Aufwiedersehen Arbeiten (goodbye work)

What do I know, but I live in a state where I'm watching business lay-off employees and/or leave my state. The biggest story of late: Mercury Marine (MM hereafter) in Fond du Lac.

I won't bore the point, you can Google that. Short story: there's another (3rd) vote Thursday and Friday this week. This is well past the original 'deadline' and after MM management said that was their final offer.

But here's what I think about the whole thing (I'm no expert, just another crazy offering his opinion):

Management was planning to close up shop here in WI and move it all to OK. But they were waiting on the state of WI to see what they would do to 'lure' them to stay here. Now that there has been a few weeks of hubbub about this move, Diamond Jim and the Fond du Lac crew have jumped in to 'help.' Help with tax dollars... a problem in it's own right.

So, there are a few solutions to this:

1. MM is putting on the dog-and-pony show to fake an effort in keeping jobs in WI. They will let the union tire itself out, and move to OK anyway. Taking the jobs with and emptying Fond du Lac.

2. News of jobs coming to WI are possible, but only now that the state is offering an 'incentive package' to keep MM here. If this news had never come, to OK MM would be going right now. This might be financial incentive enough to MM to stay here, at the expense of the WI taxpayer. Or this could end just like 1.

3. The fervor with which this story has been covered lately may have started some sort of 'war' between WI and OK. Resulting in the re-vote that MM allowed the union. This could be just a over-reaching guess, but fun none-the-less.

Here's a few questions though:

a. How many lakes are in OK? Versus how many are in WI? Aren't there more customers here?
b. BUT, OK is a right-to-work state, WI is not. Where would you go?
c. Was the state talking to MM long before they decided to move, or just because they caused the uproar? Diamond Jim didn't seem to have the time when Thomas Industries was battling over Sheboygan or Louisiana.


My point isn't to belittle the state of Wisconsin. I love to live here, and it's not a bad place to do business, there's just better places. When we can make this state a place businesses will want to come without state handouts, then I'll be less worried. The first step is making this state a right-to-work. Fuck the unions! Strong word, yes, but it makes my point. I've met few union members who wish they weren't. The rest are lazy slackers. I'm not just saying this either, I worked one summer in a union shop, regrettably. I'd never seen such effort to do so little work. If they put that much thought into their actual work, they'd really earn what they are paid.

There's more, but that's for another day...


-HypnotistOfLadies :-\

Next Point: The crappiest videos on YouTube... (that shouldn't be hard, but it will be a long post) Or this is just a cop-out so I don't have to think hard...


P.S. Little did I know in June that my 'Next Point' would actually be applicable. How interesting!

Nucleation: Stimulated, Indeed!

This isn't some joke about your mom or some sort of ad for sexual toys. It's merely a brief rant on how millions (yes, MILLIONS) of Americans have been 'stimulated' out of a job since Barry was chosen by 'the idiots' as 'The One.'


Some may argue the point that the economy was shit in late 2008, and Barry's plan was there to improve things. That's a bunch of horse-hooey. Business has been holding on to their money in hopes of surviving the shit-storm that's coming (if not already here). So, reductions are necessary and that often includes staff.

"We need to pass this now, or the economy will get worse," was along the line of what Barry said when pimping his little 'stimulus.' Oh, yea, well, things are worse than even the White House predictions if we had NO stimulus.

So, the stimulus bill made things worse. Millions more are out of work (including me) and wish the didn't have to be. Sure, this will be blamed on the former administration (who is partly responsible) but that card can only be played so many times. Soon Barry and the Red Bunch will have to stand on their own and fess up for what they're doing. Stop blaming others and take responsibility.

But, now the shitty climate bill has barely passed the house, and is on its way to the senate. This and Barry's 'health care plan' are in the pipeline and can only spell disaster for this country. It's all a long train of mess that we - and our children - will have to clean up, and I only hope (there's that word again) that we have enough mops...

Would I still have a job if the spendulus had not been passed? Possibly. The answer to that is unknown; unknown until I get a time machine...




Next Point: Wisconsin's shitty 'leaders' and how they are ruining everything...

Why Type When Someone Already Yelled It?

I was going to type something about this national healthcare fooferraw, but I think Bob sums it up well.

Next Point: Stimulated out of a job...

No May, yes, May I

I see there was no post in May 2009, this makes me cry. Okay, it doesn't, because I was 'stimulate'd out of a job in May. The rage that filled me probably made posting next to impossible.

Alright, that's not true. I'm just not mad enough to post anything else today. There's plenty to 'discuss,' don't you worry about that, but it's just not time now. It's coming though.


