[MacStansbury]

More on that bad idea

2008-10-09T14:07:40Z

Things coming along, slowly. Stunningly, no fires.

Yet.

Nothing’s ready to show off quite yet, but it’s looking like I’ll have something done by the end of the year. I’m just gonna be non–specific about which year.

Past hints: Teaser image

flickr, macstansbury, meta, pictures
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Pandering to the Grand Old, ,Old Party

2008-10-09T13:42:10Z

Anybody want to venture a guess why we’ve never seen pictures like this one or this one or even this one when they were covering Al Gore or Dick Cheney?

I mean, besides wanting to keep folks from ripping their own eyes out with forks.

For more vicarious leg–gawking, use this link to Gov. Sarah Palin News Photos.

pictures, sarah palin, yahoo!
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I blame YouTube (A-ha Edition)

2008-10-08T15:06:09Z

This would mark the first (and only) time I ever watched this video. Ground–breaking at the time, it was still an A-ha song. Oh, the hair of my youth…

music, video, youtube
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So, I had this idea about WordPress…

2008-10-07T19:59:19Z

Back in 2006, I had this nifty idea to jettison comments. First of all, they added little to the immediate subject. Also, I didn’t like the compromises I had to choose from with either anonymity or registration. The more popular my site became, the harder it was to police…unless there was nothing to police.

That led to be put together my site sans commentary. It seemed like it made sense at the time, so I went with it. First I was using TextPattern (and I still keep that thing around, somewhere — I love it). But I went with WordPress. And I turned the comment off. Permanently.

I guess my decision was based on a combination of hype and contempt. WordPress was just getting exciting, with the new version 2.0 starting to hit its stride. Messing with templates was just enough to keep me interested, and to make a site that worked just how I wanted. Not having to style comments, or figure out how to con people into registering was refreshing.

It wasn’t long, however, before I started to find the problems with the platform. While the system works well as a one–blog producer, it really isn’t that complete as a full–site solution. Plus, to get it to do anything, you needed a plugin.

While I found ways to work around the limitations, I kept on running into the same problem over and over again: why am I making the server do all that work on a page that almost never changes? That was the whole point of moving to Movable Type — to cut down on server load for a resource–light site.

It’s funny now seeing the other blogs that are buying into my 2006 philosophy. I got over that earlier this year, when I decided to be more of who I really am. That, and to interact with who I know you are (or don’t know, I guess). Now I’m all about the comments and the peoples. And I think I’m ready for my soapbox…

Movable Type soapbox

As a sidenote, this is just me telling anyone that’s gearing up for my comments–less WordPress experience: have you thought of just writing the HTML yourself? I mean, it’d make your server happy, plus you’d learn a new skill!

But for those of you who don’t want to cook it yourself, there’s always Movable Type. It will make the pages work exactly the same while allowing just as many comments. Plus, you can stick it to the man (if you’re really all that against–the–man–y).

As another added benefit, you’ll get the pleasure of answering, “well, have you even tried WordPress?” about 50 times a week. That’s always a reassuring way to let you know that people know what they’re talking about.

macstansbury, meta, movable type, wordpress
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I feel safer now

2008-10-07T13:38:27Z

It’s amazing we still all have any money at all.

My idea for First National of Sanka is looking better every day.

[via]

funny, satire, video
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I blame YouTube (Patriotic Eagle Edition)

2008-10-06T14:11:23Z

Got this in email. Thought I’d share.

See also: Three Birds, No Perspective

music, video, youtube
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We’ll never lose football dominance to Canada

2008-10-04T03:32:56Z

This is why: superior touchdown celebrations.

[via, eh?]

sports, video, youtube
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Technorati: State of the Blogosphere 2008

2008-10-03T00:06:24Z

Just in case you’re curious about the blogosphere, Technorati has released its State of the Blogosphere 2008. It’s always fun to hear about the rich getting richer, isn’t it?

I don’t have much to say about it (other than my snide remark). If you haven’t been using Technorati as a tool for getting news, they do make a good point about reactions to political events, such as the Sarah Palin announcement. Plus, there’s the horrifying realization that even the richest bloggers don’t make much more than minimum wage (which really isn’t that minimum, anymore).

And for those of you who don’t know, Technorati is the place that tracks all the tags that blogs put on each post. It’s just a way to organize the internet. Then they put all that data together and use it to show trends and make these nifty charts!

