Thoughts On Thursday...

Must be Thor's Day!

It looks like we're in for some more dusting of snow, not that it's all that bad, but it would have been nice to see the streets cleared of the LAST snow event FIRST. Just cannot get used to being ignored SO much down here.
Could be worse...(if we lived next to an active VOLCANO).
Our Hoosierland weather will find us with off and on snow flurries for part of the day, some sunshine coming along, and  temps reaching up to only around SEVENTEEN DEGREES.
The flurries should be dying out around midday, and then...another COLD-ass night into MINUS numbers (again?).
Hope you have your hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa with you...you're gonna need it.
I've got mine here, so let's say we get this show on the road and take a look at some other "stuff"...
*** First  off of the iceberg is the answer to our WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Winter is nature's way of saying 'up yours'."
This was spoken by Robert Byrne, born 22 May 1930 (who?), an American author and pool hustler (Not to be confused with the chess player of the same name).
And here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrne_%28author%29
If you guessed that he authored MOSTLY books about POOL and BILLIARDS, give yourself a GOLD STAR.
He is a Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame instructor of pool and carom billiards.
He started out writing for the heavy construction industry...a far cry from the pool hall. He also penned two anthologies as well as an expose` on the literary world.
And he also received the industry service award from the Billiard and Bowling Institue of America, an honor previously bestowed upon the likes of Willie Mosconi, Paul Newman, and Jackie Gleason. (that's some pretty good company)
So feel free to read the WIKI, and maybe play a few rounds of 8-ball...
*** Next up is out "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
February 26 - 
---Today is CARNIVAL DAY...

The clowns are running City Hall, too.

It's like that MOST days here, because on the SE side of Ft. Wayne...we have a FREAK SHOW going on...!
---It's also NATIONAL PISTACHIO DAY (if you can afford them...lol)

Talk about having some NUTS...heh.
---And, it's TELL A FAIRY TALE DAY...

((rolls eyes))
Hasn't the WHITE HOUSE been doing THAT for the last SIX YEARS???

Weird thing is, people have BOUGHT that line of crap...and swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.
There you have it...enjoy.
*** Next up...about this "Net Neutrality" gig I'm kinda on the fence about it.

The Internet's like our ROADS...so they say...

I keep hearing conflicting stories, and I've been bustin' my ass trying to get the REAL story about it.
I will say this much...when it comes to the FEDS putting their fingers in ANY consumer pie, it's just not gonna taste that good.
And I base that conclusion on all the OTHER things the feds have gotten control of, and how well those ventures have done over the years.
(pssst...not all that well)

Build it with Bender...

I mean whenever I hear the word NEUTRALITY come out of the federal government, I can bet good money that it soon becomes anything BUT that, right?
I will say the SWISS practice neutrality...and quite well, but that's another story.
I dunno with this Internet stuff...some say it will HELP the consumer...others say it will HURT the consumer.

Could be a loss for freedom...?

If by "help" you mean another FREEBIE for the low-end of the social scale ONLY, than I can see where that's headed.
And conversely, if by "hurt" you mean raise OUR rates while providing LESS service, then I can see that side of the equation.
In an interesting aside to this, Blogger recently posted a "caveat" of sorts, starting in March.
---Adult content policy on Blogger

Starting March 23, 2015, you won't be able to publicly share images and video that are sexually explicit or show graphic nudity on Blogger.
Note: We’ll still allow nudity if the content offers a substantial public benefit, for example in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts.
Changes you’ll see to your existing blogs
If your existing blog doesn’t have any sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video on it, you won’t notice any changes.
If your existing blog does have sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video, your blog will be made private after March 23, 2015. No content will be deleted, but private content can only be seen by the owner or admins of the blog and the people who the owner has shared the blog with.
Settings you can update for existing blogs

Another "WTF?" moment?

