Some parents questioned whether the school overstepped its bounds by disciplining students for actions that occurred on personal computers, at home and after school hours.
Joe's comment: Yup, what they should have done was expelled them all. The name of the group was in the invitation. They knew what they were getting into, despite what the wounded parents are saying. Fine, suspending them for something that happened outside the school may be a little over the top. On the flip side, every one of these students joined a group that advocated hatred and violence towards another child. That should have bought them another year of school in the same grade right there, in addition to whatever the authorities punish them with. Hate speech is a felony. A convicted felony will get you expelled. The school just cut out the middle man. Good on em. And for the parents, quit bitching at the school district for doing what should have been done by you, if you weren't too lazy.
Let the flames begin...
read more | digg story
Friday, March 03, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to Ship March 20
Bethesda Softworks® and 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that the highly-anticipated role-playing game, The Elder Scrolls® IV: Oblivion�, has gone to gold master and will be available in stores in North America and Europe during the week of March 20.
About time...I'll be getting this gem on launch day. ;)
read more | digg story
About time...I'll be getting this gem on launch day. ;)
read more | digg story
Friday, February 17, 2006
The Bay County Boot Camp Fiasco (AKA: Who's gonna apologize first?)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11396434/
This hits rather close to home for me (The Bay County Boot Camp is only about a mile from my house). It's been the top news story for about a week here, and is just now hitting the national stage. Originally, it was thought that this kid was beaten to death by the guards (and if it turns out the guards DID beat him, they need to go to jail), and the sheriff's office has been taking a hammering. Now it turns out that the kid had no physical signs of beating, and he actually had a blood disease. Now I'm sure NO apology will be forthcoming from the grandstanding state senator (Fredrica Wilson, who made some pretty outrageous statements about this kids treatment, despite ADMITTING she hadn't seen the tape) pictured in the article, and I'm sure no apology will come from the parents either, though I do feel for their loss. But remember this, why was your kid there in the first place? I'm pretty sure it wasn't a school field trip...
My second bitch here is: Why do news organizations feel that they need to know every piece of information right NOW? What right do organizations like CNN and the Miami Herald have to SUE because they haven't been given all the info pertaining to an open investigation? Have we become so mistrusting as a nation that EVERYTHING is a cover up? That just burns me up...sometimes an orange is just an orange.
3:30 PM: The tape is released. You can see it here and judge for yourself. :
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13898115.htmAnd now a message for Team USA:
We're proud of you. You've worked hard and despite a few mistakes, you're showing that the Olympic spirit lives on even in these tough times.
Go Team USA!!!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
RANT: Soccer Moms and Their Window Stickers
Something's been bugging me for ages, and I gotta get it off my chest. We live in a world where everyone is paranoid about security. Identity theft, terrorism, computer passwords, all get big coverage on the evening news. But I've noticed that there's one regular occurrence that barely receives a burp on the national radar. You know all those huge SUVs with the stickers on the back? Those are what I'm talking about.
Now, put yourself in the shoes of a pedophile for a moment (You can wash the slime off after we're done, fear not). I see one of these soccer moms and their kids heading into a mall. It would take me about 5 seconds to determine that kid's name, team, jersey number, and sport of choice. Since pedophiles seem to know exactly what to say to kids, and go out of their way to act friendly, you've just given me a gold mine of information that I can use to SNATCH YOUR CHILD.
Now, put yourself in the shoes of a pedophile for a moment (You can wash the slime off after we're done, fear not). I see one of these soccer moms and their kids heading into a mall. It would take me about 5 seconds to determine that kid's name, team, jersey number, and sport of choice. Since pedophiles seem to know exactly what to say to kids, and go out of their way to act friendly, you've just given me a gold mine of information that I can use to SNATCH YOUR CHILD.
(Ok, you may go wash now. I'll wait till you get back. )
I can't understand why this doesn't merit more attention. Is it just that people are so stupid that they feel because it's on their own car, that they're somehow immune? Speaking as a parent, the only thing on my car linked to my child is a magnet with their school name on it. That at least narrows them down to a 1/1000 chance...