Posts that contain Sarah Palin per day for the last 60 days (get your own chart).

blogging, blogosphere, carnival of open trackbacks, meta
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Anecdotal breakfast story

2008-10-01T02:38:48Z

This morning, I had a refrigerator full of fresh fruits and vegetables, a couple different types of that V8 Splash, some of that great Kashi Cinnamon Harvest cereal, and whole wheat bread, just waiting to be made into toast and covered in one of two flavors of all–natural strawberry or blackberry jelly.

For breakfast I had a cup of 20 Oreos covered in milk.

I don’t know how I’ve survived to be this old.

food, personal
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I say hard–core homeschooler

2008-10-01T01:51:14Z

You make the call: reenactor or hard core homeschooler?

It’s this or YouTube videos, people. And I don’t need to remind you what a scary thing that can be? Trust me, you don’t want that.

funny, pictures
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Wash for Obama

2008-10-01T01:20:46Z

Or McCain. Whatever.

What I want to know is, aren’t these backwards?

barak obama, flickr, john mccain, pictures
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Bailout. All I have on the Bailout.

2008-09-29T14:07:58Z

Not much, actually.

This does beg the question, though: which bank is the safest right now? The Bank of Folgers (what with the all–aluminum security features, impervious to squirrels) or First National of Maxwell House (what with the weatherproof security that only plastic can provide). Call me old–fashioned, but I think I’m going with Chock Full o’ Nuts.

“Chock Full of Nuts”? They should call it “Chock Full o’My Investment Portfolio”!

barak obama, congress, funny, john mccain, schadenfreude, video, youtube
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Currently working on my next bad idea

2008-09-26T19:03:44Z

Just a heads up. You know, in case the entire site catches on fire, or it looks like some of the page have holes where I just needed to punch something. Or, you don’t hear from me for 17 months.

Here’s a clue to what’s going on:

flickr, macstansbury, meta, pictures
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How to get me to watch the debates

2008-09-26T14:17:21Z

You know we got these presidential debates coming on (maybe?). I, for one, am interested in whatever’s on any other station at that time. Maybe that’s just me, but I feel I speak for a large number of Americans when I say there needs to be something added to attain our interest:

Bipartisan velociraptors.

Otherwise, it’s just a bunch of politicians saying the same thing they say all the rest of the time, right?

media, television
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We all knew this was going to happen

2008-09-25T19:55:55Z

Hockey Moms Against Sarah Palin

All right, I’m back to not caring about this election any more.

fauxtrage, funny, sarah palin, video, youtube
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Biden Picked as Obama's VP

2008-09-25T17:02:10Z

It’s like Team Obama was just trying to tick off Red State Update (and it worked):

And yes, Joe Biden. He’s the VP for the Democrats. I figure you didn’t know that.

fauxtrage, funny, video, youtube
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Millen, Fired

2008-09-25T16:23:53Z

FireMillen.com Members and Staff Rejoice over the Firing of Detroit Lions’ President Matt Millen

September 24, 2008 (Detroit, MI) – After 83 losses, countless blown draft picks, and having the Detroit Lions become the laughing stock of the NFL during the last eight years, Detroit Lion’s owner William Clay Ford finally fired President and General Manager Matt Millen.

“Matt Millen should have been fired three years ago after mismanaging the team for his first five years,” says FireMillen.com founder Michael McCune. “At the same time, FireMillen.com members and staff are ecstatic about the decision to finally get rid of the worst general manager in professional sports history.”

Millen’s mismanagement of the team has gotten to the Lions off to another dismal 0-3 start in 2008. Under Millen’s tenure, he has hired three head coaches, even more assistants and coordinators, and signed and drafted new players each year. Even with all of those changes, the Lions are a league worst 31-82. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the mid 1980’s had a worse record in modern NFL History. In Millen’s tenure, the defense has been one of the worst in the league and the offense has only been ranked in the top half of the league once (2007).

“Poor drafting is just the start of Millen’s failure” said McCune. “He has overpaid free agents that have been backups on other teams and continued to keep players that have not delivered in the past. His mistakes continue to cost this team which has over $15 Million in salary cap space dedicated to players who are no longer on this team.”

While FireMillen.com is no longer needed to promote the firing of Matt Millen, the site will remain up, under a new yet –to-be-determined name, to follow the search process for a new general manager and future seasons.

“We hope that the Lions take this opportunity to execute an exhaustive search for a qualified general manager who can build a team of which Detroit Lions' fans can be proud” McCune continued.