Next Point: Maybe I'll move to...

Nucleation: Mommy, I'm safer now right?

I briefly spoke of this same topic back on March 4, 2009, as an example of a government that has encroached way too far into citizen's lives. I guess it can only get worse...

That crappy proposal about alarms in day care vans has apparently (or soon will) become law.

This bill tries to rectify a problem that has only claimed 27 (yes, twenty-seven) lives since 1994 (yes, ninety-four) NATIONWIDE!!! This is ONE death every 203 days over the last 15 (yes, fifteen) years (the range the data is cited in the Capital Times article linked above)! There were 204 non-traffic child fatalities in 2008 alone (from KidsandCars.org statistics page)! This 'day care van deaths' are a MINUSCULE portion of this problem.

This new Wisconsin law mandates what could be an expensive addition to already cash-strapped day cares, adds penalties and fines for not having an alarm, a non-working alarm, disabled, etc. Drivers will be more worried about the alarm than the children. Good job Spencer, who said, "Senators, we have to stop the children from dying, We can't legislate common sense. But this we can do."

"We can't legislate common sense." Of course you can't, but this is specifically what you are trying to do. Contact your state representatives and senators and tell them that their support of this bill is a mistake.

This will be shown in the local news as a good thing to 'protect our children' and 'ensure their safety.' Sound bites paraded by the politicians who created this disaster. And those who may have not supported it will be vilified by the public when they don't understand. I guess this is just the world we live in.

Let me make a point clear. One could deduce from this 'rant' that I hate kids, or think that their deaths are not a big deal. This is not my point; nobody wants anyone to die in this fashion. Children so young that they can't get themselves out of a car are dependent on the adults that watch over them; be it their parents or day-care workers. But the argument comes to personal responsibility. The people transporting these kids are RESPONSIBLE for their lives. This is no small task and should not be taken lightly.

You can have all the sensors and alarms you want and children will still die. Put all the seat belts, airbags, crumple zones, and safety features in your car, but you can still die in an accident. You could die falling down. Legislation will not stop some things from happening. This being the best example.

This bill will become law. Day care vans all over the state will have these stupid alarms in them. The news will then report of more children being left in day care vans and possibly dying, and everyone will ask, "but the alarms were supposed to stop this! What can we do now?!" Some dumb new rule, like video cameras or something, will be proposed in the name of 'child safety' and 'protecting our children' and fawned over by the public and state politicians, only to have the same effect. Other states may adopt a similar law (maybe they already do, I don't know).

This isn't the first time that our government (state and federal) has wasted their time and the money of the people. But I just have one thing to say: Get to work you lazy fuckers, and stop passing stupid shit! And for fuck's sake, will you start working for the betterment of this state instead of sucking it's citizens dry!!!

I love living here, but I hate paying for it!

Next Point: Mandated automobile insurance in Wisconsin

Sit down, breathe...

I wholeheartedly agree. Barry's 'dog and pony' show in Europe was a shining example of what the United States is NOT. This country has single-handedly saved most of the people on this planet; through both military and economic means. Yet Barry has the audacity to paint this county and it's people in the way he did...

As an American, I will not accept this characterization of our country, and cannot understand this any more. Rise up indeed!

On a different topic: The EPA has apparently classified CO2 as a 'pollutant.' So stop breathing, everyone! You're polluting!

Next Point: I might just have to stop, this stuff will give me a stroke... and I don't mean the CO2.

Thinkgeek.com QR Code Shirt

What does it say?! This is a java app I found to decode the QR Code that I got off the shirt.


It says....






"This is not the free t-shirt you are looking for. You can go about your business. Oh, and buy cool stuff at thinkgeek.com. *waves hand*"


You're welcome,

HypnotistOfLadies :-\

Nucleation: A Bandage Please...

Did you ever see something or hear something that made no sense or was so confusing and out-of-place that you couldn't even think? The type of thing where comprehension required omniscience reserved for God himself?

I see this every day, I read it in the news, see it on the television, and still I can't wrap my head around it! I didn't vote for our president, but that's just what he is: our president.

To give Barry and the Red Bunch the benefit of the doubt and a clean slate may have been naive of me. But I try my damnedest to see these things that are happening through bias-free lenses. But when I see what I do, my brain fizzles. It completely stops. My heart stops beating, my breathing ceases, and if I wasn't usually sitting down, I'd probably fall over.

I wish it would all stop.

Man-made global warming is a farce. Is the planet getting warmer? I don't know, but I don't care.

