that morning). I need to cut back on my protein, because that's one of the main sources of uric acid in your body. Drink lots of fluids, because proper hydration helps your kidneys flush the acid from your system. Definitely cut out the beer, and should really just cut out all alcohol period.

Over the next few days, my wife and I spent a lot of time talking to people, and researching "gout-safe diets" online. A veritable ocean of information, a lot of it contradictory and confusing. But there was one constant in all of it: Cut out the alcohol, especially beer.

I slowly came to a realization. I was spending as much time trying to figure what alcohol, in what quantities, I could still have in my diet as I was trying to figure what foods I could and couldn't eat. This was very eye-opening. Here I was, with a health issue that can be very debilitating, and I couldn't just say "Okay, no more of that" to one of the major catalysts of the problem.

Houston, we have a problem.

A gorgeous Sunday morning, and I was sitting in worship with my wife. Our church is going through a time of change. Our Senior Pastor retiring, and the Pastor Search Committee came forward with a recommendation for a candidate. He would be coming the next week to preach in view of a call (that's Baptist-speak for "interview for the job" or "audition for the job"). The interim pastor was wrapping up his sermon and leading up to the altar call, and asked that everyone physically able come down front to pray for the church, for the candidate, and for the selection process. We stood up and walked down front with the rest of the congregation, but I didn't head for the altar. Grabbing my wife's hand, and apologizing left and right as we weaved through the crowd, I headed for one of the pastors. I had a confession to make.

Hi, my name's Matt and I'm a believer in Christ that struggles with alcoholism. For me, at least, there is no such as casual drinking. When I care more about the next drink than I do about what's best for my health, it's serious.

It has now been over a week and a half since I've had a drink. I have started trying to study my bible and pray every day. It's hard, but in the end it's worth it. With my dietary changes and quitting alcohol, I'm already down to 190 pounds, well on my way to my current goal weight of 170. My attitude has improved, and my wife says that I'm more pleasant to be around these days.

The biggest thing I've learned about myself so far is that it's hard admitting I don't have it all together, that I can't do it all myself. I want approbation. I want people to think I'm in control and under control, forgetting that we are all broken, that we are all sinners, that we all fall short of God's perfection. I finally came to that point of brokenness that Sunday morning, and that has made all the difference.

Here are a few verses that have really touched my heart this week.

"I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him"
Isaiah 57:18

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of him."
1 John 5:14-15

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer."
Psalm 4:1

"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
Job 23:10

"Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught."
Psalm 55:1-2

Girls or Guns - A Top 10 List

2012-02-03T09:08:00.001-05:00

TOP TEN REASONS MEN PREFER GUNS OVER WOMEN!
#10 – You can trade an old 44 for a new 22.
#9 – You can keep one gun at home and have another for when you’re on the road.
#8 – If you admire a friend’s gun and tell him so, he will probably let you try it out a few times.
#7 – Your primary gun doesn’t mind if you keep another gun for a backup.
#6 – Your gun will stay with you even if you run out of ammo.
#5 – A gun doesn’t take up a lot of closet space.
#4 – Guns function normally every day of the month.
#3 – A gun doesn’t ask, "Do these new grips make me look fat?"
#2 – A gun doesn’t mind if you go to sleep after you use it.

And the number one reason why men prefer guns over women…

#1 – You can buy a silencer for a gun.

(h/t to Ordnance Corner)

Achievement Unlocked!

2012-02-03T08:00:00.002-05:00

There's just way too much truth in this:

http://evilrouters.net/achievement-unlocked/

A few of my favorites to whet your appetite:

Go check out the full list. As he says, if you've been in IT or a technical field for any amount of time, I'm sure you can relate.

Facts of life

2012-01-19T10:42:00.001-05:00

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F.

_{(yes, it's been one of those weeks already)}

VW is officially my favoritest car company EVAH!!!

2012-01-19T06:09:00.001-05:00

Evidence the first:

Evidence the second:

I do believe that's all that needs to be said right there.

An education in math

2012-01-17T18:21:00.000-05:00

So, I was helping the middle girl child with her maths homework this evening. They are apparently working on ratios. After a few false starts, she seemed to have the hang of it.

Now, keep in mind these units aren't quite multiple-choice, but they are of the "solve the equation to get an answer, then write the question "letter" next to the answer in the grid" type, where you 'decode' a sentence or what-have-you. If you have kids, you know exactly of whence I speak. If you don't, drop to your knees and praise God for your good fortune. (I jest [partially]).

So, anyways. I'm doing "me stuff" and she's doing homework, and she comes to me with a "problem".

Her: "I have two answers that are the same. Which one do I write down in the grid?"
Me: "Are they really the same? Let me see."
Her: "Here, see, these are both 1/2!!!"
Me: "Are you sure? How many stars are there?"
Her: "6"
Me: "How many total shapes are there?"
Her: "Oh, um, well, never mind."
Me: "Isn't math fun?!?!?"
Her: "No, not really."
Me: "It pays the bills."
Her: "But paying bills isn't fun."
Me: "Not being able to pay the bills is even less fun."
Her: "Ohhhhhhhhhh. . . . . . . "

My lesson here is done.

