Stump Project Pictures

The stump thinks it is winning. However, it doesn't know I can dig the hole as deep as I need to. Holes can be made quite large.

Honduran Coup "Legal" or Not?

Obama says the coup was "not legal".

However, this article says it was ordered by the country's supreme court.

Half Sigma says we should be happy about the coup.

Hugo Chavez isn't happy about it. So, I bet it is really a good thing.

So, is it "legal" or not?

Is Cap and Trade Good Politics?

Setting aside all other considerations, is the House Cap and Trade bill good politics (politics in the sense of either helping a person or group remain or get into power)?

We all saw how much people freaked out when gas prices were high recently. If energy prices soar similarly because of the bill, the outcry will be just as great. When the rise in prices is traced back to the bill, won't those that passed it get the scorn?

The bill won't immediately cause an increase in energy prices, however. The bill seems structured so that prices would gradually rise over many years. The majority of people who voted for or signed the bill will be long out of office, Obama included. Thus, in the short term, the bill would seem to curry favor with environmental, primarily global warming, types without having too much of a negative backlash.

Many years down the road when and if the masses notice energy price increases (or even shortages) due to the bill, Congress could overturn or modify the bill. However, what if the bill is signed into law and Obama signs some sort of treaty that would have severe penalties if we drop or modify the provisions of the bill? That would be a nasty trick to play on us.

All things considered, the bill looks like good politics. This is especially true if it doesn't make it out of the Senate.

On a side note, I think it is hilarious that the criticisms section of the Wikipedia article on Cap and Trade is so lacking:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_and_trade

The main criticisms are that it won't work to curb carbon emissions for various reasons. Here are some other things that could have been mentioned:

1. Is this something that governments should be doing in the first place? In my view, governments should only do things that protect individual rights. That would include protection from pollution. However, the pollution would have to have real, provable negative effects. Also, the pollution wouldn't be allowed to occur (just in moderation as the bill allows if you accept that carbon is a pollutant). Ongoing, real, pollution is something that a government should put a stop to.
   
2. Some scientists say that carbon is a trailing indicator of global warming and not a cause.
   
3. The talk surrounding the current bill includes the idea that increasing the cost of energy will somehow be good for the economy (a totally ridiculous idea).
   
4. Cap and Trade is an artificially created market with arbitrary limits. Real markets have no such artificial, government imposed limits. It seems that Cap and Trade is structured as a "market" in order to make it more appealing.
   
5. Why should a country impose Cap and Trade on itself when emerging countries like China won't?
   
6. Even if you accept that carbon causes global warming, I heard on the radio that models show this bill will only reduce global temperatures a very small amount (about .5 degrees Fahrenheit).
   
7. Etc.
   

Who is Next?

There have been a lot of celebrity deaths lately. I'm concerned that one of my favorite celebrities might die soon. So, I took a close look at the situation and I applied "science". I examined birth dates, death dates, lifestyles, career paths, etc. It turns out that Nancy Grace is going to die next. Sorry, Nancy. You can't argue with science. You will be missed.

Results From "The Game"

Paul and Chris take the day. Cory and I tie for third. It was very, very hot.

Trick Question

Question: Who are these people?

Answer: The person on the right is the most interesting man in the world. I don't know who the bozo is on the left.

Jon and Kate to Divorce

It's official.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Say it ain't so!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you even legally get divorced if you have eight kids?

They are going to keep the kids in their house, take turns living there as parents, and continue filming their reality TV show through the whole thing? How is all that going to work out? Seems like a really bad situation all around.

Dr. Sanity Doesn't Like Obama's Health Care Plan

Apparently, not everybody thinks socialized medicine is a good idea.

Here is what somebody named "Dr. Sanity" thinks about it.

I, for one, think it's great that Obama seems to want to radically expand the role of the federal government in all sorts of areas (not).

Cool Disc Golf Video

This video is from a recent tournament in Austin. The five parts of the video show the entire final round of a group. The video is pretty well done and it's worth the watch (if you are a disc golfer).

That course must be really rough on discs. There are lots and lots of rocks.

Results From "The Game"

Cory again wins, by one shot. He shoots a 65. I shoot a 66 with an injured arm. Nels edges out Michael with a 71. Michael has a rough day and shoots a 72.

I threw almost all backhands. I only threw three soft forehands. My backhand used to be horrible. Now, it's just not as good as I would like it to be.

Baby Einstein

If the hair is any indication, Tess is going to be really smart.

I'm Going to Learn How to Throw Like This

Results From "The Game"

Cory continues to dominate the field. Michael works his new backhand for a very respectable 65. Chad is still shaking the rust off. He threw some amazing anhyzer forehands. Nels makes it out for the first time in a while. I shot a 71 with a hurt arm.

Lost Disc Rule

Here are the lost disc rules from the PDGA Rule Book. I lost a disc on hole #1 yesterday and I think we played it right. In short, if you lose a disc, you get a one shot penalty and your lie is in-bounds nearest the spot where the disc was last seen.

A. A disc shall be declared lost if the player cannot locate it within three minutes after arriving at the spot where it was last seen by the group or an official. Two players or an official must note when the timing of three minutes begins. All players of the group must, upon request, assist in searching for the disc for the full three minutes before the disc is declared lost. The disc is considered lost immediately upon the expiration of the three minute time limit.

B. A player whose disc is declared lost, shall receive one penalty throw. The approximate lie for the player's next shot shall be marked in-bounds nearest the spot where the disc was last seen, as agreed to by a majority of the group or an official.

C. If it is discovered, prior to the completion of the tournament, that a player's disc that was declared lost had been removed or taken, then the player shall have the penalty throw for the lost disc subtracted from his or her score.

D. A marker disc that is lost shall be replaced in its approximate lie as agreed to by a majority of the group or an official with no penalty.

A Good Idea?

These are all over San Antonio. As a fan of Battlestar Galactica, I don't think that's a good thing.

Results From "the Game" (Cory Breaks 60)

Cory is the first to post a sub 60 round during "the Game". He parred the back nine. Congrats, Cory!

I shot a 63. That's the lowest I've shot in a while. (I still lost by 4 shots.) However, I'm not really that competitive a person. I'm just out there trying to get better. = )

Disc Golf Video

I want to throw like that guy.

Chains, a disc golf documentary

I'm totally going to buy this when it comes out.

Disc Golf Target

I can't decide if this is cool/useful or not.

The 48 Laws of Power

Finally, the 48 Laws of Power have been put on the web. People who know me will recognize that the list essentially describes how I live (especially rule #15 when it comes to basketball).

However, be careful. A lot of people don't know that there are actually 138 rules of power. 90 of them aren't documented anywhere. They are kept secret by those in the know. There are also 12 rules that you must follow.

I think these laws of power are very important. I've already taught Tess 3 of them and she can't even talk yet.

DFG should read law #40 closely.