Socialism sucks, just ask Putin.

Taxes are too high everywhere, and will only get higher!

You bought a mortgage you couldn't afford, then MOVE OUT and fuck off! I will NOT subsidise your stupidity.

I'd go on, but my head hurts, and it's getting tough to type...

I hope (there's that word again) and pray that the intelligent conservative representatives in our government get their eyes on the ball instead of the prize. Government should be last on the news, like sports, or that story about the cute puppy that's friends with a squirrel. That's how little they should be in my life.

But what I will say is that we live in such a great country that our elected representatives can 'worry' about things like mandating alarms on private day care vans. OMG, as the kids say. God bless this country!

Maybe it's all here:
"I'm confused ...perhaps you have the answer; how can 2 million blacks get into Washington DC in sub zero temps in 1 day when 200,000 couldn't get out of New Orleans at 85 degrees with four days notice?"


Next Point: What? New? Deal?

Nucleation: But I Selected 'Play Movie'

Hello again,

I have noticed a trend lately on (almost) all the DVDs I purchase. You are also well aware of what I'm about to 'discuss.' If you're not, you'll soon be seeing it every time you watch a movie (that you bought - I just want to make that clear).

First, the tale, then, the complaining:

You put a DVD in your player and it usually starts with the publisher, Paramount, Lions Gate, etc. There's a little few second blip of their name and into logo. Okay, fine, whatever. I'm still getting my beverage and snacks, let them play their stuff.

Then we move on to previews. This is all well and good, because on most DVDs, these can be skipped with simple press of 'menu' or 'skip.' (Try and stay with me here.) Good enough, maybe you actually want to buy some of these and make a note about it (publisher's job done, right?)

Now you're at the menu. That is, if you didn't have to sit through a first year film school student's menu intro. All the exciting little selections with some sort of frantic background longing you to jump right in.

You're comfy, on your couch, with your loved one and/or family, possibly with drinks and snacks, ready to escape real life for a while and delve into someones made up world. You holler at the kids to turn the lights of and get in the living room.

So, you pick up the remote and hit 'Play Movie,' (or some such thing, to start the movie). And what's the first thing you see (depending on the DVD)?

Often, it's a big blue screen displaying the MPAA rating. "Okay, fine, I'll just hit skip," you think as you to grab the remote off the coffee table just as you were putting it down. But, all goes according to plan.

Or so you thought, then BAM:


FBI Warning! If you thought the movie was starting, you've got another thing coming!

"So," you think, "I skipped the first one, I'll just hit the skip on this one." Not a chance buster! You smack skip with all your might, only to see a symbol on the screen indicate that you won't be winning this one. You try FF, no dice. You frantically search for something that will skip this screen, swearing at the DVD for putting you through this, when, suddenly, it's gone.

"Whew, that was annoying, but we're past that now," you think as you're reaching to put the remote down. But... BOOM:


Now it's a big red screen, titled, WARNING.' "What the fuck!?" you scream - to this point keeping quiet on the subject. Your wife smacks you on the arm for swearing in front of the kids while you, yet again, aim your thumb for that 'skip' button. But in your rage, you dropped the remote! Scouring the dark floor for the remote, your hand finds it only to look back at the screen to see what looks like the same screen, but now it says 'ATTENTION:'


Attention!? It just said warning! "But those look like french words. What's that doing on my DVD, this is an English copy!?" Getting the remote straight in your hand again, 'skip' it is, and the silly french is gone. The agitation remains, but will fade with time and enjoyment of the movie I'm about to watch. Ha! You thought it was movie time:

One more yet; some sort of white text on black. Some shit about commentaries is what you quickly skim.

"FUCK!" You holler. Your wife smacks you again, but this time you have none of it. The remote, in your hand and already busted in half by your angry grip, is thrust through your wife's neck as tears of rage fill your eyes. Throwing your snacks and drink on the floor as you launch from your seat toward your kids who've already asked why the movie hasn't started. One quick twist and both their necks are broken. Stomping over the bodies of your late loved ones, your next target is the DVD player. You are ready to smash it Office Space style when you yank too hard and smash yourself in the head, instantly killing you.

Your bodies aren't found for three days while the UPS delivery guy is dropping off DVDs you ordered...

---

Okay, that's a pretty extreme result, but completely within the realm of possibilities. But my point is that why is this shit on the beginning of my movies? Why isn't it on the beginning of the disc? Why must I endure such torture before I can watch a movie I paid for?

