In this post I talked a little bit about the task for the Team America Rocket Challenge for 2005:

Instead of a target altitude, the kids will have to design a rocket for a target duration. In other words, the rocket from lift-off to touching ground again will be timed, and that's the parameter they're trying to zero in on.

Stephen remarked:

It would seem to me that if was total time from take-off to landing a big chute would have big advantage.

Posted by: Ted at 05:50 AM | category: Rocketry
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1 I may have to build one of these, just to see if my ideas work.

Any excuse to build another rocket, right?

Posted by: Victor at April 19, 2004 10:01 AM (L3qPK)

2 Or you could attach an exposive to the parachute. If the target time is 45 seconds -- and you reached 43 seconds and the rocket is still 50 feet from the ground -- you could destroy the parachute and watch the rocket frefall to the ground in the alotted time. Just make sure the eggs are wrapped tightly in ten layers of aluminum foil!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at April 19, 2004 10:11 PM (ZFQlO)

3 Funny you should say that Victor, because I've really slowed down on building because I've got so many flyable rockets already. There are probably 50 or more kits waiting around in my 'someday' box, plus a whole heap of parts just waiting for inspiration.

Spork, we try to stay away from the 'e' word lately, thanks to Ashcroft and the Patriot Act. I've seen your idea implemented before on a larger rocket. The RC gear needed isn't cheap *and* lightweight, although you can get either one easily. Instead of destroying the chute, you'd have the servo open a link on command, which would release half the chute shroud lines. The chute would become more like a streamer and the rocket drops pretty quickly. The guy I watched use it brought his big rocket down safely in a dirt parking area, right between rows of cars.

Posted by: Ted at April 20, 2004 07:42 AM (blNMI)

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In 1926, a syndicate of buyers purchased the Victoria Tigers, moved them to Detroit, and renamed them the Cougars. In 1930 the name changed again to the Falcons, and in 1932 they became the Red Wings.

Madison Square Garden was built primarily for boxing by Tex Rickard, but he got a lot of financing from the Barnum and Bailey Circus. In exchange, he made a deal that allowed the circus to come in every year at a certain time, in perpetuity. That time coincided with the NHL playoffs, and later, when the New York Rangers club formed, they played some playoff series with no home games because of scheduling conflicts.

In 1928, the New York Rangers met the Montreal Maroons in the Stanley Cup finals. During the second period of game 2, a shot hit the Rangers goalie in the eye and he was taken to the hospital (they didn't wear masks in those days). There was no backup goalie available, so the Rangers coach/general manager donned the pads and took the net. He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with it since he sometimes played goal during team practice, and the Rangers won the game in overtime. For the rest of the series the Rangers used a goalie who'd spent most of the season in the minors, and they went on to win the hard-fought best-of-five series. Long time hockey fans may recognize the coach's name: Les Patrick.

Patrick was hired to coach the fledgling Rangers, but he inherited a team built by Conn Smythe, who was fired before they played a single game. Bitter over his treatment, Conn Smythe vowed to build a team that would beat the Rangers. In 1927 he purchased the Toronto St. Pats, changed their name to the Maple Leafs and their colors from green and white to blue and white. In 1932 the Leafs won the Stanley Cup.

When Chicago was awarded a franchise, the Black Hawks signed most of the players from the powerhouse Portland franchise of the newly-defunct Western Canadian Hockey League. In 1934 the Black Hawks won their first Stanley Cup behind the stellar play of goalie Chuck Gardiner. Gardiner had been ill all season and died eight weeks after winning the Cup.

More later as the playoffs progress.

Posted by: Ted at 05:14 AM | category: History
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1. Never pass up an opportunity to go for a joy ride.
2. Allow the experience of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstacy.
3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
4. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
6. Take frequent naps, and stretch before rising.
7. Run, romp, and play daily.
8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
9. Be loyal.
10. Never pretend to be something you're not.
11. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle him or her gently.
12. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
13. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
14. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shade tree.
15. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
16. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout - run back and make friends.

