Or did we just Slashdot it?

-Ab

link (warning, may severly upset animal lovers, should prolly upset everyone else)

-Ab

Blatantly (and unselfishly) stolen from www.IMOA.us.

KNOW THY ENEMY: Canada

Canada always seemed to be too inconsequential to be an enemy, but I sent my crack research staff to find out what they can about Canada to see for sure if our neighbor to the north can be trusted.

FUN FACTS ABOUT CANADA

* Canada was originally populated by peoples loyal to Britain and dumb people who just got lost.

* Canada is still technically owned by England and has to dance for them when commanded.

* That happens usually three times a year.

* The border between U.S. and Canada is the longest unprotected border in the world. There are plans to mine it, set up video cameras all along it, and not tell Canada for a new Fox special called When Americans Are Bastards.

* It is rumored Canada has its own military. Their most powerful weapon is the telephone with which they can call America and say, "Help! We're being invaded, eh!"

* Canadians are almost as genetically similar to humans as the chimpanzee.

* Was originally called Cana, but, since everyone there said, "I live in Cana, duuuuh," the name Canada eventually stuck.

* For the same reasons, it will eventually be known as Canadada.

* Their national symbol is the most evil of leafs, the Maple Leaf, a.k.a. Satan's Palm.

* In a fight between Aquaman and a maple leaf... actually, a maple leaf is even too lame for Aquaman. Our national symbol, the bald eagle, would whup Aquaman's ass, though.

* Canadians pretend to be peaceful, but more Canadians are murdered in Canada every year than any other country.

* Canada modeled their currency after ours just to annoy us when we accidentally get useless Canadian trinkets in change instead of hard American currency.

* Canada has a picture of a queen on their money to show their contempt for democracy.

* A large minority of Canadians speak French, and they boss around the rest of the Canadians. Bossed around by French-speaking people - that's so pathetic I can't even imagine it.

* Canadians think they are superior to Americans. The rational basis for this is unknown.

* Canada holds up a sham democracy to try and be accepted by the civilized world, but in fact all real decisions are made by their moose overlord.

* It's a myth that the normal way a Canadian says "about" is so that it rhymes with "boot". It just happens that a lot of Canadians are retarded.

* The northern area of Canada is technically God-forsaken. If anyone there has a prayer, he or she first has to mail it to an American priest for God to hear it.

* Most of the prayers involve hockey and are promptly ignored.

* If a Canadian ever tries to express an opinion about America, hit him on the head with a rolled up newspaper while shouting, "No!" You have to catch them in the act or they'll never learn.

* Canada has gone its entire history without doing anything of note, something almost unheard of for a country its size.

* Canada has become an entry point for terrorist which has caused Canada's boring index to decrease slightly.

* Canada doesn't have all the beliefs in liberty and freedom of speech that we have. So, if you have to go to Canada, make sure to bring a gun to help them recognize.

* Canada is so defective that it loses gravity for six hours every month.

* Canada has no known industry. It's believed all their income comes from sales of syrup and hockey tickets.

* Canadians have universal healthcare. The way they afford it is making people wait so long that most die before seeing a doctor.

* Canadians are completely harmless, but don't assume someone who is wearing a hockey mask is Canadian. The people at Crystal Lake made that mistake and, well, it was messy.

* Canadians don't have any nuclear missiles because we decided they are not mature enough for them. Maybe when they're older.

* Canadians have national gun registration. While solving no crime, the excessive amount of money the initiative has taken has foiled Canada's evil schemes to make mutant snow monkeys.

* If ever attacked by a Canadian... well... beat the crap out of him. What? You can't take a Canadian? What kind of pansy are you?

* This list would be classified as a hate crime in Canada.

* Actually, most Canadians who read this list would just say, "Eh?"

-Ab

I got some Mod points!
I got some Mod points!
And you can't haaaaaave none!
'Cause they're my Mod points!