Bottom line, folks. We appreciate your support for your child and their excellence in (add sticker sport/hobby here), but don't you think your concern for their safety should outweigh your pride?
Just my $0.02
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Apple shipping MacBook Pros with faster processors
Apple Computer on Tuesday gave all of its MacBook Pro customers something sweet for Valentines Day: an unexpected CPU upgrade free of charge.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Pic of Galaxy on its Side
This is a picture of the Sombrero Galaxy. This the coolest space photograph I have seen in a long time.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Well jeeze...
Not one post since July. My dear friend bewtifulfreak informed me that I needed to post more, so here I am.
I reached my 34th year on this Earth yesterday. As far as birthdays go, it was pretty low key. As far as presents, I got spoiled as usual. :) I received some new jeans, a t-shirt that reads "It's not nice to stare..." (Message?), a Galileo thermometer (You know, one of those cool termometers with the bubbles in them that rise and sink, depending on the temperature), and a new TV! (a 27 inch Philips with component inputs, a nice upgrade so the 360 looks much nicer.) Lastly, Fiona bought me the WoW Atlas, since I seem to wander around lost in Azeroth more often than I'll admit. :)
Dinner was had at the Golden Corral and fun was had by all. I did receive one crushing blow though...I found I share a birthday with the likes of Jerry Springer. It was offset knowing I also share a birthday with Peter Tork (from the Monkees), Kelly Hu, Henry Rollins and the Pink Lady (and First Lady) Stockard Channing. :)
I played WoW into the wee hours of the morning too. Twisting Nether (My Horde character server, my Alliance character is on Deathwing) seemed to die for about an hour or so and from reading postings on the WoW forums, Monday crashes are more than a common occurrance. Hopefully Blizzard gets it all fixed quick.
Today is Valentine's Day, and per our usual agreement, Fiona wants nothing from me. Per our usual agreement, I will ignore that request and buy her flowers anyway. :)
It is also Rowan Falar Appreciation Day at Krewmembers.com. Not that she needs us to tell her we appreciate her or anything. ;) She knows we love our Forum Mom.
A side note: You need to check out my dear friend Will Rodriguez'z strip Mangled Stare. I love the way he draws, and it's painfully obvious the love he has for his family is shown by the way he draws them in the strip. Keep up the good work, Will!
Another side note: If you get the chance, check out my friend Marcus Lanio's first novel, The Bad Guy. It's a quick read, with geek culture references thrown out there as well as Mark's own Piers Anthony style humor throughout. Don't let that fool you though. The book has plenty of action, mystery, and suspense to keep even YOU engrossed.
That's about enough for now. I'll drop a WoW post in here later. Also, I'm a digger, so you may see posts here linked from there every so often. Feel free to drop a comment now and then.
I reached my 34th year on this Earth yesterday. As far as birthdays go, it was pretty low key. As far as presents, I got spoiled as usual. :) I received some new jeans, a t-shirt that reads "It's not nice to stare..." (Message?), a Galileo thermometer (You know, one of those cool termometers with the bubbles in them that rise and sink, depending on the temperature), and a new TV! (a 27 inch Philips with component inputs, a nice upgrade so the 360 looks much nicer.) Lastly, Fiona bought me the WoW Atlas, since I seem to wander around lost in Azeroth more often than I'll admit. :)
Dinner was had at the Golden Corral and fun was had by all. I did receive one crushing blow though...I found I share a birthday with the likes of Jerry Springer. It was offset knowing I also share a birthday with Peter Tork (from the Monkees), Kelly Hu, Henry Rollins and the Pink Lady (and First Lady) Stockard Channing. :)
I played WoW into the wee hours of the morning too. Twisting Nether (My Horde character server, my Alliance character is on Deathwing) seemed to die for about an hour or so and from reading postings on the WoW forums, Monday crashes are more than a common occurrance. Hopefully Blizzard gets it all fixed quick.