If your blog was created before March 23, 2015, and contains content that violates our new policy, you have a few options for changing your blog before the new policy starts:
Remove sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video from your blog
Mark your blog as private
If you’d rather take your blog down altogether, you can export your blog as a .xml file or archive your blog's text and images using Google Takeout.
Effect on new blogs
For any blogs created after March 23, 2015, we may remove the blog or take other action if it includes content that is sexually explicit or shows graphic nudity as explained in our content policy.
One small step for "morality"...one giant leap for CONTROL, perhaps?
*** And then there's that list of "keywords" that could cause the NSA (among OTHER federal agencies) to take a CLOSER look at what YOU have to say online. I posted the list way back on 13 August 2013, but if yiou forgot some of them (easy enough to do), here 'ya go once again:
WORDS THAT THE NSA MIGHT USE TO MONITOR YOU -
 -flagged words (in no special order)-
******************************************
Waihopai, INFOSEC, Information Security, Information Warfare, IW, IS, Privacy, 
Information Terrorism, Terrorism Defensive Information, Defense Information Warfare, 
Offensive Information, Offensive Information Warfare, National Information Infrastructure, 
InfoSec, Reno, Compsec, Computer Terrorism, Firewalls, Secure Internet Connections, ISS, 
Passwords, DefCon V, Hackers, Encryption, Espionage, USDOJ, NSA, CIA, S/Key, SSL, FBI, 
Secert Service, USSS, Defcon, Military, White House, Undercover, NCCS, Mayfly, PGP, PEM, 
RSA, Perl-RSA, MSNBC, bet, AOL, AOL TOS, CIS, CBOT, AIMSX, STARLAN, 3B2, BITNET, COSMOS, 
DATTA, E911, FCIC, HTCIA, IACIS, UT/RUS, JANET, JICC, ReMOB, LEETAC, UTU, VNET, BRLO, BZ, 
CANSLO, CBNRC, CIDA, JAVA, Active X, Compsec 97, LLC, DERA, Mavricks, Meta-hackers, ^?, 

