So we've all read how the current administration went about denying global warming, doctoring reports that would have supported global warming, and even relabeling it "climate change" to make it sound less scary.  It's a trend that includes the loosening of polluting limits and calling it the Clean Skies Act.  Well anyway, how's this for proof?  link

Government buildings, not precisely known for being frontrunners when it comes to the latest equipment, yet the government buildings in Nunavut (that's northern Canada for the geographically challenged) are now installing air conditioning units.  That's right, A/C is now required in the Arctic.  I can't wait for some dipshit on Fox News to say it's a terrorism-related thing.

I wonder what this will do to the HD DVD/BR war.

link

Here's another one for the fucktard category.

The State of Washington has it in mind that tailgaiting is bad. So, in an area of heavy congestion, where cars are generally close together during peak hours, they posted signs discouraging tailgaiting. Ok, so far, however misguided, so good.

Here is their idea.

What complete fucking tool thought this was a good idea???

This is what happened. link

So...I'm guessing the genius behind this one has a P.E. Just goes to show you that having a Professional Engineer license doesn't mean you're not a complete tool.

So there was this news story on the local evening news (I forget which station) that said that all of Portland's traffic problems result from tailgating. 

All right, first of all you stupid fucktards...
DO THE GODDAMNED SPEED LIMIT!
If you're doing 40 in a 65 in the right lane, odds are you'll get tailgated.

If you're doing 61 in a 65 in the far left lane, you should be shot.  I had a guy tell me that we should not (I'm a traffic engineer so this is my business, mind you) refer to the left lane as "the fast lane" because it implies that it is ok to go fast in that lane.  And really, it's not because there's no rule, law, or sign that says so.  Well asswipe, what do you make of those funny white signs on the freeway that say "SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT"?  Am I just to assume the average Oregonian is selfish, inconsiderate, or just plain fucking illiterate?  I haven't decided. 

Let's think about that sign, shall we?
If you are in the far left lane and you're going a certain speed...ANY SPEED...and someone BEHIND you is getting CLOSER...math and physics would tell you that's because he's getting CLOSER.  And if he's approaching you from behind, he must be catching up.  With me so far?  And if he's catching up, HE'S GOING FASTER THAN YOU...THEREFORE YOU ARE S L O W E R.  Doesn't matter what speed you're going, if someone is gaining on you, MOVE THE FUCK OVER.  (if there was an emoticon with a big middle finger, I'd insert it here)


p.s. If you're ever in Oregon and you want to lose complete faith in the average driver intelligence, go sit at a stop sign and watch sometime. 

It's amazing how thoroughly we've managed to piss away the worldwide goodwill we had on 9/12/01.  That's what happens in a democracy.  One can only function when the electorate is well-informed and well-educated.  Neither of which is the case now.  Not that it ever truly has been in the past, but you could always count on apathy to keep most of the dullards away.  With the rising influence of the extreme right and the fact that the left has stood back and let the right tie themselves exclusively to religion, that is also no longer the case.

I went to high school with a number of people of very average intelligence.  We all did.  Through the worst of luck and big money in the wrong pockets, we put of one of those into the White House.  And now the entirety of the west has and will continue to pay the price.  Religious extremism has always and will always exist.  GWB seems to be doing everything in his power to make it easier to recruit to their ranks.

In the movie "Kingpin" (an instant classic, by the way), the term "Munsoned" means someone who has everything and throws it all away.  That term should have Maurice Clarett's picture next to it.  link 

One would be hard pressed to find someone who threw away as much as this guy did...and continues to do.  It also begs the question: how many times do you have to f*ck up before you go to prison? 

For a state that doesn't believe you're qualified enough to pump your own gas...why don't they require a driver's ed class prior to getting a license???

link
Coolest story ever.

Moving to Oregon from a place...any place...where people know how to drive is quite painful. So the following is provided as a service to anyone moving to OR from anywhere other than WA.

• Like most other places, the speed limit is a suggestion. Only under rare circumstances should you drive that fast.
• While indoor plumbing and the internet have made it out here, cruise control has not.
• Stop signs are mystifying. The only way to drive them safely is to stop, close your eyes, and hope that everyone else is gone when you open them.
• Driving slower ALWAYS means driving safer. Even if that means changing into the left lane going 50 in a 65 downhill on a freeway with a logging truck barrelling down on you.
• The first response to ANYTHING is to hit the brakes, no matter where you are, how fast you are going, or who's behind you.
• Only those scary, agressive drivers pass on the right. (That's actually in the driver's manual.)
• The best way to get up to speed is to make sure your engine never exceeds 3000 rpm...even if it takes a mile to get up to 50 mph.
• It's a great idea not to require a driver's education class prior to getting a license.
• Going from The Dalles to the ocean is much less painful in the old DOS game "Oregon Trail" than it is in real life.
  

(to be continued...)

I hate people who blog or comment using "M$" or "GayStation".  Speaking of which, wtf is up with PLAYSTATION 3?  If you don't know about the all caps thing, go look it up and be annoyed.  That's like that bullsh*t I saw on GMA about P. Diddy changing his name to Diddy because "the P was getting between [him] and [his] fans."  What are you f*cking kidding me???  Playstation 3, PS3, or PLAYSTATION 3, I'm still not getting one until it costs less than my car payment.  And while we're at it...that PS3 ad is horrible.  link

Who thought up "Ninty"?  That person needs to be shot.

The Nintendo Revolution sounded cool.  The Nintendo Wii does not.  Looks like a cool party system though.  Not sure if I'd stay up for hours  waving my arms around for the hell of it.