Today is Valentine's Day, and per our usual agreement, Fiona wants nothing from me. Per our usual agreement, I will ignore that request and buy her flowers anyway. :)
It is also Rowan Falar Appreciation Day at Krewmembers.com. Not that she needs us to tell her we appreciate her or anything. ;) She knows we love our Forum Mom.
A side note: You need to check out my dear friend Will Rodriguez'z strip Mangled Stare. I love the way he draws, and it's painfully obvious the love he has for his family is shown by the way he draws them in the strip. Keep up the good work, Will!
Another side note: If you get the chance, check out my friend Marcus Lanio's first novel, The Bad Guy. It's a quick read, with geek culture references thrown out there as well as Mark's own Piers Anthony style humor throughout. Don't let that fool you though. The book has plenty of action, mystery, and suspense to keep even YOU engrossed.
That's about enough for now. I'll drop a WoW post in here later. Also, I'm a digger, so you may see posts here linked from there every so often. Feel free to drop a comment now and then.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
An open message to the London Commuter bombers...
You Cowards. You bombed a bus and several trains full of innocent people for no other reason than to cause chaos and bloodshed. Don't delude yourself into thinking it will advance your cause, because even with your tiny minds, you realize it doesn't. All it does it strengthen the resolve of your enemies. This 'fear and terror' crap didn't work in my country on September 11th, and it won't work in my wife's country on July 7th. When will you people learn? Dialogue and concessions work...bombs and hatred don't.
Get it through your thick skulls.
Get it through your thick skulls.
Monday, April 04, 2005
A hero gets his due
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously during a White House ceremony April 4, 2005. The official citation will be made available after the White House Presentation.
On April 4, 2003, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, attacked to seize Objective Lions, the Baghdad International Airport. As part of the Brigade scheme of maneuver, Task Force 2-7 Infantry was tasked to establish a blocking position against a brigade-sized counterattack on the main entrance to the airfield. Task Force 2-7 had been fighting for three consecutive days and had moved through the night before reaching the blocking position. Morale was high, but Soldiers were experiencing fatigue. B Company, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment (Knight) was in the east-most position oriented along the main avenue of approach ready for the main enemy counterattack. A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment (Rage) was attacking to the southeast of the Highway.
The main entrance to the airfield was a four-lane highway with a median to separate incoming and outgoing traffic. Large masonry walls with towers approximately 100 meters apart bound the highway. On the morning of April 4, 2003, more than 100 soldiers from the Task Force 2-7 Forward Aid Station, mortars, scouts and portions of B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion were in the median behind the forward most blocking positions. The B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion 2nd Platoon Leader was on a reconnaissance mission with the B Company, Task Force 2-7 Infantry Commander. During his absence, 2nd Platoon received the mission to construct an Enemy Prisoner of War holding area. Sgt. 1st Class Smith was in charge of 2nd Platoon.
Sgt. 1st Class Smith assessed the best location to be behind the masonry wall bounding the highway. Two guard towers along the wall were ideally situated to provide overwatch to the holding area. An M9 armored combat earthmover (ACE) knocked a hole in the wall to create an opening to a large courtyard with a louvered metal gate on the north side. With the help of a squad leader and team leader, Sgt. 1st Class Smith checked the far side of the courtyard for enemy, found none, and posted two guards. From the guard post at the gate small groupings of buildings were 100-200 meters to the northeast. To the northwest, a large white building with a white dome was visible. The location seemed perfect as the courtyard was along the northern flank of the blocking position and enemy actions to this point were mostly from the east.
While an engineer squad began to clear debris in the courtyard, one of the guards saw 10-15 enemy soldiers with small arms, 60mm mortars, and rocket-propelled grenades (RPG). These were the lead elements of an organized company-sized force making a deliberate attack on the flank of Task Force 2-7. Sgt. 1st Class Smith came to the position and identified 25-50 more soldiers moving into prepared fighting positions. Sgt. 1st Class Smith instructed a squad leader to get a nearby Bradley Fighting Vehicle for support. While waiting for the Bradley, Sgt. 1st Class Smith had members of 2nd platoon retrieve AT-4 weapons and form a skirmish line outside the gate. By this time, the number of enemy identified rose to 100 soldiers, now a confirmed company-sized attack. Three of B Company’s M113A3 armored personnel carriers (APC) oriented .50-cal. machineguns toward the opening in the wall and the surrounding guard towers, now occupied by enemy soldiers.
Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions to organize a defense against the deliberate attack were not only effective, but inspired the B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion Soldiers. He then began to lead by example. As the Bradley arrived on site and moved through the hole in the wall toward the gate, Sgt. 1st Class Smith ran to the gate wall and threw a fragmentation grenade at the enemy. He then took two Soldiers forward to join the guards and directed their engagement of the enemy with small arms. The enemy continued to fire rifles, RPGs, and 60mm mortars at the Soldiers on the street and within the courtyard. Enemy soldiers began moving along the buildings on the north side of the clearing to get into position to climb into the towers. Sgt. 1st Class Smith called for an APC to move forward to provide additional fire support. Sgt. 1st Class Smith then fired an AT-4 at the enemy while directing his fire team assembled near the front line of the engagement area.
Running low on ammunition and having taken RPG hits, the Bradley withdrew to reload. The lead APC in the area received a direct hit from a mortar, wounding the three occupants. The enemy attack was at its strongest point and every action counted. Not only were the wounded Soldiers threatened but also more than 100 Soldiers from B Company, the Task Force Aid Station, and the Mortar Platoon were at risk.
Sgt. 1st Class Smith ordered one of his Soldiers to back the damaged APC back into the courtyard after the wounded men had been evacuated. Knowing the APC ’s .50-Cal. machinegun was the largest weapon between the enemy and the friendly position, Sgt. 1st Class Smith immediately assumed the track commander’s position behind the weapon, and told a soldier who accompanied him to “feed me ammunition whenever you hear the gun get quiet.” Sgt. 1st Class Smith fired on the advancing enemy from the unprotected position atop the APC and expended at least three boxes of ammunition before being mortally wounded by enemy fire. The enemy attack was defeated. Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions saved the lives of at least 100 Soldiers, caused the failure of a deliberate enemy attack hours after 1st Brigade seized the Baghdad Airport, and resulted in an estimated 20-50 enemy soldiers killed. His actions inspired his platoon, his Company, the 11th Engineer Battalion and Task Force 2-7 Infantry.
Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions to lead Soldiers in direct contact with a numerically superior enemy--to personally engage the enemy with a fragmentation grenade, AT-4, and individual weapon, to ultimately assume the track commander’s position to fire the .50-Cal. machinegun through at least three boxes of ammunition before being mortally wounded--demonstrates conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. His actions prevented a penetration in the Task Force 2-7 sector, defended the aid station, mortars, and scouts, and allowed the evacuation of Soldiers wounded by indirect enemy fire.
On April 4, 2003, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, attacked to seize Objective Lions, the Baghdad International Airport. As part of the Brigade scheme of maneuver, Task Force 2-7 Infantry was tasked to establish a blocking position against a brigade-sized counterattack on the main entrance to the airfield. Task Force 2-7 had been fighting for three consecutive days and had moved through the night before reaching the blocking position. Morale was high, but Soldiers were experiencing fatigue. B Company, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment (Knight) was in the east-most position oriented along the main avenue of approach ready for the main enemy counterattack. A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment (Rage) was attacking to the southeast of the Highway.
The main entrance to the airfield was a four-lane highway with a median to separate incoming and outgoing traffic. Large masonry walls with towers approximately 100 meters apart bound the highway. On the morning of April 4, 2003, more than 100 soldiers from the Task Force 2-7 Forward Aid Station, mortars, scouts and portions of B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion were in the median behind the forward most blocking positions. The B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion 2nd Platoon Leader was on a reconnaissance mission with the B Company, Task Force 2-7 Infantry Commander. During his absence, 2nd Platoon received the mission to construct an Enemy Prisoner of War holding area. Sgt. 1st Class Smith was in charge of 2nd Platoon.
