Igster's Inklings

Or Hazleton ,PA is the asshole of stargazing events. I love looking at stars. It never fails to fill me with wonder and makes me feel like a speck in the great cosmos. Every chance I get, I turn my gaze skyward and get lost staring up into the velvety blackness of the Heavens. My favorite constellation has always been Orion. I’m not even sure why. So, it was with great anticipation I was looking forward to the Orionid(Orionoid?) Shower last month. That was until, the friggin clouds moved in. Welcome to Hell err Hazleton maybe Hellzelton? Seems there are always clouds here at night. Usually on nights when I want to be stargazing or meteor watching. So for several nights it was cloudy and I didn’t see a damn thing. Add to that all the asshats around here with there 17654 watt backyard lights. Really? WTF do you need that much light for all night long. Is there a video shoot happening I’m unaware of? How about we switch to motion activated lighting, like civilized people do. Are we afraid of someone stealing your rusty ass grill? Add to that streetlights every 50 feet. Maybe that’s a standard or something? It just seems like this ass of a town is awfully lit up. But, I digress…
So missed the last one. Then I start reading about the Leonid showers. Awesome and huzzah! Another chance. It started on the 17th after midnight. Guess what I saw? Yep, effing clouds. Then last night it was clear. Only trouble was, the cloud cover didn’t go away until after midnight, and today was my day to get up with the kids early for school. So I couldn’t stay up/out as long as I would have liked. Add to that the balmy Nov temps of living in the mountains (39deg). It didn’t make for ideal astronomical viewing.

On the plus side, I did see one bright comet go over my head. It was roughly 30 seconds of awesome. I think I saw another one a little later, but it was very brief, and very far away. I can’t be sure.

If you get a chance, go outside tonight after 1 am est. Maybe you’ll see some as well. I tried looking for a video, but youtube was a wash.

Featuring myself, Street3 cprpoker,chris ‘cheesebox’ hiter and pokerplasm. Enjoy!

Vote for your favorite dancer. Street3 or Chris hiter

Yet another reason to love my G1.

If you have the Bar scan reader this is for you

I’ve heard the iphone has something similar, but I don’t own one, so I don’t know. I’m going to start reviewing apps I use. I will try and include a qrcode like the one above.

Thanks xkcd for another great comic.

I’ve been hearing a lot of differing bullshit err opinions about Iphone vs Droid. Now, I have not used the new Verizon Droid. That being said, I have had the G1 since about March when I was forced to get a new phone.Thank you T-mobile for the awesome, almost free deal. I have had 0 problems using it or figuring out the interface. But, to read about the new Droid on Twitter you’d think you’d need a freaking Phd in Engineering or some shit. “It’s too complex” “I don’t understand it” Did you hear the whining too, or was that just in my own head? These are people that used the iphone, right? What about all the shit with that, squeezing, pinching, flicking? That’s not complex either right?  The battery cover is ugly, in the way,stupid. At least you can you know CHANGE the battery should something happen to it. Instead of, going to Apple and being screwed for the fee of them doing it for you. If I’m wrong and there is no fee, how long does it take to get the battery changed and back to you? I’l take my chances with one I can pop in and out myself.

Sure, the ‘Droid may never catch up to or “Take down” the iPhone. But at least it’s a seemingly viable alternative in the smart phone arena. Maybe if Verizon is reading this(right) and wants to buy out my families remaining Tmo account. I will happily upgrade to the ‘Droid.

sFirst of all Thank you to all my brothers and sisters that served and are serving now. Despite all the morons that take their liberty for granted, you are appreciated. Those of us that served know this. We can never thank those of us that have gone before. I loved serving my country. It wasn’t always easy, but I knew it was something important, even when washing dishes on the sub for the 199999999 time, or standing topside watch @ o dark 30 in the cold, freezing GA rain.

I can never say thank you enough. I have taught my children, that when they see someone in uniform to thank them. That is what a hero looks like, no capes needed. You are all heroes to me.

I found this on Youtube. It’s a tear inspiring video.
Those that have never served or had a love one that does, may not ever understand just how hard it is, or what an honor it is either.

God Bless you all. Thank you seems so inadequate.

Will be the death knell of freedom and choice and other things I love about my country. I read a lot of news stories everyday, I got this interest from the smart minds I follow on Twitter. People like @stepehnkrusier, @itsonlywords and @jimmibjr to name but a few.

This post will be mostly from the hip, I’m still too pissed, too raw to slow down, lest I fall victim to that cancer known as PC or Political Correctness. I think the term was coined by people that were very thin skinned and picked on, in High School A LOT!

Oh, don’t call them short, they’re vertically challenged, or he’s not fat, he’s big boned or diet averse or some other bullshit. The killings in Fort Hood are still fresh enough to make the shock and outrage fresh. But, if the main stream media has their way, they will white wash this shit in the stink of PC and have us blaming ourselves that the soldiers died. They’ve been aware of Hasan,  apparently for a long time and no one bothered to say “Hey, this guy is an American loathing Muslim? WTF? Really? All the shit he was to have said about suicide bombings?   It’s discussed briefly here.

Now they’re blaming it on PTSD? I thought to suffer from that you had to, you know, actually have some kind of trauma, like being shot at. Silly me, it would seem, according to this Time article, you can be “Swept up” along with the patient you are trying to help? Is this like claiming you weren’t smoking dope but “I swear officer, my neighbor was smoking weed and I inhaled some and that’s why I’m high? Like getting a fucking contact high?

