Pious Agnostic

Lunchblogging

Pan-seared tuna salad with sesame dressing.

posted at 1:04 PM Jul 3, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

posted at 4:59 PM Jun 20, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

It's sad because it's true:

Why I Walked Out of ‘Year One’ Crying

posted at 4:57 PM Jun 20, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Rethinking Autism

posted at 2:35 PM Jun 20, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Here's an awesome video of a young Belgian soccer player being revived by his implantable cardiac defibrillator:

Dr Wes writes:

In this video, Van Loo is seen walking from the field and then collapsing at 7 seconds, his legs are seen twitching at 15 seconds as his automatic defibrillator fires to restore his heart rhythm to normal, and then by 21 seconds after the event he regains conciousness and sits up....

Despite all of the press out there, this is NOT a heart attack, but rather the result of a life-threatenting heart rhythm disorder like ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. In young people, the cause of these life-threatening arrhythmias include right ventricular dysplasia, catecholamine-induced ventricular tachycardia, idiopathic cardiomyopathy, and long QT syndrome (to name just a few). At maximum output, a defibrillator can deliver about 830 volts in a tenth of a second to restore the heart rhythm back to normal.

This is quite different from my complaint, which is Atrial fibrillation

posted at 7:13 PM Jun 13, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

US museum shooter son slams father's 'cowardice'

"I cannot express enough how deeply sorry I am it was Mr Johns, and not my father who lost their life," the shooter's Florida-based son said.

You know, you've got to be a pretty rotten guy to have your son say this about you in a prepared statement.

"For the extremists who believe my father is a hero: it is imperative you understand what he did was an act of cowardice," he said.

"To physically force your beliefs onto others with violence is not brave, but bullying. Doing so only serves to prove how weak those beliefs are. It is simply desperation, reminiscent of a temper tantrum when a child cannot get his way."

posted at 4:01 PM Jun 13, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Maura Flynn lays out The Republican Case for Gay Marriage

Read it, even if you don't agree with it.

posted at 7:50 PM Jun 11, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

The National Debt Road Trip

Hat tip: mkhammer

posted at 3:15 PM Jun 9, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Obamanation

Cool! A girl I knew in college got an opinion piece published.

Give it a read.

posted at 3:05 PM Jun 9, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

If Dick Cheney really were Darth Vader

posted at 6:24 PM Jun 2, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Charles Johnson writes:

The Republican Party invariably chooses to vote against science, and in favor of atavism and young earth creationism — not just in Texas, either. What a sad state of affairs; it’s one reason why the GOP continues to lose elections, and is hemorrhaging voters.

He's right. I wish he wasn't.

posted at 4:47 PM May 29, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

She just wanted to make it snow

My heart goes out to this poor girl, she's so upset and hysterical. Unfortunately, she's also hysterically funny. NSFW language at end:

posted at 2:45 PM May 26, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Harnessing science to create the ultimate warrior

Cool!

posted at 8:15 AM May 25, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Liberals Love to Lose

When liberals lose, it enables them to feel more superior than they naturally feel. It affords them the opportunity to bitch about injustice and unfairness.

When they win, hell, it was a fair fight. They never, while basking in the glow of a victory, say, “Whew. Thank God the unfairness worked out in our favor this time!” or “The voting machines finally worked!”

posted at 5:21 PM May 23, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Heh: MY OVERWEIGHT GUINEA PIG HAS SORE FEET

posted at 4:33 PM May 16, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Mark Steyn has a good one: Fun with Dick and Nancy

posted at 3:52 PM May 16, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Orlando Scooter Rally

This morning, I participated in a Scooter Rally, which was a lot of fun. Here's some video I took of the assembled scooters before we started:

posted at 2:20 PM May 16, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Beard of Bees

posted at 7:15 PM May 15, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

XLR8 SolarCycle

If it seems like I only blog from the bar these days, it's probably true because that's where you meet the most interesting folks.

