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Free The Animal

Ex Navy Officer. Owner of Businesses. Digital Entrepreneur. Expat Living in Thailand. 5,000 Biting Blog Post on Everything since 2003.

You are here: Home / 2008 / Archives for March 2008

Archives for March 2008

The People Who Dictate Your Affairs

March 26, 2008 5 Comments

Jay says:

Jerry Springer nation is voting your life away one hoof-marked ballot at a time.

Billy adds:

Why on earth would you submit anything remotely having to do with your rights to these peoples’ opinions?

Indeed; why on earth? Whatever for do you see the necessity? Now, I’ll stipulate that I care not a wit how clueless, shallow, and ignorant these morons are, or remain. I couldn’t care less how they manage their peaceful affairs. What’s more, I don’t care that you seem to see the necessity of making these idiots the managers of your own affairs — knock yourselves out. I can’t on earth see why, but it’s an inescapable logic that you indeed want them to run your lives each time you fill out a ballot.

Go ahead and deny it, but your plain actions belie your words. It’s Jerry Springer nation to be sure — a nation of morons — and if you vote you’re enthusiastically going along for the ride.

I will never, ever waste my time with voting again. Even if it were a morally valid way to "run the country" (a phrase I loath for its implications) — which it’s not — you’d still have to contend with the reality that even if you’re a smart and informed person that would generally make the "right call" on matters of "public policy," there is simply no way on earth that you will ever be able to out-compete the moronic masses. (Just look at the evidence over the last two hundred years.)

Consider the often quoted and alluded to idea: "voting empowers the people." Question: why on earth do you want to "empower" fucking idiots? Huh?

I don’t know what’s worse, fucking idiots who believe themselves worthy of a general opinion because they carry the moniker of "voter," or the minority of seemingly smart and informed folks who "empower" them.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: get out the vote

Effortless Backups

March 26, 2008 Leave a Comment

Backing up becomes a breeze. I can vouch for that, and it does so wirelessly, for two separate MacBook Pros on the same Time Capsule.

So, backing up is a cinch, but how about restoring? Those of you who’ve ever had the experience realize that if getting stuff — the right stuff — backed up properly isn’t always a cinch, restoring can be even worse. Which file? If it’s the data or settings/preferences for an application, even if you’ve identified the right files to back up in the first place, how do you know for sure which incremental backup to restore?

I’m happy to report that even this is quite simple and functional in the Time Machine – Time Capsule environment. First, it backs up your entire system anyway, by default, so you don’t have to wonder about identifying particular data files and making sure you get everything you might need. It manages the space on the drive automatically by deleting older backups as space is needed for new ones. Still, I’ve been backing up for a month, now, and the half-terabyte drive isn’t yet half full, and that’s with two complete systems.

But here’s what’s cool. In the process of moving from using Entourage as an email, contacts, calendar application that syncs with Exchange Server at the office, to Mac Mail, Address Book, and iCal, I ended up getting some of my contacts chewed up and deleted. In conventional restoration of a backup, I would need to identify the location and file that holds the address book data, then find the backups of those files, then try each one going back until I reach a state where all my contacts are present. However, with Time Machine – Time Capsule, I simply open the Address Book app, then hit the Time MAchine button. Then I simply click back in time, with the app itself open, until I get to where my missing contacts show up. Click restore and you’re done. Alternatively, you can simply select individual contacts and restore those rather than the entire file. I presume it would work similarly for the calendar. Rather than moving back to a complete past data file, you can simply restore one or more appointments or events within the app itself. So, what I wonder is how widespread is this functionality. Could one, for example, use it to restore single emails that might have been deleted that, though they may be in your deleted items folder, it’s quicker and easier to view past states of your inbox until you get to the particular email, and just restoring that single one.

I’m sure I’ll find out, in time.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: time capsule

The Wages of Sin

March 23, 2008 4 Comments

I guess this is what happens when you choose to don your leathers and mount your Harley, Indian, or other V-twin on an Easter Sunday morning rather than getting all clean cut and heading out to the local place of national imaginary friend worship to invoke the blessings of your magical spirits.

I just took these 10 photos in the space of just a few minutes over on Coleman avenue, less than a mile from my place. I headed out to breakfast (ironically enough, for ham & eggs) and on my way out, the San Jose Police were even more in force, and I saw more than one peaceful looking biker in handcuffs. I didn’t think to grab my iPhone and begin snapping. But even after 45-minutes or so, there were still plenty. Looks like they were having some rally in a parking lot off on a side street. There were booths and such set up, so I guess it was something the city was aware of…just a sec…Ok, here you go. Here is your imminent danger to civil society, the Ancient Iron Motorcycle Club. Ooooh, scary. What’s the world coming to, when evil can get hold of and restore old motorcycles and create websites?

Side note: my favorite bike of all time is the original Chief, by Indian (I just saw two pristine specimens). Until a couple of years ago, I owned one of the new ones and it was a pleasure.