FireMillen.com has always been proud to in keeping its arguments fact based. McCune said “I have no personal problems with Matt Millen. From what I have read, Matt Millen is a nice man and was a great football player. He just was an extremely bad general manager.”

FireMillen.com is not affiliated with the Detroit Lions or the National Football Association. The site was started in 2005 in an effort to get Matt Millen fired. The site has received over a million “hits” since it started and has a dedicated group of readers and forum contributors. For further information or comment, please contact Mike McCune at mmccune@hotmail.com.

Even more: Celebrating the End Of The Millen-ium

schadenfreude, sports
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Non–gotcha on the Bush Doctrine

2008-09-12T18:07:25Z

Just a minute ago, I was thinking about Sarah Palin’s gaffe over the Bush Doctrine. I was thinking about it, because I couldn’t tell you what the Bush Doctrine was. And I was part of it (got the Bronze Star Medal to prove it).

Seeing her answer again just shows me what I was thinking: she was describing the Bush Doctrine. And so was Charlie Gibson. The non–gotcha comes because they weren’t describing the same Bush Doctrine.

As Joshua Treviño points out, there have been at least ten versions of the Bush Doctrine floating about. And that’s just the ones that haven’t been diluted through the AP. So, while it may look like Gotcha Time!™, it ain’t.

george bush, media, sarah palin, television, youtube
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Sarah Palin on Glenn Beck

2008-09-12T06:05:59Z

Glenn Beck can say he interviewed her back when. This is back from June, ~~shilling like good little stooges~~ discussing ~~their talking points from their overlords in Big Oil™~~ sound energy policies.

And yes, like anything involving Alaska, they talk about Drilling ANWR:

Somehow, the wanton murder of thousands of moose didn’t get in the interview. You know why that is. BIAS. This interview reeks of the filth of moose hunting advocates.

Just once — once — I would love to see her pressed on this issue. But know, softball question after softball. Moose lovers demand answers! US out of Alaska! Now!

Meanwhile, back in character…

Like the question about the VeeP? I remember the whole vetting process, and summarily dismisser her because — because there wasn’t anything I could find that I hated about her. She was perfect, thus unelectable.

I’m glad I was wrong.

fuel, sarah palin, video, youtube
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Chillaxin’

2008-09-12T03:18:39Z

I don’t know what’s sadder:

1. That I know what that word means

2. That there’s a debate over whether to use the apostrophe or not

3. That I spelled it correctly the first time

This is what the smell of a freshly–dusted room does to me.

Now to rearrange the furniture!

funny, geekery, macstansbury, meta, personal
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Guitar Hero+MoreCowbell.dj=Geektacular

2008-09-11T17:54:02Z

I know you’re wondering why I keep posting these things from MoreCowbell.dj. IT’S BECAUSE I LOVE ME SOME COWBELL! And because I’m hopelessly geeky.

Like a child on Christmas morning, I found this last night, and almost cried. I cannot describe the pleasure upon the blending of these two things.


	Make your own at MoreCowbell.dj

For those of you who don’t know, there’s a game called ‘Guitar Hero III’ that forces you to spend hours in front of your television slapping five buttons and acting like you can play a musical instrument. And it’s making brazillions of dollars. The kids, they love the fake guitar playing.

This particular song is ridiculously hard, and it’s supposed to be the most difficult song in the game to beat. The top boss level, if you will. Just by completing this on ‘Expert’ will garner you the respect of your peers, and the devotion of your fans.

Behold!

For those non–fake–ax–wielding mortals (like me), perhaps another game would be more appropriate. Perhaps, one with another instrument…

geekery, music, video, youtube
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Cheerios&safe=off

2008-09-11T15:47:57Z

Okay, don’t ask why, but I was using Google image search for Cheerios. This was the second time in the past couple of weeks, so I really have no idea what got into my head. I guess I just wanted to see what would happen.

Only, for reasons that are even less logical than using Google Image Search (GIS) for Cheerios, I turned the Moderate SafeSearch off. Yes, I was searching for Cheerios without expressly forbidding explicit images.

I have no idea why I did this. None.

You know when it’s late, and you’re convincing yourself it’s time for bed? And then you say, “well, one more site—then bed.” 7 hours later you’re wondering if the 1 hour of sleep you’re getting tonight’s gonna cut it? That is the best explanation I can come up with. Look people, I’m posting a story about an image search, you gotta believe me when I say this is outside my normal blogging behavior.