Like Larry Wexler, the creator of the XLR8 SolarCycle, a solar powered car entered in the Progressive Automotive XPrize.

Update: Interestingly, Instapundit has a story about an XPrize entrant as well.

posted at 5:30 PM May 14, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Goodbye, Krystal

Krystal has been a bartender at Orlando Brewing for two-and-a-half-years, and she's moving to Tennessee next week. Our loss is Nashville's gain.

posted at 4:26 PM May 8, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Funny!

posted at 8:59 PM May 5, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

The Sensuous Curmudgeon has penned an Open Letter to the Republican Party, that I hope they will read, consider, and take to heart.

Because I agree with every word, including these:

If a politician’s principal issues are sex and religion, and he wants to campaign with a bible in one hand and his carnal concerns in the other, that’s his choice; but he should know that this approach — although thrilling to a vocal faction of the party — isn’t attractive to a broad majority of the population. If you feel that you must campaign on those issues, please do it as a member of the other party. In most parts of the country you’re going to lose either way, but you’ll still feel good, and at least you won’t be hurting us.

Pious gratitude to: LGF

posted at 8:29 PM May 5, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

This looks cool!

Premiers May 3rd, 2008 (tomorrow!)

Related:

posted at 4:10 PM May 2, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Geeky fun

OCPS board member Nancy Robbinson calls out Kat Gordon for unseemly behavior at school closings meeting

Nancy Robbinson acknowledged that the April 15 rule development session committee on school closures was tough for everyone, but she did not agree with Kat Gordon's lecture to the community.

She asked for a workshop to review the board's ethics and civility codes.

"It is tough and uncomfortable" to listen to some of the comments at high-profile meetings, Robbinson said. "I do not agree with responding in kind."

She said she was worried Gordon violated ethics or civility codes, and she wanted to be sure everyone reviewed them.

Gordon's opinion, she said, is not the board's opinion.

Gordon stood her ground.

"I am not going to shuffle my feet, bow my head... I am going to speak up," she said. Gordon added that her community feels she had a right to say what she said -- about the hurts of past racism and other issues, including the behavior of teachers who attended the meeting.

It was the audience, not Gordon, who was abusive, Gordon said.

"I am not up here to be stepped on. I refuse to be stepped on," she said.

And she placed the blame squarely on Chairwoman Joie Cadle's shoulders.

"I feel it should have been stopped," she said about the "abusive" comments coming from the public and teachers at the meeting.

Cadle agreed to hold a workshop. She also agreed with Gordon's request to read a conduct or civility code before any of those types of emotionally charged meetings are held.

This is what they're talking about:

posted at 7:44 AM Apr 30, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

TOTUS Blinks (again)

posted at 3:01 PM Apr 28, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Swine Flu Questionnaire

As you have been hearing in the news, 40 cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been reported in the U.S. Five states are currently affected, including California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally.

In order to better judge the likelihood of an outbreak of swine influenza A (H1N1), the following questionnaire has been developed to identify specific risk factors that may contribute to an emergency situation. Please consider each question carefully and answer as fully as you are able.

1. Have you, an immediate family member, or any intimate friend or acquaintance within the last two weeks engaged in any travel that included Mexico either as a destination or transit hub?
2. Have you, an immediate family member, or any intimate friend or acquaintance experienced any flu or flu-like symptoms (including but not limited to fever, cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea)?
3. Have you eaten any roasted, barbequed or smoked pork products that were raw, undercooked, or otherwise less than well done within the last month?
4. Have you, a spouse or significant other visited a farm or petting zoo for sexual purposes within the last two weeks?
5. Do you, an immediate family member or any intimate friend consider swine flu to be kosher and/or halal?
6. Do you hope to kiss a pig if you answered any of these questions untruthfully?

posted at 2:43 PM Apr 28, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

This post stolen virtually in it's entirety from LGF:

Charles write:

Artist Peter Funch creates mind-bending images by setting up his camera in one spot, shooting pictures for several days at a time, then using Photoshop to blend the separate photographs in thematic ways...