I am not a trained psychiatrist, but in my not so expert opinion, BULLSHIT! What did he have to be stressed about? The Army paid for his training and they dare asked he go and fulfill his obligations, that he signed up for? OK, so you hate the war, GET OUT of the military moron. There were much better ways to handle this then mowing down people in the same room as you. This blog details the BS in a way I can’t. Read it here.

As this unfolds, and I’m sure there will be a top notch cover up investigation by some political flunky crack team from Washington. The would be PC brigade will continue to blame everyone and everything but the sorry ass that was,you know, holding the goddamn gun. PC be dammed. When we see this shit happening we need to call it what it is. Keep that in mind you short fat American hating assholes.

(edited for content and typos)

What a  powerful 3 letter word. It conveys so much in such a compact package. I was listening to

and thinking about the horrible atrocities perpetrated on US soldiers on US soil yesterday.  First of all, I pray for healing for all those involved, military or otherwise.  As a former(never ex) sailor, I feel a special connection to any service member.  All that they went through in some desert somewhere,  and then to have to come home to this is,well, unfathomable.  To have anyone do this deed, let alone one of your own is…     I can’t even think of a word that encompasses all I feel – the rage, the horror, the loss, the pure unbelief…
There will be speculation and hearsay for many months to come.  Why he did it, why he was able to shoot so many before something was done, among other things.  I am hearing reports that “dear fearless leader”  is stating that the officer that stopped this killer (screw the word “alleged”).  He had the gun people were shot, he did it. No alleged to it. FUCKING GUILTY.  Let’s move on from that point)  WTF???   He talks about not jumping to conclusions. quoted here” “We don’t know all the answers yet. And I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts.”  So said President Barack Obama in the Rose Garden today in reference to Nidal Malik Hasan’s savage massacre of American soldiers at Fort Hood.” as reported on the American Thinker, full article here.

She did her job, as she was trained to do. What should she have done?  Tried talking to the deranged gunman?  ”Please won’t you stop?”  BULLSHIT.  Deadly force was more than called for. Thank you and speedy Recovery to Officer Kimberly Munley. More can be read about her here and here.
I made an offhand comment on twitter yesterday, asking how long until he ignored the tragedy at Fort Hood.  I got two obviously well thought out replies almost immediately.  One was “he was just informed. quit starting drama where there is none!”  Drama?  Umm nothing was more traumatic than what was visited upon Our OWN people here at home.  My point was borne out by his not stopping what he was doing the second he was informed.  As commander in chief, nothing is more important than say, the TROOPS you are supposed to be commanding.  Then he did some sorry speech.
The second cogent, lucid response was something about “How long until I stop being a moron” or something equally brilliant.   Again, I have tried giving O the benefit of several hundred doubts.  He never fails to disappoint.  It’s not a left vs right, liberal vs conservative, or a black white thing.  I don’t respect him solely based on his performance.  Sorry getting off point here.  I am saddened and angered that this could happen.  Do I think Muslims should be removed from our military?  I honestly don’t know.  I’m sure there are those that feel like the gunman yesterday, and there may be an equal number that would lay down their lives to defend this country.  If the allegations are true, and he did make threats and comments in support of treasonous acts, the people that did the half assed investigation should also be held criminally liable as well.  I do not hate someone because they are Muslim.  Some of my friends are.  So, don’t go there. He obviously had issues related to many things.  Should he have been mistreated because of his faith?  Of course not.  At the same time, if he had an issue with deployment, did he miss that on the form he signed to join the Army?  You serve at their whim and not your own.  Did he think, they would pay for schooling and not expect him to, you know serve his damn time?  He should be found guilty, shot, hanged, given a lethal injection and then be drawn and quartered.  No prison time, no boohoo they were mean to me bullshit counselling.  He deserves nothing less than death.  Plain and simple.  He did it to the soldiers, he should get the same treatment.  No mercy.  Maybe God, or in this case Allah will have mercy on him.

Or at least help us put a bad beat on cancer. #BBoC. What am I rambling about you ask? the #TPT or Twitter Poker Tour is holding an even on Nov 15th.

These are the details

Tournament Details

Place: Full Tilt Poker
Date: November 15th, 2009
Time: 6:15PM EST
Cost: $10 ($5 entry plus $5 donation to BBoC)
Tourney ID#: 113220604
Tourney PW: TPTFORBBOC

I am by no means a poker player. Then why do I care? Because about 7 years ago I was diagnosed and treated for Testicular Cancer. I was lucky that it was caught in the early stages, a surgery and 18 radiation treatments later I was pronounced cured. There is always a chance I will develop another form of cancer. So, an event like this is a great thing, it’s also an opportunity for you to help out. How often do you get to help a great cause and play poker with some of the the best on Twitter? Not very often, I think. So, check it out, sign up for the event.If you don’t want to play, consider donating anyway. It’s for an important thing.More info here Bad beat on Cancer .

It was created by  some talented people in Chicago and is narrated by our own @lordschmindie of twitter fame.

The website does a much better job than I could ever do explaining it. Here is a video. Watch it.

when you’re done, have a look at their website Little Brass Bird.
If you can help out with a small donation, great! If not pass the word on to others. Thanks.
(I or this blog are in no way affiliated with the project aside from thinking it’s wicked cool)