ShowMeBlog

Deepwater Disaster

  I have not said very much about the Deepwater Horizon disaster.  It is so devastating. I do not not know what to say. 
  I do have some questions.  Why was BP allowed to drill at that depth?  It is clear now that it is far deeper than they have the ability to handle.  It is just crazy.
  I live in Fort Worth (Texas).  If a company said we are going to build a big building over here in the southwest part of Fort Worth and we will be making and selling fire works and bombs.  The city would have all sorts of inspections and rules.  Just a few of the rules would be … What type of building?  What sort of fire protection will for the building.  In fact the city would not be asking it would say you have to have the following types of fire protection. 
  Plus the city might say well we only have one fire house in that area so if you want to build and have that sort of business you have to pay for the city to add an additional fire house and the following in that area.  There would be all sorts of rules.

  In the case of this deep drilling did an agency do inspections?  Did they have rules?  Where there drills? 
It seems clear now that BP does not have the ability to fix problems at that depth.  Saying well we can stop the leaking in two months by drilling other holes is not a fix.  A fix is if something happens we know we can fix it right away by doing such and such and we know that it will work.

  Also we now know that the Deepwater Horizon was seeing bad scary readings before the blast.  It sounds like it was for a day or two before the blast.  There will be hearing and all the information will come out.
  But why was there not a United States inspector at each of these drill sites at all times?  An inspector that BP had to pay the United States government his wages, plus extra fees, and who’s job would be to enforce safety and shut them down on the spot if anything looks bad.  Plus the readings of pressure should have been going back to a control point in land say at a USCG station and they would have been demanding a safe shut down right now?
 
  Now we know that BP did not have a real plan.  Now we know they did not have the people and hardware in the location ready to respond.
  I have seen experts on TV being asked why not have the United States government go in with the military or something and take over the spill and shut it down.  The experts say the United States government does not know how to do it and does not have the man power or the equipment to do the job!
  Well then if BP, or someone else, wants to drill there they should have to pay the United States enough money that we could set up a force I guess under Homeland Security/USCG and they would be standing by in the area 24/7 ready to respond.  It would be like a fire station. It would be staffed with trained staff and they would have the hardware they needed to respond. 
  It would create jobs.  They would be high paying skilled jobs that could not be out sourced.

  I guess the best thing is to not allow any drilling.  For sure no drilling at a depth like that. 
We got to get off this need for gas and oil.  We should have listened to President Carter.  If we had followed his lead today we would not be having the problems we are having.
 
  I have some questions.  Does BP drill any place at depths greater than the Deepwater Horizon drill?  
Did they or do they want to drill any deeper than the Deepwater Horizon drill?
  What is going to happen if we have a bad hurricane season? 
  Could we have a hurricane season that would take out a number of deep water drill sites?
  On the last question…My guess is that they would know the storm was coming and could shut down the well.  But in the case of Deepwater Horizon the problem was a blast happening?

Flashback a Dennis Hopper Movie

  I mentioned in my post about the death of Dennis Hopper that one of the movies that I liked that he was in was “Flashback.”  I found the movie on Hulu.  You can watch it for free on www.hulu.com

Here it is embedded here now:
I am not sure if people outside of the United States can view it.

Power lost tonight

  I should get in a few days Civilization IV.  I was wondering if it will run on my computer.  My computer is running Windows 7 64 bit.
  I downloaded the demo of Civilization IV.  The demo seems to run OK.  The demo only runs for 100 moves before you have to re-start it.  So I would not waste your time downloading unless you just want to see what it looks like and if it will run on your software and hardware.
  
  We had the power go off for a second or two and then come back for a second or two and it did that three times.  Not good for computer hardware.  Russell and I did OK and had no problems.

  My son, who lives down stairs, had the power surg kill his Logitech G-15 keyboard.  I had a keyboard that he could use.  The other day Dar’s mouse broke and I had a mouse to replace it.
  It is sort of good having computer people next door to each other. 

  I ate to much food today. 
  It is 0015 and I need to get to sleep soon.  I got to wake Russell at 0400 so he can get ready for work.

  In the following video You can see a Logitech G-15 keyboard.  
You will also see the Saitek keyboard and that is what I am using now.

 

Dennis Hopper dies at age 74

(CNN) -- “Dennis Hopper, the one-time Hollywood enfant terrible who portrayed such indelible characters as "Easy Rider's" biker Billy and "Blue Velvet's" and huffing villain Frank Booth, died of prostate cancer Saturday morning at his home in Venice, California, his wife said. He was 74.

Hopper, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer last October, was surrounded by his children when he died, his wife, Victoria Hopper. told CNN.

