Basketball
Watched NCAA basketball of course. Dook continued this year's run of ACC teams getting humiliated. Then again, overall number 1 seed Louisville looked like an ACC team in their, not even close, loss to Michigan State.
Carolina is playing awesome. I'd like to see UNC and UConn in the Championship Game.
Movie
Watched The Kite Runner this weekend. What an excellent movie. I am going to the library to get the book to read.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Jack DeSantis is a Douchebag
Jack DeSantis, former AIG Financial Products employee, quit and his resignation appeared in the Op-Ed page of the NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/opinion/25desantis.html
Here, is an excellent response written by Matt Taibbi, writer for Rolling Stone.
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/20988
My question is - Why are we (the taxpayers / US Government) merely trying to get back the bonuses paid to these scumbags? We should be pursuing criminal fraud charges against f-ing douchbags like DeSantis.
Yeah, I know he says he is going to give the bonus money to charity.
So farking what?
That's just an attempt to deflect attention from the fact that he was a highly paid member of the AIG investment gang that perpetuated one of the largest fraudulent schemes ever - which defrauded AIG shareholders - and ultimately the American taxpayer.
At first read, DeSantis makes an almost sympathetic case for himself. He was totally ignorant of the atrocities being committed by others. He had nothing to do with the CDS fraud. He’s totally innocent. Why, he was working quietly over in his little corner and had nothing to do with anything. It’s all those other guys' fault. And now he is being unfairly hounded and the riches he was promised (and got) are his – his alone (to donate or whatever).
Bullshit.
If you read his resignation letter a second time - and a little closer – it sounds more like the “I was only following orders” defense.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/opinion/25desantis.html
Here, is an excellent response written by Matt Taibbi, writer for Rolling Stone.
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/20988
My question is - Why are we (the taxpayers / US Government) merely trying to get back the bonuses paid to these scumbags? We should be pursuing criminal fraud charges against f-ing douchbags like DeSantis.
Yeah, I know he says he is going to give the bonus money to charity.
So farking what?
That's just an attempt to deflect attention from the fact that he was a highly paid member of the AIG investment gang that perpetuated one of the largest fraudulent schemes ever - which defrauded AIG shareholders - and ultimately the American taxpayer.
At first read, DeSantis makes an almost sympathetic case for himself. He was totally ignorant of the atrocities being committed by others. He had nothing to do with the CDS fraud. He’s totally innocent. Why, he was working quietly over in his little corner and had nothing to do with anything. It’s all those other guys' fault. And now he is being unfairly hounded and the riches he was promised (and got) are his – his alone (to donate or whatever).
Bullshit.
If you read his resignation letter a second time - and a little closer – it sounds more like the “I was only following orders” defense.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Basketball Jones +Saturday Addendum
Basketball Jones - Cheech and Chong - 1975
2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - First game tips off today at 12:20 in Greensboro.
Saturday Addendum
The ACC, with 7 teams, stunk up the NCAA Tournament. Four teams lost their very first games. Only FSU made it close - losing in overtime. Maryland waited till the second round to get thoroughly beaten.
Into the Sweet Sixteen? Only Duke and UNC.
Clemson was awful but Wake Forest stunk up the place worst of all.
Sheesh.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Raccoon Redux
Raccoons are back for sure. Plural.
Last night I recognized one of last year's offspring. The one with all white ears. And then - another one showed up that I didn't recognize but which has some rather distinctive face and eye markings. The new one ran off white ears from the food bowl.
And neither of them is the one that has been showing up for the past week or so. I think that one is the mother raccoon from last year.
So, looks like there's a pretty good crop of raccoons that are getting active.
The food bowl has been routinely emptied by 9 or 10 PM when I go to bed.
I've been woken up later each night for the last 3 nights with noises from the deck. Usually around 1 or 2 in the morning. Chairs being climbed on, pushed around, something knocking around at the water bowl.
From past experience - it's raccoons hanging around and exploring. They tend to explore a lot and try stuff out - like trying to open the screen doors and doing a lot of climbing on things.
Feral cats don't make any noise at all on the deck. Neither do possums.
I'll try and take some photos.
Last night I recognized one of last year's offspring. The one with all white ears. And then - another one showed up that I didn't recognize but which has some rather distinctive face and eye markings. The new one ran off white ears from the food bowl.
And neither of them is the one that has been showing up for the past week or so. I think that one is the mother raccoon from last year.
So, looks like there's a pretty good crop of raccoons that are getting active.
The food bowl has been routinely emptied by 9 or 10 PM when I go to bed.
I've been woken up later each night for the last 3 nights with noises from the deck. Usually around 1 or 2 in the morning. Chairs being climbed on, pushed around, something knocking around at the water bowl.
From past experience - it's raccoons hanging around and exploring. They tend to explore a lot and try stuff out - like trying to open the screen doors and doing a lot of climbing on things.
Feral cats don't make any noise at all on the deck. Neither do possums.
I'll try and take some photos.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Up and Running
Seems I've finally got my new laptop up and running the way I want it.
Had the usual networking issues with the wireless modem / router.
It took awhile to get all my bookmarks, email, photos, videos and files transferred over. And I've installed some software I use - such as Picassa, Google Chat and some other stuff. There were a few missteps - but it's finally all set up and running.
Oh, one other thing - did I mention the registry edit?