The results are really quite amazing!

posted at 10:47 AM Apr 26, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Michael Goldfarb asks a good question:

I wonder why the same people squealing about the alleged moral indignity to which these monsters were subjected are the same people who want the government to keep morality out of their bedrooms and doctors' offices. Why should the government be forbidden from making a moral judgment about gay marriage or abortion but compelled to make a moral judgment about the treatment of terrorists plotting to murder Americans citizens?

posted at 7:26 AM Apr 24, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

A sign of the times....

Picture taken with my new Blackberry Pearl

posted at 2:58 PM Apr 18, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

Here's something I've know for a while now: Nasal Irrigation Can Ease Allergy Symptoms

Pollen forecasters are predicting a heavy season this year, so allergy sufferers may be struggling to find relief.

For some, the neti pot, a nasal irrigator that resembles a small teapot, has become an alternative remedy. While it is not nearly as convenient as popping a pill or using a spray, several recent studies have found that nasal irrigation can reduce symptoms of allergies and other nasal problems.

One benefit is that irrigation can clear nasal passages without dryness or “rebound” congestion, which occurs when overuse of decongestants leads to dependence and irritated tissue.

Since my sinus surgery in 2007, I've found my neti very helpful.

posted at 7:46 AM Apr 17, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Happy Tax Day, everyone!

posted at 12:33 PM Apr 15, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

OK, this is pretty cool! Meet Rovio

posted at 7:06 PM Apr 9, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

posted at 6:31 AM Apr 9, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Do Ray Me!

Pious gratitude to: The Great One

posted at 6:26 PM Mar 31, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Celebrate Human Achievement Hour

posted at 5:31 PM Mar 28, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

There's rejoicing in Heaven

Anti-Evolution Bill Still A Fruitless Exercise

A bill aimed at undercutting acceptance of evolution in Florida science classes, which kicked up a fuss but didn't pass in the Florida Legislature last year, apparently is going nowhere this year.

A Senate version of the bill has yet to receive a committee hearing and has no companion bill in the House.

That means, said one proponent of the idea, that the bill has little chance of passage in this frantic session, heavily devoted to cutting and balancing the state budget.

"With no companion in the House, it doesn't have much likelihood," said Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla.

Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, filed the bill in the Senate in late February. It would require that public schools "teach a thorough presentation and critical analysis of the scientific theory of evolution" in science classes.

Thank God. We don't need to waste everybody's time promoting a particular religious view in the Florida Public Schools.

I'll say it again: Republicans, drop this shit right now. It's a non-starter.

And frankly, I don't like you promoting your religion at the expense of my religion....And I don't mean Darwinism.

Pious gratitude to: LGF

posted at 5:10 PM Mar 28, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Lunchblogging!

All-You-Can-Eat Fishfry at Julie's Waterfront

posted at 12:47 PM Mar 27, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

MSNBC reporter finds way to mix business with pleasure.

"Hey baby, lean down here and answer a couple questions, OK?"

posted at 3:26 PM Mar 23, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

When I was at the Orlando Tea Party last Saturday, I saw a couple of 9/11 "Truthers" who were trying to stir-up their own brand of crazy. Wish I'd had a mobile link to this: 15 Questions for Truthers

posted at 11:32 AM Mar 23, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

The Republican Party's Big 'But'

Via LGF, I find Ringo the Gringo's account of his visit to a newly-purposed dinosaur attraction:

The Lion, The Lamb, and The Velociraptor

I didn't drag my family all the way out here simply to poke fun at a goofy, creationist roadside attraction. In fact the people who were working at this place were sincerely nice folks. It was also not my intent to ridicule their religion. But still I felt compelled to photograph this place and share the pictures on my website. Why?

The reason is that there are those who would have this type of "creation science" taught in American public schools as part of the science curriculum… And most of the people pushing for this are members of the Republican Party; the party of which I am a member.

