Overnight Open Thread (16 Feb 2013)
— CDR M

Oh hell no. Intel Watching You Watch TV.

The most intriguing element of the box is the built-in camera that monitors viewers and is designed to give advertisers a better insight into who is watching their shows. Originally it appeared this would simply capture crude information such as an estimate of the gender and age of viewers.

Now Intel is talking about the idea of using facial recognition as a way for individual viewers to automatically “log in” to a personal account on the box. The idea is that if you sit in front of the screen alone, the box can make viewing recommendations or show a favorite channels list based on your personal viewing history.

Now Intel says this feature can be turned off, but I'm sure it can be turned back on via other means without you knowing. Plus, it might be a tad embarrassing if your pron playlist comes up when you have company. more...

Posted by: CDR M at 06:00 PM | Comments (605)
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How History Starts, and How it Repeats
— Dave in Texas

Chicago Trib, circa 1934.

There is nothing, nothing new under the sun. Note the plan of action, and the approval of Stalin.

And yes, that Harold L. Ickes, FDR's Sec Interior, is the father of Harold M. Ickes, Bill Clinton's Deputy Chief of Staff. Bill Clinton isn't the focus of big government evil in the world today, it's just pedigree and stuff regarding Democrats.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 12:41 PM | Comments (126)
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A useful product you probably never heard of [Purp]
— Open Blogger

Got some rusty stuff you need to get cleaned up and put back into service? You've probably tried naval jelly, wire brushes, etc. They all require work, or are kinda toxic/caustic.

There is another way -- Evapo-Rust made by Daubert Cromwell.

This stuff flat out works. The claims made for it are accurate. It is non-toxic. I've dumped the spent stuff out on some Aloe plants and it didn't bother them one bit.

How does it work -- freaking SCIENCE baby. It uses chemical chelation. If you watched a few episodes of House, you probably remember that term being tossed around as a treatment for various metal poisonings -- same idea here. Evapo-Rust hooks onto the bad shit and floats it away.

Obviously, Evapo-Rust is a very economic collapse friendly product. Getting spares for rusted shit isn't gonna be easy when we go all Mad Max and people are gonna have to make due with what they got or can scrounge up. Laying in a few gallons of this stuff may be as valuable as stocking up on guns, ammo, surgical supplies, and duct tape.

The only place I've found locally that has it is Harbor Freight.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 11:03 AM | Comments (114)
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Raising Revenue - (Niedermeyer's Dead Horse)
— Open Blogger

I'l admit it right up front. I am not an accountant. Nor, am I an economist or the CEO of a major corporation.

What I am, however, is a citizen who, while tired of rising taxes, does see a distinction between raising taxes and closing loopholes. Yes. Each action seeks to extract more from an individual or an organization via taxation, but the latter seeks to rectify the loopholes which allow one to escape paying an amount relatively equal to what another individual or organization is required to pay.

Now, for the record, so long as the loopholes exist, I say "Go for it!". No laws are being broken by having a skilled accountant or attorney who can take the best advantage of the opportunity but, really.... doesn't this make you squirm just a little?

Sure, the money they don't spend on taxes will be reinvested in the company or in the community but, don't most of you agree that they should pay something?

I've said my piece. I am prepared for the bludgeoning.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 11:40 AM | Comments (172)
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Afternoon Open Thread [CBD]
— Open Blogger

The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog Denver

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:54 AM | Comments (210)
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Saturday Morning Open Thread
— andy

My freshly-minted 2LT little brother reported for duty at Ft. Lee this week, so it has me thinking of Army Stuff here at this reputed Smart Military Blog™.

Real Smart Military Blogs you should read every day:
Blackfive
This Ain't Hell
Bring the heat, Bring the Stupid

Posted by: andy at 04:10 AM | Comments (357)
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Blue State, Red Wine and various and sundry gibberish [Journolist]
— Open Blogger

As a smart military blog, why wouldn't we tell you about a great tasting wine? It's a tasty red vinted in a hasty blue state. A blue state of blonde haired brunettes, $7 soy lattes and vespa riding metro-sexuals. Oh yeah, California is in a state of bewonderment where 420 is legal but smoking isn't. The moral of the story is get stoned but don't blow smoke because it's bad for the environment. And if you want proof, just ask the the guy barking for Green Peace in front of any Trader Joes grocery store in the Golden State. He'll vouchsafe it...along with the undeniable fact that those fellers in the show, Whale Wars, are top notch.

OK...so I have ADD and I digress. So the great tasting wine you should try? Well, it's below the fold as they say. more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 06:38 PM | Comments (75)
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Y'all ever seen this show?
— Jack M.

I haven't. But, it seems...appropriate...somehow.

Thoughts? more...

Posted by: Jack M. at 03:48 PM | Comments (220)
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Tunguska 2 Averted by a Fraction of a Second
— CAC

The Tunguska explosion involved a comet/asteroid at least 300 feet wide exploding 3-6 miles above Siberia in 1908. The meteor that detonated above a Russian city earlier today was far, far smaller, and went off at a far higher altitude. So how close did the city of Chelyabinsk come to doom?
Consider this: a ten-meter stony asteroid exploding at the altitude of the Tunguska visitor would pack the same punch as the Fat Man bomb. This rock was much bigger, with a mass of 7000 tons. Had the explosion occurred a fraction of a second later in the meteor's descent, over a populated area like Chelyabinsk, most if not all of the dash cam owners who uploaded to youtube would have been fried, along with much of the town.

Posted by: CAC at 03:02 PM | Comments (73)
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Harrison Ford Slated to Reprise His Role as "Han Solo" in Star Wars VII, for a Compensation Package Rumored to Include Parking, Soup
— Ace

It was between this and the sequel to Six Days, Seven Nights, tentatively titled "Aggressive Tax Gambit."

I suppose it will be okay to see Han Solo make a quick appearance (which, I am guaranteeing you right now, will involve shooting a Greedo (whatever) first-- it's instant audience cheers).

Han Solo still casts a long shadow in filmed science fiction.

Joss Whedon's pitch for Firefly was, "It's like Han Solo... but in space."

Posted by: Ace at 02:46 PM | Comments (100)
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