The roomie kept bitching that my new laptop was kicking all the other machines (i.e. his) off the local (house wireless) network. BS I said - you (the roomie) have just got too much crap running on the net and are overloading it. There is no way Darth Vader and Dell would ship a laptop that would do something like that.
Guess what? There IS a bug / kink / whatever in Vista that will indeed screw around with some wireless modem routers and will interfere with other devices.
After doing some google searching - I found this:
http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-45038-internet-disconnects-when-2nd-user-is-on
After a little more searching, I found the official Microsoft fix:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/928233
So, along with the usual and mundane file copying and transferring stuff, I had to edit the registry. Which is very scary for an analog person like me.
Heck, doing a regedit should be scary for anybody.
HP 7760 Printer
I also hooked up a printer my sister / brother-in-law gave me. It was second hand and thus didn't come with any driver software. Not that it would have mattered. I had to download the software to make it run with Vista anyway.
I kept thinking something was wrong with the set up. It wouldn't print right. Then it finally dawned on me - the print cartridges were at least 2 years old and basically dried out. Duh.
Bought 4 new cartridges (tri-color, black, photo-grey and 6-color photo)- put 'em in - and voila!
It's much better than my old HP printer. The old one was one of the first wireless photo printers. As always with first adaptor technology - it's been hard to set up and keep running. Always security issues, ports and such.
This new printer is very easy to operate and works seamlessly with Picassa and my new laptop.
Raccoons
My mama raccoon showed up last week! Haven't seen her in almost 3 months.
I'm sure it's the same one because of her behaviour patterns. She's probably been in her seasonal semi-hibernation.
Good to have her back. Hopefully she'll have a healthy litter this year and bring them around when the time comes.
Plus - the almost albino possum is still in the neighbourhood.
They'll have to sort out who eats at the food bowl amongst themselves.
Basketball
State has had a mediocre to dismal season - once again. I hope Coach Lowe can turn it around. I really want him to succeed. Next year is year four. Time to get it done.
I really enjoy this time of year. I think I enjoy watching the NCAA Tournament better just about anything.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sign of the Economic Times
For the first time in 43 years – tickets to the ACC Tournament were available to the general public.
Even still – nosebleed tickets in the upper deck were a pricey $396.00 face value. But – prior to this year – you had to be a big $ donor to your school to get the opportunity to buy tickets.
So, thanks George W. for opening up the ACC Tournament to the masses.
Well, at least to the masses who still have jobs.
Even still – nosebleed tickets in the upper deck were a pricey $396.00 face value. But – prior to this year – you had to be a big $ donor to your school to get the opportunity to buy tickets.
So, thanks George W. for opening up the ACC Tournament to the masses.
Well, at least to the masses who still have jobs.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Weekend Update
Movie
I watched a DVD Saturday evening - The Walker. No more calls please, we have a winner. The worst movie I've watched so far in 2009.
Sunday, we watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. A good movie. Yes - an uplifting true story. But still - the movie itself was only average to good. Not great like so many reviewers would have you believe. A bit long and drawn out at times.
Computer
My laptop died a couple weeks ago. Actually, the computer is ok - the screen died. I've been able to use it via remote access.
My new Dell laptop arrived Thursday. I thought it was going to be a typical squarish laptop - but it's one of those wedge shaped laptops. The keyboard feels great. And the other buttons and touch pad are not really buttons but are a touch sensitive part of the aluminium keyboard deck.
It's pretty cool looking.
Also, a word about Vista. It works fine. To me, it's just a next generation of Windows XP. Some cool features and everything works about the way I'm used to.
So far I've been able to transfer my emails and contacts, documents and files, photos, and videos.
I think I'm not going to transfer over all my web bookmarks. I had too many anyway. I think I'll go through my bookmarks one by one on the old laptop and copy only the ones I really used.
Haven't been able to figure out how to get the built in web cam to work with gmail or google talk yet.
Wolfpack
State lost to Miami Saturday. Shouldn't have. But did.
It will be difficult to get into the NIT. Maybe we can do well in the ACC Tournament next week to help improve our odds.
I watched a DVD Saturday evening - The Walker. No more calls please, we have a winner. The worst movie I've watched so far in 2009.
Sunday, we watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. A good movie. Yes - an uplifting true story. But still - the movie itself was only average to good. Not great like so many reviewers would have you believe. A bit long and drawn out at times.
Computer
My laptop died a couple weeks ago. Actually, the computer is ok - the screen died. I've been able to use it via remote access.
My new Dell laptop arrived Thursday. I thought it was going to be a typical squarish laptop - but it's one of those wedge shaped laptops. The keyboard feels great. And the other buttons and touch pad are not really buttons but are a touch sensitive part of the aluminium keyboard deck.
It's pretty cool looking.
Also, a word about Vista. It works fine. To me, it's just a next generation of Windows XP. Some cool features and everything works about the way I'm used to.
So far I've been able to transfer my emails and contacts, documents and files, photos, and videos.
I think I'm not going to transfer over all my web bookmarks. I had too many anyway. I think I'll go through my bookmarks one by one on the old laptop and copy only the ones I really used.
Haven't been able to figure out how to get the built in web cam to work with gmail or google talk yet.
Wolfpack
State lost to Miami Saturday. Shouldn't have. But did.
It will be difficult to get into the NIT. Maybe we can do well in the ACC Tournament next week to help improve our odds.
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