Posted by: Ted at 12:28 PM | category: Square Pegs
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I was up late last night (this morning) watching hockey. The Canucks/Flames went into triple overtime before the Canucks scored to force the series into a deciding seventh game. Three AM before I crawled into bed. What? Don't you realize it's the first round of the NHL playoffs? C'mon, get some perspective. Sheesh.

My dogs aren't hockey fans, although they do lay on the floor near the TV. I think they have trouble following the puck, so they close their eyes and just listen to the game. That's what I choose to believe anyways.

They also wanted to go outside way too early this morning. *yawn*

Speaking of dogs, do you read Two Nervous Dogs? You should be, because of stuff like this:

In other doggie developments, the ear infection is pretty much gone (again), but then a sty appeared on the eyelid. The vet punctured it, which was disgusting. The puncturing of the sty didn't seem to bother the dog at all. Yep, no problem at all with a guy jabbing a needle right into the eyelid "while you wait," but you just try clipping those toenails, mister.

Meanwhile, Denita continues to provide monster artwork for their new game. You've got to check out the latest over at Who Tends the Fires. Make sure you click on it and see the bigger version too. Between cooking and movie reviews and kid-blogging and intelligent commentary, there's a whole lot of good stuff to go through.

Lynn posts beautiful pictures, talks about classical music, and makes me smile with her wit and insight. She's got a post up about Vegetarians, and this line of hers made me laugh out loud:

I sort of lean toward the "The body is a temple" side myself but, as everyone knows, temple gods demand regular sacrifices of animal flesh.

And for the record, I like liver.

Spoons recently got married (congrats!). He also wrote one of the funniest posts I've seen in a long while. It's short, you should go read it.

And speaking of congrats being in order, SilverBlue and his partner have decided to make it official. Best wishes for you both, and I hope you find happiness, contentment and prosperity together.

And lastly but not leastly, a couple of pointers to some other bloggers that review movies on a somewhat regular basis. Besides Ironbear at the aforementioned Who Tends the Fires, you could also visit Truly Bad Films for some great fun, as well as one brand new to me called A Perfectly Cromulent Blog (and thanks to Norbizness for that pointer).

My dogs are laying here snoring, yet I'm now wide awake. I think I'll go cook some bacon and not give them any.

Posted by: Ted at 08:46 AM | category: Links
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1 Awww. gee.... Thanks for the well wishes. :-)

Posted by: SilverBlue at April 18, 2004 09:35 AM (apTMj)

2 Thanks for the kind words -- and BTW have I ever said how much I like the artwork you've used in your banner of late? Very nice.

Somehow I doubt your dogs will snore through the cooking of the bacon. ;-)

Posted by: topdawg at April 18, 2004 09:52 AM (JMaAr)

3 Thanks for the linkagery, m'dear! And thanks for the high praise, too! You're such a sweetie! :-)

--TwoDragons

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at April 18, 2004 11:23 AM (5iteU)

4 We've been trying to get Denita to stop that intelligent commentary stuff. She's making me and Eric look bad. ;]

Thanks Ted - aren't the VRWC d20 critters just flat cool? I'm looking forward to the next installments myself.

Posted by: Ironbear at April 18, 2004 12:04 PM (k4doI)

5 Topdawg, thanks. I'm always on the lookout for new pictures I can stea... uh, adapt for new banners. I've got several more that will eventually be added to the rotation.

Posted by: Ted at April 18, 2004 07:19 PM (ZjSa7)

6 *LOL* @ Ironbear--Hey now, intelligent commentary is just my thing, my schtick, y'see...unless I haven't had my daily dose of caffeine yet. Then I'm about as incoherent as a person can get and still remain upright and sober. Bleagh.

You guys keep up like this and you'll be responsible for the stretchmarks on my head, dammit! ;-)

Oh, and Ted? You didn't kill this comments thread! NYAH! };-)

--TwoDragons

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at April 19, 2004 10:58 AM (3l/gk)

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I have a special gift. I kill comment threads. For a while there, I felt hurt by that, because nobody ever responded to my comments, and if I left the first one somewhere, the little number '1' sat there like a tombstone, telling the world that Ted killed another potential conversation. After a while I moved right past the unsettled feelings and began to enjoy it. I kill comment threads. I'm a serial comment thread killer. I wonder if there's a program for that? I wonder if I would bother to go?

