Fuel Economy

With gas prices hovering near $3.00 a gallon, anything a person can do to improve the efficiency of their vehicle is welcome every time the visit the pump.

An article by Edmunds.com that I saw on AOL tackled some of the myths and facts of fuel efficiency. They tested with and without using cruise control, with and without the air conditioner, "lead foot" vs "feather foot" and tire inflation.

Definitely worth a read. Click here.

Yes Cindy, It's All About You

In a New York Daily News Article which ironically carried the headline "Slain G.I.'s dad rips 'peace ma'", Cindy Sheehan finally told us what it really is all about. The first half of the article was about her (no surprise) and carried the following quote (emphasis mine):

"It's time to do the right thing. It's about my oldest son never coming home again. It's about me never getting to hear his voice. It's about me never getting to stroke his head. I'm never going to have grandchildren from him," she said, her voice breaking.

I've always been told if you listen closely, you'll find out what the person really wants, no matter what they are actually saying. Cindy has finally told us what it really is all about.

I had written this Saturday morning, then had second thoughts about posting it. Those thoughts started evaporating when I saw the pictures of her at the White House gate surrounded by photographers, smirking as she had her picture taken yet again. They were further gone when I saw the smirk on her face as she was arrested. They were totally gone when I read in an AP article how she smiled as she was carried off and then walked into the police van.

Yes, Cindy, it's all about you. Enjoy the attention, once it's gone you'll be a footnote in history, just like many from the anti-war movement of the 70s.

Did the Government Fail in Katrina Response?

Did the U.S. Government fail in it's response to rescue & aid survivors of Hurricane Katrina?

Most people would say yes. I have said from the beginning that the biggest failures were at the state & local levels. Now an interesting article from Freedom Force claims that at the federal level the government did exactly what it was set up to do. A chilling thought, if they are correct.

The Lesson Learned

It's been a hair over 2 weeks since Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. As the pieces are slowly being picked up, there has been some good news to go with the bad news. According to the various news reports I've read & seen, the water is being pumped out of the flooded areas of New Orleans faster than originally anticipated. The number of bodies found has been lower than originally expected. The port and airport are open and operating at a limited capicity. All good news in a bad situation.

What have we learned from all this? There sould be one, and only one, lesson of paramount importance.

We have to be ready to take care of ourselves. You cannot depend on government at any level. If the "powers that be" say it is a good idea to evacuate, get the hell out. If you decide to stay, you better have what is necessary to take care of yourself for an extended period of time. If you haven't done that, go. Fast. Get out and come back for what's left later. If you cannot eveacuate yourself, NOW is the time to make plans with others to get you out of an area should an evacuation be advised or ordered.

There are far too many resources available on the 'net for what you should put ina disaster kit. I'm not going to try and list them here. But get yourself busy, get it together and get those plans made.

Best wishes.

I Guess I Spoke Too Soon

A week ago, Dave Markowitz over at Blog O'Stuff put a word verification on his comments because of spammers using the comments to spread their crap. I made the comment then that I had only been hit once so I didn't see the need for it. I guess I spoke too soon. 2 spams on my early post from today. That's how it starts, isn't it. 1 spam here, 1 there, a couple the next week. At least that's how it seemed to be with the email spam. So anyways, I too have added word verification for comments. Sorry.

Too Little, Too Late

From a NRA-ILA press release dated 9/12/2005:

Disaster Can't Destroy Gun Rights

(Fairfax, VA) -- National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre slammed New Orleans authorities Monday for seizing legal firearms from lawful residents.

"What we've seen in Louisiana - the breakdown of law and order in the aftermath of disaster - is exactly the kind of situation where the Second Amendment was intended to allow citizens to protect themselves, " LaPierre said."When law enforcement isn't available, Americans turn to the one right that protects all the others - the right to keep and bear arms, This attempt to repeal the Second Amendment should be condemned."

The New York Times reported last Thursday that no civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to have guns, quoting the superintendent of police that "only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons."

A Louisiana state statute allows the chief law enforcement officer to "regulate possession" of firearms during declared emergencies.