These were all quick one-handed snaps while driving, but I’ve cropped them all to highlight the essentials. They’re below the fold and I really have but one comment: why is this called for? Who were these people hurting, or going to hurt? Alright, one more comment. Do you have any sense that it might be a bit risky for me, living here in San Jose, snapping pictures of San Jose Police, posting them on my blog, and implying they’re a bunch of pigs? Yea? Then my point is made. And indeed, it is risky.

…

Read More

Filed Under: General

Frat Boy Blues

March 23, 2008 Leave a Comment

This is pretty funny.

We did some pretty infantile stuff in college, but I never had even the slightest desire to associate with any fraternity house. I did once get invited and go to one of their parties (kegger — what else?) and it was perhaps the shallowest spectacle I’ve ever witnessed in my life — on the part of both the "brothers" and the sorority "sisters" from various places down the street.

Actually, it all reminds me a lot of when I happen to surf into a NatGeo episode on the TV anthropologically dissecting some form of bizarre primitive tribal ritual or something. Seriously.

My dorm mate and I eventually moved out and rented an apartment together during our senior year, and it happened to be just across the street from one of the very popular frat houses at Oregon State (PKE, I think). It only ever solidified my disdain.

To this very day, if someone tells me they were a brother or sister in this or that fraternity or sorority, then they start off with a bad first impression with me. I’m willing to overcome it, but it rarely ever happens (Radley Balko being a notable exception). There’s just something about it, and it seems to be fairly general. I’d say it has a lot to do with a sense of individuality, and I loath people who don’t have a sense of individuality. Wait: hate and loath.

Later: Well, Jesus, that was quick. Balko has taken down the entry. No idea why and I don’t recall him ever taking anything down before. Maybe a glitch? Anyway, here was the text (If asks me to take it down, I will.)

To the Person Who Keeps Editing My Wikipedia Page:

You know who you are. I know who you are. Stop adding the frat to my “education” section.

Seriously, man. It’s not that I’m ashamed of having joined our fraternity. It’s not that I’m ashamed of the particular fraternity I joined. It’s that, well, I’m 33-years-old. It’s just not a milestone event in my life anymore, ya’ know?

You are also now in your 30s. Most people let go of the frat by about their senior year in college. Don’t you have better things to do than to surf the Internet to make sure people are paying proper respect to “the brotherhood?”

Seriously, man. Put the beer funnel down, and step away from the computer. I’m sure rush will go just fine next year whether or not Radley Balko has “Theta Chi” on his Wikipedia page.

Filed Under: General

Fat Nannies

March 22, 2008 Leave a Comment

The last sentence of comment number two on Boston’s trans fat ban pretty much sums it up.

What next, setting a bedtime for us?

Number 14 isn’t bad, either.

I would like to see a ban on politicians. They make people sick and poor.

I’d add stupid.

There are a few other good comments and good points, and it’s in some measure gratifying to see that Boston isn’t totally devoid of human adults; but if you want to get a good taste of the collectivized, eusocial mentality of most people, go read those comments.

Oh, and get a look at fat face Boston Mayor, Thomas M. Menino. The difference between a fat fuck like him, and a formerly fat guy like me is that I took it upon myself to do something about it.

Do you have any idea to what depths I hate people like this?

Filed Under: General

Not By Beef Alone

March 22, 2008 Leave a Comment

My last preparation was a pork loin, and here you have a leg of lamb with some broccoli and water chestnuts.

Leg_of_lamb

Here it was just before going into the oven.

Lamb_preparation

It was pretty easy and quick. It's just a bit of olive oil, crushed garlic, some dried spices of your own choosing, several pats of unsalted butter, and onions. 10 minutes at 475, turn it over for another 10 minutes at 475, then reduce to 325 for about 25-30 minutes.

In the meantime, I took about a dozen or so blueberries and about a half dozen red seedless grapes which I cut into quarters. Into a bowl, with just about a tablespoon or so of red wine, and nuked it for 30 seconds. Then I crushed it all up and set aside. Once the lamb came out, I placed it on a plate to settle and went to work on the sauce. I deglazed the pan drippings with some red wine on the stove. Then I added the fruit crush, and then about a quarter cup each of heavy cream and coconut milk to thicken up and boost the fat content. The sauce was killer. And oh, by that time the meat had settled and given up some of its juices onto the place. Of course, that got stirred right back into the sauce.

Yummy. By the way? That's Bea's portion. Mine was far larger, with more sauce and thus more fat. Her plate made for a better picture, though.

Filed Under: General

Food Blogging

March 21, 2008 9 Comments

Here was a dinner I prepared a couple of nights ago.

Porkloin

It's the pork loin you can get from Trader Joe's and I recommend it. Cook it just like it says on the wrapper: 35-40 minutes in a 350 degree oven. I do a little extra. First, I roll it in a little olive oil on a plate. Next, I roll it in crushed garlic and the oil helps make that stick. Into the pan, a bit of salt & pepper, then I take sweet butter and put about 5-6 pats right on the top, then I cover that all with onion sliced very thin, which holds the butter in place.