Posted by: Ted at 08:39 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1 Yay Ted! Everyone needs a special talent!

Posted by: Susie at April 18, 2004 09:35 AM (sf0L+)

2 your sick.... woot

Posted by: Mookie at April 18, 2004 12:34 PM (ZjSa7)

3 i do that too!

Posted by: annika at April 18, 2004 11:41 PM (PCv13)

4 I think it's more like you have a tendency to voice the truth that no one else was intelligent or quick enough to articulate, and potential commenters are thinking, "Yeah, man. What he said!"

Posted by: Dawn at April 19, 2004 12:00 PM (9B1bj)

5 Dawn, you must be right. Ow! My hat doesn't fit anymore.

Posted by: Ted at April 19, 2004 12:39 PM (blNMI)

6 My grandmother said that everyone has a special talent. Mine is playing minesweeper. I once finished the expert game in 26 seconds.

Posted by: buckethead at April 19, 2004 01:41 PM (dqO+A)

7 Oh good! I thought killing comment threads was just me. So glad I'm not the only one!

Posted by: mapgirl at May 02, 2004 12:52 PM (j+MRS)

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When I was stationed in Germany, my unit shared a building with several other units and the community latrines were out back on the loading dock. The bathroom walls were always an entertaining read, especially since names were named fairly often in regards to some perceived injustice.

Things took a turn for the surreal when some wag assumed an alternate identity as "The Hammer" (those quotes are a sign of respect, because there could only ever be one, and MC ain't it). "The Hammer" began regaling us with lurid descriptions of his sex life, always accompanied with a crude anatomical drawing designed to make a stallion feel inadaquate. I particularly remember one wall-spanning diagram with the caption "The Hammer punishes women!"

The leadership used the same facilities, and we heard often about how embarrassing it would be if some visiting VIP used the latrine and saw it all. Someone decided that the bathrooms should be painted over to get rid of the various scribbles.

"The Hammer" was inspired anew by the fresh canvas thus presented. At infrequent and unpredictable intervals word would go around that "The Hammer" had struck again. A real fuss was raised when "The Hammer" made an entry in the Ladies bathroom, but subsequent investigation by the leadership determined that it was a copycat crime. That worried them because now they had to consider that "The Hammer" might have a female assistant.

Meanwhile, the rest of us mostly laughed at the whole situation. After more than a year without being caught, "The Hammer" suddenly ceased his work. There was much speculation on who it might've been, but we never did discover who "The Hammer" was. I wish I knew, because I'd buy him a beer.

Posted by: Ted at 07:49 PM | category: Boring Stories
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In this corner of the world anyway. Get outside and do something!

Posted by: Ted at 03:12 PM | category: Square Pegs
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This obscure series was made in 1958, and never made it to US television other than rare showings on PBS.

From SomethingWierd.com:

Two years before Thriller, Boris Karloff hosted a hitherto obscure ten-episode pilot of a unsold TV horror anthology, The Veil. Though Twilight Zone and One Step Beyond wouldn’t make their debuts until 1959, The Veil uncannily evokes both by presenting “true and authenticated” stories of ordinary people who experience some aspect of the bizarre or paranormal intruding into their lives. In addition to his duties as a genteel host -- in which Karloff greets us from in front of a gigantic flaming fireplace which looks like he’s hosting from Hell -- Boris also stars in [many of the] episodes which makes this a rare treat for Karloff fans and forces one to wonder why the shows were never aired.

Apparently, nine episodes were made with an American audience in mind, and a tenth episode titled "Jack the Ripper" was made in England and tacked onto the end of the series to round it out.

Some years after they were originally made, the episodes were grouped together into three compilation movies. This was done without the knowledge of any of the original directors or even the series creator.

SomethingWeird video offers up the series on multiple DVD's and VHS tapes, but I stumbled onto another version completely by accident. Brentwood Video offers a collection of 10 classic zombie movies called The Dead Walk (reviews will be coming eventually), and each of the five double-sided DVD's contains a bonus in the form of an episode of The Veil. Completely unexpected and a wonderful surprise.