Sure each screen only takes up five seconds, but that's four screens; that's twenty fucking seconds! That's twenty seconds I could be watching the movie! Dammit!

I can understand the monetary losses due to illegal copying of movies and other things, but maybe if a DVD didn't cost $30, I'd be more understanding.

I already paid for this movie, I just want to watch it. Lots of people worked hard (usually) to produce this. I bought a copy, now leave me alone. I didn't pirate it, I purchased it. Isn't this exactly what you wanted me to do?

But after seeing this MANY times on my (read: MINE) DVDs, I'm thinking of copying them only to get the warnings OFF the front of the movie!! Besides why can't this information be at the beginning of the disc, not when I want to watch the movie?

I would bet you'd get an answer along the lines of 'nobody would see it,' 'we wouldn't get the message out sufficiently.'

Well that's all bullshit. And you know why? Because if anyone in this country doesn't know that already, they're a fucking idiot.

The other biggest complaint is that my tax dollars were wasted on this. They were probably wasted on that shitty "You wouldn't steal a car... don't steal movies" clip on some discs.

Enforcement by notification ad nauseum is not enforcement at all. It's a waste of my fucking time, when I just want to watch a movie. Has this little intro and label on the DVD case stopped piracy? I doubt it, if anything, it's probably made it worse. I know I'm thinking about copying my DVDs. But isn't that legal under 'fair use?' Oh, that's right, the DMCA did away with that, and some other rights. But no problem, fascism is fun!

I hope these ramblings made a point, if not, I hope it was fun, if not, then I'm glad I wasted five minutes of your life.

-HypnotistOfLadies :-\

Next Point: Spendulus, I know, I'm not the first, maybe a little late to the party.

It's not all bad.

I've never voted for him, but I respect his outspokenness and willingness to stand up for what he believes (not the pussy 'stand up I'm-special,' but stronger). But Sen. Russ Fiengold voted against the Treasury Sec. nominee.

Thank you Russ. We may not always agree, but I'm glad to see you do this.

about your amendment though...

-HypnotistOfLadies :-\


Next Point: You mean I've made one in the past?

Run That Engine, Just For Me!

Uh, I want to go here. Someone please send me the money so I can go to this thing.

I can't wait until man made global warming is proven false... I know the day is coming, and I will be rejoicing in the streets - probably while my car idles - when it is here!

I will rant about this topic in the future, you just wait...

Next Point: I know, I'm off topic...

The DOW down since the election.

Note the picture of the DOW (today from Google) and how I said on Tuesday, November 4:

One prediction for November 5: Stock market, you know
the Dow Industrials; yea, that'll be down.

You remember...

Looks like I was right! Good guess? Maybe. Educated guess? Partly.

But notice also, that it has not risen to it's November 4 (and previous) levels since. Isn't this odd? How long will it be this way?

I'm sure many would blame this on various people who had nothing to do with it, or those who did. But I hope the future is brighter than events would portend.

Just don't thank your 'savior' Barry when things turn around, because they will, and not by his doing. I guarantee it.

-HypnotistOfLadies :-\


Next Point: Yea, I'll get to it...

Nucleation: Geez ma, why dat pitcha look funnah?

HD TV in widescreen is available for free OTA (Over The Air) now. Some really good shows are in HD widescreen, even with 5.1 audio, for free (if you don't count commercials)! But what really bugs me is when the local station feels the need to superimpose some sort of information on the screen.

This may not sound like a big deal, but you all know what the local stations look like when there's big news, or a storm, or something similar. All of them either squish the image or shrink it to make room for all their 'announcements' of school closings or what-not.

When you've paid all that money for that big-screen TV, surround sound speakers and receiver, you don't want this crap fucking it up!

My point is, why can't the local stations superimpose their information ON TOP of the HD program? With an HD set, you can make it a lot smaller and worry less about the 'safe-zones' of the past!

The worst of it all is when you are watching a WS HD program and the local station puts some scrolling message, the temperature, or worst of all their logo on the screen. This takes the beautiful looking - and sounding - program from HD to SD (Shitty Definition). Which, by the way, is quite visible on 61" television. My receiver even changes audio at this point from the 5.1 it was receiving to the 2-channel configuration. This was especially prevalent on election day, 2007.

Dammit all! Maybe this is moot with the 'official' transition in February, because it's just so bothersome.

I would bet, though, I'm not the first to complain like this. When TV went to color, people probably complained that there was still black-and-white programming. Good thing we don't have that anymore.

-HypnotistOfLadies :-\

Next Point: Bad DVD's, FBI warning, the Digital converter box scam