Reliable Replacement Warhead?

    Hey now! 

    Why didn't I get the memo on this?  Or this? 

    I mean, here Bush is trying to start building nuclear weapons again while he is telling Iran and North Korea not to?  That sort of takes away pretty much the whole moral high-ground, don't ya think? 

    The Bush administration is eager to start work on a new nuclear warhead with all sorts of admirable qualities: sturdy, reliable and secure from terrorists. To sweeten the deal, officials say that if they can replace the current arsenal with Reliable Replacement Warheads (what could sound more comforting?), they probably will not have to keep so many extra warheads to hedge against technical failure. If you're still not sold, the warhead comes with something of a guarantee — that scientists can build the new bombs without ever testing them.

    Let the buyer beware. While the program has gotten very little attention in the United States, it is a public- relations disaster in the making overseas. Suspicions that America is actually trying to build up its nuclear capabilities are undercutting U.S. arguments for restraining the nuclear appetites of Iran and North Korea. (link)

    In this current global climate, you'd think the last thing the Bush Administration would wish to do would be to provide any more angst to those out there who are already sitting on edge.  Fear does some very odd things to people, you know?  Fear got us into this mess we're in, and compounding that fear, I feel, could only make things worse. 
   
    I was surprised at how "hush-hush" this whole thing was here in America, and I'm thankful we now have a Congress and Senate which may provide perhaps a bit of oversight to the machinations of the bizarre, secretive group of people we have running our country. 

    Ack!  I'm just cranky.  I know there's a joke in here somewhere. 

    Perhaps, Bush was thinking that we were finally building "new Q lear" weapons which could finally place Texas at the top of the BBQ hierarchy above Memphis and Kansas City. 

-DP

Tags: Realiable Replacement Warheads, Texas Barbecue, DPoem

Yuck!

    Hey all.  I'm still alive in spite of the fact that I've not posted anything in the last couple of days.  I'm just a smidge under the weather with a wicked cold that seems to have shown up in perfect time to toss a monkey wrench into my weekend plans. 

    So, since I don't feel like talking or thinking, please feel free to consider this an open thread to post and pimp whatever you wish. 

    Have a wicked, wild and wonderful weekend!

-DP


 

Tags: I need a tag

Hey you! Yes, you!

    According to Paul, the second week of January is National De-Lurking week. 

    What this means is that those of you out there who are dropping in should take a moment to say hello and introduce yourself.  And, if you've got a blog out there somewhere, please do leave a link, and I will definitely swing by your place to give your words and thoughts a gander. 

    Now, if you don't have AOL, you can either use the Gripe Line to leave a comment saying hello and whatnots (although, it's gotten a little silly over there with Dawn's talk of "dumbsticks" and Indigo chewing out someone for not liking fish --which is totally fair, I guess, since pretty much anything goes over there).  Or, thanks to Paul for pointing this out, you can get a free AOL email address here without having to download the Instant Messenger software or anything (Handy!). 

    The thing is, it's not a huge deal to me.  After all, I've been known to lurk and lurk and lurk.  So, really, it's up to you.  Just remember:  Lurkers do not get pony rides and free cake. 

-DP

P.S.  Another edition of CarnivAOL is out for your perusal as well.  It's a short one this time around, but definitely worth the read. 

Tags: National Delurking Week, Aurora Walking Vacation, CarnivAOL, Pony Rides, The Gripe Line

Coffee... I'vehadtoomuchcoffeeandIthinkmyheadwillgo"pop"

   
    Yesyesyes!  Someone out there loves me. 

    Yesterday, I received a little present apparently "just because."  And, inside this little present was a 10-cup French Coffee Press (like the one pictured) and a bag of Kona coffee beans (Hello, Kona!  It's pretty much the China White of the coffee-world).

    Now, anyone who catches me in the kitchen knows that I just really don't measure things.  Not only do I really hate dirtying dishes, but I see no reason why I should dork around with a silly little charm-bracelet of tiny spoons and whatnots.  Trust me, all that measuring reminds me of college Chemistry, and I really hated college Chemistry. 
   
    Anyway, after unpacking my little gizmo today, I put some water in the microwave to boil, dumped a load of beans into my little grinder, and the second I pushed the "go" button, I realized the following:

    "Holy crap!  I just ground enough beans to make TWO pots of coffee in my wheezing, old Mr. Asthma coffee-maker!  I can't imagine what this will wind up as in a press!"