The picture quality on the DVD's is excellent, and the acting is pretty good. Fans of the genre will recognize some familiar faces among the casts. The stories range from fair to good, and concentrate on the eerie. No explanation is ever offered for the uncanny events.

Zombie movies and Boris Karloff. Pass the popcorn!

Posted by: Ted at 01:36 AM | category: Cult Flicks
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The results of the qualifying for the Team America Rocketry Challenge were released, and the team I was mentoring didn't make it to the finals. Darn.

I just talked to their teacher, and we agreed that they learned a lot from this project. Since the finals will be local for them, they might come out and spend the day watching. That would be a great thing, because they were entirely successful, it just wasn't quite enough to advance. Besides, it'll do them good to see finalists have the same problems they had while making their qualifying flights. It's rocket science, and perfect preparation means you only minimize the effects of bad luck. You can't eliminate it completely.

In other great news, they've already announced that there will be another Challenge held in 2005. This was originally conceived of as a one-time event, but it's been successful enough to have a third go-round.

Next year's Challenge will be a little different. Instead of a target altitude, the kids will have to design a rocket for a target duration. In other words, the rocket from lift-off to touching ground again will be timed, and that's the parameter they're trying to zero in on. Of course, the rockets will have to carry at least one egg (and bring it back unbroken), and it looks like there will be bonus points awarded for two-stage designs and carrying two eggs aloft.

Mookie and I will be volunteers working the finals again this year. Fun fun fun!

Posted by: Ted at 12:10 PM | category: Rocketry
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1 Is that time aloft before the chute deploys? It would seem to me that if was total time from take-off to landing a big chute would have big advantage.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at April 16, 2004 06:54 PM (4819r)

2 Nope, it'll be total time. There's quite a bit to consider about this seemingly simple task. I'll work up a separate post about it, because I've been thinking about it a bit.

Posted by: Ted at April 16, 2004 08:17 PM (ZjSa7)

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The guys at Anticipatory Retaliation point out this unique way of looking at space exploration: Expensive Hardware Lobbing. Funny commentary to go along with your history.

Also, John links a wonderful collection of space and science themed e-cards. Very nice.

Posted by: Ted at 11:54 AM | category: Links
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It's been rather eventful lately if you've an eye towards the heavens.

Using a technique predicted by Albert Einstein, astronomers have detected a planet orbiting a star 17,000 light years away. Think about that for a moment. Now I'm sure some Trekkie will stomp me like a Tribble onstage at Riverdance correct me if I'm wrong, but if I remember rightly, in the Star Trek universe Warp 1 was the speed of light, Warp 2 was twice that, Warp 3 four times light speed and Warp 4 was eight times faster than light.

I also recall that early Federation starships were pretty much maxed out at Warp 4, and I think the Enterprise cruised right around Warp 4 too. Which means that I should never ever be allowed to do math in public when the Enterprise was brand spanking new, it's contemporaries would need 2,125 years to reach that planet at max speed.

Talk about perspective, eh?

Back to the real science:

The discovery marks the first time that the technique, known as gravitational microlensing, has been used to identify a planet moving around a star beyond Earth's solar system.

The technique takes advantage of a phenomenon that Albert Einstein predicted in his theory of relativity and confirmed using the Sun. The gravity of stars or planets can focus light, brightening stars or planets that lie farther away.

Einstein has been front page lately, at least in the Science & Technology section of the paper. Professor Hall presents a nice set of links to information about the Gravity Probe B. This project has been in the works since the 60's, and you'd think that after all that time, someone would've come up with a catchy name. Nothing boring about the mission though, this is cutting-edge cool science.

Gravity Probe B is the relativity gyroscope experiment being developed by NASA and Stanford University to test two extraordinary, unverified predictions of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity.

The experiment will check, very precisely, tiny changes in the direction of spin of four gyroscopes contained in an Earth satellite orbiting at 400-mile altitude directly over the poles. So free are the gyroscopes from disturbance that they will provide an almost perfect space-time reference system. They will measure how space and time are warped by the presence of the Earth, and, more profoundly, how the Earth's rotation drags space-time around with it. These effects, though small for the Earth, have far-reaching implications for the nature of matter and the structure of the Universe.

