Archive of posts tagged News

Robo-Basil?

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RobotB9What does the future have in store for you? Flying cars? Personal jet packs?

Nope. But you do get robot bodies. That’s according to Ray Kurzweil, director of engineering at Google.

The Daily Mail — the same Daily Mail the Beatles sang about — reports that Kurzweil says it can happen:

We’re going to become increasingly non-biological to the point where the non-biological part dominates and the biological part is not important any more.

In fact the non-biological part – the machine part – will be so powerful it can completely model and understand the biological part. So even if that biological part went away it wouldn’t make any difference.

We’ll also have non-biological bodies – we can create bodies with nano technology, we can create virtual bodies and virtual reality in which the virtual reality will be as realistic as the actual reality.

The virtual bodies will be as detailed and convincing as real bodies.

But, do we believe him?

Nope. He doesn’t believe in the stuff he does himself. Go to his Google Plus page. Nothing on it. And he’s Director of Engineering for Google!

I kinda don’t believe him either. But, suppose he’s right. Would you want a robot body? Something like out of Blade Runner?

Or brains uploaded to computers?

I’m not sure if I want to live forever. Of course, I’m not too keen on dying, either.

Jude 9-10

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PJ Media reports that news outlets in Egypt are showing photos depicting Barack Obama as Satan. The Al Wafd articles reports that the image is making the rounds on Facebook, and describes the photo, although it incorrectly identifies the pentagram as the Star of David. Stupid Arabs.

ObamaSatan

They should be careful. With the stable of lawyers Satan has with him in hell, they are in danger of being sued for defamation.

Gimme a “K”

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AndroidKitKatThe new Android operating system has been announced. Android 4.4 will be … KitKat. Really.

In case you didn’t know, or just weren’t paying attention, Google names its Android operating systems after snacks, and in alphabetical order. Mostly.

One source says that after the first Android OS, the next release, version 1.1, was codenamed “Petit Four,” which is some kinda French snack cake, but that name isn’t officially listed by Google.

Since then, though, the third one, Cupcake, began the alphabetical snack release: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo (frozen yogurt), Gingerbread, Honeycomb (for tablets only), Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, and now, KitKat.

Word is that originally, the latest release was going to be Key Lime Pie. Why? Cnet reports:

…”We realized that very few people actually know the taste of a Key lime pie,” said John Lagerling, Android’s director of global partnerships. The flavor of Kit Kats, he said, is more familiar to programmers than Key lime pie…

Seriously? Programmers don’t know what Key Lime Pie tastes like? While, sure, it’s a southern dessert, I’m just stunned that it’s an unfamiliar taste.

What foods with “K” would programmers know about? Ketchup. Krispy Kreme. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. Kool-Aid.

Wait. Scratch that last one. I think us iOS users drank all that.

Any good “K” foods that Android should’ve used? Whaddaya think?

Fast food for slow people

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BKFryBurger

AP Photo/Burger King

Have you seen the latest from Burger King? They call it the French Fry Burger.

It’s a burger… with french fries on it. Really.

Now, I understand that Burger King is in a war with McDonald’s, trying to get you to put your dollars in their hands. They do this, of course, offering something of value to you. (I have to explain that, in case there are any Obama voters reading this, since they have no idea of how business works. If they did, they wouldn’t be Obama voters.)

Anyway, they’re putting the French Fry Burger on their Value Menu, pricing it at $1 so you’ll spend your money there.

Only, you gotta wonder who comes up with these ideas. Take a four-year-old to Burger King, buy him a small burger meal, and there’s a chance he’ll lift up the bun and put some french fries on the burger.

So, in their latest salvo in the Burger Wars, Burger King is breaking out a strategy that a four-year-old would come up with.

I’m thinking that the wrong restaurant chain has a clown as a mascot.

As different as Black and White

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So, the Secretary of State says that a country in the Middle East has weapons of mass destruction. Sound familiar? It should. It’s happened before.

Remember how much the left criticized the claim a decade ago? But not so much this time. What’s the difference?

Well, here’s 2003:

PowellWMD

And here’s 2013:

KerryWMD

The difference? Well, it’s certainly not that one’s true and one’s not. I don’t doubt that Syria has and has used WMDs. And, the fact is, there were WMDs in Iraq, though some of the sources weren’t completely reliable. But, about the Democrats believing one but not the other? Since both are Obama supporters, it’s not politics. So, what could it be? Maybe that one’s Black and one’s White?