After it was done I deglazed the pan over the stove with just a bit of white whine, and then I added about a tablespoon of heavy cream and a heaping tablespoon of coconut milk. The sauce is nearly pure fat and tastes lovely. No, it doesn't taste like coconut; any more than a Thai curry does.

The asparagus is also TJ's, frozen. Just a bit of olive oil in a nice saucepan, uncovered on medium heat for a few minutes, tossing and seasoning as necessary.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: cooking

Note to GMAC Mortgage: Go To Hell

March 21, 2008 3 Comments

So in conjunction with digitizing all my "Earth Class Mail," I’ve been going around and registering with all of my vendors that have online capability, as more and more companies are providing the ability to view monthly statements online. This will reduce the amount of physical mail I get, and in many cases I can pay the bill online with a stored debit card, and it’s just a few clicks. Otherwise, I pay via my own online banking (I’ve used online bill pay since 1992 or ’93).

I’ve got two loans that were purchased by GMAC Mortgage. At some point last year I registered on their site with my standard username I use everywhere. Apparently, due to lack of continued use it was placed in an inactive status. So, naturally, once I want use their online features again, I have them reactivate the account. Oh, no. Can’t do that. You must re-register anew. And guess what other "service" they provide? You get to have an all new username; that is, you must choose a new username.

So I wrote them, and of course the first response I get back is that I have to pick a new username because the one I want is already taken by someone else. I had to write back requesting that they forward my ticket to someone with the time, ability, and inclination to actually read my ticket and understand the issue. Here’s what I get in round two:

Dear Customer,

Please accept our apology for the delay in our response.

In response to your inquiry, you must choose a different username to use online.  The username ****** has been used by yourself once.  A username is not able to be used more than one time on our system, by the same user or another customer.  We are unable to move this username to active status for you.

For your protection, we have removed your name, account number, address and phone number from your original inquiry.  If you have any further questions, please contact us through our Web site at…

My response:

That’s stupid, since it’s my username in the first place; so I’m not interested in your online services. Just continue to mail my two statements every month. I would be interested in receiving my statements via your web interface, as well as making payment online, but only with my commonly used username of ****** that I use virtually everywhere.

And here’s another thing: don’t tell me you’re "unable." That’s bullshit. It’s an outright lie. You simply won’t do it for a customer, so you can all go to hell, as far as I’m concerned.

And here’s another another thing: Note to GMAC Mortgage: Go To Hell.

Richard Nikoley

Filed Under: General

Rock Chicks

March 20, 2008 Leave a Comment

Stay with me. Though not long in words, it’s long in attention.

I’m just not up to blogging anything "substantive" just now (the looming disaster called an "election" will keep), so let me toss up something I’d had on my mind — music wise. …I like girl rockers who can really deliver power vocals. You know: like a Grace Slick, or even Joplin (in micro doses). And of course, who else could be my touchstone for this sort of thing but the sweet Ann Wilson (that’s perhaps the best link of the post, so if you don’t stick for the four minutes into the 8:24m track it takes to Rock, you’ll miss out).

But let’s go back about 12 years or so. Her name is Tracy Bonham, and — frankly — I have not much of an idea of her work in total; just one song. I was doing something in my apartment and this performance, Mother Mother, came on the TV with her doing it live, in a short skirt (oh, yea!) playing electric violin. I was jaw-dropped blown away and I never, ever forgot it. Then, a few months ago, my friend Karen blogged about Blue Man Group and I revisited the whole thing.

I’ve had this in my favs for some months, mildly itching to blog about it, but feel totally free to click back once you get the idea. Only; I couldn’t work myself up to it. You know, in the industry, it’s a "production value." To me? It was just so far away from the performance I saw. I just couldn’t show you that, as any sort of representation of my honest take on it. Well, at long last, here’s a very close approximation (you’ll really want to watch the whole thing). That, live, making the real thing, is just a jewel and I love it. Take particular note at 2:18. She is convincing, doing that.

Filed Under: General

MysteryWeb

March 19, 2008 Leave a Comment

Zazingo. What is it? What will it do? Who benefits, and how? What does it cost?

You’ll find out; and soon, I hope.

Filed Under: General

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About FreeTheAnimal

I'm Richard Nikoley. Free The Animal began in 2003 and as of 2020, has 5,000 posts and 120,000 comments from readers. I blog what I wish...from lifestyle to philosophy, politics, social antagonism, adventure travel, nomad living, location and time independent—"while you sleep"— income, and food. I intended to travel the world "homeless" but the Covid-19 panic-demic squashed that. I've become an American expat living in rural Thailand where I've built a home. I celebrate the audacity and hubris to live by your own exclusive authority and take your own chances. [Read more...]

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