Steve Case, Tools, Telex, Military Intelligence, Scully, Flame, Infowar, Bubba, Freeh, 
Archives, Sundevil, jack, Investigation, ISACA, NCSA, spook words, Verisign, Secure, 
ASIO, Lebed, ICE, NRO, Lexis-Nexis, NSCT, SCIF, FLiR, Lacrosse, Flashbangs, HRT, DIA, 
USCOI, CID, BOP, FINCEN, FLETC, NIJ, ACC, AFSPC, BMDO, NAVWAN, NRL, RL, NAVWCWPNS, NSWC, 
USAFA, AHPCRC, ARPA, LABLINK, USACIL, USCG, NRC, ~, CDC, DOE, FMS, HPCC, NTIS, SEL, USCODE, 
CISE, SIRC, CIM, ISN, DJC, SGC, UNCPCJ, CFC, DREO, CDA, DRA, SHAPE, SACLANT, BECCA, DCJFTF, 
HALO, HAHO, FKS, 868, GCHQ, DITSA, SORT, AMEMB, NSG, HIC, EDI, SAS, SBS, UDT, GOE, DOE, 
GEO, Masuda, Forte, AT, GIGN, Exon Shell, CQB, CONUS, CTU, RCMP, GRU, SASR, GSG-9, 22nd SAS, GEOS, EADA, BBE, STEP, Echelon, Dictionary, MD2, MD4, MDA, MYK, 747,777, 767, MI5, 737, MI6, 757, Kh-11, Shayet-13, SADMS, Spetznaz, Recce, 707, CIO, NOCS, Halcon, Duress, RAID, Psyops, grom, D-11, SERT, VIP, ARC, S.E.T. Team, MP5k, DREC, DEVGRP, DF, DSD, FDM, GRU, LRTS, SIGDEV, NACSI, PSAC, PTT, RFI, SIGDASYS, TDM. SUKLO, SUSLO, TELINT, TEXTA. ELF, LF, MF, VHF, UHF, SHF, SASP, WANK, Colonel, domestic disruption, smuggle, 15kg, nitrate, Pretoria, M-14, enigma, Bletchley Park, Clandestine, nkvd, argus, afsatcom, CQB, NVD, Counter Terrorism Security, Rapid Reaction, Corporate Security, Police, sniper, PPS, (take a breath)...
ASIS, ASLET, TSCM, Security Consulting, High Security, Security Evaluation, Electronic 
Surveillance, MI-17, Counterterrorism, spies, eavesdropping, debugging, interception,
 COCOT, rhost, rhosts, SETA, Amherst, Broadside, Capricorn, Gamma, Gorizont, Guppy, 
Ionosphere, Mole, Keyhole, Kilderkin, Artichoke, Badger, Cornflower, Daisy, Egret, 
Iris, Hollyhock, Jasmine, Juile, Vinnell, B.D.M.,Sphinx, Stephanie, Reflection, Spoke, 
Talent, Trump, FX, FXR, IMF, POCSAG, Covert Video, Intiso, r00t, lock picking, Beyond 
Hope, csystems, passwd, 2600 Magazine, Competitor, EO, Chan, Alouette,executive, 
Event Security, Mace, Cap-Stun, stakeout, ninja, ASIS, ISA, EOD, Oscor, Merlin, NTT, 
SL-1, Rolm, TIE, Tie-fighter, PBX, SLI, NTT, MSCJ, MIT, 69, RIT, Time, MSEE, Cable & Wireless,
 CSE, Embassy, ETA, Porno, Fax, finks, Fax encryption, white noise, pink noise, CRA, M.P.R.I.,
 top secret, Mossberg, 50BMG, Macintosh Security, Macintosh Internet Security, 
Macintosh Firewalls, Unix Security, VIP Protection, SIG, sweep, Medco, TRD, TDR, 
sweeping, TELINT, Audiotel, Harvard, 1080H, SWS, Asset, Satellite imagery, force, Cypherpunks, Coderpunks, TRW, remailers, replay, redheads, RX-7, explicit, FLAME, Pornstars, AVN, Playboy, Anonymous, Sex, chaining, codes, Nuclear, 20, subversives, SLIP, toad, fish, data havens, unix, c, a, b, d, the, Elvis, quiche, DES, 1*, NATIA, 
NATOA, sneakers, counterintelligence, industrial espionage, PI, TSCI, industrial intelligence,
 H.N.P., Juiliett Class Submarine, Locks, loch, Ingram Mac-10, sigvoice, ssa, E.O.D., SEMTEX,
 penrep, racal, OTP, OSS, Blowpipe, CCS, GSA, Kilo Class, squib, primacord, RSP, Becker, 
Nerd, fangs, Austin, Comirex, GPMG, Speakeasy, humint, GEODSS, SORO, M5, ANC, zone, SBI, DSS, S.A.I.C., Minox, Keyhole, SAR, Rand Corporation, Wackenhutt, EO, Wackendude, mol, Hillal, GGL, CTU, botux, Virii, CCC, Blacklisted 411, Internet Underground, XS4ALL, 
Retinal Fetish, Fetish, Yobie, CTP, CATO, Phon-e, Chicago Posse, l0ck, spook keywords, 
PLA, TDYC, W3, CUD, CdC, Weekly World News, Zen, World Domination, Dead, GRU, M72750, Salsa, 7, Blowfish, Gorelick, Glock, Ft. Meade, press-release, Indigo, wire transfer, 
e-cash, Bubba the Love Sponge, Digicash, zip, SWAT, Ortega, PPP, crypto-anarchy, AT&T, 
SGI, SUN, MCI, Blacknet, Middleman, KLM, Blackbird, plutonium, Texas, jihad, SDI, Uzi, 
Fort Meade, supercomputer, bullion, 3, Blackmednet, Propaganda, ABC, Satellite phones, 
Planet-1, cryptanalysis, nuclear, FBI, Panama, fissionable, Sears Tower, NORAD, 
Delta Force, SEAL, virtual, Dolch, secure shell, screws, Black-Ops, Area51, SABC, 
basement, data-haven, black-bag, TEMPSET, Goodwin, rebels, ID, MD5, IDEA, garbage, 
market, beef, Stego, unclassified, utopia, orthodox, Alica, SHA, Global, gorilla, Bob, 
((BOB??? SERIOUSLY???))
Pseudonyms, MITM, Gray Data, VLSI, mega, Leitrim, Yakima, Sugar Grove, Cowboy, Gist, 8182, Gatt, Platform, 1911, Geraldton, UKUSA, veggie, 3848, Morwenstow, Consul, Oratory, Pine Gap, Menwith, Mantis, DSD, BVD, 1984, Flintlock, cybercash, government, hate, speedbump, illuminati, president, freedom, cocaine, $, Roswell, ESN, COS, E.T., credit card, b9, fraud, assasinate, virus, anarchy, rogue, mailbomb, 888, Chelsea, 1997, Whitewater, MOD, York, plutonium, William Gates, clone, BATF, SGDN, Nike, Atlas, Delta, TWA, Kiwi, PGP 2.6.2., PGP 5.0i, PGP 5.1, siliconpimp, Lynch, 414, Face, Pixar, IRIDF, eternity server, Skytel, Yukon, Templeton, LUK, Cohiba, Soros, Standford, niche, 51, H&K, USP, ^, sardine, bank, EUB, USP, PCS, NRO, Red Cell, Glock 26, snuffle, Patel, package, ISI, INR, INS, IRS, GRU, RUOP, GSS, NSP, SRI, Ronco, Armani, BOSS, Chobetsu, FBIS, BND, SISDE, FSB, BfV, IB, froglegs, JITEM, SADF, advise, TUSA, HoHoCon, SISMI, FIS, MSW, Spyderco, UOP, SSCI, NIMA, MOIS, SVR, SIN, advisors, SAP, OAU, PFS, Aladdin, chameleon man, Hutsul, CESID, Bess, rail gun, Peering, 17, 312, NB, CBM, CTP, Sardine, SBIRS, SGDN, ADIU, DEADBEEF, IDP, IDF, Halibut, SONANGOL, Flu, &, Loin, PGP 5.53, EG&G, AIEWS, AMW, 
WORM, MP5K-SD, 1071, WINGS, cdi, DynCorp, UXO, Ti, THAAD, package, chosen, PRIME, SURVIAC.
************************************************