Why is the Democrats believing the White guy, but didn’t believe the Black guy? What do the Democrats have against Blacks?

Looks like the party that founded the KKK has a hard time letting go of old habits.

Biblical

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Remember the scene in Ghostbusters where the team tries to tell the mayor that a disaster of Biblical proportions was coming? Bill Murray’s character offered his take on it:

[YouTube]

…human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together … mass hysteria!

Well, it’s close. In Detroit, at least.

You’re probably heard about reports of packs of dogs running around, possibly as many as 50,000.

But, it’s turned out that cats may be a problem, too. The Detroit Free Press reports that in at least one neighborhood, at least one large cat is stalking the area [notice: link contains auto-start video]. (Tip: Paul Mitchell)

A leader with the neighborhood association where the cat is roaming said several residents have contacted him after seeing the big feline.

“I’m really concerned,” said Vondell Boyer, 55, vice president of the Greenbrier Council. Boyer and other residents said they’re worried that if the cat runs out of rabbits, squirrels and other small critters to eat, it will target small kids.

(Tom) McPhee, (executive director of the World Animal Awareness Society, based in Ann Arbor) who is helping conduct a study of stray dogs in Detroit, said there are about 10-20 stray cats in the city for every stray dog.

See what 51 years of Democrats running things gets you? A disaster of Biblical proportions.

Conventional Wisdom

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ConstitutionalConventionDr. Tom Coburn, the Senator from Oklahoma who’s also a doctor, has called for a Constitutional Convention. He told a town hall meeting in Muskogee, Oklahoma, that he recently became convinced that it was a good idea.

“I used to have a great fear of constitutional conventions,” Coburn said according to the Tulsa World. “I have a great fear now of not having one.”

That could be a great idea, except for one thing: the last Constitutional Convention had George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and the like. One today would have …

Well, maybe that’s the trick. We need the right people. Who would you like to see at a Constitutional Convention? Someone from your state? Or is the whole proposal a bad idea?

Perfect

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MannyFernandezSB7The only NFL team to win all their regular season and playoff games, the 1972 Miami Dolphins, were invited to the White House recently. Three members of the team didn’t go, citing political differences.

Center Jim Langer, defensive tackle Manny Fernandez, and offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg declined to make the trip, telling the Orlando Sentinel they didn’t want to associate with Obama.

Bob Kuechenberg’s first words were, “I want to be careful, because mom said if you have nothing good to say about someone, then don’t say anything. I don’t have anything good to say about someone.”

…”We’ve got some real moral compass issues in Washington,” Hall of Fame center Jim Langer said. “I don’t want to be in a room with those people and pretend I’m having a good time. I can’t do that. If that [angers] people, so be it.”

“I’ll just say my views are diametrically opposed to the President’s,” Manny Fernandez said. “Enough said. Let’s leave it at that. I hope everyone enjoys the trip who goes.”

…”I think it’s great if [other players] want to have that function at the White House,” Langer said. “I have other stuff to do.”

He’ll be fishing with his 4-year-old grandson, Max, instead of going to the White House.

Being a grumpy old fart also, I understand their feelings. Sure, it’s the White House. But, it’s Obama. I get it. But, listening to some news shows and reading online comments, most columnists seem to think they should go.

I think the reaction of the three that didn’t go is perfect. Like their 1972 season.

Instagrump

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InstapunditLogoInstagram says you can’t use their name in your name. Or any part of their name in your name.

Which brings up the question: What the heck is Instagram?

I looked, and I think it’s a place where you take pictures of coffee cups with a Polaroid Swinger and put them up for other people to see. I think there might be more to it than that, but I’d have had to looked at more coffee cups, and honestly, I just … um … no.

Anyway, since Polaroid coffee cups are the big thing now or something, Instagram is huge. And they came out with a policy that says you can’t use “Gram” or “Insta” in your name.

Anybody ask Glenn Reynolds about this?

Okay, I know. Here I am defending Instapundit, the blender of puppies, the killer of hobos, worshiper of Satan, dancer of the Robot, commie spy. Oh, and he’s a Law Professor. Like Obama. Except that Obama wasn’t a Professor. And Glenn Reynolds really went to college.