It ain't bragging if you can do it

2012-01-11T17:26:00.001-05:00

Last November, Borepatch (you do read him every day, right?) linked to some examples of "Flight of the Bumblebee".

As he said at the time:

It's insanely complicated, to the point that it is an irresistible challenge to musicians of all types. If you need to prove your musical chops, this is the one to dust off. The original score is for flute, and the lovely and quite-the-flautist Mrs. Borepatch can actually play this. Yes, she's that good. But other instrumentalists pick up this gauntlet, too[.]

Yes, other instrumentalists do indeed pick up this gauntlet. In fact, the officials at Guinness World Records apparently got so tired of aspiring guitarists bucking for the title of "World's Fastest" by flailing away on one note over and over, they chose this work as the competition piece. Want to be named "World's Fastest Guitarist", best be prepared to play some "Bumblebee".

Oh, and you'd best be faster than 600 beats per minute, without missing a note.

Yes, you read that right.

600 beats per minute.

Without making a single error.

(h/t to Wired magazine)

The original point-and-click interface

2012-01-11T14:20:00.004-05:00

(h/t to Gun Holsters Unlimited)

Something to meditate on

2012-01-11T13:21:00.000-05:00

Serendipitous Facebook is serendipitous.

First, a friend posts the following image, which made me chuckle:

Honestly, my first thought was "they didn't delete their cookies!!!".

Yeah, I'm a geek.

Then, not 5 minutes later, another friend posts this:

Yeah, I LOL'd.

A lot.

A Bethlehemian Rhapsody

2011-12-27T18:32:00.000-05:00

Very, very well done.

In Memoriam, or In Celebritas?

2011-12-27T09:52:00.000-05:00

I guess it depends on the color of your blaster bolts.

The Hubris of Politicians

2011-12-27T08:20:00.001-05:00

Well, well, well. I saw part of a blurb on the news crawler this morning about Gingrich petitioning lawmakers in Virginia to change the law. Curious, I went hunting for information.

Gingrich failed to qualify for the primary ballot in his home state of Virginia

His campaign manager lamented that "only a failed system excludes four out of the six major candidates seeking access to the ballot". The campaign doubled-down on the stupid by saying that "[...] the analogy is December 1941: We have experienced an unexpected setback, but we will re-group and re-focus with increased determination, commitment and positive action."

Pearl Harbor? Really? That's what you want to compare the mismanagement of your campaign to? How many soldiers, sailors and airmen lost their lives in that event? Now, how many lost their lives because you've known for MONTHS about a Dec 21 filing deadline and couldn't meet it.

The rule of law is the rule of law, Petitioning lawmakers to change the law because you messed up, and to give yourself a mulligan is the worst sort of political hubris. It merely reinforces the notion that politicians think they are better than themselves and that the laws of the land only apply to the little people.

Please go away now.

So, explain something to me

2011-12-27T08:02:00.002-05:00

I don't get the hypocrisy amongst the "new media" conservative commentariat.

Their thinking goes something like "Greed is good, capitalism is the best solution, the government should get out of the way and let businesses do their thing, and a properly free market will self-adjust". I understand this theory in general, and tend to agree with it.

But here's the part that puzzles me. Why, when it can be used to score cheap political points, does this self-same group of individuals turn around and decry the fact that a liberal politician went on holiday, or stayed at a $10k/night hotel, or did some other extravagant thing.

To cop a phrase, let me be clear. The only time I would care about where a politician stayed or how much they spent on something is if they did it on the public dime. Have the cash and want to buy a Lamborghini with your own funds? That's great, and good luck trying to drive it in the craziness that is D.C. traffic. Want to go on a "fact finding" junket on the public dime, and take your family with you? Then I start having problems.

I am sick and tired of the totality of the Us v. Them mentality that has set in. Compromise is not a dirty word, and can be done with compromising your principles. Especially in the Senate, the legislators need to remember they are their to govern the country. Obviously, in the House they have more local concerns, and should properly look out for their electorate first, but after that again, work to the good of the country.

These are not hard concepts, and all of these lines in the sand and bright-line tests merely confuse the issue.

There is only one bright-line test I care about: Is it Constitutional?¹

¹And now let the arguments regarding the definition of "Constitutional" commence

Putting it all in perspective

2011-12-25T12:32:00.004-05:00

As I look around at the chaos and carnage of another "successful" Christmas, and watch the kiddos enjoying all of their gifts, I see something like this and it really puts it all into perspective.

I am insane

2011-12-23T17:51:00.000-05:00

I went to the mall today.

TWICE!!!!

But she's worth it.

_{I just hope she likes it}

May the Froth Be With You

2011-12-23T08:53:00.000-05:00

(h/t to Laugh It Out on Facebook)

Santa went down to Georgia

2011-12-21T21:18:00.001-05:00

(amongst other places)

How to cut down a Christmas tree

2011-12-21T21:01:00.000-05:00

Always remember to use the proper attachments for your tools:

Yes, Jay G, I'm looking at you right now.