Works for me.

Well, now I can say I've USED THEM ALL (so far, and with no contextual application)...
Gonna start looking for those black helos any day now...LOL.
Sure makes me wonder how far away we are from burning books?
I'm sure ALL of you use at least a FEW of these words...
I know I do...a lot.
And, I'm also just as sure that the feds have ADDED to this list.
Doesn't make a convincing case (to me) FOR wanting (or having) "net neutrality"...
Got a feeling that, like EQUALITY, this NEUTRALITY will be MORE neutral for some than for others...
*** Last back to the ski resort...what gets me about this Internet gig is the fact that the FCC will NOT release certain content of what they're proposing TO THE PUBLIC.
If it's a national security issue, I can probably understand their thinking.
But, on the other hand, if this is a ploy to DISGUISE and obfuscate the REAL intent of this "act", then someone has got to come clean and fess up as to what this is REALLY all about and how MUCH it will impact many aspects of our lives, such as freedom of speech, costs to consumers, and the like.
If everyone just caves in and allows it, then we're pretty much STUCK with it, because, if you recall history, hardly ANYTHING the government puts forth gets reversed...prohibition being the ONLY exception that I can remember.
But, if concerned people come forward, ask the tough questions and yes, DEMAND answers and not settle for some dog-and-pony show meant to stroke us into a state of torpor, then I'm more than willing to listen and make a more informed decision.

Butt-crack alert|!

I know I've got my share of questions, and the only thing I hear from the feds is "it will benefit the people".
Funny, heard that about the ACA (aka Obummercarre), and the EPA with their curly-fries light-bulbs (that are a hazmat visit if they break inside your house), or the ethanol-laced fuel we have to put into vehicles (that rot rubber tubing and gaskets), or the AMTRAK system that was supposed to make rail travel SO much better (and had operated in the RED since it's inception), or the rising price of OUR food while the feds ship millions of tons of food overseas to 3rd world nations (while our OWN people are said to be starving), or how about giving jobs, tax breaks and driver's licenses to ILLEGALS while others remain on the dole, because they can't find work?
And now the FCC wants to put in THEIR "two cents"...but let's hear some truth about it from  a good friend of ours - PETER GRIFFIN:

The list gets longer every damn year with this administration, and yet they keep shoving crap down our throats, all the while telling us it's choice ANGUS.
I just cannot buy this BS (and neither should you).

Those three BIG WORDS mean something...

All I can say is that WE THE PEOPLE, have to take on the tough tasks in order to retain our freedoms and liberties, and having the government do everything for us, rather than protect the nation and her people in general, should be bothersome to all of us.
Remember...THEY work for US...and not the other way around.
The (civil) servants do NOT own and run the manor...
That's our job...or it should be.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.