Charlie's Rants & Raves

There's an article on MSN (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8644374/) regarding a direct energy weapon that would be used for riot control / dispersal. Sounds like a good idea. Basically, it's a microwave beam fired in one direction. Those in the way will get a burning sensation (around 130 degree skin temperature after 2 seconds). Most people will want to move out of the way so the burning sensation disappears. This could prove to be a very good way to stop violent protests / riots, but there are always drawbacks.

If the people getting hit by this beam don't know what it is and don't know what to do (i.e. move out the way) or if the people are already incapacitated, then they'll cook. They also mention that eyeglasses and metal may intensify the effects of the beam.

But not to worry, they say a metal trash can lid (contrary to the previous statement) could be used as a countermeasure to the device (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/v-mads.htm).

I'm just waiting for the space lasers now...

Have you ever felt this way? Maybe when you get Windows Blue Screen of Death? Or something else?

Interesting. The number 2 country in truck production is Thailand. Very intersting.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0507/17/B01-250138.htm

Some interesting stuff I heard on the radio about Tom Cruise.

His first wife, Mimi Rogers, born in 1956
Second wife, Nicole Kidman, born 1967
Third soon-to-be wife, Katie Holmes, born 1978

Do the math...each successive wife was born 11 years after the prior one...so some 16 year old right now may be the future Mrs. Tom Cruise.

Another thing I heard, in Minority Report, there is a scene where these orbs are floating around. The orbs have advertisements. Freeze frame some of them and they say that one of the orbs is a TV Guide advertisement with Katie Holmes.

Hmm......

Talk Radio is kind of funny. I was listening to AM 950 here in the afternoon the other day. Savage Nation with Michael Savage was on. That guy is funny. It's pretty entertaining. He seems to be some super patriot or something (a nut job maybe)

He was talking about watching out for terrorists (middle eastern of course). He suggested watching all middle easterns, since they are all terrorists (bright guy). Well, a caller called in and said that the bombings in London were probably done by middle easterners, but brought the point that pretty much all of the bombings done in the US have been done by Christian, white men. Ol' Savage didn't take that too lightly. His response was "so the 19 guys on 9/11 were white?" Of course not. He really didn't let the guy finish what he wanted to say. I guess that's the power Savage had, hit the hang up button because he didn't want to hear it anymore.

But anyway, it's interesting listening to him. It makes me laugh and makes the 45 minute trip home from work amusing. It's one thing to take this guy seriously (which I have trouble doing), but at least I get a laugh while I drive home.

OK, soapbox time.

Guess what I owe this month in utilities...$225 and some change. Holy Crap!!!! Does Reliant charge a different rate for electricity during the summer??? I don't think that I used as much energy this month that I did the previous. I even turned the thermostat up to 80..80 fricking degrees. I wonder what my bill would be if I left it at the "recommended" 78 degrees?!?!?!?!

Hopefully they won't cut the electricity as I still owe about $150 for the past month. It was a rough month. I heard that there was a law stating that they cannot cut the electricity during the summer (since it is so frickin hot here). People die in this heat. But I can't find anything like that on the 'net. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong spots.

But any fuckin' way...this sucks. I hate it and it pisses me off. I try, trust me, I try. I don't know how I'm going to do it. Not too many available jobs out there. No responses or anything like that. "go to college get a degree"...blah, blah, blah. Too bad I don't have a time machine to go back and talk myself out of going to college. This degree (nothing more than a piece of paper) hasn't gotten me diddly yet.

OK, off the soapbox...Next!!!

In light of Al Qaida/Qaeda claiming responsibility for the bombings in London, consider this. Remember all of the conspiracy theories associated with 9/11? You know, 9/11 for 911 emergency services, fold a $20 bill, etc.

Here's mine.

Take the date 07/07/05, add it up and you get 19...the same number of terrorists on 9/11...coincidence???

Earth is best viewed from far away...



Because any closer, it's a scary place.

Yeah, It'll never happen again...

Here are some pictures Ana took of a dragonfly that happened to wander about our guava tree.

4th of July here in Houston. Here are some pictures I took.