Funeral arrangements have not been decided, but Hopper's wish was to be buried in Taos, New Mexico, "his heart home," Victoria Hopper said.

The American film icon made his last public appearance on March 26, 2010, when his star was dedicated on Hollywood's Walk of Fame…”

  Dennis Hopper has passed away at age 74.  I was a fan.  I enjoyed many of his movies. 

“Dennis Lee Hopper (May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010) was an American actor, filmmaker and artist. As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors Studio. He made his first television appearance in 1955, and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Giant (1956). Over the next ten years, Hopper appeared frequently on television in guest roles, and by the end of the 1960s had played supporting roles in several films. He directed and starred in Easy Rider (1969), winning an award at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as co-writer of the film's script.

He was unable to build on his success for several years, until a featured role in Apocalypse Now (1979) brought him attention. He subsequently appeared in Rumble Fish (1983) and The Osterman Weekend (1983), and received critical recognition for his work in Blue Velvet and Hoosiers, with the latter film gaining him an Academy Award nomination forBest Supporting Actor. He directed Colors (1988), and played the villain in Speed (1994). Hopper's later work included a leading role in the television series Crash…”  Wikipedia

  I have watched “Hoosiers” so many times.  He is one of the main reasons I watch that movie over and over again.  I loved him in “Flashback.”  
  He will be missed.  RIP Dennis Hopper.

My memory sucks

  My memory has never been good.  Thank God, I lived in an age when there were tools to help me.  I had one of the first Palm devices and over the years I would keep buying new ones and giving my old ones away.  A few times I sold them on eBay. 
  The last Palm I had was a Palm T/X and I sold it on eBay.  I should have kept the device.  I sold it because I went with a Treo phone device. 
  The Palm Treo I gave away when I went with Metro PSC and later Boost Mobile for a cell phone.
  But I have missed the Palm desktop software and keeping data on a device that I always have with me.
 
  I know I am not the only geek out there that got PDA devices over the years.  I know a lot of you spent hundreds of dollars on the devices and extra hardware and software for them.
  I hate to think of all the extra stuff I got for my Palm devices (keyboards, cameras …). 
 
  It seems now days that I am going to the doctor’s office or some place else and they are always want information from me.  Phone number, NO I can not remember my own phone number, list of medications…dates I was in the hospital and all sort of information.  I have to write it down on paper and take it with me.  A geek like me should not be pulling paper out of his pocket.  Smile

  I can not afford a smart phone, at this time, it is not the phone so much as the monthly bill each month for the service.

So I was thinking.. I know many of you have gone to iPhone and smart devices like that and do not need or use your PDA. 
  I would be willing to buy from you a nice Palm device or other PDA device.  I could only afford $50.00 and I know you spent a lot more for it and got extras for it … But you are not going to be using it again.. You got it boxed and in your closet and just can not bring yourself to get rid of something that you used and loved so much and paid so much for… But if you want to see that it gets a good home and at the same time helps me out.. This is your chance.  
  A Palm device like the T/X would be good.  I like the Palm O/S.  It is very simple and easy for someone like me to enter data and pull up the information.  I want a device that does WiFi.  My Palm T/X did not have a real bright display.. I was not real happy with it for that reason.  It was sort of dull.
  I never owned a HP iPAQ but I sure admire their displays.  I noticed that when I was working at CompUSA.  I think they got the best display that I have ever seen.  So I would love HP iPAQ 210 or 211.  
  Again.. I know $50.00 is not much.. But my guess is that you would be happy to see your PDA go to someone that will give it a good home and that can use the device.
  Contact me if you are interested in taking that Palm T/X or HP iPAQ out of your closet.   hnbbs@usa.net or showmeblog@gmail.com

Technorati Tags: palm,tx,ipaq,hp 211,hp 111,pda,111,211

Glenn Beck smears Obama’s 11-year-old daughter

  Have you no shame Mr. Beck?

”  Glenn Beck smears Obama’s 11-year-old daughter

May 28, 2010 11:13 am ET by Simon Maloy

Glenn Beck, who repeatedly and angrily tells his alleged persecutors to "leave the families alone," spent a good chunk of his radio program this morning mocking and attacking the intelligence of President Obama's 11-year-old daughter, Malia.

Obama remarked yesterday during his press conference that Malia asked him of the Gulf oil spill: "Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?" Beck, taking off on this, mockingly affected Malia's voice, asking "Daddy" why he "hates black people so much." Then Beck attacked Malia's intelligence, saying: "That's the level of their education, that they're coming to -- they're coming to Daddy and saying, 'Daddy, did you plug the hole yet?' "

This routine continued for several minutes, as Beck and his co-hosts touched on a variety of topics and laughed the entire time, all of it at the expense of an 11-year-old girl.”