(I wish there was a way to emphasize stretching out the "o" in "Mod" without making it look like "mood")

But, on that note, if anyone sees any good comments that need some modding, let me know. I'm lazy with my little batch of power. :)

-Ab

Helio, I'm in your town today until 6ish. I can stay as lat as 7:30. Call my company (L. Robert Kimball & Assoc on Linglestown/Deerpath Rd.) and ask for the "the IS guy from the State College office" and Janet or Tony will get the call to me.

I'd give you the number here but
    1. I don't like posting it in a public forum
    2. I don't know it as anything other than "Speed dial 5" on our phones in State College.

Give me a ring if you are interested in hitting someplace for dinner.

-Ab

The following is just an opinion and in no way meant to sway anyone involved as everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how diametrically opposed it may be from another.

***********************************************

What do you hope to accomplish by blacking out? Getting a few mod points? I get mod points roughly every other week. I thought that was a lot. I usually only use 3 or 4 of them and have yet to been M2'd for correction. I also read the journals every day (usually 4-5 times a day) as well as browse the Frontpage occasionally, a few replies and sometimes I check out the YRO, Science, and Ask Slashdot sections.

This blackout seems to be an attempt at one of several things:
      1. An attempt to limit one's self-addition to Slashdot (in the way that one would cut back on smoking, drinking, etc ...)
      2. An attempt to grab power from a source unlikely to relinquish it.
      3. A standard "go with the flow"/"flock of sheep" mentality of "all my friends are doing it, so I will, too," wither in support of the friends's cause or just because.
      4. Some other motive(s) I haven't seen or considered.

I'm betting for most that it's 2 or 3. For those with #3, especially if doing it to support a friend's cause, I understand that. #3 doing it "just cause your friends are" I understand that, as well (but I don't necessarily respect it as much). But, those that are doing it for #2, I think you have just embodied the proverb of "cutting off your nose to spite your face." You are trying to hurt yourself (by stopping something you enjoy) in hopes of hurting the very thing you belong to.

Personally, I think I'm with FK and just gonna remove myself from the moderation game. As I see it, this is Taco's site. He's word is law and he is god here. To some he may be a benevolent and wise god, to others he may be a incompetant and/or vengeful god. Either way, this place is his creation and he gets to do with it as he sees fit (well, with in the limits of his agreement with the sale of /. to OSDN). He decides who gets what and how. Honestly, do you really think that 20 or so people not writing a journal for a week is going to make a difference? In fact, I've seen several replies from many of you "black-outers" in AC format. This is recorded and counts towards your page views, so you are already defeating your own cause.

Another thought, why would you go about hurting what love in order to try and get more from it? Doesn't that seem counter-productive? I'm reminded of an old proverb "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar." You may be thinking "The squeaky (or in this case: quiet) wheel gets the grease," but my grandfather always told it another way, "The squeaky wheel gets replaced." I guess what I'm saying is why not try and work towards a better solution, rather than trying to eliminate some basic revenue for the site (by eliminating page views of ads). I wonder how many people doing this blackout are also subscribers, or have bought subscriptions for others as gifts? Just my own curiosity.

Maybe I just don't get it. I think the system works just fine. If you want more mod points, M2 more often, mod accordingly so that you don't get M2 overruled and be patient. Even if I thought the system didn't work, it's not my site or place to criticize it. I didn't create the place. The place does not need me. There are dozens of other similar sites (K5, Koc, Fark, etc...) that offer the same general amenities that anyone unhappy here can go to.

I look forward to next week when many of you start writing again cause it's been boring as hell around here without it.

-Ab (obviously not making any friends today)

ps. Helio, I have info on those Decals from my uncle, but I'll wait till next week to post about them in case you are still blacked out.

The secondary continues to shape up. Brent Alexander is released while Mike Logan is re-signed. Guess Troy is getting the start this year. Be nice to sign Woodson for that empty corner spot.

-Ab

A las victimas del explosion del bombardeando en Madrid, nuestra corazones y rezos estan con os. Pongo unos flores fuera de casa en vuestra memoria. Descansen en paz. Vosotros tenéis dejar pero nosotros no te olvidamos.