"But regulate doesn't mean confiscate," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist."Authorities are using that statute to do what the looters and criminals could not: disarm the law-abiding citizens of New Orleans trying to protect their homes and families. The NRA will not stand idly by while guns are confiscated from law-abiding people who're trying to defend themselves," he said. "We're exploring every legal option available to protect the rights of lawful people in New Orleans, and we're taking steps to overturn such laws in every state where they exist."

"Local authorities in New Orleans are turning nature's assault on human life into man's assault on human rights," LaPierre said. "Four million NRA members intend to stop this unconstitutional power grab."

End of NRA press release.

My thoughts: Where was the NRA when this was going on? I know they can't be everywhere in a physical sense, but why wasn't Wayne LaPierre on the news last Friday, September 9, 2005 decrying these actions? Did he have to spend the whole weekend watching CNN and consulting with his advisors to write a small press release?

This is just another example of why the NRA no longer gets any of my money. When I donate it goes to groups that are actually trying to do something, not a group that is more concerned with maintaining it's presence.

Maybe, just maybe, if I see the NRA dragging a few of those people who wrongly denied others of their rights guaranteed under the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution into court to pay for their actions, then MAYBE I will once again begin supporting the NRA.

Interesting Patent Case

In an interesting case as reported in the business of my local paper, The Tri-Valley Herald, a federal appeals court in Las Vegas upheld a ruling invalidating several key patents for bar code scanners and industrial robotic vision. I'm not going to go into detail here, you should click on the link and read the article. I will say a portion of the reasoning was due to the time between the patent applications (1954 & 1956) and the issuing if the patents in 1963. While the applicant (while alive) had blamed the delay on the patent office and patent examiners, the court ruled the applicant engaged in "culpable neglect" during the prosecution of his applications.

That is the portion I want to think about. We've all had to deal with a government agency from time to time, and we know how frustrating that can be. We also know that sometimes getting the government to move can be likened to "herding cats". Just ask the folks dealing with FEMA over the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Imagine this scenario: A young inventor comes up with a new chipset that makes current chipsets obsolete. He files for a patent. The big chipmaking companies want that patent, but feel the inventor is asking too much. So they payoff someone in the patent office to sit on the application, drag their feet in getting the patent exams done and generally cause it to take several years for the patent to be issued. During the meantime, they develop their own chipsets with similar technology. When our intrepid inventor sues, the court rules he loses his patent due to "culpable neglect" because of the time between the application and the issuing of the patent. After all, what exactly can you do while you patent application is being examined?

Unlikely? Probably. Impossible? I don't think so.

The Time Sink

In response to the door to door searches and gun confiscations going on in New Orleans, Scott Bieser has posted his thoughts in editorial cartoon form. It is very thought provoking and worth a look over at The Time Sink. Be sure and scroll down while you are there and check out some of his other musings.

They Said...And I Say

Reaction and responses from world leaders about hurricane Katrina have been coming in. Most are sympathetic, some are political (Venezuela) and some are downright whacko (Germany & Islamic extremists). Our supposed allies to the north offered a lukewarm condolence at best.

Venezuelan President Chavez went for political points by offering aid & then ripping President Bush as the "king of vacations" and claiming "the first power in the world that is so involved in Iraq...left it's own population adrift."

Germen Environment Minister Jurgen Tritten said The U.S. had itself to blame for Katrina and that President Bush had "closed his eyes" to the dangers of pollution & climate change.

Islamic extremists claimed Katrina was part of their global jihad.

I have one reply to all of them.

KISS MY PEARLY WHITE AMERICAN ASS!

I do think we should take Chavez up on his offer of aid. If he wants to play with the big boys, let's let him in the game. Let's see how he likes it when his country tries to help another and then is criticized for not doing enough. Of course, we won't do that. Whether or not we accept his offer, we will extend our thanks. We're like that, and that is how we should be.

As for the Germans...go back to doing something you're good at, like brewing beer.

For our Islamic "friends"...don't worry, we can rebuild with one hand while we spank your ass with the other.

Read the whole story in USA Today.

A Way to Help and Be Prepared

I've has several ideas of things to post about Hurricane Katrina, the aftermath and the effects both in the immediate disaster area and Nationwide. After considering it, since several others have done so, I decided to pass. Instead, please take a look at my Fuller Brush Blog. Thanks