 

  There is a long audio file of him making fun of Malia.  I am not even going to post it.  If you go to the link above you can listen to it if you wish.
  Glenn Beck is such a low life.  It is rare but sometimes one of the right wing talk show hosts will not lie or will take the correct moral position but it is never Glenn Beck.  But I can depend on Glenn Beck.  I know that he will be sick, crazy, immoral, hateful and that he will lie.  
  Shame on Fox News for giving him any air time at all.  Shame shame on you if you watch him on Fox News or listen to him on the radio.

Security Warning for Glenn Beck

  I worked as a security officer for over 30 years.  I know a little bit about security and dealing with people that are out of control.
  This is a warning to the people that provide security for Glenn Beck.
  When the remarks that Glenn Beck made about the Purple Heart get out there are going to be some VERY upset ex-military people. 
  Glenn Beck is going to issue his own re-placement for the Purple Heart!  He has even said where and when he is going to do it. 
  I am sure there is already very tight security for Glenn Beck all the time but you need to ramp up the security to the max for him starting right now. 
  Glenn Beck is going to need the most professional security.  You need to watch out for the people that get very close to him.  I think the attack will come from a homeless person or some sort of person that has mental or drug problems.  It is not going to be a planned plot.  It is going to be someone lashing out at him all of a sudden.
  I am not sure who Glenn Beck plans to give his medals to but watch those people very close no matter how happy they seem to be about getting a metal.
  Good luck.

Glenn Beck is the Worst Kind of Asshole!

“Glenn Beck evidently believes the Purple Heart is some progressive invention which distorted a previous award called the "Badge of Merit."  On his radio show today, Beck seemed to lessen the significance of a Purple Heart, implying that his own "Badge of Merit" will mean so much more because it has to do with "integrity and honor."  Beck plans to give out his own Badges of Merit at a rally he is holding at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of MLK's famous "I Have a Dream Speech."  In handing out military honors, Beck will be playing a role traditionally filled by military officers or the President himself.

In fact, the Badge of Merit was an an award given out by George Washington during the Revolutionary War.  However, it never truly gained acceptance in the military.  Washington awarded three soldiers the Badge of Merit, but no other soldier was ever given the award.  So, in between the Badge of Merit and its replacement, the Purple Heart, the United States military fought in the War of 1812, the Spanish-American War, and World War I without a single soldier being given the Badge of Merit.  Beck acts as though progressives perversely changed some commonly accepted military award.  In fact, while technically still available, the reality is that the Badge of Merit had become nothing more than a historical relic.

However, what is perhaps most insulting is the idea that a Beck's Badge of Merit will somehow mean more than a "progressive" Purple Heart because it rewards "honor and integrity."  For many, the mere fact that someone is willing to sacrifice their life and limb for country, and is in fact wounded, symbolizes their "honor and integrity."

From Examiner.Com Examiner.Com “

National Hamburger Day

  May 28th is National Hamburger Day.  I did my part.  I am always willing to enjoy a day like National Hamburger Day.

  I been feeling pretty good.  I have not been taking my BP at home.  I just take it when I walk over to CVS. 
  A number of you have asked about the results of the CT of my chest.  I have not heard from my doctor’s office.  If I do not hear by Friday of next week I will call them.  I am not worrying at this point. But thank you for your concern and prayers.

  Monday will be Memorial Day here in the United States.  It is the last Monday of May.  It is a day that we remember and honor the men and woman who died while in our military service.
  We think of this as the start of summer.  Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials.  The flag of the United States is often at half-staff from dawn until noon local time.
  Volunteers often place American flags on each grave at National Cemeteries. 
  Americans view Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer and Labor Day as the unofficial end of summer.

Gary Coleman actor dead at age 42

(CNN) -- “Former child star Gary Coleman, who rose to fame as the wisecracking youngster Arnold Jackson on the TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" but grew up to grapple with a troubled adulthood, has died. He was 42.

Coleman died of a brain hemorrhage at a Provo, Utah, hospital, Friday afternoon, according to a hospital spokeswoman. The actor fell ill at his Santaquin, Utah, home Wednesday evening and was rushed by ambulance to a hospital, Coleman's spokesman had said in a statement earlier Friday.

He was then taken to another hospital -- Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo -- later Wednesday night…”

  Gary Coleman had a hard life.  I felt sorry for him many times.  I was never a fan of “Different Strokes” but after the end of the TV show and during his life I saw things on TV and people were making fun of him and laughing at him.
  I hope those people feel sorry now.  He made a lot of bad choices in his life.  We all do.  Thank God, we do not have people following us around with cameras.