-Ab

Dead Milkman bassist, Dave Blood, commits suicide

I'm a huge Dead Milkman fan and will sorely miss him. More info on the band's website. They are some of the founders of humerous punk. Check out some of their music. I suggest:

    - If You Love Somebody, Set Them On Fire
    - Methodist Coloring Book
    - I Dream of Jesus
    - Leggo My Ego
    - Do the Brown Nose
    - Taking Retards to the Zoo
    - Best Thanksgiving Ever
    - Gorilla Girl
    - Bitchin' Camero
    - Swordfish
    - The Girl That Was Also a Mongoose
    - The Infant of Prague Customized My Van
    - Pork Sausage
    - Beach Party Vietnam
    - Stuart
    - Life Is Shit

-Ab

This is a short 1 act play I wrote in response to b.q.'s journal. I prolly should've posted it here and linked there, instead of the other way around, but alas, it's too late. Just read it for insight as to why you should never ask your girl "What's wrong?" unless you already know what's wrong.

-Ab

Jerome Bettis stays
Dwayne Washington goes
Mark Bruener goes

I like the keeping of Bettis. He restructured his contract forgo 3.5 million dollars to stay with Pittsburgh to end his career. Class act. Be nice to have him to help out and mentor whatever new back we pick up. (Corel Buckhalter anyone?)

Washington: So long, thanks for all the fish. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out. Between Bettis, Washington, and Bruener (next), that frees up a decent bit of change to sign a decent (if not good/great) shut-down corner. (Charles Woodson/Ty Law anyone? More likely Woodson, because the Rooneys don't put up with 'me first' players.)

Bruener: Don't like this at all. It's basically a cap move, but I'd rather have him than Riemersma. Obviously it was between them 2 (Tuman makes next to nothing), but ditch Riemersma. We HAVE receivers. Riemersma barely saw any action last year. What we don't have is a running game and Bruener gives us a big boost in that. It's likely that the Steelers will get Perry (mich) or the guy from Oregon (name escapes me at the moment) in the draft. Those boys can run. They will need a good blocking line and Bruener gives them that. The only thing I can think of is that maybe they are worried about his health (a la Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala) and didn't want to take the chance.

addendum:
Steelers are only making the minimum required offer to Rodney Bailey (~$680,000). This all but guarantees he will be gone, but they will, at least, get a 4th round pick from whoever snags him.

-Ab

Today has been the worst day of the year and it's not even 9:30 yet. I have a tendancy to show up late for work everyday by 5-15 minutes. This is ok cause I only take a 30 min lunch and usually am the last to leave as well. Well, I went to bed early last night and woke up early. Took my time getting ready (rather than my normal rush like hell). Got out to my car with 20 minutes till 8 (takes me 10 min to get to work) and there was a 1/4" frost build-up on all the windows. I got my new scraper out (a nice one, $30 for a solid metal with grips, big snow brush on one side and nice big plastic ice scraper on the other. The old one broke in the last freezing rain storm). Scraped off the driver's window, walked around back, slipped on the ice and did a full split. Tore my slacks and boxers from front to back. Lemme tell you, nothing wakes you up like your nuts hitting ice first thing in the morning. During the fall, my scraper hit the ground bearing most of my weight. The actual scraper part shattered and the metal handle bent. I got up, tucked me jubblees in as best I could and started the car up. Set all the defrosters on high and went back inside to change clothes. Went to the closet and realized I had no other clean slacks. Found a pair of worn ones, Fabreezed them and ironed the wrinkles. Called into work to let them know I'd be a few minutes late, but there was no answer. Got back to the car and the defroster hadn't even made a dent. My Cell phone goes off. It's a secretery for another department saying that there was an emergency and they needed me ASAP. I told her I was already in my car, but it'd be 15-20 minutes yet. Once I got the little "half moon" spots defrosted, I drove in hunched over looking through those. Got caught at every light on the way, sometimes it took 2 lights for me to make it through the intersection (damn left turns and timid drivers). The way the day is going, I know I'm gonna get pulled over ont he way home cause my emissions sticker is out of date. Why the hell should I have to pay $75 just for them to put a sticker on my car that says "no emissions testing needed" because my car is that old?