Besides, “defending” may be too strong a word. I’m actually thinking that Instagram is stupid. At least their policy about saying they’ll sic a whole team of lawyers on you if you use “Insta” in your name.

That and the whole coffee cup thing.

Still, I kinda feel like I’d like to see the two go at it. Glenn Reynolds would take Instagram to the cleaners. And, if that happened, Instagram might get all that coffee out.

Draft – Boycott Wendy’s for its support of [something]

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[Note to editors: URGENT! More research needed to determine which of the following is to be published. Is Wendy’s considered a right-wing or a left-wing organization? Need response urgently. This post is scheduled for 10:00 AM, and I must have an answer prior. Thanks, Basil]

[If Wendy’s is right-wing]

The new Wendy’s logo is a disgrace. Have you noticed it? Here it is:
WendysLogo

See it? It says “MOM” right there under her chin, on her collar.
WendysLogo2

Now you see it? Good. Only, bad. Here’s why.

Wendy’s usage of “Mom” is a clear slap as male, single-sex families. It’s like gay couples don’t have the right to raise children.

Here’s why I’m taking this so personally. My nephew and his husband live near Boston, and are doing a wonderful job of raising their adopted son — Wendy’s ought to appreciate that much of their relationship, what with the Dave Thomas Foundation and all — and I don’t appreciate their approach of subtly criticizing their family.

My great-nephew is being raised by a loving couple, and the fact there’s no “mom” in the family doesn’t make it any less a family.

I call for a boycott of Wendy’s. And I hope you’ll join me.

[If Wendy’s is left-wing]

The new Wendy’s logo is a disgrace. Have you noticed it? Here it is:
WendysLogo

See it? It says “MOM” right there under her chin, on her collar.
WendysLogo2

Now you see it? Good. Only, bad. Here’s why.

The Wendy’s logo is a young girl. And the clearly-visible “MOM” in the logo is a promotion of teen pregnancy. It’s saying that it’s okay for a young girl like Wendy (in the logo) to be a mom.

With teen pregnancy and single-parent families on the rise, we’re raising another generation that is beginning life playing catch-up. And the sad truth is, many never do. Wendy’s promotion of teen pregnancy through subtle advertising is helping contribute to this growing problem in this country.

Left-wing organizations like Wendy’s need to avoid such political agenda and should focus on the food, not helping to promote the decline of the nation.

I call for a boycott of Wendy’s. And I hope you’ll join me.

[Note to editors: Again, please respond quickly with a determination of whether Wendy’s is left-wing or right-wing. I’m angry about this whole logo thing, but I need to know why. Thanks. — Basil]

Glowing Killer Muslim Bunny Rabbits

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GlowingBunniesA report out of Hawaii says that scientists in Turkey have made glowing bunny rabbits. No, really. Bunnies that glow in the dark.

Okay, maybe not in the dark, but under ultraviolet light.

You’re probably thinking, “That’s nuts.” And you wouldn’t be wrong, but it’s worse than that.

I mean, didn’t they ever see Night of the Lepus? Or heard about the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog? Scientists are taking a risk there.

Or are they?

The widdle bunnies were supposedly engineered in Turkey, a Muslim country. And using technology from Hawaii.

What other Muslim-Hawaiian connection might there be? Can you say Obama?

Is this part of some larger plan that Obama and the Moslems have hatched to destroy America? He’s tried blowing up the economy for five years, and has done a marvelous job of bringing on financial collapse, but the U.S. just refused to fall. Perhaps the glowing Moslem killer bunny rabbits is the final piece of the plan.

So, be ever vigilant. If you see any glowing giant killer bunny rabbits wearing suicide bomber vests saying “Eh… (chomp chomp chomp) Allahu Akbar, Doc” sound the alarm.

I know this sounds like I’m suggesting that we profile glowing bunny rabbits. But better safe than sorry.

Gulf

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HomerBrainWhat comes to mind when someone says “gulf?”

I remember Gulf Oil company sponsoring TV broadcasts of space shots in the 1960s. There’s the Gulf of Mexico. Persian Gulf.