Meanwhile, closer to home:

An Atlas 2 rocket carrying a Japanese communications satellite made a picture-perfect nighttime launch from Cape Canaveral on Thursday, lighting the Atlantic seaboard in central Florida like a shimmering torch.

Pure poetry.

The 8:45 p.m. EDT liftoff followed a perfect countdown and extended the string of successful launches by Lockheed Martin's Atlas to 71, dating back to 1993.

Which is all the more impressive when you recall the rocket accidents and failures suffered in the last few years by China, Japan, Russia, Brazil and the US.

And just 'cause 'tis the season, over at Rocketforge they report on the latest Aldridge Commision Meeting. Here's an interesting little snippet:

The highlight of today's meeting was one of the UAW guys saying that one of the requirements is that sustainability needs bi-partisan support. In the Q&A Bob Walker turns that around and asks the UAW guy if that means that since the UAW has endorsed Kerry, that the UAW will use that clout to get Kerry to stop dissing Bush's space plan? His answer: if he wants our votes he will.

I had a whole lot to say about this, but it's friday, it's beautiful outside and I'm stuck here at work, so the heck with it. Summed up: I don't buy it. Space is just another political chip to both candidates and the players on either side. For the forseeable future, progress in space will be made in spite of, not because of an American President.

There's a nifty new quote over on the right column too. Look for the Tagline label.

Update: Changed the original tribble joke to something I think is funnier.

Posted by: Ted at 06:29 AM | category: Space Program
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1 It's tribble-stompin' time!

Warp factor was a cube of the speed of light: WF1=C, WF2=8C, WF3=27C, WF4=6C, and so on.

Live long and prosper.

Posted by: Victor at April 16, 2004 06:35 PM (16A49)

2 Thanks Victor.

Posted by: Ted at April 16, 2004 08:21 PM (ZjSa7)

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San Jose Sharks take the series against your St. Louis Blues, 4 games to 1.

Next!

Posted by: Ted at 12:45 AM | category: Munuvian Daily Tattler
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Which reminded me that we haven't done a Nog Watch report for the month. Nothing special to report, other than it's still there. The surrounding contents of the shelf rotate on a semi-regular basis, but the carton of Nog remains (what an appropriate word) as Lord of all it surveys.

For those wondering what I'm babbling about, pieces of the story are here and here and here and here.

Posted by: Ted at 12:10 PM | category: Square Pegs
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No deep analysis here, just some things that have stuck in my mind as I watch the playoffs. For more knowlegable coverage, check out Off Wing Opinion and The Hockey Pundits. Both highly recommended.

Nashville has taken two in a row at home to tie their series against powerful Detroit. This shouldn't surprise anyone, because the Red Wings have a history of getting knocked out of the playoffs in big upsets. The Sharks did it several years ago, and last year it was the Mighty Ducks. Nobody believes the Predators will actually do it, but still...

The Wings have been spoiled in recent years by spectacular goaltending. This year they had kind of a soap opera in net, but I'm tired of hearing people griping about Manny Legacy. He's not a great goaltender, but he's not as bad as they make him out to be. Plus, he got the Wings into the playoffs. The Wings are going with Curtis Joseph is goal tonight. Good luck CuJo, they're giving you a chance to do your annual playoff choke.

Montreal's Kovalev is lucky his teammates haven't practiced a little 'lynch mob justice' against him. For those who haven't heard, Kovalev was moving the puck when a stick hit him across his (heavily gloved) hand. He quit playing the puck and acted like he was hurt trying to draw a penalty, then ran into his own player. An alert Boston player took the puck and scored the game-winning goal. Oh yeah, it was overtime. Two things really piss me off about this. First, Kovalev has a history of this kind of crap, and secondly, he blamed the teammate that he ran into for it. That's twice in this series that a Montreal player has faked an injury on the ice trying to draw a penalty. Embarrassing.

On the upside, it was fun watching former player and coach Barry Melrose go off about it on television. He didn't use the word "chickenshit", but that's about all he forgot.