I hate life.

-Ab

4 seperate issues (rather than 4 different journal entries):

1. KoC:

First, clicky clicky :)

Second, I got nailed today with the lag time. I hit a guy for 40,000K this morning, sold 5 weapons (2 types) to get enough to buy a big ticket item. I lagged enough that someone hit me in the 30 seconds and I lost 90,000. I did buy enough back soon as I realized to save the rest. He attacked again and wasted 15 more attacks for 408 gold. I even had 2 windows open to minimize the time. Just bad luck, I guess. S'ok, though. I'll get it back tomorrow :)

2. Constitution:

Gay marriage ban? Doesn't GWB have something better to do, like stop our boys from getting slaughtered in Iraq, squashing civil rights, or stamping out steroid use in football? What's next, declaring pass interference to be a class 3 felony? If gays, fags, homosexuals, lesbians, queers, whatever-today's-word-is-to-describe-them-is want to get married, *I'LL* marry them. I'll give them a little ceremony and an official looking certificate that says that according to the Church of Ab (an secular division of the Agnostic Church of Huh?) they are as one. I see no reason what-so-ever that 2 people that love each other and are committed to supporting and taking care of each other should be denied the same fundamental rights granted to gold-digging trophy wives like Anna Nicole Smith.

I haven't heard a single argument yet that has even come close to sounding legitimate as to why gays should be denied the ability to enter into a civil union. Before any conservatives bring up the bible says this or god says that, just remember, the US is founded on a fundamental principle of seperation of church and state. Our laws are NOT to be made based solely on any religious dogma. We may have laws that can exist outside of that dogma (such as don't steal or don't kill) because they have true social implications but laws that can't stand on their own ("keep holy the sabbath" or "no other gods") because they have no social implications outside of religion.

On that note, I think that when (not if) they are given their full marriage rights, that any marriage benefits be re-written/thought out. My reasoning behind this is that most breaks and benefits given to spouses are based on the premise/belief that the married couple have kids or are designed to facilitate making having future kids easier or more affordable. A lot of things, such as power of attourney when disabled, property ownership, etc are there to make things easier on the kids. If gays (and even married couples) want these priviledges, I think there should have to be kids involved.

Anyways, if gays really want to be married, they just need to goto South Carolina and check into a hotel as a married couple. Due to an arcane law, this officially makes them common-law married. :)

3. TV:

Greatest new TV show EVER ... Straight Plan for the Gay Man on Comedy Central. HILLARIOUS! I'll admit, I don't have Showtime and have never seen an episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, but I guess SPftGM is supposed to be a parody of it. 4 manly, macho men take a flaming gay and have 5 days to turn him, his style, and his place into a straight man. They then take 2 of themselves and the gay man and apply for a traditional "manly" job and afterwards tell the man highering that one of them's gay and to guess which one. Seeing the reactions of when their pristine apartments are turned into plaid-laden bachelor pad with neon beer lighting is great. :)

4. Lent:

I gave up religion for lent when I was 18. I felt so much better. So much more cleansed. So much more enlightened that I decided to continue the sacrifice. It's been 10 years almost to the day and I still feel great. :)

-Ab

First, clicky clicky :).

Second, I spied on you today cause I was curious. Your defense score is sickening. Just wrong. Though, I should be able to beat you in a battle by the end of the week :) If and when you decide to pull a Mekkab strategy with all them built up attacks and that back roll, you are gonna "F" some people up. :)

By the way, I still disagree with the spies. They rock :) I should start a weekly recap and rank everyone based on income, attack, defense, covert, and total in my Journal but I don't want to give away anyone's secrets. (I feel this is ok cause you announced in your journal you were going to super defensive mode ... I was just curious as to how defensive) :)

-Ab

If you haven't already, click here to give me an army, FortKnox half an army, and baldass_newbie 1/4 an army.

Your support is greatly appreciated. Please visit here to get all the circle's links. Click on them once a day and feed the warmachine :)

-Ab