So, besides a defunct oil company, “gulf” generally means a place where the sea extends into the land. But, it can have another meaning: a deep chasm, or a gap.

On The Tonight Show With Jay Leno the other night, the president showed just how big of a dumbass he is:

If we don’t deepen our ports all along the Gulf — places like Charleston, South Carolina, or Savannah, Georgia, or Jacksonville, Florida — if we don’t do that, those ships are going to go someplace else. And we’ll lose jobs. Businesses won’t locate here.

I’ve been those cities. And, I’ve been to the Gulf coast. But never at the same time.

I’d like to think I don’t have to tell you that Jacksonville, Savannah, and Charleston are not cities on the Gulf. But, nobody seemed to tell The Smertest President Evah that those cities are on the Atlantic Ocean.

So, what comes to mind when someone says “gulf?”

The right answer is: A deep chasm, or a gap. As in the deep chasm in the head of Obama, and the ones that voted for him.

1

The college ranking are out!

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PartySchoolIt’s that time of year. The college rankings are out! And the number one team is … The University of Iowa.

Wait. What?

You thought I was talking about college football, didn’t you? Nope.

The Princeton Review’s annual rankings of the top party schools is out, and the Iowa City school holds the top spot.

The top five?

  1. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
  2. University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, Calif.
  3. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill.
  4. West Virginia University, Morgantown W. Va.
  5. Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.

You can read the entire list here.

I noticed that the University of Georgia didn’t make the top ten. They were ranked number one in 2010, but fell to number two in 2011, and to number five last year. They come in at number 11 this year.

The fact that UGA has dropped as a party school since my daughter left Athens is simply a coincidence.

I think.

I hope.

I don’t want to talk about this any more.

Slinging things off the planet

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DennisTheMenaceA couple of years ago, we talked about drug smugglers using catapults to fling marijuana into the U.S.

At the time, we suggested using catapults to throw stuff out of the U.S. Well, it turns out that a company in Virginia is wanting to do more than that. They want to use slingshots to throw stuff off the planet. No, I’m not making this up.

It’s a Kickstarter project, called the Slingatron. Only, it calls itself a “railroad to space,” but it uses more of a slingshot concept than a railroad concept.

I’m not talking your Dennis the Menace kinda slingshot. I’m talking your David kills Goliath slingshot. The kind that goes around and around then is released with a FTHHPPTT!

Will it work? I dunno. But, I’d like to see it throw something off the planet. Or someone.

Let’s start with Barack Obama. Next, Joe Biden. Then, Obama’s cabinet. Follow that up with the Democrats in Congress, and then the people that voted for them.

I’m thinking once we do that, we’ll have worked out all the bugs, and the Republicans will get the idea that we don’t mind tossing folks off the planet. Maybe they’ll straighten up and act right.

And, if they don’t, we’ll still need to test it some more, just to make sure it’s working.

But, that’s just my suggestion. Who do you suggest we test this thing on? Who would you throw off the planet?

Jetman

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AstroBoyYou know about Jetman, right? In case you don’t, Jetman is some Swiss dude names Yves Rossy who wears a jet.

No, this isn’t some silly cartoon character. Or a Robert Downey, Jr. movie about some silly comic book character.

This is a real thing, where the fellow straps on wings and jet engines and flies around.

Jetman is in Wisconsin this week, and was flying around at the AirVenture show in Oshkosh. He flew around next to a B-17, and had some other stuff scheduled. Sounds like fun.


[Direct link: CBS]

What use can we make of this technology?

Well, it could be a James Bond thing. Or could have been. I could see Sean Connery’s James Bond doing this; he wore that Jetpack in Thunderball. I can see Roger Moore’s James Bond doing this; he flew that little Mr. Bean-looking jet in Octopussy. Maybe even Pierce Brosnan’s Bond. Not so sure about that new guy, though. Is this the kind of thing Daniel Craig’s James Bond would do? I don’t know. He just doesn’t strike me as a throw-on-a-jet kind of fellow. Maybe I’m wrong.

So, if not a James Bond gadget, what good is it?

Well, if we put laser beams or rocket launchers on it, we could use it to shoot laser beams or launch rockets at things. Other than that, I got nothing.

So, help me out here. What would you do with a Jetman outfit? What use could we make of this technology?