9/11

Eight years later it still blows me away. I still remember turning on AOL and not believing what I saw that Tuesday morning. May all those who lost there lives then and those who have lost there lives since in Afghanistan and Iraq rest in peace. And may anyone that used that day as a platform for gross personal gain burn in hell. Or some place like it.

Organic Night Vission

How cool is this:

Seeing in the dark could soon be as easy as popping a pill or squeezing some drops into your eyes, thanks to some new science, an unusual deep-sea fish, and a plant pigment.

In the 1990s, marine biologist Ron Douglas of City University London discovered that, unlike other deep-sea fish, the dragonfish Malacosteus niger can perceive red light. Douglas was surprised when he isolated the chemical responsible for absorbing red: It was chlorophyll. “That was weird,” he says. The fish had somehow co-opted chlorophyll, most likely from bacteria in their food, and turned it into a vision enhancer.

Is there anything cooler than night vision? Not much. How cool would it be to be able to cruise around at night with no headlamps, no flash lights or torch. It would introduce a whole new aspect to camping. You could seriously take night hikes and truly discover the wonders of nature.

Later on the the article they mention that the feds are putting up money for the further development of this night vision. Can you imagine the advantage soldiers and law enforcement would have being able to see at night? Crazy! It reminds me of Predator. Couldn't beat the Govenator even with night vision though.

Foreign Phrase Of The Day(Spanish) El Chayote

Today's phrase is "El Chayote" which literly mean the chayote. Chayote is a squash like vegetable, but in this case it is used in Central American slang to imply a bribe. To to give one a chayote is to bribe them.

I am back

I know it has been a long while since you all have heard anything from me. Please forgive. A lot has happened in the past six or seven months. I have been pretty darn busy. Well, and a little lazy when it comes to blogging and the such. Anyway, stay tuned and I promise I will say something to piss you off.

Worl Cup '10-All The World is a Stage

I remember growing up watching the news about apartheid in South Africa. I remember the international call and movement for an end to the apartheid. I remember it all coming to an end and this man, Nelson Mandela being released after a nearly 30 year stint as a political prisoner. The world celebrated. We'll most of it did. Obviously some people were upset that they had to give up their reign.

That was about twenty years ago, and South Africa has come a long way. They've got to the point that the are going to host a global event. This is big news. I remember ten, fifteen years ago reports that had South Africa and Colombia vying for number one in murderous crime.

So the Would Cup is coming to town. And tickets are on sale. They range from about $20 to $900. The lower end prices being reserved for residents. And although South Africa still has a high crime rate, the government garantees 100% safty for guests.

"So, if I have 100% information on your movement, I can give you the guarantee that you will be 100% safe."


Although I am not the hugest football fan, I do enjoy world cup competition. I never thought that I could get hung up on the play by play scenarios of a game, but I did. Seriously, I am into it. Am I going to watch every game all the way though? Probably not. But I will definitely be down to watch marquee matches involving a handful of key teams. The US team first of course.

As far as the Cup being in South Africa goes, I would love to go for the experience. But in reality. In bitter reality, there is no way I could afford such a trip. And even if I could, I am not sure that I would. I've gotten to the point that I am turned off by the huge crowds. That isn't to say that if someone handed me plane tickets for those dates, that I wouldn't seize the opportunity. But I am not going to hold my breath, or spend a small fortune to make it happen. I'll watch the games at my local pub or take a drive into the Foggy City depending on who is in it towards the end. Either way I am excited for the event and for South Africa.

Foreign Phrase Of The Day(Arabic) Marhaba

Today's word is " Marhaba" . This is the word for "hello" in the Arabic world. It is pronounced pretty much how it is spelled with emphases on the H and a slight roll of the R. Marr-Haba

Foreign Phrase Of The Day(Farsi) Chetori

Chetori is the Persian way of asking : How are you?

Chetori?

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me

I can't believe that we are letting weapons get into the hands of our enemies. Oh wait. Yes I can. How could we possible be asked to fund a war against unarmed combatants.

At the Afghan army's central weapons depot in Kabul, the team found "guards sleeping on duty and missing from their posts." A subsequent audit by the US military found 47 pistols had been stolen from the depot.


Yeah good work A-Holes! Just let them take our weapons so that our troops can get smoked by the bullets that we made here in the USA. In my book this is an example of blatant disregard for our solders, tax payers and the Afghan troops that are helping get their country on track. Furthermore, as if the notion of your son or daughter getting killed by bullets made here in the States, shot from guns made by our allies and being negligently passed to the hands of our enemies by our Afghan allies(the same guys we are supposed to be helping) isn't bad enough, it is so fiscally irresponsible. What is it, cost plus small arms distribution? I mean really, this crap has been going on for how long? These are the kind of cockamamie actions that have to make us take a long look at what is really going on. Take a long look at ourselves.

Dancing Queen

Go ahead. Call Vladimir Putin that. He denies that he was dancing to Abba songs to the rest of the world. And he will to you too. But if you become over accusatory, he'll break you. After all he is a black belt in Judo. Oh and Russian. He's probably made out of solid ice.