Philadelphia is playing great and making the Devils look bad in the process. Broduer looks ordinary.

Tampa Bay is for real. I hate them, especially Martin St. Louis who looks like Richard Simmons. I don't know why, but he just annoys me. Actually, I do know why, it's because of last years playoffs against the Washington Capitals. Yep, I'm holding a grudge.

Toronto vs. Ottawa. *Yawn* Toronto is no fun without the whining, and Ottawa reminds me of the machine-like play of Landry's Dallas Cowboys. Mats Sundin left the game last night hurt, so unless he can come back, Toronto is done.

Colorado, Dallas and St. Louis just look old. All still good teams, but this year speed is king (Tampa, Nashville, Boston, San Jose), and these teams are showing their age.

Those speed teams I mentioned are just making the plays. They seem to be in the right place at the right time. Boston and San Jose in particular are fast and tough. These aren't prissy little speedsters, they check hard, move people off the puck, and plant someone in the crease on offense.

Calgary and Vancouver are too far west for this east-coast guy. I haven't really seen either play all year, and won't until later rounds when they might come on a little earlier. Kiprusof was the Sharks backup goalie last year, and it's beginning to look like San Jose is becoming a goalie factory - Shields, Nabokov, Kiprusof, Teskala, and I understand they've got a couple great prospects still in the minors.

The Sharks are going to be good for a long time. Young, fast, and good goaltending.

Posted by: Ted at 06:32 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Walking through a shopping mall yesterday with my wife, we passed a store called “The Bible Outlet”. I wondered aloud who would buy an ‘outlet’ Bible. Liz said it would be the equivalent of buying “dollar store douche” and that they probably contained the "gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and Justin".

Posted by: Ted at 06:08 AM | category: Family matters
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The Vezina trophy is awarded each year to the top goaltender of the season. It's named for George Vezina, the first great goalie to play the game. He started his career in 1910, playing for a mediocre Montreal team. Despite that, he led the league in goals-against average his first two seasons, took Montreal to the Stanley Cup finals in his fourth season, and won it all for the first time in his fifth season.

In the early days, goalies were not allowed to fall to the ice to make a stop, making it much harder to prevent scoring. George Vezina developed a stand-up style that influenced other goalies in the league for decades.

In November, 1924, Vezina was obviously not in good health. Despite a high fever he was in net for the Canadiens' season opener versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. He collapsed during the first period, and was diagnosed with advanced tuberculosis. He passed away four months later.

George Vezina was one of the original dozen players elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame when it opened in 1945.

Posted by: Ted at 07:57 PM | category: History
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(in the extended entry - work safe) more...

Posted by: Ted at 07:20 AM | category: Munuvian Daily Tattler
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Today is her birthday. Every day I give thanks for finding her.

Always Be Together

Pablo Cruise

When I look back on our early years
And how we spent so much time in tears
It's a wonder that we're face to face tonight
But something saw us through all those times
Something stronger than you or I
Here we are, and now it sure feels right

Oh I have seen
What your love has done for me
And I could stay with you forever
Oh I, I know
Love like this can't help but grow
That's why, we will always be together

When you left me all alone
I could have made it on my own
But part of me was missing
And when we had so much to say
All the words got in the way
Until we took the time to listen

Oh I have seen
What your love has done for me
And I could stay with you forever
Oh I, I know
Love like this can't help but grow
That's why, we will always be together

When I look back on our early years
And how we spent so much time in tears
It's a wonder that we're face to face tonight
But something saw us through all those times
Something stronger than you or I
And here we are, and now it sure feels right

Oh I have seen
What your love has done for me
And I could stay with you forever
Oh I, I know
Love like this can't help but grow
That's why, we will always be together

Always be together

(repeat and fade)

Posted by: Ted at 07:11 AM | category: Waxing Lyrical
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Has Bill Watterson (of Calvin & Hobbes fame) resurfaced under a psuedonym? Check out the conspiracy theories laid out and linked by The Llama Butchers.

Posted by: Ted at 10:06 PM | category: Links
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Sometimes being a reasonable adult is just too much fun.