Sgt. 1st Class Smith assessed the best location to be behind the masonry wall bounding the highway. Two guard towers along the wall were ideally situated to provide overwatch to the holding area. An M9 armored combat earthmover (ACE) knocked a hole in the wall to create an opening to a large courtyard with a louvered metal gate on the north side. With the help of a squad leader and team leader, Sgt. 1st Class Smith checked the far side of the courtyard for enemy, found none, and posted two guards. From the guard post at the gate small groupings of buildings were 100-200 meters to the northeast. To the northwest, a large white building with a white dome was visible. The location seemed perfect as the courtyard was along the northern flank of the blocking position and enemy actions to this point were mostly from the east.
While an engineer squad began to clear debris in the courtyard, one of the guards saw 10-15 enemy soldiers with small arms, 60mm mortars, and rocket-propelled grenades (RPG). These were the lead elements of an organized company-sized force making a deliberate attack on the flank of Task Force 2-7. Sgt. 1st Class Smith came to the position and identified 25-50 more soldiers moving into prepared fighting positions. Sgt. 1st Class Smith instructed a squad leader to get a nearby Bradley Fighting Vehicle for support. While waiting for the Bradley, Sgt. 1st Class Smith had members of 2nd platoon retrieve AT-4 weapons and form a skirmish line outside the gate. By this time, the number of enemy identified rose to 100 soldiers, now a confirmed company-sized attack. Three of B Company’s M113A3 armored personnel carriers (APC) oriented .50-cal. machineguns toward the opening in the wall and the surrounding guard towers, now occupied by enemy soldiers.
Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions to organize a defense against the deliberate attack were not only effective, but inspired the B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion Soldiers. He then began to lead by example. As the Bradley arrived on site and moved through the hole in the wall toward the gate, Sgt. 1st Class Smith ran to the gate wall and threw a fragmentation grenade at the enemy. He then took two Soldiers forward to join the guards and directed their engagement of the enemy with small arms. The enemy continued to fire rifles, RPGs, and 60mm mortars at the Soldiers on the street and within the courtyard. Enemy soldiers began moving along the buildings on the north side of the clearing to get into position to climb into the towers. Sgt. 1st Class Smith called for an APC to move forward to provide additional fire support. Sgt. 1st Class Smith then fired an AT-4 at the enemy while directing his fire team assembled near the front line of the engagement area.
Running low on ammunition and having taken RPG hits, the Bradley withdrew to reload. The lead APC in the area received a direct hit from a mortar, wounding the three occupants. The enemy attack was at its strongest point and every action counted. Not only were the wounded Soldiers threatened but also more than 100 Soldiers from B Company, the Task Force Aid Station, and the Mortar Platoon were at risk.
Sgt. 1st Class Smith ordered one of his Soldiers to back the damaged APC back into the courtyard after the wounded men had been evacuated. Knowing the APC ’s .50-Cal. machinegun was the largest weapon between the enemy and the friendly position, Sgt. 1st Class Smith immediately assumed the track commander’s position behind the weapon, and told a soldier who accompanied him to “feed me ammunition whenever you hear the gun get quiet.” Sgt. 1st Class Smith fired on the advancing enemy from the unprotected position atop the APC and expended at least three boxes of ammunition before being mortally wounded by enemy fire. The enemy attack was defeated. Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions saved the lives of at least 100 Soldiers, caused the failure of a deliberate enemy attack hours after 1st Brigade seized the Baghdad Airport, and resulted in an estimated 20-50 enemy soldiers killed. His actions inspired his platoon, his Company, the 11th Engineer Battalion and Task Force 2-7 Infantry.
Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions to lead Soldiers in direct contact with a numerically superior enemy--to personally engage the enemy with a fragmentation grenade, AT-4, and individual weapon, to ultimately assume the track commander’s position to fire the .50-Cal. machinegun through at least three boxes of ammunition before being mortally wounded--demonstrates conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. His actions prevented a penetration in the Task Force 2-7 sector, defended the aid station, mortars, and scouts, and allowed the evacuation of Soldiers wounded by indirect enemy fire.
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