States such as Texas and Louisiana have already passed legislation which would allow this type on nonsense to be introduced in to publicly funded schools and promoted as valid "science", equal to legitimate scientific theories regarding, not only evolution, but also geology, biology, astronomy and even archeology! To me this is beyond embarrassing, it’s a travesty.

The governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, who was selected to give the Republican rebuttal to President Obama's recent speech before Congress, is a strong proponent of introducing this kind of phony science in public schools. He is also often referred to as "the future of the Republican Party"… Well, if Jindal really is the future of the Party, then it’ll have to be a Party without me.

Without me either. Get it together, Pubbies.

posted at 8:46 AM Mar 23, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what an Instalanche looks like:

I'm spent.

posted at 7:27 PM Mar 21, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Orlando Tea Party!

I just got back from the Orlando Tea Party in downtown Eola Park. Really good turn-out, several thousand people probably but it's hard to tell.

I'll have more pictures later....wait for it!

Update:  OK, the pictures are uploaded. Click here!

Update 2:  Hey! I've been Instalanched! Thanks for the link, Perfesser!

posted at 2:12 PM Mar 21, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Obamanation

Orlando Tea Party Today!

posted at 9:53 AM Mar 21, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Obamanation

Lent-blogging!

Today, we went to Five Guys for lunch before an offsite meeting.

On a Friday in Lent, I was sorely tempted, but I had one of their Grilled Cheese, and it was pretty good.

Not as good as their burgers, but not much is.

posted at 1:45 PM Mar 20, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

Lunchblogging!

Beef & Cheese Sandwich Special, Beefy King, Orlando, Florida

posted at 1:04 PM Mar 18, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

Is Obama incompetent?

Frankly, I doubt that he and his gang of socialist toadies is any more incompetent than any other Democratic Senator with no meaningful executive experience. On the other hand, you could probably fill a sock with cat shit and fling it into a Green Day concert and smack somebody who could do a better job.

Sure, our investments are losing value faster than any time in recorded history, and the Obama State Department can't even keep friggin' England happy with some fish-and-chips. Also, it appears that he picks his cabinet by going through a book of mugshots and choosing the ones with the least-noticeable tattoos.

OK, maybe he is exactly as incompetent as we feared he would be. Maybe his room-temperature IQ is fouling the gears of government to an extent that our little 10-speed is going to lose its chain.

What concerns me is that the loving, tolerant and profoundly racist Left of this country are going to sadly shake their heads, lower their expectations, move their goalposts and promote him socially to the next grade without ever examining why Obammy can't read.

And if they do that, they'll set back the cause of African-Amricans by twenty years.

Their first will be our last, and that would be sad. Because there are African-Americans who better deserve to be in the office than Barack H. Obama. And I think he's ruining the place for all of us.

posted at 6:28 PM Mar 16, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Obamanation

I'm Bad

I missed the last night shuttle launch. I am so bummed.

I just went outside and snapped this picture, which shows the last rays of the sun on the shuttle smoke trail:

As I said, I'm bummed I missed it.

posted at 7:58 PM Mar 15, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

So, while I was wasting my time looking at antique books, they were having a massive Tea Party in Cincinnati:

Is that my brother I see in that massive crowd?

Next week: Orlando!

posted at 7:14 PM Mar 15, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Antiquarian Book Fair 2009

It's March, and that means books in our area: specifically, the Antiquarian Book Fair in St. Pete, where booksellers from all over the country come and display their wares.

We set out, and along the way I snapped a picture out the driver's side window:

Not a good picture, I know, but it's not easy to get a picture of the Airstream Ranch

Next, through Tampa and on towards the Tampa Bay bridge:

Finally, on to the Coliseum to the book Fair.

posted at 4:59 PM Mar 15, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

posted at 3:20 PM Mar 14, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Rorschach Doesn't Shrug

The Watchmen's hero as Objectivist saint

posted at 10:14 AM Mar 8, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

"A prayer wouldn't hurt."

posted at 4:53 PM Mar 7, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Out and About

posted at 4:25 PM Mar 7, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

My Fellow Conservatives, Let’s Be Bad Guys!