    The unfortunate thing about fresh ground coffee is that once you grind it, you've got to use it.  And, since this was Kona coffee, there was no way in hell I was going to let those precious grounds turn into a pile of cardboard flavored dirt.  So, I emptied my grinder into the French Press.  Then, I ran a finger around the inside and rubbed the remaining coffee dust into my gums like a coke-addict (I'm kidding, of course). 

    When I poured in the boiling water, I started to twitch as the freakishly strong, caffeine-laden fumes found their way into my head.  Even the cat jumped, and I'm pretty sure if I had wallpaper, it would have given out and curled up that second. 

    Nonetheless, it was awesome coffee.  In fact, it's probably the best three cups of coffee I've ever had (yeah.  It only made three cups because the thing was so packed with grounds).  Unfortunately, it was STRONG coffee, and I'm pretty sure if you listen closely, you might actually be able to hear my ears ringing wherever you are.  The inside of my head sounds like a tweaked-out, yodeling mouse on meth, and I'm thinking there's really no chance I'm going to be able to hibernate this winter.  In fact, I probably won't sleep until July. 

    Oh!  I'd go out and take pictures, but, well...,  when I bought my camera, I didn't splurge on the "image stabilization" feature.     

       So, that's my afternoon.  How's yours going?

-DP

Tags: Kona Coffee, French Press, I think my eyeballs just flew across the room

Stop Time! Stop Time!

   
    I love the French.  They make good food, great wine, awesome cheese, and most of all, they are not afraid to stage a First Class protest.  Whether it be unfair labor practices, immigration, or the fact that Napa Valley wine is both cheaper and more popular in France than their domestic product, the French have always been able to embark on the World's Greatest of sign-waving shout-fests. 

    On the other hand, the French are also not afraid to make fun of the French, as this hilarious, little article points out:

    Protest Can't Stop March of Time

    HUNDREDS of French demonstrators saw in the New Year - by holding a protest against it.

    People carrying banners reading "No to 2007" and "Now is better" marched through the streets of Nantes.

    They called on the United Nations to stop the "mad race" of time and declare the indefinite suspension of the future.

    The protest was an attempt to make fun of French people's apparent fondness of saying no to any kind of change and as a different way to "celebrate" New Year.

    When their demonstration failed and the bells sounded the start of 2007, they quickly moved on to the next stage of they campaign - chanting "No to 2008".

    I love the last little bit of this.  I can almost picture a mob of dejected French protesters trudging off into the landscape mumbling their disdain for 2008.  Hilarious! 

    Hopefully, that will catch on here in the States.  Hmmm...  Perhaps, when New Year's Eve rolls around again, I'll try to get a mob to gather around the "Polish Moon" (the largest four-faced clock in the world doncha know) and protest the unstoppable passage of time.  

    Then again, considering 2008 is an election year, I kind of want it to roll around, and I think there are certain folks in our government who are looking for any excuse to stay in power for one more year.  The last thing I'd want is to hear them say "Thanks to this man in Milwaukee, we're going to do 2007 over again."  I really don't think that would help me make any friends, huh?

-DP

Tags: French Protest, The Polish Moon

A Horse is a Horse, Of Course...

    Unless, of course, that horse is a Shetland Pony named "Rory" who thinks he's a dog. 

    Normally, I'd think this is weird, but I've got a cat who drinks out of the toilet, plays fetch and barks, so, really, a DogHorse isn't that odd to me.  What do you think?

-DP

Tags: Reuters, Rory the DogPony, Weirdness

The Gripe Line!

    I know I may regret this, but I created a Gripe Line (You'll also see the link in my "Favorite Sites.")   It's a place for you all to dump random thoughts, ideas, rants, raves and whatever else is on your mind (it's also a way to leave comments for people who don't want AOL Instant Messenger on their computers).  And hey!  You can even be completely anonymous where not even I will be able to know who you are. 

    I figure it might be fun, and maybe every once in a while, I'll build an entry around some of the gripes and whatnots I find there. 

    So, tell your family, tell your friends, and have fun. 

-DP

Tags: The Gripe Line, DPoem, Graffitti