First, read all about it at Susie's. I got lumped into the category of right-wing Freeper trolls because I questioned a "poll". The author of the "poll" then claimed that it was "commentary". I guess that's one way of looking at it, especially if you get called on it by reasonable people. Of course, while trying to have a discussion of the points made, some moonbat wigged out at Susie and called her a Nazi.

Next, over at CD's place, I was accused of being a Hitler admirer by a conservative moonbat because I dared to suggest that people might disagree with their position because they actually believed differently. An innocent enough remark in my mind, but apparently enough to send one whackjob into attack mode.

Adios to both of those places (not Susie's, but the other two) because I just don't have the time nor inclination to listen to ranting and raving from either end of the political spectrum. I don't normally make a big deal out of delinking people, and I'm not really here either, because I never linked to the one place, and I'll just stop visiting the other.

I said it once, I'll say it again: right wing moonbats = left wing moonbats. Lesson learned (again).

Posted by: Ted at 10:50 AM | category: About Ted
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1 Some people have "hot buttons" and apparently abortion is that Sarah's; she also seems never to have heard of Godwin's Law. I think the problem here lies with the people who opposed Scott Peterson being charged with two murders instead of one because they think granting Lacey's baby personhood is an asault on a woman's "right to choose"--dismissing the fact that Lacey had already made her choice and the only reason the baby wasn't carried to term was Lacey was murdered. The polarization on this issue is getting a little ridiculous, though.

Posted by: Susie at April 13, 2004 11:33 AM (sf0L+)

2 I hope you don't blame me for that Hitler thing. I was just going after people who think that pro-life=anti-women. I didn't expect a full-blown Nazi comparison to show up.

Posted by: CD at April 13, 2004 11:36 AM (23BBG)

3 I'm not convinced that right wing moonbats = left wing moonbats, but moonbats = moonbats alright, and there certainly are right wing ones as well as left wing ones. (There are also apolitical moonbats. I've met them.)

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 13, 2004 12:01 PM (+S1Ft)

4 CD, I don't blame you. But it's twice now that I've commented and gotten barked at. Ya know, instead of not visiting, I should just keep my mouth shut. Sounds like a plan my momma would've agreed with.

Posted by: Ted at April 13, 2004 12:28 PM (blNMI)

5 Moonbats on either side of the spectrum use a lot of the same rhetoric. Bush=Nazi, Pro-choice=Nazi. *sigh*

Posted by: Jennifer at April 13, 2004 02:33 PM (DdBLw)

6 ...it's twice now that I've commented and gotten barked at.

The other time wasn't when Larry the Liberal called you a fascist, was it?

Larry's...not exactly a real person. If you know what I mean.

Posted by: CD at April 13, 2004 02:43 PM (23BBG)

7 LOL Yep, Larry was it, and being called a fascist was the time. I do this for fun, that kind of nonsense isn't fun, so I stop doing it.

Posted by: Ted at April 13, 2004 03:22 PM (blNMI)

8 Pixy and Jen are right, a moonbat is a moonbat no matter what their stripes.

Posted by: Simon at April 14, 2004 01:44 AM (OyeEA)

9 I'm bad. Very bad. I had to go put my 50 cents worth in. (Hey! I think a lot of myself. Anything I say is worth a lot more than 2 cents. Besides, there's inflation to think about.) I guess I can't say the devil made me do it because that would make Ted the devil wouldn't it? :-)

Posted by: Lynn S at April 14, 2004 08:35 AM (GxGip)

10 Well... I'm certainly not going to say anything negative on poking fun at things while commenting on them. I'd lose half of my output if I stopped doing that, Ted.

I tend to agree with Susie - looks like you ran into someone who's hot button is abortion and who automatically equates pro-lifer with neo-nazi. Barking Moonbat material, allrighty.

I think you hit on why I comment on only the few blogs that I do, and mostly ones I know I'll read on a more or less daily basis. I don't have time or inclination to keep up with every argument, even though I'm not adverse to the odd flamewar.

Posted by: Ironbear at April 15, 2004 09:39 AM (bW9IA)

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