Humpday Happenings...
Another dusting of snow welcomes us as we awake today. Let's hope it IS only a dusting, right?
The last thing we need is some sneaky-ass stormfront to come along, park it's butt over us and dump 2 feet of snow, eh?

With that said, let's see what's going on elsewhere...

-Castro Steps Down -
Well, I wouldn't break out the CIGARS just yet on this, and don't think we're going to be getting any of those wonderful hand-rolled CUBAN stogies in the near future.
Any trade sanctions we already have in place with Cuba (since 1960 to be exact) will pretty much remain there, unless Fidel's brother (Raoul) decides to turn over a "new leaf" (no pun intended), and change the course of his nation.
But it's not like attempting to climb out of third world status would be such a BAD thing for Cuba (in the 21st century), right?
RRRrrriiiiiiggghhhhttt!

-More "Dead-End Tech"-
If you're one of the people who bought an HD-DVD player in the hopes it would oust the Blu-Ray format from the market, join us scores of diehard "betaphiles" who thought along the same lines during the '80s VCR format wars between VHS and BETA.

As I reported HERE back on 8 January, BLU-RAY is going to be the leader in high-definition DVD...period. Since nearly ALL the studios had previously decided to release new material ONLY in Blu-Ray format, it stood to reason that HD-DVD was down for the count. Personally, I like my (low-def) DVD player just fine, thank you. It makes a nice addition to my TURNTABLE...and my BETAMAX VCR!

-Trending AGAIN?-
Seems that Fort Wayne has "enjoyed" a 4% INCREASE in property values, in sharp contrast to the 13% INCREASE from last year. The assessments (also previously reported and bashed here) serve as a basis for the monkey that flies out of the county's ass...uh, I mean a basis for the formula used to create the tax bills, which have yet to be mailed.

I've stated here at length how the assessing process is unjust to owners of properties in "blighted" areas, with THESE PEOPLE paying a majority of the taxes. And while sales migh be brisk (people just want to get the f$ck AWAY from this place and it's indigenous species) as FOR SALE signs pop up like weeds, the selling PRICES for these properties is ANYTHING BUT HIGHER than they (or any other nearby properties) have sold for in the past.

Time to trash these "trends" (and whatever methodology is used to falsify actual numbers in lieu of what the county wants out of your pocket), and get back to REALITY. These assessors need to get their asses IN these areas, open their eyes, take a look around, and THEN still tell me my place is worth MORE (because I'm WHITE? Because I take care of the place? Because you people KNOW you can rip us off?) than it was ten years ago. And after I get done laughing in their face, we'll discuss why they should NOT be in the job they are.

-Oil Prices Over $100 a barrel-
We knew this was coming like a jail on wheels. And we're not at a loss as to WHO we can blame.
Just take a number, and have a seat.
Someone will be with you shortly to chew you a new ass.

Curiously, there was no SINGLE driver behind the rise in price. But when I saw that refinery fire in Texas, I said to my wife: "We're gonna see a jump in prices REAL soon". Sure enough...BINGO. AND...OPEC will cut production next month.
AND...there's new violence in Nigeria.
AND...continuing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.
AND...the economy is weak.
AND...rising oil prices means (all together, gang)...HIGHER prices at the PUMPS!
We're back over $3 a gallon, again. With our weakening economy, we will probably see $3.50-$3.60 a gallon prices for gasoline.

Where's that Purdue professor and his water-fueled engine when we NEED him?

-And For All You Stargazers-
Tonight is the last lunar eclipse...until 2010 (had 'ya goin' for a second). We should be able to view it here in the Summit City. So get some hot cocoa ready, and take yourselves outside about 2200 hrs (10PM for you civvies) and watch the show.

As a bonus feature, Saturn, and Regulus (brightest star in the constellation Leo) will pop out and "sandwich" the moon.

And let's not forget that errant satellite that is being targeted by an SM-3 missile (being specially adapted for the "op"). The "shootdown" clock starts tonight, and a portion of the Pacific is being cleared of aviators and mariners starting around 2230 hrs. The tricky part is that the SM-3 is a heat-seeking missile, and the satellite doesn't have a heat source propulsion system for a typical lock-on.
But it is relatively inexpensive a venture at a "mere" $30-$40 million.

So there we are...all the news you need to know.