Still doesn’t explain me and my browser window full of Cheerios boxes. A browser window full of explicit Cheerios boxes. At least, that was what might have happened.

No sooner did I start going through the images, that I realized the potential for — well — Cheerios–related internet filth. Look, I’m not going to judge anybody for what gets their boats all floaty, but I wasn’t really thinking. I may have absolutely no idea what my boredom–induced journey into uncensored Cheerios pics, but I most certainly was not searching for anything approaching adult content.

“It’s Cheerios,” I said to myself. “What could happen?”

This happened. I hate the internet, sometimes.

For you completists, here’s the search (potentially NSFW).

food, funny, personal, pictures
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More MoreCowbell.dj

2008-09-11T01:47:36Z

Hate to sound repetitive, but somebody just posted a whole lot of awesome over at MoreCowbell.dj. Within the last hour we got all this:

These great hits of the 80s and 90s only available for a limited time! Download now!

geekery, music
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MacStansbury.com Comment Threads v.2

2008-09-10T16:26:27Z

Just in time for sock puppet season, I’ve greatly improved the look and feel of the comment threads. It will also make it easier to tell whom is replying to whom with the nifty new ‘@commentername’. That will link to the thing the replier replied to.

It’s all done for you when you click the reply link next to the comment name. Here’s an example of what it would look like if I had commenters (sock puppets I got):

There you are, the finest, most powerful comment system in the free world.

macstansbury, meta, movable type
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You had me at ‘Q.E.D.’

2008-09-10T02:48:31Z

Ah, school choice. The only choice we’re not allowed to have.

[Via]

funny, video, youtube
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Old, Really Smart, Old Guy

2008-09-09T10:04:55Z

In the fine tradition of never–making–his–mind–ism, Larry has gone to using this “Old, , Old Guy” thing. What the casual reader will miss is that this is a play on something that happened years ago. Thought I’d bring those of you who forgot and those who just wondered what it was all about.

On the long–abandoned MacStansbury.org I put in a bunch of guest authors. Think of it as my first attempt at being a community organizer. Took a few of my dearest allies and chunked logins at ’em. Then, I made the mistake of giving them titles.

One such title was granted to our very own Larry. The title of “Old, Really Smart, Old Guy.” In retrospect, VP of Operations or COO would’ve been the wiser thing to do. But I went with the patronizing, and there you have it.

In his own deference to my titling, he just took out the good part.

And have I mentioned, he’s old?

macstansbury, meta
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MoreCowbell.dj

2008-09-09T03:42:58Z

Now, you too can get more cowbell. Upload a song, add some cowbell (or Bruce Dickenson, yes, the Bruce Dickenson), and really feel the studio space:


	Make your own at MoreCowbell.dj

I didn’t upload this song, but, hey, come on, it has more cowbell!

funny, geekery, music
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Looking Back At My Presidential Prediction

2008-09-08T23:01:45Z

Remember this thing?

Two predictions about the presidential race.

Prediction #1: As soon as Barak Obama announces his running mate, his polling numbers will take a dive.

Prediction #2: As soon as John McCain announces his running mate, his polling numbers will go up.

And yeah, I was right. Doesn’t mean much, but the numbers, they have a changed.

barak obama, john mccain, polls, sarah palin
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Anecdotal food?

2008-09-08T03:45:46Z

Presented without comment, search engine keywords for this site in the past three days. Initial instances of keywords linked to their respective stories.

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anecdotal food
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exxon mccain bumper sticker
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link:http://explorations.chasrmartin.com/2008/09/06/palin-rumors/
link:jimtreacher.com
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youtube g-unit
jawa report sarah palin

macstansbury, sarah palin, slow news day, words
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Palindrone

2008-09-07T00:13:45Z

palindrone (pæl?ndro?m)
noun

refers to one of the countless followers of Sarah Palin during her immensely popular vice presidential run
someone devoted enough to waste his Saturday squashing rumors about Sara Palin

ORIGIN early 21th cent.: neologism derived from the word ‘palindrome’ from Greek palindromos ‘running back again,’ from palin ‘again’ + drom- (from dramein ‘to run’ ).

sarah palin, words
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Palin=Eagleton

2008-09-05T19:40:23Z

Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, let this thing work
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton
Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton Palin=Eagleton

More background here

barak obama, blogosphere, carnival of open trackbacks, sarah palin, words
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