A few years back, television writer/producer/director/visionary Joss Whedon made a little libertarian-themed science fiction movie called Serenity. In it, our ragtag band of heroes make their way around the ‘verse by trading freely when they can and by stealing from the corrupt, oppressive central government when they must. Before launching a minor raid on a government stash of ill-gotten gold, Jayne, the hired muscle (played with an endearingly ignorant malice by Adam Baldwin), cocks his shotgun menacingly — is there any other way? — and suggests, “Let’s be bad guys.”

Yes. Exactly. Let’s.

posted at 10:03 AM Mar 7, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

I don't link to Ann Coulter very much since she came out with Godless and supported the teaching of Intelligent Design.

But, fair is fair, and funny is funny:

Fortunately, we have Keith Olbermann to point out that Rush Limbaugh did not accurately quote the preamble to the Constitution in his CPAC speech last weekend. I'm not sure what scam Olbermann imagined Rush was trying to put over on the American people by saying conservatives believed in the "preamble to the Constitution" and then quoting words from the Declaration of Independence -- but Olbermann put an end to that cruel deception!

These small-time opportunities to show off by correcting someone else's teeny-tiny mistakes are the lifeblood of Olbermann's MSNBC show, "Countdown." Olbermann is no more capable of not correcting Rep. Charlie Rangel when he said "inferred," but meant "implied," than an obsessive compulsive could pass a sink without washing his hands.

There is utterly no purpose to these lame "gotchas," except that Olbermann is so desperately insecure that he is willing to waste valuable airtime in order to convince other status-conscious idiots that he is, like, scary-smart.

Olbermann relentlessly attacked low-level Bush administration employee Monica Goodling for not going to a name-dropping college, saying -- approximately 1 million times -- that she got her law degree "by sending 100 box tops to Religious Lunatic University."

I would venture to say that the students at Goodling's law school at Regent University are far more impressive than those at the Cornell agriculture school -- the land-grant, non-Ivy League school Keith attended.

I wouldn't mention it, except that Olbermann savages anyone who didn't go to an impressive college. As it happens, he didn't go to an impressive college, either.

No? Read the rest.

Tweet tip: Jim Treacher

posted at 11:39 AM Mar 5, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Ombudsmen

I was a big fan of the Watchmen comics when they came out in the 80s, and I am excited to see the movie tomorrow night.

PVP has been doing a very funny spoof called "Ombudsmen".

Start here.

(I should point out that it will make no sense if you haven't read the book or seen the movie.)

posted at 8:46 AM Mar 5, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Fearful Symmetry

posted at 12:34 PM Feb 28, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Photojournal

More of this, please...

U.S. pulling out of racism conference

White House aides told Jewish leaders on a conference call today that the United States will boycott the United Nations' World Conference on Racism over hostility to Israel in draft documents prepared for the April conference.

The aides, including an advisor to U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Jennifer Simon, and longtime Obama advisor Samantha Power, said the administration will not participate in further negotiations on the current text or participate in a conference based on the text, sources on the call said.

As Charles Johnson comments, this is good news. It also marks a path in foreign policy I would love to see followed by the Obama Administration.

posted at 9:50 AM Feb 28, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Aw---wait for it!

---SOME!

posted at 9:08 PM Feb 26, 2009 by Rob Ritchie

Interior Decision on Oil Shale Locks Away American Energy Resource Larger than Total Reserves of Middle East

Earlier this week, Secretary Salazar suggested America’s massive and homegrown reserves of oil shale held ‘great potential.’ Unfortunately, the Interior Department’s decision today may help ensure that potential never becomes reality – in the process, locking-away an American energy resource larger than the total reserves of the entire Middle East.

Well, it's not like it isn't exactly what we expected an Obama Department of the Interior to do.

posted at 8:24 PM Feb 26, 2009 by Rob Ritchie
Category : Obamanation