Foreign Phrase Of The Day(Croatian) Sta Ima

Today's Foreign phrase is in Croatian. It is how you would say or ask: What's up?

Sta ima. Pernounced Shta Ima.

A-Rod busted

Well,here it is. Good Ole A-Rod coming clean. But once again with this creep, it's nothing special. Just a robot spewing data. At least he admits that he fucked up and apologizes. That's a start. The video is worth watching for the first couple of minutes. He fails to answer some questions about where he got the drugs, but he cant be expected to rat out his buddies. Anyway, I think that he showed pretty good character by coming clean. However it can't be looked over that he was using when secured the biggest contract in history and to the this day. In actuality the headline below says it all.

Obama Speaks

Obama rose to the occasion and held his first prime time news conference just under a month into his Presidency. Thus showing the moxie early on that it took Bush 10 months and some asshole to fly a plane into the World Trade Center before he did it. Obama, and the white house felt that they needed to make a case for his economic stimulus package . The friendly, playful Obama that we are used to seeing was not present. This was a more serious Obama. All business, so to speak.In his press conference he answered about thirteen questions in about an hour's time.Most of them pertaining to bill before congress. Here is the video for those of you that missed it.

Foreign Phrase Of The Day(Spanish)

Today's foreign phrase is in Spanish.

Disparar: To shoot

No medispares. Don't shoot me.

This phrase can also be use to order something.

Disparame un trago. Buy be a drink.

Party Time

I use to watch The Benny Hill Show when it was on( not by choice) all the time. That is why this cracks me up so.

War On Drugs

Here are U.S. Trained Bolivian Soldiers taking out a lab in what is known as the Red Zone. There is a whole photo essay that includes this shot and others on the Mother Jones Website. There are some insane pictures that are worth seeing.

As some of you may or may not know. My wife and I have been in the market for a new home. We have a good team working with us. Kevin and Naomi. The reason I bring it up is that Naomi is Japanese. What has that got to do with anything you ask. Well, my whole life I have been fascinated with language. Whenever I can learn a new word or phrase in a foreign language, I go for it. So every time Naomi is taking the time to show us properties, I ask her a word or phrase in Japanese.

The problem is that for most of us it is difficult to remember new words and phrases from unfamiliar languages. Sure with study and practice it can be done, but that is too time consuming. So I had the thought that instead of doing a quote of the day or a pic of the day as other bloggers do. I am going to do a foreign word or phrase of the day. Not that I would totally rule out the previously mentioned elements to this blog's format. I would not. I just wanted to spice it up a little and at the same time help myself reinforce those new words. And of course, to share the knowledge.

So look forward to new words and phrases coming our way.

Blood Bath

Having left hockey for several years. That is having stopped following it. I have missed the excitement that it provided me. And although I am a San Jose Sharks fan,I could not help but feel nostalgic when watching this video. Beautifully synced to a Filter song it almost like it was choreographed. Check it out!

Who are You?

In this day and age people are careful with the words that the use to describe someone in fear that they may be labeled as a bigot or a raciest. That makes sense. I mean who wants to be recognized solely by the color of their skin and the accent they have. This has become most apparent in the media. With fears of public outcry or lawsuits they choose their words a bit of apprehension. That's fine. But to a certain extent. When listening to the radio and I hear of a crime that has been perpetrated and they say, "police are looking for a six foot chubby man" I end up a bit perplexed. OK so is the man White, Mexican, Asian, or Black? In an article posted in the Contra Costa Times, they fail to give any sort of information that could help you avoid this person or inform the police.

The robber was last seen on the north side of the Pleasant Hill BART station. He was described as an unshaven man weighing about 200 pounds and wearing dark clothes.

Anyone with information can contact Walnut Creek police at 925-943-5844.

I am surprised they even described the person as a man. Isn't that gender labeling? Could the description be any more vague?Guess what? That is me. A man weighing about 200 pounds and unshaven. And I do own dark clothes. Good work! I am sure we'll find him now. Just in case anyone needs to know I was at home with my wife.

2012

I have often been intrigued by ancient cultures, their beliefs and origins. The mysteries as to how the ancient Egyptian pyramids were built or why the Nazca Lines were created are examples of events that have captivated me for most of my life. Now perhaps one of the more relative of these mysterious events is concerned with the Mayan civilization and their calenders. It seems that their calender is just about to finish a 5000 year cycle and there are many speculations to what will happen. The most sensational is that it will be the end of life as we know it. Or in other cases, some see it as simply a new beginning. Whatever your view, it will most likely be discussed in length in San Francisco this upcoming weekend. The 2012 Conference kicks off on Saturday at the Fort Mason Center. Although I don't believe that the Mayans were able to predict the future, it would be cool to learn about what they were thinking and believed concerning the cycle of life, the earth and the universe.

Stealing the vote

Here is an interesting map with dialog on each state's problems with voter fraud. Just click on the state that you want to read about.